A67927:514
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.
Fear not the curse of men, be not afraid of their blasphemies and revilings, for worms and moths shall eat them up like cloth and wool, but my righteousness shall endure for ever, and my saving health from generation to generation Isaiah 51.
Feare not the curse of mē, be not afraid of their blasphemies and reuilings, for wormes and mothes shal eat them vp like cloth and woolle, but my righteousnesse shall endure for euer, and my sauing health from generation to generation Esay 51.
1Considering with my self these perilous times, perishing days▪ and the unconstant and miserable state of man, the decay of our faith, the sinister report and false slander of Gods most holy word, these urgent causes in conscience do constrain me to confess and acknowledge my faith and meaning in Christs holy Religion, as S. Peter teacheth me, saying: be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, and that with meekness and fear, having a good conscience, that when they backbite you as evil doers▪ they may be ashamed, forasmuch as they have falsely accused your good conversation in Christ.
1COnsidering with my selfe these pearillous times, pearishing daies▪ and the vnconstante and miserable state of man, the decay of our faith, the sinister reporte and false sclaunder of Gods most holy word, these vrgent causes in conscience do constraine me to confesse and acknowledge my faith and meaning in Christes holy Religion, as S. Peter teacheth me, saying: be readye alwayes to geue an aunswere to euerye man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, and that with meekenes and feare, hauing a good conscience, that when they backbite you as euill doers▪ they may be ashamed, for asmuche as they haue falsly accused your good conuersation in Christ.
As touching my doctrine, for that little talent that God hath given me, God I take to record, mine own conscience and mine auditory knoweth, that I neither in doctrine nor manners, willingly taught any other thing then I received of the holy Patriarchs, Prophets, Christ and his Apostles. For it were not only sin, but also the very part of a cursed miscreant, to deny, to be lye, or betray the innocency of that heavenly doctrine, or to be ashamed to confess and stand to the defence of the same, seeing that Christ planted it with his most precious blood: and all good men have more esteemed the true and infallible word of GOD, then all this transitory world, or their own mortal lives.1 And I believe this doctrine of the Patriarchs, Prophets, Christ and his Apostles to be sufficient and absolutely perfect to instruct and teach me, and all the holy Church, of our duties towards God, the Magistrates, and our neighbours
As touching my doctrine, for that little talent that God hath geuen mee, God I take to recorde, mine owne conscience and mine auditorie knoweth, that I neither in doctrine nor maners, willingly taughte any other thinge then I receiued of the holye Patriarckes, Prophetes, Christe and hys Apostles. For it were not onely sinne, but also the verye parte of a cursed miscreant, to denye, to be lye, or betraye the innocencye of that heauenlye doctrine, or to bee ashamed to confesse and stande to the defence of the same, seeing that Christe planted it with hys moste precious bloude: and all good menne haue more esteemed the true and infallible woorde of GOD, then all thys transitorye worlde, or their owne mortall liues.1 And I beleeue this doctrine of the Patriarkes, Prophetes, Christe and his Apostles to be sufficient and absolutely perfecte to instructe and teache mee, and all the holy Church, of our dueties towardes God, the Magistrates, and our neighbours
First, and principally I do assuredly believe without any doubting, that there is one Deity or Divine essence, and infinite substance. which is both called, and is in deed God everlasting, unbodilye, unpartible, unmeasurable in power, wisdom, and goodness, the maker and preserver of all things,1 as well visible as invisible: and yet there be three distinct persons, all of one Godhead or Divine being, and all of one power, coequal, consubstantial, coeternal, the Father, the Son, and the holy Ghost.
Firste, and principallye I do assuredly beleeue wythout any doubting, that there is one Deitie or Diuine essence, and infinite substaunce. which is both called, and is in dede God euerlasting, vnbodilye, vnpartible, vnmeasurable in power, wisedome, and goodnesse, the maker and preseruer of all thinges,1 as well visible as inuisible: and yet there be three distincte persones, all of one Godheade or Diuine beynge, and all of one power, coequall, consubstantiall, coeternell, the Father, the Sonne, and the holye Ghoste.
I believe in God the Father Almighty &c.1 As touching God the Father of heaven, I believe as much as holy Scripture teacheth me to believe. The Father is the first person in Trinity, first cause of our salvation, which hath blessed us with all manner of blessings in heavenly things by Christ: which hath chosen us before the foundations of the world were laid, that we should be holy and without blame before him: who hath predestinate us and ordained us to be his children of adoption,2 thorough Christ Jesus. In him, as it is said, we live, we move and have our being: he nourisheth, feedeth, and giveth meat to every creature.
