their course in this dark and uncomfortable weather. Some such discourse will be highly seasonable, now that the daily sacrifice is ceasing, and that all the exercise of your functions is made criminal; that the light of Israel is quenched. Where shall we now receive the viaticum with safety? How shall we be baptised? For to this pass it is come, sir. The comfort is, the captivity had no temple, no altar, no king. But did they not observe the passover, nor circumcise? Had they no priests and prophets amongst them? Many are weak in the faith, and know not how to answer, nor whither to fly. Dear sir, we are now preparing to take our last farewell (as they threaten) of God's service in this city, or any where else in public. I must confess it is a sad consideration; but it is what God sees best, and to what we must submit. The comfort is, Deus providebit. Sir, I beseech God to conduct all your labours, those of religion to others, and of love and affection to me, who remain, Sir, yours, &c. 46. Jeremy Taylor to Evelyn. DEAR SIR,-I perceive by your symptoms how the spirits of pious men are affected in this sad catalysis. It is an evil time, and we ought not to hold our peace; but now the question is, who shall speak? Yet I am highly persuaded that, to good men and wise, a persecution is nothing but a changing the circumstances of religion, and the manner of the forms and appendages of divine worship. Public or private is all one; the first hath the advantages of society, the second of love. There is a warmth and light in that; there is a heat and zeal in this: and if every person that can, will but consider concerning the essentials of religion, and retain them severally, and immure them as well as he can with the same or equivalent ceremonies, I know no difference in the thing, but that he shall have the exercise, and consequently the reward, of other graces, for which, if he lives and dies in prosperous days, he shall never be crowned. But the evils are, that some will be tempted to quit their present religion, and some to take a worse, and some to take none at all. It is a true and a sad story-but oportet esse hæreses, for so they that are faithful shall be known; and I am sure He that hath promised to bring good out of evil, and that all things shall co-operate to the good of them that fear God, will verify it concerning persecution. But concerning a discourse upon the present state of things, in relation to souls and our present duty, I agree with you that it is very fit it were done, but yet by somebody who is in London, and sees the personal necessities and circumstances of pious people. Sir, I know not when I shall be able to come to London; for our being stripped of the little relics of our fortune remaining after the shipwreck, leaves not cordage nor sails sufficient to bear me thither. But I hope to be able to commit to the press my first books of conscience by Easter-time; and then, if I be able to get up, I shall be glad to wait on you; of whose good I am not more solicitous, than I am joyful you so carefully provide for it in your best interest. I shall only give you the same prayer and blessing that St. John gave to Caius: "Beloved, I wish that you may be in health and prosper," and your soul prosper; for so, by the rules of the best rhetoric, the greatest affair is put into a parenthesis, and the biggest business into a postscript. Sir, I thank you for your kind expressions at the latter end of your letter. You have never troubled me, neither can I pretend to any other return from you, but that of your love and prayers. In all things else I do but my duty, and I hope God and you will accept it; and that, by means of his own procurement, he will, some way or other (but how I know not yet), make provisions for me. Sir, I am, in all heartiness of affection, Your most affectionate friend And minister in the Lord Jesus, 47. Jeremy Taylor to John Evelyn, Esq. HONOURED AND DEAR SIR, -Not long after my coming from my prison, I met with your kind and friendly letters, of which I was very glad, not only because they were a testimony of your kindness and affection to me, but that they gave me a most welcome account of your health, and (which now-a-days is a great matter) of your liberty, and of that progression in piety in which I do really rejoice. But there cannot be given to me a greater and more persuasive testimony of the reality of your piety and care, than that you pass to greater degrees of caution and the love of God. It is the work of your life, and I perceive you betake yourself heartily to it. The God of heaven and earth prosper you and accept you! I am well pleased that you have read over my last book and give God thanks that I have reason to believe that it is accepted by God and by some good men. As for the censure of unconsenting persons, I expected it, and hope that themselves will be their own reprovers, and truth will be assisted by God, and shall prevail, when all noises and prejudices shall be ashamed. My comfort is, that I have the honour to be an advocate for God's justice and goodness; and that the consequent of my doctrine is, that men may speak honour of God, and meanly of themselves. But I have also this last week sent up some papers, in which I make it appear that the doctrine which I now have published was taught by the fathers within the first 400 years; and have vindicated it both from novelty and singularity. I have also prepared some other papers concerning this question, which I once had some thoughts to have published. But what I have already said, and now further explicated and justified, I hope may be sufficient to satisfy pious and prudent persons, who do not love to go quâ itur, but quá eundum est. Sir, you see how good a husband I am of paper and ink, that I make so short returns to your most friendly letters. I pray be confident, that, if there be any defect here, I will make it up in my prayers for you, and my great esteem of you, which shall ever be expressed in my readiness to serve you with all the earnestness and powers of, Dear sir, Your most affectionate friend and servant, Nov. 21, 1655. JER. TAYLOR. 48. Jeremy Taylor to Evelyn. May 15, 1657. HONOURED AND DEAR SIR,—A stranger came two nights since from you with a letter, and a token; full of humanity and sweetness that was, and this of charity. I know it is more blessed to give than to receive; and yet as I no ways repine at the Provi dence that forces me to receive, so neither can I envy that felicity of yours, not only that you can, but that you do give; and as I rejoice in that mercy which daily makes decrees in heaven for my support and comfort, so I do most thankfully adore the goodness of God to you, whom he consigns to greater glories by the ministries of these graces. But, sir, what am I, or what can I do, or what have I done, that you think I have or can oblige you? Sir, you are too kind to me; and oblige me not only beyond my merit, but beyond my modesty. I only can love you, and honour you, and pray for you; and in all this I cannot say but that I am behindhand with you, for I have found so great effluxes of all your worthiness and charities, that I am a debtor for your prayers, for the comforts of your letters, for the charity of your hand, and the affections of your heart. Sir, though you are beyond the reach of my returns, and my services are very short of touching you, the obeying of which might signify my great regards of you, I could with some more confidence converse with a person so obliging, but I am obliged and ashamed, and unable to say so much as I should do to represent myself to be, Honoured and dear sir, Your most affectionate And obliged friend and servant, 49. Bishop Hall from Prison. WORTHY SIR,You think it strange that I should salute you from hence. How can you choose, when I do yet still wonder to see myself here? My intentions and this place are such strangers, that I cannot |