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 aboininations 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 faise prophets. What need I to speak of them which each 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 tendert 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,t "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 of God, and boasteth himself as God, surely they do it who take upon them the office of God, that is, to remit and forgive sin.* But they shall be slain with the breath of the Lord's mouth.

The order which I will observe in the treatise following, is this : First, I will prove with manifest scriptures, that God alone forgiveth sin. Secondly, That the priest is but a minister appointed of God, to declare free remission of sins to the truly penitent-to declare, I say, and not to forgive. Thirdly, I will answer to the objections of the adversaries, and utterly wipe them away, restoring the scriptures to their native sense. Fourthly, Lest I should seem to despise the true and christian absolution of a faithful minister, and the use of the keys, which consists in preaching, I will express my mind concerning them also, so that to any indifferentt person, I doubt not, but that my judgment shall appear godly, and conformable to the true vein of the holy scriptures. This little treatise, most virtuous lady, I send unto your grace, as a testimony of my ready bent good will, and serviceable heart towards your grace, being provoked hereunto through your exceeding love and fervent zeal, which your most honourable ladyship bears, both toward the word of God and the true professors of the same; most humbly beseeching your grace to take in good part this my rude and simple gift.

May God, who by his Holy Spirit hath wrought in your heart this entire love toward the gospel of his Son, Christ Jesus, also bring forth in your grace plenteousness of good works, unto the glory of his blessed

name, and the profit of his
holy congregation.

Amen.

Your grace's most humble

and faithful orator,

THOMAS BECON.

Erasmns relates, that among the questions seriously argued in the schools, was the following : “ Whether the pope be not more merciful than Christ was; since we do not read that Christ ever recalled any from the pains of purgatory.” Erasm. annot in N.T 1 Tim. c. i.

+ Impartial.

THE

CASTLE OF COMFORT.

That God alone absolveth the truly penitent, and only forgiveth the sins of so many as with unfeigned faith and hearty repentance convert, turn, and flee unto his mercy, is manifestly proved by divers texts of holy scripture. First, let us hear what God himself saith by the prophet Isaiah ; I am he, yea, I am he indeed, which putteth away thy sins, yea, and that for mine own sake, and I will remember thy sins no more. Call to remembrance, and let us be judged together. Tell, if thou hast anything that thou mayest be justified. Thy first father sinned, and thy prophets have trespassed against me.

Are not these words evident enough ? God the Father perceiving right well, that there should arise false anointed, and false preachers, who without shame would arrogantly arrogate, and proudly challenge to themselves that power of forgiving sin, which alone pertaineth to him, plainly here affirms, that he alone putteth away our sins. And because he would have us the more seriously and earnestly to believe it, he repeats this word, “I,” twice, saying, I am he,

I am he indeed, which putteth away thy sins, yea, and that for mine own sake. And lest any man should think one may forgive another's sins, (I speak of those sins which are between God and our conscience, and not of brotherly reconciliation,) he affirms that our first father Adam, and all prophets and preachers have sinned, so that of them no remission of sins is to be looked for. Can flesh purify the soul ? That which is born of flesh is flesh, saith Christ. All have sinned, saith Saint Paul, and want the glory of God. Again, God hath wrapped all nations, saith he, in unbelief, that he might have mercy on all. If all be sinners, flesh, and the children of wrath ; if all be hypocrites, unprofitable servants, earth, dust, and ashes; if all be the enemies of God and unfaithful, how dare we to be so bold, as to take upon us to forgive another their sins? Is a traitor a fit man to purchase a pardon of a

snow.

prince ? Can one traitor forgive another his treason? Can one sinner forgive another his sin ? Of the unclean, what can be made clean ? as Job saith, Who can make him clean, that is conceived of unclean seed: Is it not thou alone O Lord? It is the Lord alone indeed; as David saith, Thou O Lord, shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be made clean, yea, I shall be made whiter than

And as our Saviour Christ said unto Peter, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. If God wash us not from our filthiness, we have no part in the heritage of Christ.

Again, the aforesaid prophet saith, The Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king, and he it is that shall save us. How oft is “ the Lord” here repeated, to show that it is he alone, who worketh all good things in us, who forgiveth our sins, and saveth us; yea, and none but he alone. Again, the Lord himself saith by the same prophet, I am the Lord, and there is no Saviour besides me. Here God himself confesses, that he alone is the Lord, and that there is none other Saviour besides him ; that is to say, none that forgiveth sin, and giveth eternal life, but he alone.

by another prophet, he also saith, Thy destruction, o Israel, cometh of thyself, only of me cometh thy help and salvation. David, that holy king and godly prophet, knowing his deliverance from sin to be of God alone, stirred up his inward man to magnify the Lord, saying, Magnify the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me praise his holy name O my soul, bless the Lord, and forget not all his benefits. For it is he that pardoneth all thine iniquities, and that healeth all thy diseases; yea, he it is that delivereth thy life from destruction, and crowneth thee in mercy and loving-kindness. Again, Let Israel trust in the Lord, for with the Lord there is infinite mercy and plenteous redemption. And he it is that redeemeth Israel from all their sins. Whosoever therefore taketh on him to forgive sin, maketh himself a Saviour, and saith with the apostate angel, I will climb up above the high clouds, and I will be like unto the Most High. But let him know that pride will have a fall, and that the Lord is a jealous God, and will give his glory to none other. Who delivered Adam from everlasting damnation, when he with his wife had transgressed the commandment of the high Lord ? Who absolved Noah from his drunkenness? Who