CERTAIN GODLY AND VERY comfortable Letters, full of christian consolation. Written by M. Ed Dering unto sundry of his friends. And now published, for the profit of the Church of God.  2. THES. 1.15. Stand fast, & keep the instructions which ye have been taught, either by word, or by our Epistles 
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Mr Dering words spoken on his deathbed at Tokye. The 26. of june, 1576.  
GOd forgive me my negligence, that I have not used the precious gifts of God laid up within me, more to his glory in my time: Yet I thank God that I have not used them in vain glory, or to please the vain affections of men.  
After my death my enemies will become my friends, except some that know me not, and those which have no feeling of the truth: For I have faithfully served the Lord and my Prince in a good conscience.  
A Preacher saying unto him: It is for thee a great blessing that thou shall departed in peace, and go from many troubles that our brethren shall bear and see. He answered: I shall go from many troubles and leave many behind me. If the Lord hath appointed that his saints shall sup together, why go I not to them: but if there be any doubting or staggering, our Lord reveal the truth.  
Hearing one say, He hoped that in his silence, his mind was nevertheless exercised in godly meditation. He answered: As a poor frail man, and the least of all the elect saints, yet believing and looking on Christ my salvation. We shall all meet together with the sweet harmony of the Lord of hosts. What a cloud of witnesses is here: yet a little while and we shall see our hope. We have overtaken the ends of the world which is come upon us, and we shall quickly receive the end of our hope which we have waited for. Afflictions, sickness and pain, are but the world's portions from the Lord. It is not to begin for a moment, but to continue in the fear of God all our days: for in the twinkling of an eye we shallbe taken away. Dally not with the word of God, make not light of it: Blessed are they that use their tongues well when they have 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 gave for a new years gift to the godly in London & elsewhere.  
To his very loving friend Master M. F.  
THe outward afflictions and manifold troubles of a great number of god's childrie, whose travel & labour, from day to day I had still in experience, and the inward feeling of many wounded spirits, whose woeful sighs and bitter mournings, I beheld in other, and had tried in myself: it made me very desirous to seek for remedies, to stop the complaints of so grievous cry, and to prepare our hearts in a strong defence, that the fiery darts of the Devil might not wound us. Upon this occasion when I had to expound that place of the Apostle full of notable comfort: That Christ in the days of his flesh, offered up prayers and supplications to him that was able to save him from death, with strong cry and tears, and was delivered from the things he feared. I tarried the longer in that matter, & declared more at large what boldness and assurance of hope was offered here unto all that should obey the word. Which when I had done, as God gave me utterance, the poor in spirit, to whom I applied myself, one or two required me to set it down in writing, that it might be profitable to many, which was comfortable to them. I durst not reject such a good request, but though sometime I deferred it, ye I never forgot it, till I had written all as I was required. Which when I had done, I purposed then with myself, to make it yet more common, and set it abroad in print: knowing assuredly, where God would give it increase it should bring forth the fruit of consolation, that we might stand upright in the day of evil. Thus having performed both the request of others, & mine own desire, and the time falling out with the beginning of a new year, I thought it not amiss to offer my labour to you, who I know would well accept of it as a new years gift, though of no great price, yet of great good will: and though easily obtained, yet not little to be esteemed. Therefore my dear brother, whom I love in Christ, and reverence in the world as many ways I have cause, so I offer it unto you: The Lord for his mercy's sake work his own good pleasure, that I may have of you the fruit that I desire, and you the grace that ye stand in need of: that as God hath greatly blessed you, and made you abound in many graces to the glory of his name, the comfort of your friends, and the benefit of his people: so your joy, that it might be made perfect, you might also abound in this, to have a strong faith against the day of trial: which God of his mercy will surely grant unto you, and finish the good work that he hath begun. Though I love not to speak fair (for flattery and deceitful praises, I see what mischief they breed) yet I fear not to bear you witness of your well doing: the spirit of God hath planted humility more deep in your breast, than that pride and arrogancy can pull it out. And in deed the better you are, the more effectual you do see your own unworthiness, that all your righteousness is as a defiled cloth: and the more you approach unto God, the more you abhor yourself, & know that in our flesh there dwelleth no goodness. Abraham our father; Job, Esaie, and many other men of excellent virtue in the sight of God, they have been all astonished, to see how their righteousness hath been scattered away as the clouds of the heavens. Paul crieth out: O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from this body of death! But because we have an enemy, that spareth not to display all our corruptions before our eyes, to the end he might make us despair, therefore we may be bold, to the strengthening of our hope, to set before us again, the spiritual graces that work within us, to assure ourselves that we be borne of God. So our Saviour Christ praised many that believed on him, so did the Apostles, so may we: and our heavenly Father will ratify and confirm our words, when we speak the truth, according to the measure of faith that every one hath received. So Saint john biddeth us all be bold, and not be deceived: He that doth the things that are righteous, himself is righteous, and like unto Christ in whom he is sanctified. So may I say unto you, the grace of GOD hath wrought happily in you in these years & condition of life, that so unfeignedly you have sought the Lord. It can not be of yourself, who are not able so much as to think a good thought, but it is of him, whose seed abideth in you. And although, because you have that treasure in a brittle vessel, you see sometime the fruit of old Adam, and the pricks of his transgression within your bowels: yet fear not his malice that hath wrought this woe: You are bought with a dearer price, than that sin may reign again within you, & he that hath purchased you, he will not suffer his inheritance to be spoiled. It is necessary you should know your sin, or you could not understand how great were your redemption. But your sins can not separate you away from him, who hath buried them in the earth, and will not see them any more. When you shall ascend to come into his sight, the earth will hold her own, and keep your sins behind you. The piercing serpent shall not climb to accuse you, nor the crooked serpent shall not hide your redemption from you. Your care is cast upon him that careth for you, & you know him who hath spoken: All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Ye know him who hath a name above all names, that in the name of Jesus all knees shall bow: Even he that bought you with a price, and you are not your own. If it be possible for you to perish, then is it possible again that Christ should suffer injury. This boldness you have through him who hath made manifest his grace unto you, that you denying impiety & worldly concupiscence, should live soberly, purely, and godly in this present life, and look for the blessed hope that shall be revealed, when all secrets shall be opened. To which issue and happy end of life, the Lord bring both you and yours, in the fellowship of his saints, to praise his holy name, when he shall make known unto you his glory unspeakable, and crown it with immortality, Amen.  
Farewell in Christ jesus, and pray for me. The 26. of December. 1572. Yours in the Lord to command, Ed. Deringe.   

A letter of M. Ed. Deringe to his brother Master R. D.  
THe grace of our Lord jesus Christ be with you ever Amen. For Master S. whether he be angry or no I know not, if he be God is witness between him and me how little I have deserved it, true it is, he seemed not very well pleased, but if God be pleased man's goodwill, either it shallbe reconciled, or shall not do much hurt: if I have the loss in worldly things, I am content to bear it, and God will supply my want where I am able to do nothing. I had liefer be your Brother not worth a groat, but having a good conscience to pray for you, then have (as I might) great living, & encumber my conscience with much sin. And good Brother Dering, here follow me, you shallbe a great deal richer than you are: study the scripture, read books, be able to reason in your faith, especially and above all, have a lively feeling of God, that you think more vile of all the glory of the world, then of the dust of the earth: you know we must all perish, and you must walk the way of all flesh: Our good Parents both Father & Mother, they are gone before: you do but wait the time, and you must go after, your goods and lands must abide behind, and the riches of your mind, they are only your own. You are my eldest brother, & you know not how glad I would be, to see you go before me in Religion: God hath given you, neither a light head nor little understanding, if you would apply yourself unto knowledge, you should then reap the fruit of your labour in more gladness of heart then yet you can imagine: begin once but a little, and taste how sweet the Lord is, and you shall feel the riches of his glory, and say: Happy be the time that ever I knew it. Let not good Brother, let not the world deceive you, it is faithless and deceitful, when you shall love it best, it will soon deceive you. And of me think thus: that in the world I can not do you so great a pleasure, as continually to provoke you to know God: and this I shallbe able to perform, though otherwise I shallbe able to pleasure you nothing, and therefore I beseech you pray for me, and I will pray for you, & so the Lord God shall help us both, that I may be faithful which way I am called, and you may be such as I desire. And for Master S. or any other of such high calling, I love them in the Lord, even as I love mine own soul, and will pray for them while they and I shall live: Though I bear the loss of worldly things, yet by the grace of Christ, I will never lose a good conscience: and though they be angry with me, yet I will not leave to pray for them, and commit my cause unto God, he will one day multiply his graces, where he hath so well begun, and they shall (I trust) be throughlie taught, whom God hath already so far instructed. For my L. of C. I have been once with him, but I mean not yet to go the second time, God will work his will, his name be praised for ever. My L. of L. is a good man, I am often with him, I have seen in him so good tokens of a good spirit, that I reverence him in my heart & will serve him in Christ all ways that I may. And for my doing with any man, I pray you tell me where you see me faulty, but if you know not of any sin, do not dissuade me from going upright in the Gospel: But for my comfort, if you see me grieved, let me see in you, how you profess the gospel: & persuade yourself of this, that a lively zeal, & holy knowledge in you, and in my Sister, shall make me gladder than any bishopric in England. The Lord God for his mercy's sake that hath called you out of the kingdom of darkness, and placed you in the fellowship of his saints in light, make you to feel the depth of his graces, that you may be renewed, confirmed, strengthened, and made perfit unto the end, Amen. Far you well in Christ jesus, and do my hearty commendations to my sister.  
From London, the nineteen. of November. Your loving brother Ed. Deringe.   

