but the heauens also you haue destroyed death you shall feele thē all within you the fellowship of Saints Angels the forgiuenes of sinns the resurrection of the body the life euerlasting and the God of glorie your eyes lightened with a pure faith shall see these things in so perfect beautie that you shall cast out death the feare of it yea you should thinke your time wearines if your dayes should be prolonged and you should bee yet many yeares a soiorner in this bodie in which you are a straunger from the presence of the Lorde And the nearer your time approcheth the gladder you shal be of the ende of your iourney when your harte shall feele it And when the earthlie house of this tabernacle shal be destroyed you haue a building giuen of God a house not made with hands but eternall in the heauens In this faith you shall not onely not feare death but you shall sigh and moane as Paule saith till you see your glorie and the lot of the saints that is in light where there is no more sorrow nor care nor feare nor death but the God of all mercie and father of our lord Jesus Christ shal be before vs for euer Thus Madame as my duetie is J haue written vnto you and God will blesse it as his promise is that it shall be for the best in the wisdome of his word we shal be strengthned in his grace that death sicknesse shal be forgotten all the desirs of our heart shal be with him And the Lord God for his Sonnes sake so haue mercie vpon vs that all euill taken from vs we may reioyce in him and see his blessed age that is in immortality is sealed in our heartes with his blessed spirit To whom be glorie for euermore Amen From Saint Ellens the tenth of Ianuarie Anno Domini 1576. Yours bounden in the Lord Iesu the onely forgiuenes of all our sinnes Ed. Deringe A Letter written by M. Edward Deringe to his Lord Maister the Duke of Northfolke Gratia et pax a Deo patre et domino nostro Iesu Christo THE longe good will that I haue borne vnto you as to one that earnestlie professed the Gospell and the great duetie I owe vnto you as to my Lord Master make that nowe I should write vnto you not knowing whether opportunitie shal be such that hereafter J may doe you any seruice God the author of all life he hath shutte both you and me vp in his handes that there is great likelihood our liues in this worlde they are but short The Prince that executeth the iudgement of the Lord she hath found you out in your great sinnes and sickenes that raigneth ouer all fleshe it hath taken now longe holde vpon me So that as I saide we are both in the handes of the Lord we are summoned paremtorilie death hath giuen an assault and the weake holdes of our life they are violentlie shaken Nowe therefore my good Lord let it vs take counsell togither and as a wise Maister learne of a faithfull seruaunt what is best to be done the worst that our sinnes can doe vnto vs is to lay vpon vs the iust rewarde of death my disease which thus afflicteth me for many thousand sinns it can but take away my life which J haue so abused And all your deepe dissimulation and hypocrisie your great ambitions your faithlesse religion which haue so bewitched you what can they doe more then this The remedie nowe is to make of necessitie a vertue that is to beare it wisely which you must needes abide J haue I thanke God founde that grace that I can loue this saying Cupio dissolui esse cum Christo the Lord also open your hearte and guide your vnderstandinge that with all saintes you may doe likewise and praye Veni Domine Iesu And now for asmuch as this is the last duetie that J am like to doe vnto you as God shall giue grace I will so aduice you as I may testifie myne owne faith and make you strong against the daye of triall trusting that our God shall so remember vs both in mercie that after a little while we shall see better dayes and raigne with him that abideth King for euer There is now but one thing necessarie for you to learne in this life that is how you may willinglie desire to die a hard lesson for a natural mā for death is our last enimie his assault most violent to the triall of our faith but Christ who hath ouercome death and hell hee hath broken the strength of this battell and set vp the songes of triumph vnto all that beleeue that we may haue the fulnesse of ioy and say with gladnes ô death where is thy sting Nowe that this ioye may be yours and this gladnes your inheritāce prepare your selfe not in your own wisdō for that hath alredie deceiued you but in the wisdome of god that your hope may be sure Jf you will now haue the hart that shal cōdemne the force of death cōsider wherfore you are called to die It is laid to your charg that you haue delt traytrously with your Prince with your coūtry with the religiō of God and vpon these crimes you are cōdemned to die If you be guiltles ô my Lord blessed are you blessed is your portion he hath spokē it that neuer will change Jf whē you do well you suffer wrōgfully take it patiētly for this is acceptable to god but if you be guilty you haue not your hope in death for that you haue deserued but your hope is this that you die so as it becōmeth you which if god shal grāt vnto you then blessed is the howre that God shall bring vpon you you shal make that change which god for his Christes sake lay speedily vpon all his children you shal die once that you may liue euer Now that you may know how you ought to die learne this of the lord which he hath so plainly taught you The first part of your true repētāce must be an hūble cōfessiō what soeuer your own conscience can vtter more thē is reuealed O my Lorde speake opēly the trueth sathan is enimie vnto vs his slightes are many if you will treade the malicious serpent vnder your feete triumph with Christ who hath spoiled hell tell the trueth my Lord conceale nothing so shall you shunne the diuel If my words seeme but light to perswade you heare the wisest counsellour that euer raigned in Israel He that hideth his sinne saieth Salomon shall neuer prosper but he that cōfesseth forsaketh them shall finde mercie Whē Acan had transgressed in Israel deserued death when he was brought into iudgemēt Ioshua said vnto him My Son J beseech thee giue glory to the lord God of Israel make cōfession vnto him shew me now what thou hast done Loe my Lord this is to giue glorie vnto God to cōfesse your sin
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
CERTAINE GODLY AND VERIE comfortable Letters full of christian consolation Written by M. Ed Dering vnto sondry of his friends And nowe published for the proffite of the Church of God 2. THES 1.15 Stande fast keepe the instructions which ye haue bine taught either by worde or by our Epistles NEWLY IMPRINTED NON VI SED VIRTUTE Mr Derings wordes spoken on his death-bed at Tokye The 26. of Iune 1576. GOd forgeue me my negligence that I haue not vsed the pretious giftes of God laid vp within me more to his glory in my time Yet I thanke God that I haue not vsed them in vaine glorie or to please the vaine affections of men After my death my enimies will become my friendes except some that knowe me not and those which haue no feelinge of the trueth For I haue faithfully serued the Lorde and my Prince in a good conscience A Preacher saying vnto him It is for thee a great blessing that thou shal depart in peace and goe from many troubles that our brethren shall beare and see He answered I shall goe from many troubles and leaue many behinde me If the Lord hath appointed that his saintes shall suppe togither why goe I not to them but if there bee any doubting or staggering our Lord reueale the trueth Hearing one say He hoped that in his silence his minde was neuertheles exercised in godly meditation He answered As a poore frayle man and the least of all the elect saints yet beleeuing and lookinge on Christ my saluation We shall all meete togither with the sweet harmony of the Lord of hostes What a cloude of witnesses is heere yet a little while and we shall see our hope We haue ouertaken the endes of the worlde which is come vppon vs and we shall quicklie receyue the ende of our hope which we have waited for Afflictions sicknes and payne are but the worlds portions from the Lord. It is not to begin for a moment but to continewe in the feare of God all our dayes for in the twinckling of an eye we shal be taken away Dallie not with the worde of God make not light of it Blessed are they that vse their tongues well when they haue it E. D. An Epistle of M. Ed. Deringe before his 24 Lecture on the Hebrues which he preached the 6. of December 1572. And gaue for a newe yeres gifte to the godlie in London elsewhere To his verie louing friend Maister M. F. THe outward afflictions and manyfold troubles of a great nomber of gods childrie whose trauel labour frō day to day J had stil in experience and the inward feelling of many woūded spirits whose wofull sighes and bitter mournings J beheld in other and had tried in my selfe it made me very desirous to seeke for remedies to stoppe the complaints of so grieuous cryings and to prepare our heartes in a strong defence that the fierie dartes of the Diuell might not wound vs. Vpon this occasion when J had to expound that place of the Apostle full of notable comfort That Christe in the dayes of his fleshe offered vp prayers and supplications to him that was able to saue him from death with strong cryings and teares and was deliuered from the thinges hee feared J taried the longer in that matter declared more at large what boldnes and assurance of hope was offered heere vnto all that should obey the worde Which whē I had done as God gaue me vtterance the poore in spirit to whom J applyed my selfe one or two required mee to sette it downe in writinge that it might be profitable to manie which was comfortable to them I durst not reiect such a good request but though sometime I deferred it yee I neuer forgot it till I had written all as I was required Which when J had done I purposed then with my selfe to make it yet more common and set it abroad in print knowing assuredly where God would giue it increase it should bring forth the fruite of consolation that we might stande vpright in the day of euill Thus hauing performed both the request of others myne owne desire and the time fallinge out with the beginning of a newe yeare I thought it not amisse to offer my labour to you who I knowe would well accept of it as a newe yeares gift though of no great price yet of great good will and though easilie obteyned yet not little to bee esteemed Therefore my deare brother whom J loue in Christ and reuerence in the worlde as many wayes J haue cause so I offer it vnto you The Lorde for his mercies sake worke his owne good pleasure that J may haue of you the fruite that J desire and you the grace that ye stande in neede of that as God hath greatly blessed you and made you abound in many graces to the glorie of his name the comforte of your friends and the benefite of his people so your ioye that it might be made perfect you might also abounde in this to haue a strong faith against the daye of triall which God of his mercie will surelie graunte vnto you and finishe the good worke that hee hath begunne Though J loue not to speake faire for flatterie and deceytful prayses I see what mischief they breed yet J feare not to beare you witnes of your well doing the spirit of God hath planted humilitie more deepe in your breast then that pride and arrogancie can pull it out And in deede the better you are the more effectuall you doe see your owne vnworthinesse that all your righteousnes is as a defiled clothe and the more you approche vnto God the more you abhorre your selfe knowe that in our fleshe there dwelleth no goodnesse Abraham our father Job Esaie and many other men of excellent vertue in the sight of God they haue beene all astonished to see howe their righteousnes hath bene scattered away as the cloudes of the heauens Paule cryeth out O wretched man that I am who shall deliuer me from this body of death But because wee haue an enimie that spareth not to displaye all our corruptions before our eyes to the ende he might make vs dispaire therefore we may be bold to the strengthning of our hope to set before vs againe the spirituall graces that worke within vs to assure our selues that we bee borne of God So our Sauiour Christ praysed manie that beleeued on him so did the Apostles so may we and our heauenly Father will ratifie and confirme our wordes when we speake the trueth accordinge to the measure of faith that euery one hath receyued So Saint Iohn biddeth vs all be bolde and not bee deceyued He that doeth the things that are righteous him selfe is righteous and like vnto Christ in whom hee is sanctified So may J say vnto you the grace of GOD hath wrought happily in you in these yeres conditiō of life that so vnfainedly you haue sought the Lorde It can not be of your selfe who are
will surelie performe it To them that loue God all things happen to the best and pray for me good Brother that I may holde stedfast that loue and wauer not in the faith of the gospell in which we haue assured life and as I am bounde J trust I will pray for you that your eyes may haue perfect pure sight to see the louing countenance of the Lorde which is better then life so you shall bee happie euen in the dayes of your vanitie and when nature shall make you yeelde to the necessitie of all fleshe to goe walke in the way of all the worlde then shall you reape the fruite of your labour and say with gladnes Lord nowe lettest thou thy seruaunt depart in peace This is all the hope we haue and the onely ioye that is to be looked for vnder the heauens the nearer you shall feele it the more you shall see it it shall delight you and set you on a sure ground that you shall not be ashamed for euer The Lord God for his Christes sake strengthen vs all to so good a purpose and the mutuall debte we owe one to another in the bound of nature let vs paye it in this holy affection to praye for our perseuerance vnto the ende And as touching the issue of all my businesse looke for the worst hope for the best and beare whatsoeuer shall fall J trust to God once I shall see the day wherein J shall faithfully speake it euen as Saint Paul Vita mea nō est chara mihi vt consumā cursum meū cū gaudio The Bb. and many other seeke occasions against mee God hath stil raysed me vp many friendes but my hope is onely in him that hath kept me hitherto and not in man when J knowe what ende will come you shall heare If I would lose the trueth I could winne the world but that were a miserable change God blesse vs and sende vs peace make vs wise in his Gospell and stedfast vnto the ende My Wife hath bene I thanke God in no trouble neyther was any toward her that J knowe of if any fall God hath made her rich in grace and knowledge to giue accompt of her doing D.W. on frydaie last as I was about to preach forbad me in hir Maiesties name so I stande now forbidden not by the Bb. but by our Princesse whom J beseech God make a happie gouernour in his church and many yeares to giue peace vnto his people If we prayed as we should God would make perfite the good worke hee hath begun and make vs see the peace of Jerusalem all the dayes of our life And J beseeche God that wee may wishe so effectually his mercies that at last hee may shutt vs vp in a blessed vnitie that they whom he hath afflicted may reioyce Commende me to all Thank◠my cosen for her letters and for the parsonage she writeth of I will not refuse it if I may haue it neyther will I sue for it though it were much better If God call me to it I pray God I may doe my duetie if not yet his will be done I am perswaded if I be setled there it shal be a blessinge vnto the countrie if not without me God keepeth those that bee his Farewell good Brother And the Lord keepe you and all yours Amen The 24. of December 1573. Your louing Brother Edwarde Dering To his Brother I. D. THE God of all grace who giueth vs eyes to see and eares to heare giue vnto vs euer his holy spirit that in the middest of a darke world we may see the brightnesse of his heauenly kingdome and in this weake tabernacle of small cōtinuance we may knowe the dwelling place which we shall haue for euer in the resurrection of the iust Amen I thanke you good brother for your letter and for your care of my recouerie but most of all because you shewe a good testimonie of your minde that the feare of God doeth dwell in you of this J am gladde and I am sure I shal be glad For I know howe earnestlie I desire it and I see howe vnfainedlie you are brought vnto it and when the Lord in his good will his appointed time shal make vs see more cleare howe great this blessinge is we knowe wee shall reape the fruite of it in the sight of his presence and in eternal life this is enough for vs a strēgth vnto our hope a stay vnto our faith a continuance vnto our loue lett the good worke of God be finished in vs. And of this wee may be sure whosoeuer regardeth it not or else embraceth the present worlde he knoweth not God nor yet hath euer seene the length breadth of immortalitie And therefore good brother because blessed are the eyes which see that we see let vs strenghten our sight with the sweet oyntement of Gods spirite that we may yet see more cleare till through all the graces of GOD our Father we may see our bodies also raised vp from the dead and our selues ioyned vnto our Sauior Christ by decree and sentence which neuer shal be reuersed Come you blessed vnto eternall life vnto this a good conscience will carie vs with ioye gladnes Beyonde this our senses faile vs and our hearte is able to comprehende nothing of the glorie which we shall see Only J knowe it is exceeding great whose greatnesse I can neither see nor heare nor comprehende with thought And therefore if euer thinge delighted vs or if euer we haue seene pleasure or can wishe the thing in which we would reioyce let vs turne all our affections hither with harte and soule life and strength to delight in this which alone is all and no body shall take it from vs. And sure brother this is true if God haue receyued vs to that blessed kingdome he hath appointed the time in which he will giue vs his spirite though not fullie to comprehende it yet so farre to see it that wee will accounte all the worlde to be but dunge to the ende we may winne Christ. And this J am perswaded good brother God hath and will giue plentifullie vnto you so that you shall vse the worlde as though you vsed it not and be here with men as one whose dwelling were with the Angels of God vsing your calling in any godly recreatiō but hauing your heart nearest vnto God that gaue it and the Lorde graunt you this happines that all the pleasure of your life maye bee in deede acceptable such as shall not after be mingled with shame sorrowe And J beseeche God blesse my good Vncle B. and make him now to know which in his tender yeres he could not see for the worlde was then darke and we were blinde in it but since we haue bene lightened with the gospell of the Lorde Jesus and so much more earnest lie nowe we must pray that it may be vnto vs the gospell of healthe and wee may increase in the
vnto you but as other things are farre contrarie to my desire so is it in my comming vnto you J am constrayned rather to write then to come but God appointes our wayes whether J come and be with you or else be other where and heare from you J trust and am perswaded that both I shall heare from you and you shall haue the same constancie in the loue of trueth and still increase in the knowledge of it till the good grace of God haue made the worke perfect that it hath begunne and you with all your harte and all your soule doe feare the Lorde and delight in all obedience of his holy will Wherevnto though we be sufficientlie perswaded by the nature of godlines it selfe which all men doe prayse and the righteous doe loue yet a greater prouocation is in you because God hath giuen you a good estate in whiche your example shall doe good to many and because good hath filled you with a hartie affection to testifie his Religion that you may accordingly in all weldoing surmount the praise of your profession and especially because he that hath called you is holy that you may expresse his similitude and likenes in all your wayes and this good course through euill dayes when God of his mercy shall make streight vnto vs wee shall see then what is the latter end Our hartes shal be satisfied with it and our tonge shal speake not as the world doth blessed are the riche mē or blessed are the mighty for all these haue winges to flie away and highe estates to sit downe in the dust when man must goe make his bed in the darke and say to coruption thou art my father and to the worme thou art my mother and sister but our songe shal be in better hermonie and wee shall say with the Prophet Dauid blessed is the man that feareth the Lorde and delights greatly in his commaundemēts For when all hatred shall growe against this and all aduersity shall stryue to come vppon it yet all is nothing and shall not moue it For when our hart is strenghtened with this grace wee see our portions in all estates and tymes in discredit we see praise in pouerty riches in anger fauour in darknes light in bondage libertie and in death life yea whatsoeuer in weaknes