Improvement of Imprisonment, Poem 6

Improvement of Imprisonment · Poem 6

p. 30George Wither's Appollogy for compoſing the Poem called Vox Vulgi; being a Welcome home from the Counties, Citties and Burroughs, to their Prevaricating Members; ſaving the honour of the Houſe of Commons, and of every faithfull and diſcreet Individual member thereof; which Poem was ſurpriſed before quite finiſhed.

The Contents.

The Author, here makes his defence;

Clears his aſſperſed Innocence;

And frees himſelfe, from Juſt ſuſpition,

Of acting ought, without Commiſſion.

HEre, I have time to meditate upon,

What, I my ſelf, and other men have done,

Occaſioning my ſuffering, at this time,

And, in relation to what's thought my Crime:

Leſt, therefore, I may him offend who gave it,

I will improve this Leiſure, whilſt I have it;

For, when my Muſings, are expreſt in words,

The better means to Scan them it affords;

And to declare, what I ſhall now expreſſe,

I may hereafter, want both Time, and Place;

Or, being dead, before my Tryal-day,

My falſe Accuſors, to my charge may lay,

What they ſhall pleaſe; and none be certain, why

I was committed in this Jayl to die.

GOD give me ſtrength, to finiſh this; and than,

Let all my foes, do, and ſay, what they can.

p. 31I am not only queſtion'd, for a thing,

Preſum'd miſdone, but alſo, for the Spring

Whence 'tis deriv'd; and pleaſ'd ſome are, to ſay

That rending of my whole Eſtate away,

Had me provok'd unto an angry-fit,

Which was the Cauſe, of what I lately writ;

And, that I had a ſcurrulous intent.

To caſt aſſpertions on the Parliament.

To make it ſo appear, depriv'd I am,

Of what beſt proves, that, I deſerve no blame.

My laſt Conception, (which, before to Light

It could be brought, was ſnatcht out of my ſight)

May forced be to ſpeak, what I ne'r thought,

Or, elſe, be ſmother'd, as a birth'worth nought:

Or, (that an ill intention may appear)

Some Verſes may be pickt out here and there,

(Without thoſe Qualifyings, which precede,

Or follow, to illuſtrate what they read)

Whereby, ſome Inferences may be made,

That, on Good-manners, I, intrenched had,

In ſumming up, and perſonating that

Which I have heard, the Common-voice relate:

Thus much to be intended doth appear,

By what, I do already ſee and hear.

Which falſehood, if, but barely I deny

I ſhall in words alone, retort the Lie;

And, Reaſon may be born down by the noiſes,

Ariſing from plurallity of Voices,

Yeld forth by them, who ſhall intrude to do,

That, which nor GOD, nor Good-men calls them to.

I, therefore, will produce a Vindication,

That may be juſtifi'd by demonſtration;

Or, by ſuch Reaſons as will do me right;

Unleſſe they ſhall be kept from open ſight,

p. 32Or clipt; or, I not ſuffered be to ſay

That, which to clear, my ſelf produce I may:

And, if ſo; by the conſciences of them

I ſhall be quit, whoſe words will me cendemn.

My Cauſe, may for the preſent, injur'd be;

But, all the World can do no harm to me.

Though that which is without me, wrong'd hath been

And may be ſtill, all ſhall be ſafe within,

So long as GOD, aſſiſteth me, by whom

I, with this confidence, am arm'd become;

And peradventure, they who think to ſpoil,

This confidence, may give themſelves the foile.

Their ſcandal, in the firſt place, Ile aſſay,

To wipe off, who ſuppoſe my loſſes may

Provoke me, or, that my oppreſſions had

Prevail'd, to make me grow a little mad;

But, they miſtaken are in that ſurmiſe;

For, to the world-ward, I am ſo wiſe,

To be by them diſtempred, in a mood

Like thoſe, who truſt in Riches more than GOD;

And, by what I am like to undergoe,

It will be proved, whether it be ſo.

I am not ſo in love, as men conceive,

With that, whereof the World can me bereave,

As to ingage, for ſuch poor Intereſts,

My quiet in this life, by thoſe conteſts

Which I adventure on, if I ſaw nought,

That much more worth ſuch hazards, I had thought:

And, this mind, if my Actions did not ſhew,

In former times, thoſe will that ſhall enſue,

When, more undoubtedly thoſe things appear,

Which of my Writings, the chief motives were.

And will ſhew whether, I did ought intend

To drive on an ignoble, or ſelf-end.

p. 33It may he known, by what was heretofore

Divulg'd, that, nothing now befalls me more

Then I expected; That, I did foreſee

What lately ſeiz'd on other men and me:

That, having been here, in the Worlds great School

So long a time, I was not ſo much Fool,

As not to know, how, Friends, and means to make

In ſeaſonable time to ſave my ſtake

And mend my Game; if I unto that end

Had play'd it, which moſt other men intend;

Or, if I thought thoſe men, who look on me

With moſt contempt, were better then they be.

I knew as well as any, how to Fawn,

And flatter; what to give, and what to Pawn

For my advantage, if I could have thought

That, worth my ſeeking, for which moſt men ſought.

But though I find it an imperfect Light

Whereby at firſt, I walk'd, it gave me ſight

Of much more then the World believ'd, I ſaw,

And, kept me of mine own heart ſo in awe,

That, notwithſtanding I did for a ſeaſon

Oft ſtagger to and fro, 'twixt Faith and Reaſon,

(And ſtumbled otherwhile, into thoſe things

Which Ruine, unleſs Grace prevention brings)

I, in the main, purſu'd a Good Deſign;

(Not, I confeſs, by any power of mine)

And by ſome Symptoms, at the laſt, perceiv'd,

That, till of my Eſtate, I was bereav'd,

My work, would neither well be carryed on

(When that time came, wherein it ſhould be done)

Nor, take ſo good effect, as it would then,

Upon my Self, or upon other men.

For, which cauſe, when I ſaw it muſt be ſo,

Without reluctancy, I, let all go,

p. 34And without nouriſhing, a ſecret ſpleen

Againſt their perſons, who my foes have been.

This, future things, much better will diſplay

Then all which at this preſent, I can ſay;

As alſo, that, they who from me of late,

Have torn unmercifully, my Eſtate;

By far worſe motives thereunto were led,

Then thoſe, which me inclin'd to what I did.

Loſs to prevent, or to regain what's loſt,

I did adventure no more pains or coſt,

Then Reaſon warranted, and obligations

Which bound me to have care of my Relations;

Or might, then, by purſuing of that courſe

Aſſure me, how much better'd, or grown worſe

Men, by thoſe Judgements and thoſe Mercies were,

Which GOD, had variouſly diſpenſed here;

And, having thereby learned what GOd meant

I, with my loſſes was as well content

As is a Chriſtian when by Turks purſu'd

(Who overpower him by their multitude)

He wracks his Veſſell on a friendly ſhore,

Where, he hath Life and Freedom, though no more.

Why, ſhould I angry be to ſee that gone

Which if I had not loſt, had me undone?

Which alſo, will undo them, who now have it,

And (if good heed he take not) him that gave it?

Or, which will be reſtor'd again to me,

If, for GOD's Glory, and my good it be?

Why, ſhould I be diſpleas'd to be bereft

Of that, whoſe loſs hath an aſſurance left

Of better things? Of that, which, whilſt poſſeſt,

Increaſt my troubles, and diſturb'd my reſt?

Of that, which I muſt ſhortly leave (though mine)

And, know not (when the ſame I muſt reſign)

p. 35Whether, it to their Weal or Woe, ſhall tend,

To whom, when I am dead, it will deſcend?

Theſe things conſidered, all wiſe men know

That, nor theſe, nor my former Muſings flow

From diſcontentments, or from wrath that ſprings

From loſs of inconſiderable things:

And Wiſemens, good eſteems, if keep I may,

A ruſh I care not, what fools think or ſay,

On whom, the leſs impreſſion it will make,

The more I rationally write, or ſpeak.

But, that, whereby moſt blame to me may come,

(And, which will probably be charged home)

Is an Impeachment for a hainous thing

That ſome are pleas'd to call a Lybelling

Againſt the COMMONS; which, if proved true

Ile ask no favour: For, I think none due;

And, if it be an unjuſt imputation

I for my ſufferings claim a Reparation,

Expecting (which ought not to be refus'd)

That, what is call'd a Lybel be produc'd

To open view, and ſight of ev'ry one

Who may concerned be, in what is done:

And, that, none may uſurp a Priviledge

Thereon to paſſe a Sentence as my Judge,

Who ſhall not read, or hear the ſame throughout▪

For, Solomon hath freed it ſo from doubt

That, to averr, I ſhall not be a fear'd,

He, that doth Cenſure what he never heard,

Deſerveth ſhame; And I ſhall rather laugh

And Jeer thereat, then either grieve or chafe;

Becauſe, (at worſt) I, then a Doome ſhall have,

Much like as if, a Fool had call'd me Knave.

If left to Publick view, my Poem be,

And finiſht as intended was by me

p. 36No worſe conſtruction, thereof can be made

Then this, that, I have call'd a Spade a Spade;

And, means devis'd, whereby men may appear

Unto themſelves, what others know they are.

