Speech on the Scaffold 2

〈…〉 ove his Speech on the Scaffold on Tower Hill on Friday last, being accompanied by the Sheriffs, Mr. Calamy (the Minister) and other Gentlemen of quality; With the manner of his Deportment; upon the preaching of his Funeral Sermon, and his Exhortation to the People worthy of perusal.

Beloved Christians, I am made this day a spectacle to God, Angels, and Men. I am made a grief to the Godly, a laughing stock to the wicked, 〈◊〉 a gazing stock to all, yet blessed be God not a terror to myself, although there be but a little between me and death; yet that which • ears up my heart is, that there is but a little between me and Heaven▪ it come • orted Dr. Taylor that famous Martyr, going to his execution, to think th ••• was but two stiles between him and his Fathers House, there is a lesser way between me and my Fathers house; but two steps between me and glory: it is but lying down upon the Block and I shall ascend upon a Throne▪ • am this day fa • ling towards the Ocean of eternity, through a rough passage to • y Haven of rest, through the red Sea unto the promised Land: methinks 〈…〉 God sp ••• as he said to Moses go up to Mount Nebo and die there; so to me go up to Tower Hill and die there▪ Jacob was old, yet knew not the day of his death, yet I am young, and know the day of my death, the kind of my death, and the place of my death. Also such a kind of death is it, that two famous Preachers of the word of God suffered it before me. John the Baptist, and Paul the Apostle, both beheaded, mention being made of one in Scripture story, the other in Ecclesiasti • all History▪ these and other Saints as I have read were beheaded for the Word, and for the 〈…〉 but herein is my disadvantage, men think that I suffer not for Religion or Conscience but for meddling with State-matters an old guise of the D 〈…〉 the cause of death to the intermeddling with State-affairs, the Rulers of Israel would put Jeremiah to death upon a civil account, because he fell away from the Chaldeans, & (as the people said) would have brought 〈◊〉 foreign force to invade •• em, which thing is laid to my charge, and 〈…〉 thereof as Jeremiah was▪ I find the cause of men's sufferings in Scripture, 〈…〉 mputed to State-matters. Paul m • st die, if the people have their will, though he preach • Christ Jesus, yet by them accounted a mover of sedition • pon a civil account is my life taken away; y 〈…〉 prosecuted nothing against th • present power. I am this day making a double exchange, a Pulpit for a Scaffold and a Scaffold for a Thro •• , and may also trade a numerous multitude for the innumerable Company of Saints on Tower-Hill, for the holy Hill of Zion, and this Guard of Soldiers for a Guard of Angels to carry my soul • nto Abraham 〈…〉 this is the best Pulpit I ever came into, in my former God made me an instrument to 〈◊〉 others to Heaven, hereby God brings me to Heaven. These are the last words I shall speak, and perhaps this last speech of mine may bring more glory to God, then my former Sermons. Before I lay down my neck to the block, I shall lay open my cause to the people, I speak the truth and lie not, God is my witness whom • serve in my spirit, I do not bring a revengeful heart to the Scaffold, but avoiding all rancor and malice, I have bagged mercy for them that denied mercy to me▪ and have prayed God to forgive them that would not forgive me; and the worst I wish to them is, that I may meet their souls in Heaven. Concerning my charge which is black and hiddeous, wherein many things were falsely suggested, but nothing sufficiently proved by any one Act. The Charge high and full, but the proof empty and low, though there were eight Witnesses against me, yet none proved that I ever wrote any Letter, or directed any to write, no man proved that I sent away any Letter that I collected any money for King, Queen, or any of the Scottish Nation, as concerning my accusers, I have forgiven them, and I pray God forgive them also; they not all agree amongst themselves; for some being terrified beforehand, would not bear witness against me. Another sent to me under his own hand, desiring to forgive him for the wrong he had done me, and told me that day I should die a violent death, his life would be no comfort to him, because • • e was an instrument of taking away mine. As concerning my accusers, I will not judge them, neither will I justify them. I believed what moved Herod to put off John Baptists, was the cause of my death, for telling Herod of his herd incest, and for his Oaths sake Command was given to behead John; to avoid, perjury, he would commit murder: had John's head continued on his shoulders, he would have been guilty of 〈…〉 . Concerning myself who have gone through many and various •• po • ts, some have been ready to bury my name before my friends were ready to bury my body. God will not only wipe off tears from mine eyes after death, but will one day wipe of blots from my name; my hope is, my name will not rot above ground when this body of mine shall rot under ground▪ and be resolved into dust. I am not ignorant what calumnies are cast 〈◊〉 me, the verynight before I was to suffer the last month, an insulting Letter came to my hand, intimating that something would be written against me after my death; but I hope you are more ingenuous then to give credit to it, seeing I cannot then speak for myself▪ I am aspersed, both as to practice and principles, there are 5 aspersions laid upon me, first to matter of practice that I am a liar. I hope you will believe a dying man that dares not look God in the face with a lie in his mouth, I denied nothing▪ that was true before the Court what I denied before that, I confessed afterwards say some, that I never wrote Letter to the King or Queen, Church or State of Scotland, that I never received any letter wrote to me from any one of them; that I never collected, gave or lent one penny to this or that particular person, or to any of the Scottish Nation; it is true I confess, and herein lies the mistake; but it was 〈◊〉 proved against me that I sent either money on Letters to Massey, he was of the English, not of the Scottish Nation, I am accused of moving to send money • o the King and State of Scotland, which I never did, and therefore that I said at the 〈◊〉 after my sentence, I say 〈◊〉 that for the things I am condemned, neither does God not my own conscience condemn me▪ The next particular I am accused of is to be an extortioner, I am charged as to have received 30.l. of the loan of 300.l. which in the presence of God and of you all is a notorious fable; I am accused likewise to be an adulterer: but as Luther in another case said he was not tempted to covetousness • , so may J say that through the grace of God, I was not tempted to uncleanesss in all my life, it doth not much grieve me though these sl • nders lie upon me, When as Athenasius was accused by two H • rlots that he had committed folly with them, though he was very chaste but that which comes nearest my heart is this, that I am accused to be a murderer, also charged with the guile of all the blood that hath been shed in Scotland were I gu • lty of one drop of it; I could not be filled with so much tranquility and peace of mind, so much serenity and joy of spirit as now I am. I bless God, I am free from the blood of all men, they do to me as Nero did to the Christians, he set Rome on fire, and charged the Christians with it: they put England and Scotland in a fl • me, and l • y the charge upon me, which only the ambition and lusts of wicked men have kindled. Did I ever invite or encourage our English Army to invade Scotland? his I have done, and stand too, I have as a private man prayed to God, wherein I have besought him, that there might be an agreement between the King and the Scots upon interests of Religion.

I was only at one meeting where such things were proposed, namely to promote the agreement between the King and Scots: I do declare against the Commissions as they called them, and it is an Act of high presumption and of notorious falsehood to say it was a plot of the Presbyterian party; it was the subtlety of a politique party to raise this thereby to make the Presbyterians odious, who are the best ordered persons for a Government in the World.

I am said to be a man of A turbulent spirit, and an enemy to the peace of this Nation, • ndeed I am borne a man of contention, not active but passive • many strive and contend with me, I strive with no man, the grief of my heart hath been for divisions, and the desire of my soul for a union among God's people, I do not mean a State union to engage against the present power, that is rather a combination & a confedracy then a union: Those that have gotten power by policy and use it with cruelty, shall lose it with Ignominie; I remember an observation of holy Greenwood, giving his judgment upon State, Government he feared the coming in of Popery; I fear Atheism, Blasphemy, and all manner of H • resie is rushing in upon this Land; that as to my practice, A word now to my principles. I am accused to be an apostate, to be this, to be that, to be anything, but what I am: A high Court, A long Sword, and a bloody Scaffold, hath not made me to change my principles, what I shall say is not to provoke any; I die with my judgment set against malignity; I do not count the covenanting Godly party in Scotland to be Malignants for defending their Land against invaders though against malignity, not against a mixed Monarchy: I did oppose the forces of the late King in my place and calling, and should he live now and were I to live longer, should do it still; I did oppose his forces, but 〈◊〉 never against the Office of a King; I was against Court Parasites that would screw up Monarchy to Tyrannie, as against those that pull it down to bring in Anarchy, I was never for putting him to death, nor did I ever endeavor to destroy his person, there is a speech upon the preaching a Sermon by me at Vxbridge, that all would not he well till the King was let blood in the neck-vein, but this report as many other is full of vanity and folly.

I die with my judgment not satisfied to take the engagement, God preserve those that refuse it: I would not in the next place be looked upon as owning this present Government, I die with my judgment against it: it was in the case of life, I did petition, giving them the titles as other men do. Husha gave the title to Absalom though David was the lawful King, Calvin gave a title to the French King Rex. Christianissimus, and we to Henry the 8th. st • ling him defender of the Faith, he had no right to the • itle, because given him upon an ill ground by the Pope for opposing the doctrine of Luther, which none did scruple afterwards to give him. In the last place, to provoke none my judgment is against the invasion of the English Army into the Scottish Nation that joined with us, I drew their swords in our quarrel; and now be 〈◊〉 they would not be a Commonwealth, they shall not be a people, because they would not lay their Consciences waste, their Land must be laid waste; I die cleaving to all those Oaths, Vowes, and Protestations, and that solemn League and Covenant that were imposed by the two Houses of Parliament, and I had rather die a Covenant keeper then live a Covenant breaker.

The third and last part of my Speech is with a word of exhortation to this great City; and then I commit my soul to God that gave it. I have wished it both af •• ence and confluence of all happiness: London, London, God is staining the pride of all thy glory, contempt of the Ministry, opposition against Reformation hath brought London low, and I fear will yet bring it lower. I tremble to think what • vils are coming upon it for as Commodities have been spread from hence into all the corners of the Land, so Heresies and Blasphemies in all parts of this Nation have their rise from hence; first let me beg you to love the painful and godly Ministers if they be taken away; you are like to have worse come in their room; Ministers are now the great eye sores, when before counted the Chariots and Horse-men of Israel. After Junius was taken away, Arminius that pestilent •• eretique came in his room: Anabaptists, Arminians, nay Jesuits are like now to spread • pace. Submit to Church government that would lay restraint upon your lusts. A golden yoke if not submitted to, God may lay an iron yoke upon you; Take heed of those Doctrines that come under the notion of new lights, when the brothers the • eof say it is new, it is to be questioned whether they be true. In 3 • . Deut. • 7. it is said, there they sacrifice • to Devils, not to God, to gods whom they knew not, to now gods that came newly up: their new gods, what were they but old Devils▪ many of those things going under the notion of her •• ghts, are but old darkness raked out of the dunghill of error that hath been • ast out, and by the Church buried with reproach. 4. Bewaile the great less you have of the taking away your Ministers, already ten Ministers at once, those burning and sl • ining lights in their particular Candlesticks, and bright Star • es in their several Oths, though I am not worthy of the world, yet I am take • ou • of it; but as for my suffering Brethren, which are under bonds and • anishments in the world, of them the world is not worthy. Take heed of engaging the Wa •• e with 〈◊〉 friends, I have opposed the Tyranny of a King, but I never opposed the Ti • le take heed what you do, to speak to the 〈◊〉 Ministers of this City; were 〈◊〉 a dying, I would say nothing, for multitude of years teach wild in, and therefore would be silen • : I desire God to show them mercy. I would beg but 〈◊〉 of them as they have not been ashamed of my chains, so now that they would wax confident by my bonds and blo • d, Acts. 29. Now Lord behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy Servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, though I am but young I will offer my young experience to my grave Fathers and Brethren, now I am to d • e I have abundance of peace in my own Conscience, that I have set my 〈◊〉 against sin and apostasy by purchasing • ll will from such, I have procured peace from God, I have lived •• pe ••• , and I shall die in peace, the Government of the Church, will stand: and of all 〈◊〉 with this persuasion, that the Presbyterian Government makes most for purity and unity throughout the Churches of the Saints: take heed of too general admissions to the Lord's Supper, and be not to prodigal of the blood of Christ. Now speaking to them I shall speak a word of them, and so finish, Many 〈◊〉 there, as if all the City Ministers did engage in this design; for which I a • now condemned as a dying man; I tell you, all the Ministers that were present at the meeting, • or had any hand in that business, they are either in prison or discovered already: therefore upon my death, I free all the Ministers else, and in which my conscience doth tell me I have not sinned: I have done immediately; for I would fain be at my Fathers house: I would speak to my own Congregation, to give praise to God for them, and to return thanks to them; for they have afforded me a great deal of love (ex • ept a few) and liberal maintenance: This is all I desire of them to choose a Learned, Godly, and Orthodox Minister to succeed; and it would be a great comfort to me before I go to Heaven if such a one filled the place; where he shall have a good livelihood, and much love; I had never parted from them, but that Death separated me; to which I do submit with all Christian-meekness, and cheerfulness: I am now drawing to an end of my Speech, and to an end of my Life together: But before I expire my last breath, I come to justify God, and condemn myself; for God is righteous, because I have sinned, though he doth cut me off in the midst of my days, and of my Ministry; I cannot take up that complaint in the 44 Psalm, That thou sellest thy people for naught: My blood shall not be spilled for naught; I may do more good by my death, and glorify God more upon a Scaffold, then in dying upon my Bed: Blessed be God I have not the least trouble in my mind; I shall quietly lay myself down upon the block; I see men hunger after my flesh, and thi • st after my blood; which will heighten my happiness, and hasten their ruin: Though my blood be not as the blood of Nobles; yet mine is Christian blood; nay, Ministers blood; nay more innocent blood also: My dead-body will be a morsel hardly to be digested, and but • ad food for this Infant Common-wealth (as Mr. Prideaux calls it) to suck upon; but •• od is just, that he hath not made the Prison Hell, and this Scaffold the bottomless if; it is of his mercy: I do not only justify God, but must also magnify the riches of his grace towards me, that I who was born in Wales (an obscu • e Country, of obscure Parents) should be singled out. For 14 years I never heard one Sermon; yet in the • 5 year it pleased God to convert me: Blessed be God that hath not only made me a Christian, but a Minister also▪ and judging me faithful hath put me into the Ministry; it is my glory I die so; I had rather be a Preacher in a Pulpit, then a Prince upon a Throne; I had rather be an instrument of bringing souls to heaven, then that all Nations should bring in tribute to me, what ever men judge of me, I am a Martyr, would I have injured my Conscience, and ventured my soul, there had been more hope of saving my life: blessed be God, I have not sined, but chosen affliction rather then sin; welcome death, wellcom Axe, wellcom Scaffold, wellcom all, because they will send me to a mansion in my Fathers house; thanks be to God he hath stood by me in all my imprisonment, he hath strengthened and supported me, though I now come to an untimely end; death is not a terror to me, God is not a terror, therefore death is not dreadful. I have formerly been under a spirit of bondage, and had more fear in the drawing of a tooth, then now for the cutting off my head: when fear was upon me, death was not near; now death is near, fear is vanished. I bless God, though men judge me to be cast out of the world, God hath not cast me out of his own people: some think I am not worthy to live, yet others judge I do not deserve to die. I have done, having no more to say, but to desire the help of your prayers, that God would give me continual supplies of divine grace to carry me through this great work I am to do, that doing a work I near did, I may have that strength I never had, that I may put off this body with as much comfort of mind, as ever my Clothes to go to rest. Now I am to commend my soul to God, and to receive my fatal blow: though men thrust me out of the world, they cannot shut me out of Heaven▪ I am going to my long home, and you are g • ing to your short home; but I tell you, I shall be at home before you, I am going to the Heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable Company of Angels, to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to God the Judge of all, in whose presence I shall have fullness of joy, and pleasure for evermore. I conclude with that Speech of the Apostle in 2 Tim. 4.6.7. I am ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand, I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, and I have kept the faith henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of righteousness, which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give me at that day, and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing, through whose blood, when I have shed my blood▪ I do expect full remission of all my sins, and so the Lord bless you all.

And then taking his leave of them, said; Beloved Christians I desire your Christian assistance in this great work; I beseech you join with me in prayer: And so immediately (standing at the Rail) expressed himself as followeth:

Having ended his prayer, he turned himself about to the Executioner, saying;

Friend, Are all things in readiness: Yes sir, Replyed the Executioner: whereupon, he unbraced his Doublet, and gave it to a friend and than pulled out a Red Scarf out of his pocker, and gave it to the Executioner, saying, Dispose of this upon the block as thou thinkest convenient, which accordingly he did, spreading it upon the Sawdust, and laying it upon the Block; Then Mr. Love put his hand in his pocket and took out 3. l. wrapped up in a white paper, and gave it to the Executioner saying; Friend, here is three pieces for thee, do thy Office, and I beseech God to forgive thee, as I freely do▪ then Mr. Love kneeled down, and laid his Neck upon the Block; and by the sign of lifting up his left ha •• the executioner immediately let fall the ax, and at one blow severed his •• ad from his shoulders: which being done, be took up the head in his hand, and presently after laid both body & head in the black coffin together▪ which was soon carried off, having a mourning cloth over it, Doctor Dun (the chyrurgeon) attending the same, for the uniting of both together again.

That thinking upon the separation of his Head from his Body, it was a sweet contemplation to him, to consider the conjunction of his soul with his head in Heaven, being as ready to die as Moses was, when there was no more between God and him, but Moses go up and die, with an heroical alacrity tempered with a gracious humility, did he give up his soul to God, and bid farewell to the world.

No sooner was his Corps carried down to the Scaffold stairs, but immediately Mr. Gibbins (formerly Secretary to Col. Hollis ) was guarded up by some of the Sheriffs Officers, who came in • Coach from the Press-gard at Newgate, to the place of execution on Tower-Hill. He deported himself with a great deal of resoluteness and gallantry, and after an indifferent copious Speech, to this effect, That he was innocent of what he was b • ought thither for that day; but yet notwithstanding would not change his condition of laying his neck to the Block for an Emperors Throne, if he might get ten thousand worlds by it: then immediately going to prayer, (having ended the same) he unbraced himself, and gave his Cloak, Doublet, and two Rings to his Uncle, and two pounds to the Executioner, and then laying his neck upon the Block, the Executioner did his Office by receiving the sign, and lifting up his left hand, severed his head from his shoulders at one blow, and a little 〈◊〉 .