A67926:5250
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.
The Prophet Isaiah in his fifth chapter, crieth out, saying. Woe be unto you which call evil good, and good evil, darkness, light, and light, darkness, sower, sweet, and sweet sower. And followeth in the same place, in the said Prophets, Woe, saith he, to you that be wise and Sapient in your own eyes, and prudent in your own estimation. No man can deny but that the Cardinal of Scotland and his adherents to be under this most heavy and grievous curse, when as they do so generally confound the Christian religion and their wicked Monkery, that they do entitle them both by one name of holiness, I trust I will make it appear more manifest then the day, that they do it by a sacrilegious audacity or boldness, unto such as setting a part all preposterous affection, will embrace the truth, when as she doth manifestly show her self.
The Prophet Esay in hys fift chapter, cryeth out, saying. Wo be vnto you which call euill good, and good euill, darkenesse, lyght, and lyght, darkenesse, sower, sweete, and sweete sower. And followeth in the same place, in the sayd Prophetes, Wo, sayth he, to you that be wise and Sapient in your owne eyes, and prudent in your owne estimation. No man can denye but that the Cardinall of Scotland and hys adherentes to be vnder this most heauy and grieuous curse, when as they doe so generally confound the Christian religion and their wicked Monkery, that they do entitle them both by one name of holinesse, I trust I will make it appeare more manifest then the day, that they do it by a sacrilegious audacitie or boldnesse, vnto such as settyng a parte all preposterous affection, wyll embrace the truth, when as she doth manifestlye shewe her selfe.
But before I enter into the matter, I will all men to understand, that I do not touch that kind of Monkery, which Saint Augustine and other so often make mention of: As in which the Monks being gathered together utterly, contemning and despising the vanities of this world, did lead a most chaste and godly life, living in prayer, reading, and disputations, not puffed up with pride, nor contentious with frowardness, neither full of envy, no man possessed any thing of his own, no man was chargeable or burdenous unto others, they wrought with their hands to get that which might sustain the body, the spirit and mind not let and hindered from God. Whatsoever did superabound more then was necessary for their sustentation, as by the restraint of their delicious and delicate fare, much did redound of the labours of their hands, it was with such diligence distributed unto the poor and needy, as it was not with greater diligence gotten by them which did give the same.