A67927:1108
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 2] 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 2] 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.
If it would please his Lordship to take so great labour and pain at any time,1 as to come preach in my little Bishopric at Westkington, whether I were present or absent my self, I would thank his Lordship heartily, and think my self greatly bounden to him, that he of his charitable goodness would go so far to help to discharge me in my cure or else I were more ••naturall then a beast unreasonable nor yet I would dispute, contend or demand by what authority or where he had authority so to do, as long as his predication were fruitful, & to the edification of my parishioners. As for my lord may do as it pleaseth his lordship I pray God he do always as well as I would wish him ever to do: but I am sure S. Paul the true minister of god, & faithful dispenser of Gods mist & ries, right exemplar of all true and very bishops, saith in the first chapter to the Philippians, that in his time some preached Christ for envy of him, thinking thereby so to grieve him withal, and as it were to obscure him, and to bring his authority into contempt, some of good will and love, thinking thereby to comfort him: notwithstanding (saith he) by all manner of ways, and after all fashions, whether it be of occasion or of truth, as ye would say for truths sake so that Christ be preached and showed, I joy and will joy, so much he regarded more the glory of Christ, and promotion of Christs doctrine, to the edification of christen souls then the maintenance of his own authority, reputation and dignity, considering right well, as he said, that what authority so ever he had, it was to edification and not to destruction. Now I think it were no reproach to my lord but very commendable, rather to joy with saint Paul, & be glad that Christ be preached quovismodo, yea though it were for em•y, that is to say in disdain, despite and contempt of his Lordship (Which thing no man well advised will enterprise or attempt) then when the preaching can not be reproved justly, to demand of the preacher austerely as the Pharisees did of Christ, qua authoritate haec facis, aut quis dedit tibi istam autoritatem? as my authority is good enough, and as good as my Lord can give me any, yet I would be glad to have his also, if it would please his Lordship to be so good Lord unto me. For the university of Cambridge hath authority Apostolic,2 to admit. 12.