Certain Godly and Very Comfortable Letters, Letters

Certain Godly and Very Comfortable Letters · Letters

An Epiſtle of M. Ed. Deringe, before his 24 Lecture on the Hebrues, which he preached the 6. of December, 1572. And gaue for a newe yeres gifte to the godlie in London & elſewhere.

To his verie louing friend Maiſter M. F.

THe outward afflictions and manyfold troubles of a great nomber of gods childrie, whoſe trauel & labour, frō day to day J had ſtil in experience, and the inward feelling of many woūded ſpirits, whoſe wofull ſighes and bitter mournings, J beheld in other, and had tried in my ſelfe: it made me very deſirous to ſeeke for remedies, to ſtoppe the complaints of ſo grieuous cryings, and to prepare our heartes in a ſtrong defence, that the fierie dartes of the Diuell might not wound vsus. Ʋpon this occaſion when J had to expound that place of the Apostle full of notable comfort: That Chriſte in the dayes of his fleſhe, offered vp prayers and ſupplications to him that was able to ſaue him from death, with ſtrong cryings and teares, and was deliuered from the thinges hee feared. J taried the longer in that matter, & declared more at large what boldnes and aſſurance of hope was offered heere vntounto all that ſhould obey the worde. Which whē I had done, as God gaue me vtterance, the poore in ſpirit, to whom J applyed my ſelfe, one or two required mee to ſette it downe in writinge, that it might be profitable to manie, which was comfortable to them. I durſt not reiect ſuch a good requeſt, but though ſometime I deferred it, yee I neuer forgot it, till I had written all as I was required. Which when J had done, I purpoſed then with my ſelfe, to make it yet more common, and ſet it abroad in print: knowing aſſuredly, where God would giuegive it increaſe it ſhould bring forth the fruite of conſolation, that we might ſtande vpright in the day of euill. Thus hauing performed both the request of others, & myne owne deſire, and the time fallinge out with the beginning of a newe yeare, I thought it not amiſſe to offer my labour to you, who I knowe would well accept of it as a newe yeares gift, though of no great price, yet of great good will: and though eaſilie obteyned, yet not little to bee esteemed. Therefore my deare brother, whom J louelove in Christ, and reuerence in the worlde as many wayes J hauehave cauſe, ſo I offer it vntounto you: The Lorde for his mercies ſake worke his owne good pleaſure, that J may hauehave of you the fruite that J deſire, and you the grace that ye ſtande in neede of: that as God hath greatly bleſſed you, and made you abound in many graces to the glorie of his name, the comforte of your friends, and the benefite of his people: ſo your ioye, that it might be made perfect, you might alſo abounde in this, to hauehave a ſtrong faith against the daye of triall: which God of his merciemercy will ſurelie graunte vntounto you, and finiſhe the good worke that hee hath begunne. Though J louelove not to ſpeake faire (for flatterie and deceytful prayſes, I ſee what miſchief they breed) yet J feare not to beare you witnes of your well doing: the ſpirit of God hath planted humilitie more deepe in your breast, then that pride and arrogancie can pull it out. And in deede the better you are, the more effectuall you doe ſee your owne vnworthineſſe, that all your righteouſnes is as a defiled clothe: and the more you approche vntounto God, the more you abhorre your ſelfe, & knowe that in our fleſhe there dwelleth no goodneſſe. Abraham our father; Job, Eſaie, and many other men of excellent vertue in the ſight of God, they hauehave beene all astoniſhed, to ſee howe their righteouſnes hath bene ſcattered away as the cloudes of the heauens. Paule cryeth out: O wretched man that I am, who ſhall deliuer me from this body of death! But becauſe wee hauehave an enimie, that ſpareth not to diſplaye all our corruptions before our eyes, to the ende he might make vsus dispaire, therefore we may be bold, to the ſtrengthning of our hope, to ſet before vsus againe, the ſpirituall graces that worke within vsus, to aſſure our ſelues that we bee borne of God. So our Sauiour Christ prayſed manie that beleeued on him, ſo did the Apostles, ſo may we: and our heauenly Father will ratifie and confirme our wordes, when we ſpeake the trueth, accordinge to the meaſure of faith that eueryevery one hath receyued. So Saint Iohn biddeth vsus all be bolde, and not bee deceyued: He that doeth the things that are righteous, him ſelfe is righteous, and like vntounto Christ in whom hee is ſanctified. So may J ſay vntounto you, the grace of GOD hath wrought happily in you in theſe yeres & conditiō of life, that ſo vnfainedly you hauehave ſought the Lorde. It can not be of your ſelfe, who are not able ſo much as to thinke a good thought, but it is of him, whoſe ſeede abideth in you. And although, becauſe you hauehave that treaſure in a brittle veſſell, you ſee ſometime the fruite of olde Adam, and the prickes of his tranſgreſſion within your bowelles: yet feare not his malice that hath wrought this woe: You are bought with a dearer price, then that ſinne may raigne againe within you, & he that hath purchaſed you, hee will not ſuffer his inheritance to be ſpoyled. Jt is neceſſarie you ſhould know your ſinne, or you could not vnderstande howe great were your redemption. But your ſinnes can not ſeparate you away from him, who hath buried them in the earth, and will not ſee them any more. When you ſhall aſcende to come into his ſight, the earth will holde her owne, and keepe your ſinnes behinde you. The pearcing ſerpent ſhall not clime to accuſe you, nor the crooked ſerpent ſhall not hyde your redemption from you. Your care is cast vponupon him that careth for you, & you knowe him who hath ſpoken: All power is giuen vntounto me in heauen and in earth. Ye knowe him who hath a name aboue all names, that in the name of Jeſus all knees ſhall bowe: Euen hee that bought you with a price, and you are not your owne. If it bee poſſible for you to periſhe, then is it poſſible againe that Christe ſhould ſuffer iniurie. This boldnes you hauehave through him who hath made manifest his grace vntounto you, that you denying impietie & worldly concupiſcence, ſhould liue ſoberly, purely, and godly in this preſent life, and looke for the bleſſed hope that ſhall be reuealed, when all ſecretes ſhall be opened. To which iſſue and happy ende of life, the Lord bring both you and yours, in the fellowſhip of his ſaints, to prayſe his holy name, when he ſhall make knowen vntounto you his glorie vnspeakeable, and crowne it with immortalitie, Amen.

Farewell in Chriſt Ieſu, and pray for me. The 26. of December. 1572. Yours in the Lord to commaund, Ed. Deringe.

A letter of M. Ed. Deringe to his brother Maiſter R. D.

THe grace of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt be with you euer Amen. For Maiſter S. whether he be angrie or no J knowe not, if he be God is witneſſe betweene him and me howe litle I hauehave deſerued it, true it is, hee ſeemed not very wel pleaſed, but if God be pleaſed mans goodwil, either it ſhalbe recōciled, or ſhal not doe much hurt: if I hauehave the loſſe in worldlie thinges, I am content to beare it, and God will ſupply my want where I am able to doe nothing. J had leuer be your Brother not worth a grote, but hauing a good conſcience to praye for you, then hauehave (as I might) great liuing, & encomber my cō ſcience with much ſinne. And good Brother Dering, here followe me, you ſhalbe a great deale richer then you are: ſtudie the ſcripture, reade bookes, bee able to reaſon in your faith, especiallie and aboue all, hauehave a liuely feeling of God, that you thinke more vile of all the glorie of the world, then of the dust of the earth: you knowe we must all periſhe, and you must walke the way of all fleſhe: Our good Parents both Father & Mother, they are gone before: you doe but waite the time, and you must goe after, your goods and landes must abide behinde, and the riches of your minde, they are onelyonly your owne. You are my eldest brother, & you knowe not howe glad I would be, to ſee you goe before me in Religion: God hath giuen you, neither a light heade nor little vnderstanding, if you would applie your ſelfe vntounto knowledge, you ſhould then reape the fruit of your labour in more gladnes of heart then yet you can imagine: begin once but a little, and taste how ſweet the Lord is, and you ſhall feele the riches of his glorie, and ſay: Happie be the time that euer I knewe it. Let not good Brother, let not the worlde deceiue you, it is faithleſſe and deceiptfull, when you ſhall louelove it best, it will ſoonest deceyue you. And of me thinke thus: that in the world I can not doe you ſo great a pleaſure, as continually to prouoke you to know God: and this I ſhalbe able to performe, though otherwiſe I ſhalbe able to pleaſure you nothing, and therefore I beſeeche you praye for me, and I will pray for you, & ſo the Lord God ſhall helpe vsus both, that I may be faithfull which way J am called, and you may bee ſuch as I deſire. And for Maister S. or any other of ſuch high calling, I louelove them in the Lorde, euen as I louelove myne owne ſoule, and will pray for them while they and I ſhall liue: Though I beare the loſſe of worldly things, yet by the grace of Christ, J will neuer loſe a good conſcience: and though they be angrie with me, yet I will not leaue to pray for them, and commit my cauſe vntounto God, he will one day multiplie his graces, where hee hath ſo well begun, and they ſhall (I trust) be throughlie taught, whom God hath alreadie ſo farre instructed. For my L. of C. J hauehave bene once with him, but J meane not yet to goe the ſeconde time, God will worke his will, his name be prayſed for euer. My L. of L. is a good man, I am often with him, I hauehave ſene in him ſo good tokens of a good ſpirit, that I reuerence him in my heart & will ſerue him in Chriſt all wayes that J may. And for my doeing with any man, I praie you tell me wher you ſee me faultie, but if you know not of any ſin, doe not diſwade me from going vpright in the Gospell: But for my comfort, if you ſee me greeued, let me ſee in you, how you profeſſe the goſpell: & perſwade your ſelf of this, that a liuely zeale, & holy knowledg in you, and in my Siſter, ſhal make me gladder then any biſhoprike in England. The Lorde God for his mercies ſake that hath called you out of the kingdome of darkeneſſe, and placed you in the fellowſhippe of his ſaintes in light, make you to feele the depth of his graces, that you may be renewed, confirmed, ſtrengthened, and made perfite vntounto the ende, Amen. Fare you well in Christ Ieſu, and doe my hartie commendations to my ſister.

From London, the xix. of Nouember. Your louing brother Ed. Deringe.

To his brother Maiſter R. D.

THe grace of our Lord Jeſu Christ bee with you euer, Amen. Good brother, I would gladlie write oftener vntounto you, but otherwiſe I hauehave ſo much to doe, that ſome time I forget many dueties. Another cauſe is, J hauehave nothing to write as I would, ſo I hauehave no pleaſure to doe that I would not. So it is, that I am forbidden to preach: which grieueth me most, then ſlaunderous reportes doe hurt me much, where J would fainest pleaſe, ſo farre as I may in the feare of God. But how ſo euer things are, it is a bleſſed ſentence whiche he hath ſpoken, who will ſurelie performe it: To them that louelove God, all things happen to the best, and pray for me good Brother, that I may holde ſtedfast that louelove, and wauer not in the faith of the gospell in which we hauehave aſſured life: and as I am bounde J trust I will pray for you, that your eyes may hauehave perfect & pure ſight, to ſee the louing countenance of the Lorde which is better then life: ſo you ſhall bee happie euen in the dayes of your vanitie, and when nature ſhall make you yeelde to the neceſſitie of all fleſhe, to goe walke in the way of all the worlde, then ſhall you reape the fruite of your labour, and ſay with gladnes: Lord nowe letteſt thou thy ſeruaunt depart in peace. This is all the hope we hauehave, and the onelyonly ioye that is to be looked for vnderunder the heauens: the nearer you ſhall feele it, the more you ſhall ſee it, it ſhall delight you and ſet you on a ſure ground, that you ſhall not be aſhamed for euer. The Lord God for his Christes ſake ſtrengthen vsus all to ſo good a purpoſe, and the mutuall debte we owe one to another in the bound of nature, let vsus paye it in this holy affection, to praye for our perſeuerance vntounto the ende. And as touching the iſſue of all my buſineſſe, looke for the worst, hope for the best, and beare whatſoeuer ſhall fall. J trust to God once I ſhall ſee the day wherein J ſhall faithfully ſpeake it, euen as Saint Paul Vita mea nō eſt chara mihi, vt conſumā curſum meū cū gaudio The Bb. and many other ſeeke occaſions against mee. God hath ſtil rayſed me vp many friendes, but my hope is onelyonly in him, that hath kept me hitherto, and not in man, when J knowe what ende will come, you ſhall heare: If I would loſe the trueth I could winne the world, but that were a miſerable change. God bleſſe vsus and ſende vsus peace, make vsus wiſe in his Gospell, and ſtedfast vntounto the ende. My Wife hath bene I thanke God in no trouble, neyther was any toward her, that J knowe of, if any fall, God hath made her rich in grace and knowledge to giuegive accompt of her doing. D.W. on frydaie last as I was about to preach, forbad me in hir Maieſties name, ſo I ſtande now forbidden, not by the Bb. but by our Princeſſe, whom J beſeech God make a happie gouernour in his church, and many yeares to giuegive peace vntounto his people. If we prayed as we ſhould, God would make perfite the good worke hee hath begun, and make vsus ſee the peace of Jeruſalem all the dayes of our life. And J beſeeche God, that wee may wiſhe ſo effectually his mercies, that at last hee may ſhutt vsus vp in a bleſſed vnitie, that they whom he hath afflicted, may reioyce. Commende me to all. Thank… my coſen, for her letters, and for the parſonage ſhe writeth of: I will not refuſe it if I may hauehave it, neyther will I ſue for it though it were much better. If God call me to it, I pray God I may doe my duetie: if not, yet his will be done. I am perſwaded, if I be ſetled there, it ſhalbe a bleſſinge vntounto the countrie: if not, without me God keepeth thoſe that bee his. Farewell good Brother, And the Lord keepe you and all yours, Amen.

