might the more be stirred to bring forth the fruits of Repentance and learn to mourn in this world that in another they might be glad and rejoyce Such a broken Heart is a pleasant Sacrifice unto God Oh that I had the like contrite heart God mollifie my stony heart which lamenteth not in such wise my former detestable iniquities Praised be God that he hath given you this sorrowfull heart in respect of Righteousness and I pray you let me be partaker of these godly sorrows for sin which be the testimony of the presence of the holy Ghost Did not the sword of sorrow pierce the heart of the Elect and blessed Mother of our Lord Did not Peter weep bitterly for his sins which was so beloved of Christ Did not Mary Magdalen wash the feet of our Saviour with her tears and received therewithall remission of her sevenfold sins Be of good comfort therefore Mine own dear heart in this thy sorrow for it is the Earnest-peny of Eternall Consolation In thy sorrow laugh for the Spirit of God is with thee Blâ—ssed be they saith Christ that mourn Matth. 15. for they shall be comforted They went forth and wept Psal 126. saith the Prophet such shall come again having their gripes full of gladness Psal 51. Luke 7. Sorrow in a Christian man ought to be moderate And alâ—hough a sorrowfull heart in consideration of his sin be an acceptable Sacrifice before God whereby we are stirred up to more thankefulness unto God knowing that much is foâ—gâ—ven us that we might love the more yet the man of God must keep a measure in the same lest he be swallowed up by too much sorrow 1 Thess 4. S Paul would not the Thessalonians to be sorry as other men which have no hope 2 Cor. 7. Such a sorrow is not commendable but worketh damnation and is farre from the children of God who are continually sorrowfull in God when they look upon their own unworthiness with hope of forgiveness For God to this end by his Spirit setteth the sins of his Elect still before them Rom. 3. that where they perceive Sin to abound there they might be assured that Grace shall superabound and bringeth them down into Hell that he might lift them up with greater joy into Heaven Wherefore mine own Bowels in Christ as long as you are not void altogether of hope be not dismayed through your pensive heart for your sins how huge soever they have been for God is able to forgive more then you are able to sin yea and he will forgive him which with hope is sorry for his sins But know Brother that as oft as we do go about by the help of Gods Spirit to do that is good Satans practice to bring the godly repentance of a sinner to desperation the evil spirit Satan layeth hard wait to turn the good unto evil and goeth about to mix the detestable Dâ—rnell of Desperation with the godly Sorrow of a pure Penitent Heart You be not ignorant of his malicious subtilty and how that continually he assaulteth that good which the grace of God planteth I see the battel betwixt you and him but the victory is yours yea and that daily For you have laid hold upon the Anchor of Salvation which is hope in Christ he which will not suffer you to be made ashamed Be not discomforted that you have this Conflict but be glad that God hath given you the same to try your Faith and that you might appear daily worthy of the Kingdome of God for the which you strive God beholdeth your striving Faith against Satan and is pleased with your mighty resistance The Spirit which is in you is mightier then all the Adversaries power Tempt he may and lying await at your heels give you a fall unawares but overcome he shall not yea he cannot for you are sealed up already with a lively Faith to be the childe of God for ever and whom God hath once sealed for his own him he never utterly forsaketh Gods children fall The Devils children lye still The just falleth seven times but he riseth again It is mans frailty to fall but it is the property of the Devils childe to ly still This strife against sin is sufficient testimony that you are the childe of God Luke 11. for if you were not you should feel no such malice as he now troubleth you withall When this strong Goliah hath the hold all things be in peace which he possesseth and because he hath you not he will not suffer you unassaulted But stand fâ—st and hold out the Buckler of Faith Strife against sin is a token of Gods childe and with the Sword of Gods Promises smite him on the scalp that he may receive a deadly wound and never be able to stand against you any more James 4. S. James telleth you that he is but a coward saying Resist the Devil and he will fly away It is the will of God that he should thus long tempt you and not go away as yet or else he had done with you long ere this He knoweth already that he shall receive the foyle at your hands and increase the Crown of your Glory for he that overcometh shall be crowned Therefore gâ—ory in your temptation since they shall turn to your felicity Be not afraid of your continuall assâ—ults which be occasions of your daily victory The Word of G d abâ—â—eth for ever In what hour soever a sinner repenteth him of his sins they be forgiven Ezek. 33. Who can lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect Do you not perceive the manifest tokens of your Election First your vocation to the Gospel and after your vocation the manifest gifts of the Spirit of God given unto you above many other of your condition with godliness which believeth and yieldeth to the authority of the Scriptures and is zealous for the same Seeing you are Gods own dearling who can hurt you Be not of a deject minde for these temptations neither make your unfeigned friends to be more sorrowfull for you then need doth require Since God hath willed you at your Baptism in Christ to be Careles why do you make your self Carefull Cast all your care on him Set the Lord before your eyes alwayes for he is on your right side that you shall not be moved True Christians how they ought to be c reless in their carefull estate Behold the goodness of God toward me I am careless being fast closed in a Pair of Stocks which pinch me for very straitness and will you be carefull I will not have that unseemly addition to your Name Be as your Name pretendeth for doubtless you have none other cause but so to be Pray I beseech you that I may be still careless in my carefull estate as you have cause to be careless in your easier condition Be thankâ—full and put away all care and then I shall be joyfull in my
DIVINE CONSOLATIONS FOR MOURNERS in SION Being an EXTRACT of certain Choyce EPISTLES OF DYING MARTYRS To each other and to their Fellow Prisoners for the CAUSE OF CHRIST In the Times of Cruell and Fiery Persecution Wherein is much Variety of suitable matter of Meditation for all such who are burthened under the Pressure of their Sins and Sorrows in these EVIL TIMES Matth. 5.4 Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted Psal 126.5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy Ver. 6. He that goeth forth and weepeth bearing precious seed shall doubtless come again with rejoycing bringing his sheaves with him Printed in the Year 1664. TO THE CHRISTIAN READER Good Reader AMong all the sweet and precious fruits and graces of the Spirit of God held forth unto us in the Holy Scriptures how much are those of Faith and Love commended unto us as the principal and leading Graces unto all other the sweet fruits of the Spirit wrought in the hearts of the Elect of God To instance two or three places speaking to this purpose The Author to the Hebrews in his Catalogue of Saints Hebr. 11. how highly doth he advance the actings of Faith in their hearts and lives beginning with Abel that blessed Servant of the Lord and Proto-Martyr of the World whom our blessed Lord and Saviour honoureth with the same honour placing his Name in the Front of that blessed Company by the Name of Righteous Abel who had laid down their lives in the Cause Matth. 