Invisibles, realities, demonstrated in the holy life and triumphant death of Mr. John Janeway,…

A Letter of Mr. John Janeway. Dear Friend, Your Letters are bitter in the mouth, but sweet in the belly; they contain matter of joy, under a dismal aspect: they are good news, brought by a messenger in mourning: I had rather hear of that which is matter of substantial real joy, though mixed with many sighs, and interrupted with many groans and sobs; than of that laughter, in the midst of which the heart is sad. You say that you are troubled with blasphemous thoughts: so then, though they are blasphemous, yet they are your trouble; and thoughts they are too, and that neither sent for, nor welcome; and so are not assented to in your mind. What then shall we think of them? If they were of your own production, your heart would be delighted in its own issue: but you do nothing less. Sure then, they are the injections of that wicked one, who is the accuser of the brethren, and the disturber of the peace of the people of God. But, doth Satan use to employ those weapons but against those that he is in some fear of losing? He is not wont to assault and fight against his surest friends, in this manner. Those that he hath fast in his own possession, he leads on, as softly and quietly as he can; fearing lest such ⟨p. 48⟩disturbance should make them look about them, and so they should awake, and see their danger. But as for those, that have, in some measure, escaped his snares; he follows them hard, with all the discouragements he can. Surely, these things can be no other but a bitter relish of those things which you know to be bitter after that you have tasted the honey and the honey-comb; after you have seen, how good the Lord is. What then shall I call these motions of your mind? They are the souls loathing the morsels which Satan would have it to swallow down: yea, they are the souls striving with Satan, whilst he would ravish the Spouse of Jesus: And let the enemy of all goodness know, that he shall ere long pay dearly for such attempts. But you will say, If these horrible thoughts be not your sin, yet they are your trouble and misery, and you desire to be freed from them; and the most loyal and loving Spouse, had rather be delivered from those assaults; But you will ask; How shall I get free from them? First, See that you possess your soul in patience; and know this, that God hath an over-ruling hand in all this: and wait upon him;

A Letter of Mr. John Janeway. Dear Friend, YOur Letters are bitter in the mouth, but sweet in the belly; they contain matter of joy, under a dismal aspect: they are good news, brought by a messenger in mourning: I had rather hear of that which is matter of substantial real joy, though mixed with many sighs, and interrupted with many groans and sobs; than of that laughter, in the midst of which the heart is sad. You say that you are troubled with blasphemous thoughts: so then, though they are blasphemous, yet they are your trouble; and thoughts they are too, and that neither sent for, nor welcome; and so are not assented to in your mind. What then shall we think of them? If they were of your own production, your heart would be delighted in its own issue: but you do nothing less. Sure then, they are the injections of that wicked one, who is the accuser of the brethren, and the disturber of the peace of the people of God. But, doth Satan use to imploy those weapons but against those that he is in some fear of losing? He is not wont to assault and fight against his surest friends, in this manner. Those that he hath fast in his own possession, he leads on, as softlyand quietly as he can; fearing lest such