Divine consolations for mourners in Sion being an extract of certain choyce epistles of dying martyrs to each other and to their fellow prisioners for the cause of Christ, in the times of cruell and fiery persecution, wherein is much variety of suitable matter of meditation for all such who are burthened under the pressure of their sins and sorrows in these evil times.

To my dear and faithful Brother, Augustine Bernher.

THe peace of God in Jesus Christ, the help, comfort and assist∣ance of his eternal Spirit, be with you my dear and faithful Brother Augustine, and with all the rest of my good Brethren and Sisters of the houses of B••xterly and Manceter, (which mourn∣eth for the misery of Gods People) to your everlasting Consola∣tion in him. Amen.

Right glad I am to hear my dear and faithful Brother Augustine) that God of his great mercy and infinite goodness, hath yet so graciously delivered and preserved you out of your enemies hands, beseeching Almighty God also, from the bottom of my heart, to be your continual defence unto the end as hitherto he hath most graciously been, that you may live and dye both to Gods Glory, the commodity of his Church, and to the increase of your own everlasting joy and comfort in him.

Know you dear Brother, that I have received your Letter, for the which, I heartily thank you. Indeed I think it very short, al∣though it seemeth something sharply to rebuke me in the beginning for the breach of my promise, in not writing to you of this long time. Well Brother, I am content to bear it with patience, con∣sidering that you are troubled otherwise (the Lord comfort you and all heavy hearts) neither will I spend Ink and Paper for my purgation in this point. God be knoweth whether I be so mind∣less of my promise, as it appeareth in your sight I am. Your re∣quest I will truly perform to the uttermost of my power, as gladly as any poor wretch shall do in the World, and I thank God I have done no less of long time. And as my poor Prayer shall be a handmaid to wait upon you which way soever you ride or go; so I beseech you that my simple counsel may take some place in you, in this time of your pilgrimage, which you pass in no small peril: God keep and preserve you for his Names sake.* 1.1 I do not disallow, but much praise and commend your hearty boldness in putting your self in prease, when any one of Gods People needeth your help in any point. But yet I would not have you thrust your self in danger,

when you can do them no good, or at least wise when they may well enough spare that good you would do them: for if you should then chance to be taken you shall not onely be no comfort unto them, but also a great discomfort, adding sorrow unto their sorrow.

I do not perswade you to absent your self from any place ••here your presence of necessity is required: for in all such pla∣ces, I know, God will preserve you, as he hath hithe to wonder∣fully done, praised be his Name therefore: or if it shall please him to permit you in any such place to be taken, I know he will most sweetly comfort your Conscience with this consideration, That it is the very Providence and Appointment of God, that you should there and then be taken up for a Witness of his Truth unto the world: But I cannot allow, nor be contented that you should rashly or negligently thrust your self into that place where your wicked enemies do continually haunt, yea and lay wait for you, when no necessity of your self, nor of any other of Gods people, doth re∣quire your company. If they need any of your godly counsel you may write unto them that thing that you think good; which (I dare say) will be sufficient unto them. For (continuall thanks and praises be given unto the Everlasting God) there is none of those that be cruelly condemn••d for Gods Truth, that now be weaklings: for they have manfully pass••d through the Pikes, and they have boldly abidden the brunt of the Battel, and therefore I reckon the worst is past with them already: So that now and then a godly Letter from you to them shall do as much good as your company shall do, and perchance more too; for writing sticketh longer in the memory then word do: yea, though your Letters were as short to them, as your last was to me, so that the same be something sweeter, and not all thing so sharp.

