not to dishonor my cause for you suffer said he for a good cause I gaue him thanks for his christian incouragement J replying I know the cause is good for it is Gods cause for my own part I am cheerful merry in the Lord am as well contented with this my present portion as if I were to receiue my present liberty For I knowe my God that hath gone along with me hither to will carry me though to the end And for the affliction itself though it be the punishment inflicted upon Rogues yet I esteeme it not the least disgrace but the greatest honour that can be done unto me that the Lord counts me worthy to suffer any thing for his great name And you my Brethren that doe now here behold my present condition this day be not discouraged be not discouraged at the waies of Godlinesse by reason of the Crosse which accompanies it for it is the lot and portion of all which will liue Godly in Christ Iesus to suffer persecution The Cart being readie to goe forward I spake to the executioner when I saw him pull out his Corded whipp out of his pocket after this manner Well my friend doe thy office To which he replyed I haue whipt many a Rogue but now I shall whip an honest man but be not discouraged said he it will be soon over To which I replyed J knowe my God hath not onely enabled me to beleeve in his name but alsoe to suffer for his sake Soe the Carman drove forward his Cart and I laboured with my God for strength to submit my back with cheerfullnes unto the smitter And he heard my desire granted my request for when the first stripe was giuen I felt not the least paine but said Blessed be thy name O Lord my God that hast counted mee worthy to suffer for thy glorious names sake And at the giving of the second I cried out with a loud voice Hallelujah Hallelujah Glory Honour and Praise bee given to thee O Lord for ever and to the Lambe that sitts vpon the Throne Soe wee vvent vp Fleetstreete the Lord enabling me to endure the stripes vvith such patience and cherefullnes that J did not in the least manner shevv the least discontent at them for my God hardened my backe and steeled my reynes and tooke a vvay the smart and payne of the stripes from mee But J must confesse if I had had no more but my owne naturall strength I had suncke vnder the burden of my punishement for to the flesh the paine was uery grevious heauy But my God in whom I did trust was higher and stronger then my selfe whoe strengthened and enabled mee not onely to undergoe the punishment with cherefullnes but made me Triumph with a holy disdaine to insult over my torments And as we went along the Strand many friends spoke to me asked how I did bid me be cherfull to whom I replied I was merry and cheerfull and was upheld with a diuine and heauenly supportation comforted with the sweet consolations of Gods spirit And about the middle of the Strand there came a Friend and bid me speake with boldnesse To when I replied when the time comes soe I will for then if I should haue spoken and spent my strength it would haue been but as water spilt on the ground in regard of the noyse and presse of people And alsoe at that time I was not in a fitt temper to speake because the dust much troubled mee and the Sunne shined very hot vpon mee And the Tipstaffe man at the first vvould not let mee haue my hatt to keepe the vehement heate of the Sunne from my head Alsoe hee many times spake to the Cart man to driue softly Soe that the heate of the Sunne exceedingly peirced my head and made me somwhat faint But yet my God vpheld me vvith courage and made me vndergoe it vvith a joyfull heart And vvhen J came to Chearing Crosse some Christian friends spake to me and bid me be of good cheere Soe I am said I for I rest not in my ovvne strength but J fight vnder the Banner of my great and mightie Captaine the Lord Jesus Christ who hath conquered all his Enemies and I doubt not but through his strength I shall conquer and over come all my sufferings for his power upholdes mee his strength enables mee his presence cheeres mee and his Spirit comforts mee and I looke for an immortall Crowne which never shall fade nor decay the assured hope and expectation where of makes mee to contemne my sufferings and count them as nothing ffor my momentany affliction will worke for me a farre more exceeding Crowne and weight of glory And as I went by the Kings pallace a great Multitude of people came to looke vpon me And passing through the gate vnto Westminster Many demanded what was the matter To whom I replied my Brethren against the Law of God against the law of the Land against the King or State haue J not committed the least offence that deserves this punishment but only J suffer as an object of the Prelates cruelty and malice and hereupon one of the Warden of the Fleets-officers beganne to interrupt me and tells mee