either for body or soul, in more ample ways and large manner, than he can well wish, or dare desire. His word cannot lie : Call upon me in the day of trouble and I will hear thee, and thou Psa 50. shalt praise me. I answered the enemy also on this manner: I am a sinner, and therefore not worthy to be a witness of his truth. What then? Must I deny his word, because I am not worthy to profess it? What bring I to pass in so doing, but add sin to sin? What is greater sin, than to deny the truth of Christ's Gospel? As Christ himself beareth witness, He that is ashamed of me or of my words, of him I will be also ashamed before my Father and all his angels. I might also by like reason forbear to do any of God's commandments. When I am provoked' to pray, the exhorenemy may say unto me, I am not worthy to pray, therefore I shall not pray. And so in like manner of all the commandments: I shall not forbear swearing, stealing, murdering, because I am not worthy to do any commandment of God. These be the delusions of the devil, and Satan's suggestions; which must be overcome by continuance of prayer, and with the word of God applied according to the measure of every man's gift, against all assaults of the devil. ted At the bishop's first coming to Lichfield after mine imprisonment, I was called into a by-chamber next to my prison, to my lord. Before whom when I came, and saw none but his officers, chaplains, and servants, except it were an old priest, I was partly amazed, and lifted up my heart to God for his merciful help and assistance. My lord asked me how I liked my imprisonment. I gave him no answer touching that question. He proceeded to persuade me to be a member of his church, which had continued so many years. As for our church, as he called it, [it] was not known he said, but lately in king Edward's time. I profess myself to be a member of that church, said I, that is builded upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ being the head corner-stone; and so alleged the place of St. Paul to the Ephesians. And this church hath been from the beginning, said I, though it bear no glorious shew before the world, being ever for the most part under the cross and affliction, contemned, despised, and persecuted. My lord, on the other side, contended that they were the church. So cried all the clergy against the prophets at Jerusalem, saying, Templum Domini, templum Domini, the church, the church. And always when I was about to speak any thing, my lord cried, Hold thy peace, hold thy peace; I command thee by the virtue of obedience to hold thy peace:— calling me a proud, arrogant heretic. I willed my lord to burthen 2 desired me with some speciality, and then to convince me with some Scriptures and good learning. Then my lord began to move certain questions. I refused to answer him in corners, requiring that I might make my answer openly. .He said I should answer him there. I stood with him upon that point, until he said I should to prison again, and there have neither meat nor drink till I had answered him. Then I lifted up my heart to God, that I might stand and agree with the doctrine of his most holy word. The first question was this: How many sacraments Christ instituted to be used in the church. The sacrament of Baptism, said I, and the sacrament that he instituted at his last supper. No more? said he. To all those that declare a true and unfeigned repentance, a sure hope, trust, and confidence in the death of Christ, to such the ministers, I grant, have authority to pronounce, by the power of God's word, the remission of their sins. Here interrupting me, he would needs bear me in hand that I called this a sacrament. I would not greatly contend with him in that point, because the matter was of no great weight or importance; although he, in so doing, did me wrong, for I called it not a sacrament. He asked me further, whether I allowed their confession. I said, No. Then he would know my mind, what I thought of the presence of Christ's body in the sacrament. I answered, that their mass was neither sacrifice nor sacrament, because (said I) you have taken away the true institution; which when you restore again, I will tell you my judgment concerning Christ's body in the sacrament. Here was he prevented that he could not make an end of this matter which he most godly had begun; by reason of the writ which came from London concerning his execution and martyrdom, which he suffered shortly after. To the Mayor of Coventry and his brethren. I beseech you to understand, that it is not unknown, as well to the keeper of the jail, as to the inhabitants about me where I dwell, that I am a man subject to very great sickness, and have been by the space of seven years and more; so that it is not like that I shall be removed without peril and danger of my life. And because I was here committed to ward by your appointment, I would gladly here answer to such things as shall be laid to my charge. If I may obtain this of you, I have cause thankfully to 1 acknow- reknowledge your indifferency:' if otherwise, I pray God it be your im not laid to your charge at the great day, where every man shall have just judgment without respect of person. Ledge partialty Your prisoner in the Lord, always mindful of you in prayer. my poor 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, marvellously 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 ensample 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 Berneher. His advertisement' if you 1 advice 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 2 care dear Son our only Saviour Jesus Christ, with the Holy Ghost the Comforter; to him be all 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. Apoc. 2. [A full and interesting Narrative of the persecutions and sufferings of Robert Glover and his family has been published by the Rev. B. Richings.] LETTERS OF ROBERT SMITH, One of the Chapel at Windsor; who, as a true and constant witness of This letter is thought Hooper's, that in one copy a. entitled unto him, the phrase ner of may be jectured so To all them which love God unfeignedly, And intend to lead a godly life according to his Gospel, and to persevere in his truth unto the end, grace and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Be not afraid, most dearly beloved in our Saviour Jesus Christ, baster at these most perilous days, wherein, by the sufferance of God, the partly for prince of darkness is broken loose, and rageth in his members against the elect of God with all cruelty, to set up again the mongst di- kingdom of Antichrist: against whom, see that ye be strong in faith, to resist his most devilish doctrine with the pure gospel of and also by God; arming yourselves with patience, to abide whatsoever shall and man be laid to your charge for the truth's sake, knowing that therewriting, it unto ye be called, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for well con- him. Oh how happy are ye, that in the sight of God are counted worthy to suffer for the testimony of Christ! Quiet therefore yourselves, oh my loving brethren, and rejoice in him for whom ye suffer for unto you do remain the unspeakable joys, which neither the eye hath seen, nor the ear hath heard, neither the heart of man is able to comprehend in any wise. Be not afraid of the bodily death, for your names are written in the book of life. And the prophet doth record, that, in the sight of the Lord, prePsa. 115. cious is the death of his saints. Watch therefore and pray, that ye be not prevented in the day of temptation. Now cometh the day of your trial, wherein the waters rage, and the stormy winds to be. Apo. 17. Matt. 7. Eph. 2 blow. Now shall it appear whether ye have builded upon the fleeting sand, or upon the unmoveable rock Christ, which is the foundation of the apostles and prophets; whereon every house that is builded, groweth into an holy temple of the Lord, by the mighty working of the Holy Ghost. Now approacheth the day of your battle, wherein it is required that ye shew yourselves the valiant soldiers of Jesus Christ, with the armour of God, that 2 Tim. 2. ye may be able to stand fast against all the crafty assaults of the devil. Christ is your captain, and ye be his soldiers, whose cognizance is the cross, to the which he willingly humbled himself even unto the death, and thereby spoiled his enemies; and now Eph. 6. Phil. 2. Heb. 12. Col. 1. triumpheth he over them in the glory of his Father, making intercession for them that here do remain to suffer the afflictions Pet. 5. that are to be fulfilled in his mystical body. It behoveth therefore every one, that will be counted his scholar, to take up his own cross and follow him, as ye have him for an ensample; and I assure you that, he being on your side, nothing shall be able to prevail against you. And that he will be with you even to the world's end, ye have his promise in the 28th of Matthew. He will go forth with his host, as a conqueror to make a conquest. He is the man that sitteth on the white horse, crowned with im- Apoc. 6. mortality; and ye, brethren, are his fellowship, whereof he is the 1 Cor.1. head. He hath your heart in his hand as a bow bent after his godly will; he shall direct the same according to the riches of his glory, into all spiritual and heavenly cogitations. He is faithful 1 Cor. 10. and will not suffer you to be further assaulted, than he will give you strength to overcome; and in the most danger he will make a way, that ye may be able to bear it. Acts 2. Psa. 52. Psa. 6. Shrink not, therefore, dear hearts, when ye shall be called to answer for the hope that is in you; for we have the Comforter, 2 Peter 3. even the Spirit of truth, which was sent from the heavens to teach us. He shall speak in us, he shall strengthen us; what is he then Luke 13. that shall be able to confound us? Nay, what tyrant is he that now boasteth himself of his strength to do mischief, whom the Lord shall not with the same Spirit, by the mouth of his servants, strike down to hell-fire? Yea, suddenly will the Lord bring down the glory of the proud Philistines, by the hands of his servant David. Their strength is in spear and shield, but our help is in 1 Sam. 17. the name of the Lord, which made both heaven and earth. He is 2 Cor. 6. our buckler and our wall; a strong tower of defence. He is our Heb. 8. God, and we are his people. He shall bring the counsels of the Psa. 32. ungodly to nought. He shall take them in their own net. He shall destroy them in their own inventions. The right hand of the Lord shall work this wonder. His power is known among the Psa. 117. children of men. Their fathers have felt it and are confounded. In like manner shall they know that there is no counsel against the Lord, when their secrets are opened to the whole world, and are found to be against the living God. Work they never so Gen. 12. craftily, build they never so strongly, yet down shall their rabble fall, and the builders themselves shall then be scattered upon the face of the earth, as accursed of God. The just shall see this and Psa. 32. be glad, and praise the name of the Lord, that so marvellously hath dealt with his servants, as to bring their enemies under their feet. Then shall the fearful seed of Cain tremble and quake. Gen. 4. Then shall the mocking Ishmaelites be cast out of the door. Gen. 11. Then shall the proud Nimrod see his labour lost. Then shall Phil. 3. the beast of Babylon be trodden under foot. Then shall the Psa. 2. Scribes and Pharisees for madness fret and rage. Then shall Psa. 52. Psa. 65. Gen. 2. |