A Looking Glass for Malignants, Examples – Epilogue
Examples.
The firſt fearfull example (then) of Gods moſt juſt vindicative hand and avenging indignation, even moſt evidently falling heavy by a ſore and heart-piercing perſonall blow upon the outragious maligners, and graceleſſe and godleſſe inveterate haters of the wayes of Piety, and truly and thorowly intended Reformation of Religion ſhall be this:
One Charles Roſe (a Roſe of a very unſavory ſent) an Apprentice to one Maſter Charnell a Carver of VVood,Gods hand upon a moſt deſperate malignant Apprentice of London as a juſt caveat to all malignant London Apprentices. at the upper end of Fanchurch-ſtreet neere Algate in London, who put himſelfe into the Parliaments ſervice a little after Bartholomew tide 1642. pretending to be willing to ſide with the Parliament againſt the common enemy, but ſecretly intended and reſolved when he ſhould finde a faire opportunity (as he told his fellow-ſervant) to joyne with the King and his Army againſt the Parliament: And when he was to goe forth, declared further (in the hearing of his Miſtreſſe) That he was now going to helpe to make halters to hang the Round-heads. And it was obſerved by his Maſter, in his former carriage, That he was of a refractory, yet diſſembling ſpirit; and thus he marching forth with a baſe treacherous heart to the cauſe of God and the Parliament, was ſuddenly ſtricken by the juſt hand of God on the way, ſometimes ill and ſometimes well, and being at laſt in his march as farre as into Buckinghamſhire in the way to Alisbury, he was ſuddenly and fearfully ſtricken mad and utterly diſtracted & bereft of his ſenſes. Now three of my very loving and religious friends travelling into thoſe parts, found this wretched young man in the high way as they rode, and ſaw him one of the ſaddeſt ſpectacles that ever they beheld, for he was ſtarke naked, onelyonly a courſe old ſackcloth throwne over his ſhoulder, neither Hat on his head, nor Shoes on his feet, his eyes very red with weeping, and ſtanding and ſtaring as one affrighted; ſo theſe my friends came to him, asked him whither he was going, and whence he came, but hee would give them no anſwer, nor take any reliefe in money (which they proffered him) but fell downe and cryed out, Oh my Soule, my Soule; whereupon they all three ſtayed ſtill, alighted from their horſes, and with much adoe, at laſt got him to the next Towne, and by the way he was heard to ſay, Blood, Blood. It pleaſed God to direct theſe my friends to an Inne in the Towne, where the Hoſteſſe of the houſe, on knowledge of his name, knew his father; where theſe my good friends tooke ſome care to have him lookt unto, and ſome of the Towne tooke care after their departure to have him conveyed to his Father, who lived ſome 16. or 18. miles from that place about Oxford. When his Father ſaw him, he churliſhly refuſed to give him any entertainment (which, I confeſſe, was inhumanely and unnaturally done) yet herein obſerve the righteous hand of God too, who as he hath promiſed, that when a mans wayes pleaſe him, Prov. 16. 7.he will make even his enemies to be at peace with him; So likewiſe (by the juſt law of contraries) when our wayes, wits, and parts are againſt God and goodneſſe, he will make even our beſt friends to be at enmity with us. For, as here, his father, I ſay, utterly rejected him, and ſuddenly diſpatched him to London to his Maſter, where he lived a while after pitifully diſtracted, and never recovered his ſenſes againe; but about three houres before his death, he ſeemed to have ſome reaſonable apprehenſion of things, and to be ſomewhat ſenſible, and juſt then was heard to cry out bitterly, He was a dogge, he was a damned wretch, and thus miſerably died. And the truth of all theſe paſſages, ſince my three honeſt and religious friends left him, they had from his Maſter and Miſtreſſe, upon their farther enquiry after him. O that this ſad and fearfull example of this ſo ſure and ſevere hand of God upon this malignant young man, might be as terrible to our London malignant Apprentices, yea, and their malignant Maſters too, as that affrighting hand-writing on the wall was to that wicked Belſhazar, to make them tremble and quake, and to make them heare and feare, and doe no more ſo wickedly.
In the time of the ſiege of Hull in Yorkeſhire, in the yeere of the Lord 1641.2. A Maſter Gunner, at the ſiege of Hull ſmitten dead upon his fearfull curſing and ſhooting off of a Piece of Ordnance. among many other very memorable and remarkeable paſſages in that famous ſiege this was one, which I have by moſt credible and indubitable information from thence, That the Kings Cormorants having ſtraitly begirt that ſtrong Town by land and by water alſo, and they having planted three pieces of Ordnance at a point of the river called Haſſell, to hinder any paſſage of Barkes and Veſſels from comming into Hull, and a Keele comming laden in the River toward the Towne, the Maſter Gunner ſhot at her, and miſt her, whereupon being (it ſeems) inraged, he ſwore, God damne him, if he did not ſinke her at the next ſhot: And preſently charging a Piece as he thought fit, and furiouſly diſcharging it, the Piece brake in pieces, and inſtantly killed the Maſter Gunner himſelfe, and ſome two or three others that ſtood neere unto him; but the Barke or Veſſell paſſed ſafely into Hull, without any prejudice or hurt. A moſt fearefull example to terrifie (I ſhould thinke, if it might be) ſuch execrable curſing and ſwearing Malignants. The truth whereof was (I ſay) confirmed by moſt credible teſtimony from Hull, immediately after this accident … out.
In the yeere alſo 1642. ſome of Prince Ruperts Forces facing and aſſaulting Windſor-Caſtle, 3. A Captaine in Prince Ruperts Army at Eaton neer Windſore fearfully ſlaine as he was furiouſly curſingand making many ſhots at it, but ſtill miſſing what they aimed at, it being a little aime, and ſo not eaſily hit, a Captaine amongſt them (but his name my honeſt Intelligencer knew not) from Eaton, where they had made their Station, cryed out to the Gunner, who was going to fire a Drake againſt the Caſtle, Give me thy Gun-ſtocke, for, God damne me (ſayes this wretch alſo) I will ſlay ſome of thoſe Round-head Dogs; and while the Oath or cauſleſſe Curſe was yet warme in his mouth, ere hee could fire the Piece, a ſhot from the Caſtle daſht him in the face, brake his teeth into his throat, of the paine and ſmart whereof he lay lingring in much miſery for two or three dayes, and then died in a miſerable and wretched condition. This relation I had from a very honeſt Gentleman (then a Souldier and Officer in Windſore-Caſtle) and my very good friend and acquaintance, whoſe teſtimony I know to be without exception.
About Aprill 23. 1643. being the Lords Day, one Maſter Morton, Vicar of Sheriff-Hales, 4. A malignant Miniſter in the midſt of his Sermon inveighing againſt Round-Heads, ſuddenly and fearfully ſmitten dumb.preaching upon a portion of Scripture out of the 120. Pſalme, tooke occaſion thence in his Sermon to vent bitter imprecations againſt Round-heads (that is, Gods faithfull ſervants, and the Kings and Parliaments loyall and faſteſt friends) charging them with Faction, Rebellion, and ſuch like opprobrious ſcandals, adding withall, in expreſſe termes, That the Powder-plot, and other Treaſons that have beene practiſed by Papiſts, were nothing to this late Round-new-invention of the Round-heads. At which words (having ſtood hardly halfe his time) he moſt ſtrangely on a ſudden gaſped and gaped as he ſtood in the Pulpit, and ſtared in the Auditors faces, but could not ſpeak a word more for a good ſpace after, the people all that while, being amazed at this ſo ſudden and moſt ſtrange a dumbe-ſhew in him. At length he ſtooping downe, as it were to take up ſome what at his feet, re-erected himſelfe, and then ſaid, Let us give thankes for what we have heard, which he accordingly did, in a ſumbling and hardly intelligible manner▪ and ſoone made an end, and ſo went home; but what became of him ſince I have not heard.
Alſo in the pariſh of Hollowell in Oxford, one of the inhabitants of the ſaid pariſh being a moſt licentious and prophane fellow, ſet up a May-pole in the Summer-time, 1641. and that it might tranſcend the vanities and impieties of other May-poles,5. Gods judgement on a wicked fellow at Oxford in ſetting up a Maypole with a Roundhead on it, and ſhooting at it. ſet upon this the picture of a man in a Tub, thereby (as he ſaid) to deſcribe a Round-head; which picture, as it was credibly reported, he made in deriſion of a godly Gentleman, a Munciple of one of the Colledges in Oxford; and the reaſon why it muſt repreſent this Gentleman, was, becauſe he was truely religious and uſed repetition of Sermons, ſinging of Pſalmes, and other holy duties in his houſe. This picture being thus ſet up on the May-pole, the ſaid prophane fellow the authour of it, with his looſe and licentious companions, making themſelves mad-merry about it, at laſt muſt needs goe ſhoot at the Round-head upon it, and having for this purpoſe brought Muskets with them and other pieces, one of them, being the ſervant of the chiefe maſter of this wicked May-game, ſhot and did hit the Picture; at which the ſaid Maſter fell a laughing extreamly, and on a ſudden ſunke downe, falling into a ſharpe and terrible convulſion fit, and ſo continued a long time after very ſicke, and in great paine and miſery; but whether he be ſince alive or dead, I am uncertaine. This relation I had confirmed to me by an honeſt young Gentleman a Scholler of Oxford, then reſident in Oxford, and an eye-witneſſe of moſt of it, beſides other credible information.
In the ſame City of Oxford alſo, a company of prophane fellows and deepe drinkers met together in a Taverne, and being (… the cuſtome is) mad-merry,6. Gods hand upon one drinking healths to the confuſion of the Round-heads in a Taverne. in the midſt of their cups would needs goe drinke a health to the confesſion of Round heads, which having accordingly gone round, one among the reſt not content therewith (being, it ſhould ſeem, too ſoundly whitled with his carouſed cups) would needs for joy (forſooth) of this health thus drunke, riſe up and dance, and cut a caper, uſing theſe or ſuch like words, Come (ſaies he) I will now cut a caper to the confuſion of Round-heads; but he beginning to dance and cut his caper, his head it ſeemes, being too light to rule his heeles, ſuddenly fell downe and broke his legge, whereof (being carried home) he lay in great paine and miſery, and not long after died thereof; this alſo confirmed by credible teſtimony, In the time of the ſiege of Redding by the right honourable the Earle of Eſſex the Parliaments moſt renowned Lord Generall, there hapned (as is well knowne) a moſt notable and remarkable skirmiſh between ſome of our Parliaments forces, and the Kings Cormorants from Oxford, at a place called Canſambridge, In which fight moſt valiantly and victoriouſly (by Gods admirable aſſiſtance) performed by ours, there fell out a moſt memorable and ſtrange paſſage, moſt pertinent to this our preſent purpoſe and worthy our moſt ſad and ſerious commemoration, namely, that among the many ſlaine and dead bodies on the Kings ſide,7. Gods moſt remarkable hand upon Serjeant-major generall Smith, ſlaine in the fight at Cauſam bridge, at the ſiege of Redding. (very many of them being prime Commanders and Officers in Armes, as was clearely diſcerned by their brave cloathes, pure fine Holland-ſhirts and faire skins, being ſtript naked at the end of the fight) there was found the body of Serjeant-major Smith Generall of the Kings Army, a moſt wicked and deſperate Cormorant, who being a very fat and corpulent fellow, was found with his belly ript up, and his Greace taken away out of his body; which very thing (as I had it by moſt credible and that not ſingle information) this wicked Smith had (about a twelve-monethmonth before, or not ſo much) threatned to act upon the Round-heads at Okenham, where ſome of the Kings forces were then quartered, but driven out by the Parliaments forces; where, and at which time of his enforced departure thence he was heard in a furious threatning manner to ſay, Well, farewell Round-heads for this time, but I will returne againe amongſt you, and then I will rip up your fat panches, and make medicines of your Greace, or words to this effect. A moſt remarkable patterne of the Lords juſtice on him, in ſo punctually repaying him (Adonibezech-like) in his owne coyne. And in the ſtripping of him (as was credibly reported) they found a Crucifix about him and other markes of the Romiſh beaſt, a fit Champion (among the reſt) to fight for the maintenance of the Proteſtant Religion.8. Gods wrathfull hand on divers young Gentlemen in a Tavern, abuſing the City Trainedbands, as they marched on in the ſtreet.
In the yeere alſo, 1642. there hapned another very fearefull example of Gods revengefull hand upon theſe moſt ungodly and graceleſſe abuſers and tongue-perſecutors of Gods people, which was thus; Divers royſtering and ſwaggering yong Gallants, being drinking in the Miter-Taverne in Fleet-ſtreet London, it ſo fell out, that in the time of their ſwaggering, ſwearing, and carowſing in the ſaid Taverne, the Trained-bands of the City paſſing by, one of theſe roaring gallants caſt out ſomething moſt unſeemely out of the Chamber-window among the ſaid ſouldiers, uſing alſo ſome very abuſive language againſt them; whereupon, one of them having more Gentility and ingenuity of ſpirit than the reſt, reproved them that did it; whereupon they furiouſly asked him if he were a Round-head, and preſently drew their Swords one upon an other, and this Gentleman being ſuddenly made at by one of them, puts by his thruſt, got within him, and ſtab'd him with a Stilletto; the other two alſo comming on him, he likewiſe wounded them both; of which three wounded, two of them immediately died, and the recovery of the third was very queſtionable and dangerous; Which done, this Gentleman made a way downe the ſtaires with his Sword in one hand, and the Stillet to in the other, and running downe Ram-alley got to the water and ſo eſcaped away. This I had from unqueſtionable information, the very morning it was done, I my ſelfe going into Fleet-ſtreet betimes that morning on ſome buſineſſe of mine owne, where and when I heard it exactly and fully telated to me.
About the 20 of Iune alſo 1643, One Mrs ▪ Haughton wife to Mr. Wil. 9. A monſtrous and prodigious child borne in Lancaſhire of moſt malignant parents, and the moſt fearfull and remarkable circumſtances in and about it, to the terrour of malignants.Haughton of Prickmarſh within the pariſh of Kirkham in Leyfield in Lancaſhire, was delivered of a child ſtill-borne, which had no head, yet two eares, two eyes, and a mouth in the breſt of it, and the hands turning backwards to the elbowes, with a cleft down the backe; ſo as it was not diſcernable whether it were male or female. After this child had beene buried two or three daies, the Midwife teporting its monſtrous and prodigious ſhape & not being credited, it was thereupon taken out of the grave and reviewed, and was apparently found to be as is already deſcribed, & as was reported to be; only a bundle of clouts was taken up with it, which (it ſeems, & was known) the parents had (in proportion of a head) cauſed to be fitted unto it. Now that which is very remarkable herein is this▪ That the parents of this monſter were (even as their owne parents alſo and predeceſſours were) notorious profeſt▪ Papiſts, impudently abuſive towards Proteſtants, curſing and calling them familiarly by the name of Round-heads; … that which is yet more memorable herein, and moſt remarkably worthy our ſerious conſideration, and moſt clearely demonſtrates that foreſaid prodigious birth to be a direct judgement of the Lord for deſperate malignancy againſt the Lords choice ones, is this, that the Grandmother of that monſter was ſhe (whom pious Mr Prynne (to her indeleble and perpetuall infamy) hath already ſet forth in print▪ in his famous Hiſtory of that pair-royall of heroicke ſufferers, Dr. Baſtwicke▪ Mr. Burton, and Mr. Prynne,) who out of an inveterate malignity againſt, and in divelliſh derifion of thoſe three foreſaid Worthies, called three Cats (which ſhe had at that time) by the names of thoſe three precious Chriſtians, and cut off the eares of thoſe her three Cats, both in deſperate diſdaine (as it ſhould ſeem) of their glorious ſufferings; and thereby alſo (in ſeeming jollity) to act again that more than Turkiſh Tragedy. And was not here a moſt notable and cleare evidence of Gods undoubted indignation againſt ſuch intolerably impious and impudent malignants as theſe, the Lord thus manifeſting that ſooner or later he will meet with their inſolent and moſt audacious impieties?
In November alſo, 1643. a malignant Souldier (being intended for ſervice of the Parliament) was hanged at Cambridge for running from his Colours, which came thus to paſſe: He with others alſo in the ſame condemnation being apprehended for the cauſe aforeſaid and by Martiall-law to caſt Dice for their lives;10. A malignant Souldier hanged at Cambridge for running from his Colours. this fellow comming to the Dice, when he threw them out, cryed at the caſt, Now, for God and the King, and God receive my ſoule. Whereupon it ſo fell out that he caſting the leaſt chance of the Dice, muſt ſuffer death, and ſo was accordingly executed at the ſame time▪ Now that which was very remarkable in Gods hand thus on this fellow (beſides the voluntary diſcovery of his Cavalierian-heart… in thoſe words, Now for God and the King, which is the Cavallers common ſignall word) was this, that when he was firſt preſt for a Souldier he was heard often to ſay, He would be hang'd before he would fight for the Parliament. Even juſt like Sir Iervaſe …ll…wales, once Lieutenant of the Tower of London in King Iames his daies, who was hanged on T…er-hill, for being acceſſary to the poyſoning of Sir Thomas Overbury, then his priſoner in the …ower, about the Earle of Somerſets buſineſſe. Which Sir Jervaſe himſelfe, being on the Ladder at the Gallowes freely confeſt; That in his life time he had oft (in his playing at Cards and Dice … that he might be hang'd if it were not ſo and ſo; and therefore ingenuouſly confeſ…'d Gods hand upon him for that ſinne. And ſo ſay I now here, See O thou unflexible and flinty-hearted malignant, how the Lord moſt juſtly met with this malignant spirited Souldier, paying him moſt palpably in his owne Coyne; as this moſt notable and perſonall example hath moſt clearly declared. This I received out of a Letter ſent by a religious young Gentleman, a Scholler of Cambridge, to his father, a very reverend Miniſter of the City of London, who gave me a tranſcript of it, and whoſe teſtimony is, I know, without all exception.
In Cree-church pariſh alſo, by Algate in London, one James Atkinſons wife, who with her ſaid husband, were both of them commonly noted to be moſt malignant enemies of the power and purity of the Goſpell,11. Gods hand moſt fearefully upon one Mrs. Atkinſon in Cree-church pariſh in London. and mockers of goodneſſe and good men; which her ungodly and ill diſpoſition ſhe manifeſted in the Church of the ſaid pariſh, at a Sermon preached there by reverend and religions Mr. Wells of New-England, who in his Sermon, deſired his auditors that they would not ſleepe; & ſhe being aſleep at that time, and awakened by one Mrs. Clarke her neighbour, a godly Gentlewoman of the ſame pariſh, and that in a very loving and neighbourly way, by jogging of her knee as they ſate together in the Pew; But ſhe preſently upon her awakening fell into ſtrange expreſſions of rage and fury, and inſtantly belched out theſe wicked words, O you bold drunken flut, doe you kick me? with divers other ſuch uncivill ſpeeches. All which the ſaid Mrs. Clarke very piouſly and diſcreetly (for the preſent) put up in modeſt and grave ſilence, and onelyonly acquainted her husband, a very religious Gentleman, with Mrs. Atkinſons ſaid uſage of her in the forenoone, and therewith expreſſed her unwillingneſſe to fit againe with her in the Few. Whereupon Mr. Clarke unwilling there ſhould be any further difference between them, at leaſt to continue with any private heart-burning againſt each other, repaired to the Miniſter of the ſaid Church, and deſired that he with the Church wardens and ſome of the ancienteſt of the Pariſh would after the afternoones Sermon ſend for Mr. Atkinſon to ſee whether he would abet or countenance his wife in this her ill carriage. According to the ſaid deſire he was ſent for, and came; where, after he had asked the cauſe of his being ſent for; and Mr. Clarke beginning to relate it, Atkinſon would not ſuffer him to goe on, but he alſo brake forth into foule words, and told him, He lied; for Mrs. Clarke, he ſaid, did kick his wife in the Church. Whereupon, the Lecturer of the ſaid Church Mr. Falkingham, deſired in love to take him off, intreating him that each of them might be heard, and ſo the buſineſſe would be the better and ſooner reconciled. To whom Atkinſon replyed, Sir, I have nothing to doe with you; nor you with me. And to Captaine Cower, who reproved him for ſuch ill behaviour, he ſaid, You are a Bl…ckhead and a Roundhead; and thereupon went haſtily and fretfully out of the Veſtry, and fetcht his wife, who alſo came thither in a great heat, and (very probably) full of bitterneſſe; and ſome credibly reported, that ſhe had boaſted, being at home, how ſhe had uſed Mrs. Clarke. But moſt certaine it is, that in the Veſtry, (being queſtioned of theſe things) ſhe wiſhed ſhe might never goe home alive, if Mrs. Clarke did not kick her, and ſaid, ſhe would have the Law on her for it. And both ſhe and her husband did utter many other bitter words, at, and before this moſt evident token of Gods diſpleaſure: for (as I before touched) it was well knowne that they both had been a long time much diſaffected to pure religion and were very ready oft-times, not onelyonly to ſpeake evill of ordinary Chriſtians, but even of Gods owne Meſſengers; and now, I ſay, at this time, ſhe eſpecially ſuffering her tongue to wander beyond its bounds, it pleaſed the Lord that preſently after that fearefull imprecation upon her ſelfe, afore-mentioned, ſhe was ſtricken ſo ill, that ſhe began to falter in her ſpeech; inſomuch that thoſe preſent tooke notice of it, and thereupon ſhe was led forth of the Veſtry into the Church-yard and ſet downe upon a bench there, where ſhe had meanes uſed for her recovery; but ſhe in a very ſhort time there died, and was carried home dead: And which is yet more remarkably fearefull, it was credibly affirmed that a little before her death (in her forementioned weakeneſſe, one of the women about her had ſaid unto her, that certainely Mrs. Clarke would not abuſe her; but ſhe inſtantly curſed her, ſaying, A pox on you, you are one of the holy ſiſters; and that it was obſerved by ſome at the time of her death, that her tongue turned blacke in her head. A moſt terrible and dreadfull example of Gods wrath and indignation, both to her moſt malignant husband, and all ſuch irreligious spirits, as either in themſelves, wives, or friends mannage and countenance ſuch unchriſtianlike waies and wicked courſes. All this I have by moſt unqueſtionable information both from Mr. Clarke himſelfe, and from others who moſt exactly knew the truth of theſe things.
Upon Tueſday alſo Novemb. 23. 1642. about 11 of the clocke at night, the monethly Faſt-day being the very next day after it, one Captaine Bard of Sir Francis Wortleys Regiment, with about thirty Horſe came from Ludlow in the County of Salop, of purpoſe to plunder the houſe of one Mr. Iohn Green a reverend, godly, and learned Divine (and one of the Aſſembly of Divines at Weſtminster) Paſtor of Pencombe in the County of Hereford, 12. Gods hand moſt remarkably upon a Cornet of a Troop of horſe comming to plunder a very godly Miniſters houſe.being eleven miles diſtant from the ſaid Ludlow. Who being accordingly come to the ſaid Miniſters houſe, whiles ſome of the Souldiers were breaking open the doore of his dwelling houſe, one Ogle a Northern man and a Cornet of the ſaid Troope of Horſe was the firſt that brake open the ſtable doore; and as ſoone as ever the ſaid Ogle was ſtepping over the threſhold to goe into the ſtable firſt, as the Miniſters ſervants who lay in a chamber adjoyning to the ſtable reported, and teſtified) he fell downe as dead into the ſtable, and in the morning his Hat and a ſmall Piece were found in the ſtable behind a ſtone-horſe (which ſtood in a ſtall next the ſtable▪ doore, which was made up ſo firme with plankes and barres both behind and on each ſide of him, that he could not poſſibly ſtrike him) and ſo ſome of the other Souldiers brought him into the ſaid Miniſters houſe as a dead man, the Captaine ſaying, that he fainted for want of meat, and ſo deſired that ſome comfortable refreſhing might be given him. Then they placed him in a Chaire, and ſo having plundered what they thought fit from the godly Miniſter, they left the Cornet there and returned to Ludlow. About ſome 2 houres after he began to revive, and a little to come to his ſpeech, and the firſt words he uttered (after an imperfect manner, were, Holy mother of God helpe me; and by his often croſſing of himſelfe, and by the teſtimony of others there that knew him, he was diſcovered to be a profeſt Papiſt. Thus he continued a ſenceleſſe man▪ his head, hands, and joynts of his body, ſeeming quite looſe, he ſpake very little and ſeldome and imperfectly, did eate whatever was given him, and would plucke raw meat from the ſpit newly laid to the fire and offer to eate it; and as he ſate in his chaire, if he offered to leane forward, he would fall into the fire; if he leaned backward, he would fall downe backward; and one night he was found under his bed wrapt up in one of the ſheets onelyonly in his ſhirt. The women that attended and watched with him, upon a diligent ſearch of his body, could not diſcerne or perceive any bruiſe or ſo much as diſcolouring of his skinne in any part of his body; whereby they all could not but clearely conceive and believe it to be the immediate hand of God upon him; and at that time ſome of his owne Companions were heard to ſay, (as was credibly informed) Let us be gone hence, for God fights againſt us. This ſaid Cornet being ſent for to Ludlow upon the Saturday following the Souldiers at his firſt comming ſeeing him in that ſenceleſſe condition, ſaid, Sure he was drunke; but he ſtill continued after the very ſame manner as was forementioned, without ſence or underſtanding, and a little time after (as the Captaine himſelfe reported) died in that ſenceleſneſſe. All this being teſtified for moſt true, both by the ſaid reverend Miniſter Mr. Greene himſelfe, by his ſervants, and divers others who were eye-witneſſes of all theſe premiſes.
About the midſt of Ianuary alſo,13. Gods immediate and remarkable hand upon one Laurence Hyde, a deſperate malignant againſt the Parliament 1643. there fell out a moſt memorable and fearefull example of Gods immediate puniſhing hand (neere unto the City of Salisbury) upon a moſt peſtilent and deſperate malignant and perſecuter of Gods people in thoſe parts; namely, one Laurence Hyde a Commiſſioner of enquiry after all ſuch as had either given or lent any thing for the Parliaments ſervice; who the very ſame day that Heath, Bankes, Foſter, and Glanvill, thoſe wicked Oxonian Earthwormes, Judges, and Lawyers of illegalities, came into the City of Salisbury, to keepe the Aſſizes there) having threatned moſt vigorouſly to proſecute all the Roundheads in thoſe parts at the ſaid Aſſizes; and thus riding with his Commiſſion (as Saul to Damaſcus, though not with ſuch a bleſſed blow to beat him off from his horſe to holy repentance) as he was haſtily riding on, within a mile of the ſaid City he ſuddenly fell from his Horſe and ſo brake his necke or his ſhoulder-bone in the fall, that thereby he inſtantly died before he could be brought alive into the Towne. Being thus by Gods moſt evident and heavy hand upon him, cut ſhort and deprived of power to doe that miſchiefe to Gods honeſt and innocent hidden-ones, which (as 'twas well knowne) he had frequently before menaced againſt them. The truth of this I have confirmed unto me, not onelyonly by the printed relation, (but as my cuſtome is in all ſuch like occaſions) upon diligent enquiry from ſuch honeſt and credible teſtimony,14. Gods hand upon 3 malignant Citizens, being all three neighbours together on Ludgate-hill in London. as I know to be without all exception.
There were alſo three neighbours dwelling on Ludgate-hill in London, two of them Hoſiers, dwelling directly one over againſt the other, the third a Wollen-Draper, who lived next doore to one of the Hoſiers, all three of them of one minde in malignancy, and inveterate enemies to the Parliaments proceedings. One of theſe Hoſiers in the monethmonth of January 1642. did intimate unto the other Hoſier his deſire and purpoſe to goe to Oxford, which the other underſtanding, conſented and promiſed to goe along with him, and accordingly away they went, and what their worke and buſineſſe was there, though not certainly knowne, yet may be eaſily judged, no goodneſſe, to be ſure of it; but about a weeke after, one of them having ſpent (as 'twas beleeved) all his ſpare prodigall money, or done his wicked worke, returned backe againe to his houſe in London; the other ſtayed there longer behinde, and came not backe with him. Within a few dayes after the returne home of the ſaid Hoſier, he with his ſaid neighbour the malignant Woollen-Draper, went (as it was knowne to be their cuſtome) to the Taverne, called The Devill and Saint Dunſtones neere Temple-Barre, together with ſome others, ejuſdem farinae, of the ſame temper, or untempered mouldy-Malignancy, their buſineſſe there being to be mad-merry, and to drinke healths to Prince Rupert that Prince of Plunderers, the Atheiſticall Marqueſſe of Newcaſtle, and ſuch others of that rotten-rout: Now it ſo fell out that one of their Companions proved more civill then the reſt, and ſhewed his diſlike of theſe their doings; whereupon the Hoſier began to quarrell with that man, and from their wrangling diſcourſe they both fell to fighting, and as the Hoſier was ſtrugling with the ſaid party, there comes a third man and violently pulled the Hoſier off, who inſtantly fell backward, and with the fall brake his legge, whereof he lay under cure a long time after. The Woollen-Draper, his foreſaid Aſſociate, being a prodigall Spend-thrift, and runne much in debt to his Creditors, they (on the very ſame day of this their drinking in the ſaid Taverne, and at the very ſame inſtant time of his drinking healths there) came with Serjeants and Officers, ſeized on all his clothes and goods, whereof hee hearing, and knowing himſelfe thereby undone in his eſtate, inſtantly fled away, and was no more ſeene. The third partie of the foreſaid ungodly ſociety, to wit, the other Hoſier, (late ſervant to one Pate, a moſt deſperate Malignant alſo againſt God and the Parliament, and a notorious ſcoffer at godlineſſe and good men) who, I told you before, continued at Oxford, and came not home with his fellow Hoſier, abiding ſtill, I ſay, behinde at Oxford, kept continuall company with the Kings Cormorants there, drinking and ſwilling day and night in their deboiſt company, and that in ſuch exceſſive and immoderate meaſure, that he was not onelyonly drunke, but fell mad among them; in ſo much that getting his horſe out of the Stable, he moſt deſperately rode up and downe the ſtreets there, till at laſt being eſpied by ſome Citizens of London that knew him, who perceived quickly in what condition he was, and being for London themſelves at that time, they brought him home with them, with no little adoe by the way; who being thus brought home, continued ſo diſtracted and beſotted in his ſenſes, that he neither regarded what any ſaid or did to him, and wholly neglected his calling, as being unfit to doe ought therein, and ſhortly after hee fell ſicke for a ſeaſon, and ſtill continued ſo diſtracted, that at laſt it was held fit to have him away to Bedlem; yet for ſome credit ſake, his friends ſo prevailed, that he was not put into the common condition of the Madmen there, but was kept private in the houſe of one that endeavours the cure of ſuch perſons, and there he was continued, but could not be cured of this his miſerable and diſtracted eſtate. And was not here a moſt evident and remarkable hand of God upon them all three, to the terrour (one would thinke) of all ſuch deſperate and incorrigible Malignants. All which relation I have received from ſuch honeſt and credible teſtimony of the truth thereof, even of ſuch as knew the three parties very well, as is without all juſt exception therein.
And thus now, I have (as I ſuppoſe) ſufficienly made good my word, and performed my promiſe in the two former parts of this my Looking-glaſſe, namely, in moſt clearly repreſenting and ſetting forth to the eyes and underſtanding of every one, of any one that is compos mentis, and is not ſtarke mad with malice and miſchief, both Gods hand moſt eminently againſt our Anti-Parliament arians or Malignants, and alſo Gods evident heavy hand upon thoſe our Malignants perſons, even immediately in the very acting of their malignancy. Enough, one would thinke, to fright and terrifie them from ſuch impious and audacious flouting, …ff…onting, and maligning of Gods honeſt and harmleſſe ſervants, were not their Conſciences cauterized with the hot iron of graceleſſe impenetrable obſtinacy, and their hearts more hardned (againſt pure and innocent Truth and Holineſſe) than the impenetrable Tortice ſhell, and they thereby even given over by God to a reprobate ſenſe, to their irrecoverable ruine and perdition.
But now, to goe on to my Third promiſed part or repreſentation in this our Looking-glaſſe, 3. A Caveat for Cowards and Neutrall-Deſerters of the Parliaments Cauſe.namely, the Caveat for Cowards and fainthearted Neutrall-Deſerters of the Parliaments cauſe; and therein, I ſay moſt clearly, Gods cauſe. As alſo hereby to ſpeake to all unſetled and unreſolved weake Chriſtians (whom in this caſe we muſt pitty, pardon, and pray for, as being our ſelves ſubject to like failings and errours, ſhould not grace prevent and ſupport us) to ſhew them the great danger and hard hazards they put themſelves on, both in ſoule and body too, in ſo unworthily fearing or refuſing to owne Gods Cauſe,A briefe premiſed Preamble to the ſubſequent examples of this Caveat. though not out of treachery, yet if it be but of baſe timidity or feare; God herein ſhewing his wrath and indignation, and cauſing his jealouſie to breake out againſt theſe alſo, letting them ſee how dangerous it is to jeſt or dally with ſuch ſharp edg'd tooles as theſe to the undoing of their ſoules and bodies too, I ſay, if in his owne free grace and meere mercy he did not in the midſt of juſtice remember to intermix mercy, and to looke backe, as it were, on their ſinking ſoules, as he did on Peter in ſuch a caſe (if at leaſt they belong to Chriſt as Peter did) teaching them thereby to know the price of denying their Maſter or his Cauſe before men, if not, I ſay, prevented by true and timely repentance. All which I ſhall make moſt evident and cleare by theſe foure or five Examples, all of them fallen out lately in theſe our probationall times, which (by Gods providence) have come to my hands and knowledge, and which for the glory of God and honour of our moſt precious Parliaments Cauſe, I could not conceale, but ſet forth moſt faithfully, as I have received them from moſt indubitable and unqueſtionable Teſtimonies of the truth of them all; even, I ſay, by thoſe who were both Eye and Ear-witneſſes of the truth of them.
And here now in the firſt place, I might inſtance in a learned and reverend Miniſter of Lincolnſhire, 1. A Doctor in Divinity of Lincolnſhire fell mad upon▪ the taking of the Oxonian Proteſtation againſt the Parliament.a Doctor in Divinity, who being taken by the Kings Cormorants, and carried priſoner to Newarke, and there enforced to take the Oxonian Proteſtation or Covenant againſt the Parliament, which (it ſeemes) out of ſervile feare and unworthy puſillanimity, he did, immediately after it, out or remorſe of Conſcience, fell mad and fearfully diſtracted in his ſenſes, and ſo continued for almoſt the ſpace of halfe a yeere, this being done by him about the midſt of the laſt Summer 1643. but being ſince at liberty among his Parliamentary friends, is in good meaſure recovered, and a hearty Penitent for it. But it being deſired his name ſhould bee concealed, I ceaſe to ſay any more therein ſave onelyonly this, That I have this briefe relation from ſuch unqueſtionable and credible teſtimony as moſt ſtrongly confirmes the truth thereof unto me. And might we not, here now, thinke this one ſingle example ſufficient, to deter our cowardly Newters from ſo vicious and pernicious prejudicating and deſerting the Parliaments pious proceedings? Yes certainly, had they but any ſmall ſparkes of ingenuity left alive in them: but ſince I know that they, yea, and Gods owne people too, muſt have line upon line (as the Prophet ſayes) and example upon example, and all too too little, till Gods Spirit of Grace awakens their dead and drouſie Conſciences. I ſhall now give them another Example which comes more cloſe unto them, and moſt worthy their deep and ſerious obſervation and conſideration, which briefly is this:
Upon the ſecond day of May 1643. one Thomas Bretton a young man,2. One Thomas Bretton, a moſt bitter and active Malignant againſt the Parliament, remarkably converted on his deathbed. and moſt bitter and active Malignant againſt the Parliament, late ſervant to Alderman Cullum in Gracious ſtreet in London, falling very ſick (which indeed ſhortly after proved a ſickneſſe unto death) deſired moſt earneſtly to ſpeake with a reverend and religious Miniſter of the City, whom he had formerly heard preach, and could not be quiet till he was ſent for. The Miniſter being ſent unto, and intreated to come unto him accordingly, very willingly came; of whom (ſo ſoone as the ſicke party ſaw him) he moſt heartily deſired his pardon and forgiveneſſe. The Miniſter anſwered, That he knew not any thing wherein the ſick party had injured or offended him. But Bretton replied, That he had done him wrong in jeering and ſcoffing at him, though he knew not of it, and told him the particulars thereof. Whereupon this pious Miniſter told him, He freely forgave him. Then he deſired the Miniſter to pray with him, which he alſo did for the ſpace of about halfe an houre. Immediately after Prayer the ſicke party ſaid, He was now moſt happy, ſince God and Man had forgiven him; and told the Miniſter, hee was certaine God pardoned him all his finnes. The Miniſter anſwered, It was well, if his aſſurance were on good grounds. He replied, That he was ſure of it, for Chriſt had taken away all his ſinnes, which God had in his ſickneſſe ſet before his eyes; yea, and ſome ſuch finnes as he did not know or beleeve formerly to have beene ſinnes; but now Chriſt had borne them all on his owne ſhoulders, and eaſed him of all that heavy burthen, with many other moſt heavenly and divine expreſſions. And being neere his death, even the night before he died, he ſaid, Hee aſſuredly ſaw Chriſt in a viſion appearing unto him, and telling him that his ſinnes were pardoned, and that he had a Cauſe on earth, and that the Parliament of England defended it, and that in the yeere of our Lord Chriſt 1644. the Parliament ſhould obtaine a great victory over the Kings Forces; and that then there ſhould bee none of thoſe wicked Miniſters (that had miſ-led Gods people) left among them, and that from that time the Parliament ſhould proſper; but in the meane ſeaſon, that the rod of the wicked ſhould reſt on the backs of his righteous ones. And after this hee lay glorying and rejoycing in the forgiveneſſe of his ſinnes, and even triumphing over death till the time of his departure, which was the next day. This relation was teſtified both by the ſaid learned, reverend, and religious Divine, who was often with him in his ſaid ſickneſſe, and heard moſt of his expreſſions; and alſo by another religious Gentleman who was alſo then preſent, and heard what is here delivered, as aforeſaid.
Alſo one Thomas Clarke, a ranke malignant young man, and ſervant to one Maſter Travill a merchant of London, 3. One Thomas Clarke alſo, a merchants man in London, a notable malignant, his penitent confeſſion on his death-bed in honour of the Parliament.being in the yeere 1643) ſtricken with ſickneſſe, of which he died; about three dayes before his death, one William Coote (a neighbour of his) comming to viſit him in this his ſickneſſe, and having ſate a while with him, as he was going away the ſick party deſired him to ſtay a little, and told him, that hee would now ſay more to him then he had done to any, which was this, I am now (ſayes hee) ſtrongly perſwaded in my heart, that the Parliament maintains a right cauſe, and at laſt ſhall have victory over the Kings Forces, for they, he ſaid, fought for Antichriſt; and he confeſt withall, that he had lived a very ſinfull life, and was moſt of all grieved that he had ſpoken ſo much againſt the Parliament, for which he wiſhed he could now weep teares of blood, together with very many patheticall ſpeeches to this purpoſe, and ſhortly after it departed this life. This I have alſo from very honeſt and religious hands and teſtimony, who have faithfully informed me of the truth thereof, as having been both eye and ear-witneſſes of the ſame.
In September alſo 1643. one Maſter Whitleigh in Golding, lane in London, with his wife Miſtreſſe Whitleigh, both of them very religious Chriſtians,4. A remarkable example of one Maſter Whitleigh and his wife, who deſerted the Cauſe of the Parliament. and truly fearing the Lord, came with their foure children (not long before) to London from Tewksbury in Glouceſterſhire, principally deſiring to remove thence becauſe of the wicked converſation of the Cavaliers, billeted where he lived. And hee having formerly ſerved in the Parliaments Army againſt the Kings Forces, but being now at London, and for about three moneths ſpace void of imployment, reſolved to give over ſervice in the wars, as finding a timorous fearfulneſſe in himſelfe to adventure any more into the Parliaments Army, thereupon at laſt he had ſome thoughts to goe into New-England, and adviſing with his wife, who alſo was moſt unw…l…ing hee ſhould any more put himſelfe into the Service of the Parliament, but by all meanes began to ſtrengthen his reſolution to goe away for New-England. Whereupon he peremptorily now reſolving to depart thither with his wife and children, preſently laid out thirty pounds for their paſſage by Sea, and as much more for proviſion of neceſſaries to the voyage. But being ready to depart, the Lord ſuddenly ſtruck him very ſicke, and in his ſickneſſe he was very much troubled in his minde, lamenting and crying out very much againſt the ſinne of Cowardiſe and Fearfulneſſe (which hee conceived to bee the ground of his intended removall to New-England) and therefore much diſtruſting his ſoules eſtate, cryed out often, That he had ſinned againſt God in cowardly deſerting his holy Cauſe; yet earneſtly praying the Lord to forgive him this ſinne, promiſing and proteſting that if the Lord vouchſafed to reſtore him to health and ſtrength againe, he would reſolutely goe on to ſpend every drop of the blood in his veines for the Parliaments Cauſe; and afterward blaming his wife for giving her conſent and incouraging him therein, he ſhortly after died, yet before his departure he teſtified abundance of comfort and aſſurance of Gods favour and the pardon of his ſin. Immediately alſo after his death, it ſo pleaſed the Lord that his wife fell ſo diſtracted, that three or foure women could ſcarcely hold her downe in her bed, and ſhe taking no ſuſtenance but what was forced into her mouth for many dayes, ſhe ſtill in all this time of moſt ſad perplexity crying out, That ſhe had ſinned againſt God in counſelling and incouraging her deceaſed husband to forſake Gods Cauſe, and thereby (ſhe feare…) ſhe had beene the cauſe of his death. And thus ſhe lay divers dayes in much miſery, crying out of this her ſinne, and craving pardon of God for it. And about the end of September aforeſaid, my godly friend, from whom I had this relation, comming occaſionally to her houſe to ſee her, found that her raging fits had left her, but her ſpirits much ſpent, and ſhe lying ſpeechleſſe, ſo that he knew not how to adminiſter a word of comfort to her in that caſe; wherefore being about to depart thence, ſhee looked ſtedfaſtly on him, reached out her hand to him, which he tooke in his, being as cold as clay, and therewith ſpake many comfortable words unto her, and ere he departed ſhe manifeſted very much conſolation in her ſoule, both by words (though faintly) and geſtures alſo, and in a moſt happy and comfortable condition departed this life alſo, the very next morning after his departure from her. This relation, I ſay, I had from a very religious Citizen of London, and faithfull ſervant of the Lord, who himſelfe was with Miſtreſſe Whitleigh thus departing, and whoſe own Siſter lived cloſe by theſe parties, was well acquainted with them both in their lives and death, and whoſe teſtimony I know to be without exception.
There was alſo about the time of the firſt victories of the famous and renowned Towne of Mancheſter in Lancaſhire, 5. One Maſter Standidge a Lancaſhire Gentleman, deſerting the Parliament, ſuddenly ſlaine in the act of his defection.in the yeere 1642. one M. Standidge a Gentleman of Lancaſhire, who had formerly beene a man much ingaged in his affections for the Parliaments Cauſe, and had oftentimes expreſſed ſo much both by his ſtiffe contendings with ſome that were very neere and deare unto him, as alſo by his practice and aſſiſtance given to the ſaid Cauſe. But afterward, by the ſlye inſinuations and perſwaſions of ſome ſeeming friends neere about him; but eſpecially being at laſt overſwaied and prevailed with (as was ſtrongly ſuppoſed) by the Lord Strange (then a great, but, bleſſed be God, a moſt unſucceſſefull ſtickler for the Kings party) he being very intimate with the ſaid Lord Strange. This ſaid Gentleman did at laſt ſo much croſſe his owne former practice and good eſteeme he had and held of the Worke and Cauſe of God in the Parliaments proceedings, that he moſt unworthily quite deſerted it, yea ſo farre as to take up Armes againſt it; and as he was in perſon, in command, and going againſt that honeſt, famous, and victorious Town of Mancheſter in the Lord Stranges Army; the Lord God of Heaven, in apparent diſpleaſure met with him in this moſt diſloyall Apoſtacie, and going againſt God and his Cauſe: For as he was going to take Horſe upon ſome deſigne, neere to the ſaid Town of Mancheſter, a bullet ſuddenly hit him, and kil'd him preſently, not directly from the Towne, but the bullet glancing upon a wall, reached him with a gliding blow, and ſo cut him ſhort of his purpoſe, and gave him the ſad reward of his unhappy backſliding. This I have from ſuch unqueſtionable and religious teſtimony of a godly friend and neighbour of mine, as I know to be without all juſt exception.
And is not here now (one would thinke) teſtimony enough for thee, O incredulous Malignant, yea, even from the mouthes of two Converts formerly of thine owne ranke and rotten condition, but now, and that upon their death-beds (and the words of dying men we know, doe, or ought to take deepe impreſſion) making ingenious confeſſion of their and your folly and madneſſe in ſo injuriouſly oppoſing the pious and juſt proceedings of the Parliament? But now take one more to cleare theſe truths yet more abundantly,6. A moſt remarkable relation of Maſter Joſeph Latch a Merchant, his great miſery for deſerting the Parliament, and his mercifull recovery. yea, one of no leſſe moment and materiality then any of the former, and moſt worthy ſerious notice and obſervation, namely, of one Maſter Ioſeph Latch, a Merchant in Baſhingshall-ſtreet in London, who having (by Gods bleſſing upon his endeavours in his calling) gotten a good eſtate, and being a pious young Gentleman, and well affected to the publike good of the Kingdome in the beginning of this Parliamentary warre, and ſet forth two Horſes for the ſaid ſervice at his owne proper charge; but having ſome conſiderable goods at Briſtoll, which he deſired to convey to Mancheſter by land, in which land-paſſage a protection from the King was neceſſary for their ſafe convoy thorow Shrewsbury, where lay a Garriſon of the Kings Cormorants: upon this occaſion hee forced himſelfe to goe to Oxford to procure ſuch a protection. Thus then he tooke his journey thither, where he was no ſooner arrived, but it pleaſed the Lord it ſhould ſo fall out, that he was preſently eſpied by one that had beene a Malignant neighbour of his in London, a Lawyer, by whoſe meanes he was preſently apprehended as a Spie, on which ſuſpicion hee was inſtantly clapt up priſoner in the Caſtle, and immediatly after was fetcht before the Councell-Table, and in danger of his life. But having there very good friends of the Kings party, namely, Sir George Binion, Sir Nicholas Criſpe, and Mr. Bradborne his kinſman, and others, he was by the Kings owne Warrant ſet at liberty and entertained at Sir George Binious lodgings; and yet againe for all this, Smith that helliſh Cerberus, the Provoſt-marſhall fetcht him out of Bynions lodgings at eleven of the clocke at night, and carried him to priſon againe. Whereupon Bynion went againe to the King, together with Mr. Bradborne, told His Majeſty of it, who ſeemed much diſcontented thereat, and preſently ſent a Squire of His body with a Commiſſion to lay Smith by the heeles for his preſumption, and to enlarge Mr. Latch; yea, and that without taking the Oxford Proteſtation, leſt thereby his eſtate in London ſhould have been ſeized on by the Parliament, as the eſtate of a Swornemalignant, yet with a private ſerious promiſe and engagement to Bynion, that he would never hereafter put forth himſelfe in any publique ſervice for the Parliament. So he at laſt returned ſafely home, and in order to his promſe was now growen very ſhy of ſerving with his Company according to the Ordinance of the Militia; and ſhortly after, through the ill-advice of a very malignant companion of his, made over his eſtate into Holland, put off his houſe in Baſhing ſhall-ſtreet, and then withdrew his perſon alſo into Holland, Thus our Enggliſh Jonas would have fled from Nineve to Tarſhiſh, but God raiſed a ſtorme in his conſcience, which drove him backe to our London Nineve there to cry repentance.intending there to have lived till theſe times might change; and thus he quite deſerted the Parliament. But he had not beene there above three weekes or a monethmonth, but that it pleaſed God he fell ſicke there, and had a great and reſtleſſe deſire to come backe againe into England; and accordingly, having a fit opportunity, imbarked himſelfe, and was brought backe ſicke to London, that thus by the providence of God ſo ordering it, he might manifeſt his repentance here where he had finned, and be an example to others both of the horrour which ariſes out of a guilty conſcience ſenſible of apoſtacy from a good Cauſe, and alſo from our Parliamentary Proteſtation and Covenant to maintaine the ſame. Thus then, I ſay, being come off the water, on Munday Sept. 25. 1643. he went to a friends houſe of his, one Mr. Lacey in Canon-ſtreet, where he went ſicke to bed, and in two daies his ſickneſſe and corſcience working together, he much deſired to ſpeake with ſome godly Miniſter. Whereupon one was ſent for, who accordingly came to him on the Wedneſday night; but knowing nothing of his defection from the Parliament, and hearing a good report of his former honeſt converſation, he onelyonly queſtioned him about his faith in Chriſt; whereunto receiving an appoſite anſwer, he held out unto him ſome promiſes of the Goſpell, wherein his ſoule might cleave unto the Lord, and having commended him unto the grace of God, departed for that time; but Mr. Latch found ſuch ſweetneſſe in thoſe promiſes, that he ſtill would be asking when that Miniſter would come againe. That Thurſday and Friday paſt, and the Miniſter not ſent for; but on the Saturday following he called very earneſtly for the ſaid Miniſter, and would not be ſatiſfied without him: ſo he being ſent for, came to him that Saturday at night, and found him very anxious about getting Chriſt, he oft ſaying, if I have not Chriſt, I muſt periſh eternally. But immediately after, as a man ſwallowed up of deſpaire and drenched in the wrath of God, he cried out, I am in Hell, I am in Hell. Then an honeſt young Gentleman his loving friend, who had been his fellow-apprentiſe, and unto whom he had uſed to unboſome himſelfe, ſtept to the Miniſter and told him what was the cauſe of all this horrour of conſcience in him, and ſo related to him the ſubſtance of all fore-mentioned. Then the ſaid Miniſter went againe to M. Latch, and asked him if he had taken the Kings Proteſtation at Oxford, who anſwered, no; yet ſtill rejected (in a deſperate manner) all the comfortable words that were alledged for his faith to reſt upon; ſtill crying out, I am in hell, I ſinke lower and lower; O was there ever ſuch an hypocrite as I am, and therefore I muſt be damned, and I alone muſt have my portion with Iudas, and be an example to all the world and lie in hell to all eternity, in ſo denying the Parliament: and goe, ſaies he, to his brother that ſtood by him, and tell ſuch an one, and ſuch an one, two perſons to whom he had neere relation, that if they hold on their way, they muſt burne in hell as I doe; and neither his godly friend, nor the Miniſter could perſwade him that he was out of Hell; yet the Miniſter ſtill moſt piouſly wreſtling againſt his deſpaire, told him that Hell was not above ground (in the Land of the living) and therefore he was not yet in Hell, but that he ſhould goe to Hell ſhortly if he would not believe in Chriſt Jeſus; and then told him he would pray for him: But he replied, you ſhall ſave the Flocke of Chriſt, but you cannot ſave me, I am paſt prayer. And with the like lamentable ſpeeches, as of a man in the very torments of the damned; he did oft interrupt the Miniſter in his prayer, and ſo continued in this deſpairing fit till after prayer. Then the Miniſter charged him to hearken to him, ſaying, You never (you aſſure me) tooke the Proteſtation at Oxford againſt the Parliament, but Peter denied Chriſt with an Oath, yea and with a Curſe too; yet he went out and wept bitterly, and was reſtored to grace and favour againe. Chriſt ſaith, Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you reſt: you are weary and heavy laden, come to Chriſt, believe in him, and he will eaſe you, and will blot out your iniquities for his owne names ſake. At which words, he ſuddenly raiſed up himſelfe in his bed, and with exceeding earneſtneſſe of ſpirit put forth ſtrong cries unto God, ſaying, Lord helpe mine unbeliefe, Lord helpe mine unbeliefe, Lord helpe mine unbeliefe, three times together; and immediately thereupon burſt forth into exceeding great comfort, ſaying, O wonderfull mercy, Chriſt is come to fetch me out of Hell, and I ſhall not periſh; my cries have entered into the eares of the Lord of Sabbath, who hath now given ſweet reſt to my ſoule. And thus with many heavenly expreſſions of Chriſts wonderfull mercy toward him, he continued at leaſt two houres full of ſweet raptures and raviſhments of ſoule; and beſought the Miniſter and his friends about him to make knowne theſe things, and how gracious and mercifull Chriſt had been unto him: and this alſo he deſired them to take ſpeciall notice of; namely, that he proteſted that what he had ſaid (as before) was not out of any lightneſſe or diſtemper of his braine, but in ſenſible apprehenſions of his ſoule, and what Chriſt had dictated to him, in whoſe armes he ſaid he now was moſt ſweetly imbraced, and that he had now found (as he had often heard) that as the way to Heaven was by the gates of Hell; ſo he had found it true, and had not onelyonly gone by the gates of Hell, but even through Hell it ſelfe, but now Chriſts glorious mercy had fetcht him forth; and therefore he prayed them againe to tell and publiſh abroad what great things Chriſt had done for him, and then all that were preſent went againe to prayer, and he prayed with them; and when his breath failed, he would lift up his hands; but before prayer was quite ended he moſt ſweetly expired, as he ſaid, in the Armes of his ſweet Saviour Chriſt Jeſus, leaving the Miniſter and his Chriſtian friends (who had been ſorrowfull witneſſes of the former dreadfull peoplexities and horrour of his conſcience) now moſt abundantly cheered and full of comfort and conſolation in the Lord, for this admirable, gracious change and concluſion.
And now, I hope, I have fully performed what I promiſed at the beginning, and have copiouſly confirmed the truchs I intended to deliver and repreſent in this my Looking-glaſſe. And now I ſhall onelyonly deſire to ſumme up all in a very ſuccinct hortatory obſervation of all hitherto delivered in this our Malignants mirrour or Looking-glaſſe. And firſt I deſire to ſpeake a word or two to our cowardly Neuters, and faint hearted deſerters of Gods Cauſe in this our Parliament; wherein I feare too many even of Gods children (and otherwiſe good Chriſtians, I hope) are too guilty. That ſince the Parliaments cauſe is unqueſtionably Gods cauſe, and that our Malignants have clearely ſeene that God is ſo jealous of this his honourable Cauſe, that he will not ſpare even his owne Servants, if they either reject or neglect his Cauſe before men, and that he will certainly ſooner or later wound their conſciences with terrour, if they thinke to wound his cauſe, with either treachery or timidity and baſe cowardiſe; let them not, I ſay, thinke to ſleepe in a whole skin, to ſhrinke their necks out of the coller and doe well enough for all that: for certainely God can and will find them out at laſt, as they alſo may have ſeene in theſe former examples of two or three, even of Gods deare children, who like Ionas would needs be flying from God and his cauſe, one into New-England, and another into Holland, but how the Lord found them out, cauſed them to ſee their faithleſſe folly, and ere he was reconciled to them ſmarted them both ſoundly for it; and though he come ſlowly and (as the obſervation is) with Leaden-heeles, yet will come ſorely, and with Iron-hands, as hath been here before moſt evidently ſeen. And let them often ruminate and remember (and that with trembling) what the Spirit of God ſaies in the booke of the Revelations, Revel. 21. 7. 8.He that overcommeth (that is, Heb. 3. 12.which ſtands cloſe to God and his cauſe, without fainting or giving over) ſhall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he ſhall be my ſonne. But, the fearefull and unbelievers (ſee here, O cowardly Newters, to thy ſhame and terrour, who are put in the very front or forlorne hope of the rabble of wicked ones, that ſhall be ſhut out of the New-Jeruſalem) ſhall have their part in the like which burnes with fire and brimſtone. Take heed therefore my brethren (as the Authour to the Hebrews adviſeth) leſt there be in any of you an evill heart of unbeliefe, Heb. 10. 38.in departing from the living God. Luke 9. 62.For certainely, ſaies the ſpirit of truth (in the ſame Epiſtle) If any man draw backe (or has, as Chriſt himſelfe teſtifies, put his hand to the Plough of Gods worke and cauſe, and lookes backe, is unfit for Heaven; nay more) Gods ſoule will take no pleaſure in ſuch an one. Beſides, remember this ſeriouſly, I pray thee, that a Newter, or Key-cold fellow in Gods cauſe, is a moſt deſpicable creature, deſpiſed both of God and the Devill, The miſerable condition of Cowards and Newters deſcribed.being apt to be falſe and faithleſſe to them both, and ſo good for the uſe of neither of them, as not caring whether Gods or the Devils cauſe faile or prevaile, ſinke or ſwim; what cares he ſo he may ſit ſtil and enjoy his baſe peace and pelfe? onelyonly, it may be, he will give them ſome ſeeming good wiſhes, at moſt and beſt. O let ſuch as theſe, timely take heed by theſe examples, that God meet them not ſorely and ſurely too at laſt: and if thy Neutrality be from wilfull and wicked principles, then feare indeed and tremble at thy eſtate, by thoſe examples of Gods hand upon thoſe miſchievous and malevolent malignants by death and deſtruction, even in the very acting of their evils. If out of meere ſlaviſh feare and unworthy cowardiſe, yet feare alſo by thoſe other examples, conſidering what terrible ſtraits and ſoule-pinching perplexities it may bring thee unto, at the beſt; and preſume not, though they happily repented and were ſaved; for repentance is a Flower that growes not naturally in our Gardens, but is the onelyonly gift of God, and he gives it graciouſly when and to whom he will. Therefore, I ſay, preſume not but feare; and whiles thou haſt yet ſpace, labour for grace, even immoveable faithfulneſſe, courage, and perſeverance; remembring ever, who it was that ſaid, even truth it ſelfe, He that denies me, or is aſhamed of me before men, I will deny him and be aſhamed of him before my Father which is in Heaven. And thus I have done with theſe.
But now in the laſt place I deſire alſo to ſpeake a word or two unto our moſt unhappy, miſerable, and marble-hearted malignants (whom from my ſoule I pity and pray for, as my brethren in the fleſh) implacable and inveterate haters of Holineſſe and of a pure Reformation, who would faine (under a beggarly pretext of a lazy, licentious Peace, forſooth) ſtill be more and more ſetled on the Lees of their old, infant, halfe Reformation, (comfortable then I confeſſe, in bleſſed Queen Elizabeths daies, if we reflect on the wofull Marian daies before) even meere formall Protestantiſme at large, which in effect is but down-right Atheiſme; or at beſt, a back doore to Papiſtry, as we have uſed the matter for ſo many yeeres paſt; The upholding and maintaining whereof, I take for granted; to be the ground of the great quarrell betweene them and Gods people now adaies. What will ye (then) or what can ye ſay for your ſelves poore mole-ey'd and miſerable men? (after the ſerious fight and rumination on all theſe forelaid remarkable evidences and moſt luculent and conſpicuous demonſtrations of Gods immediate hand both againſt and upon you; and after all theſe notable Convictions and Confeſſions of the horrible and God-hated evill of your cauſe and caſes;) what, I ſay, will you now anſwer for your ſelves, why you may not moſt properly and pertinently be called and counted wilfull and obſtinate fighters againſt God and his juſt cauſe? See then, I beſeech you (but if you will not timely ſee, you ſhall (as I ſaid before) ſee at laſt and be aſhamed and ſmart too) and be timely and wiſely perſwaded (as the truth is) that though you will not acknowledge it, you your malignant workes plainely ſhew it, and eſpecially the Spirit of God (the onelyonly true ſearcher and diſcoverer of the hearts and reines of all) hath moſt clearely declared to us in the ſecond Pſalme, both your worke and your wages, your wicked cauſe; and your wretched caſes, viz. That all the banding and binding of the heads and hearts together of Gebal, Ammon and Amaleck &c. of ſottiſh formall Proteſtants, What King our formall Proteſtants chooſe and refuſe.Prelates and Papiſts, with all that Ieſuiticall rabble, is mainely and onelyonly this; We will not have this man, King Ieſus; (but the tyrannicall and diabolicall uſurpers, baſe luſts, ſoul-ſlaying corruptions, ſinne and Satan) to reigne over us; and therefore let us (ſay they) breake his bands in ſunder; that is, let us violate and vitiate his holy and wholſome Lawes and Commandements: let us eaſt away his cords from us; that is, let us contemne and deſpiſe his ſoul-ſaving counſels, free grace and love, and all his heart-eſtabliſhing precious promiſes: but all this while they blindly and blockiſhly forget, or will not ſee and perceive (as the ſame Spirit and fountaine of Truth tels them) that the Lord now reſolves to ſet his onelyonly begotten Sonne Chriſt Ieſus, as Lord and King to …u…e and raigne (over the tops of all the Mountaines of the earth) upon Sion his moſt holy Hill; and that he therefore, even the Lord, the great Iehovah ſits in Heaven ſees, and ſmiles at, and laughs to ſcorne all their combinations and accurſed confederacies, all their freting and fuming, beating and breaking of their braines and hearts too,When Malignants cauſe ſhal overcome. and telling them to their teeth, and ſhewing them, maugre their brazen browes, that all the while they doe but imagine a vaine thing, which they never can they never ſhall bring to paſſe; For of this let them be moſt ſure, that till they can make it appeare or probable that Satan is ſtronger and wiſer than the Almighty, that Antichriſt is able to overcome the Lord Chriſt, to whom the Father hath committed all power in Heaven and Earth; I ſhall never believe, that they or their cauſe ſhall prevaile. For, I ſay, God hath put into Chriſts hands an Iron Mace, not onelyonly to bruiſe, but to breake in pieces (like ſo many pot-ſheards) their earthen and ſtony hearts though ever ſo ſeemingly ſtout and ſtubborne, as partly and pretty-well (one would thinke) I have here, in theſe forecited examples made moſt plaine and conſpicuous, but eſpecially, as the Lord God himſelfe in all ages and times hath made moſt manifeſt to the whole World, even from the beginning of it to our preſent times;Pſal. 76. 10. nay, not onelyonly ſo, but that the Lord hath moſt admirably made (and that with a witneſſe too) the wrath of man to turne to his own high glory and praiſe, yea and ſo reſtrained and conſtrained the remainder thereof to keepe within limits and bounds, as not to breake out to do that miſchiefe unto His which their malignant adverſaries moſt deſperately and divelliſhly intended to have done unto them.Malignants are but Gods drudges, and ſcull-boyes to his Church and children. Nay (wherein they are yet farre more miſerable, yea moſt miſerable of all) God moſt wiſely and wonderfully makes them in this their intended malice and miſchiefe, to be but as it were, the very drudges and ſcull-boyes of his Church and children▪ and to doe them farre more good than hurt, in ſcouring and refining them from their droſſe and filth contracted from the rubbiſh of the world in this life; yea and by their malignant plottings, fighting and ſpighting, Reverend and religious Mr. Marſhall.curſing, ſwearing, jeſting and jeering at truth and holineſſe) they ſhall (as a moſt holy and reverend Miniſter of the Lord, ſaid) exceedingly helpe forward, promote and advance Gods cauſe, yea more (many times) than many of the choice friends thereof; and yet (which, I ſay, is the height or rather the depth of their miſery) when they have thus done Gods worke (though they little thought it, and never intended it) they themſelves (like the blinde builders of Noahs Arke, who were after it drowned in the Deluge) ſhall be ſo farre from having any part or portion in the comfortable iſſue & prosperity of his cauſe, that they ſhal die in their ſinne, and be everlaſtlingly damned and periſh for their paines therein; if, I ſay, in the interim▪ God in his infinite & boundleſſe rich mercy, gives them not ſpace and grace to repent.
What an unexpreſſible ſad condition are ye (then) in, O moſt miſerable Malignants, if you could but ſee this your wicked worke, and this your wretched wages, as aforeſaid, even with prophane Eſau, Hebr. 12. 16. 1 King. 21. 20.thus to ſtrive and ſtruggle to ſell away (as 'twas ſaid of Ahab, that he ſold himſelfe to worke wickedneſſe) your bleſſed Birth-right of life and ſalvation. (I ſpeake here the pure language of Canaan, maugre the falſe and fl…ſhie conceits and whimſies of our impious Antinomians, thoſe ſlye and jugling underminers of Chriſtian humiliation for ſinne,A juſt objurgation to Antinomians, by way of a briefe digreſſion. and of all other holy duties, under a colour of their either ignorant or perverſe wreſting and miſapplying of Gods eternall decree of ſalvation and free grace to his children. Yea, I ſay of thoſe unjuſt and injurious ſcandalizers of our venerable, pious, and moſt painfull Paſtors, falſly terming them Legall Preachers, and preſſers of performance of holy duties in our owne ſtrength and abilities; a moſt groſſe ſcandall and aſperſion audaciouſly caſt on them by theſe Satans Seedſmen of ſedition and diviſion in point of Religion. Pardon, good Reader, this glancing digreſſion of zeale in me, and now to go on) to ſtruggle, I ſay, with prophane Eſau, to ſell your bleſſed Birth-right of life and ſalvation, for a poore, baſe, and beggarly morſell of meat, or meſſe of pottage of worldly pel…e, carnall pleaſure, and pretended peace forſooth, which ſhall all periſh in the uſe of them, and prove unto you nothing but meere vani…y and vexation of ſpirit.
Ceaſe then, I beſeech you, O moſt unholy and unhappy Malignants, ceaſe I ſay, and that timely too, thus to fret and fume, to ſwear and ſwagger, and to ſhew your ſelves ſuch palpable and apparent fighters againſt God, ſuch banders and combiners againſt Chriſt in his precious and peculiar members, whom though you doe in your life and healthy times ſcorne and contemne,The eſteeme that Malignants have of Round-heads in the times of their ſickneſſe and diſtreſſes. yet in times of ſickneſſe or extreme ſtraits and heavy preſſures, and conſcience-diſtreſſes, theſe are the onelyonly men you fare the better for; theſe are the men, I ſay, that you are often enforced (even out of Conſcience) to ſend for in your ſickneſſe (eſpecially when you thinke 'tis a ſickneſſe to death) to pray for you, counſell and comfort you; yea, and ofttimes in health too, are conſtrained to confeſſe of them,1 Sam. 24. 17. and to ſay with wicked Saul to holy David, Thou art more righteous than I, for thou haſt rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evill. And therefore truly friends, in theſe like caſes, I may greatly and moſt juſtly feare (and I beſeech you marke well what I now ſhall ſay unto you, and feare and tremble at it too) that moſt of the Grandees and Coſmopolites of theſe our abominably back ſliding and apoſtatizing times, (moſt of them, I ſay, for I beleeve that they doe not all fight againſt God upon one and the ſame principle) eſpecially our learned & knowing Courtiers, Marke this, O our learned and knowing Malignants.Prelates, ſcandalous Prieſts, and intelligent Proteſtants at large, I greatly feare, I ſay, that they come as neere to that ſinne, that terrible and unpardonable ſinne againſt the holy Ghoſt, and are as deeply plunged into it as ever any Apoſtate before them which ſinne, (if I miſtake not) is wilfully, The ſinne againſt the holy Ghoſt.knowingly, maliciouſly, and perſeveringly to perſecute and proſecute with all ſpight and bitterneſſe of ſpirit the Truth and true Profeſſors thereof, eo nomine, becauſe it is, and they know it is the Truth of God, and therefore they cannot abide it, becauſe their owne workes being darkneſſe, they love darkneſſe more than light.2 Theſ 2. 10. 11, 12. And that there are ſuch to be found, the Apoſtle Paul teſtifies, and their deſperate condition too) and I make no doubt but ſome of them have or will bee enforced ere they dye to acknowledge and cry out,I have credibly heard that a ſome of the Kings Cormorants or Cavaliers have in our late wars cryed out, Let us be gon, for God fights againſt us, as Serjeant-Major-Generall Baſſet a Royaliſt, who at the diſſolution of the ſiege at Plimouth, ſpake the very words to one of our Commanders in our works at his going away. if not true penitence, yet in damnable deſpaire, with that accurſed Apoſtate Julian the heatheniſh Emperour, Ʋiciſti Galilae, viciſti; So theſe, You have overcome us, O Puritans and Round heads, you have overcome us; for Gods judgements have overtaken us in contending againſt you. And therefore I may and muſt ſay unto you all, who ever you be in this caſe, and perſiſt therein, as Simon Peter ſaid to Simon Magnus, You are certainly in the gall of bitterneſſe, in thus abuſing the Spirit of grace and his peculiar and precious jewels; pray therefore, O yet pray, if peradventure this ſinne may be forgiven you: which indeed is the ultimum refugium, the laſt and beſt refuge and hope you have, yet moſt unlikely to helpe you, if not ſerious and ſeaſonable; For, he that turnes away his eare from hearing the Law (that is, from loving God and goodneſſe, his Cauſe, his Saints and Servants) even his very prayers are an abomination to the Lord. And then you may with wicked Eſau begge the bleſſing you ſo careleſly and contemptuouſly ſold away, even with frightfull cryes and teares, and yet everlaſtingly goe without it. O conſider this therefore, all ye that thus forget God, leſt he ſuddenly teare you in pieces, and there be none to deliver you. Acts 8. 23.And ſince all theſe things are thus conſpicuous and evident by all thoſe remarkable forementioned and recited examples,Mal. 3. 17. let not any of the Malignant fellow-factors of ſo foule abuſes to Gods Cauſe, Prov. 28. 9.his Church and Children, wilfully cloſe up the eyes of their uunderſtanding,Pſal. 50. 22. and ſtill harden their hearts and ſpirits againſt ſuch providentiall workings and demonſtrative convictions and confeſſions as thoſe are, leſt they alſo become fellow-ſeelers of the like exemplary and moſt juſt corrections. But pray,Revel. 3. 18. O pray (as I will with you and for you) that God would annoint your eyes with that Collyrium, his precious eye-ſalve, that you may ſee; and that he would ſpeake to your Soules and Conſciences with a powerfull Ephphata, Mark 7. 34.Be ye opened; that ſo you might ſee and repent. For I ingenuouſly confeſſe, that unleſſe his Spirit ſpeakes thus, all the meanes in the world elſe that may be uſed come too ſhort, and are but in vaine: yet give me leave to ſpeake unto you as the Lord did to ſtubborne Iſrael by the Prophet,Ezek. 3. 5. You, whether you will heare or not heare (for you are a rebellious and obſtinate people) yet ſhall you know that there hath been a word among you; that the meanes have not beene wanting to you, and if you (notwithſtanding all Threats and Treats, Mercies, or Judgements) will perſiſt deſperately in your malignant folly & madneſſe, I muſt and will farther ſay unto you all, as the Spirit of God did of old Elies moſt wicked and malignant two ſonnes,1 Sam. 2. 25. Notwithſtanding all that their old godly father had ſaid unto them, they hearkned not to the voice of their father, and why? becauſe (ſayes the Spirit of God) the Lord had a purpoſe, for their incorrigible wickedneſſe, to ſtay and deſtroy them. Wherefore to conclude all, my counſell (in briefe) ſhall be unto you all,Pſal. 2. 10, 11, 12. poore miſerable malignant men and women, onelyonly that of the holy Spirit of God himſelfe by the holy Prophet David, Bee wiſe now therefore, O ye malignant Princes and Peers of the earth: be inſtructed and timely adviſed, O ye Judges and great Ones of the land. Serve the Lord with feare, and rejoyce with trembling. Kiſſe the Son, even the Lord Ieſus Chriſt, leſt he be angry, and ſo ye periſh from the way, when his wrath is kindled, yea but a little: (O what will it be then when …is mightily inflamed?) O then moſt bleſſed are all they only that put their truſt in him, Mal. 4. 2.and reſt under the ſhadow of his wings, where onelyonly is true healing for body and ſoule. The Lord give us all aſſiſting and perſevering grace ſo to doe. Amen, and Amen.
Omnis gloria ſolius eſt Domini.
An Epilogue TO MALIGNANTS, In the Language of Canaan.
IF now after the peruſall (if at leaſt thou hadſt any piety or patience there unto) of all formerly ſaid and ſhewne unto thee,1. Malignants reſolution to God. thou are yet refractorily reſolved to ſay, as the Malignants did in Jeremiahs time to him:Ier. 44. 16, 17. As for the words which thou haſt ſpoken to us in the name of the Lord, we will not hearken unto thee, but we will certainly do whatſoever thing commeth out of our owne mouth.
Then give me leave to tell thee the Lords reſolution concerning thee. 2. Gods reſolution to Malignants.Behold, I have ſworne by my great Name (ſaith the Lord) that my name ſhall be no more named in the mouth of any malignant.Ier. 44. 26, 27. Behold I will watch over them for evill and not for good.Iſa. 33. 10, 11. Yea, now will I ariſe (ſaith the Lord) now will I be exalted; now will I lift up my ſelfe; ye ſhall contrive Chaffe▪ ye ſhall bring forth Stubble, your owne (curſing) breath, as fire, ſhall devoure you.
But, as for you my people, (my cordiall Covenanters, yet that have ſinned againſt me) for your ſins, 3. Gods reſolution to his cordiall Covenanters.I will cauſe you to paſſe under the rod; I will bring you into the bond of the Covenant or Holy-league;Ezek. 20, 37, 38. And then I will purge out from among you the Rebels or Malignants, and them that tranſgreſſe againſt me. I will bring them out of the Countrey where they ſojourne, and they ſhall not enter into the Land of Iſrael, or happineſſe of my children.
FINIS.
End of the text · John Vicars, A Looking Glass for Malignants (1643)