heeles and their heads downward over a soft fire they were choaked with smoake They were rosted at the fire as flesh to be eaten useth to be rosted They were leisurely broyled on gridierons set over fire They were fried in red hot ieron chaires as in a frying pan which annoied the standers bie with a stanch Hot boyling lead was powred down their backs They clapt fiery plates of brasse upon the most tender parts of their body A persecuting tyrant considering the nature of the countrey that it was terribly cold and the time of the yeare that it was winter and a night wherein the cold extremely increased and that the northwind then blew there commanded forty Christians to be set stark naked under the open aire in the midst of the City to freeze to death Then when they heard that charge with joy casting away even their innermost vestmeÌ„t they went on to their death by cold They endured the violence of Libbards Beares wild Boares and Bulls They were destroyed with hunger thirst and cold Such as were stifled in prison they cast to dogs setting watchmen night and day lest any of them should be buried and such remainders as were left both of beasts and fire in part torne and in part burnt together with the heads bodies of others they cast out in like manner unburied and committed them for some daies to the custodie of souldiers Thus the barbarous cruelty of persecutors extended it selfe as farre as it could even beyond the temporall lives of Martyrs I suppose that more cruell torments cannot bee invented then of old have beene inflicted on Christians Persecutors have acknowledged that they were overcome and had no more to inflict Yet was all that they did or could inflict but humane as was noted before such as flesh and blood by the assistance of the divine Spirit could and did endure which assistance was afforded not only to strong men but also to women and young children who were given up to be tormented Neither were they onely a few choise persons who endured Martyrdome in Christs cause but such multitudes yeare after yeare moonth after moonth week after week day after day as an ancient Father testifieth that there was never a day in the yeare except the first of Ianuary whereunto the number of five hundred Martyrs at least might not be ascribed So many one after another in one day suffered as the Executioner blunted his sword and with the paines he took fainted That which many of them endured though to flesh flesh and blood it seemed intolerable yet with much patience excellent cheerefullnesse and divine courage they endured it They were not as Beares hall'd to the stake but while persecutors were sitting on their judgement seates and condemning some Christians others leaped in and profâ—ssed themselves to be Christians and suffered the uttermost that could be inflicted with joyfullnesse and a kinde of pleasantnesse singing Psalmes as long as their breath lasted as Paul and Silas did being after soare scourging put into the stocks in a prison Acts 16.23 24 25. Such tortures and torments so couragiously and manfully have sundry Christians in all ages suffered as to them who onely heard thereof they seemed incredible and to many who were eye-witnesses thereof they seemed so strange and beyond admiration as they thought the Martyrs to be madd witlesse and sencelesse But Martyrs themselves who had the light of Gods Word for their direction and the Spirit of wisdome and revelation in the knowledge of Christ the eyes of their understanding being inlightned whereby they knew what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the Saints and what is the exceeding greatnesse of his power to us ward who beleeve according to the working of his mighty power which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him at his owne right hand in heavenly places Martyrs I say by the light of the Word and inlightning of the Spirit with the eyes of their minde pierced thorow the thicke cloud of all their sufferings and as Stephen by an extraordinary worke with his bodily eyes beheld the Heavens opened and the Sonne of man standing at the right hand of God they did seethe gratious favour of God towards them and feele the comfortable shining thereof upon their soules whereby they were encouraged and enabled to endure all that they endured For God useth to give such inward comfort courage assistance and supportance to his Saints suffering for his names sake as is unutterable unconceivable Besides the minde and meditation of Martyrs was so fixed on the recompence of reward which with much confidence they expected as the sence of paine was swallowed up therewith For they accounted all tortures that could be inflicted Not worthy to be compared with the glory to be revealed unto them Most elegantly and emphatically hath the Apostle set out the wonderfull great disproportion betwixt a Christians suffering and the recompence following thereon in these words Our light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a farre more exceeding and eternall weight of glory 1. All that can be by man inflicted on man is but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 compressio a pressure and that of the body onely For man after hee hath killed the body hath no more that he can do Luke 12.5 Thus much is implied under this phrase Gen 3.15 Thou shalt bruise his heele Satan by his instruments can reach no higher then the heele that is the body the inferiour part of man For this pressure of the body by way of recompence shall be conferred glory that which of all is exceedingly desired The glory heere ment compriseth under it whatsoever may make to the happinesse of man and that both in body and soule 2. The kind of affliction is but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 some light thing easie to be borne by him that is indued with the Divine Spirit For afflictions for Christs sake may be comprised under that yoke and burden of Christ which is easie and light Math. 11.30 But the recompence is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a weight such a weight as infinitly over-poiseth all afflictions 3. The continuance of affliction is but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for a while even for a moment At the uttermost they cannot extend beyond this present life which is a short life But the weight of glory is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 eternall without date without end 4. To shew that in this comparison all degrees of comparison are exceeded he addeth hyperbole upon hyperbole thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which emphaticall Graecisme because other tongues cannot word by word expresse to the ful they are forced to use words phrases which exceed all comparison as wonderfully above measure above measure exceedingly
Ministers for admitting penitents after their Apostacy into the Church which gives an evident demonstration of her willingnesse and readinesse to entertaine such The like might be noted of the Orthodox reformed Churches which ever siâ—ce the beginning of the Reformation have time after time received such as have turned from their Heresie Idolatry Superstition Apostacy or any other notorious and scandalous offence For it is an especiall branch of Christian discipline to stop the course of repenting and returning to the faith from none 1. Take notice hereby of the just cause that the true Christian Catholike Church and the Orthodox Fathers of that Church had to detest and abhominate as they did the unchristian uncharâ—table and unmercifull opinion and practise of the Novations in denying repentance to such as had once denied the Christian faiâ—h and in refusing to admit them into the Christian Church againe though with all the testimonies of penitentiall humiliation and contrition that they could expresse they desired it and made free offer of all the satisfaction that the Church should require Most proudly and odiously they stiled themselves 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Puritans as if they had beene forsooth the purest in the world yea and they onely the pure ones whereas they are of all the most impure denying repentance whereby sinnes are purged away Their extreme severity or rather cruelty being directly contrary to the minde of God our gracious and mercifull Father manifested in his Word by his owne free and rich grace offered to penitents by the directions given to his people to receive such and by their constant course in entertaining such the Catholike Church adjudged Novatus to be accounted an Heretique and put Novatians into the Catalogue of Heretiques For bowells of mercy ought no where so to be enlarged as in the Catholick Church that as a true mother shee neither proudly insults over her children that fall nor hardly pardons them being amended 2. This makes much to the justification of this daies solemnity in receiving this Penitent by a prescript order of our Church into her communion Herein our Church sheweth such a tender compassion to this her sonne that was once lost but by Gods good providence is now found as the Father did to the Prodigall affording unto him the best welcome that she can What cause hast thou O Penitent to blesse God that thou wert borne and brought up in such a Church wherein thou hadst at first the benefit of Baptisme to preserve thee as Noah was preserved in the Arke from the deluge of destruction and now again a recovery by penance enjoyned to thee and performed by thee which being heartily done is as another plancke after ship-wracke reached out unto thee to keep thee from drowning 3. All ye that are children of the same mother and bretheren and sisters to this Penitent imitate this gracious indulgency of your Mother towards him Be not like the Prodigals elder brother who envied his brother and was offended with his Father for the grace favour and honour which was shewed to his penitent brother Doe ye rather shew your selves to be of the mind of the Angels of God in whose presence there is joy over one sinner that converteth Luk 15.10 Henceforth upbraide not to him his Apostacy Upbraide not his circumcision upbraide not his subjecting himselfe to Mahometisme shunne not his society avoid not communion with him no not in the most sacred and divine ordinances trafique with him eate and drinke with him pray with him and pray for him Receive him as a brother beloved Forgive him comfort him I beseech you that you would confirme your love toward him 4. My heart stirres me up againe to returne to such as have renounced the Christian faith and beene circumcised in the name of the Lord Jesus to beseech them yea and to require them for Gods sake for the Gospells sake for the Churches sake for such friends sake as are privie to it and for their owne soules sake as they tender the peace of their conscience yea and the salvation of their soule to make their case knowne to submit themselves to the discipline of the Church and to be willing to give such satisfaction as the Church shall thinke fit Yee had many that could beare witnesse of your denying the faith and those such as tooke occasion thereupon to insult over you over your Faith over the Church by which you were instructed in the Faith and over your Lord and Saviour on whom you placed your Faith Is it not then meet that you should have many witnesses of your returning to the Faith againe and of your humiliation and contrition for that dishonour you have done to God and to his Church and those such witnesses as hâ—ve power to loose you and to receive you againe into the Church ye and such as will rejoyce at your conversion and praise God for the same O be not more ashamed of confessing your sinne then you were of committing it Shall hee who was not ashamed of his wound bee ashamed of binding up and healing his wound 5. Let me in the last place leave a few directions with thee O Penitent upon whose occasion we are here met 1. That which now thou dost openly with thy tongue and body before us children of men doe it ex animo do it heartily as to the Lord the Searcher of hearts Thus will thy repentance be sound indeed Thus will much inward peace be brought to thy conscience Thus wilt thou be loosed in Heaven as well as on earth All the grace and favour which now the Church sheweth is upon this pious and charitable presumption that in prostrating thy body thy soule is humbled and that the confession of thy mouth proceedeth from the contrition of thy heart If it bee otherwise thou dissemblest with the Church thou deceivest thine owne soule and mockest God who will in no wise brâ—oke such mockings Unlesse thou do what tâ—ou dost sincerely and heartily thou art in no better case if not in a worse then they who have suffered themselves to be circumcised by profest enemies of Christ and therewithall renounced the faith of Christ and yet seek not to bee loosed by the Church of Christ They cannot in Faith expect to be loosed in Heaven because they are not first loosed on earth Nor canst thou expect to partake in Heaven of the benefit of the Churches loosing thee on earth because it is utterly made void by the deceitfullnesse of thy heart But we are perswaded better things of thee and things that accompany Salvation though I thus speake 2. Be inwardly more dejected in soule more pierced in spirit and broaken in heart then with the teares of thine eyes beatings of thy brest casting downe of thy body and confession of thy mouth thou canst expresse For thy sinne for which this penance is enjoyned is an heinous sinne a crying sinne a sinne
and thereupon it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 enduring that never fades away This better enduring substance in Heaven is lost by such as are themselves LOST through Apostacy 2. The honour atchieved by denying the faith may prove like Hamans promotion which lift him fifty cubits high above ground upon a gibbet but the honour lost by Apostacy is a Royall Priesthood a Crowne a Crowne of life an incorruptible Crowne of glory a Kingdome an heavenly Kingdome an everlasting Kingdome This is the honour that belongs to such as persâ—vere in the faith which they who renounce the faith doe forfeit 3. The liberty attained by leaving the true Christian Churâ—h may be some externall temporary freedome from prison from chaines from gallies from bondage and slaverie under cruell men But the liberty lost thereby is that divine and glorious liberty of the Sonnes of God wherewith Christ hath made them free which is a freedome from the wrath of God the curse of Law the dominion of sinne the tyranny of Satan and eternall damnation Is the rage of man more to be feared then the wrath of God chaines of iron more then the bonds of the law Bondage under Turkes more then slavery under Satan whose worke which he enjoynes is villany whose wages which he gives is damnation are blowes and stripes on the body more then gawles and wounds of conscience The anguish of a tormenting conscience is much more intolerable then of scourges whips bastenadoes strapadoes racks or any torturing instruments on the body There needs no other Accuser of an Apostate then his owne conscience no other Witnesse to convince him no other Adversary to aggravate his crime no other Iewry to finde him guilty no other Iudge to condemne him no other hangman to execute his doome upon him There needs no other to work his woe then his owne conscience Instance all these in that great Apostate Iudas Who accused Iudâ—s or brought in the bill of inditement against him Did any of his fellow Disciples No none but his owne conscience Who did beare witnesse against him Did any of the Priests of whom he received money to betray his Lord or any of their officers who saw him accomplish his treason with a kisse No none but his owne conscience Who aggravated his crime Did Nicodemus or any of the Lawyers that beleeved in Christ No none but his owne conscience Who found him guilty Did any of the common people who followed Christ from place to place and râ—ceived sundry kindnesses from him No none but his owne conscience Who gave sentence against him Did Annas or Caiphas or Herod or Pilat No none but his owne conscience Who brought him to the place of execution and there hung him upon a tree Did any of the Governours souldiers No none but his own conscience His conscience was his Accuser Witnesse Adversary Jewry Judge Executioner What the Poet said of envie may be applied to a guilty conscience Siculi non invenere Tyranni Tormentum majus Ne're did the fiercest tyrant Invent a greater torment If it be said that all Apostates have not such torturing consciences I answer that then they have a seared conscience which is much worse A restlesse conscience though for the time it be even an intolerable burden yet may it proove a meanes to bring the tortured soule to deepe humiliation for his sinne to sound repentance to an earnest desire of pardon yea and to faith in Christ Jesus and thereupon be pacified and quieted as his was who came trembling and fell downe before Paul and Silas and saâ—d Sirs what shall I doe to be saved Bâ—t a sencelesse conscience never works any remorse or restraint but is an occasion of mens giving themselves over to worke all wickednesse with greedinesse Thus after thâ—ir hardnesse and impenitent heart they treasure unto themselves wrath against the day of wrath Rom. 2.5 In this respect a conscience past fâ—eling casts a man into a more desperate condition then a conscience destitute of all comfort And of the two it is better to live and die in despaire then to live and die in an impudent remorselesnesse greedily committing sinne without any trouble of conscience Surely in the day of judgement it will be easier for the conscience which is restlesse here then for the sencelesse conscience Be wise now therefore all yee that may be brought to the triall of cruell mockings and scourgings yea moreover of bonds and imprisonment and of all manner of tortures be well instructed in the difference betwixt such things as man can inflict upon the body and such as God can inflict on body and soule that yee be not worse then the foolish fish which leape out of the warme water into the flaming fire Such are they who to escape the hands of mortall men fall into the hands of the living God not considering the weight of that which the Apostle saith Heb. 10.31 It is a fearefull thing to fall into the hands of the living God The feares which usually most affright men and draw them to be Renegadoes are but of such things which the Apostle 1 Cor. 10.13 stiled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 humane or common to man Such as by man are inflicted such as by man may be indured I suppose greater and crueller tortures cannot in these daies be by mans wit invented then were of old inflicted by spitefull persecutors on the Iewes in the daies of Antiochus and on Christians in the time of the ten notorious persecutions under the Romane Emperours So cruell was the sight of those tortures which persecutors inflicted as exceeds all expression Constant Christians had their flesh torne from their backs with rods scourges whips and cords so as their bones lay bare and the raw parts of their body were washt with vineger and salt They were knockt with clubs They were stretched on racks Their legs were broken and they so left miserably to perish They were goared with sharp pricks under the lowest parts of their nailes Their bodies were scraped with shels to death Their backs were fleaed Their skin was pull'd over their heads from the brow to the chin Their noses lips eares hands and feete were cut off and they as sacrifices cut into gobbets Their tongues were cut out by the rootes and puld out of their jawes Their eyes were boared and digged out Their bodies were rent and pulled to peeces by strong boughs forced together by instruments and let loose when the limbs of the bodies of Martyrs were tied fast unto them Their limbs were also pull'd to peeces with wild horses Their braines were knockt out with a fullers instrument Their legs were broken to peeces They were burnt with fire They were a long while together parched on hot burning coales Being hang'd by the
grace wherby hee enables men to doe it But Martyrdome is the most difficult the most acceptable and honourable worke that on earth can be done Vnto you it is given in the behalfe of Christ saith the Apostle Phil. 1.29 not only to beleeve in him BVT ALSO to suffer for his sake Martyrdome therefore is in Heaven crowned with the highest degree of Glory GREAT is their reward in Heaven Math. 5.12 On this ground they who set down the different degrees of celestiall glory by the different fruites which the good ground brought forth Some thirty some sixty some an hundred apply the hundred fold which is the highest and greatest degree of glory to Martyrdome 6. Persecutors and torturers of Martyrs have by their admirable constancy unto death bin exceedingly astonished and even confounded They have so long continued even from morning to evening and that by course to torture Christians among others a woeman Blandina by name as they were weary and acknowledged themselves to be overcome And the Governours themselves who commanded them to be tortured and stood by to see execution done were confounded that their tortures nothing prevailed and that they were overcome by woemen and they who sate as assistants by the Governours were affrighted thereat So as Christians condemned were enabled to endure whatsoever was inflicted on them and their Judges much affrighted Yea by the undaunted and invincible courage of Martyrs some of their executioners and tormenters have beene converted have professed them selves to bee Christians and suffered with the Martyrs and received the crowne of Martyrdome These are the victories triumphs and trophies of constant Martyrs Thus they lead captivity captive 7. The Divell himselfe is by Martyrs constancy exceedingly disappointed For hee sets his instruments on work to deale with Christians as Haman intended to deale with the Jewes Hest 3.23 namely to destroy to kill and cause to perish all Iewes both young and old little children and woemen But with like successe did the Divell plot against Christians For as by the disappointment of Hamans device many of the people of the Land became Iewes Hest 8.17 So while Satans instruments sought to make an end of Christians they increased the more For the blood of the Martyrs is the seed of the Church Wee reade Reve. 13.3 of a Beast whose head was wounded to death Surely the Divell with his feends were wounded even unto death by Martyrs resisting unto blood The time of the ten fierce persecutions and of the purity and power of Religion that followed thereupon containe those thousand yeares wherein Satan was bound Rev. 20.2 They who on the fore-mentioned grounds accounted not their life deare unto them but prefer'd their Faith in the Lord Jesus and a stedfast profession thereof before wealth honour liberty and life it selfe and chose rather to be faithfull Martyrs then desperate Apostates had good ground to be so minded O that all who professe the Faith of Christ were like minded It well becomes us all to bee so minded And if indeed wee be so minded God who knowes the mind heart and spirit of a man will answerably account of him and accept him though he never bee brought to the fiery triall as if he had beene brought to it and indur'd it to the very uttermost The virtues and graces of the mind sometimes are manifested in their deed or work and sometimes lie hid in their habit as the virtue of Martyrdome Many may have the same prowesse that Martyrs have who are not brought to the same proofe thereof By trialls that which is in a man before God is brought foorth before men Not that it is then first begun but that it is then first manifested Before the Divell went about to sift Iob his soule was possessed with patience which the Lord well knew and whereunto he gave witnesse But to men it was made knowne by the tryall of tentation Thus we see how we may bee Martyrs in the most halcyon times that can be even such as ours are So as the ground and glory of Martyrdome is meet to be made knowne and to be meditated on in these our daies and the rather because we cannot be sure of an everlasting continuance of our peace or of the Gospell of peace among us As it is therefore needfull and usefull in the prime and strength of our age when we have best health to meditate on the sundry kinds of diseases and manifold casualties whereunto we are subject and on death the end of all so in the most flourishing times of the Church meditation on the uttermost that may be endured even to the shedding of blood for fast-holding our profession of Christ is a most meet meditation Most especially is this like to be usefull for you Mariners Merchants Merchants-factors and others whose calling it is to goe to sea in ships and to doe businesse in the great waters where yee are in danger to be surprized as this Penitent was by the mortall enemies of Christians or have occasion to abide and trafique among them You may be brought to triall and to give proofe before men whether the habit of Martyrdome be in you or no. Be yee therefore strong in the Lord and in the power of his might Take unto you the whole armour of God that yee may be able to stand in the evill day and having done all to stand For this end receive these few directions 1. Be well instructed in the verity excellency utility and necessity of that faith which yee professe so as yee may be able to maintaine it against all adversaries The Apostle Col. 2.7 adviseth Christians to be rooted and built up in Christ and stablished in the faith Therein he alludeth to a tree well rooted in the ground and to an edifice well set upon a good foundation Such an edifice though the raine descend and flouds arise and winds blow and beate upon it will stand and not fall Mat. 7.25 There are trees whose rootes are as deepe and spread as farre abroad in the earth as their boughs ascend and spred themselves in the aire Our okes are supposed to be such No stormes no tempests can overthrow them The branches may sooner be rent from the body and the whole tree split asunder then rooted up and throwne downe So a Christian well rooted and grounded in the Articles of his faith will sooner have his limbes pull'd one from another and his body and soule severed then drawne from his faith and renounce his profession thereof 2. Take an unalterable and invincible resolution before hand to stand to thy faith and never to renounce thy profession thereof This is an especiall meanes to make a Christian stand steddy against all assaults Yee Mariners know what it is to have a resolved mind and purpose to saile to your intended place yee passe through all weathers no gathering of clouds no shouring of
raine no thundring and lightning no stormes and tempests will turne you back as soone may your ship be set in the sea as you returne backe againe you are confident of passing through though it be with much labour and paines with great difficulty and perill But they who goe to sea for pleasure to be sea-sick or to see strange countries if they see a black skie and discerne stormes arising they cry out O back againe back againe Wee 'l no furthâ—r Surâ—ly a setled resolution in case of religion will be of more force for holding out againsâ— all persecution then in case of a Mariners vocation â—gainst the surges of the sea For a Christian hath more assurance of Gods divine assistance in all his sufferings to be enabled to endure and over-come all then any Mariner can have of safe-passing over the sea In this resolution of a Christian this caveat must be observed that it be through faith in Gods promises and confidence in the Spirits assistance and not in conceit of his owne strength This is no better then presumption Peter failed herein Mat. 26.33 c. This his resolution and profession though all men should be offended because of thee yet will I never be offended and againe though I should die with thee I will never denie thee this profession and the resolution of his mind answerable thereto was good and commendable all Christians ought to be so minded and to professe as much but not on such a ground as he did For he presâ—med too much on his owne strength This Christ well discerned Wherefore that he also might finde out and discerne the deceitfullnesse of his heart and presumption of his spirit he was left to himselfe and so he fell from his profession and denied his Lord. Selfe-conceit is a forerunner of Apostacy Instance Pendleton in Queene Maries daies By this caveat added to the direction it appeares how a Christian jealousie may stand with an undanted resolution Iealousie in regard of our owne weaknesse Resolution in regard of Gods assistance 3. Set your heart on Christ and on his Gospell Be affected therewith as David was with God and his Law which were his Love his Ioy his Delight sweeter to him then hony and the hony-combe better then silver and gold Love is of an uniting nature it makes the soule of him that loveth to cleave close to the object loved as the soule of Jonathan was knit with the soule of David 1 Sam. 18.1 so as he never renounced him nor failed him in any strait But if while men outwardly professe the truth they doe not inwardly and heartily love it it may seeme just to the Lord to send them strong delusions that they should beleeve a lie as is threatned 2 Thess 2.11 and so renounce the true faith 4. Walke worthy of the vocation wherewith yee are called This direction is given by the Apostle Ephes 4.1 in these very words and oft inculcated under these and such like phrases worthy of God who hath called you 1 Thess 2.12 worthy of the Lord c. Col. 1.10 In these phrases the Word importeth not any merit or condignity but a meere meetnesse and congruity as is evident by this phrase fruits worthy of repentance Luke 3.8 that is as the very same phrase is translated Mat. 3.8 meet for repentance For if worthy should there implie any matter of desert evill fruits would there be intended For evill fruits they are which deserve repentance Fitly is this word thus translated Phil. 1.27 as it becommeth Let your conversation be as it becommeth the Gospell of Christ This worthy walking imports a blamelesse conversation A man of a loose life whose conscience checks him for living in sinne dares not venture his life no not in Gods cause He can have but small hope of Gods accepting him Vprightnesse worketh boldnesse This made Saint Paul so bold and couragious in all his trialls as he was that he had lived in all good conscience Acts 23.1 He therefore exhorteth Timothy 1 Tim. 1.19 to hold faith and a good conscience And to presse this point the further he giveth instance of some that had put away a good conscience and concerning faith had made shipwracke By this inference hee sheweth that a good conscience is as a ship and faith as rich lading therein If the ship be full of leakes ship and lading are like to be lost A bad conscience cannot hold faith in time of persecution Holy men have ever beene the stoutest Martyrs 5. To all other meanes add faithfull fervent constant prayer When the houre of Christs suffering came he went into a garden to pray There he praies not once but againe and againe and being in an agony he prayed more earnestly Luke 22.44 To this the Apostle alludes Heb. 5.7 where he saith of Christ that he offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and teares unto him that was able to save him from death and was heard This meanes he also used for Peters stability when Satan desired to have him that he might sift him as wheat I have prayed for thee saith Christ Luke 22.32 that thy faith faile not So as prayer is an especiall meanes to keepe faith from failing These things are written for our learning that wee might be incited to use the same helpe Use it therefore before the triall use it in the tryall Call upon him that is able to establish thee and thou shalt assuredly be heard To that which hath beene said to such as are in danger to be lost let mee add a word of exhortation to you that live at home safe and secure under the protection of the Defender of the true ancient Catholick and Apostolick faith have pittie have pitty on those that are in bondage under adversaries and persecutors of the said faith on such in particular as are as this Penitent not long since was taken captive by Turkes Among other evidences of your pitty affoord some helpe to redeeme them This is one of the seven capitall workes of charity and mercy The seven are these 1. To feed the hungry 2. To give drinke to the thirsty 3. To cloathe the naked 4. To entertaine strangers 5. To visit the sick 6. To redeeme captives 7. To burie the dead To redeeme Captives is in sundry respects the best of them For it extends to the good of their bodies and of their soules Of their bodies in freeing them from slavery Of their soules in keeping them from Apostacy It were a worthy worke well beseeming the famous Citties of this Land for every of them to have a sacred treasure for this end to redeeme Captiues But I feare least such a worke be more to be wished then hoped for Yet I conceive that it may well be wished and hoped for too that all who have good intelligence by certificate from the Trinity-house or otherwise would contribute something towards the redeeming of every one that time after time they