A New Martyrology, Introduction 2 · Speech 8 – Letter 1
Mr. John Hicks's last Speech, 1685.
I Suppose the Spectators here present may expect I should speak something before I leave this sanguinary Stage and Passage through my bloody Sufferings, by which my immortal Spirit will be speedily transported into an invisible and eternal World, and I conclude that they have different Resentments hereof. Some resent them …ith much joy, high exultation and triumph, others with equal grief and sorrow; that to th… one I am a most pleasant Spectacle, that they behold me with high complacency and delight; but to the other I am a mournful and unpleasant one, and they behold me with no less pity and compassion. Concerning the first, I can say, I freely and heartily forgive them, and heartily pray that God would most mercifully and graciously prevent their mourning through Misery, not only here, but eternally hereafter. Concerning the other, I will say, Weep for your own sins, and for the sins of the Nation, for the highest Rebellions that ever were committed against the great and eternal God; lament bitterly for those sins that have been the meritorious Cause of the late terrible Judgment, that which I fear will cause God to break in upon this Nation with an overflowing Deluge of Judgments, which are far more tremendous and dreadful. As for sympathizing with me, in drinking this bitter Cup appointed for me, I return you most humble and hearty thanks, earnestly desiring God to come unto you, and fill your Soul… with all Celestial Comforts and Spiritual Consolations. Something I must say to purge and clear my self from a false Accusation laid to my Charge; as that I was engaged with Col. Blood in rescuing Col. Mason near Boston, when he was sent down with a Guard from London to York, to be Tryed for High Treason; and that I was the Man that killed the Barber of that City; …nd that also I was with him when he stole the Crown. Now as I am a dying Man, and upon the very brink of a very stupendous Eternity, (the …uth and reality whereof I fi…mly believe) without any reservation or the least equivocation, I do declare in the Presence of the All-seeing God, that impartial Judge, before whom in a very little time I must appear, I never saw nor conversed with Mr. Thomas Blood, from 1656, till after he stole the Crown, which was in 71, or 72. nor was ever engaged with him in any of his Treasonable Plots or Practices. 'Tis true, I being involved in great trouble of another Nature, (of which I have given to the World a Narrative, and which is notoriously known in the Country where I then lived, by some that were Enemies to me for my preaching) I was perswaded to apply my self to Mr. Blood, to procure by his Intercession his late Majesties gracious Favour: accordingly he brought me into his Royal Presence; while I was there, his Majesty carried it with great Clemency, without expressing one word of that which I am now charged with. Mr. Blood continued with his Majesty a little longer than I did; then he told me that he had granted me a Pardon, which I did thankfully accept of, knowing it would free me from all Penalties and Troubles that I was obnoxious to; and were occasioned to me by my Non-conformity. Then engaging him to take out my Pardon; he told me, That he got it out with several others that had been engaged with him in several Treasonable Designs and Actions; at which I was troubled, supposing it might be imputed to me thereby; yet, God knows, I have often since reflected upon it with great regret and dissatifa…tion. If Mr. Blood did inform the late King to make himself the more considerable, and to bring as many of his Party as he could to accept of their Pardons, that h… might be rendered utterly incapable of Plotting any further Mischief against his Government, or any other ways that I was engaged with him in any of his Treasonable Attempts; I now appeal to God, as a dying Man, concern…ng it, that he hath done me an irreparable w…ong. I also in the same manner do declare, That I was never ingaged with any Party in Plotting or Designing, or Contriving any Treason or Rebellion ag…inst the late King; and particularly, that I was altogether unco…cerned in, and unacquainted with that for which my Lord Russel and others suffer'd, and as much a stranger to any against the present King. And whereas it is reported of me, That at Taunton I perswaded the late Duke of Monmouth to assume the Title of King, I do once more solemnly declare, That I saw not the said Duke, nor had any Converse with him 'till he came to Shipton-Mallet, which was thirteen days after he landed, and several days after he had been at Taunton. And 'tis as false, that I rid to and fro in the West to stir up and perswade Men to go into his Army, and rebel against his present Majesty; for I was i… the East Country when the Duke landed, and from thence I went directly to him, when he was at Shipton Mall…t, not one Man accompanying me from thence. But hitherto as I lived, so now I die, owning and professing the true Reformed Christia… (commonly called the Protestant) Religion, which is founded on the pure written Word of God only, and which I acknowledge likewise to be comprehended in the Article of the Doctrine of the Church. This Religion I have made a reasonable and free choice of, and have heartily embraced, not only as it protests against all Pagan and Mahometan Religion, but against the Corruption of the Christian; and I humbly and earnestly pray to God that by his Infinite Wisdom and Almighty Power, he will prevent not only the utter extirpation but diminution thereof, by the heighth and influence of what is contrary thereto; and for that end the Lord make the Professors of it to live up more to its Principles and Rules, and bring their Hearts and Conversations more under the Government and Power of …he same. I die also owning my Ministry, Non-conformity, for which I have suffer'd so much, and which doth now obstruct the King's Grace and Mercy to be manifested and extended to me: For as I chose it not constrainedly, so I appeal to God as a dying Man, not moved from sullenness or humour, or factious temper, or erroneous Principles of Education, or from secular interests, or worldly advantages, but clearly from the Dictates of my own Conscience, and as I judged it to be the Cause of Go…, and to have more of Divine Truth in it than that which is contrary thereto; so now I see no Cause to repent of it, nor to recede from it; not questioning but God will own it at the last Judgment-day. If no more had been required after the late King's Restauration to qualifie Ministers for publick Preaching, than was after the first Restauration from the time of Charles the First, probably I might have satisfied my self therewith, and not scrupled Conformity thereto; but the Terms and Conditions thereof by a particular Law made in 1662. being not only new, but so strict and severe that I could never have satisfaction in my own Conscience, after all Endeavours used for a Complyance therewith, and a Conformity thereto: To say nothing of the Covenant, which I never took, but the giving my Assent and Consent, have been too difficult and hard for me to comply with. And I very well remember, that about fourteen years ago, entring into a Discourse with Mr. Patrick Heldore, an Irishman, who was contemporary with me in Dublin, concerning Conformity, which he much endeavour'd to persuade me to; I urg'd the severity of the forementioned Conditions against it, and after some Debates and Reasons with him, I told him I did believe they were contrived and designed on purpose to prevent our Publick Preaching, and to keep us out of the Church: To which he ingenuously reply'd, He judged it was so: For, said he, a Bishop in Ireland (whose Name I have forgot) told me the very same.
But though I could not wade through and conquer this Difficulty, yet I censure not those that did it; and I believe after all the hottest Disputes, and most vehement Debates, and violent Contests between Conformist and Non-conformist, there are of both Parties will be glorified in Heaven hereafter. According to the 29th. Article of the Church of England, a visible Church is a Congregation of Faithful Men, in the which the pure Word of God is preached, the Sacraments of the Lord duly administred, according to Christ's Ordinance, and all those things that of neccessity are requisite and necessary to Salvation; so with such a Church have I held the most intimate Communion, and with such (did I live) could hold it: I would not therefore be so incorporated with any Church, as to exclude me from, and render me uncapable of holding Communion with other Churches; I was never strongly bound up to any form of Ecclesiastical Government, but that under which a pure and undefiled Religion doth flourish, and that which contains and really practises Holiness, and advances the Kingdom of God in the World, that can I approve of, and willingly live under, were I to live.
I did approve of the ancient and present form of Civil Government, English Monarchy I am fully satisfy'd with, and do also declare, that it is not warrantable for any Subject to take up Arms against, and resist their lawful Soveraigns and rightful Princes: and therefore had I not been convinced by several things that I have read and heard, to believe that the late D. of Monmouth was the Legitimate Son of his Father Charles the Second, I had never gone into his Army, judging that without this, I could not be freed from the guilt of Rebellion, which I always resolved to keep my self clear from: And tho' his Father deny'd he was marry'd to his Mother, I thought it might be answer'd with this; That Kings and Princes, for State reasons, often cannot be fathomed by their Subjects, affirming and denying things which otherwise they would not do, and make even their natural Affections to truckle and stoop thereto. I exhort all to abhor all Treasonable Plots, and pretences of all Rebellion, with the highest Detestation, and to take the plain Text of Sacred Scripture to walk by, in honouring and obeying, and living in subjection to rightful Kings, and not readily to receive, or suddenly to be impress'd with evil Reports and Defamations of them, also not ra…hly to be Propagators of the same.
I desire God to forgive all mine Enemies, and to give me an heart to forgive them, which are many, some mighty, an… all most malicious: Particularly Barter of Lisnel, who bet…ayed me, …nd proved such a Tr…ytor to James D. of Monmouth his old and in…ima…e Friend. I am grievously affl…cted that I should prove the occasion of the gre…t Sufferings of so many Persons and Families: But this h…th fallen under the Just and Wise orde…ing of Divine Providence, as David's going to Abime…ech, when he proved the occasion of the D…ath of a…l the Persons, Men, Women, and Children in the City: But who shall say unto God, What doest thou? The care of my most dear Wife and a great many Children, I cast upon God, who I hope will be better than the best of Husbands unto her, and the best of Fathers unto them: God knows how just and legal Right my Wife hath unto her Estate; to him therefore I commit her, to defend her from the violence and oppression of men, particularly from a most inhumane and unnatural Broth…r: But no wonder if he will lay violent h…nd… upon his Sisters Estate, that hath so often laid them on his own Father. I die a deeply humbled, self-judging and self-condemning Sinner, loathing and abhorring my many an… great Iniquities, and my self for them, earnestly desiring full Redemption from the bonds of Corruption, under which I have groaned so many years, longing for a most perfect Conformity to the most holy and glorious God, the only infinite pure Being; thirsting for a permit diffusion of his Grace through all the Powers and Faculties of my Soul, panting after pe…f…ct spiritual Life and Liberty, and a consummate Love to my dearest Jesus, who is an All comprehensive Good, and to be satisfied with his Love for ever: A Vigorous and vehement Zeal for the Protestant Religion, with a Belief I had of the Dukes Legitimacy, hath involved me in this ignominious D…ath; yet blessed be God, that by sincere Repentance and true Faith in the Blood of Jesus, there is p…ssage from it to a glorious eternal Life, and from these bitter …orrows to the fulnes… of sweetest Joys that are in his Presence, and from these sharp bodily pains to those most pure pleasures, that are at his Right hand for evermore: And blessed be God, that such a death as this cannot prevent and hinder Christ's changing of my vile Body, and fashioning it like his Glorious Body, in the general Resurrection day.
I am now going into that World, where many dark things shall be made perfectly manifest and clear, and many doubtful things fully resolved, and a plenary satisfaction given concerning them; all Disputes and mistakes concerning Treason, Rebellion, and Schism, shall be at an end and cease for ever: many things that are innoc…nt, lawful and laudable, which have foul Marks and b…ack Characters stampt and fix'd upon 'em here, they shall be perfectly purified and fully cleansed from there; where at one view, more shall be known of them, than by all wrangling Debates, and eager Disputes, or by reading all Polemical Books concerning them here. I greatly deplore and bewail the greedy Appetite, and insatiable Thirst, that Professing Protestants have …fter the Blood of their Brethren, and the high pleasure they take in the effusion thereo… ▪ But what will not Men do, when they are either Judicially blinded, or their secular worldly Interest insensibly insinuates and winds it self into their Religion, is so twisted and incorporated with it, that it animates and acts it, is the Life and Soul, the vital Form and Power, and made wholly subservient thereunto?
I bless God for all my Sufferings, and particularly for this last; for the benefit and fruit of it, by God's sanctifying of them to me, have been great; hereby I have been effectually convinced of the Vanity of the World, and my own sinfulness by nature and practice, and to see that to be sin which I never saw before; and to be more throughly humbled for what I know to be sin, not only of Commission, but of Omission also: Hereby I have been brought to a more thorough, deep, inward sense and feeling of the absolute necessity of the righteousness of Christ to justifie me, and he hath been made much more dear and precious to my Soul, than ever he was before. Hereby my Soul hath been more refin'd from the Drofs of sensuality, wrought into a more Heavenly Frame, raised up to a higher pitch of Spirituality; hereby I am made more meek and humble, and so judge more charitably of others that differ from me in Opinion and Judgment: so though by Gods most righteous Judgment I have been apprehended, and most justly and deservedly undergo this Suffering for my Sins, yet I hope they have wrought for me a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory, fitting and preparing me, making me a better qualified Subject for, and far more meet to be a Partaker of the same. …y the Grace and Strength of God, I will not purchase my Life by the Death and Blood of my Protestant Brethren, but choose to die rather than be a Betrayer of them; the impetuous and violent assault of this, I dreaded more than Death it self. Blessed be God I was not exposed unto it, and conquered by it, as some have been: having such full bo…ily vigour and strength, being in such perfect He…lth, notwithstan… ing my Age, predominating in me, it hath made it more difficult to die, than if I had been clogged and incumber'd with infirmities, made to bow and stoop under them by p…evailing Diseases and Distempers, gradually worn out therewith, which many times makes men weary of Life, and to desire to die; and this in Conjunction with many things (which I forb…ar to mention) highly gratifying and pleasing to sense, which I must leave for ever, strengthens and heightens the Difficulty, and begets a g…eater Regret and Reluctancy in my Will, to have the Earthly Tabernacle of my Body dissolved, and my Soul to dislodge and quit the same. But now when the black and gloomy Shades of Death do overspread me, I can say to the glory of Gods most Free and Powerful Grace, True Faith in some measure hath changed the difficulty into a Facility, and easiness of dying: It hath very much subdued the reluctancy of my Will against it; for it makes Future things present, and invisible things visible, and doth realize and substantiate the same to me; and as by it I penetrate and pierce into Eternity, and behold invisible and immortal things, so hereby, blessed be God, I have obtained a greater Victory over Sense: The World, is crucified to me, and I to the World, and all the most pleasant and delightful Objects therein, all finite, fa…ing Creatures, Comforts and Enjoyments, are become minute and small, despicable and contemptible to me, in comparison thereof, being infinitely c…ntained and comprehended therein: Shall my Soul clasp and cling about these mortal and perishing things? Shall it cleave and be glued to them? Shall it be confin'd and captivated into what is kept in the narrow boun…s of Time, and in this lower World? shall it earn…stly desire and thirst for muddy Streams, yea Rivers of Flesh-pleasing good; when by an Eye of Faith I can look into the Indeficient, Inexhaustible purest Fountain; the Immense, Immensurate Ocean of Divine Good; hoping to drink thereof, to swim and bathe my Soul therein for ever and ever? And when I consider how long my Ears have been bound up, and tyed to their innumerable and horrid Oaths, and cursed Blasphemies, and mine eyes to see the Profanation of the Day of God; and when I beheld such an overflowing Flood of most prodigious Impiety, such an inundation of most monstrous Iniquity, and so much Hell upon Earth, and that there is so much decay of holy Zeal, and true Piety, and Christian Religion among the Professors of it, such seeming incurable Breaches and Divisions, such expiring Love and Charity and partings among 'em; it hath powerful influence on my Soul to reconcile it more to Death, and makes it electively, and from choice to leave this present World, and to take up my abode in that which is unseen and future, where there shall be nothing but perfect love and holiness; a sinless state, and serving God with all unweariedness, and perfection, with the highest complacency and delight that immortal Souls can be capable of: there is perfect peace and concord, the innumerable Company of Angels, and the Spirits of Just Men made perfect, all fastned together with indissolvible and uninterrupted Chains of most pure Love, and all continually wrapt up in, and transported with the highest Admiration of God's Love, his infinite and incomprehensible excellencies and perfections, singing Halelujahs to him without ceasing, and triumphing in his praise for ever and ever. The Consideration also, that I know so little of these sublime, profound, and Divine Mysteries; of the most glorious Mystery of Salvation by Jesus Christ; that I am so uncapable to fathom the depth of the Providences of God, whose ways are in the Sea, and whose paths are in the deep Waters, and whose footsteps are not known, and particula…ly in the late stupendous and amazing one; and that I am so ignorant of the Nature of Angels and Spirits, with their Offices and Operations, and of their high and glorious ex…ellencies; and that I am so little acquainted with the Nature of my own Soul, as at present dwelling in, and united to my Body, and as disunited and separated from it; how without Corporeal Organs, it shall most vivaciously and vigorously pe…form all its proper Functions and Offices, and more than ever strongly and indefatigably serve the Lord Jesus, most fervently and abundantly love him, and delight in him, every way, much more obtain the supream and highest end of its Creation and Being; and this makes me much more willing to die, that I may have the knowledg thereof, with innumerahle other things, that I am now either ignorant of, or do but imperfectly know, and so be made happy by a plenitude of fulness of injoying intellectual Pleasures, which are of all other most suitable, sweet and satisfactory to immortal Souls. And also I see that he that departs from iniquity makes himself a Prey; and so many plunging themselves into the ways of Iniquity, lest they should be accounted odious and vile, which makes them so much degenerate not only from Christianity, but from Humanity it self, as if they were scarce the Excrement of either; contemning even that most Noble, Generous, Heroick Spirit that dwelt in many Heathens, who accounted it most honourable and glorious to contend for their Rights and Liberties, yea, to suffer Death, and the worst of Deaths, in Defence of the same; and judge them accursed and most execrable in the World that do so; and not only so, but, for their own profit and advantage, have many of them inslaved their Posterity by it, and are most industrious and laborious, most fierce and furious to destroy them, whereby they are become as unnatural as Children that seek the ruine of their Parents that begot them, and brought them forth; or them that lay violent hands upon themselves, dashing out their own Brains, cutting their own Throats, hanging and drawing themselves, ripping up their own Bellies, tearing out their own Bowels, they being in different senses Children and Members of that Body Politick they design and attempt the Destruction of; and when I know not how long the Duration and Continuance of these things shall be, or a Conclusion or End by God shall be put thereto, who by Divine and Unerring Wisdom governs the World; why shall my Soul be unwilling to take its flight into the unseen and eternal World? Where no sullied, sordid or impious thing, most incongruous and unbecoming Nature, shall be seen and found, and where I shall behold no narrow conclusive contracted Soul there, habitually preferring their private before a publick good, but all most unanimously and equally center in one common universal good and where the sighs, and groans, and cries of the afflicted and persecuted, shall be heard no more for ever.
I earnestly exhort all most highly to prize and value Time, and diligently improve it for Eternity; to be wise, seriously and seasonably to consider of their latter End: for by the irrepealable and irreversible Law of Heaven we must all die, yet we know not how, where, or when. Live with your Souls full of solicitude and care, with a most deep concernedness, and most diligent industriousness, whilst you have time and opportunity, and the means of Grace, Health, and Strength, make sure of these two great things, viz.
1. What merits for you a Right and Title to Eternal Life and Glory, and the future unchangeable Blessedness, as the Redeemers most precious Blood and Righteousness; that thereby a real Application and Imputation may be unto you by sincere Believing. (2.) That that which makes you qualified Subjects for it, is the great work of Regeneration, wrought in your Souls, being renewed in the Spirit of your Minds, the Divine Nature being imprest upon them, repairing of the depraved Image of God in you; th…t being transformed into his own likeness, thereby in the World you may mind an… savour more the things of the Spirit than the things of the Flesh, Celestial and Heavenly more than Terrestrial and Earthly, Superiour more than inferiour things: And therewith have a holy Life and Conversation conjoyned, that results and springs from the same, as Fruit from the Root, and Acts from the Habits. Let all, in order thereto, seriously consider these few Texts of sacred Scripture, let them predominately possess you; let them be deeply and indelibly Transcribed upon your Souls; let them be assimilated thereunto, and made the written Epistles, the lively Pictures thereof, Matth. 5.8, 20. Blessed be the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Vers. 20. For I say unto you except your Righteousness exceed the Righ…eousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. John 3.3. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. 1 Cor. 6.9, 10, 11. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God, &c. Gal. 5.19, 20, to 23. Now the works of the Flesh are manifest, which are these, Adultery, &c. James 1.18. Of his own Will begat he us with the Word of Truth, that we should be a kind of fi…st fruits of his Creatures. 1 Pet. 1.3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant Mercy, hath begotten us again to a lively hope by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Vers. 13. Wherefore gird up the loyns of your Minds, &c. Colos. 3.1, 2. If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things that are above: Set your affections on things above, not, &c. Gal. 5.24. And they that are Christs have crucified the Flesh with the Affections and Lusts, &c. Eph. 2.1. And you hath he quickned, who were dead in trespasses and sins, Rev. 20.6. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first Resurrection, on such the second Death hath no power. Rom. 8.1. There is therefore now no Condemnation, &c. 1 Pet. 1.15. But as he that hath called you is holy, so be ye, &c. Vers. 23. Being born again, not of corruptible Seed, &c. Psal. 4.3. But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself, &c. I shall mention now no more, the whole Bible abounds with these Texts, with what a Renovation and Change of our Carnal and Corrupt Hearts and Natures, there must be, with Holiness of Life and Conversation, before we can be capable of a future and blessed Immortality, and of inheriting the Kingdom of God for ever and ever. Amen.
A Letter written by Mr. John Hicks, Octob. 5. the day before his Death.
My Dear Nephew,
I Am yet in the Land of the Living, though in the Mouth of Death; I have been concern'd for you, next to my own Children; before I die, I thought fit … write two or three Lines to you, a… a Manifestation of my great Love to you: I earnestly desire the welfar of you here, and to Eternity hereafter; next to my own Wife and Children, you will want me when I am gone; but I hope the Lord will take care of you; make it your business to walk with him, to serve him faithfully; flee youthful Lusts, and Remember your Creator in the days of your Youth; be deeply concern'd to have your Heart▪ and Nature chang'd, and an interest in Christ secur'd unto you. Death comes suddenly, you know not when, where, nor how you shall die: Let time therefore be most precious to you; fill it up with Work and Duty; Live by faith more than by sense; and this will stand by you when you come to …ie: Seek the things which are above, and set your Affections upon them; have your Conversation in Heaven, whilst you are upon Ea…th▪ When you see your Parents, give my dear Love to them and their Children; the Lord grant that we may meet in his everlasting Kingdom: When you see any of your Cousins, give my dear Love to them, and be not asham'd of my Sufferings. I wrote last Saturday was a Seven-night to my Brother George, but whether he is at London or Worcester, I know not; I wrote to him, to desire him to Petition the King, that some Favour and Mercy might be shewed me, if he thought fit. Things that are made to aggravate my Crime, I am clear from; as that I perswaded the Duke of Monmouth to assume the Title of King at Taunton, when I was not there with him, or in Thirteen days after he came into England; and that I rode to and fro in the West, to perswade People to go in to his Army, when I was in the East, and ca… from thence to hi… in the West; but my Non-conformity cuts me, and obstructs the King's Mercy from being extended t… me, as I am told; but the Will of the Lord be done; the Life to come is infinitely better than this: Many more things are laid to my Charge, which I am no more guitly of than your self. If your Vncle be in Town, go speedily to him, and give him my dear Love. I pray for you, who am,
Your most Affectionate Uncle, J. H. Octob. 5. 1685.
A Letter to his Wife, Sept. 23. 1685.
My Dearest Love,
I Hope you received a few Lines from me, by the way of London; once more I write to you, by your faithful and trusty Friend W. D. who hath been at Exon. If there be need for it, he knows many of my dear and faithful Friends there, who wish you would come and live among them; and if your Estate fail, I think i… very advisable so to do; I hope God will stand by you, and defend you: My dear, se… me in God, as I must you. I must now bid adieu to all Earthly and Worldly Comforts, and all the pleasant and delightful Objects of Sense. I bless God for all present Mercies and Comforts hitherto I have had; what will be after this day, I know not, but the Will of the Lord be done.
My Dear, Be very cautious not to speak one Word, lest it be wrested to a wrong Sense, which may ruin… you; I have not writ what I would of this Nature, take the Advice of Friends, and of what I send by our Friend. O let not the Everlasting Arms of God be with-drawn from you one Moment; and let him strengthen you with all Might, according to his glorious Power, and to all Patience and Long-suffering, with Joyfulness! Pray hard for Victory over Passion, and be much in private Closet Prayer with God; and often read the Holy Bible, and other good Books; the Lord continually guide, direct and counsel you. My Dear, I return you a thousand thanks for all the Love you have shew'd me and my Children, and particularly for the high and great Demo…stration you have given hereof in this day of my distress. I hope my Daughters will be as dutiful to you, and be as much concerned for your comfort and welfare, as if you had travelled with them, and brought them into the world; God bless my dear little Ones and them together, I shall die their most affectionate and praying Father; God I hope, will uphold, support, and comfort me at the last hour, and enable me to overcome the Temptations I shall violently be assaulted with before I die. God by his infinite and freest Mercies in Jesus Christ, pardon all the neglect of Relative Duties, (which I have bitterly lamented and bewail'd before God, with all the Sins I am guilty of) for the sake of our dearest Lord and Redeemer. The Lord make you grow in all Grac… more than ever, and make this great Affliction so humbly purifying and spiritualizing to you as w…ll as me, that it may work for us both a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory. Let him take your Soul into his most dearest Embraces, and lodge it in the bosom of his Love here, and make us to meet in the full and everlasting Fruition and Enjoyment of him hereafter. Though it be da…gerous for you to vindicate that I die for, yet be not too much cast down for it: I will say no more as to that. My hearty and affectionate Respects to all my dear Friends; I need not name them; I hope to meet them, with your self, to inherit Eternal Life, through the Merits of Christ's Death. Farewel, my Dear, farewel in the Lord, until we meet to be married to him for ever. My heart is as full of Love to thee, as it was the first day I married thee; and if God spar'd my Life, it should have been as fully manifested until death: Therefore I rest,
Your most Affectionate and Endeared Husband, J. H. Sept. 23. 1685.
Another Letter.
My Dearest Love,
I Received your Letter by Mr. Skinner; I bless God that you and my Babes are well; the Lord continue their Lives to be a Blessing and Comfort to you, and enable you to see them well Educated in the fear of God; and when God takes me away, let him be a Husband to guide, direct, succour, comfort and support you, and to lodge your Soul in the Bosom of his Love; and let him be a Father to them, and their Portion for ever. Monday last my Brother went to London to try what could be done for me; what the success will be, I know not: I desire the Lord every day to prepare me for Death, and carry me above the Fear of it, by the discoveries of his everlasting Love unto my Soul, and clearing up my Right and Title to everlasting Life; and by Sealing up to me the Pardon of all my Sins, through the most precious Blood of Jesus Chr…st. Let u… pray hard and much for each oth…r: When I leave this world, it shall be with Prayer fo… …hee; if God give me life how shall I study to be a comfort to thee, and to live up to my Marriage as well as Baptismal …ovenant! to all my Friends Tend…r my affectionate Respects: I hope their Prayers will one way or other be heard for me; let the Almighty be your Pro…ctor, Supporter and Comforter. There be two Books I do recommend to you to read when you are retir'd, as well as in your Family: Pierce's Preparation for Death, and Fox's Red…mption of Time. Now let our Soul… meet together in one most Blessed God, in our dearest Jesus, and sweetest Saviour; let them clasp and cling about him, and be sick for the love of h…m; and that we may meet to enjoy him fully to Et…rnity, and be satisfied with his Love for ever. A thousand Loves, if I had them, I would send to thee, next to my dearest Lord Jesus, and the things that are heavenly, spiritual and immortal: I love thee: what I can spare for thee, is convey'd to thee and my dear Children, from
Thy most Affectionate and Faithful Husband, and their most loving Father, J. H.
Another Letter.
My most dear Love,
I Hope you have received my last; once more, as a dead a…d living Man (through difficulty) I write to you, though I yet do not know when or where I shall die, but expect Death every day; when that Message is brought to me, I hope, through the Grace and Streng…h of Christ, it will be no surprize to me; that neither my Lips, Flesh, nor Heart will tremble when I hear it; I know the cause for which I suffer; God hath and has singled me out from many of my Brethren (which I never have been without some apprehensions of for above these twenty years) to lay down my Life; how far it is for his Cause, will be judged at the last day: I bless God, who hath kept me from all Temptations to Conformity; though it has brought me to ruine and destruction in this world, it will be no fit Season for you to Vindicate that for which I am call'd to supper, be silent, and leave it to God; I advise you to all Prudence in this case: have your own reserv'd thoughts, and let them concerning me, support and comfort you; if there never happen a time for you to Glory in my Sufferings, it will be hereafter; do you but walk with God (though through Prudence you must hold your Tongue) and be not asham'd you had such a Husband; I thank God that gave it me, whose Courage and Publick Spirit for the Protestant Religion, the Civil Liberties of his Country, even true English Liberties, hath in this ignominious way, brought me to the Conclusion and End of my time. Mourn not, my Dear, as one without Hope, let the World know you have something from me, something from your self as a Christian, but ten thousand times more from God to comfort and support you; see Christ by an eye of Faith, infinitely more lovely and beautiful than my self; let him be married to your Soul; let him be the chiefest of ten thousand, and more dear and precious to you; it is not long we shall be separated, before we shall see one another in a Spiritual Enjoyment, separated from all Fleshly Pleasures and Delights, yet i…finitely m…re sweet and satisfying to Immortal Spirits, as you and I us'd to see S…re…ms from the Fountain and the largest Streams in the Ocean; so let us see one another in God, the ever-flowing and over-flowing Fountain of all Good, the fathomless and boundless Ocean of Good. Se…k much the things which are above; live with your Affections set upon them; and have your Conversation in Heaven whilst you are upon Earth. I continue yet to pray for you, as for my se…f, and shall con…inue to do it until I die; in my last Prayers you shall be interested with my dear Babes, whom I hope God will take into Covenant with him, and number them among his Adopted Ones, and of that incorrup…ible Inheritance which is in Heaven: I hope God will spare your Life to see them Educated, and guide and assist you therein, and theirs to be a blessing and comfort to you: Co…sider your Condition is not single and alone, this Country affords a multitude of the like sad and deplorable Instances; let this make you more to possess your Soul with Patience and Humility, calmly and quietly to submit to the good Will of God. I have left a Paper behind me for you to read, and our Friend can tell with what difficulty I write it, therefore must have many Defects and Imperfections, which must be over-looked and mended; preserve …he two Bibles for my dear James and Betty: What shall I say more, my Dearest? I must break off with my Heart full of Love to thee; and subscribe my self,
Thy most dear and Affectionate Husband till Death, J. H. Octob. 3. 1685.
Captain Abraham Ansley's Last Speech.
I Am come to pay a Debt to Nature; 'tis a Debt that all must pay, though some after one manner, and some after another: The way that I pay it, may be thought by s…me few ignominious but not so by me; having long since, as a true Engli…hman, …hou…ht it my Duty to venture my …ife in defence of the Protestant Religion against Popery and Arbitrary Power: For this same purpose I came from my House to the D. of M's Army: At first I was a Lieutenant, and then a Captain, and I was in all the Action the F…ot was engaged in, which I do not repent: For had I a thousand Lives, they should all have been engaged in the same Cause, although it has pleased the wise God (for reasons best known to himself to blast our Designs; but he will deliver his People by ways we know nor think not of: I might have saved my Life, if I would have done as some narrow-soul'd Persons have done, by impeaching others; but I abhor such ways of Deliverance, choosing rather to suffer Affliction with the People of God than to enjoy Life with Sin. As to my Religion, I own the way and Practice of the Independent Church, and in that Faith I die, depending on the merits of our Saviour Jesus Christ, for my Eternal Salvation: His Blessing be with you all. Farewell to thee, poor England, Farewell.
Abraham Ansley.
Mr. Annesley's Last Letter.
SIR,
I now send you my last Farewel, being going to lay down my Life with joy, and assurance of Life eternal; for which, blessed be the Holy one of Israel, who never leaves nor forsakes those that put their trust in him, and give you many thanks for your kindness to me, the Lord make it up to you; by pouring upon you a daily Portion of his most Holy Spirit, and deliver you from your Bonds. My Enemies have done what they could to afflict this Body; but blessed be the most High, who has given me Strength, Patience, and Courage to endure all they can lay upon me. The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Fellowship of his Holy Spirit …ttend you; which is the Prayer of your dying Friend, but living Brother in Christ Jesus,
ABRAHAM ANSLEY. From Taunton Castle, Sept. 21. 1685.