THy letter came to my hands , ( my deare Child ) like IOSEPHS partye-culloured coate , to his father IACOB , in many things there holds much proportion ; This is my Sons coate saith Gen. 37. 33. the good old man ; a wicked beast hath deuoured him : IOSEPH is surely torne in pieces . I cannot say so altogether ; but this is my sons letter , doth your poore aged Mother say , I know it is the great beast , hath set his marke vpon him , & appointed him for the prey ; I shal be robbed of my Son ; Oh! I shal be robbed of my Son : at the best , the Ismalites haue carried him into Egypt , a place of grosse idolatry , where hee is ; for his letter tells mee it left him at DOWAY , & there must mine find him .

What there my Son ? Now lett hir , who is aquainted with the deare name of a child , say , whether there houlds not much proportion , betweene IACOBS sorrow and mine , I goe downe to the graue mourning , I shall lye downe in sorrow . Your old Father , & as full of greifes as years , since thou wentest away , is not ; and thou art not , & I am a poore distressed Mother , thus hath the Lord shewen me much bitternesse . These thinges are against mee , euen all these ; but I am robbed of my child ; That , that hastens to bring my gray haires with sorrow to the graue , oh come againe my deare child , come againe ; that I may see thy face with comfort once more before I make my bed in the darke ; ( it is now almost night with me ) and I shall bee seene no more . O returne my son : returne my Son : returne my Son , my Son .

Returne , how readily should a dutifull Son . child come , when a deare mother calls ? how soone would hee doe , what the Mother bidds ? Were it of the same nature with hirs in the Maccabes , how willingly would I imbrace the stake , and giue vp my breath in the ●●ame . But alas ! my Mothers request is vnreasonable , nay vnnaturall , as the forsaking my Religion , Gods Church , his trueth , himselfe .

And is it so my Son ? an vnreasonable Mothe● request indeed , and vnnaturall ; O but harken my child ; and if it bee so , let thy owne Mother bee hated : O harken my child ! I beseech thee ▪ euen by the throwes of thy first birth harken ! & the Lord giue thee an open eare , while the true Mother plead● with the harlot 1. king . for hir Son , and hee that is wiser then Solomon bee iudge betwixt vs , euen he bee iudge . He ease me of my aduersary : euen he ease me of my aduersarie whoe vexeth me very sore , & makes me goe 1. Sam . 1 ▪ heauily all the day , troubling me and breaking my heart . The Lord looke on the trouble of his handmaide , and remember hir , & giue hir , hir Son againe , as I haue desired , and to my power laboured , to giue him to the Lord againe , 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 lye in the fetters vntill the Psal . 10● iron enter into his soule : and after to giue vp his breath in the flame ; to resist euen vnto blood . O my child consider ! it is neither the chaine if not PAVLS ; nor the prison if not Silaces ; nor the flame if not BRADFORD'S that makes the Martyr : indeed child it is not . But is it PAVLS chaine ? noe 2 Tim . 1. 16. reason the bearer should bee ashamed ; A prisoner in the Lord ? sure there is a cause of reioycing . At the stake for a good cause ? now there is cause of singinge , of clappinge the hands .

But the body may bee giuen to the 1. cor . 13 fire ( my child ) and loue may bee wanting : the crosse may bee taken vp , yet not Christs , nor he followed ; The body may bee stript , and whipt , pinch't nay almost starud , and yet who required these thinges at your hands ? But let the cause be such as these Saints were , and then let the sufferers glory ; for to such is it giuen not only to beleeue , but also to suffer for the name of the Lord IESVS . And now let the harlot ●ip . ● . speake , for I know shee told thee what thou shouldest say ; what could I haue done vnto my son , that I haue not done ; for his better keeping of these , euen all these ? Yet would I not seeme a proud Iusticiary , for how few are those HANNAHS ? who giue their children backe to the Lord , who present them first in the Temple ? who breed their children as they ought ; as they are bound to doe ? as the Grandmother LOIS , and the Mother EVNICE bred Timothy ? I cannot say I did : in how ●im . ● com●d ●h ●ap . ●5 . many thinges might I faile ? I know in many . But let the Harlot accuse mee . Child canst thou speake nothing for thy Mother ? my good child speake , I know thou canst . Whereunto hath the deare affection of thy parents tended ? Whitherto all their care ? their paines ? their cost ? their praires ? their feares ? their hopes ? Their hopes ! here it was indeed , here it was , I thinke . I know wee offended ; for surely wee doated vpon thee child , forgiue vs that wronge : Wee thought thee our possession , the son of our right hand , the staffe on which our old age might leaue : But how often doe parents hopes deceiue them ? how soone may a hopefull blossome die in the bud ? a forward springe bee nipped with a could winde ? or a sharp frost ? doe not parents , I pray you , doe not doat vpon your children , or thinke of them aboue what is meet . There are many moneths yet vnto your haruest , and a little time makes great alteration ! I tell you parents , and I tell you weepinge , our extraordinary expectations on earthy thinges , ordinarily disapoints vs ; somtimes our ordinary , but that doth lesse trouble vs. Marke this I pray you , it falls out many times , that a beloued RACHEL proues barren ; and hated LEA fruitfull . I pray you marke it , there is much vse in it . It falls out so with mee , 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 BENIAMIN a BENNONI , the Lord hath knapt my staffe asunder . But why should my aduersary boast against mee ; I thinke hee will not , least his RACHEL also proue barren : so the Lord can make him or hir : when wee bottome our selues vpon them , or set our affection on them too much , but come , what would the Harlot say ? I know shee would speake .

Why , he suckt in haerisy with his Harlot . very milke , & his stronger meats was mingled with it . And when you sent him to the fountaine , and as you thought to the springe head , you were quite mistaken , for they are but bitter waters , vncleane , and muddy .

Mistaken indeed I was , & much deceiued , Mother . for had not the fountaine beene impure , or had not the Beasts foote mudded it , I had not beene robbed of my child : nor at this time been pleadinge for him . But there was a bad hearb in the good pottage ; a dead flie in the sweete oyntment , a subtill Serpent in the pleasant garden thus wee parents , druncke with our owne hopes , little foresee our childrens danger ; how soone they may fall vpon a shelf , & there make shipwracke of faith and a good conscience , and all . A parent art thou , when will thy doubts ? thy feares haue an end ? And now what shall I say to thee my aduersary ? I must not , I dare not , giue thee reueiling words , but the Lord rebuke thee ; euen he rebuke thee , and bee iudge betwixt vs , whether in that way which thou callest heresie , wee doe not worship the GOD of our fathers beleeuing , &c. Acts. 24. 14.

