A88575:138
Mr. Love's case
Mr. Love's case: wherein is published, first, his several petitions to the Parliament. Secondly, a full narrative of the late dangerous design against the state, written with Mr. Loves own hand, and by him sent to the Parliament; wherein he setteth down his several meetings and secret actings with Major Alford, Maj. Adams, Col. Barton, Mr. Blackmore, Mr. Case, Mr. Cauton, Dr. Drake, Mr. Drake, Cap. Far, Mr. Gibbons, Mr. Haviland, Major Huntington, Mr. Jenkins, Mr. Jaquel, Mr Jackson, Lieut. Col. Jackson, Cap. Massey, Mr. Nalton, Cap. Potter, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Sterks, Colonel Sowton, Colonel Vaughan, and others. Thirdly, Mr. Loves speech and prayer on the scaffold on Tower Hill, August 22. 1651. Printed by an exact copy, taken in short-hand by John Hind. Fourthly, animadversions on the said speech and prayer.Mr. Love's case: wherein is published, first, his several petitions to the Parliament. Secondly, a full narrative of the late dangerous design against the state, written with Mr. Loves own hand, and by him sent to the Parliament; wherein he setteth down his several meetings and secret actings with Major Alford, Maj. Adams, Col. Barton, Mr. Blackmore, Mr. Case, Mr. Cauton, Dr. Drake, Mr. Drake, Cap. Farr, Mr. Gibbons, Mr. Haviland, Major Huntington, Mr. Jenkins, Mr. Jaquel, Mr Jackson, Lieut. Col. Jackson, Cap. Massey, Mr. Nalton, Cap. Potter, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Sterks, Colonel Sowton, Colonel Vaughan, and others. Thirdly, Mr. Loves speech and prayer on the scaffold on Towerhil, August 22. 1651. Printed by an exact copy, taken in short-hand by John Hinde. Fourthly, animadversions on the said speech and prayer.
London: printed for R.W. and Peter Cole, 1651
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Mr. Love's Speech made on the Scaffold on Tower-Hill, August 22. 1651. › Section 24
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
SECT. XXIV.
I am now drawing to an end of my speech, and to an end of my life together: But before I do expire my last breath, I shall desire to justify God, and to condemn my self. Here I come to that which you call an untimely end, and a shameful death; but blessed be God, it is my glory, and it is my comfort; I shall justify God; he is righteous, because I have sinned; he is righteous, though he doth cut me off in the midst of my days, and in the midst of my Ministry. I cannot complain that Complaint in the Psalmist, in the 44 Psalm, Thou sellest thy people for nought, and dost not increase thy wealth by their price. My blood it shall not be spilt for nought; I may do more good by my death, then by my life, and glorify God more in dying upon a Scaffold, then if I had dyed of a Disease upon my bed. I bless my God I have not the least trouble upon my spirit; but I dye with as much quietness of mind, lie down I hope I shall upon the Block, as if I were going to lie down upon my Bed to take my rest. I see men hunger after my flesh, and thirst after my blood, which will hasten my happiness, and their ruin, and greaten their guilt: For though I am a man of an obscure Family, of mean Parentage, so that my blood is not as the blood of Nobles; yet I will say, mine is a Christians blood, a Ministers blood, yea it is innocent blood also: My blood, my body, my dead body, it will be a morsel which I believe will hardly be digested, and my blood it will be bad food for this Infant Commonwealth (as Mr Prideaux called it) for this Infant Commonwealth to suck on: Mine is not Malignant blood, though here I am brought as a grievous and a notorious Offender.
I am now drawing to an end of my •peech, and to an end of my life together: But before I do expire my last breath, I shall desire to justifie God, and to condemn my self. Here I come to that which you call an untimely end, and a shameful death; but blessed be God, it is my glory, and it is my comfort; I shall justifie God; he is righteous, because I have sinned; he is righteous, though he doth cut me off in the midst of my days, and in the midst of my Ministry. I cannot complain that Complaint in the Psalmist, in the 44 Psalm, Thou sellest thy people for nought, and dost not increase thy wealth by their price. My blood it shall not be spilt for nought; I may do more good by my death, then by my life, and glorifie God more in dying upon a Scaffold, then if I had dyed of a Disease upon my bed. I bless my God I have not the least trouble upon my spirit; but I dye with as much quietness of mind, lie down I hope I shall upon the Block, as if I were going to lie down upon my Bed to take my rest. I see men hunger after my flesh, and thirst after my blood, which will hasten my happiness, and their ruine, and greaten their guilt: For though I am a man of an obscure Family, of mean Parentage, so that my blood is not as the blood of Nobles; yet I will say, mine is a Christians blood, a Ministers blood, yea it is innocent blood also: My blood, my body, my dead body, it will be a morsel which I believe will hardly be digested, and my blood it will be bad food for this Infant Commonwealth (as Mr Prideaux called it) for this Infant Commonwealth to suck on: Mine is not Malignant blood, though here I am brought as a grievous and a notorious Offender.