Divine Love, Letters
Some Heavenly Meditations, Exhortations, and Conſolations, of that bleſſed Martyr, Mr. John Bradford, and other Martyrs, written out of priſon to ſeveral Friends.
To Mr. J.H.
COnſider what this life is; Conſider what death is; Conſider what is prepared for you after death.
1. Concerning this life; know it is full of miſery, vanity, and wo, it is a plain baniſhment, and hath nothing in it that hath continuance; it is therefore compared to a vapour, to ſmoak, to a ſhaddow, yea to a warfare, to a vail of miſery, wherein we are compaſſed about on every ſide with moſt fierce and fearful Enemies; and ſhould we deſire to dwell there? ſhould we be fond to live in this toylſome and laborious world? ſhould we wiſh to continue in this wretched eſtate? ſhould we take pleaſure to remain in this dangerous condition? Daniels den was not ſo dreadful, as is this Dungeon we dwell in.
2. Concerning death; to Gods dear children what other thing is it then the diſpatcher of all diſpleaſure, the end of Travil, the door of deſires, the gate of gladneſs, the port of Paradiſe, the heaven of Heaven, the entiance into reſt and quietneſs, the path-way into Felicity, and the beginning of all bleſſedneſs. It is a very bed of Down, (and therefore compared to a ſleep) for the bodies of Gods people to reſt, out of which they ſhall ariſe, and awake moſt freſh and flouriſhing to everlaſting life. It is a paſſage to the Father, a chariot to Heaven, the Lords meſſenger, a leader unto Chriſt, a going to our home, a deliverance from priſon and bondage, a diſmiſſion from war, a ſecurity from all ſorrow, and a freedom from all miſery. Should we be diſmay'd at it? ſhould we be afraid of it? ſhould we trouble to hear of it? ſhould ſuch a freind as this is be unwelcome? ſhould the foulneſs of his face, fear us from his good conditions? ſhould the hardneſs of his husk, hinder us from his ſweet kernel? ſhould the roughneſs of the Tyde tye us to the bank and ſhore? ſhould the hardneſs of the ſaddle ſet us on our feet to periſh by the way, rather then leap up and endure the ſame a little, and ſo to be where we would be?
3. Concerning that which is prepared for you after death; if I ſhould go about to expreſs it, the more I ſhould do ſo, the further I ſhould be from it. For the eye hath not ſeen, neither hath the ear heard, nor is the heart of man able to conceive in any meaſure, the joy, mirth, melody, pleaſure, power, wealth, riches, honour, glory, wiſdom, knowledge, treaſures, ſecurity, peace, quietneſs, and eternal felicity, which you ſhall enjoy world without end with God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
O! wo to our blind eyes that ſee not this, wo to the hardneſs of our hearts that feel not this, wo to the deafneſs of our ears that hear not this, in ſuch manner as we ſhould do; whereby we ſhould be ſo far from fearing death, that we ſhould rather wiſh, and deſire it.
To the Profeſſors of the Goſpel By Mr. John Bradford, Martyr.
IT is I Lord that have ſinned againſt thee, it is mine hypocriſie, my vainglory, my covetuouſneſs, my carnality, ſecurity, Idleneſs, unthankfulneſs, ſelf-love and ſuch like, which have deſerved the taking away of our King Edward, of thy word and true Religion, of thy good Miniſters, by exile, impriſonment, and death, it is my wickedneſs that cauſeth ſucceſs and increaſe of authority and peace to thy Enemies.
Let us reprove the works of darkneſs, let us fly from all idolatry; let us abhor the Antichriſtian and Romiſh rotten ſervice, let us deteſt the Popiſh Maſs, and forſake their Romiſh Idol, let us prepare our ſelves for the Croſs; let us be obedient to all in authority in things that are not againſt God and his word; for then anſwer with the Apoſtle, It is better to obey God then Man.
If you find and feel in your ſelves, an hope and truſt in God, that he will never tempt you above what he will make you able to bear; then be aſſured the Lord will be true to you, and you ſhall be able to bear all afflictions; but if you want this hope and confidence, fly and get you hence, rather then by your tarrying, Gods name ſhould be diſhonoured.
Hang on the providence of God, not only when you have means to help you, but alſo when you have no means, yea, when all means are againſt you.
Give God this honour which of all other things he chiefly and principally requireth at your hands, namely, To believe that you are his children through Chriſt, that he is your Father and God through him, that he loveth you, and pardoneth you all your offences, that he is with you in trouble, and will be with you for ever; that when you fall he will put under his hand, and will not let you lie long in ſin.
Let the life you lead be in the Faith of the Son of God, for the juſt doth live by Faith; which Faith flyeth from all evil, and followeth the word of God, as a Lanthorn to her feet, and a light to her ſteps, her eyes be above where Jeſus Chriſt is; ſhe beholdeth not things preſent, but rather things to come; ſhe glorieth in afflictions, and knoweth that the afflictions of this preſent life are not to be compared with that far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, which God will reveal to us and in us.
Now of this glory the Lord grant us a lively taſt here, then ſhall we run after the ſcent that it ſendeth forth; It will make us valiant men to take to us the Kingdom of God, whether the Lord of his mercy bring us, in his good time, through Chriſt our Lord.
To Dr. H. By Mr. John Bradford Martyr.
SEt before your eyes the end of this ſtraight way, rather then the narrowneſs of the paſſage; ſo doth the husbandman in plowing and tilling the ground ſet before him the harveſt time; ſo doth the Fiſherman conſider the draught of his net, rather then the caſting of it in. So doth the Merchant, the return of his Merchandize, and ſo ſhould we in theſe ſtormy days, ſet before us, not the loſs of our goods, liberty, yea of our very life, but the reaping time, the coming of our ſaviour Jeſus Chriſt to judgment.
The more we loſe here, the greater joy ſhall we have in the world to come, the more we ſuffer here, the greater triumph ſhall we have there; for corruptable droſs, we ſhall find incorruptable treaſure; for Gold, we ſhall have glory; for Silver, we ſhall have ſolace, and joy without meaſure; for riches, we ſhall have Royal Robes; for earthly …ouſes, we ſhall have eternal Pallaces; we ſhall there have mirth without meaſure, pleaſure without pain, and abſolute bleſſedneſs, felicity and happineſs, without end.
To certain of his faithful Friends, by Mr. John Bradford, Martyr.
YEe have cauſe to rejoyce (my dearly beloved Friends) in the days of tryal and confirmation, in and by which God our Father maketh us like to the Image of Jeſus Chriſt here, that ſo we may be like unto him hereafter?
For if we ſuffer with him, we ſhall raign with him; if we be buried with him, we ſhall riſe with him; if we are companions with him in affliction, we ſhall rejoyce with him in glory; if we ſow with him in tears, we ſhall reap with him in joy; if we confeſs him before men, he will confeſs us before his father in heaven; if we take his part, he will take ours, if we looſe any thing for his names ſake, he will give us all things for his truth and promiſe ſake; ſo that we ought to rejoyce, and be glad, for it is not given to every one to ſuffer loſs of country, life, goods, houſe, and all things for the Lords ſake.
What can God the Father do more for us, then to call us into the camp of his dear Son? what can Jeſus Chriſt our Saviour do more for us, then to make us his Warriors, and fellow Souldiers? what can the holy Ghoſt do to us above this, then to mark us with the badg and cogniſance of the Lord of Hoſts.
Be of good comfort, be of good comfort, my dear hearts in the Lord, confeſs him and his truth, and fear not the priſon, loſs of goods, or life; fear rather that priſon, out of which there is no deliverance; fear rather the loſs of thoſe goods which laſt for ever; fear rather the loſs of that life which is eternal, whereunto you are called, and the way by which God will bring you to it; becauſe you know not certainly whether it will be by priſon, fire, or halter; whenſoever theſe come, let them not diſmay you, nor ſeem ſtrange unto you, for no ſmall number of Gods children are gone that way.
