Certain Godly and Very Comfortable Letters

An Epistle of M. Ed. Deringe, before his 24 Lecture on the Hebrews, which he preached the 6. of December, 1572. And gave for a new years gift to the godly in London & elsewhere.

To his very loving friend Master M. F.

THe outward afflictions and manyfold troubles of a great number of gods childrie, whose travel & labor, frō day today J had still in experience, and the inward feelling of many wounded spirits, whose woeful sighs and bitter mournings, J beheld in other, and had tried in myself: it made me very desirous to seek for remedies, to stop the complaints of so grievous cryings, and to prepare our hearts in a strong defense, that the fiery darts of the Devil might not wound us. Upon this occasion when J had to expound that place of the Apostle full of notable comfort: That Christ in the days of his flesh, offered up prayers and supplications to him that was able to save him from death, with strong cryings and tears, and was delivered from the things he feared. J tarried the longer in that matter, & declared more at large what boldness and assurance of hope was offered here unto all that should obey the word. Which whē I had done, as God gave me utterance, the poor in spirit, to whom J applied myself, one or two required me to set it down in writing, that it might be profitable to many, which was comfortable to them. I durst not reject such a good request, but though sometime I deferred it, ye I never forgot it, till I had written all as I was required. Which when J had done, I purposed then with myself, to make it yet more common, and set it abroad in print: knowing assuredly, where God would give it increase it should bring forth the fruit of consolation, that we might stand upright in the day of evil. Thus having performed both the request of others, & mine own desire, and the time fallinge out with the beginning of a new year, I thought it not amiss to offer my labor to you, who I know would well accept of it as a new years gift, though of no great price, yet of great good will: and though easily obtained, yet not little to be esteemed. Therefore my dear brother, whom J love in Christ, and reverence in the world as many ways J have cause, so I offer it unto you: The Lord for his mercies sake work his own good pleasure, that J may have of you the fruit that J desire, and you the grace that ye stand in need of: that as God hath greatly blessed you, and made you abound in many graces to the glory of his name, the comfort of your friends, and the benefit of his people: so your joy, that it might be made perfect, you might also abound in this, to have a strong faith against the day of trial: which God of his mercy will surly grant unto you, and finish the good work that he hath begun. Though J love not to speak fair (for flattery and deceytful praises, I see what mischief they breed) yet J fear not to bear you witness of your well doing: the spirit of God hath planted humility more deep in your breast, then that pride and arrogancy can pull it out. And in deed the better you are, the more effectual you do see your own unworthiness, that all your righteousness is as a defiled clothe: and the more you approach unto God, the more you abhor yourself, & know that in our flesh there dwelleth no goodness. Abraham our father; Job, Isaiah, and many other men of excellent virtue in the sight of God, they have been all astonished, to see howe their righteousness hath been scattered away as the clouds of the heavens. Paul crieth out: O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from this body of death! But because we have an enemy, that spareth not to displaye all our corruptions before our eyes, to the ende he might make us despair, therefore we may be bold, to the strengthening of our hope, to set before us again, the spiritual graces that work within us, to assure our selves that we be borne of God. So our Savior Christ praised many that believed on him, so did the Apostles, so may we: and our heavenly Father will ratify and confirm our words, when we speak the truth, according to the measure of faith that everyone hath received. So Saint John biddeth us all be bold, and not be deceived: He that doeth the things that are righteous, him self is righteous, and like unto Christ in whom he is sanctified. So may J say unto you, the grace of GOD hath wrought happily in you in these years & conditiō of life, that so unfeignedly you have sought the Lord. It cannot be of yourself, who are not able so much as to think a good thought, but it is of him, whose seed abideth in you. And although, because you have that treasure in a brittle vessel, you see sometime the fruit of old Adam, and the pricks of his transgression within your bowels: yet fear not his malice that hath wrought this woe: You are bought with a dearer price, then that sin may reign again within you, & he that hath purchased you, he will not suffer his inheritance to be spoiled. Jt is necessary you should know your sin, or you could not understand howe great were your redemption. But your sins cannot separate you away from him, who hath buried them in the earth, and will not see them anymore. When you shall ascend to come into his sight, the earth will hold her own, and keep your sins behind you. The piercing serpent shall not clime to accuse you, nor the crooked serpent shall not hyde your redemption from you. Your care is cast upon him that careth for you, & you know him who hath spoken: All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Ye know him who hath a name above all names, that in the name of Jesus all knees shall bow: Even he that bought you with a price, and you are not your own. If it be possible for you to perish, then is it possible again that Christ should suffer injury. This boldness you have through him who hath made manifest his grace unto you, that you denying impiety & worldly concupiscence, should live soberly, purely, and godly in this present life, and look for the blessed hope that shall be revealed, when all secretes shall be opened. To which issue and happy ende of life, the Lord bring both you and yours, in the fellowship of his saints, to praise his holy name, when he shall make known unto you his glory unspeakable, and crown it with immortality, Amen.

A letter of M. Ed. Deringe to his brother Master R. D.

THe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you ever Amen. For Master S. whether he be angry or no J know not, if he be God is witness between him and me howe little I have deserved it, true it is, he seemed not very well pleased, but if God be pleased man's goodwil, either it shall be reconciled, or shall not do much hurt: if I have the loss in wordly things, I am content to bear it, and God will supply my want where I am able to do nothing. J had leuer be your Brother not worth a grote, but having a good conscience to pray for you, then have (as I might) great living, & encumber my conscience with much sin. And good Brother Dering, here follow me, you shall be a great deal richer then you are: study the scripture, read books, be able to reason in your faith, especially and above all, have a lively feeling of God, that you think more vile of all the glory of the world, then of the dust of the earth: you know we must all perish, and you must walk the way of all flesh: Our good Parents both Father & Mother, they are gone before: you do but wait the time, and you must go after, your goods and lands must abide behind, and the riches of your mind, they are only your own. You are my eldest brother, & you know not howe glad I would be, to see you go before me in Religion: God hath given you, neither a light head nor little understanding, if you would apply yourself unto knowledge, you should then reap the fruit of your labor in more gladness of heart then yet you can imagine: begin once but a little, and taste how sweet the Lord is, and you shall feel the riches of his glory, and say: Happy be the time that ever I knew it. Let not good Brother, let not the world deceive you, it is faithless and deceitful, when you shall love it best, it will soonest deceive you. And of me think thus: that in the world I cannot do you so great a pleasure, as continually to provoke you to know God: and this I shall be able to perform, though otherwise I shall be able to pleasure you nothing, and therefore I beseech you pray for me, and I will pray for you, & so the Lord God shall help us both, that I may be faithful which way J am called, and you may be such as I desire. And for Master S. or any other of such high calling, I love them in the Lord, even as I love mine own soul, and will pray for them while they and I shall live: Though I bear the loss of worldly things, yet by the grace of Christ, J will never lose a good conscience: and though they be angry with me, yet I will not leave to pray for them, and commit my cause unto God, he will one day multiply his graces, where he hath so well begun, and they shall (I trust) be thoroughly taught, whom God hath already so far instructed. For my L. of C. J have been once with him, but J mean not yet to go the seconde time, God will work his will, his name be praised forever. My L. of L. is a good man, I am often with him, I have seen in him so good tokens of a good spirit, that I reverence him in my heart & will serve him in Christ all ways that J may. And for my doing with any man, I pray you tell me where you see me faulty, but if you know not of any sin, do not dissuade me from going upright in the Gospel: But for my comfort, if you see me grieved, let me see in you, how you profess the gospel: & persuade yourself of this, that a lively zeal, & holy knowledge in you, and in my Sister, shall make me gladder then any bishopric in England. The Lord God for his mercies sake that hath called you out of the kingdom of darkness, and placed you in the fellowship of his saints in light, make you to feel the depth of his graces, that you may be renewed, confirmed, strengthened, and made perfect unto the ende, Amen. Fare you well in Christ Jesus, and do my hearty commendations to my sister.

To his brother Master R. D.

THe grace of our Lord Jesu Christ be with you ever, Amen. Good brother, I would gladly write oftener unto you, but otherwise I have so much to do, that some time I forget many duties. Another cause is, J have nothing to write as I would, so I have no pleasure to do that I would not. So it is, that I am forbidden to preach: which grieveth me most, then slanderous reports do hurt me much, where J would fainest please, so far as I may in the fear of God. But how so ever things are, it is a blessed sentence which he hath spoken, who will surly perform it: To them that love God, all things happen to the best, and pray for me good Brother, that I may hold steadfast that love, and waver not in the faith of the gospel in which we have assured life: and as I am bound J trust I will pray for you, that your eyes may have perfect & pure sight, to see the loving countenance of the Lord which is better then life: so you shall be happy even in the days of your vanity, and when nature shall make you yield to the necessity of all flesh, to go walk in the way of all the world, then shall you reap the fruit of your labor, and say with gladness: Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace. This is all the hope we have, and the only joy that is to be looked for under the heavens: the nearer you shall feel it, the more you shall see it, it shall delight you and set you on a sure ground, that you shall not be ashamed forever. The Lord God for his Christ's sake strengthen us all to so good a purpose, and the mutual debt we owe one to another in the bound of nature, let us pay it in this holy affection, to pray for our perseverance unto the ende. And as touching the issue of all my business, look for the worst, hope for the best, and bear whatsoever shall fall. J trust to God once I shall see the day wherein J shall faithfully speak it, even as Saint Paul Vita mea nō est chara mihi, vt consumā cursum meū cū gaudio The Bb. and many other seek occasions against me. God hath still raised me up many friends, but my hope is only in him, that hath kept me hitherto, and not in man, when J know what ende will come, you shall hear: If I would lose the truth I could win the world, but that were a miserable change. God bless us and send us peace, make us wise in his Gospel, and steadfast unto the ende. My Wife hath been I thank God in no trouble, neither was any toward her, that J know of, if any fall, God hath made her rich in grace and knowledge to give accompt of her doing. D.W. on frydaie last as I was about to preach, forbad me in hir Majesty's name, so I stand now forbidden, not by the Bb. but by our Princesse, whom J beseech God make a happy governor in his church, and many years to give peace unto his people. If we prayed as we should, God would make perfect the good work he hath begun, and make us see the peace of Jerusalem all the days of our life. And J beseech God, that we may wish so effectually his mercies, that at last he may shut us up in a blessed unity, that they whom he hath afflicted, may rejoice. Commende me to all. Thank • my cosen, for her letters, and for the parsonage she writeth of: I will not refuse it if I may have it, neither will I sue for it though it were much better. If God call me to it, I pray God I may do my duty: if not, yet his will be done. I am persuaded, if I be settled there, it shall be a blessing unto the country: if not, without me God keepeth those that be his. Farewell good Brother, And the Lord keep you and all yours, Amen.

