A Comfortable Epistle to Gods Faithful People in England

The Epistle. The first Chapter.

TO the faithful Christians / wheresoever they be dispersed thorowoute the realm of England / Thomas Becon wis •… heth / grace / mercy and peace from God the father / with perfect knowledge of his dearly beloved son Jesus Christ our Lord / and alone savior thorough the halowinge of the holy Ghoste / unto the true and unfeigned obedience off God's moste blessed will / with an earnest faith in the merciful promises of God / and assured hope of obtayninge the same / unto everlasting life. AMEN.

IT greatly rejoiceth me (mos •… e dear brethren) to hear of this youre constancye and steadfastness in believing & confessing the glorious Gospel of our savior Jesus Christ (which as the apostle saith / is the power of God to save so many as believe) namely in these perilous and troublesome days / wherein we se so many sturte back and run away from the cō fession of God's truth (which whan the weather was calm / they seemed constantly to profess) and follow the fond fantasyes of men / that speak not God's word, but their own drowsy dreams and idle imagi nations brought into the church of Christ by suttle Satan and his marked marchaū te •… / unto the great disturbance of the Chri sten common wealth / so that / if it were possible / the very elect and chosen people off God / thorough their •… ugsing might be seduced and led from the way of truth. As ye have godly begun / so manfully go forth unto the ende / that ye may receive a full joy and a perfect reward of the Lord your God in that day / whan he gloriously shall appear and render to everyone according to his deeds / that is to say / praise / honor / and immortalite to them / which continue in good doing and seek eternal life. But unto them that are rebellious and disobey the truth and follow iniquity / shall come indignaciō / and wrath / tribulacion and anguish. But be it known unto you dear brethren / that this thing that hath happened unto us in this realm of England / I mean the taking away of God's true religion / and the thrusting in of pa •… istrye in the stead thereof / unto the great & unspeakable sorrow of all true Christian hearts / ought not to seme unto you new strange and vnloked for / but rather such a thing as hath hitherto many times been declared unto you by the preachers / and ye your selfs godly cōsydering the corrupt manners and vnluckye chaunces of this realm / did right well the same aforesee and greatly lament. For diverse signs had we longe before / besides the godly admonicions of the faithful preachers / which plainly declared unto us an utter subuersyon of the true Christian religiō to be at hand / except it were prevented by has •… ye and hartye repentance. What shall I speak of that godly and mighty prince Edward / duke of Somerset / which in the time of his Pro tectorship did so banyshe Idolatry out of this our realm / and bring in again God's true religiō / that it was wonder so weighty a matter to be brought to pass in so 〈◊〉 a time? Was not the ungentle handling of him / and the unrighteous thrustinge him out of office / and afterward the cruel mur thering of him / a man / yea / a mirror off true innocencye and Christian patience / an evident token of God's anger against us? The sudden taking away of those mo •… e goodly & verteous young Impes / the duke of Suffolk and his brother / by the sweating syckenesse / was it not also a manifes •… token of God's heavy displeasure toward 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 us? The death of those two most worthy & godly learned men / I speak of M. Paulus Fagius / & of D. Martin Bucer / was it not a sure Prognostication / some great mishappe / concerning Christian religion to be at hand? But as I may pass over many other / & at the last come unto that / which is moste lamentable / and can never be remembered of any true English heart / without large tears / I mean the death of our most godly Prince and Christian king Edward the. VI. that true Josiah / that earnest destroyer of false religion / that fervent setter up of God's true honor / that most bounteous Patron of the godly learned / that moste worthy mayntayner of good let ters and virtue / and that perfect & lively mirror of true nobili •… e and sincere godliness: was not the taking away of hi (alas for sorrow) assure sign and an evident tokē that some great evil hanged over this realm of England? Who considering these things (as I may speak nothing of the wicked nes of those mē / which made the word of God a cloke of their naughtiness / of their insatiable covetousness / of their intolerable pride, of their volupteous & wanton living. &c.) perceived not a shepwracke of the Christian religion too be at hand / as it is (alas for pytie) come to pass at this day? All good men feared the decay of God's true honor in this realm / that we feared / that hath chanced / howe could it otherwise come to pass? God's blessing was offered unto us▪ but we thorough our wicked and unthankfull life refused it. Shall not therefore blessing be taken away / & cursinge come in the place thereof? as it is written / he would not have the blessing / it shall therefore be far from him.

The. ii. Chapter.

IF the kingdom of God be proffered unto us / and we set not by it / are we not worthy to loose it? What realm since the Apostles time was ever so abundantly replenished with the knowledge of Christ's Gospel yea / & that in so few years / as this realm of England was? But alas howe was it regarded? Who reap̄ted? who know ledged his sin from the very heart? Who called on the name of God in spirit and truth? Who framed his life / according to his knowledge? It is therefore come too pass / as our Savior Christ longe before threatened / the kyngdō of God shall be takē frō you & shall be givē to a natiō / that bringeth forth the fruits thereof. God planted this realm of England / a pleasant & goodly vineyard / dressing and trymming it after the best manner / looking contynuallye to have some worthy frut thereof / but w •… in the stead of natural grapes / it brought forth wild beryes / unwholesome and unnatural / was it not worthy too be laid wayste / to be trodden under foot / and to be devoured of wild beasts? Were not the people of the old world worthy too be overwhelmed with waters / which being of righteous No he so often afore admonisshed / would not repent / and make prouisiō for the avoiding of that plague? Were not the filthy Sodomites worthy to be consumed with fire and brimstone from heavē / which being afore told of their destructiō would not cease thorough their abhominable living to provoke the heavy wrath & fearse vengeance of God against them? Were not the Israelites worthy to be plagued even unto the death / whan they despisyng / lothyng & abhorring Manna / which came doùne from heaven / lusted after the vile flesh of the earth? Were not the Jews worthy to be led away miserable captives & wretched prysoners / to serve strange princes in farreyne countries / which would not serve their Lord God in their own coū try / a lande that floweth with milk and honey? Was it not convenient / that the people of Judah should be oppressed / yea / destroyed both they and their cy •… es of their enemies the Romans / which refused Ie sus Christ / their trueliege and souerayg •… e Lord to reign over them / & most cruelty put him to death? Were they not worthy to be seduced by a sort of falls ra •… es / as they are at this day / wh •… che would neue •… give ear too the true Prophets of God / but miserably killed them? •… s it not also mete / that they like vagabundes should wander thorowoute the world without priesthood / kingdom or common weal / that would never truly serve him / which before all other nations did chose them 〈◊〉 be his peculiare people / geuīg them a •… e that flowed with the abondaūce of all thin ges? Are they not worthy to walk in •… kenes / which willingly despise the light? t •… taste •… our things / which abhor the sweet? to wander out of the way / which r •… fuse the plain pathe? Even so is it come to pass / likewise with us at this day. We abhorred the light of God's word / therefore are we now justly overwhelmed with the darkness of men's tryffeling 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 decrees. We lightely 〈◊〉 the godly prayers and thanks geuinges 〈◊〉 our Engli •… tongue / whereby we 〈◊〉 have been greatly 〈◊〉 / therefore are we now fed with Latyn service / which •… e know not / whether it be blessing or cursi •… . Certeyn are wē / that it is altogether without edifyēg / & clean contrary to the cōmaūde ment of God / & the doctrine of the holy Apos •… le▪ which would nothing to be spokē in the cōgregaciō / but in such a tōge / as all the people understand / that all may be edified. We set naught by the ministraciō of the holy & bless sed cōmuniō / therefore this plage is worth lie come vpō us / that in the stead of the Lord's supper we have moste wicked & abhomi nable masses setvp / invented by the deuel / bro ught in by Antichrist / practiced by his shorn shave •… inges / maintained by such as have received the beasts mark / full of superstition / Idolatry / blasphemy / spiritual whor dome / and of all that displeaseth God / & is horrible in the judgment and sight of all good men. We regarded not the godly learned and fatherly Bisshops / nor the faithful & verteous ministers of God's word / which fed us with the pure wheat off Christ's gospel / and taught us the holy ordinances of God / Repētaūce / faith / love / invocation of the name of God / mortification of the old man / brotherly charity / pa ciēce / long suffering / obedience / joy in the holy Ghost / the true & Christian good works / & such other f •… utes of the spirit / whereby we might learn to serve the Lord our God in holiness & righteousness all the days of our life: therefore all those mē of God / being put to silence / somē out of office / some in exile / some in prison abiding the good pleasure of God / & even as sheep appointed to be slain: we are cō •… elled daily to hear such Antichristiā trōpet •… lowers / such canckred cormoraūtes / such Caymlyke caterpyllers / such idle Idols / such loitering lordennes / such lecherous lubbers / & such deuel •… h destroiers of Christ̄ mens souls / as the ears of agood Christian abhor for too hear / the eyes to behold / the fete to go unto. O misery passing all miseries / that flock which the hye bishop Christ purchased with his most precious blood to be scattered / rent / torn / & devoured of those cruel lyōs & rauenīg wol fes / who lamēteth not? those people / whom God hath chosen for his enheritaūce / to be seduced & led out of the way by such •… ministers of sathā / as clothe thē selfs outwardly with shepes apparel / & inwardly are •… auenig wolfs / full of hipocrisy / rauyn / deceate & of all fylthines / whose heart distilleth not drops of blood to consider? O to much lamentable case.

