day I injoyed much consolation both from the Scripture specially Psal 37.24.35.39 Though he fall meaning the good man he shall not utterly be cast down nor condemn him when he is judged but the salvation of the Righteous is from the Lord he is their strength in the time of trouble and the Lord shall help them and deliver them he shall deliver them from the wicked and save them because they trust in him also by conference that day with several persons yet in the Evening I had strong assaults from Satan from which the Lord did in part deliver me but yet much trouble from my own Evil heart the four following lessons I was desirous to learn this Evening 1. To get my Soul more setled in the assurance and apprehension of salvation 2. More sensible of my own and other mens sins and my own and other mens sufferings 3. More humbled for my unprofitableness in my imprisonment 4. More willing to dye and more mindful of death This day I received and unexpected mercy and was prevented from a temptation which made my heart rejoyce and preventing grace especially that which prevented from sin have been frequently cause of rejoycing to me This day I had little change in the frame of my Spirit either to good or Evil but some sence I had of my own weakness yet I had some comfort from those words Psal 40.17 but I am poor and needy yet the Lord thinketh on me and Psal 42.8 Yet the Lord will command his loving kindness and his Song shall be with me and my Prayer unto the God of my life This day I had a good and comfortable day to my Soul especially in Prayer Four things I saw cause to be humbled for First that I had not more sence of the sins and sufferings of Gods People or of my own Secondly That the Works Glory Wayes Ordinances People of the Lord are in such Contempt Thirdly that there is no more Stability Zeal and Courage in the Saints for good and against Evil. Fourthly That there continues still such darkness upon and divisions amongst Christians I had it much in my Heart to desire two things from the Lord viz. First Power against my sin Secondly Preparation for sufferings This day I was much troubled for hearing one sweare several Oaths and not reproving him for the same and convinced also from Psal 50.7 Hear O Israel and I will testifie against thee I am God even thy God that God had many things against me in particular and I was convinced providencially of one cause of my sufferings Being a day to seek the Lord in private Prayer I had my Heart somewhat softned and yet I was troubled it continued so hard and I learned from the 2. Cro. 6.37 That I should in this my suffering bethink my self both what I was and what I had done that I should pray more earnestly and turn more throughly and perfectly unto the Lord and that Evening I could and did pray most heartily for my Enemies and Persecutors This day being the Lords day I had several times refreshings from the Lord in Prayer and in speaking his word and that word in Iob. 10.14 Was set with weight upon my Heart If I sin thou markest me and wilt not acquit me from my iniquity I learned thence what a dangerous thing it is to sin under affliction and the dangers did appear much by that place in Lev. 26.36 And upon them that are left alive of you meaning those that were unaffliction verse the 26. I will send a faintness in their Hearts c. The same day I had a consideration of the great evil of sinning against the Lord after assurance This day I observed these words Psal 59.3 For loe they lye in wait Davids Enemies for my Soul the mighty are gathered against me not for my transgression nor for my sin O Lord I could truely and with comfort say that mine Enemies did persecute me but not for my sin or transgression which is a comfort to me this day also by a special providence God brought a dear Friend who praying wit me my Heart was much affected and melted This day in the morning my Heart was very free to pray for my Persecutors and Enemies as freely and really is I was to seek and receive pardon for my own sins I had power also to apply those words to my self Psal 62.2 He is onely my Rock and my Salvation he is my defence I shall not greatly by moved and in verse 6. I shall not be moved God did bring this Scripture as an Antidote for that Evening there came several persons one after another to tell me that I and several others were to be tryed at the Sessions and I observed that my Heart was very little moved thereat but could willingly refer my self to the Lord and be quiet in and contented with his will though never so contrary to my own carnal and natural will This Evening in discourseing with a poor Christian antient woman I found by the tenderness of Heart the had for sin and her zeal for God that she was in a far better temper of Spirit then I was in which helped on my Humility somewhat this Evening also I had some power to resist Temptation and to check Corruption I had my Heart enlargned and softned in Prayer and through Gods goodness was much freed from Temptations yet had some bodily distemper but I judged it very little and light in comparison of what it might be I experienced the Lords coming in and especially in Prayer I observed that Scripture Psal 68.28 Thy God hath commanded thy strength strengthen O God that which thou hast wrought for us yet this Evening I was moved to passion This day spent so most part in writing Letters for Christian Freinds at some of which my Heart was moved having a great desire that they might continue in the Faith and stand fast in the Lord. This day I was affected with some ill news I heard and my heart was moved with pitty towards some in affliction I had some comfort from Psal 69. verse 36.29 Those whom thou hast wounded he persecuted and afflicted are those whom God hath wounded and though poor and sorrowful yet his salvation will set them up on high but especially from verse the 32. Their Hearts shall live that seek God and this day in observing the Characters which a godly Preacher gives in his Book of those that have their sins pardoned that they are those that seek pardon wait in the use of means till they obtain it they do freely pardon others and they do love God for his pardoning goodness all which in a measure through free grace I found in me also Psal 71.20 Thou wilt bring me up again c. was very refreshing to me This day being the Lords day I had several considerations of the Sabboth as it was a sign between God and his People Exod. 31.13.17 Ezek. 20.12.17 A sign of his favour
that by Faith only without Works before God Rom. 3.23 25. Rom. 4.1 5. Yet that Faith which justifies cannot be alone but is accompanied with good Works which justifies Believers before Men and manifests their Faith to be a True and living Faith Iames 2.17 18. as the Fruits of Trees do shew the nature of them but are no causes of their Root Life or Growth Justification is wholly of Gods Grace through the Redemption Righteousness and Blood of Jesus Christ Rom. 3.24 25. whereby those who truly believe in him have all their sins forgiven which will never be imputed nor remembred against them any more Romans 3.22 26. Hebr. 10.14.17 True Faith also by which the soul looks on Christ takes hold on him receives him becomes one with him and whereby Christ dwells in the Hearts of Believers is the gift of God Iohn 6.44 65. Eph. 2.8 3.17 Concerning the Spirit of Adoption and Regeneration 1. All those that truly believe God gives unto them Power or rather as the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies Right or Priviledge to become his children Iohn 1.12 and they receive the Spirit of Adoption by which they are led and enabled to come with confidence and boldness unto God and to call him Father through Iesus Christ Rom. 8.14.15 Gal. 4.5 6. The spirit it self also dwells and abides in them as the chiefest evidence of their being the children of God Iohn 14.16 17. Rom. 8.16 1 John 4.13 2. Regeneration Sanctification and Repentance which are the same in effect is a renewing of the Heart and a subduing and cleansing of the Power and Filth of sin with a quickning of the soul to live like Christ these are absolutely necessary to salvation John 3.3 5. Rom. 6 c. Yet these also as well as Faith are the gifts and works of God which he giveth through and for the sake of his Son and works by his Spirit in those whom he intends to save Ezek. 36.26 27 28. Acts 11.18 c. 3. No man much less all men hath by nature or before his conversion either the Spiritual light or true Faith or Christ or his Spirit in them or a will or love to that which is spiritually good or power to come to Christ or to be subject to his Law and Will but by nature and before conversion the best are blind unbelieving without Christ and without the Spirit unwilling wilful weak and wicked John 3.5 6. Rom. 5.6 8.7 Eph. 2.1 2 c. Yet sinning against the Light and Law of Nature and not worshipping God according to what is revealed of him by the works of Creation they are left inexcusable Rom. 1.20 21. Concerning Redemption from the Curse of the Law All true Believers are really and actually redeemed from the Curse and power or Dominion of the Law and are under Grace or the Blessings Promises and Privileges of the Covenant of Grace both Temporal and Eternal Rom. 6.14 7 4 6. Gal 3.13 On the contrary all Unbelievers and wicked persons are and remain under the Law and Covenant of works Gal. 5.4 Concerning the two Covenants From the beginning of the world there have been two Covenants in being viz. The Covenant of Grace and the Covenant of works called the Law and the Gospel and all and every person in the world have been and are under one of them the first requiring the Obedience of works the other the Obedience of Faith and these are the conditions of the two Covenants Rom. 10.4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11. Heb. 8.7 8. c. 10.15 16 c. 22. Concerning Perseverance in Grace Those that do truly believe and are once in and under the New Covenant and in the true grace of God as the Apostle speaks Rom. 5.2 cannot absolutely fall and utterly perish for they are passed from death to life John 5.24 they are in Christ and God the Fathers hand John 10.28 29. they have the Spirit abiding in them unto eternal life 1 John 3.24 they sit together in heavâ—â—ly places in Christ Eph. 2.5 6. and he makes intercession for them John 17.20 and the Decree Oath and Promises of God are sure to all the seed Rom. 4.16 that they shall not depart from God Jer. 32.40 1 Iohn 3.9 and that he will never leave nor forsake them Heb. 13-5 6. and that he or every one that believeth shall be saved Mark 16.16 and shall not come into condemnation for there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus Rom. 8.1 Concerning assurance of Salvation i. Believers are to be exhorted to make their calling and election sure 2 Pet. 1.10 and this they may certainly attain unto for God hath promised it Christ hath prayed for it and many of the Saints have attained unto it 1 John 2.3 5. 