Selected quad for the lemma: life_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
life_n	bless_a	jesus_n	lord_n	4,865	5	3.3913	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A88575	Mr. Love's case: wherein is published, first, his several petitions to the Parliament. Secondly, a full narrative of the late dangerous design against the state, written with Mr. Loves own hand, and by him sent to the Parliament; wherein he setteth down his several meetings and secret actings with Major Alford, Maj. Adams, Col. Barton, Mr. Blackmore, Mr. Case, Mr. Cauton, Dr. Drake, Mr. Drake, Cap. Farr, Mr. Gibbons, Mr. Haviland, Major Huntington, Mr. Jenkins, Mr. Jaquel, Mr Jackson, Lieut. Col. Jackson, Cap. Massey, Mr. Nalton, Cap. Potter, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Sterks, Colonel Sowton, Colonel Vaughan, and others. Thirdly, Mr. Loves speech and prayer on the scaffold on Towerhil, August 22. 1651. Printed by an exact copy, taken in short-hand by John Hinde. Fourthly, animadversions on the said speech and prayer.	Love, Christopher, 1618-1651.; Hinde, John, 17th cent.	1651 (1651)	Wing L3143; Thomason E641_10; Thomason E790_1; ESTC R202750	68,137	69

company of Angels to Jesus Christ the Mediator of the new Covenant to the spirits of all men made perfect to God the judg of all in whose presence there is fulness of joy and at whose right hand there are pleasures for evermore I shall conclude But then Mr Sheriff Tichburn telling him that the words were the spirits of just men made perfect Love He then corrected himself saying To the spirits of just men made perfect and to God the Judg of all in whose presence there is fulness of joy and in whose right hand there are pleasures for evermore SECT XXVIII I conclude with that speech of the Apostle I am now in 2 Tim. 4. 6 7. I am now to be offered up and the time of my departure is at hand but I have finished my course I have kept the Faith Henceforth there is a crown of righteousness layd up for me and not for me onely but for all them that love the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ through whose blood when I have shed my blood I expect Salvation and remission of sins And so the Lord bless you all Then turning to Mr Sheriff he said May I pray Sheriff Tichburn Yes but consider the time Love I have done Sir Then turning to the people he said Beloved I will but pray a little while with you to commend my Soul to God and I have done Then Mr Ash told him Mr Ash The House is risen and therefore Love To which Mr Love answered I I Sir After which he prayed with an audible voyce saying SECT XXIX Mr Love's Prayer MOst Glorious and Eternal Majesty Thou art righteous and holy in all thou dost to the sons of men though thou hast suffered men to condemn thy servant thy servant will not condemn thee He justifieth thee though thou cuttest him off in the midst of his days and in the midst of his Ministry blessing thy glorious Name that though his name be taken away from the Land of the Living that yet he is not blotted out of the Book of the Living Father my hour is come thy poor creature can say without vanity and falshood he hath desired to glorifie thee upon Earth glorifie thou now him in Heaven He hath desired to bring the Souls of other men to Heaven let his Soul be brought to Heaven O thou blessed God whom thy Creature hath served who hath made thee his hope and his confidence from his youth forsake him not now he is drawing nigh to thee now he is in the valley of the shadow of death Lord be thou life to him smile thou upon him while men frown on him Lord thou hast setled this perswasion in his heart That as soon as ever the blow is given to divide his Head from his Body he shall be united to his Head in Heaven Blessed be God that thy servant dyes in those hopes Blessed be God that thou hast filled the soul of thy servant with joy and peace in beleeving O Lord think upon that poor Brother of mine that is a companion in tribulation with me who is this day to lose his life as well as I O fill him full of the joy of the Holy Ghost when he is to give up the ghost Lord strengthen our hearts that we may give up the ghost with joy and not with grief We intreat thee O Lord think upon thy poor Churches O that England might live in thy sight and O that London might be a faithful City to thee that righteousness might be amongst them that so peace and plenty may be within their walls and righteousness within their habitation Lord heal the breaches of this poor Nation Make England and Scotland as one staff in the Lords hand that Ephraim might not envy Judah nor Judah vex Ephraim but that both might flee upon the shoulders of the Philistins that men of the Protestant Religion engaged in the same Cause and Covenant might not delight to spill each others blood but might engage against the common Adversaries of our Religion and Liberties God shew mercy to all that fear him SECT XXX Think upon our Covenant-keeping Brethren in the Kingdom of Scotland keep them faithful to thee and let not them that have invaded them overspread their whole Land Prevent the shedding of more Christian Blood if it seem good in thine eyes God shew mercy to thy poor Servant who is here now giving up the ghost O blessed Jesus apply thy Blood not only for my Justification unto life but also for my comfort for the quieting of my Soul that so I might