University of Virginia Library

A Return, in Answer to some of them, who sent to know how it fares with me in my Imprisonment.

God, gave me Grace; by Grace I did conceive
A saving Faith; by saving Faith I live.
My life of Faith, hath had a preservation,
By Hearing, Acting, and by Meditation.
By Meditation, I reduce to Words
What my Experience in this life affords.
By that Experience which I have attain'd,
A Patience in my troubles I have gain'd;
My Patience hath such hopefulness begot,
That, this disgraceful Prison shames me not.
Though I am poor (and, as our Proverb sayes)
As poor as Job) unto my God be praise,
I am no Beggar; for, I have not yet,
Been forc'd to ask for Money, Clothes, ot Meat;
Nor tempted (having dayly bread) to borrow
Through fear of wants, that may befal to Morrow:
And, well remembring, who was pleas'd to say
There's Care enough belonging to each Day,
I, for a day to which I may not live,
Will not of what I have, my self deprive.
With my Condition, I am pleas'd, and merry,
Of my long-suff'rings I am not grown weary.
And wish those who pursue me with most hate
No worse, then to enjoy the like estate,
Except my Bands. I have acquir'd this rest,
By those Means and Degrees, afore exprest,
And, this, unfeignedly, to you declares
How, at this present time, with me it fares.