And in my sleep I dreamed.
&Tic;Hat I was in an upper Chamber with my sweet Redeemer Christ Jesus, and that there were many Suiters attended to speak with him; to beseech him to save their Ships and Barks that they might not perish by the storme, I thought it was a large roome, wherein there was a long table with an ordinary Car pet and two candles standing upon it, two trenchers of Tobacco and Pipes, and one Man walking up and down by the Table, of a middle staturs, about thirty years of age, the hairs of his head long and white as flax; but curling at the ends, but the heire of his upper lipp brown, in fad color'd cloaths, and a cloth broad brim'd hatt, I asked him who he was, who said, he waited upon Jesus Christ; I asked him where Jesus Christ was, he pointed to a Curtin, saying, there he is; I beheld and saw a glorious shi&rehy;ning but no person, and methought Jesus Christ spake to me, and asked me what I would have, I said the lives of all in the Ship, said he in what ship, said I in the Hector, it is a bad name said he, for such as professe me. Castor and Pollux is for Heathens, I prayed him that we might not dye in this manner, sayes he to me are not you safe? but good Lord said I, I must returne, and I beg life for all in the ship, who are they said he? J answered that there was my deare Wife and three Servants. Leiutenant Colo&rehy;nell Saunders. Major Bee, Mr. Hews, honest Abraham, and other passingers thy Servants, [said Jesus Christ at my naming Lieu. Col. Saunders and some others, its so much the better that they are there] the Captain and the Sea-men are serviceable to thy Cause, and they take wonderfull paines to save their owne lives and ours, but unlesse they speak the word, the Sea will swallow us up: then me thought Jesus Christ askt me why I was not willing to dye? I told him that by this death I could not glori&rehy;fie him, thinking upon that Scripture, Joh. 21.19. and me thought I was something impatient that the Lord should surprize us, get&rehy;ting us into a ship at his call for his service, and then to drowne us, as if we were Parricides or hainous Malefactors, which by Law were drowned: at that me thought Jesus Christ withdrew, as if he was displeased, said I, Lord, if thou drownest those that love thee, what wilt thou doe to thine Enemies? but could get no answer, whereupon I was sensible of my impatience and thought that I fell downe flat downe on the ground, and cryed for Mer&rehy;cy, saying Lord, we kisse thy Rod, and turne our naked backs, strike as much as thou pleasest. Lord, I plead nothing but thy free grace; it may be many of us have offended in excessive drinking, and now thou art punishing us in our owne Element, however our sinnes are more then the sands of the Sea-shore, but let pi&rehy;ty move thee to save us; thou sweet Redeemer which hast been at Sea in stormes, that art a mercifull high Priest, like unto us in all things but sinne. Heb. 2.17. and 4.15. take pity upon thine owne flesh and blood; what Father but would save his Child from drowning if he could hast thou no worke for any of us to doe? I thought the answer was, but little to be done by some of us; (my Wife tells me that but a little before I slept, I said, cer&rehy;tainly God had something for me, and others to doe for his ser&rehy;vice, and therefore we should not dye at this time, which I did not remember;) sweet Christ hear us as thou didest thy Disciples, save us quickly or else we perish, and being earnest in prayer, in my dreame me thought that the man in the roome came to me, and told me that this was no naturall storme of Gods sending, but an extraordinary Tempest raised by Satan (by Gods permission) to destroy those which were coming to fight against his Servants, and bad me use that argument to his Master. Thereupon I in&rehy;stantly craved leave to speake, and said, sweet Saviour, if this Storme and Tempest be raised by Satan the Prince of the ayre as in Lapland and many other places where winds are sold, he works in the Children of disobedience, and hath nothing to doe with thy poore Servants, for though thou mayst justly for our sins give Satan power over us, as thou didst over thy dear Servant Iob. Yet where thou givest a particular faith to be free from Sathans stormes and witchcrafts, thou art pleased to grant that which is believed, and in great love it pleased Jesus Christ to give a gratious answer to my Spirit, and said, be not afraid, your lives shall be saved; instantly replyed Lord, let it be for all the Persons in the Ship He said, be it so, then I pressed for the goods in the Ship Lord said I, there are my