of bodie in enuie of tyme in vncertainty of estate in danger of life or in any thinge els because nothinge can seperat vs from the loue of God nothinge can turne vnto our harme for wee haue his promise that is able to performe it that to those that loue God all things happen for the best This purpose of life is soone had and this course is easly begon but the frute of it doth not vade nor the gladnes of it shall neuer bee loste so that wee shall not nor by the grace of God we will not for so litle labour lose so great a reward nor for a litle pleasure which vainlie wee thinke is in other thinges receaue the reward of our foolishnes which assuredlie wee knowe hath euerlastinge griefe wee haue not so vnfruictfullie learned Christ nor so vnhappelie geuen witnesse of his trueth But better thinges belonge vnto vs in better wayes wee wll run our course in a better hope lay downe our bodies The children of the worlde shall make the worlde their portion wee looke for another citty of which the Lord is the workeman and wee will not buylde vp our vnhappines in the vayne desires and concupiscence of this world neither yet seinge God is good to vs to fill our dayes with peace will wee deny any comfort that is offered vs in this present pilgrimage but seeinge the earth is the Lordes and all that therin is wee haue perfect pleasure in frendes riches authoritie honnor if all bee his All are pure if all bee of him Jn all is pleasures for where his kingdome is there is righteousnes and peace and ioye of the holy Ghost and sorrowe and sinne is cast out only let vs care as all thinges are good so we vse them and as they are corrupt so to let them alone St. Paule teacheth that to the pure all thinges are pure but to the impure all thinges are impure And the thinges of this worlde are made accordinge to the conscience of man Houlde this to remember it at noone dayes and lett our reynes instruct vs in it in the night season that wee feell our hartes inflamed with the loue of God and that it may bee acceptable vnto vs as our owne life to sett forth his praise That wee acknowledge his glorie whiche shineth in all his his workes and then the Lorde hath set vs in a large rome of libertie where we walke with boldnes in good delight of his creatures and in deed and in trueth this it is when this affliction hath taken roote within mee and I feele the worke of it perpetually within my minde whether J be following my Hauke or my bowle J make a more acceptable sacrifice to God then the harte barren of this loue of God can doe though the knee bowe or the tongue say praysed be the Lorde for euery one that sayeth Lorde Lorde shall not enter into the kingdome of heauen but in whom so euer the loue of God doeth reigne and hath driuen out the lewde desires of a dissolute minde him God hath chosen and the spirit of his sonne Christ cryeth within him Our Father yet I meane not here to iustifie these worldly minded men to whom the day is to short for their vaine playes except they reach it out till midnight at Cardes and Dice such people as they commonly fill all their delightes with blasphemie so lett them knowe that the loue of the liuing God they neuer felt but the god of this worlde hath blinded their vnbeleeuing heartes and in their vncleannes there I leaue them till the sinnes of their youth bee rotten in their bones that they may sinke deepe in their owne shame My meaning is that the man of God whose soule doeth thirste to see his glorie and hath the ioye of his life in immortalitie in respect of the which hee accounteth all the worlde to be but dunge I saye that man may haue true delight in the dayes of his vanitie the smelling of the dogge the flying of the birde the qualities of all creatures they were made for him and he is iniurious to the blood of Christ that thinkes he may not vse them but all these things are good for our recreation to comfort the frailtie of weake bodyes and to bring refreshing to a wearie spirite which end if we forget and make it our pastime and so call it then we turne our pastime into sinne For what is our tyme that we are wearie of it or what is our life that seemeth so slowe to passe are we grieued with the light which the Lorde hath set in the Heauens or is the feeling of our body burdenous vnto vs or our
eyelyddes payned with being open or are our eares wounded with the sounde of the ayre or what griefe what care what sorrowe is it why we wishe our time forgotten past Surely Iob knewe not this when hee saide His time passed faster thē a poste nor Dauid knewe it not whē he thought his life but a spanne longe and surely he hath but a wretched lyfe let him not loue it who is fayne to runne to the birdes of the ayre and the beastes of the fielde to seeke some comfort against it And therefore good Maistres B. let pastime alone and be not wearied with your good dayes your tymes are passed meetely well and you haue seene 40. yeares filled and gone the residue behinde will passe with them You shall not holde them if you would but pastyme and they will dwell togither till our appointed time shall come and one ende shal be vnto all But then you shall see another state and this enimitie betweene vs and it shal be taken away we shall not be wearie of it to wishe it gone and it will not bee wearie of vs to weare vs away but Tyme and we shall