desire that wholy and altogither it should not be in this Jt is onely the worlde that hath taken vp enimitie against vs and striueth dailie to separate vs from the Lorde But what is in the worlde why the perswasions of it should please vs especiallie you who haue had experience of it whose life God hath filled with worldlie things You knowe what is the comfort of houses and landes you haue weighed them well and found them light You knowe the gladnes of a mother and haue in your sight Sōnes Daughters the triall of it is in you hath entred deepe euē as they haue bin the fruite of your owne wombe but in them you haue no such ioye as in the spirit of adoption by which you knowe your selfe to be the childe of God You knowe the treasure of a good husband with whom you haue had peaceable and louinge dayes but howe much is it a greater ioye of vnspeakeable gladnes to feele your selfe ioyned to Jesus Christ made a chaste member of his glorious body with whom you shal be ioyned for euer You haue seene a great many yeares of the age of man and haue measured the length of them so that if you might liue the dayes of Abraham yet you might account your houres and see the time at hande when in the ende of your course you shall take your rest and what were this to immortalitie To be short and to pretermit manie things wherewith God hath made your life as a blessing you haue seene fauour Credite Landes Authoritie Friendes Seruauntes the pleasures of these God hath giuen you You haue seene fulnesse of such delights but this and all els that you haue seene what is it to the grace of God the fellowshippe of Saintes the forgiuenes of your sinnes the loue of his countenance the assurance of your life the brightnes of his glorie your eternall blessinges Sith then in the world is no sure refuge the more I haue seene the fruit of your faith the more assuredlie J knowe the constancie of your minde readie to leaue the worlde to approch nearer vnto God and to account all these thinges to be but dunge to the ende you may winne Iesus Christ in whom you shal be so much more blessed as light is more bright then darknesse health is more excellent then sicknesse and life more precious then cruell death This good Madame you haue long knowen and with prayse professed it among men And nowe especiallie reape the fruite of it in these dayes of Gods visitation in which in a weake body you haue had a sharpe sickenesse to teach you that your life is in the handes of God the nature of your body that it is but dust so that you should not loue it but in the Lorde nor be pleased with it but as it pleaseth him readie to laye it downe when he shall call you This is that great and high commandement To loue God aboue all and this is the greatest obedience required of man to be readie to dye at the will of God Vnto which commaundement when I doe beseech you willinglie to yeelde I feele in my selfe howe the nature of man striueth against it all those delightes of which I spake before the pleasures of this present life they arise against it although we had no other comfort yet life it self is sweete vnto vs we are loth to make our beds in the darke our eyes they would yet see the sunne our eares would heare the sounde of worldly elements though our fleshe be grasse yet grasse hath a flower our fraile bodyes haue vanishinge fantasies agreeable vnto them as earth vnto earth and from which most hardlie you shall pull it away the Patriarkes Prophetes were sometime afraide Paule and Peter were not alwayes bolde they loued euer that life which they sawe in hope but they did feele the death whichc did fight in their members And howe should I then saye vnto you a weake woman feare not death or if I say it howe can you performe it beeing so weake a vessell of fleshe and bloud yet good Madame giue me leaue to intreate you J hope you shall haue a heart to graunt it J most humblie beseeche you feare not death The Apostles were men as we are yet Paule obteyned at last to be dissolued be with Christ if we be weaker then he the graces of God shal be more exalted in vs and we also shall say at the last Let thy seruaunt O Lord departe in peace It is the Lorde that hath promised this blessing vnto vs let vs heare it with faith and it will make death vile in our eyes it is enough if we knowe God will giue this victorie to his people lett vs be bolde though we feare a litle while yet feare shall be cast out and we shall say with a free spirit O death where is thy stinge c. trie your selfe therefore euery day and if your harte be bolde reioyce good Madame reioyce for euer the last and greatest enimie which is death is troden vnder your feete and what els can hurt you all other things of the world they are but seruauntes of death and serue to make his power more fearfull vnto vs