Acts and Monuments Volume 2 Part 2, Book 11 · Account 39 · Letter 1
¶Letters of Iohn Careles
*A Letter of Iohn Careles aunswering to the louing Epistle or Letter sent to him before by Mayster Iohn Philpot.
A faythfull frend is a strong defence, who so findeth suche a one, findeth a treasure.
A faythfull frend hath no peere, the weight of gold and siluer is not to be compared to the goodnes of his fayth.
A faythfull frend is a medicine of life, and they that feare the Lord shall finde him. Ecclesiast. 6.
THe father of mercy and God of all consolation, comfort you with his eternall spirite (my most deare and faythfull louing frend,A letter of Iohn Careles to M. Philpot. good Mayster Philpot) as you hauehave comforted me by the mighty operation of the same: the euerlasting GOD be praysed therfore for euer. Amen.
Ah my deare hart and most louing brother, if I should do nothing els day and night, so long as the daies of heauen do endure, but kneele on my knees and read Psalmes, I can neuer be able to render vntounto God condigne thankes, for his great merciemercy, fatherly kindnesse, and most louing cōpassion extended vntounto me most vile, sinnefull, wicked, and vnworthy wretch. Oh that the Lorde would open my mouth and geue me a thankefull hart, that from the bottome of the same might flow his cōtinuall prayse. Oh that my sinnefull flesh (which is the cause of my sorowe) were cleane separated from me, that I might sing Psalmes of thankesgeuing vntounto the Lordes name for euer: that with good Samuels mother I might continually record this noble verse folowing, the which by good experience I hauehave found most true, praysed be my good God therfore.
The Lord (sayth that good woman) killeth and maketh aliue: he bringeth downe to hel and fetcheth vp agayne. Praysed be that Lord for euer,1. Reg. 1. Iohn Careles raysed vp by the Lord, out of great heauines. yea, and praysed be his name, for that he hath geuē me true experience and liuely feeling of the same. Blessed be the Lord GOD, whose mercy endureth for euer, whiche hath not dealt with me according to my deepe desertes, nor destroyed me in his displeasure when I had iustly deserued it, Oh what rewarde shall I geue agayne vntounto Lorde for all the great benefites that he hath done for my soule? I will gladly receiue the cuppe of saluation at his hand, and will worship his name with prayer & with prayse.
Ah my deare hart, yea most deare vntounto me in the Lord, think not this sodeine chaunge in me, to be some fickle phantasy of my foolish head (as in deede some other woulde surely suspect it to be.) For doubtlesse it is the maruellous doing of the Lord, moste merciful vntounto me his vnworthy creature. God for his great mercies sake geue me grace to bee more thankefull vntounto him then I heretofore hauehave bene, and keepe me that I neuer fall forth of hys fauour agayne.
And now my deare brother, and moste blessed messenger of the Lord, whose beautifull feet hauehave brought much glad tidings vntounto my soule, what shall I doe or say vntounto you, in the least part to recompence the fatherlye affection and Godlye care that you continually keepe for me? Oh that God would geue me the spirite of feruent prayer, that I might yet that way supply some litle part of my duty toward you. Ah my true louing frend, howe soone did you lay aside all other busines,This comfort receaued of M. Philpot, read in M. Philpots letters, pag. 1726. to make a sweete plaster for my wounded conscience, yea and that out of a paynefull payre of stockes, which place must needes be vneasye to write in. But God hath brought you into a straight place, that you mighte set my soule at liberty. Out of your pinching and paynefull seate you hauehave plentifully poured vppon me your precious narde, the sweete …auour wherof hath greatly refresteed my tyred soule. The Lord likewise refresh you both body & soule, by pouring the oile of his gracious spirit into your sweet hart.
Ah good Ieremy, hath Phasure put thee in the stockes? why, now thou hast the right reward of a prophet.Ierem. 10. Thy glory neuer began to appeare vntill now. I doubt not but shortly, in sted of Ahikam the sonne of Shaphan,Ierem. 26. Iesus the sonne of the liuing God wil come and deliuer thee foorth of the handes of all thine enemyes, and will also make good agaynste them and theyr Antichristian Sinagogue, all the wordes that thou hast spoken in his name. The Lord hath made thee this day a strong defended Tower, an yron piller,Ierem. 1. and a brasen wall agaynst the whole rable of Antichrist, & though they fight against thee neuer so fiercely, yet shall they not ouercome thee,Ierem. 1… for the Lorde himselfe is with thee to helpe and deliuer thee: and he will ridde thee out of the handes of the wicked, and will deliuer thee out of the handes of the Tyrantes. And in that you are not busy in casting pearles before swine, nor in geuing the holy thinges vntounto dogges,Math. 7. you are much to be cō mended, in my simple iudgement. And sure I am that your circū spect and modest behauiour hitherto hath bene as much to Gods glory & to the shame & confusion of your enemies,The circumspect behauiour of M. Philpot. Iohn Careles aduise to M. Philpot. as any mans doinges that are gone before you.
