of Christ when he began to put in practice his Fathers businesse when he chose his twelve Apostles Mark 3.17.21 and called some of them sons of Thunder his kindred thought he had been beside himself intending to lay hands on him if it were so judged of Christ by natural men let not his spiritual souldiers be ashamed to be called mad-men and so all natural men doe all Gods people But all that ever saw me let them be enemies or friends I praise God cannot but say I ever spake sensibly with sobriety and very wel in the Scriptures which made all that heard me admire to heare me speak and to read those things which I wrote having no natural learning to attain to it but the dictates of Gods holy spirit to press me on to it And when all this misery and much more had befel me I willingly submitted my selfe under this great burden of afflictions to Gods protection and to be ruled by my Father counsel although I knew it were against me But when I came out of that misery I went to a Justice of the Peace againe for a warrant to bring some of the chiefe actors of my misery before a Justice in Worcestershire on Midsomer day was seven yeares past and when I had laid open the wrongs to him it much grieved him and all that heard of it The Justice promised me that I should have justice for he had heard that the whole countrey spake wel of me and cryed out against them for wronging of me So I went that day after to see my unnatural Wife to her Fathers house and finding none at home but she with her little child I was glad She pretended a great deale of love to me when she saw me by outward signes of weeping and good words as she sate by my little child it lying in a Cradle My Wife desired me not to think of any difference that had been past but to forget is and to goe as soone as possibly I could to house-keeping again for she told me that they began to lead her a very disquiet life Quoth I to her againe I hope all wil make for the best to cause your love to cleave to me againe for said I you ought to forsake all your friends to live with your loving husband you know Gods word commands you so to doe I desired her never to so much as think any more of any thing that had been past but now to turn over a new leafe as though we had been newly married and so she made great promises to me that she would I further asked her how it was possible we should keep house so suddenly againe seeing they had sold my horses and broke me of my Trade She told me her Father would restore to me such things again for he loved me wel she said and was sorry for me I took the little infant out of the cradle and sate me down on a stoole at the end of the cradle and layed my staffe at my feet for I was fearful of more mischiefe if any of the rest were at home which made me doe so My Wives Mother and her daughter Katherine being neer the house and seeing me when I came fromward the Justices they laid a plot thinking that I had been for a warrant for them if they could perswade my wife to take their part they would fall upon me and so would take their oath all three when they came before the Justice that I offered them wrong and so make their owne matter good and throw me in prison again As soon as they came into the house they called my Wife from me and told her privately if she did not help to assist them against me they should be utterly undone and discredited So she presently yielded to her Mothers and middlemost Sisters counsel and came presently from them I had the child on my knees and was playing with it She took up my staffe as lay at my feet and made as though she would have carried out of the hall into the parlour she turned back againe suddenly with a great blow and struck me on the head and studied me and caught me by the throat and pluckt me by the haire of the head and beat my head against the wall her Sister being a great lusty wench came running upon me too and beat me about the head with my own staffe and thus I lay with the child on my knees leaning with my back against the wall my breath being almost gone yet I praise God I lay quietly til the Lords providence had caused me to passe the child safe off my knees into the cradle without harme I sitting as the end of the cradle I looked up and saw my Mother in Law comming in upon me too I by the power of God who preserved me and in abled me gave my wife a push on the brest as hard as J. could and flung her backward J. leapt up and pluckt the staffe out of her Sisters hand and gave her but one I bow which lighted on her arm and bruised it forely that the ran away crying and her Mother My wife as soon as she could recover her selfe to get up ran and took up an axe and came having it up above her shoulders with the edge towards me ready to cleave my braines in twain J strook up my hand quick under the head of the axe by the handle and put it by my head all this being done and J being wounded My Wife with that one blow J gave her on one of her breasts never gave suck more of that breast which made me very sorny Her Sisters arme was so bruised that it was lame above two years after The Angel of God that preserved me caused them to be so wounded for J dare sweare J struck but onely those two blows for J had so much patience from God that time that J was not angry Her Sister and Mother ran both out of the house J stayed my wife by the arm and told her if she had not betrayed me with her Judas-kissing and dissembling weeping J had not so much cared J never struck woman before that time nor since neither would I have done it then but in defence of my life A while after ah Briget said J when thou hast done all against me as can be done thou wilt be sorry for it and sorely repent it For J fully believe said J that it is not thee but the Devils temptation and thy Mothers bad counsel for lack of serving God but if thou wilt swear said J that thou wilt not come neer them for a great while and goe along with me from them J wil freely forgive thee and never speak of it to any man I spake thus but not intending to doe it suddenly She replyed againe saying that she would never live with me more cursing me in the name of God with many bitter curses Then I spake mildly again to her saying J pray you fetch some
seventy interpreters of the Scriptures were guided by the holy Ghost Then I intreat you for the Lords sake who hath sent me as a Herald to you to cause you to chuse such a number as you see Law and Gospel rule holdeth out a just proofe for which being chosen and elected as by the power of Gods holy word and spirit guiding me to direct you as hereafter followeth To shew your Highnesse and all the world by the power of God which he is able to perfect and make good in my weaknesse For as we read Mal. 4. that Elias will come before the latter day to turne the hearts of Fathers and Children one toward another and to end controversies in Families Nations and Kingdoms lest he should smite the whole earth with cursing that as where hatred warre devision and heresies have most and last abounded there grace love peace and concord may first begin to abound here for a true exampled pattern for all other Nations to follow us for Christ saith the first shall be last and the last shal be first There is no fearful or doubtful question to be objected against this earth and way which here is laid down the ground from antiquity of other ages how God hath sent the holy Ghost into such an equal rising number heretofore to carry on his work by but that he will do the like now if we would deny our own corrupt ways and embrace his waies which are all grace vertue and humility for God is Alpha and Omega at the beginning and ending of his workes all one and the same and his wayes of mercy are past finding out The Apostles say that these days would not come unlesse there were first a departure of the Faith by many falling into grosse erronious heresies blasphemies and apostasies there were never more then now therefore we may well assure our selves by natural reason that this is the very last age of the world and should be the best but nature is more abused now then ever it was in our forefathers days so that this time shewed forth it selfe to be the worst and the very dregs of all other ages that ever have been For behold both natural pride and spiritual pride abound in every high degree natural drunkennesse and spiritual not onely by excesse of drinking which is a very great reigning sin in this land but also Sects and selfe opinions which makes many thousands stagger without drinking of either wine or strong drink so that they are drunken and bereaved of all true spiritual senses and many others are blind by ignorance their knowledge being so weak and shallow in points of Religion that they know not their right hand from their left and although they have been brought up as it were in the Schooles of Moses and the Prophets in Abrahams bosome by going to Church hearing Sermons and reading or hearing the Scriptures yet they are prophane and covetous both people and Priests like one another so that it grieveth the holy Spirit of our God to see his people destroyed for want of knowledge In the late Bishops time in some places we were guided by a sort of Shepherds Of the late Bishops time which although they were knowing enough for learning and charitable enough to the poor in temporals yet they were prophane by starving their flocks But now we are troubled in most places with a covetous sort of Teachers I had like to said in all places being ignorant themselves they do not onely starve their flocks for want of saving and sound knowledge but also for lucre sake they drive and carry them into by and separate paths of errors and heresies so being like people like Priests God hath punished our sins together and yet our putrified sins being not healed are like to break out into another red sea of blood if God prevent not Now the Church being thus brought into the wildernesse weeping in her widows-like mournful Condition as one that hath lost her husband Luke 10. Rev. 9. and the Elders being all cast out of the City so that she hath no guide for her children which are left alone among fiery serpent-like Teachers and Scorpions and beastly poysoned opinions and the Ark and Temple of God is razed and taken by the uncircumcised of heart and we are a murmuring rebellious people worse then the Israelites were for our God hath brought us thorow a red sea of civil Wars to an entrance of a spiritual Canaans peace And if our rebellion against God doe not prolong our misery I fully believe we are neer the very entrance of a glorious time for the Church to break forth into her brightnesse