friendes or kinsefolke golde siluer pretious stones or al other pleasures all labour vnto one ende to make vs more loth to die vanquish death and you haue vāquished all height depth life and death all is yours you are Christes And see I beseeeh you what glorie you haue gotten you are but a weake and sicke woman whom God hath shut vp into your chamber and tyed to your bedde and yet the great tyrant of the world that holdeth in bondage Kings Princes and woundeth them all with feare terror he is confounded before you the Lord of life he hath crushed him in pieces vnder you A blessed day that brought you first into this battell a blessed sickenesse that made you endure the fight most blessed ende in which you get the victorie for who hath giuen you this strength or who raigneth in you in such a day but he who hath saied and done it O death I wil be thy death and if he be in you who hath abolished death and in whose sight death shall neuer haue any rule what treasure what depth of ioy and gladnes shall he bring with him while you liue you shal liue in him no man shall take your ioy from you and whē you die you shall die in him and death shal be no death but you shall passe to eternall life and all that is fearfull shal be farre from you the burthen of sinne the malice of the deuill the terrour of hell the dreadfull words goe ye cursed into eternall fire All this is abolished troden down in the crosse of Iesus Christ who reigneth in you giueth you his spirit that you feare not death and all things that fill with ioy not the earth onely but the heauens also you haue destroyed death you shall feele thē all within you the fellowship of Saints Angels the forgiuenes of sinns the resurrection of the body the life euerlasting and
the seconde night of my trauell J could not sleape but taried a seuen night in the same place then came backe againe ill at ease thus it pleaseth God to deale with me and such a body he hath giuen me to the ende I am sure J should not loue this present vanitie but remember him that liueth euer desire to bee dissolued to see his glorie And this I beseeche you thinke to be the only cause that I haue not of longe time seene you and others with whom otherwise I would wishe to dwell and if it bee the good will of God to prosper my iourneys in time conuenient J trust to see you oftener hereafter but his will bee done who appoynteth our wayes and numbreth our steppes and doeth all things for the best to those that loue him and to him if J can commit you in my daily prayers that so my spirit bee present with you how longe soeuer J be absent in body yet my duetie I owe you shall not bee altogither vnperformed and that piece of it which yet is wantinge that in daily exhortation J might by the grace of God stirre vp your minde that in the meane time let me supplie with these letters In which most hartily I beseech you good Madame goe on forwarde and faint not in the course of godlines increase stil in faith in loue in hope til with a wise hart you haue such a feeling of the glory of God of eternall life that you haue made your account vp with the world are at a point with all that is vnder the Sun While God shall prolong your dayes reioyce in him that hath giuen you life and vse all his gifts to his glory and whē his appointed time shal come and bring death into your doores let this be the preparation of your heart you desire to be loosed to bee with Christ and let this be the answere of your tongue Lord nowe lettest thou thy seruant departe in peace Surelie then it shall come vnto you that a happie life shal haue a blessed end Your former times haue found their wished issue the entrance of your graue shal be the beginninge of your glorie Hee hath spoken it that can not deceyue vs That euerie one that beleeueth in him shall not taste of death but shall passe from death to life This good Madame is the crowne garlande of all our pleasures reioyce in feeling it and be glad in louing it knit it faste to all the thoughtes of your hart neuer forget it it shal giue you more pleasure in one day of your life thē without it you can find in a thousande yeares and all the men of the worlde which feele their pleasure in this life know nothing better then to followe their owne concupiscence they shall perish when you shall abyde they shall mourne when you shall reioyce because they haue forgotten the liuinge God whom you haue loued Manie tentations shal be continuallie against you but God is able to set you free from them cast your care on him you haue wonne the victorie And to the ende you may knowe him how to trust in him as the Prophet Dauid did so let vs doe that is Let vs make his testimonies to be our delight excercise our selues in thē day night for they onely can make vs wise and renue in vs the image of God