Page:The Life and Works of Christopher Dock.djvu/205



Copy of a letter lovingly dedicated by the schoolmaster, Christopher Dock, to those of his pupils who are still living, for their teaching and admonition.

To all servants and elders, fathers and mothers, as well as their children and relatives, I wish in greeting that the God of Peace may rule our hearts and minds and lead us to God-fearing lives, to do as he bids through Jesus Christ, to whom be honor from everlasting to everlasting. Amen.

Regarding the cause of my writing this, I do it from urgent love of cheering and lovingly warning all those of my pupils who may be still living, as I cannot know how soon I shall put off this earthly tabernacle. O, dear children, how I rejoice when I think what blessings the Lord laid within you when you were simple-minded babes, and what joy it is to me to see in my grown pupils that the fear of God has found lodgment within you to grow, to withstand the evil lusts and desires of the flesh, and to accept gladly the right to become pupils in Christ's school, to prepare and be prepared, to take up Christ's cross and as lambs to follow the Shepherd of your souls in precept and example, to render yourselves obedient and continue to do so! To such will be