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-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
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
rather in Arten-house because of the incredible cruelty tiranny of this castle that I was brought hither So that the Lord my God saw it meet to bring my body under harder discipline for as Tertullian saies Nimis delicatus es Christiane c. Christian thou art too delicate for mee who must have thine ease thy peace thy pleasure and delight in this world and so in an other place de fugea in persec speaking against them that will shrink comply or fly for fear of harder persecution saies he ' non potest qui pati timet ejus esse qui passus est He that is afraid or runs away from sufferings can be none of his who hath suffered so much and indeed is hath been very teaching to me to set Christ upon his crosse before me Heb. 12.2.2.10 The Captain of our Salvation being made perfect through sufferings And can we think to be perfect without sufferiâ—gs for Christ No surely But to proceed In this pittifully distempered estate of Body I was sent for from thaâ— poore house 〈◊〉 the Commissary and some others being ready to convey mee with the foresaid Serjeant Corporal and Soldiers into the Castle and for my encouragement they told us the Moon was up but perceiving their resolution and importunity I desired liberty to prayer after which we were carried up into the Castle as I came in at the first Gate I made a stand resigning my selfe Soul and body into the hands of my most dear God and Father through Jesus Christ not knowing that ever I should come out alive I said aloud to them all in the name of the Lord do I enter here and for the sake of Jesus which they all witnessed unto as well enemies as others I was guarded thorough the Musketteres standing on both sides with Muskets peeces and matches light I was with my wife and two children put up into a very little poor smoaking cold Garret upon the top of all which was a common Soldiers room and although it was a little triall to my wife not having a Chair to sit on and so little that we could not readily turn or stir about businesse in it the bed-stead which was borrowed taking up the most part and the smoak of the chimney turning all into the Room at some times so as we could scarce see one another yet did much rejoice to be so pent up for the Son of man had not where to lay his head and in an upper Room too from the consideraton of our dear Lord Jesus his chusing an upper room to eat the passeover wich his Disciples in when his time was at hand that night I was so Exceedingly distemper'd and ill that I was forced to betake me to some rest in such lodging as we could get the next morning came my dear con-captives for this most noble and excellent Cause of the King of Saints to see mee Maj. Gen. Harrison and Mr. Courtney who were a long time kept up in this close Goal where now I was brought to be their companion some part of our time which was spent together was in praying instructing praising our God not omitting this his mercifull over-ruling sweet providence which had brought us together into one Goal as well as one Exile for one and the same Master the Lord Jesus and in one and the same Cause Testimony and Truth and this too by those very men that not long before would not let mee come near this Castle least I should once have seen these servants of the Lord but upon the walls Upon the Lords-days I preach'd in my room as I used to do and who of the Soldiers would had liberty to hear mee for two or three daies yea Bull himselfe the grand keeper hereof which did indeed refresh the hearts of some pâ—o â— soules who got in also to hear me but this liberty at first was to finde out matter against mee for a collour of their preintended future Trâ—gedy tyranny and intrenchment I was also soon after removed into better rooms which Mr. Bull now braggs of where I now am but the be doing we had in the Garret was taken from us and we forced to some want therein untill some at Newport sent some in unto us for which with what we hire we blesse the Lord notwithstanding I told Bull that I was well contented to ly on straw or else if they would not allow me straw on the bare boards only I pittied my wife being not well but for all their cruelty to us our kinde Father provided for us Some honest people of the Country did desire me to minister to them some light of the kingdome of Christ of his Second coming so that we kept every fifth day in the after-noons for that purpose and poore people came in a pacâ— many miles about to hear mee who with tears prayers and blessings of God expressed great affection refreshing and rejoycing thereat saying O Sir O not you not you but we are the Prisoners c. yea some Prestbiterians who came out of novelty or with no good will when they once came brought others with them the next day so that the noise was great round the Island and the Priests raged it is reported least their Offices should be left unto them desolate Mat. 23.16 John 7.33 34. Many of the people believed in Christ and his Doctrine and his good report began to ring in their ears the chiefe Priests sent Officers to take him so these it seems could not rest to see the people to flock after and believe this doctrine of the Reign of Christ and therefore some Officers came to hear with a purpose to catch matter of accusation against mee but went away with approbation as ver 46. blessed be the Lord therefore for thus was the Sonne glorified in their eyes by his Spirit which spake and shewed them of the things to come John 16.13 14. Yet the enemy could not rest thus but finding nothing which they could six upon against mee and the people encreasing upon the twenty seventh day of the tenth moneth Bull went forth of feasting and left men of most bruitsh spirits to mannage his new plot and orders in his absence setting Centinels upon my doore driving away the people who came to hear the Gospell though the enemy had nothing to say why so no not one word so much as against their Government but even what they say they allow as the pure Gospell of Christ in us and of the power of godlinesse though they could not â—ow bear it I preaching such points as the godly people and their Teacher Mr. S. proposed for satisfaction in and light upon some poore people got in and stood under my prison-window the Herodian-Soldiers not suffering them to come into the room saying they had orders to keep all from comming to mee and they must obey orders but we asked them if they meant all Orders of men good or bad they said yeaâ— for if
weeped cried and prayed that for this once now they were come they might hear wringing their hands bitterly and tears running down rifely their cheeks with their Bibles in their hands but the bruitish Soldiers haled and furiously drove them away with their swords the Law we are now under men and women Acts 8.3 shutting and shoving them out at the Gates yea threatening to put the poore hearts into their Hole or Dungeon only for their unwillingnesse to leave hearing mee although I did so ply the rough Bruits with Scriptures intreaties and tears as the Lord did melt me then exceedingly that I think I might say with Aug. Ad pedes prociderem flerem quantum Possum c. for Christ's sake his truthes sake and their own Souls sake to hear mee but one word one word merely for their Souls their inward man their Salvation but to consider for this once the blood of Christ our blessed Jesus who died for us to give us this priviledge and for his sake to let the poore sheep alone for this once yea but a little a little seeing they came so farr and so many miles about eight or nine miles a foot poor hearts many of them and yet these Soldiers would not hear mee only one or two who heard were weary of this worke of the Devil and others fresh and crank to it recruited them They had turn'd away that day before this many great companies round the Island and Mr. S. a godly Minister told mee at least 500. had come from round about the Island could they have had liberty to hear the noise of the Gospell of the Kingdome began so to spread over all this Isle But by and by came Bull in to make a thorough execution of this persecution he tooke some of the Soldiers to taske for not doing violence enough to the Lords flock of slaughter Zach. 11.4 5. Threatening them and making a speech to the rest to play the men or I may say beasts rather as the word is 2 Thess 3.2 Atopos absurd insolent and if any of them were resolved to hear mee he required them immediatly to lay down their armes and be gone two or three of them making conscience wept and went into a little discourse with him professing they never heard any thing from us but what was good profitable and to edification in Christ and said they had heard before I came hither and that they had fought for this liberty of conscience and ought to hear the word of God but he told them they were weake and were soon deluded and what ever I said of Christ I meant no such thing but had some other designe and the Castle would be in danger to hear such a one as I was and he would not suffer it After a while the Maj. Gen. Mr C. and I did looke up unto our Maker and Father and with fixing our eyes upon the holy one of Israel Isa 17.7 we proceeded from such an accesse to some discourse with Bull who was worrying of the poore Soldiers that were not yet in full compliance with him when we came near he brustled up fiercely through a forced complement which he hath learned the art off the Maj. Gen. first spake unto him by whom we demanded his grounds to deal so injuriously with us and the poore people or rather with our Lord Jesus and that of such a suddain too without giving any notice of his dislike in the least but he in a quandary what to say though his tongue is too volluble and violent with lying and slandering he hammered out at last that he did it to prevent inconveniencies saying the people had itching ears after novelties and might soon be deluded but I asked him seeing he had heard mee whither I had at any time delivered any Doctrine which was dangerous or tended thereunto or whether I preached any thing but Christ and him crucifi'd with the power of godlinesse or whither any thing against their Government or affairs to the people c. He said that I had preached we must presse forward and not plow always in one furrow which he thought tended as much as to say they must not walke in the wayes of their fore-fathers who were wisemen and good men and saved and there was but one way of Salvation and therefore he said that was dangerous doctrine to put them on to novelties and as for preaching Christ he confessed he had heard me preach very good things but he believed I had a designe in time to insinuate into the people against the Government and to throw down his Lord Protectour and to set up Maj. Gen. notwithstanding I preached Christ yet that was the thing he perceived I drove on and with words