respect may resemble the Dove that Noah sent out of the Ark that could find no place to set the foal of her foot on thus hath it been for some moneths with me so that I could not with any conveniency because of those that bear an evil will to Zion write to you but my Dear Friend though I have been absent from you in the body yet I can say truly I have not been so in my Spirit the Lord knows how my Soul hath both night and day longed after you and all the rest of my Christian Friends in Christ Jesus and in all my approaches to the Throne of Grace I have made it my earnest request to the Lord Jesus Christ that the Father of all glory would give unto you more and more the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the knowledge of Christ And that you may walk worthy of the Lord unto all well pleasing being fruitful in all good works increasing in the blessed knowledge of our God and that you may be filled with all the love of God to his glory and your everlasting comfort I know you are ignorant why I left my Native Country and all that was near and dear unto me in this world but which is most of all the pretious Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and the communion of his people a losse of losses not to be made up but in Christ and in him alone and therefore my dear Friend though now you enjoy the light yet you do not know how soon it may be taken from you or you from it it is and shall be my continual prayers that it may not be for it is indeed the Judgement of all Judgements The Lord God pardon unto me in the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ that great neglect of it whereof I was guilty while I was with you that I did not improve it more to the comfort of my own soul. Oh my Dear Friend did you but see and hear that which I have seen and heard in my Travels especially among those that profess Popery it would make your hearts to tremble that blaspheming the Blessed Name of the Lord all manner of wickedness the horrid prophanation of the Lords day and other abominations and Oh that I could have said that I had not seen and heard too much of the same even among those that term themselves of the Reformed Religion Alas alas the best of what they enjoy here is but as the bran to the wheat in comparison to what the Lord hath bestowed on you and therefore I beseech you prize the Gospel more and more and those Godly Ministers that it hath pleased the Lord to send among you for the Lord hath not done for other people as he hath done for you I am verily perswaded it is one great cause among many others that the Lord hath dealt so severely with his own people as to give them up into the hands of his and their enemies hath been the slighting despising contemning and undervaluing the precious Gospel and the faithful Ministers of Jesus Christ the Lord in great mercy pardon it not only to his own people but to the whole Nation if it be his blessed will that they may yet know the things that concerns the glory of God and their own everlasting â—â—st before they be hid from their eyes Oh the pretious Jewel of the Gospel to which all the other enjoyments even the quintessence of whatever this world can afford are not to be compared What is there in this base world but vanity of vanities what is there in great men or great things a sparkle of fire or a storm at Sea or a treacherous Friend brings all to nothing in a moment As we have seen by sad experience every day do witness the Truth of it Therefore saith the Apostle love not the World not the things of the World a little grace is worth ten thousand worlds It was a notable saying of that worthy Marquess that he was not worthy of Christ that would not give the whole World for one dayes Communion with him Oh it is a good thing to have a heart established in grace it is good in times of prosperity it is good in dayes of adversity Oh it is good in such a day as this when one wave comes on the neck of another yet the Lord even then remembers those whom he hath promised he will never leave nor forsake yea though their troubles be many yet the Lord will deliver them out of all in his blessed time for all things shall certainly work for the glory of God and the good of his own people And now my Dear Friend do I most humbly beg in the Name of the Lord Jesus the continuance of your Prayers to the Lord for me that he would be pleased to give me more and more of his Holy Spirit that while he is pleased to give a being in the Land of the living I may in some measure live answerable to the many unexpected mercies he hath bestowed on me his poor and unworthy Servant both in relation to my soul and body and that too since I came into a strange land and truly as I want a heart to be thankful to the Lord so I want expressions to let you know it I shall onely at present say it was good for me that I have been Afflicted and if the Lord gives me life I shall not fail to let you know the goodness of the Lord to me in this day of my greatest of troubles which have not been a few And as I humby desire your Prayers for me so do I also beg your thanks to the Lord for me who hath been so gracious to me every way And oh that now with a chearful heart I might honour the Lord in this day of very great troubles and that I might be very humble and thankful and be fitted to live or to dye as the Lord shall be pleased to call me forth That which lyeth with some waite on my Spirit is not so much the losse of these outward things for I praise the Lord he hath carried me in some measure above them but that I should sin against so blessed a God and loving a Father as I have done and that I should with many of his own People provoke the Lord to give up so many of his People so far into the hands of his and their enemies as he hath done at this day would an ordinary chastisement have prevailed certainly the common Enemy had not had their will over them the good Lord sanctifie his present hand of affliction to all his more and more and oh that now in this day of his East wind he would be pleased for his Name sake to stay his rough wind and that that may be the fruit to purge them from their sin and that his People may yet live to praise him in the great Congregation and there to declare the goodness of the Lord to them in the
Knife are I have often set them before me and have been often going up the Ladder to see if they would terrifie me but blessed be the Lord they have not hitherto given me the least disturbance no no in all that is past I could never yet suffer so much as such a wish to pass through my thoughts Oh that I had not been engaged in this thing or that I had before 1648 deserted this Cause no the Lord would not to this day suffer such a thought to pass through my thoughts much less through my heart no I have over and over gone through the Cause from first to last even from the Blood of Rochel to Irelands Massacres the Blood of Scotland and the Blood of both the Wars in England My dear Friend and reconciled Friends on the best account I must at present leave you earnestly begging the constant continuance of yours and the People of the Lord's Prayers with and for me that as he hath so would continue to support and bear up the spirit of his unworthy Creature and in those few dayes or hours he hath yet to remain on this side Eternity he may neither do nor speak any thing wherein or whereby he should in the least dishonour God grieve the Spirit of Jesus Christ or give the least trouble to any of the meanest of the Saints or desert that Glorious Cause that the Lord doth and will own and will raise up at his appointed time in despite of all the Devils in Hell and all the Kings Princes and Great-men of the Earth whose flesh must become meat to the fowls of the Air and their Carcasses dung to the Earth for the Kingdoms of the Earth or of this world are to become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever This from your truly reconciled Friend J. B. Praise and pray pray and praise and above all watch unto prayer pray alwayes and watch continually Several occasional Passages Speeches and Letters of Col. John Okey during the time of his Imprisonment in the Tower till the day of his Suffering ON Wednesday the 16th of April 1662. being the day that Col. Barkstead Col. Okey and Mr. Corbet had Sentence passed upon them at the Kings-Bench Bar after which a Friend went to visit Col. Okey and found him in a sweet and blessed frame of spirit and very chearful not in the least under any discouragement