my suffering was just and therefore I should hold my tongue Whom J bidd meddle with his owne businesse for I would speake come what would for my cause was good for which I suffered and here I was ready to shâ—…d my dearest blood for it And as we went through Kings street many encouraged me and bidd me be cheerefull Others whose faces to my knwoledge I never sawe before and who J verilie thinke knew not the cause of my suffering but seeing my cheerefullnes vnder it beseeched the Lord to blesse me and strenthen mee At the last wee came to the Pillary where I was unloosed from the Cart and having put one some of my cloathes wee went to the Taverne vvhere J staid a prittie vvhile vvaiting for my Surgeon vvhoe vvas not yet come to dresse mee Where vvere many of my Friends whoe exceedingly rejoyced to see my courage that the Lord had enabled me to vndergoe my punishment soe willingly Whoe asked me how I did I tould them as well as ever I was in my life I blesse my God for it for I felt such inward joy and comfort chearing vp my soule that I lightly esteemed my sufferings And this I counted my weding day in which I was married to the Lord Iesus Christ for now I knowe he loues me in that he hath bestowed soe rich apparrell this day upon me and counted me worthie to suffer for his sake I hauing a desire to retire into a private roome from the multitude of people that were about me which made me like to faint I had not been ther long but Mr. Lightburne the Tibstasse of the Star-Chamber came to me saying the Lords sent him to me to knowe if I would acknowledge my selfe to be in a
A WORKE OF THE BEAST OR A Relation of a most vnchristian Censure Executed vpon IOHN LILBVRNE Novv prisoner in the fleet the 18 of Aprill 1638. With the heavenly speech vttered by him at the time of his suffering Uery vsefull for these times both for the encouragement of the Godly to suffer And for the terrour and shame of the Lords Adversaries HEB. 10.36 For you have neede of patience that after you have don the will of God you might receiue the promises HEB. 11.36 And others had triall of cruell mockings and scourgings yea moreover of bands and imprisonments RIGHT RICHT Printed in the yeare the Beast was Wounded 1638 The Publisher to the Reader Tender hearted Reader OF The wicked it is truely said in Iob. their Light shal bee Put out Now wee see in a Candle beeing almost extinguished that after it hath glimmered a while it rayseth some few blazing flashes and soe suddenly vanisheth To speake what I thinke my minde gives me that the Lord is now vpon extinguishing the bloody Prelates out of our Land For whereas they have not in some late yeares shewed the cruelty which they did before but now increase in persecution me thinkes this is a cleere foregoing signe that like a snuffe in the socket their end and ruine is at hand I write this to have thee the more patient contented and comforted when thou either hearest seest or readest of their barbarous crueltie besure their condemnation sleepeth not but when their wickednes is full I say when they haue once filled up the measure of their iniquity the which I trust they haue allmost don then will the Lord send back these locusts to the Bottomlesse pitt from whence they came In the meane time feare not their faces but stand in the trueth and let Gods house and his ordinances bee deare to thy soule And know that as the Lord gaue strength to this his Servant to suffer joyfully for Christs cause soe he will to thee and me and all others of his saints if he count us worthy to be called thereto Thine if thou be Christs and a hater of the English Popish Prelates F. R. A WORKE OF THE BEAST OR A Relation of a most unchristian Censure executed vpon IOHN LILBVRNE Novv prisoner in the fleet the 18. of Aprill 1638 vvith the heavenly speech vtter by him at the time of his suffering VPon Wednesday the said 18 of Aprill Hauing noe certaine notice of the execution of my Censure till this present morning I prepared my selfe by prayer unto God that he would make good his promise to be vvith me enable me to undergoe my Affliction vvith joyfullnes courage and that he vvould bee a mouâ—h and vtterance vnto mee to enable me to speake that vvhich might make for his greatest honour And in my meditations my soule did principally pitch vpon these Three places of Scripture First That in Jsay 41.10.11.12.13 Feare thou not for I am with thee be not dismaid for I am thy God I will strengthen thee yea I will helpe thee yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousnes Behold all they that were incenced against thee shall be ashamed and confounded they shall be as nothing and they that striue with thee shall perrish Thou shalt seeke them shall not finde them even them that contented with thee they that warr against thee shall be as nothing