tell what you haue done The good king Dauid wheÌ„ he had deserued death feared greatly the sentence of the Prophet he coÌ„fessed gladly made it knowen vnto the world what his sin was wherin he had offended WheÌ„ God gaue his lawes vnto Israel in the bloud of goates calues sheweth theÌ„ the redemptioÌ„ that was in Christ Jesus He so ordeined that before their forgiuenes was preached the high priest should proclaime openlie what were the sins of the people so lay their sins vpon the beastes So standeth it nowe with vs if we will finde forgiuenes of our sins let vs cast off the cloaks of shame coÌ„fesse before heaueÌ„ earth what we haue sinned what we haue done What greater perswasions can you yet require or how can you thinke to please God if you wil hide your sins That was the practise of old Adam but you are borne anew that was the sin of Cain but you my good Lord are of a better kinred Speak the truth shrinke not God will once reueale the secrets of harts theÌ„ you shal reioice that ther is nothing of yours hid fie vpoÌ„ that sin that you should turn away for one houre receiue hereafter euerlasting coÌ„fusioÌ„ better a thousaÌ„d times to receiue the reproch of flesh after receiue your glory of the Lord. WheÌ„ John Baptist preached first the Gospell he bpatized no more theÌ„ such as confessed their sins The lost Son wheÌ„ he ran away he found no hope of pardoÌ„ til he called heaueÌ„ earth to witnesse his great iniquitie Paul who preached the gospell to vs Gentils how ofteÌ„ doth he confesse that he was a persecutor The happy thief that was haÌ„ged entred not into paradise til he first in the hearing of all Israell said we are rightly punished receiue things worthy of that we haue done What should J say more J trust you feare God and J haue seene in you many signes of grace I doubt not but you will make it knowen whatsoeuer is in your hart It is the word of God that I haue spoken it is the onely trueth vpoÌ„ which you may build your faith This thing toucheth so neare the glory of God the safetie of his gospell that you must now needs forsake your friends kinsmeÌ„ yea forget the loue of your selfe and if you haue bin partaker of any counsell disclose the coÌ„spiracies of the wicked you haue stood in iudgement not before meÌ„ for they are but ministers but before the Lord who sitteth in the middst of iudgement Surely if you seeke to hide your sins you seeke to hide them froÌ„ him that knoweth the secrets of the hart raynes and to dissemble with him that will not be mocked and therefore with all humblenes of dutie I beseech you in the name of God J craue this at your hands vnburtheÌ„ your own coscience make your hart glad cast of the burtheÌ„ of your secret sinns purge the eyes of your minde that you may see Christ let true repeÌ„tance breake forth in holy confession shame the Lords enimies make the church of God reioyce and loe in the name of Christ J tell it you Blessed is the day in which it was said of you a man-child is borne and blessed shal be the houre in which it shal be said of you you are dead in the Lord the closing vp of your eyes shal be the beginning of your sight and death your entrance into life And now my Lord I beseech you pray for me humbly vpoÌ„ my knees I aske you hartie forgiuenes wherein I haue not done as it became me touching you You knowe howe in my time I haue persuaded you froÌ„ your wicked seruants froÌ„ your popish frieÌ„ds froÌ„ your adulterous woman But alas my Lord your high calling hath bridled my words I could not speak as I shold my words wer to soft to heale so old a disease why should I haue taried in your lordships house except these things had bin ameÌ„ded this bearing with your euill was the greatest euill I could haue done you And I beseech you forgiue me God for his mercies sake shall make me strong that herafter J shall not feare to reproue the sinner God shall forgiue you your dulnes of spirit that could not be moued with a litle couÌ„sel Now my Lord be strong in the Lord feare not if you must dye remeÌ„ber that Christ bath ouercome him that hath the power of death hath set vs free froÌ„ the power of the graue Though you doe for a very litle time turne again vnto dust yet again you shal heare the voyce of the trumpet corruptioÌ„ shall die because he was no better theÌ„ his fathers you wheÌ„ you go you shall go to your fathers the long race of Nobilitie of which God hath raised you euery one in his time is gone before you so many as haue died in the faith they shal be againe of your fellowship kindred and you shall prayse God with theÌ„ not feare the secoÌ„d death The lord opeÌ„ your eyes that you may see your hope you shall loue that coÌ„pany aboue Kings Princes You shall see AbrahaÌ„ of whoÌ„ you haue heard so much Jsaac Iacob Iob Samuell Daniell whose names you loued you shall see Paule Peter whose society you wish for all the Patriarkes Prophets and Apostles that are gone before you Be bold therfore be bold to dye with Elias you shall see Christ clothed with your flesh who hath immortaâ—â—â—â—e in his hande shal make you raigne for euer yo◠〈◊〉 shall not be tedious and your glory shall 〈…〉 change he that made the heauens so high