A67926:3783
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 those holy men did then use this cautele and moderation in religion, that when they treated any thing concerning instruction and edification of the people,1 and would have them stirred up to a better life by godly instructions, they would rather persuade things to be observed with patience and lenity, then command with rigour and authority: neither would they compel any man to their obedience against his will. Whose examples you also following, which succeed in their room and name, do you not lay upon us infirm persons, such importable burdens, lest you be partakers with the Pharisees and lawyers of the Lords curse: Who saith:2 Woe to you lawyers which lay burdens upon men, which they can not bear, 3and you your selves touch not the burdens with one finger. And least the cry of the children of Israel ascend up to the Lord for the cruel dealing of them which are overseers of the works:4 Neither do you make such Eunuchs which are so borne from their mothers womb, or such Eunuchs which are violently made by men, but rather those Eunuchs which of their own accord have gelded themselves for the kingdom of heaven.5 Neither do you bring upon the holy order of Gods ministers for us only, such an offence and slander, that for our wicked life you make the ministry to be despised of others, while you will not suffer them either to hear us, or to receive the sacraments of us, infaming thereby our lend life, & causing the savour of us to stink before Pharaoh, & his servants. Wherein it seemeth to us that you deal not soundly & uprightly, if a man may so say (I pray you take it in good worth,6 that I speak) & also to be against the authority of Gods word, & the canonical constitutions which you do: where as the Lord saith by Moses the lawgiver: the shame of thy mother thou shalt not disclose, & her ignominy thou shalt not discover. Our mother is the church: the sons of this mother be all the faithful,7