Love righteousness, you who judge the Earth; think of the Lord in goodness, and seek him in integrity of heart; because he is found by those who do not test him, and manifests himself to those who do not disbelieve him. For perverse counsels separate people from God, and his power, put to the proof, rebukes the foolhardy; because into a soul that plots evil wisdom does not enter, nor does it dwell in a body under debt of sin. For wisdom is a kindly spirit, yet it does not acquit blasphemous lips; because God is the witness of the inmost self and the sure observer of the heart and the listener to the tongue, for the spirit of the Lord fills the World, is all-embracing self-esteem, and knows whatever is said. Therefore, those who utter wicked things will not go unnoticed, nor will chastising condemnation pass them by. For the devices of the wicked shall be scrutinized, and the sound of their words shall reach the Lord, for the chastisement of their transgressions; because a jealous ear hearkens to everything, and discordant grumblings are not secret, as that is the case, guard against profitless grumbling, and from calumny withhold your tongues; for a stealthy utterance will not go unpunished, and a lying mouth destroys the soul.

Do not count death by your erring way of life, nor draw to yourselves destruction by the works of your hands. Because God did not make death, nor does he rejoice in the destruction of the living. For he fashioned all things that they might have been, and the creatures of the World are wholesome; there is not a destructive drug among them nor any domain of Hades on Earth, for righteousness is immortal. It was the wicked who with hands and words invited death, considered it a friend, and pined for it, and made a covenant with it, because they deserved to be allied with it. It is really important that we have a safe and happy holiday weekend, be sure to enjoy the independence that we have, there are men and women, who fight and die every day so that we remain free and many take it for granted. My only beloved Spouse, my most sweet friend, and faithful companion of my pilgrimage, the happy and hopeful supply (next Christ) of my greatest losses, I wish thee a most plentiful increase of all true comfort in the love of Christ, with a large and prosperous addition of whatsoever happiness the sweet estate of holy wedlock, in the kindest society of a loving husband, may afford thee.Being filled with the joy of thy love and wanting opportunity of more familiar communion with thee, which my heart reverently desires, I am constrained to ease the burthen of my mind by this poor help of my scribbling penny. Being sufficiently assured that, although my presence is that which thou desire, yet in the want thereof, these lines shall not be unfruitful of comfort unto thee.

And now, my sweet Love, of which this spring time of or acquaintance can put forth as yet no more, but the leaves and blossoms, whilst the fruit lies wrapped up in the tender bud of hope; a little more patience will disclose this good fruit, and bring it to some maturity: let it be our care and labor to preserve those hopeful buds from the beast of the field, and from frosts and other injuries of the aye, least our fruit fall off ere it be ripe, or lose aught in the beauty and pleasantness of it: Let us pluck up such nettles and thorned as would defraud of plants of their due nourishment; let us prune off superfluous  branches; let us not stick at some labour in watering and maturing them: –the plenty and goodness of fruit shall recompense us abundantly: Our trees are planted in a fruitful soil; the ground, and pattern of our love, is no other but that between love and his dear spouse, of whom one speaks as one finds him, my well-beloved is mine and I am his: Love was their banqueting house, love was their wine, love was their engine; love was his inviting, love was her fayntinges; love was his apple, love was her comforts; love was his embracing, love was her refreshing: love made him see her, love made her seek him: love made him wed her, love made her follow him: love made him her savior, love makes her his servant.

Love bred or fellowship, if love continues it, and love shall increase it until death dissolve it. The prime fruit of the Spirit is love; truth of Spirit true love: abound with the spirit, and abound with love: continue in the spirit and continue in love: Christ in his love so fill our hearts with holy hunger and true appetite, to eat and drink with him and of him in this sweet Love feast [referring to the sacrament of the Holy communion, which  it was then the custom to administer to the bride and bridegroom at their marriage], which we are now preparing unto, that when our love feast shall come, Christ himself may come in unto us and supped with us and with him: so shall we be merry indeed. (O my sweet Spouse) can we esteem each other’s love as worthy the recommence of our best mutual affections, and can we not discern so much of Christs exceeding and underserved love, as may cheerfully allure us to love him above all? He loved us and gave himself for us; and to help the weakness of the eyes and hand and mouth of or faith, which must seek him in Heaven where he is, he offers himself to the eyes, hands, and mouth or our body, here on Earth where he once was. The Lord increased our faith.

Now my dream heart let me parley a little with thee about trifles, l for when I am present with thee my speech is prejudiced by thy presence, which draws my mind from itself: I suppose now, upon thy uncle’s coming, there will be advising and counselling of all hands; and amongst many I know there will be some, that will be provoking thee, in these indifferent things, as matter of apparel, fashion, and other circumstances, rather to give content to their vain minds savoring too much of the flesh and then to be guided by the rule of God’s word, which must be the light and the Rule: for although I do easily grant that the Kingdom of Heaven is not meat and drink, apparel and, but Righteousness, peace: it being forbidden to fashion ourselves like unto this World, and to avoided not only evil, but all appearance of it must be avoided, and also whatever may breed offence to the weak (from which I pray thee read for the direction the [epistle] to Rom:) and for that Christians are rather to seek to edify than to please, I hold it a rule of Christian wisdom in all these things to follow the soberest examples: I confess that there be come ornaments which for Virgins and Knights daughters, and may be comely and tolerable, which yet in so great a change as thine is, may well admit a change also: I will meddle with no particulars, neither do I think it shall be needful: thine own wisdom and godliness shall teach thee sufficiently what to do in such things: and the good assurance which I have of the untainted love towards me, makes me persuaded that those wilt have care of my contentment, seeing it must be chief to stay to the comfort: and withal the great and sincere desire which I have that there might be no discouragement to daunt the edge of my affections, while they are truly laboring to settle and repose themselves in thee, makes me thus watchful and jealous of the least occasion that Satan might stir up to or discomfort. He that is faithful in the last will be faithful in the greatest, but I am too fearful I do thee wrong; I know thou will not grieve me for trifles. May your life be filled with special moments, warmth, and happiness, the joy of loved ones near, and may the blessing of the day last throughout the year.