and only hearing of the common Calamities round about: And when I went abroad and saw the effects of humane folly and fury, and of God's displeasure, he mercifully kept me from hurting any one, and being hurt by any: How many a time hath he preserved me by Day and Night, in difficulties and dangers, from the Malice of Satan, and from the Wrath of Man, and from accidents which threatened sudden Death: While I beheld the ruins of Towns and Countries, and the Fields covered with the Carcasses of the slain, I was preserved and returned home in Peace. And O how great was the mercy which he showed me, in a teachable tractable, peaceable, humble, unanimous People? So many in number, and so exemplary in quality; who to this Day keep their Integrity and Concord, when violence hath separated me from them Twenty two years: Yea, the like Mercy of acceptance and success beyond my expectation, he hath showed me every where I have had opportunity of free ministration; even where there were many Adversaries I have had an open Door, in the midst of humane Wrath and Rage, he hath preserved my Liberty beyond expectation, and continued my acceptance and success. When I might not speak by Voice to any single Congregation, he enabled me to speak by Writings to many; and for the success of my plainest & popular writings, which cost me least, I can never be sufficiently thankful: Some of which he sent to preach abroad in other Languages in foreign Lands. When my Mouth with Eighteen hundred or Two thousands more had been many years stopped, he hath since opened them in some degree; and the sufferings intended us by men have been partly put by, and partly much alleviated by his Providence, and the hardness of our Terms hath not so much hindered the success of faithful Labours as we ⟨p. 226⟩feared, and as others hoped it would have done. I have had the comfort of seeing some Peace and Concord and Prosperity of Truth and Piety kept up, under the utmost opposition of diabolical and humane Power, Policy, and Wrath: When I have been sent to the common Jail for my service and obedience to him, he hath there kept me in peace, and soon delivered me. He hath made the Mouths of my greatest Enemies who have studied my defamation and my ruin, to become my Witnesses and Compurgators, and to cross their own designs:
and only hearing of the common Calamities round about: And when I went abroad and saw the effects of humane folly and fury, and of God's displeasure, he mercifully kept me from hurting any one, and being hurt by any: How many a time hath he preserved me by Day and Night, in difficulties and dangers, from the Malice of Satan, and from the Wrath of Man, and from accidents which threatned sudden Death: While I beheld the ruines of Towns and Countreys, and the Fields covered with the Carkasses of the slain, I was preserved and returned home in Peace. And O how great was the mercy which he shewed me, in a teachable tractable, peaceable, humble, unanimous People? So many in number, and so exemplary in quality; who to this Day keep their Integrity and Concord, when violence hath separated me from them Twenty two years: Yea, the like Mercy of acceptance and success beyond my expectation, he hath shewed me every where I have had opportunity of free ministration; even where there were many Adversaries I have had an open Door, in the midst of humane Wrath and Rage, he hath preserved my Liberty beyond expectation, and continued my acceptance and success. When I might not speak by Voice to any single Congregation, he enabled me to speak by Writings to many; and for the success of my plainest & popular writings, which cost me least, I can never be sufficiently thankful: Some of which he sent to preach abroad in other Languages in forreign Lands. When my Mouth with Eighteen hundred or Two thousands more had been many years stopped, he hath since opened them in some degree; and the sufferings intended us by men have been partly put by, and partly much alleviated by his Providence, and the hardness of our Terms hath not so much hind•ed the success of faithful Labours as we ⟨p. 226⟩feared, and as others hoped it would have done. I have had the comfort of seeing some Peace and Concord and Prosperity of Truth and Piety kept up, under the utmost opposition of diabolical and humane Power, Policy, and Wrath: When I have been sent to the common Jail for my service and obedience to him, he hath there kept me in peace, and soon delivered me. He hath made the Mouths of my greatest Enemies who have studied my defamation and my ruine, to become my Witnesses and Compurgators, and to cross their own designs:
