Britains Remembrancer, Poem · Canto 8

Britains Remembrancer · Poem · Canto 8

p. 241The eighth Canto.

Our Poet having …oucht againe

Wh…t fr…il…ies in hims…lfe remaine,

D…cl…res, th…t many Plagues doe steale

As well on Chu…ch, as Commonweale:

Rel…tes wh…t cro…che…s doe possesse

Some, who Religionsn…sse professe:

W…at n…ysome …lants, what tares and weeds,

A…e sprung, …o choake the holy seeds:

Wh…t fai…ed zeale, and affectation,

H…th fool'd this formall Generation:

And, how from some, great scandall growes,

Who …eare the keyes, that bind and loose.

Next, he delivereth Predictions

Of plague, of sorrowes and afflictions,

Which on this …and will descend,

Vnl…sse our manners we amend.

And, whensoever civill j…rs,

Or mischiefes, by the rage of wars,

Oppresse this Realme; his Muse doth show▪

Who shall occasion it; and how.

Which fearfull Iudgement to prevent,

He calls upon her to repent:

By …en apparant signes, hath showne,

Gods patience nigh expir'd is growne:

Then, for the Publike-wea…e, he prayes:

Then, for himselfe; and, there he stayes.

I Doe not wo…der, as I e…st have don…,

That when the Prophet Ionas should have gone

To N…niveh, Gods word he disobey'd,

And would himselfe to Tha…sus have convey'd:

For, I have now a sense how flesh and blood

The motions of the Holy Ghost withstood,

And feele (me thinks) how many a likely doubt

The Devill, and his frailty, found him out

He was a man (thoug… he a Prophet were)

In whom no li…tle weaknesse did appeare:

And, thus he thought, perchance, What shall I doe?

Astrange at…empt my heart is ur…ed to:

And, there is somewhat, earnestly incites

That I sho…ld hasten to the Ninivites,

And, preach, that if they alter not their wayes,

Their time of standing▪ is but forty dayes,

My soule perswadeth God injoynes me to it;

And sle…pe in peace, I cannot▪ till I doe it:

B…t common Reason strivet… to rest…aine

Th… motion, and p…rswade… me tis in vaine.

I… saith, I am a sin…er▪ and so fraile,

That, many times, my best endeavors f…ile

p. 242To rectifie my s…lfe. How shall I then

Be hopefull of recl…iming other men?

To Isr'el … have threa…ne… many yeares

Gods judgements: yet, no fruit thereof appearess

Although the, hav… some knowledg… of the Lo…d,

And are within his League, they sleight …is word:

What hope then is there, that a he…then Nation

Will prove regardfull of my exhortation?

The stile of Prophet, in this land I cary,

And such a Calling, here, is ordinary;

But, in a forraigne State, what warranty

Have I, to publ…sh such a Prophesie?

How may th… King and People take the same,

If I shall in the open streets d…fame

So great a City? and, condemne for sin,

A place wherein I never yet have bin?

If I shall say, the Lord comm…nded me:

Then, they perhaps, will answer: What is he?

For, they professe him not. Nay, some suspition

They may conceive, that I to mo…e sedition

Am sent among them. Or, if otherwise

They sh…ll suppose; how can they but d…s…ise

My person, and my counsell, who shall from

So f…r a place, som…ere a stranger come,

That no man knowe…, or what or who I am,

Or from what Countr…, or from w…om I came?

Such thoughts (belike) delay'd▪ and fear'd him so;

And, so the Spirit urg'd him still to go

For N…niveh; that nor to goe, nor stay,

Could he resolve: but, fled another way.

From which rebellious course, God fetcht him back

With such a vengeance, that he did not lack

Sufficient proofes, how Reason did betray him,

And, in his Calling ▪ causlesly aff ay him.

Yea (mark heav'ns providence) thou…h Io…as went

Another way, it crost not God's intent,

But furthred it. For, doubtl…sse, e're he came

To Niniveh, the miracle and fame

Of his Deliverance, was s…nt before;

And, made his preaching worke on them the more.

Now, though I doe nor arrogate, nor dare

My selfe (except in frailties) to compare

With blessed Ionas: yet, I may be bold

To say, o…r Causes a resemblance hold▪

My heart (and when that moves, as one averres,

It more prevailes then many Counsellers)

My heart (I say) perswaded me e're while,

To reade a warning Lecture to this Ile.

And in such manner moved; that, to say

It came from God, me thinks, be bold I may.

Yet, my owne nat'rall frailty, and the world,

Among my …houghts so many doubtings hurld,

That ev'ry step had rubs. I lev…ll'd some

In my last Canto. Yet, I could not come

To eaven ground, till I had overtopt

Some other Mountaines which my passage stopt.

Beware, said Reason, how thou u…dertake

This hazardous adventure, which to make

Thou hast resolv'd. For, this wise age denies

That God vouchsafed any Prop…sies

Concerning them; or, that the application

Of ought for…told, pertaineth to this Nation.

She saith, my Constancy is no true si…ne

That God first moved this intent of mine▪

Since Hereti…ks, and T…aytors oft are seene

As bold in all their causes to have beene

As Martyrs be. And, that for what they d…e▪

They can pretend t…e holy …p…it too.

p. 243And she pe…s…ades, tis likely I shall passe

(At best) for on… that much deluded was

She saye…, more…ver, that if these times be

Indee…, so wicked, as they seeme to me,

I shall in stead of movin… to repent,

Nought else but stir their fury, and be rent

Perhaps in pieces, by their hasty …age.

For, what's more likely in a wicked age?

When people in their sins grow hardned once,

She sayes I may as well goe talke to s…ones,

As tell them ought. For, they are in the dark;

And, what they see and heare, they do not ma…k.

She urged that the Prophets in old times

Did speak in vaine against the peoples crimes;

And if in them their words bega… no faith,

Much lesse will such as mine, my Re…son saith.

She tells me also, that this Ile hath store

Of Prophets, and of Preachers never more:

She sayes that thou… … calling none suspect,

Their paines appeare to take but small …ffect…:

And, if suc… men authorized as they,

Doe cast their words, without successe, away;

In vaine my Muse (whose wa…rant most contemne)

Doth seeke to work more piety in them.

A t…ousand things unto the like effect,

Yea, all and more then any can object,

(Who shall peru…e this Book) my Reason brought

Before me, and objected to my thou…ht.

And, as a Pilgrim (who occasions hath

To take some extraordinary path)

Arivall making a…a double way,

Is doubtfull whether to proceed or stay:

So fared I; I was nigh tired quite,

Before I could be c…rtaine of the right.

Yea, twixt my doubts, and all those replies

Which in my meditations did ari…e;

I so amazed grew, I could not know

Which way it best befitted me to goe.

But, at the last, God brought me thorow all

My doubts and feares, as through the Storm & Wha…,

Once Ionas came: That so, all they, who are

Ordained for their good, these Lines to heare,

The more may profit, when they think upon

What straits I passed, e're this work was done:

To that intent my frailties I h…ve so

Insisted on, as in this book I do.

Yea, I am hopefull also, they that read

These lines of mine (and mark with how much heed

And Christian awfulnesse, my heart was won

To censure and reprove as I have done)

Will plainly see, these Numbers flow not from

Fantastick rashnesse; nor from envy come▪

Nor spring from faction; neither we …

By their distracted zeale, who (knowing not

What Spirit guides them) often are beguiled

With shewes of truth; and madly have rev…led

Both good and ill: and whose unsavory Rimes

Defames mens persons more then che…k their crimes.

Dishonour Kings; their sacred names blaspheme;

And having gain'd some notions in a dreame,

Or by report (of what they know not well)

Desire their gid…y thoughts abroad to tell:

In hope to merit: as in deed they doe,

Sometime the pillory, and g…llowes too.

I trust, I say, these lines will seeme no such;

Or, if they doe, truth is▪ I …are not mu…h,

Because I certaine am what pow'… infused

Those matters, whereupon I now have muzed:

p. 244And know, that none will these or me condemne,

But they whose rage and follies I contemne.

Yet, that they may be sure I neither care

Who c…nsures me, nor what their censures are,

(When honest things I doe) here, somewhat more

I'le adde to what is me…tioned before:

And give thee, Britaine, a more perfect sight

Of thy distempers, and thy sickly plight.

Yea, thou shalt know, I have not seene alone

A bodily Consumption ste…ling on,

And was…ing of thy Temporalties ▪ but, that

I also have discovere… …f late,

A Lethar…y upon thy soule to steale:

And that as well the Church as Commonweale

Doth need a cure. Oh! doe not quite neglect

The good of both; but▪ one (at least) respect.

Though Iudahs sicknesses unheeded be,

(Although thy t…mporall wounds afflict not thee)

Yet▪ looke on Syon: yea, behold and see

Thy Spiritual…ies▪ how much empair'd they be.

The Churches Pa…mony is decay'd;

And many a one is in her spoiles araid:

Those Patrons (as we terme them in this age)

Who of her Dowries have the patronage,

Doe rob and cheat her, many times of all;

And, their Donations basely set to sale.

Those Cananites, whom thou pres…rvest here,

(And by thy lawes to be expelled were)

Are in thy borders now so multiply'd,

That they are thornes and thistles in thy side.

They are become a Serpent in thy path,

Which bites unseene; and nigh unhorsed hath

Some able Riders. On thy Places-high

Thy people do commit Idolat…y▪

And reare strange Altars. In thy Fields are found

Those cunning harmfull Foxes to abound,

That spoile thy Vines. And, some I have espy'd,

Twixt whose oppo…ed t…les, are f…ebrands …y'd,

Which waste thy fruits. Thy Ha…v…st se…meth fai…e;

But secret blasting… doe so much impai…e

And blite the Corne; that when it come… to bread,

Thy Childr…n oft unwholsomly are fed.

Men use Religion as a stalking-horse

To catch preferment; yea, sometime to wor…e

And baser uses they employ the same;

Like that bold Harlot, who quite, …

Did of her Vowes, and her Peace of…ngs make

A sinne, lascivious customers to take.

Yea, some (resembling him, from whom was cast

One Devill) when one sin they …ave d…splac't▪

Of which the world took notice, sw…ep a…d …l…nse

Themselves (in show) from a…l thei… other si…s;

Yet secretly, let Sathan reposs…sse,

And foul… them with a seve…-fold wi…kedne….

An univ…rsall dulnesse will …enu…

Thy senses, if thou doe not soone become

More heed…ull of thy state, then thou a…t yet:

For, ev'…y pa…t hath …elt an ague-fit.

Thy Academs, which are the famous places

In which all pious knowledges and graces

Shóuld nourisht be▪ and whence thy chiefe supply

Of Teachers, com…, (as f…om a Nurse…y)

Ev'n those faire …ountaines are much tainted grown,

With doctrines hardly found, which thence are blown

Through ev'…y quarter. In their Schooles are heard

Vaine …ggs and jangling…, worthlesse of regard.

The …very Pulpi…s, and their Oratories,

Are Stages, whereupon their owne vainglo…ies

p. 245Men often act. Yea, many a vaine conceit,

Is brought in stead of arguments of weight:

And (which is worse) disorder is so rise

Among them; and the weeds of evill life

Have so o'regrowne those Gardens, that (unlesse

Good government shall speedily redresse

That spreading mischiefe) it will overtop

The plants of Syon, and destroy her crop.

To be thy Shepheards, Wolves are stolen in▪

And, thou hast those who ev'n by day begin

To sow their Tares among thy purest Se…d;

And, with mixt Graines thy Lands pollution breed.

For hire and money▪ prophesies the Prophet:

The Priest do…h preach, to make a living of it,

Ev'n meerly for a living; and, …ut few

Th…ir holy charge, for co…science sake pursue:

W…ich I by many signes could make apparent,

But t…at it is not yet wi…hin my Warrant.

Loq…untur C…rae leves ▪ little Cures

Doe … preach, whilst poverty endures.

Ing…nt…s s…upent; but, large livings make

Our Doctor… dumb: condemne not my mistake:

For, though I doe the Lat…ne sent…nce wrong,

That's true I tell …ou in the Engl…sh …ongue.

Our N…tion, which of l…te prophanenes…e ha…ed,

Is in that sin almost Itali…nated.

The Scriptures without reverence are used:

The ho…y phrase, in jestings▪ is abused:

To flout, or praise, or cu…se, we …an apply

Gods holy word, most irrel…giously:

Instead of Emblem…s, moving thoughts divi…e,

The filthy pictures of lewd Aret…ne,

Are found in many Clossets. Foolishlies,

Prophane and most lasciviou: Ele…es

Are publike made. Yea, those whom heretofore

A heathen Emperour did so abhor,

That he▪ for them, their wanton Author sent

To undergoe perpetuall banishm…nt:

Ev'n these, we reade; and worse then those, by far,

All…wed passe, and unreproved are.

Nay, their vaine Authors often cherisht be:

At l…st, they have the favour to goe free.

But, if a graver Muse reprove thei… sin,

Lord, with what hasty zeale they call it in!

How libellous they make it! and how vile,

Thou know'st; and at th…ir fol…y thou dost smile.

Full war…ly, the politick Divi…e,

(Who should allow it) scanneth ev'ry Line

Before it passe; each phrase he doth su…pect;

Although he findeth nothing to be chekt,

He feares to Licence it And if by chan…e

It passe abroad, forthwith doth ignorance

Mistake or mis…pply; and false and bade

Constructions are, of good expressions made.

Yea, they who on the …ea…s of Iud…emen… fit,

Are o…t, most ready, to miscensure it.

I would they were as fo…ward to disgrace

Those Autho…s, who have filled ev'ry place

With fruitlesse Volumes. For d…spersed are

Ev'n qui…e throughout this Iland ev'ry yeare,

Ev'n many thousand Reames of scurri…e toyes,

Songs, Rymes and …allads, whose vaine use destroyes

Or hinders Vertuous knowledge, and D…votion.

And this we doe to f…ther the promotion

Of our Diana. Yet, behold, if we

To publish some few sheets required be,

Containing pyous Hymns, or Christian Songs,

Or ought which to the praise of God belongs:

p. 246We doe so feare the hindrance of our gaine,

That like th' Ephesian Silver-smiths, we faine

A great complaint. As if to have enlarged

A little Booke, had grievously o're charged

The Common-weal…h. Whereas if it were weigh'd,

How much o… late this Land is overlaid

With …iviall Volumes: …r, how much they doe

Corrupt our Manners, and Religion too,

By that abusive matter they containe;

I should not seeme unjust…y to complain…

These times do swarme with Pamphlets w…ich be far

More dangerou…, then mo…tall poysons are

Ev'n in thos… bookes, whereby the simple thought

To fi…d t…u… knowledg… th…y their Bane have caught:

For, thence, strong Heresies (there b…ing hid

Amid some doub…l…sse Truths, a while unspid)

Steal out among the people, by degrees;

More mis…hi…fe working then each Reader sees.

And, so, to ruine knowledge▪ that is made

An instrum…nt; whereby it rais…ng had

For (by their lucre, who the Chu…ches peace

D…sturb, their p…ivate profit to encre…se)

Tho…e Doctrines which are unauthori…ed,

Are so promiscuously divulg'd, and spread,

Among approved V…rities; that some

Are in those Lab…rinths amaz'd become:

And▪ such a Contradiction is in that

Wh…ch their confused Pamphlets doe relate;

That, Common Readers, know not which to leave,

Nor, which the Church of England doth receive.

And, f…om this mischiefe many others flow,

Which will, in future tim…s, more ha…mfull grow.

This, spins vaine Controversies to their length;

By this, most Heresies receive their strength.

And what distraction it already makes,

Our grieved Mother wofull n…tice take….

In stead of active knowledge, and her fruit▪

This filleth men with itching… of dispute,

And empty words; whereby are set abroach

A thousand quarrells, to the Truths reproach.