23.35 and for the Truths of God And for the grace of Love in that of 1 Cor. 8. the beginning whatever Instructions the Apostle had given them before he doth as it were recall himself and let them understand that all would prove as nothing unless it proceed from Love or Charity And further we are taught that although the grace of Faith be first in laying hold of the blessed object even our Lord Jesus who came into the World to save sinners yet this also of Love is by the gracious working of the same good Spirit of God begotten in the Soul even at the same instant of time with that of Faith and from their first appearing come forth as blessed Twins never to part again the same blessed Spirit carrying on the work of Grace in the Soul untill perfected in Glory To this purpose Gal. 5.6 it 's said to be Faith which worketh by Love Also to mention no more 1 Tim. 1.14 The grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with Faith and Love which is in Christ Jesus A Reverend Messenger of Christ lately compared them to the two Arms that clasped Christ about according to that of the Spouse Cant. 3.5 It was but a little that I passed from them but I found him whom my Soul loveth I held him and would not let him go Never do these precious gifts of the Holy Ghost so affect the hearts of the people of God as when the Saints are drawn forth to cause this Light to shine forth in their lives and actings which usually appears in them most clearly in times of greatest Sufferings How much are we of these times bound unto our gracious God for the innumerable helps the Lord hath this way granted us especially from the unwearied Labours of that man of God of blessed memory Mr. Iohn Fox out of whose rich Volumes this little Treatise following is taken being a particular brief story of him whose Soul as much longed for the Crown of Martyrdome although he passed through the Fire to it as any we reade of from the time of the Primitive Martyrs And notwithstanding the Lord of his Infinite wisedome denyed him that which he so much thirsted for reserving him although in Prison yet to be an Instrument who from his great experiences might Administer sweet Consolations unto others the sweet Saints and Martyrs of Jesus as indeed he did to the refreshing of many a good Soul as by the several excellently Spiritual Epistles of his doth manifestly appear and by which it may undoubtedly be gathered that himself was to be accounted among the blessed number of those that in his Generation loved the Lord Jesus Christ in Sincerity To those who have tasted how good the Lord is these following Epistles may through mercy prove unto them as that speaking of David did to Ionathan 1 Sam. 18.1 who no sooner heard him but his Soul was knit with the Soul of David and he loved him as his own Soul To this very end is this smal thing drawn out of the aforesaid Volume that the sorrowful Souls of such as are affected with Gods threatnings in this hour of darkness and temptation may finde some refreshing and support to which very end also they were first written by the Auâ—hor God is greatly threatning on every side even us who have sate in peace whilest our Brethâ—en lay bleeding yea were filled with plen y wâ—â—lest they were stripped of their comforts and even brought near to desolation surely we havâ— n t improved our precious opportunities but with Iesurun being waxed fat have lifted up the heel and now may justly fear that our day of visitation is hastening wherein we are like to drink of the Cup of Gods displeasure of which the Nations have begun before us Is not the Lâ—rd now crying aloud as sometimes to Jerusalem Oh New-England Oh Boston When will thou be made clean when will it once be when shall thy Pride and Prophaness Licentiousness Vncleanness and Vnrighteousness with so much cleaving to Self-interest cease to lodge within thee Blessed be the Lord who hath affected the hearts of thy Rulers so as to call for seeking God by Fasting and Prayer being the way and meanes of Gods appointment for the obtaining mercy in the day of thy distress The Lord hear thee in the day of thy seeking Joel 2.13 14. and teach thee to Rent thy heart and not thy garments and turn unto the Lord who knoweth if he will return and repent and leave a blessing behind him Oh that God would give his People an heart to hearken to his voice and to turn unto him by unfeigned Repentance for surely they that yet see it not are like shortly to see Amos 5.13.14 15. that this time is a time for the Prudent to keep silence for it is an evil time as the Prophet saith therefore let us seek good and not evil and so the Lord God of Hosts shall be with us Let us hate evil and love good and establish Judgement in the Gate it may be that the Lord God of Hosts will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph A Table of the several Epistles and Letters contained in this Book THe effect of John Careles his Examination before Dr. Martin Folio 1 A Letter of Mr. Philpot to John Careles profitable â—o be read of all them which mourn in Repentance for their sins 6 A Letter of John Careles Answering to the loving Epistle or Letter sent to
my hearts desire Mart. And do you hold none otherwise then is there written Careles No verily nor never did Mart. Write that he saith otherwise he holdeth not So that was written It was told me also that thou dost affirm that Christ did not dye effectually for all men Careles Whatsoever hath been told you it is not much material unto me Let the tellers of such tales come before my fâ—ce and I trust to make them answer For indeed I do bâ—lieve that Christ did effectually dye for all those that do effectually repent and believe and for none other So that was written also Mart. Now sir what is Trewes faith of Predestination he believeth that all men be Predestinate and that none shall be Damned doth he not Careles No forsooth that he doth not Mart. How then Careles Truely I think he doth believe as your Mastership and the rest of the Clergy do believe of Predestination A wrong faith of Predestination believing to be elected in respect of Good works that we be Elected in respect of our good works and so long elected as we do them and no longer Mart. Write that he saith his fellow Trew believeth of Predestination as the Papists do believe Careles Ah Mr. Doctor did I so term you seeing that this my Confession shall come before the Council I pray you place my terms as reverently as I spake them Mart. Well well Write that Trew is of the same Faith as the Catholicks be Careles I did not so call you neither 〈◊〉 wonder what you mean Marsh You said thâ— Clergy â—â—d 〈…〉 Careles Careles Yes forsooth did I So then it was written of the Clergy Mart. Now Sir What say you more Careles Forsooth I have no further to say in this matter Mart. Dr. Martin pretendeth favour to Careles Well Careles I pray thee prove thy self a wise man and do not cast away thy self wilfully Careles Now the Lord he knoweth good Mr. Doctor I would full gladly live so that I might do the same with a safe Conscience And your Mastership shall right well perceive that I will be no wilful man but in all things that I stand upon I shall have a sure ground Mart. Now the Lord knoweth good Careles that I would gladly make some means to preserve thy life but thou speakest so much of the Lord the Lord wilt thou be content to go with my Lord Fitzwater into Ireland methinks thou art a goodly tall fellow to do the Queen service there How sayest thou Careles Verily Mr. Doctor whether I be in Ireland France or Spain or any place else I am ready to do her Grace the best service I can with Body Goods and Life so long as it doth last Mart. That is honestly said I promise thee every man will not say so How say you Mr. Marshall this man is meet for all manner of Service Indeed thou art worthy Careles to have the more favour Careles Indeed Sir I hope to be meet and ready unto all things that pertaineth unto a true Christian Subject to do And if her Grace or her Officers under her do require me to any thing contrary unto Christs Religion I am ready also to do my service in Smithfield for not observing it as my bedfellow and other Brethren have done praised be God for them Mart. By my troth thou art a pleasant fellow as ever I talked with of all the Protestants except it were Tomson I am sorry that I must depart with thee so soon but I have such business now that I can tarry with thee no longer Well yet thou canst not deny but you are at jarre amongst your selves in the Kings Bâ—nâ—h and it is so throughout all your Congregation for you will not be a Church Careles No Mr. Doctor that is noâ— so More variety in the Popes Church then is amongst the Protestants There is a thousand times more variety in Opinions among your Doctors which you call of the Catholick Chu ch â—ea and that in the Sacrament for the which there is so much bloodshed now adayes I mean of your latter Doctors and new Writers as for the old they agree wholly with us Mart. No Careles thâ—t is not so there thou art deceived Careles Verily it is so Mr. Doctor I am not deceived therein any thing at all as it hath been and is evidently proved by such as God â—ath indued with great Learning Then he turned to the Marshal and whispered with him a while Mart. Turning unto me again said Farewel Careles Dr. Martin taketh his leave gently of Careles for I can tarry no longer with thee now my businâ—ss is suck Careles God be with you good Mr. Doctor The Lord give your Mastership health of Body and Soul Martin God have mercy good Careles and God keep thee from all Errours and give thee grace to do as well as I would wâ—sh my self Careles I thank your good Mastership I pray God I may do always that is acceptable in his sight Whereunto they all said Amen And so I departed with a glad heart God onely have the whole praise Amen It appeareth by Examination of