¶A note of a Letter of one Iohn Meluyn Prisoner in Newgate.
*Christi electis Salutem.
Esdr. 4.¶Hoc Seculum fecit altissimus propter multos, futurum autem propter paucos.
¶The almighty Lorde hath made this worlde for many: but the world or life or come but for a few.
MOst certayne it is dearely beloued that Christes elect be but few in comparisō of that great number which go in the broad way to euerlasting perdition,* 1.1 whiche lyfe after the flesh, louing this present euill world, deny God in word and deed,* 1.2 whose eies are blinded and their harts hardened.
Most certaine it is also that our Sauior Iesus Christ hath and knoweth his owne, whose names are written in the booke of life redemed with the most precious bloud of our sauiour Iesus Christ.* 1.3 So that the eternall Father knoweth them which be his.
The almighty and eternall God graunt that we may haue the testimony of our conscience, and the spirit of god to beare record with our spirites that we be his elect chil∣dren walking in the spirite not fulfilling the lustes of the flesh but as Christes members hauing Christ Iesu fixed before our eyes, he being to vs the true way, the infalli∣ble verity & the eternall life. Christ hath geuē vs example, let vs folow him as deare children, for Gods delight is to beholde his Saintes which be in the earth.* 1.4 Let vs put on the whole armour of God, and walke in the light in these euill dayes in the whiche Sathan in his Aungels seeketh whom he may deuour. The almighty Lorde deliuer vs from the mouthes of those vnshamefast dogs. They true∣ly seeke ours and not vs vnto the Lord. Esdras sayth and writeth truely, the world is made for them: and they for the world. Dearly bought let vs remember Christ which sayth I haue chosen you out of the world, you shalbe ha∣ted of al worldly men. Did euer the couetous, Idolaters,* 1.5 Oppressors or Whoremongers loue vs? Nay they loue Masse Mongers which say peace, peace, when there is no peace. Nay either then flatter the eares, or els they say no thing, as dum dogges not able to barke, of whom be you ware of, for though they come in sheepes clothing: they be rauening Wolues, whose damnation sleepeth not from whose captiuitye the holy will of God saue and preserue you. Amen.* 1.6
Dearely beloued we hauing the record of our consci∣ence that we be very members in Christes body separate from that malignant Antichristes Church. Let vs reioyce in conscience and in the Lord, hauing heauenly hope in al his promises, which be eternall and most sure to vs, in Christ our Sauiour, who looseth none of all them, whom the eternall Father hath geuen him, but at his appearing to be our mercifull Iudge,* 1.7 shall rayse vs vppe at that last day, for the trumpe of God shall blow, and be heard of all Adams posterity, sounding Venite ad iuditium. Come vnto iudgement, come and be iudged. Let vs therfore be prepared hauing the wedding garment,* 1.8 yea the whole armour of God, the mariage garment, cleare Lampes, that is pure hartes, and burning heauenly light in the same. Let vs prepare our selues richly to restore to our Lord and Mayster our talentes with the increase of hea∣uenly liuing and occupying, then without all doubt, we shall heare that most blessed wish of our alone Sauiour Iesus Christ who shall then say reioyce good seruauntes, I will make you Stewardes, ouer many thinges. En∣ter into the euerlasting rest, and kingdome, whiche hath bene prepared for you from the beginning. This is the Kingdome of Iesus Christ, whiche at this present is in Babilon and banished to the desert, the troublesome wa∣ters of Sathan in the Antichrist and his shauelings spie∣wed out of Christs mouth. The Lord be our ayde, auen∣ger and deliuerer when his holy will is. Amen.
Dearely bought with the most precious bloud of our Sauior Iesus Christ, that we be not deceiued by the An∣tichrist, let vs ponder, wey, marke and study, the heauen∣ly doctrine of our Sauiour Christ in his last Supper, the text is, Bene dixit, dixit bene, gratias egit, he spake heauenly and well, he gaue thankes, he tooke bread, brake it & gaue it to his Disciples, saying, take, eate, this Sacramentall bread, and me the breade of life, whiche came downe from heauen, which geueth life to the worlde, take true fayth, heauenly hope kindled with christen charitie, thankes ge∣uing for my death: let these heauēly vertues enter in your soules, then enter I. This is my body. This is the true eating of my body, which is geuen to the death of ye crosse, for the ransome and sinnes of Gods elect: Likewise after supper he tooke the cup, hee spake well, gaue thankes and gaue it them: saying, drinke ye all of this: drinke I say by this infallible veritie, and euerlasting word ioyned and a∣nexed with this cup, my bloud which is shed from before the beginning of the world, for many in remission of sins, he or shee that thus dwelleth in me, and I in him, eateth my flesh, and drinketh my bloud. Sainct Augustine sayth, why preparest thou thy tooth and belly? beleeue and thou hast eaten. Sainct Barnarde saith, when fayth, hope, christian loue,* 1.9 and thankes geuing for Christes death enter in a Christian, Christ entereth, and agayn S. Augustine sayth vpon these wordes of Christ you shal al∣wayes haue the poore with you, but me shall ye not haue