A67926:4004
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.
Thus to confess,1 were true and plain dealing. Now, whiles they pretend hypocritically a false zeal and love to the truth and sincere Religion, they come in with their blind sophistications, wherewith they cover their errors: for their Articles set forth in this act be erroneous, false & impious, how glorious soever they seem outwardly. Wherefore it were to be wished that these bishops would remember Gods terrible threatening in the prophet Isaiah: Woe to you (sayeth he) which make wicked laws. 2What will you do in the day of visitation and calamity to come? &c. Woe unto you that call evil good, &c. Now to come more near to the matter which we have in hand: this cannot be denied, but that long and horrible darkness hath been in the church of Christ.3 Mens traditions not only have been a yoke to good mens consciences, but also (which is much worse) they have been reputed for Gods holy service, to the great disworship of God. There were vows, things bequeathed to churches, diversity of garments, choice of meats, long babbling prayers, pardons, image worship, manifest idolatry committed to saints, the true worship of God and true good works not known. Briefly, little difference there was betwixt the Christian and heathen religion, as still is yet at Rome, to this present day, to be seen. The true doctrine of repentance, of * remission of sins, which cometh by the faith of Christ, of justification of faith, of the difference between the law and the gospel, of the right use of the Sacraments, was hid and unknown. The keys were abused to the maintenance of the Popes usurped tyranny. Ceremonies of mens invention were much preferred before civil obedience and duties done in the common wealth. Unto these errors moreover was joined a corrupt life,4 full of all lecherous and filthy lusts, by reason of the law forbidding Priests to marry. Out of this miserable darkness, God something hath begun to deliver his church through the restoring again of true doctrine. For so we must needs acknowledge, that these so great and long festered errors have not ben disclosed and brought to light by the industry of man,5