is me if I declare not faithfully that which the Lord declareth to me either to King or Parliament Gourteous Reader some Errours have escaped the presse yet but one worth observation In page 38. line 32. for Monday read Wednesday The Table of the First Book FIrst here is shewed in this Book to your Highness and all others that please to hear or read it a Petition to move you with all expedition to goe about the work of God to finde out true Religion for the beautifying of Gods Church and then to build it up Page 1. Secondly the manner and time how Davids Tabernacle fell as well from the Christian Gentiles which were in Gospel-covenant as it did from the 12. Tribes of Israel in Rehoboams time under the Law and how there was never no true Religion in one body since they parted p. 2. Thirdly a short description of the Protestants ruinating in this land by this late war p. 5. Fourthly the true manner described how Davids fallen Tabernacle should be begun to be raised as in the dayes of old Amos 9 proved by Law and Gospel-rule to be the true Channel for the Church to run in first in this land and no other way then this can be proved which wil bring the whole world to one union of faith to serve God with one consent Zeph. 3.9 p. 6. Fifthly what a wilderness infectious poysoned and scattered condition the Church and people of God are in for want of a Church-government according to Patriarchal Prophetical Apostolical and Discipled orders the true manner of which is laid down in this Book p. 13. Sixthly true comparative signes first by the Stars secondly by the Moon that Christs true Religion is ready to breake forth into beautifulness more then ever it was in p. 15. Seventhly a godly direction and admonition for his Highness the Lord Protector to take the like care for the chusing of a High Priest to be Head in chief for Christs Church as Abrahams eldest servant did for a wife for Isaac the figure of Christ Gen. 24. This wil be the beginning of a fifth Monarchy under Christ Eightly the manner of the High Priests receiving of the number of 12. Apostolical Bishops to be Head Fathers of the 12. spiritual Tribes of Israel which are now scattered abroad Jam. 1. by the holy order of laying on of hands and of his and their receiving the number of 70. under them to make a body above the ordinary Ministers of Christs Church p. 22. Ninthly the true manner how to prove them whether their calling and election be of God or not by going to a spiritual war which is a contending for the faith or casting rods and lots with all Sects and self-opinions which are the Churches enemies Num. 17.18 Matth. 27.55 Joh. 19.23 Iude. p. 25. Tenthly the manner of the Whore of Babels fal and all false forms in one day in this land to be a patterned example for the whole world to follow and for the calling of the Jewes Turks Pagans and Infidels to the true faith p. 27. Eleventhly it sheweth the glorious time of the new Jerusalems situated government and of the Churches glory p. 31 Twelfthly it sheweth how that King Charles the Second-is appointed by God to be his chief King under Christ over the whole world and the Lord Protector if he will be obedient to the word of the Lord to be the second under him as Abrahams faithful servant to be chief Ruler for the King for by their agreement the Jews and Turks are to be called p. 36. And all that assist them and are faithful in their places that are now in power and wil be obedient willingly now they see Gods truth and righteous peace ready to break forth to yield to God and his true anointed King if they lose a Captaines place Major Colonel or General which now is held by troublesome fear then it wil be no more loss to them then theattaining to a Knight Lord Judge Earle Duke or Deputy King or Prince by this peaceable agreement til the end of all things come to dissolution over this Land and many more for them to be Governours As I am commanded of God to threaten those that have gotten into other mens possessions contrary to godliness or good consciences and so prove themselves by it to be enemies in that to Gods glorious Gospel and the Primitive Churches practice so I am commanded of God to threaten all with the danger of their own ruine and the displeasure of God that will not forbear plotting and mutyning and so hurt the Kings agreement Doe you think it is possible to stand in a strong wind and throw chaff against the wind and it not fly back upon you Do you think it is possible to doe Gods work before his time be It is but the Devils policie to cause you so to think God is neer arising to deliver his people and to restore his Church Therefore wait patiently till the time be for the day is neer a dawning TO HIS HIGHNESSE the Lord PROTECTOR MAy it please your Highness to vouchsafe the reading of this little Book which God caused me your servant in the Lord Iohn Sanders to indite unto you who hath come oftentimes on purpose to speake with you being compelled by the power of the holy Ghost which enableth me to foretel things to shew you what Gods wil is toward you if you will believe and obey the Lord. O my Lord wo is me if I be either fearful or negligent to give you and all others warning since God hath called me and shewed me a sword of Justice which proceedeth out of his mouth which he is now arising to draw forth not onely against you and your power but against all the chiefe governours of the world unlesse speedily you and they deny your own wayes and imbrace Gods wayes Those that so doe it shal go wel with them My Lord I shal in these first lines forbeare making use of any other mens labours study or Scripture phrases lest you should rather think it to be brain knowledge then the dictates of Gods Spirit I conceive your Highness believeth that where God appears by visions and Christ takes up the roome the holy Ghost carrieth them on by a real true power they wil be so guided and shewed Gods waies and wil according to their gift and talent to write or speak the mind of God without either study or natural parts when God pleaseth The Scriptures are given of God to be as a touchstone for them that feare God and obey his wil to try the spirits whether they be of God therefore let them be your Judge but have especial care of wresting them endeavour to let them arest you in this life and you shal have rest in the life to come Truly my Lord if such like counsel which natural men wil not own but count foolishness doe not guide you you wil not only stumble in points of Religion as many
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 one consent Zeph. 3.9 All which was discovered to John Sanders of Harburn neer Brimingham By true Apparitions Revelations and many several Visions as the second Book sheweth Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a Potters vessel Psal 2.9 Rev. 2.27 The Lords voice cryeth unto the City and the man of wisedome shall see my name hear the rod and who hath appointed it Micah 6.9 LONDON Printed for the Author and are to be sold at the Angel in Cornhil 1655. The Table of the Second Book THis Second Book of John Saunders sheweth a true relation how and where he was called at noon-time of the day on the 11. day of June 1643. by a true and a terrible apparition and further how the Lord revealed his secret intent and confirmed it to him by true signs and shewed him the greatest remarkable revolutions turnings chances and changes as have been ever since between King and Parliament which he then declared before many And what way the Church shal be re-builded to bring all Lands into one Christian Body and Union of Eaith Surely saith the Lord then will I turne to the people a pure language that they may call upon the name of the Lord and serve him with one consent Zephany 3.9 And a true Relation of what horrible afflictions God suffered him to be sundry and many times cast into by Satan and his instruments because he did at first neglect the message of the Lord of Hosts conterning King and Parliament Church and State Dear Christian Reader IN this Second Book of John Sanders here is shewn a true Relation of the manner how God called me to this work in as wonderful a way as he did Paul at noon-time of the day by an open apparition on the 11. day of June 1643. Page 37 As I was employed in a Faire with my Master Mr. Robert Bloomer it pleased my heavenly Master and Father in Christ to cause me to see the Apparition then at that immediate time But God knowing that I was inclined by nature to be hard of beliefe like Thomas who would not believe unles he felt and saw both or like the men of our late dayes which will not believe but that Apparitions Revelations and true Visions are now ceased it pleased God to convert me from that erroneous unbelieving mind in as wonderful a manner as he did Paul at noon-time of the day and caused me to feele his indignation as the reading of this Book wil tel you in what manner and at noon again four dayes after how the Lords holy Angel was sent to comfort my comfortlesse condition by secret and strange Revelation and on the morrow at night after and on the next morning being Friday the 17. day to confirm me by trial and terrible Visions and strange temptations and then to comfort me with his holy Angel to give me a command to goe to King and Parliament as it were to be a Herauld of Armes or heavenly Embassador from the King of Kings And to tel first the King what would befal him unless such things were agreed on as this Book sheweth and then to go to the Parliament to shew what they must do or else the like and worse judgment would befal them at last unless they would do as Zacheus did when Christ called him Yet the Kings Son and a remnant of them must and would agree at last for upon their agreement is the greatest meanes under God to call the Jewes and convert the whole world into one union of Faith Then I was shewed what misery I was to undergoe if I refused to goe on Gods message yet must go at last This book of my troubles sheweth the manner what I have endured First of my going to speak with the King when he was prisoner at Holmby and in what manner I was prevented from speaking with the King himself and then what I told Colonel Graves would befal first to the King and then the Parliament if such things were not done as this Book speaks of and what great troubles befel me after by Satans malicious working against me by my wife and her kindred and some of my own and many wicked men besides and of Gods great miraculous deliverance and mercy to me p. 44 46 47 48 Secondly of my putting out of a little Book about the time that the Levellers rose against the Parliament called A Description of the Ten Commandements concerning this late War laying open the misery of the Church by reason of covetous and new fangled Teachers were crept into it for want of true Church-government And then what troubles befel me again and how some of her friends urged her to be divorced from me and of their persecuting of me p. 54 55 Thirdly the Bill of Divorcement put in print in this Book given her six yeares since after this manner which she and they were the causers of p. 58 Fourthly the manner how God compelled me to foretel Worcester fight and the manner and time of it and how the King would be overthrown if he fought and eminent witness produced that heard me speak it p. 62. Fifthly the humble petition of Iohn Sanders to the Lord Protector of his often comming to London since to speak with the Parliament to tel that Parliament that they could not stand and to shew them what was the cause Colonel Barkstead can witnesse it that God compelled me to tel him and what would be the cause p. 53 Sixthly of my comming out of Ireland neer 6. weeks before the little Parliaments dissolution and to tel some of them that Gods decree was so gone out against them that they would be dissolved about the shortest day in the yeare Witness Colonel Barkestead which is now the Lieutenant of the Tower And then of my going into our Country of my being compelled by God to prefigure declare in Brimingham what was then doing that day in London 88. miles from London then of my being thrown into prison p. 64 Seventhly of my being compelled by the dictates of Gods spirit to speak and write many times and make many journeys since to the present power and the last Parliament to tel them what hath and wil befal them unlesse they wil deny themselves and seek God p. 65 Eightly of several Visions as I have had this yeare concerning the Church being rebuilded suddenly and the Lord Protectors Councel and King Charles his agreeing And how God revealed the plot of the Countrys-rising to me and caused me to carry a Letter to the Tower of it and to deliver it before the rising was p. 66 67 Woe
