have proved admit of any other King Lord Protector or Lawgiver to ravish us with their lusts God forbid Wherefore for Christs sake stand fast unmoveable and abounding in the work of the Lord 1 Cor. 15.58 and I do professe for my own part seeing the Lord hath honoured me hitherto with this Chain for this his Cause though I be a poore weake worm yet with his grace sufficient for me I will abide by it for as one of the Martyrs often used Vespasians saying Imperatorem decet stantem mori It becomes as that are Kings and Priests to God Rev. 5.10 to dye standing not stooping to the lust of any man especially now the day of Christ is come Therefore let us all fall in and on and stand to it with the Lamb and the twenty four Elders or the twenty four orders of the Levites about the throne in this Cause by which tribe of Levi are indeed to be understood the Generation Saints the first-born Heb. 12.23 first fruits Rev. 14.4 and therefore have they the precedency of other Saints as Generation Elders who like the Levites before under a curse Gen. 49.7 obtained the blessing for executing the judgment Exod. 32.27 28 29. with the sword on their brethren and spared not Now of these in Davids dayes were the twenty foure both Rulers Singers and Ministers 1 Chron. 29.25 So that such such Generation Saints the twenty foure shall joyn in one work and song with the Lamb and with all the living creatures about the Throne and with the holy Angels Rev. 4.9 10 11. and 5.11 and altogether in one Hallelujah Amen as Isa 52.7 8. which he waites for who is buried with the body of Jesus in this new Sepulchre where the souldiers seek to keep down his Resurrection and the hope of your Brother John Rogers Morning-beams OR The Vision of the Prison-Pathmos LIB I. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 CHAP. I. Hagah The Introduction with the Cause Accidental of the following Discourse upon the present Truth and Testimony IT is none of the least part of our Prison-Threnodies in the present Tragedie which the bloody BEAST by a new Guize hath acted again upon the Stage of Great Britanny The general Introduction by Lamentation the trampling under foot the present Truth and Testimony of Jesus in this last Scene of the holy Citie 's suffering as I may say for the fourty two months so as that scarce one Interpreter of a thousand durst entertain or own it simply which at best hath but a Pasport from Many and so is whip'd away from one to another from post to pillar till it come to the place where it was born but there it hath a being blessed be Jehovah else it is hardly handled according to the Court-Law for a Vagrant with Warrants like to Pope Engenius's hoc esse verum si ipse velit sed non aliter This or that is true if he his Holiness or Highness will have it so but not otherwise Who then can finde the faith or conrage to expose his life or at least his liberty and estate to so prodigal 2 Hazard as he must do who will fetch it from under the Beast's foot and feel the acrimony or cruelty of his sharp clunch claw or horn piercing him to the very heart O this is as hard a task in a sense as to rescue the Lamb from the claw of the Lion or paw of the Bear Therefore Isa 59.4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 There is none that passeth his word for righteousness nor is there any judgement for the Truth O sad 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what not one Well may our Prisons sound and resound with exaggerated Nightgroans for the Court and Country increase in lying and transgressing and falling backwards perpetrating iniquity at so high a rate as will suddenly fill up their measure this I see evidently from my Iron bars as v. 13 14 15 16. and yet None intercede for the Truth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not one will run after it follow it meet it or to the face of All own it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 O what a Lamentation is this If one doth like Wisdom's child a little justifie it yet where is he that doth according to the Hebrew intercedere intercedens for he that doth so as it is in the text exposes himself to be spoiled plundered imprisoned made a prey to the ravenous Beast that eats bones and all Zeph. 3.2 Yea although he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that departs from the evil of the Times is sure to suffer so yet for all that it is a Wonder to me how we can hold in to see what officious servants Charles Stuart this Court or any carnal Interest have to run and ride on their Errands to venture and engage life liberty limbs estates and all for them and their Interest but the Lord Jesus ah alas as if he were the worst Master of all can finde few faithful that will venture half so far for him and his suffering Cause at this day especially perpending the point of Time the progress of the Testimony the approach of the Period of the Beast's dominion in this street of the fourty two months and of the rise of the Witnesses with the little Stone or the remnant of the Womans seed who must strike the Image-Government of England all to pieces the terrible Earthquake which shall rend them up by the very roots Also when I advert the advantages of the Saints in this street above any other of all the great City or Beasts dominion the forwardness of the Work here the height of the Controversie already between the Lamb and the Beast precious blood of Saints having seal'd thereto and the Vials so lately pour'd out upon the King Lords Prelates and corrupt Powers of this Seat also our late zeal against Common-prayer Crosses Painted Windows Rails Surplices corrupt Ministers Magistrates and the like O! my soul even bleeds within me to behold the present apostacie of Spirit Principles and Persons not onely among Mercenary Professors but the Little Remnant whose Coldness Cowardliness and Carelesness is almost incredible at this time of Day too and were it not to fulfil the Word of God Rev. 11. that this present Death and Darkness is upon us for these three yeers and an half I should be so astonished at it as not to know what to make of it But when I am venting my burthen with these like words or passions Lord where is the Spirit of old yea the Spirit and faith and courage that we our selves had some ten twelve or fourteen years ago among the good old Puritans yea the spirit of English-men and rational men among us O! what a Change is this What sheepishness what sleepiness what deadness what darkness what timorousness and what tameness is now seized upon us The Light arising in Darkness doth put an end to such Reasonings and Syllogizings giving rest to my Spirit till the time of the end which is at
teeth of the proudest Tyrants on earth that we are above them and their rage do their worst because greater is he that is in us then HE that is in the world 1 Joh 4.4 and in our prison is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Power of the Witnesses a coming upon us through the strength of Christ to do marvelous things yea as Hag 2.7 8. According to the WORD that I have COVENATTED with you So my SPIRIT remaineth among you FEAR YE NOT for thus saith JEHOVAH yet a little while and I wil shake c. I will make the earth to tremble before you Joel 2.10 yea this pittiful pâ—dlie filthy mieryclay-Government that is gotten up in Great Brittany which is the first that must be struck through by the Stone Dan 2. Wherefore O my Friends we must and wil rejoyce yet more abundantly in this so blessed sweet temporate New-Testament Zone which we are under in prisons and Exiles for all the fierceness of this last Beast who hath made the torrid Zone of his tyranny inhabitable and insupportable and in truth if I know my heart in this matter I would say for one like Jerome of Prague when the flames were kindling behind him saith he with courage to the Executioner Come come Kindle me the fire before my face for if I had been afraid I had never come hither nor are we such lively members of Christs body if we cannot when called to it sweat a bloody sweat â—â—fr his sake Wherefore as the Dutch Martyr said Christo submittemus sexcenta si nobis essent Colla c. had we six hundred heads for one they should all off for Christ in this most blessed cause for Quas non oportet mortes praeeligere c What Deaths had we not better choose yea what Hels not endure then to decline one step so blessed so certain and so glorious a Cause as this is for which we are in bonds Wherefore O my most honorably beloved hearts the spirit of life rest upon you and of the two Witnesses to make you as stable and as able as Mount Sion Psal 125.1 yea as those Mountains of Brass from whence the Chariots of King Jesuâ— come they are a coming Zach 6.1 so that all the Devils of Hell may not be able to remove you then one inch of ground but that those who have gone before us from the dayes of Abel to this day and vvho have led up the VAN with valour with all the Elect Angels our fellow-servants in this Cause may exceedingly rejoyce to see our Faith and Faithfulness vigor constancy and courage in carrying up this finishing Rev 11 7. this Rear-testimony Mat 24.14 Rev 17.14 according to the Spirit of the Fifth Kingdom against the BEAST like the children of the captivity now to be returned like the children of the promise and of the Free-woman Gal 4. yea like the children of the Kingdom Mat. 13. that good seed that must sow the whole earth and the children of the Resurrection Luke 20. which are to have their lot in the next world upon the Earth and to reign with Christ a thousand years as I have proved at large in prison-born morning beams Lib 3. and 4. For Jehovah onely is the Lord Patron of al our preferments and whiles we are in the prison as I said we are not fishing for Gudgeons for We pre-possess several sweet tenures both free and copy-hold which we cannot part with no more then Nabaoth could with his Vineyard though we loose our lives for it and to conclude I woul'd leave tâ— is one word with you that the same Lord of Hosts and Captain of the Hoasts of Israel that went before them in the Van is now with us in the Rear where the enemy hath fallen on for that is now the Captains place so that we may confidently and undoubtedly expect as much of his prowess power wonderful appearances and presence with us in this Reare as ever any of the Saints or Martyrs among Jews or Christians found in the Van or in former dayes when the enemies fel upon them for this is clear in Isai 52.12 For ye shal not go out with hast nor go by flight for JEHOVAH wil go before you yea the God of Israel wil be your RERE-WARD Isai 58.8 Thy righteousness shal go before thee the glory of the Lord shall be thy RERE WARD then shalt thou cal and the Lord shal answer thou shalt cry and he shal say HERE I AM if you take away from the midst of thee the yoak c. I am prevented in my Word to the little Remnant I mean the Lambs faithful followers of the Womans seed that keep the Commandements of God and testimony of Jesus but in my Banish-born-Treatise lib last I write at large to them and of their Work if it ever come to light though I confess my Bucer-like hand which writes but bad may be some let or at least delay therein yet at present I am to bid them BEWARE and PREPARE beware of running before Orders come from Jehovah of Armies and prepare for them when they come yea to make all their Arrows ready against Babylon for the time to visit her is now come the set time to thresh her the Harvest is come Jer 50.51 Rev 4. and to favour Sion Psal 102.15 16. yea the set time is come and it is easie to see the SIGNS of Times come upon us yea the signes compleat them this little born this last B this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the learned read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this last limb of the Beasts Government and the man that maketh up his number six thousand six hundred six as we have proved in Prison Morn He is now come O up and be ready then like Roaring Lions against the end of the time times divident with your Ahud Chereb not Pe Chereb two mouthed swords like Christs men of War Pe Chareb or sword with one mouth only as hath been but Joel 2.2.7 9 11. to run climb the wal like mighty men and JEHOVAH shal utter his voice before you his Dread shal be upon your enemies who have insulted over you but shal fal before you Josh 2.9 Rev 11.11 yea they shal tremble and fear and wax feeble as Women Jer 51.30 Nahum 3.13 and become bread for your swords to eat as in Jeremy Acheleh Cherbechem Ne biechem because their defence is departed from them Numb 14.9 nor are the most godly amongst them that have Apostatized these times any more to be reckoned amongst the Lambs number then Dan and Ephraim because of their Apostacy Judg 17 18. were reckoned among the sealed ones of the 144000 Rev 7 5 6 7 8. Wherefore up O my dear â—arts who are of that number that stand before the Throne Rev 7.9 or with the Lamb in Mount Sion Rev 14.1 up and be ready with your Ahod weapon awake arise O English Shearjashub for out of JUDAH Christ with us Gentiles of Lea comes
