A67926:4007
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.
And he shall worship the God Maozim in his place, and shall adore the God whom his fathers knew not, with gold, silver, and precious stones. Both these places speak of the mass. This kind of worship and horrible profanation of the Sacrament, God abhorreth. For how many sundry kinds of manifest impiety are here committed in this one action of the Mass? First, it is set forth to sale. Secondly,1 they that are unworthy, are compelled to receive whether they will or no. Thirdly, it is applied for meritorious and satisfactory for the quick and the dead. Fourthly, many things are promised thereby, as prosperous navigation, remedies against diseases both for man and beast, with other infinite moe. These be most manifest and notorious abominations. But besides these, there be other also no less to be reprehended, which the simple people do not so plainly see. Such worshipping and serving of God is not to be set up after the fantasy of men. Wherefore they do wickedly when they offer sacrifice to God without his commandment. For when of this work they make a sacrifice, they imagine that private Masses are to be done, because God would be worshipped after this sort, And we see that Masses are bought with gold and silver, great riches and sumptuous charges: also the Sacrament to be carried about in gold and silver to be worshipped, whereas the sacrament was never ordained for any such purpose. Wherefore seeing the commandment of God biddeth, fly from Idolatry, private Masses are not to be maintained. And I marvel what they say that such private Masses are necessarily to be retained,2 when it is evident that in the old time there was none such. Shall we think that things pertaining to the necessary worship of GOD, could so long be lacking in the primitive Church 300. years after the Apostles and more? What can be more absurd and against all reason? We see these private Masses to be defended with great labour and much a doe: of some, for fear lest their gain should decay: of some, because they would serve the affection of the vulgar people (which thinketh to have great succour thereby, and therefore are loth to leave it) rather then for any just cause or reason to lead them. But howsoever they do, a most manifest & evident cause there is why these private Masses ought to be abolished. For first their application undoubtedly is wicked:
And he shall worship the God Maozim in his place, and shall adore the God whom his fathers knew not, with gold, siluer, and precious stones. Both these places speake of the masse. Thys kinde of worship and horrible prophanation of the Sacrament, God abhorreth. For howe many sundry kindes of manifest impiety are here committed in this one action of the Masse? First, it is set foorth to sale. Secondly,