seventy interpreters of the Scriptures were guided by the holy Ghost Then I intreat you for the Lords sake who hath sent me as a Herald to you to cause you to chuse such a number as you see Law and Gospel rule holdeth out a just proofe for which being chosen and elected as by the power of Gods holy word and spirit guiding me to direct you as hereafter followeth To shew your Highnesse and all the world by the power of God which he is able to perfect and make good in my weaknesse For as we read Mal. 4. that Elias will come before the latter day to turne the hearts of Fathers and Children one toward another and to end controversies in Families Nations and Kingdoms lest he should smite the whole earth with cursing that as where hatred warre devision and heresies have most and last abounded there grace love peace and concord may first begin to abound here for a true exampled pattern for all other Nations to follow us for Christ saith the first shall be last and the last shal be first There is no fearful or doubtful question to be objected against this earth and way which here is laid down the ground from antiquity of other ages how God hath sent the holy Ghost into such an equal rising number heretofore to carry on his work by but that he will do the like now if we would deny our own corrupt ways and embrace his waies which are all grace vertue and humility for God is Alpha and Omega at the beginning and ending of his workes all one and the same and his wayes of mercy are past finding out The Apostles say that these days would not come unlesse there were first a departure of the Faith by many falling into grosse erronious heresies blasphemies and apostasies there were never more then now therefore we may well assure our selves by natural reason that this is the very last age of the world and should be the best but nature is more abused now then ever it was in our forefathers days so that this time shewed forth it selfe to be the worst and the very dregs of all other ages that ever have been For behold both natural pride and spiritual pride abound in every high degree natural drunkennesse and spiritual not onely by excesse of drinking which is a very great reigning sin in this land but also Sects and selfe opinions which makes many thousands stagger without drinking of either wine or strong drink so that they are drunken and bereaved of all true spiritual senses and many others are blind by ignorance their knowledge being so weak and shallow in points of Religion that they know not their right hand from their left and although they have been brought up as it were in the Schooles of Moses and the Prophets in Abrahams bosome by going to Church hearing Sermons and reading or hearing the Scriptures yet they are prophane and covetous both people and Priests like one another so that it grieveth the holy Spirit of our God to see his people destroyed for want of knowledge In the late Bishops time in some places we were guided by a sort of Shepherds Of the late Bishops time which although they were knowing enough for learning and charitable enough to the poor in temporals yet they were prophane by starving their flocks But now we are troubled in most places with a covetous sort of Teachers I had like to said in all places being ignorant themselves they do not onely starve their flocks for want of saving and sound knowledge but also for lucre sake they drive and carry them into by and separate paths of errors and heresies so being like people like Priests God hath punished our sins together and yet our putrified sins being not healed are like to break out into another red sea of blood if God prevent not Now the Church being thus brought into the wildernesse weeping in her widows-like mournful Condition as one that hath lost her husband Luke 10. Rev. 9. and the Elders being all cast out of the City so that she hath no guide for her children which are left alone among fiery serpent-like Teachers and Scorpions and beastly poysoned opinions and the Ark and Temple of God is razed and taken by the uncircumcised of heart and we are a murmuring rebellious people worse then the Israelites were for our God hath brought us thorow a red sea of civil Wars to an entrance of a spiritual Canaans peace And if our rebellion against God doe not prolong our misery I fully believe we are neer the very entrance of a glorious time for the Church to break forth into her brightnesse and to shine in a more glorious manner then ever she did since Adams fal For the time is near at hand when all oppressors and dissembling hypocrites which do not speedily leave their evil ways shal be rooted out of power And those that have served God following the good old way shal shine as the stars do in the firmament both in Church and State and to enjoy a true religious … tled peace according to righteousnesse and true holinesse so that the civil Magistrate may be a wal to the Church and Ministery Four Monarchs being broken down there wil be another set up even a Kingly power under the Scepter of Jesus Christ Believe not those Dreamers Mockers Makers of Sects whose study is all to write or speak great swelling words against dignities and the powers which are ordained of God nay even against the Lords day or Christian Sabbath and the sacred ordinances of Gods Law and Christs command even the ten Commands which God writ with his own finger in stone never to be washed out or abolished having a double memento for the keeping of the Sabbath and Lords day as wel to the Christian Gentiles as the Jews for take away the Lords day even the day which is set apart onely for his worship if the candlestick be removed away from us the light of Gods true worship wil immediately follow Luke 10. But as Christ saith he saw Satan fal as lightning from heaven and transforming himselfe into a glorious Angel of light to carry on many with their new lights and false visions and new fangled doctrine to deceive if it were possible the very Elect but that is an impossible thing More I would have spoken of the Christian Sabbath and of these strange opinions to shew every poor soule the subtile wiles of Satan and the means at large how to escape him in this time of spiritual blindnesse and proud knowledge which darkens mens mindes and divides their judgements by grosse thick darknesse which if we have not lost our spiritual feeling we might feele it at none time under the Gospels glorious light which makes many other doat away their pretious time First a sign of the Stars ALL which wickednesse and Apostasies are but signs of a glorious time at hand nay even at our very doores For as
