The opportunitye of so fitt a messinger, and my deepe engagement of Affection to thee, makes me write at this tyme, though I hope to followe soone after. The Lorde our God hath ofte brought vs togither with comfort, when we haue been longe absent, and if it be good for vs, he will doe so still: when I was in Irelande he brought vs togither againe: when I was sicke heer at London, he restored vs togither againe: 209how many dangers neer death hast thou been in thy selfe and yet the Lorde hath granted me to inioye thee still: if he did not watch ouer vs, we need not goe ouer sea to seeke death or miserye, we should meet it at euery steppe, in euerye iournye: and is not he a God abroad as well as at home? is not his power and prouidence the same in New England that it hath been in old England if our wayes please him he can commande deliuerance and safetye in all places, and can make the stones of the feild, and the beastes yea, the raginge seas and our verye enemies, to be in league with vs.3 but if we sinn against him, he can rayse vp euill against vs out of our owne bowells, howses, estates etc. my good wife, trust in the Lorde, whom thou hast found faithfull, he wilbe better to thee then any husband: and will restore thee thy husband with aduantage: but I must ende: with all our salutations with which I haue laden this bearer, that he may be the more kindly wellcome: So I kisse my sweet wife and blesse thee and all ours, and rest Thyne euer

I received thy sweet letter, and doe blesse God for all his mercyes to us, in the continuance of thy health and welfayre, and the rest of us heare. I am glad to heere you wil come home this weike, for I desire to enioy thy sweete presence as ofte as I can, before that longe partinge come which I desyre the Lord to fit us for, and give me fayth and pacience to submite unto his will in all thinges which he requires at my hands. I trust he wil sanctify it to me and give me a right use of it, that I may theareby learn the more to depend upon him; when other comforters fayle me, I hope, he will supply by the comfort of his holy spirit in the assurance of his love in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. I see thy love to me and mine, my good Husband, is more then I can deserve, and thou art more willing to grant then I forward to desyre: the good Lord requit thee all thy kindnesse to me, but I will say no more of this till you come home. I beseech the Lord to send us a comforttable meetinge, and thus with 210my best love to thy selfe, my brother and sister Downinge, and all the rest of our frends, I desyre the Lord to send thee a good end of al thy troubles and inable thee to goe through them cherefully, as I trust he will not fayle thee, into whose hands I commit thee and rest thy faithful and obedyent wife