the foresaid John Careles that he endured Prisoner the space of two whole years having wife and Children In the which his captivity first being in Coventry Goal he was there in such credit with his Keeper that upon his word he was let out to play in the Pageant about the City with other his Companions And that done keeping touch with his Keeper he returned again into Prison at his hour appointed And after that being brought up to London he was endued with such patience and constant fortitude John Careles dved in Prison and wâ—s buried in the fields that he longed for nothing more earnestly thâ—n to come to that promotion to dye in the fire for the profession of his Faith and yet it so pleased the Lord to prevent him with death that he came not to it but dyed in the Prison and after was buried in the fields in a dunghill In the mean time while he was in Prison in the Kings Bench it chanced he was in great heaviness and perturbation of minde and Conscience whereupon he wrote to M. Philpot being then in the Colehouse Upon occasion hereof M. Philpot sent an Epistle Consolatory unto him as followeth A Letter of Mr. Philpot to John Careles profitable to be read of all them which mourn in Repentance for their Sins THe God of all comfort and the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ send unto thee my dear Brother Careles the inward consolation of his holy Spirit in all the malicious assaults and troublous temptations of our common Adversary the Devil Amen That GOD giveth you so contrite an heart for your sins I cannot but rejoyce to behold the lively mark of the children of God whose property is to think â—ore lowly and vilely of themselves then of any other and oftentimes do set their sins before them that they
Blood-thirsty Bite-sheeps Bishops I should say that you have begun For though in conclusion they will surely have your blood yet shall they come by it with shame enough and to their perpetual infamy whiles the world doth endure They would indeed condemn you in hugger-mugger to darken Gods glory if it might be but Satans thoughts are not unknown to you and the depth of his subtilty is by you well foreseen Therefore let them do whatsoever God shall suffer them to do for I know all things shall tuâ—n to your best Though you lie in the dark slurried with the Bishops black Cole-dust yet shall you be shortly restored unto the heavenly Light and made as white as snow in Salmon and as the wings of a Dove Psal 68. thaâ— is covered with silver wings and her feathers like gold You know the Vessel before it be made bright is soiled with Oyle and other things that it may scoure the better Oh happy be you that you be now in the Scouring-house for shortly you shall be set upâ—n the Celâ—stâ—al shelf as bright as Angels Therefore my dear hearâ— I will now according to your loving request cast away all care and rejoyce with you and praise God for you and pray for you day and night yea I will now with Gods grace siâ—g Psalms of Praise and Thanksgiving with you for now my Soul is turned to her old rest again and hath taken a sweet nap in Christs lap I have cast my care upon the Lord which careth for me and will be careles according to my Name in that respect which you would have me I will leave out my unseemly addition as long as I live for it can take no place where true faith and hope is resident Gods gracious work through M Philpots Letter So soon as I had read your most godly and comfortable Letter my sorrows vanished away as smoke in the wind my Spirit revived and comfort came again whereby I am sure the Spirit of God was Author of it Oh good Mr. Philpot which art a principal Pot indeed filled with most precious Liquor as it appeareth by the plenteous pouring forth of the same Oh Pot most happy of the high Potter ordained to honour which dost contain such heavenly treasure in the Earthen vessel Oh Pot thrice happy in whom Christ hath wrought a great Miracle altering thy nature and turning water into wine and that of the best whereout the Master of the Feast hath filled my cup so full John Careles drunken with joy of the spirit that I am become drunken in the joy of the Spirit thorow the same When Martyrdome shall break thee O vessel of honour I know the fragrant savour of thy precious Nard will much rejoyce the heavy hearts of Christs true Members although the Judasses will grudge and murmure at the same yea and burst out into words of slander saying It is but lost and waste Be not offended dear heart at my Metaphorical speech for I am disposed to be merry 2 Kin. 6. and with David to dance before the Ark of the Lord and though you play upon a pair of Organs not very comely or easie to the flesh yet the sweet sound that came from the same causeth me thus to do O that I were with you in body as presently as I am in spirit that I might sing all care away in Christ for now the time of comfort is come I hope to be with you shortly if all things happen aright Careles accused to the Council by certain backe friends in Coventry for my old friends of Coventry have put the Council in remembrance of me not six dayes ago saying That I am more worthy to be burned then any that was burned yet Gods blessing on their hearts for their good report God make me worthy of that dignity and hasten the time that I may set forth his Glory Pray for me dear heart I beseech you and will all your company to do the same and I will pray God for you all so long as I live And now farewell in Christ thou bl ssed of Gods own mouth Note how comfortable the Lord worketh in his prisoned Saints I will for a time take my leave but not my last farewel Blessed be the time that ever I came into the Kings Bench to be joyned in love and fellowship with such dear Châ—ldren of the Lord. My good Brother Bradford shall not be dead whiles you be alive for verily the spirit of him doth rest on you in most ample wise Your Letters of comfort unto me in each point do agree as though the one were a copy of the other He hath planted in me and you do water the Lord give good increase My dear Brethren and fellow-prisoners here have them humbly and heartily commended unto you and your company mourning for your misery but yet rejoycing for your plenteous Consolation and comfort in Christ We are all chearful and merry under our Cross and do lack no necessaries Praised be God for his Providence and great mercy towards us for evermore Amen Mr. Bradfords Letter to Careles ALmighty God our dear Father through and for the Merits of his dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ be mercifull unto us pardon us our offences and under the wâ—ngs of his Mercy protect us from all evil from henceforth and for ever Amen Dear Brother Careles I heartily pray you to pray to God for me for the pardon of my manifold sins and most grievous offences which need none other demonstration unto you then this namely That I have behaved my self so negligently in answering your godly triple Letters which are three Witnesses against me God lay not them nor none other thing to my charge to Condemnation though to Correction Not my will Practice of the Keyes of the Gospel but his will be done Concerning your request of Absolution my dearest Brother what shall I say but even as truth is That the Lord of all Mercy and Father of all Comfort through the Merits and Mediation of his dear Son thy onely Lord and Saviour hath clearly remitted and pardoned all thy offences whatsoever they be that ever hitherto thou hast committed against his Majesty and therefore he hath given to thee as to his Childe dear Brother John Careles in token that thy sins are pardoned He I say hath given unto thee a penitent and believing heart that is a heart which desireth to repent and believe For such an one is taken of him he accepting the will for the deed for a penitent and believing heart indeed Wherefore my good Brother be merry glad and of good chear for the Lord hath taken away thy sins thou shalt not dye Go thy wayes the Lord hath put away thy sins The East is not so farre from the West as the Lord now hath put thy sins from thee Look how the Heavens be in comparison of â—he Earth so farre hath his Mercy prevailed toward thee his dear Childe John
