Selected quad for the lemma: lord_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
lord_n	begin_v	king_n	year_n	13,736	5	5.6587	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A93935	An iron rod put into the Lord Protectors hand, to break all antichristian powers in pieces. Or, A discourse, which tends to a spirituall war with all sects and self-opinions, which are the Churches enemies: wil bring Englands everlasting happiness, and joyn all other lands into the body of Christs Church, to serve God with with [sic] one consent, Zeph. 3.9. All which was discovered to John Sanders of Harburn, neer Brimingham [sic]: by true apparitions, revelations, and many several visions, as the second book sheweth.	Sanders, John, of Harburn.	1655 (1655)	Wing S575; Thomason E842_23; ESTC R203488	52,643	75

the fear of the Lord to guide us Fourthly who can say but they broke Covenant with God by swearing falsly to be true to the King and the Protestant Religion and to work reformation in Church and State for true judgment But in stead of being better it is worse for it hath broke out like hem lock or wormwood in the furrowes of the Field and hath tafted as bitter as gall Amos 6.12 Hosea 10.4 7. And the death of King Charles is typified to be the King of Samaria whom Hosea prophesied should be cut off as a foame on the factious water which the Devil caft out of his mouth to drown the woman being meant the Church in this time of new fangled worship and heretical way of new opinions If we see H●s●a's Prophesies to be fulfilled by the late dissolved Parliaments and to be as true to us as they speak of the natural Israelites you cannot chuse but believe it to be true in these things And why then may not my troubles and crosses when I was forced by God and their own violence against me which could not be done without Gods permission and ordination Let no man dare or presume to judge otherwise but being done by Gods appointment it did signifie these things as have befel our Nation between King and Parliament by being divorced from God to follow their own corrupt wayes My Wife came out of such a Linage by her Fathers birth as Hosea was to take his wife of for a further signe Hos 1. but I was ignorant of that when I married her my love was never the lesse to her yet her Father had alwayes the relation of all people to be a very honest dealing man But seeing my unhappy predestination was to be thus afflicted by she that was my Wife I look upon it no other way then this it was because I did not at the first forsake all these outward things of this life willingly to goe on Gods message I am very sorry that I cannot forbeare writing and laying open to the view of the world the wrong as I have received from her and their hands Let no man judge the worse of her or them for acting these strange actions or mee for relating of it but let them all assure themselves thus as heare of it The Devil did not onely afflict Job by his wife and Satans temptation by his friends when he was in his great calamity but the like instruments Satan can make use of any let them be never so honest for natural parts if God leave them to themselves But let every one watch and pray lest they fall into Satans temptations and praise God for all the enjoyment of his benefits If any wil say as many have done that there can be no divocement lawful unlesse it be for the act of Adultery To give them an answer look in Malachy 2.16 God hates putting away but if so be thou must such iniquities ought to be hid within ones own garment therefore if I doe know such things I will forbear speaking of them to the world The humble Petition of John Sanders to the Lord Protector Most humbly sheweth THat whereas the humble Petitioner have oftentimes on purpose many sundry and long journeys to speak with your Highnesse for the space of above 3. yeares and a halfe but none of these times could I find any opportunity by any of your Souldiers or servants I have at this time many grievances to ease and unburden my selfe of to your Highnesse which is the Head in chiefe I having undergone much wrong by many several men to the sustaining of great losse both of goods and chattels and other things But concerning those things your humble Petitioner will keep silence at this time committing all those things to God who hath kept my life from the rage of my enemies for the time past by his merciful providence and so I trust he wil for the time to come My Lord the cause of my complaint now at this present time after the many and sundry journeys and many losses and false imprisonments which false bosome-friends and false witnesses have brought me to for nothing else but the witnesse of Jesus which hath carried me on by his holy spirit to foretel things to come About halfe a year before Worcester fight which was since you came to be Head Leader in chiefe of the Parliament Forces the Lord compelled me openly to foretel how that King Charles