A comfortable epistle, too God's faithful people in EnglandA comfortable epistle, too Goddes faythfull people in Englande

Name: A comfortable epistle, too God's faithful people in England
Author: Thomas Becon

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.

Thomas Becon 1512–1567printed by J. Lambrecht?, 1554

[64] p. · 14k words · STC 1716 · ESTC S101288

Title page typeset from the transcription.

¶ A brief rehearsal of the whole Epistle.¶ A brief rehersall of the whole Epistle.

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.

[ Earlier:58–72 of 101

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¶ A brief rehearsal of the whole Epistle.

¶ A brief rehersall of the whole Epistle.

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Thus have ye heard (most dear brethren) how it came to pass / that the true religion of our Saviour Christ was taken away from us / and in the stead thereof / a superstitious and idolatrous kind of worshipping. God placed among us unto the great discomfort and unspeakable sorrow of all faithful Christians. Ye have heard also by what means this plague may be turned away / and how the true and sincere doctrine of Christ may be restored unto us. The cause of Gods wrath toward us / as ye heard / was our ingratitude and unthankfulness / yea / our sinful life & wickedness / which was grown up unto such an height / that God could no longer dissemble the matter / but must needs take away his blessing from us. We were unthankful for the heavenly benefit off his blessed word / yea / we in a manner l• thed and abhorred his Godly ordinances / even as the ungodly Israelites were weary ¹of the celestial Manna / again our life was nothing agreeable to the holy will of God / but defiled with pride / envy / covetousness ⟨image 29⟩fornication / adultery / swearing / gluttony / drunkenness. With all their kind of wickedness / unto the great dishonour 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 devilish darkness of the papish Egypt. For as he filleth ²the hungry with good things: so sendeth he the rich empty away. And as our ³Saviour Christ pronounceth them blessed / which hunger and thirst / after righteousness / 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 Christs Gospel be taken away / and the cursed traditions of men shall be thrown upon them / as the Psalmographe sayeth / he would none of the blessing / it shall therefore be taken away from him. Hereto

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A comfortable epistle, too God's faithful people in EnglandA comfortable epistle, too Goddes faythfull people in Englande

¶ A brief rehearsal of the whole Epistle.

¶ A brief rehersall of the whole Epistle.

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

☞ The .C. iij. Psalme / made in Englishe meter / by Thomas Becon, for a thankesgeuing vnto God / immediatly after hys deliueraunce out of pryson / whose emprysonmente began the. 16. daye of August / the yeare of oure Lorde / 15 53. and ended the 22. of Marche / then nexte ensuynge.

¶ Psalm. 103.

Transcription key

Reformers309

Puritans1,782

Westminster Assembly24

Evangelicals36

¶ A brief rehearsal of the whole Epistle.

¶ A brief rehersall of the whole Epistle.

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

☞ The .C. iij. Psalme / made in Englishe meter / by Thomas Becon, for a thankesgeuing vnto God / immediatly after hys deliueraunce out of pryson / whose emprysonmente began the. 16. daye of August / the yeare of oure Lorde / 15 53. and ended the 22. of Marche / then nexte ensuynge.

¶ Psalm. 103.

Transcription key