The Sectaries, the Mun…ey…s, and the Apes,

The Cubs and Foxes, which do mar o…r Grape…;

The Wolves in sheep-skins, and our frantick rable

Of Worship-mongers, are innumerable.

And, as the Churches quiet they molest,

So they each other spightfully infest.

We have some Papists: some that halfe way goe:

Some Semi-puritans; some▪ w…olly …o;

Some Anabap…ists; some, who doe refu…e

Black puddings; and good porke; like a…rant I…wes:

Some also term'd Arminians are among

Our Priests and People, ve…y lately sprung.

What most, so call'd, professe, I stand not for:

And what some say they teach, I doe abhor▪

…ut, what som… other, so misnam'd, beleeve,

Is that whereto best Christians credit give.

For, as we see the most reformed man,

By Libertines, is term'd … Puritan:

So (by our purblinde Formalists) all those

Who new fantastick crotchets doe oppose,

Begin to be mis-term'd Arminians now.

And, hence e're long will greater mischieves grow

Then most imagine. For, the foolish feare,

Lest they to be Arminians may app…are,

Or else be termed Puritans, will make

Great multitudes Religion quite forsake.

And, I am h…lfe perswaded, thi… will on…

Of those great Schismes (or ea…hquakes) cause which …

p. 247Foretold in his Apocalyps; and they

Are bl…st, who shall not thereby fall away▪

Some Brownists, and some Familists have we;

And some, that no man can tell what they be;

Nor they themselves. Some, seeme so wondrous pur…

They no mens conversations can endure,

Vnlesse they u…e their plaistrings, and appeare

In ev'ry formall garbe which th…y sh…l… w…are▪

The…e be of those who in their words de…y,

And hate t…e practice of Idol…try,

Yet make an Idol of their form…l… z…ale,

And underneath strict holin…ss…, c…nceale

A mystery of evill, whi…h dece…ve… them,

And, when they think all …a…e in danger le…ves th…m▪

Their whole Religion, some d…e pla…e in hea…i…g:

Some, in the ou…w…d action o… fo…b…aring

Ill deeds; or in wel doing ▪ though the heart

In t…at performance beare …o …eall pa…t.

Some othe…s, of th…i… mo…ll action, make

Small conscience: and, affirme that God doth take

No notice how in body they transgresse,

If him they in th…i… inward man conf…sse:

As i… a soule b…loved could reside

Wit… in a body quite unsanctifi…e.

Some, not contented in t…e …ct of sin,

Are growne …o impudent, that they begin

To justifie th…ms…l…es in wickedn…sse;

Or, by quaint …rguments, to make it lesse:

And, by such Monsters, to such ends as this,

The Christian-liberty defamed is.

N…w fanglednesse, Religion hath o'rethrowne;

And, many as fantastica…l are growne

In that as in …pparell. Some, deligh…

In nothing more then to be opposite

To other men: Their zeal they wholly spend

The present Government to reprehend;

The Churches discipline to v…lifie;

And raile, at all, which pleads Antiquitie.

They love not peace: and therefore have suspition

Of Truth it selfe, if out of persecution:

And are so thankleffe, or so heedlesse be

Of Gods great love, in giving such a free

And plenteous meanes of publishing his word,

That, what his Prophets of the Iewes record,

Some verefie in us. Much praise is given

To that b…inde age, wherein the Queene of heav'n

Was worshipt here. And, f…lsly, we …xtoll

Those Dayes, as being much more plenti…ull.

Some, at the frequency of Preach…ng gru…ch,

And, tyred with it, thinke wee have too much:

Nay, impudently practise to suppr…sse

That Exercise, and make our plenty lesse.

And, that their d…ings may not want some …ayre

Or goodly coulor, they doe call for Pray'r,

In stead thereof; as if we could not pray,

Vntill our Preaching we had sent away.

As these are foolishly, or lewdly, wise▪

We have some othe…s wantonly precise.

So way wardly dispos'd, amidst our plenty,

And through their curiositie, so dainty;

That, very many cannot w…ll dig…st

The Bread of life, but in their m…nner drest.

Now will Gods Manna, or that measure serve

Which he provides; But, they cry out they starve,

Vnlesse they feed upon their owne opinions,

(VVhichWhich are like Egypts Ga…licke and her Oynions)

Some like not Prayer that's ext…mporary▪

S…me love not any t…a… s…t fo…me … …ary.

p. 248Some thinke there's no devotion, but in those

That howle, or whine, or snuffle in the no…e;

As I that God vouchsafed all his Graces

For …ined gestures, or for sowre faces.

Some think not that the man, who gravely teacheth,

Or hath a sober gesture when he preacheth,

Or gentle voyce: hath any zeal in him,

And the…efore, such like Preachers they contemne.

Yea, th…y suppose that no mans doctrine saves

The soule of any one, unlesse he raves,

And rores aloud, and flings, and hurleth so

As if his armes he quite away would throw;

Or over-leap the Pulpit; or els breake it:

And this (if their opinion true may make it)

Is to advance their voyces Trumpet-like ▪

A… God commands: yea, this (they say) doth strike

Sinne dead. VVhereas, indeed, God seldome goes

In whi…lwinds: but is in the voyce of those

VVho speake in meeknes. And it is not in

The pow'r of …oyse to shake the walls of sinne:

For clamors, …ntique actions, writhed looke… ▪

And such like mi…micke Rhetoricke none brooke…

That hath discretion: neyther doth it move

The heart of any, when we so reprove;

Ex…ept it be in some contrary motion,

Which interrupts the hearers good devotion.

The well aff…ct…d Christian pit…ies it;

It makes prophanest men … naught to set

God… O…dinance. Mee…e mor…ll men despise

Such affectation: much it ter…ies

The ignorant: but very few srom thence

Rece…ve sound knowledge, or …ive penitence.

Some relish nothi…g, but those points th… are

In controversie: some would nothing heare

But songs of Mercy; some, del…h… i… none

But Sons of Th…nder; and sc…rc… any one

Is pleas'd in what he heares. Nay, of th…i… Preachers,

M…cha…k arroga…e to be their teachers.

Yea most of us, what … our Pastor sayes,

Keepe sti…l …ur owne opinions and our wayes.

To heare and know Gods word, to some among

Our Nation, seemeth only to belong

To Clergymen; and, their implicite Faith

Is built on what the common rumour saith.

Some others fill'd w…th curiosity

Affirme that ev'ry sev'rall mystery

Within Gods Book included, doth concerne

Ev'n each particular Christian man to learne:

Whereas they might as well affirme, each guest

That is invited to a publike Feast,

Is bound the sev'rall dishes there to heed,

And upon ev'ry meat b…fore him feed.

Nay, some have almost this imagination,

That there is hardly hope of their salvation▪

Who speake not Hebrew. And, this now adayes,

Makes foolish women, and young Prentises

To learn… that holy Tongue▪ in which they grow

As cunning as doe those who nothing know,

Save to be arrogant, and to cont…mne

Those Pastors, who have taken charge of them.

The appetite of some growes dull, and …ailes,

Vnlesse it m…y be pampered with Quailes;

High flying crotchets, which we see d… fill

Not halfe so m…ny soul…s as they do kill

We cannot be content to make our flights,

For that which God exposeth to our sights,

And search for that which he is pleas'd to show,

But, we must also p…y, what God doth know.

W…i…h …as inde…d an a…c…ent fallacy

O… Sathans; and the v…y same whereby

He cheated Eve. From seeking to disclose

Beyond our warrant, what God only knowes,

Proceedeth many erro…s. Thence doth come

Most questi…ns that have troubl…d Christendome.

Yea, searching things conceal'd, hath overthrowne

The comfo…table use o… what is knowne.

Hence flow…s their fruitlesse fond asseveration,

Who blundred on Eternall Reprobation,

And many groundlesse whimsies have invented,

Whereby much better muzings are prevented.

Of Reprobation I no doubt have made;

Yet, those vaine quarrellings which we have had,

Concerning her, and her antiquity,

(But that the world hath wise… fooles then I)

Appeares to me to bring so little fruits,

That I suppose i… fitter for disputes

In hell (amo…g the reprobated …rue)

Then for a Church of Christia…s to pursue:

At least to braule about wi… …ch hot rage,

As hath poss… so…e …p…rits of this age.

For, some have u…g…d this p…nt of …e…obation,

As if the chi…e… ground-w…k of salvation

Depended on …e…ving, just, as they

(Deluded by their fancies) please to say.

And, though they n…ver found God… holy wo…d

Did any mention of the same affo…d,

But, as of that which did begin since Time;

And with respect to s…me committed crime:

They, nathelesse, their strengths together gather,

To prove the Child is older then the Fat…er.

And, since that f…tall thr…d, there, finds her spinning,

But from of Old; at fa…thest from B…ginning:

They Reprobation, otherwhile confound

With our Predestination: which is found

No where in all the Scripture▪ to …e…pect

The Reprob…tes, but …nely Gods Elect.

And then they are compeld to p…ove the sense

Of their dar…e Tenet, by an inference;

And to affirme (…rom …eason) that Election

Eternall, doth infer the like …ejection.

(As if an action of Eternity,

Were fit to square out shallow reasons, by)

Which A…gument because it hath not tak…n

True Faith, to ground on, may with ease be shaken▪

Their tottering structure, there…ore, up to keep,

They into Gods fore know…edge boldly peep,

Beyond his warrant; searching for Decrees

And secrets, farther then an Angell sees:

Presuming then, …s if all things they knew,

And had Eternity within their view.

But, that hath such an infinite extension,

Beyond their narr…w-bounded comprehension,

That, th…e they wa…er on, …ill they are madd:

And … lit…le knowledge w…ich they had:

Fo… …spa… they but m… men who maintaine

The g…di…-…cies of their owne weake braine,

For Theses of Religion, which we must

Beleeve as they affi…me t…em, or be thrust

Among the Repr…bates? What lesse, I pray,

Are they then m…d…, who fool… …heir wits away

In wheeling Arguments which have no end?

In …traines which man shall never apprehend?

In seeking what their knowledge do… exceed?

In vaine disputings, which contentions breed.

In strange Chymera's, and fantastick notions,

That neither stirre us up to good devotions,

p. 250Nor mend our manners? But our w…yes pervert,

Distract the Iudgment, or puff up …he heart.

If this I may not …adnes call, or folly,

Tis (all the best) religious-melancholly.

What shal we iudg of those who strive to make

Gods word (who…e Termes and Scope they much mistake

Their proofes for that wh…reof no proofes they are,

And sleight these Truths, for which the text is clear▪

What shall we deeme of these, who quite mistaking

Good Authors, (and their Volumes guilty making

Of what th…y never meant) do preach and write

Against those Bookes, with rancorous despight,

Which being well examin'd, say the same

Which they affirme, and check what they do blame.

Such men there be, and they great noise hauehave made

By fighting furiously with their owne shade.

What may b… thought of them, who likely, ever,

In their perverse opinions to persever,

Take knowledge up on trust: and follow those

Who leade them on, as wild-ge…e fly in …owes?

And when their multitude is waxen great,

Do then so wilfully prejudicate,

Become so confid…nt of that they hold,

And in their blind assurance, so are bold,

That they can brook no tryal…, neither see

Their oversights, how plaine so ere they be?

But fondly think (though we beleeve it not)

That they infall…ilitie h…ve got?

Some pious men; yea, some great Doctor… tread,

Such Loabrinths; and often are misled

By holding that which t…ey at fi…st were taught,

Without due proving all things as they …ught:

And vulgar men are often led awry,

By their examples and for company.

For, as a Trav…ller, that i… to come

From some far Count…y, through large desarts, h…me▪

(Not knowing well the way) is glad to take

His course with such who showes of cunning make,

And walks along, d…pending s…ill on them,

Through many a wood, an… over many a streame,

T…ll he and they are loft: there to remaine

He finds no safety, nor meanes back againe,

Nor list to leave his company; because

He hopes that nearer homeward still he drawes,

And that his guides full sure of passage are,

Although they cannot well describe it, there.

So, when plaine men doe first attempt the way

Of knowledge, by their guides, they walk as…ray,

Without distrust; and when ariv'd they be

Where many troublesome windin…'s, they do see,

And where no certaintie they can b…h…ld,

Yet, on their leaders knowledge they are bold,

O… on their multitude▪ yea, though they know,

And, see them erre, and …u…ne, and stagger so,

(In da…ksome paths) that well suppose they may,

They rove and wander in an unc…uth way;

Yet, still they are unwilling to suspect

The wild me of the Fathers of their Sect.

Yea, though no satisfaction t…ey can find,

Though feare, and doubtings …o affl…ct their mind,

They still impute it rat…er to their owne

Infirmities, or to the depths unknowne

Of those mysterious points, to mention brought;

But never call in question what is taught:

Lest being by those Teachers terrifide,

They might forsaken in d…p…i…e abide.

Their Doctors, also, fail…ng to d…vise

Strong Arguments, their h…arers to suffice;

p. 251This course, to salve their credits, la…e have …ot;

They say (forsooth) Faiths doctrine …eules not

With naturall capac…ies; and that

The Spirit must those men illuminate

Who shall receive them▪ And, indeed in this,

They doe both say the truth, and say amisse:

This is a lesuitish juggling trick,

And, if allow'd it be, each lunatick,

And ev'ry brain-sick Dreamer, by that way,

May foist upon us all that he can say.

For, though Gods holy Spirit must create

New hearts within us, and regenerate

Depraved nature, e're it can be able

To make our outward hearings profitable;

We must not think that all which fancy saith

(In termes obscure) are mysteries of Faith.

Nor make the hearers want of pow'r to reach

Their meanings, to be proofes of what they teach.

There is twixt …en, & that which they are taught,

Som… naturall proportion▪ or tis naught▪

The deepest mystery …f our profession,

Is capable of literall expression,

As well to R…probates, as men elected;

Or else it may of error be suspected

Yea wicked men a power granted have

To understand, although they miscon…eive.

And can of d…kest points make plaine relations,

Though to themselves they faile in applications.

God never yet did bid us take in hand

To publish that which none can understand:

Much lesse affecte…h he a man should mutten

Rude sounds of that▪ whose depth he cannot utter;

Or in uncertaine termes as many doe,

Who preach Non sense, and oft nonentia too.

For those whi…h man to man is bound to show,

Are such plaine Truths, as we by word may know;

Which when the hearer can expresse againe,

The fruit hath equalled the Teachers paine.

Then, though the soule doth many …imes conceive

(By Faith, and by that Word which we receive)

Deep mysteries, and that which farre transcends

A carnall knowledge: though she a…prehends

Some glimmerings of those Objects, that a…e higher

Then humane Reason ever shall a…pire;

Though she hath tastings of th…t blesse…n…s,

Which mortall tongue could never yet expresse;

And though the soule may have some earn…st g…ven

On earth, of what it shall enjoy in heauen;

Though God may when he list (and now and then

For cause not ordinary) to some men

Vouchsafeth (for their secret satisfactions)

A few reflections fr…m eternal… actions:

T…ough this be so, let no man arrog…te

That he such sec…ets can by word relate.

For, they are things▪ of which no voyce can preach;

High flights, to whi…h no mortall wing can reach;

Tis Gods owne worke, such raptures to convay,

To compasse …h…m there is no other w…y,

But by his blessed Spirit. And, of tho…e

Most can we not; some must we not disclose

For, if they onelyonly touch out pri…ate state,

They were not sent, that we should them relate▪

But d…igned that the soule they stren…then might

Amid the perills of some secret fight;

When men to honor God, or fo… their sinn,

The terrors of this life are glun…ed in.

And, as it i… reputed of those things.

Which foolish people thinke some Fairy b…ings.

p. 252So, of Euthusiasmes speak I may;

Discover them, and straight …hey flye away.

