A67926:760
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.
And as touching matrimony, God is himself the author thereof, who hath left it free for all men. Also Paul willeth a Minister of the Church to be the husband of one wife.
And as touching matrimonie, God is himselfe the author thereof, who hath left it free for all men. Also Paule willeth a Minister of the Church to be the husband of one wife.
And seeing that Bishops for money permit their Priests to have concubines, which is contrary both to Gods law, and to good example: why then might not they as well obey God in permitting lawful matrimony, which he hath ordained, as they to resist God in forbidding the same? The like is to be said also of women vowing chastity: of whom this they judge and suppose, that such kind of vows and coacted chastity, are not available nor allowed before God: and seeing that chastity is not all mens gift, better it were to marry (after their judgements) then filthily to live in single life.
And seeing that Byshops for money permitte theyr Priestes to haue concubines, which is contrary both to Gods law, and to good example: why then might not they as well obey God in permitting lawfull matrimony, which he hath ordeined, as they to resist God in forbidding the same? The like is to be said also of women vowing chastitie: of whome this they iudge and suppose, that such kind of vowes and coacted chastitie, are not auaylable nor alowed before God: and seeing that chastitie is not all mens gift, better it were to marrie (after their iudgemēts) then filthely to liue in single life.
As for Monasteries, and other houses of Canons, they were first given for relief only of the poor and needy,1 where as now they which inhabit them, are wealthy and able to live of their own patrimony, in such sort, as many times some one of them hath so much, as well might suffice a great number: Wherefore it seemeth to them, not unconuenient that those goods should be converted again to the use of the poor: Yet nevertheless they have used herein such moderation,