The. iii. Chapter.

FOr what other thing do the liēg & blo dy papists teache at this day / thā the very lies / dreams and fantasyes of Antichrist the bishop of Rome and his adherents? as setting up of aultars / taberna cles / Images / and rood loftes / hanging up of the pyre / setting up of candles before Ido les and •… awmettes / halowyng of bread / salt / water / palms / fire / as •… es / oil / cris •… e / rings / candles. &c. Ladies psalters / s▪ katerines knot •… es / intercessions and merits of saints / Purgatorye / prayenge for the dead / trentalles / diriges / commendacions / masses of Requiē / masses of Scala celi / masses of Recordare / masses of Si iniquitates / masses for all diseas •… s / masses for all things good or bad / auriculare confession / crepyng to the cross with candles / eggs / money / &c. Justification of works / free will / popish f •… inge / prayers without understanding / faith without knowledge / deuocion without the spirit / 〈◊〉 masses / prop •… atory sacrifices / done by Sodomitical priest •… s / 〈◊〉 / 〈◊〉 of the Sacramental bread / th •… real / corporal / substantial / carnal / natural and sense •… ble presence of Christ in the Sacrament / so that we break him on pieces with our hands / tear him with our tethe / and swallow him into the ma •… / and so digeste him / and send him / I cannot tell whither / with an whole sea of like errou •… s and heresys / which the pylde / peuy •… / 〈◊〉 papists teache without the author •… of God's word / even of their own •… ayne and fantasye / unto the great dishonor of God / and the utter damnation of their souls / which •… hear / believe & follow the doctrine of those Antichrists. And whence cometh it to pass / that we / which before were blessed of God / with so many heavenly benefits / are now mo •… e miserably compassed about with all kind of evils / and become the very bond slaves of these Antichrists and spiritual shameless shauelynges / & as men wholly estraū ged from God / and utterly banished from the Christian common weal of the true Israelites? •… erely our ingratitude / our unthankful •… s / our unkindness / yea / our churlyshenes toward God and his holy word hath caused all these miseries / worthily to fall upon us. We were weary of the heavenly Mauna / and had a pleasure to return unto Egypt / where we might sit among the greasy flesh pots / eating beffe and brewes knucle depe / and have our deyntye fishes / our melo •… s / our cucūbers / our onions / our garleke / our lekes. &c. therefore according to the filthy lusts of our wicked hearts hath God dealt with us / & sent us again into the popish Egypt / to fe •… e upon the pestilente leaven of the papistical Pharisees / even the beggarly ceremonies / •… feling traditions and dirty decrees of men / in stead of God's holy word unto the horrible and dredeful damnaciō of our souls / as he saith by the Psalmograph: My people would not hear my voice / & Israel would not obey me / therefore gave I them up unto their own hearts lust / & let thē follow their own imaginations. Here unto agreeth the saying of s. Paul: Because they received not the love of the truth / that they might be saved / therefore will God send thē a s •… rōg illusiō to believe lies. Is not this the saying of our savior Christ? this is condēnation / that light is come into the world / & mē have loved darkness more thā light / for their works were evil. The thing therefore that brought this cōdēnaciō this darkness / this blindness vpō •… s / is the hating of the light of God's word / our unthankfulness for the benefits of Christ's Gospel / & our sinful life replenished with all kind of wickedness. These things / these things made God to withdraw the moste pleasant & comfortable light of his loving cōtenaūce frō us / & to suffer the prince of dar kenes to shadow us with his wings of hellish ignoraūcy & devilish blindness unto our great discōfort & continual sorrow. God have mercy on us / & bless us / & show us the light of his cōtenācē / & be merciful unto us / that we may know his way vpō the earth / & his saving health among all natious.

The. iv. Chapter.