aboâ—â— earth the Sun the moone the starres so ful of excelleÌ„t beauty he shal be your portioÌ„ in his endles glory wold God you cold see him now with opeÌ„ couÌ„tenance that you might knowe his louing kindnes how much it is better theÌ„ life J wold you cold withal his saints perceue what wer the height the â—reath the lenght the depth of his vnsearchable riches â—â—apy 〈◊〉 that shal neuer end ô blesed inheritaÌ„ce that shal neuer wast O holy citty new IerusaleÌ„ the perfectioÌ„ of beauty where the inhabitaÌ„ts are princes O'pretious buildng that is not made with hands ioyfull tabernacles which God himselfe hath pitched my voice faileth my tonge cleaueh to my mouth wheÌ„ I wold declare the euerlasting gladnesse wheÌ„ God shal wipe away al teares froÌ„ our eies ther shal be no more death nether sorow nor crying nor yet any paine for the first things past Who remeÌ„breth this saith not all flesh is grasse and the glory of man is as the flower of the fielde We haue nothing here but feare of our enimie griefe in pouertie paine in labour care in ritches vnstedfastnes in frindship enuy in authoritie emulation in honor change in nobilitie feare in a kingdome as the greatest of al princes hath wisely pronounced vexatioÌ„ of spirit in al things that is vnder the Suâ— so true it is vanity of vanities al is but vanity You need no example O my Lord Maister behold your selfe see what you were reioice in the lord loue better things cease to eate of this corruptioÌ„ desire MaÌ„na drink not of these puddels but goe to the pure water of life which is cleare as christal procedeth out of the throne of god of the laÌ„be you are but one step froÌ„ this glorious blessing that is to die willingly well speak forth the secrets of your hart giuâ— God glorie The Lord blesse kepe you the Lord make his face to shine vpon you and be mercifull vnto you the Lord â—â—ft vp his countenance vpon you and sende you peace FINIS MAISTER DERINGS WORKES LO heere the Pearle of precious price From Deringe dead that liues againe To preache in print and giue aduice Of that he taught in life with payne Lo nowe he liues both heere and there Whose life his foes could hardly beare Reade then to learne and putte in vre And taste the sweetenesse of his vayne So shall you see an heauenlie lure That drawes you vp from th' earth amaine And shewes the way that leads to life And eke the rest that endes all strife Studie to be approued to the Lord for if hee alowe not our doinges though all the world be with vs it shall bringe vs no comfort and this is our reioycinge the testimonie of a good conscience
which haue ouerflowed the earth haue still wyde roomes in the heartes of manie The Popes supremacie Latin seruice prayer for the dead Masses Diriges Pardons Pilgrimages Sensinge and all poperie with the authours of it Popes Cardinalls Monkes Fryers all which haue neither trueth nor shadowe of trueth not one worde of them is in all the Gospell of Christ onely olde custome hath bredde it in our bones and an opinion of our fathers hath printed it in our brestes and wee will not cast it out But the Lorde be thanked who hath had mercie vpon vs to make vs holde faste the worde of trueth what soeuer our fathers haue vainely taught vs and yet we are not in securitie But a thirde enimie is in the harte of man that the worde of God may not haue his perfect honour and that is an opinion conceyued of earthlie thinges and planting of holynes in corruptible creatures as in Meates Drinkes Dayes Garmentes conditions of life places tymes Ceremonies neyther hearing our Sauiour Christ that God is a spirite and onely hee is to bee worshipped in Spirite and Trueth Neither his Apostle Paule That the Element of that worlde commende vs not vnto God for neyther if we eate are we euer the worse neither if we eate not are we euer the better These and many great temptations stand against vs assoone as we would giue ouer our selues to the worde of God whiche is the beginning of a christian life Trowe you that in the continuance of our course and journey before we come at our Sauiour Christ shall we not be sifted and tryed to see what is within vs And you good Maistres H. to applie this to your selfe tell mee howe you haue learned Christ hath his Gospell bene peaceable in you from the first day till nowe without all contradiction Was your mynde neuer puffed vp in vayne imaginations Did the traditions perswasions of men neuer shake your thoughte Haue you not bene tempted with opinions of creatures as though some were more holy some more prophane J knowe as you long after Christ and desire his trueth in single heart so his grace you haue not without sharpe and bitter tryalls and the more freely the worde of God shall possesse your soule and fill your heart with all desire of it the more you shall feele what fight is against it looke for the like in all your life and when you approche to the true feare of God prepare your heart to the strongest assault The worde of God thus made knowen vnto vs and when we followe it with all our soule that wee may haue a liuely faith to reioyce at the promises of God to feare at his threatninge and feele a full perswasion of a