A Considering Glass, Floating text 2
1.
BUt are in my Riches gone?
and all thoſe fled away
Whoſe love depended thereupon?
for ever, Farewell they.
Since theſe have gotten wings,
I will not them purſue;
But ſet my heart on better things,
and bid them quite adieu.
'Tis GOD that gives and takes,
whoſe love remains the ſame;
And whether rich or poor he makes,
ſtill bleſſed be his Name.
With ſuffrings to comply,
loth was I to begin,
But better thoughts of them have I,
ſince they have proved been.
3.
For, what I dreadfull thought
when firſt the ſame appear'd,
Hath joys to me by ſorrows brought;
and hopes by what I fear'd.
To be deſpis'd and poor
if in my GOD I truſt,
Will me at laſt advantage more
then if I nothing loſt.
4.
Long time I have profeſt
in words a Chriſtian Creed,
And now am-with occaſions bleſt
to ſhew it forth by Deed.
We, holy men would ſeem,
and up for Saints are cride,
But now comes that Probation time
In which we muſt be tride.
5.
Whilſt Riches I enjoyd,
They made me but a drudge,
To be on their affairs imployd,
and on their Errands trudge.
Me poor my plenties kept;
made me engage my Friends;
And often wake whilſt others ſlept,
to wait upon their ends.
6.
They fild me with Deſires,
whoſe Luſting endleſſe was,
And onelyonly brought forth thorns and briers
to choak the ſeeds of Grace.
They made me fearful too
Of Tyrants and of Knaves,
Yea (which is ten times worſe then ſo)
Made me a ſlave to ſlayes.
7.
My heart then be content,
let wealth and honour go,
For, better things to thee are meant
then theſe can raiſe thee to.
Let thoſe who on them dote,
by our deportment ſee,
That in thoſe Gods we truſted not
which their chief Idols be.
8.
Though my deſpightful Foes
Now my Eſtaie is gone,
(I having nothing elſe to loſe)
my body ſeize upon,
Therefore take thou no care,
for GOD thy help will be,
And put on them a greater fear
then they can put on thee.
9.
And to encreaſe that load
which I at preſent bear,
Though they ſay Where now is thy God,
of whom thy boaſtings were?
He will of me, of me be found,
and alſo make it known,
(When open ſhame ſhall them confound)
that he my Cauſe doth own.
10.
Thy Croſs with patience take,
do not there at repine,
But bear it ſtoutly for his ſake
who bore his Croſs for thine.
Still meekly in thy way
therewith proceed thou ſo,
That others it encourage may
to what they ſee thee do.
11.
The Lot of Saints hath been
Afflictions, Wants, and Scorns;
And he that is the beſt of Men
was mockt and crown'd with Thorns.
No Houſe to him they gave
wherein to reſt his head;
Him alſo in a borrow'd Grave,
they laid when he was dead.
12.
Yea, he that's LORD of all
when firſt with fleſh arrayd,
Was meanly houſed in a Stall,
and in Manager layd.
A Gueſt ſo poor he was,
that whilſt he lodged there,
The labouring Ox, and toyling Aſs
his Chamber-fellows were.
13.
Yet Wiſemen from the Eaſt,
were guided by a Star,
To bring to this deſpiſed Gueſt
Gold, Frankincence and Myrrhe,
They fooled for his ſake
a Tyrannizing King;
GOD'S Angels, care of him did take,
and round about him ſing,
14.
To him, allide am I,
and he will ſend to me,
Howere obſcurd, the like ſupply,
as oft as need ſhall be.
For timely he relieves
all thoſe that truſt in him,
And charge unto his Angels gives,
to be a guard to them.
15.
In Stables, Barns and Stalls,
the poor as much he heeds,
As thoſe that are in Princes halls,
to help them at their needs.
Yea, unto them he comes,
and will their ſuffrings mark,
Although they lie in naſty Rooms,
or Dungeons deep and dark.
16.
A portion more ſecure
then Goods or Lands is he,
An Heritage that will endure
when Kingdoms loſt ſhall be.
And when expoſd to ſhame
their Bodies we behold,
It ſhall more magnifie their name,
then Statues made of gold.
17.
But this to them will ſeem
who dote on outward things,
No better then an idle Dream
which no aſſurance brings.
If pompouſly they live,
and in rich Tombs may lie,
Themſelves they happy men believe,
although like beaſts they die.
18.
And I am half in fear
when this is ſung among
Thoſe who in love with riches are,
'twill ſeem a Bedlam-Song:
For, ſeldome we perceive
that when his Mammon's gone,
A Rich Man's able to believe,
he is not quite undone.
19.
It makes them almoſt mad
to hear another preach,
That joyes and comfort may be had
whereto they cannot reach.
LORD help their unbelief,
and mitigate their fears;
For, though they pity not my grief,
yet, I do pity theirs.
20.
Preſerve in me that Grace
which now infus'd I find:
And let not time, events nor place,
hereafter change my mind:
For in them good or bad,
External things have nought;
But, as Good, or ill uſe is made,
Or elſe, as got or ſought.
Another Meditation relating to the Authors preſent Condition.
1.
MY Foes, you have your hearts deſire,
a ſpoyle of me you make;
And (as I hear) you now inquire
what Courſe I mean to take.
I now am brought ſo low, you ſay,
ſo deſtitute and poor,
That well aſſure your ſelves you may
I ſhall ariſe no more.
2.
You, naytheleſs may be deceiv'd,
and of your aims have miſt;
For, in thoſe things which are bereav'd,
my wealth doth not conſiſt:
And I have that within my view
which if purſude it be,
May make me as much laugh at you,
as you now laugh at me.
3.
But, though it makes you to be glad
to ſee my griefs encreaſt,
I have for ſome of you been ſad
when you were leſs oppreſt.
And if you ſhall go forward ſtill
in doing cauſleſſe wrong,
I, who now at your folly ſmile,
may weep for you ere long.
4.
The greateſt harm I wiſh my Foes
when me moſt wronged have,
Is, that themſelves they may not loſe
by what they ſeek to have.
And when that they ſhall come to try
what they have brought me to,
That they nuoght elſe may looſe thereby
but what would them undo.
5.
Man liveth not by Bread alone
and that (ſhould it be told)
Which now my life depends upon
your eyes cannot behold.
You robb'd me of External Things,
but what the worſe am I,
If I have in me Living Springs
that never will be dry.
6.
From that, which you debar me from,
me, long you cannot keep;
My Noon is paſt, my Night is come,
and I ſhall ſhortly ſleep.
At firſt, to Wither I was born
(though then a ſpringing Tree)
And now my leavss away are torn,
I can but Wither'd be.
7.
The Birds do live, the Lilies grow,
and are well cloath'd and fed;
Yet can not ſpin, nor plow, nor ſow,
to get them Cloathes and Bread:
I, therefore am without deſpair,
that he who cloaths the Graſs,
And feeds the ſmall'ſt Fowls of the Air,
will heed my preſent Caſe.
8.
But if my Lot reſerve ſhe ſhall
untill another Life,
The worſt that can to me befall,
will bring more Joy then Grief:
As Nightingales in ſummer do,
i'll ſing all Night and Day;
And ſo ſhall in a month or two,
ſing Care and Life away.
Refreſhed by theſe pertinent Digreſſions,
Which fertifie my faith againſt oppreſſions,
I will proceed to make an application
Of what pertaineth to my laſt Narration.
The main breach made upon me (and which drew
Thoſe miſchiefs that did afterwards enſue)
To me did happen ſome few days before
That Parliament was laſt ſhut out of door,
By whom thoſe Grievances on me were brought,
And, then that fell on them, which I fore thought
And did foretell; perhaps that others may
Be wary, how they needleſly delay
That juſtice which to pooreſt men belongs,
When much opreſſed by continued wrongs;
Which GOD will execute, at firſt or laſt,
Hereafter as he hath done in times paſt.