that we may be perfect as our heauenlie father is perfect This hope J thanke God hath bine before me that J haue not feared in any trouble and in a good conscience of this doing I had rather haue the displeasure of the worlde then with losse of this desire or any hurt of it to winne the fauour of all mortall men And so I am sure it shall be with you that day in which you shall so feele Gods glorie eternall life that you will consecrate your life for euer vnto him loue hi◠feare him longe after him Jt shal be more ioyfull vnto your thē the daie of your birth your heart shal be see as Saint Paule saith to vse the world as though you vsed it not not to forsake the world or worldly things for they are the gifts of god for the cōforte of our life but as though wee forsaked it so let our loue bee taken from it and be euer with him who is the giuer of all hath all immortalitie There is not a day that passeth ouer our heades but it afflicteth the body maketh it a day shorter liuing then it was Let there not be a day but shall strenghthen our faith that we may be glad we are one daie neerer the presence of our God then wee were before And I beseech god who only can do what he will worke his good will with you in all spirituall blessings that you may abounde and in the cōdition of this life that you may reioice till your accounted times bee all fulfilled Amen Yours in the Lord Iesu Ed. Deringe A Letter of M. Ed. De. to the Ladie M. THE Lorde God who hath onely power to worke his will and hath shewed mercy vnto vs in an eternall couenant make vs perfect in all our ways to abound in righteousnes and loue his glorie that in life and death we may be happie and haue ioy in his presence who liueth euer Amen Good Madame tbe dutie that J haue long owed vnto you doth much binde me the experience of your good inclination sufficientlie doth emboulden me to write at this time vnto you and J trust the Lord God who hath giuen you his grace and called me to this worke will blesse the labour that it may bee profitable to his glorie your cōfort For if his worde haue so great strength in his Saintes when they are yet vnbeleeuing and ignorant that it reuealeth euen the secretes of their hartes that it maketh them fall down to worship him and to acknowledge his mightie power in it J am sure it can not be but the same worde shall haue strength in you wholy altogither to consecrate your selfe vnto the Lord till all your delight be in him alone So that I am nowe more to praye for my selfe then for you that I may rather speake the trueth then you heare it for of this I am sure your heart is prepared as the Prophete sayth to a good purpose the Lord make my hande as the penne of a good writer And nowe good Madame this is the summe of all Feare God loue him your goods your credit your thoghts your desires your body your life giue it all vnto him that he only may please you nothing but he only delight you his worde instruct you his wil perswade you that whether you liue or whether you die you may be wholy his A short lesson soone learned harde J confesse of the worlde to practise but not harde to you whom God hath loued for what is it can call away your
the God of glorie your eyes lightened with a pure faith shall see these things in so perfect beautie that you shall cast out death the feare of it yea you should thinke your time wearines if your dayes should be prolonged and you should bee yet many yeares a soiorner in this bodie in which you are a straunger from the presence of the Lorde And the nearer your time approcheth the gladder you shal be of the ende of your iourney when your harte shall feele it And when the earthlie house of this tabernacle shal be destroyed you haue a building giuen of God a house not made with hands but eternall in the heauens In this faith you shall not onely not feare death but you shall sigh and moane as Paule saith till you see your glorie and the lot of the saints that is in light where there is no more sorrow nor care nor feare nor death but the God of all mercie and father of our lord Jesus Christ shal be before vs for euer Thus Madame as my duetie is J haue written vnto you and God will blesse it as his promise is that it shall be for the best in the wisdome of his word we shal be strengthned in his grace that death sicknesse shal be forgotten all the desirs of our heart shal be with him And the Lord God for his Sonnes sake so haue mercie vpon vs that all euill taken from vs we may reioyce in him and see his blessed age that is in immortality is sealed in our heartes with his blessed spirit To whom be glorie for euermore Amen From Saint Ellens the tenth of Ianuarie Anno Domini 1576. Yours bounden in the Lord Iesu the onely forgiuenes of all our sinnes Ed. Deringe A Letter written by M. Edward Deringe to his