Vapours and exhaled from the Dunghill of one CRAFTON a Malignant Priest in London a little before my imprisonment escaped the publique Fire upon its slimy Matter so as to have burnt it up in the sight of the Sun whose Tabernacle he fumed and fomed against but the long lawlesse Sword interposed took away my papers and plundered from me amongst them the Reply to what is Sober in his Stage-play-Treatise Neverthelesse I doe yet more abundantly blesse the Lord for his light of the seven Lamps of fire which burn before the throne Rev. 4.5 whereby I see the better end of the staff in my hand while the Truth is still with Mee onely I must intreat thee my Reader and Friend to wait with patience and in hope with us till Deliverance and Liberty to the truth be restored and in the interim mend with thy pen the following Errataes before thou proceedest in this part called the Introduction c. What the other part called Jegar-Shabadutha or a Heart-Appeale c. is for Errataes I am ignorant nor have I yet seen sheet of it Onely I fear so hard a travel through so many extraordinary obstructions of the birth and so little help from the Neighbourhood will at the least deform it if not indarger the very being of it in my absence and exile which accordingly you must consider because the cruel Decree of Pharaoh hath put the Hebrews upon bringing forth such male-truths without the help or skill of the Egyptian Midwives Yea and which is worse I am informed those few seeming friends that do assist the birth have agreed to cut off some Members if not integrals of that little Treatise to facilitate the birth but how can it then live or if it doe so monstrously mishapen as they think I heare to make it I shall want will and affection to own it for mine for I differ from their vote who had rather have it born a Creple then not at all My Dear Reader a word more It may be thou wilt wonder to see the Introduction to a yeer or two's prison-travel of spirit put in this place and therein here news of an ensuing Treatise or two about the two Brittish Witnesses and of a more obvious supputation of times according to the Danielian and Apocalyptick accounts then hath ever yet been extant a matter so important to be cleared and of the two Beasts with all the apurtenances Characters Seals works times and signes and also all the 42 m speriod upon us and of the slaughter of the two Witnesses in this street for the single time duall time and a devident with the mystery of that number 666. giving my reasons why I differ in the root from learned Mr. Potter canvasing traversing and trajecting his Arguments with modesty and submission Also a Synopsis of the Lambs Government shewing the difference between the Lambs and Beasts G. Civil and so between the Lambs and Beasts martiall Laws in all duties of Officers and of Souldiers the apparent discrepancy seen at once the Beasts in one Collume and the Lambs in the other Also a very lucid discovery of the Kingdom of Christ on Earth and the present work of Saints in England the order instruments and matter of the viols the holy war at hand the 1000 yeers and first Resur with the order thereof and much other matter which you hear of but see nothing Alas alasse as Lam. 4.3 it is because this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tâ—nniu Serpent-Seamonster hath sought to devour it and the truth betrayers and Murtherers have pursued these males in the womb that they stick in the birth and cannot come forth none being so hardy to help them he that offers it makes himself a prey But this poor miscelany of generall matter hath with much a doe remained untaken to declare aloud their cruelty who have hindred and stifled the most speciail Wherefore in pitty I pray give quarter to this maimed that hath so hardly escaped the hands of the Cut-throats and allow it a little House-room with the other called a Heart-Appeale c. because it is a kind to that which delineates our Winforsuffrings and the present in this exile this beginning an abstract of our first triall at Lambeth in both which you wil have a History of above two yeers bonds and banishment in severall prisons to this present abiding me and mine which therefore may the more justly claim the company of each other Much more might be added in this Tragedy of our hard trials to the flesh both as to the present condition of my own body so much distempered in this unwholsome hole of this Castle whereinto I am cast it rising up with blisters aching with pains burning with hot humors and falling into unusuall fits full of pains inwardly and very often at the heart So also my Wife whose sufferings have been so great in this Gaole that severall Doctors of Physick in London have affirmed her sickness to have risen from the rude handlings and frights with the unwholsomnesse of the pit we are put into together to the evident hazzard of her life This is known to him in power Yea and the rest of my family with me some or other or all being continually ill and afflicted with distempers pains sicknesse lameness and other sore trials of the flesh But I much rather affect to make my condition known to God who hath the bowels of a father then to men who have not the bowels of men whose interest is neither to heare us nor believe us for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tsammetu babbor they have cut down into the pit ditch and Dungeon those sanctified ones that rejoyce in thy Highnesse Isa 13.3 whom thou Oh Jehovah wilt raise up Wherefore karenu shemcha Jehovah mibbor We have called upon thee O God from this Grievous Pit of Caines-Brook-Chaines To Conclude forasmuch loving Reader as I finde no faith no truth or constancy in Men but through the persecution of undoubted foes and perfidiousnesse of dawbing and doubtfull friends who promise faire but perform foully all I doe for the Publick is either betrayed pilled spoyled or obstructed in my absence and a true friend to one in prison being rara avis in terris I am forced now in this third yeere of my imprisonment and banishment to convert my time more particularly then I had intended to my own use and profit by perfecting my search of and studies in the holy Scriptures through the Hebrew Chald. Syriack Arabick and so Persian roets which is my present and daily Work and I doe blesse my God for this great blessing upon me in that little progresse which through his grace I have made into the Pentateuch Psalms and Prophets For by the Hebrew Chald. Samaritan Rabbinic Arabic Persian Aethiopick Armenian and Topick Tongues in all which except the two last I am now perusing the Scriptures of holy inspiration I have received a most sweet Light taste and singular comfort to my own soule
JEGAR-SAHADVTHA AN OYLED PILLAR Set up for Posterity Against the present Wickednesses Hypocrisies Blasphemies Persecutions and Cruelties of this Serpent power now up in England the Our-Street of the Beast Or a HEART APPEALE to HEAVEN and EARTH broken out of Bonds and Banishment at last in a Relation of some part of the past and present Sufferings of JOHN ROGERS in close Prison and continued Banishment for the most blessed Cause and Testimony of JESVS the sound of the Seventh Trumpet and the Gospel of the seven Thunders or holy Oracles called rayling by them in Power sealed up to the time of the End From Carisbrook Castle in the third Year of my Captivity the Fifth-Prison and the third in Exile having been hurried about from post to pillar Quia perdere nolo substantiam propter Accidentia Gen. 31.36 37. What is my trespasse What is my sin that thou hast so hotly persued after me Set it here before my Bretheren and thy Brethren that they may judge betwixt us both Lam. 4.3 The very Sea-monster or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tannin the old Serpent drawn out the Breast they suckle their young ones or Protected ones from the root 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 gur he sojourned with or dwelt under the daughter of my people to a cruell one as the Ostritch in the Wildernesse Lam. 3.52 53 55. Mine enemies have hunted hunting me like a Sparrow without Cause or grace of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 chen they have cut off my dayes in the dungeon and cast a stone upon me I called upon thy name O Jehovah out of the under dungeon Non Vindictâ sed Victoriâ The poore Prisoner Pilgrime and Exile in Caines-br-Castle from the top of Amana the top of Shenir and Hermon from the Lions dens from the Mountains of the Leopards To all his fellow-Citizens in Sion and fellow-separates out of Babylon and to such as are not ashamed of our Chaine especially in that Church society whereof the Holy Ghost hath made him an Overseer Christians Readers Friends and Brethren COuld the trumpet talking with mee be heard with you the distinct sound to all of us as one would be come hither but oh how few can heare it heare it or receive it If you be our fellow waiters or Witnesses of the Kingdome of Christ at hand then I may say of each of you as of Joseph Luk. 22.50 51. He was a good man and a just the same had not consented to the counsell and deed of them that persecuted Christ for he waited also for the Kingdome of God But oh how many have acted or at least consented with the sins of this Generation and how many are monstruously and most wilfully ignorant of this Kingdome which we suffer and wait for in the new world yea libenter ignorantur liberius peccant they had rather be ignorant then in the pure light thereof to loose the great things of this wicked world or their great lusts which they must do that follow the Lamb ly with the 24. Rev. 4 5. about the Throne or look to rise and reign with him on earth in the thousand years the glory of which state I have at large delineated as the most lucid florid Dogmaticall Discovery of this day in my first Treat called Prison-born Morning beams if it be in being demonstrating the truth as all the Orthognomones orthodox professors and Preachers maintained it in primitive times the Woman or true Church travelling with this Male-childe leaping in the womb of her till she brought it forth spight of the Dragon power that persecuted it Rev. 12.2 3 5. Who was to rule all Nations but the Beast hindred and he was caught up unto God and the poore Woman fled into the wildernesse for 1260. dayes or the 42. monthes the period of which is upon us It seems this Doctrine of the reigne of Christ on Earth had at the birth thereof a most noble reception both of the Christians or few excepted Valentinian Jovinian and others as I have proved in that Treatise being Chronicled or Millenaâ—ieâ— or the reign of Christ on Earth and this continued indubitable till Pope Damaâ—us by the means of Jerome Gaius and others got it anotomatized Now we do expect this Man-childe to come down again and to take his great power and reigne and the Woman with her seed to come out of their Caves for which prophesie according to the comments of the little Book Rev. 10.11 Is it that I am bound with these bonds and banishment where I have been hitherto these two years beholding the terrible things that are a comming upon the World and heaing the contents of the seven thunders which John in Pathmos was bid to seal up as also was declared to Daniel cap. 12.4 