To his Brother I. D.

THE God of all grace who giveth us eyes to see, and ears to hear, give unto us ever his holy spirit, that in the midst of a dark world, we may see the brightness of his heavenly kingdom, and in this weak tabernacle of small continuance, we may know the dwelling place which we shall have forever in the resurrection of the just, Amen. I thank you, good brother, for your letter, and for your care of my recovery, but most of all because you show a good testimony of your mind, that the fear of God doeth dwell in you: of this J am glad, and I am sure I shall be glad. For I know howe earnestly I desire it, and I see howe vnfainedlie you are brought unto it, and when the Lord in his good will, & his appointed time shall make us see more clear howe great this blessing is, we know we shall reap the fruit of it in the sight of his presence and in eternal life, this is enough for us: a strength unto our hope, a stay unto our faith, a continuance unto our love, lett the good work of God be finished in us. And of this we may be sure, whosoever regardeth it not, or else embraceth the present world, he knoweth not God, nor yet hath ever seen the length & breadth of immortality. And therefore good brother, (because blessed are the eyes which see that we see,) let us strengthen our sight, with the sweet oyntement of God's spirit, that we may yet see more clear, till through all the graces of GOD our Father, we may see our bodies also raised up from the dead, and our selves joined unto our Savior Christ by decree and sentence which never shall be reversed, Come you blessed unto eternal life: unto this, a good conscience will carry us with joy & gladness. Beyonde this our senses fail us, and our heart is able to comprehend nothing of the glory which we shall see. Only J know it is exceeding great, whose greatness I can neither see, nor hear, nor comprehend with thought: And therefore if ever thing delighted us, or if ever we have seen pleasure, or can wish the thing in which we would rejoice, let us turn all our affections hither with heart and soul, life and strength, to delight in this, which alone is all, and nobody shall take it from us. And sure brother, this is true, if God have received us to that blessed kingdom, he hath appointed the time in which he will give us his spirit (though not fully) to comprehend it, yet so far to see it, that we will account all the world to be but dung, to the ende we may win Christ. And this J am persuaded, good brother, God hath and will give plentifully unto you, so that you shall use the world as though you used it not, and be here with men, as one whose dwelling were with the Angels of God, using your calling in any godly recreatiō, but having your heart nearest unto God, that gave it: and the Lord grant you this happiness, that all the pleasure of your life may be in deed acceptable, such as shall not after be mingled with shame & sorrow. And J beseech God bless my good Uncle B. and make him now to know, which in his tender years he could not see: for the world was then dark, and we were blind in it: but since we have been lightened with the gospel of the Lord Jesus, and so much more earnest lie now we must pray that it may be unto us the gospel of health, and we may increase in the knowledge of the mystery of it. And the Lord open his gracious countenance revealed in it, unto my Aunte, that she may also make a blessed change, to leave vain imaginations of her own mind, which are full of ignorance, and learn the scripture, which can make known unto her the living God. And commend me hartilie unto them both, to whom I wish as to myself.

A comfortable Letter written by Master Ed. Deringe, to a Christian Gentlewoman, in heaviness of spirit.

