The Sheriff interrupted in Words to this effect: Let that alone, for the King's Majefty hath Clemency enough for all but his Father's Murderers.

Mr. Cooke replied, Then I fhall proceed to fpeak fomething concerning my Profeffion and Faith, which, I blefs the Lord, is founded upon the Rock Chrift Jefus. I do not expect Salvation for any thing I have ever done, but only lay hold upon Chrift as a naked Chrift, and there to bottom my Soul.

I can fay, to the Praife and Glory of God, that I have endeavour'd in my Place, and to my Power, to do that which might be to God's Glory, according to the beft of my Understanding. I have stood for a Gofpel Magiftracy and Miniftry, and that many Delays in the Law might be removed, (and that thing I have much fuffer'd for) I fay it's good both for King and People, that many Delays in Matter of Juftice fhould be removed, and that publick Juftice might be speedily and cheaply adminiftred.

And as for my Profeffion, I am of the congregational Way; I defire to own it, and am for Liberty of Confcience, and all that walk humbly and holily before the Lord; and defire to walk in the Fear of the Lord, and I believe it is a Truth, and there can be nothing faid against it. I do confefs I am not convinc'd of any thing I have done amifs, as to that I have been charg'd with, I am not indeed; neither did I understand the Plea of the Court; that if the Lords and Commons had brought the King to the Bar, and had fet him over them again, their bringing him to the Bar had been Treafon.

I defire never to repent of any thing therein I have done; but I defire to own the Caufe of God and Chrift; and am here to bear witnefs to it,

and

and fo far as I know any thing of myself, I can freely confefs it.

Here the Sheriff interrupted him again, defiring him to forbear any fuch Expreffions.

Mr. Cooke replied, It hath not been the Manner of English Men to infult over a dying Man, nor in other Countries among Turks or Galliaffes.

The Lord bless every one of us, and help us, that we may look more to the Honour and Glory of God than the Concernments of our own Lives: For alas, what is a poor miferable Life to us, but that therein we might give Honour and Glory to the God of all our Mercies?

And if there be any here of that Congregation to which I was related in the time that I lived here, I would commend to them that Scripture, Phil. 2. 17, 18. Yea, and if I be offer'd up upon the Sacrifice and Service of the Faith, I joy and rejoice with you all, for the fame Caufe alfo do you joy and rejoice with me. And Deut. 18. 11. The Lord God of your Fathers make you a thousand times more than you are, and bless you as he hath promifed. The Lord be pleas'd to speak Comfort to them,and to all them that fear the Lord.

The Lord keep England from Popery, and from Superftition, and keep it from Prophaneness, and that there may not be an Inundation of Antichrift in the Land. And that is all the Harm I with unto it.

The Lord hath forgiven me many thoufand Talents, and therefore I may well forgive thofe few Pence that are owing unto me; I blefs the Lord I have nothing lying upon my Confcience, but I can unbofom myfelf to every one, and to the Throne of free Grace, in the Simplicity of my Spirit; I have endeavour'd to do nothing but with a good Confcience, and thro' the Integrity

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of my Heart, tho' accompanied with many Frailties.

I defire to bless the Lord, my Lot was rather in Ireland than here, here I have been more known where I have given the Offence.

The Sheriff again interrupted him.

Mr. Cooke replies, Sir, I pray take notice of it, I think I am the firft Man that ever was hanged for demanding of Juftice, therefore I hope you will not interrupt me.

I fuppofe you were there, and do bear me witnefs in your Confcience, that there was not any thing then, that I did not communicate to the Court, that I now fpeak upon the Ladder.

If you will believe the Words of a dying Man, I fay, as I muft give an Account, I have nothing lieth upon my Confcience. We must all meet together at the great Day of the Lord, to give an Account of all our Actions, (and then it will appear) the Lord grant we may meet with Joy and Comfort.

I have a poor Wife and Child, and fome Friends left, I defire you that come along with me, to commend to them Ifai. 54. 4. 5, and 10 ver.

I hope the King and Parliament will confider our poor Friends as to their Eftates, you know that thofe Lords that formerly fuffer'd under the Parliament, did not lofe all their Estates; I hope there will be fome Confideration as to Juftice, (left that our fmall Eftates prove a Poifon amongst their great deal) and my poor Wife and Relations fuffer.

The Lord grant that Mercy may be fhewed, that Mercy and Righteoufnefs may magnify and exalt itself above Juftice. I fhall not hold you long; I fhall defire, in the Fear of the Lord, to give myfelf (as in Rom. 12. 1.) A living Sacrifice,

Holy

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Holy and acceptable unto God, which is but a reasonable Service.

And fo I do intreat that I may have a little Time to call upon the Lord, unless there be any thing more defir'd, or any one that would ask me a Question.

Truly I forgive all from my Heart, I have nothing upon my Heart to accufe any of them withal. I blefs the Lord I have a clear Confcience, I fay it in the Integrity and Simplicity of my Heart, (I do now appeal to the great God, to whom I must give an Account of what I have done) knowing that all my Guilt is washed away in the Blood of Jefus Chrift, (and before him 1 hope to appear) and have nothing elfe to plead any thing at all for me.

And fo I hope that I have declar'd myself with Simplicity and Integrity, in a few Words, that you may understand my Mind.

Then he went to his Prayers again; after which he was turn'd off.

A Letter written from the Tower to a Chriftian Friend by Mr. Co.OKE.

SIR,

OW, in answer to your loving Inquiry, how it fares with my better Part, I bless God I never found fo much internal spiritual Solace and unmixt Joy and Comfort, as I have experimented in these five Months Indurance, 2 Cor. 1. 3, 4, 5. Let never any Chriftian fear a Prifon, it being the only Place, where (wanting other Books) a Man may best study the Book of the Knowledge of himself, having a long Vacation from all Bufinefs; but praying unto, and praifing God in Chrift, by the Spirit's Affiftance. cannot take Martha's Part, for none must come.

to me; nor Mary's Part, to wait upon the Ordi nances, which my Soul thirfts after; therefore my Chamber is like the Sanctum Sanctorum, where wittingly none may enter but the High Prieft of our Profeffion, the Lord Jefus. I did not think that there had been fo much Ignorance, Impotence, Impatience, Ingratitude, Pride,inordinate Affection to Creature Comforts, Revenge, Diffidence of God, Self-love, and Iniquity of all forts in me, as I find there is; who am not only a poor Sinner, but Sin itself, a very Mafs of Sin. I find it very hard to rely nakedly on God's Goodnefs, not to feel the Heat of Perfecution, not to be careful when all is taken away, Jer. 7. 17. Lo, fo this Darkness and Filthinefs of Spirit is only discovered by the Light of Chrift, by whofe Lowliness in washing the Apoftles Feet, I fee my Loftinefs and want of Condefcenfion when I had Power; by his Patience, my many Paffions and Heart-rifings against Inftruments; by his Obedience to the Death, my Reluctancies; by his Faithfulness, my former Back-flidings; by his Fruitfulness, and dcing God, Acts ro. 38. my Barrennefs, and the little Good I did when I had Opportunity; and by his Liberality, my Penurioufnefs; whereby I adore and acknowledge his Juftice that he hath moft righteously depriv'd me of my Liberty and Eftate; all which drives me nearer to Chrift, and makes me take fafter hold of his Righteoufnefs. I now understand (through Grace) how precious he is, 1Pet. 2. 7. if it were not for Chrift, what a miferable Condition were I now in, that might fuddenly be fent to contend with the Wrath of God in everlafting Burnings? and this makes me love Chrift the more, having forgiven me more than others; and having had ten thoufand Ta lents forgiven me, I would forgive any Wrongdoers; and this keeps me humble, and from Cen

forioufnefs.