By fained ſpeakers, I have onelyonly ſaid

What was to me by Common-fame convey'd

And murmur'd in moſt places, to worſe ends

Then that, wheteto my harmleſs Poem tends:

And, if I may preſume the Truth to tell

I am rewarded ill, for doing well:

For, thereby, I not onelyonly turn'd aſide

That general reproach which was apply'd

To all the Houſe of Commons, and, alone

To them confin'd it, who brought blame thereon;

But, likewiſe, without perſonally blaming

(Or marking any forth) to their defaming,

Have ſought to bring it to their Cogniſance,

Who might thereby, the Publick weal advance;

And, who, if it prov'd worthy Approbation

Might uſeful make it for the Reformation

Of that, which elſe, will have a Couſequence

More hurtful, then my Innocent-Offence,

For, though by publication, I had done

What might have ſeem'd a fault; (and now is none)

The Generality but little more

Had thereby known, then what moſt knew before,

When to worſe ends, and more apparant wrongs

'Twas toſt, upon the Rackets of mens Tongues;

Who, ſo diſſatisfied ſeem to be

By what, they lately feel, and hear and ſee,

That very frequently they are offended

Ev'n with what for their welfare, ſeems intended;

Becauſe, they having often been deceiv'd

Suſpect, ſome future miſchiefs then conceiv'd:

p. 37Yea, then, are things, when plauſibly projected,

The leſſe believed, and the more ſuſpected;

Not by thoſe onelyonly, who now called are

Phanaticks, but, by thoſe likewiſe that were

Diſtinguiſh'd by the name of Cavalier;

Yea, and our Jacks indifferent, do begin

To be more Talkative then they have been,

Becauſe, they find themſelves in danger (whether

They are of this, or that ſide, or of neither)

So long, as things which Reaſon order might,

Shall paſſe by number onelyonly, without weight.

To intimate, that, Parliaments had been

Diſturb'd, by ſome of thoſe, who were brought in

A ſurrepticious way; and, that by them

The People were abus',d is no great crime;

Nor is affirming, that they were deceiv'd

Unfitting to be ſpoken, or believ'd,

When generally avow'd; nor to averr

A Parliament in groſſe, may ſometimes err,

Since, neither to be wiſe, or Innocent,

Is, an inſeperable Accident

Of Parliaments; as hath apparant been,

By that, which we in our own dayes have ſeen:

For, that, they may with Treaſon, and with Murther,

Be charged, we ſhall need to look no further

Then, unto thoſe Tranſactions which have paſt,

Both in this Parliament, and in the laſt.

What have I then misdone in making known

How fooliſh, mad, or wicked ſome were grown?

How much oppreſt men are; how griev'd; and how

Exaſperated, more and more, they grow?

What fault commit I, when I hear men ſay

What's done, and what I ſee done every day,

p. 38If I declare (ſedition to prevent)

That I perceive moſt men are diſcontent,

And froward? ſince I neither made them ſuch,

Nor, therein am concerned half ſo much

As other men? nor did intend a courſe

Thereby, to make what's evil, to be worſe?

And, ſince, by that, which lately written was

By me, no miſchief can be brought to paſſe,

Unleſs, by accident befall it may,

As when Heat melteth Wax, and hardens Clay.

It ſeems hard uſage (therefore) to be thrown

Into a Jail; of all that was mine own,

In my old Age diſpoil'd; ſhut up alone,

Where, ſick or well (attended on by none)

I muſt in longeſt nights the hazzards take

Of what may happen, ſleeping or awake;

Not impudent enough, to beg or borrow,

Nor having certainty of bread, to morrow,

If Charity ſhould fail: which, is a caſe

Much worſe, then oft befalleth in this place,

To Thieves and Murtherers: yet, this is not

Here mention'd as repining at my Lot;

For, whereas I am onelyonly lodged there,

Where Murtherers and Thieves confined are,

The Son of GOD, who for my Ranſome dy'd

Was twixt a Thief and Murth'rer crucifi'd:

And, in my preſent ſuff'rings I am eas'd,

By being well assur'd, that GOD is pleas'd

With what befals; and that I ſhall at laſt

Be fill'd with ſweetneſs, by what had a taſte

Of Bitterneſs at firſt; and, that to them

Who, me and my endeavour now contemn,

Things may hereafter profitable be,

Which are at preſent, miſchievous to me.

p. 39Deſpiſed Inſtruments will be of uſe

To bring to mind, that which will help reduce

Confuſion into order, when apply'd

By Meekneſs, and not ſpurned at by Pride;

And, things which by the world, as much were Jeer'd

As Joſuah's Rams-horns, when he firſt appear'd

Surrounding Jericho, will bring about

As great a Miracle, as then was wrought;

Though no Examples, yet, nor good advice,

Nor private Admonitions make thoſe wiſe,

Who have not Eyes to ſee, what they behold

Nor Ears, to hear a Truth, when it is told.

The hour is not yet come, which I expect

May probably give this a good effect.

