A67927:1202
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.
Therefore Christ said unto Peter, that upon this rock that is upon this his confession, that he was Christ the son of God, he would build his Church, to declare that without this faith, no man can come to Christ:1 so that this belief, that Christ is the son of God, is the foundation of our christianity, and the foundation of the church. Here you see upon what foundation Christs Church is built, not upon the frailty of man, but upon the stable and infallible word of God. Now as touching the lineal descent of the Bishops in the Sea of Rome true it is that the Patriarchs of Rome in the Apostles time,2 and long after was a great maintainer, and a setter forth of Christs glory, in the which above all other countries and regions there especially was preached the true Gospel, the sacraments were most duly ministered, and as before Christs coming, it was a City so valiant in prowess, and marshal affairs, that all the world was in a manner subject to it, and after Christs passion, and divers of the Apostles there suffered persecution for the Gospels sake: so after that the Emperors, their hearts being illuminated, received the gospel, and became Christians, the Gospel there, as well for the great power and dominion, as for the fame of the place flourished most,3 whereby the Bishops of the place were had in more reverence and honour, most esteemed in all counsels and assemblies, not because they acknowledged them to be their head, but because the place was most reverenced and spoken of, for the great power and strength of the same. As now here in England, the Bishop of Lincoln in Sessions and sittings, hath the preeminence of the other Bishops, not that he is the head and ruler of them: but for the dignity of the Bishopric (and therewith the people smiled.) Wherefore the Doctors in their writings, have spoken most reverently of this Sea of Rome and in their writings preferred it: and this is the prerogative, which your Lordship did rehearse, the ancient Doctors to give to the sea of Rome. Semblably, I cannot nor dare not but commend, reverence, and honour the sea of Rome,4 as long as it continued in the promotion, and setting forth of Gods glory and in due preaching of the Gospel, as it did many years after Christ.