would come with an Army into Worcestershire before Bartholomew-tide from Scotland against the Parliament and how that his taking up of Armes to maintaine the Scottish Presbytery Government would be the cause of the overthrow of his Army if he fought These things God compelled me openly to declare in Brimingham and at the Lady Graves and many places more and how Colonel Graves the Ladies Son would come in with him I was cast into great imprisonment and misery by Satans malice and wicked men til the very day of Worcester-fight and lost all my time trade and stock besides all the misery false imprisonment I underwent in several places Som said I was distracted others said I was guided by the spirit of God but in the presence of God I speak it that I never knew my selfe at one time worse then another but it was the wil of God to carry me on in that manner No man ever heard me speak at those times like one that had been distracted but if Christ were so esteemed Mark 3. and Paul let not me be ashamed of that name by natural men which are spiritually blind Many witnesses I could produce that heard me foretel the manner and time of Worcester-fight When I was out of prison the spirit of the Lord caused mee to come fourscore miles to speak with your Highnesse and to tel you how that the present standing Parliament could not stand without they entred into a hallowed covenant with God at the Ark of his Testimony for want of the true worship of Jesus Christ being found out and set above them was the cause of Gods overthrowing them for their injustice and division But when I could not find an opportunity to declare Gods message to your Highnesse I told Colonel Barkstead these things and shewed him writings and told him what way the Church must and would be rebuilded Being then eased of my burden I went home into my own Countrey again and after that into Ireland counting my selfe unfortunate I carried iron ware to set up my trade there and began it in Dublin but the spirit of the Lord compelled me to come out of Ireland againe to come up to London about six weeks before the Parliament was dissolved I could not speak with your Highnesse the Parliament was newly rose about the Seamen the spirit of God compelled me to make a Speech in Westminster Hall before abundance of people concerning the Parliaments dissolution about the shortest day in the yeare And then before I could

Angels with the names written on them of the twelve Tribes of Israel and the Lamb and his twelve Apostles which are the chiefe Founders and Builders of this glorious situated government Wee must understand that as the judgments of God first began at his own house in this Land so God wil have his house restored and built up again to be as it were a pattern for the King and Lord Protector to frame and set up their State-government by For a● there is to be appointed by God twelve Apostolical Bishops under a Head spiritual Father to be the Leaders of the Church so far as their power can wel be able to rule so likewise it is convenient to have 12. temporal Judges in chief under one Father the King so far as their power is wel able to extend in every division which being thus done according to order righteousnesse and true holinesse every Kingdome wil then become the Kingdome of our Lord and of his Christ Rev. 11.15 16 17. So then the King being as Abraham or Moses in chief under God the Father Exod. 4.16 he must be as Moses was to Aaron as it were a God to the High Priest or Arch-Bishop The High Priest or Arch-Bishop representing Isaac and Rebecca by a Melchisedech-order of Christ must be as it were a chiefe Prophet to the King as Aaron was to Moses And the twelve chief temporal Judges and the twelve Head spiritual Bishops which make the number of 24. Elders must cast themselves down with all their government both for Church and State to give all praises to God the Father and his Son Christ Jesus for judgment given to the great Whore and the other 70. discipled Elders wil doe their office as God wil appoint them to and carry them on by the power of the Holy Ghost And the High Priest shal then weare no more polluted garments but God wil cause him to have change of rayment and a fair Diadem or a Micre on his head as Aaron had And then the Church wil begin to flourish in a glorious manner This fifth and last elect 70. wil by Gods assistance beautifie the fifth Monarchy and God wil carry on this last 70. under the High Priest and the 12. Apostolical Bishops which are to be heads of the 12. spiritual Tribes of Israel Gods holy spirit guiding these and going along with them they wil build up the truth Church better and firmer then ever it was before advancing the true worship of God above all Zach. 3. And they wil give example for the Judges and State-officers to follow them in like manner for the spirit of Daniel wil be among them standing in the Lot the dark letters and the hidden mysteries which are to be revealed to man God by these wil unseal and God wil esteem of them as his dearest Jewels These wil be guided by the Holy Ghost to doe as Solomon exhorteth to purge the tin and the drosse from the go Iden and filver governments The two famous Universities and Schooles of learning shal be made pure fountains by these from whence the sincere milk of Gods word shal flow for the nourishment both of Church and State to feed the flock and people of God as the breasts of Sarah and Rebecca did nourish Isaac and Iacob Then shal all houses of hospitality and religious store houses be setled established according as is intended to their right end again the store houses to be rightly erected without either Idolatry or Superstition for an account of the Tithes and other things to be brought in thither that their may be provision for Gods house for all necessary uses that belong thereunto according to the word of God that being their guide and all parish Churches and Places that are or have been appointed for Gods worship as neede requireth to be desently restored to their Priestine adornments to make them the beauty of holinesse as Gods word requireth without superstition or idolatry as Paul saith Let all things be done decently and in order and the Ministery for every degree rightly to be restored and they to have their charge and orders from the Apostolical Bishop and Discipled Elders of their several limitted Diocesses in all degrees as belong to the Ministerial office to be as careful of their chargeover every Parish according to Vrim and Thummim soundnesse of Doctrine and integrity of life and to be as careful over all sorts of people that belong to their congregated charge in all needful degrees as great rich mens Shepherds must be over their folded or pastured Sheep which were onely kept and appointed for that end if any of their flock be lost by the Shepherds negligence as earthly Masters wil look for the price of the sheep at their hand as is hired and kept for that end Zeph. 3.9 Saith the Lord surely I will turne to the people a pure Language that they may call upon the name of the Lord and serve him with one consent Lord hasten this time In this time of the kingdom of glorious grace there shall no man need to ask the wayes of God of Lay men but we shal all be taught of God and fed with the sincere milk of Gods word which floweth from the mouth of Gods messengers the true Ministers Every neighbour and private man to follow his temporal calling living in unity amity and true Christian brotherly love saying one to another where sin and envy hath heretofore abounded so now true love grace shal much more abound serving God with one consent saying one to another Come let us go up to the house of the God of Jacob to learn of his true Shepherds and Ministers We may wel conclude believe this to be the time that the whole earth wil be filled with the knowledge and glory of the Lord as the waters covereth the Sea Yea much more must the Minister Shepherd or Watchman give an account both to God and them as God hath set over them of their charge for if any be lost for want of their care their blood God wil require at their hands Ezek. 33. The same charge lieth upon me or any other that hath a message to declare from God to your Highnesse concerning the seeing of a sword or a judgement or an alteration of the times we must not fear to declare the mind of God for the displeasure of either King or Potentate if we doe whensoever it be they die in their sins or ignorance for want of having warning by the seer that God revealeth it to they shal die and their blood shal be required at his hand For by this which I am to declare to your Highnesse I am appointed of God to assure you and the whole Council of State that although other powers of the late several choices for Church and State have not sought Gods ways but their own yet those that God wil perfect his work by he wil have them to deny all to follow

to have reigned in a living condition by it and knew they could notwithout it yet his death and the Bishops wil prove to be the death of al Sects and Herefies and the chiefest meanes under God to convert the Jewes Pagans and Turks to Christs truth The Lord guide me with this holy Spirit I Shal assure you in truth eleven year agoe I being an Apprentice to an Iron-Monger it happened by the powerful providence of God as I was at a Fare on the longest day of the year called Saint Barnabies day as I was helping my Master to keep the Fare at Newport-pannel in Buckinghamshire I being in perfect health and busily exercised about my Masters imploiments with him at the stall About 12. of the clock as I was weighing out of ware and many people at the stal I was struck of a suddain with amazement the power of God caused me to look before me and there was standing before me the shape of a Woman cloathed in blew like an old fashioned cloak and safeguard The Woman cloathed in blew raiment