Thes tedious passages bares vs of all commerce: further then the vnlimeted wishes of each others hapynes, wich allthough I haue noe power to procure: yet it glads all my spirits to hear it: and blesed be god that hath so tenderd you in this infancie of a plantation, when theer was so small hopes of support or comfort, god still preacheth the life of fayth to his: and discouers himselfe in the mount. Ohe that thees experiences of his faythfullnes maye make vs able to doe all things throwhe christ: to liue hapylie and to dye comfortable: and all knowinge that ouer dayes heare are but a moment be they sweet or bitter: and when death comes, our liues are hid with christ in god: and when he our life shall apear, then shall wee allso apear with him in glory: I hartylie thank you for all the expressions of your loue, and 353desiers of our company. I know not yet how it will pleas god to dispose of vs. wee are in many distractions: my present condition is vnfit for changes: and both this plauge and plaugs aproach, and increas, and maye well affright: as beinge the arguments of the allmighties controuersie with vs: and prouocations increasinge to such heyghts: what can wee expect: if the sonne of god must suffer, rather then his Justis be vnsatisfied. Lend vs all your faythfull prayers: knowinge the head is the same, whereuer the members are: and if god pleas to afford vs the presence of each other in this life, I shall hope of much comfort therin. but if he denyes that, and bringe vs together in heauen, wee shall not haue much cause of complaint: I pray present my best seruis and wishes to your freest commands: to whom I am obliged beyound all hope of merit: but may I haue opertunitie of seruinge you or yours, it would be very acseptable to me: and I pray commend my best affections to all my dear nephves and neses and good frinds: intreatinge theer excuse for not wrightinge to them: for a few lines are now a great dayes work with me, beinge far biger and vnapt for acsion then euer I was: I haue more kinde remembrances to you from graces, groton assington, and indeed I am obliged to that family, so much as I maye well admire, but can never deserue the least part of it: allso from cowne, shrubland, maplested. I thank Msr. Tindall and Mrs. Tindall they very noble proferd vs intertainement for the time wee wear from home, with much earnestnes and desires of fauoringe me in any kinde, as I should haue ocasion. I beceech you to doe me the fauor to giue them many thanks in my behalfe for ther noblenes to us: but indeed I dare not venter of the task to giue you acount of all theer louinge wishes and respects to you: for groton if you haue not letters thence this passage, it is partlie my fault: for I was to giue them notice of msr. peerce his goeinge: and I hear my letter lyes att my brother Kerbyes still, and mist passage this week, but I pray be confident, for I dare ingage my selfe for theer faythfull respects to you: and I am of opinnion they may be with you ere years to an end, if things proceed as now they are with them: for indeed they are very sensible of msr. Leas restraint, as well they maye, for he was an vpright and a paynfull pasture of theers, truly careinge for theer soulles: howeuer some body either weakly or wors did abuse both my brother Winthrop and him, in relations of Msr. Lea wich did a littell touch him: yet I confes, he bare it with as much Christian patience, and made as good vse of it to himself I thinke, as might be: and I cannot tell but there might be a prouidence in it for his good: for it came straunglie to his vewe: I sendinge the letter to my sister from cowne: he beinge by, and she beinge a very poor dark, desierd him to read it to her: and poor soulle she was so perplext when she heard the passages in it: but Msr. 354lea hath well quit him selfe of those asspersions: for he hath leeft but all for the cause: and I haue littell hope, either of him or any in the like condition to be restored: god of his mercy send vs better newes: I thank you for all your loue to owers. I wish they maye deserue it: and that wee might all haue opertunietie to be seruisable. Yours in reallitie rather then in subscription