To his brother Master R. D.  
THe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you ever, Amen. Good brother, I would gladly write oftener unto you, but otherwise I have so much to do, that some time I forget many duties. Another cause is, I have nothing to write as I would, so I have no pleasure to do that I would not. So it is, that I am forbidden to preach: which grieveth me most, then slanderous reports do hurt me much, where I would feignest please, so far as I may in the fear of God. But how so ever things are, it is a blessed sentence which he hath spoken, who will surely perform it: To them that love God, all things happen to the best, and pray for me good Brother, that I may hold steadfast that love, and waver not in the faith of the gospel in which we have assured life: and as I am bound I trust I will pray for you, that your eyes may have perfect & pure sight, to see the loving countenance of the Lord which is better than life: so you shall be happy even in the days of your vanity, and when nature shall make you yield to the necessity of all flesh, to go walk in the way of all the world, then shall you reap the fruit of your labour, and say with gladness: Lord now lettest thou thy servant departed in peace. This is all the hope we have, and the only joy that is to be looked for under the heavens: the nearer you shall feel 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 ever. The Lord God for his Christ's sake strengthen us all to so good a purpose, and the mutual debt we own one to another in the bound of nature, let us pay it in this holy affection, to pray for our perseverance unto the end. And as touching the issue of all my business, look for the worst, hope for the best, and bear whatsoever shall fall. I trust to God once I shall see the day wherein I shall faithfully speak it, even as Saint Paul Vita mea non est chara mihi, ut consumam cursum meum cum gaudio The Bb. and many other seek occasions against me. God hath still raised me up many friends, but my hope is only in him, that hath kept me hitherto, and not in man, when I know what end will come, you shall hear: If I would lose the truth I could win the world, but that were a miserable change. God bless us and send us peace, make us wise in his Gospel, and steadfast unto the end. My Wife hath been I thank God in no trouble, neither was any toward her, that I know of, if any fall, God hath made her rich in grace and knowledge to give account of her doing. D.W. on frydaie last as I was about to preach, forbade me in her majesties name, so I stand now forbidden, not by the Bb. but by our Princess, whom I beseech God make a happy governor in his church, and many years to give peace unto his people. If we prayed as we should, God would make perfit the good work he hath begun, and make us see the peace of Jerusalem all the days of our life. And I beseech God, that we may wish so effectually his mercies, that at last he may shut us up in a blessed unity, that they whom he hath afflicted, may rejoice. Commend me to all. Thankss my cozen, for her letters, and for the parsonage she writeth of: I will not refuse it if I may have it, neither will I sue for it though it were much better. If God call me to it, I pray God I may do my duty: if not, yet his will be done. I am persuaded, if I be settled there, it shallbe a blessing unto the country: if not, without me God keepeth those that be his. Farewell good Brother, And the Lord keep you and all yours, Amen.  
The 24. of December 1573. Your loving Brother, Edward Dering.   

To his Brother I. D.  
THE God of all grace who giveth us eyes to see, and ears to hear, give unto us ever his holy spirit, that in the midst of a dark world, we may see the brightness of his heavenly kingdom, and in this weak tabernacle of small continuance, we may know the dwelling place which we shall have for ever in the resurrection of the just, Amen. I thank you, good brother, for your letter, and for your care of my recovery, but most of all because you show a good testimony of your mind, that the fear of God doth dwell in you: of this I am glad, and I am sure I shallbe glad. For I know how earnestly I desire it, and I see how unfeignedly you are brought unto it, and when the Lord in his good will, & his appointed time shall make us see more clear how great this blessing is, we know we shall reap the fruit of it in the sight of his presence and in eternal life, this is enough for us: a strength unto our hope, a stay unto our faith, a continuance unto our love, let the good work of God be finished in us. And of this we may be sure, whosoever regardeth it not, or else embraceth the present world, he knoweth not God, nor yet hath ever seen the length & breadth of immortality. And therefore good brother, (because blessed are the eyes which see that we see,) let us strengthen our sight, with the sweet ointment of God's spirit, that we may yet see more clear, till through all the graces of GOD our Father, we may see our bodies also raised up from the dead, and ourselves joined unto our Saviour Christ by decree and sentence which never shallbe reversed, Come you blessed unto eternal life: unto this, a good conscience will carry us with joy & gladness. Beyond this our senses fail us, and our heart is able to comprehend nothing of the glory which we shall see. Only I know it is exceeding great, whose greatness I can neither see, nor hear, nor comprehend with thought: And therefore if ever thing delighted us, or if ever we have seen pleasure, or can wish the thing in which we would rejoice, let us turn all our affections hither with heart and soul, life and strength, to delight in this, which alone is all, and no body shall take it from us. And sure brother, this is true, if God have received us to that blessed kingdom, he hath appointed the time in which he will give us his spirit (though not fully) to comprehend it, yet so far to see it, that we will account all the world to be but dung, to the end we may win Christ. And this I am persuaded, good brother, God hath and will give plentifully unto you, so that you shall use the world as though you used it not, and be here with men, as one whose dwelling were with the Angels of God, using your calling in any godly recreation, but having your heart nearest unto God, that gave it: and the Lord grant you this happiness, that all the pleasure of your life may be in deed acceptable, such as shall not after be mingled with shame & sorrow. And I beseech God bless my good Uncle B. and make him now to know, which in his tender years he could not see: for the world was then dark, and we were blind in it: but since we have been lightened with the gospel of the Lord Jesus, and so much more earnest lie now we must pray that it may be unto us the gospel of health, and we may increase in the knowledge of the mystery of it. And the Lord open his gracious countenance revealed in it, unto my Aunt, that she may also make a blessed change, to leave vain imaginations of her own mind, which are full of ignorance, and learn the scripture, which can make known unto her the living God. And commend me heartily unto them both, to whom I wish as to myself.  
Your loving Brother, Ed. Dering.   