BUt / what is now to be done? shall we caste away all hope? Shall we yield our self to the pri •… e of darkness? Shall we suffer our selfs continually to be wrapped & covered in with the dredefull clouds of popish blyndenes? God forbid. Yea / rather let us with a lusty courage & bold spirit hunt out & seek some means / whereby we may be dispatched of this moste miserable plague / wherewith we are at this present justly stryken for our vnthākefulnes & wicked life / & so recover the favor of God / that we may once again walk in the heavenly light of his moste glorious cōtenaūce. Synne / as we heard afore / drowe away frō us the benefit of God's moste blessed word / & of his true religiō / as the prophet saith: Your wickednesses have made a wall between you & your God / & your sines hyde his face frō you. Now must we therefore seek how to apease the wrath of God kyndled against us. Verily the mean / how to make God merciful unto us / is fromhensforth to avoid that / which was the cause of God's displeasur against us / & of the taking away of his blessed word frō us / I mean syn. Syn must be takē awai frō among us / or else c •… we never be reconciled unto God / nor obtaī his favor / so far is it of / that we shall recover the heavenly benefit of his glorious gospel. For the Lord our God is such a God / as 〈◊〉 wickedness. The evil cannot dwell by him / nor the unrighteous abide in his sight. Sy •… e therefore which drove God out of our host •… / and with him the •… ght of his blessed word / must be weded o •… both of our ha •… e and life / that we may be pure before the Lord our God / & 〈◊〉 him in spirit and body. So shall we 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 •… emples for his godly 〈◊〉 to dwell in / whom if we once receive i •… to our hearts / with him we may be sure to enjoy all good things. Now to put away sin / the first remedy is ear •… and unfeigned repentance. Let us all even from the very heart be inwardly sorry for our vnthākefulnes and disobedience against God's moste blessed will. Let us evē with tears / as Peter and Magdalene did lament and bewail our wretchednesses / being moste heartily sory / that we ever offended so loving a father / and so merciful a Lord. For this unfeigned repentance & hearty •… ewayling of our sins / is an accep table sacrifice unto God / as David saith: A sacrifice unto God is a troubled spirit / a broken and humble heart God will not despys •… . Yea / God him self saith by the Prophet: Unto whom •… hall I loke / but unto hy •… that is •… owe brought / and of a broken spirit / •… nd standeth in awe of my words? this way of obtaining God's favor taught Moses and all the Prophets / John Baptist / Christ and all his disciples / as the holy scriptures testefie. For without repentance nothing is to be had of God but wrath / dis pleasure and everlasting damnatiō / as our savior Christ saith: Except ye repent / all sort of you shall perish. But where true repentance cometh / & an earnest hate off sin / with a fervent study of innocence & amendment of life / there lyghe the grace / mercy / favor and good will of God / bent out for the penitent sinner / as God him self saith by the Prophet: If the ungodly turn away from all his sins that he hath done / and shall keep all my statutes / & do judgment and righteonsnes / he shall su •… ely live and not die. All his offenses shall no more be laid before him / but in his righteousness that he hath done / shall he live For I have no pleasure in the death of a sinner / saith the Lord God / but rather that he turn from his wicked ways and live. Again / as surely as I live / saith the Lord God / I have no delight in the death of a sinner / but rather that he should turn frō his ways and live. Turn ye / turn ye frō your evil ways / and why will ye die O ye house of Israel? Divers examples have we hereof in the holy scripture / as the children of Israel / the Ninevites / David / •… anasses / Peter / Magdalene / the thief / and such other▪ which after they reap̄ted / found favor at the merciful hand of God. As we have followed them in synning & doing evil / so let us follow them in repenting and doing well. Than may we be sure to find like favor with them. For it is written: the Lord is at hand for them / that are off a troubled heart / and the broken in spirit will he heal and save.

The. v. Chapter.

SEcondly to this hearty repentance must a true and Christian faith be annexed / which apprehendeth and layeth hand on the merciful promises of God freely setforth to all faithful penitent sinners in Christ's dere heart blood. For without this faith and perfect persuasion of God's favor toward us / Repētaūce is vain / as the histories of Caym / Esau / Saul / Ahab / Judas / and of such other do manifestly declare. In consideracion whereof our Sauioure Christ / whan he began to preach / said not only to his hearers / Repente, but he added / And believe the Gospel, teaching that true repentance must be joined with Christian faith / or else it profiteth nothing. An example hereof besides many other / have we in the history of the sinful womā / in the Gospel of saint Luke / which did not only repent earnestly / as her bitter tears / sorowefull sobbynges and depe syghynges do plainly declare / but she also faithfully believed / being constantly persuaded / that she although a moste wicked sy •… er should obtain remission of all her sins at God the fathers hand for Jesus Christ's sake his dearly beloved son / whose fete at that present she ceased not too kiss / whose fete she washed with her tears / wiped with her hair / and annointed with moste precious pleasant oil. Our Sauioure Christ / therefore beholding her true repentance conjoined with undoubted faith / said not only to her / Thy sins are for •… even the / but he added / Thy saith hath saved the, depart with peace, that is too say / with a quiet / free / ioyefull and merrye conscience. Let us bring for the this faithful repentance and repentaunte faith / and with all humility pour out our sins before the gracious throone of God's Maiestye / and hartel •… e crave remyssyon and forgiveness off all our sins / in the precious blood off our Sauioure Ih •… u Christ / and without all doubt God will •… e favorable unto us / have pytie on us / and lighten his chereful countenance once again upon us / that we on the earth may know his ways and his saving health among all nations. For the Lord our God is full of compassion and mercy / long suffering / and of great goodness. He will not alway be chyding / neither keepeth he his anger forever. He will not deal with us after our sins / nor reward us / according too our wickedness. For loke how hye the heavē is in c •… parison of the earth / so great is his mercy also toward them that fear him. Loke howe wyde also the Easte is f •… om the West / so far will he set our sins from us. Yea / like as a father pitieth his own children / even so will the Lord be merciful unto them that fear him. All our sins will he cast behind his back / into the bottom of the sea will he throw them / & never remember them more / yea / if our sins / as the Prophet saith / be as red as s •… arlet / yet shall they be made whither then snow. And if they were like purple / yet shall they be like white wolle / if we unfeignedly repent / turn unto the Lord our God / believe his promises / and crave mercy of him for Christ's sake.

The. vi. Chapter.

