SECT. I.

WHiles you pity my affliction, take heed lest you aggravate it, and in your thoughts make it greater then it is in my own; It is true, I am under restraint; What is that to a man, that can be free in the Tower, and can∣not but be a prisoner abroad? Such is my condition, and every Divine Philosophers with me. Were my walls much straiter then they are, they cannot hold me in; It is a bold word to say, Page  108 I cannot, I will not be a prisoner: It is my Soul that is I: my flesh is my partner, (if not my ser∣vant) not my self: However my body may be immured, that a∣gile spirit shall flye abroad, and visit both earth, and heaven at pleasure. Who shall hinder it from mounting up (in an instant) to that supream region of blisse, and from seeing that, by the eye of faith, which S. Paul saw in ex∣tasie; and when it hath viewed that blessed Hierarchy of heaven to glance down through the in∣numerable, and unmeasurable globes of light (which move in the firmament, and below it) in∣to this elementary world; and there to compasse seas and lands, without shipwrack, in a trice, which a Drake, or Cavendish cannot doe, but with danger, and in some years navigation; And if my thoughts list to stay them∣selves in the passage; with what variety can my soul be taken up Page  109 of severall objects; Here, turn∣ing in to the dark vaults, and dungeons of penall restraint, to visit the disconsolate prisoners, and to fetch from their greater misery, a just mitigation of mine own; There, looking in to the houses of vain jollity, and pity∣ing that which the sensuall fools call happinesse; Here stepping in to the Courts of great Princes, and in them observing the faw∣ning compliances of some, the trecherous underworking of o∣thers; hollow friendships, faith∣lesse ingagements, fair faces, smooth tongues, rich suits, view∣ing all save their hearts, & censu∣ring nothing that it sees not; There calling in at the low cot∣tages of the poor, and out of their empty cupboard furnishing it self with thankfulnesse; Here so over-looking the Courts of Justice, as not willing to seeri∣gour or partiality; There listing what they say in those meetings Page  110 which would passe for sacred, and wondring at what it hears. Thus can, and shall, and doth my nim∣ble spirit bestir it self in a restless flight, making onely the Empy∣reall heaven, the bounds of it's motion; not being more able to stand still, then the heavens themselves, whence it descen∣ded: Should the iron enter in∣to my soul, as it did into that good Patriarchs, yet it cannot fetter me: No more can my spi∣rit be confined to one place, then my body can be diffused to many. Perhaps therefore you are mistaken in my condition; for what is it I beseech you that makes a prisoner? Is it an allot∣ment to the same room without change, without remove? What is that still to a minde that is free?

And why is my body then more a prisoner then the best mans soul; that, you know, is peremptorily assigned, for in∣habitation Page  111 to this house of clay till the day of dissolution: Why more then the starres of Heaven, which have remained fixed in their first stations ever since they were first created? Why more then those great persons which keep up for state; or Dames for beauty? Why more then those Anachorites whom we have seen willingly coop'd up for merit? How much more scope have we then they? We breathe fresh aire, we see the same heavens with the freest travellers.

SECT. II.

BUt we have (you will say) bounds for our restraint, which the free spirit hates; as never being pleased, but with a full liberty both of prospect and passage; Any barre, whether to the foot, or to the eye, is a death: Oh vain affectation of wilde, and Page  112 roving curiosity! if their desires cannot be bounded, yet their motions must; When they have the full sight of heaven above them, they cannot clime up into it; they cannot possibly see that whole glorious contignation; and when the whole earth lyes open before them, they can mea∣sure but some small pieces of it. How can they be quiet till they have purchased Tycho Brahe his prospective Trunk of thirty two foot long, whereby they may discover a better face of Hea∣ven; some lesser Planets moving round about the Sun, and the Moonets about Saturn and Ju∣piter, and the Mountains, Seas, and Vallies in the Moon? How can they rest till having acquain∣ted themselves with the constel∣lations of our Hemisphere, they have passed the Equinoctiall, and seen the triangle, the crosse, and the clouds, and the rest of the unknown Stars that move above Page  113 the other Pole? And when all this is done they are but who they were, no whit better, no whit wiser, and perhaps far lesse happy then those, who never smelt any but their own smoke; never knew any star, but Charles∣wayn, the Morning-star, and the Seven. For me, I doe not envie, but wonder at the licen∣tious freedome, which these men think themselves happy to enjoy; and hold it a weaknesse in those mindes, which cannot finde more advantage and plea∣sure in confinement, and reti∣rednesse; Is it a small benefit, that I am placed there, where no oathes, no blasphemies beat my ears? where my eyes are in no perill of wounding objects; where I hear no invectives, no false doctrines, no sermocinati∣ons of Ironmongers, Felt-ma∣kers, Coblers, Broom-men, Groomes, or any other of those inspired ignorants; no curses, Page  114 no ribaldries: where I see no drunken comeslations, no rebel∣lious routs, no violent oppressi∣ons, no obscene rejoycings, nor ought else that might either vex, or afright my soul. This, this is my liberty: who whiles I sit here quietly lock'd up by my Keeper, can pity the turmoiles and di∣stempers abroad, and blesse my own immunity from those too common evils.

SECT. III.

IS it the necessity and force of the restraint; since those things which we do voluntarily, are wont to passe from us with de∣light, which being imposed seem grievous to us? Why should not I have so much power over my will as to make that volun∣tary in me, to undergo, which another wils forcibly to inflict? the mind that is truly subacted Page  115 to Grace, can so frame it self to what it must suffer, as that it finds a kind of contentment in patience; Thus we daily doe to the Almighty, whose will, by our humble submission, we make ours; and pray that we may do so: And who can restrain us without him? If therefore my wise and holy God think it best to cage me up, by the cōmand of authority (upon what cause so∣ever) why should not I think this enclosure a better liberty: who know there is perfect freedome in his obedience? So then, if constraint make a prisoner, I am none; who am most willingly, where my God will have me: And, if my will did not often carry me out of my own walks at home, why cannot it as well confine me to a larger compasse of the Tower?

SECT. IV.

IS it solitude and infrequence of visitation? This may per∣haps be troublesome to a man that knows not to entertain himself; but, to him that can hold continuall discourse with his own heart, no favour can be greater; For of all other, these self-conferences are most benefi∣ciall to the soul; Other mens communication may spend the time with more advantage of learning or mirth; but none can yeeld us so much spiritual profit, as our own soliloquies: And when all is done, the Greeks said well; It is not much, but usefull * that makes truly wise. Besides this, we can never have the op∣portunity of so good company, as when we are alone: Now, we enjoy the society of God, and his Angels, which we cannot so freely do in a throng of visitants: Page  117 When God would expresse his greatest intirenesse with his Church, Ducam eam in solitudi∣nem, saith he: I will bring her in∣to * the wildernesse, and there speak comfortably to her. We cannot expect so sweet conversation with God, in the presence of o∣thers, as apart. Oh the divine benefit of an holy solitarinesse, which no worldly heart can ei∣ther know, or value! What care I for seeing of men, when I may see him that is invisible? What care I for chatting with friends, when I may talk familiarly with the God of heaven? What care I for entertaining mortall guests, when I may with Abraham & his nephew Lot feast the Angels of God: and (which were too great a word, if God himself had not spoken it) be attended by them?

SECT. V.

IS it the reproach & ignominy that commonly attends the very name of an imprisonment? weak mindes may be affected with every thing: but, with so∣lid judgements, it is not the pu∣nishment, but the cause that makes either the Martyr, or the malefactor. S. Pauls bonds were famous: and Petrus ad vincula is not without a note of yearly ce∣lebrity: and it were hard, if so many blessed Martyrs, and Con∣fessors, who have lived, & dy'd in Jayls, for the truths sake; should not have brought prisons (such as they may be) into some cre∣dit. Shortly, as notorious crimes may be at liberty, so even inno∣cence may be under restraint; yet those crimes no whit the better, nor this innocence the worse.

Besides (that which perhaps Page  119 came not within your freer thoughts) every restraint is not for punishment; there is a re∣straint for safety, a salva custodia, as well as arcta, such is this of ours: This strong Tower serves not so much for our prison, as for our defence; what horror soe∣ver the name may carry in it: I blesse God for these wals, out of which I know not where we could (for the time) have been safe from the rage of the mis∣incensed multitude: Poor sedu∣ced souls, they were taught it was piety to be cruell; and were mis∣perswaded to hate & condemn us for that, (which should have procured their reverence, and ho∣nour) even that holy station which we hold in Gods Church; and to curse those of us, who had deserved nothing but their thanks and prayers: rayling on our very profession in the streets; and rejoycing in our sup∣posed ruine: Father, forgive Page  120 them, for they knew not what they did: Here we were out of the danger of this mis-raised fu∣ry, and had leisure to pray for the quenching of those wilde fires of contention, 'and causlesse malice, which (to our great grief) we saw wicked incendiaries dai∣ly to cast amongst Gods dear & well-minded people. Here we have well and happily approved with the blessed Apostle, that (what ever our restraint be) the Word of God is not bound; With what liberty, with what zeal, with what successe hath that been preached by us to all commers? Let them say, whe∣ther the Tower had ever so many, such guests, or such bene∣dictions; so as if the place have rendered us safe, we have endea∣voured to make it happy; Wher∣in our performances have seem∣ed to confute that which * Cor∣nelius Bishop of Rome long since observed, that the mind laden Page  121 with heavy burdens of afflicti∣on, is not able to doe that ser∣vice, which it can doe when it is free and at ease; Our troubles through Gods mercy made us more active, and our labours more effectuall.

SECT. VI.

ADde unto these (if you please) the eminent digni∣ty of the place, such, as is able to give a kinde of honour to captivity, the ancient seat of Kings, chosen by them, as for the safe residence of their royall persons, so for their treasury, their wardrobe, their Magazine; all these precious things are un∣der the same custody with our selves; sent hither, not as to a prison, but a repository; and why should we think our selves in any other condition? How many worthy inhabitants make Page  122 choice to fixe their abode with∣in these wals, as not knowing where to be happier? the place is the same to us, if our will maybe the same with theirs; they dearly purchase that, which cost us nothing but our fees; nothing makes the difference, but the meer conceit of Liberty, which whiles I can give to my self, in my thoughts, why am I pityed as miserable, whiles their happi∣nesse is applauded?

You see then how free I am in that which you mis-call my prison; see now, how little cause I have to affect this liberty, which you imagine me to want; since I shall be, I can be no other then a prisoner abroad: There is much difference of prisons; One is strait and close locked, so far from admitting visitants, that it scarce allows the sun to look in at those crosse-barred grates; another, is more large and spa∣cious, yeelding both walks, and Page  123 accesse; Even after my discharge from these wals, I shall be yet sure to be a prisoner, both these ways; For, what is my body but my prison in the one? and what is the world, but my prison in the other kinde?

SECT. VII.

TO begin with the former, never was there a more close prisoner then my soul is for the time to my body; Close in respect of the essence of that spirit, which since it's first Mitti∣mus, never stir'd out from this strait room; never can doe, till my gaole-delivery.

If you respect the improvement of the operatiōs of that busie soul, it is any where, it is successively every where; no place can hold it, none can limit it; but if you re∣gard the immortall, and imma∣teriall substance of it, it is fast Page  124 lockt up within these wals of clay, till the day of my chan∣ging come; even as the closest captive may write letters to his remotest friends, whilest his per∣son is in durance; I have too much reason to acknowledge my native Jayle, and feel the true Symptomes of it to my pain; what darkness of sorrow have I here found? what little-ease of melancholick lodgings? what manacles and shakles of cramps? yea what racks of torturing con∣vulsions?

And if there be others, that finde less misery in their prison, yet there is no good soul, but findes equall restraint: That spirituall substance, which is im∣prisoned within us, would fain be flying up to that heaven whence it descended; these wals of flesh forbid that evolation, (as Socrates cal'd it of old) and will not let it out, till the God of spirits (who placed it there) Page  125 shall unlock the doors, and free the prisoner by death; He that insused life into Lazarus, that he might call him from the pri∣son of the grave, must take life from us, when he cals us out of this prison of flesh; I desire to be loosed, and to be with Christ, (saith the Apostle) as some ver∣sions expresse it; whiles we are chained to this flesh, we can have no passage to heaven, no free conversation with our Saviour: Although it was the singular priviledge of that great Doctor of the Gentiles, that he was in heaven before his dissolution: whether in the body, or out of the body, he knew not: How far that rapture extended, whe∣ther to both soul and body, if he knew not, how should we? But this we know, that such extasie and vision was in him, without separation of the soul from the body; which another should hope for in vain: And for him, Page  126 so he saw this glory of Paradise, that he could not yet enjoy it: Before he, or we, can be blessed with the fruition of Christ, vve must be loosed: that is, freed from our clog, and our chain of this mortall body.

What but our prison wals can hinder us here, from a free prospect? What but these wals of flesh can hinder me from a clear vision of God? I must now, for the time, see as I may: No∣thing can enter into my soul, but what passes through my senses, and partakes, in some sort, of their earthlinesse; when I am freed from them, I shall see as I am seen; in an abstracted and heavenly way; so as one spirit apprehends another: I do now, at the best, see those spirituall objects darkly, by the eye of faith, as in a glasse; and that not one of the clearest neither: (Alas, what dim representations are these, that I can attain to here, Page  127 of that Majesty, whose sight shal make me blessed?) I shall once see as I am seen, face to face; the face of my glorified soul shall see the face of that all-glorious Deity, and in that sight be eter∣nally happy; It is enough for a prisoner in this dungeon of clay, to know of, and fore-expect such felicity, vvhereof these earthly gieves render him as yet uncapa∣ble.

SECT. VIII.

WOE is me! how many prisons do we passe? so soon as ever this divine soul is insused into this flesh, it is a pri∣soner: neither can any more passe out of this skin, till this frame of nature be demolished: And now, as the soul of this Em∣bryon is instantly a prisoner to the body, so the body is also a prisoner in the womb, wherein it is formed: what darknesse, what Page  128 closenesse, what uneasinesse, what nuisance is there in this dungeon of nature? There he must lie in an uncouth posture, for his ap∣pointed month, till the native bonds being loosed, & the doors forced open, he shall be by an helpfull obstetrication drawn forth into the larger prison of the vvorld; there indeed he hath elbow-room enough: but al that wide scope cannot free him from a true incarceratiō: Who knows not that there are many diffe∣rences, and latitudes of restraint? A Simeon may imprison and en∣chain himself in the compasse of a pillar, not allowing himself the ease of his whole dimensiōs; Peter may be lockt up in a lar∣ger Jayle, betwixt his two Leo∣pards (as that father terms thē;) S. Paul may be two years allow∣ed to be a prisoner in his own * hired house, but under the guard of his keeper, and not vvithout his chain: There are those who Page  129 upon hainous, and dangerous oc∣casions, may be kept close under many locks; there are prisoners at large, vvho have the liberty of the Tower; yet even these last, notwithstanding the allow∣ance of spacious walks, & fresh gardens, are no other then ac∣knowledged prisoners: Such is my condition to the world, whē I am at my fullest liberty: It is true, that when I look back to the straitnesse of my first, and native prison, and compare it with the large extent of that wide world, into which I am brought, I may well with Isaacs Herds-men, say, Rehoboth, For * now, the Lord hath made me room: but when I compare that world, wherein I am, with that whereto I aspire, and vvhich I know to be above, and look to enjoy; I can see nothing here, but meer pri∣son-vvals, and professe my life to be no other then a perpetuall durance.

SECT. IX.

IF Varro said of old, that the * world was no other then the great house of little man, I shall be bold to adde what kind of house it is; It is no other then his prison, yea, his dungeon.

Far be it from me to disparage the glorious work of my omni∣potent Creator: I were not worthy to look upon this large, and glittering roof of heaven, nor to see the pleasant varieties of these earthly landskips, if I did not adore that infinite po∣wer, and wisdome which appears in this goodly, and immense fa∣bricke; and confesse the marvel∣lous beauty of that majestick, and transcendent workmanship; Ra∣ther when I see the Moon and the Starres, which thou hast ordained, * I say with the Psalmist, Lord what is man?

Page  131 But, O God, it is no dishonour to thee, that though this be a fair house, yet thou hast one so much better then it, as a Palace is be∣yond a Jayle.

This beauty may please, but that ravisheth my soul: Here is light, but dim, and dusky, in re∣spect of that inaccessible light, wherein thou dwellest: Here is a glorious sun, that illumineth this inferiour world, but thou art the sun who enlightenest that world above: Thou, to whom thy created Sun is but a shadow.

Here we converse with beasts, or at the best, with men; there with blessed soules, and heavenly Angels: Here some frivolous de∣lights are intermixed with a thousand vexations; There in thy presence is the fulnesse of joy: So then, let the sensuall heart mis-place his paradise here in the world, it shall not passe for other with me, then my pri∣son: How can it? Why should Page  132 it? for what other terms doe I find here?

What blind light looks in here at these scant loopeholes of my soul? Yea, what darknesse of ig∣norance rather possesses me? what bolts and shackles of heavy crosses doe I beare about me? how am I fed here with the bread of afdiction? how am I watched and beset with evill spirits? how contumeliously traduced? how disdainefully lookt upon? how dragging the same chaine with the worst malefactors? how dis∣abled to all spirituall motions? how restrained from that full li∣berty of injoying my home, and my God in it, which I daily ex∣pect in my dissolution? when therefore, I am released from these walls, I am still imprisoned in larger, and so shall be till the Lord of the spirits of al flesh (who put me here) shal set me free; and all the daies of my appointed time wil I wait, til this my chan∣ging come.

SECT. X.

YOu see then by this time, how little reason I have to be too much troubled with this impri∣sonment, or my friends for me; But indeed, there are some sorts of Prisoners, which neither you nor I can have tears enow to be∣waile: and those especially of two kinds.

The one, those that are too much affected with an outward bondage: The other, those that are no whit affected with a spiri∣tuall.

In the first rank are they that sinke under the weight of their Irons; Poore impotent soules, that groaning under the cruelty of a Turkish thraldome, or a Spanish Inquisition, want Faith to beare them out, against the impetuous violences of their tor∣mentors: I sorrow for their suf∣fering; Page  134 but for their fai•••• more: could they see the Gro••• of glory, which the right• 〈◊〉 Judge holds ready for their ••¦ctorious Patience, they 〈◊〉 not but contemne paine, 〈◊〉 all the pomp of Death, and •••¦fesse that their Light affliction (which is but for 〈…〉) works for them a far more •••∣ceeding and eternall weight of glory: But alas, it is the weak∣nesse of their eyes, that they onely look at the things that are seen, close walls, heavy 〈◊〉 sharp scourges, merciless racks, and other dreadfull engines of torture, and see not the things that are not seen, the glorious reward of their victory, blessed∣ness. Had they had Stephens eyes, they would have emulated his martyrdome; Surely whoso∣ever shall but read the story of the Mother and the seaven Bro∣thers in the Maccabees, and that of the fourty Armenian Mar∣tyrs Page  135 frozen to death, reported by Gaudentius, and shall there see the fainting revolter dying uncomfortably in the Bath, whiles the other thirty and nine (together with their new con∣verted Keeper) are crowned by an Angell from heaven, cannot choose (except he have nothing but Ice in his bosome) but find in himself a disposition emulous of their courage, and ambitious of their honour; But alas, what ever our desires; and purposes may be, it is not for every one to attain to the glory of Martyr∣dome; this is the highest pitch, that earthly Saints are capable of: He must be more then a man, whom pain and death cannot re∣move from his holy resolutions, and especially, the lingering ex∣ecution of both. It is well if an age can yeeld one, Mole: In what terms shal I commemorate thee, O thou blessed Confessor, the great example of invincible Page  136 constancy, in these backsliding times, (if at least thy rare perse∣verance be not more for wonder then imitation) whom thirty yeares tedious durance in the In∣quisitory at Rome, could not weary out of thy sincere profes∣sion of the Evangelical truth? All this while thou wert not al∣lowed the speech, the sight of any, but thy persecutors: Here was none to pity thee, none to ex∣hort thee: If either force of per∣swasion, or proffers of favour, or threats of extremity, could have wrought thee for thy perversion, thou hadst not at last dyed ours. Blessed be the God of all comfort, who having stood by thee, and made thee faithfull to the death, hath now given thee a crown of life and immor∣talitie; and left thee a noble pattern of Christian fortitude, so much more remarkable, as lesse frequently followed.

Whether I look into the for∣mer, Page  137 or the present times I finde the world full of shrinking professors.

Amongst the first Christians, persecution easily discovered four sorts of cowardly Renega∣does; The first, and worst, whom they justly styled Idolaters, that yeelded to all the publike forms of worship to those false Gods: The second, Sacrificers, who condescended so far, as to some kind of immolation unto those fained deities, or, at least, to a tasting of those things which were thus offered: The third, In∣censers, such as (with Marcelli∣nus himself) came on so far, as to cast some grains of incense into the Idols fire: The last were their Libellaticks, such as pri∣vately by themselves, or by some allowed proxey, denyed the faith, yet with their mony bought out this ignominy, & sin of any publique Act of Idolatry.

Not to speak of those many Page  138 thousands which fell down be∣fore Solyman the second, and held up their finger to fignifie their conversion to his Mahome∣tisme, for ease of their taxations; how many doe we hear of daily of all nations, and some (which I shame and grieve to say) of our own, who yeild to receive cir∣cumcision, and to renounce their Saviour? Oh the lamentable con∣dition of those distressed Christi∣ans▪ If constant to their professio they live in a perpetual purgato∣ry of torment; If revolting, they run into the danger of an everla∣sting damnation in hel; Even this gentle restraint puts me into the meditatiō of their insupportable durance; Why doe not all Chri∣stian hearts bleed with the sense of their deplorable estate? why is not our compassion height∣ned, according to the depth of their perill, and misery?

What are our bowels made of, if they yearn not at their un∣expressible Page  139 calamity? Ye rich Merchants, under whose imploy∣ment many of these poor souls have thus unhappily miscarried, how can you blesse your selves in your bags, whiles you see the members of Christ your Saviour, thus torn from him, for want of a petty ransome? Ye eminent persons whom God hath ad∣vanced to power and greatness, how can you sleep quietly upon your pillows, whiles you think of the cold and hard lodgings, the hungry bellies, the naked and waled backs of miserable Christians? Lastly, what fervent prayers should we all, that pro∣fesse the dear name of Christ, powre out unto the God of hea∣ven for the strengthning of the faith and patience of these affli∣cted souls against the assaults of violence? and for their happy and speedy deliverance out of their wofull captivity?

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 Page  141 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 Page  142 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