the spiritual eyes of the soul to discern that the youngest son should come to be greater then his brother although saith Iacob I know Manassch shal be great yet his younger brother shal be greater then he for his seed shal be ful of Nations and he set the youngers name before the elders Although it much displeased Ioseph who sought meanes to prevent his Father for doing thus yet Iacob knowing the decree of God would not alter it Gen. 48. from the tenth verse to the end of the Chapter A little before Iacobs death he called all his sons together to blesse them and to shew what would befal every one of them in the latter days and how Iudab should be the heads in that out of his linage Christ was to come and all people should be gathered to him In these prophetical signes Iacob is a representation of the holy Ghost and likewise for the manner and number of his family Of Moses laying on of hands Moses he followed this example of Iacobs laying on of hands Scriptures make no mention of it but a little about the time of his death Deut. 34.9 This Text of Scripture saith that Ioshuah the son of Nun which was the succeeder of Moses was full of the spirit of wisdom for Moses had put his hands upon him and he and Israel did as the Lord had commanded Moses In the Apostles and Disciples time at the Gospels first plantation as it is written for our instruction in several places of the Acts of the Apostles how that by their laying on of hands many received the gift of the holy Ghost Paul at one time laid his hands on twelve several men and they all received the gift of the holy Ghost and Prophesied and furthermore Paul exhorteth his son Timothy whom he had begotten Saith he Despise not the gifts that is in thee which was given thee by prophesie by the laying on of hands by the Presbytery Elders 1 Tim. 4.14 All these Scriptures were written for our instruction and learning there is none that believeth in God and his word that dare or wil object against it thus you see here is proved in Christs Church an example of twelve Apostolical Bishops under a High Priest otherwise called an Archbishop and a Discipled number of seventy to make a compleat body besides and the order of receiving of them in their several places and degrees into that holy office of the Ministerial Function and body of Christs Church according to those holy orders which have been alwayes practised by the ancient Fathers of both Jewish and Christian Churches in all former ages One Objection answered by Scripture ground and argument Object But happily many in our days may be apt to raise Objections against this truth that is so manifestly proved here by Gods holy Writ saying that Apostles and Elders are all one therefore say they there need be no other order but a number of Elders according to the Presbytery which order is mentioned in the Scriptures To answer these â—bjections and make them fall to the ground Look in the fifteenth Chapter of the Acts and the first second and third verses when there was a great diffention and disputation about Circumcision by Paul and Barnabas against them at last they ordained that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem unto the Apostles and Elders of the Church The word Apostles in all places of Scripture standeth before the word Elders Paul was one of the twelve Apostles 1 Cor. 2.28 29. Eph 4. Barnabas Stephen Timothy and the others in their several places were of the company of the Elders of the Church Acts. 20.17 Multitudes of Texts and Scriptures might be raised to confirme this truth to shew that there was first an Apostolical number as chiefe twelve and then Secondly a discipled number of seventy according to order then in those dayes and that order would have continued till this very time had not corruptions and divisions cast them out of the Church But this I can by the power of God assure your Highnesse and all others that desire to know that we shall never enjoy perfect peace nor true Religion till that time be that there be ordained for the Church such an Apostolical and discipled number the which being done by God and mans appointment having their commission signed and sealed by God and man and being entred into a hallowed Covenant at the Ark or Tabernacle of Gods testimony meant the Church being received and ordained every one according to order to make a compleat body by joynt order their chiefe reverent father in God ought not to receive them into this holy office without the laying on of hands the which being done and they joyned together as one man for the work of the Lord for the ruling and gathering of the Saints and building up of true Religion being thus elected and choseu The true way to prove them by going to spiritual war with all Sects which are the true Churches enemies YOur Highnesse and many more may question me or demand saying How shal wee know whether thy calling and election be of God and sure and firm and not of mens traditions or superstitious consecrating 'T is answered thus It wil be known by this manner of trial that followeth whether or not that they be the onely men God hath appointed to beautifie his Church and to raise up Davids fallen Tabernacle here first in this land and to be a pattern example for all other lands to follow them Your Highnesse and they must 〈◊〉 â—lame open spiritual war against all Sects that hold 〈…〉 of Church fellowship that call themselves Religions and they may be all comprehended under four heads as namely these 1. Presbyterians 2. Independents 3. The Anabaptists must be calld And last of all the Church of Rome that is in these dominions must be call'd to this spiritual war to bring them to the Touchstone of Gods word All these aforenamed Churches so called or any other whatever ought to have both leave and command from and by your Highness to come to disputation together with them of the late and new ordained Election which is the Apostolical and discipled Body under a spiritual Head Then as Iude saith there will bee earnest contending among all these several elect for the faith once delivered to the Saints every sect such a certain number as equalizeth the fore named being chosen and ordained according as best pleaseth their several judgements or opinions When this Herald or Trumpet is sounded which God wil cause his holy Angels to stir up the hearts of men to do it in his good time Matth. 24.30 to gather his elect from the four winds to see the true way to joyne themselves to the true Ministerial head and body of Christs Church Eph. 4. in one united faith For when these several elections are gathered together there wil be casting of lots among these spiritual souldiers