A comfortable Letter written by Master Ed. Deringe, to a Christian Gentlewoman, in heaviness of spirit.  
IT is true (good Mistress H.) which the spirit hath spoken, and we feel it by experience, That by many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of heaven. This is a common decree which God hath sanctified to be a lot for all his children. So the author and finisher of our faith, Jesus Christ himself was made perfect. Into his similitude we are also predestinate that we should first die with him, and then be partakers of his glory: Let us not therefore refuse that condition of life in which we have the fellowship of all the Saints of God, but rather confess 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 mind is shaken with sorrow, it is then most easily cast down of the enemy, let us learn wisely what our troubles are, and be prepared of remedy in the day of trial. All our afflictions are either according to the flesh, in hunger, cold, nakedness, shame, contempt, slander, etc. or according to the Spirit, in lamentations and mournings, which the world knoweth not. The first evils are easily borne, for they are all but vanity, and in vanity they shall die: if we see no favour in the sight of the Sun that shineth not here acceptable unto us, when we have paid the debt we own unto death, the Lord will deliver us from all the injuries of men. But in this behalf let me comfort myself, God hath set you free from such afflictions. Your goods are unto you in a liberal portion, your life made happy with a loving husband, your calling acceptable under a gracious and good Mistress, in whose sight you have found favour, in this estate you feel no trouble, therefore I let it pass. The other affliction which is of the spirit, and which can not be resisted with any earthly blessing, look for it assuredly, for it will come unto you, that you may suffer with Christ, and reign with him in glory. These troubles they come many ways, even as the spirit of God doth lead us unto life. First we are commanded to learn & know the word of God, against this look for many temptations, the enemy will try which way to pluck that out of our hearts: Out of the word we must learn a precious faith, and hold that unmovable before God: against this what temptations are between heaven and earth, you shall feel your portion, if any thing possible can discourage you. With faith you must join a lively hope, which is, a longing apprehension of God's glory: in this also Satan will pretermit nothing to quench your affections, that it may be dead, and to darken your mind that you may see nothing, without these you can not possibly live, and unto these you can not possibly come, but first you shall feel what is the strength of sin. And yet notwithstanding faint not, the Lion hath overcome which is of the tribe of juda. The force of the Serpent shall bruise our heel, but it shall not take away from us the headpiece of salvation. Learn therefore first the word of God, this is the seed of regeneration, by which we are made new creatures, this is the bread of spiritual nourishment, by which we are grown up into eternal life. This is the weapon of our warfare, by which we may wound and drive away our enemies. This is the Sceptre of our glorious kingdom, by which we do know that God doth reign in us. Take this unto you, the shield of your defence, the strength of your age, the wisdom of your heart, and the safety of your life, commended unto you in the word of Christ. Search the Scriptures, and seal it in your heart with a good persuasion that it is the word of God and of life, and he hath graven in it an express image of eternal truth. Let it dwell plentifully within you, and your heart is armed with a most strong defence, all enemies shall fall before it, the wisdom of the wise shallbe brought to nought, and the council of the prudent shallbe made foolish, the ways of the adversaries shallbe scattered, and the scorners seat shall be thrown down, so true it is that the Lord hath spoken. Blessed is the man whose delight is in the Law of the Lord, and whose meditation is in it day and night. Let us then bring down the haughtiness of our minds, and receive with meekness the word grafted in us, which can save our souls. To this desire of understanding, when God hath brought us, then let us pray to be delivered from temptation, and take heed we be not spoiled of so great a treasure. We have three especial enemies in this behalf, of which S. Paul biddeth us all beware: the one is, Philosophy, that is, a vain and curious searching of God's mysteries, or measuring things revealed according to our understanding, with which temptations whilst our Fathers were overcome, they became foolish in their own imaginations, and changed the glory of God into the likeness of a corruptible man, making Images, praying to Angels, imageninge of souls like little children, devising Purgatory, reasoning of God's wisdom above our capacity: As if we be predestinate we may live as we list, if we are commanded to work, if our days are numbered, why seek we any safety to our life. If the Angels do keep us in all our ways, that we shall not hurt our foot against a stone, why fear we any falling? These fantasies, and worse than these, disquiet our minds and fight within us against our humble obedience to the word of God. Which all when we have overcome (and said with the Prophet: secret things are for the Lord, but things revealed for us and our children) yet have we no peace. A second enemy riseth up greater than the first, which Saint Paul calleth The traditions of men, for the heart of man which drinketh in error, as the ground doth drink water, is very obstinately bound with old customs and long continuance, measuring truth which is pure and holy, only by time which is corrupt and evil, and not only this, but nature also hath inflamed our affections to love to much our father's ways, to like their opinions, to esteem their judgements, to praise their doings, to commend their age, to talk of their names, till through many enticements we are at last bewitched, our wisdom is stolen away, and truth is taken from us: by this means all corruptions which have overflowed the earth, have still wide rooms in the hearts of many. The Pope's supremacy, Latin service, prayer for the dead, Masses, Diriges, Pardons, Pilgrimages, sensing, and all popery, with the authors of it, Popes, Cardinals, Monks, Friars, all which have neither truth, nor shadow of truth: not one word of them is in all the Gospel of Christ, only old custom hath bred it in our bones, and an opinion of our fathers hath printed it in our breasts, and we will not cast it out. But the Lord be thanked, who hath had mercy upon us, to make us hold fast the word of truth, what soever our fathers have vainly taught us, and yet we are not in security. But a third enemy is in the heart of man, that the word of God may not have his perfect honour, and that is an opinion conceived of earthly things, and planting of holiness in corruptible creatures, as in Meats, Drinks, Days, Garments, conditions of life, places, times, Ceremonies, neither hearing our Saviour Christ, that God is a spirit, and only he is to be worshipped in Spirit and Truth. Neither his Apostle Paul, That the Element of that world commend us not unto God, for neither if we eat, are we ever the worse: neither if we eat not, are we ever the better. These and many great temptations stand against us assoon as we would give over ourselves to the word of God, which is the beginning of a christian life. Trow you that in the continuance of our course and journey, before we come at our Saviour Christ, shall we not be sifted and tried to see what is within us? And you (good Mistress H.) to apply this to yourself, tell me how you have learned Christ, hath his Gospel been peaceable in you from the first day till now, without all contradiction? Was your mind never puffed up in vain imaginations? Did the traditions & persuasions of men never shake your thought? Have you not been tempted with opinions of creatures, as though some were more holy, some more profane? I know as you long after Christ and desire his truth in single heart: so his grace you have not, without sharp and bitter trials, and the more freely the word of God shall possess your soul, and fill your heart with all desire of it, the more you shall feel what fight is against it, look for the like in all your life, and when you approach to the true fear of God, prepare your heart to the strongest assault. The word of God thus made known unto us, and when we follow it with all our soul, that we may have a lively faith to rejoice at the promises of God, to fear at his threatening, and feel a full persuasion of a certain performance of all his words: O Lord, what is the malice of Satan! And though many temptations are against us, the long prosperity of the wicked in which they triumph, why lest the goodness of God provoketh them still to repentance, the bitter sighting of the godly, in which they mourn under many crosses, whiles God maketh their faith precious before him: these have rooted quite out of the hearts of the ungodly, the faith and truth which they own unto God, so that against all his judgements, they have opened their mouth, and said aloud: Where is the promise of his coming? And against all his mercies they have proclaimed war, and said, They will not have Christ to reign over them. But these temptations Christ hath overcome in us, and given us his spirit, in which we know assuredly that the Lord reigneth: neither slacketh he his coming, as many account slackness, but he will come, and his glory shallbe known. And yet we are not in peace, but Satan will sift us another way: he will lay our sins before us, to make us fear, that the promises of God belong not unto us, and this of all temptations is the greatest, yet we fear not, for what belongeth to all our sins, which Christ hath not borne? sorrow, sickness, death, hell, condemnation, were they not in his body, and are they not all crucified upon the cross? Is he not risen from them, & hath he not broken the chains of death, and so is ascended into glory? If this be my fear because I am a sinner, rather let me rejoice, for Christ hath taken my sins upon him, & hath buried them deeper than the bottom of the Sea, he hath led it openly in triumph, and nailed it upon the cross from henceforth & for evermore it hath no strength, whosoever seem to colour it as red as scarlet, or make it like purple, it is still nothing, and casteth but a vain terror before our eyes: we will never deny this but freely confess it, that we be miserable sinners, and not worthy to lift up our eyes to heaven, but who will lay our sins to our charge, now God hath justified us? or what sin can rest upon us, now Christ hath washed them away? That which once was in fight with Christ, and he hath overcome it, who shall set too his hand the second time, to make the victory perfect? This is true, and everlasting truth hath sealed it up, that sin is abolished for ever and ever, howsoever we fear or tremble, or be faint hearted, yet before the Lord with whom our life is hid, there is no peril, no danger, no fear, but peace & righteousness without end. Let our sins be never so great, neither we nor our sins can change the new Testament, that God is merciful to our sins, and will blot out all our transgressions: therefore this care is past, that our sins be many, the more they are, the greater is his mercy, who hath forgiven them. And this is the token which God hath given us, that we are his, because we are grieved with our sins, for our Saviour Christ overcame sin with pains and sufferings which belong unto it, and this is the badge of our redemption, to be made like him in afflictions, we have sin, and abhor it, it woundeth us with fear, it setteth before us condemnation, we have a sense and feeling of God's anger against it, and hell gnaweth upon our souls because of transgression. O blessed state, and treasure of gladness, this was the Image of Christ when he overcame sin, a mark of my redemption in mine own flesh, that I should not faint. As the sun maketh the day, and the night darkness, so this affliction of sin is the badge and cognisance of our certain forgiveness. And herein see the goodness of God, which turneth all things to the best to those that love him. Through fear of sin the Devil fighteth against us, without fear of sin we could never have boldness: through anguish of heart the Devil would overwhelm us with sorrow: without anguish of heart we could never have joy. In feeling God's anger, the Devil would make us to despair: without feeling his threatening, and trembling before him, we could never have strength of faith, that his mercies are for ever. In all sufferings I am like to Christ, they are the marks of mine adoption, that I am his child. Do we not hear the Lord? Himself doth speak, If we be without correction, then are we bastards and not sons: and to show what our correction shallbe, he sayeth in an other place: If we be planted with him into the similitude of his death, then shall we also be partakers of his resurrection. Who hath heard so great salvation as this? Every weapon wherewith the enemy striketh, the same armeth us to greater salvation: And every wound that we do receive, the same confirmeth us to a surer life. Then (as before I said) care not for sin, for that is abolished, so here I may add, care not for hell, for the nearer we feel it, the further we are from it. Let them fear sin that feel it not, and let them be afraid of condemnation that know not what it is, upon whom destruction shall come suddenly as an armed man. Our eyes have been kept waking, and we have seen our sins: our hearts have fainted before the anger of the Lord, And we have not despised his heavenly calling, therefore in the day of trouble, we shall have rest. In this persuasion we will live and die: and if our souls should melt for fear within us, although the Lord should kill us, yet would we trust in him. Abraham believed in the Lord, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness, against hope he believed under hope: and if our hope seemed to be taken from us, yet would we patiently wait the Lord's leisure, until he save our hope again, that at the least our faith might have again the glory and truth of full assurance. Another thing we must labour in, and in another thing we shall have temptation, and that is, that we may see what is the glory of God and immortal life: herein let us meditate in our beds, and think on this in our secret places, in the midst of our companies, let these cogitations be often in our hearts, and in all places let these be our muses. When we shall apprehend with all the servants of God what is the height, the breadth, the length, the depth, we shall know that the glory is great of immortality, and he is only to be believed, who shall shine in honour when this vanity is overpast His strength is great that laid the foundations of the world, and his brightness exceeding, that made the Sun and the Moon. His treasure and riches, are above measure, who hath given Princes their gold and silver and other precious stones for the honour of man: he in deed is of excellent majesty, who is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, and his power is above all, who maketh sickness his messengers, and death his minister, till he shall abolish them both. For his mercies are unspeakable, that forgiveth us all our sins, and his goodness is great, who hath had regard to the children of men. From nothing he brought us into life, he kept us from the grave, he will restore us, and make us see his glory. When I would think on this, my soul is compassed with dullness of flesh, that I cannot see the fullness of his favour: When I would consider in my heart what is his grace: Darkness overshadoweth mine understanding, & all my thoughts do vanish in his immortality. When I would speak of his loving kindness, my tongue cleaveth to the root of my mouth, and my words stick fast within my lips. But this one thing in all mine infirmities I can perceive, that his glory is exceeding great, whose glory I can not comprehend, and the life is long, appointed unto man, where his heart and mind can see no end. If all the world were a flowing water, and every year one drop should be diminished, the Sea should be all made dry, and the bottoms of the deep should appear, before he shall cease to live, whom God hath raised from the dead, and this breadth & wideness between heaven and earth, if it should be filled up, and every year but one handful of earth added to the work: yet sooner should the great distance be closed up, and the empty places made full, than he shall cease from joy and gladness, who shall stand in the resurrection of the just. This is the glory that hath neither spot nor blemish, before which me thinketh, not only Princes and the glory of the world, but the Sun and Moon & all the hosts of heaven are nothing else but mere vanity, for death shadoweth the glory of man, though he spread his branches never so far, yet the grave closseth up in little room the ambitious heart, which before was enlarged from East to West. And the Heavens that are high and free from death, yet are holden under the tyranny of envious and consuming time, in which they shallbe changed: Only the Lord is in honour and majesty, who hath set eternity round about him, and cast out time unto confusion. Oh Lord, where are their eyes that see not this, or their hearts that see and regard it not! Who hath bewitched them, in the countenances of men, to carry the hearts of beasts, and to forget the latter end. The Lord turn them that run astray, that they may know and see where is their glory, but the temptations have overtaken them. Which are against our honour when the Lord shall deliver them from evil, they shall give thanks and rejoice with us, that they also have eyes to see. And blessed are you (good Mistress H.) and God hath visited you in an acceptable time, whose heart he hath touched with fear, & whose afflictions he hath filled with hunger and thirst, that you should mourn for the redemption that is in Christ, and be pleased with nothing but with the grace of his countenance. This is a Schoolemistres to bring you unto him, and a bond to tie you fast, that you shall not be separated: and accomplish I beseech you, this good work of his grace, till you love the Lord withal your heart, and till you can say with the blessed Apostle, I desire to be dissolved, and to be with Christ.  
For this purpose we are chastised of the Lord, and when our faith is tried, at the last it shallbe made strong, that with it we may quench all the fiery darts of Satan, and in righteousness and peace, and joy of the holy Ghost, run the course that is set before us, till in a blessed issue of happy days, with a good spirit we may say boldly, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant departed in peace. Which I beseech God the father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the God of mercy, and Father of all consolation grant unto you, Amen.  
Pray, pray, pray, pray, this is your best service wheresoever your duty is most bound.   

