Echos from the Sixth Trumpet, Part 18
VOX PACIFICA. Imprinted 1645.
THis was a Voice tending to the Pacification of Gods wrath, and to make ſome ſuch Propoſals as might help to reconcile thoſe by whom the Common Peace was infringed; and offered many particulars to conſideration, which are ſtil as needful, and as much neglected now as at that time. It conſiſts of four Cantoes, containing about 200 Pages, two Cantoes more being intended, but not finiſhed, bebecauſe the Author thought his labour would be quite loſt, here are inſerted a few particulars, in hope it may invite them to whoſe hands the Book comes to peruſe it at large. In the Page before the Title, and engraven Frontiſpiece, the meaning of it is thus expreſt.
A Trumpet ſounds a Parlee to this Iſle,
And over it a Hand diſplaies the while
A Flag of Peace, that this new Sign at door
May draw you on to ſee a little more.
We hung it forth, that theſe beſotted Nations
May heed the ſeaſons of their Viſitations.
And grow more careful to conform their wayes
To what this Voice, and their known duty ſayes;
Though yet the moſt, our words no more have markt,
Then if a Cat had mew'd, or Dog had barkt, &c.
The Epiſtle before the ſaid Book, intended to the King, Parliament and People, thus begins.
Not to Petition King or Parliament,
Or court the People ſuit with his intent
Who ſends out this; nor is he come to crave
Your Favours, or your Patronage to have.
It is almoſt too late; and 'twas too ſoon:
At this time therefore, he expects that Boon
From one who better knows him, and from whom
This Voice doth both to ſight and hearing come:
He, had he alwayes thus reſolv'd, had loſt
Leſs labour, and eſcaped with leſs coſt.
He hath no will to flatter; if he had,
To flatter at this time, were to be mad.
And peradventure alſo, he hath now
As little cauſe as mind to flatter you.
Yet, that the ſame affection may appear
With which by him you alway ſerved were;
And that he may not give a juſt offence
By ſeeming careleſs of the Reverence
Belonging to your Grandure, he profeſſes,
That meerly for the ſake of theſe Expreſſes,
The freedom of bold Language he aſſumes, &c.
The News he brings, though thus declar'd it be,
Will warrantize the Speaker to be free;
And, if it be deſpiſed, he conceives,
Some will ere long grow bold without your leaves,
To make you hear with ruder Complements,
A blunter Language, and to worſe intents:
For dreadful things are murmur'd; and unleſs
Men more conform to that which they profeſs,
You'l find at laſt, he dareth without fear,
To ſpeak more Truth then many dare to hear.
What ever he or his rude Language ſeems,
Your perſons none more loves, or more eſteems;
None ſeeks your Honour or your Safety more
Then he doth now, or hath done heretofore.
None oftner his own blame hath ventur'd on,
That others might not wholly be undone.
He hath no aim herein at ought which tends
To his own perſonal or private ends.
And thus profeſſeth he, that you might grow
The more advantag'd by believing ſo;
And that his purpoſes no other are,
Then he profeſſeth, plain it will appear
To men of Ingenuity and Wit,
Who weigh what's paſt, with what henow hath writ.
For whoſoe're hath obſervation took
With what impartial freedom he hath ſpoke
The Truth to each ſide (ſparing Friend nor Foe)
(Nor caring who diſpleas'd or pleas'd ſhould grow)
Can never draw a falſe Concluſion thence,
Without much folly, or much impudence.
Be wary therefore that this Voice you heed,
Before to any Cenſures you proceed
Condemning It, or Him from whom it came,
Leſt you your ſelves incur the greateſt blame.
For if this Voice be welcome to your ear,
The bleſſed way of Peace it ſhall prepare;
And you ſhall by the Charmings of this Song,
Perceive the rage of War allay'd ere long:
The wicked Spirit ſhall be conjur'd down,
By whom the Seeds of Diſcord have been ſown.
The Haggs and Furies which have danced here,
No longer to affright you ſhall appear;
But all the ſacred Virtues, and the Graces,
Shall beautifie your deſolated Places.
But, if this Voice you either ſhall contemn,
Or him for ſpeaking it, (what ere he ſeem)
Time ſhall, by GOD's permiſſion, ſpread the ſame,
In ſpight of your detractions to your ſhame,
To bear a teſtimonial of your Crimes,
And your Impenitence, to future times;
Or, for a warning to thoſe yet to come,
Or to exalt GOD's Juſtice in your doom;
The leaſt of which will yeeld a rich Return
For all his pains, though his good will you ſcorn.
Page the 39th, after many fore-expreſſions by way of preparation, in order to what was intended by that Poem, this follows.
You look for Peace, (and he who well could ſing
That Song, deſerveth highly to be priz'd)
But, what can hither ſuch a Bleſſing bring,
Whilſt moſt Conditions thereof are deſpis'd?
Or, what as yet have they to do with Peace,
Whom their Corrections move not to repent?
Whilſt wickedneſs doth rather more encreaſe,
Then ſeem abated by their Chaſtiſement?
Who can expect that fretting Corroſives
Shall be removed from a feſt'ring ſore,
Until the skilful Surgeon firſt perceives
It may with healing-ſalves be plaſtred o're;
Unleſs he rather hath a mind to ſee
The Patient quite deſtroy'd, then cur'd to be?
How few are yet obſerv'd, whoſe former courſe
Is better'd by thoſe Plagues which now lie on them?
How many rather do appear the worſe,
And to be more corrupt then we have known them?
In what perpetual broiles are they involved
Who for the Publick Welfare moſt endeavor?
How friendleſs are they who ſeem beſt reſolved,
And in good Reſolutions do perſever?
Howmany into Parties quickly band,
A queſtioned Delinquent to protect?
How few men for that Innocent will ſtand,
Whom Malice doth accuſe, or but ſuſpect?
And, who now lives, and loves the Common Right,
Who ſuffers not ſome inſolent deſpight?
Though moſt men ſee deſtruction hanging over
Their giddy heads; their Tragedy begun,
And round about them nothing can diſcover
But univerſal Ruine drawing on:
Ambition, Malice, Avarice and Pride,
Self-will, Self-love, Hypocriſie and Guile,
As arrogantly ſtill on Horſe-back ride,
As if no Plague had ſeized on this Iſle.
This man for Place, that ſtriveth for Command,
Pretends the Publick Weal, but ſeeks his own;
And cares not, if he profit by the hand,
If Law and Goſpel too, be overthrown.
And he who their Preſerver would become,
Finds furious Foes abroad, and worſe at home.
In ev'ry Shire, in ev'ry Town and City,
This Kingdoms Diſcords are epitomiz'd,
In ev'ry Corporation and Committee,
Some Engine of Diviſion is devis'd.
Occaſions daily ſpring; each man engaging
To ſide with, or ſtand leanning to ſome Faction,
And by new quarrels more and more enraging
Their Fury, to the heightning of Diſtraction:
An Emblem of which madneſs he might draw,
Who ſaw within an old thatch'd Barn on fire,
Poor beggars quarrelling for lowſie ſtraw,
(Or Dunghil rags or clouts rak'd from the Mire)
Who wil not heed their harms, or ceaſe to brawl,
Until the Flame conſumes Rogues, rags and all.
How can calm Peace be timely wooed thither,
Where men grown beaſt-like are in their diſſentions;
And where the means of knitting them together,
Are ſtill occaſions made of new contentions?
How can theſe Iſles have peace that are ſo vitious,
And who have Factious Spirits rais'd in them
As wilfully diſpos'd as thoſe Seditious,
Who brought deſtruction on Jeruſalem?
How can they look for Peace, while they contrive
Deſigns enlarging ſtill their diſcontent?
Whilſt Policy doth wedges daily drive
'Twixt ev'ry Joint, to make a cureleſs Rent?
And, whilſt to mend the breaches of this Land,
There's nothing brought but peble ſtones & ſand?
How can theſe miſerable Iſles have Peace,
Whilſt Juſtice nor Compaſſion find regard?
Whilſt they who ſhould protect, do moſt oppreſs;
When ſin ſcapes blame, and Virtue wants reward?
How can he hope for Peace, who would enjoy
His Will on any terms, and for the ſhade,
The Subſtance of thoſe Mercies quite deſtroy,
Which might by patient induſtry be had?
Or how can he be worthy of that bleſſing,
Who knowing how much it hath lately coſt
In blood and treaſure, lets the repoſſeſſing
Of that dear Purchaſe, for a toy be loſt?
And doth for evermore himſelf undo,
To ſatisfie his luſt a year or two?
Who knoweth not, that more dread moſt men have,
Leſt of Eſtate or Perſon they ſhould loſe
The loved Freedoms, then to be a ſlave
To him whoſe Tyranny the ſoul undoes?
You chiefly for ſelf-ends give, lend and pay;
To that intent ſtrict Covenants you make;
To that end you ſometimes do faſt and pray;
To that intent much care and pains you take.