The 24. of December 1573. Your louing Brother, Edwarde Dering.

To his Brother I. D.

THE God of all grace who giueth vsus eyes to ſee, and eares to heare, giuegive vntounto vsus euer his holy ſpirit, that in the middeſt of a darke world, we may ſee the brightneſſe of his heauenly kingdome, and in this weake tabernacle of ſmall cōtinuance, we may knowe the dwelling place which we ſhall hauehave for euer in the reſurrection of the iust, Amen. I thanke you, good brother, for your letter, and for your care of my recouerie, but most of all becauſe you ſhewe a good teſtimonie of your minde, that the feare of God doeth dwell in you: of this J am gladde, and I am ſure I ſhalbe glad. For I know howe earnestlie I deſire it, and I ſee howe vnfainedlie you are brought vntounto it, and when the Lord in his good will, & his appointed time ſhal make vsus ſee more cleare howe great this bleſſinge is, we knowe wee ſhall reape the fruite of it in the ſight of his preſence and in eternal life, this is enough for vsus: a ſtrēgth vntounto our hope, a ſtay vntounto our faith, a continuance vntounto our louelove, lett the good worke of God be finiſhed in vsus. And of this wee may be ſure, whoſoeuer regardeth it not, or elſe embraceth the preſent worlde, he knoweth not God, nor yet hath euer ſeene the length & breadth of immortalitie. And therefore good brother, (becauſe bleſſed are the eyes which ſee that we ſee,) let vsus ſtrenghten our ſight, with the ſweet oyntement of Gods ſpirite, that we may yet ſee more cleare, till through all the graces of GOD our Father, we may ſee our bodies alſo raiſed vp from the dead, and our ſelues ioyned vntounto our Sauior Chriſt by decree and ſentence which neuer ſhalbe reuerſed, Come you bleſſed vntounto eternall life: vntounto this, a good conſcience will carie vsus with ioye & gladnes. Beyonde this our ſenſes faile vsus, and our hearte is able to comprehende nothing of the glorie which we ſhall ſee. Only J knowe it is exceeding great, whoſe greatneſſe I can neither ſee, nor heare, nor comprehende with thought: And therefore if euer thinge delighted vsus, or if euer we hauehave ſeene pleaſure, or can wiſhe the thing in which we would reioyce, let vsus turne all our affections hither with harte and ſoule, life and ſtrength, to delight in this, which alone is all, and no body ſhall take it from vsus. And ſure brother, this is true, if God hauehave receyued vsus to that bleſſed kingdome, he hath appointed the time in which he will giuegive vsus his ſpirite (though not fullie) to comprehende it, yet ſo farre to ſee it, that wee will accounte all the worlde to be but dunge, to the ende we may winne Christ. And this J am perſwaded, good brother, God hath and will giuegive plentifullie vntounto you, ſo that you ſhall vſe the worlde as though you vſed it not, and be here with men, as one whoſe dwelling were with the Angels of God, vſing your calling in any godly recreatiō, but hauing your heart nearest vntounto God, that gaue it: and the Lorde graunt you this happines, that all the pleaſure of your life maye bee in deede acceptable, ſuch as ſhall not after be mingled with ſhame & ſorrowe. And J beſeeche God bleſſe my good Ʋncle B. and make him now to know, which in his tender yeres he could not ſee: for the worlde was then darke, and we were blinde in it: but ſince we hauehave bene lightened with the gospell of the Lorde Jeſus, and ſo much more earnest lie nowe we must pray that it may be vntounto vsus the gospell of healthe, and wee may increaſe in the knowledge of the mysterie of it. And the Lorde open his gracious countenance reuealed in it, vntounto my Aunte, that ſhee may alſo make a bleſſed chaunge, to leaue vaine imaginations of her own minde, which are full of ignorance, and learne the ſcripture, which can make knowen vntounto her the liuinge God. And commende me hartilie vntounto them both, to whom I wiſhe as to my ſelfe.

Your louing Brother, Ed. Dering.

A comfortable Letter written by Maiſter Ed. Deringe, to a Chriſtian Gentlewoman, in heauines of ſpirite.

