have proved admit of any other King Lord Protector or Lawgiver to ravish us with their lusts God forbid Wherefore for Christs sake stand fast unmoveable and abounding in the work of the Lord 1 Cor. 15.58 and I do professe for my own part seeing the Lord hath honoured me hitherto with this Chain for this his Cause though I be a poore weake worm yet with his grace sufficient for me I will abide by it for as one of the Martyrs often used Vespasians saying Imperatorem decet stantem mori It becomes as that are Kings and Priests to God Rev. 5.10 to dye standing not stooping to the lust of any man especially now the day of Christ is come Therefore let us all fall in and on and stand to it with the Lamb and the twenty four Elders or the twenty four orders of the Levites about the throne in this Cause by which tribe of Levi are indeed to be understood the Generation Saints the first-born Heb. 12.23 first fruits Rev. 14.4 and therefore have they the precedency of other Saints as Generation Elders who like the Levites before under a curse Gen. 49.7 obtained the blessing for executing the judgment Exod. 32.27 28 29. with the sword on their brethren and spared not Now of these in Davids dayes were the twenty foure both Rulers Singers and Ministers 1 Chron. 29.25 So that such such Generation Saints the twenty foure shall joyn in one work and song with the Lamb and with all the living creatures about the Throne and with the holy Angels Rev. 4.9 10 11. and 5.11 and altogether in one Hallelujah Amen as Isa 52.7 8. which he waites for who is buried with the body of Jesus in this new Sepulchre where the souldiers seek to keep down his Resurrection and the hope of your Brother John Rogers Morning-beams OR The Vision of the Prison-Pathmos LIB I. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 CHAP. I. Hagah The Introduction with the Cause Accidental of the following Discourse upon the present Truth and Testimony IT is none of the least part of our Prison-Threnodies in the present Tragedie which the bloody BEAST by a new Guize hath acted again upon the Stage of Great Britanny The general Introduction by Lamentation the trampling under foot the present Truth and Testimony of Jesus in this last Scene of the holy Citie 's suffering as I may say for the fourty two months so as that scarce one Interpreter of a thousand durst entertain or own it simply which at best hath but a Pasport from Many and so is whip'd away from one to another from post to pillar till it come to the place where it was born but there it hath a being blessed be Jehovah else it is hardly handled according to the Court-Law for a Vagrant with Warrants like to Pope Engenius's hoc esse verum si ipse velit sed non aliter This or that is true if he his Holiness or Highness will have it so but not otherwise Who then can finde the faith or conrage to expose his life or at least his liberty and estate to so prodigal 2 Hazard as he must do who will fetch it from under the Beast's foot and feel the acrimony or cruelty of his sharp clunch claw or horn piercing him to the very heart O this is as hard a task in a sense as to rescue the Lamb from the claw of the Lion or paw of the Bear Therefore Isa 59.4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 There is none that passeth his word for righteousness nor is there any judgement for the Truth O sad 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what not one Well may our Prisons sound and resound with exaggerated Nightgroans for the Court and Country increase in lying and transgressing and falling backwards perpetrating iniquity at so high a rate as will suddenly fill up their measure this I see evidently from my Iron bars as v. 13 14 15 16. and yet None intercede for the Truth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not one will run after it follow it meet it or to the face of All own it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 O what a Lamentation is this If one doth like Wisdom's child a little justifie it yet where is he that doth according to the Hebrew intercedere intercedens for he that doth so as it is in the text exposes himself to be spoiled plundered imprisoned made a prey to the ravenous Beast that eats bones and all Zeph. 3.2 Yea although he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that departs from the evil of the Times is sure to suffer so yet for all that it is a Wonder to me how we can hold in to see what officious servants Charles Stuart this Court or any carnal Interest have to run and ride on their Errands to venture and engage life liberty limbs estates and all for them and their Interest but the Lord Jesus ah alas as if he were the worst Master of all can finde few faithful that will venture half so far for him and his suffering Cause at this day especially perpending the point of Time the progress of the Testimony the approach of the Period of the Beast's dominion in this street of the fourty two months and of the rise of the Witnesses with the little Stone or the remnant of the Womans seed who must strike the Image-Government of England all to pieces the terrible Earthquake which shall rend them up by the very roots Also when I advert the advantages of the Saints in this street above any other of all the great City or Beasts dominion the forwardness of the Work here the height of the Controversie already between the Lamb and the Beast precious blood of Saints having seal'd thereto and the Vials so lately pour'd out upon the King Lords Prelates and corrupt Powers of this Seat also our late zeal against Common-prayer Crosses Painted Windows Rails Surplices corrupt Ministers Magistrates and the like O! my soul even bleeds within me to behold the present apostacie of Spirit Principles and Persons not onely among Mercenary Professors but the Little Remnant whose Coldness Cowardliness and Carelesness is almost incredible at this time of Day too and were it not to fulfil the Word of God Rev. 11. that this present Death and Darkness is upon us for these three yeers and an half I should be so astonished at it as not to know what to make of it But when I am venting my burthen with these like words or passions Lord where is the Spirit of old yea the Spirit and faith and courage that we our selves had some ten twelve or fourteen years ago among the good old Puritans yea the spirit of English-men and rational men among us O! what a Change is this What sheepishness what sleepiness what deadness what darkness what timorousness and what tameness is now seized upon us The Light arising in Darkness doth put an end to such Reasonings and Syllogizings giving rest to my Spirit till the time of the end which is at
assurance 8. All temptations removed and the way cleared with many sweet promises 8. To name no more I was somewhat dejected yet not so as to despond or doubt of assistance to see the most tremendous and dreadful wrath of God which is to begin within 2 or 3 yeers upon this Apostate generation to pass before me some temptation seiz'd upon me through self-diffidence and bodily distemper as at the apprehension of the inextricacie depth and incomprehensiveness of those deep Prophecies which I have to ferry over or pass thorow wherein so many more Able have sunk and faâ—len before me so at the fierce looks bellowing threats and atrocity of the Beast now up in England who will not be able to bear the Tidings of his Destruction But as the first part of the temptation was obviated and deforced by the former promises so the other by what follows For this morning being the 18 of the 10 m. to make all the way clear a full Commission was given me and Quietus est sign'd and sent to me thus First I saw in my sleep a great Dragon of large size with very large outstretched wings very lively red fire-sparkling gogling eyes and most terribly furious at his mouth and violent in his claws with long fierce talons but it was given me to believe he should not hurt me and I thought I feared him not Soon after I saw I thought a Tree full of Dragons with large wings and claws some 5 or 6 upon the tree having big rolling eyes but I did not fear them and before I awaked I thought I saw all them dead and no more able to hurt then painted ones or pictures of Dragons I speak not this to take notice of a Dream but of the effect for when I awaked my spirit was full and my break-fast very sweet and consulting as I use to do Many Objections made answered as soon as ever my eyes were opened with the Lord I was bid to be Up and doing without more delay by a sudden and strong impulse of spirit Object Yet I objected But Lord though I have a Call from circumstances and Saints c. yet what have I from the Scriptures Answ Then came into my minde tumbling abundance of Scriptures and Promises one upon another as Isai 35.3 4. and those I mentioned before so also Isai 40.1 2. Comfort ye comfort ye my people saith the Lord tell her her warfare is accomplished her iniquity pardoned c. The voice of him that prepareth is come cry All flesh is grass all withereth because the Spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it Yea that of Luk. 22.32 was flung in forcibly upon my Spirit But I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not so that when thou art converted strengthen thy brother with abundance more Object But I objected further What particular Call have I who am in prison to publish to the world any thing that reflects so sharply upon the present Powers Persons Armies or the like Answ But that of Jam. 5.10 pearch'd upon me in that point immediately Take the prophets who have spoken in the name of the Lord for an example c. for they feared not in or out of prison the powers or persons of Kings or the like So 2 Pet. 1.21 Holy men wrote and spake as they were inspired or moved by the Spirit and therefore begin by faith as they did and I will be with you because all true Scriptures or writings are first given by inspiration 2 Tim. 3.16 Ah then said I Lord let me have this Anointing all the way both in the passive and active part of this Testimony Object But I fell upon my unfitness fewness of yeers smalness of light shallowness of judgment weakness of faith the like Answ but was presently silenced with Gods words to Moses and Jeremiah suggested unto me Exod. 4.11 Who made man's mouth and the dumb to speak the deaf to hear or the blinde to see did not I the Lord So Jer. 1.6 7. Say not I am a childe for what I command thee thou shalt speak and write abroad and be not afraid of their faces for I am with thee to deliver thee saith the Lord. Do not I the Lord take when where and whom I will and give of my Spirit power and ability to whom I will Now therefore arise and my Spirit shall be with thee the Pen of a ready writer with which word my very heart did exult and leap within me being as full as I could hold But Lord said I What is it that I must write what message shall thy poor worm have for the world When presently The Message in the bulk before I ask'd almost much fell upon me at once The day of the Lord is at hand it is his day the day of his wrath of his vengeance and of great destruction upon the inhabitants of this world upon this land upon these Apostates and adulterous generation of evil doers for they are all turn'd aside Blood cryeth unto blood and the earth shall cover her slain no more The Witnesses shall up upon their feet and the remnant of the Womans seed do wondrous things for by the spirit of Eliah they shall restore all again Magistracie and Ministery as at the first and recover the holy City from the Gentiles that have trod it under this 42 m. They shall assault the great City and climb up the wall like men of war they shall pour out the Vials upon the powers Priests and Armies of the Beast and on all his Dominion and execute the vengeance on all his Worshippers and irrefragable Supporters Subjects and Followers that have his name or mark upon their Foreheads yea the Earthquake shall rend them up by the very roots and the Little Stone strike them up by the very toes and none shall save them from the wrath of the Lamb that is come Object But ah Lord said I These men in power hast not thou owned in the field at Nazeby Dunbar Worcester and wilt thou now reject them Answ Upon which fell these Scriptures together upon me Isai 10. Shall the Ax boast it self against him that heweth therewith or the Saw magnifie it self against him that shaketh it As if the Rod should shake it self against them that lift it up or as if the Staff should lift up it self as if it were no wood Therefore shall the Lord Jehovah of Armies send among his fat ones leanness and under his glory kindle a burning like the burning of a fire And the light of Israel shall be for a Fire and his holy One for a Flame which shall burn and devour his thorns and his briers all in one day Besides this that of Jer. 18.9 10. At the instant that I shall speak concerning a nation and a kingdom to build and to plant it if it do evil in my sight and obey not my voice then will I repent of the good wherewith I said I would benefit them
But especially that of Jer. Tell Coniah were he as a signet upon my right hand yet would I pluck him thence and give him into the hand of them that seek him With these things I was satisfied and flesh was silenc'd and Faith so supported supplied and well raised that I fell forthwith upon this Work by faith and prayer in the Name of the Lord which is to beat out into the leaf the Message which I have received in the lump Wherein according to my illumination I must desire leave to differ from many of our dear brethren whom I highly honour that have put us and the present Work at too great a distance having sent it to Germany or to other places from whence it being sent back again to us into Great Britanny as I can shew by Letters from forreign parts where I hold correspondence with the choicest Lights who see the rising of the Witnesses and ruine of the Beasts dominion in this our street first I must crave leave to minister my Lâ—ght and Opinion upon the ensâ—ing Subject without giving offence to any whom I differ from whose light in other things I esteem above my own or rather that measure of the Lord's which I must thankfully and with due honour to them esteem as of great use and advantage to us in this Treatise of the Two Witnesses the Lamb's Government in Ecclesiastical Military and Civil Sanction and the Beast's dominion Thus far for the Call to it It may be I may be judg'd none of the Wisest to make so much ado in the Entry of the Discourse We accounted Fools Mad men and how we are so to make so much ado in the Entry of the Discourse and to tell such a Story of my Call to this Treatise which few men will heed or hear Notwithstanding it is not labour lost for one may learn wisdom by looking upon a Fool and indeed I do grant that I am instructed and study it every day more and more to be and speak like them whom the Wise-men of the Times repute Fools i. e. in all plainness simplicity and experimental language and not in the wisdom of words or Arts as the World would have us 1 Cor. 2.4 I have studied to be wife as well as others but now I am learning to be a Fool which none will look after because such are the Lord's instruments and by such he will confound the wisdom of the Wise and the great ones of the World 1 Cor. 1.27 Isai 29.14 So Rom. 10.19 I will provoke you by them that are no people by a Foolish nation I will anger you Yea such Asses and Ideots as we are by grace the King of Saints shall ride upon into his Throne for as one says Asinos Ideotas Christus eligit c. And indeed I write to and for such Fools and not to the Wise whose wisdom will perish 1 Cor. 1.20 1. Cor. 4.10 nor yet to them that profess themselves wise Rom. 1.22 or are so in their own eyes Rom. 26.12 for there is more hopes of fools then of them But to such fools whom Jehovah hath made promise to Isai 35.8 that they shall not erre in the way I write for so the Prophet is a fool and the spiritual man is mad so accounted at this day And who but such Mad-men and Fools in the worlds opinion would oppose Powers Armies Kings Councels Priests Lawyers or the reigning Corruptions of the raging Beast as they do who but they will run their lives liberties estates c. into such apparent hazard or who but Fools would despise Preferments and Places 200 300 or 1000 l. a year and tread gold and silver under their feet at this day Who be they but Fools or Mad-men that dare be so bold against great persons c. as to utter all their minde at once though they die for it Prov. 29.11 who but such will be medling so Prov. 20.3 who but Fools Mad-men that will venture with a Gideon-Army of 300 against an Army of 30 or 40 or 100000 men and who but Fools that build upon things not seen Heb. 11.1 nor likely in reason to come to pass as if they were already present who but they that look on the ends of the earth Prov. 17.24 Yet among these Fools for Christ's sake I am content to be numbered and for such Fools and Mad-men I calculate and inculcate the ensuing Discourse so that as the Apostle says 2 Cor. 11.21 Wherein any is bold I speak foolishly I am bold also Therefore let our Wise-enemies at Court or in Country give me leave for once to speak like a fool without stirring up their anger seeing as Paul says 2 Cor. 11.19 Ye suffer Fools gladly not angrily seeing you your solves are wise Therefore expect no excellencie of speech from me for that becometh not a fool says Solomon Prov. 17.7 whose mediocriter is optime nor any flattering Titles to men for that is left to wise Parasites and Favourites who study the Alphabet of Great mens dispositions Job 32.22 which Fools do not but as Solomon says Eccles 20.12 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the graces of fools are presently poured out And such Fools and Mad-men we shall be by the grace of our God though they bray us in a mâ—rter Prov. 27.22 And if the Wisdom of Solomon were not all Apocrypha at Court I might put them in minde of Chap. 5.1 4. The righteous shall stand in great boldness before the face of him that hath afflicted him and made no account of his labours then they say This is he whom sometimes we had a derision with a proverb of a reproach we fools accounted his life madness and his end to be without honour but he is numbered among the children of God and his lot is among the Saints Therefore you that are wise will be more solid sure then to be troubled at what we fools say to put us into prison or to have us in derision as you have seeing it is so unnatural to laugh at a Natural and the high-way to become such Therefore for shame take not such counsel as ye do how to deal with a fool or mad-man as you say I am who surely should not offend the wise if he play the fool but such a Fool I confess I am as wants and therefore waits for wisdom of God or more of that which you count Foolishness and if it pleaseth God to discover the present Truth by me unto any it is of meer grace because it pleaseth him to shew his strength by weak ones and his wisdom by fools and so take it ye wise menâ— yet it may be some of the best wisdom may drop from these lines seeing many have been the wise speeches of Fools though nothing so many as the foolish speeches of the Wise But thus I have paved the ground to lay a Foundation in clearing my Call and Encouragement to proceed let it cost me ever so deat
JEGAR-SAHADVTHA AN OYLED PILLAR Set up for Posterity Against the present Wickednesses Hypocrisies Blasphemies Persecutions and Cruelties of this Serpent power now up in England the Our-Street of the Beast Or a HEART APPEALE to HEAVEN and EARTH broken out of Bonds and Banishment at last in a Relation of some part of the past and present Sufferings of JOHN ROGERS in close Prison and continued Banishment for the most blessed Cause and Testimony of JESVS the sound of the Seventh Trumpet and the Gospel of the seven Thunders or holy Oracles called rayling by them in Power sealed up to the time of the End From Carisbrook Castle in the third Year of my Captivity the Fifth-Prison and the third in Exile having been hurried about from post to pillar Quia perdere nolo substantiam propter Accidentia Gen. 31.36 37. What is my trespasse What is my sin that thou hast so hotly persued after me Set it here before my Bretheren and thy Brethren that they may judge betwixt us both Lam. 4.3 The very Sea-monster or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tannin the old Serpent drawn out the Breast they suckle their young ones or Protected ones from the root 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 gur he sojourned with or dwelt under the daughter of my people to a cruell one as the Ostritch in the Wildernesse Lam. 3.52 53 55. Mine enemies have hunted hunting me like a Sparrow without Cause or grace of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 chen they have cut off my dayes in the dungeon and cast a stone upon me I called upon thy name O Jehovah out of the under dungeon Non Vindictâ sed Victoriâ The poore Prisoner Pilgrime and Exile in Caines-br-Castle from the top of Amana the top of Shenir and Hermon from the Lions dens from the Mountains of the Leopards To all his fellow-Citizens in Sion and fellow-separates out of Babylon and to such as are not ashamed of our Chaine especially in that Church society whereof the Holy Ghost hath made him an Overseer Christians Readers Friends and Brethren COuld the trumpet talking with mee be heard with you the distinct sound to all of us as one would be come hither but oh how few can heare it heare it or receive it If you be our fellow waiters or Witnesses of the Kingdome of Christ at hand then I may say of each of you as of Joseph Luk. 22.50 51. He was a good man and a just the same had not consented to the counsell and deed of them that persecuted Christ for he waited also for the Kingdome of God But oh how many have acted or at least consented with the sins of this Generation and how many are monstruously and most wilfully ignorant of this Kingdome which we suffer and wait for in the new world yea libenter ignorantur liberius peccant they had rather be ignorant then in the pure light thereof to loose the great things of this wicked world or their great lusts which they must do that follow the Lamb ly with the 24. Rev. 4 5. about the Throne or look to rise and reign with him on earth in the thousand years the glory of which state I have at large delineated as the most lucid florid Dogmaticall Discovery of this day in my first Treat called Prison-born Morning beams if it be in being demonstrating the truth as all the Orthognomones orthodox professors and Preachers maintained it in primitive times the Woman or true Church travelling with this Male-childe leaping in the womb of her till she brought it forth spight of the Dragon power that persecuted it Rev. 12.2 3 5. Who was to rule all Nations but the Beast hindred and he was caught up unto God and the poore Woman fled into the wildernesse for 1260. dayes or the 42. monthes the period of which is upon us It seems this Doctrine of the reigne of Christ on Earth had at the birth thereof a most noble reception both of the Christians or few excepted Valentinian Jovinian and others as I have proved in that Treatise being Chronicled or Millenaâ—ieâ— or the reign of Christ on Earth and this continued indubitable till Pope Damaâ—us by the means of Jerome Gaius and others got it anotomatized Now we do expect this Man-childe to come down again and to take his great power and reigne and the Woman with her seed to come out of their Caves for which prophesie according to the comments of the little Book Rev. 10.11 Is it that I am bound with these bonds and banishment where I have been hitherto these two years beholding the terrible things that are a comming upon the World and heaing the contents of the seven thunders which John in Pathmos was bid to seal up as also was declared to Daniel cap. 12.4 9. should be sealed and shut up tiâ—l these times and notwithstanding I understand but little for mulâ—ò plura nescio quam scio as Aug. sayes yet so much I understand and will assert it in the Lord and his truth with mee that as some are wilfully ignorant of this great Gospel-Mystery of the Kingly Office of Christ which we contend for so others are most brutishly ignorant thereof for want of a thorough search into the Prophesies and Scriptures especially the common and carnall Clergy ond Rulers and so they persecute and speak evill of they know not what and that most impudently too and with very uncivill courtship inventing and deposing principles for us which our soules abhor and then rendring us odious to the poor people upon conclusions and deductions of their own making and composing But this I professe before the Lord that as I desire nothing more than a Christian conuiction out of the word of God in the spirit power and authority of the Lord where ever it shall light so I see plainly that our enemies are as much afraid of that weapon as ever were the Papists or Prelates and therefore with them do fly to the force fury and violence sword and fire persecuting oppressing plundering imprisoning and banishing as you see and then behinde our backs fall to lying rayling and slandering of us and our principles But as Tully in another case said of some Mihi quidem nulli satis eruditi videntur quibus nostra sunt ignota so say I I cannot take them for learned at this time of day I mean sanctè magis quam scirè 2 Pet. 3.16 who partake not the learning of the Fifth-Kingdome this hope of Israel for which we are bound with this Chain And because the cruelty of this Serpent in England whom our effeminate lusting Eve-like professors have faln in and faln off and down with from whose face we fly till the time times and a divident Rev. 12.14 is hardly heard of known or believed abroad his horns looking so like a Lamb but that ye may hear a little how he speaks and persecutes like a Dragon I have held it a duty for further discovery of him and his spirit to publish thus much
further of his Nimrodian tyranny and trading in this Dominion since the late Apostacy That which I have seen and felt of his fury at Lambeth for sa many months among Monsters rather than men so greedy of my blood I omit here as being mentioned in my Preface to Prison-born but that men if they will may see what an unreasonable beastlike Monster this is that rends tears and devours us so I have added this History of some passages since Lambeth which I have suffered for the sake of my deare Master Jesus Christ in this his Cause all which put together will clear it I think to any capacity reason honesty or modest of man that it is a persecution and no other which we groan under in these Coals and Exiles having no other law sentence judgement or execution but the barbarous Sword over us or Thief-law For as Tacitus said non utendum est imperio ubi legibus uti possit such power is not to be used where good laws have any great force And that men may see how dangerous yea deadly this Relapse is it spares the evill and malignant humours to fall upon the Vitals Fifth-kingdommen and animals upright Common-wealths-men in this Nation as the Papists that would imprison for eating an Egg qui autem totam dominicam diem vacat temulentiae scortis al ae audit bellut homo as Erasmus said whiles he is a brave fellow amongst them that will spend the Lords-dayes in drinking and drabbing whoring and roguing and at this day we see it especially in Carisbrook that if a man draw but near on the Lords dayes or listen to hear us pray c. he is presently sent for dealt with and threatned if not driven out of the Castle and charge given that not any one do show a kind look or word to me upon pain of casting out But they may sit the Lords dayes with the doores I would not say Whores open for all to see them in the Ale-house drinkings swilling drabbing and smoaking tobacco as they do excessively yet none dare reprove them for it Mr. S. the Chaplain being turned out for reproving chiefly I hear and my self beaten buffitted and abused for an accasional reproving of blasphemie Blessed be my God who hath given me a back and breast to bear it Yea who sees not that men of very vain and corrupt conversations flagitious and infamous for notorious sins and crimes are taken into favour yea hoised up into high-places and at least allowed to have their liberty Whiles such as unfainedly fear the Lord and dare not willingly commit any sin but make a most tender conscience of all their wayes are very wickedly and irrationally imprisoned exiled hardly handled and almost hindred to breath in the ayre Now I do declare it as before the most righteous and holy judge of heaven and earth should any one ask me why I have been that is as some say upon the civill account so long in prison hard bonds and banishment year after year which long imprisonment the Martyrs accounted worse then death I must acknowledge an absolute ignorance in my own Conscience before God Angels and Men let some Time servers say what they please for themselves without this be it that I cannot in Conscience turn with the Dog to the Vomit and in plain English lye dissemble for swear and play the Traitor to Christ the Hypocrite to God and the Knave with men as others have done but thanks be to God for it for this is a Cordial to us that wheras by a just Law others are or ought to be imprison'd for iniquity we are imprison'd banish'd against all law but the arbitrary lawless sword because we cannot we will not we dare not though we die for 't fall in with iniquity But so be it O Lord thou Lord of Righteousness for as one saâ—es has epulas semper desideravi I will not deny but my infirmities been very many which I think I could weep over the feet of any that shall reprove me for them and indeed my temptations here in close bonds in banishment would be more were it not in an inclosed garden to me in Christ being as a man dead and out of mind but what I have done worthy of imprisonment and banishment them excepted I know not This I can say from my soule that I think as I preached so I sought nothing but Christ and his Kingdome and as to the World I have formerly said it with Sohinus to D. Casimire that I am boâ—n rather for labours than for honours and so I told O. C. in my Epist of Ch. Discipline before these times p. 10. I do professe it from my heart the greatest temptations I fear are falling into honour place preferment esteem or estate to much for me being best when poorest highest when lowest most when least and when I have nothing as possessing all things 2 Cor. 6.10 Yea if as Jerome saies that Woman is proved chaste that hath liberty and opportunities to sin and yet will not I may say it without oftentation as Heb. 11.15 16. that we might have had our opportunities to have returned to them had we not sought a far better Country and I think I may say too somewhat like Thomas Aquin. when preferment was offered him Chrysostomi in Matthaeum Commentarium mallem For I would say I had rather have one chapter I could name in the Revelation then the greatest relation I could name to any crown in Christendome so that these things I thank the Lord I think I am above in him who hath said as Jo. 16.33 Be of good cheer I have overcome the world But it may be my reproving the rank sins of these rude times have provoked the rough hands of Esau upon me and Nimrod to hunt me but if so it is no new suffering for such a Cause if we ask the Prophets and Apostles as wâ—ll as our Saviour and such have the two Witnesses been in all ages Zuinglius preached against the sins of the times and the mercenary pensions of them that served the Princes of the earth in my judgment more clearly then Luther and so did Bucer very freely but the last were never so hardly handled as we are for it besides Corolestadius went further for he reproved the very constitutions of their Government and the very colour which Luther had to oppose him was about Civill Laws saying he would have all Magistrates to rule by the Judicials of Moses as these men say of us vide Speech to Parl. Sept. 4 16. p. 16. so that it is no new Doctrine though they so menstrously misreport of us and our principles Canutus King of England in those thick times of Popery did confesse to all his Lords about him no mortal worthy the name of a King save he to whose back heaven earth and Sea by his laws eternall are obedient Hen. Huntington and shall we in these dayes after such solemn engagements for a Theocracy as I
it is by his grace I will look thee in the face Thou proudest Tyrant thou canst but batter the vessel thou canst but hurt the bark but my life is hid with Christ O sweet word they cannot finde it it is out of their reach for it is hid with Christ in God Amen! Lord and keep it there that I faint not Thus far for the second Reason arising from my sufferings 3. Another Reason why I appeared not publikely from prison before was impreparation having been in the valley for the vision many days and months before I could come to this in many travels trials and pangs of Spirit upon me before it could be brought so neer the birth as now it is waiting for a safe and seasonable deliverance This made me sit up mourning in the night-season and laid me low in the flesh for many a week together with little joy of this life as we say though with no little joy of cheary faith and sweetness in divine life and being waiting for the Anointing to bring forth this little being loth it should prove abortive though but an Embryo of what I hope will be born in due season But some labour with more difficulty pains and dangers to bring forth a little birth by reason of impediments then others do in the greatest and indeed because of the Times a fixed and clear judgement is so incumbent that I could not content my self with the speculation of the present Truths Prophecies and Visions which begin to break out of Daniel and the Revelation with such dazling and amazing light but I must be sure of a sound Practical judgement too and principle in the heart which puts into one balance with Christ and his Controversie God and his Commands and into the other with the Beast and his present Controversie the Sins and Apostacies of the Times and of this Street and upon poysing on all Sides and setting all it can cost me before me chuses my duty to God and Christ against the sins and abominations of the Times or the Powers which occasions the hard Travel And I must confess I did deliberate with too much flesh and blood at first contenting my self more with the heavenly Prison and presence of Waiting then of Writing of Praying then of Publishing any thing to the world that so I might run the less hazard to life liberty fame or estate c. But I was soon rouzed up out of this Contentation and kinde of Contemplation whether I will or no by a loud Call to me for what is already born of God in me about the Work of this Age yea of the 45. ensuing yeers after this wherein the Lamb's followers and sufferers under the Banner of Christ are to know their Places maintain their Watches keep their Motions continue their Marches renew their Charges till they rout Babylon and destroy the Beasts Dominion root and branch yea until they do Wonders in this old world For the years of Wonders Dan. 12.6 are now entering upon the descension of the Spirit of life from God And in order I am to sound the ensuing Trumpet to the Two Witnesses and remnant of the womans seed for it is no time to dally the danger is great the day is come and we are engaged there is no going off live or die stand or fall fight or flight is at