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 shal bee 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 Euery weapon wherewith the enemie striketh the same armeth vs to greater saluation And euery wounde that we doe receyue the same confirmeth vs 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 haue bene kept waking and we haue seene our sinnes our harts haue fainted before the anger of the Lorde And wee haue not despised his heauenlie callinge therfore in the day of trouble we shall haue rest In this perswasion we will liue and die and if our soules should melte for feare within vs although the Lorde should kill vs yet would we trust in him Abraham beleeued in the Lorde and it was imputed vnto him for righteousnes against hope hee beleeued vnder hope and if our hope seemed to be taken from vs yet would wee patientlie wayte the Lords leasure vntill hee saue our hope agayne that at the least our faith might haue againe the glorie and trueth of full assurance Another thing we must labour in and in another thinge wee shall haue temptation and that is that wee may see what is the glorie of God and immortall life herein lett vs 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 onely 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 vs all our sinnes and his goodnes is great who hath had regarde to the children of men From nothing hee brought vs into life he kept vs from the graue he will restore vs and make vs 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 vnto man where his heart and minde can see no ende If all the worlde were a flowing water and euery 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 euery 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 vnder the tyrannie of enuious and consuming tyme in which they shal be chaunged Only the Lord is in honor and maiestie who hath set eternitie rounde about him and cast out tyme vnto 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 haue ouertaken them Which are against our honour when the Lorde shall deliuer them from euill they shall giue thankes and reioyce with vs that they also haue 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 vnto 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 loue 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 shal be 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 vs 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 mercie and Father of all consolation graunt vnto 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 mercie and peace from God our Father c. J had much leuer good Maistres B. come my self then write
tell what you haue done The good king Dauid wheÌ„ he had deserued death feared greatly the sentence of the Prophet he coÌ„fessed gladly made it knowen vnto the world what his sin was wherin he had offended WheÌ„ God gaue his lawes vnto Israel in the bloud of goates calues sheweth theÌ„ the redemptioÌ„ 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 vpon the beastes So standeth it nowe with vs if we will finde forgiuenes of our sins let vs cast off the cloaks of shame coÌ„fesse before heaueÌ„ earth what we haue sinned what we haue 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 theÌ„ you shal reioice that ther is nothing of yours hid fie vpoÌ„ that sin that you should turn away for one houre receiue hereafter euerlasting coÌ„fusioÌ„ better a thousaÌ„d times to receiue the reproch of flesh after receiue your glory of the Lord. WheÌ„ John Baptist preached first the Gospell he bpatized no more theÌ„ such as confessed their sins The lost Son wheÌ„ he ran away he found no hope of pardoÌ„ til he called heaueÌ„ earth to witnesse his great iniquitie Paul who preached the gospell to vs Gentils how ofteÌ„ doth he confesse that he was a persecutor The happy thief that was haÌ„ged entred not into paradise til he first in the hearing of all Israell said we are rightly punished receiue things worthy of that we haue done What should J say more J trust you feare God and J haue 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 haue spoken it is the onely trueth vpoÌ„ 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 kinsmeÌ„ yea forget the loue of your selfe and if you haue bin partaker of any counsell disclose the coÌ„spiracies of the wicked you haue stood in iudgement not before meÌ„ 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 froÌ„ 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 vnburtheÌ„ your own coscience make your hart glad cast of the burtheÌ„ of your secret sinns purge the eyes of your minde that you may see Christ let true repeÌ„tance 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 shal be the houre in which it shal be said of you you are dead in the Lord the closing vp of your eyes shal be the beginning of your sight and death your entrance into life And now my Lord I beseech you pray for me humbly vpoÌ„ my knees I aske you hartie forgiuenes wherein I haue not done as it became me touching you You knowe howe in my time I haue persuaded you froÌ„ your wicked seruants froÌ„ your popish frieÌ„ds froÌ„ 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 haue taried in your lordships house except these things had bin ameÌ„ded this bearing with your euill was the greatest euill I could haue 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 couÌ„sel Now my Lord be strong in the Lord feare not if you must dye remeÌ„ber that Christ bath ouercome him that hath the power of death hath set vs free froÌ„ the power of the graue Though you doe for a very litle time turne again vnto dust yet again you shal heare the voyce of the trumpet corruptioÌ„ shall die because he was no better theÌ„ his fathers you wheÌ„ you go you shall go to your fathers the long race of Nobilitie of which God hath raised you euery one in his time is gone before you so many as haue died in the faith they shal be againe of your fellowship kindred and you shall prayse God with theÌ„ not feare the secoÌ„d death The lord opeÌ„ your eyes that you may see your hope you shall loue that coÌ„pany aboue Kings Princes You shall see AbrahaÌ„ of whoÌ„ you haue 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 immortaâ—â—â—â—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 aboâ—â— earth the Sun the moone the starres so ful of excelleÌ„t beauty he shal be your portioÌ„ in his endles glory wold God you cold see him now with opeÌ„ couÌ„tenance that you might knowe his louing kindnes how much it is better theÌ„ life J wold you cold withal his saints perceue what wer the height the â—reath the lenght the depth of his vnsearchable riches â—â—apy 〈◊〉 that shal neuer end ô blesed inheritaÌ„ce that shal neuer wast O holy citty new IerusaleÌ„ the perfectioÌ„ of beauty where the inhabitaÌ„ts 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 wheÌ„ I wold declare the euerlasting gladnesse wheÌ„ God shal wipe away al teares froÌ„ our eies ther shal be no more death nether sorow nor crying nor yet any paine for the first things past Who remeÌ„breth this saith not all flesh is grasse and the glory of man is as the flower of the fielde We haue 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 vexatioÌ„ of spirit in al things that is vnder the Suâ— 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 loue better things cease to eate of this corruptioÌ„ desire MaÌ„na 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 laÌ„be you are but one step froÌ„ this glorious blessing that is to die willingly well speak forth the secrets of your hart giuâ— God glorie The Lord blesse kepe you the Lord make his face to shine vpon you and be mercifull vnto you the Lord â—â—ft vp his countenance vpon 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 giue 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 vs it shall bringe vs no comfort and this is our reioycinge the testimonie of a good conscience
