214 LIFE OF RICHARD BAXTER. speak with the king, and told him what the doctor had sworn: so the king consented that, for the present, imprisonment should be forborne, that I might die at home. But theyexecuted all their warrants on my books and goods, even the bed that I lay sick on and sold them all. Some friends paid them as muchmoney as they were prized at, which. I repaid, and was fain to send them away." " The separation frommybooks would have been a greater part of my. small affiiction, but that I föugd I was near the end both of that work and that life which.needeth books, and so I easily let go all. Naked came I into the world, and naked must I go out. But I never wanted less what map can give, than when men had taken all. My old friends, and strangers, were so liberal, that I was fain to restrain their bounty. Their kindness was a surer and larger revenue to me than my own. But God was pleased quick -. ly to put me past all fear of men, and all desire of avoiding suffer- ing from them by concealment,by laying on mé more himselfthan man can do. Then imprisonment, with tolerable health, would have seemed a palace to me ; and had 'they put me to death for such a duty as they persecute me for, it would have been a joyful end of my calamity: but day and night I groan and languish under God's just afflicting hand. The pain which before only tired my reins, and tore my bowels, now also fell upon my bladder, and scarce any part, or hour, is free. As waves follow waves in the tempestuous seas, so one pain followeth another in this sinful, mis- erable flesh.' I die daily, and yet remain alive. God, in his great mercy, knowing my dullness in health and ease, doth make it much easier to repent and hate my sin, loathe myself, contemn theworld, and submit to the sentence of death withwillingness, than otherwise it was ever likely to have been. O, how little is it that wrathful enemies can do against us, in comparison of what our sin and the justice of God can do! and, O, how little is it that the best and kindest of friends can do for a pained body, or a guilty, sinful soul, in comparison of one gracious look or word from God ! Wo be to him that bath no better help than man : and blessed is he whose helpand hope are in the Lord! "* In. 1684, he was again apprehended. Expecting to be impris- oned for residing in London, he refused to open his chamber door, the officers having no warrant to enter by violence ; but six offi- cers besieged . his study, watching all night, and keeping him from his bed and food; till on the second day he surrendered, and scarce- ly able to stand, was carriedto the sessions and " bound in four hun- dred pounds bond to his good behavior." He desired toknow Narrative, Part III. pp. 191-,192.
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