9. should be sealed and shut up tiâ—l these times and notwithstanding I understand but little for mulâ—ò plura nescio quam scio as Aug. sayes yet so much I understand and will assert it in the Lord and his truth with mee that as some are wilfully ignorant of this great Gospel-Mystery of the Kingly Office of Christ which we contend for so others are most brutishly ignorant thereof for want of a thorough search into the Prophesies and Scriptures especially the common and carnall Clergy ond Rulers and so they persecute and speak evill of they know not what and that most impudently too and with very uncivill courtship inventing and deposing principles for us which our soules abhor and then rendring us odious to the poor people upon conclusions and deductions of their own making and composing But this I professe before the Lord that as I desire nothing more than a Christian conuiction out of the word of God in the spirit power and authority of the Lord where ever it shall light so I see plainly that our enemies are as much afraid of that weapon as ever were the Papists or Prelates and therefore with them do fly to the force fury and violence sword and fire persecuting oppressing plundering imprisoning and banishing as you see and then behinde our backs fall to lying rayling and slandering of us and our principles But as Tully in another case said of some Mihi quidem nulli satis eruditi videntur quibus nostra sunt ignota so say I I cannot take them for learned at this time of day I mean sanctè magis quam scirè 2 Pet. 3.16 who partake not the learning of the Fifth-Kingdome this hope of Israel for which we are bound with this Chain And because the cruelty of this Serpent in England whom our effeminate lusting Eve-like professors have faln in and faln off and down with from whose face we fly till the time times and a divident Rev. 12.14 is hardly heard of known or believed abroad his horns looking so like a Lamb but that ye may hear a little how he speaks and persecutes like a Dragon I have held it a duty for further discovery of him and his spirit to publish thus much
it is by his grace I will look thee in the face Thou proudest Tyrant thou canst but batter the vessel thou canst but hurt the bark but my life is hid with Christ O sweet word they cannot finde it it is out of their reach for it is hid with Christ in God Amen! Lord and keep it there that I faint not Thus far for the second Reason arising from my sufferings 3. Another Reason why I appeared not publikely from prison before was impreparation having been in the valley for the vision many days and months before I could come to this in many travels trials and pangs of Spirit upon me before it could be brought so neer the birth as now it is waiting for a safe and seasonable deliverance This made me sit up mourning in the night-season and laid me low in the flesh for many a week together with little joy of this life as we say though with no little joy of cheary faith and sweetness in divine life and being waiting for the Anointing to bring forth this little being loth it should prove abortive though but an Embryo of what I hope will be born in due season But some labour with more difficulty pains and dangers to bring forth a little birth by reason of impediments then others do in the greatest and indeed because of the Times a fixed and clear judgement is so incumbent that I could not content my self with the speculation of the present Truths Prophecies and Visions which begin to break out of Daniel and the Revelation with such dazling and amazing light but I must be sure of a sound Practical judgement too and principle in the heart which puts into one balance with Christ and his Controversie God and his Commands and into the other with the Beast and his present Controversie the Sins and Apostacies of the Times and of this Street and upon poysing on all Sides and setting all it can cost me before me chuses my duty to God and Christ against the sins and abominations of the Times or the Powers which occasions the hard Travel And I must confess I did deliberate with too much flesh and blood at first contenting my self more with the heavenly Prison and presence of Waiting then of Writing of Praying then of Publishing any thing to the world that so I might run the less hazard to life liberty fame or estate c. But I was soon rouzed up out of this Contentation and kinde of Contemplation whether I will or no by a loud Call to me for what is already born of God in me about the Work of this Age yea of the 45. ensuing yeers after this wherein the Lamb's followers and sufferers under the Banner of Christ are to know their Places maintain their Watches keep their Motions continue their Marches renew their Charges till they rout Babylon and destroy the Beasts Dominion root and branch yea until they do Wonders in this old world For the years of Wonders Dan. 12.6 are now entering upon the descension of the Spirit of life from God And in order I am to sound the ensuing Trumpet to the Two Witnesses and remnant of the womans seed for it is no time to dally the danger is great the day is come and we are engaged there is no going off live or die stand or fall fight or flight is at hand and Num. 10.5 6 8. When ye blow an alarm then the camp shall go forward VVhen the Congregation is to be gather'd together ye shall blow but not an alarm and this shall be an indelible ordinance to you in your generation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So that after a long and humble attendance at the Throne for my present work The Order of the Author's Call to this Treatise I am put upon this whatever I must do or endure for it so Jesus be but magnified my spirit is pitched having so manifest and manifold a Call to it in order thus 1. A special Message from the LORD brought by a choice servant of Christ and his Church 1. A Message brought me the 10 of this month by our S. H.T. who had a weeks close communion and conference with the Lord in heavenly Visits and Visions singing praying contemplating communicating and receiving amongst other things a Message to deliver me in the Prison which I had to this effect That the Lamb's book should be unsealed and the Visions opened to me bidding me be of good chear for I should shortly know my own work and what Israel ought to do This I confess was a word in season to me and as sutable at that juncture as if an Angel had come with it out of heaven on purpose which much raised and revived my spirit as Solomon says Prov. 13.17 A faithful or as in Heb. a true Messenger is health in the Abstract 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I found it when the visions of mine head troubled me and made me sick it is medicina as some read it Prov. 25.13 Besides upon the first of the third m. last after a very solemn Fast all day with my con-Captive to know our work and what we should do the succeeding night in my sleep I thought I lay under the shadow of a great Mulberry-tree which hung full of great ripe mulberries I lying with my face upward and mouth open saw many of the boughs crowded together which I thought by impression upon my heart in my bodily sleep to be the Lord on the top treading them down together whereby as the boughs so the brave large berries struck one against another and brake one into another and ran all that were so broken by one stream into my mouth and belly whereby I thought I was abundantly refreshed and when I awaked I was so indeed full of joy and could not hold but told my wife of it presently and afterwards my friends But before noone the same day I received a Letter from the foresaid person with these lines Truly brother I have seen you frequently in the divine bosome and have sung abundantly Hallelujah for the Cordials which I saw poured down your throat which made you I apprehended like a Champion and like a triumphing Conquerour Go on thou Champion for he hath said he will stand by thee who stood by Paul at his first answer when none stood by him c. Some may muse at my admittance of these things but I do assure them it is neither to boast of them for what hast thou O man to boast of but what thou hast received nor to build upon them which is very dangerous but it is to observe the concurrence and good effects of such passages for though I am as far from taking notice of or having dependance upon Dreams or Visions as any man alive yet I must not omit the night-teachings of the Spirit nor such Dreams or Visions which bring forth blessed effects upon the spirits of men or are ratifications of the truth and minde of God for
End of a Gospel-minister is according to the dispensation of the Spirit to establish the Saints and Churches in the present Truth and Work or to build them up 2 Pet. 1.12 13. Acts 16.3 1 Thess 3.2 13. 2 Thess 2.17 Col. 2.7 I dare not omit my duty herein to do all I can from a Prison to dissolve those doubts and establish those hearts that pant after the Truth For Doubtings are like Quagmires the longer men stand on them the more they sink into them Sim. and indeed there is need of a Daniel's spirit and wisdom to dissolve All Doubts Dan. 5.12 and what man dare undertake it To loose knots says the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or open aenigmatical Scriptures and Cases cut Gordian-knots with the Sword of Gods Word Yet if the Lord will let me have so much of my inheritance of his wisdom as I need for such a Task and Treatise as this is I shall be enabled to dissolve some Doubts resolve some Cases quicken comfort and establish some Consciences So that by faith I I go about this Work that whereas others are always troubling stirring and thicking the Waters I may minister them in those very Prophecies of Daniel Apocalypse and other Scriptures so clearly as may refresh the spirits of the Saints And therefore help me O Father O Fountain of light and O thou that hast the seven Spirits that men may easily see as in clear water to the very bottom where the Truth lies and what they would clearly understand which they can never do in thick muddy and troubled waters Sim. And as the honest Draper is content to have his Ware brought to light and examin'd by the sun-beams so shall I to have this Book Therefore as when one takes a piece of money if he doubts the goodness of it he takes it turns it rubs it views it diligently and tries it every way whether it be sound or no before he puts it up or rests satisfied so do with this Treatise believe not what men say of it but search and see lege intellige turn it over and over man line by line page by page peruse it until thou dost even unspirit it into thy self pray for understanding read without prejudice and that Doctrine which builds you up most in Christ tends most to mortifie you redeem you from the world wealth pleasures honours c. to quicken you and establish you to put you upon present work for Christ against Antichrist to keep you upon your watch waiting praying longing for the day of Christ to enlighten you in the Prophecies promise of his coming c. that take and practise But so much for the sixth 7. Experience of fresh Incoms of Light 7. I finde in few days a sudden and sweet transition of a very Chaos of Darkness and Confusion by divine Command and whiles the Spirit moves upon the face of the waters light breaks in upon me brighter and brighter and shining more and more unto the perfect day Prov. 4.18 which will bring forth little by little from me to the Saints abroad and although the Light forces a passage into my intellect by a redundant and more then ordinary irradiation yet many a time it breaks out at a dark cloud upon my spirit Job 37.21 Men see not the bright light that is in the clouds but the winde of the Spirit for so I finde it passeth Expos and cleanseth them from all earthliness caliginous thickness of vapours or fancies and so I trust the Reader that heareth and readeth what the Spirit saith shall finde it yea the most heavenly light is such a light 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which few arrive at or derive from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Since a participation whereof with the fastning of some promises full