be understood; so likewise many times they do this, contrary to the divine Scriptures, and the glory of God: Miserable, doubtless, is that congregation which hath a blind guide for their curate, which hath neither the gift nor the knowledge of preaching. "For if the blind lead the blind, both fall into the ditch." Again, greatly fortunate is that parish, and highly blessed of God, to whom a learned shepherd hath been allotted, who can feed them with knowledge and doctrine. Whatsoever they shall hear from such a learned and godly minister, let them believe it as a voice coming down from heaven. And so often as, by such a shepherd, remission of sins in the blood of Christ is preached unto the congregation, let them esteem that preaching none otherwise, than if the Lord himself had preached it. Let them steadfastly believe the word of God, and undoubtedly, by their faith, through the grace of God, they shall obtain remission of all their sins. Contrariwise, if they believe not, their sins are retained, and by no means forgiven. These things have I spoken concerning the absolution, or the keys, which consist only in preaching God's word, that the papists may have no occasion justly to bark against me, as they have done hitherto, both for my sermons and books. God forgive them, and send them a better mind!

Now, forasmuch as the true and Christian absolution is nothing else than the preaching of free deliverance from sin, by the death of Jesus Christ, it ought not to be contemned and despised, but rather to be received with great humility and reverence, even as a divine oracle sent down from the Father of lights. For no man can express how greatly it comforts infirm and weak consciences, which are troubled with the fear of God's judgments. When the prophet came unto king David, and rebuked him for slaying Uriah the Hittite, and for taking his wife Bathsheba unto his wife, and told him how greatly God was angry with him, and what plagues should fall upon his house, yea, upon himself, for his wickedness; it is not to be doubted but that David was stricken with a wonderful great heaviness, and his heart pierced with an inward sorrow, insomuch that he was right ashamed of himself, of his fault, of his wickedness, and was compelled, even of conscience, to burst out into the knowledge of his sin, and to say, “I have sinned against the Lord." As David was now full

of sorrow, grief, trouble, disquietness in his heart, and had joy of nothing, unto such shame and confusion was he brought in his conscience, so likewise, it is not to be doubted but that he was wonderfully revived, marvellously restored unto the peace and quietness of his conscience, yea, and plenteously replenished with joy in his mind, when the prophet said these words unto him, "The Lord hath put away thy sin, thou shalt not die." Mary Magdalen was

a notorious sinner, and when she heard her unclean conversation rebuked by the word of God, she heartily repented, and was replenished* with an inward sorrow, lamenting greatly that she had offended so bounteous a Lord, and merciful God, insomuch that a large fountain of tears flowed out of her tender eyes. All this time, undoubtedly, her sorrow was greater than can be here expressed. But when she heard this comfortable absolution of our Saviour Christ, "Thy sins are forgiven thee," again, "Thy faith hath made thee safe, go thy way in peace," that is to say, with a quiet and joyful conscience-who is able to express with how great joy and singular solace she was affected? So sure and comfortable is it to weak and troubled consciences, to hear the sweet and comfortable words of our free deliverance from the grievous burden of sin by Christ's blood. The thief was full of great anguish and trouble in his conscience when he hung upon the cross, in the time of Christ's passion, and confessed that both he and his fellow thief suffered worthily, even according to their deserts; and in the midst of his troubled conscience he cried unto the Lord Christ in this manner, saying, "Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom." But when Christ had made him answer, and said, "Verily, I say unto thee, This day thou shalt be with me in Paradise," Oh with what a quiet conscience suffered he his pains, and with how glad a heart yielded he up his spirit into the hands of the eternal Father! So comfortable a thing is it to a troubled conscience to hear any thing that may quiet the

conscience.

Again, when blessed Peter preached unto the Jews, and told them that they had crucified Christ the Lord, the Scripture saith, that they were pricked in their hearts, and said unto Peter, and unto the other apostles, "Ye men and brethren, what shall we do?" Peter said unto them,

* Filled.

"Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." As they were greatly dismayed when the holy apostle opened unto them their malicious deed, in slaying Christ the Lord, so were they very much comforted when they heard from saint Peter, that there was hope that their sins would be forgiven, so that they repented them of their wickedness, and were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. With how entire and unspeakable sorrow is it to be thought that the notorious adulterer among the Corinthians was overwhelmed, when at the commandment of saint Paul he was delivered unto Satan, excommunicated, put out of the Christian company, and reputed among them as a heathen and publican!

Contrariwise, with what exceeding joy was he replenished, when, after his repentance and sorrow, he heard the sweet promises of God's mercy declared unto him, that are directed toward all sinners that repent in faith, and afterward was received into the company of faithful Christians!

I pass over divers other histories, both of the Old and New Testament, which so abundantly declare what great comfort the faithful penitent sinners have alway had in hearing the comfortable promises of God's mercy. Now the absolution being, as I said before, nothing else but the preaching of free deliverance from sin by the death of Jesus Christ, for God alone forgives sin, and absolves the faithful penitent, it ought not to be contemned and despised; but whensoever the minister of the Lord's word, be it privately or openly, shall rehearse unto men the sweet and comfortable words of God's mercy, toward all them that repent in faith, they ought to give earnest faith unto them, being undoubtedly persuaded that their sins at that time are assuredly forgiven them, as though God himself had spoken these words, according to this saying of Christ, He that heareth you, heareth me. But it were expedient that all true ministers should pray that their form or manner of absolution be pure and agreeable to the vein of the Holy Scriptures, without the intermixture of any man's authority in remitting sin, either of Peter, Paul, Francis, Dominic, Benedict, or any other, or yet of themselves. Again, that it be declared to the penitent, that God alone forgiveth the sin, and that the priests are but the ministers of God, to whom he hath given the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to show to the true penitent, loosening, that is to say, re

mission of their sins-to the obstinate and hard-hearted sinners, binding, that is, that they remain still in the danger of damnation, and shall be damned, except they repent and believe.

It should also be provided, that when the faithful penitent is desirous to have his conscience confirmed, established, and comforted with the word of God, it should not be mumbled in the Latin tongue, as the papists have hitherto used in their absolutions, but in the mother tongue, that the simple and unlearned may understand it and be edified. Or else what faith shall he conceive in his heart? How shall he repent? How shall he know the goodness of God towards sinners? How shall he arm himself with faith against Satan, sin, and desperation? How shall he prepare himself to give God thanks for his kindness, and to live worthy of his profession? God grant that all things may be done unto his glory, and unto the profit of his holy congregation.

Here hast thou, most godly reader, my mind concerning the absolution and forgiveness of sins, which, if

it be examined by the Scriptures of God,

all man's doctrine set apart, I doubt

not but it will stand so strong,

that the gates of hell shall

not once be able to

prevail against
it.

Farewell,

most gentle reader, and pray that the Lord's word may have free passage, that the name of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ may be glorified among

all nations, and that, all dissension
laid aside, we may agree in one
faith and one truth.

Amen.

GIVE THE GLORY TO GOD ALONE.

THE

FORTRESS OF THE FAITHFUL

AGAINST THE CRUEL ASSAULTS OF POVERTY AND HUNGER; NEWLY MADE, FOR THE COMFORT OF POOR NEEDY

CHRISTIANS,

BY THOMAS BECON.

A. D. 1550.

PROVERBS Xviii.-A MIGHTY STRONG FORTRESS IS THE NAME OF THE LORD: UNTO THAT FLEETH THE RIGHTEOUS, AND IS IN SAFEGUARD.

DAVID. Psalm xxxvii.—I have been young and am old, and yet saw I never the righteous forsaken, nor his children begging their bread. The righteous is ever merciful and lendeth, and yet shall his children have God's plenty and enough.

SOLOMON (Or Agur). Proverbs xxx.-Two things have I required of thee, O Lord, that thou wilt not deny me before I die. Remove from me vanity and lies; give me neither poverty nor riches, only grant me a necessary living; lest if I be too full, I deny thee and say, Who is the Lord? and lest I, being constrained through poverty, fall unto stealing, and forswear the name of my God.

CHRIST. Matthew vi.-Take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewith shall we be clothed? After all these things the heathen seek. For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God and the righteousness thereof, and all these shall be cast unto you.