A67926:5238
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.
Whatsoever I command saith the Lord, that you shall observe and do: thereunto you shall add nothing, neither shall you take any thing from it. The like he had said before in the fourth chapter of the same book. And again Moses in the xxx. chapter of the same book doth witness, that he did put forth life, and blessing unto Israel, ⟨p. 1264⟩when as he gave them that law which he had received of the Lord.1 How can they then excuse themselves of perjury, which ordain new laws to live by? But let us proceed further, and see what authority the Priests of Levies stock had to make laws. I do not deny but that God in the xvij. chapter of Deuteronomy, ordained under a great penalty, that the authority of the Priests should not be contemned, but had in reverence. But in the ij. of Malachi. He also declareth under what condition they are to be heard, where as he saith: he hath made a covenant with Levi, that the law of truth should be in his mouth, and by and by after he added: the lips of the Priest shall keep and maintain wisdom, and the law they shall require at his mouth, which is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. Therefore it is fit and necessary that if a Priest will be heard, that he do show himself the messenger of God, that is to say, faithfully to report and declare the commandments which he hath received of the Lord. For where as Malachi speaketh of hearing of them, he putteth this specially that they do answer according to the law of the Lord. Therefore like as the Levitical Priests did break their covenant made with GOD, if they do teach any other law then that which they had received of him: So likewise these men must either acknowledge themselves to be covenant breakers, or else they may not bind the consciences of men with no new law.
Whatsoeuer I commaund sayth the Lorde, that you shall obserue and doe: thereunto you shall adde nothing, neyther shall you take any thyng from it. The lyke he had sayd before in the fourth chapter of the same booke. And agayne Moyses in the xxx. chapiter of the same booke doth witnesse, that he dyd put foorth lyfe, and blessing vnto Israell, ⟨p. 1264⟩when as he gaue them that lawe which he had receiued of the Lord.1