THE answer OF A MOTHER unto HIR SEDVCED sons Letter. APOCAL. 17. 5. 6. And in her forehead was a name written, A mystery, Great Babylon, the mother of whoredoms and abominations of the earth. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of Saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Iesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great marvell. 2. CORINTH. 6. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. Be not unequally yoked with the infidels: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath the believer with the infidel? And what agreement hath the Temple of God with idols? For ye are the Temple of the living God: as God hath said, I will dwell among them, and walk there, and I will bee their God, and they shalbe my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and separate yourselves, saith the Lord: and touch none unclean thing, and I will receive you. And I will be a father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord almighty. Ez. W. ANNO 1627. A LETTER WRITTEN FROM douai 6. OF MARCH 1627. BY A SEDVCED son unto HIS MOTHER. dear MOTHER, It is not the first time since my departur that I haue writ unto you, neither shall it bee the last. Nature will find a way to vent her duty were shee never so hard oppressed. Out of sight is not out of mind, for were you but as mindful of yourself, as I am of you, I doubt not but by the effects you should find me a dutiful son. But as the blind who see not themselves, think all other not to see them likewise, so you forgetting yourself think me forgetful of you to▪ God knows before whom one day I am to give an account of my duty towards you, how that there passeth not a day, or night either, when you and yours take your rest, wherein there is not intercession made for you. If I knew what else in this my state a childs natural obligation could effect, in the behalf of a m●ther, I would with what endeavour I could accomplish it. But alas dear Mother, when your request is unreasonable, nay unnatural, as the forsaking my religion, Gods Church, his truth, nay himself, it stands not with the duty of a son any way to yield in the least to so unjust demands of a Mother. O that your desires wear but of that nature( of that good Mother wee read of in the Maccabees was,) who did encourage her children to suffer even to death, for God. I doubt not but God would so strengthen me with his grace, that you should find my duty as ready to obey, as your piety would bee willing to command. Though it bee not common for a son to teach his mother, but rather to follow hir in what shee should direct him, yet when parents misled from the way of truth, shall without knowledge, command what is contrary to Gods will, and their childrens conscience, It may bee, nay it is the part of a dutiful son, to remember that their command is amiss▪& cannot bee followed. All I hear now do is no more; I do but inform you that the happiness you wish me is not true& real happiness. That not longer I now, but your own soul might bee the object of your thoughts. That you would from henceforth no longer bee astraynger from the truth. But submit yourself to her, who as a loving Mother would receive& embrace you, with all affection within the arms of verity; first bee instructed by her, dear Mother, and then shall you learn to govern& guide your own children in things that are good. And then I am sure they will bee ruled and guided by you. And this is all, should I do leasse, I should think with the Apostle that I were far worse then an infidel. For how can I behold wolves which pray not for you, but prey vpon you, and hold my tongue. Where were my duty? I perceiving you tost up and down in the waves of herricie, as you are,& yourself ready to suffer shipwreck, and I not so much as offerring you my hand to draw you into the ark. Which of all those blind guides that now pervert your poor soul dare or will affirm, that the foundation one which your salvation purchased so dearly by the blood of your saviour, your faith is built, is vnfallable. If fallable why do you, hazard your salvation purchased so dearly by the blood of your saviour vpon sand. dear Mother I as a poor child of your own bowels, as vpon my bended knees in all duty of a son, do● desire you consider your own declininge age, your life to come, your last iudgment,(& if you do not now here in time) work a prevention of that fearful sentence which otherwise must pass vpon you,( that so you may avoid the wrath to come) endeavour somewhat to examine whether all bee true your false prophets preach unto you, or at least whether they practise what they preach. First try& then trust. And because your capacity cannot master a better argument then to examine the lives of your professers of your own sect, There begin. See first whether your new upstart ministers do not like stage players tricked up in their neat apparel onely, and barely ackt, and talk, and practise nothing; they will tell you of Christs passion his poverty, his want, his hunger& thirst, his humility, his patience, his labour& travell, his ignominy in being apprehended, scourged, spit one, in bearing his cross: they will also tell, you of the Apostles poverty, their sufferings, their wrongs and afflictions, but who is he either of your Ministry, or Layetie, will follow your saviour in these his passions, who is there among you that in yourselves allow either of fasting, or watching, or voluntary poverty, or good works, or afflicting yourselves for Gods sake. To be despised to forsake the world,& to live for ever austerely in pennance for sins; they can commend these things in Christ& his Apostles,& yet forbid to bee practised by themselves. They will tell you that our saviour paid the price for us, whereby wee are become heiers of God, Coheiers with Christ,& being heiers wee shall inherit, though wee suffer nothing. For Christ both suffered and satisfied for us; but they will not see what followeth. For where the Apostle calleth us heiers of God &c. he addeth immediately, if ye suffer to gether with him, signifying that wee are heiers with Christ, vpon condition that wee suffer with him, to the end wee may bee glorified with him; for wee are not freed by our saviours passion from suffering, but the more invited or rather obligued thereunto, witness our saviour himself, he that will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me; But contrary if you will but look into Gods Church, you shall not onely find Christ spoken of; but truly followed. You shall see those, whose onely ●oy is in afflictions for Christs sake, whose song is that of the Apostle, God forbid I should rejoice in any thing, but in the cross of Christ. Who haue forsaken all and given their whole Estate to maineteine the poor, and so committed themselves to the providence of God; wee haue not those who barely commend virtues in our saviour, but follow them in dead; also they are such that talk little, fast hard, pray much, suffer continually, they are in want& that willingly, to help others. poor they are in means, but poorer in spirit; and theirs onely is the kingdom of heaven. I will add no more least I should seem rather to preach you a sermon, then to wright you a Letter. dear Mother see& bee acquainted with those who both of this faith& life lives amongst you, I am sure their good ways, will better inform you in this kind then my letters. And that you may bee the surer satisfied, let the travels of any of my bretheren make trial,& let them not doubt; But that they may bee as safe and as well for their calling,& travell here, as in England. I live in douai a half weeks iorny from you, trust my brotherly love towards them for their safety, at one of the English houses in douai you shall find me; I could rather wish to see any of my brethren here at douai, but I pray you if you will not take so hard a iorny for my sake, at least let me hear from you. Direct your Letters to one M. Wetwoods house in douai, who is an English Gentleman. what I haue wrote unto you dear Mother, is likewise written to my poor brethren, and sisters whom with yourself, I commend in my most earnest prayers unto the safe protexion of God almighty who I hope hath brought me hither to provide for your poor deceived souls. In our Lord and saviour farewell, bee mindful of yourselves that your souls perish not in that heavy day of the Lord. Your ever obedient& dutiful son I. mad. THE answer OF A grieved MOTHER TO HIR SEDVCED sons LETTER. THy letter came to my hands,( my dear Child) like IOSEPHS partye-culloured coat, to his father jacob, in many things there holds much proportion; This is my Sons coat saith Gen. 37. 33. the good old man; a wicked beast hath devoured him: joseph is surely torn in pieces. I cannot say so altogether; but this is my sons letter, doth your poor aged Mother say, I know it is the great beast, hath set his mark vpon him,& appointed him for the prey; I shal be robbed of my Son; Oh! I shalbe robbed of my Son: at the best, the Ismalites haue carried him into Egypt, a place of gross idolatry, where he is; for his letter tells me it left him at douai,& there must mine find him. What there my Son? Now let hir, who is acquainted with the dear name of a child, say, whether there holds not much proportion, between IACOBS sorrow and mine, I go down to the grave mourning, I shall lie down in sorrow. Your old Father,& as full of griefs as years, since thou wentest away, is not; and thou art not,& I am a poor distressed Mother, thus hath the Lord shown me much bitterness. These things are against me, even all these; but I am robbed of my child; That, that hastens to bring my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave, oh come again my dear child, come again; that I may see thy face with comfort once more before I make my bed in the dark;( it is now almost night with me) and I shall bee seen no more. O return my son: return my Son: return my Son, my Son. return, how readily should a dutiful Son. child come, when a dear mother calls? how soon would he do, what the Mother bidds? Were it of the same nature with hers in the Maccabes, how willingly would I embrace the stake, and give up my breath in the ●●ame. But alas! my Mothers request is unreasonable, nay unnatural, as the forsaking my Religion, Gods Church, his truth, himself. And is it so my Son? an unreasonable Mothe● request indeed, and unnatural; O but hearken my child; and if it bee so, let thy own Mother bee hated: O hearken my child! I beseech thee▪ even by the throws of thy first birth hearken!& the Lord give thee an open ear, while the true Mother plead● with the harlot 1. king. for hir Son, and he that is wiser then Solomon bee judge betwixt us, even he bee judge. He ease me of my adversary: even he ease me of my adversary who vexeth me very sore,& makes me go 1. Sam. 1▪ heavily all the day, troubling me and breaking my heart. The Lord look on the trouble of his handmaid, and remember hir,& give hir, hir Son again, as I haue desired, and to my power laboured, to give him to the Lord again, all the dayes of his life by keeping his Religion, his Church, and his Truth: and rather then forsake these or any of these, to lie in the fetters until the Psal. 10● iron enter into his soul: and after to give up his breath in the flamme; to resist even unto blood. O my child consider! it is neither the chain if not PAVLS; nor the prison if not Silaces; nor the flamme if not BRADFORD'S that makes the Martyr: indeed child it is not. But is it PAVLS chain? noe 2 Tim. 1. 16. reason the bearer should bee ashamed; A prisoner in the Lord? sure there is a cause of rejoicing. At the stake for a good cause? now there is cause of singinge, of clappinge the hands. But the body may bee given to the 1. cor. 13 fire( my child) and love may bee wanting: the cross may bee taken up, yet not Christs, nor he followed; The body may bee stripped, and whipped, pinched nay almost starud, and yet who required these things at your hands? But let the cause be such as these Saints were, and then let the sufferers glory; for to such is it given not only to beleeue, but also to suffer for the name of the Lord IESVS. And now let the harlot ●ip. ●. speak, for I know shee told thee what thou shouldst say; what could I haue done unto my son, that I haue not done; for his better keeping of these, even all these? Yet would I not seem a proud Iusticiary, for how few are those HANNAHS? who give their children back to the Lord, who present them first in the Temple? who breed their children as they ought; as they are bound to do? as the Grandmother LOIS, and the Mother EVNICE bread Timothy? I cannot say I did: in how ●im. ● com●d ●h ●ap. ●5. many things might I fail? I know in many. But let the Harlot accuse me. Child canst thou speak nothing for thy Mother? my good child speak, I know thou canst. Whereunto hath the dear affection of thy parents tended? Whitherto all their care? their pains? their cost? their praires? their fears? their hopes? Their hopes! here it was indeed, here it was, I think. I know wee offended; for surely wee doted vpon thee child, forgive us that wrong: Wee thought thee our possession, the son of our right hand, the staff on which our old age might leave: But how often do parents hopes deceive them? how soon may a hopeful blossom die in the bud? a forward spring bee nipped with a could wind? or a sharp frost? do not parents, I pray you, do not dote vpon your children, or think of them above what is meet. There are many moneths yet unto your harvest, and a little time makes great alteration! I tell you parents, and I tell you weeping, our extraordinary expectations on earthy things, ordinarily disapoints us; sometimes our ordinary, but that doth less trouble vs. mark this I pray you, it falls out many times, that a beloved RACHEL proves barren; and hated LEA fruitful. I pray you mark it, there is much use in it. It falls out so with me, and I am sure I was not the first, neither can I bee the last, wee haue so many doaters; my possession is become vani●y; my benjamin a BENNONI, the Lord hath knapt my staff asunder. But why should my adversary boast against me; I think he will not, least his RACHEL also prove barren: so the Lord can make him or hir: when wee bottom ourselves vpon them, or set our affection on them too much, but come, what would the Harlot say? I know shee would speak. Why, he sucked in haerisy with his Harlot. very milk,& his stronger meats was mingled with it. And when you sent him to the fountain, and as you thought to the spring head, you were quiter mistaken, for they are but bitter waters, unclean, and muddy. Mistaken indeed I was,& much deceived, Mother. for had not the fountain been impure, or had not the Beasts foot mudded it, I had not been robbed of my child: nor at this time been pleadinge for him. But there was a bad herb in the good pottage; a dead fly in the sweet ointment, a subtle Serpent in the pleasant garden thus wee parents, drunk with our own hopes, little foresee our childrens danger; how soon they may fall vpon a shelf,& there make shipwreck of faith and a good conscience, and all. A parent art thou, when will thy doubts? thy fears haue an end? And now what shall I say to thee my adversary? I must not, I dare not, give thee reueiling words, but the Lord rebuk thee; even he rebuk thee, and bee judge betwixt us, whether in that way which thou callest heresy, wee do not worship the GOD of our fathers believing, &c. Acts. 24. 14. What? and not to submit to our holy Church? not come within hir arms for instruction? what is this but to bee Harlot. as a dove without the ark? to bee tossed up and down vpon the waves of heresies, still ready to suffer shipwreck: let your son then haue your hand mother, who so piously reacheth forth his, whereby to draw you into our ark. I thank my Mother good child knowing his simplo heart: and tender childlike affection, for I bear him witness that he hath a zeal, though not according to knowledge, the time of his ignorance. O Lord remember not;& find out a time to take away the scales, and bee merciful to all such as sin not of malicious wickedness that are in some error of iudgment, not of practise, and now my Son. I dare not give thee my right hand of fellowship, no I dare not child; wee haue a better carded whereby to sail; a more sure direction whereby wee fetch our compass; a more certain and infallible Oracle, whereunto all the Prophets and Apostles give witness. Wee know Churches may err, and men may bee mistaken as men; Peter was so, whereupon paul resisted gal. 2. 11 him to the face, for he was to bee blamed. Alas my Child! paul and PETER may and did take vpon them the care of the Churches; the care of them is one thing, the weight of them is another, thats too heavy for mans shoulders; they were but stones( child) in that spiritual building. But hear my voice, and I will tell thee: Wee aclowledge( the Scriptures teach us so) that the Church of the living God( I call it neither ours nor yours, but blessed is the man that hath his name written 1. Tim. 3. 15. therein) is the pillar& ground of truth; no foundations whereon the building must rely; but as it is built vpon the foundation of the Prophets& Apostles IESVS CHRIST himself being the chief corner-ston, in whom Ephes. 2. 20. all the building coupled together, groweth to a holy Temple in the Lord. Why? but all this while you are but Harlot. vpon the sand, no true foundation, nor infallibility of supportinge. Will you haue a Sons soul, hazarded vpon sand? hazard my childs soul Harlot; O precious thing! O rich jewel! O Mother. inestemable treasure! Why it is amid the things of the world, like DAVID 1. Sam. 18. 3. among the people; worth ten thousand of them& much more of all the things in the world( my dear child) run not the hazard of that. Hazard a foot thou maiest,& yet thou wilt not, thou hast another; a leg, thou hast an other; an hand, thou hast an other; an arm, thou hast another; an eye, thou hast an other. Here are not pairs( my child) loose one and loose all. O vnualluable loss, and unrecoverable! the redemption thereof must cease for ever. What would not a parent now do, to put a childs soul out of hazard? Then hear me my son, son of my bowels hearken; Is that soul in danger, that is in the ark; made by Gods own appointment both for the matter and the manner, directed by him to that morning star, from which it hath a certain course. Listen my child, child of my bowels listen; is that corner-ston a sandy foundation? can the weight of men& angels press it? can the gates of hell remove it? Indeed my child, if that ston fall vpon thee or me, wee are crushed in pieces; so are wee if wee fall vpon it, heedlessly, carlesly, presumptuously, but come unto it in the whole Mat● 21. 4. Rut● 2. 16 obedience of thy heart, stick, cleave unto it, as RVTH to NAOMIE, bee not entreated to leave it, or to depart from it,& thou canst not miscarry. hearken my son, son of my bowels hearken, can the blowinge of the wind? can the beating of the storm, remove that house which the wise builders hath founded vpon a ROCK? Thou dost my Son beleeue CHRISTS words, I know, thou dost beleeue them. Then hearken my Son this once, Son of my bowels hearken. He that layeth a foundation diggeth deep, certainly so did this wise builder, beyond all human traditions, here was no settling. Beyond all will-worship, a counterfeit ground; Beyond all satisfaction of his own, this was not solid: Beyond the intercession of Saints and Angels, this was not safe; Beyond the righteousness of his best works; here he would fain stay, but it would not hold the weight; still he digs further, for the soul that seeketh the Lord, is not satisfied until he find him. Where haue ye laid my LORD( saith MARY) let me find him or all is nothing; well he digs deeper, even as he that seeks a treasure; or as a thirsty man after a spring of water, or like those 3. mighty, he will through the whole host of the PHILISTIMES, 2. Sam▪ 23. 16. but he will dig through those sandy bottoms, and get to the rock. And now vpon it he is, and by it supported,& from it refreshed, for behold here is strength to hold him up; here are waters, living waters, to comfort him for this rock is CHRIST; It is good being here, here will he set up his rest; here will he abide for ever; If the Rock fail not, he cannot fail; blessed is the man that hath this foundation; thrice blessed is he that hath this water to drink; he will never dig it in broken pits. Can the rain or hail fall now vpon this man? as vpon a wilderness? to whom that man( so Christ the rock is called, and observe the number) will bee as a hiding place from the wind, and Isaiah. 3●. 1. ●. as a refuge from the tempest; as riuers of water in a dry place, and as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. Now the rain may fall,& the flood● come, and the winds blow, and beate vpon this house, and behold it stands, for it is grounded vpon a rock. See( child) a mount Sion now, which ●tth. 5. stands for ever,& the blast of the mighty shall bee as a storm against the wall: Oh my child I though my eyes 〈◇〉. 25. 4 bee shut up, yet am I, as it were in BALAAMS rapture; who can tell the strength of this man? for as the rock is, such is his strength, as the strength of an unicorn; no poison shall hurt him, no sorcery shall make against him, he hath a refuge from the storm; a shadow 〈◇〉. 25. 4. from the heat, a strength in distress. Who can now tell the joys of this jacob? or number the fourth part of the comforts of this ISRAEL? Let my strength bee as this mans strength; and let my last end bee like his. dear child▪ I as an affectioned mother to my own bowels, by my sorrows in thy first birth, by those since, wherewith I travell with thee, till Christ bee formed in thee, by that solemn vow, thou madest to God in baptism; by that strong bond of nature, and dear name of a Mother, I do desire nay shee that might command, doth beseech thee to consider, by what hath been said, and the Lord make it profitable, whether my requests that thou wouldest return, bee unreasonable? or unnatural? whether my reasons for it, are any way dangerous or hasardous; or rather whether the one be not pious, the other safe and certain; directing thee unto that church, which is guided by a certain course; it may float, it cannot sink; setting thee vpon a sure foundation, it may shake, it cannot fall; no more then the corner-ston which cannot bee removed; entreating thee to put away those lies, which are in thy right hand. All those IDOLS which cannot ●iah. 