Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol. 2, part 1] 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.

The doctrine of Faith.

FAith is to beleue God, like as Abraham beleeued God, and it was imputed vnto him for rightuousnesse.* 1.1

To beleue God, is to beleue hys word and to recount it true that he sayeth.

He that beleeueth not Gods worde, beleeueth not God himselfe.

He that beleueth not Gods word, he counteth hym false and a lier, and beleeueth not that he may and wil fulful his worde, and so he denieth both the might of God, and God himselfe.

The 9. proposition.

* 1.2¶Faith is the gift of God.

Argument.

• Da- Euery good thing is the gift of God.
• * 1.3ri- Faith is good.
• j. Ergo, faith is the gift of God.

* 1.4The 10 proposition.

¶Faith is not in our power.

Argument.

• * 1.5Da- The gift of God is not in our power.
• ri. Faith is the gift of God.
• j. Ergo, faith is not in our power.

The 11. proposition.

* 1.6¶He that lacketh faith, can not please God.

Without faith, it is impossible to please God. Rom 14. All that commeth not of faith, is sinne, for without faith can no man please God. Heb. 11.

Induction.* 1.7

• Hee that lacketh faith, trusteth not God: hee that trusteth not God, trusteth not his word: he that trusteth not his word, holdeth him false and a lier: he that holdeth him false and a lier, beleeueth not that he may doe that he promiseth, and so denieth he, that he is God.
• Ergo, a primo ad vltimum, he that lacketh faith, can not please God.
• ...If it were possible for any man to do all the good deedes that euer were done, either of men or aungels: yet being in this case, it is impossible for him to please God.

* 1.8The 12. proposition.

¶All that is done in faith, pleaseth God.

Right is the word of God, and all his workes in faith. Psal. 33.

Lorde thine eies looke to faith: that is as much to say, as Lorde thou delightest in faith. Ier 5.

The 13. proposition.* 1.9

¶He that hath faith, is iust and good.

Argument.

• Da. He that is a good tree, bringing forth good fruit,* 1.10 is iust and good.
• ri. He that hath faith, is a good tree bringing forth good fruite.
• j. Ergo, he that hath faith, is iust and good.* 1.11

The 14 proposition.

¶He that hath faith, and beleueth God,* 1.12 can not displease him.

Induction.

• He that hath faith, beleeueth God: he that beleueth God,* 1.13 belee∣ueth his word, he that beleeueth his word, wotteth well that he is true and faithfull, and may not lie, knowing that he both may and will fulfill his word:
• Ergo, a primo ad vltimum, hee that hath faith, can not displease God: neither can any man doe a greater honour to God, then to count him true.

Obiection.

Thou wilt then say, that thefte, murther, aduoutry, and all vices, please God.* 1.14

Answere.

Nay verely, for they can not be done in faith: for a good tree beareth good fruit. Mat. 7.12.* 1.15

The 15. proposition.

¶Faith is a certainty or assurednesse.* 1.16

Faith is a sure confidence of thinges which are hoped for, and certaintie of things which are not seene. Heb. 11.

The same spirite certifieth oure spirite, that we are the children of God. Rom. 8. Moreouer, he that hathe faithe, wotteth well that God will fulfill his word. Whereby it appeareth, that faith is a cer∣taintie or assurednesse.

A man is iustified by faith.

ABraham beleeued God, and it was imputed vnto hym for righteousnesse. Rom. 4.* 1.17

We suppose therfore that a man is iustified by faith with∣out the deedes of the law. Rom. 3. Gal. 2.

He that worketh not but beleeueth on him that iustifi∣eth the wicked, his fayth is counted to him for righteous∣nes. Rom. 4.

The iust man liueth by his fayth. Abac. 2. Rom. 1.

We wotte that a man is not iustified by the deedes of the law: but by the fayth of Iesus Christ: and we beleue in Iesu Christ, that we may be iustified by the faith of Christ and not by the deedes of the law. Gal. 2.

What is the fayth of Christ.

THe fayth of Christ is to beleue in him, that is, to beleue his word,* 1.18 and beleeue that he will helpe thee in all thy neede, and deliuer thee from all euill.

Thou wilt aske me, what word? I aunswere, the Gos∣pell.

He that beleueth in Christ, shalbe saued. Marke 16.

He that beleueth y^e sonne, hath euerlasting life. Iohn 3.

Uerely I say vnto you, he that beleueth in me hath e∣uerlasting life. Iohn 6.