What ? and not to submit to our holy Church ? not come within hir armes for instruction ? what is this but to bee Harlot . as a doue without the Arke ? to bee tossed vp and downe vpon the waues of heresies , still ready to suffer shipwracke : let your son then haue your hand mother , who so piously reacheth foorth his , whereby to draw you into our Arke . I thanke my Mother good child knowing his simple heart : and tender childlike affection , for I beare him witnesse that hee hath a zeale , though not accordinge to knowledge , the time of his ignorance . O Lord remember not ; & find out a time to take away the scales , and bee mercifull to all such as sin not of malicious wickednes that are in some error of iudgment , not of practise , and now my Son . I dare not giue thee my right hand of fellowship , no I dare not child ; wee haue a better card whereby to saile ; a more sure direction whereby wee fetch our compass ; a more certaine and infallible Oracle , whereunto all the Prophets and Apostles giue witnesse . Wee know Churches may erre , and men may bee mistaken as men ; Peter was so , whereupon PAVL resisted gal. 2. 11 him to the face , for he was to bee blamed . Alas my Child ! PAVL and PETER may and did take vpon them the care of the Churches ; the care of them is one thinge , the waight of them is another , that s too heauy for mans shoulders ; they were but stons ( child ) in that spirituall building . But heare my voice , and I will tell thee : Wee acknowledge ( the Scriptures teach vs so ) that the Church of the liuinge 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 trueth ; no foundations wheron the building must relie ; but as it is built vpon the foundation of the Prophets & Apostles IESVS CHRIST himselfe being the chiefe 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 soule , hazarded vpon sand ? hazard my childs soule Harlot ; O pretious thinge ! O rich Iewell ! O Mother . inestemable treasure ! Why it is amidst the thinges of the world , like DAVID 1. Sam . 18. 3. amonge the people ; worth ten thousand of them & much more of all the thinges in the world ( my deare child ) run not the hazard of that . Hazard a foote thou maiest , & yet thou wilt not , thou hast another ; a legge , thou hast an other ; an hand , thou hast an other ; an arme , thou hast another ; an eye , thou hast an other . Here are not paires ( my child ) loose one and loose all . O vnualluable losse , and vnrecouerable ! the redemption thereof must cease for euer . What would not a parent now doe , to put a childs soule out of hazard ? Then heare mee my son , son of my bowels harken ; Is that soule in danger , that is in the Arke ; made by Gods owne appointment both for the matter and the manner , directed by him to that morninge star , from which it hath a certaine course . Listen my child , child of my bowels listen ; is that corner-ston a sandy foundation ? can the waight of men & angels presse it ? can the gates of hell remoue it ? Indeed my child , if that stone fall vpon thee or me , wee are crushed in peeces ; so are wee if wee fall vpon it , heedlesly , carlesly , presumptuously , but come vnto it in the whole Mat● 21. 4. Rut● 2. 16 obedience of thy heart , sticke , cleaue vnto it , as RVTH to NAOMIE , bee not intreated to leaue it , or to depart from it , & thou canst not miscarry . Harken my son , son of my bowels harken , can the blowinge of the winde ? can the beating of the storme , remoue that house which the wise builders hath founded vpon a ROCK ? Thou doest my Son beleeue CHRISTS words , I know , thou doest beleeue them . Then harken my Son this once , Son of my bowels harken . He that layeth a foundation diggeth deepe , certainly so did this wise builder , beyond all humane traditions , here was no setling . Beyond all will-worship , a counterfeit ground ; Beyond all satisfaction of his owne , this was not sollid : Beyond the intercession of Saints and Angels , this was not safe ; Beyond the righteousnes of his best workes ; here hee would faine stay , but it would not hold the waight ; still he digges further , for the soule that seeketh the Lord , is not satisfied vntill he find him . Where haue yee laid my LORD ( saith MARY ) let me find him or all is nothing ; well hee digges deeper , euen as hee that seekes a treasure ; or as a thirsty man after a springe of water , or like those 3. mighty , hee will through the whole hoast of the PHILISTIMES , 2. Sam ▪ 23. 