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A61217 A clear apology and just defence of Richard Stafford for himself with a rehearsal, and further explanation of what he hath done concerning national affairs. Stafford, Richard, 1663-1703. 1690 (1690) Wing S5110; ESTC R219673 45,943 40

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commands to set them in right order again But that remains in a dead letter and it is not faithfully handled nor universally applyed for the Priests have been partial in the Law They have kept back some part of it and have not made known the whole counsel of God unto the People And also according to the marginal reading of Mal. 2. 9. They have accepted Faces by applying it superficially and favourably to the higher sort of People As they have done and do not cease to justifie the Wicked for Reward for some Place or preferment either already bestowed or in hope and expectation to be given And so it comes to pass that Gods faithful Messengers who have appeared in their several Generations as singular are persecuted and prosecuted Now God doth lie still and hide himself to see what the Children of Men will do Though it is the secret continued Prayer of his Elect and Servants Arise O God Judge the Earth for thou shalt inherit all Nations Psal 82. 8. Yet He will not before the appointed time But his Law is given in the mean while and he doth prove the doings of the Children of Men. There hath been a long and continued controversie in the World throughout former Generations and in all Nations and the same continues at this day not only amongst Heathens Mahometans Papists but to our greater shame even in the more pure reformed Churches and at this very instant is in the Land of our own Nativity the Substance whereof is to this following effect Whether the Laws of God or man shall have the superiority and take place Whether his Light is to be extinguished and his Truth stifled which he would send out Psal 43. 3. if it should reprove the Darkness and Wickedness that is in Palaces and great Houses or manifest the Error of their corrupt ways But mention is made vers 1. of an ungodly Nation and a deceitful and unjust Man They would ungod him if they could reach up and pull down the High and Lofty One or lead away captive as hath been done with dumb Idols the living and Almighty God But because that is not in their Power They will do as far as is suffered They act in opposition to the Father of Lights James 1. 17. and do what lieth in them to prevent the rising of the Sun of Righteousness and afterwards stop out the shining Thereof When he that dwelleth between the Cherubims would shine forth Psal 80. 1. They will hinder it what they can But God doth suffer it so far for the next thing is he will stir up his strength vers 2. and then poor Creatures who now provoke the Lord to Jealousie will find that they are not stronger then he in this their short time they will not bear that word which convinces of Sin and Unrighteousness But how then will they endure his Indignation and Punishment which that was to warn them of and put them in a way how they might escape Even thy Truth O my God Psal 71. 22. is called a false and feigned libel if it doth discover their own Falshood and Hypocrisie And it must skulk about in Corners or be conveyed in a secret place though there is stampt upon it the Image and superscription of the Great and Invisible King but they are fearful Rev. 21. 8. to own and confess it before the World for they fear the Displeasure of Men more then the Displeasure of God They would have Gods service be brought down to Mans purposes and be so modelled as to be made consistent with the foolish policy and misapprehended welfare of a Nation These things are strange to mention but themselves know that their inward Thought Pride and Rebellion of Heart is that though they will acknowledge with their Tongue and Lips that the Most high ruleth over the Kingdoms of Men and his Dominion is above and over all yet they would have it so far come under theirs That if Gods Laws are contrary and not agreeable to humane constitutions They must not be spoken of Amos 7. 13. nor laid before our Princes and our Priests our Lords and Counsellers for fear of Punishment and being prosecuted as one against the Government when themselves in this very thing are against the Government of their God Alas How do a small Number of Grashoppers here on the Earth think of and would do towards the great Lord of the World How do men that shall die and must appear before him in judgment demean themselves towards him now they are but a little while in the way Arise O Lord let not man prevail let the Heathen be judged in thy sight Put them in fear O Lord that the Nations may know themselves to be but men Psal 9. 19 20. Again thus much is signified by what is written He ruleth by his Power for ever his Eyes behold the Nations let not the Rebellious exalt themselves Psal 66. 7. And though the Nations be never so angry yet now is the time come that God shall take to himself Psal ●●●● Great Power and Reign A little opening and appearance thereof doth now begin in this place and Nation which will be likewise followed in the Habitable parts of the Earth For the matter of contention is not so much between the two Kings who are both Pot-sherds of the Earth and shall each of them severall be brought down to the bars of the Pit although now they have their Armies and cause their Terrour in the Land of the Living Cease ye from man whose Breath is in his Nostrils for wherein is he to be accounted of We ought utterly to draw off from the Persons of each and not to have them in admiration and not name them more then needs must for by so doing men do forget and lose the knowledge and fear of the Lord and are not so sensible of the Glory of his Majesty and infinite Greatness But the thing which the Lord doth require of our Land is that she do not depart from and for sake his Eternal and Immutable Rules of Judgment and Righteousness and that his People be very couragious to keep and to do all that is written in the Law of Moses that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left Josh 23. 6. So whatever is further commanded in the Book of Psalms the Writings of the Prophets and the Gospel of Christ declared by the Evangelists and Apostles All things are to be done according to his revealed Will now a little before he ariseth to shake terribly the Earth for the Word of the Lord is right and all his Works are done in truth he loveth Righteousness and Judgment Psal 33. 4. 5. Righteousness shall go before him and shall set us in the way of his Steps Psal 85. 13. Gods Work ought to b● done in his own prescribed method according to what is written which is so plain and easie to be understood that wayfaring men though Fools
Tongue and they boast of their understanding thereof But yet the Prophet saith peremptorily of his time when they had the same priviledges Therefore my P●ople are gone into captivity because they have no knowledge Isa 5. 13. He doth elegantly hint of the sottish ignorance of former his own a●●●●ccessive Generations Have ye not krown Have ye not heard Hath it not been 〈◊〉 you from the beginning Have ye not understood from the Foundations of the Earth Isa 40. 21. And then doth as it were point him out in the following verse It is He c. So it is said further down There is no knowledge of God in the Land Hos 4. 1. And what Paul witnesseth of his time Some have not the knowledge of God I speak this to your shame 1 Cor. 15. 34. The same is affirmed at this very day The chief and who call themselves the wise Men of this Nation in this they are found wanting They have not the knowledge of God This is the manner of the People of England that dwell carelesly that say in their Hearts We are and none besides us Here is a secret disowning of God above Or if they acknowledge him by a few acts of outward Worship yet they confine all to that But they have not to do with him in common actions and general course of their Life Here they conclude they are lest to themselves who is Lord over us some others will have respect unto God in little trivial concerns But for those of Greater Moment They do not take counsel of him that walk to go down into Egypt and have not asked at my Mouth Isa 30. 1 2. They have first invaded this Nation which occasioned and raised Wars in the Neighbouring Kingdoms But they did not seek out of the Book of the Lord whether such enterprises at first were just and lawful Why Ramoth in Gilead was ours before 1. Kings 22. 2. and under the subjection of the same King of this Nation And though now it be in danger to fall into the hands of the King of Syria yet they should have done well at the very beginning of all to have enquired at the Word of the Lord. verse 5. and then all this might have been prevented at the very first rise And now the Land is moved and divided and by reason of the sores thereof it shaketh yet it may be made up and healed by our God Now Vrim and Thummim are ceased neither have we Warrant for additional Immediate Revelation But God hath given us his standing Word in the Bible which was confirmed by Signs and Miracles and divers Giffts of the Holy Ghost whereby God himself did bear witness to it and did enact and confirm it as a Law and Direction to our fore-Fathers and to us their Children and to our Posterity for evermore He hath shewed thee O Man what is good and what doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly and love Mercy Mic. 6. 8. By this way and method of Righteous and prudent accomodation Ireland might be sooner recovered and utterly disentangled from out of the hands of the French King then by all the Multitude of Men and Horses Ships and Carriages the several Instruments of Death and Cruelty all which only make a meer noise and outward shew but there is nothing more in it besides Destruction and Mischief But our Go●erno●●●ate not Governed by the Law of the most High God and so they do not walk Humbly with him They do not consider that in the Thing wherein they deal Proudly he is above them they do not consult aright for his Glory nor will they obey him so far that he may direct their work in Truth They have set up Kings but not by me They have made Princes but I knew it not Hos 8. 4. which hath been particularly shewed with such Evidence and Demonstration of Divine Truth that the sinners resort only to their old accustomed method of stubbornness despising and bare contradiction but still it remains firm and unanswerable And this hath been already done in two distinct Sessions of Parliament in two short Printed Festimonies of Truth the first entituled a Supplemental Tract of Government c. bearing date Jan. 4. 1689 90. The second Things Plain and Weighty referred to the consideration of both Houses March 25. 1690. That peace and Happiness Truth and Justice Religion and Piety may be established among us for all Generations For themselves 〈◊〉 ●ay in the same words in the place where they are assembled every morning before their solemn consultations and therefore it may seem strange unless an unseen Enemy did blind their Eyes and Hearts or hinder from discerning or turn them aside from the Truth that when God hath shewed them a way in his Word and left the means in their Power yet they did not go the right way to preserve make better and perpetuate the Government nor to Restore Peace nor make Wars to cease all which by the direction of Gods Word will be done to the end of time and to the ends of the Earth when they sball fear the Name of the Lord from the West Isa 59. 19. and other Nations will also do the same as they have from this understanding People a right example And further there is the Promise of God that future Generations shall * Psal 102. 28. ●ct ●2 5. Continue what we have happily begun It is only to order things and to establish them with Judgment and with Justice from hence forth even for ever To observe and do according to those Laws Rules and Directions which the Lord hath shewed and appointed in his Word and then there would be continued peace and firm settlement throughout these three Kingdoms which are united one to another and the like might be successively esta●lished throughout the whole Earth Let us ●●●e come and fix upon the sure Foundation of Righteousness But otherwise there will be confusion disturbance and unsetledness of Times with the manifold evils and Inconveniences thereof now in this place besides the Wrath of God which hereafter cometh upon the Children of Disobedience If People will go on still in their own Wayes and according to their own Thoughts this is Sin Iniquity and Transgression all which the Lord God of Recompences shall surely requite None calleth for Justice nor any pleadeth for Truth they trust in vanity and speak lies They conceive mischief and bring forth iniquity they hath Cockatrice Eggs and See Isa 59. throughout weave the Spiders Web. He that eateth of their Eggs dieth and that which is crashed breaketh out into a Viper What is done by way of Violence Humour and Stub●ornness will recoyl with greater force and smart upon themselves notwithstanding they die as other men and we see nothing as yet to befall them Again sometimes it is here seen that what they would suppress doth rise up with greater strength and danger against them Or if with much subtlety and contrivance
How will your selves look Christ in the Face the great Preacher of Righteousness if ye should offend one of those little Ones that belongs to him And proceed in the same manner as those did who Slew him and hanged him on a Tree How will ye answer it before God the Judge of all And excuse your selves to the Spirits of Just Men made perfect Who then will be without partiality and respect of Persons Who will not in the least savour of what belongs unto Men and also have a right knowledge of both sides the want whereof doth hinder the Saints on Earth from giving a righteous judgment But yet further your own self-conviction which is now stifled shall break forth And your own thoughts which now a little accuse you shall appear fully out and get the Dominion as before did the Thoughts of Iniquity and shall recoil upon your selves This know and be assured of in the mean while that the Persecuting Spirit is the Work of the Dragon who hath so long made War with them which keep the Commandments of God Rev. 12. 17. and Persecution or Prosecution of his Servants even as its first beginning to the last wicked act doth arise and continue from want of the true knowledge of God as is evident from these following places of his Word For Strangers are risen up against me and Oppressors seek after my Soul They have not set God before them Psal 54. 3. O God the Proud are risen against me and the Assemblies of Violent Men have sought after my Soul and have not set thee before them Psal 86. 14. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my Holy Mountain Why so For the Earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the Waters cover the Sea Isa 11. 9. They shall put you out of the Synagogues yea the Time cometh that whosoever killeth you will think that he doth God service And these things will they do unto you because they have not known the Father nor me Joh. 16. 2 3. Which none of the Princes of this World knew for had they known it they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory 1 Cor. 2. 8. He prayed for his Murderers Father forgive them for they know not what they do Luk. 23. 34. But ●ow men have no such excuse for their Sin neither will God hear nor are we allowed to pray but according to Truth Paul gives the Reason-why he who was a Persecutor obtained Mercy Because I did it ignorantly and in unbelief 1 Tim. 1. 13. which implies the contrary if it had been knowingly done And here again to be willingly ignorant and to make haste to shed Innocent Blood Isa 59. 7. because they hope to have this excuse for their Sin This is to seekdeep to hide their Counsel from the Lord Isa 29. 15. Shall not God search this our for he knoweth the secrets of the Heart Psal 44. 21. Or whatever pretence or vindication they may have before the world can they conceal from his Eyes before whom all things are naked and opened with whom we have to do Heb. 4. 13. and are to be judged by him only For it is a small thing or nothing to be accountable one to another But it is a further degree of Sin and Iniquity will bring on greater Guilt and Condemnation when People are not only contented not to obey the Laws and Truth of the Most high God but also as their Fathers did to the Prophets Persecute and Kill such who are appointed to make it known And all those who are even now for filling up the measure of their Fathers Have they not so much knowledge and reason to reflect for their own safety Do ye not think it would have been better for them if they had not touched God's Prophets and done his Anointed no harm My Authority and Commission for doing these things is as aforesaid from the 23d Chapter of Matthew and Vers 34. And also what I can make evident from the 14th Chapter of John and 17th Verse Even the Spirit of Truth which by some is hard to be rightly apprehended for the same Reason as the World cannot receive him because it seeth him not But yet they may conceive thus much What is that common sence and reason which is within themselves May it be felt or seen And is it not only to be Understood That Discourse and inferring of one thing from another is in order to bring out something that is Truth The pure acts of the mind may give a Light and glimmering to natural and reasonable Souls that there are higher and Spiritual things which shall shortly be revealed before us with open Face as these low and Earthly things are among which we now dwell I speak unto wise Men Judge ye of what I say The Truth which I speak that is my Commission And though it is not seen yet it may be sensibly felt and evidently perceived within your own Consciences I will put my Words in his Mouth Deut. 18. 18. Behold I have put my Words in thy Mouth Jer. 1. 9. and such Words only are a good and sufficient Commission of themselves God hath been pleased to try many of his Servants even unto the Death to see what they will endure for him and to let the wickedness of Men go on that he may behold what they will do against him For my part I know not what or when is determined with me but I trust on that God who gave me and all mankind Life and Breath Though my Faith may a little doubt it w●ll not altogether fail if I should be conformed to the Example of Christ or Isaiah to whom that particular Phrase was Behold my Servant whom I uphold Isa 42. 1. Yet both of them fell by the Hands of wicked Men. I have had the application of some Promises which encouraged me to this great Work but yet if I should be cut off in the midst of my dayes I do believe and am assured for I utterly renounce the persons of Men that seeing the thing is Government and Peace which must be laid on an Holy Righteous True and lasting Foundation to bring in Christs Kingdom and it is to Order it and to Establish it with Judgment and with Justice from henceforth even forever The Zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this Isa 9. 7. Now God doth send that into the Hearts of his Servants And it is an active Principle which will still reach forth where it can apprehend any thing more until it be firmly and throughly Established He shall not fail nor be discouraged till he have set Judgment in the Earth Isa 42. 4. That is the thing we go upon only And here if one simple weak and unworthy Instrument should be stopt and hindred or shut up and kill●d I nothing question but as the Lord spake thus to me with a strong Hand and inst●ucted me that I should not walk in the way of this People so
wayes and that Sinners may be converted unto God then the Truth of God is come unto you Though according to the Divine Method it may spring up from an obscure press and compiler and remain for some time hidden and concealed from the World for People are ashamed of such Words in an adulterous and sinful Generation and they hate the Light neither come they to the Light lest their deeds should be reproved The Light shineth in Darkness and the Darkness comprehendeth it not John 1. 5. It doth not see and perceive and also it is afraid and shrinks thereat And also there is the whole Truth spoken out without fear and respect of Persons and without favour of and siding with any Sect or party and also the time is come when they will not endure sound Doctrine for these and such like Reasons only it hath been universally rejected and not received I have all my Life time kept constant Communion with the Church of England and have daily frequented its publike Worship as I have opportunity and do at least thrice in the Year receive the Holy Sacrament according to the appointed Institution I have been also some few times since the Established Liberty at the Congregations of Protestant Dissenters and herein I do act pursua●t to that Truth Manifested in the fifth Chapter of my afore-cited Book under the head of different communions But I did never in the least joyn with the Popish way of Worship nor did ever so much as see it which I have had the curiosity only to incline me so far but I thought even that to be a sin and unlawful because of their Superstition and Image Worship and therefore I did utterly refrain I do desire and would endeavour after a Greater degree of purity and reformation even in our established Church for it should be yet more freed from the Ordinances and Commandments of men Though I do withal consider that the Restorer of Paths to dwell in Isa 58. 12. is only to take away that rubbish and corruption which hath so long laid in them that they may be smooth right and plain as they were at first and they are to remain the very same for we are to come up again to the old Paths where is the good way Jer. 6. 16. The Wall is in no wise to be removed nor yet the Foundations altered but the old waste places are to be builded and they are to be raised up and the breach is to be repaired and all is to be done in the very same place We would not willingly bring a Scandal or Odium or Dishonour them in the sight of their several Congregations but yet the Sons of Levi are to be purified that they may offer unto the Lord an Offering in Righteousness and that they might be the same as in the dayes of Old and in former Years when they did Teach Jacob thy Judgements and Israel thy Law and the Lord did accept the work of their Hands When they did walk before him in Peace and Equity and did turn many away from Iniquity And now the fault is only in themselves for why should they do those things as to be contemptible and base before the People As their office is to admonish the People of their Sin and Errour so God in his abundant Care and Provision for his Church hath all along instructed and raised up others who were not of the Levitical Priesthood to do the like unto them also It seems to be Ignorance or Interest that People are so over zealous for and confined within a particular Church or such a Congregation whereas we should acknowledge and answer to no other Name than that of a Christian not according to the common notions thereof but as it is written in the Word of God by living according to all the Rules and directions there And then we might all agree to the same manner and meet at the same place of Worship A summary of the proceeding Discourse Both the secret Thought and open accusation of the World are affixed on Me for Publishing such Words unto them This man seeketh not the welfare of this People but the hurt Jer. 38. 4. He that conquers Kingdoms and enlarges Territories is reputed a Great Instrument of Mens Happiness though it is accomplished with the Price of Blood and by unlawful means and the utmost hereof is a shadow only of Good which just passeth by and is gone for ever But they are the only unacceptable Persons to the World who instruct People how they must live and do that they may be saved and lead them into the right way that they may live as Peaceably and comfortably here as can be well desired in this World and at last be Happy and Blessed throughout all eternity Men need not be in the least scrupulous and fearful as to this present time for these Words if understood aright would prevent that further effusion of Blood in our neighbour Nations And one Mans Life if he knew how rightly to esteem it is more valuable to himself than two Kings and their Kingdoms They according as is was long since foretold of them 1 Sam. 8. do turn their Subjects into Servants and make use of the lower sort of People for their Wars but they have not so learned of Christ for of him it is written He shall spare the Poor and needy and shall save the Souls of the needy He shall redeem their Soul from Deceit and Violence and precious shall their Blood be in his sight Psal 72. 13 14. The same eternal Word and Truth would put a stop to the further impoverishment which is likely to fall on our own Nation through continued taxes and charge which would some what take off from the Oppressi-of the Poor and the sighing of the Needy for that is drained out which should carry on Trade and Commerce The Spirit of God doth take notice of such things as may be seen Isa 23. 18. And then the Seas might be set open again that People may follow their lawful Merchandize with less fear and Danger And then again the like Way and Method may be found out to restore unto all Nati●ns Vnity Peace and Concord which we pray for as a Blessing so we should likewise endeavour after out of a mind to the publick good That there be no breaking in nor going out That there be no complaining in our Streets Psal 144. 14. Which would be in Deed and in Truth accomplished If as they do already own and profess him so the Kings and Princes and Lords and Counsellers and Pastors and Teachers of all sorts would obey the Lord our God and do according to all his Laws and Statutes If they do not their Sin will find them out severally and as they are joyned together in a community for the time draws near when He will fulfil his Word for the Nation and Kingdom that will not serve thee shall Perish Yea those Nations shall be utterly wasted Isa
60. 12. The Lord executeth Righteousness and Judgment for all that are oppressed Psal 103. 6. How is this true for many are oppressed throughout their Life and dye so But it is to be understood from the words following He made known his ways unto Moses Vers 7. He hath commanded and shewed in his Word how it should be done And if People will not do it freely and willingly we his Servants have no more to say but we leave it to God himself to perform fulfil and execute his Word They may believe and tremble that the same Almighty God who spake the World into Being and commanded his Word to a thousand Generations will also give forth the executive Sentence And I will punish the World for their evil and the Wicked for their Iniquity and I will cause the A rogancy of the Prondro cease and will lay low the Haughtiness of the Terrible Isa 13. 