Careles through Christ the Beloved Say therefore with David Praise the Lord O my Soul and all that is within me praise his holy Name for he hath forgiven thee all thy sins as truely he hath And hereof I desire to be a Witness God make me worthy to hear from you the like true Message for my self Mine own dearly Beloved you have great cause to thank God most heartily that hath given you such Repentance and Faith The Lord increase the same in you and me a most miserable wretch whose heart is harder then the Adamant stone or else I could not thus long have stayed from writing unto you If I live and may I purpose and promise you to make amends Pray for me my most dear Brother I heartily beseech you and forgive me my long silence God our Father be with us for ever Amen Yours in the Lord John Bradford John Careles his Letter to Mr. Bradford THe Peace of God in Jesus Christ A sweet Letter of John Careles to Mr. Bradford a little before his Martyrdome the Eternal Comfort of his sweet Spirit which hath surely sealed you unto Eternal Salvation be with you and strengthen you in your joyful journey towards the Celestial Jerusalem my dear Friend and most faithful Brother Mr. Bradford to the setting forth of Gods glory and to your eternal joy in Christ Amen Ever since that good Mr. Philpot shewed me your last Letter my dear heart in the Lord I have continued in great heaviness and perplexity He mourneth for the loss and lâ—ck of Mr. Bradforâ— in the Church not for any hurt or discommodity that I can perceive coming towards you unto whom doubtless Death is made life and great felicity but for the great loss that Gods Church here in England shall sustain by the taking away of so godly worthy and necessary an instrument as the Lord hath made you to be Oh that my life and a thousand such wretched lives moe might go for yours Oh why doth God suffer me and such other Catterpillers to live that can do nothing but consume the Alms of the Church and take away you so worthy a Workman and Labourer in the Lords Vineyard But woe be to our sins and great unthanfulness which is the greatest cause of the taking away of such worthy instruments of God as should set forth his Glory and instruct his People If we had been thankful unto God for the good Ministers of his Word we had not been so soon deprived both of it and them The Lord forgive our great ingratitude and sins and give us true Repentance and Faith and hold his hand of Mercy over us for his dear Son Christs sake Take not away all thy tâ—ue Preachers forth of this Realm O Lord but leave us a Seed lest Englâ—nd be made like unto Sodom and Gomorrah when thy true Loâ—â— be gone But what go I about to mingle your mirth with my mourning and your just joy with my deserved sorrow If I loved you indeed as I have pretended I should surely rejoyce with you most heartily and praise God on your bâ—half from the very bottom of my heart He rejoyceth for the honour of Mr. Bradfords Martyrdome I should praise God day and night for your excellent Election in and through his great Mercy and should give him most humble thanks for your Vocation by his Gospel and your true Knowledge in the same I should earnestly praise him for your sweet justification whereof you are most certain by Gods Gâ—ace and Spirit and should instantly pray unto him for your Glorification which shall shortly ensue I should rejoyce and be glad to see you dignified by the Crown of Martyrdome and to be appointed to that honour to testifie his Truth and to Seal it with your Blood I should highly extoll the Lord who hath given you a glorious vâ—ctory over all your enemies visible and inv si le and hath given you Grace and Strength to finish the Tower that you have begun to build Finally if I loved you I should most heartily rejoice and be glad to see you delivered from this body of sin and vile person of the Flesh and brought into that heavenly Tabernacle where you shall be safely kept and never offend him more This and much more should I do if I had a good heart towards God or you his dear childe But alas I am an hypocrite and do seek nothing but mine own commodity I would have Gods everlasting Providence give place to my peevish will and purpose although it were to the hindrance of his glory and your sweet commodity God forgive me my horrible ingratitude sins and offences against him and good Brother do you forgive me my great negligence and unthankfulness towards you and henceforth I promise you I will put my will to Gods will and pray that the same may be fulfilled in you so long as you be on this earth and when you are taken hence I will most heartily praise the Lord for you so long as I have my being in this world Ah my dear heart now I must take my leave of you and as I think John Careles taketh his leave of M. Bradford my Vltimum Vale in this life but in the life to come I am right well assured we shall merrily meet together and that shortly I trust And in taking of my leave of you my dear heart in the Lord I shall desire you faithfully to remember all the sweet messages that the Lord our good God and most dear loving Father hath sent you by me his most unworthy Servant which as they are most true so shall they be most truly accomplished upon you eternally and for the more assurance and certificate thereof to your godly Conscience he hath commanded me to repeat the same unto you again in his own Name and Word Therefore now give ear and faithful credence Hearken Testimony of Gods Spirit O ye Heavens and thou earth give ear and bear me witness at the great Day that I do here faithfully and truely the Lords mâ—ssâ—ge unto his dear Servant John Careles doth Gods message to M. Bradford his singularly beloved and elâ—ct Childe â—â—â—n Bradford John Bradford thou man so specially beloved of God I pronounce and testifie unto thee in the Word and Name of the Lord Jehovah that all thy sins whatsoever they be be they never so many so grievous or so great be fully and freely pâ—â—doned released and forgiven thee by the mercy of God in Jesus Christ thine onely Lord and sweet Saviour in whom thou dost undoubtedly believe Power and practise of the keyes of the Gospel Christ hath cleansed thee with his Blood and clothed thee with his Righteousness and hath made â—hee in the sight of God his Father without spot or wrinckle so that when the fiâ—e doth his appointed office thou shalt be received as a sweet burnt Sacrifice into Heaven where thou shalt joyfully remain in Gods presence for
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
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