In this Relation, I, nor Poetize;
(As ſome may fancie) nor Hyperbolize:
But, here, in ſimple plainneſſe have ſet down
The naked truth, that when it ſhall be known,
GOD may be better prayſed, and theſe Nations
Thenceforth take heed of wilful provocations.
For, greater miſchief then to moſt appears,
(And very many complicated ſnares)
Intangle thouſands, who deſtructively
Oppreſſed are this day, as much as I:
To whom the grace intended can derive
Nought elſe, but ſuch a life as I would give
Ten times away, to free them from Oppreſſion,
Who ſuffer with me, by my ſad condition;
And, whoſe complainings, end ſoul-piercing words,
Lie pricking at my Heart, like Darts and Swords.
How GOD hath fore-determin'd to diſpoſe
Of me, from this time forth, he onelyonly knows;
And, his will ſhall be mine: but, if this change
Brings good to me, it will be very ſtrange:
For, men prophane eſteem'd, would then appear
More juſt, then they who ſaints reputed were;
My foes much kinder, then they who profeſt
To be my friends, and whom I ſerved beſt.
As yet, he hath retain'd me in their power,
Who day and night, are hunting to devour;
And, letteth looſe upon me ſuch a Herd
Of brutes, as David heretofore compar'd
To Dogs, Bulls, Lyons, Serpents, and to thoſe
From out of whoſe mouths, Adders Poyſon flows;
Whoſe throats are like devouring graves; whoſe tongues
Are Mints of ſlanders & oppreſſive wrongs;
In ſecret, on a ſudden ſhooting words
More ſharp then arrowes, or two-edged ſwords;
And were theſe only Foes profeſt, their ſcorn
Or malice, might with much more eaſe be born:
But, ſome of them, are thoſe who many days
Walk'd with me friend-like in the ſelf ſame ways;
And, Neighbours and acquaintance do begin
To be to me, as his to him had been:
My love to them, with hatred they requite;
For kindneſſes, returning me deſpight.
Of me, their ſcurrile Songs the drunkards make,
With whom the ſcoffers in their jeers partake.
They, who as yeſterday, pretended had
Some kindneſs, are malitiouſly grown mad,
Combining and conſpiring, how they may
My Life, Eſtate and Credit take away;
As if until I wholly were deſtroy'd
Their expectations could not be enjoy'd:
Although I know no good that can ariſe
To them, by what againſt me they deviſe:
Or why ſuch wrongs by them to me are done,
Except it be, becauſe I did them none:
Or, elſe, for that their wayes I look into,
More, then they are well-pleaſed I ſhould do.
For, be it known, they who are thus inrag'd
Are not of thoſe who formerly ingag'd,
In that cauſe which I lately did oppoſe;
No, no, ſo juſtly, theſe are not my Foes:
But, men, (if they deſerve that name) whoſe baſe
Diſſembling Heart falſe Tongues, and ſteeled Face:
Inclines them to make ſhew, as if they never
Did any thing againſt the King endeavour:
Whereas, a chief of that debauched crew,
With his drawn Sword the late King did purſue;
And boaſted heretofore (with his own breath)
Of perſonal aſſiſtance at his death:
Another of them, that he might endear
Himſelf to thoſe who laſt inthroned were,
Made Headleſs this Kings picture; vowing then,
So to have done to him, had he there been.
Theſe are my perſecutors; theſe are they
Who help ſpread ſnares and miſchiefes in my way:
And, ſome of thoſe who yet in power a bide,
(By playing faſt and looſe on either ſide)
Are their abettors; for no cauſe to me
Yet known; unleſs they know I ſee
Their Juglings: or perhaps, becauſe they fear
I may hereafter make them to appear.
Whereas, I rather (for my Countries ſake)
To GOD, for their Converſion, prayers make,
That, timely, they their malice may repent,
Their own, and our perditions to prevent;
And that by our malitiouſneſſe they bring
No Damage to theſe Realms, or to the King,
To ſuperfiede that Mercy, which I find
GOD, te confer on us, is now inclinde,
Becauſe our weal and wo will be involv'd,
Within each others, as we are reſolv'd,
And, as for time to come we ſhall perſever
In Union, or neglect a good endeavour.
Though by our ſins, and by the ſins of thoſe
Who were acknowledged (however choſe)
For our Truſtees, our late immunities
Are wholly forfeited, whilſt GOD ſhall pleaſe;
There is an open Gate, through which I view
A better way, then we do yet purſue,
To re-obtain them, and to ſettle that
Deſired Peace which we have aimed at.
There is a hope, this King will be ſo juſt
(When thoſe in whom the common people truſt
He thorowly hath tride) to let us ſee,
That, he ſhall prove at laſt our beſt Truſtee,
Next under GOD, and for us do much more
Then all our Parliaments did heretofore,
Or will do now; for, they often do thoſe
Reſemble ſo, by whom they have been choſe,
That, we in probability ſhall never
Accompliſh that for which we do endeavour,
Till GOD ſhall other inſtruments provide
To do his work, and throw all theſe aſide.
He, thoſe that are in being, doth permit
To be therein with him, Co-workers yet:
And there's a courſe that may with eaſe be taken
To build a Throne, which never ſhall be ſhaken;
For, if that be performed, whereupon
The King is re-admitted to the Throne;
And, if due glory to the King of Heav'n
Shall for the mercy now vouchſaf'd be giv'n,
His chaſtiſement (nigh twice ſo many years)
Continuing as Nebuchadnezzars)
Will make way in this day of probation,
To much more, then was by that Reſtoration
Vouchſaf'd to him; for, he eſtabliſh may
A Throne to laſt until the Judgement day;
Whereby, ſhall be continu'd (ſo far forth
As may concern Chriſts Kingdome here on earth)
The Majeſtracy and the Miniſtry,
(If we looſe not this opportunity)
Reform'd and vindicated (in ſhort time)
From thoſe contempts which have been caſt on them.
Yea, if this King neglect not now to do
That, whereto providence doth prompt him to,
And would aſſiſt him in; the more he found
At his Return confuſions to abound,
The more he ſhall be magnifide thereby,
If, by his wiſdome and his induſtry,
With GOD's aſſiſtance, he ſhall ſo reſtore
Thoſe Pow'rs, that they may interfere no more:
For, then they ſhall apart, and both together,
Be active and a ſtrengthning to each other,
To thoſe good ends for which they were ordain'd;
VVhichWhich was, that wickedneſs ſhould be reſtrain'd;
And that each other men might not oppreſs,
But, in uprightneſs and in holineſs
Live lovingly, and ſerviceable here
To GOD, and each to other, without fear.
My Genius many times inclineth me
Of theſe things his Remembrancer to be:
But, I have neither place to undertake
That Office, nor a fluent tongue to ſpeak;
And ſhould I write, I have ſo often tride
That courſe and found my writings caſt aſide,
(Though want of will, or leiſure to peruſe them,
Or elſe referr'd to thoſe who did abuſe them)
That, ſeldome times, the good effects they wrought,
VVhichWhich by them I have rationally ſought;
And they have not alone been often ſcorn'd,
But alſo to my advantage turn'd.
Beſide, Kings will not eaſily forgo
What they reſolve to act, or not to do:
So wedded are they to their Policies,
And ſo bedazled are their Carnal Eyes
With that bewitching ſplendor and falſe glory
VVhichWhich Satan put on kingdoms tranſitory,
That, as to Jeroboam it befel
Though I ſhould with a threefold miracle
My word confirm; a ſequel might ſucceed
As ineffectual as at that time did.