The journey is but ſhort, though unpleaſant to the fleſh; perchance if we ſhould dye in our beds by a corporal malady, it would be much longer and alſo more painful; but in Gods ſight it cannot be ſo precious and gainful as I know this kind of death is.
And now I commend my ſelf into the hands of my Father, by whoſe providence, I came into this world, by whoſe providence, I have been kept in this world, and by whoſe providence, I leave and depart out of this world.
Let us make our ſelves ready to ride in the fiery Chariot, leaving theſe ſorry Mantles, and old Cloaks of our carcaſes behind us in aſhes for a little time, which God ſhall reſtore unto us again in a glorious manner.
To a faithful friend of his, by Mr. John Bradford, Martyr.
BE willing to carry the Croſs of Chriſt, leaſt you carry the Croſs of the world, the fleſh, and the Devil.
One of theſe four Croſſes you muſt carry, three of them bring to hell, and therefore the greateſt part go that way, which is the broad way; only the forth bringeth to Heaven, but few go that way, as well becauſe the way is ſtraight, as alſo becauſe but few walk in it; how beit though it be ſtraight, it is but ſhort, and the few are many, if you conſider the godly as the Patriarks, Prophets, Apoſtles, Martyrs, and Confeſſors, and Chriſt Jeſus with all his guard and train.
Think not ſcorn to come after them who are gone before you.
I hourly look for Elias fiery Chariot to come and catch me up to Heaven; my Cloak, that is my Carcaſe, I ſhall leave behind me in aſhes, which I doubt not, my Lord will raiſe up; and reſtore to me again at the laſt day, glorified even like unto his moſt glorious Body. That portion of the good ſpirit which my Father hath lent me, I wiſh to be doubled, yea trebled upon you all.
If we ſuffer in the cauſe of Chriſt, our ſufferings are but ſhort, and the time of eaſe to Gods Enemies is not long, the time of our rejoycing ſhall be endleſs, but the time of their torments ſhall be everlaſting and intollerable. Our breakfaſt is ſharp, but our ſupper will be ſweet. The afflictions of this life may not be compared in any part, with the glory that ſhall be revealed.
To his godly Friends. G. and N. By Mr. John Bradford, Martyr.
CAſt your care on the Lord, for he careth for you; and hath counted all the hairs on your head ſo that one ſhall not periſh; if you commit your ſelves to his ordering, whereas elſe your heads and bodies, yea, and ſouls too ſhall periſh; if ye withdraw your ſelves as unwilling to take his Cup, and to drink of it; not that I would have you to thruſt your ſelves headlong or raſhly to pull them upon you; or that I would not have you uſe ſuch honeſt and lawful means as you may in the fear of God, and with a good conſcience to a void the Croſs, and give place to evil, but that I would have you willingly to put forth your hand to take it when God offereth it, in ſuch a manner as with a good Conſcience you cannot eſcape; then take it, kiſs it, and thank God for it. It is a moſt ſure ſign that God loveth you; as he ſaith, Whom I love I chaſtiſe, Rev. 3.19. And if ye are not partakers of correction, ſurely ye are no children, Heb. 12.8.
But if once chaſtiſe you, and ye kiſs the rod, verily he will caſt the rod into the fire, and will imbrace you, and kiſs you as a mother doth her child, when ſhe perceiveth it to take her correction in good part.
Conſider not the things of this life (my dearly beloved brethren) which is a very priſon to all Gods children, but the things of Everlasting life, which is our very home; but to the believing of this, you muſt open the eyes of your Faith, as Moſes did, who ſet more by trouble with Gods people, then by the riches of Egypt and Pharoahs Court. Your houſe, home, goods, yea life, and all that ever ye have, God hath given you as love-tokens, and to admoniſh you of his love, and to win your love to him again; now he will try your love, whether you ſet more by him, then by his tokens or no. If ye for his tokens ſake, that is, for your houſe, home, goods, yea life, will go with the world, leaſt you ſhould loſe them, then be aſſured your love, as he cannot but eſpy it to be a Strumpets love, ſo will he reject and caſt it away with the world.