signified the Protestant Church Aaron the High Priest his colours were blew for the Ephod Exod. 28.28 31 37. the liknesse of her face was black as an Oven Her blacknesse of face signified that she began then to be overwhelmed with darknesse lamentations mists of Heresies as Jude calls them Clouds without water she strook her hands over her face Her striking of her hands over her face in a mournful condition signified the lamentable condition which she then was fallen into when the High Priest and the Apostolical and Discipled Elders were cast out of the City and there was no true government then either in Church or State when Kingly power was spurned against and so fearfully despised weakned so that the Judges and civil Magistrates could not be a wal to the true Orthodox Ministry then many old heresies which had been long ago buried began to be new digd up new fangled opinions began to be found out by Satans malicious temptations I took as little notice of it as I could but was following my Masters occasion of trading being a waighing of nailes I was struck fick at heart of a suddain and was forced to look on the strong appeparission which was like a Woman and looked stedfastly on her who strook her hands again over her face in a wailing condition as a … man that had lost her h … and or children or some great friend and so she vanished away I was very heart and stomach sick of a suddain being forced to leave the stal I told my Master I was not wel I went to his Inne and being very sick I vomitted blood after a little time being something better I went to my Master againe and staid by him all day but not without much paine this was on the Satterday and was I sick and heavy at heart and all parts of my body many days after but I praise God I slept very wel every night but could not tel what ailed me my stomach was gone I could not eat any thing at all nor drink any thing but what was soure like vinegar I told my Master at night of the strange apparission and vision and of my sicknesse but he believed me not so we went that night to Eubourne in Bedfordshire on Monday I was not able to goe on foot but rod on my Masters hackney horse most of the way to Hampsteed in Hartfordshire On Teusday we went to Watford fifteen miles off London but very sick and weak I was every day yet slept wel every night On Monday we returned homeward I riding with much pain on horseback I besought the Lord with a fervent mind to be merciful to me he heard my prayers and as we were riding about a mile and an halfe off Redburne the Lord made my heart to think and my tongue to speak and tel my Master that if he would goe by Redburn it being neer a mile out of his way I might ride home in a Waggon he asked me how I could tel or with whom I told him with my Father for I told him my Father had two Waggons then in Redburn it being at mid time of the day and how that my Father was there and one Brother and his man I had no natural reason to say so for I could not tel they were in those Countries but onely the Lord had revealed it to me who reveales his secrets to them that fear him Psal 25. 34 his holy Angels pitch●s their tents about them My Master was unwilling to go that way but with much intreating did and we found them in Redburn according as the Lord had caused me to speak My Master overwent me that day and left me to ride in my Fathers Waggon On Thursday night we came to Tosseter fifty miles from London Coventrie rode my Fathers Inne was at the Sarasens head but my Master appointed if I was not able to ride home I should be carried to his Inne which was the fign of the Peele As soon as I came thither I defired to goe to bed presently with in an hour after my Fathers Brother and many more came to see me and asked me how I did I told them I praised God I was better then I was before and many such words I told them of the strange Vision in the Fair at Newport-pannel but they beleeved me not and the manner of it oftentimes and how the Lords Revelation to me made me know where to meet them which was against natures reason My brother offered me to watch with me all night no said I brother goe to your bed and take your rest for I praise God I am better then I have beene ever since I saw the Vision So they left me There was no Guests in the house that night and I did lodge in an upper roome a good distance from the people in the house and I had been hot and cold on a sudden my cloaths being light and thin on my bed and I was dangerous sick neer unto death of a sudden not thinking I could possibly live while morning it being the dead time of the night I could get none to come to me by knocking or calling The Lord put it into my mind of a sudden that I should live to see an end of these troublesome times and how God had ordained me to be an instrument to the bringing it to passe Lord said I to my selfe how can can this be seeing I am thus weak not like to live til morning My heart began to sink so that I could scarce speak Within a little space the Lord strengthened me wonderfully and put it into my heart to hang my cloaths about me and goe out of my bed to other beds in the next chamber and fetch cloaths I being not able to stand crept on my hands and knees and fetcht the cloaths of two other beds and with the help of Gods holy Angel laid them on my

