Page:Two godly letters of the pious martyr Mr. James Renwick.pdf/15

( 15 ) Now as our present case, I wot not well what to say to you anent it, there are so many mercies and judgments in it to be spoken of. God hath taken this last year many from us, by banishment and by death, on scaffolds, especially on the fields, where none (for the most part) were to see them die, but the executioners: and yet God fills up their rooms again; neither are these things permitted to damp such as are left: Some have (which is more sad) fallen off from us; and yet God is filling up their places also, and making others more stedfast, and notwithstanding both of persecutions, and reproaches, the Lord hath opened doors for me in several places in Scotland, where there used to be no such access before, and hath multiplied my work so upon my hands (I speak it to his praise) that I have observed my work (I say) to be now in some shires threefold, and in some four fold more than it was. O, that God would send forth more labourers! there seems to be much ado in Scotland with them. Also it is almost incredible to tell what zeal, what tenderness, what painfulness in duty, what circumspectness of walk in many young ones of ten, eleven twelve and fourteen years of age, in many places of Scotland; which I look upon as one of the visiblest and greatest tokens for good that we have. But,

Right honourable and dearly beloved, not to detain you further; I acknowledge my self your debtor while I live, for your many prayers put up for this poor distressed church, whereof, I know, I have had a share; for your sympathy and kindness otherways manifested to us: For your care of that family with you, wherein we are all concerned: and particularly, for your encouraging, strengthening of, and kindness to my dear and worthy friend, our right honourable Delegate. I bless the Lord who hath given you zeal for himself, and hath helped you to stand with a poor despised party in many stours for his interest. I commend you to him, that he may make his rich grace