rather in Arten-house because of the incredible cruelty tiranny of this castle that I was brought hither So that the Lord my God saw it meet to bring my body under harder discipline for as Tertullian saies Nimis delicatus es Christiane c. Christian thou art too delicate for mee who must have thine ease thy peace thy pleasure and delight in this world and so in an other place de fugea in persec speaking against them that will shrink comply or fly for fear of harder persecution saies he ' non potest qui pati timet ejus esse qui passus est He that is afraid or runs away from sufferings can be none of his who hath suffered so much and indeed is hath been very teaching to me to set Christ upon his crosse before me Heb. 12.2.2.10 The Captain of our Salvation being made perfect through sufferings And can we think to be perfect without sufferiâ—gs for Christ No surely But to proceed In this pittifully distempered estate of Body I was sent for from thaâ— poore house 〈◊〉 the Commissary and some others being ready to convey mee with the foresaid Serjeant Corporal and Soldiers into the Castle and for my encouragement they told us the Moon was up but perceiving their resolution and importunity I desired liberty to prayer after which we were carried up into the Castle as I came in at the first Gate I made a stand resigning my selfe Soul and body into the hands of my most dear God and Father through Jesus Christ not knowing that ever I should come out alive I said aloud to them all in the name of the Lord do I enter here and for the sake of Jesus which they all witnessed unto as well enemies as others I was guarded thorough the Musketteres standing on both sides with Muskets peeces and matches light I was with my wife and two children put up into a very little poor smoaking cold Garret upon the top of all which was a common Soldiers room and although it was a little triall to my wife not having a Chair to sit on and so little that we could not readily turn or stir about businesse in it the bed-stead which was borrowed taking up the most part and the smoak of the chimney turning all into the Room at some times so as we could scarce see one another yet did much rejoice to be so pent up for the Son of man had not where to lay his head and in an upper Room too from the consideraton of our dear Lord Jesus his chusing an upper room to eat the passeover wich his Disciples in when his time was at hand that night I was so Exceedingly distemper'd and ill that I was forced to betake me to some rest in such lodging as we could get the next morning came my dear con-captives for this most noble and excellent Cause of the King of Saints to see mee Maj. Gen. Harrison and Mr. Courtney who were a long time kept up in this close Goal where now I was brought to be their companion some part of our time which was spent together was in praying instructing praising our God not omitting this his mercifull over-ruling sweet providence which had brought us together into one Goal as well as one Exile for one and the same Master the Lord Jesus and in one and the same Cause Testimony and Truth and this too by those very men that not long before would not let mee come near this Castle least I should once have seen these servants of the Lord but upon the walls Upon the Lords-days I preach'd in my room as I used to do and who of the Soldiers would had liberty to hear mee for two or three daies yea Bull himselfe the grand keeper hereof which did indeed refresh the hearts of some pâ—o â— soules who got in also to hear me but this liberty at first was to finde out matter against mee for a collour of their preintended future Trâ—gedy tyranny and intrenchment I was also soon after removed into better rooms which Mr. Bull now braggs of where I now am but the be doing we had in the Garret was taken from us and we forced to some want therein untill some at Newport sent some in unto us for which with what we hire we blesse the Lord notwithstanding I told Bull that I was well contented to ly on straw or else if they would not allow me straw on the bare boards only I pittied my wife being not well but for all their cruelty to us our kinde Father provided for us Some honest people of the Country did desire me to minister to them some light of the kingdome of Christ of his Second coming so that we kept every fifth day in the after-noons for that purpose and poore people came in a pacâ— many miles about to hear mee who with tears prayers and blessings of God expressed great affection refreshing and rejoycing thereat saying O Sir O not you not you but we are the Prisoners c. yea some Prestbiterians who came out of novelty or with no good will when they once came brought others with them the next day so that the noise was great round the Island and the Priests raged it is reported least their Offices should be left unto them desolate Mat. 23.16 John 7.33 34. Many of the people believed in Christ and his Doctrine and his good report began to ring in their ears the chiefe Priests sent Officers to take him so these it seems could not rest to see the people to flock after and believe this doctrine of the Reign of Christ and therefore some Officers came to hear with a purpose to catch matter of accusation against mee but went away with approbation as ver 46. blessed be the Lord therefore for thus was the Sonne glorified in their eyes by his Spirit which spake and shewed them of the things to come John 16.13 14. Yet the enemy could not rest thus but finding nothing which they could six upon against mee and the people encreasing upon the twenty seventh day of the tenth moneth Bull went forth of feasting and left men of most bruitsh spirits to mannage his new plot and orders in his absence setting Centinels upon my doore driving away the people who came to hear the Gospell though the enemy had nothing to say why so no not one word so much as against their Government but even what they say they allow as the pure Gospell of Christ in us and of the power of godlinesse though they could not â—ow bear it I preaching such points as the godly people and their Teacher Mr. S. proposed for satisfaction in and light upon some poore people got in and stood under my prison-window the Herodian-Soldiers not suffering them to come into the room saying they had orders to keep all from comming to mee and they must obey orders but we asked them if they meant all Orders of men good or bad they said yeaâ— for if
made me rise and my wife to make her self ready and I scarce able to go my head being light with the fierceness of the Fever was forced that time of night to one Lead-beater's house a Messenger into a little lowe dark room where was very little air which I much needed and for which I rather wished to be in the other Prison The next day at night new Orders came to carry me to Lambeth again where I continued till Sergeant Dendy procured my Removal Of which place I shall chuse principally for the present to give a short hint or abstruse Account leaving the whole History for a fitter season that the obstreperous false reports may be obviated our Sufferings a little known and sympathized his poor sevants prayed for their faith and patience owned their God be glorified and his enemies found Lyers Worse then Heathen Tyranny to us and ashamed for their worse then Heathen tyranny to us which appears in these Particulars 1. By the Law of the Heathens the Romanes none were to suffer before the Law had judged and condemned them 1 Uncondemned and without Law nor before their Accusers were brought face to face or the Accused heard to speak for themselves in the matters laid to their charge Acts 22.25 Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Romane and Vncondemned Then they said v. 26. TAKE HEED Acts 25.16 Festus confessed It is not the manner of the Romanes to deliver up any man either to imprisonment death mulct or punishment before that he which is Accused hath his Accusers brought face to face and he have license to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him This is a Rule of Reason This is contrary to all or most of their Declarations where they call this Tyranny in the King and Bishops and incongruous with the Laws of God of Nature and of Nations contrary whereunto our Persecutors now practise having put us into Prison thus year after year yea with worse usage and more close then the worst Malefactors Cavaliers Plotters Ranters Blasphemers or Offenders they put amongst us For all the while I was by order from Sergeant Dendy kept out from the air of the Common Hall the wicked crew of Cavaliers Plotters Ranters Roarers drinking cursing swearing singing fidling gaming and blaspheming day and night had the benefit of it yea for above thirty weeks they would not suffer me to stir out of the gate for air but the worst of all other Prisoners had their liberty with their Keepers every day and when order was to let but three at a time come to see me yea not to suffer man woman or childe to come at me nor one of my family to stir out for necessaries for me the worst of men besides had All that would come to see them yea the most loose sort of people that could be to sit up healthing hooping ranting and revelling with them at the highest rate in a most hideous manner about mine ears These had abundance of liberty to sin for whom the Law was made as the Apostle says 1 Tim. 1.9 10. when we could not have liberty to pray together or to have any holy Assembly but at the Prison-grates when I put my head out at the Iron bars to my dear brethren and sisters in Christ who flood in the street And all this without any Law condemning any Crime charged formally upon us any Accuser brought before us any Witness against us any Trial of us or License given us to answer in any open Court onely the sixth of the last month the last year I was carried to White-hall into a Chamber where what was objected was denyed to be any Charge against me and so remanded to prison again but by no other Law then Lust and Will the Beast's Law Sic volo sic jubeo sic pro ratione voluntas TAKE HIM JAYLOR being all the Trial Law and Sentence All at once All in Will with a worse then Papal or Prelatick Arbitrariness without signifying for what Offence or by what Law which the Popish and Prelatical Persecutors always did herein falling short of the Romane righteousness mercy and ingenuity and betraying or robbing us of our Rights and Liberties we fought for But the Lord knows let them report what they will to put a good colour upon this Practice of theirs and to render us odious who are almost buried alive in Prison-graves and not suffer'd to speak for our selves we know no other cause but our very Consciences in the matters and Principles of faith in the Testimony of Truth for Christ against his Enemies and yet they dare be so wicked as to say about We suffer not for Conscience and there be none that suffer for Conscience for Christ or for preaching the Gospel in England at this day But O! that the Truth might have a fair hearing 2. Our Goalers wors to us then the Heathens A History of some few passages for an instunce 2. Under the Dragon-Power of Rome the very Goalers who are usually the worst of men were more civil courteous and urbane then ours are to us for Paul's Goaler let who would come to visit him Acts 24.23 Acts 28.16 yea their Acts 16.33 and made much of them but our Goalers do adde stripes aggravate our crimes pretended augment our afflictions accumulate into mountains lyes slanders vilifying speeches and reproaches upon us invent and inform what they can with any colour against us dayly going to Whitehal for that purpose and every way more cruel to us then to the worst Prisoners they had At Lambeth we found it so from the upper to the under from the Master to the Man-goaler whiles others found very fair quarter and civil Courtship who fed them with round Sums which we could not buy at so dear a rate and therefore besides other reasons were forced to courser fare For after a few weeks word was brought to my wife that I must pay in fees somewhat more then 6 l. a week which I was not able to do having no estate in the world and what I had being all taken away from me and this for the rooms to Serg. Dendy About a weeks space after this one of Serg. Dendy's men old Meazy came up at candle-light into my Prison-chamber in the name of Serg. Dendy saying he came from him to demand the money which was due to him for his fees and the chambers for so many weeks saying I was to pay but 10 s. a day fees for my self for although though it was 20 s. a day yet the Parliament put down 10 s. a day of it and for that Serg. Dendy would use me courteously he would have but 14 s. a week rent for the room where we kept a fire for my family while they were with me and for the little inward lodging-room where was no chimney where I lay I should know that when I went out I told him I was not able to pay so
nobis exigit c. and the greater faithfullnesse constancy and courage in the present tryalls for as there was such a magnimity and Spirit in the suffering Saints as made the whole world wonder amazed and think them mad desperate and besides themselves so is there to be in the acting Saints at these dayes who are to make it a sporte play and pleasure to them to run upon Cannon-mouthes Sword-points and on thousands for one in the service of Christ therefore let us looke to it that we make amends that way and that the world may say of us also for the active part such men were never heard off 2. I had my singuler consolation too that the Lord hath made it my lot to fall into this fierce Bulls hands of any because he hath not his fellow in this dominion that I can hear of for all manner of bruitish and barbarous tyranny unreasonable insatiable cruelty so that Bonner I believe had not a more apt Goaler for his turn in those times if Cluny or Alexander came near him Wherefore let not my words be thought the complaints of a squeamish Spirit for I assure you I do heartily digest all he can do against thee and if it were said of Luther that pascitur conviciis I may say it with no little soul solace that pascor conviviis in verberibus And with Vincentius to one of his Persecutors never any man served me better then you have served the Lord be praised for as Bâ—enham said when the fire was kindled as his feet Me thinks you strew roses at my feet I may bless the Lord for thee Bull who bidst them fall on mee for me thinks every blow is a bâ—â—ast of milke to mee whom thou and thy masters would starve and will be a Crown of glory Sic credo edo propter te domine propter te This is an honour so high to suffer thus at the holy Angells are not capable of but those whom God will advance above the very Angells wherefore sing and shout and leap for joy O my Soul and all within mee What that such a poore sinfull worme and pittifull shrub as I am should be call'd to so high and holy a calling Lord make mee thankfull and fruitfull and faithfull Amen 4. For that it is so teaching a dispensation O it is good it is good to be beaten into more good rather than be with out it for these blows do make my head ring with the musicks of heaven as my heart and reins do beat after thy will O God for Ioe in the vollume of thy book a volvendo rowled up in my heart Heb. 10. it is written I come to do thy will O God Therefore I say as I am perswaded Zegedine's blowes who was beaten so bitterly by the Kings treasurers could not be so sweet as these It is said that Dominicus his mother when she was with child of him dreamed that she had a wolfe in her flaming with fire out of his mouth Such a flame came out of thy mouth O fierce Bull as shall be sure to burn the up like Samsons Foxes in the field which thou thy selfe hast set on fire for thy wickednesse burneth as fiâ—e Isa 9.18 In the mean time it is a most teaching dispensation to be beaten and buffeted for Christ which hath made this prison so precious a School to me that I think I may say Mihi idem qui solem fecit majus in Carcere lumen fuit He that made the Sun hath been a greater light to mee than the Sun in this prison 5. Nor is it fit we should loose such fruit as this is by our sinfull silence for as Solomon saies Eccles 3.7 There is a time to speak and a time to be silent and Isa 62.6 Ye that make mention of the Lord keep not silence to be silent in such a day of rebuke and blasphemy as this is is a crying sin wherefore saies Luther to Staupitius When Christ suffers is condemned and blasphemed it is not a time to be afraid but to cry out aloud yea saies he let men call mee what they will Inveniar sane superâ—us avarus Adulter Homicida Antipapa omnium vitiorum rens modo impii silentii non arguar dum Dominus patitur Proud Covetous Adulterous or as monstrous a Miscreant as ever lived rather then I be found silent when the Lord his name his Cause or Christ suffers But I say I have the Seal of the Lords acceptance and Jehovah-Shammah is my company in this close bonds and banishment to whom I say as Psal 69.19 Thou hast known my reproach and my shame and my dishonour mine adversaries are all before thee But to proceed In this condition thus beaten and bruised I was laid down and fear being that my bruises were most inward which as yet I but little felt means was used to have liberty but to send out for a little Parmy-Citterne and Snow water to drink for an inward bruise which they refused to suffer with more barbarous tyranny than the very enemies in warre show to wounded prisoners and nothing nere to the compassion of that Goaler in Acts 16. who washed Pauls and Silas wounds nor to the kindnesse of the Barbarians to Paul at Melita Acts 28. the greater will be their judgement When I began to be cold and stiff I bâ—gan to feel their blows sore indeed but by a good providence of the Lords the Maj. Generall had a precious ointment and salve for such purposes as to outwards bruises which I used this horrible Tyranny of theirs took report round the Island and into England our own Land quickly notwithstanding their close restraint of us and open reports against us and this begun by the means of a poor Barber then in the Castle who carried the said news of this sad Tragedy to Newport where the next day being Market It abounded and so spread of a sudden but this poor Barber was brought before Bull for it and hardly escaped yet the Truth which is alwayes best to stand to set him free from them Then their work was to lay their heads together to kill this report by spreading it otherwise and denying that ever they abused beat or bruised me whiles they kept us with our mouthes stopt by close imprisonment notwithstanding some dayes after when I stirred forth again I offered to shew them the marks they had given me both my self Wife and the Maid being black and blew in divers places divers dayes after on the one and thirtieth of the eleventh Month. After this Bull sent word with an engagement to them we might send out for things which was the first time they offered so much to me but I could not compound with them in a Cause which was none of my own to compound in and in these straits we had another seasonable experience from our Father for with the compassions which Christians about the Island and in Newport had to hear of our sufferings and
her in her so weak and sickly condition was forcibly beaten and punchd in again although I desired I might but stand at the window to see her with as many armed soldiers to guard me as they would but it could not be obtained which did augment our mutual fears troubles for one another Nay would any think these raging bruites to be so inhumane and unnatural as not suffer me to go forth to ease nature although the house were within a few steps of the door but thus were they insulting over us laughing at us and abusing of us here whiles others of them were rending tearing and ransaking in my prison Chamber with great violence and threats â—ulling the very sheets off the bed so immodestly as some Turks would abhor to a WOMAN so ill as my Wife was that the Maid asking if they were not ashamed they even shouted at her again and she was answerd that had they Orders they would pul her cloathes off her back and pul their smocks over their ears and strip her stark naked presently had they but a Word for it with much such impudent ranting and unseemly language calling her limping Carrion Jade Quean and what they pleased and indeed I do think they said true had they said to have ravished them too should they have the word for it for their Officers some of them could stand by and look on for many hours rather laughing at and delighting in their beast-like rudeness then reproving them for it At all which with infinite other taunts incivilities threats and abuses by poor Wife was I may say frighted almost unto death as hath appeared ever since and for some time dayes and nights her continual cry was They would KIL HER they would be her DEATH they wil make an END of her she shal never recover it c. Within this time the Commissary came to me and told me I must be put into a little hole or the dark Chamber at the end of my Fellow prisoners chamber they would bring my things thither but the bed I had allowed me to lye on they would take away so it may be supposing they had sufficiently afflicted my Wife me for once if I do not wrong them with charity they brought what pleased them into this Cave where I am now kept to feed upon Heb 11.38 Of whom the world was not worthy they wandred in Deserts Mountains and in DENS and CAVES of the earth ver 36. and others had tryal of cruel mockings and scourgings yea moreover of BONDS and IMPRISONMENT this being the 8th or 9th removal the 5th or 6th PRISON and the second or third year all which is true though it may seem strange into this little dark cold smoaky stinking and unwholsome HOLES they put me my Wife and Family