seventy interpreters of the Scriptures were guided by the holy Ghost Then I intreat you for the Lords sake who hath sent me as a Herald to you to cause you to chuse such a number as you see Law and Gospel rule holdeth out a just proofe for which being chosen and elected as by the power of Gods holy word and spirit guiding me to direct you as hereafter followeth To shew your Highnesse and all the world by the power of God which he is able to perfect and make good in my weaknesse For as we read Mal. 4. that Elias will come before the latter day to turne the hearts of Fathers and Children one toward another and to end controversies in Families Nations and Kingdoms lest he should smite the whole earth with cursing that as where hatred warre devision and heresies have most and last abounded there grace love peace and concord may first begin to abound here for a true exampled pattern for all other Nations to follow us for Christ saith the first shall be last and the last shal be first There is no fearful or doubtful question to be objected against this earth and way which here is laid down the ground from antiquity of other ages how God hath sent the holy Ghost into such an equal rising number heretofore to carry on his work by but that he will do the like now if we would deny our own corrupt ways and embrace his waies which are all grace vertue and humility for God is Alpha and Omega at the beginning and ending of his workes all one and the same and his wayes of mercy are past finding out The Apostles say that these days would not come unlesse there were first a departure of the Faith by many falling into grosse erronious heresies blasphemies and apostasies there were never more then now therefore we may well assure our selves by natural reason that this is the very last age of the world and should be the best but nature is more abused now then ever it was in our forefathers days so that this time shewed forth it selfe to be the worst and the very dregs of all other ages that ever have been For behold both natural pride and spiritual pride abound in every high degree natural drunkennesse and spiritual not onely by excesse of drinking which is a very great reigning sin in this land but also Sects and selfe opinions which makes many thousands stagger without drinking of either wine or strong drink so that they are drunken and bereaved of all true spiritual senses and many others are blind by ignorance their knowledge being so weak and shallow in points of Religion that they know not their right hand from their left and although they have been brought up as it were in the Schooles of Moses and the Prophets in Abrahams bosome by going to Church hearing Sermons and reading or hearing the Scriptures yet they are prophane and covetous both people and Priests like one another so that it grieveth the holy Spirit of our God to see his people destroyed for want of knowledge In the late Bishops time in some places we were guided by a sort of Shepherds Of the late Bishops time which although they were knowing enough for learning and charitable enough to the poor in temporals yet they were prophane by starving their flocks But now we are troubled in most places with a covetous sort of Teachers I had like to said in all places being ignorant themselves they do not onely starve their flocks for want of saving and sound knowledge but also for lucre sake they drive and carry them into by and separate paths of errors and heresies so being like people like Priests God hath punished our sins together and yet our putrified sins being not healed are like to break out into another red sea of blood if God prevent not Now the Church being thus brought into the wildernesse weeping in her widows-like mournful Condition as one that hath lost her husband Luke 10. Rev. 9. and the Elders being all cast out of the City so that she hath no guide for her children which are left alone among fiery serpent-like Teachers and Scorpions and beastly poysoned opinions and the Ark and Temple of God is razed and taken by the uncircumcised of heart and we are a murmuring rebellious people worse then the Israelites were for our God hath brought us thorow a red sea of civil Wars to an entrance of a spiritual Canaans peace And if our rebellion against God doe not prolong our misery I fully believe we are neer the very entrance of a glorious time for the Church to break forth into her brightnesse and to shine in a more glorious manner then ever she did since Adams fal For the time is near at hand when all oppressors and dissembling hypocrites which do not speedily leave their evil ways shal be rooted out of power And those that have served God following the good old way shal shine as the stars do in the firmament both in Church and State and to enjoy a true religious … tled peace according to righteousnesse and true holinesse so that the civil Magistrate may be a wal to the Church and Ministery Four Monarchs being broken down there wil be another set up even a Kingly power under the Scepter of Jesus Christ Believe not those Dreamers Mockers Makers of Sects whose study is all to write or speak great swelling words against dignities and the powers which are ordained of God nay even against the Lords day or Christian Sabbath and the sacred ordinances of Gods Law and Christs command even the ten Commands which God writ with his own finger in stone never to be washed out or abolished having a double memento for the keeping of the Sabbath and Lords day as wel to the Christian Gentiles as the Jews for take away the Lords day even the day which is set apart onely for his worship if the candlestick be removed away from us the light of Gods true worship wil immediately follow Luke 10. But as Christ saith he saw Satan fal as lightning from heaven and transforming himselfe into a glorious Angel of light to carry on many with their new lights and false visions and new fangled doctrine to deceive if it were possible the very Elect but that is an impossible thing More I would have spoken of the Christian Sabbath and of these strange opinions to shew every poor soule the subtile wiles of Satan and the means at large how to escape him in this time of spiritual blindnesse and proud knowledge which darkens mens mindes and divides their judgements by grosse thick darknesse which if we have not lost our spiritual feeling we might feele it at none time under the Gospels glorious light which makes many other doat away their pretious time First a sign of the Stars ALL which wickednesse and Apostasies are but signs of a glorious time at hand nay even at our very doores For as
when the Stars are under thick mists or clouds that night is very dark and the darkest part of all that night is immediately before the break of day even so when the Churches Stars the Ministers are clouded with the foggy mists and errors of factious Teachers which are clouds without water as Jude speaks Even then is the Church in her dark mournful condition which darknesse will appear most of all when the day of her deliverance draweth neer Secondly of the Moon AND as when the Moon is neer her change the night imediately before is the darkest night of all that quarter so the sad dark mournful condition of our Moon the Church gives us hope that she is neer her change and that the Son of righteousnesse is ready to arise with healing under his wings and that the morning tide is neer a turning the day of a true religious peace is neer a dawning and ready to break forth into a glorious light thus you see the Churches greatest extremities is always Gods chiefest opportunities All which darknesse confusions and mischiefs have arisen for want of these aforesaid apostolical and discipled orders For as Natures reason hath told you that your Army could not stand without general field Officers above Captains of Companies according to Marshal discipline even so ordinary Ministers of parishes cannot stand without Heads as Bishops Deanes and other Church-Officers according to Scripture discipline If fire have burned houses and good dyet hath furfeited many mens bodies for want of being carefull and moderately used shal we therefore never use fire or food more Truely my Lord this is a fit comparison concerning these things There is now a beginning of a fifth Monarchy or Kingly power The beginning of the fifth Monarchy Your Highnesse is the first man God hath raised to be the man to erect it and to be a Protector of the people in State and to take the like care for the Church as David did for building up of the true worship of God and as Davids desire was to be a door-keeper in Gods house after he had destroyed the Churches enemies in the time of the Law So God hath appointed you to keep the doore to let none but the true Ministers of Christ proved by Law and Gospel rule to enter into that holy office which have their calling and election from God and man and approved able in gifts and sound knowledge fitting for the dispensation of the Oracles of God Your Highnesse ought to take the first Solomons desire of God as an example to frame your heart and to keep you from the desire of riches honour or the life of your enemies but onely beg of God for an enlargement of heart for the guiding of such a people as is committed to your charge and then all other things that God seeth is needful for you will be added without wearisome care as both Peace Safety Plenty and Wisedome And to hasten speedily to set forward the finding out the true way for Gods worship to beautifie his house Now you see God hath given you more power and liberty to doe such a work then ever any King had since England first was a Kingdome although you cannot chuse but heare and know how many curse you as Shimei did David yet you ought to think as David did when Shimei cursed him Surely this cursing and plotting against me is suffered by Gods ordination or permission because speedily you doe not set about the great Work of God and follow Christ the second Solomon by patience and meeknesse praying for your greatest enemies and willingly and readily open a door of peace and truth to your greatest enemies that you have fought against if you can perswade your selfe the battels were for God then the execution of vengeance should be left to him The way to chuse a High Priest YOur Highnesse ought first to chuse a good Pilot or High Priest for the Church a good learned orthothodox Divine such a one who hath alwayes heretofore given himselfe to charity and hospitality apt to teach a man of sound judgment and grave knowledge O for the Lords sake and for the good of the Church and people and your own safety in this life and for your soules safety hereafter imitate Abrahams chief Ruler and eldest Servant for God calls you to come to him and to take a hallowed oath as Abrahams servant did being charged by his Master not to take a wife of a strange linage of the Canaanitish seed amongst whom he dwelt but to goe to Aram to fetch one out of Nahor his own ancient Family Even the like charge lieth upon you from your heavenly Master for to chuse a Bride for his Sons Church of the Ancient True Christian Religion even a man of selfe-denial that will leave all like Rebeccha Genes 24. Such a one to be a High Priest God the Father will take delight in He that will assoone as he is called to Christs work and that he is sent for to be the onely chiefe Head under Christ in his Church and to be his chief espoused as Rebeccha was to Isaac who as soone as she saw Isaac in the Field at eventide alighted off her Camel and went on foot to meet Isaac her Bridegroom which went outto meditate in the field toward evening who meeting Rebeccha he brought her into his Mother Sarahs Tent after she was dead Even so will it be with us though the old Protestant Church be in a dead condition yet let us assure our selves that Christ is neer a coming to meet the prayers of his Saints Now it is eventide with them yet mans extremity is Gods opportunity for Christ will meet such a one as is humble and lowly minded meek and he will bring him to be a High Priest after Melchisedechs Order in the Protestants place or Tent And God will chuse an Apostolical and discipled number to be added to him they being chosen and set apart for that end by him Even such as will be willing to doe as Zacheus did who when he was climbed up in a Syccamore tree to see Christ as soone as he was called by Christ to come down for he would that day dine in his house with him yea rather in his heart and told him further That salvation was come into his house both for himselfe and his Family So now the whole Land is soule-sick to see most men which are climbed up so high and all in a pretending way at the first to see Christ but nothing intending any such matter but to make themselves great in the world and so set themselves against God and his glorious Gospel which calls them to come down as Christ did Zacheus to be charitable to the poor and restore to every one their right and then Christ will dine in their hearts and the holy spirit of union will cast out the spirit of division and bring salvation to their several Families and joyn them together in one
