BEfore I write further, I beseech you think not that it is your wife but a friend that now writeth to thee: I hope thou hast freely given up thy Wife and Children to that God that said Ier. 49.11. Leave thy Children, I will preserve them, and let thy widows trust in me: thy Maker shall be thy Hus­band: On that the Lord would keep thee from having one troub­led thought about thy relations; I desire to give thee freely up into thy Fathers hands, and not only look upon it as a Crown of Glory for thee to die for Christ, but as an honour for me that I should have a Husband to leave for Christ: I dare not speak to thee, nor have a thought within my self of my unspeakable losse, but wholly keep my eye fixed upon the unspeakable and unconceiva­ble gain. Thou leavest but a sinfull mortall Wife, to be everlastingly married to the Lord of Glory, thou leavest but Children, and Bre­thren, and Sisters, to go to the Lord Jesus thy elder brother; thou leavest friends to go to the enjoyment of holy Angels, and of the spirits of Just men made perfect; thou dost but leave Earth for Heaven; and if naturall affections begin to rise, I hope that spirit of grace that is within thee will quell them: And knowing that all things here below are but dung and drosse in comparison of those things above; I know thou keepest thy eye fixed upon the hope of Glory which maketh thee so trample upon the losse of Earth. My Dear, I know God hath not only prepared Glory for thee, and thee for it, but I am perswaded he will sweeten the way for thee to come to the enjoyment of it; and when thou art put­ting on thy clothes that morning, think, I am putting on my wed­ding clothes to go to be married to my Redeemer; when the mes­senger of Death cometh to thee, let him not be dreadfull, but look upon him as a messenger that bringeth thee tidings of eternal life; when thou goest up the Scaffold, think what thou toldest me, that it was but thy Chariot to draw thee to thy Fathers house. And when thou layest down thy dear Head to receive thy Fathers [Page 2] stroak, Remember what thou saidst to me, that though thy Head were severed from thy Body, yet thy Soul should soon be united to Jesus Christ thy Head in Heaven. And though it may seem bitter that by the hands of men we are parted a little soon­er then otherwise we should have been, yet let us consider it is the decree and will of the Father, and besides, we could not have lived much longer together, and it will not be long ere we shall enjoy one another again in Heaven. Oh let us comfort one another with these sayings: Oh be comforted, it is but a little stroak ere thou shalt be where the weary are at rest, and where the wicked shall cease from troubling thee; Oh remember though thou eat thy dinner with bitter herbs, yet thou shalt have a joy full supper with Jesus Christ that night: And my Dear, by what I write to thee, I do not under take to be a Teacher of thee, for this comfort I have received from the Lord by thee. I hear a Warrant is come to the Lieutenant, I am ready to think it may be concerning thee to send thee to thy journeys end to morrow, and that because they may possibly be hindred if they stay till the day appointed, but I am perswaded that thou art so far from being afraid of it, that thou dost long for the day, which (next under God) to hear of thy willingnes to die, will be the greatest comfort to me in the world. I can write no more, but commit thee to the hands of that God, with whom thou and I ere long shall be:

One Comfort I would have thee to carry to thy grave, If ever God did good to my Soul, thou wast the chief Instrument of it, for I never looked after God till I saw thy face. July 11.

I Call thee so, because God hath put Heaven into thee before he hath taken thee to Heaven; thou now beholdest God, and Christ, and Glory as in a Glass, but to morrow Heaven-gates shall be opened, and thou shalt be in the full enjoyment of all that glory which eye hath not seen, nor eare heard, nor the heart of man can conceive. God hath now swallowed up thy thoughts of Heaven, but ere long thou shalt be whol­ly swallowed in the enjoyment of Heaven. Oh no marvail there should be such a quietness and calmness in thy spirit, whilst thou are falling into this tempestuous storm; because thou perceivest by the eye of faith a haven of rest, where you shall be richly laden with the glory of Hea­ven. Oh lift up thy head with Ioy when thou layest it upon the block in the thoughts of this, that now thou art leaving thy head, to rest in thy Saviours bosome; which when thou shalt awake, shall be Crow­ned not with any earthen Crown which fadeth away, but with an Heavenly Crown of glory. Oh be not discouraged when thou shalt see a Guard of Souldiers triumphing with their Trumpets about thee; but lift up thy head, and thou shalt behold God with a Guard of his holy Angels triumphing for to receive thee into glory. Oh be not dis­mayed at the scoffs and repreaches thou maist meet with in thy short way to heaven; for be assured, that God will not glorifie thy body and soul in Heaven, but he will make the memory of thee glorious upon the earth. Oh let not one troubled thought for thy Wife and Babes rise within thee; thy God will be our God, and our portion; he will be a Husband to the Widow, and a Father to thy Children; the grace of thy God will be sufficient for us. Now, my Dear, I desire willingly and chearfully to resign up my right in thee to my Father, and thy Fa­ther, who hath the greatest part and interest in thee. Though men have separated us for a time; yet our mercifull God will ere long bring us together again, where we shall eternally enjoy one another, ne­ver to separate more. And let me hear how God beareth up thy heart, and let me taste of the Comforts that support thee, that they may be as Pillars of Marble to bear up my heart. I can write no more: Fare­well, farewell, my Dear, till we shall meet where we shall bid farewell no more, till which time I leave thee in the hands of a tender-hearted Father; and do rest, till I shall rest with thee in Heaven.

