Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
religion_n	christian_a	prove_v	true_a	6,151	5	5.4132	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A93935	An iron rod put into the Lord Protectors hand, to break all antichristian powers in pieces. Or, A discourse, which tends to a spirituall war with all sects and self-opinions, which are the Churches enemies: wil bring Englands everlasting happiness, and joyn all other lands into the body of Christs Church, to serve God with with [sic] one consent, Zeph. 3.9. All which was discovered to John Sanders of Harburn, neer Brimingham [sic]: by true apparitions, revelations, and many several visions, as the second book sheweth.	Sanders, John, of Harburn.	1655 (1655)	Wing S575; Thomason E842_23; ESTC R203488	52,643	75

is me if I declare not faithfully that which the Lord declareth to me either to King or Parliament Gourteous Reader some Errours have escaped the presse yet but one worth observation In page 38. line 32. for Monday read Wednesday The Table of the First Book FIrst here is shewed in this Book to your Highness and all others that please to hear or read it a Petition to move you with all expedition to goe about the work of God to finde out true Religion for the beautifying of Gods Church and then to build it up Page 1. Secondly the manner and time how Davids Tabernacle fell as well from the Christian Gentiles which were in Gospel-covenant as it did from the 12. Tribes of Israel in Rehoboams time under the Law and how there was never no true Religion in one body since they parted p. 2. Thirdly a short description of the Protestants ruinating in this land by this late war p. 5. Fourthly the true manner described how Davids fallen Tabernacle should be begun to be raised as in the dayes of old Amos 9 proved by Law and Gospel-rule to be the true Channel for the Church to run in first in this land and no other way then this can be proved which wil bring the whole world to one union of faith to serve God with one consent Zeph. 3.9 p. 6. Fifthly what a wilderness infectious poysoned and scattered condition the Church and people of God are in for want of a Church-government according to Patriarchal Prophetical Apostolical and Discipled orders the true manner of which is laid down in this Book p. 13. Sixthly true comparative signes first by the Stars secondly by the Moon that Christs true Religion is ready to breake forth into beautifulness more then ever it was in p. 15. Seventhly a godly direction and admonition for his Highness the Lord Protector to take the like care for the chusing of a High Priest to be Head in chief for Christs Church as Abrahams eldest servant did for a wife for Isaac the figure of Christ Gen. 24. This wil be the beginning of a fifth Monarchy under Christ Eightly the manner of the High Priests receiving of the number of 12. Apostolical Bishops to be Head Fathers of the 12. spiritual Tribes of Israel which are now scattered abroad Jam. 1. by the holy order of laying on of hands and of his and their receiving the number of 70. under them to make a body above the ordinary Ministers of Christs Church p. 22. Ninthly the true manner how to prove them whether their calling and election be of God or not by going to a spiritual war which is a contending for the faith or casting rods and lots with all Sects and self-opinions which are the Churches enemies Num. 17.18 Matth. 27.55 Joh. 19.23 Iude. p. 25. Tenthly the manner of the Whore of Babels fal and all false forms in one day in this land to be a patterned example for the whole world to follow and for the calling of the Jewes Turks Pagans and Infidels to the true faith p. 27. Eleventhly it sheweth the glorious time of the new Jerusalems situated government and of the Churches glory p. 31 Twelfthly it sheweth how that King Charles the Second-is appointed by God to be his chief King under Christ over the whole world and the Lord Protector if he will be obedient to the word of the Lord to be the second under him as Abrahams faithful servant to be chief Ruler for the King for by their agreement the Jews and Turks are to be called p. 36. And all that assist them and are faithful in their places that are now in power and wil be obedient willingly now they see Gods truth and righteous peace ready to break forth to yield to God and his true anointed King if they lose a Captaines place Major Colonel or General which now is held by troublesome fear then it wil be no more loss to them then theattaining to a Knight Lord Judge Earle Duke or Deputy King or Prince by this peaceable agreement til the end of all things come to dissolution over this Land and many more for them to be Governours As I am commanded of God to threaten those that have gotten into other mens possessions contrary to godliness or good consciences and so prove themselves by it to be enemies in that to Gods glorious Gospel and the Primitive Churches practice so I am commanded of God to threaten all with the danger of their own ruine and the displeasure of God that will not forbear plotting and mutyning and so hurt the Kings agreement Doe you think it is possible to stand in a strong wind and throw chaff against the wind and it not fly back upon you Do you think it is possible to doe Gods work before his time be It is but the Devils policie to cause you so to think God is neer arising to deliver his people and to restore his Church Therefore wait patiently till the time be for the day is neer a dawning TO HIS HIGHNESSE the Lord PROTECTOR MAy it please your Highness to vouchsafe the reading of this little Book which God caused me your servant in the Lord Iohn Sanders to indite unto you who hath come oftentimes on purpose to speake with you being compelled by the power of the holy Ghost which enableth me to foretel things to shew you what Gods wil is toward you if you will believe and obey the Lord. O my Lord wo is me if I be either fearful or negligent to give you and all others warning since God hath called me and shewed me a sword of Justice which proceedeth out of his mouth which he is now arising to draw forth not onely against you and your power but against all the chiefe governours of the world unlesse speedily you and they deny your own wayes and imbrace Gods wayes Those that so doe it shal go wel with them My Lord I shal in these first lines forbeare making use of any other mens labours study or Scripture phrases lest you should rather think it to be brain knowledge then the dictates of Gods Spirit I conceive your Highness believeth that where God appears by visions and Christ takes up the roome the holy Ghost carrieth them on by a real true power they wil be so guided and shewed Gods waies and wil according to their gift and talent to write or speak the mind of God without either study or natural parts when God pleaseth The Scriptures are given of God to be as a touchstone for them that feare God and obey his wil to try the spirits whether they be of God therefore let them be your Judge but have especial care of wresting them endeavour to let them arest you in this life and you shal have rest in the life to come Truly my Lord if such like counsel which natural men wil not own but count foolishness doe not guide you you wil not only stumble in points of Religion as many

the spiritual eyes of the soul to discern that the youngest son should come to be greater then his brother although saith Iacob I know Manassch shal be great yet his younger brother shal be greater then he for his seed shal be ful of Nations and he set the youngers name before the elders Although it much displeased Ioseph who sought meanes to prevent his Father for doing thus yet Iacob knowing the decree of God would not alter it Gen. 48. from the tenth verse to the end of the Chapter A little before Iacobs death he called all his sons together to blesse them and to shew what would befal every one of them in the latter days and how Iudab should be the heads in that out of his linage Christ was to come and all people should be gathered to him In these prophetical signes Iacob is a representation of the holy Ghost and likewise for the manner and number of his family Of Moses laying on of hands Moses he followed this example of Iacobs laying on of hands Scriptures make no mention of it but a little about the time of his death Deut. 34.9 This Text of Scripture saith that Ioshuah the son of Nun which was the succeeder of Moses was full of the spirit of wisdom for Moses had put his hands upon him and he and Israel did as the Lord had commanded Moses In the Apostles and Disciples time at the Gospels first plantation as it is written for our instruction in several places of the Acts of the Apostles how that by their laying on of hands many received the gift of the holy Ghost Paul at one time laid his hands on twelve several men and they all received the gift of the holy Ghost and Prophesied and furthermore Paul exhorteth his son Timothy whom he had begotten Saith he Despise not the gifts that is in thee which was given thee by prophesie by the laying on of hands by the Presbytery Elders 1 Tim. 4.14 All these Scriptures were written for our instruction and learning there is none that believeth in God and his word that dare or wil object against it thus you see here is proved in Christs Church an example of twelve Apostolical Bishops under a High Priest otherwise called an Archbishop and a Discipled number of seventy to make a compleat body besides and the order of receiving of them in their several places and degrees into that holy office of the Ministerial Function and body of Christs Church according to those holy orders which have been alwayes practised by the ancient Fathers of both Jewish and Christian Churches in all former ages One Objection answered by Scripture ground and argument Object But happily many in our days may be apt to raise Objections against this truth that is so manifestly proved here by Gods holy Writ saying that Apostles and Elders are all one therefore say they there need be no other order but a number of Elders according to the Presbytery which order is mentioned in the Scriptures To answer these ●bjections and make them fall to the ground Look in the fifteenth Chapter of the Acts and the first second and third verses when there was a great diffention and disputation about Circumcision by Paul and Barnabas against them at last they ordained that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem unto the Apostles and Elders of the Church The word Apostles in all places of Scripture standeth before the word Elders Paul was one of the twelve Apostles 1 Cor. 2.28 29. Eph 4. Barnabas Stephen Timothy and the others in their several places were of the company of the Elders of the Church Acts. 20.17 Multitudes of Texts and Scriptures might be raised to confirme this truth to shew that there was first an Apostolical number as chiefe twelve and then Secondly a discipled number of seventy according to order then in those dayes and that order would have continued till this very time had not corruptions and divisions cast them out of the Church But this I can by the power of God assure your Highnesse and all others that desire to know that we shall never enjoy perfect peace nor true Religion till that time be that there be ordained for the Church such an Apostolical and discipled number the which being done by God and mans appointment having their commission signed and sealed by God and man and being entred into a hallowed Covenant at the Ark or Tabernacle of Gods testimony meant the Church being received and ordained every one according to order to make a compleat body by joynt order their chiefe reverent father in God ought not to receive them into this holy office without the laying on of hands the which being done and they joyned together as one man for the work of the Lord for the ruling and gathering of the Saints and building up of true Religion being thus elected and choseu The true way to prove them by going to spiritual war with all Sects which are the true Churches enemies YOur Highnesse and many more may question me or demand saying How shal wee know whether thy calling and election be of God and sure and firm and not of mens traditions or superstitious consecrating 'T is answered thus It wil be known by this manner of trial that followeth whether or not that they be the onely men God hath appointed to beautifie his Church and to raise up Davids fallen Tabernacle here first in this land and to be a pattern example for all other lands to follow them Your Highnesse and they must 〈◊〉 ●lame open spiritual war against all Sects that hold 〈…〉 of Church fellowship that call themselves Religions and they may be all comprehended under four heads as namely these 1. Presbyterians 2. Independents 3. The Anabaptists must be calld And last of all the Church of Rome that is in these dominions must be call'd to this spiritual war to bring them to the Touchstone of Gods word All these aforenamed Churches so called or any other whatever ought to have both leave and command from and by your Highness to come to disputation together with them of the late and new ordained Election which is the Apostolical and discipled Body under a spiritual Head Then as Iude saith there will bee earnest contending among all these several elect for the faith once delivered to the Saints every sect such a certain number as equalizeth the fore named being chosen and ordained according as best pleaseth their several judgements or opinions When this Herald or Trumpet is sounded which God wil cause his holy Angels to stir up the hearts of men to do it in his good time Matth. 24.30 to gather his elect from the four winds to see the true way to joyne themselves to the true Ministerial head and body of Christs Church Eph. 4. in one united faith For when these several elections are gathered together there wil be casting of lots among these spiritual souldiers

when the Stars are under thick mists or clouds that night is very dark and the darkest part of all that night is immediately before the break of day even so when the Churches Stars the Ministers are clouded with the foggy mists and errors of factious Teachers which are clouds without water as Jude speaks Even then is the Church in her dark mournful condition which darknesse will appear most of all when the day of her deliverance draweth neer Secondly of the Moon AND as when the Moon is neer her change the night imediately before is the darkest night of all that quarter so the sad dark mournful condition of our Moon the Church gives us hope that she is neer her change and that the Son of righteousnesse is ready to arise with healing under his wings and that the morning tide is neer a turning the day of a true religious peace is neer a dawning and ready to break forth into a glorious light thus you see the Churches greatest extremities is always Gods chiefest opportunities All which darknesse confusions and mischiefs have arisen for want of these aforesaid apostolical and discipled orders For as Natures reason hath told you that your Army could not stand without general field Officers above Captains of Companies according to Marshal discipline even so ordinary Ministers of parishes cannot stand without Heads as Bishops Deanes and other Church-Officers according to Scripture discipline If fire have burned houses and good dyet hath furfeited many mens bodies for want of being carefull and moderately used shal we therefore never use fire or food more Truely my Lord this is a fit comparison concerning these things There is now a beginning of a fifth Monarchy or Kingly power The beginning of the fifth Monarchy Your Highnesse is the first man God hath raised to be the man to erect it and to be a Protector of the people in State and to take the like care for the Church as David did for building up of the true worship of God and as Davids desire was to be a door-keeper in Gods house after he had destroyed the Churches enemies in the time of the Law So God hath appointed you to keep the doore to let none but the true Ministers of Christ proved by Law and Gospel rule to enter into that holy office which have their calling and election from God and man and approved able in gifts and sound knowledge fitting for the dispensation of the Oracles of God Your Highnesse ought to take the first Solomons desire of God as an example to frame your heart and to keep you from the desire of riches honour or the life of your enemies but onely beg of God for an enlargement of heart for the guiding of such a people as is committed to your charge and then all other things that God seeth is needful for you will be added without wearisome care as both Peace Safety Plenty and Wisedome And to hasten speedily to set forward the finding out the true way for Gods worship to beautifie his house Now you see God hath given you more power and liberty to doe such a work then ever any King had since England first was a Kingdome although you cannot chuse but heare and know how many curse you as Shimei did David yet you ought to think as David did when Shimei cursed him Surely this cursing and plotting against me is suffered by Gods ordination or permission because speedily you doe not set about the great Work of God and follow Christ the second Solomon by patience and meeknesse praying for your greatest enemies and willingly and readily open a door of peace and truth to your greatest enemies that you have fought against if you can perswade your selfe the battels were for God then the execution of vengeance should be left to him The way to chuse a High Priest YOur Highnesse ought first to chuse a good Pilot or High Priest for the Church a good learned orthothodox Divine such a one who hath alwayes heretofore given himselfe to charity and hospitality apt to teach a man of sound judgment and grave knowledge O for the Lords sake and for the good of the Church and people and your own safety in this life and for your soules safety hereafter imitate Abrahams chief Ruler and eldest Servant for God calls you to come to him and to take a hallowed oath as Abrahams servant did being charged by his Master not to take a wife of a strange linage of the Canaanitish seed amongst whom he dwelt but to goe to Aram to fetch one out of Nahor his own ancient Family Even the like charge lieth upon you from your heavenly Master for to chuse a Bride for his Sons Church of the Ancient True Christian Religion even a man of selfe-denial that will leave all like Rebeccha Genes 24. Such a one to be a High Priest God the Father will take delight in He that will assoone as he is called to Christs work and that he is sent for to be the onely chiefe Head under Christ in his Church and to be his chief espoused as Rebeccha was to Isaac who as soone as she saw Isaac in the Field at eventide alighted off her Camel and went on foot to meet Isaac her Bridegroom which went outto meditate in the field toward evening who meeting Rebeccha he brought her into his Mother Sarahs Tent after she was dead Even so will it be with us though the old Protestant Church be in a dead condition yet let us assure our selves that Christ is neer a coming to meet the prayers of his Saints Now it is eventide with them yet mans extremity is Gods opportunity for Christ will meet such a one as is humble and lowly minded meek and he will bring him to be a High Priest after Melchisedechs Order in the Protestants place or Tent And God will chuse an Apostolical and discipled number to be added to him they being chosen and set apart for that end by him Even such as will be willing to doe as Zacheus did who when he was climbed up in a Syccamore tree to see Christ as soone as he was called by Christ to come down for he would that day dine in his house with him yea rather in his heart and told him further That salvation was come into his house both for himselfe and his Family So now the whole Land is soule-sick to see most men which are climbed up so high and all in a pretending way at the first to see Christ but nothing intending any such matter but to make themselves great in the world and so set themselves against God and his glorious Gospel which calls them to come down as Christ did Zacheus to be charitable to the poor and restore to every one their right and then Christ will dine in their hearts and the holy spirit of union will cast out the spirit of division and bring salvation to their several Families and joyn them together in one

the three and my Talent was to shew first the Church-government And after in my ficknesse the Angel revealed to mee againe how that all Countries would rise in a triumphing manner with all sorts of Musick and so come up to London with great joy to establish the King and overthrow all the enemies of Christ and his Gospel and cast them out of power and then all sword-powers would begin here to cease and as a pattern other Nations should follow I should have spoken of the manner of the sicknesse and more of Gods great goodnesse to me but for brevity-sake I end with praises to God The reason why God suffered the two two black Fiends to accuse me for the groat as I wronged my Masters horses of their allowance gave me warning after for ever wronging my fellow servants more if it should lie in my power after As much it signified and breatned to any that either are have been past or shal be for time to come put in power above men to be Rulers either in Church or State if they wrong defraud or smite with the fists of iniquity Matth. 24. They that doe so without repentance to God and restoration to man like Zacheus God and their own conscience will finde them out and Satan wil bring bils of indictment in this life or after For we have all one Maste in Heaven Satans transforming himselfe into a glorious shape and perswading me to renounce my infant-baptism and the feigned apparition of Jacobs Ladder signified all Sects and self-opinions that are tempted by Satan to renounce their infant-baptism to go after the feigned River of Jordan perswading others to follow their steps up Jacobs Ladder which is not the true way to Heaven Therefore as Christ saith Neitherbeleeve nor follow them Matth. 24. A short description of some of my great Troubles AFter the first Apparitions Revelations Temptations and Visions that the Lord bad made knowne unto me his unworthy servant many of his secret determined intents which suddenly were to befal the King and Parliament both Church and State and a meanes how it might have been prevented and a true peace setled if they would but have denied their own corrupt wayes to have imbraced Gods wayes And further when the word of the Lord came first unto me by his holy Angel to cause me to goe on Gods message first to the King and then to the Parliament to declare God● mind unto both parties as I have shewed before and what great troubles I must undergoe by crosses imprisonment violence from my nearest friends losse of goods if I refused to goe at first to displease them yet after many troubles I must goe at last When God had restored me to health and strength of body again after my sicknesse through my friends perswasion I left Gods message undone and cast his will behind my back but many times I should talk of it to many of my friends and others telling them in what manner God had appeared to me and what a charge was laid upon me from God to presse me on to discharge my conscience I oftentimes speaking of it with griefe but they most of them would be stil perswading me that it was a temptation of Satan and his delusions and would bee arguing much with mee that in these dayes God did not appeare by either apparitions visions or revelations saying those things were now ceased Thus their perswasion wrought upon mee by Satans temptation to let Gods work alone for the space of above three years In this time I had some great troubles The first of them was when I thought I should have been married to a Neighbours daughter as lived neere my Masters dwelling one of a good portion and parentage Shee was my first love being made sure one to another by strong promises in the way of contract between our selves it was broke by false pretended friends and so parted I looked upon it no other way then this I was assured that God did cause my proceedings in the world to be crost because I had not been obedient to what I was commanded of Gods holy Angel and confirmed by sure signes Within the compasse of a year after I was married to another rich mans daughter of my own trade being set up to follow the calling of an Ironmonger at Hales Owen five miles from Brimingham lived peaceably with my Wife kept neer 60. Nailors at work to make iron ware I kept great trading and many horses to send ware up unto other Countries for to serve whole sale to many Chapmen In this time I had many troubles and losses which if I should lay them down in particular what I had before I was forced by God to goe on his message and those as I have endured since in the manner as they have befel me and Gods mercy to me in delivering and preserving me from one time to another in no ordinary way but in a miraculous way the like was scarce ever heard of by any if I should put them in a Book it would be larger then could be read in the lengest day in the year and yet all true and good reading to shew the wrongs as I have endured by my neerest friends and she that was my Wife with some of her friends and many more which before I went on Gods message shewed great love towards me but when I went on purpose to the King when Colonel Graves was his Keeper at Holmby they were all great friends but after profest enemies against me by Satans malice to wrong me in the highest degrees that ever was heard of by any man in such nature since the world began not onely once or twice but several times in several yeares yet I praise God I can speak it with a good conscience in the sight of God and man that there is none of my greatest enemies can say upon truth neither wil they I believe that I in all my troubles as I have undergone I ever wronged man woman or child willingly not so much as to use any extremity against any of my greatest enemies but stil committing all to God and praying for my greatest enemies which are sure fignes and strong testimonies to all that know me that I have been all this while guided preserved and carried on by a miraculous providence of Gods holy spirit First when I went to speak with the King Colonel Graves was his Keeper at Holmby I being compelled by God to leave all and goe to foretel King Charles what would suddenly befal him if such things were not done as the Lord had shewed me concerning his agreeing with the Parliament to erect and set up the true Religion of Jesus Christ in the good old way and that the Magistracy should be as a wall to the true Ministry I having these things in my breast to declare to the Kings own person by word of mouth I comming very neer to the Kings Majesty being at bowles that day at Boulten Court two

the fear of the Lord to guide us Fourthly who can say but they broke Covenant with God by swearing falsly to be true to the King and the Protestant Religion and to work reformation in Church and State for true judgment But in stead of being better it is worse for it hath broke out like hem lock or wormwood in the furrowes of the Field and hath tafted as bitter as gall Amos 6.12 Hosea 10.4 7. And the death of King Charles is typified to be the King of Samaria whom Hosea prophesied should be cut off as a foame on the factious water which the Devil caft out of his mouth to drown the woman being meant the Church in this time of new fangled worship and heretical way of new opinions If we see H●s●a's Prophesies to be fulfilled by the late dissolved Parliaments and to be as true to us as they speak of the natural Israelites you cannot chuse but believe it to be true in these things And why then may not my troubles and crosses when I was forced by God and their own violence against me which could not be done without Gods permission and ordination Let no man dare or presume to judge otherwise but being done by Gods appointment it did signifie these things as have befel our Nation between King and Parliament by being divorced from God to follow their own corrupt wayes My Wife came out of such a Linage by her Fathers birth as Hosea was to take his wife of for a further signe Hos 1. but I was ignorant of that when I married her my love was never the lesse to her yet her Father had alwayes the relation of all people to be a very honest dealing man But seeing my unhappy predestination was to be thus afflicted by she that was my Wife I look upon it no other way then this it was because I did not at the first forsake all these outward things of this life willingly to goe on Gods message I am very sorry that I cannot forbeare writing and laying open to the view of the world the wrong as I have received from her and their hands Let no man judge the worse of her or them for acting these strange actions or mee for relating of it but let them all assure themselves thus as heare of it The Devil did not onely afflict Job by his wife and Satans temptation by his friends when he was in his great calamity but the like instruments Satan can make use of any let them be never so honest for natural parts if God leave them to themselves But let every one watch and pray lest they fall into Satans temptations and praise God for all the enjoyment of his benefits If any wil say as many have done that there can be no divocement lawful unlesse it be for the act of Adultery To give them an answer look in Malachy 2.16 God hates putting away but if so be thou must such iniquities ought to be hid within ones own garment therefore if I doe know such things I will forbear speaking of them to the world The humble Petition of John Sanders to the Lord Protector Most humbly sheweth THat whereas the humble Petitioner have oftentimes on purpose many sundry and long journeys to speak with your Highnesse for the space of above 3. yeares and a halfe but none of these times could I find any opportunity by any of your Souldiers or servants I have at this time many grievances to ease and unburden my selfe of to your Highnesse which is the Head in chiefe I having undergone much wrong by many several men to the sustaining of great losse both of goods and chattels and other things But concerning those things your humble Petitioner will keep silence at this time committing all those things to God who hath kept my life from the rage of my enemies for the time past by his merciful providence and so I trust he wil for the time to come My Lord the cause of my complaint now at this present time after the many and sundry journeys and many losses and false imprisonments which false bosome-friends and false witnesses have brought me to for nothing else but the witnesse of Jesus which hath carried me on by his holy spirit to foretel things to come About halfe a year before Worcester fight which was since you came to be Head Leader in chiefe of the Parliament Forces the Lord compelled me openly to foretel how that King Charles would come with an Army into Worcestershire before Bartholomew-tide from Scotland against the Parliament and how that his taking up of Armes to maintaine the Scottish Presbytery Government would be the cause of the overthrow of his Army if he fought These things God compelled me openly to declare in Brimingham and at the Lady Graves and many places more and how Colonel Graves the Ladies Son would come in with him I was cast into great imprisonment and misery by Satans malice and wicked men til the very day of Worcester-fight and lost all my time trade and stock besides all the misery false imprisonment I underwent in several places Som said I was distracted others said I was guided by the spirit of God but in the presence of God I speak it that I never knew my selfe at one time worse then another but it was the wil of God to carry me on in that manner No man ever heard me speak at those times like one that had been distracted but if Christ were so esteemed Mark 3. and Paul let not me be ashamed of that name by natural men which are spiritually blind Many witnesses I could produce that heard me foretel the manner and time of Worcester-fight When I was out of prison the spirit of the Lord caused mee to come fourscore miles to speak with your Highnesse and to tel you how that the present standing Parliament could not stand without they entred into a hallowed covenant with God at the Ark of his Testimony for want of the true worship of Jesus Christ being found out and set above them was the cause of Gods overthrowing them for their injustice and division But when I could not find an opportunity to declare Gods message to your Highnesse I told Colonel Barkstead these things and shewed him writings and told him what way the Church must and would be rebuilded Being then eased of my burden I went home into my own Countrey again and after that into Ireland counting my selfe unfortunate I carried iron ware to set up my trade there and began it in Dublin but the spirit of the Lord compelled me to come out of Ireland againe to come up to London about six weeks before the Parliament was dissolved I could not speak with your Highnesse the Parliament was newly rose about the Seamen the spirit of God compelled me to make a Speech in Westminster Hall before abundance of people concerning the Parliaments dissolution about the shortest day in the yeare And then before I could