3.14 c. 2. Though there are many signs and evidences of the truth of grace laid down in the Scripture and such as Believers may find in themselves as Love to God and to his people respect to all Gods Commands and hatred to sorrow for and power against all in-bred corruption c. Yet the chiefest and most undoubted evidence is the spirit it self 1 Iohn 3.24 4.13 and the Witness and Sealing of it Rom. 8.15 Eph. 1.13 which Believers have most commonly after they believe and not at their first believing Gal. 3.14 and there may be a true Faith mingled with much Doubting Mat. 14.31 and many of the children of light may walk in darkness and be ignorant of their state Isa 50.10 Yet such bruised Reeds God will not break nor quench such smoaking Flax i. e. such weak and Doubting Christians or their Faith till he bring forth Judgment into victory or help them to overcome Mat. 12.20 21. 3. It is possible also that such believers as have attained unto a full Assurance may afterwards either through the hiding of Gods countenance for Tryal of them or by falling into some great sin or by some sore and violent temptation or through their Remissness in Religious Duties or the like have their Assurance darkned shaken and weakned and thereby their Souls may be much troubled and discomforted Psal 30.7 Cant 2.1 2. 5.2 3 c. yet in their darkest and most doubting condition they cleave unto the Lord remember his former dealings acknowledge these doubts to be their Infirmities and they find and feel some workings of the Spirit and Grace within them and still continue in Prayer and other Ordinances waiting upon the Lord till he return unto them revive them restore the joy of his Salvation and settle them in their old Estates as he hath promised For this read Psal 22. 51. 77. throughout Lam. 3. Isa 8.17 50.10 c. Concerning Growth and Perseverance in Grace 1. Those that have true Grace whether little or much they should labour to grow therein and to add one Grace to another going from strength to strength perfecting holiness in the fear of God and still
that you shall shortly reach Immortality but never Eternity Make Christ your all and you will be sure to lay down your self all Consider that when you are not assaulted with Temptaions Satan is damming and pounding and and he will suddenly draw up his Sluce and let loose upon you Satan doth not like God warn before he strike Christ work is Wages his Service perfect freedom The Love of the Master the sweetness of the Service and the greatness of the reward are sufficient incouragements to serve Christ A Christians security and safety is in doing his duty and he should study his duty more then his safety He that loves not Christ more then his Lust or his Life is like to lose Christ and his Life but he that loves Christ more then his Life shall be sure to save and keep both Strive greatly to have and to exercise a good Conscience towards God and Men and commit by Soul Life and Cause to the Lord and to exâ—â—ct the worst of Men and the best of Christ Christ is â—â—â—o the Soul as the Loadstone to the â—on drawing it to it self or the Cristial to the other â—tones putting Beauty and Lustre on them A Christian beholds Christ in the deepest Afflictiâ—n as well as in the most spiritual Ordinance Corruptions are like Worms in the Maw or Stoâ—ach which will eat through the Soul unless scatâ—red killed and purged out The only way some times for a Christian to avoid the force of Temptation is Souldier Like to fall down on his face when he sees the Cannon or Musket fired against him Make haste to do thy work Christian and God will make haste to give thee thy Wages Thou must dye once whether thou suffer or no and thou canst dye but once if thou suffer The sins of Saints are new sufferings to Jesus Christ and the sufferings of Saints are the Wounds of Christ Reading the Scriptures helps Meditation Meditation Prayer and Prayer every good work Men may come too late to God when the Door is shut but God never comes too late to Men. Let the Child be contented to take the Breast the Mother will give it and then it shall have both so be contented with what Christ gives you and you shall want nothing To see the want of Grace is much the worth of Grace more T is hard to get Grace hard to get assurance of Grace hard to use it and not abuse it T is very hard to behold our own Gift without Pride and the Gifts of others if they excel ours without Envy Do not commend thy Freind nor discommend thy Foe too much least thou be judged to be partial He commands most and best that commads in Love Humility and Self-denyingly He hath not learned to rule that hath not learningâ—ed to obey An even through Paced Self-fearing Heart melt-Christian is always best The world is a great nothing deluding the bad disturbing and distracting the good Satan works more upon men by sleight then by might avoid his cunning and thou wilt avoid his cruelty Hypocrites Hearts are like stinking Ponds wherein Frogs live and Fish dye Lusts feed and Grace if it were there starves The Devil is like the Turkycock or Crocodile if you turn upon him he will fly from you but you fly from him he will pursue you It is better sometimes to sleight the Devil then to fight him Thoughts of our own death will tend much to deaden sin God hath set the Tongue between the Brains and Heart that it may advice with both and within two Guards to keep it in and yet it is unruly Prayer is a good preparative to suffering when Christ had prayed he went out to meet Judas Ioh. 18.4 Ruffling opinion sowing and Church railing Persons and Professors have commonly more Self then Grace It is the duty of a Christian to suppress and search himself when he doth not know Evil by himself Christ and Sin are most magnified in the Eyes of Believers in their afflictions but in a different manner and to a different end and then Christ is most desired and Sin most dispised A Christian should earnestly desire that his sin might sit in a white Cloud and that he might go out of the World as a Perfume and not as a Snuff The holy Law of God teaches a Man to see his own