Letters of Ed. Der. to Mistress B.  
GRace, mercy and peace from God our Father, etc. I had much liefer good Mistress B. come myself then write unto you, but as other things are far contrary to my desire, so is it in my coming unto you, & I am constrained rather to write then to come, but God appoints our ways, whether I come and be with you, or else be other where and hear from you, I trust and am persuaded, that both I shall hear from you, and you shall have the same constancy in the love of truth and still increase in the knowledge of it, till the good grace of God have made the work perfect that it hath begun, and you with all your heart and all your soul do fear the Lord, and delight in all obedience of his holy will. Whereunto though we be sufficiently persuaded by the nature of godliness itself, which all men do praise, and the righteous do love: yet a greater provocation is in you, because God hath given you a good estate, in which your example shall do good to many, and because good hath filled you with a hearty affection to testify his Religion, that you may accordingly in all well-doing surmount the praise of your profession, and especially because he that hath called you is holy, that you may express his similitude and likeness in all your ways, and this good course through evil days, when God of his mercy shall make straight unto us we shall see then what is the latter end. Our hearts shallbe satisfied with it, and our tongue shall speak not as the world doth, blessed are the rich men or blessed are the mighty, for all these have wings to fly away, and high estates to sit down in the dust, when man must go make his bed in the dark, and say to corruption thou art my father, and to the worm thou art my mother and sister, but our song shallbe in better harmony, and we shall say with the Prophet David, blessed is the man that feareth the Lord and delights greatly in his commandments: For when all hatred shall grow against this, and all adversity shall strive to come upon it, yet all is nothing and shall not move it. For when our heart is strenghtened with this grace, we see our portions in all estates and times: in discredit, we see praise, in poverty, riches, in anger, favour, in darkness, light, in bondage, liberty, and in death, life, yea whatsoever in weakness of body, in envy of time, in uncertainty of estate, in danger of life, or in any thing else, because nothing can separate us from the love of God, nothing can turn unto our harm, for we have his promise that is able to perform it, that to those that love God all things happen for the best. This purpose of life is soon had, and this course is easily begun, but the fruit of it doth not vade nor the gladness of it shall never be lost so that we shall not, nor by the grace of God we: will not for so little labour lose so great a reward, nor for a little pleasure which vainly we think is in other things, receive the reward of our foolishness, which assuredly we know hath everlasting grief, we have not so unfruictfullie learned Christ nor so unhappily given witness of his truth, But better things belong unto us, in better ways we will run our course, in a better hope lay down our bodies: The children of the world shall make the world their portion, we look for another city of which the Lord is the workman, and we will not build up our unhappiness in the vain desires and concupiscence of this world, neither yet (seeing God is good to us to fill our days with peace) will we deny any comfort that is offered us in this present pilgrimage, but seeing the earth is the Lords and all that therein is, we have perfect pleasure in friends, riches, authority, honour: if all be his? All are pure: if all be of him? In all is pleasures for where his kingdom is, there is righteousness and peace and joy of the holy Ghost: and sorrow and sin is cast out, only let us care as all things are good, so we use them: and as they are corrupt, so to let them alone. St. Paul teacheth that to the pure all things are pure, but to the impure all things are impure: And the things of this world are made according to the conscience of man: Hold this to remember it at noon days, and let our reins instruct us in it in the night season, that we feel our hearts inflamed with the love of God, and that it may be acceptable unto us as our own life, to set forth his praise: That we acknowledge his glory which shineth in all his his works, and then the Lord hath set us in a large room of liberty, where we walk with boldness in good delight of his creatures: and in deed and in truth this it is when this affliction hath taken root within me, and I feel the work of it perpetually within my mind, whether I be following my Hawk or my bowl, I make a more acceptable sacrifice to God, than the heart barren of this love of God can do: though the knee bow or the tongue say, praised be the Lord, for every one that sayeth, Lord, Lord, shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven, but in whom so ever the love of God doth reign, and hath driven out the lewd desires of a dissolute mind, him God hath chosen, and the spirit of his son Christ crieth within him, Our Father: yet I mean not here to justify these worldly minded men, to whom the day is to short for their vain plays, except they reach it out till midnight at Cards and Dice: such people as they, commonly fill all their delights with blasphemy, so let them know that the love of the living God they never felt, but the god of this world hath blinded their unbelieving hearts, and in their uncleanness there I leave them, till the sins of their youth be rotten in their bones, that they may sink deep in their own shame. My meaning is, that the man of God whose soul doth thirst to see his glory, and hath the joy of his life in immortality, in respect of the which he accounteth all the world to be but dung: I say, that man may have true delight in the days of his vanity, the smelling of the dog, the flying of the bird, the qualities of all creatures, they were made for him: and he is injurious to the blood of Christ, that thinks he may not use them: but all these things are good for our recreation, to comfort the frailty of weak bodies, and to bring refreshing to a weary spirit: which end, if we forget, and make it our pastime, and so call it, than we turn our pastime into sin. For what is our time that we are weary of it, or what is our life that seemeth so slow to pass, are we grieved with the light which the Lord hath set in the Heavens, or is the feeling of our body burdenous unto us, or our eyelids pained with being open, or are our ears wounded with the sound of the air, or what grief, what care, what sorrow is it, why we wish our time forgotten & passed? Surely job knew not this when he said, His time passed faster than a post: nor David knew it not when he thought his life but a span long: and surely he hath but a wretched life, & let him not love it, who is fain to run to the birds of the air, and the beasts of the field, to seek some comfort against it. And therefore (good Mistress B.) let pastime alone, and be not wearied with your good days, your times are passed meetly well, and you have seen 40. years filled and gone, the residue behind will pass with them, You shall not hold them if you would, but pastime and they will dwell together, till our appointed time shall come: and one end shallbe unto all. But than you shall see another state, and this enmity between us and it, shallbe taken away: we shall not be weary of it to wish it gone, and it will not be weary of us to wear us away, but Time and we shall dwell together, and the glory of God shallbe eternally before us, and we before his Majesty in Jmmortalitie. A blessed state, a hope of life, a glorious body, a heavenvly mind, and woe be to all these time passers of, that know how to delight in this, but have more pleasure in all uncleanness: when the end of their labour shall come upon them, they shall feel more grief in one day, then after shallbe eased world without end. And in one sentence of an angry Judge (go you cursed into eternal fire) they shallbe wounded with that misery, which world without end shall rest upon them, and their old pastime shall never more be found: but this is the portion of them that know not God. But you good Mistress B. have already passed the days of your ignorance, and the kingdom of heaven is come unto you with power: you love the truth of the Lord Jesus, and all false ways you do abhor: you do feel the hope of the Elect of God, and it hath quenched the desires of ungodly. Pray still, that you may have increase: and read the Scriptures, in which you shall have comfort: these will lead you in a perfect way, and neither Paul nor Peter have a more blessed end, then is for us, in a like precious faith: and I (as I am bound) will beseech the God of mercy, and father of our Lord jesus Christ, that he will look upon you, to fill you with his grace and holy spirit, that it may guide you and all your children before you, and your household committed to your charge, that you may dwell in the new and blessed Testament of the forgiveness of sins through faith in Christ jesus, who hath destroyed the works of the Devil, and is able to keep you for ever more. And to his gracious defence, I heartily leave you and all yours.  
Yours in the Lord Ed. Dering.   

To Mistress B.  
THe grace of our Lord jesus Christ be with you ever, Amen. Good Mistress Baret, how fain I would be with you, God knoweth, and how I am indebted to do good in your house, if I should not confess, I must needs accuse myself of much unthankfulness, but God alone disposeth all our ways, to be so as pleaseth him, whom heartily I beseech for his sons sake, bless us with that blessing which he gave his Apostle, that in all places we may be unto him in jesus Christ, a sweet savour of life unto life to all his saints with whom we are. So shall I more gladly walk all the ways of his appointment, and you more willingly bear with mine absence, the will of God be done in all things. When you are at Bray, if the Lord will, I shallbe more quiet with you. In the mean time (good Mistress) so believe as you have seen and heard, and pray for me that I may live to his glory, who hath showed me such mercy, that I may say with the Prophet David: What shall I give again for all that he hath given me? And so do you rejoice in the blessing that GOD hath given you, that more and more your estate here may be a sure testimony of a more blessed hope, that shall one day be revealed, when honour and glory shall succeed in the place of labour and sorrow that now aboundeth. The Lord bless you and all yours, keep you and give you a plentiful blessing in his new Testament, and in his kingdom, which is righteousness, and peace, and joy in the holy Ghost, the glory whereof shall not be darkened, when the Sun and Moon shall lose their light, and feign men with desire of it, that shall fill us once with the countenance of the Lord. A glorious hope in an earthly tabernacle, but a more glorious performance in a heavenly creature, when we shallbe free from sin and death, and be made like unto him that sitteth at the right hand of majesty and power. Which time the Lord God fulfil in the goodness of his pleasure, for our soul's hope: in whom we have settled our hope. Commendations, etc.  
Yours Ed. Deringe.   

To Mistress B.  
THe grace of our Lord jesus Christ be with you ever, Amen. I am sorry that hitherto I could not come unto you, & I would be more sorry, if you should think I had liefer be any where then in your house, I had thought shortly to have come, and I felt myself somewhat strong and able to travel, but now on friday last the eleventh of this month, I had a fever, and five or six days after I felt it, and my stomach is very ill ever since, and my cough much increaseth. This is my health that God giveth me. But let him do his will, he is the God of life, and one day will abolish these troublesome things, and make us feel health in immortality, and I beseech him for his Christ's sake to remember us in his goodness, that we may know all his mercies, and then I am well assured both you and I, and all weak bodies, shall so little care for the failty of these tabernacles, that we will rejoice in the remembrance of putting them of, to think that we shall see and take hold of him that liveth ever, and will one day make these mortal bodies, like unto the glorious body of his beloved son. This we know & in this we are comforted: and hold it fast good Mistress B. even as you will hold your happy days: for the hope of it shall not be confounded. but when all our enemies have spentt their evil wills, and can do no more hurt unto us, he shallbe on our right hand whom we have looked for, and he shall call us with that blessed voice, Come ye blessed of my Father. Let us pray to understand this, for it hath pleasure & effectual gladness, more than all the fair countenances of the world, in which in deed there is nothing but vanity of vanities, and all is vanity: and think good Mistress B. how many occasions are before us to cause us to forget this, or to let the desire of it, to be● quenched in us, or at the least to fill ourselves with other pleasures of the world, but God shall keep you from the corruptions of the world, and give unto you a wise heart, which every day may search your thoughts, and suffer you never to forget your latter end: and seeing every day doth bring you near unto it, let every day kindle more your affections, that you may love it unto the end: and then our hope shallbe full, and our mouths opened for ever, Amen.  
Yours Ed. Deringe.   

