A67927:1136
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.
And yet as long as they minister the word of God or his Sacraments or any thing that God hath ordained to the salvation of mankind, wherewith GOD hath promised to be present, to work with the ministration of the same to the end of the world, they be to be heard, to be obeyed, to be honoured for Gods ordinance sake, which is effectual and fruitful, whatsoever the minister be, though he be a Devil, and neither Church, nor member of the same, as Origene saith, and Chrysostom, so that it is not all one to honour them, and trust in them, Saint Hierome saith: but there is required a judgement, to discern when they minister Gods word and ordinance of the same, and their own, least peradventure we take chalk for cheese, which will edge our teethe, and hinder digestion. For as it is commonly said, the blind eateth many a fly, as they did which were persuaded à principibus sacerdotum ut peterent Barrabam, Jesum autem crucifige•ent. i. Of the high Priests, to ask Barabbas and to crucify Jesus: and ye know that to follow blind guides is to come into the pit with the same. And will you know, saith Saint Augustine, how apertly they resist Christ, when men begin to blame them for they• misliving, and intolerable secularity, & negligence? they dare not for shame blaspheme Christ himself, but they will blaspheme the ministers and preachers of whom they be blamed.
And yet as long as they minister the word of God or his Sacramentes or any thing that God hath ordeined to the saluation of mankinde, wherewith GOD hath promised to be present, to worke with the ministration of the same to the end of the world, they be to be heard, to be obeyed, to bee honoured for Gods ordinaunce sake, which is effectuall and fruitefull, whatsoeuer the minister be, though he bee a Deuill, and neyther Churche, nor member of the same, as Origene saith, and Chrisostome, so that it is not all one to honour them, and trust in them, Saynt Hierome sayth: but there is required a iudgement, to discerne when they minister Gods woorde and ordinaunce of the same, and theyr owne, least peraduenture we take chalke for cheese, whiche wyll edge our teethe, and hinder digestion. For as it is commonlye sayd, the blinde eateth many a flye, as they did which were perswaded à principibus sacerdotum vt peterent Barrabam, Iesum autem crucifige•ent. i. Of the high Priestes, to aske Barrabas and to crucify Iesus: and ye know that to followe blinde guides is to come into the pit with the same. And will you know, sayth Saynt Augustine, how apertly they resist Christ, when men beginne to blame them for they misliuing, and intollerable secularity, & negligence? they dare not for shame blaspheme Christ himselfe, but they will blaspheme the ministers and preachers of whome they be blamed.