upon my spirit I can finde no Truce within me without sounding a Call to the Lambs number in order to their Muster upon mount Sion or the New Covenant and blowing a Trumpet in the ensuing Tract which I hope will give a more certain sound then hath been hitherto for unto the upright there ariseth a light in the darkness Psal 112.4 a sweet word or per nubilum tempus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it ariseth by xpos through or in a dark and cloudy time as this is it doth so to the faithful Saints whiles others grope at noon-day as the Prophet says caecutiunt in luce That also in Isai 58.10 11. is much upon my heart If thou draw out thy soul to the hungry and satisfie the afflicted then shall thy light arise in obscurity an odde word to humane reason flesh and blood or mans wisdom and thy darkness shall be as the noon-day and Jehovah shall guide thee continually c. O blessed word to my faith for my very soul and heart-bowels have been drawn out to poor hungry hearts yea to minister my daily bread at the prison-bars to the persecuted Remnant and I need no more methinks now to fetch me out of Prison as I may say to so publike a work wherein I was so backward because so darkward therein yet I have many other promises upon motion as Isai 42.16 I will make darkness light before thee and that of Dan. 12.4 Shut up the words seal the book even to the time of the end the 3 yeers and half end vers 7. when the Witnesses shall appear peditatim and the Little Stone begin to strike the Powers of the fourth Monarchy all to pieces then many shall run to and fro and knowledge shall be increased yea light shall break out abundantly Rev. 18.1 which begins in the last three yeers and an half of Daniel's 1290 and John's 1260 Prophetical days I have a more then ordinary confidence if not clear assurance that the Visions of Daniel's sealed and the light of the Lamb's book Rev. 5. shall be opened to me as I am able to bear it by degrees yea be let out upon me like a Sluice and overtake me in full streams if I faithfully pursue the Light already given me which with the Lords grace I will do though I die for it He saith our Saviour Joh. 14.21 22. shall be loved of my Father and I will love him and I will manifest my self to him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Expos i. e. as by the light of the Sun not by Parts Arts or Sciences but so or in such manifestations as the world never had vers 22. in New-Covenant-Light or Truth breaking out with the brightness or lustre of the Covenant of Grace and the Fathers love to him such a one shall be like an Angel in the Sun Rev. 19.17 18. or cloathed with the Sun in a fulness body and subsistence of Light communicative to others who wait for the benefit of it who would be refreshed by it and do the work of the day in it which the Light sets on foot and is unto us a witness call support comfort assistance and
could not in conscience so do for his standing there was only to hear prayer yet intreated B. F. to come away and when he found his argumâ—nts of no more force with him in that duty the Serjeant was returning but in the way this wicked Ensigne whose feet were swift to shed blood saluted him as an enemy for not tearing him a way by head and shoulders at first with sword and scabbard struck blows in such strength that the yron thereof cut through his skull and brake his brain-pan so sadly gashed mangled and wounded the blood spinning out a great distance from him he with much ado reel'd to a seat where he assayed to break his sword and throw away his scabberd with a witnesse against them to wear it no more in such service but in the mean-time this enraged Morster with his naked Sword laid about the rest who now ran away with B. F. as with a light burthen and so like the Dâ—â—gge in the Smiths Forge they that would not stirre at the many stroaks upon Gods anvill whiles we were at our work could run now at the sight of a wand yea with winde in their wings lift up their Ephah Zach. 5.9 Work poore whetches Such miserable slaves are they all According to the Arabick Adage which for want of characters the presse omits Men ' la a-rifo-lchaira mina-Isecri alhiqho bi-lbeha ima they that cannot discriminate are company for beasts The Serjeant was conveyed into a house and as it was by the Chirurgeon himselfe supposed mortally wounded and a dead man for after hâ— had taken out two or three pieces of his skull he concluded him doubtfull of recovery if not beyond it it being so contiguous and ambiguous for at last he found it but a hairs-breadth between him and death being hewed to the Caruncles and concavity of the head and should have utterly despaired but that the Cerebrain-skin was marvelously kept from the cuts Thus blood was shed in their rage against Religion and the Worship of God who formerly and when it was their interest have with blood contended for it yea the Blood of Warre in the time of Peace 1 King 2.5 And as tame Foxes once loose do the most miscriefe so do these Et ad extremum lupus manebit etiamsi inter homines educatus fuerit as the Persians say Wolves will be Wolves though brought up amongst men or put into sheeps cloathing Mat. 10 But the Avenger of blood will pursue these sonnes of Belial and wo unto them that build their Citty in blood Isa 1.5 for when their plague comes the name of their place shall be Kibroth-hataavah the Graves of Iust for whiles the flesh is between their teeth the Lord shall smite them in the interim consider First That we lie as yet among the pots in the hot kiln the yron furnace of Aegypt Lam 4.2 How are ye precious ones of Sion compable to solid gold accounted as earthen potsheards yet with the reversion promised us we will not part Psal 68.13 Though ye have lien among the pots as the wings of a Dove oppressed of Janah made a prey overlaid with silver and her feathers with beaten gold of Charatz cut a sunder for though we be Chenshe phatta of shaphattariim order'd and disposed between the very hearths where the fire is kindled in the hottest Urn among the Tile pots I mean in those Ovens of mens wrath viz. Garisons of Souldiers to be scorched far exceeding in that sense the common Goals and Prisons yet praised be our God for his presence is with us which was with the three Children in the fiery furnace and as Psal 66.11 12. Thou laidst affliction such as comes from oppression of Gnuk upon our loines thou hast caused men to rid over our heads or beginnings of rosh we went through fire and through water but thou hast brought us out into a wealthy place or larevajah to an overflowing and afulnesse of moisture and anointing as Psal 23.5 where the word is and herein shall we yet more abundantly rejoyce for such earthen pots as we are in the Lords house shall be like the Bowles or Bâ—sons before the Altar Zach. 14.20 that is ever full of the hott blood oâ— the Sacrifice which is our sure mercy and Nâ—w-Covenant-Comfort in this State of patience Secondly we may see the è polupragmoseume the pragmaticall proclyvitie activity of the Cavalerish spirit to prosecute and execute the rage of the Beast upon us under this Sword soveraignty with the same Antipathy and principle they had in the Kings dâ—yâ—s though under a shew of more religion refinednessâ— and zeal like Balâ—k Numb 22. and 23. that to curse the Lords people and get power over them with great readinesse and real ran to the worship of the true God as if he had renounced his false God Chemosh when in truth he retained still his old principles and yet with them he seemed a new Proselyte he offered seven Oxen and 7. Rams so far exceeding the true Saints in his seeming zeale to the true God and stands by his sacrifices fasting and praying and his Princes too with so great devotion and why so why all to get Power over the Lords Chosen ones So these have seemed to have laid aside their old principles of enmity hatred animosity revenge persecution and opposition so of prophanesse Atheisme and open wickednesse of that kinde thereby to get a power of revenge over us to curse and diminish us for our faithfulnesse and constant adhaesiâ—n to the good Cause both now and in the late wars this also lying in the road of their preferment so to treat us for the Cavaleers highest Counsels ar this day are to fall in with this Power in order to the bringing of Ch. Stuart ruining us and precipitating of them and all this by their old principle 3. It appears a conviction of Conscience is a capital crime with them and merits cutâ—â—ng slashing and shedding of blood without mercy for as the Jews Jo 9.22 Had agreed that if any man did confesse that he was Christ he should be put out oâ— the Synagogue So have these agreed to cast them out from amongst them that acknowledge the Lord Jesus in Power and truth according to the dictates of an enlightened Conscience for a blind men restored to sight they will not endure amongst thâ—m who in such a mixture and complication of sinister interests prefer butchery before the liberal arts as they say of the Jews yea revenge above Religion and Coin above Conscience calling the touch of conscience contempt melancholly and madnesse and punishing of them they themselves being â—eared and having made shipwrack thereof whiles we as Paul saies 2 Cor. 4 2. Have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty not walking in craftinesse nor handling the Word of God deceitâ—ully but by manifestation of the truth commend our selve to every mans conscience in the sight of God Fourthly It is evident we are under as barbarous a Spirit
Christ his Word his Gospell and holy Spirit and â—s the poor prisoners exiles and wiâ—nesses of Jesus as our most righteous as God the elect Angells Churches Ministers Sâ—â—nts and other men yea the Word and Spirit of God the three thâ—â— bear record in heaven with our owâ— consciences do dâ—ly bear us witnesse what ever our enemies have the face to say to deceive themselves and others with Wherefore upon the 21. or 22. day of the 11. Moneth the Popes Bull began to roar and goaâ— again more fiercely than formerly without any cause shown why kept us up close prisoners with incredible cruelty and I think among Christians a most unheard of usage in baniâ—hment suffering none man woman nor child to come at us nor our victuals or necessaries to come to us or any of our families to fetch it in for us nor any letters to come freely in unto us or go from us but we were in our close prisons as ignorant of the thing as of the Cause till we tried it not imagining it had been in men at this day so far to exceed the very Pagan-powers in their persecutions in banishment and yet to pretend there is no persecution is thâ—y do in their extraordinary Hypocrisie the Lord pitty us but â—hen we would have sent out for provisions the servants was stayed by â—he Capâ—ain of the Guard and told none should go which he had Orders for nor any provision come to us but by ther hands which when we heard and knowing already the declar'd principles of the present Soldiers whom he had packed out and moddeled by this time for his very purpole to do what ever he bid them do those which had any remorse or touch in conscience being cast out or kept out we perceiv'd clearly their design began now to destroy us starve us murther or massacre us for to make us comply with their lusts thus they laid siege against us to conquer us to their side i. e. to play the Hypocrites Apostates perjured wretches and Beasts with them But we â—ought the Lord our dear Father of heaven and earth according to whose Word Spirit and example of all holy men we resolved with his grace to dy or be starved with a good conscience rather than to live without yet we sent a servant to Bull to demand a coppy of his Order for this his unheard of tyranny in an exile which he refused and bid complain if we would but alas we had none to complain unto which he knew but unto Jehovah tâ—e righteous Judge our only refuge and helpor Yet at length he said he had Orders from his Superiours at White-hall but would not shew then in this time it pleased God my poore wife was forely ill for whom we could not have what she needed nor any one be suffered to fetch