A67926:3774
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 not imperiously to command them, as exercising stately authority and power upon them, but gently to admonish them and beseech them in the zeal of piety, according to the strength of every person, after the Lord, and not after the affection of their own will, or ambitiously setting forth their own power and jurisdiction, and that they ought to be an example to the flock, doing first themselves that thing, which they command others, and so to teach them no less by examples then by words. Willingly (saith he) and not by constraint: of charity, & not for greedy gain. For there be many which being inflamed with affection, not of charity, but of covetous greediness and ambition, command others that which they are not able to accomplish,1 and while they pretend to seek the gain of souls, they hunt and seek rather for worldly lucre. Which Balaam the Prophet did well express: who converted the gift of prophecy, and the grace of blessing which he had received of God, not to the profit of others, but to his own commodity. And some there be, which whiles they correct others, they pretend to do it with the zeal of God: and whiles they would seem to be better then other, this they do with a certain presumption & rashness, and so fall in their own presumption and temerity.2 Of whom the Apostle speaketh: Which have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge To have a zeal of God, according to knowledge, is to do any thing in Gods matters prudently and circumspectly. Of whom Oza beareth a type and resemblance: Who whiles that he went about with his hand to stay the Ark of the Lord staggering a little by reason of the kicking of the Oxen which carried it, fell down therefore dead.3 The Ark of the Lord to stagger or miscarry by the kicking of the Oxen, signifieth the law of the Lord (which the priests themselves ought to bear and hold up) to be contraried of them in not observing the same,4 & to be turned out of the right course to the contrary part, which Oza, who is interpreted to be a helper of god, attempteth to hold up.
and not imperiously to commaūd them, as exercising stately authority and power vpon them, but gētly to admonish them and beseech them in the zeale of piety, according to the strength of euery person, after the Lord, and not after the affection of theyr owne will, or ambiciously setting forth theyr own power and iurisdictiō, and that they ought to be an example to the flocke, doing first themselues that thing, whiche they commaund others, and so to teach them no lesse by examples then by words. Willingly (saith he) and not by cō straynt: of charity, & not for gredy gayne. For there be many which being inflamed with affection, not of charity, but of couetous gredines and ambition, commaūd others that which they are not able to accomplish,