A67926:837
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.
Unto your questions propounded to me in your former letters (well be loved brother.1) I have sent you here mine answer. First I am also in the same mind with you, that the Lords supper is a very thanks giving: for so the Apostle him self meaneth, saying: Ye shall show forth the Lords death.2 Where the word of showing forth, signifieth as much as praising, or thanks giving. Wherefore, seeing it is an Eucharist, or a thanks giving, in my judgement no other thing ought to be obtruded to mens consciences, but only with due reverence to give thanks. Nevertheless, yet this is not t• be neglected, that every man do prove and examine him self, for so we ought to search and ask our own consciences, what faith we have in Christ Jesus, which if it be sound and sincere, we may approach without stay, to this thanks giving. For he that hath no faith, & yet feigneth or pretendeth to have, eateth his own judgement: for he lieth to the holy Ghost. And whereas you suppose, that Paul in this place doth not reprove them which sit at the table eating of meats offered to Idols, I dissent from you therein. For Paul a little before writeth vehemently against those arrogant persons which bragging upon their knowledge, thought they might lawfully eat of such meats offered to Idols, sitting and eating at the Lords table: You can not (sayeth he) be partakers both of the Lords table, and the table of devils. &c. Wherefore Saint Pauls meaning is, that every one should try and examine himself what faith he hath. Whereupon it followeth, that he which hath a right faith, must have no part nor fellowship with those things, which be given to Idols, for he is now a member of another body, that is, of Christ:3 so that he can not join him self now to be one body with Idolaters. And therefore those be they which do not judge or discern the Lords body, that make no difference between the Church of Christ, and the Church of Idolaters. For they which sit at the Lords table eating of Idol meats, do make no difference at all between the Lords supper,4 and the supper of the devil, which be they whom Paul saith, not to judge the body of the Lord, that is, which make no discrepance, nor give any more regard to Christs Church, then to the church of devils.