THyrdly / earnest diligence must be ge •… en / that according to this true repetaunce and unfeigned faith we bring forth good works. For the nature of hearty repentance and of Christian faith is not to be idle / but mightily to work / to change the penitente creature / and to transform him into a new man / that he may serve the Lord his God in holiness & righteousness all the days of his life. If there be not an alteraciō of life / if the old man be not put of with all his works / and the n •… we man put on / which is made according unto God / thorough righteousness / if those 〈◊〉 which afore were servants to uncleanness and unrighteousness / do not now become servants to clēnes / righteousness & holiness / without all doubt we have neither true repentance nor unfeigned faith / whose nature and property is to bring forth new spiritual and godly fruits / as the Apostle saith: If any man be in Christ / he is a new creature. Agayne / they that are of Christ / have crucified the flesh with the affects & lusts thereof. Therefore the holy preacher John Baptist / that priests son did not only exhort his hearers unto reap̄taūce / but also unto amendemente of life / & unto the bringing forth of such fruits / as become true and faithful repentance. Brynge forth fruits / saith he / worthy of repentance &c. For now is the axe laid at the root of the trees. Every tree therefore / that bringeth not forth good fruit / is hewē up and caste into the fire. And our Savior Christ saith: Not everyone that saith unto me / Lord / Lord / shall enter into the kingdom of heaven / but he that doth the will of my father / which is in heaven. Agayne / ye are my friends / if ye do those things / which I command you. Item / he that hath my commandments and keepeth them / he it is that loveth me. Also in another place / Let youre light so shine before men / that they may se youre good works / and glorify youre father which is in heaven. These fruits of faithful repentance / which are the true good works / that God requireth of us too be done in the holy scripture / and not such as good intent / blyndezele / or man's idle imaginaciō fantasyeth / ought to be brought forth / whan time requireth of every true Christian man / to declare that his faith & repentance is true and unfeigned. We may not therefore / if we tender our own salvation / and will recover the favor of God / be •… lack and sluggyshe in bringynge forth these weighty fruits of repentance and faith / but so adorn / garnyshe / decke trymme and setforth our life with them / that it may appear too all men / ye •… / too the very adversaries of God / that our repentance is true / and our faith unfeigned / and that we be true Christians / not only in name / but also in deed▪ and not off the number of those / of whom the Apostle writeth on this manner: They profess (with their mouthe) that they know God but with they: bebes they deny him. And albeit / at all times it were convenient / that the true Christians shouldbe bring forth the works of repentance / and the fruits of faith / and lede a life worthy their profession / yet in these our days it is moste requisite. For who consydereth not / with how great a number of enemies / I mean the devil and the papists / the true Christians are enuyroned and be set in these our days / which do nothing else but diligently mark / what they may find in us▪ worthy to be rebuked▪ that by 〈◊〉 means thei may slander the good doctrine that we profess and bring us •… ute of credit with all men / that they may go forth the more freely to lie / as they have begun largely all redye / and tosowe their abhominable / 〈◊〉 / wicked / Popyshe / superstitious / and Antichristiane doctrine / the more franc kely in the hearts of the simple & unlearned people to the great derogation of th •… 〈◊〉 of Christ's Gospel / and to the Lu •… 〈◊〉 auauncement of their beastly and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It were mete therefore / that the true 〈◊〉 of God and of his blessed word / 〈◊〉 in these our days seek all means possible so to garnish their life with good works / that in all things they may do honor to the doctrine of Christ our savior / and stop the mouths of the wicked & ungodly adversaries by well doing / as 〈◊〉 . Peter admonisheth / saying: this is the will ofGod / that by well doing / ye should stop the mouths of foolish and ignorant people / as free and not as having a liberty to be a cloke of noughtynes / but as the servants of God. Agayne / •… erely beloved / I beseech you as strangers and pylgrimes / abstain from fleshly lusts / which fight against the soul / and have an honest conversation among the •… eathen / that in that they do bacbyte you as evil doers / they judging you of your good works / may glorify God in the day of visitaciō. Hereto agreeth the saying of s. Paul: Do all thing without murmu ring and disputing / that ye may be fautles and pure / and the sons of God without rebuke in the middes of a crooked and a perverse nation / among which se that ye shine as lights in the world / holdinge fast the word of life. For there is nothing that so greatly abasheth the adversaries of God's word / and kylleth their courage / strikynge them even down too the ground / as the godly and verteous life of the Christians / 〈◊〉 contrariwyse / nothing gladdeth them 〈◊〉 / tha •… to se our life dissolute and swar •… ng from our professiō. For than like hell houndes yell they out and say: Behold your Protestants. Se your new Gospelers. Consider their life. Note their manners. Mark their conversation. Where is found the like pride / covetousness / falls bargayning / crafty byeng & sellinge / oppressing of the poor / raising of rentes / taking of incomes / idle words / vain oaths / super fluous bancketting / cont •… pte of the poor / unmercifulness / breakinge of promise / untruth / with all that ever setforth a wicked and ungodly life? O what a stōbling block is this to weak consciences? What a 〈◊〉 o nour to the word of God? What a slander to the Christian profession? What a decay to godly religion? What auauncement of Papistry and Idolatry? What encouragement to the blind to persevere in their blindness? What a glory to the wicked Pa pistes / and a confirmation to their abho •… nable and devilish doctrine? Therefore if we tender the glory of God / the auaūcem •… t of his true religion / and the salvation off our own souls / let us bring forth the worthy fruits of true repentance and vnfay •… ed faith / that God may have a pleasure in us / rejoice to do us good / & delight to bring our enemies and their satha •… call superst •… cion under foo •… e / that his name may be glorified / and his true religion once again florishe among us unto our singular •… oye and vnsp •… akable comfort.

The. vii. Chapter.

MOre •… er / forasmuch as we are compassed abou •… e with daily troubles / and stand in continual danger / both of the devil and of his tymmes the papist •… s▪ not being able of our selves too withstand their tyr •… y / and to 〈◊〉 our selves out of their hands / it shall be 〈◊〉 ▪ that we without ce •… sing flee unto God with mo •… e hearty prayers / pourynge out with tears before the throne of his divine 〈◊〉 ▪ our 〈◊〉 ▪ so •… owes / miseries 〈◊〉 and troubles / moste humbly 〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉 goodness too have 〈◊〉 on us / to keep us from all evil / t •… 〈◊〉 us from our enemies / both bodily and ghost •… lie / to preserve us from idolatrye / 〈◊〉 / superstition / hypocrisye and from all false religion / and too kep •… us in his fear / faith: love / and perfect obedience of his moste holy law and blessed ordinances / to give us his heavenly spirit for too renew our hearts / and to send his holy Angels to py •… che their tents about us / and to defend us from all evil and wic kednes / as it is written / The Angel of the Lord py •… cheth his tente about them that fear him / and delivereth them. Thys kind of prayer is a sweet smellynge sacryfice unto God / & moste hyly pleaseth him. Therefore was it the daily exercise off all godly people in all ages / yea / their whole delyghte and pleasure. With whatsoever trouble they were accombered / faithful prayer was their only refuge / solace / comfort and socoure.

Beynge grieved with any kind of adue •… sitie / they hasted not unto sai •… es with Ora pro nobis, as the dissemblynge Hyp •… crytes and wicked •… apystes do in their pompous and Idolatrous Processions / but unto GOD / from whom alone cometh every good and perfect gift / which also is rich enough for all them that call on him / and they de •… yred too have their prayers accepted not for the intercessions and merits of any saints / nor yet for their own dignity and worthiness▪ but for Jesus Christ's sake / for his merits / worthiness and excellency / & they were moste graciously heard / as David saith: Whan I was in trouble / I cried unto the Lord / & he mercifully heard me. Agayne / Our fathers hoped in the (o God) they true stead in the and thou diddest deliver them. They called upon the / & were holpen / they put their trust in the / and were not confoū ded. Was not Jacob delivered from the tyranny of his brother Esau by prayer? Were not the children of •… srael made noble conquerors of the Amelechites / whan Moses prayde for them? What a wonderful victory had king Ezech •… as over that proud prince 〈◊〉 / after that he had praide unto the Lord his God / although neither he nor any of his fought one stroke? Was not Peter delivered out of prison / thorough the prayers of the faithful congregation? Had not the Gospel of our savior Christ good success at the beginning / thorough the feruente prayers of the holy Apostles? I should want both time / paper & yncke / if I should go forth to reherce unto you all the h •… ories of such / as have received singular benefits at the h •… de of God thorough prayer. Praye therefore continually / and be thankful to God for all things in the namē of Christ / and ye shall shortly se the wonderful works of God / in banishynge again Idolatry / papistry / and all falls religion & in 〈◊〉 unto us the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ his dearly beloved son / and our alone savior unto our great joy and singular comfort / and unto the utter confusion and destruction of Anti christ and of his kingdom.