Wherefore mine aduise and most earnest desire is, with all other of your louing frendes, that you still keepe that order wyth those bloudthirsty bitesheepes, bishops I should say, that you hauehave begonne. For though in conclusion they will surely hauehave your bloud, yet shall they come by it with shame enough, and to theyr perpetuall infamy whiles the world doth endure. They would in deed condemne you in hugger mugger, to darken Gods glory if it might be. But Sathans thoughtes are not vnknowne to you, & the depth of his subtlety is by you well foreseene. Therefore let them do whatsoeuer God shall suffer them to doe: for I know all things shall turne to your best. Though you lye in the darck, s…orried with the Bishops blacke coale dust: yet shall you be shortlye restored vntounto the heauenly light, and made as white as snowe in Salmon,Psal. 68. and as the winges of a Doue that is couered with siluer winges, and her fethers like gold. You know the vessell, before it be made bright, is soyled with oile and other thinges that it may scoure the better.
Oh happy be you that you be nowe in the scouring house: for shortly you shalbe set vppon the celestiall shelfe as bright as aungels. Therfore my deare hart, I will now according to your louing request, cast away all care, and reioyce with you,I. Careles care turned into ioy. and prayse God for you, and pray for you day and night: yea, I wil now with Gods grace sing Psalmes of prayse and thankesgeuing with you. For now my soule is turned to her old rest agayne, and hath takē a sweet nap in Christes lap. I hauehave cast my care vponupon the Lorde, which careth for me, and will be Careles, according to my name, in that respect which you would hauehave me. I wil leaue out my vnseemely addition as long as I liue: for it can take no place where true fayth and hope is resident. So soone as I had read your most godly and cōfortable letter,Gods gracious worke through M. Philpots letter. my sorowes vanished away as smoke in the winde, my spirit reuiued, and comfort came agayne, wherby I am sure the spirit of God was author of it.
Oh, my good M. Philpot, which art a principall pot in deede filled with most precious liquor, as it appeareth by the plēteous pouring forth of the same: Oh pot most happy, of the high Potter ordeined to honour, whiche doest conteine suche heauenly treasure in the earthen vessell: Oh pot thrise happy, in whome Christ hath wrought a greate miracle, altering thy nature, and turning water into wine, and that of the best, whereout the mayster of the feast hath filled my cuppe so ful, that I am become drunken in the ioy of the spirit through the same:Iohn Careles drunken with ioy of the spirite. When Martyrdome shall break thee (O vessell of honour) I know the fragrant sauour of thy precious Narde will much reioyce the heauy hartes of Christes true members although the Iudasses will grudge and murmure at the same. Yea and burst out into words of sclaunder, saying: it is but lost and waste.
Be not offended deare hart, at my Metaphoricall speach. For I am disposed to be mery,2. Reg. 6. and with Dauid to daunce before the Arke of the Lord: and though you play vponupon a payre of Organes not very comely or easy to the flesh, yet the sweet soūd that came from the same causeth me thus to do. O that I were with you in body, as presently I am in spirit, that I might sing all care away in Christ: for nowe the time of comforte is come. I hope to be wyth you shortly, if all thinges happen aright: For my olde frendes of Couentry hauehave put the Counsell in remembraunce of me,Careles accused to the Councell by certayne backe friendes in Couentrye. not 6. dayes agoe, saying that I am more worthy to be burned, then any that was burned yet. Gods blessing on theyr harts for their good report. God make me worthy of that dignity, and hasten the time, that I might set forth his glory.
Pray for me deare hart. I beseech you, and will all your company to do the same, and I will pray God for you all so long as I liue. And nowe farewell in Christe, thou blessed of Gods owne mouth. I will for a time take my leaue, but not my last farewell. Blessed be the time that euer I came into the kinges bench,Note how comfortably the Lord worketh in … prisoned Saintes. to be ioyned in louelove and felowship with such deare children of the Lord. My good brother Bradford shal not be dead whiles you be aliue: for verely the spirit of him doth rest on you in most ample wise. Your letters of comfort vntounto me in ech poynt do agree, as though the one were a copy of the other. He hath planted in me, and you do water: the Lorde geue good increase.Gods prouidence towad his people. My deare Brethren and felow prisoners here, hauehave them humbly and hartelye commended vntounto you, and your company, mourning for your misery, but yet reioysing for your plenteous consolation and comfort in Christ. We are all chearefull and merry vnderunder our crosse, and do lacke no necessaryes, praysed bee GOD for his prouidence and great mercy towardes vsus for euermore. Amen