himself always very reverently, nor ever turn his back upon the altar in service-time, nor on the minister when it can be avoided; to stand at the lessons and epistles, as well as at the gospel, and especially when a psalm is sung; to bow reverently at the name of Jesus, whenever it is mentioned in any of the Church's offices; to turn towards the east when the Gloria Patri and the creeds are rehearsing; and to make obeisance at coming into and going out of the church, and at going up to and coming down from the altar, are all ancient, commendable, and devout usages, and which thousands of good people of our Church practise at this day, and amongst them, if he deserves to be reckoned amongst them, T. W.'s dear friend. When he has a cure of souls, T. W. is earnestly desired to celebrate a communion as often as he can get a convenient number to communicate with him; and to urge his people to the frequent performance of that more than any other Christian duty,—it being, indeed, the end of all the rest, as well as the chief of them all; and in the meantime never to miss any opportunity of receiving it that offers itself in the place where he resides: no, not to turn his back when he sees the holy elements upon the altar, although he knew not that there would be a communion until he came into church.

43. Archbishop Cranmer to Mistress Wilkinson, a godly Matron,

Exhorting her to fly in time of persecution, and to seek her dwelling where she might serve God according to his word. THE true comforter in all distress is only God, through his Son Jesus Christ; and whosoever hath him, hath company enough, although we were in a wilderness

all alone; and he that hath twenty thousand in his company, if God be absent, is in a miserable wilderness and desolation. In him is all comfort, and without him is none. Wherefore, I beseech you, seek your dwelling there, as you may truly and rightly serve God, and dwell in him, and have him ever dwelling in you. What can be so heavy a burden as an unquiet conscience, to be in such a place as a man cannot be suffered to serve God in Christ's true religion? If you be loath to depart from your kin and friends, remember that Christ called them his mother, sisters, and brothers, that do his Father's will. Where we find, therefore, God truly honoured according to his will, there we can lack neither friend nor kin. If you be loath to depart, from slandering of God's word, remember that Christ, when his hour was not yet come, departed out of his country into Samaria, to avoid the malice of the Scribes and Pharisees; and commanded his apostles, that if they were pursued in one place, they should fly to another. And was not Paul let down by a basket out at a window, to avoid the persecution of Aretas? And what wisdom and policy he used, from time to time, to escape the malice of his enemies, the Acts of the Apostles do declare. And after this same sort did other apostles: albeit, when it came to such a point, that they could no longer escape danger of the persecutors of God's true religion, then they shewed themselves that their flying before came not of fear, but of godly wisdom to do more good; and that they would not rashly, without urgent necessity, offer themselves to death, which had been but a temptation of God. Yea, when they were apprehended and could no longer avoid, then they stood boldly to the profession of Christ: then they shewed how little they passed of1 death; how much they feared God more than men; 1 cared for.

how much they loved and preferred the eternal life to come above this short and miserable life. Wherefore I exhort you, as well by Christ's commandment as by the example of him and his apostles, to withdraw yourself from the malice of your and God's enemies into some place where God is most purely served; which is no slandering of the truth, but a preserving of yourself to God and the truth, and to the society and comfort of Christ's little flock. And that you will do, do it with speed, lest by your own folly you fall into the persecutor's hands. And the Lord send his Holy Spirit to lead and guide you wheresoever you go; and all that be godly will say, Amen.

T. C.

44. Robert Glover to his Wife, Children, and whole Family, as his last farewell to them for ever in this world.

THE mighty consolation of the Holy Spirit, from our most loving and merciful Father, for his dear Son's sake, Jesus Christ, continually dwell in your heart, my dear and to the end most faithful and godly wife. His holy angels pitch their tents about you and your little ones, and suffer you not to be tempted above your strength; so to the end, that we may dwell all together with our loving and merciful God and Father, and sing praises to his name, with his angels and archangels, for ever and ever. Amen.

I bid you all farewell in the Lord. Continue in prayer, and rejoice in hope; be patient in your affliction; comfort your heart always with the life to come. For my departure, consider how often I have been going from you through my long sickness; and yet God, my most loving and merciful Father, mar

vellously hath reserved me to this high promotion, for the which you ought to give hearty thanks, if you love his glory, and my eternal joy and felicity. And if you shew yourselves obedient children to your heavenly Father, he will love you, keep you, help you, so that you shall lack nothing expedient for soul or body; and in the end, when his good will and pleasure is, you shall come to me, and perpetually enjoy me and I you, and we all shall have the fulness of that joy that shall never be taken from you. Ye little ones, love your mother; yield reverend obedience unto her in all godliness. Be not unkind nor unthankful. Pray for her preservation and continuance amongst you. Pray that she may be an example to you in all the ways of the Lord. And how ye may behave yourselves towards God, your mother, and all other estates and degrees, let always God's word be your rule. Exercise yourselves therein night and day, joining always prayer therewith. God send you a good guide, and good passage, if it be his will, out of this idolatrous and bloody realm. And as Christ committed his mother to John, so I commit you in this world to the angel of God, Augustine Bernher. His advertisement if you will follow, I trust you shall not decline from the fear of God. Be thankful for him, and cease not to pray for his preservation. And thus I commit all, as well servants as wife and children, to the merciful tuition of our most merciful God and Father, and to his dear Son our only Saviour Jesus Christ, with the Holy Ghost the Comforter; to him be praise, now and for ever. Amen. I heartily forgive you all, and doubt not but that you do the same to me.

ROBERT GLOVER.

"Be faithful unto the death, and I will give thee

the crown of life."

45. Evelyn to Jeremy Taylor.-(Condolence amid distress and persecution.)

London, March 18, 1655. Reverend Sir,—It was another extraordinary charity which you did me, when you lately relieved my apprehensions of your danger, by that which I just now received and though the general persecution reinforce, yet it is your particular which most concerns me in this sad catalysis and declension of piety to which we are reduced. But, sir, what is now to be done, that the stars of our once bright hemisphere are every where pulling from their orbs? I remember where you have said it was the harbinger of the great day. . . . . . . For my part, I have learned, from your excellent assistances, to humble myself, and to adore the inscrutable paths of the Most High. God and his truth are still the same, though the foundation of the world be shaken. Julianus Redivivus can shut the schools, indeed, and the temples; but he cannot hinder our private intercourses and devotions, where the breast is the chapel, and our heart is the altar. Obedience founded in the understanding will be the only cure and retreat. God will accept what remains, and supply what is necessary. He is not obliged to externals-the purest ages passed under the cruellest persecutions: it is sometimes necessary; and this and the fulfilling of prophecy are all instruments of great advantage (even while they press, and are incumbent) to those who can make a sanctified use of them. But as the thoughts of many hearts will be discovered, and multitudes scandalised; so there are divers well-disposed persons who will not know how to guide themselves, unless some such good men as you discover the secret, and instruct them how they may secure their greatest interest, and steer