hand and Num. 10.5 6 8. When ye blow an alarm then the camp shall go forward VVhen the Congregation is to be gather'd together ye shall blow but not an alarm and this shall be an indelible ordinance to you in your generation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So that after a long and humble attendance at the Throne for my present work The Order of the Author's Call to this Treatise I am put upon this whatever I must do or endure for it so Jesus be but magnified my spirit is pitched having so manifest and manifold a Call to it in order thus 1. A special Message from the LORD brought by a choice servant of Christ and his Church 1. A Message brought me the 10 of this month by our S. H.T. who had a weeks close communion and conference with the Lord in heavenly Visits and Visions singing praying contemplating communicating and receiving amongst other things a Message to deliver me in the Prison which I had to this effect That the Lamb's book should be unsealed and the Visions opened to me bidding me be of good chear for I should shortly know my own work and what Israel ought to do This I confess was a word in season to me and as sutable at that juncture as if an Angel had come with it out of heaven on purpose which much raised and revived my spirit as Solomon says Prov. 13.17 A faithful or as in Heb. a true Messenger is health in the Abstract 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I found it when the visions of mine head troubled me and made me sick it is medicina as some read it Prov. 25.13 Besides upon the first of the third m. last after a very solemn Fast all day with my con-Captive to know our work and what we should do the succeeding night in my sleep I thought I lay under the shadow of a great Mulberry-tree which hung full of great ripe mulberries I lying with my face upward and mouth open saw many of the boughs crowded together which I thought by impression upon my heart in my bodily sleep to be the Lord on the top treading them down together whereby as the boughs so the brave large berries struck one against another and brake one into another and ran all that were so broken by one stream into my mouth and belly whereby I thought I was abundantly refreshed and when I awaked I was so indeed full of joy and could not hold but told my wife of it presently and afterwards my friends But before noone the same day I received a Letter from the foresaid person with these lines Truly brother I have seen you frequently in the divine bosome and have sung abundantly Hallelujah for the Cordials which I saw poured down your throat which made you I apprehended like a Champion and like a triumphing Conquerour Go on thou Champion for he hath said he will stand by thee who stood by Paul at his first answer when none stood by him c. Some may muse at my admittance of these things but I do assure them it is neither to boast of them for what hast thou O man to boast of but what thou hast received nor to build upon them which is very dangerous but it is to observe the concurrence and good effects of such passages for though I am as far from taking notice of or having dependance upon Dreams or Visions as any man alive yet I must not omit the night-teachings of the Spirit nor such Dreams or Visions which bring forth blessed effects upon the spirits of men or are ratifications of the truth and minde of God for
End of a Gospel-minister is according to the dispensation of the Spirit to establish the Saints and Churches in the present Truth and Work or to build them up 2 Pet. 1.12 13. Acts 16.3 1 Thess 3.2 13. 2 Thess 2.17 Col. 2.7 I dare not omit my duty herein to do all I can from a Prison to dissolve those doubts and establish those hearts that pant after the Truth For Doubtings are like Quagmires the longer men stand on them the more they sink into them Sim. and indeed there is need of a Daniel's spirit and wisdom to dissolve All Doubts Dan. 5.12 and what man dare undertake it To loose knots says the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or open aenigmatical Scriptures and Cases cut Gordian-knots with the Sword of Gods Word Yet if the Lord will let me have so much of my inheritance of his wisdom as I need for such a Task and Treatise as this is I shall be enabled to dissolve some Doubts resolve some Cases quicken comfort and establish some Consciences So that by faith I I go about this Work that whereas others are always troubling stirring and thicking the Waters I may minister them in those very Prophecies of Daniel Apocalypse and other Scriptures so clearly as may refresh the spirits of the Saints And therefore help me O Father O Fountain of light and O thou that hast the seven Spirits that men may easily see as in clear water to the very bottom where the Truth lies and what they would clearly understand which they can never do in thick muddy and troubled waters Sim. And as the honest Draper is content to have his Ware brought to light and examin'd by the sun-beams so shall I to have this Book Therefore as when one takes a piece of money if he doubts the goodness of it he takes it turns it rubs it views it diligently and tries it every way whether it be sound or no before he puts it up or rests satisfied so do with this Treatise believe not what men say of it but search and see lege intellige turn it over and over man line by line page by page peruse it until thou dost even unspirit it into thy self pray for understanding read without prejudice and that Doctrine which builds you up most in Christ tends most to mortifie you redeem you from the world wealth pleasures honours c. to quicken you and establish you to put you upon present work for Christ against Antichrist to keep you upon your watch waiting praying longing for the day of Christ to enlighten you in the Prophecies promise of his coming c. that take and practise But so much for the sixth 7. Experience of fresh Incoms of Light 7. I finde in few days a sudden and sweet transition of a very Chaos of Darkness and Confusion by divine Command and whiles the Spirit moves upon the face of the waters light breaks in upon me brighter and brighter and shining more and more unto the perfect day Prov. 4.18 which will bring forth little by little from me to the Saints abroad and although the Light forces a passage into my intellect by a redundant and more then ordinary irradiation yet many a time it breaks out at a dark cloud upon my spirit Job 37.21 Men see not the bright light that is in the clouds but the winde of the Spirit for so I finde it passeth Expos and cleanseth them from all earthliness caliginous thickness of vapours or fancies and so I trust the Reader that heareth and readeth what the Spirit saith shall finde it yea the most heavenly light is such a light 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which few arrive at or derive from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Since a participation whereof with the fastning of some promises full upon my spirit I can finde no Truce within me without sounding a Call to the Lambs number in order to their Muster upon mount Sion or the New Covenant and blowing a Trumpet in the ensuing Tract which I hope will give a more certain sound then hath been hitherto for unto the upright there ariseth a light in the darkness Psal 112.4 a sweet word or per nubilum tempus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it ariseth by xpos through or in a dark and cloudy time as this is it doth so to the faithful Saints whiles others grope at noon-day as the Prophet says caecutiunt in luce That also in Isai 58.10 11. is much upon my heart If thou draw out thy soul to the hungry and satisfie the afflicted then shall thy light arise in obscurity an odde word to humane reason flesh and blood or mans wisdom and thy darkness shall be as the noon-day and Jehovah shall guide thee continually c. O blessed word to my faith for my very soul and heart-bowels have been drawn out to poor hungry hearts yea to minister my daily bread at the prison-bars to the persecuted Remnant and I need no more methinks now to fetch me out of Prison as I may say to so publike a work wherein I was so backward because so darkward therein yet I have many other promises upon motion as Isai 42.16 I will make darkness light before thee and that of Dan. 12.4 Shut up the words seal the book even to the time of the end the 3 yeers and half end vers 7. when the Witnesses shall appear peditatim and the Little Stone begin to strike the Powers of the fourth Monarchy all to pieces then many shall run to and fro and knowledge shall be increased yea light shall break out abundantly Rev. 18.1 which begins in the last three yeers and an half of Daniel's 1290 and John's 1260 Prophetical days I have a more then ordinary confidence if not clear assurance that the Visions of Daniel's sealed and the light of the Lamb's book Rev. 5. shall be opened to me as I am able to bear it by degrees yea be let out upon me like a Sluice and overtake me in full streams if I faithfully pursue the Light already given me which with the Lords grace I will do though I die for it He saith our Saviour Joh. 14.21 22. shall be loved of my Father and I will love him and I will manifest my self to him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Expos i. e. as by the light of the Sun not by Parts Arts or Sciences but so or in such manifestations as the world never had vers 22. in New-Covenant-Light or Truth breaking out with the brightness or lustre of the Covenant of Grace and the Fathers love to him such a one shall be like an Angel in the Sun Rev. 19.17 18. or cloathed with the Sun in a fulness body and subsistence of Light communicative to others who wait for the benefit of it who would be refreshed by it and do the work of the day in it which the Light sets on foot and is unto us a witness call support comfort assistance and
could not in conscience so do for his standing there was only to hear prayer yet intreated B. F. to come away and when he found his argumâ—nts of no more force with him in that duty the Serjeant was returning but in the way this wicked Ensigne whose feet were swift to shed blood saluted him as an enemy for not tearing him a way by head and shoulders at first with sword and scabbard struck blows in such strength that the yron thereof cut through his skull and brake his brain-pan so sadly gashed mangled and wounded the blood spinning out a great distance from him he with much ado reel'd to a seat where he assayed to break his sword and throw away his scabberd with a witnesse against them to wear it no more in such service but in the mean-time this enraged Morster with his naked Sword laid about the rest who now ran away with B. F. as with a light burthen and so like the Dâ—â—gge in the Smiths Forge they that would not stirre at the many stroaks upon Gods anvill whiles we were at our work could run now at the sight of a wand yea with winde in their wings lift up their Ephah Zach. 5.9 Work poore whetches Such miserable slaves are they all According to the Arabick Adage which for want of characters the presse omits Men ' la a-rifo-lchaira mina-Isecri alhiqho bi-lbeha ima they that cannot discriminate are company for beasts The Serjeant was conveyed into a house and as it was by the Chirurgeon himselfe supposed mortally wounded and a dead man for after hâ— had taken out two or three pieces of his skull he concluded him doubtfull of recovery if not beyond it it being so contiguous and ambiguous for at last he found it but a hairs-breadth between him and death being hewed to the Caruncles and concavity of the head and should have utterly despaired but that the Cerebrain-skin was marvelously kept from the cuts Thus blood was shed in their rage against Religion and the Worship of God who formerly and when it was their interest have with blood contended for it yea the Blood of Warre in the time of Peace 1 King 2.5 And as tame Foxes once loose do the most miscriefe so do these Et ad extremum lupus manebit etiamsi inter homines educatus fuerit as the Persians say Wolves will be Wolves though brought up amongst men or put into sheeps cloathing Mat. 10 But the Avenger of blood will pursue these sonnes of Belial and wo unto them that build their Citty in blood Isa 1.5 for when their plague comes the name of their place shall be Kibroth-hataavah the Graves of Iust for whiles the flesh is between their teeth the Lord shall smite them in the interim consider First That we lie as yet among the pots in the hot kiln the yron furnace of Aegypt Lam 4.2 How are ye precious ones of Sion compable to solid gold accounted as earthen potsheards yet with the reversion promised us we will not part Psal 68.13 Though ye have lien among the pots as the wings of a Dove oppressed of Janah made a prey overlaid with silver and her feathers with beaten gold of Charatz cut a sunder for though we be Chenshe phatta of shaphattariim order'd and disposed between the very hearths where the fire is kindled in the hottest Urn among the Tile pots I mean in those Ovens of mens wrath viz. Garisons of Souldiers to be scorched far exceeding in that sense the common Goals and Prisons yet praised be our God for his presence is with us which was with the three Children in the fiery furnace and as Psal 66.11 12. Thou laidst affliction such as comes from oppression of Gnuk upon our loines thou hast caused men to rid over our heads or beginnings of rosh we went through fire and through water but thou hast brought us out into a wealthy place or larevajah to an overflowing and afulnesse of moisture and anointing as Psal 23.5 where the word is and herein shall we yet more abundantly rejoyce for such earthen pots as we are in the Lords house shall be like the Bowles or Bâ—sons before the Altar Zach. 14.20 that is ever full of the hott blood oâ— the Sacrifice which is our sure mercy and Nâ—w-Covenant-Comfort in this State of patience Secondly we may see the è polupragmoseume the pragmaticall proclyvitie activity of the Cavalerish spirit to prosecute and execute the rage of the Beast upon us under this Sword soveraignty with the same Antipathy and principle they had in the Kings dâ—yâ—s though under a shew of more religion refinednessâ— and zeal like Balâ—k Numb 22. and 23. that to curse the Lords people and get power over them with great readinesse and real ran to the worship of the true God as if he had renounced his false God Chemosh when in truth he retained still his old principles and yet with them he seemed a new Proselyte he offered seven Oxen and 7. Rams so far exceeding the true Saints in his seeming zeale to the true God and stands by his sacrifices fasting and praying and his Princes too with so great devotion and why so why all to get Power over the Lords Chosen ones So these have seemed to have laid aside their old principles of enmity hatred animosity revenge persecution and opposition so of prophanesse Atheisme and open wickednesse of that kinde thereby to get a power of revenge over us to curse and diminish us for our faithfulnesse and constant adhaesiâ—n to the good Cause both now and in the late wars this also lying in the road of their preferment so to treat us for the Cavaleers highest Counsels ar this day are to fall in with this Power in order to the bringing of Ch. Stuart ruining us and precipitating of them and all this by their old principle 3. It appears a conviction of Conscience is a capital crime with them and merits cutâ—â—ng slashing and shedding of blood without mercy for as the Jews Jo 9.22 Had agreed that if any man did confesse that he was Christ he should be put out oâ— the Synagogue So have these agreed to cast them out from amongst them that acknowledge the Lord Jesus in Power and truth according to the dictates of an enlightened Conscience for a blind men restored to sight they will not endure amongst thâ—m who in such a mixture and complication of sinister interests prefer butchery before the liberal arts as they say of the Jews yea revenge above Religion and Coin above Conscience calling the touch of conscience contempt melancholly and madnesse and punishing of them they themselves being â—eared and having made shipwrack thereof whiles we as Paul saies 2 Cor. 4 2. Have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty not walking in craftinesse nor handling the Word of God deceitâ—ully but by manifestation of the truth commend our selve to every mans conscience in the sight of God Fourthly It is evident we are under as barbarous a Spirit