For▪ thus they fare who boast of Revelations,

Or of the certainty of their Salvations,

Or any ghostly gift, at times or places,

Which warrant not the mention of such graces:

Yea, by revealing things which they should hide,

They entrance make for over-weening p…ide,

And that quite marres the blessing they possest,

Or, for a while, obscureth it, at best:

And yet, if any man shall climbe so high,

That they attaine unto a Mystery,

Co…ceiv'd by few; they may, if they be able,

Dis…lose it where it may b… profitable,

But, they must know, that (if it be, indeed,

Of such transcendency, as doth exceed

Mee…e naturall reaches) it should be declar'd

To none, save unto those who are prepar'd

For such conceptions; and more apt to know them

By their owne thoughts, then are our words to show them.

Else, all they utter will in clouds appeare,

And, errors men for truths, away will beare.

Would this ha… beene observ'd a little more,

By some who in our Congregations roare

Of Gods unknowne Decrees, Eternall-Callings,

Of Perseverance, and of Finall, Fallings,

And such like Mysteries ▪ Or else, I would

That they their meanings better utter could,

(If well they meant.) For, though those points afford

Much comfort and instruction (as Gods word

Hath mention'd them) and may applyed be,

And opened, when we just occasion see;

Yet, as most handle them, who now adayes

Doe passe for Preachers, with a vulgar praise▪

They profit not: for, this ripe age hath young

And forward wits, who by their fluent tongue,

And able memories, a way have found

To build a house, e're they have laid the ground.

With common places, and with notes purloin'd,

(Not well applyed, and as ill conjoyn'd)

A garb of preaching these have soone attained,

Which hath, with many, approbation gained

Beyond their merit. For, they take in hand

Those mysteries, they neither understand,

Nor studied on. And, they have much distracted

Some hearers, by their doctrines ill compacted:

Yea, by enquiring out what God fore-sees,

And medling much with his unknowne Decree…,

The Churches peace so much disturb'd have they;

So foule and crooked made Faiths plainest way;

Such scandals rais'd; and interrupted so.

By doubts impertinent, what men should do;

And, their endeavors nullifide, so far,

That many of them at a nonplus are.

I am not of their minds, who take from this

And other things, that are perform'd amisse,

O…casion to disparage frequent preaching;

Or, to abate our plentiousnesse of teaching:

For, of our Harvest, Lord, I humbly pray,

The store of Labourers continue may.

And, I could also wish, that none were chose

To be a seed man, till he truly knowes

The Wheat from Tares; and is indu'd with reason,

And grace, to sow in order, and in season.

And that those a…tlesse workmen may be staid,

W…o build before foundations they have laid… ▪

Lest, when our Church well built, suppose we shall,

It sink, and overwhelme us in the fall.

p. 253It pities me to marke what rents appeare

Within our Syon; and what daubings are

To hide the ruines; and I feare the frame

Will totter, if we long neglect the same.

Our Watchme…, for the greater pa…t, are growne

Lesse mindfull of Gods honor, t…en their owne:

For either almost wholly we omit

That worke, or undiscreetly follow it.

Some, speak the truth, without sincere intention,

As they who preach the Gospell for contention.

Some, by their wicked lives do give offence,

And harden men in their impenitence.

As if nor hell nor heav'n they did beleeve,

They riot, game, drink drunk, and whore, and theeve.

For avarice, and envy, none are worse;

They are malicious, and blaspheme, and curse,

As much as any others. None are more

Regardlesse of the soule that's meane and poore;

Among their neighbours, none more quarrelsome,

Or, that more hardly reconcil'd become,

Then many Clergie-men. And as we see

They are the best of mon, when good they be;

So, there are none that wander more astray,

When they have left a sanctified way.

Some Pastors are too hot; and some too cold;

And, very few the golden temper hold.

Some, at the Papist with such madnesse fling,

As if they could not utter any thing

Of them too vile; though ne're so false it were:

And, we so used by their Iesuits are.

Some others at the Puritan do strike,

So furiously, that they are often like

To wrong the Protestants: for, men impose

That name, sometime, upon the best of those.

Yea, they who are prophane, that name mis-lay

On all who make a conscience of their way.

Some Shepheards, on their Flocks are go…g'd at full,

And sumptuously arayed in their wooll.

But, those that are diseas'd, they make not strong;

Their sickliest sheepe they seldome come among;

They take no care, the broken up to bind,

The Sheep that's lost, they doe not seeke to find;

They let such wander as will run ast…ay;

And, many times their fury so doth f…ay

The tender conscience; that their in…iscretion

Doth fright their hearers headlong to perdition.

Gods bounty hath large pastorage provided;

But, they have not his flocks with wisedome guided:

For, in the midst of plenty, some be ready

To starve in ignorance. Some sheep are headdy;

Some get the staggers; some the scab; and they

Infect their fellowes. Some, the wantons play

Among the thornes and bryers, which have torne

The marks and fleeces, which they should have worn.

Some straggle from the flock; and they are straight

Surpriz'd by Wolves, which lye for them in wait.

Some, sought large feeding, and ran…k pastures got,

Which prov'd not wholsome; & they caught the Ro….

For, many preach themselves, and fancies broach,

That scandall preaching, to the Truths reproach.

Yea, some terme that (forsooth) Gods word divine,

Which would halfe shame me, should they terme it mine.

And they we see, that longest pray and speak

Are priz'd of most (though head nor foot they make)

Because the common hearers of this land,

Think best of that, which least they understand.

Some, also, by their feet disturb the Spring…;

Or trample and defile Gods pasturings;

p. 254And they are either such who make obscure

Faiths p…inciples; or, such who…e lives impure

Prophane their Doctrines. Other some have we,

Who (like the beasts that over gamesome be)

Doe push their …eaker brethren with their hornes▪

And hunt them from the flock, by wrongs, or scorne.

Gods horses, also, much neglected are;

And of his Sanctuaries, few have care.

A barne, or any common house, or roome,

Is thought as well Gods worship to become,

As in the Churches infancy; or there,

Where wants, and wars, and persecutions are.

Amidst our peace and plenties, we do grutch

Our Oratories should be trimm'd as much

As are our vulgar dwellings; and repine

That exercises which are most divine,

Should with more Rites, or Ornaments, be done,

Then when the troublous times afforded none.

As if a Garden, when the flow'rs are blowne,

Were still to look as when it first was sowne.

To worship so in spirit, we pretend

That, in our bodie…, we doe scarcely bend

A leg, or move a cap, when there we be,

Where Gods most holy Mysteries we see.

Yea, many seeme so caref…ll to have bin,

To let no Superstition enter in,

That they have, almost, wholly banisht hence,

All Decency, and pious Reverence.

The Church, by Lukewarme-Christians, is neglected

By brutish Athe'sts it is disrespected;

By greedy Worldlings, robbed of her fleeces;

By selfe-will'd Schismaticks, nigh torne in pieces;

By Tyrants, and by Infidels opposed;

By her blind Guides, to hazard oft exposed;

By Hypocrites, injuriously desamed;

And, by the fr…ilties of the best, oft shamed.

A pow'r ecclesiasticall is granted

To them, full often, who those minds have wanted

Becomming such Authority: and they

Play fast and loose, ev'n with the Churches Key.

They censure and absolve, as best shall make

For their advantage; not for consc…ence sake.

As they shall please, they punish or connive;

And, by the peoples follies they do thrive.

Of evill customes, many are we see

Insinuated, and so strict are we

To keep them, that we sottishly deny

To leave them, for what more would edifie:

And we so much do Innovations feare,

That needfull Reformations no…e appeare.

We have prophan…d ev'ry holy thing;

Ev'n out most Christian …asts, which are to bring

God… Mercies to our thou…t; and memorize

Of Saving-Grace, the sacred Mysteri…s:

Some have ev…n those gain-sayed; and, in that

Have evill spoken, of they know not what.

Some others keep them; but, as heathnishly,

As Feasts of Bacchus; and impiety

Is then so rife, that God is rarely nam'd

Or thought upon, except to be blasphem'd.

By these, and other wayes, the …hurch doth lose

Much honor, to the glory of her so…s,

And our great sham… and losse: for, her decayes

Shall be this Realmes disprofit, and dispraise.

God hath a controversie with our La…d;

And, in an evill plight affaires do stand.

Already we doe smart for doing ill;

Yet, us the hand of God afflicteth still,

p. 255And many see not; as many be

So wilfull, that his hand they will not see.

Some, plainly view the same, but nothing care:

Some, at the sight thereof amazed are

Like Balthazar; and have a trembling heart,

Yet, will not from their vanities depart.

About such matters, other some are loth

Their thoughts to busie (meerely out of sloth)

Like him, who rather would in hazard put

His life, then rise from bed the doore to shut.

Some, dreame that all things doe by chance succeed,

And that I prate more of them then I need.

Bu…, Heav… and Earth, to witnesse I invoke,

That, causlesly, I nothing here have spoke.

If this, oh sickly Iland, thou beleeve,

And for thy great infirmity shalt grieve,

And, grieving of thy follies make confessions;

And so confesse thine infinite transgressions,

That thou amend those errors: God shall then

Thy manifold distempers cure agen;

Make all thy skarlet sins as white as snow,

And cast his threatned judgement on thy foe.

But, if thou (fondly thinking thou a…t well)

Shalt sleight this Message, which my Muse doth tell,

And scorne her counsell; If thou shalt not rue

Thy former wayes; but, frowa…dly pursue

Thy wilfull course: then, harke what I am bold,

(In spight of all thy madnesse) to unfold.

For, I will tell thy Fortune; which, when they

That are unborne, shall read, another day;

They will beleeve Gods mercy did in…se

Thy Poets brest with a prophetick Muse.

And know, that he this Author did prefer,

To be from him, this Iles REMEMBRANC…R.

If thou, I say, oh Britaine! shalt retaine

Thy crying sinnes, thou dost presume in vaine,

Of Gods protection. If thou stop thine eare,

Or burne this Rowle, in which recorded are

Thy just Inditements; it shall written be

With new additions, deeply stampt on thee

With such Characters, that no time shall race

Their fatall image, from thy scarred face.

Though haughtily thou dost thy selfe dispos…,

Becau…e the Sea thy borders doth enclose.

Although upon the Rocks thy neast is plac'd;

Though thou among the Stars thy dwelling hast;

Though thou encrease thy ships; and unto that

Which is thine owne, with King Iehosophat,

Ioyne Ahabs forces. Though thou watch and ward,

And all thy Ports and Havens strongly guard;

Although thou multiply thy inland forces,

And muster up large troups of men and horses▪

Though like an Eagle, thou thy wings display'st,

And (high thy selfe advancing) p…oudly say'st;

I sit aloft, and am so high, that none

Can …etch me from the place I rest upon.

Yea, though thou no advantages didst want,

Of which the glorioust Emperies did vaunt;

Yet, sure, thou shalt be humbled and brought low;

Ev'n then, perhaps, when least thou fear'st it so.

Till thou repent, provisions which are made

For thy defence, or others to invade,

Shall be in vaine; and still, the greater cost

Thou shalt bestow, the honor that is lost

Shall be the greater; and thy wasted strength,

Be sick of a Consumption, at the length.

Thy Treaties, which for peace or profit be,

Shall neither peace, nor profit, bring to thee.

p. 256Or, if thy Counsels prosper for a while,

God will permit it, onelyonly to beguile

Thy foolishnesse; and tempt thee on, to run

Some courses, that will bring his Iudgement on.

Yea, all thy winnings shall but fewell be,

To feed those follies that now spring in thee;

And make (with vengeance) those the more enrag'…

Who shall for thy correction be engag'd.

What ever threatned in Gods Book ha…h bin,

Against a wicked people for their sin,

Shall come on thee: His hand shall be for ill,

On ev'ry Mountaine, and high-raised Hill.

Thy lofty Cedars, and thy sturdy Oake…,

Shall feele the fury of his thunder-stroakes.

VponUpon thy Ships, thy Havens, and thy Ports,

VponUpon thy Armes, thy Armies, and thy Forts,

VponUpon thy pleasures and commodities,

Thy Crafts mechanick, and thy Merchandize;

On all the fruits, and cattell in thy fields,

On what the Ayre, or what the Water yeelds,

On Prince, and People; on both weak, and strong▪

On Priest, and Prophet; on both old, and yong;

Yea, on ea…h person, place, and ev'ry thing,

The plague it hath deserved God shall bring.

What ever thou dost hope, he frustrate shall;

And, make what e're thou fearest, on thee fall.

This pleasant soyle, wherein such plenty growes,

And where both milke and honey overflowes,

Shall for thy peoples wickednesse be made

A Land as barren, as what never had

Such plenties in it. God shall drive away

Thy pleasant Fowles, and all those Fish that play

Within thy waters; and for whose great store

Some other Nations would have prais'd him more.

Those Rivers, that have made thy Vallies rich,

Sh…ll be like sh…ames of ever-bu…ning Pitch.

Thy dust, …s Br…mstone; fields as hard and dry

As i…on is; the Fi…mament, on high,

(…ke b…ass…) shall yeeld thee neither raine nor dew,

The …ope of wasted blessings to renew.

A leann…ss…, shall thy fatnesse quite devoure;

Thy Wheat shall in the place of wholsome flowre,

Yeeld nought but bran. In stead of grasse and corne,

Thou shalt in times of harvest, reap the thorne,

The thistle, and the b…yar. Of their shadowes

Thy Gr…ves shall robbed be. Thy flowry Medowe…

Shall sterile waxe. There shall be seldome seene

Sheep on thy Downes; or Shepherds on the greene.

Thy walks, thy gardens, and each pleasant plot,

Shall be as those where men inhabit not.

Thy Villages, where goodly dwellings are,

Shall stand as if they unfr…quented were.

Thy C…ies, and thy Palaces, wherein

Most neatnesse and magnificence hath bin,

Shall heaps of rubbish be; and (as in those

Demolisht Abbies, wherein Dawes, and Crowes,

Now make their nests) the bramble, and the nettle,

Shall in their halls, and parlou…s, root, and set…le.

Thy Princes houses, and thy wealthy Ports,

Now fill'd with men of all degrees and sorts,

Shall no inhabitants in them retaine,

But some p…ore Fisherman, or country Swaine,

Who of thy glories, when the marks they see,

Shall wonder wha… those mighty ruines be;

As now they doe, who old foundations find,

Of Townes and Cities, perisht out o… mind.

The places where much people meetings had,

…hall vermine holes, and dens for beasts be made.

Or wal…s for Sprights, who from those uncouth room…

Shall fright the passenger, which that way comes.

In stead of mirth and l…ughter, lamentation

Shall there abide: and, loathsome desolation,

In stead of company. Where once was heard

Sweet melody, men shall be made afeard

With hideous cries, and howlings of despaire.

Thy very Climate, and thy temp'rate ayre,

Shall lose their wholsomnesse, for thy offences;

And breed hot Fevers, Murraines, Pestilences,

And all diseases. They that now are trained

In ease, and with soft pleasures entertained;

In stead o… idle games, and wanton dances,

Shall practise how to handle guns, and launces:

And be compell'd to leave their friends embraces,

To end their lives in divers uncouth places;

Or else, thy face, with their owne blood defile▪

In hope to keep themselves, and thee, from spoile.

Thy beautious Women (whose great pride is more

Then theirs, whom Esay blamed heretofore)

In stead of paintings, and of costly sents,

Of glittering gems, and pretious ornaments,

Shall weare deformity about their faces;

And, being rob'd of all their tempting graces,

Feele wants, diseases, and all such like things,

Which to a wanton Lover lothing brings.

Thy God, shall for thy overflowing vices,

Scourge thee with Scorpions, Serpents, Cockatrices,

And other such; whose tailes with stings are armed,

That neither can be plucked forth, nor charmed.

Thou shalt not be suffiz'd when thou art fed;

Nor shalt thou suffer scarcity of bread

And temp'rall food alone; but, of that meat,

Whereof the faithfull soule desires to eate.

