A67926:5195
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.
Borthwike.
1It shall be evidently declared, that indulgences and pardons are of none effect, after that I have first of all taught what they do call Indulgences or pardons. They say they are the treasure of the church, that is to say, the merits of Christ, of the Saints, Apostles and Martyrs, which they impudently affirm to have performed and merited more at Gods hand, at the time of their death, then was necessary or needful for them: & that of the abundance of their merits, there did so much superabound which was not only sufficient for themselves,2 but also might redound to the help of others. And because so great a goodness should not be superfluous or in vain, they affirm and teach that their blood was mixed and joined with the blood of Christ: and of them both the treasure of the church was compound and made for the remission and satisfaction of sins. How cunning and notable cooks these are, which can make a confection of so many sundry herbs. Furthermore, they do feign the custody and keeping of this treasure to be committed wholly unto the bishop of Rome,3 in whose power consisteth the dispensation of so great treasures, that he either by himself may give or grant, or otherwise give power unto other to give the same. And hereupon riseth the plenary, Indulgences and pardons granted by the Pope for certain years, by cardinals for 100. days, by bishops for 40. days. This is the judgement and opinion which they hold of the Indulgences. But I pray you, who taught those saints to work or deserve for other, but only Satan, who would utterly have the merits of Christ extinguished and blotted out, which he knoweth to be the only remedy of salvation? For if the Scripture do teach us that no man of himself can deserve or work their salvation,