A16573:656
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.
Thus have you four means, which you must use to the attaining of faith, or certain persuasion of Gods mercy towards you, which is the second part of penance, ⟨image 52⟩namely, prayer, the free and universal promises of Gods graces, the recordation of the benefits of God, past and present, the examples of Gods mercy. Which although they might suffice, yet will I put one more to them, which all only of it self, is full sufficient: I mean, the death of the Son of God, Jesus Christ: which if thou set before the eyes of thy mind, it will confirm thy placard: for it is the great Seal of England, as they say, yea, of all the world, for the confirmation of all patents and perpetuities of the everlasting life, whereunto we are all called.
Thus haue you foure meanes, which you must vse to the attayning of faith, or certaine perswasion of Gods mercie towards you, which is the second part of penance, ⟨image 52⟩namely, prayer, the free and vniuersall promises of Gods graces, the recordation of the benefits of God, past and present, the examples of Gods mercie. Which although they might suffice, yet will I put one more to them, which all onely of it selfe, is full sufficient: I meane, the death of the Sonne of God, Iesus Christ: which if thou set before the eyes of thy mind, it will confirme thy placcard: for it is the great Seale of England, as they say, yea, of all the world, for the confirmation of all patents and perpetuities of the euerlasting life, whereunto we are all called.
If I thought these, which I have before recited, were not sufficient to confirm your faith, of Gods love towards such as do repent, I would tarry longer herein. But because I have been both long, and also I trust, you have some exercise of conscience in this daily (or else you are too blame) I will but touch & go. Consider with your selves what we are, misers, wretches & enemies to God. Consider what God is, even he, which hath all power, majesty, might, glory, riches, &c. perfectly of himself, & needeth nothing, but hath all things. Consider what Christ is: concerning his Godhead, coequal