That curse of ravenous beasts, which God hath said,

VponUpon a wicked kingdome shall be la…d,

He will inflict on thee. For, though there be

No Tygers Lyons, Wolves, or Beares in thee,

By beastly minded men (that shall be farre

More c…uell then those bloody spoilers are)

Thou shalt be torne: For, each man shall assay

His fellow to devoure as lawfull prey.

In stead of Lyons, Tyrants thou shalt breed,

Who nor of Conscience, nor of Law take heed;

But, on the weak mans portion lay their paw,

And, make their Ple…sures, to become their Law.

In stead of Tigers, men of no compassion,

A furious, and a wilfull generation,

Shall fill thy borders. Theeves, and outlawes vile,

Shall hunt the wayes, and haunt the woods for spoile▪

As Beares, and Wolves. A subtile cheating crew

(That will with tricks and cousnages pursue

The simpler sort) shall here encrease their breed▪

And, in their subtleties the Fox exceed.

That hoggish herd, which alwayes rooting are

Within the ground, and never upward reare

Their grunting snouts; nor fix their eyes on heav'n▪

To look from whence their daily food is giv'n:

Those filthy swinish livers, who desire

To feed on draffe, and wallow in the mire;

Those, who affect ranke pudles, more then springs;

To trample and despise most precious things;

The holy to prophane; Gods herbs of grace

To nouzle up; his Vineyard to deface;

And such like harmes to doe: these spoile thy fields,

Marre worse, then those wilde Bores the desart yeelds.

If thou remaine impenitent, thou art

Like Egypt; and, so stony is thy heart.

p. 258For w…ich obduratenesse, those plagves will all

Descend on th…e, wh…ch did on Egypt fall

Blood, Frog…, and Lice, great swarms of uncou…h Flies,

Th'infectious M…rraine, whereof Cat…le dyes;

Boiles, Scab…, and Bl…ine; fierce H…il, & Thunder-storm… ;

The …ocust, and all fruit devouring Wormes.

Grosse Darknesse, and the Death or those that be

Thy Darlings; all those Plagues shall fall on thee,

According as the Letter doth imply,

Or, as in mystick sense th…y signifie.

Thy purest Rivers God shal… …u…ne to blood;

With ev'ry Lake, that hath beene swe…t and good.

Ev'n in thy nostrils he shall make it stinke▪

For, nothing shall thy people eate or drinke▪

Vntill their owne, or others blood it cost;

Or, put their lives in hazard to be lost.

Most loathsome Frogs; that is, a race impure▪

Of base condition, and of birth obscure.

(Ev'n in unwholsome fens, and ditches, bred)

Shall with a clownish rudenesse over-spread

Thy pleasant'st fields; thy fairest roomes possesse;

And make unwholsome (by their sluttishnesse)

Thy kneading troughs, thy ovens, and that meat,

Whereof thy people, and thy Princes eat.

This hatefull brood, shall climbe to croak and sing,

Within the lodging chambers of the King.

Yea, there make practice of those naturall notes,

Which issue from their evill-sounding throats:

To wit, vaine brags, revilings, ribaldries,

Vile slanders, and unchristian blasphemies.

The Land shall breed a nasty Generation,

Vnworthy either of the reputation

Or name of men. For, they as Lice shall feed

Ev'n on the body whence they did proceed;

Till poverty, and sloven…y, and sloth,

Have quite disgrac'd them, and consum'd them, both▪

There shall, moreover, swarmes of divers Flies,

Engendred be in thy prosperities,

To be a plague: the Flesh flye shall corrupt

Thy savory meats; Musketoes inte…rupt

The weary traveller; thou shalt have Drones,

Dor…s, Hornets, Wasps, and such l…ke angry-ones,

Who represent that sw…rme whose buzzing tongues

(Like stings) are used in their neighbours wrongs▪

And, still are flying, and still humm…ng so,

As if they meant some weighty wo…ks to do,

When as, upon the common stock they spend;

And nought performe of that which they p…etend.

Thy Butter-flies shall plague thee too; ev'n those,

Who waste their Lands and Rents, in gawdy clothe…,

Or idle flutterings; and then spawne their seed,

VponUpon thy goodly'st flow'rs, and he…bs to feed.

As Beasts destroyed by the Murraine be,

So, they that are of beastly life in thee,

By lewd example shall infect each other;

And in their foule diseases …ot toge…her.

On all thy people, of what so…t soe're,

Shall scabs, and biles, and running sores appeare,

The fruits of their corruption. Yea, wi…h paines

(Within their conscience, and with scars and blaines

Of outward infamy) …hey shall be grieved;

And, in their to…tures perish, unreli…ved.

Tempestuous stormes, upon this Ile shall fall,

Hot Thunder-bolts, and Haile-stones therewi…hall;

Men▪ either too too ho…, or too too cold;

Or else lukewarme. But, few or none sha…l hold

A rightfull temper: and, these meteors will

Thy borders with a thousand mischieves fill.

p. 259The Locust also and the Palmer wro…es,

Shall prey on what escapeth f…om the Stormes:

Not they alone, which on the grass… do breed;

Bu…, also, they who fro… the …it proceed

Which hath no bottome: and, when any thing

Doth by the dew of heav'n begin to spring,

They shall devoure the same, till they have left thee,

Nor leafe nor blossome; but, of all bereft thee.

Then, shall a darknesse follow, far more black,

Then when the light corporeall thou dost lack.

For, grossest Ignorance, o'reshadowing all,

Shall in so thick a darknesse thee inthrall,

That, thou a blockish people shalt be made,

S…ill wandring o… in a d…ceiving shade;

Mistrusting those that saf…st paths are showing;

Most trusting them, who counsell thy undoing;

And aye …ormented be with doub…s and feares,

As one that o…tcries, in darke places heares.

Nor shall the hand of God from thee returne,

Till he hath also smo…e thine eldest-b…rne.

That is, till he hath taken from thee qu…te,

Ev'n that whereon thou se…t thy whole delight;

And filled ev'ry house throughout this Nation,

With deaths unlooked for, and lamentation.

So great shall be thy ruine, and thy shame,

That when the neighb'ring kingdomes hear the same

Their eares shall tin…le. And when that day comes,

In which thy follies must re…eive their doom…s;

A day of clouds, a day of gloomin…sse,

A day of black despaire, and heavinesse,

It will appeare. And, then thy vanitie…,

Thy gold, thy silver, thy confederacies,

And all those reeds on which thou hast depended;

Will faile thy trust, and leave thee unbefriended.

Thy King, thy Priest, & Prophets, then shal mourn;

And, peradventure, f…inedly …e…u…ne

To beg of God to succou… them: but, they

Who will not ha…k… … …his voice to day,

Shall c…y unh…ede…: and he will despise

Their v…wes, thei… prayers, and their sacrifice:

A sea of troubles, all thy hopes shall swallow:

As waves o… wav…s, so plague on plague shall follow:

And, ev'…y thing that was a blessing to thee,

Shall turne to be a curse, and helpe undo thee.

Thy Sov'raignes have to th…e thy Fathers bin;

By meanes of them hath peace been… k…pt within

Thy sea-gi…t limits: they, thy weale befriended,

The blessed Faith they stoutly h…ve defended:

And, thou hast cause of goodly hopes in him,

Who hath, of late, put on thy Diadem.

But know, that (till thou shalt repent) no part

Belongs to thee of what is his desert.

His princely vertues, to his owne availe,

Shall profit much: but, they to thee shall faile.

To thee his clemency shall seeme severe,

His favours all, shall injuries appeare;

And when thy sin is fully …ipe in thee,

Thy Prince and People, then, alike shall be.

Thou shalt have Babes to be thy Kings; or worse▪

Those Tyrants who by cruelty and force

Shall take away thy ancient freedomes quite,

From all their Subjects; yea▪ themselves deligh…

In their vexations: and, all those that are

Made slaves thereby, shall murmur, yet not dare

To stir against them. By degrees, they shall

Deprive thee of thy patrimonies all;

Compell thee (as in other Lands, this day)

For thin… owne meat, and thine owne drink to pay.

p. 260And, at the last, begin to exercise

VponUpon thy sonnes, all heathnish tyrannies,

As just Prerogatives. To these intents,

Thy Nobles shall become their instruments.

For, they who had their bi…th from noble races,

Shall (some and some) be brought into disgraces:

From offices they shall excluded stand:

And all their vertuous off-spring, from the Land,

Shall quite be worne: in stead of whom shall rise

A brood advanced by impieties,

By flattery, by purchase, and by that

Which ev'ry truly-noble one doth hate.

From stems obscure, and out of meane professions▪

They shall ascend and mount by their ambitions,

To seats of Iustice; and those Names to beare,

Which honor'd most within these Kingdomes are▪

And being thither got, shall make more strong

Their new-built Greatnesse, by encreasing wrong:

To those, will some of these themselves unite,

Who by their births to Lordly Stiles have right;

But, viciously confuming their estate,

Did from their fathers worths degenerate.

By this Confederacy, their nobler bloods

Shall countenance the others ill got goods;

The others wealth againe, shall keep from scorne

Their beggery, who have beene nobly borne:

And, both together, being else unable,

(In their ill course to make their standing stable)

Shall seek how they more great, and strong, may grow

By compassing the publike over-throw.

They shall abuse thy Kings, with tales, and lyes;

With seeming love, and servile flatteries.

They shall perswade them they have pow'r to make

Their Wils, their Law ▪ and as they please to take

Their peoples goods, their children, and their lives,

Ev'n by their just and due Prerogatives.

When thus much they have made them to beleeve,

Then, they shall teach them practices to grieve

Their subjects by; and, instruments become

To helpe the screwing up, by some and some,

Of Monarchies …o Tyrannies. They shall

Abuse Religion, Honesty, and all,

To compasse their designes. They shall devise

Strange projects; and with impudence, and lyes,

Proceed in setling them. They shall forget

Those reverent usages, which do befit

The majesty of State; and raile, and storme,

When they pretend disorders to reforme.

In their high Counsels, and where men should have

Kind admonitions, and reprovings grave,

When they offend; they shall be threatned there,

Or scoft, or taunted, though no cause appeare.

It is unseemly for a Iudge to sit

And exercise a jibing Schoole-boyes wit

VponUpon their trades, or names, who stand before

Their judgement se…ts: but, who doth not abhor

To heare it, when a Magistrate objects,

Birth, poverty, or personall defects

In an upbraiding wise? Or, who with me

Derides it not, when in out Courts we see

Those men, whose bodies are both old and weake,

(Forgetting gr…ve and usefull things to speake)

Vent Giant… words▪ and bristle up, as tho

Their very breath could armies overthrow▪

Whereas (poore we…klings) were there in their place…

No more authority, then in their faces,

Their persons, or their language, all their chasing▪

And threatning, nothi… would effect but laughing.

p. 261For, unto me big looks, and crying hoh,

As dreadfull seemes, as when a child cryes boh

To fright his Nurse: yea, such a bug beare fashion

Effecteth nought but scornfull indignation.

But in those times (which neare… are then some

Suppose perhaps) such Rhetorick will come

To be in use; and arguments of Reason,

And just proceedings, will be out of season.

Their wisdome shall be folly; and, goe nigh

To bring contempt on their Authority.

Their Counsell-Table shall a snare be made,

And those 'gainst whom they no just matter had▪

At first appearance, shall be urg'd to say

Some word or other, e're they part away,

Which will betray their innocence to blame,

And bring upon them detriment and shame:

Yea, many times (as David hath of old,

Concerning such oppressors, well foretold)

To humble crouchings, and to fained showes,

Descend they shall, to worke mens ove…throwes▪

And, what their subtlety doth faile to gaine▪

They shall by rigour, and by force obtaine.

What ever from thy people they can teare,

Or borrow, they shall keep, as if it were

A prize which had beene taken from the Foe:

And, th…y shall make no conscience what they do

To prejud…ce Posterity. For, they

To gaine their lust, but for the present day,

Shall with such love unto themselves endeavor,

That (though they knew it would undoe for ever

Their owne posterity) it shall not make

Those Mo…ters any better course to take.

Nay, God shall give them up for their offences,

To such uncom…ly reprobated senses:

And, blinde them so, that (when the a…e they see

Ev'n hewing at the root of their owne tree,

By their owne handy strokes) they shall not griev…

For their approaching fall: no, nor beleeve

Their fall approacheth; nor assume that heed

Which might prevent it, till they fall indeed.

Thy Princes, Brittain, in those dayes, will b…

Like roaring Lyons, making prey of thee.

God shall deliv…r thee into their hand,

And they shall act their pleasure in the Land▪

As once his Prophet threatned to that Nation▪

Which doth exemplifie thy Desolation.

Thy Kings (as thou hast wallowed in excesse)

Shall take delight in drinke, and wantonnesse.

And, those whom thou dost call thy Noble-o…es

Shall to the very marrow, gnaw thy bones.

Thy Lawyers wilfully shall wrest thy Lawes ▪

And (to the ruine of the common Cause)

Shall mis-interpret them, in hop… of grace

From those, who may dispoile them of their place▪

Yea, that whereto they are obliged, both

By Conscience, by their Calling, and their Oat…

To put in execution; they shall feare,

And, leave them helplesse, who oppressed are.

Thy Prelats in the spoyle of thee shall share;

Thy Priests, as light shall be, as those that are

The meanest persons. All their Prophecies▪

Or preachings, shall be heresies and lyes.

The word of truth in them shall not remaine,

Their lips no wholsome knowledge shall retaine▪

And all his outward meanes of saving Grace,

Thy God shall cary to another place.

Mark well oh Brittain! what I now shall say,

And doe not sleightly passe these words away;

p. 262But, be assured that when God beginnes,

To bring that vengeance on thee, for thy sinnes,

Which hazzard will thy totall overthrow,

Thy Prophets, and thy Priests shall sliely sow

The seeds of t…at dissention, and sedition,

Which Time will …ipen for thy sad perdition.

Ev'n they, who forme…ly, were of thy peace

The happy instruments, shall then increase

Thy troubles most. And▪ …v'n as when the Iewes

Gods truth-presaging Prophets did abuse,

He suffred those who preached in hi… Name,

Such falshoods as the chiefest cause became

Of their destruction: so if thou go on

To make a scorne (as thou hast o…ten done)

Of them who seeke thy wel are, hee will send

False prophets, that shall bring thee to thine end,

By saying all things thou wouldst have them say:

And lulling thee asleep in thine owne way.

If any brain-sick Fellow, whom the Devill

Seduceth to inflict on thee some evill,

Shall coyne false Doctrines, or perswade thee to

Some foolish course that will, at length, undoe

The Common-weal: his counsell thou shalt follow;

Then, cover'd with his bait, a hooke shalt swallow

To rend thine entrailes: and thine ignorance

Shall, also for that mischiefe, him advance.

But if that any lover of thy weale,

Inspir'd with truth, and with an honest zeale,

Shall tell thee ought pertaining to thy good,

His Messag…s shall stiffly be withstood:

That Seer shall be charged not to see;

His word shall sleighted as a po…sherd be;

His life shall …e traduced, to disgrace

His Counsell…; or, his errant to debase:

In stead of recompence, he shall be sure,

Imprisonments, or threatnings to procure▪

And, peradventure (as those Prophets were,

Who did among the Iew…sh Peers declare

Their States en…r…ities) h…s good intention

May be so wrong…d, th…t he, by some invention,

May lose his li…e, wit… publ…ke shame and hate,

As one that i… a trouble… o… …he State.

But, not unl…sse …he …riest thereto consent:

For in tho…e …aye… shall …w men innocent

Be g…iev'd (t…r…h any qu…ter of the Land)

In which thy C…e…g…e …hall not have some hand.

If ever in thy …, (as God …orbid)

The blood of t…in… owne children shall be shed

By civill discord, they sha…l blow the flame,

That will become thy ruine, and thy shame.