The. viii. Chapter.

ANd albeit that ye do not perceau •… remedy straight ways / yet cease not to pray / but as the eyes of servants look to the hands of their masters / & as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her maystresse / even so let your eyes wait upon the Lord youre God / until he have mercy on you. He will undoubtedly come & not tarrye / whan his godly wisdom seeth the time / yea / & that on such sort / as shall make moste for his glory and your comfort. For the poor shall not always be forgotten / the patient abiding of the meek shall not perish forever. The Lord will be a defense for the oppressed / even a refuge in due time of trouble / as he him self witness •… th / saying: For the comforteles troubles sake of the nedye / and because of the depe syghynge of the poor / now will I up saith the Lord / & will help everyone frō him / that swelleth against him / and will set him at rest. Remember this saying of the prophet Isaiah: In silence and hope shall your strength be. And thise sentence also of Ieremye: It is good with silence to tarrye for the saving health of God. Murmure not against God / nor appoint him not his time / but patiently abide his working / referring all things to his godly pleasure / and submittinge your will to his blessed will / which always both willeth and doeth that thing that is best for his glory and for our salua cion. In your patience / saith our savior Christ / shall ye possess your souls. We are commanded too hear the word off God with an honest and good heart / too keep it fast / and to bring forth the fruit thereof with patience. The trial of youre faith / saith s. James / bringeth forth patience / but let your patience have a perfect work / that ye may be perfect / and whole and sound on every parte. To the Hebrews also it is written: Caste not away youre confidence / which hath great reward to recompense. For ye have need of paciēte / that after ye have done the will of God / ye might receive the promise. For yet a littell while / and he that shall come / will come / & will not tarry. Pray therefore with patience / patiently abiding the good pleasure of God and his most gracious working. Let youre faith & hope never depart from God / but whan things become to moste extremity / & reasō judgeth havoc utterly to be made and all things too be paste remedy / than s •… eke moste fast to God & to his promises / let not your hold go / but in the middes of death / hope for life / & loke for deliueraūce at the Lord's hand. Be like unto him that said: Though he kylleth me / yet will I put my trust in him. Saye with the Psalmograph / the Lord is my light & my s •… luaciō / whom then shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life / of whom then shall I be afraid? When the wicked (even mine enemies and my foes) came vpō me to eat up my flesh / they stōdled and fell. Thoughe an host of men were laid against me / yet shall not my heart be afraid / & though there rose up war against me / yet will I put my trust in him. For know ye / this to be the pro pertie of God. He first casteth down / before he lifteth up / as we may se by Joseph / David / Daniel & such other. And whā things seme to be past all remedy / thā he setteth to his hand / & maruelously helpeth / that he may show hī self to be an almighty Lord & valeaūt ruler of all creatures / & that there is no wisdom / no forecast / no coūs •… / that cā prevail against the Lord / as David saith: The Lord bringeth the counsaylles of the Heathen to naught / and maketh the deuyses of the people to be of none effect / and casteth out the counsels of princes. But the counsel of the Lord shall endure forever / and the thoughts of his heart from generation to generation.

The. ix. Chapter.

THat God showeth his present help moste of all in greatest extremities / diverse histories declare evidently in the holy scriptures / whereof parte briefly to touche / it shall not be out of the way / that we may learn in the midst of greatest euels not to despayr of the mighty working of God / but to conceive assure hope / and to loke for all good things at the hand of the Lord our God. Who knoweth not unto what great extremity the chyldrē of Israel were brought after their deliueraūce out of Egypt? Came they not to this point in their iourneye / that before them there was no way to go into / but the readde sea / wherein they must needs be drouned / if they went forward / and behind them was king Pharaoh with all his army / ready to slay them / if they tarried? Here natural reason saw nothing but present death. Before them was the readde sea / unable to be passed thorough / and behind them their mortals fo •… with his bloody & cruel hooste ready to kill them. Oh / to what extremities are the Israelites come? Yet behold / that merciful God / which is ever true & faithful in his promises / found a way for them to escape / where all reason / wit / wisdom / discrecion / experience / and policy of man could do nothing in the matter. He caused the sea to divide itself / so that in the midst thereof he made a dry pathe for his people safely to pass thorough / the sea standing on both sydes of them like two walls / and the Israelites being once passed thorough / that which was a safeguard too God's people / was an utter destruction to their enemies. For the sea ate the commandment of God closed again together / and drouned Pharaoh with all his company. O the wonderful works of God.

Again / when they were come into the wilderness / where neither meat nor drink was to be got̄ / and they judging after na turall reason / thought that everyone off them should there moste miserablye have died for want of socour / how did the heavenly father in that extremity provide for his people / by sending them meat frō heaven / and giving them moste pleasant & sweet waters / even out of the hard rock 〈◊〉 drink? O the excedinge great riches of the Lord our God.

To whom is the history of Joseph unknown / who being miserably kept in prison certain years without just cause / every man despayred of his deliverance at any time. But whan all things seemed to be paste remedy / and the matter brought to utter desperacion / concerning his coming out: God setteth too hand / & doth not only deliver Joseph out of prysonne / but he also bringeth him to such honor and dignity / that he is made chief ruler over all the lande of Egypt next unto the Kynge. O the singular good will of the Lord our God toward his faithful and loving servants.

What shall I speak of that moste noble and faithful king Hezekiah / which being in moste grievous danger / both he & his contries / thorough the tyranny of Sennacherib that moste proud king of the Assyriās / which was at hand to destroy both him & his realm / & not perceiving how he & his people with all their wit / pollecy & strēght were able to enter battle with so mighty an enemy / utterly despairing of his own might & power / lamented his cause unto the Lord his God which so petied the sorrowful estate of king Hezekiah & of his people / that even the same night he sent his aūgel / which slew in the hooste of the Assyriās an. c. lxxx. and five thousand / so that Sennacherib with the rest of his hooste fled / which shortly after / as he was worshipping his falls God / was slain of his own sons in the idolatrous temple. O the pricelike puissaūce of the Lord our God / in defending his faithefull people. Notable is the history contained in the boke of Hester / concerning the Jews / which were the people of God / where we rede that wicked Amā / being hyest in autho rite with king Ahasuerus / for displeasure that he bare unto Mardocheus the Jew / because he would not bow the knee unto hī / & reverence him / procured of the king a commandment to be directed unto all his officers & magistrates / that all the Jews / that were within the kings dominions / should be destroyed. And as for Mardocheus / Amā had prepared for him a new pair of galowes of. l. eubites hye / purposinge to hange him the next days following. Here was nothing at hand / nor to be looked for / but present death and destruction. All was like to go to havoc / all things were brought to such an extremity. The commission is written and sealed with the Kynges own rynge. Postes are sent with it into all the kings lands / the day is appointed / that all Jews / both young and oldechyldren and women should be destroyed in one day. What is here too be seen / but present death? The Jews are not an handful in comparison of their enemies / so that utter destruction lygheth bent out for them / & no way there is to escape it / so far as rea son can judge. But now behold God's working / and here shall ye find that thing true / which Solomon hath: The kings heart is in the hand of the Lord / like as are the rivers of water / he may turn it / whither so ever he will. Aman / which before was so much set by of the king / is now suddenly so far fallen from the kings favor / that he is commanded to be hanged upon those same gallows / that he had set up for good Mardocheus / so that Mardocheus was made ruler of all that Amā had / & was exalted unto hye dignity / that that may be found true / which we rede in the Psalm: I said unto the fools / deal not so madly / & to the ungodly / set not up your borne. Set not up your horn on hye / and speak not with a styffe neck. For promocion cometh neither from the East nor frō the West / nor yet from the Southe. And why? God is the Judge / he putteth down one / and setteth up another. Agayne / the ungodly seeth the righteous / and seeketh occasiō to slay him. But the Lord will not leave him in his hand / nor condemn him / whā he is judged. Immediatly / after also was a contrary commandment sent out by the posts with all haste frō the king / straitly charging all the inhabitants of the kings dominions by no means to trouble or too vex the Jews / but to take them as moste dere / faithful and loving subjects of the Kinge / and if any would withstand the Kings commandment in this behalf / that the Jews should gather them selves together / and slay their enemies / and take away their goods. Thus suddenly was sorrow turned into joy / heaviness into mirth sadness into gladness / slavery into honor / darkness into light / and death into life. O the unspeakable power of the Lord our God.

