A67926:563
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.
Book 7 › Letter: ¶ The Emperors letter.Book 7 › Letter: ¶ The Emperours letter.
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.
1Then he frankly pronounced, that he had not reproved all Councils, but only the council of Constance, and for this principal cause, for that the same had condemned the word of GOD, which appeared in the condemnation of this article proponed by John Hus: The Church of Christ is the Communion of the predestinate. It is evident (said he) that the Council of Constance abolished this Article, and consequently the Article of our faith: I believe the holy church universal: and said that he was ready to spend life and blood,2 so he were not compelled to revoke the manifest word of God, for in defence thereof we ought rather to obey God then men: And that in this he could not avoid the scandal, or offence of faith, for there be two manner of offences, to wit, of charity, and of faith. The slander of charity consisteth in manners and in life. The offences of faith or doctrine rest in the word of God: and as touching this last, he could escape it no manner of ways, for it lay not in his power to make Christ not to be a stone of offence. If Christs sheep were fed with pure pasture of the gospel, if the faith of Christ were sincerely preached, and if there were good Ecclesiastical magistrates who duly would execute their office: we should not need (saith he) to charge the Church with mens traditions. Further, that he knew well we ought to obey the Magistrates and higher powers, how unjustly and perversely so ever they lived. We ought also to be obedient to their laws and judgements: all which he had taught (said he) in all his works, adding further that he was ready to obey them in all points, so that they enforced him not to deny the word of God.
1Then he franckely pronounced, that he had not reprooued all Councels, but onely the councel of Constance, and for this principall cause, for that the same had condemned the word of GOD, which appeared in the condemnation of this article proponed by Iohn Hus: The Church of Christ is the Communion of the predestinate. It is euident (sayde he) that the Councell of Constance abolished this Article, and consequently the Article of our fayth: I beleue the holy churche vniuersall: and sayd that he was ready to spend life and bloud,2 so he were not cōpelled to reuoke the manifest word of God, for in defence therof we ought rather to obey God then men: And that in this he could not auoid the scandall, or offence of fayth, for there bee two maner of offences, to wit, of charity, and of fayth. The slaunder of charity consisteth in maners and in life. The offences of fayth or doctrine rest in the word of God: and as touching this last, he could escape it no maner of wayes, for it lay not in his power to make Christ not to be a stone of offence. If Christes sheepe were fedde with pure pasture of the gospell, if the fayth of Christ were sincerely preached, and if there were good Ecclesiasticall magistrates who duely would execute theyr office: we shoulde not neede (sayth he) to charge the Church with mens traditions. Further, that he knew wel wee ought to obey the Magistrates and higher powers, how vniustly and peruersly so euer they liued. We oughte also to be obedient to theyr lawes and iudgementes: all which he had taught (sayd he) in all his works, adding further that he was ready to obey them in all poyntes, so that they enforced him not to deny the word of God.