conserning my life I have not asked to live for feare I should afterwards repent mee: but herein as in all earthly things I have repossed my whole confidence in thy providence, which knowest better what to give then wee to aske³⁹: in this and other workes of my calling wherein I have prepared both for my owne wellbeing and others I am or tentedinterrupted that it is a question whether I shall live to eate the fruite of my labours. or if I persever in good wayes I shall the sooner die; but herein my soul prayeth, O that I may doe thy will my God. I then returne Answer to my selfe, I knowe whom I have trusted, even him who phil 1.21 is to mee both in life and in death advantage; since meditation of this worke, and hop\e/ing through thy mercy. towards me \to/ performe good, which if it be thy will spare me, that I may recover my strength: psal [3]9.1[3]before I go hence and be no more seene. In the seedes time of this world, for after I shall never sow any more to reape but grant that I may so laber here that I may receive the reward promissed to thine elect, of thy free mercy and goodnes* through Jesus Christ our Lord and herein I praise thee my God, which hath put into my heart \mind/ to meditate of these things and for the true comfort I have hetherto found, surely there is no comfort like unto this to meditate of thee nither can our soules \have/ rest but in thee who art the centore of all our happines ; herein I repose my or comfort I suppose my mother writ this many yeares before she died for it was after this time, confidence, in hope of this thy mercy, that when the last end of my dayes shall come I may then lie downe In peace and rest for thou Lord makest mee to remaine in Safetie*.⁴⁰ ----- Saint Augustine⁴¹or thou \Lord/ hath made mee dwell in hope

my mother gave me and my sister the Godly Garden a prayer booke a piece, and I was much stirred \betimes/ to this spirituall exercise of prayer by reading of the or versesexhortation and effecaty thereof, and as I remember my mother once wisht mee to use to say my praiers in the after Noone, besids morning and Evening. the which pious exercise as I take it she said her mother used, and since through thy grace I have continued; haveing no let to the contrary saying 2 or 3 prayers which are in the servis booke, about this time hearing and understanding* of the Blessedness of everlasting life, and of the unspeakable joyes thereof; it being the finall end \and/ cheefest good; which thou \Lord/ hast prepared for thine Elect; above all things I desired it and that I might \have/ sum forsight and assurance of it: by dreame or vision of the night; in this I had not my desire,