MOst deare, and my most honoured Father and Mother, I say the truth in Christ I lie not, my Conscience bearing me witnesse, that I haue continuall sorrow and griefe in my heart, that I must forsake you, as tou­ching the world: my griefe being the more for that I know how much my estranging my selfe from you, will breed you sorrow and affliction. But this hope haue I in God, that your sorrow [Page 2] shall be turned into ioy, and your affliction into consolation, when your wisedomes (void of passi­on, and worldly respects) shall consider, that the voyage which separates me from you, is to bring me neerer to God, and to set my Conscience at rest and quiet.

For I may no longer conceale it from you, that by the often reading and serious meditation of the holy Scriptures, together with calling vpon the name of God, the Lord hath shewed me that mer­cie, to see on the one side the new corrupt errors, superstitions, and heresies of the Roman Church, and on the other side, the pure truth, taught in those Churches that are purged from the nouelty of Popery, and reformed according to the true Antiquitie of the Apostles and Prophets.

Which knowledge I confesse I haue for some time held as captiue vnder feare, suffering my selfe vnwisely to be carried away with their opinion, who thinke it safest to sway with the time, to be­leeue with the Doctors, and to liue with the mul­titude; to giue the heart to God, and the body to the world. I was dumbe, and sayd nothing, I kept si­lence, Psal. 39. 2. 3. euen from good: but my anguish increased, my heart waxed hot within me, and the fire kindled in my meditation, wherefore I speake with my tongue.

For if heretofore the sonne of King Croesus beganne to speake, seeing his Father in danger: Who will thinke it strange, to see my tongue loo­sed in a subiect, where it hastens to set forth the glory of God my eternall Father, and the saluati­on of mine owne soule?

For, With the heart we beleeue, but with the mouth Rom. 10. [...] wee confesse to saluation: for which cause Iesus Christ saith, That whosoeuer shall confesse him before Mat. 10. 32. 33 men, he will confesse him before his Father which is in heauen; But whosoeuer shall deny him before men, him will he deny before his Father which is in heauen. And the Apostle also saith; Come out from amongst them 2 Cor. 6. 17. (meaning from Idolaters) and separate your selues, and touch no vncleane thing. And the Spirit of God Apoc. 18. Goe out of Babylon my people, left yee par­take of her sins, and that yee receiue not of her plagues.

God will haue no societie with Satan, nor Com­munion with the world; he will not with the har­lot haue his childe diuided; he will haue all, or 1 King. 3. 26. nothing. For what hath righteousnesse to doe with iniquitie? And what communion hath light with 2 Cor. 6. 14. darkenesse? Or what agreement hath Christ with Be­lial? Or what portion hath the beleeuer with the Infi­del? Or the Temple of God with Idols?

And here I called that to minde which God heretofore said vnto the Israelites, by the mouth of the Prophet Eliah, How long halt ye betweene two 1 King. 18. opinions? If God be God follow him, but if Baal, follow him. I haue aduisedly considered of what great validitie that Maxime, of our Sauiour is▪ That it is Mat. 6. 24. impossible to serue two masters; and haue often cal­led that to minde which we reade Mat. 11. That the kingdome of heauen suffers violence, and the vio­lent take it by force.

I haue often considered that God will haue his children marked, not onely with an inward seale, Ephe. 1. 13. but also with the marke of an outward profession, [Page 4] and that is the cause why in the 1. booke of Kings, 1 King. 19. 18. Chapter 19. God saith hee had reserued to him­selfe seuen thousand men (not onely who had not beleeued in the Idolatries of Baal, but) who had not bowed the knee to Baal, nor kissed him. And in the seuenth Chapter of th' Apocalyps, v. 3. Iohn Reu. 7. 3. beheld in a Vision an Angel, hauing the seale of the liuing God, to marke the seruants of God in their foreheads: teaching vs therein, that if wee will be reputed the seruants of Iesus Christ, wee must openly make profession of the Truth, the which himselfe teacheth vs in S. Iohn. If any one Iohn 12. 26. serueth me, let him follow me. For he that is not with me, is against me, and he that gathereth not with me, Mat. 12. 30. scattereth.

I haue also often thought with my selfe that the Deuill demanded nothing of Iesus Christ, but what the worldly wise giue vnto him. For the De­uill hauing shewed Iesus Christ all the kingdomes of the world, and the glory thereof, saith, All these Mat. 4. 8. things will I giue thee (not if thou beleeue in me, but) if thou shalt fall downe and worship me. Nabu­chadnezar required nothing of those three wor­thies which were cast into the fiery Furnace, but Dan. 3. 15. outwardly to worship his Image; and the greatest tyrants not being able to discerne the thoughts of the heart, content themselues with the bodie and the tongue.

Yea, I thought, that if it sufficed to beleeue the truth, without making profession of it, in vaine should so many Martyrs haue maintained it be­fore their Iudges, and confessed it in the very [Page 5] flames, signed with their bloud, and sealed with their death.

And seeing the Church on earth, is like vnto Israel in Egypt, and Daniel in the Lyons den, and that in the eyes of the world, it is nothing but weaknesse, and as it were a few Lambes in the midst of a multitude of Wolues, if it should con­forme it selfe to the times, there would neuer bee any Church. And in withdrawing our selues from the house of God, we shall not onely run into the Temples of Papists, but also into the Temples of Mahomet, saying by way of excuse, yet I beleeue it not.

Reason it selfe hath taught me, that it sufficeth not a childe to haue a good conceit of his Father, vnlesse he defend his quarrell, and that it is not e­nough for a souldier to loue his Captaine, if hee fight not vnder his ensigne, and that shee is but a strumpet, who vnder pretence of keeping her hart to her husband, prostitutes her body to stran­gers; as also that it is the propertie of Bastard children to be afraide to call themselues by the name of their father: we are vnworthie the seruice of so great a King, if we be ashamed to weare his Liuery, for such a base seruant can neuer serue so rich a master.

In a word, I haue considered, that God punish­eth no sinners more seuerely in his wrath, then Rom. 1. 18. such as withhold his truth in vnrighteousnesse, and I haue oft trembled at the hearing of these words spoken by Iesus Christ to the Church of Laodicea, Reu. 3. 15. 16. I would thou wert either cold or hot; but because thou [Page 6] art neither cold nor hot, but luke-warme, I will spew thee out of my mouth. And thence it is, that I haue bin terrified with that horrible threat which God pronounceth in Apoc. 21. against such as feare man more then God, and the seruant, rather then the Maister, for not onely to vnbeleeuers, abomina­ble, murtherers, whoremongers, sorcerers, Idola­ters, and all lyars, But also vnto the fearefull, is reser­ued that Reu. 21. 8. lake of fire and brimstone, which is the second death. Nay, were it that God threatned vs not at all with such terrible punishments, yet ought wee to be ashamed, hauing receiued so many mercies from him, to repay him with so horrible ingrati­tude; it being monstrous, that such who make Conscience to steale from other men their goods, should yet dare to defile themselues with sacri­ledge.

For there is not a worse sacriledge, then to rob God of his glory, and he is worthie to be branded for a double dealer, who denies vnto God that iust defence of his cause which he owes vnto him.

This is it then I haue considered with my selfe: Iesus Christ is not ashamed to call me his brother, Heb. 2. 11. and should I be ashamed to confesse my selfe to be his seruant? He hath not spared to shed his bloud for me, and should I spare to speake for his truth? He died for my saluation, and should I not liue to his glory?