but acquainted the said Friend that they had been up at Westminster and that Sentence was given against them and declared he was not in the least disquieted at it but thankfully owned the Providence of God in bringing them from the place where they were beyond Sea to their present condition wherein he professed himself to be much satisfied and declared he had rather lay down his Life here than to have been buried in another Nation and expressed further that for what he was charged withal and condemned he had not the least trouble upon his spirit He also told this Friend that he desired to bless God for the Prayers of the Lord's People for he found the benefit and advantage of them in this time of his Tryal And with much chearfulness of spirit afterwards he did bless the Lord for his Goodness to him declaring he had got more benefit and advantage in the time of these his troubles than in many years before and one day especially since his coming into the Tower he said he was reading some verses in the 16th chapter of John and the Lord did so set home upon his spirit ver 26 27. especially that word The Father himself loveth you that he was so much refreshed in his soul that for an hour together he was as it were ravished with the Joy of the Lord the sight of which was much comfort to his dear Wife and did much refresh and chear her spirit And upon Friday the day before his Suffering several Friends went unto him about one of the clock and were with him some hours he several times spake to them saying Well Friends I shall now get to Heaven before you and shall go out of a sinful evil world into that place where I shall sin no more nor sorrow any more I bless the Lord he is good to me in all his dispensations and I could not have been without any of these afflictions Then he mentioned divers choice places of Scripture as 2 Cor. 4.8 9 and the 17 verse explaining the words to sweet advantage As for afflictions said he they are but slight and momentary and that they work to glory yea an exceeding yea a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory And much strengthening himself with the Promises of God Isa. 43.1 2. upon which Scripture he did thus descant Though Jacob was but a worm and so trodden upon by every one yet the Lord would be with him and so with all his Saints and People in their sufferings He insisted also upon that Scripture Heb. 13.5 6. together with many others which were proper to his condition and the Lord was pleased to make every one of them a strengthening cordial to him The next day being the day of Execution several Friends went again to Col. Okey by six of the clock in the morning where they found him ready dressed and with a sweet chearful spirit bid them welcome They asked him how he did he said Never better in his life and had found the benefit of prayers and it had been a sweet night unto him being sweetly refreshed which also did much appear by his chearful and fresh countenance for it was observed that he never looked better in all his dayes He declared he had much quietness in his spirit and said As for the loss of his Estate it did not in the least trouble him Then a Friend hinted to him the parting with his Wife and Relations he answered she had been a very tender Wife to him and had exprest her abundant love and tenderness in this his distress but he was not in the least troubled at their parting being assured the Lord would be better to her than he could be And also said that though his Wife had lost much since she knew him as to outwards yet she had gained much as to the better concernments for so his Wife had declared unto him which doubtless well considered will out-weigh all other losses Some of these Friends spent some time in prayer with him also the Colonel himself went to prayer and the Lord appeared very much in carrying forth his spirit to own his hand and to see his goodness in all his dispensations and to implore further assistance and between the times of prayer they had much sweet conference with him in all which he manifested a very gracious and holy frame of spirit and often declared with great chearfulness that he was ready to be offered up He was heard often to ask whether his Chariot was yet come or no and some
the Fountain of Life now let it come flowing upon our poor souls that we may be presented before thee with exceeding Joy Lord let us hear that same joyful Sound Come ye blessed of my Father O though we be despised of men and some they reproach us ô but Lord forgive them and the Lord pardon them whosoever hath done us any wrong the Lord pardon them through Jesus Christ we beg it And blessed Father we pray thee let us hear this joyful sound Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you O there is a Crown of Life laid up for them that love the Lord. Thou knowest thy poor Worms desire to love thee ô dear Lord shed abroad thy Love in our hearts and though we be now dying yet we desire to love thy Name though thou art now correcting us yet we have cause to love thee and bless thee ô shed abroad thy Love in our poor souls O Lord we pray thee come and accept us and let our cry come and pierce the heavens ô Lord let us now be looking for and hastening to the glorious appearing of that blessed hope our Lord Jesus Christ. He that shall come will come and will not tarry Come quickly Lord. O that thy Servants could see thee as thy Servant Stephen in much-what such a condition as we are in he saw Jesus Christ standing at thy Right-hand Though we cannot look upon thee with our bodily eyes yet we desire to see thee with the eye of faith O we pray thee look down upon us and Lord strengthen our Faith and that our Faith may not fail O let us obtain the end of our Faith the salvation of our Souls And ô that thou wouldst strengthen us according to thy Glorious Power with all Patience in this hour O Lord though our hearts would faint and flesh faint ô Lord thou art the God of our strength come lay hold upon us lead us by thy Righteousness and let thy Everlasting Arms be under us O dear Lord let us taste of Love in this bitter Cup ô we pray thee let us see thee in Mercy do not correct us in thy Wrath. O we bow our knees to thee let not this Affliction be in thy Wrath We are under the wrath of men but Lord do thou forgive and let us be under thy Love and lay no more upon thy poor Worms than the strength that thou shalt now give us through Jesus Christ will enable us to bear and come and take us into those Mansions that our Lord Jesus Christ hath prepared Is it not thy promise to go and provide Mansions for us our fore-runner is gone to appear for us in Heaven now before the Throne of Grace O hear us now in him and dismiss us now with a blessing And the Lord blesse this Nation the Lord blesse the Government the Lord continue thy Truth keep the Gospel still in this Nation which hath been the glory of it O let thy poor People glorifie the Gospel in their lives 't is that we beg of thee for the Lord's sake and do thou prevent those heavy Judgements that hang over our heads Lord pardon those great Abominations that thine eyes do see that Prophanation of the Sabbath O the spirit of Prophaneness is broken out among us O we desire to be humbled and mourn for it Lord turn from thy Wrath and dear Father continue thy Gospel in the purity of it O the Lord forgive the sins of those that bear thy Name thy Wrath is kindled against us and therefore it is that thou dost rebuke us but we pray thee give thy People a Spirit of returning to thee and do thou heal our back-slidings and give us a Spirit of Love to Thee and to thy Truths and one to another and take away the Envy betwixt Ephraim and Judah Thou seest these bitter Contests we pray thee put a stop to them and let thy People be of one heart and one mind and let them minde the great things of Jesus Christ and those Truths that are after Godliness let those be more and more enquired after and imbraced by the People of these Nations and the Lord grant that those Superstitions and Idolatries that are a provocation in thy sight may not be brought into the Nation for thou art a jealous God and if we go that way thy Wrath will be kindled once more but Lord shew Mercy to England and do not take away the Gospel nor remove thy Golden Candlestick from the midst of us And the Lord bless the Government and the King thou hast set over us that which we beg of thee for him is That he may rule righteously and let him hate whom thou hatest and love those whom thou