Deformity and requires from him a Conformity Sin is like a sleepy Lion in the Soul which Temptation soon awakens Christ puts most of his Oyle in broken Vessels in broken Hearts there is most Grace and best kept The less a man strives for himself the more will Christ strive for him Oh my Soul look for death hourly long for it greatly prepare for it carefully meet and welcome it joyfully for it is Christs part to direct his Spouse the Soul to him and thy Freind that comes to set thee at liberty from thy sins discharge thee from thy Pâ—ison dismiss thee from thy Debts and bring thee at once to enjoy all thy desires Oh Lord as a sign that I shall be able to dye for thee let me find my Corruption dying in me by power from thee He that will not take Example shall make an Example Afflictions are Christs Love Tokens Jer. 12.7 Heb. 12.6 Rev. 3.9 and Christians are never more tendred then when most afflicted as Ephraim Jer. 31.20 A Christians Soul should be like the Dial going according to the Sun or following Christ Small sins yeilded too make way for greater and one sin for another He that converts a Sinner covers a world or multitude of sins and gains more then a World to wit a Soul Saints should labour to Lord it over their Corruptions as their Corruptions did formerly Lord it over them God hath given a Man a little Mouth and a narrow Throat that Man may not exced in eating To take pains about unnecessary and unprofitable things is laboriously to mispend time Zeal without Knowledge to guide it is like mettle in a blind Horse which stumbles and overthrows the Rider Young Christians commonly want a Curb and old Christians a Spur. Be not ambitions of Love and thou shalt not be so soon an object of Envy It is good to curb natural and acquired Gifts but to give the Reins to Grace and let alwayes Grace lead rule and master Gifts A Heart unconverted is contended with nothing but what is helping it unto Hell and it hath never enough of that very sin and the Heart converted is never satisfied but with what helps it towards Heaven and yet thinks he hath never enough thereof viz. Christ and Grace Welcome thou thy Landlord Christ into thy Cottage now and he will welcome thee into thy Palace hereafter Get Christ and Christian to bind thy Conscience to the peace and thy Affections and Flesh to the good behaviour Spend all thy Grace against thy Lust but none for it Thy hardest duty in Christianity is to deny self and to destroy sin As the Martyr
professed he had rather be a Martyr then a Monarch so should every Christian It is a special favour and great promotion to suffer Satan accuseth God to Men and Men to God but Christ excuses and answers all his accusations against his People Christians should do as the Shechemites did when their City their own Souls in strength was beaten down fly to their Tower even Christ The true knowledge of Christ brings consolation and the right profession and practice of him persecution When a man is imprisoned and shut up from Men he is the more shut up with God Account it not restraint as long as thy Heart can go out towards God and his People and Wayes in affection and prayer Retiredness and close imprisonment drives a man to hold closer Communion with God and to a stricter search of himself Take heed that preparatory meditation to Prayer doth not prevent Prayer it self or put you besides Prayer One of the radical sins spoken of 1 Iohn 2.16 Is every mans master sin I often found my heart in dayes of Humiliation more affected and melted by the Prayer of weaker then stronger Christians I would be glad to be out of the World when I have no service to do for God in it He that would live for himself onely or cheifly in the World is not worthy to live a day in it If I may have liberty to serve Christ I would have the glory to suffer for Christ Secret Prayer is either a familiar speaking to God or with God or a pouring out of the Heart before God through his Son our Saviour by his spirit Sometimes Ejaculations or short and sudden Pantings and breathings out of desires to God may be more acceptable to him and prevailing with him then long Prayers There may be great difference between the temper of a Christian one time and another yea in the exercising of his Gifts in Praying Preaching c. True Godliness and Hipocrisie are best discerned in turnings and changes either when they change their conditions by Marriages or are exalted to Offices or when new opinions begin to grow Due sin may cause thee more sorrow then all thy sufferings It is happy to dye in the Lord and honourable to dye for the Lord. Sins do dye and fall off from Christians as the Leaves fall from Trees in Autumn by degrees Christians are now as Abraham was driven out of Egypt and come where they were before or into their first State therefore they should offer to the Lord as he did Gen. 13.3.4 God is now spoiling us of what would otherwise have spoiled us Churches gathered in prosperity will hardly stand or continue together in adversity A Child of God may know the weight of sin by Christs sufferings for if that strong Heart of Steel did bend under the weight of our sins what shall poor weak men do which is but a Reed or Rush As our good works and performances should have an operation upon our Souls and Hearts to strengthen Faith so should our weaknesses and sins to work repentance It is a great condescention in God to afflict or lay his hand upon man and in that sence the Apostle exhorts Beleivers not to dispise or think little of the chastning of the Lord. Heb. 12.3 A Beleiver is to shut the Eye of Reason if he will clearly see with the Eye of Faith The promise is a Christian perspective and his Faith the Eye with