I prayse God, we came safe to London, and continue in health and founde all well heere: thus it pleaseth the Lorde to followe vs with his blessinges, that we might loue him againe. I finde heer so much to doe, as I doubt I shall not come downe these 3: weekes, but thou maiest be sure I will staye no longer then my occasions shall enforce me.

I must now beginne to prepare thee for our longe partinge, which growes verye neer: I knowe not how to deale with thee by argumentes, for if thou wert as wise and patient as euer woman was, yet it must needs be a great triall to thee, and the greater, because I am so deare to thee: that which I must cheifly looke at in thee, for a grounde of contentment, is thy godli­198nesse: If now the Lord be thy God, thou must shewe it by trustinge in him, and resigninge thy selfe quietly to his good pleasure: if now Christ be thy husbande, thou must shewe what sure and sweet intercourse is betweene him and thy soule when it shalbe no harde thinge for thee, to parte with an earthly, mortall, infirme husbande, for his sake: the enlargment of thy Comforte in the Communion of the Loue and sweet familiarity of thy most holy, heauenly and vndefiled Lorde and husbande, will abundantly recompence whatsoeuer wante or inconuenience may come by the absence of the other: the best course is to turne all our reasons and discourse into prayers, for he onely can helpe, who is Lorde of sea and lande, and hath sole power of life and death.

It is now near XI: of the clocke, and I shall write again ere longe (if God will) the good Lord blesse thee and all thy company: my broth: and sister salute you all. Comend my hearty love to my good sister F: and all the rest. Tell her I wrote to mr. Dummer so soone as I came to towne, and if I can I will speak with him before John goe downe. so I kisse my sweet wife and rest Thy fraile yet faithfull husband

I should not now omite any opertunity of rightinge to thee, concideringe I shall not longe haue thee to right vnto. but by reson of my vnfitnesse at this time I must intreat thee to except of a fewe lines from me and not to imput it to any want of loue or neglect of my duty to thee, to whome I owe more then I shall euer be able to expresse, my requst nowe shalbe to the lord to prosper thee in thy voyage and inable thee and fit thee for it, and giue all graces and giufts for such imployments as he shall call thee to. I trust god will once more bring vs together before you goe that we may see each other with gladnesse, and take sollem leaue, till wee through the goodnesse of our god shall meete in New England which wilbe a ioyfull day to vs. I send thee here inclosed letters from mr. Paynter my good sister F. remembers hir loue to you and it semeth hath ritten so earnestly to mr. P. not to come that he doth for beare to come till he heare more. I thinke she would haue you send him word to come as sone as he 199can beinge desyrus to speake with him before you goe, but it must not come from hir selfe for she wil right to him to stay still. she sayth that he shall not neede to prouide anythinge but a house for she will furnish it hir selfe, and thus with my best wishes to god for thy health and welfayre I take my leaue and rest thy faythful and obedient wife