I concluded then, that seeing he meant to glo­rifie my soule and bodie in heauen, it is just and reasonable, that in soule and bodie I glorifie him on earth: according to the exhortion of the A­postle▪ [Page 7] Ye are bought for a price, glorifie God then in 1 Cor. 6. 20. your bodie, and in your spirit, for they are Gods. And yet I must tell you that God hath not setled me in this resolution, but through many conflicts. For the flesh to weaken my saith, was readie to rocke Iud. 16. 15. me asleepe in her lap: and this flesh, a sworne ene­mie, that shee might still retaine me in her bonds, and hinder me from ascending the mountaine of saluation, caused me to looke backe towards those Gen. 19. 2 [...]. worldly profits which I was to abandon: she told me that I should breake the necke of all my For­tunes (as they are wont now adayes to speake) and should imprison my selfe within the den of perpetuall ignominie, & this obiection I confesse somewhat the more daunted me, being now come to those yeares which naturally long for delights and thirst after prayses; the progresse in my studies also hauing raised me vpon the steps which lead to honours, whereunto the fauour of my friends seemed to haue made a way open for me.

But againe I thought, that this was a sleight of the great Harlot, which to retaine me still in the filthinesse of her abominations, meant (euen like Potiphars wife, who inticed Ioseph to commit adul­tery with her) to hold me by the cloke, through the consideration of earthly commodities; and therefore I chose rather to leaue my cloke with Io­seph, then to forsake mine innocencie, or to make any breach in my Conscience.

I considered, that all the riches and honours of this world, are turned to wormewood, to him that feares not God, and that all the pleasures of the [Page 8] flesh, are but like to the Bees, which haue honey in their mouth, but stings in their tayle: the be­ginning seemes pleasing, but the end lamentable, for after a short laughter, and a few fond delights in this life, followes eternall death, where shall be endlesse weeping and gnashing of teeth.

I also considered, that God hauing created man, to be Lord of the whole world, man should not yeeld himselfe as a vassall or slaue to such vile creatures; That the whole world is not a portion worthy of the children of this great King: That God hath not indewed me with an immortall soule to be in­tangled in the things, which haue but onely the dignitie to be mortall: That my soule being of an heauenly nature, ought to mount aboue all these terrestrial things, and to aspire to those things that are aboue.

In a word, I concluded that I should make but an ill match of it, to win the whole world, if for Man. 8. 38. it I should lose my soule, and that it would proue but a meane comfort to goe to hell, laden with many Tit [...]es.

For this cause I gaue my selfe to meditate on the saying of Christ, Thou carest and art troubled about Luke 10. 41. many things, but one thing is needfull: I gaue heed likewise to the exhortation of our Sauiour in S. Mathew, Chap. 6. First seeke the kingdome of God, Mat. 6. 33. and his righteousnesse, and all these things shall be ad­ded vnto you. And that of S. Iohn, Labour not for Iohn 6. 27. the meate that perisheth, but for that which endureth to eternall life. I tasted also the vertue of Pauls cor­diall words, 1 Tim. 6, Godlinesse with contentment 2 Ti [...]. 6. 7. [Page 9] is great gaine. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certaine we shall carrie nothing out. Therefore hauing food and rayment, let vs therewith be content.

And because Examples haue often the force of instructions, I set before me the Prophet Moses, Heb. 11. 24. 25. 26. Who being come to age, refused to be called the sonne of Pharaohs daughter: choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, then to enjoy the pleasures of sinne for a season. Esteeming the rebuke of Christ grea­ter riches, then the treasures of Egypt, for he had an eye to the recompence of reward. I mused on the writings of Dauid, wherein he glorieth more, that hee was Gods seruant, then that hee was King of Israell, preferring the house of God, before his Palace Royall. As also I thought on the saying of that excellent Prince, the Emperour Theodosius, who preferred his being a Citizen in the house of God, before all the glory of his Empire. But aboue all me thought I was wonderfully rauished in consi­dering the Apostle S. Paul, who had bin brought vp at the feete of Gamaliel, who vnderstood the se­cret of Sciences, and spake the language of An­gels; who had whereof to boast as concerning the flesh, hauing all the aduantages his Nation affor­ded, and yet he cryeth out, Phil. 3. That which was Phil. 3. 7. [...]. [...]. gaine vnto me, I esteemed losse for Christ; Yea, I haue counted all things to be losse vnto me for the excellent knowledge of Iesus Christ my Lord. For whose sake I haue depriued my selfe of all things, and doe iudge them to be dung, that I may winne Christ. The like is sayd of all the Apostles, who vse this speech to Christ▪ We haue lest all, and followed thee. Mat. 19. [...].

