And then by such conference as you may have ⟨p. 90⟩from hence by letters, wherein if I may stand you in any stead, rather for the good opinion you have of me, then 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, and so far forth as I shall be at any time instructed in your particular estate in some letters sent from you by convenient messengers. That which I perceive presently by M. S. letter is, that you are afflicted with the blindness of your mind; and hardness of your heart, which cannot be moved either with the promises of Gods mercies, or fear of his judgements; nor affected with the love & delight of the things which be good, nor with the hatred and loathing of the evil. Great cause you have of grief I confess, but no cause of despair dare I grant, because I am persuaded that your persuasion is somewhat false, partly for want of a sound judgement of your estate, and partly for some defect of faith, somewhat through your own default. First therefore know you for a certainty, that this is no other tentation, than such as divers of Gods children have been humbled with, and afterward have had a good issue out of it: and if it please God to move ye to credit me, I my self have known others, as deeply this way plunged, as you can be. Remember therefore, ⟨p. 91⟩that God is faithful, and will not suffer you to be tempted above that which you shall be able to bear. And yet farther to confirm you herein,1 the holy scriptures do record, that this way God heretofore hath humbled his own people: in whose person the Prophet Isaiah lamentably complaineth.2 O Lord look down from heaven, behold from thy dwelling place of thy holiness, and of thy glory. Where is thy zeal and thy strength, the multitude of thy mercies, and of thy compassions? They are restrained from me. And afterwards; O Lord why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our hearts from thy fear? And in the next chapt.3 We have been alas an unclean thing, and all our righteousness is as filthy clouts: and we all do fade as a leaf, and our iniquities as the wind doth take us away: and there is none that calleth upon thy name, neither that stirreth up himself to take hold on thee, for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities. And before.4
And then by such conference as you may haue ⟨p. 90⟩from hence by letters, wherein if I may stand you in any steede, rather for the good opinion you haue of me, then for any greate matter I am able to performe, I shalbe ready to offer any office of loue vnto you as God shall inable mee, and so farre forth as I shall bee at any time instructed in your perticular estate in some letters sente from you by conuenient messengers. That which I perceiue presently by M. S. letter is, that you are afflicted with the blindnes of your mind; and hardnes of your heart, which cannot be moued either with the promises of Gods mercies, or feare of his iudgements; nor affected with the loue & delight of the things which bee good, nor with the hatred and loathing of the euill. Great cause you haue of griefe I confesse, but no cause of dispaire dare I grant, because I am perswaded that your perswation is somewhat false, partly for wante of a sounde iudgement of your estate, and partly for some defect of faith, somewhat through your owne default. First therefore know you for a certaintie, that this is no other tentation, than such as diuers of Gods children haue beene humbled with, and afterwarde haue had a good issue out of it: and if it please God to moue ye to credit me, I my selfe haue knowen others, as deepely this way plunged, as you can be. Remember therfore, ⟨p. 91⟩that God is faithfull, and will not suffer you to be tempted aboue that which you shall be able to beare. And yet farther to confirme you heerein,1 the holy scriptures do recorde, that this way God heeretofore hath humbled his owne people: in whose person the Prophet Esay lamentably complaineth.2 O Lord looke down from heauen, behold from thy dwelling place of thy holines, and of thy glorie. Where is thy zeale and thy strength, the multitude of thy mercies, and of thy compassions? They are restrained from me. And afterwardes; O Lord why hast thou made vs to erre from thy waies, and hardened our heartes from thy feare? And in the next chapt.3 Wee haue beene alas an vncleane thing, and all our righteousnesse is as filthy cloutes: and we all doe fade as a leafe, and our iniquities as the winde doth take vs away: and there is none that calleth vpon thy name, neither that stirreth vp himselfe to take hold on thee, for thou hast hid thy face from vs, and hast consumed vs, because of our iniquities. And before.4
- 11. Cor. 10.13
- 2Esa. 63, 15.
- 3vers. •
- 4Esa. 59.10