Lord Maister the Duke of Northfolke Gratia et pax a Deo patre et domino nostro Iesu Christo THE longe good will that I haue borne vnto you as to one that earnestlie professed the Gospell and the great duetie I owe vnto you as to my Lord Master make that nowe I should write vnto you not knowing whether opportunitie shal be such that hereafter J may doe you any seruice God the author of all life he hath shutte both you and me vp in his handes that there is great likelihood our liues in this worlde they are but short The Prince that executeth the iudgement of the Lord she hath found you out in your great sinnes and sickenes that raigneth ouer all fleshe it hath taken now longe holde vpon me So that as I saide we are both in the handes of the Lord we are summoned paremtorilie death hath giuen an assault and the weake holdes of our life they are violentlie shaken Nowe therefore my good Lord let it vs take counsell togither and as a wise Maister learne of a faithfull seruaunt what is best to be done the worst that our sinnes can doe vnto vs is to lay vpon vs the iust rewarde of death my disease which thus afflicteth me for many thousand sinns it can but take away my life which J haue so abused And all your deepe dissimulation and hypocrisie your great ambitions your faithlesse religion which haue so bewitched you what can they doe more then this The remedie nowe is to make of necessitie a vertue that is to beare it wisely which you must needes abide J haue I thanke God founde that grace that I can loue this saying Cupio dissolui esse cum Christo the Lord also open your hearte and guide your vnderstandinge that with all saintes you may doe likewise and praye Veni Domine Iesu And now for asmuch as this is the last duetie that J am like to doe vnto you as God shall giue grace I will so aduice you as I may testifie myne owne faith and make you strong against the daye of triall trusting that our God shall so remember vs both in mercie that after a little while we shall see better dayes and raigne with him that abideth King for euer There is now but one thing necessarie for you to learne in this life that is how you may willinglie desire to die a hard lesson for a natural mā for death is our last enimie his assault most violent to the triall of our faith but Christ who hath ouercome death and hell hee hath broken the strength of this battell and set vp the songes of triumph vnto all that beleeue that we may haue the fulnesse of ioy and say with gladnes ô death where is thy sting Nowe that this ioye may be yours and this gladnes your inheritāce prepare your selfe not in your own wisdō for that hath alredie deceiued you but in the wisdome of god that your hope may be sure Jf you will now haue the hart that shal cōdemne the force of death cōsider wherfore you are called to die It is laid to your charg that you haue delt traytrously with your Prince with your coūtry with the religiō of God and vpon these crimes you are cōdemned to die If you be guiltles ô my Lord blessed are you blessed is your portion he hath spokē it that neuer will change Jf whē you do well you suffer wrōgfully take it patiētly for this is acceptable to god but if you be guilty you haue not your hope in death for that you haue deserued but your hope is this that you die so as it becōmeth you which if god shal grāt vnto you then blessed is the howre that God shall bring vpon you you shal make that change which god for his Christes sake lay speedily vpon all his children you shal die once that you may liue euer Now that you may know how you ought to die learne this of the lord which he hath so plainly taught you The first part of your true repētāce must be an hūble cōfessiō what soeuer your own conscience can vtter more thē is reuealed O my Lorde speake opēly the trueth sathan is enimie vnto vs his slightes are many if you will treade the malicious serpent vnder your feete triumph with Christ who hath spoiled hell tell the trueth my Lord conceale nothing so shall you shunne the diuel If my words seeme but light to perswade you heare the wisest counsellour that euer raigned in Israel He that hideth his sinne saieth Salomon shall neuer prosper but he that cōfesseth forsaketh them shall finde mercie Whē Acan had transgressed in Israel deserued death when he was brought into iudgemēt Ioshua said vnto him My Son J beseech thee giue glory to the lord God of Israel make cōfession vnto him shew me now what thou hast done Loe my Lord this is to giue glorie vnto God to cōfesse your sin
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
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
