A06710:26
A comfortable epistle, too God's faithful people in EnglandA comfortable epistle, too Goddes faythfull people in Englande
A comfortable epistle, too God's faithful people in England wherein is declared the cause of taking away the true Christen religion from them, & how it may be recovered and obtained again, newly made by Thomas Becon.A comfortable epistle, too Goddes faythfull people in Englande wherein is declared the cause of takynge awaye the true Christen religion from them, & howe it maye be recouered and obtayned agayne, newly made by Thomas Becon.
printed by J. Lambrecht?, 1554
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.
¶ The. vi. Chapter.
Thirdly / earnest diligence must be given / 1that according to this true repentance and unfeigned faith we bring forth good works. For the nature of hearty repentance and of Christen faith is not to be idle / but mightily to work / to change the penitent 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 alteration of life / if the old man be not 2put of with all his works / and the n•we man put on / which is made according unto God / through righteousness / if those […] 3which afore were servants to uncleanness and unrighteousness / do not now become servants to cleanness / 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. Again / they that are of Christ / 4have crucified the flesh with the affects & lusts thereof. Therefore the holy preacher John Baptiste / that priests son did not 5only exhort his hearers unto repentance / but also unto amendment of life / & unto the bringing forth of such fruits / as become true and faithful repentance. Bring ⟨image 13⟩forth fruits / saith he / worthy of repentance 6&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 Saviour Christ sayeth: Not every one that sayeth