them for money yea if any woman came but to see her the Sentinel Soldiers would not suffer it and when one Sentinel was desired but to let one poore woman come in to see her he said O! what good will it do you to see mee killed before your eyes I shall be hanged Presently if I should for I am charged upon pain of death not to let any one come near you or in unto you yea some friends at times coming long tedious and chargeable journeys of 20 30 40 60 or 100. miles some out of the Island and some out of our native land but to see us and to minister to our necessities were not suffered but turned back again at their outward gate after so great and chargeable journeys with tears and some of them before even we knew of it yea some that we know not of to this day pretending 'tis like they would comfort us and the Maj. Generals man being sent from his own house dear relations and Family in England to visit him and so at Newport to buy victuals to bring in unto us it need were was carried before Bull to whom he said he was sent to see his Master but Bull said he was 〈◊〉 but without he would signe an ingagement which by this time â—â—ll had drawn up he said he might be gone again for he should not so much as see him and so turned the poore man back again but tâ—at he had a key to let him in whether he will or no which till then this Bull did not know of and thus in an unexpected way he got in to see his Master But to return to an aliquid amplius which iâ— an aliquid altius their sword-Law and orders against us so strait was this siege they said against us that one Mrs. C. getting in but to a pair of staira near our lodge was forced away least she should see my wife and threatened if ever she came but into the Castle again they would be her death and break her neck and now behold what a providence of our Father who taketh care for the Sparrows and Worms cloatheth the Lillies and feedeth the Birds did minister unto us in this great strait there was sent in to the Maj. Gen. by a knight of their own party not of their make nor of the post peradventure in pitty it being the first and last of that kinde a little Lamb and to my poore wise bound up in brown papers and so undiscovered a neck of veal from New port which was most seasonable provision from our gratious good God yet after all this was gone and we in wants as before we prevailed with a little girle of one of the Soldiers for a piece of money to fetch us a little bread we being without but upon her return they took her carried her into Bull 's hall and there examin'd frighted roughly handl d and threatned her and would have forced her to say she had earried out a letter too but the girle knowing that she had nothing but a bit of silver to feâ—ch us a loaf of brown bread said she had nothing else but they yet like rude Soldiers said she had bid her confesse or else that she and her friends should suffer for it but when they could not compell her to ly they left her and kept her from coming into the Castle any more to bring us so much as bread But that there might be some better colour for this cruelty this Bull with two or three of his fâ—ll Creatures and Serviteurs had drawn up in Ingagement to bind us or at least our servants in a kinde of recoguizance and an owning of them and their wayes and then they should after they had subscribed have the liberty to go out for victuals thinking it may be by this time that we either were or that we saw we should be starved into these conditionâ— but when we found how insuff'rably barbarous tyranical they were that they would impose this upon our consciences for the very bread we should eat or provision we should buy for our money or else that we must suffer the utmost they could
do against us we were of the Lord and his holy Spirit perswaded every one of 〈◊〉 to mantain our ground in Christ with his principles of grace without yielding in the least to such dish nourable tearms of capitulation by a lively faith expecting to be relieved from above or him that sitteth on the Throne Isa 6.1 2. and so their conditions imposed were refused though we starved rather than eat their swines flesh possessed of the Devill as we should have done by so unworthy a treaty or composition nor are we besides the testimony of our own consciences without witnesses and examples before us in this case as in Q. Maries dayes we do finde the Persecutors imposing such termes upon conscience for the lives and liberties of the Martyrs but never so high as to their meat and drink they eat before they have it as these new sort of persecutors do at this day and yet they would be reputed no persecutors forsooth but friends O semper fallaces Millites millies Mendaces Mr. Bradford Martyr writes to L. Saunders Fox voll 3. foll 321. Ah! good Brother pray for mee I think we shall be shortly call'd forth for now legem habent secundum legem c. otherwise will they not reason with us and I think their shoot-anchor will be to have us subscribe the which if we do though with this condition so farr aâ— the thing subscribed to repugneth not Gods word yet this will be offensive therefore let us vadere plane and so sane I mean let us confesse that we are no changelings but reipsa and therefore cannot subscribe except we will dissemble both with God our selves and the world Thus hee and yet this Wretch would have us Changelings in these matters of our faith and conscience to sudscribe before we shall haue a servant go out for bread for us or before any friend shall see us c. and that without any such condition or clause as good Bradford speaks of viz. so far as repugneth not the word of God and yet they have the face to print publish pulpit it that this is no persecution but by this as prescious Bradford also said Fox voll 30. p. 320. so may we see evidently if we will not adorare Bestiam we shall nevre be delivered it is to be feared but against their will nay we shall not so much as eat or write to any of our sad condition in the flesh but fides famem non formidat faith fetches bread from heaven Joh. 6.51 58. which the Sonne of man gives ver 27. for him hath God the Father sealed Even so Amen O my hearts this makes John leap in my wombe and grace in my heart under so great tryals but sweet teaching Fatherly providences and dispensations as Basil said of Barlaam he delighted in his close prison as in a pleasaut green meddow and he took pleasure in the several inventions of cruelty as in several fragrant and redolant flowers But the tryals which my poore wife was pinched with made it much the greater to mee in this lone condition and yet am not left comfortlesse for the Lord is with mee sends his ministring Spirit unto to mee and keeps mee hitherto above all in him who is listed up to draw all men after him Job 12.32 and therefore as my dear Lord Jesus said I hope I may say in my little measure and capacity Joh. 8.29 ' He that sent mee hither is with mee the Father hath not left mee alone ' for I do I trust through his grace those things that please him So Job 16.32 ' And yet I am not alone because the Father is with mee and the cup which my Father hath given mee should I not drink yes surely with a hearty draught Upon the 25. day of this 11. moneth our wants encreasing with their cruelty I had much comfort in my Spirit with patience and joy bearing this Crosse of Christ and indeed in wardly glorying therein for as Cyprian saies Ep. 5. Gloriosa voce Deum confessi qui in Carcere c. The most glorious voice is in prison but this it seems was to fit mee for an encounter with these cruel Leopards â—aging Herodians and Beasts of Ephesus thorough whose hands or whose handlings and leavings we must eat and be dieted or not at all by their wills but this was good physick to our soules blessed be our God This day did a godly Minister Mr. S. of New-port get in to a lodg of C. F. with exceeding desire to see us â— friend of the said town had sent us a cold Pye but the honest man which brought it was carried before Bull with his Pye with whom he had for a long time pleaded near an houre for liberty to come in to my lodge and bring the pye but at last and with much difficulty he obtained leave for a quarter of an houre with a Corporall at his elbow to peep into our prison upon us who poore man with tears and troubles did deliver it and left this with us before the Corporals face that these cruell persecutors so far exceeding them in this matter that we read of in the Book of Martyrs had by all he could perceive some bloody design against us and that this present tyranny upon us was but in order to it but he prayed us to be â—hâ—arfull in the Lord for they could but kill the body I hearing of the minister of Christ steped to the lodge where he was the Soldier at my heeds but they put him out again at the gate presently and would not suffer us so much as at the gaâ—e to see one another though at a distance and with Souldiers between us so I was returning in again to my own prison full of comfort in my Spirit at all this and presently I heard several at once the Serjeant Corporal Soldiers falling upon the honest man who had brought the Pye with very vile and blasphemous language for that it seems he as he was going out at the gate with tears did exhort them to take heed of what they did and to beware of persecuting and offending of Christ little ones c. but they brake out many at once what what preaching we will have no preaching no sermonizing none of the Spirit begon abouty our business what you turn preacher too all preachers now with much more of such ungracious and unsavoury stuffe at which I confesse my heart aked and by a mear providence hearing God and his ordinances so blasphemed and mocked at I could not but turne mee contrary to my intention or purpose to them and particularly spake to one King saying O Sirs O I am sory to hear such word from you indeed I did hope better things then so to scoff and mocke at preaching at the Word and Spirit indeed I have scarce heard the like or worse from the worst Cavaleres and will you immitate them in this also O alas Sire consider what you do
nobis exigit c. and the greater faithfullnesse constancy and courage in the present tryalls for as there was such a magnimity and Spirit in the suffering Saints as made the whole world wonder amazed and think them mad desperate and besides themselves so is there to be in the acting Saints at these dayes who are to make it a sporte play and pleasure to them to run upon Cannon-mouthes Sword-points and on thousands for one in the service of Christ therefore let us looke to it that we make amends that way and that the world may say of us also for the active part such men were never heard off 2. I had my singuler consolation too that the Lord hath made it my lot to fall into this fierce Bulls hands of any because he hath not his fellow in this dominion that I can hear of for all manner of bruitish and barbarous tyranny unreasonable insatiable cruelty so that Bonner I believe had not a more apt Goaler for his turn in those times if Cluny or Alexander came near him Wherefore let not my words be thought the complaints of a squeamish Spirit for I assure you I do heartily digest all he can do against thee and if it were said of Luther that pascitur conviciis I may say it with no little soul solace that pascor conviviis in verberibus And with Vincentius to one of his Persecutors never any man served me better then you have served the Lord be praised for as Bâ—enham said when the fire was kindled as his feet Me thinks you strew roses at my feet I may bless the Lord for thee Bull who bidst them fall on mee for me thinks every blow is a bâ—â—ast of milke to mee whom thou and thy masters would starve and will be a Crown of glory Sic credo edo propter te domine propter te This is an honour so high to suffer thus at the holy Angells are not capable of but those whom God will advance above the very Angells wherefore sing and shout and leap for joy O my Soul and all within mee What that such a poore sinfull worme and pittifull shrub as I am should be call'd to so high and holy a calling Lord make mee thankfull and fruitfull and faithfull Amen 4. For that it