vnto you but as other things are farre contrarie to my desire so is it in my comming vnto you J am constrayned rather to write then to come but God appointes our wayes whether J come and be with you or else be other where and heare from you J trust and am perswaded that both I shall heare from you and you shall haue the same constancie in the loue of trueth and still increase in the knowledge of it till the good grace of God haue made the worke perfect that it hath begunne and you with all your harte and all your soule doe feare the Lorde and delight in all obedience of his holy will Wherevnto though we be sufficientlie perswaded by the nature of godlines it selfe which all men doe prayse and the righteous doe loue yet a greater prouocation is in you because God hath giuen you a good estate in whiche your example shall doe good to many and because good hath filled you with a hartie affection to testifie his Religion that you may accordingly in all weldoing surmount the praise of your profession and especially because he that hath called you is holy that you may expresse his similitude and likenes in all your wayes and this good course through euill dayes when God of his mercy shall make streight vnto vs wee shall see then what is the latter end Our hartes shal be satisfied with it and our tonge shal speake not as the world doth blessed are the riche mē or blessed are the mighty for all these haue winges to flie away and highe estates to sit downe in the dust when man must goe make his bed in the darke and say to coruption thou art my father and to the worme thou art my mother and sister but our songe shal be in better hermonie and wee shall say with the Prophet Dauid blessed is the man that feareth the Lorde and delights greatly in his commaundemēts For when all hatred shall growe against this and all aduersity shall stryue to come vppon it yet all is nothing and shall not moue it For when our hart is strenghtened with this grace wee see our portions in all estates and tymes in discredit we see praise in pouerty riches in anger fauour in darknes light in bondage libertie and in death life yea whatsoeuer in weaknes of bodie in enuie of tyme in vncertainty of estate in danger of life or in any thinge els because nothinge can seperat vs from the loue of God nothinge can turne vnto our harme for wee haue his promise that is able to performe it that to those that loue God all things happen for the best This purpose of life is soone had and this course is easly begon but the frute of it doth not vade nor the gladnes of it shall neuer bee loste so that wee shall not nor by the grace of God we will not for so litle labour lose so great a reward nor for a litle pleasure which vainlie wee thinke is in other thinges receaue the reward of our foolishnes which assuredlie wee knowe hath euerlastinge griefe wee haue not so vnfruictfullie learned Christ nor so vnhappelie geuen witnesse of his trueth But better thinges belonge vnto vs in better wayes wee wll run our course in a better hope lay downe our bodies The children of the worlde shall make the worlde their portion wee looke for another citty of which the Lord is the workeman and wee will not buylde vp our vnhappines in the vayne desires and concupiscence of this world neither yet seinge God is good to vs to fill our dayes with peace will wee deny any comfort that is offered vs in this present pilgrimage but seeinge the earth is the Lordes and all that therin is wee haue perfect pleasure in frendes riches authoritie honnor if all bee his All are pure if all bee of him Jn all is pleasures for where his kingdome is there is righteousnes and peace and ioye of the holy Ghost and sorrowe and sinne is cast out only let vs care as all thinges are good so we vse them and as they are corrupt so to let them alone St. Paule teacheth that to the pure all thinges are pure but to the impure all thinges are impure And the thinges of this worlde are made accordinge to the conscience of man Houlde this to remember it at noone dayes and lett our reynes instruct vs in it in the night season that wee feell our hartes inflamed with the loue of God and that it may bee acceptable vnto vs as our owne life to sett forth his praise That wee acknowledge his glorie whiche shineth in all his his workes and then the Lorde hath set vs in a large rome of libertie where we walke with boldnes in good delight of his creatures and in deed and in trueth this it is when this affliction hath taken roote within mee and I feele the worke of it perpetually within my minde whether J be following my Hauke or my bowle J make a more acceptable sacrifice to God then the harte barren of this loue of God can doe though the knee bowe or the tongue say praysed be the Lorde for euery one that sayeth Lorde Lorde shall not enter into the kingdome of heauen but in whom so euer the loue of God doeth reigne and hath driuen out the lewde desires of a dissolute minde him God hath chosen and the spirit of his sonne Christ cryeth within him Our Father yet I meane not here to iustifie these worldly minded men to whom the day is to short for their vaine playes except they reach it out till midnight at Cardes and Dice such people as they commonly fill all their delightes with blasphemie so lett them knowe that the loue of the liuing God they neuer felt but the god of this worlde hath blinded their vnbeleeuing heartes and in their vncleannes there I leaue them till the sinnes of their youth bee rotten in their bones that they may sinke deepe in their owne shame My meaning is that the man of God whose soule doeth thirste to see his glorie and hath the ioye of his life in immortalitie in respect of the which hee accounteth all the worlde to be but dunge I saye that man may haue true delight in the dayes of his vanitie the smelling of the dogge the flying of the birde the qualities of all creatures they were made for him and he is iniurious to the blood of Christ that thinkes he may not vse them but all these things are good for our recreation to comfort the frailtie of weake bodyes and to bring refreshing to a wearie spirite which end if we forget and make it our pastime and so call it then we turne our pastime into sinne For what is our tyme that we are wearie of it or what is our life that seemeth so slowe to passe are we grieued with the light which the Lorde hath set in the Heauens or is the feeling of our body burdenous vnto vs or our
countenances of the world in which in deede there is nothinge but vanitie of vanities and all is vanitie and thinke good Mistresse B. howe many occasions are before vs to cause vs to forget this or to let the desire of it to be◠quenched in vs or at the least to fill our selues with other pleasures of the worlde but God shall keepe you from the corruptions of the worlde and giue vnto you a wise heart which euery daye may searche your thoughtes and suffer you neuer to forget your latter ende and seeing euery day doeth bring you neare vnto it let euery day kindle more your affections that you may loue it vnto the ende and then our hope shal be full and our mouthes opened for euer Amen Yours Ed. Deringe To Maistres B. THe grace of our Lorde Iesus Christ be with you euer As J trust the Lord doeth strenghten you to better health that you may liue to his prayse so J am desirous to heare also of your amendment but much more as God hath made manifest in you many tokens of his grace so J hartily pray that you may bee made euen as Paule to moorne still in this earthlie tabernacle and to saye vnfainedlie I desire to bee dissolued and to be with Christ this is that good issue of life to which I haue often prayed that J might attayne vnto it this is that measure of grace whiche as I am most bounde so hartely J beseech our God and Sauiour that it may plentifully be powred vppon you And if wee shal be made in our liues so happie then haue we a dwelling in perfect peace and in deede we be receyued into the couenaunt of the newe Testament that wee should be filled with ioye of the holy Ghost For what can disquiet vs or what can bee grieuous vnto vs if in the face of Iesus Christ we see our rising agayne from the graue and feare not before the shaddow of death all other afflictions they are but ministers vnto this in the presence of death they are dispersed and they doe not followe vs vnto the darke places If God will haue mercie vpon vs to blesse vs into this victorie thē hath hee giuen vs our inheritaunce in pleasant places and our portion in a happie lot What so euer enimies are against vs they shall striue in vayne and all things contrarie vnto vs shall haue no strength for beyonde death there is no power in them and death it selfe is dispised in our eyes Jf we felt not this in our heartes but would seeke outwarde testimonie of men let him speake that findeth any greater feare then this The sicke person or prisoner may bee loth to dye but the dead man he feareth no euill and they that liue in prosperitie this is not their feare least they should haue a fall but it is death that is bitter vnto all them that haue peace in their riches Seeing this then is the greatest tyrant that maketh Princes tremble and that anguish of harte that turneth all pleasure into wormwoode what soeuer is vnder the sunne good maistres B. as you are so abyde and as you haue receyued so abounde till the good graces of the liuinge GOD haue made you stronger then sinne or death so shall your dayes be all in blessing and your accounted tymes haue true delight till the latter ende doe shine in hope So shall you bee bolde to saye with Dauid Surely the Lord will deliuer me from the snare of the hunter and from the noysome pestilence I shall not bee afrayde of the feare of the night nor of the arrowe that flyeth