I beleeue in God the Father Almightie &c.1 As touching God the Father of heauen, I beleeue as muche as holye Scripture teacheth mee to beleeue. The Father is the firste persone in Trinitie, first cause of our saluation, which hathe blessed vs with all maner of blessinges in heauenly thinges by Christe: whych hathe chosen vs before the foundations of the worlde were layde, that wee shoulde be holye and wythout blame before hym: who hath predestinate vs and ordained vs to bee his childrenne of adoption,2 thorough Christe Iesu. In hym, as it is sayde, we liue, wee mooue and haue oure being: he nourisheth, feedeth, and geueth meate to euery creature.
And in Jesus Christ his only son our Lord.1 I believe that the word, that is the Son of God the second person in Trinity, did take mans nature in the womb of the blessed Virgin Mary: So that there be in him two natures, a Divine nature, and an human nature, in the unity of parson inseparable,2 conjoined and knit in one Christ, truly God and truly man, the express and perfect Image of the invisible God,3 wherein the will of God the Father shineth apparently, and wherein man, as it were in a glass, may behold what he ought to do, that he may please God the Father.
And in Iesus Christe his onely sonne our Lorde.1 I beleue that the woorde, that is the Sonne of God the seconde person in Trinitie, did take mannes nature in the wombe of the blessed Virgine Marie: So that there be in hym two natures, a Diuine nature, and an humaine nature, in the vnitie of parson inseparable,2 conioyned and knitte in one Christe, truely God and truely man, the expresse and perfecte Image of the inuisible God,3 wherin the will of God the Father shineth apparantly, and wherein man, as it were in a glasse, may beholde what he ought to doe, that he maye please God the Father.
Borne of the Virgin Mary: truly suffering his Passion, crucified, dead and buried, to the intent to bring us again into favour with God the Father almighty, and to be a sacrifice, host and oblation, not only for original sin, but also for all actual sins of the whole generation of mankind. For all the works, merits, deservings, doings,1 and obedience of man towards God, although they be done by the spirit of God, in the grace of God, yet being thus done, be of no validity, worthiness, nor merit before God, except God for his mercy and grace, account them worthy for the worthiness and merits of Christ Jesus.
Borne of the Virgine Marie: truelye sufferinge his Passion, crucified, deade and buryed, to the entent to bring vs againe into fauoure wyth God the Father almightie, and to be a sacrifice, hoste and oblation, not onely for originall sinne, but also for all actuall sinnes of the whole generation of mankinde. For all the woorkes, merites, deseruings, doinges,1 and obedience of man towards God, althoughe they be done by the spirite of God, in the grace of God, yet being thus done, be of no validitie, worthine, nor merite before God, except God for his mercy and grace, accoumpte them woorthye for the woorthinesse and merytes of Christ Iesus.
The same Christ went down to the hells, and truly rose again the third day, and ascended into the heavens, that he might there still reign and have dominion over all creatures: and from thence shall come. &c.
The same Christ went downe to the helles, and truely rose againe the thirde day, and ascended into the heauēs, that he might there stil raigne and haue dominion ouer all creatures: and from thence shall come. &c.
I believe in the holy Ghost, coequal with God the Father and the Son, and proceeding from them both: by whose virtue, strength and operation, the true Catholic Church, which is the Communion and society of Saints, is guided in all truth & verity, & kept from all errors & false doctrine, the devil, & all power of sin. Which Church is sanctified and hallowed with the precious blood, and spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ:1 which hath also her sign and mark, that she heareth and followeth the voice of her only and true pastor Christ, and no strangers. This church also is the house of God, the congregation of the living God, the pillar of truth, the lively body of Christ, a Church both in name and in deed.
I beleue in the holy Ghost, coequall with God the Father and the Sonne, and proceeding from them bothe: by whose vertue, strength and operation, the true Catholicke Church, which is the Communion and societie of Saintes, is guided in all truthe & veritie, & kept frō al errors & fals doctrine, the deuill, & all power of sinne. Which Church is sanctified and halowed with the precious bloude, and spirite of our Lorde Iesus Christe:1 whiche hathe also her signe and mark, that she heareth and foloweth the voice of her only and true pastour Christ, and no strangers. This church also is the house of God, the congregation of the liuing God, the piller of truth, the liuely body of Christe, a Church both in name and in deede.
I believe the remission of sins, by the only means and merits of Christs death & passion:1 who made unto us of God that only sacrifice and oblation offered once for all and for ever, for all them that be sanctified.
I beleue the remission of sinnes, by the only meanes and merites of Christes death & passion:1 who made vnto vs of God that onely sacrifice and oblation offered once for all and for euer, for all them that be sanctified.