L. Gen goods, & M. Gn. goods; Let them safe, but they are not there said Jesus Christ, no Lord said I, they are fighting thy battells, Jesus Christ answered, the goods shall all be safe. And the ship likewise, and nothing miscarry, then I gave humble thanks, and departed, and as I was going out, I thought Jesus Christ said to me, it is granted for halfe fifty, goe no more to Sea in winter. I further dream'd that the Devill and his Imps were very earnest with Jesus Christ to get leave to de&rehy;stroy the Governour of Wexford, by the storme; but the Lord said, it should not be; somethere were that had Barkes at Wex&rehy;ford, that attended to speak with Jesus Christ, I could not tell what they said, they discoursed much about the Governour, and all that I heard Christ say, was that winter was not yet come for them at Wexford, then I thought I met with Captaine Haire&rehy;bottell, who had very great respect shown to him and I thought his prayers did us very much good, and he was very much com&rehy;mended for his tendernesse to the sick Souldiers at Wexford, I thought there were other men from Wexford that came for safe passages and one Officer was very earnest for a ship that he was to come in, and I heard this expression concerning him, we must take speciall care of his ship; for he was very tender and kind to the poor sick Souldiers, and much discourse I heard about sick Souldiers. Jesus Christ said, if stormes will not do, I have o&rehy;ther afflictions to make them more tender-hearted and pitifull, me thought the person that so walked in the room, spake much to this effect, that there would be many stormes by reason of much hardheartednesse, to break and melt their Spirits, since which (blessed be God) Captain Lucas is come safe in the wild Beare, one whom I observed in Wexford to be very liberall, tender-hearted, and compassionat to the poor Souldiers, whereupon I awaked, this dream lasted about two houres, all which time the storme increased, my Wife told me, that shee jogged me above twenty times to waken me. And wondred that I should sleep, seeing we are all so near the point of death, said I to her, peace my deare heart, be quiet, we shall all be safe: Jesus Christ hath promised me our lives be not afraid, and told her all my dream, whereat she was much amazed, but could not beleeve any safety, and urged me to prayer, being her selfe well resolved to dye, chearfully submitting to Gods good pleasure, but told me she had a strong impression upon her Spi&rehy;rit by way of question as if the Lord had spoken to her, that in case he should be pleased to spare her life at this time, whether she could be content to suffer for him; whereunto she found her heart most ready and willing, by the Lords assistance, to lay down her life for his glory; but my owne heart was then giving thanks, and brim full of comfort.
I related my dreame to Lieutenant Col. Saunders, Major Bee, Ben. and the two Maids that were in the Cabin. And sent in for Captaine Stoakes, the Master, the Gunner, Bennet, and Marshall, and bad them be of good cheere, and plye their busi&rehy;nesse, for we should be all safe, telling them what I had dream&rehy;ed, they admired at my confidence, and Captaine Stoakes could not believe it, (said he) I know God is very Mercifull and can doe much; but the Ship hath five foot water in the hould which the Pumpe could not reach being choaked, and very subject to leaks, being twenty years old, and then it was about nine at night, the storme increasing, and they not knowing where about they were, I told them that I was assured of safety, as if I were on Shore and one word more I had dreamed, which I told them of, said I to Jesus Christ, what if the Ship should break asunder? He answered me, you shall be as safe as if you were in Codds Boat (a Boat at Wexford that we went in towards the ship in the bay, and were driven back severall times) or as if you were in the Go&rehy;vernors house in Wexford, what impression it had upon their Spi&rehy;rits I know not, but some that were in the great Cabbin told me that they did verily beleeve it, and that their hearts were much quieted by what I said. The storme increased and a great noyse was made in the ship, the water came in at the great Cabbine windowes, the ship ready to overset and to founder; many skreaks and cryes out now we are gone, and yet my confidence and assu&rehy;rance increased, I bad them pray and bethankfull for they were as safe as if they were on shoare still my poore Wife said it could not be. I told her I was sure of it; she must lye still and see the salva&rehy;tion of our God.
I confesse I much marvelled at the change that was wrought in my own Spirit, from a trembling fearfulnesse to a rejoycing assurance and considering it was but a dreame I thought I might presume too much in an over Confidence and was jealous over my owne hart least I should offend, begging the Lords extraor&rehy;dinary assistance sutable to the present danger, but the more I checkt my heart of presumption; the more did my faith mount upon the wing as if I had been upon dry ground, and had not so much fear as the thousand part of the weight of a haire: the poor ship workt for her life, and the Sea-men took infinite paines, two parts being fallen sick & the other 30 were continually at it, somtimes they were in a little hopes, sometimes their soules ready to faint about twelve at night, he that was at the Helme by my Cabbin said all was broken, the water came in there a little be&rehy;fore they cryed out, that the foresaile was split and carried away, and the Anchors thrown over board to lighten the ship, yet all this while me spirit was the same in a thankfull admiration. for so great a deliverance, and said, all shall be as well as heart could wish, when they spoke of lightning the ship, my wife cald to Capt. Stokes and bad him if he thought fit, to throw over some Trunks which we had in the ship, which I liked very well (as it was in Pauls-storm) in regard of others that were in the ship, but for my own part, I said I would not have any thing thrown over, for I knew all would be well and (to blessed be the Lord of Seas) about four in the morning the storme abated, my heart was in a very thankfull posture, and that Wednesday night after, when the Sea-men said, we were in most danger entring into Castle-Haven in the dark, that we must have the wind turn twice in halfe an hour to save us, first to carry us from the breach of the shoare to the Staggs, and then to carry us off from them: when we were within a Cables length of the shoare, and the Sea&rehy;men devided, not knowing what to do, Captaine Stoakes bad let fall an Anchor or else we are all dead-men others said, try to get off from shoare, and there was a great skreak that all was gone, I was not one jot afraid, but told them they were sure to get safe to Land, and the ship to a Harbour, and the Lord shewed himselfe kind to poore sinners.
One thing though it seeme to be of small importance, yet it runs much in my mind, and I must needs relate it, I thought that Jesus Christ said to me, that the goods should be all safe, and nothing hurt or lost by the storme, but when we came to look for our things we mist a looking-glasse and a Pistoll, the glasse case was all broke and shivered in many peeces by the rouling of the ships, being in one of the Boxes or Cabin-chests in the great Cabbin amongst other things, but the Glasse it selfe was not so much as broken or crackt, and the case though in eight or ten peeces yet might easily be joyned and glued together, that it is not worse by a farthing, which seemes to me very admirable, I told Captaine Stoakes of it, and desired him, if possible, to help me to my Pi&rehy;stoll, he examined them about it; but it could not be heard of, till the very day the ship was going out of the Harbour, and then somebody that had it could not be quiet till he brought it out, to let us see how weak our faith and confidence is in the Lord and that he will performe with his poore servants to a Title of his promise.
I know that usually dreames follow mens naturall inclination or their daily conversation as in Pharaohs Butler and Baker, they dreamed of wine and baskets of meate, matters about which they were ordinarily imployed Gen. 40. and I having beene in a continued meditation of Jesus Christ his love, power, bowells of pitty towards his members, it was most likely, that if I dreamed of any thing I should dreame of him as many times upon the Sab&rehy;boths nights: I have dreamed that I was in the very same company and at the same exercises as I was upon the day, and indeed the consideration of Christs humanity, his being at Sea, and his experimentall knowledge of our miseries much supported me, how many prayers did we put up for a safe passage which though they do not move the Lord by any eloquence, as an Orator moves his hearers, yet they move the Lord; as the cryes of children make the bowels of their Parents yearne towards them, and we must distinguish between shadowes and substances, dreames are but the appearances of things which are not, naturall dreams are ei&rehy;ther sinful deceitful & vaine, as Isa. 29.8. the hungry & thirsty man dreames, that he eats and drinks, but he awakes and his soule is faint for food, or else they are representations of things past which were really done or things to come which falls out accor&rehy;dingly, and the matter of the dreame is principally to be regarded, some Christians have had difficult places of Scripture expounded to them in their dreames, as they have told me.
Therefore although dreames which are naturall and ordinary be of little or no account, yet extraordinary dreames many times prove true, as if one cry in his dream or be so fast asleep that he feels not pinching when the Imagination is so extraordinarily powerful, and that the party dreaming is confidently perswaded that it will come to passe it commonly proves accordingly, as that of Katherin de Medicis Queen of France, who dreamed that Hen. the Second should be killed at the Tilt, and said she would venture her soule upon it. And so he was killed by a Scotsman, Montgomery as she dreamed; Petrarch in Pado&rehy;va dreamed that a Scorpion stung him to death, that was in one of the Lyons that stand before a statue which they fondly call Sancta Iustina, the next morning he told his dreame, went thither and put in his hand into the hole and out came a Scorpion, which poysoned him, whereof he dyed, the great Souldier Farese the night before he dyed; dreamed that he was drowned and that his Saint Christopher could not carry him over the River and the next day the Ferry-boat sunk and he was drowned.
