A67926:3775
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.
For there be certain Prelates, which while they see the order of priesthood by some enormity or excess, to strain the law of God never so little out of the right course, and labour to redress and rectify that misorder, rather by vain ostentation of their own strength, then for any pure zeal to God, while they thus presume inordinately to do, thinking to seem to be the helpers of God, many times do mortally fall, and incur thereby great danger and peril. Some other also there be which having before their eyes no consideration of mans infirmity neither being touched with any respect of mercy and compassion, nor knowing how to say with the Apostle: Who is infirm and I am not infirm? these whiles they compare themselves to such as be under their charge, not in condition wherein they are equal, but in authority wherein they are superiors, & covet to be their masters, & more to rule over them then to profit them, they oppress the weakness of them by force and violence of authority, and compel them to their obedience: which is rightly figured by the fact, which is read in the Gospel of Simon Cyrenaeus, 1whom the persecutors ⟨p. 1160⟩of the Lord constrained to take up the Cross of Christ. Whose name also doth fitly agree with the same figure. For Simon by interpretation is called obedient. Simon then, that is to say, the obedient man is forced to bear the Cross of the Lord, when as subjects being constrained of their masters by the rigour either of Lordship, or authority, or fear of their curse, and so compelled to obey them, are driven to sustain the Cross of continency against their wills: who neither do love the Cross which they bear, because they bear it rather to their destruction than to their health: neither by bearing the Cross, do dye unto sin, but by the bearing thereof are rather quickened unto sin. For thereof rise divers other more grievous sins. For by the inhibiting of lawful and natural marriage with one woman, riseth the unnatural and most execrable Sodomitical fornication:2 riseth also the unlawful and damnable defiling of other mens wives: riseth furthermore cursed and whorish filthiness and pollution:
For there be certayne Prelates, which while they see the order of priesthood by some enormity or excesse, to strayne the law of God neuer so litle out of the right course, and labor to redresse and rectify that misorder, rather by vayne ostentation of theyr owne strength, then for any pure zeale to God, while they thus presume inordinately to do, thinking to seme to be the helpers of God, many times do mortally fall, and incurre therby great daunger and perill. Some other also there be whiche hauing before theyr eies no consideratiō of mans infirmity neither being touched with any respect of mercy and compassion, nor knowing how to say with the Apostle: Who is infirme and I am not infirme? these whiles they compare themselues to suche as be vnder theyr charge, not in condition wherein they are equall, but in authority wherin they are superiours, & couet to be theyr maysters, & more to rule ouer them then to profite them, they oppresse the weakenesse of thē by force and violence of authority, and compell them to theyr obedience: which is rightly figured by the fact, which is reade in ye Gospell of Symon Cyrenaeus,