Mr. Jaquel his Letter to Mr. Love.

My bowels are troubled within me, I am pained, I am pained, even at the very heart, The Lord
knows I want words to express the thoughts of my heart to you, to you, I say, right Christian
Friend, and true Souldier of Jesus Christ. I was thinking to have been silent, being even ashamed
to send you a line written by that hand, which is very much slackened and taken off from the
plough; which I thought, not many weeks agoe, had been very fast setled. Give me leave to breath
forth my heart to you in such rude words and language as I can utter; and I pray you receive them,
and spell out my heart towards you, which at this time is so full, that I know not how to empty it,
but in tears before the Lord for you night and day. And oh, that the remembrance of the seventh and
one and twentieth of June might often come into my thoughts, to keep my heart humble for my folly,
in taking my own, and carnall friends counsell, and not the counsell of those that are right godly;
which (as I now perceive) did help to bring forth that sad, and never to be forgotten day, and Sentence
on the fifth of July, against my dear friend. Truly, could I not appeal to God, who knoweth all
things, what the intention of my heart was, thinking I might rather do you good than hurt, knowing
one had gone before me, and fearing he had much wronged you, made me willing to testifie what I
did, being told and informed, it would do you good and not hurt, being but Misprision at the most. I
say, were it not for the testification in mine own conscience, I were not able to bear up my spirit,
but should (I fear) even sink under the burden. But when I consider to whom I now write, who,
I know is full of charity, and doth believe what I say, and will forgive what wrong I have done him,
and I hope, will pray for me to your God and my God, to your Father and my Father, that he will
not lay this to my charge: for you may charge me to be as one of those Paul chargeth in 2 Tim. 4.15.
And deer Sir, If the Lord will be pleased to let me see your face once more, that I may open my self
to you, I hope I shall stand right in your affections. Some promises I have met withall in the word,
that do (methinks) add wings to my faith, that God will not suffer you to fall by the hands of violence;
as in Psal. 79. Psal. 91. Psal. 94. Psal. 3. Isa. 41.10. Isa. 66.5. and many others, that I know you
are better acquainted with than I am, and can beat them out, and lay them by you, as a glass of cordiall
water for fainting times. But dear Sir, let me earnestly beg of you, that you will use what means
you can for your own preservation, and go as far as you can in your Petition to them, in whose power
your life is, for many reasons: As first, Because if you shall fall, O! how would the enemies rejoyce?
Malignants and others would make songs at your death, and say, Where is all his Fastings
and Prayers? His God will not help him: Oh Sir, it would be a day of reproach and blasphemy.
And secondly, Consider how would it sadden the hearts of Gods people, and make them wring their
hands, if they should miss the fruit of their prayers in your deliverance; which (I am confident)
have been poured out in an extraordinary way for you? And thirdly, Consider the service you may
yet do in the Church of Christ: How many souls may God make you instrumentall to bring home to
Christ? And what service may yet this poor bleeding Nation have by your life? And fourthly, I need not A4r 4
not remember you of your dear and precious Consort, who, I am confident, is dear in the heart of
God, and also to you; and her life even bound up in yours, and her condition being as it is. And then
I humbly beg, you will consider my condition; for surely, in that day I should hear of your life being
violently taken away, mine would be but little comfort to me, being instrumentall in taking yours
away, although (the Lords knows) not intentionally, but accidentally. Therefore for these reasons, I
humbly beg of you again and again, that you will do what you dare, and go as far as you can for your
preservation; and the Lord will make you instrumentall for his glory, if not here, yet in some other
place; and (methinks) where ever the Lord cast you, I could willingly make that promise, and perform
it, that Ruth made to Naomi; and so I am confident, could my dear wife, whose heart (I know)
bleeds for you, and her eyes run down with tears to God for you. Good Sir, in your addresses, remember
me to God, that I may learn to lean upon him more firmly, and rely upon the Rock of Ages,
and not upon broken reeds: And (I hope) through the strength of Christ, and the supply of your prayers,
I shall be better fortified for the time to come, as Peter was after his fall.

I would fain be remembred to my good friend Dr Dr. I hope I have got better armour of proof
than I had before; but I hope there will be no need of shewing it about him. For poor Po. he hath
wronged himself more than any man can, for I hear, he hath sent more Papers of his confession since
he was there.

Good Sir, I have many things more to say, but will not presume to be more burdensome to you at
this time. Will the Lord let me see your face once more here? I hope he will. However, it will not
be long before we shall enjoy one another in that place, where violent hands shall not touch us; and
then eternity shall be little enough to praise and magnifie the Lord for his riches of mercy he shews
to us.

The Lord stand by you, The Lord preserve you, and put his everlasting arms under you, and deliver
you: Which shall be the earnest groans and sighs of him, who is (he hopes) a dear, yet a most unworthy
Friend, not worthy to be look’d upon by you.

Dr. Drake’s Letter to Mr. Love.

I cannot but congratulate your liberty, and the singular honour God hath laid upon you. The Captain
of our salvation is wise, and knows whom to call out for his Champion. He hath pleased to call
you to the forelorn-hope, we are leading up the van; our brethren in the black bill, are like to bring up
the body; and for our rear (blessed be God) we have armies of prayers and tears; yea, through mercy,
we may say, “Our righteousness goes before us, and the glory of the Lord shall be our reward”, Isa. 58.8.
Well might we fear, had we not a good God, a good Cause, and a good Conscience; but where God
justifies, who shall condemn? Certainly, that God who hath done us so much good by a prison,
(blessed be his name) can do us much more good by our tryall. He bids us not fear them who at
worst can but kill the body: “and why should we be afraid of man that shall dye, &c. and forget the Lord
our Maker, yea, our Redeemer?” Its too much honour God laies upon us, to suffer any thing for his
Name and Covenants sake; that hereby we are so indeared in the hearts of his Faithfull people,
and have been occasions to blow up the spirit of prayer, that was almost extinct. Will not God incline
his ear when he hath prepared the heart? Did he ever set his children a begging, but he had a
boon for them? I need not stir up your Christian resolution, but desire rather to light my candle at
your Lamp. Yet, when lately I looked upon Rev. 2, & 3. I espied no less than seven rare Cordials to
persons in our condition, Rev. 2. v. 7, 10, 17, 27. & c. 3. v. 5, 12, 21. 1. A tree of Life. 2. Freedome from
hurt by the second death. 3. The hidden Manna and white stone. 4. The morning star and weilding
the rod of iron. 5. The white garments the Book of life, and owning us before his Father.
6. That we shall be pillars in his house, having his new name graven upon us. 7. That we shall sit in
his throne, &c. and all this made over, not “πδ νικήσκισι”, or “πδ νενικηκόπ”, but “πδ νικωντι”, “to him that
is overcoming”. A Christian is sure to conquer, if he dare but fight, and no souldier but he can glory
when he puts on his harness. The Lord arm you with such courage and wisdom, that you may avoid
the snares, and be above the fury of your Adversaries. God, Angels, and Men look upon you;
and while you are a fighting, Christ is weaving your Crown: He by your example, so hearten his people,ple, A4v 5
and damp the adversary, as they may rejoyce (and bless God) who favour your righteous dealing,
and all iniquity may stop her mouth. So prays

Another of Dr. Drakes to Mr. Love. 1651-06-17June 17. 1651.

Icannot be unmindfull of your person and condition, as being not only in the body, but also in an
especiall manner bound with you, Heb. 13.3. And certainly, if habituall and active grace be such
motives of Christian love, is not passive grace much more? To suffer for Christ is a grace, as well as
to believe in him, Phil. 1.29 υμιν εχαρίσθη, &c. Christ and his people are never more lovely than upon
the Cross. May we not under God, thank our prison, that we are so gracious this day in the eyes
of Gods people, yea, and I am perswaded, in the eyes of some enemies? Must not we by suffering enter
into glory, as our blessed Saviour? Luk. 24.26. Doth not Christ by this means set a higher rate upon
reformation, the Ministry, and the Government? How do the Northern people prize the Sun, who
see it but once in three or six moneths? and do not our dunghill-hearts ordinarily value blessings,
more by their want, than injoyment?

In particular, Sir, how are you indeared to God and man in this call, to be the Proto-Confessour or
Proto-Martyr; the Lord inable you by grace, to bear the honour, as well as the burthen. I bless God
for your chearfullness and constancy, whose flame contributes much to the keeping of my poor spark
alive.

But my errand is, if it may be, to prevent the latter: and may it stand with Gods will, I would not
have you yet to be a Martyr. Haply you will say, I wish you worse than your Adversaries do; if so,
yet I am sure it is with an honester heart, &c.—.

Sir, I have only one thing to adde, which I apprehend as a providence not to be slighted, namely,
that your day of tryall is your day of Jubilee, and your day of Pentecost, it being precisely the fiftieth
day from your apprehension: ordered so, I am confident, by especiall providence, not by the intention
of the Adversary: The Lord make it a Jubilee to you, for liberty of spirit, and a day of Pentecost for
effusion of the Spirit of grace, wisdom and utterance. I shall say Amen to the Omen, and follow it with
what poor interest I have in heaven; still choosing rather to dye with Love, than to rule with Lust, which is the Magna charta of these apostatizing times. My best affections to your self, and dearest consort,
I beg your prayers, and rest,

Another of Dr. Drakes to Mr. Love.

