THE TRUE RELATION Of the bloody Attempt by JAMES SALOWAYES To cut his own Throat in the Compter upon Sunday the 21. of June 1663. TOGETHER WITH Satans Attempt and Overthrow IN A SERMON Preached upon that occasioâ— in Wood-street-Compter upon Sunday the 21. of June 1663. B R. F. Minister of Gods Word Deliver me from blood-guiltiness O God Psal 51 14. LONDON Printed by R. Dickinson Anno Dom. 1663. To the Honourable Sir William Turner Knight and Baronet Sheriffe of the City of London SIR IT is the occasion not the opinion of any worth in this work which presumeth a necessity to become publick for seeing the best of men are not exempted from and the worst do too willingly admit temptations it is my desire that this example may not only be printed in this paper but imprinted in our hearts Actiones Precedentium sunt succedentium libri The Actions of our Predecessors are our books much more may this exemplary act become a book to us who are present wherein we may read Mans frailty the Tempters malice Gods great and ever to be remembred restraint The Press and the Pulpit have of late been too guilty of light Wares and traded too much to our shame and sorrow in triflls and unhappy troubles Truth hath rather been suppressed then printed not commended to the print but condemned to the Press for silence we have had papers stuffed with words of a new stamp cruel murders vizarded with the title of signal victories Faelix prosperum scaelus virtus vocatur and those sheets may now serve for the Authors pennance And it hath been the delight of the troublers of our Israel to enlarge their Pamphlets with a list of their murdered Brethren As I cannot but sorrow for their sin and protest against their practice so I cannot but conceive the printing of this haynom act may be no lesse then necessary Here is not one 〈◊〉 against another but which is worse a more unnaturâ—â— war a man fighting against himself the Tempter here designing the final discomfiture of soul and body Nobis est in exemplum these works are warning-pieces our sins and Satans wiles do assume his name Legion for they are many Many sad blows do we receive from Satan Peccata sunt totidem vulnera and every day whilst we are in the field of this world presents a Duel unto us our members warring against the Spirit we stand in need of Armour and this presents unto us Armour like Davids which we ought to prove and Christ is here presented as a Champion through whom we are only conquerours This is all I presume to present to you it is no pride that puts me upon it but that warrantable ambition to do the weaker people service which I hope may beseech your acceptance and excuse SIR Your unworthy but oblidged Servant R. F. The true Relation of that strange attempt by James Salowayes upon himself to cut his own Throat in Wood-street Compter Sunday June 21. 1663. UPon Saturday the twentieth of June he was brought prisoner to Wood street Compter his debt was about three pounds but his grief was more then his debt He was observed to besidâ— which was rather imputed to his condition then his constitution few men come there but are accompanied with sadness The next day being Sunday he was present whilst divine Service and Sermon commaâ—d and afterwards invited by a Friend to dine a kindness not to be denyed in that place where he eat little and as was observed spake less after dinner some words not so well understood as heard were spoken by him to his 〈◊〉 â—â—â—er in love then a Prisoner viz. That he wondered that people in the prison should talk of him and something of â—â—â—niâ—e but so imperfect that his â—rother was â—ather 〈◊〉 then serupulous to know 〈◊〉 meaning He râ—â—â—â—â—d himself without suspition of any his brother supposing only he had gone to sleep but a voyce as he afterwards confessed uttered within him Thou shalt be burned in this Prison therefore it is better for thee to make away thy self then be burnt He presently went to a House of office a little distrant from his chamber where with a knife broken in the edge he wounded himself in the throat and took the gullet by which the meat passeth into the body in his hand and cut a piece of it and threw it in the House of Office he widened the wound four wayes and leaned upon his hands to let his blood run into the House of office some Prisoners which heard a noise came near but suspecting nothing only supposing his sickness and vomiting withdrew which gave him further time to execute his purpose then he layes his knife by