is so teaching a dispensation O it is good it is good to be beaten into more good rather than be with out it for these blows do make my head ring with the musicks of heaven as my heart and reins do beat after thy will O God for Ioe in the vollume of thy book a volvendo rowled up in my heart Heb. 10. it is written I come to do thy will O God Therefore I say as I am perswaded Zegedine's blowes who was beaten so bitterly by the Kings treasurers could not be so sweet as these It is said that Dominicus his mother when she was with child of him dreamed that she had a wolfe in her flaming with fire out of his mouth Such a flame came out of thy mouth O fierce Bull as shall be sure to burn the up like Samsons Foxes in the field which thou thy selfe hast set on fire for thy wickednesse burneth as fiâ—e Isa 9.18 In the mean time it is a most teaching dispensation to be beaten and buffeted for Christ which hath made this prison so precious a School to me that I think I may say Mihi idem qui solem fecit majus in Carcere lumen fuit He that made the Sun hath been a greater light to mee than the Sun in this prison 5. Nor is it fit we should loose such fruit as this is by our sinfull silence for as Solomon saies Eccles 3.7 There is a time to speak and a time to be silent and Isa 62.6 Ye that make mention of the Lord keep not silence to be silent in such a day of rebuke and blasphemy as this is is a crying sin wherefore saies Luther to Staupitius When Christ suffers is condemned and blasphemed it is not a time to be afraid but to cry out aloud yea saies he let men call mee what they will Inveniar sane superâ—us avarus Adulter Homicida Antipapa omnium vitiorum rens modo impii silentii non arguar dum Dominus patitur Proud Covetous Adulterous or as monstrous a Miscreant as ever lived rather then I be found silent when the Lord his name his Cause or Christ suffers But I say I have the Seal of the Lords acceptance and Jehovah-Shammah is my company in this close bonds and banishment to whom I say as Psal 69.19 Thou hast known my reproach and my shame and my dishonour mine adversaries are all before thee But to proceed In this condition thus beaten and bruised I was laid down and fear being that my bruises were most inward which as yet I but little felt means was used to have liberty but to send out for a little Parmy-Citterne and Snow water to drink for an inward bruise which they refused to suffer with more barbarous tyranny than the very enemies in warre show to wounded prisoners and nothing nere to the compassion of that Goaler in Acts 16. who washed Pauls and Silas wounds nor to the kindnesse of the Barbarians to Paul at Melita Acts 28. the greater will be their judgement When I began to be cold and stiff I bâ—gan to feel their blows sore indeed but by a good providence of the Lords the Maj. Generall had a precious ointment and salve for such purposes as to outwards bruises which I used this horrible Tyranny of theirs took report round the Island and into England our own Land quickly notwithstanding their close restraint of us and open reports against us and this begun by the means of a poor Barber then in the Castle who carried the said news of this sad Tragedy to Newport where the next day being Market It abounded and so spread of a sudden but this poor Barber was brought before Bull for it and hardly escaped yet the Truth which is alwayes best to stand to set him free from them Then their work was to lay their heads together to kill this report by spreading it otherwise and denying that ever they abused beat or bruised me whiles they kept us with our mouthes stopt by close imprisonment notwithstanding some dayes after when I stirred forth again I offered to shew them the marks they had given me both my self Wife and the Maid being black and blew in divers places divers dayes after on the one and thirtieth of the eleventh Month. After this Bull sent word with an engagement to them we might send out for things which was the first time they offered so much to me but I could not compound with them in a Cause which was none of my own to compound in and in these straits we had another seasonable experience from our Father for with the compassions which Christians about the Island and in Newport had to hear of our sufferings and
persecution or no! for as the enemies report it men will not believe it though the Cavaliers nay Newgate Thieves and Whores are not so cruely handled at this day and they pretend a power too and do easily forgive Adultry and such wickednesse onely we ô Lord the Sheep of thy passure the Flock of thine inheritance are thus rudely handled every day and thâ—y do never think they have done enough unto us but so be it for thy sake Amen! Amen! It was deemed ridiculous aswell as most rigorous in the hottest of the Warrs upon the worst of enemies to have imposed what they do daily upon us and yet they have the face to justifie it as if it were nothing Wherein we observe 1. the exceeding horrible height of their impudence and Hypocrifie of whom may be said as Jer. 3.3 Thou hadst a Whorâ—â— forehead thou refusest to be ashamed And secondly Their cruel subtilty whiles they are whipping and beating us they bid us be quiet and patient like the tyrannicall Step-dame that knocks beats and makes the poor childe to cry and then whips him without mercy for crying and saies he may thank himself they call for patience and bid us be patient in our sufferings whiles they are laying on upon us till they make us cry out and then they say it is our impatience such an unreasonable generation of men are our Goalers Persecutors and Murderers yea they pretend Plots and do this least there should be any â—â—sings when indeed by their unsupportable oppressions persecutions and provocations they do all they can to stir us up whether we will or no unto it for the necessary preservation of our lives liberties relations Religion and consciences from their so monstruous inhumanity and persecution in hypocrisie Thirdly that they put us into the worst Prisons and hardest persecutions yea bait us with the wickedest and worst persons they can finde out men of the most notorious debauched principles practises scandall impudence and Atheisme and all this too in pretence of love to us as appears in their Orders for removal from Sandham Fort and so they said in my last removall from Arten House it was for my better accommodation but indeed it was for my more bitter affliction in the flesh and worse usage except my dear companions company though my most dear God makes the worst the best the greatest the least the bitterest the sweetest the hardest the easiest the most afflicting the most refreshing unto us in Christ and herein do I rejoyce yea and will rejoyce more abundantly yet no thank to them who speak lyes in hypocrisie having their consciences feared with an hot iron 1 Tim. 4.2 although indeed all my sufferings in the Prisons in England were nothing to be compared to these in this most barbarous wildernesse and Kennell of wilde Beasts Fourthly we see by this what it is to be ruled by the sword and it is evident by what Law their Cause and Government stands and what a miserable sad servitude those people are in who are ruled by the sword which hath neither eyes nor ears but pro ratione voluntas For as the Dragon Heathens Turks and Papists do support their Governments by such force tyranny and imprisoning so do these which stand no longer than violence keeps them up and which are as sure to be destroyed when the house of Jacob shall be a fire and the house of Joseph a flame and the house of Esau for stuble Obed. 18. Wherefore if any upright hearts among the Souldiers do yet remaine they may remember the story of Marinus who in a time of great Apostacy for his faithfulnesse to Christ had like to loose his preferment which fell to him in the Army at which he began to stagger being desirous yet to hold his place till Theodistus met him in the Temple and in the Name of the Lord laid before him a Sword and the New-Testament bidding him choose which he would have for he could hold but one and the other must go at which his heart was smit so he blessed God left the Sword and chose the Gospell So Souldier do I set before thee thy choise for thou canst not hold both hower'e thou deceivest thy self or serve the Beast and the Lamb both at once 5. The impudent practice of the lying slandrous reports of us breaks out either immediately before an intended mischief to us or assoon as they have done it to colour over their tyranny with as monstruous untruths as the Papists who reported that Junius had cloven-feet like a Beast Sometimes they report us mad and frantick as Persecutors have done And so doth Bull and his Masters make as if we wanted senses when we are fullest of the Holy Ghost witnessing 〈◊〉 our dear Christ against their rotten interest and hypocrisie but as 〈◊〉 said when the Praefect told him he was mad sed optome in aeternum sic delirare I wish I may be ever madd then and sometimes as we finde before of Bull like Morgan to Philpot Fox vol. 3.572 they fall a raving and blaspheming of God and his tabernacle and abusing us as if we were not sober So said Morgan I ween it to be the spirit of the Butterie which your fellowes have had that have bee burned before you who were drunck the night before they went to be burnt and I ween went drunken to it But it appeareth saith Philpot you are better acquainted with the spirit of the Buttery than with the Spirit of God Wherefore I must now tell thee saies he and so say I to thee thou raging Bull with the very same spirit and authority of the great Judge of Heaven and Earth thou painted Wall and Hypocrite in the Name of the living Lord whose truth I have told thee that God shall rain fire and brimstone upon such scorners of his Word and blasphemers of his people as thou art Thy foolish blasphemies have compelled the Spirit of God which is in me to say thus unto hee O thou enemy of all Righteousnesse and I tell thee thou Hypocrite I passe not this for thy fire and faggots or what thy bloudy heart can do unto me neither I thank God my Lord stand I in fear of the same my faith in Christ shall over-come them But hell fire is thy portion and is prepared for thee except thou speedily repent yea the hottest of hell for such Hypocrites as thou art according to that old Proverb which Math. Paris mentions in Hist An. Dom. 1072. Pavimentum inferni rasis sacrificulorum verticibus Magnatum galeis stratum esse that Hell is paved as the very bottome with the Skulls of the Priests and the Head-pieces of their Protectors or the great ones and I leave thee in thine Hypocricy till the judgement come At other times we are reported fooles and that is a vepy pleasant reproach too but as Lactantius saies Lib. 5. c. 12. Contemnite ridete si libet nobis enim stultitia nostra prodest non in