My most dear and precious friend in the Lord, in whom I observed great reason, both of love and
honour, from the first day that God blessed me with the knowledg of you; but never more than
at this time, when you are ascending your triumphant chariot, and mounting into the cloud of witnesses,
Heb. 12.1. to guide and encourage us who are left yet behind, to run with readiness the race that
is set before us. Sweet Sir, I wonder not you are so chearfull, being so near your journeys end, steered
by our great Pilot, out of a dangerous and troublesome Sea, and entring into the harbour; putting off
your pilgrims weeds, that you may be cloathed with the white robes, as a free denison of the heavenly
Jerusalem. I mistook in dreaming of an earthly Pentecost and Jubilee; that 50th day I now perceive
was an hint and summons to call you to the everlasting Jubilee above, Heb. 12.v.22,24 a Parasceve to
the eternal Sabbath, Heb. 4.v.9,10. How much are we beholding to our very enemies (rather to God) for B1r 6
for them) who never did us more good, than when they think to do us the shrewdest turn. I wonder
not now at that Epinicium of the Apostles, Rom. 8. ver. 28, & 33. to the end, & I Cor. 3. v. 21, 22, 23.
Death is so far from separating, that it brings us immediately to Christ, Phil. I. 23. and that by a
stroke so honourable, so easie, so comfortable, so speedy, that you need but wink and go to Heaven.
The Lord is pleased to give you a writ of ease, and pay you your penny at the sixth hour. Blessed
be God, we serve a good Master, who puts us only upon honest and honourable imployments, makes
our task easie and short, doth all our works for us and in us; and after all, rewards us freely and richly,
as if we had earned our wages. Better be Gods hireling than the worlds darling, Luk. 15.v.17,19.
Dear Sir, I bless God for your faithfullness, patience, courage, wisdom, whereby you have both tryed
and discovered the policy and strength of your Antagonists, and shewed to your poor unworthy
fellow-sufferers that by grace they are conquerable. The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour;
go in this thy might, and finite the host of Midian as one man, Judg. 6. v.12,14,16. The Lord
make you a true Samson, that you may do the Devils kingdom more mischief at your death, than ever
you did in all your life. God is now but in his old method, to make the blood of the Martyrs the seed
of his Church, Col. I.24 Hiel deserved a curse for building Jerico, ( Josh. 6.26.) but God deserves blessing
for building the new Jerusalem, though he lay the foundation thereof in Abiram his first-born
(so is Christ, our high Father: compare Gen. 17.5. with Isa 9.6.) and set up the gates thereof in his
younger Son Segub, ( 1 King. 16 last.) such are we poor contemptible creatures, exalted and strengthned
by God, not only to do, but also to suffer for his Name, ( Act. 5.41. Phil. 1.29.) Cause, Church
and Covenant. The Lord is making you such a blessed Segub: making that to be your honour
strength and safety, which many judged to be your shame, weakness and danger. Dear Sir, God honours
you to be the Elias, and first to ascend the fiery chariot; May I, without presumption, be the
Elisha, and make two or three bold requests unto you: and first let me beg your prayers for a double
portion of your Spirit. Secondly, let me see you (if possible) before you ascend, though it be but
through the lattess, on your Nuptial morning. Thirdly, let fall your mantle, that I may by means of it
be inabled to divide Jordan, yea, the Red-sea, if God call me through it, and not sink like an Egyptian
in the mighty waters, Psal. 32.6. Fourthly, if there be any remembrance of things below, in heaven
( Luk. 16. v.24,25,28) will you when you are in the blessed Heaven, think of your poor friend, and
the rest of your fellow Souldiers left behind, and labouring in the storme, till Christ come to them as
he doth to you. Surely the Church triumphant doth not forget the Church militant: and prayer is
no paradox in heaven, ( Rev. 6.v.9,10) till the body of Christ be perfected: If justice makes them
pray against enemies; why should not charity draw out supplications for their friends: Surely,
there is a communion of Saints between the Church militant and triumphant; we may bless God
for them, and cannot they pray for us? The Martyrs would not pray to dead Saints, but some of
them desired living Saints to pray for them, both on earth and in heaven: and I think therein they
were not superstitious. Sweet Sir, I know to whom I speak, and am assured, that Love will not be
puffed up with that which would soon burst a bladder of pride: None higher in Gods eyes than
those are who are lowest in their own. I see your time is short, and therefore though my affection be
like Jordan at the time of harvest, I must set bounds and banks to my words, lest I divert and trouble
you in your passage. I doubt not but you remember that you must pass through the Jordan to the
fiery Charist. Jordan was not more effectual to cleanse Naaman’s Leprosie, than the River of repentant
tears is to purge the leprosie of sin ( Psal. 119.v.136.) next after the the immense ocean of the bloud
of Christ. It’s not Abanah and Parphar will wash away the Leprosie, but Jordan; not will every tear
wash away sin, but penitent tears. You have but little time to mourn, Christ stands by with his towel
and handkerchief, Psal. 56.8. Rev. 7 last. & 21.4. Isa. 25.8. Spiritual sorrow and joy are inseparable
companions in this life; and the Dove-like spirit of comfort loves these streams, Cant. 3.12. Matth.
3-16. Every true Christian hath this Baptismus fluminis joyned with Baptism. flaminis: And now God
honours you with Baptis. Sanguinis superadded. The cup of tears and cup of comfort may well go
together, and happy he who can mingle this drink with weeping, Psal. 102. 9. such need not fear
to pledge Christ in his cup of bloud; and undoubtedly shall sit at Christs right hand in his Kingdom,
Matt. 20. ver. 22, 23. though not in the sense of the two ambitious Brethren. If we could
weep or repent for any thing in heaven, sure it would be, because we wept and repented no
more nor no better on earth. The Lord enable you and us all to do much work in a little
time. If I see you no more, I must be forced here to take my long leave; yet why say I Bso? B1v 7
so? it may prove but a short leave, since in likelyhood (as things stand) few weeks, yea, dayes, may
bring me to a sight of your blessed soul in the arms of Christ: and surely, the communion of Saints in
heaven, is cumulative to their essential happiness. The Lord enable me to imitate your graces, and
then I shall not doubt to inherit your happiness, which is only God, the highest end, and the chiefest
good. The Lord be nearer to you than your danger, and support you in the most needfull hour; and
when men have done their worst, receive your soul to his mercy, Act. 7. v. 55,56,59. Luk. 2.29,30.
& 2 Tim. {Handwritten addition: 4} end of handwritten addition v.7,8. So prays

