Gemitus de Carcere Nantes. OR, Prison-Sighs, AND SUPPORTS, BEING 〈◊〉 Few BROKEN SCRAPS AND Crumbs of Comfort. … lie fallen from the great King's Table, the Holy … iptures; into the Prisoner's Basket; who being satisfied, 〈◊〉 fall (through the Grate) a few Leave, for the Hungry … s abroad, till God send more Plenty. Meliora Speranda. Psal. 69. 33. The Lord Despises not his Prisoners. Usque quo domine? Rev. 6. 10. How long Lord? etc. London, Printed in the Year. 1684. TO THE READER Reader, THou hast herein Prison Visits Repaid; with a Groan, from them immured within, Echoing to them at Liberty without: 'Tis Pity their just Defence that suffer, should be an Offence to any; or that the Hope of Righteousness to come, in them that Feed in Stone Walls at present, should obtain no Softer Usage, than Words harder than the Walls of a Prison: but Patience is both our Duty, and Dignity, till he comes that will take Account for Idle and Hard Speeches; (panton tun skleroon) Jud. 15. hard to prove, and harder to bear. Now, two things make these Stony Restraints Tolerable if not Comfortable, the one store of Water, (that is) Tears and Sighs to Soften hard things, and wash away Filth: The other Sweet Herbs to Adorn and Refresh: Of both sorts, the two Sheets following give a Taste to the Hungry. If any ask us what we do in Prison? We Answer, we Sigh and Cry to him, whose Ears are open, Psal. 34. 15. to the Cry of the just (or as the Gr. is) in their Cry, but our doing now is by way of Suffering, our Witness more silent and still, but as true and effectual. If any grudge this Freedom, 'Tis but our Duty to send the Hungry a few of our Scraps, to stay their Appetites (till more comes) that Spiritual Crumbs of Manna may Feed those that Suffer loss of Goods, by Temporal Spoils, and Rapine. If the Prisoners Basket goes about, not to Crave but carry broken Meat in time of Famine, 'tis Pity any should envy, either the Bread, or the Eater; To the Hungry even bitter things are Sweet: Prov. 27. 7. If any love to Quaff (as that Profane Belshazzar, Dan. 5. did) in our Tears; much good do't them: So we say to the Lords Lambs, till God send Plenty: and Christ be your Food, Dear Souls. These things had crept through the Grate sooner, had not the Press without, been oppressed by sad Obstructions, and some of the Prisoners within, by Multiplied Trials, and growing bonds: so that some expect no Manumission (in an ordinary way) till Death Arrests us, (or our keepers) by an Habeas Corpus, cum Causa to Answer at the Kings-Bench, and Ultimate Tribunal: and then (if not before) comes our Audit, and good Deliverance. Nor are some of us Anxious or Avidous of Liberation, till our Word comes, and God (and the King) by a Golden Key cause Pulpit, and Prison Doors to fly open at once; and then our Liberty may be of Use for God, and the good of Souls: (the best End of Life) In the Interim, our Patience must possess our Souls, being well Satisfied that our Prison Sighs, and Cries, (if our Cause be good) are Preferable to Dumb Pulpits, and Dear-bought Liberties by Ensnaring Bonds, or Sinful Compliances mixed with the Terrors that most Worshippers are now Exposed too: The Lord send us all a Good Deliverance. VALE. Prisoner's Sighs, and Supports. COnsidering it has been the lot of the best and noblest Souls, that have bore mortal Flesh (even Christ Himself) to be in Prison for a good cause, yea, in a Native Land; And that God has an open ear to the Groans of such; And finding the kindness of Auditors and Visitors, not otherwise to the compensated, 'tis meet (till debts can be paid, in full) to pay in part, by Lines● And seeing Stone Walls are but Dumb Preachers, 'tis very Lawful to make the just cries on the inside, to Echo to all without: That some that envied our Liberty, may (by seeing their own) pity our Captivity, and others join their Supplications to our Sighs, for the Gospel, and Christ's sake. To that End let Christians at Liberty; Echo to us in bonds, sensing both our Prison Sorrows, and Supports, the one in this sheet, the other in the next. For the first, though no Christian, who deserves that Royal Style, and knows what Sin and Sorrow means, can want his Sighs; Yet Pris'ners● for Religion, yea thinking Persons at Liberty, with whom any seri● Piety, or thoughts of Eternity do obtain; cannot well abandon such secret efforts of mind, (now when the whole Creation Groans,) as these following Sighs and Tears, utter: And sounds reverberate, and Echo best on the Waters. Now first, To begin at the root, all sorrow is the Fruit of Sin: He's a Sot that Snarls at the Stone, (as Dogs do) not eyeing the hand that sent it: No Man how good soever his cause is, but may find Sin enough Personally demerriting the Rod though not from Men: And as God may at the same time inflict a scourge justly for Sin, and yet permit a Trial to befall us by Men unjustly, and in both lay on a Sanctify'd Cross: So we may in the same breath both condole our Sin and Captivity, the yoke of our Transgression, being wreathed by God's hand, and also enter our just appeal to God, the just Judge for our Defence and Vindication. And as each is called individually in secret to Mourn for his own; so for others Sins; and the Oppressions of the Day, under which our Liberties groan; God in Wisdom, laying Sufferings on some, in a Body Politic, though Innocent; for the sake of the nocent: And this is one of our Groans. Secondly, Some Prisons are as joseph's straight Dungeons, that allow us not the Jura humanae Naturae; and like the House of Jonathan. Jer. 37. 20. Dirty holes to the Prophets of God: Chap. 38. And some of the Keepers egged severe Potiphars, like Paul's Gaoler, Acts 16. 22. (though some have no cause to complain so,) such as some of the Marian Martyrs Suffered and Sighed under; turgid alexander's that for gain can torment the Pious, and Favour profane Capital Criminals: S. R. Complained that to the Pious; Law and Justice was denied, which Rogues and Murderers have gratis, for God's sake. Thirdly, To be clapped up and so forgot is a deep Sigh: This was the Chief Butler's fault, and Joseph's Case, recognised (occasionally) by P●●raoh's Dream; Gen. 49. 17. Though Reason might have taught more g●titude to Joseph, that foretold his happy Restoration: Men in restra● may gladly hear good Tidings, that in Honour forget their 〈◊〉 Fellows, and Friends: And being advanced too high, deign not a look, or recognition, to Equals now below them: And to be forgot is in a sort to be as one Dead, or Buried alive, Psal. 88 8. 18. Few grieve for joseph's affliction (or straight) Amos. 6. 6. Fourthly, The envy of Brethren is yet a Deep Sigh, be they by Nature, Nation, or Profession so: It cut joseph's Soul worse than the Irons did, that Brethren owning the same God, should consult confinement in a Pit, and Captivity to base Isma'lites and Egyptians; against him that came to seek, and feed them, and to scorn him as a Fanatic Dreamer, Gen. 37. 19, 20. Though after twenty Years, Conscience gave them for that Gild, a just reprimand: And envy was that which gave them so wicked a motion. Acts 7. 9 No Persecution of Pagans, or Papagans, so bitter and harsh as the Fraternal; for with it Cain began the World, and the cause was 〈◊〉 dissent in better Worship than his: And Ishmael, Edom, Doeg, nay, the Men of Anathoth, etc. have derived it down, to all the purest Prophets and Professors since: Yea, the very devout vexed Paul most: And the last named Perils, was by false Brethren; Acts 13. 50. 2 Cor. 11. 26. So now some may Sighs [Proh dolour! heu gemitus! Fratris ab ense cado.] 'Tis sad, to Sell and Kill for God's sake, and yet think we do God good Service. Joh. 16. 7. Fifthly, To be slandered in our good name vies with that of envy: It being as heavy to be blasted in our just Credit for Evil doers, (As Joseph was) as to be hated for well doing: For this, Joseph had his mi●timus to Prison, with Irons: So had Jeremy; and Men shut up under such Odious are half murdered, aforehand; and rendered incapable to make their 〈◊〉 defence take away the crime, of the ill Name of Sedition, Faction, Schism, Heresy, Rebellion, given to Paul, (as Acts 6. 13. 24. 5, 14. Chap. 28. 22.) and so the Offence ceases: ' I was a complaint Jeremy made to Baruch. Chap. 26. 5. I am shut up and cannot) go to the House of the Lord: An heavy privation, to be stripped of, and confined from the Place, and Privilege of Divine approaches, 'tis grievous to any, far more to a Prophet: And thus Daniel was accused, as 〈…〉— and cast into the Den of Lions, that yet was able (in's just de●) to tell the King (when he better adverted on's Innocency) that 〈…〉 him, he had done no hurt. Dan. 6. 22. But for such, so to suffer, 〈…〉 Sighs. Were it not for the Slander of that Mistress of Whore● (in our Day) the Pious Chastity of our joseph's, might escape 〈…〉 Prison: But God rescued him from the Hungry Lions, of both sorts: 〈…〉 brought him forth, and cleared his Innocency to the King too: 〈…〉 virtue Slandered, and the Innocent punished unconvicted to gratify ra●, may cause a deep Groan. 'Tis a sad Word that in Zach. 11. 6. And 〈…〉 fulfilled on the Jews, in Christ's time. Sixthly, Some Circumstances adjunct to confinement, add wegh of woe, to it: As when 'tis by the rigour of Laws stretched on the rack; 〈◊〉 makes it sharp; or by Laws Surreptitiously got, as that Decree against Daniel was: Or by such men as aught to be a Terror to the ill; 〈◊〉 a Praise to the good; when it's otherwise, what Groans ensue? So 〈◊〉 Religious Conscience, or the Law of our God is concerned in the 〈◊〉: as in Dan. 6. 5. There being no greater Cruelty, then to impe● 〈◊〉 Worship, or impose a false, 1 Sam. 26. 19 This is to pull 〈…〉 from the Breasts, and cause Souls to pine away, for want of 〈◊〉 Broad of Life: Oh the Deep Sighs that this sends up every Sabbath, 〈◊〉 the Ears of the Lord of Zabboth, a late! And if denying Corn, 〈◊〉 a Curse, what Curse follows the restraint of those that would di● it, and cannot? O how does it Gratify the Papists, to see A● rules for restoring Popery, so Observed, in Suppression of 〈◊〉 most noted Dissenters Lectures! Nor is a Prison a sweet Place, to be amongst Malefactors, as Joseph 〈◊〉, stripped of the Company of Relations, locked up by others, and kept 〈◊〉 doing good to the Souls of Criminals: Put to the Charges of Fees, 〈◊〉, and such Contingencies; in six Months, that would keep our 〈◊〉 twelve Months: And all out of a Precarious income, that lasts 〈◊〉 ad libi●um: And it's no easy thing to hear the ●anting Swashbucklers Oaths, Healths, Taunts, and Blasphemies, that daring Felons Belch 〈◊〉 against God, and Innocents', as if Religion were a Crime: Nor is is a small Circumstance, for Men whose Education, and Parts, Birth, and Breeding, (beside Divine habiliments) have rendered Pregnant for 〈◊〉 in their Generations, to be cooped up in a Hole, or Den, for a 〈◊〉, or Trifle; having nothing to do, save to write their own Life, 〈◊〉 rather Death Politicially) Nor can we (as Paul,) Preach to the 〈◊〉 or to Friends, which might sweeten a Prison, and beget Souls 〈◊〉 God, in our bonds, as Onesimus was: and Vergerius did to a Ma●. But especially to be Deprived of public use to our Native Land, 〈◊〉 made Home-born Slaves Suspended from our Duty, Cited, and Spited for it, Ejected from places of use, and Dear paid for, not allowed a hired house, Acts 28. 30. nor to Exhort four in our Chambers: (that the Law allows us) and this without Jury, Oath, or Conviction, and in a Protestant Nation, etc. This is Lugendum & Luendum Nefas, and calls 〈◊〉 great Wrath on the Land: To which, Oh how many add? and th●●e that would stand in the Gap to turn it away, fail, and are misused, mocked, as 2 Chron. 36. 16, 17. till no Healing, no Remedy can Obtain Oh, how fatal is this Work to Court, City, and Country, Let Zedekiah with his Successors, the State of the Jews, the City of Jerusalem, twice Witness: being the first time by the Caldees, the second time by the Rom●●● Demolished; (both City and Temple) for Temple Rights, and Civil Franchises, stand, or fall together; if God's Ark (his glory) be delivered up, our strength will soon go Captive; Gods Priesthood, and man's Properties, being forfeit at once, by Maladministration; next the Ark Truckles to Dagon: That so few see this, though so many will feel it is 〈◊〉 Groan. To all the Adjuncts may one Circumstance more of the time be added, that 'tis for so long time: 'tis said of the King of Babylon, he opened not the House of his Prisoners, when he destroyed Cities, and made the World as a Wilderness, Isaiah 14. 17. (i. e.) not for a long time; 37 years J●●●achin (Josia's Brother) lay in Prison, till another Successor) Evil●●●dach Enlarged him, as 2 Kings 24. 15, 17. chap. 25. 27. 29. This was 〈◊〉 Nebuchadnezars time, from the first Captivity: This was long enough, to dwell in the Pit: some are put to long Durance, and Patience, So was Joseph also, his Youthful time spent in this, and such like Sufferings and Paul puts it among the Adjuncts of his Cross; Aged, and now Prison's too; Phil. 9 and to be at last Dedicated to a block, and lictor, was a pelt of Nero's Rage; and he Suffered Prisons often, (by one Six months' 〈◊〉 out, another Commences,) in Prisons more frequent, so 2 Cor. 11. 23. and Deaths often, and though the Lot of all goes not that length, yet either the Duration, or Iteration of this Cross, or some Adjunct annexed, 〈◊〉 Exile, and Captive too, (so Isaiah 51. 14.) or want, or closeness, or else Sickness (joined Mat. 25. 43.) or as Vagrant, as in Isaiah 49. 21. 〈◊〉 any of them, (far more if all be conjoined) add weight: So Temptation, Desertion, Dejection, Conjoint, do make a Prison as a dark Dungeon, to be shut up so; that bitter Complaint Suits it of He●●●n (though a wise Soul) I'm shut up that I cannot come forth, Psal. 88 6, 8. this twists the bands double and triple, the wreathed Irons are sharpest, the wrath of man alone is hot enough, of God hotter, both United intolerable: no getting forth, till he that binds loosen, and say to the Prisoners, come 〈…〉 again. One at Liberty is sad Fettered thus, but one so in Prison, is now 〈…〉 Pit, like Jeremies full of mire; or Joseph in which is no Water, 37. 24. as theirs in Babylon was; no Water of Comfort, though 〈…〉 of Gall and Affliction. Oh how pining and dismal like, looks 〈…〉 Prisoner now? If the Light of God's face, makes a Prison a Palace 〈…〉: to want it now is to be in a Hell, on this side Hell: and 'tis the 〈…〉 Misery, (therein) once to have been happy. 〈…〉 one Groan more as to this, (and a sad one) The Devil he casts 〈…〉 Substitutes) the Saints some of them (and would do all) into Prison, 〈…〉 2. 10. so does he Labourers, to set up Loiterers, hinder the Gospel 〈…〉 ruin Souls: says he, Oh these Ringleaders of Faction disturb the 〈…〉 of my Kingdom; rob me of my Vassals, cast me out of my Possessi 〈…〉 (long held by Prescription) I hate the Micaiahs, they never speak good 〈…〉 me, or my Laws, but Evil: So he raised envy (oft in the devout) against both the first and best of Preachers, in all ages. 'Tis well to be ●oted, that Apoc. 2 10. is Ushered in with a behold! to note, when Saints are shut up, all should mind well the Instruments of some's Commitment: For though the intermediate cause was Man, (Dioclesian) yet 'twas 〈◊〉 Devil sat on the bench; or (as the Greek is, Apoc. 2. 13.) on the Throne ●●●ce he Emits Vassals, dissolves Assemblies, sends out Judas like In●mers, or Sycophants; convicts without Oath, confines without Law, ashes without Fault, and condemns without Justice; for where he dwells there can be no worse Neighbour: And the purer they be, the ●●rse is his Enmity to them. To say the Devil dwells in Russia, Rome, or China is sad enough; but that he dwells at Britain or London, where Christ and the Gospel have Obtained, is far sadder. That Satan should put his Mantle on samuel's shoulders, was Serpentine Craft, because it decelyed a King; but to lay his Cloven Foot on the Throne of God, and abuse the Sceptre of Kings, invading the place of the Holy, to pervert Judgement, and punish the Pious; Causes far deeper Sighs. Let none Judge our Sighs mixed with bitterness, or undue Reflections; for as good as Peter was, Satan was too hard for him, and if he insinuated into the Prince of the Apostles (as some call' in) who is Exempt from his Pythonology, How many Countries (Christian by Profession,) does he pervert to a Scarlet Inquisition? ●● (And last) Sigh turns to a Supplication: Not to Man for a Release, 〈◊〉 to God for Relief: Sighs Issue well that drop so in God's Ear, were it possible to read without the Walls, what Petitions drop on the inside, they would be found to be these, or the like. ●ord, that thy Kingdom might come in Power, over the Nations, and 〈…〉, that the Prisoners in the Pit might be Visited, as Isaiah 24. 3 last, 〈…〉 That the Lord will appear in's Glory to build up Zion, to hear the Prayer of the low Shrubs, and the Groaning of the Prisoners, and deliver the Sons of Death; that the Prophecies may be Fulfilled that Relate to the latter day Glory; and the Captive Exile may ●asten out of the pit; and in the mean time, their bread mayn't fail, Isaiah 52. 14. That Judgement and Righteousness might be in the Earth for the poor and oppressed. Psal. 72. 6. 13. that wrong doers may be brought to account, that just Law● may be Impartially Executed, and unjust Nulled, and the Gospel may be furthered, by Satan's hindering of its Preachers: that the Sabbath may not be forgot, nor Assemblies of Saints for ever scattered, but the Days of our Dispersion may be Finished, that the Reproach of the solemn Meetings, may be wiped off, and the Rebuke of his Folk took out of the Earth: that the Lambs now scattered may be gathered in a Cloudy and Dark day, and the great Shepherd's presence amongst them; that the Children cries may be heard in the streets, seeking meat with tears in the Eyes, and hungry Hearts; Saying, Oh, who'll give us Bread to Relieve our Souls? Look what Sighs the Famine of Bread Forces from the Hungry, in a time of Natural Drought such (nay far more dolorous) are extort from Souls plucked off the Breasts of Scripture Consolation; and Tempted to eat polluted or poisoned bread, and sit at the Table of Devils, these the least of them (often Itterated and Enlarged) may be found writ on our Prison walls, and with them much Incense added to our how-longs, and are gone up in the Ears of the Lord God of Zabbaoth, and will surely Obtain both Vengeance on some, and Recompense on others. Now by these hints may be guest what work is on Foot in the house of our Prison, and for our Hopes and Supports, they may deserve a second part. We Conclude the first part thus Clamitat in Caelum, vox sanguinis, & Sodomorum; Vox oppressorum, & merces detenta Laborum. Bloodshed, with Sodomy ‛ ●d oppression 〈◊〉, And Laborers hire detained to God on high. The Second Part. AS this World allows us no comfort, without Crosses mixed, so God never inflicts Crosses on his, but Crowns them with Consolations not a few; so Preponderating one by the other, that 'tis better to enjoy them both, then to be exempted of the Cross wholly. Nor is Liberty (tho' in itself very sweet) when a snare, and Terror attends it, so desirable, or Bonds so heavy, but God can, and frequently does, make the latter Evil more Eligible, than the former good, by the adjunct of his own comforting Presence. Now that which makes Bonds easy, and Prisons sweet, is this, when a Man can appeal to God, and the World, perhaps to some of his Enemy's Consciences, that he Suffers not as an Evil doer, or Criminal; So Daniel was faultless before (both) the King, and all his Accusers; 〈◊〉 in the Law, and matters of his God: Dan, 6. 5, 14, 22. And so the 〈◊〉 freely Confessed, Christ had done nothing amiss; Gr. _____ Luk. 23. 41. nil inconveniens, nothing awry, absurd, or out of place: and Jeremy was vindicated by the Princes, against those Malicious Priests, that sought his Blood, since he had done nothing worthy of Death, and what he said, was in the name of the Lord: And the Elders (his Jury) with Ahikam) seconded them, and cleared him; so his confinement was not Death; nor very long, (tho' itterated) for at last he was relieved, and (that's a wonder) at the sacking of the City, by Nebuzaradan, and released, to go at Liberty: When his Malicious Natives went Captives. Let good Prophets be Faithful to their Master, and Message, and tho' Country Men vex them for their fidelity, God will make even Babylonians Favour them for their Misery, or set them at Liberty. Such Urbanity showed the Romans to Paul, Acts 23. 30. Chap. 23 29. Innocency, and a good Conscience● are still a good Plea (tho' not ever Successful) and at last obtain with God, and Men, and often do more for the Honour, or discharge of a good Man, than all the Shifts that complying Politicians, use for themselves. But negative Comforts are not all: Tho' its sweet not to Suffer as an Evil doer; There are some positive Supports, that Strangers intermeddle not with, known only to them that taste them, valuable above all Riches; and adapted to the Nature of our Testimony. First, This has been the lot of the best in all Ages, and for a good cause, tho' by the worst of Men; joseph's chastity could not excuse him; nor M●caiahs plain dealing, nor Jeremy's, nor Peter's: Nay, Paul's Gospel, (tho' an Embassy of Peace) even that exposed the Apostle; Preaching oft does in se derivare furorem mundi. One met with that Angel of God, John Bradford then in Prison; some rusled in their Prison-straw, in the Marian Days, with more true Content, than others did in Satin, and Velvet: And good cause for't, God is our Sovereign Disposer, and may need or call for our Liberty, or Life, at pleasure; and we are to resign it, in the service of his Name, and Truth; as of more use than all our Preaching. Beside there comes a Worldly rust oft on our Graces, (Silver has its dross and rust;) and a Prison serves (like the Scullions Office) to rub us bright, for the Lords Fable; or the Summer Parlour: The Zeal of a Poor Maid (say Alice Driver, or such a one) shines more on God's shelf, than all the learning of X Bishops of Cant: or York; Spices smell best, and Graces shine most, when hard Rubbed. This School of Adversity has accomplished some (in Experience) for God, better than the University has, and to better Use. Now to share in Society with the choicest Saints is great Support— 〈◊〉 miseris, socios habuisse doloris.— To bear (as Simon did) with Christ, who (ever) takes the heavier part of our Cross, yea and helps us to bear the lighter too, is no small allay to its weight: And all Saints have so often since shared, that the Cross is (by handling often) planed smooth, and worn light. Bad associates may make Liberty uncomfortable, and good, makes bonds easy. For Secondly, God is also present, and so was he with Joseph. Acts 7. 9 And so with Jeremy: Chap. 20. 11. This is no little Honour and Succour; what it imports is not to tell in a few words. Sometimes it means, a Glorious presence in Duties and Ordinances. This is promised to that Temple-State, by the Name Jehovah Shammah. So Ezek Vlt. Sometimes the Incarnation of Christ is noted by it, as in the Title Immanuel: Sometimes the Success of all affairs, as in joseph's trust, and David's War: And oft it denotes good success in our Prophesying, Acts 18. 10. But most usually it notes Support in our Sufferings for Christ, and the Gospel's sake▪ Such as Jeremy, Steven, Paul, (of old) and the Martyrs a late had in all Ages past: Nor needs a Man more to be happy: now whatever it may intent in itself; as Glorious it shows in its effects; this has a Spirit of Glory resting on them that have it, whatever shame, or reproach comes for Christ's name and sake: As in 1 Pet. 4. 14. This in bonds, is True Liberty, and gives light in darkness: 'Tis that Precious Stone, that was the light to Noah in the Ark; whilst God shut him up above twelve Months, which H. A. Notes; and let our confinement be what, and how long it will, he that shut Noah in, Gen. 7. 16. called him out again, Chap. 8. 16. This makes darkness light, a Den of Thiefs, an House of Prayer, the detestable Dungeon Leonine, a Garden, or Palace of Christ: And by this presence a Gridiron, or a fiery Furnace converts to a Bed of Roses, or pleasant Gallery in which Christ walks and talks with us: And often do Persecutors, both stumble, and fall at this rock, as Jer. 20. 11. He believed, and Macaiah of old found, whom Ahab committed, and see why, and what came of't? 1 King. 22. 8.— v. 27, 28, and 34. compared. The like found Herod. Acts 12. Vlt. & if not this, yet none can express the love of God, the Joy of Christ's smiles, the Spiritual Liberty, the Inlargements in Prayer, the Content of mind that's here, save those that find them. 3dly, Since God's presence Seals not to a blank, our cause is good, 'tis Christ's cause of which none ought to be (nor are we) ashamed: The well strating of which, is a key to let in Comfort to a Prisoner for Christ's sake, 'tis no small relief to be married to a Cross of Christ's choosing for us, he ever intailing on't what cost the Patiented Bearers need, to Bear all the Charges of it. If any ask Prisoners what our cause is? We shame not to say, this is the cause we Suffer for, and dare venture further than to Prison, in its Defence, viz. The Royal dignity, and primacy of Christ over all _____ Col. 1. 18.) the Glorious Liberty of the Gospel, in both the Profession of its Faith, purity of its Worship, and its Liberty of Prophecy: We Suffer for not swearing, to what we do not understand: And because we dare not say (far less Swear) there needs no alteration in Rule, Civil, or Sacred, when all things need it so much; so it be for the better. We Suffer for Preaching Christ, and seeking to win Souls to him by the word; for living in a City corporate when its Franchises are discorporate, and forfieted to the King: And for Praying for its Peace, reducted to Babel: And for the Controversy of Zion, and her stones in the dust: Nay for dwelling Praying in our Famillies, from which had we departed, we should suddenly have been seized, and suspected for Pl●ters: And they that commit us, do now force us to live in Lo— who now's in the fault? These (in part) are our Pious Offences. And in all, we dare with our dying Breath, Sigh out our appeal, to the last Judge, that will one day (perhaps in the Body) call us and our Persecutors to a second fair hearing: And at present we may only say (as once David— 1 Sam. 26. 19) if the Lord have incensed— but if &c.— or as Micaiah, if such return in Peace— God has not spoken by us: Hear o People, etc. 1 Kings 22. 28. Not doubting God is on's way, to Judge and Plead. Fourthly, Our use is not destroyed by a close Prison, our Walls may be others wells, as Israel's rock gave out both Water and Hony too: Our confinement corporally, may prove others Liberty Spiritually: For the word is not bound. Thus Jeremy had a word from God in the (press yard or) Court of the Prison. Chap. 32. 2. As a promise of Liberty; and as a sign, bought Land there; for nothing is too hard for God, verse 17. 27. and what got not vent by a Pulpit, he propogated by his Pen: as Chap 36. 2, 5, 8, 19 28 32. And in a second Edition, and with some Additions too. So did Paul; A Prison for Christ is an high (tho' hard) Pulpit, and a good Pen may be a cloven Tongue, loud, and ●orid; Paul is converted Young, and Preached long, but a Prisoner aged: as Phil. 9 Ephe '. 4. 1. And then wrote, (when he could not Preach) several of's Epistles, how be it in's Body, he bore the Stigmatas of the Lord Jesus: _____— be it a literal brand, or some Odium of reproach (as Factious, Seditious,) I say not: Yet still the Gospel got ground; Christ wins more Souls to the Truth by Paul's chain, and his True Successors in Prison; then by Episcopal palls, and Lawn sleeves: When Bishops began to rusle in Satin, a Voice was heard [Hodie venerum in Ecolesiam funditur.] As Flint and Steel; the Collision of two hard things (man's enmity, with God's Truth) brings out a more Sparkling Glory to Christ: Grace and Truth shine brightest (as Diamonds) in the dungeon. It matters little where the Pulpit stands, so many hear, learn, and edify. Some Sermons are Preached to few, in one place, or Age: But those are well Preached indeed, and loudly Canorous, that make thousands abroad, nay after Ages to hear, as Eph 2. 7. And see the exceeding Riches of his Grace: Some of us were pained in our silence, and gravid of our Sermons till safely laid in, and brought to bed in N G. and other Prisons; and now our Mr. (nay our Enemies) have took our Testimony (for Christ) off our hands, got us visits, and forced us to live (safely lodged) in a corporation: Yea eased us of our Duty to Souls; and besides took the guilt of our silent Sabbaths, on themselves: And now our cry is on them, be the Blood of Souls, Lo! we are clear and free. Fifthly, Cries are hence ascending not only our own, but others for us: And that of divers kinds For how can the oppressed hold? Prayers have a cry, like that of the poor Widows for vengeance and at last obtains, the Lambs that are spoiled of the green pastures, and expelled to common, cry; and say as Ezek. 4. 14. or Peter, Acts 10 14. Lord, we never eat what was 〈◊〉, common, or Polluted. And the bleating Sheep, in the Wood and Pits, cry, as Mica. 7. 14. Feed thy flock that dwell solitary: So do the Darlings that like Joseph, are in the Pit, cry; and though men hear not the anguish of their Souls, (like his, Gen. 42. 21.) God surely hears. The very wrongs (themselves) suffered, have a Cry; often in the Consciences of Oppressors; and is not stilled, till Exonerate. David cried to the Most High out of the Low Deeps, and never rested till God pulled him out; and set his Feet on a Rock, and performed all for him; Psal. 40. 2. 130. 1. 140. 5, 6, 12. 142. 1, 5, 7. and brought him out of Prison; If one can Pray, and make the Walls, or Mountain's Echo again; no Distress, or Bonds will rest long: The Holy Unction of Prayer will supply the hard knots, resolve the Fetters of Brass; Psal. 107. 10. 13, 14. and serve as a Golden Key, to open all Doors of Iron, of themselves: Acts 12. 10. This was an Effort of Prayer EKTENES— drawn out for Peter, v. 5. So was Paul freed of old, and Larmouth a late, when at Prayer, a piece of the Prison-wall fell down, and a Voice called him out. If the Mountains, Timber, Stones, may speak, and cry (as once, Ezek. 7. 7. Habac. 2. 11 Luke 19 40.) why not our Prison-walls? They that think to destroy Religious Assemblies for Prayer and Prophecy, by shutting our Doors Seizures and Confinements, may consider whether they do not by violent practices rather propagate them: and tho' they should scatter us, they do but truly multiply us; and for one Meeting of many together, cause ten and twenty perhaps an hundred) to grow out of the ruins of that one; so impossible is the purpose a foot, of suppressing us totally. If the Tears of a Widow, one Orphan, or Oppressed, cry so loud to God, what will the Cry of Blood, and Souls under the Altar obtain, that are slain for the Word of God, & Testimony they held to the very last? 6thly, As Cries hence are many, so mighty, God heard and was with Joseph, and Daniel in the Den; and so heard every Groan, Psal. 102. 20. Nexorum ut gemitus audiat— As Bucha?— Christ was pleased to declare both his care of, and concern'dness in his; by the procedure of the Final Judgement, Mat. 25. 36, 43. both in rewarding the Sheep's and the 〈◊〉 the one for visiting him, the other for the neglect of it; and takes what is done, or omitted to his little ones, as unto himself. So the Reproaches in Egypt, are called Reproaches of Christ, Heb. 11. 26. (or for him) which as it carries a Rebuke (on the first view) for the omission that some excuse too easily; So it shows both what a good Master and Advocate Christ the Judge will be, on whom we may draw all our Bills of Exchange, and (on sight) our Benefactors will receive payment in full, for every good work: and also what revenges he'll take for lawless confinement of his Saints and Witnesses, that Laboured in his Word and Name: If he's angry at omitting to visit his, far more at committing them to Goals. Nor will it excuse, to have been civil to them, (as Pilate scourging Christ, to release him) or to say, 'twas but according to Law, etc. for if Humane Laws, may be once allowed to thwart with the Divine, Daniel and the three Children were far out, and the Apostles too, Acts 4. 19, 20. 5. 28, 29. in exposing themselves to needless Sufferings, (as one lately avers) for a Moat, or Rite: But Fides Venales, and a Cheveral Conscience, we still detest, and demur on our Cause, and appeal to the ulmitate Judgement. In the Interim, expecting that a word will come, like joseph's, from God, or Men; (Preceptive, or providential,) to free us: For the Lord will not cast off forever, nor will he approve to crush underfoot (Lam. 3. 34.) all the Prisoners of the Earth: And if it be not True of the Lion, to spare what is prostrate, nor proper to Kings to open Dens, and call Prophets out: Yet God himself will do it: And if our hopes fail here, and we die in the Pit as one o'late did, that may not fail, there's a General Jaol delivery at hand. And so 7ly, and Lastly, 'tis an allay to Confinement to be assured the time is confined, and set, by him that bounds rage of Man, and turns it to his praise. 'Tis a Title given to God (with other attributes,) the Lord forseeth Prisoners. Psal. 146. 7. So he did of old by Joseph, and so to Peter, Paul, Silas, and so to many in the Marian Days; and some condemned to Death: I mean not only at Death, which is the final deliverance, when the Prisoners rest together, they bear not the Voice of the Oppressors, and the weary be at rest: Job. 3. 17, 18. But in life (oft) God owns that Title. For, 'Tis a part of Christ's Office (by Prophecy) to open the Prisons to them that are bound: And to say to them come forth and feed— Isai. 42. 7. 49. 9 He also paid the Ransom, after which, 'tis unjust with Men, to hold them fast; the Blood of the covenant, is so valuable a price to God, that it builds a strong hold of Hope to us; our fleeing to't, is both safety, and discharge. Job. 33. 24. I have found a Ransom, my Son paid it, (says the Father) and now go open the Doors, and bring them out, with gladness. Besides, Experience verifies the facts Joseph lay but until his word came. Psal. 105. 19 God's Word in the promise, becomes ours in performance; and that which tried his Faith, freed him, at last. Nor are Examples wanting how this is done in all Ages, both Ordinary, and wonderful; whereof all stories are well fraught: Sometimes the Rulers themselves that detained them unjustly, release them (on better advice) more justly; as Pharaoh did Joseph; Darius did Daniel: Breaking an unrepealable Persian Law, to do it Dan. 6. 23, 24. Because he trusted in's God: So they that (erst) had shut Paul up, are glad precariously, to persuade him out; Acts 16. 37 39 as not able to justify that illegal confinement. So was that Earthquake, a wonderful mean of his discharge, tho' under a double restraint: ver. 24-26. God will shake the foundations of the Prisons, rather than suffer his Ambassadors of Peace to be long shut up, as Prisoners of War: Sometimes Prayers are drawn out at length, to draw them out; and so Peter was rescued by an Angel, Acts 12. 5, 10. And (now and then) the Angel knocks a Herod etc. on the Head (as with the Key) ver. 23. and so the word grows, and multiplies; being watered both with the Blood of Martyrs, and at last of Malicious Persecutors. Some condemned to die in flames, were by Queen mary Death freed. And if the time be asked for, one Psalm indigitates it, when God appears in's Glory to build Zion, to hear the Prayer of the lowly, and destitute, and to look from's Sanctuary on the Earth, and hear the Groaning of the Prisoners, and lose the Sons of Death, as it is in Psal. 102. 13, 15, 27. 19, etc. to 22 ver. (A Glorious Prophetic Psalm.) And tho' the time be prolonged, and some may drop (as ripe Figs) ere it's accomplished: Yet by the increase, of the guilt of some, and the Cries of oppressed Souls at and under the Altar, it cannot be long; it's seldom seen but violence to Sacred matters, is avenged in the same Age, 'tis committed: As the eagle's theft, of flesh from the Altar, carried alive coal thence, that fired her nest, young and all; though some Sinners are boar long with, yet after Patience has suffered sufficient abuse, Divine Wisdom, Justice (and goodness itself) consult a time, swiftly and speedily, to repay recompenses. Joel. 3. 4. Hab. 2. 7. Zac. 5. 14. etc. And the delay makes a good (expected long, more Glorious. Now if it be so, if those be our just Groans, and if they ascend on high; and these our present allays, for a fore taste of better hopes, at the day of our full Redemption, and Kingdom of our Lord; let none grudge, if we impart of our Prison scraps, to many abroad that Hunger: And say to any that own Humanity, or Christianity; For the Lord's sake, remember the Prisoners: If not, we cheer ourselves in the dark (as singing Nightingales) hoping day, in this Gallicinium Corpus, mens, Oculus; Conclusum, Libera, Laetus; Est, Fruitur, Spectat; Carcere, Pace, Palum. The Body's shut up, the mind in Peace does lie; The joyful Eye, the Heavenly Pole does Spy. FINIS. An Hymn on Canticles 4. 8. Jesus from all Worldly Delights, And Sufferings too, his Spouse Invites. 1 COme, O my Spouse, with me come home; From Leb'non hast away With me, from Lebanon now come, From top of Amona; From Shenirs Top, and Hermon Hill, From Dens of Lion's haste; And from the Leopard's fierce, that still Thee on those Hills do waste. 2 O come! that word Attracts my heart, Who will not hearken to't? For some must hear that word, Depart; Lord bring us to thy Foot: To come with thee, Lord, I'm content; Wilt thou accept of me? Tho' in the Lion's Dens I'm penned, Grant there thy Company. 3 But can't my Lord be well content, Without my Fellowship; In pieces me tho' Lion's rent, I'll o'er them Mountains skip. Lord stay, for these Ascents are hard, From Leb'nons' Sweet Delight: Led me along, and be my guard, When Lions me affright. And when these Mountains I have passed, In thy Sweet Company; To th' Hill of Spices me at last, Conduct to be with thee. The Phoenix, a Prison-Hymn. LOrd, here I sit alone, My Liberty is gone: My Ministry's resigned to thee; Grant Sweet Communion. I once did others Water, Whom thou now lettest men scatter. O Fountain free, now water me, By what shall flow from thee. My Testimony turn, (Tho' this the fire do burn) Unto thy praise, and after raise, A Phoenix from its Urn. As Birds that lonesome sit, Or Joseph in the Pit, Or even as when the Pelican, To Wilderness takes flight; So Lord I to thee sly, To have good company. Be thou my one companion, For I'm content with thee. And when my days are spent, That here thou hast me lent, Now take me up with thee to Sup, Where my Forerunner went. An Hymn on Canticles 2. 14. I'th' Clefts o'th' Rock (apart from Noise, Christ longs to hear his Doves sweet Voice. 1 OH, thou my Dove (for secrecy) In Clefts of Rock Retires; In Secret Stairs that hide dost lie, Lo this thy Spouse desires: Come forth, let me thy Countenance see, Fain hear thy Voice would I; For sweet thy Voice is still to me, And Countenance comely. 2. No Secret Stairs, no Clefts (at all) Wherein Christ's Spouse does dwell; From Christ can hid; No Den, nor Wall, Nor yet the Belly of Hell. But even there our Cries he hears, And counts our face most sweet: Tho' most bedewed with Briny Tears, And prostrate at his Feet. 3. But, Lord, whence flows this Love and Grace? How much to be admired? That thou so longest to see our face! Why is our Voice Desired? A place there in our Rock now is, Where Christ his Flock does hid; The cause of his desire is this, And here we safe Abide. But, Lord, hast thou so great Delight, In our Imperfect grace? What Joys shall we have in thy sight, When we shall see thy face! FINIS.