JT is true (good Maistres H.) which the ſpirit hath ſpoken, and we feele it by experience, That by many tribulations we muſt enter into the kingdome of heauen. This is a common decree which God hath ſanctified to be a lot for all his children. So the authour and finiſher of our faith, Jeſus Christ him ſelfe was made perfect. Into his ſimilitude we are alſo predestinate that we ſhould first die with him, and then be partakers of his glorie: Lett vsus not therefore refuſe that condition of life in which we hauehave the fellowſhipp of all the Saintes of God, but rather confeſſe with the holy Apostle, That bleſſed is the man who endureth temptation. But becauſe all afflictions are bitter for the preſent time, and when the minde is ſhaken with ſorrowe, it is then most eaſilie cast downe of the enemie, let vsus learne wiſelie what our troubles are, and be prepared of remedie in the day of triall. All our afflictions are eyther according to the fleſhe, in hunger, colde, nakedneſſe, ſhame, contempt, ſlaunder, &c. or according to the Spirite, in lamentations and mourninges, which the worlde knoweth not. The firste euilles are eaſilie borne, for they are all but vanitie, and in vanitie they ſhall dye: if we ſee no fauour in the ſight of the Sunne that ſhineth not here acceptable vntounto vsus, when we hauehave payde the debt we owe vntounto death, the Lorde will deliuer vsus from all the iniuries of men. But in this behalfe let me cōfort my ſelfe, God hath ſet you free frō ſuch afflictions. Your goodes are vntounto you in a liberall portion, your life made happie with a louing huſbande, your calling acceptable vnderunder a gracious and good Mistreſſe, in whoſe ſight you hauehave founde fauour, in this estate you feele no trouble, therefore I let it paſſe. The other affliction which is of the spirite, and whiche can not be reſisted with any earthlie bleſſing, looke for it aſſuredlie, for it will come vntounto you, that you maye ſuffer with Christ, and reigne with him in glorie. Theſe troubles they come many wayes, euen as the spirite of God doeth leade vsus vntounto life. First we are commanded to learne & knowe the worde of God, against this looke for many tentations, the enimie will trie whiche way to plucke that out of our heartes: Out of the worde we must learne a precious faith, and holde that vnmoueable before God: againſt this what temptations are betweene heauen and earth, you ſhal feeele your portion, if any thing poſſible cā diſcourage you. With faith you must ioyne a liuelie hope, which is, a longinge apprehenſion of Gods glorie: in this alſo Sathan will pretermitte nothing to quenche your affections, that it may be dead, and to darken your minde that you may ſee nothing, without theſe you can not poſſiblie liue, and vntounto theſe you can not poſſiblie come, but first you ſhall feele what is the ſtrength of ſinne. And yet notwithſtanding faint not, the Lion hath ouercome which is of the tribe of Iuda. The force of the Serpent ſhall bruſe our heele, but it ſhall not take away from vsus the head-piece of ſaluation. Learne therefore first the worde of God, this is the ſeede of regeneration, by which wee are made newe creatures, this is the bread of ſpiritual nouriſhment, by which we are growne vp into eternall life. This is the weapon of our warfare, by whiche wee may wounde and driue away our enimies. This is the Scepter of our glorious kingdome, by which wee doe knowe that God doeth reigne in vsus. Take this vntounto you, the ſhielde of your defence, the ſtrength of your age, the wiſedome of your heart, and the ſafetie of your life, cō mended vntounto you in the worde of Christ. Searche the Scriptures, and ſeale it in your heart with a good perſwaſion that it is the word of God and of life, and hee hath grauen in it an expreſſe image of eternall trueth. Let it dwell plentifullie within you, and your heart is armed with a most ſtrong defence, all enimies ſhall fall before it, the wiſedome of the wiſe ſhalbe brought to nought, and the councell of the prudent ſhalbe made fooliſh, the wayes of the aduerſaries ſhalbe ſcattered, and the ſcorners ſeate ſhall bee throwen downe, ſo true it is that the Lorde hath ſpoken. Bleſſed is the man whoſe delight is in the Lawe of the Lorde, and whoſe meditation is in it day and night. Lett vsus then bringe downe the hautineſſe of our mindes, and receyue with meekeneſſe the worde grafted in vsus, which can ſaue our ſoules. To this deſire of vnderstanding, when God hath brought vsus, then let vsus pray to be deliuered from temptatiō, and take heede we be not ſpoyled of ſo great a treaſure. We hauehave three especiall enimies in this behalfe, of which S. Paule biddeth vsus all beware: the one is, Phyloſophie, that is, a vayne and curious ſearching of Gods mysteries, or meaſuring things reuealed according to our vnderstandinge, with which tentations whylest our Fathers were ouercome, they became fooliſhe in their owne imaginations, and chaunged the glorie of God into the likeneſſe of a corruptible man, making Images, praying to Angelles, imageninge of ſoules like little children, deuiſing Purgatorie, reaſoning of Gods wiſedome aboue our capacitie: As if we be predestinate we may liue as we list, if wee are commanded to worke, if our dayes are nombred, why ſeeke we any ſafetie to our life. Jf the Angelles doe keepe vsus in all our wayes, that we ſhal not hurt our foote againſt a ſtone, why feare wee any falling? Theſe phantaſies, and worſe then theſe, diſquiet our mindes and fight within vsus against our humble obedience to the worde of God. Which all when we hauehave ouercome (and ſaide with the Prophete: ſecrete things are for the Lorde, but things reuealed for vsus and our children) yet hauehave wee no peace. A ſeconde enimie riſeth vp greater then the first, which Saint Paule calleth The traditions of men, for the heart of man which drinketh in errour, as the grounde doeth drinke water, is very obstinatlie bounde with olde customes and longe continuance, meaſuring trueth which is pure and holy, only by time which is corrupt and euill, and not onelyonly this, but nature alſo hath inflamed our affections to louelove to much our fathers wayes, to like their opinions, to esteeme their iudgementes, to prayſe their doeinges, to commende their age, to talke of their names, till throughe manie entiſements we are at last bewitched, our wiſedome is ſtolen away, and trueth is taken from vsus: by this meanes all corruptions which hauehave ouerflowed the earth, hauehave ſtill wyde roomes in the heartes of manie. The Popes ſupremacie, Latin ſeruice, prayer for the dead, Maſſes, Diriges, Pardons, Pilgrimages, Senſinge, and all poperie, with the authours of it, Popes, Cardinalls, Monkes, Fryers, all which hauehave neither trueth, nor ſhadowe of trueth: not one worde of them is in all the Goſpell of Christ, onelyonly olde cuſtome hath bredde it in our bones, and an opinion of our fathers hath printed it in our brestes, and wee will not cast it out. But the Lorde be thanked, who hath had merciemercy vponupon vsus, to make vsus holde faste the worde of trueth, what ſoeuer our fathers hauehave vainely taught vsus, and yet we are not in ſecuritie. But a thirde enimie is in the harte of man, that the worde of God may not hauehave his perfect honour, and that is an opinion conceyued of earthlie thinges, and planting of holynes in corruptible creatures, as in Meates, Drinkes, Dayes, Garmentes, conditions of life, places, tymes, Ceremonies, neyther hearing our Sauiour Christ, that God is a ſpirite, and onelyonly hee is to bee worſhipped in Spirite and Trueth. Neither his Apostle Paule, That the Element of that worlde commende vsus not vntounto God, for neyther if we eate, are we euer the worſe: neither if we eate not, are we euer the better. Theſe and many great temptations ſtand againſt vsus aſſoone as we would giuegive ouer our ſelues to the worde of God, whiche is the beginning of a christian life. Trowe you that in the continuance of our courſe and journey, before we come at our Sauiour Christ, ſhall we not be ſifted and tryed to ſee what is within vsus? And you (good Maistres H.) to applie this to your ſelfe, tell mee howe you hauehave learned Christ, hath his Goſpell bene peaceable in you from the first day till nowe, without all contradiction? Was your mynde neuer puffed vp in vayne imaginations? Did the traditions & perſwaſions of men neuer ſhake your thoughte? HaueHave you not bene tempted with opinions of creatures, as though ſome were more holy, ſome more prophane? J knowe as you long after Christ and deſire his trueth in ſingle heart: ſo his grace you hauehave not, without ſharpe and bitter tryalls, and the more freely the worde of God ſhall poſſeſſe your ſoule, and fill your heart with all deſire of it, the more you ſhall feele what fight is against it, looke for the like in all your life, and when you approche to the true feare of God, prepare your heart to the ſtrongest aſſault. The worde of God thus made knowen vntounto vsus, and when we followe it with all our ſoule, that wee may hauehave a liuely faith to reioyce at the promiſes of God, to feare at his threatninge, and feele a full perſwaſion of a certaine performance of all his wordes: O Lorde, what is the malice of Sathan! And though many temptations are against vsus, the longe prosperitie of the wicked in which they triumphe, why lest the goodneſſe of God prouoketh them ſtill to repentance, the bitter ſighting of the godly, in which they mourne vnderunder manie croſſes, whyles God maketh their faith pretious before him: theſe hauehave rooted quite out of the heartes of the vngodly, the faith and trueth whiche they owe vntounto God, ſo that against all his iudgementes, they hauehave opened their mouth, and ſaid aloude: Where is the promiſe of his comming? And against all his mercies they hauehave proclaymed warre, and ſaide, They wil not hauehave Chriſt to reigne ouer them. But theſe temptations Christ hath ouercome in vsus, and giuen vsus his ſpirite, in which we knowe aſſuredlie that the Lord reigneth: neyther ſlacketh he his comminge, as many accounte ſlacknes, but he will come, and his glorie ſhalbe knowen. And yet we are not in peace, but Sathan will ſifte vsus another way: he will laye our ſinnes before vsus, to make vsus feare, that tht promiſes of God belonge not vntounto vsus, and this of all temptations is the greatest, yet we feare not, for what belongeth to all our ſinnes, which Christ hath not borne? ſorrowe, ſicknes, death, hell, condemnation, were they not in his body, and are they not all crucified vponupon the croſſe? Is he not riſen from them, & hath he not brokē the chaynes of death, and ſo is aſcended into glorie? If this bee my feare becauſe I am a ſinner, rather let mee reioyce, for Christ hath taken my ſinnes vpō him, & hath buried thē deeper then the bottome of the Sea, he hath led it openly in triumphe, and nayled it vponupon the croſſe frō henceforth & for euermore it hath no ſtrēgth, whoſoeuer ſeeme to colour it as redd as ſcarlet, or make it like purple, it is ſtill nothing, and casteth but a vayne terrour before our eyes: we will neuer denie this but freelie confeſſe it, that we be miſerable ſinners, and not worthie to lifte vp our eyes to heauen, but who will lay our ſinnes to our charge, nowe God hath iustified vsus? or what ſinne can rest vponupon vsus, now Christ hath waſhed them awaye? That which once was in fight with Christ, and he hath ouercome it, who ſhall ſet too his hande the ſeconde time, to make the victorie perfect? This is true, and euerlasting trueth hath ſealed it vp, that ſinne is aboliſhed for euer and euer, howſoeuer wee feare or tremble, or bee faint harted, yet before the Lorde with whom our life is hidde, there is no perill, no daunger, no feare, but peace & righteouſnes without ende. Let our ſinnes be neuer ſo great, neither wee nor our ſinnes can chaunge the newe Testament, that God is mercifull to our ſinnes, and will blot out all our tranſgreſſions: therefore this care is past, that our ſinnes be many, the more they are, the greater is his mercy, who hath forgiuen them. And this is the token which God hath giuen vsus, that we are his, becauſe we are grieued with our ſinnes, for our Sauior Christ ouercame ſinne with paynes and ſufferinges which belong vntounto it, and this is the badge of our redemption, to be made like him in afflictions, wee hauehave ſinne, and abhorre it, it woundeth vsus with feare, it ſetteth before vsus condemnation, we hauehave a ſence and feeling of Gods anger against it, and hell gnaweth vppon our ſoules becauſe of tranſgreſſion. O bleſſed ſtate, and treaſure of gladnes, this was the Jmage of Christe when he ouercame ſinne, a marke of my redemption in myne owne fleſhe, that I ſhould not fainte. As the ſunne maketh the day, and the night darkenes, ſo this affliction of ſinne is the badge and cogniſance of our certaine forgiuenes. And herein ſee the goodnes of God, which turneth all things to the best to thoſe that louelove him. Through feare of ſinne the Diuell fighteth againſt vsus, without feare of ſinne we could neuer hauehave boldnes: through anguiſhe of heart the Diuell would ouerwhelme vsus with ſorrowe: without anguiſh of hart we could neuer hauehave ioye. In feelinge Gods anger, the Diuell would make vsus to dispaire: without feelinge his threatning, and trembling before him, we could neuer hauehave ſtrēgth of faith, that his mercies are for euer. In all ſuffrings I am like to Christ, they are the marks of mine adoption, that J am his childe. Doe wee not heare the Lorde? Himſelfe doeth ſpeake, If wee bee without correction, then are we baſtardes and not ſonnes: and to ſhewe what our correction ſhalbee, hee ſayeth in an other place: If we bee planted with him into the ſimilitude of his death, then ſhall wee alſo be partakers of his reſurrection. Who hath heard ſo great ſaluation as this? EueryEvery weapon wherewith the enemie ſtriketh, the ſame armeth vsus to greater ſaluation: And eueryevery wounde that we doe receyue, the ſame confirmeth vsus to a ſurer life. Then (as before I ſaide) care not for ſinne, for that is aboliſhed, ſo here I maye adde, care not for hell, for the nearer wee feele it, the further we are from it. Let them feare ſinne that feele it not, and let them be afraide of condemnation that knowe not what it is, vppon whom destruction ſhall come ſodenlie as an armed man. Our eyes hauehave bene kept waking, and we hauehave ſeene our ſinnes: our harts hauehave fainted before the anger of the Lorde, And wee hauehave not deſpiſed his heauenlie callinge, therfore in the day of trouble, we ſhall hauehave rest. In this perſwaſion we will liue and die: and if our ſoules ſhould melte for feare within vsus, although the Lorde ſhould kill vsus, yet would we trust in him. Abraham beleeued in the Lorde, and it was imputed vntounto him for righteouſnes, against hope hee beleeued vnderunder hope: and if our hope ſeemed to be taken from vsus, yet would wee patientlie wayte the Lords leaſure, vntill hee ſaue our hope agayne, that at the leaſt our faith might hauehave againe the glorie and trueth of full aſſurance. Another thing we must labour in, and in another thinge wee ſhall hauehave temptation, and that is, that wee may ſee what is the glorie of God and immortall life: herein lett vsus meditate in our beddes, and thinke on this in our ſecret places, in the middeſt of our companies, let theſe cogitations be often in our hartes, and in all places let theſe be our muſes. When we ſhal apprehende with all the ſeruauntes of God what is the height, the bredth, the length, the depth, wee ſhall knowe that the glorie is great of immortalitie, and he is onelyonly to bee beleued, who ſhall ſhine in honour when this vanitie is ouerpaſt His ſtrength is great that layde the foundations of the world, and his brightnes exceeding, that made the Sunne and the Moone. His treaſure and ritches, are aboue meaſure, who hath giuen Princes their golde and ſiluer and other pretious ſtones for the honour of man: he in deede is of excellent maiestie, who is King of Kings, and Lord of Lordes, and his power is aboue all, who maketh ſickneſſe his meſſengers, and death his minister, till he ſhall aboliſhe them both. For his mercies are vnspeakable, that forgiueth vsus all our ſinnes, and his goodnes is great, who hath had regarde to the children of men. From nothing hee brought vsus into life, he kept vsus from the graue, he will restore vsus, and make vsus ſee his glorie. When I would thinke on this, my ſoule is compaſſed with dulnes of fleſhe, that J cannot ſee the fulnes of his fauour: When I would conſider in my heart what is his grace: Darkeneſſe ouerſhadoweth myne vnderſtāding, & all my thoughts doe vaniſhe in his immortalitie. When J would ſpeake of his louing kindnes, my tonge cleaueth to the roote of my mouthe, and my wordes ſticke faste within my lippes. But this one thinge in all myne infirmities J can perceyue, that his glorie is exceeding great, whoſe glorie I can not comprehende, and the life is longe, appointed vntounto man, where his heart and minde can ſee no ende. If all the worlde were a flowing water, and eueryevery yeare one droppe ſhould be diminiſhed, the Sea ſhould be all made drye, and the bottomes of the deepe ſhould appeare, before he ſhall ceaſe to lyue, whom God hath rayſed from the dead, and this breadth & wideneſſe betweene heauen and earth, if it ſhould bee filled vp, and eueryevery yeare but one handfull of earth added to the worke: yet ſooner ſhould the great distance bee cloſed vp, and the emptie places made full, then hee ſhall ceaſe from ioye and gladnes, who ſhall ſtande in the reſurrection of the iust. This is the glorie that hath neither ſpot nor blemiſhe, before which me thinketh, not only Princes and the glorie of the world, but the Sunn and Moone & all the hostes of heauen are nothing els but meere vanitie, for death ſhadoweth the glorie of man, though hee ſpred his braunches neuer ſo farre, yet the graue cloſſeth vp in little roome the ambitious heart, which before was enlarged from East to West. And the Heauens that are high and free from death, yet are holden vnderunder the tyrannie of enuious and conſuming tyme, in which they ſhalbe chaunged: Only the Lord is in honor and maiestie, who hath ſet eternitie rounde about him, and cast out tyme vntounto confuſion. Oh Lorde, where are their eyes that ſee not this, or their hearts that ſee and regarde it not! Who hath bewitched them, in the countenances of men, to carrie the heartes of beastes, and to forget the latter ende. The Lorde turne them that runne astray, that they may knowe and ſee where is their glorie, but the temptations hauehave ouertaken them. Which are against our honour when the Lorde ſhall deliuer them from euill, they ſhall giuegive thankes and reioyce with vsus, that they alſo hauehave eyes to ſee. And bleſſed are you (good Miſtres H.) and God hath viſited you in an acceptable time, whoſe heart he hath touched with feare, & whoſe afflictions he hath filled with hunger and thirst, that you ſhould mourne for the redemption that is in Chriſt, and be pleaſed with nothing but with the grace of his countenance. This is a Schoolemistres to bringe you vntounto him, and a bond to tye you faste, that you ſhall not be ſeperated: and accompliſhe J beſeeche you, this good worke of his grace, till you louelove the Lord withall your heart, and till you can ſay with the bleſſed Apoſtle, I deſire to be diſſolued, and to be with Chriſt.

For this purpoſe wee are chastiſed of the Lorde, and whē our faith is tryed, at the laſt it ſhalbe made ſtrong, that with it we may quench all the fierie dartes of Sathan, and in righteouſnes and peace, and ioye of the holy Ghoste, runne the courſe that is ſet before vsus, till in a bleſſed iſſue of happie dayes, with a good ſpirite we may ſay boldlie, Lorde, nowe letteſt thou thy ſeruaunt depart in peace. Which I beſeeche God the father of our Lord Jeſus Christ, the God of merciemercy, and Father of all conſolation graunt vntounto you, Amen.

Pray, pray, pray, praye, this is your beſt ſeruice whereſoeuer your duetie is moſt bounde.

Letters of Ed. Der. to Maiſtres B.

GRace, merciemercy and peace from God our Father, &c. J had much leuer good Maistres B. come my ſelf then write vntounto you, but as other things are farre contrarie to my deſire, ſo is it in my comming vntounto you, & J am constrayned rather to write then to come, but God appointes our wayes, whether J come and be with you, or elſe be other where and heare from you, J trust and am perſwaded, that both I ſhall heare from you, and you ſhall hauehave the ſame constancie in the louelove of trueth and ſtill increaſe in the knowledge of it, till the good grace of God hauehave made the worke perfect that it hath begunne, and you with all your harte and all your ſoule doe feare the Lorde, and delight in all obedience of his holy will. Wherevnto though we be ſufficientlie perſwaded by the nature of godlines it ſelfe, which all men doe prayſe, and the righteous doe louelove: yet a greater prouocation is in you, becauſe God hath giuen you a good estate, in whiche your example ſhall doe good to many, and becauſe good hath filled you with a hartie affection to testifie his Religion, that you may accordingly in all weldoing ſurmount the praiſe of your profeſſion, and eſpecially becauſe he that hath called you is holy, that you may expreſſe his ſimilitude and likenes in all your wayes, and this good courſe through euill dayes, when God of his mercy ſhall make ſtreight vntounto vsus wee ſhall ſee then what is the latter end. Our hartes ſhalbe ſatiſfied with it, and our tonge ſhal ſpeake not as the world doth, bleſſed are the riche mē or bleſſed are the mighty, for all theſe hauehave winges to flie away, and highe eſtates to ſit downe in the duſt, when man must goe make his bed in the darke, and ſay to coruption thou art my father, and to the worme thou art my mother and ſiſter, but our ſonge ſhalbe in better hermonie, and wee ſhall ſay with the Prophet Dauid, bleſſed is the man that feareth the Lorde and delights greatly in his commaundemēts: For when all hatred ſhall growe againſt this, and all aduerſity ſhall ſtryue to come vppon it, yet all is nothing and ſhall not moue it. For when our hart is ſtrenghtened with this grace, wee ſee our portions in all eſtates and tymes: in diſcredit, we ſee praiſe, in pouerty, riches, in anger, fauour, in darknes, light, in bondage, libertie, and in death, life, yea whatſoeuer in weaknes of bodie, in enuie of tyme, in vncertainty of eſtate, in danger of life, or in any thinge els, becauſe nothinge can ſeperat vsus from the louelove of God, nothinge can turne vntounto our harme, for wee hauehave his promiſe that is able to performe it, that to thoſe that louelove God all things happen for the beſt. This purpoſe of life is ſoone had, and this courſe is eaſly begon, but the frute of it doth not vade nor the gladnes of it ſhall neuer bee loſte ſo that wee ſhall not, nor by the grace of God we: will not for ſo litle labour loſe ſo great a reward, nor for a litle pleaſure which vainlie wee thinke is in other thinges, receaue the reward of our fooliſhnes, which aſſuredlie wee knowe hath euerlaſtinge griefe, wee hauehave not ſo vnfruictfullie learned Chriſt nor ſo vnhappelie geuen witneſſe of his trueth, But better thinges belonge vntounto vsus, in better wayes wee wll run our courſe, in a better hope lay downe our bodies: The children of the worlde ſhall make the worlde their portion, wee looke for another citty of which the Lord is the workeman, and wee will not buylde vp our vnhappines in the vayne deſires and concupiſcence of this world, neither yet (ſeinge God is good to vsus to fill our dayes with peace) will wee deny any comfort that is offered vsus in this preſent pilgrimage, but ſeeinge the earth is the Lordes and all that therin is, wee hauehave perfect pleaſure in frendes, riches, authoritie, honnor: if all bee his? All are pure: if all bee of him? Jn all is pleaſures for where his kingdome is, there is righteouſnes and peace and ioye of the holy Ghoſt: and ſorrowe and ſinne is caſt out, only let vsus care as all thinges are good, ſo we vſe them: and as they are corrupt, ſo to let them alone. S^t. Paule teacheth that to the pure all thinges are pure, but to the impure all thinges are impure: And the thinges of this worlde are made accordinge to the conſcience of man: Houlde this to remember it at noone dayes, and lett our reynes inſtruct vsus in it in the night ſeaſon, that wee feell our hartes inflamed with the louelove of God, and that it may bee acceptable vntounto vsus as our owne life, to ſett forth his praiſe: That wee acknowledge his glorie whiche ſhineth in all his his workes, and then the Lorde hath ſet vsus in a large rome of libertie, where we walke with boldnes in good delight of his creatures: and in deed and in trueth this it is when this affliction hath taken roote within mee, and I feele the worke of it perpetually within my minde, whether J be following my Hauke or my bowle, J make a more acceptable ſacrifice to God, then the harte barren of this louelove of God can doe: though the knee bowe or the tongue ſay, prayſed be the Lorde, for eueryevery one that ſayeth, Lorde, Lorde, ſhall not enter into the kingdome of heauen, but in whom ſo euer the louelove of God doeth reigne, and hath driuen out the lewde deſires of a diſſolute minde, him God hath choſen, and the ſpirit of his ſonne Christ cryeth within him, Our Father: yet I meane not here to iustifie theſe worldly minded men, to whom the day is to ſhort for their vaine playes, except they reach it out till midnight at Cardes and Dice: ſuch people as they, commonly fill all their delightes with blaſphemie, ſo lett them knowe that the louelove of the liuing God they neuer felt, but the god of this worlde hath blinded their vnbeleeuing heartes, and in their vncleannes there I leaue them, till the ſinnes of their youth bee rotten in their bones, that they may ſinke deepe in their owne ſhame. My meaning is, that the man of God whoſe ſoule doeth thirste to ſee his glorie, and hath the ioye of his life in immortalitie, in respect of the which hee accounteth all the worlde to be but dunge: I ſaye, that man may hauehave true delight in the dayes of his vanitie, the ſmelling of the dogge, the flying of the birde, the qualities of all creatures, they were made for him: and he is iniurious to the blood of Christ, that thinkes he may not vſe them: but all theſe things are good for our recreation, to comfort the frailtie of weake bodyes, and to bring refreſhing to a wearie ſpirite: which end, if we forget, and make it our paſtime, and ſo call it, then we turne our paſtime into ſinne. For what is our tyme that we are wearie of it, or what is our life that ſeemeth ſo ſlowe to paſſe, are we grieued with the light which the Lorde hath ſet in the Heauens, or is the feeling of our body burdenous vntounto vsus, or our eyelyddes payned with being open, or are our eares wounded with the ſounde of the ayre, or what griefe, what care, what ſorrowe is it, why we wiſhe our time forgotten & past? Surely Iob knewe not this when hee ſaide, His time paſſed faſter thē a poſte: nor Dauid knewe it not whē he thought his life but a ſpanne longe: and ſurely he hath but a wretched lyfe, & let him not louelove it, who is fayne to runne to the birdes of the ayre, and the beaſtes of the fielde, to ſeeke ſome comfort againſt it. And therefore (good Maiſtres B.) let paſtime alone, and be not wearied with your good dayes, your tymes are paſſed meetely well, and you hauehave ſeene 40. yeares filled and gone, the reſidue behinde will paſſe with them, You ſhall not holde them if you would, but paſtyme and they will dwell togither, till our appointed time ſhall come: and one ende ſhalbe vntounto all. But then you ſhall ſee another ſtate, and this enimitie betweene vsus and it, ſhalbe taken away: we ſhall not be wearie of it to wiſhe it gone, and it will not bee wearie of vsus to weare vsus away, but Tyme and we ſhall dwell togither, and the glorie of God ſhalbe eternally before vsus, and we before his Maieſtie in Jmmortalitie. A bleſſed ſtate, a hope of lyfe, a glorious body, a heauēly minde, and woe be to all theſe tyme paſſers of, that know how to delight in this, but hauehave more pleaſure in all vncleannes: when the end of their labour ſhall come vppon them, they ſhall feele more griefe in one day, then after ſhalbe eaſed world without ende. And in one ſentence of an angrie Judge (goe you curſed into eternall fire) they ſhalbe wounded with that miſerie, whiche worlde without end ſhall rest vponupon them, and their olde pastime ſhall neuer more be founde: but this is the portion of them that knowe not God. But you good Maistres B. hauehave alreadie paſſed the dayes of your ignorance, and the kingdome of heauen is come vntounto you with power: you louelove the trueth of the Lorde Jeſus, and all falſe wayes you doe abhorre: you doe feele the hope of the Elect of God, and it hath quenched the deſires of vngodlie. Pray ſtill, that you may hauehave increaſe: and read the Scriptures, in whiche you ſhall hauehave comfort: theſe will leade you in a perfect way, and neyther Paule nor Peter hauehave a more bleſſed end, then is for vsus, in a like pretious faith: and J (as J am bounde) will beſeeche the God of merciemercy, and father of our Lord Ieſus Christ, that he will looke vponupon you, to fill you with his grace and holy ſpirite, that it may guyde you and all your children before you, and your houſhold committed to your charge, that you may dwell in the newe and bleſſed Testament of the forgiuenes of ſinnes through faith in Christ Ieſus, who hath destroyed the workes of the Diuell, and is able to keepe you for euer more. And to his gracious defence, J hartely leaue you and all yours.

Yours in the Lord Ed. Dering.

To Maiſtres B.

THe grace of our Lord Ieſus Christ be with you euer, Amen. Good Maistres Baret, howe fayne J would be with you, God knoweth, and howe I am indebted to doe good in your houſe, if J ſhould not confeſſe, I must needes accuſe my ſelfe of much vnthankefulnes, but God alone dispoſeth all our wayes, to be ſo as pleaſeth him, whom hartily I beſeeche for his ſonnes ſake, bleſſe vsus with that bleſſing whiche hee gaue his Apostle, that in all places wee may bee vntounto him in Ieſus Christ, a ſweete ſauour of life vntounto life to all his ſaints with whom wee are. So ſhall I more gladlie walke all the wayes of his appointment, and you more willinglie beare with myne abſence, the will of God bee done in all thinges. When you are at Braye, if the Lorde will, I ſhalbe more quiet with you. In the meane time (good Maistres) ſo beleeue as you hauehave ſeene and hearde, and praye for me that I may liue to his glorie, who hath ſhewed me ſuch merciemercy, that I may ſay with the Prophet Dauid: What ſhall I giuegive againe for all that he hath giuen mee? And ſo doe you reioyce in the bleſſing that GOD hath giuen you, that more and more your estate here may be a ſure teſtimonie of a more bleſſed hope, that ſhall one day bee reuealed, when honor and glorie ſhall ſucceed in the place of labour and ſorrowe that nowe aboundeth. The Lord bleſſe you and all yours, keepe you and giuegive you a plentifull bleſſing in his newe Testament, and in his kingdome, which is righteouſnes, and peace, and ioye in the holy Ghost, the glorie whereof ſhall not bee darkened, when the Sunne and Moone ſhall loſe their light, and faine men with deſire of it, that ſhall fill vsus once with the countenance of the Lorde. A glorious hope in an earthly tabernacle, but a more glorious performance in a heauenly creature, when we ſhalbe free from ſinne and death, and be made like vntounto him that ſitteth at the right hande of maiestie and power. Which tyme the Lorde God fulfill in the goodnes of his pleaſure, for our ſoules hope: in whom we hauehave ſetled our hope. Commendations, &c.

Yours Ed. Deringe.

To Maiſtres B.

THe grace of our Lord Ieſus Christ bee with you euer, Amen. J am ſorie that hitherto I could not come vntounto you, & I would be more ſorie, if you ſhould thinke I had leuer be any where then in your houſe, I had thought ſhortly to hauehave come, and I felte my ſelfe ſomewhat ſtronge and able to trauell, but nowe on friday last the eleuēth of this monethmonth, I had a feauer, and fiue or ſixe dayes after I felte it, and my ſtomacke is very ill euer ſince, and my cough much increaſeth. This is my health that God giueth me. But let him do his will, he is the God of life, and one day will aboliſhe theſe troubleſome thinges, and make vsus feele health in immortalitie, and I beſeeche him for his Christes ſake to remember vsus in his goodnes, that wee may knowe all his mercies, and then J am well aſſured both you and I, and all weake bodyes, ſhall ſo little care for the frayeltie of theſe tabernacles, that we will reioyce in the remembrance of putting them of, to thinke that wee ſhall ſee and take holde of him that liueth euer, and will one day make theſe mortall bodyes, like vntounto the glorious body of his beloued ſonne. This we knowe & in this we are comforted: and holde it fast good Miſtreſſe B. euen as you will holde your happie dayes: for the hope of it ſhall not be confounded. but when all our enimies hauehave ſpentt their euill willes, and can doe no more hurt vntounto vsus, he ſhalbe on our right hande whom we hauehave looked for, and he ſhall call vsus with that bleſſed voyce, Come ye bleſſed of my Father. Let vsus praye to vnderstande this, for it hath pleaſure & effectuall gladnes, more then all the faire countenances of the world, in which in deede there is nothinge but vanitie of vanities, and all is vanitie: and thinke good Mistreſſe B. howe many occaſions are before vsus to cauſe vsus to forget this, or to let the deſire of it, to be… quenched in vsus, or at the least to fill our ſelues with other pleaſures of the worlde, but God ſhall keepe you from the corruptions of the worlde, and giuegive vntounto you a wiſe heart, which eueryevery daye may ſearche your thoughtes, and ſuffer you neuer to forget your latter ende: and ſeeing eueryevery day doeth bring you neare vntounto it, let eueryevery day kindle more your affections, that you may louelove it vntounto the ende: and then our hope ſhalbe full, and our mouthes opened for euer, Amen.

Yours Ed. Deringe.

To Maiſtres B.