16. but hee will digg through those sandy bottomes , and get to the rocke . And now vpon it hee is , and by it supported , & from it refreshed , for behold here is strength to hold him vp ; here are waters , liuing waters , to comfort him for this rocke is CHRIST ; It is good beinge here , here will hee set vp his rest ; here will hee abide for euer ; If the Rock faile not , he cannot faile ; blessed is the man that hath this foundation ; thrice blessed is hee that hath this water to drinke ; hee will neuer dig it in broaken pits . Can the raine or haile fall now vpon this man ? as vpon a wildernesse ? to whome that man ( so Christ the Rocke is called , and obserue 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 drie place , and as the shaddow of a great rock in a weary land . Now the raine may fall , & the flood● come , and the winds blow , and beate vpon this house , and behold it stands , for it is grounded vpon a rocke . See ( child ) a mount Sion now , which ●tth . 5. stands for euer , & the blast of the mighty shall bee as a storme against the wall : Oh my child I though my eyes 〈◇〉 . 25. 4 bee shut vp , yet am I , as it were in BALAAMS rapture ; who can tell the strength of this man ? for as the rocke is , such is his strength , as the strength of an Vnicorne ; no poison shall hurt him , no sorcery shall make against him , he hath a refuge from the storme ; a shadow 〈◇〉 . 25. 4. from the heat , a strength in distresse . Who can now tell the joyes of this Iacob ? 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 . Deare child ▪ I as an affectioned mother to my owne bowels , by my sorrowes in thy first birth , by those since , wherewith I trauell with thee , till Christ bee formed in thee , by that solemne vow , thou madest to God in Baptisme ; by that stronge bond of nature , and deare name of a Mother , I doe desire nay shee that might command , doth beseech thee to consider , by what hath beene said , and the Lord make it profitable , whether my requests that thou wouldest returne , bee vnreasonable ? or vnnaturall ? whether my reasons for it , are any way dangerous or hasardous ; or rather whether the one be not pious , the other safe and certaine ; directing thee vnto that church , which is guided by a certaine course ; it may float , it cannot sinke ; setting thee vpon a sure foundation , it may shake , it cannot fall ; no more then the corner-ston which cannot bee remoued ; Intreating thee to put away those lyes , which are in thy right hand . All those IDOLS which cannot ●iah . 〈◇〉 . 11. ●serue ●e ●ace . healp ; All those sparkes with which you may compasse your selfe , and yet lye downe in sorrow to , perswading thee to put away all those vanities , ( they are too long to name ) which weighed in the ballance , will bee found too light ; & also to digg to the Rock which cannot faile . Oh my child consider ! It is not for any of your good workes , that you are condemned ; noe my child ; they are amiable , and they are commended yea chereshed , whither wee heare of them there or see them here , nay we confesse you haue them , who go beyoud the workes of many amongst vs ; who carry a great shew of holinesse . Goe on in them my child , goe on in them , yet I know thou wilt consider , that there are many circumstances , belonging to euery action , from which the worke euer receiues it 's true estemate . Thou maist heare somwhat more of this anon ; because thou doest not walke vprightly , according to the trueth & purity of the gospell . I would driue this naile to the head now ; Why consider child , whether your rocke bee as our rocke ; euen our emmyes beeing 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 vp and healp you , & bee your protection . But see my child , this rocke is hee euen this is hee , which I haue pointed out vnto 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 fountaine ? canst thou sinke vpon the rocke ? In thy owne righteousnes thou maist , the intercessions of Saints and Angels may deceiue thee . BAAL may bee busied ( my child ) peraduenture 1. King● . 18. he may bee sleeping . Abraham may bee ignorant of thee , & Israel may not acknowledge thee . I say that it may bee , that thou maist see plainly how at the best here is aventure here is a hazard ; but hee that keepeth Israel neither slumbreth nor sleepeth ; and this is hee , which I point out vnto thee , there can be no hazard here , this rocke is a mighty redeemer , he will sustaine thee alone , he must haue no healper ; whome wilt thou ioyne with him whose name is euerlasting ? I tell thee ( child for the summ of all is this ) ther 's nothing though neuer so louely ; in thine eyes , which can make thee the righteousnes of God ; but that which was made sin for thee . Tell me then , were any of these thinges crucified for thee ? how long shall vaine thoughts , which separate from God , lodge within thee ? returne then my Son , returne my Son ; or in case thou doest halt betweene two opinions , surely the Lord the iealous God , who will not giue his honour to another , nor suffer DAGON to stand by him , will haue this controuersy against thee ; and what Saint or Angel shall plead for thee ? thou hast committed Ier . 2. 13 two great euils , thou hast forsaken the fountaine of liuing waters , and hewed thy selfe out cisternes broaken cisternes that can hold no water . Returne then my Son , returne my Son , my Son .