And that which most comforted me, was the answere of our Sauiour, Verily I say vnto you, that whosoeuer hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother for my sake, and the Gospels, shall receiue an hundred folde as much, and shall inherite e­ternall life.

And therefore euen as the Apostles forsooke their Nets to follow Iesus Christ; I also put from me these vaine cares, and the deceitfull hopes which intangled my minde, and with the royall Prophet I concluded, O Lord, thou art my porti­on, Psal. 119. 55. I haue determined to keepe thy law. And that as Christ saith, Those are blessed which heare the Luke 11. 28. word of God and keepe it; As also with Mary, I haue chosen the good part, which shall not bee taken Luke 10. 42. from me. I sayd in my selfe, what though I possesse not great things here on earth, yet shall I bee rich in thee, and an inheritour of the kingdome, which God hath promised to those that loue him; I shall possesse that pearle of inualuable price, to wit, the knowledge of the Gospell, and the graces of the Spirit, I shall be adorned with Iesus Christ, the ri­ches of Israel, and the glory of our hope. And I shall obtaine a treasure in heauen, where the moth corrupteth nor, and where theeues neither breake Mat. 6. 20. through, nor steale; If I lacke honor among mor­tall men, God will single me out as among his Mal. 3. 17. 1 Pet. 2. 9. most precious Iewels; I shall enter into the royall Priesthood, and I may boast, that I am descended of the most auncient nobilitie that may be, seeing the titles of Gods house and familie are more aun­cient then heauen and earth: and if I forsake [Page 11] worldly pleasures, I shall haue spirituall gladnes; I shall reioyce in God my Sauiour, with a Ioy vn­speakeable 1 Pet. 1. 8. and glorious: and as Dauid taking his flight into the Deserts, comforted himselfe in the expectation of the kingdome which God had promised him; so, will I comfort my selfe in look­ing for those eternall felicities, which God hath reserued for me among the Angels. To be short, if with Iesus Christ I haue not whereon to rest my head, I will reioyce that in Iesus Christ I haue peace of Conscience: that God is the portion of Psal. 16. 5. mine heritage, and of my Cup alwayes. O Lord Psal. 84. 1. of hosts, how amiable are thy dwelling places! my foule ceaseth not, greatly to long, yea, euen fain­teth for the courts of the Lord, my heart and my flesh reioyce in the liuing God. For a day in thy Verse 10. Courts, is better then a thousand else-where, I had rather be a doore-keeper in the house of my God, then to dwell in the tents of wickednesse.

Now if my flesh were loth to forsake her com­modities, shee thought it yet more strange to be­take her selfe vnto such an vnpleasing condition: shee thought it folly and madnesse to enter into a path all paued with thornes, and filled with af­flictions: she set before me the reproch of the Gos­pell, but especially in these woefull times, in which pietie is heresie, and wherein it is counted a dishonour to serue Christ. But according to the Apostles example, I shooke off this Viper, with­out Act. 28. taking any hurt, I beleeued that I ought to contemne this contempt, according to the saying of the Apostle, I am not ashamed of the Gospell of Rom. 1. 1 [...]. [Page 12] Christ, seeing it is the power of God to saluation to all that beleeue. I thought it better to share with Gods children in the words reproach, then to be had in execration before God and his Angels, and wil­lingly to be made the ofscouring of the earth, see­ing so I might be made heauens delight.

I thought it folly to imagine I should reape, be­fore I had sowed, to ouercome without conflict, and to be crowned, before I had run my race to the end, and that it is impossible to partake of the excellencie of Christs crosse, without feeling the weight of it, seeing the paschall Lambe was to be Exod. 12. 8. eaten with soure herbs, and the bread of the Lord, like that of Boaz, must be eaten with dipping it in Ruth. 2. vineger.