But, there are times wherein that will content

For which, we ſhall at other times be ſhent.

My Poem, ſtiled OPOBALSAMUM,

(Though) more offenſive, then my laſt, to ſome)

The Commons (named the Long Parliament)

Did winck at, without ſhow of diſcontent:

Yea, though in plain terms, I made bold to tell

Wherein, their faulty-members did not well.

I, then (as in the laſt) had ſo divided

The Goats from Sheep; and had ſo well provided

To ſave their honour, who leaſt guilty were

That (though when that firſt Poem, did appear,

I was to them a Priſoner, for telling

What ſome of them to hear of, were unwilling)

They me inlarged, and vouchſaf'd me more

Reſpect in ſhow, then e're they did before.

For, prudently obſerving, that the ſhame

Which they in chief deſerv'd, who were to blame,

Was upon all, without diſtinction flung,

(Till, unto thoſe to whom it did belong,

p. 40I had confin'd it) not one word was ſpoken

To me, which their diſpleaſure might betoken;

And, ſome good uſe was made, (though I confeſs

Not very much) of what I did expreſs:

And, when, by time, that out of mind was wore,

I, had as little favour as before.

And, ſo I have had alſo, ever ſince;

For, ſtill, ſome at my writings took offence,

And more my wrongs, by one foe, one day, were

Then all my Friends, could right in twenty year.

I may have hope, the Commons before whom

I muſt be try'd, as prudent will become.

The Priviledge of WATERFORD affords,

The Freedom of explaining their own words

To all her Citizens. If my words are

Allow'd but that Senſe onelyonly, which they bear

Grammatically, I no more deſire,

So that my Poem be preſerv'd intire,

And perfected with my laſt thoughts thereon

According to my mind when 'twas begun.

For, no great credit again thereby they ſhall

Who weigh a matter, till they hear it all,

And, they will much bewray their ignorances,

Who heed not Cauſes, with their Circumſtances.

There was before my Book, as Epigram

Whereby, I wholly Vindicated am

From that which is pretended; and, I hear

That will not be permitted to appear.

If ſo, I find it, there is miſchief meant

Which I ſhall find a Medium to prevent,

Unleſs there be, in ſome an impudence

Much more deſerving blame then my offence.

That Epigram did evidently ſhew

My Book deſigned for the private view

p. 41Of Clarendon, (ſuppos'd ſo wiſe and juſt,

That, him, the King is pleaſed to intruſt

Ev'n with his Conſcience) to receive his Doom

Before, that forth in Publick it ſhould come:

Becauſe, that, I was hopeful it might bring

By means of him, ſome notions to the King

Whereof his Wiſdom, would have made ſome uſe

To further, what ſhall to his Weal conduce;

And, if that Epigram concealed be

It both diſhonours him, and injures me.

For, lyable it makes him, to ſuſpect

That, me, in Ill deſigns, he doth protect;

The wrong to me is without precedent,

For, e're I had expreſſed what I meant

With my imperfect Poem, I was ſeiz'd;

Accus'd of whatſoever others pleas'd,

And here, unto an ignominious Jail

Committed am unheard, and without Bail.

I hope for better uſage, when the Ring

Of ſuff'rings I have trod, till me it bring

Before my Judges: (for what e're is thought)

Their honour, I have not infring'd in ought.

Their charge, againſt me, I, yet know not how

May honeſtly be prov'd; but, this I know,

The Houſe of Commons may much honour get

By well approving that which I have writ

(Conſidering, I therein have appeal'd,

To GOD, and men) if, it be not conceal'd.

From open view, and mulcts upon me laid

For mentioning in private, what was ſaid,

In publick by the People; who, thereby

And, therein, are concern'd as much as I;

Becauſe, my purpoſe, in that Poem, tends

To common good, without ſiniſter ends.

p. 42And, if we to our ſelves, may not relate,

Our thoughts in words, and them Communicate

To Peers intruſted by the Supream Power,

(For Preſervarion of their peace and our)

We are in danger, ſhortly, to become

The verieſt ſlaves throughout all Chriſtendom.

But, (as I ſaid in that which was ſurpriz'd)

The Prudent Commons, will be ſo advis'd

When they with ſeriouſneſs, have that peruſed

Whereby, they are ſuppos'd by me abuſed,

That, finding none reproved ſave onelyonly thoſe,

Who them in their debatings did oppoſe;

And, that they likewiſe (after next October,

Who were half mad in June) wiſe, and grown ſober,

Will mend their former manners, and become

As helpful, as they have been troubleſome;

Both Parties then, will, peradventure be

Thenceforth, as fully, reconcil'd to me

As I to all men am; and, what was not

Ill-meant, ſhall be well taken, or forgot.

If, it be ſo; It will a Symptome prove

Of an abatement, if not of remove,

Of ſome oppreſſions, to prepare the way

For what's reſerv'd, untill another day.

But, to what end is this Apologie?

Not meerly, from this place wherein I lie,

To free my Perſon; or, from that, which may

To me befall upon my Tryal-day.

No; thoſe effects, muſt from an abler ſpirit

Proceed: All I can ſay, or do, or merit,

To add a contribution thereunto,

So, little, will to ſuch a purpoſe do,

That, rather, provoke more my Foes, I ſhall

And deeper, into their diſpleaſure fall:

p. 43For, 'tis not pleading in the fitteſt Seaſon

A Righteous Cauſe, with Arguments Reaſon;

Nor is it our well-doing; or our ſaying

The Truth; nor Preaching; nor unto them, Praying;

Nor our long-ſuff'rings; nor (when paſt they are)

Good ſervices to them, how great ſo e're,

That ſo much moves, as Flattery, making Friends,

Large Gifts, and ſerving of their preſent ends.

I, therefore, have but an occaſion took

Thereby, to mention ſomewhat, yet unſpoke

A Nobler Cauſe concerning then mine own,

(And whereon, Words will better be beſtown)

Wholly to GOD committing the ſucceſs

Make that, the chief aim of what I expreſs.

For, hearing what is done, (by common Fame)

And partly knowing, that, oblig'd I am

Not by my Nat'ral faculties alone,

On me conferred for that end, (or none)

But, alſo, by my Chriſtianity,

(And, not a little, by a Moral-Tie)

To ſpeak, and write, and do the beſt I may,

To bring them who are out, into their way;

And, Ile expreſs, what e're to that effect

I do believe may tend; without reſpect

To Perſons of a high or low degree;

Or, any Powers on Earth, who e're they be.

Councills and Parliaments, and Soveraign Kings,

I do acknowledge to be Sacred things,

Whoſe Reputation, whilſt (at leaſt) they are

In being, ought with conſcientious care

To be preſerv'd; becauſe on them depends,

That, which to publick woe or welfare tends.

Yet, He, from whom all Powers their Being had,

And they, for whoſe ſakes onelyonly they were made

p. 44Ought ſo to be preferr'd, that, nought be wav'd

Whereby their dues, and honours, may be ſav'd.

We have oft ſeen and felt, in our own times,

That, they of ſuch Confuſions, and ſuch Crimes

Hath been the cauſe at leaſt in letting in

Much more deſtructive Plagues, then all the Sin

Of Privare Perſons; and, that which we know

Was heretofore, may be hereafter ſo.

Yea, may and will, in every Age grow worſe

Unleſs there be proviſion of ſome courſe

To regulate them; and, a free conſeſſion

(To Perſons qualified with diſcretion)

To mind them of their duties, who have dar'd

When they to Publick places were prefer'd,

Imploy thoſe Priviledges as their own

Which were for Publick ſervices beſtown;

And, often do abuſe them, to the wrong

Of them, to whom of right, they do belong.

'Tis now high time, that Earthly Kings & Judges,

Should wiſer grow; and uſe their Peiviledges,

To better purpoſes then heretofore:

For, his great Kingdom, now is at the door,

Which will deſtroy thoſe Empires that begun

In NIMROD, and through various forms did run

Until the Tyrannies, beginning than

Shall have an end in that Miſterious-man,

Who, by the Dragon, Scarlet-Whore and BEAST,

(Though myſtically) truly is expreſt.

Then, ſhall thoſe Tyrannies, and Uſurpations

Whereby he, long time, hath oppreſt the Nations,

And therewith, every Branch that ſprung therefrom,

Unto an everlaſting Ruine come;

Though ſome of them are ſeemingly Beſainted,

And with fair ſhewes of Holineſs Bepainted.

p. 45For, I believe (although it doth appear

To few men, yet) Divine Records declare

Aſwell the Term of NIMROD'S Emperies

As of Myſterious Babels Tyrannies,

Whoſe time, Six hundred ſixty ſix is known

To number out: and, which muſt be ov'rthrown

With that, from whence it ſprung, when ripe 'tis grown.

That, to be All in all, GOD, may be known.(grown.

And (as I've oft inferr'd) they, who belong

To that new Empire, which will then grow ſtrong,

Shall now way need their Perſons, to ingage

By violent Actings; but, to bear the rage

Of their oppoſers with a patient heart;

For, ſuff'ring onelyonly, will be their chief part.

And, he who in the Aſſyrian hoaſt did ſmite

Fourſcore five thouſand Perſons, in one night,

Shall by the Pow'r and vertue of his Word

Perform that work, without their hand or ſword.

The CUP of Fornication, ſo bewitches

With love of Pleaſures, Honours, and of Riches

The great men of the Earth, that, they think none

Are ſober men, unleſs they dote upon

Thoſe Vanities, and proſecute thoſe Ends

To which, their Policy and Power tends,

Until they grow as mad or drunk as they;

And, then perhaps, for wiſe men, paſs they may.

As David ſayes, They will not Underſtand;

They will not heed what GOD hath now in hand;

But, obſtinately ſtill adhere to thoſe

Who, tempt them on, unto their ov'rthrowes,

Till Ruine comes: For, they are not aware

How cheated by thoſe Mountebanks they are;

Nor how thoſe Paraſites increaſe their ſtore,

Ev'n to exceſs, by making of them poor:

p. 46Nor heed they, how, theſe cauſe them to deſtroy

Thoſe men, by whom they ſafety might enjoy

With Love and Honour, if they did not lend

Their Ears to thoſe, who no Good-men befren'd.

They ſhut their Eyes, and therefore cannot ſee

Into what dangers they approaching be;

And, thoſe as much they hate who croſs their will

To ſave them, as if they did come to kill.

That, which they call, the Reaſon of the State,

Too far inſiſted on, is often that

Which proves the bane of Kingdoms; & yet ſtill

Either falſe Prophets, Prieſts, or their ſelf-will

Therewith beſots them; though they have bin told,

What thereon hath enſu'd in times of old

When, Princes, GOD's directions had deſpis'd;

And acted that, which their own hearts devis'd

Although they by experiments had ſeen,

What, of their Policies, the fruits have been.

Theſe were of old examples: Saul, thereby

Deprived was of Life and Soveraignty.

King Solomon, by ſomething like that Knack

(To pleaſe his Wives) in honour ſuff'red Wrack.

So, Jeroboam, though, GOD promis'd him,

And to his ſeed, a laſting Diadem,

By that State-policy, whereby he ſought

To keep the Throne, the loſs thereof was wrought.

Jehu, regardleſs of GOD's promiſes

The ſame courſe following, had the like ſucceſs.

High places, Altars, Groves, and Prieſts of Baal

Were chief occaſions of King Ahabs fall,

The bringing of the Gods of Edom home,

In hope that they a ſtrengthning might become

Unto his Kingdom, was the overthrow

Of Amaziah, and of many moe.

p. 47State-Policy, made Judah's King contemn

The Prophets Counſel, when Jeruſalem

Was firſt deſtroyed, and the Jews inſlaved

Who, might then, from that Bondage have been ſaved;

And, they who truly ſought their preſervation

Reputed were (as now) Foes to their Nation,

Diſloyal to their King, ſeiz'd as ſupitious,

And puniſhed as Factious or Seditious.

State-Policy, caus'd breaking of that Oath

For which GOD was with Zedekiah wroth,

And puniſhed in ſuch a Signal wiſe

That he loſt both his Kingdom and his Eyes:

And, Politick enlarging of Poſſeſſions

Or Power, by loading Nations with Oppreſſions,

To further State-Deſigns (until it wracks

Their Loyalties, and then their patience cracks)

Hath been, and will be, in all times, and Nations,

The cauſe of Wars, Rebellions, deſolations

And changing Governments: But, now ere long

When human Policy, hath made moſt ſtrong

The MISTRIS of Terreſtrial Potentates,

By Counſel, Strength, and by Confederates,

Combin'd as they intend (and when their might

Hath raiſed Expectation to the height)

Then; She, and They, ſhall be unto each other

A mutual Plague, and be deſtroy'd together,

With ev'ry Perſon, Family, and Nation,

Which is a Member of that Corporation:

And then, thoſe PEDLERS who are now ſo jolly,

Shall, packing up the Tokens of their folly

Run to ſeek out where they their heads may hide,

From that, whereby, they ſhall be terrifi'd.

Let him, that hath an ear to hear this, hear it;

Let proud men tremble; Let the mighty fear it;

p. 48And let the Meek rejoyce; For, GOD will turn

Their Sorrows into Gladneſs, who now Mourn.

It is not only, now, of much behoof,

But, neceſſary too, that ſharp Reproof

Advice and Admonition, ſhould be given

To all Eſtates and Princes under Heaven,

Yea, and particularly be apply'd

By ſome, and in ſome caſes, when aſide

They from the way of ſafety, ſtray ſo far

That, to apparant danger, nigh they are;

(How ere they take it, or what ever ſhall

Thereby, to their Premomters befall)

Becauſe, by States, if wickedly inclin'd,

The greateſt Plagues do fall upon mankind.

This made Elia's to become ſo bold

When Ahab, of his wickedneſs he told

Unto his face; and when, to like intent,

A Writing, he to King Jehoram ſent.

This, to reprove King Aſa, without dread,

The SEER Hanani encouraged.