But, to neglect ought, which I think (in reaſon)
Tends to ſecure the King, may be high treaſon:
On his behalf therefore, to GOD in prayer,
(To whom I can more eaſily repair)
I will addreſs my ſelf, without delay,
In words both weigh'd and meaſur'd for him pray,
And ſpread them on that Paper, to remain
For thoſe that will to pray them o'er again;
Till that which I on his behalf have prayd,
Shall ſome way to his knowledge be conveyd.
GReat King of Kings, to whom are chiefly giv'n
All praiſes; who, in Hell, in Earth, in Heav'n,
Haſt Sov'raign Pow'r: who Kingdomes doſt beſtow,
Change Governments, ſet up and overthrow
As thou ſhalt pleaſe and alwaies art both juſt
And merciful in ev'ry thing thou doſt:
Since thou, by Interchanges of thy Grace
And Judgements, haſt a long time in this place
Vouchſaf'd Experiments which do declare
What Thou art, and what, in our ſelves we are.
(Informed us of what is now at hand
By ſignes upon the waters and the Land,
As alſo in the aire by peace and battle
By judgements upon Men, and upon Cattle)
And pleaſed art (as we behold this day)
To bring our King into a likely way
Of ſettlement upon his Fathers Throne:
Perfect, I pray thee, the work thou haſt begun.
Let thy vouchſafing him a Reſtoration,
Unclog'd with aa Explicite obligation,
No diſadvantage to thy people bring,
But rather adde more honour to the King,
By manifeſting that his actings be
Products of Vertue, from compulſion free:
And leſt they fall into that great offence
Which may obdure into Impenitence,
(As Jeroboam and his people did
When their Idolatry thou didſt forbid)
Permit thou not his Failings or his Sin,
To fruſtrate what thy Mercy doth begin.
Let all theſe Nations on their part endeavour
To make this Reconcilement firm for ever,
By that Obedience joyn'd with true Affection,
Which may deſerve his Fatherly Protection:
And let their welfare be to him as dear,
As if they Children of his body were:
For, no Bond of Allegiance firm abides,
If equally not faſtned on both ſides;
Nor can their mutual Ties long laſting be,
Unleſſe their Duties they perform to thee,
Their Sov'raign Paramount who, ſearch doſt make
What courſe thy Vice-Roys, and their ſubjects take:
And alwaies doſt a wicked People bring
To be enſlaved by a wicked King;
Not long preſerving any Kingdome clear
From Rebels, where the Princes Tyrants are:
For, thou accepteſt no Perſon, as to that
Which unto Common Juſtice doth relate;
Though ſlowly, many times, thy Judgements come,
That Mercy may have time to bring them home.
Since he who governs men ought to be juſt,
On his part let the King perform his Truſt
On him impoſed, and ſincerely do
All things that really conduce thereto;
Shunning ſuch Flatterers, and ſuch Whiſperings
As by degrees may tempt him to thoſe things
Which will at laſt divide them from each other
Whom now thy Providence hath brought together,
Leſt they by Fraudulent Equivocations
Annihilate each others Expectations.
With Wiſdom and with Grace, his Heart enlarge,
The Duties of his Calling to diſcharge,
VVithout pretending more than he intends;
Which practiſe alwaies in diſhonour ends.
When once the promiſe of a King is broken,
Few afterward regard what ſhall be ſpoken
By him, what probable excuſe ſoever
To vindicate himſelf he ſhall indeavour:
And though in his Deſigns a while he ſpeeds
That's one in Words, another in his Deeds;
Yet, he who by that practice gaineth most,
Gets nothing at the laſt whereof to boaſt.
Let him take counſel from thy VVritten VVord,
How he ſhould weild the Scepter and the Sword,
Leſt they may prove worſe Tools, than if he had
Been born to uſe the Mattock and the Spade.
Incline him alſo to enure his Ear,
The Voice of Truth in her own terms to hear,
Leſt of ſuch things as to his Weal pertain,
He may ſometimes in ignorance remain.