I consider, that seeing the kingdome of Iesus Christ is not of this world, it were extreame folish­nes in me, to seeke the world in his kingdome, or to thinke of rest in his kingdome, who is the ene­mie of our Father, or not to make profession of the Gospell til persecutions be ended, or to set be­fore vs Iesus Christ without his Crosse, or a Gos­pell without reproach. To tarry till God had tra­ced out a new way to heauen, and till the worlde and Satan should cease to bee; for the enmitie of the old Serpent, which began in the earthly Para­dice, Gen. 3. will neuer haue an ende, till wee become to the heauenly,

I also thought that ther is no afflictiō for the Go­spell which Iesus Christ hath not fore-told, & that such as are enrolled for seruants in his armie, must accept it vpon condition, that whosoeuer will come Luke 9. 23. [Page 13] after me, must deny himselfe, and take vp his Crosse, and follow me. Iesus Christ tels vs that if we will en­ter Mat. 7. 23. into life eternall, wee must passe through the straight gate, and this is that aduantage which in this life he tels his Apostle he must take for his pa­trimonie, I will shew him how many things hee must suffer for my sake. A lesson which the Apostle sets vs Act. 9. 16. al to take out, saying; By many afflictions we must en­ter Act. 14. 22. into the kingdome of heauen, and 2. Tim. 3. All that 2 Tim. 3. 12. will liue godly in Christ Iesus, must suffer persecution.

I shake of delicacie, when I cast mine eyes vpon Daniel, who chose rather to be cast into the Lyons den, then to giue ouer lifting vp his hands to hea­uen: vpon those three worthies, who chose rather to bee exposed to the mercy of the fiery furnace, then to bow before an Idol, and vppon so many cloudes of witnesses, who were willing rather to shed their blood, then defile themselues with Ido­latrie.

And aboue all I was astonied in beholding Iesus Heb. 12. 2. Christ the author and finisher of our faith who for the ioy that was set before him endured the crosse, and de­spised the shame: For, the seruant is not greater then his Iohn 13. 16. master, nor the Ambassader greater then hee that sent him. Seeing our head was crowned with thornes, and was offered vinegar to drinke, all streaming ouer with blood, what a vile shame is it for vs his members, to desire the enioying of all our liber­ties heere below in this corruptible world, or to lie sucking at the breasts of the poysonful sweets ther of yea, for as much as Iesus Christ hath suffered so much for our saluation, is it not iust & equall that [Page 14] wee prepare our selues to suffer for his glory, ac­cording to that exhortation of the Apostle let vs Heb. 13. 13. goe forth out of the campe, bearing his reproach?

For I also thought, that to escape a theefe in the way, I ought not to cast my self headlong into infinite and ineuitable miseries. For what corzie is more sencible and intollerable, then that of an euill conscience? yea, all the tortures in this life, are but light flea-bitings in respect of those eternal punishments, wherewith God will punish those, who worship the beast & his Image, and whosoeuer they Reu. 14. 9. 10. be that receiue the marke of the beast in their foreheads.