To Mistress B.  
THe grace of our Lord jesus Christ be with you ever. As I trust the Lord doth strengthen you to better health, that you may live to his praise, so I am desirous to hear also of your amendment, but much more (as God hath made manifest in you many tokens of his grace) so I heartily pray that you may be made even as Paul to mourn still in this earthly tabernacle, and to say unfeignedly, I desire to be dissolved, and to be with Christ: this is that good issue of life to which I have often prayed that I might attain unto it: this is that measure of grace, which as I am most bound, so heartily I beseech our God and Saviour, that it may plentifully be powered upon you. And if we shallbe made in our lives so happy, then have we a dwelling in perfect peace: and in deed we be received into the covenant of the new Testament, that we should be filled with joy of the holy Ghost. For what can disquiet us, or what can be grievous unto us, if in the face of jesus Christ we see our rising again from the grave, and fear not before the shadow of death, all other afflictions they are but ministers unto this, & in the presence of death they are dispersed, and they do not follow us unto the dark places. If God will have mercy upon us to bless us into this victory, than hath he given us our inheritance in pleasant places, and our portion in a happy lot. What so ever enemies are against us, they shall strive in vain: and all things contrary unto us, shall have no strength, for beyond death there is no power in them, and death itself is despised in our eyes. If we felt not this in our hearts, but would seek outward testimony of men, let him speak that findeth any greater fear than this. The sick person or prisoner may be loath to die, but the dead man he feareth no evil: and they that live in prosperity, this is not their fear lest they should have a fall, but it is death that is bitter unto all them that have peace in their riches. Seeing this then is the greatest tyrant that maketh Princes tremble, and that anguish of heart that turneth all pleasure into wormwood, what soever is under the sun, good masters B. as you are, so abide: and as you have received, so abound till the good graces of the living GOD have made you stronger than sin or death: so shall your days be all in blessing, and your accounted times have true delight till the latter end do shine in hope. So shall you be bold to say with David: Surely the Lord will deliver me from the snare of the hunter, and from the noisome pestilence: I shall not be afraid of the fear of the night, nor of the arrow that flieth in the day, nor of the pestilence that walketh in the darkness, nor of the plague that destroyeth at noon: I have set the most high to be my refuge, and there shall no evil come near my tabernacle. The Lord bless us in this good hope, & make strong our confidence in this persuasion, that at last we may dwell in joy and gladness: if fear have often recourse into our frail bodies, because we carry in us corruption, which is the strength of death, yet that fear shall not always grieve us, for our hope is perfect, and shall not be shaken. We shall go but as Saint Paul, and Peter, Abraham and Jsaac have gone before: and not only they, but our Fathers, our Mothers, and our dearest friends are gone with them: and all that are behind shall overtake us. The trouble of the travel must needs appear light in the midst of so happy company: or if their love have not such force in us that Parents and Friends, Apostles, Prophets, patriarchs, and all the Saints of God can make us say, Let us die with the righteous, and let our latter end be as unto them: yet sure when among the dead I have seen Christ, and in the grave have found the God of glory, I shall say with a perfect heart, Christ is my life, and death is mine advantage. What then remaineth more unto us, but to strive faithfully that we may come unto this, that God may work with us, as with his saints, and we may be partaker with the happy Prophet, to see the loving kindness of the Lord, which is better than life, and to say with him: As the heart longeth after the water brooks, so my soul longeth to see the Lord: and in the mean season that we yet fulfil our accounted time, which the Lord grant for his Church's sake, that you may do even until old age and many years, in good increase of your children's children, & happy peace of his chosen people. In the mean while I say, that your hope may be precious before you, and in this earthly tabernacle, yet may have your conversation in the highest heaven, from thence looking for a Saviour, even jesus Christ the righteous, who shall change this corruptible body, to make it like to his glorious body, in that blessed time which shall scatter away all affliction, & seal within that happy assurance of immortality, which shallbe in the presence of the God of glory: when this weak body shall have a recompense (of a few sorrowful days) in everlasting righteousness. In which hope the Lord grant many years you may rest.  
Yours Ed. Dering.   

To Mistress B.  
THe Lord who is rich in mercy, keep us ever in the assured covenant of his new Testament made in Jesus Christ, that we may feel the forgiveness of our sins, and rejoice in the hope of eternal life, Amen. I am sure you willbe glad (good masters B.) to hear of our safe coming home, And I would be glad to hear of all your well doing, at your Saint elins, & therefore I writ unto you, Both to hear again that God continueth his good blessings towards you, and to certify you that (I thank God) I am now safe at Shenfildes, I have not yet taken the plaster, but this day I have begun to drink Mistress P. Water. Let it have the work which God will: For in health our meat do not nourish us, but by his word. In sickness medicines can do us no good, except he bless them. We have no news here to write of but of country things, scarce worth the telling, and less worse the practising of it could be amended, every man goeth after his Ox and his horse: and most do glorify God no more than their bruit beast. If they be like unto us which are in the Court and in the City, that the one be as ambitious, the other as covetous as we be brutish, and God be forgotten of us all alike, we may take us again the Lamentation of jeremy: for it is the great mercies of God that we be not consumed. But if such be the misery in the world, we that are not of the world, but by Christ are taken out of the world: Let us not love the world which is such an enemy unto God, and then we shall not be condemned with the world when Christ shall come in glory. And the Lord be praised, who hath given us eyes to see and ears to hear, that we might be wise hearted: not to say peace and truce with such things, with such men cry peace and truce, but rather to have our life hidden with Christ in God, and on his right hand behold the peace which passeth all understanding, and good Mistress B. increase in this, God hath given you a happy helper, who is willingly led to all righteousness: The Lord God make his good work perfect for his sons sake, in him, in you, and in us all that love the coming of Jesus Christ, Amen.  
Yours in the Lord Ed. Dering.   

A Letter of Ed. Der. to Mistress H.  
GRace and peace, etc. I have heard (good Mistress H.) of your heavy estate, that in many troubles the Lord doth exercise you, but I trust you are also taught to say always before God, Thy will be done, and if this be your prayers, then know that nothing happeneth but by his appointment, and be contented with all that he hath done, so that your heart may bear you witness, that of all things the Lord is most dear unto you: and for your troubles, give only your heart to love the Lord, and they shall seem neither great nor strong unto you. For what can be great, if our heart be prepared to say with Saint Paul, That we rejoice in afflictions, because they shall breed in us a hope which shall never make us ashamed: or what can be great, if God have taught us, That the momentaine afflictions of this world, they are not worthy of the glory that shallbe revealed unto us: or what can seem great, if we hear the Apostle: Brethren rejoice in afflictions, rejoice exceedingly: when you fall into many and great tribulations, Surely good Mistress H. all is nothing, for a frail body, a short life, a sinful creature, what can come unto it that should dismay it: nay how should we not (if we know it well) be glad, if death also were at our beds side, that we might at once see the outmost malice of the devil, and after for evermore be delivered from him. A great cloud of witnesses (as t'h Apostle sayeth) are cited unto in the eleventh Chapter to the Hebrues, of which every one should be our example to bear all crosses that the Lord doth send, knowing that he is delighted with us, when we be faithful to abide these momentaine and light chastisements. job, David, Paul, our Saviour Christ himself, how many things suffered they, how are we not ashamed to refuse the cause which they have borne, and way well your own case what it is, and you shall see little cause of sorrow in it, or if you compare it with other, none at all. Hath your husband been unkind unto you, bear it, and you shall win him at the last: if not, thank God that you can continue loving and obedient even unto an unkind husband. And I assure you in this one virtue there is more comfort and joy, than there can be grief in all the discourtesies of men: and what is that cross of yours in respect of that which Abigaill did so long and patiently bear? But your son hath grieved you much▪ yea but you have not the hundredth part of the grief that David might have had for his son Absalon: and will you be more grieved than he? Your son I trust, shall yet prove well, and you shall see his recovery: if not, this manner of disease is rather a testimony of a conscience grieved with his evil doing, than an argument of his destruction, so that even in this grief you have great cause of joy: and what if God take from you the comfort of one child, leaving again unto you the comfort of a great many: Will you, or can you repine against the loving kindness of the Lord? How glad would David have been of other good children in the loss of one evil: yet you have lost none, neither is your son known to be so evil, but you may rejoice in him again: yet if all things were as evil as you could imagine, what then? Where is our love to jesus Christ, that gave his precious body to the death for our sins? If we will not leave son, daughter, and our own life for his sake, can one hear fall from your sons head but at Christ's commandment? Is not he head of his Church, and all things happen they not unto us as he will? Herein you shall know you love God above all, when you can forget the child of your womb, for his sake. And therefore (good Mistress H.) give not yourself to any inordinate affections to offend God, and hurt yourself, but say and think, Thy will be done, O Lord, and when the time shall come of our latter end, we shall never have end of the blessed life which God shall give unto you, and to all his saints in that day. Thus in haste I am constrained to cease to write, but I will not cease to pray, that God may bless you, and give you his joyful Spirit, to fill you with all spiritual comfort, against the temptations of the world, and all the envy of the Devil. And pray for me I beseech you, that I may account all the world to be but dung▪ to the end I may win jesus Christ, (to whom) the living and eternal God I commit you for ever, Amen.  
The nineteen. of April. Yours in the Lord jesus, the only forgiveness of all our sins, Edward Deringe.   

Letters of Ed. De. to Mistress K.  
THe Lord God direct us with his holy spirit, that we may love and fear him unto the end, Amen. It grieveth me good Mistress K. that you should be so long at Hendon as now you have been, and all this while I could find no leisure to come unto you, & whatsoever my fault hath been herein, I will make no other excuse, but desire you to forgive it. And I pray God though I see you not, yet I may so remember you, as I am bound, and so my not coming unto you shall grieve me the less. Now touching your own case, I know you are wise to see, that the Lord giveth you new instructions to be wise in him, and to give over yourself unto him. For as God hath blessed you many ways, and given you a good calling in the world, So he visiteth you every day, and humbleth you with many chastisements before him. God hath given you husband, children, family, and other blessings, but you enjoy none of them without a cross, sometime one thing, sometime another, and commonly your own weak and sickly body makes you that you can not have your joy as you would. Yea I doubt not, but it is so abridged unto you, that sometime it grieveth you that you cannot either have care over your house, as you wish, or attend on your children as you desire, or rejoice with your husband, as otherwise you might. But this grief God recompenseth with great benefit, for our Saviour Christ is our good warrant, that this is the lot of God's saints, to enjoy his blessings with afflictions, so that the more that you be sorrowsull, the more you be sure that the living God hath given you your portion: And so your sorrow is joy unto you. Besides this, the mingling of your joy with sorrow, and wealth with woe, is a happy tempringe unto you of heaven with earth, that you should neither love nor rest in this, above that which is meet, but acknowledge, all is but vanity, so love it as transitory things, and have your great delight with the Lord alone, who is unto you health, prosperity, joy, and eternal life. This good Mistress K. you know, but yet this I also put you in mind of for though God have blessed you, yet you are but a weak woman, and have need (in the common failty of man's nature) to be stirred up with exhortation. Remember therefore ever that which is the end of all, Fear God, and keep his commandments. For this is the whole scope of our life, which when we have brought to his appointed end, we shall see the hope, which we have long looked for: and when immortality hath brought happiness into light, and scattered away our fear, we shall say then, Blessed be the day in which first we learned to fear the Lord. And the Lord bless you with his holy spirit, that you may in the midst of other care, have pleasure in this, and in other sorrow rejoice in the Lord, and always rejoice. Commend me I pray you, to your little ones, Nan, Bess, and Marie, And the Lord make you and master K. glad parents of good children, Amen.  
From Toby, the last of February 1575. Yours in the Lord jesus, Ed. Dering.   