I believe the resurrection of the body, whereby in the last day all men shall rise again from death, the souls joined again to the bodies, the good to everlasting life,1 the wicked to everlasting pain and punishment. And nothing may more certainly stablish & confirm our faith, that we shall rise again immortal both in body & soul, than the resurrection of Christ our Saviour, and first fruits of the dead. Now that Christ our head is risen, we being his body and members, must follow our head. Death, hell, and sin, cannot sunder nor pluck us from him. For as the Son can not be divided nor sundered from the Father, nor the holy Ghost from them both, no more may we being the faithful members of Christ, be separated from Christ. And for a confirmation of our resurrection,2 Christ would be seen after his resurrection in his most glorious body, his wounds being handled and felt, speaking and teaching, eating and drinking▪ &c. We look (sayeth S. Paul) for Jesus Christ our Saviour, which shall transfigure our vile bodies, & conform them to his glorious body by the same power ⟨p. 1707⟩and virtue, wherewith he is able to subdue all things: even like as the grain of wheat sown in the ground, is first putrefied and brought as into a thing of nought, yet after that it springeth up freshly with a more goodly colour, form and beauty then it had before The body is sown in corruption,3 and riseth in incorruption: it is sown in dishonour, and riseth in honour.
I beleue the resurrection of the body, whereby in the last day al men shal rise again from death, the soules ioyned againe to the bodies, the good to euerlasting life,1 the wicked to euerlasting pain and punishmēt. And nothing may more certainly stablish & confirme our faith, that we shall rise againe immortal both in body & soule, thē the resurrection of Christ our Sauiour, and first fruites of the deade. Nowe that Christe our head is risen, we beynge hys body and members, must follow our head. Death, hell, and sinne, cannot sunder nor plucke vs from him. For as the Sonne can not be deuided nor sundred from the Father, nor the holy Ghost frō them bothe, no more maye wee beinge the faithfull members of Christ, be separated from Christ. And for a confirmation of our resurrection,
Thus I verily know, and assuredly believe the resurrection of our bodies,1 and to have life eternal by Christ, and for Christs sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you (saith Christ,) he that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life,2 and shall not come into damnation, but is escaped from death to life. It is Christ that died once for our sins, and is risen again, never more to die: it is he that swallowed up death, & hath cast it under his feet for ever. What now can death do unto us? Verily nothing else,3 but for a little time separate our precious souls from our wretched bodies, that divine substance from a mass of sin, that eternal life from a body of death, and so send our souls out of this miserable, wretched and sorrowful life, cumbered with all calamities, unto that most blessed felicity and joys eternal.
Thus I verely know, and assuredly beleue the resurrection of oure bodies,1 and to haue life eternall by Christ, and for Christes sake. Verely, verely, I say vnto you (sayth Christ,) he that heareth my woorde, and beleeueth on him that sent me, hath euerlasting life,2 and shall not come into damnation, but is escaped frō death to life. It is Christe that died once for oure sinnes, and is risen againe, neuer more to die: it is he that swallowed vp death, & hath cast it vnder his feete for euer. What now can death do vnto vs? Verelye nothing els,3 but for a little time separate oure precious soules from oure wretched bodies, that diuine substaunce from a masse of sinne, that eternall life from a body of death, and so send our soules oute of this miserable, wretched and sorrowfull lyfe, combred with all calamities, vnto that moste blessed felicitie and ioyes eternall.
1As concerning the holy and reverend Sacraments of Christs Church, which be in number two, the Sacrament of Baptism, and the Supper of the Lord, I believe them to be as S. Paul calleth them, confirmations or seals of Gods promises, which have added to them a promise of grace,2 and therefore they are called visible signs of invisible grace.
1As concerning the holy and reuerende Sacraments of Christes Churche, which be in number two, the Sacrament of Baptisme, and the Supper of the Lord, I beleeue them to be as S. Paul calleth them, confirmations or seales of Gods promises, whiche haue added to them a promise of grace,2 and therfore they are called visible signes of inuisible grace.
The Sacrament of Baptism is a mark of Christs Church, a seal and confirmation of our acception into the grace & favour of God for Christs sake. For his innocency, his righteousness, his holiness, his justice, is ours, given us of God, and our sins and unrighteousness, by his obedience and abasing of him self to the death of the cross, are his, whereof Baptism is the sign, seal, and confirmation.
The Sacrament of Baptisme is a marke of Christes Church, a seale and confirmation of our acception into the grace & fauour of God for Christes sake. For his innocencie, his righteousnesse, his holinesse, his iustice, is ours, geuen vs of God, and our sinnes and vnrighteousnesse, by his obedience and abasing of him selfe to the death of the crosse, are his, whereof Baptisme is the signe, seale, and confirmation.
Baptism is also a sign of repentance, to testify that we be borne to the waves of perils, and changes of life, to the intent that we should die continually as long as we live from sin, and rise again like new men unto righteousness. Rom. 6.
Baptisme is also a signe of repentaunce, to testifie that we be borne to the waues of pearils, and chaunges of life, to the intent that we should die continually as lōg as we liue from sinne, and rise againe like new men vnto righteousnesse. Rom. 6.
