To all dear Friends & brethren in the everlasting truth & covenant of the Almighty Jehovah, blessed for evermore Burrough, Edward, 1634-1662. 1662 Approx. 27 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 5 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2005-10 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A62696 Wing T1320 ESTC R20636 12563157 ocm 12563157 63295 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A62696) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 63295) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 704:13) To all dear Friends & brethren in the everlasting truth & covenant of the Almighty Jehovah, blessed for evermore Burrough, Edward, 1634-1662. J. C. J. P. Howgill, Francis, 1618-1669. Burrough, Edward, 1634-1662. 8 p. s.n., [S.l. : 1662] Caption-title. Dated and signed: Newgate prison, the 12th of the 4th month 1662. E.B., J.C., J.P. "The cogitations of my heart have been many, deep, and ponderous ...", p. 7-8, signed: Fran. Howgill. Reproduction of original in Huntington Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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WE the Prisoners of the Lord , and for the Testimony of Christ Jesus , do bear in our remembrance with dearest Salutations of perfect love , all our suffering Brethren every where , and also the whole Flock of our Fathers tender Love , whom he hath elected and chosen in his own secret Counsel before the world began ; Dearly and well beloved , our very Souls this day , are deeply affected with the Cause of God , and our persons at this time are engaged in these Bonds , for the Testimony of the same ; and truly , in Soul , Body , and Spirit , are we offered up to the perpetual loss of all , that the Name of the Lord , and his saving Truth , may be testified unto , in faithfulness unto all the world ; and in the Lord our hearts are resolved in the confidence of his Spirit , to suffer the greatest of Afflictions and Persecutions , rather than forfeit or loose , one grain of this so blessed a Testimony now trusted with us , and for whic● , we now suffer these Bonds : And unto faithfulness herein , We find that the Lord our God , daily increaseth our strength and boldness , our patience and long suffering , and doubleth his Spirit of Power and Wisdom upon us , that we may never faint in Trial ; and we labour to be armed in our inward man , with whatsoever may uphold us , and defend us in this day of our Afflic●ions ; even that our faith and patience , our holiness and meekness , our long suffering , and love to enemies ; and all Heavenly Vertues may be compleated in us , and possessed of us , till our God take Vengeance upon the wrath of our Adversaries , and deliver his ( now ) poor despised and oppressed people ; for these Vertues are the armour with which we delight to be cloathed ; these are our weapons with which we chuse to be defended , and this must be our final Vic●ory , when the faith and patience , the meekness and long suffering , and heavenly Vertues of Christ Jesus in us , have exceeded in measure , and superabounded in effect , all the unbelief and impatiency , the enmity and ungodliness , in all that hate us ; Love shall overcome wrath and envy ; Patience shall subdue rigorous Persecutors , and hatefull workers ; the very God that dwells with us , shall condemn and confound the wicked one , with all his might , and power , and malice , and Persecution , cruel Imposition on tender Consciences , and Oppression and Injustice shall be no more : And this is that Victory , for which we spiritually War , and these and no other , are the weapons with which we do contend ; and the Cause is God's in which we are ingaged , and for which we suffer this present day . Brethren , we hope ye are all like-minded with us , and that this same Cause of God , his Truth and Righteousness is fixed before you , and is your aime and mark , and that it is alike dear and precious in your eye , and that ye are Armed with the same Armour of God's heavenly Vertues ; It 's the breathings of our life to the Father , that the whole Church of Chri●t , and every Member thereof may be kept faithful , to hold forth the holy Testimony of Jesus , by suffering in this great day of Trial. The Testimony of which , we have heard and learned , believed and received , from God the Father into all our hearts , is so precious to us , in it's evidence of Peace , and Comfort , and Justification , and Salvation , in Eternal life in our inward man , that we compare no afflictions , nor present sufferings of our outward man , to the price and vertue thereof . For we can say in the verity of our Souls , how ever it shall go with our outward man , in respect of Tribulations , and Persecutions , yet in our inward man , we possess the Peace , and Comfort , and Salvation of the everlasting God ; and to bear forth the Testimony of this in our age to the world , even of that Love and Life , Mercy , Justification and Salvation which we have received , we can forgo Liberty , Life , and all : For this is our duty to which we are called , and the end for which we were born , to bear witness to the Truth , and for the holding forth of this witness , we are given up in Soul , Body , and Spirit , to suffer the loss of all , rather than to loose this Testimony-bearing to the view of the world . Wherefore , we beseech and exhort all of you , that have tasted of the loving kindness of our God , That ye be faithful and valiant this day in the Cause of God ; not fearing the fury of the ungodly , nor the threats of enemies , nor the terrors of this world , nor seeking to save your own lives ; but in the faith and patience , pressing forward in the race of Righteousness , till Mercy , Peace , Justice , and true Judgment , run down as a stream , willing to suffer the loss of all , that Truth and Righteousness may live upon earth , and the worship of the true God be exalted , and all the contrary overturned , and this is the reward of all the Saints Afflictions . Be faithful in your Trials , let E●tates , Relations , Life , and all go , rather than the cause of Truth and Righteousness be diminished of it's Glory , by the unfaithfulness of any this day . Surely our hearts are zealous for this matter , and we are pressed in Spirit , to encourage all the Lords people to put on all holy confidence in this day , and to cast away all unbelief , doubtings and fears of this world , and to maintain the Truth of God's worship in the assemblings of his people together , in the strength and power of the Lord Jesus Chri●t ; even to live in it , and to dye for it , to enjoy God's pure Worship , and to suffer the losse of all , if called thereunto . We know you are not ignorant concerning this Cause of God , which we thus affect , and exhort you to be faithful in ; It 's no other than the Testimony of a pure Conscience towards our Creator , and that every person should follow Christ , and obey him , and walk in the light and life of his Spirit , which he hath revealed in the heart ; & that God should be feared and worshiped in a clean Conscience , and that the Salvation of God may be testified of ; This and no other is the Cause of God , in which our Souls and Bodies are ingaged , we know no Ca●se upon earth , worth our Afflictions and Sufferings , nor for which we will contend with any , save for the Salvation of God , and that his Justice and Mercy , his Truth and Righteousness , his Way and Worship may be Exalted upon earth , and all the contrary subdued by his mighty Power . This is the very cause compared , to which our mortality is not to be accounted , even that we may behold God's Salvation going forth in the Testimony of it to all Nations , and that Nations and Peoples , may injoy Justice and Truth , Liberty and Freedom , in the pure worship of the living God ; This is the Cause that must live , [ the Lord hath spoken it ] though for it we may die ; for our All is adventured upon the same . But whilest our hearts are pouring forth daily Prayers towards God , and Exhortations towards you , that you may be faithful to give publick Testimony to the Name , Truth , and Salvation of God ; our Souls also desire that you all may eat and drink of that spiritual food , which will cause your inward man to grow , and that your own hearts may be kept pure and undefiled in his Presence , and that the Seed of Life , with the fruits and blessings thereof may fill your own Souls ; that while you are striving by patience and long suffering against your outward enemies , no inward enemy of evil lusts or affections , strife or divisions , or any thing of this world may enter into your bosoms to defile you . Dearly Beloved alwaye● h●ve a special regard unto your standing as to God-ward , and what increa●e of Life , Love , Peace and Comfort , ye daily receive in your spiritual ; man knowing , that by the inward vertue of the Fathers presence , the Peace and Joy of God in your inward man dayly receive● from him , by that must you stand in strength and dominion against all enemies within and without . Therefore , feel the Seed of God , and it's growth and incre●se in your own hea●ts , that you may have perfect Peace and Vnion with God in Spirit , while ye are hearing publick Testimony , by doing or suffering for his Truth and Name . J. C. And Brethren , our hearts and Souls reach unto , and dearly Salute you all ; for while we remember the Lord and his goodness unto us , we cannot forget you , no not the least babe and little one amongst you all , for what are we , or you , or all of us together , joyntly , or apart ; but what we are in his life , love and peace , that endureth for ever ? whose Mercies , Glory , Riches and Goodness , as so many sparkling Diamonds and Jems of Value , adorn our Crown and make it Glorious , and every one doth shine with Lustre and Beauty in the eyes of all that behold us ; and whilest we are so Adorned , may we not say , our cloathings are white and fine , such as are in Kings Houses , and our attire no other than what becometh Princes ? and what ever we have been it matters not , except to set forth the favour and goodness of him , that hath so raised us from the dunghil amongst the Beggars , to sit upon Thrones in Glory with Princes ? and to shew how the Angel of Gods presence hath saved , and taken us from our begging state , at the Rich man's ga●e , like so many Lazaruses , bruised and wounded , from head to foot ; and carried us into Abrahams bosom , where we are at Rest , praising our God , and our King of Riches and Mercy for ever . Dear Friends , we write unto you all , that you may partake with us of the same life , glory , rest and peace , and not only drops and sprinklings of the same , but full measure , heaped up , and running over . For you are our witnesses , that we , with the rest of our Faithful brethren , have not withheld from you , the whole Counsel of God revealed to us , and in us , according to the good pleasure of our Lord and Master ; neither have we kept back from declaring to you his Mind , and the mysteries of his Kingdom , yea , his hidden mysteries ; ( which have been hid in God since the world began ) and that in season , and out of season , at all times and places , as he hath given us opportunities , and required us so to do ; and that not in words , which man's wisdom teacheth , ( lest thereby we should make void the Cross of Christ ) , but in plainness and simplicity , that God's Witness in every Conscience might answer us , and we unto every Conscience might be made manifest in God's fight , as we know we are this day , and we have our reward , from the Lord of the Harvest that sent us forth ; and this adds to our comfort in this day , that we were faithful unto our God in what he committed to our charge : And now , what is o●rs , and our Brethrens reward , and Crown of rejoycing , but this , That you stand faithful in this time of Trial ? for you know we have not been like unto those who have begotten into the airy Spirit , that so you might be alwayes kept in the uncertainty , ever learning , but never get ability to learn and perform what you have been taught ; for what we have received from Christ , by vertue of his Resurrection and Assention , is perfect , and hath been Ministred unto you , for the perfecting of you all , with the rest of the Sanctified ones in Christ Jesus , until you all come to a perfect man in Christ , even unto the fulness of the measure of the stature of Christ. For which we pray , and desire of our God and Father for you all . Let your Meetings be in God's fear and Counsel , as at other times , never heeding what man can do unto you ; but still be you all followers of that which is good , and then , who can , or shall harm you ? Keep in the Love to , and unity with that of God in all : Let the witness of God in all answer your words and actions , rendering to none evil for evil , but overcoming the evil with the good ; so shall you be known to be the servants of the Living God , and followers of the Lamb as dear children . And be terrified in nothing , as from any of the sons of men , that can befall you ; for all your hairs are numbred , and not one shall fall , without Gods Providence ; neither shall the wrath of the wicked be unbounded ; but what ever turns not to his praise , that he will restrain , and the Day of your Deliverance hastneth : only look not you out , but keep close unto the Lord , with your eyes only towards him , and not upon , or unto any temporal , or visible thing ; but alone unto the Lord God of Life , and unto the measure of himself made manifest in your own hearts ; for unto That you were directed at the beginning , and in It is your safety and preservation unto the end . J. P. And Dear Brethren , the Lord God Almighty , who is our alone Salvation , having laid the thoughts of the Cause of our sufferings near unto the Secrets of his own Soul , uttereth his Voice out of Sion , to you his Children , in his City Jerusalem , saying , S●and up ye babes of my blessings , and you sons and daughters of my love , Gird , Gird on Strength in this day of my battel ; for loe , My Banner is over you , My Standerd is with you , My Ensigne is displaid amongst you , and My everlasting Power and Omnipotency attends you : And it shall not fail you , I will not leave you in the day of Adversity , nor forsake you in the time of Captivity ; for I have Chosen you , I have Called you , I have Purchased you , after the travail of my Soul for you ; And Blood , even the everlasting blood of the Covenant of my life was paid as a Ransome for you ; and now you are no more your Own , but Mine ; and I cannot be Hid , nor Separated from you , but as I am faithful , I will be with you ; as you have had me your God in all your Tribulations and sufferings , wherein I did bear both you , and your Griefs , and all your Afflictions in the yearning Bowels of my Tenderness ; which yet I will Break , I will Break , I will Break , more infinitely open unto you , which shall melt , and dissolve you , and make you stream to me , as I am in flameing streams of love and life towards you ; I will reach you in your Holes ; Bolts , nor bars of Brass or Iron , nor walls like Mountains shall shut me from you ; but in your Denns and Dungeons I will come in among you , and walk in the midst of you , and you shall know that I am the Comforter of your Hearts , and the Rejoycer and Gladder of your Spirits , in all the times of your needs : And whilst the Yoak is upon your Necks , and the oppressive Burdens upon your Backs , and I bearing both you , and your Burdens over the Raging Seas , that are angry at my Voice , and troubled at the Breathings of my life : I will trouble the Hosts of the Philistims , their Horses shall fail them , their Chariots shall not stand in any stead unto them , for I will Break the Wheels and the Axeltrees , and they shall fall , they shall fall , they shall fall , I the Jehovah of Israel , the mighty God of little Jacob have spoken it , & it shall surely come to pass , and you shall be delivered by the Hand of my Power saith the Lord. And therefore sing you Lambs , and Reioyce you my little tender babes in that I have Travelled for you , and born and brought you forth unto the day of my glory , in the Glory and the Excellency thereof , to witness my Name of Power , which will scatter all the chaff that is heaped up as Mountains against you that you , whom I have planted may prosper as a fruitful Vineyard , That the abundance of the fruits of blessedness , in the power of my Righteousness , may be brought forth in you , to your Joy , and mine Honour , even for ever . Ah Brethren , our very Hearts and Souls are overcome , and ravished , whilst we consider the endless love , and everlasting riches of the favours and mercies of our FATHER towards us ; and what he hath ready in his Hand to deal bountifully unto us ; yet but a little , but a little , and he will give it , and make the emptiest Vessel as an over-running River , whose Banks cannot contein the Streams for fulness . It is his love , his love , even his endless everlasting Love that over-powers us , which is not conteinable within us , but must run , and flow , from the Movings of the great Oceans , as the swiftest streams into your tender bosomes , that you may he refreshed in us , in which the Answer will return into our Bowels , and our Joy will thereby be augmented , and increased : And we trust in the pure living sense of all , our hearts shall be always full of the praise of our God , who in all his blessed works , is worthy of all Honour , and everlasting Thanksgiving , and Glory , even of us , and all his Saints and Children for evermore ; who , in him , are yours to serve , both Him , and You , in doing and suffering , whatsoever is his good pleasure concerning us : And in him , everlasting Blessings and Peace be multiplied to you all . Amen . E.B. J.C. J.P. Newgate Prison , the 12th . of the 4th . Month 1662. The Cogitations of my heart have been many , deep , and ponderous , some Moneths , Weeks and Dayes , concerning his People , which he hath raised to bear TESTIMONY unto his Name , in this the day of his Power : And Intercession hath been made often for them to the Lord , and a patient waiting to know his Mind concerning them for the time to come , which often I received Satisfaction in , as to my self ; but yet still something I was drawn by the Lord to wait for , that I might comfort and strengthen his Flock by an assured Testimony . And while I was waiting out of all Visible things , and quite out of the World , in my Spirit , and my heart upon nothing but the Living God , the Lord opened the springs of the great Deep , and overflowed my whole Heart with Life and Love , and my Eyes were as a Fountain , because of tears of Joy , because of his Heritage : Of whom he shewed me , and spake unto me , in a full fresh living Power , and a holy full Testimony ; so that my heart was ravished therewith , with Joy unspeakable , and I was out of the Body with God , in his Heavenly Paradise ; Where I saw , and felt things Unutterable , beyond all demonstration , or speech . At last the Life closed with my Understanding , and my spirit listened unto him ; And the everlasting God said , Shall I hide any thing from them that seek my face in Righteousness ? Nay , I will manifest it to them that fear me : I will speak , Do thou listen , and publish it amongst all my People , that they may be Comforted , and thou Satisfied . And thus said the Living God of Heaven and Earth . Upon the 28th . of the 3d. Month , 1662. The Sun shall leave its shining Brightness , and cease to give light to the World ; and the Moon shall be altogether Darkness , and give no light unto the Night ; the Stars shall cease to know their Office , or Place ; My Covenant with Day and Night , Times and Seasons shall sooner come to an end , than the Covenant I have made with this People ( into which they are entred with me ) shall End , or be Broken , and my Word is Unchangeable ; yea , though the powers of Darkness , and Hell combine against them , and the Jawes of Death open its mouth , yet I will deliver them , and lead them through all ; I will Con●ound their Enemies , as I did in Jacob , and Scatter them , as I did in Israel , in the dayes of Old ; I will take their Enemies , and I will hurle them hither , and thither from me , even as stories are hurled out of a Sling ; and the memorial of this Nation , which is holy unto me , shall Never be Rooted out , but shall Live through Ages , as A cloud of Witnesses in Generations to come . I have brought them to the birth , I have brought them forth , I have swadled them , and they are Mine ; I will nourish them , and carry them as on Eagles wings ; and though Clouds gather against them , I will make my way Through them , and though darkness gather together on a heap , and Tempests gender , I will Scatter them as with an East wind , and Nations shall know they are My Inheritance , and they shall know I am the Living God , who will plead their Cause withall that Rise up in Opposition against them . These Words are Holy , Faithful , Eternal , Good , and True. Blessed are they that Hear and Believe unto the End. And because of them no strength was left in me for a while ; but at last , my Heart was filled with Joy , even as when the Ark of God was brought from the house of Obed Edom , when David danced before it for Gladness , and Israel shouted for Joy. Fran. Howgill . THE END .