To whom is the history of the. iii. iong men unknown / which / because they would not worship the gold̄ Image at the kings commandment were cruelly caste into an hot brēning oven? Who would not have judged their life utterly lost? But God / which helpeth in moste extremities / so provided / that the fire did hurt them nothing at all / no / not so much as an hay •… e of their head perished with the fiire / nor no parte of their garments. Whole & sound came thei out of the brenninge furnace / unto the great glory of God. O the fatherly care of the Lord our God / for all such as cleue to his holy and blessed word.

The history of casting the prophet Daniel into the den of Lions / because contrary to the Kynges commandment / he prayde unto the Lord his God / is not unknown to them that rede the holy scriptures. Who durst have promised Daniel any life / bei •… thus caste down unto the hungrye & cruel Lions? yet God was present with him / & stopped the Lions mouths / that they did not once hurt him. O the loving kindness of the Lord our God toward all them that call on his holy name / and put their trust in him.

I pass over the histories of the cytiesins of Bethulia / of Job / of Thoby / of Susan / and of diverse other contained in the old testament / which in all their necessities and troubles / calling on the name of god / proved his present help / which by no means would suffer them to perish. All these things are written for our learning / that thorough patience and comfort of the scriptures we should have hope.

The. x. Chapter.

TAke one or two examples out of the New Testament / for the confirmatiō of our faith in this behalf / that we may learn God to be one / and the same loving father in all ages / & never more doubt of his fatherly goodness toward us / but cō ceaue an assured hope and perfect trust off his present help / even in the depest of our adversities / as he saith: Though I walk thorough the valley of the shadow of death / I will fear no evil / for thou art with me.

Whan Christ and his disciples were in the shipp •… / Christ at a certain time slept. In the mean while their arose a great tempeste in the sea / in so much that the shyppe was covered with the waves. The disciples perceauynge them selves too be in great danger and peril of drownynge / and not knowing what to do / nor how to escape / came unto Christ / awoke him and said: Master / save us / we perish. Christ answered: Why are ye afraid / O ye of littell faith? Then he arose and rebuked the winds and the sea / & there followed a great calm. O the tender mercy of the Lord our God / toward all such as in the time of their trouble fie unto his name as unto a strong bulwark. Thys history teacheth us / that though the seas and the winds / yea / though the deuel & the world rise / roar / rage & ruffle against us never so much / yet if we fie unto God with hearty & faithful prayer / he will surely help us / so that nothing shall hurt us / seme our case never so miserable / & our danger never so perilous. The waves of the sea are mighty / saith the Psalmograph / & rage horri bly / yet the Lord that dwelleth on hye / i •… mightier.

The like history rede we of Peter / which whan he saw Christ walkinge on the sea / said: Lord / bid me come unto the on the water. Christ said / come. And wh •… Peter was come down out of the ship / he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But whan he saw a mighty wind / he was afraid. And whan he began to syncke / he cried / saying: Lord save me. And immediate lie / Jesus stretching forth his hand / caught him and said unto him / O thou of little faith / wherefore dedist thou doubt? O the merciful favor of the Lord our God toward his weak & feeble creatures. Here find we the saying of the Prophet true / A broosed rede / shall he not break / & smoking flax shall he not quench.

But as I may at the last come too the history of our Savior Christ / Who seeth not •… he mighty power of God / in raisinge up Christ crucifyde & dead / whan all reason and wisdom of men thought it a thing impossible? The Jews now promised thē selfs many fair holy days / great safeguard much quietness and continual rest / seeing they had brought Christ their head enemy to his long home / as they use to say. Even as our Papists at this present day promise them self many good morowes / great assurance of their wealthy livings / long rest / perfect establishement of their kingdom and sure saffetie forever / forasmuch as they have now got̄ again their deuelishe and abhominable Mass / their vnfruteful Latin service / their beggarly ceremonies / &c. & have so handled the matter / that the true preachers / being put to silence thei alone / both at Paul's cross and else / where are the trumpet blowers not of Christ's Gospel / but of that Romish Antichr •… es dyrtie / devilish decrees / as their sermons / if thei be worthy that name / now of late have manifestly declared unto the great derogation of God's glory / the dishonoure of his holy Gospel / and the unspeakable sorrow of all faithful and Christ hearts. The Jews / but specially the Bishops & the Priests / the Scribes & the Lawers / the Phari seis & the Saduceis found the means to lay hand on Christ / to bind him / to carry him unto the hye powers / to accuse him / to condemn him / to crucify him & to kill him. Yea / being buried and a great stone rolled to the bodre of the sepulche / they sealed the stone / and set watch men with bylles / halbardes / gleyues / s •… aues / spears / py •… kes & all manner of weapon to keep Christ down / that he should rise no more / and trouble the holy religious and spiritual fathers with his doctrine / as he did afore. But what is the power of this world before God? very weakness / and the wisdom plain folishenes. For whan they thought them selves sure enough of Christ forever rising again / and them selves set in such a goodly stay / as no misfortuyne could chance to them and to their kingdom / Christ by the power of his Godhead / rose again a tryumphante and victorious conqueror of all his enemies / and raygneth now in the glory of his father forever and ever. And shortly after / the doctrine of Christ / which they sought by all means possible too destroy / and for the which they so hated Christ / that they thought him unworthy too live / did so arise / spring / grow / encreace / prosper and floryshe / that it was not only taught in Iewrye and Samaria / but also in all the partes of the world / and the Jews for their unthankfulness and disobedience after certain years / with their country utterly perished and came to nought. After this sort / without all doubt shall it come to pass with our papists. For where as they think prosperously longe too reign by suppressynge the word of God / and hol dynge down / yea / quenchyng the glorious light of Christ's Gospel / the Gospel off Christ / which is the power of God / shall moste triumphantly rise again maugre the enemies / florysh and prosper / and they with all their pomp / pride / vanity / super sticion / papistrye / hypocrisye / Idolatry / ceremonies / masses / decrees / constitucions / counsayles / customs / &c. shall perish and come to naught. For God himself saith / I will honor them / that honor me / and I will bring them to shame / that do dishonoure me.

