A07146:69
The relics of Rome containing all such matters of religion, as have in times…The reliques of Rome contayning all such matters of religion, as haue in times…
The relics of Rome containing all such matters of religion, as have in times past been brought into the Church by the Pope and his adherents: faithfully gathered out of the most faithful writers of chronicles and histories, and now newly both diligently corrected & greatly augmented, to the singular profit of the readers, by Thomas Becon. 1563.The reliques of Rome contayning all such matters of religion, as haue in times past bene brought into the Church by the Pope and his adherentes: faithfully gathered out of the moste faithful writers of chronicles and histories, and nowe newly both diligently corrected & greatly augmented, to the singuler profit of the readers, by Thomas Becon. 1563.
London: printed by John Day, 1563London: printed by Iohn Day, 1563
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.
And this love which issueth out of a pure heart, and out of a good conscience, and out of a faith unfeigned, is so fervent and strong, that it bursteth out into good works, and can no more cease to work▪ than fire can cease to burn, when mete matter is ministered unto it, or the Sun cease to shine, when the time of the clear day requireth.1 Therefore a faithful man is compared to a tree planted by the river side, which bringeth forth her fruit in due time. For whensoever occasion is offered to a faithful man to work, he worketh straightways, yea and that freely and willingly, with out any compulsion or fear.2 And yet doth not he these good works to be justified by them (for he is already justified by faith) but to show that his faith is true and lively, and not feigned ⟨image 23⟩and dead: and declare, as David speaketh of himself,3 that he is as a trutefull Olive tree in the house of the Lord. For if righteousness come by the law, then dyed Christ in vain. A good man, out of the good treasure of his heart, bringeth forth good things. And an evil man out of evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. The good treasure is faith, evil treasure is unbelief. Either make the tree good and his fruit: good, or else make the tree evil, and his fruit evil. The man must be good before he can bring forth good works. Fourteenthly, Auricular confession is set at nought,4 and no more used. I answer: Auricular confession is the invention of man, no where grounded on the word of God, and hath been the occasion of much mischief in time paste. Confession of our sins to God, and to such as we have offended, the Scripture teacheth and commaū death: but such Auricular and caryshe confession to be made unto a Priest with all circumstances, where, when, how, with whom, how often, &c. as the pope commandeth, is no where found in Gods book. Notwithstanding we freely permit and suffer any man that will, to go unto a Godly, learned and discrete minister of Gods word either for doctrine, counsel, or comfort, not only in the time of Lent, but at all times of the year.