said, Were it lawful, I could pray for greater trouble, for the greater comforts sake, Eccl. 7. 14. 2 Cor. 1. 5.

325. Before I came to Prison, I saw what was a coming, and had especially two Considerations warm upon my heart; the first was, How to be able to encounter Death, should that be here my portion, For the first of these, that Scripture, Col. I. 11. was great information to me, namely, to pray to God to be strengthned with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness; I could seldom go to prayer before I was imprisoned, but for not so little as a year together, this Sentence or sweet Petition, would, as it were, thrust it self into my mind, and perswade me, that if ever I would go thorow long suffering, I must have all patience, especially if I would endure it joyfully.

326. As to the second Consideration, that Saying, (2 Cor. 1. 9.) was of great use unto me, But we had the sentence of death in our selves, that we might not trust in our selves, but in God that raiseth the dead: By this Scripture I was made to see that if ever I would suffer rightly, I must first pass a sentence of death upon every thing that can properly be called a thing of this life, even to reckon my self, my Wife, my Children, my Health, my Enjoyments and all, as dead to me, and my self as dead to them.

327. The second was, to live upon God that is invisible; as Paul said in another place, The way not to faint, is to look not at the things that are seen, but at the things that are not seen; for the things that are seen, are temporal, but the things that are not seen, they are eternal: And thus I reasoned with my self; if I provide only for a Prison, then the Whip comes at unawares, and so doth also the Pillory: Again, if I provide only for these, then I am not fit for banishment; further, if I conclude that banishment is the worst, then if Death come, I am surprized; so that I see the best way to go thorow sufferings is to trust in God through Christ, as touching the World to come; and as touching this World, to count the Grave my House, to make my Bed in Darkness, to say to Corruption, Thou art my Father, and to the Worm, Thou art my Mother and Sister; that is, to familiarize these things to me.

328. But notwithstanding these helps, I found my self a man, and compassed with Infirmities; the parting with my

Wife and poor Children hath often been to me in this place, as the pulling the Flesh from my Bones; and that not only because I am somewhat too too fond of these great Mercies, but also because I should have often brought to my mind the many hardships, miseries and wants that my poor Family was like to meet with, should I be taken from them, especially my poor blind Child, who lay nearer my heart then all I had besides; O the thoughts of the hardship I thought my blind one might go under, would break my heart to pieces.

329. Poor Child! thought I, what sorrow art thou like to have for thy Portion in this World? Thou must be beaten, must beg, suffer hunger, cold, nakedness, and a thousand Calamities, though I cannot now endure the Wind should blow upon thee: But yet recalling my self, thought I, I must venture you all with God, though it goeth to the quick to leave you; O, I saw in this condition, I was as a man who was pulling down his House upon the head of his Wife and Children; yet thought I, I must do it, I must do it: And now I thought of those two Milch-Kine that were to carry the Ark of God into another Country, and to leave their Calves behind them, 1 Sam. 6. 10, 11, 12.

330. But that which helped me in this temptation, was divers considerations, of which three in special here I will name; the first was, the consideration of those two Scriptures, Leave thy Fatherless Children, I will preserve them alive, and let thy Widows trust in me and again, The Lord said, Verily it shall go well with thy Remnant, verily, I will cause the Enemy to entreat thee well in the time of evil, &c. Jer. 49. 11. Chap. 15. 11.

331. I had also this Consideration, that if I should now venture all for God, I engaged God to take care of my concernments; but if I forsook him and his ways, for fear of any trouble that should come to me or mine; then I should not only falsifie my profession, but should count also that my Concernments were not so sure, if left at Gods feet, whilst I stood to and for his Name, as they would be if they were under my own care, though with the denial of the way of God. This was a smarting consideration, and was as spurs unto my Flesh: That Scripture also greatly helped it to fasten the more upon me, where Christ prays against Judas, that God would dis

appoint him in all his selfish thoughts, which moved him to sell his Master. Pray read it soberly, Psal. 109. 6, 7, 8, &c.

332. I had also another Consideration, and that was, The dread of the Torments of Hell, which I was sure they must partake of, that for fear of the Cross do shrink from their Profession of Christ, his Word and Laws, before the Sons of men: I thought also of the Glory that he had prepared for those that in Faith, and Love, and Patience stood to his ways before them, These things, I say, have helped me, when the thoughts of the misery that both my self and mine, might, for the sake of my Profession, be exposed to, hath lain pinching on my Mind.

333. When I have indeed conceited that I might be banished for my Profession, then I have thought of that Scripture, They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the Sword; they wandered about in Sheep-Skins, and Goat-Skins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented, of whom the World was not worthy, for all they thought they were too bad to dwell and abide amongst them. I have also thought of that saying; The Holy Ghost witnesseth in every City, that Bonds and Afflictions abide me; I have verily thought that my Soul and it, have sometimes reasoned about the sore and sad estate of a banished and exiled condition, how they are exposed to Hunger, to Cold, to Perils, to Nakedness, to Enemies, and a thousand Calamities; and at last it may be to die in a Ditch, like a poor forlorn and desolate Sheep. But I thank God hitherto I have not been moved by these most delicate reasonings, but have rather by them more approved my Heart to God.

334. I will tell you of a pretty business; I was once above all the rest, in a very sad and low Condition for many Weeks, at which time also I being but a young Prisoner, and not acquainted with the Laws, had this lay much upon my Spirit, That my Imprisonment might end at the Gallows for ought that I could tell; now therefore Satan laid hard at me to beat me out of heart, by suggesting thus unto me; But how if when you come indeed to die you should be in this Condition; that is, as not to savour the things of God, nor to have any evidence upon your Soul for a better state hereafter? (for indeed at that time all the things of God were hid from my Soul.)

335. Wherefore when I at first began to think of this, it was a great trouble to me: for I thought with my self, that in the Condition I now was in, I was not fit to die, neither indeed did think I could if I should be called to it: Besides, I thought with my self, if I should make a scrambling shift to clamber up the Ladder, yet I should either with quaking or other symptoms of fainting, give occasion to the Enemy to reproach the Way of God and his People, for their Timorousness. This therefore lay with great trouble upon me, for methought I was ashamed to die with a pale Face, and tottering Knees, for such a Cause as this.

336. Wherefore I pray'd to God that he would comfort me, and give me strength to do and suffer what he should call me to; yet no comfort appear'd, but all continued bid: I was also at this time so really possessed with the thought of death, that oft I was as if I was on the Ladder with the Rope about my Neck; only this was some Encouragement to me, I thought I might now have an opportunity to speak my last words to a Multitude which I thought would come to see me die; and thought I, if it must be so, if God will but convert one Soul by my very last words, I shall not count my Life thrown away, nor lost.

337. But yet all the things of God were kept out of my sight, and still the Tempter followed me with, But whither must you go when you die? What will become of you? Where will you be found in another World? What evidence have you for Heaven and Glory, and an Inheritance among them that are sanctified? Thus was I tossed for many Weeks, and knew not what to do; at last this Consideration fell with weight upon me, That it was for the Word and way of God that I was in this Condition, wherefore I was engaged not to flinch an hairs breadth from it.

338. I thought also, that God might chuse whether he would give me comfort now, or at the hour of Death; but I might not therefore chuse whether I would hold my Profession or no: I was bound, but he was free, yea, 'twas my Duty to stand to his Word, whether he would ever look upon me or save me at the last: Wherefore, thought I, save the point being thus, I am for going on, and venturing my eternal State with Christ, whether I have comfort here or no; if God doth not come in, thought I, I will leap off the Ladder even blindfold into Eternity, sink or swim, come Heaven, come Hell;

Lord Jesus, if thou wilt catch me, do; if not, I will venture for thy Name.

339. I was no sooner fixed upon this Resolution, but that word dropt upon me, Doth Job serve God for nought? As if the Accuser had said, Lord, Fob is no upright Man, he serves thee for by-Respects; Hast thou not made an Hedge about him, &c. but put forth now thine Hand, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy Face. How now, thought I, is this the sign of an upright Soul, to desire to serve God when all is taken from him; Is he a godly Man that will serve God for nothing rather than give out? Blessed be God; Then I hope I have an upright Heart, for I am resolved (God giving me strength) never to deny my Profession, though I have nothing at all for my Pains; and as I was thus considering, that Scripture was set before me, Psal. 44. 12. &c.

340. Now was my Heart full of Comfort, for I hoped it was sincere; I would not have been without this Tryal, for much; I am comforted every time I think of it, and I hope I shall bless God for ever for the teaching I have had by it. Many more of the dealings of God towards me, I might relate. But these out of the spoils won in Battel have I dedicated to maintain the House of God, 1 Chron. 26. 27.