lovest And blesse the Ministers of the Word them that are faithful to thee Lord continue them in their Liberties and let not our Teachers be removed into corners blesse them that are faithful to thee and make them more faithful Being interrupted after a while he proceeded as followeth O Father we have many Suits to put up unto thee but we now commit our selves unto thee here we are Lord we will roul our souls upon thee and rest and wait for thy Salvation We pray thee accept of us forgive the sins of this duty O sprinkle the Blood of the Lord Jesus upon us and take us into thy Arms. Father of Mercy that comfortest us in all our Tribulations come and comfort us in this hour and do thou accept of us in Christ for through him we offer up ourselves our souls a sacrifice Father accept of us and our sacrifice c. The Conclusion was omitted because of a busling among the horses Then Col. Okey addressed himself to Prayer as followeth Colonel Okey's Prayer MOst Glorious most Holy Eternal and most blessed Lord God who art the glorious Creator and the blessed Maker of all things who art from Everlasting to Everlasting blessed for evermore Thou art worthy to be praised from the rising of the Sun to the going down thereof Thou art the mighty God that art cloathed with Glory and Honour and Majesty as with a garment and Thou art the Fountain of all that 's good and the Well-spring of Everlasting-life O Lord we are once more in thy glorious Presence the Lord hath been pleased to give us this opportunity that we may once more pour out our souls to thee in the Name of Jesus Christ before we go hence and be seen no more Now we pray Thee for the Lord Jesus sake as thou hast been pleased to put a price into our hands so O Lord we pray thee for Jesus Christs sake give us hearts to improve it O Lord we pray thee convince us in whose glorious presence we are and of the great work we are now about we are before Thee the Eternal and Unchangeable Lord who searchest the hearts and knowest our thoughts and Thou knowest with what intents we pour out our souls before Thee at this time
O blessed Father we beseech Thee for Christs sake draw nigh to us that we may draw nigh to Thee our God O that Thou wouldst pour down Thy holy Spirit that we may pour out our souls before Thee O Lord we pray Thee for Christ's sake give us the Spirit of Wisdom and the Spirit of Understanding and the Spirit of Knowledge and the Spirit whereby we may cry Abba Father We are not now come to tell long stories of our Iniquities time and strength would fail us they are as the hairs of our heads and as the sands of the Sea-shore but O Lord we are before Thee in the Name of Jesus Christ humbly to intreat and beseech Thee O for the Lord's sake to look upon us there was never any more unworthy of Mercy than we are yet never any poor Wretches stood in more need of Mercy than we do We humbly pray thee for the Lord's sake extend Mercy to us O Lord do not remember against us what we have done but remember what the Lord Jesus Christ hath suffered and when Thou hast look'd upon thy dear Son then look upon thy poor Worms O Lord we humbly pray Thee for Jesus sake forgive whatever is past cover us with the Righteousness of Jesus Christ let none of our nakedness appear we beg for the Lord's sake O that the Lord would be pleased to speak Peace now to our souls Blessed Father we have in some measure blessed be thy Name the assurance of thy Love sealed to our Souls by thy glorious Spirit we humbly pray Thee O Lord we beseech Thee for Christ's sake look upon us and come and pour down thy glorious and holy Spirit upon us and let us we beseech thee have yet more Assurance that our Sins are pardoned that Thou hast found out a Ransom for us that our Names are written in the Book of Life and that we shall not die but live for evermore because we are washed with the Blood of Christ even with the Blood of thy dear Son who hath loved us and died for us and washed us with his own Blood O that the Lord would be pleased now to come and warm our souls with thy Love that they may never be cold more O Lord we beseech thee receive us into the Everlasting Arms of thy Mercy O Lord we beseech Thee for Christs sake that Thou wouldst now let us see as Stephen once did by the eye of Faith even Heaven opened and the Lord upon the Throne and Jesus Christ at his Right-hand and the glorious Angels receiving our souls into thy everlasting Mercy Blessed Father we beseech thee for the Lord sake that Thou wouldst be with us and bless us and the Lord shew us Mercy onely upon the account of our Lord Jesus Christ. And we pray Thee bless us and with us all Thine all the World over Remember thy Churches from the rising of he Sun to the going down of the same Think upon this Nation wherein we live we humbly beg for the Lord's sake that England Scotland and Ireland might live in thy Glorious Presence and that England may be a quiet Habitation for thy People to dwell in O for the Lord's sake as Thou hast given them a Name and a Gospel above any other Nations that we have heard of or seen So pour down abundance of thy Spirit and give them Grace and hearts that they may walk answerable to the Gospel and be a Nation for thy Glory more zealous than any other Nation And Lord we humbly pray Thee continue the Mercies they yet enjoy and remove and divert any Judgements that they feel or fear And for the Lord's sake bless him that Thou hast been pleased to set over us let the King live in Thy sight we humbly beg that he may reign so here that he may reign in Glory for ever that he may be a nursing father to thy Israel and that he may be a Friend to those that are thy Friends and an Enemy to those that are thy Enemies and Enemies to thy Gospel let him remember that he is but a Steward and he must ere long give an account and the Lord grant that he may do it with much joy and not with grief and bless the Council do thou pour down thy Spirit upon them and guide and direct them to do the things that may be for thy Glory and for the Comfort of their own souls And bless the Faithful Ministers of the Gospel O that the Lord would double his Spirit upon them and that the Lord would be pleased abundantly to encrease the number of them let not that Judgment come upon the Nation that the Godly Faithful and Holy Ministers should be removed from us that their eyes should not behold their Teachers Lord let us not have a famine of thy Word for the Lord's sake but that the Gospel may continue in more splendor and glory than ever it hath done heretofore O that the Lord would be pleased to keep Idolatry out of this Nation O let not that Judgement befall this poor Nation for the Lord's sake And we humbly beg for thy Name sake that the Lord would be pleased to look upon this great City Thou hast made them famous for Religion and for owning the Gospel but Lord grant that they may not decline but that they may abundantly improve their gifts and graces and that they may walk humbly and thankfully and O that the Lord would be pleased to bless the City and the Nation from one end to another and that he would give them the blessings of the right hand and the blessings of the left that they may have the dew of Heaven and the fatness of the Earth and that they may provoke and stir up one another to praise thy holy Name and to live in Love Unity and Peace O Lord we pray thee for Jesus sake look upon us in thy presence and shew Mercy to us and look in love and mercy upon any that are near unto us we leave them with Thee we commit them into thy hands we beg for the Lord's sake shew Mercy to us and be with thy poor Servants and Lord we pray thee accept of us and our services in Jesus Christ and pardon our deadness and pardon our weakness our wanderings and all our sins even for our Lord Jesus Christ's sake since we came into Thy glorious presence and we pray Thee to accept of us and do us good and receive us to Mercy and Glory and all only for the glory of thy Name and for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ who died for us and rose again and lives for ever at Thy right hand to whom be all Honour and Glory and Praise for evermore Then Col. Barkstead addressed himself to Prayer having first spoken to the Sheriffs these few words following Mr. Sheriff I do see your time is spent and we are drawn up into a very narrow compass And I hope you will take my word now as before I
