us do suppose him to be Elias though Christ himself hath told us he is come already And some other think him to be that beloved Disciple mentioned in the 21 Chapter of St. Johns Gospel where our Saviour presaging in what mode Peter should suffer and he then asking What that Disciple should do was thus answered If I will that he tarry till I come what is that to thee follow thou me Whereupon some inferred that Disciple he should not die though as was then averred in the words following Christ said not so nor as I believe intended it should be so understood yet that interpretation is retained by some to this day and now as I hear made use of to countenance the forementioned Rumour whereof I confess my self incredulous for the reasons afore expressed Doubtless when such an occasion was given to have it explained Christ would not have left that ambiguous which was misunderstood and so l believe of every mysterious expression which is necessary to be known by all men as pertinent to their Salvation unless it be to make us wary by what Spirit we interpret holy Scripture lest that which leads into all Truth may by our negligence or vain curiosity lead us into errors if misapprehended If there be any point mentioned in holy Scripture relating to the Kingdom to come which is topical or national let them look to it whom it concerns for I conceive not that it any otherwise concerns us then as it shall have an Universal Locality upon earth without respect to any Nation or Place in particular as appears to me by the words of our Saviour to the woman of Samaria John 4. 21 22 33. Woman said he believe me the hour cometh when ye shall neither in this Mountain or in Jerusalem worship the Father Ye worship ye know not what c. But the hour cometh and now is when the true worshippers shall worship in Spirit and Truth c. VVhence I collect that if Place were not essential to the true VVorship of God when Christ first came into the world it will be less essential thereunto at his second coming or to have it limited to a narrower extent then to the whole Earth and all Nations 15. I am not doubtful but that in the last times there will be some extraordinary and eminent transactions and some in the next year after this 1665. and during four or five and thirty years after 1666. in relation to the approaching Kingdom of Christ and to those who have been so many Ages reputed the Off-spring of the Patriarks scattered throughout the world and I believe God will in his own time fulfil all his Judgements threatned for their Apostacies and obstinacies as also his gratious promises made unto their Fore-fathers but when that will be accomplised that or in what manner will be done which is expected concerning the Jews I leave it to Gods good pleasure and unto them to search in what mode it will be who think it concerns them more then I do who am contented with those manifestations which I finde in the Word of God not repugnant to each other or above my understanding There will be such Signs VVonders and Miracles as have been fore-told as also extraordinary preparations by Divine Providence before Christs second Advent which the Elect shall have sufficient means to know and make such use of as most tends to Gods Glory and to preserve them faithful to the end Yet unsafe it may be and an occasion of multiplying needless fears and troubles upon our selves to make such Ideas of Christs Kingdom and Raign upon Earth or such signs of its approach as are not plainly warranted by the VVord of God whose hidden wayes are past our finding out and so much as is revealed will be obscure to them whose unsanctified hearts seek after it in curiosity onely or with more desire to finde them sutable to their own imaginations that they may have somewhat wherein to glory then to make their ways conformable to Gods VVe are much taken with Novelties especially when we our selves first bring them to light and very apt superstitiously to repute things holy or unholy which Have neither holiness or unholiness in them except by our abuse VVe esteem some unholy which are sanctified some other to be holy which have no holiness in them but rather that which is most contrary For Example That is said to be the Holy-land which hath been during many Ages the most accursed of all Lands That to be a holy War which was but a wicked-politick divertisement of Antichrist to prevent the Interruption of his growing Grandeur by the Kings and Princes whom by that Engine he fool'd into an employment far from home That is said to be a holy Nation which hath had a long time no more holiness in it them Judas who betrayed Christ They are invocated and hallow'd as Saints and holy Martyrs who were Traytors both to God and men and whilst they lived not reputed so holy as some of their Neighbours And that Cross whereon our blessed Saviour was crucified is not onely called holy but reputed worthy of Divine honor also and hath many costly buildings dedicated thereunto and the chips of it sold for precious Relicks at dear rates though in truth it is not so holy as the Gallowes at Tibourn because that was intended for the execution of Justice upon Malefactors only though perhaps innocents do suffer thereupon otherwhile while We have many Inventions of our own The Devil hath so many deceitful Wiles also whereby to make false shows that he is promoting Gods VVork with him in every Dispensation that I suspend my belief of new Apparitions until I am fully convinced by a better Light then mine own bearing witness thereunto and therefore have here thrust in such Caveats as came into my heart to be a memorandum both to my self and others believing that whensoever Gods Kingdom comes openly into the world or invisibly into my heart where I feel it to be in some degree it will always evidence it self without delusion For it is the Kingdom of our heavenly Father which we are taught to petition for in this Prayer and nothing like the Kingdoms of this world 16. This is that Kingdom whose coming the Saints have long expected and though I mis-judge not of their so doing who call it the Fifth-Monarchy I think that Title too mean an Appellative in regard it is an Eternal Kingdom having no relation to Earthly Monarchies in respect of their precedency or otherwise but an Absolute Kingdom depending on it self and on him onely who is the Supream King thereof And when it comes into the World it will be little available to those who shall not find it to be in some measure come or so coming into their hearts that they may be made one with it and with the King thereof by Faith and Love This is not a Kingdom like that of the Nations which the Israelites foolishly
and infirmities and therefore gratiously provided this Expedient for preventing such errors and the whole Catholick Church hath found just Cause to praise him for that Condescention being one special means to preserve the principal Worship of God from being totally adulterated or else quite buried under the rubbish of humane Inventions as it was when Heathenish Idolatries first crept in and as now it is where the mystery of Iniquity is almost at highest For though the spirituality and true life of Religion and Divine Worship consisteth not altogether in outward Formalities yet unless it hath some bodily existence and external Clothing whereby it may be made perceptible and apprehensive in some degree by our humane Faculties it could neither be known or long retained though there may be some intellectual glimmerings thereof in such as are supernaturally illuminated much less could it be communicated from man to man by those corporeal Organs which are the Mediums whereby the affections and inclinations of our souls are made known to our selves and other men upon which considerations I am perswaded that they who totally neglect and they who superstitiously affect his Form of Prayer are equally reproveable I acknowledge there is in many an excellent gift of extempore vocal Prayer pertinent to the stirring up of Devotion and Pious Affections in themselves and other men and with much reverence I comply therewithal and assent thereto when I am admitted to partake in their Devotions yea and without envying Gods dispensations to them by whom I see my self to be far excelled For he who dispenseth his Gifts as he pleaseth made Aaron who was inferiour to Moses in other Graces superiour to him in vocal expressions I ingenuously confess my self also to be sometimes ashamed to be silent where such duties are performed but my natural modesty and my want of memory or somewhat worse renders me fearful to speak before an Assembly Perhaps my secret pride tempts me to preserve by silence a better opinion in others of my ability in that kinde then I have But whatsoever occasions it in me I suspect that better men then I are otherwhile liable to the same temptation through the same defect and may have need of premeditated words To say the whole Truth my verbal Devotions are frequently so broken into dis-joynted parts and so dissatisfactory to my self that I cannot hope they will be plausible to my hearers unless I had time to put them into better order which when I have done in the best mode I can I think defective until I have perfited my Devotions with that Prayer whereupon I have grounded my ensuing Meditations and am perswaded that Form is not always added superstitiously to other Prayers and that their Devotions are acceptable who in sincerity and with a true desire to express their necessities or thankfulness to God offer up unto him their prayers or praises in words wanting Grammatical coherence and in such Language as they are able For if we are pleased to hear our little Children stammer out their wants and affections in such imperfect terms as they are capable of though it be nonsence much more doth our Heavenly Father who better knows our Infirmities and requires no more of any man then he hath given him take delight in their good endeavours who prosecute them as they are able though in much childish weakness which appears by his Sons care taken to prevent the despising and offending of such by their stronger brethren He knew also that the most perfect could not attain to that perfection without means of improvement and therefore left them this Form of Prayer which if right use be thereof made may be to the wisest of them great advantages many wayes 4. I know well that not a few who seem to have acquired most perfections and to be better qualified for performance of such Duties then many of their brethren are otherwhile fain to use set Forms of Prayer composed by their National Churches or by particular pious men and I suppose it to be a great weakness in them who for no other respect are offended thereat or with such as therein joyn For if it be allowable to joyn in a vocal extempore Prayer with him the scope of whose Petitions we cannot know until we hear them and whose Prayers are at that time a set Form to his Auditory if not to him who speaks them doubtless we may with less scruple pray with another whose words we know beforehand and wherein we finde nothing repugnant to this Patern left us by our Saviour In such Prayers or Praises whether publick on private Extempore or set Forms I can joyn with any person or Congretion professing Faith in Jesus Christ so they be not wittingly willingly malitiously and impenitently scandalous in Doctrine or manners though there may be some deficiency or superfluity in Words or Forms and in such conrformities I demean my self without giving cause of disturbance to their Devotions with whom I communicate yea and without uncharitably censuing them in my heart as to that which is contrary to my Judgement For I know the best men and the best humane Forms have their defects and that their duties and divine Mysteries are known to them but in part Therefore when in their Preachings or Divine Worshippings I hear and heed ought which to my understanding is not Orthodox or comely or expressions insisted upon or attributes given to persons or things of whose truth I am not certain then instead of absolute compliance therein I waving that lift up my heart in secret to God beseeching him to pardon what is misdone or missaid by others or misunderstood by me if I have misapprehended their pious meanings 5. The Forms of Prayer and Praises dictated by the Holy Ghost and recorded in the Psalmes or other Books of Holy Scripture I can use without scruple in the same words either in the Original or in any other Language that I undersand as occasions require but not without premeditating the distinct Mysteries in them contained whereby I may be conscientiously satisfied what particular Mystery is touched in the whole and in every particle lest as I said before I may sometimes blaspheam or curse instead of praying by misapplying that to one which is properly appliable to another And those Maledictions to my own Enemies which are intended onely to the Adversaries of Christ or left I take those Attributes to my self in my single Capacity which are properly due to none but to Jesus Christ and to me and others no otherwise then as we are Members of his Mystical Body This is not so much heeded by some as it ought to be who make frequent use of Davids Psalmes at adventure in their publick and private Devotions With much precaution therefore I endeavour as I am able to pray and praise GOD in those words of his own which I finde recorded in the Old Testament with respect to what was Legally and to what was evangelically to be
considered knowing it required much heed to avoid such mistakes as we might else incur by a negligent use of them But this Form of Prayer which I have now meditated upon is made so plain and so suitable to the whole and to every individual Member of Christs Mystical Body as also to the meanest capacities that it may safely be repeated singly and joyntly in the literal sence Yet I have observed and I think am not therein deceived that God hath permitted many wiser men then I am to be subject to misapprehensions in the duties of Praise and Prayer and particularly in the use of this unquestionable Form and perhaps hath so permitted it thereby to prove and exercise their Humility Patience Prudence and Love which being well considered together with that Christian Liberty which ought to be preserved without Infringement and from over-far inlarging the limits thereof would qualifie the Contest among dissenting Brethren and therefore I have here to that end precautioned so much as I conceive may be pertinently extracted from the subject I have now in hand and it gives me occasion of many particular hints to that purpose For This is a Charm made by the best Physician Which if applyed without superstition Cures and secures T is a Catholicon Compounded for the use of every one In weal and wo in every differing Case For every Change in every Time and Place For each State Person Sex Age and Degree Whether mean high low rich or poor they be Single or Congregated if they pray it Hallowed with Faith and Love as well as say it For said in words it may be yet not pray'd And pray'd it may be though in words not said Who ever therefore shall not be partaker Of profit by it cannot blame the Maker 6 Some overstrictly confine other men within their jurisdiction to their set Forms of Prayers and Worships upon such penalties is are unmercifully destructive to the peace estates relations and persons of those who are by them compelled because their tender unsatisfied Consciences will not permit that complyance which is required lest they should thereby violate that obedience which they believe is owing to a Superior Power and to him who is the sole Judge in all Causes relating to his own Supremacy And if that be unfeignedly their Plea without respect to any carnal self-ends and no unquestionable Evidence produced proving that their Principles or practices tend to the violation of the Moral Law or to the breach of the Common Peace by their default it seems very hard measure to compel them contrary to the Law of Nature or the ancient Priviledges of their Nation actively to submit unto that which is offensive to their Consciences in respect of God and repugnant to that Light which is in them especially when they are questioned upon bare suspitions or by the clandestine Informations of persons having no good report as also before they shall be convinced of erring by better Arguments then compulsion and the arbitrary will and pleasure of those who are neither authorized to judge of matters relating to God alone nor have means to take true cagnizance of such secrets as cannot certainly be known to any but to God himself The consequents of such inforcements are not onely destructive to their persons and Families who are compelled if they submit not or hazzardous to their souls who submit contrary to what they believe in their hearts because they become thereby guilty of that which is abhorred of God to whom also that is unpleasing which is unwillingly performed though it be what he himself commandeth but it is also mischievous or at least unprofitable to the Imposers as will be made probable in what followes To the clean all things are clean and that which defiles one will not defile another if conscienciously acted without any meer carnal and self-end St. Paul said Rom. 14 14. he was perswaded by Christ Jesus That there is nothing unclean in it self yet to him who believeth any thing to be unclean to him it is unclean And in that respect we are exhorted in the same Chapter to follow those things which tend to peace and whereby we may edifie one another without giving just cause of offence to our weak Brethren or of blaspheaming to them who are without or of infringing the Christian Liberty which permitteth the profession practise or omission of things indifferent so far forth as they are honest just of good report among good men and tending to edification in the love and fear of God And it is very considerable that the inforcing such things one way or another produceth one of the most mischievous consequences in the world both to those who compel them and to them among whom they live for when they have constrained men by hope or fear of temporary advantages or disadvantages to destroy their Consciences which makes them men of no Consciences and thereby such as have also no God they do by that imprudence add none to their own Party but such wicked Hypocrites and secret Traytors as otherwhile become a Plague both to those who offered violence to their pretended consciences and to all other good men with whom they have to do for whatsoever Oaths they take whatsoever Covenants they make whatsoever Ingagements they enter into they usually become false and perfidious to those who trusted them as soon as they finde it may be to their particular advantage And I have long observed that those Formalities in Divine Worship which are submitted unto through fear and even those principles of Truth which are professed for carnal ends onely did never make any such to be the better men and I therefore wonder what they hope to get by it who by compulsion make proselytes or Conformists to their Judgement and Practice those who are neither truly serviceable to God to their Country or to whom they are compelled except it be for this end that when such Imposers have services to be done which none but the most damnable Villanes will do they may know where to finde them 7. I am no accepter of Persons or Parties further then I finde them qualified according to the Principles of Love and Truth therefore execuse me though I am bold to say there are some other so unreasonably adverse to all Forms Ceremonies and Customs how expedient soever to prevent disorder and cure Ignorance although not evil in themselves that they can hardly be prevailed upon by any Arguments to conform unto them in their own persons or to allow them to others whose consciences incline them thereunto though they cannot make forth how without some of them they and other men could have so easily been made acquainted with the soul and spiritual existence of Religion had they wanted a bodily form whereby it might be rendred apprehensive These Oppugners of all Formalities in Divine Worship which are not in positive terms commanded though not countermanded in the written Word of God do not well heed
undefiled and so visibly made known to be such that none shall be distrustful of each others Integrity An universal Love shall cement together inseparably every precious Stone of that building Yea a Love excluding all the Fear Jealousie and Envie which might imbitter their Injoyments and Affections into whom that Kingdom is come For though there will be a differing Glory as among the Stars which excel one another the least shall be as fully and as highly contented with his measure of Joy and his degree of exaltation as he that is greatest and every one take as much pleasure in the Glorification of others as in his own Much more might be said to this purpose and to give some hints whereby it may be known of what Nature this Kingdom is and when it is come into us But this and that which the Spirit of God will further dictate as need shall require will be sufficient to raise an apprehension to make us confident that when his Kingdom comes upon Earth his will shall be here done as it is in Heaven 17. Nevertheless it seems impossible to some that the Will of God should be fulfilled in Earth as it is in Heaven and so it would be unless it shall he more gloriously manifested then either now or heretofore and we should not have been taught so to pray if it were not to be expected in another mode Our Father had the same Kingdom upon Earth from the first Creation thereof and the Reign of his Anoynted Son was more visible when he first came in the flesh then in preceding Ages But it is said to be a Kingdom yet to come in regard of that more evident manifestation which it shall still have from time to time and especially after the six Mystical Dayes of a thousand years a piece are finished During that space the Devil called the Prince of this world and his Vicegerents are to exercise a power by Divine permission that the evil whereof our first Parents desired Knowledg might be as far forth made known to their whole Posterity as might be permitted with preservation of the humane Nature from being utterly destroyed And that when the great Sabbath of Years came the Beauty and Perfection of GOODNESS might be thereby the more Illustrated as the Day is by the darkness of the Night and as well known to Mankind as evil hath been and shall be experimentally manifested before the Mystical week is compleated For though the Devil lied when he tempted the Son of God with an offer of all the Kingdoms of the Earth in saying all those were given unto him Yet some appearance of Truth may seem to have been therein if we consider what Arbitrary power his Vicegerents have Arrogated and Exercised by their being accomptable to none in this life for their Mis-governments For many of them have been the most wicked men in the world chief Actors in bringing the knowledg of evil to perfection by making it as well felt as intelligibly known and They and the Nations under their Governments have mutually so corrupted each other that the greatest benefit we have now hope of by their Counsels Reasons of State and Arbitrary Actings is this their Wickedness ere long will be so fully Ripe that it will bring hither that King and Kingdom whereby we shall perfectly know and enjoy that GOODNESS which will root all wickedness out of the Earth and perhaps be an occasion of cutting that time of their Tyrannie somewhat shorter then it might else have been according to that Scripture where it is said that the dayes of Antichrists last cruelty should be shortned for the sake of his Elect. 18. The Kingdom we pray for now is and hath been in some proportion both visibly and invisibly upon the Earth in all Ages and his will there done according to the similitude expressed in this Prayer and in the Children thereof so far forth as they were and are capable And whereas it is said When Christ cometh shall he finde faith upon Earth as it may also be questioned whether when he cometh he shall find in any man an absolute Resignation of his will to GODS It implies not in my understanding either an universal Nagative or Affirmative but that he shall then finde both Faith and Self-denial in some For as there is an Old Will and an Old Earth by Nature in man which he had from Adam so there is also a New Earth and a New Heaven or will in man partly come and more perfectly to come into us and into the world by Christ between whom there is and shall be a continual warfare until Christs personal coming They in whom the first natural Earthlyness and will are predominant shall have no such faith or willingness found in them when Christ comes But he shall then find both such a Faith and such a Will as is expected in all those into whom that new Earth and that new Heaven is come which is predicted in the Revelations to St. John for that is a mystical Expression of that Kingdom which shall descend both into our Microcosme or little World and appear gloriously in this great World Into this Kingdom there shall enter no imperfect or unclean thing the Glory and Honour of all Nations shall be brought into it The fearful whose cowardise makes them Apostatize in persecution Unbelievers Murtherers Whoremongers Sorcerers Idolaters and Liers shall be shut out of it for this Kingdom shall not need as do the Kingdoms of this world to be supported by publishing Lies by depressing Truths by Dissemblings false Accusations Plottings Perjuries Oppressions and such like The City and Royal Palace thereof shall be more strongly fortified and more gloriously beautified then we are able to imagine or conceive by all those excellent Metaphorical Allusions to the most precious Earthly things whereby St. John as is before hinted hath endeavoured to raise us up to some apprehension by Faith which cannot be made known so excellent as it is by any VVords or natural Demonstrations Our Father the King of Righteousness even the Lord GOD Almighty is sole King thereof to whom we may with that perfect Joy and Love which casteth out Fear say Thy will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven which short Petition comprehends all that is contained in this brief Prayer relating either to God or our selves as this Prayer contains implicitely all that is absolutely to be prayed for by the most exact Publike Liturgies and by all the Prayers of every Congregation and Individual person upon Earth Nevertheless remember this that though this is so Universal a Prayer as aforesaid and though God knows what we want before we ask it yet our insisting upon particulars is necessary to keep us mindful of our duties to God heedful of those wants which we have in our selves and diligent upon all occasions to seek and ask supply from him only in VVords and Musings regulated by this Prayer believing that we have attained
having where with to make payment was adjudged to be sold with all that he had for payment of the Debt The Servant thereupon fell down at his feet beseeching his patience and forbearance which so moved the King to compassion that he forgave the whole Debt The same Servant going out of the Kings presence finding one of his Fellows who owed him but a hundred pence took him by the throat saying Pay me that thou owest me and though his Fellow-servant fell at his feet promising payment if he would with patience forbear him he nevertheless cast him into Prison which so offended the King his Master being informed thereof that he delivered him to the Tormenters to be by them detained until he had pay'd all the Debt which was formerly forgiven it being a Fundamental Maxime in the Law of that Kingdom resembled by this Parable That such measure as men mete shall be measured unto them and that they shall not be forgiven who will not forgive their Brethren Fellow servants who trespass against them In this Case that Original debt which is remitted to every man by Christs Incarnation and Passion is charged again upon every man who comes into this world if he shall be then unmerciful to his Fellow-servants and sin wilfully and malitiously against the Grace of God without repentance 6. This I believe as in relation to Original sin and that afore expressed to be an Implicite Condition in all Gods Acts of Grace intended though not exprest and more unalterable then the Laws of the Medes and Persians heretofore But in the close of this Petition it is explicitely mentioned and therefore 〈…〉 be doubted of any the words being plainly these As we forgive them that trespass against us And in the two Verses next following this Prayer it is declared both Affirmitively and Negatively by Christ himself to make us the more heedful thereof If saith he you forgive men their trespasses then will your heavenly Father also ford give you But if you forgive not men their trespasses neither will your heavenly Father forgive you your trespasses It is said also That we should be merciful as our heavenly Father is Merciful and perfect as he is perfect which are such hard Lessons to flesh and blood that few love to hear of them and perhaps that conditional asking forgiveness aforementioned had made so many neglect the Lords Prayer because they cannot so perfectly forgive as they would be forgiven But they mistake the meaning of the holy Ghost God requireth no impossible things at our hands He expecteth not such perfection in us as in him our Pattern but such a perfection of Imitation onely as we are capable of and I hope those Christians who I know not to what good purpose profess themselves to be perfect do not mean it in any other sence then as to their being in the way to perfection and imitation of their pattern No man who desire the Picture or Image of his Friend is so absurd as to look to have it more perfect then a Representation can be Some true resemblances may be exprest of the Body the Visage Looks Postures of a Frown a Smile with such-like but little or nothing of that wherein the perfection of the whole man consisteth Therefore the scrupling at this conditional Petition is causless And I think it not so difficult as some conceive it for a man whose heart is regenerated to forgive either his Brethren or Enemies as he would be forgiven or as Christ our Paâ—â—orn did according to our proportion of Charity for Stephen prayed for his persecutors who stoned him to death and perhaps many supposed to be our persecutors in meer malice are either ignorant of what they do as our Saviour said his Crucifiers were or as Paul who consented unto Stephens death said that he did all things with a good conscience toward Gods even when he was a persecutor because he thought those whom he persecuted to be blasphemers of God Yea it seems so easie to forgive as we desire God should forgive us that I who am one of the least in the Kingdom of Heaven do believe praised be God for it who knows I truely express my heart can forgive my most malitious Enemies when I consider that the worst of them for ought I know to the contrary may persecute me either because he is an ignorant fool or believes me to be an Enemy to the Truth of God or to the publick Peace yea though I knew their persecutions proceeded from meer malitiousness if I perceived them affected with sorrow for it and penitent for their trespasses against other men I could forgive them perfectly though they had pursued me to an inavoidable ignominious death and weep for Joy of it though since I was of understanding I could never weep for losses reproaches pains or punishments occasioned by any open Enemy but have often shed tears when thereto moved by compassion kindnesses or unkindnesses of Friends and Brethren 7. Indeed if all things were well considered and we had but so much prudence or patience as we should have it would not be difficult for any rational man to forgive both Brethren and Strangers Friends and Foes for in whatsoever they trespass against us they are seldome more mischievous unto us then to themselves when they intend best unto themselves and worst to us Their injuries reproaches and despights to us for the most part in some respects or other do us as much good as harm and the benefits of the one as much disadvantages other while as the mischiefs and scandals of the other for they proceed but from fit of complacency or anger as occasions happen Sometime by Levity sometimes by mistakes ignorance or heedlessness as well as from malice and sometimes an accidental toy makes those who for many years together lived in such hatred that they watched all opportunities to destroy each other to become very kinde Neighbours and they who seemed as long a time so mutually endeared that they could not be absent a whole day have out-lived all that friendship and for a trifle been the greatest enemies in the world to each other till their lives ended the friendship or enmity of most men in these times is neither worth our esteem or anger for they who profess most kindness when they are together Jeer each other assoon as departed and tattle as contumeliously to their mutual disparagement in secret as enemies do openly and no wise man will much more be troubled at what these either say or do then at the bawlings and snarlings of Dogs if he can keep them from his Shins for within a short time they with all their evil words and actions will be buried in the earth and quite forgotten as we shall all be ere long also Therefore let us all forgive one another 8. I have yet more to say touching forgiveness It appears not to me that any man can rationally expect forgiveness either from God or men