A67926:3986
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.
But as there is nothing in the Church so good and so ghostly, which through peevish superstition either hath not, or may not be perverted: so this confession also hath not lacked his abuses. First the secret confession to God alone, as it hath ben counted insufficient, so hath it ben but lightly esteemed of many. The public confession to the congregation hath been turned to a standing in a sheet, or else hath been bought out for money. Furthermore, the secret breaking of a mans mind to some faithful or spiritual brother, in disclosing his infirmity or temptations, for counsel and godly comfort, hath been turned into auricular confession in a Priests ear for assoiling of his sins. In the which auricular confession,1 first of the free liberty of the penitent in uttering his griefs, they have made a mere necessity, and that unto salvation and remission of sins. Secondly, they require withal, enumeration and a full recital of all sins whatsoever:2 both great and small, also besides the necessity of this ear confession, they add thereto a prescription of time, at least once in the year for all men, whether they repent or no, to be confessed: making moreover of the same a sacrament. And lastly, where as before it stood in the voluntary choice of a man to open his hart to what spiritual brother he thought best, for an easement of his grief & ghostly consolation, they bind him to a Priest (unless some Friar come by the way to be his ghostly father) to whom he must needs confess all, whatsoever he hath done, and though he lack the key of knowledge, and peradventure of good discretion, yet none must have power to assoil him, but he through the authority of his keys.
But as there is nothyng in the Churche so good and so ghostly, which through peuishe superstitiō either hath not, or may not be peruerted: so thys confession also hath not lacked his abuses. First the secret confession to God alone, as it hath ben counted insufficient, so hath it ben but lightly esteemed of many. The publike confession to the congregation hathe bene turned to a standinge in a sheete, or else hath bene bought out for money. Furthermore, the secreat breaking of a mans minde to some faithful or spiritual brother, in disclosing hys infirmitie or temptatiōs, for counsel and godly comfort, hath bene turned into auricular confession in a Priestes eare for assoyling of his sinnes. In the which auriculare cōfession,