and takes his band with which he wiped the blood from the boards and stopped his band into his wound whereby you may conceive the largeness of it but finding not so sudden a dispatch as he desired he willing to put an end to it draws his band from the wound throws it into the House of office and betakes himself to his knife resolving as he sayes to strike home and cut the wind-pipe when loe the Power of God whilst he was lifting it to his throat the knife though as he sayes firmly holden dropt out of his hand into the House of office where he could not recover it This continued till Evening-service was begun at which time some Prisoners having oocasion that way found him all bloody and speechless It was forth with made known to the Officers who readily sent for a Chirurgion the skin was stitched but the part of the gullet wanting he continued for full six hours speechless yet while we were in prayer he did by lifting up his hand answer to our desires and when I urged unto him the danger of his condition and necessity of unfeigned repentance he did by shaking his head evidence his sorrow I desired him to keep his thoughts a work in praying unto God he lift up his hand and looked earnestly upon me about eight that evening it pleased God to give him strength to speak and he did assure us he understood and remembred what we had said whilst he was speechless he said he was sorry for his hainous fact and told me he hoped by the morning to be better able to satisfie me further That night was troublesome to him and passed without rest but in the morning he sâ—ept for some hours and upon his waking I came to him and spake to him he presently thanked me for my pains and told me he had great cause to give God praise for the addition of that mercy to add one day more to his life and he desired to live to glorifie God I found it not requisite to trouble him with many questions those few I asked were first if he were not very sensible of his sin how much he had offended the Mercy of God in offering to commit that horrid act He told me he had finned grievousâ—y
the last he shall compass the City seven times At the first he draws forth his temptations which may be named after him Legion for they are many give thy soul an Alarum proffer thee fair conditions draw a league betwixt you proffer a truce if thou wilt pay him tribute promise to remove hostility if thou wilt pay him homage but all this time he waits but an opportunity of approaching nay of entering It was a prudent and safe piece of advice which a Councellour gave to his King That it was only safe for a King to treat with a sword in his hand And it is safe for every Christian we have a dangerous enemy to deal withall Judas was their General and led those that took Jesus he comes unto him with a kisse when he brought them to kill him we have no safer way then to keep him at the swords point A noble and judicious Peer of this Realm was wont to say Prevention was cheaper then recovery our armour avails us little after the wound be received that which timely put on had kept out the bullet now serves but to increase the wound and to that purposeâ— though Saul's Armour will not fit David yet is it not fitting that David should combate with Goliah wholly unprepared We must observe that Sauls Armour another man 's will not serve us in this day of battel and why sayes David For that I have not proved 1 Sam. 17.39 Christ Armour by which he repels Satan was his own Armour which he hath proved we may say it himself for he was the Word and this is temptation proof one job one syllable of this shall noâ— sail Holy Job nâ— had special Armor the Devil considered him considered what way he might enter him but he finds God had made a hedge about him his goods they were abroad in the fields the lives of his children they were in the house of their eldest brother only the life of Job was inclosed was hedged about Satan attempts a nearer assault moves that his bone and his flesh may be touched and yet can he only fire the subburbs but the City he cannot take his body may be plagued but his life and soul is protected The Church the Spouse of Christ hath Armour of proof she is builded upon a Rock and that Rock is Christ like a good Wife she is under covert the gates of Hell though they labour her discomfiture yet shall they not prevail against her The Dragon may and will make war against the Woman he may like a resolute Souldier rally his forces prepare his batteries pour out his poyson floods