not able so much as to thinke a good thought but it is of him whose seede abideth in you And although because you haue 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 vpon him that careth for you you knowe him who hath spoken All power is giuen vnto 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 haue through him who hath made manifest his grace vnto 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 vnto 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 haue deserued it true it is hee seemed not very wel pleased but if God be pleased mans goodwil either it shal be recōciled or shal not doe much hurt if I haue 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 haue as I might great liuing encomber my cōscience with much sinne And good Brother Dering here followe me you shal be a great deale richer then you are studie the scripture reade bookes bee able to reason in your faith especiallie and aboue all haue 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 onely 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 vnto 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 loue 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 shal be able to performe though otherwise I shal be 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 vs 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 loue them in the Lorde euen as I loue 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 vnto 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 haue 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 haue 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 vnto 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 vnto you but otherwise I haue so much to doe that some time I forget many dueties Another cause is J haue nothing to write as I would so I haue 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
knowledge of the mysterie of it And the Lorde open his gracious countenance reuealed in it vnto 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 vnto her the liuinge God And commende me hartilie vnto 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 vs not therefore refuse that condition of life in which we haue 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 vs 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 vnto vs when we haue payde the debt we owe vnto death the Lorde will deliuer vs 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 vnto you in a liberall portion your life made happie with a louing husbande your calling acceptable vnder a gracious and good Mistresse in whose sight you haue 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 vnto 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 vs vnto 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 vnto 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 vs 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 vs. Take this vnto you the shielde of your defence the strength of your age the wisedome of your heart and the safetie of your life cōmended vnto 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 shal be brought to nought and the councell of the prudent shal be made foolish the wayes of the aduersaries shal be 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 vs then bringe downe the hautinesse of our mindes and receyue with meekenesse the worde grafted in vs which can saue our soules To this desire of vnderstanding when God hath brought vs then let vs pray to be deliuered from temptatiō and take heede we be not spoyled of so great a treasure We haue three especiall enimies in this behalfe of which S. Paule biddeth vs 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 vs 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 vs against our humble obedience to the worde of God Which all when we haue ouercome and saide with the Prophete secrete things are for the Lorde but things reuealed for vs and our children yet haue 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 onely this but nature also hath inflamed our affections to loue 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 vs by this meanes all corruptions
am bounde and so my not comminge vnto 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 giue ouer your selfe vnto him For as God hath blessed you many wayes and giuen you a good callinge in the worlde So he visiteth you euery 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 haue your ioye as you would Yea J doubt not but it is so abridged vnto you that sometime it grieueth you that you cannot eyther haue 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 vnto you Besides this the mingling of your ioye with sorrowe and wealth with woe is a happie tempringe vnto you of heauen with earth that you should neither loue nor rest in this aboue that which is meete but acknowledge all is but vanitie so loue it as transitorie things and haue your great delight with the Lord alone who is vnto 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 haue blessed you yet you are but a weake woman and haue neede in the common frayeltie of mans nature to be stirred vp with exhortatioÌ„ 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 haue brought to his appointed ende wee shall see the hope which we haue 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 haue pleasure in this and in other sorrowe reioyce in the Lord and alwayes reioyce CoÌ„mende 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 vs 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 fâ—ather and with as a gladde a minde I spitt bloud I trust as cleare spitle To those that loue 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 vnto it and for all my labour in it I thanke God I am guiltie neither of couetousnes nor ambitioÌ„ but as God hath giuen me grace J sought onely his glorie J write this vnto 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 haue done their worste CoÌ„mende me to Maister K. your little ones to Maister R. The Lorde blesse vs all that we make our bodies shake not our bodies vs. Vale in Christo Iesu 25. Iul. 1575. Tuus in Christo Ed. Dering To Maistres K. TTe Lord God who sheweth mercie to whom hee will shewe mercie and haue compassion on whom he will haue compassion accordinge to his loue with which he loued vs before the worlde was made looke vpon vs and leade vs in our wayes that in righteousnes and holines peace and ioye of the holy Ghost wee may finishe our compas and come vnto 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 vs 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 haue not written vnto you oftener for though I haue 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 haue seene you at Henden this next Monday but God hath changed our waye and by occasion we haue 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 vnto you for whiche cause yet especiallie you craue my letters I knowe whom you haue beleeued vpon what grounde you stande who hath sealed your perswasion in you he is able to keepe that you haue committed vnto him euen vntill that day that the things of the worlde are changed before vs all Affliction may be great and make vs murmur prosperitie may abounde and make vs proude the