to that effect he fell into to a very bestial fury of rage and railing upon the Maj. Gen. but yet as very grosly flattering me to my face as abusing me behind my back the first of which might more trouble me then the last as Paul was grieved Acts 16.18 at such an unclean Spirits praise but we told him we drove on no designe the Lord our God knew but the pure design of God himselfe to exalt Jesus Christ only nor had I the least word or thought ever yet I blesse God of throwing down one man to set up an other much lesse Maj. Gen. H. but this was his own devise and if I had offended he ought like a Christian to have told me of it which I should have been thankfull for before any such violence had been used besides it was that now common Government of Hypocrisie which we engaged against in others yea and were now in bonds for our witnesse against it and if we our selves were such men the Lord whom we appeal to would judge us for it but the Lord the righteous Judge knowes how our very Soules abhor any such thing and as for that Doctrine of growing in grace and pressing on to perfection of light and holinesse of life which was all I urged it was farr from dangerousnesse or evill design unlesse to the Devill and his Kingdome nor did we thinke they were to be content in the state of their fore-fathers for then they should be yet Papists or Lutherans but although that there was but one way of salvation yeâ— there were several steps degrees grouths to be taken in that one way Jesus Christ and this was the thing preached upon And thus this pittifull ignorant but as he carries it a most proud Sultan-like insulting Orbilius and indeed a most conceited wretch of wrath who had a little before with most abominable lies and conceptions of his own creating devising inventing against Spiritual Doctrines and truths complained at Court and put out a precious godly Minister the Chaplain of this Garrison and then after deni'd it I hear as asham'd of what he had done for not complying with their lusts and sinns but for preaching the power of godlinesse and against their continuance in
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
do against us we were of the Lord and his holy Spirit perswaded every one of 〈◊〉 to mantain our ground in Christ with his principles of grace without yielding in the least to such dish nourable tearms of capitulation by a lively faith expecting to be relieved from above or him that sitteth on the Throne Isa 6.1 2. and so their conditions imposed were refused though we starved rather than eat their swines flesh possessed of the Devill as we should have done by so unworthy a treaty or composition nor are we besides the testimony of our own consciences without witnesses and examples before us in this case as in Q. Maries dayes we do finde the Persecutors imposing such termes upon conscience for the lives and liberties of the Martyrs but never so high as to their meat and drink they eat before they have it as these new sort of persecutors do at this day and yet they would be reputed no persecutors forsooth but friends O semper fallaces Millites millies Mendaces Mr. Bradford Martyr writes to L. Saunders Fox voll 3. foll 321. Ah! good Brother pray for mee I think we shall be shortly call'd forth for now legem habent secundum legem c. otherwise will they not reason with us and I think their shoot-anchor will be to have us subscribe the which if we do though with this condition so farr aâ— the thing subscribed to repugneth not Gods word yet this will be offensive therefore let us vadere plane and so sane I mean let us confesse that we are no changelings but reipsa and therefore cannot subscribe except we will dissemble both with God our selves and the world Thus hee and yet this Wretch would have us Changelings in these matters of our faith and conscience to sudscribe before we shall haue a servant go out for bread for us or before any friend shall see us c. and that without any such condition or clause as good Bradford speaks of viz. so far as repugneth not the word of God and yet they have the face to print publish pulpit it that this is no persecution but by this as prescious Bradford also said Fox voll 30. p. 320. so may we see evidently if we will not adorare Bestiam we shall nevre be delivered it is to be feared but against their will nay we shall not so much as eat or write to any of our sad condition in the flesh but fides famem non formidat faith fetches bread from heaven Joh. 6.51 58. which the Sonne of man gives ver 27. for him hath God the Father sealed Even so Amen O my hearts this makes John leap in my wombe and grace in my heart under so great tryals but sweet teaching Fatherly providences and dispensations as Basil said of Barlaam he delighted in his close prison as in a pleasaut green meddow and he took pleasure in the several inventions of cruelty as in several fragrant and redolant flowers But the tryals which my poore wife was pinched with made it much the greater to mee in this lone condition and yet am not left comfortlesse for the Lord is with mee sends his ministring Spirit unto to mee and keeps mee hitherto above all in him who is listed up to draw all men after him Job 12.32 and therefore as my dear Lord Jesus said I hope I may say in my little measure and capacity Joh. 8.29 ' He that sent mee hither is with mee the Father hath not left mee alone ' for I do I trust through his grace those things that please him So Job 16.32 ' And yet I am not alone because the Father is with mee and the cup which my Father hath given mee should I not drink yes surely with a hearty draught Upon the 25. day of this 11. moneth our wants encreasing with their cruelty I had much comfort in my Spirit with patience and joy bearing this Crosse of Christ and indeed in wardly glorying therein for as Cyprian saies Ep. 5. Gloriosa voce Deum confessi qui in Carcere c. The most glorious voice is in prison but this it seems was to fit mee for an encounter with these cruel Leopards â—aging Herodians and Beasts of Ephesus thorough whose hands or whose handlings and leavings we must eat and be dieted or not at all by their wills but this was good physick to our soules blessed be our God This day did a godly Minister Mr. S. of New-port get in to a lodg of C. F. with exceeding desire to see us â— friend of the said town had sent us a cold Pye but the honest man which brought it was carried before Bull with his Pye with whom he had for a long time pleaded near an houre for liberty to come in to my lodge and bring the pye but at last and with much difficulty he obtained leave for a quarter of an houre with a Corporall at his elbow to peep into our prison upon us who poore man with tears and troubles did deliver it and left this with us before the Corporals face that these cruell persecutors so far exceeding them in this matter that we read of in the Book of Martyrs had by all he could perceive some bloody design against us and that this present tyranny upon us was but in order to it but he prayed us to be â—hâ—arfull in the Lord for they could but kill the body I hearing of the minister of Christ steped to the lodge where he was the Soldier at my heeds but they put him out again at the gate presently and would not suffer us so much as at the gaâ—e to see one another though at a distance and with Souldiers between us so I was returning in again to my own prison full of comfort in my Spirit at all this and presently I heard several at once the Serjeant Corporal Soldiers falling upon the honest man who had brought the Pye with very vile and blasphemous language for that it seems he as he was going out at the gate with tears did exhort them to take heed of what they did and to beware of persecuting and offending of Christ little ones c. but they brake out many at once what what preaching we will have no preaching no sermonizing none of the Spirit begon abouty our business what you turn preacher too all preachers now with much more of such ungracious and unsavoury stuffe at which I confesse my heart aked and by a mear providence hearing God and his ordinances so blasphemed and mocked at I could not but turne mee contrary to my intention or purpose to them and particularly spake to one King saying O Sirs O I am sory to hear such word from you indeed I did hope better things then so to scoff and mocke at preaching at the Word and Spirit indeed I have scarce heard the like or worse from the worst Cavaleres and will you immitate them in this also O alas Sire consider what you do
nobis exigit c. and the greater faithfullnesse constancy and courage in the present tryalls for as there was such a magnimity and Spirit in the suffering Saints as made the whole world wonder amazed and think them mad desperate and besides themselves so is there to be in the acting Saints at these dayes who are to make it a sporte play and pleasure to them to run upon Cannon-mouthes Sword-points and on thousands for one in the service of Christ therefore let us looke to it that we make amends that way and that the world may say of us also for the active part such men were never heard off 2. I had my singuler consolation too that the Lord hath made it my lot to fall into this fierce Bulls hands of any because he hath not his fellow in this dominion that I can hear of for all manner of bruitish and barbarous tyranny unreasonable insatiable cruelty so that Bonner I believe had not a more apt Goaler for his turn in those times if Cluny or Alexander came near him Wherefore let not my words be thought the complaints of a squeamish Spirit for I assure you I do heartily digest all he can do against thee and if it were said of Luther that pascitur conviciis I may say it with no little soul solace that pascor conviviis in verberibus And with Vincentius to one of his Persecutors never any man served me better then you have served the Lord be praised for as Bâ—enham said when the fire was kindled as his feet Me thinks you strew roses at my feet I may bless the Lord for thee Bull who bidst them fall on mee for me thinks every blow is a bâ—â—ast of milke to mee whom thou and thy masters would starve and will be a Crown of glory Sic credo edo propter te domine propter te This is an honour so high to suffer thus at the holy Angells are not capable of but those whom God will advance above the very Angells wherefore sing and shout and leap for joy O my Soul and all within mee What that such a poore sinfull worme and pittifull shrub as I am should be call'd to so high and holy a calling Lord make mee thankfull and fruitfull and faithfull Amen 4. For that it is so teaching a dispensation O it is good it is good to be beaten into more good rather than be with out it for these blows do make my head ring with the musicks of heaven as my heart and reins do beat after thy will O God for Ioe in the vollume of thy book a volvendo rowled up in my heart Heb. 10. it is written I come to do thy will O God Therefore I say as I am perswaded Zegedine's