as a thing of nought For I the Lord thy God will hold thee by thy right hand saying vnto thee feare not J will helpe thee Feare not thou worme Jacob and yee men of Israell I will helpe thee sayth the Lord and thy Redeemer the Holy one of Israell c. Secondly that place in Isay 43.1.2 Where God speaks thus to his Elect. Feare not for J have Redeemed thee I have called thee by thy name thou art mine When thou passest through the waters J wil be with thee and though the rivers they shall not overflow thee when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not bee burnt neither shall the flame kinâ—ell vpon thee Thirdly that in Heb. 13.5.6 In these words For he hath sayd I will never leave thee nor forsake thee Soe that we may boldly say the Lord is my helper J will not feare what man can doe to me With the consideration of these and other gratious promises made to his people I being one of his chosen ones did claime my share interest in them and the Lord of his infinite goodnes enabled me to cast my selfe upon and rest in them knowing and stedfastly beleeving that he is a God of faithfullnes and power whoe is able and willing to make good these his promises to the vtmost and to his praise be it spoken I desire to speake it my soule was that morning exceedingly lifted up with spiritual consolation and J felt within me such a divine supportation that the basenesse of my punishment J was to undergoe did seem as a matter of nothing to me And I went to my suffering with as willing and joyfull a heart as if J had been going to solemnize the day of my maraige with one of the choysest Creatures this world could afford The Warden of the Fleete hauing sent his men for my old fellow souldier Mr. Iohn Wharton and my selfe being both in one Chamber wee made our selues readie to goe to the place of execution I tooke the old man by the hand and led him downe three payre of stayers and soe along the yard till we came to the Gate And when we came there George Harrington the Porter told me J must stay alitle and after our parting commending one another to the protection of our alsufficient God I was bid goe to the Porters Lodge noe sooner was I gone in but came Iohn Hawes the other Porter to me vsing these words Mr Lilburne I am very sorie for your punishment you are now to undergoe you must stripp you and be whipt from hence to Westminster I replied the will of my God be done for I knowe he will carry me through it with an vndaunted Spirit But I must confesse it seemed at the first a little strange to me in regard I had no more notice given me for my preperation for soe sore a punishment For I thought I should not haue been whipt through the streete but onely at the Pillory And soe passing a long the Lane being attended with many Staves and Halberts as Christ was when he was apprehended by his Enimies and led to the High Priests Hall Mat. 26 we came to ffleete-bridge where was a Cart standing ready for me And I being commanded to stripp me I did it with all willingnes and cheerefullnes where upon the executioner tooke out a Corde and tyed my hands to the Carts Arsse which caused me to vtter these words Wellcome be the Crosse of Christ With that there drew neere a Yong man of my acquentance and bid me put on a Couragious resolution to suffer cheerfully
means to effect his own glory but hee by the least instrument is able to bring to passe the greatest things It is true J am a yong man and noe Scoller according to that which the world counts Scollership yet I have obtayned mercie of the Lord to be faithfull hee by a divine prouidence hath brought me hither this day I speak to you in the name of the Lord being assisted with the spirit power of the God of Heaven and earth I speake not the words of rashnes or inconsideratenesse but the words of sobernes and mature deliberation for I did consult with my God before I came hither and desired him that he would 〈◊〉 and enable me to speake that which might be for his glory and the good of his people And as I am a Souldier fighting under the banner of the great and mightie Captaine the Lord Iesus Christ and as J looke for that Crowne of immortality which one day I know shall bee set upon my temples being in the condition that I am in I dare not hold my peace but speake unto you with boldnes in the might and strength of my God the things which the Lord in mercy hath made knowne unto my Soule come life come death When I was here about there came a fat Lawier I do not know his name commanded me to hold my peace leave my preaching To whom I replied and said Sr. I will not hold my peace but speake my minde freely though I be hanged at Tiburne for my paines It seemes he himselfe was gauled and toucht as the Lawiers were in Christ time when hee spake against the Scribes Pharisees which made them say Master