And thus it shall be kindled. When the times,

Are nigh at worst▪ and thy encreasing crimes

Almost compleat; the Devill shall begin

To bring strange crotchets, and opinions in

Among thy Teachers; which will breed disunion▪

And interrupt the visible communion

Of thy establisht Church And, in the steed

Of zealous Pastors, (who Gods flock did feed)

There shall arise within thee, by degrees,

A Clergy, …hat shall more desire to fleece,

Then feed the flock. A Clergy it shall be,

Divided in it selfe: and they shall thee

Divide among them, into sev'rall factions,

Which rend thee will, and fill thee with distractions▪

They all in outward seeming shall pretend

Gods glory, and to have one pious end:

But, under colour of sincere devotion,

Their study shall be temporall promotion▪

p. 263Which will among themselves strange quarrels make

Wherein thy other Children shall partake.

As to the Persons, or the Cause, they stand

Affected, even quite throughout the Land.

One part of these will for preferment strive,

By lifting up the King's prerogative

Above it selfe. They shall perswade him to

Much more then Law or Conscience bids him do▪

And say, God warrants it. His holy Lawes

They shall pervert, to justifie their cause;

And, impudently wrest, to prove their ends,

What God, to better purposes, intends.

They shall not blush to say, that ev'ry King ▪

May doe like Solomon, in ev'ry …hing,

As if they had his warrant: and shall dare

Ascrib… to Monarchs, rights that proper are

To none but Christ; and mixe their flatteries,

With no lesse grosse and wicked blasphemies,

Then Heathens did: yea, make their Kings beleeve,

That whomsoever they oppresse or grieve,

It is no wrong; nor fit for men oppressed,

To seeke by their owne Lawes to be red…essed.

Such counsell shall thy Princes then provoke,

To cast upon thee Rehoboams yoake.

And, they not caring, or not taking heed

How ill that ill-advised King did speed,

Shall m…ltiply thy causes of distraction.

For, then, will of thy Priests, the other faction

Bestir themselves. They will in outward showes,

Those whom I last have mentioned, oppose.

But, in thy ruine▪ they will both agree,

As in one Center, though far oft they b…

In their Diameter. With lowly zeale,

An envious▪ pride they s…ily shall conceale▪

And, as the former to thy Kings will teach

Meere Tyranny: so shall these other preach

Rebellion to the People▪ and shall straine

The word of God, Sedition to maintaine.

They shall not feare to say, that if thy King

Become a Tyrant, thou maist also fling

Obedience off; or f…om his Crowne divorce him▪

Or, by the ter…or of drawne swords enforce him.

Which false Divinitie, shall to the Devill

Send many soules and bring on thee much evill.

Oh! be thou therefore watchfull; and when e're

These Lambs with Dragons voyces doe appea…e,

Repent thy sinne, or t…ke it for a token,

That some great Bulwark… of thy peace is broken,

Which must be …oone repair'd or els, all

The greatnes o… thy glory, downe will fall.

Take heed of those false prop…ets, w…o will strive

Betwixt thy Prince and People to cont…ive

A disagreement. And, what euer come,

Thy due Allegeance never sta…t thou from.

For (their oppressions though we may withstand

By pleading Lawes, or Customes) not a hand

Must move against them, save the hand of God▪

Who makes a King, a Bulwark, or a Rod,

As pleaseth him. Oh! take ye therefore heed

Yee People, and yee Kings (that shall succeed)

Of these Impostors. Of the last beware

Yee Subjects: for, their Doctrines hellish are.

And though they promise Liberty and peace,

Your Thraldome, and your Troubles they'll increase.

Shun oh! yee Kings the first; for, they advise

What will your Crownes and honors prejudice.

When you doe thinke their Prophecies befriend you,

They doe but unto Ramoth-Gilead send you,

p. 266Where you shall perish; and poore Micahs word,

Though lesse esteem'd more safety will afford▪

They will abuse your piety, and all

Your vertues. To their wicked ends they shall

Apply the Sacred Story; or what ever

May seeme to further their unjust endevor.

Ev'n what the son of Hann…h told the Iewes,

Should be their scourge (because they did refuse

The sov'raignty of God, and were so vaine

To aske a King which over th…m might raigne

A… heathen Princes did) that curse they shall

Affirme to be a Law Monarchiall

Which God himselfe established to stand

Throu…hout all ages, and in ev'ry land.

Which is as good Divinity, as they

Have also taught, who doe not blush to say

That Kings may have both Wives and Concubines;

And, by that Rule whereby these great Divines

Shall prove their Tene…, I dare undertake

(If …ound it hold) that I like proofe will m…k…

Of any Iewish Custome, and devise

Authority for all absurdities.

But, false it is. For, might all Kings …t pleasure

(As by the right of royaltie) make ceasure

Of …ny mans possessions: why I pray

Did Ahab grieve, that Naboth said him nay?

Why made …e not this answer thereunto,

(If what the Proph…t said some Kings would do,

We…e justly to …e done) Thy Vineyard's mine;

And, at my pleasure, Naboth, all that's thine

Assume I may. Why, like a Turky-chick,

Did he so foolishly …row sullen sick,

And get poss…ssion by a wicked fact

Of what might have beene his by royall act?

Thus God is pleas'd, to humble and to raise:

Thus, he by sev'rall names, and sev'rall wayes,

The world doth govern. Yea, thus, ev'n in one nation,

And in one State, he makes much alteration

In formes of Governme…t; oft changing that

Which is but acc…dentall to a State.

And, such his Iustice, and his Wisdome is,

That he preserveth by the meanes of this,

Those things which doe essentially pertaine

To that great Power, which over all doth raigne.

Nor is he pleased thu… it should be done

In States that meerely civill are alone▪

But, also, in the Churches governments,

Allowes the change of outward accidents.

Yea, they to whom he gives the oversights

Of some particular Church, may change old Rites,

The Customes, Formes, or Titles, as occasions

Are off…ed them; or, as the Times, or Nations,

Require a change: provided so, that they

Take nothing which essentiall is, away;

Nor adde what shall repugne or prejudice

Gods Lawes, his Kin…dome, or the Liberties

Of them that ar… his people. For, in what

Hath any Church a pow…r, if not in tha…

Which is indifferent? Or, in what I pray

Will men the C…urch authority obey,

If not in such like things? O…, who should be

The Iudge what is indifferent, if not she?

A private Spirit knowes what be…t agrees

With his owne fancy; but the Church best se…

What fit… t…e Congregation. From what gives

Offence to one▪ anothe… man receives

Much comfort: and, his conscienc… edifies,

By disciplines, which many doe despise▪

p. 268A Parish is a little Diocesse;

And, as of Cities, Townes, and Villages,

A B…shoprick consists: so, that doth rise

By …ythings, Hamlets, and by Families.

And lit…le diffrence would be in the same,

(Excepting in the la…genesse and the name)

I… their opinions were allow'd of all,

Who savour not the stile Epis…opall:

Fo…, ev'ry Priest would then usurp the same

Aut…ority, wher…of o… some hate the name.

Yea, many a one would then his Parish make

A little Popedome, and upon him take

(Con…ide…ing his mean… pow'r) as much as h…

That V…ive…s…ll Bishop claimes to be:

And, prove more p…oud, and troublesome, then they

Against whose Lordlinesse they now inveigh.

This therefore is my Rule; that Government

(What e're it be) in which to me God …ent

My birth and breeding; that, untill my end,

I will obey, and to my pow'r d…fend.

Yea, though it tyrannize, I will denay

No more obedience, then by Law I may:

Ev'n by those Lawes and Customes which do stand

In force, and unrepealed in that Land.

What right another had, e're I was borne,

Or how, or for what sinne, Gods hand hath torne

His Kingdome from him, I will never care;

Let them go answer that who Subjects were,

(When lost it was) and had that meanes, and calling,

And yeares, which might prevented have his falling.

Or should another Country take me home

As one of hers; when thither I did come

I would nor seek, nor wish to innovate

The Titles, or the Custome… of that State,

To what some other Countries better thought:

But, leave such things to those to whom I ought.

And, there, if any Faction shall constraine

That I one pa…t must take, I will maintaine

What bore the Sov'raignty when I came thither;

And, I and that will stand and fall together.

The same obedience, also, keep I shall.

To governments Ecclesiasticall

Where e're I come; if nothing they command

Which doth Gods word, ess…ntially, withstand:

Or, indirectly, or directly, thwart

His glory, or the purity pervert

Of Ch…istian Principles; nor further strife,

Nor c…use, nor countenance an evill life.

The Hye…archy, here, I will obey,

And reverence, while I in England stay.

In Sco…land if I liv'd, I would deny

No due respect to their Presbyterie.

G…neva should I visit, I would there

… my selfe to what their customes were.

Yea, wheresoe'…e I am, I will suppose

The Spirit in that Church much better knowe…

What best that place befitteth, then I do:

And, I will live conformed thereunto,

In ev'ry thing that's me…rly politick,

And injures not the Doctrines Catholick.

To ev'ry temp'rall pow'r I'le be the same,

By whatsoever cognizance, or name,

M…n please to call it. If I should be sent

To Poland, where a mixed government

Establisht is; I would not t…ll them, there,

That any other Custome better were.

Were I in Switzerland, I would maintaine

…mocrity; and, think to make it plaine,

p. 267That for these Times, those Can…ons, and that Nation.

There could not be a better Domination.

In Venice, far before a Monarchy

I would p…efer an Aristocratie.

In Spái…e, and France, and in Great Britaine here,

I hold no Governments more perfect are

Then Monarchies. And, if Gods will should be,

Bene…th a Tyrant to envassaile me,

I would p…rswade my selfe, that heavy yoake

Were best, for some respects; and, to the stroke

Ev'n of an i…on Mace would subject be,

In body ▪ with a minde that should be free

From his inforcement, (…f he did withstand,

Or bid me what Gods Law doth countermand.)

There is, I know, a middle-way that lyes

Ev'n just betwixt the two extremities,

Which to sedition, and to faction tend.

To find which tract, my whole desire I bend;

And wish it follow'd more. For, if we tread

That harm…sse path, we cannot be mis-led;

Nor sham'd, though blam'd we be. To ev'ry man

I faine wou…d give his due; and all I can

I doe endeavor it. I would not wrong

My Country; neither take what doth belong

To Cesar: nor infringe, or prejudice,

The Vniversall Churches liberties;

Nor for her outward Discipline prefer

Or censure, any Church particular;

Or any State, but as befit it may,

His Muse, which nought but needfull truths doth say.

Nor have I any purpose to withdraw

Obedience, or respect from any Law

That's positive; or, to dishearten from

Those Customes, which a Christian state become.

If such Divinity, as this were true,

The Queen… should not have needed to pursue

Poore Naboth, as she did; or, so contrive

His death; since by the Kings Prerogative,

She might have got his Vineyard. Nor would God

Have scourg'd that murther with so keene a rod,

O… Ahab, had he asked but his due.

For, he did neither plot, nor yet pursue

The murther; nor (for ought that we can tell)

Had knowledge of the deed of Iezabel.

Till God reveal'd it by the Prophet to him.

Nor is it said, that Naboth wrong did do him,

Or disrespect; in that he did not yeeld,

…o sell, or give, or to exchange his Field.

The Iewish Commonwealth did so instate,

That, their possessions none could alienate,

But for a time; who ever, for his mony,

Or in exchange, desir'd their patrimony.

And▪ doubtlesse, we offend, who at this day

Those Freedomes give, or lose, or sell away,

Which were in common right possest of old,

By our Forefathers; and, continue should

To all their after-commers. For, altho

We may dispose of what pertaines unto

Our persons: yet, those dues which former ages

Have left unto us for our heritages,

(And whereunto, the child that borne must be,

Hath ev'ry whit as good a right as we)

Those dues we should preserve with all our might,

By pleading of our just and ancient right,

In humble wise; if so the Sov'raigne state

Our Freedomes shall attempt to violate.

But, when by peacefull meanes we cannot save it,

We to the pleasure of the King must leave it,

p. 265And unto God our Iudge: For all the pow'r

In us, consists in saying, This is our.

A King is for a blessing, or a …urfe:

And therefore though a F…ole he were, or worse,

A Tyrant, or …n Ethnick) no man may

So much as in their p…ivate clossets, pray

Against his person; though they may petition

Against the wickednesse of his condition.

Nor, is this …uffrance due to those alone,

Who …bject are unto a Monarchs throne,

But, from all those who either subjects are

To mixed Governments, or popular.

For, though irregularities appeare

In ev'ry State; because but men they are

Whom God exalts to …ule: yet, it is he

By whom all Governments ordained be.

And ev'ry Government (although the Name

Be different) is in effect the same.

In Monarchies, the Counsell (as it were

An Aristocracy) one while doth beare

The sway of all▪ and though they name the King ▪

Yet, him they over-rule in ev'…y thing.

Sometime a…ine, the pop…lar voice we see,

Doth awe the Counsell, when in them there be

Some pop'lar Spirits. Aristocracies

Are otherwhile the same with Monarchies.

For, one great man among them gets the pow'r,

From all the rest, and like an Emperour,

Doth act his pleasure. And we know tis common.

To have some foolish Favorite, or Woman,

To governe him. So, in a pop'lar State,

Affaires are manag'd by the selfe same fate;

And, either one or moe, away do steale

The peoples hearts, and sway the Commonweale.

Thus God is pleas'd, to humble and to raise:

Thus, he by sev'rall names, and sev'rall wayes,

The world doth govern. Yea, thus▪ ev'n in one nation,

And in one State, he makes much alteration

In formes of Governmen… ; oft changing that

Which is but accedentall to a State.

And, such his Iustice, and his Wisdome is,

That he preserveth by the meanes of this,

Those things which doe essentially pertaine

To that great Power, which over all doth raigne.

Nor is he pleased thus it should be done

In States that meerely civill are alone;

But, also, in the Churches governments,

Allowes the change of outward accident….

Yea, they to whom he gives the oversights

Of some particular Church, may change old Rites,

The Customes, Formes, or Titles, as occasions

Are offred them; or, as the Times or Nations,

Require a change: provided so, that they

Take nothing which essentiall is, away;

Nor adde what shall repugne or prejudice

Gods Lawes, his Kin…dome, or the Liberties

Of them that are his people. For, in what

Hath any Church a pow…r, if not in …hat

Which is indifferent? Or, in what I pray

Will men the Church authority obey,

If not in such like things? O…, who should be

The Iudg… what is indifferent, if not she?

A private Spirit knowes what be… agrees

With his owne fancy; but the Church best se…

What fit… the Congregation. From what gives

Offence to one; another man receives

Much comfort: and, his conscience edifies,

By disciplines, which many doe despise▪

Nor h…ve I any thought to scandalize,

Or speake amisse of Principalities;

Or, to traduce mens persons: but, I fall

On errors of mens lives in generall,

And, on those great Abuses, which I see

To blemish ev'ry Calling and Degree.

Of Dignitie… and Persons, I observe

All me…nes I can, their honors to preserv…,

When I reprove their faults. And, ev'n as he

That hunteth Foxes, where Lambes feeding be,

May fright that harmlesse flock, and suffer blame

Of some By-standers, (knowing not his Game)

When from his Dog…, those Innocents are free,

And none but their devoure…s bitten be.

So, though my reprehensions, often are

Mistook by foolish Readers; they are far

From repr…hending those, or taxing that

Which is unfitting for my shooting at.

I speake those things which will advantage rather

Then harme: and hence this blinded age may gath…r

M…ch light. This little Volume doth relate

Nought else but what is like to be our Fate;

If sin encrease; and what in former times

Did fall on other Nations for their crimes,

I utter what our welfare may encrease,

And helpe confirme us in a happy peace;

Which they will never compasse, who p…sue

To speake what's pleasing, rather then what's true.

How ever, here my thoughts deliv'red be:

Let God as he shall please, deliver me.

