Britains Remembrancer, Premonition
A Premonition.
STay Reader, and take a few lines by way of prevention: For, though in meere temporall en…eavo…, I observe with Solomon, that, The race is not to the sw…ft, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the w…se, nor riches to men of understanding nor favo…r to men of skill, but that time and chance commeth to all; yet, I know every man is to prosecute likely meanes of convenient things. And, though Ignorance wax…th so arrogant, and Art so envious, that after much paines in some good performance, wee must otherwhile take as much more to prevent misconstructions (and thinke our selves well rewarded, if at last we may escape▪ without a mischief…) ye…, since it is the common lot, I will …eare i… p…iently▪ and seeke to avoyd as many inconvenienc…s as I may.
It is impossible to prevent all: for▪ some out of meere malice practise the disparagement of every labour whereby the glory of God may seeme to bee advanced; and if on the Worke they cannot fasten their Detractio…s, then they will, to disable it, vilifie the person of the Author. This was the conspiracy of the Iewes against Ieremy, (Come, (said they) let us devise devices against him, let us smi…e him with the tongue, and let us not give beed to any of his words.) And this way also in so violent a manner have I beene persecuted, as if my Disgrace might advance the publike Honour.
Against my MOTTO, though (as I …orespake) it redounded to their owne shame, so raged my Adversaries, that not content with my personal troubles, they sought the disparagement of that Booke, by a libellous answer the…eunto: wherein, I was used as most writer… of Controversies, in these dayes, use each other: To wit, they objected what I never thought, and then made replies to their owne devices▪ which being finished, was imprinted with an inscription fal…ly cha…ging me, with labouring to stay the publication thereof; and then also, it was very gloriously fixed on the gate of my lodging, as if it had been some bill of Triumph. Bu…, it proved a ridiculous Pamphlet, and became more losse and disgrace unto the divulgers thereof, then I desired; and, non… thought th… worse of me o… that Booke for those Invectives, save they onelyonly, whose commendations would be more dishonor to me, then their dispraise.
Hereby, therefore, I seeke not so much … p…even… the like injury to my person, as to remove those occasions of prejudice, which scandalous censures may raise in some other, who might else, perhaps, re…eive the more profit from this REMEMBRANCER: And what I will say to that purpose shall bee very briefe.
First (in regard my ayme in this Poeme, is chiefly God's glory, and the welfare of this Church and Commonwealth) I desire I may no…e traduced, though I have here and there inserted some lighter expressions, then seeme at first view to become the gravity of the Subject: For, (considering the common vanity, and how tedious matters of most consequence are unto some eares) it is necessary, and by good authority warrantable, to make use of all indifferent meanes, to worke on humane infirmities, for our hearers profit.
Secondly, I request that wherein I differ from the vulgar Tene…s, I may not rashly bee rep…oved; but that my affirm…tions, may with all their due circumstances, be first wei…hed: For, otherwhile the…e is just occasion to hyperbolize. And, as he that rectifying a crooked staffe, bends it somewhat on the …t…er side: so, in many cases, we are constrained to urge that which appeares over much on the right hand, before those who are too …ar on the left hand, will beleeve they are ought awry. Thus did the Fathers of the Church when they had to doe with some Her…tikes, and have beene thereby mis understood▪ and mis-censured by heedlesse Readers. In the same manner have my writings beene abused; yea, my hearers have beene so hasty, that had I not explained my selfe to be of their opinion, within some few lines after, doubtlesse they would have robbed me of my owne meaning. But, they who well heed what I affirme or deny, will finde (I hope) that I keepe a midling path betwixt extreames.
If any conceive (as I heare they doe) th… I did unwisely to remaine in London during the great M…r…ality here memorized, …et them pe…use the third Canto, and they shall there see▪ what Mot…ves and what warran… I had for so doing. I think it will satisfie them; for, so well it satisfied me, that (whatsoever others may imagine) I know it had beene better I should háve perished in that sicknesse, then to have had a heart disobedie…t to such motions.
If any …axe me for inse…ing so many Lines concerning my owne thoughts and resolu…ions; let them conside… what use some Readers may make by application to themselves; by having my inwa…d co…flicts for their examples; and by seeing also what nec…ssities …here were for me to strengt…en my selfe both a…ainst the wo…ld, and against my …wne f…ilties, (in my hazardous undert…kings) by expo…ul…ing wi…h my heart, what my conscience could say, for it selfe▪ Let them, I say, consider what in this kinde is cons… derable, and then, perhaps, those personall relations will not seeme imper…inent.
If question be made, by what authority, I took on me to write this Ilands REMEMBRANCER: in the fif…h Canto, and in some other places of this Book, they sh…ll finde mention of my Commission; And if they be not thereby perswaded, that I have a good Authority, it will be through their ignorance▪ and no …aul… of mine. Those Mercies and Iudgements of God's which I memorize, are such as this Kingdome is generally witnesse of. The Sins I reprove, are none but those which were, and are notoriously committed: I have reprehended them ìn such manner, as God's holy Word, and the universall law of Nature hath warranted in all ages. I have foretold what shall come upon such Transgressors, according to the predictions of the Prophets. I have assured, upon Repentance, those ble…sings which God himselfe hath promised. I have confirmed all my owne Resolution… by the divine Covenant, and that working of the bl…ssed Spirit, which I have a feeling of in my own heart: And, if in these things I be de…eived, I know not who hath power to make me confident of any thing in this life.
If any dislike my personating God (as in the first Canto) let them search, and they shall finde it usuall not onelyonly in Christian Poems, but also in the holy Text. And if we introduce him according to his A… tr…butes, and speaking according to what in his written word he hath already spoken, it may be justified. If my personating Mercy and Iustice, or my creating of other Objects representative, or my Method, or my Phrase, or any such like, seeme offensive; my Muse ha…h apologized for her selfe, as much as I thinke need…ull, in many places of this Booke as occasion is offered, especially in the second, fi…th, and eighth Canto's.
…f the Poeme seeme too l…rge, or the particulars to be over tediously insisted vponupon; consider, in how many impertinent and t…ifling discourses and actio…s the best of us doe consume f…rre more houres th… the perusall of this …equires minutes, and yet thinke it no tediousn…sse: and let them call to minde how m…ny huge Volumes this age imprints and reades, which are foolish, if not wicked: let them remember also, tha… our whole life is l…ttle enough to be employed in the meditation of what is here recorded. Let them be perswaded likewise, that I have not written t…is for those who have no need thereof, or to shew my owne wit or compendiousn…sse, but to wa…ne and instruct the ignorant; to whom I should mor… oft…n speake in vaine, i… I did not otherwhile by r…pe…itions and circum…ocutions, stir…e up their affections, and beat into their unders…andings, the knowled…e and feeling of those things which I deliver. Yea, let them know, that I know those expressions will bee both pleasing and profitable to some, which▪ they imagine to be needlesse, and supe…abundant; and that I h…d rather twenty nice Criticks should censure mee for a word here and there superfluou… ▪ then that one of those other should want that which might explaine my meanings to their capacities, and so make frustrate all my labour to those who have most need of it, and for whom it was chiefly intended.
If you find any thing which may seeme spoken ou… of due Time; blame not mee altogether; for, it is above two yeares since I laboured to ge… this Booke printed; and it hath cost me more mony, more pains, and much more time to publish it, then to compose it: For, I was faine to imprint every sheet thereof with my owne hand, because I could not get allowance to doe it publikely: so unwilling are we of Remembrancers in this kind.
If you find ought else that may be doubted of, or for which I may seeme reprovable, or needing advice; let me christianly and charitably receive intell…gence thereof: And if I make not a reasonable defence, I will humbly acknowledge and give the best satisfaction for my errors, that I am able. So, I commit you to the blessing of God, and …o the per…all of this REMEMBRANCER, if you please.
Geo: Wither.