and waters crosses and persecutions schismes and heresies yet shall he not prevail Christ shall break his head but let his members be prepared wrath and war is against them he will though he shall not break we bruise his heel he will labour to seâ— the Bush on fire though blessed 〈◊〉 God it shall not be consumed this fire of the Church shall give light though it doth not burn but Satans â—ell fire shall burn though it gives no light And thus I am come to the Application Nunquidego Domine was the Disciples Is it I Lord Who is it that Satan does thus assault No lesse then Christ and if this befall the Master 2 Cor. 16.15 what may the servant 〈…〉 If Satâ—â— dare assault Christ his servants will dare to 〈…〉 â—â—sciples If Satan be transformed it is no greâ—◠〈…〉 â—â—nisters be transformed If no man can be 〈…〉 â—ration then no man but he is concerned in thiâ—â—â—exâ—â— aâ—â—â—â—e sad example which occasions this Sermon concâ—â—ns us and to good and evil is an admonition the time place and condition of the person tempted doth concern us The time when Christ had begun the great work of our redemption when he was entering into the execution of his divine Office it is not for man to appear in the field of God without he be armed for all encounters shrubs may be unmoved when the tallest Ceâ—â—ars are shaken and privacy doth supersede from several attempts whereunto those of publick concernment are exposed He that espouseth the Lords quarrel cannot but expect many adversaries and few men though they may put themselves forward are fitted for this conflict Gideons Army of thirty two thousand are reduced to three hundred and serves to inform â—at as God can do his work by few so few are sitting for doing Gods work how few will stand lap water in their spiritual marâ—â—â— not yâ—el an inch of ground â—uâ—e â— 6 not loose of their neight in time of danger How many will kneel and bend for water in the fiery tryal and though they be armed and furnished to the field yet like the children of Ephrams they prove but broken bows and start back in the day of battel but Christ hath not to taught us Saul â—e killed his thousands and David his ten thousands but Christ doth more for though his person meets with Legions his word ejects them sâ—â—yes them Lord thou hâ—st given us thy Word give us thy Spirit and we shall not be afraid if thousand be against us 2. The place doth concern us it was in the Wildernesse Eliâ—ah was much dejected when he was alone and the place doth not a little contribute to the lessening or augmenting of misery Adam had a Paraâ—ise Christ finds a Wildernesse Josâ—â—h a Prison Jeremy a Dangeon Daniel a â—â—ons Den the three Children a fiery Fâ—â—â—â—ce Peter and Paul a Prison but â—â—lâ—xâ—â—â—o passio cum Christus ingreditur careres happy prison 〈…〉 unhappy paradise where Satan inhabits 〈…〉 are in the Wildernesse how weary we are of 〈…〉 â—e dye sayes Elijah when Peter was left alone 〈…〉 â—ith began to saint and going afar off gave 〈…〉 â—n to interpose temptations Hold up our 〈…〉 â—derneâ—s of this world with that comfortable 〈…〉 with ye in life in death thus shall the Desert be leliâ—â—â—ome to us 3. The condition He was hungry Sometimes want and sometimes wealth are in laqueum Agar prayed against both â—â—ve mâ— neither poyâ—◠〈◊〉 nor riches not poverty least I be poor and steal not riches least I bâ— full and forget God Preadâ— the bait which he laid before Christ if that would have tempâ—â— him Christ had turned thief and â—ob'â— God of his honour Iâ—â—ness was Judahs yes and Sodoms sin and hath been my and 〈◊〉 our iniquity It we want we murmure if we have plenty we lift up our hearts against God and our â—â—lness â—erveâ—â— â—in to the full against God And we have great cause to impect the sins of our fulness when we do but â—â—llâ—â—t upon Christs â—â—â—er 〈◊〉 by his fasting seeing therefore for our sakes and sins that righteoâ—sness did hunger Give us Lord for thy sons sake hearts to hunger after righteousness Again it is the Tempter which comes unto Christs surely we cannot though he assumes several forms but understand him Wouldst thou know him by his appeâ—latives Names are predictionary so are â—is not one but it hints the evilness of â—s nature Wâ—â—l 〈◊〉 judge of him by his works they are like the authour and speak not his prâ—â—se but his sâ—ame in the gates Is it any thing would tempt thee to unlawful acts it is 〈◊〉 thou canst but suspect him Is it any thing would diver thee from thy God it is the Devil thou hast cause to 〈◊〉 him Is it any thing would tempt thee unto siâ— it is the deceiver Is it any thing would make shipâ—vâ—â—ck of thy saith it is the son of perdition Is 〈◊〉 my thing may 〈◊〉 the 〈…〉 of one precept the commision of a sâ—n â—n 〈…〉 of the Dâ—vil thy unto him as Christ unto Satan tempting Peter 〈◊〉 thee behind me Satan But if he presumes to come unto Christ how shall I withstand him Christ promised 〈◊〉 â—eave 〈…〉 leâ—s what he promised he hath performed That aâ—â—our wâ—â—h hepâ—â—â—d wherewith he prevailed as a legacy of his lâ—ve is tendeth bequeath'd unto thee Scripium si it is written was Satans weapon this proud Goliah's sword â—ath our better Dâ—vid tâ—ken fâ—â—â— him cut off â—â—s heaâ— with his own swâ—rd and turned the 〈…〉 himself The while panoply the compleat arâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 â—roved furniture are afforded Christians must the Câ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 med from top to toe Epheâ— 6.14 there is a heâ—met and a breast-plate a shieâ—d and a tried â—word and if your enemies be principalities and powers your armour is experienced your engines 〈…〉 as powerful not parleys and surrenders but prayers 〈◊〉 supplications these ordnance does gall your adversaries 〈◊〉 with an acceptable violence opens the gates of heaven 〈◊〉 only place of refuge to the conquerors the choicest Centinel is perseverance In this quarrel our Captain is before us that valiant Jâ—nathan who through temptations hath prevailed ascended up the hill and having in his fathers house prepared Mansions calls to us for our following good souldiers will not fail the expection of their Captain loyal subjects will go wheresoever their King goeth in life and death they will be with him O blessed Captain glorious King thou hast conquered Satan for us thou hast left us thy Spirit to conduct us thy Word to comfort us the sword of thy Word and Spirit to deâ—end us let the same spirit go along with us in this conflict and in our selves though we are unable yet through thy strength we shall be more then conquerours In this battel be thou with â—s who by thy blood hath overcome our enemies and give us hearts to ascribe the glory of this conquest unto thee that when this painful time of our militancy is ended we may become members of the Churâ—h triumphant praising thee with Songs of Salvation and victory for evermore Amen FINIS
a half heart is no heart Aut totum honora aut totum abjice God loves not a sleepy service N. 〈◊〉 z. Awake thou that sleepest and call upon thy God God loves not an unmannerly service he is not proud he delights that thou shouldst walk with him but let not condiscension lift up thy heart for he requires thou shouldst walk humbly with him Mâ—â— God would not have his Spouse to be gawâ—y gaâ—ish and painted but he loves to have her decent not in a new â—aâ—hion but in a Matron-like and ancient order He that will have her glorious within will not have her sluttish without 〈◊〉 â—6 14 She shall be brought to the King in a rayment of needle-work not masked as to externals but one part of decency joyned and woven with another How dreadful is thy dwelling-place O God how carefully must we enter thy presence Chamber How must we long to hear thy Will imparted to us How must we fear to impart our wants unto thee If our Petition be rude how can we expect a gracious reference How shall not we deport our selves with reverence when we have to deal with a holy God in a holy place on a holy day to do a holy duty knowing that iâ— these duties the Tempter comes unto us c. God sayes Honour thy Father and thy Mother but 〈◊〉 Tempter ran from the mouth of Christ quote Scripture and acquit thee from this obligation Mary in the mouth of her Son is no more then Woman and that not with obedience but objurgation What have I to do with thee Jo. 2.4 What say we to this bait doth he who teacheth this Commandment disdain his Mother The giver of the Precept is he a president for the breach Let Reverend Bishop Hall answer this Objection Bish Hall In all bodily actions his stile was Mother in spiritual and heavenly Woman she was the Mother of his flesh his Deity was eternal that part which he took from her shall observe her she must observe that nature which was above her as that nature made him a Son and Man so that nature made her both a Woman and a Mother God as thy heavenly Father calls for fear the King as Pater patriae calls for honour Fear God and bonour the King the Conjunction