Since the time that I received M. S. Letter, wherein he declared his careful compassion over your estate: I have been not a little grieved, because partly for want of a convenient messenger, and partly because of my manifold distractions with the like occurrences, and other weighty affairs, I have been hindered from writing hitherto unto you. And albeit even still I be in the same case, yet conscience towards GOD, and love and compassion towards you, forceth me to overcome lets, which hardly I could otherwayes prevail against. And albeit I cannot speak1 as I would, yet of that which I shall write (proceeding from the forenamed grounds) I look for some blessing of God through Jesus Christ, if you will not too much faint in faith, and yield to the adversary: yea if you will but hope so well of your self as (in the fear of God I write it) I hope of you. First, whereas it seemeth you are sometimes grieved, because you tarried not still at Cambridge according to mine advise, you must know I advised it not as a thing necessary, but more convenient, as I then supposed, but I advised you to obey your father, if his pleasure still continued to have you home: whereunto you yielded, I cannot see how you offend, it being your fathers pleasure you should so do. And who knoweth whether being there you might not have been as much troubled, there being no privilege for persons and places in such cases? And who knoweth whether it be the Lords pleasure, for the example and instruction (and I hope the consolation) of others in the end? And albeit you will now think that here you were nearer the moe and stronger means, yet know you and be persuaded, that God can and doth in such2 cases work by fewer and weaker, according to his good pleasure. Besides, it is in our corrupt nature to make much of such as we cannot have, and not so to esteem those which God doth offer us, as we should. I beseech you therefore in the name of Jesus Christ, humbly to praise God for those means he offereth in mercy unto you, & to use them in faith accordingly; and so God shall bless you by them. And then by such conference as you may have from hence by letters, wherein if I may stand you in any stead, rather for the good opinion you have of me, than for any great matter I am able to perform, I shall be ready to offer any office of love unto you, as God shall enable me;
Since the time that I receiued M. S. Letter, wherein he declared his carefull compassion ouer your estate: I haue beene not a little grieued, because partly for want of a conuenient messenger, and partly because of my manifolde distractions with the like occurrences, and other waightie affaires, I haue beene hindred from writing hitherto vnto you. And albeit euen still I bee in the same case, yet conscience towards GOD, and loue and compassion towards you, forceth mee to ouercome lets, which hardly I could otherwayes preuaile against. And albeit I cannot speake1 as I would, yet of that which I shall write (proceeding from the forenamed grounds) I looke for some blessing of God through Iesus Christ, if you wil not too much faint in faith, and yeeld to the aduersarie: yea if you will but hope so well of your selfe as (in the feare of God I write it) I hope of you. First, whereas it seemeth you are sometimes grieued, because you taried not stil at Cambridge according to mine aduise, you must know I aduised it not as a thing necessarie, but more conuenient, as I then supposed, but I aduised you to obey your father, if his pleasure still continued to haue you home: whereunto you yeelded, I cannot see how you offend, it being your fathers pleasure you should so doe. And who knoweth whether being there you might not haue beene as much troubled, there being no priuiledge for persons and places in such cases? And who knoweth whether it bee the Lords pleasure, for the example and instruction (and I hope the consolation) of others in the end? And albeit you will now thinke that here you were neerer the moe and stronger meanes, yet knowe you and bee perswaded, that God can and doth in such2 cases worke by fewer and weaker, according to his good pleasure. Besides, it is in our corrupt nature to make much of such as we cannot haue, and not so to esteeme those which God doth offer vs, as we should. I beseech you therefore in the name of Iesus Christ, humbly to praise God for those meanes he offereth in mercie vnto you, & to vse them in faith accordingly; and so God shall blesse you by them. And then by such conference as you may haue from hence by letters, wherein if I may stand you in any stead, rather for the good opinion you haue of mee, than for any great matter I am able to performe, I shall be readie to offer any office of loue vnto you, as God shall enable mee;
- 1In temptations strive to stand in faith and not to yield to the adversary.In temptations striue to stand in faith and not to yeeld to the aduersarie.
- 2Our corruption desires & delights in the means we cannot have.Our corruptiō desires & delights in the meanes we cannot haue.