〈◇〉. 11. ●serue and ●ace. help; All those sparks with which you may compass yourself, and yet lie down in sorrow to, persuading thee to put away all those vanities,( they are too long to name) which weighed in the balance, will bee found too light;& also to dig to the Rock which cannot fail. Oh my child consider! It is not for any of your good works, that you are condemned; noe my child; they are amiable, and they are commended yea chereshed, whither wee hear of them there or see them here, nay we confess you haue them, who go beyoud the works of many amongst us; who carry a great show of holinesse. go on in them my child, go on in them, yet I know thou wilt consider, that there are many circumstances, belonging to every action, from which the work ever receives it's true estemate. Thou mayst hear somewhat more of this anon; because thou dost not walk uprightly, according to the truth& purity of the gospel. I would drive this nail to the head now; Why consider child, whether your rock bee as our rock; even our emmyes being iudges, what will bee come of their Gods? their rock in which they trusted? Deut. 31. and 31. and vers. 37. &c. let them rise up and help you,& bee your protection. But see my child, this rock is he even this is he, which I haue pointed out unto thee,& there is none with him, only Christ( my Son) only Christ; Can there be hazard my child? can here be danger? canst thou thirst at the fountain? canst thou sink vpon the rock? In thy own righteousness thou mayst, the intercessions of Saints and Angels may deceive thee. BAAL may bee busied( my child) peradventure 1. King●. 18. he may bee sleeping. Abraham may bee ignorant of thee,& Israel may not aclowledge thee. I say that it may bee, that thou mayst see plainly how at the best here is aventure here is a hazard; but he that keepeth Israel neither slumbereth nor sleepeth; and this is he, which I point out unto thee, there can be no hazard here, this rock is a mighty redeemer, he will sustain thee alone, he must haue no healper; whom wilt thou join with him whose name is everlasting? I tell thee( child for the sum of all is this) ther's nothing though never so lovely; in thine eyes, which can make thee the righteousness of God; but that which was made sin for thee. Tell me then, were any of these things crucified for thee? how long shall vain thoughts, which separate from God, lodge within thee? return then my Son, return my Son; or in case thou dost halt between two opinions, surely the Lord the jealous God, who will not give his honour to another, nor suffer DAGON to stand by him, will haue this controversy against thee; and what Saint or Angel shall pled for thee? thou hast committed jer. 2. 13 two great evils, thou hast forsaken the fountain of living waters, and hewed thyself out cisterns broken cisterns that can hold no water. return then my Son, return my Son, my Son. O my dear Mother you haue almost son. Mother. persuaded me to return. Almost my Son? why not altogether? What a cake half baked? Altogether my Son or it is nothing. Thou must make strait step,& cast of that which banges on so fast, least that which is halting bee turned Heb. 12. 1. 13. out of the way. The Lord calls for thy heart, give it him my Son;& follow him wholly, or else thou shalt never with Caleb and joshuah, come into that good Land. Oh my bowels do yerne vpon my Son! the Harlot shall rather haue him, then I will haue him divided. Come away from hir my Son, come away, what hath the Harlot more to say? Ho Mother, why what mine eyes son. haue seen, the lives of your Ministers& professors, why your very lights seem to bee darkness: your Seers see not: your Watchmen keep not sentinel; your Ambassadors for Christs honourable name! who in Christs name should entreat the people to bee reconciled, these live as without God in this present world; for pleasure is their God,& their belly their shane. And which is yet more, their heads and rulers, who Lord it over the rest, are chief in this trespass, can here bee truth,( Mother) can here bee truth? I tell you Mother: they are as abominable, in their practise many of them, as NADAB and ABIHV or ELIES two Sones; are these the fruits of truth amongst you? why you seem to haue but the very carcase of the ministry,& you do not so much as cover it with a seemly cloth; do not your Ministers trick it& trim it many like Stage-players,(& indeed to such may they bee resembled) for some thing they act for the time, as Christs passion, like a kind of tragedy then come they down and ruffian it, as much as in them lieth, Crucifying again the Lord of life by the foulness of their actions. Can here bee truth? And for your Professors, they make a great noise, yet do they content themselves with the lamps of an outward profession, without the oil, they will come in and sit down too, as guests, yet without the wedding garment. They will talk of Christs sufferings, but what will they suffer for him? I tell you( Mother) I know it, you haue many who will bee counted children of the light, yet walk in palpable darkness, doing the deeds of it, can here bee truth Mother? O child take heed you wound not a holy profession, Mother. through the vizard of it; but I haue many things to say unto thee, some thing to the Harlot to, but they will come forth as in a throng, perhaps in no very good order; because I would scrue it together in as little roomth as I might. And first my Son, I know thou diddest not publish this in gath, nor tell it in the streets of ASKELON. If wee had not carried our wickedness in our foreheads, my child would not haue vncouered our skirts. I know thou wouldst preserve the credit of thy own nest. But the Harlot cannot but know these things. Though never by thy relation, for they are not practised altogether in corners; but before Israel& before the son; and they will bee as openly punished, for God hath a controversy for it,& wo bee to them by whom this offence cometh. But stay Harlot, might I not say to thee, as the 2. Chro. 28. 20. Prophet vpon another occasion, Are there nor with you? even with you Sins against the Lord your God? What meaneth else those 6000. infants heads act Mon. p. 1054. found in your Gregories pounds? whose fathers must needs bee holy men living so near the smoke of his holinesse kitchen. What meaneth else, that fare-well which one of your own proselits bids to Rome, when he came forth, of hir, Roma vale, vidi, satis est vidisse: reuertar Cum leno, meretrix, scurra, cinaedus ero. Now farewell Rome, I haue thee seen, it was enough to see: I will return when as I mean bawd, Harlot, knave, to bee. I could ask thee what meaneth such?& such abominations? such wherein thy sister sodom never exceeded thee, but what were this but for the pot to prove itself faire by the cettles blackness? or it were somewhat though not altogether, like the reply of the Hebrew, reproved by Moses, for striking his fellow. Thou killedst the egyptian, Exod. 2. what was that to the lesning of the Hebrews fault? Let my heart ever look inward, and take a reproof as a plaster. Wee deserve thy reproof, even the spitting in our face, for wee are unclean. Your sins are no excuse for ours, nor ours for yours, wee shall each bear our own burden, punishment will find us both out, and in the day of the Lords visitation, he will visit our sins vpon us, let baal pled for baal,& Exod. 2. wickedness proceed from the wicked man,& let him defend it, it will find him out at length,& in due time the foot shall slide. And it shall bee bitterness in the end, that the priests, whether yours or ours, haue made the sacrifice to bee abhorred,& for the professors too, that they haue caused the name of the Lord, to bee blasphemed, and his holy ways to bee spoken against, nay I tell thee, some of these both ministers and professors too, that haue thus profaned the covenant,& dishonoured that holy thing, they haue taken vpon them, are made contemptible, and base before all the people. Oh that they were wise, then would they understand; they would consider their latter end. But to thee my child, I know the Harlot will hearken, and let hir so. Wee confess my child that the priests mouth should keep knowledge,& his lips teach many Holinesse because the Lords house,& his priests should for ever bee clothed with righteousness, then would the Saints shout for ioy; for they do wish that all the congregation were holy; priest and people, Numb. 16. 3. every one of them. Yet was it rebellion in konrah and his company to think them all so;& surely a great fault in thee, to be as far wide in the contrary; what one of your ministers, or professors? saist thou, &c. Oh my dear Son, number not the godly with the wicked, it will not profit, wisdom will bee justified of hir children, whose spot is not like your spot: I am taking up again Deut. 32 some of Balaams words; they were strange coming forth of a trunk; how wilt thou condemn my child, where the Lord hath not condemned? how wilt thou accuse, where the Lord hath Num. 23 not accused? Wee haue a people( my Son) whom thou maiest see, from the Numb. 3. 13. tops of the Rocks, from the hills thou mayst behold them, Lo. This people shall dwell by themselves& shall not bee counted among the nations. It is as dangerous to call good evil, as evil good. Wee haue( my Son) a holy ministry amongst us, wee haue a holy people, though but like two little flocks of kidds, whereas the ARAMITES fill the country. It must needs bee so, 1. Ki●. 20. how can it bee otherwise? why my child, didst thou not see them even now a people vpon the rocks,& vpon the hills? there must bee sweat to get thither,& how loth are we to take pains? this deep digging is a wearisome work, it is a sowing in fear; good Child mark, an outward form without the power, stayeth this man by the way; a lye another; one man sets up idols in his heart,& rests vpon them; Another puts a stumbling block before his eyes,& will not over; a Lion Ezech. 13. is in the way saith another,& he lies still& turneth like a door vpon the hinges. An army of the philistines will oppose me, I cannot through; the children of Anack are there, I shall never get the land, thus ease slayeth the fool,& vain thoughts deceive, as if victory could bee got by sleeping, or a crown with ease. But there is a CALEB& a IOSHVA too, who walk wholly with the Lord,& through they get notwithstanding all opposition. Thus my Child there is a remnant, there are a few,& not so few but Elias may discern them, for he is not alone. But( my sweet Son) pray thou for the life and prosperity of these few, even for thy Mother and hir childrens sake, for by them, it is, that thy fathers house, and thousands more enjoy their safety, sitting under their vins and figtrees; for these are the Moseses that stand in the gap to turn away the wrath of the Lord, least it should begin and make an end in one day. These are they, who intercead for the people, when the plague is begun standing between the living and the dead. These are they who are as oft vpon their knees, as the people in their sin. These are the MICHAAHS though there be 400. Ezec. 13. 11. &c. against him that will not daub with untempered maurter,& so build a mud wall, but deal plainly to turn away ruin from the King& people, if 1. King. 22. they might bee heard; though they bee smitten on their cheeks, and fed with the bread of affliction; But the souls of the Saints are in Gods hands, when others go on and are punished,& others from chamber to chamber when the scourge cometh, yet shall not bee hid. Wee haue our Watchmen too, who blow the trumpet though the Adders ears bee charmed; Wee haue our shepherds too, who seek not ours, but us, who will most gladly bestow, and will be bestowed for our souls, though the more they love, the less 2. Cor. 12. they are beloved; yet is the word as fire within them,& knowing the terrors of the Lord, they will persuade men. Now consider( my Son) was not Arons Priesthood, an holy-Priesthood, though Nadab, and Abihu did that the Lord commanded them not? Were not the Sacrifices holy, though Elies Sons were wicked? that the offering of the Lord was abhorred, was the peoples fault. Yet woe befell them, who gave the offence,& it shall certainly overtake all such as go on, in their steps. But all this while there is no warrant for abhorring the offering. There is a treasury in earthly vesse●s, the treasure sanctifies not the vessel, nor the vessel polluts the treasure. Moses chair cannot make the Scribe the holier; nor can the unholiness of the Stribe pollute Moses Doctrine; No mans sins should bring the service of God into dislike. What if the whole Church visible be,( as for ought I know it is) in a Sardin condition; not onely weak and sick, but even ready to die. Yet may there be many names which haue not defiled their garments& so there are. And they like trees planted by the riuers of waters, cannot care for Ierem. the years of draft, nor feel when the heat cometh, neither cease from yielding fruit. They are of the Lords plantation ever fat and well liking, as the due from the Lord,& the showers vpon the grass, that tarrieth not for man; nor waiteth not for the Sons of Micah. 5. 7. men. Me thinks I am again in Balaams rapture, how goodly are thy tents O jacob?& thy habitations O Israel? as the valleys are they stretched forth; as Gardens by the river side, as the Alloe-trees that the Lord hath planted, as the Ceaders besides the waters. Thus( my Child) the Lord can preserve him a seed, even where Sathans kingdom Num. ●4. 9. is, he can haue his saints in Neros house,& an Obadiah in Ahabs Court. And it shall be their glory& crown of rejoicing: That where Sathans throne is, they haue kept their names& haue not denied their faith. Oh! my Son, come and see their comeliness▪ through the beauty the Lord hath put Ezech. 16. 14. vpon them, it will inform thee more then many lies: These are they my Son; who count all things but lose, that they may win Christ; whom yet they know not after the flesh; much less the cross; much less the nailes of it, or any other rotten relic. The spirit quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing. These are they who go always bound in the Spirit, not knowing what things will beefall them, but they pass not, neither is their life dear unto them. For they are ready not to bee bound onely, but also to suffer for the name of the Lord Iesus. Nothing can bee too dear for him; who hath done so much for them. And yet( observe me my Child) before they will go into the face of persecution, they will haue as sure a warrant as jacob had to meet his brother Esau. Lord which saidst unto me, return;& I Gen. 32. 9. will deal well with thee. And having this, nothing can bee too dear for him; who hath done so much for them, neither Goods, nor liberty, nor life, now into the face of this Esau they go, and behold! to the admiration of beholders▪ the stern face of this Esau is changed,( there are presents sent before my child.) The face of persecution is unto them now no other then the face of God,& behold! in stead of blows kisses. This is as strange as was the healing 1. Reg. 2. 11. of the waters,& indeed, the waters of affliction are healed, to the children of God; and shall never prove deadly unto them, it is like Samsons riddle,& none but the children of God can unfold it. Onely they with Samson can find swarms of bees& honney too in the carcase of a Lion. But mark Child. Samson goes not down to meet judge. 14. 5. the Lion; the Lion roars vpon Samson in the way, then the Spirit of the Lord came mightily vpon Samson,& he rents him as if he would haue rent a kid. There came a Lion and a bear;& takes away a lamb, out of Dauids flock, he shall not keep it, david goes after and gets his lamb again, yea he shall deliver it out of his very mouth, now he 1. Sam. 17. 34, 35. riseth against david too; but little david shall haue strength, to catch him by the beard; to smite him and slay him too. The Saints will never thrust themselves into the mouth of the Beast, they haue more wisdom then so, but when the Harlot will play the bear, and the Lion, with them, as many times shee doth, she is forced in spite of all hir malice, to yeld them honey,& it proves so sweet, that they shall take pleasure in infirmity, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, 2. Cor. 12. 10. for Christ his sake, whose power, doth so rest vpon them, that when they are weak, then are they strong. How sweet shall the waters be when the Lord hath healed them? What pleasant fruit shall grow from a bitter roote when the Lord hath watered it, or hath changed his nature? Tribulation shall work patience; patience experience; experience hope;& hope maketh not ashamed, see what kisses are here; I shall be more particular, anon. I haue to do with a child, a child not in years but understanding, the Harlot will keep thee so; the Lord show thee hir deceit, I go on in the general. That both life and goods& liberty are to be kept, yea& to bee improved too, till they stand in competition, with the purity of the Gospel,& now that they do wee haue our warrant what to do,& our woe too if wee do it not; and to the Saints the choice is easy, neither are their lives now dear unto them, it is now necessary, say they( the love of Christ constrains them, that wee go, not that we should live. O!( my Son) how fain would I haue thee rightly understand this? why know my child▪ these do not thrust themselves into danger, as they will not cowardly avoid it. They dare not pray for persecution, against it they may; that they may not be hurt of it they do; nay in this particular, they wrestle with God, for they know that this Esau hath a stern look;& there must be much ado to get kisses from him. ask thyself( Child?) whether a good son, doth not quake to see the road in his fathers hand, though perhaps but to beat a seruant. I tell you Child; they will not they must not cast the cross, of what kind soever in the way: but in the way they will go,& if they meet with it, as twenty to one but they shall; either in one kind or another( for their way is strawed with it) baulk the way; they will not to prevent the cross, but up they take it as the man the sheep, and after Christ they go, counting it exceeding ioy. Thus much for the general, now more particularly; how fain would I haue my Child again? their bodies are the temples of the Holy-Ghost, thou knowest it my Child, the Scripture saith so much, thou readst them, I know thou readest them; my Child will not let the Harlot put out Psa. 119 v. 105. his candle; or take away his lamp, in a dark night, for then thou must needs fall vpon the bed of hir fornications, for she hath a faire tongue, but my Son doth keep his lamp by him, I know he doth; why then thou mayst see by this time, that the bodies of the Saints are the Temples of the HOLY-GHOST; they dare not, they must not, whip them, nor scorch them, nor pine them; these are not the marks of the Lord Iesus; Who required them at their hands? They know that the sufferings of Christ must abound in them; if they look to haue the consolations abound through Christ: 2. Cor. 1. 5. They know that they must bear about, in their bodies, the dieing of the Lord Iesus, that the life of IESVS may bee 2. Cor. 4. 5. made, manifest in their bodies▪ knowing well that there is a false pennance, and a counterfeit martyrdom, my sweet Child, they never were, nor never will bee their own tormentors. Their bodies shall bee deliured up to the whip,& to the candle &c. they will not give themselves one stripe, their pennance is a more inward thing, it must needs bee so, it doth come from an inward cause, but a Bonner must do it,& let him do it, as often as the Iewes whipped Paul: Act. Mon. p. 1854. let him give as many strips too, he will bee weary anon, nay if his breath hold let him make the number even, they will go away reioyceing. A Tirrill shall do it;( unless our English mutiny, will in an holy indignation& reuenge, burn that hand which had subscribed, to that which would haue destroyed the whole body and soul too.) And let him do it, but ROSE ALLEN hath an other fire within, even zeal unto the truth,& this burns so within hir, that outwardly, shee feels but little pain. A stony-hearted keeper shall do it, whose charge perhaps is as hard as he,& let him do it, they haue a meat which the keeper knows not of, they live not by bread alone, yet if the keeper bee so keind as to give it them, they will take it for they will not hate their own flesh, but in due time and Ephes. 5. ●8. 29. place nourish it and cherish it, as the husband the wife, and the Lord the Church: these know not( my Child) what to make of that for ever austere living in pennance for sin. But they are very well acquainted with a sorrow for sin,& affliction of soul, which as hath been said, is an inward thing, coming from an inward principle, and this is such that it doth not onely make them abstain, from meate, but some tims with david, to forget to eat their bread, or if they do remember it, to mingle it with weeping. Then they be such( my Child) as fast too and fast often, not resting vpon it, as an essential part of Gods worship, but as a notable help and preparative thereunto, fitting them for that wherein they are abundant, prayer, joining that with it knowing that some sins will not bee cast out without it. And thus they do for a time, not defrauding themselves over long: least they should bee found to neglect their bodies, which must bee cared for, that they may bee serviceable▪ they do my Child, they must somtims set a side their water,& use a little wine ●. Tim. ●. 