This I write vnto you, that you beleeue on the sonne of GOD, that ye may know how y^t ye haue eternall life. 1. Iohn. 5.

Thomas, because thou hast seen me, therfore hast thou beleued. Happy are they which haue not sene, and yet haue beleued in me. Iohn. 22.

All the Prophetes to him beare witnes, that whosoe∣uuer beleeueth in him, shall haue remission of their sinnes. Actes. 10.

What must I doe that I may be saued? The Apostles aunswered: Beleeue in the Lorde Iesus Christ, and thou shalt be saued. Act. 16.

If thou knowledge with thy mouth that Iesus is the Lord, and beleeuest with thine hart that God raysed hym from death, thou shalt be safe Rom. 10.

He that beleueth not in Christ, shall be condemned.

He that beleueth not the sonne, shall neuer see lyfe, but the ire of God, bydeth vpon him. Iohn. 3.

The holy Ghost shall reproue the world of sinne, be∣cause they beleue not in me. Iohn. 16.

They that beleue Iesu Christ, are the sonnes of God.

Ye are all the sonnes of God, because ye beleue in Ie∣su Christ. 1. Iohn. 3.

He that beleueth that Christ is the sonne of God, is safe. Iohn. 1.

Peter sayd, thou art Christ the sonne of the liuing God, Iesus answered and sayde vnto him, happy art thou Sy∣mon the sonne of Ionas, for flesh and bloud haue not ope∣ned to thee that: but my father that is in heauen. Mat. 16.

We haue beleued, and knowe that thou art Christe, the sonne of the liuing God.

I beleue that thou art Christ the sonne of God, whyche should come into the world. Iohn 11.

These things are written that yee might beleeue, that Iesus is Christ the sonne of God, and that ye in beleuing, might haue life. Iohn 20.

I beleue that Iesus is the sonne of God. Act. 8.

The 16. proposition.

* 1.19He that beleueth the Gospel, beleueth God.

Argument.

• ...Da. He that beleueth Gods word, beleueth God.
• ...* 1.20ri. The Gospel is Gods word.
• ...j. Ergo, he that beleueth the Gospel, beleueth God.

To beleue the Gospel is this:

• That Christ is the Saui∣our of the world. Iohn 4.
• Christ is our Sauiour. Luke 2.
• Christ bought vs with his bloud. Heb. 13. 1. Pet. 1. Apo. 5
• Christ washed vs with his bloud. Apoc. 1.
• Christ offered himselfe for vs. Heb. 9.
• Christ bare our sinnes on his owne backe, &c. 1. Pet. 2.

* 1.21The 17. proposition.

He that beleueth not the Gospel, beleueth not God.

Argument.

• Fe. He that beleueth not Gods word beleueth not God himselfe.
• * 1.22ri. The Gospel is Gods worde.
• o. Ergo, he that beleueth not the Gospel, beleueth not God him selfe,* 1.23 and consequently he that beeleueth not those things aboue wrytten and such other, beleueth not God.

The 18. proposition.

* 1.24He that beleueth the Gospel, shalbe safe.

Go ye into all the worlde and preache the Gospell, vnto euery creature: he that beleueth and is baptised, shalbe saued, but he that beleueth not, shalbe condemned. Mark. 16.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The doc∣trine of faith.
• * 1.2

  The 9. pro∣position.
• * 1.3

  Maior. Minor. Conclus.
• * 1.4

  The 10. proposition.
• * 1.5

  Maior. Minor. Conclus.
• * 1.6

  The 11. proposition.
• * 1.7

  An argu∣ment called Inductio.
• * 1.8

  The 12. pro¦position.
• * 1.9

  The 13. propo∣sition.
• * 1.10

  Maior.
• * 1.11

  Minor. Conclus.
• * 1.12

  The 14. propo∣sition.
• * 1.13

  Inductio.
• * 1.14

  Obiection.
• * 1.15

  Aunswere.
• * 1.16

  The 15. propo∣sition.

  A definition of faith. Heb. 11.
• * 1.17

  Iustification by faith.
• * 1.18

  Faith in Christ▪ what it is.
• * 1.19

  The 16. propo∣sit••on.
• * 1.20

  Maior. Minor. Conclus.
• * 1.21

  The 17. propo∣sition.
• * 1.22

  Maior.
• * 1.23

  Minor. Conclus.
• * 1.24

  The 18. proposi∣tion.