A16573:579
The complaint of verity, madeThe complaynt of veritie, made
The complaint of verity, made by John Bradford. An exhortation of Matthew Rogers, unto his children. The complaint of Raufe Allerton and others, being prisoners in Lollers tower, & written with their blood, how god was their comfort. A song of Cain and Abel. The saying of master Hooper, that he wrote the night before he suffered, upon a wall with a coal, in the new In, at Gloucester, and his saying at his deathThe complaynt of veritie, made by Iohn Bradford. An exhortacion of Mathewe Rogers, vnto his children. The complaynt of Raufe Allerton and others, being prisoners in Lolers tower, & wrytten with their bloud, how god was their comforte. A songe of Caine and Abell. The saieng of maister Houper, that he wrote the night before he suffered, vppon a wall with a cole, in the newe In, at Gloceter, and his saiyng at his deathe
London: printed for Owen Rogers?, 1559
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 so Contrition, if they had left out their subtle distinction, between it and attrition, by this word just or full, making it a hearty sorrow for their sins, then we would never have cried out against them therefore. For we say, penance hath three parts, Contrition, if you understand it for a hearty sorrowing for sin, Confession, if you understand it for faith, of free pardon in Gods mercy, by Jesus Christ, and Satisfaction, if you understand it not to Godwards (for that only to Christ must be left alone) but to manward in restitution of goods wrongfully or fraudulently gotten, of name hindered by our slanders, and in newness of life: although, as I said before, and anon will show more plainly by Gods grace, that this last is no part of penance in deed, but a plain effect or fruit of true penance.
And so Contrition, if they had left out their subtill distinction, betwéene it and attrition, by this word iust or full, making it a heartie sorrow for their sinnes, then wée would neuer haue cryed out against them therefore. For we say, penance hath thrée parts, Contrition, if you vnderstand it for a hearty sorrowing for sinne, Confession, if you vnderstand it for faith, of frée pardon in Gods mercie, by Iesus Christ, and Satisfaction, if you vnderstand it not to Godwards (for that onely to Christ must be left alone) but to manward in restitution of goods wr•ngfully or fraudulently gotten, of name hindred by our slaunders, and in newnesse of life: although, as I sayd before, and anon will shew more plainely by Gods grace, that this last is no part of penance in déed, but a playne effect or fruit of true penanes.
I might here bring in examples of their penance, how perilous it is to be embraced: but let the example of their grand Sire Judas serve, in whom we see all the parts of their penance, as they describe it, and yet notwithstanding he was damned. He was sorry enough, as the effect showed: he had their contrition fully, out of the which he confessed his fault, saying: I have betrayed innocent blood: and thereunto he made satisfaction, restoring the money he had received. But yet all was but lost, he hanged up himself, his bowels burst out, and he remaineth a child of perdition for ever. I would wish that this example of Judas, in whom ye see the parts of their penance, contrition, confession, and satisfaction, would move them to penance, and to describe it a little better, making hope or trust of Gods free mercy a piece thereof, or else with Judas they will mar all.