fulfilled So I say to you my dear hearts in the Lord happy are ye all yea thrice happy shall ye be for evermore because ye have stedfastly believed the most sweet Promises which God the Father hath made unto you with his own mouth in that he hath promised you which are the faithful seed of the believing Abraham that ye shall be blessed ever world without end The Promises of God your sweet Father as ye do believe so do ye bear record that God is true The testimony whereof ye have worthily born to the world and shortly will full surely Seal the same with your Blood yea even to morrow I do understand He encourageth Gods Martyrs unto their death Oh constant Christians Oh valiant Souldiers of the high Captain Jesus Christ who for your sake hath conquered the Devil Death Sin and Hell and hath given you full victory over them for evermore Oh worthy Witnesses and most glorious Martyrs whose invincible Faith hath overcome that proud sturdy bragging Prince of the World and all his wicked Army over whom ye shall shortly triumph for evermore Ah my sweet hearts the everlasting treasures are full surely laid up for you in Heaven The immercessible and most glorious Crown of Victory is already made and prepared for you to be shortly clapt upon all your happy heads The holy Angels of your heavenly Father are already appointed to conduct your sweet Souls into Abrahams bosome All the heavenly Host rejoyceth already for that they shall shortly receive you with joy and felicity into their blessed Fellowship Selah Rejoyce with double joy and be glad my dear Brethren for doubtless ye have more cause then can be expressed But alas I that for my sins am left behinde may lye and lament with the holy Prophet Psal 119. saying Woe is me that the dayes of my joyfull rest are prolonged Ah cursed Satan which hath caused me so sore to offend my most dear loving Father whereby my exile and banishment is so much prolonged Oh Christ my Advocate pacifie thy Fathers wrath which I have justly deserved that he may take me home to him in his sweet mercy Oh that I might now come home unto thee with my blessed Brethren Well thy will O Lord be effectually fulfilled for it is onely good and turneth all things to the best for such as thou in thy mercies hast chosen And now farewell my dear Hearts most happy in the Lord I trust in my good God yet shortly to see you in the Celestial City whereof undoubtedly the Lord hath already made you free Citizens Though ye be yet with us for a little time your very home is in Heaven where your treasure doth remain with your sweet Lord and Redeemer Jesus Christ whose calling you have heard with the ears of your hearts and therefore you shall never come into judgement but pass from death to life Your sins shall never be remembred be they never so many so grievous or so great for your Saviour hath cast them all into the bottom of the Sea he hath removed them from you as far as the East is from the West Psal 103. and his mercy hath much more prevailed over you then is distance between Heaven and Earth and hath given you for an everlasting possession of the same all his Holyness Righteousness and Justification Triumph of Martyrs yea and the Holy Ghost into your hearts wherewith ye are surely sealed unto the day of Redemption to certifie you of your eternal Election and that ye are his true Adopted Sons whereby ye may boldly cry unto God Abba dear Father for evermore so that now no creature in Heaven Earth nor Hell shall be able to accuse you before the throne of the Heavenly King Satan is now cast out from you he himself is judged and hath no part in you he will once more bite you by the heel and then he hath done Gen. 3. for at that time you shall squeeze his head through your own good Christ and so have you final victory for evermore In joyful triumph whereof ye shall sweetly ascend into the place of eternal rest whether your eldest Brother Christ is gone before you to take possâ—ssion for you and to prepare your place under the holy Altar with Cranmer Latimer Ridley Rogers Hooper Saunders Farrar Taylor Bradford Philpot with many other who will be full glad of your coming to see six more of their appointed number that their blood may so much the sooner be revenged on them that dwell on the Earth Thus I make an end committing you all to Gods most merciful defence whose quarrel ye have defended whose cause ye have promoted whose glory ye have set forth and whose name ye have constantly confessed Farewel for a while my dear hearts in the Lord I will make as much hast after you as I may All our dear Brethren salute you They Pray for you and praise God for you continually Blessed be the dead that dye in the Lord for they rest from their Labours saith the Holy Ghost Apoc. 11. and their works follow them Your own John Careles a most unprofitable Servant of the Lord. Pray pray pray To Mr. Green Mr. Whittel and certain other Prisoners in Newgate Condemned and ready to be burnt for the Testimony of the Lord Jesus Another Letter of John Careles wherein he doth animate Green Whittel and the rest of that company unto their Martyrdome THe everlasting peace in Jesus Christ the continual comfort of his most pure and holy Spirit be with you my most dear and faithful Brethren and Sisters of Newgate the Lords appointed Sheep unto the slaughter to the good performance of the great and notable work of the Lord which he hath so graciously begun in you all that the same may redound to the setting forth of his Glory and to the commodity of his Church and to your own everlasting comfort in him So be it Ah my dear hearts and most faithful Brethren and sisters in the Lord what high lauds and praise yea what humble and continual thanks am I bound to give to God our Father for you and on your most happy behalf who so mightily hath magnified himself in you thus far forth in giving you his holy and mighty Spirit to the constant confessing of Christs verity even to the cruel Condemnation and I doubt not but he will do the same to the death Oh happy and blessed are you that ever you were born that the Lord will vouch you worthy of this great dignity to dye for his sake Doubtless it is the greatest honour that God can give you in this life Yea Apoc. 11. if they be so blessed of God that dye in the Lord as the Holy Ghost saith they be To dye in the Lord and for the Lord. how much more blessed and happy then are you that dye not onely in the Lord but also for the Lord Oh that it were the good will of
blood for that onely is good But of this be you sure the Lord will shortly call you to account for all the innocent blood that is shed within this Realm which you have brought into a most woful case and made many a heavy heart in the same and moe I perceive you will make so long as the Lord for our sins will suffer you to prosper and untill the time that your own iniquity be full ripe But then be you sure the Lord will sit in Judgement upon you as well as you do now upon his Saints and will reward you according to your deservings To whom with my whole heart I commit my cause and he will make answer for me when the full time of my refreshing cometh In the mean space I will keep silence with this that I have said trusting that I have sufficiently discharged my conscience in confessing my Faith and Religion to you declaring of what Church I am even of the Catholick Church of Jesus Christ which was well known to be here in England in our late good Kings dayes by two special tokens which cannot deceive me nor suffer me to be deceived that is to say The pure Preaching of his holy Word and the due administration of the holy Sacraments which is not to be seen in your Romish Church and therefore cannot be called the Church and Spouse of Christ I believe in the holy Trinity and all the other Articles of the Christian Faith contained in the three Creeds and finally all the Canonicall Scripture to be true in every sentence and I detest all Sects both of Arrians and Anabaptists or any other that divide themselves from the true Church of Christ which is his Mysticall Body the Ground and Pillar of Truth and the very House of the living God And if for these things you take away my life and make your selves guilty of my Blood you may for I am in your hands as the Sheep brought to the Shambles abiding the grace of the Butcher And be you sure your judgement sleepeth not but when you cry Peace peace and all is safe then shall your plagues begin like the sorrows of a woman travelling with childe 1 Thes 5. according to Christs infallible Poâ—mise This kinde of answer my dear heart it shall be best for you to make and by Gods grace I do intend to take the same order my self in time to come when the Lord shall vouch me worthy of that great dignity whereunto he hath called you And if they shall laugh you to scorn as I know they will saying thou art a Fool and an unlearned Ass-head and art able to make answer to nothing c. care not you for it but still commit your Cause unto God who will make answer for you tell them that they have bin answered again and again of divers godly and learned men but all will not help for you have one solution for all manner of questions even a fair Fire and Fagots this will be the end of your disputations Therefore I pray you to trouble me no more but do that which you are appointed when God shall permit the time I am no better then Christ his Apostles and other of my good Brethren that are gone before me This kinde of answer will cut their combs most and edifie the people that stand by so that the same be done coldly with sobriety meekness and patience as I heard say our sweet Brethren Thomas Harland and John Oswald did at Lewes in Sussex to the great rejoycing of the children of God that were in those parts and I heard say that they were dissolved from this earthly tabernacle at Lewes on Saturday last and were condemned but the Wednesday before so that we may perceive the Papists have quick work in hand 2 Chron. 