certaine performance of all his wordes O Lorde what is the malice of Sathan And though many temptations are against vs the longe prosperitie of the wicked in which they triumphe why lest the goodnesse of God prouoketh them still to repentance the bitter sighting of the godly in which they mourne vnder manie crosses whyles God maketh their faith pretious before him these haue rooted quite out of the heartes of the vngodly the faith and trueth whiche they owe vnto God so that against all his iudgementes they haue opened their mouth and said aloude Where is the promise of his comming And against all his mercies they haue proclaymed warre and saide They wil not haue Christ to reigne ouer them But these temptations Christ hath ouercome in vs and giuen vs his spirite in which we knowe assuredlie that the Lord reigneth neyther slacketh he his comminge as many accounte slacknes but he will come and his glorie shal be knowen And yet we are not in peace but Sathan will sifte vs another way he will laye our sinnes before vs to make vs feare that tht promises of God belonge not vnto vs and this of all temptations is the greatest yet we feare not for what belongeth to all our sinnes which Christ hath not borne sorrowe sicknes death hell condemnation were they not in his body and are they not all crucified vpon the crosse Is he not risen from them hath he not brokē the chaynes of death and so is ascended into glorie If this bee my feare because I am a sinner rather let mee reioyce for Christ hath taken my sinnes vpō him hath buried thē deeper then the bottome of the Sea he hath led it openly in triumphe and nayled it vpon the crosse frō henceforth for euermore it hath no strēgth whosoeuer seeme to colour it as redd as scarlet or make it like purple it is still nothing and casteth but a vayne terrour before our eyes we will neuer denie this but freelie confesse it that we be miserable sinners and not worthie to lifte vp our eyes to heauen but who will lay our sinnes to our charge nowe God hath iustified vs or what sinne can rest vpon vs now Christ hath washed them awaye That which once was in fight with Christ and he hath ouercome it who shall set too his hande the seconde time to make the victorie perfect This is true and euerlasting trueth hath sealed it vp that sinne is abolished for euer and euer howsoeuer wee feare or tremble or bee faint harted yet before the Lorde with whom our life is hidde there is no perill no daunger no feare but peace righteousnes without ende Let our sinnes be neuer so great neither wee nor our sinnes can chaunge the newe Testament that God is mercifull to our sinnes and will blot out all our transgressions therefore this care is past that our sinnes be many the more they are the greater is his mercy who hath forgiuen them And this is the token which God hath giuen vs that we are his because we are grieued with our sinnes for our Sauior Christ ouercame sinne with paynes and sufferinges which belong vnto it and this is the badge of our redemption to be made like him in afflictions wee haue sinne and abhorre it it woundeth vs with feare it setteth before vs condemnation we haue a sence and feeling of Gods anger against it and hell gnaweth vppon our soules because of transgression O blessed state and treasure of gladnes this was the Jmage of Christe when he ouercame sinne a marke of my redemption in myne owne fleshe that I should not fainte As the sunne maketh the day and the night darkenes so this affliction of sinne is the badge and cognisance of our certaine forgiuenes And herein see the goodnes of God which turneth all things to the best to those that loue him Through feare of sinne the Diuell fighteth against vs without feare of sinne we could neuer haue boldnes through anguishe of heart the Diuell would ouerwhelme vs with sorrowe without anguish of hart we could neuer haue ioye In feelinge Gods anger the Diuell would make vs to dispaire without feelinge his threatning and trembling before him we could neuer haue strēgth of faith that his mercies
not able so much as to thinke a good thought but it is of him whose seede abideth in you And although because you haue that treasure in a brittle vessell you see sometime the fruite of olde Adam and the prickes of his transgression within your bowelles yet feare not his malice that hath wrought this woe You are bought with a dearer price then that sinne may raigne againe within you he that hath purchased you hee will not suffer his inheritance to be spoyled Jt is necessarie you should know your sinne or you could not vnderstande howe great were your redemption But your sinnes can not separate you away from him who hath buried them in the earth and will not see them any more When you shall ascende to come into his sight the earth will holde her owne and keepe your sinnes behinde you The pearcing serpent shall not clime to accuse you nor the crooked serpent shall not hyde your redemption from you Your care is cast vpon him that careth for you you knowe him who hath spoken All power is giuen vnto me in heauen and in earth Ye knowe him who hath a name aboue all names that in the name of Jesus all knees shall bowe Euen