one bed and if nothing else would move them my Wives present illness and sickness should importune a littâ—e a little compassion of them if they were men but they would not hear in they went tore al the things off the bed and carried away to the very bolster and pillow where they now lye in the aforesaid Lieutenants chamber And I was answered that in no prisons were Fellons or Murtherers allowed a bed to lye on ranking us with them yea they had taken away the very sheets My poor Wife was this while ready to faint very il and falling into her fits again through frights which for present vvere prevented by meanes my fellow prisoner also using a I endeavours to comfort her but afterwards she fel il again as she used to be before this last cruelty renewing her sickness so as al her flesh would fal a trembling her whole body be as in an agony but especially her head which doth swel and the humors settle in her face c. so that for want of the meanes here and because they seem resolved to give no rest as we think until they have murthered her or been her death she must now be forced to leave me in their clutches and if the Lord make her able to get to London for the preservation of her life which the Lord in mercy grant me Amen! But I shal abruptly break off here by reason my poor weak Wife is now leaving me and creeping out of this Castle-Goal yet Rehoboth where is room for me and my soul is left at a fresh spring O blessed be my God! but I must confess it is grievous to the flesh to be left in the hands of such as have threatned and seem to thirst for my blood as greedily as the Dogg for the sheeps but yet by Gods grace they shal leap above ground for it and not get it by gaping that I think Psal 37.32 33 34. The wicked WATCHETH the Righteeous and seeketh to slay him But the Lord wil not leave him in his hand WAITON THE LORD and keep his WAY and he shal exalt thee to inherit the Land this is a sure Word and in season here where I hope to wait and wait in hope that wil never make me ashamed notwithstanding the violence done to my flesh the afflictions of my body and relations and the danger of death in this Dungeon-like-hole which I hope in Christ we dare sometimes look ful-face upon and meet though many times I must needs say with Bishop Ridley Martyr I think I could creep into a mouse-hole and that is when through these late out-ragious exercises I have fits of sudden fear and am so subject to frightings But O pray pray pray for us incessantly with Faith Al ye that shal hear these tidings that he may alwaies stand by us who stood by Paul against the beasts of Ephesus and before Nero not knowing which way our most dear Deliverer wil come whether by life or death to free us from fierce and unreasonable creatures though for my own part I rather expect the latter in this place ere long desiring to be found faithful unto Death in this most glorious Cause of Christ Jesus my Lord King and Master nor do I think if I dye that you wil hear the perioding passages of their Tyranny or this Tragedy upon my body or that I shal write more to get it out my papers lying hid under-ground where I fear they wil rot but the Lord wil raise up the truth from the dead I do know assuredly By these things you may learn thus much more 1 That the persecution is at principles of truth let them say what they wil for they sal upon us for Christ the Words and Spirits and Saints sake we see nor can they so much as pretend a danger to their Castle as they had formerly done by a few feeble Women to stand in the High-way and not so much as in the out-works of the Castle but meer malice to the word of truth 2. That they would not end with out persons or lives if they had them but what they do unto us they would fain be doing to al the Saints and Churches who wait or call for the Kingdome of Christ and so they have said that they could have our Arms up to the elboes in their bloudâ— as appears by their fowl falling upon the Messengers of the Churches with blows without any occasion glving them but standing stil and hearing me so that therein they also fel upon them that sent them so also upon their dragging the poor lame MAID about the yard 3. That this hindring the Word with sword-violence is a high robbery to poor Souls in a scripture-sence yea and to God whom they openly scoff and mock at to hear him named Mal 3.8 Joh. 10.8 and God wil deal with them accordingly yea were Dr. Taylor now alive and going to be burnt for this cause he would burst out with his words in Fox vol p 179. against these Brtites and much more in these dayes of Apostacy ah horsen Theeves whoresen Theeves rob God of his honour rob God of his honour for as Mat 23.13 Wo to them for they neither go in themselves nor suffer them that are entring but blessed be the Lord for that promise in Isai 18.7 The PRESENT shal be brought to the Lord of a people scattered and PEELED with ch 42.22 This is the people robbed and spoiled they are all of them suared in holes and hid in prison-houses 4. This swordsilencing of the Ministers of Christ is a far more cruel and cutting way of silencing then the Bishops High-Commission-Courts or the Star-chamber Amos 5.13 Theresore is it the prudent shal keep silence in that time for it is an evil time not that the Lord approves the practise but reproves their prudence 5. The Sword-preaching or such preaching as the Sword only allows is the worlds the Devils and Antichrists 1 Joh 4.5 and such a way of converting as the Turks use and the Saracens and so the Spaniards have it in the Indies under pain of confiscation of Lands liberties life c. to acknowledg God and the Spanish King of whom the Indians had never heard So is the Sword-preaching in these dayes in this Isle as Bul confessed to keep them in subjection that is in slavery to his Lord Protector whom they never saw but to preach up the Lord Protector of Heaven and Earth or the Lord Jesus Christ our King this is crushed by the Sword for sedition and dangerous Doctrine so that ELIAH is persecuted Micaiah mured up in close prison and kept with bread and water of affliction whiles al the States Priests or Kings Clergy who say Go up and prosper yea 400 false Prophets feed every day at Jezabels Table but yet we are upon Charmel-Mount and our enemies shal know that we are not here a fishing for Gudgeons Much more I have to say of their tyranny and cruelty and in many
high against me threatning my removal and as his Warrant intimates restless and unquiet till he had done somewhat or other against me and all that he can speak to his Masters at White-hall being sure to be taken for granted till which he could not be quiet as he saies seeming so much offended too for that his Orders were not executed as before to tear away the Bed when the child was dying and now also when the other weak Child was dying which wanted Romane ingenuity and reason after I had made my complaints known to my Heavenly Father I put Pen to Paper and wrote him these ensuing lines Couzen DENDY I have received several Messages from you which have been very harsh unexpected and indeed I think undeserv'd I had wrote unto you long before had not my Wife desired to come to you as she did late last night and had done it long before had not my Children been so ill one of whom is dead and another very weak and having but two left alive I did hope for more Mercy I beseech you Couzen be not too ready to receive false and unworthy reports which some I perceive now of malice invent and vent against me The only cause as I know of is I cannot I dare not approve or joyn with the Drinking Swearing Cursing Roaring and Ranting day and night here in Prison which I know you your self would be ashamed of Preaching Praying and reproving of Sin being the ground of all that malice which the Devil forgeth so many lies upon against me As for Civility it is sufficiently known whether I am so or no yea let mine Adversaries judge For I have not till last night Harding gave me your two Notes so much as spoke to him or any of them I think this six weeks nor been below the Stairs this three weeks purposely to avoid tâ—em and their malice I told Harding I have but the same Room for my Family that are here which Mr. Brown the Prisoner for Plotting had before me and if they please to let me I would have the use of my own Goods and Beds but I never refused to pay for them as your Letter mentions Sir I could wish I were not so exploded but that I might have liberty once in my dayes to speak with you face to face or else to let me hear all Informations against me that I might answer to their Les which I am sure are very many and God will one day judge But if they be received as men infallible and none be heard but them none believed but them none worthy of Favor but them I can Appeal to the Righteous Judge of Heaven and Earth who I am sure will Hear and none can hinder It is a comfort to a Sea-man in a Storm that he hath a Haven to put in at and I bless my God I have This is a time for me and mine to be trampled upon and abused but the Lord who Bottles up our Tears will hear our Sighs and Groans at last Therefore good Couzen as Christians that wait for one Redemption let us walk by Rule And put not thine hand with the wicked saith the Lord to an unrighteous Witness Exod. 23. Time was you had I believe other manner of Thoughts of me Yet if nothing will do I will rest quietly and patiently in the Dispensation of God for his Rod and his Staff do both comfort me and there is no sending me from him who will anoint my head with fresh Oyl Sure I am of this that the Comforter doth and shall abide with me and therefore I fear not what Flesh can do unto me With our real and true respects to my Couzen your Wife and All our Friends with you I wish you all the same Glory and Happiness at the Day of Christ's Appearance as my own Soul which I await for These troubles of ours being bâ—â—â—he praeludia triumphi in these blessed Chains fit only for Christs Nobility for our Royal Master the Lord Jesus with whom I hope to come or to meet in the clouds and to sit with him on the Throne I am Your unfeignedly loving though afflicted and oppressed Kinsman Jo. Rogers Lamb i th' Prison viz. Christ in this Mount with me Octob. 21. Postscript Here Harding denies that ever I or any of us Domineer'd or said any thing of the Prisoners about other rooms or Lodgings Dear Couzen there be many untruths as ever were spoken I hear you have received of me by some or other now all I desire is That they may but appear Truths or as they are or else that I be not so abused by them as I am You remember Christ's Golden Rule As you would have others do to you so c. Mr. Mesey also denies that ever he told you I said Mr. Feak paid nothing I confess I wrote brokenly my minde being so distracted but not so as might minister any just occasion to use me and my poor Family as they did afterward insulting over us and adding afflictions to our bonds daily but we leave that to the Lord the righteous Judge Many Tales the Under-Goaler and Keepers carried they would deny again and sometimes say as if their Master made them being themselves asham'd to own them And when any untruths were found and proved to their faces their only evasion was this That they had Orders to bring to White-hall whatever they heard any say of me and they were not to regard whether it were true or false but saith Harding I must tell what I hear to Mesey and saith old Mesey If Harding tells me thus I must tell it whether it be true or no to the Sergeant and I am here for the same purpose So that he sometimes went twice or thrice a day to White-hall to carry Tales which were received forthwith whereby Truth so anticipated could have no entrance nor entertainment nor would Serg. Dendy so much as put them to the proof or see me speak â—o me or come at me when he came to see the Prisoners of Complement the Cavaleers A while after this Letter which I heard nothing of old Mesey came again for Money who had 5 l. of us being all that we could then get him which bought our quiet for a few dayes but then finding us unable to lay down the whole price for it as other Prisoners perhaps did we lost the Mansion And besides we bought our Provision and had our Drink at the best hand from abroad which made our Goalers upper and under more enemies to us than before it seems for the gain which Harding had and which it is said he paies out of every Barrel of Beer to his Master is great from Prisoners putting off what is bad at the highest and unreasonable rates so that now nothing but evaporating wrath Cursing and Swearing to be reveng'd we heard of setting all the wicked Prisoners upon us who put their wits upon the tenter-hooks to that purpose inventing and coyning new wayes
open and known sins as of Drunkennesse c. which the godly people in this Island have informed me He now as fowly fals upon the pittifull poore miserably inslaved people of this Island as well as upon us but for hearing of me and yet could not finde a colour for it but onely his own pure or rather impure invention and fancy of a danger which might accrew thereupon in time and surmising or pretending so at least a signe which the Devil told him off that we had in preaching Christ to the poore soules and when he desired to see his Orders he denyed to shew us any but his absolute Will and sword soveraignty over these poore slaves and us exiles and prisoners falling into most fool irritating unsavoury provoking language with his wonted impudence and open faculty of lying slandering bearding and abusing for which he is so notoriously famous in this Isle that we went for shame from him surdis auribus sed oculis intentis in Christum and so left him to that spirit that possessed him but after that the soldiers were examined such as were well-given whether they would hear me if so then to lay down arms forthwith and be gone there must be no disputing it onely one or two I think had liberty given to consider upon it one day Soon after this Bull made or procured a muster and provided a Barrell of Beer for such of his souldiers which they say he never did before as would readily obey his Orders but others he required to lay down their Arms forthwith and so read an Engagement to them for their present government Thus like the Priests as Jo. 12 9 10. they endeavoured to put Lazarus also to death because that Jesus had raised him up to life least the report hereof should offuscate and obscure them Upon the Lords day after some men of the â—sland came into the Castle to hear on that day but the centinels at the doore drove them off again and turned them into their own Chappel the poore people of this Island being such absolute pure slaves under the long sword that they durst not hear the Word but where they will Yet I preaching near the window and my voice heard thorow some poor people would steal under the wall and in holes to hear but were soon discovered and driven away yea Bull himself when he came out of the Chappel did bestir him and lay about him and because some of his souldiers would stand behind the guard doore or make as if they walked about businesse in the yard to hear as they did at Winsor often make as if they lay on the grasse and slept he drives his souldiers into the guard and there keeps them in himself till I had done as the Bishop of L. used tell K. James a tale in the Sermon time when any good man preach'd against the Hierarchy or Ceremonies of their Church least the King should over-hear them and so receive the truth preached talking to them of Cocks and Buls as we say least any should over hear a word of the Sermon In the middle of the week he came to me and threatened to deal with me and remove me out of these rooms c. if I let my voice be so loud as to be heard out at the window more to their disturbance as he said but I told him as Chrysostome the Empresse Eudoxia when she threatened him Nil nisi peccatum timeo I should obey God and not man in that matter nor was he but Christ to mee the Lord of the Sabbath Luke 6.5 Christ only is my master in preaching bidding him do his worst then he bid the bed I had to lyon be taken away which was done at which I demanded of him straw to lyon but the good people especially Mr. B. a well affected honest man at whose house the godly people meet at New port kept mee from lying on the boards or any such hardship as they would have brought me or mine unto in this Goal but it seems to their sufferings for this Bull does bellow out with most bitter mallice rage against them also especially against Mr. B. whom he highly persecutes to this day I hear sometimes sending up armed souldiers with swords and muâ—kets to bring him away priâ—oner out of his own house to him in the Town Corporation threatning and troubling him breaking open his letters that came from London to his great hinderance Bull himself being a trader and going up and down in person to hear what one or another can say against Mr. B. and what not that is arbitrary and tyrannical So that by this we may see 1. Their horrible dissembling lying and undoubted Hypocâ—isie whiles they manifest such monstrous hatred to us they pretend to imprison us out of love to us and yet I think it is more out then in 2. How we suffer at this day for the word of God Gospell of Christ and power of Godlinesse purely whiles they most falsly possesse the poore ignorant people in the Nation that now there is no persecution for conscience for preaching the Word or for Religion but only for other matters and that a man may be as holy as he will which are lies in Hypocrisiâ— 3. That they are such a greedy sort of persecutors as our persons lives bodies liberties blood will not serve their turns but they persecute our very souls also for hearing praying and worshipping of the Lord yea on the Lords dayes nor suffering us to have so much aâ— upon the Lords daies any communion with the Saints or people or worship of God as much as in them lies 4. And they are the most impudent â—ould faced Persecutors I think that ever the earth bore for they justifie and dourish the foulest evils with the fairest Colours that can be yea pretend so highly for the Lord in all they do saying let God be glorified Isa 66.5 yea as Zach. 11.4 5. ' Whose Possessors Keepers of Goâ—lers slâ—y â—â—eâ— and hold themselves not guilty and they that sell them for nice pay places or preferment ' say blessed be the Lord for we are rich by it Such a pack of Apostates sure were never heard of for craft and cruelty policy and lying pretences and indeed it is no â—ore in my judgment then the face of the Serpent from wâ—â—â— we must and do fly for â—â—ree dayes and an half Rev. 12.14 Bâ—â— the Bal's bitter â—age is out begun here he must now make a â—â—â—â—â—tive of his faithfull service and most noble or rather ignoble feats â—ad atenâ—â—vements to his Masters at Court by frigating them with a â—raught report and â—n invented story of us as dangerous persons 〈◊〉 of deâ—gâ—es and according to â—is armed fancies and obsequiousnesâ— to them his Masters to â—all on us wâ—en their commands shall come requicing with all an Orâ—eâ— or at least a â—icence to prosecute his â—ell-begotten graceless victory further to the full by powring more contempt on our dear
consider a little is it comely for us to hang down our heads and so near the Haven or to droop at the end of the 42 moneths what now now to yeld or parley about it being this Fort of truth our strong hold hath held out so long and valiantly too against the beast and his image by all the Saints and Martyrs and for so many hundred years yea and al the Saints that have left us their skuls bloud ashes and bones behind them for our incouragement yea the whole creation yea God Christ Angels and men do expect our coustancy and faithfulness to the end and shal we now faint or fear the enemy seeing we are so wel accomodated with al necessaries yea much beyond our blessed predecessors for outward things and upon so poor a slight seige too of the enemy as this is who is almost worsted without hand and now too that such a great relief is raising for us by the spirit of life the 5th Kingdom Spirit which we wait for every day such as hath not been heard of for above this thousand years and shal not we stand to it shal not we hold it out and dye like Christs men or shal we admit of any composition capitulation or terms with them or be routed in the rear in this the rear-testimony of Jesus for want of Faith and courage to carry it up O no no! God forbid but let us rally by Faith and by the grace of God keep our ground like men and make hast with the main body as they begun blessedly in that wing of Honorable WALES to move for the relief of the ingaged Forlorn for the Lords sake make hast and march up yea sally out most fiercely O ye men of courage upon this Apostate and prefidious enemy with such an undaunted invincible and impregnable resolution as may make them know they are not ORDINARY PRISONERS whom they would bury alive in these iron graves for the most blessed cause that ever was on foot in earth or that ever was betraye by men come come Sirs prepare your companies for King Jesus his Mount Zion Musterday is at hand his Magazine and Artillery yea his most excellent mortar-peices and batteries be ready we wait only for the Wora from on high to falon and faith and Prayer to do the Execution according to Rev 18.6 reward her as she hath rewarded you and then by the grace of God the proudest of them al shal know we are ingaged on life and death to sink or swin stand or fal with the Lord Jesus our Captain General upon his red Horse against the beasts Government so as neither to give nor take Quarter but according to his Orders Therefore take the alarum my brethren be up and ready for we are not our own but Christs nor are we redeemed to men but to God! therefore like Champions refreshed with VVine let the shout of a King be heard amongst us are we not yet awakened and warmed is it not high time for the two VVitnesses to be uniting stirring and rising yea standing upon their feet and I hope we you of the majestracy and we of the Ministry are of the same spirit with them and are blown by one and the same breath though as pipes we may have different sounds Besides let us consider how eagerly Shear-jashub or the little Remnant is making ready for your rise yea Maher-shalal-hashbaz is ready to pitch his great Tent and to blow his great Trump yea the man among Myrtle trees Zach 1.8 on his red Horse is already mounted if I mistake not and ready to march with his sword to execute and fire to plead with al Nations for his bow he used upon his VVhite-horse Rev 6.2 hitherto but the next is his sword on his red Horse and the slain of the Lord and shal be many Isai 66.16 yea and after the Harvest wherein I hope to be a reaper a cutter down or a gatherer in the blood of the Vintage wil be up unto the horses bridles Rev 14.20 viz those Horses that are to carry the 4th Chariot from between the two Mountains of brass wherin the Lord Jesus fits to give Laws unto the whole earth Zach 6.1 7 8. and this I can easily fore see for I have almost obvious undeniable prospective of it from this cliff of the rock where my present lot lies But ah Lord may I say what meaneth this that men be so hush and stil then at this day yea goodmen so asleep so secure Zach 1.11 Behold all the earth sitteth stil and is at rest why it is that they may be surprized as in the days of Noah and LOT and vvith the coming as a Thief in the night therefore O my Brethren Let us enter the Ark for no safety wil be found but in the work beleeve it listen for the noise of his chariot wheels with the spirit of the living creatures is in some measure come upon us look about believe with boldness and with gladness yea up and make ready to run to run with these horsemen who are at hand prepare prepare put on the whole armor of God to stand outsland and withstand in this evil day Eph. 6. Awake awake yea rouze up O Saints with most royal resolutions and shake your selves from your prison-dust O Captive-Daughter of Sion for it is high time yea the set time is now to start up like Lions too stout for sufferings as before putting off your Sackcloth or captivity garments and putting on your beautiful Zion Robes to follow the Lamb with Isai 52.1 2. and when you put on these Robes you must put off al those Relations though ever so dear that may make you stagger yea even stamp upon them as Jerome said If my Father were weeping on his knees before me and my Mother hanging on my neck behind me and all my brethren SISTERS and Kindred round about me I 'de run over them all and in this case we are bid even to hate them Luke 14.26 if we follow Christ Wherefore O my most honourable brethren Concaptives and Coexiles yea most noble fellow-commoners at the Kings charges let us up together all at once and fal in all at once Numb 13 30. with one mind and as one man Zeph 3.9 Appoint the day appropriate the duty and to it yea do it with such a shout too Jer 50.14 Amos 2.2 as may make the ears of the enemies to ring yea begin the Earthquake Rev 11.13 and rend up by the very roots the foundations of these persecuting Nimrods with their prisons Acts 16.26 So as one stone be not left for a corner of them yea til there be such a trembling shaking and consternation yea a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 translation overturning and total amotion of them that the Beasts Government may never have a being more in England neither in Civils Ecclesiasticks nor Militaries For Jehovah-Sabboth wil confound them and break them to pieces before us yea this house of Saul
JEGAR-SAHADVTHA AN OYLED PILLAR Set up for Posterity Against the present Wickednesses Hypocrisies Blasphemies Persecutions and Cruelties of this Serpent power now up in England the Our-Street of the Beast Or a HEART APPEALE to HEAVEN and EARTH broken out of Bonds and Banishment at last in a Relation of some part of the past and present Sufferings of JOHN ROGERS in close Prison and continued Banishment for the most blessed Cause and Testimony of JESVS the sound of the Seventh Trumpet and the Gospel of the seven Thunders or holy Oracles called rayling by them in Power sealed up to the time of the End From Carisbrook Castle in the third Year of my Captivity the Fifth-Prison and the third in Exile having been hurried about from post to pillar Quia perdere nolo substantiam propter Accidentia Gen. 31.36 37. What is my trespasse What is my sin that thou hast so hotly persued after me Set it here before my Bretheren and thy Brethren that they may judge betwixt us both Lam. 4.3 The very Sea-monster or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tannin the old Serpent drawn out the Breast they suckle their young ones or Protected ones from the root 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 gur he sojourned with or dwelt under the daughter of my people to a cruell one as the Ostritch in the Wildernesse Lam. 3.52 53 55. Mine enemies have hunted hunting me like a Sparrow without Cause or grace of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 chen they have cut off my dayes in the dungeon and cast a stone upon me I called upon thy name O Jehovah out of the under dungeon Non Vindictâ sed Victoriâ The poore Prisoner Pilgrime and Exile in Caines-br-Castle from the top of Amana the top of Shenir and Hermon from the Lions dens from the Mountains of the Leopards To all his fellow-Citizens in Sion and fellow-separates out of Babylon and to such as are not ashamed of our Chaine especially in that Church society whereof the Holy Ghost hath made him an Overseer Christians Readers Friends and Brethren COuld the trumpet talking with mee be heard with you the distinct sound to all of us as one would be come hither but oh how few can heare it heare it or receive it If you be our fellow waiters or Witnesses of the Kingdome of Christ at hand then I may say of each of you as of Joseph Luk. 22.50 51. He was a good man and a just the same had not consented to the counsell and deed of them that persecuted Christ for he waited also for the Kingdome of God But oh how many have acted or at least consented with the sins of this Generation and how many are monstruously and most wilfully ignorant of this Kingdome which we suffer and wait for in the new world yea libenter ignorantur liberius peccant they had rather be ignorant then in the pure light thereof to loose the great things of this wicked world or their great lusts which they must do that follow the Lamb ly with the 24. Rev. 4 5. about the Throne or look to rise and reign with him on earth in the thousand years the glory of which state I have at large delineated as the most lucid florid Dogmaticall Discovery of this day in my first Treat called Prison-born Morning beams if it be in being demonstrating the truth as all the Orthognomones orthodox professors and Preachers maintained it in primitive times the Woman or true Church travelling with this Male-childe leaping in the womb of her till she brought it forth spight of the Dragon power that persecuted it Rev. 12.2 3 5. Who was to rule all Nations but the Beast hindred and he was caught up unto God and the poore Woman fled into the wildernesse for 1260. dayes or the 42. monthes the period of which is upon us It seems this Doctrine of the reigne of Christ on Earth had at the birth thereof a most noble reception both of the Christians or few excepted Valentinian Jovinian and others as I have proved in that Treatise being Chronicled or Millenaâ—ieâ— or the reign of Christ on Earth and this continued indubitable till Pope Damaâ—us by the means of Jerome Gaius and others got it anotomatized Now we do expect this Man-childe to come down again and to take his great power and reigne and the Woman with her seed to come out of their Caves for which prophesie according to the comments of the little Book Rev. 10.11 Is it that I am bound with these bonds and banishment where I have been hitherto these two years beholding the terrible things that are a comming upon the World and heaing the contents of the seven thunders which John in Pathmos was bid to seal up as also was declared to Daniel cap. 12.4 9. should be sealed and shut up tiâ—l these times and notwithstanding I understand but little for mulâ—ò plura nescio quam scio as Aug. sayes yet so much I understand and will assert it in the Lord and his truth with mee that as some are wilfully ignorant of this great Gospel-Mystery of the Kingly Office of Christ which we contend for so others are most brutishly ignorant thereof for want of a thorough search into the Prophesies and Scriptures especially the common and carnall Clergy ond Rulers and so they persecute and speak evill of they know not what and that most impudently too and with very uncivill courtship inventing and deposing principles for us which our soules abhor and then rendring us odious to the poor people upon conclusions and deductions of their own making and composing But this I professe before the Lord that as I desire nothing more than a Christian conuiction out of the word of God in the spirit power and authority of the Lord where ever it shall light so I see plainly that our enemies are as much afraid of that weapon as ever were the Papists or Prelates and therefore with them do fly to the force fury and violence sword and fire persecuting oppressing plundering imprisoning and banishing as you see and then behinde our backs fall to lying rayling and slandering of us and our principles But as Tully in another case said of some Mihi quidem nulli satis eruditi videntur quibus nostra sunt ignota so say I I cannot take them for learned at this time of day I mean sanctè magis quam scirè 2 Pet. 3.16 who partake not the learning of the Fifth-Kingdome this hope of Israel for which we are bound with this Chain And because the cruelty of this Serpent in England whom our effeminate lusting Eve-like professors have faln in and faln off and down with from whose face we fly till the time times and a divident Rev. 12.14 is hardly heard of known or believed abroad his horns looking so like a Lamb but that ye may hear a little how he speaks and persecutes like a Dragon I have held it a duty for further discovery of him and his spirit to publish thus much
assurance 8. All temptations removed and the way cleared with many sweet promises 8. To name no more I was somewhat dejected yet not so as to despond or doubt of assistance to see the most tremendous and dreadful wrath of God which is to begin within 2 or 3 yeers upon this Apostate generation to pass before me some temptation seiz'd upon me through self-diffidence and bodily distemper as at the apprehension of the inextricacie depth and incomprehensiveness of those deep Prophecies which I have to ferry over or pass thorow wherein so many more Able have sunk and faâ—len before me so at the fierce looks bellowing threats and atrocity of the Beast now up in England who will not be able to bear the Tidings of his Destruction But as the first part of the temptation was obviated and deforced by the former promises so the other by what follows For this morning being the 18 of the 10 m. to make all the way clear a full Commission was given me and Quietus est sign'd and sent to me thus First I saw in my sleep a great Dragon of large size with very large outstretched wings very lively red fire-sparkling gogling eyes and most terribly furious at his mouth and violent in his claws with long fierce talons but it was given me to believe he should not hurt me and I thought I feared him not Soon after I saw I thought a Tree full of Dragons with large wings and claws some 5 or 6 upon the tree having big rolling eyes but I did not fear them and before I awaked I thought I saw all them dead and no more able to hurt then painted ones or pictures of Dragons I speak not this to take notice of a Dream but of the effect for when I awaked my spirit was full and my break-fast very sweet and consulting as I use to do Many Objections made answered as soon as ever my eyes were opened with the Lord I was bid to be Up and doing without more delay by a sudden and strong impulse of spirit Object Yet I objected But Lord though I have a Call from circumstances and Saints c. yet what have I from the Scriptures Answ Then came into my minde tumbling abundance of Scriptures and Promises one upon another as Isai 35.3 4. and those I mentioned before so also Isai 40.1 2. Comfort ye comfort ye my people saith the Lord tell her her warfare is accomplished her iniquity pardoned c. The voice of him that prepareth is come cry All flesh is grass all withereth because the Spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it Yea that of Luk. 22.32 was flung in forcibly upon my Spirit But I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not so that when thou art converted strengthen thy brother with abundance more Object But I objected further What particular Call have I who am in prison to publish to the world any thing that reflects so sharply upon the present Powers Persons Armies or the like Answ But that of Jam. 5.10 pearch'd upon me in that point immediately Take the prophets who have spoken in the name of the Lord for an example c. for they feared not in or out of prison the powers or persons of Kings or the like So 2 Pet. 1.21 Holy men wrote and spake as they were inspired or moved by the Spirit and therefore begin by faith as they did and I will be with you because all true Scriptures or writings are first given by inspiration 2 Tim. 3.16 Ah then said I Lord let me have this Anointing all the way both in the passive and active part of this Testimony Object But I fell upon my unfitness fewness of yeers smalness of light shallowness of judgment weakness of faith the like Answ but was presently silenced with Gods words to Moses and Jeremiah suggested unto me Exod. 4.11 Who made man's mouth and the dumb to speak the deaf to hear or the blinde to see did not I the Lord So Jer. 1.6 7. Say not I am a childe for what I command thee thou shalt speak and write abroad and be not afraid of their faces for I am with thee to deliver thee saith the Lord. Do not I the Lord take when where and whom I will and give of my Spirit power and ability to whom I will Now therefore arise and my Spirit shall be with thee the Pen of a ready writer with which word my very heart did exult and leap within me being as full as I could hold But Lord said I What is it that I must write what message shall thy poor worm have for the world When presently The Message in the bulk before I ask'd almost much fell upon me at once The day of the Lord is at hand it is his day the day of his wrath of his vengeance and of great destruction upon the inhabitants of this world upon this land upon these Apostates and adulterous generation of evil doers for they are all turn'd aside Blood cryeth unto blood and the earth shall cover her slain no more The Witnesses shall up upon their feet and the remnant of the Womans seed do wondrous things for by the spirit of Eliah they shall restore all again Magistracie and Ministery as at the first and recover the holy City from the Gentiles that have trod it under this 42 m. They shall assault the great City and climb up the wall like men of war they shall pour out the Vials upon the powers Priests and Armies of the Beast and on all his Dominion and execute the vengeance on all his Worshippers and irrefragable Supporters Subjects and Followers that have his name or mark upon their Foreheads yea the Earthquake shall rend them up by the very roots and the Little Stone strike them up by the very toes and none shall save them from the wrath of the Lamb that is come Object But ah Lord said I These men in power hast not thou owned in the field at Nazeby Dunbar Worcester and wilt thou now reject them Answ Upon which fell these Scriptures together upon me Isai 10. Shall the Ax boast it self against him that heweth therewith or the Saw magnifie it self against him that shaketh it As if the Rod should shake it self against them that lift it up or as if the Staff should lift up it self as if it were no wood Therefore shall the Lord Jehovah of Armies send among his fat ones leanness and under his glory kindle a burning like the burning of a fire And the light of Israel shall be for a Fire and his holy One for a Flame which shall burn and devour his thorns and his briers all in one day Besides this that of Jer. 18.9 10. At the instant that I shall speak concerning a nation and a kingdom to build and to plant it if it do evil in my sight and obey not my voice then will I repent of the good wherewith I said I would benefit them
seeing I am out at the King's the Lord Christ's charges and not at mine own 1 Cor. 9.7 For who goeth to warfare at his own charges Praefat. in 3 Serm. 4 Tom. Hieron p. 408. I have been a little tedious which I confess with Erasmus is my fault as well as others multi mei similes hoc morbo laborant ut cum scribere nesciant tamen a scribendo temperare non possint and this is a disease then they are apt to fall into that think they shall never write more to write much as once for all especially since this TREATISE will be so large and the matter of it so lively and important and seeing the opposition of our Persecutors and of those that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are Cromwell fied have necessitated so much for an INTRODUCTION Now in the name of JEHOVAH-TSADEK our JEHOVAH-JIREH who will be seen in the Mount am I ready to present and publish these Apocaliptick Accounts Documents and Prophesies to all the True yet few NATHANIELS of our Times that wait with a high Faith and holy Patience in all wel-doing and wel-suffering for the approaching Day of Christ and his Kingdom work especially to the spiritually enlightned Churches and Saints those of them that are left and kept faithfull Pastors and others of the same hope with us separate from Babylon whole Babylon as well Civill Military as Ecclesiastick and so growing up together into ONE a one Body a Temple-state or the Tabernacle open'd in heaven where the Viols or Vengeance of the Lord of the Lamb of the Martyrs of his Saints and of his Temple must Issue out shortly and upon whom the Day of the Lord is come I see from Mount Pisgah it is begun yea already begun as 1 Pet. 4.17 by purging sifting trying separating discovering quickning afflicting and refining I say to those DEAR ONES or Jewels of the Lord and the Lamb with all the Love Life and Light which I received from above with the abnegation of all that I am from below and so with the grace and humility of both I most heartily offer a few yeers pains search and teachings from the Holy one unto them and lay my judgement at their feet in these weighty matters of Christ if I may but get them published in all the blessed properties principles and prophecies of the Kingdom to be revealed on earth in these last daies for which we now contend and trust shall unto the END with Triumph and Rejoycing Even so Amen Rouz up O Remnant setch a shout O Saints O Churches sing For such a Light is breaking out Will make your ears to ring O Glorious Ray ah Blessed Day Which the Anointing sheweth For thus the Saint in Covenant Shall have the Present Truth From a Friend to a Friend THe BOOKS mentioned by the Author of those publique Prophecies out of Daniel Revelation Prophets and Apostles of old and New Test the fifth Kingdom prepared in Pathmos or in Prison and Exile Teavels among â—is sweetest visits and visions of God and in the still voice are very strangely it seems miscarried without Time and Providence do recover them and so discover him or them that had a hand in hindring or stifling of them Only the Introductory part to the first Treatise or Prison-born Morning-beams are preserved and gotten together as the occasion of his falling upon so large a Systeme so some part of his suffâ—rings at Lambeth untill Winsor which therefore we have added unto his Heart-appeale having been hardly kept and collected that the view of present persecution mâ—y be the more clear and this History the more complent though to my knowledge many things are omitted passages left out fleeced and sheered round as they lifted that had them to do before we could bring it to this passe in publique besides much more which in time may be added if need be as some of us hear of severall reasonings between him and O. P. him and Souldiers him and Ministers him and many Adversaries upon the matters of our faith in the things of Christ this his betrayed cause and Kingdom-work besides what sufferings have been added since these Papers came from him to this CHAINE But in the mean time it may appear by this what the servants of the Lord do pass through at this Day by these powers of the Beast such fore trials remarkable passages and experiences of Persecution as may make them that have said it is no Persecution now very Mutes for very shame and their eares tingle to hear of such a height of tyranny profaneness and impiety among them as may awaken our Friends and favourers of Sion to their Work and Watch and as may revive once more amongst us the blessed memory of the yet bleeding MARTYRS and the Cloud of Witnesses whose examples are before as in this Cause that we also may be made FAITHFUL unto death therein His cup of Affliction hath been deep for this Day and Nation but yet sweet and if so be the report of ONES suffering do sound so what would the WHOLE do of all the suffering ones this day in England for the good Cause a good Christ a good Conscience but another a new Book of Martyrs a fair Garden full of purple Roses and pure Lillies which the Beloved is gone down to gather Cant. 6.2 But the Cain-like cruelty keeps off the report at present till the blood of Abel be heard out of the earth I mean them of whom the World is not worthy that have witnessed with such boldness to the Kingdom Work Cause and Principles of Righteousness Now upon these Papers at last produced and extraordinarily preserved out of the Catch-pole Clutches can we now be thankeful to our heavenly Lord and Father for them and for that some are yet kept constant and faithful through Christ in sufferings for to you it is given saies the Apostle every one in his place as he is called to contest against this the last Beast Rev. 13. Some tried some tempted some plundered some prisoned some barbarously used and set upon by the enemy some hurt and some maimed and many immur'd and injur'd yet others ready to succeed them and to bring up what is behind the Lord assisting supporting and sweetning all unto them Yea methinks the most High saies to each one of those Sufferers Well done thou good and faithful Servant and as Mat. 24.46 Blessed is the Servant who when his Lord cometh he shall find so doing for now I have proved thee I have tried thee I have fifted and shifted thee now I know that thou lovest me and fearest God! Wherefore I have sworn by my self that in blessing I will blesse thee and in multiplying I will multiply thee c. And mine oaths are not like Mens It may be these sufferings may work upon some that hear them they have on some that saw them yea even amongst the Souldiers for we hear that one of them formerly busie is now wounded and touched in
persecution or no! for as the enemies report it men will not believe it though the Cavaliers nay Newgate Thieves and Whores are not so cruely handled at this day and they pretend a power too and do easily forgive Adultry and such wickednesse onely we ô Lord the Sheep of thy passure the Flock of thine inheritance are thus rudely handled every day and thâ—y do never think they have done enough unto us but so be it for thy sake Amen! Amen! It was deemed ridiculous aswell as most rigorous in the hottest of the Warrs upon the worst of enemies to have imposed what they do daily upon us and yet they have the face to justifie it as if it were nothing Wherein we observe 1. the exceeding horrible height of their impudence and Hypocrifie of whom may be said as Jer. 3.3 Thou hadst a Whorâ—â— forehead thou refusest to be ashamed And secondly Their cruel subtilty whiles they are whipping and beating us they bid us be quiet and patient like the tyrannicall Step-dame that knocks beats and makes the poor childe to cry and then whips him without mercy for crying and saies he may thank himself they call for patience and bid us be patient in our sufferings whiles they are laying on upon us till they make us cry out and then they say it is our impatience such an unreasonable generation of men are our Goalers Persecutors and Murderers yea they pretend Plots and do this least there should be any â—â—sings when indeed by their unsupportable oppressions persecutions and provocations they do all they can to stir us up whether we will or no unto it for the necessary preservation of our lives liberties relations Religion and consciences from their so monstruous inhumanity and persecution in hypocrisie Thirdly that they put us into the worst Prisons and hardest persecutions yea bait us with the wickedest and worst persons they can finde out men of the most notorious debauched principles practises scandall impudence and Atheisme and all this too in pretence of love to us as appears in their Orders for removal from Sandham Fort and so they said in my last removall from Arten House it was for my better accommodation but indeed it was for my more bitter affliction in the flesh and worse usage except my dear companions company though my most dear God makes the worst the best the greatest the least the bitterest the sweetest the hardest the easiest the most afflicting the most refreshing unto us in Christ and herein do I rejoyce yea and will rejoyce more abundantly yet no thank to them who speak lyes in hypocrisie having their consciences feared with an hot iron 1 Tim. 4.2 although indeed all my sufferings in the Prisons in England were nothing to be compared to these in this most barbarous wildernesse and Kennell of wilde Beasts Fourthly we see by this what it is to be ruled by the sword and it is evident by what Law their Cause and Government stands and what a miserable sad servitude those people are in who are ruled by the sword which hath neither eyes nor ears but pro ratione voluntas For as the Dragon Heathens Turks and Papists do support their Governments by such force tyranny and imprisoning so do these which stand no longer than violence keeps them up and which are as sure to be destroyed when the house of Jacob shall be a fire and the house of Joseph a flame and the house of Esau for stuble Obed. 18. Wherefore if any upright hearts among the Souldiers do yet remaine they may remember the story of Marinus who in a time of great Apostacy for his faithfulnesse to Christ had like to loose his preferment which fell to him in the Army at which he began to stagger being desirous yet to hold his place till Theodistus met him in the Temple and in the Name of the Lord laid before him a Sword and the New-Testament bidding him choose which he would have for he could hold but one and the other must go at which his heart was smit so he blessed God left the Sword and chose the Gospell So Souldier do I set before thee thy choise for thou canst not hold both hower'e thou deceivest thy self or serve the Beast and the Lamb both at once 5. The impudent practice of the lying slandrous reports of us breaks out either immediately before an intended mischief to us or assoon as they have done it to colour over their tyranny with as monstruous untruths as the Papists who reported that Junius had cloven-feet like a Beast Sometimes they report us mad and frantick as Persecutors have done And so doth Bull and his Masters make as if we wanted senses when we are fullest of the Holy Ghost witnessing 〈◊〉 our dear Christ against their rotten interest and hypocrisie but as 〈◊〉 said when the Praefect told him he was mad sed optome in aeternum sic delirare I wish I may be ever madd then and sometimes as we finde before of Bull like Morgan to Philpot Fox vol. 3.572 they fall a raving and blaspheming of God and his tabernacle and abusing us as if we were not sober So said Morgan I ween it to be the spirit of the Butterie which your fellowes have had that have bee burned before you who were drunck the night before they went to be burnt and I ween went drunken to it But it appeareth saith Philpot you are better acquainted with the spirit of the Buttery than with the Spirit of God Wherefore I must now tell thee saies he and so say I to thee thou raging Bull with the very same spirit and authority of the great Judge of Heaven and Earth thou painted Wall and Hypocrite in the Name of the living Lord whose truth I have told thee that God shall rain fire and brimstone upon such scorners of his Word and blasphemers of his people as thou art Thy foolish blasphemies have compelled the Spirit of God which is in me to say thus unto hee O thou enemy of all Righteousnesse and I tell thee thou Hypocrite I passe not this for thy fire and faggots or what thy bloudy heart can do unto me neither I thank God my Lord stand I in fear of the same my faith in Christ shall over-come them But hell fire is thy portion and is prepared for thee except thou speedily repent yea the hottest of hell for such Hypocrites as thou art according to that old Proverb which Math. Paris mentions in Hist An. Dom. 1072. Pavimentum inferni rasis sacrificulorum verticibus Magnatum galeis stratum esse that Hell is paved as the very bottome with the Skulls of the Priests and the Head-pieces of their Protectors or the great ones and I leave thee in thine Hypocricy till the judgement come At other times we are reported fooles and that is a vepy pleasant reproach too but as Lactantius saies Lib. 5. c. 12. Contemnite ridete si libet nobis enim stultitia nostra prodest non in
turpia nullâ spe invitabitur 8. For that the enemies are very empty dry and withered whiles we are geâ—en sappy and growing blessed be our God as Psal 104.16 The trees of the Lord are full of sapp for we find our Spirits full our hearts full and hopes full and our faith full in a sense for this cause of our Lord Jesus full of comfort of life and of courage and of peace thorough believing which come amain upon us whiles our enemies are like the Hypocrites Isa 33. surprised with fearfullnesse yea Mager-mysabib is written about them as Mâ—stery is upon them Rev. 17.5 a sure signe to us and a token for good 9. In that on both sides the main body seems to be marching up because the forlorne hope is already so hotly ingaged with downright blowes as on our side with the truth and testimony they or their side with down-right point blank blasphemy and persecution so that not onely the heads Rev. 13.1 but the whole body of the Beast Rev. 17.3 is full of blasphemy and both sides are fallen on so that the next news I am like to hear after this forlorn is a fight and fight of the main bodies on both sidâ—â— or the â—ife of the holy Camp the holy City trod on these 42. months Rev. 11.2 and the pitching of Maher-shalabhashbaz's great Tent Esa 8.1 For the 3. great things which I wait to see and hear are the great Tent and Trumpet Esa 27.13 Deut. 23.10 the great Bone-fire and flame Rev. 19 20. and 17.16 and the great Sun or light of seaven dayes with seaven eyes and by the seaven spirits Esa 30.26 ch 60.19 Rev. 21.23 10. In that our new Covenant propriety in God our Father continues unto us sure and well ordered in all things in all conditions in Prisons Exiles Plunderings Reproaches Dungeons Wants Death and judgements in seperable c. still we can say our God though a consuming Fire Heb. 12.29 though Eli Eli Lamasabachthani yet Eli Eli that is we cannot fall the subjects of Gods wrath though of mans no not when the Violls come to be poured out for none are the in execution of them but who are above them but all and those onely that are under them shall fall as the subjects of his wrath or the third Wo which is at hand now this is no little comfort to us to whom God is Love yea all Love and all together Love in our Prisons But Lastly in that Sion is in travell of a male-child which makes the paines the greater and the more difficult for a man-child must be borne Isa 9.6 the Sonne of God and heir of althings in heaven and earth Heb. 12. yea the Sonne of Abraham and heir of the Promise and Covenant yea the Sonne of David or heir of the Kingdomes and Crownes of the world the Sonne of Mary and heir of all mankind yea the Sonne of Sion and only heir of the Generation-Work that of this male-child is Sion now in travell with according to Isa 26.17 18 Like as a woman with child that draweth near the time of her delivery is in pain and crâ—eth out in her pangs so are we in thy sight O Lord We have been with child we have been in pain but it is a male-Spirit not a female low Fourth Monarchy-Spirit but a most noble high couragious invincible heaven-borne Spirit that must be brought forth by all these pains persecutions and travells for in the primitive times when the woman was in her travell of this male-Child the Dragon Government did so persecute her that he stood ready to devoure him as soon as he was borne or brought forth into the world and this man-child of Government Christ in the ministration of the Fifth Kingdome Isa 9.6 7. was then caught up unto God and to his throne Rev. 12.5 6.4.2 3.5.6 13. and the Woman or Spiritual Church who after long travell and pain brought forth this blessed truth of the Reign of Christ on earth or the Fifth Kingdome who was forced into the Wildernesse for the 1260. dayes so that now at the end of the 42. moneths or 1260. dayes is the Woman to come out of the Wildernesse and this malechild of Government to come down from God again and to rule all Nations with his rod of iron it is true that he was travelled with in the Heathen Emperours dayes with great perils and pains as appears by the Apologies of Justin Martyr to Antoninus Pius which I read at Winfor and afterwards of Tertullian and some others but he was not born untill the Christian Emperours dayes especially when Jovinian Valentinian c. were Emperours who themselves were Fanters and Professors of the Reign of Christ and are chronicled for Millenaries c. as I have proved in Prison b. Treat but almost as soon as he was thus born he was caught up to God to be forth comming again at the end of the 1260. dayes and therefore Rev. 12.5 She brought forth a man child as mellei poimainein who was about to rule all Nations with a rod of iron not who did it as some say it of Constantine but he was borne ready as if he should rule all but the Lord took him up till the period of the Beasts dominion or the 1260. dayes suffering were over which declares evidently that this male-Spirit will up again speedily for the Reign of Christ with his rod of iron sword and Lawes over all Nations and the overcomming Saints Rev. 2.26 27. or those that have victory over the Bâ—est c. Rev. 15.2 3. shall take the Kingdomes for ever Dan 7.18.22 and thus the man-child must come down from heaven from the throne and from god only in that the God of heaven alone shall set up this kingdome which shall never be destroyed but break all others in pieces Dan. 2.44 and in that ver 45. the Stone is cut out with out hands onely fitted and brought forth from Mount Sion by the Spirit of the Lord the Mount out of which it falls Dan. 2.45 being Sion and the Mount into which it becomes being Moriah Dan. 2.35 or the two Mountains of Brasse mentoned Zach. 6.1 Now the Spirit of the Lord and of the Lamb who hath the seaven Spirits sent forth into all the earth Rev. 5.6.4.5 brings it down unto us so that the man-child must thus come down from God and his throne who was till this time taken up to God and his throne but as I have had a little share I blesse the Lord for his grace in these fresh travells pains of Sion to bring forth this man-child Isa 66.7 Jer. 30.6 7. Isa 51. So have I been abundantly in my bonds taught of the Lord the truth of these thingâ— which I have not time nor utterance for at present nay so good hath my God been to me in this Pathmos School that I think I could almost say it without the least Ostentation and only to the glory of Gods rich grace unto mee
by lying dissembling evading and breaking all obligations for as in Gen. 4.8 thus hath Cain killd Abell with pretences of love thus hath the Devill disposed the Serpents tongue to tempt which the Women or weaker vessells and more effeminate carnall spirits do listen unto at this day and by entertaining discourse are suddenly ensnared beginning as Eve first to doubt of Gods truth and promise the first sin of man and then to mince mix and extenuate in their mindes the threatening Commandment of God whiles they seem outwardly to observe it and plead it as Eve did and then to hear Satan by carnall policy propounding worldly advantages that they shall be as Gods and so inducing them to Apostacy through disobedience unthankfulnesse pride ambition covetousnesse and unbelief which brings forth persecution and contempt of Gods truth yea a wanton lust and an usurpation of what God hath reserved to himself All these are summing sins of which with many others this Age the present Generation in England is guilty yea highly guilty if not damnably guilty before God Angells and men 2. But secondly besides this it is a Summing Witnesse and Testimony now up in England too or the finishing Testament of the Kingdome Rev. 11.7 Matth. 24.14 which comprehends the summe of all the Prophets and Prophesies from Moses to this day Acts 3.24 Luke 24.27 about the Kingdome of Christ especially of Isaiah Ezekiell Zachariah Daniell the Revelation c. all seem to scope in and aim at this Witnesse for which we are imprisoned with one concentricity harmony and consent both for time and purpose and now we are to expect that dispensation of the fullnesse of times wherein all thing both in heaven and earth shall be gathered in one even in Christ Ephes 1.10 So that as for the sinnes so for the Witnesse now up against them was never such a time Age or Nation as this is 3. It is also a summing up of the suffereings and persecutions of the Saints and Free-born Children by the Nimrods of the world the Rear-persecution that is for the Rear-witnesse is now upon us and he will make an utter end affliction shall not rise up the second time Nahum 1 9. we are entring the haven of the 42. Months voiage yea reaping the harvest of all the bloud faith tears prayers lives losses and liberties of the million of Martyrs from the dayes of Abell to this day Math 23. for Rev. 18.24 in her was found the bloud of Prophets of Saints and of all that were slain upon the Earth So that to avenge their bloud and Deaths to answer their cryes groans and prayers out of their graves dungeons rackings flames stocks rivers caves fields urns and most exquisite torments of all sorts the Fifth Monarchy Saints are now concerned in to bring up the rear well wisely couragiously constantly and victoriously after Christ their Captain and the primitive Martyrs in the Van for it was said to them Rev. 6.11 That they should rest for a little season untill their fellow servants also should be fulfilled or untill we who were to bring up the rear that is in the Gospell of the Kingdome for a witnesse were fulfilled therefore as the eyes of the whole Creation Angells and men so especially of the Martyrs and Saints Abell Abraham Isaac and Jacob the Jews and Gentilts of all Tribes and Nations Prophets and Apostles are upon us at this day in this Cause and Testimony for the Kingdome to see how we behave our selves herein which they all bore witness unto believed in longed after waited for in their measures and generations as the sum-totall of all their sufferings that the Saints should reign on earth which as I have at large proved in my 2. Treat and Travells since my Bonds these two years viz. Prison born and Banish-born Morning beams if they be not both stifled to be the faith hope and joy of the primitive Martyrs for some hundreds of years after Christ so of late as we finde in The Plow mans Complaint in King Edward the thirds dayes and since in that precious Martyr Mr. Bradfords Letters at large that they had their expectations full of this Kingdome thus in his Letter to Queen Mary and her Councill he saies It behoveth them in Authority to know they are not Kings but plain Tyrants that rule not for God and all those Potentates with their Principalities and Dominions cannot long prosper but perish indeed if they and their Kingdomes be not ruled by the Scepter of God that is with his Word the people also perishing with Princes where the Word of Prophesie is wanting much more is suppress'd as is now in England Wherefore he exâ—â—orts them to be no longer Slaves Hangmen to Anti-christ to let Barabas lose hang up Christ saying the Doctrine they then suffered for stood invincibly above all power being not our Doctrine but the Doctrine of the ever living God and of his Christ whom the Father hath ordained King to have Dominion from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the world so will he Reign that he will shake the whole earth with his iron Brazen power according to that which the Prophets do write of the Magnificence of his Kingdome c. Was not this Fifth Monarchy-language then among the Martyrs and did not these meddle as much as we do with the worldly Powers and declare their downfall with the uprising of Christs Kingdome on earth Yes verily and thus saith Mr. Bradford in many other Letters as to Doctor Hill to Mrs. Hall and to his Wife wherein he saith That God the Father hath vouch safed to choose us amongst many to witnesse and testifie that Christ his Sonne is King and that his Word is true Christ our Saviour will have us bear record that he is no Vsurper nor Deceiver but Gods Ambassador Prophet and Messias so that of all dignities on earth this is the greatest thus to witnesse as wee now do Thus then the bloud of all the Martyrs Prophets Apostles and Saints are with us in the Witnesse of this day which is the summe of all that Christ alone may be lifted up and exaltd King and the onely absolute single Person in all over all and above all 4. It is a summing time too in this Nation with respect to their present Government for all the Characters of Anti-christ 2 Thess 2. of the second Beast Rev. 13.11 12. and of the little Horn Dan 7.8 21.22.25.26 and of the Myery-Clay-Government where the Stone first strikes the Image Dan. 2.43 is upon it yea as the fourth Beast Dan. 7.7 was diverse from all the others before is as being a compound of all and so to summe up all the other Rev. 13.2 being partly a Leopard partly a Beare partly a Lion and so far of the three fore-going Monsters and the rest of himself and the Dragon So this present Limb of the Beast this Bastard of Ashdod differs or is diverse
most high amongst many other things that are shortly to come to passe upon the whole Earth from Jesus Christ the faithfull Witnesse the Amen of all these things and the Author and Finisher of my Faith even so Amen Lord Jesus come quickly But before I finish we find a fresh assault of Sathan upon us in this close Prison perpetrated to make our bonds the more heavy I mean anoâ—her Link of Yron added to the concatenation of their cruelty constantly exercised in this Exile upon the 20 of the 1 moneth 1656 came Captain Floyd and Major Strange with an ORDER from White-Hall to remove M Gen Harrison from us to High-gate to his own house a prisoner under pretence of the very desperate danger of death his Father the Collonel was in as also his dear Yoak-fellow so near the time of her Travel but our pretious Concaptive thus surprized was in great fears of the Serpents snares in this Order and would not give them any resolve what to do until he had acquainted us therewith assur'd us of his jealousies lest his further Liberty company and outward comforts should be any intanglement unto him or let to his inward joyes and prison-experiences knowing as Luther said that Vna guttula malae Conscientiae totum mare mundari gaudii absorbet the least drop of a troubled spirit swallows up the whole Ocean of al outward comforts or delights so that he did earnestly desire us to set it before the Throne for a Resolution which we agreed unto and at the end of that day came in the two again who were to take him into custody who after we had given him our apprehensions dealt very roundly and plainly with them that he could not thank them for their pretended Love nor did he think his Father or Wife would be worse by his continuance in this prison but rather the better for he was perswaded they should do wel and for a Goal he had rather have this then any for the cruelty thereof and of BULL who made so little conscience of what he said or did and who had indeed played the very beast with us so that for suffering it was the best prison we could be in nor would he make his house a prison to this effect he spake and told them that he could not declare his readiness to go with them but if they would carry him away he could not help it They said they did desire to serve him with al civility and respect and vvere loath to use any violence but could not go without him and they were now to take custody of him and so desired him to prepare himself the next day and to give directions which way he would go but he told them he would have nothing to do in it but he was a Sufferer nor would he direct nor bear any of the charges for he was a Prisoner and so for that night they parted and we prayed as we used to do together every night In the night I was much troubled about his going but the consideration of the Work at hand with that Word in Dan 2.18 That DANIEL and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon gave a truce the next morning BULL delivered him up two the other two who took possession of him we had much discourse and indeed the Lord gave him a very noble spirit though broken in himself to deal plainly both with Bull and them expressing his unwillingness to leave us behind or rather his desire to partake and carry with us stil in so sore bonds but when we saw he must be gone we parted as the Sun through a watry cloud with no little heaviness for a season and I said to C. Fl. Sir Tel your masters or any that ask after us that it were a little more MERCY if they had it to put us into any DUNGEON in London our own Land then to leave us here in the hands of such BLASPHEMERS and BRUITS so skilful to distroy but stil we bless the Lord for our Father makes it sweet and best to us We got upon a WALL and looked after them til they came neer to Newport and then my dear fellow prisoner Mr. Courtney who is left here and I kept the rest of the day in prayer easing our hearts and emptying our tears into the bosome of Heaven being a little troubled for our loss of so pretious a help so choise a companion as he was to us another Vetius Epigathus who was called the noble Advocate of Christians amongst the Martyrs to the teeth of their Tyrants but yet we had very blessed and fruitful experiences of a presence from the most high every day almost since which hath made his servants absence the more easie unto us Et bonus es Domine saies Bernard animae querenti quid invenienti O Lord what art thou then to them that find thee who art so gratious to us that SEEK thee in bonds After this we being like men out of mind in this Yron grave their cruelty increased yet more upon us to tire us out and Bulls brutish modesty was to have imposed upon the Maid-servants Father that his Daughter must tel him all the Tales that she could if she heard us at Table bed or board but speak a word of O. C. or any of their cruelty that she must betray her Master and bring him word of it and would have bound her Father to it in a bond To me particularly was their malice monstrous they put another Soldier and his Wife and sour Children into our other room where Bul himself had put us threw our wood and things out of doors brake open the locks and naild up the door from us with reproachful words to boot and this by Bulls command but we let them patiently in our own matters use any tyranny without taking notice and me thinks as Guy de Brez said The more SAVAGE they are the more sweetly hath my soul obtained WINGS to sore ALOFT above THEM all into the blessed Rest O blessed be the Lamb that was slain and is worthy for as Cruciger said GOD is so near us that he may be almost FELT Strict Orders were given that no one dare to shew familiarity unto us and the Woman with her four Children put into our room was charged when she came in to beware of us for if any of them were found to be familiar that is respectful or civil to any of us they should be turn'd out of the Caâ—tle without remedy or if any should but listen or stand to hear me at prayâ—r or in duty to God except it be such as were or laâ—e sent to listen under the windows and into holes for that purpose to catch and fetch some matter to make a crime of which above these two years they have been raking for so good is my God who blinds them that they see not vvhere my infirmities lye most but where the Almighty hath armed me
teeth of the proudest Tyrants on earth that we are above them and their rage do their worst because greater is he that is in us then HE that is in the world 1 Joh 4.4 and in our prison is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Power of the Witnesses a coming upon us through the strength of Christ to do marvelous things yea as Hag 2.7 8. According to the WORD that I have COVENATTED with you So my SPIRIT remaineth among you FEAR YE NOT for thus saith JEHOVAH yet a little while and I wil shake c. I will make the earth to tremble before you Joel 2.10 yea this pittiful pâ—dlie filthy mieryclay-Government that is gotten up in Great Brittany which is the first that must be struck through by the Stone Dan 2. Wherefore O my Friends we must and wil rejoyce yet more abundantly in this so blessed sweet temporate New-Testament Zone which we are under in prisons and Exiles for all the fierceness of this last Beast who hath made the torrid Zone of his tyranny inhabitable and insupportable and in truth if I know my heart in this matter I would say for one like Jerome of Prague when the flames were kindling behind him saith he with courage to the Executioner Come come Kindle me the fire before my face for if I had been afraid I had never come hither nor are we such lively members of Christs body if we cannot when called to it sweat a bloody sweat â—â—fr his sake Wherefore as the Dutch Martyr said Christo submittemus sexcenta si nobis essent Colla c. had we six hundred heads for one they should all off for Christ in this most blessed cause for Quas non oportet mortes praeeligere c What Deaths had we not better choose yea what Hels not endure then to decline one step so blessed so certain and so glorious a Cause as this is for which we are in bonds Wherefore O my most honorably beloved hearts the spirit of life rest upon you and of the two Witnesses to make you as stable and as able as Mount Sion Psal 125.1 yea as those Mountains of Brass from whence the Chariots of King Jesuâ— come they are a coming Zach 6.1 so that all the Devils of Hell may not be able to remove you then one inch of ground but that those who have gone before us from the dayes of Abel to this day and vvho have led up the VAN with valour with all the Elect Angels our fellow-servants in this Cause may exceedingly rejoyce to see our Faith and Faithfulness vigor constancy and courage in carrying up this finishing Rev 11 7. this Rear-testimony Mat 24.14 Rev 17.14 according to the Spirit of the Fifth Kingdom against the BEAST like the children of the captivity now to be returned like the children of the promise and of the Free-woman Gal 4. yea like the children of the Kingdom Mat. 13. that good seed that must sow the whole earth and the children of the Resurrection Luke 20. which are to have their lot in the next world upon the Earth and to reign with Christ a thousand years as I have proved at large in prison-born morning beams Lib 3. and 4. For Jehovah onely is the Lord Patron of al our preferments and whiles we are in the prison as I said we are not fishing for Gudgeons for We pre-possess several sweet tenures both free and copy-hold which we cannot part with no more then Nabaoth could with his Vineyard though we loose our lives for it and to conclude I woul'd leave tâ— is one word with you that the same Lord of Hosts and Captain of the Hoasts of Israel that went before them in the Van is now with us in the Rear where the enemy hath fallen on for that is now the Captains place so that we may confidently and undoubtedly expect as much of his prowess power wonderful appearances and presence with us in this Reare as ever any of the Saints or Martyrs among Jews or Christians found in the Van or in former dayes when the enemies fel upon them for this is clear in Isai 52.12 For ye shal not go out with hast nor go by flight for JEHOVAH wil go before you yea the God of Israel wil be your RERE-WARD Isai 58.8 Thy righteousness shal go before thee the glory of the Lord shall be thy RERE WARD then shalt thou cal and the Lord shal answer thou shalt cry and he shal say HERE I AM if you take away from the midst of thee the yoak c. I am prevented in my Word to the little Remnant I mean the Lambs faithful followers of the Womans seed that keep the Commandements of God and testimony of Jesus but in my Banish-born-Treatise lib last I write at large to them and of their Work if it ever come to light though I confess my Bucer-like hand which writes but bad may be some let or at least delay therein yet at present I am to bid them BEWARE and PREPARE beware of running before Orders come from Jehovah of Armies and prepare for them when they come yea to make all their Arrows ready against Babylon for the time to visit her is now come the set time to thresh her the Harvest is come Jer 50.51 Rev 4. and to favour Sion Psal 102.15 16. yea the set time is come and it is easie to see the SIGNS of Times come upon us yea the signes compleat them this little born this last B this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the learned read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this last limb of the Beasts Government and the man that maketh up his number six thousand six hundred six as we have proved in Prison Morn He is now come O up and be ready then like Roaring Lions against the end of the time times divident with your Ahud Chereb not Pe Chereb two mouthed swords like Christs men of War Pe Chareb or sword with one mouth only as hath been but Joel 2.2.7 9 11. to run climb the wal like mighty men and JEHOVAH shal utter his voice before you his Dread shal be upon your enemies who have insulted over you but shal fal before you Josh 2.9 Rev 11.11 yea they shal tremble and fear and wax feeble as Women Jer 51.30 Nahum 3.13 and become bread for your swords to eat as in Jeremy Acheleh Cherbechem Ne biechem because their defence is departed from them Numb 14.9 nor are the most godly amongst them that have Apostatized these times any more to be reckoned amongst the Lambs number then Dan and Ephraim because of their Apostacy Judg 17 18. were reckoned among the sealed ones of the 144000 Rev 7 5 6 7 8. Wherefore up O my dear â—arts who are of that number that stand before the Throne Rev 7.9 or with the Lamb in Mount Sion Rev 14.1 up and be ready with your Ahod weapon awake arise O English Shearjashub for out of JUDAH Christ with us Gentiles of Lea comes
forth the CORNER out of HIM the Nail out of HIM the Battle-bow and they shal be as mighty men which tread down their enemies as mire in the streets in the battle and they shal fight because the Kord is with them Zach 10.5 Wherefore I be sure ye begin-your Muster or to mount your horses Zach 1.8 upon a Mount Sion ground or in a New-Covenant principle that is purely for or rather with Christ and his Kingdom and for no earthly Persons things or Interests of Men whatsoever such a War was never yet in the four Monarchieâ—s And 2. Be sure that you be fully seperate from the Beasts dominion in all things and in every ministration as wel civil and Military as Ecclesiastick for the BLESSING shal be upon the head of him that is SEPERATED from his brethren Deut 33.16 and it is an Ordinance yea obedience to an indispensable command Rev 18.4 Jer 50.28 The voice of them that FLEE and ESCAPE out of the Land of Babylon to DECLAE IN SYON the vengeance of the Lord our God the vengeance of his Temple for such only are to come out of the Tabernacle of the Testimony and to pour out the Viols in pure linnen and not at all in defiled Garments Rev 15. But furthermore 3. Be sure you loose not the least opportunity or nick of time put into your hands to do the Work when the END comes And 4. Be sure you set not upon it with your own spirits nor pour out in it your own wrath or revenge but Gods only and upon such subjects too as the VVord reveals Yea 5 Lastly Be sure that you in your actings executings and sufferings be upon no other bottom being or foundation but the Lord Jesus 1 Cor. 3.11 whereon if you overcome you are sure to walk with him in VVhite Rev 3.4 Rev 7.9 14. amongst his WORTHIES yea and be as pillars in the Temple Rev 3.12 Rulers over the Nations Rev 2.26 27. and Heirs of the New Jerusalem glory the tree of Life the new name and the Throne Rev 2 7 17 and 3.12 21. Therefore up O ye Saints to take the Kingdom Dan. 7 â—8 and to possess it for ever for the GENTILES Christiani qui gentiliter vivunt have posses'd the outward Court this 42 moneths but We singers have the inner Court Ezek 40.44 and 't is now time to arise yea high time to deliver thy self O Syon Isai 52.1 2. and shake off thy dust to lay wast the land of Nimrod with the Sword Mica 5.6 7. And the Remnant of Jacob the VVorm shal be in the midst of many people as a DEW from the Lord as the showers upon the grass that TARRIETH not for MAN yea among the GENTILES as a Lion who if he go through both treadeth down and teareth in pieces and none can deliver Numb 23.24 the Holy City is the holy Camp in the outward Court of the Tabernacle that is to arise with the Two VVitnesses and root the Beast that trod it under foot Therefore for the Lords sake Sirs be valiant like Davids worthies yea King Sclomons men Cant 3 7 8. Who all hold swords being expert in VVar. It is said of Sadeel that with Gener a Citizen he fought so furiously for the then cause of God that he himself put a thousand Spaniards to flight and shal we fear Non de vita sed de scuto solliciti estoti regard not your lives for the work of Christ when called to it It is said that Sceva at the siege of Dyrrachium so long alone resisted Pompeys Army that he had two hundred twenty darts sticking in his shield and lost one of his eyes and yet gave not over til Caesar came into his Rescue is it possible my Brethren that this could be for the carnal interest of a man in a fourth Kingdom spirit and shal not as noble a spirit and as high a love be found in a Fifth Kingdom man for the most excellent cause anâ— King that ever was on earth viz Jesus Christ and him onely Blessed Lord when wilt thou raise us up with thy spirit of life or how long shal all lye dead O what cowards are we now to run into holes and corners for fear of sufferings surely Lord Jesus had al thy Disciples dealt thus with thee in their Generations there would have been but few Martyrs or followers of the Lamb O I blush for shame when I behold them that are gone before with these that now follow IGNATIVS said he had rather be a Martir then a Monarch but now men had rather be Monsters then Martirs when the Dragon Emperors gave Orders to put al to death that would confess themselves christians they came in of themselves by whole flocks confessing themselves christians and defying the Heathens as in Arrius Antoninus's dayes they ran in voluntarily to dye and to be tormented as did Romanus Gerdius Menas and a many others in Dioclesians dayes but ah where be they that run in flocks to White Hal now saying we are Fift Monarchy men or for the Kingdom of Christ and wil live and dye with our brethren together see 1 John 3.16 Hereby perceive we the love of God because he laid down his life for us and we ought to LAY DOWN our lives sor the BRETHREN But ah how iniquity abounds and the love of many waxeth cold as Gui de Brez Martir in Flanders so Mr Burroughs tels us of the Woman we heard of before who ran for Martirdom with the Saints for fear she should loose it and do we sit stil for fear of sufferings which were such Jocularia ludicra as Vincentius called them to the Saints in primitive times Rejoyce and leap for joy as the word is to suffer for Christ or be found doing for him when he comes Now I beseech the Lord awaken you if you be of that race and rouze you up and set you all awork as upon life and death with all speed to overceme the beast and his followers with as lively a spirit as high a zeal and readiness to dye in the service of Christ and this his most comprehensive Cause at this day as they were in theirs through the are greatest strife and so to overcome with the Word of the Testimonie and blood of the Lamb not loving your lives Rev 12.11 Bate me nothing of my sufferings saies Gordius to the Tormentors for it is to my loss then Majora certamina majora sequuntur praemia VVherefore because I must break off with these few words to you as to OVERCOMMERS for so I trust you are or wil be in CHRIST Jesus and close Followers of he Lamb I shal leave you with that blessed man Mr Hollands Legacy bequeathed to his Friends at his death against Popery Commendo vos dilectioni Dei odio Papatus c. So against this Apostate-Generation I commend you my Brethren to the dearest lovo of God and to the deadtiest hatred of these Hipocrites and Apostates AMEN for Heb 10
further of his Nimrodian tyranny and trading in this Dominion since the late Apostacy That which I have seen and felt of his fury at Lambeth for sa many months among Monsters rather than men so greedy of my blood I omit here as being mentioned in my Preface to Prison-born but that men if they will may see what an unreasonable beastlike Monster this is that rends tears and devours us so I have added this History of some passages since Lambeth which I have suffered for the sake of my deare Master Jesus Christ in this his Cause all which put together will clear it I think to any capacity reason honesty or modest of man that it is a persecution and no other which we groan under in these Coals and Exiles having no other law sentence judgement or execution but the barbarous Sword over us or Thief-law For as Tacitus said non utendum est imperio ubi legibus uti possit such power is not to be used where good laws have any great force And that men may see how dangerous yea deadly this Relapse is it spares the evill and malignant humours to fall upon the Vitals Fifth-kingdommen and animals upright Common-wealths-men in this Nation as the Papists that would imprison for eating an Egg qui autem totam dominicam diem vacat temulentiae scortis al ae audit bellut homo as Erasmus said whiles he is a brave fellow amongst them that will spend the Lords-dayes in drinking and drabbing whoring and roguing and at this day we see it especially in Carisbrook that if a man draw but near on the Lords dayes or listen to hear us pray c. he is presently sent for dealt with and threatned if not driven out of the Castle and charge given that not any one do show a kind look or word to me upon pain of casting out But they may sit the Lords dayes with the doores I would not say Whores open for all to see them in the Ale-house drinkings swilling drabbing and smoaking tobacco as they do excessively yet none dare reprove them for it Mr. S. the Chaplain being turned out for reproving chiefly I hear and my self beaten buffitted and abused for an accasional reproving of blasphemie Blessed be my God who hath given me a back and breast to bear it Yea who sees not that men of very vain and corrupt conversations flagitious and infamous for notorious sins and crimes are taken into favour yea hoised up into high-places and at least allowed to have their liberty Whiles such as unfainedly fear the Lord and dare not willingly commit any sin but make a most tender conscience of all their wayes are very wickedly and irrationally imprisoned exiled hardly handled and almost hindred to breath in the ayre Now I do declare it as before the most righteous and holy judge of heaven and earth should any one ask me why I have been that is as some say upon the civill account so long in prison hard bonds and banishment year after year which long imprisonment the Martyrs accounted worse then death I must acknowledge an absolute ignorance in my own Conscience before God Angels and Men let some Time servers say what they please for themselves without this be it that I cannot in Conscience turn with the Dog to the Vomit and in plain English lye dissemble for swear and play the Traitor to Christ the Hypocrite to God and the Knave with men as others have done but thanks be to God for it for this is a Cordial to us that wheras by a just Law others are or ought to be imprison'd for iniquity we are imprison'd banish'd against all law but the arbitrary lawless sword because we cannot we will not we dare not though we die for 't fall in with iniquity But so be it O Lord thou Lord of Righteousness for as one saâ—es has epulas semper desideravi I will not deny but my infirmities been very many which I think I could weep over the feet of any that shall reprove me for them and indeed my temptations here in close bonds in banishment would be more were it not in an inclosed garden to me in Christ being as a man dead and out of mind but what I have done worthy of imprisonment and banishment them excepted I know not This I can say from my soule that I think as I preached so I sought nothing but Christ and his Kingdome and as to the World I have formerly said it with Sohinus to D. Casimire that I am boâ—n rather for labours than for honours and so I told O. C. in my Epist of Ch. Discipline before these times p. 10. I do professe it from my heart the greatest temptations I fear are falling into honour place preferment esteem or estate to much for me being best when poorest highest when lowest most when least and when I have nothing as possessing all things 2 Cor. 6.10 Yea if as Jerome saies that Woman is proved chaste that hath liberty and opportunities to sin and yet will not I may say it without oftentation as Heb. 11.15 16. that we might have had our opportunities to have returned to them had we not sought a far better Country and I think I may say too somewhat like Thomas Aquin. when preferment was offered him Chrysostomi in Matthaeum Commentarium mallem For I would say I had rather have one chapter I could name in the Revelation then the greatest relation I could name to any crown in Christendome so that these things I thank the Lord I think I am above in him who hath said as Jo. 16.33 Be of good cheer I have overcome the world But it may be my reproving the rank sins of these rude times have provoked the rough hands of Esau upon me and Nimrod to hunt me but if so it is no new suffering for such a Cause if we ask the Prophets and Apostles as wâ—ll as our Saviour and such have the two Witnesses been in all ages Zuinglius preached against the sins of the times and the mercenary pensions of them that served the Princes of the earth in my judgment more clearly then Luther and so did Bucer very freely but the last were never so hardly handled as we are for it besides Corolestadius went further for he reproved the very constitutions of their Government and the very colour which Luther had to oppose him was about Civill Laws saying he would have all Magistrates to rule by the Judicials of Moses as these men say of us vide Speech to Parl. Sept. 4 16. p. 16. so that it is no new Doctrine though they so menstrously misreport of us and our principles Canutus King of England in those thick times of Popery did confesse to all his Lords about him no mortal worthy the name of a King save he to whose back heaven earth and Sea by his laws eternall are obedient Hen. Huntington and shall we in these dayes after such solemn engagements for a Theocracy as I
have proved admit of any other King Lord Protector or Lawgiver to ravish us with their lusts God forbid Wherefore for Christs sake stand fast unmoveable and abounding in the work of the Lord 1 Cor. 15.58 and I do professe for my own part seeing the Lord hath honoured me hitherto with this Chain for this his Cause though I be a poore weake worm yet with his grace sufficient for me I will abide by it for as one of the Martyrs often used Vespasians saying Imperatorem decet stantem mori It becomes as that are Kings and Priests to God Rev. 5.10 to dye standing not stooping to the lust of any man especially now the day of Christ is come Therefore let us all fall in and on and stand to it with the Lamb and the twenty four Elders or the twenty four orders of the Levites about the throne in this Cause by which tribe of Levi are indeed to be understood the Generation Saints the first-born Heb. 12.23 first fruits Rev. 14.4 and therefore have they the precedency of other Saints as Generation Elders who like the Levites before under a curse Gen. 49.7 obtained the blessing for executing the judgment Exod. 32.27 28 29. with the sword on their brethren and spared not Now of these in Davids dayes were the twenty foure both Rulers Singers and Ministers 1 Chron. 29.25 So that such such Generation Saints the twenty foure shall joyn in one work and song with the Lamb and with all the living creatures about the Throne and with the holy Angels Rev. 4.9 10 11. and 5.11 and altogether in one Hallelujah Amen as Isa 52.7 8. which he waites for who is buried with the body of Jesus in this new Sepulchre where the souldiers seek to keep down his Resurrection and the hope of your Brother John Rogers Morning-beams OR The Vision of the Prison-Pathmos LIB I. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 CHAP. I. Hagah The Introduction with the Cause Accidental of the following Discourse upon the present Truth and Testimony IT is none of the least part of our Prison-Threnodies in the present Tragedie which the bloody BEAST by a new Guize hath acted again upon the Stage of Great Britanny The general Introduction by Lamentation the trampling under foot the present Truth and Testimony of Jesus in this last Scene of the holy Citie 's suffering as I may say for the fourty two months so as that scarce one Interpreter of a thousand durst entertain or own it simply which at best hath but a Pasport from Many and so is whip'd away from one to another from post to pillar till it come to the place where it was born but there it hath a being blessed be Jehovah else it is hardly handled according to the Court-Law for a Vagrant with Warrants like to Pope Engenius's hoc esse verum si ipse velit sed non aliter This or that is true if he his Holiness or Highness will have it so but not otherwise Who then can finde the faith or conrage to expose his life or at least his liberty and estate to so prodigal 2 Hazard as he must do who will fetch it from under the Beast's foot and feel the acrimony or cruelty of his sharp clunch claw or horn piercing him to the very heart O this is as hard a task in a sense as to rescue the Lamb from the claw of the Lion or paw of the Bear Therefore Isa 59.4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 There is none that passeth his word for righteousness nor is there any judgement for the Truth O sad 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what not one Well may our Prisons sound and resound with exaggerated Nightgroans for the Court and Country increase in lying and transgressing and falling backwards perpetrating iniquity at so high a rate as will suddenly fill up their measure this I see evidently from my Iron bars as v. 13 14 15 16. and yet None intercede for the Truth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not one will run after it follow it meet it or to the face of All own it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 O what a Lamentation is this If one doth like Wisdom's child a little justifie it yet where is he that doth according to the Hebrew intercedere intercedens for he that doth so as it is in the text exposes himself to be spoiled plundered imprisoned made a prey to the ravenous Beast that eats bones and all Zeph. 3.2 Yea although he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that departs from the evil of the Times is sure to suffer so yet for all that it is a Wonder to me how we can hold in to see what officious servants Charles Stuart this Court or any carnal Interest have to run and ride on their Errands to venture and engage life liberty limbs estates and all for them and their Interest but the Lord Jesus ah alas as if he were the worst Master of all can finde few faithful that will venture half so far for him and his suffering Cause at this day especially perpending the point of Time the progress of the Testimony the approach of the Period of the Beast's dominion in this street of the fourty two months and of the rise of the Witnesses with the little Stone or the remnant of the Womans seed who must strike the Image-Government of England all to pieces the terrible Earthquake which shall rend them up by the very roots Also when I advert the advantages of the Saints in this street above any other of all the great City or Beasts dominion the forwardness of the Work here the height of the Controversie already between the Lamb and the Beast precious blood of Saints having seal'd thereto and the Vials so lately pour'd out upon the King Lords Prelates and corrupt Powers of this Seat also our late zeal against Common-prayer Crosses Painted Windows Rails Surplices corrupt Ministers Magistrates and the like O! my soul even bleeds within me to behold the present apostacie of Spirit Principles and Persons not onely among Mercenary Professors but the Little Remnant whose Coldness Cowardliness and Carelesness is almost incredible at this time of Day too and were it not to fulfil the Word of God Rev. 11. that this present Death and Darkness is upon us for these three yeers and an half I should be so astonished at it as not to know what to make of it But when I am venting my burthen with these like words or passions Lord where is the Spirit of old yea the Spirit and faith and courage that we our selves had some ten twelve or fourteen years ago among the good old Puritans yea the spirit of English-men and rational men among us O! what a Change is this What sheepishness what sleepiness what deadness what darkness what timorousness and what tameness is now seized upon us The Light arising in Darkness doth put an end to such Reasonings and Syllogizings giving rest to my Spirit till the time of the end which is at