2. that they make such haste to have us home to our heavenly Father Therefore let us make our selves ready to ride in the fiery Chariot leaving these sorry Mantles and old Clokes behinde us for a little time which God shall restore unto us again in a more glorious wise My good Brother Harry you shall understand that bragging John T. hath beguiled his Keepers who trusted him too well and is run away from them and hath brought the poor men into great danger by the same The one of them is cast by the Councils Commandment into the Gate-house at Westminster the other is fled forth of the Country for fear Thus you may see the fruits of our Free-will men that made so much boast of their own strength But that house which is not builded surely upon the unmoveable Rock will not long stand against the boisterous winds and storms that blow so strongly in these dayes of Trouble But my dearly beloved Brother blessed be God for you and such as you be which have played the parts of wise Builders You have digged down past the sand of your own natural strength and beneath the earth of your own worldly wisdome and are now come to the hard Stone and unmoveable Rock Christ who is your onely Keeper and upon him alone you have builded your Faith most firmly without doubting mistrust or wavering Therefore neither the storms nor tempests winds nor weathers that Satan and all his wily workmen can bring against you with the very Gates of Hell to help them shall ever be able once to move your House much less to overthrow it for the Lord God himself and no man is the Builder thereof and hath promised to preserve and keep the same safe for ever Unto his most merciful defence therefore I do heartily commit you and all your good company desiring him for his sweet Son Jesus Christs sake to confirm and strengthen you all that you may be constant unto the very end that after the final victory is once gotten you may receive the immercessible Crown of Glory of Gods free gift through his great mercy in Jesus Christ our alone Saviour To whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be all honour glory praise thanks power rule and dominion for ever and evermore Amen The Blessing of God be with you all John Careles To my most dear and faithfull Brother T. V. THe everlasting peace of God in Iesus Christ the continual joy and comfort of his most pure holy and mighty Spirit with the increase of Faith and lively feel ng of his mercy be with you my dear heart in the Lord and faithful lovâ—ng brother T. V. to the full accomplishing of that good work whâ—ch â—e â—ath so graciously begun in you that the same by all means may be to the setting forth of his glory to the commodity of his poor afflicted Congregation and to the sweet comfort and quietness of your Conscience in him now and evermore Amen With such due honour love and reverence as it becometh me to bear unto the sweet Saints dearly beloved children of God I have me most heartily commended unto you my dear Brother V.
with all earnest and faithfull remembrance of you in my daily Prayers thanking God right heartily that you do likewise remember me in yours assuring you that my poor heart doth daily feel great Consolation thereby God onely have the praise for the same and all other his Benefits Ah my dear heart in the Lord well is me that ever I was born that God of his great mercy and infinite goodness hath used me most miserable wretch at any time as his instrument to minister any thing unto you either by word or writing that might be an occasion of your joy and comfort in the Lord and a provoking of you to praise and thanksgiv ng unto God for the same as your most loving and godly Letter seemeth to import Oh happy am I that the Lord hath appointed me unto so good a ground to sow his seed upon but much more happy are you whose heart the Lord hath prepared and made so meet to receive the same so effectuously gâ—ving thereto the sweet showers and heavenly dews of his grace and holy Spirit that it may bring forth fruit in due season accordingly the increase whereof we shall shortly reap together with perfect joy and gladness and that continually Therefore my dear Brother I say unto you as good Elizabeth did to her Cousin Mary Happy are you Luke 1. and happy shall you be for evermore because you have believed The most sweet and faithful Promises of your Redeemer Jesus Christ you have surely laid up in the treasury of your heart his comfortable Callings you have faithfully heard his loving Admonitions you have humbly obeyed and therefore you shall never come into judgement Remission of sins your sins shâ—ll never be remembred for your Saviour hath cast them all into he bottom of the Sea Micah 7. he hath removed them from you as far as the East is from the West Psal 103. and hath given you for an everlasting possâ—ssion his Justification and Holiness So that now no Creature neither in heaven nor in earth shall be able to accuse you before the Throne of the heavenly King Satan is now judged he is now cast out from you he hath no part in you you are wholly given unto Christ which will not lose you your stedfast Faith in him hath overcome that sturdy and bragging Prince of the World Christ hath given you the final victory over him and all his Army that they shall never hurt you What would you have more Oh my dear heart how great treasures are laid up in store for you and how glorious a Crown is already made and prepared for you And albeit the holy Ghost doth bear witness of all these things in your heart Testimony of Gods Spirit and maketh you more sure and certain thereof then if you had all the outward Oracles in the world yet I being certainly perswaded and fully assured by the testimony of Gods Spirit in my Conscience of your eternal and sure Salvation in our sweet Saviour Jesus Christ have thought it good yea and my bounden duty not onely at this time to write unto you and to shew my joyful heart in that behalf but also by the Word and Commandment of Christ to pronounce and affirm in the Name and Word of the heavenly King Jehovah and in the behalf of his sweet Son Iesus Christ our Lord to whom all knees shâ—ll bow whom all creatures shall worship and also by the impulsion of the holy Ghost by whose power and strength all the faithful be regenerate I do I say p onounce to thee my dear B o her T. V. that thou art already a Cit zen of Heaven The Lord thy God in whom thou dost put all thy trust for his dear Sons sake in whom thou dost also undoubtedly believe â—a h freely forgiven thee all thy sins clearly released all thine in quâ—ties and fully pardoned all thine offences be they never so many so grievous or so great and will never remember them any more to Condemnation As truly as he liveth he will not have thee dye the death but hath verily determined purposed and eternally decreed that thou shalt live with him for ever Thy Sore shall be healed and thy Wounds bound up even of himself for his own Names sake He doth not nor will not look upon thy sins in thee but he respecteth and beholdeth thee in Christ in whom thou art lively graffed by Faith in his blood and in whom thou art most assuredly elected and chosen to be a sweet vessel of his Mercy and Salvation and wast thereto predestinate in him before the foundation of the world was laid In testimony and earnest whereof he hath given thee his good and holy Spirit which worketh in thee Faith Love and unfeigned Repentance with other godly Vertues contrary to the Corruption of thy Nature Also he hath commanded me this day although a most unworthy wretch to be a witness hereof by the Ministry of his holy Word Experience of Christ working in his Church grounded upon the truth of his most faithful Promises the which thou believing shalt live for ever Believest thou this my dear heart I know well thou dost believe The Lord increase thy Faith and give thee a lively feeling of all his mercies whereof thou art warranted and assured by the testimony of the holy Ghost who confirm in thy Conscience to the utter overthrowing of Satan and those his most hurtful dubitations whereby he is accustomed to molest and vex the true Children of God all that I have said and by Gods grace I will as a witness thereof confirm and seal the same with my blood for a most certain truth Wherefore my good Brother praise the Lord with a joyful heart and give him thanks for this his exceeding great mercy casting away all dubitation and wavering yea all sorrow of heart and pensiveness of mind for this the Lord your God and most dear and loving Father commandeth you to do by me nay rather by his own Mouth and Word pronounced by me But now my dear Brother after that I have done my message or rather the Lords message indeed I could finde in my heart to write two or three sheets of paper declaring the joy I bear in my heart for you mine own bowels in the Lord yet the time being so short as you do well know I am here constrained to make an end desiring you to pardon my slackness and to forgive my great negligence towards you promising you still that so long as my poor life doth last my prayer shall supply that my pen doth want as knoweth the Almighty God to whose most merciful defence I do heartily commit you and all other his dear children as well as though I had rehearsed them by Name desiring them most heartily to remember me in their hearty and daily Prayers as I know right well they do for I feel the daily comfort and commodity thereof and therefore I neither will nor can
