n Rom. 8.2 Ph. Sir I hope to be freed another way to wit by my sacrifices prayers and good works J. Thy sacrifices and thy prayers are an abomination unto me and thy workes are not found perfect before God Esa 66.3 Prov. 15.8 and 28.9 Rev. 3.2 Ph. What dost thou think to beat me off from my long prayers and good works I hope by these together with my fasting and mourning to lay a sure and happy foundation for my soul for ever J. Thou worker of iniquity that dost a practice bypocrisie I tell thee thy prayers are b sin thy works are done to be seen of men thou also fastest for c strife and thy mourning is but hypocritical therefore instead of laying a sure and happy foundation thou d heapest up wrath to thy self against the day of wrath a Esa 32.6 b Ps 109.7 c Es 58.4.5 d Job 36.13 Ph. Sir I am not a hypocrite but a true child of God and I hope I shall belived for I know most good men take me for a godly and righteous man J. Though thou dost cutwardly e appear righteous unto men yet within thou art full of hypocrisie and iniquity thou seed of the Serpent thy f hope will perish for thou canst not g escape the damnation of hell e Mat. 23.28 f Job 8.13 g Mat. 23.33 Ph. I do not fear what thou sayest for I am better perswaded of my self J. Though thy scared conscience and hardned heart hinders the yet from fearing yet fear terrour and trembling shall h surprise and fill thy spirit that thou shalt roare in i flame of fire and in everlasting burnings h Es 33.14 Deut. 32.22 i Luk. 3.17 Mark 9.43.44 46. Ph. I have joy and comfort in my spirit often from my performances and I know that God will hear my prayers that I make publickly and privately unto him J. Thou painted Sepulchre bast thou not read that the k joy of an hypacrite is but for a moment â— and that an hypocrite shall not l come before God And dost thou not m restrain prayer before God and when thou prayeâ—t dost thou not do it publickly to be n seen of men k Job 20.5 l Job 13.16 m Job 15.4 n Mat. 6.5 Ph. I pray in private also J. Then it is either when o some punishment is upon thee or else to quiet thy carnal conscience s Esa 26.16 Ph. Mr. why dost thou reproach me in saying thus J. Thou dissembler that p seekest honour of men and not the honour which commeth from God thou art to expect nothing but shame and q everlasting contempt p Joh. 5.44 q Dan. 12.2 Ph. Sir thou judgest rashly J. No as I hear I judge and my judgment is just and true Joh. 5.30 and 8.16.26 Ph. How knowest thou what I am that thou so judgest J. I am he that searcheth the heart and trieth the reines and I will give to every one of you according to your works Rev. 2.23 Ph. When thou judgest the world what difference wilt thou make between us that serve God and the Heathens that served him not J. The difference will be this that your r condemnation will be the greater because though ye know God yet ye served him s vainly falsly and t hypocritically r Mat. 23.14 Mar. 12.40 Luk. 20.47 s Mat. 15.9 t Esa 57.4 Ph. Good Master I would escape this condemnation for I believe it will be great and thy words begin to terrifie me already J. I have told thee already that there is no other way for thee to escape it but only by me but yet thou dost not believe me Joh. 10.25 Ph. How wilt thou have me believe in thee J. First I will have thee see thy selfe to be the v greatest and vilest of sinners and then 〈…〉 thy u own righteousnesse service and performances to be as filthy and meâ—â—ruous rags And after thou hast denied and w abhorred thy selfe then cry out Master save me or else I perish for the x whole need not a Physitian but those that are sick v 1 Tim. 1.15 u Esa 64.6 w Eze. 36.31 x Mat. 9.12 Ph. I doe see my self a sinner and I am sorry for my sins And doth nor God say that whosoever confesseth and forsaketh his sins shall find mercy J. I say unto thee thou luke-warm Professor Except thou eatest my flesh and drinkest my blood and submittest unto my righteousness thou canst not be saved Joh. 6.53 Ph. Well then If I cannot be saved by my own works and righteousness Master let me be beholding to thee to save me J. Hast thou not read that a Salvation belongeth onely to the Lord and that men are saved by grace without the works of the Law why then dost thou so b lightly esteem of the Rock of thy Salvation by seeking to be justified and saved as c it were by thy own works I tell thee again thou must d deny thy own righteousness wholly and look to be found in my righteousness only else thou canst not be saved a Psal 3.8 b Deut. 32.15 c Rom. 9.32 d Phil. 3.9 Ph. Indeed Master thou makest the way to Heaven very hard J. It is so hard that many shall seek to enter in and shall not be able Luke 13.24 Ph. If it be as thou sayest I am afraid that many of our best Scribes and Pharisees will come short of Heaven J. Thou maist be sure of that for verily I say unto thee Except thy righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees thou shalt in no ease enter into the Kingdome of Heaven Mat. 5.20 Ph. But Master there be some that do great works in thy name shall not all such be saved J. No for many will say unto me hereafter Lord Lord have we not prophesied in thy Name and in thy name cast out devils and in thy name done many wonderful things and then will I profess unto them I never knew you depart from me ye workers of iniquity Matth. 7.22.23 Ph. But why should not such rather be saved then cast away J. Because they did as thou dost dâ— all thâ—se things to be seen of men and to gain honour unto themselves and sâ— built their Salvation upon this false foundation as the foolish builder built his house upon the sand which in [g] i. e. Times of Trial and persecution Luke 8.12 time of flood and wind could not â—â—and but fell Mat. 7.26 27. Ph. I see thou dost reject me I thought to be one of thy Disciples and to follow thee J. No I do not reject thee but am very willing to receive thee but first consider what thou dost and what it will cost thee if thou wilt be my Disciple and follow me Ph. What will it cost me Master J. Thou must (h) i. e. In comparison of Christ and when they come in competition with him Mat. 10.37 hate thy father and mother wife and Children and brethren and sisters and thine own life also yea thou must go and sell all that
and Family are without good overseers and by this means your goods are diminished poverty will approach and it may be more dangers also as loss of life c. These you will say are no Benefits but disadvantages and those no mean ones neither so that you would be glad truly to know what benefit can come to you by this Cross which seemeth rather to bring you very great loss and damage To these things I answer that it is true indeed as you say of your bodies families children substance poverty life c. But if you would consider a while with inward eyes as you now behold them with outward then perhaps you would find more ease Do you not now by your inward sense perceive that you must part from all these things as well as with other worldly benesits Tell me then have you not this benefit by your Cross to learn to loath and leave the world and to long for and desire another world where is perpetuity and eternal happiness You ought of your own mind and free will to have forsaken the world and all earthly things using this world as though you used it not and having your hearts only set upon your treasures in Heaaven or else you can never be Christ true Disciple that is to be saved and to be where he is And think you my dear hearts in the Lord think you that this is no benefit to be compelled to do thus by this cross that so you may assuredly enjoy enless glory with the Lord. How doth God now as it were fatherly correct you to remember you of your former offences concerning these things and all other your miscarriages that your repentance and remission might ensue thereupon How doth God now compel you to call upon him and to be earnest in prayer Are these no benefits doth not the Scripture say that God doth correct us in this world because we should not be damned with the world That God chastneth every one whom he loveth that the end of this his correction shall be joy and holiness doth not the Scripture say that they are happy that suffer for righteousness sake as ye do that the glory and spirit of God resteth upon them that as you are now made like unto Christ insuffering so you shall be made like unto him in reigning doth not the Scripture say you are now going the high-way and right way to Heaven My dearly beloved what greater benefit then this can a godly heart desire The Lord open our hearts to see and feel this indeed then shall we think the Cross and afflictions which are the means to bring us to this to be very advantagious Then shall we thank God that he would chastise us And that we may do this indeed my dearly beloved Let us still remember that our Cross comes from God and that they come from God as a Father for our profit and benefit and therefore that we ought to call to mind our sins and to ask pardon for them and to look certainly for help at Gods hand in his good time such help as shall make most for Gods glory and for the comfort and benefit of our souls eternally Now if we do throughly believe and sensibly conceive these things then there will issue out from us hearty thanksgiving which God requireth as a most precious sacrifice And that we may all be thus thankful through Christ let us use earnest prayer to our God and dear Father begging of him to bless us keep us and comfort us under his sweet Cross for ever and ever Amen Amen To Mr. Laurence Sanders By Mr. John Bradford Martyr AH good brother that I could alwaies have God his majesty mercy Heaven and Hell before me then should I indure as Moses as seeing him that is invisible Blessed are they that die in the Lord then how much more they that die for the Lord. All here therefore God be praised do willingly pledg our Captain Christ of his Cup even when he will or how he will Let us rejoice in the straight way which few find and fewer walk therein but fewest of all continue therein unto the end Doubting of Gods favour is the very Dungeon of dispair Who live soberly but such as are holy Once accepted and beloved of God in Christ and ever beloved for whom he loveth he loveth to the end Repentance and justification is the Gramar School wherein we must first be conversant and learned before we go to the University of Gods most holy predestination The pattern which we must follow is Christ himself and not the multitude nor custome In all things we must avoid the seeking of our selves as well in doing as in learning things undone Long did the Lord linger and tarry to have shewed mercy upon us but we were ever the longer the worse He that will not have Gods blessing it shall be taken from him Bishop Ridly In a Letter to the dispersed brethren WE never had a better or more just cause either to continue our life or shed our blood we cannot take in hand a more certain clear and manifest Truth For it is not any ceremony for which we contend but it toucheth the very substance of our whole Religion yea even Christ himself What can all their cruelty do against us but make our Crowns more glorious yea beautify and multiply the same I esteem nothing available for me which will not further the glory of God Whosoever knowingly neglecteth and regardeth not to keep a good conscience he cannot have peace with God nor a lively Faith in his mercy If our Doctrine were once the truth of Gods word do you think that the alteration and change of the times can ever make it an untruth Let us joyn hands together in Christ and if we cannot overthrow yet over power and as much as in us lies let us shake those strong holds not with carnal but with spiritual weapons It is not the slanderers evil Tongue but a mans own evil deed that can defile him before God Yours by Gods grace in our Master Christs cause unto the Stake and thenceforth without all dangeror peril for ever and ever Doctor Taylor In a Letter to Bishop Cranmer GOD be praised again and again for this your excellent promotion which you are called unto at this present in that you are counted worthy to be allowed among the number of Christs Records and witnesses England hath had but a few learned Bishops that would stick to Christ so as to burn for his cause For Gods sake pray for us for we fail not daily to pray for you we are strongter and stronger in the Lord his name be praised and we doubt not but ye be so also in Christ sweet School Heaven is all and wholly on our side Rejoice therefore in the Lord and again I say rejoyce Pray for me I will pray for you God be praised since my condemnation I was never afraid to die Bishop Hooper In a Letter to
The Publican Lord be merciful to me a sinner The Pharisee Lord I am not as other men The doubting Christian Lord help my vnbeleefe Divine Love OR The willingness of Jesus Christ To Save SINNERS Discovered in three Divine Dialogues Between 1. Christ and a Publican 2. Christ and a Pharisee 3. Christ and a Doubting Christian With several other brief Tracts By V. P. London Printed for N. Crouch at the George over against the Stocks-Market 1677. TO THE READER THIS Treatise though small in bulk yet may be of more use then the many great Volumes of controversy wherewith the Press and the World have so many years been tired The method is very plain and familiar by way of Dialgue though it is sometimes much abused yet may be managed to the profit and benefit of the Reader as I hope this is which is intended for the use of honest plain hearted Christians to shew them almost all in the words of Jesus Christ himself his exceeding willingness to save and help poor humble repenting and returning Sinners as also his rejecting and casting off of proud self conceited and self-righteous Pharisees and Hypocrites who having never been sensible of the exceeding sinfulness of Sin do therefore never understand the absolute necessity of a Saviour if any poor Soul receive the least spiritual advantage by it I have my end in this publication V.P. Divine Love Discovered in Three Dialogues 1. Between Christ and a Publican 2. Between Christ and a Pharisee 3. Between Christ and a doubting Christian The first between Christ and a Publican IN the great day of the Feast Jesus stood and cryed saying if any man thirst let him come to me Joh. 7.31 Then drew near all the Publicans and Sinners for to hear him Luke 15.1 And he said unto one of them Jesus Poore Publican what makes thee draw near to me Publican Because they say Lord that thou art a friend of Publicans Sinners Mat. 11.19 J. So I am and thou art Welcome my beloved friend sit down therefore with me and my Disciples Mat. 9.10 P. Good Master though I am unworthy to come into thy presence yet through thy leave I 'le sit here at thy feet to hear thy gracious words Mark 7.25 Luke 10.39 John 12.3 J. How knowest thou that my words are gracious P. Lord I have heard thee say that Publicans Harlots shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven before the Pharisees which think themselves far better than us Mat. 21.31 Luke 18.11 12. J. And what say the Pharisees to that P. They murmur among themselves and say This man receiveth sinners and eateth with them Luke 15.2 J. Didst thou ever hear ine Preach besides that time P. Yes once besides and it was the best and comfortablest Sermon that ever I heard J. Dost thou remember any of it P. Yes though I have a bad memory yet I remember thou didst say if a man had a hundred sheep and did loose one of them he would leave the ninety and nine in the Wilderness and go after that which was lost until he find it and when he had found it he sayeth it on his shoulders rejoycing and when he comes home he calleth together his friends and neighbours saying unto them rejoyce with me for I have found my sheep that was lost J. Is that all thou dost remember P. No I remember somewhat more that thou didst speak of a woman that had ten pieces of Silver and when she had lost one piece shee sought for it till she had found it and then called her neighbours together to rejoyce with her Also thou speakest of a man that had two Sons the one that lived still at home and was obedient to his Father the other that went away from his Father and spent his Fathers means among harlots till he came to Poverty and yet when he returned to his Father his Father did receive him willingly and made him great welcome and entertainment J. Well done my friend thou hast well remembred but dost thou know why I speak these comparisons P. No Sir I do not well know that J. It was to comfort and encourage the Publicans and great sinners that did here me and to silence the Jews that did murmur because they came to hear me and because I received them P. It is true Lord there were many of us there then but we did not know what thou didst mean by the lost sheep the lost piece and the wicked Son J. I did mean thy Country-men and Companions the Publicans Harlots and Sinuers that are in a lost condition because of your Sins and Wickedness in the Eyes of others as the Pharisees quite lost and adjudged to perish for ever P. But who was it Lord that did seek for the Lost sheep and the Lost piece of Silver J. It was I who am the Saviour of Sinners and the Shepherd of the sheep that am come to seek and to save that which is lost Luk. 19.10 Mat. 18.11 P. Lord I am one of those that are lost what shall I do to be saved Act. 16.31 J. I am the way and the door if any man enter in he shall be saved and whosoever believeth on me shall not perish but have everlasting life Joh. 14.6 10.9 3.15.16 P. Lord canst thou save such a Sinner as I am J. Yes I have power to save and Power to destroy but I came not to destroy * Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Souls of men mens lives but to Save them Jam. 4.12 Luk. 9.56 P. And art thou willing Lord that I should be saved J. Yes I am willing that all should be saved and come to the knowledg of the truth 1 Tim. 2.5 P. But Lord I am a wicked and a sinful man Luke 5.8 J. I know dear Soul thou art so But I came not to call the Righteous but Sinners to Repentance Mat. 9.13 P. But Lord I am not an ordinary but an extraordinary Sinner J. Notwithstanding poor man hearken for thy comfort there was a certain Creditor that had two Debtors the one owed five hundred pence and the other fifty and when they had nothing to pay he freely forgave them both Luk. 7.41 42. P. But Lord I am a greater Sinner then either of them both for I have nothing but Sinned all my Life time J. What though I am come to deliver those that were all their life time subject to (a) Or the bondage of Sin Bondage Heb. 2.15 P. Lord be merciful to me being a Sinner for I think there is not a greater sinner upon earth then I am Luke 18.13 J. I am merciful and I will be merciful and will pardon thy Sins Jer. 3.12 Heb. 8.12 P. Lord I am such a Sinner I deserve no pardon for I have wearied thee with my Sins J. Though thou dost not deserve pardon and though thou hast wearied me with thy Sins yet I will pardon thy iniquities for my own names sake Esa 43.25 P. Lord
I do think my Sins are so great that it is impossible for them to be pardoned J. Do not think or say so for all things are possible to him that believeth Mark 9.23 P. But my Sins are so red I think all the Water in the Sea cannot wash them away J. Though thy Sins be as Scarlet they shall be as white as Snow and though they be red like Crimson they shall be as Wool if thou wilt turn to me from them for my Blood can cleanse thee from all Sin Esa 1.18 1 John 1.7 P. But Lord if I should turn to thee from them yet they are written down and thou wilt not blot them out Jer. 18.23 J. I am he that bloteth out thy transgressions yea have bloted out as a thick cloud thy transgressions and as a Cloud thy Sins return therefore unto me for I have redeemed thee Esa 43.25 44.22 P. But if I should return unto thee yet when I Sin again thou wilt remember my Sins J. No I will pardon thee and thy Sins and iniquities will I remember no more Heb. 10.17 P. Oh Lord I am the child of wicked parents and thou hast said thou wilt visit the Sins of the Father upon the Children to the third and fourth generation J. If a wicked Father begets a Son that seeth all his Fathers Sins which he hath done and considereth and doth not such like that Son shall not bare the iniquity of the Father Ezek. 18.14.20 Ezek. 16.3 to the 13. P. But Lord were there any wicked parents that had good Children J. Yes many as wicked a Ahaz had good Hezekiah So b Idolutrous Amon zealous Josiah and ungodly Saul had Godly Jonathan a 2 Kin. 16.20 with 2 Kin. 18.3 b 2 Kin. 21.21 22. with 2 King 22 2. P. Lord what if I be a Bastard and the Child of whoredom J. That doth not hinder thee neither to be saved for my servant c Jeptha was a Bastard so was my servant Phares who is reckoned in my own Genealogie Compare Gen. 38.18 29. Ruth 4.12 with Mat. 1.3 c Jud. 11.1 with Heb. 11.32 P. But Lord is there not such a Scripture that a Bastard shall not enter into thy Congregation until the tenth Generation J. Yes there is such a d Scripture and that should make People shun the Sin of Whoredome but that doth not exclude men that are born Bastards after the Flesh if they be Born again of the Spirit either out of my Church on Earth now in the days of the Gospel or yet out of Heaven Deut. 23.2 P. But what Lord if my Father was a Bastard J. Neither doth that hinder for Sarah the brother of Phares who was a Bastard begot my two wise and Godly Servants Ethan and Heman compare Gen. 38.30 1 Chron. 26. with Psal 88. and Psal 89. the titles of both being of Heman and Ethan P. Oh Lord I am a very old Sinner and have one foot already in the Grave and I fear it is too late for me now to be called J. No it is not too late for I call some at the ninth hour yea some at the e eleventh hour Which is but one hour before night or a little before death And I will pour out of my Spirit upon old men in these Gospel daies Mat. 20.6.9 Joel 2.28 with Act. 2.17 P. But Lord I have committed such great and hainous Sins both by speaking and doing that I am affraid it is in vain for me to seek Mercy J. Though thou hast spoken and done evil things as much as thou couldest yet return unto me and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon thee for I am merciful Jer. 3.5 P. How shall I look upon thee Gracious Lord for I have multiplied sins against thee J. As thou hast multiplied sin so will I (f) Or will abundantly pardon multiply pardons if thou wilt return unto me the Lord Esa 55.7 P. Oh but Lord I scarce think that any so wicked as my self were saved for I was an Idolater an Adulterer a Thief a Drunkard and what not that was wicked J. Such were many of my servants that are now in heaven but I according to my own kindness and pitty to them saved them by washing sanctifying and justifying them by my own (g) Or power Name Blood and Spirit 1 Cor. 9.6 9 10 11. Tit. 3.3 4 5 6 7. P. Oh but merciful Saviour I was a Ring-leader of others into sin and I enticed and drew many into wickedness and therfore my case is far worse then others J. As thou wast a Ring-leader and Enticer of others into sin so I can make thee a guide and leader of others into and in the way of righteousness as I made thy Country-man Levi and others P. But that which makes me fear most is because I was a Blasphemer Reviler and Persecuter of thy people yea many of thy Saints did I shut up in Prison J. Yet thou shalt have mercy because thou didst it ignorantly through unbeliefe 1 Tim. 1.13 P. Oh but Lord I finde my heart is hardened through the deceitfulness and custome of sin that I cannot hope it will ever be otherwise J. I can and will take the stony heart out of thy flesh and I will give thee a heart of flesh Eze. 36.26 P. Lord wilt thou do all for me J. I must do all for thee for without me thou canst do nothing Phil. 2.13 Joh. 15.5 P Lord what then shall I do J. Before I teach thee what thou must do I will first shew thee what I have done and suffered for thee P. Good Master I desire to know that J. 1. I left my own glory and came into the world to save thee and such sinners as thou art John 17.5 1 Tim. 1.15 2. Though I was the onely Son of my Father and in his own form and equal to him yet I took upon me the form of a servant for thee and thy brethrens sake Joh. 1.14 Phil. 2.6 7 8. 3. Though I was Heire of all things and Possessor of Heaven and Earth yet I became poor and hungary that thou mightest be made rich Heb. 1.2 Gen. 14.19 and 2 Cor. 8.9 4. Though I deserved honour and glory yet I was reviled threatned and perscuted by my own Creatures and all for my good will to thee Heb. 2.9 1 Pet. 2.23 5. Though I had no sin yet I was made sin that thou poor sinner mightest escape sin 1 Pet. 1.19 and 2.22 2 Cor. 1.21 6. Though I was a Law-giver and Law-maker yet I became under the curse of my own Law that I might redeem thee from that curse Esa 33.22 Gal. 3.13 7. When I had power over mine own life and no man could take it from me yet I laid it down for thee that thou mightest have life Joh. 10.18 Rom. 5.6.9 1 Joh. 3.16 8. Though I was my fathers delight and an object of his love from everlasting yet I became an object of his wrath for my love
certain godly persons LEt us prav unto God so to furnish us with Faith and Patience that we may rather dye ten times then to deny him once it is very requisite that the Members of Christ comfort one another make prayers together confer one with another so shall you be stronger and Gods spirit shall not be absent from you but be in the midst of you to teach you to comfort you to make you wise in all godliness patient in tribulation and strong in persecution Ye see how the congregation of the wicked by helping one another make their wicked Religion and themselves strong against God his truth and his people If any smart Gods people shall be the first if any suffer shame they begin if any be subject to slander it is those that he loveth so that Christ sheweth no face nor favour nor love almost in this world outwardly to them but doth as it were lay clay upon the sore eyes of those that are sorrowful yet the patient man seeth as St. Paul saith life hid under these miseries and adversities and light and sight hid under this foul clay The will of our Father be done in all things if he will life life be it if he will death death be it It is a trouble to loose the treasures of this life but yet a very great pain if they be kept with offence to God cry call pray and in Christ daily require help succour mercy wisdome grace and defence that the wickedness of this world prevail not against us We began well God preserve us to the end This life is short and miserable happy are they that can spend it to the glory of God We may be tempted of the world the flesh and the Devil but yet although these things pinch yet they do not pierce and although they work sin in us yet in Christ no condemnation to them that are grafted in him Mr. Richard Rooth In a Letter to certain Martyrs condemned at Colchester OH dear hearts in Christ what a Crown of glory shall ye receive with Christ in the Kingdome of God Oh that it had been the good will of God that I had been ready to have gone with you for I lie in the Bishops little ease in the day and in the night I lie in the coal-house and we look every day when we shall be condemned for they say I shall be burned within ten days before Easter but I lie still at the pools brink and every one stepeth in before me but we abide patiently the Lords leisure in many bonds in fetters and stocks by which we have received great joy in the Lord. Oh my dear hearts now shall you be cloathed with long white garments upon mount Sion with the multitude of Saints and with Jesus Christ our Saviour who will never forsake us Oh blessed Virgins you have played the wise Virgins part because you have taken oyl into your lamps that you may enter with the Bridegroom when he cometh into everlasting joy But as for the foolish they shall be shut out because they made not themselves ready to suffer with Christ nor venture to take up his Cross O how precious shall your death be in the sight of the Lord dear and precious in his sight is he detah of all his Saints Farewell mine own dear Hearts and pray the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all Amen Pray pray pray By me Richard Rooth written with my own blood Mr. John Philpot In a Letter to Mr. R.H.R.G.M.H. and J.C. GLorious is the course of the Martyrs at this day Never had the Elect of God a better time for their glory then this is Now may they be assured under the Cross that they are Christs Disciples for ever Many go on well till they come to the Pikes and then they turn their backs and give over in the plain field to the shame of Christ and his Church that hath so faint hearted Souldiers in his camp at the time of need in that wherein his glory ought most manfully to be shewed Be content to have your Faith tryed every day by some Cross or other as it pleaseth God to put it upon you and if God put no grievous Cross upon you let your brethrens Cross be your Cross which is a certain token of true brotherly love Hitherto we have not resisted unto blood-shedding our blood must not be too dear for the Lord and then his Kingdome shall not be too dear for us We have taken our Press-mony a great while let us now learn to serve him faithfully and not to fly out of the Lords camp into the world as many do Mr. John Careless To several Martyrs condemned to die for the truth in New-Gate SO great honour is not permitted to the highest Angel in Heaven as to suffer for the name of Christ Full glad may you be that ever God gave you a life to lose for his sake A weak Faith hath ever a cold charity annexed unto it which is quenched with every unkind word Nothing can anger the malicious mind and cankered heart of Satan more then the mirth gladness and hearty rejoycing of Gods Children in their good Christ Only Christs true Disciples do mourn for his absence therefore they shall doubtless rejoyce in his presence which will be so much the more joyful by how much the more his absence is sorrowful According to your Faith and as you believe so shall it be unto you and as you think God to be unto you such a one you shall find him to be think therefore ever sweetly of the Lord and of his goodness Mr. John Careless In a Letter to Mr. John Bradford NOw with a merry heart and joyful tears I take my farewel of you mine own dear brother in the Lord begging him to send us shortly a joyful meeting in his kingdome that we may both sing praises together unto him with his holy Angels and blessed spirits for ever and ever Farewel thou blessed of the Lord farewel in Christ depart unto thy rest and pray for me for Gods sake Well I will hope in God and pray all night that God would send me some comfort to morrow and if the Lord give you leasure to morrow let me hear four words of comfort from you for Gods sake Oh that my life and a thousand such wretched lives more might go for yours Oh why doth God suffer me and such other poor worms to live that can do nothing but consume the Alms of the Church and yet take you away so worthy a work-man and Labourer in the Lords vineyard But wo be to our sins and great unthankfulness which is the cause of taking away of such instruments of the Lord as should set forth his glory and instruct his people if we had been thankful to God for the good Ministers of his word we had not been so soon deprived of them The Lord forgive our great ingratitude and his and give us true repentance and
faith and stretch forth his hand of mercy over us for his dear Son Christ his sake take not away all thy true Preachers out of this Realm O Lord but leave us a seed least England be made as Sodom and Gomorrah when thy true Lots are removed and gone But why go I about to mingle your mirth with my mourning your just joy with my deserved sorrow if I loved you as I pretended I should surely rejoice with you most hartily and praise God from the very bottom of my heart I should praise God night and day for your excellent Election in and through his great mercy I should give him most humble thanks for your vocation by his Gospel and your true knowledg in the same I should earnestly praise him for your sweet justification whereof you are most certain by Gods grace and spirit I should earnestly pray to him for your Glorification which shall shortly ensue I should rejoice 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 extol the Lord who hath given you a glorious victory over all your Enemies visible and invisible and hath given you grace and strength to finish your Course as you have begun Oh that the time were now come that I might put off this frail Tabernacle of the flesh in this heavenly security quietness of conscience in Jesus Christ Yours for ever in the Lord Jesus John Careless living in hope against hope Mr. John Careless to Mr. Philpot. MY dearly beloved brother God hath brought you into a straight place out of your pinching and painful seat in prison you have plentifully poured upon me your precious Oyntment the sweet Savour whereof hath greatly refreshed my faint and tired soul Ah good Jeremiah hath Pashur put thee in the Stocks why now thou hast the reward of a Prophet thy glory never began to appear until now Oh good Mr. Philpot which art a principle Pot indeed filled with most precious liquor as appeareth by thy plenteous pouring out of the same O Pot most happy ordained to honour by the high Potter thou dost contain heavenly treasure in thy 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 out of whom the Master of the Feast hath filled my cup so full that I am even overcome in joy of the spirit through the same Be not offended dear heart at my Metaphorical speech for I am disposed to be merry and with David to dance before the Ark of the Lord and though you play on a painful pair of Organs the Stocks not very comly nor easie to the flesh yet the sweet sound that came from thence to me from you causeth me thus to speak Oh that I were with you in the body as I am present in spirit that I might sing all care away in Christ Jesus our blessed Saviour and Redeemer from all trouble for now the time of comfort is come Mr. Laurence Sanders In a Letter to the true Professors of the Gospel MY dear friends in the Lord the times are perilous and dangerous we must therefore be circumspect and not solace delight our selves in carnal security but with a joyful and contented mind we must now venture into the ship of Christs Cross and afflictions and now let us seriously weigh and consider all the perils dangers and hazards that we must expect to meet in our journey to our heavenly Countrey yet let us account it comfort enough in this dangerous Voyage that we have the company and fellowship of such an adventurer as our blessed Lord Jesus to go along with us when he was once in the ship with his Disciples with his word he did asswage the swelling of the dangerous Seas and he hath not left us alone in this ship either to sink or to swim but will be awaked if he be call'd upon by importunate prayer Holy Breathings OR A Divine Dialogue between Jesus and the Soul With other Poems Mat. 11.28 Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest Soul COme unto me what voice is this I here Iesus It is the sweet voice of thy Saviour dear He calleth labouring sinners to him flee He calleth laden sinners such as thee He calleth sinners bids them come away He calleth all Oh why then shouldst thou stay He calleth such as by sin are undone He calleth thee therefore unto him run Soul But how I should come to thee Blessed Lord Sin is the only thing by thee abhord And I am nothing else but sin and thou Wilt not of sin of the least sin allow Besides thou art in heaven and how shall I Reach unto thee thou art above the sky And I poor creature grovling on the earth The mold from which at first I came by birth Iesus Remember soul my blessed word that saith That coming to me is alone by Faith Soul Thou Lord that puttest faith into mans heart Bestow on me that gift to me impart Such other graces as may let me see My want of Christ that I may come to thee My sins thou know'st a heavy burden are A load that is too big for me to bear No slave that 's under Turkish Tyranny Is under such sad bondage as am I. But it is unto thee O Christ I come Believing in thee Oh make me a Room Within thy Arms take me into thy heart And since my Faith is weak strong Faith impart Iesus Poor Soul take comfort though thy Faith be small A grain of mustard seed's smallest of all Yet I of mustard seeds of Faith allow So that thy Soul unto my Scepter bow Nay of one grain a wonder let it be To thy poor soul that such love is in me That I accept of Faith even of the least That I receive so poor so vile a guest As wretched man who nothing hath to bring To make him acceptable but his sin Soul O blessed Jesus mount me on the wing Of Holy Faith let me not feel the sting Of conscience but let me answer all That I believed and went at Christ his call My Saviour call'd and I unto him went He gave me Faith and helpt me to repent I come with sorrow that I sinned have I come with Faith that thou my soul wilt save It is but weak O Lord I must confess It is a feeble hand yet ne're the less It is the hand of Faith and it is true It lays holds on thee claiming but its due And that is Rest which thou hast promised me And my poor soul is restless till with thee Rest is that good all creatures do desire Rest is that good to which all Saints aspire If th' bodies resting after labour be So sweet so pleasant as we know and see Then what is it to have the soul to rest In