To Mistress K.  
THe grace of our Lord jesus Christ be with you ever, Amen. I thank you good Mistress K. for your letter and for your medicine, and for your good will to him to whom you before did owe so little. Touching my disease, I did suddenly cogh and spit much blood, so that when with much forcing myself, I refrained, it rattled in my throat, as if I had been a dying: next day in the like sort I did, and once since the taking of these medicines for the staying of it, it is now stayed, but I feel a great stopping of my wind, and much provocation to cough, which if I did, I should spit blood as before. I pray you ask your Physician what he thinketh good to be done. And good Mistress K. against all diseases and sicknesses of the body, do as you do, and increase it with an unfeigned testimony of your own heart. Commit your health, your sickness, your body, your soul, your life, and your death, to him that died for us, and is risen again. A sick body with such an aid, hath greater treasure than the Queen's jewell-house. Pray still, and pray for me. I see the goodness of God such towards me, as (I thank God) except sin, I weigh not all the world a feather: and with as a glad a mind I spit blood, (I trust) as clear spittle. To those that love God, all things are for the best: he hath a hard heart that believeth not this. For the Church, I commit it to the Lord: the Lord grant with that affection that I own unto it, and for all my labour in it (I thank God) I am guilty neither of covetousness, nor ambition, but as God hath given me grace, I sought only his glory. I writ this unto you good Mistress K. because you know it, and that you may the more effectually remember him, that will know you when the world, your health, your corruptihle body, death and sin itself, have done their worst. Commend me to Master K. your little ones, to Master R. The Lord bless us all, that we make our bodies shake, & not our body's us.  
Vale in Christo jesu. 25. jul. 1575. Tuus in Christo Ed. Dering.   

To Mistress K.  
TTe Lord God who showeth mercy to whom he will show mercy, and have compassion on whom he will have compassion, according to his love with which he loved us before the world was made, look upon us, and lead us in our ways, that in righteousness and holiness, peace and joy of the holy Ghost, we may finish our compass and come unto him, Amen. If I could, good Mistress K. do as I should, than my ways were perfect among men, but it is with me as with many other, small hindrances to an unwilling mind, are occasions great enough to keep us from doing well. This hath made me to pretermitt many duties which had been better done. And I dare not make any other excuse why I have not written unto you oftener: for though I have in a weary body many things to do, and could make excuses which you would easily believe, yet sure I am, if slought and negligence were utterly gone, a few lines were so soon written, that I could not want time for so little labour, this is true, & sit erranti medicina confessio. Touching my sickness, he that sent it he doth rule it, and as he will so far let it go. I feel yet difficulty of breath and coughing: and I see paleness and leans abiding still, yet I thank God I am so well, as we supposed all to have seen you at Henden this next Monday, but God hath changed our way, and by occasion we have differred it, trusting yet to see you very shortly, if the Lord will, to whom we commit both your ways and ours. And now good Mistress K. further I need not write unto you, for which cause yet especially you crave my letters, I know whom you have believed, upon what ground you stand, who hath sealed your persuasion in you, he is able to keep that you have committed unto him, even until that day, that the things of the world are changed before us all. Affliction may be great and make us murmur, prosperity may abound and make us proud, the world may fill our eyes and our ears, that sometime we may be blind and not see our hope, our own concupiscence may peradventure sting us that we forget the good works wherein we had delight, but the council of the Highest standeth fast for ever: the Lord knoweth all that are his. In this tower of defence our dwelling is made for us, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against us. When we sin, we must needs be sorrowful, and to offend such a Saviour, it will grieve us more than death itself: but to remember again so assured hope, we can not but rejoice in the Lord, and always rejoice. Thus I leave you to your own heart, where is your strong safety: and to your secret thoughts, which comfort you in the night. And committing myself unto your prayers, I beseech God the Father of our Lord jesus Christ, to keep you and yours. Commend me to your little ones: pardon me for writing in such piece of paper, I could hardly get this. Master H. and my wife wish to see you. The Lord keep us unblamable in his sight.  
From Tobye, the xiv. of August, 1575. Your bounden in the Lord, Ed. Deringe.   

To Mistress K.  
THe Lord God direct us in all our ways, that they may be unblamable in his sight, and our faith may be strenghtened in the blessed hope of his elect, so that nothing be able to shake it from henceforth, from the boldness and assurance of eternal life. Many and just causes good Mistress K. have kept me, so that these holy days I could not see you, but I know no excuse why I could not write unto you: and therefore for the one as I am sure you do willingly pardon me, so the other I beseech you to except, both as a testimony of my mind that I forget you not, and as a discharge of that duty I own unto you: for if I should not faithfully remember you, though you had otherwise done nothing for me, yet I were unworthy of so much good will. And if I should not as in bounden duty be most careful to strengthen and comfort that good purpose; which yourself have chosen for the curse of your life, I were not worthy of the acquaintance of the saints of God. Therefore departing from London again (as I could not choose) I have yet written unto you, as I must needs: And I heartily pray that God may increase his goodness in you, and earnestly beseech you, as you have received that, so you would abound more and more, a short request and soon heard: but exceeding difficult to some to practise, & yet not difficult unto you, but easy and light, as you can desire, for he that is borne of God overcometh the world. And the anointing (as john saith) which you have received of God, dwelleth in you, and you need not that any man teach you, but as the same anointing teacheth you all things, and it is true and not lying, and as it is taught you, you shall abide in it. Marvel not that I writ this unto you, nor be unwillingly affected to hear of your own happiness. It is (as Solomon sayeth) an other man's mouth that praiseth you and not your own, and what need you fear. And I speak not deceitfully, which I thank God I hate, nor give I titles, as job sayeth, which the Lord doth abhor. But seeing (as I am persuaded) that in you, which Saint john could see in the people to whom he wrote and to whom he gave so honourable praise: why should not I be bold upon so good warrant to say also unto you: You are the Lords: and God who justified then his Apostles words, he will justify them now and ever, for he is merciful without end. Let us not then good Mistress K. be henceforth sorrowful or faint hearted: Paul and Peter, and all the Apostles and Prophets have spoken glorious things unto us, and we will believe them. And yet not they, but the spirit of God hath given us this testimony, and it is true. For what were the Romans, Corinthians, Galathians, and all other whom the Spirit nameth Saints and Holy ones, were they not as we? Frail and weak as we, and our faith as theirs? But we feel a great deal of infirmity in ourselves, did not they so, and did not the spirit of God see more in them, than themselves could feel? yet it calleth them saints: yea and so it calleth us, that we should not fear: and therefore as I said, I say again, you are anointed of the Lord, and you shall not fall, if your heart bear you witness, that the profession which you make, is unfeigned in you, as I am sure it beareth you witness. One care only we have, which also we will have unto the end: and that is, that we may glorify him, who hath glorified us. In this doing, as I accuse myself most above all other men, so I praise not you a white. For I know good Mistress K. herein you are too too faulty, and so is all flesh: our flesh, the world, and the Devil, they are to strong for us, but blessed be the Lord God, who hath given us victory in Jesus Christ, and we will do if God give us grace, as his Apostles did, we will chastise our bodies, and bring them in subjection, that all that know our religion, shall not blame our works: And I thank God for all that you have obtained: And I beseech you increase and abound more, that as he will give us a full reward, so we may offer up our bodies a holy sacrifice, to praise his name, who hath had mercy upon us. And pray for me, that my hands & tongue may join in the works of God's Saints: and let us all grow together unto that blessed hope, till we have found that happy strength, by which the world is crucified unto us, and we unto the world: But the Lord that teacheth you, to him I leave you: whom I beseech to open your eyes into so large & wide a spiritual sight, that you may yet more clearly see and feel the glory of God & immortality. Far well good Mistress K. Commend me to Nan, Bess, Marie. The Lord bless you with them ever, Amen.  
Tuus in Christo, Edwardus Deringe.   