JT is true (good Maistres H.) which the spirit hath spoken, and we feel it by experience, That by many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of heaven. This is a common decree which God hath sanctified to be a lot for all his children. So the author and finisher of our faith, Jesus Christ him self was made perfect. Into his similitude we are also predestinate that we should first die with him, and then be partakers of his glory: Lett us not therefore refuse that condition of life in which we have the fellowshipp of all the Saints of God, but rather confess with the holy Apostle, That blessed is the man who endureth temptation. But because all afflictions are bitter for the present time, and when the mind is shaken with sorrow, it is then most easily cast down of the enemy, let us learn wisely what our troubles are, and be prepared of remedy in the day of trial. All our afflictions are either according to the flesh, in hunger, cold, nakedness, shame, contempt, slander, &c. or according to the Spirit, in lamentations and mourninges, which the world knoweth not. The first evils are easily borne, for they are all but vanity, and in vanity they shall die: if we see no favor in the sight of the Sun that shineth not here acceptable unto us, when we have paid the debt we owe unto death, the Lord will deliver us from all the injuries of men. But in this behalf let me comfort myself, God hath set you free frō such afflictions. Your goods are unto you in a liberal portion, your life made happy with a loving husband, your calling acceptable under a gracious and good Mistress, in whose sight you have found favor, in this estate you feel no trouble, therefore I let it pass. The other affliction which is of the spirit, and which cannot be resisted with any earthly blessing, look for it assuredly, for it will come unto you, that you may suffer with Christ, and reign with him in glory. These troubles they come many ways, even as the spirit of God doeth lead us unto life. First we are commanded to learn & know the word of God, against this look for many temptations, the enemy will try which way to pluck that out of our hearts: Out of the word we must learn a precious faith, and hold that unmovable before God: against this what temptations are between heaven and earth, you shall feeele your portion, if anything possible cā discourage you. With faith you must join a lively hope, which is, a longinge apprehension of God's glory: in this also Satan will pretermitte nothing to quench your affections, that it may be dead, and to darken your mind that you may see nothing, without these you cannot possibly live, and unto these you cannot possibly come, but first you shall feel what is the strength of sin. And yet notwithstanding faint not, the Lion hath overcome which is of the tribe of Judah. The force of the Serpent shall bruise our heel, but it shall not take away from us the head-piece of salvation. Learn therefore first the word of God, this is the seed of regeneration, by which we are made new creatures, this is the bread of spiritual nourishment, by which we are grown up into eternal life. This is the weapon of our warfare, by which we may wound and drive away our enemies. This is the Scepter of our glorious kingdom, by which we do know that God doeth reign in us. Take this unto you, the shielde of your defense, the strength of your age, the wisdom of your heart, and the safety of your life, commended unto you in the word of Christ. Searche the Scriptures, and seal it in your heart with a good persuasion that it is the word of God and of life, and he hath graven in it an express image of eternal truth. Let it dwell plentifully within you, and your heart is armed with a most strong defense, all enemies shall fall before it, the wisdom of the wise shall be brought to naught, and the council of the prudent shall be made foolish, the ways of the adversaries shall be scattered, and the scorners seat shall be thrown down, so true it is that the Lord hath spoken. Blessed is the man whose delight is in the Law of the Lord, and whose meditation is in it day and night. Lett us then bring down the hautinesse of our minds, and receive with meekness the word grafted in us, which can save our souls. To this desire of understanding, when God hath brought us, then let us pray to be delivered from temptatiō, and take heed we be not spoiled of so great a treasure. We have three especial enemies in this behalf, of which S. Paul biddeth us all beware: the one is, Philosophy, that is, a vain and curious searching of God's mysteries, or measuring things revealed according to our understanding, with which temptations whilst our Fathers were overcome, they became foolish in their own imaginations, and changed the glory of God into the likeness of a corruptible man, making Images, praying to Angels, imageninge of souls like little children, devising Purgatory, reasoning of God's wisdom above our capacity: As if we be predestinate we may live as we list, if we are commanded to work, if our days are numbered, why seek we any safety to our life. If the Angels do keep us in all our ways, that we shall not hurt our foot against a stone, why fear we any falling? These phantasies, and worse then these, disquiet our minds and fight within us against our humble obedience to the word of God. Which all when we have overcome (and said with the Prophet: secrete things are for the Lord, but things revealed for us and our children) yet have we no peace. A seconde enemy riseth up greater then the first, which Saint Paul calleth The traditions of men, for the heart of man which drinketh in error, as the ground doeth drink water, is very obstinatlie bound with old customs and longe continuance, measuring truth which is pure and holy, only by time which is corrupt and evil, and not only this, but nature also hath inflamed our affections to love to much our fathers ways, to like their opinions, to esteem their judgments, to praise their doeinges, to commend their age, to talk of their names, till through many enticements we are at last bewitched, our wisdom is stolen away, and truth is taken from us: by this means all corruptions which have overflowed the earth, have still wyde rooms in the hearts of many. The Popes supremacy, Latin service, prayer for the dead, Masses, Diriges, Pardons, Pilgrimages, Sensinge, and all popery, with the authors of it, Popes, Cardinals, Monks, Friars, all which have neither truth, nor shadow of truth: not one word of them is in all the Gospel of Christ, only old custom hath bred it in our bones, and an opinion of our fathers hath printed it in our breasts, and we will not cast it out. But the Lord be thanked, who hath had mercy upon us, to make us hold fast the word of truth, whatsoever our fathers have vainly taught us, and yet we are not in security. But a third enemy is in the heart of man, that the word of God may not have his perfect honor, and that is an opinion conceived of earthly things, and planting of holiness in corruptible creatures, as in Meats, Drinks, Days, Garmentes, conditions of life, places, times, Ceremonies, neither hearing our Savior Christ, that God is a spirit, and only he is to be worshipped in Spirit and Truth. Neither his Apostle Paul, That the Element of that world commend us not unto God, for neither if we eat, are we ever the worse: neither if we eat not, are we ever the better. These and many great temptations stand against us as soon as we would give over our selves to the word of God, which is the beginning of a Christian life. Trowe you that in the continuance of our course and journey, before we come at our Savior Christ, shall we not be sifted and tried to see what is within us? And you (good Maistres H.) to apply this to yourself, tell me howe you have learned Christ, hath his Gospel been peaceable in you from the first day till now, without all contradiction? Was your mind never puffed up in vain imaginations? Did the traditions & persuasions of men never shake your thought? Have you not been tempted with opinions of creatures, as though some were more holy, some more profane? J know as you long after Christ and desire his truth in single heart: so his grace you have not, without sharp and bitter trials, and the more freely the word of God shall possess your soul, and fill your heart with all desire of it, the more you shall feel what fight is against it, look for the like in all your life, and when you approach to the true fear of God, prepare your heart to the strongest assault. The word of God thus made known unto us, and when we follow it with all our soul, that we may have a lively faith to rejoice at the promises of God, to fear at his threatening, and feel a full persuasion of a certain performance of all his words: O Lord, what is the malice of Satan! And though many temptations are against us, the longe prosperity of the wicked in which they triumph, why lest the goodness of God provoketh them still to repentance, the bitter sighting of the godly, in which they mourn under many crosses, whiles God maketh their faith precious before him: these have rooted quite out of the hearts of the ungodly, the faith and truth which they owe unto God, so that against all his judgments, they have opened their mouth, and said aloud: Where is the promise of his coming? And against all his mercies they have proclaimed war, and said, They will not have Christ to reign over them. But these temptations Christ hath overcome in us, and given us his spirit, in which we know assuredly that the Lord reigneth: neither slacketh he his coming, as many account slackness, but he will come, and his glory shall be known. And yet we are not in peace, but Satan will sifte us another way: he will lay our sins before us, to make us fear, that tht promises of God belong not unto us, and this of all temptations is the greatest, yet we fear not, for what belongeth to all our sins, which Christ hath not borne? sorrow, sickness, death, hell, condemnation, were they not in his body, and are they not all crucified upon the cross? Is he not risen from them, & hath he not brokē the chains of death, and so is ascended into glory? If this be my fear because I am a sinner, rather let me rejoice, for Christ hath taken my sins vpō him, & hath buried thē deeper then the bottom of the Sea, he hath led it openly in triumph, and nailed it upon the cross frō henceforth & for evermore it hath no strength, whosoever seem to color it as redd as scarlet, or make it like purple, it is still nothing, and casteth but a vain terror before our eyes: we will never deny this but freely confess it, that we be miserable sinners, and not worthy to lift up our eyes to heaven, but who will lay our sins to our charge, now God hath justified us? or what sin can rest upon us, now Christ hath washed them away? That which once was in fight with Christ, and he hath overcome it, who shall set too his hand the seconde time, to make the victory perfect? This is true, and everlasting truth hath sealed it up, that sin is abolished forever and ever, howsoever we fear or tremble, or be faint hearted, yet before the Lord with whom our life is hid, there is no peril, no danger, no fear, but peace & righteousness without ende. Let our sins be never so great, neither we nor our sins can change the new Testament, that God is merciful to our sins, and will blot out all our transgressions: therefore this care is past, that our sins be many, the more they are, the greater is his mercy, who hath forgiven them. And this is the token which God hath given us, that we are his, because we are grieved with our sins, for our Savior Christ overcame sin with pains and sufferings which belong unto it, and this is the badge of our redemption, to be made like him in afflictions, we have sin, and abhor it, it woundeth us with fear, it setteth before us condemnation, we have a sense and feeling of God's anger against it, and hell gnaweth upon our souls because of transgression. O blessed state, and treasure of gladness, this was the Jmage of Christ when he overcame sin, a mark of my redemption in mine own flesh, that I should not faint. As the sun maketh the day, and the night darkness, so this affliction of sin is the badge and cognizance of our certain forgiveness. And herein see the goodness of God, which turneth all things to the best to those that love him. Through fear of sin the Devil fighteth against us, without fear of sin we could never have boldness: through anguish of heart the Devil would overwhelm us with sorrow: without anguish of heart we could never have joy. In feelinge God's anger, the Devil would make us to despair: without feelinge his threatening, and trembling before him, we could never have strength of faith, that his mercies are forever. In all sufferings I am like to Christ, they are the marks of mine adoption, that J am his child. Do we not hear the Lord? Himself doeth speak, If we be without correction, then are we bastards and not sons: and to show what our correction shall be, he saith in another place: If we be planted with him into the similitude of his death, then shall we also be partakers of his resurrection. Who hath heard so great salvation as this? Every weapon wherewith the enemy striketh, the same armeth us to greater salvation: And every wound that we do receive, the same confirmeth us to a surer life. Then (as before I said) care not for sin, for that is abolished, so here I may add, care not for hell, for the nearer we feel it, the further we are from it. Let them fear sin that feel it not, and let them be afraid of condemnation that know not what it is, upon whom destruction shall come sodenlie as an armed man. Our eyes have been kept waking, and we have seen our sins: our harts have fainted before the anger of the Lord, And we have not despised his heavenly calling, therefore in the day of trouble, we shall have rest. In this persuasion we will live and die: and if our souls should melte for fear within us, although the Lord should kill us, yet would we trust in him. Abraham believed in the Lord, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness, against hope he believed under hope: and if our hope seemed to be taken from us, yet would we patiently wait the Lord's leisure, until he save our hope again, that at the least our faith might have again the glory and truth of full assurance. Another thing we must labor in, and in another thing we shall have temptation, and that is, that we may see what is the glory of God and immortal life: herein lett us meditate in our beds, and think on this in our secret places, in the midst of our companies, let these cogitations be often in our hearts, and in all places let these be our muses. When we shall apprehend with all the servants of God what is the height, the breadth, the length, the depth, we shall know that the glory is great of immortality, and he is only to be believed, who shall shine in honor when this vanity is overpast His strength is great that laid the foundations of the world, and his brightness exceeding, that made the Sun and the Moon. His treasure and riches, are above measure, who hath given Princes their gold and silver and other precious stones for the honor of man: he in deed is of excellent majesty, who is King of Kings, and Lord of Lord's, and his power is above all, who maketh sickness his messengers, and death his minister, till he shall abolish them both. For his mercies are unspeakable, that forgiveth us all our sins, and his goodness is great, who hath had regard to the children of men. From nothing he brought us into life, he kept us from the grave, he will restore us, and make us see his glory. When I would think on this, my soul is compassed with dullness of flesh, that J cannot see the fullness of his favor: When I would consider in my heart what is his grace: Darkness ouershadoweth mine understanding, & all my thoughts do vanishe in his immortality. When J would speak of his loving kindness, my tongue cleaveth to the root of my mouthe, and my words stick fast within my lips. But this one thing in all mine infirmities J can perceive, that his glory is exceeding great, whose glory I cannot comprehend, and the life is longe, appointed unto man, where his heart and mind can see no ende. If all the world were a flowing water, and every year one drop should be diminished, the Sea should be all made dry, and the bottoms of the deep should appear, before he shall cease to live, whom God hath raised from the dead, and this breadth & wideness between heaven and earth, if it should be filled up, and every year but one handful of earth added to the work: yet sooner should the great distance be closed up, and the empty places made full, then he shall cease from joy and gladness, who shall stand in the resurrection of the just. This is the glory that hath neither spot nor blemishe, before which me thinketh, not only Princes and the glory of the world, but the Sunn and Moon & all the hosts of heaven are nothing else but mere vanity, for death shadoweth the glory of man, though he spread his branches never so far, yet the grave closseth up in little room the ambitious heart, which before was enlarged from East to West. And the Heavens that are high and free from death, yet are holden under the tyranny of envious and consuming time, in which they shall be changed: Only the Lord is in honor and majesty, who hath set eternity round about him, and cast out time unto confusion. Oh Lord, where are their eyes that see not this, or their hearts that see and regard it not! Who hath bewitched them, in the countenances of men, to carry the hearts of beasts, and to forget the latter ende. The Lord turn them that run astray, that they may know and see where is their glory, but the temptations have overtaken them. Which are against our honor when the Lord shall deliver them from evil, they shall give thanks and rejoice with us, that they also have eyes to see. And blessed are you (good Mistress H.) and God hath visited you in an acceptable time, whose heart he hath touched with fear, & whose afflictions he hath filled with hunger and thirst, that you should mourn for the redemption that is in Christ, and be pleased with nothing but with the grace of his countenance. This is a Schoolemistres to bring you unto him, and a bond to tie you fast, that you shall not be separated: and accomplish J beseech you, this good work of his grace, till you love the Lord withal your heart, and till you can say with the blessed Apostle, I desire to be dissolved, and to be with Christ.

For this purpose we are chastised of the Lord, and whē our faith is tried, at the last it shall be made strong, that with it we may quench all the fiery darts of Satan, and in righteousness and peace, and joy of the holy Ghoste, run the course that is set before us, till in a blessed issue of happy days, with a good spirit we may say boldly, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace. Which I beseech God the father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the God of mercy, and Father of all consolation grant unto you, Amen.

Pray, pray, pray, pray, this is your best service wheresoever your duty is most bound.

Letters of Ed. Der. to Maistres B.

