Three tractates by Jos. Hall, D.D. and B.N.

SECT. XI.

THese prisoners are worthy of our deep compassion; as those, who are too sensible of their own misery; Others there are, who are so much more wor∣thy of greater pity, by how much they are lesse apprehensive of their need of it; plausible pri∣soners under a spirituall tyran∣ny; whose very wils are so cap∣tived to the powers of darkness, that to choose they would be no other then bondmen; pleasing themselves in those chains, whose weight is enough to sink their souls into hell; such are they, who have yeelded themselves o∣ver to bee enthralled by any known sin; No men under hea∣ven doe so much applaud them∣selves in the conceit of their li∣berty; none so great slaves as they; If the very Stoick Philo∣sophers had not enough evinced

this truth, Divinity should: In∣deed, the world is a worse kind of Algier, full of miserable cap∣tives; Here lies one so fettered in lust, that he rots again; there another, so laden with drunken excesse, that he can neither goe norstand, and in very deed is not his own man: Here one so pinched with golden fetters, that he can neither eat, nor sleep; nor at all enjoy himself: there, another so pined with envy, that he is forced to feed on his own heart: Here, one so tormented with anger, that he is stark mad for the time; and cares not how he mischieves himself in a furious desire to hurt others; there, ano∣ther, so racked with ambition, that he is stretched beyond his own length, and lives in the pain of a perpetuall self-extention.

These, and all others of this kinde are most miserable priso∣ners, chained up for everlasting darknesse: So much more wor∣thy

of our pity, as they are lesse capable of their own: Spend your compassion (if you please) upon these deplorable subjects; But for me, wish me (if you wil) as free from any imputation of evill, as I was, and am from the thought of it; wish me in your free champian, where I may have no hedge so much as to confine my eye: wish me hap∣py in the society of so dear and and noble a Friend; but in the mean while, think of me no o∣therwise, then as a Free priso∣ner, And

Yours thankfully devoted, in all faithfull observance, I. N.