Mr. Robinson’s Letter to Mr. Love.

The loss which the Church of God will sustain by your death, is a very great trouble to me, and I
doubt not, but a far greater to others, whose hearts God hath made more sensible to feel his
hand. This stroke I am confident will be your happiness, but a great misery, a sad punishment to many:
when God hath a purpose to punish many at once, he useth to take this course. The extinguishing such
a star, (I do not flatter you, God knows) cannot but greatly afflict the whole world. I wish heartily
God would grant me the favour to see you before your wedding day, for I dare not call it a dying
day. I hope I shall be in your thoughts when you are at the throne of Grace. Good Sir, heap up as many
prayers as you can for the poor Church of God before you leave us, it shall be the best legacy you
can bequeath; what you shall sow, some will live to reap, and will not be unrewarded. Jesus
Christ had his thoughts on the Church even to his dying hour; good Sir, imitate your Master, I need
not say any thing to strengthen you against the fear of your approaching day, I doubt not, but you
have often overcome that fear through Jesus Christ. Profectio est quam putas mortem: ’Tis but the taking
of a journey, and though the way be deep, yet its but short: God brings you the nearest way. A shorter
cut never had any to rest. I know you have been often upon Mount Nebo, where you have seen
Canaan, whither you are going. The Mysticall head cannot be cut off; you have finished your testimony,
and fear not to receive your recompence. Christ hath transformed this black Messenger to you into
an Angel of Light. How soon others may follow you is known only to God; if we stay longer, ’tis
but to row in a stormy Sea. Moses was very willing to dye, God said, “Go up and dye”; and he “went up and
died”. Let not the care of your Relations afflict you, “The earth is the Lords and the fullness thereof; Leave
your fatherless children, God will provide for them; Let your widdow trust in God”. Your dear yoke-fellow
is a partaker of the same grace with you; how rich are they that are heirs to the promises? You can
commend your spirit into Gods hands, much more your wife and children: Remember that promise,
“I will be thy God, and the God of thy seed”; Sir, it is a richer portion than the Mines of India. You were
but a cistern to them, the fountain lives, and will live when you are dead: God can provide without
you, you cannot without God. Good Sir, Chear up; I hear how full of joy you are, blessed be God;
all these are but little drops to the ocean. I have writ this to fill you more and more. An Ax, and a
severer are all one; you shall dye without sickness. When you think of the present ignomi ny, look on
the future glory; you shall be with God, Christ, Angels, “the souls of just men made perfect”, in a short
time. What a happiness is it to have grace in perfection! to see God face to face, to be freed from the
being of sin, Temptations of Devils, society of wicked men! You have faught a good fight, you have finished
your course, you have kept the faith, &c. and you are going to receive your Crown, a crown
of glory, that fadeth not away. You are now going to that place, where the voice of the oppressor
shall never be heard: You are going to your bed, the best and safest you ever slept on. The steps of
the scaffold will be a Jacobs Ladder, upon which you shall ascend to your loving Father: The Scaffold
will be as mount Nebo; The Ax of the Executioner will cut off the head of sin, and put an end to
all misery. Be sure, Sir, Not only the Angels of God, but the God of the Angels himself will mightily
strengthen you. If your death, and this kind of death, were not most for the glory of God, and the
benefit of the Church, I am confident, God would have saved you from this hour.

