CHEARE. 439 provisions sent to him and his fellow-prisoners ; and is dated the 22nd of the 9th month,, 1667, and addressed, " Unto our brethren and friends, in the bonds and bowels of the gospel, whose hands have made them willing, under the bounteous influences of the God of Israel, to comfort the hearts of the unworthy prisoners of the Lord in Ply- mouth Island by a costly present; and to every one who hath contributedor helped therein to a tender groan, or the value of a cup of cold water, be a large recorapence of reward given in grace, and ascertained in glory, by him who is not unfaithful to forget such labour of love shewed to his name." This letter, containing many pious and generous sentiments, is still preserved.* This holy man wrote several religious tracts, some of which were published after his death, entitled, " Words in Season;" to which was annexed the following account of the author: -" If any inquire," says the writer, " what might occasion so much severity as to detain the author a prisoner so many years, and till death ? It may suffice to insert here, that he left the state of his case, under his hand, setting forth the illegality and uririghteousness of the pro- ceedings against him. He never, in the former wars, was enlisted in any troop or company under pay ; and in the trained-bands of the town where nor served, never was accounted worthy of promotion ; r in the corporation, whereof he was a member, ever advanced so high as a constable ; and never bettered his estate one farthing by all the propitious advantages that might have given himoppor- tunity of so doing : nor was he conscious to himself of the least desire of adding to what he possessed, by any present or future advantages, to which any favourable 'overtures of the times might tempt him. He never improved his own interest in any place or office of trust or profit, civil, mili- tary, or ecclesiastical ; save only for a few weeks, unknown to him, and against his will, he was made a chaplain to the fort, but quickly got himself dikharged from it. Never was he concerned in, or truly charged with any plot, mutiny, or tumult, giving the least disturbance, occasion of fear, or jealousy. This thenwas the only thing that could give colour to such proceedings ; that he, being convinced of his duty to his Lord, by the light of Scripture, joined himself in a holy covenant, to walk in all the ordinances of the Lord blameless, to the best of his light and power, in fellowship with a poor and despised people."l- * Crosby's Baptists, vol. iii. p. 17-24. p. 24-26. 11111/M=Ilisorw colpsgovalinris4,-auss..-Tr-imemskAsusaaret-,
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