that are called to this spiritual warfare to see which can gaine Christs seamlesse garment of government which so oftentimes hath been parted and rent to pieces and dipt in Christians blood formerly And there wil be likewise a casting of rods also together one with another the Egyptians rod that would keep the Church in bondage or the covetous idolatrous time servers or the divided new fangled people or the Church of Rome All these their several rods may turne like Serpents or bud many Scriptures each of them But Aarons rod or the true Priesthoods iron rod wil devour up the rest of 〈◊〉 â—ods and break their power to pieces like a potters 〈◊〉 all that are Antichristian or Tyrannical or seducing Yet they may at the first bud many Scripture phrases like the true Priesthood in the fight of the ignorant but they wil soon discover themselves when they come to the touchstone of trial by division to bring themselves to confusion and so silence themselves But the true Priesthood which hath his foundation from Antiquity that is entered into a hallowed Covenant with God and joyned together in a compleat body under a head shal then shew forth themselves to be the true Prophetical and Apostolical Discipled Church in a most manifest way they wil then appear before al people by their several gifts and places being all guided by the spirit of Union for their rod wil not onely devour the other Serpent-like rods but also it wil blossom and the spirit of Daniel wil appear in their lot to defend the woman Christs espoused Church which otherwise if she were not known by this kinde of trial and spiritual war they would judge her to be a Whore stil and say shee were as full of fornication as other-idolatrous Churches have been in other Kings reigns before But now shee wil prove her selfe to be a pure Virgin and that day the iniquity of Jacob wil be removed out of this land Zach. 3. and the Whore of Babel shal fal and all false formes shal sink in the Sea like a Mil-stone never to rise again then wil that Scripture be fulfilled Revel 12.1 The Woman wil appear cloathed with the Sun and the Moon under her feet and that 's meant all changable Church-Governments and she wil have a Crown of twelve Stars on her head which is to be understood the new Jerusalems Church cloathed with Christs righteousnesse and the twelve Stars are the twelve Patriarchs or Apostolical Rulers Rev. 21.11 12 13 14. And Christs promise then wil be fulfilled to his twelve Apostles when he was with them on the Earth that they should be head in chief over the twelve Tribes of Israel and the fulnesse of the Gentiles brought in and the Jewes called then the kingdom wil be at this immediate time restored again to Israel and all the kingdoms of the earth wil be under the glorious government of Jesus Christ and the foure beasts and the four and twenty Elders wil cast downe their Crowns before the Lamb that sitteth on the throne praising God Rev. 4. By the four Beasts we may understand the four Monarchies or head ruling powers that have been already broken to pieces and brought to their former beginnings of nothing againe when their corruptions were growne ripe By the 24. Elders are to be understood 12. natural Patriarchal Judges under the Law for Temporals under a natural Head a King and 12. Apostolical Spiritual Bishops over the Church under their spiritual Father the Head of the Church the Judges of late years have turned judgment for the poore widow and fatherlesse into wormwood and gall Hos 10.3 4 7. Amos 6.12 Though the temporal Father of the State be now cut off and cast out for the corruption and bribing partiality of the Judges and the Judges held in at this present but not without great corruption and God hath so severely dealt with the spiritual Father and all his Houshold to cut off the Head and cast out the body but look what Peter saith 1 Pet. 4.17 But the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God If it first begin at us what shall be the end of them that obey not the Gospel of God Wherefore let them that suffer now according to the will of God commit their soules unto him in all well doing as unto a faithful Creator Look what Ieremiah saith Chap. 23. v. 3 4. Though it hath befel so with our Church of late yeares and although God hath suffered his people to be thus scattered Yet they shall be brought again to their folds and he will set up Shepherds over them which shall feed them and they shall dread no more nor be afraid neither shall any of them be lacking saith the Lord. Behold saith the Lord the dayes shal come that I wil raise unto David a righteous branch and a King shal reign and prosper and execute judgement and justice in the earth Jer. 23.5 And Dan. 2.44 That God wil restore to us Shepherds for the Church and an Apostolical discipled order above them under a High Priest Even so his promise is to restore to us a true stock of Judges under a temporal Head their true borne King In his dayes Judah shal bee saved and Israel shal dwel safely Zeph. 3.9 In those dayes surely saith the Lord I wil turne to the people a pure language that they may call upon the name of the Lord and serve him with one consent And all powers wil be broken to pieces and the Heathen shal be smitten by that sharp sword which proceedeth out of the mouth of God And he according to his promise will rule the Heathen with an iron rod for he it is that treadeth the winepresse of the fierconesse of the wrath of God Psal 2.9 Rev. 2.27 Rev. 19.15 Then wil that time be that the swords shal be broken into plow-shares and the spears into pruning-hooks and Nations shal have no more cause to lift themselves up one against another in warlike manner Wherefore I intreat your Highnesse and your wisest Counsel for the Lords sake that you wil make no delay but speedily with all expedition chuse such a number by election and holy ordination that is laid down a perfect rule from the Scriptures and a command from God and try them by spiritual war against all Sects and self-opinions and they wil bring the Church out of her wildernesse and widowhood-condition not onely of all danger of being brought into danger again but also through these red seas of bloody wars which have been maintaned under the pretence of Religion but contrary to Christs command or Gospel-rule Likewise they wil cause these feigned Rivers of Iordan to be dried up that all the Israel of God may come unto one united spiritual Canaans peace within the Harbour or Suburbs of the new Ierusalem to make us all Citizens of that place which Saint Iohn saw in his Vision to have twelve gates and at the gates twelve
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 pitchâ—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
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