his glory the which above all other things we that are his chosen children ought for to seek yea even with the loss of our own lives being yet well assured that the same shall not be shortned one minute of an hour before the time that God hath appointed Cast therefore dear Sister all your care upon the Lord which as S. Peter saith careth for you Great is his Providence for you and mighty is his love and mercy towards you with his grace he will defend you and with his holy Spirit he will evermore guide you wherewith he hath surely sealed you unto the day of Redemption He hath also given you the same in earnest for the recovery of the purchased Possession which he hath prepared for you before the foundation of the world was laid Be strong therefore and take a good heart as I hear say you be God for ever be blessed for you which hath graft his love in your good heart that nothing is able to separate you from the same but will rather chuse to suffer adversity with the people of God then to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a little season Oh happy woman that canst finde in thine heart to esteem the rebukes of Christ to be greater riches then all the treasures of the world as good Moses did Doubtless great is your reward in Heaven which you shall shortly receive of his free gift and not of any deserving Thus dear Mother Glascock I have been bold to trouble you with my rude and simple Letters desiring you to take them in good worth being done in great haste as it doth appear but yet proceeding from a poor heart which floweth over in love towards you as my daily prayers for you can testifie which I trust shall supply that part of my duty towards you that my Pen now wanteth I thank you dear heart for all your loving Tokens and for the great kindness you have hitherto shewed unto my poor Brother Tyms and his Wife and Children with all other of Gods people to whom you daily do good the Lord recompence the same sevenfold into your bosome as I doubt not but he will according to his infallible Promises I pray you have my hearty commendations unto your Husband I beseech the Lord strengthen him in the Confession of his Truth as my trust is that he will that we may all joyfully rest with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdome of God unto the which he bring us that with his most precious blood hath bought us The Blessing of God be with you now and ever Amen Your daily Orator and unfeigned Lover John Careles Prisoner of the Lord Pray pray pray A brief Admonition written by John Careles to Mrs. Agnes Glascock in a Book of hers when she came to the Prison to visit him THere is nothing that the holy Scripture throughout doth so much commend unto us as true Faith and stedfast trust in the Promises of Gods eternal mercies towards us in Jesus Christ For from the same as forth of the chief Fountain and Well-spring of life do flow all kindes of virtues and godly fruits specially true love towards God in the which we ought purely to serve him all the dayes of our life and also Christian Charity towards our Neighbours as well to help them at all needs as also not to hurt them by any means Therefore pray earnestly for the increase of faith and lively feeling of Gods mercy for all things are possible to him that can undoubtedly believe The effects of Faith Faith is that thing which assureth us of Gods mercy and whereby we vanquish all the fiery darts of the Devil Our victory that overcometh the world The knife that killeth and mortifieth the flesh and finally that which setteth us at peace with God and quieteth our Consciences alwayes before him and maketh us merry and joyfull under the Cross with many moe things then I can now express Pray therefore for faith in faith And for the Lords sake beware of Popery and Popish Idolatry the Idol of the wicked Mass and other Idolatrous Service Make not your body which is a member of Christ a member of Antichrist Remember that we shall receive of God according to that we do in the body be it good or evil Therefore glorifie God in your body which is dearly bought Betray not the Truth lest the Lord deny you If God be God follow him You cannot serve two Masters I write not this as doubting you but by the way of Admonition God keep you from all evil My Sister dear God give you grace With stedfast Faith in Christ his Name His Gospel still for to embrace And live according to the same To dye therefore think it no shame But hope in God with faithfull trust And he will give you praise with fame When you shall rise out of the dust For which most sweet and joyfull day To God with faith your Prayer make And think on me I do you pray The which did write this for your sake And thus to God I you betake Who is your Castle and strong Rock He keep you whether you sleep or wake Farewell dear Mistris A. Glascock An other Letter of John Careles to Mrs. A. G. to comfort her in her repentance after she had been at Mass fruitful for all them to be read which have fallen and are to be raised up again THe peace of God in Jesus Christ the eternal comforts of his sweet Spirit be with you and strengthen and comfort you my dear and faitâ—ful Sister Amen Although the perillous dayes be come whereof Christ prophesied that if it were possible the very elect should be deceived yet let the true faithful Christians rejoyce and be glad knowing that the Lord himself is their keeper who will not suffer one hair of their heads to perish without his almighty good will and pleasure neither will suffer them to be further tempteâ— then he will give them strength to bear but will in the midst of their temptations make a way for them to escape out So good and gracious a God is he to all his chosen Children And though sometimes he do let his elect stumble and fall yet no doubt he will raise them up again to the further increase of their comfort and to the setting forth of his glory and praise Which thing my dear and faithful loving Sister I trust shall be well verified on you for I do hear say that by the manifold allurements inticements procurements yea and inforcements that you dear heart have had your foot hath chanced to slip forth of the way to the great discomfort of your Soul and the heaviness of your heart But my good Sister be of good chear for the Lord will not so leave you but he will raise you up again and make you stronger then ever you were so that your fall shall turn to his glory your profit For if you had not by this proved the experience of your
own strength or rather your own weakness you would have stood too much in your own Conceit or perchance have gloried in your self and have despised and condemned other weak persons that have committed the like offence Therefore now you may see what the best of us all can do if God leave us to our selves Which thing ought to move you to be diligent to call earnestly upon God for his grace and the strength of his Holy Spirit without the which we are not able to stand one hour and to be most thankful for the same when you have it and then to be more circumspect in time to come Therefore dear Sister seeing that you have done otherwise then the word of God and your own Conscience would allow yet dear heart do you not think that God therefore will cast you clean away but know that he hath mercy enough in store for all them that truly repent and believe in him although the sins of them were as many in number as the sands in the Sea and as great as the sins of the whole world It is a greater sin to mistrust the mercy promises of God then to commit the greatest offence in the World Therefore good Sister beware in any wise To trust to Gods Promises that you do not once mistrust the promises of Gods mercy towards you but know for a very surety that all your sins be utterly forgiven you for Christs sake be they never so many so griâ—vous or so great But now dear heart take â—eed and beware that you do not cloke that sin and increase the