Selected quad for the lemma: love_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
love_n	call_v	ghost_n	holy_a	2,960	5	5.1813	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A90861	Innocencie appearing, through the dark mists of pretended guilt. Or, A full and true narration of the unjust and illegal proceedings of the commissioners of Berks, (for ejecting scandalous and insufficient ministers) against John Pordage of Bradfield in the same county. In which he is justly vindicated from the unjust and horrid aspersions of blasphemy, divelism or necromancie, scandal in his life, and all things else falsly objected against him by his enemies. Published for the clearing of truth, and the detecting of malice and subtilty, and for the prevention of all mispprehensions that may be caused by any scandalous pamphlets, and false relations of the proceedings in his case. As likewise for the information of all sober-minded Christians touching his judgement in many things of high concernment, and particularly concerning chastity, virginity, apparitions of spirits, visions, communion with the holy angels, the invisible worlds, magistracy, &c. / Written by the said John Pordage.	Pordage, John, 1607-1681.	1655 (1655)	Wing P2967; Thomason E1068_7; ESTC R210422	152,492	125

tincture besides that quickning vertue which by them was communicated and insinuated into the spirits of our outward bodies which like a Cordial had been able to have renewed the strength of our languishing nature 4. Our sense or faculty of tasting was very pleasantly entertained with those invisible dews which were sweeter then hony or the hony-comb and therefore deserve to be called the Dews of Heaven with which instead of food we were many times wonderfully refreshed 5. In relation to the sense of spiritual contaction that was also delighted with its heavenly objects for none can utter that pleasing impression which the burning tincture of this Light World afforded us coming like a hot cordial into the center of our spirits being sensibly felt in the inward parts so as to cause much joy and heavenly pleasure which penetrated thorow our souls giving us occasion to bless praise and magnifie the Lord. Thus for the space of three weeks or a month were we exercised inwardly and outwardly thorow that great conflict which was betwixt those two worlds and their inhabitants the dark world sometimes afflicting us with dreadful shapes abominable smells loathsom tastes with other operations of the evil Angels The light world at other times opening and relieving us with odoriferous perfumes most sweet dews glorious visions and Angelical harmony which the Lord favoured us with to shevv his extraordinary love in thus succouring us in extraordinary exercises and tryals Thus much for those tvvo internal vvorlds spread throughout the visible vvorld in vvhich the evil and good Angels are more immediately then in this visible air to vvhich they cannot be commensurate by reason of their spiritual natures each of them abiding in their distinct principle the one sort being in joy the other being in torment the one in light the other in darkness according to the Scripture But besides these tvvo vvorlds vve had an opening of the eternal vvorld called in Scripture the k 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb 2. 5. vvorld to come from the futurity of its full and clear manifestation and a precursory entrance l 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 10. 19. into the most holy place by a divine transportation into the glory of the Majesty agreeable to that of John 17. 24. Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me c. Here vvere seen heard and selt the unutterable misteries of that kingdom which are not yet to be m 2 Cor. 12. 4. Where it s said that in Paradise Paul heard 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Things or words not to be worded or uttered which it is not lawful for a man to speak divulged in regard of the pride ignorance prejudice and envy of many in the world being reserved for those humble gracious spirits which are waiting in silence for the second coming of the Son of Man Part. 3. But now it is time to come to the third particular which was the effects and impressions left upon our spirits by these wonderful exercises and manifestations After this we began more cleerly to see that straight and narrow way which leads to Life Eternal which we call the Virgin life or the life of purity and righteousness in its perfection being the life of fixed love In any thing short of which The perfection of the Virgin life cannot consist So that meerly to abstain from the concupiscible lustings of Venus under the spirit of this great world is but the life of outward Chastity and but a particular branch of the other For the Virgin life is not attained till the Will of the soul is brought through death to be so passive as to will desire and act nothing but what the Essential essence of love wills moves and acts thorow it for till then the soul cannot be a pure Virgin nor live without all desire lust and imagination which must all cease before the pure life of God can come to be all in all 2. This life of Virginity was placed fore-right as to the inward eye of the minde being that mark of persecution at which we were to aym in our pressing toward the Resurrection of the dead To this Wisdom that eternal virgin Prov. 8. 