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 Epistle. ¶ The fyrst Chapter. (Book 1)

TO the faythfull Chri∣stians / wheresoeuer they be dispersed thorowoute the re∣alme of Englande / Thomas Becon wis•…•…heth / grace / mercy and peace from God the father / with per∣fect knowlege of hys dearly beloued sonne Iesu Christ our Lorde / and alone sauyour thorow the halowinge of the holy Ghoste / vnto the true and vnfayned obedience off Gods moste blessed will / with an earnest fayth in the merciful promises of God / and assured hope of obtayninge thesame / vnto euerlastinge lyfe. AMEN.

IT greatly reioyceth me (mos•…•…e deare brethren) to heare of thys youre con∣stancye and stedfastnes in beleuing & confessing the glorious Gospell of our sa∣uiour Iesus Christe (whiche as the apostle * 1.1 sayth / is the power of God to saue so many as beleue) namely in these perillous and troublesome dayes / wherin we se so many sturte backe and runne awaye from the cō fession of Gods trueth (whiche whan the

weather was calme / they semed constantly to professe) and folowe the fonde fantasyes of menne / that speake not Gods worde, but theyr owne drowsy dreames and idle imagi nacions brought into the church of Christ by suttle sathan and hys marked marchaū te•…•… / vnto the great disturbaunce of the Chri sten common wealth / so that / if it were pos∣sible / the very electe and chosen people off God / thorow theyr •…•…ugsing might be sedu∣ced * 1.2 and led from the waye of truthe. As ye haue godly begonne / so manfully go forthe vnto the ende / that ye maye receaue a full ioye and a perfect reward of the Lord your God in that daye / whan he gloriously shal apeare and rendre to euery one accordinge to hys dedes / that is to saye / prayse / honor / and immortalite to them / which continew in good doyng and seke eternall lyfe. But vnto them that are rebellious and disobey the trueth and folowe iniquitie / shal come indignaciō / and wrath / tribulacion and an∣guishe. But be it knowen vnto you deare brethren / that this thing that hath happe∣ned vnto vs in thys realme of Englande / * 1.3 I meane the takynge awaye of Gods true religion / and the thrusting in of pa•…•…istrye in the steade therof / vnto the greate & vnspea∣kable sorowe of all true Christen hartes / ought not to seme vnto you newe straunge

and vnloked for / but rather suche a thynge as hath hytherto many tymes bene decla∣red vnto you by the preachers / and ye your selfs godly cōsydering the corrupt maners and vnluckye chaunces of thys realme / did ryghte well the same aforesee and greately lament. For diuers signes had we longe be∣fore / besydes the godly admonicions of the faythfull preachers / whiche playnly decla∣red vnto vs an vtter subuersyon of the true Christen religiō to be at hande / except it were preuented by has•…•…ye and hartye re∣pentaunce. What shall I speake of that godly and mighty prince Edward / duke of Somerset / whiche in the tyme of his Pro * 1.4 tectorship dyd so banyshe Idolatrye out of this our realme / and bring in agayn Gods true religiō / that it was wōder so weyghty a matter to be brought to passe in so 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a tyme? Was not the vngentle handlyng of hym / and the vnrighteous thrustinge hym out of office / and afterward the cruel mur thering of hym / a man / yea / a myrrour off true innocencye and Christen pacience / an euident token of Gods anger agaynste vs? The sudden takynge awaye of those mo•…•…e goodly & verteous yonge Impes / the duke of Suffolke and hys brother / by the swea∣ting * 1.5 syckenesse / was it not also a manifes•…•… token of Gods heauy displeasure towarde

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vs? The death of those two most worthy & godly learned men / I speake of M. Pau∣lus * 1.6 Fagius / & of D. Martine Bucer / was it not a sure Prognostication / some greate mishappe / concerning Christen religion to be at hāde? But as I may passe ouer many other / & at the laste come vnto that / whiche is moste lamentable / and can neuer be re∣membred of any true English harte / with∣out large teares / I meane the death of oure most godly Prince and Christen kyng Ed∣warde the. VI. that true Iosias / that ear∣nest * 1.7 destroyer of false religion / that feruent setter vp of Gods true honor / that mooste bounteous Patrone of the godly learned / that moste worthy mayntayner of good let ters and vertue / and that perfecte & liuelye myrrour of true nobili•…•…e and syncere god∣lines: was not the takyng away of hi (alace for sorow) asure signe and an euident tokē that some great euel hāged ouer this realm of England? Who considering these thyn∣ges (as I may speake nothing of the wicked * 1.8 nes of those mē / which made the worde of God a cloke of their naughtines / of their insatiable couetousnes / of their intollera∣ble pryde, of their volupteous & wanton ly∣uing. &c.) perceaued not a shepwracke of the Christen religion too be at hande / as it is (alace for pytie) come to passe at thys daye?

All good men feared the decaye of Goddes true honoure in thys realme / that we fea∣red / that hathe chaunced / howe coulde it o∣therwise come to passe? Gods blessing was offered vnto vs▪ but we thorow our wicked and vnthankefull lyfe refused it. Shal not therfore blessing be taken away / & cursinge come in the place therof? as it is written / he wolde not haue the blessing / it shal therfore * 1.9 be farre from hym.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Rom. 1.
• * 1.2

  Mat. 24.
• * 1.3

  Roma. 2.
• * 1.4

  The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Somerset
• * 1.5

  The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and his bro∣ther.
• * 1.6

  M. Paulus Fagius. D Martine Bucer.
• * 1.7

  Rynge Ed∣vvarde the 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.8

  Grosse gos∣pelers.
• * 1.9

  Psal. 109.