A67926:5173
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.
Not much unlike seemeth the dealing of these religious Catholics, who when they be the true heretics themselves, and have burnt and destroyed the Church of Christ, make out their exclamations, Bulls, briefs, articles books,1 censures, letters and Edicts against the poor Lutherans, to make the people believe, that they be the heretics, schismatics, disturbers of the whole world. Who if they could prove them as they reprove them to be heretics, they were worthy to be heard. But now they cry out upon them heretics, and can prove no heresy: they accuse them of error: and can prove no error: they call them schismatics, and what Church since the world stood, hath been the mother of so many schisms as the mother Church of Rome? They charge them with dissension and rebellion. And what dissension can be greater, then to dissent from the scripture, and word of God? or what rebellion is like, as to rebel against the son of God, & against the will of his eternal Testament? They are disturbers (they say) of peace and of public authority: Which is as true, as that the Christians set the City of Rome on fire. What doctrine did ever attribute so much to public authority of Magistrates, as do the protestants, or who ever attributed less to magistrates, or deposed moe dukes, kings, and Emperors, than the Papists? They that say, that the Bishop of Rome is no more but the Bishop of Rome, and ought to wear no crown, is not by and by a rebel against his king and Magistrates, but rather a maintainer of their authority: which in deed the Bishop of Rome cannot abide. Briefly, wilt thou see whether be the greater heretics, the Protestants or the Papists? Let us try it by a measure,2 and let this measure be the glory only of the son of God, which cannot fail. Now judge I beseech thee, whosoever knowest the doctrine of them both, whether of these two do ascribe more or less to the Majesty of Christ Jesus our king and Lord: the Protestants which admit none other head of the Church nor justifier of our souls, nor forgiver of our sins, nor Advocate to his father but him alone: Or else the papists which can abide none of all these articles, but condemn the same for heresy. Which being so (as they themselves will not deny) now judge (good reader) who hath set the City of Rome on fire. Nero, or else the Christians.
Not much vnlike seemeth the dealing of these religious Catholickes, who when they be the true heretickes themselues, and haue burnt and destroyed the Church of Christ, make out theyr exclamatiōs, Buls, briefes, articles bookes,