O my Deare Mother you haue almost Sonne . Mother . perswaded me to returne . Almost my Son ? why not altogether ? What a cake halfe baked ? Altogether my Son or it is nothing . Thou must make straight steppe , & 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 , giue it him my Son ; & follow him wholy , or elce thou shalt neuer with Caleb and Ioshuah , come into that good Land . Oh my bowels doe yerne vpon my Son ! the Harlot shall rather haue him , then I will haue him deuided . Come away from hir my Son , come away , what hath the Harlot more to say ?

Ho Mother , why what mine eyes Sonne . haue seene , the liues of your Ministers & Professours , why your very lights seeme to bee darknesse : your Seers see not : your Watchmen keepe not sentinell ; your Ambassadors for Christs honorable name ! who in Christs name should intreate the people to bee reconsiled , these liue as without God in this present world ; for pleasure is their God , & their belly their shame . And which is yet more , their heads and rulers , who Lord it ouer the rest , are Chiefe in this Trespasse , 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 seeme to haue but the very Carkasse of the ministrie , & you doe not so much as couer it with a seemly cloth ; doe not your Ministers tricke 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 Tragedie then come they downe and Ruffin it , as much as in them lieth , Crucifying againe the Lord of life by the foulenes of their actions . Can here bee truth ? And for your Professors , they make a great noyse , yet doe they content themselues with the lampes of an outward profession , without the oyle , they will come in and sitt down too , as guests , yet without the weding garment . They wil talke 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 walke in palpable darknesse , doing the deeds of it , can here bee truth Mother ? O child take heede you wound not a holy profession , Mother . through the vizard of it ; but I haue many things to say vnto 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 didest not publish this in gath , nor tell it in the streets of ASKELON . If wee had not carried our wickednesse in our foreheads , my child would not haue vncouered our skirts . I know thou wouldst preserue the credit of thy owne nest . But the Harlot cannot but know these things . Though neuer 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 controuersy for it , & wo bee to them by whom this offence commeth . But stay Harlot , might I not say to thee , as the 2. Chro . 28. 20. Prophet vpon another occasion , Are there nor with you ? euen with you Sins against the Lord your God ? What meaneth elce those 6000. infants heads Acte Mon. p. 1054. found in your Gregories ponds ? whose fathers must needs bee holy men liuing so neare the smoake of his holinesse kitchin . What meaneth elce , that fare-well which one of your owne proselits bids to Rome , when he came forth , of hir ,

I could aske thee what meaneth such ? & such abominations ? such wherin thy sister Sodome neuer exceeded thee , but what were this but for the pott to proue it selfe faire by the cettles blacknesse ? or it were somwhat though not altogether , like the replie of the Hebrew , reproued by Moses , for striking his fellow . Thou killedst the Aegyptian , Exod . 2. what was that to the lesning of the Hebrews falt ? Let my heart euer looke inward , and take a reproofe as a plaister . Wee deserue thy reproofe , euen the spitting in our face , for wee are vncleane . Your sins are no excuse for ours , nor ours for yours , wee shall each beare our owne burden , punishment will find vs both out , and in the day of the Lords visitation , he will visit our sins vpon vs , let Baall plead for Baall , & Exod . 2. wickednesse proceed from the wicked man , & let him defend it , it will find him out at length , & in due time the foote shall slide . And it shall bee bitternesse in the end , that the Preists , 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 wayes to bee spoken against , nay I tell thee , some of these both ministers and professors too , that haue thus profaned the couenant , & dishonored that holy thinge , they haue taken vpon them , are made contemptible , and base before all the people . Oh that they were wise , then would they vnderstand ; they would consider their latter end . But to thee my child , I know the Harlot will harken , and let hir so . Wee confesse my child that the Preists mouth should keepe knowledge , & his lipps teach many Holinesse because the Lords house , & his Preists should for euer bee cloathed with righteousnesse , then would the Saints shout for ioy ; for they doe wish that all the congregation were holy ; Preist and people , Numb . 