A67926:5251
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.
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.
But before I enter into the matter, I will all men to vnderstand, that I do not touche that kynd of Monkery, whiche Saint Augustine and other so often make mention of: As in which the Monkes beyng gathered together vtterly, contemnyng and despising the vanities of this world, dyd lead a most chaste and godly lyfe, liuyng in prayer, readyng, and disputations, not puffed vp wyth pryde, nor contentious with frowardnesse, neyther full of enuie, no man possessed any thing of hys owne, no man was chargeable or burdenous vnto others, they wrought with theyr handes to gette that which might sustayne the body, the spirit and mynd not let and hindered from God. Whatsoeuer did superabound more then was necessarye 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 vnto ye poore and nedy, as it was not with greater diligence gotten by them which did geue the same.
For they by no means went about to have abundance lying by them, but sought all means possible that nothing should remain by them more then sufficient, besides this, no man was forced to any extremity, which he could not bear or suffer, no man had any thing laid upon him, which he refused, neither was he condemned of the rest, which confessed himself unable to imitate or follow: they had always in their mind how commendable a thing love and charity was, they remembered that all things are clean unto them which are clean. Therefore they did not refuse or reject any kinds of meat as polluted or defiled: but all their whole industry and labour was applied to subdue lust and concupiscence, and to retain love amongst brethren. Many of them did drink no wine, yet notwithstanding they thought not themselves defiled therewithal. For unto such as were sick and diseased, who could not recover the health of their body without the same, they did most gently permit it. And where as many foolishly refused the same, they brotherly admonished them to take heed that they became not rather the weaker then the holier, thorough their vain superstition.