in saying thus thou reuilest us alsoe Soe he went away and I thinke complained to the Lords but J went on with my speech and said My Brethren be not discouraged at the waies of God for the affliction and Crosse that doth accompany them for it is sweete comfortable drawing in the Yoake of Christ for all that and I haue found it soe by experience for my soule is fild so full of spirituall and heavenlie joy that with my tongue J am not able to expresse it neither are any capeable J thinke to partake of soe great a degre of consolation but onelie those upon whom the Lords gracious afflicting hand is And for mine owne part I stand this day in the place of an evill doer but my conscience witnesseth that I am not soe And here a bout I put my hand in my pocket and puld out Three of worthie D. Bastwicks Bookes and threw them among the people and said There is part of the bookes for which I suffer take them among you and read them and see if you finde any thing in them against the Law of God the Law of the Land the glory of God the honour of the King or state I am the Sonne of a Gentleman and my Friends are of rancke and quality in the Countrie where they live which is 200. miles from this place and I am in my present condition deserted of them all for I know not one of them dare meddle with me in my present estate being J am stung by the Scorpions the Prelates and for any thing I know it may bee J shall never haue a fauourable countenance from any of them againe and withall I am a yong man and likelie to haue lived well and in plentie according to the fashion of the world Yet notwithstanding for the cause of Christ and to doe him service I haue and doe bid a due to Father Friends Riches pleasures ease contented life and bloud and lay all downe at the Footstoole of Iesus Christ being willing to part with all rather then I will dishonour him or in the least measure part with the peace of a good conscience that sweetnesse and joy which I haue found in him for in naked Christ is the quintisence of swetnes I am so farr from thinking my affliction and punishment which this day I haue endured and still doe indure and groane under a disgrace that I receive it as the welcome Crosse of Christ and doe thinke my selfe this day more honoured by my sufferings then if a Crowne of gold had beene set upon my head for I haue in some part beene made conformable to my Lord and Master and have in some measure dranke of the same Cupp which he himselfe drank of while he was in this sinfull world for he shed his most precious bloud for the salvation of my poore soul that so I might be reconsiled to his father therfor am I willing to undergo any thing for his sake that in ward joy consolation within me that carries mee high aboue all my pains torments you My Brethren if you be willing to haue Christ you must owne him and take him upon his own â—…aâ—…es know that Christ and the Crosse is in seperable for he that will live godlie in Christ Iesus must suffer persecution and affliction it is the lott and portion of all his chosen ones through many afflictions trials we must enter into glorie and the Apostell saith that if we be without afflictions whereof all are partakers then are yee Bastards and not Sonnes And therfore if you will haue Christ sit down reckon before ever you make profession of him what he will cost you least when you come to the triall you dishonour him and if you bee not willing and contented to part withall and let all goe for his sake you are not worthy of him If Parents husband wife or children lands or livings riches or honours pleasure or ease life or blood stand in the way you must be willing to parte with all these and to entertaine Christ naked alone though you haue nothing but the Crosse or else you are not worthy of him Math. 10 37-38 Oh my Brethren there is such sweetnes and contentednes in enjoying the Lord Iesus alone that it is able where it is felt to make a man goe through all difficulties endure all hardshipps that may possible come vpon him Therefore if hee call you to it doe not deny him nor his truth in the least manner for he hath said Hee that denies him before men him will hee denie before his Father which is in Heaven And now is the time that wee must shew our selves good Souldiers of Jesus Christ for his truth his cause and glorie lies at stake in a high degree therefore put one couragious resolutions and withdraw your necks and soules from all false power and worship and fight with courage and boldnes in this spirituall Battell in which Battell the Lord befor your eyes hath raised vp some valiant Champions that fought up to the eares in bloud therefore be couragious Souldiers and fight it out bravely that your God may be glorified by you and let him onelie have the service both of your inward and outward man and stand