in the day nor of the pestilence that walketh in the darkenes nor of the plague that destroyeth at noone I haue set the most highe to bee my refuge and there shall no euill come neare my tabernacle The Lorde blesse vs in this good hope make stronge our confidence in this perswasion that at last we may dwell in ioye and gladnes if feare haue often recourse into our fraile bodyes because we carrie in vs corruption whiche is the strength of death yet that feare shall not alwayes grieue vs for our hope is perfect and shall not be shaken Wee shall goe but as Saint Paule and Peter Abraham and Jsaac haue gone before and not onely they but oure Fathers our Mothers and our dearest friendes are gone with them and all that are behinde shall ouertake vs. The trouble of the trauell must needes appeare light in the middest of so happie companie or if their loue haue not such force in vs that Parentes and Friendes Apostles Prophetes Patriarkes and all the Saintes of God can make vs say Let vs dye with the righteous and let our latter ende bee as vnto them yet sure when among the dead I haue seene Christ and in the graue haue founde the God of glorie J shall say with a perfect hearte Christ is my life and death is myne aduantage What then remayneth more vnto vs but to striue faithfullie that we may come vnto this that God may worke with vs as with his saintes and wee may be pertaker with the happie Prophete to see the louing kindnes of the Lorde which is better then lyfe and to saye with him As the hart longeth after the water brookes so my soule longeth to see the Lord and in the meane season that we yet fulfill our accounted tyme whiche the Lorde graunt for his Churches sake that you may doe euen vntill olde age and many yeares in good increase of your childrens children happie peace of his chosen people In the meane while I say that your hope may be precious before you and in this earthlie tabernacle yet may haue your conuersation in the highest heauen from thence lookinge for a Sauiour euen Iesus Christ the righteous who shall change this corruptible body to make it like to his glorious body in that blessed time whiche shall skatter away all affliction seale within that happie assurāce of immortalitie whiche shal be in the presence of the God of glorie when this weake body shall haue a recompence of a fewe sorrowfull dayes in euerlastinge righteousnes Jn whiche hope the Lorde graunt many yeares you may rest Yours Ed. Dering To Maistres B. THe Lord who is riche in mercie keepe vs euer in the assured couenant of his newe Testament made in Jesus Christ that we may feele the forgiuenes of our sinnes and reioyce in the hope of eternall life Amen I am sure you wil be gladde good maistres B. to heare of our safe comming home And J would be gladde to heare of all your well dooing at your Saint Ellins therefore J writte vnto you Both to heare agayne that God continueth his good blessinges towardes you and to certifie you that I thanke God J am nowe safe at Shenfildes I haue not yet taken the plaster but this day J haue begonne to drinke Maistres P. Water Let it haue the worke which God will For in health our
meate doe not nourishe vs but by his worde In sicknesse medicines can doe vs no good except he blesse them We haue no newes here to write of but of countrie thinges scarse worth the telling and lesse worse the practisinge of it could be amended euery man goeth after his Oxe and his horse and most doe glorifie God no more then their bruite beast Jf they bee like vnto vs which are in the Court and in the Citie that the one be as ambitious the other as couetous as we bee brutishe and God be forgotten of vs all alike we may take vs againe the Lamentation of Ieremie for it is the great mercies of God that we bee not consumed But if such be the miserie in the worlde wee that are not of the worlde but by Christ are taken out of the worlde Let vs not loue the worlde which is such an enemie vnto God and then we shall not be condemned with the worlde when Christ shall come in glorie And the Lord be praysed who hath giuen vs eyes to see and eares to heare that we might bee wise harted not to say peace and truce with such things with such men crye peace and truce but rather to haue our life hidden with Christ in God and on his right hande beholde the peace which passeth all vnderstandinge and good Maistres B. increase in this God hath giuen you a happie helper who is willinglie ledde to all righteousnes The Lord God make his good worke perfect for his sonnes sake in him in you and in vs all that loue the comming of Jesus Christ Amen Yours in the Lord Ed. Dering A Letter of Ed. Der. to Mistres H. GRace and peace c. I haue heard good Maistres H. of your heauie estate that in many troubles the Lorde doeth exercise you but I trust you are