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:60–75 of 101

:60img 29

Now to recover the favour of God / and to turn away his heavy displeasure from us / that he may once again lighten his glorious & loving countenance upon us / and bless us with the most blessed benefit of his sons Gospel / the means / as ye heard / is earnest repentance of our former life / humble knowledginge of our since unto God / undoubted faith in the merciful promises of God the father / set forth unto us / in the most precious blood of our Saviour Christ / diligent invocation and constant calling on the name of God / for remission of our since / for mercy / grace / favour / peace / rest of conscience / &c. Patient abiding of the Lords leisure / and finally a continual meditation & practise of a new life.

Nowe to recouer the fauoure of God / and to turne awaye hys heauy displeasure from vs / that he maye once agayne lyghten hys glorious & louing countenaunce vpon vs / and blesse vs with the moste blessed benefite of hys sonnes Gospell / the meanes / as ye hearde / is earnest repentaunce of oure former lyfe / humble knowledginge of oure synnes vnto God / vndoubted faythe in the mercifull promises of God the father / setforth vnto vs / in the moste precious bloude of oure Sauiour Christe / diligent inuocation and constante callinge on the name of God / for remission of our synnes / for mercye / grace / fauoure / peace / reste of consciēce / &c. Pacient abyding of the Lordes leasure / and fynally a continuall meditacion & practise of a new lyfe.

:61img 29

If we on this manner return unto the LORD our God / let us not doubt but that he will shortly turn unto us / mercifully behold us / and once again bless us with the heavenly benefit of his blessed word / that we here on earth may know his ways / and his saving health among all nations. Turn unto me / sayeth the LORD of hosts / and I will turn unto you. ⟨image 30⟩¹Remember how favourably God at all times dealt with his people / both when they were captives in Egypt / and also in Babylon / yea / and at all other times / wham soever they were in any distress. For though he worthily plagued them for their wickedness / yet so soon as they unfeignedly returned unto him / he delivered them from their enemies / and gave them their hearts desire. For God is never so angry with his people / but that in the midst 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 /

[ Earlier passages Later passages ]

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

☞ 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

☞ 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