A88575:265
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.
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.
ANIMAD. upon Sect. 25.
In the beginning of this Section, he seems (in part) to repent of the former, but his words are of no good consistence. He proves God to be very just, by this, that his prison was not his Hell, &c. inasmuch as he had deserved it. This is an argument to prove him gracious, or merciful; but that men have not in punishment, what they have deserved in sin, hath no face of a proof that God is very just. If Mr. Love had here also stood upon his Justification, and said, I have not deserved it, his Argument had been more congruous, though the Sentence more culpable: yet in the sequel of this Section also, he resumes his sweet morsels of self-justification, and self-commendation, and puts them again under his tongue. Here he assumeth the honour of Martyrdom unto himself, Whatsoever men judge of me, I am a Martyr too. I have read that Petilian, against whom S. Augustin wrote, canonized Judas for a Martyr*: and that the Circumcelliones, whom the same Author likewise mentioneth, were very earnest with those they met, to kill them, that so they might be accounted Martyrs†. And therefore to that demand of Mr. Love, What should a dying man be proud of? answer may be, that a dying man, especially touched with a spirit of vain-glory, may very possibly be proud that he shall die a Martyr, and enjoy the honour of such a ⟨p. 64⟩death afterwards. Neither is there any great weight in these glorious expressions▪ Welcome Scaffold, welcome Axe, welcome Death, welcome Block, welcome all, because it will send me to my Fathers house, considering that one of the worst of the Heathen Emperors died with these words in his mouth, Ut puto, Deus fio, i.e. Me thinks I am even now ready to be made a God. We gave (upon the first Section, as I remember) a more particular account by what wind Master Love might very probably sail into that Port of Confidence, wherein we here find him; and yet make Shipwreck too in the Harbour, in case he were not the more circumspect. But Master Love must the rather be a Martyr, that so his Judges may be persecutors. Their defamation to the people, is an Oar that he plies hard upon all occasions. Witness the words a little preceding those last recited: Would I have renounced my Covenant, and debauched my Conscience, and ventured my soul, there might have been more hopes of saving my life, &c. Unworthy man!