16. 3. euery one of them . Yet was it rebellion in Korah and his company to thinke 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 deare Son , number not the godly with the wicked , it will not profit , wisdome will bee iustified of hir children , whose spot is not like your spot : I am taking vp againe Deut . 32 some of Balaams words ; they were strang comming forth of a trunck ; how wilt thou condemne 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. topps of the Rocks , from the hills thou maist behould them , Lo . This people shall dwell by themselues & shall not bee counted among the nations . It is as dangerous to call good euill , as euill good . Wee haue ( my Son ) a holy ministrie amongst vs , wee haue a holy people , though but like two little flocks of kidds , whereas the ARAMITES fill the countrey . It must needs bee so , 1. Ki● . 20. how can it bee otherwise ? why my child , didst thou not see them euen now a people vpon the rocks , & vpon the hills ? there must bee sweat to get thither , & how loth are we to take pains ? this deepe digging is a wearisome worke , it is a sowing in feare ; good Child marke , an outward forme without the power , staieth this man by the way ; a lie another ; one man sets vp Idolls in his heart , & rests vpon them ; Another puts a stumbling blocke before his eyes , & will not ouer ; a Lion Ezech . 13. is in the way saith another , & hee lies still & turneth like a doore vpon the hindges . An armie of the Philistims will oppose me , I cannot through ; the children of Anack are there , I shall neuer gett the land , thus ease slaieth the fool , & vaine thoughts deceiue , as if victory could bee gott by sleeping , or a crowne with ease . But there is a CALEB & a IOSHVA too , who walke wholy with the Lord , & through they gett notwithstanding all opposition . Thus my Child there is a remnant , there are a few , & not so few but Elias may discerne them , for hee is not alone . But ( my sweet Son ) pray thou for the life and prosperity of these few , euen for thy Mother and hir childrens sake , for by them , it is , that thy fathers house , and thousands more enioy their safty , sitting vnder their vins and figtrees ; for these are the Moseses that stand in the gap to turne 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 betweene the liuing and the dead . These are they who are as oft vpon their knees , as the people in their sinne . These are the MICHAAHS though there be 400. Ezec . 13. 11. &c. against him that will not daube with vntempered maurter , & so build a mudd wall , but deale plainly to turne away ruin from the King & people , if 1. King . 22. they might bee heard ; though they bee smitten on their cheekes , and fed with the bread of affliction ; But the soules of the Saints are in Gods hands , when others goe on and are punished , & others from chamber to chamber when the scourge commeth , yet shall not bee hidd . Wee haue our Watchmen too , who blow the trumpet though the Adders ears bee charmed ; Wee haue our sheepheards too , who seeke not ours , but vs , who will most gladly bestow , and will be bestowed for our soules , though the more they loue , the lesse 2. Cor . 12. they are beloued ; yet is the word as fire within them , & knowing the terrors of the Lord , they will perswade 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 gaue the offence , & it shall certainly ouertake all such as goe on , in their steppes . But all this while there is no warrant for abhorring the offering . There is a treasurie in earthly vesse●s , the treasure sanctifies not the vessell , nor the vessell polluts the treasure . Moses Chaire cannot make the Scribe the holier ; nor can the vnholinesse of the Stribe pollute Moses Doctrine ; No mans sins should bring the seruice of God into dislike . What if the whole Church visible be , ( as for ought I know it is ) in a Sardin condition ; not onely weake and sicke , but euen 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 draught , nor feele when the heat commeth , neither cease from yeelding fruit . They are of the Lords plantation euer fat and well liking , as the dew from the Lord , & the shewers vpon the grasse , that tarrieth not for man ; nor waiteth not for the Sons of Micah . 5. 7. men . Me thinkes I am againe in Balaams rapture , how goodly are thy tents O Iacob ? & thy habitations O Israel ? as the valleys are they streatched forth ; as Gardens by the riuer side , as the Alloe-trees that the Lord hath planted , as the Ceaders besids the waters . Thus ( my Child ) the Lord can preserue him a seed , euen where Sathans kingdome Num . ●4 . 