First, Pray fervently unto God, that he will take away thy heart, which is defiled in such sort, and so hardened with the customable usage of sinning, that there can enter no virtue nor godliness into it.

Secondly, Desire him, for his great mercy's sake, to create in thee a new heart, and to pour his Spirit so abundantly into thy breast, that by the influence of it thou mayest be able to drink in virtue, and all that ever shall be pleasant to the divine majesty.

Thirdly, Be so at defiance with all vice and sin, that by no means at any time thou have pleasure either to think, hear, or talk of it; so far let it be from thee to meddle any thing at all with it, in thought, word, or deed.

Fourthly, Set this saying of Christ ever before thine eyes, that at the day of judgment account shall be given of every idle word that is spoken. This shall bring unto thy remembrance how grievous an account shall be required of them that customably swear, vainly usurp the name of God, blaspheme God, are falsely forsworn, &c.

Fifthly, That thou mayest the more easily eschew swearing, fly the company of them that use customably to swear, or have a pleasure to interlace their talk with blasphemous oaths. And whatsoever thou hatest in others, look that by no means thou do the same.

Sixthly, Busy thyself continually in giving praises unto God, and setting forth the glory of his name. Delight thou in nothing so much as in doing those things that make unto the advancement of the divine majesty. This shall not a little make unto the putting away of swearing, and make thee to have a mouth which shall be the organ and instrument of the Holy Ghost, to set forth and publish the glory of God.

Finally, let nothing come forth of thy mouth until it be thoroughly considered in thy breast, as Epictetus, the Greek philosopher warns; and so order both thy tongue and thine acts in all thy conversation, that it never repent thee afterward of any thing that thou hast done. So shalt thou not only eschew the damnable custom of swearing, but also garnish thy life with all kinds of virtues, unto the great glory of God, and the health of thy soul.

SO BE IT.

GIVE THE GLORY TO GOD ALONE.

THE

CASTLE OF COMFORT;

IN WHICH IS EVIDENTLY PROVED, THAT GOD
ABSOLVETH AND FREELY FORGIVETH THE SINS
OF SO MANY AS UNFEIGNEDLY REPENT
AND TURN UNTO HIM.

COMPILED

BY THOMAS BECON.

ALONE

THE NAME OF THE LORD IS A STRONG CASTLE, UNTO THAT DOTH THE RIGHTEOUS RUN, AND HE SHALL BE PRESERVED.-PROVERBS XVIII.

1549.

I am he only that for mine own self's sake do away thine offences, and forget thy sins, so that I will never think upon them.-Isaiah xliii.

If any man be thirsty, let him come unto me and drink.-John vii. O taste and see, how sweet the Lord is; blessed is that man that putteth his trust in him.-Psalm xxxiv.

DEDICATION.

To the most honourable and virtuous lady, Maria, duchess of Richmond, her grace, Thomas Becon wisheth from God the Father through our Lord Jesus Christ, a faithful

It was not without a great cause, most godly lady, that the holy apostle, saint Paul, desired the Thessalonians to hold fast the doctrine that he had taught them before, and not suddenly to be moved from their knowledge and understanding, nor to be troubled, neither by spirit, neither by words, nor yet by letter. For he undoubtedly did before see, by the revelation of God's Spirit, that there should arise false anointed, and false preachers, which should work great miracles and wonders, insomuch, that if it were possible, the very elect and chosen people of God should be brought into error. Which also should say, Behold here is Christ, or there is Christ, bringing in damnable sects, and utterly denying the Lord that bought them; as Peter saith, He considered the imbecility, weakness, and childish hearts of men, which, except they are corroborated* and fortified with the strength of God's Spirit, are soon carried about with divers and strange learnings, embracing no less greedily that which is to themselves noisome and pestiferous, than that which is good and profitable, as we at this present time see daily before our eyes. Therefore, this most excellent apostle desired the Thessalonians, (yea, and so many of us as profess Christ unfeignedly,) to persevere and abide in the word of truth, even unto the end, that we may be saved; and not lightly to be moved with the subtle and crafty persuasions of them that teach weak and beggarly traditions with human constitutions; which give heed to fables and men's commandments, that turn away the followers of them from the truth; which profess that they know God, but with their deeds they deny him, insomuch * Strengthened.

