heart toward the High-way even the Way which thou wentest turn again O Virgin of Israel turn again to these thy Cities What! is there none for me None of this is mentioned but all laid aside to accomplish this rich admirable and unexpressible Love so it was done self-denyingly The fourth thing is For whom he gave him 1. He gave him for Sinners Rom. 5.8 But God commendeth his Love towards us in that while we were yet Sinners Christ dyed for us And in 1 Tim. 1.15 This is a faithful Saying and worthy of all acceptation That Christ Jesus came into the world to save Sinners of whom I am the chief 2. Ungodly Rom. 4.5 But to him that worketh not but beleiveth on him that justifieth the Ungodly his Faith is counted for Righteousness 3. For Enemies Rom. 5.10 For if while we were Enemies we were reconciled to God by the Death of his Son much more being reconciled we shall be saved by his Life 4. The worst of sinners 1 Tim. 1.15 This is a faithful Saying and worthy of all acceptation That Christ Jesus came into the world to save Sinners of whom I am chief 5. It was for the Rebellious and Blasphemers and such as caused others to blaspheme Psal 68.18 Acts 26.1 8.1 Tim. 1.13 O this heightens God's Love O rich Love God loves them that hate him The fifth thing is God's End in giving his Son 1. It was to reconcile poor lost Sinners to himself 2 Cor. 5.19 20. To wit that God was in Christ reconciling the World unto himself not imputing their Trespasses unto them and hath committed unto us the Word of Reconciliation Verse 20. Now then we are Embassadors for Christ as though God did beseech you by us we pray you in Christ's stead be ye reconciled to God And in Col. 1.20 And having made Peace through the Blood of his Cross by him to reconcile all things unto himself by him I say whether they be things in Earth or things in Heaven Surely God doth highly prize this that he doth purchase it at so high a rate O see see poor Sinner it was not only to accomplish Reconciliation with him but us to him it was not his gain but our gain and his loss O what rich Love is here God seeks a way for us and then seeks to us 2. His End was to overcome and conquer that or them that would have destroyed us As first Sin Rom. 7.24 25. O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death and in verse 25. I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I serve the Law of God but with the flesh the Law of sin Secondly The Law Gal. 2.19 For through the Law I am dead to the Law that I might live unto God Rom. 8.2 For the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of Sin and Death Thirdly Death 1 Cor. 15.55 56. O Death where is thy sting O Grave where is thy victory The sting of Death is Sin and the strength of Sin is the Law Fourthly The World John 16.33 These things have I spoken unto you that in Me ye might have peace in the World ye shall have tribulation but be of good chear I have overcome the World Fifthly The Devil In 1 John 3.8 For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the Works of the Devil O what an End is that O reckon every End and they all end in one End for us poor Sinners 3. His End was To bring up poor Souls as into Union so into Communion with himself and Son in all their Light Life Love and Glory John 17.21 That they all may be one as thou Father art in Me and I in Thee that they also may be one in us that the World may believe that thou hast sent Me ver 22. And the Glory which thou gavest me I have given them that they may be one as We are one verse 23. I in Them and Thou in Me that They may be made perfect in One and that the World may know that Thou hast sent Me and hast loved Them as thou hast loved Me. Apply 1 John 1.3 and 1 Pet. 1.3 4 c. 4. His End was That we might have nothing to hinder our Faith and Confidence in Him in our appeals and approaches to him Heb. 4.16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the Throne of Grace that we may obtain Mercy and find Grace to help in time of need And in Ephes 3.12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the Faith of him O mind these Scriptures poor Soul if thou wantest Faith go O go in the Faith of Jesus It is and was God's great care that poor souls though never so poor might come to him with boldness without fear If any should demand the Reasons why God takes this way to manifest his rich Love by Answer For these Reasons 1st Reason There was an absolute necessity lay upon it for there was not another way to accomplish Salvation for Sinners and satisfie divine Justice Isa 63.5 And I looked and there was none to help and I wondered that there was none to uphold therefore mine own Arm shall bring Salvation c. And by this Free-Grace is displayed gloriously 2d Reason That it might appear as to be an act of God's Wisdom so singularly an act of Love which other wayes could not have been had not all other things in the world have been lost and overlooked 3d. Reason That all flesh may be silent and brought to lye down and confess it to be a work only of God in that none but God could have done it See Rom. 3. at large and see chapt 4. at large where this rich Work of Love is fully related and debated and this as a Reason asserted Now for the Improvements of this rich Soul-supporting Truth mind in these Uses 1st Use To inform us of the great Wisdom Love and Grace of God to poor Sinners which is so fully made out in this Act of God in giving his Son in this manner O go over all the Particulars and you must say with the Apostle O the heighth and depth of God's Love Ephes 3.18 19. Rom. 11.33 2dly To inform us what poor Man had been had God left him in his lost estate or left him to have found out a way to have saved himself 3dly If this be so as hath been fully proved of this rich admirable and unexpressible Love of God in giving his Son then this may assure us in general That God cannot nor will not withhold any good thing from us but with Christ will give us all things It 's the very use Paul makes of this Truth in Rom. 8.32 where he saith He that spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all how shall he not with him also freely give us all things O poor souls consider this and mind it
and did sing fince I came hither and my Grounds why I did insert it p. 133-138 22. A little brief Account of my Imprisonments with the sorrows and censures that do attend me in these Sufferings p. 138-140 23. Some Account of my Imprisonment in the Tower and of my being brought before the King and the business relating to his Fathers Will left with me p. 140-142 24. The Grounds of my Willingness to go beyond Sea if I might p. 143-147 25. A Letter from a Friend and my Answer p. 148-151 ERRATA Reader IN regard of the Authors condition distance from the Press some Faults have escaped the greatest whereof is the Title over the heads of the pages viz. INNOCENCY though under a Cloud cleared which relates onely to some parts of the Book the proper Titles for each matter being through the misunderstanding of some who put it to the Press omitted The rest of the Faults are more obvious which thou art desired to correct as followeth Page 15. line 16. reade no ground P. 28. l. 18. for fear 1. tear P. 34. l. 17. f. worth r. watch P. 42. l. 28. f. passionate r. patient P. 50. l. 1. r. In a word P. 86. l. 7. f. 10. r. 18. P. 101. l. 28. f. Phil. r. Ephes P. 111. l. 7. f. Proviso r. Prophecy P. 136. l. 16. f. And r. May. Ebenezer Ebenezer The Lord Jehovah is my strength Christ alone is the Foundation of all my Consolation in this day of my trouble and sad rebuke IT was the eleventh day after my Imprisonment before I attained this Book And I rejoyce I have it that the daily Supports I have from God's Promises and his Presence may be by me recorded that if I live I may look over them and remember Prison-Mercies as others who faithfully love the Lord and wait for his Appearance may see and bless God and not fear 〈◊〉 Prison but trust God upon his Word for 〈◊〉 is faithful and to be trusted The first day and night that I came in I was in a maze 〈◊〉 well knowing where I was and â—â—king within I found my heart like Ephraim Jer. 31.18 but I had not long moaned my self but God appeared 〈◊〉 in the 20. verse of that chapter and 〈◊〉 next day after I had for some time sought â—â—d and searched my own heart and â—nd as to Men I was innocent and did judge God would not have called me here but he had some work for me to do For Affliction cometh not out of the dust Job 5.6 At last God moving the people of the house to lend me a Bible the first Scripture I cast mine eye upon just as I opened the Bible was Jer. 18.12 to the latter part of the 18th vers at which the Lord did exceedingly appear to refresh my Soul especially for what I saw in the 12 13 14 17. and 18th verse 't is too long to insert it only upon the 12th verse I set it down in my Concordance O let all that fear the Lord bless him for his Scripture much more for its life which God keeps and lets down to whom and when he pleases Parts may draw and observe good teachings from them to serve othersâ— but not its own Soul unless God give in that Light Life and Spirit that first penned them What Parts can draw may serve Profession but not a Prison and the sights of Death But O when God unlocks the Scriptures and says to the Soul Behold what 's herâ— there 's Life there 's Love there 's a feast all good things And now see the difference between being brought by common gifts 〈◊〉 the Truth and the promised Spirit leading us into Truth as our Lord promised Joâ—â— 15.26 chap. 16.13 And I must say a witness to this that God's way to accompliâ—â— this is by causing the Soul to stand in God's Fear and out of its own wisdom and as to its own state in it self to shrink down into its own emptiness hating all listings up but that by the Son of God in the pure single Wisdom Love and Grace of the Father O had not this Foundation been laid I must have been left being a man of sorrows surrounded on every side and every window is shut but this of the Lord's Love O blessed 〈◊〉 his Name O all you Saints that love and fear the Lord bless him and seek no Foundation but what God hath laid But more of this hereafter The next Scripture by which God did appear to refresh my heart was in John 18.11 't is the words of Christ in answer to Peter who in his mistaken Love tenders Christ's Person more than God's Pleasure and in answer to that Christ lets him know that is Fathers Pleasure was by him higher priâ—ed than his own preservation and saith The Cup which my Father giveth me shall I not â—â—ink it He doth not say the Cup my Father lays upon me but that the Father gives â—â—e All suffering Cups to Christ or his â—embers are Kindnesses they are God's â—ifts Phil. 1.29 they are not to be rejected â—â—t prized and esteemed David in the 118th â—sal takes the Cup blessing God But some will say that was not the Cup of Suffering but of Salvation and 't is true but it was through the Cup of Christ's Sufferings But all the Cups of Suffering to the Saints in the Primitive Times behold how chearfully they imbraced them Acts 5. with Heb. 11. and Rom. 5.1 2 c. Therefore Christ doth not tell Peter I must be forced to take it or drink it but saith Shall I not 〈◊〉 he doth not in propounding this inquire if he should or should not but it is to shew his resolution that he should do it and would do it judging it a higher honour and duty to imbrace God's Pleasure than to seek and imbrace self-preservation contrary to God's Pleasure That made those in Heb. 11.35 not accepting deliverance that was on terms wherein God's Pleasure and Honour should be crossed In this case it waâ— Christ's and it ought to be the generous spirit of all the Sons of Zion to slight nay loath nay hate their own lives when it thus comes in competition with the will of God's now to do God's Will in many wayes Hypocrites in Imitating-Grace may delight fully do it Isa 2.58 Mat. 13.20 21. But the chiefest Testimony of true Grace is to live in the Will of God so that if a Cup of Crosses comes the very sight and sencâ— that the Fathers hand presents it and that his heart is in it so that his Purpose and Pleasure is to be accomplished by it no sooner say is this seen but the heart is silently satisfied and cries out not only like old Eli â—t's the Lord let him do it but as Christ in the Text It is my Fathers Cup and his Gift I am contentably willing to imbrace it O the very sight and sence of this Truth â—â—om this place in John 18.11 God made so refreshing that the
whatsoever is lost or laid down for Christ cannot be a loss because it 's only lent and God and Christ have given sufficient ingagement to repay with an hundred fold improvement See Mat. 19.29 But this Text assures us of not only freedom from loss but a finding or gain If any should say Wherein is a Saints gain in thus suffering Answer First mind this no sooner is the soul upon the wheel of suffering for Christ but God and Christ is upon their motion to rise and serve them And that First By inquiring into their state and condition as he did in the old time Secondly By giving forth a suitable proportion of Grace to carry them through it Thirdly By debating with the tryal and waiting it out that it may be in measure Isa 27.8 Jer. 30.11 Fourthly When it s gone forth and seized upon a Saint God stands by it and if it appears too heavy he makes it lighter by giving the heart a lift into the higher Life and strength or by taking some of that away See Psal 138.3 7. Fifthly While that is on that he in his Wisdom seeth best to be on Christ stands in so great a sympathy with them that he is afflicted in their affliction Isa 63.9 and it is such a sympathy that causes Christ not to stand silent but to sympathize with the soul so as to send it and carry it answerable comforts Sixthly The Grace that God gives souls in such a suffering day is not only so much as may and doth answer their troubles but it doth over-ballance and transcend all their sorrows See 2 Cor. 1.4 5. Seventhly God doth not only keep Saints in suffering and bring them out without loss but he makes even their affliction to increase profit and gain to the Soul Rom. 5.2 3 4. Eighthly God is so indulgently tender of Saints and their good and gain in a suffering day that rather than they shall want what is in his hand or heart he will with his own Presence be with them and abide with them Isa 43.1 2. if they go he goes if they be put into the water and fire so will he too See the three Children Dan. 3.24 25. and if shut up in prison where they are kept dark there God will shew them more than before Jer. 33.3 8. whatsoever they want or are in point of comfort deprived of God presently makes it up Micah 7.7 8. Ninthly And to make up all after his often coming down to them and inriching them by his giving forth Light Love Life and all that they may be fully gainers he will take them up to himself and so to live in eternal Glory with them for ever where sin and sinners suffering and sickness shall trouble them no more but all sorrow and sighing shall pass away and all tears shall be wiped from their eyes Isa 25.8 Rev. 7.17 chap. 21.4 O come Lord Jesus come quickly Amen Amen O now my Soul what loss is there by loseing for Christ his Cause and Interest Ah happy is the soul that is imployed in this work O who would not leave it self and its all to Him and his disposal and never chose or refuse its own Cup that the Father mixes and gives to us O my soul trust God he is Faithful and will make good every tittle of his Promises See 1 Kings 8.56 Isa 34.16 Now the next Scripture God brought comfort to my Soul by was Rev. 2.10 Fear none of these things which you shall suffer behold the Devil shall cast some of you into prison that you may be tryed and ye shall have tribulation ten dayes but be faithful c. These ten dayes is an uncertain time and that the word Ten is taken for an uncertain time is clear if you mind Gen. 31.7 41. Numb 14.22 Job 19.2 Object The Ten Horns in Dan. 7.7 sure is a certain number Answ Yes 't is so but mind the word Ten is not barely expressed and so left but it is expounded verse 24. These Ten Horns are ten Kings so that it is not there left as in the other places but when 't is expressed and not fixed to a certain number it is to be minded as an uncertain time so that by ten dayes must be meant an uncertain time Some say ' its to be meant a day for a year and the longest time of persecution that ever was since Christ's time was but Ten years but I judge it best to mind this as in other places many dayes But from it I am made to see that to persecute Saints is the Devils work God makes use of the Devil to do his drudgery Sufferings is God's way to scoure and rub the rust off from his Servants it 's work fit for Satan but the profit of it is fit for none but Saints O I have cause herein to bless God for I have cause to say there was much rust got in my lazie time upon my heart and over my Experiences and Graces and acquaintance with God and his wayes O if this be God's rubbing and clearing day I must say as Peter Not only my hands but all over O my God did my Estate gather or cause rust thou tooks away that and thou didst see my Name dead Didst thou see my Name being too large for my Nature caused rust thou hast suffered that to be blasted and thou seest that both my Liberty and Life gather rust wilt thou also take that Do Lord do Lord what thou wilt so thou wilt bring me out as Gold like Job Job 23.10 and that is the next words in the Text and see what follows in this Rev. 2.10 Be faithful to the death and I will give thee a Crown of Life Saints faithfulness is to be such as not only to hold out in some dangers but to death O there is a sufficient reward a Crown and that a Crown of Life all earthly Crowns are dead or dying Crowns this a living Crown or a Crown of Life O who would but strive wait and work for such a Crown well might Christ exhort Saints not to fear any thing that shall befal them of this nature Now the chiefest word that God made of weight to my Soul from these words was these first words Fear none of these things O there is not only one sort of Sufferings but all sorts must attend Saints but none is to be feared Now upon my minding this these considerations did follow me First There is no cause of fear where the object of fear is removed Now the matter of Fear or Fearfulness is Evil. The Evil of all afflictions on Saints is removed by God through Christ Isa 27.8 That made David say Psal 23.4 Though in the valley of the shadow of death not to fear Evil. Secondly There is no cause of Fear of that or them which come either to serve us or save us Now al Suffering on Saints as Saints comes to serve them and so to save them sometimes from sin Isa 27.9
everlasting Life Now that the Comfort of these words may be discovered I shall first observe this general Truth from these words God So loved The word So is so unexpressible so admirable so matchless so that Observe Doct. The Love of God in giving Christ is a rich admirable and unexpressible Love For the opening of this mind 1. Scriptures to prove it 2. We shall by way of illustration lay down many things to make good this Truth As for Scriptures mind these Rom. 5.8 But God commendeth his Love towards us in that while we were yet Sinners Christ dyed for us Ephes 2.4 But God who is rich in Mercy for his great Love wherewith he hath loved us even when we were dead in sins c. chap. 3.19 And to know the Love of Christ which passeth knowledge that ye might be filled with all the Fulness of God In 1 John 3.1 Behold what manner of Love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the Sons of God! chap. 4.9 10. In this was manifested the Love of God towards us because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through Him verse 10. Herein is Love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be a Propitiation for our Sins See John 17.23 I in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one and that the World may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them as thou hast loved me And you may see what is said of Christs Love in that sence Gal. 2.20 I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the Life which I now live in the flesh I live by the Faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me Joh. 13.14 Greater Love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his Friend Now for Illustration mind 1. Consider in what relation Christ stood with God when God gave Christ 2. Consider to what God gave him 3. How God gave him 4. For whom God gave him 5. God's Ends in that work Lastly The Improvements 1. In what relation Christ stood with God there was the bond of nature in the highest degree for he was his Son Psal 2.7 I will declare the Decree the Lord hath said unto me Thou art my son this day have I begotten thee Heb. 5.5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an High Priest but Him that said unto him Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee 2. There was the tye of singularity and peculiarity his Son nay his only Son as in this 3d of John had God had another Son in that sence though the giving up had been 〈◊〉 high token of Love yet not so much as in â—his sence his only Son 3. As there was such an high Affinity in Nature so there was an unexpressable heighth 〈◊〉 Unity of Affection See upon God's â—â—de in Mat. 3.17 And loe a Voice from Heaâ—â—en saying This is my beloved Son in whom 〈◊〉 am well pleased and chap. 12.18 Behold â—y Servant whom I have chosen my Beloved in whom my soul is well pleased I will put my Spiâ—it upon him and he shall shew Judgement to the Gentiles and chap. 17.5 While he yet speak â—ehold a bright Cloud overshadowed them and â—ehold a Voice out of the Cloud which said This 〈◊〉 my Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased â—ear ye him and in Mark 1.11 And there â—ame a Voice from Heaven saying Thou art my â—eloved Son in whom I am well pleased and in 2 Pet. 1.17 For he received from God the Father Honour and Glory when there came such a Voice to him from the excellent Glory This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased So you may see in Christ what a high unexpressable Love he had to his Father his Fathers Will was his Will and to answer his Fathers Pleasure was so great a pleasure to him that Life and all must go as little enough to speak out his Love Now consider all this and you will see that the one might have restrained God and have tyed up his hands from giving up his Son and Christ might have pleaded on the other side Why me Father why me that am thy only Son c. but God looks over all in this act 4. There were bonds of Honour both on one Throne in one Glory It might seem in the eye of carnal reason to be below God thus to abase Christ and that in relation to a point of Honour O what Love must there be to over-look this 5. He stood related to God as the chief est and eminentest object of his Delight Prov. 8.30 Then I was by him as one brough up with him and I was dayly his Delight rejoycing alwayes before him Isa 42.1 Behol my Servant whom I uphold mine Elect in whom my Soul delighteth I have put my Spirit upon him and He shall bring forth Judgment to the Gentiles O now reason from all and you will not be able to express this Love of God in giving the Lord Jesus Christ as he did O admirable Love Secondly Consider to what God gave him 1. To Death Phil. 2.8 And being found in fashion as a man he humbled himself and became obedient unto Death even the Death of the Cross O could not he have given him to suffering and not to death O what Love must that be that did and could cause God thus to overlook as it were the Love and care of Christ's Life and thus to give him to death 2. The Death of the Cross Phil. 2.8 And being found in fashion as a man he humbled himself and became obedient unto Death even the Death of the Cross and Gal. 3.13 Christ hath redeemed us from the Curse of the Law being made a Curse for us as it is written Cursed is every one that hangeth on a Tree the most contemptible Death that could be a cursed Death a shameful dishonourable Death O see what blessed Love was here shewed in this cursed and shameful Death 3. Not only to death and the death of the Cross but to all the Aggravations that could possibly accompany either As thus 1. He suffered as a Sinner in the highest sence 1 Cor. 15.3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received How that Christ dyed for our Sins according to the Scriptures and in the 2 Cor. 5.21 For he hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the Righteousness of God in him Sins make suffering unsufferable else it is but a chastisment if sin be not in it but if it be then it is a punishment yet even so must our dear Christ suffer as a fruit of the Fathers Love 2d Aggravation was the exercise of God's Rage Fury and Wrath in the Law against Sin this O this in the highest of
times of trouble sweetly uphold them Psal 135.4 Doct. 1. There is a choice application of Gods chosen Ones to himself Doct. 2. The Chosen of God or God's People are God's Treasure Col. 2.6 Doct. It is the duty of all that have received Christ in all their walkings to walk in him 2 Col. 1.9 Doct. 1. It is the portion of the pretious People of God sometimes not only to be under the sight but the very Sentence of death Doct. 2. God's special end in laying his People so low is to keep them low in themselves and not to trust in themselves but singly in God Psal 94.19 Doct. God's Comforts and Consolations puts an end to mans distractions Gen. 49.11 Take it as a Proviso and Promise to the Church in Gospel-times Doct. There is high and glorious enrichments comprehended in or under simple appearance in Gospel-Appointments Rom. 8.6 Doct. 1. Death dwels in and is the portion of a Carnal mind Doct. 2. Life and Peace is a portion that doth accompany a spiritual mind Phil. 3.20 Doct. All true Subjects of Heaven have their conversation in Heaven whilest here on Earth the sence of which should cause them to walk as Saints amongst Sinners Mind the foregoing verses Psal 66.16 Doct. That heart which doth regard iniquity can make no improvements in his approaches to God by Prayer Psal 37.28 Doct. Near society with God is a safe seat for Saints Cant. 1.2 Doct. The nearest communion with Christ is dearest and most desired by that soul that is acquainted with him Psal 119.165 Doct. 1. The People of God are enriched with a great and admirable peace Doct. 2. They that are enriched with the true Peace of God are lovers of his Law Doct. 3. So far as souls are enriched with God's Peace and so become lovers of his Law so far they live above offences or stumblings Luke 14.28 Doct. It is commendable in all especially any that undertakes work for God to take in future dangers with present duties Jer. 2.14 first part Doct. For the Friends of God so to give way to sin as by it to bring themselves into the state of Servants is a state and condition that is sad in God's sight Cant 5.9 Doct. The spiritual enrichments Saints enjoy from Christ and by them declared to bare professors makes them to be at a stand Or thus The glorious Riches Saints see in Christ and their raised affections towards Christ being declared makes bare professors be at a stand 1 Thess 5.21 Doct. 1. It is the duty of the People of God to try before they trust Doct. 2. It is also God's Peoples duty in their tryals whatsoever they find to be truth to hold it fast Psal 45.3 Doct. 1. Christ is Sions King Doct. 2. There is effinity betwixt Christ and Christians Doct. 3. Those that are in union with Christ are all glorious Doct. 4. The Glory of Zion or Saints is within Hos 8.2 depending upon the first verse and relating to the third vers Doct. 1. There was and so there may be a People among the Israel of God that appear to lay claim to him and affirm they know him and yet live not with him nor are owned by him Doct. 2. It is not mens Affirmation that can hinder God's Determination in bringing his Judgements upon them that are false to him Psal 4.8 last part of ver 11. Doct. 1. There is nothing retained by God from the People of God that is good for them Doct. 2. It is not the bare Form but the Uprightness or upright frame of heart in the Form that the Goodness of God in his Promises runs out to Nahum 1.7 Mind the time when it 's spoke and to whom and what Doct. 1. The highest exercise of God's Wrath upon his Enemies doth not nor cannot hinder his Love and Goodness to his own Doct. 2. There is no danger so desperate but here is security and safety in God for his own Doct. 3. What soever God is in himself he is the â—â—me to his People in the worst of times Dan. 6.10 Doct. 1. Saints assurance of Sufferings should not hinder or keep them off from their Service Doct. 2. Circumstances in and about Saints Service in a Suffering-day in some cases may become Substances or Duties Doct. 3. Changes in mens minds and Determinations or Conclusions in Councils should not make a stop or change in Saints way God-ward Deut. 33.29 Doct. 1. God's People are a happy People Doct. 2. The Excellency of God's People is a matchless Excellency Doct. 3. God's People are a Saved People Orthus The Salvation of Gods People is in God Doct. 4. The Strength or Life or Excellency of all that belongs to Saints is so because God is the same in that to them Doct. 5. As Saints are a People of Excellency upon God's account so they are Objects of Envy to their Enemies Doct. 6. The Enemies of Gods People are Lyars and they shall in God's season find them so Doct. 7. Though it be the portion of the Saints in a suffering-day to be low yet there is a season for Saints to be exalted above their Enemies 2. Chron. last part of vers 9. Doct. For any Person or People to be inriched with the experiences of the prosperous enjoyment of Gods Presence and to leave that and follow or â—leave to any other thing is to do foolishly Jer. 30.17 Doct. 1. It 's Saints or Zions portion to be under wants or wounds Doct. 2. As it is Zions portion to be under Sufferings so sometime in the eye of Reason to be lost or cast off by it Doct. 3. When Zions Deliverance is most out of the eye and also the affections of men its nearest the accomplishment in answer to Gods Purpose and Promise Or thus Doct. 4. When Zion is by men most forsaken it 's Gods season to save 2 Chron. 20. last part of ver 15. Doct. It is an encouraging comfort to a People or Nation in any great Trouble Tumults or Wars sensibly to know God is engaged therein John 27.17 Doct. It 's an high Testimony of Love to Christ and 't is kindly taken by him to be imployed in feeding or serving Christ's Lambs Job 23.10 Doct. When Saints suffer under the Hand of God and also under the Censures of men then to be so sensible of their own integrity as to center their satisfaction of it in the Knowledge of God is a Comfort that will hold out in the worst of times Mark 5.39 40. Doct. 1. It is that which sometimes accompanies the work or undertakings of Christ before they are accomalished to appear dead in the sight or sence of men Doct. 2. There is no cause to distrust or doubt of â—he Accomplishment of Christs undertakings though 〈◊〉 seem dead in the sight of men Doct. 3. When Christ's Vndertakings appear â—ead in mens sight they are but asleep in Christ's sence Dearly beloved Friends whoever you are that shall reade these Texts of Scripture lest
the Body this is the highest of all four Yet this Mind so high so noble knowing all things yet cannot know it self If so there must needs be something above that 's more chief more noble to order and guide and that is God Object If any should object and say All things are caused by the Sun Answ That cannot be For Man is made of the four Elements each of which is directly contrary to each other as Fire to Water c. Now that four contraries should joyn all in one peaceably to make one shews something above them to command them Obj. And if any shall say that the Air which is between Fire and Water doth reconcile these in one Ans What power is it that doth cause them to be subject to the Air it self cannot do it for it 's inferiour to either therefore there must be a power above each to encline the Air to that work and them to that subjection which power must be God So that from all that hath been said Reason it self shews there is a God had we not the blessed Scriptures which blessed be God we have And so much for this Question Dear Brother for your soul-refreshing Letters I thank you The Lord encrease your Prison mercies and bear you up under all your tryals which I know are very great but God can and I hope doth make them very easie Now dear Brother if it might not be too much trouble to you I could heartily wish that you would either in your Book that you are writing or in some other Papers leave your thoughts to these few Questions following by which you will engage him that is yours in the best bonds of Love Quest 1. The first Question relates to the great difference between the Roman Catholicks and Us and that is to beg your chief grounds from Scripture to prove That after the Consecration by the Priest it remains still bread and is not become really but representatively the flesh and blood of Christ Quest 2. What is your chiefest and most satisfying ground to prove and that from the Old Testament That Christ the Messias is come in answer to the Jews profession Quest 3. Seeing that in the Scripture the Gospel is so diversly expressed as sometimes it is called Gods Gospel and Christs Gospel and the Apostles Gospel and sometimes the Word is called the Gospel and sometimes God's Power is so called So the Question is What is truly and really the Gospel Your brief and exact Answer to these will refresh the heart not only of me but of many more of your Friends Farewel My hearty endeared Friend I shall do what I can to give you a brief Answer to these Questions Though I have not much freedom to meddle with that yet I shall briefly set down my Grounds and Reasons from Scripture which hath fully satisfied me and I hope it may satisfie you and others Quest 1. In answer to the first Question as to the business of Transubstantiation 't is clear that after the Consecration by the Priest it 's still bread And you will see it if you mind what is the Ground of the Roman Catholicks judging it otherwise The mistake is from this word Mat. 26.26 c. This is my Body Now say they Christ said so and he cannot lie In answer to that we say so too But you must mind how that word this is is in Scripture taken it 's taken two wayes 1. It 's taken Really as in John 20.31 This Jesus is the Christ that is Christ is really Jesus 2. It is taken Representatively representing a thing and is not really the thing though the word this is be there used as in Rev. 1.20 The seven Stars are the Angels of the seven Churches and the seven Candlesticks are the seven Churches Now none will say because the Spirit cannot lie that the Churches be Candlesticks c. But see yet more clearly in 1 Cor. 10.4 And they did all drink of that Spiritual Rock and that or this Rock was Christ. Now none will be so foolish as to affirm that Christ was a Rock of Stone So here This is my Body that is it doth really represent my Body Now they have no way to answer but will object and say O but this is a Miracle that Christ then did work and still doth by turning the real bread into real flesh Answ God and Christ never did work a Miracle in all the Scripture that you or any can prove but in the working of the Miricle it was so wrought that it did convince the outward sences of all that saw it or believed it Did he turn Water into Blood The sence of Seeing was convinced by seeing the colour changed Did he turn Water into Wine The sence of Tasting was satisfied and convinced by the tast as you may there see And so never was any Miracle wrought but the outward sences were and must be satisfied and convinced Look over all the Scripture and it was and must be so but in this it is not for as before so after the Consecration the eye did see it Bread and doth so still and the Taste did taste it Bread and so it doth still They and all the wit of man cannot answer this Quest 2. In answer to the second Question how to prove Christ to be come in answer to the Jews Objection Much may be said both from Scripture and Reason too large for me to assert therefore I shall onely mention one ground from the 9th of Daniel beginning at the 24 ver to the end of the chap. It being that which I never could see either here or beyond Sea by any Jew answered There the Angel tels Daniel the set time of Christ's coming and dying and tells him It 's seventy weeks from the day that the Command went out to rebuild the Temple Now that day Daniel knew and from that very day to Christ or the Messias death as it is there expressed is to be seventy weeks seven weeks and sixty two weeks and the week in which he dyed sixty two and seven and one week make seventy weeks Now first enquire of the Jews If they do not own Daniel a true Prophet they will say yea they do Then enquire if that Prince or Messias spoken of in Dan. 9.25 26 27. be not the Messias they look for they must and will say it is Then enquire If they have in all their Records any other accompts of weeks than two that is a week of dayes and a week of years they must and will say they have not Then reason what King reigned and what time of his Reign it was when the Command came forth to rebuild the Temple which is openly by them and us known Now till Christ's Death from that time must be but seventy weeks and if they should say seventy weeks of dayes then Christ had come before the Temple had been built but it must be seventy weeks of years accounting seven years for a
Scepter own Must to themselves now dye For He alone that 's on the Throne Mat. 16.24 25. Gives Life and Liberty Now I true Liberty doe know Isa 61.1 To Christ I 'le praises sing 2 Cor. 3.17 For he through Death will bring me No more to sigh and sin Rev. 2.7 17 I wish this news abroad may spread home Isa 25.8 That all my foes may see Rev. 7.17 21.4 And Saints with understanding read And know my Liberty What if false Witness should arise Jer. 6.13 And labour to betray My Innocency by their lyes Mat. 24.9 and 10.21 My life to take away Yet Christ's Cause I will witness to Luke 21.16 Tho for the same I dye Act. 20.24 21.13 I shall not fear what man can do Against my Liberty For now my soul hath sweet support Psal 27.1 Through Christ my Rock Tower Micah 7.8 In whom's my peace joy and comfort With fresh supplies each hour Hab. 3.19 His Love is now my whole delight Psa 138.7 His Presence stands me by Isa 43.2 I have him alwayes in my sight O here 's my Liberty God is my Witness and my Guide Psal 23.1.2 3 4 5. My conscience to keep clear I know the Lord is on my side Therefore I need not fear Jsal 118.6 Through Christ I am now freed from Jer. 10.11 And Hypocrites cruelty Rom. 8.1 38 So soon as God receives my breath death Act. 7.59 My Soul gains Liberty Patience with Balm my sores supplys Psal 37.3 4 5 7. I live above controul In Prison though my body lies Job 34.29 They can't inslave my Soul My free converse with Christ is sweet Cant. 5.13 Which brings in choice supply Psa 104.34 That they which now my body keep Joh. 14.17 Knows no such Liberty God did for me this place appoint Gen. 45.7 8 Before they brought me here And doth my soul with Grace anoint Mica 7.8 9 That cheerefully I bear Hab. 3.18 And now his Will and Pleasure 's mine Act. 21.13 He doth my soul make free Psa 11.2 6 7 8. To live above though they combine To take my Liberty I know my sufferings will have end Job 23.10 Till then I 'le them endure Hab. 3.2 A Saviour he to me wil send Heb. 10.37 My Freedome to procure Isa 19.20 And though ther 's some that it withstand Psa 91.14 He 'll make them know and see Isa 43.4 That he alone by his own Hand Dan. 3.17 Will gain my Liberty But some Sanballats still do plot Nehem. 6.5 8 12. My Body to keep here Ye Judas-like say they let not But rather would me clear Isa 24.16 But God will one day make them know 1 Joh. 3.12 And they shall not deny That they like Cain have alone Haeted my Liberty Till then I shall with sweet content Job 14.14 Attend on God and say Psa 27.14 That tho their evil bows are bent Psal 62.5 6 7. 21. 8 9 10 11. God doth the Scepter sway And he will turn them upside down And my soul satisfy 2 Tim. 4.8 And he 'l give me th' Eternal Crown Jam. 1.12 In perfect Liberty Rev. 2.10 Amen Amen Come my Lord and Life come quickly saith the groaning soul of P. H. I did intend to have inserted my Reasons that I gave for not taking the Covenant And the Reasons I gave against the Armies signing the Address to make O. C. Protector because as I said before they were such things which some spirits did very much reproach me for But I do not upon second thoughts think it fit to insert here lest by it I throw dirt in the face of some who did out of uprightness of heart in the point of the Covenant follow God in hopes of the Accomplishment of the Latter-Day-Reformation And though the Covenant was a step too low tâ— follow God in the breaking forth of that greaâ— Light and Power by which God will usher-iâ— the Accomplishment of those Prophecies and Promises that relate to Latter-Day-Work yeâ— surely there were many who in uprightness oâ— heart did aim at God and his Interest in that Work seeing no better or larger at that time 'T is good to love all God's Lambs and not tâ— throw dirt at any of them though we should judge them lame Lambs yet if Lambs theâ—â— are to be beloved Now as to the other that is to say my Reasons against the Signing of the Address they were publickly known and so were the dealingâ— of some with me for that matter But lest I should be thought to cast dirt in the face of such thaâ— have dealt so with me I shall forbear I shalâ— rather cross my own heart and follow my Lord in blessing when cursed and in being silent under censures 'T is an evil day but yet that which the Scriptures of Truth have told us of that such things must be not only betwixt Saints and Sinners but between professed Brethren And it is good for all that love and long for the coming oâ— our Lord not only to pray for it but be willinâ— to face and imbrace such sorrows censures and sufferings that attend Latter-day-Work seeing its that which must be and it 's that though iâ— crosseth which ushereth-in the prayed-for and â—onged-for Crown To which Grace and Crown of Glory I leave my self and all who in faithfulness wait for the coming of our Lord. Amen Amen Come Lord Jesus come quickly In the close of this that I have writ it will be convenient to give some account of my Imprisonment now in the Tower and the rather in that one cause of somes censuring me as was and â—s pretended relates to my former Liberty and my present Imprisonment For before I was imprisoned that was as some said the ground of their Jealousy In that so many were imprisoned and yet I that was so notoriously known should be at liberty Though it was well known I was a Prisoner in the Marshal-Generals house I got out only upon 1000 l. bond to appear when sent for What charges I was at and what hardships I underwent I shal forbear to assert but my long Liberty was by some judged a ground of their Jealousie of me And now when I was taken out of my bed the twentieth day of August 1663 and carried before the Secretary Sir Henry Bennet who would â—dmit me to speak but little for my self but sent me to this place And when I told him I must starve if he sent me thither having no means to keep me he did assure me that the King did allow Maintenance for all each Prisoner though to this day which is twenty five weeks I have not had one bit of bread or drop of drink allowed me And had it not been for the goodness of God and some few Friends I
must have starved Now after I had been here about seven weeks I was sent for by the King upon the earnest request of a Kinsman of mine and when the King heard my name he remembred that he was told his Father had left something of his Will with me so sent for me as I said a Guard of Musquetiers carried me to Whitehall and after a long time of staying I was carried before the King who had my Articles as I judge in writing after a little mentioning of them he asked me If I had not some Message from his Father I answered I had So he caused all there to withdraw and then I begged pardon of his Majesty that I might either not speak any thing or to have liberty to speak all for said I If I speak all it may offend some and if I speak not all I shall offend my own Conscience So the King very freely told me I had liberty to speak all I then did and I bless God my memory did not fail me but I spake all and each particular as I received it His Majesty was so far from taking it ill that he did kindly imbrace it and told me Had not Parliaments bound up his hands he had answered his Father's Will in these things before now and said he hoped to do it Now what the particulars were I had not before nor now liberty to declare to others But I hope it will be by his Majesty for there is not any man living let him be of what perswasion he will but would have good thoughts of the old King for it and good thoughts of his Majesty for accepting of it unless they be such that will believe nothing for if it were the last word I should speak It was that which did so much tend to the good of the Nation in general and to all that fear God in particular that if the best and wisest men in the Nation should have liberty to have drawn up their desires in general heads for good to this Land they could not have desired better Although I am for this as I have for all things else been censured and condemned some affirming that I had said something to the King that was against the Interest of all Gods People A thing which I had rather die than do 'T is in this as in all the rest for before I was in Prison that was a ground that I was carrying on designs for his Majesty And now I am brought to Prison the same parties said I put my self in Prison as a Cover And with this they have filled the ears both of City and Country And though I had not a bit of bread nor drop of drink allowed me yet they affirmed I had such an Allowâ—nce that it was ill for any to bring any thing to me and if any did come to me they were sadly â—udged and condemned for it Should I but inâ—ert the dealings of this sort of people no Reâ—ords make mention of the like dealing Had I â—een or were I what these sort of people say I am knowing what I knew sure I should do something to answer their Evil with Evil but blessed be God for ever blessed be God I have learned better And I will leave my Cause for God to judge and my Innocency to him to bring out as Gold as Job did Job 23.10 and shall rather study to follow my dear Lord and rest quiet in his Will If he will by this Cross bring me to the Crown I beg no more Come Lord Jesus come quickly Amen Amen I Having a little longer time cannot but add a word to answer some Friends who seem troubled at the report of my being to be sent beyond Sea and the rather in seeing my willingness Now I cannot but say that if they should send me away to any close Imprisonment I had if God see it good rather they would put me to death here being not in a capacity to help my self But should God move their hearts to send me to any forreign place where I might do any thing to get bread and live enjoying God's presence though in a Wilderness I should much more rejoyce to imbrace it than to live here My Grounds are First I see an impossibility to reconcile or satisfie these Spirits that God hath suffered to be incensed against me and raised these Reports of me for although I was and am as innocent as the childe unborn from wronging or betraying any man and I have by my self and friends laboured to satisfie all I can come near yet all comes to nothing but they that first begun it do still foment it The sence that not only I but God's Name suffers by it with the sence of their unheard-of-Evil makes me willing to be where I may rather mourn away my dayes in private where I may not see and hear those Reproaches than to bear the heart-breakings under the daily hearing of it 2dly It was formerly but much more now the desire of my heart to do some service for God and bring honour to his Truth and Name by life or death but these sort of people have and do so daily revile me present all I do to be wicked that whatever I say or do or suffer it 's turned to my Reproach and the dishonour of Truth the sence of which makes me willing to rest in silence and rather to live and die in secret than to be publick for so long as I am I see I am not only the object of their reproach but an occasion of their sin 3dly I am sensible as the case stands that if I were at liberty let me walk never so carefully yet it would not be long before I should be imprisoned again for there is such an evil spirit in some that to save themselves they value it not to betray the Innocent And I have now fresh reason to say so for it 's plainly seen and found out that some who were and still are the instruments to incense Friends against me as being as they affirm one that 's not fit to be believed or trusted nay to live for carrying-on designs for the present Authority These I say have and that at this very time as can be proved gone and informed them in Authority that I am such an Enemy to them that I am not fit for their favour nor to be set at liberty All which considered if I were at liberty I am not like long to abide so 4thly Although I can say That I am willing and desirous to rest silently satisfied in the will of God yet I judge it no sin but rather a duty to be as much as a man can out of the noise of such Cryes and Reproaches which doth not only make my life a dying life But it doth by the daily suggestions of Satan stir up trouble and disquietment in the mind which sin adds so much to the sorrow that often my soul would sink did not God support me