¶An other Letter of M. Thomas Whittell written to a certayne Godly woman.
OH my deare and louing sister in Christe, be not dismayde in this storme of persecution,* 1.1 for Paule calleth the Gospell the word of the Crosse, because it is neuer truely taught, but the crosse and cruell persecution immediately and necessarily doeth folow the same, and therfore it is a manifest token of Gods truth, and hath bene here and is still abroade, and that is a cause of the rage and crueltye of Sathan agaynste Christe and his members, which must bee corrected for theyr sinnes in this worlde: theyr fayth must be tried, that after triall and pacient suffering the fayth∣full may receiue the crowne of glorye. Feare not therefore my welbeloued, but proceede in the knowledge and feare of God,* 1.2 and he will keepe you from all euill. Call vpon his holy name, & he will strengthen you and assiste you in all your wayes: and if it please him to lay his crosse vpon you for his Gospelles sake, re∣fuse it not, neither shake it off by vnlawefull meanes, leaste you should (as God forbidde) finde a more grieuous crosse, and tor∣ment of conscience, if you shoulde dissemble and denye the kno∣wen verity, then is any persecution or death of body.* 1.3 Oh howe happye are they that suffer persecution for righteousnesse sake? their rewarde is great in heauen. The momentanie afflictions of this life are not worthy of the glory that shal be shewed vpon vs. Oh remember the Godly weman of the old testament and new, which liued in Gods seruice and feare, and therefore are now in blisse and commended for euer: as namely Iudith, Hester, Abi∣gael, the mother of the 7. sonnes, Mary, Elizabeth, Susanna, Lidia, and Phebe, and others. Set theyr examples before your eyes, and feare nothing: for Sathan is conquered by our Sauiour Christe: sinne is put to flight, and the gate of immortality and eternall life is set wide open: God graunt we may enter therein through the doore Iesus Christ, Amen.
Thomas Whittell.