1BE not afraid, most dearly beloved in our Saviour Jesus Christ, at these most perilous days, wherein by the sufferance of God, the Prince of darkness is broken lose, and rageth in his members against the elect of God with all cruelty, to set up again the kingdom of Antichrist: against whom, see that ye be strong in faith to resist his most devilish doctrine with the pure Gospel of God, arming your selves with patience, to abide what soever shall be laid to your charge for the truths sake knowing that thereunto ye be called, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him. Oh how happy are ye that in the sight of God are counted worthy to suffer for the testimony of Christ? Quiet therefore your selves (Oh my loving brethren) and rejoice in him for whom ye suffer: for unto you do remain the unspeakable joys, which neither the eye hath seen, nor the ear hath heard,2 neither the hart of man is able to comprehend in any wise. Be not afraid of the bodily death, for your names are written in the book of life, And the Prophets doth record,3 that in the sight of the Lord, precious is the death of his Saints. Watch therefore and pray, that ye be not prevented in the day of temptation. Now cometh the day of your trial, wherein the waters rage, and the stormy winds blow. Now shall it appear whether ye have builded upon the fleeing sand,4 or upon the unmoveable rock Christ, which is the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets: whereon every house that is builded, groweth into an holy temple of the Lord, by the mighty working of the holy Ghost.5 Now approacheth the day of your battle, wherein it is required that ye show your selves the valiant soldiers of Jesus Christ, with the armour of God, that ye may be able to stand fast against all the crafty assaults of the Devil. Christ is your Captain, and ye be his soldiers, whose cognisance is the Cross, to the which he willingly humbled himself even unto the death, and thereby spoiled his enemies,6 and now triumpheth he over them in the glory of his father, making intercession for them that here do remain to suffer the afflictions that are to be fulfilled in his mystical body. It behoveth therefore every one that will be counted his scholar, to take up his own cross and follow him, as ye have him for ensample:
1BE not afrayd, most dearely beloued in our Sauior Iesus Christ, at these most perillous dayes, wherein by the sufferaunce of God, the Prince of darkenes is broken lose, and rageth in hys members agaynst the electe of God wyth all crueltie, to set vp agayne the kingdome of Antichrist: agaynst whome, see that ye be strong in fayth to resist his most deuilishe doctrine with the pure Gospell of God, armyng your selues with pacience, to abide what soeuer shalbe layd to your charge for the truthes sake knowyng that thereunto ye be called, not onely to beleeue in hym, but also to suffer for hym. Oh howe happy are ye that in the sight of God are counted worthy to suffer for the testimony of Christ? Quiet therefore your selues (Oh my louing brethren) and reioyce in hym for whome ye suffer: for vnto you do remain the vnspeakable ioyes, which neither the eye hath seene, nor the eare hath heard,2 neither the hart of man is able to comprehende in anye wyse. Be not afrayd of the bodily death, for youre names are written in the booke of lyfe, And the Prophetes doth recorde,3 that in the sight of the Lorde, precious is the death of hys Saynctes. Watch therefore and praye, that yee be not preuented in the daye of temptation. Now commeth the day of your tryall, wherein the waters rage, and the stormy windes blowe. Now shall it appeare whether ye haue builded vppon the fleeing sande,4 or vppon the vnmoueable rocke Christe, whiche is the foundation of the Apostles and Prophetes: whereon euery house that is builded, groweth into an holy temple of the Lord, by the mighty workyng of the holy Ghost.5 Now approcheth the daye of your batttayle, wherein it is required that ye shewe your selues the valiaunte souldiours of Iesus Christ, wyth the armour of God, that yee may be able to stand fast agaynst all the craftye assaultes of the Deuill. Christ is your Captayne, and yee be his souldiours, whose cognisaunce is the Crosse, to the whiche hee wyllingly humbled hymselfe euen vnto the death, and therby spoyled hys enemies,6 and now triumpheth hee ouer them in the glorye of hys father, makyng intercession for them that here doe remayne to suffer the afflictions that are to be fulfilled in his misticall bodye. It behoueth therefore euery one that will be counted his scholler, to take vp his owne crosse and follow hym, as ye haue hym for ensample:
- 1This letter is thought of some to be M. Hoppers, partly for that in one copy amongest divers, it is entitled unto him: and also by the phrase and manner of writing, it may be well conjectured so to be.This letter is thought of some to be M. Hoopers, partly for that in one copy amongest diuers, it is entitled vnto him: and also by the phrase and maner of writing, it may be well coniectured so to be.
- 2Apo. 17.
- 3Psal•. 115.
- 4Math. 7. Ephe. 2.
- 52. Tim. 2. Ephe. 6. Phil. 2. Heb. 12. Col. 1.
- 6Pet. 5.