united minde with one accord to carry on the great weighty affaires both for Church and State to begin the work in a perfect way and so goe on to more perfection Your Highness cannot chuse but see what great things the Lord hath done for you by preserving your person in many and sundry great Battels of war and since many several dangerous plots which have been lately found out which for brevities sake I must omit to name all which plots and dangers shew you God is angry with you to see his house lie waste still and no one is setting about the work of God You may well assure your selfe that God is sorely displeased that many are planting and setling themselves in great Estates and making themselves great by this slaughterous wars and so cast Gods work behind their backs Now his House and Worship hath been pluckt down and brought to ruine by several Sects and evil members which have some of them been of the Army and the rest the Army have favoured I meane all Hereticks seditious and blasphemous persons in this fiery time of trial or consuming of the true worship and zeal of Gods good old wayes of worship which did shine in a flourishing condition And now you see God hath preserved your Highnesse as he spake by the Prophet Zechariah 3.2 concerning Joshua the High Priest The Lord will rebuke Satan and chuse Ierusalem to reprove him But saith the Lord Is not this a brand pluckt out of the fire And thus you see the Lord many times brings his beloved children very neare the very gates of Hell or in great danger of falling And now you may see God hath pluckt your Highness from among those brands and brought you to the Kings Throne to be chiefe Ruler over all as Abrahams eldest servant was The first thing you ought to have done that would have been most pleasing to God and best and surest for your selfe was to have found out the true worship of God and to have been as faithful in chusing a spiritual Head for the Church the woman as St. Iohn saw to be cloathed with the Sun and the Moon under her feet having a crown of 12. Stars on her head Revel 12.1 being meant Christ or one in his stead twelve Apostolical governours called a crown of twelve Stars that is Bishops of his Church being cloathed with the Son of Gods bright garment of pure government Having the Moon under her feet that is all changeable governments which change like the Moon Take one imitation of Abrahams servant who refused the eating of bread to feed his hungry appetite after his long journey till he had shewed his faithfulness and knew Rebeccha and her friends mind Gen. 24. So take heed of feeding your selves with worldly dignitie till you have found out a Head and an espoused company to make a body for Christs Church Take your example from Moses who after he was Gods chiefe servant although he was brought up in Pharaohs Court by Pharaohs daughter when he came to yeares of understanding he refused to be called the son of Pharaohs daughter O therefore take heed of those Courtly offers after you understand the wayes of God as either to defraud or detaine any man from his Right or keep the Church and people of God either in bondage or a wildernesse condition O therefore for the Lords sake delay no more time by building your own houses but set about the house of the Lord which is called a house of prayer for all people For the neglect of that God shewed you a sign of his anger when you were in that great danger of being kild in Hide Park on S. Michaels day if you can beleive the word of God to be true That God commanded Moses to put off his natural shooes when God called him from being a natural shepherd to be the chiefe Leader of his people Exod. 3.5 and likewise the same he commanded to Joshua Josh 5. The shooes signifie the natural affection of a mans heart and minde when he is called to the holy work of the Lord. We read that for a very small offence the Lord met Moses and would have killed him in the way Exod. 4.24 And as the Angel of the Lord stood with his sword drawn before Ioshua to cause him to unloose the natural shooes from his feet if the Lord hide it not from you and so leave you off to hardnesse of heart and spiritual blindness you may well see that the Lord is not pleased by the many dangers you have been near All those plots and dangers should be as warning pieces to set you forward to goe about the work of the Lord or as goads to stir you up to it I intreat the Lord and oftentimes doe pray that God will be pleased to open the spiritual eyes of your soul and clear up your understanding that you may goe about the great work of the Lord with all expedition And you may well assure your selfe that if the burden was too heavy for Moses who had his counsel at Gods own mouth who had likewise Aaron the High Priest and other Priests to assist him yet it made him to cry out to be eased of the Lord or slain Therefore let the example of the Jewish and Christian Churches lead you as a pattern or line Chuse first a High Priest then 12. and gather 70. The manner of the High Priests receiving the number of 12. for to be Apostolical Bishops by the holy order of laying on of Hands and then 70. proved from Jacob Moses and the Apostles ●octrine YOur Highnesse having according to Gods command and Scripture rule to be your guide chosen a High Priest for the head of Christs Church as Aaron and Peter were and then by the High Priests advice ●o ordaine twelve Apostolical Bishops as several heads under him for to be over the twelve spiritual Tribes of Israel or Christs Church the High Priest should not receive them to be his spiritual Sons without the laying on of hands this holy order and confirmation of laying on of hands I shal prove to you by example from Jacob Gen. 48.14 who when he was about to die and to receive Manasse● and Ephraim into the number of his twelve Sons to make them thirteen Head Fathers of the twelve natural Tribes of Israel Manasseh and Ephraim being called the two halfe Tribes at Jacobs receiving of them at the hands of their Father Ioseph to make them as his sons to bear their part of his name for the time to come throughout all generations he did not do it without laying on of hands and receiving them without that holy order to confirm them by his blessing Ioseph at his bringing them to old Iacob his Father whose eyes were dim his ful intention was that old Israel should have laid his right hand on the eldest and his left on the youngest but he would not do so although his natural eyes were dim yet God gave him

bed and went to bed again A while after being something warm in my bed the Lords Angel gave me warning that I must undergoe the strongest temptation that night as any man had endured yet the Lord would uphold me in it Dear friends it was no dream nor fancy for I was awake and had my perfect memory A little while after there was as it had been a book opened in my conscience I cannot forget the remembrance of the letters stil and there was laid to my open view and memory all the sins that ever I had offended God either by omission or commission and the Lord assured my conscience they were forgiven assuring me that they were buried in the Sea of Christs blood That was no sooner past and another Book opened but there came into my mind a remembrance of al my dealing between man and man and there was found no accusation against me but onely for 4 d. which had been neer six years past For the first journey that ever my Master sent me out with iron ware he sent me three dayes journey from his house to a place called Chessom in Buckinghamshire and before I came home againe I lost 1 s. of my account and having cast it up at Warwick the last night of my journey and then I fearing to tel my Master of it kept halfe a peck of oats from my horses thinking to get the shilling that way at several times so after with my with my Master I losing 8 d. and wronging the dumb creatures of their allowance my conscience being troubled at it did so no more And when I was at the point of death God suffered two ugly Devils in shape like Blackmoors to accuse me before him so that I was forced to look out of the bed and they stood between my bed and the window at my left hand I was in a terrible fright they standing neer my bed-side a little after midnight The Lord gave me a strong spirit to resist the Fiends by prayer which made them fly from my bed-side And Gods holy Angel comforted me exceedingly and so left me for a little time Anon after there appeared another Devil who was transformed into a glorious shape whose adornments shone like gold as it had been a great Emperor King or Monarch with a Crown on his head who would have perswaded me to have denied that Christian Faith as I was trained up in and renounce the Baptism as I had received in my infancy and I should bee in as great estimation for the time to come as any in the world I endeavoured to pray against those perswading temptations but my own heart would have deceived me one time I could scarce keep my mind close to God and being mighty hot by sweating and faint by sicknesse my soule desired to keep close to God My heart was brought very weak I was brought so feeble-minded I thinking all hope past but I must yield at last I said avoid Satan At these words and many more such like the transformed Fiend vanished away and the Angel appeared at my right hand as I lay in my bed and strengthened me with exceeding inward comfort and so left me againe The black Fiends appeared a second time and being resisted by prayer they fled And there was another like a General or great Commander in gay apparel in several colours as red black green yellow in a bunch perswading me as the former did but the Lords power was strong in me to resist him by prayer which made them fly from my bed-side then began it to be a little morning-light I prayed all night looking every minute when the Lord would fetch away my soule from my body but I desired much of the Lord to live to see my Father and brothers and to make a Will to dispose of some little money and some cattel some to the poor some to my brothers some to friends according to my Talent as I had When the day began to dawn in my chamber there was the shape of a Ladder reared from the chamber-floor to the window the top of the Ladder was above the window the two ugly black Fiends and the transformed Devil appeared again neer my bed-side in violent way to feare and tempt me I prayed to God for defence and succour the transformed Devil shining like an Angel of Light ran up to the top of the Ladder above the window there I was tempted again the two black Fiends ran up after and stood one above another on the Ladder calling to me twice and saying Come wil you come The Lord strengthened my heart to prayer the transformed Fiend vanished away from the top of the Ladder The ugly black Fiends after they had turned feet to feet the ones head was up towards the top of the Ladder the others hung downward and thus they hung their soles of their feet together on the Ladder I thought all this while on Jacobs Ladder Lord thought I to my selfe this is such a Ladder as Jacob saw in his Vision Gen. 28.12 At the end of these terrible fights of the fearful Vision I brake forth uttering these very words saying O my Saviour thou that wast tempted and hadst no sinne 〈◊〉 able to succour me a poor finful creatore in the name of the whole Godhead avoid Satan The one fel one way the other another way the Fiends parting asunder and I praise God I had no more temptation all the rest of the time of my sickness And the Angel of the Lord came and comforted me and told me when I was restored to health I must go on Gods message to the King and tel him he must agree with the Parliament and condiscend to them by agreement and forgive them that which had been past as a loving Father although it were against him in that way as he was in and his Army if he did refuse to doe it speedily and for to work Reformation both in Church and State if this were neglected the Kings Army would come to nothing but destruction and hee would be destroyed and cut off but yet his Son would come at last to reign Then I was to tel the Parliament in withstanding the King they must not doe it to make themselves great but perform their vow for the setting up of Gods truth in the true purity for Church-government and for Temporal and State Affaires it must be to maintaine true Judgment in all degrees for the Magistrate according to truth If this in the beginning were not their ayme and in the end in the end their actions God would blast all their proceedings by one power displacing and dissolving another til at last their heresie and injustice and division would bring them to confusion And the Angel then gave me direction how the King and Parliament must make their agreement at last and what form and manner the Church must and would be established and governed And how that God had ordained tha I must be one of

there and scoffing at me her Father desired that we were divorced Wel said I pray you let it be so His answer was he would give forty pound upon the condition to have it so I have witnesse of it At last they gave me good words My desire was for her to bring my daughter to me that I might see her She told me she would not and gave me very desperate urging words to make a solemn Vow that if she did not bring my daughter between that time and Wednesday following according to the Law of Moses I would write her a bil of divorcement if I could not get ink I would write the first Copy of it with my owne blood if I loft one of the joynts of my little finger on my left hand to do it that all the rest of my body might mourn for the losse of her that wanted grace to mourn for her selfe Besides this I thought that many men might take example to put their wives away by divorcement without any true desert And therefore because I intended to put the Bil of Divorcement in print I would go such a hard way that none dare follow such an example Furthermore I desired to know by a token if it were of God or no that if she came not with my child by Wednesday I might neither eat nor sleep with quietnesse til I had disjoynted my selfe of the nail-joynt of my left hand being the little fingers end She came not and that signe was fulfild yet I did not doe it til above two dayes after Wednesday and when I had done it I having some revelations from God to confirm it suddenly I had a Revelation and a Vision that God had appointed it to