guarded hither to me my family which are five of us cast into this one little room as if like Beasts we should be altogether day and and night and in a room too that would not hold two beds for one wil take up the greatest part indeed too little a Cave for one body the Soldiers many of them deciding and making sport to see this usage though some had a little reluctancy and pittyed us yea for al my Wife was so very ill they took away our bedding which a Friend had leant us and carried it into their Lieut chamber who had been a busy-body in this trajedy as it proves to be and there kept it some saying the boards were too good for us to lye upon and what were we that we must have beds we were prisoners indeed they would have us to the Dungeon and we should live in that and that we should know we were prisoners and the like although moderate men that have pleaded for them yet confess where they have put us is the very next degree to a Dungeon and all they can say is others have lived here but then they consider not how it was accomodated hung kept warm and fitted for others and that never any family did or could live in this hole but had other rooms to live in that were lightsome more wholsom and tolerable and but that my dear fellow prisoners man left a little Garret for the Maid and Child to lye in on his bed we must have lay one upon another like horses in litter nay that they wil not allow us neither for our Mony which they allow to Beasts Yea they took away even curtains and valens not allowing us a curtain to keep out the wind or cold which are known to be very bitter in this place Al which and more to I trust I can take thankfully and joyfully for my dearest Jesus sake Onely I must confess the present condition weakness and ilness of my dear yoak-fellow doth cut deep and would DEEPER had not the most High CUT a COVENANT in Jesus Christ with me which standeth sure and wel ordered in all things Gen 15.18 2 Sam 23.5 and ah it is sweet to be put to such shiâ—ts sometimes yeâ— out of all into him who is all in all even so Amen! HALELVJAH The ground of this act of tyranny lies as as the rest dos in their arbitrary breasts to weary tire provoke consume spend us out break our very heart-strings with such lingring tyranny and so to kil us if they can that way who seem weary with letting us live so long and sure the SPRING of this continued fresh-spouting cruelty cannot arise altogether out of WHITE-HELL Nor can I conjecture other subordinate cause as to this unhandsome force upon us from that room but that then we should see their horrible wickednesse every day drinking smoaking drabbing prophaning the Sabbath and name of God at the Alehouse beating and abusing the Saints or such as came to visit us and if friends came to see us that they would not let in at a back window I could see them which was an offence but in this hole we know not when any come nor wil they let them so much as with soldiers come to see us but turn them away weeping and unknown to us as two men friends that came from London they have done so to already I hear and now one a Gentlewoman of London at this time we by a providence hear is at the gate that they wil not let come to us so that I think these may be the reasons beside the threats of Serj King who lusted for this cruelty and threatned it long for although as Isai 3.9 The shew of their countenance doth witnes against them and they declare their sin as SODOM they hide it not Yet were they vexed to do it alwaies in our eyes which they confessed and so removed us into this HOLE and this is the most easie and charitable construction that can I think be given of their cruelty but it could not vent in this for their wickedness burns as fire and here also are they worrying us a fresh too to this moment I may wel
have proved admit of any other King Lord Protector or Lawgiver to ravish us with their lusts God forbid Wherefore for Christs sake stand fast unmoveable and abounding in the work of the Lord 1 Cor. 15.58 and I do professe for my own part seeing the Lord hath honoured me hitherto with this Chain for this his Cause though I be a poore weake worm yet with his grace sufficient for me I will abide by it for as one of the Martyrs often used Vespasians saying Imperatorem decet stantem mori It becomes as that are Kings and Priests to God Rev. 5.10 to dye standing not stooping to the lust of any man especially now the day of Christ is come Therefore let us all fall in and on and stand to it with the Lamb and the twenty four Elders or the twenty four orders of the Levites about the throne in this Cause by which tribe of Levi are indeed to be understood the Generation Saints the first-born Heb. 12.23 first fruits Rev. 14.4 and therefore have they the precedency of other Saints as Generation Elders who like the Levites before under a curse Gen. 49.7 obtained the blessing for executing the judgment Exod. 32.27 28 29. with the sword on their brethren and spared not Now of these in Davids dayes were the twenty foure both Rulers Singers and Ministers 1 Chron. 29.25 So that such such Generation Saints the twenty foure shall joyn in one work and song with the Lamb and with all the living creatures about the Throne and with the holy Angels Rev. 4.9 10 11. and 5.11 and altogether in one Hallelujah Amen as Isa 52.7 8. which he waites for who is buried with the body of Jesus in this new Sepulchre where the souldiers seek to keep down his Resurrection and the hope of your Brother John Rogers Morning-beams OR The Vision of the Prison-Pathmos LIB I. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 CHAP. I. Hagah The Introduction with the Cause Accidental of the following Discourse upon the present Truth and Testimony IT is none of the least part of our Prison-Threnodies in the present Tragedie which the bloody BEAST by a new Guize hath acted again upon the Stage of Great Britanny The general Introduction by Lamentation the trampling under foot the present Truth and Testimony of Jesus in this last Scene of the holy Citie 's suffering as I may say for the fourty two months so as that scarce one Interpreter of a thousand durst entertain or own it simply which at best hath but a Pasport from Many and so is whip'd away from one to another from post to pillar till it come to the place where it was born but there it hath a being blessed be Jehovah else it is hardly handled according to the Court-Law for a Vagrant with Warrants like to Pope Engenius's hoc esse verum si ipse velit sed non aliter This or that is true if he his Holiness or Highness will have it so but not otherwise Who then can finde the faith or conrage to expose his life or at least his liberty and estate to so prodigal 2 Hazard as he must do who will fetch it from under the Beast's foot and feel the acrimony or cruelty of his sharp clunch claw or horn piercing him to the very heart O this is as hard a task in a sense as to rescue the Lamb from the claw of the Lion or paw of the Bear Therefore Isa 59.4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 There is none that passeth his word for righteousness nor is there any judgement for the Truth O sad 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what not one Well may our Prisons sound and resound with exaggerated Nightgroans for the