THE DECLARATION OF Coll. Okey.
Left at his dying hour, to the Presbyterian Congregations, at St S [...]ulch [...]es, Christs-Church, Alderman-Bury, and other parts of the City of London.
AS ALSO, His Desires to the Congregational Churches of Dr. Homes, Mr. Gr [...]ffith, Mr. J [...]ss e, and the rest.
And Likewise, To all other His Maj [...]stie; Liege People.
LONDON, Printed for Robert Williamson. 1662.
The Declaration of Collonel Okey, Left at his dying hour, to the Presbyterian Congregations, at St. Sepulchres, Christ-Church, Alderman-Bury &c.
GOds Mercy, is Gods meer Good-will, and ready affection to forgive a penitent sinner, notwithstanding all his sinnes, and ill deserts, and is nothing else but his Essence, which is One, and by which he is wise, just, and merciful altogether. He then that will be a searcher of his Mercy, shall be overwhelmed with his Glory: Now all his Mercy proceedeth from his free love towards us; so the duty of people towards their Pastors, is, to subject themselves to them, to pray for them, to obey them, and to stand by, and for them in times of danger; for as Collonel Okey declared a little before he came out of the Tower; That Bread and Cheese with the Gospel was good cheer; so he likewise desired, That all people might [Page 3] conform themselves to Magistrates and Ministry; and that the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ might have a free course in these Nations, and be glorified by the lives of all true Subjects; And that, since it hath pleased the Lord, through a great hand of providence, miraculously to restore and set upon the Throne, the person of King CHARLES, His sole desire was, that as His Majesty rules from God, so he might rule for God, and hereafter gloriously to Reign for ever; desiring that the Nations might make a right improvement of the Mercy so greatly desired, and walk in all holiness answerable thereunto. Declaring further, that he humbly craved this as the boon of a dying man, that as they had received a mercy so exceeding great, so they would walk worthy of it, in a fruitful improvement, earnestly craving that all Gentlemen and others, would pray more, and swear less.
And as England hath had more honour then any other Nation, so he desired, that Peace and Plenty might abound, and that every man might study in his [...]ce, To Fear God, and Honour the King, and to walk in some measure answerable to those mercies they now enjoy, and worthy of the Gospel; that Righteousness and Peace might flourish in the middest of them. He further declared, That he had nothing to his Brethren both of the publike and private Congrega [...]io [...], but that they would wait in their places, and see the salvation of God, rather them deliver themselves by any indirect means; And that his hearty desire was, that Justice and Judgment might run through the streets with a mighty stream: And that God [Page 3] would scatter them that delight in War. Thus having given you a brief Abstract of his Declaration, it is very suitable to remark his most Christian-like Prayer at the place of Execution; which was as followeth.
Collonel OKEYS Prayer.
MOst Holy, Glorious, and Eternal Lord God, who art the blessed Maker of all things, who art from everlasting to everlasting, blessed for evermore: Thou art worthy to be praised from the rising of the Sun to the going down thereof: Thou art cloathed with Honour and Majesty as with a Garment: Thou art the Fountain of all good the W [...]ll-spring of Life and Happiness. We bless thy Name that thou hast been pleased [...]o [...]e us this opportunity, once more to poyr out our souls before thee, before we go hence and be no more [...] ▪ For Chr [...]st his sake (thou that [...] put a [...] our [...]nd [...]) give us hearts to [...] us to powr out our souls [...] [...]nne: Draw [...]gh to us, that we m [...] [...] [...]e. O Lord, we pray thee for [...] give us the spirit of Wisdome, Vnderstanding and Knowledge, wher by we may be enabled to come to thee: In the Name of Iesus [Page 4] Christ, we beg a supply of all our wants, humbly beseeching thee for his sake to shew mercy to us: Do not remember us what we have done against thee: We pray thee for Iesus Christ his sake blot out our iniquities, let none of our nakedness appear; cover us with the Robes of Righteousness; speak peace to our souls. O seal to us the assurance of the pardon of all our sins; O seal to us the assurance that thou lovest us, and then it shall go well with us. Powr upon us thy holy Spirit, that he may teach us how to pray acceptably. Let us see our Names written in the Lambs Book of Life: O wash us in his Blood, which is able to take away all our sins, of what nature or kinde soever. O Lord we beseech thee receive us into thy everlasting Arms of Mercie. O that thou wouldest let us see by the Eye of Faith Heaven opened, and the Lord upon His Throne, and Iesus Christ at thy right hand, and his holy Angels ready to receive our souls. We beseech thee be with us, it is but a little time that we are to be here O leave us not shew us mercy onely in and upon the accompt of Iesus Christ. With us b [...] thine all the World over, think upon these Nations of England, Scotland, and Ireland, O that that they may live in thy sight, that England may be a happie, peaceable, and quiet Nation give the N [...] tion of England a heart to walk answerable to the Gospel which they have so long enjoyed, that it may be a Nation fruitful in all good works, and more zealous then ever it hath been yet; remove the judgements felt prevent the judgements feared. To this end, We beseech thee blesse Him whom [Page 5] thou hast set over us, We begg that he may live in thy sight, and Reign here for thee, and Reign hereafter with thee: O Lord make Him a Friend to thy Friends, and let Him see that His Interest lyeth there. Blesse the Great Council of the Land, and do thou Lord guide them and direct them, that they may do nothing against thy Truth. The Lord blesse the faithful Ministers of the Word, O that thou wouldest be pleased to double thy Holy Spirit upon them, and let not thy Iudgement come upon this Nation, that the Godly faithful Ministers should be driven or removed out of it: O do not bring a Famine of thy Word, whatever Iudgement thou bringest upon this Nation. We humbly begg that Poperie may not return hither again. We likewise begg for thy Names sake, that thou wouldest look in mercy upon this great Citie, and as thou hast made them famous for Religion, and owning the Professors thereof. Lord grant that they may not decline, but increase more and more therein: The Lord give them the blessings of the Right Hand and of the Left, that they may dwell together in Love, Vnitie and Peace. The Lord look upon any that is near and dear to us, our dear Relations, we leave them with thee, Lord do thou take care of them, and provide for them, according to that good promise which thou hast made.
Now we beseech thee Lord accept of us and our Services, pardon the sins of our Holy things, our wandring and starting aside from thee: Accept [Page 6] of us, and do us good, and receive us into the Arms of thy Mercie. This, and what ever else thou seest in thy Wisdom to be good for us, we begg in the Name and for the sake of Iesus Christ, to whom be Honour and Glory, and Praise, both now and for evermore.
AMEN.