AN IRON ROD PUT INTO The Lord PROTECTORS Hand To break all Antichristian Powers in pieces OR A Discourse which tends to a Spirituall War with all Sects and Self-opinions which are the Churches enemies wil bring Englands everlasting happiness and joyn all other Lands into the body of Christs Church to serve God with with one consent Zeph. 3.9 All which was discovered to John Sanders of Harburn neer Brimingham By true Apparitions Revelations and many several Visions as the second Book sheweth Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a Potters vessel Psal 2.9 Rev. 2.27 The Lords voice cryeth unto the City and the man of wisedome shall see my name hear the rod and who hath appointed it Micah 6.9 LONDON Printed for the Author and are to be sold at the Angel in Cornhil 1655. The Table of the Second Book THis Second Book of John Saunders sheweth a true relation how and where he was called at noon-time of the day on the 11. day of June 1643. by a true and a terrible apparition and further how the Lord revealed his secret intent and confirmed it to him by true signs and shewed him the greatest remarkable revolutions turnings chances and changes as have been ever since between King and Parliament which he then declared before many And what way the Church shal be re-builded to bring all Lands into one Christian Body and Union of Eaith Surely saith the Lord then will I turne to the people a pure language that they may call upon the name of the Lord and serve him with one consent Zephany 3.9 And a true Relation of what horrible afflictions God suffered him to be sundry and many times cast into by Satan and his instruments because he did at first neglect the message of the Lord of Hosts conterning King and Parliament Church and State Dear Christian Reader IN this Second Book of John Sanders here is shewn a true Relation of the manner how God called me to this work in as wonderful a way as he did Paul at noon-time of the day by an open apparition on the 11. day of June 1643. Page 37 As I was employed in a Faire with my Master Mr. Robert Bloomer it pleased my heavenly Master and Father in Christ to cause me to see the Apparition then at that immediate time But God knowing that I was inclined by nature to be hard of beliefe like Thomas who would not believe unles he felt and saw both or like the men of our late dayes which will not believe but that Apparitions Revelations and true Visions are now ceased it pleased God to convert me from that erroneous unbelieving mind in as wonderful a manner as he did Paul at noon-time of the day and caused me to feele his indignation as the reading of this Book wil tel you in what manner and at noon again four dayes after how the Lords holy Angel was sent to comfort my comfortlesse condition by secret and strange Revelation and on the morrow at night after and on the next morning being Friday the 17. day to confirm me by trial and terrible Visions and strange temptations and then to comfort me with his holy Angel to give me a command to goe to King and Parliament as it were to be a Herauld of Armes or heavenly Embassador from the King of Kings And to tel first the King what would befal him unless such things were agreed on as this Book sheweth and then to go to the Parliament to shew what they must do or else the like and worse judgment would befal them at last unless they would do as Zacheus did when Christ called him Yet the Kings Son and a remnant of them must and would agree at last for upon their agreement is the greatest meanes under God to call the Jewes and convert the whole world into one union of Faith Then I was shewed what misery I was to undergoe if I refused to goe on Gods message yet must go at last This book of my troubles sheweth the manner what I have endured First of my going to speak with the King when he was prisoner at Holmby and in what manner I was prevented from speaking with the King himself and then what I told Colonel Graves would befal first to the King and then the Parliament if such things were not done as this Book speaks of and what great troubles befel me after by Satans malicious working against me by my wife and her kindred and some of my own and many wicked men besides and of Gods great miraculous deliverance and mercy to me p. 44 46 47 48 Secondly of my putting out of a little Book about the time that the Levellers rose against the Parliament called A Description of the Ten Commandements concerning this late War laying open the misery of the Church by reason of covetous and new fangled Teachers were crept into it for want of true Church-government And then what troubles befel me again and how some of her friends urged her to be divorced from me and of their persecuting of me p. 54 55 Thirdly the Bill of Divorcement put in print in this Book given her six yeares since after this manner which she and they were the causers of p. 58 Fourthly the manner how God compelled me to foretel Worcester fight and the manner and time of it and how the King would be overthrown if he fought and eminent witness produced that heard me speak it p. 62. Fifthly the humble petition of Iohn Sanders to the Lord Protector of his often comming to London since to speak with the Parliament to tel that Parliament that they could not stand and to shew them what was the cause Colonel Barkstead can witnesse it that God compelled me to tel him and what would be the cause p. 53 Sixthly of my comming out of Ireland neer 6. weeks before the little Parliaments dissolution and to tel some of them that Gods decree was so gone out against them that they would be dissolved about the shortest day in the yeare Witness Colonel Barkestead which is now the Lieutenant of the Tower And then of my going into our Country of my being compelled by God to prefigure declare in Brimingham what was then doing that day in London 88. miles from London then of my being thrown into prison p. 64 Seventhly of my being compelled by the dictates of Gods spirit to speak and write many times and make many journeys since to the present power and the last Parliament to tel them what hath and wil befal them unlesse they wil deny themselves and seek God p. 65 Eightly of several Visions as I have had this yeare concerning the Church being rebuilded suddenly and the Lord Protectors Councel and King Charles his agreeing And how God revealed the plot of the Countrys-rising to me and caused me to carry a Letter to the Tower of it and to deliver it before the rising was p. 66 67 Woe
