The Epitome of a new man, or, A Leaf from the tree of life to heal the bleeding wounds of the nations in an epistle from the unknown servant of God, friend of nature, disciple of Jesus : directed unto all that love our Lord in sincerity, tending to the uniting their hearts to him, then one to another, be they of what sect or opinion soever they will : very profitable for every particular mans meditation, teaching the way how to know and govern our selves ...

SONG I. This Song gives the direction, with reason, how thou shouldest steer thy Affection to all men living,

COme now set up a Throne within thy minde, Where Christ will rule, as I by Scripture finde. Let all the Elders have in thee their seat. Twill mak•• for thy advantage very great.

Let reason be observed, and things in order done, Whilest thou dost draw thy breath under the Sun: O keep an eye upon the Lamp so bright, Learning, I mean, that matchless Pearl of light.

And now forget not thou thy A, B, C, If thou a scholar of my Lords wouldst be, Remember still thou knewst not A, from B, Till Learning gave thee these same eyes to see:

Thou sayest thou art rich, and learning hath at will, And kno••e•• not how ignorant th••u art still, Miserable, wretched, blinde, naked, poor, Further to seek then ere thou wert before.

O that thou wouldst but once incensed be, That these same very words concerneth thee, And so apply them to thy private minde, The joy unspeakable, so doing, thou might'st finde.

Come then leave off this cursed Art of hell, Let p••ace with all men in thy minde still dwell, Turk, Pagan, Pope, Jew; or Infidel, They were the Lords, as thou might'st know full well.

Think thou not much that they should have a part, And let their souls have interest in thy heart; Wert thou a man, thy nature would thee binde, Shouldst thou it kill, thou wouldst be a Devil in kinde:

For them he shed his ever blessed blood, As well as thee, were it but understood, And why should thou usurp the dignity, When as they are thy Lords as well as thee:

And now unless that thou obedient prove, Imbrace his doctrine, which is onely love: I say thou may est believe me if thou will, What ever thou art, thy soul shall hang in hell.

Come love then all men with a chearful minde, For God is love, as I in Scripture finde, Love shall not hurt thee, i•• it be but true, Proportionable, every man his due.

Song II.

By this Song thou shalt discern the object of thy hatred in thy self and others, which will give thee occasion thus to pray and triumph, if thou over∣come them.

MOst glorious God of sacred truth, And blessed Majesty. Lord let thy spirit of Truth and Grace Into all truth lead me.

Dispell those clouds of ignorance, and misty errors blind, Refell the Rebellious Laws of sinne that would obscure my mind.

And let thy word which is the truth, Refin'd and purifi'd Me, by thy Spirit illuminate and in my heart abide.

For sweet, and pure, and peaceable, thy heavenly wisdome is Converting souls and maki••g known those sacred mysteries.

Which do reveal that glorious light that truly lightneth thine, And will the lasting light at length make in their faces shine.

Lord let this Sun of Righteousness, with his resplendent Rayes Illuminate the souls of thine in these dark gloomy dayes.

Where swarmes of Sects and Factions, Schismes and Heresies, Do Rent the seamless Coat of Christ By Satans subtilties.

By whose Delusions many are Or' ecome and vanquished, And by seducing spirits from the truth are blindly led.

But Lord thy blessed spirit hath expresly told of these, That in the latter times should come such sad and dangerous dayes.

Whose impious and pestiferous wayes are all deciphered plain, In thy most holy word of truth, with all their wicked train.

These wandering Stars and raging Seas, foaming out their own shame, Do by their lewd pernitious wayes the way of truch defame.

Like empty clouds they carried are about with every winde, And having itching ears, the truth abides not in their mind.

But then puft up with spiritual pride, and lying vanities, Great swelling words they vent, and speak evil of Dignities.

Dominion they do des••ise, Like savage sensual bruits, Themselves corrupting do produce contaminated fruits.

In Cain's cruel murderous wayes, these filthy Dreamers go, And greedily run for reward In Balaams' Error too.

But as rebellious Core did fall, gain-saying so these shall, According to that Woe pronounc'd suddenly perish all.

Therefore Lord cause thy little flock from thee never to swerve. But from all these devouring Wolves them save, shield, and preserve.

Lord hide thy Turtle in the Clefts of the Rock of thy great power, And let no cruel beasts root up thy Vine, and it devour.

In the top of the Mountains Lord, let thy holy mount be Exalted, and thy truth extol'd, that all the world may see.

Thy glorious and out-stretched Arm, which doth salvation bring, That all thy Saints and Angels may triumphant Anthems sing.

What think you of this Song? This is very well done, if it be not too heavy a tune for them, you must not forget that they are a sad people, for all their boasting.

Then I will teach them a song of the same: Pray let us hear that in another tune.

SONG III.

In this Song thou hast an exact definition of the two Powers that are within thee, with a sure rule by which thou maist know which is good, and which is evil.

OH! h••rk, Oh! stay, Reason doth say, See you not what I see, Oh! 'tis a Spirit of dreadful might, And I muse whom he should be, Oh sick, Oh sick, Oh very, very sick, Oh sick and like to pine, The sickest time that ever I had, Oh help me Power Divine.

Yonder he comes, yonder he comes, With courage, might and main, Oh! sure he doth intend to fight, And I fear I shall be slain. Oh sick▪ Oh sick, Oh very, very sick; Oh sick and like to pine, Without the intervening might Of him that hath Power Divine.

The place where I do him behold, Is in my minde sublime, And either it is the Hellish Spirit, Or else Gods Spirit Divine. Oh sick, Oh sick, Oh very, very sick, &c.

But how shall I this Spirit know, Whose Marching I descry, Is not there now some rule good Lord, By which I may him try. Oh sick, Oh sick, Oh very, very sick, &c.

For if he be the Spirit of Grace, He will not me devour, But if he be the Hellish Spirit, Lord keep me from his power, Oh sick, Oh sick, Oh very, very sick, &c.

I dare not yet, I dare not yet At all with him combine, Ʋntil I know he is of thee, And comes of thy design, Oh sick, Oh sick, &c.

He tells me that he is my Friend, And doth me much perswade, And yet I dare not hear his voyce, Nor yet accept his ayd. Oh sick, O sick, &c.

Therefore behold, thy servant stands, At Se••try Post••re still, And will not yield to his commands, Nor yet his min••e fulfil. Oh sick, Oh sick, &c.

Ʋntil I do the Spirit know, Whose marching I descry; Therefore learn me some rule good Lord, Whereby I may him try. Oh I am sick, Oh sick &c.

I much do doubt, I much do doubt, And fear it now and then, That he is not the Spirit of Grace, But is the Hellish Fiend. Oh sick, Oh sick, &c.

For if he was thy Spirit pure, I need not thus to cry, He is not so importunate, But I might him deny. Oh sick, Oh sick, &c.

His gentle motions they are such, That quickly are gain said, But this most violently doth urge. And will not be deny'd. Oh sick, Oh sick, Oh very, very sick, O sick, and like to pine, Without the intervening might Of him that hath Power Divine.

What is the Word, what is the Word, I pray thee tell to me, Oh tell me now thy word whereby, I'st know him thine to be. Oh sick, sick, &c.

(The Word is Holy Scripture, which is a Compendium of Reason, or Reason in the abstract; whosoever speaks not according to this, it is because there is no light in them.)

If that he be the Spir••t of Grace, Thou mayest know him right well, He speaks nothing but down-right truth, No lie he can thee tell. Oh sick, &c.

Oh what is truth, Oh what is truth, This matter I would know, Oh what is truth, Oh what is truth, I pray thee to me show. Oh si••k, &c.

Oh truth it is, Oh truth it is, A reckning made most neat, Re••ucing ••ll deducted parts, Ʋnto the whole compleat. Oh sick, &c.

By this thou mayest the Spirits know, That's in thy minde sublime, Whether he be the Spirit of Hell, Or else Gods Spirit Divine. Oh sick, &c.

For if he be the Spirit of Hell, By this thou mayest him try, For sure the truth he cannot tell, But forge he will the lie. Oh sick, &c.

Now therefore heed and mark him well, When h•• his news doth start, For all the truth he cannot tell, But must conceal a part. Oh sick, &c.

By this thou shouldst the Spirits try, That's in thy minde sublime, Whether or no they be of God, Or come of his design. Oh sick, Oh si••k▪ Oh very, very sick, O sick and like to pine, Wi••hout the interwening might Of him that hath Power Divine.

Old excellent, sure this will do the cure, or else the De∣vils is in them, but if he be, we make no doubt, with Gods leave and their industry, to sing him out.

It is almost incredible to think, the great confusion, mist and darkness that Satan will make in the mindes of men, if they stand strictly upon the examination of this; for the Devil well knows, that his time of reigning is but very short in that soul that is resolvedly set upon this work: But be not faint-hearted, but at this time be sure to exercise these three Vertues, Faith, Fortitude and Patience, and I will warrant thee thou shalt put him to flight; which being done, make good thy pursuit, and in short time thou shalt overcome him; Fight the good fight of Faith.

By this Observation or Rule thou mayest soon see, that the Ranters and Quakers are not led by the Spirit of Truth and Grace, but by the spirit of Errour; which is manifest to him that shall consider their confusion both in Doctrine and Practice, and knows, That God is the God of Order, and not of Confusion: But these men, as it is evident, know no order, but run on fu∣riously, and as I think, without either fear or wit: The searcher of hearts knows, that I speak not this out of any ill-will or emu∣lation to any Sect or Opinion under heaven; for I judge them rather objects of great pitty, then the least spight: But if it may be by any means, that I might do my Countrey good, in reducing those that are gone off from the Rule of Holy Scri∣pture and Rrason back again▪ unto that good old way wherein they may finde peace for their souls, or at least, that I might stay and strengthen the feeble knees of those that are ready to fall; and by reason of their weakness, are soon overwhelmed by their thundering and terrible expressions, which in reason of their own nature, do make a deep impression upon tender hearts, especially being uttered with that vehementness and earn∣estness of aff••ction with which they are wont to speak; and likewise harping upon something that is known and granted to be true, weak people do hence presently conclude, they must needs be of God, and have discerning spirits, otherwise they would not dare to be so rash, and so by little and little to fall in with them to shelter and shrowd themselves from the horrour which those expressions do import. and leave off judging them∣selves, which is the duty of every Christian, and quite contrary

to the Law of our Lord, whom they profess to have reigning in them, living in a constant breach of his command in judging others; which is too too manifest.

Matth. 7.1.2: Judge not, that you be not judged; for with what judgement ye judge, ye shall be judgea, &c.

Hebr. 10 30. The Lord shall judge his people.

Luke 6.37. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged

John 7.24. Judge not according to the appearance; but judge righteous judgement.

Rom. 14.13. Let us not therefore judge one another any more; but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block, or an oc∣casion to fall, in thy brothers way.

SONG IV.

By this Song thou shalt learn to chuse thy companions, in whose society thou canst not chuse but delight.

I Will sing of mercy, of mercy I'll sing, Of mercy, O Lord unto thee, O make my heart joyous, my Christ, O my King, That I thy salvation may see.

Thy judgements thy judgements also I will tell, How they dist••butea be, Thy dispensations th••y do excell, Righteous, my eye doth them see.

Therefore I will my self now behave, Even with a perfect heart, If thou Lord wilt but dwell in my soul, From thy Precepts I mean not to start.

I will set no evil thing me before, My eye shall be fixed on thee, The works of iniquity, Lord, I do hate, They never shall cleave unto me.

A froward minde I will not bear, Such evil my soul must shun, Of all perterbations I will have a care, Lest I thereby should be undone.

Him that his neighbour doth not love, And dealeth deceitfully, A wick'd person I cannot approve, He keeps not my Company.

The unconstant minde is not for me, Content is my desire, And though I am of a low degree, My minde shall not aspire.

The Covetous slave my soul doth hate, And liberal I will be, Yet my own goods I will dilate, For that is hon••sty.

My delight shalbe with the faithful souis, That love sincerity, And hath respect to all thy commands, But, oh, that I could them see.

Oh when shall I come, Lord, when shall I come, Ʋnto thy holy hill, Where I might behold those objects I love, And feed on thy pleasure still.

Those joys I do mean, which are at thy right hand, Of which thou hast infinite store, 'Tis but the sight of thy countenance Lord, That will fijl me for evermore.

SONG V. Reasons Invitation.

COme hither thou vain man, What doth thy heart desire, Of me thou mayest it have, Let not thy minde aspire.

What is it thou wouldst have, That I to thee cannot shew, Let not thy spirit rave, His pleasure let me know.

Let me but see the thing, For which thy minde is pin'd, The heavens will comfort bring, Their God doth so them bind.

With thee he'll come and dwell, Although thou art but poor, And when thy cruse is out, Himself will send thee more.

Would'st thou now be a King, A King thou then shalt be, If thou canst rule thy self, Thou shalt be King of me.

And I am Reason hold, Of courage fierce and fell, I scorn to turn my back, For all the powers of hell.

What can thy heart desire, I it to thee will shew, Let not thy minde aspire, But keep thy thoughts below.

If thou wouldst be a man, A God I'll make of thee, But if thou would'st be a God, Then ask no ayd of mee.

Live thou by thy own power, For that doth God become, The Creator do not devour, There life shall be thy doom.

But if thou wilt be a man, T••en thou must know my Law, His instrument I am, To keep all souls in aw.

For I with God do dwell, And know his Immense powers, Thou would'st think I lie to tell; How I have felt their showers.

But sure I do him see, And dare not him offend, Yet torment will I thee, Tell thou thy ways amend.

SONG VI.

By this Song thou mayest defend thy selfe from all the casual cares that are incident to man,

My Ship hath anxious thoughts aboard, Which makes me fly unto my Lord; O heavens how my poor Bark doth crack, I fear that I shall see shipwrack; Therefore aloud to thee I cry, O help me Lo••d, or else I die.

These blustering winds and raging Seas, Will give my mind but little ease, I tossed am both to and fro, Which breeds my pain, my grief, my woe, Yet through I am resolved to go. Though I do die in doing so,

And this by faith I alwayes know, These furious winds will cease to blow; And after all the storms aro past, Sweet comforts I shall find at last: Therefore I will hoist up my sail In spight of all this future gale.

Into the Ocean now I lance, Being resolved to take my chance, Contented either to sinck or swim Knowing that I shall rise again: Yet be is so that my hope should fail, My lusty ship shall bear up sail.

Better I had to venter thus, Then to indure that I know to be worse, My ship shall toss it to and fro, Sith 'tis my mind to have it so, Ʋntil that I do come to shore, Where I shall rest forevermore.

This ship it is my mind, good Lord, In which are Rebels to thy word, Which revel rou•• and me distract, Which makes me think my brains will crack; Yet still I must them with me bear, Before thy face to kill them there.

These blustering winds and foming Seas, Are casuall cares which on me seize, By which I am tossed to and fro, As I along to thee doth go: But yet thou bidst me to be stout, And like a Souldier keep them out.

The place to which my Ship is bound, It is the Heavens whose figure is round, In which contained is all bliss, For those that do not do amiss: Where there I shall thee see, And ever keep thee company.

Whose beauteous beams that are so bright Will soon dispel my darksome night, At whose right hand doth alwaies spring A Fountain fil'd with every thing, VVhose silver streams to me doth run Through the man Christ thy blessed Sonne.

Sing this on any occasion of trouble, or unkindness of friends, &c.

SONG VII.

Do not find fault with these words, but devise better when thou wilt thy selfe in Gods name, for this is a Song of Tri∣umph, and it shews thee where Christ will raign, and thou shalt see him as I do, and have done, if thou wilt fight and overcome.

DIng dong, ding dong, ding dong, My battel is almost done, My victory so is won; Ding dong, ding dong, ding dong, Triumph for ever.

My Triumph it shall be, Sweet Musicks melody, Better then ever you see, Ding dong &c. Triumph for ever.

I'll have a Chariot of Gold, D••ng dong, ding dong &c. Most lustrious to behold, Ding dong, &c. Triumph for ever,

My neck shall wear a Chain Ding do••g, ding dong, &c. Yet Gold I do disdain, Ding dong, &c. Triumph for ever.

My Bracelets I will have, Ding dong, &c.

Though here I am ae slave, Ding dong, ding dong, ding dong, I'll triumph for ever.

Of this they shall be made, Ding dong, &c. And better could it be said, Ding dong, &c. Triumph for ever.

White Pearl, Diamond, Sardis stone, Ding dong, &c. My name is writ that is not known, Dong dong, &c. Triumph for ever.

My Garment shall be white, Ding dong, &c. To Christ I have a right, Ding dong, &c. Triumph for ever.

For Christ my Lord will come, Pow tow, pow tow, pow down, Therefore I will beat my drum Row tow, paradow, row town. Triumph for ever.

The Devil shall be bound, Ding dong, &c. Therefore my drum shall sound, Pow tow paradow, row town, Triumph for ever.

The Judgement shall begin, Ding dong, &c. Therefore I will down with sinne, Ding dong, &c. Triumph for ever.

Gog Magog shall go down, Ding dong, &c. The Saints shall wear the Crown, Ding dong, &c. Triumph for ever.

But when shall all this be? Ding dong, &c. Q. And where shall I this see? Ding dong, &c. And triumph for ever.

A. The Scripture doth not tell, Ding dong, &c. I know not very well, Ding dong, &c. Triumph for ever.

Q. Shall it be at Jerusalem, Ding dong, &c. And what shall we do then, Ding dong, &c. Two triumph for ever.

An. VVhy thither we will go, Ding dong, &c. To see this glorious shew, Ding dong, &c. And triumph for ever.

But when that we come there, [Interlocution. Ding dong, &c. How shall we all come near Ding dong, &c. Triumph for ever.

How shall we Christ then see, Ding dong, &c.

And know which man is he. Ding dong, &c. To triumph for ever.

This thing I cannot tell, Ding dong, &c. I know not Christ so well, Ding dong, &c. Triumph for ever.

Then sure 'tis Christ within, Ding dong, &c. And there he must be seen Ding dong, &c. Before triumph for ever.

O how shall I him see, Ding dong, &c. This thing will puzzel me, Twill do my Muses wrong. Spril triumph for ever.

Why there thou maist him find, Ding dong, &c. If that thou art not blind, Ding dong, &c. Then Triumph for ever.

O shew me how to look, Ding dong, &c. Go take the Christian book, Ding dong, &c. Triumph for ever.

And see the Christ in thee, Ding dong, &c. Just such a one to be, Ding dong, &c. Then triumph for ever.

And when this hath been, Thy Triumph shall begin, Till then thou must not sing Ding dong, nor triumph for ever.

Weak Christian Reader, whose good I tender as my own, Christ knowes my heart, if I could imagine any way to streng∣then thee, I would not spare my paines; but it grieves me not a little to think that thou wilt flout me for my love, and call me all to nought; but that is thy ignorance, I pitty thee, thou knowest me not, neither canst thou now, because I have laid an injuncti∣on my self to be mad, that is, to wear mad habit; and why did I so, truly to keep my wits alive to serve thee, for I was too much affected with the distraction of my Country; and here I have stript this Song for thy sake out of its rich Clothes, and put it down plain in Prose, if by any means I might please thee.

Thus have I taken no little pains, being neither Scholar nor Poet, to devise these seven Songs; there is for every day one, and I think that is enough, but if seventy times seven would do you good, I would spend my wits under God to devise them.

MY battel is almost done, My victory so is won; My Triumph it shall be, Sweet Musicks melody, Better then ever you see, I'll have a Chariot of Gold, Most lustrious to behold, My neck shall wear a Chain Yet Gold I do disdain, My Bracelets I will have, Though here I am a slave, Of this they shall be made, And better could it be said. White Pearl, Diomond Sardis stone: Thy name in writ that is not known. Thy Garments shall be white, To Christ thou hast a right, And Christ thy Lord will come, For I have beat the Drum The Devil shall be bound, As true as my Drum did sonnd, The Judgement shall begin, Do thou now beat down sin, Gog Magog shall go down. Thou shalt have a Crown. But when shall all this be, And where wouldest thou it see, The Scripture in express tearms doth not tell, Therefore I know not well, Shall it be at Jerusalem? Prethee what wouldst thou do then? Why thou wilt thither go To see a glorious shew. But when thou com••st there

Thou cnust not come him near, How wilt thou then him see. And know which man is he. This thing I cannot tell, I know not Christ so well, Then sure 'tis Christ within, And there he must be seen O how shall I him see, This thing will puzzel me, Twill do my Muses wrong. Sp••il triumph for ever. Why there thou maist him find, If that thou art not blind, O shew me how to look, Go take the Christian book, And see the Christ in thee, Just such a one to be, And when this hath been Thy Triumph shall begin, Tell then thou canst not sing, Triumph for ever.

But when would you have them sing them; at any time, espe∣cially when they feel their minds distresed, or when they list themselves.

O why did you put in that word (list themselves) now I am a∣fraid that all my labour is invain in devising these Songs. I thought before to have told them of a hundred and fifty more, but if you put it to their choices, I wil not speak one word of them, & truly I think or am afraid these will be to no purpose. For every sect dispises singing, and preach vehemently and maliciously against it, call those Psalms put into Meeter by Thomas Sternhold and John Hopkins, with others, the black Psalms, and what will they say of mine then.

Then what shall I do to do them good?

It may be I will dress thee, and some others, within a hairy Garment, as Rebecca did Jacob, since thou wouldest so fain have them to have a blessing.

Alas you spoil all by telling them so before hand.

Tush, their eyes are dim, and their feeling and understanding is no better then Isaacs, if it be so good, and yet thou knowest he was deceived.

But when shall this be done?

Nay, stay there.

But what shall I do when I am thus dressed? go amongst them and teach every man how he should be his own Physitian, since they will not trust others to minister to them, for Physick they must have, or else they will madly dye, and that for ought I know eternally.

But methinks the Magistrate might save us all this labour, and do but as they did in New-England by those eleven strangers, though otherwise free-born Englishmen.

What was that, give them twenty two whippings, containing 350 stripes, if every Justice of Peace would cause them by his power to be served as they did eleven of their neighbo••s, give them sixteen whippings, reckoned together, containing 160. stripes; or if they had but power to serve them as they did the five and forty inhabitants and strangers together, put them into prison for 137 weeks put together, and there give them a hu••∣dred thirty nine stripes; sure this would make them to know themselves without any more ado.

I do not know what virtue pitched Ropes have; but this I know, that Tar is of a healing nature, I have experience that it cured my Dogs ears the other day after I had cut them.

But if I could think that pitch Ropes were of greater force, nay, that they would minister any thing to their good, I would give all the money in my pocket to buy them some.

He said, alas, that would do them no good, it was neither Pitch nor Tar, nor Ropes neither, that was a proper remedy for their disease, nor yet whipping, nor bonds and imprisonments, they would make no more of Ropes then Sampson did of his new Cords, but either slight them, or sullenly dye under them; and for imprisonment they valued it not, nay if they would burn them at a stake, they would hardly feel it, they would be filled with such a devillish strong conceit of their martyrdome; and if they would hang them, they will please themselves with these thoughts, that they are going to heaven in a string.

Therefore he condemned all those to be almost as mad as they that thought any such means would cure them. The most that this could promise was, that they might be silenced for a time; but he said, there could be no Church kept so pure at last, since the Apostles departure to be sure, but they were alwayes in danger, and did still arise one or other amongst themselves, that would speak perverse things to draw away Disciples after them.

Nay in truth, he said, that there was not a man of us all, that was ever yet so sanctified, except the Captain, our Lord Jesus Christ, but was alwayes in danger of deceiving himself and o∣thers.

And therefore whatsoever I did, I should take heed of coun∣tenancing any such indirect means, for the wisest of us did not know; unlesse we had that spirit as they had, to presume our selves inspired and infallible, but that they might be overtaken in their fault, and we being Christians should not be ignorant of this main point of the Law of Christ, Bear ye one anothers burthens: thou that art spiritual, restore such in the spirit of meek∣ness considering thy selfe, least thou also be tempted, Gal. 6.12. Indeed, he said, if some such things could be done by them to themselves, or by others with their consent, he did believe it

would work kindly with them; but for others to punish their bodyes, and not being able to convince their understandings of the reason of it, and to shew how it made for their good, it was very improper, yea impossible for them to reduce them by it.

Nay said I, if you think and say so, I will think no more of that, and will perswade all men as much as in me lies to be of your mind.

For I think if reason, with their own discipline, will not helpe them, they must be damned, for all the help of man, but selfe discipline is mighty powerful.

But I asked him, why all these miseries and distractions hap∣pened among religious People: O said he, Religion is a devillish thing if it be false, it distracts the mind unspeakably, fills the imagination, that Jesabel, painted, damned bitched whore, bot∣tomless pit, and counterfeit of reason, beast, Devil, and worse then Devil within us, the old man, the heavens crucifie him for me.

Religion is like Aesops Tongues, and so are the people that profess it; good for all things, good for nothing.

Wherefore he bid me, whatsoever I did, I should beware of those that keep a prating about Religion, for a thousand to one they had none at all.

The sincere Christian knows himselfe, and if all men say he is a Devill, he knows they speak true of him, in respect to his old man, and is not angry with them; yet for all this he is not a∣shamed to maintain his own sincerity before God and Christ, who onely knows the secret wishes and desires of his heart.

I thanked him kindly for his instructions, for he had informed me of more then I knew, or at least thought on before; and I resolved in my selfe to beware of Professors, for I saw that they had deceived me, and themselves, and all the world besides.

Then in the last place, I besought him for my Country, or man-kind in Generall. Who I thought was of no Religion, nor had no fear of God before their eyes.

I asked him for some instructions for them to do them good.

He said, if they had no fear of God at all, he would not speak one word to them, till they did get it of themselves.

Nay, said I, they may have Laws to restrain their humour; said he, there is enough of that, let the Magistrates put them in exe∣cution to the utmost, against them.

Then thou takest care for none but those that are religious and fear God, there is no other that are capable of my directi∣ons; and indeed I am on Gods side, let others shift for them∣selves in the Devils name if they can.

I but said I, now I call to minde, there is no man but he will say he fears God, and doth what he doth in obedience unto him, though he be never so factious or seditious: Then in what manner shall the Magistrates command such, in what manner they list themselves.

How? this is a strange saying, In what manner they list; I believe if thou wert a man, thou wouldest not give them this li∣berty, or if thou didst, thou wouldest deny them obedience when they commanded thee.

It may be I should; Man, you know is a contradiction, saies one thing but does another, then what shall a man put his trust in, in God, not in Princes, for they are men.

Then at this rate he is happy, that is, a Law to himselfe, who knows not that thou fool; I, but every man cannot command himselfe, then let him learn, for if he cannot govern himselfe, there is no reason but he should be ruled by force, and governed whether he will or no.

But who shall be judge? it may be the Magistrate will call my Religon faction, and say, I mean sedition by publishing it; what shall I do in such a case; indure his penalties, not revile him, but rejoyce that thou art counted worthy to suffer af∣fliction for truth sake: I but then what shall I do to keep my Goods and good name, what matter is it for them, let the De∣vil take them, what needs thou care so long as thou serves God: I but I cannot be so satisfied, then the Devil take thee & his dam to boot, thou art that Rogue that hath destroyed our Nation by thy whining, and preaching, and praying, thou mades me be∣lieve all this while, that thou was heavenly minded as I was, but I see this world is in thy heart.