A04917:41
A godly letter sent too the faithful in London, Newcastle, Berwick, and to all…A godly letter sent too the fayethfull in London, Newcastell, Barwyke, and to all…
A godly letter sent too the faithful in London, Newcastle, Berwick, and to all other within the realm off England, that love the co[m]minge of our Lord Jesus by John KnoxA godly letter sent too the fayethfull in London, Newcastell, Barwyke, and to all other within the realme off Englande, that loue the co[m]minge of oure Lorde Iesus by Ihon Knox
Rome: printed by J. Lambrecht? for H. Singleton, 1554
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Every man that is not degenerated too the nature of a brute beast / will appear to bear such love to his children / that to leave them rich / in rest / and in good state / he patiently will suffer troubles / and without grudge will do many things / that otherwise are contrary to his own pleasure. And with my hart I wish to God / that the perfection of this were more deeply grounded in mans hart / I mean very love / 1& not fond foolishness / which under the name of love / procureth destruction of body and soul / where contrariwise / true love most carefully laboureth for salvation of both / if this love I say / towards our children / which every man pretendeth to have / be in us. Then of necessity it is / that for these causes we shall avoid all society of those filthy abominations. This my affection may appear strange but if it be with indifferency perceived / it shall be very easy to be understand.
Euery man that is not degenerated too the nature of a brute beaste / will appeare to beare suche loue to his chyldren / that to leaue them riche / in rest / and in good state / he paciētly will suffer troubles / and without grudge will doo many thinges / that otherwise are contrary to hys owne pleasure. And with my hart I wish to God / that the perfection of this were more deaply grounded in mans hart / I meane very loue / 1& not fonde folishnes / whiche vnder the name of loue / procureth destruction of bodye and soule / where cōtrariwise / trew loue most carefully laboureth for saluation of bothe / yf this loue I saye / towardes our chyldren / which euery man pretendeth to haue / be in vs. Then of necessitie it is / that for these causes we shall aduoid all societie of those fylthye abhominations. This my affeccion may apeare straūge but if it be with indifferencye perceaued / it shalbe very easy to be vnderstande.