I have writ thus, not because you want advice, but to testifie my love, my dear love to you, and
to give you remembrance of me and mine, before your departure hence. Good Sir, accept of it as my
last farewell; farewell, farewell dear Friend. God, that hath bound up your soul in the bundle of life, be B2r 8
be your comfort, joy, hope, peace, confidence in life and death to all eternity: Yea he will be your
guide unto death; He will be an Husband and head to your dearest Wife; He will be a tender Father
to your little Babes. This is the confidence, this shall be the prayer of

A brief Note from Mr. Jenkyn to Mr. Love.

Thou art very near to my soul. The Lord Jesus Christ smile with the pleasantest face upon thee,
that ever he did upon Sufferer. ―― I here send thee a Book that I have been much relieved
by, in my Imprisonment. What are ten thousand Deaths, where Christ is apprehended by faith!
These considerations where the leaf is turn’d down, (pag. 335.) do sweetly support faith. ――I am
afraid almost to send these thoughts, for fear over-many notions may disturb thee. ――I judge
these more profitable than speculative discourses of death. ――The great God, that hangs the Earth
upon nothing but his Word, bear up thy soul on his promises. Oh sweet, most sure, sure, sure (oh
remember sure!) promises; as stable as the very Essence of God; for the performances whereof
God hath pawn’d his Being: As I live, &c.

My Heart, I love thee, I kiss thee, I weep upon thee, I rejoyce for thee, I shall see thee in glory. The
Lord Jesus strengten thee. He will.

Mr. Jenkyn his Letter to Mr. Love.

Blame me not of this backwardness to cast in this mite. I was hardly perswaded of the fitness
thereof: your greatest danger is in the plenty of these tokens, considering your own store. Though
your appetite be never so good, it’s impossible you should concoct all the food dish’d up in Books, Friends Papers, and your own Meditations by and for you. I shall desire to make up my Paper-defects
by fervent prayer: and oh that I could pray so this once, as if I were not to do it a second
time. My only counsell must be, that which I know hath been your only care, and will be your only
comfort; namely, that you sleep in Jesus. Thou shalt not sleep (though that were much) in the
lap, bosome, and arms of Jesus; but in this sleep he looks upon thee as a piece of himself, even as a
Open note a001-rota 1 Cor. 15.18,20.
Coloss.1.18. member, a dear limb. In dying thou shalt not dye. They who are fallen asleep
in Christ, perish not. Christ the first fruits (a most sweet resemblance) the happy
hansell of the grave, the first born from the dead, the Head of the body, did rise
from the dead as such, and not as a private person: So that our resurrection is
(even now) in its cause. The union ’twixt Christ and thee (and this union is not
only ’twixt Christ and thy soul, but thy body also; and therefore he is the first fruits of the dead)
cannot be broken off by death. Christ should rebell against the will of his Father, (which were
blasphemy to think) if he should lose any thing which his Father hath given him; as he should,
were it not to be raised up at the last day. Christ is the very resurrection, and he that
believeth in him, though dead, yet shall live. Oh, how hath Christ perfumed the grave, and beautified
the grisly face of Death! Death is (now) a priviledge, our best friend next to Christ, and the
truth is, all our meanes and sorrows in this life, are for want of that which we so much fear, death;
as the child that cries for want of sleep, and yet cannot endure to undress and go to bed. My dear
Open note a002-rota Ephes. 5.27.
Jude 24. vid. heart! thou hast better cloaths to put on in the morning of the Resurrection: “This
mortall shall put on immortality.” Thy garment of grace hath had many spots, perhaps;
this day thou shalt take thy leave of mourning for them, and therefore the Lord help
thee to mourn more holily and meltingly than ever; but the garment of glory shall
not have one. Lord, is there a condition wherein I shall never sin more, wherein I shall have as much
grace as I can hold, and wish, and will desire; wherein I shall no more wash the feet of Jesus Christ,
and now and then be suffered to give them a kiss, but shall lye in his blessed bosome, and be clasped in
his glorious arms to eternity! This is thy approaching happiness; and every comfort, by how much the
nearer, is the sweeter. Now is thy salvation nearer than when thou first believedst.

Oh dear heart! Now for a strong faith! oh wrestle mightily with the great God, for strength to
overcome him; cling about the promises, precious promises, not only for their fullness, but infallibility;
adventure thy soul upon them. The faithfullness of God is a foundation which bears the
heaviest structure, and the greatest load of sin and expectation. Jesus Christ calls, beseeches,
commands, threatens, and all to make thee believe. The Lord increase thy faith! thou art to go
through a very great work, but Christ hath laboured, and thou art but to enter into his labours.
Death is but a nominall enemy when Christ hath disarmed it; there is more terror in the pomp of it
(as Seneca said) the Scaffold, the Axe, Spectators, Reports, than in the thing it self. Oh how may a
Christian insult over it! “Oh Death, where is thy Sting”! Christ hath spoiled principalities and powers,
disarmed, disrobed them. His death is the death of Death; all its stings are left in his side. Say not
therefore (Dear heart) who shall role away the stone from the mouth of the sepulchre? when thou
comest thither, thou shalt find it rol’d away to thy hand. Its difficulties and distresses are taken away
in Christ. ――To this dear Lord Jesus I commit thee, who in his due time will wipe away all tears
from the eyes, and sin from the souls of his poor servants; and out of all our storms, bring us to that
haven where we would be. I know not where to break off, and yet not where to leave thee so well
as there.

