Acts and Monuments Volume 2 Part 2, Book 11 · Account 39 · Letter 15 – Letter 16
A letter of Careles to Agnes Glascocke.
THe euerlasting peace of God in Iesus Christ: the continuall aide,A letter of Iohn Careles to Mistres Agnes Glascocke. strengthe, and comfortes of his moste pure, holye, and mighty spirite be with you my deare & faithfull sister Glascock, to the good performance of that good woorke which God hath so graciously begun in you, to his glory, the commoditye of hys poore affl…cted Churche, and to your owne eternall comfort in hym, Amen.
In our Lorde I hauehave my most humble and hearty commendations vntounto you my deare sister, & most faithfull mother Glascocke, with all remembrance of you in my daily prayers, geuing God most hearty laude, praise, and thankes, for you and on your behalfe, in that he of his great mercye hath hetherto so mightely strengthened you, constantly to cleaue vntounto youre Captayne Christ, notwithstanding the great assaultes and manifold temptations, that you hauehave had to the contrary. Doubtles deare heart it can not be expressed, what ioy and comfort it is vntounto my very soule, to see howe mightely the Lorde hathe magnified hym selfe in you, and other his deare electe darlings, whome hee will shortly glorify with himselfe, as he hath done other of his sweete Sainctes that are gone before you. Reioyce therefore & be glad: for verilye you hauehave good cause if you diligentlye consider the great dignitie that God hath called you vntounto euen now in your olde age, to be one of his woorthy witnesses vntounto the worlde, and I thinke you shall wyth mee and other youre brethren in bonds, seale the Lords verity with the testimony of your bloud. Surely sweete sister,What an high ho…our it is to suffer for Christ. this is the greatest promotion that God cā bring you or any other vntounto in this life: and an honour that the highest aungel in heauen is not permitted to hauehave.
Therefore happye are you, Oh faithfull daughter of Abraham, that the Lorde will nowe preferre you before many other, yea or any other of your age, that I doe know in Englande. Oh faithfull and vertuous matrone, which wilt not be moued from the sure rocke Christe, vppon whome you hauehave so firmely built your house, that neither stormes nor tempestes, neither yet bell gates, or any other temptations shall euer be able once to preuaile against it. Full wel doeth it appeare by your constant continuance, that you hauehave played the parte of a wise builder, in counting the cost afore hand, belonging to the finishing of your tower. And I doubt not but (through Gods gift) you hauehave sufficient to the performaunce thereof, that the hypocrites of theyr parte shall hauehave no iuste cause to triumphe againste you, or to mocke you, saying, loe thys woman beganne to builde, but is not able to make an ende. Therefore goe on boldlye and feare not: for God is faithfull (as S. Paule sayeth) which will not suffer you to be tempted aboue your strength, but eyther will hee geue you grace and strength to stande vntounto the death (whych is the gate and entraunce into life) or els hee will make suche an outscape for you, as shall be to the setting foorth of hys glorye: the whych aboue all other thinges, we that are his chosen children oughte for to seeke, yea euen with the losse of oure owne lyues, beyng yet well assured that the same shall not be shortned one minute of an houre before the time that God hathe appoynted.
Cast therefore (deare sister) all your care vppon the Lorde, whych (as S. Peter sayeth) careth for you. Great is his prouidence for you, and mighty is his louelove and mercy towardes you. Wyth his grace hee will defende you, and with his holye spirite he will euermore guide you: wherewith hee hath surely sealed you vntounto the day of redemption: hee hathe also geuen you the same in earnest for the recouerye of the purchased possession, whych hee hath prepared for you before the foundation of the worlde was layed. Be strong therefore and take a good heart,He exhorteth her to be strong. as I heare say you be. God for euer be blessed for you, whych hath graft hys louelove in your good heart that nothing is able to separate you from the same, but will rather chuse to suffer aduersitie wyth the people of God, then to enioy the pleasure of sinne for a little season. Oh happye woman that canst finde in thine heart to esteeme the rebukes of Christe to be greater rich…sse then all the treasures of the world, as good Moyses did. Doubtles great is your reward in heauen: which you shall shortly receiue of his free gift, and not of any deseruing.