THe grace of our Lorde Ieſus Christ be with you euer. As J trust the Lord doeth ſtrenghten you to better health, that you may liue to his prayſe, ſo J am deſirous to heare alſo of your amendment, but much more (as God hath made manifest in you many tokens of his grace) ſo J hartily pray that you may bee made euen as Paule to moorne ſtill in this earthlie tabernacle, and to ſaye vnfainedlie, I deſire to bee diſſolued, and to be with Chriſt: this is that good iſſue of life to which I hauehave often prayed that J might attayne vntounto it: this is that meaſure of grace, whiche as I am most bounde, ſo hartely J beſeech our God and Sauiour, that it may plentifully be powred vppon you. And if wee ſhalbe made in our liues ſo happie, then hauehave we a dwelling in perfect peace: and in deede we be receyued into the couenaunt of the newe Testament, that wee ſhould be filled with ioye of the holy Ghost. For what can diſquiet vsus, or what can bee grieuous vntounto vsus, if in the face of Ieſus Christ we ſee our riſing agayne from the graue, and feare not before the ſhaddow of death, all other afflictions they are but ministers vntounto this, & in the preſence of death they are disperſed, and they doe not followe vsus vntounto the darke places. If God will hauehave merciemercy vponupon vsus to bleſſe vsus into this victorie, thē hath hee giuen vsus our inheritaunce in pleaſant places, and our portion in a happie lot. What ſo euer enimies are againſt vsus, they ſhall ſtriue in vayne: and all things contrarie vntounto vsus, ſhall hauehave no ſtrength, for beyonde death there is no power in them, and death it ſelfe is diſpiſed in our eyes. Jf we felt not this in our heartes, but would ſeeke outwarde testimonie of men, let him ſpeake that findeth any greater feare then this. The ſicke perſon or priſoner may bee loth to dye, but the dead man he feareth no euill: and they that liue in prosperitie, this is not their feare least they ſhould hauehave a fall, but it is death that is bitter vntounto all them that hauehave peace in their riches. Seeing this then is the greatest tyrant that maketh Princes tremble, and that anguiſh of harte that turneth all pleaſure into wormwoode, what ſoeuer is vnderunder the ſunne, good maistres B. as you are, ſo abyde: and as you hauehave receyued, ſo abounde till the good graces of the liuinge GOD hauehave made you ſtronger then ſinne or death: ſo ſhall your dayes be all in bleſſing, and your accounted tymes hauehave true delight till the latter ende doe ſhine in hope. So ſhall you bee bolde to ſaye with Dauid: Surely the Lord will deliuer me from the ſnare of the hunter, and from the noyſome peſtilence: I ſhall not bee afrayde of the feare of the night, nor of the arrowe that flyeth in the day, nor of the peſtilence that walketh in the darkenes, nor of the plague that deſtroyeth at noone: I hauehave ſet the moſt highe to bee my refuge, and there ſhall no euill come neare my tabernacle. The Lorde bleſſe vsus in this good hope, & make ſtronge our confidence in this perſwaſion, that at last we may dwell in ioye and gladnes: if feare hauehave often recourſe into our fraile bodyes, becauſe we carrie in vsus corruption, whiche is the ſtrength of death, yet that feare ſhall not alwayes grieue vsus, for our hope is perfect, and ſhall not be ſhaken. Wee ſhall goe but as Saint Paule, and Peter, Abraham and Jſaac hauehave gone before: and not onelyonly they, but oure Fathers, our Mothers, and our dearest friendes are gone with them: and all that are behinde ſhall ouertake vsus. The trouble of the trauell must needes appeare light in the middest of ſo happie companie: or if their louelove hauehave not ſuch force in vsus that Parentes and Friendes, Apostles, Prophetes, Patriarkes, and all the Saintes of God can make vsus ſay, Let vsus dye with the righteous, and let our latter ende bee as vntounto them: yet ſure when among the dead I hauehave ſeene Christ, and in the graue hauehave founde the God of glorie, J ſhall ſay with a perfect hearte, Chriſt is my life, and death is myne aduantage. What then remayneth more vntounto vsus, but to ſtriue faithfullie that we may come vntounto this, that God may worke with vsus, as with his ſaintes, and wee may be pertaker with the happie Prophete, to ſee the louing kindnes of the Lorde, which is better then lyfe, and to ſaye with him: As the hart longeth after the water brookes, ſo my ſoule longeth to ſee the Lord: and in the meane ſeaſon that we yet fulfill our accounted tyme, whiche the Lorde graunt for his Churches ſake, that you may doe euen vntill olde age and many yeares, in good increaſe of your childrens children, & happie peace of his choſen people. In the meane while I ſay, that your hope may be precious before you, and in this earthlie tabernacle, yet may hauehave your conuerſation in the highest heauen, from thence lookinge for a Sauiour, euen Ieſus Christ the righteous, who ſhall change this corruptible body, to make it like to his glorious body, in that bleſſed time whiche ſhall ſkatter away all affliction, & ſeale within that happie aſſurāce of immortalitie, whiche ſhalbe in the preſence of the God of glorie: when this weake body ſhall hauehave a recompence (of a fewe ſorrowfull dayes) in euerlastinge righteouſnes. Jn whiche hope the Lorde graunt many yeares you may rest.

Yours Ed. Dering.

To Maiſtres B.

THe Lord who is riche in merciemercy, keepe vsus euer in the aſſured couenant of his newe Teſtament made in Jeſus Chriſt, that we may feele the forgiuenes of our ſinnes, and reioyce in the hope of eternall life, Amen. I am ſure you wilbe gladde (good maiſtres B.) to heare of our ſafe comming home, And J would be gladde to heare of all your well dooing, at your Saint Ellins, & therefore J writte vntounto you, Both to heare agayne that God continueth his good bleſſinges towardes you, and to certifie you that (I thanke God) J am nowe ſafe at Shenfildes, I hauehave not yet taken the plaster, but this day J hauehave begonne to drinke Maistres P. Water. Let it hauehave the worke which God will: For in health our meate doe not nouriſhe vsus, but by his worde. In ſickneſſe medicines can doe vsus no good, except he bleſſe them. We hauehave no newes here to write of but of countrie thinges, ſcarſe worth the telling, and leſſe worſe the practiſinge of it could be amended, eueryevery man goeth after his Oxe and his horſe: and most doe glorifie God no more then their bruite beast. Jf they bee like vntounto vsus which are in the Court and in the Citie, that the one be as ambitious, the other as couetous as we bee brutiſhe, and God be forgotten of vsus all alike, we may take vsus againe the Lamentation of Ieremie: for it is the great mercies of God that we bee not conſumed. But if ſuch be the miſerie in the worlde, wee that are not of the worlde, but by Christ are taken out of the worlde: Let vsus not louelove the worlde which is ſuch an enemie vntounto God, and then we ſhall not be condemned with the worlde when Christ ſhall come in glorie. And the Lord be prayſed, who hath giuen vsus eyes to ſee and eares to heare, that we might bee wiſe harted: not to ſay peace and truce with ſuch things, with ſuch men crye peace and truce, but rather to hauehave our life hidden with Christ in God, and on his right hande beholde the peace which paſſeth all vnderstandinge, and good Maiſtres B. increaſe in this, God hath giuen you a happie helper, who is willinglie ledde to all righteouſnes: The Lord God make his good worke perfect for his ſonnes ſake, in him, in you, and in vsus all that louelove the comming of Jeſus Christ, Amen.

Yours in the Lord Ed. Dering.

A Letter of Ed. Der. to Miſtres H.

GRace and peace, &c. I hauehave heard (good Maiſtres H.) of your heauie estate, that in many troubles the Lorde doeth exerciſe you, but I trust you are alſo taught to ſay alwayes before God, Thy will be done, and if this be your prayers, then knowe that nothinge happeneth but by his appointement, and be contented with all that he hath done, ſo that your heart may beare you witneſſe, that of all thinges the Lord is moſt deare vntounto you: and for your troubles, giuegive onelyonly your hearte to louelove the Lorde, and they ſhall ſeeme neyther great nor ſtronge vntounto you. For what can bee great, if our heart be prepared to ſay with Saint Paule, That we reioyce in afflictions, becauſe they ſhall breede in vsus a hope which ſhall neuer make vsus aſhamed: or what can be great, if God hauehave taught vsus, That the momentaine afflictions of this worlde, they are not worthie of the glorie that ſhalbe reuealed vntounto vsus: or what can ſeeme great, if we heare the Apostle: Brethren reioyce in afflictions, reioyce exceedingly: when you fall into many and great tribulations, Surely good Maistres H. all is nothing, for a frayle body, a ſhort life, a ſinfull creature, what can come vntounto it that ſhould diſmay it: nay howe ſhould we not (if we knowe it well) bee glad, if death alſo were at our beddes ſide, that we might at once ſee the outmost malice of the diuell, and after for euermore bee deliuered from him. A great cloude of witneſſes (as t'h Apostle ſayeth) are cited vntounto in the eleuenth Chapter to the Hebrues, of which eueryevery one ſhould bee our example to beare all croſſes that the Lord doeth ſende, knowing that he is delighted with vsus, when wee bee faithfull to abyde theſe momentaine and light chastiſementes. Iob, Dauid, Paule, our Sauiour Christ himſelfe, howe many things ſuffered they, howe are we not aſhamed to refuſe the cauſe which they hauehave borne, and way well your owne caſe what it is, and you ſhall ſee little cauſe of ſorrowe in it, or if you compare it with other, none at all. Hath your huſbande bene vnkinde vntounto you, beare it, and you ſhall winne him at the last: if not, thanke God that you can continewe louing and obedient euen vntounto an vnkinde huſbande. And I aſſure you in this one vertue there is more comfort and ioye, then there can be griefe in all the diſcourteſies of men: and what is that croſſe of yours in reſpect of that which Abigaill did ſo longe and patientlie beare? But your ſonne hath grieued you much▪ yea but you hauehave not the hundreth parte of the griefe that Dauid might hauehave had for his ſonne Abſolon: and will you be more greeued then he? Your ſonne I trust, ſhall yet proue well, and you ſhall ſee his recouerie: if not, this maner of diſeaſe is rather a testimonie of a conſcience grieued with his euill doing, then an argument of his deſtruction, ſo that euen in this griefe you hauehave great cauſe of ioye: and what if God take from you the comfort of one childe, leauing againe vntounto you the comfort of a great many: Will you, or can you repine against the louing kindnes of the Lorde? Howe gladde would Dauid hauehave bene of other good children in the loſſe of one euill: yet you hauehave lost none, neither is your ſonne knowen to bee ſo euill, but you may reioyce in him againe: yet if all things were as euill as you could imagine, what then? Where is our louelove to Ieſus Christe, that gaue his precious body to the death for our ſinnes? If we will not leaue ſonne, daughter, and our own life for his ſake, can one heare fall from your ſonnes heade but at Christes commaundement? Is not he head of his Church, and all thinges happen they not vntounto vsus as he will? Herein you ſhall knowe you louelove God aboue all, when you can forget the childe of your wombe, for his ſake. And therefore (good Maistres H.) giuegive not your ſelfe to any inordinate affections to offende God, and hurt your ſelfe, but ſay and thinke, Thy will bee done, O Lorde, and when the time ſhall come of our latter ende, we ſhall neuer hauehave ende of the bleſſed life which God ſhall giuegive vntounto you, and to all his ſaintes in that day. Thus in haste I am constrayned to ceaſe to write, but I will not ceaſſe to pray, that God may bleſſe you, and giuegive you his ioyfull Spirite, to fill you with all ſpirituall comfort, against the tentations of the worlde, and all the enuie of the Diuell. And pray for me I beſeech you, that I may account all the world to be but donge▪ to the ende I may winne Ieſus Christ, (to whom) the liuing and eternall God I committ you for euer, Amen.

The xix. of Aprill. Yours in the Lord Ieſus, the onelyonly forgiuenes of all our ſinnes, Edward Deringe.

Letters of Ed. De. to Miſtres K.

THe Lord God direct vsus with his holy ſpirite, that we may louelove and feare him vntounto the ende, Amen. Jt greeueth me good Maistres K. that you ſhould bee ſo longe at Hendon as nowe you hauehave bene, and all this while I could finde no leyſure to come vntounto you, & whatſoeuer my faulte hath bene herein, I will make no other excuſe, but deſire you to forgiue it. And I pray God though I ſee you not, yet I may ſo remember you, as J am bounde, and ſo my not comminge vntounto you ſhall greeue me the leſſe. Nowe touchinge your owne caſe, I knowe you are wyſe to ſee, that the Lord giueth you newe instructions to be wiſe in him, and to giuegive ouer your ſelfe vntounto him. For as God hath bleſſed you many wayes, and giuen you a good callinge in the worlde, So he viſiteth you eueryevery day, and humbleth you with many chastiſementes before him. God hath giuen you huſbande, children, famelie, and other bleſſings, but you enioye none of them without a croſſe, ſometime one thing, ſometime another, and commonly your owne weake and ſicklie body makes you that you can not hauehave your ioye as you would. Yea J doubt not, but it is ſo abridged vntounto you, that ſometime it grieueth you that you cannot eyther hauehave care ouer your houſe, as you wiſhe, or attende on your children as you deſire, or reioyce with your huſbande, as otherwiſe you might. But this griefe God recompenceth with great benefite, for our Sauiour Christ is our good warrant, that this is the lot of Gods ſaintes, to enioye his bleſſinges with afflictions, ſo that the more that you bee ſorrowſull, the more you be ſure that the liuing God hath giuen you your portion: And ſo your ſorrowe is ioye vntounto you. Beſides this, the mingling of your ioye with ſorrowe, and wealth with woe, is a happie tempringe vntounto you of heauen with earth, that you ſhould neither louelove nor rest in this, aboue that which is meete, but acknowledge, all is but vanitie, ſo louelove it as tranſitorie things, and hauehave your great delight with the Lord alone, who is vntounto you health, prosperitie, ioye, and eternall life. This good Maistres K. you knowe, but yet this I alſo put you in minde of for though God hauehave bleſſed you, yet you are but a weake woman, and hauehave neede (in the common frayeltie of mans nature) to be ſtirred vp with exhortatiō. Remember therefore euer that which is the ende of all, Feare God, and keepe his commandements. For this is the whole ſcope of our life, which when we hauehave brought to his appointed ende, wee ſhall ſee the hope, which we hauehave long looked for: and when immortalitie hath brought happines into light, and ſcattered away our feare, we ſhall ſaye then, Bleſſed be the daye in whiche firſte wee learned to feare the Lorde. And the Lorde bleſſe you with his holy ſpirit, that you may in the middest of other care, hauehave pleaſure in this, and in other ſorrowe reioyce in the Lord, and alwayes reioyce. Cōmende me J pray you, to your litle ones, Nan, Beſſe, and Marie, And the Lord make you and maister K. gladde parentes of good children, Amen.