doe to fall from heavenly things but you wil fall from the high place that Gods providence hath raised you to Which by yeelding obedience to God and his King Jesus Christ and him whom he wil set upon his holy mountain you may stand firm otherwaies it wil be very slippery O for the Lords sake who hath set you up to be a protector of the people endeavour to build your self a sure foundation Imbrace this truth take good heed to hold fast the good old waies of Gods worship but you must first finde it for it hath been a long time lost take heed therefore of either despising or not believing and obeying the spirit of Gods prophesie My Lord I have had stil a great feare of you but it proceedeth from the love of God in Christ which bindeth me to fear love honour and obey all that God doth ordain or permit to be Rulers or governours over us When natural men are lifted up high and seem to obtain much credit in the world then they may be lower and farther from the waies of God then before the God of this world having blinded their eyes to keepe them hoodwinkt from the glorious light of the gospel of peace which offers peace to all Behold I speak not these things against you or your power for I wish you all prosperity and health and a setled peace in righteousnesse and true holiness but God hath sent me to shew you your danger by plots and which way to take to appease his wrath The manner of Davids faln Tabernacle how it fell as well from the gentile Christians as the naturall Jews My Lord the means to bring us to a true setled and established peace is first to seek Gods kingdome and the righteousness thereof and all things else needful shall be added thereunto as when England formerly did flourish both in Church and State and was preserved more then any other Nation from plots conspiracies inbred-enemies and forraign foes as namely the Spanish invasion the Powder plot and many more which for brevity sake must be omited 'T is true there was a time that we were in Covenant with God the temporal state or Magistrate was a wall to the Church and Ministry yet the Church in that time was not without spots or State without corruptions The Church was never a pure Church free from blemishes since the Primitive Apostolical and Discipled florishing time Job 38.7 when the morning Stars sang together under the light glory and peace which was obtained by the mercy and love of God in Christ that immaculate Lamb and his twelve Apostles Meaning the Church was but one body serving God with one consent which were to be Rulers or Judges of the twelve spiritual tribes of Israel then as Jacob and his twelve sons were the first chief natural heads so Christ and his twelve Apostles were the last chief spiritual Fathers or Brethren that laid the foundation under Christ to bring all nations under the Gospel-Covenants the which as many as believe and are obedient to they are Abrahams Sons by faith and Citizens of the new Ierusalem whose builder and founder is God The old Ierusalem then flourished when Davids natural Son Soloman was King over the twelve Tribes of Israel when he had built the Temple and dedicated it to the Lord by prayer and religious feasting he was in Covenant with God Those were peaceable plentiful and golden days for Church and state The new Ierusalem wil never be in her excellency of glorious beauty til God hath joyned the two sticks into one Ephraim and Iudah Ezek. 37.16 17 18 19. I mean the natural seed and spiritual seed under the seamlesse garment of one government under Davids spiritual Son the second Solomon then wil that time appear that Christ wil restore the Kingdom of Israel to be under one government and one body for the Church and State which never hath been since Iudah and Israel parted in Rehoboams and Ieroboams time for as Solomon and his Son Rehoboam were the onely chiefe Cause or instruments of their parting one by Idolatry and the other by slighting or despising the counsel of the Ancient and following the counsel of young men who were puft up with pride and covetousnesse like the men of our late days and so caused the Kings government to be rent in pieces by Gods Prophet 1 Kings 11.30 31 32. signifying the greatest part of the House of Iacob to revolt from the house of David which are not reconciled to this day Just in the same manner fared it with the Christian Gentiles which Christ his twelve Apostles first planted in the true Apostolical Catholick order in one body under one head who had a seamless garment of pure government which in process of time was in a flourishing condition in one body of spiritual government in those prosperous days of peace true Religion most men gave themselves wholly to build and beautifie Gods house being charitable minded in hospitality and Christian duty in those days men did shine by godly pious conversation without flattery or dissembling hypocrisie shewing themselves as Solomon saith Aples of Gold pictured with studs of Silver But while many slept in security Satan sowed tares which for want of being weeded out of the Church in due time caused corruption to creep in by degrees and at last to break out into idolatry strife and heresie then the Christian vail of Religious duties was rent in twain as Christ signified at his death by the renting of the vail of the temple it is to be understood of the renting and destruction of the Christian Temples by devision as wel as the Jewish ceremonial Law of which for brevity sake many proofs for confirmation must be omitted but this I give you to understand that Davids Tabernacle was raised as wel to the Christians Gospel covenant as to the Jewes and natural Israelites under the Law and likewise so it fell you may question me saying how can you prove that I answer When the Catholike Church first passed by divisions and grosse errors into jars and open wars and to part from one real body which was planted to be over twelve spiritual Tribes under one head in Christs Church Abraham being their Father by true Faith they being all spiritual brethren in Christ then began they to kil plot persecute and revile one against another pretending for Religion but contrary to Christs covenant or the Apostles doctrine And so to this day we continue reviling and hating one another and they calling us Hereticks that are Protestants and we calling them grosse Idolatrous worshipers yet neither of us without great errors and so we continue resting Christs Gospel-truth in unrighteousnesse by making corrupt Laws on purpose to persecute and destroy one another by Satans malice contrary to Christ and his Apostles rule or the true Primitive Churches practice A short description of the ruinating of the Protestant Religion in this Land THe
to have reigned in a living condition by it and knew they could notwithout it yet his death and the Bishops wil prove to be the death of al Sects and Herefies and the chiefest meanes under God to convert the Jewes Pagans and Turks to Christs truth The Lord guide me with this holy Spirit I Shal assure you in truth eleven year agoe I being an Apprentice to an Iron-Monger it happened by the powerful providence of God as I was at a Fare on the longest day of the year called Saint Barnabies day as I was helping my Master to keep the Fare at Newport-pannel in Buckinghamshire I being in perfect health and busily exercised about my Masters imploiments with him at the stall About 12. of the clock as I was weighing out of ware and many people at the stal I was struck of a suddain with amazement the power of God caused me to look before me and there was standing before me the shape of a Woman cloathed in blew like an old fashioned cloak and safeguard The Woman cloathed in blew raiment signified the Protestant Church Aaron the High Priest his colours were blew for the Ephod Exod. 28.28 31 37. the liknesse of her face was black as an Oven Her blacknesse of face signified that she began then to be overwhelmed with darknesse lamentations mists of Heresies as Jude calls them Clouds without water she strook her hands over her face Her striking of her hands over her face in a mournful condition signified the lamentable condition which she then was fallen into when the High Priest and the Apostolical and Discipled Elders were cast out of the City and there was no true government then either in Church or State when Kingly power was spurned against and so fearfully despised weakned so that the Judges and civil Magistrates could not be a wal to the true Orthodox Ministry then many old heresies which had been long ago buried began to be new digd up new fangled opinions began to be found out by Satans malicious temptations I took as little notice of it as I could but was following my Masters occasion of trading being a waighing of nailes I was struck fick at heart of a suddain and was forced to look on the strong appeparission which was like a Woman and looked stedfastly on her who strook her hands again over her face in a wailing condition as a … man that had lost her h … and or children or some great friend and so she vanished away I was very heart and stomach sick of a suddain being forced to leave the stal I told my Master I was not wel I went to his Inne and being very sick I vomitted blood after a little time being something better I went to my Master againe and staid by him all day but not without much paine this was on the Satterday and was I sick and heavy at heart and all parts of my body many days after but I praise God I slept very wel every night but could not tel what ailed me my stomach was gone I could not eat any thing at all nor drink any thing but what was soure like vinegar I told my Master at night of the strange apparission and vision and of my sicknesse but he believed me not so we went that night to Eubourne in Bedfordshire on Monday I was not able to goe on foot but rod on my Masters hackney horse most of the way to Hampsteed in Hartfordshire On Teusday we went to Watford fifteen miles off London but very sick and weak I was every day yet slept wel every night On Monday we returned homeward I riding with much pain on horseback I besought the Lord with a fervent mind to be merciful to me he heard my prayers and as we were riding about a mile and an halfe off Redburne the Lord made my heart to think and my tongue to speak and tel my Master that if he would goe by Redburn it being neer a mile out of his way I might ride home in a Waggon he asked me how I could tel or with whom I told him with my Father for I told him my Father had two Waggons then in Redburn it being at mid time of the day and how that my Father was there and one Brother and his man I had no natural reason to say so for I could not tel they were in those Countries but onely the Lord had revealed it to me who reveales his secrets to them that fear him Psal 25. 34 his holy Angels pitchâ—s their tents about them My Master was unwilling to go that way but with much intreating did and we found them in Redburn according as the Lord had caused me to speak My Master overwent me that day and left me to ride in my Fathers Waggon On Thursday night we came to Tosseter fifty miles from London Coventrie rode my Fathers Inne was at the Sarasens head but my Master appointed if I was not able to ride home I should be carried to his Inne which was the fign of the Peele As soon as I came thither I defired to goe to bed presently with in an hour after my Fathers Brother and many more came to see me and asked me how I did I told them I praised God I was better then I was before and many such words I told them of the strange Vision in the Fair at Newport-pannel but they beleeved me not and the manner of it oftentimes and how the Lords Revelation to me made me know where to meet them which was against natures reason My brother offered me to watch with me all night no said I brother goe to your bed and take your rest for I praise God I am better then I have beene ever since I saw the Vision So they left me There was no Guests in the house that night and I did lodge in an upper roome a good distance from the people in the house and I had been hot and cold on a sudden my cloaths being light and thin on my bed and I was dangerous sick neer unto death of a sudden not thinking I could possibly live while morning it being the dead time of the night I could get none to come to me by knocking or calling The Lord put it into my mind of a sudden that I should live to see an end of these troublesome times and how God had ordained me to be an instrument to the bringing it to passe Lord said I to my selfe how can can this be seeing I am thus weak not like to live til morning My heart began to sink so that I could scarce speak Within a little space the Lord strengthened me wonderfully and put it into my heart to hang my cloaths about me and goe out of my bed to other beds in the next chamber and fetch cloaths I being not able to stand crept on my hands and knees and fetcht the cloaths of two other beds and with the help of Gods holy Angel laid them on my
bed and went to bed again A while after being something warm in my bed the Lords Angel gave me warning that I must undergoe the strongest temptation that night as any man had endured yet the Lord would uphold me in it Dear friends it was no dream nor fancy for I was awake and had my perfect memory A little while after there was as it had been a book opened in my conscience I cannot forget the remembrance of the letters stil and there was laid to my open view and memory all the sins that ever I had offended God either by omission or commission and the Lord assured my conscience they were forgiven assuring me that they were buried in the Sea of Christs blood That was no sooner past and another Book opened but there came into my mind a remembrance of al my dealing between man and man and there was found no accusation against me but onely for 4 d. which had been neer six years past For the first journey that ever my Master sent me out with iron ware he sent me three dayes journey from his house to a place called Chessom in Buckinghamshire and before I came home againe I lost 1 s. of my account and having cast it up at Warwick the last night of my journey and then I fearing to tel my Master of it kept halfe a peck of oats from my horses thinking to get the shilling that way at several times so after with my with my Master I losing 8 d. and wronging the dumb creatures of their allowance my conscience being troubled at it did so no more And when I was at the point of death God suffered two ugly Devils in shape like Blackmoors to accuse me before him so that I was forced to look out of the bed and they stood between my bed and the window at my left hand I was in a terrible fright they standing neer my bed-side a little after midnight The Lord gave me a strong spirit to resist the Fiends by prayer which made them fly from my bed-side And Gods holy Angel comforted me exceedingly and so left me for a little time Anon after there appeared another Devil who was transformed into a glorious shape whose adornments shone like gold as it had been a great Emperor King or Monarch with a Crown on his head who would have perswaded me to have denied that Christian Faith as I was trained up in and renounce the Baptism as I had received in my infancy and I should bee in as great estimation for the time to come as any in the world I endeavoured to pray against those perswading temptations but my own heart would have deceived me one time I could scarce keep my mind close to God and being mighty hot by sweating and faint by sicknesse my soule desired to keep close to God My heart was brought very weak I was brought so feeble-minded I thinking all hope past but I must yield at last I said avoid Satan At these words and many more such like the transformed Fiend vanished away and the Angel appeared at my right hand as I lay in my bed and strengthened me with exceeding inward comfort and so left me againe The black Fiends appeared a second time and being resisted by prayer they fled And there was another like a General or great Commander in gay apparel in several colours as red black green yellow in a bunch perswading me as the former did but the Lords power was strong in me to resist him by prayer which made them fly from my bed-side then began it to be a little morning-light I prayed all night looking every minute when the Lord would fetch away my soule from my body but I desired much of the Lord to live to see my Father and brothers and to make a Will to dispose of some little money and some cattel some to the poor some to my brothers some to friends according to my Talent as I had When the day began to dawn in my chamber there was the shape of a Ladder reared from the chamber-floor to the window the top of the Ladder was above the window the two ugly black Fiends and the transformed Devil appeared again neer my bed-side in violent way to feare and tempt me I prayed to God for defence and succour the transformed Devil shining like an Angel of Light ran up to the top of the Ladder above the window there I was tempted again the two black Fiends ran up after and stood one above another on the Ladder calling to me twice and saying Come wil you come The Lord strengthened my heart to prayer the transformed Fiend vanished away from the top of the Ladder The ugly black Fiends after they had turned feet to feet the ones head was up towards the top of the Ladder the others hung downward and thus they hung their soles of their feet together on the Ladder I thought all this while on Jacobs Ladder Lord thought I to my selfe this is such a Ladder as Jacob saw in his Vision Gen. 28.12 At the end of these terrible fights of the fearful Vision I brake forth uttering these very words saying O my Saviour thou that wast tempted and hadst no sinne 〈◊〉 able to succour me a poor finful creatore in the name of the whole Godhead avoid Satan The one fel one way the other another way the Fiends parting asunder and I praise God I had no more temptation all the rest of the time of my sickness And the Angel of the Lord came and comforted me and told me when I was restored to health I must go on Gods message to the King and tel him he must agree with the Parliament and condiscend to them by agreement and forgive them that which had been past as a loving Father although it were against him in that way as he was in and his Army if he did refuse to doe it speedily and for to work Reformation both in Church and State if this were neglected the Kings Army would come to nothing but destruction and hee would be destroyed and cut off but yet his Son would come at last to reign Then I was to tel the Parliament in withstanding the King they must not doe it to make themselves great but perform their vow for the setting up of Gods truth in the true purity for Church-government and for Temporal and State Affaires it must be to maintaine true Judgment in all degrees for the Magistrate according to truth If this in the beginning were not their ayme and in the end in the end their actions God would blast all their proceedings by one power displacing and dissolving another til at last their heresie and injustice and division would bring them to confusion And the Angel then gave me direction how the King and Parliament must make their agreement at last and what form and manner the Church must and would be established and governed And how that God had ordained tha I must be one of
the three and my Talent was to shew first the Church-government And after in my ficknesse the Angel revealed to mee againe how that all Countries would rise in a triumphing manner with all sorts of Musick and so come up to London with great joy to establish the King and overthrow all the enemies of Christ and his Gospel and cast them out of power and then all sword-powers would begin here to cease and as a pattern other Nations should follow I should have spoken of the manner of the sicknesse and more of Gods great goodnesse to me but for brevity-sake I end with praises to God The reason why God suffered the two two black Fiends to accuse me for the groat as I wronged my Masters horses of their allowance gave me warning after for ever wronging my fellow servants more if it should lie in my power after As much it signified and breatned to any that either are have been past or shal be for time to come put in power above men to be Rulers either in Church or State if they wrong defraud or smite with the fists of iniquity Matth. 24. They that doe so without repentance to God and restoration to man like Zacheus God and their own conscience will finde them out and Satan wil bring bils of indictment in this life or after For we have all one Maste in Heaven Satans transforming himselfe into a glorious shape and perswading me to renounce my infant-baptism and the feigned apparition of Jacobs Ladder signified all Sects and self-opinions that are tempted by Satan to renounce their infant-baptism to go after the feigned River of Jordan perswading others to follow their steps up Jacobs Ladder which is not the true way to Heaven Therefore as Christ saith Neitherbeleeve nor follow them Matth. 24. A short description of some of my great Troubles AFter the first Apparitions Revelations Temptations and Visions that the Lord bad made knowne unto me his unworthy servant many of his secret determined intents which suddenly were to befal the King and Parliament both Church and State and a meanes how it might have been prevented and a true peace setled if they would but have denied their own corrupt wayes to have imbraced Gods wayes And further when the word of the Lord came first unto me by his holy Angel to cause me to goe on Gods message first to the King and then to the Parliament to declare Godâ— mind unto both parties as I have shewed before and what great troubles I must undergoe by crosses imprisonment violence from my nearest friends losse of goods if I refused to goe at first to displease them yet after many troubles I must goe at last When God had restored me to health and strength of body again after my sicknesse through my friends perswasion I left Gods message undone and cast his will behind my back but many times I should talk of it to many of my friends and others telling them in what manner God had appeared to me and what a charge was laid upon me from God to presse me on to discharge my conscience I oftentimes speaking of it with griefe but they most of them would be stil perswading me that it was a temptation of Satan and his delusions and would bee arguing much with mee that in these dayes God did not appeare by either apparitions visions or revelations saying those things were now ceased Thus their perswasion wrought upon mee by Satans temptation to let Gods work alone for the space of above three years In this time I had some great troubles The first of them was when I thought I should have been married to a Neighbours daughter as lived neere my Masters dwelling one of a good portion and parentage Shee was my first love being made sure one to another by strong promises in the way of contract between our selves it was broke by false pretended friends and so parted I looked upon it no other way then this I was assured that God did cause my proceedings in the world to be crost because I had not been obedient to what I was commanded of Gods holy Angel and confirmed by sure signes Within the compasse of a year after I was married to another rich mans daughter of my own trade being set up to follow the calling of an Ironmonger at Hales Owen five miles from Brimingham lived peaceably with my Wife kept neer 60. Nailors at work to make iron ware I kept great trading and many horses to send ware up unto other Countries for to serve whole sale to many Chapmen In this time I had many troubles and losses which if I should lay them down in particular what I had before I was forced by God to goe on his message and those as I have endured since in the manner as they have befel me and Gods mercy to me in delivering and preserving me from one time to another in no ordinary way but in a miraculous way the like was scarce ever heard of by any if I should put them in a Book it would be larger then could be read in the lengest day in the year and yet all true and good reading to shew the wrongs as I have endured by my neerest friends and she that was my Wife with some of her friends and many more which before I went on Gods message shewed great love towards me but when I went on purpose to the King when Colonel Graves was his Keeper at Holmby they were all great friends but after profest enemies against me by Satans malice to wrong me in the highest degrees that ever was heard of by any man in such nature since the world began not onely once or twice but several times in several yeares yet I praise God I can speak it with a good conscience in the sight of God and man that there is none of my greatest enemies can say upon truth neither wil they I believe that I in all my troubles as I have undergone I ever wronged man woman or child willingly not so much as to use any extremity against any of my greatest enemies but stil committing all to God and praying for my greatest enemies which are sure fignes and strong testimonies to all that know me that I have been all this while guided preserved and carried on by a miraculous providence of Gods holy spirit First when I went to speak with the King Colonel Graves was his Keeper at Holmby I being compelled by God to leave all and goe to foretel King Charles what would suddenly befal him if such things were not done as the Lord had shewed me concerning his agreeing with the Parliament to erect and set up the true Religion of Jesus Christ in the good old way and that the Magistracy should be as a wall to the true Ministry I having these things in my breast to declare to the Kings own person by word of mouth I comming very neer to the Kings Majesty being at bowles that day at Boulten Court two
the fear of the Lord to guide us Fourthly who can say but they broke Covenant with God by swearing falsly to be true to the King and the Protestant Religion and to work reformation in Church and State for true judgment But in stead of being better it is worse for it hath broke out like hem lock or wormwood in the furrowes of the Field and hath tafted as bitter as gall Amos 6.12 Hosea 10.4 7. And the death of King Charles is typified to be the King of Samaria whom Hosea prophesied should be cut off as a foame on the factious water which the Devil caft out of his mouth to drown the woman being meant the Church in this time of new fangled worship and heretical way of new opinions If we see Hâ—sâ—a's Prophesies to be fulfilled by the late dissolved Parliaments and to be as true to us as they speak of the natural Israelites you cannot chuse but believe it to be true in these things And why then may not my troubles and crosses when I was forced by God and their own violence against me which could not be done without Gods permission and ordination Let no man dare or presume to judge otherwise but being done by Gods appointment it did signifie these things as have befel our Nation between King and Parliament by being divorced from God to follow their own corrupt wayes My Wife came out of such a Linage by her Fathers birth as Hosea was to take his wife of for a further signe Hos 1. but I was ignorant of that when I married her my love was never the lesse to her yet her Father had alwayes the relation of all people to be a very honest dealing man But seeing my unhappy predestination was to be thus afflicted by she that was my Wife I look upon it no other way then this it was because I did not at the first forsake all these outward things of this life willingly to goe on Gods message I am very sorry that I cannot forbeare writing and laying open to the view of the world the wrong as I have received from her and their hands Let no man judge the worse of her or them for acting these strange actions or mee for relating of it but let them all assure themselves thus as heare of it The Devil did not onely afflict Job by his wife and Satans temptation by his friends when he was in his great calamity but the like instruments Satan can make use of any let them be never so honest for natural parts if God leave them to themselves But let every one watch and pray lest they fall into Satans temptations and praise God for all the enjoyment of his benefits If any wil say as many have done that there can be no divocement lawful unlesse it be for the act of Adultery To give them an answer look in Malachy 2.16 God hates putting away but if so be thou must such iniquities ought to be hid within ones own garment therefore if I doe know such things I will forbear speaking of them to the world The humble Petition of John Sanders to the Lord Protector Most humbly sheweth THat whereas the humble Petitioner have oftentimes on purpose many sundry and long journeys to speak with your Highnesse for the space of above 3. yeares and a halfe but none of these times could I find any opportunity by any of your Souldiers or servants I have at this time many grievances to ease and unburden my selfe of to your Highnesse which is the Head in chiefe I having undergone much wrong by many several men to the sustaining of great losse both of goods and chattels and other things But concerning those things your humble Petitioner will keep silence at this time committing all those things to God who hath kept my life from the rage of my enemies for the time past by his merciful providence and so I trust he wil for the time to come My Lord the cause of my complaint now at this present time after the many and sundry journeys and many losses and false imprisonments which false bosome-friends and false witnesses have brought me to for nothing else but the witnesse of Jesus which hath carried me on by his holy spirit to foretel things to come About halfe a year before Worcester fight which was since you came to be Head Leader in chiefe of the Parliament Forces the Lord compelled me openly to foretel how that King Charles would come with an Army into Worcestershire before Bartholomew-tide from Scotland against the Parliament and how that his taking up of Armes to maintaine the Scottish Presbytery Government would be the cause of the overthrow of his Army if he fought These things God compelled me openly to declare in Brimingham and at the Lady Graves and many places more and how Colonel Graves the Ladies Son would come in with him I was cast into great imprisonment and misery by Satans malice and wicked men til the very day of Worcester-fight and lost all my time trade and stock besides all the misery false imprisonment I underwent in several places Som said I was distracted others said I was guided by the spirit of God but in the presence of God I speak it that I never knew my selfe at one time worse then another but it was the wil of God to carry me on in that manner No man ever heard me speak at those times like one that had been distracted but if Christ were so esteemed Mark 3. and Paul let not me be ashamed of that name by natural men which are spiritually blind Many witnesses I could produce that heard me foretel the manner and time of Worcester-fight When I was out of prison the spirit of the Lord caused mee to come fourscore miles to speak with your Highnesse and to tel you how that the present standing Parliament could not stand without they entred into a hallowed covenant with God at the Ark of his Testimony for want of the true worship of Jesus Christ being found out and set above them was the cause of Gods overthrowing them for their injustice and division But when I could not find an opportunity to declare Gods message to your Highnesse I told Colonel Barkstead these things and shewed him writings and told him what way the Church must and would be rebuilded Being then eased of my burden I went home into my own Countrey again and after that into Ireland counting my selfe unfortunate I carried iron ware to set up my trade there and began it in Dublin but the spirit of the Lord compelled me to come out of Ireland againe to come up to London about six weeks before the Parliament was dissolved I could not speak with your Highnesse the Parliament was newly rose about the Seamen the spirit of God compelled me to make a Speech in Westminster Hall before abundance of people concerning the Parliaments dissolution about the shortest day in the yeare And then before I could