hee that bought you with a price and you are not your owne If it bee possible for you to perishe then is it possible againe that Christe should suffer iniurie This boldnes you haue through him who hath made manifest his grace vnto you that you denying impietie worldly concupiscence should liue soberly purely and godly in this present life and looke for the blessed hope that shall be reuealed when all secretes shall be opened To which issue and happy ende of life the Lord bring both you and yours in the fellowship of his saints to prayse his holy name when he shall make knowen vnto you his glorie vnspeakeable and crowne it with immortalitie Amen Farewell in Christ Iesu and pray for me The 26. of December 1572. Yours in the Lord to commaund Ed. Deringe A letter of M. Ed. Deringe to his brother Maister R. D. THe grace of our Lord Iesus Christ be with you euer Amen For Maister S. whether he be angrie or no J knowe not if he be God is witnesse betweene him and me howe litle I haue deserued it true it is hee seemed not very wel pleased but if God be pleased mans goodwil either it shal be recōciled or shal not doe much hurt if I haue the losse in worldlie thinges I am content to beare it and God will supply my want where I am able to doe nothing J had leuer be your Brother not worth a grote but hauing a good conscience to praye for you then haue as I might great liuing encomber my cōscience with much sinne And good Brother Dering here followe me you shal be a great deale richer then you are studie the scripture reade bookes bee able to reason in your faith especiallie and aboue all haue a liuely feeling of God that you thinke more vile of all the glorie of the world then of the dust of the earth you knowe we must all perishe and you must walke the way of all fleshe Our good Parents both Father Mother they are gone before you doe but waite the time and you must goe after your goods and landes must abide behinde and the riches of your minde they are onely your owne You are my eldest brother you knowe not howe glad I would be to see you goe before me in Religion God hath giuen you neither a light heade nor little vnderstanding if you would applie your selfe vnto knowledge you should then reape the fruit of your labour in more gladnes of heart then yet you can imagine begin once but a little and taste how sweet the Lord is and you shall feele the riches of his glorie and say Happie be the time that euer I knewe it Let not good Brother let not the worlde deceiue you it is faithlesse and deceiptfull when you shall loue it best it will soonest deceyue you And of me thinke thus that in the world I can not doe you so great a pleasure as continually to prouoke you to know God and this I shal be able to performe though otherwise I shal be able to pleasure you nothing and therefore I beseeche you praye for me and I will pray for you so the Lord God shall helpe vs both that I may be faithfull which way J am called and you may bee such as I desire And for Maister S. or any other of such high calling I loue them in the Lorde euen as I loue myne owne soule and will pray for them while they and I shall liue Though I beare the losse of worldly things yet by the grace of Christ J will neuer lose a good conscience and though they be angrie with me yet I will not leaue to pray for them and commit my cause vnto God he will one day multiplie his graces where hee hath so well begun and they shall I trust be throughlie taught whom God hath alreadie so farre instructed For my L. of C. J haue bene once with him but J meane not yet to goe the seconde time God will worke his will his name be praysed for euer My L. of L. is a good man I am often with him I haue sene in him so good tokens of a good spirit that I reuerence him in my heart will serue him in Christ all wayes that J may And for my doeing with any man I praie you tell me wher you see me faultie but if you know not of any sin doe not diswade me from going vpright in the Gospell But for my comfort if you see me greeued let me see in you how you professe the gospell perswade your self of this that a liuely zeale holy knowledg in you and in my Sister shal make me gladder then any bishoprike in England The Lorde God for his mercies sake that hath called you out of the kingdome of darkenesse and placed you in the fellowshippe of his saintes in light make you to feele the depth of his graces that you may be renewed confirmed strengthened and made perfite vnto the ende Amen Fare you well in Christ Iesu and doe my hartie commendations to my sister From London the xix of Nouember Your louing brother Ed. Deringe To his brother Maister R. D. THe grace of our Lord Jesu Christ bee with you euer Amen Good brother I would gladlie write oftener vnto you but otherwise I haue so much to doe that some time I forget many dueties Another cause is J haue nothing to write as I would so I haue no pleasure to doe that I would not So it is that I am forbidden to preach which grieueth me most then slaunderous reportes doe hurt me much where J would fainest please so farre as I may in the feare of God But how so euer things are it is a blessed sentence whiche he hath spoken who