GRace, mercy and peace from God our Father, &c. J had much leuer good Maistres B. come myself then write unto you, but as other things are far contrary to my desire, so is it in my coming unto you, & J am constrained rather to write then to come, but God appointes our ways, whether J come and be with you, or else be other where and hear from you, J trust and am persuaded, that both I shall hear from you, and you shall have the same constancy in the love of truth and still increase in the knowledge of it, till the good grace of God have made the work perfect that it hath begun, and you with all your heart and all your soul do fear the Lord, and delight in all obedience of his holy will. Wherevnto though we be sufficiently persuaded by the nature of godliness it self, which all men do praise, and the righteous do love: yet a greater provocation is in you, because God hath given you a good estate, in which your example shall do good to many, and because good hath filled you with a hearty affection to testify his Religion, that you may accordingly in all well-doing surmount the praise of your profession, and especially because he that hath called you is holy, that you may express his similitude and likeness in all your ways, and this good course through evil days, when God of his mercy shall make straight unto us we shall see then what is the latter end. Our hearts shall be satisfied with it, and our tongue shall speak not as the world doth, blessed are the riche mē or blessed are the mighty, for all these have wings to fly away, and high estates to sit down in the dust, when man must go make his bed in the dark, and say to corruption thou art my father, and to the worm thou art my mother and sister, but our song shall be in better hermonie, and we shall say with the Prophet David, blessed is the man that feareth the Lord and delights greatly in his commandments: For when all hatred shall grow against this, and all adversity shall strive to come upon it, yet all is nothing and shall not move it. For when our heart is strenghtened with this grace, we see our portions in all estates and times: in discredit, we see praise, in poverty, riches, in anger, favor, in darkness, light, in bondage, liberty, and in death, life, yea whatsoever in weakness of body, in envy of time, in uncertainty of estate, in danger of life, or in any thing else, because nothing can separate us from the love of God, nothing can turn unto our harm, for we have his promise that is able to perform it, that to those that love God all things happen for the best. This purpose of life is soon had, and this course is easily begun, but the fruit of it doth not vade nor the gladness of it shall never be lost so that we shall not, nor by the grace of God we: will not for so little labor lose so great a reward, nor for a little pleasure which vainlie we think is in other things, receive the reward of our foolishness, which assuredly we know hath everlasting grief, we have not so vnfruictfullie learned Christ nor so vnhappelie given witness of his truth, But better things belong unto us, in better ways we wll run our course, in a better hope lay down our bodies: The children of the world shall make the world their portion, we look for another city of which the Lord is the workman, and we will not build up our unhappiness in the vain desires and concupiscence of this world, neither yet (seeing God is good to us to fill our days with peace) will we deny any comfort that is offered us in this present pilgrimage, but seeing the earth is the Lord's and all that therein is, we have perfect pleasure in friends, riches, authority, honnor: if all be his? All are pure: if all be of him? Jn all is pleasures for where his kingdom is, there is righteousness and peace and joy of the holy Ghost: and sorrow and sin is cast out, only let us care as all things are good, so we use them: and as they are corrupt, so to let them alone. S ^t . Paul teacheth that to the pure all things are pure, but to the impure all things are impure: And the things of this world are made according to the conscience of man: Houlde this to remember it at noon days, and lett our reins instruct us in it in the night season, that we feell our hearts inflamed with the love of God, and that it may be acceptable unto us as our own life, to set forth his praise: That we acknowledge his glory which shineth in all his his works, and then the Lord hath set us in a large rome of liberty, where we walk with boldness in good delight of his creatures: and in deed and in truth this it is when this affliction hath taken root within me, and I feel the work of it perpetually within my mind, whether J be following my Hauke or my bowle, J make a more acceptable sacrifice to God, then the heart barren of this love of God can do: though the knee bow or the tongue say, praised be the Lord, for everyone that saith, Lord, Lord, shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven, but in whom so ever the love of God doeth reign, and hath driven out the lewd desires of a dissolute mind, him God hath chosen, and the spirit of his son Christ crieth within him, Our Father: yet I mean not here to justify these worldly minded men, to whom the day is to short for their vain plays, except they reach it out till midnight at Cardes and Dice: such people as they, commonly fill all their delights with blasphemy, so lett them know that the love of the living God they never felt, but the god of this world hath blinded their unbelieving hearts, and in their uncleanness there I leave them, till the sins of their youth be rotten in their bones, that they may sink deep in their own shame. My meaning is, that the man of God whose soul doeth thirste to see his glory, and hath the joy of his life in immortality, in respect of the which he accounteth all the world to be but dung: I say, that man may have true delight in the days of his vanity, the smelling of the dog, the flying of the birde, the qualities of all creatures, they were made for him: and he is injurious to the blood of Christ, that thinks he may not use them: but all these things are good for our recreation, to comfort the frailty of weak bodies, and to bring refreshing to a weary spirit: which end, if we forget, and make it our pastime, and so call it, then we turn our pastime into sin. For what is our time that we are weary of it, or what is our life that seemeth so slow to pass, are we grieved with the light which the Lord hath set in the Heavens, or is the feeling of our body burdenous unto us, or our eyelyddes payned with being open, or are our ears wounded with the sound of the air, or what grief, what care, what sorrow is it, why we wish our time forgotten & past? Surely Job knew not this when he said, His time passed faster thē a post: nor David knew it not whē he thought his life but a span longe: and surely he hath but a wretched life, & let him not love it, who is fain to run to the birds of the air, and the beasts of the field, to seek some comfort against it. And therefore (good Maistres B.) let pastime alone, and be not wearied with your good days, your times are passed meetely well, and you have seen 40. years filled and gone, the residue behind will pass with them, You shall not hold them if you would, but pastyme and they will dwell together, till our appointed time shall come: and one ende shall be unto all. But then you shall see another state, and this enmity between us and it, shall be taken away: we shall not be weary of it to wish it gone, and it will not be weary of us to wear us away, but Tyme and we shall dwell together, and the glory of God shall be eternally before us, and we before his Majesty in Jmmortalitie. A blessed state, a hope of life, a glorious body, a heavenly mind, and woe be to all these time passers of, that know how to delight in this, but have more pleasure in all uncleanness: when the end of their labor shall come upon them, they shall feel more grief in one day, then after shall be eased world without ende. And in one sentence of an angry Judge (go you cursed into eternal fire) they shall be wounded with that misery, which world without end shall rest upon them, and their old pastime shall never more be found: but this is the portion of them that know not God. But you good Maistres B. have already passed the days of your ignorance, and the kingdom of heaven is come unto you with power: you love the truth of the Lord Jesus, and all false ways you do abhor: you do feel the hope of the Elect of God, and it hath quenched the desires of ungodly. Pray still, that you may have increase: and read the Scriptures, in which you shall have comfort: these will lead you in a perfect way, and neither Paul nor Peter have a more blessed end, then is for us, in a like precious faith: and J (as J am bound) will beseech the God of mercy, and father of our Lord Jesus Christ, that he will look upon you, to fill you with his grace and holy spirit, that it may guide you and all your children before you, and your household committed to your charge, that you may dwell in the new and blessed Testament of the forgiveness of sins through faith in Christ Jesus, who hath destroyed the works of the Devil, and is able to keep you forever more. And to his gracious defense, J heartily leave you and all yours.

To Maistres B.

THe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you ever, Amen. Good Maistres Baret, howe fain J would be with you, God knoweth, and howe I am indebted to do good in your house, if J should not confess, I must needs accuse myself of much unthankfulness, but God alone disposeth all our ways, to be so as pleaseth him, whom heartily I beseech for his sons sake, bless us with that blessing which he gave his Apostle, that in all places we may be unto him in Jesus Christ, a sweet savor of life unto life to all his saints with whom we are. So shall I more gladly walk all the ways of his appointment, and you more willingly bear with mine absence, the will of God be done in all things. When you are at Braye, if the Lord will, I shall be more quiet with you. In the mean time (good Maistres) so believe as you have seen and heard, and pray for me that I may live to his glory, who hath shown me such mercy, that I may say with the Prophet David: What shall I give again for all that he hath given me? And so do you rejoice in the blessing that GOD hath given you, that more and more your estate here may be a sure testimony of a more blessed hope, that shall one day be revealed, when honor and glory shall succeed in the place of labor and sorrow that now aboundeth. The Lord bless you and all yours, keep you and give you a plentiful blessing in his new Testament, and in his kingdom, which is righteousness, and peace, and joy in the holy Ghost, the glory whereof shall not be darkened, when the Sun and Moon shall lose their light, and fain men with desire of it, that shall fill us once with the countenance of the Lord. A glorious hope in an earthly tabernacle, but a more glorious performance in a heavenly creature, when we shall be free from sin and death, and be made like unto him that sitteth at the right hand of majesty and power. Which time the Lord God fulfill in the goodness of his pleasure, for our souls hope: in whom we have settled our hope. Commendations, &c.

To Maistres B.

THe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you ever, Amen. J am sorry that hitherto I could not come unto you, & I would be more sorry, if you should think I had leuer be anywhere then in your house, I had thought shortly to have come, and I felt myself somewhat strong and able to travel, but now on friday last the eleuēth of this month, I had a fever, and five or six days after I felt it, and my stomach is very ill ever since, and my cough much increaseth. This is my health that God giveth me. But let him do his will, he is the God of life, and one day will abolish these troublesome things, and make us feel health in immortality, and I beseech him for his Christ's sake to remember us in his goodness, that we may know all his mercies, and then J am well assured both you and I, and all weak bodies, shall so little care for the frayeltie of these tabernacles, that we will rejoice in the remembrance of putting them of, to think that we shall see and take hold of him that liveth ever, and will one day make these mortal bodies, like unto the glorious body of his beloved son. This we know & in this we are comforted: and hold it fast good Mistress B. even as you will hold your happy days: for the hope of it shall not be confounded. but when all our enemies have spentt their evil willes, and can do no more hurt unto us, he shall be on our right hand whom we have looked for, and he shall call us with that blessed voice, Come ye blessed of my Father. Let us pray to understand this, for it hath pleasure & effectual gladness, more then all the fair countenances of the world, in which in deed there is nothing but vanity of vanities, and all is vanity: and think good Mistress B. howe many occasions are before us to cause us to forget this, or to let the desire of it, to be • quenched in us, or at the least to fill our selves with other pleasures of the world, but God shall keep you from the corruptions of the world, and give unto you a wise heart, which every day may search your thoughts, and suffer you never to forget your latter ende: and seeing every day doeth bring you near unto it, let every day kindle more your affections, that you may love it unto the ende: and then our hope shall be full, and our mouths opened forever, Amen.

To Maistres B.

