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 PRINCETON, N. J. *>' 
 
 
 Collection of Puritan Literature. 
 
 Division **-— *^-n_ -*- 
 
 Section ^€P^t>Sr 
 
 Number 
 
 
 
 
 
- 
 
I 
 
V 
 
 J 
 
g I 
 
 THE 
 
 LIFE 
 
 AND 
 
 DEATH 
 
 O F 
 
 Sir Henry Vane, K5 
 
 y OR, 
 
 A fliort ^arrathe of the main Vaffages of his I 
 
 * Earthly Pilgrimage ; Together with a true Account I 
 of his purely Chriftian, Peaceable, Spiritual, Gos-i 
 p e l-P rinciples, Doctrine, Life, and j 
 Way of Worshipping God, for which he: 
 Suffered Contradiction and Reproach from all forts ' 
 of. Sinners, and at laft, a violent Death, Jmie 14 
 Anno, 1 6 6 z . 
 
 To which is added , His laft Exhortation to 
 his Children, the day before his Death. 
 
 Printed in the Year, 1662. 
 
 

o ) 
 
 U*( : 
 
 The L I F E and D E A T H of Sir HEN®J 
 VAKE, Knighr. 
 
 Chrifiian "Readers, 
 
 PRepare your Faith. The enfuing Narrative concerns a perfon, 
 who for his unweariednefs in doing well and fuffering ill, to- 
 gether with the ground and fpring of his deportment in both, doth 
 ia very truth exceed the (ingle reception of humane unde-rlhnd- 
 
 He was partaker of- the Divine Nature, (2/V. 1,4.) 'rispaft 
 the skill of humane nature to interpret him. His attainments were 
 too big for the tongue of Men and Angels. Divine Life mutt have 
 divine words, words which the holy Ghoit teacheth,to give its own 
 Character. All other^vill befwallowed up of matter. • 
 
 He had the New Name, which no man knovves but he that hath it. 
 A Riddle therefore he was to man in his New Birth, Nature, Life, 
 Principles, Ways, Actions. He was full of Faith and of the holy 
 Ghoft. Who can expound Samffons typical Riddle, unlefs he plow 
 with his Heifer ? The things of God knoweth no man but the Spi- 
 rit of God and he that hath it, 1 Cor. 2. Can any give a true ac- 
 count of things he hath neither heard nor feen ? Can any fee or hear 
 Spiritual things without Spiritual Senfes, or have fuch Senfes with- 
 out Spiritual Life, the New Name ? 
 
 He was, but affe&ed not to beMyftical. He fighed after, he 
 longed for the manifestation of the Sons of God. He defired godli- 
 nefs might put off its myftical drefs, lay afide its fackcloth; that 
 they that are all glorious within, (P/*/. 45.) might be lb without 
 too : they who are the Sons of God, might appear to be fo ; ' 1 John 
 
 When the feventh Angel begins to found, Time (hall be no longer ; 
 to wit, for godlinefs to be a myttery ; The myftery of God ihall be 
 finifhed, Revel. 10. 7. This Angel is ready to come forth. Then 
 Godlinefs willbemanifeftand triumphant. While that is a Mytte- 
 ry, Iniquity is fo to • during which, he that will live godly, mnfl fuffer 
 Perfection , 2 Tim. 3. 12. He that departs from evil maketb 
 bimfelf a frey, and there is no Judgement ; Ifa. ?<?• if. Men hear . 
 
 A 2 of 
 
(4) 
 
 of the Divine Lite in adifguftful found of words, that lie crofs 
 to their defigns r and hate it. It difparages , it difcountenances 
 the whole Scene of things feen, fpeaking of them, as of thing? 
 that are not. What can they think of this, that fee no other ? It 
 judges, condemns the World, the God, the Spirit, the Religi- 
 on of this World. It fpares not the very goodlinefs of flefh, 
 th2 vvifdom , the glory, the righteoufnefs of Man; It declares 
 all tD be vanity that man puts value on : yea man himfelf , 
 and that at his befl eftate, altogether vanity ; a goodly, flou- 
 riiliing, but a corruptible, vaniihing thing. The diyAdamfai- 
 :v^dybedied: Loft the life, glory, vvifdom, and righteoufnefs he 
 was created in, and fo his communion with God in fuch fbadowie 
 manifestations and refemblances of divine glory, as were fuited to 
 the difcerning, and made up the happinefs of that condition. 'Tis 
 fad tydings to all thofe vvhofe Life is but of the rirft-creation- 
 iirein, lies in things feen, to hear that all they have, are, or aime 
 -at, is lefs than nothing and vanity, Ifa. 40. 17. Who can bear it ? 
 Vet the dtkgu is honeft and full of kindnefs. Tis to rid our hearts 
 of things feen which are temporal, and make room in them for 
 things not feen, eternal, 2 Or. 4. 18. 
 
 While the Believers Life is hid with Qhrlftln God, and he fpeaks 
 at this rate of all the vifible glory and righteoufnefs of man, and 
 much more yet , againft the ihameful, apoftate and unrighteous 
 ftate of Mm, what entertainment is he like to rind ? 
 
 There are two forts of Princes in this< World, that are on horfe- 
 back by turns; he is againft them both, and goes on foot, till his 
 great maftercome upon his white Horfe, with his heavenly Armies 
 on the like, %ev. 19. 1 r, 14. 
 
 There are inward and outward Princes of this World ; Princes 
 over themfelves, and Princes over others. The former have their 
 rational Powers reftored into Dominion over their fenfiul, where- 
 by they become workers of righteoufnefs, in the renewed Spirit of 
 a mm. Such Princes, (reigning as Kings, iOr. 4.8.) were 
 i'omeof the Priefts, Scribes, P'harifees, and profiling Je wes y who 
 yctkrcw not, and therefore crucified the Lord of glory, 1 Cor. 2.8. 
 
 : 'Sic both in his example and doctrine, he gave forth the proper 
 1 after and difcovery of a more excellent way. 
 
 latter fort of this Worlds Princes, are fuch as do fit upon vi- 
 : Thrones of Judicature, fumifhed with Crowns, Scepters and 
 
 her pompous Badges of Sovereignty and Dominion over others. 
 
 ifc a:e often fuch as have no Dominion over themfelves at all, 
 
 the 
 
(5) 
 the'bafellof men. Nebuchadnezzar himfelf, the golden head of the 
 four worldly Monarchies ( Dan. 2. 38.) was fo , and accord- 
 ingly handled ; followed nor- the light of his reafon, and there- 
 fore was turned to graze among the very beafts of the field, 
 Dan. 4. 32. 
 
 The true fpiritual watchman of God, is to warn both thefe forts 
 of Princes, and all others, the righteous and the wicked \ the one 
 that he turn not from hisiighteouinefs, or rather that he feek the 
 lighteoufnefs of God in the true regeneration, which cannot be 
 turned from : The other, that he turn from his wickednefs and 
 workrighteoufnefs,^^. 18. zndCbap. 33, Will men bear this ? 
 Can he that is a man of a marred vifage { one in whom the glory, 
 wifdom and righteoufnefs of man, is daily p2iling away, fpoil'd 
 and triumphed over by the- crofs and fpirit of Chrift) give this 
 twofold witnefs againft thefe two forts of Princes and their Nations 
 ( called Revel, i^.two Bss/ls ) in all their flourish and ornament of 
 things feen, and will they not (lone him f will they not be ready 
 to tear him in pieces ? Divine Life, together with the Wifdom and 
 Words of it, feems fuch foolifhiiefs,and is fo diftaftful to man, that 
 let the perfon of the true fpiritual watchman be cloathed (as Da- 
 vid ) with the outward Pompe of Thrones and vifible Scepters, this 
 fhall not fecure him from the ill word of the Judges, or from ap- 
 pearing fo contemptible, as to become the fong of drunkards • 
 <?/"*/. 6p. 12. 
 
 'Tis the divine Life men chiefly hate and fhike at, all along 
 from Cain downwards, but can hit onely the humane, the Woman 
 that brings it forth ; The natural man of the Saint is perfecuted 
 into adeiolate, wildernefs' condition ; but his fpiritual part, the 
 Man-child is caught up .0 God, and fecured from the persecuting 
 Dragon, Rev. 12. 5-, 6. He that is begotten of God, keepeth him- 
 felf, and chat wicked one coucheth himr-.-, 1 John 5. 18. That 
 which the Believer hath in common whh his Persecutors, (fie[hand 
 bloody that cannot enter into the Kingdom of God ) is all that Divels 
 or Men can touch. And dais, no farther, nor till fuch time as God 
 permits, which never is, till he hath ferved his Generation, done 
 his Work, and it be great gain to him to be ftrippedof his mangle, 
 that he may come fully to experience (what he hath been longob- 
 fcurely _g«- effing a:, amongtt his fellow mortals ) Mortality (wallow- 
 ed ap of Llfe i 2 Cor. f. 4. 
 
 Spiritual or divine Life and the things of it, the wifdom, righte- 
 oufnefs^lorvjand all concerns thereof,have more of effence and fo 
 
 of 
 
( o 
 
 of inteliiglbiiity in them,than any tuft creation Life or things.They 
 are therefore in themfelves more intelligible, though lefs, yea, not 
 at all underftood by man, i Cor. 2. 14. What's the matter ? where 
 lies the fault? In man's undemanding. The objects aretoodazling 
 and bright for it ; over-mafter, over-fet it. That is not all. They 
 are quite out of its reach ; fhutup in an utter invifibility. It can 
 receive no notice of them, but in a type, and if this condifcention 
 be made for the expreiTion of them, it (Jecries allegory, runs away 
 with theftudow and rejects the fubftance. 
 
 But if God pleafe to enlighten and raife mans undemanding in 
 fome hopeful meafure, towards its firft-created capacity ; will that 
 doit? No. There is utterly a fault, an inability in it at its bell, to 
 take the immediate view of thefe things. This feems a' hard fay- 
 ing. But God himielf who pronounced of every thing in the firft- 
 creation, that it was very good y (Gen. 1.3 1.) doth yet comparatively 
 find fault with the very belt things in it, Heavens, Angels, & Men, 
 and that at their belt eftate. 'Tis written,//** Angels be charged with 
 fottfa Job 4. 18. The Heavens are not clean in his fight, Job i^. ij. 
 and, Every man at his beft eftate y is altogether Vanity y Pfal. 39. 5-. 
 
 The fir ft Covenant, or fuft ftate of Life in man, and communion 
 therein with God, was faulty, comparatively with thenew-crea- 
 ture-ftate of man, and the new and everlafting Covenant-communi- 
 on with God, that he forms and fets up the Believer in, by true Re- 
 generation. Think we what we will, if God fay fo, llnll we con- 
 tradict and blafpheme ? He tells us, If the firfi Covenant had been 
 ' fault lefs y there had been no place for the fecond y Heb. 8. 7. and Gal. 
 3.21. If there had been a Law, or a ruling power of Life given, 
 and fet up in man atfirft, or renewed fince, that could have given 
 Life, (or have carried us through, for eternal life) everlafting 
 righteoufnefs and Life fhould have been by that Law 5 there would 
 have needed no other by a new creation. God will not do any thing 
 that is impertinent or redundant. So Rom. 11. o\ If eternal Life be 
 by Grace , or by the Law of the S fir it of Life ( Rom. 8. 2. ) brought 
 into mm by a new creation ; then it is no more ofworkj y proceeding 
 from the utmoft activity of the Law,or ruling power of natural Life 
 and perfection , fet up in man at his fuft creation. 
 
 Whar ili a 1 1 we fay to thefe things ? How is man out in his divi- 
 ni ry ? God's thoughts are not as our thoughts , nor his ways at our ways y 
 they are everlastings (Ifa.yy. 8,p.) his footfteps are not known. To 
 be Hire, hi$ywjs aretai*al } ours unequal. He will be Judge. Every 
 way of man is right in his own ejes } but the Lord pondereth the hearts. 
 
 Shall 
 
Shall not the Jttdge of aR the earth do right ? Can he do wrong ? Gcdis net 
 amanthat he foouldlie, Hegiveth not account of any of his matter /, (Job 
 33. 13.) neither is there need ; for he will not do wickedly^ or pervert; 
 Judgement ; he will not lay upon man more then right , thathefhould enter 
 into Judgement with God^ Job. 34. 12. and 23 . 
 
 But the perfon here charactered, as he affected not to be myflical in 
 his perfon, fo, nor obfeure in his language. 'Tis the flefhly veil on 
 mensunderftandmgs, as to his matter, that makes them carp at his 
 exprertion,and cry ^obf cur e y obfucre ; doth he not fpeak parables ? Ez,ek. 
 20. 49. The myltical reach and hgnificancy of Scripture, as exhibit- 
 ing the peculiar form of new-creature Life, (under the letter or mod 
 iignifi cant figures thereof, that are to be found in the firft-creation ) 
 by^ found of words, lies ib remote from the veil'd underftandings of 
 men, that they mike nothing on'c. They are willing to be blinded 
 and deceived as to Gods Truth, that they may more iecurely pleafe 
 themfelves in their own lie ( 2 Thef.z- 10,12.) and the oid.Serpenr 5 
 the God of this World, is as ready and willing to beguile and blind 
 them, that the li'grtt of the glorious Gofpci of Chrilt who is the Image 
 of God, may not fhine unto them, 2 Cof. 4. 4. 
 
 In this difeuragitfg pofture of the prefent World, did this belie- 
 ving Pilgrim wade through it, waiting on the Lord, and feeking out 
 fuch acceptable words for th^ explicating of Divine Oracles, as were 
 moll exactly calculated and accommodated to the underftandings of 
 men, fo as to unlock, iniinuate into, and gain them by a holy guile, in-- 
 to the entertainment thereof, upon convincing demonftration of their 
 grand concern therein. He did moil induftriouily fet himfelf to bring 
 forth the moll inward thoughts of : his heart , in characters to be • 
 feen and read of all, as to the Life hid with Chrifl in God, experien- 
 ced in his perfon, and held forth in the Scriptures of Truth. This was 
 his effay in his '[Retired mm\ Med\taiions~\ even to prefent to our 
 view this myftical life, in the moil intelligible form, language, or 
 certain found of words, he could any wayes hit upon, which yet hew 
 fubjeel: they have left him to mifconilriuftioriS through the ignorance 
 and preemption of his confident undertakers, is fad to fee, in their 
 mod groundless calumnies of his Perfon, and gtofs millakes of his 
 Doitrine and Principles. 
 
 To obviate fuch caufelefs mifprmpns of him, I ihali briefly prefent 
 you with ibme chief Remarques- of his Life. 
 
 He was born a Gentleman. My next word is fo much too big for 
 that, that it may hardly fe'etn decorous to Hand fo near it. ffe wat x 
 chofen Fcjfel of Chr.fl , fe-perafed (as Paul) from his mothers womb y 
 
 > 
 though 
 
, (8 ) 
 though not actually called, till 14. or 15. Year? funding in the 
 world, ('twas longer ere Paul was called) during which time, fuch 
 was the complexion and conltitution of his Spirit, through ignorance 
 of God and his wayes, as rendred him acceptable company to thofe 
 they call good fellows, ( yet at his worft, retrained from that lewd- 
 nefs, intemperance fometimes leads into, which he hath been eft 
 heard to thank God for ) and fo long he found tollerable quarter a- 
 mongftmen. Then God did by fome ngnal impreifions and' awaken- 
 ing difpenfations, ftartle him into a view of the danger of his condi- 
 tion. On this, he and his former jolly Company came prefently to a 
 parting blow. Yea this change and new (leering of his courfe, con- 
 tracted enmity to him in his fathers houfe,(/J/*f. 10. 36, $7.) 
 
 It was alfo fuggefted by the Bifhops to the then King, concerning 
 him , That the heir of a considerable family about "his Majefty , 
 was grown into cliflike of the Difcipline and Ceremonies of the 
 Church q£ England, and that his Majefty might do well to take fome 
 courfe about him. On this, the then Mifhop of London took him to 
 tisK, who feemed toJiandle him gently in the Conference, but con- 
 cluded harlTily enough againft him in the Clofe. 
 
 In fine, feeing himfelf on all hands in an evil cafe, he refolved for 
 New-England. In order to this, (hiking in with fome Non-conformifts 
 which intended that way, his honourable Birth, long Hair, and other 
 Circumftances of his Perfon, rendred his fellow-travellers jealous of 
 him, as a Spye to betray their Liberty,rather than any way like to ad- 
 vantage their defign. But he that they thought at firft light to have 
 too little of Chrillfor their company, did foon after appear to have 
 two much for them. For he had not been long in New -England, but 
 he ripened into more knowledge and experience of Chrilt, than the 
 Churches there could bear the Teftimony of. Even New-England 
 could not bear all his words, though there were no Kings Court or 
 Kings Chappel, Amos 7. 10, 13. Then he returns. for Old-England. 
 Shortly after, the leading and preparatory palTages to the Long Par- 
 liament and the late great publick changes, drew on. From the begin- 
 ning of that Parliament, he became fuch a drudge for his Countrey, 
 fo willing on all accounts, both in Perfon and Eltate, to fpend and be 
 fpent ( in his ch.ugable circumi'tances and unwearied endeavours for 
 the publick Good, and juii Libercies of men as men, as alfo for the 
 advance of the Kingdom of Chrift in thefe Nations) as 1 know not any 
 former age or ftory can parallel. 
 
 His Principles, Lighr, and Wifdom were fuch, that he found the 
 bare mention of his utmoit aimes amongft his fellow labourers, would 
 
 (in 
 
(in all probabiliity ) To expofe him to cenfure from all parties and 
 fizes of underftanding,as would difable him for doing any thing at all. 
 He was therefore for fmali matters rather than nothing,- went hand 
 in hand with them, ftep by (rep, their own pace, as the light of the 
 times would permit. He was for quitting ft ill the more grofs difor- 
 ders in Church and State, ( corruptions in Courts of Judicature, Po- 
 pifh and Superfluous formes in Religion, and wayesof Worfhip ) 
 for vvhat he found more refined and tollerable. But he ever refuted 
 to fix his foot, or take up his reft in any Form, Company, or Way, 
 where he found the main bulke of ProfeiTors avowedly owning* but 
 fuch inward Principles of Life and Holinefs, as to him evidently lay 
 (hort of the glory, righteoufnefs, and life hid with Chrift in God. He 
 was {till for preiiing towards the mark, PhlL 3. 14. He was more for 
 Things than Peribns, Spirit than Forms. 
 
 This carriage of his, all along in l^erv-England and in Old, expofed 
 him as a mark foi the arrow, from almoft all forts of People, rendring 
 him a man of contention with the whole earth • Yet was he all along 
 a true Son of Peace ; a moft induftrious and bleffed Peace-maker, to 
 the utmoft of his power, for the reconciling all forts of Confcientious 
 men, (whatever variety of Perfwafion or Form he found them in ) 
 to one another, and to Chrift. 
 
 He never affected any military employment. He was in a litteral 
 feme, free from the blood of all men, as well as in a fpiritual, by his 
 fakhtul performance of the duty of a Watchman, not fhunning to de- 
 clare unto all men the whole counfel of God, Sz.ek. J 8. and 33. and 
 Acts 20. 27. They that call him a man of contention, what would 
 they have laid of David ? He (though a man after God's own heart) 
 had fo abundantly ilied blood in his great warrs, that it was objected 
 as a reafon againft him, why he fhould not have the honour of build- 
 ing a houfe unto the Name of the Lord his God, 1 Chron. 22. 7, &c. 
 Yea, he left.order with his fon Solomon on his death-bed, to take fuch 
 courfe with Joab and Shlmel, that their hoary heads might be brought 
 down to the grave with blood, 1 Kings 2. 
 
 He was no humourfom conceited maintainer of any perverfe or ir- 
 rational opinions, but a moft quiet calme, compofed fpeaker forth of 
 the words of Truth and fobernefs, at all feafons, upon all occafions, 
 and in all companies. He was full of condefcention and forbearance, 
 hating nothing more in his very natural temper, than brangling and 
 contention. He would keep filence even from good, (though his for- 
 row was ftirred by it, and the fire burned within, while he wasmu- 
 
 B fing, 
 
( 10 ) 
 
 fing, Pfal. 39. 1, 3- ) in caie that either wicked, or but fliort-fighted 
 good men were before him, that he perceived could not bear more 
 ituafc and-fublimated Truths, John 16. 12. He became all things to 
 jn, that he might by all meanes five fome^ 1 Cor. 9. 22. His heart 
 was of a light Scripture latitude, (bod fair and open for any good, but 
 no evil. All forts of conscientious inquirers after Truth, found a 
 friendly reception with him ; yea, he Wfs in -a conftant readinefs to 
 perform any warrantable civilities to all men. Any thing that was 
 sood he owned, and cherifhed in the honeft moral Heathen, legal 
 Chrirtian, or fpi ritual Believer ; and fo, fought opportunity by honed 
 intinuations to catch them with guile, and lead them forward into, 
 more excellent Truths, 2 Cor. 12. id. 
 
 But more particularly yet, to undertake that general Reproach 
 that was call upon him, to wir, That he wot a man of Contention from 
 his Topith up, where ever he cams or had to do 9 In New- England, or In, 
 Old. 
 
 He was a true Believer, that's enough, if ye knew all, to fet all the 
 World againfthim. He was not of the world, and therefore hated by 
 ityjohn i?. 18, 19. He was partaker of God's hojinefs, (Heb. 12. 
 10. } had eternal Life abiding in him ; (bod pollened of the Wifdom 
 and VVords-of that Life which die holy Ghoil teacheth ( 1 Cor.i.*i.) 
 be could not but fpeak forth the things he had heard and feen. 
 Then there's no dealing for 'him-, Rev. 13. 17. Divine Truth feemsr 
 moit frightful and contrary of all other, to men ; puts all men to a 
 gaze ; renders the. witnefs -bearer thereof,like Jeremiah^ a man of con- 
 tention with the wb-?e earth. He needs no other occasion of eontrover- 
 fie*. the meer and (ingle declaration of. this. truth .will do ir. Here's 
 :oundoF the quarrel with him; for this, every one will curfe 
 hirh, Jer. 15. 10. 
 
 This was 'tymti cafe, even amongft the, profellTng Churches of 
 Chriit, converted by his Miniftry, that were yet but in their own 
 Legal fhort-fighred-fpirit, they were ready to have plUck'd out 
 their eyes, and have given "them to him, while gratified by him in- 
 the firft branch 6f his •Miniftry, for. renewal of the Law, or the ruling 
 ity of their own rational powers, in them ; But let him fpeak a 
 of rhe divine Life, (broadly and plainly, in its diftin&ionfrom 
 their prefent attainment) that is to be propagated in them by ano- 
 ther birth, he is prew. .mly looked wpon as an ene'my. 
 
 r fhere are two berths or formations of Quilt in the fouls of 
 I /lay with uriwife Ephralm in the fnii, (which 
 
 is. 
 
( »■) 
 
 te but that ftate or place , whence the true Heavenly Seed and 
 Children of God, do break forth, Hof. 13.13.) refilling to be born 
 ef God, (John 1. 13.) Of the will of God, (J^^ i.i8.)By the new 
 fecond, and more excellent Birth , will in fine appear-in their co- 
 lours, fa-ife brethren, that will hate and flander their own Mothers 
 Son, Pfal. jo. 20. In order to this fecond birth, under the metaphor 
 cf a Mother, Paul faith, He travelled with the Galatians again , till 
 Chrift, in his fecond, more excellent appearance and communicable 
 life, be formed in them, Gal. 4. ip. 
 
 Veritas odium parity ( Truth brings hatred ) is a Proverb that 
 holds too true, in all fizes and kindes of Truth. Let a man take upoti 
 him the boidnefs to exercife but his Moral-Philofophy-Principles, in 
 giving check to the open Enormities of his time , drunkennefs, 
 beaftlinefs, fwearing, and the like, he makes himfelf a prey. He re- 
 proves a (corner, and gets himfelf a blot, Prov. 9.7. This is his portion 
 from the lewd multitude, that will but attemptfo much as with the 
 r pharlfees, to vvaili the outfide of the difh and of the cup ; to circum- 
 cife and lop off the wild excrefcencies, and exuberant iuperrluities of 
 naughtinefs. Sir Thomas CMoore, Overbury, and many others, for 
 their faithful counfel on Tuch accounts, have been cut off. 
 
 If Socrates a heathen Philofopher, through the fublimity of bis fpe- 
 culadon, cannot own the Magistrates Religion, but give his Teftimo- 
 ny againft Poljthelfme or a plurality of Gods, be mull: die for it with- 
 out remedy. If Seneca and ocher Stoicks declare againft the corrupt 
 manners and bruitiili pra&ifes of the generation amongft whom their 
 Lot is caft, they are not like tofcape much better. 
 
 The mi in bulk of mankind is fo plunged and lodged in wickednefr, 
 or the wicked one, the Devil, 1 fohn^. 19. and Chap. 3. 12. that 
 they'l not endure a word againft downright Bruitifm. But for the 
 true Believer tfiat comes forth in and with the Spirit, Teftimony,and 
 everlafting Gofpel of Chrift, he muft expect to become hatred , even 
 in the houieof his God, (Hof. 9. 8.) As it fared with Paul, in the 
 Church o?GaUtia, Gal. 4. 16. Yea, Tan I himfelf, when an eminent 
 practitioner in the righteoufnefs of the Law, or of Man, was the hot- 
 teft and maddeft .peri'ecutor the fpirirual believer had, and verily 
 thought that he ought to do what he did therein, (Acis 2.6. 9. 11. ) 
 as Chrift had foretold in like cafe, ( John 16. 2. ) They (kail put you 
 out of the Synagogues, jea, and whofoever killeth you, mil thinly he doth 
 God fervlcf. Your brethren that hated you, that caft you outformy 
 Nanus fake, laid, Let the Lord be glorified, (we doubt not but we 
 glorify God herein, by punifbing and excommunicating fuch Here- 
 
 B 2 ticks 
 
(rtz) 
 
 ticks and BUfphemers ) but God himielf takes up the Controverfie 
 very ihort, telling his out-cafts, he will appear to their joy, and their 
 enemies {hall be afhamed, that cart them out, I fa. 66. 5 . Paul Taw 
 this bitter ignorant zeal in the profetfing Churches ujerufalem, 
 which he had had experience of both wayes ; in himfelf towards other 
 Saints, and in other Pharafalcal (?lckjers y lately towards him. He 
 therefore chofe rather to cart himfelf upon the H-athenMagiftrate for 
 his tryal, than be returned to them ; and F-eftus aniwered, unto Q&far 
 (halt thou go, AB.zf. n, 12. He did make the better choice, for 
 the Jews were ready to deftroy him immediately, without a hearing, 
 (Att. 23. 12,15'.) Cafar gives him a breathing while ; He fcapes his 
 Sword two whole years, what evermore, Aci. 28. 30, 31. Yet fuf- 
 fers at laft under that Lyon- Nero, whom he had for a fealbn been de- 
 livered from, 2 Tim. 4. 17. Tyrannical Magiftrates are fometa- 
 phor'd in Scripture, as alio by oth ts, Beafts, Birds> and Fillies of 
 prey, the moft potent and uvenous Creatures in Air, Earth, and Wa- 
 ter ; Eagles, Dragons, Lyons, Unicorns, Bears, Wolves, Foxes, the 
 Leviathan or Whale, &c. But God hears, that is delivers, his hum- 
 ble broken-hearted Saints, from the homes of fuch Unicorns, faves 
 them from the Lyons mouth, (Pfal. 22. 21. J that is, from the pow- 
 ers of the darknefs of this World, ( Devils, or Men by them influ- 
 enced 1 J till they be enabled to triumph over death, and conquer them 
 by dying. 
 
 Satan is called, The God of this worlds the great red Dragon, (of a 
 bloody, murthercus colour ) the root, father, and fprlng of 'all corrupted 
 worldly Maqlftracy, and arbitrary domination. Pharaoh is called, a Dra- 
 con, ( Ez^kt 29. 3. ) And it is written, As a roaring Lyon and a ran- 
 qlnrr Bear,fo & a wicked 'Tattler over the poor people, Pro v. 28. I^. Her. 
 Princes are llkj Wolves, ravening the prey, tojhed blood, deftroy fouls. . and 
 Pet dlfhcneft naln, Ezek. 22. 27. Her Judges are evening Wolves, they 
 ^naw not the bones till the morrow, Zeph.3. 3. lnUerod 7 they are term- 
 ed Foxes, Luk. 13.32. Such Foxes (amongrt others ) are taken notice 
 of, as [pollers of 1 he Vines, (Cant. 2.1 j.) W afters of the true Churches 
 and People of Chrirt, by their facrilegious intrunons, and magisterial 
 lording it over thofe//?^ after the way which men call-Here fit ,are right- 
 ly worshipping the God of their Fathers. 
 
 Whata vvorld is here for a Believer ? 
 
 To the generality of bruicilhmen,an honed moral Heathen will be 
 
 red a Phinatick. The Legal Chriflhn, with his Ordinances, 
 
 sjnd imputed righteoufnefs of Chrifc for his Juftificaticn and accep- 
 
 cr.ee with God, f though but upon the tearms, and in the renewed 
 
 Princi- 
 
( *3 ) 
 
 Principles of the fi:ft Covenant ; will appear fo, to the honeft Hea- 
 then. The fpiritual Man, as born of the will of God, partaker of the 
 Divine Nature, ( the proper New-creature Principle of eternal Life, 
 that qualiifies him for the (ready, Soniy obedience, in the fpirit and 
 way of the new and everhfiting Covenant ) he appears a Phanatick to 
 them all; a Fool, a Mad man ; The Prophet is a Fool, the Spiritual man 
 u Mad, (Hoi. 9. 7.) Tea, he is refuted Jo in the houfie of his God, verf.S. 
 amongft his mothers children, Pial. j-o. Thus the Jexes, ChrifVsown 
 People, faid of him ; He hath a devil,and is mad; why hear ye him ? Yea 
 his very friends go about tolay hold on him, for, faid they, he is be- 
 fides himfelf, Mark 3.21. The Servant is like to find hut harlh enter- 
 tainment where the Lord is thus handled. The bruitinh party of men 
 is incomparably thegreateft and will carry it by Vote. The honeft 
 Heathen, and the Legal Chriiiian, will all joyn with them, to call the 
 Spiritual man mad. The very Chrift, Chrift in Spirit, the very Chri- 
 iiian, the Spiritual man, he is caft out of all their Synagogues. Away 
 with him, away wih fuch a fellow from the earthfay they) it is not fit that 
 he fr.ould live, Act. 12... 2.2. We find the Jemjh religious party that fer- 
 ved Paul thus, (hiking hands with a profane I ntereft, AVt. 17. ?, 7. 
 Through envy a: the fpiritual believers Faith and Teftimony, they call 
 to their njji ] fiance certain lewd fellows of the bafer fort, fet all the City in an 
 uproar, affiault the houfie of J a on, dragging him and other brethren before 
 the Rulers of the City, and crying, The fie that have turned the World up- 
 fide down, are come hither alfio ; and do contrary to the ''Decrees of Csefar^ 
 fiaying, there is another Kin?, one JefsM. 
 
 This is the charge at 'all adventures • they matter not much for 
 proofes, while rhey can find (tones, as they ferved Steven, Act. 7. 
 The World is turned upfide down indeed. But underftand how, O ye. 
 bruitifh among the People ; ye fools, when will ye be wife ? The honeft Hea- 
 then ifcfoberer than you- the legal Chriiiian is foberer than he ; the 
 fpirifual man is the iobereft of all, and he is reckoned the moft difor- 
 dered. He fpeakes forth the words of greateft truth and fobernefs. 
 
 The cafe then is this ; when the World is in a mad, bruitifh, diu 
 crdered-hurly burly, they, that attempt to bring righteoufnefs a-floate, 
 ar€ accufed of turning it up fide down. Setting all to rights, is rec- 
 koned the greateft Confufion. The Rights of the Kingdom, are rec- 
 koned the Wrongs of the King ;and many, with whom the true naive 
 Rights of an earthly Kingdom will down, are ready to ftartle at and 
 refill the rights of Chriils Kingdom, in the Spirits and Confciences 
 of men. Even they will be ready to fay of the Affertors of fuch Rights, 
 that they are no longer fit to live in the V/orld • that's man's judgement. 
 
 Ths 
 
( H ) 
 
 The World is no longer worthy of them ; that's God's, Heb. 1 1 . 38. 'Tis 
 plain, God and men are of exceeding contrary Judgements concern- 
 ing the true believer. 'Tis as plain, We mnfi all appear at laft before the 
 Judgement feat ofChr'.ft, for our final fentence. 'Tis plain ztfo,t'hat we 
 ought to obey God rather than Men, Ac-t. J. 29. And not to be the fer- 
 vants of Aden In things pert ainin a to God, 1 Cor. 7. 23. 
 ^ From the crofs conditution then which this world is generally found 
 in, to all Truth, but mod of all, to the Spiritual and Sublimed fort of 
 Truth, it [hay appear, what a hard time a Believer is like to have-of 
 it, if he (land Dp for the Caule and Intereft of God againft the Devil, 
 who is called the God of this world, 2 Cor. 4. 4. Here is the grand 
 competitor of Chrid, that druggies for the Soveraigmy, thegreatred 
 Dragon, Rev. 12, 3. This is he that mufters up, animates and influ- 
 ences the fons of men, to fight againd God, that he may exalt him- 
 felf i n them, above all that is called God, ( 2 Tbef. 2.4.) Working in the 
 children of d '{obedience at his p/eafure y Ephef. 2.2. Do you iee your 
 General, O ye fons of men ? will ye dill fight under his Banner f 
 Coniider the main Impoftures of this felf-transformer, whereby you 
 are beguiled into his Iritered. 
 
 Firjl, He fedaces your Underftanding into this mod falfe perfwafi- 
 fio:i, That he is the highett rational Being, to whom doth of right 
 belong "the Legifhtivs Authority and Supream Magiftratical Domi- 
 nion over the whole earth, as God of this World , under whole in- 
 fluence and dictates , all earthly Thrones and Benches of Judi- 
 cature , ought to proceed in judgement. Under this pretended 
 and aiTumed Title of the higheft rational Being, he expects to be 
 owned and fubmitted to,as requiring no allegiance or obedience from 
 his Subject;, upon any other tearms, than as he approves himfelf to 
 their Conferences, tomannage his Government exactly according to 
 the Principles of humane Nature and Rules of right Ileafon. * 
 
 Secondly, He affumes and challenges to himfelf, the Authority of 
 the highed Spirit of Truth, boading himfelf,as the infallible Teacher 
 - Juide in naatters of Faith and divine Worfhip, in all things per- 
 taining to the good and falvation of Souls. Having thus a (Turned to 
 himfelf thele tw j grand prerogatives of Chrid's Crown, as the Su- 
 (not under but above Chrid himfelf, yea, in direcT con- 
 tradition to him ) in all Caufes, and over all peifons, as well Kc- 
 cfefttftical as Civil,. 'tis obvious to imagine, whit Titles Chrid 
 ana his followers are like to have from this Dragon and his. 
 
 . Firfi, 
 
( ')- ) . 
 
 FirfcThzy will boldly and openly a(lert,that tnat which is indeed 
 tBe fpirit of Chrift, in him and his, is an irrational, Fanatick fpirir, 
 delhuetiye to all natural Order, and good Government, in humane 
 Society. 
 
 Secondly, That it is a deceitful deluding Spirit, deftru&lve to all 
 found Doc-lrine, divine Inftitutions, Church Order and Rule. 
 
 In thefe four things, this grand Ancichrift is the liar, that denies 
 Jefus to be the Chrifi.. Under which Generals are comprehended mul- 
 titudes of Particulars in his skilful methods of delufion, needlefs here 
 to be enumerated. He that hath o.ice gained thefe four points in the 
 generality of men, will eafily out-vote and cry down Ch;ift and his, 
 for Blafphemers and Dirturbers of mankind, and accordingly handle 
 them. He prevailed even with the learned ctHeligious ]ewes^io ferve 
 Chrift thus. Yea, he attempted to fcducz Chrift himfelf to his party, 
 to own him for God, fall down and worihip him. Chrift refufes ; He 
 therefore fteers another courfe ; fees the ]ex>es upon it, to call him 
 Blafphemer^ and fay, he hath a Devil. This is one ftep towards the ac- 
 complishing of his deilgn ; when he hath once engaged men to fay of 
 Chrift and his followers, that they are BLifpemers and 'Devils ; he that 
 thus makes- theoi liars will make them Murtherers too ; they will foon 
 cry, Cmcifie ihem y Crucifie them, right or wrong ; Away with them from 
 the earthyit is not jit that they fhqtdd live. Chrift hath told us thefe thing > 
 before hand, (]oh. i j. and Chxy. \6. i, and 4.) that we fnould not: 
 be offended or furprifed,when they really come upon us. If they have 
 hefe things to the green tree, what will they do to the dry ? Luke 2 1 * 
 31. The Servant is not greater than his Lord, Job. if. 20. If the 
 Mafter be called Beelzebub, how much more frail they call them of his 
 hoxfhold? Mittb. 10. 25. Satans followers have the (tart of Chrift's 
 for number^mey out-vote them clear. He ha's four hundred lying 
 Prophets againft one true, 1 Kings 22. 6. and verf. 20, 23. 
 » I fuppofe you may difcern by this time, whether this Sufferer or his 
 Enemies were in the fault, that he was reckoned a man of Contention, 
 But peradventurethis may yet grow clearer, by conflderinghis Prin- 
 ciples. 
 
 He fpake much of Principles. What meant he ? Some Fundamen- 
 tal Truths, worded and propounded in a Book,as Perkins his Six Prin- 
 ciples y or the like ? He meant inward ruling Principles, or Springs of 
 Life and operation in men. By taking a little freedom in handling 
 this Point, I iliall give you aim at his Principle, in its proper C 
 -dler of diiiindion from all other Principles. 'Twill be requisite here 
 to- take notice of all the Principles of Life and Operation, Man is 
 
 f capal's: 
 
/ i* ) 
 
 capable to be found in, or does actually live and come forth in the 
 exercife of. 
 
 That Nature, that gives the diftinguilliing Form or Character to a- 
 ny Creature, and is the immediate fpring of all its operations, is the 
 proper Principle of its Life ; be it divine 2 angelical, humane or fen- 
 fual Nature. The Faculties or Principles of operation, fcituated, 
 founded and rooted in each Nature, to wit, the difcerning and defiring 
 powers, called (in Men and Angels) Undemanding and Will, do re- 
 ceive their refpect.ive denominations from the Nature they arefeated 
 in and belong unto, and fo are tearmed divine, angelical, humane or 
 fenfual Principles of operation. 
 
 For inftance, The Underftanding and Will of participated divine 
 Nature, in the tiue heirs of God, are divine, fpiritual, heavenly and 
 high. 
 
 The Underftanding and Will of rheer humane Nature, at beft, are 
 but natural, flefhly, earthly, and comparatively, low; holy flelh is 
 but flefh, Jtr. n. if. Renewed, refined, adorned Nature, is but 
 Nature 5 a goodly, beautiful, but a periiliable things the flower of the 
 fields Ifa. 40. 6. As the man u y fo is hisftrengthjo are"his works. The 
 righteous works brought forth but in the ruling activity of renewed 
 humane nature, entring into competition with the righteous works, 
 du. ties and ordinances, obferved and performed in the Life and ru- 
 ling activity of participated divine Nature, become more loathfom to 
 God than all the debauchery and fhame of polluted Nature, that is 
 buttberefult of Adams fir ft tranfgreiiion, and not of the reiterated 
 and more fatal Apoftacy in our own perfons, after a revival from our 
 ruiive death in trefpaiYes and fins. 
 
 Thole that bring the righteoufnefs of man ( or the righteous 
 works, performed in the fingle power of renewed humane nature) 
 into a felf-exalring preference to the righteouinefs of God (or the 
 righteous works and duties performed in the ruling pow^r of partici- 
 pated divine Nature, taking the humane into a fubordinate co-opera- 
 tivenefs therewith J may find what entertainment they are like to 
 meet with from Chrift,in the cafe of the foolith Virgins, and of thofe 
 that caft out Devils, or preach down the corruption that-ehe devil 
 btoughtinto our Nature, Mat. 25.12. and Mat. 7 .22,23. Depart 
 f rem me, I know you not> ye are workers of iniquity. That's the anfwer 
 to both, plead while they will, or fay what they can. 
 
 Calling out Devils, preaching the corruption of Nature down, the 
 righteoufnefs of it up, fo as to render men wife, ftrong and honorable 
 in Chrift, (1 Gr.4.10.) Is this offeniive ? No; But the telling them, 
 
 this 
 
( fcj 
 
 this is the place or ftate of their Reft, concerning which the Matter 
 faith, Arife, depart, let us go hence, this is not your reft, Micah 2. 10. 
 Joh. 14. 31. if oil are liable here, to return with the dog to the vo- 
 mit, draw back to perdition, to be afrefh invaded and finally tri- 
 umphed over by fin and Satan, as is expreffed, 2 Pet. 2. 20, 22. Heb. 
 10. 39. and implied, Rom. 6. 14. You muft therefore quit this firft- 
 creation-ftate and forme of life, at beft, by way of facrifice, (%om. 
 12. 1,2,) or you will never come to the Father, whither Chrift is 
 gone to prepare Manfions for thole that follow him whitherfoever he 
 goes. No man can be thorowly happy and at reft,till this corruptible 
 be dead, in and with the Lord, by which inches onely we may come 
 to inherit incorruption. Here's the higheft fenfe of Ante obitum nemo, 
 &c. No man can be bleffed till he die ; He that is made willing thus 
 with Chrift to lofe Life , lliall find it, and whofoever will fave his 
 Life (hall lofe it, and never attain the Life that is unchangable and 
 'eternal, Mat. 1 6. 27. 
 
 The corruptible frame of man at his beft eftate,was never intended 
 or warranted by God, either in the primitive purity o*r greateft pof- 
 fible renewals thereof, to be the place of God's reft, or the ftate that 
 Man (hould reft in. One crucified, broken-fpirited man, that's made 
 willing to be taken in pieces, and be fo joyned to the Lord as to be- 
 come one fpirit with him, is more valuable to him, than all men and 
 angels, or whatever glory and excellency is to be found m the whole 
 firfi-creation, I fa. 66. i, 2. The Heaven is my throne, the Earth it my 
 foot-ftool, but where is the place of my reft ? All the fe things hath mine 
 handmade, in the firft creation. I look for regenerated, transform- 
 ed new-creation things, in order to which, the old fabrick or taber- 
 nacle muft be taken down ; To this man will I look^ (or have refpeft ) 
 even to him that is of a foor and contrite fair it • This is- the place of my 
 reft, {olfa. 57. 15*. 
 
 Man in his firft-creation frame, or in whatever renewal of it fince 
 the Fall , is but the houfe on the fand , founded on the mu- 
 table, wavering Principles of humane Nature. Many, that pretend to 
 be £,reat rrp.fter-workmen inDivinity,warrant this for the right build- 
 ing on the rock, that will ftand it out in all ftormes ; the true fpiri- 
 tual building, (1 Tet.2. y.) into which they need never fear Satans 
 return, (as Mat. 12. 44.) or any frefh Invasions and Revolutions of 
 their old fins into the exercife of dominion over them again. They 
 caufe their hearers and followers to hope that they will confirm this 
 word, £^f.i;..tf. But the walls of this building are faulty as wel as the 
 foundation. They daube up all with the untempered mortar of refin'd 
 
 C humans 
 
( i« ; 
 
 humane Nature ; nothing of the divine Nature, wifdom and righte- 
 oufnefs of God, will be admitted into their building . Building, there- 
 fore and builders will all tumble together, when the ftorm comes;and 
 then alfo will the fandy foundation thereof be difcovered, verf. 1 3, 
 \6. Blind leaders and blind followers will both into the ditch toge- 
 ther, Mai. ij. 14. 
 
 Both thefe buildings (Mat. 7. 24,27.) had their beauty^their glo- 
 ry while both ftood. Toman's eye, that with the fandy foundation 
 and untempered walls, generally carried it. The moreviiible, literal 
 natural godlinefs in their renewed fleili,or humane Nature and Prin- 
 ciples,look'd fairer to man, (that judges by outward appearance)then 
 the fpiritual, myftical, hidden Life and Godlinefs, in the houfe upon 
 the rock, which has nothing but the broken, crucified, transformed 
 Principles, and more undifcerned cooperations of humane Nature,to 
 fet off its felf by, to man's judgement. 
 
 The Children of the firft houfe or kingdom of Chrifi, {hall be cafl Inn 
 to titter darkyefsy and many heathens, publicans, tinners, m&Marj 
 Magdalenes fhall be taken over their beads, and caufed to fit down 
 with Abraham, Ifaac, and Jacob, in the fpiritual houfe, ( 1 Pet. 2. J.) 
 the building on the rock, ( Mat. 7. 24. ) the fecond and more ex- 
 cellent kingdom, that cannot be foaken, Mat. 8.11,12. Heb. 12.26, 
 28. Efay is reckoned very bold for faying this, ( Rom. 10. 19,21. 
 Jfa. 65. 1, 2. ) which Mops faid before him, (IW. 32. 19,21.) 
 and Chrift after him, Mat. 9. 12, 13. 
 
 Cleanfednefs from the pollutions of the World, corruption of Na- 
 ture, revival from their death in trefpafles and fins, hinders not but 
 Satan may re-enter, old fins recover dominion, and fo the members 
 of that building on the fand, that kingdom or heaven that may be fha- 
 ken, (Heb.iz, z6,zy t ) may come to be trees twice dead, fit only to 
 be plucked up by the roots, caft into the fire and burned, Judeii. and 
 Heb. 6. 8. 2 Pet. 2. 20, 22. Mm. 7. 22, 27. and Chap. 12. 43, 47. 
 Ez,el{. 16. 38. And as it is not the prefent freedom from natural pol- 
 lution, fo neither is it the ornament of excellent gifts, fupernatural 
 or inftifed humane learning, (much lefs, natural parts, and acquired 
 humane learning ) the tongue of men and angels, ( all dexterity of 
 expreifing, their conceptions either intuitively or by 1 found of words, 
 incident to thofe two choiceft ranks of creatures, in their firft. crea- 
 tion-capacity ) that can fecure them from being but a* founding 
 brafs or t inciting cymbals, 1 Cor. 12. 31. and 1 3 . 1 . Ez.ek^ * & . i> * J. 
 A great noife they may make, a great repute they may have, as the 
 onely compleat interpreters of the Oiacles of Uod, yet all amounts 
 
 but 
 
( ip ; 
 
 but to an indiftinft, uncertain found. No man can tell thereby how 
 to prepare himfelf to the battel, Qi £V. 14.7,8. and E^^.) what 
 weapons or what armour to provide. They give no right character of 
 thole fpiritual weapons, mighty through God, for the pulling down 
 of ftrong holds in ourfelves and others, (2. Cor. 10.4.) or of that 
 whole armour of God ( Ephef. 6. 11.) wherein alone the true belie- 
 ver is able to wreftle it out, not onely againft rlefh and blood, but a- 
 gainit Principalities, Powers, Rulers of the darknefs of this world, 
 and fpiritual wickednefs in hi °h places, verf. 12. 
 
 The onely new-creature fpirit in man, that is greater than he that 
 is in the world ( 1 John 4. 4. ) is fet at naught by thofe that warrant 
 the firft building fecuce; is contradicted, blafphemed, called the de- 
 vil. The wifdom of God is by them tearmed the wifdom of the Ser- 
 pent. Did not matters go thus between Chrift and the Mailer-build- 
 ers in Religion amongft the Jews ? They re jell the chief corner fione y 
 ( Pfal. 118. 22. Mat. 21. 42.) and how is their houfe like to ftand ? 
 it may indeed be emptied of filth ; fwept, cleanfed, garnifhed with 
 excellent gifts and ornaments, ( Mat* 12. 44. 2 Pet . 2. 20. 1 Cor. 
 12. 31. Ez,ek. xtf. 9, 13.) Yet in all this flourish, there may be 
 a deep unfufpe&ed ignorance, or inadvertency of the more excel- 
 lent way, the way of love, or ftate of divine Life, wherein the ftones 
 of their building, members of their Churches are capable to be brought 
 forth, by being broken and formed up anew,into an unchangable har- 
 mony and indi{foluble union of fpirit with the Lord, 1 Cor. 6. 17. 
 If this bs gain-laid, the onely fpirit and fpiritual harnefsthat accom- 
 modates men for afuccesful conteftwith the devil and all the pow- 
 ers of darknefs,is wholly laid afide. How then fhall we fight the bat- 
 tels of the Lord, when that very faith is decried as a diabolical ficti- 
 on, that is the onely principle of Life in men, whereby to undertake, 
 refift, conquer, triumph over the devil, and fwallow up death it felf 
 into victory ? Let us no longer be flattered by ©ur crafty over-reach- 
 ing adverfary, into a fecurity and fatisfac'tion in fuch armour and 
 weapons as he knowes he can ftrip us of at pleafure,and re-enter. 
 
 The renewed fpirit of man, ( however accomplished and adorned 
 with fpiritual gifts) the wifdom, the righteoufnefs of man, are not 
 the fpirit, the weapons, the armour of God, nor can fecure any man 
 from the moft fatal and irrecoverable apoftacy. Many ftars of the fiift 
 magnitude, as to all this glory and ornament, have often been known 
 to fall from this kind of Heaven, or Kingdom of man's righteoufnefs. 
 Befides all the Cad inftances in former ages for this, have not the late 
 years of England s deliverance, brought upon this ftage of ours , and 
 
 C 2 exhibited 
 
( ao ) 
 
 exhibited to our view,multitudes of teachers and profeiTors,who have 
 notably iliined forth in this glory, wifdom and righteoufnefs,through 
 - the knowledge of Chrift after the fleili, accompanied with excellent 
 gifts, and yet through a fpirit of enmity and contradiction, (a root 
 of bitternefs fpringingup in them, Heb. \2,. ij. againft the more 
 excellent way, the Life of Faith, the Crofs of Chrift, the true Cir- 
 cumcifion, which worfhipGod in thefpirir, Thil. 3. 3.) have moil 
 evidently apoftatized from, and loft even that they had, yea and have 
 been the meanes of. betraying the whole Nation afreih,and rolling all 
 back again into more infufferable bondage than ever ? We may fay 
 and hear this with weeping. And moreover do we not yet daily expe- 
 rience an inftability in fuch principles, orname»dpveapons,armour } 
 Are not multitudes of profeilors at this pafs ftill, yea and nay, off and 
 on with God, and fo with fin and fatah to ? And will it alwayes be ib 
 well ? Will theie wavering Principles, this unliable kyid of life and 
 righteoufnefs ( if not quitted for a better.) be ever able to fecure us 
 from a final parting with God, and entire doling with the devil, as 
 one fpirit with him ? The unliable nature of man's fir It- creation, at 
 beft,. muft ehher afcend into a fixed union with Chrift in fpirit, and 
 -fo contract: an everlafting difability to any thing which is evil, (2 Cor. 
 .13. 8.) or elfe it will defcend into a fixed union with ihe devil, and 
 thereby contract an everlafting inability to any thing that is good. 
 The firft created freedom of man's will to good and evil, the liberty 
 of the fons of men, however renewed again by Chrift, will be finally 
 fwallowedup, either into a diabolical freedom to evil onely,andnot 
 at all to good, .or into a divine freedom to^ood onely and not at all 
 .toevilj which is the glcr •/' W.< liberty x>f the fons of God, wherewith Chrift 
 makes th'ofe that receive him, free indeed,. John 1. 12. and Chap 8. $6. 
 
 Let us then put off the armour of man, even of the renewed old 
 man, fas David did Sauls ) md fut en the whole armour of God, the 
 new man, which after God is created m mfdvm, right eau fiefs and true 
 (or everlafting) hoH-ncfs y Ephef. 4. 24. Then the fpiritual Goliah will 
 certainly fall before us. 'Tis the divine new-creature- Life onely, 
 with fpiruual weapons, can over let all his power of darknefs,and de- 
 *e# all the. crafty ftratagems and methods of deluhon, to the laft pe- 
 liod of his myftery of iniquity. 
 
 Profeilors in the firft-building, flourilhing in the wifdom, glory 
 and righteoufnefs of the Law, or of the ruling activity of renewed hu- 
 mane Nature, and rectified rational Powers, ( though received from 
 Chrift lnrnfelf,as no mean fruit or benefit of his death) if they oppofe, 
 contradict, and blafp^ieme the true fighting, conquering and reigning 
 
 prin- 
 
(il ) 
 
 principle of divine Nature in the fecond, they do thereby become 
 worfe than thofe foolifh and contemptible Tinners of the <3W//W,that 
 never yet peeped out of the bondage of fenfual Lufts. Men of this 
 fpirit inReligion,ftand every moment liable to be run a ground by Sa- 
 tan, into the moft dangerous and remedilefs pofture of all, a latter 
 end worfe than their b:ginning, a (tate of fin and forrovv, unchange- 
 able. 
 
 This we are frill to have in our eye. Where ever two or more na- 
 tures meet together in any creature, 'tis the true intered and con- 
 cern of that creature, to yield up the Scepter and Government over 
 all other nature, life and operation in it, to that which is in it feif 
 fuperiour to all the red, and bift able with fafety to manage the whole 
 perfon. Divine nature, that is the higheft Principle of Life and ope- 
 ration communicable to man, will upon no lower tearms enter as an 
 ingredient into his conftitution, than to be king. 'Twill be Cafarot 
 nothing. *Tis man's intereft, priviledge, fecurity, it lliould be fo. 
 \Ti§ not in man that walketh y at his beft eftate,with liability, certainty 
 and continuance, to diretl his fteps y Jer. 10. 23. He is therefore (in a 
 fort) ■ under the curfe of the Law, even whilft he is working the righ- 
 teoufnefs of it, becaufe not in the continuing principle. For 'tis faid, 
 Curjed i* every one that contwueth not m all things which are written in 
 the book^ofthe Law to do them. Paul alledges this as a Warning-piece 
 to thofe that were of the works of the Law,or that were working righ- 
 teoufnefs but in the (ingle activity and ruling power of their own re- 
 newed, enlightened, cleanfed fpirit, and humane principles , Gal. 
 3. 10.. 
 
 The queftion is, Whether God's Spirit or our own be beft at work- 
 ing righteoufnefs, fleering our courfe, directing our fteps ? whether 
 Law or Grace, Old or New-creature Life, the Soveraignty of our own 
 or God's Spirit in us, be titter to undertake the work, keep off Satan 
 from re-entry, fin from returning into dominon ? Paul warrants us 
 not fafe from the molt dangerous apoftacy, under the Law or ruling 
 power of our own renewed mind, but under grace onely, the Law of 
 the fpirit of Life, or ruling authority of participated divine Na- 
 ture. 
 
 Men are ready to fay here, as Pilate to the ]ewes in a different c& 
 concerning ChnlVs perfon ; what^ will ye crmifte our ICing ? Strike 
 down the ruling authority of the Law, or foveraigncy of our own re- 
 newed mind, for the directing of our fteps ?. Yes ; 'Tis beft for you 
 to let this king, this fpirit be taken to task in you, bruifed, facrificed^ 
 crucified, triumphed over, and brought into an everlaftine carcivity 
 
(22 ; 
 
 andmoft defirable fubjecYion to a better king, a better fpirit, that 
 can wilde the fcepter of rigbteoufnefs in you,with % a more fteady hand 
 ag-iinft all enemies. Msn ihould take heed indeed of yeilding'up the 
 Scepter out of their own hands, to a worfer fpirit, the devil, who will 
 not fail to ufe all his wiles, engines, and glittering flourillies as 
 transformed into an angel of Light, to impofe himfelf upon us, as our 
 Baal 01 Moheby our Lord and King. Such error may involve us in a 
 more dangerous, hardened, fixed enmity to all farther vifits or ap- 
 proaches of the Redeemer, than ever, and in a remedilefs deprivati- 
 on of all further benefits of his facrifice and death. 
 
 It was the refufal to furrender up the ruling power of their own re- 
 newed fpirit, to be bruifed, crucified, and triumphed over by the fire- 
 baptifm of the fpirit of Chrifi: upon it, that made the Princes of this 
 world, the Priefts, Scribes, Pharifees, and other profeifing Jewes, 
 ( i Cor. 2. 8.) that were reigning as Kings, as to the rigbteoufnefs of 
 theLaw,(i CV.4.8.)cry out ib eagerly and prevailingly to/V/W,that 
 Chrift himfelf might be crucified. He that is not made willing by the 
 fecond, divine, new creature-birth of Chrift in him, to have the firil 
 birth of a renewed humane life and Principle in him/thus handled, 
 will be Cure to prove a fpiritual Idolater at laft, become a member of 
 myftical Babylon, tramfle tinder foot the Son ofGod, count the blood of the 
 Covenant, wherewith he wasfantllfiedy in the firft birth, ( as it is otter- 
 ed in a'farther, and greater benefit thereof, for the working this fpi- 
 ritual new-creature-form and more excellent fpirit in him) an unholy 
 thing, a diabolical figment, doing thereby defpight to the fpirit of grace , 
 which is the fin againft the holy Gholt, Heb. io. 29. Mat, 12. 
 
 Tis better to be fervants and fubje&s under God's fpirit, then Ru- 
 lers in the foveraign authority and uncontrolled activity of our own. 
 God's fervice is that perfect freedom wherewi:h the fon makes us 
 free indeed,our foveraignty leaves us liable to eternal bondage. 'Tis 
 better in this fenfe alfo to obey God rather than men, his fpirit in us, 
 than our own ; yea, to bring our own, with all that before it was Ru- 
 ler of, into pure and everlafting fubjecYLon to God's * we fhall other- 
 wife be fu re to find our felves at lait, under the dominion of fin a- 
 gain. 
 
 Let as many natures as will, be in man, that nature or principle of 
 Life and operation in him,that rules,denominates theperibn. If fen- 
 fual nature in its operations, defires and delights, bear fway in a man, 
 over the head of his own rational powers, (caufing them to truckle un- 
 der it, and become ferviceable in their witty pleadings and deviling? 
 
 to 
 
( V ) 
 
 to gratify and humour that, over which they- fhould be rulers) that 
 man is a" beaft. If rational powers "bear fvvay over fenfual, he is a 
 man ; If fpiritual,a Saint. The participated divine nature is the one- 
 ly fpring of the power of godlinefs in man, and fure foundation of e- 
 ternal Life ; The grace of God y that bringeth falvatlon ^teaching effeclu- 
 ally to deny all ungodlinefs, open and myftical to, Tit. 2. 
 
 How apt are men to give up the fcepter and foveraignty over them- 
 £elves,into the hands of the bafeft principle of Life in them, fenfual f 
 and how apt is that to catch at the fcepter, as the bafeft of men have 
 been ufually catching at vifible Thrones and Soveraignty over others 
 that are Princes in underftanding, a hundred times more men than 
 themfelves? Such Princes are oft walking as fervants upon the earth, 
 when fervants are upon hones ; It is an evil, an error which proceed- 
 ed from the Ruler,to fet folly in great dignity, and let the rich (it in 
 low place, Eccltf. 10. 5*, 7. Thofe men that are willingly fubject. to 
 the bafeft lufts of fenfual Life in their own perfons, are willing to fet 
 up the bafeft of men on outward vihble Thrones, over them, ( Dan. 
 4. 17.) that they know are in bondage to the fame inferiour lufts with 
 themfelves, and therefore fuch under whom the godly man ceafeth, 
 and the vileft men will be exalted, Pfal. 12.1,8. What amounts all 
 this to, without us and within us, but a rnoft irrational yeeldingup 
 our felves into captivity, under the foveraign authority of the bram- 
 ble ? as in Jotham's Parable, Jttdg. 9. 7, 1^. In fuch cafe,the bram- 
 ble,when once it finds it felf fecure in the Throne,will not fail to do- 
 mineer over the other trees, fig-tree, vine, olive, or whatever elfe, 
 as if it were really the beft of them all, and no man muft fay to the 
 contrary. Yea, to fuch unimaginable degrees of folly and prefumpti- 
 on are the feuls of men liable to be baffled by the devil and their own 
 hearts, as 'tis not altogether improbable, men of debauched confci- 
 ences and bruitifli converfations,may think the fuperiority and domi- 
 nion over men of Principles and Confcien'ce, was theirs of old, and 
 though now and then interrupted, will be returned back into their 
 hands again, as their right. 
 
 Man, that is- called a little World, may receive inftrucYion from 
 what is obfervable to him in the greater, for the giving of him aim 
 how much he is concerned to be yeelding up all inferiour Life and 
 operation inhim,to the facrificing knife and transforming activity .of 
 the divine Nature, or heavenly manhood of Chrift, in order to be re- 
 duced into an abiolute harmony with & fubjec~tion thereunto. By this 
 change he receives his own again with ufury. He lofes the good,holy, 
 but corruptible, vaniiliing Life, liberty and righteoufnefs of the Sons 
 
 of 
 
( M ) 
 of men, and findes in the room r_hereof,the more excellent, molt holy," 
 incorruptible marvellous light, life, wifdom, righteoufnefs and glori- 
 ous liberty of the Cons of God. He findes himfelf enabled to do all 
 things for the Truth, in the power of God's fpirit, and dilabled to do 
 any thing againft it, in his own; difabled to fin againft God and 
 wrong his own foul ; fuch weaknefs is his ftrength ; fuch captivity is 
 his glorious liberty ; Thus Paul was made weak in Chrift, wheno- 
 thers were ftrong-and reigning as Kings, in the fingle activity of their 
 own renewed fpirits, which they alio had from Chrift, i Cor. 4. 8. 
 10. But his weaknefs was better than their ftrength ; hisfeemint; 
 folly and defpicablenefs, better than all their wifdom and glory. 
 
 That the life, righreoufnefs, glory and freedom of man at his be ft, 
 are but corruptible things, all the World are my experimental wit- 
 neiTes, fay what they will to the contrary. They are therefore to be 
 accounted but as dung and lois, for the excellency of the knowledge 
 of Chrift after the fpirit ;for the wifdom, righteoufnefs and Life hid 
 with Chrift in God, the glory that excels . Let us turn over and read 
 the book of the vifible creation, and fee what occurrs there,conducible 
 to this purpofe. The elements are content to loofe their own fingle 
 natures, elTences, properties, formes and qualities, and run together 
 inco a quinteflential compound, diftin& from them all. The Earth 
 parts, with its vigor, for the production of vegetables. Thefe again do 
 readily furrender their life, without refiftance,to feed the he.ifts of the 
 field, and thereby find their own life again with ufury, by way of re- 
 furrection, in fubjeetion to and alTociation with the fenfual life of the 
 Beaft. The beaft again loofes its life, becomes a facrifice toman, 
 finding its own fenfual life again with ufury, by way of refurredion, 
 in conjunction with and fubjection to the rational life of man. This 
 rational life of man,being yet but a corruptible, firft-creation-thing,is 
 by all this fignificant inftruclion from the very book of the Creature 
 (as alio from Chrift himfelf, and his great Apoftle, Mat. 16.25. Rom » 
 12. 1,2.) abundantly informed, that it is its true intereft to be gi- 
 ven up in facrifice to the divine life, and find its own a'gain with ufu- 
 1 ■; by way of refurrecidon, in nhe life. hid with Chrift in God.. All the 
 former facrifices , deaths and refurrecUons of inferiour creature- 
 natures, to one another and to nun, (as alfo the fubjection of vege- 
 tal and ienfual powers in man, to rational) are but typical fignificati- 
 ons and teaching refemblances of this laft and greateft of all, beyond 
 ich there is no other. Thofe that will not adventure to offer up 
 tins holy and realbnable facrifice, their rational Life ( Rom. 12.1,) 
 in hope of the better reiurrection, (Heb. \i> 35.) but chufe to re- 
 main 
 
main in the fingte glory and foveraign activity of renewed rjun ane 
 nature, the great mailer of the family himfelf intimates to them, that 
 this is but the (late of fervaiits,- that abide riot in the houfe for ever, 
 whereas thofethat are made willing torefign the life and foveraignty 
 of their own nature and principles, and become willingly iubj.'6t to 
 communicated divine life, and God therein, are the true ions that 
 abide in the houfe forever, John 8. 3^. 
 
 But between the natural, tuft-creation Life of man, and the fpiri- 
 tual or divine Life by the new-creation, the great deceiver, (as Irani- 
 formed into angel of Light ) when he fees us gazing after this fupe- 
 riour difpenfation, is ready to prefent himfelf to us, as Chiiil in fphir, 
 or the holy Ghoft, and obtrude upon us angelical Nature of the fiift- 
 creation-frame onel^ to keep us yet fhort of the divine. In this 
 pofture, (finding men diifatisfied in their natural and legal attain- 
 ments ) he makes the fame demands that "Chiift himfelf makes ; re- 
 quires [he intire refignation of their wills and underftandings unto 
 him, To as not to think their own thoughts, fpeak their own words, 
 do their own works, or find their own pleafure, but" wait in a paftive 
 filence for his dictates and inspirations, and fpeak onely fuch oracles 
 as his beguiling Terpentine wiidorn teacheth. The condition they are 
 brought into by this impofture, is fo much the more dangerous, by 
 how much the more fecure and confident they are under it, as che- 
 jifhed and pleafed with fome deluiive raptures of joy from this flo.u- 
 lifhing deceiver. By this means he labours to gain more and more 
 upon them, till they refignthemfelves. totally up to the conducting 
 influence of angelical nature. This is that voluntary humility a'nd 
 worfhiping of Angels, £ol % 2. 18. The devil attempted to bring the 
 humane nature of Chrift himfelf to his lure, in this main point of 
 all ;even to worfhip him, or become fubje£t to his influence Mat. 4. 
 Ltike^.\ This hft and great deceit of ..the adverfary, ( together with 
 the faliejiionirkauon of things feen, attending it, where he prevails) 
 is notably charactered, f.ige 340, and fo on to the 3 50th page of [The 
 Retired mans tjbledittitions. ] 
 
 All nrft : creation Nature, fenfual, humane or angelical, compa- 
 ratively with divine,- fpiritual, : new-creature Life, is but fhaddow, 
 letter, or fignificant figure and refemblance. Any of thefe therefore 
 terminated or veiled in, ( whatever it be, from the lowed ilrrub of 
 fenfual, to the tailed Cedar in the firft-creation, angelical nature) fo 
 as that man refolves to fit down under the ruling influence and pro- 
 tection thereof, as the higheft principle of Life he will ever be indu- 
 ced to own, this will -appear in conclufion to be down-right idolatry. 
 
 D All 
 
( *o 
 
 Ail obedience alio to the Commands of God in the Scriptures, per* 
 formed onely in the ruling activity of any firft-creation nature in us- 
 humane or angelical, is but ferving of God in the oidnefs of the let- 
 ter of the firft-creation, not in thenewnefsof the Spirit of the fe* 
 cond. 
 
 It were well therefore, if all Controverfies in Religion were re- 
 duced to this main Querie* 
 
 What is that Divine Nature, Man is capable to partake of y in the pre- 
 veiling a&ivity whereof he may be enabled to follow God, fully , refill the de- 
 vil (led faftly, and live in the certain affurance, and clear evidence of eter- 
 nal Life ? 
 
 By the divine Nature which a chofen generation- are made partak- 
 ers of, ( 2 Pet. 1.4 J we are to underhand the humane or creature- 
 nature in ChiiiVs perfon, called divine, by a communication of pro- 
 perties. In this bleiTed Mediator between God and man, it pleafed 
 the Father all fulnefs, or perfection fhould dwell, creaturely, and divine, 
 Col. 1. 19. In him divelle-th all the. fnlnefs of the Godhead bodily. Col. 
 2. 9. In him alio dwels all the fulnefs of the creature fpiritually, or 
 in its moft heavenly, fpiritual, fublirmted capacity, and incorrupti- 
 ble form. Cbrift that is perfect man, is alfo perfecr God, very God 
 of very God, the very form or invilible image of God, ( fo fome 
 sender Col.. 1. 15;. ) which feperately considered, in diftinclion from 
 all creature-nature in him, is meerly and fingly- the object of God'$ 
 own uncreated undemanding, abfolutely uncommunicable,invi(ible r 
 or undifcernable to any meer creature capacity, natural or fpiritual, 
 for ever.. 
 
 The high ell Nature or Principle of Life in any perfon, does by way 
 of prerogative give the denomination and derive its title to the 
 whole perfon and all' that is in bim, when compleatly fubjec"ted to its 
 ruling lnfiltence.Thus all that is inChrift,whoisa perfon undifputably 
 Divine 5 isaifo called divine. So where the Principle of new-creature 
 Life,orLife of Faith, is Town by Chrift in any rmn,though it be but as 
 a grain of muftard- feed (Lul^.iz.. tS,t9.) it will fpringupinto fuch a 
 prevailing exercife of its fpiritiial fenfes,ovcr all ft eihly, fir ft- creation 
 Lire and principles in him, that his Whole perfon' may thence be called 
 a fpiritual man. D*vl'd r on this account, was called a man after God s 
 ovvne heart, ( 1 Sam. 13. ."14. ) though he had fuch a remainder of his 
 fleH-ily nature yet about him, as did luft and ftrive againft the Life 
 and operation of his fpiritual form,fo as that after this choice Chara- 
 cter of his perfon from God's own mouth, it carried him by a kind of 
 rice into fome particular enormities, more grofs than many hea- 
 thens 
 
( 37 ) 
 
 thenswere ever guilty of, from their Cradles to their Graves, in a 
 longer life upon earth, than David lived. , 
 
 But the folution to the above mentioned Querie, requires at leaf!: 
 a °lance farther upwards, into fome brief contemplation of the Trini- 
 ty, from fuch proper language and expreftion as they are exhibited to 
 usin, by the holy Ghoft, ijohn ?. 7. and CoL 1. 15 .ip. 
 
 • In the former of thefe Scriptures it is written, There are three that 
 bear Record in Heaven jhe Father, the Word^and the holy Ghofl ; and thefe 
 three are one. In the latter, we find thefe three expreffions concerning 
 Chrift 'Image of the invifibleGod^ Firft-born of every Creature y and First- 
 born from the dead. 
 
 From theje two Scriptufes duly compared and explicated,we might 
 doubtlefs receive very considerable information touching the myfte- 
 ry of God, and of the Father, and of Chrift, Col. 2. 2. In the for- 
 mer we find the three that bear Record • In the latter,the Record that 
 is born by all the three ; the Witnefs or Teftimony, Image, Name, 
 Glory, manifeftation or threefold perfonai appearance they give of 
 themfelves, in Chrift. In the former is exhibited to us God as the 
 head of Chrift, in his threefold eiTential property or fpring of opera- 
 tion. In the latter is reprefented Chrift as the exprefs Character ,three- 
 fold glory or perfonai appearance of the three that are one, brought 
 forth by the operation of the faid three eiTential properties in the 
 Godhead. And as the three in the firft confideration, are one God 
 and father of our Lordjefus Chrift, fo are the three in the fecond con- 
 fideration,one Chrift, Image or perfonai appearance of God. Father, 
 Word, and Spirit, that manifeft themfelves in Chrift, are one. Chrift: 
 that is the Father,Son, and holy Ghoft in perfonai appearance,Name; 
 or manifeftation,is alfo one. God in Chrift and Chrift in God, are all 
 one pure,uncompounded,infinite, eternalGod,blefled for ever. God 
 in Chrift is not three perfons, as three diftincl: individual men are, 
 (for fo there would be threeGods)but may more fitly be refembled to 
 our capacity, by a threefold perfonai appearance of one and the fame 
 man ; his perfonai appearance in the body to his fellow mortals ; his 
 perfonai appearance in the fpirit, to angels, when his body is laid 
 down ; and his perfonai appearance in both together, in the rarefied 
 and incorruptible ftate of both, meeting together in the Refurrecti- 
 on. God then as head of Chrift, is three and yet one, in an abfolute 
 irnperfonallity or inviftbility. God as giving forth a threefold perfo- 
 nai appearance of hirnfelfjin Chrift, is three perfons ; yet to, as that 
 he may alfo be faid to be one penon. Chrift and the Father are one ; 
 John 17. 22. To fay God the Father and Chrift, is in fumme, to fay 
 
 D 2 al! 
 
(28 ) 
 
 all r hitisto befaidof God, if the apcftolial form of found words 
 may find place with us, i Tim. i. 2. zTim. 1. 2. Tip. t; 4. 
 
 zThef. 1. i, 2. and Chap. 2. 16. In the iecond Epiftleof John 
 verf. 3, and 9. itisfaid, Fie that abideth in the dotlrine of Chrift, 
 hath both the Father and the Son. And he that hath them, hath all; even 
 Father, Word, and holy Ghoft, revealed in and by the Son. No man 
 hath feen God the Father at any time, nor ever can, any otherwife than 
 as declared by the onely begotten ion, which is in the bofom of the Fa* 
 ther, Joh. 1. 14. and 18. So Mat. 11.27. No wan knoweththe Fa- 
 ther fave the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. God 
 and the Mediator are fo one, that there's no right receiving or own-* 
 tng them apart. He that denieth the Son fiath not the Father, and he 
 that acknowledgeth the Son, hath the Father alfo, 1 John 2. 22, 23. 
 Antichrift it a liar, he denied the Father and the Son. The true believing 
 Chriftian receives and pwnes both, and both are one. God ha's abun- 
 dantly warn'd and prohibited all men, in the Scriptures, that they 
 neither make nor take to themfelves any (ingle creature-formes, as 
 Images of him, by or through which to worship him, but onely fuch 
 as he ha's given of himfelf in Chrift, before whom was no God 
 formed, or nothing formed of God, neither (lull there be after him, 
 £Jay 4.$. 10. The Scriptures are plentiful in this teftimdny concern- 
 ing God, under thefe expreilions, God and Chrift, Father and Son* 
 God confidered ahfolutely, oa in himfelf, and God conftdered a* the Medi- 
 ator , God onr Saviour , 1 Tim. 2. 3. The Head of Chrift, God 
 the Father, is three and one, and in God the Son he appeares or 
 fliewes timfelf to be fo. / am in the Father, and the Father in me, 
 fayes Chrift, John 14. n. and John 17. 2r, 22. He prayes for the 
 like indiffolubie union of his Saints with him, as be ha's with the Fa- 
 ther, That they may be one, as he and the Father arc one, by his being in 
 them,as the Father is in him, that they may be made per fell in the one Me- 
 diator, verf. 23. 
 
 Thefe things premifed concerning the Trinity in their imperfona- 
 lity, and the fame Trinity, as in their threefold perfonal appearance, 
 God and the Mediator, Father and Son, which are one, we may, I 
 hope, with better fu'ecefs defcend into and re-afnime the confederati- 
 on of the various creature-capacity in the fame peribn of Chrift, who 
 is alfo God, and of the derivation and communication thereof to the 
 particular perfons of men and angels, who in Scripture phrafe, arc 
 thereby aflerted to be partakers of the divine Nature. 
 
 Chrift, as he is the living WORD, exprefs Char -after or Image of 
 theinvijibleGod^ ( Col. I. 15.) brought forth from Eternity by the 
 
 peculiar 
 
( 2 ? ) 
 
 peculiar operation of the Father, -yet not without tne joint concur- 
 rence of the other two, is the perfonal inanifeftation of the Trinity, 
 in a form purely divine, very God, andfingly as fo,- is dilcernable to 
 God alone, not at all to angels or men, in any capacity that ever- they 
 are to be brought forth in, natural or fpiritual. 
 
 The fame bleiTed Mediator, as brought fonh in his twofold crea- 
 ture capacity, by the peculiar operations of theiecond and third in 
 the Trinity ( not without the joynt concurrence of all the three in 
 each) is the immediate reprefenter of God, the root and parent to 
 both worlds, and the immediate fatisfying object of enjoyment to 
 the natural and fpiritual capacities of angels or men. 
 
 In a fhadowy refembHrnce of Chrift in this twofold creature-capa- 
 city and right ftated fubordination of the natural to the fpiritual, was 
 man at firft created male and female, in the fameperfon, {Gen, i. 
 27.) before we hear of Eve ( uniefs by anticipation ) Gen. 2. 22. 
 Rational and fenfual nature, the Angel and the beaft were married 
 together in Adam^ on theie tearms and #ith this Law, that the ratio- 
 nal was to keep its ground and rule as Lord and Husband, (till a high- 
 er Lord came, to which that alio was to become fubjecl:) and the fen- 
 fual to obey and continue fubjecl:, in his individual perfop. So ought 
 matters to go in every one of his pofterity, and then their houfe, or 
 firft-creation-building would be in order ; but this Hill, at beft, is not 
 the new creature. The new creation, by way of fire-baptifm, puri- 
 fies and ftrips this natural, iirft-creation form of man, of its mortality, 
 changeablenefs , corruptibility, and brings" it into an incorruptible 
 form, an unchangable life of righreoufnefs, true holinefs and glory e- 
 verlafting. This is the leaft fruif of the new-creation. Over and a- 
 boveall this, it brings upon a more peculiar fort of everlaftingly faved 
 men, a diftincl: fupeiiour forme of manhood and more excellent glo- 
 ry, (in aiTociation with the fpiritual arid moft exalted capacity in 
 Chrift) taking in and comprehending alfo the inferior, in the fame 
 perfons. 
 
 But by what in Chrift, is this transforming, new-creation work, 
 performed upon the tuft-created formes and perfons of angels and 
 men? 
 
 By the higheft, moft excellent, and fpiritual-creature power in the 
 perfon of this Mediator. As the natural root and head of the firft-cre- 
 ation, was Chrift himfelf willing to become a Lamb [lain, under the 
 fire-Baptifme-activity of his fpiritual and more excellent creature- 
 form, (brought forth in him as a peculiar emanation from the third in 
 the Trinity; which was.originally unchangable, and in an indiiToluble 
 
 union 
 
( h ) 
 
 union with the living ivORDy or Image of the invifible God. The du- 
 ty and great concern of angels and men, is to follow this Lamby whi- 
 therfoever he go, in that tranfition which he was content to make un- 
 der the fire-baptifme,once in the beginning of the world^nd again,*;? the 
 f nines oftimgywhen made of womavyKev .1 3 .S.Heb.p .2.6 . 'Twas the fin 
 and fall of angels & men at firft, that they refufed to follow this kead 
 of the firft creation,in that tranfition he was willing to make byway of 
 death & refurrection into the unchangable ftate & life thereof. On the 
 contrary tis faid of the good angels,that were content to have this fire 
 baptifm pafs upon their firft-creation ftate and glory, that whitherfo- 
 ever this fpirit or head of the firft creatior^looked, they looked ; and 
 whither he went,they went 5 they turned noras they went. This we find 
 in that commonly reputed uninterpretable vifion of the Wheels, 
 Ez,ekj 1 .2.0. and Ch. 10, 1 1. By the wa*y give me leave to ask, what can 
 the four living creatures be, ( Chap. 1. 5- .) that are called alfo, one li- 
 ving creature} verf. 20, 21, 22. and Chap. 10. 15-, and 20. What, 
 but Chrift, as the Spirit afftl Creator, Head and Ruler of the firft 
 Creation f And what hgnifies the letting down of the wings of this li- 
 ving creature \' {Chap. 1.24. ) but the celTation from the voice of 
 fpeech, from the noife of his firft miniftry , the difpenfation of 
 the Law , given forth by the diipolition of Angels, (Acts 7. 53. ) 
 for the government of this firft world. This letting down the Wings, 
 was his becoming the Lamb /lain, in order to come forth a better 
 comforter, in the more excellent wfy and difpenfation, upon the 
 Throne, and that as a man, Ez,ekt 1. 26. and John 16. 7. And what 
 are or can be the Wheels, (called alio, onetvheel y Ezei^.i. if. and 
 10. 13. ) moving up and down with the living creature y Spirit and Head 
 of the firft creation, but the angelical attendance and retinue of Chrift 
 ift his firft-creation Government and Miniftry ? Some of thefe pals 
 along with him under the fire- baptifm, into the more excellent glo- 
 ly, while others ( with Lucifer , their head ) apoftatize into a fixed 
 and everlafting enmity againft him. 
 
 How familiarly are angels in their Miniftry and Magiftratical go- 
 vernment of this World, represented by Charets and Wheels-? It is 
 written, ( 'Pfal. 68. 1 7. ) The fharets of God are twenty thoufand thou- 
 [amis of angels • the Lord is amongfl them asm Sinai. Thoufand thoufand s 
 of them alfo continue to minifltr before him y when upon the Throne. Dan. 
 ?. 9. 10. Some of thefe good angels were theCharet and Horfesof 
 fire, that tianllued E/iah from the Earth, and delivered Elifbaxp Do- 
 tham from the Syrian army, 2 King 2 V 11, 12. and Chap. 6. 1 7. What 
 all humane forces, charets and hones have amounted to, when they 
 
 have 
 
( 3i ) 
 
 have come to grapple with the angelical hoft, hath fufficiemly appear- 
 ed,. To this effect, above feven years ago, have I heard this vilion of 
 the Wheels expounded by this blefled Martyr, with abundance of Sa- 
 tisfactory evidence and Spiritual demonftration, together with many 
 rich, fruitful and comfortable observations thereupon,- for relief of 
 God's people (when all viable means fail,) by the angelical, holt ; the 
 next difpenfation. 
 
 But to recover our felves out of this digreflion ; The devil and his 
 angels ( as we End in this viiion ) • turned away from Chrift their na- 
 tural head, refuting to adventure the exchange of their firft-creatioa 
 glory and Life, through unbelief of the gain and ufury thereby attain- 
 able, even the fixednefs and unchangableneSs of what they already 
 had, in the greater and more excellent glory y of the refurreclion. By 
 this not yetlding to the conditions of palling along withtheir head, 
 into the more excellent ftate and unchangable form of their very na- 
 tural Beings, they loft even that they had, their firlt creation glory, 
 xigrueoufnefs, and the Life of communion with God in Chrift, mar* 
 ageable therein. Jude tells us (verf.6.) what befel them, hereupon. 
 The angels which kept not their fir ft eft at e^ bat left their oven habitation^ or 
 head, Quift; choofing their diftincl: oppolne Luciferian head, the de- 
 vil and fatan, rfr<?(with this their chieftaine ) refervedineverlafting 
 chaines under darknefs, unto the judgement of the great day. 
 
 When Lucifer had drawn to himfelf and engaged a numerous party 
 of angels with him in his apoftacy, by attempting to aiTerr 5 maintain, 
 and exalt the lelTer natural glory of the firft creation, into a compe- 
 tition with, yea, a preferrence and oppolition to the new-cieature 
 irate of Life and glory in the fecond, which excels ; his next bun- 
 nefs was, to Seduce, our firft Parents, and in them all their pofterity 3 - 
 into the fame oppohtion to new-creature Life and Glory, the true my- 
 ftical Sabbath ftate, THE SAINT'S EVERLASTING 
 ']{f ST. This moft defireableReft is attainable only by our being made 
 willing to enter into a conformity with Chrift in his death, through a 
 Surrender of the tingle and ruling activity. of our fiift-creation princi- 
 ples, at their beft, and giving up our felves wholly into a pure Sub- 
 jection to what we meet with that's more excellent in the fecond,. 
 
 Angels fell more knowingly than man, ( who was lower than they 
 in underftanding and ftrengch ) and therefore- irrecoverably. Man 
 fell fomewhat ignorantly, (as over-reached through the woman, his 
 weaker parr,. by the beguiling intinuations of the Serpent ) fo he and 
 his are again fet upon their feet, in fome degree or other, by the migh- 
 ty Redeemer, to try them ov£] again in their own perfens, how they 
 
 mil 
 
( l* ) ■ 
 
 will enean phemfclves,in this great fundamental point, aboutyeild- 
 ing to the tearms of a tranfition out of the corruptible (late of the life, 
 glory, a*id righteoufnefs of their full-creation, the houfe upon the 
 fand, into the incorruptible and unchangable life, glory, and righte- 
 oufnefs of che fecond, the houfe founded upon jne iock, Chrift in fpi- 
 rit. So, The [out that finneth again, after the Similitude of Adams firft 
 tranfgreifion, after all fair warning, it [hall die for its own perfonal 
 tranfgreflion, and not for the fathers having eaten [ower grapes^ Ezek. 
 18. i, 4. 
 
 In order to this new creation, Chrift, in the Jingle or double por- 
 tion of his fpirir, is given forth, received and owned by the ions of 
 men, either in the unchangable, fpiiitualized ftate of his natural 
 manhood, or alfo in the more exalted capacity of his i pi ritual, each of 
 which gifts do baptize and transform "the corruptible ilate of their na- 
 tural man, into an incorruptible life and unchangable union with the 
 natural or fpiritual man in drift's per-fon, by the new and everlafting 
 Covenant, eftablifhed in all things, and lure. 
 
 The twofold creature-nature in CfmiVs perfon, (as the former 
 and inferiour is transformed and brought forth by the latter and more 
 excellent, into an unchangable ft.ue of Life and union therewith ) is 
 called the WO R D o[God y that abides for ever'jn them that recelv: it ; 
 thefpiritofGody (fhrittin [pvrit y the Son of man in heaven ( Joh. 3 . 
 13.) that overfhadowed the Virgin, and formed for himfelf a ftefhly ta- 
 bernacle in her womb. The clothing of himfelf herewith for the Re- 
 demption of man,wjs a greater condefcention than his actual coming 
 forth in the Life, and capacity of the firft-born of every creature, for 
 the Creation of the World. Redemption is a greater work than Cre- 
 ation, and requires greater condefcention in the undertaker. As firft- 
 born of every creature, he was in a fuperiority of headfhip to aH the 
 angels, as the works of his haaids therein, the higheft ranck of meer 
 created Beings, in the fir ft world. But when this fVO R D y (which 
 v/is God, and the twofold original fpring of all creaturely life and 
 perfection alfo) wm made fie [h, took on him the particular nature of man ^ 
 ( not angels ) he became little lower than the angels for a[ea[on y f Heb. 
 2.. 7. and 16.) and not onely fo, but was content alio to differ the 
 vlfaae of this flejh to be marred more than any man, and to be humbled and 
 abafed therein, even to the death upon the Cro[s, Efay 5:2. 13, 14. and 
 Chap. ^3. 
 
 The creature-nature in Chrift is fo enfolded together, and hypofta- 
 tically united with his purely divine form, that it receives the deno- 
 mination from that fupream form of all. 
 
 He 
 
( 33 ) 
 
 He is therefore called Michael, Gods equal, and the man his fel- 
 low, Zech. 13.7. The whole perfon of Chrift, as comprehending all 
 fulnefs of perfection, creatureiy or divine, is very God. Cut the per- 
 fons of men and angels, that are brought into an everlafting union 
 and aifociation with Chrift, in one or both of his creature forms, are 
 not God nor Chrift. For the hi^heft denominating form in their per- 
 ibnal constitution, is but creatureiy, yet fpiritual and divine, in di- 
 ftinction from the natural, corruptible form of men or angels , recei- 
 ved at their firft creation. The everlafting fecurity of elect angels and 
 men lies in their infeparable union with their head, the Mediator, in 
 whom alone both creature capacities are in perfonal union with God. 
 The exalted creature nature in Chrift, is divine, altogether lovely, 
 ( Cant. j. i6\) the true Vine, ( John iy. 1.) that cheareth the heart 
 of God and man, as in Jothams parable, Jndg. 9.. 13. It is the Spi- 
 rit of God,the immediate womb,parent, & fountain-head of all new- 
 creation life and principles in men or angels, by the fire-baptifme. An 
 inferior work to this,is alio theieby performed upon and in the fons of 
 men;to wit, all that gradual revival of rational light & life in the mo- 
 ral heathen, or legal Chriftian,that is very obvious and familiar to ob- 
 fervation,all the world over. The legal Chriftian experiences fuch an 
 operative, actuating influence from this fpirit,as revives, enlightens, 
 cleanfes, renews & reftores him to fome good meaiure of firft-creati- 
 on Life & righteoufnefs.Asfor the ftawes & deficiencies yet incident 
 to his perfonal operations,God imputes to him or puts upon him that 
 perfect righteoufnefs of the Law (called Gods comelixefs,Ezek J i6 '. 14.) 
 which Chrift himfelf performed and had in his fleihly manhood, rend- 
 ring it applicable to men, through the merit of his death therein.This 
 whole work of Chrift in men,inwardly milling & fanctifying them by 
 his blood ,as alfo juftifying them by the impu tation of the perfect righ- 
 teoulnes of the law to them from his own perfon, amounts but to their 
 practical and experimental knowledge of him after the fkfh (2 O.y. 
 16.) and a prospering onely into that Kingdom or heaven, that may 
 beilnaken; Heb. 12. 26. Yea, though they receive withall, the ba- 
 ptifm of gifts from this fpirit of Chrift, and in that fence, be made 
 partakers of the holy Ghoft, yet they may prove at length to be but 
 briars and thorns to this very fpiric of Chrift, from whom they receive 
 ail, and to thofe true believers, in whom the very feed of this fpirit is 
 fpringingup,as a well of living waters into everlafting life,/©/?. 4.14- 
 The (ingle Baptiim of Gifts, fupernatural Ornaments, and the 
 tongue of Men and Angels, all this amounts nor to the Baptiim with 
 the holy Ghoft and with fire, Mat. 3. 1 1. The partaking of the holv 
 
 E Gholi 
 
C 34) 
 
 Ghoftin the (ingle bapthm of gitts, without the very feed of fpiri- 
 tual, eternal Lite town in the heart, does not mar the vifage of the 
 natural mm, does not facririce and offer him up,but more abundant- 
 ly adorn, beautifie and fet him off. Thofe that have the glory of their 
 earthly man, but thus higher advanced by fupernaturafgifts and ac- 
 compliiliments, are liable to play the Idolaters again!* the glory 
 that excels, the Life hid with Chrift in God, and ( finally refuting 
 the fuperior difpcnfation and thofe that own it) return with the dog 
 to the vomit, upon the lofs of what they have already received, Ez,ekj 
 16. 1, 1 j. 2 Pet. 2. 20, 22. 
 
 CMO%£ in his lMTSTE%J, holds that the Fall of the 
 Angels came by their refufal of the divine Life, and giving them- 
 felves wholly up to the aniirui ; and that fatans kingdom of darknefs. 
 extends to and comprehends all theinterells and advantages of what- 
 ever Life, excluding onely the Divine. The fame Author exhibits a 
 new and unanfwerable charge againft Paganifm, that by whatever 
 (lights of wit the beft of them all may feem to wipe off the imputati- 
 ons of Polyiheifm, or Idolatry,, afTerting themfeives to be the adorers 
 of one eternal Deity in his various manifeftations, yet they worfhip- 
 ped God in fuch appearances onely as related to and concerned but 
 the animal Life. Tis to be feared, this charge will reach a great 
 way into Christianity, abundance of the profeflbrs whereof, are fol- 
 lowers of Chiift onely for loaves, fuch cleaning gifts and ornaments 
 as do but gratifie and advance their earthly, firft creation ftate. Speak 
 but a word of the crofs and fire-baptifm of the fpirit, that's to come 
 ypon all this glory and goodlineis of flefli, ( in order to a more ex- 
 cellent birth and knowledge of Chrift after the fpirit in them) you be- 
 come an enemy prefently if you tell them this truth, Gal. 4. 16. If 
 matters be well icann'd and weighed in the ballance of the. fanc\uary, 
 abundance of Religion and -Profeflbrs will be round no currant and 
 well tried Gold, {Rev.. 3. 18.) that will pafs for the Kingdom of 
 Heaven. 
 
 The Scripture latitude of the animal or natural maniscomprc- 
 henlive of all that is to be found in mans firlV creation ftatc and life, 
 in diftin&ion from the fpiritual, new creation-man. The natural bo- 
 dy or animal man is interpreted by the apoftle to be of the fame reach 
 (igntrtcancy as the living foul of the firft Adam, at beft, as the 
 fpiritual body or man is comprehenlive o( that new-creature Life and 
 pei feftion that's recieved from the indwelling prefence of the quick- 
 ©irig fpirit of tbc Second Adam, t C° y . * 5 • 44> 4^- 
 
 Thole Chriftians that are brought into communion with God, but 
 
 in 
 
c 3T ; 
 
 in the renewed activity of the natural body or living foul of the fiift 
 Adzm* ( taking the renewed old man for the new ; Reftauration,for 
 Regeneration)are apt to grow fo conceited & confident therein, that 
 they wil not lend an ear to the tydingsof anyfuperiour difpenfation rnd 
 more excellent way .Man,in whatever poffibie refinement and glory of 
 Hisfirft-creation ftate,is yet but that natural man, in whofe mind there 
 is fo vaft an afymmetry and incongruity to fpiritual, divine things, 
 the New Name, the Life hid with Chrift in God, the Wifdom and Righ* 
 teoufnefs of God, that fmnes forth in the New Creature, that he knows not 
 what to make of them, they are foolifhnefs to him, i Ccr. 2. 14. 
 
 Nothing lefs than the very feed of fpiritual, new-creature Life 
 from Chriit, will find or make itsway through all poffibie obftru&i- 
 ons from within man, or from without, and profper into that king- 
 dome of grace and glory, that cannot be fhaken. This will fpring up 
 in the foul and declare it felf King,take the Scepter and ruling powe r 
 out of the hands of our firft-creation fpirit and principles, and will 
 fafely fteer our courfe, direct our fteps, and enable us to work righte- 
 oufnefs in the way everlafting ; Pfal. 139.24. Senfual Life gene- 
 rally rules at firft in children. When Reafon fprings up, and begins 
 to fhew it felf, that takes (or (hould take) the Scepter, curbes the in- 
 folencies and exorbitances of the Senfual powers, and governs the 
 whole perfon. If there be a feed of grace or fpiritual Life fown in 
 him, when that fprings up into exercife, it will take the Scepter out 
 of the hands of humane Reafon and Wifdom, and govern the whole 
 perfon in the Divine, Spiritual Reafon and Wifdom of God. 
 
 The receivers of the fpirit of Chrift, ( the feed of fpiritual wifdom 
 and divine Life) are of two forts ; either fuch as receive the fingle, or 
 fuch as receive the double portion thereof. They that receive but the 
 fingle, will thereby be brought into the incorruptible form of the na- 
 tural man, which renders them fit aflociates for the elect angels, to 
 (land about the Throne as friends of the Bridegroom and the Bride . 
 They that receive the double portion of the fpirit,in the fenfe above 
 expreffed, are the very Bride her felf, the Lambs wife, that fits down 
 upon the Throne with him,in a more exalted ftate of Glory, for ever. 
 
 The Mother of Zebedee's Children defired of Chrift, That her two 
 Jons might fit, the one on his right hand, and the other on his left, in his 
 /^£^#,Mat.2o.2i.Theremayfeemtobearight and left hand fcitu- 
 ation or ftate of glory for ever, in the kingdom of Heaven. The double 
 portioned Saints are they that fit on the right hand ; the fingle, on the 
 left. Chrift tells her and herfons,^; k?ow not what they wki 7 if they 
 would have either of thefe advancements on this fide the Oofs, the 
 
 E 2 grave 
 
( J4) 
 
 Ghoftin the (ingle bapthm of gifts, without the very feed of fpiri- 
 tual, eternal Life town in the heart, does not mar the vifage of the 
 natural man, does not farcrifice and offer him up,but more abundant- 
 ly adorn, beautifie and fet him off. Thofe that have the glory of their 
 earthly man, but thus higher advanced by fupernaturafgifts and ac- 
 complifTunents, are liable to play the Idolaters againit the glory 
 that excels, the Life hid with ChriftinGod, and ( finally refuting 
 the fuperior difpcnfation and thofe that own it ) return with the dog 
 to the vomit, upon the lofs of what they have already received, Ez,ckj 
 16. i, 1 5. 2 Pet. 2. 20, 22. 
 
 CMO%£ in his <JttTSTE%J, holds that the Fall of the 
 Angels came by their refufal of the divine Life, and giving them- 
 (elves wholly up to the animal ; and that fatans kingdom of darkn^fs 
 extends to and comprehends all theintereiis and advantages of what- 
 ever Life, excluding onely the Divine. The fame Author exhibits a 
 new and unanfwerabie charge againft Paganism, that by whatever 
 flights of wit the beft of them all may feem to wipe off the imputati- 
 ons of Polyiheijm, or Idolatry,, aliening themfelves to be the adorers 
 of one eternal Deity in his various manifestations, yet they worfhip- 
 ped God in fuch appearances onely as related to and concerned but 
 the animal Life, 'tis to be feared, this charge will reach a great 
 way into Chriftianity, abundance of the profeffors whereof, are fol- 
 lowers of Chiiil onely for loaves, fuch cleanfing gifts and ornaments 
 as do but gratifie and advance their earthly, firft creation (tare. Speak 
 but a word of the crofs and fire-baptifm of the fpirit, that's to come 
 upon all this glory and goodlinefs of fleiTi, ( in order to a more ex- 
 cellent birth and knowledge of Chrift after the fpirit in them) you be- 
 come an enemy prefently if you tell them this truth, Gal. 4. 16. If 
 matters be well icann'd and weighed in the ballance of the fan&uary, 
 abundance of Religion and Profeffors will be found no currant and 
 well tried Gold, (Rev.. 3. 18.) that will pafs for the Kingdom of 
 Heaven. 
 
 The Scripture latitude of the animal or natural miniscompre- 
 benfive of all that is to be found in mans fuiVcreation ftate and life, 
 in difiinctipn from the fpiritual, new creationrmn. The natural bo- 
 dy or animal man is interpreted by theapoftle to be of the fame reach 
 and figntftcancy as the living foul of the tirit Adam y at heft, as the 
 spiritual body or man is comprehensive o( that new-creature Life and 
 perfection that's recieved from trie indwelling pretence of the quick* 
 :iin:> fpirit of the fecond Adam, t C or - x 5 • 44> 4^- 
 
 Thole Ctuilttans that are brought into communion with God, but 
 
 in 
 
c 3y ; 
 
 in the renewed activity of the natural body or living foul of the nift 
 Adzm* ( taking the renewed old man for the new ; Reftauration,for 
 Regeneration)are apt to grow fo conceited & confident therein, thac 
 they wil not lend an ear to the tydingsof anyfuperiour difpenfation rnd 
 more excellent way .Man^in whatever poffible refinement and glory of 
 fiisfirlt-creation irate, is yet but that natural man, in whofe mind there 
 is fovaft an afymmetry and incongruity to fpiritual, divine things, 
 the New Name, the Life hid with Chrift in God y the wifdom and Righ* 
 teoufnefs ofGod y that fanes forth in the New Creatureythzt he knows not 
 what to make of them, they are foolifhnefs to him, i Cor. 2. 14. 
 
 Nothing lefs than the very feed of fpiritual, new-creature Life 
 from Chrift, will find or make its way through all poffible obftru&i- 
 ons from within man, or from without, and profper into that king- 
 dome of grace and glory,that cannot be fhaken. This will fpring up 
 in the foul and declare it felf King,take the Scepter and ruling powe r 
 out of the hands of our firft-creaiion fpirit and principles, and will 
 fafely fteer our courfe, direct our (reps, a.nd enable us to work righte- 
 oufnefs in the way everlafting • Pfal. 139.24. Senfual Life gene- 
 rally rules at firft in children. When Reafon fprings up, and begins 
 to (hew it felf, that takes (or fhould take) the Scepter, curbes the in- 
 folencies and exorbitances of the Senfual powers, and governs the 
 whole perfon. If there be a feed of grace or fpiritual Life fown in 
 him, when that fprings up into exercife, it will take the Scepter out 
 of the hands of humane Reafon and Wifdom, and govern the whole 
 perfon in the Divine, Spiritual Reafon and Wifdom of God. 
 
 The receivers of the fpirit of Chrift, ( the feed of fpiritual wifdom 
 and divine Life) are of two forts ; either fuch as receive the fingle, or 
 fuch as receive the double portion thereof. They that receive but the 
 fingle, will thereby be brought into the incorrupcible form of the na- 
 tural man, which renders them fit aiTociates for the elect, angels, to 
 ftand about the Throne as friends of the Bridegroom and the Bride. 
 They that receive the double portion of the fpirit,in the fenfe above 
 cxprefled, are the very Bride her felf, the Lambs wife, that fits down 
 upon the Throne with him,in a more exalted ftate of Glory, for ever* 
 
 The Mother of Zebedee's Children defired of Chrift, That her two 
 Jons might fit) the one on hts right hand y and the other on his left y in his 
 ^£^>#,Mat.2o.2i.Theremayfeemtobea right and left hand Situ- 
 ation or ftate of glory for ever, in the kingdom of Heaven. The double 
 portioned Saints are they that fit on the right hand ; the fingle, on the 
 left. Chrift tells her and herfons,^; know not what they aik^ y if they 
 would have either of thefe advancements on this fide the Crofs, the 
 
 E 2 grave 
 
( 3<0 
 
 grave,the fire-baptifm,the ftrait gate,that excludes Belli and Mood,all 
 that is corruptible from the Kingdom of God.Cunje (faies ht)ArlnJ^of 
 the Cup I (halldrinl^of, and be baptised with the baptifm that I am bapti- 
 zed with ? 'They anfw.er, We are able. 
 
 The iingle portion of the Spirit, where it is received as a feed of 
 new Life, will not fail to perform that transforming fire-baptifm, in 
 and upon the fouls of men r that will puririe them, not onely from cor- 
 ruption,. ( the utrnoft -extent of the inward water-baptifme and cir- 
 cumciiion of the heart, in the Letter) but from corruptibility, Gra- 
 dually fetching them up into the glory of the refurre&ion, till their 
 mortality be quite fw'allowed up of Life. It will mike them of the 
 fame mind that was in Chrift, willing fo to furrer in the rlefh under 
 the power of his fpirit, as to ceafe from fin, or from that ftate that 
 can return back into fin again, i Pet. 4.1. This incorruptible form 
 (atteinable onely by the fire-baptifm, performed upon the natural 
 man at his heft, by the lingle portion of the fpirit of Ghritt ) is cal- 
 led fpirituai, and denominates the whole perfon a fpiritualman, 
 though. yet in the mortal body, in diltinition from thofe who have but 
 only the renewal of their fuft-creation form by the influence and gifts 
 of the fame fpirit. 
 
 All that thefe receive is but the goodlinefs of flefh; renewed, ador- 
 ned nature, which is decried and blown upon by a fecond vice, a fu- 
 perior difpenfation and miniftry of the fame fpirit, as a peiifhing va- 
 nity,, after thc-rlrft voice has done its work, made a ttraight path for 
 God in the deferr, by rectifying the rational powers in bewildad 
 man, Efay 40. 3, 8. . 
 
 Our corruptible tabernacle is to be taken down. This mantle, this 
 filthy garment,this vile body, flefh and blood at its bed, \stobechan- 
 ed into, the Hkcnefs. of Chrift s glorious body , his heavenly man, by the 
 mighty power and transforming operation of that fpirit, whereby he is able 
 tojubdue all thing to himfelf, Phil .3.21. We mutt: put off the old man 
 at bd\ r and pat on the new, which after God is created in right eonfnefs and 
 true holinefs, Ephef. 4. 22, 24, Col. 3. 9, 10. That Image of God 
 received by the full-creation, and all the wifdom, glory, and righte- 
 oufnefs thereof, is but i-Tiadow, to what is to be received by the new 
 creation. 'Tis but felf-glory, felf-wifdom, felf-righteoufnefs, and 
 whin thefe are oppofed tothewifdom^ righteoufnefs, and glory of 
 God in the new creation, they are Idols ; fhadows preferred to. fub- 
 (iance; the Law or ruling Principles of our firtt creation Life, to 
 
 grace and truth in the fecond 
 
 Some 
 
( 17 ) 
 
 Some few Refults or Corollaries of what hath been f.i.l in this matter, 
 take ' as follow eth. 
 
 i. The Spirit of God, the holy Ghoft, the divine Nature, which 
 the Scriptures do evidently aiTert and declare to be communicable to 
 men, exceeds not in its reach and fignijfieancy, the natural and fpiri- 
 tual creature capacity in the perfon of the Mediator, whereby indivi- 
 dual angels and men are brought into an everlafting union with him, 
 in one or both, as he is one with the Father, fohn 17.22. 
 
 2. Where-ever the Seed of eternal Life is fowne , by ChriQ's 
 cau(in° himfelf to be received in the fingle or double portion of his 
 Spirit^it will mar the vifa^e or wifdoni of. man, it will take him off 
 from his way of working righteoufnefs, and worshipping God in the 
 oldnefs of the letter of the rtrft creation, and enable him to perform 
 all in a more excellent and acceptable way, in the newnefs of the 
 fpirit of the fecond. Paul in his own perfon, gives us notice of this 
 distinction which he Hood in, from t/iofe youthful, flourishing profef- 
 fors that were reigning as Kings at the righteoufnefs of the Law, per- 
 formable in their own fpirit, 1 Cor. 4. 8. 10. With fuch he laid he 
 durft not compare himfelf, ( 2 Cor. 10. 12. ) who pleafing them- 
 felves and applauding one another in a way of mutual lelf-deceivings 
 and commendations, are not thofe whom the Lordcornmendeth,as he 
 rather defired to be»w/.i8. They have but the inward hearr-circum- 
 cidon in the letter of the firft ( not in the fpirit of the fecond crea- 
 tion ) whofe praife is not of men, as is implied, Rom. 2. 29. 
 
 'Tis worth obfervation,that even in the ancient Hieroglyphical di- 
 vinity of £^rjw,no fervice or worfhip of God was accounted accepta- 
 ble and well-pleafing, but what was performed by fome divine power 
 of God himfelf in them. 
 
 3 . There are two diiUncl forts of everlaftingly faved men ; fuch as 
 receive the imgle,and fuch as receive the double portion of the fpirit. 
 Both pafs under the fire-biptifrrre. The former are exalted in:o atToci- 
 ation with the elect angels, and have for the immediate and adequate 
 object of their fruition and converfe, God, as Hiining forth to them 
 in the incorruptible form of Chrifts-naturalManhood/The latter and 
 more exalted fort of Saints,, are taken into aflociacion with thefpiritu- 
 al manhood in Chriite perfon, and have for the immediate and ad- 
 equate ^bjecl of their fruition and converfe, Cod, as fhining forth to 
 
 them 
 
them in rhit rr^heft and moft exalted creature form, in Chiift's per- 
 ion. And by and through'thefe (who do properly conftitute the gene- 
 ral ajfembly, and Chstrch of the firfl -born) the fpirits of jttft men, arJ the 
 holy angels, even thofe principalities and powers in heavenly places, do 
 ( as at fecond hand ) receive that manifold vvudonvof God, that 
 ihines forth more immediately upon the Church, Ephef. 3. 10. 
 
 4. The higheft fort of thefe Saints, are not Chrift or God ; much 
 lefs, the lower. Chrift is the head, root and parent to both thefe forts 
 of glorified men , in his twofold creature capacity or manhood, na- 
 tural or fpiritual. And Chrift,as he is the purely divine form or image 
 of the inviiible God, is head to both thefe creature-headlhips in his 
 own perfon ; and God is the head of Chrift,coniidered as in his pure- 
 ly divine form, x 0,11.3. 
 
 5*. Chrift in his creature-capacity, is the maker, redeemer and heir 
 of all things in both worlds • as all things were created by him fo for 
 him, Col. 1. 16. Heb. 1. 2. and Rom, 11. $6. Of him, through him, 
 end to him, are all things, 
 
 6. Men, that in their firft creation were made little lower than the 
 Angels, ( Tfal.S. 5-.) are in the fecond or new creation made equal 
 to the elect angels ; and all thofe of the double portion, are advanced 
 quite over the heads of all the angels, into an immediate afTociation 
 with Chrift in his moft exalted creature-capacity, on theThrone of his 
 <?lory, even in that more excellent creature name than the angels 
 have, H'£. 1.4- 
 
 • 
 
 Behold then the heavenly order in the whole family of God. 
 
 Firft, God himfelf, the head of Chrift, and that, as Chrift is the 
 Image of the invifible God, very God. 
 
 Secondly, Chrift himfelf, as thus confidered in his capacity purely 
 divine,head to his twofold creature- headihip, the natural and fpiritu- 
 aj man in his own perfon. 
 
 Thirdly, Chrift in his twofold aeaturefhip,as-the immediate head 
 to all fpiritual and natural men and angels, in his heavenly family, 
 his members, his body myftical. 
 
 Fourthly, Beh ^ld thefe alfo in their two grand diftin&ions of fu- 
 pedority and iubordinacion, fpiritual and natural. 
 
 / fih'ly, Ther: may feem alfo to be intimated in the Scriptures, a 
 gradual difference of capacity in the individuals of either of thefe two 
 
 ranks 
 
' ( 39 ) 
 
 ranks of eveilaftingly glorified men ; Daft. 12. 3. and 1 Cor. rf f 
 4.1. There is one glory of the Suyjy another of the CMoon^and another gUry 
 of the Stars , ant one Star differ eth from another Star In glory. 
 
 Variety of intellectual light or difcerning is refembled in Scripture 
 by the variety of figurative light rn the outward vifible creation. 
 Chrift is called. The S m of Right eoufnefsy Mai. 4. 2. Angels, Stars , 
 job $$. 7- And the Spirit of Man, The candle of 'the Lord , Prov. 
 20. 27. 
 
 To wind up all then, and fecure our felves from the miftake of the 
 German Divinity ; The fervams that ftand about the Throne, are not 
 the Bride that fits upon it. The Bride is not the Bridegroom. The 
 Bridegrom himfelf, in whatever creature-ftate he is married to men 
 or angels, by the new and everlafting Covenant, is yet but as the 
 Bride to himfelf in his purely divine form ; and as fo, yet, he is not 
 the Father, but as the Bride of the God-head, the exprefs character, 
 orperfonallity of all the three, as Image of theinvifibleGod. The 
 Bride the Lambs Wife, Angels or Men, are all gathered up into 
 one common Interefl ; all do live in the beatifical Vifion and enjoy- 
 ment of God in Chriff, in th^ir feverai intellectual diftances, ranks, 
 and capacities, and may all be faia to partake of the divine nature. 
 Bur more peculiarly, ( next to the living creature that is under the 
 God of Ifraely in perfonal union with God, E^ekj 10.20.) the fa- 
 periotir and more excellent fort of Saints are partakers thereof, being 
 actually brought forth in the higheft kind of creature capacity, that is 
 next to the purely divine form. 
 
 See all fumm'd up together, Heb. ri.22, 24. Te are come unto 
 Mount Sion y and unto the City of the living God y the heavenly Jervfalem y 
 and to an innumerable company of Angels, to the general Affembly and 
 Church of the firft-born, which are written in heaven ; to God the judge - 
 of all y and to the fpirlts of ' jufi Men male ferfe& y and to jefvu the Media- 
 tor of the New Covenant. Here we have a d:ftinc~t. expreiTion of the hea- 
 venly Orders. 
 
 - 1. An innumerable company of Angels y and fpirlts of ' juft Men made- 
 perfeLl. 
 
 2. The generkl Affembly and Church of the frfl-bom y that have the 
 doable portion of the Spirit. 
 
 3. jeftts the Mediator of the new Covenant. 
 
 4 . God the judge of all. 
 
 Will any now fay, What fignifes this pro'lxe Dlfcourfe of Principles 
 to theprefent undertake. 'Tis anfwcred, Much every way,in cafe what 
 
( 40 ) 
 hiih b*en faid, be true, and intelligibly exprefled. For it moft exact- 
 ly fuits with what is engaged for in the Title Page. He lived in the 
 Spirit and walked in the Spirit, Gal. 5. 2)-. 'Tis this Life, hid with 
 Chrifi in God, I principally intend the character of, the Life of Faith, 
 which now with him is turn'd to fight, being abfent from the Body and 
 at home with the Lord, 2 Cor. j.6,7. This Life is no way explica- 
 ble but by confidering his Gofpel Principles, Doctrine, and Way of 
 Worshipping God, in fpirit and truth. And what iignifie all his pub- 
 lick and outward actings in Church orihte, but as iiluing from and 
 reducible to this his new-creature Life and the Principles thereof ? 
 This difcourfe therefore is principally directed to Chriftian Reader?, 
 who are furniihed with thefpiritual difceraing of Faith, which can 
 take in the evidence and demonftration of things not feen to any o- 
 ther eyein man, things eternal, Hekn.i. 2^.4.18. 
 
 This Pilgrim quitted the broad way that leads to deflruclion, and took 
 the narrow path that Icadeth unto Life, which few there be thatfind y 
 Mat. 7. 14. His lot yvas to be upon the earth, while the Church was 
 in herVVildernefs condition, in her fackcloth. Briars and Thornes 
 were with him all along : he dwelt among Scorpions,* £c?^. 2. 6. 
 Many archers (hot at him ; they dltPjkoot forth their arrows, even bitter 
 words ; they fmote him with the tongue, and at length with the hand ; 
 but his Bow abode in ftrettgth, his Armes were made fir on g by the hands of 
 the mighty God of Jacob. Gen. 49. 23, 24. Hi* enemies encouraged 
 themf elves in an evil matter : they communed of lajingfnares privily, that 
 they miaht frooot at him mfecret ; their teeth were fpears and arrows ; the y 
 did jvhet their tongue like a fword, to wound him. But (j od fhall fhoot at 
 t htm, with an arrow fuddenly fhall they be wounded, Pfal. 64. and 5.7. 
 4. He will whet his f word, and ordain his arrows againfl the Pcrfecutors, 
 Plaj, 7. 12, 13. 
 
 But where may it appear that this fufrerer was of the opinion, that 
 there are two diftinc~t torts of everlalringly faved men? In his general 
 Epiftle to the Church of Chrifi upon earth, which is like tobeexpofed 
 to publick view before this. Not long before his death I received ex- 
 pu-lVnouce in a Letter concerning theie twoWitneilesof Ch rift, both 
 o- them coming forth in the felf-evidencing power, and demonftration 
 of the fingle or donble poition of his fpirit, He took rife for his con- 
 ceptions herein, from fuch irradiations of divine glory as he received 
 in the contemplation of thefe following Scriptures , with many 
 o:h:rs. 
 
 * Firjl, V- :vcl. II. 18. The TtyrioHS were angry, thy wrath is come, 
 { and i he time wherein thou fhoMed give reward unto thy fervantsthe 
 
 c Pro- 
 
c 41 ; 
 
 1 Prophets, and to the Saints, and to them that fear thy Name, fma.i and 
 4 great. There rs ( faid he ) intended here by the holy Ghoft a con- 
 ' liderable difference between thofe called Chrifts fervants the pro- 
 4 phets, and the reft that are named faints, all being fuch as are faid to 
 4 fear God's Name, great or fmall, and are declared to be objecls of 
 4 Chrifts reward, who hath one kind of reward for the prophet, and 
 1 another for righteous men, faints, juft men made perfect. Thefe, as 
 4 faithful fervants, are to abide in the houfe for ever , friends to the 
 
 * Bridegroom, that rejoyce at hearing of his fecond voice, which they 
 4 have but at fecond hand, through the Bride. But thofe more excel- 
 c lent fort of fervants, the prophets, that 'are the very Bride, they have 
 4 their peculiar priviledge above the other, perfonally to poflelTe the 
 'Bridegroom, as his Name is the WORD of God-, a Name, (Rev. 
 « 19. 12, 13. ) which no man knows, (nor angel) but he himfelf,and 
 4 they to whom the Son will reveal it. In "this fence is that to be 
 4 underftood, which is ccftified by Chrift himfelf, Luk^. ic, 22. No 
 4 man knowes who the Son is, but the Father , and who the Father is, but the 
 4 Son, and he ( or they ) to whom the Son will reveal him. This is the 
 4 Name that Chrift by inheritance hath obtained, more excellent than the 
 4 Angels, the Name above every Name, that at the manlfeftatlon thereof 
 4 every knee [hould bow, and tongue confefs, to the glory of God the Fa- 
 4 the r. 
 
 4 After this Name it was, Jacob was fo inquifitive ( Gen. 32. 19. ) 
 1 f a ji*gi tell me, I fray thee, thy Name. And he came afterwards to un- 
 
 * derftand, it was the face of God, or fight of God face to face, in his 
 
 * very fimilitude, which it is not permitted in fo ful and intimate a 
 
 * manner for every faint to have. Upon this, Jacob's name was chan- 
 ged to //rw/, and he became a Prince or chief prevailer with God 
 4 and with Man. 
 
 c Agreeable to this diftin&ion does the Prophet Efay defcribe Ifra- 
 4 el, Chap. 41.8,5). Thou Ifrael my fervant, Jacob whom I have cho- 
 4 fen, the feed of Abraham my friend, unto whom I have faid, thou art my 
 4 fervant ; / have chofen thee and not caft thee away. Here, the holy feed 
 4 or divine birth of God's Image, that makes the true Ifraelite by faith, 
 ~ 4 is defcrib^d to be of a nature and quality that is incorrupti- 
 ble, fecuring him in whom it is, whether Jacob the chofen fervant, 
 4 or .the feed of Abraham the chofen friend, as well as chofen fervant, 
 4 from ever being a caftaway.Hereby is intimated, what it is to be the' 
 c chofen, faithful fervant and no more, and what it is over and above, 
 c to be the chofen and intimate friend, that is called and admitted 
 ■ to fee God face to face, as friend fpeaks with friend. -Thus of Aaron 
 
 F 'it 
 
< 4* ) ; 
 
 * i t i-S (aid , ( Exod. 4. 1 5 , 1 6 . ) 77?/tt Mofes fhouldfpeak^ to him and pxz 
 
 1 words in his month ^and ( faies God ) / will be with thy month^and with 
 c his mouthy and will teach you what ye (ball do. And Aaron frail be thy 
 1 f poke [man unto the People, he fall be ts thee inftead of a mouthy and thou 
 1 fait be to kim in flead of God. Confider how interpretable this is of 
 
 * the Ton of man glorified, the great Prophet of all, in iheperfonof 
 
 * the bleffed Mediator, let down on the rightjund of the Majelty on 
 1 high, whoftill reteins the form of a fervant, or perfection of his na- 
 1 ttrral man in its incorrup:iblc form, with which as with a mouth, 
 *•( typified by Aaron ) he comes forth as a head to the holy Angels, 
 
 * and Jacob his chofen fervant, in a Cuitable way of converfe and frni- 
 i tion, to their capacity, fpeaking. therein to the body of the People, 
 < whilft at the fame time he. is in his fpiritual manhood,exalted to an e- 
 c quality with the eternal W.O Xj5,as the man God's 'fellow, admic- 
 ' ted to a communication with God, face to facets friend (peaks with 
 c friend. In this glory, he is more properly the very mouth of God, 
 4 (typified by Mofes.) in a capacity and rrnejs for converfe with 
 1 the Bride, the Lambs. Wife, as head to the general Affembly of the 
 
 * full-born, who are a fort of faints, of greater dignity andprehemi- 
 
 * nence,by whom the manifold Wifdom of God, 01 fecret Name, his. 
 <-wO RD, (hall be. made known to principalities and powers, 
 1 Ephef, 3. 10. 
 
 * The loweft fort of aH thefe heaven-born Saints, that have but the 
 c {ingle portion of the fpirit, have not onely by the external influence 
 'ofChriite heavenly Nature, fuch a. change as the .legal or firitCo- 
 1 venant Saint has, ( from the polluted to the cleanfed and reformed 
 1 Rate of the natural man, which make but a member of the myfticat 
 
 * earthly Jernfalem., that may become the fpiritual Sodom ) but by the. 
 ' very feed of Chris's heavenly nature fown in them, they have an in- 
 
 * ward real partaking of the divine nature, or that new principle of 
 ' Life which baptizes the natural ft ate into a conformity with, andfub-^ 
 
 * jection thereunto,advancing it thereby for ever into a fublimatcd & 
 4 incorruptible form. It is in his Light onely (with whom is thefoun- 
 
 * tain of all. Life and perfection ) that we can fee Light, Pf<<Li6.9. 
 ' In the fpiritual, n.-w.-creature dilcerning onely of a divine commu- 
 nicated underftanding and fuperinduced form, can we fee that ob- 
 
 * jecfive, light or unveiled glory of God,, that lenders the true heir e- 
 
 * verlaftingly blelYed. But evenamongft the children of the heavenly 
 4 kingdom, the children of the Refurrec"Hon, there are fome of a fuit 
 4 and others of a fecond Refi:rre£tion,into a more exalted Rate. of Life 
 *-and glory. Yet all the Veifcls of glory, great and final!, willbehl- 
 
 c led 
 
(43) . , 
 < led from the Ocean of thofe unutterable riches of divine Glory ,that 
 
 * are in Chrift, which no natural eye can fee. There will be no waatj 
 
 * or envying one another there. 
 
 Concerning ORDI NA NC E S. 
 
 HAving already fpoken joyntly concerning this Sufferers Princi- 
 ples and Doclrine, I come now to mention his way of worlhip-- 
 irig God, and what his Judgement and Practice was, as to Ordi- 
 nances. 
 
 After that way which men call Herefiedidhe worlhip the God of 
 his believing Fathers, ^Abraham and the reft, AlU i^. 14. He was 
 for worshipping God in fpirit and in Truth ; fnch the Father feekj to 
 worfhip him, Jan. 4. 23. He lived, walked, worihipped, prayed, fpake 
 In the fpirit, and fo, as the oracles of God, ( 1 Pet. 4. 11.) mini- 
 ftring as of the ability that God gave him, that God in all things 
 might be glorified. This language and way of Worfhipping God, that 
 is fo defpicable to man, is that onely which hath the praife of God. 
 He kept the true myftical Sabbath, not thinking his own thoughts, <3v. 
 Efay j8. 13. He was baptized with the holy Ghoft, and with tire. 
 He did in iuch fort eat the flelb and drink the blood of Chrift, that he 
 was thereby brought into a conformity with Chrift in his death, and 
 had efernal Life abiding in him, John 6. ^ 4. This is iatisfactory to 
 God in this pcrint ; that that anfwers his well pleafing. What further 
 ftiail bz faid, {nail not be in order to pleafe,buc inftruct,convince and 
 ftop the mouthesof gainfayingmen, Tit, 1. 9. 
 
 He that wonhips God in the power of the (ingle or double portion 
 of the fpirit of Chrift, does undeniably worlhip him in fpiric and 
 truth; Thepow^r of godlinefs comes in with this new creation Spirit. 
 All Worihp,Righteoufnes, Ordinances, or whatever,performed but in 
 the renewed, reformed, enlightned, gifted, adorned Rate of our firft- 
 creation fpirit, amounts but to the form of godlinefs, that faith that 
 may be fhipwrack'd, that intereft in Chrift, and that good confeience 
 that may be loft, 1 Tim. 1. 19. They that have not the divine na- 
 ture, in the fence above expreffed, ( 2 Pet. 1.4.) we blind and can- 
 not fee afar off, ( verf. 9, ) they difcern not the land of diftance*, the 
 nzwjerufalem. They may have great illumination, excellent gifts, 
 and in the confidence of thefe they fay, they fee , what get they by 
 that ? Therefore their fin remaineth, ( John 9. 41. ) that is, is unpar- 
 donable; there remaineth no more benefit of Chrift's facrifice to them. 
 There remaineth onely at laft, ( upon final refufal and refiftance of the 
 
 F 2 new 
 
( 44 ) 
 
 new- creature hfe,lpirit,and way of worfhip) nothing but a certain fear- 
 ■ohngfor of judgement and fiery imgnation^ which jball devour the ad- 
 ::erfxrl:s, Heb. 10. 27. and Chap. 6. 4, 8. Their light, their feeing, 
 takes away all cloak for their fin, John 15. 22, and 24, The warning 
 which the true fpiritual watchman gives them, if neglected and de- 
 fpifed by them, does dangeroufly fet forward this work, (through their 
 mifcarriage under it, and becomes a'favour of death to them, ( AEl. 
 13. 40. 41/) but even fo, a fweet favour to God, as profpeiingin 
 the thing whereto he fends ic, and accomplifhing his pleafure, 2 Cor. 
 2. 16. Efay y)*.n. 
 
 Thefe keen concitionifts, th.u cannot afford a good word for the 
 true circumcihon, that worfhip God in the fpirit, and have no confi- 
 dence in the flein, or in the knowledge of Chriil after the fie in, they 
 are hot about the outward circumlhnces of worfhip, time, place and 
 the like. Chrift reproves them in his anfwer to the woman of Sama- 
 ria, ^ at Jacobs VJci[ ; Neither in this Mount ain, nor at Jcrufalem ,\h 'all 
 ye worfhip the Father , but in fpirit and truth , job. 4. 23. Neither in this 
 Form nor that, but excluded out of all Synagogues has the true Church 
 and Spoufe of Chart been worshipping God this twelve hundred 
 Years and upwards, in her mourning perfecuted wildernefs-conditi- 
 on, out of which the is fhortly to appearand fpeak for her felf. By 
 this Sufferers reckoning the time, times and half a time, or, three years 
 axd a half, are very near expired, thoit forty two moncths, and onf thou- 
 sand two hundred and fixty days, prophetical for years, all*which do cha- 
 ra«cler and point out the fame Epocha in 'Daniel and the %evelation^ 
 for the Churches abode in the Wildernefs from the time of her flight, 
 mentioned, Rev. 12. 6. She will very fhortly be called up out of the 
 wildernefs, by the name of Shulamite, which comes from the fame 
 word that S?/W;?,7and Sahm do, 6gnitying [Peace. This true peace- 
 able 'TlUrim and Spoufe ofCkrift, that in her Life and Teitimony huh 
 been fo difguftful to this world, out of which ihe is chofen, ( as to be 
 reputed by all the Inhabitants of the earth, a wrangling Heretick, a 
 Blaiphemer, and one that turns the World uplide down ) will fhortly 
 come up out af her political grave, orexcluiion from all authority or 
 allowance in Church and State, into the exercife of true Chrirtian Po- 
 lity in both, in aflociation with the holy Angels, who with the rifen 
 Witncifes will make up the two hofis , before whom no oppofite 
 newer of contradicting man wil be able to bear up. See for this,Cant.6. 
 1 ? . Rc'.ur;i,return,0 Shulamite, return, ret urn, that we may look^upon thee: 
 yvhat will ye fee in the Shulamite f 04 it were the company, or dance of two 
 Armies, (JMah,h:aim ; relating to Jacobs Wo hofis of Angels and Mev y 
 
 when 
 
( 45 ; 
 
 when he was to meet Efau, (Gen. 32. 1, 2. ) and importing the vi- 
 ctory thefe two obtain overall their enemies, as alio their dance, or 
 triumphant rejoycing after the victory. And all this yet amounts but 
 to the preparatory work, for the fecond coming of Cbrift, by plucking 
 up every thing that offends, fo as at hft there may be nothing to hurt 
 in all the holy mountain, Mat. 13. 41 . Efay 1%. o. 
 
 But how fhall the rifen Witneues handle their enemies, when fpi- 
 rited and fet upon their feec,as a Nation born at once,and in one day ? 
 EJay66.$. Rev. n. 11. Tis anfwered, fire (hall proceed out cf 
 their .mouth to devour any that would hurt them, and in this manner 
 muft they be killed ; that U, at the defire of the believing, men wit- 
 ness, angels that are a naming fire, (Pfal. 104. 4.) will deftroy any 
 men that oppofe them. Fire goes out of the faints mouth, that is b^ 
 prayer to God, on which the angels are commiifioned to do execution 
 immediately and irrenftibly, without more aco. Thus fire weni out of 
 Ell oi his mouth jo devour the two Captains and their fifties ; Angels were 
 the executioners, 2 King, 1. 9, 12. Thofe acts of Ellas were but 
 Types and ihadows of what will be done in the end of the world, at 
 the winding up of all diipenfations, towards the higheft, even the 
 pertenal coming forth of Chrift with all his New-Jernfalrm Armies 
 following him, Rev. 19. 14. As to what will be performed by the 
 rifen Witnefles, relation is had to Ellas and to Mofes, Rev. n.tf. 
 Where 'tis faid, They (hall have power ( as Eliot had J to fiat heaven 
 that it rain not, and to (mite the earth with Plagues, as often m they will, 
 as Mofes did in Egypt. It may appear what work one Angel can make 
 with whole Armies of men ; a hundred fonrefcore and five thoufand Af- 
 fjrlans were (lain by an angel In one night fin the Leagure before ferufalem, 
 2King. 19. 37. 
 
 But to return from this Contempla:ion of the true New -J eru fat em 
 fpirited Church and Spoufe of Chrift, and what fhe will do when fhe 
 comes our of the. Wildernefs, conhder we a little the general pofture 
 of all vifible Churches, even at this day, as this Sufferer hath left it 
 reprefented to us, in writing. 
 
 < There are nvny Churches in the World, that make a profeflion 
 of the Name of Chrift, under feveral Forms and Denominations, 
 according to the variety of Judgements, and Interefts of the Ru- 
 len & Members thereof.There is a Church called Cathoiick or Ilni- 
 verfal, headed by the Pop:, who pretends to be Chrifts Vicar. There 
 are alio National Churches, headed either by a Civil Magistrate, 
 as the Church oi England, ox by general AiTernblies,as the Church of 
 Scotland hath been, with other Reformed Churches. There are alfo 
 
 ■ particular 
 
(40 
 
 particular, Independam, Congregational Churches, dtftinguiflring 
 
 * themfelves into variety of Seels, and diversity of Judgements ana 
 4 Opinions, as well about the way and order of the word in matters of 
 c vvorfhip, and the fervice of God, as in what they hold Fundamental 
 
 * in matters of Faith. Thefe all make up one Body, as to the ownin^ 
 
 * and upholding a Church in fome outward vifible Form, who not- 
 1 withftanding all their differences and proteftings againft one ano- 
 1 ther, do generally agree together in one mind, as to the preferring 
 1 of the Church in Name, Shew, and outward Order, before what it 
 
 * is in Spirit and Tuith, as it is the real and living Body of Chrift. 
 
 'Hence it is, that the true Church indeed, the very living, real, 
 "-lpiri ual members of Chri'ft's Body, have been for many hundred 
 •yea:sa H ; .pe f*d, cap:ivated people, unaer all worldly powers, ci- 
 
 * vil or EcclefiifticaT, and never been fufTered to ufe or enjoy a free- 
 ' dom in th - ; t Comm.-nion together, and the purity of God's Ser- 
 ' vice and VVv lliip, but ar 2 upon one pretence or other, reftrained by 
 1 Humane Lawes and fuppreffecl as Hercucks, Schifmaticks, Fana- 
 1 ■ticks, and Rich as turn the World upfide down./vhile thole that have 
 
 * the repute and creHi* *o be the Churc'^or Churches of Chrift; under 
 •fome one of (he Formes, and ouwa*d Ordeis before mentioned, 
 
 * have the Powers of che World on their fide, and are contending one 
 c wi.h ano her, who ih 11 be uppermost, and give che Ruleof Con- 
 
 * formity in Doctrine, Woiihip, and Church O der, to all the reft, by 
 ' Compulsion and Perforation. But the dayes ue nowhaftening a- 
 'pace, wherein che living Members of Chrift's Body Hull be made 
 c manifeft, in diftinttion from ail thofe that have the Name to live bat 
 ' are dead. 
 
 Thus in brief you fee his Judgement concerning the Church. > 
 
 Concerning B A P T I S M y he writes thus. 
 
 < ^_,^ 2re are ^ evera | E^ptiffneg fpoken of in the New Teftament, 
 4 X and the Doctrine concerning them hath been fo dirk and my- 
 4 fterious, that there is little yet extant in the Writings of men con- 
 cerning the fame, that carries with it fatisfa&ion. 
 t There are two general tearms, under which all Baptifmes menti- 
 
 * oned in the New Teftament, feem to be comprehended ; that is to 
 
 * fay, Of Water. and of the holy Ghofl and Fire. 
 
 c Water Baptlfm is twofold, and fo alfo the Baptlfm of the holy Ghoft, 
 i There is a figurative outward Water Baptlfm, and a real or inward: 
 
 4 In 
 
 
(47) 
 
 *' In the firft fenfe,it is an Inftitution which doth appoint the outward 
 
 * man to be warned in Water, thereby to fignifie the proper effe 61' 
 
 * and operation of that wafhing with Water by the Word, which cau- 
 4 fes a renovation or reftauration of man by his repentance from 
 4 dead workes, and return to the fervice of the living God, in amend. 
 4 ment of L ife. 
 
 4 By this inward Baptifmand real work of the Spirit on the hearts 
 c of men, they are but cleanfed from the fihhinefs and pollution of 
 4 their corrupted Nature, not regenerated and altered from their firft 
 4 make and conflitution, ; that is attended with inability and liable- 
 4 nefs toapoftaey. 
 
 4 There is alio a twofold outward Water Baptlfm mentioned. 
 
 c i. John's Water Baptlfm^ which was the onely outward fign that 
 ^accompanied his Mim(iry,the Ordinance of that time and feafon, to 
 1 prepare the way for Chilli's coming in the flefh, and to fignify the 
 4 proper effect which his firft appearance, as God manifefted in Belli, 
 4 was to have upon the hearts and natures of men, confifting chiefly 
 4 in thefe two particulars, Repentance from dead Workj> and Amend* 
 4 ment of Life, 
 
 4 2. The fecond outward Water Baptlfm^zs that which Chrift him- 
 4 felfinftitated and committed to his diiciples in his Life time, as the 
 4 outward fign that was to accompany their fimmwiiftry, when he 
 4 employed them much in the lame nature as John was, fending them 
 
 * before his face, as labourers into the harveit, to all places whither 
 4 he himfelf afterwards intended to come. 
 
 4 Both thefe Administrations had their Known Adminiftrators, and 
 1 were diipenfations, proper to that feafon they were ordained in, to 
 4 prepare the minds of People. to receive Chrift in his firft appear- 
 
 * ance, or coming in the flein,and the fruits flowing there- from, in <*.- 
 ' mendment of Life. i 
 
 4 The inward or real Water Baptlfm^ confifting in the waflung of 
 4 man's nature by the Word, unto Repentance and Amendment of Llfe y 
 
 * is, capable of being adminiftred three waves, or by a threefold 
 4 hand! 
 
 4 i. By the Miniftry, Hand, or Tongue of Men, as by John Bapti(I. r 
 4 through the preaching of the written Word. 
 
 4 2. By the Word as fpoken by Angels, whereby inward abilities 
 4 and difpofitions are wrought in the minds- of men, in feme fort an- 
 4 fvverable to what is required by the Law of -the firft Covenant. Thus 
 4 the Law is given by the dijpojttion of Angels. 
 
 4 '3 . By the Word, as fpoken by the Son himfelf,in his firft- appear- 
 
 ance, 
 
r 48; 
 
 1 an:e, Heb. 1. 2. which is yet but the preparatory work to the Ba- 
 4 ptlfm of the holy Ghoft and of Fire. 
 
 1 Trie Baptlfto of the holy Ghoft is either, a Baptlfm of Gifts onely, or 
 ' 'alio of Fire. 
 
 1 1. Thefiift is that wherewith the earthly man is capable to be 
 * Baptized , through the pouring out of the Gifts of the holy Ghoft. 
 
 1 2 The fecond is that whereby the natural o;- earthly man is Ba- 
 1 p:lz,ed Into conformity with Chrlftln his death , and is made to a row up 
 'into the incorruptible form of heavenly manhood. 
 
 Of thefe four Baptlfms, 
 
 c The two Water Baptlfms have ferved their feafon,and are gone off 
 4 the Stage. _ . 
 
 c The Tingle Baptlfm of Gifts, or fiift Baptifm of the holy Ghoft, hath 
 1 bean of late fomewhat remarkable arfiongltus • and the B.iptlfmofthe 
 1 holy Ghoft and of Fire is haftening upon us, as a general difpenfadon , 
 c wherein the Vifion of God will be fo plain, that he that runs may 
 
 cad it. 
 
 k The declining of the two Water Baptlfms, deprives not the Saints 
 c of thefe times of the true ufe of that Ordinance, which is kept up in 
 c the third, and comprehends all that is now ufeful in the other two, 
 * in a more heavenly and Spiritual. way, leading us yet forward to the 
 c end they ail aim at, which is the very thing itielf, contained in the 
 t fourth and lad Baptlfm^ that of Fire. 
 
 ' So much in brief of his Judgement as to TUptifms\ 
 
 He was for Breaking of Bread in a way of Chridian communion, 
 and any other ufeful Obiervations, could he have Found them practi- 
 cable in the Primitive Apoftolical purity, fpirit, ana way, which what 
 hopes he had of, in any vifible Form allowed by man, while the true 
 Church is in the Wildernefs, cannot be difficult to conjecture. 
 
 Such Meetings as he found to approach pearefl: to the Apoftolical 
 Order, (as ro liberty of Piophefying one by one, &c. 1 Cor. 14.31. ) 
 
 he molt approved, and frequented. 
 
 H 
 
 Conc:mlng the SABBATH. 
 
 E accounted the Jewlfh Sabbath Ceremonious and Temporary, 
 ending upon the coming of the Son of man, who was Lord of 
 
 the 
 
( 49 ) , . 
 
 the Sabbath day, Mir. 12,8. And if he had thought that which is com- 
 monly obferved in the room thereof,- to be rather a M^iitratical In- 
 {titution among Chiitfians,in imitation of the Jewifh,i\\zx\ that which 
 hash any clear appointment in the Gofpel,the Apoftle would not have 
 him judged for it. One man ( faies he ) efteems one day above another : 
 another efteemeih every day alike. Let every man be fully perfwaded in hi* 
 own mind. He that regardeth a day y regardeth jt unto the Lord, and he 
 that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it y Rom. 14. f," 
 6. This I can fay, he ufually took the opportunity cjf {pending moie 
 time in exercife and prayer in his family, or other Chriitian Meetings 
 on that day, than on any other. 
 
 And will any yet fay he was a Sabbath breaker ? If they do, fee 
 what company we may find for him under that imputation, John?* 16, 
 The Pharifeesfaid, this man is not of God becaufe he k^epeth not the Sab- 
 l?Ath day. So foh. 5 . 16, The J ewes did pe fecute Jefm and fought to flay 
 him, for curing the Impotent man at the Poole of Betheida, and bidding 
 him take up his bed and walh^, on the Sabbath day. Yea, with this they 
 joyn another iau charge, as they reckon, that he had not onely broken 
 the Sabba:h, hut fa'd alfo that God wot his Fat her , therefore they fought 
 the more to kill him, verf. 18. And John ip. 7. They anfwer Pilate, we 
 have a Law, and by our Law he ought to die, becaufe he made hlmfelf the 
 Son of God. What ftrange work do the Sons of Men make with the 
 Sons of God. with the fpirit, wiidom, righteoufnefs^ glory and king- 
 dom of God? It was the rcagious profefling Jew that Crucified Chriii, 
 and perfecuted Taul where ever he came. Pi/ate, the Roman Magi- 
 (Vate would have acquitted Chrift » and Paul rather appeals to C&fars 
 Judgement feat, than appear before {hzjewifb Confiftory, At~l. 2y. 
 
 The true ipiritual Sapbavh is to be continually kept, as it is chara- 
 ctered by Efay, Chap.jK. 13. confifting in ? c.-ffation from the fingle 
 acYivicy, thought^, words and ways "of our fpnit, which is but letter, 
 and in the performance of all duty, byvower of the communicated 
 fpirit of the new creation, fpringing up in us,which alone is worlliip- 
 ping God in i pi j i r and in truth, after his own heart. 
 
 He was for taking all oppor [unities of f.ffembling our f elves together £ 
 to infiruB and exhort or,e another, and fo much the more as we fee the day 
 approaching, ( Hcb. 10. 25*. ) Looking for and having unto the com- 
 ming of that day of God, wherein the Heavens will be uijfjlved, and the 
 Elements will melt with fervent heat, 2 Pe . 3 12.- 
 
 He hvjk fuch a eight fpirited Laiitudinarian as Paulwzs, ( 1 Cor. $■» 
 20.) became, all things to all men,tha* by all means he m'ghi favefvme. 
 
 He was againll the exercife of a coercive MagLliraacal power in 
 
 G Re- 
 
( ^ ) 
 
 Worfmp ; and for the hngleRule, Power, and Autho- 
 nielf chimes, as his peculiar prerogative in and 
 over the e:::s and consciences of all men. How groily inconcin- 
 nous mult it needs appear even to the common reafoa of all mankind, 
 [tid) as tike upon them to be Magistrates and Rulers, vvhetht : 
 >le will or no, as it often falls oar, yea, or though freely choSen, 
 Should give the Rule to all others Consciences, in point of Religion, 
 when they mar// : e no Religion at ail in themSelve^, nor any 
 
 Confciencs but a dead o: ^ned in the moli brut- 
 
 iSh vileneiTes, that the baSeftofmen can be guilty of f But if the 
 :ly pretend to Something of Religion, what a 
 .: "/ig will Religion be at this rare f as fickle as the Magi- 
 ftrates Judgement, at leal* as his perfon, for the c :r may be 
 
 of ano.r.er perfwaSion,as ntis Nation hath experienced offand on, be- 
 tween Popery, and the.Proteftant profeffion, in H*n.&.~Ed.<>. and the 
 ^eens, M.irj.znd Elizabeth. 
 
 '<g TREACHIXG arJ TRATE?^ 
 
 Fir It, I ask, are all Preaching and Praying amongff thofe that cajt 
 themfelves C/riitians, Ordinances and InltitutionsofCh 
 :. the Poplft ACa&, .:ites and Friers Seirnic : >:di- 
 
 nances. Hie G:;:-:::ces of Chrift are to be ciftinguiShe: 
 count;-" ions of:. the Spirit and wa \rmance, 
 
 and by the matter that's delivered, as carrying it" :ein 
 
 Confciences of'the . -irers, iq be the very truth of Goi, i Cor. 
 14. 2j. 2.Cor. 4. 2. and 5. 11. Satan will be found at laft to have 
 had the greateft hand inallfuch Ordinances, Praying, Preacfc 
 and what ever elSe, that fo: Spirit, 
 
 m a way of enmity and contradiction to the true Spiritual believer and 
 t excellent w: 
 Tbe ufual pracr r Sufrere: wzs to Spend an hour or two eve- 
 
 ry evening f :~ . : were Providentially 
 
 there, and a^ much both morning and evening on the firft day. He 
 was oS that truly bounteous, princely-, communicative Spirit, noted 
 in the Spoufe, Car,:. 7. 1 . Rich in good works, ready to (ilftrlbuie^ wilting 
 10 communicate, ( 1 Tim. 6. 18. ) to make manifeft the favour of the 
 knowledge of Chrift i had dt^p and large experience of) 
 
 in every place, 2 (V. 2. 14. His gravity, purity, and ch a ftneSs of 
 5 very exemplary/ He held out in the miceft of all the late 
 
 Afoltacies 
 
( 5i ; 
 
 Apoftacies and Changes. He was ftedfaft and unmovable,alwayes a- 
 bounding in the vvork'of the Lord, and his labour was not in vain, 
 as he well knew, i £V. ij. ji. So ailiduous. wa£ f he in continual 
 fearching of the Scriptures, waiting upon the Lord in Faith and Pray- 
 er, for more^iill difcoveries of his mind therein, that it was faid of 
 him, Put him where you will, if he may have but a Bible,he is well enough ; 
 as Janfen, (of whom the Janfeniils in France) reckoned himfelf with 
 Auftin. 
 
 But what can be faid for his Allegorizing the Scriptures ? Here's 
 another Branch of this Sufferers Charge from men, wherein he fhareS 
 with the learned Origen. 
 
 The Charge againfl Allegorifts, -ufually runs at this rate; That by 
 Allegorizing the Scriptures , they carry tjpcm quite out of their native fig- 
 nifcancy ami intendment, wrefiing and forcing all to their own purpoje and 
 conceit, and fo frame Divinity Romances, what Conclufions, and Bodies 
 of dlfconrfe they pleafe. To this mifcarriage, men of the moft foaring, 
 curious and fearching capacities are reputed moil liable. Jefuite,mai- 
 ked Papift, no tide is thought bad enough for fu-ch men, by their igno- 
 rant adverfaries, in their blind zeal. 
 
 We have but fragments of Origen, ( that famous Allegorize?, and 
 diligent Searcher of the Scriptures) and thofe,tra-nflated out of Greek 
 into Latin, and handed to us by his enemies; fo that itmayfeem 
 dubious, when we read the fmall remains of his thoufands of Books, 
 whether we read the genuine lilues of his Contemplation, or ihe fpu- 
 rious Interpolations of fome other man. 'Tis agreed on all hands 
 by friends and foes, that he was a perfon of more than ordinary tall- 
 nefs in Underftanding,and that he did fairly offer at a more pertinent 
 diiquificion into the whole bul^ of inreliigibles, Divine or Philofophi- 
 cal, than, was ufual. And hoW was he handkdi> what faid ihey of 
 him ? That he was a temerarious* daring Fanatick, quitting the plain 
 truths of Scripture, and bewildring himielf and followers in diaboli- 
 cal Phantafms, being perverted through his great learning, on which 
 account he was oft p:rfecuted and ciiagg'd along the ftreets. 
 
 ^ . : j fc -JL - - - - 
 
 Concerning Allegories axd Allegorizing the Scriptures. 
 
 T 7T THen one thing is faid, as Typesetter, or fignificant Figure, 
 \ \ through; wijich another, farther and more excellent thing is 
 meant, and to be undei flood, Jthat is an Allegory, which he that ex- 
 
 G z re 
 
( # ) 
 
 pouhdfrjfflifft Allegorize. Whether then there be not as much need 
 Allegorizing the Scriptures as of underihnding them, or vvhethe. 
 th:re be any other pofii^le way of interpreting [hem, to as to dtfco- 
 ver the whole courrfef of God therein, detect Satans whole myftery 
 of iniquity, and render men wife unto Salvation, fhill appear by 
 aid by, 
 
 There are two forts of Allegories in Scripture, perfccl: and mixt. 
 PerfeSare purely allufory, when all ihe expreffions are naturally 
 iuited to the perfon pr thing firlt fpoken of ; but much more accurate- 
 ly, toforfic more excellent perfon or thing that is to be understood 
 thereby. An Allegory mixt or but partly allufory, is when fome one 
 of theexprertions onely are applicable to the type, tome infenout 
 perfon or thing, and fom* onely to the antitype,' quire over-reaching 
 and leaving behinde then* the statural oi'hiftorical lhidow", and picch- 
 ing fingly and exprelly on the fpirituai and myftical fubAance, the 
 more excellent perfon or thing that is ?o be underftood. Of <his fort 
 we find many Allegories in Scripture, where Chrifi is typified and re- 
 prefented by other perfons,who- when they a r e. fpoken of m th if capa- 
 city and intendment*, tome of the exprelnons Baj pice trie (bdrf&V^and 
 are not at all applicable, lave meetly and fir-.gly m the very perfon of 
 the Nhlfuh. Thus (amongft others) CAielch'^cdccl^ ( who met 
 Abraham returning from the fliughter of * tie Kings, Cke'lerUomer and 
 the reft ) is [aid. to be wirhctir FJtt her^ Mo- hcr^ or decent,!* jAirg neither 
 beginning ofdayes, ]tof e?ui of Life , hut ?ri«de like mtoihe S^r? of God, a 
 Priejifoxev*r y orbfih'eeverLtjhngOriUr, Heb. 7- 1,3, This points 
 usb'ick to PfdL no. 4, and 'that yet moie backward, to CUn. 14. 17. 
 \lSem here were the type, (as many fiivffl Rabbins, afrlim ) thofe 
 expreiTions, without Father, Mot her , l)cjcent, or begiKmrgo] 'dsyes, are 
 not at all applicable tohim,but fng'v *> v,h M\ '-.imfelf. Seifctfrjs the 
 moft ngrkeous Son of 'N'imt aTeaV^ci of ViAtmfittjs a£ tfoih was,' 
 called therefore properly Mekhlxedech^, rhu is, Kfag of right eouf- 
 **fty and King of Salern, that is, Peace, from the place he was chief 
 Governour of, afterwards calLed Jerufalcm, from Jlreh and Salcm^ 
 ( the place where Peace Axa\\ be feen, as type of the heavenly Jerufa 
 iem) occalioned by Abraham, s offering Ifu^c here on Mount Mortal' 
 where D^vid faw the Angel by ^r^^Vthre flung- floor, and SoL 
 monb\i\U the Temple, (jen* 22. 14. 2 Sam.. .'24. i<5, 17. 2 (fhrori.T, 
 j. Sem, on the accounts mentioned, misfit fuly be called, King 
 righteofifnefry and King of peace, (Heft;/. 2.) but much more fitly ye 
 may Chi ill be fo called-in whom all the righcepuinefs of the fiift Co- 
 venant and all the peace that's to be found in the iecond, kifled each 
 
 oihex 
 
other in the fecondj and were the fumme of his Miniftery, Pfd. 
 8y. to. 
 
 But to. proceed,fhall I ask a bold quell ion ? what elfe can the whole 
 Scripture be, m to the faving truths an <d doctrine thereof, but an A lie- 
 aory , in ca[e it be > pre fumed to fpeak^intelUglbly to humane underjfand* 
 
 ing ? 
 
 'The main things fignirled in Scripture are things fpirituaj and eter- 
 nal, things not ieen, (2 Cor. 4. 1 8. Heb. 11. 1.) not at all immedi- 
 ately and in rhemfelves difcernable to meer humane underrtaading. 
 The natural man receiveih not the things of the {pint ofGed ; they are fool '- 
 ijhnefstohim; neither can he know ihem, becaufe they 4re fplruually dif- 
 ccry.ed, 1 Cor. 2. 14. What 'hen is ro be done ? Either Chrift in his 
 own perfonal difcouncs, as alio by his Prophets, Apoftles and Evan- 
 geliftsj mult condefcend to graiiiie "he capacities and underflandings 
 of men, by reprefeming fpiritual and heavenly things to them,through 
 fuch na.ural, earthly Mediums, as are fuitable and adequate objecls 
 to humane under(hn..ing, or eke 'us as if nothing were faid. What 
 is no wayes intelligibly fpoken,, is as not fpokert? Spiritual things in 
 their ovyn naked eilence and properties are uncapable of expreilion by 
 a found of words. Words, that are the meanes of humane converfe, 
 evmat their bell, and in the original language, are but the proper 
 fignifiers o£ natural '.hings. 
 
 Adam by giving N imes to the Creatures, Gen. 2. 19,2c. difcover- 
 edhiscompfeat Philoiophical proipecl into and knowledge of them 
 in their hidden qualities etYences and properties,which the dim light- 
 ed reifon of fallen man, hach fince been a pitiiful bungler at. Solo* 
 mons Phyficks v and his book of Plants and the three forts of Anirm/s 
 in air, earihj.and water, (Birds, Beads, and Fifhes 1 King. 4. 33.) 
 were it yet exrant, ( as fome think it is, in Presbyter Johns Library 
 at Amjra ) would doubdefs appear a great mallei piece in that kind, 
 tranfcendingall'the Wifdom and difquititions of the learned Greeks. 
 "Hebrew words were fitted to the things they iignified. There was a 
 certain connexion between things and words. All other words, as- 
 they come lefs or more near to the Hebrew, do more or leis hgniti- 
 ^an-tly reprefent the things m»ant by them. The more any Language 
 recedes from the Hebrew, the* more it is confounded by humane chan- 
 ges and additions,- the more obfeure and difficult means are ihe words 
 thereof for conveying the knowledge of things to vs. Homer and other 
 Greek Poets and Philofophers fet themfelves therefore to Etymologi- 
 * cal learning, by reducing the primirive words in o'her languages to 
 their Hebrew roots, and then the Derivatives to thofe Primitives. 
 
 This 
 
,7 54; ^ 
 
 This they laboured in, as the molt notable means conducible to the 
 knowledge of things. Then Chryfippm, Demetrius, and abundance of 
 others, writ Books of Etymologie. Then the LifiW,receiving Learn- 
 ing as well as the Empire from the Greekjy fteer the fame couffe, in 
 order to Etymological difcipline as the choicer! means to lead men 
 in:o the knowledge of things. Cato ,Varro, and other, antient and 
 famous Latines writ many Volumns to this purpofe. Of later 
 times, on the fame account, did Julim C afar Seal iger, compofe a hun- 
 dred aqd ten Books de Originibus. Then Jofeph Scaliger, ( Son of J#- 
 tlm ) LlpfiHi, Cafaubon, and many others iteered theVame courfe. . 
 But when all comes to all , were we reduced and advanced into 
 the perfect knowledge and exercife of the Original Tongue, what 
 then ? All thewo*ds thereof at be(t,are but-the adequate fignitiers of 
 natural, fii(t-creauon things. All thefe things and words too, are but 
 the types, letters, fhadows, rgfemblances, rhetorical figures, and fig- 
 nificanc expreilionsof fpiritual,heavenly,new-creation things. If this 
 be true, what can the main bulk of Scripture be, but an Allegory? Spi- 
 ritual things expreffed and fignified by Natural, and the words thereof 
 from the beginning ofGenefis to the end of the Revelation > and that in 
 the typical hiftories,&: perfons,as well as in the facrifices, ceremonies 
 and parables thereof? What jejune andfeeble Interpreters of Scripture 
 then mult they needs be that cannot Allegorize it,nor therefore endure 
 that others fhould ? 
 
 The whole firft Creation, without humane words, is a piece of 
 dumbebut (ignihcant Rhetorick, to exprefs the fecond, and things 
 thereof. The heavens declare the glory of Cjod^ and the firmament fbeweth 
 his handy w'ork^, Pfal. 19. The rnvifible things of God from the creat'ion 
 of the World, are fo intelligibly reprefsnted and cxprejjed to humane under- 
 ftaxdlvv, by the things that are made, as to leave men without excufe for 
 r.eqlell of their duty towards God. Rom. 1.20. Raymnnd^de fabunde,ie£ms- 
 to ha/e fpoken notably towards the expoiuion of this* creature Book. 
 As the full whole creation in general, is letter, (Tiadow, and ex- 
 preltion of the fecond, fo more particularly, is the fiiil Adam in his 
 primitive natural perfection, type, letter, or .figure of the fecond,and 
 oi what he himfelf was capable to be made and in all probability was 
 made by a new creation in, the fecond. 
 
 Paradife , Canaan, the earthly Jerufalem, Mottnt Slon, <yc. all are 
 Typ:s, Letters and Significant Figures of the heavenly. The three (lo- 
 ries in Noah's Aik, ( Gen. 6. \6. ) as "alio the three di(Hri6r places 
 in (JMofes his Tabernacle and Solomons Temple, the outward Court, the 
 Holy, and then the moji Hol^ Place ( or Holy of Holies ) as they are* 
 
 Types 
 
( si ; 
 
 Types of Chrift, fo of his followers loo, as to the three parts of their 
 compofition, Body, Soul, and Spirit, i Thef. y. 23. Man is the Ta- 
 bernacle of God, the Temple of the Holy Ghoft, iCor.6. 19. His 
 Body is the outward Court, what's done in that,is exposed to the com- 
 mon view of all. His Soul is the holy place,furnifhed with the lamps 
 of the" fpirit, excellent fpiritual gifts, ( for the raifing and enlighten- 
 ing of humane understanding ) refembled by the feven lamps that 
 ftood over againft the twelve ihew-bread Cakes, (Exod.25.) which 
 fignified the light of the Law, or ruling power of enlightened humane 
 Understanding, in which the twelve Tribes^ of Ifrael were to walk, 
 who were fhewed, reprefented or propounded before God in the 
 Temple, over againll the Candleftick, but without the Holy of Holies. 
 Thole twelve Cakes (laid on the Table, frefh every, week) were 
 therefore called the bread of proportion, and fhew-bread. But the 
 Spirit of Man, or rather, the ipiritual mind is to be the mod ; holy 
 .place, for God himfelf to dwell in. 
 
 This is- the new-creature principle of marvellous light and eternal 
 Life, by which the Lamp or Candle of jingle humane Underftanding 
 is put out, (wallowed up, and transformed into a better and more ex- 
 cellent, the Light of the Sun. The Lamp of Man's Underftanding, i ill 
 transformed, has nothing to do within the Veil. Thtztyw-Jemfalew 
 ftate of. Life is fo far from needing Man's intellectual Candle-light, 
 that angelical ftar-light, yea the fun-light of Chrift's own natu- 
 ral perfecl-ion is out-fhined there, by the light of his Spiritual 
 form, which is ievenfold brighter. There's no need there of man's 
 Candle, or pfthe Light of the Sun, or Moon, for the glory of God 
 lightens it, and the Lamb is the light thereof, %ev.i 1.23. and 22.5.. 
 
 What are (in general) all the Sacrifices and Ceremonies in she 
 OldTeftament, but fignificant Types or Exprefllons of what we are 
 to be or do in the New ? The Sacrifices, Beeves, Sheep, and Goats, 
 taught and declared primarily the Sacrifice Chrift was to make in his 
 own perfon ; and fecondarily alio the facrifices,that all his true fol- 
 lowers are to make in their perfows; that holy and acceptable facrlfice 
 of our rational Life and powers thereof , at beft, under the fire-baptiim of 
 God's fpirit, required, Rom. 12. 1, 2. that fo we may be tranf- 
 . formed and grow up into the fpirit u al powers of eternal Life, hid with Clgriji 
 in God, (as our true intereft and grand concern ) without which we 
 cannot befaved. 
 
 For perfons ; Adam, Enoch, Noah, Sem, Abraham, ifaac, Jacob, 
 Jofeph, Mofes, Jojhua, Sampfon, Samuel, David, Solomon, and many o- 
 thers, weie they not Types,Let:ers ? or fignificant Figures of Chriil ? 
 
( y* ) 
 
 CairtmA Abel, Ifhmael and lfaac, Jacob and Efau, were Letters and 
 Types of two Seeds or Births ©f Chrid in Men ; one after the flefh, 
 for the cleanting them from the corruption of Nature ; another after 
 the fpirit, whkh delivers them by degrees from corruptibility, as be- 
 fore from corruption, till mortality he [wallowed up of Lift, 
 
 Do not the Typical (lgnifiers of Spiritual things, in Mofes and the 
 Prophets, hold on all along to the very end of the %eveUtlon ? What's 
 the Ne w. j eriij at 'e m character'd by at the very lall, but by the twelve 
 precious (tones in the High Prielts Pectoral, which alio ngnified the 
 twelve Tribes of Ifrael ?, Are any fo bruitiih as to imagine that thofe 
 plittering trifles of the call, thz'Jafper, Saphlre, EmraU, Chryfoprafe % 
 and the red, are litterally and really to be found in me heavenly je- 
 rufalem, Rev. 21 ? 
 
 Does not Paul Allegorize the hiflory of Abraham, Sara, Hagar Ifh- 
 mael and Ifaac, as reprefenting Chrilt, the uue Father of the faithful, 
 and as a twofold Husband to a. full and fecond Covenant-Sppufe, 
 which bring forth two forts of Children, one after the flefh, another 
 after the fpirit? The former of thefe Children ( arriving onely at 
 the practical and experimental knowledge of, ancf confuimity wuh 
 Chrilt in the fLfh, or in his flefhly, changable manifeilaiion } pcrfe- 
 cutes the other, the true Ifaac, the fpiritual circumcifion, that's born 
 of Chrift after the Spirit, and brought in:o a likenefs aiid conformity 
 with him in his unchangable creature Hate, 9^-4- 22 -> 3 1 - %£»*-%• 
 i. Chrilt is that twofold Husband, ( mentioned , Rom. 7. 1, 2, 3. ) 
 married firft to a fult-Covenant-Spouie ; ;hendies. Unlefs that firft 
 Spou fe be content to pafs wi'h him un ier the rire-baptifm, drink of 
 his cup, talle of his death, in order to be brought into conformity 
 with him therein, (he never meets with himo» lees him more, to her 
 comfort. Her Husband is dead, but alive again.,W lives for ever more, 
 Rev. 1.18. The Wife alio mult die wi ,h him, or {he cannot come to 
 live with him for evermore, 2. Tim. 2. n. How die, or to whit? 
 To the Law, or in the Ruling power of our own mural, full-creation 
 Spiur, activity and principles, however renewed or adorned, \hv fo 
 we may come to live under grace, the law of the fpirit, or fpiritual, 
 eternal Life, in the ruling activity and principles of .hat more excel- 
 lent fpirit wo receive from Chrilt, ns a tranfeript of his heavenly man- 
 hood in us, by the new creation. This is that onely, under the Go- 
 vernmenuvhereof,/ > W dares warrant us fafe fiomnns ever recove- 
 ring dominion again, Rom. 6. 14. This is that (lite of Life onely, in 
 wiich, as married to him that is rifen from the dead, we may bring 
 forth fruit unto* God, in the newnefs of the Spirit of oumew creation, 
 
 not 
 
not in the oldnefs of the Letter or our hrft-crea.i }ft Spirit, as is fignr- 
 fied, Rom, 7. 4V7* '<*• 
 
 Thecleanfedftate of our firft-creacion Spirit, amounts but to the 
 renewed old man, not the new : but to the circumcihon of the heart, 
 in the letter of the firft-crcation, ( not by the fpirit of the Second^ 
 w h ofe praife is of Man, not of God, %om. 2. 29. This makes but .he 
 concihon, that- are of a diminutive, narrow, dogged, fnarrtirig nature 
 towards the true fpiritual circumcifiorr, or circumcijlon of the hetrt in 
 the Spirit, xvhofe praife is not of men, but of God, Phil . 3 . 2, 3. 
 
 Tn^rermy be a little dark interval in the paffage the fitftwifeof 
 Chrift adventures to make through death and the grave, in order 
 ( and with full afiurance of hope) to meet with him again in the bet- 
 ter Life of the Refurrection.But She will foon find her own again with 
 ufury ; the quitted and refigned activity, and ruling authority of her 
 own corruptible Spirit, (which brings her into the true mythical grave 
 and conformity with Chrift in his death ) in the railed and advanced 
 condition of the -fame fpirit, into harmony with and fubjecKon to 
 Chrift, in her fuperinduced, incomipdble new-creation form and 
 Life. This is the myftical Refurrection the fpiritual believer has re- 
 al fellowship with Chrift in, even while yet in the mortal Body. Such 
 fellowship of Chrifts Sufferings, conformity with him in his death, 
 and power of his refurreition,^^/ lived in the experience and long- 
 ed for the full accomplishment of, Phil. 3. 10, 1 r. 
 
 This paiTage out of the Life of our firft-creation Spirit and form, in- 
 to that of the fecond, being gradual and leifurely, and the tempter 
 laying all his engines of battery againft thofe that are attempting this 
 way, and Chrift for a little moment hiding his face, or withdrawing 
 that kind of comfortable prefence, he had afforded the foul in his firft- 
 marriage-union with her, that after a little while he may with ever- 
 lafting mercies hivz companion upon her,in the Second ; thefe things 
 confidered/iis no wonder She fits fora little feafon,as a difconfolate, 
 fruitlefs Widow. But God bids her be of good cheer, for more (h all bg 
 the Children of the defolate Widow , than of the fir ft married Wife 7 
 Efay J4. 1. And Chrift gives that long and moft Solemn ex- 
 hortation to his Difciples in the 14, 15,16', and 17 Chapters of 
 John, to this very purpofe, to eftablifh and Support their hearts in 
 this paffage ( So dark and diSmal to fleSh and blood ) into the Life 
 and glory of the Refur reition. Upon hi? flefhly departure and dis- 
 appearance, as their Bridegroom in thatfirft way, he knew they would 
 have a little mourning SeaSon of it, Mat. 9. 15-. and therefore Se:s 
 himfelf to comfort them before hand with the expectation of what w as 
 
 H t© 
 
( J« > 
 
 to follow* You frail have another Comforter, faies he, meaning himfelf 
 in the fpirit and glory of the Refurre&ion. I mil not leave yon comfort- 
 lefs , Orphans and Widows, I will come to you, after a little while , 
 Joh. 14. itf, 18. To the very fame purpofe is that, Efay ^4. 7, 8. For 
 a f mall moment have I for fa ken thee, or withdrawn my f elf from thee, as 
 to my ftefhly and fir ft kind of manifeftation to thee, which looks like- 
 wrath, but with great mercies, and everlafling kindnefs will I gather thee 
 up to my f elf in my fecond and more excellent glory, and become thy husband 
 in the new and everlafling Covenant, faith the Lord, thy Redeemer. 
 
 Both thefe Difpenfations are on foot ftill, Chiift yet communi- 
 cates himfelf to the fouls of men in his flelhly way of manifeftation, 
 bringing them into conformity with that holy ftateof his earthly man- 
 hood, which makes the legal Chriftian,firft-covenantprofeflbr and 
 Wife of Chrift, on tjais fide the crofs, the grave,the crown. His with- 
 drawing from them as to this appearance and the fruits of it, is of the 
 fame import,as his withdrawing from his difciples when he was actu- 
 ally & perfonally in the flefh.He was then laterally in the- fleih in his 
 own perfon, but he was even then but myftically in the flefh as to the 
 perfons of his difciples,.as God manifefted in their fleftvj 5c lb he is in 
 ail that thus experimentally know him but after the fleili now. Their 
 fo being in Chrift Jefus, knowing of him,and walking in him but after 
 the flefh,does not free or fecure them from apoftacy,(2 /V. 2. 20,22.) 
 or condemnation, ( Rom^.i. ) but the knowing of him,& walking in 
 him after thefpirit,as he is the newXovenant Bridegroom and betcer 
 Comforter. In this ftate^they are married to him that is rifen.-in the 0- 
 ther,to him only that was made fleili, & with whom they in that fiefhly 
 «lory, even from him received, muft be cruciried. How elle can they 
 be brought into conformity with him in his death ? It was holy flefTi,. 
 the natural man in its greateft purity, that was offered up and fiain in 
 him. This at the belt then, renewed by himfelf in us, is alio to be 
 ihin and offered up,under and by.the fire-baptifm of the new-creature 
 fpirit, or fpirit of Chrift, that performes the new-creation work in 
 man. It muft be the holy, reformed, natural ftate, that muft be of- 
 fered as the true Chrillian facrifice, Rom. 12. 1. i, By this means 
 as we come to'be married to Chrift in the Refurreition* fo we come 
 to be children of the Refurreclion, begotten by the force, influence, 
 and benefit of Chrift's Refurre&ion, into a meetnefs of fpirit to be 
 married to him that is rifen from the dead, Luke 20. 36. 1 Pet. 1.3. 
 Such marriage there is even in the Refurreclion. Such a ftue of the 
 jefurreclion 'here is while we are yet in this mortal body. The fphi- 
 'ml man j who lives in: the fpirit, knowes Chrift in fpirit, and walks 
 
 after 
 
after the fpirit, (Gal. 5.25. Rom.%. i.) is reaiiy and s&uatty,th( 
 but gradually, in this myftical and be ft kind of Refurredtion, whii 
 in the earthly body. The new creature, he that lives the life, and in 
 the fpirit of the new creation, lives in the Refurrection. 
 
 The Refurre&ion of our Bodies (after the death of them J at lait 
 is not to be put in the ballance with the priviledges of this fpirituai 
 Refurreclion, while we are yet in the 4 earthly body. The fpirituai, 
 new-creation Life we are rifen into, is eternal Life. But millions of 
 men will find their bodily riling to be but a 3? efur region into eternal 
 death, and ihame, everlafting punifhment and contempt, Dan. 12. 
 ■ 2. Mat. 2.5.46. 
 
 But let's take a little further view of drift's firft-Covenant Wife 
 and Children, what they may do, and what may become of them ? 
 They may play the harlot with that very beauty and comelinefs, that 
 very firft-creation kind of glory and perfect righteoufnes of the Law, 
 that Omit has put upon them, called God's comelinefs, and yet their 
 own beauty, becaufe it beautifies and adorns but that felfifh ftate of 
 the firft-creation, Ez,ek^. 16. 14, iy. What comes of them for play- 
 ing the harlot with this, and oppofmg thereby the more excellent dif- 
 penfation and glory, that comes from the fame Redeemer in his new- 
 creation work ? They muft be judged by Chrift as thofe that fhed 
 blood and break wedlock are judged, as Murtherers, and AdultereiTes 
 verf. 38. This they come to. 
 
 Not unlike to this, is that, Efay 63. 8, and. 10. He faid,furely they 
 are my People, Children that will not lle,fo he was their Saviour. But they 
 rebelled, and vexed his holy fpirit : therefore hs turned to be their enemy , 
 and fought agalnfl them. There are a People, a Wife, Children, Mem- 
 bers of Chrift after the flefh, that ftand liable to forfeit all their privi- 
 ledges and intereft in him, by apoftacy,and then Chrift becomes their 
 enemy. Ashe delighted before, to deliver and fave them, rejoyced over 
 them to do them good and multiply them ifo now he will re Joyce over them to 
 deftroy them, bring them to nought, and root them out of the land he gave 
 them, Deut. 28. 63. If the tranfgrelfion, the apoftacy be general, fo 
 will the Judgement be tooffhat which he hath built, he will breakdown; 
 that which he hath planted he will plwckup, even this whole land^zx.45 .4 
 
 This was the cafe between God and thofe religious Jews, that li- 
 ved and walked but in the wavering principles of the firft-covenant. 
 They would be ever and anon ftarting afide, like* a deceitful Bow. 
 They were nor of the right, or new-covenant heart : Their fpirit was 
 not ftedfcrt with God : and when they failed of their duty, he let loofe 
 Gne enemy or another ftilr upon them. • Then they remeriibnd'that God 
 
 H 2 WAS 
 
( 60 ) 
 
 wot their Rock^> and the high God their Redeemer. Nevertheless they did 
 but flatter him with their mouth, and lied unto him with their tongues, for 
 their heart vm not right with him , neither were they fiedfafi in his Cove- 
 nant ; or they were nor in that new, ftedfaft Covenant with binh that 
 is eftablifoed in allthings and fur e. And God will not be moclied ; he knows 
 how to handle them. A!L this over and over^ and much more is to 
 be feen, Pfal. 78. 8. 3 j. 36%, 37. and y.7. verfes, &c. 
 
 And Jer. 3.14. The fame People in the fame breath, are reckoned 
 ho;h the Children and Wife of Chri(t>though backslider • Turn again > 
 O ba;kjpidixg Children, faith the Lord, for I am Carried to you. 
 
 The Children that are born but of that changeable feed of the firft- 
 creation in C.hrifr, hate and perfecute them that are born after the 
 fpirit, ( or of the incorruptible, feed of Chri(i in fpirit, as he is head 
 of the new-creation, in which he -becomes,, that word or image of 
 God, that lives and abidesin them for ever ) and then they backilide 
 and lofe what they have in the tuft-covenant, Mat. 13. 12. 1 Pet* 
 1. 23, 2?. Efay 40. 6~, 8. Thefe two Seeds, Births, Children, as they, 
 are typified by Ifhmael and Ifaac, Gal. 4. [0 by (fain and Abel, Ejun 
 zndjaeob, and other pairs of brothers, dawn and Ublofes rather ty- 
 pify the natural. and fpirituai Saint in the glory of the UeJ.urre6tion,ia 
 the new. and everlafting Covenant, as. above defcribed; But Cain and 
 Abely &c. fignifie tji.e flefhly,or fir ft- Covenant worfhipper,of the one 
 party, and both the fpirituai, new-covenant worshippers ( whether- 
 of the fingleor double portion) on the other. 
 
 Cain and Abel Y &c. may be Ailegoii zed into this fpirituai fig- 
 nificancy and reaciv as myftically Lndigitating and prefenting to us 
 the diftindtion of the flefhly and fpirituai Worthipper, the reformed 
 natural,and the .transformed^ fpirituai man; the firfl andfecond Co- 
 venant Saint. The elder often turns malignant, envies, hates, peife- 
 cu tes tlie younger : he after the fleih, him after the fpirit. They may 
 with, good warrant alib.be Allegorized into a narrower compafs yet,as 
 typifying the naturai.andfpiritual man, fbih and fpirit, in the fame 
 individual Saint, that is born of Chrift after the .fpirit, and yet not 
 q ; dre rid of fleih, which will be lufting ngainlithe fpirit in him, that 
 is his fin; as. thefpiric alio w.iilbe lifting again!* that ftelh, which 
 is his duty, Gal. 5^. 17. Notonily.corrup, namre, filmy fleih, but re- 
 newed nature, holy Fiefli, goodlinefs.of flefh,. that that was born of 
 thrift after the fledi, will be envying and lulling againlf, (hiving and 
 qontefting with that in man, that is. born of the fame Ch rift, after the 
 fpirit, John 3. C What ftruggle they for ? what's the matter, that 
 ciii lightened leaibn and the marvellous light of. Faith, the renewed 
 
 old 
 
old man and the new, nature and grace can't agree ? They have the 
 fame Father, Chrift ; they tumble in the fame womb, the foul of man. 
 This is- it ; they ftrnggle like Jacob and Ffau in the fame womb, in 
 the fame perfon, for the dominion, the Scepter. The queilion in de- 
 bate between them is, who ftiall b* king ? The renewed enlightened 
 natural mind (which yet is but flei"h, though holy flefli)thinks it fdf fit 
 to rule and give Law to the whole perfon ; would keep all under the 
 dominion of the Liw of the tuft creation. The fpirit of the new cre- 
 ation claims all this as its right, though the latter and younger birth, 
 (as reafon aifo had been to fenfe) yet the true heir of the crown, and 
 the elder mutt ferve or become fubjecl: to this younger. The renewed 
 firft-creation fpirie and Rate of life,glory,and freedom in man,finaliy 
 refuting, refilling and perfecuting the more excellent, new-creature 
 Life, fpirit, and glorious liberty of the fonsof God in the fecond, 
 amounts to no.lefs than the fin unto death, the fm againft the Holy. 
 Ghoft, or Chrift in Spirit. 
 
 This fame rnyftery is typified, and by no other way but Allegori- 
 zing, is to be fetched out of the hiftory of Ha gar and Saraj, Haoarhzs 
 theftartof Strain fruitfulnefs, iheisfuft with Child, Sam is yet 
 barren. But fing O b^ren } ( faies Chrift -in this fenfe )' that didft not 
 btOFj more (ball be thy Children, greater thy fruitfulnsfs at laft. God 
 fwore to Abraham upon his offering up jfaac, and nqt witk-holdino his 
 onely Son, that b I effing he would bjefs him,and.muliiply his [ted at thtfiars 
 of Heaven, and oa the [and on the Sea-fhore • and that in his feed fhould all 
 the Nations of the earth be b/effed, Gen. 22. i6 y i8. and Gen. 1 c 2 
 6. Trfispromife relates to Ifaac, not Ifkmael; and to Sarai, nocH*:- 
 gar ; and to ^Abraham not Abram. Ab-r -am f fjgnifies hit h Father. 
 This was all the name he had while he ha'd but Ijhmael onely, ( Gen. 
 16. ) but when //Sfc^the promifed Seed is coming, the fy liable Ha, 
 or letter H, (being thehfft Tyliableor'letterof Hamon, a multitude) 
 is added to Abram and Sarai, fo he is called, Abraham ( Gen. 1 7 <r } 
 ine Sarah, v.if. Abraham by this addition, fignifics high Father of a 
 multitude f of nations.) and for Sarah y as type of the New-JerufJem 
 Spoufcof Chrift, fee her numbeilefs Children, her Ifiac'f Rev. 7. 
 4,«9. We find here firft, a hundred forty four thouj 'and fea/ed ones; thai- 
 are the peculiar •■Bride and fpoufe .of Chrift, refembled by Sarah/and then 
 a numberlefs multitude, of the lower rank of everlaftingly 'oJoriHed 
 mpn, that ft and about the Throne, Children of the Bride^hamb errand. 
 friends of the Bridegroom and the Bride. 
 
 But lets review, that Allegory, fiitt in Hiftory, then Mvftery. 5,r- 
 rai gives hex maid Hagar co Abram to be his wife, Gen. 16. 3 . 'Hatrar 
 
 con- 
 
( 6z ) 
 
 conceives, and prefently the fruitful iervantdefpifes her barren mi- 
 fhefle, verf. 4. Sural complaines of her to Abram. Abram bids her 
 handle her as (he pleafed. Saral deales hardly with her, and Hie flies 
 for'c, verf. j, 6. The Angel of the Lord finds her and advifes her to 
 return and fubmit her feif under her Miitrefles hands, v. 9. Here's 
 the Hiftory. Deny Allegorizing, and therewill be no Myltery in it, 
 and then what an insignificant fiory may this feem ? Did sot ail thefe 
 things happen for enfampiei? were they not written for our admoniti- 
 on, upon whom the ends of the World are come ? 1 Cor. 10. 1 1. Is 
 not all Scripture given by infplration ofGcd, for doctrine, reproof \ cor- 
 reftion, inftrnftlon In righteoufnefs f 2 Tim, 3. 16. What doctrine, 
 reproof, or inlhuction can we receive to any purpofe, from this, and 
 abundance of like Scriptures,' if Allegorical interpretation be carped 
 at and exploded, and infipid iitteral glo{Tes,owned and adhered unto, 
 as the onely fence, reach, and intendment thereof? 
 
 With your leave then, let us try by the Allegorizing engine, 
 our fpiritua-1 difcerning if we have it, -to give birth to the myhH- 
 cal fence and rich figniiicancy which this hillory carries in the womb 
 of it. 
 
 As foon as Hagar faw Hie had conceived, the next news we hear, is, 
 her Mittrefs is defpifed in her eyes. Behold here the proper Chara- 
 cter of the firft- covenant wife of Chrilt. She is warm, flourilhing, 
 profperous and fruitful in a way of outward Ordinances, and alio in 
 working Righteoufnefs, in the goodiinefs of Fleili,in a wifdom, glory 
 and comelinefs, that Chrilt himfelf hath* wrought in her, and put up- 
 on her. She is wife, ftrong, and- honourable in Chrift, and ma^es no 
 fcruple but this will alwayes hold, thinks her mountain fo itrong 
 that the fhall never be moved. On this account,the true new- cove- 
 nant fpoufe of Chrift, the right new-fpirited Sa^nt is defpifed and 
 flighted, as a weak, foolifh, contemptible thing, no body at Ordinan- 
 ces and righteoufnefs in her way, which ("he experiences to be the 
 way of Chriit, finding the fruits-of his prefeace in it. Thus was it be- 
 tween P&hI with others, and fome of the Corinthian Church. Both 
 were married to, and interefted in Chrilt, but by different Cove- 
 nant. We are fooles, ( faies he) for Chrift's fal^e, ye are wife In Chrrfl. 
 IV e are weakly ye fir or. g : Te honourable, we defpifed y 1 Cor. 4. 10. and 
 2 Cor. 10. 12. We dare not make our felves of the number, or com- 
 pile our felves with fuch as commend and- compare themfelves with 
 one another of da* fame principles and perfwahons, and fo applaud 
 therrifelve* in one another, by their mutual felf-deceivings. The true 
 iphi'.uai Elder, Butttl the aged, he is in body with this flourifhing, 
 
 youth- 
 
( 6 i > 
 
 youthful, warm, legal-lpirited generation. The main bufinefs he has 
 to fay for himfelf, is a Life bid with Chriji In God, and woifhipping 
 Go i in fpirit and truth. This they reckon as nothing but uifcourfe, 
 fiction, foolifhnefs. But be it known, thofe that with Paul are weak, 
 foolifh, and defpiied for Chrifi:, are better than fuch as he there im- 
 plicitly reproves and taxes with folly, that yet he acknowledges were 
 wife, (hong and honourable in Chriit. Such foolifh, weak, defpifed 
 ones of Chrifr,as Paul was, are they that will quite confound the wife, 
 the mighty, the honourable. The things that are not, (hall bring to 
 nought the things that are ; and no flefh with ail its ornament, righte- 
 oufnefs, and wifdqm,Pnall enter into drift's kingdom, or glory in his 
 prefence, i Cor. i. 27, 29. And as the fpiritual faint is thus handled 
 by the'fleftiiy, fo is the fpirit or fpiritual part in the fame faint dealt 
 with by the fkfhly." Holy flefh, the renewed natural mind, will 
 be defpifing the feeblnefs of the fpiritual (while weak and low ) and 
 jutting it out of the Throne, as to its interefiing it felf, as the ruling 
 Principle at working righteoufnefs and worfhiping God. 
 
 Having thus in Hagar taken notice of the malapert, proud, infult- 
 ing carriage of the firft-covenant Wife or Spirit, in different faints, 
 or in the fame, againft tr» right fpirit of the fecond, through confi- 
 dence in the works of the Law, ( or works performed in the ruling 
 activity of their own renewed mind) let us proceed toother branches 
 andobiervables in the laid Allegory before us. Abram as a type of 
 Chrift, delivers up'H^rinto Saral'shind-^Saral dealt hardly with her, 
 fo fhe ihould. Hagar Bed 5 'twas her fin. What fignified Saral's hard 
 dealing with her f Perfecution ? No ; the Spirit of Chrift, the 
 fire-baptiun , the ftrait gate, that will.not fuffer flefh and blood to 
 enter into the kingdom of God, this it fignified. Hagar 9 s flight then 
 imports the declining and refufal of all thefe. The legal fpirited pro- 
 fefibr, confident in the works of the Law, will endure none of thefe 
 things. They are all a fadftory, a hard faying to him. His ufual way 
 of waving them, (if urged and hard put to't) is to call them Blafphe- 
 my, and the WitneiYes thereof Blafphemers ; and on he goes very fe- 
 cure in his doatage. But fay or think man what he will,this is Chrift's 
 way, he gives up the flefh ly worfhipper, and the fleflily part in the 
 true fpiritual worfhipper, to the fpiritual, to be humbled and abafed, 
 broken and fubdtied, hardly.dealt with, crucified, flain and offered up 
 infacrjfice, under the power of the Crofs of drift or fire-baptifmof 
 his fpirit,typified by*Sarai. ^There's no entring into the-kjngdom,but 
 we muft pais thorow this fire, this tribulation, this bruifing of the in- 
 moft part of the natural &UB,his very fpirit. and rational powers,what- 
 
 ever 
 
( H.) . 
 
 ever becomes of his outward, as to perfection trom the world. Ha- 
 gar defpifed Sarai, IJkmael mocked I[*at y (Gen.ii. 9.) this was per- 
 secution. ULually,thofe that are taken out of the world, (or worldly, 
 full- creation conllitutbn and frame of fpirit within them, by the fire- 
 baptifm) do lb differ even fromthe profiling part of the world, in their 
 very religion or union with God by another Covenant, and in their 
 more excellent way of worshipping God, in fp'uit and truth, not letter 
 anchform, that they feldom or never fcape the external branch of the 
 crofs andbaptifm of blood, through the rage 6c enmity of man againlt 
 this new-creature marvellous light and life, that is fpringing up in 
 thole whom God is transforming into another nature. But let men 
 take it how they will, the crofs, the fire-baptifm, we- mult come to, 
 within us, firft or lait, or we cannot be faved. 
 
 The flefhly worfhipper either yields to this Hery doctrine, mini- 
 flry and way, or refills, or flies. If He get the magillrate; fword, 
 on his fide, (as if Hagar could have got Abram to fide with her againft 
 Sarai ) then he'l make the meilenger of fuch tydings fly, Sarai muft 
 fly orfuffer under Hagar. Men decry it for herefie, blafpbemy, and 
 perfecute him that talkes at fuch a rate.ThusChrilt himfelf was ferved 
 by the zealous, legally religious Jew. 'Twa^the religious, profeiling 
 party of the Jewes that crucified Chrift, and would take no anfwer, 
 hear no reafon or argument from Pilate, the Heathen Magi Urate, to 
 the contrary. But if the fowre Legalift neither will yeild, nor can 
 "bruidiliily refill: this hard doctrine by outward force or persecution, 
 then he takes Hagar s courfe, flies ir. And what then ? He every 
 where decries this fpiiitual doctrine of the crofs and fire-baptifm, for 
 heretical, dangerous and feduclive, toifhing all to beware how they 
 meddle with fuch books^converfe with fuch perfons, or lillen to fuch 
 dangerous fuggellions. While toleration lafted, I have experimented 
 this to be the-too general frame'of fpirit amongll profelTors in this na- 
 tion, who haveevidentlychofen rather to venture a perfecution of their 
 own do6trine and perfons, than endure this and the alienors thereof. 
 Here's the myftery olHagars flight. The Angel of the Lordadvifes 
 hjr to return, and fubmit her felt" to her Miftris. In her, all thefe ti- 
 merous, fugitive, envioiis, legal-fpirited Chiiflians, that are leaven- 
 ed with the leaven of the Pharifees,are admonifhed to entertain bet- 
 ter thoughts of the New-Jtrufalem Spoufe;, refembled by Sarai, and 
 fubmit jjiemfelves to her doctrine and more excellent way ; to the 
 croi's, the fire-baptifm, the fpirit of Chrilt, the' covenant of grace, 
 Sarai* -This is the dodtrine, the reproof, the correction, the inducti- 
 on 
 
C *s ) 
 
 sn'in everlafting rigateoufnefs, which that Hiftory, that Allegory is 
 .pregnant with. 
 
 Chrift with both his Covenant Spoufes and Children, are allegori- 
 callyexpreiTed by Husband and Wife, Father and Children, Head 
 and Members, with the like. Such expreilions are interpretable into 
 myfteiy,by a due conhdering the duties and offices of fuch Relations 
 in the letter. And as Chrift himfelf, (o Paul and others, are fin w ty 
 of Allegory ) calledFathers of fuch as by thenirfn? begotten to Ch ( '.ft, 
 through the Gofpel, i Cor. 4. iy. and ver.f. 17. he calls Timothy , his 
 beloved Son ; 10 \Tim. 1.2. 2 Tim, 1.2. and 2. 1. They are a-lfo 
 called Pa/tors, Mother s y and Nurfss to both the Seeds or Children of 
 Chrift, in their kind, 1 Thef, 2. 7, and 11. Gal. 4. 19. In an: 
 refpect, every true believer, as he beomes the Child, To is the Mo- 
 ther of Chrift, as with pangs and throw's towards the new birth, ( .0 
 the lofs, and at laft, death of the fingle activity of his fl;lhly painjl and 
 heart ) Chrift in fpiiit be formed and brought forth in him L by him. 
 
 Then comes the Life of Faith, the true reigning, New -Jerusalem 
 Principle, (in which reafon has its refurrection) the kingdom of hea- 
 ven within him. He ownes Chrift in his heavenly headiliip, as big 
 Lord and King, exprelTed ( Cant. 3 . 1 1.) by fetting the Crown upon 
 his headjowninga willing fubjee-Yion to the Law of the Spirit of Life, 
 in this day of efpoufal to him, which is a day of gladnefs to Chrift, 
 good men and angels, Ln\. 15-. ic. The believer is the wife Virgin, 
 who becomes at fame time the Mother and Spoufe of Chrift, brings 
 forth her own Lord and King in Spirit, as the Virgin Mary brought 
 him forth in Flefh. In the very day that Chrift is thus brought forth 
 in and by the believer, they are efpoufed together by the new and 
 everlafting Covenant. The believer owns Chrift, as Head, Husband 
 and King. Upon this, Chrift rejoyces, Angels rejoyce, the Believer 
 himfelf rejoyces, with joy unfpeakable and full of glory, 'Tis a folemn 
 thankfgiving day, a day of gladnefs of the heart unto them all. Thus 
 -in a various fence is Chrift Father and^ Son of the Spiritual believer, 
 and the believer the Mother and Child of Chrift. Chrift is Head,Lord, 
 King, Husband, Brother, Son, Fellow-heir to believers. They are 
 Body, Subjects, Wife, Children, Members, Fellow-heirs to him. Ail 
 -thefe expreilions are Allegorical, borrowed from natural Relations to 
 fignify fpirifual Myfteries of love, union and convene between Chrift 
 and his Church ; One thing is faid, and a farther, more excellent; 
 thing meant. The Apoftie having fpoken of the duties of Husb 
 and Wives towards one another, winds 1 pall into this, as his main 
 intendment, the fpiritual nurriare-unicn buween Chrift and his 
 ' I Church. 
 
( 66 ) 
 
 Church, This (fares he) is a great myffery,or myftically fignifies a far 
 greater thing, concerning Qhrifi and his Church, Ephef. 5 . 22, 23 . 
 
 The ReveUtion y in a manner all along, is a defcription of heavenly 
 things by fuch earthly Mediums, fuch Allegorical types, andexpretfi- 
 ons as are borrowed out of Mofes Pentateuch, in the Tabernacle and 
 Temple- worfhip. And of Chriff himfelf tis hid, that without a f arable, 
 (a iimilitude, an allegory) he [fake not unto the people. Mat, 13. 34. 
 Mark. 4.. 34. Muff not he then that truly expounds thole parables", 
 allegorize them ? But how muff he do it ? Parable in the Hebrew is 
 a word that fignifies fharpnefs, as proceeding from a fharp wit, and 
 needing the like to interpret it. That fharp wit rhuft be no lefs than 
 fpiritual difcerning, and that ftrong and well exercifed too, or Scri- 
 pture Riddles will be too hard for it. One or two more of thefe, let us 
 take notice of. Sampfons typical Riddle together with the Phlllfilr.es 
 expofition, does yet want an expofnion. Out of drift, the ftrong Li- 
 on of the tribe otjudah, ( as the eater, or Sacrifice* of the natural man 
 in himfelf and us, by the fire-baptifm ) comes the choiceft meat, the 
 fweetefthony-combof all ; that that feeds and brings us into a con- 
 formity with him in his death and refurreftion. Chrifc ha's left his 
 own interpretation of the parable of the Sower and Seed, of the Tares,, 
 and the like, upon record in Scripture, and yet who undeiftands 
 them f how much do men yet need an expofnion of thole very expo- 
 li lions- ? z 
 
 Paul tMsus Hagar and Sarai are an Allegory, two Covenants, 
 Gal. 4.24. Then hz myftically expounds Ifhmuel and Jfaac into two 
 Seeds of Chaff, (the true antitypical Father of the faithful ) in both 
 Covenants. He declares moreover, that he that's born of this Father, 
 but after the flefh, will- perfecute him that's born of the fame Father 
 after the fpirit : Even fo it is now , verf. 20 . 
 
 Notwithstanding this Allegorizing expofition given by Paul, how 
 tittle does the felf-confident, legal Chriilian hold himfelf concerned 
 ?n the character of him that is born after the fl-*fh ? How verily does 
 he conceit himfelf to be the orhet, that's born after the Spirit ? Here- 
 upon he juftles out the fpirhiiil mm indeed, for a Fanatick wrangler,, 
 a fool, a madman, a blafphemei, any thing, that he lifts to call him, 
 fl'f- 9. 7- At laff,he comes to this downright willful refolution, ( as 
 Efau agairift Jacob, and as the profeiTmg religious Jeives againft 
 Ch riff, in the very fame cafe) Come,this is the heir, let's kill him, and the 
 inheritance Jkall be ours. They imagine this vain thing, even to take 
 the kingdom of Heaven by force, from the tight owner. But if this 
 eager- fpirited generation would but give themfelves leifure tocon- 
 
 fidei 
 
( *7 ) 
 fider this and the like Scriptures, they might fee, that they that are 
 charactered here by him that's born after the flefh, are a holy feed of 
 Chrift, that have Covenant intereft in him, and actual communion 
 with him. They are Children of Hagar y or the rirft Covenant. One 
 would wonder how they fhould mifs this. But they fhuffle it off upon 
 the Jem y that were under the ceremonious difpenfation of the Law, 
 and fo rid their hands of it. Is there no legal Chriftian then ? is there 
 no danger of the leaven of the Pharifees under the outward difpenfa- 
 fation of the Gofpel ? Yes, fay they,but that lies onely at their door, 
 who depend upon their own perfonal operations for their acceptance 
 and communion with God, not on, the imputed righteoufnefs of the 
 Redeemer. I interrogate, When/W/defcribes his Pharifaical flare, 
 he tells us, he wat y touching t%e righteoufnefs which is in the Law > 
 blamelefs. Could this be, imlefs by the comeiinefs of God put upon 
 him, or perfect righteoufnefs of that kind, from Chrift imputed to 
 him? Ezek^.16. 14. Was he a legal Jew} was he any more than a 
 moral Heathen elfe ? But if what is abovefaid will not help to rectify 
 thisqniftake, I ilia 11 be fomewhat hopelefs of being inftrumental to 
 your relief, in this point. 
 
 Tis fad to fee the felf-pleafing interpretations of this and the like 
 Scriptures, all along the Bible, io univerfal and unfcrupled, amongft 
 all forts of ProfeiTors ; an epidemical miftake. How to lift them out 
 of the mire of thefe their own felf-bewildring imaginations, who 
 knowes, but Chrift? Flejh^and the carnal mind, that's enmity to (jod y 
 ( Rom. 8. 7.) muft never be of any larger compals, or farther fignifi- 
 cancy with them, than corrupt, polluted, debauched, degenerate na- 
 ture, dead in trefpaffes and fins • or at beft, but the moral heathen,with 
 fome glimmering revivals and fparklings of rational Light and Life. 
 But as for their part, they are in Chrift, they experience actual com- 
 munion with God ; and once in Chrift, tor ever in Chrift. A company 
 of fuch falfe Maxim's I have too often heard in difcourfe witrurrem, 
 gleaned up from mif-interpreted Scriptures, in which they are fo con- 
 fident and fecure, that there's no fpeaking to them to the contrary. 
 Theyhave not a hearing ear,to liften to the voice of any fpiritual char- 
 mer, charm he never fo wifely. The cunning old ferpent rings ano- 
 ther bell in their ear, that deafs them to the voice of the true watch- 
 man, whofe bufinefs is to warn thefe legally righreous Chriftians as 
 well as the prophane Heathen, of the danger of their condition, Ez,ek^ 
 18. and Chap. 33. i^&c. Men that are righteous, and that in Chrift, 
 will not dream that this warning concerns them. As they ferve that 
 Allegory, ( Gal, 4. ) fo "other Scriptures of like import, as John 3. 6. 
 
 I 2 That 
 
That -which is bom ofthefie(h,isflejh ; and that whlch'-is bom-of the fpirit ^., 
 is fpirit. Flefh here, with them mult be nothing but the corrupt na- 
 ture, the polluted natural condition ; by which ftuft, renewed nature 
 mult pafs for fpirit, and the fpiritual man indeed muft be excluded 
 out of every Synagogue for an Apoftate , a fpiritual wanderer from 
 the plain Truths of the Gofpel ; fo they call the greareft Myfteries. 
 
 The Gofpel and things of it, fpiritual things, are utterly unintelli- 
 gible and undifcernable to the natural undemanding, which, of what 
 extent it is, hath bin defcribed. Yet I have oft heard men-of very in- 
 ferior natural capacities, with great confidence affert, That the main 
 Troths of Cjofpel, are familiar, plain, eafie, obvious things to common m- 
 mderfiaxdingi I grant, they mult, be., fo indeed, if [hey underftand 
 them. 
 
 Does not Chrift: plainly fignify,that one fort of branches in him the true 
 Vine, ma) be cut off, and caft into the fire, Joh.i j .6. and that after high 
 illumination, and partaking of the Holy Ghoil, in the gifts thereof r 
 Heb. o\ 4, 8. Does not the great Apoftle preach the fame doctrine at 
 large, Rom. n ? We find there, that the natural branches, thtt had 
 one fort of Being and Life in the good olive tree, ( Chriit ) parta- 
 king of the root and fatnefs thereof,, were yet broken off among the 
 Jewes, and finners from among the Gentiles, renewed in the prin- 
 ciples of natural perfection, and put, in their room ? Thefe among 
 th G$n r //<?/, that have but this kind of engrafture into this good Olive 
 tree, are warned of the fame liablenefs to apoftatizeand be cutoff, as 
 £he Jeweswztz, in verf. 17,21, The natural Branches among the Gen- 
 tiles make but the myftical earthly ferufalem which may come to be 
 the fpiritual Sodom, and Egypt, the very fame kind of crofs fpirited 
 generation as thofe were, amongft whom as our Lord was crucified 
 long fince in his own perfon, fo will he again be crucified fignally 
 la his- two Witnelles, Revel. U. 8.. at the clofe of the perfe* 
 cutionday. 
 
 The main ground for that moft falfe Maxime, Once in Chrift and for 
 ever in Chrift, ( which muft, by the way, needs argue that there is 
 Sd fuch thing as apoftacy) fo far as I could ever hear from the deluded 
 sifertors of it, is 1 £Vi y. 17. // any man be in Chrift, he is anew 
 creature-, old things are paffed away, all things arc become new. The le- 
 galiilfo triumph in this Scripture, that he can hardly tell what ground 
 be (lands on. He Rands on the fand, and thinks he is on the rock. 
 Let the words be well eyed in our common Englljh tranflation, and 
 you'l find [ be ] and [ he U ~\ in different Characters, which inti- 
 E&ileS them to bt but the Tranflatois iuperaaditions and glofs. Strip 
 
 the 
 
the Text of thefe Redundancies, and the words run thus. If any man m 
 Chrift a new creature, old things are faffed away, ( or the old man, lie ill 
 and blood at its beft, is put off ) the ruling activity of rirft- creation 
 Principles, however renewed, ceafes. Some render it thus'; If any man 
 be In Chrift, let 'him be a new creature ; let him be fure he has that fc- 
 cond,more excellent, new-covenant birch and being in Chrift, that 
 conftitutes and makes him a new creature, and not onely the renewed 
 old creature, the natural or firft-creation man. The words to me feem 
 to carry this fence, If any man In Chrift be a new creature, all things are 
 become »*rv.This implies a being in Chrift, that does not amount to the 
 constitution of the new-creature, but only to an experimental knowing 
 of him after the fleih., not afcer the fpirit,as is alio implied, Rom. 8.1. 
 which fecures not from apoftacy or condemnation, 2 Pet.z. 20, 22. 
 . One Scripture Allegory more I will mention, becaufe 'tis prophe- 
 tical, and more nearly concerns the prefent feafon, than is commonly 
 believed, Cant. $.6. Who is this that commeth out of the Wilder nefs, 
 like pilars of Smoke , perfumed with Myrrhe and irankincenfe, with 
 (or above) all the powders of the Merchant fin theJ^^/j^Woriliip Myrrh 
 typified death and refurre'dlrn ; Franki'ncenfe, Mediation. TheQueiti- 
 cn is put by ftrangers,enemies,or elfe by feme friends and vyejl-wi fli- 
 ers, daughters of the heavenly Jerufalem, ( though hitherto fomewhat 
 captivated to the formes and waves of the earthly) who feem to ftand 
 gazing and admiring at this newunthought of Church , confiding o£ 
 tne rifen WitneiTes, (%evel. n.) when they fhake off their mourn- 
 ing guife, put off their fackcloth, and begin to ftand upon their feet, 
 in the unrentable power and wifdom of Faith. Pillars of fmoke 
 afcend from them through the fire-baptifm, whereby they are a fweet 
 favour to God, as perfumed with the Mediation of Chrift, and with 
 conformity to him in hrs death and refurreclion. The earthly Jerufa- 
 lemprofeffors will be amazed at this, their hearts failing them for fear 
 of that which they never would before be induced to regard or own» 
 Then will thofc exprelTions in the book called, The wifdom of Solomon 
 be fuitable for the hitherto deluded inhabitants of the Earth, ( of all 
 forts) to take notice of, Chap. J. 1,9. Then fhall the righteous man 
 ftand m great boldnefs before the face of fitch at- haveafjlitted him^and made 
 no acconnt of his labpurs. When they fee it, they ft all be troubled with ter- 
 rible fear, and amazed, at the ftrangxej s of his. Salvation, fo far beyond all 
 that they looked for. Then they (hall repent, and groan for angulfh of fplrlt y 
 and fay within thtrnfelves, this was he -whom we had fomstimes in derlfion. 
 We fools counted his Life madnefs, and his end to be without honour. How 
 is he numbred: among the Qhiidren of God 3 - and has hu> lot anion g the 
 
 Saints f 
 
(70) 
 Saints ? Therefore we have erred, from the way of truth. We have wean- 
 ed our f elves in a way of wip^ednefs and defhutlion. What hxtb pride pro- 
 fited ui y or ^ riches which our vaunting brought pa ? 'All thefe things are 
 najfed away as ajhadow. ' 
 
 I cannot willingly let go this bufinefs of Allegories, till I have 
 told you that all mankind, confidered as in their firft-creation make 
 andconftitution, are an Allegory. They and all they have, at befte- 
 ftate, are but type, fhadow, figure of the fpiritual man, that is of the 
 new-creation frame. Their glory, wifdom, righteoufnets,are but {ha- 
 dows of his, and to be done away. Their, goodnefs is but a morning 
 cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away, Hof.6.^. Their wifdom 
 i-s comparatively but foolifhnefs , and their lefler ihadowy glory 
 of the Law, (or ruling powers of their firft-creation ft ate ) is to 
 be done away, as no glory," by reafon of the glory that excel- 
 leth, in the fpiritual man, 2 Cor~$. 10. Every man at his beft efrate^ 
 ( renewed, enlightened, gifted man ) is altogether vanity. He was fo 
 in his firft-creation, he is foin- hi> greateft renewal. Nothing below 
 the new- creature, the fpiritual man, is exempted from this title, in 
 Scripture. Vanity is of larger extent than fin. Any thing that will va- 
 nifh, that is corruptible and periftiable, is vanity. The whole fiift- 
 creation is vanity, and was fowne in corruption, that is, was a corrup- 
 tible, not a corrupt thing. Angels and Men, the choiceft flowers in r, 
 hive withered and corrupted their way before God, and lb loft that 
 life of communion with God, -where in they were created. The natu- 
 ral body, that's interpreted to be the \\x{\^^4dam at b-jfi, with his li- 
 ving foul, ( 1 Cor. if. 44, 47. ) is'but the vile body, or inferiour, 
 firft-creation ftate of man, that is to be transformed into the likenefs 
 of Chrift's glorious body, in the new-creation, Phil. 3.21. 
 
 How too generally and univerlally are profelfors ( in all variety of 
 form, judgement and way ) lodg'd in a kind of invincible conceited- 
 nefs, that the revival of firlVcreation principles and life in them, to- 
 wards a conformity with $Adam in innocency, or Chrift in the flefh, 
 is the only attainment beyond which they are not concerned to look ? 
 All this is but the natural or vile body. Yet how ftrangly arem:n ca- 
 ptivared to this day, under this embondaging anS- incorrigible dot- 
 age ? Every thing that they are, Kivt y fee, or defire, while in this 
 cafe, can be no other than vanity. Their wifdom, glory, righreouf- 
 nefs, all are vanity ; vanifhing things. Men that are vanity, love va- 
 nity ; ou. ward, viiible vanities, that gratify fenfe ; inward vanities 
 thargratify reafon. Man's reafon is vanity. How oft have we heard and 
 feen mens reafon to vanifb, before their bodies ? All the inmoft 
 
 thoughts 
 
m 
 
 ( 71) 
 
 thoughts of mans heart, all the, more overly imaginations of his fan- 
 cy, all the reafonings and defires fpringing from both, are vanity. 
 There is nothing man is or does, till he come within the fpherc of 
 the fpirkual world, the new creation, but it's vanity. Outward vi- 
 able Thrones, Crownes., Scepters, great Revenews, and all poiTible 
 flourishing accommodations of bodily life, amounts but to the more 
 glittering, fplendid fort of bruitifh vanities, and often fall to the Share 
 of heafts^the vileft & moft bruitiSh men. Rational parts,together with 
 their advance and ornament by acquired and infufed humane Learn- 
 ing, Arts, Sciences, excellent Gifts, the tongue of Men and An- 
 gels, thefe are far choicer, and more eligible things, than the above 
 mentioned Lordly circumftances of bodily or bruitiilr Life, and yet 
 thefe all fall within the compafs and fphere of vanities, vanishing 
 things, at founding brafs and tinckjing Cymbals. Nothing below the 
 very feed of Spiritual, nevv-crea don Life, gets out of the fphere of va- 
 nity. Thofe that have all poflible outward and inward gallantry too of 
 the natural m?n or vile body, are exhibited to us, as to their durati- 
 on and continuance,under the allegory or parable of a green bay tree. 
 They may be in great power, fpreading themfelves like a green bay 
 tree, but they foon pafs away and are not ; we may feek them while 
 we will, their place can no more be found. 
 
 What a ftage of the choicer fort of vanities, (glory, righteoufnefs, 
 wifdomofman, excellent gifts, high illuminations, dexterity of ex- 
 pression, tongues of men and angels ) has England been thefe twenty 
 years ? We have feen a praying Ministry, Parliament, Army, going 
 forth ki a way of Righteoufnefs, in Covenant with God, and no wea- 
 pon chat was formed a^ai'nft mem could profper. No Army, no Coun- 
 fel could Stand before them: All opposition-proved a feeble, infatuated 
 thing. Wharisall come to ? They were not ftedfaft in the Covenant, 
 the) 'ftart ed afide like a deceitful Bow. Their righteoufnefs vanished as a 
 morning cloud, an early dew ; and the bodies of the chief Leaders in 
 that Miniftry, Parliament, and Army, are in their graves. All is va- 
 nished, Save a few faithful, chaft-fpirked men, who for being true to 
 their truiT, ftedfaft in their Covenant and undertake, have been and 
 are daily delivered vpat Lambs for the flaughter, by their apoftatized 
 friends. What a Scene of vanities and Shadows is this earth at beft ? 
 how little worth minding f Things feen, things temporal, are the things 
 that are not, Things eternal, things not feen, are the onely things that are. 
 Man thinks quite orhervvife. That matters not. 
 ' Did yve truly know our feives, we might the more eafily fee pcr- 
 fwaded in another fence, not to know our feives. If we knew but the 
 
 vanity 
 
(72 ) 
 
 vanity of our whole fiift-creationftate^ the goodlmefs thereof,com- 
 paratively with what we are capable to be made in the fecond, we 
 would not know our own fouls, no though we were perfect, yet would 
 we defpife our life, Job 9.21. All the wifdom, righteoufnefs, thoughts, 
 reafonings, imaginationsand deiires thereof,are vanity. Did we tho- 
 rowly know this, we would-be content to reiign all ; not thinl^our oven 
 thoughts, fpeakjwr own words, do our own works, find our own pleafures,and 
 fo enter into the true myftical Sabbath, and reft of God, In the new creation* 
 Jfwelofe the temporary life, and righteoufnefs of our firft-aeation, 
 we fhall find it again with ufury in the eternal Life and everlafting 
 righteoufnefs of the fecond. .If. not, we ihall lofe it for ever, in the 
 eternal or fecond death. If we lofe our litteral, fhadowy Life and 
 Image of God, received in the fir ft creation, we Hull find it again 
 with ufury in the myftical fubitance, fpirit and truth of the fecond. 
 Then, let the letter and figure of Scripture be interpreted into fpirit 
 and truth, we fhall know what to make of it j not before. Could man 
 be content to be baffled out of himfelf , allegorized out of his 
 firft-creation fhadow, into fpirit and truth; he would be content. 
 Scripture fhould befo allegorized too.,oijtof its letter and lliadow,in- 
 to fpirit' and truth. 
 
 The true allegorizing interpreter of the Scriptures, does and muft 
 expound thenrinto things.not feen, things eternal, into a fence,quite 
 out of the reach and difcermng of ail the fenfe and reafon in mankind. 
 Spiritual things, things eternal, are difcernable onely to the eye 
 of faith, the fpiritual difcerning, the hearing ear. -He only that 
 hath this ear, will hear what the fpirit faith unto the Churches, Wzb.n . 
 1: %ev. 2. 29. 1 Cor. 2. 14. 
 
 Men then do feem concerned in this point ; for the allegorical 
 knet of Scripture, leaves them quite at a lofs. If they will not there- 
 fore b: content to lofe their fenfe and reafon, with a full affurance 
 and ftedfaft perfwaiion that they Hull rind them again with ufury, 
 in conjunction and harmony with the new- creature Life of faving 
 Faith ; let them make their beft of them for their defence in this cafe. 
 Lett-hem produce their ftrong reaibns, let them come forth in the 
 grea-eft pomp of Argument and Eloquence they can, againft allego- 
 rizing. Unlets they can afford more pertinent interpretations of the 
 'bov: mentioned Scriptuiesand many others, without allegorizing ; 
 whu they fay in this matter is not much to be valued. They will 
 find themfelves as far wide from undemanding the Scriptures, in any 
 o-her fray, as' Jobs three friends were from undemanding his cafe : 
 and my anfwer to fuch colourable reafonings, (hall be that which Job 
 
 has 
 
 i 
 
( n ) 
 
 has furnilhedme with ; How forcible are right words ? but what doth 
 your arguing reprove } Job. 6. 2^. 
 
 This yet mini be granted ; that the devil ( who is a moft dextrous 
 and skilful imitator of Chrift in all his difpenfations, by feigned re- 
 semblances of truth ) will alio (hike in at this allegorizing way of in- 
 terpreting the Scriptures. He will labour hereby to ths utmoft, to ccn- 
 found and bewilder both teachers and hearers, that take and own this 
 courfe. He will ( if poffible ) run them all a ground in a thoufand 
 miftakes,and faife concluiions. But he nevej: puts himfelf to this trou- 
 ble, till he finds men will be allegorizing*; as neither will he make 
 ufe of the choiceft flourilhes of his transformed angelical appearance 
 to impofe himfelf on men, as Chrift in fpirit,. till nothing but that 
 will ferve their turn* Then he perremptorily commands them ( un- 
 der this difguife of an angel of light ) out of their own fenfes, wills, 
 and understandings, into a pure fubjeclion to his dictating and ruling 
 influence, as the onely fup^riourdiipenfation and attainment,to what 
 they ever yet experienced. And allegorizing of Scripture in his way, 
 he finds to be a very appohte means to nourilh and keep them fafs 
 under his wing, in that his higheft difpenfation* his myftical fabbath, 
 a reft from their labours, under his angelical fteerage. Thefe, with 
 all other his inferiour crafts and defigns above mentioned, does this 
 perillous Impoftor mannage upon the various tempered and differ- 
 ently enlightened inhabitants of the whole world, every moment of 
 time. 
 
 But it is one, grand piece of his myftery of iniquity, to keep men 
 quite off ( if he can) from allegorizing of the Scriptures, and con- 
 fequently from all the fpiritual fence and myftery of them, through- 
 out. He perfwades by all means, that men would (tick in the letter, 
 as the onely courfe to hold faft the form of found words • and that they 
 wouldquit myftical fence in the Scriptures^ and fo, the-myftery o£ 
 Godiinefs in their perfons. He would never have them own the Life 
 hid with Chrift In God. Truths the onely Life he fears. Thofe that red 
 in the letter of Scripture and deny the myftery, will eafify be induced 
 to reft in the form ofgodllnefs, and deny the "power thereof ; fromfuch turn 
 away, 2 Tim. 3.5. They cry out againft the Allegorift, call him blaf- 
 phemer, fay .he has- a devil, as thzjews fervedChrift, and Luther 
 Swenckfeld, in that generalanfwet to his puzzling Letters, The Lord* 
 ve'juke thte~ } Satan, 
 
 So much for Allegory^ 
 
 k By 
 
(74) 
 
 BY way of Recapitulation then, arid as deditcible from, or at leaft 
 in exacl confonancy with the divinity part of this Sufferers Do- 
 Sfcrine and Character, take thefe following Concluiions. 
 
 L 
 
 i. GodinChrift, as Chrift is the purely divine form of God, is 
 abfolutely unmovable,incommunicable; in a capacity too high for the 
 creation of either world, natural or fpiritual. 
 
 2. Had God, remaining purely in the divine nature, (without af- 
 fuming Creature-nature into perfonal union therewith ) produced or 
 created this fuft world, it mult needs have been created m a violent, 
 inftantaneous manner, without any progreiTive motion, as in the fix 
 dayes, 'Gen. i. And when created, Angels and men, fo made, muft 
 needs have been everlaftingly [inferable, unlefs reduced to their pri- 
 mitive nothing again. For God that is the onely Fountaine of all hap- 
 pinefs and fatisf action i had remained in an utter uncom.munkibk- 
 nefs, and been (hut up in abfolute invtfibiiity to them, for ever. 
 
 • 
 
 3. God therefore in Chrift, condefcended to cloth himfelf with 
 a twofold creature-forme, natural and fpiritual, through the peculi- 
 ar operations of the fecond and third of the three that are one, ( 1 Job. 
 5.7.) in order to capacitate himfelf for the creation of both worlds,as 
 alio for the communication of himfelf to his creatures, when created. 
 
 4. This twofold creature-nature, as in perfonal Union with God 
 in Chrift, may (by communication of Idioms, and denomination of 
 the whole peffon from the purely divine nature and form ) be called 
 God. God is faid ( Atts 20. 28. ) to have par chafed the Church with 
 his own blood. s Tis a Maxime in School divinity, Whatsoever is in God y 
 is God. 
 
 5. This twofold creature. nature of Chrift, as tranfcribed and copi- 
 ed out by him, in theperions of elect, angels and men, may be called 
 divine, ( fpecially the fuperiour and more excellent kind of it ) but 
 not God : neither are the perfons of angel? or men, by being but thus 
 partakers of the divine nature, either Chrift or God. 
 
 tf. That being which angels & men received in their firft creation, 
 and that Image of God that was then ftamped on them, was in the life, 
 
 g^ry 
 
(7S) 
 
 glory and righteoufnefs of it, but a ihadowy.,£orruptible orchangabTe 
 ^thing. It was the Image of the Mediator,confidered asm that change- 
 able ftate of creaturefhip, wherein he became the Lamb flair, from the 
 foundation of the world, and again in the fuhefs of time ; the image of 
 the firft Adam, in Chrift ; that that is to be crucified in us as Well a£ 
 in him;otherwiie,how can we be brought into conformity wim him in 
 his dea:h ? 
 
 7. Angels and the fouls of men,as having but this mutable Image 
 of God in them,receivedin their firft-creation, are mortal, as to the 
 glory and life of their Beings, in communion with God, ana in the 
 way ot 'righteoufnefs. The angels that- fell, and man when he fell, di- 
 ed the death, as to :his Life ; that is, loft that Life of communion they 
 
 • ith God, in theiighteoufnel's and glory of their firft-creation. 
 Thu s in the day Adam did eate the forbidden fruit, he died ; yet lived 
 in the body, many hundred years after. 
 
 8. All mankind fell in Adam, the tree out of which we fpring as 
 branches. In him we all died. Chrift comes to give a general revi- 
 val, general redemption, out of this dangerous fall ; Rom. 5.12, ip, 
 and 1 Cor. 1^. 22. 'As in Adam all die ^even fo In Chriflfhall all be made 
 alive. It {hall not be f aid, oar firft parents eate the fowre grape, and our 
 teeth are thereby fet on edne, but all fouls are redeemed and recover- 
 able by Chriit- ( if they fti-bbornly refufe not) into the life, light and 
 
 liberty of their underftanding and will, the proper principles of their 
 firft-creation. The fotd then that pm e.h, (either by willful refufalof 
 this renewal, or the lofs of this life again when renewed) It fkalldle. 
 Tis a tree twice dead, dead firft in Adam, then afcei a perfonal revi- 
 val,dead again by a wilful -finning- after the fimilitude of Adams tranf- 
 gretfion, ( knowingly refuting the fame more excellent life and glo- 
 ry of the new creation, that he did, by preferring the leiYer glory of the 
 firft, thereunto) and fo is pluck'd up by the roots and burned, Jude 12. 
 
 9. 'Angels and the foules of men are immortal as to being, if vve: 
 mean by immortal, everlafting. Angels will remain a flame of fire,. 
 
 man will confift of body foul and fpirit, all the elYentials of their 
 firft-creation conftitudon,for ever. But what then ? is this their ad- 
 vantage ? would it not be a great gain to them to lofe themfelves by 
 annihilation, "rather than be eternally miferable ? They are ftii 
 of all righteoufnefs, glory, comfort, "deprived.of all communion with 
 God, and in their imgle, meeinaked beings, expofed to everlafting 
 
 K 2' puniih- 
 
( 75 ) 
 puntiliment/in the pouring forth of his fierce wrath and difpleafure 
 upon ihzm,Mat. 25.46. Does not Chrift fay o£ Judas, it had been oooi 
 for him, if he had never been born f Mat. 26. 24. 'Tis not proper to fay 
 that wicked men and angels, when under the paines,or in the ftate of 
 eternal death, ( eternal apartepoft) are immortal, but everlafting, 
 unlefs it be proper to fay, immortal death. 
 
 10. 'Tis obfervable, that which is faid, 1 Cor. 17. 4.6. Firft 
 that which is natural, and afterwards that which is fpiritual. This holds 
 true of the different creature-capacity and form, in head and mem- 
 bers, root and branches, in Chrift, angels and mer. The natu- 
 ral creature-form in Chrift, a-s a peculiar product or emanation from 
 the fecond erf the three that bear witnefs, ( capacitating him for the 
 creation of the firft world, and to exhibite the Image of the three that 
 are one, to the creatures natural undeiftanding, when made) is to be 
 considered by us in a priority to that fpiritual and more exalted crea- 
 ture form, brought forth in Chrift, by the peculiar operation of the 
 third in the Trinity, by which the natural foim is baptized into its 
 unchangable ftate of Life and Union with God. By this twofold crea- 
 ture-form in Chrift, are th*. three that are one, everlaftingly exhibit- 
 ed to the view and enjoyment of men and angels, in a fuitablenefs to 
 what ever capacity, natural or fpiritual. This is the beatifical vifion 
 God gives of rrimfelf in Chrift. Will any here or any where elle in 
 this difcourfe, cry Tautologie ? 'Tis anfvvered once for all, the fame 
 things are oft faid in fcripture by feveral peribns ; yea by the fame, 
 on feveral occafions, and fometimes fcarcely that ; as is to befeen 
 in the ?fdms % and Trover bs , &c. 
 
 11. As tis faid of the natural and fpiritual form in Chrift and his 
 members, firft that which is natural, then that which is fpiritual, fo is 
 i t f Aid of them, in another fcripture, by way of allegory, in Jacob and 
 E fatty The elder fhatt fcrve the younger •, Rom. p. 12. The natural or 
 elder creature-form is to be fo handled by the fpiritual or younger, as 
 to be through the fire-baptifm transformed out of its changable capa- 
 city, and captivated into everlafting fubje&ion to and unchangable 
 harmony with the fpiritual. This holds true in Chrift and his mem- 
 bers alfo. The whole rank and order of angels and men, that are a- 
 bout the Throne, in their incorruptible natural form, are as fervants 
 to the Bridegroom and Bride that lit upon it, in the fpiritual. The na- 
 tural form alio of Chrift and all thofe peculiar Saints thatconftitute 
 his heavenly Bride, is fubjeft to the fpiiitual, in the fame perfons. 
 
 12. Thefe 
 
C 77 ) 
 
 is.Thefe two creature forms,natural and fpiritual, inChrift and his 
 members, are refembled to us by the two olive trees, candlefticks , 
 and two annointed ones, that ftand before the Lord of the whole 
 earth. This may appear by comparing Zech. 4. 11,14. where they 
 are peculiarly applied to Chrift, with %evel. 11. 4. where the true 
 Saints that receiye this twofold oyl or fpiritual anointing with the 
 heavenly name or nature of Chrift, ( and thereby become the two 
 Witneiles, or WitneiTes of his twofold creature-glory and perfecti- 
 on, Chining forth in their perfons ) are alfo called^the" two dive-trees 
 and candlefticks, /landing before the God of the whole earth \ 
 
 13. ThoiVthat are truly anointed .with both or either of thefe 
 names or formes of-Chrift, natural or fpiritual, by the new and ever- 
 lafting Covenant, are fuch onely as can moft properly be faidtoaf- 
 fembleorbe gathered together in his Name, that is, in the power 
 and exercife of the new name and nature of Chrift, communicated to 
 them, Mat. 18. 20. Such meetings Chrift promifes to be in the midft 
 of, engages ro hear all their prayers, and to grant all things whatfo- 
 ever they ask, John 14. 13, 14. How can it be'otherwife ? for what- 
 foever they ask in that fpiritual new-creature name, in the defire of 
 that new Spirit and Life in them, that is bom of the will of God, ( Jam. 
 1. 18.) muft needs be according to God's will; and (faies the fame 
 Apoftle, 1 John f . 14, 1 $. ) If we 04^ any thing in or according to his 
 will he heareth m. And if we know that he hear U6,what/oever we as^we 
 %now we have the petitions that we de fired of him. Meeting in the name 
 of Chrift^ in the fellowfhif of thefpMt, in the communion of 'the- holy Ghofl, 
 (Thil.z, 1. 2. far. 13. 14.) are all the fame thing. 
 
 ■ 14. Chrift has excellent gifts to beftow upon the rebellious alfo, 
 {Pfal.6%. 18. ) upon a fort of People, that for a while are in Cove- 
 want with him, married to him, and made comely^throuqh one fort ofctme- 
 linefs from him, put upon them, Ezek. i<5. 14. They are his Children, 
 wholly a right feed ^children that will not lie tranche s of the true Vine, who 
 Are yet liable to be turned into the degenerate Plant of a (Iranae Vine unto 
 him, ( Jer. 2. 21. J to rebel apin ft and vex his holy fpirit, fo that he 
 may turn to be their enemy, Efay 6$ . 8. 10. This fort of Saints or Peo- 
 
 - pie of Chrift, who may again become no People, (Hof. 1. p. ) make 
 up his firft-Covenant Spoufe, refembled by Hagar. His Children they 
 are, but they ftay in the place, reft in that ftate of their firft- creation 
 Life and Glory with unwife Ephraim,md the fooliili Virgins, whence 
 the true Children that have the feed of the new and everlafting Co- 
 venant- 
 
( 7 s ). 
 
 venant-Lifc in them, do break forth, into the mfidom, glory -and nghte- 
 oufnefs of the new-creationj Hof. 13. 13. Thofe that thus flay in that 
 place or ftate sf Lite, that is neither God's nor the creatures true Reft,. 
 will at length fet themfelves to vex andperfecute the fpirit of Ghrii* 
 in them that quit that place and {late for the more excellent way, the 
 true Reft, andfo as downright enemies toChrift, will make ufe*o£ 
 thofe very natural parts, or fpiritual gifts he has beftowed upon them, 
 to decry, viiifie and persecute him in his true fpiritual feed. Who are 
 thefe f 
 
 Thofe that are made Eunuchs, as/to any ability to bring forth 
 fruit unto Chrift in the way of their firft-Covenant Life and Princi- 
 ples, being brought to keep his true mythical Sabbath, in the exercifs 
 of their new-Covenant,fpiritual Life, by which means they tome to 
 have a name and place in his houfefor ever, belter than the name and place 
 of thofe (on s and, daughters by the fir ft Covenant, an ever la fling name that 
 jh all not be cm off, or blotted out of the booh^ of Life, as the others may, 
 Efay^6 t \,^. Revel. 3. y. Thofe firft-covenant fons and daughters 
 that fwel and are puffed up with the towring imaginations and felf- 
 exalting thoughts, that by Satans firggeftion and their own ready com- 
 pliance are apt to fpring r up in them ( from a confidence in what they 
 have already received) againft the more excellent way, are with 
 Capernaum, extJtedtin..o heaven, in righteoufnefs, Ordinances, excel- 
 lent Gifts, high Illuminations, and ready utterance,but ??;#/? be brought 
 downtohell for this miltake and preemption. Yea, 'twill be more to-^ 
 lerahlefor Tyre and Sidon 0: the very litteral Sodom in the day of 'judge- 
 went, than for this myfiical y fpiritual 9odom, . in which the Lord and his 
 true fpiritual , heaven-bom Saints are ftill crucified, CMat. 11. 
 
 24, 
 
 O) 
 
 1 5'. Themeer natural (rate and frame of man, confidered either in 
 it creation cr as renewed (ince, is a comprehenfive Epitome of 
 ■ill world. All fort of Being and Life that's to be found in the 
 creation, is fumm'd up and put together, in every particular 
 individtrtj man. He has being, with the viiible heavens, Sun, Moon, 
 Stars, fclements, and all inanimate expounds ; vegetable Life, with 
 Plants and trees; fenfual, withbeafts; rational, with angels ; add 
 fpintual,with Chrift in God, by the new-creation, and then he is the 
 compleat Epitome of both worlds, natural and fpiritual too. In this 
 fence, man is called a CMlcrocofme 9 or little World. Angels in their, 
 iiid-acation frame, are not fo, noryet inthei'econd, their new-cre- 
 ation, 
 
( 79 ) 
 ation, or refurrection ftate- They do not formally contain a (id com- 
 prehend in their very perfonal beings, ail inferiour nature in t;:: 
 world. But they have that that is the man inman,reafon,in afuperiori- 
 ty toman himfelf,as appears by the over-reaching exercife of it in the 
 devil, to the deceiving of man in his Paradifical, primitive, and bell 
 eftate. Yea 'tis faid of Chrift himieif, as a man in fleili, that he wu 
 made lower than the angels^ Heb. 2, 7. Angels then, though they do 
 not formally contain all inferiour nature in their perfonal coriftltutioh 
 as man does, yet do they eminently coprehend it all . And they I 
 originally a more quick, active, and vigorous natural undeiftanding, 
 that does more fully pierce and pry into the hidden fecets and 
 fteries of nature, than man. Their thoughts run to and fro. as aJlaili 
 of lightning. With 'one glance of their intellectual eye, they can 
 notice of all that's to be found in the full-creation. 7 'hey excel r,:. 
 Jirtvgthalfo) Pfal. 103. 20. They have alfo the ftartcf man . 
 xeprefenting all full-creation glory, as eminently comprehende 
 their own perfons. Thus the devil reprefented to Chiift, in a fiouiiiTi 
 of his transformed appearance, all the kingdoms of the world and glo- 
 ry of them> all the deferable excellencies of the firft creation, Mat. 4. 
 8. He is called The God of this world. All his flourishes in fiift cre- 
 ation light and glory, are with defigne to dazle and affect mens eyes 
 and hearts with theappearance of traniient vanities, fo as to keepthem 
 from ever looking after the marvellous light and more excellent glo- 
 ry of the fecond;to keep off the Light of the glorious Gofpelof Chart, 
 that that may not {nine upon them,or be taken any notice of by them, 
 2 Cor. 4. 4. 
 
 He that is called God of this worlds has doubtlefs a vail, univerfal 
 underftanding and iniight into all fir ft- creation nature and things. 
 How elfe can he make the beft of every thing, for the tempting, fedu- 
 cing and enfnaring of men ? He madejthe utmoft ufe of all, to thrift, 
 this way, when he yrefented him with all the klngdomes and glory of the 
 firfl-cr cation. This- bait could not catch him. Far leiTer catch 
 other men ; lirtle parcels of creature-contentments, delights of the 
 fonsofmen. His Table is fpread with all variety of hitf-creation 
 things, for the entertainment and iedu&ion of man. Here's the duft, 
 this lying old ferpent feeds on, {Gen. 3.14. ) and couzens others 
 With, natural things, things feen, g|offed over by him, tocarryon 
 his work. The gencrallity of men are latisfie^ with the crums that 
 fall from this Cerpents Table, the moft inferior 1 fort of concernments 
 that humour and gratify but their bruitifh Lifts. They tumble in fe'n- 
 fual piea(ure > like fwine in the mire while that holds, while provi- 
 
 fions 
 
( 8o ) 
 
 ;"ons come in, to keep that on foot, they reckon all well with them, 
 Hones, affes, and the reft of the bruitifh rout of animals, have fully 
 as good a time on'c as they,in this world, and in this confideration a 
 better, no akings of heart about a world to come and an irrevocable 
 femence of condemnation to everlafting and unexpretfible punish- 
 ment. If men do peep out of this bruitifh ftrain of Life, (the 
 prevailing difpenfation of the devil in England, atprefent) through 
 fome awakenings of Confcience,and begin to look after a little moral 
 righteoufnefs in their perfonal operations , the old ferpent can ap- 
 ply himfelf to them, as their Tutor, Influence*, and Inftruttor here- 
 in • has diet at his board, that will fit their palate. Yea, he can ac- 
 commodate the Legal Chriftian,' with the appearances andexa£tre- 
 fembiances of all that he is for. If the Legalist be unfatisiied, and 
 will be looking after Chrift in lpirit, he puts in with his utmoft flou- 
 rishes and appearances of angelical glory, to fatisiie him in that 
 point alfo. He has before him, all firft-creation things,from the low- 
 eft part of the dufl of tbe world, bruitifli fatisfa&ions, to the higheft 
 part of the duft of this world, angelical glory, and he has the utmoft 
 imaginable skill and dexterity to ufe and improve all,for the reducti- 
 on of men. He puts the moft taking, infinuating glofles upon every 
 thing, prefents every man with obje&s fuited to his palate , capacity, 
 light and attainment. Thus does this grand deceiver of all the Nati- 
 ons of the world, pracTife his witchcrafts and forceries on the fenfes 
 and imaginations of men, by prefent or abfent objects, and by his 
 immediate influence labours to kindle and ftir up their fleftijy affecti- 
 ons and defires, to meet with and entertain thofe trifling vanities he 
 has infatuated and bewitched their imagination to put fuch a value 
 upon. The Galatlans Paul found bewitched with no lefs a matter than 
 me glory of the Law, the righteoufnefs of man, Gal. j. Others are 
 bewitched with the glory of angelical nature , higher, duft than 
 the glory of man; the generality, with fmaller matters, bruitifti 
 yts. 
 
 The Devil then, that's called the God of this world, ( together with 
 his fallen angels) knows exactly what this world amounts to ; knows 
 afl inferiour nature, humane amongft the reft, through and through. 
 He can tell where to have man, and fit him at every turn. He tho- 
 xowly knows all the things he is to tempt him with, and he thorowly 
 him that he fets himfelf to tempt ; and fo is compleatly accomodated 
 for bis reducing work, in all points. And this will be his courfe,till he. 
 be fealed up in the bottomlefs pit, which will be Synchronal. with 
 Chrift's coming forth to reign, Rev* 20,. : tuB 
 
( si ; 
 
 But if once man become a new creature, by receiving either the 
 fmgle or double portion of the ipirit, hepafles-out of the devils 
 hands. This manchild is quite out of his reach, Revel. 12. The fpi- 
 iituai believer, that is partaker -of the ciivine nature, ( in 
 the fence above expreffed ) is partaker of the wifdom, hdfinefs, 
 and righteoufnefs of God. Then he is vviier than the Devil, \\ 
 wifdom of God be fuperiour to the wifdom of that Serpent. This is a 
 thing one did once fpitefully tax this Sufferer with^as boafting that he 
 was wifer than the Devil, becaufe on fome oeeaiion that was offered ; 
 he replied, He wo* glad he lived in a fpirit the Devil was [o little ac- 
 quainted with. Sure he that lives in the ipirit of God, lives in a fpiift 
 that is fuperiour to the devil, and that he is little acquainted with. 
 The loweft degree of wifdom, light, life an'd glory in the new creati- 
 on, is above the higheft excellencies and glory c£ any nature m. crea- 
 ture in the old . He that has bift the firigle portion of the fpirit, and 
 that but in feed, will be too hard for that roaring and devouring Lion, 
 will refill: him effectually, and finally, in the ltedf aft faith of God's 
 elect, 1 /V. 7. 8 ,-9. Even babes andfuckling in the Life of grace, {hall 
 be able to ftill that enemy and avenger,' with all his (hews and flou- 
 rifhes in Natures excellencies , tuft-creation power or things , 
 Pfal. 8. 2. 
 
 16. 'Tis obfervable from the fentence paffed upon the Serpent, 
 that the devil and his angels are' yet.alive. He with lAdam and£z* 
 are fummoned to appear before Chiifts Tribunal, to anfwer what each 
 of them had done in chat buhneft of the fall. His fentence runs thus, 
 Becaufe thou haft done this, thou art car fed above all cattel, and above eve- 
 ry beaft of the field fupov thyjpellyfhalt thou go, and duft [halt thou eate all 
 the dajes of thy Life. Angels . and men, the higheft ranks of Creatures 
 in 'the fiift worj d, are ( comparatively with the new-creature ftate of 
 fnen and angels in' the fecond' world ) reckoned but as cattel, the 
 choicer foit of tnebealtt of the field; Satan with his retinue of fallen 
 angels does yet live. His diet is duft. As God of this world he has 
 all forts of : beings, and excdlencief of the rirft creation before him.. 
 This is the duft be feeds on^and feeds others with. This diet he offer- 
 ed to 1 Chi iit hi mi elf, when he was hungry. 'His trade of feducing man- 
 kind, managable by thefe things;- he "has been at* well towards fix 
 fhoufand years. *Tis a Rabbinical ob fax ztioriy that thefe fix thpufand 
 years of the worlds labour under this feducing work" of the devi1,,as 
 plunged in that wicked one, were refembled by the f\x dayes works, 
 in the creation of it, a thouf and jears being with the Lord as one day. Tne 
 
 L feaventh 
 
(82) 
 
 veinfi thoufand, the Jewljh doctors held to be typified by the Sabbath 
 day, in which the world fhou-ld-reft from this bondage under the God 
 of this world. They obferved alfo that the Sabbath is noc defcribed 
 as the other. fix dayes, by an evening and morning,as having no dark* 
 nefs at all in it, that fo it might more fitly repretent to us trie perpe- 
 tual joycs and light of the New -Jerusalem, or World to cogie* 
 
 Paring trie fix thoufand years of the Worlds qftiferabie thuldoOL 
 and labour under tne Satanical yoke , righteous men are perpetu- 
 al! y opppteffcd from Abel downwards , and there is no judgement 
 for them to be had in this world. But in the feventn thousand 
 year, the fevench aay of the world, they will be in their proper Sabba- 
 ucal itate, and nothing (hall hurt In all the holy Mountain, or kingdom of 
 thrift. The light, glory and wifdom of the fiift creation, w.hen men 
 or ang^ts are deteined and held by them, from entring into the more 
 excellent glory of the fecond,are but af chains of darkneis upon them. 
 When Satans time is come to be fealed up in the bo'.tomlefs pit, at 
 Chrifts coming forth to reign, this yet does noc.abfolutely and finally 
 ftrip him of his firft-creation flourish, but onely fufpcnds his exercife 
 of it, as- to his former deceiving of the nations thereby, till the i 
 land years be fulfilled,- and then he comes forth again for a little tea- 
 ton, to deceive the nations, and engage his whole party of angels and 
 men, in order to the giving his final dc utmoft a (fault to the New -Jeru- 
 salem camp of Chrift and ail his Saints, the beloved City.So far he will 
 be permitted to proceed herein, as to behege it, with a kind of feem- 
 i-ng hcpefuinefs- to outvie it in a fiouriili of fpirituality and in the flats 
 of the refurre&ion, in order yet to carry the Kingdomand dominion 
 from Chri : : and all Sis faint?. Then fire comes downfromGod out of 
 Heaven upon him a^d his ( on the New-Jcrufalcws ale ending into 
 their titrr: Qlt glory of the refur; e&ion* and full viiion of God for ever* 
 m.jre. and then nothing but torment wil be their portion for ever and 
 - - 1 .. . in .pe-ieetiy (tripped of airnrft-creation glory, & enjoyments 
 aridfixeclin the fecond death, however he corcn men with conceits- 
 even to this day, that thofe torments iliail have a period,and all ilulL 
 be fayeft. In Rev. 2.-. we hfcvc at account of rhete particulars.. 
 
 17. What are the Old apd bflew Teftament, as- written Books, re- 
 p tfcriting the mind of God in a found or fight of words, but Letter,. 
 Shadow, c r fignifixant Figure of natural and tpiritual-creature perfe- 
 ction in Cmift- ana men; in. men, as natural and fpiritual propeily. 
 dkftin^uifn 0] v creation Life in them. 
 
 Hen of a full-Covenant, old Teiumer.t 3 oid Ailam y natural or legal 
 
 fpirit 
 
. (»3) 
 
 fpirit are all one thing. So are men of a new Covenant, new Tefta- 
 mem, fecond sAdam y new Creature, or truly evangelical Spirit, the 
 fame. In the former is the Lite of the Law, or the ruling activity of 
 rectified humane firft-creation Principles : In the latter, the Life of 
 the Gofpel, or the ruling activity of the new-creature Spirit and prin- 
 ciples. One is the Legal profeilor, the other the Spiritual believer. 
 One is under the Law of Nature or the firft Covenant, the other un- 
 der Grace, the Law of Faith, fpiritual Life, or the new and everlaft- 
 ing Covenant. 
 
 i$. The Law of Nature and of the firft Covenant are the fame thiag 
 In man, but as to the perfection of them in or upon man, this differ- 
 ence is obiervable. Man in his firft creation as he came out of the 
 hands of God, had the Law of Nature or the ruling powers of natu- 
 ral Life, in full perfection, inherent and operative in his ownperfon. 
 The fame Law of natural or firft created Life and perfection, is re- 
 newed by Chrift in men, as to kind, fo as alfo to be inherent and ope- 
 rative in them, in fome degree ; but the deficiencies of inward per- 
 fonal fan&ity and of inward and outward operations, are made out by 
 the compleatrighteoufnefs of the Law, as wrought by another per fori 
 for them, and imputed to them for their juftification before God, up-* 
 on the tearms of the fiift Covenant, qualifying them for communion 
 with God therein. In this fence, Paul was according to the Law 
 blamelefs ; to wit, under this comlinefs of God put upon him. In 
 the other fence , as to inherent perfonai perfection , 'tis faid , 
 i John 1.8. Jfwefayjve have nofin^ we deceive our J elves , and the truth 
 is not in us, 
 
 19. As to the whole bulk of the written Oracles of God, there is 
 frequently given the proper character both of the Law and Gofpel 
 Principle or ftate of Life, in theoldTeftament as well as new ; but 
 of the latter, more eminently and plentifully in the new. 
 
 20. There were true fpiritual Saints both before and under the out- 
 ward difpenfation of the Law, Enoch^ Noah y Sew, Heber, Abraham^ 
 David and many others ; and there are fowre, narrow, Phariuical, 
 legal-fpirited Chiiftians, under the outward difpenfation of the Gof- 
 pel, at this day. 
 
 2 1. Even the firft Covenant or Legal ftate of tuft-creation Life and 
 Principles, renewed in men, comes to them in the way of Gofpel, or 
 
 L 2 through 
 
C*4 ) 
 
 tnrcugh the glad tydings of the mighty Redeemer, who was promifed 
 
 to Adam under the name of the womans feed, that fhouldjbruife or break 
 the Serpents head, Gen. 3. 15. This he did by dying; through death de- 
 ftrojed, him that had the power of death, that is, the devil, Heb. 2. 14. 
 Thus Chriil died for all, ( 2 CV. 7. 14, 1 j.) to recover all again out 
 of that dead deep in trefpafles and fins, into which they were caft by 
 Adams ^ fail tranfgreiliori, and to fet them upon their rirft-creation, 
 feet ag ain, in order to a new trial of their perfonai demeanour in that . 
 great point, Adim firix mifcarried-in, as to the looting the Life, quir- 
 ing therighteoufnefs, wifdom,andleiTer glory of their fuft-creation, 
 for that which excelleth in the fecond ; thetree of Knowledge , that puf- 
 feth up, for the tree of Life, that edifieth. Thus was Chart a propitiate 
 on, not for the fins of his eleU: onely, but of the vphoie world, 1 Joh, 2, 2, 
 Here's all the general Redemption the Scripture holds forth. 
 
 - 22.- If thefe things be fo, what lignify all the voluminous Contro- 
 versies of the Pelagian and Antipelagian,^ / 4rminian and Ant\arminian y 
 Supralapfarian and Sublapfarian, about Free-will, general Rede mpt- 
 on, and the Like f What Free-will is it, the one pleads for,the other 
 denies % Only fuch as Adamwzs created with ; the wavering Liber- 
 ty of thefons of men, the object whereof, is natural good and evil' 
 As for fpiricua!, new-creation things, they were in themfelves, in. 
 their own naked. eflence, clear out of. (ight to Adams decerning at 
 heir, which was but natural. They were oncly reprefentabie and un- 
 derftandable to him, in a riddle, through fome rutt-creation fhadow,, 
 the Tree of Life. Neither of the above mentioned parties, in all 
 their warm digladiations and pickeerings,once dream of a dillincrt fu- 
 periour (late of Life andLiberty,that fliould fwallow up all that of the- 
 fiift creation into victory, 6c bring it forth again with tifury and great 
 gain, by way of refurrec-tion, in the glorious Life and Liberty of thefons 
 of God, the fpirnual, eternal Life and Freedom to good onely, and 
 not at all to evil. But whoever returns not into the exercife of his 
 rectified firft-cfeafrtm Principles and Liberty, as a general fruit of 
 Chtift's death, 'cis his own voluntary default. He fins agalnftGodand 
 Wrexg* bis own foul * he hat.es Chrift and loves death, Prov. 8. 36. He 
 refufes the righteoufnefs and glory of his own humane nature, and 
 ehufos to be a beaft. 
 
 23 . But what lies in man to do towards the fuperiour and more ex- 
 celhnrdiipcnfation and way, by which he fliould be led forward into 
 the nlorious Liberty of the fans of God 7 and e'.erx.i! Life p 
 
 'Tis 
 
'Tis anfwered, He nath power in the right ufe of his natural free- 
 dom, not to refill it ; but upon experience of the inefficiency of the 
 felfilh fpirit and wavering Principles of his firft creation, to'fubmic 
 ail the Life and glory thereof to the fire-baptifm, in order to the be- 
 ing brought forth in a more excellent (rate, that is unchangable. 
 
 Tis not in man to do any thing towards his new creation, as nei- 
 ther did he contribute any thing towards his fii ft make. ButGcd 
 makes fuch propofal and offer of this new-creation work to ail man- 
 kind, as not one man failes of being made a new creature, but it will 
 be moil righteouily interpreted by God to have befallen him through 
 his own voluntary default, in neglecting, refumig, and refitting that 
 offer. Where comes in the difference then I A remnant according to the 
 election of grace obtain it y the reft are voluntarily blinded and failft:ort y 
 %om. ii* ^ 7. That faying of Auftin is not amifs ; Godwin not five 
 any man whether he will or no, but he will make that man willing t& be fa- 
 ved, that he refolves to faze. He may do what he will with his own. Mans 
 firft-creation Liberty mifufed in this great point, brings forth this fad 
 truth ; Thy deftruUlon is of thy [elf, O man. And Gods referving lingly 
 tohimfelf the forming up of the new creature, and the prerogative- 
 Liberty of effectually and irrehftibly difpofing of this great favour,, 
 where, when, and to whom he pleafes, brings forth that excellent 
 truth, That our falvatlon is onely and meerly of God, as Sir Francis Baco/i 
 obferves in his Confeflion of Faith. Who then maketh men to differ, 
 one from another, the new creature from the old ? Man makes him- 
 ielf to differ from the new creature or fpiritual man, by his volunta- 
 ry rejecting and defpifmg this more excellent Life ; but God alone- 
 makes him that is a new creature, to differ from the old. And this in- 
 deed is the proper meaning of difference in fuch cafes. To differ is to 
 excel, Phil. i. 10. Thai ye may approve things that excel, or differ. 
 So i Cor. i). 41. One ftar differs from> or excels, another far in 
 glory. 
 
 Thou wilt fay, it the cafe be thus, Why doth God yet find fault ? For 
 who hath refilled his will ? Thofe that he hath elected, and is refolved 
 to fave, he will effectually and iriehttibly make willing to be faved, 
 and they will certainly be faved, and no Others* Nay, but O man,wha 
 artjhou that repliefi aaamft God ? Shall the thing formed fay to him that 
 formed it, why haft thou made me thus ? He may make vefjels of honour or- 
 dishonour a* he pleafes, amongfl: Jewes or Gentiles all the world over,, 
 Rom. 9. 1 p ,i$.God that is h-. finitely ;>_/?,ar.d can be no otherwhe,^ not 
 bound to eive an account of -any ofhi$ matters, job 3 3- 1 3 . Why therefore 
 do ye*flrive aaainfi Cod, whiie.ve put forth this aueiubus demand, f+fo 
 
 h.ith 
 
( 8<5) 
 fjatb reffied his will} Will you caft all your fins and definition too, 
 upon God's final rejection of you as reprobate filver ? Jcr. 6. 30. 
 God firives by his Spirit with men to bring them to himfclf, Gen, 6. 
 3. to which Peter refers, 1/V.3. 19,20. Men firi ve and fight a- 
 gainli God, are ditbbedient and rebellious. If God furfer men to pre- 
 vail, in a final refilling of his fpirit that ftrives with them, they are 
 undone forever. If they be conquered, they are fatved. If they lofe 
 their mutable Life, they find it again in that which is unchangable. 
 If they keep it a while in -opposition to the more excellent Life, they 
 lofe it at laft , in eternal death. Theie are the Gofpel riddles , 
 which the very dilciples fcarcely underfiood, while Chrift was with 
 them in the fl:fh, nor we while we have but the like knowledge 
 of Chrifi after the flefla, as they then had. Knowingly to refift and 
 hate the new-creature Life, and words thereof, is to do defpite to the 
 fpirit of grace, to fin againfi: the Holy G-holLH* that hath an ear to hear, 
 let him hear, 
 
 ' lis in vain for man to quarrel. Cod mil be jaftifed, when he judges, 
 Pf.$ 1. 4. He will at laft bring forth the grounds of all his difpenfations 
 toward 3 man and proceedings with him, in fuch a demoniirative and 
 undeniable confonancy to the very reafonofman, that every mouth 
 fhalt be flopped. Yea, there is enough laid already in his written Ora- 
 cles, to fiop every mouth. '* 
 
 24. We may take notice from what hath been faid, who thofe poor, 
 mourning, meekcfpiritedmen, thofe merciful, pare, peace -making, jet per- 
 fected Children ofCjod are, that Chrifl pronounces blejfed, Mat. f . 3,1 1« 
 We may alio come thereby to know on the other hand, what Chrill 
 meanes by that rich, full, laughing fort of people, to whom he cries, wo, 
 wo, wo, Luke 6. 24, 25. 
 
 The poor in fpirit are they that are willing to be broken and emptied 
 of the activity, life, righteoufnefs,glory, wifdom, reafonings,defires, 
 thoughts and wayes of their own mutable fiiit-creation fpirit, in order 
 to be filled with the fpirit of Chrifi, the wifdom, and righteoufnefs of 
 God, in the. new creation. Thus with Steven they come tobefalvf 
 faith and of the Holy (jhofl, ( Alt, 6. 5*.) rich in God, or rich towards 
 God, Luk. 12.21. That righteoufnefs that is -imputed to, or inhe- 
 rent and operative in the new creature,- is called the righteoufnefs of 
 God. All the fruits of faving faith, all the woiks that are performed in 
 the operative principle of new-creature Life, are the righteous works 
 of God, who by his indwelling fpirit, worketh all fuch works in m, Efay 
 26, 12. On the other hand, all the righteoufnefs, imputed to, or in- 
 herent 
 
. L , ( g7 ) 
 
 herent and operative in the Srft-Covenant Saint, is called the right e^ 
 oufnefs of man, hich i\°hzzoufads as Ch'rift had and wrought in his 
 changeable flefhly manhood, which he imputes to them thai are fantlif- 
 ed through his bloody into an experimental knowledge of him, and conformi- 
 ty with him, in theflefi. This imputed Corheliriefs or righteoufnefs, is 
 caHed both God's and Man's, in a breath, Ez.ck^, 16. 14, iy. Men 
 com- too often to trample the blood of this Covenant under their 
 feet, after they have been fofan&ifei, fHeb. 10.2$. ;znd to play the 
 harlot with that fort of righteoufnefs imputed to them, after they have 
 been fo juftiiied. 
 
 The firft- creation kite of Life in man, by being broken and cruci- 
 fied under the fecond, comes into a peaceable, eve Halting harmo- 
 ny with God. This mikes a true fori of peace, as well as of righte- 
 oufneis, anfwermg his father (JMe!chlz,edecl£s conftitution, who is 
 both king of righteoufnefs and king of peace. Such fohs of peace are com- 
 monfy reckoned men of contention, though the only true peace-makers 
 the world has in it, that dehre and labour to bring others alfo into the 
 fame ftate of peace, harmony, and everhfting union with God, as one 
 fpirit with him, the (late of love, charactered, 1 (for. 13., Is not God 
 bimfelf reckoned a God of contention, for driving with men by his; 
 fpirit,in order to conquer them into a ftate of falvation, deliver them. 
 out of their own hands, take them out of their own difpofe, &y be- 
 reaving them of their own liberty and power of (inning againft him v 
 and wronging their own fouies-? And is not Satan, the God of this 
 world reckoned the God of peace, that fpeaks fmooth and pleaiing 
 things to flefh and blood, by ail his various inftruments from amonglt 
 men, even by thofe whom, he transformes into the very likenefs of 
 the Apoftles of Chrift f 2 Cor. n. Do not men generally approve 
 cf and like the doctrine of. him and his minifters beft, as Orthodox and 
 found, that advifes men not to gaze after or liftento thofe fpiritual 
 wanderers, that fpeak of an attainment beyond the righteoufnefs and 
 glory of our frit-creation? This doctrine of his runs through all forms 
 o r profeffingChriftians at this day, and the fpiritual man is reckoned 
 mad for contradicting it. Is not Satan reckoned the God of order y , 
 that is for one mm's continued fpeakingonely in a Pulpit, account- 
 ing i: a breach of the r^eace, punifhable by the Magiftratesfword, for. 
 any o:her to fpeak there, though all that his pulpit man does, is but to- 
 flhat up the kingdom of heaven, and in effedt to charge men that they 
 look not after it, that is, not liften to thofe, who after the way which- 
 they call Herefy, are worfblyplng God in the fpirit ? Is it not the bufinefs 
 of thofe authorized deceiver s 7 to open their mouthes in blaiphemy a- 
 
 «ain[b 
 
r. ss ; 
 
 -gainftGdd, to blafpheine his Name, his tabernacle, and them that 
 dwell (or have their convention ) in heaven ? Rev. 13.6. Phil. 
 3. 20. And is not God himfelf reckoned the author of diforder and 
 confufion, for faying, If any thlngbe revealed to another that Jit' eth by , 
 let thefirft hold his peace ; for ye may prophefy all one by one, that all may 
 learn and be comforted ? 1 Cor. 14.. 30, $$. 
 Thus Satan and men nettle warm together,in the ftrft creation ;andno 
 right tidings or character of the iecond will be liikned to. That craf- 
 ty Serpent has Winded their mlndes, and flop 7/ their ears, leaft this light 
 of the glorious gofpel \hmld fhlne unto them, or fnd any entertainment a- 
 mongjlthem. The Things, the Perfons, the Churches, that this ftrong 
 man thus fraudulently pofleffes, are in peace, tillChriit the ftronger 
 than he cometh to force him out. He is coming. 
 
 2y. Thofe rich, full, old, fooliili kings, as to the righteoufnefs of 
 man, ( 1 Cor. 4. 8. ) That will no more be admonifhed or warned 
 by the wife child in the true regeneration, ( Ecclef. 4. 1 3 . ) thofe 
 flourishing, legal-fpirited Chriftians, that laugh, are warm and con- 
 fident in their prefent attainments, their renewed flefh, they are cf 
 the Laodicean temper, neither hot nor cold, Rev. 3. 16. They are not 
 hot enough for the fpiritual believers company, under the fire-bap- 
 tifm, nor cold enough for the diilblute rabble of mankind, that are 
 wholly given up to vile affections and fenfuallity. They think they 
 have need of nothing, becaufe they fee the beftial multitude under 
 their feet, to whom they fay, ftand by, we are holler than yon. Yet are 
 they (as to eternal Life ) wretched, mlfcrable, poor, blind and naked \ 
 %ev. 3, 17. They have no exercife of true fpiritual difcerning or 
 Life in them. When this fort of profeflors are hard befet with the 
 fpiritual believers teftimony, rather than endure that, they will ven- 
 ture (if there be no other remedy) to piece up with any prophane 
 Interefr ; as Ait. 17. 5*. The iffue oft is , they are ruined for 
 their pained, by thofe they call in to their a fTiftance. Rich they 
 are , wife, (hong, and honorable in Chrift,by a knowledge of 
 him after the flelli, while David, Paul and others of their fpiritual 
 conlliiut ion, are poor, needy, weak and defpicable, as to that felfifh, 
 Life, vvifdotri and righteoufnefs of man , 1 Cor. 4. 8. 10. Pfal, 
 109. 22. 
 
 Will any here Objee~t, That the fame Scriptures are oft quoted, the 
 farm expycfjlms oft nfed , and the f elf e- fame things nnncceffarlly re' 
 pealed? 
 
 The 
 
( °9 ) 
 
 The An}T#er is, Tome this courfe of writing the fame things, is on- 
 ly not grievous ; but to the obfervant Reader u may prove fafe, PhiL 
 3.1. As for others that Diotrephes like, love to have the freheminence 
 amongjlmen, and gratifie their own ambitious humour, by preferring 
 their preconceived notions at all adventures hereunto, (without any 
 regard had to the beguiling projects of the devil upon them and their 
 hearers all along) to me 'tis a very frruli thing to be cenfured by fuch 
 men, 1 Cor: 4. 3. Is not their cenfure and reproach in this cafe ra- 
 ther to be interpreted a ratification of the things here faid, than any 
 wayesan invalidating thereof ? Will they prate againft thefe things 
 with malitious words y not receiving them themselves \and forbidding tk&fit 
 that would, as he in the 3 Epiflle of John v. p. 10 f Let them. Will 
 any that pretend to be onely teachers of the Law, underflanding nei- 
 ther what they fay nor whereof they affirm, ( 1 Tim. 1.7. ) out of hatred 
 to the main things 'here treated of, bark at fomecircumiiantial infir- 
 mities in the delivery thereof, contracted from the earthlinefs of the 
 vetfel, through which they are handed to publick view ? Let thefe 
 take their courfe alio ; I fnall hold my felf little concerned to heed 
 what they fay. Chriit pronounces wo to thofe that all men fpeakjwdl of; 
 for fa ( fays he ) did their Fathers to the falfe Prophets, Luk. 6. 26. 
 That fpirit in man that feeks or regards the praife and commendation 
 ofmen,is never right, never has the praife of God, Rom.2.29. iCor. 
 10. 12.18. What is more familiar to obfervation in teachers arr.onglt 
 us, than that fpirit of the Scribes and Pharifees that would be putting 
 up thz kingdom of Heaven againft men, neither going in themfelves, nor 
 fuffering 01 hersjo go in} Ma t . 2 3 . 1 3 . 
 
 2<5. God in the firft creation gives us ourselves : In the fecond, 
 himfelf. All therighteoufnefs, wifdom, and works, as well as the 
 very being of man, is from God, as made by him*; but are called the 
 righteoufnefs,. wifdom and works of man, or felf-wifdom, felf-iighte- 
 oulhefs, which he that fo worketh, is under the Law or Covenant of 
 works. If man himfelf may be called felf, fuch woiks at bed are but 
 felf-iighteoufnefs. Men grofly deceive themfelves in limiting felf to' 
 the corrupt nature onely . The ridding us of that, is onely the cafting 
 out of the devil, or of that which the old ferpent by his fnft fuggefti- 
 on to Eve, brought into our nature. Thofe Minitters and Paftois of 
 Churches, that are really ferviceable to their hearers in this wo]k,will 
 findxold entertainment from Chrift, if they proceed not with Paul to 
 a fecond and more excellent birth of Life in them, Mat. 7. 22, 23. 
 The fruit of their Mimitry amounts but to the conlUtuting of the honfe 
 
 M upon 
 
( sp) 
 
 ttfon the find, ( renewed nature, the Houfe, empty,foept,and garmfke \ 
 that Satan can re-enter) not the Houfe upon the rock,, that fpiritual 
 houfc, ( i Tet. *. f ..) that is partaker of the divine nature , againl* 
 which , the gates of hell (hall not prevail. 
 
 All that man is, has, or does within the compafs of his firfi-crea- 
 tion frame of mind and heart, atbeh\hath SELF (tamped upon it, Co in- 
 delebly and by fuch undeniable evidence from the fcriptures of truth, 
 that all the ihifts and wit of man will never be able to wipe it out. 
 That that is made or renewed by God in the firft creation, is of the 
 earth, earthy. That that is born of God in the fecond, is from hea- 
 ven • and the righteoufnes, wifdom, and glory thereof is called the 
 iighteoufnefs, wifdom and glory of God, which they fall fhort of, that 
 ftay in the firlt. There is no eternal Life to be had, but in the glory 
 that excels, 2 Cor. 3 . 10. 
 
 There is a glory and a glory : a letter glory that is to be done away, 
 becaufe comparatively 'tis no glory, by reafon of the glory that excel- 
 leth, and is to remain. Reformation brings the leiler glory, the glo- 
 ry of man a frefh upon him. But it mult be Transformation by which 
 we are changed into and brought forth in the glory of God, verf. 18. 
 tis not a gradual progrefs and proficiency in the fame life, glory and 
 righfcoufnefs, that is here meant, but a total change out of one kind 
 cf glory into another ; a patting out of the glory of the firft-creation 
 into that of the fecond, from the changeable Life, glory, and righte- 
 oufneiie of man, into the unchangeable Life, glory, and everlalHng 
 lighteoufnefie of God^ The Apoftieufes the lame word to exprefie 
 this great change or metamorphoiis of fouls, that is absolutely ne- 
 ceffary to falvation, which the Poet prefixes to his fabulous trans- 
 formation of the bodies of men into the fhapes of other kinds of crea- 
 tures. We are metamorphofed, changed or transformed from glory, 
 to glory. Spiritual ,new-creature Life only is unchangabie and there- 
 fore eternal. 
 
 27. This then is the fum of man's duty ; Offer the facrificcs ofrigh- 
 tcoufnes, and put your truft in the Lord, Plal.4. f- ^ s Chaldee ren- 
 ders it, Subdue your lufls,ar.d it (ha! I be accounted a facrifice of right e- 
 ofifnefs. Be content to quit and offer up the firft-creation iiate,at bed, 
 In facrifice to God, and pat your trufi in the Lord, who by his fpirit given 
 forth to you in the new-creation, will work all your Works in you and 
 for you, after a mere excellent way. In the prtefily office and power 
 ol \ Mjr faiths prefers your bodies, a living facnfice, holy, acceptable to God y 
 which k your re afon able (ervice \ oris that iacxifice of your realbnable 
 
 powers, 
 
powers, your rational principles at heft, that God frill accept, and 
 thereupon transform into an a bib lute com. llance and unchangable 
 harmony with his will, Rom. 12.1,2. Cruc'-fie thefiefh with the ajfeii '0 t 
 andlnfts. Tut off the old man. Thefe arid rttany other Scriprures of 
 
 like import, do all together and each of th^m apart, c ompendr, >-fr/ 
 imply the whole duty of man,even all that God requires of him, which 
 is to humble himfelf under the crofs of Chr ft and wi k,for ever wich 
 the Lord. So Pfal. 50. 23. whofo offer et h'pralfe, glorlfieth me : So the 
 Septuaglnt render it in Greel^. In the Hebrew 'us, whofo facr'ficeth 
 confejjion ; which the Caldee renders, whofo fayeth his evil ( ot fleihly) 
 coxcttplfcencc, that is, the flefhly or natural mind. The renewed mind 
 of man is but a -labile, wavering, corruptible thing. This is notonely 
 to be confefied,but the confemon or thing it feif that is confetfed thus 
 to be, is to be facrificed and offered up to God, by a living active 
 faith. If not, it will refift the fpirit of God-, refute his new-creation 
 work, feek to fave its own life, keep it felf whole and unbroken, and 
 fo will evidence it felf in conclufion to be that carnal mind, that's 
 enmity to God, and works eternal death to man, Rom. 8. 6. 
 
 To come roundly and freely off with the facrifice of felf, in the ful! 
 Scripture latitude thereof, by a thorow felf-refignauon, isthe great 
 duty of man, and the onely true and acceptable offering of praiie to 
 God. Truly and fubftantialiy to praiie God, amounts to no lefs than 
 this offering. Lets not pleate and delude our felves with a noife, a 
 found of words, ihadowes, for things, fubftance, truth. 
 
 28. Know then, O vain man, that without workj thy faith is dead, 
 Jam. 2. 20. What works ? the works of an active, faving faith ; the 
 fruits that flow from the proper fpring and principle of 'new-creature 
 Life in man. One great work of this faith, is to lay hold on the un- 
 changeable and everlafting righteoufnefs of God in Chrift's per- 
 fon. 
 
 Another great work of it,is to crucify the flefhly mind, or principles 
 of humane nature however renewed, fo as for ever to difable them 
 either for working fin or righteoufneiTe, in the fingle firft-creation 
 activity or Life thereof. 
 
 A third work of it, is to enable man to worfhip God in fpirit and 
 truth, and to perform all righteous works towards God and men, in a 
 more excellent and accep:able way, and with more fteacinefs and cer- 
 tainty, than ever the renewed natural mind, with all its ornament and 
 furniture, could perform fuch things. Without fuch a faith and the 
 workings of ir 3 It is wpoflibU to plea fe God, Heb. 1 1. 6\ Thus by being 
 
 M 2 difabled 
 
difabled to perform one tittle of the Law in the fmgtc a&ivity of out 
 corruptible ( though renewed ) mind, we come fo to fulfil the whole 
 Law in the continuing and incorruptible principle of new-creature 
 life, that againft us there is no Law, that has any thing to fay, Gal. 
 5". 23. Do we then make void the Law through faith f God for hid : yea t 
 we come by this means onely, to eftablljh and fulifil the Law, Rom. 3.3*. 
 Mat. y. 17. They that believe in God, mulx be careful to maintain 
 fuch good works, to wit, the works of faith, Tit. 3. 8. This is the 
 letting our light fo fmne before men, that they may fee vur good veorkj, and 
 glorifie our father which a in heaven. Mat. f. 16. Wefhew hereby 
 that God's fpirit which is fet up in man by the new creation, is better 
 at working rigrueoufnetTe, than mans fpirit that was fet up in him by 
 thefirft-creation. 
 
 Any works we do, as born of God in the new-creation, are better 
 r>n all account?, than what we can do, as made of God in the firtt. 
 whatever work is good in the honed Heathen or legal Chriftian, fhall 
 be owned and out-done by the fpiritual believer, in his more excel- 
 lent principles and way.. The higheil Principles of Life in man, in-. 
 -elude, ratifie, and out-do all that righteoufnefs that is performable 
 in the lower 
 
 In fuch Principles was this Sufferer a worker of righteoufnefs,fuch 
 aworfhipper of God as the Father feeks and approves of; fuch a true 
 Son of peace, & fuch a peacemaker as hath bin defcribed,but reckoned 
 a man of contention, for that very reafon. He was content with Paul 
 to be a fool for Chriit, defpifed for Chrift, the poor and needy man, 
 with David. As a true Embaflfador of Chrift, and minilter of the ever- 
 kfttng Gofpel, he warned and be fought the fons of men, to- confide* 
 their own true intereft, in becoming not onely almoft but altogether 
 fuch as he wa&, excep: his bonds. His Life was not like other mens, 
 nor his Ministry. His waves were of another fafiuon, as they reafon, 
 ( wifd. 2. 15-. ) therefore have I writ his Life after another failiion 
 than mens Lives ufe to be written, treating moftly of the principles 
 and courfe of his hidden Life amongft the fons of God, that the ions, 
 of men may the bet er know and conhder what manner of man it was 
 they have betrayed, perfecuted and (Lin* For this,read on from verf» 
 1 j., ro 23, of wlfd. 2^ ( which I quote not asScripture,but as a no- 
 table character of mens rational conviction and acknowledgements,. 
 togethei wivh thai falfe realbni^gs, and moll perverfe deductions 
 therefrom, in the prefent cafe ) We are eflecmed of him at counterfeits^ 
 or hypocrites ; he abftelneth from our wayes y as filthynefs. He maketh his 
 koaft) that God u ha Father. Lti Hi fee if hn words be true. If he be the 
 
 Son 
 
■ 0?3 ) 
 
 SoftofCjod, he will help him and deliver him from his enemies. Let us ex* 
 
 amine him with defpitef nine fs and torture > that we may know his meekr 
 nefs and prove his patience. Let us condemn him wi th a foameful death , for 
 by his own faying he fhall be refpeEled. Such things they did imagine , and 
 were deceived ; for their own wickednefs hath blinded them. As for the my- 
 fteriesof God y they knew them not , nor dlfcemed the reward of bUmekfs 
 foules. 
 
 Thus, not owning any need of an Apology for having been fo large 
 in the expofition of his divine Life, Principles, and Doctrine,, (fave 
 onely this,. that I have-fpoken thefe things r rather as an ihftruction to 
 the living than an Apology for the dead ) I return to the more pub- 
 lick and overt acts of his humane pilgrimage and conversation a- 
 mongft men, having mentioned the private paiTages thereof in the be- 
 
 ginning 
 
 Would you know his Title in reference, to his countrey ? He was 
 A Qommon-Wealths-Man. That's a dangerous Name to the Peace and 
 Intereft of Tyranny. 
 
 I have lately met with two new State. Paradoxes in Print, which 
 fpeak ruine to all that own that Title,. 
 
 t.That the 'Common-Wealth is not fafe y while Common-Wealths- Men 
 are alive. 
 
 2. That the L awes are not fafe y while they are alive that, every day cdl 
 for the aid of the Law. 
 
 Thefe Ailertions carry with them fuch an appearance of contradi- 
 ction, to fay no more, that I am not fo much an OEdipm as to un- 
 riddle them. 
 
 The Character of this deceafed Statefrmn, (with whofe Principles 
 thofe two faytngs carry little harmony) I fhall exhibite to you in a pa- 
 per of Verfe;, compoied by a learned Gentleman, and fent him, July 
 
 V A NE,' young iny*ars y but in f age counfel otd 9 . 
 Then whom a better Senat our nere held 
 The helme'of Rome, when Gowns not ArmsrepelPd- 
 The per ce EpeirotrfW the African bold.- 
 
 Wht~ 
 
( 5>4) 
 
 - 
 
 Whether to fettle peace or to unfold 
 
 The drift of hollow flat es, hard to be fpcJPd, 
 Then to advlfe how war may be ft, uphel'd, 
 Move by her two main Nerves, Iron and Gold 
 
 Ln aH her Equipage : be/ides to know 
 
 Both fpintual power and civil, what each rneanes, 
 
 what fevers each, thou haft learn' >, which few have done. 
 
 The bounds of either Sword to thee we owe ; 
 Therefore on thy firm hand Religion leanes 
 In peace ^and reckons thee her eldeft Son. 
 
 In the former part of thefe verfes,notice is taken of a kind of ange- 
 lical intuidvenefs and fagacity he was furnilned with, forfpyingout 
 and unridling the fubdolous intentions of hollow-hearted States, how- 
 ever difguifed with colourable pretexts of Friendfliip. This.rendred 
 him a choice Senator, an honourable Counfellour for publick fafety. 
 The Widow of Tekoah faid to David, <JMy Lord u wife, according to 
 the wlfdemof an Angel of God, to kjiow all things that are In the earth ; 
 2 Sam. 14. 20. Will you fay, this was a flittering hypeibole .? What 
 think you of that in Amos, Surely the Lord will do nothing,but he reveaU 
 eth his fecrets unto his fervants the Prophets ? Amos 3. 7. The king of 
 Syria took counfel, faying, In fnch and fuch a place fhaU be my Camp 
 again ft Ifrael. Ellfha fends to the King .of Ifrael, faying, Beware thou 
 pafs not-fuch a place, and the King of Ifrael fent to the place the Seer of 
 God warned him of, and fayed himfelf there, not once nor twice, 2 Kin, 
 <$. S T 10. On this, the King of Syria fufpe&s that fome about him dif- 
 cover his projects to the King of Ifrael. No, my Lord,0 King, (fates 
 one) Ellfha the Prophet that is In Ifrael, tells the King of Ifrael the words 
 thou f peaks ft m f ^7 bed-chamber, verf. 11, 12. Hereupon the King fends 
 a great Army of Syrians to apprehend, tl. e Prophet. They come to Dothan y 
 ■where he is. But by the ajjiftance of an angelical hoft in the Mount, he baffles 
 out all their Forces, at before their Counfels, andfecures Ifrael from their 
 Incur ftons » for the bands of Syria came no more into the Land of Ifrael, 
 verf. 13, 2 3. So Ez,ekjel, when in Caldea,* was prefent in fpirit at the 
 City Council of five and twenty at Jerufalem ; took exact notice of 
 their Deportment, Debates, and Refolves, (in direct contradiction to 
 God's meffages by the Prophets, himfelf,^w#*y and others) and what 
 befekhem thereupon. He Jaw Pelatiah the Chair-man or fome chief 
 
 mim- 
 
member of the Connelly fall down dead r Ezek. ir. i, 13. 
 
 A Statefman ofTuch a fpirit, ( that can at whatever diftance, know 
 the Debates and Refolves of the enemy, as'if he fate in Council with 
 them) might advife and contrive things with beft advantage to his 
 Countrey, without fuch a company of chargeable wail-pipes of Spirals 
 at home or Correfpondents abroad, as is tifual. But was this deceafed 
 Statefman a Prophet f All Futurities are treafured up- in God, but 
 does every one that fees God, fee thefe ? The Schoolmen acknow- 
 ledge, that all the moll: contingent and voluntary actings of the Crea- 
 tures, with all future events whatfoever, have bin eternally prefent 
 to God's intuition, whofe underltanding is infinite, Pfat. 147. y. 
 They hold him alfo to be SfecHlttrnvolmtarittW) a voluntary Mirror, 
 fo as not all that fee him, fee future*events, or the prefent actings of 
 their fellow creatures, at a diftance ; but onely fuch angels and men, 
 unto whom he is pleafed to make a particular difcovery thereof, for 
 the managing of his defignes in the World. Let this be granted : yet, 
 whoever is partaker of the divine nature or fpirit of Chrift, though 
 but in the fingle portion thereof, lives undeniably in a fpirit and dif- 
 cerning, fuperior to what is to be found in any firft-creation nature 
 whatfoever, humane or angelical. He that lives in this fpirit, knows 
 not onely this or that man by perfonai converfe, but humane nature, 
 mankind, what it amounts to, how 'twill a6r, where it will be next. 
 He comprehends it, knovves the moft curious and otherwife imper- 
 ceptible motions of every wheele in it. Many believed in Chrift ; 
 but he knew what kind of Faith they had, a temporary one, that onely 
 that caft out the devil, and made them men again, wafh'd -their hu- 
 mane nature, not baptized them into the divine. He would not there- 
 fore trull them, for he: knew ail men; he knew what was in man, 
 John 2.-23, 2 j. He knew they had but the faith that might draw back 
 to perdition, which foon after appeared, for when he came cloffe tor 
 them in the teltimony of fpiricual or eternal Life, which is the free 
 gift of *he Father, ilYuing out of his difcriminating love, thefe difci- 
 pies went back and walked no more with him, Job. 6\ 6> , 66. 
 
 The true Divine is a man of another, a more excellent fpirit than- 
 other men, with Caleb, Daniel, and Chrift himfelf. He fees the whole 
 frame, courfe and way of man,in Sanctuary Light ; weighs him in the 
 bai lance of the Sanctuary, knows what he will do, and what will be- 
 come of him, notwithstanding any prefent rlourillies. He knows he 
 -has but a flippery ftanding, will be brought into defolation in a mo- 
 ment, and utceily consumed with terrors, T/*/. 73.17,19. The per- 
 
 1 on 
 
( 96 ) - 
 
 fon here treated of, was ( with Noah ) a preacher of righte 
 with Abraham, one that did command his Children and houfhold af- 
 ter him, that they fhould keep the Way of the Lord. His Life and Do- 
 ctrine feemed to carry much of demonftration in them, that he was 
 one of the peculiar Favourites of Heaven, had that double portion , 
 which prepares and qualifies men to fit down ( in due feafon ) with 
 Chrift upon the Throne, in a fuperiority to the eie& Angels ; the lin- 
 gular prerogative and reward of ChrifFs Servants the Prophets, be- 
 yond what falls to their fhare, who yet are his true Saints and evei- 
 laitingly faved People, that tear his name, 'T{ev. 1 1 . 1 8. 
 
 This Prophet or Seer of God, in the mid it of the greateft fuccelTes 
 in the late war, when the Churches, Parliament, and Army reckoned 
 their work done; thought their mountain io (hong that they fhould 
 never be moved ; faidthe bitternxfs of death and perfecution is over, 
 and that nothing remained, but (with thole felf-confident Corinthi- 
 ans ) to be reigning 06 Kings, ( i Cor. 4. 8.) he difcovered himfelf to 
 be of another Spirit, with^tf/. He could not reign with them. When 
 they thus mufed and fpake, PVe [hall fit at a Queen,we fhall know no more 
 forroiv, he would be continually foretelling the overflowing of the 
 finer mylfical Babylon, by the moR grofiy idolatrous Babylon, and the 
 flaying of the true WitneiTes of Chriit between them both, as the con- 
 fequent of fuch inundation. Has not he had his fhare in the accom- 
 plishment of his own prediction ? Have not they,by their pride, apo- 
 ihcy, and tieachery, been the occasion of his and their own Sufferings, 
 who would not believe him, when he prophefied of fuch a fuffering 
 feafon ? Have not floods of Belial, Judges, Counfellors, WitneiTes, 
 Jurors, Souldiers of &7/V compalTed him about? (Pfal. 18.4.) Did 
 Scripture, Law, orReafon fignify any thing with them f So the Wa- 
 ters went over his foul; they took away his Life from the Earth. 
 Yea, the rage and violence of bruitifh men followed him dole at the 
 heels, to his very execution-ftroke. But however it was with him, as 
 to a certain fore-fight of particular events, yet that he could con- 
 jecture and fpel out the moftreferved confults and fecret drifts of for- 
 reign Councils againft us, ^ which they reckoned as tacita, concealed 
 till executed ) the Hollander did experience to their colt. 
 
 Th: next branch of his pubiick ufefulnefs in « political capacity, 
 was his molt happy dexterity at making the belt of a war. Armies 
 are to fin ill purpofe abroad, unleiTe there be fage Counfel at home. 
 He heartily laboured to prevent a War with Holland, but the fons of 
 Zerviah, a Military party, (that too much turned War into a Trade) 
 were too many for him, in that point. He therefore fet himfelf /o 
 
 make 
 
( 97 ) 
 
 make the beft of a War, for his Countries defence. In this War,after 
 ibrne dubious Fight?,* ( while the immediate care of the Fleet was in 
 other hands) he with five others were appointed by the Parliament, to 
 attend that affaire. Hereupon he became the happy and fpeedy contri- 
 ver of that fuccesful Fleet that did our work in a very critical feafon, 
 when the Hollander vapoured upon our Seas, took Prizes at pleafure, 
 hovered about our Ports, and were ready to fpoil all. His report to 
 the Houfe, as to the War-Ships by him recruited, ordered andfent 
 forth in fo little time, to find the enemy work,feemed a thing incre- 
 dible. 
 
 In the beginning of that expenfive War, ( as unwilling to make a 
 prey of his Countries necefli ties) herefignedhisTreafurer-iliipfor 
 the Navy, cauhng the cuftomary dues of that Office to be converted 
 into a Salary of a thoufand per annum. The bare poundage of all ex- 
 pences that way, which in times of peace came to about three thou- 
 sand, would have amounted to neer twenty thoufand by the year, du- 
 ring the war with Holand. Were his perfonal circumftances and the 
 condition of his Family-affaires at that feafon and hnce, well known, 
 it would render this piece of felf-denial the more-memorable. Some 
 inconfiderable matter, without his feeking,was allotted to him by the 
 Parliament in lieu thereof. He had alfo long before this, upon the 
 Self-denying Ordinance^ ( little obferved by others) refunded five and 
 twenty hundred pounds, for publick ufes, being the moiety of hi? Re- 
 ceptions in the (aid Office, from fuch time as the Parliament had 
 made him fole Treafurer, who before the War was joyned with ano- 
 ther perfon. 
 As for the keeping of his hands free from all maner of Bribes,or what 
 ever might be fo interpreted, all the while he was engaged in publick 
 action, I refer you to his own iblemn appeal on the Scaffold, to the 
 great God of Heaven and Earth, and to all that great Affembly round 
 about him, or any other perfons, on that account, which none could 
 contradict. He openly challenged all men, to fhew wherein he had 
 defiled his hands with any mans blood or eftate, or that he had fought 
 himfelf in any publick place or capacity. Such were his abilities for 
 difpatch of a bufinefs if good, or hindring it if ill, that had his hand 
 been as open to receivers others to offer, in that kind, he might have 
 treafured up filver as duft. Many hundreds per annnm^ have been of- 
 fered to Tome about him, in cafe they could but prevail with him, on- 
 ly not to appear againft a propofal. On the leal* intimation of fuch a 
 thing to him, he would conclude it to be fome corrupt felf-interefted 
 defign, and let himfelf more vigilantly and induftrioufly tooppofe 
 
 N and 
 
(S>8 ) 
 
 and quadbit. That Greek, Magiftrate left the bell Name behind him, 
 who (having been often in publick place, anctof general rami for 
 abilicies and honefty ) when he came co die, left his family 10 bare, 
 though he had lived frugally, that portions for his Children were if- 
 fued out of the publick Treafury. This Patriot, for his many years 
 faithful Serving of the publick, has endured Several tedious imprison- 
 ments-, at length loft his Life, and hazarded his own eftate,that Should 
 pay his great debts, and fupply his family with fuch honourable main- 
 tenance as becomes their birth and education. Here's his reward on 
 Earth ; but great is his reward in heaven. 
 
 The latter part of this Sufferers Elogy in the 'bove-mendoned 
 VerSes,concerns his skill in diftinguiftung the two Swords or Powers, 
 Civil and Spiritual^ and the fecting right bounds to each. He held 
 that the Magiftrate ought to keep within the proper fphere of Civil 
 Jurifdi&ion, and not intermeddle with mens fconSciences by way of 
 Impoiition and Force, in matters of Religion and divine Woifhip. 
 In that Healing Quejllon, for which he was wounded by the late Pro- 
 tector (Co called) he did Sufficiently manifeit this to be.as well the 
 Magiftrates true Intereft, as the Peoples juft Security. 'Tis-obferved 
 by MORE and others^on various accounts, that the %omane Empe- 
 rors owning and incorporating Chriftianity with the Laws of theErn^ 
 pirc, ftrengthened the Intereft of the formal Chriftian, and drave the 
 true Spiritual Worshipper inco the WiiderneSs.. While Magiftrates 
 pretend, and ( it may. be ) verily think'they are doing Chiift a high 
 piece of Service by fuch fawning and formal compliance, they are di- 
 rectly involved in the Antichriftian Intereft, for the persecuting of 
 Chrift in his- true Spiritual members : That men, yea religious, holy 
 men, may be So miftaken, See Job. io\ 2. AElsz6. p, n. 
 
 This lover of his Nation, and after tar of the. juft Rights and Liber- 
 ties thereof unto his death, was alSo for limiting the civil Power, de- 
 legated by the People to their, Truftees in the Supream Court of Par- 
 liament, or to any Magiftrates whatsoever. He held, That there are 
 certain Fundamental Rights and Liberties of the Nation, that carry fuch a 
 mlverfal and undeniable confonancy with the light of Nature, right Rca- 
 (on, and the Law ofGodjhat they are in no> wlje to be abrogated or altered^ 
 but preferred. What leSs than this can Secure Peoples Lives, Liber- 
 ties and Birth-rights, declared in CMAG^A CHART A, 
 and ratified by two and thirty Parliaments fince ? Let but once this 
 truth be exploded and blown away, all the Rights and Liberties of the 
 Nation will Soon go after it, and arbitrary. Domination and Rapine 
 may Securely triumph over all. Deny that there are any Fundamental* 
 
 unre- 
 
(99 ) 
 
 unrepeatable Laws, and who can be fecure as to Life, Liberty, orE- 
 ftite ? For if by an over-ruling ftroke of abuied Prerogative, a majo- 
 rity in Parliament can be procured, that will pull up all the antient 
 Laws Rights and Liberties of the Nation by the Roots, andeftabli^h 
 mifchief by a new Law • ( make Reafon and Duty Treafon, and that 
 poftfaSlum too) in this cafe, he that did things moll rational and jufti- 
 fiable by unrepealed or unrepeatable Laws, yefterday, may be con- 
 demned by a Law mi&zpftfattum, and executed too morrow. By this 
 meanes Judges may be put into a moll unhappy capacity oijuflifying 
 the wicked, and condemning the right w#,under colour of Parliamenta- 
 ry authority, in bstb which things they tire an abomination to the Lord y 
 
 Prov. 17. iy« 
 
 * Count Gundamoxe obferved it to be no uneafie thing to procure a Par- 
 gNtify afei 
 1 corrupt fort of Gentry , that have many Tenants and Dependants , (who to 
 
 liament that would j^tify a felf-int erefled party ^and abufe the People. A 
 
 ^pleafe their Landlords would betray their Country and Religion too) could 
 
 * eafily procure themf elves to be chofen ( faies he ) for the County. And 
 1 for Corporations, whofe Burgejfes fill the far greater number of Seats in 
 4 that Houfe, their obligations for fome enlargement of their Charters by 
 ' Royal Grant, rendred them compliant in their choice. He farther obfer- 
 
 * ved, That the King, as fole Judge of Chivalry, created new Lords, that 
 
 * could in voting, out number the antient Barons by Tenure, who pur chafed 
 c the rdtifi 'cation of the antient fundamental Rights and Liberties of En- 
 1 gland, (fpecified in Magna Charta) with their Swords, in Henry the 
 c Third's time. ^411 thefe things put together, he reckoned Prerogative 
 1 to have fuch aruling influence in the election and conflitution of Englifh 
 c Parliaments, that notwithflanding their great fame abroad, they ferved 
 c for little other ufe than to empty the Peoples purfes. Tet (as feaiing what 
 1 an Englift) Parliament may come to do in time) one chief fervice 
 1 he boalis of to his Countrymen, was the working a difllkj between the 
 c King and the Lower Houfe,fo that ( faies he )• the King will never en- 
 c dure a Parliament more by hi* good will, but rather want than receive 
 c conditional relief from them. Some free mindsQnz fold)there were amo>ig(l 
 
 * the People, that laboured to preferve their juft Liberties from Soveratgn 
 c invafion, calling out for the due courfe of their Common Law ; but other 
 c Time-fervers cryed the Laws down, prerogative up, to (he Iter their own 
 1 arbitrary domination, in preying on the Subjetl ; and are hated by the op' 
 1 prejfcd Commons for their pains. All this kind of difcouraging practice 
 
 * that tended to enfeeble, emafculate, and dif-fpirit the ExglifhN&iU 
 4 on, he tells the Spanifh Council, he forwarded to the utmojt. He fur- 
 1 ther declared, how he had under-wrouqht that admirable Engine , Sit 
 
 N z c Walter 
 
( I0 ° ) 
 
 t Walter Rawleigh, etnd overthrown ht* Voyage, which threatened dan- 
 aer to them : that upon hu dlj "graceful return, by him caufed, he had 
 4 ptrjued him to Execution, had not his Commijfion for flay in England , 
 4 bin at its period ; but he had left a fure Agent behind him, that J aw it 
 4 done. Thus ( faies he) by punlfhlng him for his daring attempt upon us, 
 4 / laboured to quench the Valour of the Engliili Nation, that none might 
 4 be fo bold as to venture upon the like again. Allthofe Engliili Papifls 
 4 that were of the SpariilK FaBlon, thorowlyjefuited, were ready ( faies 
 4 he) to be my bloodhounds, to hunt him or any fuch to death. They hate 
 4 the Profperity, Valour, Worth and JVit of their own Nation, in refpett of 
 4 our Cathollck^ Caufe. He alfo had perfwaded King James to let his 
 4 Fleet remain unman *d and unvictualled, leafl his Majfer (houldbe jea- 
 4 lorn of fome Intendments to his prejudice, andlo break ojf the Spzmih 
 4 Match. Now therefore ( faid he) is a fit oj^t unity to Invade En- 
 4 land, never the like. 
 
 4 They might probably have made better work^oflt at that feafon than in 
 1 8 8, but that other erofs blows prevented them, as the apprehending ^/Bar- 
 
 * nevelt, and the diteUion of their Catholic^ defign in thefe pans of Eu- 
 
 * rope, towards the reducing all the Kmgdomes of the World, Proteftant, 
 1 Poplfh, Mahumetane r or what ever elfe, into fubjeftion to the Spanifh 
 
 * King,as the natural Head, Lord and Soveralgn over all,by the Popes free 
 4 donation and appointment, on condition that he bring him into the exerclfc 
 4 of his Headfhlp in Spirituals, as faft as he gets bis own in Temporals . 
 Thus they pleated themfelves in their own Imaginations, to divide 
 the World between them; but the World will not be foferved. 
 Thefe things with many other in Gundamores Narrative, came to light 
 amongft us, by Sir Robert Cotton, (as 'tis faid ) that great Treafurer 
 of learned and pertinent rarities. 
 
 By thefe obfervation.s & practifes of the politick Spaniard ,it may ap- 
 pear, his Reafon pitched on the fame conclusion with Solomon, Pro. 1 1, 
 14/rhat In the multitude ofCounfellours there isfafety; and that for any 
 State to refer matters too much to the fingle underftanding and will of 
 fome one perfon,may expofe all to for reign invalion and mine. Can it 
 then appear unreafonable, in any State,fpecially, when there is no fingle 
 perfon in poflkilion, to offer fuch a propofal to free debate amongft 
 the Peoples Truftees, whether or no it be convenient to admit a fin- 
 gle perfon to the Legillative or executive power over them > The 
 Romans nipped Tyranny in the bud, executed their Founder and firft 
 King, %nmulus, to preferve their Foundations, the Laws, which he 
 neglected. They binifhed proud Tarqu'm their feventh and laft,on the 
 fame account. Whatever any may think they have to fay again!* thofe 
 
 two 
 
( ror ) 
 two popular actions, there may feem not to be the leaft colour of rea- 
 fon to alledge againft one that had no hand or content in the executi- 
 on of the one, or expulhon of the other, ( this Sufferers Cafe ) to of- 
 fer fuch a propofal to the* People or Senate • Whether forrie other form 
 of Government might not be more conducible to the publick Inter- 
 'eft f Such Qjeftions were propounded and debated amongft thofe 
 ©Id Romanes. They did ufe their juft natural I iberty, as men, in con- 
 sidering what might moft make for publick fafety, ( the main end for 
 which there are any fuch things as Governments or Governours at 
 all ) and concluded upon two yearly Confuls, that were limitted by 
 many Senators, as they alfo, afterwards by popular Tribun's, and 
 fometimes a Dilator, till all were fallowed up again into an Empe- 
 rour. The fuccefle was this. Their Dominion while under Kings, 
 extended about fifteen miles from Rome. . Under Confuls, their terri- 
 tories were enlarged to about fifteen thoufand miles compafs. Under 
 fome of their bruitifh and Tyrannical Emperors, they loft ground a- 
 gain, fafter than everthey got it„ 
 
 The Lacedemonian Ephori and fuch like popular Superintendents in 
 other Gr^Common-wealths,that were authorized tocurb,re(hain, 
 depofe their Kings, and fomething more, in cafe of fuch exorbitances 
 and mifgovernmenc aSjieferved it, who knows not ? 'Twas ordina- 
 ry amongft them, not onely to change their Governours, but Govern- 
 ment alfo. If one race of Kings be lawfully depofed, they are not 
 wronged by change of Government,and who elfe .can be.'Tis fo natu- 
 ral and fundamental a Right in People to have 6c ufe fuch-a Liberty, 
 that we may do wel to confider whether they have any right to give it 
 out of their hands, unlefs it be lawful to contradict the Law of Nature,. 
 the true end of all Government in humane Societies, turn their own 
 Reafon out of Doors, and fo turn beafts for their Governours to ride 
 ©n. That the Jev?s y Greckj y and R$manes y ( the wifeft States in the 
 world ) have over and over ufed this Liberty of Changing their Go- 
 vernments they faw occafion,and that often with very good fuccefs,- 
 is undeniable.. 
 
 Were it unlawful for a State, in any cafe to depofe and remove 
 Kings, what Titles have any Monarchs now upon earth to their 
 Crowns, that are defcended of thofe, who were elected into the room 
 of fuch as the people depofed ? 
 
 How bruitifh then and deftrucYive even to the Intereft and Title 
 of the prefent Kings ( that he fought to gratify and flatter) is Bel- 
 loy y s Ailertion, That a Fam'.ly once fet led in the Crown, though they prove 
 never fo wielded \vitiou$ and abominable , jea } though the] go about to Je- 
 ffrey 
 
( ">*) 
 
 ftroy the Common-wealth, muff yet be [acred to us, and permuted to keep 
 their Seat, without any dire£iion,reflrawt or pHnijhment from the Common, 
 -wealth, bat from God onely} At this rate, all the Larlees in France 
 were llfurperjs, becaufe Pepin (the fir ft of that Race,) came to the 
 Crown upon the depoiuion of Childeric the Third, and fo wiped out 
 the Merovees or Pharatnonds Line. The like is tote faid of the Cape- 
 vingiens, who have now fate in the French Throne almoft feven hun- 
 dred yeais,(ince the depofition oi Charles of Lorain, laft otPepins race, 
 into whofe room Hugh fopet was elected by the People. The fame 
 thing is to be feen in the Spanifh Hiftories, and where not ? Four 
 Races of Kings have been there fince the expulfion of the Romans. 
 The fiift was from the Goths. The fecond from Don Telago. The third 
 from Don Sancho Major. The I ail, from the Houfe of ^Anflria. Eng- 
 land has had more changes of this kind, than both thefe neighbour 
 Monarchies together, in the fame fpace of about twelve hundred 
 years. They all three got loole from the %omane Yoke, fo long 
 
 ago. 
 
 This bleffed Witnefs and Affertor of the Fundamenral Rights, 
 Truths, and Liberties of Chrifts Kingdom, as alio of the Common- 
 wealth of England, and that has fealed his AiTertions in both kinds, 
 with his blood, was not onely. well skilled in fetting the right bounds 
 to civil andfpiritual Power in the outward government of Worldly 
 States, but r>e did yet more clofsly diftinguirti between natural 
 (whence civil fprings ) and fpiritual Power, is to the inward regula- 
 tion of particular perfons. 
 
 You may take a glance into his larger Difcourfes on this Subject, 
 by a iliort gloite on the two Trees in Ecfen, that of Life, and that of 
 the Knowledge of good and evil. Thefe two Trees were the firft fignifu 
 cant Types in and by which man was initruct^d in this doctrine,which 
 rightly divides the word of Truth ( Chrift the living, and Scriptures 
 the written Word of God ) between the natural andfpiritual man, 
 alotting unto each their proper portion and character. One of thefe 
 zAdam might, yea, ought to have fed upon, the Tree of Life, the 
 other nor. By the Devils fuggeftion to the Woman, and hers to him, 
 he made a contrary choice. He did eat of that he lliould not, to the 
 lofs even of that he thought to gratify himfelf in, his temporary Life 
 of righteoufnefs and communion with God ; and neglected 10 eat of 
 the other, andfo of Chriit in fpirit,the Antitype thereof,for the feed- 
 ing and building him up into eternal Life, and true bleil'ednefs. 
 
 Thefe two Trees were an Allegory, of like fignitkancy with Sarai 
 and Hagar, Ifaac m&J(kmael y OldandNewTelUmentor Covenant, 
 
 &c. 
 
 , 
 
&c. t One of them fignified the firft Adam with his living Sou!, and 
 freedom to. good and evil : the other, the fecond y^w with his quick? 
 hingfpirit, and freedom to good onely, which he communicates and 
 builds men up into the life and exercife of,in fellowfhip with himfelf. 
 Adam chofe to gratify his primitive natural constitution and freedom 
 to good and evil, which together with the things that feed it, were ty- 
 pically dated and reprefented in the Tree of the knowledge of good and 
 tviL The new-creature Life, and the glorious Liberty of the fons of 
 God, together with the things- thereof, (not feen to man, in the for- 
 mer capacity) things eternal, were typically ftated and reprefented 
 to Adams natural diicerning, in the tree of Life , with inftrudion what 
 was his concern to do or not to do, as to that or the other. But al- 
 though thefe Types were given, and expounded alfo by Chriftunto 
 Adam before hand ; yet wis there room left, after his fall, for the ex- 
 ercife of a diftinguifhing difpenfation of mercy towards him and his 
 pofterity, from that of feverity, which was forthwith put in execution 
 againft the apoftate angels, excluding them from any poflfibility of 
 ever entrin^ into Gods Reft. This argues, that the Angels who excel in 
 ftrength r andare higher than man , had a clearer underftanding in that 
 point,. as to the requifitenefs of a transition for themfelves and for 
 men, out of the mutable Rate of life and righteoufnefs, received in 
 their firft creation, into the unchangable Life and everlafting righte- 
 oufnefs of the fecond. Truir fall therefore was more knowing, wil- 
 ful, fatal and irrecoverable upon any tearms whatfoever. 
 
 That which Paul faid of himfelf, may be faid of Adams firft tranf- 
 greftion, comparatively with the firft fin of the Angels,*-^ he did it ig- 
 norantlj^andfo obtainei mercy, i Tim. 1. 13. But let man, after renew- 
 ed and revived, look to it ; for if after all this warning, he fin again 
 after the fimllitude of Adams tranfgrejfion^iz becomes a Tree twice dead y 
 and will be pluckt upbj the roots. This fecond fall of man is as fatal and 
 irrecoverable as* the Angels firft. Adam's eating the forbidden- 
 fruit, imported no lefs than a pleafing himfelf in the fingle Liberty, 
 Righteoufnefs, Life and Enjoyments of his ftrft-creation ftate,in pre- 
 ference to what was attainable for him in the fecond. He preferred 
 the creature, or glory of man in the firft , to the glory of God, that 
 lefts upon merr for ever in the new-creation ft ate. He preferred the 
 Law of works, or the natural power of working righteoufnefs, fet up 
 in him by the firft creation, to the Law of Liberty, Grace, Fai;h, that 
 heavenly power of working righteoufnefs, that is fet up in man by the 
 new creation, which can do all good and no evil, fo that again f fuch 
 there is no Law ^ Gal. J,. 2j. This is the glorious liberty of the fons of 
 
 Cod f 
 
( io4 ) 
 God, Jam. i. 2?. and 2.12. To prefer the leffet glory of the firftcre- 
 ado i, the glory of man, to the greater glory of the fecond, the glory 
 and righteoufnefs of God, is to worjblp, [erve, and value, the glory of 
 the Creature, more than that of the Creator, -who is blejfedfor ever, Rom. 
 1. 25-. They that prefer the lefler glory to the greater, the righteouf- 
 nefs and glory of man's rirft-creation to that of the fecond, will prove 
 hypocrites and perfecute. A hypocrite is notonely he that makes a 
 fhevv of righteoufnefs and has none, but that has the righteoufnefs 
 and glory of man really in and upon him, and in the credit and flou- 
 rish of this, would perfonate and pafs for that which he is not , the 
 true fpiutual heir, that has the glory and righteoufnefs of God in and 
 upon him ; and then the next news is, he falls to perfecuting of him 
 that indeed is the true heir, faying to his fellows in fpirit and princi- 
 ple, Come, this is the heir, lets kill him, and jhe inheritance [hall be ours. 
 A hypocrite is one that perfonates and would paffe for that which he 
 is not. If he be ftark naught, he would pafs for that which is good. If 
 good and righteous in one kind, he would pafs for that that is better 
 and more excellent in another. Such an hypocritical fpirit is a per- 
 fecuting fpirit. He thats born of Chiifl after the flefh, and will go no 
 farther, will perfecute him that is born of the fameChrift after the 
 fpirit : will hate his Brother, [lander his own Mothers Son, Pfal. jo. 
 20. To this effect did this Sufferer ufe to Allegorize, the two Tr'ees 
 in Eden y and other Scriptures in exacl: analogie and harmony there- 
 with. 
 
 But come we now to confider the method of his fufferings ; how 
 this meek, dove- like, harmlefs perfon has been handled by the injuri- 
 ous, wolvi lli fpirit of this world, that has affronted contradicted and 
 blafphemed his principles and doctrine, and at length killed his bo- 
 dv,as a contentious wrangler and a malefactor. Chrift was fo ferved. 
 He went about doing good and fuffering ill to the laft. This eminent 
 diiciple and follower of his, hath waded through all thofe injurious 
 reproaches and mif-interpretations men have put upon his rnoft in- 
 nocent and ufefu I words and actions, in that thank-worthy and ac- 
 ceptable imitation of him, which Peter reprefents to us under the li- 
 militude of good fervants, that can [differ patiently for wclLdoing, com- 
 mitting them[elves to him that judgeth right eoufly, 1 Pet. 2. 18, 2 j. 
 He confider ed him that endured [uch contradtliion of [inner s agamft him- 
 [elf, and did not faint in his mind, but finvinq aqainfi fin and [inner s of all 
 [*rts, by his faithful witnefibearing,refifted unto blood, Heb. 12. 3,4. 
 But be it known that amidft the perfonal fufferings of Saints, 'tis not 
 onely lawful but their duiytfopray that Cod would awake to their judge- 
 ment^ 
 
( *°s ) 
 
 went j even to their CAUSE, which is his CAUSE, that aU 
 thofe may yet come to front for joy that favour their right e- 
 em C AUSE; and that the enemy may not re Joyce over them, as if he 
 had f wallowed them up, though they abufe and kill them all the day long y a* 
 fheep appointed for the (laughter , Pial. 35". 2.3, 27. Some of you ( iaies 
 Chrift; they frail put to death : but nit a hair of your head frail peri fr^ Luk, 
 21. itf, 18. 
 
 This worthy Patriot was freely chofen, without anyfeeking of his, 
 to ferve as Burgefs for the Town otKingfton upon Hull^'m that Parlia- 
 ment which fate down November 3 . 1640. About thirteen years did 
 he indefatigably labour therein for his Countries relief, againft ma- 
 nifeft OppreiTions and publick grievance's that were upon it. And well 
 nigh ten years more he hath patiently fuffered, as either a ulelefs or 
 pernicious perfon, becaufe of his deftriuStive constitution to the Peace 
 and Intereft of Tyranny. During the long Parliament, he was ufually 
 fo engaged for the Publick, in the HOUSE and feveral Com- 
 mittees, from early in the morning to very late at night, that he had 
 fcarce any leiiure to eat his bread, converfe with his neareft Relati- 
 on* ■ i all to mind his Family affaires. Were I indeed furnifhed 
 vfcitb the. tongue of the learned, the pen of a ready writer, I ihould 
 it adviieable to let the ufefulnefs & fucceffe of his publick A6t- 
 I nig that Parliament till forcibly diiTolved, fpeak for them- 
 felves. That race of action being run, ( not without much (truggling, 
 contradiction, and mil-reports all the while) he comes to his fuffering 
 Scene. He was for feveral years rejeited,perfecuted,& imprifoned by 
 his apoftatizedfriends(that had gone to thehoufeof God in company 
 with him; who at length to compleat their perfecuting work upon him, 
 delivered him up, to be hunted to death by his profeiTed foes, ene- 
 mies of all righteoufnefs, Gods and mans too. 
 
 Firft, his ialie Friends that had fat in Council with him, (and 
 who owed, in great mealuie, their very Lives and fuccefs to him, un- 
 der God) they faft e^d for ftrfe and debate, kept a mock faft , to draw 
 fuch as duift give. them faithful counfel and warning, into a ihare. Up- 
 on their apoftacy, when brought intodiftrefs through forreign difap- 
 pointmmts, they' ( fomswhat Jcz,ebel-\\Vz ) proclaimed a faft, pub- 
 Jickly declaring their wiliingneis to receive informa:ion from any 
 hand, as to what was ami fs in the Government, that might be the 
 ground of God's not going forth with their Armies as he was wonr. 
 He laid hold on this publirhed offer, and as a faithful watchman and 
 able Patriot, exhibited his thoughts to them in a Healing Quefiion, on 
 which he was ihortly after fent for by the Council, from the place of 
 
 O his 
 
( lOf 
 
 his residence at Belleau in Lincolnshire, proceeded againftas feditiouff, 
 and imprifoned about four moneths at Caris-brotigh Caftle in the Ifle 
 affreight. Thus the Jem feivzd Jeremy, Jer. 42, and 43. Theyde- 
 fired him to enquire the mind of the Lord, as to their intended jour* 
 ney for Egypt , and folemnly engaged they would obey the mellage, 
 calling God to witnefs between them and him. Hefeeks theLord,afid 
 after ten dayes receives and faithfully declares the word of the Lord, 
 which was, That if they went to Egypt, the [word they feared at home, 
 fbould meet with them there - y and if they tarried in their own land, the y 
 fkould be preferved. They proudly rebelled againft this word, and not 
 onely fo, but forced Jeremy along with them to Egypt, to bear a fture 
 in their fufferings, though not in their fin, as the wife Servant was 
 handled by his foolifh Matter in Ariftophanes_,zx\d as is frequently the 
 cafe amongft mortals. God the great difpoler of all the kingdoms of 
 men, gave Sgypt to Nebuchadnezzar and his Army, as wages for their 
 4iard fervice in pulling down proud Tyre, ( whole Merchants were 
 Princes, Efay 23. 8.) where every head was made bald, and every 
 flioulder peeld with long and excetfive labour in a thirteen years fiege 
 and filling up a channel of the fea, in order to their approaches, Ex,*^ 
 26\ 9. and Chap. 29. 1 8, 20. Thus Nebuchadnezzar s fword-, that the 
 Jew? j* feared in their own Countrey, (upon the killing of his Deputy 
 Governour, Gedaliah ) meets with them amongft: the reft, in Egypt , 
 the character and mine whereof we have, Ezekj 2 P. 3°. 3*. and 32. 
 Chapters-, as of Tyre, Chap. 26. 27. and 28. 
 
 Thus treacherouily was this fteddy Witnefs of the true Liberties of 
 Chrifts Kingdom, and his native Countrey, handled by thofe that for 
 many years had joyned with him in the profelTton of the fame righte- 
 ous CAUSE, againft facrilegious and tyrannical domination in 
 Church or State. What was his crime f He was ftedfaft in the Cove- 
 nant : they turned afide like a deceitful Bow. The criminous party had 
 the Sword, and innocency fuffered. Even fo it is now. To omit his 
 rejection and confinement by the Long Parliament,after their return 
 to take their Seats afrefhin the HO U S E, # 165$). his laft Scene of 
 Sufferings was under the prefent Powers. 
 
 Under this variety of Perfecutors and Perfecution, he notably ex- 
 perienced the truth of that Apoftolical Argument for the Refurre&i- 
 on ; If in this Life onely, we have hope in Chrifts we are of all men mofi 
 referable, 1 Cor. 1 ^ . 19. He took that courfe in the face of all affronts 
 and contradictions of fianers, (of one kind or other,from firft to laft) 
 which fhewed the invincible fteaddinefle and chaftity of his fpirir. 
 What he vigoroufly profecuted when he was active , he ratified and 
 
 fealed 
 
( io7 ; 
 
 Cealed with his blood,(and all the tendencies tbereunto,by witneffmg a 
 good Confeffion) fince he was pafllve. He flood up for the defence of tne 
 Lives and Liberties of his Country-men, and loft his own Liberty and 
 Life for his paines. As a true lover of his Nation, he boldly aliened 
 the Rights thereof at the laft pufh, to the faces of thofe that have fuf- 
 ficiently declared themfelves enemies thereunto,in condemning him. 
 What he could do or iuffer more for his Countrey than he did, is 
 fomewhat difficult to fay. 
 
 His two years imprifonment under this power, was by meer will 
 and pleafure (no particular crime being laid to his charge ) in cured 
 contradiction to the fundamental Laws and Liberties of Engllfhmen, 
 Rated in CM AG N A C HARr A, Chap. 19. Fefivs a heathen 
 J udge,deemed this unreafonablein'TW'Vcafe, Act. 25.27. It fee m- 
 eth to me unreafonable ( faies he ) to fend one as a Prifoner^and no* with- 
 
 * al t.ofignify the crimes laid againfl him. Tis againft the Law of niture, 
 the conference and common light of Reafon in all mankind, that any 
 man fhould be fo dealt with. For their moft injurious underhand- 
 dealing, in picking up a charge ( while he was kept two years clofe- 
 prifoner ) and procuring WitneiTes againft him by threats or promt- 
 fes, together with their proceedings about him at the Grand Jury and 
 Kings Bench, I do once for all refer you to the Narrative of his Try- 
 al. I referveonely a liberty of fpeaking fomething in general, as to 
 the difficulty of his circumftances in the tryal, and for particulars, to 
 lay before you the main palTa ges of the Jews proceedings with Chrift, 
 trufting them and you together, to make the application. I take hint 
 for this latter branch of my liberty,from one of his occafional fpeeches 
 recorded in his Tryal. Mention being made by a Friend, of the cruel 
 proceedings againft him; Alas^ faidhe, what a-do they keep to make a 
 poor creature like his Saviour ? 
 
 < He was an able Common Wealths- Man and a true Believer ; two dan- 
 gerous qualifications to Church and State, as this world goes. He 
 had remarkable infight in the Politie of the true Common-wealth of 
 Ifrael, the Holy Jerufalem that will fhortly come down from Cod out of 
 Heaven, Rev. 21. This gave him no fmall aime at what he ought to 
 be doing in the Common-wealth of England, as preparatory thereun- 
 to. What was done in the day, of fmall things, (when the Nation was 
 delivered from its taskmafters ) was not defpicable in its feafon, 
 though a cloud be now drawn over it. 'Twas a ufual faying with him, 
 Come what would, every thing was upon the right Wheel, in the wife con- 
 trivement ofCjodyfor the accomplijhing of his right eom dejignsin the world. 
 But considering matters betwixt man and man; thatexixftulation, 
 
 O 2 EccleL 
 
( *<** ) 
 
 Ecelef.Z.if. ( why was I thermion wife?) may feem to be fairly in- 
 terpretable into this fence ; That true wifdom is a great difadvan- 
 tage to a man in this difordered world, where 'tis the fafhion for luft, 
 will, and pleafure to bear fway, againft Scripture, Law, and Reafon. 
 Perions of the beft rational abilities and molt conference, have ufual- 
 ly been destroyed in Courts of Judicature (fo called ) throughout the 
 world,in all times. A man of Reafon and Conference, called forth to 
 declare his mind, cannot afford to gratifie the corrupt humors & lufts 
 of men ( that put good for evil, and evil for good , light for darkjiefs, and 
 darknefsfor light, ( Efay y.io.) much lefs, become one in Ipirit and 
 principle, with thofe that fo do) and then he mutt die. When truth 
 falles, and every thing is called by a wrong name, good evil and evil good y 
 men abhor him that fpeaketh uprightly ; they hate him that reproveth in 
 the gate, Amos 5". 10. 
 
 lf y t he foundations be deftroyed,what can the right eom do ? Pfaf. 1 1 . 3 . 
 Yea, or what can he fay ? when the Soveraignty and infinitely moft; 
 Supream Legislative power of God and Chriithimfelf is fet at naught; 
 there's the main Foundation gone, as to the righteous man's defence 
 amongfthis fellow mortals. If Judges that have no fear of God be- 
 fore their eyes,be on the Bench ,then long fchrowls of I know not what 
 muft be formed up and read againft the moft faithful Patriots and 
 choiceft Cbrifuans, as not having the fear of God before their eyes, 
 and fentence accordingly muft be pronounced againft them by one 
 ruful wight or other,that'san enemy to all trueLaw and right Reafon* 
 This fort of Cartel have not been wanting in anyplace or time. 
 Qijeen Jezebel could find them in Jez>reel ; Judges and witnefles of 
 Belial againft Naboth, and away goes his Life, and fhe (not long af- 
 ter ) to the Dogs, 1 King, 21. and zj<ing. 9. Such Judges as have 
 no fear of God before their eyes, what will they ftick at ? All inferi- 
 our and fubordinate Foundations of the righteous mans fafety, all the 
 Laws, Rights, and Liberties of any Nation will fignify little with 
 judges fo .qualified and fitted to abufe and murder any righteous men 
 that are brought before them. See the boldnefs of the Kings, Rulers 
 and People of the earth, notonelyin flighting but down-right bid-- 
 ding defiance to the Soveraignty of God and Chrift, Father and Son, 
 with the Laws of both, c Pfal. 2. 2,3. The Kings of the Earth fetthem- 
 f elves, and the Rulers take Connfel together, againft the Lord, and againft 
 hu Chrifl; there's- their Soveraignty affronted. Then they fay, wr/. 
 3. Let mbreah^their bands af under, and ca ft away their cords from us ^ 
 tnere are their Lawes rejected. Then, if the antient fundamental 
 I.iwes ox Liberties of any Nation be (li^hted^ laid afide, or pull'dup 
 
 by 
 
( iop ; 
 
 by the roots,and mifchief eftablifhed by Tome new one ; with this ad- 
 vantage, the- bafeftot* men may gather themfelves together again!* the 
 foul of the righteous, and condemn innocent blood, Pfal.ysL. 20,21. 
 If over and beyond all this, there be fuch wicked Judges - to be found, 
 that neither fear God, nor regard that which is the man in man, Rea- 
 fon, but onely that corrupt State Reaibn that lies in point blank con- 
 tradiction thereunto ; if fuch be to. be found, who will venture by 
 their (uperaddition.il gloifes to ftreteh a mifchievous nev\ Law be- 
 yond the prober ligniricancy of its words, to ferve their prefent pur- 
 pofe ; yea, or if they dare, even beyond all this, lay down their meer 
 arbitrary affertions, ( that have not the leaf* hint for them in fuch a, 
 new made Law) which will pafs with Jurors "for a legal ground of ta*-. 
 king away ones Life ; A righteous man in thefe circumffances has- an- 
 exceeding hard time on'c. Beyond all this yet, if a provifo- Foundati- 
 on for fecuring an innocent perfoFrS Life,, any voluntary unfought for 
 grant, (made upon a fuppofal that ail other Foundations of his fecurity 
 should fail him ) if this alio be laid al-Ide and flighted, ( though fee 
 word of a King, in anfwer to the Petition of a Parliament, amounting 
 in effect to an Act of Parliament ) where's the righteous man then l 
 gone, without remedy ; But whither ? from earth to heaven. A fad 
 lofs to us, a great gain to him. Sure fomething#yill come down 
 from heaven among!* us er'e long for fuch doings. A righteous man 
 in a cafe fo circumltanced, (which I have thus taken Liberty accord- 
 ing to my word, to fpeak a little to in general ) what can he fay 
 in his jul* defence, that his Accuiers and Judges will not call Treafon, 
 and be ready to form up a new Charge again!* him for,if commanded? 
 Thus the Jews ferved Chril* ; ( and fo I pafs to the other branch of 
 my referved liberty, the confederation of particulars, in the cafe of the 
 leading Sufferer.) Te have heard the blafphemy, (faies the high Prieft) 
 he hathfpokjn bUfphemy^ what further need have we of JVitnejfes ? what 
 think ye} The Jewry-men never itudy. the point;they have their Ver- 
 dict ready at-their fingers- ends ; he is guilty of death , Mat. 26. 6$ y 66. 
 Q^ick work. But what was the crime fHe denied not but that he was the 
 Son ofGod.Vot Chril* orChriftians to be in the hjgheft fence what they 
 ihould be,& own it;this rnen(yea, the very high Pne(ts,Archbifhops, 
 that pretend to be the chief watchmen over fouls ) are ready to call 
 Blafphemy. If they can but get any the leaf* intimation of fuch- a 
 thing out of them by interrogating, they reckon they have enough to 
 take away their Lives. They that are of their Father the Devil (as 
 Chrif* told thefe Jews) can't endure to hear any own themfelves to- 
 be the Sons of God. What a world is this for Guilt and his followers ?• 
 
( «° l 
 
 The chief Tnefts, Elders and ail the Council [ought falfe Mtneffes a- 
 gainfl Jefa to put him to death. They tamper with many, yet for a good 
 while rind none butfuch as are infuflicient to do their work, either 
 through the invalidity of the matter te(Ufied,or inconfiftency of their 
 tettirnony, for they agreed not. To murder him they were refolved. 
 all they fought for was a colourable pretext. At length come two falfe 
 witneffcs (well paid, 'tis like, for their pains ) which [ay; this fellow 
 faid, I am able to defiroy the Temple of God and build it in three day es ; 
 whereas his words were ( Joh. 2. 29. ) defiroy ye this Temple, his Bo- 
 dy, ( to they did ) and in three dayeslwill raife it up ; fo he did. But 
 what a feeble teftimony was here to go about to takeaway a man's 
 Life upon, in cafe it were true, that he fpake there words, and that,in 
 their fence, concerning the material ftru6ture of the figurative Tem- 
 ple f They lie at catch therefore for fome word from his own mouth at 
 the bar,to carry on the work. Very little 'twas he fpoke there. He lets 
 the falfe witnelTes pafs uncontrolled ; anfwers not a word, though de- 
 minded by the high Prielt, Mat. 26. 61,63. Then the high Prieit fall? 
 to interrogating, tries what new matter for a charge he can get out 
 of him by Questions. Yea, />f adjures him to tell them whether he be the 
 Chrlft,the Son of God. Chrift denies it not. Now they reckon they 
 have enough. Trfly flight their falfe witnefles. They are now Judges 
 and WitneiTes too, themfelves, and that in a matter of far greater 
 confequence, blaffhemy ; he makes himfelf the Son of God, fay they. 
 Then they hurry him away before Pilate the Romane Deputy, where 
 the chief Priefts and Elders that fat as his Judges in the oxher Court, 
 turn his Accufers, vehemently urging and witneiTmg many things a- 
 gainft him before PiUte, and he lets all pafs, anfvers not a word. Yea, 
 though minded of it, and urged by Pilate to (peak for himfelf, not a 
 word could they get of him, fay or do what they would, He's a Mute. 
 It feetns their Teittmony,in Pilates judgement, amounted to very lit- 
 tle ; for after all, he asks them, What evil hath he done > Their an- 
 fwer is, Let him be crucified. Bruits ! Oh, but ( fay they ) we have a 
 Law,- and by our Law he ought to dye, becaufe he made himfelf the Son of 
 Cjod. 'Tis a dangerous thing amongft men, for Chrift or his fellow- 
 heirs, to own themfelves to be the Sons of God, Heirs of the heavenly 
 Kingdom, though they give no difturbance or jiift occafion of offence to 
 any Kings in their worldly Thrones. Men will be laying their headsto- 
 gether,to frame fome mifcievous Law a'gainft them,to call them Blaf- 
 phc-mcrs, & then put them to death for it. They will call that Hcrefy, 
 which is the only right way of worfhipping the God of ourFathers,& then 
 puniil* them for it. \Vhat goodly work are Magistrates with fome new 
 
 upltart 
 
( i" ; 
 
 upftart Lawes, like to make on't at Religion and Worfhip? Ifthere 
 be any that do whit they fnould in either, of all others they muft be 
 fure to go to wrack. 
 
 But Pilate yet feeks to releafe Chrift. All that is faid yet, will not 
 do it with him. 'Twas a cuftom to deliver fome one Prifoner at the 
 Feaft ; he asks them therefore, Shall 1 deliver Chrift or Bay abba* > 
 Now Barabbas was a robber and a Murtherer. They cry out all at once, 
 like mad men ; away with this man, and releafe unto us Barabbas % Men 
 will rather favour Murderers and'Robbers than Chrift-and his follow- 
 ers. Pilate -willing yet to release Jefus, (Chrift'had the better orfc of 
 our Prifoner, as to the Lord chief Juftice that fat upon him ) fpeaks 
 once again to them of it. But they hold to their old tone, cry crucifie 
 -him, crucifie him. He replied yet again, Why ? what evil hath he done > 
 I find no caufe of death in him. But they were -in ft ant with land voices, re- 
 quiring that he might be crucified. Pilate [ayes- to them, What ? Shall I 
 crucify ymr King f The chief Prieft anfwered,we have no king but Cajar. 
 And here they take hint for a new charge againft him, that it will high- 
 ly concern Pilate to take notice of. If thou let this man go, ( fay they) 
 thou art not fafafs 'friend, whofoever maketh himfelf a King, ffeaketh a- 
 tgaitift Cdfar. Then Pilate complies with them. The voices of the 
 People, and the chief Prieft prevailed • fo he paiTes fentence, that it 
 ihould be as they required. 
 
 'Tis the legally religious party all along,that accufe,profecute and 
 : deliver up Chrift and his followers into the hands of Tinners among 
 the Gentiles, and fo, have the grea- er fin, as Chrift told Pilate. But IV- 
 late alio, however he may fiatte* himfelf and wafh his hands of it, he 
 can't wafti his heart, or render himfelf guihlefs of the blood of that;/*/? 
 Man, a.s his Wife, ( being admonished in a dream ) warned him to 
 keep himfelf. Tis faid, both by %omane Hiftorians and Greek, Wri- 
 ters of the Olympiads, that Pil.it e was accufed by the Jews to the Ro- 
 mane Senate, and fo continually vexed bythe Emperour Cam C align- 
 la, that about the Year 39, being five or fix years after the Paffion, he 
 killed himfelf with his own hand. 
 
 But what truth had that la ft cm rge in lt,thathe made himfelf a King, 
 or had fpoken any thing againft C&'far ? Thefe very Jewes themfelves 
 would fain have had him owned himfelf as their temporal King, to de- 
 • liver them from the Romane Yoke • fo indeed, they were the Traytors, 
 if any body. Pilati hikifeif hid been pulled off the bench, if that 
 could have bin. But Chrift would not accept the offer, though as the 
 Son of David in a direct line, the temporarySoveraignty might feem to 
 be his right. He perceived they would take him by foree ; to make him a 
 
 King 
 
( *« ) ~ 
 
 King, and away went he to a mountain himfelf alone, J oh. 6, i^ 
 And in his anfwer to their enfnaring queltion about tribute, he quire 
 non-pluft and tilenced them. Give ( faies he ) unto C&far the things 
 that are C&fars, Mat. 22. ij, 22. Be fubjeft to his jurifdiclion in 
 temporals , the outward aftions and concerns of your bodily 
 life ; yea, though forc'd by the Romane fvvord to promife allegiance 
 to him. Jeremy tutored the Jews to like efTeclt ; to fubmit to Nebu- 
 cbadnez,zjtr, though a forreign Prince and Conquerour. And God him- 
 felf efpoufes Nebuchadnezzar* quarrel again!* Zedeklah, calling the 
 engagement he made with Nebuchadnezzar, HIS Covenant , and HIS 
 Oath, and holding himfelf concerned in point of honour, to recom- 
 penfe the breach of it upon Zedeklah* s head, Ez,ekj *7. n, 21. Ze- 
 'idekiah tigniftes, the rlghteoufnefs ofjah or Jehovah. This name was gi- 
 ven him by Nebuchadncz.z,ar, to intimate to him, that if he broke Co- 
 venant, the righteoufnefs of the Lord would notfuffer him tofcape 
 unpunifoed. Accordingly it came to pafs. He is taken by the Caldean 
 Souldiers, brought to the head Quarters at Rlblah, a place between 
 Jerufalem and Tyre, where Nebuchadnezzar lay to hear the news from 
 both hisLeagures before thofe famous Cities. There a Council of War 
 fi;s on him ; the fentence is, That his fons be (lain before his eyes; thex y 
 that his eyes be put out, and that he be carried fr if oner to Babylon, where 
 he died not long after. This he got by breach of Covenant, 2 King. 
 
 2^.1,7. 
 
 Chriftadvifed.the Jc#s to keep their Covenant with C&far, (as 
 Jeremy with Nebuchadnezzar ) he paid him tribute himfelf, LMat. 
 17. 27. If C&far will have more than his due, if he will invade Gods 
 Prerogative ; venture out of the proper fphere of worldly Magiftracy, 
 which relates but to the bodily actions and concerns of this mortal 
 Life, (1 (V. 6.3,4.) if he demand thofe things that peculiarly belong 
 to God ; that other mens Confciences and Light, as to Religion and 
 divine Worftiip, be levelled, fquared and regulated by his, ( who it 
 may be has none at all ) then Cafar himfelf is to blame, as a facrile- 
 gioiis intruder into the proper Rights of Ch rills Kingdom ; fee he to 
 that. They are commended of God,- that confeientiouily deny him 
 obedience therein, as moil juftly refuting to become [ervants of men in 
 thlr.vs pcrtelnlng unto God y 1 Cor. 7- 2 3« 
 
 It was fugge(ted,T/)f King could not befafe while VA N E was alive. 
 Why ? what would he do ? No man more diiTwaded from popular tu- 
 mults, (even again!! this power that God hath permitted to be 
 brought over us ) then he. His demeanour in this point was much 
 like that of Jeremy amongll the Jews, who diiTwaded them from con- 
 
 fpiracies 
 
. ( Hi ) 
 
 fplracies with Egypt, or infurredions againft the lit ng of Babylon. 
 But why was not care taken to remove all finifter and prejudicial re- 
 ports , as to this matter, from the chief in power ? I anfwer ; why 
 did not Chrift anfwer a word to the Jewes fierce accufations of him be- 
 fore Pilate, but let Pilate take*it as he would ? If his anions would 
 noifpeakfor him, he was content. Was this a crime in Chrift ? Is 
 there not rather an emphafis laid upon this regardlefnefs of a felf-de- 
 fence, (while his heart was fixed upon a publick good ) as a Angular 
 ingredient into the excellency of the fufferings of that Captain of our 
 Salvation} And fhall the fame deportment be reckoned culpable in 
 his followers ? No man could take away Chrift's Life from him : 
 Were dilate and the Jews then guiltlefs in ftiedding his innocent 
 blood ? No, Is Chrift a felo de fe, a felf-murdeiei, becaufe he laid 
 down his Life of his own accord? Neither. Gods hand andcounfel 
 had determined it jhould be fo, Act. 4. 27,28. The Jews were moft ex- 
 ecrable murderers of the Lord of glory for all that, and refponiible 
 for it. PiUte had his (hire in it too, by yeilding up his own reafon 
 and confcience, either to the violent importunities and moft irra- 
 tional our-cries of the Jews, ( vvhofaid, away with him, away with 
 him, let him be crucified ) or to their moft falle and ilanderous infinu- 
 ations of Treason, charactering him as an enemy to the Crown and 
 dignity of Cafa^, which they could make no proof of. 
 
 Were all the affronts and injuries that were put upon this truly 
 ChniWm Common-Wealths- Man ('who was indeed, for what others 
 talked of, the I iberty of Men as Men, and Chriftians as Chriftians ) 
 well and orderly let together, it would be difficult to find a Parallel 
 froceedingfor Injufiice, next that againft Chrift, in all Hiftorv, humane 
 or divine. VIOLENCE and WRONG in (lead of RJGHTEOUSNES 
 and TRUTH, were weighed out to himhy thofs that pre ended to hold the 
 Scales of Juftice in their hands, Pial. 58.2. But Judgement fhall return 
 to Righl 'eoufnefs, Pfal. 94. 15V Righteoufnefs will come at laft to have 
 Judgement paiTed on its fide. They feem to be parted, while wicked 
 men arejuftlfied andihe righteom condemned. This Sufferer did ufually 
 difcourfe of and expect a failer of all vifible reliefs to good men, when 
 others little dream't of it. But has the righteous man no remedy in 
 fuch a feafon f He would familiarly invite others with himfelf to call: 
 their thoughts upon what isfigniried, (Ecclef. 5*. -8. amongftmany 
 other Scriptures ) in way of relolution to this Qnerie. Ifthoufeeji 
 the oppnjfion of the poor, and violent perverting of Judgement and Ju- 
 flice in a Province, marvel not (01 be not difmaied) at the matter '.for he 
 that is higher than the highefl, regardeth, and there be higher than they. 
 
 P An- 
 
<«4) 
 
 Angels ate higher than the higheft powers amongft men, in the Ma- 
 
 giftra'tical Government of this world y and God and Chrift are higher 
 than they. This, with many like Scriptures, points us upwards, 
 to a higher creature Magiftracy than man's; and yet higher to the 
 original fprtftg and eternal root of all jutt Magistracy, in Chrift and 
 God. 
 
 The holy angels will not fail to exercife their Magiftracy in an ex- 
 act fubferviency unto and confonancy With Chrift. When the Monar- 
 chy of this world, lodged for a feafon in the hands of men, is degene- 
 rated from the golden head of it in Nebuchadnezzar y to the iron /eggs 
 and feet ofit 7 part of iron, part of elay y fo as th-at it is become extream- 
 lYyUniverfally,^ remediiefsly oppreifive to righteous men,then is the 
 feafon for thofe angelical powers ( that put ieven years interruption 
 even to the golden head ) to come forth in a general difpenfation of 
 juftice, to pluck up by the roots every thing that offends Chrift and 
 his followers, all the world over. Thefe Principalities and Powers, 
 thefe invisible Thrones and Courts of Judicature, have from the be- 
 ginning, and all along this worlds duration, been in the exercife of a 
 fuper intending Magiltracy over the higheft powers amongft men. In 
 purfuanceof the decrees of thefe watchers, ( Dan, 4. 17. ) Thefe 
 obferversof thewayes of men, ( as Hefiod calls them ) in fubfervi- 
 ency to Chrift, have particular Angels been fent forth and commilfi- 
 oned to puniili the proud intuiting Monarchs, and bruitiih People of 
 this world, and to minifter for the heirs of falvation, Heb. 1. 14. 
 The Sodomites ,when they.aflaulted Lot y were fmitten with blindnefs 
 by two- Angels that Chrift fent that way,, while he tarried with Abra* 
 ham y Gen. 18.22. andChap. 19. n. So were the Syrian Army be- 
 fore Dotham ferved by the like angelical powers, at Etijha's prayer, 
 2 King. 6. 18. By thefe were the two Captains and their fifties (lain 
 at Eliah's prayer, 2 King. 1. 9, 12. Seventy thoufand Jews were (lain 
 by the Angel that David faw by ArannaWs threfhing-floor, 2 Sam. 
 24, 1 J,. 17. An Angel meets with Btlanm to ftop him in his cove- 
 tous and ambitious de(ign,for the effective curfingor contriving mif- 
 chief to thofe whom God had bleiled. He caufed the very dumb Alle, 
 by fpeaking with man's voice, to reprove the madnefs of the Prophet,. 
 2 Pet. 2. 16. An Angel in one night executes one hundred eighty 
 five thoufand Ajfyrians before Jerufa/em, 2 King. 19. 3 ^ . Anhoft of 
 Angels appears at Mahanaim to Jacob, to relieve him againft Efau y 
 Gen. 32. i,2. King Herod in all his flourifh of outward pomp,making 
 en eloquent Oration to them oiTyre and Sidon r and owning that flat- 
 tering thoiit and acclamation of the People,/* u the voice of a God and 
 
 not 
 
not of a Man y was immediately [mitt en by an An gel \ because he -gave not 
 God the glory , and was eaten of worms , <*/fcl. 12. 20, 23 . Many things 
 of like nature have been oft performed by Angelical powers, in a way 
 of difcountenance to corrupt worldly Magiftrates,& for the protecti- 
 on of good men, heirs of falvation. They are the higheft meer crea- 
 ture Powers, unto whom Chrift has put this firft world in fubjec\ion, 
 as is implied, (Heb. 2. j.) where tis faid, That ht hath not put the 
 vrorld to£ome infub<ettlon to fi*a».There,that lower fort of glorified men 
 above charactered, that have but the fingle portion of the fpirit, are 
 equal to them ; and thofe that hare the double portion, will judge 
 them, (1CV.6.3.) or be fcituated in a fuperiority of life and difcern- 
 ing to thofe Prlncipallities and Powers in heavenly places , Ephef. 3. 10. 
 Thefe miniftring Spirits .(we fee) have often come forth to prelerve 
 the bodily Life of Saints from the rapacious talons of corrupted 
 worldly Magistracy, at fome certain critical feaibns and junctures of 
 time, that the main defignes of Chrift in the world required it. But 
 this has been but checker work, a white and a black. The fame per- 
 fons that have been relieved at one time, .have been left expofed at a- 
 nother, to the rage and violence of their fellow mortals. Eli ah had 
 Angels at hand to deftroy the Captaines and their Companies , that 
 came to apprehend himranother while,upon Jez,abels menaces, he flies 
 and hides for his life. And many thoufands of Saints have been abu- 
 fed and loft their lives under the tyrannical powers of this world, 
 which Satan is called the God of. But when the time draws near for 
 him to be bound and fealed up in the bottomlefs pit, the good angels 
 will come forth in a more general, vifible, and univerfal difcovery, 
 and exercife of their magiftratical power,in aiTociation with therifen 
 Witnefles, and at their prayer of Faith, will do execution fpeedily 
 and irrefiftibly,on any that fhall affront their perfons or teftimony, 
 (Rev. 1 1.) as is above iignified. This they will do,in the preparatory 
 work to Chrift s perfonal coming forth to reign. And when he comes 
 himfe!f,thefe uz thix flaming fir e y \n or by which he wlllta\e vengeance on 
 them that know not God and obey not hts everlajl'ing Gofpel ; and lo will it 
 be all along the thouland years Reign. The like miniftry fhall then' be 
 exercifed by the new Jerufalem Saints to the righteous inhabitants of 
 the earth, ( admoiiifhing ihem of the requifnenefs of their pafs by 
 the crofs of Chrift and fire-baptifm of his heavenly fpirit, out of the 
 glory of their earthly and natural ftate, into the glory of the refur- 
 reclion ) to that which Chrift ( when new rifen ) exercifed towards 
 the two difci pies in the way to £mmaus y Lukj 24. 13,3 1. He appear- 
 ed and convened with them,and then difappeared • fo fhall the Saints 
 
 P 2 in 
 
( «* ) 
 
 in the thoufarJyear5reign,a6tingandbeingasinoroutoftheBody,at 
 their pleafure;appearing & preaching to mortal men,& :hen vanishing 
 out of their fight. The devil 8c hi? angels will be all fait fealed up and 
 bound, that they can't fedu.ce or hinder rrun from obeying this ever- 
 lafting gofpel-miniftrey of the New-Jernfaiem Saints. Then will be ex- 
 perienced what humane nature, at its beft^monnts unto, as to eternal 
 life, after the faireft play that can be given it, no tempter,no adversary 
 being left upon the Stage to f educe or dedurb it, and all rbe warn- 
 ings of its mifcarriage in former imhnces,fet before it. Yet if many of 
 them fhall not refuie to obey the New-Jerufalem Gofpel-miniltry, 
 what need can there be of the flaming angelical miniiiry, in fubfervi- 
 ency thereunto, to do execution upon the refifters thereof ? Thofe 
 that obey it, will foon gro»v to aritneffe to be trandated in a moment 
 out of their mortal ftate, into the New -Jerufalem lbciety, as Enoch 
 zndEliah, and ner'e fee death at all ; This is the myftery Paul tells 
 us of, ( i Cor. 15. 51 ) and that Enoch the feventh iiomAdam y wis 
 both a type of, in his own trandation, and foretold the fealon of, 
 to wit, when the Lord cometh with thoufands of his Saints, to execute 
 judgement on wicked men, ( Jude *4, 15.) which, (fay the fewes) will 
 be the feventh thoufand year of the world. The ftrd coming forth of 
 this angelical magiftracy into a publick difcemablenefs, .0 fecure the 
 Saints in the undiiturbed exercife of their Religion and Worfhip,pre- 
 paratory to the coming forth of Chrift himfelf, may teem together 
 with the iifen witneftes to be reprefented by the little Stone cut out of 
 the Mountain, that will make fad work and that irrehmbly with all 
 worldly, corrupted magiffracies and people. The coming of thefe 
 fame angelical powers, as immediate attendants on Chrifi and his 
 heavenly bride, when he comes in perfon, feems ro be dgnified by 
 thegreatMountain which this (tone grows to, fo as(omhe demolilhing 
 of all oppofite Powers,every thing that offended hiving been phxk'd 
 up in the preparatory difpenfation) it comes to fill an d poflefs the 
 whole earth. The meek followers of the Lamb are toinheiit the earth*. 
 , The firft coming forth of this angelical magiftracy,* ( which will be 
 the onely fuitable magiftracy to the Church State of the iifen wimef- 
 fes, or Church that's to come up out of its Wildernefs condition and 
 mourning apparrel ) will put a period to Sain f s troi bles andcaft tri- 
 bulation the other way, on thofe that troubled them. It is a righteous 
 thing with G»d (faiesthe ApofHe ) to recompenfe tribulation to them 
 that trouble you, and to you that are troubled, reft with HS, when \ht Lord 
 by his mighty angels, who are afiami'ttr fire, (hall'tali? Vengeance on all ene- 
 mies and obftructers of) he Go/pel, 2 Thef. i*6 } 10. Ihen^here (hall 
 
c »7 ; 
 
 be righteous judgement, (verfi y.) now ther's none to be had for 
 them. Now they are deipiied and Chrifi in them; but at that day, 
 Chdli will be admired in cheraj, and furnilh them with-power to deal 
 with their affail an ts, as they pleafe. And, after this, he will come yet 
 more to be admired -and dieaded in his own peribn, with all his hea- 
 venly Armies following him, {Rev. 19. 14.) and thoufand thousands 
 o Angels miniftring to -him. Thus you fee the Believers hopes and 
 expect i dons of relief, where they are placed, while he is cruised a«4 
 abided under corrupt Rulers' in worldly States. But what is his duty 
 while the night of Sufferings and fackcloth is yet upon him f He is to 
 be preparing for and hafling to the coming of this day of God (2 Pet. 3 .12.) 
 on which man's judgement or man's day will ceafe. In another fence, 
 he that believeth will not make hafte, ( Etay 28. 16. ) not grow impa- 
 tient at Cbrid's patience and long differing, towards hisenemies ; not 
 anti-date his feafon, but quietly wait till the fet time for Slons deliver 
 ranee be come, through the Stace-miniifry of the mighty angels and 
 Ch irch-minidry of fpiritual believers. 
 
 Peter was too hady in this point, when he drew his fword againft 
 thofe that offered violence to his mafter. Chrift checks him for uftng 
 a wrong weapon, that- that will never work any full and final delive- 
 rance from the tyrannical Povveis of this world. I could ffaieshe) 
 at my prayer, have prefently more then twelve Legions of Angels to refcue 
 me ; But how thenfhmld the Scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it mufl be ? 
 Mat. 2<5. <j 3, 5-4. So, after his refurrec-lion, Te fools and flow of heart 
 (faies he) to believe all that the Prophets have f poke n ; ought not Chrift 
 firft tofuffer, and then enter into his olory ? Luk. 24. 25 , 26. And ought 
 not his members alfo to fluff er with him, ( till fluch time as the afftiEtions of 
 Chrift which are behind in iheir flefh, be accomplifhed J andflo enter into 
 glory alfo ? 1 Col. 24. Maft thty not dye with hlmflif they will live with 
 him, fluffer with him, if they will reign with him ? 2 Tim. 2. 11, 12. 
 Mufi they not g? the fame way he wen^ if they will come to the fame place^, 
 the heavenly manflons that he is gone before to prepare for them in Ins Fa- 
 thers houfe ? John'14. 2. I am confident, could this choice Martyr 
 have procured at his prayer, r wel\fe legions of Angels, to have laid all 
 his bruidliS adve'rfades on he Scaffold and round about him, dead at 
 his foot, he would have forborn to delire it, till the proper feafon 
 for that difpenfadon be come, which he reckoned to be very near.. 
 This is the difpenfadon, by which ( ;- ' will decide the controvert! e 
 betwixr his people and enemies, r* : is : Kaliey of Jehofcafbat, Joel 3. 
 12. The Hiftorfcal type t F in Joel,^t find, 2 Chr. 20, 
 
 A great imfti'tftde ! eho- 
 
( *ltf ) 
 
 in the thoufand yeaiS reign, acting and being as in or out of the Body, at 
 their pleafure;appearing &preaching to mortal men, & hen vanifhing 
 out of their fighc. The devil & hi? angels will be all fait fealed up and 
 bound, that they can*t feduce or hinder men fio.n obeying this ever- 
 lafting gofpel-miniffrey of the New-ferufalem Saints. Then will be ex- 
 perienced what humane nature, at its beflyrnioiints unto, as to eternal 
 iife,afcer the faireft play that can be given it, no tempter,no adverfary 
 being left upon the Stage to feduce or deflurb it, and all rhe warn- 
 ings of its mifcarriage in former ininnces,fet before it. Yet if many of 
 them {"hall not refute to obey the New-Jerufalem Gofpel-minilhy, 
 what need can there be of the flaming angelical minitfry, in fubfervi- 
 ency thereunto, to do execution upon the refiners thereof ? Thofe 
 that obey it, will foon grorv to a fitnefle to be transited in a moment 
 out of their mortal fhte, into the New-Jerufalem lociety, as Enoch 
 zndEllah, and ner'e fee death at all ; This is the myftery Paul tells 
 us of, ( i Cor. 15. 51 ) and that Enoch the feventh from Adam y WiS 
 both a type of, in his own tranftation, and foretold the feaion of, 
 to wit, when the Lord cometh with thoufands of his Saints, to execute 
 judgement on wicked men, ( Judc r4, 15 . ) which, (fay the fewes) will 
 be the feventh thoufand year of the world. The firl\ coming forth of 
 this angelical magilhacy into a publick difcernabler.efs, ;o fecure the 
 Saints in the undisturbed exercife of their Religion and Worfhip,pre- 
 paratory to the coming forth of Chrift himfelf, may teem together 
 with the rifen witneffes to be reprefentecr by the little Stone cut out of 
 the Mountain, that will make fad work and that irrehmbly with all 
 worldly, corrupted magiihacies and people. Tne coming of thefe 
 fame angelical powers, as immediate attendants on Chriii and his 
 heavenly bride, when he comes in perfon, feems ro be fignified by 
 the greatMountain which this (tone grows to,fo as(onihe derruli thing 
 of all oppofite Powers,every thing that offended having been phxk'd 
 up in the preparatory difpenfation) it comes to fill an i poflefs the 
 whole earth. The meek followers ofthe Lnmbare to inheiit the earth*. 
 . The firft coming forth of this angelical magrftracy,*(\Vhidi will be 
 the onely fui table magiftracy to the Church State of the rifen witnef- 
 fes, or Church that's to come up out of its Wildernefs condition and 
 mourning apparrel ) will put a period to Sairtts troubles and call tri- 
 bulation the o;her way, on thofe that troubled them. It is a righteous 
 thing with G»d (faiesthe Apoftle ) to recompenfe tribulation to them 
 that trouble yon, and to you that are troubled, reft with Hi, when tee Lord 
 by his mighty angels, who are a flaming fire, (hall tali? vengeance on all ene- 
 mies and obftr utters of the G 'ofp el, 2 Thef. i*6, 10. ihenimere fhali 
 
c "7 ; 
 
 be righteous judgement, (verfl. y T j now ther's none to be had for 
 them. Now they are defpifed and Chrift. in them; but at that day, 
 Che ill will be admired in cheraj and furnifli them with-power to deal 
 with their altailants, as they pleafe. And. .after this, he will come yet 
 more to be admired -and cieaded in his own per ton, with all his hea- 
 venly Armies following him, (*&% 19. 14.) and thoufand thoufands 
 6 Angels miniftring to him. Thus you fee the Believers hopes and 
 expect atioas of relief, where they are placed, while he is ctumed and 
 a blued under corrupt Rulers' in worldly States. But what is his duty 
 while the night of Sufferings and fackcloth is yet upon him f He is to 
 be pr 'paring for and haflingto the coming cf this day of God (2 Pet. 3. 12.) 
 on which man's judgement or man's day will ceafe. In another fence, 
 he that believeth will not make hafte, :(Eiay 28. 16. J not grow impa- 
 tient at Chriii's patience and long futTering. towards his enemies ; not 
 antidate his feafon, but quietly wait till the fe-t time for Sions delive- 
 rance be come, through the State-miniitry of the mighty angels and 
 Ch irch-miniilry of fpiritual believers. 
 
 Peter was too natty in this point, when he drew his fword againft 
 thofe that offered violence to his mafter. Chrift checks him. for uiing 
 a wrong weapon, that- that will never work any full and final delive- 
 rance from the tyrannical Poweis of this world. I could ( faies he ) 
 at my prayer, have prefect ly more then twelve Legions of Angels to refcue 
 me ; But how then fhmld the Scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it muft be ? 
 Mat. 2(5. <j 5, 74. So, after his refurrection, Te fools and flow of heart: 
 (faies he) to believe all that the Prophets have f poke n ; ought not Chrift 
 firfl to fuffer, and then enter into his alary ? Luk. 24. 25,26. And ought 
 not his members alfo to fuffer with him, ( till fuch time as the afflictions of 
 Chrifl which are behind in '.heir flefy, be accomplifhed ) and fo enter into 
 glory alfo ? 1 Col. 24. Mu.fi th#y not dye with himfif they will liv^with 
 him, fuffer with him, if they will reigv with- him ? 2 Tim. 2. ix, 12. 
 Muft they not gi the fame, way he wen^ if they will come to the fame place^. 
 the heavenly manflons that he is gone before to prepare for them in his Fa- 
 thers houfe ? John-14. 2. 1 am confident, could this choice Martyr 
 have procured at his prayer, r wel\fe legions of Angels, to have laid all 
 his bruitifTi adverfmies on he Sciffold and round about him, dcAd at 
 his foot, he would have forborn to deiire it, till the proper feafon 
 for that difpenfmon be come, which he reckoned to be very near. 
 This is the difpenfation, by which ; ; I will decide the controvert: 
 betwixr his oeonle and enemies, r« ,p : Galley of Jehofhaphat, Joel 3. 
 12. The Hiftotfcal tvv^ : ; ; - \ ' I r o in -7^/, we find", 2 Chr. 20, 
 A great -multi 1 . ud'J ' \eho- 
 
( "8 ) 
 
 fk.iphat. <jod takes the battel out of Jehofhaphat's and his Armies hands ; 
 tells them, they frail not need to fight , but fi and [till. and fee the Salvation of 
 the Lord, verf. 17. and veif.2 2,23. The Lord fets ambu foments aaainjl 
 their enemies, and caufes them to deftroy one another. Jehojhaphats Army 
 has nothing left them to tb, but to take the fpolles of their enemies , which 
 they were three dayes lu 'gathering, It wasfo much, verf. 25-. 
 
 Farther notice is given of this laft kind of undertaking the etemtes 
 of God and his People, Joel 2. 1, 11. Blow the Trumpet In Zion : 
 Sound an alarme In my holy Mountain. Lei all the inhabitants of the Land 
 tremble ; for the da) of the Lord is at hand. A great people and a firona 
 are his Army ; ( even ty4ngels that excel in jtrength ) a fire devour es 
 before them, and behind them aflame burneth. Nothing fhall efcnpe them. 
 The appearance of them is as the appearance of Horfes and Horfmcn. Like 
 the no'ife of Charets on the tops cf Mountains fhall the) leap : Like the wife 
 of aflame of fire that devour eth the ft 'ubble, a* a firongpeoplg fet In battle 
 array, before whom all their enemies faces (hall gather blacknefs. They 
 fhall run like mighty men and not breakjhelr ranks. They are an invulnera* 
 ble Army. When they fall upon the Sword, they jhall not be wounded. The 
 Earth fhall quake before them, the Heavens fhall tremble, the Sun and Moon 
 fhall be dark?, and the Stars jhall withdraw their fhlnlng. This day of 
 the Lord will be very terrible : who can -abide It ? Mens hearts will fall 
 them for fear , and for looking after thofe things which are coming on 
 the earth - } for there (hall be figns In the Sun, Moon and Stars, and upon the 
 earth dlflrefs of Nations with perplexity, the Sea and the Waves roaring, 
 Luk. 21. 25, 26. All this that is io terrible to the Inhabitants of the 
 Ea:;h, is good news to thofe that are in the Wildernefs, Pilgrims and 
 Strangers in the Barth. They are bid to lookup and lift up their heads, 
 when thefe things begin to come to pafs, for their "Redemption draw eth 
 nigh., verf. 28. The Lord fhall utter his voice before his Army, his An- 
 gelical Camp, which is very great, Joel 2. 1 1 . There will be no ftanding 
 for men before them. Then will be brought to paiTe thofe fayings in- 
 deed, ( rpfal. 149. ) which fome made ufe of in the late war, that 
 was but a fhadow to what this Angelical hoft andtheir performances 
 upon the enemy will amount unto. The Saints fhall fing aloud upon their 
 beds, and have the two-edged fword In their hands. The Faith and Prayer 
 of thefe chofen ones will have Angels ready to do execution upon all 
 enemies. Fire thus will co forth of their mouthes to deftroy them, Revel. 
 1 1 . They fhall execute vengeance upon the heathen and punljhments upon 
 the people, even upon both thofe lores of enemies that took counfel to- 
 gether ngainrt them, whether the prophane or but legally religious 
 party, Pfal. 2. 1, 2. Both the Heathen, that are no People of God at 
 
 all, 
 
( "9 ) 
 
 all) and fuch a People of God as tmy apoftatize & become no people 
 again, they fhali all go to wrack ; their Kings fljall be bound with chains, 
 and their Nobles with fetters of iron. All this (hall be performed by 
 the faith and prayer of Believers in aftbciation with the holy Angels, 
 Such honour have all his Saints. This concluding Battel, that is to 
 make a clear riddance of all the wicked tyrannical Monarchies and 
 Powers of this world, is elfe where exprefled thus ; Not by might, nor 
 by power, but by my.fpirlt, faith the Lord ofHofts, Zech. 4. 6\ 
 But thegreateft conqueft that can be attained over enemies,whiletis 
 yet but a (urrering feaion, is by Death. This Martyr followed his great 
 Mafter herein, Who by Death overcame him that had the power of Death, 
 the Devil, Heb. 2. 14. He that conquers by killing, overcomes but 
 men, he that conquers by dying, overcomes the Devil. His &lfe 
 friends conquered their enemies by killing them : he tried another 
 and the furer way of Conqueft, ( though myftical ) to conquer them 
 by being killed by them. He has more advantaged a good CAUSE 
 and condemned a bad one, done his honeft Countrey-men more fer- 
 vice, and his enemies more diflervice by his death, ( as Sampfon fer- 
 ved thePA/7//?/W)then before in all his Life,though that alfo were ve- 
 ry conftderable. If death were not the nobleft, moft excellent and cer- 
 tain way of conqueft, would the great Captaine of our Salvation have 
 led us that way I Are we followers of that Captain, uniefs we go 
 the fame way he went > They that conquer by killing others, are ftiil 
 fubjed to death themlelves; Yea, to be killed by Lome remainders 
 of thofe they conquered. They that conquer by dying, are no longer 
 fubjed to death. 'Tis appointed unto man once to die^ No ra»e or power 
 of. man can take away this Martyrs Life the fecond time. 
 
 'Tis true; Chrift himfelf offered up fupyli 'cations withflrong crying and 
 teares, unto him that was abletofave him from death, and was heard in 
 that he feared, (Heb. f. 7.) that is, was delivered from the fear of 
 Death before hand, and out of the jawes of it after, for it was not pof- 
 fiblehe fhould beholden of '/>, Act. 2.24. This difciple of his, prayed for 
 the fame thing, and he did experience and fay, Death fhrunke from 
 him,not he from it. He had experienced the good hand of God in de- 
 livering him fromDeathsoft,and when the feafon was come, he found 
 that Death it felf would prove thegreateft deliverance that he ever 
 had in all his life. So he experienced the delivering hand of God from 
 Death.oft, and by Death once, which was the accomplishment of all 
 his former deliverances. He did look Death in the f:xe with a true 
 chearful boldnefs, not in a tranfport, or dilTembled courage,. ( as is 
 ufual) but in a fixed compolure and full vigor of all his natural lenfes. 
 
 To 
 
( i2o ; 
 
 To be thus delivered from the fear of Death, is more then to be deli- 
 vered from Death. So to be delivered from all inordinate love of our 
 natural Life and the concerns thereof, is a greater mercy then to be 
 gratified vvich a confluence of all worldly deftrables. All the Crowns 
 and Scepters of this world are fhort of this frame of mind, crucified 
 to things ieen. ^Alexander put fo great a value upon a fhadow of this, 
 in T>loaeKes y that he faid, Were he not Alexander he would be Dion-exes. 
 The Conqueror accounted a deadhefs to the whole fcene of outward 
 Vanities, the beft condition, next to the having all at command. 
 Had he not been partial he might have reckoned it better. He foon 
 after loft his world and himfelf together, in a drunken fit at Babylon, 
 the common Rendevouz for bruiciih pomp under three of the four 
 woijUly Monarchies, Affy'rian^ Pdrftan, and'GW^. 
 
 The love of this world is enmity to God y and' -breeds in us the fear of 
 man, that can deprive us of what we love ■ and the fear of man blings 
 a fnare ; will keep us from witneiling a good confefilon as Chrilt did. 
 If we fear them that can k*U the Body, we fhall never be bold in a good 
 cau fe bef o r e w i ck ed J u d ge s . 
 
 This Patriot feared not Death, and therefore did as boldly, fully, 
 and clearly aflert his Countries Rights and Liberties at their Bar, as 
 he had before for many years together, on all occasions, in the Parlia- 
 ment Houfe. His iledfatinefs in the Faith, in the Covenant \ his- 
 conftancy for thepublicklriterefty- rendered him very tmfoiicitoiis as 
 to his own perfonal concerns- or Life: And what 'muff all this be 
 tearmed by his enemies ?' This -"fteadinefs and 'bold-nets of fpirk in' 
 averting the Caufe of God and thefe Nations to the.Do.Kh, which is 
 highly efteemed of God and all good men, is by his b.uitilh adverfa- 
 ries called, an impudent defence of hi* Treafvn. He was well fteeled 
 and made of God with J'eremf, as an iron pillar and brazen walles a- 
 giirift any impudence or treafoh that-'others could affront him wirh , 
 under a face of authority*. He evidently preferred the Lives and Li- 
 berties of all the knowing honeft-nearted people in the Nation, to his 
 own. He was couragious therefore in the defence of them. -What, 
 thought his enemies of this ? 'Ready they were 'to charge him; 
 with ftich deportment in his Trial and on the Scaffold, towards them 
 and the king, as Job was truly charged with by Elihn againft God,(J<?£ 
 34. 3 7.) He addeth rebellion to his fin, he clappeth his hands amor.gft 
 us, and multiplieth his words againft the King. What were, the words?- 
 cxn any 'ell . ? They mulriplied their words againft God, theLtws of' 
 EnoUnd and him. He refifted them unto blood. This was th'e higrudV 
 demonft ration of his (incexity that was polfible to be given, and the' 
 
 greateft 
 
, ( "I ) 
 
 greateft victory over all his* enemies that was pofTible to be obteined. 
 Cromwels victories are f wallowed up of Death : he has fwailoweo up 
 Death it felf into victory, and is gone in the Charet of falvation to 
 receive his Crown from the hands of Chriit, ( iTim. 4. 7, ^. ) 
 which no man by any treachery or force can ever take from him. 
 He let fail his mantle, left his body behind him, that he had worn nine 
 and forty years, and is gone to keep his everlafiing Jubile in Gods 
 Reft. *Tis all DAT with him now, no night or forrow more* no 
 prifons or death. He is gone from a place, where fo much as the 
 righteoufnefs of man can't be endured. He is gone to a place where 
 the righteoufnefs of God is the univerfal garbe of all the inhabitants. 
 He is gone to that better City, the New-Jemfalem. He had feived 
 his generation in his mortal Body, done his work, and was glad to 
 fali a fleep, and go look for his reward fome where elie. You fee whac 
 this ingrareful world has afforded him for all his kindnefs ; reproach, 
 prifons, and death; he had need have other returns fome where. 
 Great is bis reward in heaven. He was a burning and fhining light, 
 he burned hotter and fhined brighter in heavenly life and light under 
 all the injuries of this perfecting world, fo 'hat his laft works were 
 his beft. So death was to him a great gain. If any fit down by the 
 lofs, 'tis we that furvive him. But he left this comfortable word be- 
 hind him ; God would never want fnftrumehts to do his vpoy\. Yet We 
 may fay ; The honourable CoHnfelltyir is taken from thee i O England ) 
 this day, whofe worth few knew. A famous M after in our Ifrael, zs taken 
 from our heads, and who tales It rightly to heart ? His enemies were afraid 
 of him, as Saul of David, becaufe the Lord was with him ; 1 Sam. 1 8. 
 12. Pharaoh, though but a heathen Prince,was of another mind con- 
 cerning Jofeph. He advLed with his Council about appointing fome 
 dilcreet, wife man ever the Land of Egypt ; and of Jofeph he faith, 
 Can we find fuch a one as this, a man in whom the fplrlt of God is ? So Jo- 
 feph became chief Ruler in Egypt, under feveral Kings fouifcore, years 
 together, from the thirtieth to the hundred and tenth year of his 
 age. The like great authority fell to Daniels fhare, ( as a man of this 
 more excellent fpirit) in Babylon^ under feveral Affyrlan or Baby- 
 lonlfh, and Terfian Monarchs. 
 
 'Tis a fign Monarchy is notoriously degenerated, that perfons of 
 Jofeph' s and Daniels fpirit are for that very rea 'on hated and (lain, for 
 which ihey wire advanced even in heatnen States. Theenemiesof 
 tWis £xgf I (b J ft pb and deliverer, weie of the right Satanick fpirit 5 
 bated him only for following ihe thing that good is. They that render 
 evil for good are mine adverfaries 7 xn the original \is >are Satan ^iz\>l 8. 
 20, Q^ Men 
 
; ( 122 ) 
 Men of the excellent lpirit,do now find fad entertainment. People 
 flock together, and every one is ready to act his pare, towards the 
 {hedding of their innocent blood ; Judges, Jurors, Witnefles,Coun- 
 fellors. No time muft be granted , all muft be huddled up in a 
 trice, when they are making hafte to deflroy them. And they 
 are ready to fay (as thej^wof Chrift) His blood be ufmutoni 
 on mr children. It is not like to be alone upon them, they muft take a 
 heavier load with it. Upon the abettours and contrivers 6f this mur- 
 der .( if they repent not ) will come z\\ the blood that has been ihed 
 upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel, to the laft drop of 
 the innocent blopd that they have or ilull farther fpill. Precious in the 
 fight of the Lord is the death of his Saints, Pfal. 116.15. God will be 
 foundly payd for their blood. He will not fail to encreafe his wealth 
 by their price, Pfal. 44. 12. 
 
 One main ground of the unjuft proceedings of worldly Powers a- 
 gainft righteous and conscientious men, is Reafon of State ; which 
 tifually brings the moft fignal defolation upon them, by that very 
 means whereby they thought to prevent it. "With what a vengeance 
 this thing called %eafon of State has been repay ed, we may obieive in 
 all times and places. 
 
 Pharaoh for %eafons of State furthered the Male-Children, and 
 fought to fupprefs the Hebrews by cruel bondage. No meffages from 
 God, though accompanied with Prodigies, could flop him in his 
 courfe, till he was payd home, oncfe for all, in the Red Sea. 
 
 %eafon of State made Saul leek the mine 0? David, Ahfolon lie with 
 his Fathers Concubines, Jeroboam feek the eflabliiliment of himfelf 
 by his Calf-worfhip, thereby diftinguiftiing his people in Religion 
 from the Jervfalem-Woiihlip under another King. This made Herod 
 feek Chrift's life, and deflroy the male Children about Bethlehem. 
 This made the Jf*s and Pilate crucifie him, lealt C*far ihould deflroy 
 their Nation, wheseas for that very thing they came to be dellroy'd 
 by Cdcfar ; and what end all the other, with many like examples came 
 to, I refer you to the Scriptures ^and other authentic! Hiflories,to en- 
 qutie, 
 
 Caiafh'ai faid of Chrifl, It was expedient that one mm (honld dje for 
 the feople. The like was urged againfl this follower of Chrilt. Here's 
 another Reafon of State. And he declared himfelf content to be any 
 tiling God Ihould permit them to make of hum : to be handled as 
 Paul was, reckoned as the filth of the rvor;ld, the off-fcourlngof all things., 
 1 Cor. 4. 13. The word there is viet*^* {itt]x y which reiates to die 
 heathemfheuftome of culling ©ut flaves o; other comempiible per- 
 form, 
 
fons, to offer up to the devil., as expiatory facrinces to purge from 
 fome National guilt they had contracted, and fo deliver them from 
 fome National judgement they lay under. 
 
 Be the adverfaries Reafons of State what they will, they have done 
 all they can do to this lover of his Countrey and the Laws thereof. 
 But I would willingly have their understandings difabufed in one 
 point. Let them not think they have conquered him. They knew htm 
 not. He judg'd his Judges at the Bar. He triumphed over his executu 
 oners on the Scaffold, ^ and the reft. Such a publick execution was 
 more eligible then toliave lingred out fome fmall time in a prifon, as 
 a condemned perfon, liable to any arbitrary afterclaps, orrany future 
 motion or pretence of motion in- our troubled Sea. He had more eafe, 
 God more glory, the honeft party of the Nation and their jull CAUSE 
 more advantage, and why may I not fay, his moft intimate friends 
 and dearefi Relations more comfort in this way o£ his deliverance, 
 once for all ? 
 
 He did fully comply with that rational notion of the heathen Philo- 
 fophers, concerning his mortal bo&y,That it was one of his prifonsjrom 
 which he could receive no final dif charge ( as he might from others ) but 
 by death. Right joyful he was to lay afide this burthenfomc weight 
 and go to his Father* His heart wo* fixed y tmfting in the Lord. He was 
 not therefore afraid or any way ft. r tied at evil ty dings, but did_fing and give 
 praife, that his fill redemption drew fo near , Pfal. 112. 6, 7. and 
 108. 1. 
 
 When the Sheriffs Chaplain came very gravely to him at the 
 midnight before his execution, f the moli difmal , unfeafonable, 
 andunufual time for fuch mefiages) he told him he was come to 
 bring him, as he called it, the fatal meifage of Death. On this, the 
 Lord prefently cafl into his mind that which lYwritten ( Zech. 3 .4.) 
 to intimate to him, That he was now taking away his filthy garments^ 
 with intention to give him change of raiment , that his mortal might -put on 
 immortallity. l%m his Mortallitj came to be fvoallowed up of Life, and 
 Death and the Grave into Vitlory. 
 
 Prefently after his receit of -hat meffage of. Death, he laid him 
 down and fiept, for the Lord fuftalned him, Pfal. 3. $". When his Rela- 
 tions and Acquaintance came about him in the morning, he told them 
 he did not look upon that meffage of Death, as* having any thing at all 
 of difmalnefs in it. 
 
 The World was no longer worthy of him. He is therefore gone 
 from the earth. But his Perfon and righteous Testimony [hall be had in 
 everlaftingremembrance, Pfal. J 12. 6. Hi* eye wot fixed upon a better 
 
 Q^2 Conn- 
 
. ( I2 4 ) 
 Cour trey , the Saincs ever Lifting Reft. There the wicked ceafe from trou- 
 
 bllng, and the wearv are at reft. . Thofe that have been made Prijoners and 
 oHt-caftsii this world, as the off-fcouring of all things , ft. all reft together 
 j here : They (hall no more hear the voice of the opprejfor, J ob 3 . 17,18. 
 The prefent enjoyments and bleffednefs of this deceafed Saint,do fee 
 him clear out of the reach of his enemies malice or my pen. He ftead- 
 dily fees and unchangeably en joyes what Paul ( before quire rid of his 
 mortal body ) had but the tranfient view cf, in a fhort rapture, when 
 taught up to the third heaven y ( 1 Cor. 12.) or into that vifion of God 
 inChrift, that is exhibited to the double-portioned Saint, that (1 s*on 
 the Throne* with Quid. 'Tis theTavourable prefence of God in Quilt 
 oaely, that makes heaven to angels or men. God's threefold various 
 prefence with his Church, in and through Chrift,makes the three hea- 
 vens. That prefence that is afforded in the.- adequate intelligible form 
 to the higheft life and difceming of the double-portioned Saint, the 
 Bride the Lambs Wife, makes the third heaven^ That which is given 
 forth in the adequate intelligible form to the ele£fc Angels and Spirits 
 of julf men mide perfect, as the futable immediate object of their dif- 
 ceming, makes die fecond heaven. That prefence of God, ( toge- 
 ther with the fruits of it ) that in Chriif is afforded to Saints on earth, 
 makes the firft. They have their 'convention ip this fnit heaven, 
 Phil. 3.20. or loweft kind of prefence and convene of Chriii in fpirir. 
 They do live in the exercife of that fpiritual (t^d and thofe piinci- 
 ples, which when fully awakened in the refur re&ton, will render them 
 lit inhabitants of the fecond and third heavens. Paul in the iliort 
 glance he had of thatmoft excellent glory of God in Chri(t, that is in- 
 telligible or difccrnable to the molt exalted fori: of Saints, tells us, 
 he heard unfpeakable words , (or fax? unfpeakable things ) which it is not 
 lawful or pojfiblefor a man to utter. Here then I mult take off my hand, 
 and leave you to make the beft you can of it, in (ilence and won- 
 der. 
 
 Thus have I caft in my fmall mite towards the vindication of the 
 Perfon, Doctrine and Way of this choice anointed one of the Loid, 
 and faithful aff^rror of his Countries Liberties unto Death, from the 
 groundlefs afperfions, caufelefs hatred, mifprifions, and injuries ihat 
 have fallen to his lliare, in this world. There are two forts of ene- 
 mies, who in the rage and vain imaginations of their hearts, have re- 
 proached, blafphemed, aflaulted, affronted, refitted and peifecuted 
 Chrilt in him. They are both deciphered, ( Pfal. 2. 1.) under he 
 titles of Heathen and "People. I have a word or two to divide between 
 ihem, and fpeak to each of them apart. 
 
 My 
 
( ™ f ; 
 
 "My firft word is to a People of God, who ( in whatever variety 
 of form, perfwafion or way) have all of them ( with one confent ) 
 feparated from Rowers juftly loathing and naufeating her moft grots, 
 vifible Idolatries and abominations. They have alio feparated from 
 the dry impertinent formality of a meer outward profstlion of Prote- 
 ftantilme under a luperititious Epiicopacy.Thefe they have feparated 
 from on the left hand ; it was their duty to to do. But they have alfo 
 feparated from, or rather call: out the fpiritual Believer and true heir 
 of the everlaiting Kingdom,on the right hand. This is their great fin, 
 tharhas brought a prophane, heachenifh^ fuperftitious, idolatrous In- 
 tereftover their heads again, and run all a-ground. They have demon- 
 ftrated themfelves to be of that ipint that Paul reproved in fome of the 
 Corinthian Church , that would be relgmng as Kings in the but renew- 
 ed principles of humane nature, and -righreoufnefs of man, i far. 4. 
 8. When therefore this true heir founded his trumpet in his ^£- 
 TIRED CMSBITATIONS, and proclaimed another fort 
 of Saints, men of another fpirit, other principles, and a more excel- 
 lent way of life, to be theonely true heirs of the Kingdom, and pof- 
 feffed of the true reigning Principle, they could^noc bear it. They 
 have chofen rather to give the Scepter back again into any hand, 
 then the true heir of the heavenly Kingdom fhould wield it ■ I mean 
 not a Penon onely , but a People , a People prepared for the 
 Lord. 
 
 . Whoever you be that have thus demeaned your felves, and finned 
 away twenty years Mercies and Deliverancies, (whatever your Judg- 
 ment, Form or Way be, as- to this or that particular Docfc-ine or Or- 
 dinance ) if you yet lodge but in the renewed old- Adam Ime of life, 
 or firft- creation fpirit and principles, fas you have ieen them above- 
 charactered) to you it is I direct this word. You that are in fome good 
 meaiVre and degree, inwardly cleanfed from the pollutions of this 
 world, the corruption of nature, give me leave to tell you ; you may 
 be thus wafh'd and baptized by the word of truth, into a pra&ical, ex- 
 perimental knowledge of Chrift after the fiefh, and conformity with 
 him, a> he was found in the fleiTi, (horn of a woman y made under the 
 Law ). for your fan&ification. Lee me tell you fur her : you may be 
 made comely through his comelineis or .ighteoufnei,-; ( of that fort ) 
 put upon you or imputed to you, (or your ju in cation. You may over 
 and above all this, be adorned with rmny lewels and bracelets, excel- 
 lent gifts, and the tongue of men And angels, \ nd yet fa (holt of the glo- 
 ry and righteoufnefs of God in the new in .1 everb/ g Covenant,and 
 fo may prove to be at laft but founding brafs ,r tihkjing cymbals^ 
 
 Lz, itf. 
 
( "tf ) 
 
 Ez,. i6. ii., 12. \Cor. 12. 31. 13. 1. All your fanctified, juftified, 
 beautified and adorned [late, m which you flourished, was but the re* 
 cYified, adorned , tuft-covenant natural man, and you took all to be 
 fpiritual, new-covenant Life and ornament. This is one of the fad- 
 deft miftakes mortal men are fubjecl to, and is like to coft them dear- 
 eft. Their difappointment is fatal and irrecoverable. Their work is 
 exceeding dangerous in kicking dga&ft tbifrkkj , perfect; ting of Chrift 
 in the truefpiritual believer. But their cai^ is not remedileVs,as they 
 may fee in Taul, till they knowingly and malitioufly fay ; Come* this 
 ii the heir 'let* s kill him, and the inheritance frail be ours. 
 
 There are thofe from amongft thefe Legal fpirited profeffors, 
 both Paftors and People, that have had their fhare in betraying this 
 )\\ft man ; in blafpheming his Principles and Doctrine ■ in calling re- 
 proaches upon him while living ; and pleafing thernfelves to think that 
 they are now well rid of him, his Doctrine and Way, by his Death. 
 Deceive not your felves. His teftimony has received a more fignal 
 ratification by his Death then in all his Life. He vvarn'd you of ma- 
 ny things. In reference to one of his waming-pieces,as to the making 
 clean riddance o£ Antichrift from amongft us, • I ihall ask you a 
 Que ft ion. 
 
 < T>oy)H Imigine that you have banlfred Antlchr'fl out of your coafts, your 
 Churches, ty excluding the Romlfo beaft, the heachenijh part of the Anti- 
 chriftian Church ? 
 
 Jewe^ Reynolds and Hlntaker, ( againft Harding. HartzvABeUar- 
 wine ) as alfo o-her famous and learned Writers of the Proteftant al- 
 tered, white, Mede, and many more, have from che Quiver of com- 
 mon reafon and humane Writers, drawn out and lhot inch arrows at 
 that Beaft, that her wounds are incurable by any other Engine, fave 
 the Sword and Belluine force. 
 
 What will you fay, if the very Proteftant Churches in what ever va- 
 riety of Judgement, as to this or that particular, ( fo far forth as they 
 have miftaken the One thing necejfary, the great fundamental Point, or 
 different foundation of the two Houfes Chrift mtntionSjone on the {and, 
 the other on theroc^Mit. 7. and have refted and gloried wholly in 
 the leiTer glory of renewed, adorned man, that's to be done away ) 
 ihould at length prove the Myftical Babylon^ however confidently they 
 have patted for the true heavenly Spoufe and People of Chrift f Un- 
 der this conceit of your being the true everlafting Spoufe of Chrift , 
 how confident have you been, that the Kings of the earth fhould joyn 
 i tereft with you, and efpoufe your quarrel , in order to pull down and 
 t ar in pieces the beaftiy Idolatrous AntichrLft of Rome .? What a 
 
 crofs 
 
crofs blow would it be to your expectations in this kind,what a (ad arrd 
 amazing difappointment v if it frvouid fail the other way ? If the Kings 
 of the earth, in themo'ft bruitiih, degenerate ftate of worldly Monar- 
 chy, lliould (hike in with Rome againft you, and accompliih that pro- 
 phefie upon you, as the genuine intendment thereof ? Revel, 
 
 17. 1^. 
 
 Shall I ask you another Queftion, with fome tendency towards a 
 
 difquifition into this Riddle ? ; 
 
 Do or can yon Imagine the Toplfb party and Religion ,ln the poflure it hdi 
 flood thefe many hundred years^ can in her Spirit, Doctrine and Principles, 
 be that glittering Strumpet ,whlch for inward Ornament , hollnefs y and ex- 
 ceeding llkenefs to the true heavenly Spoufe of Chrlft, didfo dazzle Johns 
 eyes in Fatmos, (amidft all his ravifmng Vlflons ofCjod) m that he 
 wondred with great admiration to hear her tearmed by the Angel , 
 <JMTST£ RY, BABYLON the GREAT, the UttO- 
 THER OF HARLOTS and ABOMINATIONS 
 OF THE EARTH? Rev. 17. J,6. 
 
 ME DE, and many others have evidently and undeniable demon- 
 jftrated that Popery is the very fink of all the old Gentile Theologie of 
 Daemon Gods, in their worshipping and praying to Angels and the 
 fouls of deceafed men. Some great Authors or Patrons and advancers 
 of their moft ridiculous Idolatries, they have formally canonized foi 
 Saints, and do pray to their departed Souls, ?.s Heroe's,* rank of Demi- 
 Gods, inferiour to Angels. It any were more notorioufly vile in their 
 idolatries, 6c more eminently ferviceable in the propagating 8c advan- 
 cing thereof, & fo more ufeful to Demetrius 8c his fubordinate Shrine- 
 makers, and Image-mongers,. ( Aft. 19. ) they have been advanced 
 in their Apotheofes, after the manner of old heathenifh Rome, into 
 the very order of Daemons or Angels, and fo their prayers to them as 
 well as to fallen Angels, come properly under the title of Daemono- 
 latry,o-r worfh-ppin-z of Devils. Yea the mart fupeiftitious. abomina- 
 tions and grols bodiiy ' fredtfrnsthat ever were found fcatteredly 
 up and down in any the uictt bruitii 1 ! . hen States fince the world 
 began, are pack'd lib all together, in the Papacy. They may fet up a 
 Fanthcon, a Temple for the C \ el : verfal Worfhip of all the 
 
 old heathen Gods, in all Nations, Rome$&\ Here's their Ca- 
 
 tholick Religion, They fall down to Stock* anil worship Stones, graven 
 and molt en Images, t heworkj of their 0) vn hand i . They are fad 1 y de rided 
 for It, wi,h the reft of their old brother-heathens, by God himfelf, at 
 large, Efay 44. They take a piece of h part whereof they roft their 
 
 meat and warm their hands y and the rr^etheymakeaGod. Horace , 
 
 a heathen 
 
( "8 ) 
 
 a heathen Poet, feoffs at the fame folly, bringing in an Image that ap- 
 plauds k felf for its good hap, that when it was a rude mifhapen piece 
 Of wood, the Carpenter Was chinking to put it to fome infeiiour ufe, 
 but all upon a fuddain it came into nis head, to make it a God. Yea, 
 the very Turks abhor the Popilli Imagery and Image-worfhip , as 
 more againfl: the Common light of Reafon, than any thing they have 
 in their Mahumetane Mofch's or Pariili Meeting-places. If John 
 then iliould have wondred to hear that fuch a heathenifh Church as - ' 
 the Romans now is, and has long bin, (when reprefented to him-in the 
 Spirit, Principles, and grofs Idolatries thereof) iliould be called the 
 Whore of Babylon, might not all the world wonder at John for his 
 paines ? He might indeed in fuch a cafe, have wondred the other 
 way ; that that iliould at all be called Myltical Babylon, as having lb 
 much creditable refemblance of the true Spoufe of Chri(t,as to pais for 
 it . There is no fuch thing as grofs whoredom of body or foul, in Re- 
 ligion or.Converfation, in the whole World, if it be not in the apo- 
 ihte Roman? Church, in a tranfeendent mariner. 
 
 Tis certainly then ibme clearer, fmer-fpirned Church, which 
 John- Wondred iliould be called The Mother of Abominations ; fome 
 fuch Church as he was ready to think, if Chriil harh any fuch thing 
 as a cha.fte Spoufe upon earth, that will keep clofe to him and never 
 apoftadze, this is ihe. Thus Samuel fa id of Sliab, J°jfe's eldeft fon, 
 Surely the Lords anointed is before h'm^ i Sam. 16. 6, 'Tis ar.fwered 
 there, The Lord feeth not as man feeth, v'er'f. 7. That that man ad- 
 mires and praifes, God regardes not ; ffndth'at which frian reg 
 not, is of higheft elleem with God. Paul was no b \$y vVith of hat 
 were wife and honourable in Chrift, as to the glory of man, by him" 
 renewed in or put upon them, but mean while was he wiiom the Lord 
 commended, 1 Cor. 4. 10. 2 Cor. 10.12. 18. 
 
 But to help open your eyes, you fee Popery is fuch a rrufs of grofs 
 Idolatries and commonly difcemable Abominations, that the very 
 preTent Magiftracy, whom you are apt, it may be, to have ibme hard 
 thoughts-of, would feem fo refolute againfl: it, as to make it criminous 
 for any to blemifh their repute with fuch ilanderous imputations, as if 
 they had the lealt intendment that way. 
 
 If you chance to object ; How comes it to pafs then, that all the more 
 refined forts of (fhrijlian Meetings are difturbed, kl lied fimprij "one d, hurri- 
 ed up and down from poft to pi liar, grofsly abufed and injured before their 
 Judgement feats, and the Mafs onely quiet, and what is next itjhe dry, im- 
 pertinent public^ Ajfemblies under Epfcopacy ? // you fay further , 
 what mean they to force thofe Oathes upon m that were originally intended 
 
 for 
 
for the keeping of Pxpifts quiet ? Why may we not expect England 
 - fhould fhortly be made a Shambles, when fome moderate Papifts 
 themielves bolt out fomething that's hatching, which they reckon too 
 black for them to act a part in, and fo quit their ground before 
 hand ? If you ask me Fuch queftions as thefe, I fhall referre you for 
 an anfwer,to thofe whom it concerns. If you further expoftulate, and 
 fay, though we may not fay Popery is intended, may we not think fo 
 when we fee all this ? What muft we do wirh our eyes then ? No 
 great matter what become of fuch eyes as could not fee all this before 
 kand. Some Cnjfandras amongft you did, but the credulous multitude 
 thought otherwife,and carried it. Prefbyterlans and Tradefmen thought 
 to have made a fairer game of it, then it proves. I am neither. But I 
 know Trading is ddid y and Prefbyterlanlfme feems to be fomewhac 
 near giving up the Ghoft ; fcarce a Hone i> like to be left upon a ftone 
 in our myflica! earthly Jerufalem, or Church-formes, any more than 
 ence in the Lateral City and Temple. 
 
 I'le tell you my mind in fhort ; I reckon the Romljh party but the 
 tail of that fecond Beaft, that had homes like the Lamb y (jlev. i }> 1 1.) 
 j£ any part thereof at all. It may rather feem to be the head or moft 
 flourithing appearance of the firft, thrheatheniili Romane Monarchy, 
 guilded over with nothing but the meer Name and Title of Chriftia- 
 nity. And fo all thofe Kings of the earth, that fide and ftrike in there- 
 with, are together with this palpable Romljh ft rum pet, but of the fame 
 nature and mettal with the old heathen Monarchy of i?w»*,refembled 
 by the iron part of the feet and toes of Is^ehuchadne^^ars Prophetical 
 Imagt, as the elder heathen Rome was refembled by the iron tegs, Dan. 
 2. 3 3 . The clay reprefents myftical Babylon ,or that foftened,"refoi ru- 
 ed Church-ftate, of fuch a People in Covenant with God, as may a- 
 gain become no People. Thefe two parties fhall labour to mingle to- 
 gether and cleave one to another, in order to keep out the true fpiri- 
 tual worfhipper, who has been in the Wildernefs above this twelve 
 hundred years, excluded out of both their Synagogues,and is now up- 
 on a return into power. But thefe two parties, refembled by iron and 
 clay, though they aflfay to mix and cleave together, can't hold fo long, 
 and when they clalli, guefs which is like to have the worft on't, iron 
 or clay. 
 
 From amongft you, O profeffors, have there? been, that have fate 
 with thofe now returned into power, as at one table, to confult and 
 contrive how you may both rid your hajids and the world cf the fpiri- 
 tual worfhipper and true heir. The hearts of the Kings or chief Lead- 
 ers amongft you both, have been fet to fpeak lies and do mifchief to 
 
 R ' him, 
 
( *3° ) 
 
 him, becaufe he has been the rebuker of you dot!j, {Dan. n, 27. ) 
 of the one, for not looking after a more excellent ftate of iighteouf- 
 nels • of the other, for abiding in a ftate of downright yvickednefs, as 
 an enemy to allrighteoufnefs. Paul, in all the glory andrighreouf- 
 nefs of mm, was the moft enraged perfecutor of thefpiritand righte- 
 o'ufnefs of God in the true faints, the.world had in it ; yet had in him 
 the feed'of that very fpiritua-1 life he perfecuted, though unawakened 
 unexercifed,tiil Chrift met with him in the way to Damafcm ; fo may 
 fome, may many of you j I wifh all had. 
 
 You once made full account you had for ever fhaken hands with 
 Popery and prophanefs, fo as never more to enter again into any cor- 
 refpondence with either. Has nor your blind zeal and enmity againft 
 the Spiritual believer and his Teitimony, fo far tranfported you, as to 
 make you forfeit all your former difcretion , and refolution, and ad- 
 venture the (baking hands again with both in a kind of amity, like 
 Herod and Pilate, to work jointly, what prejudice you can to the truet 
 heir of the heavenly kingdom f are not you the two difUnft branches 
 of Antichvilb Kingdom, refembled by the iron and clay, that though 
 you would never fo fain, yet. cannot mix or piece up together, fo as 
 to hold long, but will clalla and deftroy one another, and fo make, 
 way, by the moft wife providence of God, for the coming of the true 
 heir over both your beads ? "Dan, 2. 43, 44, Are you not almoft rea- 
 dy to go to work for the accomplishing of what this deceafed Patriot 
 has foretold you of, in his MED IT A f IONS, about the elafh of the 
 two branches of An tichrids kingdom, the finer and courfer parts of Ba- 
 bylon ? See elfe. B>tt who hath believed his report, or regarded if ? They 
 onely,to whom the arm of the Lord hath been revealed. How too gene$ 
 rally is that Teftimonyjof his disregarded, that of any I know extant, 
 next the Scriptures, gives the fa i reft aim to England, truly to under- 
 Hand its cafe and the (tare of the controverfie between God and it ; 
 and what the true ground is,that all its moft luccefsfully acquired Li- 
 berty Should be ready to be compleatly fwallowed up again into down- 
 light beatheniSh Idolatry 'and prophanefs ? Where's the man that wil 
 ::er his undemanding to be questioned as -any way faulty, that he 
 gives no entertainment to a righweport of thefe matters? All the 
 heavy loadmuft be caftupon the'relator, as but cloudily or not at all 
 making, out what he Speaks of, or that the matter of his mefl'age is at 
 bottom no better then Popery ; yea it has been called masked Pope- 
 ry, and publickly fet at defiance bv a frequented Teacher in our Re- 
 formed Congregations, as that which is far lefs to be tollerated by the 
 Magiftrate then the open bare-fae'd Idolatries of Rome. What work 
 
 does 
 
( w ) ^ v. 
 
 does the blind, ignorant zeal of the legalift make with the fpiritual 
 "mans Tettimony ?' What ilupenduoirfiy fajfe deductions and conclu- 
 sions do they Form from it, aart thendecry it ?*-The fun -fifing is not 
 fofardifiant from its fall as Jus deceaied believers Teftimany and 
 Dodhine* is f i om Popery. Fire is not more contrary to Water then 
 his Doctrine to theirs. 'Tis rmazingtc me, to think which way fuch 
 imaginations {hould come into their crowns. He has plainly decla- 
 red to you how matters Rand, had you the hearing ear or feeing eye. 
 You either wonder at, or defpife it ; if you go on at fuch work, you 
 will periih too w This 'twil certainly come to, Aft. \y. 41. Through 
 this one fatal miftake about the fpiritual man and his Do&rine, the 
 molt accomplished perfon for England* deliverance from. devils and 
 men, hath been by you betrayed and delivered up into the hands of 
 the Gentiles, to be lb handled as you have feen. But their cafe that 
 crucified Chriit himielf was not remedrlefs,till on a fair and plain de- 
 claration how matters Mood, they did refolutely and peremptorily 
 per lift in their error^ contradicting and blafpheming. Then Jfytttl 
 waxed bold and refolme on the other hand ■ feeing ( fares he ) that you pat 
 this word or warm, g aw*y from Jm\ thereby judging your felves wnworthy 
 vf-cverUftixg life ; lo, we turn to the Gentiles, K&. 13.45, 46. 
 
 The foundation of all Con-roverfy with the fpiritual believer, the 
 ground of all the contradicting and blafpheming his Teftimony meets 
 with, what is it ? This. The natural man percelvetb not the things of 
 God, becaufe they are felrltnaily difeerncd. I H 
 
 Spiritual ihings are not at all the fui table, .intelligible objects to 
 the natural underfUnding. But will ielf-confident man ever differ 
 this to becom iheQjeftion, Whether the fauU lye In him, that he per- 
 ceives not what is f aid by -the fpiritual watchman I By no mear.es ; fpe- 
 cialiy if -his \u ural ratfri be renewed, cle nfed, enlightened, adorned 
 with exccilcnc girts and 'the tongue-of nun and angels, fo ;hat he is 
 in 'one kind, wife, and ltiong, and honourable in Chriit, a Piince at 
 working righteoufnefs, reigning as a King ; 1 O. 4. 8. You may 
 fooner- remove a mountain, then get this nun, fo accomplifhed and 
 palmed, or-ce - o drYer his nndeirtanding and recep.ion of things to 
 beicrupled brqueftioned,as indfficien.- for ; hole Things, 1 hen (.here's 
 no remedy, but if the fpirit'ual believers Tefhmonv be nov received, 
 the fau 1 r mud b > laid a t his door, That -he da* h g!y afferts many things^ 
 but clears rothlng, proves nothing.- Thus the ^harlfees ferv'd Chrift. 
 zAre we blind alfo f Do you trunk that if you talk'd any thing that has 
 ■Serice, Reafon, or Sciipturc'in it for its evidence, wecouldnotfec 
 "what 'tis you drive at ? Jvhn $>. 40. 
 
 R 2 Let's 
 
(*3* ) 
 
 Let's consider whether thefe learned felf-confidents, with the reft 
 
 of the Jemjh Rabbies, were blind or no, as to the true reach and iig- 
 nificancy of thoie very Oracles they were generally reputed the 
 onely Interpreters of, in tMofes and the Prophets. Paul being fet 
 down in the Jewlfh Synagogue at Antioch in Plfidla , upon inti- 
 mation from the Rulers thereof, to fpeak a word of exhortation, (a 
 thing not admitted in our Synagogues ) infifts upon this very point. 
 Tkey ( faies he ) that dwell at Jemfalem, and their Rulers, becaufe the-y 
 knew not Chrlfl, nor yet the voices of the Prophets, which were redd every 
 Sabbath day 7 they have fulfilled them in condemning him. And though 
 they found no caufe of death lnhlm y yet de fired they Pi late that he fhould be 
 fatty Act. 13. J7, 28. They are faid therefore to have done it ignc- 
 vantly. The Princes of this World, that is, the Jemjh Priefts, Scribes, 
 Pharifees, &c. that were Princes in undemanding and at working 
 the righteoufnefs of the Lzw,theyyet knew not Chrifl,for had they known 
 him, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory, 1 Cor.2.8. Twas 
 well for them,their murdering of him was capable of fuch an interpre- 
 tation, for this keeps the door yet open for fa.lvation, through ChrHl 
 crucified, to be preach'd even to them that crucified him. Men and 
 brethren, children of thefiock^of Abraham,to you is the word ofthisfatva- 
 tionfent^hdi. 13. 26. 
 
 What a marvellous thing may it feem, that the very learned Rulers 
 and onely reputed expounders of the Law and the Prophets, fhould 
 crucirie Chrirt, and in all the circumftances of their proceedings with 
 him, fulfil all that was foretold of him in Mofes and the Prophets, and 
 yet not know all along what they were doing f THey thought, and io 
 our Rabbics think they underhand the Scriptures-, but did they or do 
 we ? What though men have been reputed famous expounders of the 
 letter of Gofpel, thirty or forty years together, may not they yet be 
 ignorant of Chrift in fpirit, or the Spiritual man and all his concerns,' 
 and fo with great confidence cry him down for a Blafphemer,and per- 
 secute him ? No doubt. Is not Chrift in Spirit, and in the ap- 
 proaches of his fecond coming, as like to be decried, blafphemed and 
 perfecuted by the onely reputed expounders of the Gofpel, as Chrjft 
 in the flefli was by the onely reputed expounders of the Law I His 
 fecond coming, both in his Saints, fthe true fpiritual believer J and 
 an his own perfon,isas- fairly foretold in the New Teliament, in re- 
 ference to his reign, as his firft coming in the flefh was foretold in the 
 old Teftarnent, in reference to his Sufferings. And of the two, men 
 will be more fhort of guefllng right at the predictions that concern his 
 fecond coming., then thofe that concerned his firft. It lies more re- 
 mote 
 
( *35 ) 
 mote by far,iri all tfe circumftances and things of it,from humane un- 
 demanding, then the hrft dtd. 
 
 Chrift makes this dealing of God with men, the ground and mat- 
 ter of a folemn thankfgiving to his Father, / thank^thee, O Father \ 
 Lord of heaven and earthy be'caufe thou haft hid thefe things f ram the wife 
 and prudent, and haft revealed them unto babes f Mat. 1 1 .25 . And 1 Cor. 
 1 . 2.6. Not many wife men after the flefh, not many mighty, not many nobis 
 are called. See the felf-conndent reafonings of the Jewes againft the 
 reception of Chrift or his Doctrine. The Officers that Went to appre- 
 hend Chriftj are aftonljhed at his doctrine, and durft not lay hands ox him. 
 What ( fay the Prieils and Pharifees that fent them ) have ye not 
 brought him f Oh, fay they, never man f pake llkj this man. Then an- 
 fvered the Pharlfees, are ye alfo deceived ? Have any of the Rulers or 
 Pharlfees believed on him ? But this people that knoweth not the Law arc 
 curfed. He onely deludes a company of poor fijhermen , and the fiRy, crcdu- 
 Iopu multitude^ that know nothing. Here is their Verdict, of Chrift. Why 
 fhould his true followers expect other from the learned Rabbies and 
 onely reputed expoh tours of Scripture,in any fucceeding generation, 
 amongft whom their lot is caft f This is the way of man. God's way 
 and his reafonings are quite contrary. The poor onely, thofe that are 
 emptied of all thz'u Laodicean riches, and felt-confidences, they are the 
 fiily difpoted perfons to receive the gofpel, in God's efteerru Thefe 
 are they, he puts value on. That paiTage in Alls 13 . about the Jews 
 crucifying Chrift and not being aware what was the matter, though 
 the veryScriptures(which they were reckoned the only interpreters of 
 that the world had in it) foretold and charactered the birth, progrefs, 
 and death of him, in all the circumftances thereof -, I fay, the feri- 
 ous weighing of this, one would think fhould encline men, amidft all 
 the repute they have, and pleaf z themfclves vvith,as to the interpret- 
 ing of the Scriptures, to reflect, upon and call themfelves in queftion, 
 whether they do yet know any thing at all of them, as they ought' 
 to know. If not ; then all the queftion they put to the fpiritual belie- 
 ver, is ftillj How do you prove It ? how d» you make out this from Scrip- 
 ture ? They'i not admit the leaft fcruple but that they can difcern it,if 
 itbeproved. They will not lurTjr it tobequeftioned, wbetherthey 
 have the hearing ear, and feeing eye, to difceiji what the fpiritual 
 man fayes to the Churches. 
 
 Men that have not this eye and ear, and yet reckon they have, and 
 will not be beaten out of it, the true believer were almoft as good 
 fpeak to ftones as them. Thefe old foolifh kings at knowledge and 
 righteoufnefs, in full- covenant principles > they will not endure to be 
 
 admonifti- 
 
( '34 ) 
 
 abmonifhed, or told any thing, of new-covenant light and -lighteouf-" 
 r\e(s } Eccief. 4. 13. 
 
 Let a skilful Mathematician mention fome ohfcure propcfition in 
 the Muhematicks to an unlearned man, or at lead unvencd in his 
 Art ; He demands a demonftration. How do you prove this faies he * 
 the oiher gives an exact demonstration, but he through ignorance of 
 the very rudiments and principles of Mathematick learning, receives 
 not the demonftration, as any faiisfactory account of the proportion 
 to him, at all. He is as far to leek as ever. What then ? where lies 
 the fault ? In the pretended demonftration, he will lay! He will by 
 no means fufpecT his capacity. The defect lies wholly in his under- 
 Handing, and he laies it all upon the demonftration, faies nothing is 
 proved. Let a skilful Anift hear the muter, he prefently grants the 
 demonftration to be as clear as the Sun. This may be the cafe, where 
 the fubject matter of the dilcourfe is properly within ken 10'meer na- 
 tural reafon, as the fuicable and intelligible object thereof. How 
 much more difficult is the* cafe with- the true Spiritual Believer, 
 and his Gofpel doctrine, in cafe he dilcourfe with one that is confi- 
 dent he wants not for diicerning, and yet ^(zs nothing at all as he 
 ought to fee ; has no decerning at all offpimual things, or of the fpi- 
 riaial fence, reach and (ignificancy of the Scriptures ?* He has no eye 
 at all,fuited to fuch majtters ; yejt none more confident. The true fpi- 
 ritual watchman were as good meet a Bear robb'd of her whelps, as 
 talk wt h fuch a ttlin about ipiiiriial things. He is -bfolutely unrea- 
 fonable as to fuch things, rfrat faith only fees, /'*;// prayed to be de- 
 livered from fuch cattej, and defired others to pray for him on that 
 account, as the molt ivkfome thing in the woild. Finally brethren, pray 
 for w, ( faith he ) that the word of the Lord may have free cozirfe, and 
 that we may be delivered fronWunrtifoa ;'ble men j for all men have not 
 Faith; zThef. 3. 1, 2. He that has not faith 01 the fpi ritual dif- 
 cerning, is perfectly unreafonable as tofpiiitual icings; You were 
 better talk to a tree, if he be confident, for that will mike no noife to 
 trouble you ; he will. Men are fttll for Ho ,v do you prove it ? They 
 never queftton but they can underftand and receive it, if rightly evi-r 
 (kneed. Did not Chrift himfelf fpeak with evidence, ^i -one having au- 
 thority beyond all th ft e aching of the Scr'.bes > Mit. 7. 29 . Yec how was 
 he and his doctrine rejected by the Scribes and generality of ih - re- 
 ligious party amongft the Jewes y and received only by fome poor filh- 
 ermen, and common finneis? where was the fault that Ch rift's do- 
 ctrine.was not received ? Did not he give the demonftration right ? 
 how often is it faid in Scripture, He that 'has an car td hear, let him 
 
 hear ? 
 
, ( *$s ) 
 
 hear ? The grand obftru&ion to the propagating of the' 
 Gofpel , is the want of the hearing ear. Till there be this, 
 we fpeak to deaf men. The old ferpent has deaf'd and ftop'd 
 up their ears , that they will not lift en to the fpiritual charmer , 
 charme he never fo wifely. And what then ? why, tllen they fall to dis- 
 puting and cavilling wiih him ; How do you prove this^ and how do yea 
 prove that ? You affcrt many t hlngs ; bw what ground do you (hew for all ? 
 The difputer of this vvoi Id is lee at naughr b*y the Holy Ghofl ; Where 
 is the wife ? where is the dlfpnter of this World f hath not God made fool- 
 ifh the wlfdom of this world f i Cor. i. 20. Thefe difpurers are not to 
 be gratified in (heir way. If There be a fpiritual difcerning, fpiritual 
 things which carry their own evidence in them, need onely to be 
 aliened; and prove- while you will, difcourfe a whole year together 
 wi-:h on>#n whom is no inch difcerning, he never will own that any 
 thing is proved ; but holds faft h : sown conclufionsftill. The way of 
 Chrift himfelf Wets not todifpute, bur affert ; and he that hath an ear 
 to hear, ( faies he ) let him hear • if you will receive lt\ receive it. The 
 true believer is to wave thote unprofitable jangiings, by which con- 
 tentious , felf- confident men would labour to confound all , 
 I Tim. i. 
 
 The Jewish teachers put this queftion to Ghriffi himfelf ; Art thou 
 the Chrift? tell Hi. He f aid unto them, if I tell you , you will not believe \ 
 Luk. 22.67. When Ciuifi preach'd,how many contradicted and blaf- 
 phemed ? was the fault in him ? Speak who will,/ J ^/,an Angel from 
 heaven, or Chrilt himfelf, and let the hearing ear be wanting, what 
 can be done k The very di(ciples,when they were coming down from 
 the Mount where Chrift was transfigured before them, he lets fall a 
 word about 1 he Refurrection, and they are ail in a puzzle, to think 
 what rifingfrcm thedea^ mould mean. -Hhy f«y the Scribes that Ellas 
 imft fiyft come, fay they ? Ellas is ccms ( faies he) and they have done 
 to him what they lifted, ( Mark 9-9 J 1 3^ 2nd Mat,\ 1.14. ) fpeaking 
 of John Bap:lft. If ye will receive it, this is Elloi which was for to come. 
 The laft word of-ptophefy in the Old Teftaihcht, poiived at John, the 
 immediate preparatory Minifter to the puolfcK and general difpenfati- 
 on of r he Gofpel, upon Chnll's coming in the B ufK. Mai. 4- 5", 6. 
 If ye will receive it ^receive it. He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear; 
 that is, he that has a fpiritual understanding and difcerning, will take 
 it. They did fo. Rut what would the difputer of this world have faid 
 to him? Sir y oh affert that fyhn Baptift was that Eiias, but how doyou 
 prove it} So when the Apoftle John faies of faife or fhort- lighted 
 teachers t They are of the world, therefore (he world hears them ; They 
 
 have 
 
( 4H 
 
 They have populous Congregations, all the world goes after them, 
 and admires this man, and the other man. Bur we (faieshe) are of 
 God: He that know ei h God, heareth m : Hereby know we the fpirit of 
 truths and the fpirit of error, i Joh. 4. 5", 6. Would not the difputer 
 of this world be out of all patience to hear a man a-ilert at this rate, 
 and ( as he reckons) prove nothing f Let him be what he will, this 
 (we fee) is the way of Chru/t and his Apoitles. If there be a fpkituai 
 ear, this docVme is received, if not, will any elaborate difcourfes or 
 demonftrations ever bring to pafs, that the natural man fh all receive the 
 things of God f What will become of that Scripture then ? 1 Cor. 2. 14. 
 Demonitrate while you will, if there be not the right reception, the 
 hearing ear, all's a cafe; you are where you began. The vain, jing- 
 ling, difputative way of fooliih man is not at all to be gratified in the 
 declaration of the mylieries of the kingdom of God. Will you yet ca- 
 vil and dilpute ( O profelTors ) will you yet contradict and blaf- 
 pheme £ Lo, then I turn to the Gentiles. 
 
 My feconi Word is to you, Gentiles. 
 
 Be wife O Kings ; be inftrutled O ye Judges of the earth. Serve the 
 Lord with fear , Pfal. 2. 10, 1 1 . The Signs and Wonders of God are 
 coming thick upon you. while it is yet called to lay , harden not your 
 hearts agamft the God of Heaven, and againrt the Saints of the mod: 
 High. Pradtife not thus againit them, nor think to change the limes 
 and the Laws, Dan. 7. 25-. 
 
 Will you (O Rulers) be paid in. your own coin ? You have ta- 
 ken away a famous man in our Ifrael, this day, upon ibme daik 
 RE A SO N of ST A TE, againft all the Laws of England, and 
 •gainft the common light of Reafon in all mank'nd. Will you hear a 
 %JE A SO N of ST AT ' £ that might have moved you to the con- 
 trary ? Though it be too late, as to his Life, becaufe his blood that 
 you have fpilr, cannot be gathered up again, ( as the wrle woman of 
 Tekoah told David ) yet it may happily be fomewbat preventive to 
 your further proceedings that way, againft others. Remember then 
 what is recorded of Ann de Burg, burnt in France, 1^59. The Death 
 and Conftancy of a man fo conipicuous, made many curious to know 
 vvhn Religion that was, for which he had fo couragioufly endured 
 punifhment. By that means great numbers of people were baptized 
 into his perfwaiion. Truflme, ffaiesone) you have got ten nothing 
 by thefe fpetlacles. M n return from them mare confirm d in their detefta- 
 tion ofyou y than terrified from any of their parpofes towards you. Their 
 
 names 
 
names mil be recorded amongfl thofe who have died out of debt to their 
 countrey, by having paid, the utmost hey owed It. Their worth will be re- 
 membred. Their children and kindred mil alwayes be looked upon at de- 
 fendants from the Liber at ours of their C^ntrey, and efleemed- accord- 
 ingly. 
 
 I willi heartily for your own fakes and ours too, that this TREA- 
 SON of STATS had come into your mind, and had prevailed a- 
 gainft any other, before you ventured to embrue your hands in the 
 blood of lb deferving a fubjedt. But proceed no farther to lift up your 
 felves thus againft-the Lord of heaven ;' for when ye have done all, 
 the meek ones of Chrift muft inherit the earth ; when the wicked are 
 ■ cut off y they (hJl fee it y Pi a 1 . 3 7. 34. The Saints of the mofi High (hall 
 take andpofjeffe the kingdom for ever and ever, do what any can to hinder 
 them, Dan 7. 18. Quarrel not at chefs things, but, like noble Bosreans, 
 fearch the Scriptures and fee whether they be fo or no. Do not put 
 far from you the evil day. It never was nearer. Hinder not Saints af- 
 fembling together. 'Tis their cjuty fo to do ; and that fo much the 
 more, as they fee the day of Chrift's heavenly appearance approach- 
 ing, Heb. 10.25. Praying perfons, praying People, that have an in- 
 tereft in God,are the main bulwark and fecurity of any Nation. Ten; 
 righteous, praying perfons had faved all Sodom ^nd the neighbour ci- 
 ties, (fen. 18. 32. The Sodomites vilify and affault Lot, and he is the. 
 onely man that (lands betwixt them and the (tormof fire and brim- 
 If one that wit coming upon them. God bids him hafte away, for he can- 
 not do anything till he be got to fome place of fecurity. Gen. 19. 9. 22. 
 'Twas a Proverb in IffJel, Without (landings the world could not (land ; 
 that is, without prayers ; the poifure was put for the duty. Would 
 you rid your hands and -the world of Saints, praying Perfons, and 
 Meetings? Then the world will Hand no longer ; and where then 
 .will your (landing be ? what fliould the world itand for, when God 
 has no fkare or portion in it ? What mean you then, O Rulers I Are 
 ProteHants murder'd and hurried up and down for meeting to wor- 
 ship. God, and the fervice of the Devil in the abominable Idolatries . 
 ^ofche Mafs, wink'd at or coumenane'd ? Nothing hardly of Prote- 
 ftantifme fcapes your cenfure, but what's to be found in the publick- 
 AfTemblies, into which you have returned an infipid, frothy, fcpifco- 
 pal Miniltry, whofe Divinity amounts not to fo much as found and 
 Well mannageo moral PrulofQphy. Their words have no power to a~ 
 Vvaken Confchrnccs, or authority in Consciences that are already 
 awakened. I doubt they aim at nofuch thing ; but onely, to lull a- 
 wakened Conferences into a deep fleep againe , and thofe that are fo, 
 
 S to 
 
( *3*) 
 
 to keepfo ftill. 'Tis an enlightened, knowing People/hat are the on- 
 ly burdenfome (lone to them. Dft *you think England cm away with 
 fuch work as this, that have floiiiifhed of late years, in Light and Li- 
 berty, beyond any Nation round about her ? D > ou imagine that the 
 Mafs, or a barren Epifcopal Miniftry with an Organ and a Common- 
 prayerBook will down with a Nation that has fuch light ftirring in it, 
 as not only the Presbyterian, but, in a manner all the variety of Con- 
 gregational Churches, yea the veryFift-Monarchy-men(fo called)wiil 
 hardly bear ? Will you pull out all our eyes ? will you flop our mouths 
 with gags and handkerchiefs, becaufe you have no Law or Reafon to 
 Hop them with ? Do you think the righteous man has no remedy left 
 him ? The Lord is+ in his Temple : his Tfarsne is in heaven. His eyes' 
 behold Jnis eyelids try the children of men. 7 he wicked and him that loveth 
 'violence , his foul hat eth. Upon the wicked he (ball rain fares , fire and brim* 
 flone y and an horrible tcmpefi, Pial. 1 1. 4, 6. God is angry with the wicl^ 
 ed every day. If he turn not , he will whet his fword, he hath bent his bow y 
 and made it ready. He ordeincth his arrows againft the perfecutors. He 
 hath prepared for them the infiruments of death. Their mifchief fhaU re~ 
 turn upon their own heads, and their violent dealing {I:- all come down upon 
 their own pates , Pfal. 7. 9, 16. Is not here enough for you ? If you 
 perfift in your way, every fyliable of this will be accompli ihed upon 
 you. There's no flying from God's prefence or efcaping his hand. No 
 viiibls confidencies, bulwarks, forts, armies, treafure, or whatever 
 elfe,canfecure you from men, much lefs from angel?, and-much lefs 
 yet from God. ' Tis a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God, 
 He is thetranfcendently higheft over-ruling Ma, iff a re of alL He is 
 the great General of all the armies in heaven or ea h ; Angels, ftars, 
 men, and all inferiour creatures. His-hoft of angels relieved Elijhai- 
 gainft the Syrians. The ftars in their courfts fought oiga'mfl Siftra, Ji -d%. 
 y. 20. Yea, to {hew the con tempt iWe foil] p t':r-exaltingman,God 
 can fo animate an army of frogs, lOcufU, lice or flies, is to appall the 
 proudeft Tyrant, and make him buckle, and ic\ i< wledge that he has 
 finned againft the Lord in abufing his people, and defire rrvm to pray 
 for his deliverance, as we fee over and over in Pharaoh's c3fe,EW, 8 J 
 p. 10. How oft have rich and potent kings bin djpagg'd out of all their 
 vifible fupports, taken by force out of their ableft troops and.choifefl: 
 armies, and carried up and down to be laughed at by their enem ; es ? 
 how many fignal inftances for this do* we find in Jewijh y ^jjyrian^ 
 Perfian y Greek-, Roman e y Turk} fh and other Hiftories, the Englijh not 
 excepted. Q^een Jezebel with all her pomp and retinue can't fecure 
 her body from being dogs meat. Have you killed, and alio taken pof- 
 
 ieflion ? 
 
( *3P ) 
 fetfion ? Remember her. Remember Ahab. where dogs licked Na- 
 botbs bloody they licked his, i King. it. 19. and Chap. 22. 38. 
 
 If any Magistrates yet iiout it out in their cruel and oapreflfive 
 courfes, whereinfoever they deal 'proudly, God will be above them, 
 Exod. 18. 11. They are no'hmg in his hands. They are but little in 
 an Angels hands ; And riot much in man's. You were but little, you 
 know, in tbe hands of men. Th ■ e whom you have valiantly execu- 
 ted after they had layne a good while in their graves, together with 
 thofe whom you "have killed and ci\t in pieces, iingle, were two hard 
 for you when ihey were alive and logeher. There is a generation a- 
 mongft us, oh Bow lofty are their eyes ? (Prov.30.13.) but what have 
 they done ? The honeft party of England are (as 'twas once laid of Ger- 
 many ) triumphed over but not conquered. Well, you-have been but 
 little in the hands of men, that's undeniable. You are as nothing in 
 the hands of an angel. Topi are accounted as lefsthan nothing to God. 
 Efay 40. 17. What may be performed upon you by the invihble 
 ftrokes of angels, you may learn from what is recorded for your in- 
 llru&ion ; 1 Kings 19. One hundred eighty five thouf and were flain by an 
 angel in one night, in the camp of the Affyrians. Some prodigious alarms 
 of their approach to undertake you, on the behalf of betrayed, abuied 
 Saints, have of late been given. 
 
 What ever you have heard of in former times, as to the exploits of 
 Angels in this kind, you will find to have been but type to what God 
 will perform by thofe angelical holts, in the laft dayes, when all vifi- 
 ble reliefs fail his praying People. 
 
 See (O King) the honed and juftifiable boldnefs, pi innefs and 
 freeoom of fpeech, that Daniel and other Prophets have uled to great- 
 er Monarch's. O 1 :hopi King, iaies Daniel to Bsl(haz,z,ar, the moft high 
 God gave thy Father a Kingdom and glory and honour. But when his heart 
 was lifted up) and his mind hardned in pride, he was defofed from his king- 
 ly Throne , and they took his glory from him. And thou, his Son, Q Bel- 
 fhaz,z,ar, hafi not humbled thine heart, though thou kn ew eft all this • but 
 haft lifted up thy felf agalt.ft the Lord of heaven, and abufed ( his Saints) 
 the Veffels of his hottfe ; and tl. e God in whofe ha?d thy breath is and all 
 thy vnayes , haft thou nat glorified. Then he interprets ME NE 
 MENE TEKEL U P H A %^S J N • God has rumbred thy 
 kingdom and fin 1 (bed it, &c. Dm. J. i-fc, 2#.\ Daniel was highly honour- 
 ed by the Kir gf or thus dealing with him, vetf. 29. 
 
 See tbe commendable ftoutnefs as well as honeft 1 boldnefs of Saints,, 
 in their conferences and parting-blows vvi;h Kings. Pharaoh, in a 
 fume, bid Mofes get him gone, and tkk* hiedjo hiwfdff, for in the day he 
 
 S 2 faw 
 
f T4 ° ) 
 
 faw his face agti », he fhmld die . Well, faies Mofs, lie fee thy face a^ain 
 nomne. Who hid the word on't f The King would need Mofes help 
 before he the King's. He had Tent for him with all fpeed be fore, time 
 and time, infeveral diftreiTes, under the plagues that were upon him 
 and his People. CMofes needed nothing that he could do,but that tbat 
 would be done whether he would or no, Ifraels deliverance from 
 bondage. <*AH thefe thyfervants, faies Mofes, {hall come and bow them- 
 [elves to me, faying, Get thee out and all the people that follow thee ; and 
 I will go out : And he went out from Pharaoh in a great anger. 'Pharaoh 
 was wickedly and proudly angry and (tout, in ridding his hands of 
 Mofes ; and Mofes was meekly and juftly angry and ftout in a refolved 
 quitting of Pharaohs company, for ever, 8xod. 10. 28, 29. and 
 Chap. 11. 8. The Oracles of God y delivered by Mofes, though ac- 
 companied and ratified with miracles, were called by that vain King, 
 vain or lying words, Sxod. 5. 9. Thofe Kings that will do as Pharaoh 
 did,refufe all Meflages from the Lord,delivered to them,fcorTe at and 
 persecute the mefl'engers, muft look for Pharaoh's wages, and that, 
 difpenfed to them from iuch a hand, as can tear them in pieces, [0 m none 
 can deliver. 
 
 Kings have ufually had a great antipathy to true Prophets, and 
 their meflages, but, bin very kind and friendly to falfe, flattering Pro- 
 phets, whofpeak fmooth, pleafing things. About four hundred falfe 
 Prophets, with one mouth, encourage Ahab to go to Ramoth-Gilead, a 
 City of Jfrae I \ and recover it from the Syrian. They fawhehada 
 mind to ic, and they all prophefied fuccefs and Victory. At Jehofha- 
 phat the king of Judafrs motion, tJMichaiah, a true Prophet is ceiled 
 in. Ahab had no mind to him. / hate him ( faies he ) for he does not 
 ufe to prophefe good concerning me bat evil; that is, did not ufe to 
 gratify his prefent humour and luft, as the others did. He deals truly 
 with Ahab ; warnes him, that if he go, he diesfoi't; and fo it fell 
 out. The falfe Prophets, no doubt, had incouraging rewards. Mi- 
 chaiaWs recompenfe is a Prifon, and the bread and water of affliction. 
 But the Kings following the pleafing counfelof the falfe Prophets 
 was his ruine, and the liftening to Michalah had been hk fafety. 
 Who were the Traitors, the four hundred falfe Prophets or the one 
 true ? 
 
 The true Prophet and Subject is handled as the Traitor, and the 
 falfe Traitors go currant away with gratuities and favours. Why do 
 not Kings confider fuch inftructingpaterns? It highly concerns them, 
 both in point of honour and fafety, 1 King. 22. 
 
 Nebuchadnezzar fets up a ftately piece or Popery, an Image of gold, 
 
 thirty 
 
( *4« ) . ■ 
 
 thirty yards high. The Pr-inees,Governoinrs, Captnines, Judges, Trea- 
 furers,Counfellours, Sheriffs, & all the Rulers' of Provinces,^*. come 
 to the dedication of it. A Herald Solemnly proclaims, That when they 
 hear the found of the Comet, Flute, ( Organ J Harp, Sackbut, Pial» 
 tery, Dulcimer, and all kinds of Mahck, they mult all fall down and 
 worfhipthe Image; and that thole who refufe, are to be caftinto he 
 midftof a burning fiery furnace. The generality of the Governours 
 and People obey the Decree. Shadrach, Meftach and Ahednego^ are 
 traduced before the King, as Rebels and Hereticks, for (lighting his- 
 Commands, not Serving his God's, nor worshiping the golden Image 
 which he had fet up. The King in a fury fendl for them, tells them 
 he will try them once more, and if they refufe the fecond time, t<& 
 the fiery Furnace they go. They tell him, he need trouble himfelf no 
 further about trying them, they are refolved what to do. We are not 
 careful, O King, ( fay they ) to anfvoer thee in this matter, (jod will de- 
 liver m out of thy hand y O King, Or If he will not, yet be It known to thee 
 O King, we will not ferve thy Gods nor worjhlf thy golden Image. Then 
 his fury is exercifed upon them for a while, till he fees their execu- 
 tioners fall down dead upon the place, while they Scape. Thiso x uite 
 turns his mind, and he makes a Decree,' That If any fpeak^agalnfi the 
 God of Shadrach, Mefhach and Abednego, they (hall be cut In pieces, and 
 their houfes made a dunghll, becaufe there is no other God that can deliver 
 after this fort, Dan. 3. Yet it appears not that Nebuchadnezzar him- 
 felf worshipped this true God, orforfookhisfalfe. 
 
 A while after we find him boafting and vaunting, as if there were 
 nootherGodbuthe, P^.4.30. What a fickle thing is that Religion 
 that depends upon the Magiiirates Decree I 
 
 Darius the Mede, when he comes upon the Stage at ~Babyion, he is 
 flattered by his corrupt Courtiers to turn Pope, take upon him to be 
 the holy Father ; all muft pray to him for thirty dayes, and not ask a 
 petition of any other God. If they did, they muft to the Lions den. 
 Darnells charged with flighting the King and his Decree. The King 
 fet himfelf to deliver him, but could not. An Angel did, by flopping 
 the Lyons mouths. Then his accufers with their wives and children 
 were caft to the Lyons, and were torn in pieces immediately, before- 
 theycameto the bottom of the Den, Dan. 6. Whatlooking-glaifes 
 are here for Kings , to give them aim what perfons to put moft 
 value on. Idolatrous flattering Courtiers, that cctnfel-thcm to their 
 dammage and difherifon, or true Prophets and faithful Subjects that 
 advife them for the fafety of their Crown and Dignity. True, they 
 
 knew 
 
know not td give flatten ng titles to men ; for info doings their maker would 
 foon take them away^ Job. 32. 22. They fear him more than men. 
 'Tis the true advantage of Kings to be plainly dealt with by them. 
 Flatterers ruine them. They are the Traitors, as has appeared in all 
 
 ag-s 
 
 Believe it, O ye Rulers and Judges, if you go on at the rate you 
 have begun,' lliould ail the Angels in heaven, and Menoneauh, lay 
 their underftandings together, to demonftrace the requiiitenefs yea 
 abfolute neceflity of having made a Parliamentary and popular de- 
 fence againft fuch corrupt [ticklers for prerogative and arbitrary do- 
 mination, when got it£0 armes, ( 1641. ) 'Tis hard to imagine how 
 they fhould mend that which your feives have given by your moft in- 
 jurious and oppretlive practices, fince your return. What fhould we 
 mince the matter for > The world is almoft at an end ; The Devils 
 rage is great becaufe he knows he hat but a fhort time. Ir highly concerns 
 us to deal plainly with one another, left that great deceiver of the 
 Nations cozen us all. 
 
 Ifmendoas wickedly as they can, and make a law that no body 
 muft tell them of it ; muft every body therefore hold their peace, 
 and let them go on ? What can the Devil defire more ?. Muft God 
 and his MeiTengers have no hearing with you ? What do you ima- 
 gine will become of you then? Will ye change Religion and the 
 laws, and muft no body dare to fay fo ? But they will , you fee. 
 Will you put out the eyes of all the good People of England ? They 
 have eyes and will ufe them too, do what you can , as long as 
 their heads are on. With thefe eyes they fee clearer what you are 
 about , then ( it may be ) you are aware. 
 
 The Lord in the late War was a Rebuker of you all, in many pitch'd 
 Tields and a continued feries of difappointments for many years to- 
 gether.. 
 
 If you would but mend the matter as to what this Nati- 
 on felt when it groaned under the Tyranny of your apoftate 
 Conqueror , this yet were fomething. Many of the fame perfons 
 that he abufed and opprelTed, you have (lain, and fo finiilied his 
 work upon them. You fhould let the opprelTed go free, eafe thofe - 
 heavy burdens that he put upon the People, and you encreafe thc:m , 
 ■fo that the Nation languifnes under a general difcouragement, as to 
 Trade,and almoftjevery thing elfe. 
 
 What work God will furfer to be mafe by any inftrurrunts of cruel- 
 ty amongft us, that are profound to make fhughter, though unfit to 
 
 fight, 
 
( Hi ) 
 
 fighr, behimfelf beft knows. But that God will fend deliverance 
 intheclofe, and preferve a remnant in the fcramble, I am as 
 confident, as that there is a God that judgeth in the Earth 
 who will make hitnfelf known by the Judgements which he frill 
 execute upon all wicked Oppofers of him and his People. Free- 
 ly I have received, and I freely give you fuch portion* as the 
 Scripture allots, you. 
 
 Yet fay not, ( O Rulers) there is no hope ; we will there- 
 fore fill up the meafure of our wickednefs ; and then let God ftrike. 
 Say not thus. There is yet hope. You may^repent oftheevilof 
 your doings, and quite lay afide all your mifchievous and deftru&ive 
 intendments towards this peeled People, and you and we together 
 may be a flourishing Naaon. If the King fay as the King of Nineveh^ 
 Let ever j man cry mightily unto God, let them turn every one from his 
 evil way, and from the violence that is In their hands • who can tell bat 
 God may turn away from his fierce anger , that we perifh not f 
 Jonah 3. 8, p. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
(HS) 
 
 Some Notes of Sir Henry Vanes Exhortation to his Chil- 
 dren and Family, ( brokenly and imperfe&ly taken ) 
 'june i ?. 1 66 z. being -the day before his Execution. 
 
 Genefis 18. 17, 18, ip. 
 s/4nd the Lordfaid^ Shall I hide from ^Abraham that thing which 
 I do, feeingthat Abraham jhallfurely become a great and mighty 
 Nation, and all the Nations of the Earth [hall be blejfed in htm ? 
 For I know him^ that he will command his children and his houfhold 
 after him, and they ft all keep the way of the Lord y to do Juftic* 
 and Judgement ; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham^ that 
 which he hath Jpoks* of him. 
 
 WE have here a defcription of God's reafoning within his own 
 mind, concerning the open-hearted nefs he would ufc cowards 
 Abraham, who is called his Friend (I fa. 41. 8.) for the eminency of 
 his Faith, by which he was made onefyrit, and of one mind with the 
 Lord, fo as he could inftantly furrender and perform whatever God 
 called for from him, or required of him, however hard or contrary 
 to the defire, eye and reafonings of flefh and fylood. 
 
 The greateft tryal of his Fakh, and the moft fignal nunifeftation of 
 it, was the offering up his only begotten fon, the fon of promife, of 
 whom it was faid, In Ifaac (hall thy feed be called. 
 
 This Typical Father of the Faithful, behaved himfelf but as a. 
 pilgrim and Granger, even in the earthly Land of Promife, fceking yet 
 a better Country, a heavenly, Heb. 1 1. 12. He came off readily wi:h 
 this greateft offering of flefh at its bcft,in his Ifaac, the figure of thrifts 
 offering ; fo, as by the transforming Baptifm of the Spirit, to grow up 
 inro a perfect harmony with the will of God, %om. 12. 1, 2. Here- 
 upon he is termed the Father of the Faithful ; and hereby Ifaac alfo 
 became a Son of the Refurreftion, as he was alfo before, in a figure, 
 Heb. 11. 12 fie ip- as fpringingup from Abraham's body and Sarah's 
 Womb, when both of them were as good as dead. 
 
 The prefent occafion admits no long infifting on this, being, toge- 
 ther with the care he had of his Family, but the introductory con- 
 fideration with God (who revealeth his fetrets to his ferv ants the 
 Prophets > Amos 3; 7. and them that fear £*'«;, Pfal. 2?. 14.) for th. e N 
 
 T difco- 
 
(I 4 tf) 
 
 cfifcovering unto Abraham ihit exemplary vengeance he then refolved 
 to pour out upon Sodom and the neighbouring Citics,for their wieked- 
 cei's. 
 
 Abraham , by the offering op of ffaac, did certainly perform the 
 choiccft, higheft, and molt acceptable Sacrifice and Service that is 
 required of God ? or pcrformable by the Faith of Gods Ek£t. Nothing 
 was fo dear co him^s the Will of God ; and God thought nothin° too 
 much to give him. He mull become a great and mighty Nation ; yea, 
 all the Nations of the Earth muft be blclTed in him. Moreover,he will 
 not withhold his fecrct counfels and refolutions from his friend A bra* 
 ham. If he intend to execute his Judgements in the Earth, he will un- 
 bofom himfelf to Abraham before-hand, and fo afford him the op- 
 portunity of trying the utmoft that may be done by his intcrceffion, on 
 behalf of the Generation amongft ^iom his lot was cad. The fervant 
 knows not what his Lord is about to do • but the Friend, the Son, all 
 muft be difcovered to him. The Friend will readily do whatfoever 
 the Lord commands, (Joh. ic. 14, iy.) will follow the Lamb whi- 
 therfoever he goes, ( Rev. 14. 4.) therefore is the Lord willing to dif- 
 clofc to him, whatfoever he is going about to do. The Son that 
 abideth in the houfc for ever, is open-handed, free and univerfal in his 
 love and resignation of all he is or hath, unto God ; and God is as 
 free and open-hearted unto him, knowing that he will make a right 
 conttru&ion and improvement of his difcoveries. 
 
 Obfervc, firft, then ; That the life of Faith is the mofl excellent 
 life, and that thofe therefore that live by Faith tn the highefi opera- 
 tion of it } are of highefr efteem with God. 
 
 This is apparant in Abraham's cafe, here before us. He was a Be- 
 liever of the higheft rank, and therefore the choice Friend of God, 
 the Father of the Faithful , tn whom all Nations are to be bleffed. He 
 is thought fit for moft intimate bofom-familiarity and converfc with 
 God. 'Twas a more excellent operation of'the Faith that faves, and 
 is Eternal life in the Believer, which Abraham did experience and 
 walk in ; in diftincTion from, and fuperiority to, the ele6t Angels, and 
 an inferiour fort of everlaftingly fayed Men, that fhall Hand about the 
 Throne, on which Abraham ( with others of his more fublimated 
 fpirit and higher participations of Chrift ) (hall fie, as the Bride, the 
 Lamb's Wife. 
 
 From the lingular notice God here takes of <>/ibraham y and the 
 peculiar friendlinefs he fhtfws, in revealing to him alone, ( of all man- 
 kind} his prcfent intendment towards Sodom. 
 
 J * Obfcrve, 
 
Obfervc, fecondly, That atttu the Duty, fo u it the great Pri- 
 viledge and advantage of Believers , highly to value , and carefully to 
 improve <Divine T>ifcovertes* 
 
 Why did God (hew this fecret to Abraham^ more than to any man 
 living, but becaufc of the lingular good ufe he knew Abraham would 
 make of it ? He knew he would inftruft and command his Children 
 and Family after him, to keep the way of the Lord, and to worfliip 
 him in Spirit and in Truth, though a way, by men called Hcrefic. 
 God thinks hc^an never be open enough to a tryed Believer, a known 
 Friend. 
 
 Vfe i . How fhould this encourage us to give up all our Ifaacs to 
 him, to do with us, and all we arc or have, whatfeever pleafcs him > 
 How willing fhould this render us, to have our Sacrifices fa(t bound 
 to the horns of the Altar, with the threefold cord of God's love to us, 
 man's enmity to us, and our love to God ? Whatever we furrender 
 and part with, in obedience to the Will of God, we are fure to receive 
 again with Ufury ; to dte, u gain. To lofe life, is the way to find it 
 eternally. A Believer draws forth the chokeft communicable Excel- 
 lencies and bofom-fecrets of Chrift. God puts a great value upon 
 every motion of his believing Friends. Much tribulation they meet 
 with, in this Vale of tears ; many affronts and cruel mockings from 
 contradictious men ; yea, bonds, imprifonment* and cruel deaths. But 
 the Lord ftands by them, to alTift and give them peace in the midft of 
 all, to make them ftedfaft and unmovaWe irv the work of the Lord, 
 and in their fuffetings for fuch work. He raifes in tkem, fuch ravish- 
 ments of joy, through the manifeftation of the glory that follows, that 
 they chufc rather to be tortured and (lain, than to accept of deliver- 
 ance, in order to obtain a better refurre&ion, than their deliverance 
 from prifons and death, would amount unto. They abide ftedfafliy 
 with God,unto a temporary death ; and he then fets upon their heads, 
 the Crown of eternal life. Confider ; was not Chrift, the great Cap- 
 tain of our Salvation,made perfect through fufferings ?. did not he pafs 
 this way to the Crown,and muft not he that will live godly,furTer perfe- 
 cution,and through much ttibulirioTi,entcr into the Kingdom of God? 
 
 The Apoflle bids us confider Chtift, who qpietly endured'- fuch con- 
 traditt'on of finntrs, againfi himfelf, left we be wearied and fatnt i# 
 our minds. I am now going, through the grace of God, to reftft man 
 unto bloody as knowing that I ought to obey God rather than men. 
 I am ready to follow the Lord whitherfecver he goes and calls me af* 
 tcr him. Reft aflurcd of this ; However difmal and fad the Believers 
 
 T z work 
 
(i 4 8) 
 work and condition appears to men, God will give ( befides a holy 
 triumph of re joyeing in the way) an cxpe&ed end ; an end, that will 
 ahfacr, and over-anfwer all the defires and expe<5ta:ions of his foul. 
 Whoever is able throughout to mark the perfect man, and to behold 
 the upright in heart, will find,rW the end of that man is peace : fuch 
 peace, and fo given, not as the world giveth, but fo, as no man can 
 take k from him. 
 
 Objection. But what peace is this, "Be! levers have f Is it not their 
 ufual lot here, to be delivered into the hands of [inner s f doth not God 
 fermit the men of this world, the inhabitants of the earth, to trample 
 .upon and infult over them f yea, even to rtde over their heads, (Pial. 
 66. 12.) fo that they are forced to lay their bodies as the ground and 
 M the (heet, toitheir opprejfors that go over them, Ifa. 5*1. 23. Doth 
 he not faff er the Devil by wicked men, to proceed further agatnft 
 them for the tirjal of their Faith, than he had commiffion to proceed 
 again ft Job, for the tryal of his patience ? even to the touching and 
 taking away their very lives , and that with all manner of lying aggra- 
 vations , centring in this, to fix the black and infamous char after of ti:e 
 greateft male fail or s upon them, and then cry, Crucife them, crucifie 
 them, away with- fuch people fiom the earth, it ts not ft they ftoould 
 iive any longer ? A$. 22. 22. 
 
 %An[w. To this Ianfwer. Thus Chrift himfelf was ferved ; and 
 therefore (all this notwithfUuding) they may have peace ; Yea, they 
 have the only true peace, which pajfeth under ft anding. In the mid It 
 of all the tumultuous confufions and infurrewlionsor the workers of 
 iniquity agiinlt them, they have a fieady compofure,and uninterrup- 
 ted fertility of mind, through an unflnaken fubmiflion to, acquiefcence 
 in, aad conformity to the will of God, in all occurrences. - In. the 
 greateft tiorrns, the frurpeft a»d-moli fiery tryals that can befakhem; 
 when they fee the flames, of man's wrath, the floods of Belial (or wic- 
 ked men) devouring on all hands, and overwhelming all confedera- 
 tions or appeajftaces of true -outward peace, equity or order, they 
 have the inward peace and joy. unfpeakablc and glorious, which fuch 
 grangers cannot intermeddle with, or interrupt. A perfect cahnnefs 
 and fereniiy, both in fpirit and outward deportment, may be the Be- 
 lievers portion and ornament, in fuch a feaf0n,and fuch circumftances, 
 when the vile ft of men are exalted, and the wicked walk-on every fide* 
 When the world is in the mod injurious career againft the Saints, then 
 doth Chrift more intimately imbrace them, and more abundantly 
 manifesto their Faith, the riches and gk>ry of the world to come. 
 
 Ufe 2. 
 
(*49 ) 
 Vfi 2* fot your in(iru6bon. Thefe thing? I leave with you, as 
 the words of one in my place and circumftances, that ought to have 
 weight with you that are young and liable to be milled. Learn hence 
 to pu: value upon the privi]edgc of believing Saints. Be the daughters 
 and children of Abraham and Sarah, in all mode(t, chattc and holy 
 convcrfation. Quit the broad v* ay and beaten Road thatkadcth to 
 DcitrucYton, and be for the narrow path chat leadeth unto Life,, the 
 way everlaiiing, PJal. 139. 24. Let not your care be fpent in out- 
 ward adorning ^ but in adorning the hidden or inner man of your 
 hearts, with that which is not corruptible. Get the ornament of z 
 met 1^ and quiet Jpirit, which in the fight of 'God is of great pice. 
 With all your getting, get divine wifiom and understanding, Prov. 
 4. 7. Be as circumfpe$ and curious as you can in thefe heavenly orna- 
 ments, watching alwaves to ca(t and keep out every thing that de- 
 files, that you may pojjefs your veffe Is in fmUifcat ion and honour, as 
 becomes the temples of the holy Ghoft y glorifying God with jour bodies 
 and with jour jpirits, which are his. After this manner, holy women 
 that trufted in God, did in old time adorn themfelves, whefe daugh- 
 ters ye are fo long as ye do well, and you will find no need to be afraid 
 with any amazement : For, ( keeping alwayes by this means, a good 
 conscience , void of offence towards God and towards man) when men 
 jhall (peak, tvil of you, ax of evil doers, the frame frail be tl&ir own ; 
 It will appear, 'tis only ycur chade and good convcrfation in Chritt, 
 they persecute and accufe you for. This is the ground of all their ma- 
 lice and reproaches. Chrift hath chofen you out of the world; be ye 
 followers of him out of it, in the peculiar ditiinguifhing fpiritand con- 
 vcrfation of pilgrims and (hangers. But then know, the inhabitants of 
 the earth will hate you. Let this common lot and portion of Belicvtrs 
 from rhis world, be expc&cd by you, and rendred familiar to you, 
 that when-you come indeed more eminently under the experiences of 
 it, you may not look upon it as any new, Orange, or unufual thing, 
 that happens to you above all other Believers. But, when fuch things 
 come to pal), re Joyce, ih as much as ye are made partakers ofChrtfts 
 fufferings, that when his glory [hall be revealed, ye may be glad alfo y 
 with exceeding joy. If ye ty reproached for the Name of Chrift, if ye 
 fuffer for%ighteoufnefs fakj, happy are ye ; for the Spirit of Glory 
 and of God resleth upon you. Be ye not therefore afraid of their ter- 
 rour, neither be you troubled, but fanHife the Lord God in your 
 hearts % bi your ftedfafinefs and boldnefs. It may be ready to fiartle 
 you, to Ice a Believer thus handled as you fee me now, to end his 
 
 mortal 
 
mortal dayes by the hands of violence,, though not without the free 
 and willing furrendcr of his Life, in compliance with the divine hand 
 and determinate counfel of God, herein. This is the way which the 
 Lord himfclf, the great Captain of our Salvation, went before us in. 
 Let not this way of the Lord be evil fpoken of by you. Let not the 
 leaft prejudice or thought arife in your hearts againft it, on this occa- 
 sion ; but rather lee it lcrvc for the increafe and ttrengthning of your 
 Faith, as it ought. 
 
 Vfe. 3. That which hath been faid and obfefcved concerning 
 *Abraham y ( as to God's taking fuch peculiar notice of him, and 
 making fuch peculiar difcoveries of his fecrcts to him ) fhould fervc 
 to inftru&, inform and mind us of the great benefits and glorious ad- 
 vantages attainable for us, by abiding and incrcafing in the fpirit and 
 faith of our father Abraham. It will meet with glorious Returns from 
 God. The Spirit of Glory will reft upon fuch, as do thus improve the 
 example of Abraham. The fecrets of the Lord are with them that 
 fear him : The Angels of the Lord encamp round about them, and 
 deliver them ; yet, not alwayes from a violent death, by the hands of 
 men. Chnft himfelf, would not imploy the Angels in this fcrvice, 
 though he could have had more than twelve legions of them for his 
 refcue, at his defiie. The followers of Chrift then, are not altogether 
 delivered from death, but from the fear, the fting, the power of 
 death, and fo are made to conquer and triumph over death it felf, 
 and him that hath the power of death, by dying ; as Chrift did, who 
 was thus heard in what he feared, Heb. f. 7. 
 
 Live then in the Spirit, and walk in the Spirit and Faith of our Fa- 
 ther ^Abraham* Litten to the Experiences of your Father, in this dy- 
 ing hcur and feafon of darknefs, who can and doth here give a good 
 report of that heavenly and better Country^ he is now going to the 
 more free and full enjoyment of. In the midft of thefe his dark cir- 
 cumftances, his enjoyments and refrefhings from the prefence of the 
 Lord, do more abound than ever. I can truly fay, that as my tribu- 
 lations for Chrift have rifen higher and abounded, my Confolations 
 have abounded much more. My Imprifonment and hard ufage from 
 men, hath driven me nearer to God, and more alienated and difen- 
 tanglcd my mind from the fnares and cumbranccs of this moral life. 
 
 You have no caufe to be afhamed of my Chain ; or to fear being 
 brou°ht into the like circumftances I now am in, fo it be on as good 
 an occafVn, for the Name and Caufe of Chrift , and for his%ighte- 
 otifnefs fake. Let this word abide with you, whatever befalls you ; 
 
 Refohe 
 
(If*) . 
 
 Refo! ve to iuffer any thing from men, rather than fin againftGod : 
 yea, rejoyce and be exceeding glad, vvhen you find it given to you on 
 the behalf of Chrift, not only to believe in him, but to fuffer for his 
 Name.. Stand fafi in one jpirit, with one mind, ftrivtng together 
 for the Faith of the Gojpel, and be in nothing terrified by your ad- 
 verfariey, but go on in your courfe of well-doings without any amaze- 
 ment. Sufferings for well-doing, patiently born, arc acceptable with 
 God. A quiet rejoycing deportment in fuflerings, will be to your 
 adverfaries, an evident token of their Perdition ; but to you of Salva- 
 tion, and that of God. To him that-thns overcometh in the Faith 
 and Spirit of Chrift, ( the true Abraham ) he will give to fit with 
 him on his Throne, and to inherit all things. 
 
 Let the like Spirit of Faith be in you, that was in Abraham, and 
 you will never reft till you come into his bofom. You will be but 
 pilgrims and Grangers here : Your eye, your heart and expectations 
 will be upon that better Country. Such a frame of mind and heart 
 God is fo well pleafed with, that he will not fail to make more rich 
 and full difcoveries of himfelf to you daily, for the building and ga- 
 thering of you up, nearer and clofer unto himfelf, till he be the whole 
 defirc of your foul, the only defirable, who is altogether lovely. 
 
 Tcx% / {fiow Abraham ( fayes God) that he will command his 
 Children and houfhold^c. 
 
 Obf. 3. Obferve hence, That it is the duty of every believing Fa- 
 ther, not only to teach his Children and Family > for the kjefing them 
 in a good converfation while he is prefent with them, but to leave 
 inttrfttttons with them, and charge them after htm, that they may 
 know-how to deport themfelves both in their inward and outward man* 
 when he is gone* 
 
 Thus it was with Abraham* He inftru£ted or catechized them, (as 
 the Original imports ) laid the foundation for a future growth and 
 progrefs in the fame Faith with him , whereby they alfo might 
 be enabled to communicate it, and fo lay the like foundation in 
 others, and build up one another in the fame mofi holy Faith : which 
 charge is alfo implycd and fuppofed to have been infifted on, and 
 with all earneftnefs prefled upon them, as being unfpeakably moft 
 carcfull and concerned in the propagating of his believing Seed to the 
 worlds end. Thus Abraham alfo, (as others in like cafe) will have 
 his great perfonal advantage, by the bountiful communicating and in- 
 
 ftilling 
 
(tilling the fpiritual and heavenly Doftrine of the Gofpel, into the 
 hearts of as many as he can, fpreading abroad amongtt others, the 
 precious favour of chat grace of God, that he had fo plentifully been 
 enriched with, and tafted of, in his own experiences ail-along. 
 
 This heavenly Life and marvellous Light of the Faith of the Son of 
 God, is of that nature, that the more it is diffufed by way of commu- 
 nication unto others, the more it encreafes in the Difpenfer thereof, 
 redounding to his advantage,as well as theirs that receive it. The fruit 
 of his doings ( Jer. 17. 10.) fpring up from fuch foundations of Ho- 
 linefs, as by his inltrucYion were miniiieriallylaid ; The works that 
 naturally flow from that Doctrine, follow them, after they arc gone 
 hence ; fof.14.13. The Church in the Canticles ( chap. 7. 1.) is 
 defcribed by him that beft knew her temper, to be of this noble, 
 princely, communicative difpoficion. Freeh ye have received } freely 
 give*hyts Chrilt ; and by giving, they receive more abundance. The 
 fruit of fuch labours will be reckoned on their account. This is a great 
 encouragement. for men to abound in the work of the Lord, foraf- 
 much as they know, that their labour is not in vain in the Lord, 
 1 Cor. if. 5-8. 
 
 Let it be your conftant care then, to multiply fuch fruits as may 
 abound to both our accounts, in pursuance and imitation of that Faith 
 which by word and deed ye have heard and feen in me, all the time 
 that God hath pleafed to continue me with you. It will be both yours 
 and my great gain, if you be careful to glorifie your heavenly Father, 
 anfwerably to the many fcafonable inftructions, directed to you in the 
 Word of the Lord, by my Miniftry. 
 
 This was Abraham's faith, way, life and practice, who being dead 
 yet fpeakem to the whole Family of Faith, throughout the whole 
 world, unto this day. 
 
 While he was prcfent with his Family,he taught them in word and 
 deed, by what he faid in his Miniftry , and by what he did, in all 
 other holy conversation and godlinefs. 
 
 Firft, by the things he did, as a pattern of Faith, Holinefs and So- 
 briety, in his converfation ; and then by what he faid, in giving daily 
 inftruclions to them, to follow his Heps, walk honeftly, as in the day, 
 in the Spirit, worthy of God, by the fame Rule they obferved him to 
 walk, for they ought fo to wal^ even as he walked, abiding in his 
 words, 1 J oh. 1.6. Thus Abraham's Family had his pattern and in- 
 ttru&ion in the Faith of God's Elect, for their dire&ion, while he was 
 coavcifant amongft them. 
 
 Secondly, 
 
 o 
 
Secondly, He gave forth command, and inftru&ed them in the 
 Name of the Lord, that when he, their believing Father, fhould be 
 gone from them into a more exalted ftate of life, (to them invisible and 
 undifcernable, as to any further perfonal converic with him in his for* 
 mer way ) they fhould be as*careful ftill, as ever, to walk in the fteps 
 of his Faith, bringing forth the fruits thereof unto holinefs , if not 
 more than ever before, while he was with them. Chrift himfelf, the 
 moft true and abfolute Father of the Faithful, took this courfe a little 
 before his death ; gaye that large and moft admirably fignificant In- 
 firu&ion to his Difciples, recorded in the 13, 14, iy, icT,and 17 
 Chapters of John, to ftrengthen and cftablifh their hearts in the 
 prefent Truth they had been taught and were poffefled of, (what- 
 ever hatred, perfecution, or crofs blows they fhould meet with from 
 the world ) as alfo to beget in them an allured expectation of his 
 Return to them in a more excellent way of convctfe, than ever they 
 yet experienced. On this account, he told them ( that how fad and 
 troubled foever they may be, through miftake of his departure, and 
 of the flurp and bitter way of it ) it was expedient, even for them 
 as well as for himfelf,that he fhould go away, forafmuch as he would 
 then return to them, in a more excellent cftate, a better Comforter, a 
 better Counfellor, that would tell them more excellent things, things 
 they could not yet bear, to the fulfilling of their joy. 
 
 Ufe. Let me rhen direct unto you a word of Exhortation, by the 
 example of Abraham and Chrifi himfelf, in my prefent circumftances, 
 in the near approach of my diffolution and parting with you. Be not 
 difheartned in the way of the Lord, be not diicouraged in the way 
 I have gone before you in, and am yet going, drawing near now to 
 the finifhing of my ccurfe with joy. The God of H&aven hath let his 
 fcal to it in my heart, that it is the very way of Truth, the choiccft 
 and beft way you can go : the way, that not only will have the molt 
 comfortable clofe, by ending in cverlafting joy, but that hath alfo 
 the moft folid foundation of inward rejoycing, ail-along attending it, 
 even in this world. Though there be forrow and death to theflefti 
 in this way, there is life and joy in the Spirit. The Believer, the true 
 fpiritual Circurncifion rejoyces in Chrift Jefus, having no confidence in 
 the flefh, nor mattering much how i: goes with that: So he may 
 win Chrift, and know him in the power of his Refurre&ion, he is wil- 
 ling alfo to know him in the fellowfhip of his Sufferings, and in being 
 made conformable unto his death. There is no other way to the eter- 
 nal Crown. // vec fitjfer with him, ( who before Vontitu PiUte % 
 
 V wnneflcd 
 
wimefled » good Confeiiion, i Tim. 6. i j. ) we (hall alfo reign with 
 him : If we deny Him and his Caufc before men,through fear of chem 
 that can but kill the body, and have no more that they can do, he 
 that can deflroy both body and foul in Hell, will deny us before the 
 Angels of God. 
 
 .Whatever frightful appearance the prelcnt tribulations may have 
 this remains fure, Light is (oven for the Righteous, and gladnefs for 
 the upright in heart* My harveft is at hand, the teafon for me to reap 
 the good fruit of the incorruptible teed of eternal life, that hath been 
 fown in me many years ago, by the £ood hand of the Lord. I have fo 
 much already of that fruit, as makes me let very light by the prcfent tri- 
 bulations, that are but for a momenr,and arc not to be compared with 
 the glory that follows. I have fown in tears and am now going to reap 
 in joy, where all tears fhall be wiped away, for ever. There fhall be 
 no more forrow, crying, or hearing the voice of the oppreflbr. 
 
 I charge you therefore, be ye followers of me, as / am afollowerof 
 Chrift. Walk in that Faith ye have ken me to walk in, and be not 
 difmayed. Obferve what I now fiy to you, and the Lord will blefs 
 you ; yea,you fhall be encouraged and commended by him as a choice 
 pattern of obedience unto others, like the fons of Jonadub the fon of 
 Rechab y who w f ere commended for performing the words s of their fa- 
 ther that he commanded them, and were therein propounded as an 
 irnitable pattern to the men ot Judah and inhabitants of Jerufa/em^ 
 who did mo ft per verily refufe to obey the Commands of God himfclf, 
 in the Meflages he fent to them by the miniftry of the Prophets. Enclinc 
 your ear therefore, and hearken unto me now, in this parting Initru&i- 
 on ; Liften to my command, and obey the words I fpeak to ycu in the 
 Name of the Lord. I charge you to walk in the Faith of our Lord 
 Jefus Chrift, and that with all (ieadinefs and conftancy, as not (in the 
 ieaft) difcounged by what you fee now to befal me and other his fcr- 
 vancs and followers, in this evil day. The fervant is not greater than 
 the Lord. He went this way, and hath warned us, that through much 
 perfection and tribulation we mufi ftrlve to enter into the Kingdom 
 of God Walk then in the Spirit and Faith of Abraham j in that im- 
 mutable frame of fpirit, that feeds upon that which is incorruptible, 
 whereby you will be neurifhed up into eternal life, and carried on 
 through all difficulties and oppofi ions, to the compleat, full, and cer- 
 tain laving of your fouls. Be bold, confident, ftedfaft, and undaunted 
 herein, though bryarsand thorns be with you, and you dwell among 
 Scorpions. Be nor afraid of their big words, cr flout locks, though 
 
 they 
 
(155) 
 they be a rebellion* houfe, ( Ezek. 2. ) not having the fear of God 
 before thetr eyes, and therefore lifting up themfe Ives Be/fhamar-likt 
 againft the Lord of Heaven, and pra&ifing to deftroy the People of the 
 Molt High, till the Antienc of dayes come and fee them upon their 
 feet ; at which time, Judgement (hall be given to the Saints of the 
 moft High, and they muft poffefs the Kingdom. Who are you then, 
 ( if you "ve and abide in the Faith of Abraham ) that you fhould be 
 afraid of a man that fhall die, and be made as grafs ? Ifi. j'%* 12. 
 All the Nations of the World are lefs than nothing before Him, jri 
 whom is your help, I fa. 40. 17. Stay your felves then upon God, in 
 the greatcft outward confufions or alterations of Government or Go* 
 yernours, that poffibly can befall ; though the Earth be removed, 
 and the Mountains be carried into the midft of the Sea. Be of good 
 courage, take to you the whole Armour of God, fight the Battels of 
 the Lord, the good fight of Faich, and he will make fou more than 
 Conquerors. 
 
 Let thefe dying words of your Father never be forgotten. Be ftrong 
 in the Faith of Abraham. He that now fpeaks to you, hath for 
 many years proved and tryed what this amounts unco • he fees great 
 caufe to recommend k to you, upon that Experience he hath had of 
 the fupport and relief it carries with it, in alt occurrences ; as alfo, how 
 bold, ftedfaft and comfortable it renders the p, {Tetfors thereof againft 
 all poflible affronts, contradictions and oppositions of finners. When 
 you can no longer enjoy the bodily o: vTible Pretence of your Father. 
 with you, live more in the Faith of your Father, thac he that is my 
 heavenly Father, may difcover himfeif more and more to be yours al- 
 io, as you (hew your -felves more to be hisChrdren, ( which will 
 hi°hly concern ycu ) that through the more plentiful communication 
 of his grace and fpirit amonaftyauAnd in you y yon may be moreArer.g- 
 thened with his might and glorious power in your inward man J unto all 
 patience and long-fuffering with joyfulnefs • and be able to ft and it 
 ottt y in this evil day. 
 
 This is the la ft- opportunity I am like to have of this kind. The 
 Lord fet my- words home upon your hearts. Be glad and re Joyce thus 
 to be minded,of your duty, and charged by me And what greater 
 caufe of rejoycingcan your Father have, than that his Children walk 
 in the Truth ? See then that you alwayes keey your Conferences void of 
 offence^ towards God and towards men. Hate and decline every un- 
 righteous way, and whatever is contrary to the Gojpel of our Lord and 
 Saviour, Jefm Cbrift* Put one another in.mind of thefc thing*, thac 
 
 V 2 your 
 
your Father thus minds you all of, hi this his laft Charge and Inftru&i. 
 on, which he leaves wich you \ Provoke one another unto love and good. 
 worker. Exhort one another fo much the more, as you fee the day ap- 
 poaching. Shew forth your Faith in the workings of it,by which you 
 may glorifie your Father which is in Heaven. Thofe that believe in 
 Cod, wtU be careful to maintain good works, Tit. 3 . 8* Confider, what 
 manner of perfons it concerns you to be, in all holy Converfation and 
 godlinefs, feeing that all thefe things that now are, and which ye fee^ 
 are very fhortfy to be dtffolved^ ( iooner it may be, than you can ycc 
 believe) even the Heavens and Earth that now are^ the whole out- 
 ward face of things in Church and State,the world throughout, 2 Pet. 
 3.7,11,12. Live then as thofe that waic for their matters coming; for 
 the new heavens and new earth, wherein dwelleth right eoufnefs ; Live 
 in the pure Spirit of this tried Faiih of Abraham, largely experienced 
 by your Father, and by him now recommended unioyou. Keep the 
 way of the Lord, to do juftice and judgement, that he may fulfil unto 
 you all the rich and precious promifes of the Gofpel, belonging to A- 
 braham and his believing feed y the feed of Promife, that arc found 
 walking in his wayes. 
 
 Obferv.4.* Fouithly,and Ia(tly,obferve ; That it is a duty ^incumbent 
 on believing parents, to mind their children and houjhold, of walking 
 in the faith, and keeping in the way of the Lord, doing that which is juft 
 and right. So alfo is it the duty of children to obey fuch charge, and be 
 found fo living and walking in the jpirit and way of the Lord l as they 
 expett the blefflngs of Gods Covenant with Abraham, to be made good 
 unto them. 
 
 But here this Query may be offered ; Hew did Abraham walK^nd 
 wor[hip .? 
 
 The anfwer is ; In a Family-way ; 'twas Family-woifhip. There 
 werejfn his time, no formed Churches or Societies of* a larger kind, 
 made up of divers families, embodying themfclves and walking in com- 
 munion together. That which he was capable to do,hc did. He cate- 
 chized and initrudtcd his Relations, fpreading abroad amongftthem 
 the favour of the riches of that Grace, which (through mercy)hc was 
 partaker of. This was the Hate of the true Church thcn,as to its outward 
 form. If larger vifiblc Societies, and collective Bodies, or Churches of 
 Saints be now interrup:ed, this Family- way of Religion and Worftiip 
 may be kept up, and fo things return to their primitive way again, as 
 in the dayes of Abraham. To this fofoua profelTcs he will have re- 
 courfe, when the purity of publick Woifhip fails, ( Jofth. 24.15.) If* 
 
 faith 
 
faith he, it fee m evil toyou toferve the Lord ; if you be for other gcds y 
 or other wayes of worfhip than God requires, 1 will quit your pubiick 
 focieties ; as for me and my houfe^ we rvtllfervc the Lord m 
 
 Ufe i. My word of 'exhort at ton then to you,is; When pubiick wor- 
 fhip is to be had in purity, wkhout defiling of your Consciences, u(c 
 and frequent that- But if chat bedenkd, or is not to be found, frequent 
 private and family worfhip- yea, however it be as to the pubiick, let 
 thefe be kept on foot with all diligence. Be found {till in the way of 
 the Lord ; own that, where ere you fee it, and joyn in it, as the Lord 
 jfhall pleafe to open the way for you, and give opportuniry. Whatever 
 you do y be not conformed to this world, in the ipirir, way, principles, 
 affe&ions, no nor religion thereof. Quirthofe worfhippers, that are 
 confident in a fpirit and way that is liable to apoltacy, calling that 
 he refie, which is the only true way of worfhipping the God of our Fa- 
 thers. . 
 
 Amid ft the great variety of Churches and ways of Worfhip, that this 
 world abounds wienie not by any means induced or forced to obferve 
 and become fubjedt to the ordinances of man,in things pertaining unto 
 God. Give unto God the things that are Gods ; Cjtve'zifo unto Cafar 
 the things that are his. If he unlawfully require more, you may law- 
 fully refufe to obey him ; let him take his courfe : wherein any deal 
 proudly, God will be above them. If one Church ky^LoJhere u Chrift- 
 another, Lo, there ; and the trumpet that's blown in both, give but an 
 uncertain found, look up to Chrirt himfelf with the Spoufe in the Can* 
 tides ^^ fay, O thou whom our fouls do leveled us where thonfeedefb 
 and makefi thyfoc\ to reft at noon y under the fcorching heat of mans 
 perfecuting wrath. He will difcover to you the falfe Babylonifh fpirit, 
 that lurks in fuch Churches and Tcachers,as (to the deceiving of them- 
 felves and others) are but transformed into the likenefs of the Apottles 
 and Churches of Chrift, 2C0r.11. And he will by his Spirit (if right- 
 ly fought to, and waited on) infallibly direct you to the true fhephcrds 
 tents, thofe fpiritual paftors and aiTemblies, that walk in the footfteps of 
 his ancient flock, even in the faith, fpirit and way of Abraham, Ifaac 9 
 Jacob and their families ( who are now in the kingdom of God) and 
 in the way, doctrine and fpirit of the Evangclifts and Apoftles. 
 
 And as I would have you 10 quit all falfe Churches, and reject the 
 Bafylontfafririt, whatever curious drefs, iniinuating appearance, or re- 
 fined form fhe fhines forth in ; fo, much more yet, would I have you 
 to loath and depart from all manner of prophanefs and common de- 
 bauchery , whatever countenance or encouragement it may have 
 
 round 
 
round about you in the Land of your nativity. Do but keep in the 
 Way, live and walk in the Faith and Spirit of Abraham, and all 
 is done. 
 
 f^This your Father hath found joy and comfort in upon very laroe 
 and plentiful experiences ; but molt remarkably, in his Prifon-itate. 
 As troubles and (traits from without have encreafed upon me, I have 
 been more enlarged within. The more I have been {hut up on earth, 
 and from earthly Relations and enjoyments, the more have the Heavens 
 opened upon me, and let down to me the larger fights and tafts of the 
 glory and enjoyments of the world to come. 
 
 Vfe 2 W Laftly, I charge you, ( as the utmoft defire of my foul to 
 ©od on your behalf ) be obedient to the Lord, walk humbly with 
 him, and keep clofe to him. Let ycur heart be right with him : 
 Be fiedfafi in his (fovenant, not turning aftde tikj a deceitful Bow, 
 Be not off and on with him,yea and nay, but in Chrift, yea only ; and 
 then all the Promifes of God in Chrift to ycu, will be, Tea p and Amen % 
 to the glory of God the Father* Then, if any of you lack. Wifdom 
 ( or particular direction in any difficult circumftances ) ask^ it of God, 
 who giveth liberally , and upbraideth not, and it (hall be given you. 
 But then, ask^ in Faith, the ftedfatt Faith of Abraham, nothing wa- 
 vering ; for he that wavereth, mutt not think or expect to receive any 
 thing of the Lord, James i. j, 7. Chrili hath affined you, that 
 whatfoever you (halt ask ** his Name, he will do it ; and the Father 
 will do it, (Joh. 14. 13, 14. zndchap. 15. 16',) that is, whatfoever 
 ye (hall ask in the power and exercife of a living fa ving Faith, or of 
 the heavenly Anointing and new Name of Chnft, in and upon you, it 
 ihall be done unto you : For whatfoever ye thus ask, will be asked 
 by you, in the will of God that ye are begotten of, ( Jam. 1. 18. ) 
 o*, according to the will of your heavenly Father ; And this we 
 know, that whatfoever we ask^ according to his will, he heareth us, 
 1 John j. 14, 1 y. Yea, though ye be but young, and weak in this 
 Faich, and in the expreflion of it, if as new-born babes ye do but 
 truly defire the fncere milk, of the Word, and brokenly ftammer 
 and lifp forth fuch defires to God, yc will find acceptance with, and 
 anfwer from him, not only according to, but abundantly above all 
 that you are able to ask, or thinly No Mother can have (o tender 
 a regard to the cry of her fucking Child, as he will havflfcb you, in 
 this cafe, I fa. 49. 1^. Wait on the Lord then, be of good cou- 
 rage and he fhatt ftrengthen your hearts ; wait, 1 fay, on the Lord y 
 Pfaf.27. 14. Wait on the Lord, and k"p hie way, fo [hall he 
 
 exalt 
 
("59) 
 
 exalt you to inherit the Land, and verily )c jhaU be fed. The true 
 believing Seed of Abraham fhall (in the dole) poflefs the gates of 
 their enemies. The met k» (hall inherit the Earth , and delight them- 
 selves in the abundance of Peace : But the tranfgrejfors fhall be de- 
 ftroyed together. The end, hope, and expettation of the wicked fhall 
 be cut off. Know this for your comfort, though the Lord be pleafcd 
 to take your Father from your head this day, you have other wayes 
 and means co learn and be built up in the mind of the Lord, in your 
 mod holy Faith. Never ceafe to beg of the Lord more abundanc 
 communications of his Spirit ot Grace, till yon be ftrergthened with 
 all might in your inward man, that ye may be able to jerve God ac-* 
 cept^bly, and refifi the Devil effectually and finally. Remember, it 
 hath been the prayer of a poor worm on your behalf, that ye may 
 fo pray, and be lb aafwered by your heavenly Father, that your joy 
 may be full 
 
 See and confidcr the gracious defign of God towards you, in this 
 very dealing of his with you, by taking me away from you. Is it not 
 that ye miy be brought more iingly and immediately to rely upon his 
 Influence, that he may bring the Biefli gsof Abraham more plenti- 
 fully upon you ? Once more, 1 fay, be net difcouraged \ Regard not 
 *\ reproaches that are fallen on your Father. Say or do men what 
 y will, Abraham'* Faith will find the Bicffing Abraham found, 
 in whomioever it is. As for me, I can truly fay with David, The 
 Reproaches, O Lord, cf thofe that have reproached thee, are fallen 
 upon me, Pfal y (>9-9. And he will ( in his due time ) take oft all 
 fuch unjuft Reproaches from himfelf, from me, and all his faithful 
 hidden ones, and will make himfelf known by the Judgments that 
 he will execute in the Earth, fo that it (hali be {aid ; Verily, there 
 is a reward for the Rtghteoiu ; verily ', he is a God that judgeth in 
 the Earth. 
 
 God fecms now to take all our concerns wholly into his own hands. 
 You will be deprived of my bodily prefence, but Abraham's Blefling 
 &all come upon you. If you be under Abraham's Covenant, all 
 that's therein promifed, will be made good to you, as well as to him, 
 or me. The Lord revive and caufe to grow up and ftaurifh what- 
 ever is of that Faith of Abraham in you, that is in your Father ; and 
 grant it may more and more appear in my Family, after I am gone 
 hence, and no more feen in my mor;al body. 
 * 
 
 Ccrcaia 
 
(i*o) 
 
 Certain PASSAGES in a Letter, fent 
 
 from a Friend out of the Country, to one 
 
 that accompanied Sir Henry Vane to the 
 
 SCAFFOLD. 
 
 My loving and worthy Friend, 
 
 DIdfl thou ftandf aft by my worthy Friend, and bear him com- 
 pany ? Did thy foul fuffer with him and re Joyce with him, 
 riding in hit Chariot of triumph, to the Blocks, to the tAx, to the 
 Crown, to the Banner ', to the Bed and Ivory Throne of the Lord 
 God thy Redeemer t Didfi: thou ft and by, to fee all the fe put npon 
 him in the day of his EJpoufals, in his folemn It^uptials f Was he 
 not ( my Friend ) most richly trimmed, adorn' d, decked with all 
 manner of fine Linnen, curious Embroideries? Did not the Per- 
 fume of his Garments give a good fmell to all the Room and Com- 
 pany ? Was he not likje the Lord's, the Lamb's Bride, made alt^. 
 ther ready ? Was not his Head richly crown' d, and his 'Hjck^like we 
 Tower of David ? T>tdfl thou fee the Chain about his Neck, of 
 one Pearl, darling the Beholders ? Were not his Eyes like the pure 
 'Dove's, fixed above upon his t^Mate, fingle and clear ? Was not 
 his Breaft-plate ftrong like Steel ? Dtd the Arrows, the fharp Tryals 
 and cruel Mockings pierce it ? Dtd not his Shield cover htm like 
 the Targets of Solomon ? was it not beaten Gold ? When it was 
 tryed, dtd it yeeld to the Tempter? O precious Faith J Tell me, 
 my Friend, how did he weild his glittering flaming Sword ? Did 
 not it behave it felf valiantly 3 conquering, and turning every way, 
 to prefirvt the Way of Truth , Liberty , %ighteoufnefs , and the 
 Caufe of the Lord and his People ? Was not his whole Armottr 
 Very rich ? Was it not all from the Santluary , for beauty and 
 ftrength ? Oh mighty Man of Valour / thou Champion for the 
 Lord and his Hoft, when they were defied f How haft thou jpoyled 
 them? The Goliah is trodden under foot. The whole Army of the 
 Philiftims fly. Is He fled ? Is He gone from amongst men? Was 
 not this Earth, this Kingdom worthy of Him ? Waft thou vpon 
 the CMount of Oliycs with him , to fee how he was lifted up y 
 
 glorified^ 
 
(i6i) 
 
 glorified, advanced ? Didft thou fee him afcend, and Chariots and 
 Heavenly Hods , the Glorious Train, accompanying Him to his 
 Chamber, to the Palace of the great King, whither he is gone, we 
 gating below after htm t But, will he not come again ? Will not 
 the Lord his Bridegroom bring him, when He (hall come to reign, 
 and his Seints with Him ? CMak* ready then, my Friend ; Gird 
 up thy loins ; %ide through glorioujly, for the Day is a great T>ay 
 of Battel* And he that overcometh, [hall (it down with Abraham, 
 Ifaac , Jacob , the Prophets, the ^pofiles, and our late Friend 
 Vane, in the Kingdom of Heaven^ whither I fhall ever long to be 
 prepared to fet forward with the firft, and to meet thee, Friend, 
 afcending into the Heavenly Place. 
 
 A LETTER from a Perfon of Quality, 
 
 to a Relation of Sir Henry yane y abouc 
 
 a week after the Execution, 
 
 Madam, 
 
 IF I do later than ethers , give you an account of the (hare I 
 have, in the lojfe of your generous K'mfman, it is, becaufe I 
 would not rudely difturb the Motions of fo ]uft a Sorrow ; but 
 I hope , that you are ajfured, I have Jo real a concern m all 
 that relates to you, that it was not necejfary, by an early hafte^ to 
 fend you an Information of it. I have ( Madam ) whilflr I own 
 a love to my Country, a deep Inter eft in the Publick^ Lojfe, which 
 fo many worthy Perfons lament. The World is robbed of an Unpa- 
 raUeld Example of Vercuc and Piety. His great Abilities made 
 his Enemies perfwade themselves, that aU the Involutions in the laft 
 Age^ w e wrought by his Influence, as if the World were onely 
 moved by his Engine. In him they lodged all the dying hopes of his 
 Party. There was no Opportunity that he did not improve for the 
 Advantage ojfhis Country . And when he was in his la(t and much 
 
 X deplored 
 
deplored Scene , he ftreve to make the People in love with that 
 Freedom, they had fo lavishly and foolifhly thrown away. 
 
 He was great in all his Anions, but to me he feemed greateft in- 
 his Sufferings, when his Enemies fcem to fear, that He alone fhould 
 be able to acquaint them with a Chang* of Fortune* In his loweft 
 condition, yon have feen him the Terr our of a great Prince, ftreng- 
 thened by many potent Confederates and Armies ; Jon have feen 
 htm live in high Sfiimation and Honour, and certainly he dyed with 
 it- KjMen arrive at Honours by fever al wayes. The ^Martyrs, 
 though they wanted the glittering Crowns, the Princes of thofe Ages 
 dijpenfed, have Rich Ones in every Jufi man's efieem, Vertue^ 
 though unfortunate, jhines in Jpite of all its Enemies ; nor is it in 
 any Power , to deface thofe lafting (^Monuments your Friend hath 
 raifed of his, in every heart that either knew him, or held any In- 
 telligence with Fame, But, Madam, / trefpifs too long upon your 
 patience '. This is a fubjeB I am apt to dwell on, becaufe I can 
 never fay enough of it* I jhall now onely defire you to make ufe of 
 that Fortitude and Vertue, that raifed your Friend above the ma. 
 lice and power of his Enemies ; and do not by an immoderate Sor- 
 row deftroy that which was fo dear to him, your Self; but live the 
 lively Reprefentation of his Vertue , the exercife of whhh y hath 
 made you atwayes, the admiration of 
 
 Your humble Servant, &c. 
 The 22 d June % 
 1662. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
CMijlakes in Printing. 
 
 PAge 5 . line 4. for graz,f y xcidcgratfc. P. 7. 1. 9. L ok fare, tl 
 obfeure. P8. J. 27. Uwo r, too. P. 12. l.iy. f. ^^rJ } ieafts, r, 
 or/W £**/?/. P.itf. I.7. f. founded^ r. founded, p. 22. 1. 2,. f. zpf/tfe, 
 r. w«/al. P.2£.l.tf. f. r*, r. *w. P.2J.1.3 1. f. 0/, r. **. P. 29. L 30. f. 
 capacity X. creature-capacity. P. 37. 1. 24. h not, r. £#f. P. 50. I.20. 
 f. Popifi, r. p*p//fe. P.do. J. 9. f. back-fider, r, backsliders. P. (Si. 
 J. 3 (5. r. refembled alfe. P.62. 1.41. f. in y r. w. P. 66.1 5. r. Penta- 
 teuch, the Tabernacle y or. P. 68. 1. 37. f. triumph, r. triumph's. P. 
 70. 1.3. f- which, r. *w&. p. 7 1. 1. 6. f. amounts, r. amount, P. 80. 
 1. 37. r. thorowly knows. P. 99. 1. 8. f. ^0, r. to. 
 
 There arc alfo fcveral miftakes in the pointing , Comma's and 
 other points are wanting in forne places, redundant in others, which 
 obfeure the fence ; but the ingenuous and unprejudiced Reader will 
 eafily mend all. 
 
THE 
 
 TR YAL 
 
 ° F > 
 Sir Henry Vane, K c 
 
 A T 
 
 The Kings Bench, Weflminfter, 
 
 June the 2d. and 6th. 1662. 
 
 Together 
 
 With what he intended to have Spoken the Day of his 
 
 Sentence, {June 11.) for Arreft of Judgment, (had 
 
 he not been interrupted and over-ruled by the 
 
 Court) and his Bill of Exceptions. 
 
 With other Occafional Speeches, &c. 
 
 Alfo his Speech and Prayer, &c. on the Scaffold. 
 
 Printed in the Year, 1662, 
 
( s ) 
 
 .The TRY AL of Sir Henry Fane Knight, at 
 the Kings Bench, Weflminjter, June the 2d. 
 and 6th. 1662. 
 
 Re ader, 
 
 THoti /halt not be detained with any fourifhing Preface. 'Tis 
 trite ; whether we consider the Perfin or CAufe, fi much 
 wight pertinently be faid, at [were the Pen of fame ready 
 Writer imployed therein ) a Urge Preamble might feem to 
 need but a very fhert Apolgy, if any at all. Tet, by that time we 
 have well weighed what this Sufferer hath fetid for htmfelf and left 
 behind him in writings it will appear ', that there needed not any tongue 
 of the Learned^ to form up an Introduction thereunto, but meerlj the 
 hand of a faithful Tranfcriber of his own Obfervations, in defence of 
 himfelf and his Caufe. %efi affured of this > thou hafi them here fully 
 and clearly retrefented. 
 
 The neceffity of this courfe for thy information y as to the truth of 
 his Cafe, be pleafed to conjider on thefe following accounts. He was 
 much over -ruled , diverted, interrupted, and cut jhort in his Pba {as 
 to a free and full delivery of his mmd upon the whole matter at the 
 Bar ) by the Judges of the Kings-Bench^ and by the Kings CounfeL 
 He was alfo denyed the benefit of anj Counfel to fbeak^ on his behalf. 
 
 And what he did jpeak,. at the Bar and on the Scaffold, was fo dif~ 
 guflful to fome, that the Bsokj of thofe that took^Notes of what pajfed 
 aH along in both places , were carefully called in and (upprejfed. It is 
 therefore altogether nnpoffible to give thee a full Narrative of all he 
 faid, or was faid to him, either in Weftminfter-Hall or on Tower- 
 Hill. 
 
 The 'Defendant forefeeing this , did mofi carefully fet down in 
 writing, the fub fiance of what he intended to enlarge upon, the three 
 dayes of his appearance at the Kings-Bench Bar, and the day of his 
 Execution. Monday June 2. i662,was the day of his Arraignment. 
 Triday June 6. was the day of his Tryal^ and the Jurors VerdiB* 
 Wednefdiy June 1 1. was the day of his Sentence. Saturday June 14, 
 was the day of his Execution on Tower-Hill, where limitations were 
 
 put 
 
put upon him, And the interrupt ions of him by many hard jpeeches and 
 dtfturbing carriages of fome that compared htm about upon the Scaf- 
 fold, as alfo h the founding of Trumpets in his face to prevent his be- 
 ing heard , had many eye and ear witneffes. 
 
 ZJpon thefe confederations, I doubt not, it will appear Undisf erf ably 
 neceffary, to have given this faithful Tranfcript of fuch Papers of his, 
 at do contain the moft fubftantial and pleadable grounds of his publicly 
 attivgs, any time thps twenty years and more, as the only means left 
 of gtvtyg any tolerable account of the whole matter, to thy fat is fa ft ion. 
 Tet fuch Information as could be picked up from thofe that did prefer ve 
 any Notes, taken in Court or at the Scaffold, are here alfo recorded 
 for thy ufe, and that, faithfully, word for word. 
 
 Chancellor Fortefcue doth right worthily commend the Laws c/Eng- 
 land, as the befl now extant and in force, in any J^ation of the worlds 
 affording (if duely adminiljred ) juft outward liberty to the People, 
 and fecuring the meaneft from any oppreffive and injurious practices of 
 Superiours againft them. They give alfo that juft Prerogative to 
 Princes, that ts convenient or truly useful and advantag^ious for them 
 to have • that is to fay fuch as doth not enterfere with the Peoples 
 juft Rights , the intire and moft wary prefervation of which, as it is 
 the Covenant-duty of the Prince , fo is it his be ft fecttrity and greateft 
 honour. 'Tisfafer and better for him to be loved and rightly feared 
 by free SubjeUs, than to be feared and hated by injured (laves. 
 
 The main fundamental Liberties of the free People o/England^ are 
 fummed up and comprehended in the 29th Chapter of Magna Charta. 
 Thefe be the words ; 
 
 No freeman jfhall be taken or imprifoned.or be difleized of his Free- 
 hold, or Libercies ; or frec-cuftoms, or be out-lawed or exiled, or any 
 otherwife deftroyed. Nor will we pafs upon him, or condemn him, 
 but by lawful Judgement of his Peers, or by the Law of the Land. 
 We will fell to no man, we will not deny or defer to any man, either 
 Juftice or Right. 
 
 Lord Chief Juftice Cook obferves here nine famous branches of the 
 Law of England, couched in this fhort Chapter, and dtfeourfes upon 
 them to good purpofe. He faith alfo, that from this Chapter, as out 
 of a root, many fruitful branches of the Law ^/England have Jprung m 
 
 As for the very leading injury to other wrongings of the Subject-, 
 ( to wit j the reftraint or imprifonment of his p erf on ) fo cur ions and 
 tender is the Law in this point, that (fayes Cook) no man is to be 
 attached, arrefted y taken, or reftrained of his liberty , by petition or 
 
 fug. 
 
. C 7 ) 
 fugeefiion to the King or to his Council, mlefs it be by Ir.diclment or 
 Prefentment of good, and lawful men ( of the neighbourhood ) where 
 fuch deeds be done. 
 
 This great Charter of Englands Liberties, made 9 Hen. 3. andfet 
 in the font of all fucceeding Statute. Laws or Acls of Parliament ,{as 
 the Standard, Touch-ftone or Jury for them to be tryed by) hath been 
 ratified by about two and thirty Parliaments, and the Petition of 
 %tght, 3. Caroli. 
 
 The wo mofi famous Ratifications hereof y entituled, Confirma- 
 tiones Chartarum, & Articuli fuper Chartas, were made if and 28 
 of Edw. 1 . 
 
 All thisflir about the great Charter, fomt conceive very needle fs, 
 feeing that therein are contained thofe fundamental Laws or Liber* 
 ties of the Nation, which are fo undeniably confonant to the Law of 
 Nature, or Light of Reafon, that Parliaments themfehes ought not 
 to abrogate, but preferve them. Even 'Parliaments may feem to be 
 bounded in their Legiflative Power and Jurifdtclion, by divine Equi- 
 ty and Reafon, which is an eternal and therefore unalterable Law* 
 Hence is it , that an A3 of Parliament that is evidently againfi 
 common Right or%eafon, is null and void in it felf, without more 
 ado. Suppofe a Parliament by their Acl (hould constitute a man fudge 
 in his own caufe, give him a meer Arbitrary power ; fuch A 51 would 
 be in it felf void. 
 
 This is declared to be the ground of that exempUry Jufiice done 
 upon Empfon and Dudley, (as atltng contrary to the Peoples Liberties 
 in Ma<*na Charta) whofe Cafe is very memorable in this point. For, 
 thouah they gratified Hen. 7 th in what they did, and had an Acl of 
 Parliament for their Warrant, made the nth of his Reign, yet met 
 they with their due reward from the hands of fufltce, that Alb being 
 againfi Equity and common Reajon y and fo, no luftifi able ground or 
 apo'ogy for thofe infimt Abufes and OppreJJions of the People^ hey were 
 found guilty of. 
 
 The Statute, under colour whereof they acled, ran to this effect:. 
 Be it ena&ed, that the Juftices of the Aflizes, and Juttices of the 
 Peace upon Information for the King, before them co be made, have 
 full power and authority by their difcretion, to hear and determine all 
 offences and contempts. Having this ground, they proceeded againfi 
 tl.e People, upon meer Information^ tn the execution of Penal Laws, 
 Without any Indictment or Prefentment by good and lawful men y but 
 t onlj by their own Promoters or Informers, contrary to the 29th of 
 
 Magna 
 
(* ) 
 
 Magna Charta,wfoV& requires ,That no freeman be proceeded againfl, 
 but by lawful 'judgment of bis Peers, or bj the Law of ih e Land. 
 
 Secondly, This AB allowed them to hear and determine arbitra- 
 rily, by their own difcretion, which is not according to the Law and 
 Cujiom of England. And Cook fayes, 'tis the worsl ( and mofi ag- 
 gravated ) oppreffion of all, that ts done under the colour of Law, or 
 difguife of Jufttce. 
 
 Such a Statute or Aft of Parliament, is, not only againfl the lioht 
 of Reafon, but againfl the exprefs letter of unrepealed Statute-Law • 
 42. Edw. 3. 1. ft is affented and accorded, That the great Charter, 
 and the Charter of Foreft beholden and kept in all points, and if any 
 Statute be made to the contrary, thar fhall be holden for none. 
 
 This alfo is confonant to the fir si chapter of the great C harter it 
 felf, made 9. Hen. 3. We have granted to ail the Tree-men of our 
 Realm, thefe Liberties under- writtcn,to have and to hold to them and 
 their heirs, of Us and our Heirs, for ever. 
 
 But what if this great Charter tt feif had never been made ? had 
 England been to feek^for righteous Laws and fufi Liberties f nothing 
 feJJ'e. The fame Liberties and Laws were ratified before that, in the 
 great Charter made the feventeenth year of King ]o\\n,and mentioned 
 {among others) by Matthew Paris. 
 
 e/4W to what yet amounted the matter of all thefe Grants, but what 
 the Kings themfelves were bound before to obferve, by their Coronation 
 Oaths ,06 the antient fundamental Laws or Cufloms of this Land? This 
 we may find in Mr. Lambard's Tranflation of the Saxon Laws, from 
 the time of King Ina, who began anno 712; to Hen. 1. who begun 
 1 1 00. Amongfi the Saxons, King Alfred is reputed the mofl famous 
 and learned Compiler of our Laws, which were fltll handed along from 
 one King to another, as the unalterable Cufloms of the Kingdom. In 
 the ijth chapter of Edward the Confeffor's Laws, The mention of the 
 duty of a King (which, if not performed, nee nomen Regis in eo con- 
 ftabit) is remarkable. And Mr. Lambard tells us, that even William 
 the Conejucror ,dtd ratifie and obferve the fame Laws that his kjnfman 
 Edward the Confcffor did, as obliged by his( oronatton Oath. 
 
 So then, neither the great Charter in King John's time , nor that 
 of 9. Hen. 3. were properly a, new Body of Law, but a Declaration of 
 the antient fundamental Laws, Rights and Liberties of this Nation, 
 in Brittijh, Saxon, Datiifh and Isforman times, before. This. Cook in 
 his Proem to the fecond part of his Inflames, obferves ; where he 
 mtes alfo, that this Charter is not called great y for quantity of words, 
 
 (afheet 
 
( ajheet of Paper wiH contain it ) but for the great importance an A 
 weight of its matter. . 
 
 Through the advice of Hubert dc Burgo Chief Jufiice of England, 
 Edward the fir fi, in the eleventh year of hu Reign , did, in a Council 
 held at Oxford, unjptftly cancel this great Charter ■, and that of Foreft; 
 Hubert therefore was juftly fentene'd according to Law, by his Peers, 
 in open Parliament. Then, 25 Ed. i; The Statute, called, Confir- 
 mationes Chanarum wot made, in the fir ft chapter whereof, the Mag. 
 Charta is peculiarly called the Common Law. 25. Ed.i. cap. 2. Any 
 Judgment given contrary to the faid Charter, is to be undone and 
 holden for naught. And cap. 4. Any that by word, deed, or coua* 
 fel, go contrary to the faid Charter, are to be excommunicated by the 
 Bifhops ; and the Arch-Bifhops of Canterbury and Tork^ are bound 
 to compel the other Bifhops to denounce fentenoe accordingly^ in cafe 
 of their remifnefs or neglect. 
 
 The next famous fticklers to Hubert de Burgo, for Arbitrary Do- 
 mination, were the two Spencers, father and fon, by whofe rafh and 
 evil eounfel (fayes Cook) Edward the fecond was feduced to breaks 
 the Great Charter, and they were banifhed for their pains. 
 
 By thefe paffages we may obferve, how the People would ftiU be 
 firugling ( in and by their Reprefentatives ) for their Legal Rights 
 and Jufi Liberties • to obviate the Encroachers whereof they procured 
 fever al new Ratifications of their old Laws, which were indeed in 
 themfelves unrepealable, even by Parliaments, if they will aU as men, 
 and not contradiEl the Law of their own Reafon, and of the common 
 Reafon of all mankind. 
 
 By 25 Ed 4 1. cap. 1. Juftices, Sheriffs, Majors, and other Mini- 
 fiers, that have the Laws of the Land to guide them y are required 
 to allow the faid Charter to be pleaded in ai its points, and in all caufes 
 that [hall come before them in Judgment. 
 
 This is a claufe {fayes Cook) worthy to be written in letters of gold ; 
 That the Laws are to be the Judges guides, ( and therefore not the 
 Judges, the guides of the Laws, by their arbitrary gloffes ) which ne- 
 ver yet mifguided any that certainly knew and truly followed them. In 
 confonancy herewith, the Spaniard fayes, Of all the three learned 
 Profeffions, The Lawyer is the only lettered man y his buftnefs and duty 
 being to follow the plain literal confiruBion of the Law, as his guide, 
 in giving Judgments Pretence of myslery here, carries in the bowels 
 of it, intents, or at leafl a deep fufpit ion of arbitrary domination. The 
 mind of the Law is not fubjttl to be clouded, difturbed or perverted 
 
 B bf 
 
by paffeon or intereft. >Ti* far otherwife with Judges ; therefore % ti* 
 fitter andfafer the Law friould gutde them, than they the Law. Cook 
 on the laft mentioned Statute affirms, That this great Charter, ar.d 
 the Charter of Fore ft, are property the Common Law of this Land, or 
 the Law that is common to all the People thereof 
 
 2 Ed. 3. cap. 8, Exacl care is taken, that no Commands by the 
 Great or Little Seal, (hall come to diliuib or delay Common Right. 
 Or, if fuch Commands come, the Jufticcs are not thereby to leave to 
 do Right ; in any point. So 14 Ed, 3. 14. 11 Ric.2. 10. The Judges 
 Oath, 18 Ed. 3. 7, runs thus : 
 
 If any force ccme to difturb the execution of the Common Law, 
 ye {hall caufe their bodies to be arretted and put into Prifon. Ye fhall 
 deny no man Right by the King's Letters, nor couniel the King any 
 thing chat may turn to his dammage or difherifon. 
 
 The late King in his Declaration at Newmarket, 1641, ackxow* 
 Udged the Law to be the %ule of his Power. And hi* Majefty that 
 now is, in hi* Speech to both Houfes, the 19th of May latt, faid ex* 
 cellently, The good old Rules of Law arc our bett fecurity. 
 
 The Common Law then , or Liberties of England, comprised in the 
 Magna Chaita and the Charter of For eft ^ are rendred at fecure, as 
 authentic^ words can fet them, from all Judgments or Precedents to 
 the contrary m any Courts, all corrupting advice or evil counfel of any 
 Judges, all Letters or Countermands from the Kings Perfon, under the 
 Great or Privy Seals ; yea, and from any Atts of Parliament it felf, 
 that are contrary thereunto. As to the Judges, no question, they well 
 know the flory of the 44 corrupt Judges, executed bj King Alfred, as 
 nlfo of Trefilttan, Belknap, and many others fence* 
 
 By 11 Hen- 7. cap. 1 . They that ferve the King in his Wars, ac- 
 cording to their duty of Allegiance, for defence of the King and the 
 Land, are indempnified ; If againtt the Land, and fo not according to 
 their Allegiance, the laft claule of that chapter fcems to exclude them 
 from the benefit of this A6t. 
 
 6 Hen. 8. 16. Knights and BurgefTes of parliament arc required 
 not to depart from the Parliament, till it be fully finifhed, ended or 
 prorogued. 
 
 28 Ed. 3. cap. 3, No man is to be imprifoned, difherked, or put 
 to death, without being heard what he can fay for himfelf. 
 
 4 Ed. 3. 14. and 36 Ed. 3. 10. A Parliament is to be holden every 
 year, or oftner if need be. 
 
 . 1 Ric. 3. cap. 2. The fubjeas of this Realm arc not to be charged 
 With any new impofition, called a Benevolence* 17 Ed. 
 
(II) 
 
 j7 Ed.3. f.18. All chofe that make fuggeftions againft any man to 
 the King, are co be fent with their fuggeftions before the Chancellor, 
 Treafurer, and his grand Council, and there to find furety thac they 
 will purfue their fuggeftions ; and are to incur che fame pain, the party 
 by them accufed fhould have had, if attained, in cafe the fuggeftion 
 be found evil, or falfe. 
 
 21 Jacobi, cap. 3. All Monopolies and Difpenfations, with Penal 
 Laws, are made void, as contrary to the great Charters. 
 
 Thefe quotations of fever al Statutes , as Ratifications and Reflorers 
 of the Laws of the Land, are prefixed to the following Difcourfes and 
 fleas of 'this Sufferer, as certain, fteady, unmovabie Land-marks \ to 
 which he oft relates. The routing Seas have other Laves, peculiar to 
 themf elves, as Cook obferves ( on that expreffior, Law of the Land ) 
 in-his Comment on the lyth Chapter of Magna Chana. Offences done 
 upon the High Sea* the Admiral takes conufance of, and proceeds 
 by the Marine Law . 
 
 But have thnfe fieady Land-mark^ though exaBly obferved and 
 never fo pertinently quoted and urged by this Sufferer, failed him, as 
 to thefecuring of his Life ? 'Tis becaufe we have had Land- floods of 
 late ; Tumults of the People, that are compared to the ragmg Seas, 
 Pfal'.6f. 7. 
 
 The firft Paper of this deceafed Sufferer, towards the defence of his 
 Caufe and Life, preparatory to the Tryal, ( as the foundation of 
 all that follows) before he could know how the Indi&mcnt was 
 laid, (and which alfo a glance back to any crime of Treafon fince 
 the beginning of the late War, thac the Attorney General rec- 
 koned him chargeable with, (hews to be very rcquifit ) take as 
 followetb. 
 
 ^Memorandums touching my Defence. 
 
 THe Offence objected againft me, is levying War, within the 
 Statute 25 Ed. 3, and by confequence, a moit high and 
 great failer in the duty which the Subject, according to the 
 Laws of England, ftands obliged to perform, in relation to 
 the Imperial Crown and Soveraign Power of England. 
 
 The crime,. if it prove any, mutt needs be very great, confidering the 
 circumftanccs with which it hath been accompaned : For it relates co, 
 
 B 2 and 
 
(12) 
 
 and cakes in a feries of publick a&ion, of above twenty years continu- 
 ance. It took its rife and had its root in the Being, Authority, Judg- 
 ment, Refolutions, Votes and Orders of a Parliament, and that, a Par- 
 liament not onely authorized and commiffionated in the ordinary and 
 cuftomary way, by his Ma jetties Writ of Summons, and the Peoples 
 Election and Deputation, fubjeel; to Ad joummcntjDifcontinuance, and 
 Diffolution, ac the King's will . but which by exprefs Aft ot Parlia- 
 ment, was confuted in irs continuance and exercile of its Power, free 
 from that fubjc$ion, and made therein wholly to depend upon their 
 own wiil,to be declared in an A6t of Parliament, to be pafled for that 
 purpofe, when they (hould fee caufe. To fpeak plainly and clearly in 
 this matter ; That which is endeavoured to be made a Crime and an 
 Offence of fuch an high nature in my perfon, is no other than the nc- 
 cefTary and unavoidable A&irgs of the Reprefencative Body of the 
 Kingdom, for the prefervat'ton of the good people thereof, in their al- 
 legiance and duty to God and his Law, as alfo from the immincat 
 dangers and deftru&ion thrcatned them, from God's and their own 
 fcnemies. 
 
 This made both Houfcs in their %emonftrance ( May 26. 164.2+) 
 proteft ; If the Malignant jpirits about the King, fiotild ever force 
 cr ncceffuatt them to defend their Reltgion^ the Kingdom, the Privi- 
 ledges of Parliament, and the Rights and Liberties of the Subjetls i 
 with their Swords ; The Blood and DeflruEiion that fhould enfue ther- 
 vpon, muft be wholly cast upon their account t (jod and their own con. 
 Jciences telling them y that they were clear • and would not doubt 3 but 
 that God and the whole world would clear them therein. 
 In his Ma jetties Anfwer to the Declaration ©f the two Houfes,(A/*y 
 Ip. 1642.) he acknowledgeth his going into the Houfe of Commons 
 to demand the five Members, was an errour : And that was it, which 
 gave the Parliament the firft caufe to put themfelves in a pofture of 
 defence, by their own power and Authority, in commanding the 
 Trained-Bands of the City of London, to guard and fecure them from 
 Violence, in thedifcharge of their Truft and Duty, as the two Houfes 
 of Parliament, appointed by A&, to continue, as above-mentioned. 
 
 The next caufe was, his Ma jetties raifing Forces at Tor^ (under pre- 
 tence of a Guard ) exprefled in the humble Petition of the Lords and 
 Commons, (May 23. 1642.) wherein they befeech his Ma jetty to dif- 
 band all fuch Forces, and defitt from any further defignsof that nature, 
 •therwife they fhould hold themfelves bound in duty towards God, 
 and the Truft repofed in them by the People, and the Fundamental 
 
 Laws 
 
Laws and Conftitutions of this Kingdom, to employ their care and ur- 
 moft power, to fecurc the Parliament, and preferve the peace and quiet 
 of the Kingdom. 
 
 May 20. .1642, The two Houfes of Parliament gave their Judg- 
 ment, in theie Voces, 
 
 Firft, That it af pears, that the King ( [educed by wicked Counfel) 
 intends to makje War againfe the Parliament^ -who in all their Confu- 
 tations and Attions have propofed no other end to themfelves, but the 
 Care of his Kingdoms ; and the performance of all Duty and Loyalty t& 
 his Perfon. 
 
 Secofidly, That when foe ver the King maketh War upon the Par- 
 liament, it is a breach of Trufl repofed in htm by his People, contrary 
 to hx Oath, and tending to the diffolution of this Government. 
 
 Thirdly, That whofoever fha&ferve or effift him in fetch Wars,are 
 Tray tors by the fundamental Laws of this Kingdom, and have been fo 
 adjudged by two Alls of Parliament, and ought to fuffer as Traitors. 
 
 Die Jdvis, Ottob. 8. 1642, In the Instructions agreed upon by the 
 Lords and Commons about the Militia, They declare,?!?^ the King 
 ( f educed by wicked Counfel ) hath raifed War againfl the Parlia- 
 ment, and other his good Subje&s. 
 
 And by the Judgment and Refolution of both Houfes, bearing date 
 Aug, 1?. 1642, upon occafion of his Majelties Proclamation for fup- 
 prcfling the prefenc Rebellion under the Command of Robert Ear] of 
 Ejfex y They do unanimoufly publifh and declare, That all they who 
 have advifed, declared, abetted, or countenanced , or hereafter fkd& 
 abet and countenance the Jatd Proclamation, are Tray tors and Ene~ 
 mies to God, the King and Kingdom , and guilty of the highest degree 
 ofTreafon that can be committed again ft the King and Kingdom y at 
 that which invites his CMajefties Subjects to deftroy his Parliament, 
 and good People, by a CivU War ; and by that means, to bring mine, 
 confufion and perpetual flav try upon the furviving part of a then wret- 
 ched Kingdom. 
 
 The Law is acknowledged by the King , to be the onely Rule , by 
 which the People can be juftly governed ; and that, as it is his duty, 
 fo it (hall be his perpetual, vigilant care, to fee to it : Therefore he 
 will not fuffer either or both Houfes by their Votes, without or againfl 
 his Confent, to enjoyn any thing that is forbidden by the Law, or to 
 forbid any thing that is enjoyned by the Law. 
 
 The King docs affcrt in his Anfwer to the Houfes Petition, ( May 
 23. 1642.) That He is * part of the Parliament, which they take 
 
 upon 
 
(*4) 
 
 upon them to defend and fecure ; and that his Prerogative is a tart 
 of and a defence to the Laws of the Land- 
 
 In the Remonitrancc of boch Houl'es, {May 16, 1642.) They do 
 affert ; That if they have made any Precedents this Parliament, they 
 have made them for fofierity, upon the fame or better grounds of Re a* 
 fon and Law, than thofe were, upon which their Predecefors made any 
 for them ; and do fay, That asfome Precedents ought not to be Rules 
 for them to follow, fo none can be limits to bound their Proceedings , 
 which may and mttft vary, according to the different condition of 
 times. 
 
 And for the particular, with which they were charged, of fctting 
 forth Declarations to the People who have chofen and entruded them 
 with all that is dearett to them, if there be no example for it in former 
 times ; They fay, it is becaufe there never were fuch Monfters be- 
 fore, that attempted to d if off eft the People towards a Parliament. 
 
 They further lay ; His Majeflies Towns are no more his care than 
 his Kingdom, nor his Kingdom than his People , who are not fo his 
 cwn y that he hath abfolute power over them, or in them, as in his pro- 
 ber Goods and Eftate ; but fiduciary, for the Kingdom, and in the 
 far amount right of the Kingdom. They alfo acknowledge the Law, 
 to be the fafeguard and cultody of all publick and private IntereRs. 
 They alfo hold it fit,to declare unto the Kingdom, (whofe Honour and 
 Intereitis (o much concerned in \t) what is the privilcdge of the great 
 Council of. Parliament, herein ; and what is the Obligation that lies 
 upon the Kings cf this Realm, as to the patting fuch Bills as are offered 
 to them by both Houfes, in the name, and for the good of the whole 
 Kingdom, whereunto they (land engaged, both in Confcicnce and Ju- 
 flice, to give their Royal Aflent. 
 
 Fir(+, In Confidence ^ in refpect of the Oath that is, or ought to be 
 
 taken by them, at their Coronation, as well to confirm by their 
 
 "Royal Aflent, all fuch good Laws as the People fhall chufc, (whereby 
 
 to remedy fuch irconveniencies as the Kingdom may fuffer) as to keep 
 
 and protect the Laws already in being. 
 
 The form of the Oath is upon Record, and affencd by Books of 
 good authority. Unto it relation is had, 25 Ed. 3. cmfculed, The 
 Statute of ProvifoYs of Benefices, 
 
 ' Hereupon, The faid Commons prayed our faid Lord rhe King, 
 
 (fith the Right of the Crown of England, and the Law cf the (aid 
 
 Realm, is fuch, thatupon the mifchiefs and dammages which happen 
 
 * to this Realm, he ought and is bound -by his Oath, with the accof d 
 
 of 
 
ef his Pccplc in Parliament to make Remedy and Law, for the re- 
 moving thereof ) That it may pleafe him to ordain Remedy. 
 
 This Right, thus claimed by the Lords and Commons, The King 
 doth not deny, in his Anfwer thereunto. 
 
 Secondly, In Jufltce the Kings are obliged as well as in Consci- 
 ence, in refpeft or the Truft repoled in them,to preferve the Kingdom 
 by the making of new Laws, where there fhall be need, as well as by 
 obfervino of Laws already made ; a Kingdom being many times as 
 much expofed to ruine for want of a new Law, as by the violation of 
 thole that are in being. 
 
 This is a moft clear Right,not to be denyed, but to be as due from 
 his Mi jefty to his People, as his Protection. In all Laws framed by 
 both Houses, as Petitions of Right, they have taken themfelves to be fo 
 far Judges of the Rights claimed by them, That when the King's An- 
 fwer hath not been in every point, tulJy according to their deiire, they 
 have Hill infilled upon their Claim, and never given it over, till the 
 Anfwer hath been according to their demand, as was done in the late 
 Petition of Right, 3. Caroli. 
 
 - This Chews, the two Houfes of Parliament are Judge between the 
 King and the People in queftion of Right, as in the Cafe alfo of Ship- 
 money and other illegal Taxes • and it Co, why fhould they not alfo 
 be Judge in the Cafes of the Common Good and Neceflicy of the 
 Kingdom, wherein the Kingdom hath as clear a Right to have ther 
 benefit and remedy of the Law, as in any other matter, faving Par- 
 don and Grants of Favour ? 
 
 The Malignant Party are they, that not only negled and defpife, 
 but labour to undermine the La w,under colour of maintaining it.They 
 endeavour to deftroy the Fountain and Confer vators of the Law, the 
 Parliament. They make other Judges of the Law,than what the Law 
 hath appointed. They fet up other Rules for themfelves to walk by, 
 than fuch as are according to Law 5 and difpence with the Subjects 
 obedience, to that which the Law calls Authorky , and to their De- 
 terminations and Refolutions, to whom the Judgment doth appertain 
 by Law : Yea, though but private periens. ihcy make the Law to be 
 their Rule, according to their own underiiandmg only, contrary to 
 the Judgment of thofe that are the competent Ju'ges thereof. 
 
 The King afferts. That the Acl of Sir John H.tham was levying 
 Way again ft the King, by the letter of the Statute, 2j Ed. 3. cap. 2. 
 
 The Houfes ftate the Cafe, and deny it to be within that Statute- 
 laying, If the letter of that Statute be thought to import this • That 
 
 ~ no 
 
fltf) 
 
 no War can be levied again ft chc K<ng , but what is dirc^ed and in- 
 tended againft his Perfon ; Of, that every levying of Forces for the de- 
 fence of the King's Authority, and of his Kingdom, againft the per- 
 fonal Commands of the King, ©ppofed thereunto, ( though accompa- 
 nied vvirh his prefeace) is Treafon, or levying War againtt the King ; 
 Such Interpretation is very far from the fenfe or that Statute, and fo 
 much the Statute it felf fpeaks, befidc the authority of Book-cafes, ' For 
 if theclaufc of levying War had been meant only againft the King's 
 Perfon, what need had there been thereof, after the other branch in 
 the fame Statute, of comparing the King's death, which would neccf- 
 farily have implied this ? And becaufc the former doth imply this, it 
 leems not at all to be intended, at lcaft, not chiefly, in the latter branch, 
 but the levying War againtt his Laws and Authority ; and fuch a le- 
 vying War, though not againft his perfon, is a levying War againft 
 the King ; whereas the levying of Force againft his perfonal Com- 
 mands, though accompanied with his prefencc, and not againft hrs 
 Laws and Authority, but in the maintenance thereof, is no levying of 
 War againft the King, but for him, efpecially in a time of (o many 
 fucceflive plots and defigns of Force again ft the Parliament and King- 
 dom, of probable I-nvafion from abroad, and of fo great diftance and 
 alienation of his Mijefties affections from his parliament and People, 
 and of the particular danger of the Place and Magazine of Hull, of 
 which the two Houfes fitting, are the moft proper Judges. 
 
 In proclaiming Sir John Hotham Traitor, they lay, The breach of 
 thePriviledge of Parliament was very clear, and the fubverfion of the 
 Subjects common Right. For though the Priviledges of Parliament 
 extend not to thefc cafes, mentioned in the Declaration of Treafon, 
 Felony, and breach of the Peace, fo as to exempt the Members of 
 Parliament from Puniftimcnt, or from all manner of Procefs and Try- 
 al, yet it doth priviledge them in the way and method of their Tryal 
 and Punifhment, and that the Parliament fhould firft have the Caufe 
 brought before them, that they may judge of the Fa6t, lad of the 
 grounds of their Accufation, and how far forth the manner of their 
 
 at >■ 
 
 Tryal may or may not concern the Priviledge of parliament : Other- 
 wile,, under this pretext, the Priviledge of Parliament in this matter, 
 may be fo effentially broken, as thereby the very Being of Parlia- 
 ments may be deftroyed. Neither doth the fitting oi a Parliament 
 fufpend all or any Law, in maintaining that Law, which upholds the 
 Priviledge of Parliament, which upholds the Parliament, which up- 
 holds the Kiagdom. 
 
 They 
 

 They further affert * That in fome feafe, they acknowledge the 
 King to be the only perfon, againft whom Treafon can be committed, 
 that is, as he is Kwg y and that Treafon which is againft the King- 
 dom, is more againft the King, than that which is againft his Perfon ; 
 becaufe he is Ktng : For Tieafon is not Treafon, as it is againft him as 
 a man> but as a man that is a King^ind as he hath,and Hands in that 
 relation to the Kingdom,entrufted with the Kingdom,and difcharging 
 that Truft. 
 
 They alio avow, That there can be no competent Judge of this or 
 any the like cafe, but a Parliament ; and do fay, that it the wicked 
 Counfel about the King could matter this Parliament by force, they 
 would hold up the lame power to deprive us of all Parliamencs, which 
 are the ground and pillar of the Subje&s Liberty, and that which only 
 maketh England a free Monarchy. 
 
 The Orders of the two Houfes carry in them Law for their limits , 
 and the Safety of the Land for their end. This makes them not doubt 
 but all his Majefties good Subjects will yeeld obedience to his Majc- 
 fties Authority, fignified therein by both Houfes of Parliament : f®r 
 whofe encouragement, and thar they may know their Duty in matters 
 of that nature, and upon how furc a ground they go 3 that follow the 
 Judgment of Parliament for their guide ; They alledgc the true mean- 
 ing and ground of that Statute, n. Hen, 7. tap. 1. printed at large 
 in his Majefties MefTage, tJWay 4 ; This Statute provides, that none 
 that (hall attend upon the King and do him true fervice, fhall be at- 
 tainted, or forfeit any thing. 
 
 What was the fcope of this Statute * 
 
 Anfw. To provide, that men fhould not fufTer as Traitors for fer- 
 ving the King in his Wars, according to the duty of their Allegiance. 
 But if this had been all, it had been a very needlefs and ridiculous 
 Statyte. Was it then intended ( as they feem to make it, that print it 
 with his Majefties MefTage ) that thofe fhould be free from all crime 
 and penalty, that fhould follow the King and ferve him in War, in 
 any cafe whatfoever, whether it were for or againft the Kingdom or 
 the Laws thereof? That cannot be : for that ccfuld not ftand with the 
 duty of their Allegiance, which, in the beginning of this Statute, is ex- 
 prcfled to be, to ferve the King for the time being in his Wars, for 
 the defence of him and the Land. If therefore it be againft the Land, 
 (as it rrtuft be, if it be againft the Parliament, the Reprefentative Body 
 of the Kingdom) it is a declining from the duty of Allegiance, which 
 this Statute fuppofes may be done, though men fhould follow the Kings 
 
 C Perfon 
 
Pcrfon in the War. Otherwife, there had been no need of fuch a. 
 Provifo in the end of the Statute, that none fhould take benefit there^ 
 by, that fhould decline from their Allegiance. 
 
 That therefore which is the Principal Verb in this, is the ferving of 
 the King for the time being, which cannot be meanc of a Pcrkjn War- 
 beck, or any that fhould call himfelf King, buc fuch a one, as (what- 
 ever his Title might prove,either in himielf or in his Ance(tors) fhculd 
 be received and acknowledged for fuch, by the Kingdom, the Con- 
 fent whereof cannot be difcern'd but by Parliament ; the Acl where- 
 of, is the Aft of the whole Kingdom, by the pcrfonal Suffrage of 
 the peers, and the Delegate Content of the Commons of England. 
 Henry 7th therefore, a wife prince, to clear this matcer of conteft, 
 happening between Kings" de fatlo and Kings de jure> procured this 
 Statute to be made, 7 hat none jh»ill be accounted a Traitor for ferving 
 in his V/ars, the King for the time bcirg ; that is y him that is for the 
 prcfent allowed and received by the Parliament in behalfjofthe King- 
 dom. And as it is truly fuggettcd in the Preamble of the Stature ; 
 It is not agreeable to teafon or confeience, that it fhould be otherwife, 
 feeing men fhould be put upon an impoffibilicy of knowing their duty, 
 if the Judgment of the higheft Court fnould not be a Rule to guide 
 them. And if the Judgment thereof is to be followed, when the 
 quettion is, who is King ? much more, when the queftion is, what is 
 the beftfervice of the King and Kingdom ? Thofe therefore that fhall 
 guide themfelves by the Judgment of Parliament, ought (what ever 
 happen) to be fecure and free from all account and penalties, upon the 
 ground and equity of this Statute. 
 
 To make the Parliament countenances of Trcafon, they fay, is 
 enough to have dilTolv'd all the bands of fervice and confidence be- 
 tween his Majefiy and his parliament, of whom the Law fayes, a 
 difhonourablc thing ought not to be imagined. 
 
 This Conclusion then is a clear Refult from what hath been argued; 
 That in all Cafes of fuch difficulty and ur/ufualr.efs , happening by 
 the over-ruling Providence of God, as render it impoflible for the 
 Subjcd to know his* duty, by any known Law or certain Rule ex- 
 tant, his relying then, upon the Judgment and Rcafon of the whole 
 Realm, declared by their Reprefentative Body in Parliament, then fir- 
 ting, and adhering thereto, and purfuing thereof, ( though the fame 
 afterwards be by fucceeding Parliaments, judged erroneous,Ta£tious 
 and unjuft ) is mott agreeable to right Reafon and good Confeience ; 
 and in fo doing, all perfons are to be free and fecure from all Account 
 
 and 
 
and penalties, hot only upon the ground and equity of that Statute, 
 ii Hen % 7. but according to all Rules of Juftice, natural or moral. 
 
 The day of Arraignment , being Monday June 2. 1662* 
 
 %eadcr, The beft account thou canft yet be furnifhed with, as to 
 chis dayes proceedings in Court, is, as followeth. 
 
 SI R Henry Vane was the Ia(i Term, indicated of High Treafon, be- 
 fore the CMiddlefex Grand Jury, and the Bill being found by 
 them, he was upon Monday the iecond of June this Term, arraigned, 
 to this efTedt. 
 
 That y oh at a falfe Traitor again ft his moft excellent Majefty King 
 Charles the fecon'd, your fupr earn and natural Lord^ not having ihe 
 fear of God before your eyes, and withdrawing that your duty and alle- 
 giance -which a true Subject ought to have and bear to our f aid Letge 
 and fovereign Lord, thirteenth of May, in the eleventh year of our 
 faidfoveretgn Lord the King, at the Party of St. Martins in the fields 
 in the County of Middlefex, did compafs and imagine the Death of our 
 faidfovereign Lord the King, and the ancient frame of Government 
 of this %ealm, totally to fubvert and keep out our faid fovereign Lord 
 from the exerctfe of his Regal Government ; and the fame the better 
 to ejfetl, the faid Sir Henry Vane the faid thirteenth day of May, in 
 the fold eleventh year, cjre. at St. Martins afoyefaid, together with 
 other falfe Traitors, to the Jurors unknown, dtd traiteroufly and ma> 
 Itcioujly afemble and fit together, and then and there confulted to 
 i>rinq the King unto deftrutlion, and to hold him out fiom the exer- 
 c/f* of h^ Regal Authority , and then and there ufurpedtbe govern- 
 ment, and appointed Officers, to wit, Colonels and Captains of a cer- 
 tain Army, raifed again ft the King, again ft the Peace of our fovereign 
 Lord the King hus Crown and Dignity, and contrary to the form of 
 the Statute in that cafe made and provided. 
 
 t/lnd the better to effect this, the twentieth of December, in the 
 faid eleventh year, with a multitude, to the number of a thoufand 
 perfons, to the Jurors unknown ^ in warlike manner affembled, and 
 arrayed with Guns, Trumpets, Drums, &c. did levy War againft the 
 Peace. &c. and contrary to the form of a Statute. 
 
 Which being read, he prayed to have it read a fecond timr, which 
 Was granted him. He then prayed to have it read in Latine, which 
 
 C 2 ail 
 
(20) 
 
 all the Court denyed, and Keeling the King's Serjeant (aid, That 
 though all Pleas and Entries are fct down on Record in Latinc, yet 
 the agitations of Caufes in Court, ought to be in Enghfh. 
 
 The Prifoner moved feveral Exceptions to the Indictment, as that 
 the 25. Ed. 3. is not purfucd -, that he had levied no fuch force as 
 amounted to a levying of War ; Alfo,thc place in which, pcrfons with 
 whom, are both uncertain ; and the particular acts of levying War, 
 being not fee forth, he thought therefore the Indictment was ivfrffi- 
 cisnt. Alio, he fa id, here is a long time of Action for which lam 
 charged, and I may be concern'd tor what I acted as a Member in 
 that (overeign Court of Parliament, and if any thing concerns the Ju- 
 risdiction of that Court, I ought not to be judged here ; at which the 
 Court and King's Counfel took great offence. 
 
 He faid alfo ; There hath been an Act of General Pardon, fince 
 that time, whereby all Treafons are pu: in utter oblivion, and though 
 Sir Henr) Vane were excepted, ycr noneconfent that he was that Sir 
 Henry Vane* But the King's Counfel faid, If he would plead that 
 Plea, they would joyn that IiTuc with him, if he pleafed, which if it 
 fhould be found againlt him, it would be too late to plead, not guilty. 
 
 But the Court laid, in favour of life, a man may plead a double 
 plea, and give in his Exception, and plead over to the Felony or 
 Treafon, not guilty. 
 
 But as to the Exceptions taken to the Indictment, they gave little 
 heed to them, but prcfled him to plead or confefs. 
 
 Whereupon he pleaded, Not guilty ; and had four dayes, to wit, 
 till Friday next, for his Tryal. 
 
 From another handy take, as foil owe th» 
 
 The Prifoner did much prefs for Counfel to be allowed him, to ad- 
 vile with about any further Exceptions to the Indictment:, befides thofc 
 by him exhibited, and to put all into form, according to the culiomary 
 proceedings and language of- the Law, as alio to fpeak to them at the 
 Bar, on his behalf , he not being vcrf'd in the punctilio's of Law- 
 writings and Pleas. He further faid, That the Indictment, which fo 
 nearly concern'd his Life, being long, and his memory (hort, it could 
 not well be imagined that he fhould upon the bare hearing it read, be 
 able in an inttant to find out every material Exception agiinlt ij,in form 
 or matter. He pleaded a good while on this account, but Counfel 
 was finally denied him till he fhould plead guthy or not gutlty, unto 
 
 which, 
 
which, being a third time urged, he pleadecTiV^ guilty \ The Court 
 having aflured him beforehand ,. that after pleading,Counfel fhould be 
 afligned him, which yet never was performed. 
 
 Here followech a Tranfciipt of the Prifoncrs own Papers, contain- 
 ing certain Memorandums pleadable upon his Arraignment. ' 
 
 (^femorandnms for, and towards my 'Defence. 
 
 Upon hearing the Indictment read, and before pleading. 
 Irft, To lay before the Court the impofTibility that he humbly con« 
 
 F 
 
 ceives, is already in view, as to the having any fuch indifferent and 
 cquai Tryal, as the Law intends him, and doth require and command 
 on the behalf of all the free-people of England. The Rife for this 
 Conception he takes from what hach been already done in relation to 
 the Prifoner himfelf, unheard, unexamined, and yet keptclofe Prifoncr 
 for near two whole years. This he fhall leave to the Judgment of the 
 Court, after that he hath made known the particulars thereof unto 
 them, as neceffary to precede the thing demanded of him, in pleading 
 guilty^ or not guilty. 
 
 Secondly, What is the indifferency which the Law requires and 
 appoints throughout, as well in matters that go before the Tryal, as 
 in the proceedings at the Tryal it felf ? 
 
 Before the Tryal, and in the firft Hep to it, which is the keeping and 
 fecuring his perfoo, Magna Charta is clear, and gives this Rule, 
 cap 29. Nullus Itber homo cayiatur, &c. 
 
 7<{o free -man fo all be taken or impnfoned y or be dijfeifed of his free- 
 hold or liberties , or free-cttftoms, or be outlawed or exiled, or any other- 
 wife deftroyed • Nor we will not pajfe upon him, nor condemn him y but 
 by lawful Judgement of his Peers , or by the Law of the Land : We 
 will fell to no man, we will not deny or defer to any man either Juflice 
 or Right, 
 
 Out of this Chapter, as out of a root (faith Sir Edward Cook, ) do 
 many fruitful branches of the Law of England fpring. It contains nine 
 branches ; fome whereof I fhall infift upon in my Cafe. 
 
 Firlf, That no man be taken or imprifoned but per Legem Terra, 
 that is, by the Common Law or Cuftom of England - which words, 
 per Legem Terr a, though put laft, refer to all the precedent branches. 
 
 Secondly, The Goods of any Offender cannot regularly be taken 
 
 and 
 
(2i) 
 
 and feized to the King 1 ? ufe before Convi&ion, nor be Inventoried, 
 nor the Town charged therewith, before the owner be indeed of 
 Record. 
 
 Thirdly, No man (hall be exiled or bani'fhed out of his Country 
 nor be in any for: deliroyed but by the verdict of his Peers. 
 
 This appears by BraElon and other ancient Wricers,quotcd by Cook^ 
 in the third part of his Infiitutes, fol. 228. 
 
 Upon the whole matter faith Cook,, theie two Condufions are ma- 
 nifeltly proved. 
 
 ■ Fiitt, That before Indictment, the Goods or other things of any 
 Offender cannot be fearched, inventoried or in any fort feized, nor 
 after Indictment, feized, removed, or taken away, before Convi&ion 
 or Attainder. 
 
 Secondly, That the begging of the Goods or Eftate of any De- 
 linquent, accufed or indicted of any Treafon, Felony, or other offence, 
 before he be convi&ed and attainted, is utterly unlawful ; Stat. Ri.i, 
 cap. 3. 
 
 And befides,it maketh the profecu:ion againft the Delir.quent,more 
 precipitant,violent and undue, than the quiet and equal proceedings of 
 the Law and Juftice would permit : Or elfe, by fome under-hand 
 Agreement, (taps or hinders the due ccurfe of Juliice, and difcoura- 
 geth both Judge, Juror and Wicnefs to do their duty. 
 
 Thirdly, The Judges are not to give fo much as their Opinion be- 
 fore-hand, concerning the Offence, whether it prove that Offence in 
 that Cafe. 
 
 Coo^in the chap, of Petty Treafon, fol. 29, exprcfly faith; And 
 to the end the Try al may be the more indifferent , feeing the f*fety of 
 the Frtfoner confifls in the indifferency of the Court , the Judges ought 
 not to deliver their Opinions before -hand of any Criminal Cafe, that 
 may come before them judicially. And he there cites Humphrey 
 Staffords Cafe that Arch Traitor, in which Huffey Chief Juftice, bc- 
 fought Hen- 7. not to demand of them their Opinions before-hand. 
 And in the 4th of his Inflttutes, in the chap, of the High Court of 
 Parliament, fol. $7, he fully (hews the evil of asking the Judges Opi- 
 nions before-hand. 
 
 But inttead of this, The Judges being affiftant in the Lords houfe, 
 when all Adts of Parliament pafl'c, and whofe Advice is taken in them, 
 have ( as appears by what is declared in the faid A&s) prejudg'd by 
 their Opinions and the Opinions of the Parliament before-hand, the 
 merit of the Caufc that now appears to be put upon the Iflue in my 
 
 Tryal, 
 
Tryal. Hereby the Judges arc rendred ex parte, and the indifterency 
 the Law requires, impoffible ro be afforded^ 
 
 Nor is this all ; but by the Rules declared id the Aft of 'Indempxi- 
 ty, all are difenabled to plead, or make ufe of the Ordinances, Orders 
 and Votes of both,or either Houfes of Parliament, that may have occa- 
 fion thereof; and then by excepting the Prifoner and his fellow out of 
 the faid Acl, and all benefit thereby, a door is left open to Arraio n , 
 bring to Tryal and Sentence the whole Caule from the beginning to 
 the ending, m the perfon of the Prifoner, and at the fame time, de- 
 prive him of all means and poffibility of JuHification and Defence. 
 
 Fourthly,. It is obfervabie how early hard meafure appeared in the 
 way wherein the Prifoner became excepted out of the A6t of Indemp- 
 nity, when the Commons, his proper Judges, declared him in their 
 thoughts, not fit to be endangered in the point of Life ; yet unto the 
 Judgment of the Lords, ( that ought not to judge Commoners, un- 
 brought before them by the Commons, much leis, in oppofite Judge- 
 ment to the Commons ) The Commons were necefiicated to yeeld 
 kit otherwifc the A& of Indo^pnity to the whole Nation (hould flop 
 upon this difpute and effential difference between the two Houfes ; A 
 Competition, eafi!y over-ruled ; although (as it proves by the fequel ) 
 That AcVef Indemnity is like to become felo defe^ or a deftroyer of 
 it felf, if your Lordfhips (hall conceive your felves at liberty, (not- 
 withstanding that A6t) not on!y to bring anew into memory upon the 
 ftage, the (fate of all the palled differences, from firft to laft, but to try 
 and judge the merit of them in my perfon, and therein call in que- 
 Hion the validity of that whole A#, and make void the benefit in- 
 tended by it, in cafe the War undertaken and managed by both or 
 either of the Houfes of Parliamenr, be judged unlawful, and within 
 the Statute of 2y. £d. 3. For this adjudges all the People of England. 
 morally guilty of the evil of a fin and offence againft the Law of Na- 
 ture, which once done, what ever promifed Icdempnity be granted 
 for the prefent, the Evil of the AcYion remaining upon Record ; not 
 only to the Infamy of the whole People of f^/W, but their future 
 danger, upon pretence they have forfeked the very Indempnity 
 granted. 
 
 Fifthly, The length of time taken to fearch out matter againft the 
 Prifoner, and the undue practices and courfes to find out Witnefles,do 
 further evidence how unlike the Prifoner is to havcan equal and 'in- 
 different Tryal. He doubts not, this will appear in his two years clofe 
 Imprifonment, (fix months whereof was Banifhment) during which 
 
 time, 
 
04) 
 time, he was never fo much as once examined, or had any queftion put 
 to him, whereby he might con jc&ure wherefore he was committed to 
 Priion, any further than was expreffed in the Warrants of Commit- 
 ments. 
 
 Now thefe were fo general, that nothing certain or particular could 
 be gathered out of them. But upon the received opinion, that he was 
 excepted out of the A6t of Indempnky, and in the fence of both 
 Houles, a great Delinquent, his Eilate was attempted to be invento- 
 ried, his Rentals demanded, his Rents were actually feized in the Te- 
 nants hands, and they forbidden to pay them. His very Courts were 
 prohibited by Officers of great Perfonages, claiming the Grant of the 
 Eftate, and threarning his Officers from doing their duty. By thefe 
 kind of undue proceedings, the Prifoner had not wherewithal to 
 maintain himfelf in Prifon, and his Debts, to the value of above ten 
 thoufand pounds, were undifcharged, either Principal or Intereft. The 
 hopes of private lucre and profit hereby, was fuch, in the Tenants and 
 other perfons, fought out for far and near, to be Witnetfes, that ic is 
 no wonder ac laft, fomething by way of Charge comes to be exhi- 
 bited. 
 
 And as this is the Cafe of the Perfon before his appearance at this 
 Bar, with refped to the forefaid unequal proceedings towards him, 
 and the great difadvantages put upon him, and all thefe^s it were, in 
 a. continued feries of Dcfign ; fo, the matters and things themfelvcs 
 with which it now appears he is* charged in the Indictment, make his 
 Cafe mil very extraordinary and unufual, involving him in difficulties 
 that are infuperable, unlefs God's own immediate Power do fhew it 
 fclf in working his deliverance. 
 
 The things done, are for many years paft, in a time of Differences 
 between King and Parliament, and Wars enfuing thereupon. Many 
 extraordinary Changes and Revolutions in the State and Government 
 were neceiTicated in the courfe of God's Providence, for wife and 
 holy ends of his, above the reach of humane wifdom. 
 
 The Authority by which they are done, is prejudged. The Orders, 
 Votes and Refolutions of Parliament are made ufclefs,and forbidden 
 to be produced. Hereby, all manner of defence is taken away from the 
 Prifoner ; and that which was done according to Law, as the Laws of 
 thofc times were, is endeavoured to be made unlawful, and fo the per- 
 fons, acling according to fuch Laws, are brought to punifhment. 
 
 The Judges ( as hath been (hewed ) are foreftalled in their Judge- 
 ments, by the declared fence of Parliaments , given ex fofi fafto. 
 
 The 
 
The Jurors arc put upon difficulties never known before, for twelve 
 Commoners to judge the Actions of all the Commons of England) in 
 whom they arc included, as to whofc Judgment is the right, the one 
 or the others ; and whether their Reprefentatives be trufty. 
 
 The Party indicted is under an incapacity to bring Witneflcs^s well 
 from the nature of the place wherein the things were done > within the 
 Walls of the Houfe, as from the fhortnefs of time, having heard no- 
 thing of his Charge, and being kept a dofe Prifoner, to the laftday. 
 His Solicitors and perfons imployed in his Law-bufincflcs, were alio 
 icftrained from him. 
 
 Ic isalfo moft evident, that the matters for which he is queftioned, 
 being the Product of fo many years Agitations of Parliamentary Coun- 
 fels and Arms, cannot be of a (ingle concern, nor be reputed as the 
 actions of a private man, done of his own head, nor therefore ccme 
 within any of the fix Claries of Treafon, contained in 2j. Ed. 3. 
 
 It is a Cafe moft unufual, and never happening before in this King- 
 dom ; yet it is alledged in the Indictment to be a levying War with- 
 in that Statute, and fo comes to have the name of High Treafon put 
 upon it, thereby ( if poflible) to deprive him of the ufe and benefit of 
 Counfel,as alfo of competent time to prepare for his Defence, and all 
 fitting and requifit means for the clearing of his Innocency. Unto this, 
 unlefs fome remedy be afforded by the juftice, candor and favour of 
 this Court, it may be better for the Prifoner (for ought he yet knows) 
 to be immediately deftroyed by fpecial Command ( if nothing elfc will 
 fatisfie) without any form of Law, as one to whom Quarter, after at 
 leaft two years cool blood, is thought fit to be denied in relation to the 
 hte Wars. This may feem better, than under a colour and form of 
 Juilice, to pretend to give him the benefit of the Law and the King's 
 Courts^ whofe part it is, to fet free the Innocenc, upon an Equal and 
 Indifferent Tryal had before them, if their Caufc will bear it : but it 
 is very vifible beforehand, that all pofTible means of Defence are taken 
 and withheld from him, and Laws are made ex poft fatte, to fore- 
 judge the merit of the Caufe, the Party being unheard. 
 
 And when he hath faid all this, that as a rational man, does occur 
 to him, and is fit for him to reprefent in all humility to the Court, he 
 craves leave further to adde • That he fiands at this Bar not only as 
 a man, and a man clothed with the Priviledges of the moli Sovereign 
 Court,but as a Chrifiian, that hath Faith and reliance in God, through 
 whofe gracious and wife appointment, he is brought into thefe circum- 
 ftances, and unto this place at this time, whofe Will he defires to be 
 
 D found 
 
.04) 
 time, he was never fo much as once examined, or had any queftion put 
 to him, whereby he might con je&ure wherefore he was committed to 
 Prifon, any further than was expreiTed in the Warrants of Commit- 
 ments. 
 
 Now thefe were fo general, that nothing certain or particular could 
 be gathered out of them. But upon the received opinion, that he was 
 excepted out of the A6t of Indempnity, and in the fence of both 
 Houfes, a great Delinquent, his Eikte was attempted to be invento- 
 ried, his Rentals demanded, his Rents were actually feized in the Te- 
 nants hands, and they forbidden to pay them. His very Courts were 
 prohibited by Officers of great Perfonages, claiming the Grant of the 
 Eftate, and threaming his Officers from doing their duty. 6y thefe 
 kind of undue proceedings, the Prifoner had not wherewithal to 
 maintain himfelf in Prifon, and his Debts, to the value of above ten 
 thoufand pounds, were undifcharged, cither Principal or Intereft. The 
 hopes of private lucre and profit hereby, was fuch. in the Tenants and 
 other perfons, fought out for far and near, to be Witnefles, that ic is 
 no wonder at lalt, fomething by way of Charge comes to be exhi- 
 bited. 
 
 And as this is the Cafe of the Perfon before his appearance at this 
 Bar, with refpe# to the forefaid unequal proceedings towards him, 
 and the great difadvantages put upon him, and all thefe^s it were, in 
 a continued feries of Defign ; fo, the matters and things themfelves 
 with which it now appears he is* charged in the Indictment, make his 
 Cafe ftill very extraordinary and unufual, involving him in difficulties 
 that are infuperable, unlefs God's own immediate Power do fhew it 
 fclf in working his deliverance. 
 
 The things done, are for many years pail, in a time of Differences 
 between King and Parliament, and Wars enfuing thereupon. Many 
 extraordinary Changes and Revolutions in the State and Government 
 were neceffKared in the courfe of God's Providence, for wife and 
 holy ends of his, above the reach of humane wifdom. 
 
 The Authority by which they are done, is prejudged. The Orders, 
 Votes and Refolutions of Parliament are made ufelefs,and forbidden 
 to be produced. Hereby, all manner of defence is taken away from the 
 Prifoner ; and that which was done according to Law, as the Laws of 
 thofc times were, is endeavoured to be made unlawful, and fo the pcr- 
 fons, acling according to fuch Laws, are brought to punifhment. 
 
 The Judges ( as hath been (hewed ) are foreftallcd in their Judge- 
 ments, by the declared fence of Parliaments , given ex fofi fatto. 
 
 The 
 
The Jurors arc put upon difficulties never known before, for twelve 
 Commoners to judge the Anions of all the Commons of England) in 
 whom they arc included, as to whofc Judgment is the right, the one 
 or the others ; and whether their Reprefentativcs be trufty. 
 
 The Party indicted is under an incapacity to bring WitnefTes,as well 
 from the nature of the place wherein the things were done, within the 
 Walls of the Houfe, as from the fhortnefs of time, having heard no- 
 thing of his Charge, and being kept a clofe Prifoncr, to the laftday. 
 His Solicitors and perfons imployed in his Law-bufinciTcs, were alio 
 retrained from him. 
 
 Ic is alfo moft evident, that the matters for which he is queftioned, 
 being the Product of fo many years Agitations of Parliamentary Coun- 
 fels and Arms, cannot be of a (ingle concern, nor be reputed as the 
 actions of a private man, done of his own head, nor therefore ccme 
 within any of the fix Claffes of Trcafon, contained in 2j. Ed, 3 . 
 
 It is a Cafe moti unufual, and never happening before in this King- 
 dom ; yet it is alledged in the Indictment to be a levying War with- 
 in that Statute, and To comes to have the name of High Treafon put 
 upon it, thereby ( if poffible) to deprive him of the ufc and benefit of 
 Counfel,as alfo of competent time to prepare for his Defence, and all 
 fitting and rcquifit means for the clearing of his Innocency. Unto this, 
 unlefs fome remedy be afforded by the jultice, candor and favour of 
 this Court, it may be better for the Prifoner (for ought he yet knows) 
 to be immediately deftroyed by fpecial Command ( if nothing elfe will 
 fatisfie) without any form of Law, as one to whom Quarter, after at 
 leaft two years cool blood, is thought fit to be denied in relation to the 
 late Wars. This may fecm better, thin under a colour and form of 
 Juftice, to pretend to give him the benefit of the Law and the King's 
 Courts^ whofe part it is, to fet free the Innocent, upon an Equal and 
 Indifferent Tryal had before them, if their Caufe will bear it : but it 
 is very vifible beforehand, that all pofTible means of Defence are taken 
 and withheld from him, and Laws are made ex foft fatto, to fore- 
 judge the merit of the Caufe, the Party being unheard. 
 
 And when he hath faid all this, that as a rational man, does occur 
 to him, and is fit for him to reprefent in all humility to the Court, he 
 craves leave further toadde > That he flandsatthis Bar not only as 
 a man, and a man clothed with the Priviledges of the moii Sovereign 
 Court,but as a Chriflian, that hath Faith and reliance in God, through 
 whofe gracious and wife appointment, he is brought into thefe circum- 
 ftances, and unto this place at this time, whofe Will He defires to be 
 
 D found 
 
(26) 
 
 found rcfigncd up into, as well in what He now calls him to faffer as 
 in what He bach called him formerly to aft. for [he good of his Coun- 
 try, and of the People of God in it. Upon this bottom ( he blefles the 
 Name of his God ) he is fcarlefs, and knows the ifTue will be o ©d 
 What ever i: prove. God's ftrength may appear in the Prisoner's weak- 
 ness ; and the more all things carry the face of Certain nunc and de- 
 ftrucTiqn unto all that is near and dear to him in chis world the more 
 will divine deliverance and falvarion appear . to the makinq a no d of 
 that Scripture, That he that is concent to lofe his life in GodTsCaUfc 
 and yjipfhdlfec ;>, and he that inlicad thereof goes about lofave 
 his hfe upon undue terms, fall loft it. 
 
 Far be it therefore from me, to have knowingly, malicioufly or 
 Wittingly offended the Law, rightly understood and aflened • much 
 lefs/to have done any thing that is malum pr [e, or that is morally 
 evil. This is that I allow not as I nm a Man, and what I defire 
 with ftedfaftnefs to refill, as I am a Chriftian. It I can judoe any 
 thing of my own Cafe, The true reafon of the prefent difficulties and 
 ftraits I am in, is becaufe I have defired to walk by a jui\ and ri^hte- 
 cus Rule in all my A&ions, and not to ferve the luffs and paflionsof 
 men, but had rather die, than wittingly and deliberately fin aoaintt 
 God and tranfgrefs his holy Laws, x>r prefer my own private Inrcreft 
 before the Good of the whole Community I reiateunto in the King- 
 dom where the lot of my residence is caft. ° 
 
 Here follow the chief Obfervables (as to matter of Mew Argument) 
 on the day of his Tryal, being Friday June 6. 1662. 
 
 ONI this day, the Sheriff returned forty eight Freeholders of the 
 County of CMiidleftx. After thirty two were challenged by the 
 Prifoner, he had a Jury of Twelve men fworn, to wit, §\xV/iUUm 
 K»b?rts, junior. Sir thrlftfhb Abdy. John Stone. Henry Carter. 
 John Leech. "Daniel Cole, Daniel Browne. 7 homos Chelfam. Thai 
 mas Pitts . Thomas 'V^an. Andrew BeV, and William Smith. 
 
 'the Attorney-General's Speech to the Jury. 
 The Indictment is, for traittroufly imagining and intending, &c. 
 the Death of the King. This very imagination 1 and compafling, cJrc. 
 isTreafon. Yet, forafmuch as the intentions of the heart aretccret • 
 the Law cannot take notice of them, till they are declared by Overt 
 A& Therefore we (hall give in Evidence.. That for the accomplifhing - 
 
 of 
 
C*7) 
 
 of thefe Intentions, the Prifoner face with others in feveral Councils, ot 
 rather Confederacies, incroached the Government , levied Forces, 
 appointed Officers,and at la(i, levied open and actual War, in the head 
 "of a Regiment. It any of thefe crimes be proved, it is fufficient to make 
 him guilty within this Indictment, And the open levying of War, and 
 appearing in the head of a Regiment, is not only a Treafon of it felr, 
 but an evidence of all thofe other Trealbns he fiands charged with in 
 the Indictment. ' 
 
 Thefe things happening before the A£t of Oblivion, you will take 
 notice of that Act, and that the Prifoner being excepted by name from ^g^A 
 the benefit of that Pardon, though he be chargeable for any crime of 
 Treafon fince the beginning cf the late War, yet we fhall confine the 
 Fscts for which we charge him, to the Reign of his now Majefly. 
 
 After the Houfe had voted the late King's ConcefTions in the Ifle of 
 Wight to be a good ground for Peace, many of the Members' were 
 kept out by force, others turned out ; the Peers laid afide, and at iaft, 
 the King murdered. The firft thing then that we (hall lay to the charge' 
 of the Prifoner, is, That that very day, wherein that horrid Act was 
 committed, we find his hand and feal to a Warrant to the Officer 
 the Navic, to iiTue out Stores for a Summers Guard of the Tjjrrow 
 Seat. This was the firft day of the Reign cf his now Majdty > } and ib 
 he enumerated all the Particulars which he intended to charge him 
 with., and proved them, as followeth. 
 
 i. The Warrant of the 30th of Jan. 48, was proved to be the 
 hand of Sir Henry Vane, by Thomas Lewis and Thomas Turner r as 
 they believe, neither of them affirming that they faw him wiite iry 
 but knowing his hand> believed it to be Co. 
 
 2. %alph Darnel, an Under. Clerk of tie Houfe of Commons, 
 proved the Journal Book of the Houfe, and laid, though he will no: 
 take upon him to fay, when Sir Henry Vane was there, and when he 
 was abfent, yet he faid pofitively, that at what time foever he is fet 
 down in the Journal, to have acted or reported any thing, he was 
 there. In which Book, Febr. 7. 1643. fol. 65-3, was the Order to 
 fet up a Council of State- 
 
 Fol, 684. 13th Feb. were the Inductions preferred to the Houfe, 
 upon which' the Council of State was' to act. 
 
 i. The firft was. That you, or dry four or more, are to fupprefs all 
 and every perfon and perfons fret ending Title to the Kingly Govern- 
 ment of this Nation, from or by the late King ; Charles Steward, his 
 fon \ or any ct aiming from or by them or either of them y or any other 
 Single Perfon what foever. D 2 Tjais 
 
(28) 
 
 This the Attorney faid, was in the firft part of that InftrudYion to 
 defiroy the King's Pcrfon, and in the fecond part, the Kinoly Go- 
 vern me pit. 
 
 2. Thatyou^ &c. are appointed to dlretl the Forces of this Com- 
 monwealth, for the pr eventing and fuppreffing of Tumults and In- 
 
 furrettions at home y or Invaftons from abroad • and fir thefe ends to 
 raife Forces, cjre. 
 
 3. That Febr.14. i<%8. fol dp5 ; Sir Henry Vaxe was chofen a 
 Member of the Council of State, and a£ted upon thefe In(iru£hons 
 which they proved thus ; To wit, 
 
 Firfl, That Sir Henry Van € , as (fol. %q>i ) 2$& of March \6$>, 
 Reported from the Council of State, an Ethmate of the number of 
 Ships for the Summers Guard of the Narrow Seas. 
 
 Secondly, CAtarch ^o. 1649, Sir Henry Vane reports from the 
 Council of Stat*, That ten thouiand pounds, parcel of the twenty 
 thoufand pounds, aiTefTed upon South Wales for their Delinquency, be 
 allowed towards the fetting out of this Fleet, for the fervice of the 
 Parliament ; which was Ordered accordingly, and to be paid to Sir 
 Henry Vane, as Trcafurer of the Navie. 
 
 Thirdly, That Sir He n. Vane ufually fate in Council, but this De- 
 ponent, being never admitted to go in, after the Council was fate 
 proves, that he often faw him go in at the fore-door and back-door 
 and often continue there all the time the Council was fitting. 
 
 Willtam Dobbins and Matthew Lock, fay. That they feveral times 
 faw Sir Henry Vane fit in a Committee of the Council, in the years 
 1651 and i6p, which confined only of Members of theCouncil, 
 and particularly at the Committee for Scotifh and Irifh Affairs, where 
 Sir Henry Vane was often in the Chair, and produced feveral Orders 
 of that Committee. 
 
 Fourthly, Febr. 12. 1640, Anew Council of State was chofen, of 
 which Sir Henry Vane was one , fol. 720. 
 
 Feb, 13. 1649, All the Inttru&ions of the former year were read 
 and a {Tented to. 
 
 Feb. 22. 1640. fol. 760, Sir Henry Vane reported the form of an 
 Oath of Secrefie to be adminittred to every of the Members of the 
 Council, which was., to keep all things which fhould be tranfa£ted in 
 Council, fecret, and to be true and faithful to their InflruElions ; 
 which the Attorney laid, ( fince their firfl Inflru6tion was, to frpprefs 
 all perfons pretending Title from the Ktng ) was in effect, an Oath of 
 Objuration. 
 
 Fifthly, 
 
(2 P ) 
 
 Fifthly, Anno itff t, Sir Henry ^Vane was Prefident of the Coun- 
 cil of State, and feveral Warrants were produced, to wit, May 20, 
 itf 52, and 22d of tJMay -52; to deliver to Major Wigan, two hun- 
 dred Firelocks, and ten Drums. The other, for the delivery of ftve 
 hundred Foot- Arms, for Recruit of Co). Ingoldsbyes Regiment ; and 
 thefc were fubferibed by Order of the Council, H, Vane^ Prefident. -;• 
 April 2. itffS' A Warrant of that date was produced by the 
 CommifTioners of the Navy, of which he was one, for furnifhingout 
 the Hampjhire Frigat, with Provisions and Ammunition for the uie of 
 the State. 
 
 From this time to 16^9, they charge him with nothing, and then 
 the Journal- Book was produced and attelied by Ralph Darnel^whcte- 
 in, May 7. 1659, an Order was made for appointing a Committee of 
 Safety ( whereof Sir Her,ry Vane was one ) That they, or any four or 
 more of them , jbould take care of the Safety of this Commonwealth^ 
 and they to fit for eight dayes and no longer y fol. $6, 
 
 'Die Ven. May 13. itf^p, Sir Henry Vane reported, That they 
 had conferred with all the -Foreign AmbalTadors. That the Common- 
 wealth is in Amity with all Foreign Princes, but Spatn\ . 
 
 %efolvsd i That Ch. Fleetwood, J.Lambert, J. Disbrough, Jam. 
 Berry, Arthur Haflerigg, Edmund Ludlow, and Sir Hecry Vane be 
 Commiffioners to nominate Commtjfi 'on -Officers for the Army of this 
 Commonwealth. By venue hereof they proceeded, June 17. 1659, to 
 nominate Commiffion-Officers, appointed T{gbert CHoffe a Colonel, 
 prefenting a Lift of his Commiffion-Offickers 3 and John Mafon to be 
 Governour ofjerfey. 
 
 Die Ven. May 31. fol. 158. Sir Henry Vane reports , concerning 
 aftairs between the two Northern Kings, in the Zound^ wherein the 
 affairs of this Commonwealth are concerned. 
 
 DieVen. Sept. 2. itffo. At the Committee of State at white-haU y 
 An Order was produced for the redelivery of the City-horfes to their 
 rcfpccYivc owners, Signed, H, Vane 3 Prefident. 
 
 A Warrant was produced under the hand of Sir Henry Vane y pro- 
 ved by Thomas Lewis and one Falconer, for fo many Hangers to Col. 
 Tompfon, as he (hall require for his Regiment. 
 
 Three feveral Letters, to deliver 1200 Arms for the ufe of my 
 Regiment; to wit, To Sam. Linn my Capt, Leiutenant, 30 Arms foe 
 my Company ; To Maj.77?0. Shurman, Major of my Regiment, four 
 or five barrels of Powder." 
 
 - Then one Afarfh was produced a Witnefs, who proves, That Sir 
 
 Henry 
 
(3*) 
 He*ry Vans prcpofcd the new Model of Government, Whthckjctw 
 in the Chair, in thefe particulars ; 
 
 i. That the Supream Power, delegated by the Teople to tb c ir 
 Tru flees ^ ought to be in fome Fundament ah not dpffenfed with. 
 
 2. That it is defiru&ive to the Peoples Liberties ( to -which by 
 God's blejfing they are reft or ed ) to admit any earthly King or fingU 
 perfon, to the Legislative or Executive Power over this Nation, 
 
 3. That the Sptpream Power delegated^ is not entrujled to the Peo- 
 ples Trustees , to erect matters of Faith or TYorfhip, fo as to exerctfe. 
 compulfion therein, 
 
 1 ho. Pury proves, That he was at the debating of the two laft of 
 thefe Propositions, and believes they were propofed to the Chairman 
 Whit lock , by Sir Henry Vane ; but affirms confidently, that Sir Hen. 
 Vane gave Reafons to maintain them. 
 
 Tho. Wallis produced, proves Sir Henry Vane and Col. Rich in the 
 head of a Company, in Winchefier Park in Southward and that the 
 Capt. Leiutenant Linn Taid to the Souldiers, that Sir Henry Vane had 
 given them r^epounds to driuk ; that thefaid Linn fent home * key 
 to his wifej to lend him four pounds out of his trunk, to give the Soul- 
 diers- 
 
 John Cool^ depofeth, That he was fent to the Hcrfefhoe-frairs, to 
 meet Sir Henry Vane and Col. Rich, and that Sir H. Vane delivered 
 five pound to Capt. Linn, to reward the Souldiers. This was all the 
 Evidence given by the King's Counfel ; To which, Sir Henry Vane 
 was requited to make his Defence ; and to go through with his Cafe 
 all at once, and not to reply again upon the King's Counfel, who 
 refolved to have the lait word to the Jury. 
 
 Sir HENRT VANE. 
 
 Ookjin his Pleas of the Crown, fol. 6. faith, King is to be under- 
 fiood of a King regnant and in actual pofleflion of the Crowns and 
 not of a KingVhen he is onely 1{ ex de jure, and out of poffeffion. 
 Now an interregnum is confeffed by the Indictment. All enfigns of 
 Authority and badges of Government, were vifibiy in another name 
 and Rile • the King^s beft friends fuing , and being fued, in another 
 name. 
 
 The Court told him, He fhould firft make his Cafe out in point of 
 Sjit,and it would be then feafonable to (tand upon m.t:crcf Law ; for 
 (Taid they) it is a good Rule, infatto jus Oritur, andenjoyn'd him to 
 caJi his VVicncflcs^if he had any. To 
 
To which Sir Henry Vane dehred Procefs of Court, to fummon 
 them ; and a further time, to aafwer the Charge. But it was told him, 
 The Jury were to be kept without meat, drink,fire or candle,tiil their 
 Verd'it was delivered in ; and therefore chat could not be granted. 
 
 He then cited the 4th part of Cosk^s Inftitutes, concerning the privi- 
 ledae of Parliament, and that many of thefe things, being trank&cd 
 
 The Court here interrupted him, and faid ; If the things charged, 
 were done ; juftific them : if not, excufe them. So he went to give 
 anfwer to the Fa6t. 
 
 And as to the fiilt Warrant, Jan.$o. 1 648 ; He faid, that his hand 
 had been oftentimes counterfeited, and amongft other occafions, for 
 two <neac fums, to the value often thouland pounds ; and that he had 
 oteau-eaibn to believe, that this Warrant was forged, and produced 
 two Witncffes to prove it. 
 
 Then faid Windham, Juttice; It may be your hand may have been 
 forced for receiving of Money, but it is not to be conje&ured that if 
 fhould be forged to fet Ships to Sea ; and dire&ed to the Jury co con- 
 fider of the circumltances. 
 
 Sir H. Vane. Neither of the Witneffes ever faw me fet my hand co 
 either of thefe Warrants or Orders, nor doth one Witnefs prove that 
 he ever faw me fit in the Council of State : He further faid, That he 
 abfented from the Houfe from Decemb. 3. 1648, uWVebr. 7. That 
 he was chofen a Member of the Council of State without his confenc 
 and knowledge • and being demanded to take an Oath of Approba- 
 tion of what had been done to the late King, he refufed, and caufed i: 
 to be expunged. That thefe AcTngs in Council, ( if any were ) were 
 by Authority of Parliament, of a Parliament cenftituted in an extra- 
 ordinary manner, made indnTolvable but by A£t of Parliament. He 
 infilled much on the Preamble of that Ac!:, fo as that Parliament be- 
 ing co-ordinate with the King, ( for the Government was in the King 
 and the two Houfes ) what-ever he acted by Them or their Authori- 
 ty cannot be Treafon within the Statute of 25 Ed. 3, 
 
 He cited an Ordinance of Parliament h 1642, and faid, That he 
 hoped thefe chings had been laid slleep by the Ac"t of Obiivioa, and 
 ifthey (hould now rife in Judgment againft him, he feared they would 
 fhake that Security which the People promifed chemfclves under that 
 A61. But if he (hould be now called in qaeftion for thofe things which 
 were tranfacled in that Parliament,cf ¥i hich he was a Member, he (hal 
 have the comfort and peace of thofe Actions to ftipport him in his 
 
 greater* 
 
(SO 
 
 greateft fuffcrings. He added, That if he were excepted, then muft 
 
 he be judged for the crime of the whole Nation, and that crime muft 
 be ravelled into through him. That the Cafe is fuch, as never yet fell 
 out, to wit, that the Government being entrufted to three Ellates, they 
 fhould lb fall out among themfeives,as the People cannot tell whfth to 
 obey ; That where thefe great Changes fall out, it is not pofliblc for 
 any man to proceed according to all formalities of Law. That there 
 was a political Power by this A£k of 1 7. Caroli co-ordinate with the 
 King ; and where thefe Powers are not in conjunction, but enmity to 
 each other, no Court inferiour to the Parliament, by whofe Authority 
 thefe things were a&ed, ought to be Judges of this Cafe, which cer- 
 tainly never happened before. 
 
 He farther faith, he was not thefirft mover in thefe a&ions,and that 
 he fhould be called in queliion for thefe matters, by a King that was 
 out of poflelTion at the time when thefe things were a&ed, would be 
 inconvenient, to fay no more ; That when the three Eftates were dif- 
 joyned, he thought i: the belt policy, to preferve the Government in 
 its root, to wit, the Commons • by whom it w r as prefcrved and at Jaft re- 
 ftored to its former courfe. That as to the Regiment that paffed under 
 his name, he difown'd it. That Reports of Meflages are not the fault 
 of the Reportcr,for his judgment does not always go along with them, 
 but he is bound to deliver his Mefiage. That he alwayes loved the 
 Government, as it is fet forth in our ancient Law-Books ; and that 
 that Parliament (fo much decried) at laft reftored affairs to the potturc 
 in which they now are. 
 
 As to the Warrants figned by him, he faid, they appear to be figned 
 in the Name and by Order of the Council, and his hand that fub- 
 fcribes, is not fo much active as paflive,to the Commands of the Coun- 
 cil. If the Council,who commanded the figning, were unwarrantable, 
 The Parliament who appointed the Council, mutt be much more un- 
 warrantable. 
 
 And here he offered thefe points tobe confidered, and pray'd ear- 
 nestly to have Counfel aligned him, to fpeak to them; 
 
 1 . Whether the colieEltve body of the Parliament can be impeached, 
 of High Treafon. 
 
 2. Whether any perfon aBing by Authority of Parliament, can {fo 
 Ion gas he aUeth by that Aathortty ) commit Treafon ? 
 
 3. Whether matters aEled by that tAnthority , can be called in que- 
 ft ion in an inferior Court ? 
 
 4. Whether a King de juic.and em of poffcffion , can have Treafon 
 
 com- 
 
(33) 
 
 committed again ft him, be not being King At fa&o, And tn atiual fof 
 
 fejfion ? and pray'd it might be argued by Counfel. 
 
 y. Whether matters done in South wark, in another County^ may 
 be given m evidence to a Middlefex Jury ? 
 As to the laft Exception, the Court faid, 
 
 That he was indicted for compafling and imagining the King's 
 Death in Middlefex , a&d any overt a£t,to prove this Imagtnatio^may 
 be given in evidence wherefoever it be a&ed. To which Sir Hen. 
 Vans prayed the benefit of a Bill of Exception, upon the Statute of 
 Weftminfter 2. cap. 3 1. and prayed that the Juflkcs might feal it, 
 which they all refufed, and held, it lay not in any cafe of the Crown, 
 
 The King's Counfel defired he might call his Witness* (if any he 
 had) for if they once came to reply to him, he muft then be filcnt, and 
 consented, that ( if it would aid him) they would allow his Actings 
 to be in the Name and by the Authority of the Council of State, and 
 the Actings of the Council of State to be by Authority of what he cal- 
 led a Parliament. 
 
 Sir Hen. Vane rcplyed ; Then what I a&ed in the Comal of State, 
 and Committee of Safety, conftitutcd by the parliament to endure for 
 eight dayes, you will allow me. Then you muft prove that I ever 
 a&ed in the other Council of State, after the Parliament was turned 
 out. 
 
 Then the King's Counfel produced, a Warrant, dated JSFovemb. 3. 
 itffp* which was fent in purfuance of an Order of the Committee of 
 Safety, by Sir Hen. Vane^ as Treafurer of the Navie. This Warrant 
 was, for the fending of diyers Arms Northwards, after Mr. Lambert, 
 who was gone down to oppofe the now Duke of Albemarle* 
 
 Sir Hen. Vane produced WiJL Angel, Brifco, Middle ton, &c. Of- 
 ficers of that Regiment which went under his name, who having re- 
 courfe unto him for Orders, about Ottob. i^jp, he bad them defift, 
 and declared his dif-fatisfaefcion in their proceedings ; and this, after 
 their feveral importunities to hayc Orders from him. And thus he 
 clofed his Defence. 
 
 FYNCH y Sollicitor. 
 
 As to pretence of the power of Parliament, It is to be known,that 
 k was not the eighth part of the Houfe of Commons, fuch as were let 
 in to do all that hath been complained, and the acting under Autho- 
 rity of fuch an End of a Parliament, under fuch a Violation, was no 
 Excufc, but an Aggravation ; but that the Parliament was in Law, 
 
 E ended, 
 
(34) 
 ended, by the death of the late King, notwithftanding that Ad of 17; 
 Caroli primi, appears thus ; 
 
 Firft, The King's Writ for a Parliament is ad traUandum nobif- 
 cum* y which is intended as well of the natural capacity of the Kin* 
 as of his politick. 
 
 Secondly, Tis abfurd to fay, that the A6ts of Parliament of Kin* 
 Charles the firft, fhould be his A6ts, in the time of King Charles the 
 iecond. 
 
 Thirdly, A CommiiTion of Sewers, ena£tcd to be on foot for ten 
 years, expires by the death of the King , and the authority of the 
 Commiffioners is at an end. 
 
 Fourthly, It is not poflible for one King to impofe a Parliament up- 
 on a fucceffor. So much for his acting by colour of authority of Par- 
 liament. 
 
 And as to the Q^ueftion, Whether an Hoxje of Parliament can 
 commit Treason f If they depart from that Allegiance which they 
 have fworn, at their firft meeting, they are impeachable for it- 
 
 As to a Co-ordination in the Parliament, he denied it. 
 
 As to the Queftion, Whether the King being out of attual potfejfion, 
 can have Treafon committed againfi him ? he affirmed it ; And faid, 
 other wife, if Rebellion fhould be fo profperous>as to depofe or opprefs 
 the King in Battel, the Offenders arc not to be called in queftion, bc- 
 caufe they prevailed. He faid, it was the Plea of Watfon the Jefuite, 
 who, being Indic\ed for compaffing the death of King James, in Scot- 
 land , after he was declared King of England , and before his actual 
 entring into this Realm, made this Defence ; That the Kin* yvas 
 never in polTeiTion of the Crown. 
 
 Windam] uftice. As to the Acl of 17. Caroli, and the Preamble 
 of that A&, fo much infifted upon by the Prifoncr. il He held 
 that the Parliament had not greater Authority by it, but were onely 
 made more durable than other Parliaments have been ; but he held, 
 that the Parliament was abfolutely diffolved by the death of the King • 
 and put this cafe : If it fhould be enacted that fuch a Marriage fhould 
 continue, till it was diflblved by A# of Parliament, If one dies, it is a 
 determination of it in Fa&, fo as no man can fay, but it is abfolutely 
 diiTolvcd. 2. It mutt continue in the degree and dignity of a Parlia- 
 ment If the Houfe be under a force, and fome kept out, fome let in, 
 to fcrvc a Turn, what- ever they a£t is a Nullity in Law, For Free- 
 dom is the principal effence and honour of a Parliament ; yet though 
 the Houfe be under a Force,, the Houfe is not diffolved by inch Force, 
 
 but 
 
Or) 
 
 but the proceedings are to be fufpended, till it require its former Li. 
 berty ; and this as well by the Common Law, as by the Civil and 
 Canon Laws of all other Countries. 3. The Parliament is the King's 
 great Council,The Peers are Genfiliarii nati ; If they be fQre'd away, 
 or laid afide, as here they were, all the reft is but Magrti Nomtnti 
 Umbra. 
 
 Twifden held the fame opinion, That it is not the fitting of a few 
 Members within thofe Walls, that will continue it a Parliament. 
 
 And though another Parliament^ great many years after the Kings 
 death, declared it to be at an end, yet chat Ad was but Declaration, 
 it was at an end before. 
 
 Whether a Parliament may commit Treason, is not the Qucftton ; 
 but, Whether a few of the Houfe, (hutting out their Fellows, and 
 ufurping the Government, were not Traitors ? 
 
 Fofter held the fame opinion, and faid, The diftinclion between the 
 Politick and Natural capacity of the King , was the Trcafon of the 
 two S fencers ; That Priviledgc of the Parliament is no fheker for 
 breach of the Peace, much lefs for Treafon. 
 
 Trvifden added, That to compafs the Death ef the King as a na- 
 tural perfon, was Treafon ; to compafs his Death in his Politick ca- 
 pacity, as to depofe him, was Treafon, and both provided for by the 
 A<St of 25 . Ed. 3. That in the fame inftant the lace King expired , in 
 the very fame his now Ma jetty was King de faBo y and affirmed the 
 cafes of Watfon and CUark, 1. Jac, If an Army be raifed againft the 
 King, and'the King is fliin in the battel, This Treafon is queftionable 
 by the Succeffor, as Stonies Cafe is in Dyer. 
 
 Thus ended the queftions of Law, propofed. 
 
 The Sollicitor fpakc after to the Jury, concerning the Fact, which 
 after, they withdrew to confider, and being withdrawn about half an 
 hour, returned with their Verdict, which being delivered by the Fore- 
 man in the name of his fellows, with their confent, found the Prifonet 
 guilty of High Treafon from Januar. 30. 1 648. 
 
 They not only found him guilty according to the Indictment, which 
 was laid for what the Prifoncr did, 1659 ; but for a long feries of 
 High Treafon (as they reckon) from Jan. 30. 1648. By which it 
 may appear, they were a well-prepared Jury for their work. The 
 Judges oft, if not alwaycs,pretend, that the Jury is to pafs Verdict only 
 as to matter of Fact, according to the Evidence given by the Witnef- 
 fes thereof But a general Verdict evidently involves both, that he is 
 ►guilcy of fuch fact, and that the fact is Treafon> as they in this Verdict 
 
 E 2 openly 
 
openly undertake to determine, taking in the full fence of the InduS- 
 ment,and much more. Unlels a Jury diltinguifh themfelves out of this 
 ufually impofed fnarc, by giving a ipecial Veidic* concerning the Fad 
 only, they undeniably have a (hare with their Tutors and lnftruccor* 
 in the fhedding of innocent blood, in cafe matter of Law be wrong- 
 fully (tared. 
 
 For a Jury to refolvc a Cafe of Law, that fo eminent a Subjects life 
 was concern'd in. and that in lefs than half an hour, which never yet 
 came before any Bench of Judicature in Evglmd, may fecm a very 
 Grange and bold adventure. 
 
 But Header y How tar this falls fhort of a full Account of all that 
 was fpoken by the Prifoncr ( though much interrupted by the Kings 
 Bench and Counfel} in thole ten hours, which on this day of his Tryal 
 he iiood at the Bar, ( pleading and anfwering for his Life, and the 
 Caufc he had with many thousands been engaged in ) I leave to thee 
 to imagine, till a fuller and complcatcr Account thereof can be ob- 
 tained, than is yet come to hand. 
 
 This was remarkable ; That never being indulg'd the liberty of any 
 repofe to his body, all that while, (which indeed, he asked not ) nor 
 receiving any creaairc-rcfrefhings, though fent him, for his fupport ; 
 yea, and though after all his moft rational Plea, in his Defence, the 
 Jury gave their Verdict againft his Life, he came chearfully and plea- 
 famly from the Bar, as thought worthy to furrer for the Name of 
 Chritt; and was fo raifed and full of rejoycing that evening, at the 
 place of his confinement in the Tower y that he was a wonder to any 
 that were about him. This fpiritual rejoycing in Chrift Jcfus. and his 
 heavenly raifednefs of fpirit, increafed more and more, to the very mo- 
 ment of his death ; infomuch, that mccr ftrangers to his perfon, yea, 
 very foreigners, wondrcd at his triumphant diflblution. 
 
 The true Copy of the Prifoner's own Papers, containing the fub- 
 (iancc of what he pleaded on the faid day of his Tryal, J tine 6. 
 
 <JM.emorandums at to t^y main c Z>efence y in r elation to matter of 
 Fa£l y and as a 'Narrative thereof, 
 
 THat without any feeking of mine, I was chofen by Writ under the 
 Great Seal, to ferve as Burgefs for the Town of KingHon upon 
 Hnlly in the Parliament that fate down on the third oiNovcmb. 1640. . 
 
 and 
 
"(37) ■■ 
 and having in purfuance thereof, taken my feat in the faid parliament 
 I was obliged by Law, to give my attendance upon the faid Trult, as 
 well as upon grounds of Duty and Confcience. 
 
 The faid Parliament was not onely called andaflemblcd after the 
 ufual manner, and had the Power and Priviledges incident to that high 
 Court, but was by exprefs Statute and Content of the three EHates, 
 fo confuted, as to its Continuance, Adjournment, Prorogation and 
 Diflolucion, that in none of thefc particulars they were fubje£ to al- 
 teration, but by their own common Aflenr, declared by A& of Par- 
 liament, to be paffed by themfelves for that purpofe, with the Royal 
 Aflenr. 
 
 In the Preamble to the A& fqr continuance of the faid Parliament, 
 thefc words are contained : Whereas great (urns of Money muft of 
 r.eceffuj be (peedity advanced and provided, for the relief of his Ma» 
 jefties Army and People in the Northern farts of this Realm , and 
 for preventing the imminent danger this Kingdom is in, and for fu^ply, 
 of his Cfrfajcflies prefent and urgent occafions, which cannot be fo 
 timely effected as is requifit^ without Credit for raijing the faid Mo- 
 neys ; which Credit cannot be obtained until fuch obftacles be fir ft re 
 moved, as are occafioned by fears, jealoufies and apprehenfions of di- 
 vers his Majefties loyal Subjeffs, That this prefent Parliament may 
 be Adjourned^ Prorogued or DijJolved y before Jufttce [hall be duely 
 executed upon Delinquent s y Publtck^ Grievances redrejfed y a firm 
 Peace between the two Nations of England and Scotland concluded^ 
 and before fufficient Provijion be made for the repayment of the faid 
 Moneys fo to be raifed, &c. By all which, the very work that was 
 between the three Eftatcs agreed to be done for the Good and Safety 
 of the Kingdom, was in fundry particulars declared and expreffed ; 
 and not only fo, but as is acknowledged by the late King himfclf in his 
 Anfwer to the nineteen Propcfittons - The Power which thereby was 
 legally placed in both Houlcs, was more than fufficient to prevent and 
 relirain Tyranny. 
 
 So that, by what hath been (hewed, the Law it felf is with me,* 
 and for me, enjoy ning my continued attendance on the Truft which by 
 this means was committed to me, and authorized me in particular to 
 effect the things contained in the faid Preamble ; and to a£t in all 
 matters belonging to the high Court of Parliament, for the Good and 
 Safety of the Kingdom in time of imminent danger, I had been liable 
 to great punifhmenc by the Law, for dif-atcendance and deferring my 
 ftation therein,till lawfully 01 by force diimiffcd therefrom : and this, 
 
 what- 
 
, 
 
 ( 58) L 
 whatever occafions others might have, by a voluntary or fore'd de- 
 parture from attendance upon that Truli 
 
 The actions therefore done by me in this capacity, and according to 
 the Law, Priviledges, Cutioms and Power of Parliaments and that, 
 fuch a one as was thus extraordinarily constituted, neither are nor can 
 be brought within the Statute of 25, Ed, 3. 'cap. 2. nor are to be 
 queliioned, tried, much Iefs, judged andfentene'd in any inferior Court. 
 Nay, (o far is it from this, that by a Declaration and Refolutioa of 
 Parliament, &4ug.\i % 1642, it is adjudged to be committing Trea- 
 fon in the higheft degree, to bring both or either Houfcs of Parliament 
 under that or fuch like Imputations. 
 
 Nor, till of late, have I ever heard but that thofe who took the 
 Judgment of Parliament for their rule and guide, { however tortuous 
 or erroneous it might afterwards be accounted in fuccecding times ) 
 and they that a&ed by and under the countenance of their declared 
 Judgments, Orders or Ordinances, (ever acknowledged binding du- 
 ring the fitting of the Parliament ) were fafe and indempnified from all 
 punifhment. And for Government- fake it felf, it is requifit it fhould 
 be fo ; becaufe none are Judges of the Power and Priviledges of Par- 
 liament, but themfelves. For admit once, that their Judgment may be 
 called in queftion, and dilputed by private perfons, or by inferiour 
 Courts, ( whofe Votes are included in theirs ) the fundamentals of 
 Government are plucked up by the roots. Par in fares non habet 
 tmperium, multo minus in eos qui majut Imperium habent ; An 
 Equal has no command over his Equal, much lefs over thofe that have 
 a greater command or authority. 
 
 His late Majefty, in his Anfwer to the nineteen Proportions , does 
 very briefly and exactly Mate the nature and kind of Government, that 
 is cxercifed in this Kingdom, faying , The Laws In this Kingdom arc 
 made by a King, a Houfe of Peers, tind a Houfe of Commons y chofen 
 by the People,a\l having free f r otes 9 and particular Priviledges- Thefe 
 three Efiates, making one incorporate body, are they, in whom the So- 
 veraigmy and Supream Power is placed, as to the making and re- 
 pealing of Laws. And the Government, according to thefe Laws, is 
 trufted to the fyvg-, who in the Interval of Parliaments , is fole in 
 the exercife of Government, which ( the Parliament fitting ) he ia to 
 exerctfe in conjur.EUon with the two Houfes, 
 
 And his faid Ma jetty afferting three forts of Government, Abfolute 
 
 Monarchy, Artftocxacy, and Democracy, does molt rightly diliinguifh 
 
 the Monarchy of Enaland from all thofe three, and commends the 
 
 y 6 Confti- 
 
(3P) 
 Conftitution of this Kingdom, as it is a mixture of all three, having the 
 conveniences of them all, without the inconveniencies of any one, as 
 lon<* as the ballance hangs even between the three Eftates, that they 
 run D joyntly on in their proper channels, and that the overflowing of 
 cither on either fide, raife nadeluge nor inundation. 
 
 By the paffing of the forefaid A#, for the continuance of the fore- 
 mentioned Parliament, the Intervals of Parliament were no longer, as 
 before at the will and pleafure of the King y buz the Power to continue 
 the faid Parliament^ without Adjournment, Prorogation, or Dif- 
 folution,refided in the two Houfes with the King, joyntly, and in none 
 of thern feverally ; fo that in effect, the Government of the Kingdom, 
 during the continuance of that Parliament, was in conjunction of the 
 three Eftates and in their common confe'nes and agreements among 
 thcmfeives, given in parliament, the afiembling and meeting whereof 
 was appointed and fixed to a place certain, by Xaw. 
 
 Bv reafon hereof, it is not the attendance of any of the Members in 
 Parliament (for difcharge of the Truft repofed in them, confirm'd and 
 enlarged by the faid A& ) that is faulty oyenfurable by the Law, but 
 thofe°that unwarrantably depart and de#Fthat their Truft and (ration, 
 are to be blamed ; 6. Ben. 8. 16. 
 
 The King in conjunction with the Parliament^ is maxime'Rex, 
 and is fupported in the Throne and exercife of his Regal Power, by 
 the joynt concurrence of both Houfes. And becaufe (as his late Ma- 
 jefty well obferved) the happinefs and good of the Conftitution of this 
 Government,iies in keeping the ballance even between the three Eftates, 
 containing thcmfeives within the bounds of their proper channels,there- 
 fore in attempts of either to overflow thofe bounds, ( they being co- 
 ordinate} the Office of a Parliament is by the very fundamental confti- 
 tution of the Government, to keep this ballance well poifed. And to 
 that end ( as was before mentioned ) his Majefties own words are in 
 his faid Anfwer to the nineteen Prof options ; That there was legally 
 placed in both Houfes, a Power more than fufficient to prevent and 
 retrain the Power of Tyranny. If to, then are they the legal Judges, 
 when there is danger of Tyranny ; and have legal power to require 
 their Judoment and Refolves to be obeyed, not only when Arms are 
 aaually railed againft them, but when they difcern and accordingly 
 declare a preparation towards it ; elfe.they may fin*k too late to pre- 
 vent the power of Tyranny. There is no greater attempt of Tyranny, 
 than to arm againft the Parliament ; and there is ao vifible way for the 
 rcftrainin* fuch Tyranny, but by railing Arms in their own and the 
 King- 
 
Kingdom* defence. Lefs than this is not fuflficient, and therefore' far 
 from more than fufficient, for the punifhment of Delinquents and re- 
 ftraint of Tyranny. 
 
 Unto the King in conjunction with his two Houfes, according as is 
 provided by the Law, in this capacity of his as maxims %?x y was 
 the ducy of Allegiance to be yeeldcd by his Subjects, during the indif- 
 folved (fate of that Parliament. For they were the King's great Coun- 
 cil, and fupream Court, exercifing the known Power and Priviled^cs, 
 that time out of mind have appertained to them, and been put forth by 
 them, as the Exigents of the Kingdom have required, when differences 
 have happened about the very title of the Crown, in declarino the 
 <huy of 'the Subject, by yeclding their Allegiance to Kings de Jafto* 
 when Kings dt jure have Seen kept out of pofieflion. This our Chro- 
 nicles, and the Hiftories of former times, do plentifully inform. 
 
 The caufes that did happen, to move his late Majefty to depart from 
 his Parliament, and continue for many years, not only at a distance and 
 in a difjuncYion from them, but at latt, in a declared pollure of Enmity 
 and War againft them, are^iwell known and fully flated in print (not 
 to fay, written in charaVterif^ blood ) on both parts, that I fhall only 
 mention it, and refer to it. 
 
 This matter was not done in a corner. The Appeals were folemn, 
 and the decifion by the Sword, was given by that God, who beino 
 the Judge of the whole World, does Right, and cannot do other- 
 wife. 
 
 By occafiofi of thefe unhappy difrer*nccs,thus happening, moll great 
 and unufual Changes and Revolutions, like an irrcfiltiblc Torrent, did 
 break in upon us, not only to the difjoynting that Parliamentary Aflem- 
 bly among themfelves, (the head from the members, the co-ordinates 
 from each other, and the houfes wichin themfelves) but to the creating 
 fuch formed divisions among the people, and to the producing fuch a 
 general Bate of Confufion and Dilorder, that hardly any were able to 
 know their duty, and with certainty to difcern who were to command 
 and who to, obey. All things feemed to be reduced, and in a manner 
 reiolvcd into their ruff elements and principles. 
 
 Nevcrthclefs,as dark as fuch a (fare might be, the Law of England 
 leaves not the Subjects thereof (as I humbly conceive) without fome 
 glimplcs of direction what to do, in the cleaving to, and purfuingof 
 which, I hope I fhall not be accounted nor judged an offender ; or if 
 I am, I fhall have *he comfort and peace of my Actions to fupport me 
 in and under 'my greatclt fuffcrings. 
 
 The 
 
(4^ 
 
 The Refolutions of all the Judges in Calvin's Cafe, cntituled, p fl- 
 nati y in the 7th Book of Cook^s Reports, and the learned Arguments 
 thereupon, afforded me inftru&ion even in this matter. It may be 'tis 
 truly thence affirmed, that Allegiance is due only to the King,and how 
 due, is alfo fhewed. - 
 
 The King is acknowledged to have two capacities in him ; one a 
 natural^ « he is defended of the Blood Royal of the Realm; and the 
 Body natural he hath in this capacity, is of the creation of Almighty- 
 God and mortal : The other is a ^//'fiV^capacity,in refpc6t of which 
 he is a Body politick or myftical, framed by the policy of man, which 
 is immortal and invifible. To the King, in both thefe capacities con- 
 joyn'd, Allegiance is due; that is to fay, to the natural perfon of the 
 King, accompanied with his politick capacity, or the politick appro- 
 priated to the natural. 
 
 The politick capacity of the King hath properly no body nor foul s 
 for it is framed by the policy of man. 
 
 In all Indictments of Trcafon, when any one docs intend the death 
 and dettru&ion of the King, it muft needs be undetftood of his natural 
 body, the other being immortal. The Indictment therefore concludes 
 contra Legianti a [ha debhwn y againft the duty of his Allegiance, fo 
 chat Allegiance is due to the natural body. 
 
 Admitting then that thus by Law, Allegiance is due Co the King (as 
 before recited) yet it is alwayes to be prcfumed, that it is to the King ia 
 conjunction with the Parliament, the Law, and the Kingdom, and 
 not in difjua&ion from, or oppofition to them ; and that,whilc a Par- 
 liament is in being and cannot be diffolved, but by the Confent of the 
 three Eftates. 
 
 This is therefore that, which makes the matter in queftion, a nev* 
 Cafe, that never before happened in the Kingdom, nor was potfiblc to 
 happen, unlcfs there had been a Parliament cbnftitutcd, as this was, un- 
 fubje&ed to Adjournment, Prorogation or Diffolution, by the King's 
 will. Where fuch a power is granted, and the co-ordinates thereupon 
 difagree and fall out, fuch effects and confequents as thefe that have 
 happened, will but too probably follow. And, if cither the Law of 
 Nature,or England, inform not in fuch cafe, it will be impofiiblc for the 
 Subjects to know their duty, when that Power and Command which 
 ought to flow from three in conjunction, comes to be cxercifed by all 
 or either of them, fingly and apirt, or by two of them againft one. 
 
 When new and never-heard-of Changes do fail out in the Kingdom, 
 k is not like that the known and written Laws of the Land £hould be 
 
 F the 
 
(4*) 
 
 the cxa& Rule, but the Grounds and Rules of Juftice, contained and 
 declared in the Law of Nature, are and ought to be a Sanftuary in 
 fuch cafes, even by the very Common Law of England : For, thence 
 originally fprhg the unerring Rules, that arc fet by the Divine and 
 Eternal Law, for Rule and Subjection in all States and Kingdoms. 
 
 In contemplation hereof , as the Rcfolvc of ail the Judges, it 
 was agreed, 
 
 i . That Allegiance is dne fa Sovereignty by the Law of Nature^ 
 to wit, that Law which God at the creation of Man, infufed into his 
 heart, for his prefemtion and direction, the Law eternal. Yet, is it 
 not this Law, as it is in the hear: of every individual man, that is bind- 
 ing over many, or legiflativc, but as it is the A3, of a Community, or 
 an Affcciated People, by the right dictates and perfwafions of the 
 work of this Law in their hearts. This appears in the Cafe of the 
 IfraeliteSy Jvdg. 20, & 21 chapters, cited in the 4th part of Cook's In. 
 ftittttesy where mention is made of a Parliament without a King, that 
 made War, and that with their Brethren. They mec as one man to 
 do it, in vindication of that Juftice.unto which they were obliged even 
 by the Law of Nature. This is that which Chancellor Fortejctie calls 
 Political Power, here in England ; by which, as by the Ordinance of 
 man, in purfuance of the Ordinance of God, the Regal Office confti- 
 tuted, or the King's politick Capacity, and becomes appropriated to 
 his natural perfon. 
 
 Thus Politick Power is the immediate Efflux and OfT-fpiing of the 
 Law of Nature, and may be called a part of it. To this, Hooker in 
 his Ecf/efiaftical Polity agrees, and Selden on that fubjecrt. 
 
 The Law of Nature thus confidered,is part of the Law of England , 
 as is evident by all the beft received Law-Books, Brafton, Fleta^Lam- 
 bard upon the Saxon Laws, and Forte fene in the praife of the Laws of 
 England. This is the Law that is before any judicial or municipal 
 Law, as the root and fountain whence thefe and all Government un- 
 der God and his Law do flow. 
 
 This polttick^Power^ as it is exercifed in conjunction with,aad con- 
 formity to the Eternal Law, partakes of its moral and immutable na- 
 ture, and cannot be changed by A<51 of Parliament. Of this Law it is- 
 that Magna Charta and the Charter ofForefi, with other Scatutes,re- 
 hearfed in the 'Petition of r Right. i ^c for the mofi part declaratory. For 
 they are notintroductive of any new Law, but confirmations of what 
 was good in all Laws of England, before- This agrees with that 
 Maxime, Salm Populr fufrema Lex < that being made due and binding 
 
 by 
 
(43) 
 by this Liw, which in the Judgment of the Community, declaring 
 
 their mind by their own free chofen Delegates aad Truftees, in har- 
 mony with the Eternal Law, appears profitable and neceffary for the 
 prefer tatf on and good of the whole Society. 
 
 This is the Law, which is put forth by the common confent of the 
 whole Realm, in their Rcprcfcntative ; and ( according to the funda- 
 mental Conftitutions of this Kingdom ) is that, with which the Kings 
 of this Land, by the joyat co-operation of the three Eftates, do make 
 and repeal Laws. 
 
 But through the diforders and divifions of the times, thefe two Po- 
 wers, the l^fgvi/and Political, (which, according to the Law of £ng* 
 land, make up but one and the fame fuprcam Authority) fell affunder, 
 and found thcmfelves in disjunction from, and oppoficion to one ano- 
 ther. I do not fay, The quettion is now, which of thefe is meft 
 rightly, (according to the principles of the Law of Nature and the Law 
 or England) to be adhered unto and obeyed, but unto whether Po- 
 wer adherence is a crime, in fuch an Exigent of State ? Which, fince 
 it is fuch a new and extraordinary Cafe, evidently above the Track of 
 the ordinary Rules, contained in the pofitive and municipal Laws of 
 England, there can be no colour to bring it within chc Statute of 25. 
 Ed, 3. cap. 2. forafmuch as all Statutes prefuppofe thefe two Powers, 
 %egal and Political^ in conjunction, perfect unity and fublerviency, 
 which this Cafe does not, cannot admit. So exceeding new aad ex- 
 traordinary a Cafe is it, that it may be doubted whether, and questi- 
 oned how far, any other parliament, but that parliament it felf that 
 was privy to all its own Actings and Intentions, can be an indifferent 
 and competent Judge. But however, the point is o\ fo abftrufe and 
 high confederation, as no inferiour Court can, or ought to judge of ic, * 
 as by Law-Books is moft undeniable ; to wit, Bracion and others. 
 
 This then being the true ftate of the Cafe, and the fpring of that 
 Conteft that enfued, and received its decifion by the late War ; The 
 next Confederation is, how far I have had my (hare and part therein, 
 that by the Laws is not warrantable, or by what appears in way of 
 proof, to the Jury. 
 
 For the tuft, I (hall crave leave to give you this account of my felf, 
 who have belt known my own mind and intentions throughout, and 
 would not now, to fave my life, renounce the principles of that Righte- 
 ous Caule, which my confeience tells me, was my duty to be faichful 
 unto. 
 
 I do therefore humbly affirm, That in' the afore-mentioned great 
 
 F 2 Changes 
 
, C44) 
 
 Changes and Revolutions, from firtt to laft, I was never a firft mover, 
 but alwayes a follower, chufing rather to adhere to things than per- 
 fons ; and (where Authority was dark or dubious) to do things jufU- 
 jfiable by the Light and Law of Nature, as that Law is acknowledged 
 part of the Law of the Land ; things, that are/« fe bona, and fuch, 
 as according to the grounds and principles of the Common Law, as 
 well as the Statutes of this Land, would warrant and indempnifie me, 
 in doing them. Fori have obferved by Precedents of former times, 
 when there have arifcn difputes about Titles to the Crown, between 
 Kings de fafto and Kings de jure, the People of this Realm wanted 
 not directions for their fafety, and how to behave thcmfclvcs within 
 the duty and limits of Allegiance to the King and Kingdom, in fuch 
 difficult and dangerous feafons. 
 
 My Lord Cook^is very clear in this point, in his Chap, of Treafon^ 
 fol.7* And if it were other wife, it were the harder* cafe that could be, 
 for the people of EngUnd : For then they would be certainly expofed 
 to punifhmcnt, from thofc that are in poiTeffion of the fupream power, 
 as Traitors, if they do anything againft them, or do not obey them ; 
 and they would be puniftiable as Traitors, by him that hath right, 
 and is King de jure, in cafe they do obey the Kings de fafto, and fo 
 all the people of England are neceffarily involved in Treafons, either 
 againft the Powers de fatto, or de jure, and may by the famereafon 
 be questioned for it, as well as the Prifoner, if the i/itt of Indemnity 
 and the King's Pardon did not free them from it. The fecurity thea 
 and fafcty or all the People of England, is by this means, made to de- 
 pend upon * Pardon, (which might have been granted or denied) and 
 not upon the fure foundations of Common Law ; an opinion fure,which 
 (duly weighed and considered) is very Grange, to fay no more. 
 
 For I would gladly know that perfon in England of etfatc and for- 
 tune, and of age, that hath not counfelled, aided or abetted, either by 
 his perfon or eftate,and fubmitted to the Laws and Government of the 
 Powers that then were ; and if fo, then by your Judgments upon me, 
 you condemn ( in effigies, and by neceiTary confequcncc) the whole 
 Kingdom. 
 
 And if that be the Law, and be now known to be (o, it is worth 
 consideration, whether, if it had been generally known and underftood 
 before, it might not have hindred his Ma je (ties Reft oration. 
 
 Befides, although, until this Judgement be pafled upon me, the 
 people have apprehended themfelves, as free from queftion, and out of 
 danger, by rcaibn of the Aci of Ir.dwpnitj and General Pardon^ yet 
 
 when 
 
(4f) 
 
 when it /ball appear to them, that iuch their fafety is not grounded on 
 
 the Common Law, nor upon the Law of Nature, but that againlt 
 both thefe in their action?, they arc found faulty, and tainted with a 
 moral.guilt, and that as principals ; atfo, (fince in Treafon there arc 
 no AccelTeries) what terrifying Reflexions mult this needs ftir up in 
 the mind of every man, that will be apt to believe his Turn will come 
 next, at leaft once in two years, as hath befallen me in my perfon, 
 who (however I have been mifjudged and mifunderftood) can truly 
 affirm, that in the whole feries of my Actions, that which I have 
 had in my eye, hach been to preferve the ancient, well-confiituted 
 Government of England on its own baps and primitive righteous foun- 
 dations, moft learnedly ftated by Fortefcue in his Bock,made in praile 
 of the English Laws. And 1 did account it the moft likely means for 
 the erTe&ing of this, to preferve it,at leaft in its root, whatever changes 
 and alterations it might be cxpofed unto in its branches, through the 
 bluftrous and ftormy times that have pafled over us. 
 
 This is no new doctrine, in a Kingdom acquainted with Political 
 Power, as Fortefcae (hews ours is, defcribing ic to be in effect, the 
 Commoa AlTent of the Realm, the Will of the People or whole Bo- 
 dy of the Kingdom, reprefented in Parliament. Nay, though this Re- 
 prefcntatiorr(as hath fallen out) be retrained for a fcafon,to the Com- 
 mons Houfe,in their [ingle actings, into which (as we have feen) when 
 by the inordinate fire of the times, two of the three Eftates have for a 
 feafon been melted down, they did but retire into their Root, and 
 were not hereby in their Right, deftroyed, but rather preferved, 
 though as to their cxercife, laid for a while afleep, till the feafon came 
 of their Revival and Reftoration. 
 
 And whatever were the intents and defigns of others, (who are to 
 give an account of their own actions ) It is fufficient for me, that at a 
 time critical and decifive, (though to my own hazard and ill ufage) I 
 did declare my Refufal of the Oath of Abjuration , which was intended 
 to be taken by all the Members of Parliament, in reference to Kingly 
 Government, and the Line of his now Ma jefiy in particular. This I 
 not only pofitively refufed to take, but was an occafion of the fecond 
 thoughts which the Parliament rcaiTumed thereof, till in a manner, 
 they came wholly at laft to decline it; a proof undeniable of the re- 
 motenefs of any intentions or defigns of mine, as to the endeavouring 
 any alteration or change in the Government, and was that which gave 
 fuch jealoufie to many in the Houfe, that they were willing to take the 
 firft occafion to (hew their diflikc of me, and to difcharge me from fit- 
 sing among them. But 
 
(4*) 
 
 But to return to what I have before affirmed, as to my being no lea- 
 ding or.firft A&or in any Change, it is very apparent by my deport- 
 ment at the time when that great Violation of Priviledges happened to 
 the Parliament, fo as by force of Arms feveral Members thereof were 
 debarred coming into the Houfe and keeping their feats there. This 
 made me forbear to come to the Parliament for the fpace of ten weeks, 
 (to wit, from the third o£ r Decemb. 1648, till towards the middle of 
 February following ) or to meddle in any publick tranfacYions. And 
 during that time, the matter moft obvious to exception, in way of al- 
 teration of the Government, did happen. I can therefore truly fay, 
 that as I had ncichcr confent nor vote, at firir,in the Rcfolutions of the 
 Houfes, concerning the Non-Addrejfes to his late Majefty, fo neither 
 had Ij in thelea(t,any confentin,or approbation to,his Death. But on 
 the contrary,when required by the Parliament,to take an Oath, to give 
 my approbation ex pofi fatto to what was done, I utterly refuted, 
 and would not accept of fitting in the Council of State upon thofc 
 terms, but occafioned a new Oath to be drawn, wherein that was 
 omitted. Hercupon,many of the Council of State fate, that would not 
 take the other. 
 
 In like manner, The Refolutions and Votes for changing the Go- 
 verment into a Commonwealth or Tree-State were palled, fomc weeks 
 before my return to Parliament. Yet afterwards ( fo far as I judged 
 the fame confonant to the principles and grounds, declared in the 
 Laws of England for upholding that Political Power, which hath given 
 the rife and introduction in this Nation, to Monarchy it felf, by the 
 account of antient Writers ) I conceived it my duty, as the ftate of 
 things did then appear to me, ( notwithftanding the faid Alteration 
 made) to keep my Ration in parliament, and to perform my Allegiance 
 therein, to King and Kingdom, under the Powers then regnant, (up- 
 on my principles before declared ) yeelding obedience to their Autho- 
 rity and Commands. And having received Truft, in reference to the 
 fafety and prcfervation of the Kingdom, in thofe times of imminent 
 danger, ( both within and without ) I did coDfcientioufly hold my 
 felf obliged, to be true and faithful therein. This I did upon a publick 
 account, not daring to quit my (tation in Parliament, by vertue of my 
 firft Writ. Nor was it for any private or gainful ends, to profit my felf 
 or enrich my Relations. This may appear as well by the great Debt I 
 have contracted, at by the dettitute condition my many Children arc 
 in, as to any provifion made for them. And I do publickly challenge 
 all perfons whatfoevcr, that can give information of any Bribes or co- 
 vert 
 
(V) 
 
 vert wayes, ufcd by me, during the whole time of my publick acTir<x, 
 Therefore I hope it will be evident to the Cpnfcienccs of the Jury,thac 
 what I have done, hath been upon principles of Integrity, Honcur,' 
 Juiiice, Reafon arid Confcience, and not as is fuggeiicd in the Indict- 
 ment, by inftigation of the T>tvil^ or want of the fear of Cjod. 
 
 A fecond great Change that happened upon the Constitution of the 
 Parliament, and in them, or the very Kingdom it felf and the laws 
 thereof (to the plucking up the Liberties of it by the very roots, and 
 the introducing of an Arbitrary R:gal Power, under the name of Pro- 
 tettor, by force, and the Law of the Sword ) was the Ufurpation of 
 Cromwtl, which I oppofed from the beginning to the end, to that de- 
 gree of fuffering, and with that conftancy, that well near had coil me 
 not only the lofs of my Eftate, but of my very Life, if he might have 
 had his will, which a higher than he hindred. Yet I did remain a 
 Prifoner, under great hardftrip, four months, in an Ifland, by his 
 Orders. 
 
 Hereby, That which I have altertcd, is molt undeniably evident, as 
 to the true grounds and ends of my actions all along, that were againfr 
 Ufurpation on the one hand, or fuch extraordinary Actings on the 
 other, as I doubted the Laws might not warrant or indempnifie, unlcfs 
 I were inforced thereunto, by an over-ruling and inevitable nccefilty. 
 
 The third confiderable Change, was the total difappointing and re- 
 moving of the faid Ufurpation, and the returning again of the Mem- 
 bers of Parliament to the cxercifc of their primitive and original Truft, 
 for the good and fafcty of the Kingdom, fo far as the ftate of the times 
 would then permit them, being fo rrmch as they were, under the po- 
 wer of an Army, that for fo long a time had influenced the Govern- 
 ment. Towards the recovery therefore of things again into their own 
 channel, and upon the legal Root of the Peoples Liberties, to wir,thcir 
 Common Content in Parliament, given by their own Deputies and 
 Truftees, I held it my duty to be again acting in publick Affairs, in trie 
 capacity of a Member of the faid Parliament, then re-emred upon the 
 adtual Exercifc of their former Power, or at leatt flrugling for it. In 
 this feafen I had the opportunity of declaring my true intentions, as to 
 the Government, upon occalion of rcfufiog the Oath of Abjuration be- 
 fore mentioned. 
 
 And whereas I am charged with keeping out his Majefty that now 
 is, from exercifing his Regal Power or Royal Authority in this his 
 Kingdom ; through the ill-will born me by that part of the Parliament 
 then fitting, I was difcharg'd from being a Member thereof, abc>u: 
 
 f.an t 
 
( 4 8) 
 
 j a*. 9. itfyo, and by many of them w« charged, or at lead ftrongly 
 iufpe&ed to b: a l^oyxltft : Yea, I wis not only d uncharged from my 
 attendance in Parliament,but confined as a prifonet at mine own houfe, 
 fomc time before there was aoy viftble power in the Nidon that thought 
 it feafonable to own the King's Interelt, And I hope my fitting ftill, 
 will not be imputedas a failerofduty, in the condition of a prifoncr 
 and thofe circumftances I then was in. This I can fay, that from the 
 time I faw his Mi jetties Declarations from Brtda, declaring his Inten- 
 tions and Rcfolutions as to his Return to take upon him the actual Ex- 
 crcife of his Regal Office in England, and to indempnifie all thofc that 
 had been Actors in the late Differences and Wars, ( as in che faid De- 
 claration doth appear ) I refoWed, not to avoid any publick queftion, 
 (if called thereto) as relying on mine own Innocency and his Majefties 
 declared Favour,as beforefaid. And for the future I determined to de- 
 mean my felf with chat inoffenfivenefs and agreeablenefs to my duty,a$ 
 to give no juft matter of new provocation to his Majefty in his Go- 
 vernment. All this on my part,hath been punctually obferved, what- 
 ever my fufferings have been. Nor am I willing, in the leaft, to har- 
 bour any difcouraging thoughts in my mind, as to his Majefties Genc- 
 rofity and Favour towards me, who have been faithfuil to the Truft I 
 was engaged in, without any malicious intentions againft his Majefty, 
 his Crown or Dignity, as before hath been (hewed. And I am de- 
 firous for the future, to walk peaceably and blamclefly. 
 
 Whatever therefore my perfonal fufferings have been, fincc his Ma- 
 jefties Restoration, I rather impute them to the fa He reports and ca- 
 lumnies of mine enemies and mifjudgers of my actions, than reckon 
 them as any thing that hath proceeded from his Majefties proper incli- 
 nation, whofe favour and clemency I have had juft rcafon with all 
 humility to acknowledge. 
 
 Firft, with regard to his Majefties Speech made the 27th of JhIj, 
 
 1660, in the Houfe of Peers, wherein his Majefty exprefly declared it 
 
 to be no intention of his, that a perfon under my circumftances fhould 
 
 ' "be excepted out of the AEi of Indemnity, either for Life or Eftatc. 
 
 And^ fecondly, however it was the Parliaments plcafure ( my felf 
 
 unheard, though rhen in the Tower, and ready to have been brought 
 
 before thcm)to except me out of the common Indempnity, and fubje£t 
 
 me to queftion for my actions, yet they thcmfclvcs,of their own accord 
 
 (admiccing the pofTtbilicy that in fuch queftioning of me, I might be at- 
 
 •aiotcd) made it their humble defire to his Majefty, that in iuch cafe, 
 
 Execution, as to my Life, might be remitted. Uoto this his Majefty 
 
 ,« ^ readily 
 
(49) 
 readily gave his Grant and Affent. And I do firmly believe, if the 
 Houfes had pleafcd to give me the opportunity and leave of being 
 heard, they would never have denied me the Indempnity granted to 
 
 the "reft of the Nation. 
 
 That which remains of further Charge yet to me, is the bufinefs of 
 a Regiment, an imployment, which I can in truth affirm, mine own 
 inclinations, nature and breeding little fitted me for, and which was 
 intended oncly as honorary and titular, with relation to Volunteers, 
 who, by their application to the Council of State, in a time of great 
 Commotions, did propound their own Officers, and ( without any 
 feeking of mine, or my coniidenng any farther of it, than as the uic of 
 my Name) did ( among others) nominate me for a Colonel, which 
 the Council of State approved, granting Commiffions to my (elf and 
 all other Officers relating thereunto. And the Parliament confirmed 
 my laid Commiffion, upon report thereof made to them. 
 
 This will appear by feveral Witneffes I have to produced this mat- 
 ter, that will be able to affirm, how little I took upon me, or a: all, 
 to give any Orders, or make ufc of fuch my Commiffion, any other- 
 wife than in name only. 
 
 'Tis true indeed, that at a certain time, when I was fummoncd to 
 appear at the Committee of the Militia in Southward , whereof 1 was 
 a Member ; That which was called my own Company of Foot (from 
 the refpe& which they and their Officers pretended to me ) were de- 
 firous to be in a pofture, fit for me to fee them, and as I parted by, I 
 took the opportunity at their defire to fhew my (elf to them, and only 
 ( as taking notice of their refpe# ) in fome few words, expreffing the 
 rcafon I had to receive it in good part, I told them I would no longer 
 detain them from their other occafions. After I was gone from them, 
 I appointed my Capt. Lieutenant to give. them from me fomething to 
 drink, as might befitting on fuch an occafion, which, to my beft re- 
 membrance was five pounds, and he laid it out of his own money. 
 
 More than this (as I remember) was not done by me, fo much as. 
 to the feeing any more, the Companies of that Regiment gathered to- 
 gether, or giving Orders to them, which I publickJy and avowedly 
 decHned, perfwading the Officers to lay down their Charges, in mine 
 own example, fo foon as I difcem'd the intentions of the fitting down 
 cfthe Committee of Safety , and the exorbitant power committed to ■ 
 them to exercife, and the way of proceedings by the Army, in intereft- 
 ing thcmfelves in the Civil Government of the Nation, which I utter- 
 ly difliked, 
 
 G \ And 
 
And although I forbore not to keep my flation, in reference to the 
 Council of State while they fate, or as a Commiffioner of the Admi- 
 ralty, during the time by them appointed to ad by Parliamentary Au- 
 thority ; and fo, had occasion to be daily converfant with the Mem- 
 bers of the Committee of Safety, (whereof my felf, with others that 
 would not accept, were named ) yet I perfectly kept my felf dif-inte- 
 refted from all thofe Actings of the Army, as to any Confcnt or Ap- 
 probation of mine, ( however in many things by way of difcourfc I 
 did not decline converfc with them) holding ic my duty, to penetrate 
 as far as I could into their true Intentions and Anions, but refolving 
 within my felf to hold true to my Parliamentary Truft, in all things 
 wherein the Parliament appeared to me to a& for the fafcty and good 
 of the Kingdom, however I was mif-interpreted and judged by them, 
 as one that rather favoured fomc of the Army and their power. 
 
 Upon the whole matter, There is not any precedent, that ever both 
 or either of the Houfes of Parliament did commit Treafon. For 
 though Priviledge of Parliament docs not fo hold in Treafon, but thac 
 particular Members may be punifhed for it , yet it is unprecedented, 
 That both or either Houfes of Parliament, as a collective Body, ever 
 did or could commit Treafon. 
 
 All the A6ts done in Parliameats, have been rcverfed indeed, and 
 repealed, as what was done n Ric. 2. was repealed, 21. %ic. 2 ; 
 and what was done 21. Ric, 2. was repealed 1 Hen. 4. 3 ; as ap- 
 pears by the printed Statutes. Yet I do not find, that both or either 
 Houfe of Parliament were declared Traitors for what they did in thofe 
 Parliamencs ; Or that any which a&ed lender them, fuftcred for the 
 fame in any inferiour Courts. And furely, the reafon is obvious : For 
 they had a co-ordinacy in the Supream or Lcgiflative Power, for 
 the making, altering and repealing Laws. And if (o y Par in parent 
 non habet imperium ; and by authorities out of Bratton y Fleta, and 
 others, it may appear what Superiours the King himfclf hath, (who 
 yet hath no Peer in his Kingdom, ni/i Curium Baronum) God, Law, 
 and Parliament. 
 
 And if either or both Houfes cannot commit Treafon, Then thofe 
 that aft by their Authority, cannot : For, plus peccat Author quam 
 AElor , the Author offends more than the A&or. If thofe that com- 
 mand, do not, nor can commit Treafon, how can thofe that acl by 
 their Authority, be guihy of it ? 
 
 Further, I muft crave leave to affert,by reafon of what I fee opened 
 upon the Evidence ; That what is done in Parliament, or by their 
 
 Autho- 
 
(SO 
 
 Authority, ought not to be questioned ia any other Court. For every 
 offence committed in any Court, muft be punifhed in the fame, or in 
 fome higher, and not any inferiour Court. Now, the Court of Parlia- 
 ment hath no fuperiour Court, as is faid in Cool^s Jurifdiftion of 
 Courts. And the reafoa there given, that Judges ought not to give any 
 opinion in a matter of Parliament, is, becaufe it is not to be decided 
 by the Common Laws, but fecundum Legem & Confuetudincm Par* 
 Itamenti. This, the Judges ia divers Parliaments have confeffed. 
 And that rcafon is not to be waved,which the Lord CWtgives : That 
 a man can make no defence ; for what is fa id and a&ed there, is done 
 in Council, and none ought to reveal the fecrets of the Houfc : Every 
 Member hath a Judicial Voice, and can be no Witncfs. 
 
 The main fubftancc of thefe Papers was read and enlarged upon by 
 the prifoner, this day of his Tryal. He was often interrupted , but his 
 memory was ftill relieved by his Papers, fo as after whatever diverfi- 
 ons caufed by the Court or Counfe], he could recover himfclf again, 
 and proceed. Yet the edge and force of his Plea, as to the influencing 
 of the Jurors Confciences, may appear to have been much abated by 
 fuch interruptions, as doubtlefs was intended, and will more at large 
 appear, when it (hall pleafe God to afford us a full Narrative of the 
 Proceedings of the King's Judges, Counfcl and Jurors about him, and 
 of all that he occafionally laid, upon the digreiTions by them caufed. 
 
 Wednesday June n. being the Sentence-day. 
 
 AFcer fome little skirmishings with the Prifoner, to da(h all the 
 humane weapons of Law and Rcafon out of his hands, by force 
 or noife, for half an hour or more they finally refufed to hear his 
 following plea and Reafons for an Arreft of Judgment, or forbearing 
 their fudden and rafh proceeding to Sentence. They had prorrufed 
 him before Verdi&,tkey would hear any thing in that kind he had to 
 offer, as they had alfo before his pleading not guilty, promifed him 
 Counfel, which never was granted, neither. They drew him on, Rep 
 byftep, firft, to plead, on his Arraignment-day, then to admit the 
 Juries Verdict on his Tryal-day (fo called, for he never owned it for 
 a Legal Tryal to his laft breath ) and after that, out comes the Judge- 
 ment or Sentence of Death againft him, (pronounced by the Lord 
 Chief Juftice Forfter) and that, of the worft complexion and moft in- 
 
 G 2 famous 
 
famous circumftances, to wit, that he ihould be hang'd, drawn and 
 quartered, at Tyburn^ the common Execution-place for Theevcs and 
 Robbers. 
 
 But in the Order for his Execution, (for reafons beft known to them 
 tha:made it) the manner of his death was altered, into a beheading 
 only, on Tower-htll ; to which place tbey carried him on a Sled** 
 drawn with horfes, a circumftance very lingular, and never ufed for 
 thofe that die there, and which he was kepc ignorant of till the very 
 time; one of the Sheriffs men having that morning, a little before, told 
 him .there was to be no Sled, but that he was to walk on foot. 
 
 Some farther Remarque* of this la ft day es Proceedings of the Court 
 with him> be fides what is already mentioned^ ( received from 
 one that was prefect, and did hear and fee a& y being frhat he 
 could be ft remember) take as follow eth. 
 
 After the cuftomary formalities of the Court, ' 
 
 The Clerk demanded of Sir Henry Vane, what he had to fay vvhy 
 Sentence of Death fhould nor be pafted upon him ? 
 
 Sir Henry Vane fir it alleoged, that he had not yet heard the In- 
 dictment read in La.ine. The debate upon this, took up fome time. 
 At length fome of the King's Counfcl dciired that the Prifoner mioht 
 be fatisfied in that point. Sir Henry defircd that Cwunlcl then might 
 alfo be afligncd him, to make Excepnons thereto, if they found caule, 
 other wile he valued not the hearing of it read in Laurie : This was 
 over-ruled by the Court ; he foon therefore dcfilicd from any further 
 urging it. 
 
 The next thing Sir Henry offered in his own defence, vvas the Bill 
 of Exceptions, which he brought with him ready drawn, and offered 
 it to the Judges,defiring them according to the Statute c{Weftmin(l t 2.. 
 31. made 13. Ed. 1. co fign it. This he urged fo home, that the 
 Statute was eonfuked and read in open Court, running in favour of the 
 Prifoner, to this effect, That if any man find himfelf aggrieved by the 
 proceedings againft him before any Jufti'ces^ let htm write his Ex~ 
 ception^and defire the Jufttces to fet their feals to it. This Adt was 
 <c made ( fayes CookJ) that the party wronged might have a founda- 
 <c tion for a legal Procefs againlt the Jufuces, by a Writ of Error, ha- 
 <f ving his Exception cntrcd upon Record in the Court where the in- 
 <c jury is done, which through the Juftices over-ruling it, they could 
 u n©t before procure ; fo the party grieved was without remedy, for 
 
 whofe 
 
c l whofc relief this Statute was made : The Jufliccs refufmg to fee to 
 <c their fcals, the party grieved may have a Wrk grounded on this 
 <c Statute, commanding them to let their fcals to his Exception. This 
 * Exception extends not only to all Pleas, dilatory and peremptory .&c. 
 <c but to all Challenges of any Jurors, and any material Evidence, 
 M oiven to any Jury, which by the Court is over-ruled : As in this 
 Priibners Cafe, the Tefiimony about ialfifyirg of his hand to writings, 
 &c« was, by what was offered to the Jury by Jufiice wir.dham. 
 
 Further, iayes Cook^on this Statute, " If the Jultice ( or Ju Rices ) 
 11 die, their Executors or Adminifhators may be proceeded agiir.ft, 
 " for the in jury done. And if the Judge (or Judges) deny to feal the 
 P Exception, the party wronged, may in the Writ cf Error take I flue 
 u thereupon,if he can prove by WitncfTcSjthe Judge or Judges denied 
 (i to feal it- 
 
 Notwithstanding all this, the Judges over-ruled^this Plea alfo, by 
 fuch interpretation as themfelvcs put upon that Statute, to wit, that it 
 was not allowable in Criminal Cafes for Life. This makes the Law 
 lefs careful for the prefer vation of a man's Lite, than any particulars of 
 his Eltate,in controverts about which, this Statute is affirmed by them 
 to hold ; whereas Lite is the greater, and innocent Blood when fpilt is 
 irreverfible, as to the matter,it cannot be gathered up again ; the Efiate 
 is the lefler, and it a/; erroneous Judgment pais about it, 'tis reverfible 
 upon Traverfe, Writ of Error, or ocherwile. 
 
 The Reafon they alledgcd tor their pretended Opinion, was this; 
 That if it be held in Criminal Cafes for Life, every Felon in Newgate 
 might plead the fame, and fo there would be no Goal-delivery. 
 
 Sir Henry anfwered, his Cafe was not the Cafe of common Felons, 
 ajledging the Grant of his Majefty to the Petition of both Houfes for 
 his Life, in cafe he fhould be attainted ; There is no need therefore 
 fure (faid he) of fearing the confluence of fpinning out the time a little 
 with a perfon in his circumftances. Befidcs (he faid ) he had been a 
 Prifoner two years, and never call'd on to give any account of himfelf 
 and his actions, ( fo is it notw r ith Felons) which with other confede- 
 rations, may fufficiently evince, that there is no need of fuch halting 
 his Death. He told them withal, that he defired not this, for his own 
 fake only, but for theirs, and for pofterity, that they might on a more 
 leifurcly and unprejudiced hearing of what may be faid on all hands, 
 prevent.the bringing of innocent Blood upon themfelves and the Land. 
 But being in this aifo over-ruled by the Court, (fay what he could) 
 He only defired, he might underfhnd whether they would all give it 
 
 as 
 
(54) 
 as their Common Judgment they would fland to, That what he de- 
 fircd was not his due by the Law ? By this means they were ail put 
 upon it, one by one, to declare thcmfelves in that point, unanimoufly 
 denying him the benefit of that A6t. To the by-ftanders their chief 
 Rcafon Teemed to be, that ic had not been pra&ifed this hundred or 
 two of years. 
 
 The third thing Sir Henry defircd, was. That the Petition of both 
 Houfcs, with his Ma jetties Anfwer thereunto, might be read in the 
 Court, which, after Tome difpute, was concluded to be a thing they 
 were not bound to take notice of, not being an A& of Parliament. Yet 
 what is any A& of Parliament, but a Bill prefentcd with the Petition 
 of both Houfes to his Majefty, with his Royal Affent thereto, upon 
 Publick Record ? At length they condefcended to reade it, and that 
 was all. 
 
 The fourth and laft thing Sir Henry offered to the confederation of 
 of the Beach, was this ; That in regard there were quefiions touching 
 matter of Law, in his Cafe, which muft receive their determination in 
 Parliament, he dcfired he might have Counfel afligned him, to argue 
 them before their Lordfhips. Some of thefe points he infianced in, 
 to wit, 
 
 1. Whether a Parliament were accountable to any infer tour Court ? 
 
 2. Whether the King, being out of pojfe/fion, and the Power Re' 
 gent in others • 
 
 Here they ftopt him, not fuffering him to proceed, nor admitting 
 that the King was ever out of pofTeflion. To which Sir Henry replied, 
 The words of his Indictment ran thus, that he endeavoured to keep 
 9Ut his Majefty ; and how could he keep him out of the Realm, if he 
 were not out ? 
 
 But when he faw they would over-rule him in all, and were bent 
 upon his Condemnation, he put up his Papers, appealing to the Righ- 
 teous Judgment of God, who (he told them) muft judge them as well 
 as him, often exprciTing his fatisfadtion to die upon this Teftirrfony ; 
 which Keeling, one of the King's Counfel, infultingly anfwered, So 
 you may, Sir, in good time, by the grace of God. The fame pcrfon 
 had often before {hewed a very fnappifh property towards the Prifon- 
 er ; and Sir Henry fometimes anfwered him according to his folly : 
 For when he would have had the Book out of the Piifoner's hand, 
 wherein was the Statute of Weftminfter 2 d . 31. 
 
 Sir Henry told him, he had a very officious Memory, and when he 
 was of Counfel for him, he would find hm Book*. (Whereby was veri- 
 fied 
 
fled what was faid to be fpoken by him, at firft, in anfwer to one of 
 his Brethren, on the Arraignment-day, Though we know not what to 
 fay to him, we know what to do with him ) 
 
 After Sentence given, Chief Juftice Forfter endeavoured to take off 
 the Kin<* from any Obligation by that Grant to the Petition of both 
 Houfes, faying, That God^hough full of mercy, yet intended his mercy 
 only to the penitent. 
 
 r B s eafons for An <j4rreft of Judgment ; writ by the Prifoner, 
 but refnfed to be heard by the £ottrt* 
 
 I. T Have been denied fo much as to hear the Indictment read in La- 
 X tine,as it is the Original Record of the Court ; yea, fo much as 
 a Copy of it in Enghfh hath been denied me, during the whole time of 
 my Tryal, by the fight whereof I might be able to aflign the defects 
 of Law that may be in it. 
 
 Counfel alfo hath been denied, not only before I pleaded, but after; 
 and atfl points by me offered in Law, to the Judges of the Court, have 
 been over-ruled, without admitting me Counfel to argue the fame,and 
 better inform the Judgment of the Court. I have demanded, that I 
 might put in a Bill of Exceptions, upon the Statute offVeftminft. 2 d - 
 cap, 3 1. This likewlfe is denied me, over-ruled and judged, as out of 
 that Statute. Neither will Counfel be allowed me in this, to (hew 
 caiife, why it ought to be admitted as of Right. And as no Counfel 
 was allowed , fo neither were the Judges Counfel to me, as they faid 
 themfelves, they would, and ought to be, but rather fuffcred me to 
 wrong and prejudice my fcif, fome of them faying, Let him go on, 
 the worji will be his own at lap. And they neither checked nor re- 
 trained the King's Counfel, in their high and irritating cxprcflions to 
 the Jury, to find me guilty, One of whom were feen to fpeak pri- 
 vately with the Foreman of the Jury, immediately before the Jurors 
 went from the Bar, after he had ipoken openly, That the Prifoner was 
 to be made a publick^Sacrifice, in reference to the Atllons done againfl 
 his CAfajefiy that now is. 
 
 All this is very far from that Indifferency in Tryal, and from that 
 Equality which the Law requires, and they arc bound by their Oath 
 to afford me ; befides the undue proceedings in the bofinefs of the 
 Petty Jury. A Lift of forty eight perfons was prefentcd to me ? who 
 being to mc unknown, and no time allowed me to gain any knowledge 
 
of them, though I was permuted to challenge and refufe three Juries 
 Without (hewing caule, yet could not that refufal be upon fuch rational 
 grounds as the Law fuppofes, which doubdefs intends fubftantial re- 
 lief to the Prifoncr, in allowing him the liberty of fuch refufal : where- 
 as, through my ignorance of chc perfons, I might refufe the beft, and 
 chufe the worft, as to my fafcty. And then, whereas the Law further 
 allows me the refufal or any other beyond the thirty five, on juft and 
 exceptionable caufe fhewen ; what jult exception was I capable to 
 ailed ge in a fudden hurry, againtt perlons to me altogether unknown, 
 unlels it would be taken for a ju(t one, that they were unknown to mei? 
 
 All thefe things, being fo contrary to the Right which the Judges 
 ftand obliged to do to every one, as they are for that purpofe cntrulted 
 by God and the King, is ju(t caule for an Arreft of Judgment ; and 
 a good Reafon why they (hould yet at length allow me a Copy of :hc 
 Indictment, and aflign Counfel to argue for the Prifoner, againtt the de- 
 fects in Law that may be found therein. Without this, Law is denied 
 me, which is my Birthright and Inheritance; the belt Birthright the 
 Subject hath, fayes Cook^on Mag. Charta, for thereby ( fayes he) his 
 Goods, Lands, Wife, Children, his Body, Life, Honour and Eftima- 
 tion are protected from injury. The Life, Birthright or Inheritance 
 we have from our parents, may foon be gone, if this Fence thereof be 
 broken down. How great a wrong then it is for the Court to with- 
 hold it from me, is manifeft. Are they not therefore in cfkdt, charge- 
 able with my Blood, by fuch unequal Proceedings as I have had in 
 my Tryal ? 
 
 1 1. My fecond Reafon for an Arreft of Judgment, is drawn from 
 the llTue that is joyncd in my Cafe, which fecms to depend chiefly 
 upon matter of Law, and that in fuch tender and high points, as are 
 only determinable in the high Court of Parliament. 
 
 For it is become the queftion, Whether I am guilty, or not guilty, 
 according as thefe Proportions following, arc truly or erroneoufly re- 
 vived ? ° 
 
 T . Whether the 'Parliament, that began Novemb. 3. 1640, were 
 diffolved by the King's Death ? and whether this Court may judge 
 t hints done in Parliament ? 
 
 2. Whether the Powers regnant, and dc facto, that fuccefftvely 
 were in being;, from ]*n, 30. 1648, /<?Deccmb.20, itf^o, were fuch 
 Powers de fa^to, as are the King, or Seigneur le Roy, within the pur- 
 view of the Stat. 27. Ed. 3. having the exercife of Regal Power in 
 all the particulars of it > though not the name ? 
 
 Wheth 
 
 cr 
 
-:.... t "ft ) 
 
 2. whether during that time fore -mentioned, his Majefty that now 
 is, were properly King de fa&o ? or whether he were not out of pop- 
 feffion and wtthout all exercife of his Regal Authority within the 
 Realm ? 
 
 4. Whether the Cafe now in ejueftion^ be a Treafon literally within 
 the words of the Statute, 25. Ed, 3. or at mo ft, any other, than an 
 interpretative and new Treafon, not declared before the very time of 
 my Tryal ; andthat only by the 'judgment of the Court, or opinion of 
 my fudges, eleven yearmfter feme of the things charged on me, are 
 alledged to have been committed ? 
 
 As to the fir ft of thefe ; The Acvt for Continuance of the Long Par- 
 liament, is exprefs ; That all and every thing or things whatsoever, 
 done or to be done, for the Adjournment, Proroguing or Dtjfolving- of 
 that Parliament, contrary to that e/f#, fhall be utterly void and of 
 none effett- I then thus argue ; 
 
 The Judges do upon occahon of this Tryal,refolve, That the King's 
 Death diflblv'd thac Parliament. No Att of Parliament hach yec 
 declared ic to be fo ; and the Judges ought to have Tome Law for their 
 guide, as Cook Well fayes. To be fure, if in procefs of time, the Par- 
 liament (hall cxprefly declare, Thac not the King's Death, but the Act 
 for the DhTolution of chat Parliament, did diflolve ic ; In fuch cafe, 
 thefe Judges Rcfolucion by vertue of fuch Act, is abfolutely void. Buc 
 innocent Blood in the mean time may, be fhed, and an Ettatc wrong- 
 fully caken away. And in cafe what che Judges aflerc herein, were 
 Law, 'cis Law not known or declared cill many years after the Fad 
 committed. At this rate, who is fecure of Eftate or Life ? 
 
 As to the fecond and third Queries or Proportions ; It does appear 
 out of che child pare of Cook^s Infittutes, fol. 7. and the Statute, 11. 
 Hen, 7. cap* t. That Actings for the King in FaB, are not to be 
 qucftioned by the King in Right. If ic be faid, Thac chere was no 
 King in this cafe ; it may be replied, That chey who had the Power 
 ! and Exercife of the Royal Jurifdi&ion, as to Peace and War, Coyna^e 
 of Money, power of Life and. Death, crc which are che higher} En- 
 figns of Regal Authority, muft needs be the Powers regnant , though 
 not under the name of Kitog, and are within che Statute, 2y. Edw. .?. 
 cap.2- as a Queen alfo is adjudged, and any fovereign Prince, though 
 under the cide only of Lord, as was the cafe of Ireland, before ic was 
 a Kingdom. And if fo, why noc in mote fuch perfons as well as one, 
 thac dc faBo exercife che Royal Power and Sovereign Auchoiity, un- 
 der what name or tide foevcr ? It upon this Nicety., Judgment be 
 
 H given 
 
C 5 8) 
 
 given againfi m?, becaufe the Powers regnant wanted the name and 
 rormalicy of a King, I (hail doublet's have very hard meafurc. For 
 the realon and equity is the tame, it the Powers regnant had the thina 
 though not the Title. And where there is the lame Reafon, there is 
 the iame Law, as is a known Rule. Now there is the fame. Reafon 
 the Subject (hould be equally indempnified, that a&eth under any So- 
 vereign Authority that hath not the name of a King, as if it had. If 
 there had been many Kings, as a Heprarcby hath been in England. 
 heretofore, thofe would have been underlined to be within the Sta- 
 tute ; and the reafon and equity of the Statute is the fame in all cafes. 
 For the Law is made for the benefit and fecurity of the Subject, whom 
 the Law requires not to examine the right of Soveraignty. Nor is the 
 danger lefs under one Government than another. 
 
 The Statute is, for fecuring the SubjecHrom all dormant Titles,that 
 they may fafely pay their Allegiance when they receive Protection, and 
 that they may not be in danger of being defiroyed by two Powers at 
 the fame time. For that Power which is fupream and de fatto, will be 
 obeyed, and mike it Treafon to dootherwife, be it right c* wron<*. 
 And if the Subj:£ be at the fame time in danger of committing Trca- 
 fon againli the Power de jure, then is he in a miferable condition and 
 iiate of unavoidable necefficy, which is provided againfi by the Laws 
 of the Land. Ocherwife, if he be loyal to the King de jure, he (hall be 
 hanged by the King de fafto ; and if he be faithful to the King defafto, 
 he (lull die by the King de jure, when he recovers pofteilion. 
 
 Againli this it was, that the Statute of n. Hen. 7. was provided, 
 in the difference betwixt the two houfes of r<?r^and Lancafter. My 
 Cafe is either the fame with that, and then I defire the benefit of that 
 Statute ; or elfc, it is new, and then I defire, as is provided, 2c. £^.3. 
 that it be referred to the Parliament. So that it is either within the 
 Equity of the Statute, 1 1. Hen 7. or elfc it is a new Cafe, and not 
 to be judged by this Court. 
 
 If the Judges ia the Refolves by them delivered, upon any of the 
 particulars before aliedged, have not declared that Law that ought to 
 guide them, but their particular Judgments or Opinions,as undertaking 
 to guide the Law, and that in points of fb grand concern as touch the 
 Subjects Life, in cafe their Judgments after fhould prove erroneous, the 
 Verdici given upon fuch Errors,mu(i needs be illegal and void. Judg- 
 ment therefore ought to be fufpended till fuch time as the truth and 
 certainty of the Law may be fully argued and cleared, and that, in 
 the proper Court for the hearing and judging of this Cafe. If this be 
 
 not 
 
(#) 
 
 not done, but I be forthwith proceeded agalnft (notwithftanding any 
 thing however rationally or legally alledged to the contrary) by fuch 
 undue precipitation and giving Sentence, I am ( contrary to t^Magna 
 Charta y or Law of the Land ) run upon and deftroyed, without due 
 form and courfe of Law. And I am like to be deprived of Eftate and 
 Life upon no Law or certain Rule, which was declared before the Fa&; 
 no, nor before the Tryal. 
 
 Upon thefe Confederations, I defire an Arreft of Judgment , and 
 that Counfel may be affigned me, and competent time allowed to make 
 good my Averrements. 
 
 As an Argument to prefs this, I defire leave of the Court, That 
 the Petition of the two Houfes, and the King's Ajjent to it, may be 
 read in open Court, attcfted by one that is prefent, who examined and 
 compared it with the Book of Record in the Lords Houfc , by which 
 it evidently appears, chat as well the King as both Houfcs of Parlia- 
 ment; were agreed, that admitting 1 were attainted, yet Execution,as 
 to my Life, fhould be remitted. And if fo, there is no caufe to preci- 
 pitate the patting Sentence ; efpecially, when alio fuch weighty points 
 in the Law are yet to be argued and cleared, unlefs -the Judges will 
 evidently charge themfeives with my innocent Blood. 
 
 III. My third Rcafon for an Arreft of Judgment, is the manifeft 
 newnefs of this Cafe, being fuch as never happened before in the King- 
 dom : which withal, is of fo vatt a confequence to people of all forts 
 and conditions within this Realm, as nothing more. And being fo, (as 
 I doubt not with your Lordfhips patience 1 {hail make it appear) It 
 is the known Law, witneficd by Bratton and anrient approved Law- 
 Books ; That in fuch Cafes, the Judges in the inferiour Courts ought 
 not to proceed, but bring it before the high Court of Parliament. 
 
 To prove therefore the newnefs of this Cafe, ( befides what I have 
 already alledged in my Defence, before the Verdict) give me leave to 
 adde that, which yet further (hews the newnefs and excraordfoarinefs 
 thereof. And I befeech your Lord {hips to let me go on without in- 
 terruption, in my endeavouring to make it out as clearly, as God (hall 
 enable me, and as briefly alfo, not to fpend too much of your time. 
 
 In general, I do affirm of this Cafe ; That it is fo comprehensive, 
 as to take in the very Intcrefls of Heaven and Earth : Firft, Of God 
 theUniverfal Soveraign and King of Kings ; Secondly, That of earth- 
 ly Soveraigns, who are God's Vicegerents ; as alfo the Intcrefts of all 
 Mankind, that Hand in the relation of Subjects to the one or both 
 thofe forts of Soveraigns. 
 
 H 2 This 
 
(6o) 
 
 This in general. More particularly ; within the bowels of this Cafe 
 is that Caufe of God, that hath (tated it felf in the late Differences and 
 Wars, that have happened and arifen within theie three Nations, and 
 have been of more than twenty years continuance : which for the 
 greater certainty and iolemnity,hath been recorded in the form of a. 
 National Covenant^ in which the generality of the three Nations have 
 been either implicitly involved,, or exprefly conccrn'd, by the figning 
 of their Names. 
 
 The principal things contained in that Covenant, were the known 
 and commonly received Duties, which either as Men or as Chrifti- 
 ans, we owed and flood obliged to perform either to God, the higheft 
 and univcrfal King in Church and State, or to our natural Lord and 
 Sovereign, the Kings oi this Realm, in fubordination to God and his 
 Laws. 
 
 Again, It contains as well the Duties which we owe to every par- 
 ticular and individual perfon, in their fevcral (iations and callings, as co 
 the King in general, and our Reprefentative Body in Parliament allem- 
 bled. Theie Duties we are thereby obliged to yecld and perform, in 
 confiltency with, and in a ju(t fubordination and manifeft agreeablencfs 
 to, the Laws of God, as is therein exprelYed : And this alfo, in no dis- 
 agreement to the Laws of the Land, as they then were. 
 
 By this folemn Covenant and ^^reement of the three Nations, 
 giving up themfelvcsin fubje^tion to God and to his Laws, in the firit 
 place, as the Allegiance they owe to their higlieit Soveraign, (as the 
 Creator, Redeemer, Owner and Ruler of all Mankind) they have lb far 
 interefted the Son of God in the the Supream Rule and Government 
 of thefe Nations, that nothing therein ought to be brought into pra- 
 ctice, contrary to his revealed Will in the holy Scriptures, and his 
 known and moft righteous Laws. 
 
 This Duty which we owe to God, the untverfal King, Nature and 
 Chriiiianity do fo clearly teach and aflcrt, that it needs no more than 
 to be named. For this fubje&ion and allegiance to God and his Laws, 
 by a Right fo indifputablc, all are accountable before the Judgment- 
 feat of Chrift. 
 
 It is true indeed, men may de fatto become open Rebels to God 
 and to his Laws, and prove fuch as forfeit his protection, and engage 
 him to proceed againft them as his profefTed Enemies. But (with your 
 Lordfhips favour /give me leave to fay, that that which you have 
 made a Rule for your proceedings in my Cafe, will indeed hold, and 
 that very (trongly, in this ; that is to fay, in the fence wherein Chrift 
 
 the 
 
- (tfl) 
 
 the Son of God is King de jure, not only in general, over the whole 
 World, but in particular, in relation to thefe three Kingdoms. He 
 ought not to be kept out of his Throne, nor his yifiblc Government, 
 ( that confifts in the Authority ct his Word and Laws) fupprefied and 
 trampled under foot, under any pretence whatfoever. 
 
 And in the aflcrting and adhering unco the Right of this higheft 
 Soveraign, (as Mated in the C ovenam before mentioned ) The Lords 
 and Commons joyntly, before the year KS48, and the Commons alone 
 afterwards, to the very times charged in the Indictment, did manage 
 the War and late Differences within thefe Kingdoms. And what- 
 " ever defections did happen by Apoftates, Hypocrites, and Time-fcrving 
 worldlings, there w r as a party amongii them, that continued firm, fin- 
 cere and chart unto the la(t, and loved it better than their very lives ; 
 of" which number I am not afhamed to profefs my felf to be- not fo 
 much admiring the form and words of the Covenant, as the righteous 
 and holy ends therein exprelled, and the true fenle and meaning there- 
 of, which I have reafon to know. ^ 
 
 Nor will I deny, but that, as to the manner of the profecution of the 
 Covenant to other ends than it felf warrants, and with a rigid op- 
 prefTwe fpirit, ( to bring all difTeming mind! and tender Coniciences 
 under one Uniformity of Church-difcipline and government ) it was 
 utterly againlt my Judgment. For I alwayes effeemed it more agree- 
 able to the Word of God, that the Ends and Work declared in the 
 Covenant, fhould be promoted in a fpirit of love and forbearance to 
 differing Judgments and Conferences, that thereby we might be appro- 
 ving our fclves in doing that to others , which we defire they would da 
 to m ; and fo, ( though upon different principles ) be found joynt and 
 faithful advancers of the Reformation contained in the Covenant, both 
 publick and pcrfonal. 
 
 This happy Union and Conjunction of all Interefts in the refpecTive 
 duties of all relations, agreed and confemed to by the common fuffrage 
 of the three Nations ( as well in their publick Parliamentary capacity, 
 as private ftations ) appeared to me a Rule and meafure approved of, 
 and commanded by Parliament, for my aftton and deportment,though 
 it met with great oppofition, in a tedious, fad and long War ; and this, 
 under the name and pretext of Royal Authority. Yet, as this Cafe 
 appeared to me in my confeience, under all its circumstances of Times, 
 of perfons, and of Revolutions inevitably happening, by the hand of 
 God and the courfe of his wife Providences, I held it fafeft and befi 
 to keep my (iaiion in Parliament to the laft, under the guidance 
 
 and 
 
and prote&ion of their Authority, and in purfuancc of the Ends before 
 declared, in my jul* Defence. 
 
 This general and publick Cafe of the Kingdoms, is fo well known 
 by the Declarations and Actions that have pafled on both fides, that* I 
 need but name it, fince this matter was not done in a corner, but fre- 
 quently contended for in the high places of the Field, and written even 
 with characters of Blood. And out of the bowels of thefe Publick 
 Differences and Difputes, doth my particular Cafe arifc, for whicji I 
 am called into quertion. But admitting it come to my lot to ftand 
 fingle, in the witnefs I am to give to this Glorious Caufe, and to be left 
 alone, (as in a fort I am) yet being upheld with the Authority before 
 affertcd, and keeping my felf in union and conjunction therewith, I 
 am not afraid to bear my Witnefs to it in this great Prefencc, nor to 
 fcal it with my Blood, if called thereunto. And I am fo far fatisfTed 
 in my confcicncc and understanding, that i: neither is not can be Trea- 
 fon, either againft the Law of Nature, or the Law of the Land, either 
 malum per fe 9 or malum prohibitum ; that on the contrary, it is the 
 duty I owed to God the univerfal King, and to his Ma jetty that now 
 is, and to the Church and People of God in thefe Nations, and to 
 the innocent Blood of all that have been flaininthis Quarrel. Nothing 
 it feems will now ferve, unlefs by the Condemnation palled upon my 
 perfon, they be rendred to pofterity Murderers and Rebels, and that 
 upon Record in a Court of Juftice in Weftminfter-baR. And this 
 would inevitably have followed, if I had voluntarily given up this 
 Caufe, without aliening their and my Innocency, by which I fhould 
 have pulled that Blood upon my own head, which now I am fure muft 
 lie at the door of others, and in particular, of thofc that knowingly 
 and precipitately fhall embrew their hands in my innocent Blood, un- 
 der whatever form or pretext of Juftice. 
 
 My Cafe is evidently new and unufual, that which never happened 
 before ; wherein there is, not only much of God and of his Glory, 
 but all that is dear and of true value to all the good People in thefe 
 three Nations. And (as I have faid) it cannot be Trcafon againft the 
 Law of Nature, fince the duties cf the Subjects in relation to their 
 Sovcraigns and Superiours, from higheft to lowclt, are owned and 
 confeientioufly pracTifcd and ycelded by thofe that are the Affertors 
 of this Caufe. 
 
 Nor can it be Treafon within the Statute of 2$\ Ed. 3 ; fince, be- 
 fides what hath been faid of no King in pofleflion, and of being under 
 Powers regnant & Kings de'fatto&s alfo of the Fact in its own nature, 
 
 and 
 
and the Evidence as to Overt A&s pretended, ic is very plain it cannot 
 poflibly fall within the purview of that Statute. For this Cafe, thus 
 circumMantiared, ( as before declared ) is no Act of any private per- 
 fon, of his own head, as that Statute intends ; nor in relation to the 
 King there meant, that is prefumed to be in the exercife of his Royal 
 Authori:y in conjunction with the Law and the two Houfes of Parlia- 
 ment, if they be fitting, as the fundamental Conliitutions of tfie Govern- 
 ment do require. 
 
 My Lords, If I have been free and plain with you in this matter, I 
 beg your Pardon : For it concerns me to be fo, and fomethincr more 
 than ordinarily urgent.where both my Eliate and Life are in fuch emi- 
 nent peril ; nay, more than my Life, the Concerns of thoufands of 
 Lives are in it, not only of thofe that are in their graves already, but 
 of all potency in time to come. Had nothing been in it, but the care 
 to prcferve my own Life, I needed not have (tayed in Evglar.d^ buc 
 might have taken my epportunky to have withdrawn my felf into for- 
 reign parts, to provide for my own fafety. Nor needed I to have been 
 put upon pleading, as now I am, for an Arreft of 'judgment^ buc 
 might have watch'd upon advantages that were vifible enough to me, 
 in :he managing of my Tryal, if I had confuked only the prefervatjon 
 of my Life or Eitate. 
 
 No, my Lords, I have otherwife learned Chrift, than to fear them 
 that can but kill the Body, and have no more that they can do. I 
 havealfo taken notice, in the little reading that I have had of Hiftory, 
 how glorious the very Heathens have rendred their names to pcfterny 
 in the contempt they have {hewed of Death, (when the laying down 
 of their Life has appeared to be their Duty) from the love which they 
 have owed to their Country. 
 
 Two remarkable examples of this, give me leave to memicn to you 
 ' upon this occafion. The one is,of Socrates the divine Philofopher,who 
 was brought into queltion before a Judgment- Seat, as now I am, for 
 maintaining, that there was but one oneiy true God, againft the mul- 
 tiplicity of the fuperltkious Heathen gods ; and he was lb licde in love 
 with his own Lite upon this account, (wherein he knew the R ; ght was 
 on his fide ) that he could not be perfwaded by his friends, to make 
 any defence, but would chufe rather to put it upon the confcicnce and 
 determination of his Judges, to decide that wherein he knew noc 
 how to make any choice of his own, as to what would be beft for him, 
 whether to live or to die ; he ingenucufly profetTing, that for ouoht h 
 
 ic 
 
 knew., it might be much to his prejudice and lofs, to endeavour longer 
 continuance in this bodily Life. The 
 
(040 
 
 The other example, is that of a chief Governour, that (to my beft 
 remembrance ) had the Command of a City in Greece, which was 
 befieged by a potent Enemy, and brought into unimaginable (traits. 
 Hereupon the faid Governor makes his addrefs to the Oracle, to know 
 the event of that danger. The anfwer was ; That the'City (hould be 
 fafely prefcrved, if the chief Governour were (lain by the Enemy. He, 
 undemanding this, immediately difguif'd himlelf and went into the 
 Enemies Camp, amongft whom he did fo comport himfclf, that they 
 unwittingly put him to death ; by which means, immediately fafcty 
 and deliverance arofe to the City,as the Oracle had declared. So little 
 was his Life in eftcem with him, when the Good and Safety of his 
 Country required the laying of it down. 
 
 The BILL of EXCEPT 10 NS, tranflated out of the beft 
 Latine form the Prifoner could procure, No Counfel learned in 
 the Law dariag to alTift him in thofc Circumstances, without 
 Aftonment fr° m the Court, which was denied. 
 
 Firft, Concerning my Imprisonment. 
 
 (i.) T Shall here mention my entrance into this new Scene of SurTer- 
 X, ings, under the prefent Power, ( after my having been handled 
 at will and pleafure, under the fix years Ufurpation oiCromwel) which 
 I conceive riot to have been at all according to the Law of the Land, 
 as may appear by the 29th chap, of Magna Charta y and Coupon 
 it, with many other Statutes and Law-Books : In all which it appears, 
 that the Law of England is fo tender, not to fay curious, in providing 
 for the Subjects Liberty, that he is not to fuffcr the lcatt rcftraint, con- 
 finement or imprifonment, but by the lawfull Judgment of his Peers, 
 or by the Law of the Land : Contrary to all which, I was committed 
 at meer Will and Pleafure, and have been detained dofe Prifoner thefe 
 two years, without any caufc fpecified, or any particular crime laid to 
 my charge. 
 
 Secondly, Concerning Tranfattions at the Grand Jmy. 
 
 (2.) The Grand Jury of Middlefex, without my privity, know- 
 ledge or prcfence, ( after I had been kept a clofe Prifoner two full 
 years) did meer, take the Depositions of Witnefles, and find the Bill 
 againft mc,which inevitably expofed me to a Tryal at the Kings Bench 
 
 Bar 
 
Bar, for I knew not what; whereas Major %plph and others have 
 had the Right of Englishmen granted them, to be prcfenc ac the Grand 
 Juries proceedings ; yea, and to have Counfel alfo prefent, to plead 
 any thing in a way of Reafon or Law, for invalidating the Tcftimony 
 or difabling the Witneffes, whereby the Indictment hath been imme- 
 diately quafh'd, and fo, the party ace u fed, delivered from any flhadow 
 of Infamy, by fo much as appearing in the circumitances of a Male- 
 factor at any publick Bar of Juftice. 
 
 That this Prifoner had great need of that PriviledgejOf being prefent 
 himfelf, or having Counicl and other Friends prefent at the Grand 
 Jury, will appear hereafter, by the fubdolous and injurious handling 
 of matters there. 
 
 Thirdly, Concerning the Jurifdiftion of the Court. 
 
 (3.) The Offences fuppofed to be committed by me, are things 
 done not of my own head, but as a Member of the Long parliament, 
 or in purfuance of their Authority. The matters done by me, in the 
 one refped or the other, if they be deemed Offences, arc punifhabie 
 only in Parliament, and I ought not to be questioned for them in any 
 inferiour Court; As Cook.(hzvis in the 4th pare of his Infiitmes, chap. 
 ir concerning the high Court of Parliament. For the parliament is 
 not confined in their Adings, by the Law which inferiour Courts are 
 tied up to, but in divers cafes are priviledged to ad extraordinarily 
 and unaccountably to any but thcmfelves, or fucceeding Parliaments. 
 Moreover, That Parliament was extraordinarily commiflioned, quali- 
 fied and authorized by exprefs Ad of Parliament, beyond all prece- 
 ding Parliaments, for the Caufes and Ends declared in the Preamble of 
 the Ad for their Eftablifhmem, accorded and paffed by the joynt 
 Confentof King, Lords and Commons, whereby they became un- 
 fubjeded to Adjournment, Prorogation or Diflbkuion, but by their 
 own refpedivc voluntary Confents, to be by them expreflcd and paf- 
 fed for that purpofe, with the Royal Affent ; which occafioned his late 
 Majcfty in his Anfwer to the nineteen Proportions, to fay, That the 
 Power hereby legally placed tn both Hottfes, wot more than fufficient 
 to prevent and reftrain the Power ofl'jranny. 
 
 And further, The bringing of this Cafe under the Jurifdidion of this 
 
 Court, or of any other, but a Parliament, may prove of very dangerous 
 
 confequence, in point of Precedent, and moft difagrecing to all Rules 
 
 of Juliice. For, 
 
 Firtt, By the fame reafon that I am queltioned in this Court, not 
 
 I only 
 
(66) 
 
 only every Member of Parliament, but the veryHoufes themfelves, 
 with all their Debates, Voces andOrders, may not only be quettioned, 
 but referred to a Petty Jury, and To come to be judged and fentene'd 
 by a Court inferiour to themfelves,which Judges in all times have dis- 
 claimed and acknowledged to be out of their powcr,according to the 
 known Rule, Par in fares non habet imperinm, rnnlto minus in eos y 
 qui majm imperium habent. 
 
 Secondly, In fuch cafe, the Panics accufed, will be debarred of 
 Evidence or Witnefs for their J unification and Defence. For no Mem- 
 bers, &c. prefent at Debates in Parliament, ( who are the oncly eye 
 and ear-witnefles of what is faid and done there) ought to difcover 
 the Counfels of the Houfe. 
 
 Fourthly, Concerning the Indtftment. 
 
 i. I have not been permitted to have a copy or fight of the Indict- 
 ment, nor (o much as to hear it read in Latine, vvhich is the original 
 Record of the Courr, and ought to be the foundation of their whole 
 proceeding with me. I often defired thefe things of the Court j yea, 
 or at leaft, to have but the Tranfcripts of fome particular claufes in the 
 Indictment, to enable me to (hew the deficiencies thereof in Law, (all 
 which, others in fuch cafes have often obcained) but nothing would be 
 granted herein. 
 
 This then was my hard lot and ufage ; I was put (after two years 
 clofc Imprifonmerit) to anfwer for my Life, to a long Indi&ment, read 
 in Englifh, which whether it were rightly tranflated how fhould I 
 know, that might not hear the Original Record in Latine ? Counfel 
 alfo learned in the Law, were denied me, though preiTed for by me, 
 again and again, before I pleaded* And had they been granted, what 
 could they have faid as to defects of Law in the Indi6tment,unlefs they 
 might have a Copy of it ? What can any Counfel fay to any petty bu- 
 finefs concerning any part of a man's Ettate that's in controverfie, un- 
 lefs they may have a leifurely view and perufal of the Writings therea- 
 bouts ? much more fure will it appear requi(ic,to the reafon of all man- 
 kind, when a man's whole Ettate, Life and all are at Make. 'Tis true, 
 before I pleaded, this Court promifed I fhould ha \c Counfel affigned 
 me after pleading, (Godforfend elfe, faid the Lord Chief Juftice) but 
 'tis as true, I never could yet fee that promife made good. All things 
 tending to a fair Tryal, were promifed me in general before pleading, 
 but every material particular for the jufi defence of my Life, hath been 
 
 denied 
 
(*7) 
 denied me ever fince. And my Tryal for Life was hudled up the next 
 day of my appearing before you ; The Jury ( as was told me) mutt 
 not eat or drink, till they had done their work ; ( fo the more than 
 forty Jewry-men that rcfoived to kill Paul y A&. 23. 21. ) But why 
 fuch hafte and precipitancy for a man's Life, that's more than Meat or 
 ElU:e, when you can lee Civil Caufes about mens Etrates depend ma- 
 ny years ? and if an erroneous Judgment be palled in fuch matters, 'cis 
 reverfible ; But if innocent Blood be fpilt, .it cannot be gathered up 
 a^ain, as the wife woman ofTekpah faid, 2 Sam, 14. 
 
 2. But fecondly then, As to defects in the Indictment, which I 
 was in fome meafure enabled to obferve from that broken hearing 
 thereof, that was afforded me here in the Court ; I fay, there are ma- 
 ny, and thofe very considerable ; and by the Law of England I ought 
 not to have been urged to plead or make anfwer to fuch an illegal and 
 defective Indictment. 
 
 i.There is no fufficient Overt ' Acl therein ailedged, of the Prifoner's 
 imagining the King's Death, or that he had any the Ieaft intention 
 that way. 
 
 2. The Levying of a War, is ailedged in Southward , and cannot 
 therefore be tryed by a Jury of Middlefex - Dyer, fol. 234. and the 
 2d part of CoofCs b'ftitmesy fol. 34., 
 
 3. There is uncertainty and oblcurity in the main thing ailedged 
 a^ainft me in the Indictment ; to wit, That t together with a multi- 
 tude ofperfons, to the number of a thoufand, unknown to the Jury y &c. 
 whereas no Criminal A& can be tryed that is not certain ; Certa res 
 debet efft qua deducitur in Judicium* 
 
 ±, The Trcafon laid to my charge, is ailedged to have been com- 
 mitted with a multitude of other falfe Traitors, which were pardoned 
 by the Aft of Indempnky ; fuch fuppofed crimes therefore of theirs 
 cannot be remembred or ailedged, without a man'ifelt breach of the 
 A6t of Indempnky and Oblivion. 
 
 The Indictment is, or ought to be founded on fome claufe or branch 
 of 25. Ed.$* chap,2. But no fuch Overt Aft is ailedged in thelndicl:- 
 menr, or proved by Witneifo, as doth difcover that I had any inten- 
 tion to kill, depofe or hold out the King from the pciTeiTion and exer- 
 cifc of his Regal Power. 
 
 Whereas I am accufed of compa/fing or imagining the Death of the 
 King ; this mult be underftood of his natural or perfonal. not politick 
 capacity » for in this latter fence, the Law fayes, the King cannot die, 
 
 Fiift then, to compafs only the Deposition of the King, is not within 
 
 I 2 the 
 
the words of that Statute, ( feveral Kings have been depofed by Par- 
 liaments fincc the Conqueft ) and as to my comparing or dcitonino 
 the natural death of the King's perfon, with what colour can 1 be 
 accufed of fuch intentions, in the circumttances the King at that time 
 was in beyond the Seas > 
 
 Secondly, The affembling of men together, without any hoftility or 
 injury offered to any perfon, but for a man's own fecurity and de- 
 fence, in a time of confufton and ditira£tion, is not Levying War, or 
 Treafon at the Common Law, or by that S;atute. Yea, in this Cafe, 
 and at the feafon wherein fuch an A 61 as this is a Hedged, it might be 
 fuppofed to be done for the King's Rclioration as well as in oppofition 
 thereunto; and the mod favourable and advantagious conltruclion 
 ought to be made and put upon the Prifoner's actings or words, where 
 there is ambiguity, fo that they may be taken or interpreted divers 
 wayes. For the Law alwayes prefumeth actions to be innocent, till the 
 contrary be manifeftly proved. However, in a time of vacancy or an 
 Interregnum, when the Foundations of Government arc out of courie, 
 by the Law of Reafon, Nature, and Common prudence, every man 
 may ftand upon his own guard, endeavouring his own fecurity and 
 . protection from injury and violence. 
 
 Thirdly, To be adherent to the King's Enemies within his Realm, 
 &c. cannot, ought not to be underftood of any adhaefion to a Parlia- 
 ment, wherein the King by Law is fuppofed alwayes prcfent, as a 
 part thereof. Nor can the Long Parliament be called the King's Ene- 
 mies, without overthrowing the A& of Indempnity, which the King 
 hath declared to b^thc Foundation of the Nations prcfent Peace and 
 Security. 
 
 Laftly, The Trcafons alledged in the Indiclment, are faid to have 
 been committed when the King was out of poffeflion ; So the Indict- 
 ments runs, to keep oat the Ktng, &c. Now my Lord Cook^ in the 
 third part of his Inftitutes, fol. 7. faith, A Ktng dc jure, and not dc 
 fadto, is not within this Statute ; A gain ft fuch a one no Treafon can 
 be committed. For if there be a King regnant in poffeffion, though he 
 be Rex de fa&o, and not de jure, jet ps he Seignior le Roy, within the 
 -purview of this Statute ; and the other that hath Right, and is out 
 of poffeflion, is not within this AB, Nay, if Treafon be committed 
 again ft a King dc fa£to, & non de jure, and after the Ktng dc jure 
 cometh to the Crown , he [hall punt fh the Treafon done to the King de 
 fa&o. 
 
 And after, in the fame place he faith, That by Law there is alwayes 
 
* K in &-> in ™kofe Name the Laws are to be maintained and executed * 
 
 other-way ts Juftice would fad. The A& alfo of II. Hen. 7. was 
 
 made for fecurity of the Subject on this behalf. The word King alfo 
 
 may and ought to be taken largely for any Sovereign Power,ina King 
 
 or Queen, as Cw^in the place fore- quoted, fhews ; and why not by 
 
 the lame reafon, in a Protettor, though a Ufurper, or any other per- 
 
 ibns, one or more, in whom Soveraignty is lodged, or that have all the 
 
 badges of Soveraignty, as the calling of Parliaments,ena6ting of Laws, 
 
 coining of Money, receiving Forr-cign AmbafTadors, &c. ? His Ma- 
 
 jefty that now is, is granted by the very Indictment to have been then 
 
 out of poiTeflion : If fo,then was there either fome other King,or what 
 
 was cquivolent, fome Sovereign power in a£tual poiTeflion and exer- 
 
 cife, or none. If the former, then was there a King de faUo y fo no 
 
 Treafon could be committed againlt him that was King de jure only : 
 
 \i the latter, then the Government was diflblved, no allegiance was- 
 
 due to any perfons, and fo no oftence could be properly Treafon,with- 
 
 in the Statute. 
 
 But had the late ProteElor had the name and ftile of a King, no Trea- 
 fon could have been committed againft the King de jure only. Now 
 God forbid that you fhould give away my Life upon fuch niceties, 
 becaufe a ufurping Protector was not clothed with the Title as well 
 as Power of a King. The Protector or any Ufurper's taking or not 
 taking the Title of a King, in cafe he have the Power, cannot alter the 
 ttate of my fuppofed crime. You ought not to be byaiTed by popular 
 Reports concerning me. 3 Tis eafier to be innocent, than fo reported. 
 The one is in our own power, not the other. 
 
 Fifthly, Concerning the Evidence* 
 
 1. No allegation was diredtly proved by two pofitive lawful Wit- 
 ntffes, as in this cafe it ought to be. 
 
 2 . One of the Witneffes for the King, confeffed in open Court,that 
 to his knowledge my hand had been counterfeited, to my prejudice 
 and dammage, in great Sums of Money ; yet Orders pretended to be 
 figned by me, ( wherein my hand may as well be counterfeited ) arc 
 taken as Evidence againft me. 
 
 3. The Iffue of the whole Caufe depended on the folution of fome 
 difficult Queftions, of fo high a nature and great importance, as could 
 not fafely be determined but in the high Court of Parliament ; As, 
 
 1. Whether the Long Parliament , calUd in Novemb. .1^40, were 
 dtjfolved by the late King's Death f 2. Whether 
 
(70) 
 2. Whether the facet/five remain tug Powers, that exerclfed the 
 Royal or Supream Author itj from 1648, to the Refloration of hit now 
 Majefiy, were not within the tmefenfe and meaning of 2$, Edw. 3. 
 And 11. Hen. 7 ? 
 
 As co other pertinent Queries, thou mayeft fee them, Reader, in 
 other parts of this Tryal. 
 
 That which remains, as an appendix to this BtU of Exceptions ; is 
 co lay before thee the Grounds which plainly {hew chat there was a 
 downright Conipiracy in SuHevry Vane's Tenants and others, to pro- 
 fecute him for Life and Eftatc, under colour and pretence of Juliice. 
 
 1. Prefently after I was committed to the Tower for High Treafon, 
 and made a Clofe-Prifoner, Mr. Oneale, Sir Wtlltam Darcy and Dr. 
 Cradock obtained an Order from the Kin^ to iefze and take into their 
 pofTeflion, all the Effaces of fuch perfons, chat were already or fhould 
 be forfeited to his Majefty. 
 
 Hereupon the faid Mr. Oneale and Sir WtU. Darcy appointed fome 
 under them, in the Bifhoprick of Durham, ( by name, Thomas Bowes 
 Efq; now deccafed, and Cape fVtlliam ( Darcy ) to joyn with the faid 
 Dr. Cradock. y to put in execution the faid Warrant, as their Depu- 
 ties, who thereupon went to Raby Cafile t and demanded the Rent- 
 Books of Thomas Mowbray my Steward, offering him his place under 
 them, which he refufed. 
 
 Contrary to this proceeding, Sir Edward C^exprefly declares, 
 ct That before Indictment, the Goods or other things of any Offender, 
 il cannot be fearched, inventoried, or in any fort feized ; nor after In- 
 ' r di&ment, feized, removed, or taken away, before Conviction or At- 
 tainder, Inftitut. 3d part, chap. 133. concerning the Seizure of 
 Goods, &c. for Offences, Sic. before Conviction. 
 
 2. At the Inftance and Profecution of my Tenants and others, an 
 Order was made by the Houfe of Commons ( not of the Lords ) re-* 
 quiring the Tenants of Inch perfons as were excepted out of the Ge- 
 neral Pardon,to detain their Rents in their own hands. By pretence of 
 this Order, (though that Parliament that made it, were diifoived) The 
 Tenants refufed to pay their refpecTive Rents, as they grew due, con- 
 trary to sll Law and Equity ; and joyncd together in open defiance 
 and conipiracy ngainli their Landlord. 
 
 3. The faid Tenants, (when legally profecuted in his MajcHies 
 Courts at Weftminfter, for the recovery of the faid Rents out of their 
 
 hands ) 
 
. (71) 
 
 hands ) did petition the late Hcufe of Commons to put a flop to fuch 
 legal Profecution and Suits ; which Motion of theirs., put the Houfe 
 into a great heat and violence againft me, infomuch that they had al. 
 moft paffed a Vote to fcqucfter all my Eflate, though unheard or un- 
 convicted. 
 
 4. Wifoam Watfon of Cock-field, and other of the faid Tenants, 
 have continued in London to carry on this Confpiracy againft me, by 
 whofe means, with others, the King hath been importuned to feed for 
 men from the Ifle of StHy y in order to thisTryal. 
 
 j. By common fame (which,a: leaft, affords a ftrong prefumption) 
 my Goods and Eftate have been long begg'd by feveral perfons, and 
 granted : whereas the begging of the Goods and Eftate of any Delin- 
 quent, accufed or indicted of Treafon, before he be Convicted and At- 
 tainted, is utterly unlawful ; becaufe till then, nothing is forfeited to the 
 Kincr, and fo, not his to difpofe of ; as Sir Edward Coo^fhews, in the 
 fore-mentioned Chapter about the Seizure of Goods, &c. 
 
 6. I am credibly informed, that about December laft,a certain Cap- 
 tain came from the Duke of Albemarle , to Cap:. Linn with threat- 
 nine language, that if he would not confefs things againtt Sir Henry 
 Vane, he fhould be fetch'd up before the Council and made to do it. 
 Linn anfwered, he knew nothing againft Sir Henry Vane, nor had 
 any Orders from him, but from the Parliament and Council. 
 
 The fame Captain came again, about a fortnight after, from the 
 Duke of Albemarle , with a parcel of fine words, that if he the faid 
 Linn would tcftifie, that Sic Henry Vane was in the head of his Regi- 
 ment, and that he received Orders from him, the Duke of Albemarle 
 would gratifie him with any civility he fhould defirc. Linn replied, 
 he knew no Regimen: Sir Henry Vane had, but that it was the Par- 
 liaments and Council of States Regiment. The fame Captain came 
 again to him, from the Duke of Albemarle, and told him, The Duke 
 defired him to temfie Sir Henry Vane's being in the head of his Regi- 
 menr, and that he received Orders from him, to fight Sir George Booth; 
 Linn replied, he knew no fuch things. The Captain told him, as 
 from the Duke, he fhould have any Place or Omce in the Court. Be 
 not afraid to fpeak, faid he, I warrant you, we fhall hang Sir Henry 
 Vane, for he is a Rogue. 
 
 7. I am credibly informed, that one of the Grand Jury declared, 
 that after the Bill of Indictment againft me, was brought in, fome from 
 the King's Ccunfel came to delire them, they would pie a fe to come 
 into the inward Court of Wards • Upon which, one of the Jury laid, 
 
 they 
 
(72) 
 
 they were there to judge of matters brought before them, and ought 
 not to go in thither ; but if the Counfel had any thing to fay, they 
 ought to come to them. This was feconded by fomc ; others faid, 
 They weie the King's Counfel, and it was but matter of civility to 
 grant them their Rcqueft: whereupon they went into the inward 
 Court of Wards, where the King's Counfel were, to wit, Attorney- 
 General Palmer^ Sollicitor-General Fynch s Serjeant Glyn and Ser- 
 jeant Keeling. After a while, they caufed all to withdraw but the 
 Jury. Then the Clerk read the Indiclment in the ufual form for Le- 
 vying War from 1C5 9. After it was read, one of the Counfel told 
 them, It was a Bill of High Treafon againft his Majefty, and they 
 were toconfidcr of it according to their Evidence. Then they pro- 
 ceeded to examine their WitneiTes. 
 
 Jeford faid, Sir Henry Vane oftered him a Commiflion to go againft 
 Sir George Booth ; which, faid Serjeant Keeling^ was to go againft 
 the King. 
 
 Wright, being examined whether he faw Sir Henry Vane in the 
 Council, faid, Yes. The Attorney-General replied, that if he was 
 amongft them, they might find the Bill upon that. 
 
 Upon this, the Jury withdrew, and were by thcmfelves. Then Sir 
 John Crvpty, the Foreman, faid, We mnft pafs this Billy at which all 
 the Jury were filent. At laft, one flood up and faid ; This Bill con. 
 tains matter of Fatt, and matter of Law. Some of this Jury, to my 
 knowledge f , were ntver of any Jury before^ as well as /, therefore igno- 
 rant of the Law, (in fo difficult and unufual a point as this is) and con- 
 fequently could not give in their Verdi^b > as to Law y but only FaB. 
 Several others of the Jury feconded him in this, and proteflcd againli 
 givincr in their Verdict, as to matter of Law ; notwithstanding all 
 which, the Bill was carried up to the King's Bench. 
 
 8. On the day of my Arraignment, an eminent perfon was heard to 
 fay, I had forfeited my head, by what I faid that day, before ever I 
 came to my Defence : what that fhould be, I know not, except my 
 fay i n<> in open Court, Soveraign Power of TarUament, which the 
 Attorney-General writ down, after he had promifed at my requeft, 
 no exception fhould be taken at words. And whole Volumns of Law- 
 yers Books pafs up and down the Nation with that Title, Soveraign 
 Power of Parliaments, 
 
 9 . Six moderate men, that were like to confider what they did,, be- 
 fore they would throw away my Life, were fummoned to be of my 
 Petty Jury, which the King's Counfel hearing, writ a Letter to one 
 
 of 
 
of the Sheriffs, to unfummon them ; and a hew Lift was made, the 
 night immediately before the day of Verdict, on purpole chat the Pri- 
 foner might not have any knowledge of them, till presented to his 
 view and choice in fVeftminfter-hall. Yet one of the fourty eight of 
 this Lift, ( who faid he would have ftarv'd himielf before he would 
 have found Sir Hen. Vane guilty of Treafon) was never called, though 
 he walked in the Hall all the while. And in that Hurry of thofe triat 
 compared him about, he being alone, ftripp'd of all aflitiance, Sir 
 Wtlliam Roberts Foreman, and Sir Chriflofher ^bdy y were fworn by 
 the Court, before I was aware ; fo my challenging them, mi°nt feem 
 a perfonal difobliging and exafperation of them againft me, after they 
 were fworn and fixed 
 
 The Sollicitor alfo had a long whifper with the Foreman of the Ju- 
 ry, in the Court, before they went to Verdid, telling him, The Pri- 
 foner mufi bt a Sacrifice for the Nation, &c. 
 
 Suddenly after which I am here called to receive my Sentence. 
 10. After the day of my Tryal, the Judges went to Hampton- 
 Court. 
 
 ii. None were more forward to abfolve the King from his Grant 
 about my Life.than they that had appeared moft forward in promoting 
 the Bill by way of Petition to the King, for it. This ©rant, being 
 upon Record, may feem to have the fame validity that other Acts of 
 Parliament have, which arc ftill but the two Houfes Petition to the 
 King for his Affent to the Bills by them drawn up and paffed. They 
 ufed this, as a means to induce the King to exempt me from all benefit 
 of the Ail of Indempnity and Oblivion, arid then at laft perfwadc 
 and abfolve him from making good this Grant alfo, thereby depriving 
 me of all vifible relief for my Life. I conceived my Life as fecure by 
 that Grant, as others Lives or Eftares arc by the A& of Indempnity 
 itfelf ; for what is that but the Bill of both Houfes, with the King's 
 Affent to it, upon their Petition ? 
 
 The TETITIO N of both Houfes of Parliament to the King's 
 moft excellent Majefty, on the behalf of Sir Henry Vane, and 
 Col. John Lambert, after they left them uncapable of having 
 any benefit of the A6t of Indemnity. 
 
 K To 
 
(7*) 
 
 To the Kittgs most Excellent tMajefty. 
 
 The humble Petition of the Lords and Commons aflernbled 
 
 inpARLlAMlNT. 
 
 Sheweth, 
 
 THat Tour Majefty having declared your gracious pleafure to pro- 
 ceed only again}} the immediate Murderers of your Roy*l Father: 
 We your Majefties mo ft humble Subj efts, the Lords and Commons af- 
 femhledj not finding Sir Henry Vane nor Col- Lambert to be of that 
 number, 
 
 zAre humble Suiters to Tour Majefty, that if they {hall be At- 
 tainted, that Execution, as to then Lives > may be remitted ; 
 
 And as in duty bound, See. 
 
 The faid Petition being read, it was agreed to, and ordered to be 
 prefented to his Ma jetty by the Lord Chancellor. 
 
 The Lord Chancellor reported, That he had prefented the Petition 
 of both Houfes, to the King's Majefty, concerning Sir Henry Vane 
 and Col. Lambert, and his Majclty grants the Defires in the laid Pe- 
 tition. 
 
 John Browne, Cltr. Parliamentorum* 
 
 (Concerning the Proceedings of the Court. 
 
 i. "TpHe Judges denied Counfcl to the Prifoner,on this pretext, that 
 1 triey (as they were to be) would be his Counfel. They arc 
 the King's CommiiTary Judges, preferred and paid for their work by 
 the King, who (in this cafe) was, through evil and falfe fuggelTions, 
 rendred the Prifoners chief or only Adverlary, whofc Death he Hood 
 accufed of imagining and co inpafling. What Counfcl or AfTiftance 
 the Prifoner was like to have from them, let the World judge. 
 
 2. His Jury confided of perfons that had been engaged againft him, 
 in that very Controvcrfie and Caufe for which he was tryed. A For- 
 rcigner,in any Criminal Cafe amongrt us, may require fix of his Jurors 
 to be of his own Countrymen ; a French-man, fix French-men ; a 
 Dutch-man, fix Dutch-men ; &c. There wns but one here (that was 
 fufpc6ted only to have fbmething of an En; fh man in him) fwornof 
 the Jury ; and the Lord Chief Juliicc (hi rply rebuked the Clerk of 
 
 the 
 
, (77) 
 
 the Court, alledging, that he knew sot but he might have brouohc 
 bread and cheefe in his pocket, and would keep them all night, with 
 other words to like purpofc. 
 
 3. The Prifoner was not differed to fpeak a word to the Jury, after 
 the King's Counfel had fpoken, to take off the aggravating gloffes they 
 had put upon his pretended crime : and the Judges, ( that faid they 
 would be the Prifoner's Coanfel ) difmhTed the Jury, pofleffed with 
 the laft exafperating charge, given by thofe, who were both the Ac- 
 cufcrs and profeffed Counfel againft him. 
 
 4. The Prifoner, on his Sentence-day, challenged the Sollicitor be- 
 fore the Court, as to the injury done him on the day of his Tryal,by 
 his large and bitter Inve&ive, which he had Dot liberty to reply to, 
 (for the vindicating of his own Innocency, and unprejudicing the Ju- 
 ries : underftanding ) in the fitteft feafon. 
 
 The Judges that had promifed him ( before pleading ) they would 
 be his Counfel (inftead of relieving him herein, as in all reafon they 
 ought ) afforded him no other anfwer, but a {harp Rebuke, for cri- 
 minating and fcandalizing the Court, together with fome threatning 
 cxprefTions. But what need had he to regard their threatnings, that 
 he faw refolved to pifs a Sentence of Death upon him, fay what he 
 would ? 
 
 The main thing he charged the Sollicitor with,was his faying open- 
 ly in Court, that he muff; be made a publtck. Sacrifice ■, ( (hewing no 
 reafon why ) and of whifpering to the Foreman of the Jury, in the 
 Court, before they went to Verdict ; a thing notorioufly apaintt all 
 Law and Reafon. Amongft other things, he had alfo faid, What 
 Counfel did the Prifoner thinly would ( or durft ) /peak, for hirn^ in 
 fuch a manifeft Cafe ofTreafon, unlefs he could call down the heads 
 of thofe his fellow -Traitors ( Bradfhaw or Cook ) from the top of 
 Weflminfter-Hall * (or to that effect) when as there were able heads 
 in the bottom of Wcftrrinftcr-hall, ready to have fpoken to his Cafe, 
 if they might have been afligned by the Court. But what may not be 
 faid, when nothing may be replied t For a perfon, that is deigning 
 his own Intercft, Honours, Advantages and preferments, to have the 
 laft word to the Jury, agiinft a Prifoner that ftands at the Bar in dan- 
 ger of his Life, ( and that, a perfon of fo generally acknowledged 
 worth and publick concern) and to perform it with impertinent flafhes 
 of Wit, and declamatory flourishes of Rhetorick, (fending away the 
 Jury with the frefh and laft impreflions of all that noife and buzzc of 
 his gloffcs upon the whole matter, and having with irritating exprefTi- 
 
 K 2 ons 
 
{76) 
 
 ons mifreprefented and aggravated rhe fuppofed crimcs)is a thing to be 
 hitVed oft the tiage of this earch,by the common Rcaion of all mankind. 
 
 What worfe circumftances can a Prifoner be in, than to Hand at x 
 Bar of Jultice to be cryed, and there hear his profelTed Accufer and 
 Adverfary, mifrcprefenting, mifcalling, and aggravating the actions 
 he is queftioned for, prefTtng all upon the Jurors confeiences with the 
 greateft edge and flourifti or all the Arc, Wit and Eloquence he is fur- 
 nifhed with ( as Tertullm terved Paul ) and then be deprived of all 
 pofliblc defence againtt his {landerous and injurious fuggeltions ? Paul 
 was not fp ferved ; he had the latt word to his Jury, when Tertullm 
 had done, Afts 24. But the children of this world are wife in their 
 generation • they knew well they had to deal with one, that had been 
 experienced for twenty years together, to be a perlon of a very happy 
 and unparallel'd dexterity in taking oft the paint and falfc appearances 
 that others ( by premeditated Speeches ) could put upon ill matters, 
 with an extemporary breath. 
 
 If it be faid, he had fair warning beforehand, to fay all that he had 
 to mind the Jury of, and that he was not to fpeak after the King's 
 Ccunfel. It is anlwercd ; Though this were hard at bett, and indeed, 
 not at all futable to the true and law full Liberties of Englifh-men, yet 
 were it more tolerable, in cafe the King's Counfel had ftarted no new 
 thin** againtt the Prifoner, ufed no provoking and unworthy expref- 
 fions,or made no new and unforefeen glofles upon the matter he flood 
 charged with. For then the Prifoner might be prefumed to have fuf- 
 ficiendy obviated beforehand, any thing that would be faid by the 
 Counfel, ( had they only recapitulated) and fo'( probably ) might 
 have rendrcd his Jury fomewhat uncapable of being prejudiced there- 
 by againft him, unlefs they were as willing to abufc him as the Coun- 
 fel. But here were many things faid at random, againft all Senfe,Law 
 and Reafon, ( as if Tully had been charactering a treacherous Cati- 
 l-9te) and the innocent Prifoner mutt be mute, and fuffer the Jury to be 
 difmiffed, and fent to pafs their Verdict on his Life, without the leatt 
 poflioility of Remedy. 
 
 Put this and all the reft together, ( to wir, that the Jury themfelves 
 were of the oppofit party to him in the late Wars and whole Caufe 
 in queftion, depending before them) and it had been far better for the 
 Prifoner, to have cat* lots on a Drum-head for his Life, as a Prifoncr 
 of War, than to be fo tryed in a time of peace, unlefs it can be rea- 
 fonably prefumed, that they that would have killed him any time this 
 twenty year in the ficld,ftiould now be like to fpare his Life at the Bar. 
 
 Occa- 
 
(*0 
 
 Occafional Speeches before bis Tryal. 
 
 HE faid, there was fomething in thisCaufc, thaccculd never be 
 conquered, and that he blelVcd the Lord, it had never been be- 
 trayed by him,or conquered in him. And before this, in a Lctcer from 
 Stlly to a Friend, he laid, Cj'^s Arm is not fhcrtned ; doubt lefs great 
 and precious Vromlfes are yet tnfiore to be accomvli(li;d, in and upon 
 Believers here on Earth, to the m*k±ng of £hri(t admired in them* 
 And tf we cannot live m the power and atlual fruition of them, yet 
 if we die in the certain fore fight and im bracing of them by Faith, it 
 will be our great blejjing. This dark^ night and blacky (hade, which 
 God hath drawn over his work-in the mid ft of us, may be ( for ought 
 we know ) the ground-colour to fome beautiful Fitce^ that he u now 
 expofmg to the light. 
 
 When he came from his Tryal, he told a Friend, he was as much 
 overjoyed^ as a c haft Virgin that had efcaped a Rape ; for, faid he, 
 neither flatteries before, nor thrjatnings now y could prevail upon me ; 
 and I blefs Gcd, that enabled me to make a ft and for thisCaufe ; for 
 I faw the Court refolved to run it dywn, and (through the ajffislancc 
 of God ) / refolved they frould run over my Life and Blood firft* 
 
 June 13, being Friday, the day before his Execution* 
 
 On this day,Itbcr:y being given to Friends to vifit him in the Tower, 
 he received them with Yery great chearfulnefs, and with a compofed 
 frame of fpirit,hxving wholly given up himfelf to the will of God. He 
 did occasionally let fall many gracious cxprcflions, to the very great re- 
 frclTiing, and iircno C hning of the hearts of the hearers. To wit, That 
 he had for any time thefe two years made Death familiar to him, and 
 being (hut up from the World, he faid, he had been jhu* up with God y 
 and that he did know what was the mind of Gcd to him in this great 
 matter ; but, that he had not the leaft recoyl in his heart, &s to mat- 
 ter or manner of what was done by him ; And though hp might have 
 had an opportunity of efcaping, or by policy might has\e avoided his 
 Charge, yet he did not make ufe of it, nor could decline that which 
 was come upon him- 
 
 Ic being told him by a Friend 5 that his Death would be a lofs to 
 the People of God : He anfwered, that God would raife up other In- 
 struments toferve him and his People. And being defired to fay fome- 
 
 thin?. 
 
thing, to take off that charge of Jefuitifm, that was caft upon him ; 
 He faid, That he though it not worth the taking notice of; for if it 
 were fa, he fhould never have been brought to thi*. A Friend (aid, 
 Sir, the Lord hath faid, Be thou faithful unto Death, and I will give 
 thee a Crown of Life. The Lord enable you to be faithful. He replied, 
 / blefs the Lord, I have not had any difcompofure of fpirit thefe two 
 years, but I do wait up on the Lord, till he be pleafed to put an end 
 to thefe dayes of mine, knowing that I (hall change for the better : For 
 in Heaven there is an innumerable company of Angels ; the Spirits of 
 Jufi men made perfett, and J ES U S the bleffcd Mediator of the 
 New Covenant. "There are holy and jufi Laws, a pure Government, 
 hleffed and good Company, every one doing their duty ; herr we want 
 all thefe. 'I'his is that City fpoken of, Pfal.48. i, l. That fir ong City, 
 that cannot be moved^ Ifa. 26, Why therefore jhowld we be unwilling 
 to leave this eflate to go to that f */£nd although I be taken from 
 hence, yet know affuredly, God will raife up unto you Inftruments out 
 of the du ft. Another faid to him ; Sir, There is nothing will ftand 
 you in ftead, but juftifying Faich in the Blood of Jefus. To which he 
 (aid, There are fome, that through Faith in the Blood ofChrift, do 
 efcape the pollutions of the world, yet afterwards are entangled there- 
 in again^ others there be, that are carried through the greatefl Of- 
 ferings , by a more excellent, fpiritual fort of Faith in the Blood of 
 Jefus, and endure them- with the greatest joy. 
 
 . He further (aid, We were lately preaching a Funeral Sermon to our 
 felves, out of Heb. 11. 13, 16. where thole bleffcd Witnefies do de- 
 clare themfelves to be pilgrims and Grangers on the Earth, and do 
 dehrc a better Country, that is, a heavenly ; wherefore God ts not 
 ashamed to be called their God, for he hath prepared for them a City. 
 And if God (faid he) be not alhamed to be called my God, I hope I 
 (hall not be afhamed to enduie his Crofs, and to bear his Reproach, 
 even whatfoever it be that man can impofe upon me, for his fake. Yea, 
 he will enable me not to be aflbamed. I have not the leaft relu&ancy 
 or (rrugling in my fpirit againft Death. I dehre not to live ; but my 
 will is refig&e/i up to God in all. Why are you troubled ? I am 
 not. You ha>/c need of Faith and Patience to follow the Lord's Call. 
 This ought chiefly to be m our eye, the bringing Glory to our hea- 
 venly Father. Surely God hath a glorious Defign to carry on in the 
 world, even the building up of David's Throne to all Generations. 
 For he is complcatingall his precious Stones, making them Heaven- 
 proof, and then laying them together in the Heavenly Manfions, with 
 
 the 
 
(79 ) 
 the Spirits of the Juft, till it be a compleat City. When the Top- 
 ftone thereof is laid, then will he come in all his Glory. 
 
 This day, is a day wherein Chrili appears m the Clcuds. Oh. that 
 every one of our eyes may fee him, and cor.fider how we have pierced 
 him in his Members, that we may mourn ! Our Lord Jcfus laid, 
 Father , I have finished the work^that thou gavejl me to do, and now 
 ( Father ) glorifie me with the fame Glory i had with thee before the 
 world was. Our Lord was capable of his Glory beforehand ; and al- 
 though we be not fo capable as he, yet this we know, he wills the fame 
 to us, that where he is, we may be alfo, that we may behold his Glory \ 
 And he is our Head, in whom we are made capable, being chefen in 
 him before the foundation of the world ; and be hath fet us in hea- 
 venly places in Chrift Jcfus. The hope of this Glory fweetens all our 
 Sufferings. 
 
 I know, a day of deliverance for Sion will come. Some may think 
 the manner of it may be, as before, with confufed noife of the War- 
 riour, and garments rolled i* Blood j but I rather think it will be with 
 burnings andfewsl of fire. The Lord will fend a fire, that (hall burn 
 in the Confidences of his Enemies, a worm that fhaU not die y and a, 
 fire that (ball not go out. Men, they may fight againft 5 but this they 
 cannot fight againft. 
 
 It being told him by a Friend, that he had delivered him up unto 
 God as a Sacrifice, though (faid he) I have day and night prayed that 
 this cup might pafs from you. He replied, That he bleffed God, he 
 had offered himfe If up firfi to God y and it was a rejoycing to him that 
 others had given him up alfo. And why,i?i\e\ he (fpcaking before all 
 the company) fhould we be frighted with Death f I blefs the Lord, I 
 am fo far from being affrighted with Death, that I find it rather 
 fhrink^firom me, than 1 from it. 
 
 His Children being then prefent, to take their leave of him, he faid 5 
 / blefs God y by the eye of Faith I can fee through all my Relations to 
 t^Mount Sign, and there I [hall need none of them. I have better Ac- 
 quaintance in Heaven. Thefe %elations are nothing to thofe I {hall 
 meet with there. Then kitting his Children, he faid, The Lord blefs 
 you, he will be a better Father to you : I mufi now forget that ever 
 1 knew yon , / can willingly leave this place and outward enjoyments 
 for thofe I fhall meet with hereafter^* a better Country. I have made 
 it my bufinefs, to acquaint my felf with the fociety of Heaven. Be not 
 you troubled^ for I am going home to my Father. 
 
 I die m the certain faith andforefight } 7~1;at ihit Caufe (hall have 
 
 it; 
 
(8o) 
 Us %efurreElion in my Death. My Blood will be the Seed fown, by 
 which thU gloriotu Caufe will faring up, which God will fpeedily raife. 
 
 The laying down this earthly tabernacle is no more, but throwing 
 down the mantle \ by which a double portion of the Spirit will fall on the 
 refl of Gods People. And if by my being offered up, the Faith ofma*y 
 be confirmed, and others convinced and brought to the knowledge of 
 the Truth, how can I dejire greater honour and matter ofrejoyctng ? 
 
 As for that glorious Caufe, which Cjod hath owned in thefe Nations^ 
 and will own ' in which fo many %ight eons fouls have loft their lives 
 and fo many have been engaged by my countenance and encourage- 
 went, (hall I now give it up, and fo declare them all Rebels and 
 Murderers ? No, I will never do it : That precious Blood (hall never 
 lie at my door. ^As a Teftimony and Seal to the Juftnefs of that 
 Quarrel, I leave now my Life upon it, as a Legacy to all the hone ft" 
 Jntereft in thefe three 'Hations. Ten thousand Deaths, rather than 
 defile my Confidence, the chafttty and purity of which I value beyond 
 Ml this world ; and God is not a little concerned on my behalf % He 
 will certainly judge my Cafe, wherein u the bowels of this good Caufe, 
 and in the bowels of that, the Kingdom of Jefus Chrift, which will 
 fpeedily be fet on foot in thefe Rations, 1 would not for ten thousand 
 Lives, part with this Feace and Satisfaction I have in my own heart, 
 ( both in holding to the Purity of my Principles, and to the T^tghteouf- 
 nefs of this good Caufe ) and the aj]urance I have that God is now 
 fulfilling all thefe great and precious Promtfes, in order to what he 
 is bringing forth. Although I fee it not, yet I die in the faith and 
 affured expectation of it, tjebr. n. 13. And the eternal bleffednefs 
 God hath prepared for me, and is ready now to receive mc into, will 
 abundantly make up all other things. Through the power and goodnefs 
 of God, I have had in this Tryal of mine, fuch a proof of the integrity 
 of my own heart, as hath been no fmall joy to me. 
 
 The exprejjions of grief from his Friends, he faid, were but fo many 
 lets and hindrances to him, in the view he had of that Glory he was 
 going topo{fefs,that heavenly City and Commonwealth, where he fhould 
 behold the face of God and of hu Son, in a foctety of Angels, and the 
 Spirits of Juft men made per feci. 
 
 Some few dayes before his Suffering, his thoughts were much fixed 
 upon PfaL 118. 27. where are thefe words ; (jod is the Lord,whtch 
 hath fhewed m light ; bind the Sacrifice with cords, even unto the 
 horns of the Altar. From this, he faid, that God gives light, and is 
 light to his People, under their darkeit circumftanccs and iuffcrings ; 
 
 and 
 
(8i) 
 and when he calls them forth to furrer,he binds them is Sacrifices with 
 cords, in three refpe&s : Firft, by the Cord of his Love to us, for he 
 loved us fir ft. Secondly, by the Cruelty of our Enemies. Thirdly, 
 by our Refignation-duty and love to him. Thefe three Cords have 
 bound me fo faft, I cannot ftir. 
 
 Upon Friends perfwading him, to make fome fubmiflion to the King, 
 and to endeavour the obtaining of his Life ; he faid, If the King did 
 not thinly himfelf more concerned for his Honour and Word, than he 
 did for his Life, he was very willing they (hould take it. Nay, I de- 
 clare ( faid he) that I value my Life left in a good Caufe, than the 
 King can do his Promife. And when fome others were fpeaking to 
 him, of giving fome thoufands of pounds for his Life ; he faid, // a 
 thouf and farthings would gain it, he would not give it : And if any 
 (hould attempt to make fuch a bargain, he would jpoil their market : 
 For I think^the King himfelf u r fo Efficiently obliged to (pare my Life, 
 that it is fitter for him to do it, than my felf to feek, it. 
 
 He rejoyced cxceedingly,that God aflilted himfo eminently in bea- 
 ring his Teftimony with taithrulnefs even unto Death ; and that he as 
 willingly laid down his Life, and with as much fatisfacVton, as ever he 
 went to bed. For in a natural fickncfs,Death feized on the body,with- 
 out any confent of the mind ; but this was a free action of his mind, 
 without any conftraint upon his body. 
 
 Mention being made to him of the cruel proceedings againft him ; 
 Alas (faid he) what ado they keep to make a poor creature like his Sa- 
 viour f In difcourfe he faid,// the (bedding of my Blood, may prove an 
 occafion of gathering together in one, the dijperfed Interefis and Rem- 
 nant of the Adherers to this Caufe (of whatever differing pcrfwajions) 
 I fhould think^ten thoufand Lives (if I had them) well Jpent in fuch 
 a fervice. 
 
 He was much pleafcd in this confederation, That he was hafiening 
 to a place where God nor none of his > would be afo&med to own and re- 
 ceive him. Here is nothing in this world ( faith he ) but reproaching 
 and dfjpifing God's precious Saints ; but in Heaven there is a good 
 reception for them , where are Manpons prepared from the beginning 
 of the world. 
 
 He faid, Tou will fhortly fee God commg forth with Vengeance upon 
 the whole Earth, Vengeance upon the outward-man of his Saints, and 
 Vengeance upon the inward-man of his and their Enemies ; and that 
 fhall perform greater execution, than was heretofore. 
 
 After his Sentence, he faid to fome Fticnds, God brought him up- 
 
 L ©n 
 
(82) 
 
 on three ftages, (to wit, before the Court) and was how leadino him to 
 the fourth ( his Execution-place) which was far caller and pfeafanter 
 to him than any of the other three. 
 
 Saturday June 14. 1662, being the day of his Execution, 
 on Tower- Hill. 
 
 He told a Friend, God bid CMofes go to the top of Mount Pifgah x 
 and die ; fo he bid him now, go to the top of Tower-hill, and die. 
 
 Some paflages of his Prayer with his Lady, Children, and other 
 Friends in his Chamber. 
 
 MOft holy and gracious Father , look down from the habitation of 
 thy Holinefs ; vijtt^ relieve and comfort us thy foor Servant s, 
 here gathered together in the Name ofChr\l\. Thou art rending this 
 Vatle^ and bringing us to a ^Mountain that abides firm. We are ex* 
 ceedtvg interrupters of our own joy, peace and good, by the wordings 
 and reafonings of our ore* hearts. Thou haft promt fed, that thou wilt 
 be a Mouth to thy People in the hour ofTryal : for thou haft required 
 us , to forbear the preparatory agitations of our own minds , becaufe it is 
 not we that are to jpeak, but the Spirit of our heavenly Father that 
 jpeakfth in us, in finch feafons. In what feafons more, ( Lord) than 
 when thou calleft for the Teftimony of thy Servants to be writ in Cham 
 rafters of Blood ? Shew thyfelfin a poor weakjVorm, by enabling htm 
 to ft and again fl all the power of thy Enemies. There hath been a bat' 
 tel fought with garments rouled in blood , in which (uponfolemn Ap» 
 peals on both fides} thou didft own thy Servants, though through the 
 (j?irit of Hypocrifie and Apoftacy,that hath jprung up amongft us, thefe 
 Nations have been thought unworthy any longer to enjoy the fruits of 
 that Deliverance. Thou haft therefore another day of decifton,to come, 
 which (hall be wrought by fire. Such a battel is to begin, and be ear- 
 ned on by the Faith of thy People } yea, is in fome fort, begun by the 
 Faith of thy poor Servant, that is now going to feal thy Caufe with his 
 Blood. Oh that this decifion of thine may remarkably (hew it felf tn 
 thy Servant at this time, by his bold Teftimony and fealtngit with his 
 Blood. We know not what interruptions may attend thy Servant, but 
 Lord, let thy Power carry him in a holy Triumph over all difficulties. 
 
 Thou art the great Judge and Law-giver ; for the fake of thy Ser~ 
 vants therefore, O Lord, return on htgh, and caufe a righteous Sen- 
 tence to come forth from thy prefence 7 for the relief of thy deff>ifed 
 
 People. 
 
(8?) 
 
 People. This, thy Servants with Faith and Patience wait for- The 
 working of this Faith in us, caufeth the Enemy to give ground already m 
 If Death be not able to terrifie us from keeping a good Confidence, and 
 giving a good Teflimony again ft t hem, what can they do but (tumble 
 and fall backwards ? The day approaches in which thou wilt decide 
 this Comroverfie, not by Might nor by Power, but by the Spirit of the 
 living God, This Spirit will makj its own way, and run through the 
 whole Earth. Then jhall it be f aid, Where is the fury of the Qppref- 
 for ? Who is he that dares or canfland before the Spirit of the Lord, 
 in the mouth of his Witneffes ? Arife, O Lord, and let thine Enemies 
 be fcattered. Thy poor Servant knows not how he fhaB be carried 
 forth by thee this day, but, bleffed be thy great Name, that he hath 
 whereof to (peak. In this great Caufe, Whe ml frail be gathered to thee 
 this day, then come thou in the Miniflry of thy holy Angels that excel 
 inftrength. We have feen enough of this World , and thou feefi ) we 
 have enough of it. Let thefe my Friends, that are round about me, 
 commit me to the Lord, and let them be gathered into the Family of 
 Abraham the Father of the Faithful, and become faithful Witneffes 
 of thofe Principles and Truths that have been dtfeovered to them, 
 that it may be known, that a poor weak^ Prophet hath been amongst 
 them, not by the words of his mouth onely, but by the voice of his 
 Blood and Death, which will fp:ak when he is gone '• Good Lord, pnt 
 words into his mouth that may daunt his Enemies, fo that they may be 
 forced to fay, Cjod is in him of a Truth, and that the Son of God is tn 
 his heart ^nd In his mouth* My hour-glafs is now turned up, the fand 
 runs out apace, and it is my happinefs that Death doth not furpriz^e 
 we. It is Grace and Love thou dofl fhew thy poor Servant, that thou 
 hafteneft out his time, and letteft him fee it runs out with Joy and 
 Peace. Little do my Enemies know {as eager as they are to have me 
 gone ) how foon their breaths may be drawn in. 
 
 But bet thy Servant fee Death (hrtnk. under him* What a glorious 
 fight will this be in the prefence of many Witneffes, to have Death 
 fhrink under him, which he acknowledged to be only by the power of 
 the RefurreUion of Jefus Chri(l, whom the bands of Death could not 
 hold down ? Let that Spirit enter into us that will fet us again upon 
 our feet, and let us be led into that way, that the Enemies may not 
 know how to deal with w. 
 
 Oh i what abjuring of Light, what Treachery, what meannefs of 
 fyirit has appeared in this day ? What is the matter ? Oh t Death 
 is the matter. Lord, (Irengthen the Faith and Heart of thy poor Ser~ 
 
 L 2 vant, 
 
(8 4 ) 
 vant, to undergo this dayes 79ork^ with Joy and Gladnefs, and bear it 
 
 on the Heart and Confciences of his Friends that have known and 
 fee* him, that they alfo may fay, the Lord is in him of a truth. 
 
 Oh that thy Servant could fpeak any blefjing to thefe three Nations. 
 het thy "Remnant be gathered to thee* Proffer and relieve that poor 
 handful that are in Prifons and Bonds , that they may be raifed up and 
 trample Death under foot. Let my poor Family that is left defolate y 
 let my dear Wife and Children be taken into thy Care, be thou a Huf- 
 band, Father and ^Mafter to them* het the Spjrtts ofthofe that love 
 me, be drawn out towards them. Let a Bleffmg be upon thefe Friends 
 that are here at this time, flrengthen them, let them find Love and 
 Grace in thine Eyes, and be increafed with the Increaftngs of God.- 
 Shew thy felf a loving father to us all, and do for us abundantly, 
 above and bejond all that we can ask^ or thinly , for Jefus Chrtfi his 
 fake. Amen. 
 
 Several Friends being with him in his Chamber this morning, he of: 
 encouraged them to chearfu'lnefs, as wel by his example as cxprcflion. 
 In all his deportment, he fhewed himfelf marvelJoufly fitted to meet 
 the King of Terrors^without the leaft affr ightment. But to fhew where 
 his ftrength lay, he faid, he was a poor unworthy wretch, and had 
 nothing but the Grace and Goodnefs of (jod to depend upon. He (aid, 
 moreover, Death [hrunkfrom him, rather than he from it. Upon the 
 occafion of parting with his Relations, he faid, There is fome fiefk 
 remaining yet 3 but I mtift caft it behind me, and pre fs forward to my 
 Father. 
 
 Then one of the Sheriffs men came in and told him, There was 
 no Sled to come, but he was to walk on foot. 
 
 He told his Friends, the Sheriffs Chaplain came to him at twelve 
 of the clock that night, with an Order for his Execution, telling him, 
 he was come to bring him that fatal McfTage of Death. / thinks 
 {Friends') that in this Meffage was no difmalnefs at all ; After the re- 
 ceipt of which, 1 flept four hours fo found 'ly } that the Lord hath made 
 it fuffcient for me, and now I am going to fleep my lafl, after which 
 I (ball need fleep no more. 
 
 Then Mr. Sheriff coming into the Room, was friendly faluted by 
 him, and after a little paufe, communicated a Prohibition that he faidi 
 he had received, which was, That he muftnot (peak any thing againtt 
 his Majefty, or the Government. His Anfwer to this he himfelf 
 Bclaies on the Scaffold* He further told Mr. Sheriff, he was ready : 
 
 but 
 
( «y) 
 
 but the Sheriff (aid, he was not, nor could be this halt hour yet ; 
 Then Sir, it refts on you, not on me (faid Sir Henry ) for I have been 
 ready this half hour. Then the Sheriff, at his requeft, promifed him 
 his fervants fhowld attend him on the Scaffold and be civilly dealt with, 
 neither of which were performed, for (notwithstanding this promife) 
 they were beaten and kept off the Scaffold, till he laid, what ? have 
 I never a fervant here f 
 
 After this, one of the Sheriffs men came and told him, there muft 
 be a Sled ; to which Sir Henry replied, Any way, how they pie aft % 
 for I long to be at home, to be dijfolved and to be with Chrifl, which 
 is beft of all. He went very chcarfully and readily down the flairs from 
 his Chamber, and feated himfelf on the Sled, ( Friends and Servants 
 Handing about him) then he was forthwith drawn away towards the 
 Scaffold. As he went, fome in the Tower (Prifoners as well as others) 
 fpake to him, praying the Lord to go with him. And afcerhe was out 
 of the Tower, from the tops of houfes and out of windows, the peo- 
 ple ufed fuch means and gettures as might beft difcovcr at a diftance, 
 their refpe&s and love to him, crying aloud, The Lord go with yow r 
 The great (jod of Heaven and Earth appear in you, and for you ; 
 whereof he took what notice he was capable in thofe circumftances, 
 in a chcarful manner accepting their refpeft, putting off his Hat and 
 bowing to them. Being asked feveral times, how he did, by fome 
 about him, he anfwered, Tsljver better in all my life. Another re- 
 plied. How ftiould he do ill that fuffers for fo glorious a Caufc ? To 
 which a tall black man faid, Many fuftered for a better Caufe ; and 
 may for a worfe, faid Sir Henry, wifhing, That when they come to 
 feal their better Caufe {as he called it ) with their Blood {as he was 
 now going to feal his") they might not find themfelves deceived; And 
 as to this Caufe, faid he, it hath given Life in Death, to all the Own* 
 ers of it, and Sufferers for it. 
 
 Being palled within the Rails on Tower-hill, there were" many loud 
 acclamations of the people, crying out, The Lord Jefus go with your 
 dear Soul, drc. One told him, that was the mott glorious Scat he ever 
 fate on ; he anfwered, It is fo indeed, and rejoyced exceedingly- 
 Being come to the Scaffold, he chcarfully afcends, and being up, af- 
 ter the crowd on the Scaffold was broken in two pieces, to make way 
 for him, he (hewed himfelf to the People on the front of the Scaf- 
 fold, with that Noble and Chriftian-like deportment, that he rather 
 feemed a looker-on, than the pcrfon concerned in the Execution, In- 
 fornuch thai it was difficult to perfwade many of the People, that he 
 
 ws> 
 
(SO 
 
 was the Prifoner. But when they knew that the Gentleman in the 
 black Sute and Cloak ( with a Scarlet (ilk Waftcoat ( the victorious 
 colour) fhewing it felf at the brcaft ) was the Prifoner, they generally 
 admired that Noble and great Prefcncc he appeared with- How chear- 
 ful he is ! faid fome ; he docs not look like a dying-man ! faid others ; 
 with many like fpecches, as aftonifhed with chat ftrange appearance he 
 {hined forth in. 
 
 Then (filencc being commanded by the Sheriff) lifting up his hands 
 and eyes towards Heaven, and then retting his hands on the Rails, and 
 taking a very ferious, compofed and majcftick Yiew of the great mul- 
 titude about him, he fpakc as folio wcth. 
 
 His SPEECH on tht SCAFFOLD. 
 
 Cjentlcmen, fellow -Countrymen , and Chrifiiajcs^ 
 
 WHen Mr. Sheriff came to me this morning, and told me he 
 had received a Command from the King, that I fhould fay 
 nothing reflecting upon his Majetty or the Government ; I anfwcred, 
 I fhould confine and order my Speech, as near as I could, fo as to 
 be leaft offcnfive, faving my faithfulnefs to the Truft repofed in me, 
 which I muft ever difchargc with a good Confcience unto Death; 
 for I ever valued a man, according to his faithfulnefs to the Truft re- 
 pofed in him, even on his Majcfties behalf, in the late Controverfie. 
 And if you dare truft my difcretion, Mr. Sheriff, I fhall do nothing but 
 what becomes a good Chriftian and an Enghfhman ; and i'o I hope I 
 {hall be civilly dealt with. 
 
 When Mr. Sheriffs Chaplain came to me laft night about twelve 
 t>f the clock, to bring me, as he called it, the fatal Meffage of Death, 
 it pleafed the Lord to bring that Scripture to my mind, in the third of 
 Zecharj, to intimate to me, that he was now taking away my filthy 
 garments,* caufing mine iniquities to pafs from me, with intention to 
 give me change of raiment, and that my mortal fhould put on Im- 
 mortality. 
 
 I fuppofe you may wonder when I fhall tell you that I am not 
 brought hither according to any known Law of the Land. It is true, 
 I have been before a Court of Juftice, ( and am now going to appear 
 before a greater Tribunal, where I am to give an account of all my 
 actions) under their Sentence I ftand here at this time. When I was 
 before them, I could not have the liberty and priviledge of an Englifh- 
 man, the grounds, rcafons, and caufes of the Actings I was charged^ 
 
 wkh : 
 
(87) 
 
 with,duly confidcred ; I therefore defircd the Judges,tlaat they would 
 fee their Seals to my Bill of Exceptions ; I prefTed hard for it again 
 and again, as the Right of my felf, and every free-born Englifh-man, 
 by the Law of the Land ; but was finally denied it.- — 
 
 Here Sir John Robtnfon ( Lieutenant of the Tower) interrupted 
 him, faying, Sir^ youmuftnotgo on thus, and (in a furious manncr r 
 oenerally obferved, even to the dif-fatisfa&ion of fomc of their own 
 attendants) faid, that he railed againft the Judges, and that it was a 
 lye, and I am here (fayes he) to teftifie that it is falfe. 
 
 Sir Henry Vane replied, God will judge between me and you in 
 this matter. I fpeak but matter of Fa<5t, and cannot you bear that ? 
 
 ■ Tis evident, the Judges have refufed to fign my Bill of Exceptions 
 
 Then the Trumpets were ordered to found or murrc in his face,with a 
 contemptible noife, to hinder his being heard. At which S'itHenry 
 (lifting up his hand, and then laying it on his breatt) faid, What mean 
 you Gentlemen ? is this your ufage of me ? did you ufe all the reft fo ? 
 I had even done (as to that) could you have been patient, but feeing 
 you cannot bear it, I fhall only fay this, That whereas the Judges 
 have refufed tofeal that with their hands , that they have done ; / am 
 come to feal that with my Blood, that I have done* Therefore leaving, 
 this matter, which I perceive will not be born, I judge it meet to give 
 you fome account of my Life. 
 
 I might tell you, I was born a Gentleman, had the education, tem- 
 per and fpirit of a Gentleman, as well as others, being (in my youth- 
 full dayes) inclined to thevanicies of this world, and to that which 
 they call Geod-fellowjhif^ judging it to be the only means of accom- 
 plifhing a Gentleman. But about the fourteenth or fifteenth year of 
 my age, (which is about thirty four or five years fince) God was 
 pleafed to lay the foundation or ground-work of Repentance in me, 
 for the bringing me home to himfeif, by his wonderful rich and free j 
 Grace, revealing his Son in me, that by the knowledge of the onely 
 true God, and Jcfus Chrift whom he hath fent, I might (even whiltt 
 here in the body) be made partaker of Eternal Life, in the fiifl- fruits 
 of it. 
 
 When my Confcience was thus awakened, I found my former courfe 
 to bedifloyalty to God, prophancnefs, and a way of fin and death, 
 which I did with tears and bitternefs bewail, as y?ad caufe to do. 
 Since that foundation of Repentance laid in me, through Grace I have 
 been kept fteadfaft, defiring to walk in all good Confcience towards 
 God and towards men, according to the belt light and undemanding 
 
 God 
 
GJod give me. For this, I was willing to turn by back upon my 
 Eftate, cxpofe my felf to hazards in Forreign parts ; yea, nothing 
 feemed difficult co me, (o I might prefcrve Faith and a good Confci- 
 ence, which I prefer before all chings ; and do carncftly perfwade all 
 people rather to fufTer the higheli contradictions from men, than dif- 
 obey God, by contradicting che light of their own Confacnce. In this, 
 it is, I Hand with To much comfort and boldnefs before you all this 
 day, and upon this occafion ; being allured, that I (hall at lart fie 
 down in Glory with Chrift,at his right hand, I ftand here this day,to 
 refign up my Spirit into the*hands of that God that gave it me. Death 
 is but a little word, but 'tis a great work to die, it is to be but once 
 done, and after this comcth the Judgment, even the Judgment of the 
 great God, which it concerns us all to prepare for. And by this A&, 
 I do receive a difcharge, once for all,out of Prifon, even the Prifon of 
 the mortal body alfo, which to a true Chriftian is a burdenfom 
 weight. 
 
 In all refpc&s, wherein I have been concerned and engaged as to 
 the Publick, my defign hath been to accomplifh Good things for thefe 
 Nations. Then (lifting up his eyes, and fpreading his hands) he 
 faid, / do here appeal to the great God of Heaven, and all this Af- 
 fembly^ or any other perfons, to [hew wherein I have defiled my hands 
 with any mans Blood or £ftate y or that I have fought my felf in any 
 publick^capacity or place J have been in* 
 The Caufc was three times ftated. 
 i. In the !{emo»ftrance of the Houfe of Commons . 
 
 a. In the Covenant, the Solemn League and Covenant UpOft 
 
 this the Trumpets founded, the Sheriff catched at the Paper in his 
 hand, and Sir John Robinfon y who at firft had acknowledged that he 
 had nothing to do there, wiftiing the Sheriff to fee to it, yet found 
 himfelf fomething to do now, furioufly calling for the Writers-Books, 
 and faying, he treats of Rebellion, and you write it. Hereupon fix 
 Note- Books were delivered up. The Prifoner was very patient and 
 compofed under all thefe injuries and foundings of the Trumpets fc- 
 veral times in his face, only faying, 'Twos hard he might not be fuf~ 
 fered to Jpeak.; but, fa yes he, my ufage from man u no harder than 
 was my Lord and CMajiers ; And all that will live his Itfe^ this day, 
 
 muft expett ha^A dealing from the. worldly (pint The Trumpets 
 
 founded again, to hinder his being heard- Then again Robtnfon and 
 two or three others, endeavoured to fnatch the paper out of Sir Hen- 
 ry's hand, but he kept it for a while, now and then reading part of it ; 
 
 after- 
 
(8?) 
 
 afterwards, tearing it in pieces, he delivered it to a Friend behind him, 
 
 who was prefencly forced co deliver it to the Sheriff. Then they put 
 their hands into his pockets for Papers (as was pretended) which bred 
 great confufion and diflacisfa&ion to the Spectators, feeing a Prifoner 
 lb ftrangely handled in his dying words. This was exceeding remar- 
 kable, in the midft of all this difordcr, the Prifoner himfelf was ob- 
 ferved to be ©f the moft conftant, compofed fpirit and countenance, 
 which he throughout fo excellently manifeiied,that a Royalliii fworc, 
 he dyed Ukf a Prince. 
 
 The Prifoner, fufpc&ing beforehand the diforder afore-mentioned, 
 writ the main Subftancc of what he intended to fpeak on the 
 Scaffold, in that Paper they catched at, and which he tore in 
 pieces y delivering it to a Friend, from whom the Sheriff had it 
 as above-faid ; the true Copy whereof, was by the Prifoner care- 
 fully committed to a fafc hand before he came to the Scaffold, 
 which take as followcth. 
 
 THe Work which I am at this time called unto, in this place, ( as 
 upon a Publick Theater ) is, to Die, and receive a Difcharge, 
 once for all, out of Prifon ; to do that, which is but once to be done; 
 the doing or not doing of which well, and as becomes a Chrifltan, 
 does much depend upon the life we have been taught of God co lead, 
 before we come to this : They that live in the Faith, do alfo die in it : 
 Faith is fo far from leaving Chriftians in this hour, that the work of it 
 breaks forth then into its greateft power ; as if till then, it were not 
 enough at freedom to do its office, that is, to look into the things 
 that are unfeen , with moft fteadfaftnefs , certainty , and delight ; 
 which is the great Sweetner of Death, and Pvemover of its Sting, 
 
 Give me leave therefore in a very few words, to give you an ac- 
 count of my Life, and of the wonderful great Grace and Mercy of 
 God, in bringiag me home to himfclf, and revealing his Son in me ; 
 that by the knowledge of the only true God, and Jcfus Chrift whom 
 he hath fent, I might (even whilft here in the body) be made par- 
 taker of Eternal Life, in the firft fruits of it • and at laft fit down 
 with Chrift in Glory, at his right-hand. 
 
 Here I fhall mention feme remarkable paffages and changes of my 
 Life ; In particular, how unfought for by my feif, I was called to be 
 a Member of the Long Parliament ; what little advantage I had 
 by it ; and by what fteps I became fatisfied with the Caufe I was en- 
 gaged in, and did purfuc the fame. 
 
 M What 
 
What the Caufe was, did firtt (hew it felf, in thtfirft' Remonftrance 
 of the Ho fife of Commons* 
 
 Secondly, in the Solemn League and Covenant. 
 
 Thirdly, in the more refined purfuit of it by the Commons Houfe 
 in their Actings fwgle : with what Refult chcy were growing up into, 
 which was in the breaft of the Houfe, and unknown ; or what the 
 three Propofals, mentioned in my Charge, would have come to at laft 
 I {hall not need now to fay ; but only, from all put together, to af- 
 ter:, That this Caufe which was owned by the Parliaments was the 
 CA USE of g O D, and for the Promoting of the Kingdom of his 
 dear Son, JESUS CHRIST; wherein are comprehended our 
 Liherties and Duties , both as Men and at Chriftidns. 
 
 And fince it hath pleafcd God, who feparated me from the womb 
 to the knowledge and fervke of the Gofpcl of his Son, to feparate 
 me alfo to this hard and difficult fcrvice ac this time, and to flnole 
 me out to the defence and juftification of this his Caufe, I could not 
 confent by any words or actions of mine, that the innocent Blood 
 that hath been fhed in the defence of ir, throughout the whole War 
 (the Guilt and moral evil of which, mufi and does certainly lye fome- 
 where)did lye at my door, or at theirs that have been the faithful Ad- 
 herers to this Caufe. This is with fuch evidence upon my heart, that I 
 am molt freely and chearfully willing, to put the grcateli Seal to it I am 
 capable, which is, the pouring out of my very Blood in witnefs to it • 
 which is all I fhall need to fay in this place, and at this cime, having 
 fpoken at large to it in my Defence at my Tryal, intending to have faid 
 more the laft day, as what I thought was reafonable for Arrefi of the 
 Judgment, but I was not permitted then to fpeak it ; Both which 
 may with time and God's providence, come to publick view. 
 
 And I muft mil aflert, That I remain wholly unfatisfted, that the 
 courfe of proceedings againft me at my Tryal were according to Law, 
 but that I was run upon and deftroyed, contrary to Right, and the Li- 
 berties of Magna Charta, under the form only of Juftice : which I 
 leave to God to decide, who is the Judge of the whole World, and to 
 clear my Innocency ; Whilft in the mean time, I befeech him to for- 
 give them, and all that have had a hand in my Death ; and that the 
 Lord in his great mercy will not lay it unto their charge. 
 
 And I do account this Lot of mine no other, than what is to be 
 expected by thofc that are not of the World, but whom Chrifthath 
 chofen out of it; for the Servant is not greater than his Lord ; And if 
 they have done this to the green tree, they will do it much more to the 
 dry. How- 
 
in) 
 
 However, I (hall not altogether excufe my felf. I know, that by many 
 weaknefles and failers,I have given occafion enough of the ill ufagc I have 
 met with from men, chough, in the main, the Lord knows the finccrity and 
 inregrity of my heart, whatever Afperfions and Reproaches I have or do 
 lye under. I know alfo that God is juft, in biinging this Sentence and 
 Condemnation upon me_, for my fins ; there is a body of fin and death in 
 me, defer ves this Sentence ; and there is a fimilitude and likenefs alfo, 
 that, as a Chrifhan, God thinks me worthy to bear with my Lord and 
 hcadjin many circumftances in reference to thefe dealings I have met with, 
 in the good I have been endeavouring for many years to be doing in thefe 
 Nations, and cfpecially now at laft, in being numbred amongft tranfgrcf- 
 fors, and made a publick Sacrifice, through the wrath and contradictions 
 of men, and in having finifhed my courfe, and fought the good fight of 
 Faith, and refitted in a way of fufferiDg (as you fee) even unto blood. 
 
 This is but the needful preparation the Lord hath been working in me, 
 to the receiving of the Crown of Immortality, which he hath prepared 
 for them chat love him, The profpeft whereof is fo chcaring, that through 
 the Joy (in it) that is fee before the eyes of my Faith, I can, through mer- 
 cy, endure this Crofs y dejpife this Shame, and am become more than Con r 
 ^r0#r v through Chrift that hath loved me. 
 
 For my Lite, Ettate and all,is not lb dear to me as my Service to God, 
 ro his Caufe, to the Kingdom of Chritt, and the future welfare of my 
 Country ; and I am taught according to the Example, as well as that 
 mod Chriftian faying of a Noble Perfon that lately died after this publick 
 manner in Scotland ; " How much better is it to chufe Affliction and the 
 " Crofs, than to fin or draw back from the Service of the Living God, 
 4C into the wayes of Apoftacy and Perdition. 
 
 That Noble perfon, whofe Memory I honour, was with my felf at the 
 beginning and making of the Solemn League and Covenant y the Matter 
 of which, and the holy Ends therein contained, I fully aflenc unto, and 
 have been as defirous to obferve ; but the rigid way of prolecuting it, and 
 the 6j>freffing Uniformity that hath bin endeavored by it, I never approved. 
 
 This were fufficient to vindicate me from the falfe Afperfions and Ca- 
 lumnies which have been laid upon me, of Jefuitifm and Popery, and al- 
 moft what not, to make my Name of ill favour with good men ; which 
 dark mifts do now difpel of themfelves, or at lcaft ought, and need no 
 pains of mine in making an Apology. 
 
 For if any man feek a proof of Chrift in me, let him reade it in this 
 action of my Death, which will notceafe to fpeak when I am gone ; 
 Jind henceforth lei no man trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks 
 of the Lord J efu*. M 2 I 
 
(92) 
 1 {hall not defire in this place to take up much time, but only, as my 
 laft words, leave this with you : " That as the prefent ftorm we now lie 
 " under,and the dark Clouds that yet hang over the Reformed Churches 
 c< of Chrift, ( which arc coming thicker and thicker for a feafon) were 
 u not un-fore-feen by me for many years pailcd, ( as fomc Writing of 
 <c mine declare : ) So the coming ot Chrift in thefe Clouds, in order to 
 " a fpcedy and fudden Revival of his Caufe, and fpreadin° his Kinodom 
 <c over the face of the whole Earth, is moft clear to the eye of my Faith 
 iC even that Faith in which I dye, whcieby the Kingdoms of this world 
 " fhall become the Kingdom of our Lord, and or his Chrift. Amen. 
 <c Even fo, come, Lord Jefus. 
 
 Some Paflagcs of his P r a y e r on the Scaffold. 
 
 THe Heaven i* thy Throne, O Lord, and the Earth is thy foot/tool, 
 but to this man wilt thou loch, even to him that is poor,, and of a 
 contrite fpirit, and trembleth at thy Word. Thou, O Lord, art the great 
 God of Heaven and Earthy thou fillefi all p laces with thy pre fence, art the 
 Judge of the whole Worlds and dofi Right eoufnefs. We are poor unworthy 
 finful creatures, by nature children of wrath a* well at others ; We are 
 Wife to do evil, but to do good we have no knowledge* If to will be pre- 
 fent with us, yet how to perform and go through wtth that which is good, 
 and not be weary of well-doings we find not. 
 
 Bring us, O Lord, into the true myflical Sabbath- fiate^ that we may 
 ceafe from our own work sjrefi from our labors, not think^our own thoughts, 
 find our own defire, or walk^w the way of our own hearts^ but become a 
 meet habitation of thy Spirit by the everlasting Covenant, the place of thy 
 Refi. Let the Spirit of (jod and of Glory, that is greater than he that u 
 in the world, refi upon us, wotk^tn and fry us mightily \ to the pulling down 
 offlefh and blood, the flrong holds of Sin and Satan in our felves and 
 others, cauftng it* fo tofuffer under the Etre-Baptifm thereof \ as that we 
 may ceafe from [in for ever, or from that fie tyly, mutable, & temporary fiat e 
 of life and right eoufnefs, whtch at be ft is liable to roul backjnto fin ag.ain , 
 to be int angled, overcome, and finally triumphed over by the pollutions of 
 this world. 'Deliver us, O Lord, from the Evil One, deliver us from our 
 felves, take us out of our own d*ff>ofe, our own Uberty and power, the free- 
 dom, the mutable holinefs and right eoufnefs of the fins of men, at its befi y 
 and brivg us into the mosl glorious Liberty, the mofi holy immutable and 
 righteous ft ate of the fins of God, a freedom to Good only, and not at aU to 
 
 CVi'y 
 
 
(P3) 
 
 evil, attended and accompanied -with a, power in us y through thy Spirit, of 
 doing all things for the Truth, and a difabilt ty brought upon us as to the 
 doing of any thing again ft the Truth jn the Jingle power and freedom of our 
 own fbirit. Then the prince of this world coming to us, will find nothing in 
 us • at teafti no prevailing activity of felj \nature or ftefh^ which at beft, is 
 capable to be made by him an engin ofoppofition to the Kingdom ofChrtft % 
 and our own true bleffednefs. Thou haft laid on thy Son the iniquities 
 of us all ; by his ftripes we arc healed. We muft all ft and before the Judg- 
 ment -Seat of Chrift, to give an account of what we have done in the body 
 whether it be good or whether it be evil. He will bring every fecret coun- 
 fel to light ; things that are wrought in darknefsjhe maketh plain and evi- 
 dent. Thine eyesfi Lord y run to and fro through the whole earth. Thine 
 eyes do behold, thine eye-lids try the children of men. The wicked and 
 him that loveth violencc,thy foul hateth. But thou upholdeft the poor and 
 needy, him that is of a broken heart and of a contrite fpirlt. The humble 
 and lowly thou wilt teach, the meek thou wilt guide in Judgment; thou 
 wilt beautifie the meek with Salvation. Thou art the fupr earn dilfofer of 
 all the Kingdoms of men, giving them to whomfo ever thou wilt. Whatever 
 crofs -blows thou fuffereH to be given thy People for a feafon,thou order eft 
 all } to thy own glory , and their true advantage. But thou haft a fet time 
 for Sions deliverance y in which the great nefs of the Kingdom under the 
 wholeHeaven, (hall be given unto the be ft and choiceft of men ,t he people of 
 the Saints of the mo ft high ^ whofe Kingdom is an everlafting Kingdom.. 
 Let the exceeding near approach of this, bear up the fpirits of thy poor de- 
 fyifed ones y in thy day of extremity and fuffering^ from finking and despon- 
 dency* Carry them through their fujfering part y with a holy triumph y in thy 
 Chariots of Salvation, How long, O Lord, holy and true ? make haft to 
 help the Remnant of thy People. Break the Heavens and come down, 
 touch the Mountains of prey, the Kingdoms of ths evil world, and let 
 them fmoak^ % Let ths mouth of all Iniquity be popped. Silence every one 
 that ftands up again ft thee. T^ebuke the debauched prophane spirits of 
 men, that fet themselves to workyoickednefs \ running with greedinefs into 
 all filthinefs and fuperfluity of naught inefs. They eat thy People as they 
 eat bread. They are profound to make (laughter, skilful to deftroy^hough 
 thou hart been the rcbuker of them all. But, Lord \ be this disjenfation of 
 what continuance it wili y for the ferving of thy mo ft gracious and wife de- 
 figns y let thefptrit and refolution of thy Servants be fteady and unchange- 
 able, that whether they live t they may live to the Lordjhat died for them> 7 
 cr whether they die, they may die to the Lord y who lives for ever to make 
 intercefftonfor them, that they may ghrtfie thee with their bodies and $a±- 
 , tits, whether by Itfe'or by death. Tko&- ' 
 
(-94) 
 Thou knoweft O Lord y that in the faith offefus, and for the Truth** 
 
 tt is in Jefus, thy Servant defires to die, walking in thefieps of our father 
 Abraham,/?^ for Righteoufnefs and Judgment, following the Lord in all 
 his wayes whitherfoever he goes, worfhipping the God of his believing fa- 
 thers, Abraham, lfaac and Jacob., in that way which men call Herefee. In 
 this Faith,dear Lord,l have lived, and in this Faith and ProfeJJion I die, 
 as one that hath herein flood up for the Teflimony of J£S U S again ft all 
 Idolatry, Super ft ition, Prophanefs and Popery, or whatever is unfound er 
 unfit to be brought before the Throne of fo great and glorious a Majesty. 
 'Tis in this Faith that thy Servant dies. Now fet thy Seal to it, and re- 
 move the reproaches and calumnies with which thy Servant is reproached , 
 for thou knowfi his innocency. Dear Father,thoufente& us into this worlds 
 but this world is not our home, we are grangers and pilgrims in it y at all 
 our fathers were. We have no abode here, but there is a houfe, not made 
 with hands, eternal in the heavens, that when this tabernacle is dijfolved, 
 y?e may enter into. In our Fathers houfe are many manfions ; Ohf what- 
 ever the curfes and condemnations of the Law are, be thou near to us, and 
 fpread the Right eoufnefs ofChrifl over us, and we (hall befafe. Blcffed is 
 he, whofetranfgre (lions are forgiven, and whofe fins are covered. Who wil 
 fbea\,who will take on htm to fay any thing, or to plead with Thee, upon any 
 other terms but in the Name and Merits of the mighty Redeemer, on whom 
 our help is laid. We defire to lie low, to be abafed and take fhame & con' 
 fufion of face to ourfelves, as that which properly belongs to us, that Thou 
 alone maifl be exalted and advanced. 'Tis ofmeer Grace, O Lord, that 
 thy Servant hath now fome ftgn of thy ftecial Salvation, even thy free- 
 Grace, O God,whereby thou deft accept him in thy Son. Lay him low and 
 humble & abafe his foul for his fins, and all his unw or thine ffes before thee. 
 Men cannot fpeak. evil enough of our fins. In this perfwajion, this abafe- 
 ment and humiliation, thy Servant defires to die. *And, dear Lord, thou 
 feeft & knowfi all things, and art able to witnefs to the truth & integrity 
 of thy Servant. When his blood is jhed upon the Block, let it have a voice 
 afterward, that may jfeak his Innocency, and ftrengthen the Faith of thy 
 Servants in the Truth. Let it alfo ferve for conviliton to the worst of thy 
 Enemies, that they may fay, Surely the Lordknows,and the Lord owns his 
 Servant, as one that belongs to him. The defire of our foul ts to haften to 
 thee, O God, to be diffolved, that we may be with Chrift. Blejfed be thy 
 Name, that this great ftr ait that we were before in, is now determined ; 
 that there is no longer abode for me in this mortal body. Our great Cap- 
 tain, the great General of our fouls , did go in away of affltttion before us, 
 to Heaven. Come^Lord, declare thy Will, that thy yoor Servant may ma- 
 nifest 
 
« (9y) , , , 
 
 nifeft a rtadinefs to come to Thee; Prepare hts he art J bat in his accefs to- 
 Theemay, he be brought down at thy feet, in frame & confufionfor ail the 
 evil is Co ofhul ; but Thou art his falvation. Let thy Servant freak fomc* 
 thing on the behalf of the Nat ton wherein he hath lived ; Lord, did we 
 n§t exceed other Nations in our day ? Great things have been done by thee 
 in the mtdst of us. Oh y that thou wouldsl loof^down in pity & companion, 
 and pardon the fins of this whole Nation ^and lay them not to their charge ; 
 fhew them what is thy good and acceptable Will, and bring them intofub- 
 jetlion thereunto. We humbly pray thee,0 Lordjook^down with companion 
 upon thts great & populous City, cleanfe away the impurity \fmfulnefs and 
 defilements t hereof y caufe their fouls to delight in thy Word, that they may 
 live. Let afp'irit of Reformation and Purity firing up in and amongsl them 
 with power ,- make them willing to lay down all that is dear to them for > 
 thee, that Thou may ft give them a Crown of Life ythat they may always 
 defire & chufe affJBion, and to be expofed to the worft condition &hardeft 
 circumftances, that can be brought upon them in this worlds rather than 
 fin again ft him that hath loved them and bought them with a price, that 
 they might live to him in their bodies and in their fpir its. 
 
 We are affured Thou knoweft our fufering cafe and condition ^how it is 
 with us. We defire to give no jufi occafion of offence, nor to provoke any, 
 but in meehnefs to forgive our Enemies. Thy Servant that is now falling 
 afieepy doth heartily defire of thee, that thon wouldeft forgive them> and 
 not lay this fin to their charge. 
 
 Before the ftroke, he fpake to this effefl ; / blefs the Lord who hath 
 accounted me worthy to fuffer for his Name. Bleffed be the Lord that I 
 have kept a confeience void of offence to this day. I blefs the Lord I have 
 not diverted the Righteous Caufe, for which I fuffer. 
 
 But his very lalt words of all at the Block, were as foiloweth ; Father* 
 glorifie thy Servant in the fight of men, that he may glorifie thee in the 
 dif charge of his Duty to Thee and to his Country. 
 
 It was obferved, that no Ggns of inward fear appeared by any trem- 
 bling or (haking of his hands,. or any other parts of his body, all along 
 on the Scaflold. Yea, an ancient Traveller and curious obferver of the 
 demeanor of perfons in fuch publick Executions, did narrowly eye his- 
 Countenance to the laft breath, and his Head immediatly after the fepara- 
 tion; he obferved that his Countenaace did not in the leaft change : and 
 whereas the Heads of all he had before feenjdid fome way or other move 
 after fevering, , which argued fomc relu£tancy and unwiilingnefs to that 
 parting-blow j the Head of this Sufferer lay perfectly (fell, immediately 
 
 i " upon 
 
V (9*) 
 
 opon the fcpararion : on which he faid to this purpofe, That his Death 
 
 was by the free confent and att of his mind ; which Animadvcrfion no- 
 tably accords wi:h whac the Sufterer himiclf had before cxpreiTed, in dif- 
 ferencing a death by rational choice, from chat by (ickncis,which is with 
 conftrainc upon the body. He defired to be diffolved & to be with Chrili 
 
 The Names of the Grand Jury, in the Cafe of Sir Henry Vane. 
 
 Sir John Cropley of ClarkenweU London, Knight and Baronet. Thomas 
 Taylor of St. Martins in the Fields, London, Efq ; Francis Swift of 
 St. Gyles in the Fields, Efq. Jonas Morley of Hammerfmith^ Gent. 
 George Cooper of Qovent G arden, Gzm. Thomas Conftable of Covent Gar- 
 den, Gent. Edward Burrows of Eafi-Smithfield, Gent. Michael Dibbs 
 of the fame, Gent. Edvoard Gregory of St. Gyles in the Fields, Gent. 
 %ichard Freeman of Ijlington,Gzx\t. Thomas Pitcock^ot the fame,Gent. 
 Richard Towers of Clarkenwel,Gznt. Robert Vance of Paddington,Gznt. 
 Thomas Benning of Wilfdon,Gznt. Francis Child of Aclon,Gznt. Ifaac 
 Cotton of 2W,Gent. Peter Towers of Mile-end , Gent. Thomas Vffman 
 of Hammer fmlth,Gznt. Matthew Child of Kenfington,Gznt. Bryan Bon- 
 naby of Wefiminfter, Gznt. George Ronfe of St.Gyles in the Fields,Gent. 
 Twenty one in all. ( 
 
 The Names of the Petty Jury, 
 
 Sir William Roberts. Sir Chriflofher Abdy. John Leech. Daniel Cole. 
 John Stone. Daniel Brown. Henry Carter. Thomas Che I Jam. Thomas Pitts. 
 Thomas Upman. Andrew Brent. William Smith. 
 
 Judges of the Kings Bench. 
 Chief Juftice Fofler. Juftice Mallet. Juftice Twifden. Juftice Windham. 
 
 The Kings Conn f el againfi the Prisoner ; (no Counfcl being permit- 
 ted to fpeak^one word in his behalf ', to the matter or form of 
 the Indictment, or any thing elfe. ) 
 
 Sit Cjeojfry Palmer, the King's Attorney General. Sir Henneage 
 Fynch,thz King's Sollicitor General. Sir John Glyn. Sir John Mayvard. 
 Sir William Wild. Serjeant Keeling. 
 
 Witneffes againfi Sir Henry Vane. 
 
 ^/^jZ?,aPapift, 'tis faid; who witneffed what was accounted mod 
 
 dangerous againft the Prifoner, as to change of Government. 
 
 William Dobbins. Matthew Lock. Thom.v Tttry. Thomas Wallts. 
 
 John Coot. 
 
 J The 
 
(97 ) 
 
 The Teoflcs Ca*fe Stated. 
 
 HE in whom is the Right of Soveraign, and to give Law, is ci- 
 ther fo of himfelf, or in the Right of another, that may de- 
 rive the fame unto him ; which flaews that there are two forts of 
 Soveraigns. 
 
 A Soveraign in the firftfenfe, none is nor can be, but God, who 
 is of himfelf moft abfolute. And he that is firft of all others in the 
 fecond fence, is the Man Chrift Jcfus, to whom the Power of So- 
 veraign, in the Right of the Father is committed, over all the 
 Works of Gods hands. Chrift exercifed the^ame in the capacity of 
 David's Root from before the beginning of the World. He owne? 
 himfelf thus to be, long before he became 'David's Seed 5 This his 
 being in Spirit, or hidden being, even as a Creature, the firft of all 
 Creatures in peribnal Union with the Word, David f aw and ac- 
 knowledged, Tfal. 1 10. 1. Thus Chrift may be called God's Lieu- 
 tenant Soveraign, or General Vicegerent of his Supremacy over 
 all in Heaven and in Earth. He therefore is the true Univerfal 
 King and Root of all Soveraign and juft Governing Power, whe- 
 ther in Heaven or on Earth. 
 
 His Soveraignty is unqueftionable and unaccountable, becaufe 
 of the Perfection of his Perfon, carrying in it an aptitude and Suffi- 
 ciency to Govern, without poiTibility of Error or Defecl: of any 
 kind. Soveraign and Governing Power doth necelTarily relate to 
 Subjects, that are to be the Ruled, and Subjects capable of fuch 
 Government. Therefore when God himfelf purpofes within him- 
 felf, to be Supream Legislator and Governour, he doth withal pur- 
 pofe the Being and Creation of both Worlds, as the Subject mat- 
 ter of his Kingdom. He propounds to Govern his Subjects by and 
 with their own confent and good liking ; or, without and againft 
 it,in the way of his revenging Juftice ; Governing by Laws, deaf- 
 ly ftating and ascertaining the Duty or the Offence, as alfo the Re- 
 wards and Penalties. 
 
 Herein Juft Government confifts,or the Juftice of Government; 
 for he that Rules over others, muftbejuft; and indeed (hou Id be 
 fcen to be fo in all his Commands : fo feen, as to render the Con- 
 fciences of the Ruled, and thofe whofe duty it is to Obey, inexcu- 
 sable before God and before Men, if they DiiTent or Refift. 
 
 N In- 
 
(>« ) 
 
 Inexcufabte they.are before God,Becaufe the matter Commanded 
 is the matter of God's Law,& therefore juft to be obeyed:Tbey are 
 alfo Inexcufable before Men,that which is required of them being 
 generally acknowledged and affirmed (by thole in whom the com- 
 mon content of the Subjects is intruded to that end ) to be Juft, 
 and Reafonable, and therefore to be Obeyed. For the end of all 
 Government,being for the Good and -Welfare,and not for theDe-: 
 ftrucliori of the Ruled; God who is the Infti tutor of Government, : 
 as he is pleafed to Ordain-the Office of Governors, intruding them 
 with Power to command the Juft and Reafonable Things, which' 
 his own Law Commands, that carry their own evidence to com- 
 mon Reafon and Senfe, atlfcaft, that do not evidently contradict 
 it, fo he grants a Lib^jte to the Subjects, or thofe that by him are 
 put under the Rule, to refufe all fuch Commands as are contrary 
 to his Law, or to the judgement of common Reafon and Senfe, 
 whole trial he allows, by way of aitent or diflerit, before the Com- 
 mands of the Ruler fhall be Binding or put in Execution ; and this 
 in a Co-ordinacy of Power with Juft Government, and as the due 
 Ballance thereof. The Origi-nal Impreflions of Juft Laws are in 
 Mans Nature and very Conftitution of Being.- Man hath the Law 
 in his Mind, ( or the Superior and Intellectual part of him ) con- 
 vincing and bringing that into obedience and fubjecYion to the 
 Law of God, in Chrift himfelf* He hatrialfo that which is a Law 
 in his Members .that are on the Earth, (or his earthly and fenfual 
 pjiiH ) whofe. Power is Co-ordinate with the other, but fuch, that 
 if it be not gained into a Harmony a/rd Conjunction with its Head, 
 the Spirit or Mind of man, hath ability to let and hinder his Mind 
 or Ruling part, from performing and putting in execution, that 
 which is. good, juft, fit, and to be acknowledged as the righte-. 
 ous dictates of the Mind, which ought to be the Ruling Power, or 
 Law to the Man. So in the outward Government over Man, the. 
 fecondary or co-ordinate Power, concurring with that which is the 
 chief ruling Power r is eflential toJuftGovernment;andis acknow- 
 ledged to be fo, by the Fundamental Conftitution of the Govern*' 
 ment of Expand, as well as in the Legal Being and Conftitution 
 of Parliament?, whether that which hath -been ufual and ordinary, 
 according to the Common Law ; or that which of late hath been 
 Extraordinary, by exprefs Statute, for the continuance of the Par- 
 liamenr, 17. Car. until diffolved by Act of Parliament. 
 . For together with tfce Legal Being which is given to Regal 
 
 Power, 
 
( 99 ) 
 
 Power and the Prerogative of the Crown, there is the Legal Pow- 
 er and Being relerved alfo unto that Body, which is the Peoples or 
 Kingdoms Reprefentative, who are' the Hands wherein ihat which 
 is called Power Politick is feated, and are intruded with giving 
 or with hol3ing the common Confent of the whole Nation, accord- 
 ing to the bed of their Understandings, in all matters coming be- 
 fore them, and are to keep this Liberty Inviolate and Entire, a- 
 'gainft all Invafions or Encroachments upon it, whatfoever. 
 
 This fecond Power in the- very Writ of Summons for calling a 
 Parliament, is declared to be of that Nature, that what the firft: 
 doth without obtaining the Confent and Approbation of the fe- 
 cond, in Parliament, is not binding but ineffectual. And when 
 the Reprefentative Body of the Kingdom, (in and with whom, this 
 Power is intruded, as the Due and Legal Ballance and Boundary 
 to the Regal Power, fet and fixed by the Fundamental Conftituti- 
 on ) is made a ftanding Court, and of that Continuance, as not to 
 be ditTolvable but by its own confent ; during fuch its continuance, 
 it hath right to preferve it felf from all violent and undue DiiTo- 
 lution, and to maintain and defend its own Juft Priviledges, a 
 chief of which is, to binde or loofe the People, in all matters 
 good or hurtful to them, according to their beft Judgement and 
 difcretion. 
 
 In the exercife of this their Trulf, they are Indempnified by 
 Law, and no hurt ought to come unto them ; that Governing Pow- 
 er, which is originally in God, and'tlowes at firft from him, as the 
 fole and proper Fountain thereof, is brought into exercife amongft 
 men, upon a differing and diftinft account. 
 
 Firft, As it is a Truft and Right derived conditionally from God 
 to his Officers and Minifters, (which therefore may be loft ) who 
 being called by him, and in the courfeof his Providence, to the 
 exercife of it, are to hold it of him the Univerfal King, and to own 
 themfelves in the exercife thereof, as his Vicegerents, to cut off 
 by the Sword of Juftice evil-doers -, and to be a Protection and en- 
 couragement to them that do well. But becaufe it is part of God's 
 Call of any perfon to this high Truft, to bring him into the pofTef- 
 .{ion and free Exercife thereof, by the common confent of the Body 
 of the People, where fuch Soveraign Power is fet up, unlefsahey 
 have forfeited this Liberty. Therefore, 
 
 Secondly , God doth allow and confer by the very Law of Na- 
 ture, upon theComrnunity or Body of the People (that arere- 
 
 N 2 latcd 
 
( I0 ° ) 
 
 la ted to, and concerned in the right of Government, placed over 
 them.) the Liberty by their common Vote or Suffrage duely given, 
 to be Aden revs or DiiTenters thereunto, and to Aftirm and make 
 Stable, or Diioilow and render Ineffectual, what Hull apparently 
 be found by them to be for the good or hurt of that Society, whofc 
 welfare next under the juftice of God's Commands and his Glory, 
 is the Suprcam Law, and very end of all Subordinate governing 
 Power. 
 
 Sovereign Power then comes from God, as its proper Root, but 
 the reitraint or enlargement of it, in its Execution overfuchor 
 fuch a Body, is founded in the common eonfent of that Body. 
 
 The Q&cz of chief Ruler, or Head over any State, Common- 
 wealth, o: Kingdom, iath the Right of due Obedience from the 
 People infeparabiy annexed to it. It is an Office, not oneiy of Di- 
 vine Inftimtion, but for the Safety and Protection of the whole 
 Body or Community,, and therefore juftly and neceffarily draws to 
 it, and engages their Subje&ion. 
 
 This OfHceof theSoveraign,according to the Laws, and Funda- 
 mental Constitutions of the Government of EngUnA, is miniitred 
 by the King in a twofold Capacity,as his Will and perfonal Com- 
 mand is in Conjunction and Agreement with his People in Parlia- 
 ment, (during, the Seffion thereof ) or as it is in Conjunction and 
 Agreement with the Law, the Parliament not Sitting. But his 
 Will and Perfonal Command Tingle, in dif-jun&ion and difagree- 
 fyomthe Parliament or the Laws, hath not the force of a Law, 
 faith Fortefctte, and gives the Reafon of it, Becaufe this is a limit - 
 ted {JMonarchy, where the Kings Power ( as to the txercifeofit ) is 
 enely a Tower Politic^. 
 
 The Obedience then which from the Subject is dwz to the 
 King, and which they are fworn to perform by the Oath of Alle- 
 -gm nee, is to him, in the rniniftry of the Roy\l Office, accor- 
 ding to the reafon and intent of the Fundamental Compact and 
 Conftiiution, and according, to his own Oarh, which is to Govern 
 by Law ; that is, to Exercife his Rule or Royal command; ng Pow- 
 <t, rr? Conjunction and Agreement with the Parliament when fit- 
 ting, an 1 in Con junction, and Ag r eeT.ent with the I ,a»vs of the 
 S-and, ihcy not fu ting. To exerciie his Power otherwife, is and 
 tiattrbeett llwayes judged a grievance to the People, and a 
 gn&gtgamftGbii which is the original Right and jiift liberty of 
 iteC*minuBity^ wbt ascoot to be bound to fuch pergonal. Com, 
 
 mands 
 
( ioi) 
 
 mands at will and pkafurc, nor compelled to yield Obedience 
 thereunto. 
 
 The contrary hereunto was the Principle a^bottom of the Kings 
 Caufe, which he endeavoured to uphold and maintain, in order to 
 decline and lay afide the Legal Reftraints as aforef aid, which the 
 Government of England by the Fundamental Conftitution, is fub- 
 jecled unto, as to the exercife and miniftery of the Royal 
 Office. 
 
 From the Obfervation and Experience which the Pople of £»- 
 gland had, and made many years together,by their Reprefentatives 
 in Parliament, of a defire in the King to (hake off thefe Legal Re- 
 ftraints in the Exercife of the Regal Power, and on their having 
 tried the bed wayes and means that occurred to their Underftand- 
 ing>, to prevent the fame, and to fecure to themfelves the enjoy- 
 mentof their Jaft Rights and Liberty, they at laft. pitch- d upon 
 the deiiring from the King, the continuance of the fitting of the 
 Parliament called, 'November 3d i&fo, in-ftich fort as is expreiTed 
 in that Act, 17. Car. wherein it is provided, That it [hall not be 
 Discontinued or Dijfolved, but by Acl of Parliament.. 
 
 This was judged by them, the greateft Security imaginable, for 
 keeping the miniftry of the Royal Office within its due Bounds^ 
 and for quieting the People in rhe enjoyment of their Rights. But 
 experience hath (hewed, that this yet could not be done without a 
 War, the worft and laft of Remedies. For although, their Continu- 
 ance as the Representative Body of the Kingdom, with the Right 
 to exercife the Power and Privil edges inherent in, and infeparable 
 from that Supream Court and Chief Senate ( whereof the King is 
 Head, both making but one Perfon or Politick Body in Law) yet 
 they themfelves, as well as the King, were bound by the Fun- 
 damental Constitution or Compact, upon which the Government 
 was at firit built ; containing ths Condition upon which the King. 
 accepted of the Royal Office, and on which the People granted 
 to him the Tribute of their Obedience and due Allegiance. This; 
 -Condition , ( as the Lawes and Experience declare ) is, that 
 the King (hall exercife his O^cc of Rule over them accord- 
 ing to the Laws, as-hath beenihewed, and as he and his People 
 fhail fjMitime to time agree in Common Council in Parliament, 
 for thJKnd aiiernbied. Inrefpecl hereof, the Laws fo made, are 
 called the Concordsor Agreements paifed between the King and 
 ihe Subject, in the $d part of Cooks Inftittttes* 
 
 Thefe 
 
(102 ) 
 
 Thefe Agreements then are the Standard unto the Kings Rule 
 and the Peoples Obedience, fignifying the juftice of kis Com- 
 mands, and the dueaefs of their Allegiance. . „ 
 
 But the cafe fo happening, that this Conjunction and Agree- 
 ment which ought to be found between theperfonal Will of the 
 King, and Reprefentative Will of the Kingdom jfaiiing, and thefe 
 two Wills declaring themfelves in Contrariety and Opposition, 
 both of them becoming (landing Powers, Co-ordinate and diftincl: 
 parts of the Supremacy, as the two Channels wherein the Suprema- 
 cy is placed and appointed to run, as to its exercife,by the Funda- 
 mental Conftitution ; hence iprang the War, each afferring and 
 endeavouring to defend and maintain their own part and right,' 
 which ought not to be kept up in dif- junction and contrariety, but 
 in Unity and Agreement each with other. Thefe two Parties with 
 their Adherents, in this Cafe, may be according to the Law, Con- 
 trarients one towards another, as the Law affords an Example, in 
 the Preamble to Cool£s 4th Part of his Inliitutes ( not properly 
 Traytors ) being co-ordinate Powers, parts of the Supremacy,that 
 are the Heads to each Party _• and by confequence have a right of 
 making a War, as their laft Appeal, if they cannot otheiwifc 
 agree. 
 
 Being once entred thus into a ftate of War and actual Enmity, 
 they do as it were become two Nations, and ceafe to be under the 
 Obligations they were in before, for during this ftate of War and 
 Enmity, the (landing Laws ( in a fort ) ceafe, and a new way of 
 Rule each Party Forms to himfelf and his Adherents, as may beft 
 confift for each of their Safeties and Prefervations. 
 
 Upon this Disjunction of the two Wills, in the Harmony and 
 Agreement whereof, the Supremacy is placed , thefe following 
 Queries do naturally arife ; 
 
 Firll. 
 
 To which, or whether of thefe by Law k the Allegiance required -as 
 due } Is it to be yell. led to the Per fond Will of the King Jingle, in dif- 
 juntlion from the Will of the Reprefentative Bod/ of the Kingdom, or to 
 the Will of the People , in dif- junSlion front the Will of the Kixg ? Or is 
 it to the PerfonalWill of the King, in conjunction with the haws, though 
 in opp '9 'fit ion and contrariety to the will of the Kingdoms Repr^mtairoe 
 in Parliament Affembled ? Or is it to the Will of theKlngWms Re- 
 presentative, in conjunction with the Laws y though in oppofition to the 
 i 1 a fond Will of the King t 
 
 The 
 
( 10$ ) 
 
 The Second Querie is, 
 In whofe Judgement in this cafe are the People by Law to acquiefee, 
 m to the declaring with whom the Laws are f Whether the - Per fond 
 Judgement of the King fingle y or the Vote of the Senate , that is y the 
 Kingdoms Reprefentative Body f 
 
 The Third Querie is, 
 With whom will the Laws be found to go in this Cafe, fo rare, unufu- 
 al y and 'never happening before % and who is the Proper and Competent 
 Judge? Alfo, whether the Laws be not perfectly filent, as never f up- 
 poftno- (uch a Cafe poffible to happen^ by reafon that the Power ufed by 
 the one for Dijfolvingthe other, never before fuffered the Oppofition ta- 
 riff fo high.} 
 
 The Fourth Querie is, 
 Whether he, in this? Cafe, that keeps his Station and place ofTruft, 
 wherein God and the Law did fet him, with care to demean himfelf ac- 
 cording to the beft of his ZJnderflanding, agreeably to the Law and 
 Cufiomes of Parliament, and purfuant to their Votes and Directions,, 
 ( f° long as i hey fit and affrm themf elves to bs a Parliament ) and ufes 
 his beft endeavours in the exerclfe of that publickjTrufl, that no Detri- 
 ment in the^ general come unto the Common-wealth by the failer of 
 Juftice, and the neceffary Protection due from Government, without any 
 defigning or intending the.Subverfion of the Confiitution, but onely the 
 fc curing more fully the Peoples Liberties and jufi %l ) ghts,from all fu- 
 ture lnvafions and Opprejfions, be not fo far from defervmg to be judged 
 Criminal in refpeci of any Law of God or Man, that he ought rather to 
 be affirmed One that hath done his Duty, even the next befl that was 
 left to him, or poffible for him to do, in fuch a dark^fiormy^feafon, and, 
 fuch difficult Circumfiances ? 
 
 As to the Right of the Cayfe it feiiyit arifeth out of the matter of 
 Facl that hath happened, and by the Jutland Wife Providence of 
 God, hath been fuffered to (Ute it felf, in the. Cornell between 
 the Perfonal Will and declared Pleafure of the King, on the one- 
 Hand, and the publick Will or Vote of the People in Parliament, 
 on the other, declaring it felf either in Orders or Ordinances o£- 
 bo.h Houfes,or in the iingle Ail of the Houfe of Commons, aflert- 
 .ingit felf a Parliament, upon the Grounds of the Acl, 17 Car.. 
 providing againil its diffolution. 
 
 This will rppear with the more evidence and certainty, by con- 
 fidering wherein either part had a wrong Cai:fe,or did or might do- 
 that which was not their Daty ; takingihe inquire oj^ihdr j5.nfy 
 
( *°4 ) 
 
 from what as well the King as the Peoples Representative are ■ob- 
 liged unto, by the Fundamental Conftitution of the Government, 
 which binds them in each ofjtheir Capacities and diftinft Exerci- 
 fes of their Truft, to intend and purfue the true good and welfare 
 of the whole Body or Community as their End. This ( in effed ) 
 is to detain the People in Obedience and Subjection to the Law of 
 God, and to guide them in the waves of Righteoufnefs unto God's 
 well-pleafmg : and to avoid falling out or difagrecing about the 
 Way or Means leading to that End. 
 
 Hence that party which in his or their actings was at the gtiat- 
 ert diftance Rom, or oppofition unto this end, and wilfully and nn- 
 neceffarily difagreed and divided from the other, in the Ways and 
 Means that were moll likely to attain this End ; they were afiurcd - 
 ly in the Fault, and had a Wrong Caufe to mannage, under Whac 
 ever Name or Face of Authority it was Headed and Upheld, 
 fuch a Wrong Caufe was : of being- efpoufed ?nd marihaged 
 
 under the face of jh t be pretended unto by either 
 
 part. For as the King (inditing upon his Prerogative, and the 
 binding force which his perfonal Will and Pleafure ought to have, 
 though in diftin&ion from,and oppofition to his Parliament) might 
 depart from the end of Government, anfwerable to his Truft, and 
 yet urge his Ri°ht to be obeyed ; So the pub-lick Will of the Peo- 
 ple, exercifed in and by the Vote of their Reprefentative in Par- 
 liament, averting it felf to be of a binding force alfo, and to have 
 the place of a Law, though in diftin&ion from the King and Laws 
 alio, (as faith the King ) whatever otherwife by them is preten- 
 ded, might alfo depart from the tru« end of Government, anfwer- 
 able to their Truft, and yet infift upon their Right to be Obeyed 
 and fubmitted unto ; and having Power in their hands, might un- 
 duely go about alfo to compelObedience.lt is not lawful either for 
 Kingo: Parliament to urge Authority and compel Obedience as 
 of Right in any fuch Cafes, where ( according to the Law of Na- 
 ture ) the People are at Liberty, and ought to have a Freedom 
 from yeelding Obedience, as they are and ought to have when ever 
 any would compel them to difobey God, ©r to do things that evi- 
 dently in the eye of Reafon and common fenfe, are to their hurt 
 and deduction. Such things Nature forbids the doing of, having 
 for that very purpofe, armed Man with the defenfive Weapon of 
 refufingtoconfent and obey, as that Priviledge, whereby Man is 
 diftinguithed from a Beaft ; which, when he is deprived of, he is 
 
 made 
 
( i°$ ) 
 •made a Beaft, and brought into a ftate of perfect Servitude and 
 
 Bondage. 
 
 Such a ftate of Servitude and Bondage may by God's juft Judge- 
 ment, be inflicted upon rmn for fin arid the abufe of his Liberty, 
 when by God reftored. The Liberty which man was at firft created 
 in, is that'Priviledge and Right which is allowed to him by the Law 
 of Nature, of not being compelled under any pretence vvhatfoever 
 to (in againft God, or to go againft the true good and welfare of 
 his own Being; that is to fay, of his inward or outward man, but 
 in both thefe cafes, to have and to ule his juft Liberty, to Diifent 
 and refufe to Obey. 
 
 For this every man hath that in himfelf , which by God is made 
 a proper and competent Judge. For, as to all fin againft God, and 
 therighteoufaefs of his Law, the Light of Conscience* that is ta 
 fay the Work of the Law, in and upon the Mind or inward Senfe, 
 and in conjunction with'it, doth lighten every one that cometh in- 
 to the World, accufingor excufing, if it be but hearkened unto, 
 and kept awake. And for all fuch actings , as tend to the ruine 
 and deftruction of man, in his outward and bodily concerns, 
 and as he is the Ob Jed* of Magiftratical Power and Jurisdiction, e- 
 very man hath a Judgement of common Senfe, or a way of difcern- 
 ing and being fenfible thereof, common to bruit Beafts, that take in 
 their Knowledge by the door of their Senfes, but is much height- 
 ned and enobled in man, by the perfonal union it is taken into, 
 with his intellectual part, and intuitive way of difcerning things, 
 through the inward reflectings of themind,compared with the Law 
 of God. This inferiour Judgement in man, when it is conjoyned 
 with, afid confirmed by the Judgement of his Superiour paxt, is that 
 which we call Rational, or the dictates of right Reafon, that man 
 hath a natural right to adhere unto, as the ordinary certain Rule, 
 which is given him by God to walk by, and againft which he ought 
 not to be compelled, or be forced to depart from it, by the meer 
 Will and Power of another, without better Evidence; that is, a 
 higher, a greater, or more certain way of difcerning. This there- 
 fore in Scripture is called , Man 's Judgement , or Mans Day y in di- 
 ftindtion from the Lord's Judgement, and the Lord's Day. And this 
 is that, in every individual man, which in the collective Body of 
 the People, and meeting of Head and Members in Parliament, is 
 called, The Supream Authority y and is the publick reafon and wilt 
 of the whole Kingdom ; the going againft which, is, in Nature as 
 well as. by the Law of Nations, an offence of the higheftrank, 
 
 O amongft 
 
C i°« ) 
 
 amongft.alen. Fcr it mud be prefumed, that there is more of the 
 Wifdom and Will of God in that publick Suffrage of the whole 
 Nation-, than of any private Perfon or leffer colle&ive Body, what- 
 soever, not better quallified and principled. For Man is made in 
 God's Image, or in a likenefs, in Judgement and Will, unto God 
 himfelf, according to themeafure that in his nature he is propor- 
 tioned and made capable to be the receiver and bearer thereof. 
 Therefore it is, that the refifting andoppofing either of that Judge- 
 ment or Will, which is in it Self Supream, and the Law to all o- 
 thers, ( or which bears fo much proportion and likenefs to the Su- 
 pream Will, as is polfible for a Society and community of Men a- 
 greeing together for that end, to contrive and fet up for an admi- 
 nistration thereof unco them) is againd the duty of any member 
 of tint Society, as well as it is againd the duty of the Body of the 
 whole Society, to oppofe its" Judgement and Will to that of the 
 Supream Law-giver, their highed Soveraigh, God himfelf. 
 
 The higkeft Judgement ana Will, fet up by God, for Angels and 
 Men in their particular beings,- to hold proportion with, and bear 
 conformity unto, (in the capacity of Ruled, in relation to their 
 chief Ruler) dunes forth in the perfon of Chiift, the engrafted 
 Word. And when by the Agreement or common Confent of a Na- 
 tion or State, there is fuch a Constitution and Form of Adminidrati- 
 on pitched upon, as in a (landing and ordinary way, may derive and 
 conveigh the neareft and greated likenefs in humane Laws, or A&3 
 of fuch a Constitution, unto the Judgement and Will of the Su- 
 pream Legidator, as the Rule and declared Duty for every one in 
 that. Society to obferve ; It is thereby, that Government or Su- 
 pream Power comes to receive Being in a Nation 01 State; and is 
 brought into etfe'reife according to God's Ordinance) and Divine 
 Inftitution. So then, it is not fo much the Form of the Administra- 
 tion, as the thing Adminidred, wherein the good or evil of Go- 
 vernment doth confift ; that is to fay, a greater likenefs or unlike- 
 nefs unto Judgement and Will of the highed Being, in all the Adts 
 or Laws, Rowing from the Fundamental Conditution of the Go- 
 vernment. 
 
 Hence it is, that common Confent,lawfully and"rightfully given 
 by the Body of a Nation, and intruded with Delegates of their 
 o.vn free choice, to be exercifed by thzm, as their Representatives, 
 s well for the Welfare and good of the Body that truds them, as 
 to iur and Well-pleafing of God the Supream Legillator ) 
 
 kj : : Principle and Means, warranted by the,Lavv of Nature and 
 
 Nations, 
 
C *&:) ..... 
 
 Nations, to give Constitution and AdmiiTion to the exercue of Go- 
 vernment, and Supream Authority, over them and'amongft them : 
 Agreeable hereunto , we are to fuppofe , that aur Ancestors in this 
 Kingdom did proceed, when they constituted the Government 
 thereof, in that form of Administration, which hath been derived 
 to us,in the couife and channel of our Cuftomes and Laws ; amongSt 
 which, the Law and Cuftomes in and of the Parliaments, are to be 
 accounted as chief. For, 
 
 Hereby Flrft; The Directive or Legislative Power ( having the 
 Right to State and Give the Rule for the Governors Duty, and the 
 Subjects Obedience ) is continued in our Laws, which as well the 
 King as People are under the Observation of ; witnefs the Corona- 
 tion Oath, and the Oath of Allegiance. 
 
 Secondly, The Coercive or Executive Power is placed in one 
 Perfon, under the Name and StyleofaKing,to be put forth not by 
 his own, lingle, perSonal Command, but by the fignification of his 
 Will and Pleafure, as the Will of the whole State, in and by his 
 Courts of JuStice, and fiated publick Counfels and Judicature?, 
 agreed on for that purpoSe, between him and his People, in their 
 Parliamentary Affemblies. 
 
 The Will of the whole State, thus fignified, the Law it Self pre- 
 fers before theperfonal Will of the King, in diftin&ion from the 
 Lavv,and makes the one binding,the other not. So that the publick 
 .Will of the State, ( figniried and declared by the publick Suffrage 
 and Vote of the People or Kingdom in Parliament Affembled ) is 
 aLegal and Warrantable ground for the Subjects Obedience, in the 
 things commanded by it, for the good and welfare of the whole 
 Body, according to the beft Understanding of Such their Reprefen- 
 tative Body, by it put forth, during the time of its fitting. 
 
 The Body with whom the Delegated Vote and publick Suffrage 
 of the whole Nation is InriuSted, being once Affembled, with 
 Power not to be DilTslved but by their own conSent, in that capa- 
 city the higheftVote and Tiuft (that can be) is exerciSed* and 
 this by Authority of Parliament, unto ex Officio, or by way of Of- 
 fice are the Keepers of the Liberties of England, ox of the People, 
 by the Said Authority, for which rhey are accountable if they do not 
 faithfully difcharge that their duty. This Office of keeping the 
 Liberty, which by the Law of God and Nature is due to the Com- 
 munity or whole Body of the People, is, by way of TruSt, commit- 
 ted by themielves to their own Delegates, and in effect amounts 
 unto this. 
 
 O z i. That 
 
( *°3 ) 
 
 i. That they may of right keep out and refufe any to exercife 
 Rule and Command over them, except God himfelf , who is the 
 5upream and Univerfal King and Governour ; or, fuch as (lull a- 
 gree in their Actings, to bear his Image, ( which is ? to be Juft ) 
 and iliew for the Warrant of their Exercife of Soveraignty, both a 
 likenefs in Judgement and Will, unto him, who is YVifdom and 
 Righteoufnefs it felf ; and the Approbation and common Confent 
 of the whole' Body, rationally repofing that Trull in them, from ■ 
 what is with vifible and apparent Characters manifesto them, of 
 an aptnefs and fufficiency in them, to give forth fuch publick Acls 
 of Government, that may bear the Stamp of God's Impreflion up- 
 on them in the Judgements they do and execute ; efpecially, being 
 therein helped with a National Counfel of the Peoples own choof- 
 ingfrom time to time. 
 
 2. They may of right,keep,hold, and reftrain him or them, with 
 whom the Coercive or Executive Power is intruded, unto a pun-* 
 dual performance of Duty, according to the Fundamental Con- 
 stitution , the Oath of the Ruler, and the Laws of the Land. And if 
 they fhall refufe to be fo held and reftrained by the humble Deftres, 
 Advice and common Confent in Parliament, and the Peoples De- 
 legates be invaded and attempted upon by force,to deter them from 
 the faithful difcharge of this their Duty; they may, in aliening 
 their fright, and in a way of their own juft Defence, raife Armes, 
 put the liTue upon Battel, and Appeal unto God. 
 
 $. Such Appeal an'fvvered, and the iiTue decided by Battel, the 
 Peoples Delegates (till fitting, and keeping together in their Col- 
 lective Body, may of right, and according to reafon refufe there- 
 admilfion or n«w-admimon of the Exercife of the former Rulers, 
 or any new Rulers again over the whole Body, till there be recei- 
 ved Satisfaction for the former Wrongs done, the expence and haz- 
 7ardof the War, and Security for. the time to come, that the like 
 be not committed again. Until-this be obtained, they are bound in 
 duty, in fuch manner as they judge moll fit, to provide for the pre- 
 fent Government of the whole Body, that the Common- weal re- 
 ceive no detriment.. 
 
 4. Inthiswhich is the proper Office of the Peoples Delegates, 
 and concerns the keeping and defending the Liberty and Right of 
 the whole People and Nation, they may and ought, (during their 
 fitting ) to Exercife their own proper Power and Authority ( the 
 ^ents of the Kingdom requiring it ) although- the other two 
 Bhtesjoyntly inftmcted \yith them, (in the exercife of the Le- 
 gislative 
 
C 10 p ) 
 
 giflative Authority ) fliould defert their ftation, or otherwife fai t 
 in the Execution of their Trutts ; yea, or though many or moft 
 of their own Members ( fo long as a lawful Quorum remains) (hall 
 either voluntarily withdraw from them, or, for juft caufe become 
 excluded. In this difcharge of their truft, for the common welfare 
 and fafety of the whole, their Actings- (though extraordinary and 
 contrarient to the right of the other two) cannot be treasonable or 
 criminal, ( though they may be tortious , and erroneous ) feeing 
 they are equals and co-ordinate, in the exercife of the Legiflative 
 Power, and have the Right of their own proper Truft and Office to 
 difchargs and defend, though their fellow Trufteesftiouldfail in 
 theirs. Nor can, nor ought the People, as Adherents to their own 
 Delegates and Reprefentatives, to be reputed criminal, or blame* 
 worthy, by the Law. 
 
 In the exercife of one and the fame Legiflative power ( accord- 
 ing to the Fundamental Conftitution of the Government of £»- 
 gUn&) there are three diftin&publick Votes, allowed forAnent 
 orDifcent, in ail matters coming before them; the Agreement of 
 which is eflentiai and necelTary to the paffing of a Law : the perfo- 
 nal Vote of the King ; the perfonal Votes of the Lords in a Houfc 
 or diftinft Body ; and the Delegated Vote and Suffrage of the, 
 whole People, in their Representative Body, or the Houfe of Com- 
 mons. Unto each of thefe, appertains a diftincfc Office and Privi- 
 ledge, proper to them. 
 
 i. The Regal Office, and the Prerogative thereof to the 
 King. 
 
 2. The Judicial Office, to the Lords, as the higheft Judicature 
 and Court of Juftice under the King, for the exercifing Coercive 
 Power, and punifhing of Malefactors. 
 
 3. The 0?ticz of the Keepers of the Liberties and Rights of the 
 People, as they are the whole Nation, incorporated under one 
 Head,by their own free and common Confent. 
 
 The Regal Office is the Fountain of ail Coercive and Executive- 
 Power, purfuant to the Rule, fet to the fame by Law, or, the: 
 Agreement of the three Eftates in Parliament. 
 
 The Rule which is fet ? is that of Immutable Juft and Right, ac- 
 cording to which, penalties are applicable, and become due, and is 
 firft ftated and afcertained, in the declared Law of God, which is 
 the fignification or making known by fomefign, the Will of the 
 Supream Legiflator>proceeding from a perfect Judgement and Un- 
 demanding, that is without all Error or Defeat. 
 
 The 
 
( no ) 
 
 The Will that flowes from fuch a Judgements in its nature Le- 
 giflafive, and binding, and of right to be obeyed for its o\yn fake, 
 and the perfection it carries in it, and with it, in all its actings. 
 This Will is declared by Word, or Works, or both. By Word we 
 are to u-nderitand , either the immediate Breath and Spirit of 
 Gods mouth or mind, or the Infpiration of the Almighty, mini- 
 llred by the holy Ghoft, in and by ibme creature, as his veilel and 
 inftrument, through which the holy Scriptures of the old and new 
 Teftament were compofed. By works that declare God's Will, 
 we are to underftand the whole Book of the Creature, but more 
 eminently and efpecially,the particular Beings and Natur.es of An* 
 gels and Men, who bear the name and likenefs of God in and upon 
 their Judgements and their Wills ; their directing Power,and their 
 executive Power of mind, which are eiYential to their Being, Life, 
 and Motion. 
 
 • When thefe direct and execute, in conjunction and harmony with 
 God's Judgement and Will, made known in his Law, they do that 
 which is light; and by adhering and conforming themielvcs unto 
 this their certain and unerring Guide, (do become Guides and Ru- 
 lers unto others, and are the Objects of right choice, where Rulers 
 are wanting in Church or State. 
 
 The Rule then to ail action of Angels or Men, is that of moral 
 or immutable Juft and Right, which is ftated and declared.in the 
 Will and Law of God. The firlt and higheft imitation of this Rule, 
 is the Creature- being in the perfon of Chrift. The next is the 
 Bride the Lambs Wife. The next is the innumerable Society of 
 the holy Angels. The next is the Company of Juft Men, fixed in 
 their natural Obedience and Duty, through Faith, manifefting it 
 felf not onely in their Spirits, but in their outward Man, redeemed 
 even in this World, from the body of corruption, as far as is here 
 attainable. The Power which is directive, andftates and afcertains 
 themorallity of the Rulefo: Obedience, is in the Law of God. 
 But the original, whence all juft executive Power arifes, which is 
 Magiftratical and Coercive, is from the will or free gift of the Peo- 
 ple, who may either keep the Power in th^mfelves,or give up their 
 Subjection inro the hands and will of another, as their Leader and 
 Guide, if they fhall judge that thereby they ltiall better aniwet 
 the end of Government, to wir, the welfare andfafety of the whole, 
 then if they ftrll kept the Power in themfelves. And when they 
 part with it, they may do it conditionally or abfolutely; and whillt 
 they keep it t they are bound to the right uie of it. In this Liberty, 
 
 every 
 
( III ) 
 
 every man is created, and it is the Pnviledge and juft Right wkich 
 is granted unto Man by the Suprearn Law-giver, even by the Law 
 of Nature, under which man was made. 
 
 God himfelf leaves man to the free exercife of this his Liberty, 
 when he tenders to him his fafety and immutability, upon the well 
 or ill utz of this his Liberty, allowing him the choice, either to be 
 his own guide and feif-ruler,in the ability communicated to him,to 
 know and execute Gods Will, and fo to keep the Liberty he is pof- 
 feffed of, in giving away his fubjection or not ; or elfe upon God's 
 Ciil and Piomiie, to give up himfelf in way of fubjection to God, 
 as his Guide and Ruler, either abfolutely or conditionally. To 
 himieif he expects abfolute Subjection ; to all fubordinate Rulers, 
 conditional. 
 
 While mans Subjection is his own, and in his own keeping, un- 
 beftowed and ungiven out of himfelf, he is not, nor cannot be ac- 
 countable by way of crime or offence, aga'nft his Ruler and Sove- 
 raign, but may do with his own what he pleafe ; but ftill at his pe- 
 rll, if he ufe not this his Liberty as he fhould, to the end for which 
 it is given him, which is by voluntary and entire refignation to 
 become an obedient Subject unto him who is the Suprearn Law-^ 
 giver, and Rightful King, .without pombility of change or de- 
 fection. 
 
 Unto this right and the lawful exercife and poiTeflion of, it this 
 Nation did arive by the good providence and gift of God, in cal- 
 ling and alTe-mbiing the Parliament, November 3d. 1640. and then 
 continuing their Seffion by an exprefs Act, 17. Car. with power not 
 to be diiToived but by their own confent;which was not-fo much the 
 introducing of a new Law, as declaratory of what was Law before, 
 according to Man's natural Right, in which he was created, and 
 of which he was poiTeffed by God, the foveraign giver of all 
 
 tnings. 
 
 But the palling that faid Act of Parliament alone, was not that 
 which reftored the Nation to their original Right, and juft Natu- 
 ral Liberty ; but onely put them in the capacity and polTibilky of ir. 
 That which wanted to make out to theNation a cleamefs in having 
 and obtaining this their right, was the obligation they had put upon 
 themfelves and their pofterities to their prefentSoveraign and his 
 Authority, which in juftice and by theOathesot" Allegiance they 
 were folemnly bound to, in the fight of God as well as of Man. 
 And therefore, unlefs by the abufe of that office of Trull, ( to that 
 degree, as on his p^rt, to break the fundamental compact and con- 
 it itutic-n 
 
tfitution of Government) they could not be fet free nor rcftored to 
 their original Right and firft Liberty : efpecially if together with 
 fuch breach of Truft, both parties appeal to God, and put it upon 
 the iflue of Battel, and God give the decilion ; and in confequence 
 thereof, that original Right be«aiTerted, and poffefljon thereof had 
 and held for fome years, and then not rightfully loft, but trea- 
 cheroufly betrayed and given up by thofe in whom no power was 
 rightfully placed, to give up the fubje&ion of the Nation again un- 
 to any, whatfoever. 
 
 Unto which is to be added, that how and when the diiToluuon of 
 the faid Parliament, ( according to Law ) hath been made , is 
 yet unascertained, and not particularly declared : by reafon where- 
 of, and by what hath been before rhewed, the ftate of the Cafe on 
 the Subjects part, is much altered, as to the matter of Right, and 
 the Ufurpation is now on the other hand, there being, ( as is well 
 known) two forts of Ufurpers ; either fuch, as having no right 
 ofconfentat ail unto the Rule they exercife over the Subject; or 
 fuch, who under pretence of a Right and Title,do claim not by con- 
 fent,but by conqucft and power, or elfe hold themfelves not obliged 
 to the Fundamental compact and constitution of Government, but 
 gain unduely from the Subject, ( by advantages taken through de- 
 teft and violence ) that which is not their own by Law. 
 
 For a rational Man to give up his Reafon and Will unto the 
 Judgement and Will of another, (without which, no outward co- 
 ercive Power can be ) whofe Judgement and Will is not perfectly 
 and unchangeably good and right, is un wife, and unfafe, and by the 
 Law of Nature, forbidden. And therefore all fuch gift, made by 
 rational men, muft be conditional, either implied, or explicite, to 
 be followers of their Rulers, fofgr as they are followers of that good 
 and right, which is contained in the Law of the Supream Law- 
 giver, and no further ; referving to themfelves, (in cafe of fuch 
 defection and declining of the Rulers actings from the Rule) their t 
 primitive and original Freedom, to refort unto, that fo they may 
 in fuch cafe, be as they were before they gave away their fubje&i- 
 on unto the Will of another ; and referving alfo the power to have 
 this judged by a meet and competent Judge, which is the Reafon of 
 the King and Kingdom, declared by rheir Representatives in Par- 
 liament ; that is to fay, the Delegates of the People in the tfoufe 
 of Commons allembled, and the Commissioners on the Kings be- 
 half, by his own Letters Patents, in the Houle of Peers; which two 
 concurring do very far bind the Kwig., if not wholly. 
 
 And 
 
( "3 ) 
 
 And when thefe cannot agree, but break one from another, the 
 Commons in Parliament aiTembled , are ex Officio^ the Keepers 
 ©f the Liberties of ffie Nation, and righteous Pofleifors and De- 
 fendors of it, againft all lifurjpers and Usurpations whacibever, by 
 theLawsofi^W. 
 
 The Valley 0/ Jehoftiaphat, confidered and opened, by comparing 
 2. Chron. 20. with Joel 3. 
 
 IT was the faying of Auftlne ; Nothing falls under our fenfes, ot 
 happens in*this vifible World, but is either commanded or 
 permitted from the invifible and unintelligible Court and Paliace 
 of the higheft Emperor and univerfal King, who is the chief over 
 allthekingsof the earth. For although he hath both commanded 
 and permitted a fubordinate external Government over Men, ad- 
 miniftred by man, for the upholding of Juftice in humane Societies , 
 and for the peace, welfare,and fafety of men that are made in Gods 
 Image ; yet, he hath not fo entirely put the Rule of the whole earth 
 out of his own hands, but that in cafes of eminent in juftice and op- 
 preflion (committed in Provinces, States and Kingdpmes, contrary 
 to his Lawes, to their own, and the very end of Magiflracy, which 
 is, the confervation of the Peoples juft Rights and Liberies ) He. 
 that is higher than the higheft amongft men^doth regard, aticl will fliew 
 by fome extraordinary interpofitron of his, that there are higher 
 than they. 
 
 Such a feafonable and fignal appearance of God, for the Succot* 
 and Relief of his People, in their greateft Straits and Exigencies, 
 (when they have no might, vifible Power, or armed Force, to un- 
 dertake the great company and multitude that comes againft 
 them, nor know what to do y fave onely to have their eyes towards 
 him) is called in Scripture, The day of the Lord's Judgement. Then 
 the Battel and caufe of the Quarrel, will appear to be not fo much 
 theirs, as the Lord's : and the frame of their heart will be humble 
 before the Lord, believing in the Lord, and believing his Prophets,* 
 for then' good fuccefs and eftablifhment. 
 
 This Difpenfation is very lively defcribed under the Type, and 
 by the Name of The Valley cf Jehojhafhat^s to the Seafon and Place 
 wherein God will give forth a fignal appearance of himfelf in 
 Judgement, on the behalf of his People, for a final decifion of the 
 
 ' P Con- 
 
( «4) 
 
 Controverhe between them and their enemies. ItLitterally and 
 Typically fell out thus, as is at large recorded, zChron. 20. 
 
 By way of aliuhon to this, and upon occafion of the like, yea, and 
 far greater Extreamities, which God's People in the laftdayes* 
 are co be brought into, is thatProphcfie, Joel 3. for alike, yea, 
 a far greater and more fignal appearance of God for their Deliver- 
 ance and Refcue, in order to a final Decifion of the Controverfie, 
 between his People and the Inhabitants of the earth, by his own 
 Judgement. This is there called, The Valley of Jehojhaphat ,in which 
 the Lord will fit to Judge all his enemies round about. In this 
 Battel and great Decifion of his Peoples Controverfie,he willcaufe 
 his Mighty Ones- to come down from. Heaven, to put in their fickle 
 as reapers in this Vintage and Harveft , when the wicked- 
 nefs is great. Unto this, Revel. 14. 14, 20. refers, which 
 doth plainly evidence, that this grand Decifion is to fall out in the 
 very laft of times, and probably, is that, which will make waf to 
 theRihng of the WitnelTes, and will be accompanied with that 
 Earthqnzkj, in which frail be fialn, of men [even thoufand, and the tenth 
 ■part of the City will thereupon/*//, 'l{gv. 1 1. 
 
 It is exprelTed, Joel 3. That in this day of the Lord, wherein he 
 will be near, In the Valley ofDeclfan y the Heavens and the Earth fh all 
 jhake y by the Lords own roaring out of Sien • and he hlmfelf will be the 
 Harbour ,Hope and Strength of his People. The Sun and. Moon of. earth- 
 ly Churches and Thrones of Judicature, that conteft with them y 
 frail be darkened, and the Stars , (even the choiceft and moft illumi- 
 nated gifted Paftors & Leaders, in the earthly Jerufalem Churches, 
 with their moft refined Forms of Worfhip, refifting the power of 
 «%rue fpiritual Godlinefs) frail withdraw their frlnlng. Even their 
 holy flefh will pafs off from them and confume away upon their fpi- 
 ritual lewdnefs, and confident oppofing the Faith of Gods Elecl, 
 Jer. 11. 17. Their very Eyes will confume away In their hole s y with 
 which they fay , we fie 5 and for Which, Chrift tells the Pharlfees, in 
 like cafe, that therefore t her fin remalneth. ( John 9 . 4 1 .) Or, there 
 temalneth no more benefit from thrift's Sacrifice, for their fin ; and 
 therefore onely a fearful looking for of the fiery and devouring Indignati- 
 on, Heb. 10. 26, 27. 
 
 Here's that, the great confidence and boaft of many profetfing 
 Churches and eminent Paftors in the earthly Jerufalem Fabrick, or 
 Houfeonthe fand, will come to, Ez,e\ a 13. and Afat. 7, Their 
 very Eyes, their high enlightenings and excellent fpiritual Gifts, 
 their fupernatural or infufed humane Learning, that's admit:ed on- 
 
( «IJ ) 
 
 ly as an adorning and accomplifhment of the natural man, (unac- 
 companied with that Fire-Baptifmc^ that's performed by the un- 
 fpeakable gift of the Spirit it felf, for the transforming of the na- 
 tural man into fpirituai ) even thefe Eyes becoming evil, ( Mat. 
 tf.23.)and this light,oppofing and preferring it felf to the more ex- 
 cellent difcerning and marvellous light in fpirituai Believers, are 
 turned by the juft Judgement of God, into the greateft and moft 
 fatal blindnefs and darknefs of all. Their tongues alfo, though the 
 tongues of men and angels, for excellency and dexterity of expref- 
 fing what they fee,with theforementioned eyes, will coniume away 
 in their mouth, ( Zech. 14. 12.) and leave them expofed to be- 
 come, and accordingly be dealt with, as m-eer founding brafs and 
 tinckjing Cymbals , ( 1 Cor. 12. 31. and 13. 1.) giving no certain 
 found, and right warning to the Battels of the Lord, the good fight of 
 Faith. 
 
 This comes to pafs through their confidence in thofe attainments, 
 which may be, and oft are turned into an Idol^f jealoufie, and fpi- 
 rituai whoredom, Ez,ek. io\ 1, iy. 
 
 All thefe confiderations of Church and State, put together,afford 
 great ground of enquiry, as to the Condition of the times in which 
 we live, how far the face which they bear, (and which God hath put 
 upon them, in the courfe of his Providences, for fome years now 
 paft ) doth fpeak or fignifie the near approach of any fuch extraor- 
 dinary and fignal appearance or day of Gods Judgement, for the 
 Decifion of his own or his Peoples quarrel and controverfie with 
 the prophane Heathen that are round about them, waiting for an 
 advantage, utterly and univerfally to remove and rootthemout 
 from off the face of the whole earth ? 
 
 That which hath been a&ed upon the Theater of thefe Nations-,' 
 amongft us, in the true ftate of our Controverfie, feems to be re- 
 ducible to this following Querie ; 
 
 Whether the Reprejentative Body of the Kingdom of England, in 
 Parliament affevtbled y and in their Supream Power and Truft made in- 
 diffolvable y unlefs by their own Confent and free. Vote, and this by parti- 
 cular and exprefs Statute , have not had a juft and righteous Caufe ? A 
 Quarrel more God 9 s y than their own ? 
 
 1 . It may appear they had ; Pirft y from the Ground of their un- 
 dertaking the War ; Was it not in their own and the Kingdoms juft 
 and neceilary defence , and for the maintaining of the publick 
 Rig'ms and Liberties of both ? 
 
 2, Secondly y Was ic not undertaken upon mutual Appeals of 
 
 P 2 . both 
 
( ■"* ) 
 
 both Parties- to God, defiringhim to judge between them, to give 
 the Decision and I flue by the Law of War, ( when no other Law' 
 couldjbe heard ) as the definitive Sentence in this Controverfie, 
 from the Court of Heaven ? 
 
 3. Thirdly y Purfuant to fuch Deciiion, did they not recover and 
 repoffefs the Kingdoms original and primitive 'freedom I Did they. 
 not endeavour to confer ve and fecure it, as due to them by the Law 
 of God and of Nature ? For man was made in God's Image, and 
 all Adams Pofterity are properly one Univerfal Kingdom on earth, 
 under the Rule and Government of the Son of God,, both as Cre- 
 ator and Redeemer. 
 
 By virtue of this original and primitive Freedom fo recovered, 
 they were at their own choice, whether to remain in, and retain 
 this their true freedom (unrefigned and unfubje&ed to the Will of 
 any Man) under the Rule of the Son of God and his Lawes, or elfe 
 to let up a King or any orher Form, of Government over. them, af- 
 ter the mmner of orher Nations. In this latter cafe, it is acknow- 
 ledged, that when a Common-wealth or People, do choofe their 
 firft King, upon condition to obey him and his SuccelTors, Ruling 
 juftly ; they ought to remain fubjecl: to him,according to the Law, 
 and tenor of the Fundamental Compact with him, on whom they 
 haye transferred their Authority. No Jurifdi£tion remaineth in 
 them (after that free and voluntary Act of theirs ) either to Judge 
 the Realm, or determine who is the true Succeflbr, otherwife than 
 is by them referved and ftipulated, by their Fundamental Laws 
 and Conftitutions of Government. 
 
 And though the righteoufnefs of this Caufe(contained in the fore- 
 mentioned particulars) be fuch, as carries in it its own evidence; 
 yet, as (as things have fallen out ) it is come to be oppreiled and 
 Buried in the grave of Malefactors ; in the room of which, a contra- 
 ry Judgement and Way, is viiibly owned, upheld, and intended to 
 be profecuted to the utmoft, for its own faft-rooting and e:hblifh- 
 mcnt ; and this, by "the common Confent and AlTociation of Mul- 
 titudes. What then xemaines for the recovery and reftitution of 
 tint good old Caufe and Way, but fuch a feafonable and fignal ap- 
 pearance of God, (as aforefaid) in the Valley of Jehofiapbat ? What 
 
 C uie taking things immediately into his own hands, for admini- 
 stration of Judgement, and giving the laft and final deciiion? Efpe- 
 cially, fmce what was foretold by 'Darnel, is remarkably acomplifh- 
 cd amonglt us, to wit, that the vifible Power of Gods People fnould 
 be broken andfcattere'd, fc as that theyfhould have no might re- 
 
{ "7 ) 
 
 mYining in and with them, to go againft the Multitudes, that de- 
 fign and refolve their Ruine. 
 
 There is not any remedy left to them, wherein they may expe& 
 fuccefs,but from fuch a iignal day of the Lord's immediate appear- 
 ance in Judgement on their behalf. For their fakes therefore, O 
 Lord y retum thou on high, (Pfal. 7. 7.) take thy' Throne of Judica- 
 ture over men, from which thou haft feemed to have departed, and exe- 
 cute that right eousjudgement ,which thou haft feemed for afeafon to have 
 fuff ended, upon mfe and holy ends beft known to thyfelf. 
 
 In fuch a dark and gloomy day, thofe that truely fear the Lord, 
 are directed and required by him, not to fear or bedifmayed, be- 
 eaufe he will be With them. They are encouraged in the way of 
 Faith onely, to expect this deliverance; even to ftand ftill, as ha- 
 ving no need to fight in this Battel, but onely to fee the Salvation of 
 the Lord, through believing. . 
 
 ANiient Foundations, when once become deftrucYive to thofe 
 very ends for which they were firft ordained, and prove hin- 
 derances, to the good and enjoyment of humane Societies, to the 
 true Worfhipof God, and the Safety of the People, are for their 
 fakes, and upon the fame Reafons to be altered, for which they 
 were firft laid. In the way of God's Juftice they may be fhaken 
 and removed, in order to accomplilli the Counfels of his Will, up- 
 on fuch a State, Nation, or Kingdom, in order to bis introducing a 
 righteous Government, of his own framing. 
 
 This may have been the caufe of our Wandxings as it were in a 
 Wiidernefs, and of God's bringing us back again into Egypt, after 
 our near approach to the Land of Reft; that we have no better 
 known, and had no more care to proiecute, what he principally in- 
 tended in ar.d by all our Changes and Removes, in the courfe of 
 his Providence. Yea we have added this alfo,to the reft of our fins, 
 that we have improved the Gifis and Deliverances that God be- 
 ftoweduponus, another way, and to another end than was by him 
 intended, as well as Providentially intimated^ by that holy De- 
 cree of hjs, in the Decifion, declared at the Trial inhis Mania! 
 Court, \vi h points or Swords. 
 
 Here the great Controveriie that had been depending many Ages 
 between Rulers and the Ruled, ( as to the Claimes of the one in 
 point of Prerogative • and of the other in their Spiritual' and Tem- 
 poral 
 
( "8 ) 
 poral Freedoms)was after many heats & colds,many skirmishings 
 and battels, at laft decided by the Sword. This is a way of Tryal al- 
 lowed by the known common Law oi£ngland, and the Law in force 
 throughout all Nations. By this, the Verdict is given forth from a 
 Court of fuch a Nature, as from whence there is no further ap- 
 peal ; Efpecially fince after the Tryal paft, quiet pofleflion was gi- 
 ven to the Conquerors, and continued lorne years. Upon this, 
 Reafon and Gratitude to God, obliged us to fuch a profecution 
 as might anfvver the true end of Government ; and in efpecial af- 
 ter that manner, as mighc be moft to God's well-pleafmg. 
 
 The Powerful Being which by fuccefs of Armes, as given to the 
 Peoples Reprefentative Body in Parliament, did communicate to 
 it eiTentiallity, according to the nature of that Being, for which it 
 was ordained. For that Being, with Power of continuing together 
 at their own pleafure, were as the Soul and Body, unfeperated,and 
 they might have performed things necelTary atprefent, for the 
 fafety and prefervation of the Body they reprefented. They might 
 have been a good help to fettle righteous Government, in a confti- 
 tution moft acceptable to God, and beneficial to the Governed, on 
 the Foundation or God's Institution,- and the Peoples Ordination, 
 in confent.together,laid by the Power of God and the Peoples own 
 Swords, in the hands of their faithful Truftees. 
 
 It would imply a high contempt of God and his Difpenfations, 
 fo fignal araongft us, to communicate the benefit of them to his op- 
 pofers. The right of chooiing and being chofen into places of Truft 
 in the Government, was returned by the Law of the Sword (which 
 is paramount to aH humane Laws ) into its primitive exercife, 
 which is warranted by the Law of God and of Nature. By that Law 
 the moft famous Monarchies of the World in all Ages were firft 
 conftitured and fetled ; and by it God decided our Caufe, looking 
 for an event and fruit anfwerable to the benefit by him given; even 
 fuch a Government, as God would have given us the Pattern of 
 ( had we fought it, as was our duty ) whereby Juftice and Mercy 
 iliould have been daily adminiftied according to his will, to the 
 bringing on the new Heavens and new Earth , wherein Rghteoufncfs 
 mjrht dwell. 
 
 The Veflel of this Common- wealth now weather-beaten and 
 torn , feems to be more in danger, than that wherein Jonah would 
 have fkd to Tarfu* : For though we have caft forth a great part of 
 our goods tofecureit, this has done us but fmall good. That Ship 
 had but one Delinquint aboard, which occasioned the Storm ; and 
 
 his 
 
( tip ) 
 
 his being thrown into the Sea, brought immediate fafety. They had 
 alfo many skilful Seamen to guide it, but all our Pilots are caft 
 over-board, and none left in appearance, but guilty PaiTengers. 
 Nay, admit with Jonnh^ both the Common-wealth and Caufe be 
 brought into moft defperate Exigents and Extreamities , from 
 whence there is no more appearing redemption for them, then (uch 
 as they have y that go down quick into the grave and belly of the 
 Whale ; yet they may be preferved, even by that which naturally 
 of it felf is irrecoverably deftrudtive to them, and be employed a- 
 gain infervice by him againft whom they have been fo ungratefully 
 rebellious after former great deliverances. So infinite are God's- 
 Mercies, yea, fo exceeding Merciful are the fevered of his Judge- 
 ments and Difpenfations towards his People. 
 
 Thus may both People and Army be deprived of their Power, 
 and another party let in to plague and root out frorri amongft us, 
 fuch as are more wicked than themfelves, and fo make room for a 
 more righteous Generation, which will begin all things anew. 
 
 By the courfe of things a&ed amongft us, God's fentence on our 
 behalf is made void, and that feems given away for ever, which 
 was recovered by the Sword. Our troubles are onely prorogued. 
 No Faith or Contract is thought meet to be kept with Rebels 
 and Hereticks, when by acquired Power it may be broken. 'Twas- 
 the great folly and felf- flattery of fome, to think it would be other- 
 wife. It is moft certainly true, that no Time or Prefcription, is a 
 juft Bar to God's and the Peoples Right. 
 
 To marmure againft Go^'s Verdift, and refill; his Doom, fo fo- 
 lemnly given and executed amongft us, in the fight and concurring 
 acknowledgement of the Nations round about, is to become adver- 
 faries to God, and to betray our Countrey. If God then do think 
 fit to permit fuch a difpenfation to pafs upon us,it is for the punilli- 
 ment of our fins, and for a plague to thofe that are the Actors there- 
 in • to bring.morc fwifc exemplary vengeance upon them. Such as 
 iiave difcharged a good Confcience in what may moft offend the 
 higher Powers, arc not to fear, though they be admitted to the. 
 exercife of their Rule,with an unreftrained Power, and revengeful 
 mind. 
 
 Though from that Mountain, the Storm that comes, will be ve- 
 ry terrible, yet fome are fafeft in Scorms,as experience fhews. Yea 
 beft therein by Gods Mercies, when their greateft enemies think 
 moft irrecoverably to undo them. 
 
 Oui late Condition held much refemblance with that of the 
 
( 120 ) 
 
 J ewes j and we deferve as well to be rejected as they were. I£ 
 Cfarift were in the fieih among!! us, as he was with them, we are as 
 likely to prefer theeves and murtherers before him, and crucifie 
 him. 
 
 The prefent neeeffity in a righteous Caufe is to be fubmitted to f 
 and we are not to be dilcouraged by the danger, which to fome 
 ieems threatned us, from former or prefent Laws. For no man that 
 acts for common fafety, when the Sword hath abfolute power, and 
 fhall alfo command ir, can juftly be queftioned afterwards for act- 
 ing contrary to fome former Laws,which could be binding no long- 
 er then whilft the Civil Sword had Soveraignty. 
 
 What People under Heaven have had more Experiments of God's 
 timely aiTiftance in all their Extreamiues,then£^/^-wf», as well 
 with refpecl: to times paft, as within our remembrance ? Are the 
 like Mercies recorded of any Nation f In their times of greateft 
 Confufion they were preferved. They were a living active Body 
 without a Head : A BuiL burning in the Flames of a Civil War , 
 yet not confumed : A People when without a Government, not 
 embrued in one ano hers Blood. A wonder to all Neighbours round 
 about, and many fignal Changes brought about without Blood, 
 which indubitably evidences that God is in the Bufh : and would 
 gather us together as Chickens under a Hen, to be brooded by him, 
 if we were noc mort ftubbornly hardened. 
 
 Our fins have been the caufe, chat our Counfels,our Forces, our 
 Wit, our Conquers, and our Selves have been deftrudtive to out 
 felves, to each other, and to a happy advancement towards out 
 long expected and defired Settlement. Until thefe fins of ours be 
 repented truly and throughly, all the Wifdom and Power upon 
 Earth fkall not avail us, but every day, every attempt, will en- 
 creafe our Troubles,until there be a final extirpation of all that hin- 
 ders God's Work ; When this once is, nothing fhall harm us, God 
 being a fure refuge againft all evils, if we reconcile our felves to 
 him by Faith and Repentance. Then, even thole things that arc 
 mod mifchievous in their own natures, (hall be made our advan- 
 tage and fecurity. 
 
 The Peoples Caufe whom God after trial hath declared free, is a 
 righteous one, though not lb prudently and righteffufty managed 
 as it might and ought to have been. God's doom therefore is juft- 
 ly executed upon us, with what intent and jugglings foever it was 
 profecutedby men. 
 
 plan's corruption makes him more firmly to adhere to that which 
 
 is 
 
(121 ) 
 
 is ?ood ; in which cafe, it is not many time?, Virtue fo much as 
 Neceflity that keeps men Conftant ; having no other means or 
 fafety and fubfiftance for the mod part. 
 
 The goodneis of any Caufe is not meerly to be judged by the 
 Events, whether vifibly profperous or unproiperous, but by' the 
 righteoufnefs of its Principles : nor is our Faith and Patience to 
 fatl under the many fears, doubts, wants, troubles, and Power of 
 Adverfaries,in the paiTage to the recovery of our long loft Freedom. 
 For it is the fame Caufe with that of the Israelites of old, of which 
 we ought not to be afhamed or diftruftfui. 
 
 How hath it fared with the Caufe of Chrift generally, for more 
 now than 1600 years, being made the common object of fcorn and 
 perfecution, not from the bafe and foolith onely, but from the no- 
 bleft and wifeft peifons in the Worlds efteem / Yet, though our 
 Sufferings and the time of our warfare feems long, it is very ihort, 
 confidering the perpetuity of the Kingdom which at laft we ihal ob- 
 tain, & wherein we dial individually reign with the chief Soveraign 
 thereof. For whereas all the Kingdoms of the World have not yet 
 Lifted 6000 years, this is everlafting and without end. They that 
 overcome by not loving their lives unto the death, (Rev. 12. n.) 
 {hall be Pillars in the Houfe of this everlafting Kingdom, never to 
 be removed. Theyihall be Kings andPriefts to God, fitting with 
 him upon his Throne, fubje&ing the Nations, and reigning with 
 him for ever and ever. This is a Kingdom that confiits with the 
 Divinity of Chrift, and humanity of men. Such a reign of Chrift 
 upon earth, as will not be without Laws agreeable to humane Na- 
 ture, nor without Magiftrates appointed as Officers under him ; in 
 which Election, God and the People {hall have a joint concurrence. 
 God's Throne in mens Confciences muft then be refigned, and his 
 People permitted to enjoy the Liberties, due to them by the Laws 
 of Grace and Nature. Into this, God's own immediate hand can 
 now onely lead us, by his own coming to Judgement in the Valley 
 of Jebojkaphai. 
 
 CWedimions concerning Mans Llfe^ &c. Penned by this Sufferer 
 in his Prifon State. 
 
 IT is a principal part of Wifdom to know how to efteem Life ; to 
 hold and preierve ? toloofe or give it.up. There is^fcarce any 
 thing man more fails in than this. They that think nothing dearer 
 
 Q. than 
 
( &9 ) 
 
 than Life,efteem Life for it felf r Kve not but to live. Others think 
 th-fhortefiLife beil,either not to be born at all or elie to die quick- 
 ly. Thefe are two extreams. That comes nearer Truth, a Wife Man 
 (aid, Life is fuch a good, that if a man knew what he did in it, he 
 would not accept,at leaft not defire it. Vitam nemo cuperet,fidaretur 
 tantwnfcicntibtis. Wife Men, in living,make a Virtue of Neceflity, 
 live as long as they fhould, not as long as they cam 
 . There is a time to Live and a time to die. A good Death is far 
 better and more eiegible than an ill Life. A wife man Lives but fo 
 long as his Life is more worth than his Death. The longer Life is 
 not alvvayes the better. To what end ferves a long Life I Simply 
 to live, breath, eat, drink, and fee this World ? What needs fo 
 long a time for all this ? Me thinks we fhould foonbe tired with the 
 daily repetition of thefe and the like Vanities ? Would we live 
 Jong, to gain knowledge, experience, and Virtue ? This teems an 
 honeft Defign, but is better to be had other wayes by good men, 
 when their Bodies are in the grave. 
 
 None ufually imploy their time fo ill in this World, as' Men. 
 Non inopcs [nmm vita, fed prodigi. Some begin to live when they 
 fhould die.' Some have ended before they begin. 'Tis-incident to 
 folly to be alvvayes but beginning to Live. Life is but a forrow- 
 ful (late, a perpetual iiTue of Errors. 'Tis a Web of unhappv 
 Adventures • A purfuit of divers Miferies enchained together on all 
 iides. Solttm id cert urn, nil ejfe certi : Nee miferius qmcqaam homine 
 nee fuperbim. Vanity is the moft effential and proper quality of 
 Man's firft Nature. The World is not worth that Labour and Pains 
 Man exercifes in and about it ; which caufed that faying ; A wife 
 man .fhould do nothing but for himfelf. Tis not reaibn wife men 
 jfhould put thsmfelves in danger for Fooles , much lefs for 
 Knaves. 
 
 The W T i!l onely is truly Mans own, and the considerable part of 
 the reafonable Soul. On it depend the ififues of Good or Evil, Life 
 or Death. All the red of a Man, his Undemanding, Memory, Ima- 
 gination, may be taken from him, altered, troubled by a thoufand 
 accidents.. But the W r iil is fo much in our own power, that it can- 
 not be taken away, though its action may be hundred. 'Tis our own, 
 till we knowingly and freely give it away, which may be. And he 
 that hath once absolutely given up his Will to another, is no more 
 his.own man. He hath left himfelf nothing of his own. Tis by the. 
 Will we are good or evil, happy or unhappy. 
 
 Con- 
 
( **1 ) 
 
 Concerning Government. 
 
 He that gives up his Will to the Rule and Government of ano- 
 ther, becomes fubject to that other. Men that are born equal, come 
 to be made fubject two waves ; either, by the free giving up of 
 themfelves to others, or by others violent aiTuming and exerciiing 
 power over them, becaufe they are Grangers, as2v(/WW the mighty 
 hunter of men, ferved his fellow mortals. 
 
 Government is either Royal, or Seignioral andTyrannical,as the 
 Turkj. Tis then properly Royal, be it adminiftred by one, by mi- 
 ny,or by all their Repreientatives,when he or they that ha*ve Sove- 
 raign Power, obey the Laws of Nature , preferve the natural Liber- 
 ty and propriety of die Goods and Perfons of the Subjects, which 
 no reafonable men, acted by found judgement,will ever abfolutely 
 give away, but fecure their right in, and power over, by fundamen- 
 tal Contracts and Agreements with their Governors. 
 
 Abfolute Soveraignty is a perpetual power'over all, without my 
 reftrainc, limitations or conditions pst upon the Soveraign. This 
 confifts in a power of giving Laws to all in general, and to every 
 one in particular, wuhout the confent or gift of any others, and 
 requiring univerfal and undifpenfable obedience to all his Com- 
 mands , under juft penalties. This Soveraignty is proper onely to 
 the higheif Being, no: at all to Creatures, rho.gh where the Go- 
 vernment is Deipotical and Seignioral, it is aifumed and exer- 
 cifed, 
 
 But Government Royal, is that which is confonant to the immu- 
 table Laws of Nature and Dictates of right Reafbn, which require 
 a coni'eivation of the Subjects Liberty, and Propriety in theit 
 goods and perfons, as well as the prefer vation and upholding of 
 Empire and Authority in the Prince, and find out the Medium, 
 through the mutual Agreements of Soveraign and Subjects, for both 
 to confift. 
 
 In Quarrels between Subjects and Soveraigns, about the Subjects 
 Libeuy and the Ki.igs Prerogative, 'tis feldom feen, bat the Error 
 lies on ; he Soveraign's part,who is apt to be flattered into the pre- 
 fumptuous exercifc of fuch an abfolute Soveraignty and Legislative 
 Dominion over them, as becomes no creature, and exceeds all the 
 bounds of that Contact he made with them, at his Inauguration. 
 
 All juft Power ; Authority is from God, and by virtue of his 
 ■Ordinance and Indication. He therefore that repfteth the Power, re- 
 
 a 2 fiftttk 
 
( I2 4 ) 
 
 fifteih the Ordinance of God. But all contrarient a&ings a°ainft the 
 Prince, are not to be accounted a refitting of the Power ; efpecial- 
 ly, when the whole State is concerned, and the bufinefs is managed 
 by publick Truftees, called and authorized' by Law, as Confervers 
 of the State, and Defenders of the publick Liberties and Lawes 
 thereof. In fuch a publick capacity, to ftand in the gap, when a 
 Breach is made, and hinder any charge or attempt that would rui- 
 nate the State, is Duty. In fuch cafe, they ought to withftand and 
 hinder the violent proceedings of any, either by way of Juflice in 
 a Legal tryal,or by force. For the Prince is not Matter of the State, 
 but enely. a Guardian and Defender thereof,from injliries and evil. 
 Ye: thefe affaires, for redrefs of Grievances, in cafe of Princes 
 failers, belong not to all, but to the Tutors and Maintained of the 
 State, or thofe that are ineerefted therein ; as Electors in Elective 
 States, and in Hereditary States, the States General and Reprefen- 
 tative Body of the Kingdom, according to the tenor of their funda- 
 mental Laws. In this cafe it is generally acknowledged lawful, to 
 refift a Tyrant. 
 
 Under thecrofs Accidents, iffuing from fuch Contefts, to which 
 man is fubje& through others arbitrary Domination, he may carry 
 himfelf well, two waves. 
 
 i. By a ftrong and vigorous refinance thereof, to the lail, for 
 diverting or blunting the point of it, fo as either to efcape or 
 force it. 
 
 2. The other way, and that perhaps the fureft, is to take and re- 
 ceive thefe Accidents at the worft, let them prove what they will, 
 though to the lofs of Life and all that's dear to him in this World. 
 To refolve within himfelf to bear them fweetly and patiently, and 
 peaceably to attend whatever fhall happen, without tormenting 
 himfelf about it, or loofing the calmnefs and ferenity of his mind 
 in going about to hinder or prevent it. He that takes the firrt courfe, 
 labours to efcape ; he that takes the latter is content rather to fuf- 
 fer. This many times proves the better bargain. 'Tis pofTible to in- 
 cur greater inconveniency and lofs in pleading and contending, 
 than in loofing, or in flying for fafety, than in flittering. 
 
 Concerning Fnendjhip. 
 
 Perfect friendship is a very plain and univerfal complication or 
 enfolding of two Soules in one, fo,that rhe Conjunction is moft in- 
 timate and inferable. They can no more be divided ; nor would 
 they, if they mii^f , Sectndly^ 
 
 
Secondly ', It is very free, being built upon the pure choice and li- 
 berty of the Will, without any other obligation or forreign mo- 
 tive. 
 
 Thirdly, Without any exception of things , goods , honours , 
 judgements, thoughts, wills, Life. 
 
 Marriage it felf is fome refemblance of this divine knot, as faith 
 the Apoftle, who from thence mounts in his contemplation to the 
 great myfterie of this kind between Chrift and his Church. Abra*. 
 hamis called, the friend of Cod. 
 
 Concerning Entmles. 
 
 In reference to our "Enemies we mufl: take care, not to meditate 
 Revenge. Yet in fome fenfe we may account it an excellent and 
 worthy revenge, to flight the worft they can do, whereby we take 
 away the pleafure which they think to have, in vexing us. We 
 muft in filtering Injuries, have refpecl: to our felves and to him 
 that offends us. Touching our felves, we mull: take heed, that we 
 do nothing-unworthy or unbecoming us, that may give the enemy 
 advantage againft us. As to him that offends us, we fhould be wife 
 as Serpents to wave his alTault, till our hour is come, and we can 
 gain and conquer by dying. 
 
 It is a weaknefs of mind not to know how to contemn an offence. 
 An honeft man is not fubject to Injury. He is inviolable and un- 
 moveabte. Inviolable, not fo much that he cannot be beaten ; but, 
 that being beaten, he doth neither receive wound nor hurt. We can 
 receive no evil but of our felves. We may therefore always fay 
 with Socrates , My enemies mayfut me to death , but they fhall never en- 
 force me to do that which I ought not. 
 
 Evils themfelves, through the wife over-ruling Providence of 
 God, have good fruits and effe&s. The World would fee extinguish- 
 ed and perifh, if it were not changed, fhaken and difcompofed,by a 
 variety and an interchangable courfe of things, wifely ordered by 
 God, the beft Phyfitian. This ought to fatisfie every honeft and 
 reafonable mind, and make it joyfully fubmit to the worft of chan- 
 ges, how ftrange and wonderful foever they may feem, fince they 
 are the works of God and Nature, and that which is a lofs in one 
 lefpe&jis a gain in another. 
 
 Let not a wife man difdain or ill refent any thing that fhall hap- 
 pen to him. Let him know thofe things that feem hurtful to him 
 in particular , pertain to the prefervation of, the whole Uni- 
 
 veifc* 
 
( *M ) • 
 
 vetfe, and are of the nature of thofe things, that finirti and fill up 
 the courfe and ©dice ©f this World. 
 
 {JMcdltatlons on Death. 
 
 IT is afruitoftrueWifdom, not onely Chriftian but Natural, 
 to be found and kept in a frame of mind, ready for Death. 
 
 The day of Death is the Judge of all our other dayes ; the very 
 tryal and touchllone of the actions of our Life. 'Tis the end that 
 crowns the work, and a good Death honoureth a man's whole 
 Life. 
 
 This laft adl, as it is the moft difficult, fo but by this a man can- 
 not well judge of the a&ions of anothers Life, without wronging 
 him. 
 
 A wife Greeks being asked concerning three eminent perfons, 
 which of them was to be molt efteemed, '-returned this Anfwer, We 
 tnafl fee them all three die, before this Queftlon can be refolded ; With 
 which accords that faying of- Solon, the wife Aihemm.to Crafa, 
 when he boaftingly ftiewed him his great Trealures, No man is 19 
 be accounted happy before his Death, 
 
 True natural VVifdompurfueth the learning and pracllfe of dying 
 well, as the very end of Life; and indeed, he hath notfpent his 
 Life lll^hat hath learned to die well. It is the cbiefeft thing and du- 
 ty of Life. 
 
 The knowledge of Dying, is the knowledge of Liberty, the ftate 
 of true Freedom, the way to Fear nothing, to Live well, content- 
 edly and peaceably. Without this there is no more pleaiure in 
 Life, than in the fruition of that thing, which a man feareth al- 
 vvayes to looie. In order to which, we mull: above all endeavour 
 that our fins may die, and that we fee them dead before our felves, 
 which alone can give us boldnefs in the day of Judgement, and 
 m.ike us alwayes ready and prepared for Death. . 
 
 Derrh is not to be feared and fled from, as it is by moil, but 
 fweetly and patiently to be waited for, as a thing natural, reafon- 
 able, and inevrable. lc is to b- looked upon as a thing mania enc, 
 carrying no hum in it. This, that is all the hurt enemies can do us, 
 is that which we fhould defire and feek after, as the onely Havjn 
 of Kelt, from all the Torments of this Life ; and which, as it 
 gives us a fuller fruition of Chrifi, is' a very great gain, that the 
 fooner we are poiTelTors of, the better. 
 
 Death 
 
(IV ) 
 
 Death is the onely thing of all evils, or privations, that doth no 
 harm, hath indeed no evil in it, however it be reputed. The fling of 
 it is fin , and that is the ftkig of Life too. There is no reafon to fear 
 it, becaufe no man knows certainly what it is. This made Socrates 
 refufe to plead before his Judges, for his juftification or Life. For 
 ( faith he ) If I (hould f lead for my Life, and defre of you that I may 
 not die, 1 doubt I mayjpeak against myfielf, to my lofs and hindrance, 
 who may find more good in death than yet I know, Thofe things I know 
 to be evil, ai unrighteoufnefs and fin, I fly and avoid ; thofe that I know 
 vot to be fo, as Death) &c. I cannot fear, and therefore I leave it to yon 
 to determine for me-, whether it is more expedient for me to Dye or to 
 Live, 
 
 He can never live contentedly that tears to dye. That man on- 
 ly is a free man who feareth not Death, Life it ielf being but ila- 
 very, if it were not made free by Dea^h. It is uncertain in what 
 place Death attends us, therefore let us expect ic in all places, and 
 be alwayes ready to receive it. Great virtue, and great or long Life 
 do feldom meet together. Life is meafured by the end, if that be 
 good, all the reft will have a proportion to it. The quantity is no- 
 thing, as to the making it more or lefs happy. 
 
 The Spirit of a good man, when he ceafes to live in the Body* 
 goes into a better fiate of Life, than that which he exercifes in this 
 World ; and when once in that, were it poilible to refume this, he 
 would refute it. Yea were a man capable to know what this Life 
 here is, before he receives h, he would fcarce ever have accepted 
 it at firft. The felf fame journey men have taken, from no being to 
 being, and from pre-exiftent being, into mortal Life, without fear 
 or paffion, they may take again from that Life by Death, into a Life 
 that hath immortality in it. 
 
 Death is the inevitable Law, God and Nature have put upon i;s. 
 Things certain, fhould not be feared, but expected. Things doubt- 
 ful onely are to be feared. Death in ftead of taking away any thing 
 from us, gives us all,even the perfection of our natures ;fets us at li- 
 berty both from our own bodily defires,& others domi.nation;makes 
 the Servant free from his Matter. It doth not bring us into dark- 
 nefs, but takes darknefs out of us, us cut of darknefSj and puts us 
 into marvellous light.. Nothing petifh.es oris diffolved by Death, 
 but the Vail and Covering, which is wont to be done away from all 
 ripe fruit. It brings us out of a dark dungeon, through the crannies- 
 whereof, our fight of Light is but weak and fmall,and brings us in- 
 to an open Liberty, an eitateof Light and Life, unvailed and per- 
 petual. 
 
( "M 
 
 petual. It takes us out of that mortality which began in the womb 
 of our Mother, and now endeth, to bring us into that Life which 
 {hall never end. This day which thou feareft as thy laft, is thy 
 Birth day into Eternity. 
 
 D-ath holds a high place in the policy and great common-wealth 
 of the World. It is very profitable for the fucceilTon and continu- 
 ance of the works of Nature. 
 
 The fading corruption, and lofs of this life, is the paiTage into a 
 better. Death is no lefs eiTentiaitous, than to live or to be born. 
 In flying Death thouflyeft thy felf,thy eflence is equally parted in- 
 to thefe two, Life and Death. It is the condition and Law of thy 
 Creation. Men are not fent into the World by God, but with pur- 
 pofe to go forth again • which he that is not willing to do, fhould 
 not come in. 
 
 The firft day of thy birth, bindeth thee and fets thee in the way as 
 well to Death as to Life. To be unwilling therefore to die,is to be 
 unwilling to be a Man, fince to be a Man is to be Mortal. It being 
 therefore fo ferviceable to Nature and the inftitutionof it, why 
 fiiouid it be feared or Shunned ? Befides, it is neceffary and inevi- 
 table, we muft do our beft endeavour in things that are not Reme- 
 dilefs, but ought to grow refolute in things paft Remedy. 
 
 It is moft juft, realbnable,and defirable, to arive at that place to- 
 wards which we are alwayes walking. Why feareft thou to go whi- 
 ther all the World goes ? It is the part of a valiant and generous 
 Mind, to prefer fome things before.Life, as things, for which a man 
 fhould not doubt nor fear to die. In fuch a cafe, however matters 
 go, a man muftmore account thereof than of his Life. He muft 
 run his race with refolution, that he may perform things profitable 
 and exemplary. 
 
 The -contempt of Death, is that which produceth the boldeft and 
 moil honourable exploits. He that fears not to die, fears nothing. 
 From hence have proceeded the commendable Refolutions and 
 free Speeches of Vertue, uttered by men, of whom the world hath 
 not been worthy. 
 
 A gallant %omane y commanded by Vcfpafian not to come to the 
 Senate, anfvvered, He was a Senator y therefore fit to be at the Senate ; 
 and being there, if required to give his advice , he would do it a* his Con- 
 fcience commanded him. Hereupon being threatned by the Empe- 
 ror, he replyed, Did J ever tell yon, that I was immortal i Do you 
 what you will^and I will do what J ought Jt is m your power to put me un~ 
 jujl/y to death - 3 and in mine to die conflantly. What hard dealing cannot 
 
 he 
 
,. ( ™9 ) 
 
 he fuffer,that fears not to die ? Ocher defignments may be hindred 
 
 by our enemies,but they cannot hinder us from dying. The means 
 whereby to live free, is to contemn Death. It is no §u:eat thing to 
 live, llaves and beafts can do that, but it is* a great matter to live 
 freely, and die hoiieftly, wifely, confb^ly. Emorinoh (faith one) 
 fed me ejfe mortunm^ nihil eftimo ; I wowf not die , but to be dead, I 
 look upon as nothing. But no man can be faid reiolute to die, that 
 is afraid to confront it, and fuflfer with his eyes open, as Socrates 
 did, without p&tfion or alteration. 
 
 In a miferable ettfte of Life, which a man cannot remedy,Death 
 is lawfully defirable, as our belt retreat and onely haven from the 
 (torms of this Life ; and as the Soveraign good of nature, the onely 
 (lay and pillar of Liberty. It is a good time to die, when to live is 
 rather a burthen than a bleiTing, and there is more ill in Life than 
 good. 
 
 There are many things in Life'far woife than D:ath, in refpecl 
 whereof we fhould rather die than live. The more voluntary our 
 Death is, the more honourable. Life may be taken away from eve- 
 ry man by every man, but not Death. 
 
 It is no final reproach to a Chriflian, whofe faith is in immorta- 
 lity and the bleiYednefs of another Life, to fear Death much, which - 
 is the necelTarypaiTage thereunto. He ought rather to"defire and 
 thirll: afcer death, as great gain ; Vham habere in fatientia, & mor- 
 tem in deftderio ; to endure Life, and defire Death. But it is great- 
 er conftancy, well to uie the chain wherewieh we are bound, than 
 to break it. 'A man is not to abandon his charge in Life^ without' 
 • the exprefs command of him that gave it him. Sylvavus and Troxi- 
 mm, being pardoned by Nero^ chofe Death, rather than to Live up- 
 on thofe te'rms. Nerva a great Lawyer, Cdto of Utica^nd others,, 
 died,, as no: able to bear the light of the Weal-publick in that bad: 
 and declining ftate,into which by Cods Providence it was brought^. 
 in their times, but they fhould have considered, 
 Malta dies va-riufq^ labor mutabdis c/£W, 
 %ciidii inmdim. 
 
 A man Ought co carry hitnfelf bhmlefly and with a Iteddy cou- 
 rage in his place and c:.lling, againft his aflailanrs, and confidec 
 that it is better to continue firme and conitant to- the end, then 
 fearfully to By o.i d /e. Ic is not a lets evil to quit the place and 
 fly, than obltinatdy to be taken and perifh. It is- a great point of- 
 wifdom co know 'he right hour and fit feafon to Die. Many men 
 havefurvived their cwn Glory. That isthebsft Death which is 
 
 R we'll- 
 
( *3° ) 
 well recollected in u ielf, quiet, folkary, and attendeth wholly to 
 w h a c at ihat time is fitteft. 
 
 But let us more particularly, and upon truly and purely Chriftian 
 Pjir.c: t >ies, weigh and confider Death. 
 
 They that live by Faith,o^daiiy. The Life which Faith teaches, 
 works Death. It leads up'BK mind to things not feen, which are 
 eternal, and takes it off with, its affections and defires, from things 
 feen, which are temporary. It acquaints the foul experimentally 
 with that heavenly way of converfe and intercourfe, which is not 
 exprefled by fenfible fignes, but by the demonftration proper to fpi- 
 rits, whether angels, fouls feparate, or fouls yet in the body,as they 
 live by faith, not by fenfe. In which refpecl, the ufe of voice and 
 mouth is attributed to God, toChrift, to Angels, who have that 
 with them and in them,whereby they outwardly manifeft what they 
 inwardly conceive, although .they exprefs not ti=ie inward word of 
 their mental conception, by any outward voice, hand, eye,or other 
 external fign, but by the way of its own felf evidencing brightnefs, 
 and eflential demonftration. Such a way of living and {Tuning forth 
 in man's naked eflential beams, he then arrives unto, when the 
 thick vail and wall of his flefh is diffolved, and his earthly taberna- 
 cle put off. 
 
 The knowledge, fight, and experience of fuch a kind of fubfifting 
 and heavenly manner of Life* that man is capable of, is the belt 
 preparative, and molt powerful motive, to leave the body, and 
 iufceale the ufe of our earthly organs. This in effect is all that bo- 
 dily death; rightly known and underftood, doth impart; a lawful 
 furceafing the ufe and exercife of our earthly organs, and our willing 
 and chearful reforting to the ufe and exercife of that Life without 
 the Body, which man is capable to fubfift in, when made perfect 
 in fpirit, an equal and affociate with angels, under the power and 
 order of expreffing what he inwardly conceives, as they do. This 
 made Paul look upon Life in the Body, and Life out of it, with no 
 indifferent eye, but as accounting the being at home in the body, 
 an abfence from the Lord ; and fuch a kind of abfence from the bo- 
 dy as death caufes, to be that which makes us moft prefent with the 
 Lord : which therefore we fhould be moii willing unto, and with 
 ^reateft longing after, defire. The itrait which the Apoftle found 
 himfelf in, was not at all from the leaf* habitation in his mind, 
 which of rhe two, was in it felf beft and to be preferred, but by 
 which Chrift might moft be magnified, and the Church benefitted, 
 according to the will of Chritt. 
 
 So 
 
( i& ) 
 
 So then unlefs? to live were Chrift, and a real and clear magnify- 
 ing of Chrift in his Body, he cared not for Life, but contemned 
 Death. He fa vv evidently how it was his own particular lofs and 
 hindrance, even, not to Die, fi'nce to be diflblved, to depart and be 
 with Chrift, and in the Society of the blefled Angels and Saints in 
 Heaven, was bed of ail, and far more gainful and to be valued by 
 him, than any longer continuance or abode in thefkfn. 
 
 The magnifying of Chrift in his Body, whether by. Life or by 
 Death, was the Confideration with Paul, that held the baliance, 
 caft thefcale, and that onely. So it ought to be with every true 
 Chriftian. 
 
 The end of man's coming into the Body, and his temporary con- 
 tinuance and abode there , according to the Law of his Creation, 
 is the magnifying and glorifying Chrift, either by his Life or by his 
 Death, or both, the one of which if he do not, it muft needs be his 
 fm, and he is left without excufe. For none can violate or corrupt: 
 the mind of man, by the Law of Nature, nor let in Death upon his 
 Spiritual Subftance, but himfelf, though they diffolve his tem c- 
 rary abode in the ftefh, break his outward cafe and ihel ,• and rather 
 than do the one, we fhould choofe the other, choofe affliction rather 
 than fin, the diiiblution of the Body, rather than the corrupting of 
 the Mind. In fo doing and dying, Chrift is magnifyed. Thus Peter 
 was foretold, by what 'Death he fhould glorify God, And tofuch It is 
 trlven by Chrift , not onely to Believe, but Suffer and Die for his Names 
 fake, as a tranfcendent priviledge and honour. 
 
 IT no reftraint then be upon our mind from without, what hinders 
 that Chrift' is not magnified in our Body, but fomething within us t 
 in our judgement, will, and affections, that are not right ^tt and 
 fixed, nor as yet wrought to this felf fame thing by God, who 'hath 
 given m the earn eft of his Sftr'it ? 
 
 But it may be demanded, What is it, in which this great duty of 
 man lies, as to the magnifying of Chrift in his Body by his Lite, or 
 living in the Body, which is a more difficult thing to do than to 
 Die ? Chrift himleif tells us, when he faith, Let yojrr L'ght fo jhine 
 before men, that they may fee, feel, and fenfibly difcern, your good 
 works ; and fo, glorify your fat her which is in Heaven. 
 
 There are two forts of figns we read of, in thofe that believe,, 
 which juftifie their Faith, in conforUnip (as it were) wiih which 
 their Faith works and is made perfect, fo as the worJ^ of Fail h is fid- 
 filed in them with power. 
 
 i. Signs Extraordinary, as MM\ i6. i8, with which the Pri- 
 ll 2 mitive 
 
muive Chriftians were well acquainted, and {'o may all fuch again, 
 as arrive to any competent maturity in that primitive Chriftian 
 Spirit. 
 
 2. Signes Ordinary, as thofe mentioned, Gal. ?. 22, 23. called, 
 the fruits of the Spirit in m,lhn makes US mighty in word and in deed, 
 not onely to will hut to perform that which is good ; by being filed with 
 the Spirit in our very Bodies, made the Temples of the holy Ghoft,rich in 
 Faith and fuch good 'Works ,' as are the fruit of Faith, without which. 
 Faith it f elf is dead and unprofitable ; and by which , Abraham jufti- 
 fied his Faith, and wot called, the Friend of God. 
 
 It is in this fenfe,the Prophet urges thefancYification of our Vef- 
 fels, when he faith, Be ye clean that bear the Veffels of the Lord. And 
 the Apoftle,'wheahe faith, 1 Cor* 6- 19. What! k^-ow ye noi that 
 your Body u the Temple of the holy Ghoft, unto which Redemption 
 by Chrilt extends, as well as to your Spirits? therefore glorify 
 God in your Body as well at in your Spirit, which is God's, and wherein 
 he hath andchailengeth aipeciai propriety. 
 
 The Body in Scripture acceptation, fignifies,not onely the mate- 
 rial fubftmce, from which the Soul is actually feparated., \vb :n ic is 
 laid in the .Grave ; but very ufually the Soul i i , diat is to lay, 
 that part of the Soul, which vitally unites the Body coit felf, whofe 
 falcuty and operation is in and by the Body, and coih properly and 
 immediately exercife bodily Life, as that which is co-natural, and 
 co-eflential to it. 
 
 There is i higher part in man's Soul, called Spirit, in diitincTi- 
 onfrom Soul and Body, exprefled iThef. 5-. 23. as if the Spirit 
 were an entire thing in it felt, though it be that, in and with which, 
 Soul and Body do h conlift, as parts of the whole Man. / pray Cjod, 
 faith the Apoftle, that your whole Spirit, Soul and Body y bepreferved 
 blameleft to the coming ofChrijt,and that ym m-iybe fanctlfed through- 
 out, or in every part of you, in your Soul and in your Body, which are 
 to~be ^fteemed but as parts, comparatively with your whole Spirit. 
 
 Man, confidered as enthc in his Spirit, may have and bath be- 
 ing, before he partakes of Flefh and Blood, as it is written, Behold, 
 faith Chrift, / and the children which thou haft given me. Forafmueh 
 ' then at the children are partakers of Flefh and Blood, he alfo himfelf 
 took,part of the fame : even he, .who, with the children, were a rny- 
 ftery hid with the Father, b: fore the World was, and had their Se- 
 minal and radical Being, in *he Word of Life, the Father of Spirits. 
 In this Word, as in the Image and Mental conception of the invi- 
 fible God, the Souls of all men,even of Chiiit himfelf, as man,were 
 . . • com- 
 
 
, . ( *« ) 
 
 comprehended, as in their original pattern and rule, in order at 
 the time appointed, to come into flefli, and there make their tem- 
 porary abode, allotted to them. 
 
 Bythe Condition and Law of Man's Creation; he is made a Spi- 
 ritual eflence, with two diftin& faculties and operations, according 
 to which he may be faid to be both Immortal and Mortal, Immate- 
 rial and Material, Spirit and Body, as Body fignifies man's animal 
 rational Soul, that is to live in neih, and hath its peculiar denre, 
 faculty, and operation, proportioned thereunto. In all this Man 
 bears the Image and Similitude of God the Mediator, or of the 
 Godhead in Guilt,' as two NaturesJm him are Hypoftatically uni- 
 ted, and make but one ComfoJitum^.piVzrton. This was compre- 
 hended in thatCounfel which the bleiTed Trinity took concerning 
 the making of Man in their Image, and after their Similitude. He 
 Was made male and female in his very Spiritual fubfhnce. 
 
 Firft, with a faculty, and operation of mind, fuperiour, lrronger 
 and more excellent, which is free and independent upon bodily or- 
 g:.ns, gxercifing Life, properly smd purely Spiritual and Immateri- 
 al, above and without the ufe of fdftlible, fignes, or fhapes. 
 
 Secondly, With that infeiiour faculty and operationof mind, 
 whofefubfiitence, life, being, and nr fiott, is in, with, and by the 
 body, and through the u[q: of rx Hy organs, feniible figftes, and ex- 
 ternal mediums, on the lofs of whicfaj this fcc^ d faculty and ope- 
 ration of man's Soul, which is the weaker, i'nf <our, andlefs va- 
 luable, ceafes ; at lcaft, : s for n time fu fpendec,v',iich in Scripture 
 phrafe is called Vfath ; ven the Death of the Body. Yet the more 
 vigorous the exercife of ^his latter is, and the more that thereby we 
 are at home in the Body, 'he more in truth and reality we are dead; 
 atleaft, afleepin the earth, as to our more Noble and Spiritual part, 
 in and through which, we enjoy moft of the prefence of God and of 
 Chrift. 
 
 Since therefore, mans constitution of Being, is fuch, as he can- 
 not live both thefe Lives together, untill the Refurre6tion, but that 
 in the one of them, he mull be incompleat, have his operation 
 much fufpended, and be, as it were dead or afleep. 
 
 To retolve which of thefe to choofe and prefer, ought not to be 
 fo difficult, as commonly it is made. . 
 
 Oj* 
 
( w ) 
 
 On the SUFFERINGS of the Renowned 
 Sir H. Fans, Knight. 
 
 G 
 
 Reat Soul, ne^re Under flood 
 Until deciphered by thy Blocd, 
 ±A Prieft, a Prophet, and a King y 
 Syfteme of every worthy thing. 
 < Dy' m &'> ^M Liberty might Live, 
 The BngUfla Caufe he doth retrieve ; 
 Stating it in no formal drefs, 
 But in the Spirit of Righteoufnefs. 
 Which he from tW earth perceiving fled r 
 Dyd, to 'Return wlth't from the Dead*. 
 Perfons or Forms of Government y 
 Did little make to his intent. 
 To nought was he an Enemy, 
 But what was fix'' d in Enmity* 
 'Gainfl which he fought with eager breathy 
 Became Vicioriom in his Death. 
 And this vet bj necejjity, 
 It -was his Principle to Dye. 
 EleiJo will refifl, but Faith can fuffer, 
 The J oft hand's gone, beware the rougher- 
 Th'envy and hate of every Form, 
 Upon his head pourd down the Storm. 
 Whilfl hefublim'd, and fav'd the good 
 O'th' lowefi, andfeal'd it with his Blood a 
 How great he was, his Enemies tell. 
 Who, while he liv'd, could not be well. 
 jind in whatflead his offering flood, 
 By refolute (ilence, Friends made good. 
 The male oth* Flock^is tane, the befl y 
 To expiate the blame o'th' reft. 
 What tears andprajers wanted inflrength y 
 His crying blood brings down at length, 
 groan, Englifh Hearts ! groan ! hslp the cry. 
 Lord Jefns Come ! I come quickly. 
 
 FINIS. * 
 
The Printer to the leader. 
 
 IT'S very probable thou mayeft meet with fome faults and mif- 
 printings efcaped the Corrector, which could not be avoided,by 
 xeafon of thediftance between the Tranfcriber and the Prefs ; thou 
 art defired to correct: them, and pafs them by with candor. One 
 thou mayeft find in page $ 4, and 57, all thofe words within the 
 Parenthefis,lliould come in after the word Penetent. And page pj- 
 in the Title to that turt, read Cafe for Caufe* 
 
J 
 
 TWO 
 
 TREATISES^ 
 
 An Epiftle General, 
 
 TO THE 
 
 Myftical Body of Chrift on Earth, the Church 
 Univerfal in £ A <B 7 L N. 
 
 1 1. THE 
 
 Face of the 1 imes: 
 
 Wherein is difcovered, 
 The Rice, Progresse, and Issue, of the Enmity 
 and Contest, between the Seed of the Woman 
 and the Seed of the Serpent , (3c. 
 
 The Defign of it being, 
 To awaken up the prefent Generation of Gods People, to 
 a more diligent and curious Obfervation of "the prefent 
 Signs of the near Approach of the Day of the Lord. 
 
 Both written, By Sir H e n r y Vane, Knight, 
 in the time of his Imprifbnment* 
 
 Printed in the Year, i 6 6 i. 
 

A N 
 
 Epftl 
 
 e General , 
 
 TO THE 
 
 MYSTICAL BODY 
 
 O F 
 
 ''■Chrift on Earth, 
 
 TH E 
 
 CHURCH UNIVERSAL 
 
 BABYLON, 
 
 Who are Pilgrims and Strangers on the Earth, de- 
 firing and feeking after the Heayenly Country. 
 
 Written by Sir Henry Vane, Knight*, in 
 the time of his Imprifonment. 
 
 Printed in the Year , 1662, 
 
THE 
 
 Epiftle to the Reader. 
 
 Re a d e r, 
 
 IT might be thought juftly due to this Worthy Piece, efpccially 
 bciag P oft humous, that by the Care of fome or other u fhould 
 not come into the World, without the attendance of fome Preface 
 or Epiftle to the Reader : But there being fo appofic a Lecter writ- 
 ten on the fight of it, by a Pcrfon that well knew the Author, all 
 labour is fparcd the Publisher, fave only the tranferibmg thereof, 
 and commending it to thee, which follows in thefe words. 
 
 My choice Friend, 
 
 THe view 1 had of that General Epiftle, written by that 
 Worthy y Faithful, Dearly Beloved , and Honoured Friend 
 of ours , I cannot fajfe without fome acknowledgment to his 
 Memory , whofe Name lives like a Box of precious Oynt- 
 ment in the Houfe of God. Who in and through the rich Mercies of 
 the Lord, offered up himfelf a living Sacrifice, holy and acceptable , in 
 the day of Power from the Lord, and that wittingly and chearfully, 
 liks * Lamb, whofe great love and burning defires were after the 
 Flock* the Sheef and Lambs of the Lords 
 
 Who, that they might be fed and taught, Jpared not himfelf in life 
 And death , by water and blood , to minifter unto them ; yea, how did 
 the care of all the Churches fall on him f the whole Flock,, the feat- 
 tered and wandring Sheep on the Mountains and Hills, folitary in the 
 Fields, diflper fed in the Woods ', driven into the Wildernefs. 
 
 How did his heart in this Epiftle long and lookjifter them, and call 
 them together under the wing of that one Shepherd .? What a blejfed 
 Example of Patience > Faith and Courage hath he left them ? 
 
 And though many Brethren knew not him, yet he knew them, and 
 ewned them. If he was rejected by many y till now by hii Death many 
 ofthofe Vails are rent % And they mourn over him whom they pierced 
 before ; *How they fee he was a Son and Heir of the Kingdom, of 
 whom this Nation was no longer worthy. 
 
 How had God filled him with the Spirit of Wifdom, Vnderftanding 
 and Knowledg in all the Works & Workmanship of Gods houfe, through 
 the fyiritual view God had given him of the heavenly and eternal 
 
 A 2 things 
 
TO THE READER. 
 
 things themselves, having ta\en him up into the Holy t^Mount with 
 ■"imfelf, where he faw what he is made to teftifie, that which was 
 from the beginnings the Word of Life which he had feen and looked on, 
 his hands handled , his heart pojfejfed of that Eternal Love i Truth 
 and Righteoufnefs with the father, which was made mamfesl unto 
 him. 
 
 So he believed and bears his Record in Truth, having received 
 Power and Wifdom to nnderftand all Myfteries, BezaIcel-//%, made 
 able to kpow and fear ch out the heights and ^depths, and all the fevem 
 ral growths in God's Houfe y to [hew forth and to dtfeover the cunning 
 Works of dtt forts, the curious workings in Gold, and Silver, and tn 
 Praffe ■ ^As appears in his Natural, Legal, and Evangelical Con- 
 fide nee* 
 
 Very skilful alfo are his Carvings and Cuttings of Stones, to fet 
 them in Gold, knowing the value of every of the Precious Stones of 
 Zion, their Qualities and rare Venues, each mo ft coftly ; and to fet 
 them every one in their Order, in their Ranks, Rows and Places, fit- 
 ted for each Tribe and People, (the right Stone for each Tribe ) how 
 to fix them in the Breaftplate of Judgment , each in his fockft of Gold, 
 with their true and right Engravings, Uke a Signet ; how to call and 
 write upon each its true Name and Work^ according to its Nature, 
 (each WorJ^ofthe Spirit after its kjnd ) For the Gifts y the Operations , 
 the Adminiftrations of the Spirit are various and manifold^ to fet 
 forth the manifold Wtfdom of God. 
 
 As in the Natural Creation there are bodies Celefiial and Ter- 
 reftial : The Glory of the Cclcftial is one, and the Terrcftial another; 
 Nay, in the Terreftlal there are varieties* When all the Creatures 
 were made, they were all brought to Adam ; he gave them Names 
 according as they were, to every Creature his own Name ; to the 
 Fifhes in the Sea, to the Creeping-things and Be aft s in the Earth, 
 and to the Fowls in the open Firmament of Heaven, each in their pro- 
 per places and Elements. The Earth brought forth her variety of 
 Herbs 7 Plants, Fruits and Trees, every one after his kind ; all which 
 are but the jhadows of the Kingdom above r the things of higher and 
 better natures. 
 
 ss4s in the Taradife and Garden of the Lord, there were varie- 
 ties of Fruits and Trees both for delight and (hade , with the %_iver to 
 refiejh them ; yea, the very %iver divided tt felftnto four heads, to 
 water every quarter^ unbow tiling tt f elf to them in equal (hares, to feed 
 and make them fruit fuL 
 
 Such 
 
TO THE READER. 
 
 Such is the Universal Love, the Spring and Fountain of Life, in 
 whom all livejnove and have their beings togathir together all things 
 in one, whether vifible or invifible^ at tnto their head ; That as alt 
 {.Mankind are made of one Blood, fo all Souls of one Sprit, who 
 breathed at firfi the Breath of Life into them, that he that was the 
 fir (I may be the lafi t the beginning and the ending y He that was^ 
 and is, and is to come : What di fiance and difference foever there 
 may (eem to be here, yet all the fame % to day,yefterday, and for ever, 
 the fame God, the fame Father of all, the fame Jefus and Saviour, 
 the fame Spirit and Comforter ; yet the Appearances, Manifcftati- 
 ons, Workings and Revelations, manifold and various : And all, to 
 (hew forth the Glory, yea, the Riches of the Glory of Him 3 that hath 
 called us, and workjth all thefe in us and for us. 
 
 Tea y were not the works of the Tabernacle fo ? and yet each beau- 
 tiful in its place, each work^ and workjnanfhip ; fome works of Wood y 
 fome of Stone , others of Brafs, fome of Silver and over-laid with 
 Gold, the choicest of beaten Gold ; and the more holy and tnwarA,the 
 purer, the inmofi the purefl of all ; each room and place as it came 
 nearefi to the living Oracle ( the Mercy-Seat) the narrower ', the 
 finer , the holier \ and the more and the farther any thing or place 
 was diftant from thence 3 the larger and courfer ; the more outward, 
 the lift holy. 
 
 So were the Offerings of the Lord, all pleafant, that came willing- 
 ly ; the skins, the Badgers skins, the red dyed Rams skins ( for the 
 Covering of the Tabernacle on the out -fide) good enough , yet very 
 courfe : the Boards of Shit tern wood, the Curtains, the Pillars of 
 Wood, ofBraJfe, of Wood over -laid with Gold, each according to 
 its place and fervice in the Tabernacle , more or lejfe excellent, as 
 more or lejfe inward or Jpiritual : So was the Linnen, the Purple, 
 the Blue, the Scarlet, and curious Works • the mofi curious and pure 
 for the Vail next the Mercy-Seat* 
 
 So was it m the Compofition of the Perfume and anointing Oyl, after 
 the curious and choice Art of the Apothecary ( that no Compofition or 
 Mixture mufl be made like it ) *f the choicefi Spices. 
 
 So for the Lamps of the Candle fit ckj to give light , and for the Al" 
 tar of Tncenfe evening and morning ( Oh j great u the Myftery of 
 Co Aline fs in all thefe things ) no Lights, but what was made of this 
 pure holy Qyl, mufi burn before the Lord ; if the Pricfis or Levites 
 did bum any other , they mufi be cut off. 
 
TO THE READER. 
 
 And fo for the Incenfe of fweet Spices ; the Lord, that Spirit, is 
 very curious, and can foon jpj/ andfmell out the Mixtures ofFlefh, or 
 any falfe Compositions^ and abhor them. 
 
 So in the Priefis Garments- for Aaron and his Sons to minifter in • 
 the nearer the Mini fir ation was to the Lord, the Purer and Holier^ 
 and the Garments the more curious. 7 'he imbroydcred fine Linnen 
 Coat, holy andyure ; the %obe of the Ephod,of blue ; the curious 
 Ephod with the two pretious Omx Stones^ and the engraving therein, 
 fet on the jhoulder plates ; the curious Girdle of the Ephod, with the 
 wreathes of (fold, and the holy Brefi-platc of Judgement^ with the 
 twelve pretious Stones coupled to the Sphod, and of the fame curious 
 workraanfhip ; with the curious Girdle % the Miter ', the Plate of Holt' 
 xefs, and the Crown for his head. For the other Priefts, not fo curi- 
 ous, nor fuch works , in regard their In ftixutions was lefs glorious* 
 
 In all the fe things, how excellent , how skilful, andwhat a cun- 
 ning fearching Spirit of difcerning and judgement ^ had this wife- 
 hearted Soul ( in the Mysleries ) unfolding the %iddles and hard 
 Sayings, flill opening them in Spirit, faithful in all (jod's Houfe, and 
 keeping nothing of the Counfelofthe Lord back , nor hiding his Light 
 under a Bufioel,but fettingit up in the Candle flick ^ fo, that it gave light 
 to many of the Lord's Houfe, 
 
 I was one of the number of thofe, that conftantly attending on his 
 Difcourfes, as of t as I was in Town, knew him more in his Family 
 Sxercifes and ^Difcourfes for many years than moft ; from whom I re- 
 ceived more help and light in the knowledge of God, than from all the 
 men in the World befides, and found his Mini fir y moft fearching 
 and trying : What others took^ for Gold, he proved it to be but Brafs; 
 and fome Dottrincs that others preferred for Spiritual, he tryed, and 
 found them Carnal, 
 
 He had fuch a Brefijplate of judgement and Difcerning, that he did 
 conflantly bear the remembrance of all the Tribes of Ifrael on hie 
 heart before the Lord, and diftingutjhed every Tribe after his condi- 
 tion ; yea> he had this fin gular and peculiar gift of "judgement ; to dif- 
 cern the two Natures, the two Seeds, the two Covenants, to admtra- 
 tion : Aiany a Soul he hath put upon the fear ch, that thought he had 
 attained and ran well, whom he found to be but in Egypt, or at leaft 
 but departing thence. 
 
 Shall we fay he was a Scholler? Nay, but a Rabbi, a 'Dotter in the 
 knowledge ofChrifiy in whom a greater Fulnefs of the riches offVtf- 
 
 dom 
 
TO THE READER- 
 
 dom and Knowledge were tr e a fired up than in mofl* like that Difciple 
 that lay in Chrifl's bofom : He obtained fo long a (hare of his life and 
 growth, having the true fight and measure of every man's flate and 
 growth, yet himfelf fate on a Rock, higher than all , and was fuch a 
 bleffirg m his Witnefs ( and Tefiimony to the Lord f in his threefold 
 flate, vf Life, Death, and Refurreclion^ and fo of our conformity and 
 likenefs to Him therein ) that no Book^extant, but the Strictures, did 
 ever clear fo much Truth at his Retired Man's Medications; and this 
 bleffed BoiiWc now of his, is as a Key that further opens that to the 
 Sons of men, and they are to be underftood better injpirit, and in ope* 
 ration, than in words* 
 
 How did he, feeing Truth lay fcattered, maimed, and mangled in 
 farts and parcels, gather it all up ? yea, and all the Profeffions and 
 FrofeJJors of it, and made one whole Garment of Truth amongB 
 them all, And that without any feam or rent ; reconciling and healing 
 all the Wounds and Divifons that have been amongfl good People, from 
 the crown of the Head to the foale of the Foot 7 in the Spirit of Love* 
 %ighteoufnefs, and true 'judgement ; affigning every Profcffion and 
 Principle, his true and proper place and ftate in the Body, whether 
 Natural or Spiritual 
 
 VALE. 
 
 To 
 
CO 
 
 To the f cutter ed Seed and Sheep of C H R I S T in all 
 
 Nations, the true 1/rael by Faith , unknown for the^nojl 
 
 fart to themfelves, but more to the World and Worldly Cbri- 
 
 Jlian : Tet, in this their unknown or differ Jed Efiate, owned 
 
 of the Lord*) as the Church that are in God the Father, truly 
 
 pure, Catholic]^ and Chrifiian, of which Chrifi J ejus is the 
 
 : alone and immediate Head. 
 
 jRcthrcn and Fathers, &c. that in Jefus Chrift are 
 dearly beloved , and with God of great price, 
 Grace and Peace be multiplied untoyeu, through 
 the knowledge of our Lord Jefus Chrift. 
 
 To you that are unknown and yet well known, 
 it is in my heart to be rcpreienting the knowledge 
 of Him that is invifible, and the view of your 
 felves in your invifible flate, together with thofc that arc your known 
 or unknown enemies ; as that which may prove neither unfeafonable 
 nor unprofitable to you, in this day of Ifrael's Captivity,but approach- 
 ing Redemption ( which haftens faft ) at which time the Sens of God 
 fhall be made manifeft. 
 
 If Paul y Afts 17. when hepafledby, and beheld the Athenians 
 Devotions, with an Alcar, having this Infcription [To the ur\novm 
 God ] took occafion from thence, to make him known, whom they 
 ignorantly Worfhipped ; Surely, it ought not to be accounted blame- 
 worthy in any, that feeth the Worfhip and Devotions now in prac^ife, 
 inthevifible Chriftian Church, .to endeavour the diitinguifhing.the 
 right Catholick Church in its Purity, and way of Worfhip in Spirit 
 and Truth, from them, and from their waves of Worfhip ( ignorant- 
 ly, however zealoufly performed) that pafs under the name of ChrifVs 
 Myftical Bcdy, and his Divine Inftitutions. 
 
 But you, Beloved, are of God, Elected, known as by name, ha. 
 Vmg this Seal and Mark from the Lord upon you, which is your Sta- 
 bility and fure Foundation ; the Lord knows, who are his. And, let 
 'every one that nameth the name of Chrift , depart from iniquity. 
 
 No matter therefore., if thefe come to you and find you, a* to jour 
 emward efiate in B,<bylon . where, (according to what is foretold by 
 
 B the 
 
% An Epiftle General to the[Myffical Body ofChrift. 
 
 the ApoftJe John t in the Revelation ) your abode is to be y as in a wiL 
 
 dernefs condition, for 1260 years, now near expired. 
 
 And although from that Hate of fcrvitude and hard bondage, unto 
 which you have been expofed by the Rulers, no wrejf lings or conten- 
 dtrgs by humane wifdom and power, have availed to work* your deli- 
 verance, becaufe the appointed time, fet by God, is not come ; Yet, 
 this ought to be your comfort, that fo foon as that time comes, there 
 will then need very little other help than the Cjrave It [elf to cafi yon 
 forth) as the Womb doth herfiuit y which it cannot longtr detain. For 
 of this be aflured, that Chrtfi's dead body mj/s~lical y can no more be 
 held in its figurative grave, after the fet time is come y than his natu- 
 ral body y could, in his literal grave ', Atts 2, 24. where it is faid, that 
 after Chrift by wicked hands had been (lain, God raifed him up, ha- 
 ving loofed the pains of death, becaufe it was not pojjible he tyould be 
 held of it \ Nor are you to be too much grieved and difcouraged in 
 this your low, deprcfled and dead eftate, under the rage and indigna- 
 tion of the World and Powers of it, fince to you is the prcmife of 
 Life and Rcfurre&ion, and you are furc for the prefect to be fed in the 
 Wilder nefs, and to be kept green and flour ifhing in jour inward man, by 
 fecret dtw y injpired and dtjhlledfiom Heaven.whatever periftiing and 
 decays are brought upon your outwa?d y where you are bearing the 
 marks of the dying of the Lord Jefus. Hearken therefore to the Call 
 that is given you, of retiring inward into the life of your Head and 
 %oot y the life that is hid with Chrift in God* And , as the means to 
 be fo with more freedom, labour to keep the door of your fenfual parti 
 fhut, and faft clofed about you as much as may be, that the noife and 
 diver fions of this finful and unquiet World may not diflurb nor inter- 
 rupt/**/. For though, through impatience and unbelief, you may be 
 arguing and concluding againft your felves, as the whole houfe of Ifra- 
 el did y Sz,ek, 37. n. that your bones are dried, your hope is loft, 
 and you are cut off, for your parts ; yet ye (hall k*ow that the Lord 
 he is God y when he hath opened y and brought you up, cut of your grave s f 
 v.i-$. He will then own you vifibly* for his people, by wonderfully fut- 
 ting his Spirit within you y and caufing you to live ; And when you fee 
 this y your heart (hall re Joyce, and your bones [hall fourifo ltk$ an herb, 
 and the hand of the Lord (hall be known towards you, his ferv ants ^ and 
 his indignation towards his enemies- He hath the weapons of his ven- 
 geance in rcadinefs, full Vials of his wrath, to be poured forth by his 
 heavenly Militia and Troops, upon the Beaft and his Worshippers , 
 when all humane means fail. This you arc therefore to know, that 
 
 though 
 
An Epifile General to the Mystical Body ofChrifi. 3 
 
 though the Saints who have adventured to oppofe the Beaft, and the 
 kingdom of Antichrift ( all along, contending in a good Caufe) have 
 been ftill crufhed, and fubdued, as is foretold, Re v 13.7. yet the time 
 is coming ,yea,is even at the very door, for God to take the bufinefs into 
 his own hands, and to put forth the power of his wrath by heavenly 
 Jnflruments, forafmuchas the earthly ones {asyoti have feen) have 
 proved ineffettttal. And this ought to be a teaching to us, to depend 
 upon God, for the avenging of his people, even, when all humane a- 
 bility to perform it, is vanifhed ; and not haftily to run out, in the ufe 
 of any indirect means, though tempted and allured thereunto. 
 
 But, to return to the things which we propound to fct before you, 
 in this Epiftle ; They are reducible unto thefe particulars, following : 
 
 1. Firft, The fight and knowledge of Chrift, as he is the Invifible 
 and Holy One, from whom, as from the Head, all natural as well as 
 fpiritual good, doth flow. 
 
 2. Secondly, Chrift's Headfhip, exercifed by him, ( ever face his 
 Afcenfion ) as he is the Son of man, glorified ; and this in the two 
 diftin<5t branches and adminiftrations of it. The one, that, wherein he 
 is the Lord and reftorer of pure, incorrupt Nature, upon the Principles 
 of the firft Covenant, renewed, and confirmed in his blood. The 
 other, that, in which he is the giver of the Holy Ghoft, or, the Mi- 
 nifter of the Spirit, and new Name, (as Ointment poured forth) which, 
 where it is received upon the Principles of the new Covenant, never 
 fails, but abides with fuch, for ever. 
 
 3. Thirdly, The true Annointed Ones, or Witnefles of Chrift, 
 according to both his before-mentioned Adminiltrations and the An- 
 nointing , which is given, by the one and by the other. 
 
 4. Fourthly, Thofe that in Principles, are oppolite unto thefe two 
 Anaointings and the effedte of them, declaring their enmity, in and by 
 the continued war they maintain againfi them, in the potture of open 
 enemies, or diffembled friends, both making up, but one and the fame 
 Kingdom of Antichritt. 
 
 y. Fifthly, What Word and part of his Counfels contained in the 
 Promifes and Prophefies, (not yet accomplifhed ) is the Lord now 
 fulfilling, in the prefent difpenfations of our day ? 
 
 1. Tothefirrt, 'Tis the Teftimony which came out of Chrift's 
 own mouth, concerning Himfelf and his Father, Lukj 1. 22. That 
 no man kpows who the Son is, but the Father ; nor who the Father is, 
 but the Son y and he to whom the Son will reveal Him : which plainly 
 declares, that the beings both of the Father, and of the Son^rc great 
 
 B 2 and 
 
4 An Epiflle General to the Myftical Body of fatf. 
 
 And. hidden CMyfleries. The one as well as the other, is my flic al and 
 invifible, and muft be taught and revealed) before it can be truly and 
 fully known and under flood what they are. Agreeable to this, is that, 
 Ton. I. 1 8- No man hath feen God at any time, that \s y immediately, 
 but by the means of the only begotten Son, which is in the bofom of the 
 Father ; he hath declared him. The Son, therefore, who is the 
 only begotten, is faid to be the Image of the invifible God ; The fir 14 
 name and fimilitudc whereby God is poflible and capable to be known 
 to others bcfide himfelf. For by and from Him, as the Head, the 
 knowledge and fruit of the whole Deity is derived and communicated, 
 in fuch fie Images and lively Reprefentations, as He hath fore-deter- 
 mined within himfelf, to be known by, unto his whole Creation, from 
 the beginning to the end thereof. Hence it is, that we find Chrift 
 the Mediator, by the Prophet If a, 43. 10. fpcaking of himfelf after 
 this manner, Te are my JVitneJfes, faith the Lord, and my Servant, 
 whom I have chofen. The Lord, the ^Mediator, hath and owns for 
 his Witncfles, the Womans Seed, in the head, and in the members ; 
 the promifed Seed, in his Servant, the Branch, the chief and princi- 
 pal one ; and in his Brethren, the fame Seed ; and who are made to 
 bear his Fathers Name ( by Adoption) as well as himfelf, and to con- 
 tinued for ever ; that one Seed, Gal. 3. which, faith the Apoftle, is 
 Chrifl, themyfltcal body, that are Heirs according to promife. ' Te are 
 my Witneffes, fayes this only begotten, who is from everlafting , that 
 ye may know and believe me, and underftand that I am he. Or, I am 
 the Sob, that only doth or can reveal who the Father is, or who I am 
 in mine own Pcrfon ; for, before me was no God formed, or nothing 
 formed or to be feen of God, neither fhall there be after me ; becaufe 
 I am his compleat Name and Manifestation, In me it hath pleafed 
 the Father all Fulnefs jhould dwell, and this alfo bodily, in the difpen- 
 fation of tht fulnefs of time. By Chrifl then (as we learn from hence) 
 we arc to underitand that Perfon, in whom God firft formeth himfelf, 
 and placeth his Name, by his immediate engraving and workmanfhip, 
 upon the tables of Tome Creature-beginning, fome other nature begot- 
 ten by him,in difference and dimn£tion from his own; and which, as it 
 is his firft work, (o is it his mofl compleat and perfett work ; tna C which 
 comprehends all particulars and individuals In both creations, from 
 firft to laft ; fo that, as nothing is before it, to precede, Co, nothing is 
 omitted, to make new, or to come after it, that is not eminently tret- 
 fured up and feated in his Perfon already, who is the firft- born of every 
 creature, he that was before all things, and by whom all things con- 
 
An Eftftle General to the Myftical Body of thrift. j 
 
 Jtfi y made the Alpha and Omega ; he that veas^ he that *r f and he 
 that is to come, the Almighty. Io this Rate of fpiiitual being and 
 hidden glory, Chrift is truly and properly the Invijihle one, which 
 CMofes had the fight of by Faith ; fore-feeing alfo his incarnation, as 
 he was tp be the great Prophet,raifed up to the People of Ifrael, who 
 when he comech, fhould teach them all things, and declare the mind 
 of God fdly, receiving himfelf the lively Oracles immediately from 
 God's own mouth. 
 
 From hence alfo it is, by reafon that there is fuch an Invifible one, 
 who is with God from everlafting, as his mouth, and in the Office of 
 Mediator, thaein Mofes his Law, thefirff and fecond Commands are 
 fo positive and ftrid, that we fhould have no other Gods before the 
 Lord, viz. the Mediator and Redeemer , that brought lfrael out of 
 Egypt, and made himfelf known unto them by his Name Jehovah, 
 which imports the execution of his Purpofe and promifc, and fo, the 
 B:ing he gives to what his Word hath declared. This Name will be 
 beft interpreted by the opening of another place of Scripture, which 
 fpeaks of Chrift in this his inviiibie and myftericus being, Trov.% and 
 9 chip* wherein the building and workmanfhip that Wifdom forms 
 for her own houfe, ( the Sanctuary wherein God records his Name ) 
 is moft lively and excellently defcribed, as that which comprehends all 
 thefulnefs and perfection of all times and things, pa ft, f>refent y and t$ 
 com? ; He that was, he that is, and he that u to come, the Almighty ; 
 Who, as, in one and the fame Pcrfon of the Mediator, he is the God 
 that builds all things, fo he is alfo the Building or Houfe it felf,which 
 is his own immediate workmanfhip, and, as in one total fum, con r 
 tains all manner of perfection in it. For it is not the Property of the 
 firft in the Trinity, to execute, but to purpofe and contrive what fhall 
 be executed, and by whom; and then, the Execution, though it be 
 by the fame Divine EfTcnce, yet, it is by reafon of a fecond and third 
 property, which is natural to it ; according to which, God, that is 
 One> is alfo Three ; One in Nature and Spirit, Three in Properties 
 and Operation,; a Spirit after fuch an in-comprehenfiblc manner as is 
 known fully to himfelf alone, having three diftindt infpiring Properties, 
 whence he gives being to his own Name, or to him that he purpofeth 
 withinhimfelf, fhall bear his Name, and give the fight and knowledge 
 of his eflcntial Glory and Likencfs, unto the understanding ofc others, 
 as his own mouth, that is fee up, to utter and deliver the lively Oracle 
 •f his Ecernal mind. 
 
 This Perfon, whom God from Eternity hath defigned to this high 
 
 and 
 
6 An Efiftle Central to the Myftical Body of Chrift. 
 
 and great Office, is he y whom wc mean, when we cxprefs him under 
 the Title of the ^Mediator £ the IVtfdom and Power y or Under ft ant- 
 ing and m&, that God hath the image of, within himfclf, from all 
 Eternity. As it is in him, it is himfelf ; one that is with him, as 
 brought up by him y that is daily his delight ; and whole delight alfo 
 is in the habitable parts of God's Earth, and with the fons of men ; 
 The Wifdom and power of God's EJfence, in the form of the highett 
 Undemanding and belt Will, purpofing tomanifeft it felf, and build it 
 felf a houfe in fomc other nature, wherein to well, and therewith to 
 converfe, whether upon terms otpure Juftice t ot free Grace ; and ib,co 
 make himfclf cither a fojournerfor a feafon y or an home andin.dwel- 
 ler, as his place of Reft for ever. 
 
 And by the ft t ting up of this building in the Perfon of the Media- 
 tor, as the Root and Foundation of all iatercourfe between God moft 
 high, and the work of his hands in both Creations, let us fee the fruit 
 and great benefit which comes to men, as he himfelf defcribeth it, 
 Prov* p. i, 3. For, by this means the Be aft s are killed , the Lamb is 
 facrificed y the Wine is mingled, or, the pure fruit of the Divine Na- 
 ture is fo tempered and prepared, in its manifeftation and day-break 
 upon the Creatures undcrftandiag, by the firft mixture of thefe two 
 natures in the Perfon of the (JWcdiator, that it becomes fit drint^ and 
 futable meat for allfuch, as are to feed at this Table of the Lord, 
 
 From hence it is evident, that God is to be looked upon by us, as 
 under one Confederation, in his own, proper, fimple, abfolute and in- 
 comprehensible Eflence, wherein he is known, and perfectly enjoyed 
 by none but himfelf, in the moft blclTcd Trinity ; and under another 
 Confidcration, according to what he hath eternally purpofed, and 
 actually made himfelf to be, in the Perfon pf the Mediator , wherein 
 only he can be fcen by the Creatures making it unlawful to own any 
 other image, form, or likenefs of him, Sxod. 20.5, 7. or to bow down 
 to it y or worfhip it ; forbidding unto Angels or Men, all the Imaginati- 
 ons of God y which they arc apt to feign of him from the device of 
 their own hearts, as the ObjeB of their WorfhipyUpon this very ground, 
 becaufc he hath one by him that he hath made the Angel of his face 
 and pre fence , whom he hath employed to bring them out of Egypt , 
 and who was feen by Mofes in the Bufh, and (hewed Himfelf to the 
 Church or whole Congregation of the People in the Wildernefs,when 
 they tempted him, in letting up and worshipping a molten Calf y of 
 their oWn invention, new and ftrange gods. This to do before his 
 face, and to own ( befides him, that was the face and mouth of God 
 
 amongft 
 
An £ pi file General to the Myfiical Body ofChrifi. 7 
 
 amongft them ) would be a great provoking^ whkh he told them 
 fhould not go unpunished: This caufed God to lay, Thou (halt have 
 no other Gods befides y or before me ; that is, not only not in my fight , 
 but not in preference to him, that I have given to you, as my face and 
 mouth. Provoke him not, for my Name is in htm ; intimating wkh- 
 all, that herein they were the more inexcufablc, becauie they had him 
 with them and amongft them. In him the light of God's Glory was 
 fhining forth as in God's own face and very fimilitudc, fpeaking his 
 Mind by his own mouth ; and he was to be incarnate, that the fame 
 Word might be near us, even in our mouth and in our heart, to hear 
 it, and do it. This is the prophet, like unto CMofes, which God 
 faid he would raife up unto them, out of, and from the midft of their 
 Brethren. 
 
 Let us then acknowledge this great Myftery of the Father and the 
 Son tdiftinguifring what God U by Nature and EJfence, from what he 
 gives himfelf to be, in the Perfonofthe t^lediator, the only begotten, 
 that liethin his bofome ; who yet is alfo his Meffiah, whom he fends 
 and makes his Subftitute, by way of his in-dwelling Deity and Pre- 
 tence, for the performing of all his plcafure in both Worlds. 
 
 The Trinity is ih&head, and immediate caufe of the being andfuU 
 nefs y which is fct up in the Perfon of the Mediator , whom theywc 
 only infflre with each of their Names and Similitudes \ but make him 
 a Veffel of meet ufe, to convey the holy Of/, in the way of a twofold 
 Miniftry, and Pipe to both Creations ; He therefore became incar- 
 nate, thac he might make ufe of no other fpokfman, immediately to 
 interpret and declare the Mind of God unto his People, than the 
 Son of man glorified, of which we have the lively Type,(Exod t ^. 15, 
 io\) in the Office of Aaron to Mofes ^ fhewing that Aaron was made 
 the mouth to Mofes , and CMofes the mouth to (jod ; Aarons Office 
 oi fpokfman^ figuring out that of Chrift's Manhead, and Mofes his, 
 that of Chrifcs CMediatorfhip in Jpirtts before his Incarnation . upon 
 which occafion God promifeth there, in the Type, that which he ful- 
 fills in Spirit and Truth, in~Chrift's Perfon. For, as Mofes hadCom- 
 miffion tfjpeak to Aaron, ai God's Jpokjm an to him ; fo hath the Spirit 
 of the Mediator to Jefus the Son of man. And as it was Aaron's Of- 
 fice to be (poksman to the People ; fo is it the Office of Chrilt's Man- 
 head, to bethefpeksman of Him that Mofes typed out, that great 
 Prophet^ the Angel of God's Pace and Prefence ; and to be to him 
 the Interpreter and Declarer of (fed's CMwd y and fignifier of God's 
 Commands to all in both Worlds, Chrift ( as he is the Son of man ) 
 
 is 
 
S ' An Sfiftle General to the Myftkal Body of Chrift. 
 
 is tohimfelf ( as he is the Word of God ) inftead of a mouth or Pre- 
 phet; And Chrift, as he is the only Begotten, or Word of the Father, 
 is inftead of God, moft high unco his own Manhead; anfwcrable to 
 the Promifc, made vcrf. 15. icid thou (halt jpeak^ unto him, and fat 
 Words into his mouth, (meaning {Jfylofes to Aaron} and I will be wtth 
 thy mouth, and with his mouthy and will teach you , ( that is, both of 
 you) what ye (hall do. 
 
 Here we fee (and may fee it with Admiration, as the Queen of She* 
 ba did in Solomon's Temple, which was the Type ) the Glorious A{- 
 cent into the Hottfe of God, and the gradual accefs which by one fpt- 
 rit, we have through Chrift unto the Father. I would have you 
 know, faith the Apoftle Paul y 1 Cor. n. 3. that the head of every 
 man is Chrift, the head of the wom*n is the man, and the head of 
 Chrift is God. Chrift that is the head of every man, is the head of 
 his own manhead 5 and therefore was Chrift God's Angel, Afeffiab, 
 otfent-one y before he was Man ; and had for his Head, the one God 
 and Father of all things. 
 
 How God is the Head of Chrift, we have (hewed. The bleffed 
 Trinity, is the Father to that only begotten One, who is the hidden 
 jVifdom, ordained before the World was, to our glory ; The tyfngel, 
 that is, the Meffenger and Mediator of God's Covenant, of whonthe 
 commands us to beware(E.v<?.23.2i.) and to obey his voice ; Prvpoke 
 htm not, fayes he, for he will not far don their Tranfgrijftons ; for my 
 Name is in himSNhzi can be more plain? The moft high God hath his 
 Mefftah, his Angel or fent -one, inverted with his Majefty and Power 
 of Command, whofe Voice muft be obeyed as the Voice of God, it 
 being his Office, to be inftead of God to his Church. What he binds 
 is bound,what he remits is remitted, for the Name of God is in him ; 
 He is in likenefs and truth, fo near to God, that he is God's equal, the 
 true CMichael, that is fecond with God in the Throne : and yet, he 
 that is found in the Form of God, and accounts it no robbery to be 
 equal with God ; doth not difdain to have alfo his Equals, the man, 
 that is, his fellow, the man of his rightJnaud, whom he hach made 
 firong for himfelf. 
 
 With the moft knowing 'jews, the acknowledgment of C hri'ft in 
 this his heavenly and fpiritual being before his incarnation, was moft 
 ufual and avowed. The Angel that redeemed Jacob, Gen. 48. they 
 call the Divine Utfajefty, owned for God, and for Chrift, that was 
 tempted in the Wilderncfs ; whufc Voice, fay they, is to be obeyed, 
 as the Voice of the living God ; and his Office is, to be the Leader 
 
 and 
 
An Efiftlc General to the Myftical Body of Chrift. o 
 
 and Guide of the true I'frael ; the great Prince, that is the prefence 
 andMajefty of God, and the Lord and Ruler over all the Earth as 
 well as Heaven, all that is therein being governed by his hand. Ihto 
 Him the pure and fimplc EtTence of God is the Father ; and he is fet 
 up from everlafting, the Father and Root, whence that chief Branch 
 fprings, that is Jefus the Lord and Chrift, \n the capacity of Son to this 
 Father, who muft reign till all things be fubdued under him, that is, 
 all inferiour Rule y Authority and Power whatfoever, that officiate, or 
 ought to do fo,*# his right ; But when that is done and finifricd, then 
 ftiall this Son alfo himfelf, befubjett unto Him, that is, his Father, 
 that raifed him from the dead, and put all things under him, that God 
 may be all In alU 
 
 This occafioned Chrift whilft he was on Earth, to fay, J oh. 12. 28. 
 Father, glorifje thy Name ; fpeaking therein to God the Mediator ; 
 to Him, whole Office \s,to be to htm the Mouth of God ; from whom, 
 he receives the lively Oracles to deliver to his Church; as it is written, 
 / will declare thy Name to my Brethren - in the mid ft of the Church 
 will Ifing Praifes unto thee. And again, / will put my truft in htm, 
 even in him who wrought in Chrifljvhen he raifed him from the dead % 
 and fet him at his own right-hand of the CHajesly on high, or in the 
 heavenly. • 
 
 This made Chrift fay, when I am lifted up, I will draw all men 
 unto me ; that is, mediately, and in order afterwards, to refign them 
 up unto his Father, and give up all his iatcreft of Rule in them, unto 
 him ; unto whom, as he is his Equal, (for, faith he, / and the Father 
 are one) So alfo he is his Servant, and hath his Office of Mimftry 
 under him. For, the end of Chrift's Miniftry is, to unvall the Glory of 
 his Father, and to fhine with him asfecond in the Throne , which he 
 prefers much before the drawing of all men to himfelf, to depend and 
 reft on him only, and not on the Father, in and through him, as all 
 thofe do that reft in the knowledge of Chrift according to the fit fh, 
 and behold not that vail rent, upon his fpiritual Crofs, in order to live 
 to him, that died for them, and rofe again. 
 
 By what we have already fhewed, we have, or may have, the 
 fight of him who is the Holy and Invifible One, from whom, as from 
 the Head, all Natural as well as Spiritual good doth flow. 
 
 2. The next thing propounded, is, to fet forth the two diftinB 
 Branches and Admmift rations of this Headfhip, exercifed by Chrift, 
 as he is the Son of Man glorified, miniftring the Infpiration, Anoint- 
 ing and Image of Qod, which is given according to the Principles 
 
 C and 
 
i6 An Epifile General to the Myfiical Body cfChrift. 
 
 and Law both of ihefirft and of the fecond Covenant. The influence 
 and effect hereof upon all rational beings, whether Angels or Men,in 
 their mutable cftate or immutable, doth proceed from Chrifl, as he is 
 the fecond Adam, that quickening Spirit, who is Lord from Heaven ; 
 And hereof he hath his living and undeniable Witnefs in the Hearts 
 and Confcienccs of his Subjc&s and Followers, from the beginning 
 of the World to the end thereof. 
 
 i. The Headjhip which Chnft exercifeth by the firsl of thefe Mi- 
 niftrles, is that of Stream Natural Lord and Sovereign overall Crea- 
 tures ; by the breath of whofe mouth they were made, Pfal» 33. Rev. 
 4. 11. and redeemed by hu £leod } TXty. j.p. So that his right of Rule 
 to them and over them, is indifputable, and their obligation for duty 
 and fcrvice to him, indiipenfable and perpetual. The Angels that fell, 
 are charged ( Jude 6.) with defeftion fromj and rebellion again ft this 
 their Prince and Sovereign Lord] leaving and deferting him who was 
 their appointed Habitation, and Object of Worfhip and Duty by 
 the very Law of their Creation. And, unto the fame Difobedicnce 
 and Revolt from Chrift, was the firft Adam tempted^ who was fub- 
 je&ed at firft to none but God. While God the Mediator ruled>and 
 man obeyed, all went right : For God being mod perfectly wife and 
 juft, could not erre in commanding; but man, though innocent, yet 
 being free and mutable, was capable to be tempted from his Obedi- 
 ence, as it fell our. Satan, that by his difobedience had overthrown 
 himfelf, knew thereby the way how to overthrow man. He perceived 
 God could not be corrupted nor tempted to unwife or unrighteous 
 Government ; And, if neither King nor Subje£t could have been cor- 
 rupted, the Kingdom mud needs have flood. But, he quickly found, 
 man was fail, though holy, and had not yet attained to his incor- 
 ruptible eftate, though upright, and was therefore capable to be 
 Wrought upon, and corrupted in his mind, from the fimplicity that is 
 in Chrift. Man would be as God, have no guide but his own un- 
 demanding, hating that juft reftraint, which was needful as a bridle, 
 to be put upon him, to keep him from falling, and which God pro- 
 vided to offer to him, as the means to remain innocent, and pafs cut of 
 his mutable into an immutable holy ftare, without fin. But this would 
 not go down, nor be born • Tht refignation of his Will, and ablolute 
 refolution of it into the Will of his Sovereign, by believing, who re- 
 quired it for his good, woulcfrnot be hearkened unto. He could not, 
 or would not„ or would not* think he was fuch a fool, as flood in need 
 of being fo abfolutely at the will and difpofc of another, when as yet 
 
 he 
 
An Epifile General to the Mystical Bidy ofChrift. i r 
 
 he was his own man, free to continue under the guide of his own 
 felf-rule, a thing very beautiful and good, as he thought, to, be put 
 into pra^icc. This was the Choice God had given unco man, in this 
 his righteous mutable flare, either to truft to his own guidance for the 
 ordering of his fteps, according to the Rule fet before him, and the 
 conditional Terms of the Law of Nature, and firft Agreement or Co- 
 venant made with him at his Creation ; or elle, to diliruft his own 
 Wifdom, as inefficient to be his guide, and his own power of Will, 
 that was mutable and uncertain in its beft (tate, and thereupon com- 
 mie and rcfign himfelf, through Faith, unto the guidance and power 
 of his Natural Head^ Lord and Sovereign, to do, as by the fiaht of 
 Faith, he fhould find him do y and cleave clofe to him, whatfocver he 
 fhould go before him in. 
 
 The firft of thefe, thtfirfi man determined himfelf in ^ and m that 
 Aft, chofc for his whole feed as well as for himfelf, who,if God plea- 
 fed, might have been then concluded by it, without any new offer ttf 
 Grace made unto them, or their ever being brought to fo fair a ten- 
 der again. But (o far was God the Mediator from applying himfelf 
 fpeedily to any fevere courfe of proceeding againft the firft Adam and 
 his Pofterity, that fumed with him in his loy ns, as that he takes this 
 occafion to renew his first Offer, upon the experience Man now had 
 of trufting to his own wifdom and ftrength. God freely of his own 
 accord, makes a Promife to man, of a Redeemer that fhould come 
 in his own Nature, and be made fl:fh, to recover him out of his (in- 
 full corrupted ftate, and bring him and his Pofterityonce more, into 
 a ftate of Reconciliation with God, that what the Law could not do, 
 in that it was weak through the flefli, might be done by Gad's fending 
 bis Son in the likjn*fs of 'fitful fle(h> who by the facrificing of himfelf \ 
 condemned (in in the fle(b } that the Righteoufnefs of the Law might be 
 fulfilled in all fuch, at wal^ not after the fl°jh, bat after the Spirit), 
 And here, behold the Righteoufnefs of God,which is, and declares k 
 felf by the Faith of Jefus Chrift, unto all } and upon all, that believe, 
 making no difference ; bu: as all have finned^ and come fhort of the 
 Ghry of God^ in the A% of oar first Parents dtfobsdience ; So all 
 fhould be restored and brought into a capacity of being jujfified freely 
 by his Grace, through the Redemption' that is in Jefus Christ y and 
 made the Righteoufnefs of God in him, againft all that can be objected 
 by the Malice of Satan, or from the Jufttte of God's Law, that hath 
 been broken, and muft be fatisfied, either by the perfon offending, 
 or fome other, proper to make Atonement by hn Obedience^ in the iM. 
 
 C 2 put at ion 
 
1 2 An'Epiftle General to the Myslical Body of Ckrifi. 
 
 putation whereof we may be accounted righteous, as by the A& of 
 difobedience in the firft Adam we were made (inner s. This is done 
 by the "Redemption which is wrought for all men, and forgivenefs of 
 fins through the Blood of Christ, either conditionally or abfolutely, Co]. 
 i. 20, 2 3 . Hereupon, God exprefly and fincerely declares, he defines 
 not the death of a /inner, having fent his only begotten Son into the 
 World, that aUfhould live through him, and none perifh or die in their 
 fins, for want of a poffible and fufficient Remedy ; even him, whom 
 God hath fore-ordained and fee forth, to be a Propitiation through 
 Faith in his Bloody for the remiffion of fins that are paft. And this is 
 fo far from making void the Law or firtt Covenant between God and 
 man, that kdoth eftablifh it, and much clear up the Jufticc of God, 
 in exacting the Debt of Obedience and Allegiance due to him from 
 Man, according to the Law, when fo much Clemency and Forbcar ? 
 ancc hath preceded, and an Att of Oblivion freely and of Grace hath 
 been pafied, the benefit whereof is conditionally exrended unto all. 
 Hence it is, that the Office of giving and putting in execution the Law 
 of God, as it is a Miniftry that works wrath, is committed by the 
 Father unto Chriftj as he is the Son of Man ; Firft, to difyence Judg- 
 ment with LMercy, great patience and Ion g-j Offering * and after- 
 wards without Mercy, as that fiery Indignation, which is referved for 
 wilful and hardned Jinr.ers. 
 
 This Chriit doth plainly intimate, Lu\e 12. 10/ where he faith, 
 Whofoeverfhall Jfeak^a word again ft the Son of Man, It {hall be for- 
 given him ; but unto him that bUffhemeth against the Holy Ghoftjt 
 fball not be forgiven. For what elfe can be the meaning of thefe words, 
 but that Chrilt would have his Difciples know, that Judgment was 
 firft committed to him, as he is the Son of Man, made the chief Of- 
 ficer andDifpenfcr of God's Juiike, whether dtfiributtve otreveng- 
 inq;^ the exa6t Rule whereot is given and contained in the Law of 
 Nature, or Covenant of Works ? The TranfgreiTions againft this Law 
 are capable of rcmifTion and forgivenefs through his Blood, the Intcr- 
 ccfiion whereof jpeak s better things than that of Abel, and prevails 
 for gifts even to the Rebellious , fo that they receive not God's grace, 
 nor take his Name in vain \ if they do, he will not hold them guilc- 
 lcfs, nor continue any longer to extend to them the benefit of his Sa- 
 crifice. Secondly, Therefore Judgment was committed to him with- 
 out Mercy, in reference to *fuch fins, by which the doers of them 
 blasphemed and refifted the Miniftry he was intruded with, of giving 
 the Holy Gholi, or infpiring the hearts of the Regenerate wuh the 
 
 new 
 
*An Epifile Gentral to the tJMjflkal Body of Chrifi. 1 3 
 
 new Name, and thxtfaving knowledge of God, which is communica- 
 ted according to the Law of Faith, and of the new and everlafiing 
 Covenant. 
 
 This is the Royal Office and Dignity, which Jefas, as the Son of 
 Man, is exalted unto, by the perfonal union which he hath with the 
 Word, being made a meet Mimfter,'m all refpe&s, through his Death 
 and T^effirretlion, to dtjpence God's fovereign Jttftice, and to execute 
 Judgment and Equity, according to the Law of Nature , renewed and 
 confirmed in his own Blood. Herein he is King of Kings and Lord of 
 Lords, the great and Univcrfal Monarch, that is appointed Law-giver 
 and chief Judge in Heaven and Earth, to and oyer all Natural Beings, 
 whether Angels or men y and is the re warder of every man according 
 to his works, with the fame meafurc that any man metes unto ano- 
 ther, he meafurcs out unto him again ; and ftri&ly doth infift upon, 
 and require that which is juft and due to be paid unto God or man, 
 by the Law and Principles" of the firft Covenant. He therefore hath 
 the Gifts and Abilities, incident to that Communion with God, com- 
 mitted to him to difperce, being the Head of God's difinbutive, as 
 well as his revenging Janice, and will make it appear, that he de fires 
 not to reap where he hath not f own, nor to gather where he hath not 
 firft ftrcwed, and difperfed abroad in his bounty and liberality, none 
 being a more chearful giver and lender of his Goods than He, look- 
 ing for nothing again where there is no ability to pay, not happening 
 through our own default. 
 
 This is the Miniftry which worketh Wrath, that is Co fay,con tra&s 
 a debt of Punifhmenc, and of the Curfe, to every one that joyns iflue 
 with God upon the terms of this Covenanc, and continues not tn all 
 things written in it, to do them. And although by this Minifiry, and 
 that /raw Chrifi himfelf as he is the Son of man , there be a life and 
 communication of God's Image given, which, in it felf considered, is 
 p#7Y, holy, righteous, fpiritual, and good ; yet, it is but upon fuch 
 terms, that it may be again withdrawn and revoked by the Giver, 
 if he pleafe ; or may be corrupted or forfeited by the Receiver, and fo 
 end in death and wrath. The proof of this was fecn at firft, in the 
 Fall of our firfi Parents, and is fince, in all the Children of Perdition, 
 who, after all their great and high enlightnings and clenfing from all 
 their old fins, fall into a relapfe that is irrecoverable, fo as to become 
 trees twice dead, finally to be pluckt up by the roo;s and burned. 
 
 It is Chrifi in the cxercifc of this his firfi lAinifirj, that we intend, 
 when we fay, that he isnhe Lord of Nature, and Fountain of all Ja- 
 
 (tice t 
 
14 An EfifiU General to the Myflical Body ofChrifl, 
 
 fiice, upholding a powerful and laft'mg Witnefs of himfelf in the 
 veryl^atural Conscience, where he begets and fers up that know- 
 ledge, which declares G;>d ■Jisft i aad che Jttflifier of bim that either 
 is perfeBly righteous fa his own per fan, with the right eon fnefs that his 
 Law requires j or, that ( m default thereof ) is righteoiu in another , 
 that God hath given to b: made a Sacrifice jar them, that thej there- 
 by might be made the Right eon fne ft of God in him ; iuch, as he is wil- 
 ling to accept on their frehaif, and to reward, not oiDebt, but of 
 Grace, 
 
 In one of thefe two wayes it is for all men to feek to be juftificd, to 
 anfwer the end of the Law, and to receive the reward of it : But as 
 to thofe, that neither in the one nor the other of thefe wayes, defire to 
 approve themfelves, and be round righteous, they are juftly convinced 
 of all, and (hall be judged of all, as meec objects for God's reveng- 
 ing Juftice, to be (hewed upon them as the Judgement that is final, 
 after which, no place is left for Mercy. So then, in and by this Mini- 
 fhy, that begins in Juftice dlflributive y which is founded in God's 
 bounty and liberality, by which he givcth to all their being, life and 
 motion, and filicth the defire of every living thing ; and which end- 
 eth in avenging and punijking "juftice, upon mercy and bounty abufed, 
 (as the known natural Principles of all Law, and righteous Magittra- 
 tical Government) God maniftfb himfelf the Fountain thereof in the 
 .Perfonof Chrift the Mediator. And in this kind of knowledge of 
 God, and obedience to his Law, all mankind are and mutt be con- 
 verfant whether they will or no ; and are to (hew themfclves, cither 
 his obedient Subjects, whom he countenanceth, prote&eth, and 
 rewardeth, in their well-doing ; or his rebellious and difloyal Sub- 
 jects, over whom he will glorifie himfelf in his avenging J utiice and 
 difpenfition of Judgment at latt, without Mercy. 
 
 A remarkable example of this we may fee in the Cafe of Jacob and 
 Laban, Gen. 3 1 44. Laban a Righteous man ( at leatt pretending to 
 it, in his appeal to the God of Juliice ) converting with God, in and 
 under the Law of Nature, and what of God is to be known under 
 that -Mi.iiiiry, faith to Jacob, Come now, after all our difference and 
 unkindnefs, thou (hale fee I will deal righteoufly with thee, and put 
 thee .to the proof who (hill be found more righteous, thou in thy 
 way. of fcrving God, or I in mine. Let us (hike a Covenant, I and 
 thou, and let it be for a Witnefs between me and thee ; Let Him 
 whom I know and ferve by the Light and Law of Nature, and whom 
 thou i^Ytlt by a higher Law and Light, that of Faith, (whichdoth 
 
 not 
 
An £ pi file General to the My ft teal Body ofChrift* k 
 
 not deilroy.but cfiabhfh the Righteoufnefs of the Law) let him,whofe 
 eye only leech, and before whem we cannot be hid, (either from his 
 knowledge or his vengeance ) watch and mark our carriages, in pur- 
 fuance of our Covenant and Agreement, ; and accordingly be a Wit- 
 nefsjfo^or again (i us, upon the breach thereof. Unco this Jacob chcar- 
 fully agreed upon his Principles, and Laban upon his. In which, it \t 
 evident, that the fame God and Chritt may be converfed and walked 
 with, upon differing Principles ; and thac righteous Agreements may 
 be upheld and maintained by thofe that own and call Chriil to wit* 
 nefs, as he is the. Sovereign lAinlftcr of God's Juft ice, whether their 
 knowledge of him be according to the firft or fecond Covenant, in 
 both which Chrift comes forth, as to his Communications and enli- 
 vening Prefence in the hearts of the fons of men 5 which is the point 
 that we are now upon, and have cleared in the firli branch of it. 
 
 The Second ( being that which confifts in a knowledge and manU 
 f eft at ion of God, that is beyond and above T^ature, that which man iri 
 his natural make, at belt, reacheth not, or hath a mind or will to re- 
 ceive) is more difficult to be expreffed, and when expreffed, to be un- 
 derftood. For after this manner God is not feen or communicated un- 
 to any, but in a fecretand hidden way, which he makes not common, 
 butreferves for peculiar kindnefs to thofe that find grace in. his fight, 
 upon their coming, as Efthtr did, into the inner Court, to have this 
 golden Scepter held out to them, by promife, orelfe they die. God's 
 firft Voice and Manifcftation of himfelf unto the Creature, fpeaksand 
 declares him ( as we have fhewed) to be juft, in a way of Law and 
 righteous Government, which he exercifeth over his Creatures. He 
 is their Soveriegn, they are his Subjects, in order to receive the re- 
 ward of Loy^, or of Wrath : That which this Second Voice mini- 
 fters and fpeaks, is that Love, and the knowledge of God in it, which 
 he fpreads abroad in the hearts of his good and loyal Subjects, after 
 the proof madt of the Loyalty and (tcdfallnefs of their Love to him ; 
 Jfyt that they love him firft ; but of his own will they are begotten^ by 
 the Word of Truth, into this hove of his ^ which comprehends them^ 
 long before they apprehend it, and God in it. But he that fkallcome % 
 will come, and wiU not tarry \; if by Faith we are taught to wait for 
 him, Whom y having not feen, yet, we love, or, have fecret cleaving 
 to, and carneft longing after : In whom, even whllft we fee not^ but 
 find our felves altogether in the dark, and at a Jofs, as to what may be 
 feen and known of him by natural Light and Reafon ; yet s behtving^ 
 and having thereby given us the evidence of things, unfeen by the na- 
 tural 
 
1 6 ^n € fifth General to the Myftkal Body of Chritt. 
 
 turaleye y they become fo real, and arc made /a certain to «*, as we 
 rejoyce with joy unjpeakable and full of Glory, We coulcH'do* no 
 more, were we at the end of our Faith, and did fee, as we are fecn, 
 as we fhall at the compleat Salvation of our Souls. 
 
 From him then, that is thus the Love and Joy of the believing Soul, 
 that is to fay, Chrift, the Miniftcr of the Spirit, and giver of the holy 
 Ghoft, and that new Name which none know but they that have ir, 
 is this Second kind of Knowledge of God, and Communication of 
 Life from him, that we defireto open and lay before you. 
 
 You have already heard that Chrilt is the only begotten of God, as 
 he is the Building and Sanctuary, which he that is the builder of all 
 things, fets up in himfelf, for his own ufe, as his Temple and fpcaking- 
 place, where to give and whence to deliver his lively Oracles and 
 Infpirations, of both forts, with which he fills all things. In this 
 Heavenly Habitation, God records his Name, and hath the place of 
 his Throne and of his Footftool, with which he will dwell and ta- 
 bernacle among his People for ever. . 
 
 Again, By this workmanfhip and heavenly building , Chrift the 
 tJMediator hath a Creature-being given unto him in Jpirit y before the 
 World was^ and is he who was before all things, and by whom all 
 things confift ; is the Angel of God's Face and Prefcnce, that is by 
 God and mth him : Firft, As hi* chief Me ffenger and Servant^ his 
 Meffiah^ and then,** hisSpoufe and Equaljhat lies in his bofomjknows 
 all his fecrets y and is retained in the mo ft intimate bond of fpiritual 
 marriage -union ^ that is pofible for Creature-nature to be taken ints 
 with God y even by perfonal un'ton y as the body is with the foul. And 
 thus Chrift is found, even as a Creature in the form of God, and is 
 called Michael, God's Fellow and Equal, after fuch a manncr,as the 
 body is to the foul, both making but one pcrfon. 
 
 .Now Chrift> as he lies in the Fathers bofom, and is the Spoufe to 
 the blefled Trinity, is a higher manifcftatioA of God,- than he hath 
 fent out from God, as the Mejfi#b, that bears God's Name only by 
 figure and reprefentation, as his (ingle Image, which yet fpeaks truly 
 what God is, and as fully as the Creatures firft vcflel of Receipt and 
 Meafure, knows how to bear and receive ; but doth not fpeak out 
 all God's fulnefs, nor fhew the Original it (elf, whereof it is the figure 
 and character, which in its fingle ttanding and appearing out of God, 
 as a thing diftind: from God, and not at the fame time known to have 
 any abode in him, after that intimate manner of union and conjunction, 
 before-mentioned , the finite and (h ore- lighted undemanding of the 
 
 Creature 
 
An Epiftle General to the My tiled Body ofChrift. 1 7 
 
 Creature is ready to imagine that manifeftation and fight of God's 
 Glory to be all that is to be known and inherited of God ; And to 
 defire, as the Israelites did, {Exod. 20. ) in the Pcrfon of Mofes y as 
 the Type, that God would not add to fpeak^more, or (hew forth his 
 naked and unvail'd glory to them ; but chey would content them- 
 feJves to hear God fpeak under the Vail, which Mofes had put upon 
 his face, and not look out after any higher attainment. When God 
 had fpoken once, and (hewed the Creature as much of himfelf as it 
 could take in by its firft make and conftkution of being upon natural 
 Principles, he proceeds to declare his purpofe to fpeak again, and form 
 a bearing tar and feeing eye, proportioned to hU fecond voice , adding 
 this kind of hearing and fight to the fame Crea:ure- being , ( whole 
 firft Principles of Knowledge and Will, arc too fhort and weak to bear 
 this Voice ) called in Scripture, the fight and hearing of Faith, that 
 mufl be mixed with oar natural Principles , as their ft ability and con- 
 fummation, and have the plice of guide to them, and Lord over them, 
 that the Scripcure in this fenfe may be made good, thac the elder 
 [hall ferve the younger. The Root ofthisoV^?*^ fight of (]od, is 
 wrought out in Chrift, as he is the only begotten that lies in God's bo- 
 fom y and from thence is made the Miniftcr and Giver of what him- 
 felf firft receives and enjoys. So that now, fuppofing the Spirit of the 
 Mediatory (chat is the only begotten and fir ft -born of every creature) 
 to be the %oot of all natural Principles and Perfection, as he is the 
 Meffiah, and the hearer and obcyer of God's fir ft Voice (of which we 
 have already fpoken) we are now to know, that God proceeds to 
 make the fame only Begotten, to have being and abode in him, as his 
 peculiar pofleffion and choiceft object of his Love, in the relation of 
 his Spoule and Confort. He is formed and prepared hereunto, by be- 
 coming him chat is made able to hear, receive and obey God's Second 
 Voice, his higheft, moll excellent, and fulleft manner of manifeftation 
 of himfelf to Creature-underftandtng, with power in the difpenfation 
 of the fulnefs of time, to become Man, made of a Woman, under the 
 Law, and afterwards raifed up. from the dead, and made to fit down 
 on the right hand of the Majefty on high ; working out the fame work 
 in Jeftu his Servant, the chief and principal Branch, which is firli 
 wrought out in himfelf, as in the root and head of all natucal and fu- 
 pernatural perfection. It is then a kind of working over the Creature 
 again&ur. of us firft frame and conftitution of being, into a frame and 
 confticution much more excellent and capacious , a ftace Incorruptible % 
 ncyer needing, nor being fubje&ed to change of any kind, afterward, 
 
 D which 
 
1 8 An Epifiit Gtterat t\ tht Mtfkai'B&d.ipf. Chrifr. 
 
 wbkh)the fir ft building upon natural; principles, dptb, and did nctd. 
 This working over, or re-bttUdmg t]bt Creature again , called in 
 Scripture Regeneration, is not (imply restoration or confirmation > con* 
 veying immutablenefs to the fir li Rri&ci pies, and no more ; but,it \\ 
 quite. a new Creation, that takes down- of 3 the firft building, as much 
 as the Builder plcafech^ and Ieavesno more of it (landing, than what 
 is confident with, and grows up into perfect harmony, ufe, and fcr- 
 viccablenefs to and with the new addition and' enlargement that, is 
 made, notdeftroyingthe firft Image of God in man. This rebuild', 
 tng work, thenproduceth not a wai an.ihilation oi the natural beings 
 but brings up-on the life and manner, of, operation that flows from na- 
 tural principles, {\xq\\% cefTadon.^s amounts to a kind of. death, at lead 
 to a bttternefs more than death it(elf>- rendring it, impi ilible for the 
 Creature co live or. move any longer unto fin and evil ; and quidening 
 it, and raifing it out of this c}ead ftate, into the greateft freedom to, and 
 ftedfaft perfeverance in all kinds of good that is imaginable, as thac t 
 which becomes moft natural and delighting the contrary, thereunto 
 moft grievous and difqtiietful to it. 
 
 This Second Life, which accompanies Salvation; and brings Im- 
 mortality to light, is- a kind of life: from the dead, that the natural 
 beings of Angels and Men are hegotten into, by rbc'ing made meet 
 Temples and Subjects for the Holy Ghoft, in a jtate of life eternal, by 
 a union with ,God that can never be diifolved. Angels therefore as 
 well as Men, are called Children of th* Refrrreclion^lLukc ^o^^jc*. 
 as they are brought into a ftatc never to change more. 
 
 Hence it is, even among!? thefc Children of the %efurrec7ion, that 
 the immortal life , w herewith they, are quiokned J>y C.hrify as he is 
 the giver of the Holy Ghoft is of two forts, as to the. degree and 
 meafure of the glory thereof « Firft, $uch,-wher6in Men and Angtls 
 are equal: And the Second, Such; wherein fome \Acn are made in 
 fuch manner Chrift's Equals, the Lamb's or Bridegroom' 1 s Wife that 
 lies in his bofom, that they are the Angels fuperiours, and are made 
 joynt-hcirs with Chrtft^ cfthat jS^ame, which be.hach obtained, better 
 than that which is the Angels food, that Word of God's mouth ,thac 
 they Uve upon. So that now, when we fpexk of Chrift, as -the Author 
 of life Ctewal, in this fe eon d fort cfMiniftry> wherein the natural be- 
 ings of the creature are, as it were, wrought over again and rebuilt^ 
 we would be underftood, that there is. a birth of this Immortality, 
 which amounts to the giving ofth* HolyGhofi> m the (ingle portion 
 ofit^ and alfo tn the dvubje portion of it y >as we fhall diliinflly open 
 
 in 
 
An EptftleGeneralto the MysHcal Body of.Chrlfi. 1 p 
 
 in its place ; both being diftin& From that pure, holy, righteom life of 
 Nature that was at firit given by Creatton y or afterwards renewed 
 by a Reftoration and kind of new Creation of qualities, but falls (hort 
 oitrue and fnvjng%e generation, properly and rightly explicated and 
 made known ; by which the natural frame and make of the 'natural 
 foul and firit of man, is in a mariner wholly altered and,changed, 
 and much for the better, becauf€it<is raifed out of its frail, mutable y 
 wavering, as well isfinful, natural fiate, into i flrorg,ftable>immu~ 
 tablt poflure of 'mind \ in %^ghteoufnefs and true Holinefs, as a %oc^ 
 and Stone, that the Gates of Hell cannot prevail againff. This fur- 
 ther Gift and Grace of God, thcugh it be the end of Man's Creation, 
 and that which God, as the reward ro thofe that arc obedient under 
 the firit Miniftry, doth promife and hold forth, in a way of Promife, 
 yet is conditional, and fo, that which in Juftice God need not confer 
 upon any that perform not the Condition, but by their Cm do forfeit it. 
 •A&d therefore it (d happens, that all who inherit this BrefTing;' arc 
 made receivers of it, by Promife, and by a fecond and new Agree- 
 ment with God, which he enters into with therrun regenerating them, 
 and makes them new Creatures, thenceforward to fcrve him and live 
 Co him, in newnefs of Spirit and Life. 
 
 3. We now come to ftiew, according to the Third Particular pro- 
 posed, who thofe be that are Chart's Anointed Ones and Wltneffes^ 
 under both his fore-mentioned Admimftratiofts, and the Anointing ic 
 feif, which is given, by the one and by the other. 
 
 Chrifl is, as we have fhewcd,the Original and primitive Pattern of 
 all Per f eft ions ; the Works, that were finifhed from the beginning, 
 known to God from all" Eternity, and actually wrought and let up 
 from Everlaftintf in the Mediator, through that Eternal Wifdom, 
 which was by God, as one brought up with him, Prov.%. and whom 
 he poffefled in the beginning of his way, before his Works of old, ere 
 ever the Earth was. And what is true in Chrifr, who Wnot only tfte 
 Jtofft, but the chief and principal Branch, hath its Witnefs, and is de- 
 clared in the Work which he begets, and fhines forth in, amongft his 
 Members, knit to him, by an abiding or indifToluable union • all that 
 are. Branches, in this true-Vine, whofc Fruit is fuch as is cheering, 
 both to the heart of God and of Man ; that is to fay, of Man consi- 
 dered in his higher or lower attainments, and growths, up into the 
 knowledge and love of God, as he is Man, and no more, partaking 
 of the Spirit of God by mcafure ; And, fecondly, of Man, rmde the 
 only Begotten of God, that lyes in the bofom of the Father, and is 
 
 D 2 anointed 
 
a.0 An Epiflle Central to the MyflicalEcdj ofChrifl. 
 
 anointed with the Ojl of gladnefs above his fellows, which Chrift's 
 exalted Manhead is, and that after fuch fort, as not to have and inhe- 
 ric the dignity of it to hirnfelf, fingle and alone, but** the Head and, 
 Hmband to that General Affemblj of the Eirft-born, whofc Names 
 arc written in Heaven , and have right to the double portion. 
 
 The right opening of this, is the great Key to all our praSical and 
 experimental Knowledge of God, which is found amongft the difper- 
 fed Seed of God, that arc either of the one or other birch, Children 
 of the firfl or fecond Covenant, in every Nat ; on, Tongue, Language 
 or Form, truly fearing God and working Righteoufnefs, and therein 
 accepted of God, either through Faith, or with that common accep- 
 tance declared, Gen. 4. If thou doflwell, fhalt thou not be accepted? 
 whillt in the mean time they may be great Grangers unto, if not much 
 prejudiced againft one another, for not walking together in one and 
 the fame way of Profcflion and external Communion. - 
 
 Give me leave then, to diftinguifh this Seed of God into Fourforts ; 
 Two, that are witneffes unto thrift's firfl CMmi/try, as he is the Au- 
 thor and Rettorer of the Law and Principles of pure Nature, and is 
 the difpenfer of God's 1 mage , znd the mawftftation of hi* fVtll, upon 
 the terms of the firfl Covenant ; And other two, that are JVttnejjes 
 unto the truth of Christ's fecond Mtniflry, as he is the new Creator, 
 that regenerates and makes over again hie firfl work^ anew, is the 
 Author of Life from the dead, and bringer of Immortality to light ; 
 which is not done by the firli Covenant, nor can be ; but, by this fe- 
 cond knowledge and Image of (fod, begotten and wrought, by, and 
 according to the tenor of. the new and everlaflmg Covenant* 
 
 The firft fort of WitnelTes we fhall fpeak unto ; and rightly to have 
 the knowledge of them, we muft yet further confidcr Man in his firft 
 make, and in the primitive constitution of being that was given to him 
 in his Hate of Innocency before Cm entrcd : So as to enquire, upon 
 what terms Man then Hood with God, and in what refpeft he was 
 pronounced good in God's eyes, and might be faid to be accepted 
 of him. 
 
 Cftian then had the perfefl knowledge of God and of Chrift, a* hie 
 Creator and Law -giver ( for God created all things by Jcfus Chrift ; 
 by the Word of God's mouth; in the Mediator, did all things live, 
 move, and had their being ) [0 that what might be known of God, 
 even of his Eternal Power and Godhead, by the things that were 
 made, that is, by the means of any created beings, vifibleor invifible 
 it was mamfefted in man, and Vf&sjktrved to mart, by that mixt, cam 
 
 ponn- 
 
 
An £ fifth General to the My flic al Body of Chrifl. 21 
 
 pound being, which was given him, of an intelle fiual and fenfual or 
 animal Soul, which furmfhed him with inward and outward fenfes, 
 proportioned for fuch a knowledge, and which were retained in due 
 fubje&ion and fubordinatlon the one unto the other. From fuch a 
 profpe& and furvey of things, as Man at firft was fitted to receive both 
 from within and without him, the invifible things of the Godhead were 
 clearly feen by him, rendring him without a]l excufe, being thereby 
 inlkufted in the duty of his obedience and fubjetlton to the Law of 
 (fod- under which he was made, to the glorifying him as God ; which 
 as God expected and required from man, fo he owned a liking and 
 acceptance of from man, with wham he treated, and agreed upon the 
 terms of his perfonal obedience, and entire obfervance of all his Com- 
 mands, and continuance therein. 
 
 Three things man in th*s Hate, might, and did experimentally find 
 in himfelf. 
 
 Firft, The light and manifeftation of God's Mind and Will, as a 
 Law within him, called in Scripture, The Candle of the Lord, the 
 Oyl with which (jedfurnifhed the Lamp of marts Jpirit, which he was 
 to take care, that through his default he did not let it go out, nor di- 
 mtnifh ; but quicken and renew it, as it fbould needy by fuch means 
 God inftituted. 
 
 The fecond thing which man experienced, was, the life of a rational 
 and intelletlual Soul ; that is to fay, a fuperior fart in the fame Soul 9 
 affording the ufe of inward fenfes^ that by keeping open and awakje, he 
 had, as itwere y an intercourfe with the fpintual and invifible beings 
 of \Angels, and faw the intrinfick. natures of the Creatures. 
 
 And thirdly, He found alfo, a brutifh nature, of which he was 
 compouuded and made, which fumijhed him with the ufe and opera* 
 tion of outward fenfes, by which he might go abroad, and walkup and 
 down in converfe with earthly things and inhabitants ; The fountain 
 of thefe outward fen fes, his inferior pan, to be in his foul' or Jpirit, With 
 thefe he came to perform, and put in execution, that which the fupe- 
 rior and direUive part of him, judged right and fit to be done. 
 
 This was the inward and outward order of actings, that Man at firft 
 was created in, with a freedom to make ufe of this Light within hirm- 
 (^IU ( which God, as a Talent, had committed to him to imploy ac- 
 cording to his will ) and rely upon his guidance and the fuflbciency 
 of it, to attain the end God let before him, in the way of his perfett 
 obedience* and keeping out the entrance of (in, or elfe upon the icnfc 
 of the inftabtlity be might difcern in thefe principles of Freedom, that 
 
 leave 
 
22 An Spiftle General to the Myftical Body of Ckrift. 
 
 leave him alone and co himfelf, and che Inefficiency to continue by the 
 power of che Grace received in well-doing, againft all refitting and 
 deceiving temptations, to chufe rather to make rcfignatron up or this 
 his Freedom, wherein he was at his own guidance and difpofe, in ex- 
 change for a better and more perfett Freedom, that is to lay, in order 
 to be intirely at the will of another, and the leading influence thereof in 
 all things, even of fuch another, whofe fervice is perfetl Freedom, and 
 who fhculd be as Surety for the performance of the duty to God's 
 Law, and iecure us from the penalty of the Curfe therein threatned 
 againft the Tranfgreflion thereof, which was pointed out to Adam in 
 the Tree of Life, as John interprets by the Prpmife, mentioned, %ev. 
 2. 7* To him that overcometh ( winch is done through Faith j will 
 I give to eat of the Tree of Life or Immortality, which is fed on by 
 Faith ; through the pow£r of which, the entire refignation of our will, 
 into rhe leading and rule of the Spirit and Will of Chrift is onely 
 wrought, and of which w . fball treat particularly in its proper place, 
 though this fmall touch of it is needful here : But the choice which 
 Man made, was, to lean to his own underftanding for his guide, and 
 to truit to the ufe of his Freedom, which gave him to be at his own 
 difpofe, as fufficient co encounter with and rehit all Temptations, and 
 upon the firft encounter failed and .mifcarried, and let in Sin, Death 
 and Wrath upon himfclf and all his Pofterity, as the fad Confequcnce 
 of that Fa£t of his. 
 
 To be then upon thefe ttzmSjisAdam was before his /^perfonal- 
 ly righteous, and rinding acceptance with God whilft we Hand in fuch 
 Obedience and %ighteottfnefs, is an Effe6t which Chrtft in his fir [i 
 Miniftry doth produce in the hearts of men, making them in this re. 
 fpec^ the firft fort of the four Witneffes we ha yc before-mentioned, 
 and which, though we have been confidering of them in the perfon 
 of the firit */£dam before the Fall ; yet by the fame Rule and Pro- 
 portion, the Witnefs is ftill the fame, whether it be communicated ori- 
 ginally at mans Creation, or elfe by renewal or reftauration again after 
 the fall by the fame hand and tJMiniftry which fiiftgaveic, which 
 Chrtfl may do if he pleafe ; and that he hath done is mo(t obvious and 
 undeniable from the experience we have had of late years, within 
 thefe Na-.ions, in a fort of Profeffors and Witneffes ofChfifr', that do 
 exactly go upon this bottom of Perfonal%ighteoufnefs, wrought by 
 the Principles of pure Nature, renewed and reftored within them, 
 which they affert may be held in perfection vphilft, we are here in the 
 fodj 7 and by which we may, as by the Light rvtthin m $ perfectly 
 
 fub- 
 
An Epiftle General to the Myfticd Body of Qhrifi. 23 
 
 fubdue our brutifh nature,and keep under the body, though all this be 
 accompanied with mutability > and,the acceptance whichthey find with 
 God is according to. their works, whillt they do well, otherwtfe fin is 
 at the door y and the punishment according to the fame. This fore 
 of ProfefTors of the Name of Chrift, rile fo high in their Tcftimonjr 
 concerning him, as to call him, The glorious Sun of the foul ; the 
 Searcher through of all darkpefi • the Wonderful Power ; the Incom- 
 er ehenfible Wisdom , and Immutable Holw-'fs ; a thing that is invifible 
 to every flcjhly thing; the one individual Spirit of Brightnefs y that 
 created all fouls ; and aie fo dazeled with the Beams of this Glory, 
 Call which he truly is) that they overlook him too much according to 
 his Humanity, and fee him, not as he is the Son of man, in whom Re- 
 demption is wrought for us, and the Atonement for fin made by the 
 price of his Blood, the benefit whereof they have, whether they con- 
 fefs u or not : Thefe are they, that by the Candle of the Lord that is 
 lighted within them,{i\\z work whereof is written in their inward 
 pares) though they be not fomuch hearers of the Law by the Mini* 
 (I ry of the outward Word , yet do they fheVv themfelves doers of the 
 Law by the power of the Light that is within them ; doing, as it were^ 
 by feature the things contained in the Law , and fo not having the 
 Law y outwardly considered, are a Law to themfelves, jewing the 
 wcrk^ of it written in their hearts ; and by keeping the %ightecufnefs 
 of the Law, -do judge them, who by the Letter tranfgreffe the Law y 
 and do feel Peace and Comfort in their workj. In this manner didthi 
 Cewurianfear.Cjod and wcrk^Righpepufnefs, Aft. 10. before he heard 
 thofe words from Peter, that inftru£ted him in the knowledge of 
 Chrift's Death and Refurre&ion,. and the Peace that comes to the 
 Soul by his Blood, unto the.Remiiiion of fins.; by whom ail that be- 
 lieve arc juliified from all things, which they could not be jultificd 
 from by the Law of Nature or Works. Thefe ought not to be denied 
 place in this rank of Ghrilt's WitncfTes, whereof we have been fpcak- 
 iflg, (incc they own and declare thcmfelves to be fearers of God and 
 workers of Jkjghteoufiefs, upon thefe firft principles of it which pure 
 Nature teaches and plants, where, ever it is renewed and reftored from 
 the hand of ChrifVs liberality and bounty, to put the Receivers of it 
 to the tryal, how far they will fhew their faithfulncfs in the meafure 
 committed to them, and in what readinels they are to put thefe Ta- 
 lents out in the way of exchange to get more, and not to reft until! 
 they obtain that (tare Which is immucable. It therefore greatly con- 
 cerns fuch to look to their ftandi»g, which is very (lippcry and un- 
 certain 
 
24 -^# Efiflle General to the My flic al Body ofChrifi, 
 
 certain, and take heed left they fall ; and to think fobcrly of them- 
 selves as they ought to think ; and not affirm, as they are apt to do, 
 that their JVttnefs contains in it all that Chrift is : left other wife, 
 -when they come co be weighed in the ballance of the Sanctuary, they 
 be found at laft to deny more of Chrift than they confers of him : Nor 
 are they to exalc this pare of the Miniftry of Chrift, which is but the 
 beginning againft chat fuller fight and knowledge of him that is ftili 
 to be revealed ; but this one thing they fhould do, Forget that which 
 is behind, and prefs forward to the mark^ of the priz,e of the htgh 
 calling which is in Chrift : And although it be a commendable thing 
 in them, even upon their Principles, to fpread the knowledge of Chrift 
 in all the dark corners of the world, where the Scriptures and written 
 Word of Truth are not heard or received, the eftecl: of which labours, 
 with God's blcfling, may be the heightning and refining man's nature, 
 and purging it from filchy lufts and prophanefs, teaching them to fly 
 from the Wrath and Vengeance which awaits evil- doers ; Yet this is 
 to be done in iubferviency unto, not in oppofition againft the right 
 knowledge and powerful Preaching of the Scriptures, thofe Divine 
 Oracles which God hath prefer ved for the great benefit and ufe of his 
 Church in all times fince the firft writing of them. By thefe are wit- 
 nclTed the righteous Principles and Actings according to the Law of 
 pure Nature, wherein Man was at firft created, and may fo often as 
 Chrift plcafes, be again received in by that Light with which he en- 
 lightens every man that comes into the world, whereof Chrift ( as we 
 hare (hewed) is the Author and Difpenfer ; and under this firft Wit- 
 ncls ail thefe are to be comprehended, who approve themfelvcs doers 
 of the Law^ msn that fear God and work ^Rjghteoufnefs in every Na- 
 tion, in fuch manner as God accepts, though as yet they have not at- 
 tained to the knowledge ofChrift by the outward Miniftry and hear- 
 ing of the written Word. 
 
 But as thefe are fuch who pretend, to be doers of the Law by a 
 Light within them, without dependance upon the Miniftry of the 
 written Word, by a Teaching of the Word, as it is fpoken inwardly 
 to the mind by Angels, who are entrufted with it, Heb. 2. 1. So. there 
 is- a fecond fort of WitnefFes unto the fame Principles in fubftance, that 
 is to fay, to the life of the Image of God in pure Nature, wherein man 
 was at firft created, as it comes again to be renewed and reftored with 
 power in the foul, by the knowledge of Jefus Chrift, and the Re- 
 demption that is by his Blood through the Miniftry. ot the written 
 Word, and the operation of the Spirit of Chrift in the ufe of thofe 
 
 Ordinances 
 
An Epifile General to the My flic al Body ofChrifl. 2^ 
 
 Ordinances and Ir.itttutions of Worfhip, which he hath appointed and 
 revealed in the Scriptures, according to the fevcral met lures of their 
 growth up into this knowledge of Chrift, aod faithful! walking with 
 him therein, under the variety of Profeffion and Forms of vifible Wor- 
 ships that are extant, in that which is acknowledged or witneflcd to be 
 the vifible Christian Church ; which, by the preaching of the Gofpel, 
 upon the Afcention of Chrili, and the Minillry of his Spirit poured 
 forth in the primitive flare of it, came to be railed up by God's vifiting 
 the Gentiles > to takeout of them a People of his Name, that he might 
 fubliitute unto himfelf as another Ifrael and holy People and Church cf 
 vifible Profeffors of his Name, in the room and place of the Jews y 
 a*d the old Law and Form of Worfhip that had been in practice 
 among them, %om it. which made James, in A&. if. itf, 17. 
 apply the words of the Prophets , unto this new Chritiian Gentile 
 Church, which iayes, After this J will retum ) and will build, up 
 the Tabernacle of T) avid, which u fallen down, and will build again 
 the ruines thereof ; and I will fei it up, that the reftdue of men might 
 fee\ after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my 1\ame is 
 called, faith the Lord, who doth all thefe things. Now amortgft the 
 vifible Members of the Chriftian Church (as evidently appears, Gal.q.) 
 there were a Generation, that under the Name of Chnfttans and 
 hearers of the G off) el and Minlftry of the Spirit, according to the New 
 Teftament, chofe (fill to retain the Principles of the Law and firtf Co- 
 venant, as the ballance of all their Faith, Obedience and Worfhip, 
 delirino to be under the Law and Dominion cf it, and to cleave to the 
 upholding and doing thofe things, which, accordirg to the Judgment 
 of the Apolile Paul y made them debtors to the whole Law^ and Ihuck 
 them clear off from the true Principles of Grace, that are by the Law 
 of Faith, and of the new and everlafting Covenant ; and of this, they 
 oave but too clear a proof, in that they gloried in fc methirg that was 
 on this fide the Spiritual mind, which is fet upon things that are 
 above,and which ought to be died unto by the Dc&rine of the Crofs, 
 unto which they fhew chemfelves the declared and zealous oppofers. 
 
 Not, but that in words and profeflion thefe pretended as much to 
 own the Principles of Free-Grace, and of the New-TcHament- as 
 any, and have their approach to it , at leaft, when they pieafe th:m- 
 felves, fome more and ibme lefs ; but, when they are brought to the 
 Tryal, they quickly (hew that they are not able to endure the bridling 
 and reflraint which the New-Teftamcnc puts upon them, by the De- 
 cline of the Crofsof Chrilt, to the crucifyirg that wherein they de- 
 
 E fire 
 
7.6 An Eptftle General to the MjfticalBody of Chrip. 
 
 fire and aftcft to glory, from which they are excluded by the Law of 
 Faith and the New-Creature, as we (hall (hew in its place ; So that 
 in Truth, that which thefe fecond fort ofWitneffes have in their eye, is 
 not the being and life of the New Creature, but the retioration of the 
 old Adam in his primitive, righteous and holy ftate, into which they 
 grow up and are found for the life of their holincfs ; and upon that 
 bottom, as a qualification to entitle them to all the Promifes,and their 
 abode and continuance in Fellowship and Communion with Chrift, 
 and Intereft in his Death, for the Remiflion cf fins ; They do experi- 
 ence fuch acceptance from Chritf , and are in thcmfelves fo certain of 
 their good Eftates to their Eternal Salvation, that they will Sot endure 
 to hear, wherein they are in a miftake, nor that it is poffible for them 
 to be better. 
 
 Thefe do indeed excel the firft Witneffcs in the doctrinal part of the 
 knowledge of Chrift, confclTmghim in that great part of his Prieftly 
 Office ( which theothers fee not ) as he bare our TranfgrciTions,and 
 made Atonement for the (in of mankind, by the Sacrifice of himfclf; 
 in the benefit of which Sacrifice they find their outward peace and/*/ 
 more than in their righteous works ; nay, when as to the light and 
 evidence of their Santtification, they arc at a lofs and in the dark • 
 they have an adherence to the blood of Chrift^ as the propitiation for 
 their fins, and his intcrccftlon on their behalfs to the Father, for the 
 obtaining new firength againft Corruption, and the renewal of their 
 former peace and comfort; which experience the firft fort ofWitneffes 
 are Grangers to, or fee no need of, but account thcmfelves Juttified as 
 well as Sanctified by the inward purity and perfection which they have 
 attained with power over the brutifh and fenfual Nature, that 
 they are more careful and able to keep under, than this fecond fort 
 are. 
 
 Neverthelefs, The 0)1 which is given from Chrift under this firft 
 xJMimfiry in either of thefe refpecls before-mentioned, is that &An- 
 minting that through the frailty and weaknefs of the Feffel that re- 
 ceives it, is not abiding, but at the beft is but as a fojourner, that 
 finds not in thefe hearts the new man y that is the place of its reft, 
 I fa. 66. and though it be ufed by Chrift to trim the Lamp ofthefpi- 
 rit of man with, when renewed and reftored to the obedience undfub* 
 jettion that is required by the Law of God,in any degree and meafure 
 of fincerity or chaftity of the pure Lamb-Yfoc and virgin Spirit, yet 
 being only in the Lamp, where it fpends and confumes, and muft be 
 duly renewed, and by a frame of heart meet to receive it, and checrifh 
 
 it; 
 
An Epiftle General to the Myttical Body of thrift. 1 7 
 
 it ; or elfe being grieved and quenched, it fuddenly departs : Hence 
 it is, that amongtt thefc two Wttneff^s under this Anointing , which is 
 from Chrift 7 and the operation, good, righteous, holy, and fpiritual, 
 and the change made by it,truc and real ; there are fuch a number or" 
 vitiblc Profcflbrs that prove Hypocrites, Apoftates , and fall away 
 from the Grace and enlightening they have felt and experienced, de- 
 ceiving both thcmfclves and others, being not able to hold it out in 
 the day of Tryal, nor to perfevere and endure to the end ; without, 
 on the other hand, (tumbling on the ftumblingft one , and becoming 
 prejudiced againtt any higher and further growths up into Chrift : or, 
 on the other hand, through fear of lofs by Pcrfecution, are terrified 
 from well-doing (with amazement ) or, are bought off from it with 
 the reward of nnrighteoufnefs, as Balaam was • and is Demos who 
 embraced this prefent World. 
 
 And the Reafon of this, as to the one as well as the other fort of 
 thefc Witneffes, is, becaufe that is wanting to them whkh (hould fix 
 them, and make them unchangeable in well-doing, and caufe them to 
 be pillars in the Houfe of God that never go out more. That they are 
 partakers of righteom Principles, and are qualified with Power to 
 work Righteoufnefs, and this from prefent annointtng and impreffton 
 of the true and right Spirit, is not, nor ought not to be denied them • 
 They may be Virgins, and have Lamps well trimed with Oyl fitfh and 
 full, and yet not able to keep this Oyl from pending and going out, nor 
 prevent rheir own being to feek^ for want of it , when they {hould 
 have zhegreateft ufe or it. And indeed, the fir ft fort do confefs as 
 much, and own theil Righteoufnefs to be mutable, and they no lon- 
 ger to have certainty in it, than they can (land in the Obedience ; and 
 chat their ftanding or falling, may be or may not be, as they give their 
 freeatTent or dhTent to the Good and Evil that prefents it felt" to them. 
 But with many, under thefecond fort of fVitnejfes, it is not fo ; for 
 they fatten upon the Righteoufnefs of thrift, that is wrought in his 
 Terfon, as that which is unchangeable in itfelf, which it is, if they do 
 but rightly apply it, and hold it upon the Tenure of the abfolute and 
 better Promtfes which are by the new Covenant, whereof they make 
 no doubt but they do. And as to their Saxfttfication r they have the 
 Law tot their Rule, which in it felf is Moral and Perpetual, and fo 
 they believe all real and true Conformity to it, wrought in their hearts, 
 muftalfobe, although their hearts be not yet made that goodfoyl, 
 that where it hath received the Word, and retained it for afeafon, 
 are not prepared to \eep it for ever, and to bring forth fruit with that 
 
 E 2 patience, 
 
28 Anfyiftte General to the Myslical Body of Chrift. 
 
 patience, as r^H loft all other things y rather than ever be prevailed 
 rvtihy to let it go. 
 
 From both thefe forts of tVitneffes, Chrift is Preached, and Rigb- 
 teoufnefs made known and Propagated in the World, and a Teftimo- 
 ny kept up againft open Loofenefs and prophannefs, Atheifm and Ido- 
 latry ; and by thefe Spiritual Traders and Merchants in tfie Traffick 
 of Chrift's Goods and Talents of the Common Gifts and Graces of his 
 Spirk,there is by fomc, a right & good ufe and approvement made,fo 
 as they arc a: latt perfwaded to put them to the Exchangers for their 
 Lord's Advantage, and their own benefit ; being willing to purchaie 
 the one Pearl of great price, which is obtained through favtng Faith 
 and ^Regeneration • for many of thefe [mall Pearls that in the Day 
 of Proof and Tryal, will not endure : And thofe that do eat and. 
 drink^unworthily of this Table of the Lord, notwithstanding the many 
 wonderful things they do in his Name,ta willfrofefs he knows them not, 
 but let them fee, they have eat and drunk^ their own damnation, and 
 left themfelves wholly without all ex cufe : And therefore, both thefe 
 degrees and growths up into Chrift Jefus, as branches in the Vinc y 
 that after real union, muft either by better husbandry applied to them, 
 come to receive a fattening in and wich the Root, that cannot be (ta- 
 ken nor diflolved, or elfe prove withered branches, at laft that upon 
 tryal are only fit for the fire ; Their great care and bufinefs fhould 
 be to make their Calling and Election fure, and from evidence which 
 cannot fail nor deceive, experience that the Root bears them, and not 
 they the Root. 
 
 And thus we come to the Confederation of the other two forts of 
 tVitnejfes y thzz are t\\t ftanding Plants and Ohve Trees in the Houfe 
 of God, which are planted by the Fathers right hand, and none what- 
 ioever can pluck up. In the former I have fpoke to, C\m(\ dwells as 
 in his Tents and mutable habitations, who in that refpec~t are called 
 Temples of the Holy GhoH, that may fo be defiled, that God may 
 deiiroy and caft them out of his fight for ever ; but thefe we now 
 come to defcribe, do Conftitute that Mount Zton that cannot be 
 moved, that Heavenly Jerufalem, which is made a quiet habitation^ 
 a place of ever I aft in g Reft, a Tabernacle that (hall not be taken down 
 . ( as the fi;(t muft, in order to be new built in the Regeneration ) not 
 one of the Stakes thereof jhall ever be removed, neither jhall any of 
 the Cords thereof be broken ; but there the Lord will be for ever, a 
 place of broad Rivers and Streams that (hall fpring up into life eternal, 
 and that from the loweft Ebbs, at firft no higher than the Anckles, 
 
 becom 
 
tA* Eft/lie General to the CMyftical Body of Chrift. ^ 
 
 become ftill afcendir.g, not only to the heighth and flature of man in 
 his fulleft perfection, but alio above it, till ic come co be a River to 
 fwim in, a River, pure and clear as Criftal, that proceeds from the 
 Throne of God and of the Limb ( the Son of man glorified) in the 
 midft of the ftreet ; and on either fide whereof is the Tree of Life, or 
 thole who live and ked upon that incorruptible Fruit. 
 
 The work which is wrought by Chrift in and upon the two fir ft 
 fort of Prof ejfors of bis Name, is that which feals them and binds 
 them fait up in the bundle of life unto the Redemption that is eternal, 
 and makes them to give witnefs to what Chrift is and doth in his fe- 
 cond CMlniftry, as he lends the holy Ghoft, the Spirit of Truth,which 
 abides in them that are made Receivers of him, under an Obligation, 
 never to depart from them, nor ftiffer them to depart fiom him ; that 
 is, he that Hablifaeth us in Chrift, pouring out that Anointing which 
 fealeth us with the Seal of the living God, as with the Name of cur 
 Father in our forehead, the effectual calling of whofe Name upon us, 
 by working in us, and making us fie Vcffels to receive it arid bear it, 
 is our Adoption, and that manner of admitting us unto the right and 
 dignity of Sons, which makes us heirs according to the promife. 
 
 And this is done by Chrift, not as Creator, and the Giver of the 
 Law and Life of pure Nature upon its firft Principles ; but by Chrift 
 as he minifters that Spirit of Truth, which is the Infpiration before- 
 defcribed, that proceeds from the Father and the Son, by the ope- 
 ration of the holy Ghoft, or third Perfon in the Trinity, whofe work 
 is Perfection and confummativc of what is already in being, by the 
 Creation and Operation of the Son or Eternal Word • and yet caufeth 
 fo great an Alteration in the natural being of man, taken at his beft, 
 from what it was before, and that fo much for the better ; with re- 
 fped to abundance and immutability of that which Nature it felf calls 
 good and righteous , that it juftly deferves tobecall'd a new Crea- 
 tion, or Regeneration , that gives a new Creature Bew<r and Life far 
 excelling the firft, and much differing in glory from it. To evidence 
 this, 
 
 Let us confidcr Man in the ri°hteoufnefs of hfs Natural being, 
 wherein he hath a right understanding of Gcd's mind ( in what is 
 required by the Law, which he confents and agrees to, as that which 
 is righteous, and holy, and fpiritual, and good ) and a will to put it 
 in execution, as that which, in the doing thereof, he doth but his 
 OHty, and which he is obliged to by G O D, and his own vo- 
 luntary Engagement, and to continue therein under the danger of the 
 
 Curfc 
 
3 3 An Sprfile General to the Myftical Body of Cbrift. 
 
 Cur fc upon faifer 4 Here the Command is a Lamp, and the Liw is 
 Light, to inftruft man in his Dury ; and the Spirit and Mind of man, 
 keeping to this Light, and walking up to k, and faithfully in it, is in a 
 good and perfect ltate,by God approved and juftified ; fo that there be 
 but a continuance in it : And this Chrift icems to acknowledge co him 
 that put him the Qyeftion, Luke 10. 2y. What fkall I do to inherit 
 Eternal life ? In the Anfwcr he gives, bidding him do that which is 
 written in the Law, which fa yes, Thou [halt love the Lord thy God 
 with all thy heart y with all thy foul y with all thy Strength^ and with 
 all thy mind ; do this, and thou (halt live ; Where then lies the dif- 
 ficulty ? what is it that is yet wanting ? 
 
 The difficulty lies in man's part, whereof he is not enough fcnfible, 
 and the want is, that of a Guide and Surety, to fet and to keep man's 
 fpirit right in the doing of that which the Law requires, in the man- 
 ner <5od prizes and moft eftccms : For there is a way that is right in 
 man's eyes, even in yeelding obedience to the Law of God, wherein 
 man glories, and is puffed up in himfclf, but hath no praile from 
 <3od ; and this is from that fpring and principle of activity which is 
 feated in the freedom of Will, which is natural to man in his firft 
 righteous Nature, and was found in him before his Fall, and is capa- 
 ble of Rcfiitution fince, nay, is actually rcftorcd through the benefit of 
 his Death, more or lefs in every man, by that common Light and 
 Grace which Chrift doth no more withhold from any man, than he 
 doth his Rain from raining upon the Juft and Unjuft ; but in way of 
 further bounty, doth confer in large proportions where he pleafeth, a 
 diftnbution of his Goods and Spiritual Gifts, in which he caufeth the 
 Receivers thereof to differ one from another, according to the ufc he 
 intends them unto. By which enriching of man's nature upon this his 
 rdtored natural bottom of a free active righteous fpirit, according to 
 the Law, whilft the primitive mutability is ftill continuing with him, 
 he is fo far from being made a New Creature and truly regenerate (as 
 is but too generally conceived) that nothing but pafling under the new 
 Creation-work, tranflating man out of his primitive natural freedom 
 and activity, into an activity and Freedom of another kind, is capa- 
 ble to hinder this flrli freedom from engendring to bondage, and the 
 righteoufnefs accompanying ir, from failing and ending in the death of 
 Hypocrite and final Apottacy ; which made Chrill, in Job. 8. 3 1. to 
 deal fo plainly with the Jewf y that in this wavering fpirit were for th c 
 pre Cent inch as pafled currant for Believers, and were fo called by th e 
 Evangclifts ; but Chrift knew they were not of continuance, and f c 
 
 told 
 
An Eft file General to the My fi teal Body of thrift . 3 1 
 
 told them, ver. 3 i. together with the Remedy which he had by him 
 for the cure of ic. For they Hood in need to be made free by the know- 
 ledge of the Truth ; or rather, to be known of him that is True; 
 >the Son that abides in the houfe for ever, who is able to bring them 
 into that flate of freedom, that (hall make them free $ndeed, with an 
 impolTibilicy ever to be imbondaged more, or to ierve fin as their 
 lord and matter. 
 
 This mutable ftate, wherein man did at firft receive God's Image 
 by Creation, and doth in the way of Reiteration again partake of it, 
 by vertue of the Miniflry of Chrift's fiift anointing and comlorting 
 Prefence, in which he takes up his habitation in the foul, as a fojoui- 
 ner and paffenger, although there be given that knowledge of God's 
 Will and Mind to man, which is true, and as perfect and full, as the 
 Veffcl that takes it can bear ; yet the wcaknefs of the VeiTel is fuch, 
 that it is like the wave of the Sea, toffed with every wind when tem- 
 ptation arifes, and is either of it felf apt to miftake and mifundcrftand 
 the Rule given him to walk by, or to clofe and fall in with a falfc 
 deceitful fpirit, transforming himfelf into the Image of Rightecmfnefs, 
 and imbracc him for the True one : for whatever Image of God that 
 which is a mecr Creature, and no more, is found in, the old Serpent 
 knows how to imitate and perfonate the fame, in the very likenefs 
 wherein it fhincs forth in Chrift's own Perfon, and with the fame to 
 feat himfelf in the hearts of his followers, as in the Temple of God, 
 and to fhew himfelf as far as that will go, for proof and dcmonltra- 
 tionthat he is God, to the imbondaging and carrying captive by this 
 deceit, all that receive not the Truth in the love of it. 
 
 Whereas the Image and Knowledge of God, and of his Will, 
 which is given by the Truth, or by his coming into the Soul, who is 
 the true One, doth anoint and imprefs the Soul, with that Name of 
 God, which doth exclude by the very Nature of its evidence, all 
 poiTibility of falfliood, deceit, or uncertainty, as doth the Daycs- 
 fpringof Light to the natural eye, which by its fclf-evidence aflures 
 it, It is that Light wherein is no darknefs at all, but is able to di- 
 fiinguifh it felf, as that which is feparate from the darknefs of every 
 counterfeit and falfc reprefentation. This comes only by the Law of 
 Faith, and true Regeneration, that Gift of the Holy Ghoft, as ht'ts 
 the Second and better Comforter, the Spirit of Truth whjch the 
 World neither doth, nor can receive. Chrift ^herefeke calls himfelf 
 the Truth, as he is the receiver and giver of this Anointing, as thefc 
 Rivers of Living Waters flow from him, that fail not, but are a well- 
 
 fpring 
 
3 2 *A* Bfiflle General to the Myflical Body of Chrtft. 
 
 fpring unto Life Eternal, as it is written, Joh< 7. This fpake he of the 
 Spirit, for the Holy Ghott was not yet given, that is in this Miniftry 
 and by the means ofChrift's Manhead, becaule Jefus was not yet 
 Glorified. Jefus was a man, and the mo(t perfect righteous natural 
 man which ever was, the form of which is made in him Incor- 
 ruptible, having its firft mutability fixed, by being fubje&ed and 
 made a Servant, though the elder, unto a Ncw-fprina of Li°ht and 
 Divine Birth that was added to him, as he became the cnorafced 
 Word, and wherein he and the Father are One, and not he, but the 
 Father doth the work ; Therefore he fayes, in Rev. 1. 18. I am he 
 that Itveth and was dead, and behold I am alive for evermore, and 
 have the Keyes of Hell and of Death. 
 
 According to this pattern of man's Natural Perfection made in 
 Chrilt incorruptible, and brought forth in perfect fubje&ion and fub- 
 fervency unto, and agreement with a more excellent birth of Divine 
 Glory, which Chrift's Man-head is exalted unto, ( in which he is 
 according to his Man- head, -He that is above all, one with the only 
 begotten, -that is in the Father's bofome, and hath the higher* and 
 cleareft fight of God, beyond that of Angels themfelves ) It is,thac 
 all Regenerated ones that arc made heirs of the Spiric/m the fingle por- 
 tion thereof, are built up, and are Temples of the Holy Ghoft, an ever- 
 laiiing Habitation of God, through the Spirit. 
 
 And becaufe the fame Jefus, that after this firft pattern of humane 
 Perfection which is in him, gives only the Witnefs that he is a meer 
 and perfect man : and in the exalted aRd more heavenly ftatc of Man- 
 head which he alfo hach, as he that God the Father hathfealcd 
 and admitted to the (ight of his own fliape and very iimilitudc, hath 
 by Inheritance obtained a more excellent Name than the Angels, and 
 mutt alfo give the Witnefs of what he is, and in what Glory he lives, 
 as he inherits the Spirit in this double portion thereof : Therefore by 
 the fame hew creating Power, which -he is intrufted to adminifter, as 
 he gives the Holy Ghott, he produces this fecond fort of new men, and 
 adopted Children heirs according to the Promifc, upon whom Chrift 
 poures out his Spirit, not only by the meafure, and pattern, or Rule 
 of the firft Creation, but above it and beyond it, according to the 
 proportion that his own glorified Manhead hath obtained i'. in its. 
 higheft exaltation, admitting them into the fame bofome of the Fa- 
 ther with him(elf, wherein he is as the only begotten ; into which 
 bofome, and mod intimate virion of God : neither do the Angels nor 
 firft fort of Heirs and Children of the Son's Kingdom ever arrive, but 
 
 is 
 
AniLfiftU General to the MyfUcal Body of- Chnft. j 3 
 
 is refervcd to be dwelt alone in by this Seed of Abraham God's friend, 
 that are made Chrift'j peculiar Poilcffion, confirming of a felcdt num- 
 ber of his choice Favourites and Friends that he Redeems from a- 
 mongrt all other men, to make as the firft fruits of his Creation to 
 God and to the Lamb, who are pynt-heirs with him of thedcuble 
 Portion, and co-habit together with him in his Father's bofom, where 
 they fee and Inherit his Glory in the- Naked and Primitive purity, 
 which it hath in the Breaft of God himlelf ; Experiencing as well 
 what the Gift of the Holy Ghoft is, when it is God's Name poured 
 out above meafure, as well as by meafure • that which P ml had feme 
 taiie of, whether in the body or out of the body he could not tell, up- 
 on his being caught up into the third Heavens, to the hearing of 
 things, imporlitye for him to utter m his Bodily ftate, 'nor others to 
 receive. 
 
 And if thus we under (land the third Heavens, as indeed we ousht, 
 then the finding out the other two next below chem, will not be diffi- 
 cult, fince the fecond He.vsn is that wherein are the Angels and 
 Spirits of Ju(t men made perfect upon the laying down the Body ; 
 and the firjt, that Prefence of Chi. ft a- d knowledge of his Name, 
 which he vouchfafes un o his Church and particular Saints, in the 
 converfe they have with him here below, in the Body, which Psul 
 doth alio call a Heaven, Pml. 3. 20. where he fayes, Our Conver- 
 fation u in Heaven ; meaning by the rvalkjng wi:h Chiilt in Spirit, as 
 well as being and living in it, whileft we are here in this World ; in 
 which Chrifi is able, and doth appear to cur Bodily fcnfual part, be- 
 fore its charge, and putting on that which is Incorruptible, as it mutt 
 do ; and ChrilVs manhcad thus confidered, as it makes this threefold 
 Heaven jnzs lively reprefented and defcribed by the form of building; 
 God caufed the zArk^ to be built vp, in Gsn, 6. 16. where the di- 
 rections that are given, do require r ^{oah to make it of lovee r 9 f?cond y 
 and third fiories, or heights , one above another ; like the outward 
 Court, the Body of the Temple, and Holy of Holies, or inmofl fart of 
 the Houfe, which God commanded alfo in Solomon's Ten fie ^ and 
 both not without fignifying this great Myftery in the glorified man- 
 head of Chxift, by the Spiric and Prefer ce whereof, he makes a 
 threefold Heaven, and way of converfe, with fhe Sons of men, un- 
 der the threefold degrees of L'ght and Glory, that from his Face, 
 and by the Spirit of his Mouth are given forth, and hath anfwerablo 
 Hearers and Receivers. 
 
 F 1. That 
 
34 -**« Epiftte Central to the Myflical Eodj ofChrift. 
 
 I. That Admtmfi ration of the Light of pure Nature, the cfre&s 
 whereof upon the hears of the Receivers, produces healing and re- 
 itoration of the wound mide by fin, and renews a like frame of Spi- 
 ne in man, as to the kind of it, wherein he was at firft Creatcd > and 
 is ft ill cxcrcifing his fiift mutable and wavering Principe that in time 
 of tryal fail, and fo end in Apoliacy and Death, through the weak- 
 ness and fault of the VeiTcl, not of the Liquor, or Oyl which is 
 poured out, into thefe Lamps, that in his own .Nature is Incor- 
 ruptible but is fuffered to leak out by thefc broken and frail 
 Veflels. 
 
 Secondly, The Light of pure Nature and right T{e<*fon, fixed and 
 made incorruptible through Faith and Regeneration, whereby the for- 
 mer frailty and leaking of the Veflel is perfectly cured , without 
 changing the fafhion of it, any further than what is requifite to bring 
 it into fubjccYion and obedience to a fupream Judgment and Will, 
 given as its guide and furcty, to fuftain and influence the actings there- 
 of throughout. 
 
 The Thirds is the Light of Divine Lov?, which he that dwells 
 in, dwells in God, and is in the Light, as He is in' the Light, beholding 
 divine beauty in its original, where it is moli attractive, and binds up 
 the Judgement and Will of the beholders into its own likenefs, molt 
 willingly , and irrefiftably, transforming them into the thing be- 
 loved. 
 
 This is the Love which cafts out fear, and all torment, in thecleer- 
 eft evidence, and greatcft alTurancethat the Creature can poffefs : And 
 by this Love u is, when not fcen, that Faith works, and the Spirit of 
 Adoption, crying, Abba 3 Father ; that Spirit and Prefcnce of the Son 
 that is fent into our hearts, which we arc knit into by an infeparable 
 union, and the Soul is formed thereby into the likenefs of him that 
 doth beget in either of the two laft degrees of Light and quickning 
 before-mentioned : Both which do beget that Seed of Life in the 
 heart that u immortal, the Princely prevailing conquering Seed of 
 Believers, that are the true Ifracl of God, to -whom all the Promifes 
 are fur e ; this is wrought by the coming of the Son in Spirit into the 
 Soul, there to beget and form his own likenefs incur Undemanding 
 and Will, the making us know him that is true, and that we are in 
 him that is true, cither according to this lower or h'gher birth of 
 himfclf, of which he calls us to partake, and fo become Witneflcs 
 thereof in our felves, and unto others. 
 
 This 
 
An E fifth General to the MyfticAl Body of Chrift. 3 5 
 
 This then, is the knowledge of the Troth which we are to under- 
 ftand, doth make the Adopted Children of God free, with another 
 and better kind of Freedom than that wherein man was at firlt Ctea- 
 ted in that mutable and primitive (rate of purity. And what this 
 Freedom is we (hall (hew, that is To worthy to be obtained and 
 fought after, in exchange for the other. This Freedom confifts in the 
 witnefiing every refpe&whtch is wrought in the Underthnding and 
 Will or man by Regeneration and Divine birth, of the one or other 
 fort, to render them of entire ufe and fervice, unto thac higher and 
 fuperiour Will in the fecond Adam the Lord from Heaven, thac is 
 made and given of the Father, to be a qukkning Spirit unto them in 
 a twofold capacity ; Firlt, of their natural Head and Sovereign^whom 
 they arc to fervc as in relation of Subjects to their King and Law- 
 giver, and therein fulfil and anfwer the very end of the Liw of Na- 
 ture, and actually become thofe righteous perfons againft whom there 
 is no Law that can take hold of them to punifh them, or take the 
 leaft exception to their perfect Righteoufnefs, that have given to them 
 a conftant and perpetual Will to do right to every one, and love the 
 Lord their God molt intirely, by influence from their Head, who in 
 this refpec^ is the common Parent to both the forts of Children, whom 
 he makes free Citizens, and Inhabitants of the Heavenly J erufalem , 
 bis own glorified man-head, which is the Mother of us all. 
 
 But, fecondly, Chrift, the fecond Adam, comes forth alfo in ano- 
 ther Headfhip to the fecond fart of thefe Children, which is, that of 
 Husband and Bridegroom, gathering them up into a Mate of higher 
 Love and Duty than that of Servants and Subjetts^nd receiving them 
 unto more honorable ufe, in familiarity, intimacy, and a kind of equa- 
 lity, comprehending the Love and Duty of righteous and faithful 
 Servants, but in rcfpecl of the nearnefs of relation and union, becom- 
 ing much the more excellent and tranfeendant. The Infpiration and 
 holy Anointing which flows from Chrift in this twofold Headfhip of 
 his, into the hearts of thefe his Members, hath that effect upon them, 
 as joyns them to him in unity and agreement of(pirh> (or of judgment 
 and wiU)md fo entirely poflefles them & engrofles them in the fervice 
 and to the ufe of their Lord, that it leaves them at no liberty to be at 
 the ufe or fervice of any other, but in fubordination to hi* will, which 
 excludes fin and all evil, eftecming it their greateft happinefs thus to be 
 bound up in a way of love, delight, and entire obedience in the Will 
 of their Head^their fecond Adam and Lord from Heaven. Hence they 
 experience that they are not their own in any thing ; for, it is not they 
 
 F 2 that 
 
$6 An Epijile General to the Mjflical Bydy of Chrtfjt. ' 
 
 that hve y but Chrifl Itveth in them y and with his Princely prevailing 
 Influence, as their Head, is their infallible Guide and firm Security in 
 all their operations, giving them fuch an abiding and growth up in 
 all things, into him, in an entire refignadon and obedience to his Will, 
 as co-workers together in every thought, word and work, that they 
 cannot mifcarry, nor (hall ever be hurt by thzfecoxd death , but (hall 
 be rewarded wkh tbofe pleaRires that are at his right-hand and at his 
 lefUn his Kingdom for evermore- And although this moft perfctt Free- 
 dom, which is obtained by this binding and conjunction in unity and 
 agreement of fpirit wkhChrift, beeflccmed by the PoiTeffors of it of 
 price incflimable, yet it is the greateft bondage-and crofs that can be- 
 fall a wicked hearty and is that which is referved by Chrifl to be their 
 torment for ever, (in the end, which will be .given by him to his firft 
 Cfrhniftrj, in the hearts where he is- finally rej v 6ted ) from whom, 
 after he is departed and withdrawn for a feaion, as if they flvould 
 never hear of him, ( as indeed they (hall not to their comfort ) yet they 
 ftjall to their terrour and forrow be made fenfible of him, by the fart- 
 ting which he will make of his Darts of enlighcnings into the minds 
 of the wicked, as fharp Arrows and a gnawing n-orm that (hall never 
 dye, when by the breath of his mouth he fhalj kindle a fire of Con- 
 vidtijn and feif_ judging in their Confcience, together with the jurt 
 fence of his Divine Vergeance, chey can no longer flee nor efcape 
 from. 
 
 But, on the contrary, the truly regenerated fouls are made willing 
 and exceedingly pleafed to draw in this yoke with their Head, to fee 
 with his eyes, and a£t by his quicknir.g in all they do, and to put on 
 with him this lowlintfs, meek nefs and purity of fpirit, which feeds 
 on that which is incorruptible, and is with God of great price, fo 
 oreat, a$ no righteous workers have his praifcand blcflina, but thefc, 
 who are properly Chrtft's My [lied Body y the Branches that abide in 
 him and whofe Fruit is permanent unto Life Eternal : and this Body 
 or Church of invihble Saints and fpiritual Worfhippers of the true 
 God, even whilfl they are in their Wildcrnefs and luppreffed Hate, 
 Chrifl, the <>reat Ovcrfeer of tiicir. fouls, doth feed with Teachers af- 
 ter his own heart, and is not wanting by an outward MiniHry under 
 him, to feed and refrefh with Oyl,the Lamps of air forts that he makes 
 ufe of as his Witnefles r and bear his Name, whether according to 
 the knowledge of his Will, that is revealed in the firft or in ihefecend 
 Covenant ; that fo he may, by upholding fuch an Office under him, 
 edific all .chat are under hiy.Clurge, as he fees occafion,and is agree- 
 able 
 
An Eptftle General to the My ft teal Body of £hrift m 37 
 
 able to the condition the Church is in, whether or reftraint or free- 
 dom from the Powers of the World. By thofe which Chriit puts in 
 to the Mimttry of his Spirit under him, we arc to underhand fuch a 
 he gives his VrtVzton and CMtffion unto, as he is the Head of Nature 
 or of Grace, and from their own Experience are made able to mini- 
 (ter the knowledge of Chrifi in his heating and rcftorirg woy\, or in 
 bii regenerating andJ^en -ere at ion- buildings before dclcribed • giv'ng 
 their Wkncfs according to what ihey themfelves have received of 
 the Spirit in the three dsfitntl Difpenfattons of It, before exprcfied . 
 in the fitft of which, becaufe of the mutable fiacc of the operation 
 thereof, both in themleTvcs as well as in their hearer*, they that are 
 eminent Preachers unto others b.y.the excellency of Gifts with which 
 they are anointed and that from Chrifi, may neverthelefs themfelves 
 be found at lali Cffts.wayes. But, in the other two, they which ex- 
 perience the Anointing thereof, become Pillars in the Houfe of God, 
 chat never go out more, and may obtain the higheft Order and Rank 
 of Miniitry in the Church, even that of ' Apoftles, in the fame way as 
 Pant himfcli did, by fuch a Spiruuai Light of Chriit, as he fayes, 
 1 Cor. p. 1. ^Am not I an Apofile J have I not feen fefm Chrifi 
 our Lord ? And as thus the Apolitical Order came to have being in 
 the Church, by the immediate fight of Chrifi in Spirit, as we fee in 
 Paul's Cafe, which comprehends in it all other the inferiour Ranks of 
 Mimfters, whether Prophets, £vangelifts y or P 'a flors and Teachers « 
 So there- are of thefe inferic'ur Ranks (to the Apoftles) which hear and 
 receive the knowledge of the Gofpel, and the holy Ghoft 3 either 
 from the mouths of the Apoftles,tnd by the laying on of their hands, as 
 did the Ev ange lifts *. or by other fubordinate infhtuted means ; thac 
 is to fay, either inwardly, onely by the inspiration of Angels, there- 
 unto fent and authorized by Chrifi • as to Philip in the cafe of the 
 Eunuch's Converfion ; and to Abraham, and the Patriarchs after 
 him, four hundred years together, before the written Word was 
 given, and who, before the Incarnation, were made ufe of to give 
 the Law, which is there called the Word fpokjn by Angels, Hcb. 2.1, 
 Or fecondly, by the communication of fuch Gifts, for interpreting and 
 opening of the written Word, as we find in the Church of Corinth y 
 and this by fuch Prophetical Gifts,as not only the Officers did partake 
 of, to fit them for the Miniftry ; but, fecondly, the very Members of 
 the Church alfo fhared in, for the common edification of the Body. 
 So, thac, either by inward Infpiration fiom Angels, under Chrifi • 
 or, by the witneffing Spirit of Chrifi immediately y which is the Spirit 
 
 of 
 
5 8 An Epijile General to the My ft teal Body of Chrifi. 
 
 of Prophecy ; or, by Gifts of ^Abilities in a more ordinary way, for 
 the interpreting and opening the Scriptures , Chrift hath alwayes had 
 his Labourers in his Harveft. And all chefe fcveral Degrees in the 
 Miniftry, as they are found in fubordination, fubferviency and agree- 
 ment one with another, in their place and differing meafures, do 
 make fweet harmony, and redound to great profit in the Church. 
 But if they break their Ranks, and the interiour exalt and life up them- 
 fclves in preference above, and oppofition to the fuperiour and greater 
 rneafures, thefe then corrupt and fet up for themfelvcs, or are made 
 ufe of by him that knows how* to transform his mimfters into Mini- 
 fters of Righteoulhefs, to advance his Kingdom, and turn bitter and 
 implacable Enemies and Perfecutors of the Womans Seed, and true 
 Spiritual Worfhippers. Let ic not then be faid, that to be againft 
 the Miniftry in this laft fenfe, is to be againft all Miniftry , cfpecially 
 fuch who acknowledge Chrifi the Chief Minifter and great Or- 
 dainer of God's Worfhip, and all thofe to be his Minifters that have 
 Un&ion and MiiTion from him,in all the Orders and Degrees of them, 
 wherein they arc acknowledged by the Scriptures, whom God hath 
 pleafed to make ufe of to bear the Witnefs committed to them during 
 Antichrifi's Reign, in a faff ering y facks loth, prophefjing fiate t which 
 will not lofe its fruit, but become a fweet favour of Ufe unto life in 
 them that are faved y and a favour of death unto death in them that 
 fcrifb. 
 
 We now {hall proceed to the next Enquiry, which is, Who they 
 are that in principles are oppofit to thefe two Anointings, and the 
 Effects of them ; and declare their Enmity by their continued iVar, 
 in the pofiure of our Enemies or diffembled Friends , both making up 
 but the fame Kingdom of Dark»efs y which fince Chrifis coming is 
 called Antic hrifts? 
 
 Right eoufnefs and Truth are the two fupporters of Chrift's Throne; 
 with the firft,God enlightens and quickens the natural beings of An- 
 gels and men, who in their mutable and uncertain ftate are poiTeflors 
 of Rightcoufncfs in purity and perfection ; whilft they afe and may 
 be lirangers to Truth, that is, firmnefs and certainty, which is as the 
 Crown and Top-ftone to the firft Building. And therefore the Light 
 of Truth, (which is a clearnefs in the Judgment, that had a right 
 difceming before, that doth fix it and afecrtain it beyond all poflible 
 doubt and contradiction, and the activity of Truth, which is a fted- 
 faftnefs and prefixing forward in the Will, wherein may be found righ- 
 teous operation before, to run in that race, and never fail nor faint ) is 
 
 moft 
 
An SpiftU General to the Mj/flical Body ofChrift. £0. 
 
 moft neceflary to follow and fucceed, where che fit ft goes before., as 
 that which is its confummation and final perfection. 
 
 In the brcaft where thefe cwo Lights meet, unbrace, and kifscach 
 other, there is the true Vrim and Thummim : the Divine enJightned 
 mind, which makes all thofe wherein ic is found, free Citizens of 
 the heavenly Jer ttfalem ,znd beloved Children and Subjects of Chrifls 
 Kingdom ; As it is written, Job. 3 19, 20, 21. Light is come into 
 the world. Light in both theie refpc&s, is come to dwell with us in 
 our own nature, when the Word wat made fieflo, and to be amongH 
 m, in our month and tn our heart, to hear it and obey it. Whence 
 it is that this is faid co be the Condemnation of the World, that Light 
 is thus come tn the perfon of our Redeemer the fecond Adam y and 
 men have notwithstanding loved Darkness better than Light , becaufc 
 of the contrariety that is in the evil deeds of men unto the very nature 
 of Light, which makes manifeft and reproves them, and from thence 
 contracts hatred from evil men, very un juftly, who love not to be 
 dilcovcrcd in their wickednefs , nor to be under cenfure and reproof 
 for it; but perfectly hate thus to be difcovcred and judged : and that 
 is at bottom the quarrel and rife of the enmity between the Subjects 
 of thefe cwo Kingdoms, of 'Darkpefs and of Light. 
 
 Hatred and enmity againft the Light of %ighteoufnefs and Truth, 
 which fhine forth in Jefus Chrift, as in the head , and in his Wit- 
 nelTes and Children, as the members ; in what hearts focver they are 
 found, are in general the oppofic principles we are now fpcaking of ; 
 and the Root or Caufe whence thofe fpring,is from the love that fuch 
 hearts at bottom do bear unto evil , that is to fay, to unrighteoufnefs 
 and fal (hood, which they prefer and adhere unto before the Light of 
 the Image of God, which is wrought out in Chriliand in his mem- 
 bers. 
 
 Of thefe lovers ofDarkxefs more than Light, we are to confider; 
 Either, firft, flich as arc born blind, and are already darkned in their 
 understandings, and alienated in their wills by evil works,dead in tref- 
 paflcs and fins. 
 
 Or, fecondly, fuch as have their Light freely rcftored to them again 
 for asking, and, however, fo much of it, as may make them fen- 
 fible of the need of more, and to difcern the means of their perfect 
 cure. 
 
 Or, thirdly, Such, as, -after their firft Light rcftored, are offered the 
 gift of a better fight than ever they had at firft ; which (hall not 
 only enlarge what they had at firft, in their primitive purity, but pre- 
 
 fcrve 
 
4.0 An £ pi file General to the Myftical Body ofChrlfl. 
 
 fervc it in an cndlefs life, without any poflible danger ever to lofe it 
 more. 
 
 For the firft ; It is the condition of all Mankind in general, and 
 was the effect that followed upon the fin of our firft Parents, by which 
 door Death entred and paffed upon all men, becaufc in them all had 
 finned. Nor did this befall the Children mecrly or principally becaufe 
 of fin, as if that were the end that God had in it ; bu:,that the works 
 of God's Grace fhould be manifctted thereby : For,no fooner did the 
 difeafe and wound appear, but God had provided a Phyfician and 
 healing Medicine, which declared the Cafe, as yet, ( which Man was 
 in) not fo defperate, but he might be rcftored ; and not only fo, but 
 have an additional fight given to him, that (hould make him fee bet- 
 ter than ever he did before. 
 
 For the fecond ; It is alfo that (late which is common to all that " 
 have finned, and upon whom Death hath paffed, as to the alienation 
 of their minds from the Life of God ; whofe teeth arc fet on edge by 
 the fowr grapes that were eaten by our firft Parents, and therefore by 
 way of free gift are reftored by the benefit of the Ranfom paid by 
 the Redeemer on their behalf, to fuch a degree of enl-.ghtning and re- 
 newed Righteous Life, as is a Lamp or Candle lighted in the foul of 
 every one that comes into the World ; in which little, they are put to 
 the proof of their faithfulnefs, how far they care or defire to hearken 
 to it, or not.; that which is the work of the Law writ:en in their 
 hearts by Cruift,as a Record and Witnefs againft them, if it be flighted 
 and abufed, whereby there is a Witnefs let up in the very natural 
 Confcience, as a light in a dark place, that is ever accufing or excu- 
 fing } as the action done doth deferve. To this Light in the Confci-. 
 ence, which is the Law $>* thin w, mult every one ftand or fall, as 
 to matter of information or poof how that foul hath fhewed itfelfin 
 this ftate, whether a lover of Darkjefs more than of Light ; for, this 
 will either fhew it felf our Friend or our Enemy, as we behave our 
 feives in receiving of its inftrucYion.. and following its guide, and fub- 
 mitting to its reproof ; For, he that is faithfull in the leaft, is to be 
 prefumed he will be faithfull in much; and he that is unjuft in the 
 leaft, will be alfo unjuft in much ; So that Chrift may truly and juftly 
 fay to fuch, If thej have not fhewed themfelves faithful in the un- 
 righteous Mammon, or uncertain %Jches y who will commit to their 
 trufl the true Treafttre ? And thence it is, that all thofe who in this 
 ftate of proof and tryal under this fidt difpenfation of Light, declare 
 thcmfelvcs Enemies in a fixed Rebellion, and hardning againft the 
 
 Teaching 
 
An Epifile General to the Myftical Body ofChrifl. 41 
 
 Teaching and Dictates thereof, they plainly fhew that they love the 
 Difeafe becccr than the Remedy ; and had rather continue blind, than 
 have their fight and limbs rcftored, to ufe them as they ought, and 
 by the Law they are obliged to do, for running with delight and con- 
 tinuance in the race of God y s Commandements ; and had rather pertfh 
 in their fins , than believe in Chrifi , and by believing, be freed and 
 faved from the wrath that is to come. 
 
 The Natural Confcience in this fenfe corrupted, heardned, and be- 
 come unreclaimable, by refufing Re proof and per feElly hating all thofe 
 that fet about their recovery and reflitution out of this their bondage 
 under w hat ever Name or outward Profeffion of Religion, and Divine 
 Worship it be found in y doth afford the fir ft fort of Subjects, whereof 
 the kingdom ofDarknefs doth confift ; a Region like to that where A- 
 braham ( coming in his Travels ) did pronounce, 77?* fear of God 
 is not in this place » nothing of Confcience was there owned or 
 pra&ifed ; but the Contrary , of open Prophaneneffe or Idola- 
 try. 
 
 The Third fiate is that which is not of fuch general exrent, but a 
 more peculiar condefcention and effect of God's bounty and good will 
 to fome finners beyond others , in admitting them to a farther and 
 higher proof than the former , and therefore doth vouchfife them a 
 greater meafurc and gift of the Spirit , and work. °f s\e(lauration^ out 
 of their natural blindnefr, and death ; for, with a mighty hand, and 
 a ftretched out t/4rm y and with many Signs and Wonders, he brings 
 them, at he did Ifrael of old, out of the houfe of Bondage, and by the 
 &4ngel of his Pre fence , faved them from the hands of their Enemies, 
 and offered to lead them into the fiate of reft and immut ability ^ 
 which he had prepared for them; and therein did propound to give 
 them a better fight, and fuller fruition of himfelf, than in the way 
 of meer Reftauration they could attain untot For } as to the %eftau- 
 ration and Freedom out of Egypt, God's Work was perfect, and a 
 juft and right God he had fhewed himfclf to them ; nevertheless, 
 they that were new come to have the ufe of their fight y and their feet 
 again to be wafhed with Water, and anointed with Oyl> and when 
 they were in their blood, God bid them Live, and made t'tm again 
 Itvtng Souls ; yet, like an unwife and foolifh People, they v ry evilly 
 requited this bounty and goodnefs of the Lord y and of the 7^^ that 
 begat them , and of the God that formed them they were very un- 
 tmndfuly and proved thcmfelvcs a veryfroward and provoking Gene- 
 ration^ Children in whom was no fledfafinefs^ nor that cared to ufe 
 
 G the 
 
4 2. *s4* Epiftle General to the Myfthal Body of CkriJi. 
 
 the means to be made fo when it wax offered ; but they rebelled and 
 vexed, his holy Spirit : that is, is Steven interprets it, They blafphemed 
 and refifted the Holy G heft, and ref fifed the Teachings of that Mi- 
 rift ry by which the Truth is conveyed in the love of it, which would 
 for ever fie e them from the power and dominion of fin y and for ever 
 fix them in the Kingdom of Chrift, and make them Pillars in God'* 
 Temple, never to be removed* 
 
 Thefe arc they, that be caufc they fay they fee, or have fight enough 
 already, and neither need nor defire better ; therefore their fin remains, 
 and is a fin unto death ; for which, God fwears in his wrath, they 
 (hall never enter into hu reft. The light of their eye upon this, -be- 
 comes evrl, and hates thofc that fee cleerer and better than them- 
 felves , and cannot endure to hear of new lights that go beyond 
 theirs, or that is upon the encre fifing more and more unto the perfetl 
 day* 
 
 In this evil mind y there is a lufting to Envy againft the true heirs , 
 and a faying in the heart , Come, let us kill them y and the Inheritance 
 (hall be ours: which fo far doth, many times, tranfport them, that 
 they become the bittereif Enemies to God's choice ft Saints and dear- 
 eft Children ; and when they kill them, they thinly they do God fer- 
 vice ; and when they caft them out, and makj them as the fcum and 
 eff-fc our ing of the World, they fay. Let God be glorified*, thefe are 
 they that are neither hot nor cold, but under whatever forms of Godli± 
 fiefs and different perfwafions they may be in matters of God's Worfbip* 
 do give their ftrcngth to the common Enemy of the true Saints ; and 
 though they can no more cleave the one to the other, than the Iron to 
 the Clay, yet they both can fit at one Table, deviling the deftru&ion 
 of the true IfraeUtes, and. take up their places in the Feet and Toet 
 of the great Image , that figured out the univerfal Kingdom of Anti± 
 chrift* 
 
 Thefe are the Two oppofite Principles, unto the Two Anointings, 
 and the effetls of them in and upon the truly Regenerate ones. In thefe 
 Piinciples Satan lodges and dwells, as in his feat and fuitable habita- 
 tion, m the hearts of his Children, who is the Father of all Untigb- 
 teonfnefs and Deceit ; thefe flow from htm as from their Fount at* 
 and fVell-head ; and he is their CeuYtenauce , Protection, and 
 Propagation , for the encreafe and enlargement of his Kingdom of 
 Darky efs. 
 
 By the means of this Two-fold hatred that Satan begets in ihc fub+ 
 je els of his Kingdom, againtj fht Light of God's Glory jhining inthb 
 
 Face 
 
*An Epiftle General to the ^MyfticalBody ofChrift. 43 
 
 Face ofChrifi, and in the witnefs of tbofe that are the CMembers of 
 hi* CMyttical Body here on Earth, he blows up a continual War y and 
 keeps on foot a fixed Enmity between thefubjeUs of the one y and of the 
 other Ktngdom ; and the Enmity is ft ill the fame tn effeft^ whether it 
 be of en and allowed, or dijfembled and hid ; the haired and oppofition 
 is not the lefs in ic felf, but the loft of the two is the worft, and moft 
 dangerous. 
 
 This he Heads, with a viftble Power, as well as fowes the Seed of 
 it invijibly y in the Children of his Kingdom ; and either by violence or 
 fiaud y or both 3 hath never failed from the beginning of the World 
 10 this day ( by the wife permiffbn of God ) for the bmifng of the 
 Heele of the Womans Seed in the Head and CMembers ) to (hew 
 himfelf the God, or chief Potentate and Ruler, in and over the 
 whole World : And fo influence, in fuch manner, all the vifiblc 
 Rule and Authority, whether Civil or EccLfiaftical, that is exercifed 
 on Earth, and is fupporced by humane Wifdom and Power, centring 
 in the forefaid Principles of 'hatred *nd prejudice againft Chrift a>d hi* 
 Kingdom, that he hath ever got the better of it, in the eye offi-.Jh and 
 blood, over the true fitbjetts and fervants of Chrtfi ; and hath as 
 much as is in him, fain Chrifl's Witneffes^ and keyt them under in a 
 moft opprejfed and dijperfed condition. Of this, the Seed of Abra- 
 ham, beginning in Sem, and fo downward until Chrtfi's Incarnation 
 and Death ( and as the Confcquence thereof, the rej-cYion of the 
 Seed according to the flefh ) were the living and known examples in 
 their dayes, what Servitudes and Captivities were they not expofed 
 unto, and did they not undergo ? And at lalt the very visibility of 
 their own Church and State, was wholly defaced and loft, though 
 both of Divine Confthution, and fupported not only with divine 
 Laws, but with the vifible fignet of the Divine Prelence ; and by 
 whom was this People ( upon whom the Name of God was called ) 
 brought under, perfecuted, and fuppreffed, but by thofe who were 
 foretold by Dan.ch. 2. and moft lively reprefented and defcribed by 
 that great Image y which was the fubje& of Ts^ebuchadneZsZ.ar's 
 Dream, that none but Daniel could rehearfe and interpret, (ignifying 
 the Perfons and their Succeflbrs, that fhould be found pofleiTiog the 
 Univerfal Empire, and Command of the World, during the continu- 
 ance of thofe known Four ^Monarchs that have followed fucceffively 
 one after another, according as chey were fore-told and characleied 
 out fome thoufand years ago, and are now (landing upon their laft 
 legs, the time drawing on apace, when the fpiritnal feed of the fame 
 
 G 2 Abraham , 
 
44 <A* Epiftle General to the Myftical Body ofChrift. 
 
 Abraham, {hall be made heirs even of the World, by Faith ? md 
 what was done by Abraham, in Figure and Type, as to his Conqucft 
 over the Four Kirgs, Gen. 14. muli have its accomplifhmenc in Re- 
 ality and Truth, by thefc of his feed, that are the true Jfrael in Spi- 
 rit, who by the Spirit of Life entring into them at the appointed 
 time, together with the Charge committfd to them, of pouring out 
 the [even Vials of the laft Plagues of God, (hall bring the final 
 downfal and deftruBion of thofe Four Monarchs, and in and with it, 
 of tbc Ktngdom of the Beaft, andof Antichrift ; and bring home a* 
 gain, and receive the true Lots that have been fojourners in the 
 Sodom of this World \ all this time under the Power of their Op* 
 prejfors. 
 
 And as it did befal Jfrael after the flejh, that were Abraham's 
 Natural Seed, under the three firft Monarchies, and fart of the 
 Fourth, ( our Saviour fuftcring Death under the Roman Empire ) fo 
 arc the Scriptures very plain and exprefs ( if confidered with a^/ri- 
 tualeye ) that the Ifrael after the flefb, that have been adopted into 
 the room and place of the former, and ( though wild by Nature, 
 yet ) engrafted upon the fame Stock^and "P^oot of the godd Oltve Tree, 
 the true anointed One y that is the Father of many Nations, as he is 
 the Second Adam, whofe ftanding is by Faith, that if they exalt 
 themfelves, and become hardened, and reftft the Miniftry of the Holy 
 Cjhoft ( as the Jews, that were their Predecejfors, did ) Chrifl will 
 then make it appear ( alfo in the Cafe of thefe latter Jews (who fay 
 they are fo, but having not the Spirit and Nature of true Faith in 
 them, do lye, and deceive themfelves as well as others ) that it is not 
 they that bear the Root, but the Root that bears them, who therefore 
 can caftthem off, as he did the others ; and once more not only (hake 
 the Earth, but the Heavens, although called Chriflian, to make 
 Way for that Kingdom of his that cannot be fhaken, whereof we 
 have already {hewed ; and how nigh this is accomplishing, and is 
 even at the very doors , we (hall have occafion to make mention of 
 more particularly, as the next and laft particular we are to fpeak 
 unto. 
 
 For an IntroduElion whereunto, let me only mind you of fome few 
 things that the Apolile John, in his Book of the Revelations, layes be- 
 fore us on this behalf, declaring firft the things that were to befal the 
 Heathen)(h %oman Empire, and the Church of (jod abiding under its 
 Protection, during the time of the firft Six Seals, which by Compu- 
 tation continued till fomswhat more than four hundred years after 
 
 Chrift ; 
 
An E pi file General to the My ft teal Body ofChrift. ^ 
 
 Chrift j about the end of which period, that Empire, as Heathen, 
 diflblved, and a now face of things, in Church and State, rofe out of 
 it, at lafi, for fo mnch at concerned that part of the World, which 
 thereupon in Name became Chnftian, 
 
 And becaufe the Spiritual, part of the Church at that fame time 
 began to be moft fuppreffed, being forced to fly from the fury of the 
 Serpent into a wildcrnefs-ftate and condition ; therefore the viable 
 Configured Frame of Civil as well as Eccleftafticd Power, called 
 Chrtfttan, were reprefented unto John ; The Ftrfi, under the ftven- 
 headed and ten-horned Be aft that came out of the Sea ; And the Se- 
 cond y under the two-horned Beaft that came out of the Earth, anfwer- 
 able to what was under other fimilitudcs, intimated of them in the 
 Iron Legs, and the Feet and Toes of Nebuchadnezzar's Image y 
 part of Iron, and part of Clay ; Whereby the Iron leggs, are the C/- 
 vll Tower as it became Chriilian i and retaining ftill the Reliques of 
 the Roman Empire ; and by the Feet, part of Iron and part of Clay, 
 is meant, the Eccleftafticai State and Power, partly Papal, and partly 
 Reformed ; a* an earthly Jerufalem yet vifible, and both enemies to 
 the Jerufalem that is above, and yet not very good friends between 
 themfelves i whofe continuance is meafnred out by the time of the fix 
 Trumpets ', that is to/ay, in theexercife of thefe three diftinft. Powers 
 under the Name Chrlfiian ; the one, Imperial and tJMagiftratical\ 
 the other, Spiritual and Ecclefiaftical . in the two Horns and branches 
 ef it, pretended unto, of Divine Right and Inftituiion ; or whether it 
 be more difTuiive in a Collective Body of Church-Rulers ; and as 
 more particularly it is cxprefled to laft twelve hundred and fix ty Pro- 
 phetical dayes ; that is to fay, years, in the n, 12, and 13 Chap.ot 
 the Revelations ; and by comparing what is fpoken and defcribed in 
 the forcfaid Chapters, with Chapter 17, concerning this Conftitution 
 and Face of the Chriftian Church and State, that was fore-feen to rife 
 up out of the diiTolution of the Heathen.fh Roman Empire, and the 
 driving into the Wildernefs the Spiritual part of the Church, made 
 up of thofe who arefaid, for the heavenlinefs of their Principles and 
 Converfc, to be thofe that dwell in Heaven, chap. 12. vcrf 12. and 
 chap.13.6. It feems very plain, that upon the Difputes that was like- 
 ly toanfein the Chriftian Ecclcfiaiiical State and Government, upon 
 the bottom of the Papacy and Rule in the Church, by one univerfal 
 vifible Head under Chrift, here upon Earth, as one of the Horns be- 
 longing to the fecond Beaft, by Daniel called the Little Horn ( men- 
 tioned (angle, becaufe he was rnofi Potent, and for a long time was. 
 
 able 
 
4^ An Epiflle General to the My site al Body ofChrift. 
 
 able co uphold his Authority without any considerable cruelty and di- 
 vilion that was vifiblc ) But in procefs of time, the fepararion and d'u 
 vifion happened, as John ( in mentioning of the two-homed Bcaft ) 
 did fore-tell, there would alwayes be within the bowels of the vifiblc 
 Church of the outward Court- worfhippers, a more and a lefs corrup- 
 ted and backiliden part, the one of which compared with the other, 
 would or might be likened to the earthly Jerufalem, in the temper it 
 was in when Chrift was upon Earth, for persecuting the Prophets, and 
 killing the Heir himfclf when he came amongft them ; As the other 
 might be to Samaria and the worfhippers of Jeroboams Calves y after 
 that he had headed the ten Tribes in their defection, not only in the 
 Civil State, but from the Purity of God's v'fible Worfhip, kept up 
 according to God's Ordinances. This latter being the lively refem- 
 blance of the Papacy, and all that acknowledge the Papal Authority^ 
 as the chief %uter and Head of the vifiblc Church throughout the 
 feveral States and Dominions of the Chriliian Empire ; the other figu- 
 ring out the JerufaUm that now is, and is \» bondage with her Chil- 
 dren, dittinguifhing her felf from Popery ovi the one hand, and from 
 them that dwell in Heaven, as the true Citizens of the Jerufalem thac 
 is above ( the Mather of all thofc that are Heirs according to the Pro- 
 rinife) on the other hand : accounting the one Babylonish, Antichri* 
 ftianznd Heretical ; and the other Schifmatical and Erroneous, Fa- 
 natical and Blaffihemom. 
 
 And becaufe the Woman, as the Apoflle calls the earthly Jerufa- 
 ltm r ( Which was amongft the Galatians in his dayes, as being in 
 bondage with her Children to the Law and worldly Rudiments, that 
 perifh in the ufing, Touch not, taffle not, handle not, as Objects of 
 Divine Worfhip, which feed moft the outward fenfes) doth make a 
 very fair fhew in the fl:fh y having the Form of ' Godlinefs, but de- 
 nying the Power of it ; and withdrawing from, and difowning the 
 Children of the Promife, that are of a more heavenly birth, and of 
 the free Woman : Therefore we (hall find this fort of Profeflbrs de- 
 fcribed by John in his i Epifi. 2. ip. They went out from m, but they 
 were not of us ; for if they had been of us, they would, no doubt, have 
 continued with us, and not have made a manifeft diftin&ion of them- 
 ielves from us ; that is to fay, from being followers ( 1 ThefT. 2. 14, 
 15-. ) of the Churches of God, which in Judea are in Chrift Jefus ; 
 that are the Circumcifion in Spirit, and have no confidence in theflefh- 
 For which caufe fake, the Theffalonians, in adhering to the primitive 
 pattern, which fhewed it felf in- thofc Churches, did fufcr the like 
 
 things 
 
An Epifile General to the My flic al Body ofChrifi, "4.7 
 
 things from their own Country-men, the Jews, among whom they 
 lived, as thofe Churches of God in Judea did from the Jews there, 
 who froth kdled the Lord J eft**, and their own Prophets, and chafed 
 out the chiefeft of the Apoftles from amongft them ; and they p leafed 
 not God, and are contrary to all men ; forbidding, under pretence c-f 
 too much familiarity with the Heathen and prophane World, that the 
 Gofpcl fhould be preached unto the G entiles, whereby they might be 
 faved, every way filing up their fins, and bringing wrath upon them- 
 felves to the uttermolt. 
 
 This is the Woman which JohnCiVS in %ev. 1. that Was drun'k^ 
 with the blood of the Saints, ver. 6% and with the bl&od of the chotcefi 
 Martyrs of Jtfm ; at which he wondrcd with great admiration, is 
 little expe&wg to find What he faw, or to reade that name written 
 upon her forehead, which he did, of My fiery Babylon the great, the 
 mother of Fornications and Abominations of the Earth ; with whom 
 the Kings and Inhabitants of the Earth commit Fornication, and have 
 been made drunk, with it.: For.at laft her faJfe, unchafte,whon(h fpi- 
 ritta her Lord and Husband,is discovered and made manifeft, by the 
 open rejection of him in his Members, and by the Combination and 
 Conjunction which (he is found in with the [even-headed and ten. 
 horned Beaft and his Adherents , under the Papacy, thereby to make 
 .War with his mtneffes and (lay them, and expofe their dead bodies 
 to fhame and reproach in the ttreets of th\s earthly J erufalem ; who 
 for her exceeding Apoftacy and fierce Enmity againtt the true Tcmple- 
 ^Worfhippers, isipiritually called Sodom and Egypt, where alfo our Lord 
 was crucified ; and though ftic have ftrengthened her fclf, as one that 
 fits upon many Waters^ and who is the City that reigns over the Kings 
 (or chief eminent perfons, men of Name) of the Earth, which the 
 .Cti\\drtnoi:htit*rthl/Jer#fiilem are ; yet (fayes he} God determines 
 to bring her to Judgment ■, and,in order thereunro, the Inftruments he 
 will employ therein, are the fcveral Potentates and Kingdoms, that 
 have given their Power to the Papacy, who, at the time appointed, 
 (hall find k their Interclt to agree and become of one mind, in hatred 
 of this Whtre, or unchafte Spoufe ofChrift, that fittcth upon Peoples, 
 and Mulqiwdes. and Nations, and Tongues, and (hall therefore com- 
 bine together to make her defoUte and naked^ and (ball eat herfltfh, 
 and bum her with fire ; For God hath put it into their hearts to fulfil 
 his Will, in this Judgment,which they are to execute, as Nebuchad. 
 nezzjor formerly did upon the earthly material Jerufalem in his days - ; 
 until which be fulfilled, they (ball agree and hold together, giving 
 
 joyntly 
 
48 An Epifile General to the My fried Body of Chrifi. 
 
 jeyntly their Counfel, Authority and Strength in fupport and mainte- 
 nance of the Bcall, chat is the firft and chief Horn of the two-horned 
 Bcaft, which is the Papacy. And how to give a right interpretation 
 of the things in this 17th Chapter, but by this Key, defcrves our very 
 ferious confederation , according to the ufual undemanding of the 
 Papacy to be meant by this Whore, which is not denied to be a pare 
 of Babylon, and a chief part, and to be alfo a Whore and Mother of 
 Fornications ; but (he is fo openly and avowedly, not fecrctly and un- 
 der the fhew of Reformation 5 and there is not any myftery or fecrct 
 in it, to find her out, as there is in the other cafe. 
 
 We come then in the laft place, as the Conclusion of the whole, to 
 fhew what Word and part of his Counfels, contained in the Promifcs 
 and Prophecies not yet accomplished, the Lord is now fulfilling in 
 thefe prefent difpenfations of our day ; and this, by the comparing 
 Scriptures with Scriptures, and obferving what gradually hath been 
 fulfilled Since the time of ChrifVs Afcention to this day, and what 
 figns 1 he hath before given of the times wherein we now are. 
 
 There is nothing more pofitive and cxprefs in the Scripture, as may 
 appear by what hath been already mentioned, (and for which many 
 particular Texts might further be alledged) than this, That there is a 
 Kingdom of the Ever iafl ing Goff>el y which neither can nor fhall be 
 jhakfn, that mufl be brought upon the fiage here in this World ; which 
 (hall ftand firm as a Rock againft all opposition, and come forth as a 
 flonc cut out of the Mountain without hands ; that muft break down 
 the visible heads, which the Serpent hath kept up in and over the 
 whole Earth, for thefe miny thoufand years together; by the means 
 whereof the true Children and Heirs have been kept out of their Pof- 
 feiTion, and have been neceflitatcd to a Witncfflng and Prophefying 
 condition in a way of Sufferings, and of utmoft cruel dealings and 
 opprcflions from their implacable Enemies 5 to whom it hath been 
 given to make and continue War with them, till the courfc of Suffer- 
 ings be finished. Of this bitter Cup, the Captain of our Salvation 
 drank the deepeft draught, and had the grcatctt (hare ; And left we 
 fhould think he had put an end to the Sufferings of his Members by 
 one Death on the Crofs, he dealt plainly with his Difciples in this 
 point, both before his Death, and alio during the forty dayes he fpent 
 upon Earth after his RcftiriccTion ; for, when the two fonsof Zebedee 
 had hopes to have feen him in his own Pcrfon fpeedily in his King- 
 dom, before his Sufferings, and were defirous the one to fit at his 
 right hand, and the other at his left, in that day of his' Glory and 
 
 Power 
 
^ AnEfiftle General to the Myfti cat Body of Chrifi. 4? 
 
 Power, he intimates to them immediately that there is a Preparation 
 requifit to be wrought in all that (hall be thought worthy of that dig- 
 nity, which is, to drink, of the fame Cup, and to be baptised with the 
 fame Baptifm that he was baptized with, according to that true and 
 faithful faying, // rot die with him, we Jhall live with him; if we 
 ftijfer with him, we jhall reign with him. And fo, when all the Di- 
 fciples together, a little before his Afcention, Aft.i .6,8. asked him, 
 faying, Wilt thou at this time rejlore the Kingdom to Ifrael ? his An- 
 fwer is in effect this to them, That until Ifrael' s witnefling-work be 
 over and finished, that muft prepare them to Rule, and ripen theic 
 Enemies for the Judgment and Deftru6tion appointed unto all ungod- 
 ly men,that muft firft precede ;the reigning- work, which they too much 
 looked for, and thirfted after, would not come, nor the dayes of it 
 begin. Now this witnefllng-work, which is to be finished by the true 
 Ifrael o£ God, as the needful and requifit Preparation of you to Reign, 
 is, What is to be wrought in them Hfon their own hearts ; and, what is t$ 
 be wrought by you as a Tefiimony born and given to the World on Cod's be- 
 half. 
 
 And the latter of thefe is ufually made ufe of by God to accomplifli 
 the former, fince all that will live godly in Chrifi Jefns ( fhewing forth 
 the Vertues of Him, that hath called them in a holy and good Con- 
 vention, fhining as Lights in the World ) muflfnffer ?trfecution y 
 and are fure to be hated and oppreiTed by the World and Powers of it, 
 by all wayes and means that may prove their Faith and Patience. 
 And thefe Tryals, which thus give proof of their Faith, do caufe Pa- 
 tience to have its perfect work in them, till which, they are not thofe 
 meet velTels fitted for their Matter's ufe, as that he will dignifie them 
 to appear feated,as on his Throne,in their hearts; and thereby qualifie 
 them with a Power of Rule ,• fo,as at their word,and by their prayers, 
 all things (lull become poflible to them; what they bind on Earth , 
 (hall be bound in Heaven - and what they loofe on Earth, Jhall be 
 Loo fed in Heaven: For greater works than Chrift himfelf did when 
 he was in the flefh, they fhall do, becaufe he is gone to his 
 Father. 
 
 Secondly, The witnefllng-work is not only to be wrought in them > 
 to prepare them, in mind and body, to be meet veiTels for the ufe of 
 their Head ( by them to (hew forth his Wifdom and Power, to the 
 glorifying of God in their fpirits, and in their bodies, which are his ; ) 
 but the Light of it muft be given out, and born in the fight, and for 
 the profit and good of others, if the fault be not in thefnfelves that 
 
 H lhould 
 
jo \Ah Efiflte General to the Myflical Body ofChrifl. 
 
 ihould benefit by it ; unto whom the favour of the knowledge of 
 Chrilt, miniftred by his faithful WitneiTes in their feveral place?, and 
 callings, will prove in the itTue, either a favour of life unto life y or of 
 death unto death, according as either it is received and valued, or re- 
 jected and expelled. No man ( faith Chrifl ) when he hath lighted a 
 Candle,' putt eth it in a fecret place, neither under a Bujh el, but on a 
 Candle/lie^, that they that come in may fee the light : which Scrip- 
 ture is interpreted, i Cor. 14.24,25*. where the initance is given, in 
 meeting of the whole Church together, in one -place ; that is, as many 
 vifible Saints and Believers as could well hear one another, in the 
 place they aiTembled in for their common Edification. In which 
 Church-meeting they were as zCjoldenCandleflicl^, that did in fuch 
 manner hold forth the fhining Light of Chrift's Truth and Holinefs,to 
 thofe that came in, and were lookers on, and were not of the Society,^ 
 that by the Spirit of Prophecy, which in and among them of that par- 
 ticular Church was exercifed, it fo fell out, that whoever came in, , 
 defirous to learn and be inftru&ed, he was convinced of 'all, he was judged 
 rfall, and the fecrets of his heart were fo manifeft, that falling down 
 on his face, he worfhipped God, and went out and reported, that Gad 
 was in them of a truth. 
 
 This is then the fecond fort of Witnefiing-work which by Chrift 
 was intruded to his Difciples and Followers, to be exercifed and im- 
 ployed in, according to their feveral places and callings,till his return, 
 in trie day wherein he is to come and judge the World in Righteouf- 
 nefs, that is,take an account,who they are that have acquit themfeLves 
 as they ought to do in their witneffing-ftations and callings, and what 
 fruit their witnefs had, how it took place in the hearts of others among 
 whom they converfed, and what returns t&ey met with from a wicked 
 and ingrateful world for all the labour of Love and Service they shew- 
 ed amongft them : Of all which, Chrift intends to take a formal and 
 judicial account at the time of the end that is fet by him to this wit- 
 netting- work,in his witneiTes,that upon this employment,Prophefying 
 in fack-cloth,were to continue as in conltant war and violent perfec- 
 tion from the Powers of the world for twelve hundred and fixty years 
 together. At the end of which time, the Judgment or time of Wrath 
 is to come • not that which is the final Judgment and Wrath of the 
 great Day, but a like proceeding of God towards the World, in plead- 
 ing with it by Fire and Svvord,upon the-finifhing the TeiHmony of his 
 Witnetfes, as he did by Water upon the firft World, where he made 
 a, vifible diflinftion between the. fVicked and the %ighteom y and be- 
 tween 
 
An Eflfile General to the Myfllcal Body of Chrift. *jf x 
 
 tween them that truly fear God and are fincere,and them that fear him 
 not ; but are tainted and corrupted with Hypocrifie and Apoftacy, as 
 is plainly expretTed, Rev, 1 1. 18. And the Nations were angry, and thy 
 Wrath is come, and the time of the Dead, or the Caufe of thy flain re- 
 jected Witneffes, that they [bould be judged , and an Inquifttion made 
 after their Blood, and the hard ufage they have met with in the 
 World, in order now to receive Countenance and Reward for their 
 Sufferings, according to the nature of them, and the condition and 
 place in which they gave their Witnefs, whether they were Profhets 
 or Saints, that fear God's Name, fmall or great ; and to yeeld Ven- 
 geance and Deftru&ion to impenitent and hardned Sinners,that they 
 may no longer corrupt the Earth. 
 
 And therefore, as in this place we may fee, Chriftlightethuphis 
 Candles in the World, of all forts and ftzes, and indeed in all places 
 of it from Eaft to Weft, and hath given the Light of his Glory and 
 Kingdom,as that Teftimony which is appointed to be given and prea- 
 ched in all the World, as a Witnefs to all Nations ; and immediate- 
 ly after this is finished, then the End comes, the End that God will 
 manifeft of his patience and long- fuffering which he hath exercifed 
 towards the World, in forbearing to avenge the Caufe of his SleR, 
 which hath been night and day crying to him, How long, Lord, how 
 long f which in this day of his Wrath he will avenge, and that fpeedi- 
 ly, and cut thework^fhort in Right eoufnefs. 
 
 And becaufe we have faid, the Candles or Lamps which God lights 
 up in the World, for this his Witnetfing-work, ever fince his Afcen- 
 tion to this day, (according to the Commnfion he gave to his Difci- 
 ples, Att.i. 8. and in them to all his Saints fmall and great that feai 
 his Name (as we {hewed before ) are of feveral fizes and kinds, it 
 may not be improper to declare them. 
 
 As firft, Their Witneflmg-Lights may be fuch as are in publick 
 Office and Place in the viftble Church; and fo are either thofe that afe 
 in the Miniftry, or thofe that give their Witnefs, as the Body of fome 
 particularCongregation,that own themfelves in the fight of the world 
 as a Golden Candleftick ; or fome particular Church- AiTembly of vi- 
 able Saints in order and practice of the Gofpel, according to their 
 meafure and light. And under this firft head will fall all forts of Prin- 
 ciples and Profeffions of Godlinefs, that make the Rule of the Word 
 and Spirit of God, (the Ballance of the Sanctuary ) the Standard by 
 which they defire to regulate themfelves in their Doctrine, Worfhip 
 and Convention, what-ever difference in Principles, or Miniftry, of 
 
 H 2, the 
 
Ji \A'n Epifi/e General to the Myjlieal Body of Chrift. 
 
 the knowledge of Chrift they are under, as hath been before opened 
 
 and diftinftly fpoken unto. 
 
 Secondly, Their Wi me fling- Lights may be Publick Perfons, witbr 
 relation to their Office in the Magiftracy ; For it is by me faith Chrift* 
 that Kings reign^ and Princes dojttftice: So that in the adminiftrati- 
 on of pure and impartial Juftice, as aMagiftrate, in whatever Place 
 and Calling we are fet by God, and a lawful Appointment from men, 
 we keep on the right way, without turning on the right hand or on 
 ' the left, for fear or favour, difcovering a juft mind, that is, a -con* 
 fcmt and perpetual, or unchangeable will, to do right to all, what- 
 ever difcouragement, oppofition and hatred we meet with in doing 
 our duty. This is a Light before men, which Chrift will own in the 
 day of his appearance, to have been for his Service,, and fhall not 
 go without its due reward. 
 
 Thirdly, There are alfo the fame witnetfihg Lights in the letter 
 fphears of every man's particular ftation and calling, which fhinc 
 forth in a perfonal, righteous, and blamelefs converfation ; or. where, 
 their vote or confent is given, in reference to the good of the Church 
 or State, or to the private Rule which every Mafter and Head of a Fa- 
 mily is by Chrift entrufted with in reference tohis own Children and 
 Family, who are under his charge, and not fo much at their own 
 difpofe as his, who hath a right over them by God's Law.and man's ; 
 and by the duty of this relation,every man may be fomewhat dire&edy 
 even by the world, what he is,, and what Witnefs he gives, in the 
 meafure of the Knowledge and Light of Chrift he hath received ; and 
 fhall accordingly be taken notice of and judged by Chrift, in the day 
 ofhis Judgment,miniftring Perdition to ungodly men : In this little* 
 a faithfulnefs to Chrift is expected, and that according to the meafure 
 of Light received, and the Anointing we are under, of which there 
 hath already the feveral degrees and kinds been made known. 
 
 The ufe therefore that Chrift makes of this Light in the world,thac 
 thefe feveral wayes he makes to fhine like Lightning from the Eaft 
 to the Weft, from Jemfalem to the utmoft ends of the Earth, is, as to 
 the world, to leave them without excufe, and ripen them as white 
 fields, to the harveft. of his juft Vengeance, when the time is to put 
 in his Sickle. And as to the Witnefles themfelves,to bring upon them 
 a time of refreshing and reft from the prefence of the Lord in the fight 
 of their very Enemies, where a Table rhall be prepared for them, 
 2nd their Cup fhall be made to overflow. 
 
 This then being the Teftimony that muft.be finifhed, and thefe the 
 
 Witnefles, 
 
An Efljile General to the Myftlcal Body of Chrlft. ft 
 
 Witneffes in their feveral Places and Callings, who have been im- 
 ployed in bearing and giving their Teftimony in the World ever fince 
 Chrift's Afcention ; the courfe whereof hath had its progrefs from 
 Eaft to Weft, and is now come to thefe utmoft ends of the Earth. 
 The Scriptures do with great clearnefs, as to the prefent difpenfati- 
 ons of our day, teach us three things. 
 
 Firft, That this Teftimony is now upon its finishing point in the 
 World, and upon thefe times are brought all the concurring and fore- 
 running Symptoms and Characters thereof. 
 
 Secondly, That the time of the End, that is to fay, the fore- told- 
 of day, in which Chrift is to judge the World in Righteoufnefs, fo as 
 to make up his Jewels on the one hand, and gather them as his pre- 
 cious Fruits into his Granary ; and to kindle an Oven of his fiery 
 Vengeance, to burn up the VVicked root and branch, and gather 
 together the Tares to be burnt in unquenchable fire, is at the very 
 doors, and ready to open it felf upon us, as the day of Redemption to 
 the Good, and Terror and Amazement to the Wicked. 
 
 Thirdly, That, this Day (hall begin with the Riling of the Wit-- 
 neffes, clothing thofe that then fhall be in the Wo rid,, with fuch a 
 Miniftry of Power and Glory, as fhall qualifie them to difcharge their- 
 feveral wltnefs-bezrlngDuty^ before fpecified, with great applaufe, 
 and good reception from the W-orld. God permitting none to ftand 
 before them that make rehftance or opposition, which fhall be as a 
 neceitary fore-running. difpenfation for Chrift's Perfonal Manifeftati-- 
 on and Rule on Earth a thoufand years ; but by thefe Saviours thac 
 thus fhall be brought up upon Mount Zlon y as a Stone cut out without- 
 hands ; New Heavens and a new Earth, wherein dwelleth Righteoufnefs 
 fhall be conftituted, and t\\t four Monarchies utterly broken to pieces 
 and deftroyed ; and the Kingdom of Anti 'chrlft , and the Beaft, brought 
 to final ruine.and deftrudtron. 
 
 The very mentioning of thefe three Particulars, without alledgim* 
 particular places of Scripture, will bring .them to your mind, which 
 teach and fpeak expreily concerning,rhe truth of them, and the matter 
 of fact it fe!f,as to what .progrefs and courfe this wkne&ng-work hath 
 made from Judea., whe-re firft it was lighted, ftep by ftep,!nto all Na- 
 tions and Kingdoms all the World over, who have been acquainted 
 with thefe VVitnefles,and havefeen their Light (liining in thefe Gol- 
 den Candlefticks, and can give an account how from time to tima 
 they have been put out and removed frsm one place to another, till as 
 laft the bodies of thefe two Prophets are found dead m the«ftreexs of 
 
 the. 
 
54 -A* Epifile General to the Mjfikal Body ofCIirlft. 
 
 the earthly Jeru[alem y and jplrltual Egjft and Sodom, if they might be 
 fuffered to be put into their Graves ; and furely it is not without great 
 wifdom that thefe WitnelTes are called Two, confideiing the two di- 
 ftinft Miniftries of Chrift which they bear witnefs unto, and how each 
 Miniftry hath two, out of whofe mouth ic receives its Juftification. 
 
 But further. That this Teftimony is upon its finishing point, let us 
 enquire whether the laft flaying of the WitnefTes,declared by the fight 
 of their dead bodies (to.n.) fit to be put into their Graves, be not 
 already before our eyes. The right opening and underftanding where- 
 of is of great ufe, as a key to many other moft confiderable and dif- 
 ficult Scriptures. Thefe two wltnejjes, as they juftifie Chrift's fecond 
 Miniftry, the knowledg of him in fpirit,are the Saints in their invifible 
 Church-ftate,fted into the Wildernefs, from the violence and rage of 
 Perfecution, which Satan ftirred up againft them by the vifibleChurch, 
 and Powers of the Civil Rule & Government,called in for afllftance. 
 
 How thefe mtnejfes are two, we have fhewed, being the two Or- 
 ders of Believers, which Chrift's Myftical Body hath been ever con- 
 fifting of, though rather myftically figured out,than appearing as they 
 are, in the truth and brightnefs of their proper Glory, as Heirs of the 
 Spirit of Promife in the fingle and double portion thereof. 
 
 Thefe in their Spirit, Nature and Principles have been difowned, 
 perfecuted and (lain, by the vihble Church, (as much as in them lies) 
 by expofing of them to the utmoft of bodily fufrerings and harms ; and 
 this from the time that the vifible Church hath degenerated, grown 
 Papal, and been defended by the ten horns of her Civil Government 
 in the Weftern Empire of the World ; and the fharpeft and moft 
 bitter Enemies to thefe two Witneifes are the Reformed part of the 
 vihble Church, who declare their ripenefs to be rejected by Chrift, 
 and have the flood of the Papal Power and Tyranny let in upon them, 
 as they hate and reject the heavenly Seed and fpiritual part of the 
 Church, and can find opportunity to go back again into Conjunction 
 with the Corrupt part of the vifible Church, to hinder the growth of 
 that which is Spiritual, rather than to go forward and become one 
 with it. So that it might be made appear in the whole progrefs the 
 Gofpel hath made from Eaft to Weft, the Reformed part of the 
 Church never loft ground, nor was fwallowed up again by the Papa!, 
 till it felf firft took up its ftand, as to going on forward, and refufed 
 to be more Spiritual and Heavenly, being fiercer enemies hereunto, 
 than any other whatfoever. And the greateft demonstration of this, 
 if given in the laft aft of this Enmity that hath been afted, and is yet 
 
 in 
 
An Epijlle General to the Myftical Body of Cbrift. $ J 
 
 in acYmg to the la ft (laughter which is to be made of the WitnefTes in 
 order to expofe their dead bodies in the open ftreets of this Earthly 
 Jerufalem, where they are as fpectacles to be feen three dayes ( that 
 is, years ) and an half, by them of Peoples, and Tongues, and Kin- 
 dreds, and Nations, headed by the Papacy, who fnall not fuffer their 
 dead bodies to be put in their graves by the Inhabitants of the earthly 
 Jerufalem, who were willing enough to do it, as exceedingly joyed 
 at the fight of their dead bodies, but (hall rather chufe to quitthofe 
 deadCarkafes in way of contempt from any further profecution of 
 them ; and inftead thereof,apply themfelves with the ftrength of their 
 whole Party, to ftrengthen and befiege the earthly Jerufalem, in whofe 
 ftreets the dead Carkafes of the Witnefl'es are to lye (in a way of open 
 reproach to be gazed upon) and (hall make a gathering againft it ( as 
 Zach. 14.. 2.) as to battel, fo as the event of it (hall be the taking of 
 the City, and the utter ruine of that part of the vifible Church, di- 
 ftinguilhed from the other by the Name of Reformed; which when 
 it happens, will be a Fourth fign : and by conjecture, this work is al- 
 ready begun, and materials for this Siege, are not only in readinefs,and 
 the Defign laid, and the Parties agreed, that are to undertake it, but 
 the open Defiance to the Battel is given, and both fides fixed in their 
 refolutions to abide the iflue, which will not exceed the term of three 
 years and an half, before it be fully decided. Upon which decifion, 
 that, according to D^.2.43. is to happen between thefe two parts of 
 the vifible Church, immediately after they find they cannot pitch up- 
 on the way of piecing up together againft thofe that dwell in Heaven, 
 though it be both their interefts, and that they earneftly defire and la- 
 bour it. Nay, this Mount of Olives, on which this fecond pair of 
 Witnefies, or vifible part of the Church Reformed are, that fhall 
 ( Zach. 14.4. ) cleave alfo in the middeft, as not being able to hold 
 longer together, or to faften the one to the other; and the one fart 
 (ball go toward the Eafl, into down-right Popery ; the other unto the 
 JVefty at the va'^eft diftance, and greateft contrariety one to the other 
 that is imaginable ; fo as half of this Mountain of vifible Saints in 
 Name fhall remove North, deeper into the Apoftacy ; and the other 
 half South, nearer to the Heavenly Jeru fa I em ; And in this ftate of 
 things, when the Iron (hall break the Kingdom of the Clay to pieces ; 
 And again, that Kingdom of Clay (hall divide and remove, one half 
 to the Eaft, and the other to the Weft, caufing a moft terrible Earth- 
 quake, as in the dayes of UizJiah, at which time ( of this Eanh^ 
 quake ) the tenth part of the Papal Sea, ihall make a final defection 
 
 from 
 
$ 6 An Eflftle General to the Mjftical Body of thrift. 
 
 from hei ; and the Lord my God fhall come, and all the Saints with thet; 
 that is to fay, He fhall Mutter up his Heavenly Troops, and take to 
 himfelf his great Power, in which he (hall begin to reign, by the exe- 
 cuting of his Wrath and divine Vengeance upon his Enemies, in the 
 pouring out thefeven vials, which is the time of the end; that is to fay, 
 of ending the 1260 years for the two WitnetTes Prophefying in Sack- 
 cloth, and the Womans remaining in the Wildemefs, and the time 
 when the riling of the WitnetTes doth begin, and that Saviours jhall 
 come upon Mount Sion,and judge the Mount of Efau fpiritually, as the ten 
 Kings ihall judge them outwardly, and give the fleih of the Whore to 
 be torn in pieces and burnt with fire. Thefe, with others that might 
 be alledged,are the characters and figns, to prove the firft parxicukr, 
 that the Teftimony which Chrift declared fo long ago, was to be given 
 by the Preaching the Gofpel of the Kingdom in all the World, and 
 unto all Nations, is upon its finishing point. 
 
 The Second, which is the ending of that Difpenfation, and the be- 
 ginning of a new one, by the pouring out of the [even vials, to the 
 utter deftrucYion of AntichriiYs Kingdom, and the cutting out the 
 ftone without hands, in preparation to the perfect deliverance of the 
 Church out of Babylon, and the compleat bringing them out of their 
 Captivity, in order to the actual Reftoiing the Kingdom of Ifrael, is 
 that we (hall likewife give forrie lliort difcovery of. 
 
 Two things are comprehended in the Reftoring the Kingdom to 
 Ifrael; Firft, Jfrael it felf, the true Inhabitants and Citizens of the 
 New and Heavenly Jerufalem, mull be reftored to a Kingdom, that is 
 a vifible incorporated Society of Subjects, relating to the true David 
 their King, as their Soveraign and only Law-giver, difclaiming all 0- 
 ther reigning or exercifing Dominion over them. 
 
 Secondly, Over Ifrael, thus reftored to be a Kingdom, Chrift will 
 fhew and own himfelf vifibly their King,and the Univerfal Monarch 
 over the whole World, who at that time ihall be one Common- 
 wealth of Ifrael, and Children of Abraham, under one of the two 
 Covenants, yielding either true or feigned Obedience ; if not out of 
 Love, yet from the fear of Wrath & Divine Vengeance, begun to be 
 revealed and poured forth upon all the Difobedient. Fornofooner 
 fhall the Vials begin to be poured out, but the time is come of Chrift' s 
 Wrath, that is to fay, when he (hall come forth in the vifible execu- 
 tion of his Royal Office and Power amcngft them, in the hands of 
 his undoubted Officers, executing Judgment upon all that fhall with- 
 stand his Peoples Freedom, and coming out fiom under their former 
 
 Servitude 
 
s/fn E fifth General to the My filed Body of Chrift. $? 
 
 fervitude and bondage under the Kingdom of j\ntichrift, arid this id 
 order to reftore Ifrael unto iuch a conftitution of a Kingdom which 
 Chriftisto exercife over them, dining the fpace of a thoufand years. 
 
 And therefore that which firft begins this new difpenfation, called 
 the time of the end, is the riling of the Witnefles by an extraordinary 
 pouring out of the fpirit,<# the latter rain , which like Life from the dead 
 fhall enter into them and fet them upon their feet, and qualifie thof'e 
 in office amongft them, as their Rulers in State or Church, with a like. 
 and greater power than was given in the Type and Figure, to Moftt 
 and £//**, at whofe word the earth was fruit ten with viiible plagues 
 andcurfesas often as they faw caufe to promote theend for which 
 they were fent and employed ;and fo it muft be again, in a much more 
 glorious difpenfation, thereby to reftore and constitute Ifrael into a 
 Kingdtfm, in defpite of all oppofition ; which plainly evidences, tbtfi 
 fuch a difpenfation as this, is neceffary,as that which muft be prepara- 
 tory and conducing to give the actual being and conftitution of a 
 Kingdom, to a People that are found in fo great and univerfal a ftate 
 ©f fervitude and bondage,far beyond that which//™*/ was in,to whom 
 Mofes was lent to bring them out o£ Egypt. Therefore behold the dayes 
 come, faith the Lord, Jer. 23. 7, 8. that they fhall no more [ay, the 
 Lord liveth which brought the Children of Ifrael out of the land of E- 
 gypt.but the Lord llveth , which brought upland which led, (a parallel dif- 
 penfation to Mofes his bringing them up, and leading them 04 a horfe in 
 the wilder nefs , Efay 63. ) the feed of the houfe of Ifrael out of the 
 North Country, and from all Countries whither I had driven them,and they 
 fhall dwell in their own land. 
 
 The fpiritual feed of Ifrael, driven in the time of the Gentiles into 
 theVVildernefs,and kept flaves to the higheft degree, during the rei°n 
 of Antichrift, muft have a time of gathering and bringing up into 
 their land under their own King, and the Nation that hath kept them 
 in bondage,Godhimfelf muft and will judge more fignally than he did 
 Pharaoh and the Egyptians ; by which means this ftone that hath been 
 fallen upon, and fuppreiTed for fo many hundred years, even thefe 
 fixed, unmoveable,chafte followers of the Lamb , muft rife and ftand 
 again upon their feet wi th great power and authority, fo as they fhall 
 not onely be aburthenfome ftone for all people that burthen them- 
 felveswith it, Zach. 12. 3. to the cutting them in pieces, though 
 the people of the earth be gathered together againft them ; but verf. 
 5, 6. In that day faith the Lord, I wiH make the Govemours of Judah 
 like an hearth of fire in ajheafj and they fhall devour aK the people round a- 
 
 I bout^ 
 
5 8 An Epiftle General to the My file al Bo^y of Chrlft. 
 
 boat, .on the right hand and on the left ; and Jertifalem fhall be Inhabited 
 again In her own place, even In Jernfalem, and the Lord hlmfelf fhall de- 
 fend In that day jerufalcm, and he that is feeble among ft them fhall be as 
 David, and the houfe of David a* God, at the Angel of the Lord before 
 them • foot the Governors of Jttdah fhall fay, t here tsflrength to me, and 
 to the Inhabitants ofjerufalem, In the Lord of Hofls their God. 
 
 I know it is and will be Obje&ed,that thefe places refer to the con- 
 version of the Jews, that are the natural feed of Abraham , which arc 
 expected to be firft received again, as Life from the dead, before thefe 
 promifes fhall be accomplished. In Anfwer to which, I fhall only fay, 
 There will indeed, upon the rihng of theWitnefles,that feed di Abra- 
 ham, appear and be made ruanifeft, that are the true and proper Jews, 
 a Nation advanced in love and glory from God, above all other Nati- 
 ons and People, of which an account hath been given before; and then 
 k will be found, no other Jewifh Nation are to be eyed,but as they fall 
 within and are comprehended amongft the Gtntlle fulnefs of thofe 
 Nations that are to be faved. 
 
 bin is, 
 
THE 
 
 Face of the Times : 
 
 Wherein 
 Is briefly di (covered by feveral Prophetical Scrip- 
 tures, from the beginning of Gene/is to the end of the 
 Revelation, the Rise , Progresse, and Issue of the 
 Enmity and Contest, between the Seed of the 
 Woman, and Seed of the Serpent, to the final 
 breaking of the Serpent's head, in the total and irreco- 
 verable Ruin of the Monarchies of this World, which 
 have been fpirited, influenced, and headed all along by 
 .him, for the bruifing of the Saints Heel ( or killing of 
 their Bodies) for the Teftimony of Jefus, which by them 
 hath been given forth in the true Spirit of Prophefie, 
 
 The Defign of this Writing, is, 
 
 To Alarm the World, and awaken up the prefent 
 Generation of God's People in it, to a more diligent and curi- 
 ous obfervation of the prefent Signs of the near approaching j 
 day of the Lord, that they may be more carefully minding I 
 and doing what moft concerns them, by way of preparation 
 thereunto. 
 
 Seeing that all thefe things [hall be dlffolved, what manner of perfons 
 ought we to be In all holy conversation and godllnefs, looking for and 
 haftlng unto the coming of that day of Cod, ( which will come as a 
 thief In the night ) wherein the heavens being on fre^ fhall be dlf- 
 fohed y and the elements fhall melt with fervent heat ? 2 Pet. 3. 
 
 IO, II, 12; 
 
 Printed in the Year, 1661. 
 
( tfl ) 
 
 THE 
 
 Face of the Xinies. 
 
 It was the faying of Chrift to the Generation he converted with, 
 while in the Helli, Te hypocrites y ye can dlfcern the face of the 
 skjes, but can ye not, or how u It that ye cannot dlfcern thefigns of the 
 times ? Why do you not fet your felves to obferve and Ipel out 
 the meaning of God's providential voice, given forth in harmony 
 with his written Oracles, by the Judgements which he is now execu- 
 ting in the earth , as to that moft pertinent and concerning Truth,. 
 The near approach of the day of the Lord fit will furprjze and overtake 
 the wicked that are in darknefs, as a thief, and exceeding dreadful. 
 will it be to them. But the Children of Light and of that day, are re- 
 quired to lift up their heads , when they fee the fignes thereof \ ( however 
 difmal to their fleihly part ) for their Redemption draweth nlgh y Lnk? 
 
 21. 2J, 28. 
 
 God is frill working and carrying on his defignes in the world,on 
 the behalf of his People, as alfo over-ruling all the contrary actings 
 of his and their enemies, in purfuance of his decree, publifhed at paf- 
 fing that fentence upon the Serpent, (fen. 3. 15* I mlPput enmity be- 
 tween thee and the woman,and between thy feed and her feed ; It fhallbrmfe 
 thy head, and thottjha/t bmlfehis heel. 
 
 In the latter branch of this ientence, (which was firft put in execu- 
 tion ) God declares himfelf as to fundry particulars , which do 
 fummirily and fully contain his defign and work throughout all 
 ages of ihe Worli, iiil be accomplished, and the MyfteryofitfiniiTi- 
 cd, as he hath declared unto hi? iervants the Prophets, %ev* 10. 7 # 
 Then the Sainis Tuinc will comedo a<5t his part in purfuance of the 
 
 former 
 
( <fe) 
 
 former branch of the Decree, for bruiting of the Serpents head, and 
 giving an incurable wound to all his adherenrs. 
 
 Th^re is indeed a great myftery in the managing of this war, which 
 God declares he hath founded in the enmity fet by him between the 
 feed of the Woman and feed of the Serpent. Matters are fo contrived 
 in the moft wife defigne of God, that the feed of the Woman mutt 
 furfer firft, and be on the lofing hand, ( as to any outward quietnefs 
 and fair dealing that they are to expedt in this world) for a long tract 
 of time, wherein the headship of this world, the Empire and Govern- 
 ment of the whole earth (hall be, as it were, in the hands of the evil 
 one,who dial! bevery much permitted to difpofe of the powers of ir, 
 to his own inftruments and creatures. But .at the founding of the fe- 
 venth Trumpet, this time is to end, and be no longer. Then the feed 
 of the woman mutt break this headlhip, which Satan for fo long time 
 hath exercifed over the whole world, and deftroy all thole worldly 
 Kingdoms that have taen managed under his influence, to their pre- 
 judice. Then Judgement will be given to the Saints of the moft High. 
 They (ball take and pojfejfe the Kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever y 
 Dan. 7. Then the Kingdomes of this world (hall become the Kingdoms of 
 our Lord and of his Chrijl, holding of him as their vifible head, who is and 
 was and is to come y and will take tint o himfelf his great power for that 
 purpofe. 
 
 The particulars which are fummed up, ( Gen. 3. if. ) concerning 
 the nature of this war, and the manner of managing it,(explained fines 
 by time and the hiftory of things in the Scriptures) are thefe, 
 
 1. Let Satan do his worft, and make all the Power and parties he 
 can, amongtt the Sons. of Adam, yet God will have a Seed in the 
 World, called there the feed of the woman, that (lull be in a ftate of 
 fixed enmity and war againft him and his feed. 
 
 2. For a long tra& of t'irrje, Satan (hal not be chained up nor rettrain- 
 ed from uiing all his skill and power, by himfelf and his instruments, 
 for the doing of his utmott in a way of war j to ruine, deftroy and pre- 
 vail againft the Seed of the Woman. For this end he fhall be permit- 
 ted to have the fubordinate exercife of the Empire and vifible Go-* 
 vernment of the whole world, to be given and bettowed as himfelf 
 will, for the ttrengthening his interert, and encouraging of thofe that 
 will be his creatures, and fall down and woifhip him. 
 
 % . The contrariety of mind and principle! between thefe two kcds t 
 
 will 
 
(«3f ) 
 will be fo fixed and unchangeable,that they will never give over con- 
 tefting and fighting one with or againft another,whatever it coft them, 
 till the heel of the one be fully bruifed, that is, till the fufferings of 
 Chriftyet behind in his body myftical,and every member thereof, be 
 accomplifaed, by fuftaining lofs in the fleftv even to death it felf; 
 and the head of the other fully broken, that is, till the headihip and 
 vifible Government^ the World be wholly taken out of the hands of 
 Satan and his inftruments,and reaffumed by Chrift into his own hands, 
 and the hands of fit and meet Minifters and Officers- under him. 
 
 4. After a long time of patience under bodily fufferings ,not loving 
 their Lives unto the death, the feed of the Woman fhall at laft cer- 
 tainly and fully overcome the feed of the Serpent, tread Satan and 
 his kingdom under foot, for ever and ever. The principal means they 
 fnall rely upon for the bringing of this- war to a good iflue, is the way 
 of overcoming by the blood of the Lamb, ( or force of Chrifts inter- 
 ceffion, whofe blood cries for vengeance againft his enemies ) as alfo 
 bythe word of their Teftimony (freely and boldly given forth by 
 them in their very fufferings, whilft worldly Power ftands on the ene- 
 mies fide ) which (hall have its effecVupon friends and foes, as a fa- 
 vour of Life to the one, death to the other,a fweet favour to God both 
 ways, profpering in the thing whereto he fends it, and performing alt 
 his'pleafure, 2O.2. 15, \6. Efqitf.iu 
 
 Purfuant to this counfel and decree of God, (^declared, Gen. 3. 
 15 .) he hath wonderfully and fignally preferved the feed of the Wo- 
 man,unto this very day. He hath given them being, prefervation and 
 protection inthemidftof all enemies, and in defpite of all their 
 rage and oppofition. He hath carried on his. CAUSE, and upheld 
 righteoufnefs on the fide of his People, whatever difguiies, reproach- 
 es or blemifhes have been endeavoured to be put upon it, by the De- 
 vil and his adherents. The miraculous prefervation of the Womans 
 Seed, the Scriptures diftribute into three principal Branches, which 
 diftinguiih the whole tract of time allotted to them for their fuffer- 
 ings, into three great Periods and feafons, wherein the feed of the 
 Woman hath received variation,as to the outward iform and difpenfa- 
 tron of things, though in mind,, principles, and fpirit,they continue 
 ftill the famejin and under ail thefe Changes. 
 
 The firft appearance of the feed of the Woman, in order to enter 
 the lift with the Seed of the Serpent, we. find ia the line of Mam r . 
 
 which 
 
<*4 - 'The Face of the Times. 
 
 which he begat of E^*, the Mother of all living- Abel the firfl Mar- 
 tyr died before he had any iiTue, or means to propagate it. God f up- 
 plied chat defect in the line of Seth. In this new line is carried on the 
 decreed enmity between the two feeds, till the Flood came and fwept 
 away ( in a manner ) all mankind, from off the face of the earth. At 
 that time the firft war ended. But the foundation and matter of a new 
 war, in this kind, is contracted into, and found even in the family of 
 Noah. The firft war,begun in Adams line, and continued in Seths^zs 
 (in a way of God's juft judgement upon the whole world) brought to 
 an end by the Flood. The feed of the Woman was now narrowed and 
 diminifhed into Noahs perfon and two of his fons. The feed of the 
 Serpent was contracted into a lefs room yet, the other fon. 
 
 This Efochaoi i6$6 years, from the Creation to the Flood, is in 
 Scripture diflinguilhed as one great period of time and revolution of 
 things in the world, relating to this war between the two feeds, and 
 the event of it. It began in and with the Patriarchs, in the perfon of 
 Abel j whom Cain that was of that wicked one, flew. It continued all 
 along with the Patriarchs and their day on earth, who lived every one 
 of them hundreds of years : And it had its period in thatuniverfal 
 rniniftry of God's wrath and vengeance upon the whole world, which 
 in Scripture is called, THE DAT OF THE LORD. 
 
 The fecond appearance then of the feed of the Woman and feed of 
 the Serpent alfo, we find in i\r.. ^family. From the matter and fuel, 
 contracted into rhis narrow compafs,does the fire of the war between 
 the two feeds break forth a.freili, and another world (as it were) and 
 (late of things, diverfe from the forme, runder the government of the 
 Patriarchs, is brought upon the Stage, This new and differently fta- 
 ted war, arifes and is occasioned from the differing minds and princi- 
 ples, found in Noah's three fons, Sem, Ham y and Japhet. The flood 
 having deftroyed all the families of the earth, fave 7VW>/onely, the 
 Government of the World came hereby to receive a considerable 
 change,becaufe theRight of theEmpire of the wholeworld was now by 
 Gods Providence devolved upon the family of Noah, and in particu- 
 lar, upon himfelf in perfon, as the right heir of it. After him, it came 
 to Sem and his line, by God's fpecial designation, though Japhet were 
 the eideft. 
 
 In Noahs three fons, as in type, the thr.ee forts of principles and 
 mindes, which influence this fecond world of mankind, are defcribed, 
 and (as I may fay) perfonated, to the life. Thefe three principles 
 diftinguifh all pe'rions defcended of Noah's family, throughout the 
 wholeworld, into three forts of Inhabitants, 
 
 The 
 
The Tate of the Times. 65 
 
 The fame method does John, by way of allegory hold, ( Rev. 12. 
 12,) calling one fort of them, Inhabitants of Heaven, or thofe that 
 dwell and. have their converfation in Heaven , correfponding in their 
 Principle and way of Life, with the Jerufalem that is above \ 
 
 Another fort he tearms, Inhabitants of the Earth, or thofe that dwell 
 on Earth ; the tribes of the Earth, 01 citizens of the earthly Jeru- 
 falem. 
 
 The third are thofe that dwell in tht Sea, or are found in a ftate of 
 deep darknefs, znd alienation from the Life of God, caftingup mire and 
 dirt, as raging waves of the troubled Sea, (Efay J7. 20.) living in that 
 open heathenifme and prophanefs, that the greateft part of the world 
 chufe to abide in , notvvithftanding the offer of Liberty made to 
 them, by the raatbm paid oh their behalf in the blood of the Re- 
 deemer. 
 
 1. The mind that fhews it felf in the firft fort of thefe Inhabitants, 
 is that which was in Sew ; a holy, fpiritual mind,/W- upon things abwe y 
 or inheaven i at Chrifts right hand. This, when it coxes to operate, is 
 that active, living Faith of the new creature, which works by love. By 
 this Faith, *or in this fpiritual mind and principle of Life and opera- 
 tion , Abel offered unto God a more excellent Sacrifice than Cain, 
 Heb. 11. 4. 
 
 a, The mind that difcovers it felf in the fecond fort of inhabitants, 
 ( thofe that dwell on Earth, citizens of the earthly Jerufalem) is that 
 which was in Japhet, as a middle wavering ftate, perfwadeable ei- 
 ther to good or evil; either to leave the earth and love of feen things, 
 and to afcend and dwell in the tents of Sem y in order to be fixed and 
 fet on things above, or elfe to cleave unto things feen, in affection 
 and defire, and thence 10 defcend, and draw back to perdition, apo- 
 ftatize and. lodge in the heatheniili principles Of Chaw, and fo partake 
 of his curfe as well as fin. Thofe that thus decline from the wavering 
 fpirit and principles ofjaphet, to the prophane ftate of Chf.m, are no- 
 ted in Scripture to be fuch as having known the way. of right eoufntfs, do 
 turn afidefrotn the holy command, and lb come to have their lot amongft 
 thole that are twice dead, and pinched up by the roots, whofe latter end is 
 mrfe than their beginning. For upon luch a fatal backdiding, fuch an 
 irrecoverable fail in their own perfons, they come to be fixed in evil 
 and bound up with the fallen Angels in everlafling chains under darknefs , 
 unto the judgement of the great day, 2 Pet w 2. 20. Jude, verf. 12. and 
 verf. 6. 
 
 This Wavering fpirit of Japhet, conf.dered 'lingly in its own fpheai. 
 and activity, (as neither advancing towards the 'tents of Sem, and 
 
 K ' things 
 
66 The Face of the Times. 
 
 things above ; nor declining to the heatheniih and prophane ftate o£ 
 Cham) is that fpirit which properly conftitutes the Ifraei after the 
 flefh, in diftincYion from the true//™*/ of God, or Orcumcifion of 
 the Spirit, on th: one hand ; and the heatheniih uncircumcifed Na- 
 tions, on the other, whilft God kept up the war in the line of Abra- 
 ham^ or feed of Ifraei according to the flefh, till Chrift's incarnation. 
 For in Abrahams line, deriving from Heber and Shem y did God re- 
 new and maintain the war with the Seed of the Serpent, and conti- 
 nued it till his fignai rejection of that line, and utter cutting them off 
 from being any more a Nation and People of themfelves, at the laft: 
 facking and deftru&ion oijernfalemy after the death of Chrift, by the 
 hand oiTittu Vefpafian. 
 
 3. The mind that declares it felf in the third fort of Inhabitants, 
 who dwell in the Sea, or in the depth of alienation from the life of 
 God, (without any fenfeor feeling of that which is morally and natu- 
 rally good according to the Law, hating and defpifing God's image 
 in any kind, where-ever it fhines forth ) is that which was in Cham. 
 For this was he curfed and judicially fixed in his bondage, as a fervant 
 of fin, refembled by that lervant under- the-Mofaical difpenfation, 
 who for refufing his freedom when offered, was bored thoiow his ear, 
 in token of his perpetual iervitude, Exod.jii. 6. 
 
 1. The firft fort of thefe Inhabitants are heavenly, having a mind 
 and principles fix'din that obedience of Faith which is acceptable, 
 and by entring into God's Reft through Faith, do become unmovable 
 in the right way of working Righteoufnefs, wherein they attain the 
 end of their hope, that is, the falvatlon of their fouls, 
 
 2. The fecond are earthly, unfixed either in good or evil, waver- 
 ing between both, having a mind fome times ferving the Law of God,' 
 anci fometimes the law of fin. Thefe, however they may draw near 
 to God with their words and tongue, their heart is alienated and at 
 a diftance from him ; at leaft, may be, for ought they know, notwith- 
 ftandingthe form of godlinefs they live in. For they are not able 
 to make a true and certain judgment of themfelves, till they partake 
 of that Anointing from above that can teach them all things. This is 
 that only that will enable them to keep the word of Chrift's patience 
 in the day of their tryal. Without this Grace extended to them, and 
 poffeiled by them, they will become Apoftates, forget they have been 
 wafhed from their old fins, and will {hew themfelves at laft the moft 
 hardned and bitter rtfifters of the holyGhoft and Power of Godlinefs. 
 
 3. The third are like the Sea, foaming out their own filth, and 
 they are conftant and fixed therein, having minds and conferences 
 
 feared 
 
The Ftce of the Times. #7 
 
 feared and made harder than the nether milftone, in works of dark- 
 nefs. Being: pall: feeling, they have fold themfelves to work wieked- 
 nefs. Peradventure fometime they may be made a little fenfible of 
 thefting and penalties of the Law, fo as to make fome (lender ac- 
 knowledgments and feigned profeflions of obedience and fubjc&ion 
 thereunto, (the Devils alfo believe and tremble) but no hearty or fin- 
 cere repentance from dead works, or pure obedience of love, fpring- 
 ing from the fpirit of Adoption, and appearing in a fteady amendment 
 of life , is to be found in them. Yea, they are by God himfelf judi- 
 cially hardned, and unchangeably faftned in their own chofen wayes 
 of darknefs. They give themfelves up to work all uncleannefs with 
 greedinefs, and God gives them up to vile affections, to take their 
 courfe, and fill up the meafure of their abominations, till he fee time 
 t© ftrike them once for all. 
 
 The firft and laft of the above-named minds or principles, are 
 the two extreams, in the one or other of which, the middle or fecond 
 fort of Inhabitants (that are in the wavering, changeable, contending 
 ftate, with whom God is ftriving by his Spirit) will come at laft to 
 be unchangeably fixed. The perfect and righteous date which Man 
 was at firft created in, was this middle, wavering and unfixed ftate 
 of perfection which was at firft, and upon renewal thereof is again 
 capable to be guided by the Spirit of God ( through Faith) into a 
 higher and better, or to be tempted and feduced by Satan into a 
 lower and far worfe. 
 
 The finful ftate likewife into which mankind was plunged by the 
 firft tranfgreifion and fall of Man, is not fixed, or made immutable 
 and defperate, until a new proof and tryal be made of all men. In 
 order to this, by vertue of the Blood of the Redeemer, and through 
 obfervatioh of the Rules appointed by God for recovery out of the 
 Fall, a rsftitution to the rectified Principles and Righteoufnefs of 
 our firft Creation, is in Chrift moft certainly attainable by every {in- 
 ner, without exception. For by Chrift's Blood there is remiffion to 
 be had for all fins paft, and a new tryal is propounded and fet before 
 every one for time to come, upon the terms, and according to the 
 tenor of God's conditional, or abiolute Covenant. Hence it is the 
 War arifes, and the Enmity is itt^ or comes to be fixed between the 
 two feeds, each ferving, as it were, for the proof and tryal of the 
 unmovablenefs of one another, either in good or evil. 
 
 Through this was occafioned the quarrel between the ^ad of the 
 Woman, and the feed of the Serpent, growing up out of Noah's fa- 
 mily. The ufurpation of the univerfal Government' of the World in 
 
 K z favour 
 
6% The Face of the Times. 
 
 £>vc>ufind atfiftance of the Serpent's feed, was attempted 2nd pur* 
 fued by Nimrod and his fucceffors. Afterwards it came into. Afr£*i 
 ckadneztZJir'j hands, and by Daniel's interpretation of that propheti- 
 cal Image of worldly Monarchy that Nebuchadnezzar faw in a dream, 
 the continuance thereof in his line and three other fuccelfive bran- 
 ches of Univerfal Monarchy in the lilies of the Medes and Perfians, 
 Grecians, and then Romans, was foretold. AH thefe have been the 
 inheritors ofCltam's fpirit, upholding a heathenirhftare of Idolatry, 
 Ignorance and ProphaneCs, againft the Kingdom and Obedience of 
 Chritl, kept up and witneiTed unto, all along, in and by the line and 
 feed of Abraham, from Sem downward, to the lalt fack and utter 
 ruin? of the Temple and City of jernfalem under the Romans. The 
 chief menaorables in this; fpace of tirru,that concern the oppofit inte- 
 reft to thefe worldly Monarchies, were the eminent Call of Abraham^ 
 Ifaac and Jacob to the Faith, the giving of the Law,the building and 
 rebuilding of the Temple,the.long continuing of the Prophetical Of- 
 fice in the Jewilh Church, ChrifVs Incarnation, Mini ftry, Dea?h and 
 Refurre6tion. About forty years After the Refurre&ion of Chriitj 
 Jerttfalem. is deftroyed by Titus feffafian, and there ended the fecond 
 great Period and Revolution of this War, that was managed between 
 the two ^tds. Ail along this fecond War, the feed of the Serpent 
 was poiTefTed of the Univerfal Monarchy of this World, had all the 
 countenance and affijtance which that could afford. The main vifi- 
 ble Protection vouchfafed by God on the orher hand, to his Church 
 and People, was continued in the line of Abraham, accounting trom 
 Sem downward, unto God's judicial rejection of that feed of Abra- 
 ham according to the flefh , upon their crucifying the Lord of 
 Glory. 
 
 In this fecond War, we find the feed of the Woman bruifed ftill in 
 the heel and corningoflf with lofs. Yea, upon the winding up of this 
 fecond great Day or Period of time, ( wherein the Prince of Life 
 was by wicked hands put to death, and the whole Nation of the vi- 
 able Church of God on Earth, rejeSed,and their Worfhip prophaned 
 and de(troyed) the Devil might feem to himfelf and others to have 
 come off compleat conqueror. But the War is again renewed by the 
 Serpent and his feed, againft the feed of the Woman, who are re- 
 peated and brought forth again by the Regeneration, from amongft 
 the very heathenifh Nations of the World, that were not before ac- 
 counted by God as a People of his, but given up, as it were, to the 
 dominion of Sin and Satan. 
 This. third Wiir had its foundation laid in the Incarnation, Death. 
 
 and 
 
The Face of the Timer. . tjp 
 
 and Refurre£tion of Chrift, who (though a Son ) Was taught obedi- 
 ence by fuffering,- and in the condition of a fufferer obtained the 
 victory. Through death he deflroyed him that had the power of 'death , 
 that is, the Devil, And by tafling death for every man, as became ths 
 Captain of our Salvation, he was made ferfeti through f offerings. 
 
 This way of fighting and overcoming the Devil and Sin, was a 
 great myftery till then, and the moft unlikely of all other, ever to 
 break the Serpents head, and difpoffefs him and his Inftruments- of 
 their worldly Thrones and Powers. Yet in this way of theCrofsr, 
 by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their Teftimony, do the 
 true Witneffes of Chrift manage and carry on this third War. One 
 thoufand two hundred and fixty dayes, that is, yeares-, have bin dot- 
 ted them for prophefymg in fackcloth, in a perfecuted, wildernefo 
 condition. Then they are to rife out of their graves, ftand again upon 
 their feet, and prophecy with power. 'Tispaft all difpute, that the 
 conqueft mud fall on the -fide of the Lamb and his followers, at the 
 ending of this third great feafon and revolution of time, wherein 
 the feed of the Woman hath dill been on the fuffering hand. The 
 end of their fuffering feafon will be, when the feventh Trumpet 
 begins to found, immediately after the effect which the pouring forth 
 of the Vials fhall have upon the Beaft and his kingdom. 
 
 This is the Rife, Progrefs and IlTue that is given unto things : irr 
 the third Age of the World, called Chriftian, that was made to fpring 
 up and have its being out of the deftruc^ion of the Jewilh World r 
 Rvm. ii. ii. 
 
 The cleer view and profpe&of things in this- Chriftian World r 
 ( both as to the Civil and Church-government, as alio the War be- 
 tween the two Seeds, brought on again and continued ) was given 
 by Chrift unto the Appftle John, and revealed to him by his Angel in 
 the Book 6T the Revelation^ For there we find the period that mufti 
 happen alio to this third World, and to the Heavens and Earth,or t he- 
 Civil and Church-ftate appertaining to it, and carried on under ihis : 
 difpenfadon, in order to give place to a world to come, which is yet 
 to fucceed. This World to come, will be of a more heavenly and 
 fpiritu'al Conftitudon, as to the general ftate and frame of- things 
 which is to be brought forth by Chrift's fecond appearance, upon the 
 fpirits and bodies of men, on this fide their compleat and utmoft glo- 
 rification. The final afcending up to the Father, to lit down at his 
 right hand, is after this world that is yet to come ( or the thoufand 
 years Reign of Chrift with all his Saints on earth ) Hull-have had 
 its courier 
 
 Hnto> 
 
>6 The Face of the Tims. 
 
 Unto the.rifen ftate of Saints, when they {hall begin to come forth 
 in their vi&orious pofture, and unrefiftable power, of Faith and Pray- 
 er, doth the Prophet Hofea feem to refer, chap.6.verf.2 y $. After two 
 dayes (fa yes he) or great feafons of ^Affiitlion and Suffering (already 
 described J he will revive w, by the IVORD's being made F/e(h y and 
 the day firing from on high therein vifiting m. This (Hab.7,. 2.) is cal- 
 led a reviving the work, or preferving it alive in the midrtof the 
 years of Wrath and Oppretfion from the Serpent and his feed, that 
 was yet to be under-gone for the fpace of 1666 years after Chrift's 
 birth, as wjll appear in its proper place. In the third day ( fayes Ho- 
 fea ) that is, at the end of it, when the WitneiTes are to arife, wefhaH 
 iive in his fght. By following on to know the Lord, we fhall perceive 
 that his going forth in this his third great revolution of time, hath 
 been as the morning, ftiining more and more unto a perfect day, and 
 that his coming to us ( according as hath been by him purpofed ) in 
 his firft and in his fecond Appearance, will be as the former and latter 
 raw unto the Earth. 
 
 The former rain of Chrift's Spirit, in the feafon of his firft Appear- 
 ance, began at the day of Pentecoft, in vifible gifts and diftributions 
 of the holy Ghoft, dividing to every man feverally, as himfelf plea- 
 fed. By this means he raifed up a Miniftry that formed and laid the 
 Foundation of the Primitive Church. That "Church was upheld in 
 its original purity, more or lefs, as long as they kept the Word of 
 God's Patience, and withftood the oppofition made again!* it, after 
 a righr manner, by the blood of the Limb, and by the word of their 
 Teftimony, in the giving whereof, they loved not their lives unto 
 death. This appeared, all along thofe hard and cruel Perfecutions 
 they under-went, until fuch time almoft as £onftantine came to the 
 Empire. 
 
 But to avoid Perfecution, Chriftians then began td mingk Intereii 
 with worldly Powers, and ( to pleafe Governours ) took their raft 
 in the outward Court, fome out-fide form of godlinefs, fo as that 
 which we call Chriltian Religion, became the Religion of the Empire 
 ( or of the body of the Nation unto which it was received ) as com- 
 manded and compelled by the Laws of the State, and power of the 
 Sword. This practice commenced and bears da:e aboutfour hundred 
 years after Chrift, from which time little of the former rain hath fal- 
 len upon fuch vifible or Rate Chriftianity, in their Publick and Na- 
 tional Meeting-places of Worfhip. That rain became then hidden 
 Manna, the peculiar food and refreshing of the Woman and her feed 
 in the Wildernefs,- where {he is nourifhed for a time, and times, 
 
 and 
 
The Face of the Times. >x 
 
 and half a time. From about the time that Chriftian Religion hath 
 been made National, and in the Rules, Ordinances and Doctrines 
 thereof, beenembodyed with the Laws of each Nation in the Em- 
 pire, and fo enforced by the Civil Sword, thofe that truly keep the 
 Commandments of God and Teftimony of Jefus, have been driven 
 into a ftate of defolation, perfecution and difperfion, and are fo to 
 continue and be warred upon, forty and two Months, by the Earth 
 and her Inhabitants on the one hand, and by the Sea and her Inhabi- 
 tants on the other. 
 
 Both thefc forts of Inhabitant and Enemies of the Church in the 
 Wildernefs, do make up and conftitute but one great City or incor- 
 porated Society of the Serpents ^d y fpiritually called Egypt, and 
 Sodam y under the headlhip of worldly Government, as it arifes out 
 of the Sea. This worldly Government is ftill but the fame fourth 
 Beaft and univerfal Romane Empire, in Principles of oppofnionto 
 the Kingdom of Chrift and Seed of the Woman, as before. It feems 
 indeed to be now healed and reformed with the (hew of Chriftian Re- 
 ligion, under the headlhip of Church-Government and coercive 
 Power arifing out of the Earth, or apoftate Principles of the worldly 
 Church, departing from the Primitive Power, Purity and Patern ; 
 retaining Bill fomething.of the form of Godlinefs, but denying the 
 Spirit and Power thereof. 
 
 The firft Beaft carries the/><r<W, and is willing to be rid upon bylt^ 
 finding great benefit and advantage by having the whors upon their 
 back** for the propagating of fervitude, and rooting out of the earth 
 the pure and chafte Principles of the Primitive, Apoftolick, Catho- 
 lick Church. 
 
 Thus the War is managed between the two feeds in this third day. 
 Towards the latter end of this day is our lot fallen , who are at prefent 
 alive in this world. But before the petiod, and (hutting in of this 
 day, the Sufferings of the Womans Seed (hal 1 have an end. Then, 
 that Mtniitry of the Spirit A14II come in, which is compared to the 
 Utter ram. This is that which (hall break the Serpents head, utterly 
 tread him, his kingdom and followers under foot. This is thar,which 
 ( by the pouring forth of the feven Vials of the wrath of God upon 
 the kingdom of the Rea(t,to the utter ruine and deftruclion thereof) 
 will prepare the way for the coming down of the new Jerufalem out 
 of Heaven, as a Brideadorned for her Husband, and fo, for the thou- 
 fand years Reign of Chrill on Earth. At the beginning of that Reign, 
 Satan (hall be chained up, and there (hall be no more Sea, or pro- 
 phane worldly-Intereit, and beaftly Government left, 
 
 la 
 
72 7te V*ce\of the Times. 
 
 In ihttvem up-time of this third day or age of the World ( where- 
 in we now live ; it iball be light y by the coming on of the Kingdom 
 and Reign of Chiift, with all his Saints, Zccb.14.^7. 
 
 This then that we have been defcribing, is the third fignal feafon 
 or great revolution of things in this woild, wherein the fame War 
 that was from the beginning, hath been, and iUli is carrying on be- 
 tween the two Seeds, under the name of Chriftian, or of Chrift's 
 followers. The Seed of the Serpent, under pretence of being for 
 Chiift, do piove at laft univeifally againft him, moft ftiamefully and 
 wickedly rejecting him, and falling in with the kingdom of Anti- 
 chiift, in direct oppofition to his Kingdom. This they will do, not- 
 withstanding that he hath been giacioufly driving and contending by 
 the Miniftry of the Gofpel, to work the whole World into a ftate of 
 Obedience and Subjection to the Righteoufnefs of his Scepter. For 
 this end hath he been many hundred years giving forth the light and 
 glory of his Gofpei and Kingdom, from the Eaiiern parts of the 
 World to the Weft, and fuflfered himfelf all along to be caft off, and 
 his Members to be oppreiTed and- troden under foot, by degrees, in 
 one Nation and Country after another, till at laft it came to thefe 
 Weftein parrs, and was fpread from hence in America, which with 
 thefe Nations we live in, feemtobethe laft piece of Ground this 
 Qurrelis to be fought out in. Yea, and probably this is the time as 
 well as the place, wherein the Witnelles are finishing their Tefti- 
 mony, being the laft that are fignally to be (lain by the Beaft, as the 
 proper accomplishment of that Propheiie, Revel. 11. 7. The Beaft is 
 reprefented here as generally in his afcendant pofture, being gratified 
 with fome remarkable Rife in his affairs, as a lightning before death, 
 to enable him for the accompliLhing of this great counfel of God that 
 is to be acted upon the dead bodies of his (lain Witneites, within the 
 three years and half before their riling again and ftanding upon.their 
 feet. Then they are to enter upon the iecond part of their Prophe- 
 tical Miniftry, compared to that of Eliah's in Ahab's time, and chat 
 of Mofes in Egjgt> when at their word they ftiall fhut Heaven that it 
 rain not, have power over Waters to turn them into blood, and to 
 fmitethe Earth with Plagues as often as they will. 
 
 By them alfo Heaven thall be opened, and a fuller and more ex- 
 cellent difcovery of Chrift in Spirit miniftred, than ever yet hath 
 been. Amongft them (hall be found thofe feven Angels, or Officers 
 of theChurch, to whom ftiall be committed the pouring out of the 
 feven golden Vials, full of the wrath of God. Thefe Vials contain 
 £ like univerfalMiniiiry of Wrath and of the Judgement of God by 
 
 Fire, 
 
The Face of the Times. >j 
 
 Fire, upon ungodly men, as vVls bro-jgh: by Water upon' the old 
 World in the dayes of Noah. This miniftry of wrath by Fire, Hull 
 put a period to the third ftate of things in the world, as that by Wa- 
 ter did unto the firft. Out of the deftru&ion of the prefent World 
 and frame of things, by this fiery miniftry . of God's wrath, is the 
 thoufand years Reign of Chrift to fpring up, in that Kingdom of his 
 that /hall never end. 
 
 And here bear with me in giving ( by way of digreflion ) foms 
 few broken Notions, s in order to the better and more diftincl open- 
 ing of drift's Kingdom, which we (hall find ( 1^.17.20,21. and 
 chap.i9.*i>&c.) to be diftinguiihed into a Twofold ftatfe 5 
 
 1. A Kingdom Inward. The Kingdom ofGsd is within you ; and is 
 the dominion of God in the Confcience and Spirit of the Mind. This 
 Kingdom ftands not, nor comes in or with any outward obfervation, 
 but is the commanding, ruling Principle of Life in the true Saint, as 
 a Law written in his inward parts, thrift's Kingdom, as thus con- 
 (idered, is intended, ( Rev. 11: 1. ) where it is called the Temple of 
 God, or the inward Court, and thofe that worfhip there, glorifying 
 God in their Spirits. This Kingdom of Chrift is capable of fubiift- 
 ing and being managed imwardly, in the minds of his People, in a 
 hidden ftate, concealed from the eye of the world ; By the Power 
 thereof, the inward fenfes or eyes of the mind are opened and awa- 
 kened, to the drawing them upward to a Heavenly converfe, catching 
 and carrying up the Soul to the Throne of God, and to the knowledge 
 
 j* of the Life which is hid, with Chrift, in God. Thofe that are in this 
 Kingdom, and in whom the Power of it is, are fitted to flye with the 
 Church into the VVildernefs, and to continue in fuch a folitary, di- 
 fperfed, defolate condition, till God calls them out of it. They have 
 VVells and Springs opened to them in this VVildernefs,' whence 
 they draw the VVaters of Salvation, without being in bondage to the 
 Life of Senfe, and the objects depending thereon, as tonch not, tafie 
 net, handle not, which perifti in the ufing. 
 
 2. But Secondly, Chrift 1 s Kingdom ts alfo outward r ; appearing to 
 fenfe, and to the eye of the fenfual or inferiour part of the mind, 
 which works only by bodily organs, judging by the fight of that eye, 
 and the hearing of that ear, whofe life is in and by the body, con- 
 futing in bodily exercife, and is therefore compared' ( Revel, n .2. ) 
 to the outward Court, and the Worfhip thereunto appertaining. This 
 is the Dominion of God in the Confcience alfo, though but in the in- 
 feriour or fenfual part of the mind, where it becomes aLawinoar 
 Members, to put in execution and perform the Law of the Spirit of 
 
 L our 
 

 74 The Face of the Times. 
 
 our Mind, that fo our very bodies may become the Temple of the 
 holy Ghoft, and we may be able to glorifie God, not in our Spirits 
 only, but in our Bodies alio, as clean VelTels and earthen Taber- 
 nacles, upon which may be written,, HO LINE SS TO THE 
 LORD, Zech.14. 
 
 Now the Kingdom of Chrift comes not properly, to appear in out- 
 ward fhew and vifibility,but as it (hines forth in this lower and earth- 
 ly part of the Soul, witneifing the Dominion and Power of God to 
 be there as a Law and commanding Principle,ir ,and over the outward 
 man. With refpecl to this kind of its Appearance, in afTedting and 
 influencing the bodily part of man* and becoming the Life thereof, 
 it is capable to come forth in a Power and Glory that is corruptibly 
 fading, and that wears away ; as alio in that which is incorruptible and 
 abides for ever* The firft of thefe is meant, ( 1 Joh.3.1,2.) where 
 'tis faid, Now are we the Sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what 
 re e fhall be : but we know that when he (hall appear, we {hall be like him, 
 ( or have the like appearance with hun ) for we fk all fee him as he is-. 
 The Sons of God are not yet in the proper appearance of his Sons, 
 but do bear the form and appearance of i\\z flefhly man, to the making 
 a fair fhew in the flefh ; They have their Treafure but in an earthen 
 Veilel, unredeemed from its prefent bondage unto corruption. But 
 the time is Flattening, when they fhall in Spirit fliine forth as the Sun 
 in itsttrength, in the Kingdom of their Father, and their very bodies 
 fhall be as the Firmament, tranfparent, and of fervice to unvail the 
 glory of the inward man, and not cover and difguife it,as now they do. 
 
 But, alas 1 This fair jhew in the flefh, which may alfo be made by* 4 
 thofe that are Itrange Children, paiTes with moft for the Kingdom of 
 Chrift, even yet in thefe laft dayes, fome crying, Lohere; and fome, 
 lo there. ; according to that form of fervice and divine worfhip they 
 are perfwaded in their minds, is according to the Rule of God's 
 Word, through it be but that only which appertains to the outward 
 Court, which is given up by God into the hands of the Gentiles, t& 
 poffefs and, tread under foot at their pleafure. The Heavens hereof 
 are patting away with a great noife, and thefe worldly Elements are 
 m-ehing apace ; As a Vefture they fhall be folded up and changed, 
 they fhall perifh and wear old as a Garment, whilft ChritVs inward 
 and fpiritual Kingdom fhall remain, and in its due time come forth 
 ■ in an appearance that Hull be Lifting and unihaken for ever. Where- 
 fore we receiving this Kingdom, which cannot be moved, let us hold 
 fait, and have Grace, whereby we may ferve God acceptably, with 
 reverence and Godly fear. For our God is a confuming fire. 
 
 But 
 
The Face of the Times. 7? 
 
 But to return, and apply our felves to the fubjecl we were on be- 
 fore, which is, To give the view of what Word God is fulfilling, and 
 what part of his Counfel he is executing among us, in this our day. 
 The Heavens are now black over our heads, the Sun is turned into 
 darknefs, the Moon into blood, and mens hearts are failing them for 
 fear of what God is bringing upon the Earth. Great diftrefs is in the 
 Land, and upon the Nations ; Wrath is coming upon that People, 
 who fay they are Jews and are hot, but fhall be found liars. The Sea 
 and the waves alfo, will roar ; the prophane heathenifti party of men 
 wilt be in great perplexity too. 
 
 Surely, the Figtree,and all the Trees are {hooting forth ; and after 
 this cruel, (harp Winter that is (and for fome fpace is yet to be) upon 
 us, the Summer approaches that will make amends for all. Great 
 caufe there is for the Sons of God to lift up their heads, as fore- 
 feeing that their Redemption draws nigh. 
 
 In this point, the Book of the Revelations will be every day more 
 and more opened, to give us light and inftru&ion, the Providences 
 of God helping much everyday too, as to the interpretation thereof, 
 together with the Spirit of Truth, that dwells and lives in the hearts 
 of Saints. Through mercy, the Lord who is that Spiiit, hath not been 
 wanting in his Teachings of this kind to a poor Worm in my prefent 
 folitude and bonds. I (hall have occasion to tell you by and by, that 
 there appears caufe to me of diffent from Mr. Mede, as to fome appli- 
 cations that are made by him in his learned Commentary on that 
 Book, when I come to fpeak of fome particulars concerning the 
 Witnefles, and their twofold time and ftate of prophefying. 
 
 i. Their thoufand two hundred andfixty years prophefying in fackc 
 cloth, in a perfecuted wilderness (late. 
 
 2. Their prophefying in power and glory •, during the fpace of the pour- 
 ing forth of the f even Vials of }Vr at h^ as a fore-running Eli ah -like Mi- 
 mflry y preparatory to Chrift's thoufand years Reign on Earth.. Yet, as 
 to that which Mr. Mede calls his great Key for the opening of that 
 whole Book, to wit, his Synchronisms or Contemporations of things, 
 which he finds to agree and fall out together in the lame age and time, 
 I exceedingly reverence his Judgement, and look upon him as one 
 that hath moft happily found out the hidden order and method, ufed 
 by the holy Ghoft in that Prophetical Book. 
 
 This method being once known to the very ^tional judgment of 
 man, that may be exercifed upon the matters contained in that Book, 
 they are thereby rendred much more eafie and intelligible. 
 
 Let us alfo take it for granted, ( as that which is the common 
 
 L 2 judgment 
 
?6 , The Face of the Times. 
 
 judgment of thofe that acknowledge the Scriptures) that in this Book 
 of the Apocalypfe, are contained and revealed, in an orderly method, 
 the things which were to fall out in the xrourfe of God's Providence. 
 and wife ordering of matters for the good of the VVomans Seed, 
 during the third Day or Age of the world. This day reaches from 
 ChriiVs Afcention (or departure into a far Country) to God's bring- 
 ing again this his only begotten Son into the world, that every tongue 
 inay^confefSj and every knee bow to the honour of his molt glorious 
 Mams. Then {"hall he, in the quality of ilniverfal King, as well on 
 Earth as in Heaven, enter upon and keep the poflefiion of his King- 
 dom, againft all Ufurpers and Oppofers whatsoever. 
 
 This fpace of time between Chrift's Afcention to Heaven, and 
 Reign on Earth, ismeafuredout in three great and diftincl: Sections 
 or Divifions, in the Book before-mentioned, as Mr. Mede. takes no- 
 tice; and every of thefe three are again made to contain in them 
 feven Sub-divifions of that portion of time that is allotted unto each 
 of them. Hereupon Mr. Mede's own words are, The order of the Seals, 
 And in them, of the Trumpets, is certain and undoubted, to wit, the fame^ 
 which the number to every one afenbed doth pint out, i, 2, 3,4, 5-, 6,7. 
 The reft therefore of the Prophecies in that Book^, being compared fir ft be* 
 tweert themf elves, and afterwards with the Seals, by way of Synchronism, 
 the Order of the whole Revelation will be evident. This AiTertion of 
 his I take to be moft clear. 
 
 He therefore begins with that notable quaternion of Prophecies, 
 which are fo very remarkable, by reafon of the equality of their 
 times. ■ 
 
 1. The firft is, the Prophecy of the Woman's remaining in the 
 VVildernefs for a time, times, and half a tlme> or 1260 dayes, as i§ 
 there more manifeftly declared. 
 
 2. The fecond is that of the feven-headed Beaft, reftored and ru- 
 ling forty two months. 
 
 3. The tnird is of the Court (or of the holy City ) trodden under 
 foot by the Gentiles. 
 
 4. The fourth and laftj is that of the two Witmffes, prophefying 
 1260 dayes, that is, years. 
 
 Now although (as Mr. Af^k well obferves) the character of equa- 
 lity of times will not be fufficient to evidence that they are the fame 
 times, but may be brfore or after, yet by other characters which that 
 Book affords, to make out the demonitration, it feems very clear. 
 Thefe other characters he brings ( as well he may ) out of the twelfth 
 Chapter, where 'tis plain, that when the'Dragon is caft down by 
 
 ■ CMichael 
 
The Face of the Times, ?y 
 
 CMichael out of Heaven, the Woman efcapes from his prefence in- 
 to the Wildernefs, ver. 6, and 14. The Dragon being angry that he- 
 had failed of his attempt to deftroy her in Heaven, repairs to his earth- 
 ly weapons, and applies himfelf to make war with the Woman and 
 with the reft of her Seed, to wit, thofe which (lie ftiould bring forth 
 in the Wildernefs, ver. 17. And for this purpofe he gave his Power, 
 his Throne, and great Authority to the ten-horned Beaft, out of the 
 Sea afcending, Chap. 13. 1,2. 
 
 By Chap.i 1. it appears, that the times of the Beaft and of the Pro- 
 phecy of the WitneiTes are equal, and that they are finiihed toge- 
 ther at the end of the fixth Trumpet, which (hews they began and 
 held on togerher, the whole fpace. The twelfth verfe (hews the Af- 
 cention of the V Vitneffes into Heaven, which puts a period to their 
 mourning Prophecy, as alfo that great Earthquake (wherewith the 
 Imperial City being overthrown, the Kingdom of the Beaft comes to 
 be abolifhed ) noted by the very moment in which the fecond Woe, 
 which is under the fixth Trumpet, went out. On this, the third Woe 
 is quickly to enfue, at the founding of the feventh Trumpet. In that 
 very moment of time that the WitnetTes, (whom the Beaft afcending 
 out of the bottomlefs pit had (lain, b*ing at the point of finifkkig 
 their Teftimony in fackcloth) were revived by the fpirit of life from 
 God entring into them, and afcending up into Heaven, the fame. 
 hour the tenth part of the City fell, by means of the great Earthquake. 
 
 Then matters are brought to that pafs, that the feventh Trumpet 
 founding, all the Kingdoms of the World become our Lord's and 
 his ChrilVs. In the fame moment alfcr, the Wrath of the Lamb 
 comes to be poured out by the Miniftry ofthe Vials, and the Temple 
 of God is to be feen in Heaven J ver. ij, 15?. 
 
 The great Harlot, oimyftlcal Babylon ( chap. 17. ) is of the fame 
 time with the [even-headed and ten-horned Beaft, as are alfo the hun- 
 dred forty and four thonf and fealed Ones, being Virgins ; thefc are of 
 the fame time with the Whore of Babylon and the Beaft. 
 
 The period of the Tyranny of the Beaft, and of this Company of' 
 the fealed Virgin-Saints, is at the coming forth of the multitude of 
 Palm-bearers. For, out of what tribulation-could they come, but of 
 the Beaft's perfecuting the Saints ? Therefore they leave the Tyran- 
 ny ofthe Beaft behind them, and are of one Myftical Body or Church 
 with, the fealed Ones, and have been under the^ime Perfecution with 
 them ; but are Saints of an inferiour rank and ftation to thofe that 
 have the priviledge and dignity to be fealed with the Name of the Fa- 
 ther in their foreheads ,' Chap, 7. 
 
 The 
 
7 8 The Face of the Times. 
 
 The two-horned. Be aft hath contemporized with the ten-homed Beaft, 
 (Chap. 13.) The whore with both, and all thefe three with the Woman 
 in the Wilderneft, the treading underfoot the holy City, and the fVitneJfes 
 ( mean time) mourning in fackcloth. The company alio of the fealed 
 Virgins, and the company of Palm-bearing Virgins , brought 
 from under great tribulation, into a fafeand bleiled date, ( though no 
 mention be made of their being fealed) thefe (as to the feafon of their 
 tribulation under the perfecuting Beait; contemporize with the M^here 
 and the Beaft. All thefe contemporize one with another, and fill up 
 the fame fpace of time. After this, fucceeds the Miniftry otthtfcven 
 Fiats, at the Riling of the Witneffes, and the moment of their amen- 
 ding into Heaven. This will come to pafs at the beginning of the 
 founding of the feventhTmmpet. Then the triumphing flat: of the 
 witneffes will come on. The power of the Keyes, and the pouring 
 forth of the Vials of God's Wrath upon the Kingdom of the Beaft, will be 
 vifibly committed to them , and the time of the Beaft' 's and Babjlons 
 inclining to Ruine, or the vifibly declining finking ftate of both, will fall 
 in together with this Difpenfation of the Vials, to make way for the 
 Marriage of the Lamb, and the coming down of the Newjerufalem out 
 of Heaven, to be feen as the Tabernacle of God amongft men here on 
 Earth. 
 
 The remaining difficulty then is, to fill up the firftofthe three 
 great Sections and Divifions of time, before-mentioned, to wit, the 
 fpace which had an end put to it by the Womans actual flight into 
 the Wildernefs. This began, when John received this Prophecy in 
 the Ifleof Patmos. Mr. iMede very judicially fummeth it up in 
 thefe three Particulars. 
 
 ' 1. The value and preference which is put by God upon the ftate 
 of the Church, as it anfwers to the inward Court of the Temple of old, 
 comparatively with thofe who in their fpirit, principle and way, an- 
 fwer but to the outward Court thereof, and the Worfhip appertaining 
 thereunto. The former have the true inward Circumciiion of the 
 heart in the fpirit, whofe praife is not of men, but of God. The lat- 
 ter are thofe, who, at heft, have but the Circumcifion of the heart in 
 the letter, which labours to fhew it felfin fuch outward Circumci- 
 fion of language and practice, as may ferve to keep up a ftiew or 
 form of Godlinefs in the fight and to the well-pleafing of man, whilft 
 they are at an utter dfHance, even in their hearts, from the very life 
 and power of Godlinefs, that fprings up from the new nature, that is 
 found in the true Circumcifion, which worfhip God in the fpirit, and 
 anfwer to the inward Court, 
 
 Paul 
 
The Face of the Times. 79 
 
 F-ahI takes notice of this in his time ( Cjal. 4. ) where he diftin- 
 guifhes between an earthly Jerufalem, that is in bondage with het 
 Children, under the Covenant of Works or Dominion of the Law, 
 and a Jerufalem above ', which is free, and is the Mother of all that 
 Szz&ot Abraham, who are Heirs according to the Promife. Thefe 
 are defcribed ( Rev. 12. ) by the Woman clothed with the Sun that hath 
 the i^Moon under her feet, and upon her Head a Crown of twelve Stars. 
 This figurative defcription fhewes the Glory of the City Jerufalem, 
 as it is above, Inward- and in Jpir it, who with her Children is in free- 
 dom, under the Covenant and Dominion of Grace. The fame is 
 a-lfo (ignified by the inward Qourt , appointed to be meafured by the 
 Reed of God, in diftin&ion from the outward Conn, which is not 
 meafured, but abandoned and given up, as it were, to the power of 
 the Gentiles, to be by them troden under foot, and defiled. 
 
 2. In this famefpaceof time, falls out the impregnating of the 
 Woman, or her growing Great, ready to be delivered of a Man- 
 child. The principal care of the Apo&ies, and other Teachers, who 
 Succeeded in their Spirit, in the Primitive Church, ( defcribed under 
 the reprefentation of the feven Churches of Afia, and the Angels 01 
 Officers appertaining to thsm ) was, to be doing what had the moft 
 conducible tendency to the haitening and forwarding this birth of the 
 Man-child, which the. Dragon oppofed, diligently watch'd to hin- 
 der, reiift, and ( if poiTible ) to devour, as foon as born. 
 
 3. The £even-headed Dragon's lying in wait, and managing tbe 
 battel againft Michael and his Angels, about the aforefaid birth, muft 
 needs contemporize with the two fore- mentioned Particulars. All 
 the three Ao therefore fill up the firft fpace of time, or age, fucceeding 
 theApoftles, meafured out by what is contained in thzfixfirft Seals, 
 and was fore-told to John, as that which fhouid happen both to the 
 Church and World, until the Womins flight from the Dragon, after 
 this great battel in Heaven, and retiring into the Wildernefs, there 
 to be nourifhed of God, her appointed time. 
 
 Thefe three are the immediate Antecedents of thofe things, which 
 have been lliewed to contemporize under the feventh Seal and fix 
 Trumpets ; that is to fay, the diftinguilhing between the inward and 
 outward Court, with the Woiiliip and Service appertaining unto each ; 
 Secondly, The impregnating of the Woman : And then Thirdly, The 
 battel hereupon ariling in Heaven, or withiqgfie Primitive Church, 
 and continuing a long time, till at length the Man-child comes to be 
 born. Then the Dragon lofes his credit and authority in the Church. 
 His fubtilty in axcufmg and laying falfeimputauonjon tbe Brethren, 
 
 (the- 
 
go The Pace of the Times, 
 
 the truly pure and fpiritual part of the Church) is detected. Here- 
 upon, he is call out into* the Eanh, confined (as it were) to the 
 outward Court, and the Woifnippers and Service belonging to it, as 
 the only matter for him to work upon, for the increafe of his King- 
 dom by the number of Hypocrites and Apoftates, drawn by him out 
 of the true ChUrch. They were in truth never of it, though for a 
 while they were in it. At length, they find it their intereft to make 
 a Separation from it ; being feniual, and not having the Spirit, they 
 can no longer endure thofe that have it, and that fhine forth daily 
 more and more in the Life and Teftimony thereof. The old 0ragon 
 became hereby neceilitated to manage, and profecute the War with 
 the earthly Weapons only of worldly Power and Government, in a 
 way of outward force and compulfion, exercifed by the power of hu- 
 mane Laws, and of the civil Sword. This Power and Sword, the cor- 
 rupt, fenfual, and malignant Church ( founded and confiding in the 
 worfliippers and fervice of the outward Court ) getting into their 
 hands, or engaging it on their iide, by mingling Intereft with Worldly 
 Governours, committed Whoredom, like Tyre, with all the King- 
 doms of the World upon the face of the Earth, J fa. 23. 17. Yea, 
 thisBeaft with two horns, fo influenced, encouraged and back'd the 
 ten horn d Eeaft, that he became thereby fixed and engaged, in his 
 Mind as well as Power,to continue and carry on the War, forty and two 
 months longer, againft the Woman and her Seed, and to blafpheme 
 God, his Name, his Tabernacle, and them that dwelf in Heavem 
 Thus in brief Heads have we feen how the two firft great Sections 
 or Divifions of time, in ih&third Age, are filled up, to wit, the fpace 
 from Johns receiving the Prophecy of them in the Ifie of Patmos to 
 the end of the firft battel, or war, made in Heaven, and (as the 
 iiTue of that ) the catching up of the Man-child unto God and to his 
 Throne, and the Womans actual flight into the VVildernefs, and 
 from thence to the rifing of the VVrtnefles, which puts a period to 
 the fuffering feafon, alloted to their Prophefying in Sack-cloth. And 
 as to the third and laft Section of time, it is that which is meafured 
 out by the founding of the feventh Trumpet, and the pouring out of the 
 [even Vials, which begins with the beginning of that Trumpet, and 
 continues till the whore be judged, Babylon funk, and the whole 
 Kingdom of the Be aft for ever ruined and deftroyed. This makes 
 way for the marriag^f the Lamb to be celebrated here on Earth, and 
 fo, for the coming on of the Kingdom of Chrift into the actual exer- 
 cifeof a vifible ruling Power and univerfal Empire over the whole 
 World, for a thouf and years. 
 
 Having 
 
The Face ef the Times; St 
 
 Having thus had a view ©f the diftinft periods of time, together 
 with the matter of the Proprieties, which were to be fulfilled in and 
 under each of thefe diftinft Revolutions, it will yet much prepare 
 and help our uudeiftandings, rightly to difcern and look into the My- 
 fteriesof this moft excellent Book, if once we can but arrive at a 
 fatisfa&ory opening, and inteipreting ( at leaft, in fome chief par- 
 ticulars ) the things which are llgnified under many of the Figures 
 and Allegorical Expreflions, made ufe of throughout the whole Pro- 
 phecy. For Example: Let. us confider thefe ; The [even Churches 
 and the Angels of them: The Throne in Heaven : The fealed Bookj 
 The Woman : The Dragon and his Angels : ^Michael and his Angels : 
 The Man-child : The throne and feat of the Dragon s Power and Autho- 
 rity : The outward and inward Court : The Floud, iffuing out of the 
 Dragon s mouth : The diftinguijhed Inhabitants of the Heavens, of the 
 Earthy and of the Sea ': The 144000 fealed Virgins : The Palm-bearers: 
 The Remnant of the Womans Seed, that keep the Commands of God and 
 have the Teftimony of Jefus : The feven- headed, ten hornd Be aft : The 
 Beaft's Image : The two hornd Beaft ; The falfe Prophet : The whore : 
 My flic al Babylon : The great City that rules over the Kings of the Earth : 
 The Number of the Beaft' 's Name : The two Witneffes ; their hidden or 
 obfeure Prophefying in Sackcloth ; their glorious Appearing and Pro- 
 fhefying in Power, and in a Wonder-working Miniftry, like to that of 
 Mofes and Eliah : The Kingdom of the Beaft, and his afcent out of the 
 bottemleft pit : The flaying of the Witneffes, at thefinijbing of their Tefti- 
 mony, orperioding of their Sackjcloth-Prephefying, and their lying Dead 
 in theftreets of the great C lt 7-> Spiritually called Sodom and Egypt : The 
 Witneffes rifing and afcending up into Heaven : The coming of the Wrath 
 of the Lamb : The fight of Heaven opened, with the Temple and Ark^ 
 therein contained : The Harvejl and Vintage : The marriage of the 
 Lamb : The coming down of the new Jerufalem out of Heaven ; to be as 
 a Tabernacle of Cjod amongst men on Earth , all the Kingdoms of this 
 World becoming the Kingdoms of the Lord and his fbrift. 
 
 The Charge given John, by him that was dead and yet liveth for 
 evermore, the Amen, or everlafting Truth of God ( 2^.1.18,1^) 
 was, to write ; Firft, The things which he had feen, in the defcripti-, 
 on of the fulnefs and excellency of ChrilVs Perion, exhibited to 
 him, verf. 1 2, 1 7. Secondly, The things whichjjf , or the ftate of the 
 Church in his time, as it had for its chief places of abode, thofe 
 principal Cities in Afta, by name expreiled, ( chap. 2d. & 3d.) to- 
 gether with the Representation in them, (as in Type and Figure) 
 
 M of 
 
#2 The Face of the Timet. 
 
 of the ftate of the Univerfal Apoftolick Chriftian Church, which was 
 to continue under the feven ditiinctions of time, contained u.i/; \ 
 [even Seals, under the lift whereof, fix. of the Tr*mpU werq (as 
 'twere ) included. There w^s that alio found in thoie feven Afhitlck. 
 Churches, that did typically reprefent thedecreafe and finking down 
 of a great Party in the viiible Chriftian Church, into the Apoftafie. 
 fore cold in this Book of the Revelation, until the very ime of the ri- 
 fingof the Witnefles. 
 
 Thirdly and laftly, John was Commanded to write the things 
 which ftull be hereafter, or which were to fucceed that prefen't Hate" 
 in which the then feven Churches were, at that time, receding as 
 well the Corruption and Apoftafie, coming upon the face of the Pri- 
 mitive Church, as the continuance of it, vvich countenance and fup- 
 port from worldly Powers, till the founding of thz [eventh Trumpet* 
 Thefe things that iliall be hereafter, ( when time (hall be no longer, 
 or when the Myftery of God ftiail be finiihed, and all perfons and 
 things iliall appear plainly and manifeftly as they are ) amount, in 
 general, to the Constitution and Concerns of that glorious ftate 
 of the Church, which is to be from thenceforth, for evermore. 
 
 To proceed then to the Explicating of many of the chief Allego- 
 rical ExprefTions in this Book of Revelations. 
 
 i. By the [even Churches in A fin, let us underftand, as in type, 
 the ftate of the Chriftian Church, characterized and defcribed (as 
 Brlghtman intimates ) under the diftincl periods of time, held forth 
 by the things done, during the [even Seals, which reach to the found- 
 ing of the [eve nth Trumpet. 
 
 2. By the Angels of the [even Churches are to be underftood, 
 not only or principally, the Officers or Perfons miniftrlng, but rather 
 the Light of the Gofpel in its diftindt meafures and degrees, admi- 
 niftred according to the nature of the times andfeafons, which the 
 things done under the firft fix Seals, did occafion. For upon the re- 
 jecting of that, there was caufed a gradual and fucceilive removing 
 of each Candlejllck^ out of its place, and the Church finks down at 
 length into an univerfal Defection and Apoftacy , as to the viftble 
 part of it. This renders it, in its concluding and final (late, fo 
 naucious and loathfome to God, that he refolves to Jpue them out of hi* 
 mouth, and rejetl them for ever. 
 
 To confirm this, *f find each Church to confift of two very diffe- 
 rent forts of Members ; one, that are fpiritual, prepared with fpiri- 
 tual fenfes, or eares to hear what the Spirit fayes to the Churches : 
 the other, though they have the name and credit of Church-members, 
 
 yea, 
 
The Face of the Times. 83 
 
 yea, and in procefsof time, the greateft .vifible Power and SvVay in 
 it, faying they are Jews or right Heirs of Promife, yet are they not 
 fo, but do lie. They are indeed of the Synagogue of Satan. They 
 came out from the fpiritual and better part of the Church, as no lon- 
 ger able to joyn, and go along, or keep pace with them, in their hea- 
 venly Life and Converfation. Being fenfual,and having not the Spi- 
 rit, they feparate from the true fpiritual worfhipper, feeking their 
 upholding and maintenance in this or that Form and Way, from the 
 Powers of the World. And having once got worldly Power and out- 
 ward ftrength and force on their fide, they refolved to perfecute 
 and make War upon the better and more fpiritual pa*t of the 
 Church, with earthly Weapons, and by compulfion of the Civil 
 Sword. 
 
 3. The Throne in Heaven, defcribed in the fourth Chapter, 
 is the Seat which God hath made for himfelf, in the Creature-being 
 of Chrift the Mediator, as his own Sanctuary, from whence to iffue 
 forth all his Authority and Power, decreed to be by him exercifed, 
 whether in Heaven or on Earth, in the capacity of Head and univer- 
 fai King over all the works of God's hands. He that fits on this 
 Throne, is the fame that (chap. 19.) is cloathed with a Vefture 
 dipt in blood, and whofe Name is called the WORD of God. 
 He is faid (chap.j.verf.6.) to have [even horns, and feveu eyes, which 
 are the feven Spirits of God, fent forth into all the Earth • and this, 
 by his being made flefli, and by his Death and Refurreclion, in 
 which he fhewed himfelf the true Sanctuary, which God pitch'd, and 
 not man. This had been, in type, from the beginning, a moft glori- 
 ous high Throne ( Jer. 17. 12. ) defigned from all Eternity to be 
 the Throne and the place of the foals of his feet, whofe Name is the 
 WORD of God, in order to dwell in the midft of the Children 
 of Ifrael for ever, and bear unto their fight and enjoyment the clear 
 and compleat vifion of theinvifible God. 
 
 4. The Book^ (chap, y.) written within, and on the back- 
 fide, feaied with feven Seals, as it is part of the Vifion given to John, 
 is a defcription of the inward and hidden meaning of rhe matter of 
 .this Prophecy, whether as to that which more efpeciaily concerns 
 the Affairs of the Church, or that which more generally relates to the 
 Affairs of the. World and the Empire thereof. The feven Seals with 
 which it is feaied on the back-fide, do :nti:n^h|he dark and myftical 
 movings or difpenUtic is of Gods Pioviden^^ that thefeven-fold 
 diftin&ion of time, under ihe fiven Seal: and'Trumpstsdiou Id pro- 
 duce, 'as "the method and' way that Chrift would cake to open and 
 
 M 2 make 
 
T$4 The F*ce of the limes. 
 
 make known the inward writing, and to give fo plain a Vifion of it 
 that he that runs may read, It. 
 
 The matter of this Prophecy, as it peculiarly relates unto the 
 Church, contains in it the Church's progrefs and growth up in all 
 things into Chrift her Head, according to the purpofe of the Father 
 which he purpofed in Chrift Jefus before the World was, and this 
 in defpite of ail contradiction, or oppofition, from the Serpent an^I 
 his Seed. In this refpecfc it is, that {chap. 12. ) the Man-child with 
 which the Woman was in Travel, comes at laft to be born, and feat- 
 ed on high, above the reach of Satan, as to any hurt that he could 
 do unto it. In the'end, it becomes a Mountain, filling the whole 
 Earth. 
 
 As the matter of this Prophecy doth more generally relate unto the 
 World, that lies in the wicked one, and holds of the Serpent, as of 
 itsuniverfal Head and Ruler, it contains the wonderful workings 
 and contrivances of God's Providence, in favour of his Church, and 
 in rendring to every one according to their works, filling thofe that 
 are of the World with the wayes of their own chufing. By this 
 means, his worft enemies are taught and made to acknowledge his 
 juftice and long-Suffering towards them, in and under all. His ftea- 
 dy Counfels lead to the certain and final treading of all his Adverfa- 
 iies under foot, and to the exalting of the horn of his Anointed,who 
 is both Lord and Chrift. 
 
 j. By the Temple of God y and the Altar, and them that Wor- 
 ship therein, appointed to be meafured, ( chap. n. 1. ) is to be un- 
 derstood the right Worftiip of God> as well with refpeel: to the ob- 
 ject of it, fhining forth in the Perfon and Spirit of Chrift, inwardly 
 known and converfed with 3 as with refpeel: to the worfhippers them- 
 felves, who arefdeh only as are qualified with fpiritual ferries, ren- 
 dring them meet for fuch Duty and Service, which they are called 
 to the performance of in their Spirits, and with their inward man. 
 But that which confifts in the outward and bodily exercife, defcribed 
 by the outward Court, is given up, to be fuppreffed and troden undei 
 foot by the Gentiles, for 1260 years, verf.z. 
 
 6. By the Holy City is meant Jerufalem, the City of the great King 
 and Living God, the incorporated Society of Inhabitants or Citi- 
 zens, that ftand in relation to Chrift, as his Subjects and Servants, 
 under the obligation^pne or other Covenant , that is conditionally 
 or abfolutely. ThoWrhat are his Subje&s but in the conditional Co- 
 venant, are Citizens whofe Names are only written in the Earth, who 
 ( upon tryal and proof) do not remain fo. Though they fay they 
 
 are 
 
The Face t>f the limes. Sy 
 
 ztzjews, they arc not, but do lie. Yea, they evidently difcover 
 themfelves in the end, to be the very Synagogue of Satan. But 
 thofe that are the Subjects of Chrift, abfolutely, or in and by the 
 new and everlafting Covenant, eftablilhed in all things and fure, 
 they are fuch Citizens, whofe Names are written in Heaven, among 
 the living in Jernfalem^ where they become Pillars in the Houfe of 
 God, never to go out more, being found in a ftate of Life and way 
 of converfe with, and worfaipping of God in Chrift, wherein they 
 are fecured from final Apoftacy and Defection. 
 
 7. The Earthly Citizens , or the Inhabitants and Children of the 
 Jerttfalem on Earth, do prove at laft to be as great enemies to their 
 King, as any among the heathenifh and prophane World, when once 
 they revolt from his Scepter, disjoyn and feparate from the fpiritual 
 and better part of the Citizens, whofe Names are written in Heaven, 
 or in the Lamb's Book of new-creature Life, in a character that is 
 indeieble, and by vertueof that Covenant which cannot be broken* 
 And their great Defign ( when once actually feparated from the true 
 fpiritual Woriliippers ) is, by the calling in of ftrength and aid from 
 the prophane World, to tread under the holy City, even the very 
 Heavenly Jerufalem , and fo to keep it under, that it may ne- 
 ver come to have any Credit, Authority, or Power in the 
 World. 
 
 Thefe Citizens and Inhabitants of the Heavenly Jerufalem^ are de- 
 fcribed ( chap. 7. ) by thofe that arefealed with the Seal of the Living 
 God y and are either a Company certain, and numbred, making up the: 
 144000 there mentioned ; or elfe, a Company and Society of jealed 
 ones> that in comparifon of the former are numberlefs, and of a more 
 large and univerfal extent, called ( by way of diftin&ion ) 'Balm* 
 bearers. 
 
 The firft fort of thefe fealed ones do anfwer to the 24 Courfes of. the; 
 Xmf^ofold, who were given unto God, inftead of the fuft-born. 
 They ftand in a peculiar relation to, and dependance upon the great 
 High Piieft, as their Head, and do properly constitute and make up 
 that AlTembly of the firft-bom, whofe Names are written in Heaven, 
 Thefe are a Kingdom of Priefts, reprefented before the Throne,, by 
 the four and twenty Elders. 
 
 Thefecond fort of thefe Citizens and fealed ones^ do anfwer to the 
 whole Congregation of Ifrael r distributed ijj^heir four parts- and 
 Rations, round about the Ark, at a greater diwKe from the Throne, 
 a Kingdom of common Subjects, and lefs priviledg'd Children than 
 the former. Yet, thefe latter fort of men lliall be recounted as well. 
 
 as 
 
8 6* The Vacc of the Times. 
 
 as the former, to have been born in her, whom the Moft High doth 
 
 eftabliih,/y*/.87.j'. 
 
 Thus, Pfal. 49. there is notice taken of high or noble men % and of 
 low or common men, Thefe two Orders are eminently found in a ftate 
 of perpetuity and continuancy, in drift's own Kingdom. Bothof 
 them have their original and foundation in the Manheadof Chrift, 
 who is one manner of mm, as he hears the form of a Servant ', like unto 
 ** earthly men, in all things ; fin only excepted. In this capacity he is 
 constituted King over the whole Earth. But he is another manner 
 of mair, as he is called and made an High Prieft after the Order of 
 Melchlfedec, without Father, without Mother, without Pedigree or 
 Defcent, having neither beginning of dayes, nor end of life. It is 
 therefore faid of him in this iecond fenfe, Confider how great this man 
 is, unto whom even the Patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of his (boils. 
 And again, the fame Apoftle ( Heb.j. 1 1. ) teftifies, that of him he 
 had many things to fay , that were hard to be uttered, feeing they were dull 
 of hearing, and flow to difcern the diftinction of that excellency and 
 perfection which fnines forth in Chrift's own humane nature, in the 
 twofold refpe& which we have mentioned. 
 
 8 r By the TwoWltneffes then, we are hereby taught to underftar.d 
 thofe two forts of Citizens, or Inhabitants of the Heavenly J erufalem ; the 
 word of whofe Teftimony is, according to this their twofold and di- 
 ftinft birth, which mikes them Kings or Priefts with Chrift, or both ; 
 that is, joynt or co-heirs with Chrift, in the dignity and perfection of 
 his Manhead, in one or bothof thefe Considerations of it. This is 
 intimated, (Ifa. 43.10.) Te are myWitneffes, faith the Lord, and my 
 Servant (Chrift) whom I have chefen • that ye maj know and believe 
 me, or be one in Judgment and Will with me > And underfiand that I 
 Am he. Before me there was no God formed, nor fhall be aft er me. 
 
 And they are called wltneffes, not only becaufe they know and be- 
 lieve him, and are one in Spirit with him, as he is a glorified earthly 
 man, and a man alfo that is Michael, God's fellow.; but as they Pro- 
 phefie in Sack-cloth, or in a fuffering ftate, not loving their lives 
 unto the death, rather then ceafe to be Witneffes and to bear their 
 t-ftimony to the Truth, when called thereunto, under the greateil con- 
 tradiction of Tinners. 
 
 9. By the Woman ( ch ip. 12.) clothed with the Sun, &c. who being 
 with Child, cried, JBfclling in birth with a Man-child, and pained 
 to be delivered, is^lreant the true Sarah, or lpiritqal Womb of 
 Chrift's dead body, ( Rom. 7.4. ) which lawfully difcharges" us from 
 theCovenantof the Law, or obligation toactiingly by the activity 
 
 it 
 
The Face of the Times. 87 
 
 . it gives, that roe fhould he married to another, even to him who is rat fed 
 from the dead, that we may bring forth fruit unto (jod, as quickened into 
 a lite and activity much more excellent. There is therefore fet be- 
 fore the eyes of our Faith, the Law of the Spirit of Life that is in- 
 Qtfiftjeius, riien from the dead, for us hence- forward to be con- 
 formed and live unto, as that birth of manly perfection, which dunes 
 forth in him,vvho was crucified indeed in weaknefs, but was raifed in 
 power, or a man of Power, in whofe hands all Power in Heaven and 
 Earth is intruded. And thofe who become one, in conjunction of 
 Spirit with him, by the new and everlafting Covenant, are with him 
 caught up to the Throne of God, in the one or other capacity ( be- 
 fore intimated ) of the two forts of Citizens, that by the new birth 
 are members of the Heavenly Jerufalem, and of the remnant of the 
 Womans Seed, that keep the Commandments of God, and have the 
 TefHmony of Jefus. 
 
 The great Conteft and Battel which happened between the wit* 
 nejfes on the one part, (comprehended under the name of Michael 
 and his Angels) and the Serpent and his brood on the other , was, as 
 the one were Friends, and the other Enemies, to the Crofs and Death 
 of Chrift, and as the Judgment Opinions, and Practifes of the one 
 or other made void, or elfe eftablifhed and advanced the Myftery and 
 Efficacy of the Crofs and the Law of it, which thofe that obferve 
 and follow, peace will be upon them, at on all the lfrael of God. In this 
 Qaarrel the witneffes do fight under the protection and ble/flng of 
 CUichael, their Head ; as the other do under the fupport and en- 
 couragement of the Old Dragon, their Head. 
 
 10. By the Old Dragsn we are to underftand the Spirit that rules 
 in the Children of difobedience, who is ( for the prefent ) Head and 
 chief Ruler over the World, as managing the univerfal Scepter 
 thereof, by Ghrift's permilfion. The Enfigns and Characters of this 
 Empire ( according to Scripture phrafe) is [even heads and ten homs y 
 intimating the nature, as well as perfection and univerfality of that 
 worldly Power, which is exercifed by the Old Dragon, in waging war 
 a^ainlt the Woman and her Seed. 
 
 This War he is capable to manage, either as an Angel of Light, ami 
 a falfe Prophet in the Church 5 or as an tiniverfal Monarch and Governor 
 in the World. 
 
 Inthefirft Capacity, as this 'Dragon trarMmns himfelf into an 
 Angel of Light, and Minifter of RighteorfrSI f he works with all 
 Power, 'Signs, and lying Wonders. As Jannes and Jambre s with- 
 ftood Mofes and Aaron in their CommiiTion, fo do the Serpent's Seed 
 
 in 
 
88 The Face of the Times. 
 
 In Sheep's clothing and Chrift's own iikenefs, refift the witness yn 
 their Teftimony, and oppofe the Inhabitants of the Heavenly Jeru- 
 falem\ by pretending a greater Friendship to Chrift, and conformity 
 to his written Law, in all their words and anions, than the true 
 Seed of the Woman, having indeed the form of Godlinefs, but de- 
 nying the Power and Spirit thereof. After this manner did the Dra- 
 gon and his Angels y in the Primitive Church, fight with Michael and 
 his Angels y to prevent the birth of the Man-child, and to keep up 
 the Credit and Authority of the Law, and their following after Righ- 
 teoufnefsin the Principles, and upon the terms of the firft Cove- 
 nant, in oppofition to the Miniftry of the Spirit, according to the 
 Promife and Tenor of the new and everlafting Covenant. This 
 battel continued, in the Primitive Church, about four hundred years, 
 and came at laft to this ilTue ; Satan was caft down out of Heaven, 
 upon an evident difcovery of his deceitful workings and lying won- 
 ders, in the Teachings and Infpirations which came out of his 
 mouth, as a falfe Spirit and Prophet, fo that he was notable, fingly 
 this way, to bear up any longer againft the Power and Demonftration 
 of the Spirit of Truth, in the mouth of the Saints, but found himfelf 
 necefiitated to refort to his earthly and worldly Weapons, the Power 
 of the Civil Sword, thatfo joyning both his Interefts together, that 
 of the Magiftrate and falfe Prophet, he might grow up into fuch a 
 formidible pofture, as is mentioned, (Chap, 13.4. ) where it is 
 faid, wIjo is like unto the BE AS 7 ", or able to make War with 
 him ? 
 
 This pofture the Apoflle John beheld the Dragon putting himfelf 
 into, when the [even- headed and ten-horned Beaft arofe out of the Sea, 
 and the two-homed Beaft out of the Earth. Both of thefe together 
 do become the Seat or Throne, to which the Dragon gave up his 
 Power and Authority. The firft of thefe two Beafts receives him, as 
 the old, unclean, prophane, heatheniili Spirit ; they that are meant 
 by that Beaft, are ftill the fame in Principles, as before, only out- 
 wardly baptized into the name of the Chriftian trofeiTion or Religi- 
 on, when Chriftian Religion became the Religion of the Roman 
 Empire. Thus was that Beaft healed of its former Wound, when 
 Faganlfm was deftroyed and pull'd down. 
 
 And becaufe the j^e name of Chriftian Religion, or out-fide 
 Profeffion thereof, |«out fomething of real Reformation and Pow- 
 er of inward PrincipH^ was not of credit or authority enough, to 
 advance Antichrift's Kingdom, therefore the Miniftry of the Law or 
 firft Covenant ( even the knowledge of Chrift according to the fleili, 
 
 as 
 
The Face of the Times. 8p 
 
 as it is capable to ferve the Serpents Seed for a cover and vail of their 
 enmity againft the Crofs of Chrift, and Power of his Refurre&ion ) 
 doth fpring up over the head ( as it were ) of the fiift Beaft. This 
 fecond Beaft, or branch of AntichriiVs Subjects and Kingdom, with 
 two horns, like the Lamb , but fpeaking as the Dragon, chufes ra- 
 ther to joyn Intereft with the firft Beaft, than to fuffer the Citizens 
 of the heavenly ferufakm to come out of their Wildemefs-conditi- 
 on. Yet this earth or miry clay, cannot ( when all's done) cleave 
 heartily and thorowly to the heathenifh prophane Spirit of the firft: 
 Beaft, but at laft is preyed upon by it. This Earthly Jernfalem is un- 
 expectedly furprized, and overflowed as with a flood, by that pro- 
 phane Intereft it ventured to call to its affiftance againft the true 
 Seed of the Woman, in which refpeft it is faid that the Earth helps 
 the Woman, the wrath of the prophane party of Antichrift's King- 
 dom, or of the ten-horned Beaft, being chiefly fpent and poured 
 out upon that ProfefTing Party that make up the fecond, or two-horn- 
 ed Beaft. 
 
 Ii. By the Inhabitants of the Heavens, of the Earthy and of ihe 
 Sea, (chaf. 12. 12.) are meant, Firft, The Citizens of the heavenly 
 Jemfalem, who are under Grace ; Secondly ,The Citizens of the earth- 
 ly Jernfalem, who are under the dominion and curfe of- the Law ; And 
 Thirdly, The prophane Party who live under fin, moving therein, as 
 in their Element, paft feeling, by reafon of the blindnefs and hard^ 
 nefs of their hearts. This ftate of Sin is neverthelefs not unchange- 
 able, nor thofe that are Captives under it, in a condition irrecover- 
 able, for Chr.ift died to redeem men out of it. 
 , 12. By the f even-headed and ten-horned Beaft, arifing out of the 
 $ea, is to be underftood the Empire, or Governing Power of the 
 World, in whofe hands foever it be found, as it is made the Seat and 
 Throne of Satan, and promotes the Intereft of the Devils Kingdom 
 in corruption of manners, and prophanefs, even by the countenance 
 of humane Laws, or at leaft in the execution of them. 
 
 13. By the two-horned Beaft, arifing out of the Earth, we are to 
 underftand the Ufurpation of the Prophetical Office of Chrift, by a 
 falfe Spirit, or the laid Office as deceitfully executed in a private 
 Spirit of felf-byalTed Reafon, in disjunction from the Spirit of the 
 true Head, undertaking to counfel and lead meJiin the interpretati- 
 on of the written Word, or other evident fabrication of God's 
 Will. This, once joyned with worldly Government and Power, 
 ( made its vaiTal and ridden by it ) is that Spirit and Principle for 
 promoting of worldly Religion, which is founded in, and fupported 
 
 N by 
 
p o The Face of the Times. 
 
 by humane Law?, under the Name and Form of Chriftianity. The 
 two-homed Beaft and the falfe Prophet are therefore the fame, as by 
 comparing chap. 13. verf.14.. with verf. 20. of chap. 19. is moft clear. 
 And the ten-horned Beaft is wont aifo to be called the Image of the 
 Beaft ; where ever therefore the Beaft and the falfe Prophet are men- 
 tioned together, ( as they are, three times ) there by the name of 
 the Beaft is meant no other but the ten- horned Beaft ; as by the falfe 
 Prophet, the two-horn'd. Contrarily ; where, with the Beaft we 
 find coupled the Image of the Beaft, ( as chap. 14. vcrf.p y cjr 11. 
 chap. ij. verf. 2. chap. 16. verf. 2. chap. 19. verf. 20. & c hap. 20. verf. a \ 
 there, by Beaft is to be underftood the falfe Prophet ; and -by his 
 Image, the feven-headed and ten-horn'd Beaft, as reftored. For 
 this Beaft, feeing he acknowledged the falfe Prophet as his Reftorer, 
 and furfereth himfelf to be guided by him, as his fu pre am 1 Lord, 
 ( chap. 1 3 .verf. 1 2, 14, 1 y .) he is (not without caufe) called his Image, 
 not as reprefenring or bearing the iimilitude of the two-hof n'd Beaft, 
 but he is the Image which the two-horn'd Beaft, fpeaking like the 
 Dragon,did reftore, and which he challenged for his own. To juftifle 
 this ; that very Image ©f the Beaft, which the falfe Prophet did give 
 life unto, did caufe that whofoever would not woriliip the Image of 
 the Beaft, mould be (lain. To conclude, of the felf-fame is the 
 Image of theBeaft, andtheName or Number faid to bc y chap. 15.2. 
 The Name and Number feem not to be called the Name and Number 
 of any other Beaft, than of the two-horn'd, as of the principal Foun- 
 der and Lord. 
 
 14. The Nrnnber of the Name of the Beafi y being faid to be the 
 Number of a man, fignifies that it is the fenfual part of man's Wif- 
 dom or Reafon, become devilifhjby joyning in combination with Sa- 
 tan in his revolt from his true Head, and in exercifmg enmity againft 
 all Righteoufnefs, upon one account or other. 
 
 This fenfual part of man s wlfdom favours and minds Earthly or feen 
 things, and delights in corporeal flellily objects, whether actually 
 corrupt, or only corruptible. This is the Wifdom that is prevalent 
 with the generality of men in the World, according to the Prin- 
 ciples of 'which, the Empire and Government of the Woild is ma- 
 naged, and the judgment and interpretation of the very Law and 
 Word of God is made, for the Rule in matters of Faith and Wor- 
 ftaip. This Wifdot^lJte in its taft eftate, unftable and unfixed, fo as 
 from the top and height of its honour, there is fuddenly a being made 
 like the Beaft that perifhes, and fo a falling fhort of the true Reft. 
 This was the cafe of the firft A4am } who was created on the fim day y 
 
 and 
 
The Face of the Tims* $t 
 
 andwnofe unliable perfection is therefore numbered by fx> thrice 
 repeated. 
 
 This fenfaalpart of man's wi/dom^ is the executing or performing 
 Power of the Soul, in reference to the dictates and enlightnings that 
 declare themfelves in the intellectual and angelical part of the mind, 
 which many times ferves and approves the Law of God, whilft the 
 fenfual part ferves and obeyes fin, and as with a Law of common con- 
 tent from the Members, oppofes and refifts the good and right Rule 
 which fhines forth in man's intellect, and which we call iound or 
 right Reafon. But as this fenfual part, in its movings and actings, 
 holds agreement and is in conjunction with the intellectual part, as 
 its Ruler and Guide,foUowing the dictates thereof; lb far the actings 
 thereof are found and right, holding conformity to the Law of God. 
 Thus even the fenfual part ( as fubjeel: to the right dictates of the 
 intellectual) is it felf a Rule unto humane action, and is the prin- 
 ciple and foundation of righteous Magiftratical Government amongft 
 men. Now when this Principle in Magiftrates,ceafes to be any lon- 
 ger found in a ftate of down-right Pagamfm, and comes to be healed 
 and reftored out of darknefs and prophanefs, by receiving of the 
 Scriptures or written Word of God, ( opened and interpreted by fuch 
 as pretend to be commiifioned and gifted for that purpofe) unto which 
 it owes its healing and reftoration, it doth by way of acknowledge- 
 ment receive and fet up that prophetical Office, in an adminiftrati- 
 on, countenanced by humane Laws and the Magistrates Power. 
 Where-ever this kind of Magiftracy is, in both the branches of it, 
 both Civil and Ecclefiaftical, ( fetting up for themfelves and their 
 own Interefts, in their own wills, in disjunction from Chrift and 
 his Spirit, the true Head, and in oppofition to the Remnant of the 
 Womans Seed, and their teftimony in word and action ) there is the 
 Kingdom and Seat of the Beaft and Antichrift, leading the People 
 over whom it is exercifed, into fervitude both of Soul and Body. 
 This is that Principle and Power, that after the limited time of 1260 
 years, muft fall and be taken out of the way. 
 
 1 <$. By the Wltneffes Profhefying in Sackcloth, are meant the true 
 Circumcifion in Spirit, who Worihip God in Chrift Jefus, and live 
 in a through-refignednefs of mind to him that is rifen from the dead, 
 who is the Spirit of Truth which is given- them by the Father to be 
 their guide, of whom and of whofe Teftimony #ey are not afhamed, 
 what ever difgrace it be in, or however rejected by the Government 
 under which the Providence of God hath placed them. They do 
 therefore own it as their Principle, and make it their practice, to 
 
 N z bear 
 
92 The Face of the Times. 
 
 bear and fuffer under fuch worldly Powers and Governments, in 
 Faith and Patience, whatever befals them for their Teftimony's fake, 
 without attempting to refift the Powers that are, to difturb their 
 peace or give them any juft caufe of offence. 
 
 They are called mtnejfes\ becaufe of the word of their Teftimo- 
 ny, which they forbear not to give in the worlt and moft fuffering 
 times, whatever it coft them. And they are TV*, defcribed by two 
 Candlelticks, or Societies of Believers, and two Olive Trees or Sons 
 ofOyl, becaufe through Faith they are the receivers of the Anoint- 
 ing which comes from the Holy One, and is Truth and no Lie. This 
 Anointing proportions it felf in its Gifr, either according to the 
 meafure it finds the Nature of man capable^ to take in and polTefs, 
 without any new addition of a dilUnct, fuperiour capacity and recep- 
 tion ; or elfe gives forth its felf in a vaft and boundlefs communica- 
 tion, wherein it is capable to flow forth into man, and to form in him 
 an anfwerable Reception thereunto, ( beyond and above that capa- 
 city and meafure of knowledge and difcerning, which is proper to 
 man in his firft make or building ) to the extending and enlarging the 
 intellectual part of man's Being, into a more abundant fruition of 
 God, in a fuperiority to that of Angels, even to a joynt inheriting, 
 feeing, and enjoying of God with the exalted humane Nature of the 
 Son of God, in that Name which he obtains above Angels, and 
 wherein he is more excellent than they. At this more excellent' 
 Name of Chriit, as it originally (bines forth in Chrift's own Perfon, 
 every knee mutt bow, and every tongue confefs, to the glory of God 
 the Father, 
 
 Thefe two forts of Saints are in moft intimate Union and infepe- 
 rable conjunction with the Lord that Spirit, who is the Son of man 
 glorified or juftified in Spirrit, and who hath the gift of the Anoint- 
 ing, in both the refpects before-mentioned. The one fort of thefe 
 Saints as well as the other, do with open face behold ( as in a glafs) 
 the Glory of the Lord, whether that, wherein he is perfect man, or 
 that wherein he is more than man, the man that is God's Fellow and 
 Equal, and fo Superiour and Head to Angels, Principalities and Pow- 
 ers, afcended far above all Heavens. And they are changed into 
 the fame Image, refpectively, whether of the one Glory or of the 
 other, by the Spirit of the Lord, or the Lord the Spirit. 
 
 Thefe Two mtnejfe% do live and abide in their Principles and word 
 «>f their Teftimony, when their perfons die, and they have put off 
 their earthly Tabernacle. For the Witpefling-work is carried on in 
 a fucceffion of new Witneffes> brou^^t upon the flage of this World, 
 
 one 
 
The Face of the Times, $>$ 
 
 one Generation after another, during the time declared of iatfo 
 years, whiift they are appointed to prophefie in Sack-doth. And 
 when that fuffering feafon of theirs fnall have an end put to it, ( as 
 it muft ) the like two Companies and Societies of Saints ( fpirited 
 with the fame Principles, that thefe fackcloth or fuffering Prophets 
 are of, both of them making but one Church andHoufeof the Li- 
 ving God ) faall be quicken'd and rais'd up in Power, by fuch a Re- 
 demption wrought in and upon their bodies ( even here, in'this-life ) 
 from the bondage of Corruption, as is called the Adoption of the 
 body, Rom. 8*. 23. This Adoption or Redemption of the body, on 
 this fide the Refur region, will hold proportion very much, with 
 Quid's Transfiguration.* This (late of the body is prophetically de- 
 fcribed, Dan. 12. 3. where we are given to underftand thatthe bodies 
 of the Saints, or of thofe that are wife, {hall fhine as the brightnefs 
 of the Firmament, and their Spirits as the Stars forever and ever. 
 For into fuch an intimate relation and conjunction, will Chrift, as he 
 is the Head of Angels, take and adopt the Spirits of Angels, and men 
 regenerated, withhimfelf, and with one another, as by his own in- 
 fluence on the Spirits of Saints, and by his and the influence of their 
 own Spirits on their bodily or fenfual part, to reduce their bodies in- 
 to fo near a relation to, and conjunction with the Life of their Spirits, 
 and Chrift in Spirit, as will raife and advance them into a heavenly 
 frame, and render them meet for fo great a glory of Spirit, or emi- 
 nent exercife of fpiritual Life and Power. This will be a glory of 
 the body, not before known, as a common and general difpenfation,. 
 fince the World began, nor yet hardly fo eminently experienced even 
 by thofe few choice Types andShadowesof it, Snoch y CMofes and 
 £//^,or others. This is that ftate of body, or of the very outward-man 
 and fenfual part of the Saint, whereby Chrift will be glorified in his 
 Saints, and admired in all thofe that do believe,. 
 
 A LETTER 
 
(P4) 
 
 A LETTER 
 
 O F 
 Sir HENRY V A N £, % 
 To his LADY, from the Jfle of S C T L L Y. 
 
 ejtfy "Dear Hearty 
 
 T He Wind yet continuing contrary, makes me defirous to be as 
 much in Converfe with thee ( having this opportunity ) as 
 the Providence of God will permit ; hoping thefe will come 
 fafe to your hand. It is no fmall Satisfaction to me in thefe (harp 
 Tryals, to experience the Truth of thofe ChriiUan Principles, which 
 God of his Grace hath afforded you and me, in ourmeafures, the 
 knowledge, and emboldned us to make the profeflion of. For furely 
 by this Fiery Tryal, which is from God appointed to try us, no 
 ftrange or unufual Difpenfation of God hath happened to us, differ. 
 ing from that which all his Servants and Prophets from the beginning 
 of the World to this day, have found alfo to be their Lot : Norts it 
 other, than the Condition ( as I may fay ) and Law, that all thofe 
 muft come under and fubmit unto, that will approve themfelves 
 ChrilVs Difciples indeed, Luk. 14. 2<S, 27. And it is no fmall Mer- 
 cy, that the greateft Extremities we have already under-gone, and 
 which do as yet threaten, have found that ftrength and rooting of the 
 Grace and Love of Chrift in oor Hearts, which caufes us not to de- 
 fpair of being made more than Conquerors in the end, without de- 
 (iring thofe Conditions of peace, (verf. 32.) which are not con- 
 fident with our being fuch Difciples of Chrift, as will cheerfully 
 ( when called to it ) forfake all they have, in love to him, and fub- 
 jedtion to his Will. 9 
 
 Why tiiould Chrift ask us, Whether we be die to drink* of the Cup he 
 drank, of> and be baptized with the Baptifm he wo* J?aptiz,cd with ? 
 Was it not, to intimate, That if we die with him>we Jballa/fo live with 
 
 *him ; 
 
A Letter of Sir Henry Vane to his Lady.- pf 
 
 him ; if we [uf\er, wejhallalfo reign with him, and have it granted to 
 us to fit down with him, on the Throne of his Glory, our very Enemies be- 
 holding ? What would it be lefs, even in this world, if he fhould 
 but pleafe to caufe, upon this occafion of our Suffering, that the Spi- 
 rit of God, and of Glory, fhould reft upon us, and bring forth his 
 Kingdom within us, in Power, giving us that Mouth andWifdom 
 that will make us mighty in word and deed 5 that Faith, to which all 
 things are poffible ; that Spirit of Supplication and Prayer, that he 
 will alwayes hear and immediately anfwer ? God's Arm is not 
 fhortned ; doubtefs, great and precious Promifes are yet in ftore, to 
 be accomplilhed in and upon Believers here on Earth, to the making 
 of Chrift to be admired in them. If we come not to live here, in 
 thea&ual fruition and full accomplishment of them, (as they will 
 be experienced by Believers, even on this fide the death, or full 
 change of their mortal body ) yet if we die in the certain fore-fight 
 and embracing of them by Faith, this will be no fmall blefllng. 
 
 This dark night and black fhade, which God hath drawn over his 
 Work in the midft of us, may be ( for ought we know ) the ground- 
 colour to fome beautiful piece, that he is expofing to the Light. His 
 Sons muft be manifested and evidently diftinguifned from thofe, who 
 fay they are fuch and are not. There is a glory to be revealed in them, 
 unto which their Suffering is made the needful Preparation ; and this 
 is called the Redemption of the body. In that day, the tabernacling 
 of God in men (hall be vifible. Their very bodies fhall be the 
 Temple of the Holy Ghoft. In them, as his Sanctuary, will God 
 dwell for evermore, whence {hall be given forth fuch vifible figns of 
 his extraordinary Prefence, as fhall render it paft difpute, to the 
 fight of every man, that God is in them and with them of a Truth. 
 
 This ftate of entire refignednefs and fubjeSion of our bodies to our 
 Spirits, and of our Spirits unto .Chrift, the Father of them, fhall 
 certainly be brought to the view of the whole World. The eyes o£ 
 thofe that fee them, fhall acknowledge them ; and the ears that hear 
 them, fhall bear witnefs to them, that they are the Seed and Off- 
 fpring, which the Lord hath bleiTed; 
 
 Our body, thus confidered, as capable of fuch advance and ho- 
 nour,, is not" meerly the outward cafe or fhell, that muft return to 
 duft, but includes alio the bodily, organical ftate of Life, or that 
 fouly, animal Life, which the Spirit of man exerciies in conjuncti- 
 on with his mortal body. In this kind of Life it is, we fee, hear, 
 andfpeak, have the exercife of our Senfes, after a diftinc't manner 
 . from Angels and intellectual Subftances, in a way of operation in- 
 * feriour 
 
$6 A Letter of Sir Henry Vane, to his Lady. 
 
 feriour to theirs, proper ancl peculiar to the rational Soul, as needing 
 and uiing the earthly Organs or Inftruments of the mortal body. 
 There is alfo in man, that which is peculiarly called Mind or Spirit, 
 in diftinction from his Soul, or from the fouly Life and activity of 
 the fame Spirit, in and by its earthly body, i Thejf.5.23. The Spi- 
 rit or Mind of man, ( as diftinguifhed from that life and operation 
 it performs in the mortal body, is capable, even while in the body, 
 to be awakened by the Father of Spirits, and come forth in a fuperi- 
 our way, even of natural life, received by man in his firft creation, 
 to act as out of the body, or without the ufe of bodily organs, as an 
 equal or affociate to the very Angels. Now becaule the bodily, and 
 inferiour powers of our mind, are. the inftrume-nts of that converfe 
 we are fubjectedto in thefe dayes of our vanity, fo that if we will be 
 fociable, it mult be by the ufe thereof, the Apoftle James compre- 
 hends all the action of thefe inferiour powers by the lenfible organs 
 we make ufe of in the exercife thereof,under the name of the tongue, 
 when he faith, If any man offend not. in word, the fame 'is a ferfett man, 
 and able to bridle the whole body. To bridle and regulate the tongue, 
 order all the language, action, and exprefiionof the animal powers 
 aright , is to bridle the whole body, under the government or ruling 
 authority of the Mind or Spirit, confidered in. its fuperiour and 
 angelical kind of life and acting, as out of the body, or above and 
 without the ufe of bodily organs. The Mind or Spirit of man thus 
 confidered, is as the Pilot that turns the Ship about, whitherfoever 
 he lifteth. If it well and truly exercife its governing power, it 
 caufes the animal life in all the operations and affections thereof, to 
 obey its dictates and commands, however fiercely driven by contrary 
 Winds, falfe Doctrine, any corrupting violent influences of De- 
 vils or men upon it, and fetches it off from whatever tumultuous 
 diforder, its own fenfual luits and paflions are ready to run it into, 
 Jam. 3.2, jr. 
 
 To be partaker of the Redemption of the body, is to be made this 
 perfect man, which is taught fo to live and act, from right, fpiritual 
 Principles, as not to offend in word, through the Power actually 
 conferred on him and exercifed by him, for the bridling of the whole 
 body, in the fence above declared, and for the keeping it in fubjecti- 
 ontothe Spirit or angelical part in him, in righteoufnefs and true 
 holinefs. 
 
 This taming of the tongue, or fubduing of the bodily part in us to 
 the fpiritual and intellectual, is a work of no fmall difficulty, a thing 
 that is not to be purchased but at a dear rate. It may coft us all that 
 
 *we 
 
tX Letter of Sir Henry Vane to his Ldy. 9 7 
 
 we have, and no ill bargain neither, fince by our words it is that we 
 fhall be juftified, and by our words we fhall be condemned. For un- 
 til we have brought under our body, and reduced it into a fixed fub- 
 jection and entire refignation to our Spirits , let us boaft never fo 
 much, that which is perfect is not yet come ; even that perfection 
 which in a very eminent degree fhall be experienced' by the Saints 
 here on Earthy on this fide the grave, and during their continuance 
 in the mortal body. This, for ought I can difcern, will be the pro- 
 duct of the prefent (harp and fiery Tryals, that God hath brought up- 
 on his People all the World over. After they have fuftered a while, 
 and the fame Afflictions have been accomplifhed in the reft of their 
 Brethren that are in the World, they may fo far have the work of Pa- 
 tie'nce perfected in them, as, in this fenfe, to become perfect and en- 
 tire, wanting nothing, and to fhine forth as fo many bright morning 
 ftars, and fore-running figns of the near approach of the brightnefs 
 of the Day of ChrilVs fecond coming. • This God hath fet before 
 the eye of my Faith, as'the mark for the price of the high Calling of 
 God in Chrift Jefus. This is that perfection, which by conformity 
 with Chrift in his Death, and fellowilup with him in his Refurrecti- 
 on, is in a -moll eminent degree attainable, before our dilTolution 
 and the putting off Our earthly Tabernacle. It lliall befo far attain- 
 ed by the Power and Glory of Chrift, that is to be revealed in us, 
 that it fhall not much fall iliort of a very Transfiguration. And the 
 ftate of the then glorious Church will be no lefs than an Heaven upon 
 Earth, in the new Heavens and new Earth, wherein dwelleth Righ- 
 teoufnefs. This glorious ftate of things we look for, and therefore 
 are or ought to be hafting a-pace, unto the coming of that Day of 
 God. 
 
 Yet, when I fay, until we experience thiskind of perfection in 
 Power in us, that which is perfect is not yet come, my meaning is 
 not, that the incorruptible Seed and Principles of this very perfecti- 
 on are not already feated and rooted in the inward man and in the 
 Spirit of the Mind, fo foon as we are regenerated, and that Chrift is 
 formed in us, dwelling in our hearts by Faith. Thus it is, that we 
 are all glorious within. Thus the Kingdom of Heaven is within us, 
 liken'd to the hidden Treafure, which when a man hath found in the 
 field, he keeps it concealed, till he hath fold all that he hath, and 
 bought that field. Faith, which is the fubftance of things hoped for, 
 and the evidence of that Glory which do:h not yet appear, is not un- 
 fitly exprelfed, when it is called alight jb'imng in a dark place, that 
 is, in our bodily and fenfual part, which continues fo for a long time 
 
 O after 
 
p8 A Letter of Sir Henry Vane to his Lady. 
 
 after our new birth. But thofe that are all glorious within, muft have 
 their time of manifeftation, and be made all glorious without alfo. 
 The outward-man of the heart, and the outward Court of the Temple, 
 muft come to be meaiured, and be of account and eftimation, in the 
 fight of the World. Then the whole body fhall be full of light, ha- 
 ving no part dark, as when the bright iliinirig of a Candle doth give 
 thee light. 
 
 This is the Perfection which is near us, even at the very door, 
 ready to be teftified and witnefled unto, after another manner than 
 thofe do pretend to, who are for the fubjecting and keeping under the 
 body, but by thofe mutable and wavering Principles of Perfection, 
 which amounts but to that viability of Saintfhip, which is the fubject 
 of Apoftacy, yet hath hitherto pafled for currant Coin. Nor would I 
 have it thought, that I have already. attained the powerful practice of 
 this holy Duty and Perfection, but it is much in my defire, aim, and 
 hope. The difficult Circumltances I am in, and that I am ftill more 
 and more every day calt into, by God's wife-difpofing Providence, 
 to the fequeftring me from the World, and with-holding all fenfible 
 Comforts from me, fo much as he doth, make me, in fome fort, con- 
 fident it is for a good end, and that out .of love and faithfulnefs I 
 am made to drink of this bitter Cup, the better to help forward this 
 necelTary work in me, and upon me, wherein confifts the glorious 
 Liberty of the Sons of God. If I may have and enjoy this, it would 
 feem a very little matter to me to be in outward bonds, banifhment, 
 want, or any other afflictions. Help me then (in all your folicitudes 
 and cares about me ) to what will further and advance this Work 'in 
 me. 
 
 The Lord grant me and mine to be content, if he deny us to live 
 of our own, and will bring us to the daily bread of his finding,which 
 he will have us wait for, frefh and frefh from his own Table, without 
 knowing any thing of it before-hand. Peradventure there is a grea- 
 ter fweetnefs and blefiing in fuch a condition, than we can imagine, 
 till we have tryed it. This may add to my help, even our making 
 little hafte to get out of our Troubles, patiently waiting till God's 
 time come, wherein he will open the Prifon doors, either by Death, 
 or fome other way, as he pleafe, for the magnifying his own great 
 Name, notfufferingus to be our ownchufersin any thing, as hither- 
 to hath been his way with us. 
 
 And why fhould fuch a taking up Sanctuary in God, and denYing 
 to continue a Pilgrim and folitary in this World, whilft I am in it, 
 afford ftill matter of jealoufie, diftruft and rage, as I fee it doth, to 
 
 thofe 
 
'A Letter of &V Henry Vane to his Lady. p$ 
 
 thofe who are unwilling that I llio.uld be buried and lie quiet in my 
 grave, where I now am. They that prefs fo earneftly to carry on my 
 Tryal, do little know what prefenqe of God may be afforded me in it 
 and iffue-out of it, to the magnifying of Chrift in my body, by Life 
 orby Death. Nor can they (Iamfure) imagine how much I defire 
 to be diffolved and to be with Chrift, which of all things that can be- 
 falme, I account beft of all. And till then, I defire to be made 
 faithful in my place and ftation, to make confelTion of him before 
 men and not deny his Name, if called forth to give a publick Tefti- 
 mony and Witnefs concerning him, and to be herein nothing terrifi- 
 ed. What then will the hurt be, that I can or lliall receive by the 
 worft that man can do unto me, who can but kill the body, and there- 
 by open my Prifondoor, that I may afcend into the pleafures that 
 are at Chrift's right hand, prepared for thofe that teftifie and openly 
 difcover their love to him, by not . loving their lives unto the death. 
 Surely this will prove better, thaa to prefer fin or evil (fo much as 
 in appearance ) unto Affliction and the Crofs, which Chrift would 
 have me take up daily and follow him' in. 
 
 If the Storm againft us grow ftill higher and higher, fo as to ftrip 
 us of all we have, the Earth is ftill the Lords and the fulnefs thereof ; 
 he hath a good ftore-houfe for us to live upon. There is nothing 
 more deftru&ive to us every way then the uncertainty we are in. 
 
 God can, and (if he think fit ) will chalk out fome way, wherein 
 he may appear by his Providence to choofe for us, and not leave us 
 to our own choice. And being contracted into that fmall compafs, 
 which he fhall think fit to reduce us unto, we may perhaps meet with 
 as true inward contentment, and fee as great a mercy in fuch afe- 
 queftration from the World, as if we were in the greateft outward 
 profperity. 
 
 t know nothing that remains unto us, but like a tofled Ship in a 
 dorm, to let ourfelves be toiled and driven with the Winds, till he 
 that can rnake thefe ftorms to ceafe, and bring us into a fafe Haven, 
 do work out our deliverance for us. I doubt not but you will accor- 
 dingly endeavour to prepare for the worft. 
 
 March 7. itftfi, 
 
 "oX" 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 O 2 ERRATA 
 
ERRATA. 
 
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 Errata in The Face of the Timss. 
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