Death to him taking and looking into his Bible God was pleased to set home that Scripture with his own Spirit upon his soul 2 Tim. 4.6 For I am now ready to be offered and the time of my departure is at hand and sayes he I can truly say in the strength of the Lord I am now ready to offer up my body to the Lord all things being very clear to me in my own Conscience He earnestly desired some Friends to seek to the Lord for him that he might have a better heart than that which he had to burn but blessed be the Lord saith he I have in a good sense a heart and a heart though still my strength is in my weakness He was wont frequently during the whole time of his Imprisonment to utter very sweet expressions to this purpose That the wayes of God are very pleasant wayes and that his sufferings were as nothing Prisons Chains Manacles with Buffetings c. were not to be accounted sufferings and that had he known before what it had been to be in Bonds for Christ and to have the Presence of God in such a condition he would never have gone beyond Sea and that he had enjoyed more of God in that Palace for so he called his close Prison than ever he did in his life before He often said likewise especially the day before his Execution to an eminent Minister That it was his great burden at this time that ever he lifted up a finger against any of the People of God that were heretofore of another Perswasion different from his and exhorted all his Friends that were present to love the Image of Christ where-ever they see it A Minister being with Col. Barkstead the day before he suffered and having heard that whilst he was Lieutenant of the Tower he had been somewhat severe and harsh to certain godly persons called Fifth-Monarchy-men then in his custody asked him this Question Sir Had not you some good men in your custody once when you were in power and intended further to have said and were you not then somewhat harsh and severe to them But Col. Barkstead anticipating his meaning prevented him with this affectionate Reply Oh Sir that very thing hath cost me many a tear when I was some hundreds of miles from this place and before I came into this condition indeed they held forth an opinion concerning the Fifth Monarchy or Kingdom of Christ upon Earth which I was then much prejudiced against and so prejudiced that I was not willing to hear or reade any thing in favour of it but now I am so far perswaded of the truth of it that I could freely lay down my life for it Oh Sir saith he many hours would not suffice to tell you all my Experience as touching this particular it was since I came into Prison that the Lord hath led me into the light and knowledge of this Truth and when I many times opened my Bible such places of Scripture presented themselves to me as preached this Doctrine which I several times out of prejudice waved and would not look into but notwithstanding the Lord did so overcome my heart to the faith and love of this Truth and Doctrine of Christ's visible Kingdom here on Earth or the Fifth Monarchy that now I could as I said before freely lay down my life for it and I hope the Lord will help me to speak something to this particular to morrow but if through weakness I should not then speak so fully to it I have left a Testimony behind me to that glorious Truth When he saw his Friends at any time sad about him he would often say to them Be sad for nothing but Sin fear nothing but Sin There is more evil in the least Sin than in the greatest Sufferings this was as he said his own experience The Sheriff's man bringing him word of his Execution and telling him he was sorry to bring him the ill news he smiled and very chearfully returned him this answer Blessed be the Lord I am ready and therefore it is no ill news to me After which time until Execution he behaved himself with much Joy and Chearfulness so that many that came to see him with tears in their eyes went away rejoycing for that of God they saw in him At another time to a Friend speaking to him of the greatness of his Afflictions he returned this Answer My greatest Affliction sayes he hath been my Opposition to those of the People of God who were contrary-minded to me And said further that he was much comforted and helped by the Prayers of the Saints yea of those Saints said he which considering my dealings with them had more cause to curse me than to bless me when I heard that such prayed for me I believed they would prevail and that God would answer his own Spirit in his People for me He also desired a Friend to use his interest to reconcile him to those Saints whom he had offended and dealt hardly with viz. those who are in a proper Scripture-sense for the Kingdom of Jesus Christ a Truth which he confessed he so much opposed together with the Professors of it which Opposition saith he I have often felt in my very bones in regard of the sorrow it cost me But now sayes he I rejoyce that the Lord hath enlightned me in it though much without humane means only by the Bible in the time of my Sufferings The day before his Execution he dined and supped with his Friends as heartily and chearfully as ever they saw him and slept as well that night as he had done these many years being still much refreshed and kept up with that Scripture He that believes in me shall never dye In the morning he arose early and the Gentleman-Jaylor bringing him word that the Sheriff was come desired him to be ready He answered Blessed be the Lord I am ready but he staying a little longer than was expected he was as one in haste to be gone and often looked out at the windows still wishing for the coming of his Chariot for so he called the Sled and when the Jaylor came for him he went with that readiness and chearfulness as was to admiration These following Scriptures he left written upon the walls of his Prison-Chamber in the Tower viz. Exod. 32.14 And the Lord repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his People Numb 14.19 20. Pardon I beseech thee the Iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy Mercy and as thou hast forgiven this people from Egypt even until now And the Lord said I have pardoned according to thy word Psal. 73.25 26 27 28. Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none upon Earth that I desire besides thee My flesh and my heart faileth but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever For lo they that are far from Thee shall perish Thou hast destroyed all them that go a
is very suspiâ—â—ous of it self and so willing to know the worst of it self it bemoans and afflicts it self and thinks better of others then of it self the 3 Col 12. As the Elect of God put on the bowels of meekness loving-kindness and humility this must be done as the elect of God We read in Numbers that the Nazarites as they were to drink no wine so they were to drink no vinegar Now a Nazarite was a Type of one set apart for God such are all believers whom God hath set apart for himself God expects they should drink no vinegar that is they should not be of froward peevish waspish and sowr spirits But on the contrary of sweet meek and gentle spirits which is of great price both with God and man and of great advantage to us both in relation to our souls bodies I have been the larger in this having been here in speaking to my own soul O had I had the acquaintance with this grace formerly which the Lord hath been teaching me in the Wilderness I should certainly have been more watchful of those floods of passions then I was I should have known that nothing could be well done in anger or passion I should have considered my own frailty and laboured to have turned the stream of my affections another way I should certainly have set a higher price on the grace of meekness then I did and have made it more my business to have been humbling my soul for what had been past been mindful of renewing my Covenant daily and thereby kept my peace with my God I must beg your pardon for giving you the trouble of so many scribed lines one of thine to me excells all I can write but the excellency of the grace of meekness together with the usefulness of it at all times but more especially at such a time as this Indeed when I set pen to paper I intended anothâ—r subject but having had occasion to make tryal of the usefulnes of this Transcendent grace I could not pass it by but was enforced to present you a last of those full drafts the Lord hath been pouring forth into me even in the Wilderness of the Wilderness this I shall unridle to you hereafter But if this grace of meekness be of so transcendent excellency and usefulness