Epistle to the Three Nations of England Scotland and Ireland, Title page – Author to the reader
PARALELLOGRAMMATON.
An EPISTLE to the three Nations of England, Scotland, and Ireland; whereby their Sins being Parallel'd with thoſe of Judah and Iſrael, they are forewarned, and exhorted to a timely Repentance, leſt they incur the like Condemnation. To render it the more effectual, ſome Conſiderable Notions are therein expreſſed touching Ceremonies, and things indifferent: The LORD's Supper: The Civil Government: The taking of Oaths: The Mark of the Beaſt: The Liberty of Conſcience: The great Sabbath; and the Two Witneſſes, with other Particulars of Concernment interwoven.
Written by GEO. WITHER.
If this be not of GOD, 'tis evil,
And was inſpired by the Devil;
But whence it was, it will be known:
For, that which is of GOD, hee'l own.
Ezek. 3. 17.
Son of man, I have made thee a watchman to theſe Nations; Therefore according to my Word, give them Warning from me. If thou warn them, and they turn not from their wickedneſs, they ſhall ſurely die in their iniquity, but thou haſt delivered thy Soul.
Be not afraid of them, nor of their words, nor of their looks, though they be a rebellious People, and as Bryars and Thorns unto thee,
Ezek. 2. 6.
Imprinted MDCLXII years after the Birth of Chriſt, to prepare for the year MDCLXVI after his Paſſion.
The Printer to the Reader.
THe Author hereof intending whilst he was Priſoner in Newgate, that this Epiſtle ſhould be committed to any one, who would honeſtly and conſcientiouſly undertake the Publication thereof; it came a while after the date, to my hands. But, finding it not authorized to be imprinted, I was for a time, fearful to make an Impreſſion thereof: yet, having ſeriouſly peruſed it, I thought the ſame ſo pertinent to GOD's Glory and the preſent condition of theſe Nations, not to permit ſuch neceſſary Precautions, Forewarnings and Exhortations to be ſmothered, that I have adventured upon what ſuch a ſeeming Tranſgreſſion may make me liable unto; hoping (there being no prohibition to the contrary) the publick benefit will more than recompence the Offence, if it ſhall be offenſive to any, in regard I have done it conſcientiouſly, and not in contempt of Orders, which are otherwhile (by ingogitancy or caſualty) obſtructive to their own good intentions by whom they are made. Let therefore the Approvableneſs of the matter, and my well-meaning, excuſe me; and let us make ſuch good uſe thereof, that we may be all the more excuſable to GOD and men. This is all I have to ſay, but, that it was not my fault it could not be finiſhed at the Preſs until this third day of May, 1662, being long time after the date of the Epiſtle. So Farewel.
This for a Postſcript hereunto I'le add,
Which from the Author, by report, I've had.
He that this Book, by parcels do…h peruſe,
May both the Author and himſelf abuſe.
In the way of this Addreſs to his own Countrymen, the Author humbly tenders this following Epigram, To the Paſtors, Elders, and other Members, of the French and Dutch Congregations, inhabiting within the Iſlands of Great Britain.
I Have but ſeen your Countries, (not yet known
Their Conſtitution, as I do mine own)
And, therefore juſtly cannot to your Nations,
As I might unto theſe, make Applications.
But, they and we have been profeſſed One
In Faith and Chriſtian Love, ſome years now gone;
And, I ſhall do the beſt of my endeavour,
That ſo again it may be, and for ever.
The Jewiſh Prophets very often hinted,
What, being heeded well, might have prevented
The Judgments, afterward, inflicted on
Egypt, Damaſcus, Tyre, and Babylon,
With other Neighbouring Nations: So might I,
Had I the ſelf-ſame gift of Prophecy,
Preſage to you, what darkly I foreſee
Their Lot, in probability, will be,
When we have drawn forth our, unleſs with heed
They ſeek how to avert what may ſucceed,
And proſecute, what Prudence doth require,
When men behold their Neighbours houſe on fire.
Your Countries may perhaps, diſcern by this,
Some things that are among themſelves amiſs;
And by the Conſtellations in our ſphear,
What Exhalations are engendring there.
If you ſo think, and ſhall it not contemn,
Let it communicated be to them;
For, whatſoere I either ſeem, or am,
From whom, to you, theſe Premonitions came,
They may be of concernment, and are ſent
In hearty Love, and with a good intent.
If you with Love vouchſafe them good regard,
I have my whole aim, and a full reward.
The ſev'ral Churches and the ſev'ral States
Of Proteſtants, will have the ſelf-ſame Fates
Throughout all Europe, with ſmall difference,
Unleſs, they in another mode commence,
Than yet they do; and ſenſible become
Of that, which they are lately fallen from:
For, ſelf-love, and neglecting of each other,
Will ſingly ruine all, or, altogether.
I ſomewhat have to utter, (if GOD ſhall
Enable me) to thoſe without our Pale:
But, they ſo wholly ſeem to have forgot
Piedmonts late Caſe, and Germany's ſad Lot,
That they muſt ſee a Storm again appear,
Before ought can be ſpoke, that they will hear.
Our Coroſives (if ev'r we ſhall be ſo)
Have made us ſit, that Plaiſters may unto
Our Ulcers be apply'd. They ſmart and prick;
I therefore am become an Emperick,
And, this Catholicon (as it befalls)
Was preſſed from between the Priſon walls,
Which is not only at this time a Den
Of Thieves, but alſo, cram'd with honeſt men.
Newgate, March 8, 1662. Your Servant in the Love of Chriſt Jeſus, George Wither.