A Letter of M. Ed. De. to the Lady G.  
¶ The grace of our Lord jesus Christ, be with you ever, Amen. IF either I might do the duty whereunto your well deserving hath bound me, or might requite with thanks that with all your good will you have deserved: I know and confess it (good Madam) long since I should have come to see you: but such is my case as I cannot do either what is most meet, or what I most desire: for sometimes by business & sometime by sickness, & sometime by opportunity of others, I am held here, that I could never yet have opportunity to ride fare, or to see my native Country & nighest friends. Once in Summer I would have gone to M. B. besides Windsor and the second night of my travel, I could not sleep, but tarried a seven night in the same place, & then came back again, ill at ease: thus it pleaseth God to deal with me, and such a body he hath given me, to the end (I am sure) I should not love this present vanity, but remember him that liveth ever, & desire to be dissolved to see his glory. And this I beseech you think to be the only cause, that I have not of long time seen you and others, with whom otherwise I would wish to dwell: and if it be the good will of God to prosper my journeys in time convenient, I trust to see you oftener hereafter: but his will be done, who appointeth our ways, and numbereth our steps, and doth all things for the best to those that love him, and to him if I can commit you in my daily prayers, that so my spirit be present with you, how long soever I be absent in body, yet my duty I own you, shall not be altogether unperformed, and that piece of it which yet is wanting, that in daily exhortation I might (by the grace of God) stir up your mind, that in the mean time let me supply with these letters: In which most heartily I beseech you (good Madam) go on forward, and faint not in the course of godliness, increase still in faith, in love, in hope till with a wise heart you have such a feeling of the glory of God, & of eternal life, that you have made your account up with the world, & are at a point with all that is under the Sun. While God shall prolong your days, rejoice in him that hath given you life, and use all his gifts to his glory: and when his appointed time shall come and bring death into your doors: let this be the preparation of your heart, you desire to be loosed & to be with Christ, and let this be the answer of your tongue, Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace. Surely then it shall come unto you, that a happy life shall have a blessed end. Your former times have found their wished issue, & the entrance of your grave, shallbe the beginning of your glory: He hath spoken it that can not deceive us, That every one that believeth in him shall not taste of death, but shall pass from death to life. This (good Madam) is the crown & garland of all our pleasures: rejoice in feeling it, and be glad in loving it, knit it fast to all the thoughts of your heart, & never forget it, it shall give you more pleasure in one day of your life, them without it you can find in a thousand years: and all the men of the world which feel their pleasure in this life, & know nothing better, then to follow their own concupiscence, they shall perish when you shall abide, & they shall mourn when you shall rejoice, because they have forgotten the living God whom you have loved: Many temptations shallbe continually against you, but God is able to set you free from them: cast your care on him, & you have won the victory. And to the end you may know him, & how to trust in him, as the Prophet David did so let us do, that is: Let us make his testimonies to be our delight, & excercise ourselves in them day & night, for they only can make us wise, and renew in us the image of God, that we may be perfect as our heavenly father is perfect. This hope I thank God hath been before me, that I have not feared in any trouble: and in a good conscience of this doing, I had rather have the displeasure of the world, then with loss of this desire or any hurt of it, to win the favour of all mortal men. And so I am sure it shall be with you that day, in which you shall so feel God's glory, & eternal life, that you will consecrate your life for ever unto him, love hi●▪ fear him, long after him: It shall be more joyful unto your than the day of your birth, & your heart shall be see as Saint Paul saith, to use the world as though you used it not: not to forsake the world or worldly things, (for they are the gifts of god for the comfort of our life) but as though we forsaked it, so let our love be taken from it, and be ever with him who is the giver of all, & hath all immortality. There is not a day that passeth over our heads, but it afflicteth the body, & maketh it a day shorter living than it was: Let there not be a day but shall strengthen our faith, that we may be glad we are one day nearer the presence of our God, than we were before. And I beseech god (who only can do what he will) work his good will with you in all spiritual blessings, that you may abound: and in the condition of this life that you may rejoice, till your accounted times be all fulfilled. Amen.  
Yours in the Lord jesus, Ed. Deringe.   

A Letter of M. Ed. De. to the Lady M.  
THE Lord God who hath only power to work his will, and hath showed mercy unto us in an eternal covenant, make us perfect in all our ways to abound in righteousness, and love his glory, that in life and death we may be happy, and have joy in his presence, who liveth ever, Amen. Good Madam, the duty that I have long owed unto you, doth much bind me: & the experience of your good inclination, sufficiently doth emboulden me to write at this time unto you: and I trust the Lord God who hath given you his grace, and called me to this work, will bless the labour that it may be profitable to his glory & your comfort. For if his word have so great strength in his Saints when they are yet unbelieving and ignorant, that it revealeth even the secrets of their hearts, that it maketh them fall down to worship him and to acknowledge his mighty power in it: I am sure it can not be but the same word shall have strength in you, wholly & altogether to consecrate yourself unto the Lord, till all your delight be in him alone. So that I am now, more to pray for myself then for you, that I may rather speak the truth than you hear it: for of this I am sure your heart is prepared (as the Prophet saith) to a good purpose, the Lord make my hand as the pen of a good writer. And now (good Madam) this is the sum of all, Fear God & love him: your goods, your credit, your thoughts, your desires, your body, your life, give it all unto him, that he only may please you, nothing but he only delight you, his word instruct you, his will persuade you, that whether you live or whether you die you may be wholly his: A short lesson & soon learned, hard I confess of the world to practise, but not hard to you whom God hath loved: for what is it can call away your desire, that wholly and altogether it should not be in this? It is only the world that hath taken up enmity against us, and striveth daily to separate us from the Lord. But what is in the world why the persuasions of it should please us? especially you who have had experience of it, whose life God hath filled with worldly things. You know what is the comfort of houses and lands: you have weighed them well and found them light. You know the gladness of a mother, and have in your sight Sons & Daughters, the trial of it is in you, & hath entered deep, even as they have been the fruit of your own womb: but in them you have no such joy as in the spirit of adoption, by which you know yourself to be the child of God. You know the treasure of a good husband, with whom you have had peaceable and loving days: but how much is it a greater joy of unspeakable gladness to feel yourself joined to Jesus Christ, & made a chaste member of his glorious body with whom you shallbe joined for ever. You have seen a great many years of the age of man, and have measured the length of them, so that if you might live the days of Abraham, yet you might account your hours and see the time at hand, when in the end of your course you shall take your rest: and what were this to immortality. To be short and to pretermit many things wherewith God hath made your life as a blessing, you have seen favour, Credit, Lands, Authority, Friends, Servants: the pleasures of these God hath given you. You have seen fullness of such delights: but this and all else that you have seen what is it to the grace of God, the fellowship of saints, the forgiveness of your sins, the love of his countenance, the assurance of your life, the brightness of his glory, & your eternal blessings. Sith then in the world is no sure refuge, the more I have seen the fruit of your faith, the more assuredly I know the constancy of your mind ready to leave the world to approach nearer unto God, and to account all these things to be but dung, to the end you may win jesus Christ, in whom you shallbe so much more blessed, as light is more bright than darkness, health is more excellent than sickness, and life more precious than cruel death. This (good Madam) you have long known, and with praise professed it among men: And now especially reap the fruit of it in these days of God's visitation, in which in a weak body you have had a sharp sickness, to teach you that your life is in the hands of God, & the nature of your body that it is but dust, so that you should not love it but in the Lord, nor be pleased with it but as it pleaseth him, ready to lay it down when he shall call you. This is that great and high commandment: To love God above all, and this is the greatest obedience required of man, to be ready to die at the will of God: Unto which commandment when I do beseech you willingly to yield, I feel in myself how the nature of man striveth against it: all those delights of which I spoke before (the pleasures of this present life) they arise against it: although we had no other comfort, yet life itself is sweet unto us, & we are loath to make our beds in the dark, our eyes they would yet see the sun, our ears would hear the sound of worldly elements, though our flesh be grass, yet grass hath a flower, & our frail bodies have vanishing fantasies agreeable unto them as earth unto earth, and from which most hardly you shall pull it away, the patriarchs & Prophets were sometime afraid, Paul and Peter were not always bold, they loved ever that life which they saw in hope, but they did feel the death whichc did fight in their members: And how should I then say unto you a weak woman, fear not death, or if I say it how can you perform it being so weak a vessel of flesh and blood: yet good Madam, give me leave to entreat you & I hope you shall have a heart to grant it: I most humbly beseech you, fear not death. The Apostles were men as we are, yet Paul obtained at last to be dissolved & be with Christ: if we be weaker than he, the graces of God shallbe more exalted in us, and we also shall say at the last, Let thy servant O Lord depart in peace: It is the Lord that hath promised this blessing unto us, let us hear it with faith, and it will make death vile in our eyes: it is enough if we know God will give this victory to his people, let us be bold, though we fear a little while, yet fear shall be cast out, and we shall say with a free spirit, O death where is thy sting, etc. try yourself therefore every day, and if your heart be bold, rejoice good Madam, & rejoice for ever: the last and greatest enemy (which is death) is trodden under your feet, and what else can hurt you: all other things of the world they are but servants of death, and serve to make his power more fearful unto us, friends or kinsfolk, gold, silver. precious stones or all other pleasures, all labour unto one end, to make us more loath to die: vanquish death and you have vanquished all, height & depth, life and death, all is yours, & you are Christ's. And see I beseeeh you what glory you have gotten, you are but a weak and sick woman whom God hath shut up into your chamber, and tied to your bed: and yet the great tyrant of the world, that holdeth in bondage Kings & Princes, and woundeth them all with fear & terror, he is confounded before you, & the Lord of life he hath crushed him in pieces under you. A blessed day that brought you first into this battle, a blessed sickness that made you endure the fight, & most blessed end in which you get the victory: for who hath given you this strength, or who reigneth in you in such a day, but he who hath said and done it, O death I will be thy death: and if he be in you who hath abolished death, and in whose sight death shall never have any rule, what treasure, what depth of joy and gladness shall he bring with him: while you live you shall live in him, & no man shall take your joy from you: and when you die you shall die in him, and death shallbe no death, but you shall pass to eternal life: and all that is fearful shallbe far from you: the burden of sin, the malice of the devil, the terror of hell: the dreadful words, go ye cursed into eternal fire: All this is abolished & trodden down in the cross of jesus Christ, who reigneth in you, & giveth you his spirit, that you fear not death: and all things that fill with joy not the earth only, but the heavens also (you have destroyed death) you shall feel them all within you: the fellowship of Saints & Angels, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, the life everlasting, and the God of glory: your eyes lightened with a pure faith shall see these things in so perfect beauty, that you shall cast out death & the fear of it: yea you should think your time weariness if your days should be prolonged, and you should be yet many years a soiorner in this body, in which you are a stranger from the presence of the Lord: And the nearer your time approacheth, the gladder you shallbe of the end of your journey, when your heart shall feel it: And when the earthly house of this tabernacle shallbe destroyed, you have a building given of God, a house not made with hands, but eternal in the heavens. In this faith you shall not only not fear death, but you shall sigh and moan (as Paul saith) till you see your glory, and the lot of the saints that is in light, where there is no more sorrow nor care, nor fear, nor death, but the God of all mercy, and father of our lord Jesus Christ shallbe before us for ever. Thus Madam (as my duty is) I have written unto you, and God will bless it as his promise is, that it shall be for the best, & in the wisdom of his word we shallbe strengthened in his grace, that death & sickness shallbe forgotten, & all the desires of our heart shallbe with him. And the Lord God for his sons sake, so have mercy upon us, that all evil taken from us, we may rejoice in him, and see his blessed age that is in immortality, & is sealed in our hearts with his blessed spirit: To whom be glory for evermore, Amen.  
From Saint Ellens, the tenth of januarie, Anno Domini, 1576. Yours bounden in the Lord jesus, the only forgiveness of all our sins, Ed. Deringe.   

