Auspicante Iehoua Maries exercise.

TO THE LADIES and Gentlewomen Reeders.

LAdies and Gentlewo∣men, so it is, that hauing passed some partes of the world, & beholding the stately pallaces of diuers princes, after my returne into my natiue country, finding the contemplatiue life, the most neere vn∣to Angelicall nature, and no contempla∣tiō so comfortable as the mercies of god, the first fruicts whereof, and the neuer ending Glory of the same, are no where so apparant as in the historie of the holy scriptures: where looking into the court of heauen, I finde the world but a base corner, when the King of Kinges, with the brightnesse of his glorie doth rauish the soules of his beeloued: and reading in this diuine historie of the excellencie of Gods loue, and emong many of his e∣lected, of some women in his especiall fa∣uour, I could not but acquaint your good mindes, with the memory of their names,

& such matter touching them as you may and will (I hope) applie to your comfort, I finde them blessed for their faith, and beeloued for their humility, two Iewels of the soule, not cōmon to our humaine nature, but as it is incorporated to christ, but I will leaue the imperfect to Gods amendment, the faithfull to his blessing, and the elected to his loue: beeseeching him so to blesse you with his grace, in the feeling of his loue, that in praier to his mercy, yee may all liue to his glory, that hauing Christ for your loue, ye may liue in ioy for euer: and so wishing you happinesse on earth, & heauen hereafter: I rest in praier for yee & all faithfull in Christ Iesu: as I finde cause.

Your poore friend or seruant: N. B.