MarginaliaAn. 1555. February.selfe without this grace geuen from aboue, though he seeme otherwise neuer so stoute in him selfe:MarginaliaStrength to stand in Christ, cōmeth not of our selues, but is the gift of God. here therfore haue we added to the foresayd story of Laurence Saunders, the communication which in the begynnyng of his trouble, was betwene him and Doct. Pendleton, by the example whereof, such as stand, may learne to vnderstand and take heede with due feare, & not to bragge: to leane to the grace of the Lord, and not to presume in themselues.

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MarginaliaTalke betwene M. Saunders, and Doctour Pendleton.AT the chaunge of Religion in this Realme, and the begynnyng of Queene Maries reigne, Doct. Pendleton and M. Saunders men knowen to the world, not onely to be learned but also earnest preachers of Gods word in the tyme of blessed kyng Edward,MarginaliaD. Pendleton a stout preacher of the Gospell in King Edwardes tyme. met together in the countrey, where by occasion they were at that tyme, and as the case required (by reason of the persecution that was then at hand) fell to debate what was best for them to do, in so daūgerous a season. Whereupon Maister Saunders, whether thorough very frailty in deede of his weake flesh that was loth to tast of the bitter cuppe,  

though his spirite were ready thereunto: or whether it were vpon the mistrust of his own strength, that he might receiue the greater power frō aboue: or whether it were not for any one of the sayd causes alone, but for both together, or such lyke: seemed so fearefull and feeble spirited, that he shewed hym selfe in appearaunce, lyker either to fall quyte from GOD & his word, which he had taught, or at least to betake him to his heeles and to flye the land, rather then to sticke to his profession and abyde by his tackle:MarginaliaM. Sauders timerous in Christes cause at the first beginning. so as Doctour Pendleton (who on the cōtrary side, appeared not so byg of body, but as bold in courage, nor so earnest before in Pulpit, but as ready now to seale the same with his bloud) tooke vppon him to comforte Maister Saunders all that he might, admonishyng him (as he could do it very well) not to forsake cowardly his flocke when he had most neede to defend the wolfe from them: neither hauyng put his hand to Gods plough, to start now aside and geue it ouer, nor yet (that is worst of all) hauyng once forsaken Antichrist, to fal either himselfe, or to suffer others by his example to returne to their vomite agayne.

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After whiche and such lyke perswasions byddyng hym be of good comfort, and to take a good hart vnto him: what man (quoth hee) there is a great deale more cause in me to be afearde them in you, for as much as you see, I cary a greater masse of fleshe vpon my backe then you do, and beyng so laden with a heauier lumpe of this vyle carkase ought therfore of nature to be more frayle then you: MarginaliaThe stout braggs of D. Pendletō at the first beginning.and yet, sayth he, I wil see the vttermost droppe of this grease of myne molten awaye, and the last gobbet of this fleshe consumed to ashes, before I will forsake GOD and hys truth. Whereunto the other aunsweryng but litle, and wishyng that almighty God would geue him more strength then he presently felt in him selfe,MarginaliaGod geueth strength where feblenes is confessed. acknowledgyng his owne weakenes, consented notwithstandyng though it were somewhat fayntly, to ioyne with him in the profession of the Gospell, and so to go vp to London and set forth the same: wherupon they gaue ech other their handes.

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Now when they were come to London, Lord what a great chaunge was there betwene these twoo personnes. The poore feeble faynt harted Saunders, by the goodnesse of almightie GOD, takyng hart of grace to him, seekyng the same in humilitie, boldly and stoutely confirmed his flocke out of the Pulpite, where his charge lay, mightely beatyng down Antichrist, and lustely preached Christ his Maister, for the which he afterward suffred most willyngly as in afore declared. MarginaliaExample how feble man is of hymselfe without the Lord support hym.Whereas on the other side, Pendleton the proude (who, as it appeared by the sequele, had bene more stoute in wordes, then constaunt in deedes and a greater bragger, then a good warriour) followed Peter so iustly in crackes, how soeuer hee dyd in repentaunce (which God onely knoweth,) that he came not so soone to London but he chaunged his typet,  

and played the Apostata,   preachyng in stede of sounde doctrine, nothyng almost but errours and lyes aduauncyng Antichrist, and ouerthrowyng poore Christ with all his mayne: so that his former boldnes came to nothyng, vnlesse it were a contrary key, becommyng of a faythfull pastour a false runnagate, and of a true Preacher a sworne enemy of Gods euerlastyng Testament, to the great offence of his brethren, the hurt of his flocke, and the vtter vndoyng, without Gods greater mercy, of his owne soule. Wherin are specially to be considered the deepe & meruailous iudgementes of God, who as hee can and doth make strong whom it pleaseth him, when he seeth hys tyme, and most commōly such as appeare most feeblest: euen so contrarywise throweth hee downe o-

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ther some, seeme they neuer so stoute, stand they neuer so much in their owne conceites. Wherefore Marginalia
He that standeth let hym take heede he fall not.
Rom. 13.let him that standeth take heede he fall not: and let vs pray continually to almighty God though we haue fayth, that he wil helpe & encrease our fayth, that in him it may be made stronge, which of it selfe is so weake, that it is soone ouerthrowen.