But that which did yet fortifie mee most of all, was the consolation which the Apostle giues vs, saying in his Epistle to the Romanes: That all Rom. 8. 28. thinges worke together for good to those that loue God. That by afflictions, we are made conformable to the I­mage Ver. 29. of the Sonne of God: and that all our sufferings Rom. 8. 18. of this present life, being well weighed, are not worthie of the glory which is to come, and shall in due time bee reuealed vnto vs, For our light affliction which is but 2 Cor. 4. 17. for a moment, works in vs a farre more excellent and eternall weight of glory, whilst wee looke vpon, not the things which are seene, but on the things which are not seene, which are eternall. For those who are come out of Reu. 7. 14. great tribulation, and haue washed their long robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lambe, that stand Verse 15. before the throne of God, and serue him day and night in his Temple, shall haue no more hunger, nor thirst, 16. the sunne shall not light vpon them, nor any heat, for the Lambe which is in the midst of the throne, shall feede 17. them, and leade them to the fountaines of liuing waters, [Page 15] and God shall wipe away all teares from their eyes. That was it which caused me to change my note, and to thinke nothing sweeter then the waters of Mara, when Christ our true Moses casts into them the wood of his Crosse, assuring vs of the m [...]rit of his death and passion: yea, I dare say, that afflic­tions for the name of Christ doe bring with them more true ioy and comfort to the faithfull soule, then the whole world furnished with all her con­tentments to a prophane wretch. And therefore Christ saith, Blessed are they who are persecuted for Mat. 5. 10. righteousnesse sake, for theirs is the kingdome of hea­uen. Blessed are ye when men reuile you, and persecute Verse 11. you and shall say all manner of euill saying against you falsely, for my names sake, reioyce and be glad, for great 12. is your reward in heauen, for so persecuted they the Prophets which were before you. That is it which Saint Iames also saith in his Epistle, My brethren Iam. 1. 2. thinke it perfect ioy when you fall into diuers tempta­tions. And that likewise of S. Peter, reioyce in as 1 Pet. 4. 13. much as yee are partakers of Christs sufferings, that when his glory shall appeare, yee may be glad and reioyce: If ye be railed vpon for the name of Christ, blessed are ye, for the spirit of glory and of God resteth vpon you. Thence it is that the Apo­stles in the Acts went away reioycing, that they Act. 5. 41. were counted worthie to suffer rebuke for the name of Iesus Christ. And that the Apostle Saint Paul who had been rapt vp into the third heauen, and had heard words which are vnexpressable, which is not possible for man to vtter, chose yet rather to reioyce in his sufferings. The ioy which [Page 16] he for a time possessed among the Angels, being no let vnto him to reioyce in the middest of the Martyrs. I take pleasure (saith he) in reproches, in 2 Cor. 12. 10. necessities, in persecutions, in anguishes for Christ, for when I am weake, then I am strong. From thence it came, that out of the middest of his most inward passions, he cries out, I am filled with consolation, 2 Cor. 7. 4. I am full with ioy more and more in all our affliction, for full well he knew, that it is freely giuen vs for Phil. 1. 29. Christ, not onely to bel [...]eue in him, but also to suffer for his sake.

And therefore according to Christ his exhor­tation, I beleeued that I ought not to feare those Mat. 10. 28. who hauing killed the bodie, can doe no more, but to feare him rather, who can destroy both bo­die and soule in hell fire, and that, if the sufferings 2 Cor. 1. 5. of Christ abound in vs, the consolations of Christ shall abound in vs also. If we die with Christ, that 2 Tim. 2. 12. we shall also liue with him. That if we suffer with him, we shall also raigne with him. And that if Mar. 8. 35. any will saue his life, he shall lose it, and whosoeuer shall lose his life for Christs sake, and the Gospels, he shall saue it.

And no maruaile if neither the threats nor pro­mises of the world preuailed with me, to hinder me from giuing glory to God, seeing the world can promise nothing which is more excellent then the kingdome of heauen, nor threaten any thing more terrible then the paines of hell: But as with a stedsast eye I looked vpon the world, which I now forsake, and the crosse which I embrace: soon the other side, when I come to cast mine [Page 17] eyes vpon you (most honoured Father and Mo­ther) and to set before me your tender affections, and paternall loues; whilst I call to minde with what mildnesse you brought me vp; what care you had of my education, sparing no cost to in­struct me in the knowledge of good letters, fra­ming my mind to the loue of vertue: and then a­gaine, when I thought how much affliction and discomfort my departing would bring vnto you in following a Religion, the excellencie whereof you yet discerne not.

All these things I say well weighed, so wrought vpon mine affections, that it hath caused floods of teares to fall from mine eyes, and to be brought as it were to nothing, for the truth is, my loue to­wardes you is so ardent and respectiue, that if it were but to endure any temporall punishments, I had rather suffer a thousand torments and tor­tures, then to breed you the lest discontentment: yea, I ingenuously confesse, that this considerati­on so farre preuailed with me, that it had in a man­ner stayed me from proceeding on in this faire path, wherein I now walke, if God (hauing com­passion of mine infirmitie) had not drawne me on by the hand of his grace, and strengthened my weakenesse, to hearken to the words of our Saui­our; Who so loueth father or mother more then me, is Mat. 10. 37. not worthie of me: As also to that answere which he made him which said, I will follow thee Lord, Luke 9. 61. but first giue me leaue to take leaue of those that are at mine house; None that putteth his hand to the plough, Verse 6 [...]. and looketh backe, is fit for the kingdome of God.

