All dutiful obedience in our Lord remembered. I know ye are now near one of these straits in which ye have been before: But because your outward comforts are fewer, I pray him whose ye are, to supply what ye want, an other way: for howbeit we cannot win to the bottom of his wise Providence who ruleth all: yet it is certain, this is not only good which ⟨p. 469⟩the Almighty hath done, but it is best: & he hath reckoned all your steps to heaven, & if your La: were through this water, there are the fewer behind; & if this were the last, I hope your La: hath learned by on-waiting to make your acquaintance with Death, which being to the Lord, the woman's seed Jesus, only a bloody heel & not a broken head, Gen. 3: 15. cannot be ill to his friends, who get f•r less of Death then himself: Therefore, Madam, seeing ye know not but the journey is ended & ye are come to the water-side, in God's wisdom look all your papers & your counts, & whether ye be ready to receive the Kingdom of heaven as a little child, in whom there is little haughtiness & much humility. I would be far from discouraging your La: but there is an absolute necessity, that near eternity, we look ere we leap, seeing no man winneth back again to mend his leap. I am confident your La: thinketh often upon it, & that your old guide shall go before you & take your hands His love to you will not grow sour nor wear out of date, as the love of men, which groweth old & grey haired often before themselves. Ye have so much the more reason to love a better life then this, because this world hath been to you a cold fire, with little heat to the body & as little light, & much smoke to hurt the eyes: But, Madam, your Lord would have you thinking it but day breasts, full of wind & empty of food. In this late visitation that hath befallen your La •e have seen God's love & care in such a measure, that I thought, our Lord brake the sharp point off the cross, & made us and your La: see Christ take possession, and infestment upon earth of him who is now reigning & triumphing with the hundred forty & four thousand, who stand with the Lamb on mount Zion. I know, the sweetest of it, is bitter to you; but your Lord will not give you painted crosses:
ALl dutifull obedience in our Lord remembered. I know ye are now near one of these strairs in which ye have been before: But because your outward comforts are fewer, I pray him whose ye are, to supply what ye want, an other way: for howbeit we cannot win to the bottom of his wise Providence who ruleth all: yet it is certain, this is not onely good which ⟨p. 469⟩the Almighty hath done, but it is best: & he hath reckoned all your steps to heaven, & if your La: were through this water, there are the fewer behinde; & if this were the last, I hope your La: hath learned by on-waiting to make your acquaintance with Death, which being to the Lord, the woman's seed Iesus, onely a bloody heel & not a broken head, Gen. 3: 15. cannot be ill to his friends, who get f•r less of Death then himself: Therefore, Madam, seeing ye know not but the journey is ended & ye are come to the water-side, in God's wisdom look all your papers & your counts, & whether ye be ready to receive the Kingdom of heaven as a little childe, in whom there is little haughtiness & much humility. I would be far from discouraging your La: but there is an absolute necessity, that near eternity, we look ere we leap, seeing no man winneth back again to mend his leap. I am confident your La: thinketh often upon it, & that your old guide shall goe before you & take your hands His love to you will not grow sowre nor wear out of date, as the love of men, which groweth old & gray haired often before themselves. Ye have so much the more reason to love a better life then this, because this world hath been to you a cold fire, with little heat to the body & as little light, & much smoke to hurt the eyes: But, Madam, your Lord would have you thinking it but day breasts, full of wind & empty of food. In this late visitation that hath befallen your La •e have seen God's love & care in such a measure, that I thought, our Lord brake the sharp point off the cross, & made us and your La: see Christ take possession, and infestment upon earth of him who is now reigning & triumphing with the hundred forty & four thousand, who stand with the Lamb on mount Zion. I know, the sweetest of it, is bitter to you; but your Lord will not give you painted crosses:
