A letter of Careles to Agnes Glascocke.
THe euerlasting peace of God in Iesus Christ: the continuall aide,* 1.1 strengthe, and comfortes of his moste pure, holye, and mighty spirite be with you my deare & faithfull sister Glascock, to the good performance of that good woorke which God hath so graciously begun in you, to his glory, the commoditye of hys poore affl••cted Churche, and to your owne eternall comfort in hym, Amen.
In our Lorde I haue my most humble and hearty commen∣dations vnto you my deare sister, & most faithfull mother Glas∣cocke, with all remembrance of you in my daily prayers, geuing God most hearty laude, praise, and thankes, for you and on your behalfe, in that he of his great mercye hath hetherto so mightely strengthened you, constantly to cleaue vnto youre Captayne Christ, notwithstanding the great assaultes and manifold temp∣tations, that you haue had to the contrary. Doubtles deare heart it can not be expressed, what ioy and comfort it is vnto my ve∣ry soule, to see howe mightely the Lorde hathe magnified hym selfe in you, and other his deare electe darlings, whome hee will shortly glorify with himselfe, as he hath done other of his sweete Sainctes that are gone before you. Reioyce therefore & be glad: for verilye you haue good cause if you diligentlye consider the great dignitie that God hath called you vnto euen now in your olde age, to be one of his woorthy witnesses vnto the worlde, and I thinke you shall wyth mee and other youre brethren in bonds, seale the Lords verity with the testimony of your bloud. Surely sweete sister,* 1.2 this is the greatest promotion that God cā bring you or any other vnto in this life: and an honour that the highest aungel in heauen is not permitted to haue.
Therefore happye are you, Oh faithfull daughter of Abra∣ham, that the Lorde will nowe preferre you before many other, yea or any other of your age, that I doe know in Englande. Oh faithfull and vertuous matrone, which wilt not be moued from the sure rocke Christe, vppon whome you haue so firmely built your house, that neither stormes nor tempestes, neither yet bell gates, or any other temptations shall euer be able once to pre∣uaile against it. Full wel doeth it appeare by your constant con∣tinuance, that you haue played the parte of a wise builder, in counting the cost afore hand, belonging to the finishing of your tower. And I doubt not but (through Gods gift) you haue suffi∣cient to the performaunce thereof, that the hypocrites of theyr parte shall haue no iuste cause to triumphe againste you, or to mocke you, saying, loe thys woman beganne to builde, but is not able to make an ende. Therefore goe on boldlye and feare not: for God is faithfull (as S. Paule sayeth) which will not suf∣fer you to be tempted aboue your strength, but eyther will hee geue you grace and strength to stande vnto the death (whych is the gate and entraunce into life) or els hee will make suche an outscape for you, as shall be to the setting foorth of hys glorye: the whych aboue all other thinges, we that are his chosen chil∣dren oughte for to seeke, yea euen with the losse of oure owne lyues, beyng yet well assured that the same shall not be short∣ned one minute of an houre before the time that God hathe appoynted.
Cast therefore (deare sister) all your care vppon the Lorde, whych (as S. Peter sayeth) careth for you. Great is his proui∣dence for you, and mighty is his loue and mercy towardes you. Wyth his grace hee will defende you, and with his holye spirite he will euermore guide you: wherewith hee hath surely sealed you vnto the day of redemption: hee hathe also geuen you the same in earnest for the recouerye of the purchased possession, whych hee hath prepared for you before the foundation of the worlde was layed. Be strong therefore and take a good heart,* 1.3 as I heare say you be. God for euer be blessed for you, whych hath graft hys loue in your good heart that nothing is able to sepa∣rate you from the same, but will rather chuse to suffer aduersitie wyth the people of God, then to enioy the pleasure of sinne for a little season. Oh happye woman that canst finde in thine heart to esteeme the rebukes of Christe to be greater rich••sse then all the treasures of the world, as good Moyses did. Doubtles great is your reward in heauen: which you shall shortly receiue of his free gift, and not of any deseruing.
Thus deare mother Glascocke, I haue bene bolde to trouble you wyth my rude and simple letters, desiring you to take them in good woorthe, being done in great haste, as it doeth appeare: but yet proceeding from a poore hearte whych floweth ouer in loue towardes you: as my dailye prayers for you can testifie: whych I truste shall supplye that parte of my duetye towardes you, that my penne nowe wanteth. I thanke you deare hearte, for all your louing tokens, and for the great kindnesse you haue hetherto shewed vnto my poore brother Tymmes and hys wife and children, wyth all other of Gods people, to whom you daily doe good: the Lorde recompence the same seuenfolde in∣to your bosome, as I doubte not but hee will, according to hys vnfallible promises.* 1.4 I praye you haue my hearty commendati∣ons vnto your husbande. I beseeche the Lorde strength hym in the confession of hys truthe (as my t••ust is that he will) that we may all ioyfully rest with Abraham, Isaac, & Iacob in the king∣dome of God: vnto the whych he bryng vs, that with his most precious bloud hath bought vs. The blessing of God bee wyth you nowe and euer. Amen.
Your daily Oratour and vnfayned louer Iohn Careles, prisoner of the Lord. Pray, pray, pray.