Court and Country increase in lying and transgressing and falling backwards perpetrating iniquity at so high a rate as will suddenly fill up their measure this I see evidently from my Iron bars as v. 13 14 15 16. and yet None intercede for the Truth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not one will run after it follow it meet it or to the face of All own it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 O what a Lamentation is this If one doth like Wisdom's child a little justifie it yet where is he that doth according to the Hebrew intercedere intercedens for he that doth so as it is in the text exposes himself to be spoiled plundered imprisoned made a prey to the ravenous Beast that eats bones and all Zeph. 3.2 Yea although he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that departs from the evil of the Times is sure to suffer so yet for all that it is a Wonder to me how we can hold in to see what officious servants Charles Stuart this Court or any carnal Interest have to run and ride on their Errands to venture and engage life liberty limbs estates and all for them and their Interest but the Lord Jesus ah alas as if he were the worst Master of all can finde few faithful that will venture half so far for him and his suffering Cause at this day especially perpending the point of Time the progress of the Testimony the approach of the Period of the Beast's dominion in this street of the fourty two months and of the rise of the Witnesses with the little Stone or the remnant of the Womans seed who must strike the Image-Government of England all to pieces the terrible Earthquake which shall rend them up by the very roots Also when I advert the advantages of the Saints in this street above any other of all the great City or Beasts dominion the forwardness of the Work here the height of the Controversie already between the Lamb and the Beast precious blood of Saints having seal'd thereto and the Vials so lately pour'd out upon the King Lords Prelates and corrupt Powers of this Seat also our late zeal against Common-prayer Crosses Painted Windows Rails Surplices corrupt Ministers Magistrates and the like O! my soul even bleeds within me to behold the present apostacie of Spirit Principles and Persons not onely among Mercenary Professors but the Little Remnant whose Coldness Cowardliness and Carelesness is almost incredible at this time of Day too and were it not to fulfil the Word of God Rev. 11. that this present Death and Darkness is upon us for these three yeers and an half I should be so astonished at it as not to know what to make of it But when I am venting my burthen with these like words or passions Lord where is the Spirit of old yea the Spirit and faith and courage that we our selves had some ten twelve or fourteen years ago among the good old Puritans yea the spirit of English-men and rational men among us O! what a Change is this What sheepishness what sleepiness what deadness what darkness what timorousness and what tameness is now seized upon us The Light arising in Darkness doth put an end to such Reasonings and Syllogizings giving rest to my Spirit till the time of the end which is at
whilest I was pleading with the Governour in the yard for our Christian Liberty upon the Lords day to meet together in our chambers to pray and worship who was called from me to fetch souldiers I went into the Chappel where he was praying without the least touch of the times or government I stood at the Pulpit-doore but by and by came up a file or two of souldiers armed and ready as if they would have discharged presently upon us lead up first by the governour and then by a Serjeant one Baker all very imperiously and with their â—ats on this Baker till then seemed unsatisfied with such unchristian preceedings but upon his rise to the preferment of an Ensigne he became very rigorous like the rest he came up to the Pulpit doore where I stood between him and my fellow-prisonner still praying and laying hands on me to pull me down and him out with that violence I spâ—ke softly to him saying O will you a great professor and one who seemed smit in conscience for such cruelty exercise it and hew too when he is a praying let him but pray out tarry but a little What saies he will you justifie him Oh and alas said I and should I not is he not serving of a good Master doing a good work and dare you disturbe him in it Surely I have more cause to stand by him in his masters work then you have to stand by your master in this work And therefore do not fight against Christ so O do it not let him but conclude his prayer Pull him down pull him down saith the governour I said sir let him but pray out a quarter of an houre but till the minister come but then said the rude souldiers to Baker do you not hear the Governour pull him down and up came the souldiers like raging Beasts the governour standing under the Pulpit to see the execution then the first souldier of the file with his Musket struck at my brother Feake whiles he was yet praying but I standing between received the blow the governour still pursuing his command so that Baker being prejudiced as hath been gathered by his words against brother Feak for his judgment against dipping which this Baker was so riggid unto and the souldiers pulled and tore me who held the pulpit doore with such bitternesse eagernesse and roughnesse that they therewith and the blows struck at us that fell upon the pulpit doore brake it in pieces and so pulled me down and laid violent hands on him and carried us away with very great abuses both in word and deed Pepper with one party souldiers sent with me who did drag hale punch and pull me on way to my prison-lodge and another party of souldiers carrying him another way to his prison lodge Our friends who seeing us so bruitishly handled offering to intercede or speak for us were beaten threatned and put quite out and not suffered to visit either of us After a little breathing being thus haled in and kept close with Sentinels set at our doores my brother Feake began to preach out at the prison window which I heard at my prison doore the day being very calme where the Sentinels stood to keep me in and when they beat up the Drums to drown his voice at that end I at my end was stirred up upon the same subject and Text to proceed untill the Drums ceased and then he began again In the afternoone at the doore on the same subject I proceeded some few of our freinds that came from London having gotten into some holes and corners in the yard where they were hid to hear but in my Prayer was a Serjeant with souldiers sent up to drive me in and stop my mouth a little feirce man who fell to it with great fury as I was yet in prayer holding up a Brick in the wall desiring with tears the Lord to open their eyes and consciences and still praying with my whole heart and spirit in the Lord some two or three of the poore souldiers were struck in their consciences and though commanded could not fall on in that duty but with tears desired the rest of their fellows to let me alone and saying they would to prison first but the little feirce green Dragon the Serjeant with some others fell on the more barbarously laid hold on my throat as if to have strangled me tore off my cloake and rent it