blowes who was beaten so bitterly by the Kings treasurers could not be so sweet as these It is said that Dominicus his mother when she was with child of him dreamed that she had a wolfe in her flaming with fire out of his mouth Such a flame came out of thy mouth O fierce Bull as shall be sure to burn the up like Samsons Foxes in the field which thou thy selfe hast set on fire for thy wickednesse burneth as fiâ—e Isa 9.18 In the mean time it is a most teaching dispensation to be beaten and buffeted for Christ which hath made this prison so precious a School to me that I think I may say Mihi idem qui solem fecit majus in Carcere lumen fuit He that made the Sun hath been a greater light to mee than the Sun in this prison 5. Nor is it fit we should loose such fruit as this is by our sinfull silence for as Solomon saies Eccles 3.7 There is a time to speak and a time to be silent and Isa 62.6 Ye that make mention of the Lord keep not silence to be silent in such a day of rebuke and blasphemy as this is is a crying sin wherefore saies Luther to Staupitius When Christ suffers is condemned and blasphemed it is not a time to be afraid but to cry out aloud yea saies he let men call mee what they will Inveniar sane superâ—us avarus Adulter Homicida Antipapa omnium vitiorum rens modo impii silentii non arguar dum Dominus patitur Proud Covetous Adulterous or as monstrous a Miscreant as ever lived rather then I be found silent when the Lord his name his Cause or Christ suffers But I say I have the Seal of the Lords acceptance and Jehovah-Shammah is my company in this close bonds and banishment to whom I say as Psal 69.19 Thou hast known my reproach and my shame and my dishonour mine adversaries are all before thee But to proceed In this condition thus beaten and bruised I was laid down and fear being that my bruises were most inward which as yet I but little felt means was used to have liberty but to send out for a little Parmy-Citterne and Snow water to drink for an inward bruise which they refused to suffer with more barbarous tyranny than the very enemies in warre show to wounded prisoners and nothing nere to the compassion of that Goaler in Acts 16. who washed Pauls and Silas wounds nor to the kindnesse of the Barbarians to Paul at Melita Acts 28. the greater will be their judgement When I began to be cold and stiff I bâ—gan to feel their blows sore indeed but by a good providence of the Lords the Maj. Generall had a precious ointment and salve for such purposes as to outwards bruises which I used this horrible Tyranny of theirs took report round the Island and into England our own Land quickly notwithstanding their close restraint of us and open reports against us and this begun by the means of a poor Barber then in the Castle who carried the said news of this sad Tragedy to Newport where the next day being Market It abounded and so spread of a sudden but this poor Barber was brought before Bull for it and hardly escaped yet the Truth which is alwayes best to stand to set him free from them Then their work was to lay their heads together to kill this report by spreading it otherwise and denying that ever they abused beat or bruised me whiles they kept us with our mouthes stopt by close imprisonment notwithstanding some dayes after when I stirred forth again I offered to shew them the marks they had given me both my self Wife and the Maid being black and blew in divers places divers dayes after on the one and thirtieth of the eleventh Month. After this Bull sent word with an engagement to them we might send out for things which was the first time they offered so much to me but I could not compound with them in a Cause which was none of my own to compound in and in these straits we had another seasonable experience from our Father for with the compassions which Christians about the Island and in Newport had to hear of our sufferings and
them to vent their lusts and malice sometimes threatning sometimes raging sometimes scoffing c. it seems they understood vve had a joynt of meat together to a dinner and vvhich vvas but but one dish for us al at vvhich they raged that their prisoners should live like Lords as they tearmed it and that they themselves liv'd more like the prisoners and therefore they would have their major not to suffer us to eat a bit but vvhwat vve buy of their Suckler that is one of their Soldiers nor should we dress it our selves but their Suckler so that though vve pay for it dearly yet vve shal not eat but vvhat they allow us to eat and live upon vvhich I believe should not be a bisket a day might they have their wils but the Lord restraines their rage even so O Lord O let the Remainder of their vvrath praise thee This S. King is such another ambitious covertous pragmatical youth as was Pepper at Winsor vvho soars high by his impudence and cruelty to us in company of our Friends he denies that he did buffet beat and bruise me as is before mention'd but amongst themselves he brags and boasts of it as the last second day he said ROGERS cannot abide him never since he paid him so and boxd him so bravely at which they scoff and laugh but said he as if nothing else troubled him I might have cut off a band or an arm off him as wel as can be for if I had cut off his right arm no Sizes nor Sessions saies he would meddle with me for it and this they conclude on as Times now are which they al assented to but stil our trust is in then ost high Jehovah The Title this King gives to me is Faggot