In another Letter to the ſame perſons, by Mr. John Bradford, Martyr.
MY dearly beloved, heavy is this anger fallen upon us all, doleful is this day. Now hath Antichriſt gotten all his power again, now is Chriſts Goſpel trodden under foot, now is Gods people a diviſion, and a prey for the wicked.
Now is the greateſt of all plagues fallen upon us, the want of Gods word, and all theſe judgments we have, yea I alone have juſtly deſerved.
Oh that as I write with my hands (I alone) ſo I could wiſh David, 2 Sam. 24 17. and with Jonas in heart ſay ſo. But I do not, I do not; I ſee how grievouſly I have ſinned, and how great a miſery is fallen upon us, for my unthankfulneſs for Gods word, for mine hypocriſy, in profeſſing, preaching, hearing, and ſpeaking of Gods word; for my not praying to God for the continuance of it, for my not loving it throughly as it required.
Oh good Father, it is we that have ſinned, and therefore deſerve the taking away of thy good word; it is we that have done amiſs, we have dealt unjuſtly with thy Goſpel, we have procured thy wrath, and therefore juſt art thou in puniſhing us, juſt art thou in plaguing us, for we are very miſerable.
But good Lord and dear Father of Mercies, whoſe juſtice is ſuch that thou wilt not puniſh the poor ſouls of this Realm, which yet have not thus ſinned againſt thee as we have done, (for many yet never heard thy word) for our treſpaſſes; and whoſe mercy is ſo great, that thou will put our ſins out of thy Remembrance for thy Chriſt ſake; if we believe and repent.
O Lord, let us remember that all thy deareſt children have carried the Croſs of gracious affliction in this life, in whoſe company thou doſt place us, and doſt lay ſuch a Croſs upon us, as thou wilt make us able to bear, to thy glory, and our Salvation in Chriſt, for whoſe ſake we pray thee to ſhorten the days of this our great miſery, fallen upon us moſt juſtly, and in the mean ſeaſon to give us Patience, Repentance, Faith, and thy eternal Conſolation, Amen, Amen, Amen.
To Mr. J. H. and his wife, Priſoners in New-Gate.
I have heard my good Brother and Siſter, how God hath brought you both into his School-houſe of correction, he I ſay hath brought you where you are, and though your reaſon and wit tell you it is by chance and fortune, or otherwiſe; yet my dear beloved, know for certain, that whatſoever was the means, God your Father was the worker hereof, and that for your good, though it may be your old Adam and poor ſences may tell you otherwiſe; yet I ſay of a truth, it is your duty to think that this Croſs is of Gods ſending, and cometh from him, and it is out of his love and Fatherly affection, for your benefit and profit ſake.
But here perhaps you will object, what benefit, what advantage can it be? You are now kept in cloſe priſon; your children and Family are without good overſeers; and by this means your goods are diminiſhed, poverty will approach, and it may be more dangers alſo, as loſs of life, &c.
Theſe you will ſay are no Benefits, but diſadvantages, and thoſe no mean ones neither, ſo that you would be glad truly to know what benefit can come to you by this Croſs, which ſeemeth rather to bring you very great loſs and damage.
To theſe things I anſwer, that it is true indeed as you ſay, of your bodies, families, children, ſubſtance, poverty, life, &c.
But if you would conſider a while with inward eyes, as you now behold them with outward, then perhaps you would find more eaſe.
Do you not now by your inward ſenſe perceive, that you muſt part from all theſe things, as well as with other worldly beneſits; Tell me then, have you not this benefit by your Croſs, to learn to loath, and leave the world, and to long for, and deſire another world, where is perpetuity and eternal happineſs.