And if what here is mention'd, thou dost he…

(Oh Britaine!) in those times that sh…ll succeed,

It may prevent much losse, and make thee shun

Those mischiefes, whereby Kingdomes are undone.

p. 270But, to thy other sins, if thou shalt adde

Rebellions (as false Prophets will perswade)

Which likely are to follow, when thou shalt

In thy profession of Religion halt:

Then, will thy Kings and People scourge each other,

For their offences, till both fall together:

By weakning of your pow'rs, to make them way,

Who seeke and look for that unhappy day.

Then, shall disorder ev'ry where abound,

And neither just nor pious man be found.

The best shall be a Bryer or a Thorne,

By whom their neighbours shall be scratcht & to…e.

Thy Princes shall to nothing condiscend

For any merit just, or pious end;

But either for encreasing of their treasure,

Or for accomplishing their wilfull pleasure:

And un…o what they …ell or daigne for meed,

There shall be given little trust or heed.

For, that which by their words confirme they shall,

(The royall Seales uniting therewithall)

A toy shall frustr…te; and a gift shall make

Their strictest O…ders no effect to take.

The Iudge, without a bribe, no Cause shall end:

No man shall trust his bro…her, or his friend:

The parents and the children shall despi…e

And hate, and spoile each other: she that lies

Within her husbands bosome, shall betray him:

They who thy people should protect, shal stay them:

The aged …hall reg…r…ed be of none:

The poore shall by the rich be trodden on:

Such grievo…s inf…olencies, everywhere

Shall acted be; that good and bad shall feare

In thee to dwell; and, men discreet shall h…te

To be a Ruler, or a Magistrate;

When they behold (without impenitence)

So much injustice, and such violence.

And, when thy wickednesse this height shall gain,

To which (no doubt) it will e're long attaine▪

If thou proceed: Then, from the bow that's bent

(And halfe way dr…wne already) shall be …ent

A mortall arrow; and it pierce thee shall

Quite through the head, the liver, and the gall.

The Lord shall call, and whistle from af…rre,

For those thy enemies that fiercest are:

For those thou fearest most; and they shall from

Their Coun…ries, like a whi…le wind hither come.

They shall nor sleep, nor stumble, nor untie

Their garments, till within thy fields they lye.

Sharp shall their arrowes be, and strong their bow.

Their faces shall as full of horror show

As doth a Lions. Like a bolt of thunder,

Their troups of horse shall come, & tread thee und…r

Their iron feet. Thy foes shall eate thy bread,

And with thy flocks both clothed be, and fed.

Thy Dwellers, they shall cary from their owne,

To Countries which their fathers have not known… ▪

And, thither shall such mischiefes them pursue,

That they who seeke the pit-fall to eschew,

Shall in a snare be taken. If they shall

Escape the sword, a Serpent in the wall

To death shall sting them: yea (although they hap

To shun a hundred plagues) they shall not scape;

But, with new dangers, still be cha…'d about,

Vntill that they are wholly rooted out.

The Plowman, then, shall be afraid to sow;

Artificers their labour shall forgoe▪

The Merchant man shall crosse the Seas no more▪

(Except to flye and seeke some other shore)

p. 269Thy ablest-m…n shall faint: thy wise-ones, then,

Shall know themselves to be but foolish men.

And th…y who built and plant…d by oppression,

Shall leave their gettings to the foes possession.

Yea, God wil scourge thee, England, …even times more

With seven times greater Plagues then heretofore.

Then, thy Allies their friendship shall withdraw;

And, they that of thy greatnesse stood in awe,

Shall say (in scorne) Is this the valiant Nation,

That had throughout the world such reputation,

By victories upon the shore? Are these

That people, which were masters of the s…as,

And grew so mighty? yea that petty Nation,

That were not worthy of thy indignation,

Shall mock thee too; and all thy former fame,

Forgot shall be, or mention'd to thy shame.

Mark how Gods pl…gues were doubled on the I…ew…

When they his milde corrections did abuse:

Marke what, a… last upon their Land h… sent;

And, look thou for the se…e same punishment,

If them thou imitatest. I or their sin,

At fi…st, but eight yeares Bondage they were in.

Their wick…dn…sse grew more; and God did then,

To Eglon, make them sl…ves, …ight yeares and ten.

They dis…beying, still, the God of heaven;

Their yeares of Servitude were twenty seven,

To Iabin and to Midian. Then, prevailed

Philistia fo…ty yea…es; and, when that failed,

To make …hem of their evill wayes rep…nt,

There was, among themselves, a fatall rent;

And, they oft scourg'd each other. Still, they trod

The selfe same path; and, then the hand o… God

Brought Ashu… on them; and, did make them beare

His heavy yo…ke, untill the seventie…h yeare.

And last of all the Rom…ne Empire came,

Which from their Country rooted out their Name.

That foolish project which they did embrace,

To keep them in possession o… their place,

Did lose it. And, like Cain, that vagrant Nation,

Hath now remain'd in fearfull Desolation

Nigh sixteene hundred yeares: and, (whatsoe're

Some l…tely dreame) in vaine, they look for he…e

A temp'rall Kingdome. For, as long agoe

Their Psalmist said; No Prophet doth foresh…w

This …hraldomes end. Nor shall it end untill

The Gentiles their just number doe fulfill:

Which is unlike to be untill th…t houre▪

In which there shall be no more temporall pow'r,

Or temporall K…ngdome. Therefore▪ gather them

(Oh Lord▪) unto thy new Ierusalem,

In t…y due time. For, ye…, unto that p…ace

They have a promi…t right, by thy meere grace.

To those who shall repent, thy firme Electiòn

Continues in this t…mpo…all rejection.

Oh! …hew thy mercy in their desol…ion,

That thou maist honor'd be in th…ir salvation.

Yea, teach us also, by their fearfull fal,

To hea…ken to thy voice, when th…u do…t ca…l;

(Lest thou in anger, unto us protest,

That we …h…ll never come into thy rest)

For, we …ave follow'd them in all their sin:

Su…, and so m…y, have our warnings bin:

An… ▪ … thou st…l prolong not thy compassion▪

To us belongs the selfe same Desolation.

And it will …ho…tly come▪ with all those terror…

T…at were on them inflicted, for their errors.

Then, woe shall be to th…m, th… hereto…ore

By joy…g house to hou…, … the poore▪

p. 272And field have into field incorporated,

Vntill th…ir Tow…esh…ps were depopulated.

For, desolate their dwelling shall be made:

Ev'n in their blood the Lord shall bathe his blade:

And they that have by avarice, and wiles,

Erected Pallaces and costly Piles;

Shall think, the stones and timbers, in the wall,

Aloud, to God, for vengeance on them call.

Then, woe sh…ll be to them who early rise

To eate, and drinke, and play, and wanton…ize;

Still adding sin to sin: for, they the paine

Of cold, and thirst, and hunger, shall sustaine;

And be the servile slaves of them that are

Their Foes; as to their Lusts they captives were.

Then▪ wo to them who d…rknesse more have lov'd

Then l…ght; and good advice h…ve d…s…pprov'd:

For, they shall wander in a crooked pa…,

Which neit…er light▪ nor end, nor c…m…ort hath

And, when for Guides, and Couns…ll they do cry,

Not one sh…l pity them, who p…sseth by.

Then, wo to them that have corrupted …in,

To justifie the wicked in his sin;

Or, for a bribe, the righteous to condemne:

For, fl…mes (as on the chaffe) sha…l seize on them:

Their bodies to the dun…hill shall be cast;

Their flowre shall turne to dust; their flock shal wast▪

And all the glorious t…les they have wo…ne,

Shall but encrease their infamy and scorne.

Then, wo to them that have beene rais'd aloft

By good mens ruines; and by laying soft

And easie pillowes, under great mens armes,

To make them pleas'd in their alluring charmes.

Then, wo to them, who being growne a…raid

Of some nigh perill, sought unlawfull aid;

And, setting Gods protection quite aside,

VponUpon their owne inventions have rely'd.

For, God their fo…lish hopes will bring to nought;

On them, their feared mischiefe sh…ll be brought▪

And, all their wit and strengt…, shall not suffi…e,

To heave that sorrow off, which on them lies.

Yea, then, oh Britaine! woe to ev'ry one,

That hath without repentance evill don…:

For, those who doe n…r heed, no… beare in mind

His visitings, Gods reaching hand will find;

And they with howling cries and lamentation,

Shall sue and seeke, in vaine, for his compassion.

Because they car…lesse of his M…rcies were,

Till in consuming wrath he did …ppea…e.

But, still, we set far off that evi…l day;

In dull security we passe away

Our pretious time; and with v…ine hopes and toyes,

Build up a trust which …v'ry puffe destroyes.

And therefore, still when healing is expected,

New and unlookt for troubles are effected.

We gather Armies, and we Fleets prepare;

And, then, both strong and safe we think we are.

But, when we look for victories, and glory,

What followes, but events that make us sory?

And tis Gods mercy that we turne our faces

With so few losses, and no more disgraces.

For, what are most of those whom we commend

Such act…ons to; and whom we forth do send

To fight those Battels, which the Lords we call,

But, such as never fight for him at all?

Whom dost thou make thy Captaines, and dispos…

Such Offices unto, but unto those

(Some few excepted) who procure by friends▪

Command and pay, to serve their private ends?

p. 271Their la…guage, and their practices decla…e,

That entertained by Gods Foe they were.

Their whoring, swearing, and their drunkennesse,

Do far more plainly to the world expresse

What Generall they doe belong unto,

Then all their Feath…rs and their Ensignes doe.

These, by their unrep…nted sins, betray

Thy Cause. By these, the honor, and the day

Is lost: and when thou hopest tha… thy trouble

Shall have an end, thy danger waxeth double.

We wisht for Parlia…ents; and them we made

Our God: …or, all t…e hope that many had

To remedy the publike discontent,

Was by t…e wisdome of a Parli…ment.

Well; Parliaments we had; and what in being,

Succeedeth ye…, but greater disag…eing,

With g…eater gri…va…ces then heretof…re?

And reason good: for, we depended more

On outward meanes, then on Gods will that sends

All punishments; and all afflictions …nds.

Beleeve it should our Parliaments a…ree

In ev'ry motion: should our Sov'raigne be

So gracious, as to condiscend to all

Which for his weale and ours, propose we s…all;

Ev'n that Agr…ment, till our sins we leave,

Shall make us but secure; a…d helpe to weave

A snare, by whose fine threds we shall be caught,

Before we see the mischie…e that is wrought.

Whilst we by Parliam…nts do chiefly se…k

Meere temp'rall ends, the King shall do the like:

Yea, till in them we mutually agree

To helpe each other; and unfained be

In lab'ring for a Christian Reformation;

Each Meeting shall b…get a new vexation.

This Iland hath some sense of what she ayles,

And very much, these evill times bewayles:

But, not so much our sinnes doe we lament,

Or mourne that God for them is discontent,

As that the Pla…ues they bring disturb our pleasures,

Encrease our dangers, and …x…aust our treasure….

And, for these causes, now and then we …ast,

And pray, as long as halfe a day doth last.

For, if the Sunne doe but a li…tle cleare

That cloud, from which a tempest we doe fear… ▪

What kind of g…iefe we took, we plainly shew

By those rejoycings which thereon ensue:

For, in the stead of such du… thankfu…ness…,

As Christian zeale obligeth to expresse;

To Pleasure (not to God) we sacrifize;

Renue our sins; revive our vanities;

And, all our vowed gratitude expi…es,

In Games, in Guns, in Bels, in Healths, or Fires▪

We faine would be at peace; but few men go

That way, …s y…t, whereby it may be so.

We have not that h…mility which must

Effect it: we …re f…l…e, and cannot trust

Each other▪ no nor God with true confessions:

Which shewes that we abhor not our transgression… ▪

It proves, t…at …f our errors, we in heart

Repent not, neither purpose to depart

F…om any f…lly … or all they that are

Sincerely penitent▪ doe nothing feare

So much as t…ir owne …uil…; nor seeke to gain…

Oug…t more, then to be reconc…l'd againe:

And, they that ar… …hus minded, never can

Be long unreconcil'd to God, or man.

When we should …oop, we most our selves exalt;

And (though we be) would no… be thought in fault.

Nay, tho…gh we faulty be, …nd thought, & known,

And proved so; and …ce that we are th…owne

By our apparant erro…s, into straits,

From which we cannot g…t by all our sleights:

Yet, still ou…selves we vau…t and justifie,

And struggle, …ill the sn…re we faster …ye.

We sin, and we to boast it have no shame,

Yet s…rme when othe…s doe our follies name:

And rather then we will so much as say

We did amisse (though that might wipe away

The staine of all) I think that some of us

So wil…ull are, so proud, and mischievous,

That we ours…lves w…uld ruine, and our Nation,

To keep our shadow of a Reputation.

Oh! if we are thus headstrong, tis unlike

We any part of our proud sailes will strike

Till they have sunke our Vessell in the Sea,

Or by th… furious winde…, are torne away.

Twere better▪ tho, we did confesse our wound,

Then hide it till our s…ate grew more unsound.

Twere better we some wealth, or office lost,

Then keep them, till our lives, and all, it cost:

And therefore, let us wisely be advised,

Befo…e we by a tempest be surprised.

Downe first with our Top-gallants and our Flags;

In stormes▪ the skilfull'st Pilots make no brags.

Let us (if that be not enough) l…t f…ll

Our Misne-yeard, and strike our top-sailes all.

If this we find be not enough to doe▪

Strike Fote-saile, Sprit-saile, yea and Main-saile too.

And, rather then our Ship should sink or rend;

Let's over board, …oods, mast, and tackling send.

Save but the Hull, the Master, and the Men;

And we may l…ve to scoure the seas agen.

Beleeve it England, howsoever some

(Who should fo…esee thy plagues before they come)

End…vor to perswade thee that thou hast

A hopefull time▪ and that the wo…st is past.

Yet I dare bol…ly tell thee, thou hast nigh

Worne out Gods patience by impiety.

And, that unlesse the same we doe r…nue

By penitence, our folly we shall rue.

But, what am I, that me thou should'st beleeve?

Or, unto what I tell thee, …redit give?

It may be this adul…rous Genera…ion

Expecteth tokens of her desolation;

And therefore I will give them signes of that

Which they are almost now arived at.

Not signes, so mysticall as most of those

Which did t…e ruine of the Iewes …isclose;

But, signes as evident as are …he day.

For, know ye Britanies ▪ that what God did say

Ierusalems destruction should foresh…w,

He spake to ev'ry State that should ensue.

And, tha… he nought of her, or to her sp…ke,

For hers alone, but also for our sake.

One signe that Gods long-suffring we have tired,

And that …is patience is almost expired,

Is this; that many Iudgements he hath sent,

And still remov'd them e're we did repent.

For, God (ev'n by his Holinesse) did sweare,

(Saith Amos) such a Nation …e will teare

With Brye…s, and with Fish hookes rend away

The whole posterity of such as they.

Cl…ane teeth (saith God) I gave them; and with bread

In many places, them I scantly fed;

And yet they sought me not: Then I restrained

The dewes of heav'n; upon this Field I rained,

And not on that; yea, to one City came

Some two or three, to quench their thirsty …lame;

Yet, to ret…rne to me, no care they tooke:

With Blastings then, and Mildewes, I them strook;

And mixt among their Fruits the Palmer-worme;

Yet, they their lives did not a jot reforme:

Then did I send the Pest…lence (said he)

Devoured by the Sword, …heir youngmen be;

Their Horse are slaine, and up to heaven ascends

Their stinke; yet I discover no amends.

The selfe same things thy God in thee hath done,

Oh En…land! yet, here followes thereupon

So small amendment, that they are a signe

To thee; and their sharp Iudgement, will be thine.

