A67926:5518
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.
It is a great error of them which come to the holy housel trusting upon this, that they are confessed, that their conscience grudgeth them of no deadly sin, that they have said their prayers, and done such other preparatives before: all those do eat & drink to their own judgement▪ But if they believe there to obtain Gods grace, this faith maketh them pure and worthy. It were good that the church should determine in a general council, lay men to communicate under both kinds: & the Bohemians so doing, be therein neither heretics, nor schismatics. The treasures out of which the Pope doth grant his Indulgences, are not the merits of Christ, nor of the Saints. Indulgences and pardons be a devout seducing of the faithful, and hinderance to good works: and are in the number of them which be things *lawful, but not expedient. Pardons and Indulgences to them which have them, avail not to remission of the punishment due before God, for actual sins committed. They which think that Indulgences are wholesome and conducible to the fruit of the spirit, are deceived. Indulgences are only necessary for public transgressions, & are only granted to them that are obstinate and impatient. Indulgences and pardons are unprofitable to 6. sorts of persons. 1. to them that be dead, or lye in dying. 2. to them that be we•• and infirm. 3. to such as have lawful impediments. 4. to them that have not offended. 5. to such as have offended▪ but not publicly. 6. to those that amend and do well. ⟨p. 1282⟩Excommunications be only outward punishments, and do not deprive a man of the public spiritual prayers of the Church.2 Christians are to be taught rather to love excommunication, then to dread it. The bish. of Rome, successor of Peter, is not the vicar of Christ, ordained by Christ and S. Peter, to have authority over all the churches in the world. The words of Christ to Peter, Whatsoever thou loosest, &c. Math 16. extend no further, but only to those things, which be bound of Peter himself. It is not in the hands either of the church, or of the Pope, to make articles of the faith, yea, or laws either of manners, or good works. Albeit the Pope with a great part of the church, teaching so or so, did not err therein: