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
Sin was in power in Paul when it could carry him captive and sold under sin and that he found a law in his members warring against the law of his mind and bringing him into captivity to the law of sin Rom. 14.23 Christian Oh but neither Paul nor any other Saint hath sinned presumptuously as I have done Ch. My servant David pray'd that he might be kept from presumptuous sins for he was subject thereunto Ps 19.13 It is probable that David sined presumptuously in kiling Vriah and so are the best of my Saints Christi But Lord I have rebelled against thee Ch. So did my servants of ‖ old but I have received ‖ gifts for the Rebellious and to me belongs mercies and forgiveness though thou hast rebelled against me Dan. 9 9 ‖ Is 1.2 and 63.20 ‖ Is 68.18 Christian Oh but my Rebellion is the worst Rebellion of all for I have rebelled against the light I have professed thee and yet I have belied thee and made an hypocritical profession I seemed like Judas to be thy friend whilst in my heart I did not love thee Ch. The house of Israel and the house of Judah dealt treacherously against me the Lord and belied me and Ephraim my dear Son compassed me about with lies yet was I gracious to them Jer. 5.11.12 Hos 11.12 with Jer. 23.6 and 31.20 Christian But Lord Ephraim was never so wicked as I am and guilty of such Lukewarmness Hypocrisie and Backsliding as I am guilty of Ch. Yea Ephraim was a cake not turned And Ephraim fed upon winds and provoked me to anger most bitterly yet my bowels did still worke toward Ephraim that I could not destroy him Hos 8.8 and 12.1.14 with 11.8 Christian But I increased in sin and the more mercies I received the more my heart was exalted Ch. Even so did Ephraim sin more and more according as he was filled so his heart was exalted Hos 13.2 6. Christian But Lord what didst thou do to Ephraim Ch. I drew them with the cords of man and with bands of love and I was as the dew unto them Heb. 11.4 and 14.5 Christian Oh but I have forsaken the Lord and backslided from thee Ch. So did Israel and Judah Jer. 2 13. and 3.6 and 4.16 Christian But Lord I find that my heart is bent to continual backsliding yea my bakslidings are encreased Ch. So were ‖ they yet I healed their backslidings so will I heal thine also Hos 14.4 Jer. 3.14.22 ‖ Hos 11.7 Jer. 5.6 Christian But I have fell into gross sins that hath dishonoured thee and caused thine enemies to blaspheme Ch. So did my servant David 2 Sam. 12.14 and others of my Saints Christian I but then he did mourn and repent greatly for his sins but I cannot do so for I find my heart as hard as an Adamant Ch. So my people Israels hearts formerly were as hard as a Rock Adamant and Flint Jer. 5.3 Ezek. 3.9 Christian Oh but I have been long yea ever troubled with this hardness of heart Ch. Though thou hast yet I will take the stony heart out of thy flesh and I will give thee a heart of flesh Ezek. 36.26 Christian But I cannot repent me of the hardness of my heart Ch. What though yet I am exalted to give repentance unto thee Act. 5.31 Christian Oh but I do not find that I am sensible enough of my sin for if I were I should mourn and be ashamed for all the wickedness which I have committed against thee Ch. When thou doest see me whom thou hast pierced and when thou seest that I am pacified towards thee then thou shalt mourn loath thy self and be ashamed for all thy sins and abominations which thou hast committed against me Rev. 1.7 Ezek. 6.9 and 16.63 Christian But Lord I am a very great sinner and I would fain see the nature and number of my sins that I might truly repent me of them and be humbled for them Ch. If thou see all thy sins with their nature number and aggravations thou couldst never look upon them but with despair as Cain and Judas And it is not so much the sight of sin as the sight of my Love Grace Goodness and Glory that will lead thee to repentance and humble thee for thy sins Luk. 7.42.47 Zach. 12.10 Rom. 2.4 Esa 6.5 Gen. 4.13 Mat. 27.3 4 5. Christian Oh Lord I know I am as wicked a sinner and as ungodly a wretch as ever lived but though I know this yet methinks I am not broken with the sence thereof I cannot weep nor shed tears for my sins Oh no! I go many times to prayer and to hear Sermons and there is no more working nor relenting upon my soul then if I were a dead stock or stone Ch. Oh my dear soul do not thou belie thy self for I have heard many a sorrowful sigh comming from thy heart and I have seen many a teare drop from thine Eyes and I will yet pour out more of the Spirit of mourning upon thee But what if thou didst noâ— find these things in thy self yet I have offered up strong cries and teares unto my Father for thee Ezek. 9.4 Psal 34.17 Zack 12.11 Heb. 5.7 Christian Oh Lord that I had but faith to believe that I for my selfe Ch. Have faith in me and be not faithless but believing Mat. 11.22 Joh. 20.27 Christian Lord I find sâ— much Atheism and unbelief in my heart that I have oftentimes questionings in my selfe concerning God and concerning the Scriptures and word of God Ch. These are the temptations and suggestions of Satan and my own Disciples were and are troubled with them Luk. 24.25 Christian Oh Lord I am troubled with a thousand temptations Ch. Yet fear not my loving and dear Child for thou hast divers temptations yet it is that which my best Saints have had and I will not suffer thee to be tempted above what thou art able but I will succour thee in thy temptations and I will make a way that thou shalt escape and be delivered out of temptations Jam. 1 2.1â— Cor. 10.13 Heb. 2.18 2 Pet. 2.9 Christian But I think nâ— Saint hath such temptations aâ—â— mine for sometimes I am tempted to kill my selfe and sometimes to kill others in so much that I cannot look upon any weapon waters or the like but I am ready to do my self away therewith Ch. Satan tempted me to cast my selfe off the Pinacle of the Temple and he also tempted many of my dear Children to destroy themselves but do not thou harken to the Accuser for he doth accuse thee to me and me to thee but rather say unto him Satan it is written my Lord Jesus hath over-come thee and I hope through his blood and through his might and spirit to overcome thee likewise say also my God hath commanded me not to kill another nor to do hurt or violence to my selfe therefore get thee behind me thou Lier Murtherer and Enemy for I will put my trust in
examination and yet a Christian will find himself most backward thereto and soonest weary therein 49. Seasonable and unexpected mercys are very sweet and acceptable 50. The more a soul is exercised in spiritual meditation the less with carnal Temptation and the more frequent and powerful in private prayer the more free from and the more potent against Corruptions 51. Sin was condemned by Christ to save the sinner Rom. 8.3 Oh! then let not the sinner seek to save the sin to wound Christ again 52. Quick onsets and Endeavours to reform are far better then many purposes and Resolutions 53. Small sins yielded to make way for greater and one sin for another 54. Be sure to praise God when you receive power against sin and Temptation and you shall be sure to find God ready to give you power another time when you want it 55. When and where wickedness is most then and there the godly should strive to be most godly It is a sign of sincerity to be good in bad times and in bad places and among bad persons as Noah Lot and Joseph were 56. At the day of death but especially at the day of Judgment a Christian will wish he had sinned less served God and suffered for him more 57. If Christians were not sometimes afflicted they would forget both themselves and others for affliction works humiliation in men themselves and compassion toward others 58. It is a hard thing for a profane man to attain the Shaddow of Religion or for a careless though true Christian to attain the substance And it is hard for a true Christian that hath the substance to keep up the sence and savour either of the excellency of Jesus or the evil of sin always in his heart 59. Oh! what time do Christians mispend what duties do they neglect what mercies do they slight what corruptions do they embrace what Temptations do they lie under what corrections do they undervalue Oh! what heart qualms and fleshly weaknesses cry out upon us to make ready and yet how unready how unripe how unwilling how unmindful and unthoughtful are we of our latter end and this is because we are unassured of Christ unweaned from the world unweary of sin unbroken from self and unapprehensive of the glory to be revealed and enjoyed hereafter 60. Fear thy friends more then thy foes thy sins more then thy sufferings and liberty more then bondage 61. Christians should not give offence carelesly nor take offence causlesly 62. Bad times well Improved are far better then good times not redeemed or mispent 63. It is and shall be the care of a Christian not to suffer for sin nor to sin in suffering 64. There is no real bondage but what is either from sin or for sin 65. Affections parts or applause from the world or from Christians are very dangerous and not to be trusted in 66. I never trusted Christ but I found him faithful nor my own heart but I found it false 67. Shut thy eyes from beholding thy ears from hearing and thy heart from entertaining sin 68. Take heed of reproving or upbraiding another in passion or to provoke them thereto for 't is better be silent then sin in speaking 't is better to keep thy light under a bushel then to put it into the hand of him that will blow it out or tread it under his feet 69. Self-loathing destroys self-love and the more we loath our selves the better we love others 70. Christians should not envy the patience of God toward their enemies for it is nothing in comparison of what grace he shows to them 71. Of all men a Christian may be freer to lose or to part with any thing then another man for he loses nothing but what is hurtful to him to wit his sins or what he shall regain and recover of a better sort and in a more abundant degree As if he lose a small Temporal Estate he hath in reversion an Eternal inheritance If he lays down a body that is full of Corruption he shall have another free from corruption and therefore he may say better then the Heathen could what I keep I lose and what I give or lay out I save 72. Sins best is before but its worst is behind and the sting and Tayl of it is longer then it self where sin is not killed it will kill 73. A Christians conversation should keep from the shew of sin and his conscience from the guilt of it 74. The power and strength of corruption is but seldome known to wit when Temptations Opportunities and Occasions of Tryal come 75. The best way to keep from Sin is to set God in his power Purity and Glory still before our eyes to fear our selves to keep near Christ to fast and pray privately to engage other Christians for our help to cherish the holy spirit to keep up constant practice of holiness to provide contrary means against it to resolve strongly to withstand it to eye Gods promises commands and threatnings to withstand the first occasions of sin to reason it off at a distance to believe it away when it comes near to avoid all occasions thereof and to keep on still the Armour of God 76. Christians are often apt to be most weary of that condition that doth them most good like Peter not understanding what Christ did in washing his feet Joh. 13.1.9 77. Christians in and under afflictions should be growing holy and through their afflictions should be going on toward happiness affliction is part of the way of sanctification leading to salvation and it is like an up-hil leading to an house that is on the top of an hill for so is heaven and the greatest hardship is nearest the end of the journey 78. They have but a slight profession whose profession doth not lead them out of sin and through sufferings he that is worse under affliction as Ahar may well fuspect his own sincerity 79. Christ will soon be sensible of those Christians afflictions that are sensible of their own sins 80. It ought to be a great part of a Christians trouble that he can be no time what he should be that is sinless and servicable that he is not at all times what he is sometimes that is slighting sin Judging himself Loving Christ and dispising the world greatly 81. It is strange and a very bad sign to see Christians look more upon the sins of the wicked to ripen them for misery then to mind self-humiliation and holiness to ripen and fit themselves for mercy 82. He loves not a reprover not values his reproof never profits thereby but is more his sins then his souls Friend 83. 'T is a sign of a hard heart to desire the Eternal destruction of the wicked for obtaining of their own Temporal and Corporal liberty safety or honour as if one should desire to have another cast into the fire and be burnt that himself may be warmed thereby 84. In the midst of earthly businesses the
soul should redeem some special time for secret and private duties 85. It is the will of Christ that Christians should rejoyce more in what Christ hath done for them then in what they have done or can do for him 86. Christ kept the Law legally Christians kept it evangellically He kept it perfectly they kept it with full purpose and endeavour 87. Ask thy soul O Christian whether he be willing to receive Christ upon his own Terms and for his own sake and to accept of pardon and life through him freely without looking at all upon thy own righteousness Art thou contented that Christ should be honoured in and by thee and that thou shouldst be despised and dishonoured for his sake 88. God doth never out-speak or out-promise his Power Truth and Faithfulness 89. He is a strong Christian that seeks Gods Glory more then his own salvation but he is no Christian that seeks neither 90. It is a great ease to and an unburtherning of the to confess sin sensibly humbly brokenly and with hatred to it 91. Christ and sin are most magnified in the eyes of believers in their affliction but in a very different manner and to a different end For Christ appears as the greatest good and sin as the greatest evil and then Christ will be most desired and sin most despised 92. It is the duty of a Christian to suspect and search himself when he doth not know evil by himself 93. Account the least spiritual thing better then the greatest and best of outward and temporal things 94. Keeking from sin is Soul-preservative Physick but repentance for sin is Soul-Restorative Physick 95. Strive greatly to have and excercise a good conscience toward God and men to commit thy Soul Life and condition to the Lord and then expect the worst of men and the steb of Christ 96. Thou must die once whether thou suffer or no and thou canst but die once if thou suffer 97. The sins of Christians are new sufferings to Christ and the sufferings of Christians are wounds of Christ Eph. 1.30 Ezek. 6.9 98. Labour to act those Graces chiefly that are most contrary to your Master-sins 99. A Christian may know the weight of sin by the sufferings of Christ for if that strong Bar of Steel did bend under the weight of our sins what shall poor weak man do who is but a reed or rush 100. Sathan accuses God to men and men to God but Christ excuses and answers all his accusations against his people 101. He that will not take example from others shall make an example himself 102. O Lord as a sign that I shall be able to die for thee let me find my corruptions dying in me by power from thee 103. He that loves not Christ more then his life is like to lose Christ and his life but he that loves Christ more than his life will be sure to save and keep both Mark 10.49 Luke 14.26 104. Christians should account restraints from sin great mercys to them but Recoveries out of sin with spiritual advantage greater 105. Sin hath no Mother but a mans heart nor Father but Satan 106. Satan draws the Soul into it either by Power or Policy by Force or by Fraud 107. A Christian should desire to have his heart tyed to the Lord and to be strong in faith upon Christ in Love to Christ and in Resolution for him 108. The reason why men do not more magnifie Gods grace is because they do not behold their own vileness and the reason why men do not see their own vileness more is because they do not apprehend Gods goodness more clearly and fully 109. When a Christian comes to be as weary of his sins as of his afflictions God will certainly put an end to them 110. There will be a reviving of old sins if there be not effectual repentance for them and a care by faith through all duties and ordinances to get new strength against them and a constant watch kept over them 111. A Christian comes not to know the weakness of his grace till the spirit ceases to work in and by it nor the power of his corruption till Satan works therein by his Temptations 112. It should trouble a Christian much to have such Graces as he receives from God beget so little good in him 113. The Lord would soon turn from his wrath if men were turned from their wickedness 114. He commands most and best that commands in love humility and self-denyal 115. The world is a great nothing deluding the bad and disturbing and distracting the good 116. The Holy Law of God teaches a man to see his own deformity and requires from a man Conformity to it self 117. Sathan works more upon men by slight then by might avoid therefore his cunning and thou wilt avoid his cruelty 118. He hath not learned to rule well that hath not learned to obey well 119. An even through-paced self-fearing heart-melting Christian is always best 120. Rusling opinion-souring and Church-renting persons and professors have commonly more self then grace if any at all 121. The less a man strives for himself the more will Christ strive for him 122. Thoughts of our own death will much tend to deaden sin 123. Prayer is a good preparative to suffering when Christ had prayed he went out to meet Judas Joh. 18.4 124. Be never at peace with sin Satan or Christs implacable Enemies 125. In two cases 't is hard to act Faith 1. When there is nothing sensible or visible to second and support it 2. When there is very much of these outward things to fill and take the senses withal 126. As Christ was saved from death though he died Heb. 5.7 So are true Christians when they overcome death by their resurrection through Christ 127. Learn by lighter crosses to look and prepare for heavier 128. As our good works and â—â—rformances should have an operation upon our souls and hearts to strengthen faith so should our weaknesses and sins to work Repentance 129. No power can keep him in Bond whom truth and innocency acquits 130. If thou hast faln into sin through violent temptations seek speedily for Repentance for it recovery out of it and Reformation under it If God hath kept thee from falling still fear watch pray and live by faith in Christ 131. Prepare your self for death and pull out its sting 1. By bewailing sins past 2. Turning to God in time to come 3. Purposing a new life none can dy ill that hath had a care of living well perswade your self if you live well you shall die well and if you die well doubt not but you shall have Eternal Happiness 132. Wish not for a long life so much as for a good life he hath lived long who hath lived well a short life in grace endeth in an everlasting life of Glory 133. Distrust not Gods providence in any matter although you see the means wanting neither when you have them let them be reâ—â—ed
thou hast and take up thy crosse daily and follow me else thou canst not be my Disciple Luke 14.26 27. Ph. This is a hard saying who can hear it and he went away sorrowful and followed him no more Joh. 6.60.66 Mat. 19.22 The third Conference between Christ and a doubting Christian Christ COme unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest Mat. 11.28 Christian Oh Lord I am a poor heavy laden sinner that would come unto thee but cannot come Ch. It is true O soul no man can come unto me except the Father which hath sent me draw him Joh. 6.44 Christian How then Lord shall I come unto thee Ch. I and my Father are one and we give power to the faint and to them that have no might we add strength Joh. 10.30 Esay 40 29. Christian Lord I am altogether without strength therefore draw me unto thee and I will come Ch. I will draw thee unto me with the cords oâ— a man with bands of love and with loving kindness Hos 11.4 Jer. 31.3 Joh. 12.32 Christian But Lord noâ— I look upon my selfe I see I am unworthy to come unto thee yea unworthy of the least of thy mercies Ch. So said my servant a John the Baptist and b Jacob and c others yet do not judge thy selse as the d Jewes did unworthy of eternal life a Mat. 3.11.6 b Gen. 32.10 c Luk. 7.7 Mat. 8.8 d Acts 13.46 Christian Iâ— such men as John Baptist and Jacob did judge themselves unworthy how many thousand times more unworthy am I a wretched and wicked sinner Ch. It is true neither they nor thou could be worthy of your selves but yet I am willing to account you worthy As the prodigals Father did his Son Luk. 15.21 22. Luk. 20.35 and 21.36 Rev. 3.4 Christi But Lord if therâ— were any thing that were good in me it might a little incourage me to come unto thee but I find nothing but evil in me Ch. Dost thou not knowâ— that without me thou canst e do nothing and that a man can f receive nothing except it be giveâ— him from heaven Why theâ— dost thou stay away from me who must g work all thy workes in thee And c Joh. 15.5 f Joh. 3.27 g Esa 26.12 2 12. 2. Because thou seest nothing but evil in thee thou shouldst thee rather come unto me who am the h Fountain wherein thy unclean soul must be washed and unless I i wash thee thou canst not be clean nor have any k part in me h Zac 13.1 i Eze. 36.25 and 1.9 k Joh. 13.8 Christian True Lord thou art the Fountain and welspring of life and it is thy blood and nothing else that can wash a way my sins but how can I come near to thee who am so wicked that for â—ught I know have counted thy blood an l unholy thing l Heb. 10.29 Ch. Thou poor dear and doubting soul what if thou hadst had a hand in crucifying me as the Jewes had yet cannot I forgive thee as I did many of them But thou hast not counted my blood an unholy thing for thou still desirest to have thy sins washed away by it Act. 2.36.41 Christian What the Jewes did they did ignorantly but I have sinned against knowledge which makes my sins worse then theirs Ch. If thou hast sinned against knowledge ye thou hast not sinned so but that thou maist be forgiven For my dear Disciple Peter sinned against knowledg when he denied with an oath that he knew me not Mat. 26.72 Christian Oh but yet my sins are worse then his for his sin was but one sin and that a suddain and short sin but I have sinned many sins and continued long in them Ch. So did my beloved servant David who was a man according to my own heart commit several sins together as Murther Whoredome c. and continued a while too in his sins Christian Oh but Lord those servants of thine though they sinned against thee yet they expressed a great deal of sence of their sins and sorrow for them but I can neither be sensible of nor sorrowful for mine Ch. Oh sweet soul thou mistakest and forgettest thy selfe for thou dost often confess thy sins before me with sence shame and sorrow And I hear the daily bemoaning and complaining and saying I have n sinned against the Lord woe is me for I am undone n Job 7 20. Psal 51.4 Lam. 5.16 Christian Oh good Lord it is not without a cause that I cry woe is me I am undone for I think there is no soul in such a dangerous and desperate condition as mine is in Ch. Why doest thou think and say so Christian Because I have sinned that unpardonable sin against thy spirit Ch. Oh thou poor and precious soul thou dost but think so and fear so But tell me how canst thou sin that sin against my Spirit and yet pray for more of my Spirit and so much prize my Spirit as thou dost Christian Oh Lord I have often grieved and quenched thy Spirit and is not this to commit that unpardonable sin Ch. My own dear and loving children may and do sometimes grieve my spirit by sining and quench the gracious motions of it and yet do not sin that unpardonable sin Eph. 4.30 1 Thes 5.19 Esay 63.10 Christian Oh but I can â—â—â—nk no less but that I have â—â—â—â—â—red that sin for I have had hard cruel and desperate thoughts in my heart against the Holy Spirit Ch. Though my child thoâ— hast had such thoughts in thy 〈◊〉 yet thou hast noâ—â—â—oken evil of my Spirit as the Jewes did which is the sin of blasphemy and that unpardonable sin Mat. 12.24 28 31. Mark 3.22 to 30. Christian Lord I am not sure but that I have spoken evil words of thy spirit for I know I have many times uttered vile bitter and cursed words Ch. Notwithstanding thou didest through the violence of thy temptations and in the bitterness of thy Soul speak such words as my servants Job David Jeremy Jonah and Peter did yet thou hast not done despightfully nor sinned maliciously and wilfully against my Spirit of grace as Reprobates doe Heb. 10.29 Job 3. to 13. and 10.18 and 23.15 16. Psa 31.22 and 116.11 Jer. 20.14 c. Jonah 4.3 4 9. Mat. 26 27 74. Christian Oh I have been and still am very wilful and have often sinned wilfully and thou sayest in thy word that if any sin wilfully after they receive the knowledge of the truth their remaineth no more sacrifice for sins Heb. 10.6 Ch. Thou dear soul have not I heard thee often in prayer complaining of and bewailing thy sins and beging earnestly for power against them therefore it is rather against thy will then wilfully that thou dost sin Christian Oh but I find sins in power in my soul which if I were a Saint they would not be so Ch. My servant Paul found sin so strong in him that he confessed he was carnal
Christ though he kill me and I will endeavour to live to serve him though he should afterwards damn me Mat. 4.5 Rev. 12.10 Job 12.13 Exod. 20.13 Act. 16.28 Job 13.15 Christian Though I dâ— sometimes resolve against Satans temptations and labour to resist them yet I find my temptations are renewed and I am not able to withstand them for they come in as a flood upon me Ch. I that say unto the proud waves hitherto shalt thou come but no further I will by my spirit put the Enemy Satan to flight when he comes in like a flood against thee Job 38.11 See Esa 59.19 Marg. Christian But Lord I find am not only troubled with fear and sad temptations but also with strong and powerful corruptions Ch. I will subdue all thy iniquities and thy sins shall not have dominion over thee Mich. 7.19 Rom. 6.14 Christian Oh but this doth much trouble me that I do not find any love in my heart to thee Ch. What though thou dost not yet I will circumcise thy heart and thou shalt love me and when thou apprehendest my love to thee thou wilt love me again Deut. 30.6 1 Job 40.19 Christian I have sinned Lord against thy mercies and abased thy love yea loveâ— my sins more then thee therefore I cannot think that eveâ— thou wilt look upon me with any love or delight Ch. So did my servant David and my people Israel do yet as I loved them so will I love theâ— freely and betroth theâ— to me in loving kindnesâ— and mercy 2 Sam 12.8 9. Hos 2.5 and 14.4 and 2.9 Christian But Lord â— have not only sin'd against thy mercies but against thy corrections and chastisements also Ch. So did my people Israel formerly do for when I smote them they went on forwardly in the way of their evil hearts but I led them and restored comforts to them Esa 57.17.18 Christian I but my condition is worse then all that for I have been long under the means of grace and yet I am altogether fruitless and like the barren Fig-tree Ch. Thou troubled soul in me is thy fruit found and I will purge thee and thou shalt bring forth fruit abundantly for they that are planted in my house shall flourish and be fat and like a green Olive Tree Joh. 15.5 Psal 92.12 13 14. Christian I Lord its true if I were a branch in thee and a true member of thy house then I could believe these promises of thine alas I am neither of both but separated from thee and thy people C. Do not say that thou art none of mine for â— have bought thee with my blood and do not speak that thou art separated from my people for I will give thee in mine house and within my walls a place and a name of Sonâ— and Daughters Esa 56.3.5 Christian Sure if I were not an out-cast and a Reprobate I should not be thus as I am in a wilderness condition Ch. Israel was counted an out-cast and she cried out yet I was then a God to her and she a people to me Jer. 30.16.17.22 Christian Oh if I were but one of thine I should then count my self the happiest in all the world Ch. Fear not my Spouse for I am thy Husband and thy Father Christian If I were one of thy Children thou wouldst not hide thy selfe from me as thou dost Ch. I have hid my selfe and my face from some of my Prophers and people of old and yet it was in love to them and so it is to thee Psal 88.14 Esa 8.17 and 64.7 Christian But thou hast hid thy self from me and thou seemest also to be angry with me Esa 54.5 Jer. 31.9 Ch. Fury is not with me towards thee and though I be angry yet my anger is but for a moment Esa 27.4 and 54.8 Christian Yet Lord thou hast been angry with me a long time for thou hast forgotten me Ch. Zion did say so the Lord hath forsaken me and my Lord hath forgotten me yet I had not forgot her for she was graven upon the palmes of my hands Esa 49.14.15 Jer. 51.5 Christian But Lord if thou had'st not forgotten me thou would'st never have left me in such a wilderness and barren condition as I am in Ch. I have allured thee into the wilderness that I might speak comfortably unto thee Hos 2.14 Christian I have been many years in trouble and terrours and wanting peace in my soule which could not possibly have been if I had truly believed in thee Ch. But now will I speak peace unto thee and I will guide thee into the way of peace Psal 85.8 Luk. 1.79 Christian Lord wilt thou speak peace unto me and guide me into the way of peace i. e. The Preachers Lips that Preach't peace Ch. I will create the fruit of the lips Peace Peace and my spirit shall be in thee and his fruit shall be peace to thy soul Esa 57 19. and 55.12 Christian But Lord thy word saith there is no peace to the wicked Ch. No not to a man that will persist in his wicked way and doth not nor will not believe in me but thou art one of those that I bore the chastizement of thy peace and one of the children of peace Esa 53.5 and 54.13 Christian But Lord how can I have peace seeing a man cannot have peace before and without he does believe Ch. Thou shalt have faith and peace and I will give peace through believing 2 Thes 3.16.6 Christian But Lord theâ—â— I must know that I am one of thine Ch. Thou shalt know that I am the Lord thy God and that thou art one of my people Ezek. 34.30 Christian Oh how shall I know that Ch. My spirit shall bear witness with thy spirit that thou art my Child Rom. 8.16 Christian But how shall I know that it is thy spirit that beareth this witness and that it is not the spirit of delusion Ch. Thou maiest know that by its power in working in thy heart which no other spirit can work alike as also by the earnest and fruits thereof 2 Cor. 5.5 and 7.22 Gal. 5.22 23. Christian Lord what else shall I believe besides being one of thine Ch. Dost thou believe that Christian Yes Lord I do believe that thou art Jesus the Son of God and the Saviour of the world Act. 8.37 Joh. 6.69 and 11.27 Ch. But dost thou believe that I am thy Saviour Christian Lord I do believe that there is no other way to be saved but only by thee Act. 4.12 Ch. But dost thou believe that thou shalt be saved by me Christian Lord I do believe help my unbelief Mar. 9.24 Ch. To thee it is given to believe Phil. 1.29 Christian now Lord I doe believe Ch. What dost thou now believe Christian I believe that thou loved'st me and did'st give thy self for me and that thou art my Lord and my God and that I am justified and shall be saved by grace Gal. 2.20 Joh. 20.28 Act. 15.11 Ch. How
I should do so the further I should be from it For the eye hath not seen neither hath the ear heard nor is the heart of man able to conceive in any measure the joy mirth melody pleasure power wealth riches honour glory wisdom knowledge treasures security peace quietness and eternal felicity which you shall enjoy world without end with God the Father Son and Holy Spirit Amen O! wo to our blind eyes that see not this wo to the hardness of our hearts that feel not this wo to the deafness of our ears that hear not this in such manner as we should do whereby we should be so far from fearing death that we should rather wish and desire it To the Professors of the Gospel By Mr. John Bradford Martyr IT is I Lord that have sinned against thee it is mine hypocrisie my vain-glory my covetuousness my carnality security Idleness unthankfulness self-love and such like which have deserved the taking away of our King Edward of thy word and true Religion of thy good Ministers by exile imprisonment and death it is my wickedness that causeth success and increase of authority and peace to thy Enemies Let us reprove the works of darkness let us fly from all idolatry let us abhor the Antichristian and Romish rotten service let us detest the Popish Mass and forsake their Romish Idol let us prepare our selves for the Cross let us be obedient to all in authority in things that are not against God and his word for then answer with the Apostle It is better to obey God then Man If you find and feel in your selves an hope and trust in God that he will never tempt you above what he will make you able to bear then be assured the Lord will be true to you and you shall be able to bear all afflictions but if you want this hope and confidence fly and get you hence rather then by your tarrying Gods name should be dishonoured Hang on the providence of God not only when you have means to help you but also when you have no means yea when all means are against you Give God this honour which of all other things he chiefly and principally requireth at your hands namely To believe that you are his children through Christ that he is your Father and God through him that he loveth you and pardoneth you all your offences that he is with you in trouble and will be with you for ever that when you fall he will put under his hand and will not let you lie long in sin Let the life you lead be in the Faith of the Son of God for the just doth live by Faith which Faith flyeth from all evil and followeth the word of God as a Lanthorn to her feet and a light to her steps her eyes be above where Jesus Christ is she beholdeth not things present but rather things to come she glorieth in afflictions and knoweth that the afflictions of this present life are not to be compared with that far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory which God will reveal to us and in us Now of this glory the Lord grant us a lively tast here then shall we run after the scent that it sendeth forth It will make us valiant men to take to us the Kingdom of God whether the Lord of his mercy bring us in his good time through Christ our Lord. To Dr. H. By Mr. John Bradford Martyr SEt before your eyes the end of this straight way rather then the narrowness of the passage so doth the husbandman in plowing and tilling the ground set before him the harvest time so doth the Fisherman consider the draught of his net rather then the casting of it in So doth the Merchant the return of his Merchandize and so should we in these stormy days set before us not the loss of our goods liberty yea of our very life but the reaping time the coming of our saviour Jesus Christ to judgment The more we lose here the greater joy shall we have in the world to come the more we suffer here the greater triumph shall we have there for corruptable dross we shall find incorruptable treasure for Gold we shall have glory for Silver we shall have solace and joy without measure for riches we shall have Royal Robes for earthly â—ouses we shall have eternal Pallaces we shall there have mirth without measure pleasure without pain and absolute blessedness felicity and happiness without end To certain of his faithful Friends by Mr. John Bradford Martyr YEe have cause to rejoyce my dearly beloved Friends in the days of tryal and confirmation in and by which God our Father maketh us like to the Image of Jesus Christ here that so we may be like unto him hereafter For if we suffer with him we shall raign with him if we be buried with him we shall rise with him if we are companions with him in affliction we shall rejoyce with him in glory if we sow with him in tears we shall reap with him in joy if we confess him before men he will confess us before his father in heaven if we take his part he will take ours if we loose any thing for his names sake he will give us all things for his truth and promise sake so that we ought to rejoyce and be glad for it is not given to every one to suffer loss of country life goods house and all things for the Lords sake What can God the Father do more for us then to call us into the camp of his dear Son what can Jesus Christ our Saviour do more for us then to make us his Warriors and fellow Souldiers what can the holy Ghost do to us above this then to mark us with the badg and cognisance of the Lord of Hosts Be of good comfort be of good comfort my dear hearts in the Lord confess him and his truth and fear not the prison loss of goods or life fear rather that prison out of which there is no deliverance fear rather the loss of those goods which last for ever fear rather the loss of that life which is eternal whereunto you are called and the way by which God will bring you to it because you know not certainly whether it will be by prison fire or halter whensoever these come let them not dismay you nor seem strange unto you for no small number of Gods children are gone that way The journey is but short though unpleasant to the flesh perchance if we should dye in our beds by a corporal malady it would be much longer and also more painful but in Gods sight it cannot be so precious and gainful as I know this kind of death is And now I commend my self into the hands of my Father by whose providence I came into this world by whose providence I have been kept in this world and by whose providence I leave and depart out of this world Let us make our selves ready to ride in
the fiery Chariot leaving these sorry Mantles and old Cloaks of our carcases behind us in ashes for a little time which God shall restore unto us again in a glorious manner To a faithful friend of his by Mr. John Bradford Martyr BE willing to carry the Cross of Christ least you carry the Cross of the world the flesh and the Devil One of these four Crosses you must carry three of them bring to hell and therefore the greatest part go that way which is the broad way only the forth bringeth to Heaven but few go that way as well because the way is straight as also because but few walk in it how beit though it be straight it is but short and the few are many if you consider the godly as the Patriarks Prophets Apostles Martyrs and Confessors and Christ Jesus with all his guard and train Think not scorn to come after them who are gone before you I hourly look for Elias fiery Chariot to come and catch me up to Heaven my Cloak that is my Carcase I shall leave behind me in ashes which I doubt not my Lord will raise up and restore to me again at the last day glorified even like unto his most glorious Body That portion of the good spirit which my Father hath lent me I wish to be doubled yea trebled upon you all If we suffer in the cause of Christ our sufferings are but short and the time of ease to Gods Enemies is not long the time of our rejoycing shall be endless but the time of their torments shall be everlasting and intollerable Our breakfast is sharp but our supper will be sweet The afflictions of this life may not be compared in any part with the glory that shall be revealed To his godly Friends G. and N. By Mr. John Bradford Martyr CAst your care on the Lord for he careth for you and hath counted all the hairs on your head so that one shall not perish if you commit your selves to his ordering whereas else your heads and bodies yea and souls too shall perish if ye withdraw your selves as unwilling to take his Cup and to drink of it not that I would have you to thrust your selves headlong or rashly to pull them upon you or that I would not have you use such honest and lawful means as you may in the fear of God and with a good conscience to a void the Cross and give place to evil but that I would have you willingly to put forth your hand to take it when God offereth it in such a manner as with a good Conscience you cannot escape then take it kiss it and thank God for it It is a most sure sign that God loveth you as he saith Whom I love I chastise Rev. 3.19 And if ye are not partakers of correction surely ye are no children Heb. 12.8 But if once chastise you and ye kiss the rod verily he will cast the rod into the fire and will imbrace you and kiss you as a mother doth her child when she perceiveth it to take her correction in good part Consider not the things of this life my dearly beloved brethren which is a very prison to all Gods children but the things of Everlasting life which is our very home but to the believing of this you must open the eyes of your Faith as Moses did who set more by trouble with Gods people then by the riches of Egypt and Pharoahs Court. Your house home goods yea life and all that ever ye have God hath given you as love-tokens and to admonish you of his love and to win your love to him again now he will try your love whether you set more by him then by his tokens or no. If ye for his tokens sake that is for your house home goods yea life will go with the world least you should lose them then be assured your love as he cannot but espy it to be a Strumpets love so will he reject and cast it away with the world In another Letter to the same persons by Mr. John Bradford Martyr MY dearly beloved heavy is this anger fallen upon us all doleful is this day Now hath Antichrist gotten all his power again now is Christs Gospel trodden under foot now is Gods people a division and a prey for the wicked Now is the greatest of all plagues fallen upon us the want of Gods word and all these judgments we have yea I alone have justly deserved Oh that as I write with my hands I alone so I could wish David 2 Sam. 24 17. and with Jonas in heart say so But I do not I do not I see how grievously I have sinned and how great a misery is fallen upon us for my unthankfulness for Gods word for mine hypocrisy in professing preaching hearing and speaking of Gods word for my not praying to God for the continuance of it for my not loving it throughly as it required Oh good Father it is we that have sinned and therefore deserve the taking away of thy good word it is we that have done amiss we have dealt unjustly with thy Gospel we have procured thy wrath and therefore just art thou in punishing us just art thou in plaguing us for we are very miserable But good Lord and dear Father of Mercies whose justice is such that thou wilt not punish the poor souls of this Realm which yet have not thus sinned against thee as we have done for many yet never heard thy word for our trespasses and whose mercy is so great that thou will put our sins out of thy Remembrance for thy Christ sake if we believe and repent O Lord let us remember that all thy dearest children have carried the Cross of gracious affliction in this life in whose company thou dost place us and dost lay such a Cross upon us as thou wilt make us able to bear to thy glory and our Salvation in Christ for whose sake we pray thee to shorten the days of this our great misery fallen upon us most justly and in the mean season to give us Patience Repentance Faith and thy eternal Consolation Amen Amen Amen To Mr. J. H. and his wife Prisoners in New-Gate I have heard my good Brother and Sister how God hath brought you both into his School-house of correction he I say hath brought you where you are and though your reason and wit tell you it is by chance and fortune or otherwise yet my dear beloved know for certain that whatsoever was the means God your Father was the worker hereof and that for your good though it may be your old Adam and poor sences may tell you otherwise yet I say of a truth it is your duty to think that this Cross is of Gods sending and cometh from him and it is out of his love and Fatherly affection for your benefit and profit sake But here perhaps you will object what benefit what advantage can it be You are now kept in close prison your children
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
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