and to shine in a more glorious manner then ever she did since Adams fal For the time is near at hand when all oppressors and dissembling hypocrites which do not speedily leave their evil ways shal be rooted out of power And those that have served God following the good old way shal shine as the stars do in the firmament both in Church and State and to enjoy a true religious … tled peace according to righteousnesse and true holinesse so that the civil Magistrate may be a wal to the Church and Ministery Four Monarchs being broken down there wil be another set up even a Kingly power under the Scepter of Jesus Christ Believe not those Dreamers Mockers Makers of Sects whose study is all to write or speak great swelling words against dignities and the powers which are ordained of God nay even against the Lords day or Christian Sabbath and the sacred ordinances of Gods Law and Christs command even the ten Commands which God writ with his own finger in stone never to be washed out or abolished having a double memento for the keeping of the Sabbath and Lords day as wel to the Christian Gentiles as the Jews for take away the Lords day even the day which is set apart onely for his worship if the candlestick be removed away from us the light of Gods true worship wil immediately follow Luke 10. But as Christ saith he saw Satan fal as lightning from heaven and transforming himselfe into a glorious Angel of light to carry on many with their new lights and false visions and new fangled doctrine to deceive if it were possible the very Elect but that is an impossible thing More I would have spoken of the Christian Sabbath and of these strange opinions to shew every poor soule the subtile wiles of Satan and the means at large how to escape him in this time of spiritual blindnesse and proud knowledge which darkens mens mindes and divides their judgements by grosse thick darknesse which if we have not lost our spiritual feeling we might feele it at none time under the Gospels glorious light which makes many other doat away their pretious time First a sign of the Stars ALL which wickednesse and Apostasies are but signs of a glorious time at hand nay even at our very doores For as
Christ although the other selfeseeking powers took not Solomons counsel who exhorted them to take away the evil counsel from before the King and the Kings Throne should be established according to righteousnesse but they wilfully and unadvisedly took away the King instead of his evil Counsel to establish themselves by it in great places these natural warriers did it unadvisedly by spiritual blindnesse yet the thing could not be omitted because it was long before so determined of God These spiritual warriers will restore his son again to the royal Throne to be supream in more Dignity and Majesty then ever his Father enjoyed it to be established in and by peace if God harden not the Churches enemies to their own destruction as he did Pharaoh and his host neverthelesse whatever the malice of Satan and wrath of wicked men do endeavor themselves against the ways of God yet it wil be at last for their greater ruine that withstand the wil of God the more violently they withstand it the more God wil be glorified by their destruction which wil come upon them like a suddain whirlewind when God ariseth to deliver his Church Fhr God and his chosen as he will doe his work by he wil cause them to restore every thing in the right order both in Church and State which hath been displaced and disjoynted this many hundred yeares and so he wil preserve it til the end of all things come to dissolution because God hath the hearts of all Kingly Potentates in his hand to dispose of them as pleaseth him either for the establishment of a Nation in peace or the remove of them by war I must needs be bold to speak and declare my conscience in the presence of God and the like to all the world Concerning King Charles his Life and Death that for ought I could ever see or heare upon ground or proofe waving afide envious or slanderous aspersions cast upon him that are now plainly seen were cast upon him to carry the design of his enemies on against him in a violent way as things were laid to Davids charge that he never knew of If Christ were so wronged by false witnesse and put to to death and his Apostles Martyrs and Saints and the holy men of God in all ages let no man judge the worse of him for his untimely death for there is a righteous Judge that knoweth all therefore let every man begin to judge his own heart and there he shal find himself to be in a great high rebellion against God and guilty of high Treason The meanest creature as God made for our necessity and servile service in their nature doth condemn us in the things they were created for so they remain stil I cal God to record I speak nothing in his behalfe no not a word more then I would for any man else for God caused me to fortel his overthrow and I have had great losse and trouble by some that were of his Army yet I have been long assured and caused to write and speak how that he was the Lords anointed King and that his conscience being firm to maintain the ancient Rights of the Protestant Church was the cause of his death Furthermore I am forced to foretel how that his Posterity and Heire wil come to enjoy the Crown And this I am caused and compelled to speak as I have heretofore foretold by the power of God of the greatest remarkable changes and chances as have fel out between King and Parliament neer this 12. yeares past which is all come to passe since but onely the manner of Church-government and the Kings Son being restored to his Fathers Throne and in what manner if any man wil needs ask me what ground I have for it I must needs tel him it is the witnesse of Jesus which is the spirit of Prophesie which hath carried me on in this manner Not that I can fortel any of these things by any power of my own or by any natural Art but when it pleases God to compel me then I cannot forbeare to goe As for King Charles his life they could speak no other of him when he reigned in peace but that he was a loving godly peaceable Prince sticking close to the fundamental point of the Protestant Religion I butsaid many he was almost turned Papist but they that cast that aspersion upon him first soone after when they had made many beleeve that then they said the Common-prayer and the Protestant Religion was all Idolatrous Popery and so they esteemed Charity a while after I judge noue that were the instruments of the Kings death I with great fervency of spirit pray that his bloed may not cry to Heaven for vengeance like Abels but like our Saviours for they that were the instruments did not know what they did God hiding it from their eyes by their spiritual blindnesse as the Jews that put Christ their heavenly King to death I fully believe that this City of London wil be a second new Jerusalem ordained by God to reigne over the Gentiles I speak not this by any prophetical command of God but by permission and several natural reasons as cause me so to think You know Paul was a great man in discernment of the wayes of God by Visions yet he spake many things by permission more then onely Gods immediate command at all times to him but this by the power of God and his holy spirit that I hope dwelleth in me and I trust wil alwayes guide me in all my wayes by his holy spirit in the way of truth both in speaking writing walking and talking I wil shew you As our Saviour Christ was envyed by the Pharisees and put to death by their Counsels but not against the ordination of God by those hard hearted Jewes yet Christ prayed for them and his death was a destruction to their Religion even of those wilful blinded Jewes that put their King Christ to death by the Souldiers who guarded them to doe it Even so wil it prove in the end with those Pharisalcal Presbyterians that first put to death their High Priest raised up some of the Army which caused the King to be put to death also they gave the first onset by their preaching and covetous lives to raise Sectaries and Herifies to be the instruments to doe it it could not be omitted it was both permitted and long so before determined that he should be cut off by an Army and a flood of-Heresies Dan. 11. Hos 10.3 4 7. The King he imitated Christ and Steven in praying for his enemies and to be a meek man and a godly Christian Prince standing firm for the Protestant Covenant But by the Bishops death which none but the Presbyterian Priests were the cause of that every one of them thinking to reign as Bishops by it some of them gave the first onset to set others against the King But the death of the King and the Arch-bishop which all Sectaries thought
the three and my Talent was to shew first the Church-government And after in my ficknesse the Angel revealed to mee againe how that all Countries would rise in a triumphing manner with all sorts of Musick and so come up to London with great joy to establish the King and overthrow all the enemies of Christ and his Gospel and cast them out of power and then all sword-powers would begin here to cease and as a pattern other Nations should follow I should have spoken of the manner of the sicknesse and more of Gods great goodnesse to me but for brevity-sake I end with praises to God The reason why God suffered the two two black Fiends to accuse me for the groat as I wronged my Masters horses of their allowance gave me warning after for ever wronging my fellow servants more if it should lie in my power after As much it signified and breatned to any that either are have been past or shal be for time to come put in power above men to be Rulers either in Church or State if they wrong defraud or smite with the fists of iniquity Matth. 24. They that doe so without repentance to God and restoration to man like Zacheus God and their own conscience will finde them out and Satan wil bring bils of indictment in this life or after For we have all one Maste in Heaven Satans transforming himselfe into a glorious shape and perswading me to renounce my infant-baptism and the feigned apparition of Jacobs Ladder signified all Sects and self-opinions that are tempted by Satan to renounce their infant-baptism to go after the feigned River of Jordan perswading others to follow their steps up Jacobs Ladder which is not the true way to Heaven Therefore as Christ saith Neitherbeleeve nor follow them Matth. 