onely cause of the controversies between King and Parliament was first pretended to raise up the Protestants against the Papists some of the Protestants which were ticed to begin these late wars but contrary to Christs command and Gospel-rule or the Apostles doctrine to erect Christs Church by unnatural bloody war therefore God suffered the Spirit of division to arise among themselves and to leave the Papists standing and like unnatural brethren they have ruinated themselves I mean the Protestant Church and all her governments and the High-Priest and all that Apostolical Discipled houshold cast out for their corruption when it was grown to a ripe head much like unto Ely as a judgement from the Lord 1 Sam. 4. All this came to passe by being carried on by the pretence of a religious reformation but God suffered the instruments of his wrath to pluck the Protestant Church government to pieces when it was so old that it could stand no longer The chief workmen that did begin it wear covetous and new fangled Teachers whose Religion hath long time hanged on the deceiving hinges of strange opinions These things have been so far from plucking the Church of Rome down that they have given many great causes for it to stand firmer then it did before and to cause many to cleave to their Church The Church of Rome as she now standeth will fall but that must be done by love and a spiritual war as followeth And as the late several chosen Parliaments were Axes and Sawes to hew down and part a sunder corrupted governments So God hath ordained and put your Highnesse chief now in power to build up and joyne both for Church and State all things in better order then they were before this many hundered years therefore take the founders and builders of the first Jewish and Christian Churches for your example The way to raise up Davids fallen Tabernacle If fire have burned houses and good food hath surfeited mens bodies for want of being carefully used shall we never use fire or food more for the former abuse of them Truly my Lord it is a fit comparison for these things as in the dayes of old Amos 9. HAving now declared the renting and dividing of Christs seamlesse garment my task is now to shew your Highnesse how to raise up the Churchs ruines and build it up as in the days of old therefore take the founders of the Jewish and Christian Churces for your example First my Lord you must set up a Patriarchal and Apostolical true reformed Episcopal order twelve Patriarchs under the Law twelve Apostles under the Gospel the twelve Founders Bishops and Rulers of the Church under one Spiritual head Christ Jesus As Abraham and Sarah are called the Father and Mother of all the Faithful so Christ in God is called the Father the true Church the Mother called the City or new Jerusalem that is to be sent down from heaven Rev. 21.10 which City or new Jerusalem Saint Iohn saw to have twelve gates and at the gates twelve Angels that is Bishops Rev. 3. to the Angels of the seven Churches of Asia that is the Bishops of the seven Churches and the names written therein of the twelve Tribes of Israel whose glory God caused to shine like pretious stones Rev. 21.11 12 14. And the wall of the City had twelve foundations and in them the names of the Lambs twelve Apostles which twelve Apostles were twelve Bishops as appears Acts 1.20 let another take his Bishoprick Psal 69.25 and Psal 109.8 there was such a necessity of twelve in chiefe that Christs Ministry could not be carried on after Iudas his fall without that number Act. 1.25 Isai 63.11 16. Abraham in a typical way signifies God the Father Isaac is the figure of Christ Rebeccah is the espoused Church of Christ Iacob is a representation of the Holy Ghost the which holy Ghost or Iacob must beget twelve Patriarchs or twelve Apostles which were the Founders Bishops and Fathers under God in Christ of the old Ierusalem Iewish and Christian and must be of the new Ierusalem which is to come So likewise when Ioshuah was about to enter Canaan the Lord caused him to chuse twelve men out of every several Tribe a man to bear twelve stones before the Ark thorough Iordan and to take them where the Priests feet stood firm which stones they were to set up for 12 pillars in Gilgal and he set up twelve more in the midst of Iordan in the place where the Priests feet stood that bare the Ark of Gods covenant Ioshua 4. which 12 pillars being set up in natural Canaan for a memorial of the dividing of Iordan and being carried on the shoulders of 12 several men out of every Tribe a man under the Law as soon as they came to enter natural Canaan Signifieth the twelve chief pillars of Christs Church which are to be the head Founders of the new Ierusalem Rev. 21.14 which must and will be set up when we are at the entrance of a spiritual Canaans peace All Scriptures are written for our instruction and they speak of things past onely to tell us what should be done now as figures and types of things to come But happily it may be objected against what I have said that there were 13 Patriarchs and 13 Apostles 'T is true Iacob and his 12 sons were 13 and a little before his death he received Iosephs sons by laying on of hands to be as his sons in his and Iosephs place to make for his 12 Tribes 13 heads fathers of which Iudah was chiefe in that he brought forth Christ So likewise Christ first chose 12 to be head spiritual fathers of the 12 spiritual Tribes to make them one body under him the head Acts 1. After Christs death resurrection and ascension before the holy Ghost was come downe to give them the fulnesse of their power and gifts the number was made 12. Acts 1. after Judas fall but after the holy Ghost was come down to carry them on in their work when they began to be persecuted and scattered it pleased God to convert Paul even their greatest persecutor and furiousest enemy and to make them 13 Apostles Peter being the head in Christs Church and by his command to feed his Lambs and sheep thrice to whom Christ committed the keys of Davids Tabernacle or heaven to bind or loose things either in heaven or earth he being head the body were 12. Besides here in England following that example at one time as Chronicles shew there were 24 Bishops under two high Priests or Archbishops Your Highnesse must likewise remember that besides this Apostolical order you must set up a Discipled order of 70. both which Orders I shal prove first under the law secondly under the Gospel Your Highnesse ought to remember the Law which gave to Moses to instruct you what to do to be as it were a School Master who when he found the government for Church affairs too
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 â—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 â—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 Manasseâ— 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