And ſince he is thy Steward both by Name
And Office, let him execute the ſame,
As one who knows, that he for all things done
Muſt give accompt, and no man knows how ſoon.
For tho, thou call'ſt Kings Gods, yet dye they muſt
Like other men, and mingle with their Duſt.
Him, keep thou mindful, that thou didſt not make
Theſe Nations for his ends, or for his ſake,
But him to be their Servant; and to own
No Priviledges upon him beſtown
But for their VVelfare; and that he ſhould do
To all men as he would be done unto.
True-hearted men, to ſerve him, let him take,
Or them by his example ſuch to make,
Inſtruct him, LORD, for, one of theſe will be
More uſeful, than of others, two or three.
What he is in Himſelf, let it be known
By thoſe, on whom his Favours are beſtown,
Though undeſerved, he vouchſafe to ſome
His Grace, that they more gracious may become;
As thou dost oftentimes, when we tranſgreſs
Through frailty, and not with maliciouſneſs.
Make him conſider well, things lately paſt,
With what at preſent thou vouchſafed haſt,
And what may yet enſue: Make him to mind
(If thereof, him forgetful thou ſhalt find)
Through what wants, to abundance thou haſt brought him;
What Leſſons, by Affliction thou haſt taught him;
What Snares and Dangers, thou haſt freed him from,
To what ſecurity he now is come,
Without premis'd Conditions, or engaging
Himſelf with others; or, by what the waging
Of War might have requir'd, or by complying
With thoſe, who for ſelf-ends, at watch were lying:
What Hopes, and Fears, and Doubts, he had that night
In which he made eſcape from Woſter-Fight;
As alſo, when he Sanctuary took
Within the Body of a Hollow Oak;
What ſecret Vows and Promiſes were made
By him to thee, when he Direction had
Unto that LANE, whereby he found a paſs
Out of thoſe hazards wherein then he was:
Make him therewith conſider, to what end
That great Deliverance thou didſt intend,
And what thou mayst expect this day from him
For all by thee vouchſafed ſince that time.
Moreover, make him take eſpecial heed,
Why thou with him and others didſt proceed
As we have lately ſeen: wherefore, all thoſe
And their Adheres, who, most did him oppoſe,
Thou giv'ſt into his hands: why, from the Throne
Thou flung'ſt him; why, again ſetſt him thereon;
Leſt elſe, Falſe Prophets, or Court-Paraſites,
Detractors, bold Impoſtors, Hypocrites,
Or ſuch like, may divert him by Deluſions
To that which is purſude with ſad concluſions,
And not ſo much to his Well-being tends,
As to accompliſh their own wicked ends:
Or, leſt an Over-weening may perſwade him,
That his own Wiſdom prevalent hath made him;
And that thou haſt vouchſaf'd a good ſucceſs
To his Deſires, for his own Righteouſneſs.
Let him ſome way, provide a Reparation
Of Publick Faith, by whoſe late violation
Theſe Nations are defam'd; and (which is worſe)
Made liable unto a dreadful Curſe
Which may extend to him. Unſafe is he
With People that anathemized be.
His Perſon, though their ſuff'rings reach not to,
To thoſe, who now to him relate, they do;
And, thoſe Oppreſſions which are lately caſt
On thouſands, will extend to him at laſt,
If he endeavour not what in him lies
To cure their Grievances, and ſtint their Cries:
For well enough it doth appear to thee,
That, neither all Men, nor their Cauſes be
Such as to him they repreſented are;
Or, as unto the World they yet appear.
As mercy, therefore thou haſt ſhown to him
So let him alſo mercy ſhew to them
Who now are in his pow'r: for, although thee
They have offended, they, thy people be;
And I deſire it ſhould by him be heeded,
That whoſoe'er againſt ſuch have proceeded
Beyond thy Limits (to purſue their own
Revenge or Ends) do ſo incur thy frown,
That on themſelves it brings at latter end
Thoſe miſchiefs which to others they intend.
