382 was but young att that time when he enter'd into this engagement, and that many who had preacht and led the people into it, and of that parliament, who had declar'd it to be treason not to advance and promote that cause, ·were all now apostatiz'd, and as much. preacht against it, and call'd it rebellion and murther, and sate on the tribunall to iudge it; he again reflected seriously upon all that was pas t, and beg'd humbly of God to enlighten him and shew him hi s sin if ignorance or misunderstanding had led him into error; hut the more he examin'd the cause from the fi rs t, the more he became confi nn 'cl in i t, and from that t ime sett himselfe to a more dili gent study of the scrip tures, whereby he a tlain'd confirmation in many principles he had before, and dayly greater enlightnings .concerning the free . grace and love of God in J es us Christ, and the spiritual! worship und er the gospe11, and the gospel! liberty, which ought not to be subiectcd to the wills am! ordinances of men in the service of God . This made him rcioycc in all he had done in the Lord's cause, and he would often say, the Lord had not thus eminently preserv'd him for nothing, but that he was yett kept for some eminent service or suffering in this cause ; although having bene freely pa rdon'd by the present powers, he resolv'd not to doe aniething against the king, but thought himselfe oblieg'd to sitt still ·and wish his prosperity in all things that were not destructive to the interest of Christ and his members on eaJth; yett as he could not wish well to any ill way, so he believ'd that God had sett him aside, arid that therefore he ought to mourne in silence and retiredncsse, while he lay under this obligation. I-Ie bad not bene long at home but a pursuiv;:mt from the councell was sent to fetch him from his house at Owthorpe, who carried hitn · to the atturney general!. He, with all preparatory insinuations, how much he would express his gratitude to the king and his repentance for his error, if he would now deale ingenuously, in beari\lg testimony to what he should -be examined, sifted him very
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