Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 1
1618-04-04
my most sweet freind, and faithfull companion of my pilgrimage, the happye and hopefull supplie (next Christ Jesus) of my greatest losses, I wishe thee a most plentifull increase of all true comfort in the loue of Christ, with a large, and prosperous addition of whatsoever happynesse the sweet estate of holy wedlocke, in the kindest societye of a lovinge husbande may afford thee. Beinge filled with the ioye of thy loue, and wantinge opportunitye of more familiar communion with thee, which my heart fervently desires, I am constrained to ease the burthen of my minde by this poore helpe of my scriblinge penne, beinge sufficiently assured that, although my presence is that which thou desirest, yet in the want thereof, these lines shall not be vnfruitfull of comfort unto thee. And now, my sweet Loue, lett me a whyle solace my selfe in the remembrance of our loue, of which this springe tyme of our acquaintance can putt forthe as yet no more but the leaves and blossomes whilest the fruit lyes wrapped vp in the tender budde of hope, a little more patience will disclose this good fruit, and bringe it to some maturytye: let it be our care and labour to preserve these hopefull buddes from the beasts of the fielde, and from frosts, and other iniuryes of the ayre, least our fruit fall of ere it be ripe, or lose ought in the beautye and pleasantnesse of it: lett vs pluck vp suche nettles and thornes as would defraud our plants of their due nourishment; let vs pruine of superfluous branches: let vs not sticke at some labour in wateringe, and manuringe them, the plentye and goodnesse of our fruit shall recompence vs aboundantly: our trees are planted in a fruitfull soyle; the grounde, and patterne of our love, is no other but that betweene Christe and his deare spouse, of whom she speakes as she findes My welbeloued is mine and I am his, loue was their banquettinge howse, loue was their wine, loue was their ensigne,2 loue was his inuitinges, Loue was hir fayntinges, Loue was his Apples, Loue was hir Comforts, Loue was his embracinges, loue was hir Refreshinge: Loue made him see hir,3 Loue made hir seeke him: Loue made him wedde hir, Loue made hir followe him.4 Loue made 227him hir Saviour,5 Loue makes hir his servant.6 Loue bredd our fellow-shippe, let Loue continue it, and Loue shall increase it, untill deathe dissolue it. The prime fruit of the spirit is loue,7 truethe of spirit and true loue; abounde with the spirit, and abounde with Loue: Continue in the spirit and continue in Loue: Christ in his loue, so fill our heartes with holy hunger and true appetite, to eate, and drinke with him and of him in this his sweet Love feast, which we are now preparinge vnto, that when our love feast shall come, Christ Jesus himselfe may come in vnto us, and suppe with vs and we with him: so shall we be merrye indeed. (O my sweet spouse) can we esteeme eache others loue, as worthy the recompence of our best mutuall affections, and can we not discerne so muche of Christs exceedinge and vndeserved love, as may cheerfully allure vs to love him aboue all? he loued vs and gaue himselfe for vs, and to helpe the weaknesse of the eyes and hande and mouthe of our faithe which must seeke him in heaven where he is; he offers him selfe to the eyes handes and mouthe of our bodye, heere on earthe where he once was. The Lord increace our faithe.
Nowe my deare heart, let me parlye a little with thee about trifles, for when I am present with thee my speeche is preiudiced by thy presence, which drawes my minde from it selfe: I suppose nowe vpon thy vnckles comminge there wilbe advisinge and councellinge of all handes; and amongst many I knowe there wilbe some, that wilbe provokinge thee, in these indifferent thinges as matter of apparell fashions and other circumstances, rather to give contente to their vaine mindes savouringe to muche of the fleshe etc then to be guided by the rule of Gods worde, which must be the light and the Rule, for althoughe I doe easyly grant that the kingdome of heauen is not meat and drinke apparrell etc but Righteousnesse peace etc: yet beinge forbidden to fashion ourselves like vnto this world, and to avoyde not onlye evill but all appearance of it must be avoyded, and allso what soever may breed offence to the weake (for which I praye the
Lastly for my farewell (for thou seest my lothenesse to part with thee makes me to
Groton where I wishe thee. Aprill 4. 1618. My father and mother salute thee heartyly with my Lady and the rest.
If I had thought my letter would have runne to halfe this lengthe I would have made choyce of a larger paper.
Cant: 2. In the manuscript these scriptural references are marginal or interlinear.
Ezech: 16.
Jer: 2. 2.
Jo: 3. 16.
Deut: 10. 12.
Gal: 5. 22.