A Letter written by M. Edward Deringe, to his Lord & Master the Duke of Norfolk.  
Gratia et pax a Deo patre, et domino nostro jesu Christo.  
THE long good will that I have borne unto you, as to one that earnestly professed the Gospel, and the great duty I own unto you as to my Lord & Master, make, that now I should write unto you, not knowing whether opportunity shallbe such that hereafter I may do you any service. God the author of all life he hath shut both you and me up in his hands: that there is great likelihood, our lives in this world they are but short. The Prince that executeth the judgement of the Lord, she hath found you out in your great sins: and sickness that reigneth over all flesh, it hath taken now long hold upon me. So that as I said, we are both in the hands of the Lord, we are summoned paremtorilie, death hath given an assault, and the weak holds of our life they are violently shaken. Now therefore my good Lord, let it us take counsel together, and as a wise Master, learn of a faithful servant what is best to be done: the worst that our sins can do unto us, is to lay upon us the just reward of death, my disease which thus afflicteth me for many thousand sins, it can but take away my life which I have so abused. And all your deep dissimulation and hypocrisy, your great ambitions, your faithless religion, which have so bewitched you, what can they do more than this? The remedy now is to make of necessity a virtue, that is, to bear it wisely, which you must needs abide. I have (I thank God) found that grace, that I can love this saying, Cupio dissolui & esse cum Christo, the Lord also open your heart and guide your understanding, that with all saints you may do likewise, and pray, Veni Domine jesu. And now for as much as this is the last duty, that I am like to do unto you, as God shall give grace I will so advice you as I may testify mine own faith, and make you strong against the day of trial: trusting that our God shall so remember us both in mercy, that after a little while we shall see better days, and reign with him that abideth King for ever. There is now but one thing necessary for you to learn in this life, that is, how you may willingly desire to die: a hard lesson for a natural man, for death is our last enemy & his assault most violent to the trial of our faith: but Christ who hath overcome death and hell, he hath broken the strength of this battle, and set up the songs of triumph unto all that believe, that we may have the fullness of joy and say with gladness, o death where is thy sting. Now that this joy may be yours, and this gladness your inheritance, prepare yourself, not in your own wisdom, for that hath already deceived you, but in the wisdom of god, that your hope may be sure. If you will now have the heart that shall condemn the force of death consider wherefore you are called to die: It is laid to your charge, that you have dealt traitorously with your Prince, with your country, & with the religion of God: and upon these crimes you are condemned to die. If you be guiltless, o my Lord blessed are you, & blessed is your portion: he hath spoken it that never will change: If when you do well you suffer wrongfully, take it patiently, for this is acceptable to god: but if you be guilty you have not your hope in death (for that you have deserved) but your hope is this, that you die so as it becometh you: which if god shall grant unto you, then blessed is the hour that God shall bring upon you, you shall make that change, which god for his Christ's sake, lay speedily upon all his children, & you shall die once, that you may live ever. Now that you may know how you ought to die: learn this of the lord which he hath so plainly taught you. The first part of your true repentance, must be an humble confession: what soever your own conscience can utter more than is revealed. O my Lord speak openly the truth, sathan is enemy unto us & his slights are many: if you will tread the malicious serpent under your feet, & triumph with Christ who hath spoiled hell, tell the truth my Lord, conceal nothing, so shall you shun the devil. If my words seem but light to persuade you, hear the wisest counsellor that ever reigned in Israel: He that hideth his sin (saith Solomon) shall never prosper, but he that confesseth & forsaketh them, shall find mercy. When Acan had transgressed in Israel & deserved death, when he was brought into judgement, joshua said unto him, My Son I beseech thee, give glory to the lord God of Israel, make confession unto him, & show me now what thou hast done. Lo my Lord, this is to give glory unto God: to confess your sin, & tell what you have done. The good king David when he had deserved death, & feared greatly the sentence of the Prophet, he confessed gladly & made it known unto the world what his sin was, & wherein he had offended. When God gave his laws unto Israel, & in the blood of goats & calves showeth them the redemption that was in Christ Jesus: He so ordained, that before their forgiveness was preached, the high priest should proclaim openly what were the sins of the people, & so lay their sins upon the beasts. So standeth it now with us, if we will find forgiveness of our sins, let us cast off the cloaks of shame, & confess before heaven & earth, what we have sinned & what we have done. What greater persuasions can you yet require, or how can you think to please God if you will hide your sins? That was the practice of old Adam, but you are borne anew: that was the sin of Cain, but you my good Lord are of a better kindred. Speak the truth & shrink not, God will once reveal the secrets of hearts, & then you shall rejoice that there is nothing of yours hid: fie upon that sin, that you should turn away for one hour & receive hereafter everlasting confusion: better a thousand times to receive the reproach of flesh, & after receive your glory of the Lord. When John Baptist preached first the Gospel, he bpatized no more than such as confessed their sins. The lost Son when he ran away, he found no hope of pardon, till he called heaven & earth to witness his great iniquity. Paul who preached the gospel to us Gentiles, how often doth he confess that he was a persecutor. The happy thief that was hanged entered not into paradise, till he first in the hearing of all Israel said, we are rightly punished, & receive things worthy of that we have done. What should I say more, I trust you fear God, and I have seen in you many signs of grace: I doubt not but you will make it known whatsoever is in your heart. It is the word of God that I have spoken, & it is the only truth upon which you may build your faith. This thing toucheth so near the glory of God & the safety of his gospel, that you must now needs forsake your friends & kinsmen, yea forget the love of yourself: and if you have been partaker of any counsel, disclose the conspiracies of the wicked: you have stood in judgement not before men; for they are but ministers, but before the Lord, who sitteth in the midst of judgement. Surely if you seek to hide your sins, you seek to hide them from him that knoweth the secrets of the heart & reins, and to dissemble with him that will not be mocked: and therefore with all humbleness of duty, I beseech you, & in the name of God I crave this at your hands, unburden your own conscience, make your heart glad, cast of the burden of your secret sins, purge the eyes of your mind, that you may see Christ, let true repentance break forth in holy confession, shame the Lords enemies, & make the church of God rejoice, and lo in the name of Christ I tell it you Blessed is the day in which it was said of you, a man-child is borne, and blessed shallbe the hour in which it shallbe said of you, you are dead in the Lord: the closing up of your eyes shallbe the beginning of your sight: and death your entrance into life. And now my Lord, I beseech you pray for me, & humbly upon my knees I ask you hearty forgiveness wherein I have not done as it became me touching you. You know how in my time I have persuaded you from your wicked servants, from your popish friends, & from your adulterous woman. But (alas) my Lord, your high calling hath bridled my words, I could not speak as I should, my words were to soft to heal so old a disease: why should I have tarried in your lordship's house, except these things had been amended? this bearing with your evil, was the greatest evil I could have done you. And I beseech you forgive me, & God for his mercy's sake shall make me strong, that hereafter I shall not fear to reprove the sinner, & God shall forgive you your dullness of spirit, that could not be moved with a little counsel. Now my Lord, be strong in the Lord, & fear not, if you must die, remember that Christ bathe overcome him that hath the power of death, & hath set us free from the power of the grave. Though you do for a very little time turn again unto dust, yet again you shall hear the voice of the trumpet: corruption shall die, because he was no better than his fathers: & you when you go, you shall go to your fathers, the long race of Nobility of which God hath raised you, every one in his time is gone before you, & so many as have died in the faith, they shallbe again of your fellowship & kindred, and you shall praise God with them, & not fear the second death. The lord open your eyes that you may see your hope, & you shall love that company above Kings & Princes. You shall see Abraham, of whom you have heard so much, Jsaac, jacob, job, Samuel & Daniel, whose names you loved, you shall see Paul & Peter, whose society you wish for, all the patriarchs, Prophets and Apostles that are gone before you. Be bold therefore, & be bold to die: with Elias you shall see Christ clothed with your flesh, who hath immortality in his hand, & shall make you reign for ever: yo● 〈◊〉 shall not be tedious, and your glory shall 〈…〉 change: & he that made the heavens so high abo●● earth, the Sun the moon the stars, so full of excellent beauty, he shallbe your portion in his endless glory: would God you could see him now with open countenance, that you might know his loving kindness, how much it is better than life: I would you could withal his saints perceive what were the height, the ●reath▪ the length & the depth of his unsearchable riches. ●●apy 〈◊〉 that shall never end, o blessed inheritance that shall never waste OH holy city new jerusalem, the perfection of beauty; where the inhabitants are princes, O'pretious buildng that is not made with hands, & joyful tabernacles which God himself hath pitched: my voice faileth & my tongue cleaveh to my mouth when I would declare the everlasting gladness, when God shall wipe away all tears from our eyes, & there shallbe no more death neither sorrow, nor crying, nor yet any pain for the first things past. Who remembreth this & saith not, all flesh is grass, and the glory of man is as the flower of the field. We have nothing here, but fear of our enemy, grief in poverty, pain in labour, care in riches, unsteadfastness in friendship, envy in authority, emulation in honour, change in nobility, fear in a kingdom: & as the greatest of all princes hath wisely pronounced, vexation of spirit in all things that is under the Su●, so true it is vanity of vanities & all is but vanity. You need no example O my Lord & Master, behold yourself & see what you were: rejoice in the lord & love better things, cease to eat of this corruption, & desire Mamna: drink not of these puddles, but go to the pure water of life, which is clear as crystal, & proceedeth out of the throne of god & of the lamb: you are but one step from this glorious blessing, & that is to die willingly & well: speak forth the secrets of your heart, & giu● God glory The Lord bless & keep you, the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be merciful unto you, the Lord ●●ft up his countenance upon you and send you peace.   
FINIS.   

MASTER DERING WORKS.  

LO here the Pearl of precious price  
From Deringe dead that lives again  
To preach in print and give advice  
Of that he taught in life with pain  
Lo now he lives both here and there  
Whose life his foes could hardly bear.   

Read then to learn and put in ure  
And taste the sweetness of his vain  
So shall you see an heavenly lure  
That draws you up from th'earth amain  
And shows the way that leads to life  
And eke the rest that ends all strife.   
Study to be approved to the Lord, for if he allow not our doings, though all the world be with us, it shall bring us no comfort: and this is our rejoicing, the testimony of a good conscience.