Master Case to Master Love.

Thou art awaked out of thy last natural rest, to go to thy eternall rest: the night is past, thou
shalt never know night any more, but God shall give thee light, and thou shalt reign for ever and
ever, Rev. 22.3,4,5. Thou art now going where thou shalt be in a true sense above ordinances, and
above Scripture, 1 Cor. 13.12,13 where God in Christ shall be thy all in all. Thy prison shall be turned
into a Palace, and thy filthy garments shall be taken away, and thou shalt be cloathed with long
white Robes, and in the moment when thy body and head shall be severed, thou shalt be united to
Christ thy Head; in him thou shalt be crowned, and with him thou shalt reign to eternity. It is finished.
Job. 17.1,4,5,6,11,13,24.

Let me see that face once more, which I shall see no more till the last day. Send up one sigh before
thee for thy following Brother and Companion in tribulation, and in the Kingdom and Patience of
Jesus Christ.

Another of Master Case’s to Master Love.

Thou art now going to heaven: to quicken thy desires, put it into these notions, that are most sutable
to thy condition.

• To the weary it is rest, Isa. 57.2. Rev. 14.13.
• To the banished home, 2 Cor. 5.6.
• To the reproached glory, Rom, 5.2.
• To the molested and captived with corruption, it is the glorious liberty of the Sonnes of God,
  Rom. 8.21.
• To the resister to bloud, it is conquest, Rom. 8.37.
• To the vexed with sin and sorrow, it is the exstinction of both.
• To the hungry soul, it is the hidden Manna, Rev. 22.17.
• To the thirsty, rivers of pleasure, water of life, fountain of life, Rev. 22.17. Psal. 36.8,9.
• To the grieved soul, it is fulness of joy, and to the sorrowfull heart pleasures for ever more,
  Psal. 16.8.

In a word, To them that have lien upon the dunghill here, and kept their integrity, it is a throne
upon which they shall sit and reign with Christ for ever and ever, Rev. 3.31 & 22.5.

Dear heart chear up, a sharp breakfast, but a blessed supper, the supper of the Lamb. The Bridegroom
saith, “Loe I come quickly”. Let thy rejoyced soul eccho back again, “Even so, come Lord Jesus.” There

There is but a little time for prayer left, in that remember me, and then everlasting halelujahs will
be thy work, and rest. Live for ever with thy God. Amen.

I shall accompany thee with my prayers, though I cannot with my person.

Mistress Loves Letter to Master Love.

Before I write a word further, I beseech thee think not that it is thy wife, but a friend now that
writes to thee. I hope thou hast freely given up thy wife and children to that God, who hath said
in the 49. of Jer. & v.11. “Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve them alive, and let thy widdow trust
in me”: thy Maker will be my Husband, and a father to thy children. O that the Lord would keep thee
from having one troubled thought for thy relations. I desire freely to give thee up into thy Fathers
hands, and not only look upon it as a crown of glory for thee to dye for Christ, but as an honour to
me, that I should have an husband to leave for Christ. I dare not speak to thee, nor have a thought
within my own heart, of my unspeakable loss, but wholly keep my eye fixed upon thy unexpressable
and unconceivable gain. Thou leavest but a sinfull, morrall wife, to be everlastingly married to the
Lord of glory: Thou leavest but children, brothers, and sisters, to go to the Lord Jesus thy eldest
Brother: Thou leavest friends on earth, to go to the enjoyment of Saints and Angels, and the spirits
of just men made perfect in glory; Thou dost but leave earth for heaven, and changest a prison for a
Palace. And if naturall affections should begin to arise, I hope that spirit of grace that is within thee,
will quell them; knowing that all things here below, are but dung and dross in comparison of those
things that are above. I know thou keepest thine eye fixed on the hope of glory, which makes thy
feet trample on the loss 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.
When thou art putting on thy cloaths that morning, O think, I am now putting on my wedding garments,
to go to be everlastingly married to my Redeemer. And when the messenger of death comes
to thee, let him not seem dreadfull to thee; but look on him as a messenger that brings thee tidings of
eternal life. When thou goest up the scaffold, think, (as thou saidst to me) it is but thy fiery chariot, to
carry thee up to the Fathers house. And when thou layest down thy precious head to receive thy Fathers
stroke, remember what thou saidst to me, Though thy head was severed from thy body, yet in
a moment, thy soul should be united to thy Head the Lord Jesus in heaven. And though it may seem
something bitter, that by the hands of men we are parted a little sooner than otherwise we might
have been; yet let us consider, it is the decree and will of our Father; and it will not be long ere we
shall enjoy one another in heaven again. Let us comfort one another with these saying s. Be comforted
my Dear heart, it is but a little stroke, and thou shalt be there where the weary shall be at rest, and
where the wicked shall cease from troubling. Remember, though thou maist eat thy dinner with bitter
herbs, yet thou shalt have a sweet supper with Christ that night. My Dear, by what I write unto thee,
I do not hereby undertake to teach thee; for these comforts I have received from the Lord by thee.
I will write no more, nor trouble thee any further, but commit thee into the arms of that God, with
whom ere long thee and I shall be. Farewel, my Dear, I shall never see thy face more, till we both behold
the face of the Lord Jesus at the great Day.