couples them Whom God hath put together let no man put asunder The spiritual Fathers so sayes Saint Paul Vos genui in Evangelio I have begotten you in the Gospel claim an honour let them have a double portion of the spirit of your honour Thy natural Father calls or obedience Can the Mother forget her affection Shall the Child forget his duty Can the Parent forget his care Shall the Child not crave a blessing Blesseme even me also my Father And now am I come to that great temptation which hath been and is too common in our bloody dayes God sayes Thou shalt do no murder Thou shalt not shed the blood of thy brother under the Gospel who might not eat the blood of the beast under the Law The Tempter comes yea hath God said so and hath no small store of provocations and pretences to the breach of this Commandement The first and most unfortunate quarrel was the Tempters when in Paradise he prevailed with our first Parents to rebel against God this quarrel from the mouth of God that sharp-edged sword did produce no lesse then death Morte morieris in this Duel Man being instigated by the Tempter lost the field and in this rebellion was the whole posterity tainted and without the satisfaction of that blessed and powerful second Adam wholly and finally destroyed and as if tâ—ls had not been a too sufficient witness of his malice against man The Tempter starteth another quarell betwixt two brothers when there was none to rescue Here was the first â—nhappy field wherein Cain spills the blood of his brother Abel provoked by this grand murderer because his brothers sacrifice was better accepted he cannot rest till the innocent blood of his brother be sacrificed to his malice Cain made himself drunk with revenge and now that deadly draught doth so distract him that he proceedeth to dispair and now his guilt as clamorous as the act makes him cry out My sin is greater then can be pardoned passing from the â—in against a finite creature to sinne against the inexhausted mercy of an infinite and eternal Majesty Thus hell tempting him â—o this hainous act bequeaths its horror to him which whatsoever way he looks still stands before him And still this Tempter as if blood were his business continueth his course he hath now charactered Cain in the chequered colours red and black blood and despaire his next piece must be to set a difference betwixt Jacob and Esau these struggling in the womb must not be quiet in the world That the Devil therefore may become a perfect dueller he without doubt appoints the place in Cain the field now the time in Esau The day of mourning for his Father to be the day of murdering his Brother which purposed and heart-murder being prevented by a great providence as if the Tempter were ingaged to prosecute in the defence of his servant Esau he sowes a dissent betwixt the children of Jacob and patches a conspiracy amongst the brethren to kill Joseph still more blood what pretence can this furious fiend have for his acting horrid enemy how coulâ—st thou design a duel betwixt God and man the Potter and the â—lay How durst thou attempt this affront against the Maker of mankind How canst thou glosâ—e or any way excuse the lifting up Cains hand against his brother Esaus heart against Jacob and all the brethrens voices against Joseph 〈◊〉 thou â—â—â—st out rebellion and interlines reasons thou blâ—â—â—â—â— out diâ—obedience towards God and settest down advanâ—â— into man Eat says God and thou shalt die Eat saies Sâ—â— and thou shalt be as Gods which do not die Thou blotâ—â—â— murder and writest in Cains neare a copy of discretion justice and of policy There 's none stands in comperition with the onely Abel what obstruction to the acceptance of my offering why dost thou not remove him and then thy tender will be received Besotted Cain couldst thou be tempted to believe that the blood in the field smelled sweeter then the fruit of the ground Thou blottest out murder in Esau and tells him it is justice Has not Jacob supplanted thee in thy birth right and in thy blessing what 's thy life unto thee if he lives he will again dissemble is it not justice to stop his breath who stole thy blessing how can it be counted murd nor revenge or construed cruelty to put a period to his dayes who hath supplanted thee in thy enjoyments Thou bloâ—test out murder in the false brethren and though in Letters of blood thou writest Reason great cause why Joseph should be slain first he is a telâ—ale Gen. 37. he pries into our actions and gives an