d on his forehead for all men to see--and then
he was publicly whipped.

Yet in spite of all the pain and shame he must have been happier in
one way during that sorrowful return to Bristol than at his former
entrance to the city, for he must have had more true peace in his
heart.

Now, at last, comes the happy end of this sad story. There is no need
to sit over the fire in the darkness any longer. We can dry our eyes
and light the lamps--for it is not sorrowful really. James Nayler's
mistakes and sufferings had not been wasted. They had made him more
really like his Master, and his worst troubles were now over.

He still lay in prison for two years more, but he was allowed ink and
paper, and he wrote many beautiful letters acknowledging that he had
done wrong, confessing his sin, and praising God even for the
sufferings which had shown him his error. He says in one place, 'the
provocation of that time of temptation was exceeding great against the
pure love of God; yet He left me not; for after I had given myself
under that power, and darkness was above, my adversary so prevailed,
that all things were turned and so perverted against my right seeing,
hearing, or understanding; only a secret hope and faith I had in my
God whom I had served, that He would bring me through it, and to the
end of it, and that I should again see the day of my redemption from
under it all; and this quieted my soul in my greatest tribulation.'

And again, 'Dear brethren--My heart is broken this day for the offence
that I have occasioned to God's truth and people....

'And concerning you, the tender plants of my Father, who have suffered
through me, or with me, in what the Lord hath suffered to be done with
me, in this time of great trial and temptation; the Almighty God of
love, Who hath numbered every sigh, and put every tear in His bottle,
reward it a thousandfold into your bosoms, in the day of your need,
when you shall come to be tried and tempted; and in the meantime
fulfil your joy with His love, which you seek after. The Lord knows,
it was never in my heart to cause you to mourn, whose suffering is my
greatest sorrow that ever yet came upon me, for you are innocent
herein.' After this, at last he was set free. The first thing he did
was to try to return home to his wife and children. It is said that
'he was a man of great self-denial, and very jealous of himself ever
after his fall and recovery. At last, departing from the city of
Lo