20. 23. as a leading star invited us calling to follow her in the way of Circumcision Resignation and the Cross in the way of total self-denyal and forsaking of all for her sake in the way of annihilation and conformity to Christs death By which we saw undoubtedly we should come to Christs Resurrection Ascension Glorification and Fixation in the love of the Holy Ghost the third and last dispensation Here we cleerly saw the danger of looking back to the external world and of putting out our imaginations into the inward world or the kingdom of the Dragon or of resting in the openings and delights of the inward light world For by turning back into the delights of the senses we saw the soul would become beastial by turning to the left hand and imagining into the kingdom of the Dragon in awakening the fire of wrath and subtilty divelish and dangerously wicked by turning to the right hand in imagining into and taking too much complacency in the visions illuminations tinctures and Enthusiasms of the light world we saw the soul might become elevated into self-conceit and tinctured with pride and be in danger of neglecting that death of the Cross which is the onely safe path into eternal rest and Fixation Here then we were shewed that the way which lead up to the virginessence The new Jerusalem was strait and narrow as upon the breadth of an hair so that we were to turn no way either on the right or left hand but stand without lust with our eys fixed upon the Being of love pressing forward after fixation in the external house of God there to become immoveable pillars no more to go out but there always to bear the name of God and the name of the City of God which is the new Jerusalem And now for the space of this four years ever since the time of these great manifestations we by the Grace of God have enjoyed the exercise of our spiritual senses which never since have been shut neither ever will be except thorow voluntary transgression and disobedience we apostatise and run back into the earthly nature or turn aside to center in something short of the pure life of virginity which calls us from the external thorow the internal into the Eternal world which is that kingdom prepared for us from the beginning of the world 3. But thirdly after the extraordinary time of Grace and Mercy to us we enjoyed not onely a clear leading convicting light upon our understandings but likewise received from the Lord a stamp and strong impression of power moving our Wills to follow this light through the death of all things to come up into the perfect life and image of

the time of travel sent for Dr. Pordage his Mother to be her Midwife but he would not suffer her to go saying they would not be guilty of such a beastlike life meaning Mistriss Lewyns being with child by her husband 2. The said Dr. Pordage coming to the house of Mistriss Lewyn in his discourse with Mrs. Lewyn blamed her for having children by her husband and argued with her the unlawfulness of having children by her husband 3. In his discourses to Mrs. Leayn concerning the same subject endeavoured to maintain the unlawfulness of their having children and said that Adam was made male and female in himself and had he not fallen he had brought forth children himself and seemed to maintain and prove the same by Scripture and otherwise 4. In his discourses with Mrs. Lewyn which was about the time that one Everard was with him in his house at Bradfield who was generally reputed to be a Conjurer he asked Mr. Lewyn whether he would not be afraid if he should see his own Picture or shape intimating that he himself had used to see his 5. The said Dr. Pordage hath had for some weeks together in his house the said Everard and one Tawny who stiled himself King of the Jews who had been questioned as it is generally reported for holding dangerous and unsound opinions as That there is no Hell and the like A True Copy Math. Langley Regist Ioseph Cook After these were read I desired the Court in the first place to finish the first Paper of Articles urging that if they were sufficient they might save both them and me much trouble But this they denied though I much urged it Whereupon they commanded this subsequent Order to be drawn up viz. BERKS ss By the Committee for ejecting of Scandalous Ignorant and insufficient Ministers and School-Masters in this County Octob. 19. 1654. ORdered that Mr. Iohn Tickle Mr. Iohn Pendarvis Mr. Francis Pordage Iohn Higgs Gifford Luinton Richard Luinton Mary Pocock and Roger Stevens doe make their personal appearance before the said Commissioners on Thursday the second day of November next by eight of the clock in the morning at the Bear in Speenhamland by Newbery to testifie their knowledge of all such matters as shall be propounded unto them concerning Dr. Iohn Pordage of Bradfield in this County whereof they are not to fail Given under our hands and seals the day and year above-mentioned Samuel Wightwick Ar. Evelyn Ed. Mills Samuel Dunch Angell Bell But this I must speak on the behalf of Mr. Wightwick and Mr. Evelyn that by their presence things were transacted that day with much more seeming modesty and calmness then at other times the Ministers then containing themselves within the limits of due silence which gave me some hopes that the latter part of my Tryal might be transacted in some moderation equity and civility but these two sitting no more after that day there broke forth much confusion rashness and incivility in their carriage some Ministers who were bitter enemies against me acting the part of Commissioners and seeming to have great influence upon all their proceedings being suffered to break forth into uncivil scoffs and railings against me in the open Court as it will afterward appear But thus much for my second daies appearance here represented according to the line of truth and equity On the second of November I appeared before them again at the same place according to their last Order at which time Major Fincher was Chairman besides whom there were present Mr. Dunch Mr. Stroud Mr. Cook Mr. Bell with two or three more Commissioners the Ministers were Mr. Fowler Mr. Woodbridg Mr. Hughes Mr. Tickle c. The first thing they demanded of me was to give in my Answer to the second Charge of Articles exhibited the last day against me I replyed that my Answer was ready but I desired that they would keep to their own Order and first hear my Witnesses and so finish my first Charge that we might not run into confusion but they would not hearken to this rational request importuning me for my Answer resolving to hear nothing till I had given it in so being necessitated to yield to their command I gave in this subsequent Answer My Answer to the second Articles exhibited against me is as followeth IN the first place I shall take liberty to reply to the Title of the Articles which is to prove my ignorance and insufficiency for the Ministry by the Articles produced 1. Part. Ans I do here humbly desire that ignorance and insufficiency for the Ministry may be preserved as distinct Heads from Scandal and Heresie according as it is intended by the Authors of the Ordinance for certainly it is against the judgement of the Lord Protector and the intendment of his Councel who made the Ordinance to confound that which may be called scandal or heresie and insufficiency together We see it is usual this day amongst us for knowing and learned Ministers to differ in their Judgements both in Doctrine Worship and things indifferent who yet thereupon are not accounted ignorant and insufficient for the Ministry So that although these Articles could be proved true they are to be referred either to scandal or heresie and not to ignorance and insufficiency 2. Part. Ans If ignorance and insufficiency for the Ministry be taken for the want of an inward special gift as it is qualified with humane Arts and Sciences attained by much pains and industry in relation to Academical Learning Or if ignorance and insufficiency for the Ministry are taken for the want of inward abilities qualified with spiritual gifts as with those of prayer utterance and Preaching Or if ignorance and insufficiency be taken for the want of a saving principle of grace manifesting it self in convictions of sin Legal terrors or Evangelical illuminations into the free grace love of the Father or into the meritorious death of Christ for the redemption of lost sinners Or if it be taken for those effects flowing from such a saving principle of life as that of saving faith true repentance pardon of sin peace of conscience a holy life in all universal obedience to the holy will and righteous commands of God Then I humbly conceive that meer ignorance and insufficiency without the pretensions of Heresie and Scandal will be found a bed too short and a covering too narrow for my Ejection out of the work of the Ministry according to the true intent of the Ordinance 3. Part. Ans Hence my humble desire to you for time to come is that you would not make your Ephah of ignorance and insufficiency so small that Heresie and scandal may not stand distinct in it and that you would not make your Shekell of ignorance and insufficiency so great as to swallow up Heresie and Scandal into the boundless and endless extent of it For what is this but to falsifie the Ballances of justice and equity by a deceitfull weight in not preserving

of the darkness of this world Eph. 6. 1● world and their subjects which presented themselves as passing before our eys in state and pomp all the mighty ones appearing to be drawn in dark ayery clouds Chariots with six or at least four beasts to every one besides every figured similitude of a Coach was attended with many inferior spirits as servants to the Princes But concerning the shapes and figures of the spirits you must know they were very monstrous terrible and affrighting to the outward man Those that drew the clowdy Coaches appearing in the shapes of Lions Dragons Elephants Tygers Bears and such like terrible beasts besides the Princes and those that attended them though all in the shapes of men yet represented themselves monstrously mishapen as with ears like those of Cats cloven feet ugly legs and bodies eys fiery sharp and piercing Now besides these appearances within the sperits made some wonderful impressions upon visible bodies without as figures of men and beasts upon the glass-windows and the Cealings of the house some of which yet remain But what was most remarkable was the whole visible world represented by the spirits upon the Bricks of a Chimney in the form of two half-Globes as in the Maps after which upon other Bricks of the same same Chimney was figured a Coach and four horses with persons in it and a footman attending all seeming to be in motion with many other such images which were wonderfull exactly done Now fearing lest there might be any danger in these Images thorow unknown Conjuration and false Magick we endeavoured to wash them out with wet cloaths but could not finding them ingraven in the substance of the Bricks which indeed might have continued till this day had not our fear and suspicion of witchcraft and some evil design of the Divel against us in it caused us to deface and obliterate them with hammers Now what the divels end in the former Apparitions and these figurative representations was The Lord knows but it was certainly evil even as it was against Christ when he shewed him in vision the kingdoms and glory of the world to make him fall down and worship him but Gods end in permitting it was very good even to bring us neerer to himself in a stronger dependance upon his eternal power and to make us more watchful against the subtilty and power of Satan as you will see afterward when I come to speak of the effects of these things in reference to our spirits But to thut up this relation of the objects we saw in this dark world I must add this That were but the eys of men opened to see the kingdom of the Dragon in this world with the multitudes of evil Angels which are everywhere tempting and ensnaring men they would be amazed and not dare to be by themselves without good Consciences and a great assurance of the love and favour of God in protecting them by the Ministration of the Holy Angels 2. As to the objects of the inward and outward smell I must let you know that vvithin the three vveeks space in vvhich these vvonders appeared at several times the evil Angels or spirits did raise up such noisom poisonous smells that both the invvard and outvvard part of those that vvere exercised vvith them became much disturbed and offended for thorovv the sympathy betvvixt the body and the soul The sulphurious hellish smells much exercised both by magical tincturation 3. In reference to the objects of taste you must knovv that sometimes both in the day and night we were exercised with the loathsom hellish tasts of sulphur brimstone foot and salt mingled together which were so loathsom to our Natures as that they were ready to cause great distempers and nauseousness in our bodies but the invisible power of Jehovah supported us beyond our own strength 4. In relation to our inward and outward g These things may be strange to those who do not know that the soul hath fivefaculties of spiritual sensation which are natural and proper to its essence touch we were much exerciced both in body and soul as to our souls we sometimes felt such strange magical wounds and piercings by the fiery darts of the devil that none can express but those that have been exercised in some measure as Job was who felt the poyson of those invenomed Arrows which came upon him by the permission of the Almighty which like the Scorpions in the Revelations sting and pierce those they touch as to our bodies we felt material impressions from the powers of darkness very noxious in themselves to our natural spirits and life but cheerfully born by invisible support and quiet submission to the Will of God h I shall not speak of the internal faculty of hearing till I come to the objects belonging to the other internal world But to Conclude by these wonderful and strange exercises we could not but have strong apprehensions and lively resemblances of the torments and miseries of Hell where sulphur fire brimstone poysonous smells darkness monstrous horrid shapes and sights are the entertainment of the imprisoned spirits But now I come to the other internal world which we may term Mundus Luminosus or the light world which with its various objects was then likewise opened to the inward Senses 1. THen I shall here set forth the objects of the inward eye which were then seen by us There appeared then to our inward sight multitudes almost innumerable of pure Angelical spirits in figurative bodies which were clear as the morning-star and transparent as Christal these were Mahanaim or the Lords host appearing all in Gen. 32. 1 2. manly forms full of Beauty and Majesty sparkling like Diamonds and sending forth a tincture like the swift rays and hot beams of the Sun which we powerfully felt to the refreshing of our souls and enlivening of our bodies Now in the beholding the multiplicity variety and beauty of these spirits with the various wonders and objects of this world clothed in the purest tincture of Light and i The Angels in Scripture appeared oft in the variety of the purest colours Dan. 10. 6. colour we could not but bless the God of heaven who by the eys of wisdom and hand of power brought forth such glorious Creatures and now shewed them in their several beauties to us in a time of tryal and temptation 2 In relation to our inward sense of hearing There were many musical sounds and voices like those which John heard upon Mount Sion then heard by us the sweetness harmony and pleasantness of which cannot be expressed nor that spiritual joy and delight which by them was infused into our souls uttered by the tongue being ready to ravish our spirits into the high praises of eternal Jehovah 3. In relation to the faculty of smelling the tongue can hardly express those Odours of Paradise and heavenly perfumes which then were smelt piercing into the very spirit with a cherishing

power of the Holy Ghost is neer at hand and that the womb of the eternal love of God is in travel to bring forth Christ again in the acting power of his Godhead which will be that wonder of wonders prophesied of the Prophets and Apostles by which onely the days of tribulation anguish and distress can be shortned and the utmost extremity of the vials of wrath and desolation prevented when once they begin to be poured forth upon the earth And they who are now waiting and groaning in their spirits and sending up the incense of continual prayers and intercessions for the breaking forth of this power to heal and binde up all the wounds and breaches amongst Christians to take away the Curse from the earth and restore the pure love and unity to the Church I say they that travel and wait day and night for this great blessing are those whom you contemn persecute and reject as enemies to the kingdom and interests But take heed lest ye offend one of these little ones and so bring a curse and judgements upon your selves and beware of persecuting in the way you are now in lest in the day of your distress the Lord reject you and give you up to those spoilers who will spare neither root nor branch So much I thought good to add to those Depositions concerning the Apparitions of spirits for the satisfaction of the spiritual Reader and information of many who through reports have imbibed much prejudice against that life and truth which I own and live to Artic. 14. That Mrs Margaret Pendar acquainted with this Doctrine of spirits and pretending to be converted by Visions of Angels doth n What a weak ground is this for to accuse me of Necromancy think she was bewitched by them of Bradfield c Depos Mr Christopher Fowler sworn to this Article and examined saith that Mrs Pendar being asked by him o This is a meer heresay and no legal Testimony and moreover deposed by the Accuser himself which is against Law did acknowledge on Thursday last at London that at Mr Blagraves house at Southcot she heard a great noise of drums and trumpets which Dr Pordage who was then sent for to her told her was the alarum to the spiritual war And that one night she had the Vision of young Mr Daniel Blagrave come to her bed side and she took him by the hand which hand felt cold which Dr Pordage expounded to her thus That the coldness of his hand signified that he began to be cold to vanity and that she asked the Dr what the visions meant he replyed to her we do not use to reveal one anothers visions The Deposition taken on my behalf was this that follows MRs Elizabeth Blagrave wife of Mr Daniel Blagrave sworn and examined This Deponent saith she p This Deposisition is here placed in opposition to Mr Fowlers and though of the same nature yet somewhat better because this Deponent was not a party as Mr Fowler was never heard Mrs Pendar say that she was bewitched by them of Bradfield but the said Mrs Pendar told the Deponent that her Visions were from God and that the said Mrs Pendar told the Deponent she * i. e. Before her Visions never spake with the Dr in her life This Deponent further saith That Mrs Pyndar told her she had been at Mr Fowlers house and that Mr Fowler examined her touching her Mrs Blagrave was the only witness examined in the last charge of Articles for it was the wi●l of the Iudges to admit no more visions and the Deponent asked her what she said To which she replyed she was sure she had said nothing to him that could hurt the Doctor Hereupon the deponent asked her if she told Mr Fowler that the Dr did send these visions To which she answered she could not say the Dr sent them for a world This Deponent further saith That Mr Pyndar told the Deponent That his wife said when she came to London she would not say what she had said to Mr Fowler if it were to do again for she perceived it was a snare or a trap This Deponent further saith she was by when the question concerning the coldness of young Mr Blagraves hand was put and the Deponent asked it her self to one in the room And the answer was That the coldness of his hand as far as they knew signified his dying to vanity which was delivered in a jesting manner which answer was not delivered by the Dr. And the deponent saith the Dr never gave such an answer in his life as she knows Here follow the Depositions of John Grip of Redding Ioyner All this man deposeth is but an hear-say and so of no force at all yet admitted as evidence and pertinent when more considerable testimonies on my behalf were rejected as impertinent who being sworn and examined deposeth That he was at Mr Blagraves when Mrs Pyndar saw the visions that are mentioned in her confession and that she said she saw a man in white as she thought with the Lambs book and that the said man told her her name was written in the Book and that she heard a Watch going and that there appeared another in the likeness of a black man with a knife which he offered unto her And this deponent further saith That at another time at the deponents house the said Mrs Pyndar did inform the deponent that Dr Pordage had said he had power to bestow the gifts and graces of the Spirit on whom he pleased The Commissioners were ready to admit any thing tho●gh ever so illegal to defame me and raise prejudice against me Note That this disagreeth from Mrs Pyndars confession under the head of the 14 Article where she saith that she heard it reported at Southcot that erelong the Dr should have power to bestow saving graces on whom he pleased And this deponent further saith that another time he was at Mr Blagraves house when the said Mr Blagrave was ill and kept his Chamber and Mr Blagrave and the deponent fell into discourse concerning Dr Pordarge Though the matter of this Deposition be weighty yet the proof is but an hear-say and the things themselves either false or much mispresented as you will see presently in presence of Mrs Blagrave that in the said discourse Mr Blagrave said to his wife That the Dr held strange opinions such as were not agreeable to the word of God for he did maintain that Jesus Christ was not God and that he was a Type and but a Type man and not God a shadow and not the substance And Mr Blagrave did labour very much to take off his wifes affections from the Dr and and his waies but could not prevail This was about three quarters of a year since to the deponents best remembrance In reference to these two last particulars touching Mr Blagrave and his wife consider this following Deposition and Evidence Mrs Blagrave sworn and

God that so we might be transformed into that righteous nature which we so cleerly behold through divine Light hence we came to live in a greater abstraction from our sensitive nature in a more constant watchful practise of the Cross in reference to all external and internal objects which might by entertaining our Affections hinder our progress to God Hence also we came to live a more devoted strict dedicated life sequestring our selves from the world and wordly things giving our selves almost continually to prayer fasting and waiting upon God in dying daily to all self-ownments relations and proprieties in which most are intangled to the great prejudice of their spirits and in this way we have ever since continued endeavouring to be vvholly conformable to the death of Christ in renouncing our ovvn lives and proper vvills as opposite to the life and vvill of God experimenting those profound mysteries of the Cross of Christ vvhich are hidden to most in the vvorld But vvhat joy peace life povver divine pleasure and heavenly Communion the Lord hath blessed us vvith in this our dying resigning progress I shall vvrap up in silence together vvith those blessed secrets of the kingdom vvhich in these fevv last years past vve have been acquainted vvith to the comfort of our spirits in this sad time vvhen vve are judged and condemned of the vvorld in the participation of Christs sufferings Novv ye Ministers and Commissioners my prosecutors Is this to be vile Then let me be more vile Is this to be contemptible Even to be resigned and mortified in the Affections and Passions of the soul to give up ones self to a retired devoted life to God in prayer and continual vvatchfulness I say Is this to be contemptible Then