Then I considered, that God called me to the same condition vnto which he called the Father of the faithfull, Goe out of the countrie, and from Gen. 12. 1. thy kindred, and from thy Fathers house, to goe into a countrie which I will shew thee.

I thought that, if I was bound to respect the fa­ther of my body, I was much more bound to re­spect the Father of my spirit, and that it was bet­ter to obey God then men. Act. 4. 19.

And the better to alay this bitternes, I comfor­ted my selfe the sweetnes of the gracious pro­mises of my good God, I will receiue you, and will be 2 Cor. 6. 18. a father vnto you, and you shalbe my sonnes, and daugh­ters, saith the Lord Almighty, 2. Cor. 6. Whence I came to conclude thus with my selfe, I forsake my fathers house, but I enter into the house of God, I estrange my selfe from my naturall parents but I enter into that high and noble alliance and spirituall kindred which is named in heauen and in earth, of which Iesus Christ is the head. When Ephes. 3. 15. Psal. 27. 10. my father and my mother forsake me, the Lord will ga­ther me vp. Add also, that with this consolation I comforted my selfe thus, namely, that I entred not into a Church which vnder pretence of piety tea­cheth me to cast off the bands of naturall respects and dutie, but which commands all Christians to nourish within them the cordial affections of true Exod. 20. charitie instructing children to honour their fa­ther and mother in all things, in the Lord. The Ephes. 6. honour and loue which I owe you, are too fast en­graued in my breast, to be blotted out. The bands wherwith I am knit vnto you, are too strong to be [Page 19] broken, and my desire to acknowledge your fa­uours shall neuer die in me, till I die.

Now I nothing doubt but you will witnes with me how blamelesse my conuersation was during the time I conuersed amongst you, I was also in­flamed with a most ardent affection to make it ap­peare vnto you, that it was neither rashnes nor lightnes, which caused mee to change Religion. But I onely suffered my selfe to be vanquished by the power of truth, & the motions of Gods holy Spirit: to which purpose you know I endeuoured my selfe in your presence to maintaine this truth agaiust such Doctors as you approued of, (which I often did in particuler conferences (hauing lear­ned, that God perfects his prayse by the mouth of babes Mat. 11. 25. and perfects his power in our weakenesse. For as God hides his secrets from the wise and prudent, & reueales 2 Cor. 12. 9. them vnto little ones, So hath the Truth greater Mat. 11. 25. force in the mouth of a childe, then a lye in the mouth of all the Doctors in the worlde. But the miseries of these times not permitting me to enter into such disputes, without exposing my per­son to manifest danger, and not minding to en­ter into the Church of GOD through trouble: As also that disputations now adayes are rather lowd then fruitfull: because they dispute onely to dispute, striuing rather for victory then truth, I thought it euery way better, and more to edifica­tion, to set downe my reasons of this my alterati­on and change by writing: to which the grace of God assisting me, I will without ceasing ende­uour, now that God of his mercy hath giuen mee [Page 20] to arriue in such a place, where it is lawfull both to speake and write the truth. For I hold my selfe still bound to giue you an account of my procee­dings, and I should thinke my selfe happy, if this little light which God hath communicated vnto me, might something enlighten your darkenesse, then should I willingly yeelde my Spirit to God that gaue it, if I might see you with my selfe walk­ing the way to life and happinesse.

In expectation whereof I beseech the great God and father of mercies, that hee will make vs all mind one and the same thing in Christ, that he will replenish you with the ioyes and comforts of his holy Spirit, granting vs all the grace, that af­ter wee haue glorified him a little while heere on earth, wee may be glorified with him for euer in heauen, euen with that glory which hee hath pre­pared for vs before the foundation of the world.

So prayeth he who craues that you will alwayes beleeue it, euen vnto the altar.