THE desire that I have to hear of your continuance, which Christ Jesus in the day of this his battle which shortly shall end to the confusion of his proud enemies, neither by tong, neither yet by pen can I express, beloved Mother. Assuredly it is such that it vanquisheth, and overcometh all remembrance & solicitude, which the flesh useth to take for feeding and defence of herself. For in every realm and nation God will stir up some one or other to minister those things that appertain to this wretched life, and if men will cease to do their office, yet will he send his ravens: so that in every place, perchance I may find some feathers to my body. But alas where I shall find children to be begotten unto God by the word of life, that can I not presently consider. And therefore the spiritual life of such as sometime boldly professed Christ (god knoweth) is to my heart more dear then all the glory, riches, and honour in the earth. And the falling back of such men, as I hear daily ⟨image 5⟩to turn back to that idol again, is to me more dolorous, then I trust the corporal death shall be, when ever it shall come at God his appointment. Some will ask then, why did I fly? assuredly I cannot tell. But of one thing I am sure that the fear of death was not the chiefest cause of my flying, I trust that one cause hath been to let me see with my corporal eyes, that all had not a true heart unto Christ, that in the day of rest and peace, bare a fair face. But my flying is no matter, by God his grace I may come to battle, before all the conflict be ended. And haste the time O Lord, at thy good pleasure, that once again my tongue may praise thy holy name before the congregation, if it were but even in the very hour• of death.
THE desire that I haue to heare of your continuāce, which Christ Iesus in the day of this his battell which shortly shall end to the confusion of his proud enimies, neither by tong, neither yet by penne can I expresse, beloued Mother. Assuredly it is such that it vanquisheth, and ouercommeth all remembrance & solicitude, which the fleshe vseth to take for feeding and defence of herselfe. For in euery realme and nation God wil stirre vp some one or other to minister those thinges that appertaine to this wretched life, and if men wil ceasse to doe their office, yet will hee sende his rauens: so that in euery place, percha•ce I may finde some fethers to my body. But alas where I shal finde children to be begotten vnto God by the worde of life, that can I not presently consider. And therfore the spiritual life of such as somtime boldly professed Christ (god knoweth) is to my hearte more deare then all the glory, riches, and honour in the earth. And the falling backe of such men, as I heare dayly ⟨image 5⟩to turne backe to that idol againe, is to mee more dolorous, then I trust the corporal death shalbe, when euer it shal come at God his appointment. Some wil aske then, why did I flie? assuredly I cannot tel. But of one thing I am sure that the feare of death was not the chiefest cause of my flying, I trust that one cause hath beene to let mee see with my corporall eies, that al had not a true heart vnto Christ, that in the day of rest and peace, bare a faire face. But my flying is no matter, by God his grace I may come to battel, before al the conflict be ended. And haste the time O Lord, at thy good pleasure, that once againe my tongue may praise thy holy name before the congregation, if it were but euen in the very hour• of death.