THe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you ever. As J trust the Lord doeth strengthen you to better health, that you may live to his praise, so J am desirous to hear also of your amendment, but much more (as God hath made manifest in you many tokens of his grace) so J heartily pray that you may be made even as Paul to moorne still in this earthly tabernacle, and to say vnfainedlie, I desire to be dissolved, and to be with Christ: this is that good issue of life to which I have often prayed that J might attain unto it: this is that measure of grace, which as I am most bound, so heartily J beseech our God and Savior, that it may plentifully be poured upon you. And if we shall be made in our lives so happy, then have we a dwelling in perfect peace: and in deed we be received into the covenant of the new Testament, that we should be filled with joy of the holy Ghost. For what can disquiet us, or what can be grievous unto us, if in the face of Jesus Christ we see our rising again from the grave, and fear not before the shadow of death, all other afflictions they are but ministers unto this, & in the presence of death they are dispersed, and they do not follow us unto the dark places. If God will have mercy upon us to bless us into this victory, thē hath he given us our inheritance in pleasant places, and our portion in a happy lot. What so ever enemies are against us, they shall strive in vain: and all things contrary unto us, shall have no strength, for beyond death there is no power in them, and death it self is despised in our eyes. If we felt not this in our hearts, but would seek outward testimony of men, let him speak that findeth any greater fear then this. The sick person or prisoner may be loath to die, but the dead man he feareth no evil: and they that live in prosperity, this is not their fear least they should have a fall, but it is death that is bitter unto all them that have peace in their riches. Seeing this then is the greatest tyrant that maketh Princes tremble, and that anguish of heart that turneth all pleasure into wormwoode, whatsoever is under the sun, good maistres B. as you are, so abide: and as you have received, so abound till the good graces of the living GOD have made you stronger then sin or death: so shall your days be all in blessing, and your accounted times have true delight till the latter ende do shine in hope. So shall you be bold to say with David: Surely the Lord will deliver me from the snare of the hunter, and from the noisome pestilence: I shall not be afraid of the fear of the night, nor of the arrow that flieth in the day, nor of the pestilence that walketh in the darkness, nor of the plague that destroyeth at noon: I have set the most high to be my refuge, and there shall no evil come near my tabernacle. The Lord bless us in this good hope, & make strong our confidence in this persuasion, that at last we may dwell in joy and gladness: if fear have often recourse into our frail bodies, because we carry in us corruption, which is the strength of death, yet that fear shall not always grieve us, for our hope is perfect, and shall not be shaken. We shall go but as Saint Paul, and Peter, Abraham and Jsaac have gone before: and not only they, but our Fathers, our Mothers, and our dearest friends are gone with them: and all that are behind shall overtake us. The trouble of the travel must needs appear light in the midst of so happy company: or if their love have not such force in us that Parentes and Friends, Apostles, Prophets, Patriarchs, and all the Saints of God can make us say, Let us die with the righteous, and let our latter ende be as unto them: yet sure when among the dead I have seen Christ, and in the grave have found the God of glory, J shall say with a perfect heart, Christ is my life, and death is mine advantage. What then remaineth more unto us, but to strive faithfully that we may come unto this, that God may work with us, as with his saints, and we may be partaker with the happy Prophet, to see the loving kindness of the Lord, which is better then life, and to say with him: As the heart longeth after the water brooks, so my soul longeth to see the Lord: and in the mean season that we yet fulfill our accounted time, which the Lord grant for his Churches sake, that you may do even until old age and many years, in good increase of your children's children, & happy peace of his chosen people. In the mean while I say, that your hope may be precious before you, and in this earthly tabernacle, yet may have your conversation in the highest heaven, from thence lookinge for a Savior, even Jesus Christ the righteous, who shall change this corruptible body, to make it like to his glorious body, in that blessed time which shall skatter away all affliction, & seal within that happy assurance of immortality, which shall be in the presence of the God of glory: when this weak body shall have a recompense (of a few sorrowful days) in everlasting righteousness. Jn which hope the Lord grant many years you may rest.

To Maistres B.

THe Lord who is riche in mercy, keep us ever in the assured covenant of his new Testament made in Jesus Christ, that we may feel the forgiveness of our sins, and rejoice in the hope of eternal life, Amen. I am sure you will be glad (good maistres B.) to hear of our safe coming home, And J would be glad to hear of all your well doing, at your Saint Ellins, & therefore J writ unto you, Both to hear again that God continueth his good blessings towards you, and to certify you that (I thank God) J am now safe at Shenfildes, I have not yet taken the plaster, but this day J have begun to drink Maistres P. Water. Let it have the work which God will: For in health our meat do not nourish us, but by his word. In sickness medicines can do us no good, except he bless them. We have no news here to write of but of country things, scarce worth the telling, and less worse the practisinge of it could be amended, every man goeth after his Ox and his horse: and most do glorify God no more then their brute beast. If they be like unto us which are in the Court and in the City, that the one be as ambitious, the other as covetous as we be brutishe, and God be forgotten of us all alike, we may take us again the Lamentation of Jeremiah: for it is the great mercies of God that we be not consumed. But if such be the misery in the world, we that are not of the world, but by Christ are taken out of the world: Let us not love the world which is such an enemy unto God, and then we shall not be condemned with the world when Christ shall come in glory. And the Lord be praised, who hath given us eyes to see and ears to hear, that we might be wise hearted: not to say peace and truce with such things, with such men cry peace and truce, but rather to have our life hidden with Christ in God, and on his right hand behold the peace which passeth all understanding, and good Maistres B. increase in this, God hath given you a happy helper, who is willingly led to all righteousness: The Lord God make his good work perfect for his sons sake, in him, in you, and in us all that love the coming of Jesus Christ, Amen.

A Letter of Ed. Der. to Mistress H.

GRace and peace, &c. I have heard (good Maistres H.) of your heavy estate, that in many troubles the Lord doeth exercise you, but I trust you are also taught to say always before God, Thy will be done, and if this be your prayers, then know that nothing happeneth but by his appointment, and be contented with all that he hath done, so that your heart may bear you witness, that of all things the Lord is most dear unto you: and for your troubles, give only your heart to love the Lord, and they shall seem neither great nor strong unto you. For what can be great, if our heart be prepared to say with Saint Paul, That we rejoice in afflictions, because they shall breed in us a hope which shall never make us ashamed: or what can be great, if God have taught us, That the momentaine afflictions of this world, they are not worthy of the glory that shall be revealed unto us: or what can seem great, if we hear the Apostle: Brethren rejoice in afflictions, rejoice exceedingly: when you fall into many and great tribulations, Surely good Maistres H. all is nothing, for a frail body, a short life, a sinful creature, what can come unto it that should dismay it: nay howe should we not (if we know it well) be glad, if death also were at our beds side, that we might at once see the outmost malice of the devil, and after for evermore be delivered from him. A great cloud of witnesses (as toh Apostle saith) are cited unto in the eleventh Chapter to the Hebrews, of which everyone should be our example to bear all crosses that the Lord doeth send, knowing that he is delighted with us, when we be faithful to abide these momentaine and light chastisementes. Job, David, Paul, our Savior Christ himself, howe many things suffered they, howe are we not ashamed to refuse the cause which they have borne, and way well your own case what it is, and you shall see little cause of sorrow in it, or if you compare it with other, none at all. Hath your husband been unkind unto you, bear it, and you shall win him at the last: if not, thank God that you can continue loving and obedient even unto an unkind husband. And I assure you in this one virtue there is more comfort and joy, then there can be grief in all the discourtesies of men: and what is that cross of yours in respect of that which Abigaill did so longe and patiently bear? But your son hath grieved you much▪ yea but you have not the hundredth parte of the grief that David might have had for his son Absalom: and will you be more grieved then he? Your son I trust, shall yet prove well, and you shall see his recovery: if not, this manner of disease is rather a testimony of a conscience grieved with his evil doing, then an argument of his destruction, so that even in this grief you have great cause of joy: and what if God take from you the comfort of one child, leaving again unto you the comfort of a great many: Will you, or can you repine against the loving kindness of the Lord? Howe glad would David have been of other good children in the loss of one evil: yet you have lost none, neither is your son known to be so evil, but you may rejoice in him again: yet if all things were as evil as you could imagine, what then? Where is our love to Jesus Christ, that gave his precious body to the death for our sins? If we will not leave son, daughter, and our own life for his sake, can one hear fall from your sons head but at Christ's commandment? Is not he head of his Church, and all things happen they not unto us as he will? Herein you shall know you love God above all, when you can forget the child of your womb, for his sake. And therefore (good Maistres H.) give not yourself to any inordinate affections to offend God, and hurt yourself, but say and think, Thy will be done, O Lord, and when the time shall come of our latter ende, we shall never have ende of the blessed life which God shall give unto you, and to all his saints in that day. Thus in haste I am constrained to cease to write, but I will not cease to pray, that God may bless you, and give you his joyful Spirit, to fill you with all spiritual comfort, against the temptations of the world, and all the envy of the Devil. And pray for me I beseech you, that I may account all the world to be but donge▪ to the ende I may win Jesus Christ, (to whom) the living and eternal God I commit you forever, Amen.

Letters of Ed. De. to Mistress K.

THe Lord God direct us with his holy spirit, that we may love and fear him unto the ende, Amen. Jt grieveth me good Maistres K. that you should be so longe at Hendon as now you have been, and all this while I could find no leisure to come unto you, & whatsoever my fault hath been herein, I will make no other excuse, but desire you to forgive it. And I pray God though I see you not, yet I may so remember you, as J am bound, and so my not coming unto you shall grieve me the less. Now touching your own case, I know you are wise to see, that the Lord giveth you new instructions to be wise in him, and to give over yourself unto him. For as God hath blessed you many ways, and given you a good calling in the world, So he visiteth you every day, and humbleth you with many chastisementes before him. God hath given you husband, children, famelie, and other blessings, but you enjoy none of them without a cross, sometime one thing, sometime another, and commonly your own weak and sicklie body makes you that you cannot have your joy as you would. Yea J doubt not, but it is so abridged unto you, that sometime it grieveth you that you cannot either have care over your house, as you wish, or attend on your children as you desire, or rejoice with your husband, as otherwise you might. But this grief God recompenceth with great benefit, for our Savior Christ is our good warrant, that this is the lot of God's saints, to enjoy his blessings with afflictions, so that the more that you be sorrowsull, the more you be sure that the living God hath given you your portion: And so your sorrow is joy unto you. Besides this, the mingling of your joy with sorrow, and wealth with woe, is a happy tempringe unto you of heaven with earth, that you should neither love nor rest in this, above that which is meet, but acknowledge, all is but vanity, so love it as transitory things, and have your great delight with the Lord alone, who is unto you health, prosperity, joy, and eternal life. This good Maistres K. you know, but yet this I also put you in mind of for though God have blessed you, yet you are but a weak woman, and have need (in the common frayeltie of man's nature) to be stirred up with exhortatiō. Remember therefore ever that which is the ende of all, Fear God, and keep his commandments. For this is the whole scope of our life, which when we have brought to his appointed ende, we shall see the hope, which we have long looked for: and when immortality hath brought happiness into light, and scattered away our fear, we shall say then, Blessed be the day in which first we learned to fear the Lord. And the Lord bless you with his holy spirit, that you may in the midst of other care, have pleasure in this, and in other sorrow rejoice in the Lord, and always rejoice. Cōmende me J pray you, to your little ones, Nan, Besse, and Marie, And the Lord make you and master K. glad parents of good children, Amen.

