Acts and Monuments Volume 2 Part 2, Book 12 · Account 48
The copy of a certaine letter that he sent to comforte his Wyfe at such tyme as he lay in prison.
WIfe, you desired me that I would sende you some tokens that you might remember me.A letter of Iohn Noyes to his wyfe. 1. Peter. 4. As I did read in the newe Testament, I thought it good to write vntounto you certayne places of the Scripture for a remembraunce. S. Peter sayth: Derely beloued, be not troubled with this heat that is nowe come among you to try you, as though some strange thyng had happened vntounto you, but reioyce in so much as ye are partakers of Christes suffryngs, that whē hys glory appeareth, ye may be mery & glad. If ye be rayled on for the name of Christ, happy are ye, for the spirit of glory, and the spirit of God resteth vponupon you.
It is better if the will of God be so,1. Peter. 3. that ye suffer for well doyng, then for euill doyng.
See that none of you suffer as a murtherer, or as a thiefe,1. Peter. 4. or an euill doer, or as a busie body in other mens matters: but if any man suffer as a Christian man, let hym not be ashamed, but let him glorifie God in this behalfe: for the tyme is come that iudgement must begin at the house of God. If it first begin at vsus, what shal the end of them be that beleue not the gospel of God? Wherfore let them that suffer according to the will of God, commit their soules to hym in well doyng.
S Paule saieth: All that will lyue godly in Christ Iesu,2. Tym. 3. must suffer persecution.
S. Iohn saieth: See that ye louelove not the worlde,1. Iohn. 2. neither the thyngs that are in the world.
If any man louelove the worlde, the louelove of the father is not in him. For all that is in the world, as the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of lyfe, is not of the father, but is of the world, which vanisheth away and the lust therof, but he that fulfilleth the will of God, abideth for euer.
S. Paule saith: If ye bee risen againe with Christ,Coloss. 3. seeke those things which are aboue, where Christ sitteth on the right hande of God. Set your affection on things that are aboue, and not on things which are on the earth.
Our Sauiour Christ sayeth:Math. 18. Whosoeuer shall offend one of these little ones that beleeue in me, it were better for hym that a milstone were hanged about his necke, and that he were cast into the sea.
The Prophet Dauid sayth:Psal. 34. Great are the troubles of the righteous, but the Lord deliuereth them out of all.
Feare the Lord ye his saintes, for they that feare hym lacke nothyng.
When the righteous crye, the Lorde heareth them and deliuereth them out of all theyr troubles: But misfortune shall slaye the vngodlye, and they that hate the righteous shall perish.
Heare oh my people. I assure thee O Israel, if thou wilt harken vntounto me, there shall no strange God be in thee, neyther shalt thou worship any other God. Oh that my people would obey me, for if Israell would walke in my wayes, I should soone put downe their enemies, and turne my hande agaynst their aduersaries.
Our Sauior Christ sayth: The Disciple is not aboue hys maister, nor yet the seruant aboue his Lord. It is enough for the Disciple to be as his maister is, and that the seruant be as his Lord is. If they hauehave called the maister of the house Belzebub, howe much more shall they call them of his houshold so: feare not thē therefore.
S. Paule sayth: Set your selues therefore at large, and beare not a strangers yoke with the vnbeleuers:2. Cor. 6. for what fellowship hath righteousnesse with vnrighteousnesse? what company hath light with darkenes: either what part hath the beleeuer with the Infidell? &c. Wherfore come out from among them, & separate your selues now (saith the Lord) and touch none vnclean thing: so will I receiue you, and I will be a father vntounto you, & ye shall be my sonnes and daughters, sayth the Lord almighty.
For neither eye hath seen, nor the eare hath heard, neither can it enter into the hart of man, what good thynges the Lord hath prepared for them that louelove hym.
Ye are not bought neither with siluer nor gold, but with the precious bloud of Christ.Cor …. 1. Peter 1. Actes. 4.
There is none other name geuen to men wherein wee must be saued.
So fare ye well wife and children, and leaue worldly care, and see that ye be diligent to pray.
Math. 6.Take no thought (sayth Christ) saying: what shall we eate or what shall we drinke, or wherewith shall we be clothed: for after all these thynges seeke the Gentiles) for your heauenly father knoweth that ye hauehave need of all these thyngs, but seeke ye first the kingdom of heauen, and the righteousnesse thereof. And all these things shall be ministred vntounto you.