No. 96.* TO MRS. WILKINSON. THE Lord of mercy, in Christ his Son, our Saviour and only comforter, be with you all, now and for ever, Amen. Although presently I have little time, by reason of this bringer's short departing, and less occasion of necessary matter, to write unto you; yet in that it hath pleased God to offer me more liberty to write than before I had, as this bearer can report, I thought good to signify unto you the same, with the acknowledging of the receipt of your tokens; for the which I neither can nor will go about to flatter you with thanks, in that I know you look for none at mine hands, God being the cause, and his word the end, wherefore you did so, To him I know you would have me thankful, and I beseech you pray that I may so be; and not only thankful for myself and his benefits towards me, but also thankful for you, to whom God hath given to fear his name and love his truth. The which gifts far pass the riches of the world, for they shall perish, and be left we know not unto whom; but the gifts of God, as they last for ever, so they make happy the possessors of the same. Go to therefore, and pray God to increase them of his goodness; as of his mercy he hath begun them in you, and indeed so he will. For to whom he giveth the earnest of willing, to the same he will give the grace of continuing, if we reject not the same; as we do when we be double-hearted, and part our fear and love; as did the Samaritans, who feared God, and their Adrammelech ;† loved God's religion, and their old country customs, &c. If this doubleness come on us, that we fear more the world, and couple it with the fear of God; if we love the muck of this world, and couple it with the love of God's religion; then part we stake, then mar we the market, then the spirit of God will depart, then play we as Ananias and Sapphira did, and so sooner or later shall fall to perdition with them. But, as I said, I think no such thing of you; I think of you as of God's dear children, whose hearts are whole with the Lord. And therefore I write not this as though you were such, but because it is God's goodness you be not such; because satan would have you such, and because many that were as you now be, are such. There fore to make you, as thankful, so careful to continue, but yet so that your care be cast all on the Lord, is the only cause I write this, and would write more, but that the bringer cannot tarry. And therefore hastily and abruptly I make an end, beseeching Almighty God, in our Redeemer Jesus Christ, to be with you, and with his Holy Spirit comfort you all, and help my good sister Mrs. W.,* to be a happy and a good mother of the child, of which as yet I hear God hath not delivered her. By your own to use in the Lord for ever. JOHN BRADFORD. No. 97.+ TO HIS DEARLY BELOVED IN THE LORD, MRS. W. AND MRS. W. ALMIGHTY God, our dear and most merciful Father, be always with you both, my entirely beloved mother and sister in the Lord; and as his babes, may he for ever keep you unto his eternal kingdom, through Christ our Saviour, Amen. 1 purpose not to go about, to render thanks to you for God's great goodness towards me by you, because I cannot. Either of you hath so heaped upon me benefits, that it were hard for me to reckon the tithes. He for whose sake you have done it, and all the good you do, one day recompense you after your heart's desire in him. In the mean season, I beseech him to reveal unto you, more No doubt Mrs. Warcup. See Nos. 53 and 58. and more, the riches of his grace, and love in Christ, by whom ye are beloved and were, before the world was, and shall be doubtless world without end. According to the revelation, and your sense or faith herein, so will you contend to all piety and godliness, as St. John saith; He that hath this hope will purify himself as Christ is pure. For how should it otherwise be, but if we be certainly persuaded that heaven is ours, and we citizens thereof, but, I say, we should desire the dissolution of our bodies, and death to dispatch us, and to do his office upon us? If we did certainly believe we were members of Christ, and God's temples, how should we but fly from all impurity and corruption of the world, which cometh by concupiscence? If we did certainly believe that God indeed, of his mercy in Christ, is become our Father, in that his good will is infinite, and his power according thereto, how could we be afraid of man or devil? How could we doubt of salvation, or any good thing which might make to God's glory, and our own weal? Now that we should be certain and sure of this, that we are God's children in Christ, mark whether all things teach us not? Behold the creation of this world, and the government* of the same; do not these teach us that God loveth us? And is God's love out of Christ the beloved? Is not