To Maistres K.

THe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you ever, Amen. I thank you good Maistres K. for your letter and for your medicine, and for your good will to him to whom you before did owe so little. Touching my disease, I did soddainlie cogh and spit much blood, so that when with much forcing myself, I refrained, it ratteled in my throat, as if I had been a dying: next day in the like sort J did, and once since the taking of these medicines for the staying of it, it is now stayed, but J feel a great stopping of my wind, and much provocation to coughe, which if I did, J should spit blood as before. I pray you ask your Phisicion what he thinketh good to be done. And good Maistres K. against all diseases and sicknesses of the body, do as you do, and increase it with an unfeigned testimony of your own heart. Committ your health, your sickness, your body, your soul, your life, and your death, to him that died for us, and is risen again. A sick body with such an aid, hath greater treasure then the Queens Jewel-house. Praye still, and pray for me. J see the goodness of God such towards me, as (I thank God) except sin, I waighe not all the world a f • ather: and with as a glad a mind I spitt blood, (I trust) as clear spitle. To those that love God, all things are for the best: he hath a hard heart that believeth not this. For the Church, I commit it to the Lord: the Lord grant with that affection that I owe unto it, and for all my labor in it (I thank God) I am guilty neither of covetousness, nor ambitiō, but as God hath given me grace, J sought only his glory. J write this unto you good Maistres K. because you know it, and that you may the more effectually remember him, that will know you when the world, your health, your corruptihle body, death and sin itself, have done their worst. Cōmende me to Master K. your little ones, to Master R. The Lord bless us all, that we make our bodies shake, & not our bodies us.

To Maistres K.

TTe Lord God who showeth mercy to whom he will show mercy, and have compassion on whom he will have compassion, according to his love with which he loved us before the world was made, look upon us, and lead us in our ways, that in righteousness and holiness, peace and joy of the holy Ghost, we may finish our compass and come unto him, Amen. If I could, good Maistres K. do as J should, then my ways were perfect among men, but it is with me as with many other, small hindrances to an unwilling mind, are occasions great enough to keep us from doing well. This hath made me to pretermitt many duties which had been better done. And J dare not make any other excuse why J have not written unto you oftener: for though I have in a weary body many things to do, and could make excuses which you would easily believe, yet sure I am, if slought and negligence were utterly gone, a few lines were so soon written, that J could not want time for so little labor, this is true, & sit erranti medicina confessio. Touching my sickness, he that sent it he doeth rule it, and as he will so far let it go. J feel yet difficulty of breath and coughinge: and I see palenes and leans abiding still, yet I thank God I am so well, as we supposed all to have seen you at Henden this next Monday, but God hath changed our way, and by occasion we have deferred it, trusting yet to see you very shortly, if the Lord will, to whom we commit both your ways and ours. And now good Maistres K. further J need not write unto you, for which cause yet especially you crave my letters, I know whom you have believed, upon what ground you stand, who hath sealed your persuasion in you, he is able to keep that you have committed unto him, even until that day, that the things of the world are changed before us all. Affliction may be great and make us murmur, prosperity may abound and make us proud, the world may fill our eyes and our ears, that sometime we may be blind and not see our hope, our own concupiscence may peradventure stinge us that we forgett the good works wherein we had delight, but the council of the Highest standeth fast forever: the Lord knoweth all that are his. Jn this tower of defense our dwelling is made for us, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against us. When we sin, we must needs be sorrowful, and to offend such a Savior, it will grieve us more then death it self: but to remember again so assured hope, we cannot but rejoice in the Lord, and always rejoice. Thus I leave you to your own heart, where is your strong safety: and to your secrete thoughts, which comfort you in the night. And committing myself unto your prayers, I beseech God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep you and yours. Commende me to your little ones: pardon me for writing in such piece of paper, J could hardly get this. Master H. and my wife wish to see you. The Lord keep us unblameable in his sight.

To Maistres K.

THe Lord God direct us in all our ways, that they may be unblameable in his sight, and our faith may be strenghtened in the blessed hope of his elect, so that nothing be able to shake it from henceforth, from the boldness and assurance of eternal life. Many and just causes good Maistres K. have kept me, so that these holy days I could not see you, but I know no excuse why I could not write unto you: and therefore for the one as I am sure you do willingly pardon me, so the other I beseech you to except, both as a testimony of my mind that I forget you not, and as a discharge of that duty J owe unto you: for if I should not faithfully remember you, though you had otherwise done nothing for me, yet I were unworthy of so much good will. And if I should not as in bounden duty be most careful to strengthen and comfort that good purpose; which yourself have chosen for the curse of your life, I were not worthy of the acquaintance of the saints of God. Therefore departing from London again (as J could not choose) I have yet written unto you, as I must needs: And I hartelie pray that God may increase his goodness in you, and earnestly beseech you, as you have received that, so you would abound more and more, a short request and soon heard: but exceeding difficult to some to practice, & yet not difficult unto you, but easy and light, as you can desire, for he that is borne of God overcometh the world. And the anointing (as John saith) which you have received of God, dwelleth in you, and you need not that any man teach you, but as the same anointing teacheth you all things, and it is true and not lying, and as it is taught you, you shall abide in it. Maruell not that J write this unto you, nor be unwillingly affected to hear of your own happiness. Jt is (as Solomon saith) another man's mouth that praiseth you and not your own, and what need you fear. And I speak not deceitfullie, which J thank God J hate, nor give I titles, as Job saith, which the Lord doeth abhor. But seeing (as I am persuaded) that in you, which Saint John could see in the people to whom he wrote and to whom he gave so honorable praise: why should not J be bold upon so good warrant to say also unto you: You are the Lord's: and God who justified then his Apostles words, he will justify them now and ever, for he is merciful without ende. Lett us not then good Maistres K. be henceforth sorrowful or faint hearted: Paul and Peter, and all tht Apostles and Prophets have spoken glorious things unto us, and we will believe them. And yet not they, but the spirit of God hath given us this testimony, and it is true. For what were the Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, and all other whom the Spirit nameth Saints and Holy ones, were they not as we? Fraile and weak as we, and our faith as theirs? But we feel a great deal of infirmity in our selves, did not they so, and did not the spirit of God see more in them, then them selves could feel? yet it calleth thē saints: yea and so it calleth us, that we should not fear: and therefore as I said, I say again, you are anointed of the Lord, and you shall not fall, if your heart bear you witness, that the profession which you make, is unfeigned in you, as I am sure it beareth you witness. One care only we have, which also we will have unto the ende: and that is, that we may glorify him, who hath glorified us. Jn this doing, as I accuse myself most above all other men, so J praise not you a white. For J know good Maistres K. herein you are too too faulty, and so is all flesh: our flesh, the world, and the Devil, they are to strong for us, but blessed be the Lord God, who hath given us victory in Jesus Christ, and we will do if God give us grace, as his Apostles did, we will chastise our bodies, and bring them in subjection, that all that know our religion, shall not blame our works: And I thank God for all that you have obtained: And I beseech you increase and abound more, that as he will give us a full reward, so we may offer up our bodies a holy sacrifice, to praise his name, who hath had mercy upon us. And pray for me, that my hands & tongue may join in the works of God's Saints: and let us all grow together unto that blessed hope, till we have found that happy strēght, by which the world is crucified unto us, and we unto the world: But the Lord that teacheth you, to him I leave you: whom I beseech to open your eyes into so large & wyde a spiritual sight, that you may yet more clearly see and feel the glory of God & immortality. Fare well good Maistres K. Commende me to Nan, Besse, Marie. The Lord bless you with them ever, Amen.

