The Hartlib Papers

<H: An> Extract <H: out> of Mr Worsley<H: s> letter.

Dublin 20th April

                         1659

And as it was a refreshment in deed, to receive notice of your Ladisph being <H: in> health, so it was no smal one to have that Caracter of our truly Worthy et honorable frind Sir Harry vane [H alters from harry vane] to whom I lately writt by Col[H alters from Co^.] Sankey, who by an express sent to me [H: ,] did first force me out of the Country.

I am no lesse glad Madam to heare that the Lord keepes his people in a wayting expecting confident frame of Spirit vpon him, whom hee will not fayle yea to whom he will suddenly appeare, et make Knowne his Salvation.   Neither will it bee a smal honor, for such as are faitfull resolute and full of Courage at this day, when evill putts on indeed a vizard of great Boldnesse, but yet inwardly doth stagger and is afrayd, neyther will it's strenght be able to abide long, and when the Lord beginneth once more a[H: -]new to scatter: Rotennesse and Corruption shall perpetually follow all the Councells plotts, and designes[H alters from the signes] of evill men, and nothing shall prosper the[H alters from that] successe of it, which will not at length turne to their greater[H ?deletes] Shame./. And therefore though for a while and a very small while the people of the Lord may bee vnder some discouragement from the power at present [the H deletes] <H: of> Lordly, and wicked men.   yet their hope shall suddenly be increased, their Confidence shall be raysed, like that of the house of David to Saule, the Lord shall appeare, as he hath promised, (I say 66) to their Comfort and to the wickeds shame.   It is much Reason, then that the people of the Lord have to be calme, patient, silent in meakenesse possessing themselves seing the vision is certaine, and (though it be for its appointed time) it will not fayle much more reason se<H: e>ing the time appointed is short, very short, even at hand. But most Reason of all have the people of the Lord not only to the patient, but to rejoyce, to be glad with exceeding ioy, yea to showte[H? deletes] abundan<H: t>ly, when they shall consider that after the staffe of wickednes[H alters from wicked Men] shall be once <H: more> broken, it[H alters from It] shall never more arise to oppresse the Godly, That sentence[H alters from sen^.ence] in the letter and spirit being going or already gone forth. Downe with it Downe with it even to the ground.

And indeed so thinke that Darckenesse, Wickednesse, Oppression, evill, vnrightes lyes, falsehood, covetousnesse, Death, payne, misery, wayling, lamentation, Bondage, cruelty, deformity, disquiett and trouble: shall all of them have an end; shall all of them have an end together; And that the end of them all is really et truly already at hand. And to [H alters from ^.o] thinke[H? alters from thincke], that after they are dead, they shall never rise[H alters from rase] againe to reigne any more for ever et ever, and to thinke[H alters from ^.o thin^..e], wee shall

To thinke also, that the Kingdome of the Lord, that is coming shall not bee yea and nay / (as now while wee are all in Confusion et Babell) but yea et amen, that it shall be clearenesse et certainty to consider, also that it shall stand not only in clearenesse et certainty but in unity, in Concord, in peace, in Righteousnes[H alters from Righteo^..s], in pity love, holinesse, meekenesse and compassion.

To consider likewise that all this will be only a meanes to intreate the Lord to powre downe all manner of most glorious et excellent Gifts[H alters from illeg. word] vpon his people, that every year shall be a new spring, and one spring to be the cause of another ensuing spring/ more glorious then the former. And to consider, that of all et every part of this there shall be no end but it shall endure without[H alters from illeg. word] any change, cessation[H alters from cerration] alteration or dimunition for ever et ever. Are things, that should prevaile with vs to hold out, and to be as well resolut as[H alters from resol^.. a^.], as patient for a while.

Madam these things being made certaine to me, yea very sure and certaine, as to the reality[H alters from reall] of their jnstant fulfilling, and being at hand./ I am the lesse sollicitous as to outward meanes Knowing that in time the Lord will turne all for the best[H alters from illeg. word]./ yet I cannot say but my confidence may be somewhat the more enforced, and susteyned in these things, because he that hath out of the Riches, of his Grace made sure et present.   these[H alters from These] things to me, hath in some measure no lesse certainly (or in hope) discovered the way meanes et steps by which he will Walke, et will effect those great things, wee speake of (which If I fayle not will be<TRANS SWITCH="2"></TRANS> neither<TRANS SWITCH="1"></TRANS> by a visible power) though that also shall in time be made subject to him) nor yet by any Instruments whose name, places, abodes or Relations shall be at all Knowne[H? deletes], or so knowne[H? deletes] at least, as they shall assume any glory to themselves for it. Lastly[H alters from lately] he will deale with the world in a way of sweetnesse Wisedome, Instruction et light, and will leave all to a more perfect Liberty <H: then> ever even without all manner of excuse.

For our Vnwearied Frind Mr Hartlib I am very glad to heare the Lord hath still preserved him. And indeed his so miraculous or wonderfull preservation giveth me great hope, he will be at least continewed to that state of old Simeon even to see something of such a glory or publick good breake forth[H alters from f^...h] <H: as> to desire then

Madam I cannot tell, whether I should say I feare et hope of my being called into England having some strong Inclinations of going thither, first putt in me a dreame I had in the Countrey, which assoone as awaken acqvainting my Wife withall before wee had done talking one with another, A messenger came to call to Dublin presently on <with> another occasion to speake with Colonel Sankey: which last businesse is such as I cannot yet determine, whether it will Keepe me heere the longer or hasten my coming the sooner, I shall committ it to the Lord.

My service also to Mr. Dury, of whose Recovery I am heartily glad of hoping the Lord hath much Riches of Wisdome et store for him.

Dublin. April 20^th/1659

[another hand:]   Worsley