maker and so reports I hear that I was a faggot maker up and down but indeed I may live to make faggots by the King of Heavens appointment to bind up such stubble as they are for the day of wrath if they repent not He dos also rage exceedingly that Qr Mr. Gen. and I have our distinct rooms and saies he wil have Courtney to Rogers or Rogers to Courtney that he may have the rooms for they shal not live so like Gentlemen and thus they are every day insulting over us at their pleasure when we speak not one word unto them that they may not have the least colour of any provocations from us which is indeed our comfort for vve let them alone without taking notice of their tongues or actions against us which indeed doth vex them the more poor creatures for if they do but see us their hearts so rise against us that as Acts 7.54 57. they even gnash some of them as I have seen it with their teeth and look as if they were ready to â—un upon as with one accord Notwithstanding we do endeavour when they do fal fouly upon us to convince them with soft and sound words when â—hey go by us as big as they can hold with civil respect ministring as â—e are able to their Wives whom they keep poor enough either in moâ—ey clothes or food though they dare not be to know it and so returning â—ood for evil and if one of them be seen by another to shew any kind of â—espect to us to do any thing for us or stir his hat kindly he is as I said beâ—ore under a publick check and upbraiding if not in danger to be turnd â—ut BULL asks him if he be our Pensioners or if he wil do more for us then â—or him with a many more such frivilous captious and quarrelsome â—uestions and then threatens him These are I confess but trifles to what â—ight be mention and to what we see and suffer every day blessed be the â—ord for vvhose sake vve suffer al things gladly and thankfully yea to â—ention but yesterday because it was the last day of al for every day afâ—â—ds new matter and so I conclude with this Tragical History at present 〈◊〉 Time do bring forth the Truth of all things and their hidden tyranny 〈◊〉 to open light which I trust wil be shortly The MAID that serves us had â—â—erty to go out for this once she never stirring out of the prison before to see her Friends and yesterday having travelled al nigt very weary she returned again they let her into the gate brought her into the Guard and kept her there above an hour but would not let her come in unto us yet carried it fair to her until they had prepared their plot upon the poor lame Creature and for all it was the Lords Day wherein they had no other Sermon they sent for Serjeant King twice to come away in hast who had sorely threatned her before as wel as Bull to be revenged for affirmming she saw them beat and buffet me when they would deny it to any of our friends when they came So this King came greedly of his Prey and by his order he himself assisting two or three of the fiercest and most merciless of them fel upon her vvith great violence without any occasion colour or provocation in word or deed which they themselves deny not only because she belonged to us nor had she as she told them Letter or paper nor did she carry out any which they believed also yet for al that they fel to a venting of their malice to us and of their Spirit against us upon the poor creature tore her upon the ground and dragged her in a most shameful impudent and uncivil manner al at length in the open yard and about the dust and abusing her so unseemly that some of their own Wives ran out pittying and crying aloud but were sharply rebuked by their Husbands and bid to hold their tongue these Savages were now in their own Element and very warm at their Work their Sabbath work and so continued it I called out at a window and cryed to them to forbear for that she was already a poor lame Maid and they had already wreakd their Malice I though upon her and with too much immodesty but they the more for my speaking dragd puld and abused her about the ground which when I saw I was silent and lookd up unto the Lord until they had so draggd her and thrown her out of the gate and then they got up her clothes and threw them after her where the poor Creature is even now like Lazarus and hath been many hours lying with her lame limbs and bundle at the gate for admittance if it may be but there she may lye yet many a day they that go by her many of them scoffing and abusing her bitterly knowing al my Family is il Wife and Children and not a servant that they suffer to live with us and help us in this need I askd indeed King by what rule he did this and that on the Lords day saying if he were a Christian the Rule was Luke 3. Soldiers do violence to none but
consider a little is it comely for us to hang down our heads and so near the Haven or to droop at the end of the 42 moneths what now now to yeld or parley about it being this Fort of truth our strong hold hath held out so long and valiantly too against the beast and his image by all the Saints and Martyrs and for so many hundred years yea and al the Saints that have left us their skuls bloud ashes and bones behind them for our incouragement yea the whole creation yea God Christ Angels and men do expect our coustancy and faithfulness to the end and shal we now faint or fear the enemy seeing we are so wel accomodated with al necessaries yea much beyond our blessed predecessors for outward things and upon so poor a slight seige too of the enemy as this is who is almost worsted without hand and now too that such a great relief is raising for us by the spirit of life the 5th Kingdom Spirit which we wait for every day such as hath not been heard of for above this thousand years and shal not we stand to it shal not we hold it out and dye like Christs men or shal we admit of any composition capitulation or terms with them or be routed in the rear in this the rear-testimony of Jesus for want of Faith and courage to carry it up O no no! God forbid but let us rally by Faith and by the grace of God keep our ground like men and make hast with the main body as they begun blessedly in that wing of Honorable WALES to move for the relief of the ingaged Forlorn for the Lords sake make hast and march up yea sally out most fiercely O ye men of courage upon this Apostate and prefidious enemy with such an undaunted invincible and impregnable resolution as may make them know they are not ORDINARY PRISONERS whom they would bury alive in these iron graves for the most blessed cause that ever was on foot in earth or that ever was betraye by men come come Sirs prepare your companies for King Jesus his Mount Zion Musterday is at hand his Magazine and Artillery yea his most excellent mortar-peices and batteries be ready we wait only for the Wora from on high to falon and faith and Prayer to do the Execution according to Rev 18.6 reward her as she hath rewarded you and then by the grace of God the proudest of them al shal know we are ingaged on life and death to sink or swin stand or fal with the Lord Jesus our Captain General upon his red Horse against the beasts Government so as neither to give nor take Quarter but according to his Orders Therefore take the alarum my brethren be up and ready for we are not our own but Christs nor are we redeemed to men but to God! therefore like Champions refreshed with VVine let the shout of a King be heard amongst us are we not yet awakened and warmed is it not high time for the two VVitnesses to be uniting stirring and rising yea standing upon their feet and I hope we you of the majestracy and we of the Ministry are of the same spirit with them and are blown by one and the same breath though as pipes we may have different sounds Besides let us consider how eagerly Shear-jashub or the little Remnant is making ready for your rise yea Maher-shalal-hashbaz is ready to pitch his great Tent and to blow his great Trump yea the man among Myrtle trees Zach 1.8 on his red Horse is already mounted if I mistake not and ready to march with his sword to execute and fire to plead with al Nations for his bow he used upon his VVhite-horse Rev 6.2 hitherto but the next is his sword on his red Horse and the slain of the Lord and shal be many Isai 66.16 yea and after the Harvest wherein I hope to be a reaper a cutter down or a gatherer in the blood of the Vintage wil be up unto the horses bridles Rev 14.20 viz those Horses that are to carry the 4th Chariot from between the two Mountains of brass wherin the Lord Jesus fits to give Laws unto the whole earth Zach 6.1 7 8. and this I can easily fore see for I have almost obvious undeniable prospective of it from this cliff of the rock where my present lot lies But ah Lord may I say what meaneth this that men be so hush and stil then at this day yea goodmen so asleep so secure Zach 1.11 Behold all the earth sitteth stil and is at rest why it is that they may be surprized as in the days of Noah and LOT and vvith the coming as a Thief in the night therefore O my Brethren Let us enter the Ark for no safety wil be found but in the work beleeve it listen for the noise of his chariot wheels with the spirit of the living creatures is in some measure come upon us look about believe with boldness and with gladness yea up and make ready to run to run with these horsemen who are at hand prepare prepare put on the whole armor of God to stand outsland and withstand in this evil day Eph. 6. Awake awake yea rouze up O Saints with most royal resolutions and shake your selves from your prison-dust O Captive-Daughter of Sion for it is high time yea the set time is now to start up like Lions too stout for sufferings as before putting off your Sackcloth or captivity garments and putting on your beautiful Zion Robes to follow the Lamb with Isai 52.1 2. and when you put on these Robes you must put off al those Relations though ever so dear that may make you stagger yea even stamp upon them as Jerome said If my Father were weeping on his knees before me and my Mother hanging on my neck behind me and all my brethren SISTERS and Kindred round about me I 'de run over them all and in this case we are bid even to hate them Luke 14.26 if we follow Christ Wherefore O my most honourable brethren Concaptives and Coexiles yea most noble fellow-commoners at the Kings charges let us up together all at once and fal in all at once Numb 13 30. with one mind and as one man Zeph 3.9 Appoint the day appropriate the duty and to it yea do it with such a shout too Jer 50.14 Amos 2.2 as may make the ears of the enemies to ring yea begin the Earthquake Rev 11.13 and rend up by the very roots the foundations of these persecuting Nimrods with their prisons Acts 16.26 So as one stone be not left for a corner of them yea til there be such a trembling shaking and consternation yea a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 translation overturning and total amotion of them that the Beasts Government may never have a being more in England neither in Civils Ecclesiasticks nor Militaries For Jehovah-Sabboth wil confound them and break them to pieces before us yea this house of Saul
