Marginalia1556. Ianuarymany, but specially by the declaring of that valiant captayn in CHRISTES church, that stout Champion in Gods cause, that spectacle to the world, I meane our good brother Philpot, who now lieth vnder the aultar, and sweetely enioyeth the promised reward.  

And specially I and my condemned fellowes geue thankes to God for your louyng and comfortable letter in the deepenes of our trouble (after the flesh) sent vnto vs to the consolation of vs all, but most specially to me most synfull myser on myne own behalf, but happy, I hope, through Gods louing kindnes in CHRIST shewed vnto mee: who suffered me to faynt and fayle through humane infirmity, by the working of the archenemy in hys sworne soldiours the Bishops and Priests: MarginaliaHis iudgement and experience of Popish Prelates.In whom so liuely appeareth the very vsage and shape of Sathan, that a man (if it were not preiudice to Gods word) myght well affirme them to be deuils incarnate, as I by experiēce do speake. Wherefore, who so shall for conscience matters come in their handes, had neede of the wilines of the Serpent to saue hys head, though it bee wyth the wounding of hys body, and to take diligent heede howe hee consenteth to their wicked writings, or setteth hys hand to theyr conueiances.

[Back to Top]

Sore dyd they assault mee and craftelye tempt mee to their wicked wayes, or at least to a denegatiō of my faith and true opinions, though it were but by colour & dissimulation. And (alas) somthing they dyd preuail. Not that I am any thing at all lyked their opinions and false papisticall religion, or els doubted of the truth wherein I stand, but onely the infirmity of the flesh beguiled me, desiring liberty by an vnlawfull meanes: God lay it not to my charge at that day, and so I hartely desyre you to pray. Howbeit vncertaine I am whether more profite came thereby: profit to me, in that God suffered Sathan to buffet me by his foresayd minister of mischiefe, shewing me mine infirmity, that I should not boast nor reioyce in my selfe but onely in the Lord, who when hee had led me to hell in my conscience through the respect of hys fearefull iudgements agaynst me for my fearfulnes, mistrust, and crafty cloking in such spirituall and weighty matters (in the which myne agony and distresse, I found this old verse true, Non patitur ludum fama, fides, oculus  

) yet be brought me from thence agayne to the magnifying of hys name, suspecting of fleshe and bloud, and consolation of myne own soule, or els that I might freele disprofite in offendyng the congregation of God, which peraduenture wyll rather adiudge my fal to come of doubtfulnes in my doctrine and religion, then of humaine imbecilitie.

[Back to Top]

MarginaliaThe burden of a troubled conscience.Wel, of the importune burden of a troubled conscience for denying or dissembling the knowen verity, I by experience could say very much more, which perhaps I wyll declare by wryting, to the warning of other, if God graunt tyme: For now am I and my fellowes ready to go hence euen for CHRISTES cause: Gods name be praised who hath hetherto called vs. Pray, I pray you, that we may end our course with ioy, and at your appoynted tyme you shall come after. But as the Lorde hath kept you, so wyll he preserue your lyfe styll, to the intent you should labour (as you do) to appease and conuince these vngodly contentions and controuersies, which now do to to much raigne, brawling about termes to no edification. God is dishonored, the Church disquieted, and occasion to speake euyll of the Gospell ministred to our aduersaries. But such is the subtilty of Sathan, that whō he cannot wyn with grosse idolatry in open religion, thē he seeketh to corrupt and deceiue in opinions, in a priuate profession. But here I wil abruptly leaue, lest with my rude and simple veyne I should be tedious to you, desyring you (my louing brother) if it shall not seeme greeuous vnto you, to write vnto me and my fellowes yet once agayne, if you may haue leasure, and we time to the same.

[Back to Top]

MarginaliaHe writeth for the examination of M. Philpot.Prouide me M. Philpots. ix. examinations for a friend of myne, and I shall pay you therefore,  

by the leaue of almighty God our heauenly father, who correcteth all hys deare children in this world, that they should not be damned with the world, and tryeth the fayth of hys Saintes through many tribulations, that being found constant to the end, he may crowne his owne giftes in them, and in heauen highly reward them: Whether I trust to go before, looking for you to follow (my faythfull friend) that we may sing perpetuall praise to our louing Lord God for victory ouer Satā and sinne, woon for vs by Iesus Christ God and man, our only and suf-

[Back to Top]

ficient Sauiour and Aduocate. Amen. Farewell, and pray in fayth.