I Am now going from a prison to a Palace, I have finished my work, I am now to receive my wages; I am going to Heaven where are two of my Children, and leaving you on earth where are three of my Babes; those two above need not my care, but the three below need you [...]. It comforts me to think two of my Children are in the bosom [...] of Abraham, and three of them will be in the arms and care of so tender and godly a mother; I know you are a woman of a sorrowfull spirit, yet be comforted, though your sorrows be great for your Husbands going out of the world, yet your pains shall be the lesse in bringing your Childe into the world; you shall be a joyfull Mother, though you be a sad Widow; God hath many mercies in store for you, the prayers of a dying Husband for you will not be lost; to my shame I speak it, I never pray'd so for you at Liberty, as I have done in Prison; I cannot write much, but I have a few practicall Counsels to leave with you, viz.

1. Keep under a sound Orthodox and soul-searching Ministry: Oh there are many deceivers gone out into the world, but Christs sheep know his voice, and a stranger they will not follow; at­tend any Ministry which teacheth the way of God in truth, and follow Solomons advice, Pro. 19.27. Cease to hear instruction that causeth to erre from the words of knowledge.

2. Bring up your Children in the knowledge and admonition of the Lord; the Mother ought to be a Teacher in the Fathers ab­sence, Pro. 31.1. the words of his Mother taught him, and Timo­thy was instructed by his Grand-mother Lois, and his Mother Eunice, 2 Tim. 1.5.

3. Pray in your Family daily, that yours may be in the number of the families who do call upon God.

4. Labour for a meek and quiet spirit which is in the sight of God of great price, 1 Pet. 3.4.

5. Pore not on the comforts you want, but upon the mercies you have.

6. Look rather at Gods end in afflicting, then at the measure or degree of your affliction.

7. Labour to clear up your evidence for Heaven, when God takes from you the comforts of Earth, that so as your sufferings do abound, your consolations in Christ may abound much more, 2 Cor. 1.4.

8. Though it is good to maintain a holy Jealousie of the deceit­fullnesse of the heart, yet it is evill for you to cherish fears and doubts touching the truth of your graces; If ever I had confi­dence touching the grace of another, I have confidence of grace in you; that I can say of you as Peter did of Silvanus, I am per­swaded that this is the grace of God wherein you stand, 1 Pet. 5.12. Oh my Dear Soul, wherefore dost thou doubt, whose heart hath been upright, whose walking hath been holy, &c. I could venture my Soul this day in your Souls stead, such a confidence have I of you.

9. When you finde your heart secure, presumptuous and proud, then pore upon corruption more then grace, but when you finde your heart doubting and unbeleeving, then look upon your grace not on your infirmities.

10, Study the Covenant of Grace and Merits of Christ, and then be troubled if you can, you are interested in such a Covenant that accepts purposes for performances, desires for deeds, sincerity for perfection, the righteousnesse of another, viz. that of Jesus Christ, as if it were your own: Oh my Love, rest thou in the love of God in the bosome of Christ.

11, Swallow up your will in the will of God: It is a bitter cup we are to drink, but it is the c [...]p our Father hath put into our hand; when Paul was to go to su [...] at Ierusalem, the Christians could say, The will of the Lord be done, Oh say you so when I go to Tower-hill, The will of the Lord be done.

12. Rejoyce in my Joy; to mourn for me inordinately, argues that either you envy or suspect my happinesse; The Joy of the Lord is my strength, Oh let it be yours also: Dear Wife farewell, I will call thee Wife no more, I shall see thy face no more, yet I am not much troubled; for now I am going to meet the Bride­groom, the Lord Jesus, to whom I shall be eternally married.

13. Refuse not to marry when God offers you a fair opportu­nity, but be sure you marry in the Lord, and one of a good disposi­tion [Page 6] that may not grieve you, and one of a comfortable livelihood in the world,

Farewell Dear Love, Farewell, and again I say Farewell, the Lord Jesus be with your Spirit, the Maker of Heaven and Earth be a Husband unto you:—and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ be a Father to your Children: So praies,