A67926:3785
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.
What meant that voice which sounded by the Dove, but that it excluded all evil and impurity of the corruption of man?1 in the which it is declared and said: This is he which baptiseth. &c. For if the beams of this visible Sun passing by the filthy places, receive no spot of filthiness thereby, much more the grace of him which made this visible Sun, is not tied to any worthiness of our works. What soever therefore any minister of the Church worketh in his function to the behoof of the people, all that taketh his effect by the operation of God. Thus witnesseth Paul by whom Christ speaketh: I have planted, and Apollo hath watered, but it is the Lord that hath given the increase. God regardeth not so much, who or what manner of person doth preach, but that he so preach, that he may confirm them that be nought, and cause them to preach well of Christ. For such is the operation of Gods mighty grace,2 that by evil men he winneth good men, and by reprobate and wicked persons he getteth and gathereth together those that be good. By these and such other reasons and authorities above alleged, you ought to be persuaded, neither to abandon us that be married, from the administration of divine service, nor yet to excommunicate such, to whom the matter nothing pertaineth, from the communion thereof. And if we be evil, we are evil to our selves, and hurt our selves more then others. And such as you suppose peradventure to be vicious, yet may have some good thing inwardly which you know not of. For many there be whom you judge to be incontinent, which live more chastely then they whom you so greatly extol for their continency.3 We that have wives, according to the Apostles mind, so have them as though we had them not. Which gift of continency for as much as you can not give us, pray therefore with us and for us, that he will give it unto us, who only is the giver thereof, & without whom no man is able to live continently. For otherwise we can not have it, vules we pray unto him from the bottom of our hearts, who is known to be the author and giver thereof. And this same (saith Solomon) is wisdom, 4to know whose gift it is: neither is there any gift above this.