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
knowledge of the mysterie of it And the Lorde open his gracious countenance reuealed in it vnto my Aunte that shee may also make a blessed chaunge to leaue vaine imaginations of her own minde which are full of ignorance and learne the scripture which can make knowen vnto her the liuinge God And commende me hartilie vnto them both to whom I wishe as to my selfe Your louing Brother Ed. Dering A comfortable Letter written by Maister Ed. Deringe to a Christian Gentlewoman in heauines of spirite JT is true good Maistres H. which the spirit hath spoken and we feele it by experience That by many tribulations we must enter into the kingdome of heauen This is a common decree which God hath sanctified to be a lot for all his children So the authour and finisher of our faith Jesus Christ him selfe was made perfect Into his similitude we are also predestinate that we should first die with him and then be partakers of his glorie Lett vs not therefore refuse that condition of life in which we haue the fellowshipp of all the Saintes of God but rather confesse with the holy Apostle That blessed is the man who endureth temptation But because all afflictions are bitter for the present time and when the minde is shaken with sorrowe it is then most easilie cast downe of the enemie let vs learne wiselie what our troubles are and be prepared of remedie in the day of triall All our afflictions are eyther according to the fleshe in hunger colde nakednesse shame contempt slaunder c. or according to the Spirite in lamentations and mourninges which the worlde knoweth not The firste euilles are easilie borne for they are all but vanitie and in vanitie they shall dye if we see no fauour in the sight of the Sunne that shineth not here acceptable vnto vs when we haue payde the debt we owe vnto death the Lorde will deliuer vs from all the iniuries of men But in this behalfe let me cōfort my selfe God hath set you free frō such afflictions Your goodes are vnto you in a liberall portion your life made happie with a louing husbande your calling acceptable vnder a gracious and good Mistresse in whose sight you haue founde fauour in this estate you feele no trouble therefore I let it passe The other affliction which is of the spirite and whiche can not be resisted with any earthlie blessing looke for it assuredlie for it will come vnto you that you maye suffer with Christ and reigne with him in glorie These troubles they come many wayes euen as the spirite of God doeth leade vs vnto life First we are commanded to learne knowe the worde of God against this looke for many tentations the enimie will trie whiche way to plucke that out of our heartes Out of the worde we must learne a precious faith and holde that vnmoueable before God against this what temptations are betweene heauen and earth you shal feeele your portion if any thing possible cā discourage you With faith you must ioyne a liuelie hope which is a longinge apprehension of Gods glorie in this also Sathan will pretermitte nothing to quenche your affections that it may be dead and to darken your minde that you may see nothing without these you can not possiblie liue and vnto these you can not possiblie come but first you shall feele what is the strength of sinne And yet notwithstanding faint not the Lion hath ouercome which is of the tribe of Iuda The force of the Serpent shall bruse our heele but it shall not take away from vs the head-piece of saluation Learne therefore first the worde of God this is the seede of regeneration by which wee are made newe creatures this is the bread of spiritual nourishment by which we are growne vp into eternall life This is the weapon of our warfare by whiche wee may wounde and driue away our enimies This is the Scepter of our glorious kingdome by which wee doe knowe that God doeth reigne in vs. Take this vnto you the shielde of your defence the strength of your age the wisedome of your heart and the safetie of your life cōmended vnto you in the worde of Christ. Searche the Scriptures and seale it in your heart with a good perswasion that it is the word of God and of life and hee hath grauen in it an expresse image of eternall trueth Let it dwell plentifullie within you and your heart is armed with a most strong defence all enimies shall fall before it the wisedome of the wise shal be brought to nought and the councell of the prudent shal be made foolish the wayes of the aduersaries shal be scattered and the scorners seate shall bee throwen downe so true it is that the Lorde hath spoken Blessed is the man whose delight is in the Lawe of the Lorde and whose meditation is in it day and night Lett vs then bringe downe the hautinesse of our mindes and receyue with meekenesse the worde grafted in vs which can saue our soules To this desire of vnderstanding when God hath brought vs then let vs pray to be deliuered from temptatiō and take heede we be not spoyled of so great a treasure We haue three especiall enimies in this behalfe of which S. Paule biddeth vs all beware the one is Phylosophie that is a vayne and curious searching of Gods mysteries or measuring things reuealed according to our vnderstandinge with which tentations whylest our Fathers were ouercome they became foolishe in their owne imaginations and chaunged the glorie of God into the likenesse of a corruptible man making Images praying to Angelles imageninge of soules like little children deuising Purgatorie reasoning of Gods wisedome aboue our capacitie As if we be predestinate we may liue as we list if wee are commanded to worke if our dayes are nombred why seeke we any safetie to our life Jf the Angelles doe keepe vs in all our wayes that we shal not hurt our foote against a stone why feare wee any falling These phantasies and worse then these disquiet our mindes and fight within vs against our humble obedience to the worde of God Which all when we haue ouercome and saide with the Prophete secrete things are for the Lorde but things reuealed for vs and our children yet haue wee no peace A seconde enimie riseth vp greater then the first which Saint Paule calleth The traditions of men for the heart of man which drinketh in errour as the grounde doeth drinke water is very obstinatlie bounde with olde customes and longe continuance measuring trueth which is pure and holy only by time which is corrupt and euill and not onely this but nature also hath inflamed our affections to loue to much our fathers wayes to like their opinions to esteeme their iudgementes to prayse their doeinges to commende their age to talke of their names till throughe manie entisements we are at last bewitched our wisedome is stolen away and trueth is taken from vs by this meanes all corruptions
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