A67926:3779
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.
so I likewise do give counsel to other and show the same mercy to them. And forasmuch as both are good: to wit to have a wife or not to have: to have a husband or not to have: neither is there any sin in having wife or husband: shortly after he inferreth saying: I suppose therefore this to be good for the present necessity: I mean, that it is good for a man so to be: What meaneth this, for present necessity? What is this necessity present, but present infirmity? or else instant necessity, compelling to do, as the order of necessity requireth. Or else he meaneth by this present necessity,1 the distress of that time which then was instant, and compelled him to write, and so to bear with them which was for the avoiding of the fornication amongst them, and many other kinds of filthiness above touched which might have happened. For the which fornication he took occasion to write unto the Corinthians and to answer to their letters: and therefore he vehemently against the said Corinthians in the former part of the said Epistle uttereth these words: What will you shall I come to you with a rod? or in love and in the spirit of meekness? There is heard among you to be fornication, 2& such fornication as is not named among the Gentiles, that one should have his own fathers wife. &c. And therefore for this necessity of avoiding such fornication, he saith: It is good for a man so to be: that he which cannot contain, 3should marry & take a wife. which afterward he expoundeth thus inferring: art thou bound to a wife? seek not to be loosed. And if thou be loosed from a wife seek not a wife. But if thou takest a wife thou sinnest not, and if a virgin marry, she sinneth not. &c. And that he spake not this by way of commanding, but of sufferance and compassion, he showeth plainly in these words following: But I spare you: that is to say, I bear with your infirmity: & therefore he leaveth it in the free power and will of every man, to choose what he best liketh, Neither doth he enforce any man (he saith) violently, nor charge them with any strait commandment, and therefore addeth these words following: And this I speak for your own commodity, not to tangle you as in a snare, but for that it is good and honest for you, that you ⟨p. 1161⟩