turpia nullâ spe invitabitur 8. For that the enemies are very empty dry and withered whiles we are geâ—en sappy and growing blessed be our God as Psal 104.16 The trees of the Lord are full of sapp for we find our Spirits full our hearts full and hopes full and our faith full in a sense for this cause of our Lord Jesus full of comfort of life and of courage and of peace thorough believing which come amain upon us whiles our enemies are like the Hypocrites Isa 33. surprised with fearfullnesse yea Mager-mysabib is written about them as Mâ—stery is upon them Rev. 17.5 a sure signe to us and a token for good 9. In that on both sides the main body seems to be marching up because the forlorne hope is already so hotly ingaged with downright blowes as on our side with the truth and testimony they or their side with down-right point blank blasphemy and persecution so that not onely the heads Rev. 13.1 but the whole body of the Beast Rev. 17.3 is full of blasphemy and both sides are fallen on so that the next news I am like to hear after this forlorn is a fight and fight of the main bodies on both sidâ—â— or the â—ife of the holy Camp the holy City trod on these 42. months Rev. 11.2 and the pitching of Maher-shalabhashbaz's great Tent Esa 8.1 For the 3. great things which I wait to see and hear are the great Tent and Trumpet Esa 27.13 Deut. 23.10 the great Bone-fire and flame Rev. 19 20. and 17.16 and the great Sun or light of seaven dayes with seaven eyes and by the seaven spirits Esa 30.26 ch 60.19 Rev. 21.23 10. In that our new Covenant propriety in God our Father continues unto us sure and well ordered in all things in all conditions in Prisons Exiles Plunderings Reproaches Dungeons Wants Death and judgements in seperable c. still we can say our God though a consuming Fire Heb. 12.29 though Eli Eli Lamasabachthani yet Eli Eli that is we cannot fall the subjects of Gods wrath though of mans no not when the Violls come to be poured out for none are the in execution of them but who are above them but all and those onely that are under them shall fall as the subjects of his wrath or the third Wo which is at hand now this is no little comfort to us to whom God is Love yea all Love and all together Love in our Prisons But Lastly in that Sion is in travell of a male-child which makes the paines the greater and the more difficult for a man-child must be borne Isa 9.6 the Sonne of God and heir of althings in heaven and earth Heb. 12. yea the Sonne of Abraham and heir of the Promise and Covenant yea the Sonne of David or heir of the Kingdomes and Crownes of the world the Sonne of Mary and heir of all mankind yea the Sonne of Sion and only heir of the Generation-Work that of this male-child is Sion now in travell with according to Isa 26.17 18 Like as a woman with child that draweth near the time of her delivery is in pain and crâ—eth out in her pangs so are we in thy sight O Lord We have been with child we have been in pain but it is a male-Spirit not a female low Fourth Monarchy-Spirit but a most noble high couragious invincible heaven-borne Spirit that must be brought forth by all these pains persecutions and travells for in the primitive times when the woman was in her travell of this male-Child the Dragon Government did so persecute her that he stood ready to devoure him as soon as he was borne or brought forth into the world and this man-child of Government Christ in the ministration of the Fifth Kingdome Isa 9.6 7. was then caught up unto God and to his throne Rev. 12.5 6.4.2 3.5.6 13. and the Woman or Spiritual Church who after long travell and pain brought forth this blessed truth of the Reign of Christ on earth or the Fifth Kingdome who was forced into the Wildernesse for the 1260. dayes so that now at the end of the 42. moneths or 1260. dayes is the Woman to come out of the Wildernesse and this malechild of Government to come down from God again and to rule all Nations with his rod of iron it is true that he was travelled with in the Heathen Emperours dayes with great perils and pains as appears by the Apologies of Justin Martyr to Antoninus Pius which I read at Winfor and afterwards of Tertullian and some others but he was not born untill the Christian Emperours dayes especially when Jovinian Valentinian c. were Emperours who themselves were Fanters and Professors of the Reign of Christ and are chronicled for Millenaries c. as I have proved in Prison b. Treat but almost as soon as he was thus born he was caught up to God to be forth comming again at the end of the 1260. dayes and therefore Rev. 12.5 She brought forth a man child as mellei poimainein who was about to rule all Nations with a rod of iron not who did it as some say it of Constantine but he was borne ready as if he should rule all but the Lord took him up till the period of the Beasts dominion or the 1260. dayes suffering were over which declares evidently that this male-Spirit will up again speedily for the Reign of Christ with his rod of iron sword and Lawes over all Nations and the overcomming Saints Rev. 2.26 27. or those that have victory over the Bâ—est c. Rev. 15.2 3. shall take the Kingdomes for ever Dan 7.18.22 and thus the man-child must come down from heaven from the throne and from god only in that the God of heaven alone shall set up this kingdome which shall never be destroyed but break all others in pieces Dan. 2.44 and in that ver 45. the Stone is cut out with out hands onely fitted and brought forth from Mount Sion by the Spirit of the Lord the Mount out of which it falls Dan. 2.45 being Sion and the Mount into which it becomes being Moriah Dan. 2.35 or the two Mountains of Brasse mentoned Zach. 6.1 Now the Spirit of the Lord and of the Lamb who hath the seaven Spirits sent forth into all the earth Rev. 5.6.4.5 brings it down unto us so that the man-child must thus come down from God and his throne who was till this time taken up to God and his throne but as I have had a little share I blesse the Lord for his grace in these fresh travells pains of Sion to bring forth this man-child Isa 66.7 Jer. 30.6 7. Isa 51. So have I been abundantly in my bonds taught of the Lord the truth of these thingâ— which I have not time nor utterance for at present nay so good hath my God been to me in this Pathmos School that I think I could almost say it without the least Ostentation and only to the glory of Gods rich grace unto mee
that diom non pâ—rdidi I have not loft a day in the Prison nor hardly a day wherein I had health or was not hurried about without an improvement of my search into these blessed and big-bellied mysteries by writing treasuring up and preparing for the publique as Ap. said Nulla dies sine lined for since my imprisonment I have prepared I think above 300. sheets upon severall subjects to be printed however it be that I am so betrayed or that they stick in the birth and the trutheâ— ly buried yet the Lord knowes to whom I am thankfull that I have not been idle in the prison seeing Crux pendentis is such a Cathedra docentis to my soul I have sent to the presse upon Daniell Apocalips and the Prophets concerning the Kingdome of the man-child and upon the Vialls the two Witnesses the two Beasts the time the worke and the truth of the Generation the 1000. years the supputation of times the personall Reign the first Resurrection and the day of Judgement with an obvious prospect into the 45. years that are next coming but how they miscarry I know not only this I know that my judgement is with my Lord and my work with my God Isa 49.4 5. who will reckon with them that keep back the truth from being published when Babylon comes up in remembrance before him and though this Crosse of Christ be to them that perish foolishnesse yet unto us which are saved it is the power of God 1 Cor. 1.17 18. and here it is that I have had the clearest freest fullest sweetest universalest spirituallest and profitable teachings that ever I had or thought that this poore earthen vessell of mine could have ever received Hallelujah Before I leave of I must acquaint you with a few more of my general observations from the chief of this Rock and so I conclude this Introduction 1. Generall Observation There hath alwayes been in the world since the fall of man two distinct seeds and enmity set between them viz. The seed of the Serpent and the seed of Woman Gen. 3.17 called in the Old Testament the bond-woman free-woman So the house of Saul of David the one rejected the other received and established in the Covenant Heb. 8.9 and so in the New-Testament the flâ—sh and spirit Sinai and Sion the Dragon and the Woman and the Serpent the Remnant Rev. 12 the Beast and the Lamb ch 17. the first were alwaies the persecuting and the last the persecuted whereby we know we are on the right and blessed side under sufferings and persecution for the Witnesse of Jesus and work of the day but our enemies are on the cursed and Persecutors side and because they continued not in my Covenant I regarded them not saith the Lord Heb. 8.9 2. Gen. Obs That the Governments of the world have been of the Serpent and not of the Woman to this day and that all along from Nimrod hitherto they have been in Oppression Tyranny Persecution c. the fruit of Adams fall and of Sin but that Government which we look for in the world which will judge Nimrod and the Mount of Esau Obed. 21. is a part of our Redemption and a fruit which growes onely in the Covenant of grace Dan. 7.22 without which our Redemption cannot be compleated Rev. 5.9 10. So that it is part of our Redemption by the bloud of Christ which we contend for in the fall of the fourth Monarchy and suffer for so long and so sore an imprisonment and banishment for whatever our enemies say this we are iure of that this present Government of great Brittany is Nimrodian and not to be doubted by discerning men to be a fruit of Sin and of a fearfull Apostacy and as Purchas in 's Pilgrim ch 10. tells us out of Philo how Nimrod was such a hunter of men by compelling men with a bruitish force as beasts are compelled by meer force to fall in with him his way worship and Element whereby Babell was built what force can be more bruitish or compulsive for the interest of Babilon than the long Sword without the Laws of God Reason Nation or Nature as it is this day in England 3. Gen. Obs There is a sure and a summing time to period the Nimrodian Dominions of the world and all the Dominions of the Beast so red and dyed deep with the bloud of the blessed Witnesses and Saints when they shaâ—l endure no longer to persecute oppresse or afflict the Saints but the Saints be set free from all oppression tyranny and injustice and this is granted by all men therefore I come to the Fourth 4. Gen. Obs That all the Creation visible and invisible in heaven and earth do groan with us after this blessed time of Restitution of all things or of full Redemption actually into the Liberty of the Sons of God Rom 8.21 22. from this yoak of bondage and corruption except onely such vermin as rise out of corruption and are self-created according to that Rule Ex corruptione generatio fit which must be destroy'd amongst which is this present Governmt now up in England 5. Gen. Obser That this Age and Generation wherein we live or are entring yea this very Nation of great Brittain is a summing Age and Generation and Nation wherein begins the totall of all before as is evident 1. For crying sins like the sins of Sodom Gen. 18.20 Isa 3.9 and 13.19 all the summing sins of any Age in the world if not of every Age this is guilty of and most summarily in England is the muttering in the Wildernesse and provocation of the Lord their turning back to Aegypt so of the Apostacy of the ten Tribes their breaking Covenant and Engagement after they had engaged to be the Lords and after so many appearances of God too yea their Idolatrous worship after the manner of the Nations to be destroyed their slighting of the pure waies Laws worship of God yea their Cain-like building Gen. 4 17. and their violence and persecution too as before the destruction of the old world so of the resting and relying upon their own strength as the strength of Aegypt so also of the Hypocricy and yet Formality of the Jewes Scribes and Pharises Priests and Rulers that Crucified Christ by the hands of the Souldiers and of their Pharoah-like height and hardnesse of heart after many signes and tokens and so of the serpent-like policy specious pretences reason of State and subtilties in them which are to period the 42. Months or Beasts Dominion Rev. 12.14 And indeed as the Devill did not use a Lyon-like force at first in Paradise to over-come Eve with which had then been bootlesse saith Purchase ch 5. but a serpentine-sleight of insinuation as the meetest for his present projects it is so now knowing he hath to deal with a Generation that professe to be the Lords own people plain force and fury had not so prevailed for him as subtilty art and sophistry