of the Beâ—st as at this day exercised in any part of the world and as miserable a servitude as among the Turks for in all places they will use their Prisoners civilly and not multiply afflictions upon them every day as these men do and study to much lesse so monstrously and murtherously hack and hew men for making conscience in their unreasonable commands but to make us yet in a more Turk-like slavery and that what is now our cause may quickly be the case of others and of all if need be behold the Bashaws and Begler-begs sent down to settle there Dâ—vans and Miliâ—iâ— in to every country with the Timariots also and Zaniachs or Debuty-Bashaws under them besides the Janizaries Gemoglanies and Spahies or Guards about their Grand S. at White-Hall and in the Army there are also their Aâ—hingies Hindes of the Country or new Militia Troops too to forrage up and down for prey and to keep the Lords Lambs from me ting and feeding together upon Christs Commons now next I expect these Janizaries like them at Constantinople under the Aga will be imployed in the roome of Constables Serjants Clerks of the Markets Warders of the Gates and Officers of that kind and in case of injury no publique justice may be ministred upon them is not this a new Turkie then let them palliate all with as good words as they will yet as their proverb is Soltanâ—n bila adalin kanahrin bila maâ—a their Soltan with out justice will befound but like a Brook without water and neither his Souldiers nor multitudes can save him when the time of his judgement is come Islahho rraiati abphao min kitsrati-l chonoudi Fisthly It is certaine too these red Esaus must have red meat I mean blood to feed on and I easily foresee with what greedinesse and designe they do provoke poor simple plain Jacobs honest hearts by ex ggerating and accumulating violencies and iusolencies upon them to somme rising or untimely action of defence for them to have a full blow at them their belly-fulls of the Saints blood which they so much threaten thiâ—st after that their Shebna himself said he could freely have his armes up to his elbowes in their blood but thus is this horne to make war with the saints his time times in the duall and a divident yea he hath done it and is at it as I have largely proved in my Treat of the two Witnesses and two Beasts c. Whose Sword as yet prevailes over us and as Balaak by hireing Balaam but to Curse Israel Num. 22. was said to make warr against Israel by so doing Josh 24.9 thus have these Warred against the Saints but their divination shall not prosper Nor their offerings be accepted and Balaam their Prophet shall fall by the Sword Josh 13.22 Sixthly It is our comfort that all they can do unto us is but to drive us to our God and Father with our perfumes unto his altar of incense within the vail from this Altar of slaughter without the vail and so from one Altar unto another Psal 66.13 I will go into thy house with burnt-offerings Psal 45.12 ubat tzor be miuchah the daughter of izor Strates and afflictions with an offering yea a meat offering a most excellent priviledge and provision wherein we have the provision of the things we wait for in the light of the seven Lamps that burne before the Throre Rev. 4.5 and 5.6 thus whiles others are as Psal 2.2 Rulers are called Rozenim leane ones and leanenesse is in their Soules Psal 106.15 we are fatt as Sons of oyle Isa 55.2 and flourish in the truth Cause and Covenant of Christ like Arons Rod Num. 17.8 ' which brought forth buds bloomed and yeilded Almons whiles all the other rods were dry and Seare and therefore v. 10 was it laid up before the testimony Indeed since I am driven thus close to my burnt-offering and with Moses and Aaron at every fresh provocation from them to y unto the Lord Num. 11.2.11 and 14.5 and 16.4.22 with my complaints I have also found such food and meat-offerings as I would not part with for all the world which makes my heart as Psal 45.1 Rachash boyle up within me in the matters of the King and my tongue as the pen of Sopher Mahir a quick Accomptant or Numberer of the times for a testimony whereof I must refer to that beam of light which lead me into a most lucid and facile supputation proved and illustrated in my foresaid Treatise having found very excellent food from the roots of the Hebrew Chaldy Samaritan Syriack Arabick Persian and Ethiopick tongus which I dialy converse with and reading the Scriptures by thorough the teaching of the Anointing I find a hidden Manna wraped up in the Dewes of Heaver and can say it is Angels food Seventhly We are now in the School ef Patience Rev. 14.12 wherein besides our dearest Lord Jesus his Prophets Apostles and Martyrs saies John Rev. 1.9 ' I also am your Brother and companion in tribulation ' and in the Kingdome and Patience of Jesus Christ was in the Isle of Patmos and in such company we must needs run this race of ours with sweet Contentment Serenity Calmenesse of Spirit what ever our enemies maliciously report of us Heb. 12 1. and our experiences teach us that Arabick Adage Assabro miftaho-l pharahi va-l a-chalato miphtaho-unidamati that patience is the Clavis Gaudij whiles a murmuring and impatience is the Key of sorrow and repentance so the Key of David which shall open unto us all the treasures Isay 22.22 and sealed truthes of heaven Rev. 5.6 and 10.4 7 and none shall shutt and which shall shut our enemies our that shutt us in and none shall open to them this Key is given to us as promised in this state of patience Rev. 3.7.10 blessed be the Lord. Zammeru Elohim zammeru Zammeru lemalkenu zammeru Eightly And because the ' Prince of the Kings of the earth hath loved ' us and washed us with his own blood and made us Kings and Priests to God Rev. 1.5.6 we do and yet will rejoyce in our blessed portion which is the waved the lifted up or offered up Beast and the Right-shoulder Numb 18.18 Levit. 7.32.33 whereby to bear all that men can lay upon us with a heart lifted up to the Lord this is not the strangers portion Lev. 22 25. but the portion of the Anointing Levit. 7.35 and thus am powered out as the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is Psal 92.10 with fresh oyle or beshemen Ragâ—auan green and fatnesse before the Lord and v 11. mine eyes shall see what I look for upon mine enemies or observers of my wayes that strictly watch for me of Shur and our joy shall be like them that divide the spoile Isay 9.3 4. when Jehovah shall turne again our captivity as the streames of the South Psal 126.4 or parched dry wildernesse where the Aphikim or strong Currents and Torents of waters as
the word is are very welcom yea the captivity of the captiety is already deforced and turned back by the force of these refreshing streames Psal 46.4 which the Lord is unto us and broad rivers Isay 33.21 So that v. 16. our waters will be sure Teballel jah Hallelujah But to proceed Upon the 16. day of the 3. Moneth 1655. were Commissioners sent from White-hall in a colour of justice to be done for our diversified injuries which by this had made aloud noise in the eares of men so as the Courtiers was put to this policy for a shift and in pretence of wrongs done unto us and to enquire after the matter of fact we found the integrall of their negotiation to be against us that all the informations they could squeeze out of any sortes of people Souldiers or enemies might be modeled and formed up together against us and so presented to their Lord Protector The Commissioners that fat upon us were Mr. H. Mr. Wood Mr Cresset Mr. Carier Mr. Woodard Mr. B. Mr. Oxenbridge and Angelo The first day they sat I was interrupted in the duty of expounding and praying in the morning and from my sweat out of that exercise taken away by the Marshall in the company of my Broth. F. to be cooled in the other When we came before them in the Governours lodgings they told us their errand by the mouth of Mr. Holland we desired to see their Commission and to hear it read which their Cleaâ—k did and as on the one side it signifiâ—d some wrongs we had received of the Souldiers so on the other side and which was the main body of the businesse Upon complaint against Mr. Christopher Feake and Mr. John Rogers that they stirred up the Souldiers to Sâ—dition and Mutiny against their Officers and the Government Those whose names were under written by the foresaid Commission were authorized to examine and make report to him given under his Seal Manual and in the head of it O. P. When we heard it read the designe was obvious unto us under the colour of hearing a little of what we should say to hear all they could possibly scrape up or that any could forge or find out against us for indeed to this day what ever they say they want sufficient matter to bear out this abominable and bruitish handling of us these years together Brother F. first spake and I Seconded him we both told them we were in the capacity of prisoners and that close but if they had power to right us we required our doe liberty at least to be in Statu quo and to have the liberty of the Castle as the Cavaleers and all Prisoners but our selves had to breath in but that denyed we demanded a copy of their Commission that we might be the better directed when we rightly understood their Rules and Instructions we were bid to withdraw and after a long debate called in again with his recusation that we did not own the Government and therefore they could not allow us a copy of their Commission without we would own the power that sent them We told them that was not the point nor was it now the matter in hand yet we could assure them we should not own them as they are Commissionners for so our lives would be in jeopardy and our liberties betrayed and as much as in us lies the liberties of our Country and brethren for that what they were to do was as Justices of the Quorum to hear examine and prepare matters for the Oyer and Terminer in order to a definitive sentence and future issue and therefore they were to make it more concise to give their prepared papers and examinations to their Lord Protector whereby he may pretend we have had a trial depositions taken and nothing rests to do but to hang or head us therefore we did not intend to be involved into such a snare nor to be thus treated with or tryed in a hole Answer was made us they had no such designe but we told them they had not the intentions of their Lord Protector in their hands however and thorough our simplicity it may be theirs too he might make his game but although as Commissioners we would not meddle with them yet as Brethren or Friends in an amicable way we were ready to give them or any other an account of our faith hopes and sufferings Answer was made us they were our Friends and Brethren too in which capacity we told them we could discourse freely with them but they said they were sent for our good and satt to hear what injuries we received we told them whether for our good or hurt we excepted against the matter the forme the rule and the end of their Commission and could take no cognizance of in the capacity of Commissioners for matter I said in that some men as Mr. Oxenbridge c. were parties concerned and therefore not fit to sit as Judges or Justices in this case as to forme they were an illegall court nor ought they to take the prisons for informations against poor prisoners to palliate their past proceedings with new pretences and colours put upon them But first they were to try us for the offence if they had any perpetrated upon which we had lay so long in prisons and either to acquitt or adjudge us for that and then they might proceed and enquire for new but to immure us so long and barbarously and now to stirr every stinking puddle to find matter for it is not fair but like the Tyrant that did first hang the man and then hear his Cause or the Constable as the P. calls himselfe that fiâ—st knocks the man down and then bids him stand besides as they were incompetent Justices and no authentick Court so the end for which they satt let them shape it as well as they can was wicked and unchristian to rake up informations and depositions against us in the matters of our faith and consciences They told us they were to take report of matters of fact which we desired them to extricate according to their Commission but they refusing so to by the ill successe of our request reaching but to the Superficies of an obtuse Nerve we saw it encumbent to deal plainly with them and to tell them the utmost our enemies had to impeach us was but for wordes in preaching praying or Christian conference with us which we knew to be wordes of Sobriety and truth though our enemies call them dangerous and seditious Mr. Oxenb answer'd that words were matters of fact with that we knew their meaning and Mr. H. said he must needs confesse the Charge against us was very high yea said we in your Calendar or Law you make it Treason to do such things as in your Commission seems charged upon us but we vallued not that yet insisting upon a copy of their Commission Mr. Oxenbridge answered they could not for that we had denied the efficient cause thereof we
told them he did us wrong for that we had not once entered upon a debate of the efficient viz. O. P. or his Seal but yet for further satisfaction I desired of them the extent of their Commission as to time whether for two dayes or tenn they answered for the whole space of time since our imprisonment by which it became so evident that themselves were beaten by it under a shew of doing us right they must do us wrong and so we told them that at first they said and pretended it was grounded up on the complaints our friends made of wrongs done unto us for the space of two weeks before to enquire after that matter of fact and yet now confesse it intended the whole space of our imprisonment for many monthes to find out matter against us and that as in the Commission grounded upon the complaints of our foes that are our Goalers and seek our blood and therefore possitively refused to take notice of them in that capacity there was much more to this effect and in propinquity tossed to and fro of transitive matter not worth mentioning nor were they more propitious at other times as in the afternoon the day after wherein we were quiescents as before without altering or sounding after them yet as to brethren or friends not in Authority we were free to tell them a story of our sufferings and unhandsome usage whereof there was so clear witnasse but said we freely forgave them not desiring they should be punished which they never intended doubtlesse but to fortify their hands rather to such ugly circumstances and abuses as appeared for the next day these Loco motive Commissioners adjourned to Frogmore the Governors house beyond the town and there satt to hear receive and examine all that would come in with any accusation against us which we in close prison were kept ignorant of yea the Officers took great pains not onely by Clandestine meetings to compare their mindes and prepare their matters together but with coincident endeavours suborned the Souldiers who must obey Orders to that unworthy service so base that as some of the poore creatures rejected it so some of them were threatened by Pepper as one of them told mee because they would not go in and testify against us things they never heard spoken and which they told him they never heard yet because they would not assert and depose to what he said they were not only menaced but upon easie mâ—tters and other pretences afterwards suffered The next day early Mr. Br. came to mee who had preached the day before a little too reflecting upon us but being my worthy friend I am tender of him and entirely respect him he desired mee to forbear my exercise which I did that morning and we were hastened again before these Gentlemen with a friend or two then with us they offered then to read the accusations and informations they had taken up against us if we would consent they should report them to O. P. but we said as before our mindes were the same and they were the same so that as Commissioners we would not so much as here them read to us or reply a word to them with which they were offended but we renewed our exceptions against them both gray and black Mâ—ssionariâ—s the Ministers having no such rule from Christ left them to fitt in Commission thus against their brethren nor had the other either Law or conscience to commend them to this imployment and particularly in that som there present were constituted members of the High Court of justice for the punishing them with death that should declare Ch. St. or any other person chiefe Magistrate in the three Nations c. and this they had solemnly sworne to so I drew out the Act of Parliament to read it to them and offered reasons why we could not in conscience take cogniscance of them but they were deaf and obtuse of hearing yea two or three of them viz Mr. Wood and Oxenbridge rent away from the rest in discontent and so after a little discourse with some of the other about the Fifth Kingdome they dissolved and left us in our close prisons and cruell hands where they found us they went home with a Flea in their ear it seems but well frought with informations against us to their Master who hath doubâ—lesse laid them up with the râ—st for a timous and more terrible treatment and whiles with Joab 2 Sam. 20. they say Brother with the one hand they stabb us with the other hand under the fi th ribb and shedd out our bowells in the dust but the Lord will raise the dust of Sion Psal 102. And in generall we may note First That Apostates are the worst and subtellest sort of persecutors and of all people the most brutishly bent to their own waies in spending the Aegyptian spoyles Exod. 32. setting up false worships with a carnal noise Exod. 32.18 quite loosing the Lords presence with the former signes Exod. 33. and lying open to enemies Exod. 32.25 Yea notwithstanding all professions they are found against God Num. 14.35 and are disinherrited of all the promises of the good I and by God Numb 14 12. Secondly That more justice is to be had from a down-right Heathen Government than from an Apostate interest which lies in deceit and Hypocrisy whether that Heathen Government be Millitary or Philosophical and for the proofe of this all History is redundant in the Persian after Cyrus Cambyses was so strict that he caused a Judge to be flayed and set up his skinn for a monument because he was corrupted and executed wrong judgement yea of late the King of Persia centensed the Governor of Casbin for his wrongs done to men that all his goods and lands should be sold for satisfaction to them that he had wronged and if that would not do the King condemned himselfe to fatisfie the rest or that in his Office he did the wrongs and that this Governor for his cruelty should all his daies during his life wear a yoak like a hoggs yoak about his neck and have his ears so ready to hear tales cut off and he get his living with his own hands that he might feel the want he had made others to feel yea among Turks at this moment is much more justice to be had than is now in England where any cause is heard tried and determined in three daies but here we may lie three years in prisons rotting without a tryal or face of justice or know for what as is our case Yea in China that Philosophicall Government the Choli and Zauli men of moral principles of Philosophy will at this day as is well known admonish and reprove the King or Emperor sharply if any thing be done contrary to the Law and will not spare to do it by publique libells not dissembling his faults nor the greatest Magistrates in their Nations which they continue to the astonishment of other Nations
they were evill let their Officers look to that for it would be their Officers sin and not theirs and what they commanded them to do they must and would do what ever it were we told them that this was a dangerous and indeed a Soule-damning principle for so the Soldiers that nailed Christ to the Crosse obeyed Orders too and so do the Turkish Janizaries at this day and so did all those Soldiers and Executioners that murthered masâ—â—â—râ—d and martyâ—ed the Saints in all Ages besides we prayed them to consider the case of Iudas when his conâ—cience smitt him he thought to have said the sinn too as they say upon the Captains and Priests that set him a worke and gave him his pay for it Mat. 27.4 But they said what is that to us see you to that and so he fell desperate and hanged himselfe Lord then saies a Serjeant would you not have us obey Orders we answered not all orders of men and prayed them first to advise with the Word of God for such as were against Gods Word they ought not to obey for that Christs death hath freed them from such a servitude of men 1. Cor. 7.23 Gal. 5.1 1.10 And Ephrahim was broken for this Hos 5.11 And now as they were Christians they had but one Lord the Lord Jesus who was to be their Lord Acts. 10.36 Rom. 14.9 Law giver for else what were the difference between them and Turks Infidels or Heathens But in things honest good and lawfull they must obey their superiours as an Ordinance of God But then said the Soldiers if their Orders be against Gods word let the higher Officers look to that for that they would obey them and so fell upon the poor people very roughly being farr more bruitish irrational and disingenuous if not irreligious then many of the Papists Pharises Priests Heathens and Turks and in the very Massacre of France we have it upon Record Fox voll 3. of Queen Elizabeth page 64. Anno 1572. That the common Executioner of Troys whose name was Charles being commanded by Bellin and the Magistrates of the Town and that in the Kings name too and by his Commission answered that it was contrary to his office to execute any man before sentence of death had been first pronounced by the Magistrate if they had such sentence of death to shew against the Hugonites prisoners he was ready otherwise he would not presume with out a warrant of Law and Justice to bereave any man of his life So that this bloody Popish wretch who was used to shed blood would not obey all Orders no not of the King or Magistrates without due processe of Law or sentence of death upon the prisoners yea Perennot also their Goaler as bloody or worse than he answered the same men in the same case that he could not undertake to obey their Orders fearing least in time to come justice might be doâ—e against him by the Parents or allies of the poor prisoners after they was dead or made a way with and yet he was commanded by the Kings Commissioners Magistrates and in the Kings name Now would one believe men professing godlinesse too in England should be of worse or more wicked principles to obey all Orders the Lord then have mercy upon us for the plague encreases then But we bad the Serjeant consider these things seriously how that the Jews blinde obedience to their Leaders brought the curse upon them but Lord saies he I never heard of such men what should we not obey Orders we told them as before not in things unlawfull but this it seems that we said was a great offence to them and made Bull report and probably send to his Masters for he is a fitt servant to such men blessed be God therefore that we have such a Goaler of so sharp but short horns affirming that we would draw the Soldiers from their obedience only for our instructing them in that obedience which they ow to God and which to man But some poor soules having got into hear this discourse did occasion a desire from them to hear me preach either in the yard out of the window or any where but for this once but the rude Leopards began to rave and roar at that motion saying they would not suffer it and when any reason was asked they said they was not bound to give us any reason but this that they would not suffer it nor could we have any other reason but this that they had Orders and must obey them But we told them we hoped man would not forbid what Christ our King and Lord had commanded then we opened some Scriptures both in the Old and New Testament unâ—o them wherein we were commanded by God to assemble together to pray profit and edifie one another in the most holy faith and asked of them if at any time they had heard any thing delivered which was not profitable and teaching to the Soules of men or dissonant in their own judgment with the Word of truth for they all knew and confessed I had not the honest people so desiring it medled with their Government or the like that this liberty in the Ordinances might have been continued us and no offence or occasion be offered them they all said they could not say I had delivered any thing but what was good and sweet profitable and to edification and wished they might hear such men and said the Serjeant I had rather here him then any man alive and did hear him as long as I durst but now we have Orders against it and we must obey them But then we prayed them to remember the blood of Jesus Christ which hath bought us these blessed priviledges and no man ought to take them from us Gal. 5.1 And therefore hoped they would not offer to fight against that which they confessed was the pure true word wà y of God but they said they must obey Orders be they what they would that their superiours put them upon or else they must be hang'd this Doctrine tended to have them hang'd so that they were sorely incensed uttring as we say Decem pedalia sesqui pedolia verba or Vperolcha But I Maj. Gen. Mr. C. withdrew with words of Consolation to the poore weeping people about us into my lodge and after a little space I began in prayer and fell a little to preaching out at the window to the poore people who desired it and some came under the window the whiles they had sent word to their Governour Bull who was feasting not far off with his wife and others sufficiently trampling over us and insulting over us the prisoners among their cups and repasts as we heard by them present and because some few of the Soldiers were touched in Conscience and could not exercise their commanded Cruelty they took as Acts 17.5 Certain Iude fellows of the baser sort and so sett upon us and the poor people hearing under the windows who
open and known sins as of Drunkennesse c. which the godly people in this Island have informed me He now as fowly fals upon the pittifull poore miserably inslaved people of this Island as well as upon us but for hearing of me and yet could not finde a colour for it but onely his own pure or rather impure invention and fancy of a danger which might accrew thereupon in time and surmising or pretending so at least a signe which the Devil told him off that we had in preaching Christ to the poore soules and when he desired to see his Orders he denyed to shew us any but his absolute Will and sword soveraignty over these poore slaves and us exiles and prisoners falling into most fool irritating unsavoury provoking language with his wonted impudence and open faculty of lying slandering bearding and abusing for which he is so notoriously famous in this Isle that we went for shame from him surdis auribus sed oculis intentis in Christum and so left him to that spirit that possessed him but after that the soldiers were examined such as were well-given whether they would hear me if so then to lay down arms forthwith and be gone there must be no disputing it onely one or two I think had liberty given to consider upon it one day Soon after this Bull made or procured a muster and provided a Barrell of Beer for such of his souldiers which they say he never did before as would readily obey his Orders but others he required to lay down their Arms forthwith and so read an Engagement to them for their present government Thus like the Priests as Jo. 12 9 10. they endeavoured to put Lazarus also to death because that Jesus had raised him up to life least the report hereof should offuscate and obscure them Upon the Lords day after some men of the â—sland came into the Castle to hear on that day but the centinels at the doore drove them off again and turned them into their own Chappel the poore people of this Island being such absolute pure slaves under the long sword that they durst not hear the Word but where they will Yet I preaching near the window and my voice heard thorow some poor people would steal under the wall and in holes to hear but were soon discovered and driven away yea Bull himself when he came out of the Chappel did bestir him and lay about him and because some of his souldiers would stand behind the guard doore or make as if they walked about businesse in the yard to hear as they did at Winsor often make as if they lay on the grasse and slept he drives his souldiers into the guard and there keeps them in himself till I had done as the Bishop of L. used tell K. James a tale in the Sermon time when any good man preach'd against the Hierarchy or Ceremonies of their Church least the King should over-hear them and so receive the truth preached talking to them of Cocks and Buls as we say least any should over hear a word of the Sermon In the middle of the week he came to me and threatened to deal with me and remove me out of these rooms c. if I let my voice be so loud as to be heard out at the window more to their disturbance as he said but I told him as Chrysostome the Empresse Eudoxia when she threatened him Nil nisi peccatum timeo I should obey God and not man in that matter nor was he but Christ to mee the Lord of the Sabbath Luke 6.5 Christ only is my master in preaching bidding him do his worst then he bid the bed I had to lyon be taken away which was done at which I demanded of him straw to lyon but the good people especially Mr. B. a well affected honest man at whose house the godly people meet at New port kept mee from lying on the boards or any such hardship as they would have brought me or mine unto in this Goal but it seems to their sufferings for this Bull does bellow out with most bitter mallice rage against them also especially against Mr. B. whom he highly persecutes to this day I hear sometimes sending up armed souldiers with swords and muâ—kets to bring him away priâ—oner out of his own house to him in the Town Corporation threatning and troubling him breaking open his letters that came from London to his great hinderance Bull himself being a trader and going up and down in person to hear what one or another can say against Mr. B. and what not that is arbitrary and tyrannical So that by this we may see 1. Their horrible dissembling lying and undoubted Hypocâ—isie whiles they manifest such monstrous hatred to us they pretend to imprison us out of love to us and yet I think it is more out then in 2. How we suffer at this day for the word of God Gospell of Christ and power of Godlinesse purely whiles they most falsly possesse the poore ignorant people in the Nation that now there is no persecution for conscience for preaching the Word or for Religion but only for other matters and that a man may be as holy as he will which are lies in Hypocrisiâ— 3. That they are such a greedy sort of persecutors as our persons lives bodies liberties blood will not serve their turns but they persecute our very souls also for hearing praying and worshipping of the Lord yea on the Lords dayes nor suffering us to have so much aâ— upon the Lords daies any communion with the Saints or people or worship of God as much as in them lies 4. And they are the most impudent â—ould faced Persecutors I think that ever the earth bore for they justifie and dourish the foulest evils with the fairest Colours that can be yea pretend so highly for the Lord in all they do saying let God be glorified Isa 66.5 yea as Zach. 11.4 5. ' Whose Possessors Keepers of Goâ—lers slâ—y â—â—eâ— and hold themselves not guilty and they that sell them for nice pay places or preferment ' say blessed be the Lord for we are rich by it Such a pack of Apostates sure were never heard of for craft and cruelty policy and lying pretences and indeed it is no â—ore in my judgment then the face of the Serpent from wâ—â—â— we must and do fly for â—â—ree dayes and an half Rev. 12.14 Bâ—â— the Bal's bitter â—age is out begun here he must now make a â—â—â—â—â—tive of his faithfull service and most noble or rather ignoble feats â—ad atenâ—â—vements to his Masters at Court by frigating them with a â—raught report and â—n invented story of us as dangerous persons 〈◊〉 of deâ—gâ—es and according to â—is armed fancies and obsequiousnesâ— to them his Masters to â—all on us wâ—en their commands shall come requicing with all an Orâ—eâ— or at least a â—icence to prosecute his â—ell-begotten graceless victory further to the full by powring more contempt on our dear
whom you speak against and despightfully use you should do well your selves to be reading praying and preaching to one another not so unchristian like to blaspheme and scoffe thereat at which they were incensed and turned upon me brustling like wilde Boars whose tusks were whetted in their own foam and so fell bitterly upon mee and told mee I was their prisoner and I did not know it meaning I suppose for that I durst be so bold as to reprove them I told them I was the Lords freeman for all that and therefore could not but speak for the Lord for whose sake I was willing to suffer bonds but said K. the Serjeant you are not in prison for the Lord for what then said I nay faies he they that sent you hither knows why truly said I but I know not then neither do they they that keep me here I believe for I am sure in none of their Orders or Mittimusses that ever I could see yet did they ever signify any cause why they committed me and have kept me now in severall prisons near two years already and in banishment but as the Town-cleark answered the hurly burly Acts 19. Yee have here in prison men that are neither robbers nor blasphemers and yet you use us worse then the veryâ—st Rogues in New-gate Robbers or Blasphemers are used for they if they have money can send for meat to cat or be ministred to or receive Letters necessaries but you hinder us most tyrannically and unjustly by your ungodly Swords even from our very necessaries without Law of God or Nation Reason Equity or Conscience wherefore as Acts 19.38 If we are transgressors and you have matter against us the Law is open why do you not try us but if not why do you thus use us who have done you no wrong Nay and now too my wise being so ill and she that is with us for a servant lame c. O search into your consciences for you never treated the Cavaleres so bruitishly here with you Nay you could give the Cavaleres that were here liberty to go abroad and ride about to Newport and up and down to Alehouses drinking feasting gaming and commiting sinne every day and partake with them too in it yet we must gnaw upon the bitt and be kept without bread is this righteous in the sight of God Corporall Haddiwayes answered me that we were worse then the Cavaleres therefore and S.K. said in a scoffing manner give me money and I 'le go fetch you things Ah! said I to S. K. for I directed my speech to one now you have declared your painciples to be to obey Orders whatsoever they be you say so When if a Superiour Officer do bid you in your ear put two penny worth of poysonor Ratsbane into the meat or what you buy for us you must do it you say and the sinn be upon them that bid or ordered you no! no! it is dangerous dealing with men of your principles then I perceived their teeth were on edge to be upon mee and one bad mee be gone in but being warm in my Spirit Quo magis illi furunt eo amplius procedo as Luther said I told them that I was doing no harme and prayed them to consult with the word of God about their present condition but then came out an old man and bid mee be gone in I told him I was about the Lords worke and did no harm nor was I ever forbid to stand in that place where I stood and I did think it as good ground to stand on as that in my prison but now they began fierce upon me many at once like so many wide-mouthed Wolves to fall on as if they would not have left the bones untill the morrow and out came Bull who imediatly without hearing mee gave them either the sign or the word to fall upon mee notwithstanding I cryed out unto him what have I done only rebuked sin and blasphemy c. but he was farr more barbarous than the Heathen chief Captain of the band Acts 21.31 32. who as soon as he came they left beating of Paul and he rescued him yea then the Captain and his Officers Acts 5.26 who brought them without violence but this worse than Heathen was hot in his Gall and greedy Surdis auribus sed plenis faucibus he commanded and encouraged them and looked on and directed them with his Cane to do it and as soon as he came the cruell Souldiers armed as for a combate fell thick upon me with their bent fists bearing some haling as if they had intended my death forth with Acts 21.31 Colaephis verberibus pluentes grandinantes and after a while two or three of them espeially S. King the Cap tain of the Guard then cryed out let us carry him to the Dungeon to to the Dungeon to the Dungeon to the Dungeon with him at which I was by some hawled and turned about that way and then I sayd as they were thrusting pulling and strikeing mee Yea yea with all my heart with all my heart I rejoice more therein for I shall finde my dear Christ there I am sure it is sweeter than a Chamber for this cause I shall finde my God there as well as in my Chamber do what you can and indeed I was refreshed thereat and now now I think of John Carelesse his comforts in prison Fâ—x voll 3. page 716. I am disposed to be merry to sing and dance with David before the Arke saies he to Mr. Bradford and though you play upon a pair of Orgons i. e. in the Stocks not very easie to the flesh yet the sweet sound that cometh from the same causeth me to do thus that I may sing all care a way in Christ for now the time of comfort is come meaning by greater afflictions for Christ I hope to be with you shortly for my old friends of Coventry have put the Councill in remembrance of mee saying I am more worthy to be burn'd than any that hath been burned Gods blessing on their hearts for so good report God make me worthy and hasten the time c. Thus in effect I said and my Spirit leaped but when they saw my comfort and courage in it when they cryed out to the Dungeon to the Dungeon with mee they were daunted at that and then hawled mee up a pair of stairs at the foot of which came some fresh Souldiers to help the rest who were weary with haling and abusing me one Robert Jenkins particularly with his fists ready bent first held them to my face to shew mee them to whom I said Ah! I know your weapons and then he fell upon mee â—main these greedy bruits learning no other way of preferment and favour with the grand Goaler Bull before whose eyes he shewed his valour in violence but by such exploits as we say that when they cannot shoot men they will shoot Pigeons or any thing Bull with others crying and following
as Acts 21.36 and John 19.15 Away with him away with him Ah said I So did the Souldiers deal with my Lord Jesus and the servant is not greater than his Lord. But O thou Hypocrite doest thou professe the Word or read it and yet contrary to the word of God Law or Reason biâ—st thy men to abuse mee thus without any cause the Lord will judge the for thy Hypocrisie and contempt doth not the Word say to Souldiers do violence to no man Luke 3.14 c. but this renewed their rage and roughnesse and then this Serjeant King as if he had been at Cuffs for his life fell on a fresh with his fists doubled his blows about my head neck and shoulders so unreasonably that some of their Creatures cryed to him hold your hand stay your hands hold your hands but I said Ah! Lord my God look thou downe but do you strike on Sirs strike strike strike for my Lord Jesus Christ takes these blows for his sake well at my hands though I am sure not at yours O it is sweet to be buffeted for Christ c. But as they had often done before they mocked at Jesus pish Christ saies the Captain Haddyway what talk you of Christ O said I that you would talke of him and walk in him more too yea and yet I will talk of him who is my most sweet Jesus and this is Christianity thus to suffer for him But they some hawling some thumping and some beating had gotten mee up a wrong pair of stairs and when they knew that they never staid to let mee come down nor offer'd it but some at my back thrusting some at each side and S. King at my hands pull'd me out at length with the Corporall all at once pulled mee down at one pluck the stairs as if they had rent mine arm from my shoulders but falling upon other Souldiers by the gracious providence of my most dear Father I was preserved my poor wife beeing by and the maid schreching and crying and then they hawled mee almost spent out of breath the other pair of stairs and at the doore of the room wherein they with such cruelty carri'd me where I now am They renewd their violence with such redoubl'd strength atrocity that several of them laying hold on mee some at my back some on shoulders and some at sides cast mee headlong who not knowing their design could not prevent it with such an united force fiercenesse fury and wrath as if they meant no longer to dally but dash mee in pieces so that the least they could have conceived thereon was to have broken my bones or put them out of joint imitating those Savage Spirits filled with wrath which carried my most blessed Saviour to the brow of the hill Luke 4.28 29. That they might cast him down headlong but the same God that delivered him delivered also me a poore wretch not worthy to be named much lesse honoured thus and that by a very marvellous appearance for in the fall my head and face were preserved from the battery of the ground by lighting upon the armes and shoulders of the maid and one of my children the blow of which threw both them also to the ground but my face was so-preserved though my body bruised with the fall which fall I perceived rejoyced the bloody spectators at their hearts and if otherwise it was I think that I was not quiet killed with the fall as Tully saies Quia totum telum in corpore non recepisset to whom I turned with these words passing thorough tears unto them Well Sirs now you have done thus O that I could entreat you but to search into the Scriptures and see if you finde any warrant there for this practise if you do then the Lord give you the blessing of it but it not then the most righteous God convince you of it or judge you for it and this was all I said to them knowing they were heardened and at these few wordes and tears they fell a scoffing and there left mee where I now am at the writing of this with very great consolation and joy thorough believing for as much as these verbera were ubera full duggs for my soule to suck out of And 1. Methinks I now may say I begin to be the Minister of Christ who is indeed a Theologus Crucis and the Servant of Christ Jesus and companion with Christ in the world as Ignatins when he came to the Wilde Beasts to be devoured his bones broken his blood sucked and his whole body crushed with them Now saies he now I begin to be a Christian It is nothing to be accounted and go for currant Christians as all are almost in England with ease pleasure delights estates and worldly enjoyments so to become Ministers of Christ with out the Crosse or Tryalls but for all that they will not stand for such before the Lord who fall not in with the Crosse of Christ in the Generation-suffering for the witnesse of Jesus your dainty mincing Professors who are afraid of sufferings at this day shall be shut out in that day when the Bridegroom comes for Christianus is Crucianus and Lucianus saith Luther Obj. But we live not under such Persecutors as the former Saints did who were headed hanged burned fleaed braten broken on racks tossed on Bulls horns rent and torne of Wild-Beasts broyled on Gridyrons starved stoned c. Answ 1. No! if you did I do wonder where we should finde a Christian then or them that would come running to the tortures as those Martyrs wearying the Tyrants with their faith courage and constancy to their teeth as they did when indeed ye are afraid of and faint at a little plundering prisonment banishment soft beatings and easy deaths for the Testimony of our dear Jesus who now suffers 2. Yet we have such persecutors of Christ and his cause at this day as would not spare us were we as high as resolute and of as noble a spirit for Christ as the former Martyrs who had not learned the State-policy of Professors now adays to spare themselves and comply a little and not to run themselves into sufferings for so they call it but they rather can to them accounting it their glory challenged and provoked in a manner the Tyrants Now it is not so much because our present Nimrods and Oppressors are better than the former Tyrants as because we poore low Spirited Christians and white liverd milgsops are worser and indeed a shame to the Saints and Martyrs of former dayes that we suffer so little for Christ our Lord Ah a las we love indulge ease and pamper the flesh more than the former Saints ever did or durst 3. To answer this objection with Mr. Burroughs out of Salvian I must say to them then the lesse they have to show of passive obedience the more they are to show of active plus ei fides devotio nostra debet quia minora a
every one submit himself 2. In that my most gracious over-ruling Father hath made the enemy to imprison and persecute me not onely is the same way and spirit but in the very same places where the Martyrs of old were imprisoned and persecuted which did refresh me indeed as at Lambeth that old Butchers shop and shambles of the Saints where so many even Wickliff himself and all along since have suffered their rings whereto they were chained remaining in the walls to this day which did affect me much to see And after that at Winsor where the eminent Martyrs Cranmer Ridley and Latimer were put in their way to Oxford in bloudy Queen Maries dayes 3. In that I am also instructed how to want as well as to abound and so in all conditions as the Apostle saith to be therewith content Phil. 4.11 1 Tim. 6.8 having passed through prisons reproaches tumults beatings bufferings often throwings headlong banishment spitting upon yea spoyling of my goods which hath been much one Letter hath signified to me the losse of an hundred pounds at one time and in plundrings often and in perills of life sicknesse Feavours storms cold snow tempests without bed without bread in sore travells and severall other tryalls yet all this which is the life of all for my most dear Christ against Cromwell and the whole Earth blessed be Jehovah therefore I wait but for Whitehall or the Pretorium-hall 4. In that the enemy though he hath sought it greedily yet to this day hath not found any just cause or colour for my imprisonment and exile nor so much as signified why in their Orders of commitment which is my great comfort and advantage for as Paul said in his fourth defence Acts 25.7 8. and they utter many and grievous complaints which they cannot prove for neither against the Law of Christians nor against the Temple nor against the faith have I offended at all So Acts 24.12 13. neither found they me in the Temple disputing with any man neither raising up the people neither in the Synagogue nor in the City 5. In that the Persecution upon me hath been above many others so sweet though sharpe a primitive-like diogmos or chasing Persecution from one place to another not letting me rest in our own Countrey nor in Exile but hunting me about like a Partridge from place to place with Nimrâ—dian Tyranny like them of whom the Worlâ— was not worthy although I am not worthy of the happy number or race Heb. 11.38 who confessed v. 13 14. they were strangers and pilgrims on earth declaring plainly that they sought a far beâ—â—â—r Countrey 6. For that this their spreading and hurrying Persecution did so primitive-like sow and advantage the Gospell of the Kingdome in all places where I was carried round about this Island the report of this Doctrine running and inclining the poor people to enquiry reading and search and so was the Gospell at first spread and sowâ—n in all Asiae Cyprus Cappadocia Macedonia and indeed over all Nations by such a chasing Persecution which I praise the Lord for that it fell out to be my lot in this Island to sow this seed Paul plants Apollo waters but the Lord must give the encrease And indeed I dare not deny but our God hath given a very great encrease hereby insomuch as the very women who have enquired into the very truth as at Newport do professe openly this is the way of God that we are imprisoned for and that they will part with all they have in this heavenly Cause and Quarrell between the Prisoners and the Powers which is very much considering in what exceeding slavery people in this Island are kept by the sword So that as the Gentleman in Scotland told the Bishop Bettoun upon the burning of that Martyr Mr. Patrick Hamilton My Lord if you burn any more of them you will ruine your selves if you burn them let them be burnt in hollow Cellars for the smoak of Mr. Patrick Hamilton hath infected as many as it blew upon it may be is the policy that our Persecutors have taken to imprison plunder and banish and make no noise no mention in news-Books of it least it should be known yea to coop us up so closse Prisoners in Banishment and Cellar us up from all noise of their cruelty to us least it may be our breathing or as Bull saies seducing which is the old note of Persecutors and Goalers over the imprisoned Martyrs But as we know Beggars by their chanting so do we Bull and his Masters by their language with the same spirit lying traducing and opprobriously abusing as those base Monsters both Heathenish and Popish Goalers and Tyrants did that were their Predecessors but for all these Atopos absurd men 2 Thess 3.1 2. Shall the Word of the Lord have free course and be glorified Amen Hallelujah 7. In that the Lord hath in this School instructed me to Preach in tumults and uproars as the Apostle saith 2 Cor. 6.4 5 6. in all things to approve my self the Minister of my God In much patience in afflictions in necessities in distresses in stripes in imprisonments in tumults in labours in watchings in fastings by purenesse by knowledge by long-suffering by the holy Ghost by love unfained by the Word of truth by the power of God by the Armour of Righteousnesse on the right hand and on the left by honour and dishonour by evill report and good report as a deceiver and yet true as unknown and yet well known as dying and yet behold we live as chastened and not killed as sorrowfull yet alwayes rejoycdng as poor yet making many rich as having nothing and yet possessing all things O blessâ—d be that bondlesse love and grace of God unto me herein yea I tell you he hath been teaching me a strange way of Preaching as if I were a pouring ouâ— of my bloud with my words at once to seal the truth and in expectation of leaving my life with my Light of the dashing my brains about my Exhortations O this this is me thinks to bear about in my body the dying of our Lord Jesus indeed who did preach thus and so did the Apostles and thus am I become dead to the Laws yea to my own life by the life of Jesus and body of Christ I think I can say sometimes most sweetly Tossanus in Anâ—olia had such a time of it too among the Barbarous Souldiers for he preached every Sermon not looking to come out alive and in a Barn too where the Church met Ah Lord let me thy poor worm be such a Preacher all my dayes to speak in every Sermon as my last words to poor Souls yea as if I were sealing them on a Scaffold with my bloud Amen so be it Amen He had that honest saying of Seneca it seems often over Vir bonus quod honesâ—è se facturum putaverit faciet etiamsi periculosum sit ab honesto nullâ re deterribitur ad
most high amongst many other things that are shortly to come to passe upon the whole Earth from Jesus Christ the faithfull Witnesse the Amen of all these things and the Author and Finisher of my Faith even so Amen Lord Jesus come quickly But before I finish we find a fresh assault of Sathan upon us in this close Prison perpetrated to make our bonds the more heavy I mean anoâ—her Link of Yron added to the concatenation of their cruelty constantly exercised in this Exile upon the 20 of the 1 moneth 1656 came Captain Floyd and Major Strange with an ORDER from White-Hall to remove M Gen Harrison from us to High-gate to his own house a prisoner under pretence of the very desperate danger of death his Father the Collonel was in as also his dear Yoak-fellow so near the time of her Travel but our pretious Concaptive thus surprized was in great fears of the Serpents snares in this Order and would not give them any resolve what to do until he had acquainted us therewith assur'd us of his jealousies lest his further Liberty company and outward comforts should be any intanglement unto him or let to his inward joyes and prison-experiences knowing as Luther said that Vna guttula malae Conscientiae totum mare mundari gaudii absorbet the least drop of a troubled spirit swallows up the whole Ocean of al outward comforts or delights so that he did earnestly desire us to set it before the Throne for a Resolution which we agreed unto and at the end of that day came in the two again who were to take him into custody who after we had given him our apprehensions dealt very roundly and plainly with them that he could not thank them for their pretended Love nor did he think his Father or Wife would be worse by his continuance in this prison but rather the better for he was perswaded they should do wel and for a Goal he had rather have this then any for the cruelty thereof and of BULL who made so little conscience of what he said or did and who had indeed played the very beast with us so that for suffering it was the best prison we could be in nor would he make his house a prison to this effect he spake and told them that he could not declare his readiness to go with them but if they would carry him away he could not help it They said they did desire to serve him with al civility and respect and vvere loath to use any violence but could not go without him and they were now to take custody of him and so desired him to prepare himself the next day and to give directions which way he would go but he told them he would have nothing to do in it but he was a Sufferer nor would he direct nor bear any of the charges for he was a Prisoner and so for that night they parted and we prayed as we used to do together every night In the night I was much troubled about his going but the consideration of the Work at hand with that Word in Dan 2.18 That DANIEL and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon gave a truce the next morning BULL delivered him up two the other two who took possession of him we had much discourse and indeed the Lord gave him a very noble spirit though broken in himself to deal plainly both with Bull and them expressing his unwillingness to leave us behind or rather his desire to partake and carry with us stil in so sore bonds but when we saw he must be gone we parted as the Sun through a watry cloud with no little heaviness for a season and I said to C. Fl. Sir Tel your masters or any that ask after us that it were a little more MERCY if they had it to put us into any DUNGEON in London our own Land then to leave us here in the hands of such BLASPHEMERS and BRUITS so skilful to distroy but stil we bless the Lord for our Father makes it sweet and best to us We got upon a WALL and looked after them til they came neer to Newport and then my dear fellow prisoner Mr. Courtney who is left here and I kept the rest of the day in prayer easing our hearts and emptying our tears into the bosome of Heaven being a little troubled for our loss of so pretious a help so choise a companion as he was to us another Vetius Epigathus who was called the noble Advocate of Christians amongst the Martyrs to the teeth of their Tyrants but yet we had very blessed and fruitful experiences of a presence from the most high every day almost since which hath made his servants absence the more easie unto us Et bonus es Domine saies Bernard animae querenti quid invenienti O Lord what art thou then to them that find thee who art so gratious to us that SEEK thee in bonds After this we being like men out of mind in this Yron grave their cruelty increased yet more upon us to tire us out and Bulls brutish modesty was to have imposed upon the Maid-servants Father that his Daughter must tel him all the Tales that she could if she heard us at Table bed or board but speak a word of O. C. or any of their cruelty that she must betray her Master and bring him word of it and would have bound her Father to it in a bond To me particularly was their malice monstrous they put another Soldier and his Wife and sour Children into our other room where Bul himself had put us threw our wood and things out of doors brake open the locks and naild up the door from us with reproachful words to boot and this by Bulls command but we let them patiently in our own matters use any tyranny without taking notice and me thinks as Guy de Brez said The more SAVAGE they are the more sweetly hath my soul obtained WINGS to sore ALOFT above THEM all into the blessed Rest O blessed be the Lamb that was slain and is worthy for as Cruciger said GOD is so near us that he may be almost FELT Strict Orders were given that no one dare to shew familiarity unto us and the Woman with her four Children put into our room was charged when she came in to beware of us for if any of them were found to be familiar that is respectful or civil to any of us they should be turn'd out of the Caâ—tle without remedy or if any should but listen or stand to hear me at prayâ—r or in duty to God except it be such as were or laâ—e sent to listen under the windows and into holes for that purpose to catch and fetch some matter to make a crime of which above these two years they have been raking for so good is my God who blinds them that they see not vvhere my infirmities lye most but where the Almighty hath armed me
he made a scoff at what I said and turnd away in great fury then I said wel the LORD wil look down and see all these things at which he turn'd and said pish the LORD what do you tel us the LORD who is the L you are not the LORD aâ—e you and so went on raging and blaspheming and the rest scoffing for company as ful of fury as they could hold who indeed have not the patience to hear the Lords name so much as mention unless at Alehouses and in sin so sadly prophane are they and indeed how can they be otherwise when men with wicked and idle courses have spent al their meanes and cannot or wil not work they get into these Garrisons to drink and guzzle their Pay out before their pay-day comes and for other misdemeanours deserving to be chashiered can find no way to secure their places but by their brutish premeditated and barbarous cruelty to us wherein they merit most that are monstrous and these things I declare as in the sight of the God of truth to be true having read over again and again what I have written and do not know one line I have written too large the Lord knows whatever some may think but in many that I have written too little rather intending hereby to give but hints to the Saints of the continued and multiplied Series of our sufferings especially to such at London as through their ignoance and our forced silence say it is but a flea biting that we suffer and not worth speaking of but it is a sign they have not a fellow feeling for as the Lord said to Ezek 2.46 They are impudent and stiff necked but be not afraid of them though BRIARS AND THORNS be with thee and thou art among SCORPIONS and therefore it is we are so torn and stung every day and indeed in a sense it is a suffering worse then Death as slight as men make it It is true in reproach to us the Soldiers after they have beaten and abused us bid us to complain if we wil and if we do not like it help it knowing that the cure is worse then the Disease to us and that we have none to complain unto but the Lord who surely wil hear us and save us at last before they have wearied us out and broken our very heart-strings and which doubtless they designe in one kind or other before they have done with us But matters of greater moment I must refer to a fitter season and blesse Jehovah with us O ye upright ones that sympathy with us for he hath yet lined us with a good conscience within and a good cause without and we trust We shal not fear what flesh can do unto us and pray for us yet more abundantly I had thought long ere this to have been at an END and that this Persecution would have added or imposed a Quietus est to my body by death out of the continuance of their cruelty but it pleases the Father that I should yet live as one alwaies dying under their immanity and now since that of the poor Maids sufferings by their so immodest dragging her al at length in the yard before mentioned I am intreated by friends to inlarge this sad History which I write with no great delight though I hope I suffer it with joy a little further but I had rather a thousand times to set it before the Lord my God then once to make mention of it to any below yet by reason of Friends importunity to whom I must not be ungrateful I shal give you a short view of this new link added to my chain since that of Joseph in his round Caines-brook-Castle or Tower too Gen 3.20 running much in my mind for the Lord was with him and although I never read of such rigor in his bonds as are in mine renewed often yet of him the Holy G saith Psal 105.18 19. Whose FEET they hurt with fetters he was laid in Iron VNTIL the time that his Word came the word of the Lord TRYED him yea not only my feet have they hurt but my back bones and whole body hath been hurt beaten bruised and are aking every day with these heavy fetters and furies Since the Maids such monstrous usage without any cause and being last out at the gate with her clothes rent and torn where besides that she lay on the ground lame like Lazarus at the gate six or seven hours the next day for admittance and at last was let in again with no little stir and threatning I had liberty to go in to my dear Co-Exiles chamber not knowing of any design they had upon me which it seems they watched for and had Orders from BULL as they say to observe when I did so being now resolved to take their rage from the lame Creature having little credit of their cruelty to her and to wreak it upon me and my poor weak Wife which they did at present thus but O Lord let the remainder of their Wrath PRAISE thee Upon a sudden after my fellow prisoner had invited me into his Chamber four or six Musketeirs with Swords Guns and light Matches were set upon me there and soon after more followed them they set also Soldiers upon my weak Wife and Family yea into the very room raging which frighted her for the suddenness of it she being as ignorant as I of the meaning of this new piece of tyranny and so keeping us asunder that we could not come at one another see or hear so as to know of each others condition or what the matter was which made it look like a bad business as bad as if forthwith they had intended to murther me at least my Wives sickness subjecting her withal to very frightful fancies feares and apprehensions wondring vvhat would become of me stil asking after me and what was become of me or what they had done with me and besides to make it a through piece of a monstrous matter to her they set within her chamber the most uncivil drunken raging wretches stamping threatning grinding their teeth calling Jade Quean Carrion with a many such obscene names bending their fists striking tearing thumping raiâ—ing with their staggering if any offered to go in the room not suffering them to stir for necessaries within the rooms offering and drawing the naked sword upon them with asseverations several times vvithout any provocation given them in Word or deed and soon after followed ten or twelve more as they inform me and filled the room vvith such rude creatures and doings vvithout any regard at all to Sex sickness or condition As they vvere at this inhumane sport persecuting my Wife and Family those armed Soldiers with me were not wanting with great violence and fury to execute their Orders as they called it for I offering to go to the door with desire to see my Wife being fearful of some mischeif to her though I knew not of this cruel usage of
rejected must fal flat before the house of David the little stripling And all this Apostative interest of Councils Courts Triers Clergy Academies and Armies whom the Lord is departed from or rather who have no foundation at all in the Covenant of Grace or Kingdom which the God of Heaven hath set up over all Nations must worse then tumble but our cause cannot miscarry my Friends it cannot fail us who are Heirs of the Promise because every jota of it as we contend for it is founded in the New and everlasting Covenant blessed be the Lord the Holy one of Israel who hath already given us so many gracious and specifying prison prognosticks of the great day of Jezreel at hand 1. In that We and the CAUSE we are in are found and founded in Covenant of Grace vvhereby the Father stands ingaged to his Son by his Son to us in an inseperable union and tye Isai 53.11 Jer. 33.25 26. Acts 2.30 Gal 3.16 So that as Rom 4.16 It is of Faith that it might be by GRACE to the end the PROMISE might be sure to AL THE SEED 2 Sam 23.5 and our infirmities though many cannot hinder the most excellent glory and Resurrection of this most blessed Cause of Christ against Antichrist of the Lamb against the Beast in England Psal 89.33 34 Ezek 16.60 nor deprive us of our weight in that glory which is a coming by how much the Lord of this cause is the Lord of that covenant which is established upon so clear sweet and sure New-Testament promises Heb 86 12. Isai 43.25 yea Jer 50.20 saies the Lord In those dayes their iniquity shal be sought for but not found for I wil pardon whom I RESERVE the little REMNANT that overcome with the blood of the Lamb and the word of the Testimony Rev 12.11 O my brethren do not our heart even burn with us by a New Covenant communion with the Lord in this Cause having the pardon of sins the seale of his Love the assurance of his favour and boldness in his sight through the blood of Grace yea can we not run into the inner Court vvith the blood and the Fat of Lords Offerings and have as free and frequent an access into the Holy of holies where our High Priest is as vve vvil what should hinder us or who should let us and do not the Lords fats overflow with new Wine and Oyl unto our souls O my most precious Friends shal we or can we ever forget our prisons and Exiles so exceedingly lined warmed refreshed renewed and followed vvith such ful plentiful and ravishing mercies and let men say what they vvil it is marvelous sweet to our souls and our Consciences do witness it daily that our sufferings are New-Testament sufferings our vvitnessings New-Testament testimonies our comforts and hopes pure New-Testament hopes and consolations so are our priviledges principles and Spirits as odious as our enemies make them by their false reports New-Testament spirits and principles O that they vvere tryed yet more and more yea and our actings thereupon are New-Testament actings upon and in the Covenant of grace which the blood of Christ haâ—h sealed yea the Decree of God which to put an end of all strife Heb 6.16 17 18. God himself hath SWORN to that VVE poor prisoners of hope might have a strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the HOPE set before us and herein lyeth the whole controversie between us and our persecutors blessed be our most Heauenly Father for these prison companions and comforts of Christ for these fresh springs vvhich cannot fail us nor can vve fal the subjects of Gods wrath let them prison hang or head us banish or burn us for the Covenant standeth sure and is wel ordered in all things 2. The EARNEST PRESENCE of Immanuel or GOD WITH Us in our Prisons and Exiles is a most excellent PREFACE to the matter in hand yea a sure token for good unto us and a certain testimony of the Cause of Christ with us which we suffer so sweetly and satisfactorily in and for in the race of those righteous ones in all Ages that have freely parted with all to follow Christ for although a many profess him talk of him and pretend to do it very highly yet they turn it off to the affections not actions as if it were only to fix the heart upon him and not upon the vvorld or sublunary things and those have thereby condemned themselves as unworthy of him nor indeed are they the true Disciples of Jesus Christ but onely at larges as the young man vvho had great possessions Mat 19.22 and so the Martyrs and primitive Saints as I could prove have all along lookd upon them at a distance as vve shal see in the day of Christ but now I say vve see the bredth of the Land of Immanuel much more then formerly in these prison prospects and do men or Devils their vvorst vve may expect a most eminent reviving of the spirit of life upon us yea on our heads in an Oecomenical dispensation as is rested on Christ 1 Pet 4.14 the blessing shal be upon the head of Joseph whom no man remembreth in the prison Deut 33.16 yea and Joseph shal have the first lot among Davids singers 1 Chron 25.9 or Christs VVorthies that have victory over the Beast Rev 15.2 vvho have your chambers in the inner Court and a clear prospect Ezek 40.44 and sing the song of Moses and the Lamb Rev 14.2 JOSEPH being one of the free Woman that stands upon the Mount of blessing and not on the Mount of Cursing Peut 27.12 Besides as MANOAHS WIFE said if he would have killed us he would not have received our Offerings nor would he have shewed us all these things that are to come at this time Judg 13.23 and in the prison too and in a strange Land had vve been such evil doers as our enemies for their own sakes vvould make men believe us to be But O my happy Brethren in Christ doth not our God give us most remarkeable ful and frequent visits yea reveale his minde unto us and foreshew us things to come and accept of us in his dearest Son vvhat mean vve then to fear vvhat flesh can do unto us Psal 27.1 2. Psal 1â—8 Verily verily I say it and see it and by the authority vvhich the Lord hath given me I speak it that not ONE no not one soul in prison upon this pure and single account for the King of Saints but shal say it and if they persevere yet much much more injoy it that they have had such a presence of the Lord with them as is not usual no! not to Saints but I leave the further evidence of this tasted truth to TIME to declare at our next Hallelujatick triumph altogether over the beast and his Image for our God is gone up with a SHOVT and we shal sing praises together sing praises to the Lord sing praises
sing praises to our King Psal 47.5 6. 3. For that our close yea closest Prisons are made our free yea the freest Schools that ever our Father hath put us unto to learn the Book of the Lamb in where our lessons are most profitable and seasonable though hard and difficult to flesh and blood for as one saies Qui tribulantur sacras literas melius intelligunt Alii eas legant sicut carmen Ovidii c. The Saints in prison have the mind of the Scriptures most others read them as they read Ovid. O here here are the seven eyes of the Stone which lay before Jehoshua and Zerubbabel yea the seven spirits of the seven seals of that blessed Book Rev 5. they are in some measure ministred unto us and the truths are even burn and glow in our hearts so that we are made other manner of Proficients in the present Truth and Testimony by him that teaches to profit then ever we thought such poor silly worms as we are could ever have been 4. It is no little comfort and witness with us that our persecutors as bad as they are have nothing evil to lay to our charge neither against the Laws of God of Nature of Reason or Nation nothing for matter of Fact or any Act deviating from a due Rule or End Onely in the most Eligible matters of our Faith and for our faithfulness to the Lamb against the Beast is it that we suffer so as we do the Lord our God knows it and let our enemies say or do what they dare as immodest as they are besides lying and slandering and with our lives in our hands we vvil stand a TRYAL with them or any of them before any competent Judges by vvhat LAWS they vvil either of God reason or Nature that the Traytors both to God and men and the indeed Offenders may be duly proved and punished and this their own consciences wil tel them But O what miserable fowl-play is this so harshly to imprison and banish us and that contrary to Law Conscience Reason Religion common honesty or the liberties so long contended or rather pretended for and that without any charge in their commitments of me that ever I could see wherein they exceed the unrighteousness of their predecessors both Pope and Prelates yea vvithout any Accusers face to face without any Judg without any crime or judgement and that for whole years too together burying us alive and not suffering us to speak a word for our selves print or publish the truth and all for the truth the Lord knows so â—ar as we understand and then too to insult over us with most impudent lies pamphlets reports and Pulpits perswading the poor ignorant people most irrationally and untruly that it is no persecution upon us and here might come in the Plowmans complaint in Edw the 3ds d. Lord Lord â—ow much truer doom was there in PILOT an Heathen Justice then in our Kings c. that woulden deemen to death him the Priests deliveren without ten Witnesses and Priests c. But before I pass over this I am willing to revive Mr. Tyndal that precious Martyr in Hen 8. his Apostolical Doctrine on Mat 5. for saies he RULERS must not IMPRISON or apprehend any out of malice or hatred or to avenge themselves but to maintain the true OFFICE of Magistracy and good Laws which we never opposed nor were so much as in thought against nay we are imprisoned for standing to them so saies he on on Mat 5.13 Yee are the salt of the earth c. The nature of SALT is to bite fret and make smart but the SICK PATIENTS of the WORLD are marvelous impatient so that though they can suffer gross sins to be rebuked under a fashion as in a parable a far off yet to have their righteousness and holiness disallowed and condemned for damnablec and divelish that they may not abide Insomuch that thou must leave thy SALTING or else prepare to prison to suffer again even to be called RAYLERS Seditions a maker of Discord TROUBLERS OF THE COMMON PEACE Scismatick Heritick and to be LYED UPON that thou hast said or done what thou never thoughtest of and then to be called CORAM NOBIS and there sing a new song and forswear thy SALTING or else to be sent after thy fellows that are gone before thee and in the way that thy MASTER went This this good man and Martyr said very right for our days also for indeed it is our SALTING with the sincere truth that makâ—s them burn rage and fret so for when the Word comes home they are cut to the heart Acts. 5.33 and 7.24 and cannot indure it but do with Vae nobis make coram nobis our portion calling us Raylers and disturbers of the common peace which indeed they break and not we yea lying and slandering us at such a height as is to be wondred at none of us escaping their uncivil court-ships and most nauceous mouth-fistula's no not that good man Mr Tillingast whom they called as the enemies did Luther a Lyar and as to my self who am of any indeed I think the most deserving their censures I am lashed aloud Aculeis serpentum with Scorpion tongues and thongs but I leave it and them to the most righteous Judg the God of truth to whom I have committed my cause or rather his own herein and yet for the Truths sake I have assayed hard so far as the truth is concerned a most clear vindication which cannot pass the Press and so I do overpass and transmit it to the most High Judge of Heaven and Earth in Jesus Christ for he is near that JUSTIFIETH me who wil contend with me Isai 50.8 But this most precious Apostolike spirited Tyndal is much inlarged upon the foresaid subject in several places as in p 124. where he tels us how the preaching the Truth is so hateful to Kings and present Powers of the VVorld because saies he It is impossible we should PREACH CHRIST except we preach against ANTICHRIST that is THEM that with violence are against the Truth and as the PHYSITIAN doth heal no disease but dos first begin at the ROOT of it so we do preach against no mischief but we first begin aâ— the ROOT thereoâ— And as he hath said to the shame of our present preachers of Christ who can let alone Antichrist in the present Gâ—â— We have held it our duty to begin at the root of this grand Apostacy in England which is at VVHITE-HAL or VVHITE-HEL rather in this matter which hath occasioned so horrible and subtil a persecution from those men of corrupt minds who would not indure us to touch the Root o this Epidemical yea Apodemical Disease in England themselves being the BOTTOM of it 5. Another very excellent prison-prognostick and a very evident token unto us for good too is that the SPIRIT OF THE LORD upon us is I trust so much past cowardise and fear that we can do it to the
teeth of the proudest Tyrants on earth that we are above them and their rage do their worst because greater is he that is in us then HE that is in the world 1 Joh 4.4 and in our prison is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Power of the Witnesses a coming upon us through the strength of Christ to do marvelous things yea as Hag 2.7 8. According to the WORD that I have COVENATTED with you So my SPIRIT remaineth among you FEAR YE NOT for thus saith JEHOVAH yet a little while and I wil shake c. I will make the earth to tremble before you Joel 2.10 yea this pittiful pâ—dlie filthy mieryclay-Government that is gotten up in Great Brittany which is the first that must be struck through by the Stone Dan 2. Wherefore O my Friends we must and wil rejoyce yet more abundantly in this so blessed sweet temporate New-Testament Zone which we are under in prisons and Exiles for all the fierceness of this last Beast who hath made the torrid Zone of his tyranny inhabitable and insupportable and in truth if I know my heart in this matter I would say for one like Jerome of Prague when the flames were kindling behind him saith he with courage to the Executioner Come come Kindle me the fire before my face for if I had been afraid I had never come hither nor are we such lively members of Christs body if we cannot when called to it sweat a bloody sweat â—â—fr his sake Wherefore as the Dutch Martyr said Christo submittemus sexcenta si nobis essent Colla c. had we six hundred heads for one they should all off for Christ in this most blessed cause for Quas non oportet mortes praeeligere c What Deaths had we not better choose yea what Hels not endure then to decline one step so blessed so certain and so glorious a Cause as this is for which we are in bonds Wherefore O my most honorably beloved hearts the spirit of life rest upon you and of the two Witnesses to make you as stable and as able as Mount Sion Psal 125.1 yea as those Mountains of Brass from whence the Chariots of King Jesuâ— come they are a coming Zach 6.1 so that all the Devils of Hell may not be able to remove you then one inch of ground but that those who have gone before us from the dayes of Abel to this day and vvho have led up the VAN with valour with all the Elect Angels our fellow-servants in this Cause may exceedingly rejoyce to see our Faith and Faithfulness vigor constancy and courage in carrying up this finishing Rev 11 7. this Rear-testimony Mat 24.14 Rev 17.14 according to the Spirit of the Fifth Kingdom against the BEAST like the children of the captivity now to be returned like the children of the promise and of the Free-woman Gal 4. yea like the children of the Kingdom Mat. 13. that good seed that must sow the whole earth and the children of the Resurrection Luke 20. which are to have their lot in the next world upon the Earth and to reign with Christ a thousand years as I have proved at large in prison-born morning beams Lib 3. and 4. For Jehovah onely is the Lord Patron of al our preferments and whiles we are in the prison as I said we are not fishing for Gudgeons for We pre-possess several sweet tenures both free and copy-hold which we cannot part with no more then Nabaoth could with his Vineyard though we loose our lives for it and to conclude I woul'd leave tâ— is one word with you that the same Lord of Hosts and Captain of the Hoasts of Israel that went before them in the Van is now with us in the Rear where the enemy hath fallen on for that is now the Captains place so that we may confidently and undoubtedly expect as much of his prowess power wonderful appearances and presence with us in this Reare as ever any of the Saints or Martyrs among Jews or Christians found in the Van or in former dayes when the enemies fel upon them for this is clear in Isai 52.12 For ye shal not go out with hast nor go by flight for JEHOVAH wil go before you yea the God of Israel wil be your RERE-WARD Isai 58.8 Thy righteousness shal go before thee the glory of the Lord shall be thy RERE WARD then shalt thou cal and the Lord shal answer thou shalt cry and he shal say HERE I AM if you take away from the midst of thee the yoak c. I am prevented in my Word to the little Remnant I mean the Lambs faithful followers of the Womans seed that keep the Commandements of God and testimony of Jesus but in my Banish-born-Treatise lib last I write at large to them and of their Work if it ever come to light though I confess my Bucer-like hand which writes but bad may be some let or at least delay therein yet at present I am to bid them BEWARE and PREPARE beware of running before Orders come from Jehovah of Armies and prepare for them when they come yea to make all their Arrows ready against Babylon for the time to visit her is now come the set time to thresh her the Harvest is come Jer 50.51 Rev 4. and to favour Sion Psal 102.15 16. yea the set time is come and it is easie to see the SIGNS of Times come upon us yea the signes compleat them this little born this last B this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the learned read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this last limb of the Beasts Government and the man that maketh up his number six thousand six hundred six as we have proved in Prison Morn He is now come O up and be ready then like Roaring Lions against the end of the time times divident with your Ahud Chereb not Pe Chereb two mouthed swords like Christs men of War Pe Chareb or sword with one mouth only as hath been but Joel 2.2.7 9 11. to run climb the wal like mighty men and JEHOVAH shal utter his voice before you his Dread shal be upon your enemies who have insulted over you but shal fal before you Josh 2.9 Rev 11.11 yea they shal tremble and fear and wax feeble as Women Jer 51.30 Nahum 3.13 and become bread for your swords to eat as in Jeremy Acheleh Cherbechem Ne biechem because their defence is departed from them Numb 14.9 nor are the most godly amongst them that have Apostatized these times any more to be reckoned amongst the Lambs number then Dan and Ephraim because of their Apostacy Judg 17 18. were reckoned among the sealed ones of the 144000 Rev 7 5 6 7 8. Wherefore up O my dear â—arts who are of that number that stand before the Throne Rev 7.9 or with the Lamb in Mount Sion Rev 14.1 up and be ready with your Ahod weapon awake arise O English Shearjashub for out of JUDAH Christ with us Gentiles of Lea comes
forth the CORNER out of HIM the Nail out of HIM the Battle-bow and they shal be as mighty men which tread down their enemies as mire in the streets in the battle and they shal fight because the Kord is with them Zach 10.5 Wherefore I be sure ye begin-your Muster or to mount your horses Zach 1.8 upon a Mount Sion ground or in a New-Covenant principle that is purely for or rather with Christ and his Kingdom and for no earthly Persons things or Interests of Men whatsoever such a War was never yet in the four Monarchieâ—s And 2. Be sure that you be fully seperate from the Beasts dominion in all things and in every ministration as wel civil and Military as Ecclesiastick for the BLESSING shal be upon the head of him that is SEPERATED from his brethren Deut 33.16 and it is an Ordinance yea obedience to an indispensable command Rev 18.4 Jer 50.28 The voice of them that FLEE and ESCAPE out of the Land of Babylon to DECLAE IN SYON the vengeance of the Lord our God the vengeance of his Temple for such only are to come out of the Tabernacle of the Testimony and to pour out the Viols in pure linnen and not at all in defiled Garments Rev 15. But furthermore 3. Be sure you loose not the least opportunity or nick of time put into your hands to do the Work when the END comes And 4. Be sure you set not upon it with your own spirits nor pour out in it your own wrath or revenge but Gods only and upon such subjects too as the VVord reveals Yea 5 Lastly Be sure that you in your actings executings and sufferings be upon no other bottom being or foundation but the Lord Jesus 1 Cor. 3.11 whereon if you overcome you are sure to walk with him in VVhite Rev 3.4 Rev 7.9 14. amongst his WORTHIES yea and be as pillars in the Temple Rev 3.12 Rulers over the Nations Rev 2.26 27. and Heirs of the New Jerusalem glory the tree of Life the new name and the Throne Rev 2 7 17 and 3.12 21. Therefore up O ye Saints to take the Kingdom Dan. 7 â—8 and to possess it for ever for the GENTILES Christiani qui gentiliter vivunt have posses'd the outward Court this 42 moneths but We singers have the inner Court Ezek 40.44 and 't is now time to arise yea high time to deliver thy self O Syon Isai 52.1 2. and shake off thy dust to lay wast the land of Nimrod with the Sword Mica 5.6 7. And the Remnant of Jacob the VVorm shal be in the midst of many people as a DEW from the Lord as the showers upon the grass that TARRIETH not for MAN yea among the GENTILES as a Lion who if he go through both treadeth down and teareth in pieces and none can deliver Numb 23.24 the Holy City is the holy Camp in the outward Court of the Tabernacle that is to arise with the Two VVitnesses and root the Beast that trod it under foot Therefore for the Lords sake Sirs be valiant like Davids worthies yea King Sclomons men Cant 3 7 8. Who all hold swords being expert in VVar. It is said of Sadeel that with Gener a Citizen he fought so furiously for the then cause of God that he himself put a thousand Spaniards to flight and shal we fear Non de vita sed de scuto solliciti estoti regard not your lives for the work of Christ when called to it It is said that Sceva at the siege of Dyrrachium so long alone resisted Pompeys Army that he had two hundred twenty darts sticking in his shield and lost one of his eyes and yet gave not over til Caesar came into his Rescue is it possible my Brethren that this could be for the carnal interest of a man in a fourth Kingdom spirit and shal not as noble a spirit and as high a love be found in a Fifth Kingdom man for the most excellent cause anâ— King that ever was on earth viz Jesus Christ and him onely Blessed Lord when wilt thou raise us up with thy spirit of life or how long shal all lye dead O what cowards are we now to run into holes and corners for fear of sufferings surely Lord Jesus had al thy Disciples dealt thus with thee in their Generations there would have been but few Martyrs or followers of the Lamb O I blush for shame when I behold them that are gone before with these that now follow IGNATIVS said he had rather be a Martir then a Monarch but now men had rather be Monsters then Martirs when the Dragon Emperors gave Orders to put al to death that would confess themselves christians they came in of themselves by whole flocks confessing themselves christians and defying the Heathens as in Arrius Antoninus's dayes they ran in voluntarily to dye and to be tormented as did Romanus Gerdius Menas and a many others in Dioclesians dayes but ah where be they that run in flocks to White Hal now saying we are Fift Monarchy men or for the Kingdom of Christ and wil live and dye with our brethren together see 1 John 3.16 Hereby perceive we the love of God because he laid down his life for us and we ought to LAY DOWN our lives sor the BRETHREN But ah how iniquity abounds and the love of many waxeth cold as Gui de Brez Martir in Flanders so Mr Burroughs tels us of the Woman we heard of before who ran for Martirdom with the Saints for fear she should loose it and do we sit stil for fear of sufferings which were such Jocularia ludicra as Vincentius called them to the Saints in primitive times Rejoyce and leap for joy as the word is to suffer for Christ or be found doing for him when he comes Now I beseech the Lord awaken you if you be of that race and rouze you up and set you all awork as upon life and death with all speed to overceme the beast and his followers with as lively a spirit as high a zeal and readiness to dye in the service of Christ and this his most comprehensive Cause at this day as they were in theirs through the are greatest strife and so to overcome with the Word of the Testimonie and blood of the Lamb not loving your lives Rev 12.11 Bate me nothing of my sufferings saies Gordius to the Tormentors for it is to my loss then Majora certamina majora sequuntur praemia VVherefore because I must break off with these few words to you as to OVERCOMMERS for so I trust you are or wil be in CHRIST Jesus and close Followers of he Lamb I shal leave you with that blessed man Mr Hollands Legacy bequeathed to his Friends at his death against Popery Commendo vos dilectioni Dei odio Papatus c. So against this Apostate-Generation I commend you my Brethren to the dearest lovo of God and to the deadtiest hatred of these Hipocrites and Apostates AMEN for Heb 10