then how much doth it concern us to labour both to get and keep it which that we may do the first and principâ—l means is certainly to study the word more and therein of a more full knowledge of God and Christ and of our selves Of our selves consider what once we were what we might have been and what it cost Christ to bring us out of that condition and what we would be if God should leave us to our selves but for a very little space in what condition should we then certainly be in one day Let these and the like consideratieons cause us to rise and be doing and to labour to get and keep our hearts in a ready frame and temper for every duty the Lord shall call us forth to either to do or suffer and not only so but to get our hearts in love with the duty love makes hard and difficult things light and easy and heâ— let us not loose our former encouragements nor continue in the guilt of any one sin but be careful to preserve all our former Experience to be very careful to order the duties of our present condition and conversation to beware of disturbing passions and entertain all opportunities of enjoying communion with the Saints let us be much in the exercise of faith and alwayes labouring after strength of grace indeavouring as much as in us lies to make all the wayes of Christ easie that so they may be delightful to us and when we have done all to leave the successe and issue to the Lord all whose wayes are even and none of them crooked or contrary one to the other they certainly bring strength and in all of them there is good success for that a gracious soul hath all the passages of Gods Providence to help him they being eases to the soul for that they ease the soul from care yea they make all other things easy in the wayes of Christ a gracious soul is alwayes receiving its wages in its work Psalm 110. Thy people are a willing people in the day of thy power the heart of a Christian doth readily embrace Christ because there is something in a Christians heart like Christ and from hence it is that the wayes of the Lord become strength to the righteous it must needs be easie yea even at that time when others may look upon them as most rough difficult and hard A skilful Sailor will make way to his desired port with a three quarter wind yea if he have Sea-room he will lay hold on some Tack or other though the wind blow directly against him The way from Egypt to Canaan was not long nor difficult but behold through unbelief together with a murmuring and repining spirit The constant Hand-Maids what windings and turnings did they meet with in the Wilderness before they came to Canaan the same spirit is and will be at work in every one of us and if the Lord give us not strength will exceedingly trouble us therefore we must take heed of vinegar spirits and consider that a gracious heart accounts his duty his priviledge and the reason is because the word that commands it is sweet and therefore it is he would rather come under any other burden then cast off the Yoke of Christ for that this is to him easie Now if we will follow Christ we must not think of following the World for that is at continual enmity with Christ yea those that follow the World are natural Enemies to themselves being at emnity with God To follow the World is a slighting of Christ by leaving the example of Christ and his Saints It is also below the excellency of a Christian for the Mysteries of Godliness are above the riches of the Word again it puts the soul upon a necessity of miscarrying to follow the World crosses all our prayers it hinders us from the receiving of good and deprives us of the good we had before But I must abruptly break off and take my leave of you I am Yours J. B. Another Letter of Col. Barksteads written to a Christian Friend in London MY Dear Friend I am very sensible of my great neglect of that duty which is incumbent upon me to you-ward in the Relation I stand to you that I had not long before this given you an Account how it hath been with me and what the Lord hath done for me his poor unworthy servant since I last saw you that I have been a Stranger in a strange Land I need not tell you I am perswaded you will judge favourably of me till you understand how it hath pleased the Lord to deal with me The truth is my condition in some
time of their affliction and to say it was good for them they were afflicted And oh my dear Friend I do again beg your prayers for I am very sensible I am at present but as a brand pul'd out of the fire and am very confident it is for the sakes of the Lords People that I am alive at this day The Lord grant that while I live I may live to the glory of his most holy Name I hope you will excuse me for being so tedious to you I shall therefore no further trouble you but only present my due respects to you and all the rest of my Christian Friends wishing you from my soul all good here and glory hereafter in that World which is to come And now the God of all praise that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ the great Shepherd of his Sheep through the blood of the Everlasting Covenant make you perfect in every good work and work in you that which is wel-pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ. I am your loving friend in the Gospel of our Lord Christ J. B. Another Letter written by Col. Barkstead to a dear Friend INdeared and endearing Friend Thine of the fourth instant came to my hands which I blesse the Lord was as seasonable as welcom and as welcom as seasonable it was to me as Apples of Gold in Pâ—ctures of Silver very Pleasant and Beautiful Dear Friend I being now a close Prisoner in the Tower in one of the as they conceive meanest and securest Prison lodgings in which when it rains I have no place to fit dry but in a high window being attended with a Life-guard of two Warders and two Souldiers day and night and denied the use of Pen Ink and Paper so that what I write is so by stealth and that so by bits that I am sore't sometimes before I have writ two lines to tear what I have written and with much trouble to secure my Paper ink and pen but yet I have adventured on a line or two to you to let you know that I received your welcom Letter every line of which was being filled with that spirit in by which my soul hath been through free mercy born up by to this very moment far beyond and above what I am here able to express Oh the infinit and Eternal Riches of the free Grace of our good God in and through the Lord Jesus Christ to poor unworthy creatures it is he and he alone that hath and doth make hard things easie soft and pleasant bitter things sweet crooked rough ways plain and pleasant this hath through mercy been his way towards me unworthy man since I became mans bond-man He even he alone out of the free riches of his never-failing Mercie in Jesus Christ hath made me his free-man He hath set my feet in large and fresh pastures He hath not only taken out the blots and blurs that my sins have made in my old Evidences since the old Record and Assurance I had many years of his Eternal and Everlasting Love to my poor soul in Jesus Christ but he even since I came within this my Palace for so I can truly and chearfully call it I say through the free Grace He hath not onely cleared up my old Assurance but hath also given me fair new Copies together with such Inlargements that are unutterable In the Deeps I cryed when and where none could hear but He and He alone who heard and answered blessed be his Name When my heart and my strength failed He then heard so that as a return of prayer yea of yours and the People of the Lord together with the breathing of his own Spirit in the hearts of his People here He hath made such gracious and full returns that I through mercy can say from the first of my being in bonds notwithstanding the weakness of my body and present want of health through extream Colds yet the Dungeon Chains Bolts and Manacles have not had the least of hardness in them no I must say it again through free Grace the Lord hath not only made them easie but pleasant yea kickings and buffetings when in Irons by some of Downing's men yet the Lord strengthened me Pray mistake me not I do not write this as having here any thing to boast of from my self or from any strength of mine no no I have not been without my buffetings though in them the Lord hath been wonderful gracious to me and he hath made me a very great gainer by them Three times since I came into this Room or Palace Satan who may be truly said to go about like a roaring Lion seeking whom he may devour waiting his opportunity I having been for a very very little space drawn off my Out-Sentinels and begining to hold a Parly with Sence and reason with flesh and blood to look backward and forward on the right and left hand in which work I do not remember I exceeded above half an hour but I perceived a general discomposure and unsettlement in all my former settlements and immediately found Satan with a full Body ready to surprize my Main-guards but the Lord was merciful and made good his Promise to me He in the instant of time came in and shewed me where my weakness lay and where my strength I cryed out to Him as a ravished Damosel He heard and strengthened me with strength in my soul blessed O blessed be for ever his most great and glorious Name My dear Friend I hint these things only to let you know how seasonable through mercy the Lord hath made me and doth keep me off my own weakness and nothingness and unworthiness indeed I dare not be off the Watch or from going the Rounds to see if all the Sentinels be watchful every moment I do now very well understand that Command Pray alwayes Pray continually watch and pray pray and watch are and must be a Christians constant and continual and unseparable Companions at all times and in all places Now that the Lord hath thus far answered the prayers of his People what I shall be able to undergo the next hour I know not I therefore do heartily again and again beg that you would with me continually be blessing and praising the Lord for those blessed Returns he hath hitherto made to your former Prayers and lay them before you as encouragements and spread them before the Lord as Arguments for his hearing your Prayers for the future for what is yet to come for though I can say the Dungeon Bolts Chains and Manacles with kickings and buffetings have been nothing and therefore can comfortably and confidently desire the People of the Lord not to fear any of them but to fear sin only for that the least sin hath more terror in it than the greatest evil or trouble that can befall a Child of God here therefore fear O fear sin I say I do not know what a Sled a Gibbet a Halter Ax or
the last hour of his life as I did for my self and so I have done for this King also which is my duty to do I have many hundred times since I went out of England this two years last past and before also begged with tears of the Lord if there were any iniquity or malice or any thing of that nature in what I did that God would shew it to me yea the like I did this very morning beseeching the Lord that if I had any guilt of his Majesties blood upon me or any hatred against him he would reveal it to me that I might here confess it before you all But I have nothing upon my spirit as to that And what ever other men did I shall say nothing to that as for my self I can say again that I got not any thing by it but remained in the same condition I was a Colonel before and was no more since I thank the Lord I am clear in that Then making a stop he said there is such a noise I cannot speak And Sir I shall tell you now vvhat is upon my spirit I take vvhat hath befallen me as righteous and just from the Lord for my unworthy walking for being no more zealous for God and his People no more fruitful in my Generation and no more thankful but as for that thing I thank the Lord I have no guilt upon my spirit And as for all my other sins I confess they are many and great but I thank the Lord he hath given my soul the pardon of them all through the Blood of Christ for his Name sake and through the Riches of his Grace and his abundant Mercy towards me And now I will only speak a word to our Friends here You all know we have had many troubles and much blood hath been shed and there hath been a vacancy as to a single person But the Nation did earnestly desire him that now reigns and I wish from my soul he may reign gloriously and righteously and reign here so as he may reign for ever And now they have the great Mercy they did desire I wish that they would make a right improvement of it and that they would walk in some measure answerable to that mercy that they have so much desired I shall beg this as a dying man That as they have received a Mercy which they account so exceeding great that they would walk answerable to it that God might have the glory and the Nation might yet flourish in Peace and Righteousness I shall beg of these †Some of the Guard Gentlemen and all others that have a great affection to their King that they would pray more for him and love him more and that they would swear less and drink less for if you were beyond Sea to hear what I have heard of this Nation it would make your hair stand on end and your ears to tingle They say certainly that notwithstanding the great answer they have had of their desires yet if they go on in the way of wickedness and Blasphemy which they report do abound in England for my part I have been a close Prisoner and have spoken with no body almost since I came that this Nation cannot stand three years together therefore I shall make it my humble request That as this Nation hath flourished and gone beyond other Nations in Piety and Religion it might flourish ten times more than it hath done this many years upon the same account It hath been a Nation that hath profest the Gospel which indeed hath flourished here more than in any other Kingdom and so it hath had more glory and honour than other Nations and I desire it may continue that you may have Peace within your Palaces and Plenty within your Dwellings Oh that every man would study in his place to fear God and honour the King and to give glory to God and walk in some measure answerable to those many mercies they have and do enjoy And that as they have what they so much desired every man would now beg that the Gospel may flourish and that Righteousness and Truth may be in the midst of you There is something that I shall speak more I would be loth to speak so as to offend you in any thing Then replyed the Sheriff I am glad to hear these Expressions from you Sir let me tell you because it 's a very great matter and looks like a black thing that is charged upon us in the Indictment I should have abhorred it had there not been a face of Authority an Authority that then was owned had it not been so I should have abhorred to have done any thing in that business as much as any Gent. here therefore I thank God I have peace as to that and Peace as to the Pardon of all mine Iniquities whatsoever through rich Grace and Mercy And truly as to the Cause I am as confident even as I am of my Resurrection That that Cause which we first took up the Sword for which was for Righteousness and for Justice and for the advancement of a godly Magistracy and a good Ministery however some men turned about for their own ends shall yet revive again I am confident I say That Cause for which so much Blood hath been shed will have another Resurrection that is You will have a blessed fruit of those many thousands that have been killed in the late War But I would leave this to all my Brethren and Friends that they would keep their places wait upon God stand still and see the Salvation of God and rather suffer than do any thing to deliver themselves by any indirect or unjust wayes If his Majesty had been pleased to have given me my Life or if I had come over or heard for I had a Warrant for my return into England from the House of Commons but I fell short two dayes and so was fain to go back time enough of the Proclamation I would through the blessing of God have lived quietly and rather have suffered than have done any thing against the Law of the Land and I would say this to all good men and others Rather to suffer than take any indirect means to deliver themselves but to wait upon God keep their way stand still and see the Salvation of God And God when it shall make most for his own Glory and the good of his People will deliver and that in such a way that himself shall have Glory in and the Gospel shall have no Reproach by But because some think we are enemies to Magistracy and Ministry I shall only say this That I alwaies I thank the Lord did pray both for Magistracy and Ministry and that you might have righteous Laws established that so Judgement may run down like a Stream and Righteousness like a mighty River And that shall be my Prayer now That God would give you Peace and Truth and scatter them that delight in Blood and War Mr.
