WILCOCKS. 193 the Lord knoweth. We here persuade ourselves ofnothing but great extremity. The Lord grant us patience and strength in his truth for ever. The godly here desire your earnest prayers to the Lord for them, and heartily salute you in the Lord, especially my brother Edmunds, the Lord's prisoner, unto whom you promised, at my being with you, to write some letter of comfort. Surely a letter from you to him would much encourage him in the ways of the Lord ; and, therefore, I desireyou at your convenient leisure to write somewhat as it shall please the Lord to move you. " Dr. Whitgift's book is not yet come out, but we look for it daily. Our brother Cartwright is escaped, God be praised, and departed this land since my coming up to London, and, I hope, is by this time at Heidelberg. The Lord bless hiin, and direct him in all things by his Holy Spirit, that he may do that which may serve for the advancement of his glory, and the profit of his church. His earnest desire is, that you and all the godly should remember him inyour earnest and hearty prayers ; therefore, I the more boldly,and willingly now make mentionof him. " The commissioners caused Beza's Confession, translated into English, to be burnt in Stationers'-hall, on Thursday the 28th of January last. The pretence was, that it was ill translated : but I suppose rather because it over plainly dissolveth the popish hierarchy, which they yet maintain. From my house,in Coleman-street, this 2d of February, 1574. Yours assured in the Lord, " THOMAS WILCOCKS." Many of the letters written by Mr. Wilcocks were answers to cases of conscience. He was highly celebrated for his knowledge of casuistical divinity. Multitudes who applied to him under spiritual distress, obtained, through theblessing of- God, both peace and comfort. Most of his epistles were written particularly to promote family and personal religion among his numerous connexions. Our author observes, that he had seen a large folio volume of his letters in manuscript ; and, from the long list now before me, it appears that many of themwere addressed to persons ofcpmlity. Mr. Wilcocks was intimate with the celebrated Sir Peter Wentworth, who had the highest respect and esteem for him.. Sir Peter Wentworth, member in Several of Queen Elizabeth's parlia- ments, was a man of great piety, strong resolution, excellent abilities, and always zealous for thg privileges of parliaments and a further reformation VOL. II. 0
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