A67926:4029
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 here cometh out your own hypocrisy by your selves bewrayed. For where as you all confess, that you are able to live chaste if ye will without wives, this moderation of the law provided before against your adulterous incontinence, plainly declareth that either ye purpose willingly to fall, or at least ye fear and stand in doubt not to be able to stand. And why then do you so confidently take such vows upon you, standing in such doubt and fear for the performance thereof?
And heere commeth out your owne hypocrisie by your selues bewrayed. For where as you all confesse, that you are able to liue chaste if ye wil without wiues, this moderation of the lawe prouided before against your aduouterous incontinencie, playnely declareth that eyther ye purpose willingly to fal, or at least ye feare and stand in doubt not to be able to stand. And why then do you so confidently take such vowes vpon you, standing in such doubt and feare for the performance thereof?
And be it to you admitted that all do not fall, but that some keep their vow,1 though some viciously run to other mens wives and daughters: then here again I ask you, seeing these vicious whorehunters and adulterous persons amongst you, do live viciously (as you can not deny) and may do otherwise if they list (as you confess) what punishment then are they worthy to have, which may live continent and will not, neither yet will take the remedy provided by God, but refuse it? Which being so, then what iniquity is this in you, or rather impiety inexcusable against God and man, to procure a moderation of laws for such,2 and to show such compassion and clemency to these so heinous adulterers, whorehunters, and beastly fornicators, that if they adulterate other mens wives never so oft, yet there is no death for them: and to show no compassion at all, nor to find out any moderation for such, but at the very first to kill them as felons and heretics, which honestly do marry in the fear of God, or once say that a Priest may marry? How can ye hear be excused. O you children of iniquity? What reason is in your doing, or what truth in your doctrine, or what fear of God in your harts? You that neither are able to avoid burning & pollution without wedlock, nor yet will receive that remedy that the Lord hath given you, how will you stand in his face, when he shall reveal your operations and cogitations to your perpetual confusion, unless by time ye convert and repent? And thus being ashamed of your execrable doings I cease to defile my pen any further in this so stinking matter of yours, leaving you to the Lord.