N20568:5320
The new and complete book of martyrs; or, An universal history of martyrdom: being Fox's Book of martyrs, revised and corrected, with additions and great improvements. : Containing an authentic account of the lives, persecutions and sufferings of the holy martyrs; and the many dreadful persecutions against the Church of Christ in all parts of the world, by pagans, Jews, Turks, papists, and others, from earliest ages of the church to the present period. ... The whole forming at once a general Christian martyrology, and a complete history of persecutions. / By the Rev. Mr. John Fox, M.A. late of Magdalen College, Oxford. ; Now revised, corrected and improved, with many additional articles, relating to the acts and monuments of the church. By Paul Wright, D.D. ; Embellished with forty elegant copper plate engravings. ; In two volumes. Vol. I[-II].The new and complete book of martyrs; or, An universal history of martyrdom: being Fox's Book of marytrs, revised and corrected, with additions and great improvements. : Containing an authentic account of the lives, persecutions and sufferings of the holy martyrs; and the many dreadful persecutions against the Church of Christ in all parts of the world, by pagans, Jews, Turks, papists, and others, from earliest ages of the church to the present period. ... The whole forming at once a general Christian martyrology, and a complete history of persecutions. / By the Rev. Mr. John Fox, M.A. late of Magdalen College, Oxford. ; Now revised, corrected and improved, with many additional articles, relating to the acts and monuments of the church. By Paul Wright, D.D. ; Embellished with forty elegant copper plate engravings. ; In two volumes. Vol. I[-II].
New-York: printed by William Durell, 1794
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
4. WE believe, that there are contained in the Lord's prayer all things necessary both for body and soul, and that we are taught thereby to pray to our heavenly Father, and not to any saint or angel.
5. WE believe, that there is a catholic church, even the communion of saints, "built upon the foundation of the prophets and apostles, (as St. Paul saith) Christ being the head corner-stone. For which church Christ gave himself, to make it to himself a glorious congregation without fault in his sight."
6. WE believe, that this church of herself, and by her own merits, is sinful, and must needs say, Father forgive us our sins: but through Christ and his merits, she is freely forgiven: "For he in his own person (saith St. Paul) hath purged her sins, and made her faultless in his sight. Besides whom, there is no Saviour, saith the prophet: Neither is there salvation, saith St. Peter, in any other name."
7. WE believe as he is our only Saviour, so he is our only Mediator. For the apostle St. Paul saith, "There is one God, one Mediator between God and man, even the Man Jesus Christ." Wherefore seeing none hath this name God and Man but Jesus Christ, therefore there is no Mediator but Jesus Christ.
8. WE believe, that this church of Christ is and hath been persecuted, by the words of Christ, saying, "As they have persecuted me, so shall they persecute you: for the disciple is not above his master. For it is not only given unto you to believe in Christ, (saith St. Paul) but also to suffer for his sake. For all that will live godly in Christ Jesus, must suffer persecution."
9. WE believe, that the church of Christ teacheth the word of God truly and sincerely, putting nothing to, nor taking any thing from it: and also doth minister the sacraments according to the primitive church.
10. WE believe, that this church of Christ suffereth all men to read the scriptures, according to Christ's commandment, saying, "Search the scriptures, for they testify of me." We read also in the Acts, that when St. Paul preached, the audience daily searched the scriptures, whether he preached truly or no. Also the prophet David teacheth all men to pray with understanding: "For how shall the unlearned (saith St. Paul) say Amen, at the giving of thanks, when they understand not what is said?" And what is more allowed than true faith, which (St. Paul saith) "cometh by hearing of the word of God?"
11. WE believe, that the church of Christ teacheth that God ought to be worshipped according to his word, and not after the doctrine of men. "For in vain (saith Christ) you worship me, teaching nothing but the doctrine of men." Also we are commanded of God by his prophet, saying, "Walk not in the traditions and precepts of your elders: but walk (saith he) in my precepts: do what I command you: put nothing thereunto, neither take any thing from it." Likewise (saith Christ) "You shall forsake father and mother, and follow me." Whereby we learn, that if our elders teach otherwise than God commanded, in that point we must forsake them.
12. WE believe, that the supper of the Lord ought not to be altered and changed, forasmuch as Christ himself, being the wisdom of the Father, did institute it. For it is written, "Cursed is he that changeth my ordinances, and departeth from my commandments, or taketh any thing from them."
NOW we find by the scriptures, that this holy supper it sore abused.
FIRST, In that it is given in one kind, where Christ gave it in both.
SECONDLY, in that it is made a private mass, where Christ made it a communion. for he gave it not to one alone, but to all the apostles in the name of the whole church.
THIRDLY, In that it is made a sacrifice for the quick and the dead, whereas Christ ordained it for a remembrance of the everlasting sacrifice which was in his own body offered on the altar of the cross once for all, as the holy apostle saith, "Even the full and perfect price of our redemption: and where there is remission of sin, (saith he) there is no more sacrifice for sin."
FOURTHLY, In that it is worshipped contrary to the commandment. saying, "Thou shalt worship nothing that is made with hands.
FIFTHLY, In that it is given in an unknown tongue, whereby the people are ignorant of the right use thereof, how Christ died for our sins, and rose again for our justification, by whom we are set at peace with God, and received into his savour and mercy by his promise, whereof this sacrament is a sure seal and witness.
BESIDES this, it is hanged up, and shut in a box, many times so long, that worms breed in it, and so it putrefieth: whereby the rude people have an occasion to speak irreverently thereof, which otherwise would speak reverently.
BESIDES this, it is hanged up, and shut in a box, many times so long, that worms breed in it, and so it putrifieth: whereby the rude people have an occasion to speak irreverently thereof, which otherwise would speak reverently.