and me my arms and cloaths still I praying and looking up to my God whiles they were beating bouncing tearing and thumping me And then I said yea strike on strike on for thus did the soldiers deal with Christ my Master him they beat haled thumped spit on and the disciple is not better then his Master beat on beat on sirs O blessed blows but thus they cast me in and shut the doors upon me and set other Sentinels upon me so after a little breathing being so cruelly handled I continued out at my prison-window preaching singing praying and praising my most dear Lord and Father in Christ who hath made me so poore a sinfull wretch to be numbred and accounted amongst them that suffer for Jesus and his kingdomes sake rejoycing and triumphing abundantly in this high dignity and degree of his heavenly calling and Election Thus to you Phil. 1.29 not to all is it given 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of meer grace not only to believe but to suffer notwithstanding they would drive away with souldiers swords and Muskets all from the sound of my voice yea to the very little children forcing all away with great violence In this close imprisonment though nothing so close as now it is I was though very ill and sore in my body stirred up to exercise every morning as I use to do in my Family at the window of the Prison for the benefit of the poore Sentinels who stood under in the yard expounding the scriptures and Praying and upon the third day of the week which was the eighth of the third moneth 1655. as I was praying my brother Feake with two souldiers at his heels passing by to ease nature as he came back stood still to hear me pray but an Irish Ensigne then Captain of the guard formerly I hear a Cavaleer commanded them to bring him away and not let him stand but he said let me alone a little I am much refreshed pray hear saies he c. But that Ensigne sent up more Souldiers who pressâ—d much upon him but he said he was about a good worke and wish'd them also to hear prayer but C. W. said it was forbidden fruit at that time and desired one to come to mee and speak to mee to be so civill as to forbear praying but the party refused so to do thâ— Ensigne called upon them to bring him away without delay and to take him by head and heels but a poore Serjeant an Officer sent up for that purpose resused so to do and said he had rather go to Prison and
bring me physick for my feavour but the Lord was my Physitian before he came as Rollock said es tu Deus mede eris mihi and more Soldiers of the fiercest sort were fetched from Yarmouth a mile or 2. off to feaze upon them and their horses carrying them prisoners before the Deputy Governour for no other reason but for visiting mee having taken no offence at them neither by word nor action so that friends were scared from coming â—o sivit I shall passe over the daily wrongs the people had in whose house I was kept prisoner the Soldiers put on to it by Officers Some poore people of the Island that creep'd in to hear me preach on the Lords-daies were wonderfully mennaced by the Soldiers yea their names taken and carried to the D. Governour to be ordered or committed yea some of these brutish Bears were sent abroad before the poore Creatures that came to hear the Word were at the house to force them away and not suffer them to come near least they should hear me preach A Lievetenant came to tell me if I would not preach nor meddle with his L. P. in my sermons I should have liberty to take the aire a mile or two on the Downs a Soldier or two atending mee to whom I said that liberty was my right but to take it upon such tearms I would loose my rights first and as for preaching the Word I had a better commission and Authority for it then any of them had to hinder it or to wear their swords by their sides for your Authority was from the world but mine from him that made the world to be subject unto his son whom I preach and declare and so far as his L. P. or any alive should stand in a way or interest against Christ I would contend for my most dear Master Jesus Christ against him with the help of God yea if he cut my tongue out of my head or mee limb from limb and leave me but a stump that stump should stand against him and them to their teeth that oppose Christ and his kingdom much more to that effect I spake unto him who doubtlesse told his tail A poor Soldier who pittied my condition under such hardship for my conscience would comfort mee and confer with mee out of Scriptures which being perceived he was soon cashiered and cast quite out this only for his civility and honesty poore creature but he had comfort in it and the worst Churles they could pick were appointed to watch and ward mee day and night but this prison being too commodious where I might see friends in the yard if they came to see mee and too good as they accounted it for mee it being a good aire and in its selfe well accommodated I was removed from thence with a company of Soldiers upon the 5. day of the 10. moneth to Carisbrook-Castle or rather Cains brook-Castle where I now am and indeed they did show a most un Christian inhumanity in the manner of removall of mee the the daies being so short the waies so bad and the weather so bitter and to boot by reason of so long and lamentable an imprisonment my body so unused to it and yet with poore little horses at 2. a clock in the afternoon so late they called mee out and a way which when I bogled at it being so unseasonable an houre for such a journey in a dark cold night over bleak Downes dangerous wâ—ies scarce going by one house till Carisbrook for my weak wife and two Children the Leopards consulted together and one of the Offices concluded to pull me out by the ears and so by force and sury to fetch mâ—e away but when I saw I must go knowing their bloody disposiâ—ions and that by no means I could be permitted to tarry untill the morne I required of the chief Officer the Serj. a coppy of his warrant who shewed mee his although the other Officers as they used to do sâ—id to some other his sword was his warrant pointing to it by his side which when I heard I said in good time is it come to that And thus every thief in the highway saies but in this Isle it is the constant and common answer of the Soldiers when we ask hy what Law or Order to say by this drawing their sword or laying hand on the hilt the Order was to convey me hither within one houre or little more the night was come upon us the waies were exceeding glib and rough with ice and frosts the windes high and sharp which blew the snow out of the clouds full upon our faces the night was very black dismal and dark without Moon-shine or Star-light untill we came at Carisbrook town the road being unbeaten and over high mountany Downs up and down so that we did alight often in the dark and footed it as far and fast as we could for as Origen said when the Emperour sent for him in his Chariot that he would go on foot for his Master Christ My wife being weak rode but once was very ill with the unusual black night aire I also was at last overcome and I fell down twise in the way but with hot waters I was refreshed a little and forced to trudge in the darke again untill with a very dangerous difficulty contemplating the hard travails of the Primitive Saints