The holy Apostle S. John saith, he had no greater joy1 than this, to hear that his sons did walk in the truth. The same affection all the true Ministers of Christ have in some measure towards all the sons and daughters of God: specially such as they have gained, or God by them hath brought to the faith of Christ. I am well assured you remember Master GREENHAMS great care and love towards you, which was unfeigned, because of the good experience he had of your unfeigned faith in Christ, and love towards him. If he had longer lived he would have rejoiced yet much more to see your love so increase in knowledge, and the testimonies of your love in the fruit of righteousness, and in your godly perseverance in the truth. Now receive his works, and what you long expected and desired to see. This Catechism I have sent you, that you may teach it your children, as Eunice & Lois did their children. These letters serve well for your own use, that you may hear them always speak in his absence from you, whom you so rejoiced to hear, being present with you: and that you may have his own very words written and set before your eyes, which you have heard often to your great joy sounding in your ears, that so in the end, you may be able by your good experience to comfort others, with the same comforts, wherewith ye are and have been by him comforted of God. For the faithful are exercised of God diversly: some by outward, ⟨image 47⟩some by inward afflictions of mind: and some have both troubles without, and terrors within. Such as be not acquainted with the troubles of mind, whatsoever gift they have, can bring but cold comfort in time of need, to poor souls afflicted, as it is very manifest, both by Scripture & our common experience. Now the God of peace sanctify you, both in spirit, soul, and body, and keep you with all yours blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
THe holy Apostle S. Iohn saith, hee had no greater ioy1 than this, to heare that his sonnes did walke in the truth. The same affection all the true Ministers of Christ haue in some measure towards all the sonnes and daughters of God: specially such as they haue gained, or God by them hath brought to the faith of Christ. I am well assured you remember Master GREENHAMS great care and loue towards you, which was vnfained, because of the good experience hee had of your vnfained faith in Christ, and loue towards him. If hee had longer liued hee would haue reioyced yet much more to see your loue so increase in knowledge, and the testimonies of your loue in the fruite of righteousnesse, and in your godly perseuerance in the truth. Now receiue his workes, and what you long expected and desired to see. This Catechisme I haue sent you, that you may teach it your children, as Eunice & Lois did their children. These letters serue wel for your own vse, that you may heare them alwaies speake in his absence from you, whom you so reioyced to heare, being present with you: and that you may haue his owne very words written and set before your eyes, which you haue heard often to your great ioy sounding in your eares, that so in the end, you may be able by your good experience to comfort others, with the same comforts, wherewith yee are and haue beene by him comforted of God. For the faithfull are exercised of God diuerslie: some by outward, ⟨image 47⟩some by inward afflictions of minde: and some haue both troubles without, and terrours within. Such as bee not acquainted with the troubles of mind, whatsoeuer gift they haue, can bring but cold cōfort in time of need, to poore soules afflicted, as it is very manifest, both by Scripture & our common experience. Now the God of peace sanctifie you, both in spirit, soule, and bodie, and keepe you with all yours blamelesse vnto the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ.
- 1John. 3. 4,Iohn. 3. 4,