Friends told him Well now the time draws nigh who answered I am ready I am ready Then came the Order for his going to the Sled upon which he went with all chearfulness and so went forward with undaunted courage to meet Death in the face like a Christian Souldier indeed who through the Lord's assistance presently obtained more than a Conquest over all his Enemies As he was in the Sled and drew near to the place of Execution a Friend came to him and said Sir I have a great desire to know how it is with you and how the Lord is pleased to manifest himself unto you in the condition you are now in The Colonel replyed Friend I thank you I bless the Lord I have great cause to praise and magnifie his great and glorious Name for his unspeakable goodness towards me especially in this present dispensation for I can truly say and that by experience that the Goodness of the Lord endures for ever and praised be God for this present tryal The same Friend further replyed and said I pray Sir are you not at all dejected in your spirits are you not cast down in your mind have you not hard thoughts of God for this his strange providence towards you The Colonel replyed Friend I shall endeavour to satisfie you as well as I can in this matter and I let you know that I have not the least trouble upon my heart nor the least burden upon my spirit upon the account of my Sufferings neither have I any hard thoughts of God but on the contrary can speak to the praise of his Grace that his Goodness hath carried me forth above the fear of all these things And my Friend let me tell you further That I have had more experience of God and more acquaintance with God within these three or four dayes than ever I had in all my life and at this present I am so far from being dejected or cast down in my spirits as that I am so much elevated and lifted up in my soul that I am not able to tell you how it is with me And when he was ready to rise out of the Sled another Friend came to him and asked him how he did To whom he answered I bless the Lord I am very well and do no more value what I am now going about than this straw taking up a piece of a straw in his hand I have sayes he made many a Charge in my time but now I have but one Charge more to make and then I shall be at rest Here followeth two Letters of his to two of his old faithful Friends eminent persons in the City of London A Letter from Col. John Okey directed to a Relation of his to be by him communicated to some Christian Friends of his acquaintance about the City of London SIR HAving a little time in this place before I am removed to Newgate where I am to go as I am informed I thought good to give you some account how it is with me concerning my better part I bless the Lord I never found so much spiritual joy some years before as I have in Prison it is according as the Apostle speaks 2 Cor. 1.3 4 5. And therefore let the People of God not fear a Prison or to suffer in the Cause of God I shall give you a touch but of three things viz. 1. How it is with me in my spiritual condition 2. I shall speak something of the Cause for which I suffer the loss of all things which are near and dear unto me in this evil world 3. In the last place What a Mercy it is when the Lord is pleased to call forth a creature to suffer for the Truths of our Lord Jesus Christ in such a day as this is I believe you have heard these from some other of the Servants of the Lord that have gone before in whole dishes but you are like to have them in a broken dish and but a few scraps in comparison to that great feast you have had before from them that are now with the Lord. Our Afflictions sanctified are good Cordials to the soul and therefore it is no marvel that David said It is good for me that I have been afflicted And as one observeth and saith well a Prison being the place where wanting other Books a man may there best study the Book of the knowledge of himself being separated from all business but praying and praising the Lord God in Christ by the Spirits assistance And since I have by the help of the Lord looked in some measure into my heart I could not have thought there had been so much ignorance and impatience pride inordinate affection to creature-comforts revenge difidence of God self-love and iniquity of all kinds in me as I now find there is and although the Lord in great mercy hath kept me by his mighty power and restraining grace from those Jayl-bird sins as Swearing Drunkenness Lying Uncleanness and hating of his People yet I find a mass of corruption in me and a multitude of transgressions so that my sins are as the hairs of my head which cannot be numbred for the multitude of them and all this darkness and filthiness of spirit is only discovered by the light of Christ By his lowliness in washing the Apostles feet I see the height of pride in my own spirit and want of condescention when I was in prosperity and my unfruitfulness under the means of Grace and little good I did when I had an opportunity thereunto and therefore I adore and acknowledge the Justice of God that he hath most righteously deprived me of my Liberty and Estate truly now I am thereby brought nearer to Christ whereby I find through Grace that Christ is become very precious to me And more to be desired than Gold yea 1 Pet 2.7 than fine Gold and sweeter than the Honey or the Honey-comb And this I can say through Mercy I do desire to love the good Word of the Lord before my appointed food I have begged of the Lord that he would enable me more and more that I may lay open before him all my sins known or unknown and to loath my self for them and that not only for the shame which sin bringeth but rather because I should sin against so good a God and loving Father in Christ Jesus as I have done and especially for my actual known sins committed against so much Love Light Promises and Covenants from a gracious God that will not destroy me for all my abominations blessed be his holy Name for ever and for ever I desire continually to go out of my self and to rely on the Righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ who only is the Fountain of Life and in his Light we shall see light Oh! what Mercy is it that the Lord should be pleased out of his great Love and Compassion to cast the mantle of his free Grace upon such a poor worm as I am and
quiet night nor day for while on the one hand these carnal fears and disturbed thoughts pulled him from his duty so he called it yet on the other hand it pleased God more strongly to draw him to it by often bringing and setting home upon his heart that Scripture in Revel 21.8 The fearful and unbelieving shall have their part in the Lake that burneth with fire and brimstone This Text did so work and work in his mind and so powerfully prevail with him that though he had deferred to appear at the High Court of Justice till the very last day of the Tryal yet then he durst stay no longer but made haste to come in and sit among them come what would come of it in this world lest the aforesaid punishment of the fearful should hereafter for ever befall him And what he now did he said he did it with a free and resolved mind and he blessed God that had conquered his cowardly spirit and enabled him at last though late first to come in and do his part and in some measure to prove himself faithful and obedient to God's as well as the Nations Call herein And further said that upon the grounds before alledged if all that hath been done were to be acted over again he would do as he had done and would not abate an inch of it which words he spake with great soberness and setledness of mind but the very day before his Execution Lastly as to the whole business he said he could and did appeal to God the righteous Judge of all things that what he did as far as he could discern himself was not out of any ill spirit towards the late King's Person nor out of any the least malice or disaffection to him nor yet out of any unworthy end or design of his own for as to the said King's Lands or Goods or other publick Title he never desired nor endeavoured to get any of them but alwayes by good Providence kept himself free that neither himself nor any of his might grow rich or make the least advantage that way And as for that necessary and publick Act of Justice as he called it he did never repent at all that he had a hand in it nor after all the searchings of heart about it did see cause so to do when at any time he had the most serious and calm reflexions upon it though he did confess as to the circumstances of that Act the substance whereof he said he must alwayes own he had been compassed about with many sinful weaknesses and infirmities in the managing of it as he had before in part hinted which he hoped and believed were all washed away in the Blood of Christ. This is a careful and true Collection of what at several times he said about this business to several persons and more than once too and as near as possibly can be remembred in his own very words and syllables especially in those passages that are of the greatest weight To which let this expression of his be also added That what he had now lived to see in the late amazing Changes and over-flowing Wickednesses of all kinds rather to be trembled at than reckoned up did give no small confirmation and justification to those former Proceedings which are now so much condemned On Thursday night late when tydings were brought to him of his suffering the Saturday following some persons came to convince him of the Sin for which Execution was to pass upon him and to exhort him to Repentance aggravating the heinousness of it but the next morning he told his Friends that they left him as they found him not at all altered by what they had said in his opinion about that business which he said he had examined as thorowly as he could and believing that he had a good Warrant both from God and man for what he did he was satisfied as to that whatever others did judge of it here and therefore left it to be judged over again by the Righteous Judge of all at the last and great day He said he found no consternation of spirit at all upon him when he was before the