also taught to say alwayes before God Thy will be done and if this be your prayers then knowe that nothinge happeneth but by his appointement and be contented with all that he hath done so that your heart may beare you witnesse that of all thinges the Lord is most deare vnto you and for your troubles giue onely your hearte to loue the Lorde and they shall seeme neyther great nor stronge vnto you For what can bee great if our heart be prepared to say with Saint Paule That we reioyce in afflictions because they shall breede in vs a hope which shall neuer make vs ashamed or what can be great if God haue taught vs That the momentaine afflictions of this worlde they are not worthie of the glorie that shal be reuealed vnto vs or what can seeme great if we heare the Apostle Brethren reioyce in afflictions reioyce exceedingly when you fall into many and great tribulations Surely good Maistres H. all is nothing for a frayle body a short life a sinfull creature what can come vnto it that should dismay it nay howe should we not if we knowe it well bee glad if death also were at our beddes side that we might at once see the outmost malice of the diuell and after for euermore bee deliuered from him A great cloude of witnesses as t'h Apostle sayeth are cited vnto in the eleuenth Chapter to the Hebrues of which euery one should bee our example to beare all crosses that the Lord doeth sende knowing that he is delighted with vs when wee bee faithfull to abyde these momentaine and light chastisementes Iob Dauid Paule our Sauiour Christ himselfe howe many things suffered they howe are we not ashamed to refuse the cause which they haue borne and way well your owne case what it is and you shall see little cause of sorrowe in it or if you compare it with other none at all Hath your husbande bene vnkinde vnto you beare it and you shall winne him at the last if not thanke God that you can continewe louing and obedient euen vnto an vnkinde husbande And I assure you in this one vertue there is more comfort and ioye then there can be griefe in all the discourtesies of men and what is that crosse of yours in respect of that which Abigaill did so longe and patientlie beare But your sonne hath grieued you much yea but you haue not the hundreth parte of the griefe that Dauid might haue had for his sonne Absolon and will you be more greeued then he Your sonne I trust shall yet proue well and you shall see his recouerie if not this maner of disease is rather a testimonie of a conscience grieued with his euill doing then an argument of his destruction so that euen in this griefe you haue great cause of ioye and what if God take from you the comfort of one childe leauing againe vnto you the comfort of a great many Will you or can you repine against the louing kindnes of the Lorde Howe gladde would Dauid haue bene of other good children in the losse of one euill yet you haue lost none neither is your sonne knowen to bee so euill but you may reioyce in him againe yet if all things were as euill as you could imagine what then Where is our loue to Iesus Christe that gaue his precious body to the death for our sinnes If we will not leaue sonne daughter and our own life for his sake can one heare fall from your sonnes heade but at Christes commaundement Is not he head of his Church and all thinges happen they not vnto vs as he will Herein you shall knowe you loue God aboue all when you can forget the childe of your wombe for his sake And therefore good Maistres H. giue not your selfe to any inordinate affections to offende God and hurt your selfe but say and thinke Thy will bee done O Lorde and when the time shall come of our latter ende we shall neuer haue ende of the blessed life which God shall giue vnto you and to all his saintes in that day Thus in haste I am constrayned to cease to write but I will not ceasse to pray that God may blesse you and giue you his ioyfull Spirite to fill you with all spirituall comfort against the tentations of the worlde and all the enuie of the Diuell And pray for me I beseech you that I may account all the world to be but donge to the ende I may winne Iesus Christ to whom the liuing and eternall God I committ you for euer Amen The xix of Aprill Yours in the Lord Iesus the onely forgiuenes of all our sinnes Edward Deringe Letters of Ed. De. to Mistres K. THe Lord God direct vs with his holy spirite that we may loue and feare him vnto the ende Amen Jt greeueth me good Maistres K. that you should bee so longe at Hendon as nowe you haue bene and all this while I could finde no leysure to come vnto you whatsoeuer my faulte hath bene herein I will make no other excuse but desire you to forgiue it And I pray God though I see you not yet I may so remember you as J
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