dwell togither and the glorie of God shal be eternally before vs and we before his Maiestie in Jmmortalitie A blessed state a hope of lyfe a glorious body a heauēly minde and woe be to all these tyme passers of that know how to delight in this but haue more pleasure in all vncleannes when the end of their labour shall come vppon them they shall feele more griefe in one day then after shal be eased world without ende And in one sentence of an angrie Judge goe you cursed into eternall fire they shal be wounded with that miserie whiche worlde without end shall rest vpon them and their olde pastime shall neuer more be founde but this is the portion of them that knowe not God But you good Maistres B. haue alreadie passed the dayes of your ignorance and the kingdome of heauen is come vnto you with power you loue the trueth of the Lorde Jesus and all false wayes you doe abhorre you doe feele the hope of the Elect of God and it hath quenched the desires of vngodlie Pray still that you may haue increase and read the Scriptures in whiche you shall haue comfort these will leade you in a perfect way and neyther Paule nor Peter haue a more blessed end then is for vs in a like pretious faith and J as J am bounde will beseeche the God of mercie and father of our Lord Iesus Christ that he will looke vpon you to fill you with his grace and holy spirite that it may guyde you and all your children before you and your houshold committed to your charge that you may dwell in the newe and blessed Testament of the forgiuenes of sinnes through faith in Christ Iesus who hath destroyed the workes of the Diuell and is able to keepe you for euer more And to his gracious defence J hartely leaue you and all yours Yours in the Lord Ed. Dering To Maistres B. THe grace of our Lord Iesus Christ be with you euer Amen Good Maistres Baret howe fayne J would be with you God knoweth and howe I am indebted to doe good in your house if J should not confesse I must needes accuse my selfe of much vnthankefulnes but God alone disposeth all our wayes to be so as pleaseth him whom hartily I beseeche for his sonnes sake blesse vs with that blessing whiche hee gaue his Apostle that in all places wee may bee vnto him in Iesus Christ a sweete sauour of life vnto life to all his saints with whom wee are So shall I more gladlie walke all the wayes of his appointment and you more willinglie beare with myne absence the will of God bee done in all thinges When you are at Braye if the Lorde will I shal be more quiet with you In the meane time good Maistres so beleeue as you haue seene and hearde and praye for me that I may liue to his glorie who hath shewed me such mercie that I may say with the Prophet Dauid What shall I giue againe for all that he hath giuen mee And so doe you reioyce in the blessing that GOD hath giuen you that more and more your estate here may be a sure testimonie of a more blessed hope that shall one day bee reuealed when honor and glorie shall succeed in the place of labour and sorrowe that nowe aboundeth The Lord blesse you and all yours keepe you and giue you a plentifull blessing in his newe Testament and in his kingdome which is righteousnes and peace and ioye in the holy Ghost the glorie whereof shall not bee darkened when the Sunne and Moone shall lose their light and faine men with desire of it that shall fill vs once with the countenance of the Lorde A glorious hope in an earthly tabernacle but a more glorious performance in a heauenly creature when we shal be free from sinne and death and be made like vnto him that sitteth at the right hande of maiestie and power Which tyme the Lorde God fulfill in the goodnes of his pleasure for our soules hope in whom we haue setled our hope Commendations c. Yours Ed. Deringe To Maistres B. THe grace of our Lord Iesus Christ bee with you euer Amen J am sorie that hitherto I could not come vnto you I would be more sorie if you should thinke I had leuer be any where then in your house I had thought shortly to haue come and I felte my selfe somewhat stronge and able to trauell but nowe on friday last the eleuēth of this moneth I had a feauer and fiue or sixe dayes after I felte it and my stomacke is very ill euer since and my cough much increaseth This is my health that God giueth me But let him do his will he is the God of life and one day will abolishe these troublesome thinges and make vs feele health in immortalitie and I beseeche him for his Christes sake to remember vs in his goodnes that wee may knowe all his mercies and then J am well assured both you and I and all weake bodyes shall so little care for the frayeltie of these tabernacles that we will reioyce in the remembrance of putting them of to thinke that wee shall see and take holde of him that liueth euer and will one day make these mortall bodyes like vnto the glorious body of his beloued sonne This we knowe in this we are comforted and holde it fast good Mistresse B. euen as you will holde your happie dayes for the hope of it shall not be confounded but when all our enimies haue spentt their euill willes and can doe no more hurt vnto vs he shal be on our right hande whom we haue looked for and he shall call vs with that blessed voyce Come ye blessed of my Father Let vs praye to vnderstande this for it hath pleasure effectuall gladnes more then all the faire