In 1629. Christina a Protestant Marquesses Daughter in Poland, dreamed that Jesus Christ had told her comfortable things for the Protestants, as the good successe of the King of Sweden, the death of the Emperors Generall Walsten and that it might be the better believed, she should dye four dayes and re&rehy;vive againe, one Minister Cotuonius slighted it as a delusion and vaine fancie she told him that God was angry with him, and such a day his only child should dye and himselfe presently after, which both proved true, she likewise fell into a Trance for eight and fourty houres and then revived and foretold victories of the King of Sweden, but that God would take him away, because the people began to make a God of him and thought him to be in&rehy;vincible. She dreamed that she was married to Jesus Christ, and that she had a Crown of Glory promised her if she could persevere in the faith, and told her she would be mockt and scoft at by many who would not believe but that such visions procee&rehy;ded from imagination, melancholly humours or weaknesse of braine, but bad her not be discouraged, shewing her a cup of blood, which he said he would poure upon those that persecute his servants, and that she prayed very earnestly for the salvation of a deer friend of hers who was in armes against the Protestants, but that shee could not prevaile for the salvation of any of her friends, but only for her selfe and that night the same party died, she likewise in her dreame saw two great persons comming to be judged one a Papist who had prayed much to his St. Francis and desired to be admitted into Heaven, but Jesus Christ bad him go to Hell to saint Francis, whither he was immediatly dragged; and the other was a Protestant who argued for his sal&rehy;vation, because he fought against the Papists and the Ministers as&rehy;sured him of Heaven: Jesus Christ said he will put out his candle in Germany, for it gives a false light, it shines without but it is full of filth and selfe righteousnesse within: she likewise saw a man upon a Tree adored by many; and some Lyons came to the Tree and pluckt it down and an Eagle was flying away, which the Lyons caught and toare in pieces, and asking Jesus Christ the meaning of that vision, he told, that the man was that horrid beast the Pope of Rome my capitall enemy, not a Pastor, but a Woolfe, that sayes, behold I am set aloft, who dare come to touch me? the Lyons are the French, English, Sweads, Hollanders, Venetians, and others that shall pluck down the proud beast, and powre out my wrath upon her and her adherents, and that it should begin about 1650. and be compleat by 1666. in her sleep she was heard to say; welcome Husband, and laughed heartily and as shee awaked shee said farewell deere Husband, and she drea&rehy;med many thing more which fell out accordingly, being a ver&rehy;tuous child naturally merry
In 1633. she was marryed in Lesno in Poland, and most of the Ministers in Germany have subscribed to it, for they seriously consulted about it, and sent into Holland and Geneva, for assi&rehy;stance and advise, and the result of the conference (which Mr. Deodate shewed me at Geneva) came to this; in Christinaes dreame, they did believe there was a divine light: for first the young Lady was regenerate, and very zealous for the glory of God, so there was a good life in the person dreaming: Secondly, there was a full perswasion of heart that it was from God, and it would prove true: Thirdly, there was a certitude in the event, the party was not deceived, for it proved so, and it was likewise their judgements, that in a time of generall persecution, or some extraordinary eminent danger, God might and did many times speake comfortable things to his people in dreames, as in the late Bohemian warres, many Calvinists were admonisht in their dreames to goe to places of security, which they attending were safe from the enemy; as the Angell of the Lord appeared to Io&rehy;seph in a dreame, and bad him flee with Jesus Christ into Egypt, Mat. 2.13. and others that neglected such dreames have after&rehy;wards repented it.
The Lord keep us all that were made partakers of so great a mercy in an humble believing and thankfull posture, that we may spend the remainder of our new lives in the zeale of his service, as those that having their lives prolonged so extraordinarily are ex&rehy;ceedingly obliged more then others to walk answerably to so great a mercy.
FINIS.