his love, as he is, unchangeable? Doth not St. John say, that he loveth to the end whom he loveth? Therefore, I say, the very creatures of God, concerning both their creation and conservation, tell us that God loveth us; that is, that we in Christ be his children and dearlings, although in ourselves, and of ourselves, we be otherwise; viz. children of wrath. Again, look upon the law of God, and tell me whether it doth not require this certainty of you, viz. that you be God's dear children in Christ? Doth not God plainly affirm and say, I am the Lord thy God? Doth he not charge you to have none other Gods but him? How then can you perish, if God be your God? Doth not that make God no God? Doth not David say, that those people be happy, who have the Lord for their God? Besides this, look on your belief; do you not profess that you *Gubernation. believe in God your Father Almighty, who wanteth no power to keep you, as he wanted no good will in Christ to choose you? Do you not say that you do believe remission of sins, resurrection of the body, life everlasting, fellowship with the saints, &c. But how do you say you believe this gear, and be not certain thereof? Is not faith a certainty? Is not doubting against faith, as St. James saith? Pray in faith and doubt not, for he that doubteth obtaineth nothing. When Peter began to doubt, he had like to have been drowned; beware of it therefore. Moreover, for to certify your consciences, that you be God's children, and shall never finally perish, through God's goodness in Christ; behold your Head, your Captain, I mean, Christ Jesus. Wherefore came he into this world, but to redeem you? to marry you unto himself? to destroy the works of satan? to save and seek that which was lost? Wherefore suffered he so great and bitter passions? was it not to take away your sins? Wherefore did he rise from death? was it not to justify you? Wherefore did he ascend into heaven? was it not to take possession there for you? to lead your captivity captive? to prepare and make ready all things for you? to appear before the Father, always praying for you? If these be true, as they be most true, why then stand you in a doubt? Do you not thereby deny Christ? Wherefore were you born of christian parents and in God's Church, but because you were God's children by Christ, before you were born? For this cause you were baptized, and hitherto the Lord hath thus dealt with you, sparing you, correcting you, and blessing you. But why? Verily because you be his children, and shall be for ever, through Christ. Tell me, why hath God kept you till this time, but that he will for his sake have you even here made like unto Christ, that elsewhere you may so be? Why hath he opened your eyes from popery, but because you be his children indeed? When you pray, do you not call him Father? Why do you doubt of it then? Why will you believe the devil more than God your Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost? more than the holy word of God, both in the law and in the Gospel? more than all the blessings and castigations of God? Do not all these preach to you and tell you, that you are God's babes through Christ? Therefore, my dearly beloved, believe it, and give not place to the devil, but withstand him strong in faith. Say with the poor man; I believe, Lord, help my unbelief. Say with the apostles; Lord, increase our faith. This, mine own hearts in the Lord, I write not that you should live more securely and carnally, doing as the spiders do, who gather poison where bees gather honey; but that, as the elect of God, you might live in all purity, godliness, and peace; which God increase in us all for his Christ's sake, Amen, I pray you heartily, pray for us, that to the very end we may, as I hope we shall, go lustily and cheerfully whithersoever our heavenly Father shall bring and lead us. His will, which is always good, be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Amen. Your brother in bonds, for the testimony of Jesus Christ, No. 98.* TO HIS GOOD BROTHER, JOHN CARELESS,+ Prisoner in the King's Bench. THE Father of mercy, and God of all comfort, visit us with his eternal consolation, according to his great mercies in Jesus Christ, our Saviour, Amen. My very dear brother, if I shall report the truth unto you, I cannot but signify that since I came into prison, I never received so much consolation as I did by your last letter, the name of God be most heartily praised therefore. But if I shall report the truth unto you, and as I have began, speak still the verity; I must confess that for mine unthankfulness to youwards and to God especially, I have Fox iii. 336. Cov. 373. + Another of that illustrious band of christian heroes, whose lives were sacrificed for the truths of the Gospel.-Acts and Mon. vol. iii. pp. 713. 732. |