A comfortable epistle, too Goddes faythfull people in Englande wherein is declared the cause of takynge awaye the true Christen religion from them, & howe it maye be recouered and obtayned agayne, newly made by Thomas Becon.

☞ The .C. iij. Psalme / made in Englishe meter / by Thomas Becon, for a thankesgeuing vnto God / immediatly af∣ter hys deliueraunce out of pryson / whose emprysonmente began the. 16. daye of August / the yeare of oure Lorde / 15 53. and ended the 22. of Marche / then nexte ensuynge.

¶ Psalm. 103.

BE thanckefull o my soule vnto the LORDE And all that within me haue theyr beynge / Laude / prayse & magnifye with one accorde Hys holy & blessed name aboue all thynge.

O my soule / once agayn to the I saye Be thankeful vnto the Lord euer more / And looke thou forget not night nor daye All hys benefites that thou haste in store.

For he it is / yea / he it is alone Which pardoneth al thy synnes / both more and les / He deliuereth the from all griefe & mone And sendeth the health in tyme of sykenes.

He saueth thy lyfe from destruccion Which otherwyse should perish withoute doubte /

He of mere, 'grace' and tender compassion Crouneth the with louing kyndnes round aboute.

He with good thinges / thy mouth doth satisfye To eate & drinke gyuing the abundance / He maketh the ioyful / yonge and lustye Euen as an Egle that is ful of pleasaunce.

The LORD dothe minister iustice and iudgement To suche as are oppreste with violence / He defendeth the good and innocent But the wicked he casteth frō his presence.

He shewed hys wayes vnto faythfull Moses. And his workes to the sonnes of Israel / That all hys people myghte knowe bothe more and les In all kynde of vertue for to excel.

O the Lord God euē of his own nature Is bent vnto gentilnes and mercye / Yea / frendly is he aboue all measure Longe suffering & eke of great petye.

For though oure synnes be bothe greate and many Yet wil not the Lord be alway chyding / Neither will he for euer be angry But shew him self toe vs bothe gentle and louyng.

After our synnes he dealeth not with vs

Neither according to our wickednes / But lyke a father / bothe gentle & gracious He forgeueth al our sinnes / both more & les.

For loke how hye is the heauen supernal In comparison of the earth full lowe / So great is hys mercy toward them all That feare hī & wickednes away throwe.

And loke howe wyde the Easte is frome the West So farre hath he set all our synnes frō vs / Because oure conscience should be at rest And nomore trobled with workes odious.

Yea / lyke as a father gentle and tender Pittieth hys owne chyldren natural / Euen so is the Lorde merciful euer Unto thē that feare him both great & smal.

For he beyng our maker knoweth cer•…•…es Of what mater we be made and formed / He remembreth / we are but dust and ashes All of vyle and slymye earth created.

A man in his lyfe is like vnto grasse Hys dayes are few / & but a whyle endure / Lyke the floure of the felde awaye he passe Flori•…•…ing for a tyme / but nothing sure.

For as a flour with fears w•…•…d assayled Fadeth shortly away & cometh to nought / So dothe man of cruel death oppressed Departe hēce / & vnto nothing is brought.

But the mercifull goodnes of the Lorde Dothe continew for euer and euer /

Upon thē that feare him with one accorde And hys iustice vpō their chylders chylder.

I meane vpon such as kepe his coucnaūt And do them selfs diligently applye / To kepe hys preceptes / & likewise do graūte To frame their whole lyfe accordingly.

In heauē hath the Lorde a seat prepared For him self / both glorious and royall / And his prince like power is so outstretched That it raygneth & ruleth ouer all.

O prayse the Lorde all ye aungels of hys Ye that excel bothe in strengthe and vertue / Ye that do hys will without any mys Ye that harken to hys voyce / & that ensue.

O prayse the Lorde our God omnipotēt All ye hys hostes and armies supernall / Ye seruauntes of hys / whiche alwayes are bent To do hys wil / o prayse the Lord aboue all.

Yea / all thinges that euer God created Prayse ye the Lorde that God of myghte and poure / But thou o my soule / with hart vnfayned Looke that thou prayse the LORDE at euery houre.

¶ Geue the glory to God alone.