You ought of your own mind and free will, to have forſaken the world and all earthly things, uſing this world as though you uſed it not, and having your hearts only ſet upon your treaſures in Heaaven, or elſe you can never be Chriſt true Diſciple, that is to be ſaved, and to be where he is.
And think you, my dear hearts in the Lord, think you that this is no benefit, to be compelled to do thus by this croſs, that ſo you may aſſuredly enjoy enleſs glory with the Lord.
How doth God now as it were fatherly correct you, to remember you of your former offences concerning theſe things, and all other your miſcarriages, that your repentance and remiſſion might enſue thereupon? How doth God now compel you to call upon him, and to be earneſt in prayer? Are theſe no benefits? doth not the Scripture ſay, that God doth correct us in this world, becauſe we ſhould not be damned with the world? That God chaſtneth every one whom he loveth? that the end of this his correction ſhall be joy and holineſs? doth not the Scripture ſay, that they are happy that ſuffer for righteouſneſs ſake, as ye do, that the glory and ſpirit of God reſteth upon them, that as you are now made like unto Chriſt inſuffering, ſo you ſhall be made like unto him in reigning; doth not the Scripture ſay, you are now going the high-way and right way to Heaven? My dearly beloved, what greater benefit then this can a godly heart deſire?
The Lord open our hearts to ſee and feel this indeed, then ſhall we think the Croſs and afflictions, which are the means to bring us to this, to be very advantagious; Then ſhall we thank God that he would chaſtiſe us. And that we may do this indeed, my dearly beloved, Let us ſtill remember that our Croſs comes from God, and that they come from God as a Father, for our profit and benefit, and therefore that we ought to call to mind our ſins, and to ask pardon for them; and to look certainly for help at Gods hand, in his good time, ſuch help as ſhall make moſt for Gods glory, and for the comfort and benefit of our ſouls eternally.
Now if we do throughly believe, and ſenſibly conceive theſe things, then there will iſſue out from us hearty thankſgiving, which God requireth as a moſt precious ſacrifice.
And that we may all be thus thankful through Chriſt, let us uſe earneſt prayer to our God and dear Father, begging of him to bleſs us, keep us, and comfort us under his ſweet Croſs for ever and ever. Amen, Amen.
To Mr. Laurence Sanders, By Mr. John Bradford, Martyr.
AH good brother, that I could alwaies have God, his majeſty, mercy, Heaven, and Hell before me, then ſhould I indure as Moſes, as ſeeing him that is inviſible.
Bleſſed are they that die in the Lord, then how much more, they that die for the Lord.
All here therefore (God be praiſed) do willingly pledg our Captain Chriſt of his Cup, even when he will, or how he will.
Let us rejoice in the ſtraight way, which few find, and fewer walk therein, but feweſt of all continue therein unto the end.
Doubting of Gods favour, is the very Dungeon of diſpair.
Who live ſoberly but ſuch as are holy?
Once accepted and beloved of God in Chriſt, and ever beloved; for whom he loveth, he loveth to the end.
Repentance and juſtification is the Gramar School, wherein we muſt firſt be converſant and learned, before we go to the Univerſity of Gods moſt holy predeſtination.
The pattern which we muſt follow is Chriſt himſelf, and not the multitude nor cuſtome.
In all things we muſt avoid the ſeeking of our ſelves, as well in doing, as in learning things undone.
Long did the Lord linger and tarry to have ſhewed mercy upon us, but we were ever the longer the worſe.
He that will not have Gods bleſſing, it ſhall be taken from him.
Biſhop Ridly, In a Letter to the diſperſed brethren.
WE never had a better or more juſt cauſe, either to continue our life, or ſhed our blood; we cannot take in hand a more certain, clear, and manifeſt Truth. For it is not any ceremony for which we contend, but it toucheth the very ſubſtance of our whole Religion, yea even Chriſt himſelf.
What can all their cruelty do againſt us, but make our Crowns more glorious, yea, beautify and multiply the ſame?