From Tobie, the last of Februarie 1575. Yours in the Lord Ieſus, Ed. Dering.

To Maiſtres K.

THe grace of our Lord Ieſu Christ bee with you euer, Amen. I thanke you good Maistres K. for your letter and for your medicine, and for your good will to him to whom you before did owe ſo little. Touching my diſeaſe, I did ſoddainlie cogh and ſpit much bloud, ſo that when with much forcing my ſelfe, I refrained, it ratteled in my throte, as if I had bene a dying: next day in the like ſorte J did, and once ſince the taking of theſe medicines for the ſtaying of it, it is nowe ſtayed, but J feele a great ſtopping of my winde, and much prouocation to coughe, whiche if I did, J ſhould ſpit bloud as before. I pray you aſke your Phiſicion what he thinketh good to bee done. And good Maistres K. against all diſeaſes and ſickneſſes of the body, doe as you doe, and increaſe it with an vnfayned testimonie of your owne heart. Committ your health, your ſickenes, your body, your ſoule, your life, and your death, to him that died for vsus, and is riſen againe. A ſicke body with ſuch an ayde, hath greater treaſure then the Queenes Iewell-houſe. Praye ſtill, and pray for me. J ſee the goodnes of God ſuch towardes me, as (I thanke God) except ſinne, I waighe not all the worlde a f…ather: and with as a gladde a minde I ſpitt bloud, (I trust) as cleare ſpitle. To thoſe that louelove God, all thinges are for the best: hee hath a harde heart that beleeueth not this. For the Church, I commit it to the Lorde: the Lorde graunt with that affection that I owe vntounto it, and for all my labour in it (I thanke God) I am guiltie neither of couetouſnes, nor ambitiō, but as God hath giuen me grace, J ſought onelyonly his glorie. J write this vntounto you good Maistres K. becauſe you knowe it, and that you may the more effectuallie remember him, that will knowe you when the worlde, your health, your corruptihle bodie, death and ſinne it ſelf, hauehave done their worſte. Cōmende me to Maister K. your little ones, to Maister R. The Lorde bleſſe vsus all, that we make our bodies ſhake, & not our bodies vsus.

Vale in Chriſto Ieſu. 25. Iul. 1575. Tuus in Chriſto Ed. Dering.

To Maiſtres K.

TTe Lord God who ſheweth merciemercy to whom hee will ſhewe merciemercy, and hauehave compaſſion on whom he will hauehave compaſſion, accordinge to his louelove with which he loued vsus before the worlde was made, looke vponupon vsus, and leade vsus in our wayes, that in righteouſnes and holines, peace and ioye of the holy Ghost, wee may finiſhe our compas and come vntounto him, Amen. If I could, good Maistres K. doe as J ſhould, then my wayes were perfect among men, but it is with mee as with manie other, ſmall hinderances to an vnwillinge minde, are occaſions great enough to keepe vsus from doing well. This hath made me to pretermitt manie dueties which had bene better done. And J dare not make anie other excuſe why J hauehave not written vntounto you oftener: for though I hauehave in a wearie bodie many thinges to doe, and could make excuſes whiche you would eaſilie beleeue, yet ſure I am, if ſlought and negligence were vtterlie gone, a fewe lines were ſo ſoone written, that J could not want time for ſo little labour, this is true, & ſit erranti medicina confeſſio. Touching my ſicknes, hee that ſent it he doeth rule it, and as he will ſo farre let it goe. J feele yet difficultie of breath and coughinge: and I ſee palenes and leanes abyding ſtill, yet I thanke God I am ſo well, as wee ſuppoſed all to hauehave ſeene you at Henden this next Monday, but God hath changed our waye, and by occaſion we hauehave differred it, trusting yet to ſee you verie ſhortlie, if the Lord will, to whom we commit both your wayes and ours. And nowe good Maistres K. further J neede not write vntounto you, for whiche cauſe yet especiallie you craue my letters, I knowe whom you hauehave beleeued, vponupon what grounde you ſtande, who hath ſealed your perſwaſion in you, he is able to keepe that you hauehave committed vntounto him, euen vntill that day, that the things of the worlde are changed before vsus all. Affliction may be great and make vsus murmur, prosperitie may abounde and make vsus proude, the worlde may fill our eyes and our eares, that ſometime we may be blinde and not ſee our hope, our owne concupiſcence may peraduenture ſtinge vsus that wee forgett the good workes wherein wee had delight, but the councell of the Highest ſtandeth fast for euer: the Lord knoweth all that are his. Jn this tower of defence our dwelling is made for vsus, and the gates of hell ſhall not preuaile against vsus. When wee ſinne, wee must needes be ſorrowfull, and to offende ſuch a Sauiour, it will greeue vsus more then death it ſelfe: but to remember againe ſo aſſured hope, we can not but reioyce in the Lorde, and alwayes reioyce. Thus I leaue you to your owne hearte, where is your ſtrong ſafetie: and to your ſecrete thoughtes, which comfort you in the night. And committing my ſelfe vntounto your prayers, I beſeeche God the Father of our Lorde Ieſus Christe, to keepe you and yours. Commende me to your little ones: pardon me for writing in ſuch piece of paper, J could hardlie gett this. Maister H. and my wife wiſhe to ſee you. The Lord keepe vsus vnblameable in his ſight.

From Tobye, the xiiij. of August, 1575. Your bounden in the Lord, Ed. Deringe.

To Maiſtres K.

THe Lord God direct vsus in all our wayes, that they may bee vnblameable in his ſight, and our faith may be ſtrenghtened in the bleſſed hope of his elect, ſo that nothing be able to ſhake it from henceforth, from the boldnes and aſſurance of eternall life. Many and iust cauſes good Maistres K. hauehave kept mee, ſo that theſe holy dayes I could not ſee you, but I knowe no excuſe why I could not write vntounto you: and therfore for the one as I am ſure you doe willinglie pardon me, ſo the other I beſeeche you to except, both as a testimonie of my minde that I forget you not, and as a diſcharge of that duetie J owe vntounto you: for if I ſhould not faithfullie remember you, though you had otherwiſe done nothing for me, yet I were vnworthie of ſo much good will. And if I ſhould not as in bounden duetie be most carefull to ſtrenghten and comfort that good purpoſe; whiche your ſelfe hauehave choſen for the curſe of your life, I were not worthie of the acquaintance of the ſaintes of God. Therefore departing from London againe (as J could not chuſe) I hauehave yet written vntounto you, as I must needes: And I hartelie praye that God may increaſe his goodnes in you, and earneſtlie beſeech you, as you hauehave receyued that, ſo you would abounde more and more, a ſhort request and ſoone hearde: but exceeding difficult to ſome to practize, & yet not difficult vntounto you, but eaſie and light, as you can deſire, for he that is borne of God ouercommeth the worlde. And the anointing (as Iohn ſaieth) which you hauehave receyued of God, dwelleth in you, and you neede not that any man teach you, but as the ſame anointing teacheth you all thinges, and it is true and not lyinge, and as it is taught you, you ſhall abyde in it. Maruell not that J write this vntounto you, nor be vnwillinglie affected to heare of your owne happineſſe. Jt is (as Salomon ſayeth) an other mans mouth that prayſeth you and not your owne, and what neede you feare. And I ſpeake not deceitfullie, which J thanke God J hate, nor giuegive I titles, as Iob ſayeth, which the Lorde doeth abhorre. But ſeeing (as I am perſwaded) that in you, which Saint Iohn could ſee in the people to whom hee wrote and to whom he gaue ſo honorable prayſe: why ſhould not J be bolde vponupon ſo good warrant to ſay alſo vntounto you: You are the Lordes: and God who iustified then his Apostles wordes, he will iustifie them nowe and euer, for he is mercifull without ende. Lett vsus not then good Maistres K. bee hencefoorth ſorrowfull or faint hearted: Paule and Peter, and all tht Apostles and Prophetes hauehave ſpoken glorious thinges vntounto vsus, and we will beleeue them. And yet not they, but the ſpirit of God hath giuen vsus this testimonie, and it is true. For what were the Romaynes, Corinthians, Galathians, and all other whome the Spirite nameth Saintes and Holy ones, were they not as wee? Fraile and weake as wee, and our faith as theirs? But wee feele a great deale of infirmitie in our ſelues, did not they ſo, and did not the ſpirit of God ſee more in them, then them ſelues could feele? yet it calleth thē ſaintes: yea and ſo it calleth vsus, that wee ſhould not feare: and therefore as I ſaide, I ſaye agayne, you are anoynted of the Lorde, and you ſhall not fall, if your heart beare you witneſſe, that the profeſſion which you make, is vnfained in you, as I am ſure it beareth you witneſſe. One care onelie wee hauehave, which alſo wee will hauehave vntounto the ende: and that is, that we may glorifie him, who hath glorified vsus. Jn this doing, as I accuſe my ſelfe most aboue all other men, ſo J prayſe not you a white. For J knowe good Maistres K. herein you are too too faultie, and ſo is all fleſhe: our fleſhe, the world, and the Deuill, they are to ſtronge for vsus, but bleſſed bee the Lorde God, who hath giuen vsus victorie in Jeſus Christ, and wee will doe if God giuegive vsus grace, as his Apostles did, wee will chastiſe our bodyes, and bringe them in ſubiection, that all that knowe our religion, ſhall not blame our workes: And I thanke God for all that you hauehave obteyned: And I beſeeche you increaſe and abounde more, that as hee will giuegive vsus a full rewarde, ſo wee may offer vp our bodyes a holy ſacrifice, to prayſe his name, who hath had merciemercy vppon vsus. And pray for me, that my handes & tonge may ioyne in the workes of Gods Saintes: and let vsus all growe togither vntounto that bleſſed hope, till wee hauehave founde that happie ſtrēght, by which the world is crucified vntounto vsus, and wee vntounto the worlde: But the Lord that teacheth you, to him I leaue you: whom I beſeech to open your eies into ſo large & wyde a ſpiritual ſight, that you may yet more clearlie ſee and feele the glorie of God & immortalitie. Fare well good Maistres K. Commende mee to Nan, Beſſe, Marie. The Lorde bleſſe you with them euer, Amen.

Tuus in Chriſto, Edwardus Deringe.

A Letter of M. Ed. De. to the Ladie G.