Dedication to the Castle of Comfort.

181

as they are abominable and disobedient, yea, and unmeet to all good works; which love their own pleasures more than God, having an outer appearance of godly living, but denying the power thereof; which run from house to house, and bring into bondage both men and women laden with sin; which are led with divers lusts, ever learning and never able to come unto the knowledge of the truth; which are enemies of the cross of Christ; which call that which is evil good, and that which is good evil, &c.; in short, which are ravening wolves, not sparing the flock. Does the world want these enemies of God's glory? Have not we also need to take heed unto the aforesaid wholesome admonition of the holy apostle, saint Paul? Does not the world at this day nourish such ungodly monsters? What age has been without them since the beginning of the world? What need I to speak of that great harlot of Babylon, the mother of fornications and abominations of the earth, which hath made drunken with the wine of the wrath of her harlotry all the nations of the earth; yea, the very kings and rulers of the earth have played the adulterers with her. (Rev. xviii.) And would God, that as the name of this Babylonical strumpet is exiled out of men's mouths, and erased out of books among us, so in like manner her whoredom, I mean, the popish and devilish decrees, which fight against the manifest word of God, might once be utterly exiled, banished, and for ever driven away from the bounds of Christendom; that all things in the Christian public weal, both in this and in foreign realms, might be instituted, ordered, and appointed, according to the verity of Christ's most blessed gospel. But besides this monstrous beast, are there risen not a few, which are plain antichrists, and daily labour to obscure the glory of God.

No marvel, seeing that in the apostles' time, blessed John confessed that there were many antichrists and false prophets. What need I to speak of them which teach that Christ by his precious death delivered us only from original sin? Which teach that man is justified by his own works, and not by the faith alone that he hath in Christ's most blessed death? Which teach that by observing men's traditions everlasting life is gotten? Which teach that external ceremonies justify and put away sin? Which teach that man is able of his own strength to fulfil the law, and to satisfy the justice of God? Which teach that our prayers cannot be heard, without the intercession of others?

Which teach that all honour pertaineth not to God alone? Which teach that the blood of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, is not a sufficient cleansing for all our sins, except we be broiled, boiled, and parboiled, in the pope's furnace?* Which teach that the Lord Christ gave not himself so plenteously a sweet smelling sacrifice to God the Father for us, that with the one oblation of his most blessed body, he hath made them perfect for evermore that are sanctified? Which teach that God alone forgiveth not sin, but sinful man also?

Are not these very antichrists; enemies of the cross of Christ; defacers of God's glory; false anointed; false preachers; ravening wolves; clouds without water; trees without fruit; raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever; men-pleasers, having men in great reverence for advantage sake; cursed children, which have forsaken the right way and are gone astray? These are they, doubtless, of whom both Christ and his apostles bid us take heed, in so many places of the Holy Scriptures. Against these ought all men to fight that tender† the glory of God. To confound these antichrists ought we to sell wallet, scrip, coat, with all that ever we have, and to buy us a sword, I mean the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

And to this end, that I may provoke others valiantly and boldly to fight against these aforesaid antichrists, I, according to the talent given unto me, have taken upon me to wrestle with these wicked men, which believe and teach that God alone does not forgive sin, but man also can forgive with the same power and like authority. Which thing I take in hand the more gladly, because I see that this kind of doctrine is a great defacing of God's glory, and that it throws many into great danger, forasmuch as they look for that at the hand of man which only is the gift of God; yea, it encourages not a few to live dissolutely, and without the fear of God, seeing they are persuaded that if the priest layeth his hand once upon their head, and say, "Ego absolvo te," they are quite delivered from their sinful burden. And though they return straightway unto their filthy vomit, what matters it, "Ego absolvo te" will despatch all together. If any man sitteth in the temple

* Purgatory.

+ Care for.

I absolve thee.