Certain Godly and Very Comfortable Letters, Title page – Last words
CERTAINE GODLY AND VERIE comfortable Letters, full of chriſtian conſolation. Written by M. Ed Dering vntounto ſondry of his friends. And nowe publiſhed, for the proffite of the Church of God.
2. THES. 1.15. Stande faſt, & keepe the inſtructions which ye hauehave bine taught, either by worde, or by our Epiſtles
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NON VI SED VIRTUTE
Mr Derings wordes ſpoken on his death-bed at Tokye. The 26. of Iune, 1576.
GOd forgeue me my negligence, that I hauehave not vſed the pretious giftes of God laid vp within me, more to his glory in my time: Yet I thanke God that I hauehave not vſed them in vaine glorie, or to pleaſe the vaine affections of men.
After my death my enimies will become my friendes, except ſome that knowe me not, and thoſe which hauehave no feelinge of the trueth: For I hauehave faithfully ſerued the Lorde and my Prince in a good conſcience.
A Preacher ſaying vntounto him: It is for thee a great bleſſing that thou ſhal depart in peace, and goe from many troubles that our brethren ſhall beare and ſee. He anſwered: I ſhall goe from many troubles and leaue many behinde me. If the Lord hath appointed that his ſaintes ſhall ſuppe togither, why goe I not to them: but if there bee any doubting or ſtaggering, our Lord reueale the trueth.
Hearing one ſay, He hoped that in his ſilence, his minde was neuertheles exerciſed in godly meditation. He anſwered: As a poore frayle man, and the leaſt of all the elect ſaints, yet beleeuing and lookinge on Chriſt my ſaluation. We ſhall all meete togither with the ſweet harmony of the Lord of hoſtes. What a cloude of witneſſes is heere: yet a little while and we ſhall ſee our hope. We hauehave ouertaken the endes of the worlde which is come vppon vsus, and we ſhall quicklie receyue the ende of our hope which we have waited for. Afflictions, ſicknes and payne, are but the worlds portions from the Lord. It is not to begin for a moment, but to continewe in the feare of God all our dayes: for in the twinckling of an eye we ſhalbe taken away. Dallie not with the worde of God, make not light of it: Bleſſed are they that vſe their tongues well when they hauehave it.
E. D.