A Letter of M. Ed. De. to the Lady G.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, be with you ever, Amen. JF either I might do the duty whereunto your well deserving hath bound me, or might requite with thanks that with all your good will you have deserved: I know and confess it (good Madame) longe since I should have come to see you: but such is my case as I cannot do either what is most meet, or what I most desire: for sometimes by business & sometime by sickness, & sometime by opportunity of others, I am hold̄ here, that J could never yet have opportunity to ride fare, or to see my native Country & nighest friends. Once in Sōmer J would have gone to M. B. besides Windsore and the seconde night of my travel, J could not sleape, but tarried a seven night in the same place, & then came back again, ill at ease: thus it pleaseth God to deal with me, and such a body he hath given me, to the ende (I am sure) J should not love this present vanity, but remember him that liveth ever, & desire to be dissolved to see his glory. And this I beseech you think to be the only cause, that I have not of longe time seen you and others, with whom otherwise I would wish to dwell: and if it be the good will of God to prosper my journeys in time convenient, J trust to see you oftener hereafter: but his will be done, who appointeth our ways, and numbereth our steppes, and doeth all things for the best to those that love him, and to him if J can commit you in my daily prayers, that so my spirit be present with you, how longe soever J be absent in body, yet my duty I owe you, shall not be altogether unperformed, and that piece of it which yet is wantinge, that in daily exhortation J might (by the grace of God) stir up your mind, that in the mean time let me supply with these letters: In which most heartily I beseech you (good Madame) go on forward, and faint not in the course of godliness, increase still in faith, in love, in hope til with a wise heart you have such a feeling of the glory of God, & of eternal life, that you have made your account up with the world, & are at a point with all that is under the Sun. While God shall prolong your days, rejoice in him that hath given you life, and use all his gifts to his glory: and whē his appointed time shall come and bring death into your doors: let this be the preparation of your heart, you desire to be loosed & to be with Christ, and let this be the answer of your tongue, Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace. Surelie then it shall come unto you, that a happy life shall have a blessed end. Your former times have found their wished issue, & the entrance of your grave, shall be the beginning of your glory: He hath spoken it that cannot deceive us, That everyone that believeth in him shall not taste of death, but shall pass from death to life. This (good Madame) is the crown & garlande of all our pleasures: rejoice in feeling it, and be glad in loving it, knit it fast to all the thoughts of your heart, & never forget it, it shall give you more pleasure in one day of your life, thē without it you can find in a thousand years: and all the men of the world which feel their pleasure in this life, & know nothing better, then to follow their own concupiscence, they shall perish when you shall abide, & they shall mourn when you shall rejoice, because they have forgotten the living God whom you have loved: Manie temptations shall be continually against you, but God is able to set you free from them: cast your care on him, & you have won the victory. And to the ende you may know him, & how to trust in him, as the Prophet David did so let us do, that is: Let us make his testimonies to be our delight, & excercise our selves in thē day & night, for they only can make us wise, and renew in us the image of God, that we may be perfect as our heavenly father is perfect. This hope J thank God hath bine before me, that J have not feared in any trouble: and in a good conscience of this doing, I had rather have the displeasure of the world, then with loss of this desire or any hurt of it, to win the favor of all mortal men. And so I am sure it shall be with you that day, in which you shall so feel God's glory, & eternal life, that you will consecrate your life forever unto him, love hi • ▪ fear him, longe after him: Jt shall be more joyful unto your thē the day of your birth, & your heart shall be see as Saint Paul saith, to use the world as though you used it not: not to forsake the world or worldly things, (for they are the gifts of god for the comfort of our life) but as though we forsaked it, so let our love be taken from it, and be ever with him who is the giver of all, & hath all immortality. There is not a day that passeth over our heads, but it afflicteth the body, & maketh it a day shorter living then it was: Let there not be a day but shall strenghthen our faith, that we may be glad we are one day nearer the presence of our God, then we were before. And I beseech god (who only can do what he will) work his good will with you in all spiritual blessings, that you may abound: and in the condition of this life that you may rejoice, till your accounted times be all fulfilled. Amen.

A Letter of M. Ed. De. to the Lady M.

THE Lord God who hath only power to work his will, and hath shown mercy unto us in an eternal covenant, make us perfect in all our ways to abound in righteousness, and love his glory, that in life and death we may be happy, and have joy in his presence, who liveth ever, Amen. Good Madame, the duty that J have long owed unto you, doth much bind me: & the experience of your good inclination, sufficiently doth emboulden me to write at this time unto you: and J trust the Lord God who hath given you his grace, and called me to this work, will bless the labor that it may be profitable to his glory & your comfort. For if his word have so great strength in his Saints when they are yet unbelieving and ignorant, that it revealeth even the secretes of their hearts, that it maketh them fall down to worship him and to acknowledge his mighty power in it: J am sure it cannot be but the same word shall have strength in you, wholly & altogether to consecrate yourself unto the Lord, till all your delight be in him alone. So that I am now, more to pray for myself then for you, that I may rather speak the truth then you hear it: for of this I am sure your heart is prepared (as the Prophet saith) to a good purpose, the Lord make my hand as the pen of a good writer. And now (good Madame) this is the sum of all, Fear God & love him: your goods, your credit, your thoughts, your desires, your body, your life, give it all unto him, that he only may please you, nothing but he only delight you, his word instruct you, his will persuade you, that whether you live or whether you die you may be wholly his: A short lesson & soon learned, hard J confess of the world to practice, but not hard to you whom God hath loved: for what is it can call away your desire, that wholly and altogether it should not be in this? Jt is only the world that hath taken up enmity against us, and striveth daily to separate us from the Lord. But what is in the world why the persuasions of it should please us? especially you who have had experience of it, whose life God hath filled with wordly things. You know what is the comfort of houses and lands: you have weighed them well and found them light. You know the gladness of a mother, and have in your sight Sōnes & Daughters, the trial of it is in you, & hath entered deep, evē as they have been the fruit of your own womb: but in them you have no such joy as in the spirit of adoption, by which you know yourself to be the child of God. You know the treasure of a good husband, with whom you have had peaceable and loving days: but howe much is it a greater joy of unspeakable gladness to feel yourself joined to Jesus Christ, & made a chaste member of his glorious body with whom you shall be joined forever. You have seen a great many years of the age of man, and have measured the length of them, so that if you might live the days of Abraham, yet you might account your hours and see the time at hand, when in the ende of your course you shall take your rest: and what were this to immortality. To be short and to pretermit many things wherewith God hath made your life as a blessing, you have seen favor, Credite, Lands, Authority, Friends, Seruauntes: the pleasures of these God hath given you. You have seen fullness of such delights: but this and all else that you have seen what is it to the grace of God, the fellowship of Saints, the forgiveness of your sins, the love of his countenance, the assurance of your life, the brightness of his glory, & your eternal blessings. Since then in the world is no sure refuge, the more I have seen the fruit of your faith, the more assuredly J know the constancy of your mind ready to leave the world to approach nearer unto God, and to account all these things to be but dung, to the ende you may win Jesus Christ, in whom you shall be so much more blessed, as light is more bright then darkness, health is more excellent then sickness, and life more precious then cruel death. This (good Madame) you have long known, and with praise professed it among men: And now especially reap the fruit of it in these days of God's visitation, in which in a weak body you have had a sharp sickness, to teach you that your life is in the hands of God, & the nature of your body that it is but dust, so that you should not love it but in the Lord, nor be pleased with it but as it pleaseth him, ready to lay it down when he shall call you. This is that great and high commandment: To love God above all, and this is the greatest obedience required of man, to be ready to die at the will of God: Unto which commandment when I do beseech you willingly to yield, I feel in myself howe the nature of man striveth against it: all those delights of which I spake before (the pleasures of this present life) they arise against it: although we had no other comfort, yet life itself is sweet unto us, & we are loath to make our beds in the dark, our eyes they would yet see the sun, our ears would hear the sound of worldly elements, though our flesh be grass, yet grass hath a flower, & our frail bodies have vanishinge fantasies agreeable unto them as earth unto earth, and from which most hardly you shall pull it away, the Patriarchs & Prophets were sometime afraid, Paul and Peter were not always bold, they loved ever that life which they saw in hope, but they did feel the death whichc did fight in their members: And howe should I then say unto you a weak woman, fear not death, or if I say it howe can you perform it being so weak a vessel of flesh and blood: yet good Madame, give me leave to entreat you & J hope you shall have a heart to grant it: J most humbly beseech you, fear not death. The Apostles were men as we are, yet Paul obtained at last to be dissolved & be with Christ: if we be weaker then he, the graces of God shall be more exalted in us, and we also shall say at the last, Let thy servant O Lord depart in peace: It is the Lord that hath promised this blessing unto us, let us hear it with faith, and it will make death vile in our eyes: it is enough if we know God will give this victory to his people, lett us be bold, though we fear a little while, yet fear shall be cast out, and we shall say with a free spirit, O death where is thy stinge, &c. try yourself therefore every day, and if your heart be bold, rejoice good Madame, & rejoice forever: the last and greatest enemy (which is death) is trodden under your feet, and what else can hurt you: all other things of the world they are but servants of death, and serve to make his power more fearful unto us, friends or kinsefolke, gold, silver. precious stones or all other pleasures, all labor unto one ende, to make us more loath to die: vanquish death and you have vanquished all, height & depth, life and death, all is yours, & you are Christ's. And see I beseech you what glory you have gotten, you are but a weak and sick woman whom God hath shut up into your chamber, and tied to your bed: and yet the great tyrant of the world, that holdeth in bondage Kings & Princes, and woundeth them all with fear & terror, he is confounded before you, & the Lord of life he hath crushed him in pieces under you. A blessed day that brought you first into this battle, a blessed sickness that made you endure the fight, & most blessed ende in which you get the victory: for who hath given you this strength, or who reigneth in you in such a day, but he who hath said and done it, O death I will be thy death: and if he be in you who hath abolished death, and in whose sight death shall never have any rule, what treasure, what depth of joy and gladness shall he bring with him: while you live you shall live in him, & no man shall take your joy from you: and whē you die you shall die in him, and death shall be no death, but you shall pass to eternal life: and all that is fearful shall be far from you: the burden of sin, the malice of the devil, the terror of hell: the dreadful words, go ye cursed into eternal fire: All this is abolished & trodden down in the cross of Jesus Christ, who reigneth in you, & giveth you his spirit, that you fear not death: and all things that fill with joy not the earth only, but the heavens also (you have destroyed death) you shall feel thē all within you: the fellowship of Saints & Angels, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, the life everlasting, and the God of glory: your eyes lightened with a pure faith shall see these things in so perfect beauty, that you shall cast out death & the fear of it: yea you should think your time weariness if your days should be prolonged, and you should be yet many years a soiorner in this body, in which you are a stranger from the presence of the Lord: And the nearer your time approacheth, the gladder you shall be of the ende of your journey, when your heart shall feel it: And when the earthly house of this tabernacle shall be destroyed, you have a building given of God, a house not made with hands, but eternal in the heavens. In this faith you shall not only not fear death, but you shall sigh and moan (as Paul saith) till you see your glory, and the lot of the saints that is in light, where there is no more sorrow nor care, nor fear, nor death, but the God of all mercy, and father of our lord Jesus Christ shall be before us forever. Thus Madame (as my duty is) J have written unto you, and God will bless it as his promise is, that it shall be for the best, & in the wisdom of his word we shall be strengthened in his grace, that death & sickness shall be forgotten, & all the desirs of our heart shall be with him. And the Lord God for his Sons sake, so have mercy upon us, that all evil taken from us, we may rejoice in him, and see his blessed age that is in immortality, & is sealed in our hearts with his blessed spirit: To whom be glory for evermore, Amen.