24. A short description of some of my great Troubles AFter the first Apparitions Revelations Temptations and Visions that the Lord bad made knowne unto me his unworthy servant many of his secret determined intents which suddenly were to befal the King and Parliament both Church and State and a meanes how it might have been prevented and a true peace setled if they would but have denied their own corrupt wayes to have imbraced Gods wayes And further when the word of the Lord came first unto me by his holy Angel to cause me to goe on Gods message first to the King and then to the Parliament to declare Godâ— mind unto both parties as I have shewed before and what great troubles I must undergoe by crosses imprisonment violence from my nearest friends losse of goods if I refused to goe at first to displease them yet after many troubles I must goe at last When God had restored me to health and strength of body again after my sicknesse through my friends perswasion I left Gods message undone and cast his will behind my back but many times I should talk of it to many of my friends and others telling them in what manner God had appeared to me and what a charge was laid upon me from God to presse me on to discharge my conscience I oftentimes speaking of it with griefe but they most of them would be stil perswading me that it was a temptation of Satan and his delusions and would bee arguing much with mee that in these dayes God did not appeare by either apparitions visions or revelations saying those things were now ceased Thus their perswasion wrought upon mee by Satans temptation to let Gods work alone for the space of above three years In this time I had some great troubles The first of them was when I thought I should have been married to a Neighbours daughter as lived neere my Masters dwelling one of a good portion and parentage Shee was my first love being made sure one to another by strong promises in the way of contract between our selves it was broke by false pretended friends and so parted I looked upon it no other way then this I was assured that God did cause my proceedings in the world to be crost because I had not been obedient to what I was commanded of Gods holy Angel and confirmed by sure signes Within the compasse of a year after I was married to another rich mans daughter of my own trade being set up to follow the calling of an Ironmonger at Hales Owen five miles from Brimingham lived peaceably with my Wife kept neer 60. Nailors at work to make iron ware I kept great trading and many horses to send ware up unto other Countries for to serve whole sale to many Chapmen In this time I had many troubles and losses which if I should lay them down in particular what I had before I was forced by God to goe on his message and those as I have endured since in the manner as they have befel me and Gods mercy to me in delivering and preserving me from one time to another in no ordinary way but in a miraculous way the like was scarce ever heard of by any if I should put them in a Book it would be larger then could be read in the lengest day in the year and yet all true and good reading to shew the wrongs as I have endured by my neerest friends and she that was my Wife with some of her friends and many more which before I went on Gods message shewed great love towards me but when I went on purpose to the King when Colonel Graves was his Keeper at Holmby they were all great friends but after profest enemies against me by Satans malice to wrong me in the highest degrees that ever was heard of by any man in such nature since the world began not onely once or twice but several times in several yeares yet I praise God I can speak it with a good conscience in the sight of God and man that there is none of my greatest enemies can say upon truth neither wil they I believe that I in all my troubles as I have undergone I ever wronged man woman or child willingly not so much as to use any extremity against any of my greatest enemies but stil committing all to God and praying for my greatest enemies which are sure fignes and strong testimonies to all that know me that I have been all this while guided preserved and carried on by a miraculous providence of Gods holy spirit First when I went to speak with the King Colonel Graves was his Keeper at Holmby I being compelled by God to leave all and goe to foretel King Charles what would suddenly befal him if such things were not done as the Lord had shewed me concerning his agreeing with the Parliament to erect and set up the true Religion of Jesus Christ in the good old way and that the Magistracy should be as a wall to the true Ministry I having these things in my breast to declare to the Kings own person by word of mouth I comming very neer to the Kings Majesty being at bowles that day at Boulten Court two
the fear of the Lord to guide us Fourthly who can say but they broke Covenant with God by swearing falsly to be true to the King and the Protestant Religion and to work reformation in Church and State for true judgment But in stead of being better it is worse for it hath broke out like hem lock or wormwood in the furrowes of the Field and hath tafted as bitter as gall Amos 6.12 Hosea 10.4 7. And the death of King Charles is typified to be the King of Samaria whom Hosea prophesied should be cut off as a foame on the factious water which the Devil caft out of his mouth to drown the woman being meant the Church in this time of new fangled worship and heretical way of new opinions If we see Hâ—sâ—a's Prophesies to be fulfilled by the late dissolved Parliaments and to be as true to us as they speak of the natural Israelites you cannot chuse but believe it to be true in these things And why then may not my troubles and crosses when I was forced by God and their own violence against me which could not be done without Gods permission and ordination Let no man dare or presume to judge otherwise but being done by Gods appointment it did signifie these things as have befel our Nation between King and Parliament by being divorced from God to follow their own corrupt wayes My Wife came out of such a Linage by her Fathers birth as Hosea was to take his wife of for a further signe Hos 1. but I was ignorant of that when I married her my love was never the lesse to her yet her Father had alwayes the relation of all people to be a very honest dealing man But seeing my unhappy predestination was to be thus afflicted by she that was my Wife I look upon it no other way then this it was because I did not at the first forsake all these outward things of this life willingly to goe on Gods message I am very sorry that I cannot forbeare writing and laying open to the view of the world the wrong as I have received from her and their hands Let no man judge the worse of her or them for acting these strange actions or mee for relating of it but let them all assure themselves thus as heare of it The Devil did not onely afflict Job by his wife and Satans temptation by his friends when he was in his great calamity but the like instruments Satan can make use of any let them be never so honest for natural parts if God leave them to themselves But let every one watch and pray lest they fall into Satans temptations and praise God for all the enjoyment of his benefits If any wil say as many have done that there can be no divocement lawful unlesse it be for the act of Adultery To give them an answer look in Malachy 2.16 God hates putting away but if so be thou must such iniquities ought to be hid within ones own garment therefore if I doe know such things I will forbear speaking of them to the world The humble Petition of John Sanders to the Lord Protector Most humbly sheweth THat whereas the humble Petitioner have oftentimes on purpose many sundry and long journeys to speak with your Highnesse for the space of above 3. yeares and a halfe but none of these times could I find any opportunity by any of your Souldiers or servants I have at this time many grievances to ease and unburden my selfe of to your Highnesse which is the Head in chiefe I having undergone much wrong by many several men to the sustaining of great losse both of goods and chattels and other things But concerning those things your humble Petitioner will keep silence at this time committing all those things to God who hath kept my life from the rage of my enemies for the time past by his merciful providence and so I trust he wil for the time to come My Lord the cause of my complaint now at this present time after the many and sundry journeys and many losses and false imprisonments which false bosome-friends and false witnesses have brought me to for nothing else but the witnesse of Jesus which hath carried me on by his holy spirit to foretel things to come About halfe a year before Worcester fight which was since you came to be Head Leader in chiefe of the Parliament Forces the Lord compelled me openly to foretel how that King Charles would come with an Army into Worcestershire before Bartholomew-tide from Scotland against the Parliament and how that his taking up of Armes to maintaine the Scottish Presbytery Government would be the cause of the overthrow of his Army if he fought These things God compelled me openly to declare in Brimingham and at the Lady Graves and many places more and how Colonel Graves the Ladies Son would come in with him I was cast into great imprisonment and misery by Satans malice and wicked men til the very day of Worcester-fight and lost all my time trade and stock besides all the misery false imprisonment I underwent in several places Som said I was distracted others said I was guided by the spirit of God but in the presence of God I speak it that I never knew my selfe at one time worse then another but it was the wil of God to carry me on in that manner No man ever heard me speak at those times like one that had been distracted but if Christ were so esteemed Mark 3. and Paul let not me be ashamed of that name by natural men which are spiritually blind Many witnesses I could produce that heard me foretel the manner and time of Worcester-fight When I was out of prison the spirit of the Lord caused mee to come fourscore miles to speak with your Highnesse and to tel you how that the present standing Parliament could not stand without they entred into a hallowed covenant with God at the Ark of his Testimony for want of the true worship of Jesus Christ being found out and set above them was the cause of Gods overthrowing them for their injustice and division But when I could not find an opportunity to declare Gods message to your Highnesse I told Colonel Barkstead these things and shewed him writings and told him what way the Church must and would be rebuilded Being then eased of my burden I went home into my own Countrey again and after that into Ireland counting my selfe unfortunate I carried iron ware to set up my trade there and began it in Dublin but the spirit of the Lord compelled me to come out of Ireland againe to come up to London about six weeks before the Parliament was dissolved I could not speak with your Highnesse the Parliament was newly rose about the Seamen the spirit of God compelled me to make a Speech in Westminster Hall before abundance of people concerning the Parliaments dissolution about the shortest day in the yeare And then before I could
AN IRON ROD PUT INTO The Lord PROTECTORS Hand To break all Antichristian Powers in pieces OR A Discourse which tends to a Spirituall War with all Sects and Self-opinions which are the Churches enemies wil bring Englands everlasting happiness and joyn all other Lands into the body of Christs Church to serve God with with one consent Zeph. 3.9 All which was discovered to John Sanders of Harburn neer Brimingham By true Apparitions Revelations and many several Visions as the second Book sheweth Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a Potters vessel Psal 2.9 Rev. 2.27 The Lords voice cryeth unto the City and the man of wisedome shall see my name hear the rod and who hath appointed it Micah 6.9 LONDON Printed for the Author and are to be sold at the Angel in Cornhil 1655. The Table of the Second Book THis Second Book of John Saunders sheweth a true relation how and where he was called at noon-time of the day on the 11. day of June 1643. by a true and a terrible apparition and further how the Lord revealed his secret intent and confirmed it to him by true signs and shewed him the greatest remarkable revolutions turnings chances and changes as have been ever since between King and Parliament which he then declared before many And what way the Church shal be re-builded to bring all Lands into one Christian Body and Union of Eaith Surely saith the Lord then will I turne to the people a pure language that they may call upon the name of the Lord and serve him with one consent Zephany 3.9 And a true Relation of what horrible afflictions God suffered him to be sundry and many times cast into by Satan and his instruments because he did at first neglect the message of the Lord of Hosts conterning King and Parliament Church and State Dear Christian Reader IN this Second Book of John Sanders here is shewn a true Relation of the manner how God called me to this work in as wonderful a way as he did Paul at noon-time of the day by an open apparition on the 11. day of June 1643. Page 37 As I was employed in a Faire with my Master Mr. Robert Bloomer it pleased my heavenly Master and Father in Christ to cause me to see the Apparition then at that immediate time But God knowing that I was inclined by nature to be hard of beliefe like Thomas who would not believe unles he felt and saw both or like the men of our late dayes which will not believe but that Apparitions Revelations and true Visions are now ceased it pleased God to convert me from that erroneous unbelieving mind in as wonderful a manner as he did Paul at noon-time of the day and caused me to feele his indignation as the reading of this Book wil tel you in what manner and at noon again four dayes after how the Lords holy Angel was sent to comfort my comfortlesse condition by secret and strange Revelation and on the morrow at night after and on the next morning being Friday the 17. day to confirm me by trial and terrible Visions and strange temptations and then to comfort me with his holy Angel to give me a command to goe to King and Parliament as it were to be a Herauld of Armes or heavenly Embassador from the King of Kings And to tel first the King what would befal him unless such things were agreed on as this Book sheweth and then to go to the Parliament to shew what they must do or else the like and worse judgment would befal them at last unless they would do as Zacheus did when Christ called him Yet the Kings Son and a remnant of them must and would agree at last for upon their agreement is the greatest meanes under God to call the Jewes and convert the whole world into one union of Faith Then I was shewed what misery I was to undergoe if I refused to goe on Gods message yet must go at last This book of my troubles sheweth the manner what I have endured First of my going to speak with the King when he was prisoner at Holmby and in what manner I was prevented from speaking with the King himself and then what I told Colonel Graves would befal first to the King and then the Parliament if such things were not done as this Book speaks of and what great troubles befel me after by Satans malicious working against me by my wife and her kindred and some of my own and many wicked men besides and of Gods great miraculous deliverance and mercy to me p. 44 46 47 48 Secondly of my putting out of a little Book about the time that the Levellers rose against the Parliament called A Description of the Ten Commandements concerning this late War laying open the misery of the Church by reason of covetous and new fangled Teachers were crept into it for want of true Church-government And then what troubles befel me again and how some of her friends urged her to be divorced from me and of their persecuting of me p. 54 55 Thirdly the Bill of Divorcement put in print in this Book given her six yeares since after this manner which she and they were the causers of p. 58 Fourthly the manner how God compelled me to foretel Worcester fight and the manner and time of it and how the King would be overthrown if he fought and eminent witness produced that heard me speak it p. 62. Fifthly the humble petition of Iohn Sanders to the Lord Protector of his often comming to London since to speak with the Parliament to tel that Parliament that they could not stand and to shew them what was the cause Colonel Barkstead can witnesse it that God compelled me to tel him and what would be the cause p. 53 Sixthly of my comming out of Ireland neer 6. weeks before the little Parliaments dissolution and to tel some of them that Gods decree was so gone out against them that they would be dissolved about the shortest day in the yeare Witness Colonel Barkestead which is now the Lieutenant of the Tower And then of my going into our Country of my being compelled by God to prefigure declare in Brimingham what was then doing that day in London 88. miles from London then of my being thrown into prison p. 64 Seventhly of my being compelled by the dictates of Gods spirit to speak and write many times and make many journeys since to the present power and the last Parliament to tel them what hath and wil befal them unlesse they wil deny themselves and seek God p. 65 Eightly of several Visions as I have had this yeare concerning the Church being rebuilded suddenly and the Lord Protectors Councel and King Charles his agreeing And how God revealed the plot of the Countrys-rising to me and caused me to carry a Letter to the Tower of it and to deliver it before the rising was p. 66 67 Woe
is me if I declare not faithfully that which the Lord declareth to me either to King or Parliament Gourteous Reader some Errours have escaped the presse yet but one worth observation In page 38. line 32. for Monday read Wednesday The Table of the First Book FIrst here is shewed in this Book to your Highness and all others that please to hear or read it a Petition to move you with all expedition to goe about the work of God to finde out true Religion for the beautifying of Gods Church and then to build it up Page 1. Secondly the manner and time how Davids Tabernacle fell as well from the Christian Gentiles which were in Gospel-covenant as it did from the 12. Tribes of Israel in Rehoboams time under the Law and how there was never no true Religion in one body since they parted p. 2. Thirdly a short description of the Protestants ruinating in this land by this late war p. 5. Fourthly the true manner described how Davids fallen Tabernacle should be begun to be raised as in the dayes of old Amos 9 proved by Law and Gospel-rule to be the true Channel for the Church to run in first in this land and no other way then this can be proved which wil bring the whole world to one union of faith to serve God with one consent Zeph. 3.9 p. 6. Fifthly what a wilderness infectious poysoned and scattered condition the Church and people of God are in for want of a Church-government according to Patriarchal Prophetical Apostolical and Discipled orders the true manner of which is laid down in this Book p. 13. Sixthly true comparative signes first by the Stars secondly by the Moon that Christs true Religion is ready to breake forth into beautifulness more then ever it was in p. 15. Seventhly a godly direction and admonition for his Highness the Lord Protector to take the like care for the chusing of a High Priest to be Head in chief for Christs Church as Abrahams eldest servant did for a wife for Isaac the figure of Christ Gen. 24. This wil be the beginning of a fifth Monarchy under Christ Eightly the manner of the High Priests receiving of the number of 12. Apostolical Bishops to be Head Fathers of the 12. spiritual Tribes of Israel which are now scattered abroad Jam. 1. by the holy order of laying on of hands and of his and their receiving the number of 70. under them to make a body above the ordinary Ministers of Christs Church p. 22. Ninthly the true manner how to prove them whether their calling and election be of God or not by going to a spiritual war which is a contending for the faith or casting rods and lots with all Sects and self-opinions which are the Churches enemies Num. 17.18 Matth. 