Yea, many goodly things to that intent
You often do, and many moe intend;
But your Peace-offerings all in vain are ſpent,
Till you direct them to their proper end,
And till the Peace which you deſire to make,
Shall be deſir'd for Truth and Conſcience ſake.
Who ſees not, that a Peace you now deſire,
For nought but that you might again enjoy
Your Luſts, and to thoſe Vanities retire,
Wherein you did your former dayes employ?
Who ſees not, that like to thoſe Iſra'lites
Whom from th' Egyptian Bondage GOD redeem'd,
You have the pleaſing of your Appetites
Much more then your Deliverer eſteem'd?
Their Garlike and their Fleſh-pots left behind,
They thought on more then on their ſervitude
From which they came; & more then they did mind
The Wonders and the Mercies which God ſhew'd.
And you have acted as in imitation
Of that perverſe and fooliſh Generation, &c.
After the mentioning of many other Actings and Omiſſions obſtructive to Peace-making, he proceeds, Pag. 49.
Aſſoon ſhall he who Weſtward alwayes goes,
Meet him that ſtill an Eaſtward point doth ſteer,
As your two Factions in a firm Peace cloſe,
Till they in their chief Aims approach more near.
For th' one is bent the other to enſlave;
The other is reſolved to be free:
The laſt would keep what GOD and Nature gave;
The firſt would ſe…ze what ought not theirs to be:
And theſe from reconcilement are ſo far,
That all their kindneſs is but to betray:
When moſt they talk of Peace, they purpoſe War;
When they embrace, they mean to ſtab and ſlay.
And when perhaps you think the War is done,
The greateſt Miſchiefs will be but begun.
For as yet nor th' one, nor th' other ſide,
Nor King, nor People, Commoners, nor Peers,
Nor Flocks, nor Shepherds have the Courſe yet tri'de
By which you can be ſaved from your fears.
A Treaty might compleat it; but, before
You venture that, you muſt be fit to treat:
For then the Work were half way done, and more;
And till that be, no ſtep you forward get.
In heat of Quarrels, nothing done or ſpoke
Can reconcile; a Friends words move you not:
The more you talk, the more the peace is broke,
Till you your loſt conſidering Caps have got:
Till your hot blood is cool'd, till rage is gone,
And Reaſon doth examine things alone.
Then peradventure, &c.—
See further, Page 51.
Until both parties do at leaſt agree,
In all thoſe Common Principles whereby
Human Society preſerv'd may be
With Natures Rights, and Chriſtian Liberty,
All Treaties will be miſchievous, or vain,
To men adhering to the better courſe;
For, by ſuch Treatings, Politicians gain
Advantages to make your being worſe:
Yea, by that means theſe find occaſions may
To gain, or give intelligence; to make
New Plots and Friends; to haſten or delay
As cauſe requires, and other wayes to take
For their avail; which elſe they had not got,
And which true honeſty alloweth not.
This Precaution is added, Pag. 139.
Take ſerious heed that zeal to Innovations.
Or cauſeleſs fears or hopes incline your mind
To ſubjugate theſe Kingdoms and theſe Nations
To Governments of any Foreign kind:
But rather uſe your utmoſt diligence,
To rectifie thoſe things that are amiſs
In that which is eſtabliſht; and from thence
Caſt and purge out what ever therein is
Repugnant to thoſe Charters which by Grace
Or Nature were confer'd; and let your care
Be ſo to ſettle all, that you make place
The Throne of Chriſt among you to prepare:
Leſt when his Kingdom comes, you muſt be fain
To pluck your new devices down again.
Take likewiſe heed you no juſt means neglect,
Whereby the King may be recall'd, and wonne,
GOD's Honour, with your Safety to reſpect,
And do the duties he hath left undone.
For, by rejecting Him, how juſt ſoe're
The Cauſe may ſeem, you ſhall delay the Peace
That is deſir'd, and make the Quarrels here
With much more difficulty to decreaſe.
But, if your Prudency ſhall win him home,
And he return ſincerely to his Charge,
It ſhall a bleſſing to theſe Iſles become;
Your Honour and your Joy it ſhall enlarge.
And as Chriſt's Vice-Roy he ſhall ſit upon
A Righteous and an everlaſting Throne.
Walk therefore prudently in this ſtreight path,
And turn not to the left hand or the right:
That Pow'r which God to you committed hath,
Improve for him according to your might;
Him in the reaſonable Means attend
With Faith and Patience, that he may at laſt
Your King new moulded back unto you ſend,
Or him out of his ruin'd Kingdoms caſt.
If his miſactings timely he repent,
GOD will reſtore him; and if you amend,
Then that which hitherto hath made a Rent
Betwixt you, ſhall in ſweet agreement end.
