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 second Caution or danger to be auoyded is, that we nowe knowing how to discerne rightly betweene the lawe and the Go∣spel, and hauing intelligence not to mistake the one for the other,* 1.1 must take hede againe, that we breake not the order betwene these two, taking and applying the lawe, where the Gospel is to be ap∣plied, either to our selues, or toward other. For albeit the law and the Gospel, many times are to be ioyned together in order of do∣ctrine: yet case may fall sometimes, that the lawe must be vtterly sequestred from the Gospell. As when any person or persones doe feele them selues, with the maiestie of the lawe,* 1.2 and iudgement of God so terrified and oppressed, and with the burdenne of theyr sinnes ouerweyed and throwen downe into vtter discomfort, and almost euen to the pitte of hell, as hapneth many times, to soft and timorous consciences of Gods good seruaunts: when such mor∣tified hearts do heare either in preaching, or in reading, any such example or place of the Scripture, whiche pertaineth to the lawe,* 1.3 let them thinke the same nothing to belōg to them, no more then a mourning weede belongeth to a mariage feaste: and therefore, remouing vtterly out of their minds all cogitation of the lawe, of feare, of iudgemente, and condemnation, let them onely set before their eyes the Gospel, the sweete comfortes of Gods promise, free forgeuenes of sinnes in Christe, grace, redemption, liberty, reioy∣cing, Psalmes, thanks, singing, and a Paradise of spiritual iocundi∣ty, and nothing els: thinking thus with them selues,* 1.4 that the lawe hath done his office in them already, and nowe must needes geue place to his better, that is, must nedes geue roume to Christe the sonne of God, who is the Lorde and maister, the fulfiller, and also the finisher of the law: for the end of the law, is Christ. Rom. 10.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The second cau∣tion.
• * 1.2

  Who they be to whō the Gospel onely belōgeth.
• * 1.3

  A mourning gowne in a place of mariage doth not agree.
• * 1.4

  Christ the ful∣filler, & also the finisher of the lawe.