A67927:1122
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.
But as to my presumption and arrogancy: either I am certain or uncertain that it is trueth that I preach, If it be truth, why may not I say so, to courage my hearers to receive the same more ardently, and ensue it more studiously? If I be uncertain, why dare I be so bold to preach it? And if your friends in whom ye trust so greatly, be preachers themselves, after their sermon I pray you ask them whether they be certain and sure that they taught you the truth or no, and send me word what they say, that I may learn to speak after them. If they say they be sure, ye know what followeth: If they say they be unsure, when shall you be sure that hath so doubtful teachers and unsure? And you your selves, whether are you certain or uncertain, that Christ is your saviour, and so forth of other articles that ye be bounden to believe,1 or whether be ye sure or unsure, that civil ordinances be the good works of God, and that you do God service in doing of them, if ye do them for good intent: if ye be uncertain, take heed he be your sure friend that heareth you say so, and then, with what conscience do you doubt: Cum quicquid non est ex fide, peccatum sit? But contrary say you, alonely God knoweth certain truth, and ye have it but per speculum in enigmate:2 and there have bene, qui zelum Dei habuerunt, sed non secundum scientiam: and to call this or that truth, it requireth a deep knowledge, considering that to you unlearned, that you take for truth may be otherwise, not having sensus exercitatos (as Paule sayth) ad discernendum bonum & malum, as ye reason against me, and so you do best to know surely nothing for truth at all,3 but to wander meekly hither and thither, omni vento doctrinae. &c. Our knowledge here, you say, is but per speculum in enigmate? What then? Ergo it is not certain and sure?
But as to my presumption and arrogancye: eyther I am certayne or vncertayne that it is trueth that I preache, If it bee truth, why may not I say so, to courage my hearers to receaue the same more ardently, and ensue it more studiously? If I be vncertaine, why dare I be so bold to preache it? And if your frends in whom ye trust so greatly, be preachers themselues, after their sermon I pray you aske them whether they be certayne and sure that they taught you the truth or no, and sende me worde what they say, that I may learne to speake after them. If they say they be sure, ye know what followeth: If they say they be vnsure, whē shall you be sure that hath so doubtful teachers and vnsure? And you your selues, whether are you certayne or vncertayne, that Christ is your sauiour, and so foorth of other articles that yee be bounden to beleeue,