I eſteem nothing available for me, which will not further the glory of God.
Whoſoever knowingly neglecteth and regardeth not to keep a good conſcience, he cannot have peace with God, nor a lively Faith in his mercy.
If our Doctrine were once the truth of Gods word, do you think that the alteration and change of the times can ever make it an untruth.
Let us joyn hands together in Chriſt, and if we cannot overthrow, yet over power, and as much as in us lies, let us ſhake thoſe ſtrong holds, not with carnal, but with ſpiritual weapons.
It is not the ſlanderers evil Tongue, but a mans own evil deed that can defile him before God.
Yours by Gods grace in our Maſter Chriſts cauſe unto the Stake, and thenceforth without all dangeror peril for ever and ever.
Doctor Taylor, In a Letter to Biſhop Cranmer.
GOD be praiſed again and again for this your excellent promotion, which you are called unto at this preſent, in that you are counted worthy to be allowed among the number of Chriſts Records, and witneſſes, England hath had but a few learned Biſhops that would ſtick to Chriſt, ſo as to burn for his cauſe.
For Gods ſake pray for us, for we fail not daily to pray for you, we are strongter, and ſtronger in the Lord, his name be praiſed, and we doubt not but ye be ſo alſo in Chriſt ſweet School; Heaven is all and wholly on our ſide.
Rejoice therefore in the Lord, and again I ſay rejoyce.
Pray for me, I will pray for you; God be praiſed, ſince my condemnation, I was never afraid to die.
Biſhop Hooper In a Letter to certain godly perſons.
LEt us prav unto God ſo to furniſh us with Faith and Patience, that we may rather dye ten times, then to deny him once; it is very requiſite that the Members of Chriſt, comfort one another, make prayers together, confer one with another, ſo ſhall you be ſtronger, and Gods ſpirit ſhall not be abſent from you, but be in the midſt of you, to teach you, to comfort you, to make you wiſe in all godlineſs, patient in tribulation and ſtrong in perſecution. Ye ſee how the congregation of the wicked, by helping one another, make their wicked Religion, and themſelves ſtrong againſt God, his truth and his people.
If any ſmart, Gods people ſhall be the firſt; if any ſuffer ſhame they begin; if any be ſubject to ſlander it is thoſe that he loveth, ſo that Chriſt ſheweth no face, nor favour, nor love almoſt in this world outwardly to them, but doth as it were lay clay upon the ſore eyes of thoſe that are ſorrowful, yet the patient man ſeeth (as St. Paul ſaith) life hid under theſe miſeries and adverſities, and light, and ſight, hid under this foul clay.
The will of our Father be done in all things, if he will life, life be it, if he will death, death be it.
It is a trouble to looſe the treaſures of this life, but yet a very great pain, if they be kept with offence to God; cry, call, pray, and in Chriſt daily require help, ſuccour, mercy, wiſdome, grace and defence, that the wickedneſs of this world prevail not againſt us. We began well, God preſerve us to the end.
This life is ſhort and miſerable, happy are they that can ſpend it to the glory of God.
We may be tempted of the world, the fleſh, and the Devil, but yet although theſe things pinch, yet they do not pierce, and although they work ſin in us, yet in Chriſt no condemnation to them that are grafted in him.
Mr. Richard Rooth, In a Letter to certain Martyrs condemned at Colcheſter.
OH dear hearts in Chriſt, what a Crown of glory ſhall ye receive with Chriſt in the Kingdome of God; Oh that it had been the good will of God that I had been ready to have gone with you, for I lie in the Biſhops little eaſe in the day, and in the night I lie in the coal-houſe, and we look every day when we ſhall be condemned, for they ſay, I ſhall be burned within ten days before Eaſter; but I lie ſtill at the pools brink, and every one ſtepeth in before me; but we abide patiently the Lords leiſure, in many bonds, in fetters and ſtocks, by which we have received great joy in the Lord.