the three and my Talent was to shew first the Church-government And after in my ficknesse the Angel revealed to mee againe how that all Countries would rise in a triumphing manner with all sorts of Musick and so come up to London with great joy to establish the King and overthrow all the enemies of Christ and his Gospel and cast them out of power and then all sword-powers would begin here to cease and as a pattern other Nations should follow I should have spoken of the manner of the sicknesse and more of Gods great goodnesse to me but for brevity-sake I end with praises to God The reason why God suffered the two two black Fiends to accuse me for the groat as I wronged my Masters horses of their allowance gave me warning after for ever wronging my fellow servants more if it should lie in my power after As much it signified and breatned to any that either are have been past or shal be for time to come put in power above men to be Rulers either in Church or State if they wrong defraud or smite with the fists of iniquity Matth. 24. They that doe so without repentance to God and restoration to man like Zacheus God and their own conscience will finde them out and Satan wil bring bils of indictment in this life or after For we have all one Maste in Heaven Satans transforming himselfe into a glorious shape and perswading me to renounce my infant-baptism and the feigned apparition of Jacobs Ladder signified all Sects and self-opinions that are tempted by Satan to renounce their infant-baptism to go after the feigned River of Jordan perswading others to follow their steps up Jacobs Ladder which is not the true way to Heaven Therefore as Christ saith Neitherbeleeve nor follow them Matth. 24. A short description of some of my great Troubles AFter the first Apparitions Revelations Temptations and Visions that the Lord bad made knowne unto me his unworthy servant many of his secret determined intents which suddenly were to befal the King and Parliament both Church and State and a meanes how it might have been prevented and a true peace setled if they would but have denied their own corrupt wayes to have imbraced Gods wayes And further when the word of the Lord came first unto me by his holy Angel to cause me to goe on Gods message first to the King and then to the Parliament to declare Godâ— mind unto both parties as I have shewed before and what great troubles I must undergoe by crosses imprisonment violence from my nearest friends losse of goods if I refused to goe at first to displease them yet after many troubles I must goe at last When God had restored me to health and strength of body again after my sicknesse through my friends perswasion I left Gods message undone and cast his will behind my back but many times I should talk of it to many of my friends and others telling them in what manner God had appeared to me and what a charge was laid upon me from God to presse me on to discharge my conscience I oftentimes speaking of it with griefe but they most of them would be stil perswading me that it was a temptation of Satan and his delusions and would bee arguing much with mee that in these dayes God did not appeare by either apparitions visions or revelations saying those things were now ceased Thus their perswasion wrought upon mee by Satans temptation to let Gods work alone for the space of above three years In this time I had some great troubles The first of them was when I thought I should have been married to a Neighbours daughter as lived neere my Masters dwelling one of a good portion and parentage Shee was my first love being made sure one to another by strong promises in the way of contract between our selves it was broke by false pretended friends and so parted I looked upon it no other way then this I was assured that God did cause my proceedings in the world to be crost because I had not been obedient to what I was commanded of Gods holy Angel and confirmed by sure signes Within the compasse of a year after I was married to another rich mans daughter of my own trade being set up to follow the calling of an Ironmonger at Hales Owen five miles from Brimingham lived peaceably with my Wife kept neer 60. Nailors at work to make iron ware I kept great trading and many horses to send ware up unto other Countries for to serve whole sale to many Chapmen In this time I had many troubles and losses which if I should lay them down in particular what I had before I was forced by God to goe on his message and those as I have endured since in the manner as they have befel me and Gods mercy to me in delivering and preserving me from one time to another in no ordinary way but in a miraculous way the like was scarce ever heard of by any if I should put them in a Book it would be larger then could be read in the lengest day in the year and yet all true and good reading to shew the wrongs as I have endured by my neerest friends and she that was my Wife with some of her friends and many more which before I went on Gods message shewed great love towards me but when I went on purpose to the King when Colonel Graves was his Keeper at Holmby they were all great friends but after profest enemies against me by Satans malice to wrong me in the highest degrees that ever was heard of by any man in such nature since the world began not onely once or twice but several times in several yeares yet I praise God I can speak it with a good conscience in the sight of God and man that there is none of my greatest enemies can say upon truth neither wil they I believe that I in all my troubles as I have undergone I ever wronged man woman or child willingly not so much as to use any extremity against any of my greatest enemies but stil committing all to God and praying for my greatest enemies which are sure fignes and strong testimonies to all that know me that I have been all this while guided preserved and carried on by a miraculous providence of Gods holy spirit First when I went to speak with the King Colonel Graves was his Keeper at Holmby I being compelled by God to leave all and goe to foretel King Charles what would suddenly befal him if such things were not done as the Lord had shewed me concerning his agreeing with the Parliament to erect and set up the true Religion of Jesus Christ in the good old way and that the Magistracy should be as a wall to the true Ministry I having these things in my breast to declare to the Kings own person by word of mouth I comming very neer to the Kings Majesty being at bowles that day at Boulten Court two
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 Hâ—sâ—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