Another of Mistress Loves to Master Love.

Icall thee so, because God hath put heaven in thee, before he hath taken thee to heaven. Thou now
beholdest God, Christ and Glory as in a glass; but to morrow, heavens gates will be opened, and
thou shalt be in the full enjoyment of all those glories, which eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither
can the heart of man understand. God hath now swallowed up thy heart in the thoughts of heaven;
but ere long thou shalt be swallowed up in the enjoyment of heaven: And no marvel there should be
such quietness and calmness in thy spirit, whilest thou art sailing in this tempestuous Sea; because
thou perceivest by the eye of faith a haven of rest, where thou shalt be richly laden with all the glories
of heaven. O lift up thy heart with joy, when thou layest thy dear head on the block, in the thought B3 of B3v 11
of this, that thou art laying thy head to rest in thy fathers bosome; which when thou dost awake shall
be crowned, not with an earthly fading crown, but with an heavenly eternal crown of glory. And 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 to receive
thee to glory. Be not dismayed at the scofs and reproaches that thou maist meet with in thy short way
to heaven; for be assured, God will not only glorifie thy body and soul in heaven, but he will also
make the memory of thee to be glorious on the earth! O let not one troubled thought for thy wife
and babes arise within thee; thy God will be our God, and our portion; he will be a husband to thy
widdow, and a father to thy children, the grace of thy God will be so sufficient for us. Now, my
Dear, I desire willingly and chearfully to resign my right in thee to thy Father and my Father, who
hath the greatest interest in thee. And confident I am, though men have separated us for a time; yet
our God will ere long bring us together again, where we shall eternally enjoy one another, never to
part more. O let me hear, how God bears up thy heart, and let me taste of those comforts that support
thee, that they may be as pillars of marble to bear up my sinking spirit. I can write no more,
Farewel, farewel my Dear, till we meet there where we shall never bid farewell more; till which
time I leave thee in the bosome of a loving tender hearted Father, and so I rest,

Master Love to his Wife, when he should have first suffered.

Iam now going to my long home, yet I must write thee a word before I go hence, and shall be seen
no more; It is to beg thee to be comforted in my gain, and not to be troubled in thy loss; Labour
to suppress thy inward fears, now thou art under outward sorrows; as thy outward suffering s abound,
let thy consolation in Christ abound also. I know thou art a woman of a sorrowful spirit. My
time is short, I have but a few words of counsel to give thee, and then I shall leave thee to God, who
careth for thee and thine.

• 1.Whiles thou art under desertions, labour rather to strengthen and clear up
  thy evidences for heaven, than question them.
• 2. Remember a faith of adherence, or reliance on the
  Lord Jesus, brings thee to heaven, though thou want the faith of Evidence or Assurance.
• 3. Labour to
  find that (and more also) in God, which thou hast lost in the creature.
• 4. Spend not thy days in heaviness
  for my death; if there were knowledg of things below, or sorrow in heaven; I should grieve to
  think my beloved should mourn on earth.
• 5. Lye under a soul-searching Ministry: I know thou art
  not a spungy hearer, to suck in foul water as well as fair. God hath given thee a good understanding,
  to be able to discern things that differ; as the mouth tasts meat, thy ear tryeth words.
• 6. Be conversant
  in Christian meetings, and much in the exercises of the duties of mortification, in fasting and
  prayers; yet have respect to the weakness of thy body and thy present condition.
• 7. Have a care of
  thy self and babes, God will take care for thee and them.

I can write no more; farewell my Dear,
farewel, farewel. These are the last words written by

My Dear, I beg thee to be satisfied: my heart is greatly comforted in God; I can quietly submit
to the good pleasure of his will, and I hope thou dost so also; I am delivered by the determinate
counsel of God, the will of the Lord be done. Read for thy comfort when I am dead and gone,
Jer. 49. 11 and the beginning of the 12. Isa. 54. vers.5, 6, 7, 8. Psalm 146, ver. 9. 2 Cor. 4.
ver. 17, 18. Heb. 12. ver. 6, 7.

Another of Master Loves to his Wife.

