from preaching for I preach twice every day to my selfe and yesterday blessed be the Comforter my heart was brimfull of joy and consolation from Psal 73.25 26. wherein I observed three points or doctrinall conclusions 1. That a Saint should love and esteem nothing but God and for God all discourse is vain but what aims and tends to Gods glory 1 Cor. 10.31 a husband wife child friends and all creature comforts are to be loved so far as we see God in them as the creatures doe not serve us but God susteines us in them and by them so our affections and desires must not be fixed upon them but terminate in God as the waters in the river never rest till they return to the Sea so our loves must onely passe by the creatures and settle in God and the more wel see the image of God in any one there our love is to be most in the Lord and for his sake this love is the greatest weight of our soules and transforms into the nature of the thing beloved let us endeavour to put out more acts of love to God in Christ Cant. 1.16 2. From those words my flesh and my heart faileth me but God is the strength of my heart the chiefe residence of the soul being in the heart I observe That there is something more dear to a Saint then his own soule which is the soule of his soule and the life of his life and that is Jesus Christ who dwelleth in our soules by his spirit Rom. 8 10 11. for as the body is dead when the soul leaves it so the soule is dead without Christ which may teach us two lessons 1. To love Christ more then our own lives or relations because he is the soul of our soules this did Moses Exod. 32.32 and Paul Rom. 9.3 they preferred the glory of God in the salvation of their brethren before their own soules if it could have been which is a Christian duty though very hard and if divine justice should say to us at the great day the soul that sins must die we may say why then did God punish our Lord Jesus who is the soule of our soules more dear to us then our souls and if God had seen it good we had rather have suffered in our own persons to have saved him but we not being able to undergoe the wrath of God that innocent and immaculate lambe was put to death who is the heart of our hearts the soule of our soules and the spirit of our spirits for justice is more then abundantly satisfied much more then if our wils soules and bodies had suffered and the debt was all paid together which had alwaies been paying if we had gone to hell for as to Christ our salvation is all pure strict justice who felt nothing but extremity the father would not spare him Rom. 8.32 but as to us it is all mercy that his satisfaction should be accepted for us and that thee and me and deare Daâ—tâ—… and sweet love I trust should be vessels of that mercy and free grace O blessed be his glorious name for ever 3. My meditations were principally carried out from the joyes of heaven and from those words Whom have I in heaven but thee and thou art my portion forever I was ravished with this consideration that the joyes of Heaven are eternal or thus The Saints pleasures have a beginning but no ending No doubt but this is infinite matter of joy to Abraham and all the Saints in heaven to think that they shall continue in their joy and glory not 100. or 10000 millions of years onely but for ever that when they have been there 100000 millions of millions of years as to what remaines it wil not be a minuit but then we begin our felicity therfore Christ cals it a life eternal Matth. 25 〈◊〉 Therefore if a man could live here 1000000 millions of years and enjoy his hearts desire and all the variety of pleasures which 〈◊〉 world can afford and afterwards be deprived of Paradise 〈◊〉 damned what a sad bargain would that be for the Sâ—…its 〈…〉 that while in heaven and shall be there for ever and 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 might 〈◊〉 its â—ounger and live here for ever if such a 〈…〉 possibl 〈…〉 not that content him because he is capaâ—… of go 〈…〉 and 〈…〉 to the choice of an illuminate Christiâ—… whether to 〈…〉 â—000 years in health wealth and all the 〈…〉 to be in heaven but one day he ought to choose the lat 〈…〉 40. so one minuits being in heaven is to be preferred before a perpetuity of all worldly pleasures for to be absent from the Lord is more grievous then all humane delights can be comfortable if it were but a pretty good condition if men were sure alwaies so to continue it would be comfortable therefore to think of an everlasting crown of Glory is a soul-melting consideration If then this life be not a minuit in comparison of the perpetual life of the blessed soules in heaven how greatly are they to be blamed that for a little vain honour flattering pleasure or the momentany sinfull delights of this evil world squander away their precious soules 2 As the joyes of Heaven are eternal so they are exceeding great If the men of the world which have their portion here Psa 17.14 have such stately horses and pleasant palaces and delights shall we not think that God hath provided inestimable treasures and pleasures in the world to come for his children for whom doe earthly parents treasure up but for their children but if we could hut apprehend what they are they are not the joyes of Heaven for no heart can conceive what God has prepared for them that love him 1 Cor. 29. the eye hath seen much and the eare heard more and the heart may conceive much more but eternal pleasures are inconceivable yet the spiritual eye hath some glamps of it a poor Saint findes more solid and zeal joy in a crucified Christ poore and naked and despised in the world then all the Dukes of Edome in their rich and glorious pomp and magnificence but all the Saints living here have not so much joy and splendour as the least Saint hath in heaven The Scripture mentions three heavens where the Fowles are the starry Heaven and the Heaven of heavens 1 Kings 8.27 the sun is conceived to be 300 times bigger then the Earth and every starre bigger then this lower world and that all the earth it but as mote and not so big as a flee in comparison of the Emperiall coelestiall Heavens where the souls of the Saints are with God and Christ and by the largeness of the place we may guess at the greatness of the joys pleasures that the Elect are but few in comparison of those who shal be turned into hell Psa 9.17 as it were thrust into a hole together Matth. 25.23 our Lords joy can be no little joy and it is too big to
THE SPEECHES AND PRAYERS OF Major General Harison Octob. 13. Mr. John Carew Octob. 15. Mr. Justice Cooke Mr. Hugh Peters Octob. 16. Mr. Tho. Scott Mr. Gregory Clement Octob. 17. Col. Adrian Scroop Col. John Jones Octob. 17. Col. Daniel Axtell Col. Fran. Hacker Oct. 19 The times of their Death Together with Severall occasionall Speeches and Passages in their Imprisonment till they came to the place of Execution Faithfully and impartially collected for further satisfaction Heb. 11.4 And by it he being dead yet speaketh Printed Anno Dom. 1660. To the Reader REader the intent of this Epistle is not to set forth in a commendatory way any thing concerning the persons or their sufferings though much might be spoken deservedly in that matter but only to present unto thee the words of dying men some part whereof was occasionall Discourses betwixt them and some friends that visited them in the Prison yea in the Dungeon unto every particular there are sufficient Witnesses in this City unto whom we can appeale that there is nothing patronized upon these sufferers but what was spoken by them though it is not all that was spoked by them for that would have swelled into too large a volume What thou hast here therefore are but some small mites carefully taken out of their great treasury Here are also extracts of severall Letters coppied from their own hand writings the rest is their Speeches and Prayers at the time and places of Execution taken by exact short-writers and divers of the best coppies have been compared and the worke with much care and industry hath been brought to this perfection There hath some speciall reasons moved us to undertake this matter as first to prevent that wrong which might be done to the deceased and more especially to the name of God by false and imperfect coppies Secondly to satisfie those many in City and Countrey who have much desired it Thirdly to let all see the riches of grace magnified in those servants of Christ Fourthly that men may see what it is to have an interest in Christ in a dying houre and to be faithfull to his cause And lastly that all men may consider and know that every mans judgement shall be from the Lord. Prov. 29.26 Some occasionall Speeches and Memorable passages of Major Generall Harrison's after his coming to Newgate With his Speech upon the Ladder THe day of his coming to Newgate from the Tower at night he sent his Wife word that that day was to him as his Wedding day When the sentence was pronounced he said whom men have Judged God doth not condemne blessed be the name of the Lord. And as he was carried away from the Court through the croud the people shouted And he cryed good is the Lord for all this I have no cause to be ashamed of the cause that I have been ingaged in Some Friends askt him how he did he Answered very well and cannot be in a better condition if I had the desires of my Heart we must be willing to receive hard things from the hands of our Father as well as easie things when he came to Newgate there was Chaines put upon his Feet And he said Wellcome Wellcome Oh this is nothing to what Christ hath undergone for me this is out of his great loving kindnesse and faithfulnesse and my God is All sufficient in all Conditions And also soon after his coming into the Dungion in order to his Execution a Woman belonging to the Goal who was sent to make clean the Room and to make a Fire for him was askt when she came out by divers people whereof some were scoffers how the Major General behaved himself and what he said To which she answered she knew not what he had done to deserve to be there but sure she was that he was a good man and that never such a man was there before for he was full of God there was nothing but God in his mouth so that it would have done any one good to have been neer him or with him And his discourse and frame of heart would melt the hardest of their hearts Some time after he was put into the Hold Three Ministers of the City were sent by the Sheriffe to discourse with him And their discourses was to endeavour to convince him First Of being Guilty of the Kings Blood Secondly Of Mr. Love's Death Thirdly Of breaking the Old Parliament Fourthly Of being loose in Family duties and the Observation of the Lords day Fifthly Of the justnesse of this thing that was upon him by reason of his iniquity To which he answered As to the Blood of the King I have not in the least any Guilt lying upon me for I have many a time sought the Lord with Tears to know if I have done amisse in it but was rather confirmed that the thing was more of God then of men And besides what I did I did by Authority of Parliament which was then the onely lawful Authority for God owned it by pleading their Cause and Fighting their Battels for them the Lords people owned it by rejoycing in it and praying for it the Generality of people both in England Scotland and Ireland owned it by yeilding Obedience to it Forreign Princes owned it by sending their Embassadours therefore it was rather the act of the Parliament then ours that were there servants He declared that he was very tender of the King insomuch that the King himself did confesse that he found him not such a person as he was represented to him when he was brought out of the Isle of Weight and that he had some skill in Faces so that if he had but seen his Face before he should not have harbored such hard thoughts of him Secondly As to Mr. Love's Death I was in Scotland when he was Condemned and had no hand in it in the least They desired to know if he did not say then That if a Godly man so transgress as to being himself under the Condemnation of the law it were not a just thing for him to suffer for his sin he told them he did not remember that he did say so But then said if a godly man did so transgresse a righteous law he ought to suffer as another man Thirdly The breaking of the Parliament was the Act and Designe of General Cromwell for I did know nothing of it that morning before it was done he called me to go along with him to the house and after he had brought all into disorder I went to the Speaker and told him Sir seeing things are brought to this passe it is not requisite for you to stay there he answered he would not come down unlesse he was pulled out Sir said I I will lend you my hand and he putting his hand into mine came down without any pulling so that I did not pull him Indeed afterwards I was glad the thing was done for I did see they did intend to perpetuate themselves without doing those
desirable things which were expected and longed for by the Lords people and apprehending that God had done his work by them and that he had some more worthy persons to come upon the stage the Lord is my witnesse that I had no self-end in that Action but it was out of the Integrity of my heart as to the Lord. Afterwards when Cromwell and his party did set up themselves in their room I abhorred them and their wayes and suffered imprisonment by reason I would not joyne with them in that iniquity and go against my conscience there is nothing of this also that lyes as Guilt upon me Fourthly Concerning family-Family-duties and the Observation of the Lord's Day there stands my Servant let him speak to it for he hath lived with me about this Eight years The Servant answered That those reports were very false for his Master was a man in a manner wholly devoted to religious Exercises very frequent in prayer and diligent in expounding the Scriptures to the great comfort and consolation of his whole Family and that he was very zealous in observing the Lord's day Fifthly He said that the Lord's Spirit did witnesse with his spirit That all his sins were done away by Jesus Christ and that he had peace with God and was assured that this was not come upon him for his iniquity They discoursed of many other things but these were the chiefest so far as one then present could afterwards remember He parted very sweetly and lovingly with the said Ministers and they told him that they came then by the desire of the Sheriffe But that they would willingly come again upon a Christian account Many Friends came to visit him whilst he was in that place and found him full of the joy of the Lord so that some apprehended he was cloathed with the Spirit of the Lord. The Sheriff came that morning that he was to die and told him that in half an hour he must be gone He answered that he was ready and would not have him stay at all on his account But the Sheriff left him to stay a little longer and in the mean time he was longing for the Sheriffs coming and as his Friends judged he was in hast to be gone and said he was going about a great work for the Lord that day and that his support was that his sufferings was upon the account of Jehovah the Lord of Hosts he said he looked upon this as a clear answer of his prayers for many a time said he have I begged of the Lord That if he had any hard thing any reproachfull work or contemptible service to be done by his people That I should be imployed in it And now blessed be the Name of God who accounteth me worthy to be put upon this service for my Lord Christ Oh this is nothing to what Christ hath suffered for me He parted with his wife and friends with great joy and chearfulnesse as he did use to doe when going some journey or about some service for the Lord He told his wife he had nothing to leave her but his Bible but that he was assured that God would make up all her losses in due time and desired that those that did love him should manifest their love in being loving and tender to his dear wife Some passages at the Dungeon dore as he came forth The Sheriffe commanding the Keeper to acquaint Mr. Harrison he must go to suffer the Keeper came forth and returned answer that he was ready when he pleased Then the Sheriff commanded the Keeper to fetch him forth so he came forth immediately sooner then was expected running down the Stairs with a smiling countenance by reason of his sudden coming the doore that he was to go up a pair of Stairs at was not opened which occasioned his stay in the Hall till the Keeper could be found and there one Mrs. M. took him by the hand and said with a loud voice Blessed be the great God of Hosts that hath enabled you and called you forth to bear your testimony the God of all grace and peace be with you and keep you faithfull to the death That you may receive a crown of life With that one of the Officers pulled the woman away by the shoulder saying Away with this woman she stands prating here But the Maj. General replied Be not offended with her she speaks Scripture-language So they thrust her away from him and would not permit any to speak more to him in that place Then he spake saying I blesse the Lord that hath called me forth and hath inabled we in the power of his strength to offer my life with satisfaction and cheerfulness in obedience to the will of God I bless the Lord I am full of the manifestation of his love in the Lord Jesus It 's a day of joy to my soul I say God hath enabled me to whom all the powers of the world are but as the drop of a bucket said he I do find so much of the joy of the Lord coming in that he was carried far above the fear of death being going to receive that glorious and incorruptible crown which Christ hath prepared for him Then he was carried into a Room where the common Prisoners were and told them what a sad thing it was to be condemned to die and to want the love and favour of God But it 's not so with me for though I die yet I know I shall live with Christ to all eternity and this is out of the exceeding riches of the grace of God for he it is that maketh the difference For as I am in my self I am a base vile and nothing-creature but compleat in him who is the Head of all Principalities and Powers Poor men I wish you all as well as I doe my own Soul Oh that you did but know Christ his bowells earns towards the greatest of sinners his bloud is sufficient to doe away the deepest iniquity he waiteth to be gracious and is willing to receive all that come unto him Oh therefore labour to come to Christ your time in this world is short and uncertain you are walking upon the brink of eternity and are ready to drop in every moment if you die without the fear of our God you will be miserable for ever ever but if you come to know Christ to be yours it will be your joy and happiness world without end He then put his hands into his pocket and gave them some money and wished them to take heed of sinning against the Lord. And from thence was carried upon the Leads on the top of New gate so that he could see the greatest part of the City he then said The earth is the Lords and the fulness thereof and there is nothing hid from his eyes From thence he was carried down two paire of staires where he was tied about the back breast and shoulders he took the rope in his hand and said friends take
notice that God gives me power to receive this with thanksgiving and he helped the Sarjeant to put on the rope Then a friend came weeping to him to take her leave of him he said hinder me not for I am going about a work for my master Then looking about him said Sirs It s easie to follow God when he makes a hedge about us and makes liberall provision for us but its hard for most to follow him in such a dispensation as this and yet my Lord and Master is as sweet and glorious to me now as he was in the time of my greatest prosperity He also said this I can say for my self That according to the light that God hath given me I have served him and my Countrey with integrity and uprightnesse of heart not willingly nor wittingly wronging any But this have I done with much infirmity and weaknesse One telling him that he did not know how to understand the mind of God in such a dispensation as this He said wait upon the Lord for you know not what the Lord is leading to and what the end of the Lord will be After this addressing himself to a Gentleman he said I dare not nor cannot be a pleaser of men a friend answered it appeared so by your declining Cromwell's Interest which words he assented to and further said the manner of my speaking before the Court may seem strange to some but my Design was not to approve my self before Men but God and what I said was according to my conscience And as the Rope was tying on he repeated Isaac's words to Abraham Father here is the wood but where is the Sacrifice and also said if the Lord see good he can provide another sacrifice he can deliver those that are appointed to die but his will be done Death is not terrible to me yea it is no more to me then a Rush I have learnt to die long ago And was often heard to say concerning the Lord's dispensation to him and his people Shall not the Lord do with his own what it pleaseth him And so parting with his Friend went down stairs to the Sledge and askt which my must I sit for I am not acquainted with this Good is the Lord in all his waies Then he was carried away in the Sledge having a sweet smiling Countenance with his eyes and hands lifted up to Heaven his countenance never changing in all the way as he went to he place of Execution but was mighty cheerful to the astonishment of many He called several times in the way and spoke aloud I go to suffer upon the account of the most glorious Cause that ever was in the world As he was going to suffer one in a Derision called to him and said Where is your Good Old Cause He with a cheerful smile clapt his hand on his Brest and said Here it is and I am going to seal it with my bloud And when he came to the sight of the Gallows he was transported with joy and his servant askt him how he did he answered never better in my life his servant told him Sir there is a Crown of glory ready prepared for you Oh yes said he I see it when he was taken off the Sledge the Hangman desired him to forgive him I doe forgive thee said he with all my Heart as it is a sin against me and told him he wish't him all happinesse And further said alas poor man thou dost it ignorantly the Lord grant that this sin may not be laid to thy charge and putting his hand into his pocket gave him all the money he had and so parting with his Servant hugging of him in his arms and went up the Ladder with an undaunted countenance M. Gen. Harrison's Speech upon the Ladder Gentlemen I did not expect to have spoken a word to you at this time but seeing there is silence commanded I will speak something of the work God had in hand in our dayes Many of you have bean Witnesses of the Finger of God that hath been seen amongst us of late years in the deliverance of his people from their Oppressors and in bringing to Judgement those that were guilty of the precious bloud of the dear servants of the Lord And how God did witness thereto by many wonderful and evident testimonies as it were immediatly from Heaven insomuch that many of our Enemies who were persons of no mean quality were forc'd to confess That God was with us And if God did but stand newter they should not value us And therefore seeing the Finger of God hath been pleading this Cause I shall not need to speak much to it In which work I with others were engaged for the which I do from my soul blesse the name of God who out of the exceeding riches of his grace accounted me worthy to be instrumentall in so glorious a work and though I am wrongfully charged with murder and bloudshed yet I must tell you I have kept a good conscience both towards God and towards man I never had malice against any man neither did I act malitiously towards any person but as I Judged them to be Enemies to God and his people And the Lord is my witnesse that I have done what I did out of the sincerity of my heart to the Lord I blesse God I have no Guilt upon my conscience but the spirit of God beareth witnesse that my Actions are acceptable to the Lord through Jesus Christ though I have been compassed about with manifold Infirmities Failings and Imperfections in my Holiest duties but in this I have comfort and consolation that I have pace with God and do see all my sins wash't away in the blood of my dear Saviour And I doe declare as before the Lord that I would not be guilty wittingly nor willingly of the blood of the meanest son no not for ten thousand Worlds much lesse of the blood of such as I am charged with I have again and again besought the Lord with Tears to make known his will and mind unto we concerning it and to this day he hath rather confirmed me in the justice of it and therefore I leave it to him and to him I commit my wayes but some that were eminent in the work did wickedly turn aside themselves and to set up their Nests on High which caused great dishonour to the name of God and the profession they had made And the Lord knows I could have suffered more then this rather then have fallen in with them in that iniquity though I was offered what I would if I would have joyned with them my Aime in all my proceedings was the glory of God and the good of his people and the wellfare of the whole Commonwealth The people observing him to tremble in his hands and leggs he taking notice of it said Gentlemen By reason of some scoffing that I do hear I Judge that some do think I am afraid to dye by the shaking I have in
to break the Spirit by putting us to death for I am confident That God will give his Spirit seven-fold unto those that are left but the enemy the Lord hath set their feet in slippery places so that when they come to their measure they must be cast down Therefore 't is the the duty of the Lord's people to wait patiently and he that shall come will come and will not tarry 'T is a trying time and none but those that are endued with power from on High will be able to hold out One asking him where his Chain was he said here it is and though I have worn it so long that it hath entred into my flesh yet it was not as Joseph's it had not entred into his soul He was highly raised up in admiring the grace of God That he should be accounted worthy to wear a Chain for Christ saying They have been blessed Chains to me adding that the Lord had crowned him beyond many of his Brethren being counted worthy to seal Gods work with his bloud admiring that God should accept of such a crasie body much of his strength being already spent yet That God should so honour it in the end he much admired the depths of the love of God to such an unworthy worme The Lord will bring my bloud saith he to cry with the rest of the Martyrs How long O Lord Holy and True c. As for death or the fears of it I am got above them in and through the beholding of the glory of our God into which I am entring which glory shall be shortly for the reviving of the spirits of his Saints and destroying his Enemies A friend speaking to him the night before he died of this dispensation he said he was perswaded That their bloud would be of much advantage to the Cause in Foraign Nations Two Friends that came to visit him being as he thought under some trouble of spirit he directed his speech to them as follows Be not troubled there is nothing stands between me and the Father for I go with all clearnesse and freedome and I know That Jesus Christ is my compleat Righteousnesse and this is my crown of Rejoycing That I die not in the Lord onely but for the Lord And think not that this blessed Cause shall be lost for it shall reach to the end of the Earth Think not your prayers lost for your prayers and tears with our bloud shall come down shortly upon Babylon although they think to heale her yet they shall give her a greater blow then ever we could have given her in our persons Those who have been pleading for suffering who so ready to run away from it While the Lord hath given us a little of the spirit of Rejoycing that hath made us willing to be giving up our selves unto him And although the Enemy think to Conquer us they shall never do it for we are got above them in the Spirit of the Kingdome we trample upon them and they are under our feet and this bloud that now shed shall warm the bloud that hath bin shed before and shall come down and doe notable Execution upon the Enemy The Lord hath in much wisdome hid this death from us and hath alured into it but he hath fitted us for it and be not troubled that he hath taken away two or three drops of the spirit for he will in the room thereof pour it out upon you The day he suffered and the hour being come The Rope being tyed about him he rejoyced exceedingly saying Oh! what am I that I should be bound for the Cause and Interest of the Son of God And when he was coming down Newgate-stairs to go into the Sledge in a very smiling cheerful manner his countenance shining with great glory uttered words to this effect My Lord Jesus for the joy that was set before him endured the Crosse and despised the shame and is now set down on the right hand of God whose steps desire to follow It was also observ'd that the cheerfulness of his countenance all the way as he went to the Gibber remained to the encouragement of the Faithfull and admiration of enemies uttering by the way many chearfull expressions setting forth his joy in the Lord. When he was brought to the gibbet before he went up the ladder his hands being bound he exhorted severall friends standing by to be faithfull unto death and not to be ashamed of the cause for which they suffered and they should receive a Crown of life And further said to a friend that stood by That he hoped the Truths of the Kingdom which he had preached up and down would not be the lesse esteemed for that he now came to seale it with his blood Mr. Carew's Speech upon the Ladder TRuly it is not words nor that which I have to speake in mine own spirit will glorifie God or give any advantage to your soules or unto me but it is if I may speak a few words in the Spirit of the Lord and in the power of his might and from an unfeigned love unto Jesus Christ that would indeed give me an open entrance and make my passage very sweet and a blessing may be left behind even upon you The first thing indeed that hath been very weighty and I desire to leave it upon all upon Saints as well as upon those that are not acquainted with Jesus Christ that Eternity Immortality and Eternall life it is a wonderfull thing the thoughts and apprehensions of it are able to swallow up a poor soul we little think what it is he that knows most of God and most of Christ and hath the greatest measure of the anoynting he little little knows what it is to appeare before the holy the most glorious the most righteous God of Heaven and Earth to stand before his judgement seat before Jesus Christ that is at his right hand and where all the holy Angels are so ashamed because of the glory of God that they fall down and cover their faces and cry Holy holy Lord God Almighty which art and wast and art to come And therefore if such glorious creatures if such excellent Spirits as these Seraphins and Cherubins be if they do fall down before the glory and Majesty of this most excellent and wonderfull God how should dust and ashes doe and how should they feare and tremble to appeare before him And therefore I say think of this and of the righteousness of God as well as of his glory and Majesty and of his justice that when for one sinne he threw down the Angels those glorious Spirits into hell and he would take no ransome or redemption for them and though he hath mercy on the sons of men according to his own election and purpose and according to that that he hath purchased for himself in Christ Jesus before the foundations of the World was laid yet in time he made his Sonne a Sacrifice before men and Angels to bring