and Martyrs after several houres in the night we were brought into a poore house in Carisbrook and there lying upon a bed I was pritty well refreshed after an hour or two and then a Serjant came to me in the deep of the night with a coppy of the Order from the keeper of the Castle to receive mee his prisoner under Scobells hand Cleark of the Councell in White-hall not signifying for what Cause or Crime nor hath any Order so done to this day that ever I could see but only their will and pleasure The Orders are as followeth In pursuance of an Order of the Councell of the 28. of November last you are hereby authorized and râ—quired safely to convey Mr. Rogers from the house of Mr. Vrry at Afton and so to deliver him to the Commander in chief at Carisbrook-Castle to be there secured till further Order from his Highnesse or the Councell Given under my hand at Brook this 4. of December 1655. To Serjeant Nolâ—ard theâ—e Thomas Boreman Wednesday the 28. of November 1655 At the Councell at White hall ORDERED That Mr. Rogers now restran'd to a private house in ehe Isle of Wight be ramoved to Carisbrook-Castle and there secured till further Order and that the Deputy Governour of the Isle of Wight do take care that he be removed accordingly Henry Scobell Clerk of the Councell Here is no Crime nor Cause I thank the Lord which mindes me of that in Jer. 50.20 ' Their iniquity shall be sought for and there shall ' be none Now could their juggle of accommodation be now pretended it being because of the accomodation
by lying dissembling evading and breaking all obligations for as in Gen. 4.8 thus hath Cain killd Abell with pretences of love thus hath the Devill disposed the Serpents tongue to tempt which the Women or weaker vessells and more effeminate carnall spirits do listen unto at this day and by entertaining discourse are suddenly ensnared beginning as Eve first to doubt of Gods truth and promise the first sin of man and then to mince mix and extenuate in their mindes the threatening Commandment of God whiles they seem outwardly to observe it and plead it as Eve did and then to hear Satan by carnall policy propounding worldly advantages that they shall be as Gods and so inducing them to Apostacy through disobedience unthankfulnesse pride ambition covetousnesse and unbelief which brings forth persecution and contempt of Gods truth yea a wanton lust and an usurpation of what God hath reserved to himself All these are summing sins of which with many others this Age the present Generation in England is guilty yea highly guilty if not damnably guilty before God Angells and men 2. But secondly besides this it is a Summing Witnesse and Testimony now up in England too or the finishing Testament of the Kingdome Rev. 11.7 Matth. 24.14 which comprehends the summe of all the Prophets and Prophesies from Moses to this day Acts 3.24 Luke 24.27 about the Kingdome of Christ especially of Isaiah Ezekiell Zachariah Daniell the Revelation c. all seem to scope in and aim at this Witnesse for which we are imprisoned with one concentricity harmony and consent both for time and purpose and now we are to expect that dispensation of the fullnesse of times wherein all thing both in heaven and earth shall be gathered in one even in Christ Ephes 1.10 So that as for the sinnes so for the Witnesse now up against them was never such a time Age or Nation as this is 3. It is also a summing up of the suffereings and persecutions of the Saints and Free-born Children by the Nimrods of the world the Rear-persecution that is for the Rear-witnesse is now upon us and he will make an utter end affliction shall not rise up the second time Nahum 1 9. we are entring the haven of the 42. Months voiage yea reaping the harvest of all the bloud faith tears prayers lives losses and liberties of the million of Martyrs from the dayes of Abell to this day Math 23. for Rev. 18.24 in her was found the bloud of Prophets of Saints and of all that were slain upon the Earth So that to avenge their bloud and Deaths to answer their cryes groans and prayers out of their graves dungeons rackings flames stocks rivers caves fields urns and most exquisite torments of all sorts the Fifth Monarchy Saints are now concerned in to bring up the rear well wisely couragiously constantly and victoriously after Christ their Captain and the primitive Martyrs in the Van for it was said to them Rev. 6.11 That they should rest for a little season untill their fellow servants also should be fulfilled or untill we who were to bring up the rear that is in the Gospell of the Kingdome for a witnesse were fulfilled therefore as the eyes of the whole Creation Angells and men so especially of the Martyrs and Saints Abell Abraham Isaac and Jacob the Jews and Gentilts of all Tribes and Nations Prophets and Apostles are upon us at this day in this Cause and Testimony for the Kingdome to see how we behave our selves herein which they all bore witness unto believed in longed after waited for in their measures and generations as the sum-totall of all their sufferings that the Saints should reign on earth which as I have at large proved in my 2. Treat and Travells since my Bonds these two years viz. Prison born and Banish-born Morning beams if they be not both stifled to be the faith hope and joy of the primitive Martyrs for some hundreds of years after Christ so of late as we finde in The Plow mans Complaint in King Edward the thirds dayes and since in that precious Martyr Mr. Bradfords Letters at large that they had their expectations full of this Kingdome thus in his Letter to Queen Mary and her Councill he saies It behoveth them in Authority to know they are not Kings but plain Tyrants that rule not for God and all those Potentates with their Principalities and Dominions cannot long prosper but perish indeed if they and their Kingdomes be not ruled by the Scepter of God that is with his Word the people also perishing with Princes where the Word of Prophesie is wanting much more is suppress'd as is now in England Wherefore he exâ—â—orts them to be no longer Slaves Hangmen to Anti-christ to let Barabas lose hang up Christ saying the Doctrine they then suffered for stood invincibly above all power being not our Doctrine but the Doctrine of the ever living God and of his Christ whom the Father hath ordained King to have Dominion from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the world so will he Reign that he will shake the whole earth with his iron Brazen power according to that which the Prophets do write of the Magnificence of his Kingdome c. Was not this Fifth Monarchy-language then among the Martyrs and did not these meddle as much as we do with the worldly Powers and declare their downfall with the uprising of Christs Kingdome on earth Yes verily and thus saith Mr. Bradford in many other Letters as to Doctor Hill to Mrs. Hall and to his Wife wherein he saith That God the Father hath vouch safed to choose us amongst many to witnesse and testifie that Christ his Sonne is King and that his Word is true Christ our Saviour will have us bear record that he is no Vsurper nor Deceiver but Gods Ambassador Prophet and Messias so that of all dignities on earth this is the greatest thus to witnesse as wee now do Thus then the bloud of all the Martyrs Prophets Apostles and Saints are with us in the Witnesse of this day which is the summe of all that Christ alone may be lifted up and exaltd King and the onely absolute single Person in all over all and above all 4. It is a summing time too in this Nation with respect to their present Government for all the Characters of Anti-christ 2 Thess 2. of the second Beast Rev. 13.11 12. and of the little Horn Dan 7.8 21.22.25.26 and of the Myery-Clay-Government where the Stone first strikes the Image Dan. 2.43 is upon it yea as the fourth Beast Dan. 7.7 was diverse from all the others before is as being a compound of all and so to summe up all the other Rev. 13.2 being partly a Leopard partly a Beare partly a Lion and so far of the three fore-going Monsters and the rest of himself and the Dragon So this present Limb of the Beast this Bastard of Ashdod differs or is diverse
