A cleare and necessary vindication of the principles and practices of me Christopher Love, since my tryall before, and condemnation by, the High Court of Iustice. Whereby it is manifested, that a close prison, a long sword, a High Court, and a bloody scaffold, have not in the least altered my judgment. Whereas also the cruelty of the sentence, the insufficiency of the proofs, and my own innocency, are demonstrated. As also my grounds and reasons of giving in a narrative, and the lawfulness of the matter and titles of my petitions (though to usurpers) manifested and maintained. Together with a declaration of my judgement concerning Cromwells unlawfull invasion of the kingdom of Scotland. Written by me Christopher Love, Master of Arts, minister of Lawrence Iury, London; penned by me the eighth of August, fourteen days before my death.

To the Reverend Fathers and Brethren, the Ministers in and about the City of London, Subscribers of the Petitions for my Reprieve and ••ardon.

Reverend Sirs,

IT is no little comfort to me, that when Men cast me out of the world, that God doth not cast me out of your hearts, (which would have been more bit∣ter than death unto me) How much am I bound to blesse God, and thank you, that you should intercede should not dye, when so many Sonnes of Violence think me not worthy to live? Though your media∣tion for my life should not succeed, yet herein I should rejoyce, if your mee∣ting together lay a foundation of love and union among your selves, though not of advantage unto me. It hath been no little grief of heart to me to consider, that whiles the Prelates contend••d for Vniformity, thinking to have the Coat of Christ without rent, and the Separatists for Purity, think∣ing to have it without spot, by their contentions they have left the Church this Coat of Christ full of both. I know it is your work and wisedome to labour for the things that make for Peace in the Churches of the Saints. As for a State-peace, or State-union, that's more proper for Statesmen; I should not desire to live to that day, to see the Ministers of London u∣nite upon a State interest to maintain the present Power; this were to say a confederacy with them that say a confederacy; this were rather a Combi∣nation, than a Vnion. All that I shall say touching the men in present Power, They have gotten Power into their hands by policy, exercise it by cruelty, and they will lose it with ignominy. As it was said of Boniface, he entred the Popedome like a Fox, reigned like a Lyon, but dyed like a Dog: Reverend Fathers and Brethren, as you have not bin ashamed of my chain,

so, I beseech you, wax more confident by my bonds, and be much more bold to Preach the Word without fear. God hath not promised to preserve this or that kinde of Government in the States and Kingdomes of this World, but he hath promised to preserve a Ministry in his Church, and loe he will be with you to the end of the World. I have no more to say, but to take my last farewell of you all, for I am ready to be offered up, and the time of my departure is at hand; I see men thirst after my blood, though you long after my life, oh! that my blood could soder the differences, and my dead body fill up the breaches that are among the Godly, that they might walk together in Truth and Love, in the Fellowship of the Gospell; This is the prayer of

Your dying, yet comforted Servant,
who is not worthy to have a
name among you, therefore is
cut off from the land of the
living,
CHRISTOPHER LOVE.

From the Tower of London, Aug. 11. 1651.