This, made the Prophet Samuel ſo to School

King Saul, that in effect, he call'd him Fool;

And, John the Baptiſt, ſpeak as plainly too,

Of Herod, as now they term'd Quakers do

To ſome with us: This, alſo, did induce

King David, who obſerved the abuſe

Of Courts and Councils, to cry out on them

To this effect; how long! will ye condemn

The poor and Innocent? how long! oppreſs

The man, afflicted, and the Fatherleſs?

How long! will ye unrighteouſly neglect

The cauſe that's juſt, for perſonal reſpect?

Do Juſtice, and vouchſafe compaſſion more

Hereafter, then ye have done heretofore;

p. 49For, (if it be not) to you, be it known

You walk in darkneſs; you have overthrown

The worlds Foundations; wilfully inforce,

All things to move out of their proper courſe;

And, that, though GOD himſelf hath call'd you Gods

A difference making (with no little odds)

Twixt you and common men, yet, die you ſhall

Like them; yea, die ſuch Death's, as did befall

To wicked Princes, who, unto their place

Went down, with greateſt horror and diſgrace.

Although ſuch rough Reprooſs on ſilken Ears

Grate harſhly, and are thought by Flatterers

To ſound like Blaſphemy: This in old times

The Language was, in which great Princes crimes

Rebuked were; This was the uſual mode,

Till ſlaviſh men, fear'd mortals more then GOD.

Thus, David ſpake unto the Congregations

Of mighty men; Thus, through all Generations

To them ſhould Truth be told, as need requir'd,

By thoſe who, to that purpoſe are inſpir'd:

Republicks, Kings, and Councils, Objects are

Of ſuch Reproofs, and ſo reproved were,

And, how inrag'd ſoever they are grown

GOD, will be King; his pleaſure hee'l make known

By whom ſoever he pleaſes, that their crimes

May now, as well as in preceding times

Reproved be; For, States and private men

Are every whit as guilty, now, as then.

The ſame at this time, or, the like Omiſſions,

The like Exorbitances, and Oppreſſions

In this our Generation may be found;

And more and more, are likely to abound

If not prevented; for, the things we ſhould:

We neither do, nor ſuffer thoſe who would,

p. 50And, if we can but force men to profeſſe

As we do, though againſt their Conſciences,

We think we have ſecur'd them to our ſide;

Whereas, when ſuch mens Truths come to be try'd,

Who are for fear, or for advantage won

To act what is againſt their Conſcience done,

(They, being both to GOD, and Men unjuſt)

In them, there's of all other, the leaſt truſt:

For, how long? or to whom? or unto what

Will they be true, who Conſcience violate?

Doubtleſs, without a ſpeedy Reformation,

It wholly, will corrupt this Generation,

Fit us for nothing, but, for what is Evil,

And, to be ſerviceable to the Devil.

As therefore 'tis unfit that ev'ry one

Should States, reprove, 'tis as unfit that none

Perform that Work, and brutiſh, to conceive

That, GOD, the Worlds laſt and worſt Age, ſhould leave

Without Premonitors; or, that the dayes

Moſt wicked grown, requir'd not ſtranger wayes

Of Admonition, then have been in uſe

When, of GOD's Grace there was much leſs abuſe:

For, Providence, that nothing doth omit

Which, either Work or Seaſon, may befit,

(Although, but little heed thereof be took)

Hath lately, to this Generation ſpoke

By many Prodigies: Each Element

Hath very plainly Preached GOD's intent:

Yea, many Diſpenſations, which to us

Seem to be wicked, or ridiculous,

Have ſomewhat in them, which relates unto

That, which we have done, or elſe ought to do

Or have Omitted; or elſe to be Signs

Of that, whereto this later Age declines:

p. 51And, that ſuch things as thoſe, in theſe laſt Ages

Should be, we have Authentical Preſages.

But, Viſions, Revelations, Propheſies

Or ſuch like, now, the common-voice decries

As at an end: which I, confeſſe, is true

As they concern revealing Doctrines new

To ſaving Faith relating: yet, of that,

Which may concern the Temporarie State

Of CHRIST'S Church Militant, or his Elect

In Actings or in Suff'rings to direct;

Or, of unfolding Propheſies to them,

Which were ſeal'd up, till an appointed time,

GOD, hath vouchſaf'd in ſeaſon, Revelations

As need required in all Generations,

By whom he pleas'd; and frequently, by ſuch

As, by the world, were not eſteemed much.

Some think, that nothing meriteth regard

Save what by Ancient Prophets, was declar'd,

Who were immediately inſpir'd from Heaven,

By ſpecial Warrant and Commiſſion given.