9. is , he can haue his saints in Neros house , & an Obadiah in Ahabs Court . And it shall be their glory & crowne of reioycing : That where Sathans throne is , they haue kept their names & haue not denied their faith . Oh! my Son , come and see their comlinesse ▪ thorrow the beauty the Lord hath put Ezech . 16. 14. vpon them , it will informe 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 lesse the crosse ; much lesse the nailes of it , or any other rotten relique . The spirit quickneth ; the flesh profiteth nothing . These are they who goe alwayes bound in the Spirit , not knowing what things will beefall them , but they passe not , neither is their life deare vnto 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 deare for him ; who hath done so much for them . And yet ( obserue me my Child ) before they will goe into the face of persecution , they will haue as sure a warrant as Iacob had to meete his brother Esau . Lord which saidst vnto me , returne ; & I Gen. 32. 9. will deale well with thee . And hauing this , nothing can bee too deare for him ; who hath done so much for them , neither Goods , nor liberty , nor life , now into the face of this Esau they goe , and behold ! to the admiration of beholders ▪ the sterne face of this Esau is changed , ( there are presents sent before my child . ) The face of persecution is vnto them now no other then the face of God , & behold ! in stead of blowes 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 neuer proue deadly vnto them , it is like Samsons riddle , & none but the children of God can vnfold it . Onely they with Samson can find swarmes of bees & honney too in the carkasse of a Lion . But marke Child . Samson goes not down to meet Iudg . 14. 5. the Lion ; the Lion roars vpon Samson in the way , then the Spirit of the Lord came mightely vpon Samson , & he rents him as if hee would haue rent a kid . There came a Lion and a Beare ; & takes away a lamb , out of Dauids flock , he shall not keepe it , Dauid goes after and getts his lamb againe , yea he shall deliuer it out of his very mouth , now he 1. Sam . 17. 34 , 35. riseth against Dauid too ; but little Dauid shall haue strength , to catch him by the beard ; to smite him and slay him too . The Saints will neuer thrust themselues into the mouth of the Beast , they haue more wisedom then so , but when the Harlot will play the Beare , and the Lion , with them , as many times shee doth , she is forced in spite of all hir mallice , to yeld them honey , & it proues so sweet , that they shall take pleasure in infirmitie , 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 weake , 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 worke patience ; patience experience ; experience hope ; & hope maketh not ashamed , see what kisses are here ; I shall be more particular , anon . I haue to doe with a child , a child not in years but vnderstanding , the Harlot will keepe thee so ; the Lord shew thee hir deceit , I goe on in the Generall . That both life and goods & liberty are to be kept , yea & to bee improued too , till they stand in competition , with the puritie of the Gospel , & now that they doe wee haue our warrant what to do , & our woe too if wee doe it not ; and to the Saints the choice is easy , neither are their liues now deare vnto them , it is now necessary , say they ( the loue of Christ constrains them , that wee goe , not that we should liue . O! ( my Son ) how faine would I haue thee rightly vnderstand this ? why know my child ▪ these doe not thrust themselues into danger , as they will not cowardly auoid 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 stearne looke ; & there must be much adoe to gett kisses from him . Aske thy selfe ( Child ? ) whether a good son , doth not quake to see the rode in his fathers hand , though perhaps but to beat a seruant . I tell you Child ; they will not they must not cast the crosse , of what kind soeuer in the way : but in the way they will goe , & if they meete with it , as twenty to one but they shall ; either in one kind or another ( for their way is strawed with it ) balke the way ; they will not to preuent the crosse , but vp they take it as the man the sheepe , and after Christ they goe , counting it exceeding ioy . Thus much for the generall , now more perticularly ; how faine would I haue my Child againe ? 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 lampe , in a darke night , for then thou must needs fall vpon the bedd of hir fornications , for she hath a faire tongue , but my Son doth keepe his lamp by him , I know he doth ; why then thou maist 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 looke to haue the consolations abound through Christ : 2. Cor . 