Innocency Though Under a Cloud Cleared, Title page – To the reader 1
INNOCENCY, Though under a Cloud, CLEARED.
By P. H. a poor Priſoner, when almoſt ſunk under pretended Friends Cenſures in the day of his Sufferings.
And alſo, A Diſcovery of the Comforts that attends Innocency in a Priſon.
As alſo, Twenty four Uſefull Particulars left by him for his Children and Friends, and being left in a Friends hand for his Relations, I could not but make them publick; judging it will be no loſs to the Author, and great gain to the Reader, and juſtly give offence to none.
Prov. 18.17.
He that is firſt in his own Cauſe ſeemeth juſt; but his Neighbour cometh and ſearcheth him.
Iſa. 66.5.
The Brethren that hated you, that caſt you out for my Name ſake, ſaid, Let the Lord be glorified: but he ſhall appear to your joy, and they ſhall be aſhamed.
Iſa. 33.3.
At the noiſe of the Tumult, the People fled; at the lifting up of thy ſelf, the Nations were ſcattered.
London, Printed in the Year, 1664.
To the Reader.
IN all Ages Duties of Love to the Zion of God, from them that have been able and faithful, hath and will be truly imbraced by every Son and Daughter of God, as uſeful, profitable, and neceſſary; And I having the peruſal of many of the Author's Papers, finding this little Piece amongſt them, judged it worthy a conveyance into the world; finding in it ſuch glorious breakings-forth of Divine and Heavenly-Light, I do not in the leaſt queſtion its acceptance of every truly gracious Heart, who loveth Truth for Truth's ſake.
And Reader, thou art here preſented with the living Experiences of a poor Priſoner for Chriſt, who at this day lies under very hard and ſad Sufferings; one who hath in former years been very uſeful in his Generation in the Work of God, and alſo hath been an Inſtrument to bring in, and to bring up many Spiritual Children to God. And thou mayeſt ſee by this little Piece, that his heart and ſoul is yet alive to the Work of his God, That notwithſtanding his Sufferings from the Common Enemies on the one hand, and Pretended Friends on the other, by their foul, filthy, and lying Reproaches, and falſe Cenſures, which God (I am confident) will in his due time … away; and then ſhall thoſe falſe Accuſers bluſh for ſhame: True it is, the Author might have … more uſeful, had it not been to the ſpirit of Envy which is riſe… up againſt him in pretended Friends and open Enemies, (without any juſt occaſion given on his part). The dear Lord pardon them in their irregular proceedings with him and others.
I do verily believe to ſee the day wherein God will make him as uſeful to Saints as ever in Go… work; I mean, the Work of the Miniſtry of the Goſpel of Jeſus Chriſt; then ſhall his Innocency be as the Sun at Noon, and this Candle ſhall again be lighted, to duplicate page duplicate page the amazement of his Adverſaries, and they will bluſh that have ſh… at the Innocent without ac…uſe: In the mean time, let not …he ill favour of dirty ſpirits hinder thee from imbraceing this clean piece of Truth held forth to thee. The Phraſes are clear, the Matter ſutable, as to the day wherein we live, that though I were ſilent, the Book it ſelf would ſpeak enough for its acceptance.
Now all my deſire is, that it may be of uſe to thy ſouls health and proſperity of the inward-man: And that it may be ſo, by Heaven's bleſſing, give me leave to give a few words of advice.
1. Do not take that with the left hand of prejudice that is offered to thee with the right hand of true ſincerity and ſingleneſs of heart; Endeavour therefore to put a candid and fair conſtruction, as in charity thou are bound, on his endeavour, who hath nothing more in his eye, than God's glory, and the good of ſouls.
2. Beg the leading of God's dear Spirit, which alone ſearcheth and diſcovereth the things of God to the Children of men, 1 Cor. 2.10. and ſo on. Oh it's this Spirit that can unriddle the Divine Myſteries of the Goſpel. Never think to reade this Piece in the worlds wiſdom, for if thou doſt, it will contribute very little to thy ſatisfaction, but rather occaſion thee to ſtumble at the things written, 1 Cor. 1.18. and ſo on to ver. 26. See 1 Cor. 2.14.
3. Be not offended at the ſhort and brief paſſages through ſome particulars treated of in it.
4. Conſider all the Scriptures and Arguments to prove any one point; I ſay, weigh them altogether, and not apart one from the other; for if there be but two or three Texts or Arguments amongſt five or ten to prove the truth of any one point, that are ſubſtantial and to the purpoſe, it is ſufficient, though the reſt are not ſo ſtrong, or of equal ſtrength.
5. Take heed of a heart riſing in pride; for it is the humble ones the Lord ſtands engaged by promiſe to teach, Pſa. 25.9. Jam. 4.6.
6. And laſtly, Beg Heavens bleſſing in thy reading of it, and then I queſtion not but it will be of much benefit to thee. Thus having premiſed theſe few things, I ſhall forbear to trouble thee any further, only begging the Father of Mercies, and God of all Conſolation, to make this following Piece effectuall to the enriching thy ſoul in the Divine Myſteries of God, and a bringing thy heart to a real imbracing of theſe bleſſed Truths of God unfolded in it, and to the accompliſhment of all the good ends for the which it is intended, ſhall be the conſtant prayer of him, who begs the Exaltation of God's Glory, and Saints Happineſs, above all things.
R. E.