A88575:268
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. 27, 28.
The heart and strength of these Sections also, is of the same Argument with the former; he displays the Banner of his Confidence yet again and again before the people: Those Expressions, Though men kill me, they cannot damn me; though they thrust me out of the world, &c. are of a Suspicious interpretation, That Mr. Love was not yet perfectly recovered out of his fit of Passion: The denial of Power, in such cases, as that wherein he now speaks, usually supposeth a will or disposition to do that, for the doing whereof, power is wanting. Nor doth he say much either for his own comfort, or for the edification of the people, in saying, That the men who kill him (I suppose he means, who by the Sword of Justice take his life from him, which is very unproperly termed killing) cannot damn him. For first, questionless all the people very well knew, That men could not damn him: Therefore the saying turned to no account of Edification unto them: Nor secondly, was it much for his own comfort, that the men he speaks of could not damn him; because had they had such a power, he had been in never a whit the more danger from suffering from them in that kind, there being not the least inclination or will in them to make use of such a power, in case they had had it. As they that die in the Faith of Jesus Christ, are in never the more danger of being damned by God, because he hath power to damn them; That justice, of which the men Mr. Love speaks of, were Ministers appointed by God, required only his natural life from him: And far was it from the hearts or thoughts of the Ministers hereof, to require more: Nay, had not Justice very importunely, and with a loud voice called and cried unto them for that life of his, which is now taken from him, far had they been from taking or desiring it. So that it was but a very Unchristian strain of Mr. Loves exulcerated Spirit against them, to say or insinuate, That they hungered after his flesh, and were thirsty for his blood: And much more to intimate, as if they had a mind or will to damn him, in case they had power. Was it either Christian or proper, for Mr. Love to sanctify himself unto prayer, especially being now to pray his last, by taking such words unto him as these? How importunely,