27.55 Joh. 19.23 Iude. p. 25. Tenthly the manner of the Whore of Babels fal and all false forms in one day in this land to be a patterned example for the whole world to follow and for the calling of the Jewes Turks Pagans and Infidels to the true faith p. 27. Eleventhly it sheweth the glorious time of the new Jerusalems situated government and of the Churches glory p. 31 Twelfthly it sheweth how that King Charles the Second-is appointed by God to be his chief King under Christ over the whole world and the Lord Protector if he will be obedient to the word of the Lord to be the second under him as Abrahams faithful servant to be chief Ruler for the King for by their agreement the Jews and Turks are to be called p. 36. And all that assist them and are faithful in their places that are now in power and wil be obedient willingly now they see Gods truth and righteous peace ready to break forth to yield to God and his true anointed King if they lose a Captaines place Major Colonel or General which now is held by troublesome fear then it wil be no more loss to them then theattaining to a Knight Lord Judge Earle Duke or Deputy King or Prince by this peaceable agreement til the end of all things come to dissolution over this Land and many more for them to be Governours As I am commanded of God to threaten those that have gotten into other mens possessions contrary to godliness or good consciences and so prove themselves by it to be enemies in that to Gods glorious Gospel and the Primitive Churches practice so I am commanded of God to threaten all with the danger of their own ruine and the displeasure of God that will not forbear plotting and mutyning and so hurt the Kings agreement Doe you think it is possible to stand in a strong wind and throw chaff against the wind and it not fly back upon you Do you think it is possible to doe Gods work before his time be It is but the Devils policie to cause you so to think God is neer arising to deliver his people and to restore his Church Therefore wait patiently till the time be for the day is neer a dawning TO HIS HIGHNESSE the Lord PROTECTOR MAy it please your Highness to vouchsafe the reading of this little Book which God caused me your servant in the Lord Iohn Sanders to indite unto you who hath come oftentimes on purpose to speake with you being compelled by the power of the holy Ghost which enableth me to foretel things to shew you what Gods wil is toward you if you will believe and obey the Lord. O my Lord wo is me if I be either fearful or negligent to give you and all others warning since God hath called me and shewed me a sword of Justice which proceedeth out of his mouth which he is now arising to draw forth not onely against you and your power but against all the chiefe governours of the world unlesse speedily you and they deny your own wayes and imbrace Gods wayes Those that so doe it shal go wel with them My Lord I shal in these first lines forbeare making use of any other mens labours study or Scripture phrases lest you should rather think it to be brain knowledge then the dictates of Gods Spirit I conceive your Highness believeth that where God appears by visions and Christ takes up the roome the holy Ghost carrieth them on by a real true power they wil be so guided and shewed Gods waies and wil according to their gift and talent to write or speak the mind of God without either study or natural parts when God pleaseth The Scriptures are given of God to be as a touchstone for them that feare God and obey his wil to try the spirits whether they be of God therefore let them be your Judge but have especial care of wresting them endeavour to let them arest you in this life and you shal have rest in the life to come Truly my Lord if such like counsel which natural men wil not own but count foolishness doe not guide you you wil not only stumble in points of Religion as many
when the Stars are under thick mists or clouds that night is very dark and the darkest part of all that night is immediately before the break of day even so when the Churches Stars the Ministers are clouded with the foggy mists and errors of factious Teachers which are clouds without water as Jude speaks Even then is the Church in her dark mournful condition which darknesse will appear most of all when the day of her deliverance draweth neer Secondly of the Moon AND as when the Moon is neer her change the night imediately before is the darkest night of all that quarter so the sad dark mournful condition of our Moon the Church gives us hope that she is neer her change and that the Son of righteousnesse is ready to arise with healing under his wings and that the morning tide is neer a turning the day of a true religious peace is neer a dawning and ready to break forth into a glorious light thus you see the Churches greatest extremities is always Gods chiefest opportunities All which darknesse confusions and mischiefs have arisen for want of these aforesaid apostolical and discipled orders For as Natures reason hath told you that your Army could not stand without general field Officers above Captains of Companies according to Marshal discipline even so ordinary Ministers of parishes cannot stand without Heads as Bishops Deanes and other Church-Officers according to Scripture discipline If fire have burned houses and good dyet hath furfeited many mens bodies for want of being carefull and moderately used shal we therefore never use fire or food more Truely my Lord this is a fit comparison concerning these things There is now a beginning of a fifth Monarchy or Kingly power The beginning of the fifth Monarchy Your Highnesse is the first man God hath raised to be the man to erect it and to be a Protector of the people in State and to take the like care for the Church as David did for building up of the true worship of God and as Davids desire was to be a door-keeper in Gods house after he had destroyed the Churches enemies in the time of the Law So God hath appointed you to keep the doore to let none but the true Ministers of Christ proved by Law and Gospel rule to enter into that holy office which have their calling and election from God and man and approved able in gifts and sound knowledge fitting for the dispensation of the Oracles of God Your Highnesse ought to take the first Solomons desire of God as an example to frame your heart and to keep you from the desire of riches honour or the life of your enemies but onely beg of God for an enlargement of heart for the guiding of such a people as is committed to your charge and then all other things that God seeth is needful for you will be added without wearisome care as both Peace Safety Plenty and Wisedome And to hasten speedily to set forward the finding out the true way for Gods worship to beautifie his house Now you see God hath given you more power and liberty to doe such a work then ever any King had since England first was a Kingdome although you cannot chuse but heare and know how many curse you as Shimei did David yet you ought to think as David did when Shimei cursed him Surely this cursing and plotting against me is suffered by Gods ordination or permission because speedily you doe not set about the great Work of God and follow Christ the second Solomon by patience and meeknesse praying for your greatest enemies and willingly and readily open a door of peace and truth to your greatest enemies that you have fought against if you can perswade your selfe the battels were for God then the execution of vengeance should be left to him The way to chuse a High Priest YOur Highnesse ought first to chuse a good Pilot or High Priest for the Church a good learned orthothodox Divine such a one who hath alwayes heretofore given himselfe to charity and hospitality apt to teach a man of sound judgment and grave knowledge O for the Lords sake and for the good of the Church and people and your own safety in this life and for your soules safety hereafter imitate Abrahams chief Ruler and eldest Servant for God calls you to come to him and to take a hallowed oath as Abrahams servant did being charged by his Master not to take a wife of a strange linage of the Canaanitish seed amongst whom he dwelt but to goe to Aram to fetch one out of Nahor his own ancient Family Even the like charge lieth upon you from your heavenly Master for to chuse a Bride for his Sons Church of the Ancient True Christian Religion even a man of selfe-denial that will leave all like Rebeccha Genes 24. Such a one to be a High Priest God the Father will take delight in He that will assoone as he is called to Christs work and that he is sent for to be the onely chiefe Head under Christ in his Church and to be his chief espoused as Rebeccha was to Isaac who as soone as she saw Isaac in the Field at eventide alighted off her Camel and went on foot to meet Isaac her Bridegroom which went outto meditate in the field toward evening who meeting Rebeccha he brought her into his Mother Sarahs Tent after she was dead Even so will it be with us though the old Protestant Church be in a dead condition yet let us assure our selves that Christ is neer a coming to meet the prayers of his Saints Now it is eventide with them yet mans extremity is Gods opportunity for Christ will meet such a one as is humble and lowly minded meek and he will bring him to be a High Priest after Melchisedechs Order in the Protestants place or Tent And God will chuse an Apostolical and discipled number to be added to him they being chosen and set apart for that end by him Even such as will be willing to doe as Zacheus did who when he was climbed up in a Syccamore tree to see Christ as soone as he was called by Christ to come down for he would that day dine in his house with him yea rather in his heart and told him further That salvation was come into his house both for himselfe and his Family So now the whole Land is soule-sick to see most men which are climbed up so high and all in a pretending way at the first to see Christ but nothing intending any such matter but to make themselves great in the world and so set themselves against God and his glorious Gospel which calls them to come down as Christ did Zacheus to be charitable to the poor and restore to every one their right and then Christ will dine in their hearts and the holy spirit of union will cast out the spirit of division and bring salvation to their several Families and joyn them together in one
Angels with the names written on them of the twelve Tribes of Israel and the Lamb and his twelve Apostles which are the chiefe Founders and Builders of this glorious situated government Wee must understand that as the judgments of God first began at his own house in this Land so God wil have his house restored and built up again to be as it were a pattern for the King and Lord Protector to frame and set up their State-government by For aâ— there is to be appointed by God twelve Apostolical Bishops under a Head spiritual Father to be the Leaders of the Church so far as their power can wel be able to rule so likewise it is convenient to have 12. temporal Judges in chief under one Father the King so far as their power is wel able to extend in every division which being thus done according to order righteousnesse and true holinesse every Kingdome wil then become the Kingdome of our Lord and of his Christ Rev. 11.15 16 17. So then the King being as Abraham or Moses in chief under God the Father Exod. 4.16 he must be as Moses was to Aaron as it were a God to the High Priest or Arch-Bishop The High Priest or Arch-Bishop representing Isaac and Rebecca by a Melchisedech-order of Christ must be as it were a chiefe Prophet to the King as Aaron was to Moses And the twelve chief temporal Judges and the twelve Head spiritual Bishops which make the number of 24. Elders must cast themselves down with all their government both for Church and State to give all praises to God the Father and his Son Christ Jesus for judgment given to the great Whore and the other 70. discipled Elders wil doe their office as God wil appoint them to and carry them on by the power of the Holy Ghost And the High Priest shal then weare no more polluted garments but God wil cause him to have change of rayment and a fair Diadem or a Micre on his head as Aaron had And then the Church wil begin to flourish in a glorious manner This fifth and last elect 70. wil by Gods assistance beautifie the fifth Monarchy and God wil carry on this last 70. under the High Priest and the 12. Apostolical Bishops which are to be heads of the 12. spiritual Tribes of Israel Gods holy spirit guiding these and going along with them they wil build up the truth Church better and firmer then ever it was before advancing the true worship of God above all Zach. 3. And they wil give example for the Judges and State-officers to follow them in like manner for the spirit of Daniel wil be among them standing in the Lot the dark letters and the hidden mysteries which are to be revealed to man God by these wil unseal and God wil esteem of them as his dearest Jewels These wil be guided by the Holy Ghost to doe as Solomon exhorteth to purge the tin and the drosse from the go Iden and filver governments The two famous Universities and Schooles of learning shal be made pure fountains by these from whence the sincere milk of Gods word shal flow for the nourishment both of Church and State to feed the flock and people of God as the breasts of Sarah and Rebecca did nourish Isaac and Iacob Then shal all houses of hospitality and religious store houses be setled established according as is intended to their right end again the store houses to be rightly erected without either Idolatry or Superstition for an account of the Tithes and other things to be brought in thither that their may be provision for Gods house for all necessary uses that belong thereunto according to the word of God that being their guide and all parish Churches and Places that are or have been appointed for Gods worship as neede requireth to be desently restored to their Priestine adornments to make them the beauty of holinesse as Gods word requireth without superstition or idolatry as Paul saith Let all things be done decently and in order and the Ministery for every degree rightly to be restored and they to have their charge and orders from the Apostolical Bishop and Discipled Elders of their several limitted Diocesses in all degrees as belong to the Ministerial office to be as careful of their chargeover every Parish according to Vrim and Thummim soundnesse of Doctrine and integrity of life and to be as careful over all sorts of people that belong to their congregated charge in all needful degrees as great rich mens Shepherds must be over their folded or pastured Sheep which were onely kept and appointed for that end if any of their flock be lost by the Shepherds negligence as earthly Masters wil look for the price of the sheep at their hand as is hired and kept for that end Zeph. 3.9 Saith the Lord surely I will turne to the people a pure Language that they may call upon the name of the Lord and serve him with one consent Lord hasten this time In this time of the kingdom of glorious grace there shall no man need to ask the wayes of God of Lay men but we shal all be taught of God and fed with the sincere milk of Gods word which floweth from the mouth of Gods messengers the true Ministers Every neighbour and private man to follow his temporal calling living in unity amity and true Christian brotherly love saying one to another where sin and envy hath heretofore abounded so now true love grace shal much more abound serving God with one consent saying one to another Come let us go up to the house of the God of Jacob to learn of his true Shepherds and Ministers We may wel conclude believe this to be the time that the whole earth wil be filled with the knowledge and glory of the Lord as the waters covereth the Sea Yea much more must the Minister Shepherd or Watchman give an account both to God and them as God hath set over them of their charge for if any be lost for want of their care their blood God wil require at their hands Ezek. 33. The same charge lieth upon me or any other that hath a message to declare from God to your Highnesse concerning the seeing of a sword or a judgement or an alteration of the times we must not fear to declare the mind of God for the displeasure of either King or Potentate if we doe whensoever it be they die in their sins or ignorance for want of having warning by the seer that God revealeth it to they shal die and their blood shal be required at his hand For by this which I am to declare to your Highnesse I am appointed of God to assure you and the whole Council of State that although other powers of the late several choices for Church and State have not sought Gods ways but their own yet those that God wil perfect his work by he wil have them to deny all to follow
to have reigned in a living condition by it and knew they could notwithout it yet his death and the Bishops wil prove to be the death of al Sects and Herefies and the chiefest meanes under God to convert the Jewes Pagans and Turks to Christs truth The Lord guide me with this holy Spirit I Shal assure you in truth eleven year agoe I being an Apprentice to an Iron-Monger it happened by the powerful providence of God as I was at a Fare on the longest day of the year called Saint Barnabies day as I was helping my Master to keep the Fare at Newport-pannel in Buckinghamshire I being in perfect health and busily exercised about my Masters imploiments with him at the stall About 12. of the clock as I was weighing out of ware and many people at the stal I was struck of a suddain with amazement the power of God caused me to look before me and there was standing before me the shape of a Woman cloathed in blew like an old fashioned cloak and safeguard The Woman cloathed in blew raiment signified the Protestant Church Aaron the High Priest his colours were blew for the Ephod Exod. 28.28 31 37. the liknesse of her face was black as an Oven Her blacknesse of face signified that she began then to be overwhelmed with darknesse lamentations mists of Heresies as Jude calls them Clouds without water she strook her hands over her face Her striking of her hands over her face in a mournful condition signified the lamentable condition which she then was fallen into when the High Priest and the Apostolical and Discipled Elders were cast out of the City and there was no true government then either in Church or State when Kingly power was spurned against and so fearfully despised weakned so that the Judges and civil Magistrates could not be a wal to the true Orthodox Ministry then many old heresies which had been long ago buried began to be new digd up new fangled opinions began to be found out by Satans malicious temptations I took as little notice of it as I could but was following my Masters occasion of trading being a waighing of nailes I was struck fick at heart of a suddain and was forced to look on the strong appeparission which was like a Woman and looked stedfastly on her who strook her hands again over her face in a wailing condition as a … man that had lost her h … and or children or some great friend and so she vanished away I was very heart and stomach sick of a suddain being forced to leave the stal I told my Master I was not wel I went to his Inne and being very sick I vomitted blood after a little time being something better I went to my Master againe and staid by him all day but not without much paine this was on the Satterday and was I sick and heavy at heart and all parts of my body many days after but I praise God I slept very wel every night but could not tel what ailed me my stomach was gone I could not eat any thing at all nor drink any thing but what was soure like vinegar I told my Master at night of the strange apparission and vision and of my sicknesse but he believed me not so we went that night to Eubourne in Bedfordshire on Monday I was not able to goe on foot but rod on my Masters hackney horse most of the way to Hampsteed in Hartfordshire On Teusday we went to Watford fifteen miles off London but very sick and weak I was every day yet slept wel every night On Monday we returned homeward I riding with much pain on horseback I besought the Lord with a fervent mind to be merciful to me he heard my prayers and as we were riding about a mile and an halfe off Redburne the Lord made my heart to think and my tongue to speak and tel my Master that if he would goe by Redburn it being neer a mile out of his way I might ride home in a Waggon he asked me how I could tel or with whom I told him with my Father for I told him my Father had two Waggons then in Redburn it being at mid time of the day and how that my Father was there and one Brother and his man I had no natural reason to say so for I could not tel they were in those Countries but onely the Lord had revealed it to me who reveales his secrets to them that fear him Psal 25. 34 his holy Angels pitchâ—s their tents about them My Master was unwilling to go that way but with much intreating did and we found them in Redburn according as the Lord had caused me to speak My Master overwent me that day and left me to ride in my Fathers Waggon On Thursday night we came to Tosseter fifty miles from London Coventrie rode my Fathers Inne was at the Sarasens head but my Master appointed if I was not able to ride home I should be carried to his Inne which was the fign of the Peele As soon as I came thither I defired to goe to bed presently with in an hour after my Fathers Brother and many more came to see me and asked me how I did I told them I praised God I was better then I was before and many such words I told them of the strange Vision in the Fair at Newport-pannel but they beleeved me not and the manner of it oftentimes and how the Lords Revelation to me made me know where to meet them which was against natures reason My brother offered me to watch with me all night no said I brother goe to your bed and take your rest for I praise God I am better then I have beene ever since I saw the Vision So they left me There was no Guests in the house that night and I did lodge in an upper roome a good distance from the people in the house and I had been hot and cold on a sudden my cloaths being light and thin on my bed and I was dangerous sick neer unto death of a sudden not thinking I could possibly live while morning it being the dead time of the night I could get none to come to me by knocking or calling The Lord put it into my mind of a sudden that I should live to see an end of these troublesome times and how God had ordained me to be an instrument to the bringing it to passe Lord said I to my selfe how can can this be seeing I am thus weak not like to live til morning My heart began to sink so that I could scarce speak Within a little space the Lord strengthened me wonderfully and put it into my heart to hang my cloaths about me and goe out of my bed to other beds in the next chamber and fetch cloaths I being not able to stand crept on my hands and knees and fetcht the cloaths of two other beds and with the help of Gods holy Angel laid them on my
beere and let us drink together before we part J said she if J could finde any Rats-bane to poyson thee J would So I left her and went to my Fathers house with a heavy heart the Lord knoweth So the next time I went to the Constable with a warrant to bring them her Mother eldest Brother John and Sister Katherine before the Justice but before I could have my warrant executed they lighted on mee first and her eldest brother that before had like to have kild me having an Officer ready arrested me of flat fellony I being kept as a felonious prisoner So I sent for my Father when he came my Father-in-Law and he took up the matter and made agreement with my Fathers perswading me I presently imitating Christs forgiving his enemies committed my cause to God and was perswaded by my Father and Father-in-Law But I came not neere my wife a great while after but abode with my own Father And I began to follow my trade againe My wife seeing that she made many friends to come to live with me again making great moane and shewing her selfe very penitent I being perswaded by my Father and many friends more consented and we lived together again at a place called Harburn in Staffordshire two miles from Brimingham My losse was above 200 l. besides the misery I endured and God blessed my trading when I began with a little stock again as I had left having nothing to set me forward in trading from them but words of promise We were all made friends but since I may curse the day that ever I did trust any such former enemies to be reconciled friends again For about the time as the Levellers did rise against the Parliament I having attained to a good flock of cattel and horses and trading more then ever I was in before my wife and I both living in a quiet condition all former in juries forgiven by me to her and every one of them And the spirit of God caused me to put out a little book concerning the present misery of the times both for Church and State My wise and her frends that abased me before brought greater calamity upon me then I endured before Thus I was abused and they banded themselves together against me My own natural friends forsook me God had so ordained it to try me and punish me for them that were formerly great pretended frends became my utter enemies I looked up stil towards God his holy spirit stil guiding me with patience to endure it and assuring me dayly more that the cause of my being thus abused by men and women was because I had cast Gods message behind my back I often thinking how God punished Jonah for his neglect when God called him and sent him to Nineveh Many of my best friends that loved me wel would blame my Father for not taking my part but God had suffered Satan to blind his eyes from the spirit of true discernment as all natural men are so that he did shew mee no favour but added more affliction to me Many would say to him why doe you not seek to have him released out of his misery If I should doe so saith he he would be imprisoned for medling with King and Parliament-affaires for I had been in prison at Buckingham a little before by some souldiers who raised thimselves against me by false witnesse to make a prize of me for my horses and goods and carried mee from Buckingham to Alisbury to try me for my life by false Articles as they had forged against me But when I came to be tryed by a Councel of War God gave me such an undaunted spirit that those false witnesses had not power to witnesse against me So I was set at liberty having losse and hinderance of time After these miseries of imprisonment and many more great troubles in the mean time of my troubles my wives friends setcht my best goods a way from my house and some cattel after I had forbid them to meddle with any thing For when they saw they could not take my life away they thought to make me run my Countrey but God gave me much patience and courage for I went to the house and took four men with me I demanded my goods taking a cart and horses to fetch them in a peaceable manner if I could have them so But they denied me my goods and my wife stood against me with railing words and her Mother and one Sifter the younger daughter did never speak against me So with much patience I went my way and looked in their grounds to see whether I could find any of my cattel there Finding a Cow and a young Bul that were mine I took them away to my house at Harburn in Staffordshire The manner that they had taken them from me according to the Lawes of God and man was but a felonious way of robbing me for they owed me part of my Wives portion as was due to mee long before that time This was on the Wednesday On the Thursday my wife knew that I would goe to Brimingham-market her Father being from home my wives Mother her eldest Son and my wife and her sister Katherine being fearful that I should begin to trouble them or bind them over by an order from the Justices to answer at the Assizes before the Judge for all the wrong they had done mee they thought they had no other way to take but to begin with me first and so they did For my brother-in-law his name is John Bissel met me at Brimingham on the Market-day and arrested me with flat felony and so suddenly caused me to be thrown into the Dungeon no Bail would be taken All did condemn him shamefully for it yet wilfully and presumptuously he did it On the morrow I went to the Justices the Justice could not perswade him but he would take an oath of Felony against me yet he could not deny but that the cattel were mine After the Justice had examined thorowly the Witnesses he told him hanging was too good for him and he should dearly answer for it Then when his Father came home out of the Country for his Son did all in his Fathers name he was almost out of his wits to heare what his Son had done Fearing he should be undone by it presently he made to the Justices and to my Father and me and my friends to take up the businesse againe and to keep me from going to prison This ensuing Bil of Divorcement was made after she and her kindred had by Satans malice and their cruelty brought me into horrible persecution and misery I may not now for brevity-sake lay down the manner of it but I hope in God in another Book I may because alwayes I hope I shal have all the mercies of God shewed to me stil in remembrance Her Father and she coming on a Sabbath day where I was in prison gave me threatening words and said they were glad to see me
there and scoffing at me her Father desired that we were divorced Wel said I pray you let it be so His answer was he would give forty pound upon the condition to have it so I have witnesse of it At last they gave me good words My desire was for her to bring my daughter to me that I might see her She told me she would not and gave me very desperate urging words to make a solemn Vow that if she did not bring my daughter between that time and Wednesday following according to the Law of Moses I would write her a bil of divorcement if I could not get ink I would write the first Copy of it with my owne blood if I loft one of the joynts of my little finger on my left hand to do it that all the rest of my body might mourn for the losse of her that wanted grace to mourn for her selfe Besides this I thought that many men might take example to put their wives away by divorcement without any true desert And therefore because I intended to put the Bil of Divorcement in print I would go such a hard way that none dare follow such an example Furthermore I desired to know by a token if it were of God or no that if she came not with my child by Wednesday I might neither eat nor sleep with quietnesse til I had disjoynted my selfe of the nail-joynt of my left hand being the little fingers end She came not and that signe was fulfild yet I did not doe it til above two dayes after Wednesday and when I had done it I having some revelations from God to confirm it suddenly I had a Revelation and a Vision that God had appointed it to be done and that it was lawful for me to take another wife as Hosea did in a typical way And it was shewed me by a Vision between four which was allotted for me and how that I must speak to one of the foure and then speak openly of it to others This is near six yeares paft and I beleeve the parties are unmarried stil Let no man judge this to be madnesse but let them think if it be of God it cannot be prevented The Bill of Divorcement KNow this all my honest Christian Neighbors and all others whom it may concern That I with much reverence and holy feare do call God to the recording and renewing the condition of this Obligation or Bill of Divorcement which breaketh and violateth the band of Wedlock and Matrimony and separateth for ever she that was formerly my Wife and me asunder It is a very weighty matter therefore it had need to bee understood and throughly to be proved by the word of God and the light of a good conscience which is that glittering sword which standeth drawn to slay every son and daughter of Adam and Eve that either turneth to the right hand or to the lest either by hypecrisie or their own sinister ends in such weighty affaires as this I do therefore for several great causes in the presence of God the Father Son and Holy Ghost which is my Redeemer Creator and Preserver whose powerful providence hath still from time to time preserved me from being swallowed up or destroyed by many great dangers and several desperate enemies which the Devil hath formerly raised up against me to bring me to an untimely death without any just cause offered by me whereof the said Briget Bissel daughter of the the late said Richard Bissel which is now dead of the Parish of Yardlie in the County of Worcester Ironmonger the which said Briget Bissel which was the married wife to me the