which he looks through it upon Christ and God the Father in him A Prison or persecution is to a Christian as some scaring thing that one sees in the Night at a distance but when he comes near it and to know it he is not at all afraid of it Seek to find out your own Errors before another find them out and to write your own Errata's VVhen the Lord is trying his People they should be trying themselves Christians should not desire deliverance before the time appointed for that is as if a VVoman should desire to have her Child born before the full and due time Christians are apt to feel and fear punishment more then sin which is the cause of it Gods People must expect in the VVorld the entertainment of Strangers Sins in Saints are like Weeds weeded out of a Garden or Field which lye in the Alleys or Veins but never grow there again A Hypocrite is like a white Stone in the Water amongst other Stones and of that same nature with other Stones there hard heavy cold and inflexable and differs only in colour A true Christian is like a Flint-stone which though it falls into Water yet it keeps and retains Fire in it still so doth he retain his Grace notwithstanding his corruption Labour to act those graces cheifly that are most contrary to your master sins and cheif corruptions The Lord hath Saints enough to devide into three bodies some to suffer for him some to destroy Babilon and some to be for Seed-Corn to sow again in the Earth Learn by lighter Crosses to look and prepare for heavier In two Cases t is hard to Act Faith 1. When there is nothing sensible or visible to second and support it or 2. when there is very much to fil the outward senses It is a very common and ordinary thing for most or all Professors to be in one or two extreams either to over value or under value Instruments Creatures and Ordinances The more Saints do beleive and suffer the more they may expect of the spirit Iohn 7.8 1 Pet. 4.14 Be more thoughtful and careful how to use what you have to Gods glory then to gain more The Lord freely gives and justly takes away The exercising of Graces do naturally destroy sin and the more you abound in Acts of Grace the more you increase the habit Heb. 6.26 The Law causeth sickness of Soul but the Gospel healeth the same When Saints perceive their sins growing weak they should then prosecute them most A Saint is to put forth his Faith in Prayer and afterwards follow his Prayer with Faith In the midest of earthly business the Soul should redeem some special time for secret and private duties It is the will of Christ that Saints should rejoyce more in what Christ hath done for them then in what they have done or can do for him Learn to observe what God gives without asking and what he gives in answer to Prayer for the one begets Thankfulness the other more Prayer Christ kept the Law legally Beleivers kept it Evangelically he perfectly they purposingly and endeavouringly A Beleivers assurance and cheifest joy doth not arise from his sanctification because that is imperfect here in degrees but from his justification Rom. 5.2 1 Pet. 1.8 Look upon Christ first without you then search for him within you God makes us feel him or his hand that he may hear us strokes makes Crys and Whipings mornful complaints to him God troubles us that we may turn to him and leaves us a while for to see
whether we will follow after him It s strange and very bad sign to see Saints look more upon the sins of the wicked to ripen them for misery then after self humiliation and holiness to ripen and fit themselves for mercy He that cannot pitty the sinner and hate sin doth not reprove out of love to Christ nor from a gratious spirit He that loves not a Reprover and prizes not his reproof neither profits thereby is more his sins then his Souls friend If God hath kept thee from falling still fear watch pray and live by Faith on Christ No power can keep him in Bonds whom truth and innocency acquits Due end in being in the world is not to be to our selves Though the People of God may be killed yet they can neither be hurt nor overcome Christians though disagreeing in Opinion should agree in Affection and differing in Controversie should agree in Charity It is a very sad thing neither to be careful to do well nor repent of doing ill The Portion that Christ gives us is not near so bitter as his Cordial is sweet The fear of death is ingrafted in the common nature of all men but Faith works it out by Christians Nothing will be terrible where the love of God is apprehended and nothing greivous where love to Christ is exercised Learn to prefer Christ before self and suffering above sinning Look for suffering as for Exaltation for it is an honour to be accounted worthy and a double honour to be enabled and carried through safety A Beleiver should learn 1. To know God in Christ 2. Himself in Christ 3. Christ in him 4. Himself he was without Christ 1. wicked and wretched 2. unwilling and weak in good The Life of a true Beleiver is 1. In the Lord. 1. Thes 1.2 1. Iohn 2.27 2. On the Lord. Rom. 1.17 Gal. 2.20 3. By and from the Lord. Iohn 6.57 4. To the Lord. Rom. 14.8 Luke 20.38 Gal. 2.19 5. With the Lord. 2. Cor. 13.4 1. Thes 5.10 Rom. 6.8 The Care of a true Christian 1. To wait on God Isa 8.17 25.9 2. To walk with God Gen. 5.22.24 6.9.24.40 3. To work all his works in and for God Io. 3.21 Rom. 6.10 1. Cor. 10.31 4. To bring his will to submit to the will of God in everything Mark 26.42 Heb. 10.7 A Christian should take heed least he be giving way to his Heart to steal out now and then to sin and get some sweet Bits thereof between duties There will be a reviveing of old sins if there be not effectual repentance for them and a care by