persons present could hardly be persuaded, that the gentleman in a black suit and cloak, with a scarlet silk waistcoat,' was to be the sufferer. After the sheriff had commanded silence, Sir Henry addressed the crowd. He assured them, that when the warrant had reached his keepers at midnight, a passage in the prophet Zechariah came home to his mind, that the garments of mortality, defiled with his iniquities, were about to be taken from him, that he might be clothed with change of raiment, and a robe washed white in the blood of the Lamb. He then pressed upon public attention the injustice of his arraignment and trial, upon which the trumpeters were ordered to approach, and sound their instruments so loud, that no human voice should be heard. Yet nothing daunted, he proceeded to relate the outlines of his life and conversion; showing, moreover, that in his political career, he was in no degree connected, either directly or indirectly, with the death of King Charles, nor with the blood or estate of any other individual, dead or alive. And now did it appear, as though the whole metropolis responded to his appeal. Every eye ran down with tears, and every breast heaved with indignation. The sight of his noble countenance,-the serene and almost divine composure of his entire deportment, heightened by the recollection of his services and sufferings, and inflamed by an eloquence the admiration of his ablest contemporaries,-began to produce their inevitable consequences. The fame of his defence before corrupt judges, when he had vindicated not merely his own cause, but that of popular freedom, had rung far and wide through the city but now the assembled thousands beheld a yet more marvellous spectacle, in his conquest over any fear of an ignominious and violent dissolution, as well as his magnanimity towards antagonists, less placable than the grave. Royalism listened and trembled. Once again the trumpets sounded, to drown the words of the patriot, and the sobs of his audience. Sir Henry, preserving his usual firmness, only declared his readiness to endure the most bitter treatment, since that of his Divine Master had been far harder. A third time the trumpets were blown; for the multitudes waved to and fro, deepening in their excitement. Sir John Robinson, with two or three others, inhumanly rushed upon the prisoner, and endeavored to seize his papers. The subalterns also thrust their rude hands into his pockets: amidst such brutal violence on their part, and such patient dignity on his, that even a zealous loyalist denounced their brutalism towards a man, who was dying like a prince.' Order at last being restored, he prayed deep pathos and fervid earnestness. The following were a Expressions: Bring us, O Lord, into the true mystical : we may cease from our own works, rest from our nd become a meet habitation of thy Spirit, through covenant. Thou knowest, that in the faith of 'My dear heart! The wind yet continuing contrary, makes me desirous to be much in converse with thee, as the providence of God will perm hoping these will come safe to your hand. It is no small satisfac to me, in these sharp trials, to experience the truth of those Christi principles, which God of his grace has afforded you and me, in measures the knowledge of, and emboldened us to make the p fession. This dark night and black shade, which God hath drawn over work in the midst of us, may be, for aught we know, the ground-c to some beautiful piece, that he is exposing to the light. God set this before the eye of my faith, as the mark for the prize of t high calling of God in Christ Jesus. This is that perfection, w by conformity with Christ in his death, and fellowship with him in resurrection, is in a most eminent degree attainable before our disse tion, and the putting off our earthly tabernacle. It shall be so attained by the power and glory of Christ, that is to be revealed us, that it shall not much fall short of a very transfiguration. A the state of the then glorious church will be no less than a hear upon earth, in the new heavens and new earth, wherein dwelle righteousness. Nor would I have it thought, that I have already attained t powerful practice of this holy duty and perfection, but it is much my desire, aim, and hope. The Lord grant me and mine to be c tent, if he deny us to live of our own, and will bring us to the d bread of his finding, which he will have us wait for fresh and fre from his own table, without our knowing any thing of it beforehan Peradventure there is a greater sweetness and blessing in such a c dition than we can imagine, till we have tried it. This may add to help, even our making little haste to get out of our troubles, patient waiting till God's time come, wherein he will open the prison does either by death, or some other way, as he please, for the magnifyi his own great name, not suffering us to be our own choosers in thing, as hitherto hath been his way with us. And why should such a taking up sanctuary in God, and desir to continue a pilgrim and solitary in this world, whilst I am in afford still matter of jealousy, distrust, and rage, as I see it doth, t those who are unwilling that I should be buried and lie quiet in grave, where I now am. They that press so earnestly to carry on trial, do little know what presence of God may be afforded me in it and issue out of it, to the magnifying of Christ in my body, by life by death. Nor can they, I am sure, imagine how much I desire to dissolved and to be with Christ, which, of all things that can I account best of all. And till then I desire to be made faithful is my place and station, to make confession of him before men, and not befal me deny his name, if called forth to give a public testimony and witness concerning him, and to be herein nothing terrified. What then w the hurt be, that I can or shall receive by the worst that man can unto me, who can but kill the body, and thereby open my prison doet. that I may ascend into the pleasures that are at the right hand Christ Jesus. If the storm against us grow still higher and higher, so as to strip us of all we have, the earth is still the Lord's, and the fulness thereof: he hath a good storehouse for us to live upon. 'God can, and if he think fit, will chalk out some way, wherein he may appear by his providence to choose for us, and not leave us to ur own choice. And being contracted into that small compass, which he shall think fit to reduce us unto, we may perhaps meet with as true inward contentment, and see as great a mercy in such a sequestration from the world, as if we were in the greatest outward prosperity. 'I know nothing that remains to us, but like a tossed ship in a storm, to let ourselves be shaken and driven with the winds, till He that can make these storms to cease, and bring us into a safe haven, do work out our deliverance for us. I doubt not but you will, accordingly, endeavour to prepare for the worst.'-Upham, pp. 319-321; Forster, pp. 208-210. That worst soon arrived. He was arraigned before the Court of King's Bench, on the 2nd of June, 1662: and whoever may wish to see the depths of treachery and falsehood, or the cruel labyrinths of law, amidst which, judges, juries, and counsel, were accustomed to torment, and then legally murder their victims, under Charles the Second, will find ample satisfaction in both the volumes now before us. The accused so conducted himself throughout the monstrous ordeal, as to command the sympathies even of his bitterest enemies. But, alas! it was virtue in the den of lions, with no messenger from heaven to shut their mouths; because they were the appointed liberators, to release from his agonies below, a magnanimous servant of the Most High. Vane had been excepted from the act of indemnity at the restoration, upon a solemn promise from the king that his life at all events should be spared. His Majesty proved as faithless to this pledge, as the Stuarts generally were to whatever engagements they might incur. The profligate monarch wrote a few lines to Lord Clarendon, admitting, though obscurely, that his conscience felt fettered, yet observing also that the prisoner was too dangerous a man to let live, if he could honestly be put out of the way!' Royal revenge had been awakened and whetted by some remarks. during the trial: so that both sovereign and minister panted for his blood. In considering the transaction, it is impossible to dissent from the judgment of Serjeant Heywood; that no single act of Charles the Second has left so foul a stain his upon 'memory, as his having sought the execution of Sir Henry Vane. However valid his justification may seem to be in the ethics of tyrants, the want of feeling, with which he makes the detestable proposal to the chancellor, admits of no palliation.' But we hasten forward to the final catastrophe! 6 6 He was allowed from Wednesday, when sentence was pronounced, until Saturday, to prepare for his execution. In this 'My dear heart! The wind yet continuing contrary, makes me desirous to be as much in converse with thee, as the providence of God will permit ; hoping these will come safe to your hand. It is no small satisfaction to me, in these sharp trials, to experience the truth of those Christian principles, which God of his grace has afforded you and me, in our measures the knowledge of, and emboldened us to make the profession. This dark night and black shade, which God hath drawn over his work in the midst of us, may be, for aught we know, the ground-colour to some beautiful piece, that he is exposing to the light. God hath set this before the eye of my faith, as the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. This is that perfection, which by conformity with Christ in his death, and fellowship with him in his resurrection, is in a most eminent degree attainable before our dissolution, and the putting off our earthly tabernacle. It shall be so far attained by the power and glory of Christ, that is to be revealed in us, that it shall not much fall short of a very transfiguration. And the state of the then glorious church will be no less than a heaven upon earth, in the new heavens and new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Nor would I have it thought, that I have already attained the powerful practice of this holy duty and perfection, but it is much in my desire, aim, and hope. The Lord grant me and mine to be content, if he deny us to live of our own, and will bring us to the daily bread of his finding, which he will have us wait for fresh and fresh from his own table, without our knowing any thing of it beforehand. Peradventure there is a greater sweetness and blessing in such a condition than we can imagine, till we have tried it. This may add to my help, even our making little haste to get out of our troubles, patiently waiting till God's time come, wherein he will open the prison doors, either by death, or some other way, as he please, for the magnifying his own great name, not suffering us to be our own choosers in any thing, as hitherto hath been his way with us. And why should such a taking up sanctuary in God, and desiring to continue a pilgrim and solitary in this world, whilst I am in it, afford still matter of jealousy, distrust, and rage, as I see it doth, to those who are unwilling that I should be buried and lie quiet in my grave, where I now am. They that press so earnestly to carry on my trial, do little know what presence of God may be afforded me in it, and issue out of it, to the magnifying of Christ in my body, by life or by death. Nor can they, I am sure, imagine how much I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ, which, of all things that can befal me, I account best of all. And till then I desire to be made faithful in my place and station, to make confession of him before men, and not deny his name, if called forth to give a public testimony and witness concerning him, and to be herein nothing terrified. What then will the hurt be, that I can or shall receive by the worst that man can do unto me, who can but kill the body, and thereby open my prison door, that I may ascend into the pleasures that are at the right hand of Christ Jesus. If the storm against us grow still higher and higher, so as to strip us of all we have, the earth is still the Lord's, and the fulness thereof: he hath a good storehouse for us to live upon. ‘God can, and if he think fit, will chalk out some way, wherein he may appear by his providence to choose for us, and not leave us to ur own choice. And being contracted into that small compass, which he shall think fit to reduce us unto, we may perhaps meet with as true inward contentment, and see as great a mercy in such a sequestration from the world, as if we were in the greatest outward prosperity. I know nothing that remains to us, but like a tossed ship in a storm, to let ourselves be shaken and driven with the winds, till He that can make these storms to cease, and bring us into a safe haven, do work out our deliverance for us. I doubt not but you will, accordingly, endeavour to prepare for the worst.'-Upham, pp. 319-321; Forster, pp. 208-210. That worst soon arrived. He was arraigned before the Court of King's Bench, on the 2nd of June, 1662: and whoever may wish to see the depths of treachery and falsehood, or the cruel labyrinths of law, amidst which, judges, juries, and counsel, were accustomed to torment, and then legally murder their victims, under Charles the Second, will find ample satisfaction in both the volumes now before us. The accused so conducted himself throughout the monstrous ordeal, as to command the sympathies even of his bitterest enemies. But, alas! it was virtue in the den of lions, with no messenger from heaven to shut their mouths; because they were the appointed liberators, to release from his agonies below, a magnanimous servant of the Most High. Vane had been excepted from the act of indemnity at the restoration, upon a solemn promise from the king that his life at all events should be spared. His Majesty proved as faithless to this pledge, as the Stuarts generally were to whatever engagements they might incur. The profligate monarch wrote a few lines to Lord Clarendon, admitting, though obscurely, that his conscience felt fettered, yet observing also that the prisoner was too dangerous a man to let live, if he could honestly be put out of the way!" Royal revenge had been awakened and whetted by some remarks during the trial: so that both sovereign and minister panted for his blood. In considering the transaction, it is impossible to dissent from the judgment of Serjeant Heywood; that no single act of Charles the Second has left so foul a stain upon his memory, as his having sought the execution of Sir Henry Vane. 'However valid his justification may seem to be in the ethics of tyrants, the want of feeling, with which he makes the detestable proposal to the chancellor, admits of no palliation.' But we hasten forward to the final catastrophe! He was allowed from Wednesday, when sentence was pronounced, until Saturday, to prepare for his execution. In this |
