The Humble Petition From Prison to the Parliament
The source for this document is https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/A46808.0001.001
Project Note
This is licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND. This license allows reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
The source of this document is the Early English Books Online (EEBO-TCP) website. Those books were transcribed in a character for character manner and can be very cumbersome to read since there was no standard spelling during that time. Many spelling variations such as "unlesse", "vnlesse", and "vnles" regularly appear.
This project was conceived to clean up those books as much as possible and make them more accessible to the interested reader, leading to the creation of a massive list of variant spellings and their corrections. This was used to clean up the text, but is of course only as complete as the list itself. Because of the nature of the original transcription, some words have missing characters or places where the original language (e.g., Greek) was not transcribed. This effort does not change that. Be aware that the original transcription can also be faulty and in some cases entire sentences may be missing.
Although this is no substitute for a properly compared, proofed, and scholarly edition, I believe that the result is a document which is far more accessible, particularly for searching for terms using standard spelling. The document has been cleaned and presented in what I hope is a pleasing and useful format for the vast majority of Christian brothers and sisters who just want access to read these spiritually nourishing works.
However, a word of warning: The Puritans were a very diverse group of people and their age was characterized with godliness, but also much upheaval, disputation and strife. They disagreed on many doctrines and some of these works contain less orthodox or Scriptural views than others. The reader is strongly advised to read with discernment, particularly if it is unknown whether author is trustworthy.
This project took a huge amount of time and skill to bring to fruition. I would particularly like to thank David Jonescue for the initial list of Puritans he found on EEBO and the concept behind this project as well as the continuous, unceasing efforts toward seeing this complete. Without his labor, this would not be available. Alex Sarrouf was invaluable in providing the initial list of over 7,000 spelling variations he had identified and corrected, as well as continuing to review more than 16,000 additions to that list for any typos.
Logan West
(with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf)
www.puritansearch.org
The Humble Petition of WILLIAM JENKIN sometimes Minister at Christ-Church London, Prisoner in the year, 165. Presented to the Parliament.
T Hat your Petitioner, is unfeignedly sorrowful for all his late miscarriages, whether testified against him, or acknowledged by him, and for the great and sinful unsuitableness of them to his Calling and Condition. That upon earnest seeking of God, and diligent inquiring into his will, your Petitioner is convinced, that the alteration of Civil Governments, are ordered by, and founded upon the wise and righteous Providences of God, who removeth Kings, and setteth up Kings, ruleth in the Kingdoms of men, and giveth them to whomsoever he will.
That the providences of this God, have in the judgment of your Petitioner, as evidently appeared in the removing of others from, and investing your Honors with the Government of this Nation, as ever they appeared in the taking away, or bestowing of any Government in any History of any Age in the world.
That he apprehends that a refusal to be subject to this present Authority, under the pretence of upholding the Title of any one upon Earth, is a refusal to aquiesse in the wise and righteous pleasure of God, such an opposing of the Government set up by the Sovereign Lord of Heaven and earth, as none can have peace, either in acting in, or suffering for; and that your Petitioner looks upon it as his Duty, to yield to this Authority, all active and cheerful Obedience in the Lord, even for Conscience sake, to promise (he being required) truth and fidelity to it, and to hold forth the Grounds of his so doing to any, as God sall call him thereunto.
That though an Imprisonment, accompanied with the loss of estate, and to be followed (without your gracious prevention) with a speedy Arraignment, before an High and Eminent Judicatory, are far from being pleasing to Flesh and Blood; and though the enjoyment of your Grace and Favor be a blessing most deserving to be reckoned among the best of Temporals, yet that neither the feeling or fearing of the former, nor the expectation of the latter, could have induced your Petitioner against the light of his own judgment, and the prepondering part of his own Conscience to have made, or presented this acknowledgement; he sadly forecasting, that a whole skin is but a contemptible recompense for a wounded Conscience.
That nevertheless (he trusteth) he shall be excutable in tendering thus far, even his outward condition, as to represent to your Honors, that he is in most apparent danger of his irreparable loss of his health (the sweetest of outward blessings) unless by your gracious Grant, be may speedily enjoy a more free and open Air, then this his close confinement will allow him.
And this Christian Favor (which even for Christ's sake your poor Petitioner most humbly begs) your Honors are as able to enlarge, even to a pardoning of his offenses, and a perfect releasing of him, from his imprisonment, as he is submissively forward in desiring them, though confessedly far from deserving them.
He nevertheless promising, that your compassionate affording hereof, shall be a strong and standing engagement upon him, daily beseeching the heart-making, and heart-changing God, that all those who either through former accustomedness, or present inadvertancy, do not clearly discern the mind of God concerning the Alteration of this Government, may by observing your prime and pious industry, to advance throughout this Common-wealth, the power of godliness, a Scripture Reformation, and the Truth as it is in Jesus, be won to a yielding to your Honors, conscionable obedience, and not only in word, but in heart and life, may be true and faithful to this present Government.
WILLIAM JENKIN.
Resolved upon the Question by the Parliament.] That Mr. William Jenkin be pardoned, both for Life and Estate, for and in respect of the Treasons, and Crimes, whereof he is accused; and that Mr. Attorney General be authorized and required to prepare a pardon in common form for that purpose, to be passed under the great Seal of England, and that the Lord's Commissioners for the great Seal be authorized and required to pass the same under the great Seal accordingly.
Resolved upon the Question by the Parliament.] That Mr. Wilham Jenkin be forthwith discharged of his Imprisonment, and Bail, and that his Estate be discharged of, and from Sequestration; and the Commissioners for compounding, and other Officers are to take notice hereof, and observe the same accordingly.
Upon several humble Petitions of Mr. Thomas Cafe, Mr. Ralph Robinson, and Mr. Thomas Watson Ministers, the Parliament did grant unto each of them the like Pardon for life and Estate, and discharged them from Imprisonment, and the Sequestration of their Estates.
Upon the humble Petition of Mr. Arthur Jackson Minister, the Parliament granted him a Pardon for his Life and Estate. Upon Mr. Attorney Generals Report of the humble and penitent Demeanour of Dr. Roger Drake, at his trial at the High Court of Justice, confessing the Treasons laid to his charge, and his bumble Petition, the Parliament did pardon him for Life and Estate, and ordered his release out of Prison, and his Estate discharged from Sequestration.
The Parliament upon Report by Mr. Attorney General, of the like deportment of Livetenant Colonel Jackson, Livetenans Colonel Joseph Vaughan, and Captain Hugh Massey. The Parliament likewise Ordered for each of them a Pardon for Life and Estate, and discharged them from Imprisonment, and their Estates from Sequestration.