let me be more contemptible Novv you have seen that I have declared those vvonderful visions and exercises vvhich have caused so many scandalous reports together vvith the effects of them on our spirits and I must tell you had I a thousand names lives liberties and such livings as Bradfield is I should rather sacrifice them all upon the Altar of obedience then being called to it deny those great and vvonderful things before declared vvhich the Lord permitted and ordered for his glory and our good But some may say vvhy did not I before this declare this great manifestation to the vvorld I Ansvver 1. The Will of God vvas hid from me vvhether I vvas to manifest it publikely to the vvorld yea or no not knovving but that he might afford it as a peculiar mercy to our family for our private vvalkings before him 2. That vvhich vveighed much vvith me vvas this I knevv this manifestation vvas but the light and vision and not the life it self and that there vvas light enough in the vvorld already hence I desired to keep it private not to publish it that I might not have a name without the thing nor declare the light and manifestation without possessing the life it self and had not this providential occasion drawn me forth to bear testimony to the truth the world had not known so much of these secrets till the name and the thing the light and the life the manifestation and possession had met in union together 4. We have seen sad and lamentable examples of many tall Cedars who after great manifestations and high discoveries of light have fallen and as it were come to nothing And many stars that for a time shined bright in the Firmament of visions revelations and powerful declarations we have seen swept down by the tail of the Dragon and the subtile insinuations of the Beast so that they are now become like other men living in the earth and the corruptions of it now certainly this hath come to pass for want of perseverance in the crucifying their natures in conformity to Christs death and by imagining themselves through Satans subtilty to be what they saw before the change and death of their evil natures whence pride and security arose and that fall come in which many now lye who are as Beacons upon a hill and torn ships upon a rock to admonish us of these dangerous passages in which they themselves were lost now from these Considerations I intended not to have held forth to the world as yet the things I have here declared but with my family to have walked close with God in pressing after that life power and holy nature which in the coming forth of it might have convinced all gain-sayers that the light and life were in Union together but as I before said this occasion hath given me some call to open many of the wonders then beheld before that time in which nevertheless the Lord may have some blessed end which I may not yet see And now ye Ministers of Berks my persecutors tell me what wrong or injury I have done you have I lusted to preach in any of your Pulpits Have I privately gone from parish to parish or from house to house to get followers or make proselites of your hearers Have I publikely or privately railed against you or your Doctrines Have I not lived privately in my own place onely holding forth that strict dying resigning life as the way to life eternal Why then am I persecuted with so much fury and violence as though I were not worthy to live amongst you The Lord judge betwixt you and me and give you to consider and repent of what you have done in procuring and subscribing the unjust sentence of ejectment by which as much as in you lies you have taken away that with which we have cloathed and fed our selves and many others who have been in want and so exposed me and mine to outward cares and troubles which are very disagreeable to that life of silence abstraction and of continual waiting upon God In which we live and are called to live And what is this but like the task masters of Egypt to force the children of the Covenant to make Brick without straw but the Lord is coming to judge himself who will make all these things work for my good which others have designed for my hurt And truly this is all that the Lord Protector and his Council with the Nation are beholding to you for even for hastening and inviting the pouring forth the vials of wrath upon the Land by the persecutions in this time when some or other are continually sent forth to prophesie up and down the streets denouncing war plagues desolations famines and all sorts of judgements and confusions in Church and State which will certainly come to pass except prevented by a speedy and general repentance in turning to the Lord. But these days may be shortned by the wonderfull appearing of Christ in the power of his spirit to convince and convert sinners to himself by the preaching of the everlasting Gospel spoken of Rev. 14. 6. And really the eys of many are opened by the Lord to see that the birth of the eternal love and