Yours Thomas Whittell Minister,
and now condemned to dye for the
Gospels sake. 1556. Ianuary. 21.

¶ All my fellowes salute you. Salute all our
faythfull brethren wyth you.

HE that preserued Ioseph prisoner in Egypt, fed Daniel in the Lyons denne, and deliueredMarginaliaAct. 16. Paul, Peter, and the Apostles out of prison, vouchsafe of his goodnes to kepe, fede, and deliuer you my good brother Went, with the other our felow souldiours your prison felowes, as may be most to hys glory, to your consolation, and the edification of his Church.

[Back to Top]

I cānot but prayse God most earnestly, when I heare of your constancy in the fayth and ioy in the Crosse of CHRIST which you now beare and suffer together, with many other good members of CHRIST: which is a token that by CHRIST Marginalia2. Thess. 1.ye are counted worthy the kyngdome of God, as Paul sayth. And though the world counteth the yoke and crosse of CHRIST as a most pernicious & hurtfull thyng, yet we which haue tasted how frendly the Lord is, Marginalia1. Pet. 2.cannot but reioyce in this persecution as touchyng our selues, in as much as the cause for the which we suffer is the Lordes cause, and not ours: at whose hand, if we endure to the end, we shall receiue through his liberal promise in CHRIST, not onely a great reward in heauen, but also the kyngdome of heauen it selfe, and also in the meane season be sure to be defended and cared for, so that we shal lacke no necessary thinges, MarginaliaMath. 10.neither a heare of our heades shall perishe without hys knowledge. O what is he that would mistrust, or not gladly serue so louyng a father? O how vnhappy are they that forsake him and put their trust in man? But how blessed are they that for his loue and for hys holy wordes sake, Marginalia1. Pet. 4.in these troublesome dayes do committe their soules and bodyes into his handes with well doyng, countyng it greater happines and riches to suffer rebuke with CHRIST and hys Churche, then to enioy the pleasures of this lyfe for a litle short season? MarginaliaHeb. 11.This crosse that we now beare, hath bene common to all the faythfull from Abel hetherto, and shalbe to the end, MarginaliaApo. 12.because the deuill hauyng great wrath agaynst God and hys CHRIST, can not abyde that hee should for hys manifold mercies be lauded and magnified, and CHRIST to be taken and beleued vpon for our onely and sufficient redemer, Sauiour, and aduocate: MarginaliaSathan cā not abide Christ to be receaued for our only sauiour and thereof riseth all this persecution.and therfore, because we will not deny CHRIST, nor dissemble with our fayth, but openly proteste and professe the same before the world, he seeketh by all meanes to styrre vp hys wicked members, to persecute and kill the bodyes of the true Christians: as S. Iohn sayth, MarginaliaApo. 2.the deuill shall cast some of you into prison. And Dauid sayth, MarginaliaPsal. 115.I beleued, and therefore haue I spoken, but I was sore troubled. Thys notwythstandyng, go forward deare brethren, as ye haue begon, to fight the Lordes battell, consideryng CHRIST the Captaine of your warre, who will both fight for you, geue you victory, and also hyghly reward your paynes. Consider to your comfort, the notable and chief shepheardes and souldiours of CHRIST which are gone before vs in these dayes, I meane those learned and godly Byshops, Doctours, and other ministers of Gods word: whose fayth and examples we that be inferiours ought to follow, as S. Paul sayth: MarginaliaHeb. 13.Remember them that haue declared vnto you the worde of God, the end of whose conuersation see that ye looke vppon, and followe theyr fayth. The grace and blessing of God, with the ministery of hys holy Angels, be with you for euer, Amen. All my prison felowes grete you.

[Back to Top]

From the Colehouse  

this. 4. of December. By
your poore brother Thomas Whittell, an vn-
worthy minister of CHRIST now his prisoner
for the Gospels sake. Amen.

MarginaliaA letter of Tho. Whittell to the true professors of the citie of Londō.THe same faith for the which Abraham was counted rightuous,MarginaliaRom. 4. Luke. 1. and Mary blessed, the Lord God encrease and make stable in your harts, my dere and faithfull brethren and sisters of London, for euer and euer, Amen.

Marginalia1. Pet. 4.Dearly beloued, be not troubled in this heat which is now come