The second Tohen which doth fore declare

When Cities, States, and Realmes, declining are,

Ev'n Christ himselfe hath left us: For, (saith he)

When Desolation shall approaching be,

Of wars, and warlike rumors ye shall heare;

Rare signes and tokens will in heaven appeare;

Downe from the Firmament the Stars sh…ll fall;

The hearts of many men, then, saile th…m shall;

There will be many scandals and offences;

Great Earth quakes, Schismes, Dearths, and Pestilences;

Realme, Realme; and Nation, Nation shall oppose;

The nearest friends, shall be the greates… foes.

Against the Church shall many tyrannize;

Deceivers, and false Prophets, shall arise;

In ev'ry place shall wicked…esse abound;

And, Charity shall very cold be found.

This, Christ himselfe did prophecy: And we

Are doubtlesse blind, unlesse con…est it be,

That at this houre, upon this Kingdome here,

These ma…ks of Desolation viewed are.

How often have we s…ene prodig…ous lights,

O'resp…ead …he f…ce of heav'n in moonlesse nigh…s?

How many dreadfull Met…ors have there beene

In this ou… Climate, lately heard and seene?

Who knoweth nor that but a while agoe

A Blazing Star did threat, if not foreshow

Gods Iudgements? In what age, tofore, did here

So many, who did Saints and Stars appeare,

Fall (as it were) from heav'n? Or who hath heard

Of greater Earth-quakes, then have lately scar'd

These quarters of the world? How oft, the touch

Of Famine have we had? But, when so much

Devou…ed by the Pestilence were we,

As in this present yeare our people be?

Of Wars, and martiall rumors, never more

Wer… heard within these confines heretofore;

When were all Kingdomes, and all Nations through

The world, so opposite as they are now?

We know no Country, whether nigh or far,

But is engag'd, or threatned with some War.

All places, either present woes bewaile;

Or else things feared make mens hearts to faile.

False Prophets ▪ and Deceivers we have many;

We scarcely find integrity in any:

The Name of Christ, begins in ev'ry place

To suffer persecution …nd disgrace;

And, we the greatest jeopardies are in,

Among our neighbours, and our nearest kin.

Strange Heresies do ev'…ywhere encrease,

Distur…ing Sion, and exiling peace.

Impietie doth multiply. True love

Growes cold. And, if these tokens doe not prove

Our fall drawes on, unlesse we doe amend:

I know not when our folly shall have end.

p. 276A third apparant signe which doth d…clare

When some devouring Pl…gue approacheth neere,

Is when a Nation doth anew begin

To let Idolatry to enter in;

And openly, or secre…ly give place

To Heresie, where Truth establisht was:

Or when like Ieroboam, to possesse

An outward profit, or a temporall peace,

They either change Religions, or devise

A worship which doth mixe Idolatries

With truth. For this, ev'n for this very crime,

The King of Ashur, in H…shea's time

Led Isr…el captive. And, both from the sight

Of God; and from the house of David quite,

They were c…t off for ever, and d…d neither

Serve God nor Idols; but ev'n both toge…her;

In such a mixt Religion as is that

Which some among us, now, have aymed at.

Marke, England; and I prethee marke it well,

If this offence which ruin'd Israel,

On thee appeare nor: and, if so it be,

Amend; or looke for what it threatens thee.

The fourth true token which do…h fore expresse

The ruine of a Land …or wickednesse,

Is when the P…iests and Magistrates begin,

To grow ext…eamly impudent in fin.

This Signe, the Prophet Micah …iveth us;

And he (not I) to you cryes loudly thus:

Heare, oh ye house of Iacob, and all ye

That Princes of the house of Is…ael be:

Ye Iustice hate; and ye pervert what's good;

Ye build the wal… of Sion up with blood;

Ierusalem with sin, ye up have rear'd,

Your Iudges passe their censures for reward;

Your Priests doe preach for hire, your Prophets doe

Like them▪ and prop…ecy for mony too.

And, for this cause shall Sion mount (saith he)

Ev'n like a plowed field become to be;

And like a Forre…t hill where b…shes grow▪

The City of Ierusalem shall show.

Change but the names, oh Britain, and that token

Of desolation, unto the… is spoken.

For, what this day thy Priests and Princes are▪

Their actions, and the peoples cries declare.

A fifth sure evidence that God among

Thy ruines will en…omb thy fame e're long,

(If thou repent not) is ev'n this, that thou

Dost ev'ry day the more ungodly grow,

By how much more the blessed meanes of grace

Doth multiply it selfe in ev'ry place.

God sends unto thee many learned Preachers,

Apostles, Pastors, and all kind of teachers;

His Visions, and his Prophecies upon thee

He multiplies. And (that he might have won thee

To more sincerity) on all occasions,

By counsell, by entreatie, and perswasions,

He hath advis'd, allured, and besought thee:

With precept upon precept, he hath taught thee;

By line on line; by miracle; by reason;

In ev'ry place; in season, out of season;

By little and by little; and by much

(Sometime) at once: yet is thy nature such,

That still thou waxest worse; and in the roome

Of pleasant Grapes, more Thistles daily come:

And, thou that art so …aughty, and so proud,

For this, shal… vanish like an empty cloud;

And, as a Lion, Leopard, or a Beare,

Thy God, for this, shall thee in pieces teare.

p. 275If thou suppose my Muse did this devise,

Goe take it from Hosea's prophesies

The sixth undoubted signall when the last

Good dayes of sinfull Realmes are almost past▪

Is when the people neere to God shall draw

In word, to make profession of his Law:

And, by their tongues his prai…es forth declare;

Yet, in their hearts from him continue far.

To such a Land, their de…iny displaye…

Isaiah: for even thus the Prophet sayes:

God will produce a marvell in that State,

And doe a worke that men shall wonder at;

The wisdome of their wisest Counsellor,

Shall perish, and their prudent men shall erre.

On their deepe Counsels, sorrow shall attend;

Their secret plots shall have a dismall end;

Their giddy projects which they have devised,

Shall as the Potters clay be quite despised.

Like Carmel, Lebanon shall seeme; and he

Like Lebanon, shall make mount Carmel be.

Their pleasant Fields like Desarts shall appeare;

And, there shall Gardens be, where Desarts are.

God keep (thou Brittish Ile) this plague from thee▪

For, signes thereof upon thy Body be.

Thou of the purest worship mak'st profession;

Yet, waxest more impure in thy condition.

Thou boastest of the knowledge of Gods word,

Yet, there unto in manners to accord

Thou dost refuse. Thou makest protestation

Of pietie; yet hatest reformation.

Yea▪ when thy tongue doth sing of praise divine,

T…y heart doth plot some temporall designe.

And, some of those, who in this wise are holy,

Begin to shew their wisedome will be folly.

…or, when from sight their snares they deepest hide,

By God Almighties eyes they are espide.

The seaventh Symptome of a dreadfull blow,

(If not of a perpe…uall overthrow)

Is when a slumb…ing Spirit doth surprize

A nation; and hath closed up their ey…s:

Or when the Prophets and the Seers are

So cloud…d, that plaine truths do not appeare:

Or when the Visions evidently seene

Are passed by, as if they had not beene:

Or when, to Nations who can reade, God gives

His Booke; and thereof doth unseale the leaves,

And bids them reade the same, which they to do

Deny; or …lead unablen…sse thereto.

Black signes are th…se. For if that Book to them,

Still darke; or as a Book unsealed seeme;

Or, if they heed no more what here is said,

Then they that have the Booke, and cannot reade;

The Iudgements, last repeated, are the doome,

That shall on such a stupid Nation come.

This Signe is come on us; for, loe, unsealed

Gods Book is now among us▪ and revealed

Are all the Mysteries which doe concerne

The children of this present age to learne.

So well hath he instructed this our Land,

That we not only reade, but understand

The secrets of his Word. The prophecies

Of his chiefe Seers, are before our eyes,

Vnveiled: true interpretations

A…e made, and many proper applications

Ev'n to our selves; yet is ou… hea…t so blind,

That what we know and see, we do not mind.

We heare, and speake, and much adoe we keepe;

But we as sens…lesse are as men asleep

p. 276What th…n we doe. Yea, wh…le that we are talking,

What sna…es are in the way where we are wal…ing,

We heed not what we say, b…t passe along;

And many times, …re fast …snar'd among

Those mi…hiefes, and those faults we did condemne,

Before our tongues have left to mention th…m.

For our negl…ct of God in …ormer times,

(Or for some present unrep…nted crimes)

A slumbring Spirit …o p…ssesseth us,

That our estate is wondrous d…ngerous.

We s…e and heare, and tell to one anoth…r

Our perils, yet we headlong hast together

To wilfull ruine: and are growne so mad,

That when our friends a better course perswade,

Or seeke to st…p us (when they s…e we run

That way in which we cannot ruine shun)

We persecute those men with all our soule,

That we may damn our s…lves without controule.

The eight plaine Signe, by which I understand

That some devouring mischiefe is at hand,

Is that maliciousnesse which I doe see

Among …rsfessors of one Faith, to be.

We that have b…t one Father, and one Mother,

Doe persecute, and torture one another.

So ho…ly, we oppose not Antichrist,

As we our fellow brethren doe resist.

The Protestant, the Protestant defies;

And, we our selves, our selves doe scandalize.

Our Church we have exposed to more scorne;

And her fai…e seamlesse Vestment rent, and torne,

By our owne fury, more then by their spight

Who are to us directly opposite.

To save an Aple, we the Tree destroy;

And, quarrels make for ev'ry needlesse toy:

From us, if any brother differ shall

But in a crotcher, we upon him fall

As eagerly, and with as bitter hate▪

As if we knew him for a Reprobate.

And, what event all this doth signifie,

Saint Paul (by way of caveat) do…h imply.

Take heed (s…ith he) lest while ye bite …ach other,

You, o… your selves, consumed be …ogether.

Another S…gne which cau…eth me to feare

That our confusion is approaching neere,

Are those Disunions whi…h I have espide,

In Church and Commonwealth, this pr…sent tide.

We cannot hide th…se rents; for they doe gape,

So wide, that some their Iaw…s can hardly scape.

Would God, the way to close them up we knew,

Else, what they threaten, time will shortly shew:

For, all men know, a City or a Land,

Within it selfe d…vided, ca…n…t stand▪

The last black signe that here I will repeat,

(Which doth to kingdomes desolation threat)

Is when the hand of God Almighty brings

The pe…ple, into bondage, to their Kin…s.

I say, when their owne K…ng shall take delight,

Those whom he should protect, to rob, and smite.

When they who fed the Sheep▪ the Sheep shall kill,

And eate them; and suppose they doe no ill.

When God gives up a Nation unto those

That are their neighbours, that they may, as foes,

Devoure them. When (oh England!) thou shalt see

This come to pa…se, a signe it is to thee

That God is angry; and a certaine token

That into pieces thou shalt quite be broken:

I… not by so ra…ne strength, by force at home;

A…d, that thy greater torment will become.

This Vengeance, and this fearfull preparation,

Of bringing ruine on a sinfull N…tion,

(If they remaine impenitent) the Lord

Doth menace; and, by Zachary …ecord,

To make us wise. Oh! let us therefore learne▪

What now is comming on us, to discerne.

For, (well considered if all thing… were)

From this Captivity we seeme not farre.

It now already seeme… to be proj…ct…d;

Nay, little wants of being quite effected.

For, they that are our Sheph…rds, now, are they

That fleece us, and endevor to betray

Our lives and freedomes. Those g…eat men that be

Our nei…hbours (and can claime no more then we)

Would sell us: and, att…mpt to gaine a pow'r,

Whe…eby they may, at pleasure, us d…voure:

And, h…d not we a King, as loth to make

His people slaves, as from hims…lfe to take

His lawfull right; (or, were there not some lett

Vnheeded, which is unremov…d yet)

E're this (and justly too) the hand of heaven

Into perpetuall bondage us had given.

And, if we do not more Gods will regard,

That mischiefe is but for a time deferr'd,

Our King is just and mercifull; and th…

Some may (with loyall, and a gilded s…ow

Of pious equity) a while …ssay

To lead his judgement in his youth astray;

Yet, God (I hope) will keep him so, that he

Shall still be just, (though we ungodly be)

And, make him in the fitteft houre expresse

His royall Iudgement, and his Right…ousnesse:

But, if God should from us (as God forbid)

Take him, as once he good Iosiah did,

He also will (unlesse we mend) perchance,

In times to come, a Shepheard here advance,

Who shall not plead for what his Youngmen say

Is just; but, take the same, perforce, away.

An Ido…l Shep…eard, who shall neither care

To find or seek, for those that strayed are;

Nor guard the Lamb… ; nor cure what hath a wound;

Nor cherish those that fi…me to him are found;

But, take the fat, and rob them of their fleeces;

And eate their flesh; and b…eak their bones in peeces.

More Signes I migh…, as yet, commemorate,

To shew Gods pa…ence is nig… out of date.

But, these are signes enough▪ an… so apparant,

That twenty more w…ll give no better warrant

To what I speake. Yet, if these …lse appeare,

That's one signe more, our fall approacheth neere.

Be mind…ull, therefore, while it is to Day;

And, let no good occasion slip away.

Now rend your hearts, ye Britains, wash & rinse them

From all corruption: from all evill clense them.

Goe offer up the pleasing sacrifice

Of Righ…eousnesse: from folly turne your eyes.

Seeke peace, and follow it, with strict pursuit:

Relieve the needy; Iudgement execute:

Refresh the weary; right the fatherlesse:

The strangers, and the widowes wants redresse:

Give praise to God; depend with lowly faith,

O… him; and what his holy Spirit saith:

R…member what a price thy ransome cost;

And, now redeeme the time that thou hast lost.

Returne, ret…ne thou (oh back-sliding Nation)

And, let thy teares prevent thy desolation.

As yet, thou maist returne; for, Gods embrace

Is open …or thee, if thou hast the grace,

p. 278To give it meeting▪ Yet, repentance may

Prevent the mischiefes of that evill day,

Which here is menace'd: yet, thou maist have peace,

And by dis…reet endeavo…ing, enc…ease

Each outward grace, and ev'ry inward thing▪

W…i…h will additions to thy comfo…t bring.

If this thou doe; these fea…full threatnings all,

(Repea…ed h…re) to mercies change he shall.

We cannot say, it will excuse thee f…om

All cha…isement; or that no blow shall come.

For, peradv…nt…re, thou so long hast bin

Vnpe…i…ent, that some loud-cring sin

Hath wak'd that V…ngeance, which upon thy crimes

Mu…t fall (as once in Ier…mi…hs …)

Without pr…vention; to ex…mplifie

Gods hate of sin to all posterity.

But, sure we are, that if he doth not stay

H… threa…ned hand, the stroke that he doth lay

Will fall the lighter; and become a bl…ssing,

Thy future joyes, and vertues more encreafing▪

Then all that larg… prosperity and rest

Which thou, so long tog…ther, hast possest.

God (wi…h a wr…ters …ke horne) one hath sent,

To set a marke on th…m that shall repent;

And bids him promi…e in his N…me, that they

Who shall (recantin…) leave their evill way,

And in th…ir heart…, bewaile the grievous crimes,

And miserie… of Sion, in their times;

That they shall be secure, and s…ed …rom

The hand of these D…stroye…s ▪ which must come:

Or else by their dest…ucti…n find a way

To that repairing which will ne…re d…cay.

Yea thou, oh Britaine! if thou couldst reforme

Thy manners, might'st expell the dreadfull storme

Now threatned; and thy foes (who triumph would,

The ruine of thy glory to behold▪

And jeere thee when thou fallest) soone s…all see

Thy God returning, and avenging thee

On their insultings: yea, with angry blowes

He would effect their shamefull overth…owes.

Or turne their hearts. For when from sin men cease,

God makes their enemies, and them, at peace.