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
such as I naver experienced before in the Vnction from the Holy one 1 Joh. 2.20 27. and have yet a lively hope that I shall one day therein serve the Publick again although for daies weekes moneths and yeeres I have now lain among the tile-vâ—â—s 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ben shephaâ—im or between them in the fiery furnace and burning kilne and by the Walls like a Dead man out of mind Yet the Almon-rod blossometh and God hath powred out grace and my heart as Psal 45.1 hath 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rachash boyled and bubled up a tabar tob a good Word indeed yea my tongue is as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 guet made of the quil from the Eagle before the throne Rev. 47. 6.7 5.7 the pen of a quick Accountant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sopher mahir in the times and seasons and great Matters of our King Now O all ye friends Fellow-citizens of Sion and Fellow-waiters with us for the help of Israel bear us a little in your bowels and bosome before the Father Me and my dearest concaptives and co-exiles in this glorious cause of Christ when you come before the King into his Presence-chamber of grace and supplication be sure you forget not Joseph Ah! I beseech ye in those open bleeding earning bowels which hung upon the Cross to mind a poor Worm and a prisoner of hope and of a little faith in this Valley of Achor and Eshool thorough grace that whiles Christ is lighting and you without are trimming the Lamps in the Sanctuary in the light and life of those seven Lamps of fire the seven Spirits of God before the Throne we within may also draw neer with the holy perfume for a perpetuall incence Exod. 30.78 poured out on the Altar of Incense by our High Priest Jesus Christ within the veile till from thence the Temple be filled with smoke Rev 15.8 Levit. 16.12 31. and the Angel of the Viol go forth Now I commit you all to the Inner-court comforts and counsels that yo may be measured these disorderly times by the Angels Cubit the Golden Reed and not by mens rotten rules according to the which I am layed out and measured in the Lords Tabernacle of Testament yea bound with those Golden Chaines which fastens the Shoulder-pieces to the Breast-plate wherein is put the Vrim and Thummim by the finger of God and thereby I have had an Answer of God to my great encouragement and rejoycing who yet remain in the faith hope and patience of the Kingdom THINE as a Heave-offering to the Lord by the hand of Christ in this fat soyle wherein my foot is dipt with Oyle Jo. Ro. Errata's in the Introduction c. PAge 2. Line 25. Read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 4. l. 21. r. were able p. 6. l. 36. r. abstract Account p. 10. l. 12. r. 4 l. 4 s. p. 12. l. 15. r. Commanded p. 16. l. 24 r. Lies p. 19 l. 35. r. doore with l. 30. language p. 21. l. 36. r. ne peccem p. 24. l. 7. r. and yielding from our p. 27. l. 26. dele of p. 30. l. 19. r. for the Lamb. l. 30. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 gnanoim p. 41 l. 4. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 47. l. 4. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 49 l. 37. r. ex debito p. 50. l. 26. r. responsable p. 56 in marg r. whereof it treats p. 62. l. 3. r. Jehovah had p. 64. l. 36. r. disputes about l. 37 r. where are their degrees r. 70. l. 23. r. that Christ was the Lord of the S. l. 37. r. there Righteousnesse p. 71. l. 33. r. Civil Powers p. 79. l. 24. r. after the Mode of the World l. 38. r. That made Daniel p. 80. l. 17. r. Satiari l. 34. r. Duorum Testium p. 81. l. 2. dele in l. 23. r. of that party l. 35. r. of Luther p. 82. l. 4. r. of lip l. 5. r. when he bids l. 16. r. fee or favour of the great Turk l. 35. r. of Lies l. 36. r Tyriig bilingues r. Dorick l. 37. r. cor auro l. 38. r. heart p. 83. l. 1 r. obstreperous l. 7. r. Parrots and Parasites as these l. 10. r. Terrigeni l. 29. r. leapt from them p. 84. l. 2. r. and destroy l. 4. r. Preachers l. 19. r. too low and too little in the marg r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 l. 30. r. too the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 l. 35. r. for your selves your Children l. 36. r. that are p. 85. l. 25. r. pocos y focos l. 31. r. say they in marg r. poorest p. 86. l. 4. r. it seems so in Josephus l. 5. r. him too l. 6. r. to come and dwell l. 16. t. most amarulently and r. professors l. 20. r. It was not the common p. 87. l. 12. r. begin l. 28. r. Seeming impossibilities l. 35. r. O Paule p. 89. l. 6. r. And so it hath been p. 19. l. 7. r. ipso l. 16. r. So are the Priestly in marg r. pellit p. 93. l. 4. r. there Suffrings there Acts. p. 94. l. 9. r. justils l. 32. r. tortures jocularia ludibria nobis l. 34. r. they are jucund in the midst of p. 95. l. 11. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 l. 20. r. Heb. 10.38 p. 98. l. 23.24 r. superadded ante delienated p. 99. l. 13. r. aequaliter l. 18. r. differt l. 30. r. in speculativâ ratione p. 102. l. 22. r. trepidation l. 23. r. house fell under l. 7. r. have bin to thi p. 103. l. 1. r. preserve us l. 24.25 r. Venite in contemptum Diaboli There be other lesser faults which thou mayst correct in reading And beyond p. 104. I have never seen therefore know not how to correct the other Erratas FINIS