This (dear Brother) is the simple counsel which I would gladly have you observe, partly for that I heartily pray for your preser∣vation to the commodity of Christs Church, and partly for that I unfeignedly w••sh the peace, comfort and tranquility of your own Conscience, which I know will be quickly ready to accuse you,* 1.2 if you do any thing wherein you have not the Word of God for your

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warrant. For in a glass that is clear, a small mote will soon ap∣pear: even so the good Conscience of Gods chosen children be∣ing more clear then Chrystal, will quickly accuse them at the least fault they do commit, whereas the wicked worldlings have their Conscience so clogged and corrupted through the custome of sin, that they cannot see nor perceive their own shameful deeds and wic∣ked works, until God set the same before them for their utter ••••¦struction, and then despair they immediately. But seeing that God hath given you a clear Conscience, and a pure, sharp, quick, and lively sight in your Soul, I would wish you to beware that you do nothing unadvisedly,* 1.3 but upon a good ground: for an accusing Conscience is a sore thing when death doth approach, and then Sa∣tan will not stick to tell you that you have too much tempted God, when peradventure you have done nothing so at all For this cause (I say) partly I have thought it good to admonish you (as I have done often) to be circumspect, according to the counsel of Christ, which biddeth you to beware of men.* 1.4 Other things I have not to write, for I know this Bearer can certifie you of all things at large, better then I can declare it by writing.

I beseech you, good Augustine, help me forward by your hearty Prayers, for I trust I have but a small time in this troublesome World: Dr. Story told our Marshal, that we should all be dis∣patched so soon as he came from Oxford, whither he and other bloody Butchers be gone to make slaughter of Christs sheep that lye there appointed to be slain. God for Christs sake put them and such like besides their cruel purpose, if it be his good w••ll and plea∣sure; Amen good Lord. I pray you do my most hearty commenda∣tions to my good Sister and faithful Friend, good Mris. Mary Glover: I beseech God be her comfort, as I doubt not but he is. I am very glad to hear that she doth so joyfully and so patiently bear this great Cross that God hath laid upon her. I pray God streng∣then her, and all other his dear Saints unto the end. Amen. Com∣mend me unto my dear and faithful Sister Elizabeth B. I thank her most heartily for her Napkin, and so I do you dear Brother for my shirt. Truly that day that we were appointed to come to our An∣swer before the Commissioners (which had sent word the same

morning, that they would come to the Kings Bench by eight of the clock, and the house, and all things were trimmed and made ready for them) I got that Shirt on my back and that Napkin in my hand,* 1.5 and me thought that they did help to harness me and weapon me well, to go fight against that Bloody Beast of Babylon. And trust me truly, if they had come, I would have stricken three strokes the more for your two sakes, as well as God would have abled me to have set them on, as by Gods grace I will not fail to do at the next Skirmish that I come to: wherefore I pray you pray for me, that I may be strong and hardy to lay on good load. Oh that I might so strike him down, that he should never be able for to rise again. But that stroke belongeth onely to the Lord, to st••ike at his coming, the which I trust will be shortly? Oh hasten it good Lord, and shorten these sorrowful and sinful dayes, for thy great mercies sake.

Farewel my dear and faithful loving Brother: The Lo••d defend, keep and preserve you from the power of your Enemies v sible and invisible, and send us a most joyful and merry meeting here or elswhere, as it shall please his goodness to appoint us. In the mean space I shall most earnest••y desire you to pray for me, for I never had more need in my life: and doubtless you shall never want my poor prayer, if it shall please God to accept the Prayer of so sin∣ful a wretch as I am The Lord impute not my sins to me, for Iesus Christs sake, unto whose most merciful defence, I do most heartily commit you. The bl••ssing of God be with you now and ever. Amen. I pray you do my most hearty commendations to Mr. John Glover: I do not forget him in my daily Prayers, and I trust he doth Remember me.

Your poor Brother, alwayes mindful of you in my Prayer, John Careles, Prisoner, abiding Gods pleasure.

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Notes

• * 1.1

  He counselleth Augustine to be circumspect, & not rashly to thrust himself in danger.
• * 1.2

  A good Consci∣ence is soon troubled.
• * 1.3

  Conscience of sin is sometimes taken where none is commit∣ted.
• * 1.4

  Matth. 10.
• * 1.5

  The Christian courage of J••hn Careles.