their pardon that we might embrace one another through the grace of God in Jesus Christ one day in Heaven Dear Father we pray thee for them as we would beg for our selves We now desire to resign up our selves into thy bosome as it is thy Command thou hast said Ye are bought with a price not with silver or gold but with the precious bloud of Jesus Christ and we offer up our bodies and souls unto Christ which is but a reasonable service that thou shouldest have all when thou callest for them our estates and lives themselves The Earth is the Lords and the fulnesse thereof and we are all his works It is God's soveraignty to command whatsoever he pleaseth Blessed Lord we desire with our Lord Jesus when he offered up himself upon the Crosse he said unto thee O Father into thy hands I commend my spirit and with Stephen when he was put to death Lord Jesus receive my spirit So say we Lord Jesus receive our spirits pity us love us and accept us in thy Son upon whom we rest for life and salvation Lord let us know that death is a passage into Glory it is appointed for all men once to dye and after death to Judgement This is a decree and statute law of Heaven that all must dye and this is some comfort in our death that from this time forward we shall sinne no more grieve Christ no more dishonour God no more nor offend any else no more set thy love upon our soules and let our prayers be dissolved into praises where we may embrace thee and thou embrace us We humbly intreate thee do more abundantly for us and all them we have prayed for then we are able to ask or think in the name and for the sake of our Lord Jesus who is the intercessour with the Father who hath promised that he will pray the Father for us he is the Mediator of the new Covenant betwixt God and us our fulnesse our strength our comfort and our support our all in his name we ask all our requests to whom with thy self and thy holy spirit we desire to give all Honour and Glory and Praise for ever more Amen After he had ended his prayer he gave the Sheriffe thanks again for his civility and then turning to Col. Hacker they saluted and embraced each other in their Armes and said the lord sweeten our passage and give us a happy meeting with himself in Glory Then pulling his Cap over his Eyes expecting as is supposed that the Cart should be drawn away with his hands lifted up he uttered these words with a loud and Audible voyce Lord Jesus receive my spirit but the Cart staying a little longer he lift up his hands the second time and with the like audible and loud voyce said into thy hands Oh Father I commend my spirit and yet in regard there was no man found to put forward the horse to draw away the Cart until the common Hang-man came down out of the Cart himself to do it The Carman as many witnesses affirm saying he would loase his Cart and Horse before he would have a hand in hanging such a man by this means he had opportunity to lift up his hands and utter the like words the third time also One thing more is very remarkable that when Col. Axtell and Col. Hacker were taken out of the sledge into the cart the spectators being in great numbers there behaved themselves very civilly only two persons among them as soon as the Ropes were put about their Necks cryed out very earnestly hang them hang them Rogues Traytors Murtherers Hang-man draw away the cart whereupon a man that stood by them desired them to be civil and said Gentlemen this is not civil for the Sheriff knoweth what he hath to doe and thereupon they were silent and gave attention to Col. Axtell's speech and prayer but before he had done those very persons were so affected that they could not refrain from pouring out many Tears upon the place and went aside to a place a little more retired to weep and that man that before desired them to be civil went after them and beheld them to his great admiration as himself hath Narrated FINIS Reader In regard that the Presse could not conveniently be attended there are many faults committed in this Impression some Sentences left out and others misplaced which doth much alter the sence therefore thou art earnestly desired before the reading of this book to take thy Pen and Correct these following Errours and for others which are lesse considerable it 's hoped thy ingenuity will help thee to Correct them ERRATA PAge 14. Line 11. for but the enemy read but for the enemy P. 15. l. 19 Allured us p. 21. l. 22. by r. be p. 23. l 28. own r. one p. 26. l. 28. love r. Job p. 28. l. 21. take the r. take your p. 33. l. 9. and all r. for all p. 33. l. 18. therein I have done r. I have done therein p. 33. l. 26. Galliasses r. Gallislaves p. 33. l. 35. the faith r. your faith p. 36. l. 9. and if r. but if p. 37. l. 22. they should r. they may p. 38. l. 26. wittingly r. willingly P. 39. l. 20. any r. my p. 41. l. 15. teahes thence r. netles them p. 41. l. 34. in mercy r. through mercy p. 43. l. 31. our r. one p 44. l. 5. most r. must p. 44. l. 9. Father r. Author p. 45. l. 13 dulcimum r. dulcissimum p. 45. l. 32. them r. theirs p. 47. l. 7. in r to p 47. l. 21. Heronian r. Neronian P. 48. l. 23. least r. best p. 49. l. 28. while r. which p. 50. l. 8. Know r. Knew p. 52. l. 37. solid zeal r. solid comfort p. 58. l. 23. the Mans r. Hemans p. 62. l 6. dele the same p. 62. l. 7. that glorious r. that that glorious p. 62. l. 10. in it Thou r. in it thou without the full point p 62. l. 15. through or that must be left out p. 64. l. 5. the Lord r. O Lord. p. 71. l. 8. truth of r. truth guilty of p. 85. l. 8. redoune r. redound p. 89. l 6. much faith r. much filth p. 89 l. 8. I loved r. I have loved p. 89. l. 15. honour the Father r. honour the Son as they honour the Father p. 89. l. 26. these r. his p 89. l. 27. leave out so p. 90. l. 9. their r. your p. 91. l. 17. interruption r. interposition p. 92. l. 9. erect r. write p. 92. l 35. experience r. evidence p. 92. l. 38. that we may r. that we may lay hold upon a naked Christ that by his blood we may c. p. 93. l. 34. upon his soul r. upon his soul and remember him in his low estate p. 93. l. 36. for him r. for sinne p. 94. l. 16. come life come r. can life can death p. 94. l. 23. of thy love r. of thy love O thou Father of mercy and God of all consolation And leave that sentence out in the next line
Ministery from the annoynting that doth beare witness to the Lord Jesus and hath his holy Spirit That testimony I desire to beare and that testimony I desire to stand faithfull in with integrity to the Lord Jesus as King of Saints and King of Nations And therefore it is I say to have a Majestracy as at the first and Counsellors as at the beginning men fearing God and hating covetousness And that Ministery as doth preach the everlasting Gospell Here Mr. Sheriffe interrupted him saying 't is desired that you spend the rest of your time in preparing your selfe Another said you spend your self Sir in this discourse Another said it raines Then Mr. Carew said I will pray Mr. Carew his Prayer O most holy and most glorious and blessed God the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of all Glory The God of the spirits of all Flesh unto thee unto thee doth my soule desire to come through the new and living way even through Christ my Righteousnesse And in him and through him to be offered up by the Eternall spirit a living and acceptable Sacrifice in which thy soul delighteth O Lord thou knowest my frame and thou knowest my life and what a passage this is and what a wonderfull thing it is to enter into Glory And what a wonderful thing it is to stand before thee and to stand in thy presence O Father father let my soul be filled with thy joy and with peace in Believing O Let my heart be in heaven while my body is here and O Let me be joyned unto the Lord through thine own spirit before this separation be O Lord thou only art able to take hold of my Heart and Spirit poor Creatures may speak words to thee but Oh! it is thine own power and it is thine own spirit that must take hold of the heart it is thine own spirit that must carry through all and it hath heen thy spirit Blessed be thy Name that hath carryed me through many Tryals and many Temptations and many Difficulties that thy poor Worme hath met with in this Pilgrimage for many Years O Blessed by thy Name for all the Goodnesse and for all thy Grace and for all thy presence that hath been with thy poor Creature far and neer Oh! Blessed be thy Name that thou hast kept me in any measure faithful to â—…to thee and made me willing to lay down my life for thy â—…ous Work and Cause Oh Blessed be thy Name that the Lord and Christ that is at thy right hand hath bought me with his own most precious bloud He hath Redeemed me indeed Therefore it is but my reasonable service that I should be offered up a sacrifice to him my joy is in him and my confidence is in him that I shall be presented by him to my heavenly father O father when thy servant is to be presented before thee let him know what it is to finde mercy Let him know what it is to have Jesus Christ an Advocate and what it is to be presented before thee by such a Redeemer O that Jesus Christ might bid me welcome into the presence and may say to my soule Well done good and faithfull servant enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. O blessed Father it is not that I doe expect any thing from thee upon any account below the account of the Lord Jesus and wherein soever thou hast been glorified by thy poor servant it hath been by thine own power and thine own working O nothing unto thy poore creature is due but unto thy holy name be praise and glory O holy father behold thy work in the Kingdomes and behold the cause and interest of all thy people O doe thou revive it in thine own appointed time O doe thou strengthen the starts of thy poor Saints O scatter all clouds speak comfortably to their soules that they may be able to stand under all storms faithfull into the death and receive a Crown of life and glory O blesse the poor Saints in the City and blesse thy Saints in the Country and blesse thy Saints in the West O blesse thy sonnes and thy daughters O blesse all the meetings of thy people let the blessing of the Lord appear unto them let the glory of the Lord make haste let the glory of the Lord be upon these Nations O remember thy promise to thy ancient people the Jewes O let thy people be taught of thee O let these drie bones live O let the Spirit of life breath upon them O dear father let the fulnesse of the Jewes and of the Gentiles be brought in Let multitudes be gathered out of every Kindred and Tongue and Nation unto the Kingdome of Jesus Christ O Father Father advance thy Sonne set him as King upon the mountaine of thy holinesse give him all glory and power and dominion over the whole Heavens that thou hast promised according to thy word and covenant to give unto him that he may raigne in thine own word and law through his own Spirit for ever and ever Lord lord I desire thou wouldst gather up my soul O gather up my soule O Lord make this passage sweet O make it comfortable Lord Jesus thou hast taken away the sting of death and born the burden of all this shame and of all this reproach And thou hast given thy poor servant something of thy presence through the riches of thy grace this day O Lord now receive O open thine everlasting armes O now let me enjoy thy presence O God which I have desired to behold and see and to behold thy face in Jesus Christ O and now let me enjoy what thou hast prepared for me and fill me with the joyes that are at thy right hand and those pleasures that are in thy presence for ever more O thou lamb of God lead me to the everlasting Fountain that living fountain that is able to supply all our wants O Lord blesse blesse thy poor people O comfort them in this day Poure out sevenfold of thy Spirit for what thou dost take away in any of thy servants for thy holy Names sake O let the cause and kingdome of Christ be deare and precious in thy sight and live alwaies Lord little doe these poor creatures know or these Nations know what a controversie thou hast with them O that thou wouldest be pleased gratiously to spare this people spare thy people however and let them that love Zion and favour thy righteous cause be glad for ever and ever O now Father be neer to me doe thou receive my spirit take me into thine own glory take me into thine own glory let me know it is my portion let me know there is a Crown in the hand of Christ prepared for my soul O blessed Lord thou hast honoured thy poore creature and brought him hitherto O reward all the labours of love in any to him in bonds or death and give them a double reward into their own bosomes Reward it
rid of it have condemned my selfe for it cried out aginst it as the ravished damsel Deut. 22.26 The like for sins done in my inclination which by preventing grace are secret and onely known to God and I haue mourned over my secret sinnes onely known to God and my selfe over the sinnes of my youth which were committed faster then can be named for those which I did not know to be sin and those that I have forgotten and especially for my actually known sins committed against love and light promises and covenants I have confest them all with a heavy bleeding broken and contrite spirit and O that I had all sin as sin in a greater execration my griefe is for having offended so gracious a father that wil not damn me for it if there were no hell nor judge I would rather dye then willingly offend him any more and I cannot satisfie divine justice for one vain thought therefore I flie to Christ and close with him upon a free promise as a poor penitent sinner no merits but the merits of my Saviour I take in whole Christ and not one drop of my pudled water shall be mingled with the ocean of his pure and perfect righteousness I give up my self wholly to him as by a deed of gift to be at his dispose and I know he hath received me I am my beloveds and my beloved is mine and all is mine 1 Cor. 3.22 death it selfe I have a sweet certificate from Heaven of the pardon of sin justification reconciliation and adoption I know Gods heart and his eyes are upon me perpetually 2 Chro. 2.15 that no tender father or mother can have so special a care of any sick imprisoned child as he hath of me I believe that God who hath given a property to the needle to keep fixt though the ship overturn wil keep me faithful to the death and that I shal receive the crown of life and stand with as much confidence at the great day as if had never sinned and herein I am confirmed by the testimony of the spirt and Scripture evidences Blessed be God I doe love the Saints every one that suffers in this cause is at deare to me as my own soule my sighs have been many and my heart faint since I came hither not for my own condition for it is happy but for the afflictions of Joseph scarce a poor Saint permitted to breathe in Irish ayre those that wil not sweare and be drunke or have prayer in their families are counted Fanaticks Esay 50.15 I have a dear respect to all Gods commandements spiritual joy is no stranger to me I love the Word and Ordinances more then my appointed food I desire that all my thoughts words and actions may please God and that all that he does may please me and I doe freely forgive my adversaries the Lord herein encrease my faith Luke 17.5 and I bless God I have a quiet conscience as to the world and which is good also for being justified by Christ apprehended by faith I have peace with God Rom. 5.1 and so I descend to the cause for which I am in bonds which is as good as ever it was and I believe there is not a Saint that hath engaged with us but wil wish at the last day that he had sealed to the truth of it with his blood if thereunto called for I am satisfied that it is the most noble and glorious cause that has been agitated for God and Christ since the Apostolical times being for truth holiness and righteousness for our liberties as men and as Christians for removing of all yokes and oppressions for a gospel Magistracy and Ministery and not onely for the Priestly and Prophetical offices of Christ Jesus but for his Kingly also the peculiar light and worke of this generation being to discover and oppose the Civil and Ecclesiastical tyrannies intended upon the Nations by the Popes Leger demain to exalt Christ as Lord and King over mens consciences to magnifie and make the law of God honourable and authentique every where and to give justice and mercy the upper hand As I hear nothing what they intend to doe with me so I am not much sollicitous about it I doe freely trust God to make what bargain for me he pleases I believe they are as angry with me as any man in the nations because litera scripta manet but their cause requires rather silence then eloquence as for that against Monarchy unaccountable they will be ashamed to oppose it that which nettles them is the stating the Case for which I had Vouchers and Warrants for every word but now they plow with our Heffer yet great is the truth and that will prevail as for Petitioning there is not any I cannot confesse any guilt it is such a Cause that the Martyrs would gladly come again from Heaven to suffer for if they might though too many object against me 1 Pet. 4.15 Let none of you suffer as a Murtherer I look upon it as the most noble and high Act of justice that our Story can parallel and so far as I had a hand in it never any one action in all my life comes to my mind with lesse regret or trouble of conscience then that does for the bloud must lie upon Him or the Parliament and I am sure I had no more malice in my heart then when I was in my Cradle all that I can be sorry for is that I had not such pure and unbyast Aims at the glory of God exaltation of Christ therin as I should have had I neither said nor did any thing dubitante or reluctante conscientiae I was so far from a rainsaying conscience in any thing I acted that I never scrupled in the least and the generality of the people have since owned it I was in mercy a poor Advocate for Christ and the people of England and if by my bloud their cause may be watered I say as Phil. 2.17 18. to you and the rest of the Church of Christ if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith let us rejoyce together it has been counted shamefull for Souldiers to run from their Colours or desert their Masters and Principles but it is more odidus for a Councellor to prevaricate and betray his Clients Cause I am perswaded that all those that have had a chief hand and are now giving Judgement against themselves and all good people in all those points which they formerly contended for against the King as the lawfulnesse of the War which was granted both here and at Edenburgh The Militia Negative Voyce power to dissolve Parliaments conferring great Offices as King James said so long as I make Bishops and Judges I will have what Religion and Laws I please As they are most abominable prevaricators of the honest interest for they will wish at the last day that they had been Jewes Turks or Indians for the greater light the greater is their
invested with a better possession a heavenly Countrey Heb. 11.16 if there be such glorious times to be expected upon earth as you and I have discoursed of I am sure there is no less joy in heaven and we that are there shal have no cause to envy our millitant brethren besides as for my self I can expect to doe little for God I am three parts dead 70 being divided into four the shadows of the evening are upon me and aches and paines are inseparable companions if now Christ should graciously accept of my poore crazy body bring me to an honourable and an easie death for him blessed be his name forever 1 Chro. 29.10 to 16. The heathen could say Dulce est pro patria mori pro Christo mori dulcimum How did the Romans glory to die for their liberties and after for the glory of their Cesars and how glad are the poor Spaniards and Muscovites that they have a life a wise or a sonne for their King and how glad are the City that their feastings will be received A Popish Friar told me lately that if he were of my opinion for assurance of salvation he would not willingly live an houre longer for all Ireland yet Saints too much feare this grim porter death though when executed we goe from the crosse to the Crown Jam. 1.12 indeed it is below the profession that we have made to be now troubled in prosperity I would be a worm but now the Lord makes us bold as Lyons that being called to suffer after so blessed an example we may think it an honour to pledge our master in his own cup and commit the keeping of our soules to him in wel doing as unto a faithful creator 1 Pet 2.21 and 4.19 for he wil never leave nor forsake us but wil give us shoulders to bear what he laies upon us 1 Cor. 10.13 let us therefore who are the children of Zion be joyful in our King as others who one day wil appeare to be fanatiques indeed rejoyce in them for these present sufferings are not worthy to be compared with our future glory Rom. 8.18 Sir I bless God I have an invincible peace and a secret joy surpassing my expression and I press towards the marke Phil. 3.14 yet divine cordials are not constant but often some fainting fits and dispondencies the spirit bloweth where it listeth where it is not comforting it is supporting Esay 40.29 41.10 if I were not very feeble how could Gods power appear in my weakness I bless his name that his arrows are not within me nor doe the terrors of death take hold upon me as Job 6.4 for I never was better as to the frame and temper of mind and body then since my restraint and blessed be the comforter I am not long without him My cousin Harrison is very full of spiritual comfort as the Gentleman Jaylor tels me and bids me cheere up and indeed it wil be a mercy if those who are called forth to testifie for Christ prove couragious as Jos 1.9 but truly as for my part in does not lie on that side I fear least I may be too much exalted with the honour of it though I know the Lord can soon withdraw we live by faith and not by sight our happiness is in our union rather then in communion and sensible gusts and I rather fear a lingring death with severity some for banishment Ezek 7.16 c. but let the Lord doe with me as he pleaseth as Joab siad 1 Chro. 19.13 Omnia cooperatur in bonam Rom. 8.28 So having unbosomed my heart unto you that you and such whom you judge faithful and secret may the better spread my condition before the Lord I would intreat you to beg for me more particularly 1. That God would set home upon my heart and fulfil in me with power your sweet Scripture for which I heartily thank you 2 Tim. 1.7 8 9 12. that I may not be afraid of their terrors nor troubled but may sanctifie the Lord at that time and be able to answer all opposers that they may be ashamed when we suffer for wel doing 1 Pet. 3.14 to 18. 2. That I and the rest of our brethren and companions in tribulation and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ for the word of God and his testimony may be strengthned with all might according to Christs glorious power unto all patience and long suffering with joyfulness as Paul prayed for the Collossians Col. 1.9 to 14. being filled with knowledge wisdome and spiritual understanding and feeling those grounds of joy as an inheritance of light and deliverance from the power of darkness that we may be testes and contestes to agree in our testimonies and not disparage so good a cause 3. That we may be ready not onely to be bound but to die for Christ and the vindication and justification of his Evangelical doctrine we have made high profession and confession of the everlasting Gospel and it is a blessed thing to believe with the heart and confess with our mouths and in our lives and by active martyrdom as Brooke Ireton Hampden Pickering and others have worthily done who are safely arrived expecting us and we are yet upon the waves but the most excellent honourable rich and fruitful confession of Christ whereby we can make the most efficacious demonstration of our election and faith in Christ and love in his glorious person with most supream illustration of Gods glory is to lay down our lives as the martyrs did to seal and confirm the truth of our professions with our blood for the cause of Christ and safety of our brethren Rom. 16.4 1 John 3.16 as our blessed master after he had confessed and preached the glory of God and our salvation confirmed and approved all by miracles and his most holy life made a good confession under Pontius pilat 1 Tim. 6.13 without which all had been ineffectual So I have often thought for the discovery of hypocrites cementing of the Saints in more concording affections trial of faith exercising of patience and love to Christ and for many other glorious ends God would call for some of his childrens blood which wil be the greater favour to them whom he shal count worthy of it because I think this wil rather be a Julian then a Heronian persecution alwaies provided that we be found in the doctrine of the covenant of grace that God does not love us because we live soberly righteously and godly in this present world and are willing to forsake all and loose our lives for him But because he loves us and has singled us out from the world therefore he enables us so to live and to doe singular things for his honour and glory and willingly to follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth Revel 14.4 for the love of Christ constraineth us 2 Cor. 5.14 O that we had more enlarged hearts for our King Jesus 4. That you may fully hit my condition I
have some trouble upon me concerning the losse of my temporal estate especially for my poor tender loving wife and child I was a purchaser and had a stock of cattel being wrongfully made prisoner two moneths before any speech of a King I was surprized and could save nothing nor get 20 l of my estate since Michaelmas last They promised to beare my charges to London but at Chester I was forced to borrow money or must have come a foot therefore pray be earnest with the Lord that we may take the spoyling of our goods more joyfully knowing that we have in heaven better and an enduring substance Heb. 10 34. and that we may not faint at these momentany afflictions which work so wel for us wherein riches and honours are not so according to that passage 2 Cor. 4 3 last verses and be affected with eternal joyes It is said that I shall be put down into the hole for non-payment of great Fees my comfort is that God will be with me there they cannot shut out Gods spirit from me which is an everlasting spring and Jubile nor will that be so bad as Jeremiah's Dungeon nor as Joseph's Irons which entered into his soule though indeed we are sold by our brethren as Joseph was that the scripture may be fulfilled The brother shall deliver up the brother to Death Matthew 10.21 I know not how to conclude not knowing when I may have another opportunity to converse with you I am overjoyed to think they cannot reach my soule and that our cause is invincible and it will be a happinesse if God see it good that none might suffer death but such whose souls are out of danger but being upon the account of civil liberties as well as spiritual our onely wise Father will order all for his own Glory and this onely silences all murmurings and master save thy selfe that what he pleases must needs be least for us he being Infinite Wisdome Love Power and Goodnesse Had the King made his way by the Sword we might expect his sorest strokes but for the men of Keilah to deliver us up for the Parliament to sacrifice us these men that sit by a Commonwealth Writ for whose priviledges we adventured our all and who cannot condemne us but must give up the Cause and give Judgement against themselves and all the good people in the Nation let the Indians judge of it if any of the Elect think hardly of us that we do not cry peccavi make our recantations it will not last long and it is no matter what others say for they must receive their Judgement at the Bar of Christ and we shall Judge our Judges therefore let us not entertaine damps of dispondencies My rejoycing is in a good God a good Cause a good Conscience I have the Justice of Heaven on my side and Gods loving kindnesse which is better then life if we find injustice and cruelty here mens Law at Westminster will be adjudged Treason in Heaven it will not be long before all tears shall be wiped from our Eyes and if our innocencies be not vindicated and cleared up in this life as Jobs Mordecas Josephs and Daniels and Susannas were yet at the revelation of the righteous judgement of God it will appeare before men and Angels that we are not Traytors nor Murtherers nor Phanatiques but true Christians and good Commonwealths men fixt and constant to the principles of sanctity truth justice and mercy which the Parliament and Army declared and engaged for and to that Noble principle of preferring the Universality before Particularity that we sought the publique good and would have infranchised the people and secured the welfare of the whole groaning Creation if the Nation had not more delighted in servitude then in freedom And if we now suffer a martyrdom of body we shal be some of the souls under the Altar crying How long O Lord holy true and though we can patiently digest their Tortures and leave all vengance to whom it belongs yet who knows but that our blood may be their poyson but then after all unjust sentences of men how sweet and honourable will the Judgement of Christ be Matth. 25. Euge bone serve of entring into our master joy when the Kings of the Earth and the chief Captaines and Dukes of Edom shall wish the Mountaines and Rocks to fall upon them Rev. 5.16 I blesse God my poor Wife 〈◊〉 much encourage me to be faithful to the Death and she is a 〈…〉 who helps her Husband so to Heaven as in a Fiery Charoit she is one who bears an unfeigned love to Christ and all the Saints I intreat your tender care of her and my Child providebit Deus Ier. 49.11 I shal leave her that Scripture and Esa 54.5 to 8. while they cannot take away by confiscation when we were in the storm we took our leaves each of the other * See the relation of his passage by sea from Wexsoâ—d to Kingsale and though we have not paid our Vowes at Pethell yet I trust as was then promised we shal be willing to go to Christ if he call through a Sea of bloud But O the infinite wisdome and love of God and the unsearchable riches of his Grace that if I had been drowned the Malignants would have said though he escaped by Land yet Divine Vengance over took him at 〈…〉 ow he should vouchsafe me poor me as Gideon said 〈…〉 15. one of the meanest Lawyers in Wesminster-Hall 〈…〉 of bonds and an affectual if not effectual Martyrdome for being an Advocate for my blessed Advocate and the good people of England I have been the larger not knowing what use this may be of if my mouth should be stop't if you hear any report of me contrary hereunto believe it not so you have my heart and I had rather be buried alive then my Tongue or Hand should differ from it O pray much for me and pray again and mend your prayer as I have great need to doe if you know what pittiful poor short and confused prayers I make in a day yet Father into thy hands I commend my spirit is a prayer no period better then prayer therefore now unto him that is able to keep you and me from falling and to present you and me faultlesse before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy To the only wise God our Saviour be Glory and Majesty Dominion and Power now and for Ever Amen Your for ever in our Dear Redeemer John Cooke A Letter written by Mr. Justice Cooke from the Tower to his Wife MY deare lamb blessed be God for Jesus Christ and for a prison where I finde much of his comforting presence tell sister Jones that she keeps but two or three Sabbaths in a weeke but in prison every day is a Christian Sabbath not onely to cease from sinne but to praise God singing Hosannaes and Hallalujahs I can but smile to think that they cannot hinder me
case is ready to upbraide us and say where is now their God what is become of their God Now what cure and remedies are there for disponding This Eleventh verse gives you two First Hope in God Hope thou in God Secondly Faith is set on work I shall yet praise him c. But more particularly take these directions 1. Be carefull of exercising faith for no condition of man superceeds his Faith do all in Faith pray in Faith and hear in Faith c. Now what is the exercise of Faith but rouling upon Christ and staying on him here I 'le stick if I perish I perish The miscarriages of Christians is either because they have no faith or else because if they have faith they give it not food to live upon faith must go to Christ as the Liver Vaine and fetch bloud and life thence We quarrel that we have not Love and Patience and meeknesse c. but the defect lyes in our faith if we had more faith we should have more of all other Graces Now what is the food of Faith Answ Faith will not feed upon every Dish not on a stalled Ox or fatted Calfe prosperity is not faiths food But it will Eat a word live upon promises these nourish faith I will never leave thee nor forsake thee all things shall work together for good and the like promises 2. Be marvellously carefull of things below measure things not by sence or by a day but by faith and Eternity we are troubled at the losse of this and tother Creature and comfort but what 's the value of them the over valluing things is our mischiefe 3. Go and tell the Lord Christ I have a defiled conscience and if thou doest not wash me I am undone for Ever See the necessity and worth of Christ there must be something better to look at then what we loose for the present something above Estate and Life and Relations and Name See the worth of Christs bloud it 's worth all the world because what the bloud of Bulls and Goats could not doe his bloud doth cleanse from all sinne 4. Keep close to the use of Ordinances much of our mischief hath come from neglects of this kind the safety of a Christian lyes in the enjoyment of Church Communion Psal 27.4 5 and 6 Verses One thing I have desired of the Lord and that will I seeke after that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the dayes of my life c. for in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his Pavillion in the secret of his Tabernacle shall he hide me he shall set me upon a Rock and now shall my head be lifted up above mine Enemies round about me c. The greatest fears are dispelled there you shall find before troubles passe over for you expect some it will be a hard matter to break Churches they are so fast chayned together and yet there hath been marvellous miscarriages amongst Saints in their Church Relations Finis He also during his imprisonment in the Tower wrote some sheets of paper to his Daughter leaving them with her as his last Legacy containing in it very much sound and wholesome advice as to her soules health It carries with it such a savour as denotes it proceeds from a spirit that hath learned experience in Christs schoole and hath been aquainted sometimes with sunshine as well as foul weather it 's too long here to be incerted but if it be made publick by it selfe doubtlesse the Experienced Reader will be no looser by perusing this legacy Some Memorable passages of Mr. Hugh Peters in his Imprisonment at Newgate and at the time of his Execution at Charing-crosse October 16 1660. Mr. Peters as is well known was exercised under a great conflict in his own spirit during the time of his Imprisonment fearing as he would often say that he should not go through his sufferings with courage and comfort and said to friends that he was somewhat unprepared for death and therefore unwilling to dye something he said he had committed and other things omitted which troubled him but though it was a cloudy and dark day with him for a season yet the light of Gods grace and favour would break forth at last And surely the favour of God did at the last appeare for a little before he went forth to Execution as many can testify he was well composed in his Spirit and chearfully said I thank God now I can dye I can looke death in the face and not be afraid As for that slanderous report which was too much received by good people as well as bad to wit that he was guilty of Uncleannesse A Friend coming to him in prison put that question seriously and soberly to his soule to which he replyed that he blessed the Lord he was wholy clear in that matter and that he never knew any woman but his own Wife A night or two before he suffered two of the Episcopal Cleargy who as some report were the Kings Chaplains came to give him a visit they endeavoured to make advantage of the present temptations wherewith he was then assaulted and to perswade him to a Repentance and Recantation of his former Activity in the Parliament cause which they endeavoured to enforce upon him by a promise of pardon from the King in case he would therein hearken to them But though he was then much afflicted in his spirit yet the Lord did help him to beare up with much courage against the insinuations of that sort of men and told them he had no cause in the least to repent of his Adhering to that interest but rather that he had in the prosecution thereof done no more for God and his people in these Nations and with civility dismissing those Visitants he applyed himselfe to some other Ministers then present whome he judged more able to speake a word in season to him under these great Tryals wherewith the Lord was then pleased to exercise him Being carried upon the sledge to Execution and made to sit therein within the Railes at Charing-Crosse to behold the Execution of Mr. Cooke One comes to him and upbraided him with the Death of the King bidding him with opprobrious language to repent he replyed Friend you do not well to trample upon a Dying man you are greatly mistaken I had nothing to do in the death of the King When Mr. Cooke was cut down and brought to be quartered one they called Coll. Turner called to the Sheriffs men to bring Mr. Peters neer that he might see it And by and by the Hangman came to him all besmered in bloud rubbing his bloudy hands together he tauntingly asked come how do you like this Mr. Peters how do you like this work to whom he replyed I am not I thank God terrifyed at it you may do your worst When he was going to his execution he lookt about and espied a man to whom he gave a piece of gold having bowed
it first and desired him to goe to the place where his daughter lodged and to carry that to her as a token from him and to let her know that his heart was as full of comfort as it could he and that before that piece should come to her hands he should be with God in glory Being upon the Ladder he spake to the Shieriffe saying Sir you have here slain one of the servants of God before mine eyes and have made me to behold it on purpose to terrifie and discourage me But God hath made it an Ordinance to me for my strengthning and encouragement When he was going to die he said What flesh art thou unwilling to go to God through the fire and jawes of death Oh said he this is a good day he is come that I have long looked for and I shall be with him in glory and so smiled when he went away What Mr. Peters said further at his Execution either in his Speech or Prayer it could not be taken in regard his voyce was low at that time and the people uncivill Some Passages and occasional Speeches of Mr. Scot's before he came to Execution VVHen he was in the Tower a Relation sent to know how he did To which he returned this answer That he had been very ill all night and had some Apprehensions that it might be unto death But said he I was not at all displeased for if it be the Will of God that I may not live his Servant I would dye his Sacrifice The first day that he came to New-gate some friends came to see him and asked him how it was with him he told them he was well but he waited and much longed for a word of Peace from God But said he I Bless God though it is somewhat dark with me at present and I know I have a very naughty heart yet I have not one Temptation to desert that good Cause which God hath so signally many a time owned The next day which was the day Maj. Gen. Harrison was Condemned some of his Relations came to him and told him They supposed he had heard what dismal Sentence was passed on him And O Sir said one of them my heart fails me to think how you will bear it Why said he flesh and blood will recoil But blessed be God I am not troubled at that A fit of an Ague would cost a man more I believe The day after he was Condemned himself his Wife and other Relations and Friends came to him O Sir said some how is it now Why said he Blessed O blessed Chains I would not be without these Chains Indeed it was a very dark dismal cloudy morning I was brought to be content to perish Truly I thought I could not plead at all my soul was so sad because God hid his face But I was resolved said he if I could have said no more to tell the Court That the Cause was the Lords and the fault was not in the Lord but my great personal unworthiness that I could not assert it And that though I did sink into the Bottomless Pit immediatly yet I durst not no not for a World but own that Cause which God had often honoured But said he the Lord for your sakes did help me to say somewhat but truly it was but pitiful I thought if I might have been suffered although I have not slept to speak of these two nights I could have spoken three or four hours longer And now said he as dark as it was in the morning 't is so bright so quiet and calm that truly I think if I were to be executed to morrow I could sleep all night as well as ever But lifting up his eyes Lord said he I would not be too confident O pardon thy servant But being in a very chearful frame his Friends and Relations left him at that time and because of ilness could not visit him next day But on the next first-day of the week being with him he told them he found an increased strength That day about noon the Warrant for Execution was signed at which time he was desirous to have a Repreeve gained if possible not said he that I expect Life but methinks my Wedding Garment is not quite ready a little more time that I may as a Bride be ready trimmed That evening it was told him that Sir O. B. would speak with him the next morning and some told him it may be that would prove an hour of Temptation Truly said he I blesse God I am at a point I cannot no I cannot desert the CAUSE The next morning they two were together the matter of their discourse I know not but I remember when his Wife desired to go to O. B. that evening to see if he would be her dear Husbands or rather her Mediator to his Majesty for his Life It may be said he Sir O. B. may say That I should confess guilt and do the King some service Prethee tell him I would engage to live quietly but for owning Guilt that I cannot do For to this day I am not convinced of any as to the Death of the King and that I went but too far in asking the benefit of the Proclamation and I cannot go any further no not to save a Thousand Lives That evening came in two Ministers one or both of them after they had talked with him a good while I heard them ask Whether he did acknowledge his Guilt for they believed his owning of that would be the most likely if not a most certain means to prolong his Life To which he answered That although he had often and that with many tears and he thought with some brokenness of heart sought the Lord to convince him of it if he had any Guilt in him as to that particular Action for which he was then in Chains and under Condemnation for said he I would not for a World die with one Sin unrepented of But said he Really to this day I have no such Conviction But said the Doctor Sir If any such do come in will you tell us Yes said he I profess I will if it come in at the last moment even at the Gibbet I will tell the World of it And it is observable that some of his last words were That God had engaged him in a CAVSE not to be Repented of I say Not to be Repented of The night before Execution when he was in the Dungeon he was as he had been that day some sadder than at other times And one asked him if any particular thing lay on him He said No But the Lord was pleased to suspend his Comforting presence but said he with an humble boldness I would speak it The Lord shall not put me off with any thing besides Himself After having spent some hours in Prayer as at other times about midnight we left him and his Fellows that they might get a little rest for the support of their natural spirits and
sweetly born up under his suffering and had a very comfortable assurance that God had pardoned and accepted him in the blood of Christ he had been a professor of Religion many years in the Presbyterian way and a great lover of godly Ministers a man of just and honest conversation amongst men and one that desired to walke blameless in the sight of God his fellow prisoner did say he did believe that Col. Hacker had an interest in Jesus Christ Col. Hacker declared to severall of his own friends a little before he suffered that the greatest trouble he had upon his spirit was that he had formerly born too great a prejudice in his heart towards the good people of God that differed from him in judgement And then broke forth into this admiration O what am I poore vile worme that God should count me worthy to suffer with such precious soules as these are against whom I have been formerly so much prejudiced And thus these two gracious persons having finished their course and the time of their departure being at hand were both brought forth of prison the sledge being ready for them they took their leave of some friends that stood at the door and Col. Axtell desired them to be at the place of execution and both entring the sledge they cast up their eyes toward that God to whom they were comming then with a chearfull countenance setting themselves down they were drawn to Tyburne the place of execution where a cart was set ready into which they both ascended their countenance not at all changed though now the King of terror stared them in the face the Ropes being then put about their necks and a burning fire kindled before their faces and being there ready to receive that sentence which nature would have sunk under if grace had not supported first Col. Axtel applies himself to the Sheriffe in these following words Col. Axtels speech at Tyburne Octob. 19. 1660. Mr. Shieriffe I am now as you see come to the place of execution according to my sentence I desire your leave that I may speak freely and without interruption first to this people and then to God for it is the last that I shall speak in this world and I hope it will redowne to your account Mr. Shieriffs reply Sir you know what the Court prohibited you to speak and what was spoken at the barre of the Court was there desided therefore t is needless to repeat it here I hope you will keep to the present businesse that concerns you and not goe out into impertinences and because you have but a little time spend it to your best advantage and the good of the people and then you shall not be interrupted Or to the same effect Col Axtel begins I say the very cause for which I have engaged is contained in this book of God having the Bible in his hand both in the civil and religious rights of it which I leave to you giving the book to Mr. Knowles You see a dead man living and yet I hope I shall live to all eternity through the mediation of Jesus Christ the Mediator of the covenant of free grace I must truly tell you that before 〈◊〉 late wars it pleased the Lord to call me by his grace through the work of the Ministery and afterwards keeping a day of humiliation in fasting and prayer with Mr. Simeon Ash Mr. Love Mr. Woodcocke and other Ministers in Laurence-lane they did so clearly state the cause of the Parliament that I was fully convinced in my own conscience of the justness of the warre and thereupon engaged in the Parliament service which as I did and doe believe was the cause of the Lord I ventured my life freely for it and now die for it Then Mr. Shieriffe said to this purpose Sir remember your selfe Col. Axtell proceeds And after the work of the Lord was done in England my lot cast me in the service of Ireland and I thank the Lord I was serviceable to the English Nation in that Country and have discharged my duty fully according to the trust committed to me there As for the Fact for which I now suffer it is for words onely for words and but for words and the sentence is already reversed in my own conscience and it will be reversed by Jesus Christ by and by I pray God from the very bottome of my soul to forgive all that have had any hand in my death both Witnesses and Jury and the Court that passed sentence for considering the Doctrine of our Lord Jesus Christ as he hath laid it down Matth. 5.44 It hath been said of old time love your Neighbours and hate your Enemies But I say unto you love your Enemies and pray for them that hate and despitefully use you that you may be the Children of your Father which is in Heaven I desire according to this Doctrine from the bottome of my heart that God would give them true repentance and not lay their sin to their charge nor my blood which by Gods law and mans I think could not justly have been brought here to suffer But I blesse God I have some comfortable assurance that I shall be embraced in the Arms of Christ and have cause to hope that his spirit shall carry my soul into the Fathers hands And if the Glory of this Sunshine be so great the Sun then shining bright how much more is the glory of the Son of God who is the Son of righteousnessse I thinke it convenient to give you some Account of my Faith I believe all things written in the Old and New Testament as the principles and doctrine of a believers Faith I believe the blessed Ordinances of Christ that it is our duty to hear the word preached to seek unto God in prayer and to performe Family duties and to walk in the Communion of Saints and for my own part I am a Member of a Congregation which I judge to be the way of Christ and were it for that only I were to dye I could witnesse to it which is a company of men born again by his grace that walk in the ways of Christ blamelesse and harmlesse I believe Jesus Christ dyed for poor sinners of whom I am chief as the Apostle Paul saith this is a faithfully saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chiefe And if the Apostle might say so much more may I. My friends and Countreymen I have reason to bewail my own unprofitable life having been very unfruitful unto the people of the Lord the Lord knows I have much fault upon my heart were it not for the blood of Christ that cleanseth and washeth me according to his promise saying I loved you and washed away your sins in own blood For there is no remission of sins without the blood of Christ I desire you all to loath and cast off sinne it were better to suffer then
the transgressions of the remnant of thy people for thine own names sake Lord it is thy covenant that thou wilt put thy spirit into our hearts and erect thy law in our inward parts and our sins and transgressions thou wilt remember no more Blessed be the Lord for the Lord Jesus Christ for had it not been for a Christ we were undone forever Blessed be our Lord that hath written our names in heaven and given us a portion in Christ in whom we have believed and trusted We humbly beg of thee the pardon of all our personal and family guilt the sins of our publique imployments which thou knowest we have not willingly committed though it may be through infirmity and temptation and the sins of our nature Lord we humbly pray thee let us see our selves justified in the blood of our Lord Jesus that we may say with the Apostle Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect It is God that justifieth us it is Christ that died yea rather that is risen again for our justification He is risen that he might be our advocate intercessor and mediator He is filled with all the fulness of the Godhead to distribute to us according to our need Thou hast promised by the Apostle that God shall supply all our wants according to the riches of his own grace Lord thou wilt have the passover eaten with sowre hearbs and Lord we are contented but Lord thou hast provided sweet Wine for us and hast thou not kept the best Wine and the best of thy divine comforts until now til now to carry us over this bridge and passage from earth to heaven sanctifie this our passage for it is best to have the crosse with the crown they goe together and are inseparable therefore saith our Lord they that wil suffer with me shal also raign with me Deare Lord we pray thee give us a full experience and let thy holy Spirit witness to our souls that we are the children of God and reconciled to thee in the covenant and that we shal through thy Son be glorified with thee Strengthen our faith that we may be purged washed and cleansed and for our justification sanctification and acceptation with the Father Glorious lord we desire to leave our requests with thee on the behalfe of this poor people as the last request we have to beg of thee on this side heaven if there be any here not belonging to Christ and not friends to him Lord convert them and shew them their own undone and miserable estate and give them the pardon of a dying Saviour thy poor servants would not part with a Christ for ten thousand lives Lord make Christ precious to their immortal souls Lord convince them of the evil of their sins and the evil of their own ways and break them off from them and cause them to close with Jesus Christ Thou hast promised that those that come unto him thou wilt not cast off Remember all thy people and help them to persevere in thy grace and love and make them able to hold fast the truth till thou come and to quit themselves like men to stand fast in the faith Blessed Lord we humbly pray thee to have mercy upon that great City the place from whence we came When thou resolvedst to destroy Sodom thy servant Abraham expostulated with thee and thou saidst if there were but ten righteous thou wouldst save it but Lord there are many tens of righteous ones in that City It hath been a place where thou hast been glorified and where many godly Ministers have been encouraged O Lord let it goe wel therefore with that great City and let thy Gospel have free passage in the publique worship of it Bless the government and governours thereof and make them instruments to thy glorious praise We pray thee have respect to the chief Magistrates that are come here by command to see execution done Oh Lord we beg mercy for their soules O that Christ would evidence himself more to their soules and that we might meet in Heaven together and be imbraced in the arms of our Lord Jesus Christ And him that shal be the Executioner must now wash his hands in our blood doe thou wash his soul in the blood of Jesus Christ O lord we pray thee that thou wouldest have pitty upon his soul and let him know what it is to be washed in the blood of Christ that fountain set open for him and for uncleanness Blessed Lord help us thy poor creatures with strength for we have no strength of our own Thy word saith that death is the King of terrours but blessed be thy Name thou hast taken the sting out of it and the poyson from it and therefore as faith the Apostle Oh death then where is thy sting oh grave where is thy victory Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ that hath given us the victory Thou hast said by the Apostle We have the sentence of death in our selves and therefore should not trust in our selves but believe in Christ that raiseth the dead Lord we will not trust in our selves but in the living God Oh my God that art the God of Abraham and Isaac and of Jacob strengthen and support our poor souls Stephen when he was stoned to death saw the Heavens opened and the glory of the Father and of his throne Shall we but see the Face of Jesus Christ bearing up our hearts under all and we shall go through Thou hast promised that thou wilt never never never leave us nor forsake us Thou hast said Who can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus Come life come death or what can separate a believer from Jesus Christ let thy Angels come downe we are perswaded that the Angels are ready to receive our soules and to carry them into thy bosome and into the company of Abraham Isaac and Jacob and of the blessed Apostles and Martyrs and witnesses of Jesus and just men made perfect in thy Kingdome Blessed lord thou art our support and comfort support us with the cordials of thy love Blessed lord before we make an end of praying O thou father of mercies and God of all consolation we beg one request for the chief Magistrate of this Nation That thou wouldest give him a glorious Christ into his poor soul and magnifie thy grace towards him that he may become a friend unto Christ and a friend to the people of Christ and raigne in righteousnesse and may be a terrour to evill doers and a praise to them that doe wel that he may cast away iniquity with his eye rule for God before whom he and all others must render an account in the day of judgement Lord hear us for him And blessed lord doe the like for all that had any uncharitableness towards us we would have none towards them but we beg their souls might live in thy presence make them to see their sins and let them receive