Faith through all Duties and Ordinances to get new strength against them and constant watch kept over them When God makes the World to hot for his People to hold they will let it go A Christian comes not to know the weakness of his Grace till the Spirit ceases to work in and by it nor the power of his Corruption till Satan works therein by his temptation A Christians Flesh should keep from the Shew and his Conscience from the guilt of sin Where sin is not killed it will kill Sin hath no Mother but a mans Heart nor Father but Satan Sin draws the Soul into it either by power or policy by force or by fraud Christians should not give offence carelesly nor take offence causelesly Fear thy Freinds more then thy Foes thy sins more then thy sufferings and liberty more then bondage Some Christians have four Thorns that greive them a Thorn of affliction from God a Thorn of persecution from men and 〈◊〉 Thorn of Temptation from Satan and of corruption in themselves Self loathing destroys self Love much and the more we loath our selves the better we love others When a Christian comes to be as weary of his sins as of his sufferings God will certainly put them to an end One of the cheifest works of the Soul is self exmination and yet a Christian will find himself most backward thereto and soonest weary therein The more a Soul is exercised in spiritual meditation the less with carnal Temptation The more frequent and powerful in private Prayer the more free from and the more potent against corruptions Seasonable and unexpected mercies are very sweet and acceptable It is a common principle in nature that no man can or should judge his Enemy or be judged in his own Cause Slothfulness is the Cradle of sin which the Devil Rocks Christ will be soon sencible of those Saints sufferings that are sencible of their own sins There is no power in the Creatures to do either good or hurt but as God disposeth them for it is God that puts their Sword into their hand Ezek 30.24 Take heed of reproving or upbraiding another in self passion or to provoke his Passion The Lord now shakes his visible Church as a Tree is shaken that the rotten Fruit may fall off Careless hearing makes carnal Hearts and carnal Hearts makes cursed lives He that will be much in self denial must be much in self tryal If we could be contented to be altogether without Christ or with part of Christ we need not suffer persecution When and where wickedness is most then and there the godly should strive to be most godly If Gods People could be diligent at their own work and leave God at his work they need not fear success As the Stars the higher they are the swifter their motion so Christians the more spiritual the more active in the service of God Nothing comes amiss to a godly man but sin What a Preacer does as well as what he speaks is doctrine to the People The cheif end of all Scriptures is to know God and to worship him rightly being known Christians should take heed least God should sue them upon an Action of Waste for wasting time and mispending mercies c. Sence of misery must prâ—ceed sence of mercy At the day of death but especially at the day of Judgement a Saint will wish he had sinned less served God better and suffered for him more He is a strong Christian that seeks Gods glory more then his own salvation but no Christian that seeks neither Sin undiscovered or unconsidered becomes sin unrepented There are many that serve themselves of Christ but few that serves Christ for his own sake Gods People have the love of God shewed to and set before them shed in them and sealed to them Let not a Christian leave off his running till he comes to the end of his Race but like the Moon though she be eclipsed yet forsakes not her Orb not discontinues her course at all Be sure to praise God when thou receivest power against Sin and Temptation and you shall be sure to find God ready to give you power another time when you want it Be still imployed in doing good and you shall not be much tempted or troubled with Evil. Some Christians have more trouble from and for Temptation and sin in one day then they have
sooner awaked had told his Wife but he heard at some distance either a Carbine or a Pistol discarged which made him prsently conclude that his Dreams was true and was then immediately to be fulfilled Whereupon though he had opportunity enough to make an escape yet he chose to stay and to prepare himself for a Prison Therefore as soon as the Souldiers came into the house he presented himself unto them and told them he understood their design and was as willing to go along with them as they were to require him and so by them was carried to Prison which according to their Warrant was to the next Sessions Salop being 17 miles off where he was committed with several others to the custody of a Marshal From thence he was conducted to Salop where he continued Prisoner about Nine Weeks and then by an Order of the King and Council was released with the rest of his B ethren Mr. Powel being thus set at liberty thought it was his duty to improve that mercy by continuing to Preach as he had done formerly but one Sir M. P. at that time the High Sheriff of the County of Mountgomery sent to prohibit his meeting and upon Mr. Powels refusal to neglect the oppertunity of serving God among his People the High Sheriff wrote a Letter to Secretary Morice wherein he accused Mr. Powel of Sedition Rebellion and Treason and the like Crimes which though untruly Suggested yet at that time easily beleived and he doubted not but to procure power to imprison one who was represented so dangerous but before any return came so willing are some men to be doing Mr. Sheriff directed a