Acts and Monuments Volume 2 Part 2, Book 11 · Account 39 · Letter 6
¶To M. Greene, M. Whittel, and certaine other prisoners in Newgate, condemned, and ready to be burnt for the testimonie of our Lord Iesus.
THe euerlasting peace in Iesus Christe, the continual comfort of his most pure and holy spirite,An other letter of Iohn Careless wherein he doth animate Grene, Whittell and the rest of that company vntounto their Martyrdome. be with you my most deare and faithfull brethren and sisters of Newgate, the Lordes appointed sheepe vntounto ye slaughter, to the good performaunce of the great and notable worke of the Lord, which he hath so graciously begon in you al: that the same may redoūd to the setting forth of his glory, & to the commoditie of his Church, and to your owne euerlasting comfort in him. So be it.
Ah my deare hartes, and most faithful brethren and sisters in the Lord, what high laudes and prayse, yea what humble & continuall thankes am I bound to geue to God our father for you & on your most happy behalfe, who so mightely hath magnified him selfe in you thus farre forth, in geuing you his holy & mighty spirit, to the constant confessing of Christes veritie, euen to the cruel condēnation, & I doubt not but he will do the same to the death. Oh happye and blessed are you that euer you were borne, that the Lord will vouch you worthy of this great dignitie, to dye for his sake. Doubtles it is the greatest honour that God can geue you in this lyfe. Yea if they be so blessed of God yt dye in the Lord, as the holy ghost saith they be:Apoc▪ 11. how much more blessed and happy then are you, that die not only in ye Lord, but also for the Lord. Oh that it were the good wyll of God, that the good houre were now come,To dye in the Lord: and for the Lord. that I might goe with you. Ah that my sinnes made me not vnworthy of such an excellent dignitie.
Be thankfull deare harts, be thankfull & reioyce in the Lord: for mighty is his mercy towardes you, and great is your reward in heauen, the which you like faithful persōs hauehave plucked to you with a godly violēce of an inuincible faith. Oh worthy warriours of the most high captaine, Oh cōstant confessors of the euerlasting veritie: how glorious a crown of victory shal you shortly receiue, which is prepared for all such as do continue to the ende? Oh you sweete saintes of ye Lorde, how precious shal your death be in his sight? Oh how deare are your soules to your redeemer in whose hand they shall most ioyfully rest, and ye paynes of death shall neuer touch you? Oh how blessed shall you be, when Christ shall appeare, at the which time you shall receaue your bodyes againe full of immortalitie? Oh howe ioyfull shall you be, when Christ, according to his promise shall knowledge you before his father and his holy aungels, as you hauehave most constantly confessed him to be your Lord, and onelyonly sauiour before men?
Oh blessed Greene, thou meek and louing lamb of the Lord, how happy art thou to be appoynted to dye for hys sake?Of this Barthelet Grene read before pag. 1846. A full daintie dish art thou for the Lords own tooth. Fresh and Greene shalt thou be in the house of the Lord, & thy fruites shal neuer wither nor decay. Although thou go here forth sowing thy good fruites with teares, ye time shal come that thou shalt reape with ioy and gladnes, ye fruites of euerlasting life, and that without ceasing. Be mery therfore and feare not,Luke. 12. for it is thy fathers will to geue thee a kingdome, wherunto he hath chosen thee before the foundations of the world were layd.
Oh happy Minister, thou mā of God, how glad maiest thou be of Gods most gracious fauour, which hath preuented thee in ye day of thy tryall?Of this Thomas Whittell, read before pag. 1833. Oh happy Peter, whose part thou hast wel playd: therfore thy reward and portion shall be like vntounto his. Now hast thou good experience of mans infirmitie, but much more proofe and tast, yea sense & feeling of Gods aboundant bottomles mercy. Although Satan desired to sift thee, yet Christe thy good Captayne prayed that thy fayth should not fayle. Gods strengthe is made perfect by thy weakenes, & his grace is sufficient for thee his deare childe.Luke 21. Thine example did so incourage and strength thy poore brethren, that God is eueryevery waye glorified by thee, and shortly will he glorifie thee with himself with that glory whiche he hath prepared for thee his electe deareling before the world was made. Therfore reioyce & be glad, for thou hast good occasion, in finding such fauour in his sight.
This is most true (Oh my other brethren, whom I do not know, neyther hauehave I heard muche of you) happy are you yt euer you were borne, and blessed be our God which hath geuen you such victory ouer the bloudy beast: shortly shall you be clothed in large white garmentes, and fyne raynes of righteousnes, and so shall you follow ye Lambe on mount Syon with new songes of mirth and melodye,Apoc. 16. for your deliuerie forth of Satans power & tiranny. God for euermore bee blessed for you, and strengthen you to the end, as I doubt not but he will: for hee neuer fayled them that put their trust in him.
O my deare and faithfull sister Ioane Warner, what shall I say to thee?Of Ioane Warner, read before pag. 1850. Thy triall hath bene great: thy victory in Christ hath bene notable. Thou hast ouercome many a sharpe shower and storme. Shortly shalt thou ariue at the hauen of quiet rest, and receiue a reward due to a constant martyr. Thou shalt go home to thy heauenly father, and possesse for euer the inheritance which Christ hath purchased for thee, where thy earthly parentes be, still looking for thee, which hauehave triumphed ouer Antichrist most victoriously. Oh blessed parentes of happy Children, which hauehave shewed such an example, as ye like hath bene seldome seen. I salute thee deare sister of like constant mind: whose constant example is worthy of continual memory.He meaneth Elizabeth Foster pag. 1750. Math. 25. Praysed be god for you mine own sweet sisters, which hath made you to play such wise virgins parts. He hath plentifully poured the oyle of his spirite into the lampes of your faythe, so that the light thereof shall neuer be extinct. You shal enter with your bridegrome into euerlasting ioy, wherunto you were chosen in him from the beginning.
Oh my deare brethren and sisters, you blessed saynts of the Lord, how much & how deeply am I bounde to prayse God for you both day & night Pray, pray for me (my deare hartes) for the render mercy of God, that I may bee made worthy to folow your trace. Oh that I had runne the race of my life, as farre as you hauehave done yours, and were as nigh my iorneys end,Iohn. 5. as you be vntounto yours. But alas, I lie like the lame man at ye pooles side by Salomons porch & eueryevery man goeth into the place of health before me. But God will appoynt me one,B. Boner called the slaughter slaue of England. one daye to put me in. I truste my Lord of Londōs Colehouse is emptie, & al his officers idle. Therefore they must shortly fetch more sheepe to the shambles: for he is the common slaughter slaue of all England. But happy are you that are passed through ye pikes & deliuered out of his hands, and from al the angels of the darknes of this world, which long tempted you in ye wildernes of the same: but now shall the angels of God come and minister vntounto you,Psal. 60. 4. Reg. 2. for they are your seruantes to hold you vp in your handes, & that you shal not hurt your foot no nor one heare of your head shall pearish. They shal cary you vp to heauen in a fiery chariot, thoughe you leaue your Mantell behinde you for a time, till God restore the same agayne in a more ample and glorious sort.
Thus in hast, as it doth appeare, I am constrayned to make an end, committing you all to Gods most mercifull defence: who euer hauehave you in his blessed keping, desiring you all to remember me in your godly and faythfull prayers, as I will not forget you in mine, by Gods grace. The blessing of God be with you all my deare brethrē and sisters. All our brethren and fellowe prisoners here hauehave them most hartily commended vntounto you, and pray for you without ceasing. God sende vsus a merry meeting in hys kingdome. Amen.
By your brother and vnfayned louer, Iohn Careles, prisoner, abiding his moste mercifull will and pleasure. Pray, pray, pray.