I received your late loving lines dated the 12 th of Octob: last past about 9 or 10 weeks after: I am right glad to vnderstand by them, of the generall well-fare of your Plantations (which I beseech the Lord to perpetuate 350to the Praise of his Name) but very sorrie to heare by them of the death of my Brother-in-lawe of whose true-harted sincerity to god and man, I was as well perswaded as of any with whom I haue had so short acquaintance, which Confidence causeth mee (though I bee sorrie) not to sorrow for him as a Heathen without Hope, but rather as a Christian, with good hope that it is well with him now, and shall bee yet better with him at that Day of Refreshing from the Presence of the Lord. Act: 3. Your Relacion of the manner and 2d cause of his death hath fenced mine eares against the false Rumour which I heard since, vizt. that hee with many others was slaine by the Natives. Wee haue noe news heere worth the Relating, Onely wee heare, that the Arch-bishops Metropoliticall Visitacion is (once againe) comming downe into this County. What effects it will produce I am not prophet sufficient infallibly to foretell: but (if wee may ghesse by the Proceedings of Pope Regulus2 in our next neighbour and natiue diocesse) it is to bee feared that wee shall haue more Loste Groates swept out of the House instead of the Duste, to the litle laude of our good huswifery. Hee alone can amend All who threatneth to lay Judgment to the Line, and Righteousnes to the Plummett (Isai. 28) that soe hee may give every one his due to an haires breadth; and to Him they that are His must and doe referre their Case.

For myselfe (bycause I beleeue your good affection may make yow willing to heare how and what I doe) I am, (not longe since) remooved from Graces to the litle plat which gods good Prouidence hath layd out for mee at Good-ester, where meeting with the Flocke much larger then the Fleece it seemeth to signify vnto mee that the Lord would haue mee take more paines in Feeding then in shearing of his sheepe, tho many Idle and Idoll shepheards are best skilled in the latter of these. Sir, my earnest Request to yow is that yow would please to put vp your Prayers to the Lord for mee, to intreate him, that Hee which hath counted mee faythfull by putting of mee into the Ministry, would giue mee grace not to fayle his expectation in the Discharge thereof; but would vouchsafe to make mee soe faythfull now both to him and his Church, that Hee may finde mee faythfull at the last Day. For former lettres from yourselfe, I can call to minde but onely one before this that I haue received and in both that and this more love and respect then I can challenge as due. I make noe question but lettres from Graces will more fully informe yow how they doe there then time and paper and my present absence from thence will permitt mee to doe; onely I heere that Sir Hen:3 hath lately had another sore brush with the gowt, but is now vpwards againe. 351The Lord season and sanctify all for good. I am bold to enclose a lettre to my sister the widdow, for the more certainty of the deliuery. Thus with the tender of my due respect and seruice to your selfe and Mrs. Winthrop etc. with my loue remembred to my sister and to all with yow that desire to loue the Lord Jesus in sinceritie, I leaue yow and yours to him that leaueth none of His and soe take leaue to rest Your kinsman in all faythfull and vnfained Affection to command

1: The common error was this that a soule being laden and labouring vnder sin, thinks that hereby it deserves rest etc. 2: another sorte finding themselves thus laden yet think that rest is heere offered them and so they take it to themselves; but such peace will not holde.

2: The right way of closing with this promise is thus: the soule thus labouring vnder the burden of sin, attends to the promise which consists of 2 Conditions, 1 is of its misery, which it is sensible off, and the 2 is of Comming to Christ or beleeving in him. heere the soul is at a losse, finding it impossible by its owne strength to beleeve, yet having some support from Christs invitation of those who come in such a labouring Condition, it hanges vpon the promise meditating vpon it, sighinge and groaninge and prayinge as it can over it, with earnest longings after Christ and so wayting for rest, in this way the spirit of God works Faith in the soul, and therewith it is brought to Christ and so findeth rest For Faith and Christ come both at one instant Christ lays holde of the Soul, and works faith torn all Faith lays hold vpon Christ at torn.