might be speedily and cheaply administred And as for my profession I am of the Congregational way I desire to own it and am for liberty of conscience and all that walk humbly and holily before the Lord and desire to walk in the fear of the Lord and I believe it is a truth and there can be nothing said against it I doe confess I am not convinced of any thing I have done amisse as to that I have been charged with I am not indeed neither did I understand the plea of the Court that if the Lords and Commons had brought the King to the Bar and set him over them again their bringing him to the barr had been treason I desire never to repent of any thing therein I have done but I desire to own the cause of God and of Christ and am here to beare witness to it and so far as I know any thing of my selfe I can freely confess it Here the Sheriffe interrupted him again desiring him to forbeare any such expressions Mr. Cooke replied it hath not been the manner of English men to insult over a dying man nor in other countries among Turks or Galliasses The Lord bless every one of us and help us that we may look more to the honour and glory of God then the concernments of our own lives for alass what is a poor miserable life to us but that therein we might give honour and glory to the God of all our mercies And if there be any here of that Congregation to which I was related in the time that I lived here I would commend to them that Scripture Phil. 2.17 18. Yea and if I be offered up upon the sacrifice and service of the faith I joy and rejoyce with you all for the same cause also doe ye joy and rejoyce with me And Deut. 18.11 The Lord God of your Fathers make you a thousand times more then you are and blesse you as be hath promised The Lord be pleased to speake comfort to them and to all them that feare the Lord. The Lord keepe England from popery and from superstition and keep it from prophaneness and that there may not be an inundation of Antichrist in the land And that is all the harm I wish unto it The Lord hath forgiven me many thousand talents and therefore I may wel forgive those few pence that are owing unto me I bless the lord I have nothing lying upon my conscience but I can unbosome my selfe to every one and to the throne of free grace in the simplicity of my spirit I have endeavoured to doe nothing but with a good conscience and through the integrity of my heart though accompanied with many frailties I desire to blesse the Lord my lot was rather in Ireland then here here I have been more known where I have given the Offence The Sheriffe again interrupted him Mr. Cooke replyes Sir I pray take notice of it I think I am the first man that ever was Hanged for demanding of Justice therefore I hope you will not interrupt me I suppose yon were there and doe bear me witnesse in your conscience that there was not any thing then that I did not communicate to the Court that I now speak upon the Ladder If you will believe the words of a dying man I say as I must give an account I have nothing lyeth upon my conscience We must all meet together at the great day of the Lord to give an account of all our Actions and then it will appear the Lord grant we may meet with Joy and Comfort I have a poor Wife and Child and some Friends left I desire you that came along with me to commend to them Esa 54.4.5 and 10. ver I hope the King and Parliament will consider our poor Friends as to their Estates you know that those Lords that formerly suffered under the Parliament did not loose all their Estates I hope there will be some consideration as to Justice least that our small Estates prove a poyson amongst their great deal and my poor Wife and Relations suffer The Lord grant that mercy may be shewed that mercy and righteousnesse may magnifie and exalt it self above Justice I shall not hold you long I shall desire in the fear of the Lord to give my self as in the 12 Rom. 1. A living Sacrifice Holy and Acceptable unto God which is but a reasonable service And so doe intreat that I may have a little time to call upon the Lord unlesse there be any thing more desired or any one to would ask me a question Truly I forgive all from my heart I have nothing upon my heart to accuse any of them withal I blesse the Lord I have a cleare Conscience I say it in the integrity and simplicity of my heart I doe now appeale to the great God to whom I must give an account of what I have done knowing that all my Guilt is washed away in the blood of Jesus Christ and before him I hope to appear and have nothing else to plead any thing at all for me And so I hope that I have declared my self with simplicity and integrity in a few words that you may understand my mind I shall speak a few words to the lord in prayer and shall not trouble you further Mr. Cookes Prayer MOst Glorious Majesty I beseech thee so to warm my Heart and fill it so full of the love of Jesus Christ that it may never be cool any more Oh that the Lord would now appear Graciously to shew himself a wonder working God in bearing up the Heart and Spirit of thy poor creature it is no matter how bitter the Cup is if the Lord give strength to drink it and no matter how heavy the Burden be if the Lord be at one End and uphold the other and bear the burden himself or lay no more upon his poor Children then they are able to bear the Lord give strength to all that are to bear this burden the Lord be with all that are yet to suffer in this cause and double and treble seven-fold of thy Spirit upon us let us not stand it out against our Reasons and Judgements and Consciences If any did pursue power and interest and did not look after the good of Gods poor People and the good of the Nations the Lord forgive them The Lord knows the Simplicity of the Hearts of his poor Servants that are gone before and of those that are to come after I desire that all thine may have hearts willing to suffer for thee to make confession of Faith in Christ Jesus I know is nothing I know it is not enough onely to confesse in Words to confesse in Doctrinall Evangelicall Truths and to confesse by a holy life and conversation and if the Lord call any of his poor Children to seale the truth with their blood yea their precious blood it is their duty also if the Lord Jesus had come down from the Crosse and had not shed
men made perfect O blessed Lord thou hast called him forth as a publick Spectacle to some in a condition of Shame and Reproach to others of Comfort and to thy Blessed Self as one that is a Witness for Thee that hath served Thee with all faithfulness in his trust and publick capacity and imployment O Lord thy Dispensation to thy poor Creature hath been wonderful gracious and merciful and he must say to the praise of thy Free-grace Here the Hangman stooping down to take Drink which was reached up to him upon the Ladder interrupted him Upon which Mr. Scot said prethee let me alone I have not done and then proceeded in Prayer as followeth That this very Condition to which he is now brought he acknowledgeth is the answer of his Prayer before his going out of England Thou knowest Lord he did many times in prayers and tears seek thy blessed Majesty for Counsel and for Advice whether it were his duty to stay and suffer or to shelter himself abroad And if it were thy will to take more honour to thy self by his Suffering than his Living thou wouldest be pleased to Remand him back again and bring him hither And he hath observed thy Providence checking of his way and in preserving him all along until he came to this O blessed Lord thy poor Creature doth acknowledge that thy ways to his poor Soul have been of wonderful grace and mercy It was a great mercy to him that having had by reason of many sinful temptations and many incumbrances and many incessant Businesses in the World whereof he hath been a perpetual drudge many years past and he hath not had the conveniency though his duty The Lord knowes he had not the conveniency nor the heart so to improve and keep his own vineyard while he had been looking after or keeping others vineyard Thou didst therefore all along while he was abroad give sweet opportunities and precious seasons while he was abroad of seeking thy face and studying his Souls good concerning Eternity and the Eternnal pleasure of thy holy will And he blesseth thy name that thou hast been pleased to open to him both the Scripture and his understanding and so to answer the one by the other as that he is through the grace of God comfortably perswaded that his eternal estate is out of hazard But O Lord thou hast been pleased all the while that his condition hath been doubtful to make his Comforts to his poor soul doubtful also sometimes fear and sometimes hope have been mixed Again and again wanting those Consolations that might support his soul to such an issue But blessed be thy glorious Name the great God of Heaven and Earth he hath been pleased to bear him witness to himself to Angels and to all that hear me this day this very day thy poor Servant that now stands to suffer had joy and much Consolation from God and from his Cause more than ever he had before I say again to the praise of the Free-Grace of God I bless his Name he hath engaged me in a Cause not to be repented of I say in a Cause not to be repented of Here the Sheriff interrupted him saying Is this your Prayers Mr. Scot desiring him to forbear those kind of Expressions Others also told him that he contradicted himself and spoke Blasphemy Then Mr. Scot said I shall say no more but this The Lord I do acknowledge that this very morning in the Dark Chamber I had very much of the presence of God and from thence I take Consolation to my self that his Spirit is with me and that he hath sealed unto my soul the Decrees of Heaven at least perswaded my soul that it will be well with me and that I am out of all danger as to my Eternal Condition and that I shall live and reign with him there where all sin shall be done away which is the growing glory of my soul and all tears wipt away also In the mean time I pray thee O Lord that thou wouldest remember England and remember thy Cause in England and remember me with the joyes of thy Salvation in the instant of my departure O Lord it is an narrow entrance it is a strait passage it is an entrance into Eternity O Lord thou hast once to day shewed me something beyond it something of the glory of God I pray thee forsake me not while I am here and sensible or afterwards in the passage of my soul to thee I leave it and to thy Providence and do acknowledge thy goodness to my soul in fitting me to receive that good which thou in thy infinite pleasure dost think fit for me And therefore O Lord into thy hands I commend my Spirit Lord I desire to have some more testimony of thy Love if it be thy blessed will It is enough that I live upon what I had to day but if it be agreeable to thy holy will I would honour and eternally bless thee if thou wouldst be pleased to shine upon me with some more particular immediate discoveries of thy presence but not my will but thy will be done The Lord be pleased to settle the Nation in peace and in the power and purity of Religion and thy Ordinances in purity And Lord for thy Son that is the darling of thy Soul Be thou pleased to give him a glorious entertainment in the world and let the Kingdoms of the world become the Kingdoms of Jesus Christ Lord thou hast a Cause in the world dear unto thee I pray thee own it though it may not be owned in all places and by all persons yet Religion is the Interest of them all O Lord Remember the price of Blood that hath been shed for the purchasing of the Civil and Christian Liberties And remember thy Enemies that are not incorrigible Enemies to thy Truth and Holiness and give them understanding to see their Error and to turn to thee a heart broken and with humiliation that they may seek God with their whole heart that they may be a Holy or Immanuel Nation A Chosen Generation A peculiar People zealous of good Works careful to shew forth the virtue of him that hath Called them from Death to Life The Lord call in all that belong to the Election of Grace speedily into that Number Let no Weapon formed against thy Church prosper But Lord Remember Zion if it be thy good pleasure and repair the Walls of thy Jerusalem O Lord thy CAUSE lies near the hearts of thy People And I bear thee Witness that I have this Income from thee as the Return of their Prayers And that we are Supported to bear Witness for thee very chearfully and with satisfaction I desire to be found of thee in Jesus Christ I do now abhor all my sins and renounce my Services and do account them all as dung Lord thou knowest I have desired to live that I might serve thee better and love thee more but that I may be with thy self
Law and Gospel with his Blood which will be a great Honour to thee in the judgment of all that truly love and fear God I leave thee to the Lord who I know will take care of thee and be thy Portion so thou shalt never want Learn with all speed to reade the Scriptures and to understand them and have a great care to serve God and study to love Jesus Christ and be obedient to thy dear Mother and good Grandmother and thy loving Uncle and Aunt Massey I pray thee never learn any Pride but be humble and meek and courteous and wait upon Gods Ordinances love the Word more than thy appointed food When the Lord shall please to alter thy Condition be sure to marry one that is gracious and a man that feareth God be sure to prefer Grace before Wealth and Parts for a little with the fear of God is better than great Riches with an Ungodly man The Lord make thee Religious for Beauty is Vanity and Favour is deceitful but a Woman that feareth the Lord she shall be praised If the Lord give thee Children be sure to bring them up vertuously and religiously in the Nurture Admonition and Fear of the Lord. I charge thee never to marry without the Consent of thy dear Mother if she be then living In all thy Actions have an eye to Eternity and never do any thing against the Light of thy own Conscience Know that thy dear Father is gone to Heaven to thy dear Brother and be sure so to live that by Gods Grace thou mayest follow after If God give the ability I charge thee to do good to thy Friends and to all Gods People And if my last Will may be of force do not violate it in the least So I leave Gods Blessing with thee praying for thy Temporal and Eternal Happiness and rest Thy dear loving Father JOHN COOK Octob. 15 1660. Some occasionall Speeches and Memorable passages of Col. Axtell and Col. Hacker during their Imprisonment and at their Execution BEing asked by some Friends how he found himself sitted to Encounter with Death He Answered I can say nothing until I come to dye I dare not boast till I put of my Armour but desire your prayers until there be no more need of them Returning from his Tryal at the Court to his Prison with a chearful countenance and his Wife coming to him full of Trouble he said not a Tear Wife what hurt have they done me to send me sooner to Heaven And I blesse the Lord I could have freely gone from the Bar to the Gibbet They had nothing against me neither by Gods law nor their own low to condemne me was it ever known that a man should dye for such Words and further said though men had Judged yet God had not Condemned Some taking notice of his course lodging he said what matter is it to have a little durty way when we have a fair House to come into Then looking upon Friends about him said if the sight of so few of Gods people be so comfortable what will it be to enjoy all the Saints in Heaven together Towards the close of that Evening he went to prayer divers being present who admired the blessed frame of spirit that he was in admiring God in all his appearances for his poor people he laid all his comfort in the blood of a crucifyed Christ and upon the Covenant of Free Grace he did heartily desire pardon for all his Judges Jury and those witnesses that had sworn falsely against him Returning again from the Court when he had received his sentence he came into the prison very chearfully with a Bible in his hand saying I shall have the use of this book two dayes more and then injoy the fulnesse of the Gospel to all Etetnity His Daughter coming in to him he said where hast thou been all this while I thought thou hadst been ashamed of my Chains but they that will not bear the Crosse shall not weare the Crown A Gentleman coming to visit him said shall I petition for your life Col. Axtel replyed Sir you offer me to my losse The Gentleman told him he was going for Ireland Col. Axtell said Sir pray remember my love to all Christian friends there tell them said he shaking of his Chains rejoycingly that you saw me in my chains I recon all these links as so many Pearls to Adorn me and am sure they are so in Christs account and tell them that for that Good Old Cause which we were ingaged in under the Parliament I am now going to be their Martyr And as for the King I wish him as well as my own soule But they have meerly murthered me and they might as well have done it at the Tower as have brought me hither to make this bussle I wish my bloud do not cry to the third and fourth Generation But I shall do them more hurt in my death then I could do in my life They had nothing in Gods law nor their own to condemne me the Court condoled me but it was enough my name was Axtell I wish that I may see them all in Heaven A Friend going into Gloucestershire said to him Sir what message will you now send to the good people in the Country Col. Axtell Answered Remember my dear love to them all and tell them that their prayers are Answered Bid them keep close to Christ and let them not touch with Surplis or Common prayer book and bid them what ever they doe love the image of Christ where ever they see it in Presbyterian Independent Baptised or other And take heed of striking in with any thing that will strike out any of the Offices of Jesus Christ Four of his fellow prisoners passed by his Chamber dore as they were going forth to Execution and being denyed sight of them he called them by their Names and with a mighty fervent spirit said the Lord go with you the Angell of his presence stand by you and then turning about to his Friends said Oh they are gone to Heaven before me but we will give them up to the Lord and so went to prayer and presently after he went to prayer againe saying God hath said that he will make us joyfull in the house of Prayer and many observed that he did perform the duty of prayer Five times that day himselfe wherein he laid himself very low before the Lord acknowledging himself the worst of all the prisoners and that he should have the least to say for God and would say to his Friends say nothing of me tell you see me on the upermost round of the Ladder His Daughter coming in he told her that he had left Jesus Christ an Executor in trust for her Having given an Account to some persons for their satisfaction about his proceedings against the Rebels in Ireland said I can say in Humility that God did use me as an instrument in my place for the suppressing of that
boudy Enemy and when I considered their bloudy cruelty in murthering so many thousands of protestants and innocent souls that word was much upon my heart give her bloud to drink for she is worthy and sometimes we neither gave nor took Quarter though self preservation would have said give that which you may expect to have One coming in told him that his fellow prisoners dyed Nobly and Chearfully well said he but how doe they stand Answer was made upon a Ladder Blessed be God said he it is a Jacobs Ladder The Sun shining into the room he said if it be so glorious to behold the Sun what will it be to behold the Son of Glory Laying his hand upon his fellow prisoner Col. Hacker he said come brother be not so sad by this time to morrow we shall be with our Father in Glory and what hurt will they do us to bring us through the Crosse to the Crown Well our God is the God of Newgate Then the Officer coming to carry them down into the Dungeon he took his leave of many of his Friends then present saying love the Lord Jesus love the Lord and weep not for me for God hath wiped away all tears And coming to the dore of the Dungeon said I am now going to my bed of Roses my last bed Many Friends being with him there was an Eminent Godly Minister of the Presbyterian way and Col. Axtell taking him by the hand said I have one word to speak to you it is much upon my heart that one great cause why the Lord contends thus with his people is for want of their love towards them that were not of their minds to which the Minister replyed truly Sir I think so too the Lord help us that wherein we see we have done amisse we may do so no more Then said Col. Axtell I blesse God I have not much to charge my selfe with in this matter Col. Hacker then said but I have much to complaine of in that matter Col. Axtell Afterwards sitting on his bed side clapping his hands said if I had a thousand lives I could lay them all down for the Cause Whereupon another godly Minister then present asked him what he meant by the cause Col. Axtell replyed Sir I tell you I mean that cause which we were encouraged to and ingaged in under the Parliament which was for common Right and Freedome and against the Surplis and Common prayer book and I tell you that Surplis and Common prayer book shall not stand long in England for it is not of God And afterwards thinking that he should not dye that day desired some retirement but news coming that he must dye within an hour though it was not so he quickly made himself ready to go and looking upon his Gloves said these are my wedding Gloves my mortal must marry immortality Some Friends going to see him the night before he was Executed found him at supper very chearful and many being present he said take heed of temporizing c. for that hath been the occasion of great Evil. Then speaking to an Officer there present that had continued tell of late in the Army said Brother thou hast been greatly Guilty herein the Lord forgive thee thou hast a great hand in this To which the person replyed I confesse I have been so too much Col. Axtell answered there is yet mercy for thee if the Lord give thee repentance Moreover said the Lord forgive that poor wretch Lieut. C. N. for he hath sworn falsely in his Evidence and now is that word made good that brother shall betray brother to death And speaking of Col. T. said Ah he hath appeared Five pound lighter in Twenty then I thought him to be And for Col. H. he was the uncivillest of all about the late King and yet he comes in a witnesse against Hacker and me That Evening many Friends being with him he prayed with them and in that duty the Lord by his spirit filled him with Excellent Expressions to the great refreshing of those about him And bewailing the great Divisions amongst Gods people he said Lord if they will not live together in love thou wilt make them lye together in sufferings Then minding their present condition said Lord Death is the King of Terrors to Nature but it is a believers choice Friend it is thy high way to lead us into Glory After prayer taking notice of his Daughter he said to her get an interest in Christ and keep close to him he will be a better Father to thee then I and so took his leave of her The day of their Execution being come several godly Ministers spent some time with them in prayer Viz. with Col. Axtell and Col. Hacker and many friends coming in to pay their last respects Col. Axtell seeing one of his Familiar Friends and companions said my Dear brother thou art better then I am and yet I must go to heaven before thee for all that He very chearfully said to divers then with him dear Friends Rejoyce I am going where ye shall be also yea where we shall be for ever with the Lord and never part and be without any more change I beseech you follow the Lamb wherever he goeth though he may lead you in a harsh dismal and difficult way yet at last he will bring you into a pleasant path and cause you to lye down in green pastures in the land of rest Oh be faithful unto the death and he will give you a Crown of life as he hath given to your suffering Brethren Oh! all that we have or doe suffer is but to make Christ and heaven more sweet deare and Glorious to us all the sad steps we shall tread on this Ladder is but to mount us to heaven for at the top are Angels ready to receive us as was on Jacobs ladder All the things I meet with move me not I blesse my God for I am sure to Fight a good Fight and finish my course with joy Afterwards taking his leave of his Son imbracing him in his Arms he said my dear son fare thee well I must leave thee get an interest in Christ and love him nothing else will stand thee in stead but an interest in him Then calling for his Bible he hugged it saying this hath the whole Cause in it and I may carry this without offence And calling to a Friend he desired him to remember his love to the Congregation where he was a Member and after took his leave of all his Friends exhorting them with much chearfulnesse to love the Lord Jesus Christ and keep close to him and so with great joy addressed himself to go to his next work It will be convenient in this place to give you a brief account of Col. Francis Hacker in regard that Col. Axtell and he were fellow prisoners and sufferers together He was a man of few words and had not the gift of oratory to deliver himselfe as others could yet was very
to sinne it is beter to die then to sinne nothing could grive our Saviour but sinne and therefore have a care of that you and I must meet one day at the bar of Christ the Son of God shal be our Judge for God hath committed all judgement to the Son that all men should honour the Son as they honour the Father This day is a resemblance of that day therefore be serious beg as much good to your immortal souls as I expect to enjoy by and by I beseech you beg of God that he would save your soules and omit no opportunity through the strength of the Lord to believe and put your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ be sure to labour after assurance of your interest in him or else you wil be of all men most miserable for I of all men were most miserable if I had not believed to see the goodnesse of the Lord in the land of the living Blessed be the Lord that brings me into this state let the way or means be what it wil it is Gods soveraignty who made these creatures so to dispose of them how he pleaseth and God hath ordeined this death for me from all eternity The Lord Christ often prayed thy will be done this is the Lords wil. He hath numbred my daies and my times are in his hand Many seek the Rulers favor but every on s judgement is from the Lord. When Pilat said unto Christ Knowest thou not that I have power to crucifie thee Christ answered him thou couldest have no power against me except it were given thee from aboue Therefore I acknowledge the righteous hand of God he is righteous but I am sinful Therefore will I beare Gods indignation because I have sinned against him It is said of Jesus Christ that for the joy set before him he endured the cross and despised the shame and is set down at the right hand of God where I hope to see him by and by in glory and Majesty and to see his Angels and believers worshipping of him and therefore I despise the shame Our Saviour died upon the cross without sinne I am a sinful creature a wretched sinner and shall I expect better then he that was my master he who was holy and never had a sinful thought in all his life and died not for himselfe but for us that we might live through his death that through his poverty we might to made rich And Christ having done this for his people it should not be in their eyes thought a despicable thing that we should suffer for him having been engaged in the work of God But Christ must prevail in righteousness and he wil prevaile Now Mr. Sheriffe I thank you for your civillity and for this leave After this Col. Hacker spoke something privately to him whereupon Col. Axtel said Mr. Shieriffe must we both die together Mr. Shieriffe answered Yes Then Col. Hacker read a paper which he had in his hand a coppy whereof followeth FRiends Country-men all that have known me in my best estate have not known me to have been a man of Oratory and that God hath not given me the gift of utterance as to others therefore I have onely this briefly to say unto you that are spectators As the Parliament stated the war I did out of judgment and conscience joyn with them in the common cause and have through grace been faithfull to it according to my measure And as for that which now I am condemned for I do freely forgive both Judges Jury and Witnesses and all others And I thank the Lord to whom I am now going at whose tribunall I must render an account I have nothing lies upon my conseience as guilt whereof I am now condemned and doe not doubt but to have the sentence reverst I doe now apply my selfe unto God by prayer and doe desire the hearty prayers of all that fear God that I may have a sweet passage from this mortall life to that immortal life which God hath prepared for all that are in Christ Jesus Francis Hacker After the reading of this he desired that Col. Axtell would be both their mouths to God in prayer And then Col. Axtell said I desire all that fear the Lord to hear me with patience and to lift up their hearts to seek the Lord with me that we may have his strength and the presence of his spirit from this world to everlasting life And with a wonderful composed frame of spirit and with an audible voice entred upon the following duty wherein the Lord helped him with excellent expressions suitable to both their conditions The prayer followeth OH blessed Lord the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who art the great God of heaven and earth heaven is thy throne and the earth thy foolstool thou upholdest all things with and by the word of thy power The issues of life and death are in thy hand oh God Blessed Lord we pray thee let us have communion with thy selfe and the glory of thy face let the shining rayes of Christ shine continually upon our souls Lord let there be no interruption between the brightness of thy glory and our souls til we come into the fulness of the possession of it Blessed Lord we desire to take shame before thee and this multitude for all our iniquities and transgressions we were born and came great sinners into the world the root of bitterness was in us that flowed from that bitter fountain Adam but thou O Lord hast been pleased to send the second Adam that as by the sinne of one man death entred into the world so by the obedience and righteousness of one Jesus Christ many should be made righteous Blessed Lord thou knowest all our original guilt all upon our hearts and upon our consciences all our personal defilements and transgressions we pray thee Lord wash them all away in the blood of Jesus Christ Lord we have nothing of our own to rely upon but a Christ for all our goodness and righteousness is but as polluted rags and menstruous cloaths Therefore O Lord thou hast said by the workes of the Law no man shall be justified but by the righteousnesse of Christ Jesus Therefore oh Lord hold out the covenant of grace to poor believers and make Jesus Christ the Mediator of the covenant to perform Gods part to us and our part towards God Oh lord in thee are all our spring thou art the fountain of all grace let us have mercy and pardon from thee Lord it is by grace that any here are saved Thou shouldst be a righteous God if thou shouldest not only suffer us to lye under the condemnation of man but to exclude us from heaven and glory for ever But Lord if thou shouldst be strict to mark iniquity who should stand in thy presence but there is mercy with thee that thou mayst be feared Lord thou hast said Who is a God like unto thee pardoning iniquity and passing by