23. for their stomacks sake,& their often infirmities; somtims a bit of flesh on the friday,& an egg on the satarday, to the pure, dayes& meats are pure; but still respecting the main, that they bee serviceable to God,& his Church, whereunto they haue ever so wakeful an eye, knowing well their season when to keep under their bodies,& to bring them into subjection▪ least at any time or by any means, they should bee reproved. This they do frequently but by no mean resting on the outward act. That is but the carcase, but joining many excellent works with it; breaking of their sins by repentance, that is a principal thing, for now their work is accepted. Dealing their bread to the hungry; that is another: fervent prayer that was in the first place and now it comes again to bee considered a part, that thou mayst know, that we haue them who pray too& pray much: but first mark my Child, vpon all these, the door is shut, knowing they haue a God that seeth in secret. These are they, who are frequent and frequent in prayer, carried vpon the wings of faith, without the help of Saint or Angel, not by number but by weight which is unto them as Goliahs sword to david, nothing like that. Like the worthiest of Dauids wortheys, what difficulties doth it go through? what waters of comfort doth it fetch? the time would fail me, I leave it to a silent admiration. That soul on which the spirit of prayer,& supplication is powered can tell and none but that, it is possible for me and thee to admire that whereof wee haue no experience, I do so,& see I am again in Balaams rapture. Behold here they rise up as a great Lion, and lift up themselves as young Lions, they shall not lye down till they eat of the pray, and drink the blood of the slain. This is Moses Num. 23. 24. Exod. 18. 11. hand lift up, Amaleck falls before it. Hereby heaven suffers violence, they take it by force, God shall haue no rest else. These haue their tears too, I say not all haue, nor all at all tims, it is certain my Child, there may bee a weeping heart, when there is a dry eye, as there may bee and often is a wet eye and a dry heart, all naturs, all constitutions are not alike, yet tears they haue, some of them Ieremies riuers, some tears to fill a bottle, some of them haue tears to cover the place they pray in, tears to water the couch. MARIES tears to wash with; tears to eat, tears to drink; tears to sow with; tears to water with; Esay. 16. 9. they haue their ioy too; but that as a Cluster of Grapes, in respect of the vintage, to refresh them counseling through this wilderness, light is sown for the righteous, they know they shall reap in due time, therefore they faint not. Come now my sweet Child, set the pennance of your Augustine, or your Capuchins, or Anachrit, I know not what name you haue for them, of the strictest friar,& compare it with the pennance of these afore mentioned,& like Dagon before the ark, it falls before it I know well you haue much bodily exercise you see many things, which haue indeed a show of wisdom, in voluntary religion and humbleness Coloss. 2. 23. of mind,& in not sparing the body But are not many things in great estimation among men,& yet in the eyes of God& his Saints vile& contemptible▪ yea beggarly rudiments. Come wee Child to your voluntary poverty, a thing your letter tells me, thou dost much gaze vpon, to that parting with all, and casting themselves vpon Gods providence. It is truth child, the providence of God is a large and sure inheritance to his chosen, it supplieth Eliahs meate; by such a means as he little looks for. It sheweth Abraham a Ram tied in the bush, where and when he little expects it. But mark always this is when ordinary means fail, God will bee seen but only in the Mount, I must not, I dare not part with my bread in hope that a raven will bring me more, not give away my sheep with expectation to meet with one in the Bush. I perceive thou knowest them, who haue cast away all, and live in voluntary poverty, choosing it rather. I promise thee, I know not how they will answer the parting with their masters goods, certainly they must needs fall short in their reckoning. Why Mother? may they not do what they will with their own? Their 1. Cor. ●. 19. own, let a Nabal say so. Why wee are not our own; much less are the things ours, which wee possess; wee are but seruants, child, wee are but stewards and factors. The Saints though their affections are taken of from things below, nay in comparison they are but as dung, they haue the moon under their feet, yet look with what their master hath entrusted them, they will not part with, I warrant thee, but they will haue their maisters order first; and this they haue not by any extraordinary way, but by ordinary; they are acquainted with their masters will well enough, they know both where and when, to whom and what they give, they are not one of Solomons fools child, they know the way to the city well. Is it possible that he who is in trust with much,& hath the bowels of mercy too, should detain it, for want of his masters order. See here mourns the widow, there eries the fatherless, this back is naked, that belly pintched; look yonder steward, there are many families in caues& rocks, the sword of the enemy drove them, they came not thither voluntarily, I warrant thee, haue I trusted thee with much? lap it not up in a napkin, thou seest the waters, there is my order, now cast thy bread; give the portion, give it to seven and also to eight, thou rich and wealthy woman, say to thy husband, in case he be not so mindful of my seruants passing by, say unto him; An holy man of God often passeth this way, he takes a great deal 2. King. ● 4. 8.. of pains sure, It may be he serveth at the Alter, and yet cannot live by it; he treadeth forth the corn, and for ought wee know, his mouth may be muzzled, let us make him a little chamber. I pray thee, and let us set for him there a bed, and a table and a stool, and a candlestick, let him not want his conveniences, he will labour the more cheerfully, well done woman, let him not, Prou. 12 24. 25. there is that scattereth and yet increaseth: and there is that witholdeth more then is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. The liberal soul shalbe made fat: and he that watereth, shal be watered also himself. Nay I tell thee farther, your works of mercy done in a right manner haue an ascending power in them, Acts. 10. 4. as well as your prayers,& an attractive too, let him not want his conveniences, thou dost well understand my order, haue I given thee but little? away with those 2. mites, let thy extreme poverty abound unto a rich liberality. Thou poor widow that thinkest there is no way but one with thee, 1. Kin 8. 17. fetch this seruant of mine a little water, that thou wilt readily do, nay but bring him a morsel of breed too, as scarce as it is with thee; make him a little cake even out of thy handful, thou wilt refresh my seruants bowels. I will remember thee; Thy handful shall be blessed, so shall thy oil too, thou and thy child shall haue enough, I can do much for them that trust me; I never fail them, do it woman, the saints do beleeue and trust their master, they question not his sufficiency I will warrant thee, they will distribute and give to the poor, they will be merciful and they will lend, and yet do they measuue their affairs by iudgment, and as becometh the wisdom of the Saints. They know that charity must haue an eye within doares, all must not go forth. They know full well, that he who biddeth them part with their coat, gives them leave to keep one for themselves, he that chargeth them to help others, doth give them that wisdom as not to leave themselves helpless; He that hath given them wherewithal to show mercy to others, gives them that care as that they do not come to crave mercy from others. Since their master hath entrusted them as stewards in his house, to give every one their portion, they will carefully do it, knowing withall that the same master alloweth them, meate,& drink,& cloath, I mean a Iacobs competency; Let the children stand aside a little, it may be your Hermit is not one of that number,& therefore he dares not keep his goods. Well then wee will suppose him but as a seruant in the house, waiting vpon the children, yet when the children haue done, may he fit down if it please him, it is his good masters bargen, and it shall be his shane, if when his Master allows him it, he will refuse, or fit down naked. mark( my good Child) that thou mayst not admire this voluntary beggerry, I say the Lord his Master gave that hermit( whom now thou admirest, because he hath thrown away his goods) a right unto the creatures, at least as a seruant in the house, and he should haue been well advised not only how he used them and kept them; for there was not all the danger, but how he partend with them too, there lieth as much I haue given you the herb of the field, saith the Lord. MOVNT SEIR I haue given to the children of Esau for a possession; let his brother Iacobs posterity take heed they meddle not with a foot of it, what they haue they must haue for their money, if Esau will part with it for nothing, or give away all in hope his merciful brother will relieve him, he may; but let him look to it. Seest thou then my child, this Hermit, call him by what name thou wilt; hath he cast away his goods as the creple his cloak? Let him look to it, they were his masters, who gave them him to use, and he must come to his account; Seruant what hast thou gained? I haue cast them away Sir, I doubt that will not bee a safe answer, let him look to it, I will not adventure my talent so. But they are gon& doth he now think he hath denied himself, because he hath denied himself these,& they are gon; Why child, his sins may be as close as ever they were, his goods were neither his right hand, nor his right eye I warrant thee. If so, they had not been so easily partend with. Alas a little money is easily turned over board, when the Philosopher keeps some things that is dearer to him then that, that is nearer then his shirt or skin either. So doth that Hermit too, child it is a great venture else, but wee judge no mans heart. look vpon him child,& I will tell thee what thou maiest discover by thy eye, thou seest the cell or hole he lies butted in, dost thou not? why I tell thee child, he may as well deny himself that, nay the earth he stands on the air he breath in, the light he sees with, surely he might, as well as that liberty he might enjoy, yea& is bound to aproue too, or those other necessaries, which like a proud seruant he would not take when his rich Master offered them. But now thou my child fly these things,& learn the wisdom of the Saints; How should they pink, where the Lord hath not pinched? how should they scant themselves, where the Lord hath not scanted? are then the creatures before Nehe●. 8. 10. thee and me? Through our Masters bounty, and rich liberality they are so, well then my child, wee may eat of the fat, and wee may drink the sweet, and wee may cloth ourselves with the wool: so the use of them is ours( our masters pleasure is so) are we but as seruants, and shall not abide in the house for ever; the abuse of them whether in not sanctifying them by the Gala●. 5. 13. word and prayer, or not sending portions unto them, for whom nothing is prepared or in not vseing our liberty so as wee give no occasion to the flesh; or in what kind soever, is ours and is set vpon our scoare, and without repentance shall in the end make for our great conuincement; I haue done these and these things for thee, wherefore then hast thou despised the commandement of the LORD: to do evil in his sight? Here is a conuincement indeed, let us look to it child, if Gods daily renewed mercies led us not to repentance, causing us to renew our obedience, they will in the day of our reckoning make us speechless, if they bee not as loadstons to draw our iron hearts unto God; they will prove in the great day of the LORD, as a heavy weight to crush us in pieces. This deserves our care, let us loooke to it; least our meat● and drink make us unclean, and our own clothes, filthy. Thus my child▪ I think thou knowest now how to judge of voluntary poverty, I may call it beggary. I haue more yet to say to bring thee out of liking with bodily exercise, will-worship, and these assumed, not commanded services, not only shows and shadows, but such as hold the heart contented, without the truth, for what can please the heart, better then somethings of its own choosing; which shall not bee so sharp( I wrarant thee) but that he may keep vpon the lees,& detain it's old sent still. O my child, let but thy heart once go a whoringe this way, it is strange, how it will dote vpon these things, as a harlot vpon his louers, no cost shal bee thought too much; riuers of oil shall go, no travell too long; a thousand miles on pilgramage if you will▪ No pains too hard, no pennance too painful, the heart will as easily turn in unto these things, as the Israelits were persuaded to return into egypt; or SISERA, pursued by Barak, entreated to turn into Iaels tent. Alas child ●ny tent will serve the turn for a time, to take a little milk in, and so to bring it a sleep, when like a wearied child, it is willing to rest, or like a pursued SISERA, it would fain be at quiet. A Cloister may serve the turn; a Selb, a Crucifix; a stripe a pilgrimage; a little holy water; a diring; an Aue-Marie, let the heart but haue a Saint one its side, or a pardon about its neck, and what can hurt him. O child! why dost thou gaze vpon these things? what is this? but for thee to make lies thy refuge?& under falsehood to seek to hid thyself, for what are these? or any of these? or ought else, of these assumed services, but like the Harlots wipinge hir mouth? or Pilat's washing his hands. Good child fall not a sleep here, or if thou hast in these IAELS Tents taken of the milk, and it's pleasant unto thee, yet for thy souls sake, keep thy eyes waking for behold a stronger then Barak pursues thee, iudgmeet well he also lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet, and the Esai. 28. 17. hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the water shall overflow, these hiding places, and thou shalt not stand when the overflowing scourge shall pass over, thou wilt bee trodden down by it: for the bed is shorter, then that a man can streatch himself on it, and the cover narrower then that he ca● wrap himself in it. Good child sleep not. How willingly would a poor mother keep hir child waking; when if he sleep, his sleep would prove an iron sleep, he will never wake again. How shall I endure the death of my son? O hark unto thy mother child▪ that would fain keep thee waking, that so discovering thy danger, thou maiest get forth of thy IAELS tent, and take sanctuary at the rocks, the mighty god of this salvation, I tell you child a thousand stripes on thy body, cannot deface the print of one sin, that is writ with the pen of a diamond, as many knocks on thy breast, will not soften thy hard heart, which is as an adamant. All your holy water not sprinkled, but powerd till the challace be dry, will not wash away one sin, it is as the spot of a Leopard or as crimson of deep die in the wool and in the cloath. The Harlots wiping hir mouth will not serve hir, nor Pilats washing his hands; nor Elishas staff, a man may bee at great cost, he may part with riuers of oil, and yet his countenance look never a with more cheerful in the day of the Lord. He may kneel till the strong men are weary, yet may the heart continue still stiff. he may go on pilgrimage to this saint, and the other relic, ye● and bare foot till he pinch his fe●te,& prick them too, yet may he bee never the nearer heaven, his heart may remain untouched still, nay it's certain child, that nothing is a greater enemy to true mortification, then the counterfeits, nothing holds a man off more from the power, then love with the form, nothing more prevalent then these Iaels Tent's to rock thy heart in security, and to keep it in it's own heardnesse, till a dart strike through the liver, and a nail the temples: the Harlot will never cleanse the heart, if she thinks to make all clean, by wipinge hir lips. Pilate shall stand guilty Prou. 30. 20. of innocent blood for ever, because he thinks be is clear of it, now that he hath washed his hands, the blood sticks nearer then so; the Prophet will never be sent for, if his staff will serve the turn; But when a man looks on his sins, as those that put to death the LORD of GLORY: or as that spear which pierced his sides,& so is pricked at the heart, and receives the sentence of death within himself, this man now looks vpon the true crucifix, his sinn's are alway before him. Will ye now put on this man, all your Sauls armor? alas! it is but cumbersome, neither will it keep out the pebble, but his assault is inward, will you give him some of your balm? your holy water; your oil; your daubinges; you are physicians of no value. All his money is spent, vpon trifles already& yet the bloody issue remaineth▪ will your pope now freely give him his pardon? since all his money is spent; Alas he knows he shall go forth from thence ashamed, and with his hands vpon his head; the LORD will Ierem. 2. 36, 37. reject those confidences. What would this man haue? I marvel what seeks he after? A ransom sure. A pardon. And if he get it he must haue it, without money or money worth, he must be brought to a kind of beggary in himself, to a kind of nothing; to a worse then nothing. What should a sound man do with a physician? A whole man with a plaster? an vncondemned man with a pardon? he is so, he is emptied now of one of his greatest enemies, himself, he leaveth unto nothing within him nor to any earthly thing without him. Now compare the pennance of your Capu●ine, Franciscan, or Dominican, who will not part with his hole, for as much land as the little bide flieth over, nay he hopes that his contentedness in so little a place on earth, shall procure him a large mansion in heaven, though he bee a thief here, not eating his own bread, because he worketh not with his hands. I say compare his voluntary religion, his humbleness of mind, his not sparing Collos. 2. 18. 23. the body, all his bodily exercise, with this mans pennance, if I may call it so, and it willbee no more, like unto it, thē the Harlots wipeing the mouth, 1. Tim. 4. 8. Prou. 30. 20. is to the cleansing the heart, then Pilats washing his hands, to the purginge his conscience: I say no more like it, then Elisha's staff is to Elisha himself, then SOLOMONS nedle work, to 2. Kings 4. 29. the little lily. I mean then art unto nature. There is but imitation in the one( my child) art is but natur's ape, there is life in the other, all the power in the world cannot produce it. And observe it, the effects of that man● pennance, and this mans sorrow, are as different, the one seeks after trifles,& babbles, such as never pleased any but children and fools, empty things, lies and vanities, for as the wound is, such is the remedy; The heart was never touched, the other labours after the one thing which is necessary, and nothing will content him, till the Lord hath reached forth his hand of mercy unto him,& thereby enabled him, to reach back his to the Lord, whereby he receiveth blood to justify him, and water to sanctify him, for his hand of faith doth not only receive, but also purgeth the heart from all dead works, it doth not only take, but it doth also work by love, behold now the ioy and peace of this man, at what ease doth he now lye? let us look vpon him. Perhaps we would set up a Tabernacle by him nay certainly wee would continue with him for ever. he finds his be● large enough for his wearied body to rest vpon, the plaster great enough for the wound, the covering large enough to wrapp himself in, and now hear him what he saith, Lord unto me thou wilt ordain peace, for thou hast Esai. 26 12. 23. wrought all my works for me, The sorrow's of them who offer unto other Gods shall bee multiplied, their offerings I will not offer, nor make mention of their names, within my lips▪ but I will remember thee only and thy name, thou art the portion of my inheritance,& of my cup, thou maintainest my lot, the lines haue fallen unto me in pleasant places, yea I haue a goodly heritage, I will bless thee O LORD who hast given me this counsel, for now my heart is glad and my glory rejoiceth, my flesh also shall rest in hope, for thou hast not left my soul in Hel●, thou hast shown me the path of life, in thy presence is fullness of ioy, at thy right hand are pleasures for evermore▪ O my child come,& see the comeliness of this man now, through the beauty the Lord hath put vpon him,& as he is such are the Kings Sons, tho● hardest of them even now, and thou diddest observe their practise: Come away my child, cast of all those dead works, which thou dost eye so much,& learn what the Lord requires at thy hand, surely not thousands of rams, not ten thousand riuers of oil, not the son of thy body, for the sin of thy soul▪ but to break of thy sins by repentance, ●ut. 4. ●cah. ●, 7, 8. and that there bee an healing of thine error, to do justly,& to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God; approving thyself as the child of God, not by these assumed services, which will not hold weight when righteousness is put to the scale, but as the Saints do by pureness, by knowledge, by long sufferings by keindnes, by the holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, by the word of truth by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness, on the right hand and on the left▪ Oh my bowels do yearn vpon my child, my heart is enlarged? Thou art not kept straite in me( my Son) but I am kept straite in thee. Thou maiest plainly conclude, by what is said, see ho● dearly my Mother loues: yea and the Lord knoweth too, who is truth itself, that my desire of thy return hath no less love in it, then it hath safety too, for I wish above all things that thou mayst ●hn. 3. 2 prosper: and bee in health even as thy soul may prosper. return then my son; return my son, my son. And that thou mayst make hast for a mothers affection, thinks the shortest time long, I will quit thy argument, which thou thoughtest fit for my capacity& indeed it was so, with an other as fitt for thine, for thou art but a child yet, and knowest nothing as thou oughtest to do: And I know it shall fall as right, as thine did, but then with a different effect. Thine did but foil the form of godliness, that was amongst us, the power was not touched, the truth remaines the truth still,& willbee justified of hir children, mine shall take away the truth and power you seem to haue, and shall tell thee plainly, there is none indeed, come then child, hearken while this argument smites the Harlot this once, I will not smite hir the second time, for I shall labour to drive the nail to the head,& to fasten hir to the ground with it, that she rise not again, and all this my child in a dear affection to thee, that so I may get thee out of hir tent, and free myself from the fear, and thyself from the danger, of having that other nail in thy Temples. hearken then while the wil●ss and deceits of this Harlot are discovered unto thee, these are plain by what hath been said, by hir name and by hir practise, as hir name is, such is shee▪ Or how cruel she is towards thy poor soul, that doth likewise appear, by hir willingness thou shouldst be divided,& so mayst plow in two sorrows, serve God and Baal. Nor this, how she-would poison thy young years with the doctrine of diuils, that thou mayst kill thy king and bee sainted too, nurtering thee up as it were with blood, though closely, that when further yeares come, thou mayst with greediness seek the prey, and like a bloody whealp of a fierce lioness, thou mayst take& spoil not a few, these things are bloody things, they must bee so, they come from a bloody beast, but this is not all▪ My endeavour is now to bring thee in hatred with the strumper, for I shall pluck of hir vizard, which being made in some thing a more accurat manner, hath beguiled many, and those too, who seemingly are the children of truth, but indeed haue not received the truth, in the love of it, therefore they fall away, and I shall plainly show unto thee such an ugly face, as being looked vpon with a clear eye shall put the beholder into a fear,& wonder too, that there could bee any, that would dote vpon it. I shall then, as it were pluck down apartition, and show thee the Harlots abominations in that place; I shall then pluck down another, and thou shalt see what i● done there, what shee doth in the dark, and in the chambers of hir imagenary, wee leave to him, whose eyes do behold the most secret paths of man. We will follow hir such a way as is plain,& beaten wee cannot mistake hir footing, none but the Harlot and hir instruments ever troad in it, the path of truth is peace, and all hir ways righteousness. The strumpets path is paned with crewelty, and hir footsteps drop blood. Now look child vpon th● beast, shee hath not only made the nations drunk with the cup of hir fornications, but shee is likewise a filthy swine, drunk with the blood of the martyrs of the Lord IESVS: look vpon hir, what an ugly face is there▪ now look vpon hir hands child, thou shalt see them read with the blood of the Saints, so are hir clothes too, can here be truth, child? can here bee truth? it cannot bee, why my child, hast thou not heard( though thou art but as of yisterday) hast thou not red, how that great whoare one of the dragons instruments, persecuted the woman, and cast water like a flood after the woman, flying to save herself, witness that little book of Martyrs Heb. 11. Why my child, ask the later times,& they shall teach thee, inquire of thy forefathers,& they shall tell thee& not only the whoares cruelty, in the city of ORANGE, or of that in Anno 1572. ROANE, or that in DEIPE, but he will tell thee of that horrible massacer in PARIS, where the bloody whoare and hir instruments went forth like a distroying Angel,& within the space of three dayes or little more cruelly Acts& Mon. 1947. 1948. murdered above, ten thousand, and all this after a marriage feast. Can here be truth( my child) I assure thee shee hath killed the mother vpon the child. witness that lamentable Tragedy acted in Garniey, where the infant, bursting from the mothers womb, in the midst Acts. Mon: 1764. of the flamme, and taken from hir, was by the whores instrument sacrificed again to the flamme, there to receive it's baptism, cursed bee their wrath, for it was feirse, and their rage for it was cruel, into their secret let not my sons soul come, nor let thy glory bee joined with their assamblies, for in their wrath they haue slain millions, and the instruments of death were in their habitations. Wilt thou look nearer into thine own country, why then see our Marian dayes, I know my childs eyes will stand with tears, what prisons were empty? what racking? what tearing? what whipping? what scourging? burning? what bone fires were made of the blood of the Saints? Cursed be their wrath for it was cruel, and their rage for it was fierce, come a little nearer( child) yet, perhaps thou mayst discern thy own preservation though then in thy cradle, hast thou not heard of our fift of november? I know thou hast. I must now take a little leave, I assure thee, I thought that after that very day the name of a papist would presently haue rotted,& that the stink& sten●ch of it would haue gon over all the earth, and surely it did, and doth so,& it is vnsauory in the nostrils of the very heathens, and would be so unto all, but that these Iaels Tents afford so much sweet milk, where with to bring the heart a sleep in security. But my child; thou dost remember this day, dost thou not? thou dost; why then thou standest amazed at the beastly cruelty of the whore and of hir children, and at the exceeding love, and superabundant mercy( words are too scanty) at the admirable kindness of our God. Tell me for thou shalt bee judge, was not our land at that time compacted? as it were into a compendious body, which was to sit in parliament, as the representation of the whole land, and now had it but one neck? had not the whore& hir instruments, watching their opportunity, and finding it, laid this neck as vpon the block, that they might stricke it of at a blow; A blow indeed, whose rage would haue reached up to heaven, which would haue sent up the bodies of men, like the sparkles of a smiths forge, and haue made as many divisions of each, as there are sparkles, cursed bee their wrath, for it was cruel, and their rage for it was fierce. But my child sees the goodness of God too. There was now but a step between us and death, the grave was opened, wee were brought to the brink, and miraculously snatched from it, for the Lord stayed the blow, like Abrahams hand, and wee are all at this day, like brands taken out of the fire, even thou too in respect of thy natural life, he that is sufficient for admiration or thinks either. Let him consider this, here is matter for him. But thou my sweet child, O my bowels yearn vpon my child, if thou canst not sufficiently admire the one, as indeed thou canst not, yet for ever detest the other, let thy soul never come into their seceet, let not thy glory be joined with their assemblies, the instruments of cruelty are in their habitations, now tell me, can here bee truth? Child can here be truth? it is impossible, why child, here is nothing but fire and sword( I know well that the Harlot hath hir foxes skin too, I wot well my child, I wot well) but if that will not serve, then like a hungry lion, she teareth to pieces& devoureth at once. observe now( good child) for thy souls sake mark, the paths of truth, all hir ways are peace, she goeth plainly and quietly not like a boisterous wind, that would rent the rocks, but with a soft voice she sinks into the heart with meekness well knowing the temper of it; I will show thee, goldsmiths weapons( my Child) I pray thee observe them well there are none like them, not instruments of cruelty, I warrant thee, meekness, gentlnesse, long suffering; if at any time, or by any means( except fire or sword) thats the whores mark truth abhores it, she may win the people to hir. observe further yet Child, is this truth opposed? as indeed she is, too much, too much, thats goldsmiths destiny( my Child) not hir fault, is she tossed& tumbled,& hurried? see hir temper& thou wilt admire hir,& for ever detest the Beast, how doth she follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience Tim. 11. & meekness? Is she hurried and at length brought to the slaughter? shee is so. That shall make hir light break out as the noon day, shee knows it well, see my Child hir temper still,& behold in it the pattern of the saints. Thou hast seen a sheep brought to thee slaughter? I know thou hast so goeth truth. Thou hast seen a lamb before the shearer, hast thou not? so stands truth, Christ hath given hir a lesson ever his own example, she hath learnt it, she openeth not hir mouth, I warrant thee; I would not thou shouldst leave trueth's temper yet, for I hope that by feeling hir pulse, thou wilt assure thyself she is of a sound constitution, and plainly discover the contrary, she is so far from fire& sword, or any such cruelty, that she followeth peace with all men, as far as is possible; she is no stricker with the fist, no smiter with the tongue( there's a smiting with the tongue my Child) but hir tongue is bound to the peace,& good behaviour, I will show thee hir children as like the mother as may bee, good Child observe their carriage, being reviled we bless, being persecuted wee suffer it, Cor. 12. 13. being defamed, we entreat; why this is the strangest relation as ever was heard of, it is indeed, and never to bee found but amongst the children of truth, shall I parallel it? it may be I may in david,& yet shall make a Sauls heart mealt, david hath the skirt of Sauls rob in his hand, his heart smits him for it too, he cries out to Saul, what gesture useth he now? he speaks to his persecutors, what gesture should he use? I hope david may stand vpon his points to Saule now; the wilderness of Engedi, or at least the advantage david had of Saul in the cave, makes them equal, doth it not? O by no means Child, Saul is the Lords anointed still& Dauids master too,& if Saul do but cast his eye back vpon david, of goes Dauids hat, I warrant you, he stoops with his face to the earth& he bows himself, there's Dauids gesture, what is Dauids voice? what titles gives he to his enemy, who hunts him like a 1. Sam. 24. 9. Partridge? Why, not very pleasing ones sure, are they not such as coller& rage laid uppermost? oh no, hear them; my Lord the King, the Lords anointed, my father speaks david, what is the matter of his words? Wherefore doth my Lord hear mens words,( saying) david seeketh they hurt behold my father, see yea see the skirt of thy rob in my hand, I might haue had thy head as easily. But I would thou couldst see, how my heart hath smitt me for cutting of the lap of the coat of the Lords anointed O hear yet further my Lord Saule: I am much displeased with thy chamberlain ABNER whom thou hast made the keeper of thy head& were I judge in Israel he might perhaps lose his own head for it, he is worthy to die, but as the least he should out his office, he is too sleepy for the charge. Why so? because he hath not kept his master the Lords anointed, how doth that appear, why ABNER may see here,& my Lord Saul may hearken, though ABNER be a valiant man& who like him in Israel, yet is he not fitt to be the keeper of the head of the Lords anointed they must haue a surer watch then so, why I tell thee Abner& hear thou me. thy Maisters head was in great danger this night,& thou laiest by him sleeping, for now see where the Kings spear is, and the cruse of water, are they not in my hands? Why they were this night at thy Maisters bolster:& was not thy Maisters head vpon it? certainly Abner,& let my Lord Saul hear, had but a Philistim come in, or but a half jesuited Israelite thy master, though the Lords anointed had been smitten to the earth at once there had not needed a second blow,& his head had gon with the pot and spear, but a david came into your camp this night, a poor persecuted flay indeed one of trueth's children,& God forbid that he should stretch forth the hand, against the Lords anointed or suffer it to bee done. Why he was no more able to hurt, then a dead dog could bite, and therfore art thou O Lord my King,& thou also Abner alive, at this time,& your eyes may behold both, the spear and pot, that was so near thy Maisters Pillow,& my master Saul may hear my voice too, and now I hope both my Lord and Abner from this very day will ever bee able to discern truth& inocencie, from wickedness which ever proceedeth from the wicked man,& be able to point at it too with the finger,( saying) there it is, and behold child, Saule, doth it, he knows the voice of david,& it mealts into tears,& see what he faith, thou art more righteous then I, thou hast rewarded me good when I rewarded thee evil, and now my Child, thou hast plainly seen trueth's guise,& hir childrens carriage how meek I how harmless! Thou mayst likewise discern the Beasts mark,& from whence wickedness doth proceed, I know no motive in the World, except the secret working of Gods Spirit, more preuailent to cause, thee to come away, unless thou hast not a Saul● discerning: Why now, what shall I say to thee my Son? I will take some of the following words,& apply them: changing them a little. Why doth my Son drink of the whores cup? dost thou know what poison is in it? or what evil is in hir hands? Now therfore I pray thee, let my Child hear the words of his Mother; if the Lord hath left thee to the counsel of thy own heart, which he may do as not bound to the creature, a rebellions creature,& this is to be acknowledged, let him accept an offering, even the calves of thy lips, that he, who is the truth would led thee into all truth, but if they bee the children of men who haue enticed thee,& begiuled thy poor soul, which will likewi●e bee acknowledged, I will not pronounce the Lords curse against them, for I haue not Dauids spirit, but the Lord be merciful to the blind leaders of the blind, and reward them not, after their dealing, for they haue driven thee out this day from the abiding in the inheritance, of the Lord saying, forsake the rock, even the onely rock of thy salvation▪& go serve other gods, I proceed my Child as thy letter leads me, thou wouldest seem to persuade thyself, thou art another joseph sent before, to provide for thy mother and hir children,& were it so my Sone,& that now I haue heard from thee, let hir who hath the heart of a mother,& is acquainted with the yearnings of the bowels, say, whether she thinks not, although no wagon is come, that I would presently take my staff, and trudge away, yea and not feel the weary steps, though my legs bee old, this thought would still be better then wine to refresh me, I shall see my son before I die. But, alas, the case is different, how doth a beguiled heart deceive thee, your egypt hath proved but an iron furnace to our Israel& at the best a staff of reede, I dare not venture myself, so, no nor yet, thy brother neither, though thou like a good judah wilt undertake for thy brother Benjamin, thy mother will not trust thee to bee thy brothers keeper, unless thou couldst keep thyself better, why should I be robbed of both my children? Alas Child I well know, your egypt is full of enchantments, ask a mother now;& she will ●ell thee whether shee will venture a child as boys venture pins,& points, hazard too that they may find one, she will not do it( Son) a Child is dearer then so, again Child, good Child hearken, why should I sand my Child over to you for bread? Amos 8. 1●. Why our staff is not yet broken, it is Gods goodness, it is not, if it should bee, which our unthankfulness threatens, what haue wee to do with the broken reede of egypt, that would deceive us, wee haue yet store of bread( my Child) in our fathers house, rebellious children, wee are yea wee are, but through our fathers patience we haue it,& the children are fat and well liking vpon it, but if we were thrust out of door, as wee haue well deserved it, yet we could not eat your Gibeon●tish bread, which hath nothing to show its antiquity but that it is dry& moldy; nor could wee go to eat among the swine, husks, such emty things; wee do daily pray Lord give us evermore of this bread that if the Lord should be deaf towards us, as he may justly bee, he hath called to us& we haue not hearkened, how could wee expect that baal could hear us? I trust we should never seek to Eckro●▪ we know we haue a God in Israel,& we hope we shall not go from the living to the dead, we know an Idall is nothing, they that make him, are like him, so is every one that seeketh to him. To speak yet more plainly; wee haue Moyses and the Prophets,& they are red amongst us even to this day& it is wonderful in our eyes,& the saints see wonders in it, if we do not believe them, neither should we believe, though one were sent from your dead unto us, certainly Child wee should not. But to cut of all hope of coming over unto you,& yet to confirm this hope of thy return to us; I tell thee, besides that Christ hath set a sword to stop the way unto thee, which in some causes may divide between Mother and Child, brother& sister, there is a keind of gulf betwixt us, yet Matth. 10. v. 34 passable on thy part, that strengtheneth my hope, a gulf? is indeed Child a gulf, why so? why there is a sea betwixt us, no less full of blood, then that other is of water, how so Son. mother? why Child did I not tell thee, what havoc the whore hath made of the Churches, what threatenings she hath breathed forth, what riuers of blood she hath shed, how ●he hath killed and scourged& persecuted the Saints and Martyrs, of the Lord Iesus, that vpon hir may come all the righteous blood shed vpon the earth, revelation. from the blood of righteous Abell unto the blood of all the Prophits, Apostles and Martyrs, that haue been slain since. O Child what a sea is hear? Certainly, he that hath any light will not venture here,& he that hath none walketh in darkness,& knows not where he shall fall,& plunge himself. Well now Child, there is no coming for us to thee; thou mayst to us,& how am I straightened till thou comest? as long as thou art there, thou art liable to hir plagues,& how great will they be! Why Child thou seest plainly, that in hir is found the blood of Prophets,& of Saints,& of all that are slain vpon the earth& the cup shee hath ●illed to others; must be filled to hir double, how great will hir plagues goody? Come forth from hir my Child, my sweet Child come forth, for living there, thou must partake of hir sins,& then must thou receive of hir plagues,& how canest thou stand in that burning? Oh! my Child thou art now in danger, indeed, thou art now in hazard,& how am I straightened? Why I tell thee, the sentence is passed vpon the great whore, the execution hasteneth,& though it be deferred, it is at the doors, for can the souls under the Altar cry aloud and not be heard? O! my child come forth of hir, why dost thou linger man? wilt thou first know that Reuela● 6. 10. egypt is destroyed? come away even before the day break, come away even before the dow be leavened,& if thou Exod. 10. 26. wilt in the other sense, before the whole lump be soured, there is no lingering Child, for Gods sack and for thy souls sack come away, why dost thou linger? my dear Child consider, other sins speak, blood cries,& here is not Abels blood alone, he was but one, here is the voice of bloods, even of all, which were slain for the word of God,& the testemony which they healed, O my Child, what a thundering noise is hear? Certainly the widows cry to the unjust judge, that he would avenge hir of hir aduersaries, was not so loud& yet see though he lieth still for a while, up saith he I will arise,& avenge this troublesone bawling widow, I love my rest well, but behold there is no remedy, I see she is resolved to weary me, I will up that I may be quiet; for though I regard neither God nor man yet I haue a great respect to my own rest,& I will up and right hir; And now Child I haue done with thee, my words haue an end;& how loth am I to leave thee, or to cease entreating thee how do my bowelis yearn? how am I straightened? but the Lord hath heard my controversy,& who knoweth whether he may not look on the affliction of his Seruant,& bring thee again,& show me thy face once more, if not I am before him let him do with me what seemeth good in his eyes, but yet before I leave thee, one thing I beg of thee, and since the Son will haue the old Mother crouch and bend to him, why see Child, a Mother will not stand vpon hir points, shee will do any thing to haue hir Son again, I do beg one thing of thee,& I beg it on my knees, it is this, that thou wouldst rouse up thyself, for there is a great matter in hand. What is that? Why the great God of heaven and earth is at this instant speoking to thee, & so slow is man of hearing, that it is possible, for God to speak once and again, and yet man may not perceive it, alas what is mans speaking now? well Son, since thou hast notice of it, for thy souls sake rouse up thyself; it is the Lord my Child which brings whom the example of the unjust judge to thee, in his own words rouse up thyself ●uc. 18. ●. 6. ( Child) the Lord speaks unto thee,& he that speaks boar the ear, that thou maiest haue an hearing ear. hear what the unjust judge saith,& shall not God avenge his own Elect, which cry day& night unto him, though he hear them long, I tell thee he will avenge them speedily, there remaineth now but a little season, until their fellow, seruants also, and their brethren, that should bee killed as they were shall bee fulfilled, this the bloody, whore will dispach, as soon as shee may, shee is about it,& thus she treasureth up wrath against the day of wrath,& filleth up the measure of hir iudgment: which shall bee given to hir double; O come away from hir my dear Child▪ come hastily linger not, throve thy dowe vpon thy shoulders, there is no time to leaven it,& trudge away,& the Lord which can persuade IAPHETH to dwell in the tents of SHEM;& if LOTH will sung the time in so eminent a danger, canst in mercy to him, cause him to come out of sodom, before the brimstone and the fire shall fall, extend his mercy unto thy seruant, seek him out, who is g●n astray& cause him to return to thee, who art the shepherd& Bishop of his soul, so shall I ever praise thy name▪ who hast given me my Son again, in whom I may haue comfort here,& through they mercy●, ioy with him hereafter. FINIS. image with two cherubs