¶ The grace of our Lorde Ieſu Chriſt, bee with you euer, Amen. JF either I might doe the duetie wherevnto your well deſeruing hath bound me, or might requite with thanks that with all your good wil you hauehave deſerued: I knowe and confeſſe it (good Madame) longe ſince I ſhould hauehave come to ſee you: but ſuch is my caſe as I cannot doe either what is most meete, or what I most deſire: for ſometimes by buſines & ſometime by ſicknes, & ſometime by opportunity of others, I am holdē here, that J could neuer yet hauehave opportunitie to ryde fare, or to ſee my natiue Countrie & nighest friendes. Once in Sōmer J would hauehave gone to M. B. beſides Windſore and the ſeconde night of my trauell, J could not ſleape, but taried a ſeuen night in the ſame place, & then came backe againe, ill at eaſe: thus it pleaſeth God to deale with me, and ſuch a body he hath giuen me, to the ende (I am ſure) J ſhould not louelove this preſent vanitie, but remember him that liueth euer, & deſire to bee diſſolued to ſee his glorie. And this I beſeeche you thinke to be the only cauſe, that I hauehave not of longe time ſeene you and others, with whom otherwiſe I would wiſhe to dwell: and if it bee the good will of God to prosper my iourneys in time conuenient, J trust to ſee you oftener hereafter: but his will bee done, who appoynteth our wayes, and numbreth our ſteppes, and doeth all things for the best to thoſe that louelove him, and to him if J can commit you in my daily prayers, that ſo my ſpirit bee preſent with you, how longe ſoeuer J be abſent in body, yet my duetie I owe you, ſhall not bee altogither vnperformed, and that piece of it which yet is wantinge, that in daily exhortation J might (by the grace of God) ſtirre vp your minde, that in the meane time let me ſupplie with theſe letters: In which moſt hartily I beſeech you (good Madame) goe on forwarde, and faint not in the courſe of godlines, increaſe ſtil in faith, in louelove, in hope til with a wiſe hart you hauehave ſuch a feeling of the glory of God, & of eternall life, that you hauehave made your account vp with the world, & are at a point with all that is vnderunder the Sun. While God ſhall prolong your dayes, reioyce in him that hath giuen you life, and vſe all his gifts to his glory: and whē his appointed time ſhal come and bring death into your doores: let this be the preparation of your heart, you deſire to be looſed & to bee with Chriſt, and let this be the anſwere of your tongue, Lord nowe letteſt thou thy ſeruant departe in peace. Surelie then it ſhall come vntounto you, that a happie life ſhal hauehave a bleſſed end. Your former times hauehave found their wiſhed iſſue, & the entrance of your graue, ſhalbe the beginninge of your glorie: Hee hath ſpoken it that can not deceyue vsus, That euerie one that beleeueth in him ſhall not taſte of death, but ſhall paſſe from death to life. This (good Madame) is the crowne & garlande of all our pleaſures: reioyce in feeling it, and be glad in louing it, knit it faste to all the thoughtes of your hart, & neuer forget it, it ſhal giuegive you more pleaſure in one day of your life, thē without it you can find in a thouſande yeares: and all the men of the worlde which feele their pleaſure in this life, & know nothing better, then to followe their owne concupiſcence, they ſhall periſh when you ſhall abyde, & they ſhall mourne when you ſhall reioyce, becauſe they hauehave forgotten the liuinge God whom you hauehave loued: Manie tentations ſhalbe continuallie against you, but God is able to ſet you free from them: cast your care on him, & you hauehave wonne the victorie. And to the ende you may knowe him, & how to truſt in him, as the Prophet Dauid did ſo let vsus doe, that is: Let vsus make his teſtimonies to be our delight, & excerciſe our ſelues in thē day & night, for they onelyonly can make vsus wiſe, and renue in vsus the image of God, that we may be perfect as our heauenlie father is perfect. This hope J thanke God hath bine before me, that J hauehave not feared in any trouble: and in a good conſcience of this doing, I had rather hauehave the displeaſure of the worlde, then with loſſe of this deſire or any hurt of it, to winne the fauour of all mortall men. And ſo I am ſure it ſhall be with you that day, in which you ſhall ſo feele Gods glorie, & eternall life, that you will conſecrate your life for euer vntounto him, louelove hi… ▪ feare him, longe after him: Jt ſhal be more ioyfull vntounto your thē the daie of your birth, & your heart ſhal be ſee as Saint Paule ſaith, to vſe the world as though you vſed it not: not to forſake the world or worldly things, (for they are the gifts of god for the cōforte of our life) but as though wee forſaked it, ſo let our louelove bee taken from it, and be euer with him who is the giuer of all, & hath all immortalitie. There is not a day that paſſeth ouer our heades, but it afflicteth the body, & maketh it a day ſhorter liuing then it was: Let there not be a day but ſhall ſtrenghthen our faith, that we may be glad we are one daie neerer the preſence of our God, then wee were before. And I beſeech god (who only can do what he will) worke his good will with you in all ſpirituall bleſſings, that you may abounde: and in the cōdition of this life that you may reioice, till your accounted times bee all fulfilled. Amen.

Yours in the Lord Ieſu, Ed. Deringe.

A Letter of M. Ed. De. to the Ladie M.

THE Lorde God who hath onelyonly power to worke his will, and hath ſhewed mercy vntounto vsus in an eternall couenant, make vsus perfect in all our ways to abound in righteouſnes, and louelove his glorie, that in life and death we may be happie, and hauehave ioy in his preſence, who liueth euer, Amen. Good Madame, tbe dutie that J hauehave long owed vntounto you, doth much binde me: & the experience of your good inclination, ſufficientlie doth emboulden me to write at this time vntounto you: and J truſt the Lord God who hath giuen you his grace, and called me to this worke, will bleſſe the labour that it may bee profitable to his glorie & your cōfort. For if his worde hauehave ſo great ſtrength in his Saintes when they are yet vnbeleeuing and ignorant, that it reuealeth euen the ſecretes of their hartes, that it maketh them fall down to worſhip him and to acknowledge his mightie power in it: J am ſure it can not be but the ſame worde ſhall hauehave ſtrength in you, wholy & altogither to conſecrate your ſelfe vntounto the Lord, till all your delight be in him alone. So that I am nowe, more to praye for my ſelfe then for you, that I may rather ſpeake the trueth then you heare it: for of this I am ſure your heart is prepared (as the Prophete ſayth) to a good purpoſe, the Lord make my hande as the penne of a good writer. And nowe (good Madame) this is the ſumme of all, Feare God & louelove him: your goods, your credit, your thoghts, your deſires, your body, your life, giuegive it all vntounto him, that he only may pleaſe you, nothing but he only delight you, his worde inſtruct you, his wil perſwade you, that whether you liue or whether you die you may be wholy his: A ſhort leſſon & ſoone learned, harde J confeſſe of the worlde to practiſe, but not harde to you whom God hath loued: for what is it can call away your deſire, that wholy and altogither it ſhould not be in this? Jt is onelyonly the worlde that hath taken vp enimitie against vsus, and ſtriueth dailie to ſeparate vsus from the Lorde. But what is in the worlde why the perſwaſions of it ſhould pleaſe vsus? especiallie you who hauehave had experience of it, whoſe life God hath filled with worldlie things. You knowe what is the comfort of houſes and landes: you hauehave weighed them well and found them light. You knowe the gladnes of a mother, and hauehave in your ſight Sōnes & Daughters, the triall of it is in you, & hath entred deepe, euē as they hauehave bin the fruite of your owne wombe: but in them you hauehave no ſuch ioye as in the ſpirit of adoption, by which you knowe your ſelfe to be the childe of God. You knowe the treaſure of a good huſband, with whom you hauehave had peaceable and louinge dayes: but howe much is it a greater ioye of vnspeakeable gladnes to feele your ſelfe ioyned to Jeſus Christ, & made a chaste member of his glorious body with whom you ſhalbe ioyned for euer. You hauehave ſeene a great many yeares of the age of man, and hauehave meaſured the length of them, ſo that if you might liue the dayes of Abraham, yet you might account your houres and ſee the time at hande, when in the ende of your courſe you ſhall take your rest: and what were this to immortalitie. To be ſhort and to pretermit manie things wherewith God hath made your life as a bleſſing, you hauehave ſeene fauour, Credite, Landes, Authoritie, Friendes, Seruauntes: the pleaſures of theſe God hath giuen you. You hauehave ſeene fulneſſe of ſuch delights: but this and all els that you hauehave ſeene what is it to the grace of God, the fellowſhippe of Saintes, the forgiuenes of your ſinnes, the louelove of his countenance, the aſſurance of your life, the brightnes of his glorie, & your eternall bleſſinges. Sith then in the world is no ſure refuge, the more I hauehave ſeene the fruit of your faith, the more aſſuredlie J knowe the constancie of your minde readie to leaue the worlde to approch nearer vntounto God, and to account all theſe thinges to be but dunge, to the ende you may winne Ieſus Christ, in whom you ſhalbe ſo much more bleſſed, as light is more bright then darkneſſe, health is more excellent then ſickneſſe, and life more precious then cruell death. This (good Madame) you hauehave long knowen, and with prayſe profeſſed it among men: And nowe especiallie reape the fruite of it in theſe dayes of Gods viſitation, in which in a weake body you hauehave had a ſharpe ſickeneſſe, to teach you that your life is in the handes of God, & the nature of your body that it is but dust, ſo that you ſhould not louelove it but in the Lorde, nor be pleaſed with it but as it pleaſeth him, readie to laye it downe when he ſhall call you. This is that great and high commandement: To louelove God aboue all, and this is the greatest obedience required of man, to be readie to dye at the will of God: Ʋnto which commaundement when I doe beſeech you willinglie to yeelde, I feele in my ſelfe howe the nature of man ſtriueth against it: all thoſe delightes of which I ſpake before (the pleaſures of this preſent life) they ariſe against it: although we had no other comfort, yet life it ſelf is ſweete vntounto vsus, & we are loth to make our beds in the darke, our eyes they would yet ſee the ſunne, our eares would heare the ſounde of worldly elements, though our fleſhe be graſſe, yet graſſe hath a flower, & our fraile bodyes hauehave vaniſhinge fantaſies agreeable vntounto them as earth vntounto earth, and from which most hardlie you ſhall pull it away, the Patriarkes & Prophetes were ſometime afraide, Paule and Peter were not alwayes bolde, they loued euer that life which they ſawe in hope, but they did feele the death whichc did fight in their members: And howe ſhould I then ſaye vntounto you a weake woman, feare not death, or if I ſay it howe can you performe it beeing ſo weake a veſſell of fleſhe and bloud: yet good Madame, giuegive me leaue to intreate you & J hope you ſhall hauehave a heart to graunt it: J most humblie beſeeche you, feare not death. The Apostles were men as we are, yet Paule obteyned at last to be diſſolued & be with Christ: if we be weaker then he, the graces of God ſhalbe more exalted in vsus, and we alſo ſhall ſay at the last, Let thy ſeruaunt O Lord departe in peace: It is the Lorde that hath promiſed this bleſſing vntounto vsus, let vsus heare it with faith, and it will make death vile in our eyes: it is enough if we knowe God will giuegive this victorie to his people, lett vsus be bolde, though we feare a litle while, yet feare ſhall be cast out, and we ſhall ſay with a free ſpirit, O death where is thy ſtinge, &c. trie your ſelfe therefore eueryevery day, and if your harte be bolde, reioyce good Madame, & reioyce for euer: the last and greateſt enimie (which is death) is troden vnderunder your feete, and what els can hurt you: all other things of the world they are but ſeruauntes of death, and ſerue to make his power more fearfull vntounto vsus, friendes or kinſefolke, golde, ſiluer. pretious ſtones or al other pleaſures, all labour vntounto one ende, to make vsus more loth to die: vanquiſh death and you hauehave vāquiſhed all, height & depth, life and death, all is yours, & you are Chriſtes. And ſee I beſeeeh you what glorie you hauehave gotten, you are but a weake and ſicke woman whom God hath ſhut vp into your chamber, and tyed to your bedde: and yet the great tyrant of the world, that holdeth in bondage Kings & Princes, and woundeth them all with feare & terror, he is confounded before you, & the Lord of life he hath cruſhed him in pieces vnderunder you. A bleſſed day that brought you first into this battell, a bleſſed ſickeneſſe that made you endure the fight, & moſt bleſſed ende in which you get the victorie: for who hath giuen you this ſtrength, or who raigneth in you in ſuch a day, but he who hath ſaied and done it, O death I wil be thy death: and if he be in you who hath aboliſhed death, and in whoſe ſight death ſhall neuer hauehave any rule, what treaſure, what depth of ioy and gladnes ſhall he bring with him: while you liue you ſhal liue in him, & no man ſhall take your ioy from you: and whē you die you ſhall die in him, and death ſhalbe no death, but you ſhall paſſe to eternall life: and all that is fearfull ſhalbe farre from you: the burthen of ſinne, the malice of the deuill, the terrour of hell: the dreadfull words, goe ye curſed into eternall fire: All this is aboliſhed & troden down in the croſſe of Ieſus Chriſt, who reigneth in you, & giueth you his ſpirit, that you feare not death: and all things that fill with ioy not the earth onelyonly, but the heauens alſo (you hauehave deſtroyed death) you ſhall feele thē all within you: the fellowſhip of Saints & Angels, the forgiuenes of ſinns, the reſurrection of the body, the life euerlasting, and the God of glorie: your eyes lightened with a pure faith ſhall ſee theſe things in ſo perfect beautie, that you ſhall caſt out death & the feare of it: yea you ſhould thinke your time wearines if your dayes ſhould be prolonged, and you ſhould bee yet many yeares a ſoiorner in this bodie, in which you are a ſtraunger from the preſence of the Lorde: And the nearer your time approcheth, the gladder you ſhalbe of the ende of your iourney, when your harte ſhall feele it: And when the earthlie houſe of this tabernacle ſhalbe deſtroyed, you hauehave a building giuen of God, a houſe not made with hands, but eternall in the heauens. In this faith you ſhall not onelyonly not feare death, but you ſhall ſigh and moane (as Paule ſaith) till you ſee your glorie, and the lot of the ſaints that is in light, where there is no more ſorrow nor care, nor feare, nor death, but the God of all merciemercy, and father of our lord Jeſus Chriſt ſhalbe before vsus for euer. Thus Madame (as my duetie is) J hauehave written vntounto you, and God will bleſſe it as his promiſe is, that it ſhall be for the beſt, & in the wiſdome of his word we ſhalbe ſtrengthned in his grace, that death & ſickneſſe ſhalbe forgotten, & all the deſirs of our heart ſhalbe with him. And the Lord God for his Sonnes ſake, ſo hauehave merciemercy vponupon vsus, that all euill taken from vsus, we may reioyce in him, and ſee his bleſſed age that is in immortality, & is ſealed in our heartes with his bleſſed ſpirit: To whom be glorie for euermore, Amen.

From Saint Ellens, the tenth of Ianuarie, Anno Domini, 1576. Yours bounden in the Lord Ieſu, the onelyonly forgiuenes of all our ſinnes, Ed. Deringe.