Warrant to take Mr. Powel and make him Prisoner which was accordingly done where he was continued several Moneths all oâ—dinary wayes of releif by Law allowed in such Cases being wholly obstructed The Jaylor in whose hands Mr. Powel was kept was one that formerly told this story concerning himself How being one night in his Bed there appeared to him about Eleven of the Clock at Night a bright shining light and in the light a speckled Bird which bad him read Mat. 3.2 Early in the morning he got up and having no Bible of his own he went to borrow one of his Neighbours and found these words Repent for the Kingdome of Heaven is at hand Upon which he entreated Mr. Powel before he was a Prisoner to Preach and to take this Text for his Subject And then he was so affected as at the Sermon he was observed to weep and confessed afterwads to some that he was almost wrought upon But a little time wore out that Impression for at Mr. Powels coming to Prison he was so much altered from any thing of good that he not only very uncivilly used his Convincer but very often sought to trapan and ensnare his Prisoner After some Moneths stay the Sessions came and after much importunity Mr. Powel was called and instead of being released or having any just cause rendred why he should still be continued in Prison the Oaths of Supreamacy and Allegiance were tendred to him and though he urged that it was necessary he should first be cleared of that which was already charged upon him before he entred upon any new Matter especially since those Oaths were designed against the Papists who he saw were spared and of him as to any inclinableness unto Popery they had no suspicion Yet neither in this could he be heard but upon his refusal of those Oaths so arbitrary and unnecessarily tendred he was again committed unto Prison the Judge refusing to take any Bail for him till the next Sessions But he had not long continued here when upon a false information returned against him one of the Messengers of the Council Mr. Wickâ—m was sent down with a Warrant to bring him before the King and the Council whether he was brought within few dayes following and whilest he was waiting at the Council door a Cavilier Captain one of his own County came to Mr. Powel and upbraided him advising him to run away for that would be his best course To whom he replied before all the other Company that God had made him to stand when he and his Companions the Cavaliers had run away To which no answer was made neither by that Captain nor by any of the Company But after 6. or 7. hours waiting one of the Clerks of the Council came with a Warrant in his hands which he delivered to the Messenger to carry Mr. Powel Prisoner to the Fleet where he was detained almost two years wanting but six Weeks and for above 12. Moneths of that time in so close a Confinement that he was not suffered to go out of his Chamber Door which together with the offensive smell of a Dunghil which was just before his Window did so much impair his Health that he never after perfectly recovered it Whilest Mr. Powel was thus a Prisoner in the Fleet his Enemies could not satisfie themselves by exercising cruelty upon his Body but they also endeavoured to take away his good name and credit by spreading a Report that he was in Prison there for a great part of the Revenew of the Tythes of Wales From which Aspersion though many worthy Persons had formerly cleared him by a Book Printed in the Year 1653. called Examen Purgament Vavaseris Yet noe knowing how far such a Report might influnece to the reproach of the Gospel Mr. Powel did then write a breif Narrative concenting the proceedings of the Commissioners in Wales against the ejected Clergy and therein as knowing his own intigrity he did defy all his Enemies to prove the least Title of that Slander To which Vindication no reply was ever put nor indeed can be made since all that knew Mr. Powel must affirm this of him that very few in this Self seeking Age were more of the Primitive temper in seeking the Souls rather then the Goods of others which though pressed upon him with much importunity he hath often refused And so far was he from desiring unjustly to enrich himself that he did voluntarily quit the oppertunity of justly doing it Having now spent almost two years in the Fleet there came a sudden order for the sending away of him and Collonel Rich which without giving them so much as two hours time to provide themselves was executed upon them upon the last day of September 1663. and in the Duke of Yorks Pleasure Boat whereof Captain Lambert was Commander they were both conveyed to South-Sea Castle by Portsmouth where Mr. Powel continued about five years not being restored till the removal of the Chancellour Hide did open a Door for him as for many other Prisoners to sue for his Habeas Carpus and so at length he obtained his liberty Mr. Powel after his release out of South Sea Castle had scarce his liberty ten Moneths when passing from Bristol through some Parts of Monmouth-shire he having in that County several opportunities in divers places