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This blessed man of God enduryng long tyme in prison, did not passe al his tyme in vnfruitful idlenes, but  

MarginaliaM. Saunders diligent in writing letters out of prison.stil from time to tyme did visite hys frendes (as is sayd) and especially hys wife, with many letters full of godly instruction & consolation.   All which letters it shal not be greatly needfull here to insert, partly because they are to be found in the booke of letters,   MarginaliaRead the booke of letters of the Martyrs. partly because we entend also (if God wil) to prosecute the same more at large.   In the meane tyme it shall not be out of place here presētly to comprehend certain of them, as in order followeth.

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MarginaliaA letter of M. Saunders sent to B. Farrar, D. Taylor, M. Bradford and Maister Philpot.GRace, mercy & peace in Iesus Christ our Lord &c. Good Fathers and dear brethren, be thankfull vnto our moste gracious God, which hath preserued vs, and shall (I doubte not) from blaspheming his blessed name: yea not only that, but also ex ore Infantium & Lactentium perficiet laudem. &c. i. MarginaliaPsal. 8.Out of the mouthes of very babes & sucklinges shall be set forth his prayse. They offer vs (forsooth) our liberty and pardon, so that we will rise with them vnto that fayth which we with them were fallen from. Ye or no, must be aunswered in hast. They will not admit any needful circumstances, but al (as heretofore) most detestable & abhominable. Rise with them we must vnto the vnity. A pardō (say I) of me must not be so dearly purchased. A pardō I desire, for to liue with an vnclogged conscience. The Donatistes (say they) sought for such singularity, but they were not meete to liue in a common wealth, no more bee you, as you shall shortly vnderstand. Wherfore away with hym: yea the time was named within this seuennight. MarginaliaIohn. 11.There be. xij. houres in the day. Death shall be welcome (say I) as being looked for long since, and yet do iustice ye were best, for Abels bloude cryed ye wote what. The spirit of God be vpon you, & God saue your honors. Thus departed I from them. Pray, Pray. Ah, ah, puer sum, nescio loqui. i. I am a child, I cannot speak. My brother P. shal shew you more herein. By hym sende me word what you haue done. Fare ye well, and pray, pray. I would gladly meete with my good brother bradford, on the backe side about a xj. of the clocke. Before that tyme I cannot start out, we haue such outwalkers, but then wyll they be at dinner.

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Yours as you know, Laurence Saunders.

MarginaliaA comfortable letter of M. Saunders to his wyfe and others of the faythfull flocke.THe grace of Christ, w^t the consolation of the holy Ghost, to the keeping of fayth and a good conscience confirme & keepe you for euer vessels to Gods glory, Amen.

Oh what worthy thankes can be geuen to our gracious God for hys vnmeasurable mercies plentifully poured vpō vs? And I most vnworthy wretch cannot but poure forth at this present, euen from the bottom of my hart, the bewayling of my greate ingratitude and vnkindnes towardes so gracious a good God and louing father. I besech you all, as for my other many sinnes, so especially for that sinne of my vnthankefulnes, craue pardon for me in your earneste prayers, commēding me to Gods great mercyes in Christ.

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To number these mercies in particular, were to number the drops of water which are in the Sea, the sandes on the shore, the starres in the sky. O my deare wife, and ye the rest of my frendes, reioice with me, I say reioice w^t thanksgeuing for this my present promotion, in that I am made worthy to magnifie my God, not only in my life by my slow mouth and vncircumcised lippe,s bearing witnes vnto his truth, but also by my bloud to seale the same, to the glory of my God and confirming of his true Church. And as yet I testifie vnto you, that MarginaliaThe sweete comfort of Christ taketh away the feare of death from Saunders.the comfort of my sweet Christ doth driue from my phantasie the feare of death. But if my dear husband Christ doe for my tryall, leaue me alone a little to my selfe, alas I know in what case I shalbe thē: but if for my proofe he do so, yet I am sure he wil not be long nor farre from me. Though he stand behind the wall & hide hymselfeMarginaliaCant. 2. (as Salomō saith in his mistical ballet) yet will he peepe in by a crest to see how I do. He is a very tender harted Ioseph: MarginaliaIosephes handling of his brethren applyed to Christ.though he speake roughly to his brethren & handle thē hardly, yea & threaten greuous bondage to his best beloued

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