Moreover, thou shalt have in thy poss…ssing,

Each inward grace▪ and ev'ry ou…ward blessing;

Thy fruit…ull H…rds shall in …ich pastures feed;

Thy soile shall plentiously encrease thy seed;

Thy Flock, shall neither Shepherds want nor meat;

Cleane provander, thy stabled beast shall …at…;

There shall be Rivers in thy Dales; and Fountaines

VponUpon the tops of all thy noblest Moun…aines:

The Moone shall cast upon thee beames as bright

As now the Sunne; and with a sevenfold l…ght

The Sun shall bl…sse thee▪ He that reignes in thee,

To all his p…ople reconcil'd shall be;

And they shall find themselves no whit deceived,

In those good hopes which are of him conceived:

But he, (and they, wh… shall his throne possesse

When he is gone) shall reigne in righteousnesse;

And be more carefull of thy weale (by far)

Then parents of their childrens p…ofits are

Thy Magistra…e…, with wisdome shall proceed

In all that shall be cou…ell'd or decreed.

As Harbours, w…en it blowes tempestuously;

As Rivers, unto places over-d…y;

As Shadowes a…e to men opprest with heat;

As to a hungry stomac…, wholsom… meat;

To thee, so welcom…, and as much con…enting,

Thy Nobles will become, on thy repenting.

p. 279Thy Priests shal preach true doctrine in thy Teples;

And make it fruitfull by their good examples.

Thy God, with righteousnesse shall them aray,

And heare and answer them, when they do pray.

Thy eyes, that much are blinded, shall be cleare;

Thy ea…es that yet are deafned, then shall heare;

Thy tongue, that s…āmers now, shall then sp…ak plain;

Thy heart shall perfect understanding gaine;

The preaching of the Gospell shall encrease;

Thy God shall make thy comforts and thy peace,

To flow as doth a River; they who plant,

The blessing of their labour shall not want;

Thy poorest people shall at full be fed;

The meek, shall of no ty…a…t stand in dread;

Thou shalt have grace and knowledge, to avoid

Those things, whereby thy r…st may be annoid;

T…ou shalt poss…sse thy wished bl…ssings all;

And, God shall heare thee still before thou call.

But, as a Chime, wh…se …rets disord red grow,

Can never cause it selfe in t…ne to goe,

Nor chime at all, untill some cunning hand

Doth make the same againe in order stand:

Or, as the Clock, whose plummers are not weight,

Strike… sometimes one for three, and sixe for eight;

So fareth it with men and kingdomes all,

When once from their integrity they fall.

They may their motion …urry out of frame,

But have no pow'r to r…ctifie the same

That curious hand which first those pieces wrought,

Must mend them still; or they will still be nought.

To thee I therefore now my speech convert,

Thou famous Artist, who Creator art

Of heav'n and ea…th, and of those goodly spheares,

That now have whirled many thousand yeares,

(And shall untill thy pleasure …ives it ending)

In their perpetuall motion, without mending.

Oh! be thou pleased, by thy pow'rfull hand,

To set in order this depraved Land.

Our whole foundation, Lord, is out of course;

And ev'ry thing still groweth worse and wor…e;

The way that leads quite from thee, we have tooke;

Thy Covenant, and all thy Lawes are b…oke;

In mischiefes, and in folly, is our pleasure;

Our crying sins have almost fill'd their measure;

Yet, ev'ry day we adde a new transgressi…n,

And still abuse thy favour and compassion.

Our Governors, our Prelats, and our Nobles,

Have by their sins encrease, encreast our trou…les.

Our Priests, and all the People, have misgone;

All kind of evill deeds, we all have done.

We have not lived as those meanes of …race

Require, which thou hast gra…ted to this place:

But …ather wo…se then many who have had

Less… helpes then we, of being better made.

No Nation under heav'n so lewd hath bin,

That had so m…ny w…rnings for their sin,

And such perpetuall callings on, as we,

To leave our wickednesse, and turne to thee.

Yet, we in stead of turning, further went;

And when thy Mercies and thy Plagues were sent

To pull us backe; they seldome wrought our stay,

Or moved to repentance one whole day.

No blessing▪ no affliction, hath a pow'r

To move compunction i… us, for one houre,

Vnlesse thou worke it. All that I can speake

(And all that I have spoken) till thou breake

And mollifie the heart, will fruitlesse be,

Not onelyonly in my hearers, but in me.

p. 280I… thou p…epare not way for more esteeme

All these Remembrances will foolish seeme.

Nay these, in stead of moving to repent,

Will indignation move and discontent;

Which will mens ha…dned hearts obdurate more,

And make their fault much greater then before.

Vnlesse thou give a …lessing, I may strive

As well to make a marble stone alive,

As to effect my p…rpo…e: yea, all this

Like wholesome counsell to a mad man is,

And, I for my good meaning shall be torne

In pieces, or exposed be to scorne.

…or, they against thy word doe stop their eare;

And, wilde in disobedience, will not heare.

In this, we all confesse ourselves to blame,

And that we therefore have deserved shame.

Yea, Lord we doe acknowledge, that for this

There noth…ng else to us pertaining is,

(Respecting our owne worth) but desolation,

And finall …ooting ou…, without compassion.

But gracious God, though such our merit be,

Yet, …ercy f…ll pertaineth unto thee.

To thee the act of pard'ning and forgiving,

As much belongs (oh Father everliving)

As plagues to us: and it were better far

Our sinnes had lesse then their deservings are,

Then that thy Clemency should be outgone,

By al… the wickednesse that can be done.

As well as theirs whose lives now left them have,

Thou ca…st command those bodies from the gr…ve,

Who slink, and putrifie, and buried be

In their corruption. Such, oh Lord! are we.

Oh! call us from this grave; and shew thy pow'r

VponUpon this much polluted Land of our,

Which is not only sick of works unholy,

But almost dead and buried in her folly.

Forgive us all our slips, our negl…gences,

Our sins of knowledge, and our ignorances;

Our daring wickednesse; our bl…ody crimes;

And all the faults of past and p…esent times.

Permit not thy just wrath to burne for …ver;

In thy displeasure doe not still persever;

But, call us from that pit of Death, and Sin,

And from that path of Hell which we are in.

Remember, that this Vineyard hath a Vine,

Which had her planting by that hand of thine.

Remember, when from Egypt thou remov'dst it,

With what entire affection, then, thou lov'dst it.

How thou didst weed and dresse it heretofore;

How thou didst fence it from the forrest Bore;

And think▪ how sweet a vintage then it brought,

When thy first worke upon her thou hadst wrought▪

Remember, that without thy daily care,

The choicest plants, soone wilde and fruitlesse are;

And, that as long as thou dost prune and dresse,

The sowrest Vine sh…ll bring a sweet …ncrease.

R…member, also Lord, how still that Foe,

W… fi…st pu…sued us▪ doth seek to sow

His …ares among thy wheat; and to his pow'r,

B…eak down… thy fence, and trample, and devoure

The seeds of grace, as soone as they doe sprout;

And is to… strong, for us to keep him out.

O…! let not him prevaile, such harme to do us,

As he desires, but, Lord, re…urne unto us.

Returne in mer…y. Though thou find us slack

To come our selves, f…tch, draw, and pull us back

From our owne courses, by thy grace divine,

And set, and keep us, in each way of thine.

p. 281We from our foes have saved beene by thee;

And in thy love, oh Lord! triumphed we.

But now behold, disgrac'd thou throw'st us by,

And we before our adversaries flye.

A… us our neighb…ring Nations laugh and jeere,

And, us they …co…ne, whom late we made to feare.

Oh God a…ise, reject us not for aye;

No longer hide from us thy face away:

But, come, oh come with speed to give u…aid,

And let us not be lost though we have straid.

Vouchsafe that ev'ry one in his degree,

The secret errors of his life may see;

And, in his l…wfull calling▪ all his dayes,

Pe…forme his Christian duty, to thy praise▪

Give peace this troublous age; for, perilous

The times are growne, and no man fights for us

But thou oh God! nor do we seek or crave,

That any other Champion we may have.

Nay give us troubles, if thy will be …o,

That we may have thy strength to beare them too;

And in affliction thee more glorifie,

Then heretofore in our prosperity.

For when thy countenance on us did shine,

Those Lands th…t boasted of their corne and wìne,

Had not that joy which thou di…st then inspire,

When we were boyld and fryde in blood and fire.

Oh! give againe that joy, although it cost us

Our lives. Restore thou what our sin hath lost us

Thy Church, in these Dominions Lord preserve

In purity: and teach us thee to serve

…n holinesse and righteousnesse, untill

We shall the number of our dayes fulfill.

Defend these Kingdomes from all overthrowes,

…y forraine enemies, or home-bred foes.

Our King with ev'…y grace and vertue blesse,

Which may thine honour and his owne encrease.

Inflame our Nobl…s with mo…e love and zeale,

To thy true Spouse, and to this Common w…ale.

Inspire our …lergie in their severall places,

With knowledge, and all sanct…ying g…aces;

That by their liv…s and doct…ines they may reare

Th…se part… of Syon, which decayed are.

Awake …his Peo…le, give them soules that may

Beleeve thy word, and thy commands obey.

The Plagues deserv'd already, save them from.

More wa…ch…ull make them, in all times to come.

For blessings past. let hearty thanks be given.

For present ones, let sacrifice to heav'n

Be daily offred up. For what is needing

(Or may be usefull in the time succeeding)

Let faithfull prayers to thy throne be sent,

With hearts and …ands upright and innocent:

And let all this the better fu…thred be,

Through these Rem…mbrances, now b…ough… by me.

For which high favour▪ and emboldning thus

My spirit, in a time so dangerous;

For chusing me, that am so despi…able,

To be employed in this honorable

And great employment▪ (which I more …steeme,

Then to be crowned with a Diadem)

For thy enabling me in this Embassage;

For bringing to conclusion this my Message;

For sparing of my l…fe, when thousands dy'd,

Before, behind me, and on ev'ry side;

For saving of me m…ny a time since then,

When I had fo…feited my soule agen;

For all those griefes and poverties, by which

I am in better things made great, and rich,

p. 282Then all that wealth and honor brings man to,

Wherewith the wo…ld doth keepe so much adoe:

For all which thou to me on earth hast given;

For all, w…i…h doth concerne my hopes of heaven;

For these, and those innumerable graces,

Vouchsafed me, at sundry times, and places,

(Vn…hought upon) unsained praise I render:

And, for a living s…crifice, I tender

To thee (oh God) my body, soule, and all,

Which mine I may, by thy donation, call.

Accept it blessed Maker, for his sake

Who did …his offring acceptable m…ke,

By giving up himselfe. Oh! looke thou no…

VponUpon those blem…shes which I have got

By naturall corruption; or by those

Polluted acts which f…om that ulcer flowes.

According to my …kill, I have enroll'd

Thy Merci…s; and thy Iustice I have told.

I have not h…d thy workings in my brest;

But a… I could, their pow'r I have exprest.

Among our great assemblies, to declare

Thy will and pleasure, loe, I doe not f…a…e:

And th…ugh by Princes I am checkt and blamed▪

To sp…ake …he truth, I am no whit ashamed.

Oh! …hew thou, Lord, thy mercy so to me,

And l…t thy …ove and Truth, my guardians be.

Forgive me all the foll…es of my youth;

My f…ul…y deeds; the errors of my mo…th;

The wandrings o… my hea…t, and ev'ry one

Of those good workes that I have lest undone.

Forgive me all wherein I did amisse,

Since thou …mployd'st me in performing this:

My d…ublings of thy calling …e unto it;

My f…are…, which oft di…heartned me to doe it;

My sloth, my negligences, my evasions,

And my defe…ring it, on vaine occasions,

When I had vowed that no wo…ke of mine,

Should take me up, till I had finisht thine.

Lord, pardon this; and let no future sin,

Nor what already hath committed bin,

Prophane this W…rke; or cause the same to be

The lesse effectuall to this land, or me.

But to my selfe (oh Lord) and others, let it

So moving be, that we may ne're fo…get it.

Let nor the evill, nor the good effect

It takes, or puffe me up, or me deject:

Or make me thinke that I the better am,

Because I tell how others a…e to bl…ame:

But, let it keep me in a Christian feare,

Still humbly heedfull what my actions are.

Let all those observations I have had,

Of others er…or…, be occasions made

To min… me of mine owne. And, lest I erre,

Let ev'ry man be my Remembrancer;

With so much charity, as I have sought

To b…ing their duties more into their thought.

And, i… in any sin I linger long▪

Without repentance; Lord, let ev'ry tongue

That n…m…s me, check me for it: and, to me

B…come, what I to …thers faine would be.

Oh! let me not be like those busie broomes,

Which having clensed many nasty roomes,

Doe make themselves the fouller: but sweet Father,

Let me be like the preci…us Diamond rather,

Which doth by polishing another stone,

The better shape and lustre, set upon

H…s owne rou…h body. Let my life be such,

As that mans ought to be, who knoweth much

p. 283Of thy good pleasure. And, most awfull God,

Let none of tho…e, who sp…ead of me abroad

Vnjust reports, the Dev…lls pu…pose gaine,

By making these my warning… prove in vaine

To those that heare them: but let such disgraces,

Reflect with shame, upon their Authors fac…s,

Till they repe…t. And let their scandall se…ve

Within my hea…t true me…k…sse to preserve;

And that humili…y, which else, perchance,

Vaine glory, ot some naturall arrogance

Might ove…throw, if I should think upon

(With carnal thoghts) some good my lines have done

Restrai…e, moreover, them who out of pride,

Or igno…ance, this Labour shall deride.

Make them perceive, who shall prefer a story

Composed …or some temporall friends glory,

Before those Poems which thy works declare,

That vaine and witlesse their opinions a…e:

And if by thee I was appointed, Lord,

Thy Iudgements and thy Mercies to record,

(As here I do) set thou thy mark on those,

Who shall despightfully the same oppose:

And let it p…likely be seene of all,

Till of their malice they repent them shall.

As I my conscience have disch…rged here,

Without concealing ought for love, or feare;

From furious men let me preserved be,

And from the scorne of …ooles deliver me▪

Vouchsafe at length some com…orting refection,

According to the yeares of my affliction.

On me, for good, some to…en please to show,

That they who see it, may thy bounty know;

Rejoyce, with fellow-fe…ling of the s…me,

And joyne with me, in praising of thy Name.

And lest (oh Lord!) some weake ones may despise

My word…, because of …uch necessities,

As they h…ve b…ou…ht upon me, by their spight,

Who …o my S…udie h…ve beene opposite:

Oh! give me that which may suffic…ent be,

To make them know that I have served thee.

And that my labours are by thee regarded,

Although they seeme not outwardly rewarded.

Those Honors, or that Wealth, I doe not crave,

Which they affect, who most end…vored have

To please the World. I onelyonly aske to gaine

But food and rayment, Lord, for all my paine;

And that the …launders, and the poverties,

Wherewith my patience thou shalt exercise,

Make not these Lines, or me, become a scorne,

Nor leave me to the world-ward, quite forlorne.

Yet, in preferring of this humble Suit,

I make not my request so absolute,

As that I will capitula…e, or tye

…o such conditions, thy d…ead Majesty.

For, if to honour bu… an eart…ly Prince

My Muse had sung▪ it had beene impudence

To p…ompt his bounty; or, to doubt he might

Forget to doe my honest Labours right.

Doe therefore as thou pleasest: only give

Thy Servant grace contentedly to live,

And to be …hankfull, wha…soever shall

In thi… my weary Pil…rimage befall.

Such thing… thou dost command me to require,

With earnest, and an absolute desire:

With which I come: beseeching I may finde

Thy love continue, though none else be kinde;

That blessednesse ete…nall I may get,

Though all I lose on earth, to compasse it;

p. 284And that, at last, when my accompt is eaven,

My payment may be summon'd up in heaven.

Lord, this will p…ease me: call me quickly thithe…,

And pay me there my wages all together:

Not that which mine by merit seemes to be;

But, what by thy meere …race is due to me.