Cardieffe the 13 of Jan. 1668. THe 13. of January 1668. in the afternoon the Jaylor was commanded to bring the aforesaid Prisoner to the Bar before Sir John A. Kt. H. H. and Dr. W. B. Esqs Sir Iohn A. spake to the Prisoner as followeth or to this purpose Sir Iohn A. Mr. Powel you have by Order of the Council had the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy already tendered unto you and now we tender them again unto you will you take them Mr. P. Sir I desire leave of you and the rest of the Bench as necessarily previous and antecedaneous to my answer that I may be satisfied first in two questions 1. Que. In what capacity doth the Law and you look upon one whether as a publick or private person If as a private person as I suppose it and you do then one of these Oaths by Law cannot be tendered to me 2. Quest What tender do you count this whether a first or second I have just cause to propound this Question for one of you that sits upon that Bench as I am credibly informed from one that hath seen his Letter hath informed the Council or some of them that the Oaths have been tendred twice before now to me and that I refused them with other things as false so that my taking of them now would be but as the Poet said Clipeum post vulnera sumo To take the Buckler after I am wounded Hereupon the Dr. knowing himself to be guilty did in great fury break out into several hasty expressions all tending to silence the prisoner and commanding that the Oaths be shew'd him and if he would not take them let the Jaylor take him P. Sir it do h not become a man of your learning or place to be so angry and the wrath of man doth not eff ct the righteousness of God and Sir if you will be Dr. Saul to persecute the truth and people of G d as you do I hope I shall be as Deacon Stephen to stâ—nd up for them and Dr. if you please let you and I either according to Law or Reason discourse this point and let the Bench and Court judge thereof Hereupon Dr. B. went away in a great fury to fetch a Lawyer as they said to answer him in omuch that some of the people called him Dâ—ctor Fury which was afterwards fathered upon Mr. Powel though he did not say so Sir Iohn A. and the other two Justices moved Mr. Powel to take the Oaths again P. I beseech you Gentlemen give me leave to speak a few words first and then I shall directly answer you whether I can and will take them yea or no there being a little silence he went on and said These two Oath were framed and imposed as I suppose you well know the first of them viz. the Oath of Supremacy in the first year of Queen Elizabeth immediately after that hot persecution of the Papists in Queen Marys days and it was no doubt intended chiefly against Papists and to be a test and tryal of all persons that were admitted into or continued in any publick Offices either Temporal or Ecclesiastical The other Oath of Allegiance or Obedience was imposed upon that notorious act the Gunpowder Treason and the substance of both of them is to acknowledge the Queen or King of England to be the Supream Magistrates of these Kingdoms and that no Prince or Forraign power had any right thereto nor the Pope nor any other had power to dissolve or discharge any subject from their Obedience to the Queen or King and this power I do freely and heartily acknowledge and so far I do here declare if it gives you satisfaction Iustices said no you must take the Oaths as they are tendred P. Why may not that satisfie you which satisfied the King and his Council for in my Case stated and presented to them the last day before my discharge I did signifie that I was not free in Conscience to take those Oaths in the way they are now tender'd and yet they were pleased to grant me their Order for my discharge Sir I. A. But they did not know you refused the Oaths P. Yes Sir but they did as you may see if you please look upon this Copy of my Case which I presented to them which I desire you to read and their Order for my discharge and so Mr. Powel render'd them the Copy which they refus'd to receive Iustices But we have an Order from the King and his Council requiring you to take the Oaths P. Sir That Order was procured by false information against me to the Council which is punishable by the Law but I pray you let me see the Order that I may know what it requires and comport my self with their command as far as I can Sir I. A. No we will not shew it P. Sir Iohn the last time I was before you you would have had the Dr. to shew it and why should you now be against it I. B. Tender them unto him the Oath of Allegiance first or words to that purpose P. Do you require no more then the taking of that and shall the taking thereof be as the Apostle saith of an Oath an end of the strife Iustices Do you take that first and you shall know that afterwards P. Doth my liberty depend upon taking or not taking it Iust Do you take it P. Gentlemen you deal very strictly and severely and this is summum jus which is summa injuria for as our learned Casuists and Divines as Dr. Saunderson Mr. Perkins and others say that in taking of an Oath men must take them with respect to the Glory of God a mans own advantage or the good of another but as you tender this I cannot see how I do either if I take them for this Ordinance of God is made a snare to me for I am as a Martyr said imprisoned without cause and now this is made as a cause of detaining me there Be pleased Gentlemen to give me leave without offence to put you in mind of some words in your own Commission several times reiterated Thas you are to execute Justice secundum legem consuetudinem Regni nostri Angliae according to the Law Custom of England The Law of England doth not require that men should take the Oaths as often as every Magistrate pleases to tender them for as the L. Cook that was the glory of the Law shews in the 7th book of his Reports in the Case of Postnati Calvins Case a man is bound to take the Oath of Allegiance but once in his life time And for the custom of England it is not usual to imprison a man without cause as I have been or to impose upon men Oaths when and whilst they are prisoners unless they desire their liberty upon the account of taking them Dr. B. Upon this Dr. B. came in again in a great rage and said as some report why do you suffer him to bark at