And our Sauioure Christ saith: He that falleth upon this stone / shall be broken on pieces / but upon whomsoever it fall / it shall crushe him all to powder. Here to pertaineth the saying of saint Paul / They resist the truth / being men of a corrupt judgment and lewd / as concerning the faith / but they shall prevail no lenger. For their madness shall be known too all men. Agayne / the God of peace shall tread Satan under your fete •… hortly.

The. xi. Chapter.

MOreouer / in the Acts of the Ap •… stles we rede / that after king Herod had killed James / the brother off John with the sword / he laid hand on Peter / and put him in prison / committing him to four quaternions of soldiers to be kept / & entendinge after Easter to bring him forth to the people / and so to kill him. But prayer was made without ceasing of the congregation to God for him. Here Peter was apprehended / caste into prison / bound with chains / warders appointed to keep him / & all things so handled / that he should by no means escape / but all times be ready at the first call to be brought forth unto death. Peter looked continually for present death. Herod and the Jews persuaded them selfs to be sure of Peter to kill him at their pleasure / as though thei had slain him all ready. But behold the mighty power of God / which fyndeth a means to deliver his servants / whan reason seeth no way to escape. The night before that Peter should be brought forth to death / there was a very diligente watch / because they would be sure of him. Peter himself was bound with two chains. Two soldiers also kept him in the prison / one on the one side of him / and another on the other side. Besydes this / there were kepers set before the door to keep the prysō. All things were as sure as might be. Peter was paste all hope of deliverance. He committed the matter unto God / & gave himself to rest / looking the next day after to have been slain. And while Peter was a sleep / and had givē over the matter / God wrought / and sent his angel into prison unto Peter / which wonderfully brought him out of prison / and delivered him from all danger. Rede the chapter. O the almighty power of the Lord our God / in the deliverance of his servants. If God de termineth too save alive / who is able too put to death? Here se we the saying of our Savior Christ to be true / that all the hay res of our head are numbered / and that not •… ne of them shall perish without the good will of our heavenly father. Here is that verified / which is spokē by the Psalmogra phe / the aungel of the Lord py •… cheth his tēt round about them / that fear him / & delivereth them. Great are the troubles of the righteous / but the Lord delivereth thē out of all. He keepeth all their bones / so that not one of them shall be brokē. The Lord deliue reth the souls of his servants / & all they that put their trust in him / shall not be forsaken. The tyrants of this world may threaten / persecute / empryson / chayn / lock / beat / buffet / &c. But the life of a Christian man can they not take away before the time cometh / that God hath appointed. If the deuitles could not enter intoo the swine / and so droune them / before Christ gave them leave / much les can the lymmes of the devil kill any faithful man / before God giveth them lycence. What could Satan do to Job / before God gave him liberty to plague him? and yet could he exercise his cruelnes against Job / no further thā he was appointed of God. Saul persecuted David / purposynge cruelly too kill him / but David escaped his hands. That wicked queen Jezebel threatened and sware too slay the prophet Helias / but the Lord preserved him / and she afterward was moste miserably slain. The Godly woman Susanne / thorough false accusations of the two wicked Judges / was at the point to be stoned unto death / but God wonderfully delivered her from the hands of her enemies. Esau burned with an immortal hatred against his brother Jacob / because of the blessing / wherewith his father had blessed him / and purposed fully to kill his brother. But Jacob prayed to the Lord / and so mollifyed Esau's heart / in so much that when Jacob thought / that both he and his should have been slain / his brother Esau came gentilly unto him / louingelye embrased him / kyssed him friendly / and for very joy wepte: so mighty is God to mollefye tyrants hearts / whan it pleaseth him / and to make them gracious and favorable too his servants. Howe often rede we in the history of the Gospel / that the Jews went about too kill Christ / and yet laid they no hand on him. The Euangeliste showeth the cause / saying: For his hour was not yet come. But whan the time came that God had appointed from everlasting / than prevailed the wicked against the manhood of Christ / laid hand on him / bound him / and finally put him too death / as Christ said unto them: Ye become out as unto a thief with sweardes and staves. Whan I was bayly with you in the Temple / ye stretched forth no hand against me. But this is even youre hour / and the power of darkness. Certain of the Pharisees said unto Christ / Get the out of the way / and depart hence. For Herod will kill the. Christ aū swēred / Go tell the fox / behold / I cast out deuels / & heal the people today & tomorrow & the. iii. day I make an ende. For it cannot be / that the Prophet perish any other where then at Ierusalē. Here se we both the time & the place apoīted / where Christ should die. Even so goeth it with the faithful. Where & whā God appointeth / the members off Christ likewise shall die. For it lygheth in no tyrants power to take away the life of the faithful / till God appointeth both the time & place / as Christ said unto Pylate / Thou couldest have no power at all against me / except it were given the from above. God alone hath the keys of death & hell. Rede we not in the Acts of the Apostles / that certain men / about the number of. xl. conspyred Paul's death / and made a vow / that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul? Yet for all their solemn vow they were deceived. For God delivered Paul out of their hands. Could •… sau hurt Jacob / the sea hynder the Israe lites / the whale destroy Jonah / the fire cōsum the. iii. ionge men / the Lions devour Daniel / the falsse Judges slay Susanna / Herod kill Peter / the venomous adder destroy Paul at Milete? Nothinge les. God hath the devil / the world / the flesh and all things that are in his power / and ruleth them all at his pleasure. Loke how far he suffer thē to go and to do / so far go they and do they / and no further / seme they to rage never so much / as David witnesseth / the Lord hath given a command meant / and none shall go beyond it. Fire / hail / snow / yse / & vaporous stormy winds accomplish his word. Agayne / thou hast limited the waters their bounds / which they may not pass. God gave us our life / no man therefore can take it away without his appoyntemente. We are God's people / he therefore will defend us from all evil. We are the workemanshyppe of God's hands / no man therefore shall destroy us / (I speak of our bodies) without his fatherly providence. We are sheep of God's pasture / no wolfs therefore shall devour us / but at his appoyntetement. The Angels of God have chardge over us / they pytche their tents round about us / and watch continually for the saffegarde and defense of us / what thā can miserable man do against us / be he Emperor / Kynge / Pope / Bishop / or any other tyraunte? If the devil / the Lions / the sea / the fire / the winds / the serpentes / &c. can do no harm to the faithful without both the sufferance and determination of God / let us not fear the worldly tyraūtes / although never so mighty / fierce and cruel / which are nothing else but vile flesh / earth / asthes / dust and dong / whose tyranny is like too a staff of rede / whose imaginacions / counsayles and deuyses are vain / foolish and of none effect / whan the Lord God take the parte against them / & whose glory was the flour of the field. For they shall do no more against the ellecte and chosen people of God / than God both suffereth and appointeth. Whan Pylate sitting in judgment / said to our savior Christ / knoweth thou not / that I have power to crucifye the / and have power to deliver the? Christ answered / thou couldest have no power at all against me / except it were given the from above. Even so may we say of the worldly tyrants: Thei shall have no power at all against us / except it be given them from above. And the holy apostles in their prayer unto God / said / that whatsoever Herod and Pontius Pilate / with the Gentiles and people of Israel did against Christ / they did nothing / but that the hand and the counsel of God had determined before to be done. No more shall the tyrants of this world do any thing against us / but that / which God before hath determined to be done frō everlasting. Of this history of Peter therefore may we learn two notable things. Fyrst that God than moste chiefly helpeth / whan things be brought to greatest extremities. Secondly that the tyrants of this world cannot take away a Christian man's life / nor yet do anymore against him / than the good will / pleasure / determinaciō & appointment off God is / in whose hand alone / as the wise man saith / is both prosperite & aduersite / life & death.