be done and that it was lawful for me to take another wife as Hosea did in a typical way And it was shewed me by a Vision between four which was allotted for me and how that I must speak to one of the foure and then speak openly of it to others This is near six yeares paft and I beleeve the parties are unmarried stil Let no man judge this to be madnesse but let them think if it be of God it cannot be prevented The Bill of Divorcement KNow this all my honest Christian Neighbors and all others whom it may concern That I with much reverence and holy feare do call God to the recording and renewing the condition of this Obligation or Bill of Divorcement which breaketh and violateth the band of Wedlock and Matrimony and separateth for ever she that was formerly my Wife and me asunder It is a very weighty matter therefore it had need to bee understood and throughly to be proved by the word of God and the light of a good conscience which is that glittering sword which standeth drawn to slay every son and daughter of Adam and Eve that either turneth to the right hand or to the lest either by hypecrisie or their own sinister ends in such weighty affaires as this I do therefore for several great causes in the presence of God the Father Son and Holy Ghost which is my Redeemer Creator and Preserver whose powerful providence hath still from time to time preserved me from being swallowed up or destroyed by many great dangers and several desperate enemies which the Devil hath formerly raised up against me to bring me to an untimely death without any just cause offered by me whereof the said Briget Bissel daughter of the the late said Richard Bissel which is now dead of the Parish of Yardlie in the County of Worcester Ironmonger the which said Briget Bissel which was the married wife to me the said John Sanders whose dwelling was at Harburn in the County of Stafford Ironmonger she being a great instrument to bring me into many borrible persecutions by Satans malicious invention and some of her neerest kindreds counsel for no other end but for the witness of Jesus and his testimony which hath carried me on by his holy Spirit of Prophesie Besides more then this misery which she and they brought upon me she and they have often urged me to be divorced from her for ever I doe therefore according to the Law of God as he gave to Moses Deut. 24. and Gods command to me which caused me to write her this Bill of Divorcement after this manner and deliver it to her neere six yeares past and now again it is renewed desiring that Gods mercy and forgivenesse may be extended to her for the forgiveness of her sins as well as for my selfe And that it may please God I humbly desire upon the bended knees of my body and souleaffections that the parting and breaking of this temporal wedlock may cause a spiritual warriage to the Lamb Jesus for us both and that all profane and wicked persons mouths may be stopt that shall be apt to speak against this seeing it is permitted and so appointed by thee O Lord raise me up speedily by thy mercy and providence again that so I may be able to take a godly fatherly care for my daughter in the name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost Amen and so be it And she is ever to be free from me to be any other mans wife if it please God and her own conscience And the like release is to me if God and my own conscience please only some chattels and goods of mine which are in her keeping contrary to my minde at my demands to be at my request when I please if it be not otherwise agreed upon These troubles were true signes to me and gave mee cause to believe that God had appointed me as hee did Hosea Hos 1.2 typically to take a wife of Fornications because the whole land had committed spiritual whoredom against the Lord and as the Prophet of God was to doe by Gods appointment and to signifie how they had divorced themselves from the Lord by their idolatrous whoredomes he was to divorce his wife for that as a figne Truly Brethren there is none can say but that the word of God is written as wel for our instruction as it was to the natural seed of Israel for we are of Abraharis seed by Faith And though the Scripture speaks of such things done then yet there is a signification now of the same things to us Our whole Land hath comitted spiritual whoredome against God First in this manner by breaking our ancient Covenant with God to worship him in new fangled manners of their own invention hating Gods old true way of worship now there is no King neither hath been this many dayes in England neither true Sacrifice Hosea 3. Secondly our whole State being like the Nobility of Israel which brought no fruits of Reformation to God but made High Altars to themselves by Covetousnesse which is idolatry and spiritual whoredome And our being divided like them Hosea 10.2 3. Thirdly we may wel say our wars began because we would have no King to reign over us for want of