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.

Boners Oration in prayse of Priesthood.

WHerefore it is to be knowne that Priestes & Elders be worthy of all mē to be worshipped for the digni∣ty sake which they haue of God,* 1.1 as in Mat. 16. Whatsoeuer ye shall lose vpon earth. &c. And whatsoeuer you shall binde. &c. For a priest by some meanes is like Mary the Uirgin, and is shewed by three poyntes: As the blessed Uirgine by fiue wordes did conceiue Christ, as it is sayd: Luke. 1. Fiat mihi secundum verbū tuum: that is to say. Be it vnto me according to thy word:* 1.2 so the priest by 5. wordes doth make the verye body of Christe. Euen as immediately after the consent of Mary, Christ was all whole in her wombe: so immediat∣ly after the speaking of the wordes of consecration, y^e bread is transubstantiated into the very body of Christ. Second∣ly, as the Uirgin caried Christ in her armes, and layd him in an Oxe shall after his byrth: euen so the Priest after the consecration, doth lift vp the body of Christ, & placeth it, & caryeth it, and handleth it with his hands. Thyrdly, as the blessed Uirgin was sanctified before she was conceiued: so the Priest being ordeined & annoynted before he doth con∣secrate, because without orders he could cōsecrate nothing, therefore the lay man cannot do the thing, although he bee neuer so holy, and do speake the selfe same wordes of con∣secration. Therfore here is to be knowne, that the dignity of Priestes by some meanes passeth the dignity of angels,* 1.3 because there is no power geuen to any of the Aungels to make the body of Christ. Wherby the least priest may do in earth, that the greatest and highest Aungell in heauen can not do as S. Barnard sayth: O worshipful dignity of Priestes in whose hands the Sonne of God is, as in the wombe of the Vir∣gin he was incarnate. S. Augustine sayth, that Angels in the consecration of the sacred host do serue him, and the Lorde of heauen descendeth to him. Whereupon Saynt Ambrose vpon Saynt Luke sayth: Doubt thou not the Aungels to be where Christ is present vpon the Aultare. Wherefore Priestes are to be honoured before all kinges of the earth, Princes and Nobles. For a Priest is higher then a King,* 1.4 happyer then an Aungell, Maker of his Creator. Wherefore. &c.

It was declared a litle before, how Doct. Ridley was had from Fremingham to the Tower: where being in du∣raunce, and inuited to the Lieftenants table, he had certain talke or conference with Secretary Bourne M. Fecknam and other concerning the controuersies in religiō: y^t sūme whereof, as it was penned with his owne hand, hereafter ensueth.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.2

  Priestes com∣pared to the virgin Mary in three pointes.
• * 1.3

  Priesthood cō∣pared & prefer∣red before the state of Angels.
• * 1.4

  Blasphemy▪