It adds to my rejoycing, that I have so good and gracious a wife to part with for the Lord Jesus. In
thy grief, I have been grieved; but in thy joy, I have been comforted. Surely, nature could never
help thee to bear so heavy a stroke, with so much silence and submission to the hand of God! O dearest,
every line thou writest, gladdeth my heart. I dare not think that there is such a creature as Mary
Love in the world; for Kit, and Mall, I can think of them without trouble, leaving them to so good a
God, and so good a Mother. Be comforted concerning thy Husband, who may more honour God in
his death than in his life; the will of the Lord be done, he is fully satisfied with the hand of God.
Though there be but little between him and death, he knows, there is but little between him and
heaven; and that ravisheth his heart. The Lord bless and requite thee for thy wise and good counsel;
thou hast prevented me, the very things I thought to have written to thee, thou hast written to me:
I have had more comfort from thy gracious letter, than from all the counsel I have had from any
else in the world; well, be assured, we shall meet in heaven. I rest, till I rest in heaven.

Another of Master Loves to his Wife.

Iwas fast asleep when thy Note came. I bless God, I break not an hours sleep for all my sufferings;
I know they work for me a more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. I slept this night from ten at
night, till seven in the morning, and never waked. My Dear, I am so comforted in the gracious supports
God gives thee, that my burdens are the lighter on my shoulders, because they are not so heavy
on thine; or if they be heavy, yet that God helps thee to bear them. The Lord keep it in the purpose
of our hearts for ever, to submit to the good pleasure of God. I bless God I do find my heart in as
quiet and composed a temper as ever I did in all my life. I am till I dye,

Master Loves last Letter to his Wife, on the day he suffered.

Iam 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 thee on the earth where are
three of my babes; those two above need not my care, but the three below need thine. It comforts
me to think two of my children are in the bosome of Abraham, and three of them will be in the
arms and care of so tender and godly a Mother: I know thou art a woman of sorrowfull spirit, yet
be comforted: though thy sorrow be great for thy Husbands going out of the world; yet thy pains
shall be the less in bringing thy child into the world; thou shalt be a joyfull Mother, though thou beest
a sad Widdow. God hath many mercies in store for thee; the prayers of a dying Husband for thee
will not be lost. To my shame I speak it, I never pray’d so much for thee at liberty, as I have done
in prison. I cannot write more, but I have a few practical counsels to leave with thee, 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 will they not follow. Attend on
  that Ministry that teaches the way of God in truth, and follow Solomons advice, Prov. 19.27. “Cease to
  bear instruction that causes to erre from the ways of knowledg.”
• 2. Bring up thy children in the knowledg and admonition of the Lord: the mother ought to be a
  teacher in the fathers absence, Prov. 19.27. “The words which his mother taught him”: and Timothy was
  instructed my his Grandmother Lois, and his mother Eunice, 2 Tim. 1.5.
3. Pray B4v 13
• 3. Pray in thy family daily, that thy dwelling may be in the number of the families that do call on
  God.
• 4. Labour for a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price, 1 Pet.Peter 3.4.
• 5. Pore not on the comforts thou wantest, but on the mercies thou hast.
• 6. Look rather at Gods ends in afflicting, than at the measure and degree of thy afflictions.
• 7. Labour to clear up thy evidences for heaven, when God takes from thee the comforts of earth,
  that as thy sufferings do abound, so thy consolations in Christ may abound much more, 2 Cor. 1.4.
• 8. Though it is good to maintain a holy jealousie of the deceitfulness of thy heart, yet it is evill for
  thee to cherish fears and doubts, about the truth of thy graces; If ever I had confidence touching the
  grace of another, I have confidence of grace in thee; I can say of thee as Peter did of Silvanus, I am
  perswaded that this is the grace of God wherein thou standest, 1 Pet.Peter 5.12. Oh my dear soul, wherefore
  dost thou doubt, whose heart hath been upright, whose walkings have been holy, &c. I could
  venture my soul in thy souls stead, such a confidence have I of thee.
• 9. When thou findest thy heart secure, presumptuous and proud, then pore upon corruption,
  more than upon grace; but when thou findest thy heart doubting and unbelieving, then look on thy
  graces, not on thy infirmities.
• 10. Study the covenant of grace and merits of Christ, and then be troubled if thou canst. Thou
  art interested in such a covenant that accepts purposes for performances, desires for deeds, sincerity
  for perfection, the righteousness of another, viz. that of Jesus Christ, as if it were thine own. Oh my
  Love! rest, rest then in the love of God, in the bosome of Christ.
• 11. Swallow up thy will in the will of God; it is a bitter cup we are to drink, but it is the cup our
  Father hath put into our hands. When Paul was to go to suffer at Jerusalem, the Christians could say,
  “The will of the Lord be done”; Oh, say thou, 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 thou enviest, or suspectest
  my happiness. The joy of the Lord is my strength, oh let it be thine 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 Bridegroome the Lord Jesus Christ, to whom I shall be eternally marryed.