Thus deare mother Glascocke, I hauehave bene bolde to trouble you wyth my rude and simple letters, desiring you to take them in good woorthe, being done in great haste, as it doeth appeare: but yet proceeding from a poore hearte whych floweth ouer in louelove towardes you: as my dailye prayers for you can testifie: whych I truste shall supplye that parte of my duetye towardes you, that my penne nowe wanteth. I thanke you deare hearte, for all your louing tokens, and for the great kindnesse you hauehave hetherto shewed vntounto my poore brother Tymmes and hys wife and children, wyth all other of Gods people, to whom you daily doe good: the Lorde recompence the same seuenfolde into your bosome, as I doubte not but hee will, according to hys vnfallible promises.The charity of Mistres Gla…c…cke to the prisoned Saintes. I praye you hauehave my hearty commendations vntounto your husbande. I beseeche the Lorde strength hym in the confession of hys truthe (as my t…ust is that he will) that we may all ioyfully rest with Abraham, Isaac, & Iacob in the kingdome of God: vntounto the whych he bryng vsus, that with his most precious bloud hath bought vsus. The blessing of God bee wyth you nowe and euer. Amen.
Your daily Oratour and vnfayned louer Iohn Careles, prisoner of the Lord. Pray, pray, pray.
A briefe admonition wrytten to Mistres Agnes Glascocke, in a booke of hers, when shee came to the prisone to visite him.
THere is nothyng that the holye Scripture throughout, dothe so muche commende vntounto vsus,A note or poesy written in Mist…es Glascocks … by Iohn Careles. as true Faithe and stedfaste trust in the promyses of Gods eternall mercies towardes vsus in Iesus Christe. For from the same, as foorthe of the chiefe fountaine and well sprynge of life, doe flowe all kindes of vertues and godlye fruites, speciallye true louelove towardes God, in the whyche wee oughte purelye to serue hym all the dayes of oure lyfe: and also Christian charitye towardes oure neyghbours, as well to helpe them at all needes, as also not to hurte them by any meanes. Therefore praye earnestly for the increase of Faythe and liuely feelinge of Gods merciemercy:The effectes of fayth. for all thinges are possible vntounto him that can vndoubtedly beleue. Faith is that thing which assureth vsus of Gods mercye, and whereby we vanquishe all the fierye dartes of the deuill: oure victorie that ouercommeth the worlde: the knife that killeth and mortifieth the flesh: and finally that whiche setteth vsus at peace wyth God, and quieteth oure consciences alwaies before him, and maketh vsus merry and ioyfull vnderunder the crosse, wyth many moe things then I can now expresse. Pray therefore for faith, in faith. And for the Lordes sake, beware of Popery and Popish Idolatrye, the Idol of the wicked Masse, and other idolatrous seruice. Make not your body▪ which is a member of Christ▪ a member of Antichrist. Remember that we shall receiue of god according to that we do in the body, be it good or euil. Therfore glorifie god, in your body which is derely bought. Betray not the truthe, least the Lorde deny you. If God be God, followe hym. You can not serue two maisters. I wryte not thys as doubting you, but by the way of admonition. God keepe you from all euill.
My sister deare, God geue you grace
With stedfast faith in Christes name:
His Gospell still for to embrace,
And liue according to the same.
To die therefore, thinke it no shame,
But hope in God with faithfull trust:
And he will geue you praise with fame,
When you shall rise out of the dust.
For which most sweete and ioyfull day,
To God with faith your prayer make:
And thinke on me I do you pray,
The which did wryte this for your sake.
And thus to God I you betake,
Who is your castell and strong rocke:
He keepe you whether you sleepe or wake.
Farewell deare Mistres A▪ Glascocke.