A67926:3771
Acts and monuments of matters most special and memorable, happening in the Church. [vol.…Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol.…
Acts and monuments of matters most special and memorable, happening in the Church. [vol. 2, part 1] with an universal history of the same, wherein is set forth at large the whole race and course of the Church, from the primitive age to these latter times of ours, with the bloody times, horrible troubles, and great persecutions against the true martyrs of Christ, sought and wrought as well by heathen emperors, as now lately practised by Romish prelates, especially in this realm of England and Scotland. Newly revised and recognised, partly also augmented, and now the fourth time again published and recommended to the studious reader, by the author (through the help of Christ our Lord) John Fox, which desireth thee good reader to help him with thy prayer.Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol. 2, part 1] with an vniuersall history of the same, wherein is set forth at large the whole race and course of the Church, from the primitiue age to these latter tymes of ours, with the bloudy times, horrible troubles, and great persecutions agaynst the true martyrs of Christ, sought and wrought as well by heathen emperours, as nowe lately practised by Romish prelates, especially in this realme of England and Scotland. Newly reuised and recognised, partly also augmented, and now the fourth time agayne published and recommended to the studious reader, by the author (through the helpe of Christ our Lord) Iohn Foxe, which desireth thee good reader to helpe him with thy prayer.
London: printed by John Daye, 1583London: printed by Iohn Daye, 1583
No title page in the transcription: set from the catalogue record.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
And like as the said Materia without Forma, is rude and shapeless, so free will is a thing rude and deform, if it ⟨p. 1159⟩be not holpen with grace coming thereunto, to move it & to further it, the commandment coming as a mean between them both in the stead of the instrumental cause, as is before said. Therefore like as Forma is in respect of Materia, the like resemblance beareth free will in respect of grace. And again, as Materia is in respect of Forma, the same also is free will in respect of grace.1 And as the instrument serveth between the foresaid Materia and Forma, so doth the commandment between free will and grace. The instrument coming and working upon the said Materia being of it self ugly, rugged, and a thing without all shape and fashion, doth form it, shape and polish it, and maketh it hansom, lightly, lightsome, bright and clear: even so likewise the commandment coming and working upon free will, being of it self, a thing rude, gross, unshapen & deformed, blind and obscure, doth clarify it, deck […], adorn it, beautify and lighten it through the brightness of grace coming unto it, according to the saying of the Prophet: The commandment of the Lord is bright and clear, giving sight to the eyes.2 And as the matter & the instrument without the form can do nothing, even so free will and the commandment without grace have no power to work. For what can either free w•ll or the commandment do except they be holpen with grace both going before and following?3 For grace shem death the commandment as a messenger and minister to free will: the commandment provoketh freewill and stirreth it up, as out of a sleep to do good works and leadeth it as a blind man, by the hand, teaching him the way wherein to go. Which both if they be destitute of grace, are able of themselves to do nothing. And if they begin, yet they proceed not, neither do they perform or accomplish any thing: and if they presume, it prospereth not, and is but labour lost. For where the commandment cometh, •yther by man or by Angel: and also where free will is moved, provoked and informed either by the motion of man or of Angel, yet unless Gods grace go withal preventing and following the same what is it able to do? For when man was put in Paradise, what availed him the commandment which he heard: