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A85467 Charls Stuart and Oliver Cromvvel united, or, Glad tidings of peace to all Christendom, to the Jews and heathen, conversion, to the Church of Rome, certain downfall: the Irish not to be transplanted. / Extraordinarily declared by God almighty to the publisher, Walter Gostelow. Gostelo, Walter. 1655 (1655) Wing G1318; Thomason E1503_3; ESTC R22601 98,622 320

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will revealed in his word which is to fear God honour the King not to side with those that are given to change but to keep his Commandments do the thing that is Just Honourable and good that is to all men as we would they should do unto us If we will take any thing by violence let it be the Kingdom of Heaven which ought to be our devoir not other mens rights whether of birth or estates which ought to be our restore Write O Lord all these things in our hearts and incline us to keep thy Law which is the Commandments of God and not of men I have now done referring to all of Dream and my own Interpretation of that yet what God was pleased to have me observe also finished some of my Visions which refer to this as I humbly conceive most material and therein I have observed what I could not but observe For that of Prophesie truely I believe I may without any delusion or spirit of pride call it the words and good pleasure of the ever living God and so far am I from believing it to be other or that it will not come to pass that I could not depart Youghall before I had given it under my hand sealed with the Coat of the Right Honourable Lord of Broghill and upon my knees delivered it before no less than twenty other Honourable and good witnesses that if it came not to pass they put me to death Now that I may not appear other than what I was at that time to the praise and honour of God well in my sences not mad but true to what I have received of the Lord no impostor nor yet a lying Prophet or one that would delude by lying vanities and speak when and what not commissioned of the Lord I do here again confirm agree unto and consent that if it come not to pass the things in the Prophesie I refer to onely which are of the most wonderfull and strangest nature there is the most improbability by outward appearance if these come not to pass I say I consent that you first shew me to the World from place to place afflicting my body and after that burn my book and by death put an end to my dayes as I conceive deservedly I ought to suffer if I speak as from the Lord when never sent For allowance of which to me it seems there is good warrant in that Deuteronomy the eighteenth Chapter from the twentieth verse to the end being the word of God to which words of God and its interpretation I refer all I have said and Prophesied to be tried by as being the most sure rule against and contrary to which word of God no Prophesie or Prediction of man can stand as I firmly believe which indeed the Lord Cromwell well observed to me when I gave him the knowledge of my Prophesie by word of mouth But if this be besides Scripture yet not contrary to Scripture then I say in my Judgement it is a work fit for the mission of a Prophet or if it be for further explain of some things in Scripture not untill now or yet fully revealed or well understood then also hath it warrant but any new or giddy Tenets I will never force to my own destruction out of this holy word O Lord which to do I believe is the greatest sacriledge in the whole world But willingly I do as I wish all men would refer all to thy most holy word of which I conceive wise men and the body of that ministery thou hast sent into the world to be the fittest Interpreters to our well understanding of it for to and with such thou hast promised to be assisting with thy holy Spirit for their enablement unto the end of the world and that neither Hell nor the Devil shall ever prevail over or against them And those thus blest and so sent I believe are not the Pope nor his Cardinals who for their own ends make marchandise of the Kingdom of Heaven that they may keep up their own upon earth so do Schismaticks others to the dishonouring of God the scandalizing of his Protestant Religion which shall now flourish beyond all compare But those shall suddenly fall and melt away as greater and lesser snow-bals this is certain And now methinks I hear some as I read those did in the first of the Acts of the Apostles and the sixth ask our Lord Wilt thou at this time restore again the Kingdom Truely I know nothing to the contrary but it will be so if you will but break off from your so much beloved and too long lain in sins and impieties it may now presently be Certainly there is no better way to hasten its coming yet the next verse tells you It is not for you to know the times and seasons which the Father hath put in his own power Read it the case there just as ours The Scepter departed from Judah the Government forst out of the hands of the Jews the people desire nothing more than the return of it Nay the Apostles themselves are the Persons that enquire if it may not be at this time Yet observe our Lords answer even to them It is not for you to know what the Father hath put in his own power for shame seek the Kingdom of Heaven and its righteousness which doing all other things shall in due time be given unto you Your selves are the cause it is not already come to pass by your continuance in sin Suffer me but a few words and I have done there is an end you hear of all the Wars in the Christian World but as yet you see it not God be thanked for what you do see more probability than ever Is it not very far advanced here on earth Have we not that already with some Nations People we never had before leagues of perpetual peace as I have heard and are we not with others in treaty Nay very far agreed towards that purpose Who well understand the Scriptures know it is very frequently in them used that very expression by the Prophets sent of God the present tense for the future there is an end that is it is so decreed in Heaven and it shall be so on Earth it being the ordinary phrase of the Prophets by reason of the infallible certainty of the events to speak of things to come as already past the instances are obvious and infinite See here another motive to repentance that you may forthwith reap this so great a blessing of peace on Earth that which makes Heaven so desireable and lovely having in it the blessing of peace And yet will you be mad to go on in sin and make the Prophets sent to you for amendment of life mad also as your iniquities continued in will do it did so to that good Prophet Hosea the 9. and the 7. as before I hasten to an end there are 18 persons you read of that shall never dye but be
you you would never confess your selves guilty but God sees it and forgives it too with him there is mercie if you confess and forsake your sins making all possible amends and for the time to come all your dayes walk before him in a holy obedience to this end he in mercie hath sent me to you that you might truely repent and live My next observe is the Church of Rome shall fall a Church you see she is so I ever believed her to be once a pure one in whose Churches often both in France and Spain many a good instructive Sermon to amendment of life I have heard and truely in their Churches also I have often performed I hope acceptable Devotions beseeching God that when the people came into those Churches to pray and to learn that they might go forth do and practise for the time to come better things to which end I believe our pious Fore-fathers built them pray and beseech we should for the people there assembled that God then would be pleased to hear in Heaven also send thither to officiate such Pastors and Teachers as might be most agreeable to his holy Word so more to Gods glorie and the peoples good that the people might not longer be deluded by those jugling villains which make merchandize of the Kingdom of heaven and hold the people in sinfull ignorance turning almost all their practises and miscalled Devotions into finenesses crafty frauds to inrich themselves by just one with our late temporizers are those Jesuits such a stall do they both make of the Pulpit from thence teaching damnable Doctrines contrary to the word of God calling evil good and good evil one of whose Tenents is the depose of Kings yea killing them too if they rule not according to their fancies is 't not pity the Kings of the Earth should allow either of you residence in any of their Territories fire brands you are whose damnable Tenents are so declared contrary to the King of Heavens in this I couple you together Rebels both Jesuits and Sectaries I would I could exempt the Presbyterian the froward and worst are not guiltless our late King was in the right when he advised our now Soveraign his Son not to have a prejudice against the Protestant Religion in regard of the ill measure dealt to him his Father assure your Majesty he doth it was by such done who were no true Sons of that Church the Church of England abhord as the Church of God should do all such damnable practices and wicked Tenents See here again my King was not your glorified Father a light of Heaven shining in a dark place as in the midst of a wicked and froward generation to keep your feet judgment in the way of Gods Commandments Behold now the goodness of God in letting the world see that the Protestant Religion taught no such corrupt Doctrine neither were the major part of the people of England so ill principled I have heard and from a good hand also that the reformed Churches of France did upon that Act of cuting off the King assembled their Doctors and Pastors who declared and Printed to the World as a Gentleman of Rochel of good account assured me that the word of God warranted so such damnable proceedings in Subjects and for their Reformed Church of France as the true Church of England they neither taught nor allowed any such Doctrine of Devils or practises of wicked men Behold I say how God hath freed this his Church from that asperse and this our Nation from that dishonour the lesser and inconfiderable number never yet included the greater and the wiser it was well observed by Mounsiour Causabon a learned and Honourable Father of the Church of France by King James he was invited hither and rests Honourably interred in West-minster Abby That it was the violence of the Church of Rome not our choice that hath excluded us because we could not love her errors she hath ejected our persons These are those wicked ones that had rather rend the Church than want their wills who can be content to sacrifice truth peace millions of souls Kings and all to their own ambition and covetuousness one of which sins alone is the root of all evil what is it then with the rest of their rabbel but I may not aggravate where God hath pardoned if we repent and bring forth better fruits This also was prophesied that their seditions and madness would at once be the scandal of the true Church of God and give advantages to the false which is the Church of Rome know you not that I speak truth Well down they must both fellow-workers of iniquity Sectaries and Church of Rome a Church you see she is call'd though adulterous and Idolatrous we read the Lord calls the people of Israel so guilty yet his people and you my people Israel when at the same time he sends his Prophets to let them know that for these very sins his punishments were hastening to come upon them yea to lay them waste and cast them out of the land as those rebellious Israelies his people so that of Rome a Church Thus we allow the greatest robber to be a true man though a notorious Thief much the better this keeps him not from the gallows to which a true man comes not but to look on and be premonished by so sad a spectacle here me thinks we might be reconciled take now the best of all sides something good in all hold it fast put that together and you have the onely true Church against which you see the gates of Hell shall never prevail and because of the strength and yet power of that Church of Rome we cannot take away the Hay and stubble and mistempered morter her Babel-builders have raised her to this height with that her confusion as her fall may be the greater the Lord himself comes to do the work down they must and this Church of Rome shall fall he hath said it But see the loving kindness of the Lord extended to the Sons of men and to that Church also in that he tells them not onely of her fall but whither they shall repair for safety even under his wings into his Church and to the Obedience of his King CHARLS STUART by the Lord now declared Defender of the Faith Here 's a visibility and Church the Gates of Hell shall never prevail against also a rule given and a sword put into the hands of the General of all his Forces Oliver Cromwell by name against whose rule and sword never shall any prosper that riseth up or is drawn first proved in Gods word for the defence of his Church now also by this his Prophesie and immediate dictate from Heaven Well what is to be done forthwith turn to this so mercifull Lord your God withall your hearts proclaim a fast and keep it truely and let us know when you do it that we may pray together God would be pleased to
of all to love true Religion your just interest brotherly love in which onely we can be happy in that good way and best example I beseech God be you the first and most eminent I may not doubt of it for whom God Almighty hath reserv'd nay declared such everlasting loving kindnesses Sir I do truely tell you I could with the most ardent desire greatest hazard endeavoured to have hang'd or murdered all your Enemies but God hath reproved me I can now do nothing with more delight than to pray for them yet let 's not trust them that 's a folly I beseech God to deliver us from the wisdom of the Serpent is not denied though the innocency of the Dove be injoyned both most excellent for imitation Sir I have no intelligence more than with the common it is believed that some dayes since from Holland came expresses of the confirmation of peace I believe after this summer within a short time there will be an end of all the Wars in the Christian world Sir I have seen letters reporting your affairs at Ratisbon to be well advanced and in good condition humane wisdom the strength of allies and confederates for the probable carrying on or promoting of your just interest may not be neglected or refused but Sir I do hope Nay believe that the Almighty will do this great work for the good of all without bloudshed if we give over to abuse his mercy and provoke not his wrathfull indignation then for his mercy honour name sake he hath promised to bring all these things to pass for you this Land Protestant Religion and although mighty strange and wonderfull these things are yet he will do it for the reasons above and it shall be marvelous in our eies as in my first Papers you have it at full consisting of ten sheets numbred in the margent as they should be read Sir the time is now at hand in May you shall see the fulfilling of another part of that Prophesie which the Lord was pleased to have spoken by me his most unworthy Servant and Prophet the not transplanting of the Irish Nation I beseech you Sir let Doctor Earls first read my Letters for I spell ill write ill and point not well he is a good man let him also chuse your Clergie and be you Sir advised by him God Almighty be pleased to preserve you give you abundantly of his grace mercie and wisdom and with it all things that good is Sir So prayes the humblest and unworthiest of the servants of the Lord my God and you my King April 21. 1654 Walter Gostelo My second Letter to the PROTECTOR O. C. Most excellent Sir MY belief as my hopes is that what your Lordship was pleased to say unto me I shall in the best fittest time reap the speaking with you I did return to my Lodging at Saint James the Tuesday I promised your good self but there I met with this affront as to have it disposed of in my absence contrary to my order and expectations affronts in other places also Indeed Sir I meet with little else but aversness to good in men I have since expected your Lordships Command or the happiness of seeing you neither yet come to hand or eye did not the goodness of God from the mouth of such as his Providence guided me to hear Preach let me see what I am to expect from man though of my own Religion my Spirits would fail me the Jews so ill treated the Prophets sent to them in their times and we no better follow their bad examples My Lord be not backward to hear and consider the great good the Lord is pleased to do and bring to pass for the honour of the Protestant Religion the general good of all men amongst whom more particularly our Soveraign CHARLS STUART and your good self so sure as the Heaven is over my head and the Earth under my feet I do believe his Majesty and some others of which number you are to be blest with long life honour as much as mortality is capable of here everlasting happiness hereafter My Lord as these things are the decree of heaven so are they to all assured the strongest Obligations of the strictest obedience upon Earth I have already wrote to my King I could not do otherwayes First to let him know what God is pleased to assure shall be done for him next to minde him of his dayly duty how that without holiness no man shall ever see the face of God to his comfort Further that he forgive all his Fathers Mothers and his own Enemies for no man yet ever lost by referring all to God in this he will best imitate his glorified Father certainly in Heaven who prayed dying for forgiveness to those that put him to death For the remitting of the highest injuries we have the best of patterns our Lord himself My Lord if I have any other end than the glory of God the honour of the Protestant Religion the discharge of my duty to the command of my God in my desire to speak with you then do thou O Lord whom I believe hath deputed me to these very ends never suffer me to see your face Therefore good my Lord be not backward to let me speak with you which done as God shall direct I shall afterwards haste as concerned into other Kingdoms to those in Ireland and this when communicated to your good self I have done my duty and shall I presume then have quiet and after see the fulfill of all to Gods glory who for his name and mercy sake hath assured me he will bring it to pass and it shall be marvelous in our eyes My Lord I ever shall continue to pray that God would bless and preserve you to the overcoming of all your Enemies but more especialy your corruptions So prayes the unworthiest of the Lords servants and yours S r Walter Gostelow At my house in Broadstreet May 25. 1654. A POST-SRIPT MY Lord be pleased to allow this Post-script I dare not omit it your Lordship hath heard me and now read my Prophesie I believe divers others also that of Elenor Channel who was sometimes taken dumb a Prophesie very highly considerable failing out in a time much about mine the matter one with mine sent upon that imploy of the Lords to your good self as most considerable in this Kingdom disquieted as I was untill she had communicated or made known the whole to you onely addressed Now because it is so very full and falls in such a conjuncture of time with mine and but short I have printed it at the end of this My Lord I well remember you were pleased after the good Admonition given me to serve God and to walk according to his will revealed in his word to let me understand your self formerly had and now lately also some things presented unto you which were since come to pass also but to rely on Visions or Revelation we
sung by the Quire on the Leads his Star then appearing I my self shewed it to very many hundreds if not thousands witness this So that the Heavens haveing now again demonstrated Him the Seas waiting on him the Earth flourishing under him what remains but that we get our selves into a readiness to receive so great a blessing from so good a God Whom in mercy he hath appointed over us as I firmly believe The Lord of Broghill I confess I advised never to right or draw sword against this King For the war of Ireland I now understood it better than formerly and therefore did believe that to his Lordship who was born there at Lismore too as I conceive and resided in that Kingdom the devices and subtleties of the Church of Rome in that Rebellion or since in the carrying on of that War were better known than to his late Majesty whose goodness by some was too too much abused seeing it not with his own eyes but hearing it by others misrepresented His Lordship who had that great advantage as to be amongst them himself which was denied his late Majesty did see that his Unholiness of Rome had onely a modest design to suppress the Protestant Religion and cheat the King of that Kingdom that he might the better be soon usurper of all the rest This I now firmly believe was the ground of the Lord of Broghills fighting in that Kingdom So never at all against the King but for him And I do the rather believe this because I never had any Commission or desire to treat him other than with all respect as a person of Honour that had great and good accomplishments For I told him that day before I went out of his presence that I believed he never was against the King Further I never had desire to apply my self to any man in that Kingdom but his good self And see now as you shall anon how God honoureth that Man above all the sword-men in that Kingdō as Oliver Cromwel only of the sword-men the most in the Kingdō of England And more than to these two onely did I never apply my self sent of Heaven to these so glorious Saints first on Earth that they may be most glorious ones hereafter in Heaven But thou Church of Rome shalt fall as anon I shall shew you God will down with thee These two Persons of Honour have and shall the most of any two Subjects in the world help down with her I had all most forgot my then last observe to his Lordship A material on it is that although every man stood up bowed and Worshipped God following the Crown and with one consent crying out O Lord we praise thee for this Crown is of Heaven come we will follow and obey it yet I say this of all people wherein no one man dissented did not seem for number to exceed four or five hundred persons which occasioned from me then this observe to his Lordship That I feared our sins and the punishment for sin would almost lay waste our Land we having so highly provoked the Lord by our too much delighted in iniquities and rebellions of all sorts which we had just ground to bewail least they consumed us But truely since I have better hopes nay firmly believe I do that if we would turn to God with all our hearts and do the things here God adviseth to by me his unworthy servant in much mercy sent unto you that you might repent finde deliverance and so live abundantly happy this number of men which as I former observed past for the whole people in the Land of which none dissented I now hope and pray will most happily prove to be that number of men which represent the whole people of the Land and yet exceed not 4 or 5 hundred persons now of this Parliament to which purpose I beseech every good mans prayers and every bad mans amendment of life and for dissenting persons in that body believe as I do there will not be found one or not one to hurt us Who can be unhappy when all agree to fear God and honour their King keeping the commandments of the one the wholesom and well constituted Laws of the other in which doing there cannot but be happiness here and ever hereafter into which good old way of thine and ours good Lord be pleased to set us that we may be certainly blest our feet being then found in the way of thy steps Thus ended all I then observed and to my Lodging I retired to the Widdow Marricks house in Youghall SECT III. VEry few dayes past but by accidental rancounter I met and fell into discourse with a Gentleman who had commanded formerly a Troup of Horse in the Parliament service we argued and to this we came whether Kings were made so originally of God or the people the latter he held I the former which I proved to him out of the Word of God that first the Choice next the Anointing of them was of God onely and his Prophets sent by his command as in Saul David and others so not at all in the people 'T is true the people were all along commanded to pray for them and to obey them when thus set up by God So we ended the discourse and quietly parted Some four dayes after one Sunday morning as I best remember having lain most of that night in Meditation Prayer about day I did see sitting at my beds foot behinde the curtain a Man sent of God whilest He continued there sitting there fell a Showre of Fire thick and in drops like Rain all about my beds foot Full in my eye was the Spirit there sitting and the fire falling down Awake I conceive my self to have been for at that very time I called to minde the Fire that came down from Heaven upon the heads of the Apostles to their inablement Anon the Spirit called me by my name Walter Gostellow I indeavoured to reply did open my mouth tried twice but my tongue doubled in my mouth and I could not bring forth my words or speak He called me the second time by my name Walte Gostellow I indeavoured the second reply but my tongue doubled as formerly and I could not speak He called me the third time by my name Walter Gostellow to which I then answered Here I am he asked and said unto me Did you see the fire come down from Heaven as a shore of Rain I replied Yes I did he then strook by the Curtain looked me full in the face so I him He wept and said unto me you do well interpret Scripture clearly referring as I believe to this That the Choice of Kings this of ours especially is onely in God and not at all in the people This over I wrote to the Lord of Broghill that nights Vision for other I cannot call it besought his Lordship that once more he would be pleased to admit me before him there and then to be present also some
France or beyond the Seas be highly instrumental to turn the Queen to the Protestant Religion who with the King and all of our Nation should return into this Land and there should be no more Heart-burnings divisions or disgust amongst us but we should all agree in the future to fear God honour the King and live in brotherly love one with another to our General good content and admiration of the world I dare not here omit to let the Reader know I did then say I did believe these happy Mutations would be shortly and that the Kings Birth-day would be a day of great Rejoycing in these his Kingdoms Nay I have expected more alterations already than yet I have seen and said I have to some that I did believe this Summer past would have made the certain things yet to come to pass much more apparent before now But I see where the bringing of any things to pass depends on mans seeing to do Evil there is nothing but disappointment O Lord if thou turn not Man to thy self or thy self do the work when will it be Those that have robbed thy house and undone man their brother whether thy Ministers or others are in no disposition as yet to part with their so much beloved sins because profitable Those that on the otherside have by swearing forswearing uncleanness and all manner of deboystness yet continued in giving just occasion to say the former men and Times were as bad as these because they repent not but continue to wallow in all manner of their pleasing sins and corruptions who by so doing caused the Protestant religion as much as the former Evil doers to be Evil spoken of Truely reader if any thing hath befooled in regard of time the spiritual man it is your sins of all sorts yet continued in Read the 9 of Hosea and the 7 vers There you shall see that the iniquity of the people made that Prophet mad yet you that will not part with your lusts and Hypocrisies and other impieties of all sorts must be reckoned the onely sober and wise men whilst he whom God hath spoken to you account mad Did I not tell you That he which covers his sins should not prosper but he that confesseth and forsakes them should finde mercy Gods displeasure is ready to blow over did we but seek him by our unfained repentance and lay hold on him in faith by our true and new obedience Doth not the Scriptures all along give you this for reason of the withhold of Gods mercies There are yet reasons Observe I beseech you as anon I shall let you see I had no sooner proclaimd this and other his loving kindnesses towards us A distracted and distressed people in that Church of Youghall which I could not chuse neither can I do other than apply my self to all concerned either by word of mouth or by writing But I truely say unto you I was there the third day clapt into prison committed onely for Teason when I know no man living is or can be further from the contrivance or less desirous of shedding any one mans bloud in the world Nay I would from the bottom of my heart so do I pray that God would be pleased to set every mans sins in order before his face give him the heart truely to repent of them come forth confess and truely forsake all his iniquities and practice the contrary virtues for the time to come So it is clearly certain God would be most glorified and we most happy that have all done amiss one way or other It is the worst of men can kill but who can make alive The good Spirit of God stirs not any man to any private revenge Not a Bird of prey but a Dove was the shape wherein our Saviour Christ appeared Many O Lord lived by thee never any destroyed onely the poor Fig-Tree as a real Embleme of thy severity to the unprofitable and fruitless After mercy so long abused 't is time for judgement So that I say there I was some eight weeks imprisoned and although I often wrote and sollicited that I might be sent over to Oliver Cromwell to whom I was more particularly deputed and so most considerable for the carrying on of this work of the Lord. Nay I offered if they pleased I would pay bear the whole charge of a convoy to him and give it under my hand and faith I would not so much as endeavour to escape Further that if I was found to be deluded then I was content they should inflict upon my body what punishment they pleased But if an Impostor or one that would deceive by lying or false promises speaking unto them when not sent or what God had not deputed me for then in that case that they burned me or put me to death all these Original papers I have by me to shew any that doubts it Yet these prevailed not for my inlargement so there I was retarded in prison and coming over near 3 months and almost 2 months more after arrived in England before I could come to communicate what I had to say to the General of all the English Forces Oliver Cromwell Here was one impede of 5 moneths May is now gone Such Aversness have I met with in all or most of men that truely had not the Providence of Almighty God put into the mindes and mouths of some men I have on late dayes heard preach and upon such suitable Subjects also certainly his Almighty goodness hath guided me to my great consolation and them also even to my great amazement just as if they had been within me and with me in all my sufferings I say had I not been thus supported I had well nigh sunk under the burden For so fit encouragements have I had from wise men preaching that I shall never reckon it other than the loving kindness of God to me for my support and carrying on in this his business Even so did the Jews thus evilly persecute despise traduce imprison and not hearken unto the Prophets sent to them although men of their own Religion Thus was I shewed what I am to expect from All or almost all so that now I thank God I am armed for it For further reason I may not do other than present you with the passage of Nineveh and the Prophet Jonah who told them that yet 40 dayes and that great Citie should be destroyed You may there see the good effect of true repentance and speedy turning from bad works how it kept off their judgement 40 years and can we then expect or believe other but that continuance in sin it may be augmenting them also will have the contrary effects to keep off mercie There is yet a reason and that is come to my cognizance and observe in a Book lately published by Arise Evans a man you are unworthy of whom you have persecuted too as you have all Gods Ministers almost all either by Imprisonment Sequestration or
Death or otherwise of undoing them And what to do I pray but to commit Idolatry that those ye prefer may set up Imaginations of their own and you as they worship that Calf But you will say This is no Idolatry if so then let it go for Idiotrey and that hath but one Letter difference pray let it go for both as being guilty of both Those Calfs you set up after them you low and run but continue to neglect Gods Ministers whom you will neither hear nor prefer lest you should be converted and so become poor What out of love would you have us with that seeming righteousness zeal and godly party which to be of will certainly prefer us No bewitcht we are with it and for these reasons will be of no other judgement It is you that talk foolishly we profitably And this kinde of Idolatry in all ages hath caused Gods wrath to continue even against his own people How long did these disobediencies keep them from entering into the promised Land which indeed was so near them as we may truely say even at hand Moses goeth but up to the Mount to converse with God the people mutiny and will have him no more govern as King And for Priest and Prophet why not others as well as those God onely had set over them seeing they took too much upon them What is the event of this madness up goes a Calf presently worship it they will they will have Governours and Teachers of their own making as well as a God which shall not take so much upon them yet ruled they will be too but it shall be by themselves Tell not us say they of Gods Mission of your Prophets or Ministers onely we know better he that can do all without book learning or reason then he is sent if so gifted if we like him also it is good warrant Thus your contempt neglect and persecution of those men who undoubtedly would teach you from Heaven and better things than you either hear or practice on earth is another good reason in all ages it hath gone for a good one And yet one of your little ones must not be offended but if he cries and bawls for the life and estate of the most considerable in the Kingdom to please it must be given him or them Babes of Grace for you say the fat of the earth is for you the seeming Saints But you shall finde and know too anon God will do something for the thus persecuted but penitent Sinners Turn you turn you you great Hypocrites and you shall see these things come to pass in a short time And therefore gave I that Text to that worthy Doctor Mollines to let you all see that he which covers his sins shall not prosper but who confesseth and forsakes them shall find mercy and there is the reason It is true that good man Mr. Evans goes on to tell you one fault more an error it may be I think it is I am sure it makes way for a great one in giving the year its beginning from the Conception which should take it from the Birth of our Lord. And because you may fill the world with confusion you keep no day for the Commemoration of that neither which helps to make that ever to be observed good day no otherwise apparent than your charity whose right hand never yet knew what the left did But you trouble me and I long to be rid of you Are not these reasons if you have any for the wise delay of Gods mercies and restore of our so much desired King who if he comes not yet years months of which opinion I am not yet I will wait and believe for God hath said it He whom you have persecuted shall shortly come and that in Honour too and because he sowed in tears he shall reap in joy and bring his sheaves with him Oh! could I but perswade every man that reads me or hears of what the Lord is in mercy doing for these Kingdoms the King and Protestant Religion but to turn to him with all his heart and Soul for that is the taking way in new obedience and to leave no sin unrepented of and no commandment unconform'd unto in sincerity of heart and true obedience you would then All see that suddenly come to pass and be fulfilled in your dayes and eyes which I do as truely believe will come to pass and I shall see it nay I do already and enjoy it also as I do believe the Heavens to be over my head and the Earth under my feet Which if it fail I am content that you take me and put me to death These Reasons given for its Defer I am brought from what I had of Vision or my own Dictates to that which is most certainly Prophesie and the word of the Lord. Which although spoken out of my mouth by my tongue pronounced yet the matter no more my conceptions than I now dictate or write unto you the words or thoughts of the most Remote King or Emperour in the World for I never so much as had things of that nature in my minde Hear the manner and the matter they are both of the Lord To whom be given for ever Honour Praise Glorie Obedience and Thanksgiving Amen O Lord Amen And now before I proceed give me leave to tell you that this Fryday the 5 of August is come to my observe this of Jeremiah the 23 Chap. and the 28 vers The Prophet that hath a Dream let him tell a Dream and he that hath my word let him speak my word faithfully what is the Chaff to the Wheat saith the Lord. O Lord this being thy command I will obey thee So help me God for now I come to thy own words SECT IV. SOme three dayes after I returned the second time from the Lord of Broghills to my Lodging the Widdow Merricks house in Youghal upon the 3 or 4 of January 1653. lying there in bed and having spent most part of that night in Meditation and Prayer rejoycings weepings for of that nature were my weepings the fullest of joy imaginable that indeed I often conceived not feared I might sooner die of an over-joy than any grief In that night I say from lying in my bed I was upon a sudden taken up that is to say made to sit up somewhat bowing and when so I did then with a loud voice somewhat altered from my ordinary speaking pronounce these words which words I say are the words of the Lord of Hosts God Almighty are these There is an end of all the Wars in the Christian World The Jews shall come in also the Heathen and shall be converted to the true Religion The Church of Rome shall fall The Irish shall not be transplanted This said I was laid down and wondring with my self that I should be thus taken up made to speak what I knew I uttered yet not have any of those thoughts or conceptions in my
of his adversaries to whom he renders vengeance at the same time Remember I have warned you and believe me also I could not have any quiet untill I had done so Thus in all ages God hath sent his Prophets to forewarn before he consume a people or in mercy deliver them I have done my duty do you yours repent and live The number was but few I told you though all that were then in being who when they saw this Crown in heaven worshipped God and said This is of Heaven we will follow it Which when done with my self hear we did pleasant sounds in Heaven and saw the earth shine with plenty amongst men good will all praising God and participating those blessings I once more tell you they were but a small number make haste be you of it Before judgement is gone out repentance is seasonable but you may cry to late From this Citie was the Kingdom fyrced let O Lord if it be thy good pleasure the inhabitants tears and thy mercy spare it from an heap of ruin a City that hath been and yet is the harlot mother of Bastard conceptions and prodigious births confusion she hath brought forth that hath filled the world and land to her dishonour with God and men Spare us O Lord we beseech thee and have mercy upon us even upon us also thy most unworthy servants Here I have ended but because God hath as I formerly observed to you of his wise delay suspended the publishing of this book for his own time which certainly is the best and fittest as also that my Dependency on him may be the more as his mercies the greater when deliverance afforded us I must yet a little go on and one insert more be pleased to allow me it being for the General good Let me therefore present your eye and entertain your ear as of Gods mercy he hath done mine for your benefit upon the day and night of the 5. of November last being our Lords day on which we did commemorate Gods deliverance afforded us from the Gun-powder Treason I dare not but do it mark it it is considerable of the Lord himself being the Lord of Hosts who hath delivered us doth deliver us and will deliver us all good grounds to trust him and a set Text of Scripture it is for that day to be Treated on A good Act of Parliament we have for the thankfull and perpetual commemoration of that so great a mercy that God was pleased then and so to deliver Our so good so wise so well-accomplished King and his posterity to sit upon his Throne and to sway the Scepter of these Kingdoms for ever as we see God hath now so appointed whose ways admit of no variation or shadow of turning Deliver he did we see the house of Peers and Persons of Honour in duty waiting upon their King Deliver he did the wise and learned Authors of the Protestant Church and Religion with them also the Judges both together the best interpreters of his word and his Laws Deliver he did also those Worthies of the house of Commons called thither by their King and sent thither by the wise obedient and then quiet people of the land who were and because so shared in that deliverance and long enjoyed they and we the Blessings that succeeded of peace order riches beauty in Religious worship of God Almighty in his Churches to the wonder as well as to the envie of the world Here was a Parliament of Gods and good mens choise and blessing For Majesty and Honour well met together And this when so he delivers from that horrid unparrall'd Treason until those times the like not heard of And what to do I beseech you but to let us see how precious in his sight we are when met together as those to fear God honour our King love brotherly love all applying our selves to live and do according to his will revealed in his word and our known Laws the onely rule we should go by and conform unto applying our selves to these not to our own willdered thoughts for confusion covetuousness rebellion irreligion murder of those people whose persons peace and propriety we come to preserve and maintain not for our self-ends to kill that we may divide the spoil Something like him I have heard of in the Church of Rome who upon the words spoken in a vision to the Apostle S. Peter Arise kill and eat all things are now Common to please the then Pope of Rome at difference with the Venetians gave this gloss upon that Text that is saith he your Holiness may make War with the Venetians kill them and devour their estates up and do it arise take kill and feed upon them Thus his unholiness suitable Cleargy force mis-interpretations of holy Writ to their own and others destruction Peter's successors they pretend to be and in the worst of things they certainly follow him nay exceed him draw their sword they do cut not off the ear onely with Peter but the heads of Kings and Potentates which wicked action our Lord reproves healing the person wounded when but an ear to let us see his Kingdom was not to be carried on by the sword and shew us he doth he had no need of a fighting Clergy he made no Apostle to offer violence no Bishop in Buff with back-sword to help on with Presbytery no Priest or Deacon to kill and supplant that he might get his more pious and therefore more peaceable brothers living because it is better than his own which when he hath by violence gotten he inricheth himself but starves or poysons those he pretended to feed better and do more good for both in body and soul No these are not the men fit to build God a Church he needs no such hackers or hewers in Field or Pulpit such furious fighters and rash zealous Clergy Go on to imitate Peter further the very next apprehension of danger they deny their Lord and Saviour for swearing him also if once in custody or times of persecution come upon them then they are Sidonians or Samaritanes no more Jews and they have a Temple not yet dedicated to any God which you their profitable master so they get by you shall call them and it what you please for they are resolved to side with the seeming strongest to get by so doing Cura Romana non capit ovem sine lana Oh! and have not we such Peters if but one too many but the more the pitie well I have shewed you what those furious boote-feux have done set us and the Christian World on fire I would to God I could shew you them imitating that blessed saint Peter repenting which would be not onely ours the Churches and their own rejoycing at the conversion of such sinners there is joy in Heaven and though by words actions misunderstood they have engaged us with Curse ye Meros so carried on the cause falsly perswading they are the Lords
Battels outward success going on that side what will become of a Church whose depraved judgements corrupt head and rotten Members are thus ill principled this Prophesie tells you They the Church of Rome and their Factors shall fall what is become of such a Parliament or Parliaments who have been so principled your selves see gone out they are like a snuf of the worst lights left a stinck behinde them whereas the memory of the just and good God imbalms for our imitation and is not spoken of nor remembred otherwayes than most odoriferously even as the sweet Oyl poured on our Saviour leaving a perpetual renown in all ages of sweetness and goodness to the immortal honour of that Saint that did it as in Matthew the 26 vers 13. whose memorial for good works shall never die but still lives and shall for ever Well that day the 5 of November you see is properly due for thanks to Gods delivering a Parliament made up of King Lords and Commons Let no man therefore dare to have thoughts of promoting any other but such a one except it be by praying to God and patiently waiting his good pleasure humbly and fervently praying that these worthy Gentlemen and Protector now met in Council for the general good who cannot but know and finde themselves imperfect without the better parts of the body of a Parliament whilst themselves are less profitable Members than they might be to Gods glory Religions luster the Kingdoms strength and peace also the peoples rejoycing Let us not cease to pray I say that they forthwith apply themselves to be so compleated as may best please God and be most warrantable by the Laws of this Land which ought not to be broken through nor can they be nulled but by the powers that quallified them to become binding They are the very words I heard themselves observe upon the Tryal of the Earl of Straford when proceeded against for making his paperwarrants or messengers of force to out-value being sent out against any subject the then Laws established which had their stamp put upon them and onely made currant by the assent of the Crown the consent of the House of Peers and allowance of the House of Commons all proceedings in any other case pretend what they will it was Treason Law I have not I confess my ignorance those Gentlemen certainly knew this to be Law and gave it so there but good conscience I am sure I have and ought to have there ought not to be fast and loose when we please that we may the better practice wickedness by a Law of our own making thus we strengthen our selves and would be exempt from punishment when we do amiss resolving to live according to the liberty we please to take in the fairest pastures of other mens demeans and birth-rights making our fences to others every way offensive but for our self as much security as knavery can contrive violence maintain Now if they will have us keep this 5 of November as most commendable it is we should to Gods glorie and our thankfull rememberance let them also keep us up such a Parliament and warrantable Laws as God in mercy then delivered and continued us if they will not then I advise to appoint another day that all those may meet who with the Devil Jesuits and Sons of Rebellion Sectaries or others call them what you will all who have made their wicked plots take by seeming righteousness onely pretensions to reform Religion amend the Laws and circumcise superfluous things as evil counsellors or known offenders yet have blown up rooted out and for ever destroyed as much as in them lay Kings Religion Liberty the peace and honour of this Nation let the lovers of those confusions meet in a thanks-giving to their God for their successes also and let us see who they are and then if God be the Lord serve him if Baal serve him for we may not longer halt in things of God and Religion declare your selves you wicked ones be no longer Hypocrites and evil doers the Devil hath helped you to do that above ground in the shape of an Angel of light that he could not effect under ground by powder and your younger brothers the Jesuits I have heard of those that have arrived at their wicked ends and purposes by more bloud-shed than you but never of any that came to them by more Perjury Hypocrisie than those that were not long since our Egyptian Tax-masters the scandal of the Protestant Religion and dishonour of our Nation Remember I have advised you to repent and do your first and best works from whence you are fallen or else know your judgement sleeps not a day a night a moment will do it the Sun rose and shined gloriously that very day the evening whereof would have shewed you Sodom Gomorrah her neighbour fornicating Cities all in ashes Thou Fool this night shall thy Soul be taken from thee as in the 12 of Acts vers 23. on a sudden in a moment the Angel of the Lord smote Herod and he was eaten up of Worms who knows not that in the twinkling of a eye we shall be changed and our Saviour comes to some surprizing them as a thief in the dead of night and sleep of sin I before shewed you your general condition from whence Gods Thunder onely can awake but I would not end in a judgement the Lord knows my heart I pray for all your amendments and happiness not a Scotch prayer for all your Gueds but that you may repent and live Now give me leave to present your eye with what God did mine that last Sunday night being Gun-powder Treason having that day received the most blessed Communion of the body and bloud of our Lord beseeching him for patience that I might bear his Cross which indeed was cast upon me the Saturday and Sunday night of that very day just as my Goaler did at Youghall so here called I am Seducer false Prophet deluded not sent of God foolish babbler and worse See how doth God comfort me when man thus misuseth me just as when my Goaler so abused me and took my bedding from under me and locked me up then the Lord that very night afforded me deliverance and comfort by his Vision and call Come away bring thy writings come away and I did so for this his Call opened the Prison doors to me so here that very night for my consolation the Lord shewed me very strange appearances in Heaven for beauty and curious works as first a vail or covering which after I had well observed passed away then the Heavens forthwith opened and there did I see one who was just for favour as our Lord is in his general Pictures Portraited and represented to us which sight ravished my Soul and brought from me this expression O it is the coming of the Son of Man for the conversion of sinners forthwith a vail came over me that I could see
providence as in the book you have it he guideth me to a Scripture there observed to you for the so falling upon my face gives me satisfaction for my so doing for the other of words I promise satisfaction but first observe That a second time in the dictate of Gods Prophesie which I stand to and will never alter or abate one word upon my life there in the end of that Prophesie these words are pronounce this house a blessed house and this Chamber shall for ever be called the Chamber of the great Prophet for that second time Prophet spoken by me as for all the words there I can give no reason but over-ruled providence it was no pride no imagination no it was Gods pleasure and his will and promise by me to be declared to all people and it was no more what I fancied or would have come to pass than I wished well to Olliver Cromwel who is in that Prophesie and happy also a man I hated to the utmost till God then as before reproved me do you tell me off fancy you talke foolishly I believe the Prophesie and I pray for O Cromwell the Prophesie is Gods the duty is mine and all yours God hath or will change O Cromwel to his own glory and your amazement as well as mine he hath assured it me and I do you take it for Prophesie I do The third time Prophet is after dictated as soon as light appeared I rose before I dressed my self I write that upon the 12 of January in the Church of Youghall a man sent of God for that very imploy A Prophet his name Walter Gostelow will that day in that Church after Sermon tell you the things God will bring to pass for his glory mercy and name sake making them marvellous in our eyes For this third time Prophet I can give you no reason but over-ruled Providence just as in that writing I could write Oliver Cromwell by no other dignity or cognisance than the General of all the English Forces as you may there read so here you have to observe the word Prophet spoken before the Prophesie spoken in the Prophesie and wrote after the Prophesie in all over-ruled I knew not of it untill done Yet further observe that in the dictate of Prophesie the Irish are not to be transplanted fulfilled that is for your satisfaction the time for their transplanting by Act was May last I am ashamed I will not call it an Act of Parliament it was so contrary to Gods good pleasure or brotherly compassion to sweep all that they might have all therefore transplanted they are not May is past transplanted they shall not be upon this I will put it burn me if they be God hath altered that unmercifull decree scattering those that made it given these poor Subjects us better Law-makers more mercifull men in the room of them who having God before their eies for their so doing have learnt Be ye also mercifull as your Heavenly Father is mercifull Such as these shall hereafter sit at Helm and sway the Scepter of these three Kingdoms just and mercifull men sent of the omnipotent and mercifull God In the Prophesie written the sign there given me which I was also over-ruled to write as well as the name Prophet is made good to me fulfilled that is also honourable witnesses I have enough to prove both for times persons and place There is some ground for further proof which I cannot wholy pass over nor decline the giving it to your consideration just as it was given to my self being put upon all possible proof one night forthwith after Mr. Barrel the Merchant and John Merrick came up into my Chamber and began thus with me Mr. Gostelow here is happened below a thing that very much amazeth us some others I asked what is it we are amazed we wonder at it say they speak what is it The little Childe say they that came from the Irish Nurses to which the widdow Merrick is Granmother and Mr. Landey Merchant her Son in Law Father That Child you know is very weak can hardly speak any thing what it learned at Nurse is Irish we were speaking below to the Childe and asking it some things in English amongst others what you were the Childe replied twice what we understood not at last plainly in English a Prophet this they admiring came up to me then in bed and tell me you have the men the matter and their residence if this be so God hath sent me one witness more out of the mouth of this Babe Out of all which give me leave to observe to you for I do it with all the humility that is imaginable in the World but do it I must I see Gods glory is at stake and so also your and my well being for turning from sin to amendment of life that we may repent do the first works so for ever live blessed and happy God hath here sent me a Scripture this last Sunday out of the Pulpit and the mouth too of one of his Ministers so full is it to give you and me satisfaction for this word Prophet my over-ruled speaking and writing of it that it is to me as satisfactory and as full of Consolation as the other Scripture his Providence guided me to for the proof of my over-ruled deportment in falling down upon my face and because so very full I will give it you in the very words as I had done that and let me tell you the Lord Protector did observe part of this Scripture to me when I imparted these things to him who then well advised me to fear God and walk in his wayes in all humility and for these things which were so very strange if to his glory good pleasure and his Prophesie he would bring them to pass not being contrary to Scriptures though spoken out of my mouth as it came happily then from him so now also from a worthy Gentleman Preaching God never yet left me in my greatest straights You have the words in the second Epistle of S. Peter the first Chapter and the last verse For the Prophesies came not in old times by the will of man but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost and I am sure they wrote so also but that this be not laid to my charge as the greatest pride of all yet spoken or asserted by me I beseech you pray for me to this purpose for I am bold to tell you my heart is fixed O Lord my heart is fixed uprightly and sincerely to keep thy Law to love and serve thee above all things in the World but for any sanctity merit or righteousness in me O Lord which is not thy onely grace of good will I abominate and disown it for ever pray for me I beseech you that in all the inundations of evil I may be preserved by the loving kindness of the Lord and that in all the mutations of this
Person yet to this good King was laid the false charge of his being guilty of all the bloudshed in the three Kingdoms To witness this truth in my Kings defence when his Majesty was upon his Trial I being near a hundred miles from London heard of their quick proceedings against him and had the Saturday night before his death a very strange Vision concerning him I made haste towards London that he might have the benefit of this my witness in that killing and false charge but upon the way met with the sad news of his being Martyred so that in this action the wickedness that was done was quickly done but I will not wound afresh or grieve a man of you that did it or had a hand in the bringing to pass what God would have done that his name might have the more glory and you now no less happy in his Sons rule over you can you but repent of this as of all your other sins God forgives and of the Kings forgiveness you may not doubt the Stuarts as the Kings of Israel are very mercifull Kings King James a Beati Pacifici King CHARLS of ever blessed memory praieth God to forgive all his Enemies when inquisition is made for bloud then O Lord let them be found that shed mine be sprinkled with thine I beseech thee CHARLS the second our King will not consent that his seeming greatest Enemy in the World Oliver Cromwel shall privately be taken off an act pleasing enough to many when the remove but of that one man onely might probably without more bloud-shed set him upon his Fathers his own Throne yet see how he Governs he will not so much as hear of it you have it observed to you in the wise Admonition to Oliver Cromwell when Wiseman and others proposed his murther to him no at no hand he allows it not he will wait upon God in all his lawfull wayes contenting himself to be Charls the good if not Charls the Great And being thus principled see what is the happy successes of his so doing God gives to him the Crown for ever and Oliver Cromwell his ready subjection this is counsel I have given him but first given me of God his Majesty had it from me in April last as I take it to forgive all his Enemies even O Cromwell and to refer all to Gods own times way it may be thou O Cromwell doth owe me something for thy well being at this day I am sure thou doest to God Almighty give him the glory and praise of it in thy better obedience for the times to come and I have all I desire I have but done my duty and my reward is above in Heaven whither I most humbly beseech God of his infinite goodnes and never to be dispaired of mercie take my good King thee me and all men even the greatest sinners now on earth Whom though the greatest yet how often is God pleased to make of such the most glorious Saints when repenting their former wickedness then it is turn and live for ever you have the opportunity lay hold on it If any man now distrusts his own safety and forgiveness it is onely he that keeps close his sins or as Hypocrites seem onely to repent he that covers his sin shall not prosper but he that confesseth and forsakes them shall finde mercy of God and his King I fear you think me too long before I give you the reasons promised why plain Oliver Cromwell and no more in the over-ruled dictate of Prophesie when all others by their known Titles and Signiories I will onely shew you the Crown on the other side and there Proclaim my King as in Gods Prophesie commanded that done go on to let you read what follows more of my observe as also Gods disposing of Oliver Cromwell to the well liking of all good Subjects these worthy Gentlemen I hope now met in Parliament with them also assisting readily to the bringing in of his Majesty CHARLS STUART whose unquestionable the Crown is right When given unto him the joy of all good men the Protestant Religion then more gloriously conspicuous than ever as clearly appearing to bring forth good fruits not pretensions onely by which our Saviour lets us know we cannot judge and thus in the end as well as in the beginning you have C. S. and O. C. United This my so long and just defence you must forgive I know God hath put me upon it though thus late that his name may have the more glorie my self with you the better esteem and your selves the clearer satisfaction that I am sent of God with others to the Worlds happiness as his Prophet for this very imploy of my God my King whom God preserve Amen CHARLS the Second KING of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith KING of the whole world To this Charls the good and Charls the Great is Oliver Cromwell by God also Honoured to be General of all his Forces Long live my King and his Lieut. O. C. Amen Amen Yea let all the people say Amen BUt I am to give you what I promised why Oliver Cromwel and no more in the dictate of the Lords Prophesie when as all others have accompanying them their Titles and Seignories and further why I could not pen him by any other Title than the General of all the English Forces although I did upon the then writing of that Prophesie so much endeavour it yea I tried and varied it several times but could never do it forthwith when done was given me this for reason which indeed I have already given the General himself when I declared the whole to him as now to you the Reader The fountain of honour is Originally in God derivative in Kings not at all in the people for proof of this you have the written Word of God his most holy Scriptures confirmed to me further by God when the fire fell down from Heaven in that Vision all about my Beds feet and his messenger called me three times by my name Walter Gostelow also spake to me saying you well understand the Scriptures Kings are of God especialy yours from thence issues true honour not from the people for this reason is it in the Prophesie Oliver Cromwell and no more by him that ers not the Lord. See it is then true honour and worth having onely when conveyed in its right Channel otherwayes it is just as the Calf the people set up which wise-men know is not of God and therefore worship it not Sleep yet a little in Windsor Chappel my most glorious and immortal King for dead thou art not Garter Spur and Star yet lie still in your Beds of Honour untill your Son arise we see already his Aurora as plain as we did his day-Star at his birth so visible to us is his and all your resurrections Welcome my King welcome now for ever thou shalt set no more the day and year that brings
thee must terminate but the Kingdom thou shalt be taken up into is that of Jesus Christ's that never shall have end Wharton where art thou what the best Astronimer at sometime a Prophet and doth not thy rich sublime Transcendent wit and Pen yet appear make us Te Deums and Laudamus Domine I have left thee a break in this Book more than fill it and the world of good hearts with Gods thy Kings just praises but thy own duty were not those thy verses I have so much inquired after as well as thy most worthy self since returned from Ireland thine or Cleavelands sure but not yet so happy as to see either Verses that Prophesied the King being inbalmed at Windsor the Garter and Spur should lie dormant untill some Prophet sent of God should raise them from there locked up and sealed Wardrop raised they are make haste adorn them thou hast for thy enablement a Mine of Excellencies Cleaveland and thee have all give God and your King the glory of it they have your hearts already pen us Songs and Praises to our God the Quoristers and Church-men did sing us such at St. Pauls Cross upon his Birth-day that good example was given by the Angels who did so at the glorious King of Kings Birth-day who now sends our King CHARLS the Second his Vice-Roy on earth to rule the Sons of men Honours he brings with him from the Almighty fountain to be derived and conferred upon such as fear God Obey and Honour this his Vice-Roy our King C. S. Come now come O Cromwell take not a share but thy full measure God judgeth not as man doth we thought thee not at all worthy now shall that celestial Colour Order Ribbon of the Garter I had the Honour to sell it to my King but never thought the least to be so Honoured as to repossess him of it from God Come I say let this badge of the greatest Honour now on Earth given from the greatest King thine also C. S. let it now be put on thee I said it in Ireland the Honourable and good Souldiery submitting to their King whom God would dispose and over-rule so to do of which thou art found the most eminent they should have honours conferred upon them indempnity forgiveness and large rewards given unto them of by the King when restored put on this rich Garter which hath for its inscription Hony soit qui maly pense the other Order Ribin worn upon the body remembers all Subjects we should not so much as think an evil thought of the King in our hearts And now complain not but rejoyce for ever O Cromwell thou seest with whom God hath ranged thee with the greatest and happiest of Kings Queens and Princes now thy Honour is worth having there was something in it that thy good aged and so lately deceased Mother was as I hear a Stuart she is gone to the common Wardrop of the world the grave Be comforted thy Father is a Stuart too he lives the Father of his Countrey and the King of all good Subjects for their Consolation of which blest number we may not doubt thou art Son and Subject since God hath so declar'd it made you United Sons of the now more visible and glorious Protestant Church than ever in Heaven glorious to all eternity This our King hath now largely given to him of the fountain and as our blessed Saviour came to his universal Dominion not by fighting but winning his Subjects by dying for them so by merit and of purchase had the ends of the Earth for the bounds of his Kingdom which being but earth the rule of it he now gives to his Vice-Roy CHARLS STUART whom in his uncontrolable and unsearchable wisdom and mercy he hath made worthy of as much Honour Command and rule on Earth as Mortality is capable of not of merit but to let us see that he which gives himself to do the will of his Saviour which is in Heaven and denies him not on Earth which thy now blessed Father our King did in obedience to the Commands of his God for such a witness the Almighty made of him and such a Martyr we have put to death and such a glorified Saint was the Crown of your rejoycing my most blessed and for ever happy Queen when he your Majesties on Earth now in Heaven glorified Be not troubled Madam they were Villains and Rebels that aspersed your Honour and his Majesty you see it as also your no otherways vertuous and for ever happy Sister now Queen of France See how the Lord loves your Souls Honours your Persons and establisheth your posterity to you Madam Behold the Lord now gives his and your Son but our so much Honoured and ever blessed Soveraign to be King of the whole World and to you Madam the best of France's Queens whose two Sons good men saw what God did for you gave you them both from Heaven 't is true to make your patient expectancies hopes and faithfull dependencies on him the Almighty visible to the World as they were to Heaven he defers it in his wise delayes which are always the best for 23 years untill your glorified King also was going thither in whose last dayes his graces as his blessings were at the highest for your comfort Madam and the Worlds thankfull and happy acknowledgement had they but grace to see it as now all may Was there ever two such Kings and Mother Queens on Earth yet see how the Devil and his instruments would eclipse them and hath aspersed both but God witnesseth for you and hath now declared you and yours beloved in Heaven and to be obeyed on Earth Most excellent Queen of France you were pleased some sixteen years past my self being at Saint Jermains I came thither with the now Lord Jermain your Majesty after honours and favours by your most excellent and good self afforded did interrogate me what Religion I was of I then humbly satisfied your Majesty I was a Catholick your Majesty further demanded of me what Catholick I answered the best said your Majesty it is then Roman Catholick is it not I bowed before your Majesty as in duty and replied it was Catholick è Protestant a la mode d' Angleterre point de Rome Your Majesty whom God hath made to your power communicably good to all pitying my condition was pleased to offer me a Letter to your Kings Confessor of good will desiring my conversion I humbly acknowledge the favour but replied my Religion I liked so well as not to change it Madam be pleased to see now how God more than retributes and no otherwayes recompenseth this your good will to Gods glorie and my good as intended my unworthy self Madam is now sent unto you by the Lord not onely to your so pious and so eminently good self but also to more than your whole Kingdom to bring your Majesty and them into his only true Church that Church which is not
should not having the more sure word of God the Scriptures to rest on good counsel it was I agree all and the best to avoid delusion the Prophesie being the Lords I cannot have a dis-esteem of one word of that My Lord is not all I have said unto you agreeable to the word of God Is it not your duty to fear God Honour and obey your King to assist the rebuild of Gods House the restore of his Ministers and their maintenance not to side with those that are given to change to be in love with all men also with justice mercie and forgiveness to seek first the Kingdom of Heaven and its righteousness and then all other things less considerable unpursued shall be given unto you My Lord do this and live for ever happy Now because its possible this hath not been done by you certainly not by the Nation see God sends his Prophets unto both and that you may know they are his they bring nothing contrary to Scripture 't is true they come to you in a unwonted and seeming strange way the reason of that is this To persons of Honour or a people the Lord intends mercy too it hath been his accustomary manner of proceeding to such he sends his Prophets that they may repent and live and shall Gods mercy your own happiness and the Kingdoms welfare become our contempt your destructions if not harkned unto No God forbid do you as all others what I have advised too and be happy Nay you shall do it There is a Gentleman of known worth and Honour his name I will not Print his Paper I have with this Gentleman God hath sent me acquainted very lately my Lord this person of good accomplishments tells me of a Vision he had some time since and in it how he saw the King and your Lordship on one side of the water Moderators on the other debating upon the 39 Articles of the Church of England from Article to Article the word Protestant Religion was much insisted upon and discussed it was whether in so large a sence you intended it as to take in the Sectaries and disturbers of the peace of that Church and this Kingdom so to comprise all my Lord in fine there was so much said to his Majesty and such clear satisfaction given to your Lordship by such as sate as Moderators that it brought your Lordship to a most humble and thankfull submission and so bowing before his Majesty you came both into one Boat where the King kindly and with good affection imbraced you and so went away both together in good understanding That done this Gentleman heard the Bells generaly ring saw the bone-fires and great was the acclamations as well as the rejoycings of the people in the Land My Lord make all this good do you Proclaim as well as pray God save the King and then the people will pray and say God save the best of Subjects and the honourablest of Souldiers O. Cromwell Amen say I God preserve both The PROPHESIE and Message of ELNOR CHANNEL sent to the Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell April 19. 1654. 1. PEace be to this House and Peace be to the whole Kingdom and the peace of God be with us for ever 2. The God of Abraham the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob hath opened the mouth of the Dumb to speak for peace the Sword must be stayed the World draweth toward an end and the knots of peace and love must be made in all the Christian Lands 3. Sir You have taken upon you to be a Protector of your Lords Vineyard but he requireth that you should make the Hedges and the Walls of it which is peace and love and the true Gospel and that you Protect the Stuart to plant his Vine-yard 4. If a man fall into the hands of a Creditor if his Creditor be one of Christs servants he will not take body and goods if his Body payes the Debt his Heir shall have the Inheritance REader observe this ELNOR CHANNEL Arise Evans my self with others I have heard of all agreeing and sent unto Oliver Cromwell Protector upon this very imploy the rebuild of Gods House the return of his Ministers the restore of the King the Promote and declare of a General Peace through the Christian World the Conversion of the Jews the Protestant Religion more Glorious than ever with its fruits of peace and love amongst all men we I say whom God hath sent to promote and declare these things of his mercy for you coming to pass are all of the Protestant Religion the true Church of England no Papists no Schismaticks no abettors to any faction whatsoever yet as in duty bound we continue to pray for the Conversion of all them and more to the true Religion which Gods Word shews you as well as our Prophesies now tells you is the Protestant and shall be now more conspicuously glorious than ever The Defenders of which Faith is CHARLS STUART and Oliver Cromwell United AN ADMONITION to Covetuous and therefore miserable men WHat Compassion left the Christian World and fled into America Certainly the Gospel follows he hath said it that is the word of Truth whose Compassions fails not through the world that shall be preached happy America most happy Exchange hath thou made for thy Clay and Dirt the surface of that Earth is not so Barren Thorny Stony as our hearts which stick to thy Ore as to our All Thou wisely sents it from thee as a Servant to do thy will it 's unhappily become our Master whilest we neglect and contemne the onely Jewel to purchase which we should sell all this Gospel Teacheth better things than you formerly have either heard or we practised covetuous and miserable comforters are you all more than thirty of you in six Moneths solicitation not lend so much money as to Print this Book which I told you was so highly to Gods glory the Kings interest and the Worlds general good with the honour of the Protestant Religion to all which you pretend good affection but to promote any of them this ready answer no money would you borrow to set up Gods Kingdom he can do that without you our mony is to set up our own let him look to his we and you to our own callings I can value your Estates worth at least 150 thousand pounds your persons I cannot value at more than so many 0000000000 miserable men bring forth better fruits for the time to come know that mercy neglected leaves room for judgement follow me Reader and I will in the next place shew thee better Jews than these were therefore God sends them his Gospel to guide their feet in the wayes of his Commandments which are Compassion and loving kindness it is the mercifull that shall finde mercie Misers you are going out of the world also you shall shortly finde if your treasure be laid up in Heaven for there it perisheth not but I may not
things also from those Cathedrals we could not have offended you thus he laid the fault upon the B. it may be those innocent boys intended onely a civility to keep open the way which too many come in by the window foreseeing that the dore is like shortly to be shut against them who have shut and bard it too against others especialy if the Living were great profitable Persons of Honour have no mans person in esteem that v●lueth not his actions that 's the duty therein will be your honour for fears scruples they are to be suggested by the wicked onely who indeed fly when no man pursues them but the just and good are bold as this Lion sent of the Lord have you nothing before your eyes but Gods glory religions luster the peoples good in your hearts his fear onely do thus you will have no need of guards Militia or what else bad men think to secure themselves by A good conscience and wisdom fortifies more than ten mighty men God is then on your side so is all good men fear God your King and to sin and you cannot fear wicked men let me hear of no looking back to sins or cowardise God hath shewed you salvation if your hearts be in Sodom for the wickedness of that Citie Gomorra and all the five Cities hath been practised in this one I say if your hearts delight in sin your judgement sleeps not The Protestant Religion the Kings Honour Oliver Cromwell also the peoples just Right and Interest must flourish live and be injoyed to all good mens comfort whilest destruction must be suffered by those onely which continue Rebellious and will not be reformed whose remove will be our rejoycing as well as Gods good pleasure for deliverance shall come from Heaven to this Land and people the evil doer shall be rooted out and sent to his own home with a vengeance But for thee Oliver Cromwell with Souldiers of Honour and such as are of good Counsel with thee who advise the speedy remedying of all that is amiss for such I continue to pray That you forthwith apply your selves to do his will and that 's to be more than Conquerors A King rulers on Earth whose right it is not shall stinck on Earth as he that made Israel to sin and howle in Hell too very shortly but as the memory of the just good and mercifull shall begin to live for ever on Earth and that shortly too so shall thine Oliver Cromwell and others declared in this Gods Prophesie be taken up with thy King into the Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ that never shall have end then also shall good people such subjects go as the sheep in this Prophesie to the right hand wicked Rebellious ones as the Goats to the left hand unto the former happiness God of his mercie I beseech him bring us all from the later God deliver us all he onely can do it that hath said and spoken now by me the Church of Rome shall fall But our Church for ever flourish God save the KING Amen yea let all the people say Amen FINIS THere are two Books which have Traveled far with me if well understood and no otherwayes practised the two sorts of people they are more particularly directed unto cannot miss of the best end of all our Travels Heaven The one is a Priest to the Temple or the Countrey Parsons Character and rule of holy life The Author Mr. George Herbert the other as the former commends a holy life here and tells you That the habitual observing of the Law of Christ is indispensibly necessary to Salvation the Author Mr. Richard Stanix B. D. one that I believe lives as he writes and would have all do so He that in Travel carries in each pocket one and in his heart both to practise needs not doubt but one day his face shall shine with glory having so conversed with God be he Priest or people for whom I pray that God be pleased to make all good and happy Walter Gostelow
CHARLS STUART AND OLIVER CROMVVEL UNITED Or Glad tidings of PEACE To all Christendom To the Jews and Heathen Conversion To the Church of Rome certain downfall The Irish not to be TRANSPLANTED Extraordinarily declared by God Almighty to the Publisher Walter Gostelow Psalm 85. vers 10. 13. Mercy and Truth are met together Righteousness and Peace have kissed each other and shall set us in the way of his steps Printed for the Author 165● OF GOD. C. R. RESTORED AND OLIVER CROMVVEL BLESSED READER TO Dedicate this Book to any other than to whom God Almighty hath directed it I dare not it is first to all you Christian Kings and Princess more especialy our own Charls Stuart and therein it shews you That when you govern best and most pleasing to the will of the Almighty whose Vice-Royes you are And of him made rulers on Earth for the general good you then live in a general Peace into which happy condition he hath now put you that his Temples may be rebuilded his Worship and his Ministers restored with what hath been stollen from both also your Subjects Gods people well educated in his houses by his Ministers sent in the wayes of Justice Peace and Holiness without which no man shall ever see the face of God to his comfort next it shews you that the so antiently beloved Seed of faithfull Abraham the Jews are now in his best times remembred and brought into the Faith of Christ our Lord the onely Son of God whom they Crucified the fulness of the Gentiles coming in with them also to the knowledge of his Gospel his that is the onely Shilo the onely Messia by the Heathen not yet heard of by the Jews hoped for he I say comes to both making himself known in such a manner as they expect not most strange wonderfully affording them his Vice-Roy Charls Stuart for their Defence Protection he professing that Gospel now to be Preached to the whole World against whose rule and Gospel none shall ever prosper that Rebels Disobeyeth or Schismatically riseth up therefore is the Church of Rome at this time sentenced to certain down-fall The Church of Rome shall fall The poor Irish whom wicked men would have transplanted upon the same principles as obdurate Pharoah would not let the children of Israel go covetuousness and hard-hartedness God doth continue in their own Land yea under his and their own Kingly Government also to the joy of their hearts That Nation being neither such a Bear as we misapprehended them nor their skin fit to be sold by us that did it before warrant is given from God to deliver it they shall not be transplanted God now shews us That wicked Rebellion was the design contrive of a few in that bloudy and ever Rebellious Church of Rome not the allowance of the Nation this also God shewed unto our now happy and glorious King in Heaven whilest good on Earth it is proved to you in his Letters taken at Naseby written to her Majesty My Heart you will finde the Irish with you Knaves they might deceive the one they could not deceive the other And since that how hath God fully cleared their Majesties as now the Nation from any allowance of that hideous Rebellion Own it Church of Rome it will match well with the Gun-powder Treason thou didst both as many others Thy Nuntio was in Ireland yet thou shalt fall Hath not God made his late Majesties abominating that wicked act clear as the day to be none of his ollowance you know or may That Sr. Phillemon O'neal upon his Trial at Dublin though pusillanimous and timed in all other things yet when he was to give an account from whence he had his Commission God sent him a courage gave him abilities to speak boldly and truely to Gods glorie the honour of the Protestant Religion and the Kings just Vindication he took Heaven and Earth to witness he had neither Commission from King or Queen for that Rebellion he affirmed that himself with others of the Roman stamp made them that he might play the best of his own Game it further appears in that Oath imposed on those he subdued to his own obedience These are things I have had from very good hands when my self at Dublin but that Traitor was executed a little before I came thither Now see what God doth who is the searcher of all hearts the King is in Heaven the Queen declared for Heaven the Nation not to be transplanted the contrivers and aspersers of both gone to their own home or truely discovered to us by the Lord who now throws down that wicked Church Well you shall now see we must all live together in brotherly love under Kingly Government also but you will say how can these things be considering what manner of Persons we have been this book will shew you It proceeds onely from the good pleasure and mercifull loving kindness of the Almighty The Lord hath made our Salvation not our destruction his glory when all we thy people O God had sinned beyond any help then O Lord thou sayest lo I come But after how wonderfull a manner and how certain our deliverance is read and know Actions salved up with a free forgiveness are as not done and as a bone once broken is much stronger after well setting so is love after reconcilement God forgives us our iniquities and in mercy restores us our King again who deals with us being guided of God as Joseph did with his brethren when onely of God made ruler in Egypt and had power to punish according to their demerit then he treats them kindly following the example of our Lord. He forgives all past injuries he loades them with good things he weeps over them when he tells them he is Joseph least they not seeing his heart might doubt of their forgiveness he drops Tears as Bloud from pitying eyes and heart they well knew what themselves had been to him unfaithfull brethren and it s not improbable when they saw themselves by God cast under his power and dispose they might fear tremble and expect the reward of so high demerit for the affronts they had put upon Joseph But least such fears should too much sadden their unquiet Souls he weeps over them more abundantly imbraceth them afresh gives them all they stood in need of and doth not so much as once remember them of the evil measure they had dealt him so allows them no ground at all to suspect their safety whose injuries he had fully forgiven Most happy Re-union meeting that sweetens more in its return than it imbit●ered in its absence Protection my book commands not craves under Oliver Cromwel Protector also his conformity thereunto yet I beseech both God hath now declared him to be beloved first in Heaven as you shall read then of his King CHARLS STUART and all good men on Earth the Almighty both deputed him to be highly instrumental for the bringing of
great and strange things to pass in this Kingdom and Christian World which God will make marvelous in our eyes As the promote of the Protestant Religion and Honour of his King I may not detain you longer nay I dare not from Gods word of Prophesie in this Book agreeable to his own in nothing contrary Proclaim it I must to all concerned and so I do though the unworthiest of my Lords servants a faithfull Communicator of his mercifull loving kindness I am commanded to be unto all the Sons and Subjects of the Protestant Church and Gods Vice-Roy on Earth CHARLS STUART To the Church of Rome and the Rebellious faithfull will I also shew my self that Church shall fall and no Rebellion ever prosper God hath said it and if it come not to pass put me to Death I may not for fear or favour be unfaithfull to my trust that is a sacriledge of the highest nature and therefore in spite of the Devil or danger I tell you wickedness shall not longer prosper on Earth Did not the ground open and swallow quick those first Rebels and Schismaticks Corah Dathan and Abyram and did not Absolons Mule in the midst whilst he was acting of his Rebellion go from under him leaving him hanging by the head Such shall no more prosper than their Church of Rome which shall fall good men shall be Honourable and rule but for the ungodly whilest I pray for their conversion I fear their confusion WALTER GOSTELO THE Protestant RELIGION more conspicuously glorious than ever the Defendors of that Faith CHARLES STEWART and OLIVER CROMVVEL United Sect. I. HAving past from Bristol the Seas and much foul weather in December 1652. I arrived at Cork Where I heard the sentence of death pronounced upon some 30 or more of the Irish Gentry and others for several Barbarous Murders by them committed The last that spoke from the Bench to those unhappy men after sentence of death read unto them was the Lord of Broghill Who well minded them that they were not proceeded against upon the accompt they shed our blouds either as we were English men or else because not of their Religion both unwarrantable We should not kill him we conceive out of the way but rather shew him the way to walk in 'T was murder justly condemned them to suffer not rash zeal with which God is not well pleased who would that all men should live and come to the knowledge of his truth But for the Murderer the Law of God was he should die for it So they suffered not as they were Irish or Roman Catholicks This I could not but observe passing the rather because it tended in that so mixt Assembly highly to the setting right the judgement as I conceive to the glorie of God And indeed the first I ever saw or heard pronounced from those new erected High-Courts of Justice Against which I have heard so many bitter Invectives that they were like Hell from whence is no returning There it was not so where I also saw many acquitted From thence my business commanded me to Youghill in March following A season more fit for travel and observance I removed from thence to Lismore 11 miles off cituate upon the Black-water A Seat very ancient and not a little eminent and honourable Where having well viewed the improvements and good contrivances of the late deceased Earl of Cork who had there purchased caused to bebuilt made many fair and commodious Seats governing in the well mannage of Affairs as born for the publick good for so he was communicable to the imploy of the poor to the improve of those Lands to the good example of others and to the honour of this Nation That had not War prevented and death put an end to his dayes both broken in upon us as a stream too violent to withstand those inundations of evil heightened by our sins and follies of all sorts the onely inlets of all Gods judgements upon us it might be presumed before this time it had in some measure risen again from the ashes which former Wars I conceive had buried it in A very fair strong built Scholehouse with Almes-houses on both sides of it that Earl lived to finish there And now I believe he really intended to re-build the Church So that like Him that was a man after Gods own heart in this he followed him that he loved the place where his Honour dwelleth And therefore he would so provide for it that in publick he might be worshipped and that youth might early be taught the wayes of godliness Thus being instrumental to well-accomplish them he might best serve God and his Nation in being communicably good to all the end for which we were born This observing I sometimes was prone to think That what he happily begun might in future time by his posterity and others be carried on to the making it what is to be desired and what it once was as informed an University So conveniently is it situate naturally affording the delights and good accommodations that may best commode serve and adorne an University As also that part of the Land in regard of its being well inhabited and remoteness from Dublin called for and stood much in need of the Church indowments being there and thereabouts full for incouragement and invitation fit to help on with so good and pious a work were not the possessors of those profits more lovers of themselves than lovers of God and his service Is it reasonable that our Fore-fathers certainly out of love and zeal 't is possible not misguided too should so largely give and endow for the Glorie Worship and Service of God Almighty and we who have more inlarged Fortunes should have more streitened hearts and more cruel hands Indeed onely strongly bent alwayes ready to pull down and by Thieving Sacriledge Covetousness which is the root of all evil make that ours which neither God Man or law ever meant should Nay they have all forbid it with a curse to the Robber which in the end will prove that Cursed Thing that will make us and our posterity most miserable A Cole from that Altar fires all our ill gotten nay other goods or else fits us and our Posterity for the slaughter which is the end of the ill-advised Into the remain of this Church of Lismore Thursday the 3 of March 1652. I came as well might for it had neither door to keep out the unclean beasts nor in it any thing becoming a House set apart for the worship and service of God Almighty as inform'd this Church had belonging to it 8 thousand pounds per Annum before the War Out of it I often hunted Beasts of several sorts which indeed by their dung recreating themselves in the ruins of it had help to make it with their fellows more like a Den of Thieves than a House of God This seeing I could not but lament and did there kneel down and supplicate God Almighty not
taken up into the Kingdom of Jesus Christ that never shall have end These are the very words of this the Lords Prophesie his almighty dictatings of which words and their strangeness I may say as the prophet Zacharia did in a vision the Lord gave him referring to the rebuild of his Temple restore of his worship and delight in his service to which all are enjoyned to be assisting begging and inviting them as mine doth first to seek the Kingdom of Heaven his glory worship and service on earth This Prophet Zacharia in the 5. verse of that 4. Chapter you may there read having seen that Vision was asked by the Angel of the Lord if he knew what the Vision shewed him was he answered no my Lord. A second time he answered the very same words in the 13 verse no my Lord read on and you shall finde informed he was by the Angel that Prince and Nobels the High Priest and the other Priests under him are the Persons the two Olive Trees betoken and the Candlesticks there lighted let us see the perfection of beauty and brightness the Lord will have to be in his house Certainly where holiness is commanded beauty richness and decency were never forbidden in the house of God And now to do this doth not the two green Olive Trees on each side drop golden Oil to carry on the work King House of Peers Bishops Priests Deacons see here all your duties Prince Priest people must be assisting with purse and hand to the rebuild of Gods house for his publick Worship and service which when done nay doing observe how he blessed the Land never the like before for peace and plenty And here learn also not to wonder if I yet know not in what manner to understand those words they shall never die There was a time untill the Angel gave that so emiment Prophet to understand what himself did reply to he understood not A Prophesie is a wonder sent to posterity least they complain of want of wonders it is a letter sealed and sent which to the bearer sometimes is but Paper but to the receiver and opener is full of power To such another non ultra was the Prophet Daniel brought in his 12. Chapter and the 8. verse where he saith I heard but I understood not what should be the end of these things the next verse tells that Prophet the words were closed up and sealed untill the end the last verse of that Chapter assures him he shall stand in the Lot at the end of the dayes A thousand difficulties might arise out of the particularities of so strange a message as all this his Prophesie is yet observe when things of such nature have been dictated to the most blessed Saints in holy writ as our ever blessed Lady and others from these we hear of no more objections no more interrogations The faithfull heart when it once hears or knows the good pleasure of God Almighty argues no more but sweetly rests in a quiet expectation Behold the servant of the Lord be it unto me according to thy word And thus without all sciscitation we are to go blind-fold whither he will lead us All disputations with God after his will known arise from infidelity Great is the mystery of Godliness and if we will give nature leave to cavil we cannot be Christians as good B. Hall observes T is true we read in holy Writ that wise valiant and good Kings and other persons of Honour have been so eminently just holy communicably good to all here on earth as of them it is said They shall not die Nay we see their renown lives now That is the meaning of not dying there in one place and though to wicked mens sense such Godly persons seem to die as in the book of Wisdom the 3 Ch. second verse yet it did but seem to them so dead they are not their renown shall never die Again we read of Enoch and Elias those good Prophets so lived they with God though here on earth as that he took them to himself most miraculously by translation never suffering them to lie buried in the earth nor their bodies to return to dust whose Souls were all heavenly mindedness and conversation so continually above that the took their bodies thither also they did never die Be it in either of these two senses here is as much honour happiness as mortality is capeable of agreeable to thy word O Lord it must be or it can never stand nor as I believe come to pass But my hand is upon my mouth thy will be done and by man for ever be thou praised O Lord and now seeing the events of things are the best commentaries upon Prophesies the best way for these eighteen persons all others is to walk with God as Enoch did all his dayes on earth in a Godly sorrow for sin weeping for his own and others and then taken up into Heaven also they may be as Enoch was who never died but was translated into the Kingdom of Jesus Christ that never shall have end You have heard what the Lord is doing The conversion of the Jews and Heathen at hand also the downfall of the Church of Rome things mighty strange and wonderfull which to pass he will bring for his own glory name and mercies sake making these things marvellous in our eyes And did he not also formerly work wonderfull things that we Gentiles might be wrought upon to come into the knowledge of his Law whose fulness is now with the Jews to come in The Heathen a people that have not heard of the Scriptures the Jews not believing in the Gospel who although the beloved seed of Abraham to whom the promise is for conversion yet an obstinate crooked and wilfull generation Even to convert Schismaticks we may also look for signs in or from Heaven all whose conversion we have little hopes to see effected otherwayes than by signs wonders in or from Heaven For this sixteen hundred years past the Gospel not heard of by the one not heeded by the other who remembers not our selves cost our Saviour deer and many wonders he did before the people would confess him the Son of God in Heaven signs on earth opening the Graves the dead bodies shewing themselves to those that knew them himself ascending up into Heaven also in the presence of many witnesses need of all for conversion I have done But remember Reader and all you that hear of what the Lord is doing and bringing by his Almighty power of his good will to pass in the World for the honour of his name and this professed Protestant Religion and good of such as fear him Take warning go not on in your sins break off by speedy and unfeigned repentance and practice you as well as invite others to a more holy obedience than ever least that when God giveth deliverance to his Church and people you be found to be of the number