11. which last hath been already fulfilled in foregoing Generations and there is a fearful expectation of the other The like doth haste to be accomplished and determined upon the present Generation unless they agree with their Adversary quickly whilst they are now in the way Consider of it seriously Had ye rather die in your Sins and utterly Perish in your own corruption then be told thereof and be put in a way how you may escape Now it is high time to look about your selves for now ye are nearer to Death and Immortality then ever ye were yet and so ye approach nearer from Day to Day till one drop away after another into the future state And then do appear forth the things contained in Scripture out of which I have spoken all along and are manifested to our separated Spirits all one as the Things we now here in the Flesh do see handle and converse withal God will take care that what he hath said shall come to pass And those who are now so stout and disdainful to value his Words as an empty sound or a dead impertinent letter which may be laid aside and not minded suppose there is not much more in it then waste Paper with some impressions of Ink Or if it is quick and powerful and sharper then any two edged Sword then out of the Spirit of opposition and revenge they may do as Jehudi did Jer. 36. 23. Cut it with a Pen-Knife or cast it into the Fire or some other way embezil and lose it such People may at length find and be sensible of an hideous lamentation in themselves and that it is become a Savour of Death unto Death As the words in a statute Book do now cause several te suffer loss of Liberty Life or Member and other wayes of punishment and that aforementioned is as silly a device as for a guilty offender to tear the Record or Statute by which he is to be judged for this doth only argue a greater contempt and provocation to God who did send forth his Word to bring them to Repentance that he might forgive Jer. 36. 3. and Pardon them And it remains still the same in the purpose and determination and Book of the Lord From Scripture all that is truly inferred will be in like manner fulfilled Let there go about never so many like Elymas the Sorcerer to defeat what is here said or as Jannes and Jambres of old time So do too many now resist the Truth 1 Tim. ● 8. or disregard it still that remains And however in the mean while stifled or prevaricated nevertheless it will rise up at the Judgment of the great Day Whether they will hear or forbear whether they will read or not these Words are laid before them that they might have turned from Iniquity unto Righteousness And not in Hypocrisie or outward shew but in sincerity and Truth seek their God daily and delight to know his Wayes The Compilers Defence for himself And now methinks I hear the whispering and secret Counsel of those which may arise yet higher and it shall be done in a solemn Judiciary proceeding Away with this turbulent Fellow it is not fit he should live for he doth exceedingly disquiet this Nation we will send him away before to prove whether the words he hath here laid together be true or else do it according to the subtlety of the old Serpent in the lu●king Places of the Villages and Murder the Innocent in secret Places or by administring some deadly thing for this will not make much noise and we shall be thus happily rid of one who doth and will continue to Torment the Inhabitants of the Earth and therefore one way or another let him be Slain Ye may indeed Kill my Body but ye cannot Kill me for there is an Immortality Resurrection of the Dead and eternal Judgment If that should be which God forbid and yet it may be supposed for the like hath been fulfilled in our Brethren who were Slain for the Word of God and for the Testimony which they held Rev. 6. 9. yet I shall see again and meet with my Murderers But the safer way is to forewarn you all of these things Hear my Voice O God in my Prayer Preserve my Life from fear of the Enemy hide me from the secret counsel of the Wicked and from the Insurrection of the Workers of Iniquity fear was on every side while they took counsel together against me they devised to take away my Life But yet with all their secresie violence and consultations they cannot do it in that place and after that manner where God may not see it and know it And the Lord will find it out when he maketh Inquisition for Blood this and that man was put to Death after such a manner by the Hands of such Persons and for such a cause God sends me as a Messenger to his Subjects to acquaint them of their Violation of his Laws and to testifie against them to turn them to God and Righteousness And I put them in mind to live under his Government and to obey his Laws for the future But for doing of this they seek to Kill me Help me O Lord my God O save me according to thy Mercy that they may know that this is thy Hand That thou Lord hast done it If they should send me before there is no calling of me back again and so no Restitution nor yet will the Crocodiles Tears afterwards wash away the guilt of my Blood The building the Tombs of the Prophets and garnishing the Sepulchers of the Righteous will not make an attonement for the Sin of killing them And moreover it will be but a very small advantage and short respite for your Spirits also in a little time will fly out one after another And if they are so impatient now that they cannot endure a single Troubler of Israel how then will ye endure to meet with the whole Company of Prophets and Apostles who were the very same to their Age and Country what I am accused of now