be in the joys of Heaven before I come to a possession of Heaven Hear the prayers of all thy people that have been made for thy Servant and though thou hast denyed prayer as to the particular request concerning my life yet let herein the fruit of prayer be seen that thou wilt bear up my heart against the fear of death God shew mercy to all that fear him Shew mercy to all that have engaged for the life of thy Servant let them have mercy at the day of their appearing before Jesus Christ. Preserve thou a godly Ministry in this Nation and restore a godly Ministry and cause yet good days to be the heritage of thy people for the Lords sake Now Lord into thy hands thy Servant committeth his spirit And though he may not with Steven see the Heavens opened let him have the Heavens opened and though he may not see upon a Scaffold the Son of God standing at the right hand of God yet let him come to the glorified Body of Jesus Christ and this hour have an intellectual sight of the glorified Body of his Saviour Lord Jesus receive my spirit and Lord Iesus stand by me thy dying Servant who hath endeavored in his life time to stand for thee Lord hear pardon all his infirmities wipe away his iniquities by the blood of Christ wipe off reproaches from his name wipe off guilt from his person and receive him pure and spotless and blameless before thee in love And all this we beg for the sake of Iesus Christ Amen and Amen SECT XXXI Mr Ash You make a Christian end I hope Mr Love I I bless God Then turning to Mr Sheriff Tichburn said I thank you for this kindness Sir you have expressed a great deal of kindness to me Well I go from a Block to the bosom of my Saviour Then he asked Where is the Executioner When the Executioner came forward he said Art thou the Officer Executioner Yes Love Then lifting up his eyes he said O blessed Iesus that hath kept me from the hurt of death and from the fear of death O blessed be God blessed be God And taking his leave of the Ministers he said Love The Lord be with you all And taking leave of Sheriff Tichburn he kissed his hand Then he kneeled down and made a short prayer privately Then after rising up he said Blessed be God I am full of joy and peace in

truth he could say in the Apostles sence wherein doubtless he would be understood to speak I have kept the Faith I leave to his Great Lord and Master both his and mine to determine ANIMAD upon Sect. 29 30. In these two Sections Mr. Love commends by Prayer both himself and his own Soul as all others whom he judged it meet to pray for unto God In a great part of this Prayer and of the particular Requests made therein I apprehend nothing but what is savory and Christian I trust that these words towards the latter end of this prayer Lord hear pardon all his infirmities wipe away his iniquities by the blood of Christ c. carried in them an implicite Repentance both of that sin against God of those high Crimes and late great miscarriages against the Parliament for which as himself a few days before this Prayer confessed he was justly condemned as likewise of all those most untrue bitter and Unchristian invectives uttered against the Parliament and State in this Speech upon the Scaffold together with all the rest of the sins of his life And when in his last Petition he prayeth to be received by God pure and spotless and blameless before him in love I trust he prayed not to be received by God as any other person then what he really and in truth was and consequently That he was blameless in love If so then was that spirit of spleen and Unchristian bitterness by which he spake so many unseemly things against those who little deserved it at his hand in the foregoing Speech by this time vanished and gone out of him And indeed it was now high time to cast him out because there had been no entrance for Mr. Love into his Fathers house he speaks of in his company When he saith That he had made God his Hope and his Confidence from his youth up I wish that his heart did not deceive him It is not lightly possible that men should labor so in the fire as Mr. Love did to promote or uphold a carnal and worldly Interest who truly make God their Hope and Confidence As in his zeal for God and for the bringing of the souls of men to heaven he was equalized if not exceeded by the Jews in Pauls days and by the Scribes and Pharisees in our Saviours who compassed Sea and Land to make one Proselyte so was he also in his glorying or boasting in God Foundations not Buildings or Superstructions are the great Oracles in Religion to be consulted about the Spiritual Estates of men After he had gloried this great glorying in God Lord thou hast setled this perswasion in my heart That as soon as ever the blow is given to divide my head from my body I shall be united to my Head in Heaven he prayeth thus O blessed Jesus apply thy blood not onely for my justification unto life but also for my comfort for the quieting of my soul c. And again Hear the Prayers of all thy people that have been made for thy servant and though thou hast denied Prayer as to the particular Request concerning my Life yet let herein the fruit of Prayer be seen That thou wilt bear up my heart against the fear of death If the former glorying had succeeded these Petitions and not gone before them the consistence between the one and the other had been of a better and more easie Interpretation When he prayeth for his Covenant-keeping-Brethren in the Kingdom of Scotland he prayeth for a Generation of men that is not Covenant-keepers being several yeers since perished from amongst the Inhabiters of that Nation Covenant-takers are here generally metempsychosed into Covenant-breakers His Petition To make England and Scotland one staff in the Lords hand The Lord I trust will shortly perform That he should pray so particularly for men of a Forraign Nation and for a Brother of remote Blood though of near relation in guilt and not once mention in his Prayer his nearest relations in Nature Wife or Children especially having brought them into an afflicted and sad condition by his Miscarriages was the observation of some sober men present not without offence ANIMAD upon Sect. 31. I have nothing to Animadvert upon this Section but onely that which helps me to hope the better of his present Condition as viz. That I perceive no breathing at all herein of that evil spirit of Wrath and Discontent which had wrought so effectually in him until his Prayer in the two last Sections and the more immediate approaches of Death The departure of this spirit from him before his own is a ground of good hope That this latter shall not be sent thither from whence the former came FINIS

hours between your Petitioner and Death he is humbly bold before he breathe out his soul to God to breathe out his Request to the Parliament by making his last Address to you humbly acknowledging he hath incurred your high Displeasure of which he is deeply sensible and violated the Laws of this Commonwealth for which he is unfeignedly sorrowful and now also submitteth to the Sentence of the High Court and promiseth and offereth further Security neither to Plot Contrive or Design the Subversion of this present Government accounting it as a brand of the highest Ingratitude to imploy his life against you if he should by an Act of Grace and Favor receive a new life from you Wherefore your dying Petitioner before he commend his soul to God on the Block he pours out his soul to you at your Bar That you would be pleased by your gracious merciful and seasonable Interposition to prevent this sad stroke now the hand is even lifted up and he is as one giving up the ghost and if he have provoked you so far as to render him uncapable of an Absolute Pardon yet he humbly beseeches you to change the Sentence of death into perpetual Banishment in so doing your Mercy will triumph over Iustice and the greatness and nearness of his danger he being as one free among the dead will exceedingly greaten the freeness of your Grace and Mercy And your Petitioner shall pray c. Christopher Love Read July 15. 1651. To the Supream Authority The Parliament of the Common-wealth of ENGLAND The humble Petition of Mary the Wife of Christopher Love SHEWETH THat your poor Petitioner hath great cause to say Blessed be God and blessed be You for your merciful Vote of the 15th of Iuly a Day never to be forgotten in adding a moneth to the Life of her dear Husband which hath opened a door of Hope to her in the midst of the Valley of Achor and made her glad though she be a woman of a sorrowful Spirit yet your distressed Handmaid is overwhelmed with grief and anguish of Soul and cannot be comforted when she remembers that doleful Day the 15th of August so near approaching her heart doth almost die within her and she is as one giving up the ghost before she is delivered of the fruit of her womb Wherefore your greatly distressed Handmaid doth again pour out her soul with renewed and importunate Requests Beseeching your Honors to commiserate her deplorable Condition by putting on bowels of Pity and Compassion towards her dear condemned Husband that she may not grapple with the intollerable pains of Travel and the unsupportable thoughts of her Husband's death in one day O that the Life of your Handmaid and her Babe might be a Ransom for the Life of her condemned Husband she had rather chuse out of love to die for him then for sorrow of heart to die with him Now the good Lord incline your hearts to give him his life for a Prey wheresoever it shall please your Honors to cast him And your Petitioner shall ever pray c. Mary Love To the Supream Authority The Parliament of the Common-wealth of ENGLAND The humble Petition of Christopher Love a Condemned Prisoner in the Tower of London SHEWETH THat your Petitioner doth humbly adore the wonderful Goodness of God and most thankfully acknowledge the great Mercy of the Parliament for so seasonable and acceptable an Act of Grace to such an offending Suppliant that when there was but a step between him and death the number of his days being accomplished and he almost cut off from the Land of the living then you mercifully interposed and gave him his Life for a moneth longer which was to him as a Resurrection from the dead The consideration whereof melteth the heart of your Petitioner and makes him after a more narrow search into his heart and ways more deeply sensible then ever of his sin against God and more sorrowful for his high Crimes and Offences against the Parliament in his late and great Miscarriages He humbly acknowledgeth he hath so highly violated the Laws of the Commonwealth as that thereby he hath rendered himself guilty of the Sentence of death justly passed on him by the High Court of Justice He doth also herewith humbly offer to your Honors a free and full Narrative under his hand of the whole Design to the best of his remembrance which he leaveth to your grave Wisdoms and favorable Interpretations fully resolving that he will neither plot contrive or design any thing prejudicial to the present Government but will in his place and calling oppose any Designs whatsoever whether in this or the neighbor Nation that may tend to the ruine of this Commonwealth Your dying Petitioner with all humble importunity prostrates himself at your feet puts his mouth in the dust O that there may be hope craving your tender Mercy begging his Life at your hands promising never to imploy that Life against you he shall receive from you but doth hold it his Duty in his place and calling to lay out himself for the glory of God the good of his people the Peace and Safety of this Commonwealth And your Petitioner shall ever pray c. Christopher Love Read August 14. 1651. Reod again August 16. 1651. A Brief and full NARRATIVE Humbly presented with my Petition to the Parliament By me CHRISTOPHER LOVE COnsidering how a clear and full Narrative may satisfie the State although it may prejudice my self I am willing with an Ingenuous Freedom and openness of heart to make known the whole matter so far as I distinctly know and well remember humbly hoping that this large acknowledgement of mine which is more then any in the world can prove against me shall not be taken as an Aggravation of my fault but as a Demonstration of my Ingenuity Before I mention the matters of Fact I humbly crave leave to signifie the time when and maner how I came to be intangled in this unhappy Business As for the time it was after the breaking off the Treaty between the King and the Scots at Jersey for before that time to the best of my remembrance I was not privy to or acquainted with any meetings about the sending of Captain Titus whose face I never saw to Jersey or sending Letters to him or receiving Letters from him whiles he was there or about sending any Letters to or receiving Letters from the King Queen Jermyn Piercy or any other person in Forraign parts during the Treaty at Jersey But after that Treaty was ended Mr. William Drake came to me told me he had News to impart and to that end he desired to know if he could get Friends together whether I was willing that they should meet at my house it being conveniently scituate in the midst of the City that so he might communicate what he heard of Affairs abroad To satisfie my curiosity to hear News I was content to let him with those he should bring to meet

Justice onely but of all sorts of persons in the Land who have not either their hand or their heart in Mr. Love's counsels and practices I mention those whom the Apostle terms 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without natural affection in reference to Mr. Love because it was the observation of some who were present at his Execution from first to last that though he prayed for his fellow-Traitor and the Scots not onely the profess'd but highly exprest Enemies of his Countrey and Nation yet he made not the least mention either of his wife or children either in his Prayer or Discourse Now if Mr. Love at his death was no better then a person having the Form of Godliness but denying the power thereof there was no good ground for that his confident rejoycing therein 2. The Lord Christ saith expresly That if we forgive not men their trespasses neither will our Heavenly Father forgive us our trespasses Now though Mr. Love pretends fairness and clearness of spirit in this kinde again and again and that he brought no rancor or revengefulness of heart to the Scaffold yet that he was inwardly full of this rottenness his most venemous virulent false and bitter Insinuations against the Parliament and State uttered upon the Scaffold testifie to the face of his greatest Advocates See especially upon this account Sect. 12 where you will finde him so unchristianly and with such insufferable rancor and malice inveighing against the State that one of the present Magistrates acknowledged by Mr. Love himself and not without cause a good Friend of his openly professed that he was not able to endure it Now if Mr. Love died upon such terms that his Heavenly Father could not according to his expresly declared will forgive him his trespasses certainly he could have no sufficient ground for that confidence which he expressed at his death 3. We read in Scripture of many confidences and rejoycings in men and these Professors without sufficiency of ground to justifie or bear them out Paul speaks of some who gloried 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the face or in appearance not in the heart And our Savior himself speaketh of many who as he saith will say unto him i. e. think at present that they may with confidence say unto him in that great day Lord Lord have we not prophesied in thy Name and in thy Name cast out devils and in thy Name done many wonderful works To whom notwithstanding he will reply and profess that he never knew them Depart from me ye that work iniquity Mat. 7. 22 23. 4. Mr. Love did not could not at his death out-confidence the ordinary sort of Papists Priests and Jesuits amongst us that have from time to time drunk of the same cup with him as well as John Baptist or Paul and upon the same account in which particular John Baptist and Paul separate from him as we shall see presently and leave him in the company of those other 5. It is no very hard matter for a man strongly acted and assisted by a spirit of popularity a spirit with which Mr. Love hath been observed by many to have been one spirit or flesh rather for many years past to harden himself against the fear of Death to suppress smother and keep under those workings of Nature and Conscience which ordinarily discover themselves upon the approaches of Death in such persons who have no design to drive by the smothering or suppressing of them nor any collateral help or aid from any such spirit to enable them to the subduing and vanquishing of them 6. Mr. Love it is more then probable was not onely vehemently exhorted encouraged importuned but even solemnly by all the sacred Interests of high Presbytery conjured by his Clergy-companions to die like a valiant and resolute Champion of the Cause and not to bewray the least grudging of any fear or repentance for any thing he had acted upon the service thereof lest it should be said of Presbytery Her glory was stained and betrayed by the cowardice of her first-born Seventhly and lastly when I consider these passages in Mr. Love's Prayer Sect. 30. O blessed Jesus apply thy blood not onely for my Justification unto life but also for the comfort for the quieting of my Soul that so I might be in the joys of Heaven before c. And farther Hear the Prayers of all thy people that have been made for thy servant and though thou hast denied Prayer as to the particular Request concerning my life yet let herein the fruit of prayer be seen that thou wilt bear up my heart against the fear of death When I say I seriously consider the express import of these passages they raise this apprehension in me and questionless upon the same terms they will raise the same in any other man that Mr. Love's confidence was not at least as yet I mean in the entrance and beginning of his Speech ascended so high in his heart and soul as his tongue reported it unto the people When Saul was dead David prayed no more for deliverance from him And if Christ as Mr. Love himself confesseth denied Prayer concerning his life why might he not deny it as concerning the quieting of his soul and the bearing up of his heart against the fear of Death And if this be granted evident it is that Mr Love did but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 theatrically act the part of a Confident man upon the Scaffold Several other things there are which much dis-satisfie me touching the legitimacy and well-groundedness of Mr Love 's rejoycing and confidence at his death which I shall not at present for brevities sake mention How matters stood between God and his Soul at his giving up of the Ghost is a secret too hard for my soul to enter into I had rather hope as Mr Ash said unto him that he made a Christian end nor do I desire to leave any touch or tincture of a contrary impression in any man My whole intent in what hath been said hitherto is to put that confidence to rebuke which he brought with him to the Scaffold not to prove that he died in unbelief Concerning that vain-glorious and light Conceit That his Death should turn to such an high Account of Honor unto him because John Baptist and Paul glorified God by the same death and because he read of Saints to be beheaded c. I shall speak little to it supposing that it weighs no more then the dust of the Ballance in the Judgement of any considering man Mr Love well knew that it is not poena but causa quae facit Martyrem not the punishment much less the kinde of punishment that makes a Martyr Which makes me a little to marvel with what face he could say as afterwards we shall hear him saying That whatsoever men may judge yet he died a Martyr Iohn Baptist was beheaded not simply for his Conscience or for the discharge of his Conscience but for the discharge of his

Mr. LOVE's CASE Wherein is Published First His several Petitions to the Parliament Secondly A full Narrative of the late Dangerous Design against the State written with Mr. Loves own hand and by him sent to the Parliament wherein he setteth down his several Meetings and Secret Actings with Major Alford Maj. Adams Col. Barton Mr. Blackmore Mr. Case Mr. Cauton Dr. Drake Mr. Drake Cap. Farr Mr. Gibbons Mr. Haviland Major Huntington Mr. Jenkins Mr. Jaquel Mr Jackson Lieut. Col. Jackson Cap. Massey Mr. Nalton Cap. Potter Mr. Robinson Mr. Sterks Colonel Sowton Colonel Vaughan and others Thirdly Mr. Loves Speech and Prayer on the Scaffold on Towerhil August 22. 1651. Printed by an Exact Copy taken in Short-hand by JOHN HINDE Fourthly Animadversions on the said Speech and Prayer Whose hatred is covered by deceit his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole Congregation Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein And he that rolleth a stone it will return upon him Prov. 26. 