be eased of my burden the spirit of God compelled me to goe to Colonel Barkestead the Lieutenant of the Tower to tel him Gods decree was so gone out against them for their covetousnesse injustice and division and to prefigure it by a Vision and a Revelation which I had seen before concerning a white wand and a bunch of filk colours which were green red yellow and black and to tel him the meaning of it by the appointment of God These things he cannot chuse but witnesse at this very day Then I returned toward Warwickshire again and testified the same in many other places and at Brimingham several Market dayes in a strange manner to the admiration of all that saw me and griefe to my friends and kindred after the flesh and the greatest griefe and terror of all was to my selfe because I was compelled by the dictates of Gods holy spirit to do it And that very day that the Parliament was dissolved being Monday morning I was caused by the spirit of God to goe from Harburn to Brimingham which is two miles to my great terrour and griefe God is a witnesse against me if I lie and to hire the widow Westwoods son to goe with me to carry my best wearing cloathes for mee and I was commanded of God to wear old cloaths and old shooes to Brimingham Townes end and there to put my shooes off my feet rent some seames of the old garments as I wore and take a Carpenters Rule in my hand the young man carrying my best raiment and old shooes before me I making proclamation by the power of God and his great Parliament of Heaven and saying thus If you should see Ezekiel measuring the Town with a Rule or seething a pot and skimming off the skum and nothing but water in it or the holy men of God put off their shooes or renting their garments though the thing were commanded of God by them now as it hath formerly been yet you would think they were mad as the Jewes thought by Paul so I know you think by me but it will be known otherwise The Carpenters Rule that I had in my hand was to signifie that Parliaments time of fitting was measured out to fit no longer Then the seames of some of my old garments being rent was to signifie their renting and tearing by division The putting the old â—â—ooes off my feet I told them signified that they must cast off their old natural sinful affections from their hearts and factious seditious ways that their hearts might be made good ground and they to become members of the true holy Church of God which is hated by them The cause of my speaking of Ezechiels seething pot to be skummed off I told them was the skum of factious members of the Parliament-house that were against Ministers and Church-government were then cast out of power Yet said I the flesh and bones are left stil and we shall not suddenly be eased of Taxes that oppresse the poor and how that the power would be under one head suddenly much like the power of a King but not a King which meant the Lord Protector After all these things were ended and done by the command of God by me his most unworthy servant John Saunders I call God to witnesse I would not have been hired to have done the like for a hundred pound then nor would not now in a counterfeit way or manner I never did the like before some hypocritical people said I counterfeited and many pharisaical people that say Prophecying Visions and Revelations are ceased counted me a mad man I praise God for those things either dissembling counterfeiting or natural madness I have been alwayes free from Then when these things were ended I went and put on my better cloathing and refreshed my body by eating and drinking I walked in the Towne civilly in those places where I had made those speeches desiring many of the honest civil people which I knew that they should not judge me distracted or any other thing else for those words of wonder or strange postures which I spake of and did For I told them I did nothing but what I had a command from God and was bound in the spirit thus to doe yet I was no Ranter or Quaker or strange Opinionist and that you shal know by a good testimony shortly if you take notice of it what I said and did at this time or any other past but more especially this strange manner of that I now did which you condemn me to be mad for doing But within few dayes after I was thrown into Warwick Gaole by Satans malice and false witnesse for brevity-sake at this time I wil forbear describing the manner of it I pray God forgive the instruments of that misery for there I had lamentable misery about 30. dayes or else suddenly I had come to the Lord Protector and Councel of State but after I was at liberty I did come suddenly after the Lieutenant of the Tower knoweth it wel and siince the last Sommer I went into Ireland and wrote Letters unto Colonel Barkstead and came to him several times as the beginning of the Book sheweth On New-yeares day in the morning 1654 in my sleep I saw a Vision I being in London Me thought I saw a great party of Parliament horse drawed out of London going up Hoiborn Vxbridge Road and the Trumpets founding a very sad solemn march as they went I knowing one of them that was a souldier I called to him and asked him what was the cause of their going out so speedily with such a great party He told me they did hear the King had a great Army Vxbridge road coming toward London and they went out to meet them and give them battel I asked him what number the Parliament horse were He told me 7000. but the other J heard were many more Me thoughts I would goe along with them to see them goe out of London and I was very sorry to think of so many of those gallant men that would be slain I overtaking the forefront of them and before they were marched to Hide Park I saw many men come running with speed fromward Whitehall with long white poles and they were measuring the Land back again as was taken away by the late War from the King the which being done to me signified peace betweene the Lord Protector and the King So I awaked with much gladnesse praising God that he had sent his Angel to shew me these things Many more Visious I have had lately to this effect On the 14. of February 1654. being Wednesday in the beginning of the night before I slept I being perfectly awake saw as it were in an apparition the beginning of a work of new building in London for reformation of Church and State A few nights after in February I saw another Vision I thought my selfe in Warwickshire at a place called Tanworth Parish and I saw as I was walking over a piece of hard poore land the bravest hopeful green grasse springing and young corne and hearbs in that barren land all which gives me great testimonies of the Kings and Lord Protectors agreement that peace may be established in truth and grace may abound and grow for the true nourishment of the Church The first day of March in ths morning I had another Vision how that there was a great plot or net lay for the Lord Protector concerning the Kings land In the Kings ground I saw an apparition of one that told me by an audible voice of it And I saw an apparition like a great net to catch the Lord Protector I was compelled by the dictates of God to write a letter concerning it and carry it to the Lieutenant of the Tower The tenth of March the dictates of Gods spirit caused me to write another letter and carry it to the Tower which if they did take notice of it gave them warning of the rising of men in several Counties suddenly upon it Plotting is not of God nor never will doe the King or any of his friends good FINIS