If both conform, both ſhall true Peace enjoy;
If both be wilful, GOD ſhall both deſtroy, &c.
See the 198th Page, where it thus follows.
Let ſerious care be took, and quickly too,
That her due Rights the Commonwealth enjoy:
That private men their duties better do,
Leſt they by their diviſions all deſtroy.
Let not thoſe fooliſh Toyes who do beſot
Themſelves with arrogance, preſume to prate
As if a Parliament had them begot
To be now Heirs apparent to the State.
Permit you not Religious Melancholly,
Phlegmatick Avarice, or Zeal Cholerick,
Nor ſuffer an Exceſs of Sanguine folly
To make both Church and State grow deadly ſick,
Or rather mad, and in their mad diſtractions
To tear themſelves into a thouſand Fractions.
Let not your King and Parliament in One,
Much leſs apart, miſtake themſelves for that
Which is moſt worthy to be thought upon,
Or think they are eſſentially the State.
Let them not fancy that th' Authority
And Priviledges upon them beſtown,
Confer'd were to ſet up a Majeſty,
A Power or a Glory of their own.
But let them know, that for another thing,
Which they but repreſent, and which ere long
Them to a ſtrict account will doubtleſs bring,
If any way they do it wilful wrong:
For that indeed is really the face,
And they but as the ſhadow in a Glaſs.
Moreover let them know this, that if either
They ſtill dividing, grow from bad to worſe;
Or without Penitence unite together,
And by their ſin provoke him to that courſe,
GOD out of their Confuſions can and will
Create a Means, and raiſe a Lawful Pow'r
His Promiſe to his People to fulfil;
And his and their Oppoſers to devour.
Yea, bid both King and Parliament make haſt,
In penitence united to appear;
Leſt into thoſe Confuſions they are caſt,
Which will affright them both, yea make them fear,
And know there is on Earth a greater thing
Then an unrighteous Parliament or King.
Becauſe the Poem is large, and hard to be gotten, to ſupply that defect here are added the Contents of every Canto, as they are in the imprinted Book.
The Contents of the Firſt Canto.
Firſt, here is to your view prefer'd,
When, where, and how this Voice was heard:
What kind of Muſings were the ground,
What Worlds and Wonders may be found
Within our ſelves; what ſafe Retreats
From thoſe Oppreſſions, Frauds and Baits
Which are without; how little fear
Of Terrors which affright us here:
How plainly there a man may ſee
The Villanies that acted be
For private Ends, with feigned ſhows:
How general Corruption grows:
Why to acquaint you with this Voice,
GOD by ſo mean a man makes choice.
Then ſhews how our great hopes deceive us,
And prayes his aid who can relieve us.
The Contents of the Second Canto.
This Cantoes Preface being done,
The Voice to theſe effects goes on:
Tells how unworthy we are yet,
For Peace deſired how unfit:
How vain, how harmful Treaties be,
Till both ſides in one Third agree;
And (laying by ignoble Ends)
Uſe likely means of being friends.
Shews that the Peace which moſt purſue,
Will be nor permanent, nor true:
Then that ſome Cures may be appli'de,
Declares what Parts are putrifi'de,
Which muſt be purg'd without delay,
Or cauteriz'd, or cut away,
If we will, ere it be too late,
Repair this weak, this dying State.
The Contents of the Third Canto.
Here, whether you be pleas'd or no,
This Author maketh bold to ſhow
That portion of his private wrongs,
Whoſe knowledg and receſs belongs
To Publick Intereſt; that her eye
May through his wounds her ſcars eſpye.
The Voice then ſpeaks again, and ſchools
In him, all other froward fools,
Who with impatiency do vent
Their private wrongs, or diſcontent;
And look their Trifles ſhould be heard,
When Kingdoms cannot find regard.
It ſhews our Senate blameleſs is,
Of many things which are amiſs:
And where the fault and fountain lies
From whence our preſent Plagues ariſe.
The Contents of the Fourth Canto.
Whilſt here the Author doth recite
His Muſings after Naſeby Fight,
The Voice returns, and doth begin
To tell us what muſt uſher in
Exiled Peace: Then told are we
How kept our Vows and Covenants be:
How we Reform, and Faſt, and Pray,
What Thankleſneſs we do repay.
What muſt in general be done,
What by each individual one.
What Courſe both King and People take,
Ere they their Peace with GOD ſhall make.
What he expecteth from theſe Nations,
From Cities, Towns and Corporations;
And ev'ry Houſe in ſome degree,
Before true Peace will ſetled be.