A Letter written by M. Edward Deringe, to his Lord & Maiſter the Duke of Northfolke.

Gratia et pax a Deo patre, et domino noſtro Ieſu Chriſto.

THE longe good will that I hauehave borne vntounto you, as to one that earnestlie profeſſed the Goſpell, and the great duetie I owe vntounto you as to my Lord & Maſter, make, that nowe I ſhould write vntounto you, not knowing whether opportunitie ſhalbe ſuch that hereafter J may doe you any ſeruice. God the author of all life he hath ſhutte both you and me vp in his handes: that there is great likelihood, our liues in this worlde they are but ſhort. The Prince that executeth the iudgement of the Lord, ſhe hath found you out in your great ſinnes: and ſickenes that raigneth ouer all fleſhe, it hath taken now longe holde vponupon me. So that as I ſaide, we are both in the handes of the Lord, we are ſummoned paremtorilie, death hath giuen an aſſault, and the weake holdes of our life they are violentlie ſhaken. Nowe therefore my good Lord, let it vsus take counſell togither, and as a wiſe Maister, learne of a faithfull ſeruaunt what is best to be done: the worst that our ſinnes can doe vntounto vsus, is to lay vponupon vsus the iust rewarde of death, my diſeaſe which thus afflicteth me for many thouſand ſinns, it can but take away my life which J hauehave ſo abuſed. And all your deepe diſſimulation and hypocriſie, your great ambitions, your faithleſſe religion, which hauehave ſo bewitched you, what can they doe more then this? The remedie nowe is to make of neceſſitie a vertue, that is, to beare it wiſely, which you must needes abide. J hauehave (I thanke God) founde that grace, that I can louelove this ſaying, Cupio diſſolui & eſſe cum Chriſto, the Lord alſo open your hearte and guide your vnderstandinge, that with all ſaintes you may doe likewiſe, and praye, Veni Domine Ieſu. And now for aſmuch as this is the last duetie, that J am like to doe vntounto you, as God ſhall giuegive grace I will ſo aduice you as I may testifie myne owne faith, and make you ſtrong against the daye of triall: trusting that our God ſhall ſo remember vsus both in merciemercy, that after a little while we ſhall ſee better dayes, and raigne with him that abideth King for euer. There is now but one thing neceſſarie for you to learne in this life, that is, how you may willinglie deſire to die: a hard leſſon for a natural mā, for death is our laſt enimie & his aſſault moſt violent to the triall of our faith: but Christ who hath ouercome death and hell, hee hath broken the ſtrength of this battell, and ſet vp the ſonges of triumph vntounto all that beleeue, that we may hauehave the fulneſſe of ioy and ſay with gladnes, ô death where is thy ſting. Nowe that this ioye may be yours, and this gladnes your inheritāce, prepare your ſelfe, not in your own wiſdō, for that hath alredie deceiued you, but in the wiſdome of god, that your hope may be ſure. Jf you will now hauehave the hart that ſhal cōdemne the force of death cōſider wherfore you are called to die: It is laid to your charg, that you hauehave delt traytrouſly with your Prince, with your coūtry, & with the religiō of God: and vponupon theſe crimes you are cōdemned to die. If you be guiltles, ô my Lord bleſſed are you, & bleſſed is your portion: he hath ſpokē it that neuer will change: Jf whē you do well you ſuffer wrōgfully, take it patiētly, for this is acceptable to god: but if you be guilty you hauehave not your hope in death (for that you hauehave deſerued) but your hope is this, that you die ſo as it becōmeth you: which if god ſhal grāt vntounto you, then bleſſed is the howre that God ſhall bring vponupon you, you ſhal make that change, which god for his Chriſtes ſake, lay ſpeedily vponupon all his children, & you ſhal die once, that you may liue euer. Now that you may know how you ought to die: learne this of the lord which he hath ſo plainly taught you. The firſt part of your true repētāce, muſt be an hūble cōfeſſiō: what ſoeuer your own conſcience can vtter more thē is reuealed. O my Lorde ſpeake opēly the trueth, ſathan is enimie vntounto vsus & his ſlightes are many: if you will treade the malicious ſerpent vnderunder your feete, & triumph with Chriſt who hath ſpoiled hell, tell the trueth my Lord, conceale nothing, ſo ſhall you ſhunne the diuel. If my words ſeeme but light to perſwade you, heare the wiſeſt counſellour that euer raigned in Iſrael: He that hideth his ſinne (ſaieth Salomon) ſhall neuer proſper, but he that cōfeſſeth & forſaketh them, ſhall finde merciemercy. Whē Acan had tranſgreſſed in Iſrael & deſerued death, when he was brought into iudgemēt, Ioſhua ſaid vntounto him, My Son J beſeech thee, giuegive glory to the lord God of Iſrael, make cōfeſſion vntounto him, & ſhew me now what thou haſt done. Loe my Lord, this is to giuegive glorie vntounto God: to cōfeſſe your ſin, & tell what you hauehave done. The good king Dauid whē he had deſerued death, & feared greatly the ſentence of the Prophet, he cōfeſſed gladly & made it knowen vntounto the world what his ſin was, & wherin he had offended. Whē God gaue his lawes vntounto Iſrael, & in the bloud of goates & calues ſheweth thē the redemptiō that was in Chriſt Jeſus: He ſo ordeined, that before their forgiuenes was preached, the high prieſt ſhould proclaime openlie what were the ſins of the people, & ſo lay their ſins vponupon the beaſtes. So ſtandeth it nowe with vsus, if we will finde forgiuenes of our ſins, let vsus caſt off the cloaks of ſhame, & cōfeſſe before heauē & earth, what we hauehave ſinned & what we hauehave done. What greater perſwaſions can you yet require, or how can you thinke to pleaſe God if you wil hide your ſins? That was the practiſe of old Adam, but you are borne anew: that was the ſin of Cain, but you my good Lord are of a better kinred. Speak the truth & ſhrinke not, God will once reueale the ſecrets of harts, & thē you ſhal reioice that ther is nothing of yours hid: fie vpō that ſin, that you ſhould turn away for one houre & receiue hereafter euerlaſting cōfuſiō: better a thouſād times to receiue the reproch of fleſh, & after receiue your glory of the Lord. Whē John Baptiſt preached firſt the Goſpell, he bpatized no more thē ſuch as confeſſed their ſins. The loſt Son whē he ran away, he found no hope of pardō, til he called heauē & earth to witneſſe his great iniquitie. Paul who preached the gospell to vsus Gentils, how oftē doth he confeſſe that he was a perſecutor. The happy thief that was hāged entred not into paradiſe, til he firſt in the hearing of all Iſraell ſaid, we are rightly puniſhed, & receiue things worthy of that we hauehave done. What ſhould J ſay more, J truſt you feare God, and J hauehave ſeene in you many ſignes of grace: I doubt not but you will make it knowen whatſoeuer is in your hart. It is the word of God that I hauehave ſpoken, & it is the onelyonly trueth vpō which you may build your faith. This thing toucheth ſo neare the glory of God & the ſafetie of his goſpell, that you muſt now needs forſake your friends & kinſmē, yea forget the louelove of your ſelfe: and if you hauehave bin partaker of any counſell, diſcloſe the cōspiracies of the wicked: you hauehave ſtood in iudgement not before mē; for they are but miniſters, but before the Lord, who ſitteth in the middst of iudgement. Surely if you ſeeke to hide your ſins, you ſeeke to hide them frō him that knoweth the ſecrets of the hart & raynes, and to diſſemble with him that will not be mocked: and therefore with all humblenes of dutie, I beſeech you, & in the name of God J craue this at your hands, vnburthē your own coſcience, make your hart glad, caſt of the burthē of your ſecret ſinns, purge the eyes of your minde, that you may ſee Chriſt, let true repētance breake forth in holy confeſſion, ſhame the Lords enimies, & make the church of God reioyce, and loe in the name of Christ J tell it you Bleſſed is the day in which it was ſaid of you, a man-child is borne, and bleſſed ſhalbe the houre in which it ſhalbe ſaid of you, you are dead in the Lord: the cloſing vp of your eyes ſhalbe the beginning of your ſight: and death your entrance into life. And now my Lord, I beſeech you pray for me, & humbly vpō my knees I aſke you hartie forgiuenes wherein I hauehave not done as it became me touching you. You knowe howe in my time I hauehave perſuaded you frō your wicked ſeruants, frō your popiſh friēds, & frō your adulterous woman. But (alas) my Lord, your high calling hath bridled my words, I could not ſpeak as I ſhold, my words wer to ſoft to heale ſo old a diſeaſe: why ſhould I hauehave taried in your lordſhips houſe, except theſe things had bin amēded? this bearing with your euill, was the greateſt euill I could hauehave done you. And I beſeech you forgiue me, & God for his mercies ſake ſhall make me ſtrong, that herafter J ſhall not feare to reproue the ſinner, & God ſhall forgiue you your dulnes of ſpirit, that could not be moued with a litle coūſel. Now my Lord, be ſtrong in the Lord, & feare not, if you muſt dye, remēber that Chriſt bath ouercome him that hath the power of death, & hath ſet vsus free frō the power of the graue. Though you doe for a very litle time turne again vntounto duſt, yet again you ſhal heare the voyce of the trumpet: corruptiō ſhall die, becauſe he was no better thē his fathers: & you whē you go, you ſhall go to your fathers, the long race of Nobilitie of which God hath raiſed you, eueryevery one in his time is gone before you, & ſo many as hauehave died in the faith, they ſhalbe againe of your fellowſhip & kindred, and you ſhall prayſe God with thē, & not feare the ſecōd death. The lord opē your eyes that you may ſee your hope, & you ſhall louelove that cōpany aboue Kings & Princes. You ſhall ſee Abrahā, of whō you hauehave heard ſo much, Jſaac, Iacob, Iob, Samuell & Daniell, whoſe names you loued, you ſhall ſee Paule & Peter, whoſe ſociety you wiſh for, all the Patriarkes, Prophets and Apoſtles that are gone before you. Be bold therfore, & be bold to dye: with Elias you ſhall ſee Chriſt clothed with your fleſh, who hath immorta…e in his hande, & ſhal make you raigne for euer: yo… … ſhall not be tedious, and your glory ſhall … change: & he that made the heauens ſo high abo… earth, the Sun the moone the ſtarres, ſo ful of excellēt beauty, he ſhalbe your portiō in his endles glory: wold God you cold ſee him now with opē coūtenance, that you might knowe his louing kindnes, how much it is better thē life: J wold you cold withal his ſaints perceue what wer the height, the …reath▪ the lenght & the depth of his vnſearchable riches. …apy … that ſhal neuer end, ô bleſed inheritāce that ſhal neuer waſt O holy citty new Ieruſalē, the perfectiō of beauty; where the inhabitāts are princes, O'pretious buildng that is not made with hands, & ioyfull tabernacles which God himſelfe hath pitched: my voice faileth & my tonge cleaueh to my mouth whē I wold declare the euerlaſting gladneſſe, whē God ſhal wipe away al teares frō our eies, & ther ſhalbe no more death nether ſorow, nor crying, nor yet any paine for the firſt things paſt. Who remēbreth this & ſaith not, all fleſh is graſſe, and the glory of man is as the flower of the fielde. We hauehave nothing here, but feare of our enimie, griefe in pouertie, paine in labour, care in ritches, vnſtedfaſtnes in frindſhip, enuy in authoritie, emulation in honor, change in nobilitie, feare in a kingdome: & as the greateſt of al princes hath wiſely pronounced, vexatiō of ſpirit in al things that is vnderunder the Su…, ſo true it is vanity of vanities & al is but vanity. You need no example O my Lord & Maiſter, behold your ſelfe & ſee what you were: reioice in the lord & louelove better things, ceaſe to eate of this corruptiō, & deſire Māna: drink not of theſe puddels, but goe to the pure water of life, which is cleare as chriſtal, & procedeth out of the throne of god & of the lābe: you are but one ſtep frō this glorious bleſſing, & that is to die willingly & well: ſpeak forth the ſecrets of your hart, & giu… God glorie The Lord bleſſe & kepe you, the Lord make his face to ſhine vponupon you and be mercifull vntounto you, the Lord …ft vp his countenance vponupon you and ſende you peace.

FINIS.

MAISTER DERINGS WORKES.

LO heere the Pearle of precious price

From Deringe dead that liues againe

To preache in print and giuegive aduice

Of that he taught in life with payne

Lo nowe he liues both heere and there

Whoſe life his foes could hardly beare.

Reade then to learne and putte in vre

And taſte the ſweeteneſſe of his vayne

So ſhall you ſee an heauenlie lure

That drawes you vp from th'earth amaine

And ſhewes the way that leads to life

And eke the reſt that endes all ſtrife.

Studie to be approued to the Lord, for if hee alowe not our doinges, though all the world be with vsus, it ſhall bringe vsus no comfort: and this is our reioycinge, the teſtimonie of a good conſcience.

End of the text · Edward Dering, Certain Godly and Very Comfortable Letters (1590)