A16573:625
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.
Oh what a great thing is this, that could not be done by the Angels, Archangels, Potentates, Powers, or all the creatures of God, without his own Son? who yet must needs be thrust out of heaven, as a man would say, to take our nature, and become man. Here have ye the Surgeon: great was the cure, that this mighty Lord took in hand.
Oh what a great thing is this, that could not be done by the Angelles, Archangelles, Potentates, Powers, or all the creatures of God, without his owne Sonne? who yet must néeds be thrust out of heauen, as a man would say, to take our nature, and become man. Heere haue yee the Surgion: great was the cure, that this mightie Lord tooke in hand.
Now, what was the salve? Forsooth, deer gear, and of many compositions: I cannot recite all, but rather must leave it to your hearty considerations. Three and thirty years was he curing our sore. He sought it earnestly by fasting, watching, praying &c. The same night that he was betrayed, I read how busy he was about a plaster in the garden, when he lying flat on the ground, praying with tears, and that of blood not a few, but so many as did flow down on the ground again, crying on this sort: Father, (saith he) if it be possible, let this cup depart from me. That is, If it be possible, that else the sins of mankind can be taken away, grant that it ⟨image 43⟩may be so. Thou heardest Moses crying for the Idolaters: Thou heardest Lot for the Zoarites: Samuel, David, and many other for the Israelites: And deer Father, I only am thine own son, as thou hast said, in whom thou art well pleased: wilt thou not hear me? I have by the space of three and thirty years, done always thy will: I have so humbled my self, that I would become an abject amongst men, to obey thee. Therefore (deer Father) if it be possible, grant my request, save mankind, now without any further labour, salves, or plasters. But yet (saith he) not as I will, but as thou wilt.
Now, what was the salue? Forsooth, déere geare, and of many compositions: I cannot recite all, but rather must leaue it to your hearty considerations. Thrée and thirtie yéeres was he curing our sore. Hée sought it earnestly by fasting, watching, praying &c. The same night that hee was betrayed, I reade how busie he was about a plaister in the garden, when he lying flat on the ground, praying with teares, and that of bloud not a few, but so many as did flow downe on the ground againe, crying on this sort: Father, (sayth hée) if it bee possible, let this cup depart from me. That is, If it be possible, that else the sinnes of mankind can be taken away, graunt that it