The. xii. Chapter.

SEyng / whan that we are taught by so many credible histories that God doth at all times help / but chiefly whā things be brought unto an extremity / again that no man can take away the life of any faithful man / till God apoynteth: let us not doubt / but that God will both hear our prayers / and help us also / and deliver us / although for a season he seemeth to differ his help / and to leave us in the briars. He is the father of mercy / and God of all consolacion. Hys hand is not so shortened / but that he is able too help / neither is his ear so stopped / but that he both can and will hear us. God is faithful / saith the Apostle / which will not suffer you too be tempted above your strength / but shall in the middes of the temptation / make a way / that ye may be able to bear it. Let us not therefore despair / though present help cometh not from God at the first calling / but rather go for the to pray unto God / after the example of the Canaanite / and not to be weary / till we have obtayobtayned our request of the Lord our God / following the counsayll of the Psalmograph / which saith: O tarrye thou the Lord's leisure / be strong / take a good heart unto the / and patiently abide the pleasure of the Lord. In silence and hope / saith the Prophet Isaiah / shall be youre strength. Here to pertaineth the saying of Jeremiah / It is good with silence too abide the saving health of the Lord. If we on this manner behave our selfs toward the Lord our god / we shall without fail shortly behold the wonderful works of God. We shall se the down fall of our enemies with all their tyranny / papistry / Idolatry / superstition / ceremonies / masses / decrees / counsaylles / customs / &c. We shall se the glorious Gospel of our Savior Christ spring again / grow / encreace / prosper / flourish and tryum phe. We shall se God truly honored / not after the fond fantasye of men / but according to his blessed will and commandment. We shall se Antichrist / that son of perdiciō slain with the breath of the Lord's mouth / and Satan trodden under our fete. God grant it may be shortly.

A brief rehearsal of the whole Epistle.

THus have ye heard (moste dere brethren) howe it came to pass / that the true re ligiō of our Savior Christ was taken away from us / and in the stead thereof / a superstitious and idolatrous kind of worshiping. God placed among us unto the great disconforte and unspeakable sorrow of all faithful Christians. Ye have heard also by what means this plague may be turned away / and howe the true and sincere doctrine of Christ may be restored unto us. The cause of God's wrath toward us / as ye heard / was our ingratitude and unthankfulness / yea / our sinful life & wickedness / which was groune up unto such an heyghte / that God could no longer dissemble the matter / but must needs take away his blessing from us. We were unthankfull for the heavenly benefyte off his blessed word / yea / we in a manner l •… thed and abhorred his Godly ordinances / even as the ungodly Israelites were weary of the celestial Manna / again our life was nothing agreeable to the holy will of God / but defiled with pride / envy / covetousness fornication / adultery / swearing / glotonye / dronckennes. With all their kind of wickedness / unto the great dishonoure of the name of God / which we profess / it therefore could none otherwise but come too pass / that God should be avenged of these things / take away his holy word / and throw us again into the deuelishe darkness of the papishe Egypt. For as he fylleth the hungry with good things: so sendeth he the rich emptye away. And as our Sa uioure Christ pronouncheth them blessed / which hunger and thyrste / after righteous nes / and promiseth that all such shall be satisfied and have their desire / even so are they cursed / which have no delight in the word of God / and from such shall the bless singe of Christ's Gospel be taken away / and the cursed tradicious of men shall be thrown upon them / as the Psalmograph saith / he would none of the blessing / it shall therefore be taken away from him. Hereto agreeth the saying of our Savior Christ / the kyngdō of God shall be taken frō you / & shall be given to a natiō / that bringeth forth the fruits of it. Again / this is condemnation that light is come into the world / & men have loved darkness more than light. For their works were evil.

Now to recover the favor of God / and to turn away his heavy displeasure from us / that he may once again lyghten his glorious & loving countenance upon us / and bless us with the moste blessed benefit of his sons Gospel / the means / as ye heard / is earnest repentance of our former life / humble knowledginge of our sins unto God / undoubted faith in the merciful promises of God the father / setforth unto us / in the moste precious blood of our Savior Christ / diligent invocation and constante calling on the name of God / for remission of our sins / for mercy / grace / favor / peace / rest of conscience / &c. Pacient abiding of the Lord's leisure / and finally a continual meditacion & practice of a new life.

If we on this manner return unto the LORDE our God / let us not doubt but that he will shortly turn unto us / mer cifully behold us / and once again bless us with the heavenly benefyte of his blessed word / that we here on earth may know his ways / and his saving health among all nations. Turn unto me / saith the LORDE of hosts / and I will turn unto you. Remember howe favorably God at all times dealt with his people / both whan they were captives in Egypt / and also in Babylon / yea / and at all other times / whensoever they were in any distress. For though he worthily plagued them for their wickedness / yet so sone as they unfeignedly returned unto him / he delivered them frō their enemies / and gave them their hearts desire. For God is never so angry with his people / but that in the mids of his anger / he will remember his mercy. And though he sometime punisheth us / yet will he be pleased again / if he seeth our unfeigned conversion / as Toby said in his prayer / After a storm / O Lord / thou makest the weather fair and calm. After weeping and heaviness / thou givest great joy. Thy name O God of Israel / be praised forever. Only let us return unto the Lord our God / and become new men / and without all doubt / we shall se out of hand the mighty working of God. Repent betymes therefore / repent / humble your selfs in the sight of God / believe his promises / call on his holy name / abide patiently his godly pleasure / become new men in life and conversation / walk worthy your profession / and so behave youre selves in all things / that God may be glorified by you. Fare ye well dere Brethren / and according too the admonition of the holy Apostle / watch ye / stand fast in the faith / quite you like men / and be strong. The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

The .C. iii. Psalm / made in English meter / by Thomas Becon, for a thanksgiving unto God / immediately after his deliverance out of prison / whose emprysonmente began the. 16. day of August / the year of our Lord / 15 53. and ended the 22. of Marche / then next ensuynge.

Psalm. 103.

Psal. 112.