same daily in communicating with the wicked in their Idolatry and devilish doings at their den of Thieves Custome of sin a perilous matter Do not I say dear Sister come at any of their Antichristian service lest by little and little you utterly lose a good Conscience and at length esteem it for none offence as alas a great number doth at this day to the great peril of their Souls The Lord be merciful unto them and give them grace to repent in time and turn to the Lord and then they shall be sure to finde mercy at the Lords hand as doubtless you have done praised be his Name therefore Ah my dear Sister you may now see the words of Christ verified upon your self that a mans greatest foes shall be they of his own houshold A. G. entisâ—d by her husband to go to the Mass for your Husband hath gotten you to do that which all the tyrants in the World could never have made you to do Doubtless he may be sorry for it God give him grace to repent or else without doubt it will be laid to his charge one day when he would not by his will hear it for all the goods of the World Well I think my Brother Tyms will write him a letter shortly that shall touch his Conscience if he have any Conscience at all But now again to you dear Sister The thing that is done cannot be undone and you are not the first that have offended neither are you so good and so holy as hath at a time slipt forth of the way Therefore I would not have you to be so much discomforted as I hear say you be The raising up of a troubled Conscience after his fall as though God were not as able to forgive you your offence as he was to forgive his dear Saints that offended him in times past or as though God were not as merciful now as ever he was whereas in very deed there is with the Lord as the Prophet saith mercy and plentiful redemption and his mercy farre surmounteth all his works God turneth all things to the best to them that be hiâ— and he never faileth any that put their whole trust and confidence in him how great an offender or how wicked a trespasser soever he be No he maketh their falls and backslidings many times to turn to their profit and commodity and to the setting forth of his glory as doubtless dear Sister yours shall do if you put your whole Faith hope and trust onely in his infinite and eternal sweet mercies Oh what a subtile crafty lying Serpent is that Satan our old Enemy Satan when he cannot bring a man to his servâ—â—o he presseth him wâ—th distrust of Gods mercy that when he seeth that he cannot make us to continue in our wickedness to do him service would then bring us into a doubting and mistrusting of the mercy of God which is the greatest offence that can be yea infidelity is the root and original of all other sins Therefore my sweet Sister give no place to that cruel adversary of mankinde who hath been a lyer and a mutherer from the beginning but stedfastly believe the Lord who hath sent you word by me his most unworthy Servant that all your sins be pardoned forgiven and clean released for Jesus Christs sake our onely Lord and Saviour To whom with the Father and the holy Ghost be all honour glory praise thanks power rule and dominion for ever and for ever Amen Farewel my dear Sister and be of good chear Believe in the Lord and you shall live for ever The Lord increase your Faith Amen Amen Your poor Brother and daily faithful Orator John Careles Prisoner of the Lord. Pray for me Another Letter of John Careles to A. B. a faithfull Minister of the Lord containing certain fruitfull Precepts of Matrimony I Beseech the same everlasting Lord my dear and faithful Brother that blessed young Tobias with his Wife Sarah and brought them together in due time with reverence and fear preserve and bless you both and your seed after you that they may increase the number of the faithful by thousands and thousands And as the Lord of his great mercy and fatherly Providence hath been alwayes careful for you and now hath for your comfort accomplished his good work in coupling you with a faithful Mate so see that you be thankful for his Providence towards you that it may every way in you be an increase of love and godliness yea of Christian joy and gladness in these sorrowful dayes but yet so that you mourn with the true mourners of Sion and be sorry yet in measure for the hurt of the same Pray also in faith for her prosperity that the Lord may build up the walls of Jerusalem again Psal 146. Oh that the Lord would turn Sions Captivity as the river into the South then should our hearts be made glad and our mouthes filled with laughter Then would the Heathen Hypocrites say The Lord hath done much for them Oh the Lord hath done great things for us already whereof let us heartily rejoyce and praise his Name therefore For though we now sow with tears yet shall we be sure to reap with gladness and as we now go forth weeping bearing forth good seed so shall we come again with joy The death of the Martyrs is
sight is the Sin of Ingratitude The sin of ingratitude But to such as be thankful for his benefits he doth not onely to the old ever adde new but also maketh the commodity of his former gifts ever more and more to increase untill by them they are fully perswaded and throughly certified of his everlasting love in Christ Jesus which is eternal life it self so much doth he of his great mercy delight in a thankful heart Therefore I do yet once again earnestly require you that above all things you be thankful to God for his benefits God loveth a thankful hoart not onely for your Election Creation Redemption and Preservation but also for his other temporal gifts wherewith he hath endued you amongst the which the chief and most excellent is as testifieth the holy Ghost your good godly and faithful loving Husband For as the Wiseman saith Goods and possessions may come to a man by the death of his friends but a good Wife is the gift of God A good wiâ—â—tâ—e gift of Goâ— which the Lord will give for a good portion to such as fear him And the like is of a good Husband as the Lord hath now given you praised be his Name therefore He hath not given you an ignorant froward churlish brawling wastful rioting drunken Husband wherewith he hath plagued many other as he might also have done you but he hath given you a most godly leaâ—ned gentle loving quiet patient thrifty diligent and sober Husband by whom he will nourish cherish keep and defend you instruct and teach you yea care and provide for you and your Children the which he will also by him give you such things as be necessary for you He hath not dealt so with every body and yet he hath done this and much more for you my dear Sister and will thereto increase joy and love between you God delighteth in the agreement between Man Wife for as he delighteth in the love godly agreement of man wife together so is it he only that maketh them and all the whole houshold to be of one mind Unto the which his gracious work he requireth your diligence and will use you as his instrument and mean the more effectuously to accomplâ—sh the same And therefore I now require you to observe this my simple counsel the which I have here written as a testimonial of my good will towards you because I think in this life I shall never more see you Now as I have shewed you how you should be thankful unto God for his good gifts so I exhort you and as much as in me lieth charge you to be evermore thankful unto your dear loving husband who hath given himself unto you which is a more precious jewel in the Church of God then perchance you are yet aware of The duty of Wives toward their Husbands Think your self unworthy to be matched with such an Instrument of God and also reverence evermore the gifts of God in him and seek with true obedience and love to serve him in recompence of his true and painful heart towards you Be loth in any wise to offend him yea rather be careful and diligent to please him that his Soul may bless you If at any time you shall chance to anger him or to do or speak any thing that shall grieve him see that you never rest until you have pacified him and made him merry again If at any time he shall chance to blame you without a cause or for that you cannnot do therewith which thing happeneth sometimes of the best men living see that you bear it patiently and give him no uncomely or unkinde word for it but ever more look upon him with a loving and chearful countenance and rather take the fault upon you then seem to be displeased A chearful countenance Be alwayes merry and chearful in his company but not with too much lightness Beware in any wise of swelling powting or lowring for that is a token of a cruel and unloving heart except it be in respect of sin or in the time of sickness Be not sorrowful for any adversity that God sendeth but beware that nothing be spilt or go to waste through your negligence In any wise see rhat you be quick and cleanly about