Oh my dear hearts, now ſhall you be cloathed with long white garments upon mount Sion, with the multitude of Saints, and with Jeſus Chriſt our Saviour, who will never forſake us.
Oh bleſſed Virgins, you have played the wiſe Virgins part, becauſe you have taken oyl into your lamps, that you may enter with the Bridegroom when he cometh into everlaſting joy. But as for the fooliſh, they ſhall be ſhut out, becauſe they made not themſelves ready to ſuffer with Chriſt, nor venture to take up his Croſs.
O how precious ſhall your death be in the ſight of the Lord, dear and precious in his ſight is he detah of all his Saints: Farewell mine own dear Hearts, and pray the grace of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt be with you all Amen. Pray, pray, pray.
By me Richard Rooth, written with my own blood.
Mr. John Philpot, In a Letter to Mr. R.H.R.G.M.H. and J.C.
GLorious is the courſe of the Martyrs at this day; Never had the Elect of God a better time for their glory then this is. Now may they be aſſured under the Croſs that they are Chriſts Diſciples for ever.
Many go on well, till they come to the Pikes, and then they turn their backs, and give over in the plain field, to the ſhame of Chriſt and his Church, that hath ſo faint hearted Souldiers in his camp at the time of need, in that wherein his glory ought moſt manfully to be ſhewed.
Be content to have your Faith tryed every day by ſome Croſs or other, as it pleaſeth God to put it upon you, and if God put no grievous Croſs upon you, let your brethrens Croſs be your Croſs, which is a certain token of true brotherly love.
Hitherto we have not reſiſted unto blood-ſhedding, our blood muſt not be too dear for the Lord, and then his Kingdome ſhall not be too dear for us.
We have taken our Preſsmony a great while, let us now learn to ſerve him faithfully, and not to fly out of the Lords camp into the world, as many do.
Mr. John Careleſs, To ſeveral Martyrs condemned to die for the truth, in New-Gate.
SO great honour is not permitted to the higheſt Angel in Heaven, as to ſuffer for the name of Chriſt.
Full glad may you be that ever God gave you a life to loſe for his ſake.
A weak Faith hath ever a cold charity annexed unto it, which is quenched with every unkind word.
Nothing can anger the malicious mind, and cankered heart of Satan more, then the mirth, gladneſs, and hearty rejoycing of Gods Children in their good Chriſt.
Only Chriſts true Diſciples do mourn for his abſence, therefore they ſhall doubtleſs rejoyce in his preſence, which will be ſo much the more joyful, by how much the more his abſence is ſorrowful.
According to your Faith and as you believe, ſo ſhall it be unto you, and as you think God to be unto you, ſuch a one you ſhall find him to be, think therefore ever ſweetly of the Lord, and of his goodneſs.
Mr. John Careleſs In a Letter to Mr. John Bradford.
NOw with a merry heart, and joyful tears, I take my farewel of you, mine own dear brother in the Lord, begging him to ſend us ſhortly a joyful meeting in his kingdome, that we may both ſing praiſes together unto him with his holy Angels, and bleſſed ſpirits for ever and ever.
Farewel thou bleſſed of the Lord, farewel in Chriſt, depart unto thy reſt, and pray for me for Gods ſake.
Well, I will hope in God, and pray all night that God would ſend me ſome comfort to morrow, and if the Lord give you leaſure to morrow, let me hear four words of comfort from you for Gods ſake.
Oh that my life, and a thouſand ſuch wretched lives more might go for yours. Oh why doth God ſuffer me, and ſuch other poor worms to live, that can do nothing but conſume the Alms of the Church, and yet take you away ſo worthy a work-man and Labourer in the Lords vineyard?
But wo be to our ſins and great unthankfulneſs which is the cauſe of taking away of ſuch inſtruments of the Lord, as ſhould ſet forth his glory, and inſtruct his people; if we had been thankful to God for the good Miniſters of his word, we had not been ſo ſoon deprived of them; The Lord forgive our great ingratitude and his, and give us true repentance and faith, and ſtretch forth his hand of mercy over us, for his dear Son Chriſt his ſake; take not away all thy true Preachers out of this Realm O Lord, but leave us a ſeed, leaſt England be made as Sodom and Gomorrah, when thy true Lots are removed and gone.