said John Sanders whose dwelling was at Harburn in the County of Stafford Ironmonger she being a great instrument to bring me into many borrible persecutions by Satans malicious invention and some of her neerest kindreds counsel for no other end but for the witness of Jesus and his testimony which hath carried me on by his holy Spirit of Prophesie Besides more then this misery which she and they brought upon me she and they have often urged me to be divorced from her for ever I doe therefore according to the Law of God as he gave to Moses Deut. 24. and Gods command to me which caused me to write her this Bill of Divorcement after this manner and deliver it to her neere six yeares past and now again it is renewed desiring that Gods mercy and forgivenesse may be extended to her for the forgiveness of her sins as well as for my selfe And that it may please God I humbly desire upon the bended knees of my body and souleaffections that the parting and breaking of this temporal wedlock may cause a spiritual warriage to the Lamb Jesus for us both and that all profane and wicked persons mouths may be stopt that shall be apt to speak against this seeing it is permitted and so appointed by thee O Lord raise me up speedily by thy mercy and providence again that so I may be able to take a godly fatherly care for my daughter in the name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost Amen and so be it And she is ever to be free from me to be any other mans wife if it please God and her own conscience And the like release is to me if God and my own conscience please only some chattels and goods of mine which are in her keeping contrary to my minde at my demands to be at my request when I please if it be not otherwise agreed upon These troubles were true signes to me and gave mee cause to believe that God had appointed me as hee did Hosea Hos 1.2 typically to take a wife of Fornications because the whole land had committed spiritual whoredom against the Lord and as the Prophet of God was to doe by Gods appointment and to signifie how they had divorced themselves from the Lord by their idolatrous whoredomes he was to divorce his wife for that as a figne Truly Brethren there is none can say but that the word of God is written as wel for our instruction as it was to the natural seed of Israel for we are of Abraharis seed by Faith And though the Scripture speaks of such things done then yet there is a signification now of the same things to us Our whole Land hath comitted spiritual whoredome against God First in this manner by breaking our ancient Covenant with God to worship him in new fangled manners of their own invention hating Gods old true way of worship now there is no King neither hath been this many dayes in England neither true Sacrifice Hosea 3. Secondly our whole State being like the Nobility of Israel which brought no fruits of Reformation to God but made High Altars to themselves by Covetousnesse which is idolatry and spiritual whoredome And our being divided like them Hosea 10.2 3. Thirdly we may wel say our wars began because we would have no King to reign over us for want of
be eased of my burden the spirit of God compelled me to goe to Colonel Barkestead the Lieutenant of the Tower to tel him Gods decree was so gone out against them for their covetousnesse injustice and division and to prefigure it by a Vision and a Revelation which I had seen before concerning a white wand and a bunch of filk colours which were green red yellow and black and to tel him the meaning of it by the appointment of God These things he cannot chuse but witnesse at this very day Then I returned toward Warwickshire again and testified the same in many other places and at Brimingham several Market dayes in a strange manner to the admiration of all that saw me and griefe to my friends and kindred after the flesh and the greatest griefe and terror of all was to my selfe because I was compelled by the dictates of Gods holy spirit to do it And that very day that the Parliament was dissolved being Monday morning I was caused by the spirit of God to goe from Harburn to Brimingham which is two miles to my great terrour and griefe God is a witnesse against me if I lie and to hire the widow Westwoods son to goe with me to carry my best wearing cloathes for mee and I was commanded of God to wear old cloaths and old shooes to Brimingham Townes end and there to put my shooes off my feet rent some seames of the old garments as I wore and take a Carpenters Rule in my hand the young man carrying my best raiment and old shooes before me I making proclamation by the power of God and his great Parliament of Heaven and saying thus If you should see Ezekiel measuring the Town with a Rule or seething a pot and skimming off the skum and nothing but water in it or the holy men of God put off their shooes or renting their garments though the thing were commanded of God by them now as it hath formerly been yet you would think they were mad as the Jewes thought by Paul so I know you think by me but it will be known otherwise The Carpenters Rule that I had in my hand was to signifie that Parliaments time of fitting was measured out to fit no longer Then the seames of some of my old garments being rent was to signifie their renting and tearing by division The putting the old â—â—ooes off my feet I told them signified that they must cast off their old natural sinful affections from their hearts and factious seditious ways that their hearts might be made good ground and they to become members of the true holy Church of God which is hated by them The cause of my speaking of Ezechiels seething pot to be skummed off I told them was the skum of factious members of the Parliament-house that were against Ministers and Church-government were then cast out of power Yet said I the flesh and bones are left stil and we shall not suddenly be eased of Taxes that oppresse the poor and how that the power would be under one head suddenly much like the power of a King but not a King which meant the Lord Protector After all these things were ended and done by the command of God by me his most unworthy servant John Saunders I call God to witnesse I would not have been hired to have done the like for a hundred pound then nor would not now in a counterfeit way or manner I never did the like before some hypocritical people said I counterfeited and many pharisaical people that say Prophecying Visions and Revelations are ceased counted me a mad man I praise God for those things either dissembling counterfeiting or natural madness I have been alwayes free from Then when these things were ended I went and put on my better cloathing and refreshed my body by eating and drinking I walked in the Towne civilly in those places where I had made those speeches desiring many of the honest civil people which I knew that they should not judge me distracted or any other thing else for those words of wonder or strange postures which I spake of and did For I told them I did nothing but what I had a command from God and was bound in the spirit thus to doe yet I was no Ranter or Quaker or strange Opinionist and that you shal know by a good testimony shortly if you take notice of it what I said and did at this time or any other past but more especially this strange manner of that I now did which you condemn me to be mad for doing But within few dayes after I was thrown into Warwick Gaole by Satans malice and false witnesse for brevity-sake at this time I wil forbear describing the manner of it I pray God forgive the instruments of that misery for there I had lamentable misery about 30. dayes or else suddenly I had come to the Lord Protector and Councel of State but after I was at liberty I did come suddenly after the Lieutenant of the Tower knoweth it wel and siince the last Sommer I went into Ireland and wrote Letters unto Colonel Barkstead and came to him several times as the beginning of the Book sheweth On New-yeares day in the morning 1654 in my sleep I saw a Vision I being in London Me thought I saw a great party of Parliament horse drawed out of London going up Hoiborn Vxbridge Road and the Trumpets founding a very sad solemn march as they went I knowing one of them that was a souldier I called to him and asked him what was the cause of their going out so speedily with such a great party He told me they did hear the King had a great Army Vxbridge road coming toward London and they went out to meet them and give them battel I asked him what number the Parliament horse were He told me 7000. but the other J heard were many more Me thoughts I would goe along with them to see them goe out of London and I was very sorry to think of so many of those gallant men that would be slain I overtaking the forefront of them and before they were marched to Hide Park I saw many men come running with speed fromward Whitehall with long white poles and they were measuring the Land back again as was taken away by the late War from the King the which being done to me signified peace betweene the Lord Protector and the King So I awaked with much gladnesse praising God that he had sent his Angel to shew me these things Many more Visious I have had lately to this effect On the 14. of February 1654. being Wednesday in the beginning of the night before I slept I being perfectly awake saw as it were in an apparition the beginning of a work of new building in London for reformation of Church and State A few nights after in February I saw another Vision I thought my selfe in Warwickshire at a place called Tanworth Parish and I saw as I was walking over a piece of hard poore land the bravest hopeful green grasse springing and young corne and hearbs in that barren land all which gives me great testimonies of the Kings and Lord Protectors agreement that peace may be established in truth and grace may abound and grow for the true nourishment of the Church The first day of March in ths morning I had another Vision how that there was a great plot or net lay for the Lord Protector concerning the Kings land In the Kings ground I saw an apparition of one that told me by an audible voice of it And I saw an apparition like a great net to catch the Lord Protector I was compelled by the dictates of God to write a letter concerning it and carry it to the Lieutenant of the Tower The tenth of March the dictates of Gods spirit caused me to write another letter and carry it to the Tower which if they did take notice of it gave them warning of the rising of men in several Counties suddenly upon it Plotting is not of God nor never will doe the King or any of his friends good FINIS