The Hartlib Papers

Sir/

I haue heard from you thrice, (for so many Packets I haue received) since I wrote to you; so that none of yours miscarry. I shall shold be willing to write oftner, but that I haue nothing worthy of you; & am wholly a recipient; yet one <who> doth rejoyce in gods comming forth to glorify himself; & in that good he hath promised, & will perform, to Man. I wold not look to Self, & advance Self; for the truth is, corrupt Self (which is that that is the great Goddess of this world) is such a thing, that a truly wise man wold be so far from cherishing it, that he wold pessundate it, & doom it to destruction. These are braue words, but as Seneca sayth, Cur fortiùs loqueris quàm vivis? well, God mend me, & all the world beside. I reioyce in Mr Dury's spirit & indefatigable mind in the Lords work; God grant a good success. The honourable gentleman at your house (whom you speak of in yours)last) I shall be glad to heare what his errand is; but I can wait till it be communicable. Well, sir, the 1655 yeare is passant, & yet what hath God wrought? indeed great changes with this Nacion, but what are we compared with the whole creation of God. Therupon I conclude, How greate things will be don shortly. The Lord prepare us, & his, for them. I shall now add no more, but that I am

Caversham, May.8.1655.

                 Your unfeigned Friend & servant   M Wall

          For my much honoured friend

               Mr Hartlib,

          at his house by Charing-cross,

            opposite to Angell court.

[right margin:]                               Wall: