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
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
Christ his Word his Gospell and holy Spirit and â—s the poor prisoners exiles and wiâ—nesses of Jesus as our most righteous as God the elect Angells Churches Ministers Sâ—â—nts and other men yea the Word and Spirit of God the three thâ—â— bear record in heaven with our owâ— consciences do dâ—ly bear us witnesse what ever our enemies have the face to say to deceive themselves and others with Wherefore upon the 21. or 22. day of the 11. Moneth the Popes Bull began to roar and goaâ— again more fiercely than formerly without any cause shown why kept us up close prisoners with incredible cruelty and I think among Christians a most unheard of usage in baniâ—hment suffering none man woman nor child to come at us nor our victuals or necessaries to come to us or any of our families to fetch it in for us nor any letters to come freely in unto us or go from us but we were in our close prisons as ignorant of the thing as of the Cause till we tried it not imagining it had been in men at this day so far to exceed the very Pagan-powers in their persecutions in banishment and yet to pretend there is no persecution is thâ—y do in their extraordinary Hypocrisie the Lord pitty us but â—hen we would have sent out for provisions the servants was stayed by â—he Capâ—ain of the Guard and told none should go which he had Orders for nor any provision come to us but by ther hands which when we heard and knowing already the declar'd principles of the present Soldiers whom he had packed out and moddeled by this time for his very purpole to do what ever he bid them do those which had any remorse or touch in conscience being cast out or kept out we perceiv'd clearly their design began now to destroy us starve us murther or massacre us for to make us comply with their lusts thus they laid siege against us to conquer us to their side i. e. to play the Hypocrites Apostates perjured wretches and Beasts with them But we â—ought the Lord our dear Father of heaven and earth according to whose Word Spirit and example of all holy men we resolved with his grace to dy or be starved with a good conscience rather than to live without yet we sent a servant to Bull to demand a coppy of his Order for this his unheard of tyranny in an exile which he refused and bid complain if we would but alas we had none to complain unto which he knew but unto Jehovah tâ—e righteous Judge our only refuge and helpor Yet at length he said he had Orders from his Superiours at White-hall but would not shew then in this time it pleased God my poore wife was forely ill for whom we could not have what she needed nor any one be suffered to fetch them for money yea if any woman came but to see her the Sentinel Soldiers would not suffer it and when one Sentinel was desired but to let one poore woman come in to see her he said O! what good will it do you to see mee killed before your eyes I shall be hanged Presently if I should for I am charged upon pain of death not to let any one come near you or in unto you yea some friends at times coming long tedious and chargeable journeys of 20 30 40 60 or 100. miles some out of the Island and some out of our native land but to see us and to minister to our necessities were not suffered but turned back again at their outward gate after so great and chargeable journeys with tears and some of them before even we knew of it yea some that we know not of to this day pretending 'tis like they would comfort us and the Maj. Generals man being sent from his own house dear relations and Family in England to visit him and so at Newport to buy victuals to bring in unto us it need were was carried before Bull to whom he said he was sent to see his Master but Bull said he was 〈◊〉 but without he would signe an ingagement which by this time â—â—ll had drawn up he said he might be gone again for he should not so much as see him and so turned the poore man back again but tâ—at he had a key to let him in whether he will or no which till then this Bull did not know of and thus in an unexpected way he got in to see his Master But to return to an aliquid amplius which iâ— an aliquid altius their sword-Law and orders against us so strait was this siege they said against us that one Mrs. C. getting in but to a pair of staira near our lodge was forced away least she should see my wife and threatened if ever she came but into the Castle again they would be her death and break her neck and now behold what a providence of our Father who taketh care for the Sparrows and Worms cloatheth the Lillies and feedeth the Birds did minister unto us in this great strait there was sent in to the Maj. Gen. by a knight of their own party not of their make nor of the post peradventure in pitty it being the first and last of that kinde a little Lamb and to my poore wise bound up in brown papers and so undiscovered a neck of veal from New port which was most seasonable provision from our gratious good God yet after all this was gone and we in wants as before we prevailed with a little girle of one of the Soldiers for a piece of money to fetch us a little bread we being without but upon her return they took her carried her into Bull 's hall and there examin'd frighted roughly handl d and threatned her and would have forced her to say she had earried out a letter too but the girle knowing that she had nothing but a bit of silver to feâ—ch us a loaf of brown bread said she had nothing else but they yet like rude Soldiers said she had bid her confesse or else that she and her friends should suffer for it but when they could not compell her to ly they left her and kept her from coming into the Castle any more to bring us so much as bread But that there might be some better colour for this cruelty this Bull with two or three of his fâ—ll Creatures and Serviteurs had drawn up in Ingagement to bind us or at least our servants in a kinde of recoguizance and an owning of them and their wayes and then they should after they had subscribed have the liberty to go out for victuals thinking it may be by this time that we either were or that we saw we should be starved into these conditionâ— but when we found how insuff'rably barbarous tyranical they were that they would impose this upon our consciences for the very bread we should eat or provision we should buy for our money or else that we must suffer the utmost they could
turpia nullâ spe invitabitur 8. For that the enemies are very empty dry and withered whiles we are geâ—en sappy and growing blessed be our God as Psal 104.16 The trees of the Lord are full of sapp for we find our Spirits full our hearts full and hopes full and our faith full in a sense for this cause of our Lord Jesus full of comfort of life and of courage and of peace thorough believing which come amain upon us whiles our enemies are like the Hypocrites Isa 33. surprised with fearfullnesse yea Mager-mysabib is written about them as Mâ—stery is upon them Rev. 17.5 a sure signe to us and a token for good 9. In that on both sides the main body seems to be marching up because the forlorne hope is already so hotly ingaged with downright blowes as on our side with the truth and testimony they or their side with down-right point blank blasphemy and persecution so that not onely the heads Rev. 13.1 but the whole body of the Beast Rev. 17.3 is full of blasphemy and both sides are fallen on so that the next news I am like to hear after this forlorn is a fight and fight of the main bodies on both sidâ—â— or the â—ife of the holy Camp the holy City trod on these 42. months Rev. 11.2 and the pitching of Maher-shalabhashbaz's great Tent Esa 8.1 For the 3. great things which I wait to see and hear are the great Tent and Trumpet Esa 27.13 Deut. 23.10 the great Bone-fire and flame Rev. 19 20. and 17.16 and the great Sun or light of seaven dayes with seaven eyes and by the seaven spirits Esa 30.26 ch 60.19 Rev. 21.23 10. In that our new Covenant propriety in God our Father continues unto us sure and well ordered in all things in all conditions in Prisons Exiles Plunderings Reproaches Dungeons Wants Death and judgements in seperable c. still we can say our God though a consuming Fire Heb. 12.29 though Eli Eli Lamasabachthani yet Eli Eli that is we cannot fall the subjects of Gods wrath though of mans no not when the Violls come to be poured out for none are the in execution of them but who are above them but all and those onely that are under them shall fall as the subjects of his wrath or the third Wo which is at hand now this is no little comfort to us to whom God is Love yea all Love and all together Love in our Prisons But Lastly in that Sion is in travell of a male-child which makes the paines the greater and the more difficult for a man-child must be borne Isa 9.6 the Sonne of God and heir of althings in heaven and earth Heb. 12. yea the Sonne of Abraham and heir of the Promise and Covenant yea the Sonne of David or heir of the Kingdomes and Crownes of the world the Sonne of Mary and heir of all mankind yea the Sonne of Sion and only heir of the Generation-Work that of this male-child is Sion now in travell with according to Isa 26.17 18 Like as a woman with child that draweth near the time of her delivery is in pain and crâ—eth out in her pangs so are we in thy sight O Lord We have been with child we have been in pain but it is a male-male-Spirit not a female low Fourth Monarchy-Spirit but a most noble high couragious invincible heaven-borne Spirit that must be brought forth by all these pains persecutions and travells for in the primitive times when the woman was in her travell of this male-Child the Dragon Government did so persecute her that he stood ready to devoure him as soon as he was borne or brought forth into the world and this man-child of Government Christ in the ministration of the Fifth Kingdome Isa 9.6 7. was then caught up unto God and to his throne Rev. 12.5 6.4.2 3.5.6 13. and the Woman or Spiritual Church who after long travell and pain brought forth this blessed truth of the Reign of Christ on earth or the Fifth Kingdome who was forced into the Wildernesse for the 1260. dayes so that now at the end of the 42. moneths or 1260. dayes is the Woman to come out of the Wildernesse and this malechild of Government to come down from God again and to rule all Nations with his rod of iron it is true that he was travelled with in the Heathen Emperours dayes with great perils and pains as appears by the Apologies of Justin Martyr to Antoninus Pius which I read at Winfor and afterwards of Tertullian and some others but he was not born untill the Christian Emperours dayes especially when Jovinian Valentinian c. were Emperours who themselves were Fanters and Professors of the Reign of Christ and are chronicled for Millenaries c. as I have proved in Prison b. Treat but almost as soon as he was thus born he was caught up to God to be forth comming again at the end of the 1260. dayes and therefore Rev. 12.5 She brought forth a man child as mellei poimainein who was about to rule all Nations with a rod of iron not who did it as some say it of Constantine but he was borne ready as if he should rule all but the Lord took him up till the period of the Beasts dominion or the 1260. dayes suffering were over which declares evidently that this male-Spirit will up again speedily for the Reign of Christ with his rod of iron sword and Lawes over all Nations and the overcomming Saints Rev. 2.26 27. or those that have victory over the Bâ—est c. Rev. 15.2 3. shall take the Kingdomes for ever Dan 7.18.22 and thus the man-child must come down from heaven from the throne and from god only in that the God of heaven alone shall set up this kingdome which shall never be destroyed but break all others in pieces Dan. 2.44 and in that ver 45. the Stone is cut out with out hands onely fitted and brought forth from Mount Sion by the Spirit of the Lord the Mount out of which it falls Dan. 2.45 being Sion and the Mount into which it becomes being Moriah Dan. 2.35 or the two Mountains of Brasse mentoned Zach. 6.1 Now the Spirit of the Lord and of the Lamb who hath the seaven Spirits sent forth into all the earth Rev. 5.6.4.5 brings it down unto us so that the man-child must thus come down from God and his throne who was till this time taken up to God and his throne but as I have had a little share I blesse the Lord for his grace in these fresh travells pains of Sion to bring forth this man-child Isa 66.7 Jer. 30.6 7. Isa 51. So have I been abundantly in my bonds taught of the Lord the truth of these thingâ— which I have not time nor utterance for at present nay so good hath my God been to me in this Pathmos School that I think I could almost say it without the least Ostentation and only to the glory of Gods rich grace unto mee
character of the Beast viz. 666. and several Queries in all the points I herein handle and Cases to be resolv'd which I may say some scores of Saints sent or brought unto me whereby I saw an evident call to give an account of those Cases and Resolves in this Treatise which others have experienced and put their Probatum est for the publike benefit of other Patients But if these Physical ingredients work well they must be content to be sick of the world and of all sublunary affairs as they are and to be redeem'd fully from the earth for the service of the Lamb who would be well A good Conscience and a good Cause are like two bladders under the arm-holes which keep the poor heart from sinking and the head above water do what men or devils can as we in prison can tell by experience while Rich-men poormen in the midst of their Honours or ill-gotten Greatness will finde at last for all their Arts Equivocations and Policie to put off their Consciences with That they have but stuffed a pitcher in stead of a pillow with feathers to lie down upon And indeed a Court-conscience as things are now is worse then a common Goal as the Apostates of the times will finde at the General Assizes for thither the Lord chief Justice of all the world sends his Malefactors he makes his Warrants to have them bound with the cords of their own sins and ere long O lamentable they shall lie in Little-Ease without Bayl or Mainprise deprived of the present Light and laid as it were upon the Rack in examination for their Apostacie Perjury Hypocrisie Persecution Self-seeking c. till all their Villainy come out O it will be a terrible time to them and this I look for to light upon them whom the Law must and will judge Now because many poor souls whose consciences like candle-snuffs in the socket flame up now and then and then leave them in the dark again so that although by such a light a man may see his book yet he cannot see how to read it or he may know where it is but not what it is so he may see his pen and ink but not see how to write with it so a woman may see her needle and work but cannot thred her needle or see to work by such a light So I say are some mens consciences sometimes in a little light and then in the dark again they can see the commands but not their duty they can see Religion but not the work of the generation they can hear of the downfal of Babylon and of the Beast's whole Government but not bear it at home or act in the ruine of it in the general they can close with the Truth and present Testimony but are not able to come to particulars Such as these among others have brought me their Cases of conscience to whom I must minister my light in the ensuing Treatise having a sufficient Call whatever it should cost me in my place as a Minister of the Gospel to answer All Cases of conscience that I may be made manifest as the Apostle says in the consciences of all 2 Cor. 11.5 My Lord and Master received all that came unto him so did the Apostle of the Gentiles and all the faithful Ministers all along yea if the answer to such Cases or Queries were ever so high against the Powers or Laws of Men then uppermost as Luther did in that grand Case of Conscience sent him by the people of God at Miltenberg when they were forbidden by the Powers upon pain of death to appear publikely about matters of Faith But so far for the fifth Cause or Call 6. The Doubts which are occasion'd by contradiction of Doctrine in our absence 6. The frequent News brought us of that unsteadiness darkness and indeed malignity and contradiction of doctrine which is delivered at London tending to perplex unsettle grieve and stagger many precious souls whose eyes and hearts are upon the present Truths Work and Testimony with us in Prison for the Kingdom of Christ viz. the little Stone or striking part of that Kingdom in the first place sometimes asserting there is no such Kingdom sometimes that the Stone began to strike at or before the Incarnation of Christ sometimes that the Witnesses were slain long since in the Martyrs that were burnt beheaded or the like sometimes that they are not yet slain affirming the Place to be in other Dominions in Germany or France Savoy or Rome or some other Popish Dominion and not in England and making the two Witnesses to be two persons or else the suffering Saints together who are the remnant of the Womans seed and not the Magistracie and Ministery of the Witness some pretending the time of the slaying and the end of the 42 m. to be afar off and wishing the Prisoners were not under a Delusion in looking for Christ and his Kingdom and coming too soon sometimes telling them that the mark of the Beast is not yet taken and that none of the Vials are yet poured out and the like Whereby abundance of precious hearts have told me they are so confounded that they know not what to say and can see no light in their Doctrine which makes them take so long journeys to the Prison for information and would more and oftener could they have admittance for that some of our brethren in stead of snuffing the Candle put it quite out and so leave our wonted hearers in the dark especially since the death of Mr. Tillinghast that Lanthorn of light that choice Saint who dying in the Testimony became a Martyr to the Truth and Cause we are in prison for as if he had died on the Scaffold during whose life in so short a space so much Light was ministred as was marvelous in London he being of a more winning humble sweet attracting and meek temper which was very needful for that season according to the Italian Proverb Hard without Soft the Building is naught for there must be soft Mortar well tread an humble spirit well mortified to hard stone or brick well laid or as well as a zealous resolute spirit well grounded i. e. upon sound knowledge to make up the Bulding that must stand But I say since the gathering in of that ripe and rare first-fruit or setting of that Morning-star that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for he was full of light yea that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for he was a light whiles it was yet dark they are left in the more dark for the present but it being a Morning-Matutine darkness it does argue to me the Sun is next to arise or the enunciation of such light and beams at first as shall enlighten the whole Land Rev. 18.1 But now because we are bid Isai 35.3 4. to strengthen the weak hands and confirm the feeble knees and to say to them that are of a fearful heart Be strong fear not c. and because the
that diom non pâ—rdidi I have not loft a day in the Prison nor hardly a day wherein I had health or was not hurried about without an improvement of my search into these blessed and big-bellied mysteries by writing treasuring up and preparing for the publique as Ap. said Nulla dies sine lined for since my imprisonment I have prepared I think above 300. sheets upon severall subjects to be printed however it be that I am so betrayed or that they stick in the birth and the trutheâ— ly buried yet the Lord knowes to whom I am thankfull that I have not been idle in the prison seeing Crux pendentis is such a Cathedra docentis to my soul I have sent to the presse upon Daniell Apocalips and the Prophets concerning the Kingdome of the man-child and upon the Vialls the two Witnesses the two Beasts the time the worke and the truth of the Generation the 1000. years the supputation of times the personall Reign the first Resurrection and the day of Judgement with an obvious prospect into the 45. years that are next coming but how they miscarry I know not only this I know that my judgement is with my Lord and my work with my God Isa 49.4 5. who will reckon with them that keep back the truth from being published when Babylon comes up in remembrance before him and though this Crosse of Christ be to them that perish foolishnesse yet unto us which are saved it is the power of God 1 Cor. 1.17 18. and here it is that I have had the clearest freest fullest sweetest universalest spirituallest and profitable teachings that ever I had or thought that this poore earthen vessell of mine could have ever received Hallelujah Before I leave of I must acquaint you with a few more of my general observations from the chief of this Rock and so I conclude this Introduction 1. Generall Observation There hath alwayes been in the world since the fall of man two distinct seeds and enmity set between them viz. The seed of the Serpent and the seed of Woman Gen. 3.17 called in the Old Testament the bond-woman free-woman So the house of Saul of David the one rejected the other received and established in the Covenant Heb. 8.9 and so in the New-Testament the flâ—sh and spirit Sinai and Sion the Dragon and the Woman and the Serpent the Remnant Rev. 12 the Beast and the Lamb ch 17. the first were alwaies the persecuting and the last the persecuted whereby we know we are on the right and blessed side under sufferings and persecution for the Witnesse of Jesus and work of the day but our enemies are on the cursed and Persecutors side and because they continued not in my Covenant I regarded them not saith the Lord Heb. 8.9 2. Gen. Obs That the Governments of the world have been of the Serpent and not of the Woman to this day and that all along from Nimrod hitherto they have been in Oppression Tyranny Persecution c. the fruit of Adams fall and of Sin but that Government which we look for in the world which will judge Nimrod and the Mount of Esau Obed. 21. is a part of our Redemption and a fruit which growes onely in the Covenant of grace Dan. 7.22 without which our Redemption cannot be compleated Rev. 5.9 10. So that it is part of our Redemption by the bloud of Christ which we contend for in the fall of the fourth Monarchy and suffer for so long and so sore an imprisonment and banishment for whatever our enemies say this we are iure of that this present Government of great Brittany is Nimrodian and not to be doubted by discerning men to be a fruit of Sin and of a fearfull Apostacy and as Purchas in 's Pilgrim ch 10. tells us out of Philo how Nimrod was such a hunter of men by compelling men with a bruitish force as beasts are compelled by meer force to fall in with him his way worship and Element whereby Babell was built what force can be more bruitish or compulsive for the interest of Babilon than the long Sword without the Laws of God Reason Nation or Nature as it is this day in England 3. Gen. Obs There is a sure and a summing time to period the Nimrodian Dominions of the world and all the Dominions of the Beast so red and dyed deep with the bloud of the blessed Witnesses and Saints when they shaâ—l endure no longer to persecute oppresse or afflict the Saints but the Saints be set free from all oppression tyranny and injustice and this is granted by all men therefore I come to the Fourth 4. Gen. Obs That all the Creation visible and invisible in heaven and earth do groan with us after this blessed time of Restitution of all things or of full Redemption actually into the Liberty of the Sons of God Rom 8.21 22. from this yoak of bondage and corruption except onely such vermin as rise out of corruption and are self-created according to that Rule Ex corruptione generatio fit which must be destroy'd amongst which is this present Governmt now up in England 5. Gen. Obser That this Age and Generation wherein we live or are entring yea this very Nation of great Brittain is a summing Age and Generation and Nation wherein begins the totall of all before as is evident 1. For crying sins like the sins of Sodom Gen. 18.20 Isa 3.9 and 13.19 all the summing sins of any Age in the world if not of every Age this is guilty of and most summarily in England is the muttering in the Wildernesse and provocation of the Lord their turning back to Aegypt so of the Apostacy of the ten Tribes their breaking Covenant and Engagement after they had engaged to be the Lords and after so many appearances of God too yea their Idolatrous worship after the manner of the Nations to be destroyed their slighting of the pure waies Laws worship of God yea their Cain-like building Gen. 4 17. and their violence and persecution too as before the destruction of the old world so of the resting and relying upon their own strength as the strength of Aegypt so also of the Hypocricy and yet Formality of the Jewes Scribes and Pharises Priests and Rulers that Crucified Christ by the hands of the Souldiers and of their Pharoah-like height and hardnesse of heart after many signes and tokens and so of the serpent-like policy specious pretences reason of State and subtilties in them which are to period the 42. Months or Beasts Dominion Rev. 12.14 And indeed as the Devill did not use a Lyon-like force at first in Paradise to over-come Eve with which had then been bootlesse saith Purchase ch 5. but a serpentine-sleight of insinuation as the meetest for his present projects it is so now knowing he hath to deal with a Generation that professe to be the Lords own people plain force and fury had not so prevailed for him as subtilty art and sophistry
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