ded.

The prayers and patience of my Friends and loving Subjects will
contribute much to the sweetning of this bitter cup, which I doubt not
but I shall more cheerfully take and drink, as from Gods hand (if it
must be so) then they can give it to me, whose hands are unjustly and
barbarously lifted up against Me.

And as to the last event, I may seem to owe more to my Enemies then
my Friends; while those will put a period to the sins and sorrows
attending this miserable life, wherewith these desire, I might still
contend.

I shall be more then Conquerour through, Christ enabling me: for whom
_I_ have hitherto suffered, as he is the Author of Truth, Order, and
Peace; for all which _I_ have been forced to contend against Errour,
Faction, and confusion.

If _I_ must suffer a violent death with my Saviour; it is but
mortality crowned with martyrdom: where the debt of death, which I
owe for sin to nature, shall be raised as a gift of faith and patience
offered to God.

Which _I_ humbly beseech him mercifully to accept; and although death
be the wages of my own sinne, as from God, and the effect of others
sinnes, as men, both against God and me; yet as _I_ hope my own sinnes
are so remitted, that they shall be no ingredients to imbitter the
cup of my death, so _I_ desire God to pardon their sins, who are most
guilty of my destruction.

The Trophees of my charitie will be more glorious and durable over
them, then their ill managed victories over me.

Though their sin be prosperous, yet they had need to be penitent, that
they may be pardoned: Both which, _I_ pray God they may obtain: that
my temporal Death unjustly inflicted by them, may not be revenged by
Gods just inflicting eternal death upon them: for _I_ look upon the
temporall destruction of the greatest King, as far lesse deprecable
then the eternall damnation of the meanest Subject.

Nor do I wish other then the safe bringing of the ship to shore, when
they have cast me overboard; though it be very strange, that Mariners
can finde no other means to appease the storms themselves have raised,
but by drowning their Pilot.

I thank God, my Enemies cruelty cannot prevent my preparation;
whose malice in this I shall defeat, that they shall not have
the satisfaction to have destroyed my Soul with my Body; of whose
salvation, while some of them have themselves seemed, and taught
others to despair, they have onely discovered this, that they do not
much desire it.