his meat and drink and prepare him the same according to his diet in due season Temperance in apparrel Go cleanly and well favouredly in your Apparel but beware of of Pride in any wise Finally in word and deed shew your self wise humble merry and loving towards him and also towards such as he doth love and then shall you lead a blessed life I could speak of many other things the which I have learned and proved true by experience but I know that you will do in all things much better then I can teach you because you have that anointing that teacheth you all things who hath also given you an heart to obey and serve him Yet I trust you will not be offended for this which I have written but rather accept my good will towards you whom I love in the Lord as well as I do my daughter Judith Thus as mine own Soul I commend you both to God desiring him to bless you with all manner of Spiritual blessings in heavenly things and also with the dew of Heaven and fatness of the Earth that in all things you may be made rich in Jesus Christ our Lord and onely Saviour The Lord increase and bless the fruit of your bodyes that your Children may stand round about your Table thick fresh and lusty like the Olive branches God give you both a long life that you may see and bless your Childrens Children unto the third and fourth Generation and teach them the true fear and love of God and that Faith for the which they shall be accepted in his sight God let you see the prosperity of Sion for whose lying in the dust let your hearts mourn The Lord make perfect your love together in him and alwayes increase the same Note that both these departed in quiet peace the one 1565. the other 1568. and bring you both in peace to your graves at a good age And now I bid you both most heartily farewel and I think I shall now take my leave of you for ever in this life I beseech you both to aid me with your continual Prayers as I will not forget you in mine that I may have a joyful victory through Jesus Christ To whose most mercifull defence I do most heartily for ever commend you to be kept unblameable untill his coming The which I beseech him to hasten for his Mercies sake Your own unfeignedly John Careles Prisoner of the Lord. Here endeth the Letters of John Careles A Letter of Mr. John Bradfords which he wrote to a faithfull Woman in her heaviness and trouble most comfortable for all those to reade that are afflicted and broken-hearted for their sins GOd
the life of the Gospel and bring our sheaves full of Corn. Yea the death of the Martyrs which is most precious in his sight shall be the life of the Gospel spight of the Papists hearts Pray for me dear heart that I may be counted worthy to sowe some seed amongst the sweet Saints of the Lord that I may reap the same again without ceasing A sowing time is Christs Church at the Harvest It is now sowing time of the year men say in the Country and I think I shall make an end of sowing before all March be past for I hear say that I shall prove how my Plough will enter into the stony ground of the hard hearted Papists within these four dayes I hope to hold fast and not to look back neither for fear nor flattery until I have made an end of sowing and then will I set me down and rest me and ask them all no leave and look for the lively fruit and increase thereof with joy and gladness My dear Brother the time approacheth near I praise God therefore that I must put off this siâ—ful tabernacle and go home to my heavenly Father where divers of my dear Brethren are already looking and wishing for me I beseech you therefore that you will help me forward with your faithful Prayers as I know you doe for I do feel the comfort and commodity thereof That you have observed my simple Counsell I am right glad This counsel was that he should marry notwithstanding certain lets whereby Satan sought to hinder his Marriage and I trust in the Lord God you shall finde comfort in the same And that you may so doe indeed I have been so bold to write these few words unto you because I shall see you no more in this corruptible life therefore mark them well First and above all things you must be very circumspect to keep the band of love and beware that there never spring up the root of bitterness between you If at any time there happen to rise any cause of unkindness between you as it is unpossible alwayes to be free from it see that you weed up the same with all lenity gentleness and patience The root of bitterness to be weeded out with the Spade of Patience and never suffer your self nor your wife to sleep in displeasure If you have cause to speak sharply and sometimes to reprove How and when the husband ought to reprove beware that you do not the same in the presence of other but keep your words until a convenient time which is the point of a wise man saith Solomon and then utter them in the spirit of meekness and the groaning spirit of perfect love which you must also let sometimes to cover faults and wink at them if they be not intollerable Whatsoever loss and mischance shall happen unto you Faults somtime must be covered with love take it patiently and bear it merrily and though the same should come partly through your wifes negligence yet let it rather be a loving warning to take heed in time to come then a cause of sorrow for that which is past and cannot be holpen I know by mine own experience that we are in this life subjâ—ct to many inconveniences and that of nature we are prone to displeasure Not to take unkindness for every trifle and ready to think unkindeness for every little trifle and specially with our best friends yea soonest with our loving wives which be most lothest to displease us But let us beware of this cankered corruption and consider that wrought most of all in love to bear with them according to Christs example towards his Congregation for whom he gave himself to cleanse it c. I had thought to have treated this matter at large but even now I am interrupted and otherwise letted I doubt not but you know your duty therein a great deal better then I can declare it unto you and as you know it so will do it but I love to be bold with you I intend also to write to your wife very shortly and so take my last farewel of you forever in this World And thus in great haste I am now constrained to make an end The blessing of God be alwayes with you Your own forever John Careles Pray pray pray with Faith Another Letter of John Careles to Elizabeth Wife of the said A. B. containing likewise certain godly Precepts of Matrimony pertaining to her duty THe everlasting peace of God in Iesus Christ the continual ayd strength and comfort of his most holy and mighty Spirit with increase of knowledge faith and perfect feeling of Gods eternal mercy be with you my dear and faithful loving Sister E. B. and with your godly loving husband and my dear and faithful Brother to the full performance of that good which he hath so graciously begun in you that in all things you may be madâ— rich and blessed in him and your seed after you now and ever Amen As I have been long desirous to write unto you my dear heart iâ— the Lord not onely being thereto bound of duty but also ofteâ— provoked of him to whom I owe my self and all that I am able to do I mean even that blessed of the Lords own mouth whom God hath joyned with you in that holy and Christian state of Matrimony even so at the last I have obtained time and occasion in some part to perform that which I have long purposed And forasmuch as the Lord of his great mercy and fatherly Care and Providence over you his dear childe hath now graciously accomplished that good work among many other which I as a friend of the Bridegroom have full heartily wished and often prayed for I think it good yea and my bounden duty to treat of such things as may be profitable to preserve mutual love and faithful amity between you Satan an enemy to all godly affairs which I know Satan will chiefly labour to diminish if he cannot altogether destroy the same lest by many joyful occasions you should be provoked continually to praise God for his good gâ—ft which that enemy hath by all means sought to hinder from you As for all other things I know you are sufficiently instructed and also have a most godly learned Companion who is well able further to teach you if need do require But in this thing I know my Experience is more then his Therefore my good Sister first and before all things see that you do diligently consider that as every good and perfect gift pertaining to Soul and Body is given from above and cometh from the Father of Light Even so to whomsoever the Lord dealeth any of his benefits of them he doth chiefly require alwayes a thankful heart for the same for else he will either take away his good gifts again or turn the same to their great discommodity and in the end to the increase of their condemnation So detestable in his