But why go I about to mingle your mirth with my mourning, your juſt joy with my deſerved ſorrow? if I loved you as I pretended, I ſhould ſurely rejoice with you moſt hartily, and praiſe God from the very bottom of my heart; I ſhould praiſe God night and day for your excellent Election, in and through his great mercy.
I ſhould give him moſt humble thanks for your vocation by his Goſpel, and your true knowledg in the ſame.
I ſhould earneſtly praiſe him for your ſweet juſtification, whereof you are moſt certain by Gods grace and ſpirit; I ſhould earneſtly pray to him for your Glorification, which ſhall ſhortly enſue.
I ſhould rejoice and be glad to ſee you dignified by the Crown of Martyrdome, and to be appointed to that honour to teſtifie his truth, and to ſeal it with your blood.
I ſhould highly extol the Lord, who hath given you a glorious victory over all your Enemies, viſible and inviſible, and hath given you grace and ſtrength to finiſh your Courſe as you have begun.
Oh that the time were now come, that I might put off this frail Tabernacle of the fleſh, in this heavenly ſecurity, quietneſs of conſcience in Jeſus Chriſt.
Yours for ever in the Lord Jeſus, John Careleſs, living in hope againſt hope
Mr. John Careleſs, to Mr. Philpot.
MY dearly beloved brother, God hath brought you into a ſtraight place; out of your pinching and painful ſeat in priſon, you have plentifully poured upon me your precious Oyntment, the ſweet Savour whereof hath greatly refreſhed my faint and tired ſoul.
Ah good Jeremiah, hath Paſhur put thee in the Stocks? why, now thou haſt the reward of a Prophet, thy glory never began to appear until now.
Oh good Mr. Philpot, which art a principle Pot indeed, filled with moſt precious liquor, as appeareth by thy plenteous pouring out of the ſame; O Pot moſt happy, ordained to honour by the high Potter, thou doſt contain heavenly treaſure in thy earthen veſſel. Oh Pot thrice happy, in whom Chriſt hath wrought a great miracle, altering thy nature, and turning water into Wine, and that of the beſt, out of whom the Maſter of the Feaſt hath filled my cup ſo full, that I am even overcome in joy of the ſpirit through the ſame.
Be not offended, dear heart, at my Metaphorical ſpeech, for I am diſpoſed to be merry, and with David, to dance before the Ark of the Lord, and though you play on a painful pair of Organs, the Stocks, not very comly, nor eaſie to the fleſh, yet the ſweet ſound that came from thence to me, from you, cauſeth me thus to ſpeak.
Oh that I were with you in the body (as I am preſent in ſpirit) that I might ſing all care away in Chriſt Jeſus our bleſſed Saviour and Redeemer from all trouble, for now the time of comfort is come.
Mr. Laurence Sanders, In a Letter to the true Profeſſors of the Goſpel.
MY dear friends in the Lord, the times are perilous and dangerous, we muſt therefore be circumſpect and not ſolace, & delight our ſelves in carnal ſecurity, but with a joyful and contented mind we muſt now venture into the ſhip of Chriſts Croſs and afflictions; and now let us ſeriouſly weigh, and conſider, all the perils, dangers, and hazards that we muſt expect to meet in our journey to our heavenly Countrey, yet let us account it comfort enough in this dangerous Voyage, that we have the company and fellowſhip of ſuch an adventurer as our bleſſed Lord Jeſus to go along with us; when he was once in the ſhip with his Diſciples, with his word he did aſſwage the ſwelling of the dangerous Seas, and he hath not left us alone in this ſhip, either to ſink or to ſwim, but will be awaked, if he be call'd upon by importunate prayer.