teeth of the proudest Tyrants on earth that we are above them and their rage do their worst because greater is he that is in us then HE that is in the world 1 Joh 4.4 and in our prison is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Power of the Witnesses a coming upon us through the strength of Christ to do marvelous things yea as Hag 2.7 8. According to the WORD that I have COVENATTED with you So my SPIRIT remaineth among you FEAR YE NOT for thus saith JEHOVAH yet a little while and I wil shake c. I will make the earth to tremble before you Joel 2.10 yea this pittiful pâ—dlie filthy mieryclay-Government that is gotten up in Great Brittany which is the first that must be struck through by the Stone Dan 2. Wherefore O my Friends we must and wil rejoyce yet more abundantly in this so blessed sweet temporate New-Testament Zone which we are under in prisons and Exiles for all the fierceness of this last Beast who hath made the torrid Zone of his tyranny inhabitable and insupportable and in truth if I know my heart in this matter I would say for one like Jerome of Prague when the flames were kindling behind him saith he with courage to the Executioner Come come Kindle me the fire before my face for if I had been afraid I had never come hither nor are we such lively members of Christs body if we cannot when called to it sweat a bloody sweat â—â—fr his sake Wherefore as the Dutch Martyr said Christo submittemus sexcenta si nobis essent Colla c. had we six hundred heads for one they should all off for Christ in this most blessed cause for Quas non oportet mortes praeeligere c What Deaths had we not better choose yea what Hels not endure then to decline one step so blessed so certain and so glorious a Cause as this is for which we are in bonds Wherefore O my most honorably beloved hearts the spirit of life rest upon you and of the two Witnesses to make you as stable and as able as Mount Sion Psal 125.1 yea as those Mountains of Brass from whence the Chariots of King Jesuâ— come they are a coming Zach 6.1 so that all the Devils of Hell may not be able to remove you then one inch of ground but that those who have gone before us from the dayes of Abel to this day and vvho have led up the VAN with valour with all the Elect Angels our fellow-servants in this Cause may exceedingly rejoyce to see our Faith and Faithfulness vigor constancy and courage in carrying up this finishing Rev 11 7. this Rear-testimony Mat 24.14 Rev 17.14 according to the Spirit of the Fifth Kingdom against the BEAST like the children of the captivity now to be returned like the children of the promise and of the Free-woman Gal 4. yea like the children of the Kingdom Mat. 13. that good seed that must sow the whole earth and the children of the Resurrection Luke 20. which are to have their lot in the next world upon the Earth and to reign with Christ a thousand years as I have proved at large in prison-born morning beams Lib 3. and 4. For Jehovah onely is the Lord Patron of al our preferments and whiles we are in the prison as I said we are not fishing for Gudgeons for We pre-possess several sweet tenures both free and copy-hold which we cannot part with no more then Nabaoth could with his Vineyard though we loose our lives for it and to conclude I woul'd leave tâ— is one word with you that the same Lord of Hosts and Captain of the Hoasts of Israel that went before them in the Van is now with us in the Rear where the enemy hath fallen on for that is now the Captains place so that we may confidently and undoubtedly expect as much of his prowess power wonderful appearances and presence with us in this Reare as ever any of the Saints or Martyrs among Jews or Christians found in the Van or in former dayes when the enemies fel upon them for this is clear in Isai 52.12 For ye shal not go out with hast nor go by flight for JEHOVAH wil go before you yea the God of Israel wil be your RERE-WARD Isai 58.8 Thy righteousness shal go before thee the glory of the Lord shall be thy RERE WARD then shalt thou cal and the Lord shal answer thou shalt cry and he shal say HERE I AM if you take away from the midst of thee the yoak c. I am prevented in my Word to the little Remnant I mean the Lambs faithful followers of the Womans seed that keep the Commandements of God and testimony of Jesus but in my Banish-born-Treatise lib last I write at large to them and of their Work if it ever come to light though I confess my Bucer-like hand which writes but bad may be some let or at least delay therein yet at present I am to bid them BEWARE and PREPARE beware of running before Orders come from Jehovah of Armies and prepare for them when they come yea to make all their Arrows ready against Babylon for the time to visit her is now come the set time to thresh her the Harvest is come Jer 50.51 Rev 4. and to favour Sion Psal 102.15 16. yea the set time is come and it is easie to see the SIGNS of Times come upon us yea the signes compleat them this little born this last B this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the learned read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this last limb of the Beasts Government and the man that maketh up his number six thousand six hundred six as we have proved in Prison Morn He is now come O up and be ready then like Roaring Lions against the end of the time times divident with your Ahud Chereb not Pe Chereb two mouthed swords like Christs men of War Pe Chareb or sword with one mouth only as hath been but Joel 2.2.7 9 11. to run climb the wal like mighty men and JEHOVAH shal utter his voice before you his Dread shal be upon your enemies who have insulted over you but shal fal before you Josh 2.9 Rev 11.11 yea they shal tremble and fear and wax feeble as Women Jer 51.30 Nahum 3.13 and become bread for your swords to eat as in Jeremy Acheleh Cherbechem Ne biechem because their defence is departed from them Numb 14.9 nor are the most godly amongst them that have Apostatized these times any more to be reckoned amongst the Lambs number then Dan and Ephraim because of their Apostacy Judg 17 18. were reckoned among the sealed ones of the 144000 Rev 7 5 6 7 8. Wherefore up O my dear â—arts who are of that number that stand before the Throne Rev 7.9 or with the Lamb in Mount Sion Rev 14.1 up and be ready with your Ahod weapon awake arise O English Shearjashub for out of JUDAH Christ with us Gentiles of Lea comes