A16573:641
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.
As surely as I live, (saith God) I will not the death of a sinner. Art thou a sinner? Yea. Lo, God sweareth, he will not thy death. How canst thou now perish? Consider with thy self what profit thou shouldest have to believe this to be true to others, if not, to thy self also: Satan doth so. Rather consider with Peter, that the promise of salvation pertaineth not only to them which are nigh, that is, to such as are fallen a little: but also to all, to whom the Lord hath called, be they never so far off.
As surely as I liue, (sayth God) I wil not the death of a sinner. Art thou a sinner? Yea. Loe, God sweareth, hée will not thy death. How canst thou now perish? Consider with thy selfe what profite thou shouldest haue to beléeue this to bee true to others, if not, to thy selfe also: Sathan doth so. Rather consider with Peter, that the promise of saluation perteineth not onely to them which are nie, that is, to such as are fallen a little: but also to all, to whō the Lord hath called, be they neuer so farre off.
Lo, now by me the Lord calleth thee, thou man, thou woman, that art very far off. The promise therefore pertaineth to thee: needs must thou be saved, except thou with Satan say, God is false: And yet if ⟨image 47⟩thou do so, God is faithful, and can not deny himself: as thou shalt feel by his plagues in hell, for so dishonouring God, to think that he is not true. Will he be found false now? The matter hangeth not on thy worthiness, but it hangeth on Gods trueth. Clap hold on it, and I warrant thee, Christ is the propitiation for our sins, yea, for the sins of the whole world: believe this, man: I know thou believest it: say therefore in thy heart still, Domine audage mihi fidem: Lord increase my faith: Lord help my unbelief. Blessed are they which see not (by reason) this gear, but yet believe. Hope, man, past all hope, as Abraham did.
Loe, now by mee the Lord calleth thée, thou man, thou woman, that art very farre off. The promise therefore pertayneth to thée: néeds must thou be saued, except thou with Sathan say, God is false: And yet if