Kings Bench Court Being asked how he had slept that night after such heavy newes To this he smilingly answered he blessed God he had slept well much after the rate as he used to do and that he found not any consternation or fear at all upon his spirit for it was no more he said than what he expected and as far as God was pleased to enable him had been preparing for A little after speaking of the Journey he was to take I am going saith he where all good souls would be glad to be The Terminus à quo the place I am going from is this present evil world even this evil world and if ever it were evil sure now it is and now more than ever so evil as I never thought to see it and the Terminus ad quem the place I am going to is Mount-Zion the City of the living God the living God saith he doubling and putting an Emphasis on that word Living and to the heavenly Jerusalem which he also repeated again putting the like Emphasis on the word Heavenly Ah! saith he this living God and this heavenly Jerusalem how sweet is the thought of it the God that I am going to is the living God the God that lives that still lives that lives alwayes whatever persons die or whatever Cause or Interest seems to die yet He lives and can make what he will to live yea and to live again too even after it hath lain for dead And the Jerusalem that He lives in is an heavenly Jerusalem an heavenly that hath nothing of earthliness no dross no corruption nothing of impurity weakness mutability or instability Ah! this heavenly Jerusalem Thus he descanted on the words and even fed upon them Then he proceeded after the same manner to what follows And to an innumerable company of Angels to the general Assembly and Church of the first-born which are written in Heaven and to GOD the Judge of all the Judge of all repeating that word and to the Spirits of Just men made perfect and to JESUS the Mediator of the New Covenant which last words he staid long upon doubling and trebling them again and again and to the Blood of sprinkling which also he dwelt upon Seeming to speak all with a very great fervor and inward joy upon his heart Scarce an hour passed in the day wherein he did not touch upon this Scripture in discourse with such new Friends as still came in upon him it being the last whole day of his life When he saw the Room begin to fill for now none were restrained he said it comforted him to see the faces of so many Servants of Christ together and that they should express such love and tenderness as he perceived was in their hearts towards him and truly saith he I take it as a token
shall only speak a word or two unto the Lord and no more Colonel Barkstead's Prayer O Eternal and ever-blessed Lord God Thou who sittest upon the highest Heavens who hast the highest Heavens for thy Throne and the Earth for thy Footstool We poor Creatures are here by thy Providence brought at this day to this place at this time and by Thee it is that we are in the Condition we are now in for which O Lord we blesse Thee and for which we can blesse thy Name Blessed be thy Name O Lord that Thou wert pleased before Thou broughtest us hither to speak Peace to our poor souls in the Blood of Jesus Christ and blessed for ever be thy Name that thou givest-in Assurance of Peace Pardon and Reconciliation to our Souls at this very minute blessed be thy Name Dear Father for the Lord's sake continue it and ô draw forth the hearts of thy poor Creatures even while one blast of breath is in us to blesse thy holy Name Father we pray Thee remember the Nation in which we live the King whom Thou hast set over the Nation Lord make him Thine and cause him to rule for Thee in Righteousness and for thy Glory that so Lord he may rule to the Comfort of all that fear thy Name O dear Father look in mercy upon all that fear thy Name in the Nation make them all of one heart and mind to advance thy Name and Glory to live in Unity one with another and to make it their business to seek Peace and pursue it that so they may thereby truly advance the Kingdom and Scepter of Jesus Christ who is coming and will come O dear Father carry forth the spirits of thy People to love Thee and one another and to walk closely and humbly and holily before Thee all their dayes Remember the Relations of thy poor Creatures here before Thee Lord do good to them that we leave behind us we commit them into thy Arms Lord take them into thine Arms O Lord thou hast said in thy Word Leave thy fatherless Children I will preserve them alive and let thy Widows trust in me Lord it is thy Word and this is thy Command that we should leave them with Thee therefore we leave them in thy Arms. Dear Father we desire from the bottom of our hearts freely and fully to forgive all that we any wayes think have done us wrong in any kind whatsoever freely and fully either in England or elsewhere and we pray Thee shew kindness to those that any wayes have shewed kindness to us for the Lord Jesus sake reward all their labour of love a thousand fold into their bosoms Look in mercy upon the Chief Magistrates that are here at this time dear Father pardon their sins and reconcile them unto thy self in the Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ in which we pray Thee wash their souls And O Lord as for the person that is now appointed to take away our lives and to destroy our Bodies dear Father do not Thou destroy his Soul but wash his Soul in the Blood of Jesus Christ Even that person that is to wash his hands in our Blood O pardon him and let not any of his sins be remembred before Thee We leave ourselves with Thee and blessed be thy Name Thou hast been good unto us and thy Presence is with us and there is nothing that gives trouble to us at this moment Father continue this thy loving-kindness to us O Lord thou hast not blessed be thy Name caused Death to be terrible to us no Lord thy poor Creature can say with freeness and comfort that there hath not been any thing of trouble or terror that hath past thy Servant since he came into this place either for what he is to suffer or the manner of his Sufferings but here he is before Thee and begs further help and strength from Thee being willing to surrender up his Soul to Thee in and through the Lord Jesus Christ. Then Col. Okey spake a few words more as followeth I did break off duty because you desired it and I would not be troublesome to you Then he very earnestly expressed himself further as followeth O love the Lord and hate all things that are evil I have found by experience more evil in the least sin than good in any thing this world can afford Therefore I beg it of all that are here To love God and to hate that that is evil The Lord give you Peace and Truth I hope our Relations shall not fare the worse for us but that you will shew them kindness And as to what my Brother said I thank the Lord I have the Assurance of his Love and the Pardon of my Sins through the Riches of his Grace and free love in Jesus Christ. After this Col. Barkstead called a young man who was known to him and taking a silver Box out of his pocket he charged him to give it to his Daughter Their Speeches and Prayers being ended the Executioner cleared the Cart of the rest of the People who were gotten in and then pulled down their several Caps over their eyes and upon the lifting up their hands the Cart was drawn away at which time Col. Barkstead especially was heard to say Lord Jesus receive our Souls and after he had hanged for a little space he lifted up his hand That which many did especially take notice of was That there was not so much as the least attempt made by any to raise a triumphant shout upon the drawing away of the Cart but there rather appeared the symptoms of an universal face of Sadness in that vast and generally tumultuous Assembly who were the Spectators of their several Deaths They all hung near about a quarter of an hour The first that was cut down was Col. Barkstead who was quartered according to the Sentence the other two hanging all the while The next cut down was Col. Okey Mr. Corbet hanging still who after Col. Okey was quartered had the Execution done upon him also according to the Sentence Their several Quarters were brought back to Newgate about five of the Clock in the Afternoon to be boyled A brief Account of Col. Okey's Funeral WHen Col. Okey's Body was quartered it pleased the King to send a Warrant to the Sheriff of London to deliver the macerated Body to be buried where his Wife should think meet Which thing being granted without Petition or Application from her or his Relations and the Rumour of his Funeral suddenly flying about the City and the place appointed at Stepney where his first Wife lieth in a fair Vault which he purchased formerly for a Burying-place for him and his Family there was a numerous Concourse of sober substantial People assembled to Christ-Church to attend the Corps and some thousands more were coming thither to that purpose so that there were in view about Twenty thousand People attending that Solemnity at and coming to the place aforesaid who in a solemn and peaceable manner behaved themselves as that affair required Yet it so pleased the King to revoke this first Grant to Mris. Okey and by the Sheriff of London to disappoint and send home again the Company attending the Funeral which Sheriff with much harshness and many bitter words did his work The People though much troubled at the disappointment yet so soon as they understood the King's pleasure departed and left the mangled Limbs to the dispose of them that had devoted them to the Gibbet and Ax the Company left many a thousand sighs to attend him to his then unknown Grave That Night the Body was carried to the Tower of London and there by Mr. Glendon Parson of Barkin was buried with the Service-Book afresh wounding his bleeding Limbs thereby but Rapes are imputed only to the Ravisher Mr. Glendon could not but say that his Body was laid there in sure and certain hope of a Joyful Resurrection His Testimony was true though a Poet of their own And now there he lyes and the Tower of London is his Tomb. His Epitaph he partly writ in the hearts of thousands at the place of Execution FINIS