them to vent their lusts and malice sometimes threatning sometimes raging sometimes scoffing c. it seems they understood vve had a joynt of meat together to a dinner and vvhich vvas but but one dish for us al at vvhich they raged that their prisoners should live like Lords as they tearmed it and that they themselves liv'd more like the prisoners and therefore they would have their major not to suffer us to eat a bit but vvhwat vve buy of their Suckler that is one of their Soldiers nor should we dress it our selves but their Suckler so that though vve pay for it dearly yet vve shal not eat but vvhat they allow us to eat and live upon vvhich I believe should not be a bisket a day might they have their wils but the Lord restraines their rage even so O Lord O let the Remainder of their vvrath praise thee This S. King is such another ambitious covertous pragmatical youth as was Pepper at Winsor vvho soars high by his impudence and cruelty to us in company of our Friends he denies that he did buffet beat and bruise me as is before mention'd but amongst themselves he brags and boasts of it as the last second day he said ROGERS cannot abide him never since he paid him so and boxd him so bravely at which they scoff and laugh but said he as if nothing else troubled him I might have cut off a band or an arm off him as wel as can be for if I had cut off his right arm no Sizes nor Sessions saies he would meddle with me for it and this they conclude on as Times now are which they al assented to but stil our trust is in then ost high Jehovah The Title this King gives to me is Faggot maker and so reports I hear that I was a faggot maker up and down but indeed I may live to make faggots by the King of Heavens appointment to bind up such stubble as they are for the day of wrath if they repent not He dos also rage exceedingly that Qr Mr. Gen. and I have our distinct rooms and saies he wil have Courtney to Rogers or Rogers to Courtney that he may have the rooms for they shal not live so like Gentlemen and thus they are every day insulting over us at their pleasure when we speak not one word unto them that they may not have the least colour of any provocations from us which is indeed our comfort for vve let them alone without taking notice of their tongues or actions against us which indeed doth vex them the more poor creatures for if they do but see us their hearts so rise against us that as Acts 7.54 57. they even gnash some of them as I have seen it with their teeth and look as if they were ready to â—un upon as with one accord Notwithstanding we do endeavour when they do fal fouly upon us to convince them with soft and sound words when â—hey go by us as big as they can hold with civil respect ministring as â—e are able to their Wives whom they keep poor enough either in moâ—ey clothes or food though they dare not be to know it and so returning â—ood for evil and if one of them be seen by another to shew any kind of â—espect to us to do any thing for us or stir his hat kindly he is as I said beâ—ore under a publick check and upbraiding if not in danger to be turnd â—ut BULL asks him if he be our Pensioners or if he wil do more for us then â—or him with a many more such frivilous captious and quarrelsome â—uestions and then threatens him These are I confess but trifles to what â—ight be mention and to what we see and suffer every day blessed be the â—ord for vvhose sake vve suffer al things gladly and thankfully yea to â—ention but yesterday because it was the last day of al for every day afâ—â—ds new matter and so I conclude with this Tragical History at present 〈◊〉 Time do bring forth the Truth of all things and their hidden tyranny 〈◊〉 to open light which I trust wil be shortly The MAID that serves us had â—â—erty to go out for this once she never stirring out of the prison before to see her Friends and yesterday having travelled al nigt very weary she returned again they let her into the gate brought her into the Guard and kept her there above an hour but would not let her come in unto us yet carried it fair to her until they had prepared their plot upon the poor lame Creature and for all it was the Lords Day wherein they had no other Sermon they sent for Serjeant King twice to come away in hast who had sorely threatned her before as wel as Bull to be revenged for affirmming she saw them beat and buffet me when they would deny it to any of our friends when they came So this King came greedly of his Prey and by his order he himself assisting two or three of the fiercest and most merciless of them fel upon her vvith great violence without any occasion colour or provocation in word or deed which they themselves deny not only because she belonged to us nor had she as she told them Letter or paper nor did she carry out any which they believed also yet for al that they fel to a venting of their malice to us and of their Spirit against us upon the poor creature tore her upon the ground and dragged her in a most shameful impudent and uncivil manner al at length in the open yard and about the dust and abusing her so unseemly that some of their own Wives ran out pittying and crying aloud but were sharply rebuked by their Husbands and bid to hold their tongue these Savages were now in their own Element and very warm at their Work their Sabbath work and so continued it I called out at a window and cryed to them to forbear for that she was already a poor lame Maid and they had already wreakd their Malice I though upon her and with too much immodesty but they the more for my speaking dragd puld and abused her about the ground which when I saw I was silent and lookd up unto the Lord until they had so draggd her and thrown her out of the gate and then they got up her clothes and threw them after her where the poor Creature is even now like Lazarus and hath been many hours lying with her lame limbs and bundle at the gate for admittance if it may be but there she may lye yet many a day they that go by her many of them scoffing and abusing her bitterly knowing al my Family is il Wife and Children and not a servant that they suffer to live with us and help us in this need I askd indeed King by what rule he did this and that on the Lords day saying if he were a Christian the Rule was Luke 3. Soldiers do violence to none but
one bed and if nothing else would move them my Wives present illness and sickness should importune a littâ—e a little compassion of them if they were men but they would not hear in they went tore al the things off the bed and carried away to the very bolster and pillow where they now lye in the aforesaid Lieutenants chamber And I was answered that in no prisons were Fellons or Murtherers allowed a bed to lye on ranking us with them yea they had taken away the very sheets My poor Wife was this while ready to faint very il and falling into her fits again through frights which for present vvere prevented by meanes my fellow prisoner also using a I endeavours to comfort her but afterwards she fel il again as she used to be before this last cruelty renewing her sickness so as al her flesh would fal a trembling her whole body be as in an agony but especially her head which doth swel and the humors settle in her face c. so that for want of the meanes here and because they seem resolved to give no rest as we think until they have murthered her or been her death she must now be forced to leave me in their clutches and if the Lord make her able to get to London for the preservation of her life which the Lord in mercy grant me Amen! But I shal abruptly break off here by reason my poor weak Wife is now leaving me and creeping out of this Castle-Goal yet Rehoboth where is room for me and my soul is left at a fresh spring O blessed be my God! but I must confess it is grievous to the flesh to be left in the hands of such as have threatned and seem to thirst for my blood as greedily as the Dogg for the sheeps but yet by Gods grace they shal leap above ground for it and not get it by gaping that I think Psal 37.32 33 34. The wicked WATCHETH the Righteeous and seeketh to slay him But the Lord wil not leave him in his hand WAITON THE LORD and keep his WAY and he shal exalt thee to inherit the Land this is a sure Word and in season here where I hope to wait and wait in hope that wil never make me ashamed notwithstanding the violence done to my flesh the afflictions of my body and relations and the danger of death in this Dungeon-like-hole which I hope in Christ we dare sometimes look ful-face upon and meet though many times I must needs say with Bishop Ridley Martyr I think I could creep into a mouse-hole and that is when through these late out-ragious exercises I have fits of sudden fear and am so subject to frightings But O pray pray pray for us incessantly with Faith Al ye that shal hear these tidings that he may alwaies stand by us who stood by Paul against the beasts of Ephesus and before Nero not knowing which way our most dear Deliverer wil come whether by life or death to free us from fierce and unreasonable creatures though for my own part I rather expect the latter in this place ere long desiring to be found faithful unto Death in this most glorious Cause of Christ Jesus my Lord King and Master nor do I think if I dye that you wil hear the perioding passages of their Tyranny or this Tragedy upon my body or that I shal write more to get it out my papers lying hid under-ground where I fear they wil rot but the Lord wil raise up the truth from the dead I do know assuredly By these things you may learn thus much more 1 That the persecution is at principles of truth let them say what they wil for they sal upon us for Christ the Words and Spirits and Saints sake we see nor can they so much as pretend a danger to their Castle as they had formerly done by a few feeble Women to stand in the High-way and not so much as in the out-works of the Castle but meer malice to the word of truth 2. That they would not end with out persons or lives if they had them but what they do unto us they would fain be doing to al the Saints and Churches who wait or call for the Kingdome of Christ and so they have said that they could have our Arms up to the elboes in their bloudâ— as appears by their fowl falling upon the Messengers of the Churches with blows without any occasion glving them but standing stil and hearing me so that therein they also fel upon them that sent them so also upon their dragging the poor lame MAID about the yard 3. That this hindring the Word with sword-violence is a high robbery to poor Souls in a scripture-sence yea and to God whom they openly scoff and mock at to hear him named Mal 3.8 Joh. 10.8 and God wil deal with them accordingly yea were Dr. Taylor now alive and going to be burnt for this cause he would burst out with his words in Fox vol p 179. against these Brtites and much more in these dayes of Apostacy ah horsen Theeves whoresen Theeves rob God of his honour rob God of his honour for as Mat 23.13 Wo to them for they neither go in themselves nor suffer them that are entring but blessed be the Lord for that promise in Isai 18.7 The PRESENT shal be brought to the Lord of a people scattered and PEELED with ch 42.22 This is the people robbed and spoiled they are all of them suared in holes and hid in prison-houses 4. This swordsilencing of the Ministers of Christ is a far more cruel and cutting way of silencing then the Bishops High-Commission-Courts or the Star-chamber Amos 5.13 Theresore is it the prudent shal keep silence in that time for it is an evil time not that the Lord approves the practise but reproves their prudence 5. The Sword-preaching or such preaching as the Sword only allows is the worlds the Devils and Antichrists 1 Joh 4.5 and such a way of converting as the Turks use and the Saracens and so the Spaniards have it in the Indies under pain of confiscation of Lands liberties life c. to acknowledg God and the Spanish King of whom the Indians had never heard So is the Sword-preaching in these dayes in this Isle as Bul confessed to keep them in subjection that is in slavery to his Lord Protector whom they never saw but to preach up the Lord Protector of Heaven and Earth or the Lord Jesus Christ our King this is crushed by the Sword for sedition and dangerous Doctrine so that ELIAH is persecuted Micaiah mured up in close prison and kept with bread and water of affliction whiles al the States Priests or Kings Clergy who say Go up and prosper yea 400 false Prophets feed every day at Jezabels Table but yet we are upon Charmel-Mount and our enemies shal know that we are not here a fishing for Gudgeons Much more I have to say of their tyranny and cruelty and in many