Be not deceiv'd; the ſame Commiſſion, ſtill,

Is extant with us, under hand and Seal,

In Execution to be put, by all

Whom, for time being, GOD ſhall pleaſe to call

To be his Prophets; who, aſwell may now

As heretofore, be called from the Plow,

From Herds, Fruit gathering, Fiſhing, from a Trade

Which, in the World ſmall reputation had,

Or (as when Chriſtianity began)

From being an extorting Pablican;

This, may believed be; for, what is elſe

The meaning of that Scripture which foretells

Their Sons and Daughters in the later times,

Should Propheſie? That, old men ſhould have Dreams,

p. 52And young men Viſions? Mind too (if forgot

It be) and know it, if you know it not,

That every one, who hath in Intereſt

In CHRIST, is now, King, Prophet and a Prieſt,

(Anointed, at renewing of his Birth,

To do him ſervices here upon Earth;

And ſtands oblig'd, as he occaſion ſees

To execute all theſe three Offices

According to the meaſure of GOD's Grace

Beſtown, and in his proper Time and Place;

And, theſe impower'd by his Commiſſions are

To Parliaments, and Councils to declare▪

(At leaſt in general terms) what may prevent

Diſhonouring God, or common Detriment;

And be Remembrancers, of ſuch like things,

As need requires, unto the greateſt Kings.

Kings, alſo, ſhould have ſtill attending them

Such SEERS, as to David in old time

The Prophet Nathan was. But, in the ſtead

Of ſuch, Baffoons, or Jeſters do ſuccced,

In Princes Courts; by whom, they ſometimes are

Inform'd of uſeleſs truths, by way of Jeer;

And, other while, perhaps, a formalliſt,

So far as it with Courtſhip may conſiſt,

Will mind them of ſuch duties as they ſee

By them perform'd; but, ſuch as wholly be

Neglected, and by whoſe neglect they may

Be quite deſtroy'd, they, not a word will ſay.

On many Kings; their lies a heavy charge;

Their Kingdoms are both Populous and large;

There, likewiſe, are ſo many thouſand caſes

Which do concern their Perſons, or their places

Or other men; and ſuch a few there are

To repreſent them to a Royal Ear

p. 53And, likewiſe of thoſe few, there are ſo few

Who repreſent unto them what is true,

That, whilſt a freedom is allow'd to none

To ſhew them what's deſtructively miſdone,

Or, what is fam'd; All their Prerogatives

May not ſecure their Honours and theit lives:

Eſpecially, at ſuch a time as this

Wherein GOD ſearcheth after what's amiſſe;

And, hath already, both begun to caſt

Into his fiery Furnace, and to blaſt

All Humane Wiſdom, Pow'r and Righteouſneſs

(Yea all, wherein their confidence men place)

That, they may know, all Evils do from them

Proceed, and all things, that are good, from him.

Moreover, that, which long ſince was foretold,

Some of this Generation ſhall behold,

In differing States, and with as different Paſſions

According to their differing Inclinations;

And by the Men, and means the world deſpiſes,

In ſpight of all that Hamane wit deviſes

It ſhall be brought to paſs; And, they who did

Defend the nobleſt Cauſe, then, beſt ſhall ſpeed.

Oblig'd, for theſe reſpects, is ev'ry one

To do, what in his place is to be done,

That GOD's Will, ſo far forth as Power is given,

May here be done on Earth, as 'tis in Heaven:

A ſafe condition, they are alwayes in

Who truſt not in their merits; hate their Sin;

And their endeavours labour to improve

In Faith, and Meekneſs, Patience, Hope and Love;

That this may be effected, whatſoever

It coſts them, in purſuing that endeavour.

For, Priviledges of the Humane Nature,

More Sacred are then thoſe of any Creature

p. 54Beneath the GODHEAD; and, to all Mankind

He is a Traytor, who hath ought deſign'd.

Againſt that Intereſt; and therefore, I

Vow, in defence thereof, to live and die.

In order thereunto, I now employ,

The Faculty and Talent I enjoy,

Which, GOD hath made proportionable to

The works, and men, with whom I have to do.

That, which I ſuffer for, on this Account

Was done; By GOD's Commiſſion I have done't.

If truth I write, I am no whit to blame,

If it be falſe, I an Impoſter am;

And, let the Commons, when that next they meet,

Deal with me for it, as GOD ſhall permit.

I have diſcharg'd my Conſcience: And, if me,

He will not ſave, I, ſaved will not be;

Nor will I, in this Cauſe plead one word more,

Then, this, and what I've written heretofore.

I know the World; ſhe alſo knows her own

And, we ſhall both ere long be better known:

Mean while, this my Impriſonment to me

Will my Teipſum noſce, prove to be.

This alſo, and what's formerly expreſt

Of me, and of this Age, will be a TEST.

Now, Ile retire unto my ſelf, and ſing

To GOD, be glory; and God ſave the King.

They, who are wiſe will obſerve theſe things; and ſhall underſtand the Loving kindneſs of the LORD.

Pſal. 104.43.