A67927:1150
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 this he did to show us that his followers and Vicars should not regard nor set by the riches and treasures of this world,1 but after the saying of David we ought to take them, which saith thus: If riches, promotions, and dignity happen to a man, let him not set his affiance, pleasure, trust, & hart upon them. So that it is not against the poverty in spirit which Christ praiseth in the Gospel of Saint Matthew, chapter 5. to be rich, to be in dignity, and in honour, so that their hearts be not fixed and set upon them so much, that they neither care for GOD nor good man. But they be enemies to this poverty in spirit, have they never so little, that have greedy and desirous minds to the goods of this world, only because they would live after their own pleasure and lusts. And they also be privy enemies (and so much the worse) which have professed (as they say) wilful poverty, and will not be called worldly men. And they have Lords Lands, and kings riches, yea rather then they would lose one jot of that which they have, they will set debate between king and king,2 Realm and Realm, yea between the king and his Subjects, and cause rebellion against the Temporal power, to the which our Saviour Christ himself obeyed and payed tribute, as the Gospel declareth: unto whom the holy Apostle S. Paul teacheth every Christen man to obey. Yea and beside all this, they will curse and ban, as much as in them lieth, even into the deep pit of hell, all that gain say their appetite, whereby they think their goods, promotions, or dignities should decay.
But this he did to shew vs that his folowers and Uicars should not regard nor set by the riches and treasures of this worlde,1 but after the saying of Dauid we oughte to take them, which sayth thus: If riches, promotions, and dignity happen to a man, let him not set his affiaunce, pleasure, trust, & hart vpon them. So that it is not agaynst the pouertye in spirite which Christ prayseth in the Gospel of Saynt Mathew, chapter 5. to be rich, to be in dignity, and in honour, so that theyr hartes be not fixed and set vpō them so much, that they neither care for GOD nor good man. But they be enemies to this pouertye in spirite, haue they neuer so litle, that haue greedy and desirous mindes to the goodes of this worlde, onely because they woulde liue after theyr owne pleasure and lustes. And they also be priuy enemies (and so much the worse) which haue professed (as they say) wilfull pouerty, and will not be called worldly men. And they haue Lordes Landes, and kinges riches, yea rather then they would lose one iot of that whiche they haue, they will set debate betwene king and king,