A06710:41
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.
What shall I speak of that most noble 1and faithful king Hezekiah / which being in most grievous danger / both he & his countries / through the tyranny of Sennacherib that most proud king of the Assyrians / which was at hand to destroy both him & his realm / & not perceiving how he & his people with all their wit / policy & strength 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 pitied the sorrowful estate of king Hezekiah & of his people / that even the same night he sent his angel / which slew ⟨image 19⟩2in the host of the Assyrians an. c. lxxx. and five thousand / so that Sennacherib with the rest of his host fled / which shortly after / as he was worshipping his false God / was slain of his own sons in the idolatrous temple. O the princelike puissance of the Lord our God / in defending his faithful people. Notable is the history contained in the book of Esther / concerning the Jews / which were the people of God / where we 3read that wicked Amā / being hiest in autho rite with king Ahasuerus / for displeasure that he bare unto Mordecai the Jew / because he would not bow the knee unto him / & 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 Mordecai / Amā had prepared for him a new pair of gallows of. l. eubites high / purposing to hang 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 Kings own ring. Posts are sent with it into all the kings lands / the day is appointed / that all Jews / both young and old children ⟨image 20⟩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 lieth bent out for them / & no way there is to escape it / so far as rea son can judge. But now behold Gods working / and here shall ye find that thing true / which Solomon hath: The kings