1. 5. They know that they must beare 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 Martyrdome , my sweet Child , they neuer were , nor neuer will bee their owne tormentors . Their bodies shall bee deliured vp to the whip , & to the candle &c. they will not giue themselues 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 doe it , & let him doe it , as often as the Iewes whipped Paul : Act. Mon. p. 1854. let him giue as many strips too , hee will bee weary anon , nay if his breath hold let him make the number euen , they will goe away reioyceing . A Tirrill shall doe it ; ( vnlesse our English Mutine , will in an holy indignation & reuenge , burne that hand which had subscribed , to that which would haue distroyed the whole body and soule too . ) And let him doe it , but ROSE ALLEN hath an other fire within , euen zeale vnto the trueth , & this burns so within hir , that outwardly , shee feels but little paine . A stony-hearted keeper shall doe it , whose charge perhaps is as hard as hee , & let him doe it , they haue a meat which the keeper knows not of , they liue not by bread alone , yet if the keeper bee so keind as to giue it them , they will take it for they will not hate their owne flesh , but in due time and Ephes . 5. ●8 . 29. place nurish 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 euer austere liuing in pennance for sin . But they are very well aquainted with a sorrow for sin , & affliction of soule , which as hath been said , is an inward thing , comming from an inward principle , and this is such that it doth not onely make them abstaine , from meate , but some tims with Dauid , to forget to eate their bread , or if they doe 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 essentiall part of Gods Worshipp , but as a notable healp and preparatiue thereunto , fitting them for that wherin they are aboundant , prayer , ioyning that with it knowing that som sinnes will not bee cast out without it . And thus they doe for a time , not defrauding themselues ouer long : least they should bee found to neglect their bodies , which must bee cared for , that they may bee seruiceable ▪ they doe my Child , they must somtims sett a side their water , & vse a little wine ● . Tim . ● . 23. for their stomacks sake , & their often infirmities ; somtims a bitt of flesh on the friday , & an egg on the satarday , to the pure , dayes & meats are pure ; but still respecting the maine , that they bee seruiceable to God , & his Church , whereunto they haue euer so wakefull an eye , knowing well their season when to keepe vnder their bodies , & to bring them into subjection ▪ least at any time or by any meanes , they should bee reproued . This they doe frequently but by no meane resting on the outward act . That is but the carkasse , but ioyning many excellent works with it ; breaking of their sins by repentance , that is a principall thing , for now their worke is accepted . Dealing their bread to the hungery ; that is another : feruent prayer that was in the first place and now it comes againe to bee considered a part , that thou maist know , that we haue them who pray too & pray much : but first marke my Child , vpon all these , the doore 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 vnto them as Goliahs sword to Dauid , nothing like that . Like the worthiest of Dauids wortheys , what difficulties doth it goe thorrow ? what waters of comfort doth it fetch ? the time would faile me , I leaue it to a silent admiration . That soule 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 doe so , & see I am againe in Balaams rapture . Behold here they rise vp as a great Lion , and lift vp themselues as young Lions , they shall not lie down till they eate of the pray , and drinke the blood of the slaine . This is Moses Num . 23. 24. Exod . 18. 11. hand lift vp , Amaleck falls before it . Hereby heauen suffers violence , they take it by force , God shall haue no rest elce . These haue their teares 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 drie eye , as there may bee and often is a wett eye and a drie heart , all naturs , all constitutions are not alike , yet teares they haue , som of them Ieremies riuers , some teares to fill a bottle , some of them haue teares to couer the place they pray in , teares to water the couch . MARIES teares to wash with ; teares to eat , teares to drink ; teares to sow with ; teares 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 traueling thorrow this wildernesse , light is sowen for the righteouse , they know they shall reap in due time , therefore they faint not .