A Letter written by M. Edward Deringe, to his Lord & Master the Duke of Norfolk.

THE longe good will that I have borne unto you, as to one that earnestly professed the Gospel, and the great duty I owe unto you as to my Lord & Master, make, that now I should write unto you, not knowing whether opportunity shall be such that hereafter J may do you any service. God the author of all life he hath shut both you and me up in his hands: that there is great likelihood, our lives in this world they are but short. The Prince that executeth the judgment of the Lord, she hath found you out in your great sins: and sickness that reigneth over all flesh, it hath taken now longe hold upon me. So that as I said, we are both in the hands of the Lord, we are summoned paremtorilie, death hath given an assault, and the weak holds of our life they are violentlie shaken. Now therefore my good Lord, let it us take counsel together, and as a wise Master, learn of a faithful servant what is best to be done: the worst that our sins can do unto us, is to lay upon us the just reward of death, my disease which thus afflicteth me for many thousand sins, it can but take away my life which J have so abused. And all your deep dissimulation and hypocrisy, your great ambitions, your faithless religion, which have so bewitched you, what can they do more then this? The remedy now is to make of necessity a virtue, that is, to bear it wisely, which you must needs abide. J have (I thank God) found that grace, that I can love this saying, Cupio dissolui & esse cum Christo, the Lord also open your heart and guide your understanding, that with all saints you may do likewise, and pray, Veni Domine Jesus. And now for as much as this is the last duty, that J am like to do unto you, as God shall give grace I will so advice you as I may testify mine own faith, and make you strong against the day of trial: trusting that our God shall so remember us both in mercy, that after a little while we shall see better days, and reign with him that abideth King forever. There is now but one thing necessary for you to learn in this life, that is, how you may willingly desire to die: a hard lesson for a natural mā, for death is our last enemy & his assault most violent to the trial of our faith: but Christ who hath overcome death and hell, he hath broken the strength of this battle, and set up the songs of triumph unto all that believe, that we may have the fullness of joy and say with gladness, ô death where is thy sting. Now that this joy may be yours, and this gladness your inheritance, prepare yourself, not in your own wisdō, for that hath already deceived you, but in the wisdom of god, that your hope may be sure. If you will now have the heart that shall condemn the force of death consider wherefor you are called to die: It is laid to your charge, that you have dealt traytrously with your Prince, with your country, & with the religiō of God: and upon these crimes you are condemned to die. If you be guiltless, ô my Lord blessed are you, & blessed is your portion: he hath spokē it that never will change: If whē you do well you suffer wrongfully, take it patiētly, for this is acceptable to god: but if you be guilty you have not your hope in death (for that you have deserved) but your hope is this, that you die so as it becometh you: which if god shall grant unto you, then blessed is the hour that God shall bring upon you, you shall make that change, which god for his Christ's sake, lay speedily upon all his children, & you shall die once, that you may live ever. Now that you may know how you ought to die: learn this of the lord which he hath so plainly taught you. The first part of your true reap̄tāce, must be an humble cōfessiō: whatsoever your own conscience can utter more thē is revealed. O my Lord speak openlie the truth, Satan is enemy unto us & his slightes are many: if you will tread the malicious serpent under your feet, & triumph with Christ who hath spoiled hell, tell the truth my Lord, conceal nothing, so shall you shun the devil. If my words seem but light to persuade you, hear the wisest counselor that ever reigned in Israel: He that hideth his sin (saith Solomon) shall never prosper, but he that confesseth & forsaketh them, shall find mercy. Whē Acan had transgressed in Israel & deserved death, when he was brought into judgment, Joshua said unto him, My Son J beseech thee, give glory to the lord God of Israel, make confession unto him, & show me now what thou hast done. Loe my Lord, this is to give glory unto God: to confess your sin, & tell what you have done. The good king David whē he had deserved death, & feared greatly the sentence of the Prophet, he confessed gladly & made it known unto the world what his sin was, & wherein he had offended. Whē God gave his laws unto Israel, & in the blood of goats & calves showeth thē the redemptiō that was in Christ Jesus: He so ordained, that before their forgiveness was preached, the high priest should proclaim openly what were the sins of the people, & so lay their sins upon the beasts. So standeth it now with us, if we will find forgiveness of our sins, let us cast off the cloaks of shame, & confess before heavē & earth, what we have sinned & what we have done. What greater persuasions can you yet require, or how can you think to please God if you will hide your sins? That was the practice of old Adam, but you are borne anew: that was the sin of Cain, but you my good Lord are of a better kindred. Speak the truth & shrink not, God will once reveal the secrets of harts, & thē you shall rejoice that there is nothing of yours hid: fie vpō that sin, that you should turn away for one hour & receive hereafter everlasting cōfusiō: better a thousand times to receive the reproach of flesh, & after receive your glory of the Lord. Whē John the Baptist preached first the Gospel, he bpatized no more thē such as confessed their sins. The lost Son whē he ran away, he found no hope of pardō, til he called heavē & earth to witness his great iniquity. Paul who preached the gospel to us Gentiles, how often̄ doth he confess that he was a persecutor. The happy thief that was hanged entered not into paradise, til he first in the hearing of all Israel said, we are rightly punished, & receive things worthy of that we have done. What should J say more, J trust you fear God, and J have seen in you many signs of grace: I doubt not but you will make it known whatsoever is in your heart. It is the word of God that I have spoken, & it is the only truth vpō which you may build your faith. This thing toucheth so near the glory of God & the safety of his gospel, that you must now needs forsake your friends & kinsmē, yea forget the love of yourself: and if you have been partaker of any counsel, disclose the cōspiracies of the wicked: you have stood in judgment not before mē; for they are but ministers, but before the Lord, who sitteth in the midst of judgment. Surely if you seek to hide your sins, you seek to hide them frō him that knoweth the secrets of the heart & reins, and to dissemble with him that will not be mocked: and therefore with all humbleness of duty, I beseech you, & in the name of God J crave this at your hands, vnburthē your own coscience, make your heart glad, cast of the burthē of your secret sins, purge the eyes of your mind, that you may see Christ, let true reap̄tance break forth in holy confession, shame the Lord's enemies, & make the church of God rejoice, and loe in the name of Christ J tell it you Blessed is the day in which it was said of you, a man-child is borne, and blessed shall be the hour in which it shall be said of you, you are dead in the Lord: the closing up of your eyes shall be the beginning of your sight: and death your entrance into life. And now my Lord, I beseech you pray for me, & humbly vpō my knees I ask you hearty forgiveness wherein I have not done as it became me touching you. You know howe in my time I have persuaded you frō your wicked servants, frō your popish friends, & frō your adulterous woman. But (alas) my Lord, your high calling hath bridled my words, I could not speak as I should, my words wer to soft to heal so old a disease: why should I have tarried in your lordships house, except these things had been amended? this bearing with your evil, was the greatest evil I could have done you. And I beseech you forgive me, & God for his mercies sake shall make me strong, that hereafter J shall not fear to reprove the sinner, & God shall forgive you your dullness of spirit, that could not be moved with a little counsel. Now my Lord, be strong in the Lord, & fear not, if you must die, remember that Christ bath overcome him that hath the power of death, & hath set us free frō the power of the grave. Though you do for a very little time turn again unto dust, yet again you shall hear the voice of the trumpet: corruptiō shall die, because he was no better thē his fathers: & you whē you go, you shall go to your fathers, the long race of Nobility of which God hath raised you, everyone in his time is gone before you, & so many as have died in the faith, they shall be again of your fellowship & kindred, and you shall praise God with thē, & not fear the second death. The lord opē your eyes that you may see your hope, & you shall love that company above Kings & Princes. You shall see Abrahā, of whō you have heard so much, Jsaac, Jacob, Job, Samuel & Daniel, whose names you loved, you shall see Paul & Peter, whose society you wish for, all the Patriarchs, Prophets and Apostles that are gone before you. Be bold therefore, & be bold to die: with Elias you shall see Christ clothed with your flesh, who hath immorta •••• e in his hand, & shall make you reign forever: yo • 〈◊〉 shall not be tedious, and your glory shall 〈…〉 change: & he that made the heavens so high abo •• earth, the Sun the moon the stars, so full of excellent beauty, he shall be your portiō in his endless glory: would God you cold see him now with opē countenance, that you might know his loving kindness, how much it is better thē life: J would you cold withal his saints perceue what wer the height, the • reath▪ the length & the depth of his unsearchable riches. •• apy 〈◊〉 that shall never end, ô blesed inheritance that shall never wast O holy city new Ierusalē, the perfectiō of beauty; where the inhabitants are princes, O'precious buildng that is not made with hands, & joyful tabernacles which God himself hath pitched: my voice faileth & my tongue cleaueh to my mouth whē I would declare the everlasting gladness, whē God shall wipe away all tears frō our eyes, & there shall be no more death nether sorrow, nor crying, nor yet any pain for the first things past. Who remēbreth this & saith not, all flesh is grass, and the glory of man is as the flower of the field. We have nothing here, but fear of our enemy, grief in poverty, pain in labor, care in riches, unsteadfastness in frindship, envy in authority, emulation in honor, change in nobility, fear in a kingdom: & as the greatest of all princes hath wisely pronounced, vexatiō of spirit in all things that is under the Su • , so true it is vanity of vanities & all is but vanity. You need no example O my Lord & Master, behold yourself & see what you were: rejoice in the lord & love better things, cease to eat of this corruptiō, & desire Manna: drink not of these puddels, but go to the pure water of life, which is clear as christal, & proceedeth out of the throne of god & of the lābe: you are but one step frō this glorious blessing, & that is to die willingly & well: speak forth the secrets of your heart, & giu • God glory The Lord bless & keep you, the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be merciful unto you, the Lord •• ft up his countenance upon you and send you peace.