26 27. London Printed for R. W. and Peter Cole at the Printing-Press in Cornhil near the Royal Exchange 1651. To the Supream Authority The Parliament of the Commonwealth of England The Humble Petition of Christopher Love a condemned Prisoner in the Tower of London Most humbly sheweth THat your Petitioner having received the Sentence of Death by the High Court of Justice and is preparing himself in all humility and serious submission to drink that bitter Cup the terror whereof though much abated through the pardoning Mercies of God in the blood of sprinkling yet your Petitioner being brought down to the dust of death desires to see the righteous Lord in this Sentence acknowledging it to be just with the Most High to cut him off both in the middest of his days and in the midst of his Ministry He desires to be deeply humbled under the mighty hand of God lying now before the Lord and you putting his mouth in the dust that there may be hope that the Lord will pardon his manifold iniquities and that your Honors will pass by his Offences done contrary to your Laws which as he formerly did so still doth confess renders him culpable for which he is unfeignedly sorry Your Petitioner goeth not about to plead Excuse but with an humble Submission prostrates himself at your feet acknowledging he hath offended against the Acts of this Common-wealth and thereby is fallen under your sore displeasure of which he is very deeply sensible and sorrowful also Your Petitioner therefore having no other refuge left him on earth to redeem his Life from death but the Favor of this Honorable House makes his humble Addresses to you in the day of his deep Distress that you would as the Elect of God put on bowels of Compassion towards him that his life may be given him for a prey that he may give his life for a Sacrifice for the glory of God and good of this Nation and if the Lord shall please to stir up your hearts to remit the Execution and absolve him from the Sentence of Death it will be to him as life from the dead and he shall thankfully acknowledge God as the Author and you as the Instruments and humbly hopes it will be no matter of grief to you in the Great Day of your Accompt to rescue his life from going down to the Pit and he is perswaded that hereby the hearts of many that are godly will be comforted and united and many Thanksgivings from them will redound to God in your behalf and will lay Obligations on your Petitioner the remainder of his days to lead a peaceable and quiet life in all godliness and honesty and a Promise in his place and calling to endeavor the Peace and Welfare of this Commonwealth And your Petitioner shall ever pray c. Christopher Love Read July 9. 1651. To the Supream Authority The Parliament of the Common-wealth of ENGLAND The Humble Petition of Christopher Love a Condemned Prisoner in the Tower of London Most humbly sheweth THat your Petitioner doth with all Thankfulness acknowledge it a singular Providence of God and special Favor of the Parliament that a door of Hope is yet open and opportunity once more offered to prostrate himself at your feet for a Grant of his Life which if you vouchsafe he shall accept as an Act of great Grace and Mercy It is no little grief of heart to your Petitioner that through unadvisedness and weakness he is fallen under your sad and heavy Displeasure and hath offended against the Laws of this Commonwealth and now by the Sentence of the High Court of Justice to which he submits with all Christian meekness and humble acknowledgement of Gods hand therein is in inevitable and sudden danger to lose his Life without your merciful and gracious Interposition And whereas there is a Surmise of a Plot continued against the Peace and Welfare of this Commonwealth he doth protest in the presence of God the Searcher of all hearts that he knoweth no Plot or Design against the present Government nor is he privy in the least to any preparations for or intendments towards any intestine Insurrections or forreign Invasions or to any Correspondencies now held with any in or of the Scotish Nation or any other whatsoever He is not ignorant how much Malignants will triumph at his death nor is he without natural affections to his dear Wife and Children nor without real desires of life to do God and his Countrey service which are powerful Perswasions to him to do whatever he can without wounding his Conscience Your dying Petitioner humbly prays That as the Elect of God you would put on bowels of Compassion and in imitation of your Heavenly Father whose Mercy rejoyceth against Judgement be pleased to absolve him from the Sentence of Death which will be to him as life from the dead and this new Life received from your hands will lay strong Obligations on your Petitioner to endeavor in his place and calling the composing of Differences among the Godly and preserving spiritual Peace and Love throughout the Churches of the Saints as well as the civil Peace and Welfare of the Commonwealth And he further promises neither to Plot Contrive or Design any thing to the hurt of this present Government and if it shall be required to put in further Security for performance hereof and if none of these things should move you to vouchsafe an Absolute Pardon yet let him implore thus much from your hands as his last though very uncomfortable Request That you would be pleased to change the Sentence of death into Banishment into some strange Land where he may sit alone lamenting his sad and deplorable Condition And your Petitioner shall pray c. Christopher Love Read July 11. 1651. To the Supream Authority The Parliament of the Common-wealth of ENGLAND The humble Petition of Christopher Love condemned to die and the hour of Execution drawing near Most humbly sheweth THat whereas there are but very few