Let him take alſo conſcientious heed,
He makes that pardon which is promiſed,
(So far as thou allow'ſt) ſo full and free,
As he expects, thine unto him ſhould be;
Elſe, Recknings, 'twixt you two will not be even,
For, as he pardons, he ſhall be forgiven.
Diſcerning give him, betwixt Rights and Wrongs,
To whom a Frown, to whom a Smile belongs;
Betwixt uſurpt Prerogatives, and thoſe
Through whoſe Defects, Pow'r-needful he may loſe;
'Twixt Formal and Eſſential Pieties,
True Doctrines, and deluding Sophiſtries;
Betwixt Nathaniel, and an Ananias,
Men byaſſed, and men without a Byas;
Betwixt thy Prophets, and the Prieſts of Baal,
By whatſoever, Names themſelves they call:
Leſt peradventure, ſome of thoſe he takes
Into his boſome, may at laſt prove Snakes.
Give him an underſtanding heart, to judge
Betwixt true and pretended Sacriledge;
Lest ſuch as heretofore befooled Kings,
By placing Holineſs in Common Things,
Turn thy true Worſhip into Superſtitions,
To multiply their temporal Fruitions;
Abuſe his Piety as much (or more)
As they abuſed Princes heretofore;
Beſainting them for their miſplaced Zeal,
When 'tis but ſuch as was in Jezabel,
Who fed four hundred Prophets ev'ry day
From her own Table; ſuch, perhaps as they
Who in theſe daies do arrogate to be
Thy Prophets, or Apoſtles ſent from thee:
or, what are they ought better, who now dare
To count thoſe Holy Things which offer'd were
To Devils; and, would that, as ſacred hold
For which the ſouls of men were bought and ſold?
Such Merchants may among us now be found,
And therefore (leſt ere long they more abound)
Enable and incline the King to try
All ſpirits; that, with none he may comply,
Who may by his indulgence undermine
His Throne, and ſet the MAN of SIN on thine.
Thy Paſtors teach him to diſtinguiſh from
Thoſe Theeves, who in at window uſe to come:
And make him cheriſh thoſe that are ſincere
In thy Profeſſion, by what name ſoe'er
They ſhall be call'd; ſince, things may be the ſame
Eſſentially, which differ in the Name.
LORD! 'tis thy Cauſe, for which I have begun
This Pleading; I will therefore plead it on.
Let him of Demas and Diotrephes
Take special heed: for, perilous are theſe;
And ſo are alſo they who do ſuppoſe
Religion doth conſiſt in mimick ſhows,
Or, in thoſe Gaudy Furnitures, with which
The Scarlet-Strumpet, Nations did bewitch:
Or in obſerving things indifferent,
As if Eſſentially pertinent;
Or in oppoſing or neglecting them
Contentiouſly; or, with the mind of them
Who ſaid, What needs this waſte? for, nor their uſe
Nor their diſ-uſe, but onelyonly their abuſe,
Gives juſt offence: yea, 'tis not our abating,
Or adding; but, 'tis our neceſſitating
Indifferent Things, which renders them to be
Offenſive to thy Saints, or unto thee.
Let him take heed of thoſe, who with pretence
To Piety, affect Pre-eminence:
For, thoſe began the Quarrel whence did ſpring
The Breach betwixt this People and the King.
And theſe, Oh GOD! if thou prevent it not,
Will re-beget what they at firſt begot.
The King was young when hee departed hence,
And could not know them then; they, ever ſince
Were in a poſture, which ſuppreſt their pride,
And made them lay their haughtineſs aſide:
But when their late pluckt wings are over-grown
With Feathers, they will perfectly be known.
Vouch ſafe him ſuch a ſanctifide diſcerning,
That neither their Formalities nor Learning,
Their Fawnings, their Diſſembled Sanctity,
Or their pretendings to Antiquity,
Deceive him; for, by ſuch like ſpecious ſleights
The Great Deceiver brought in his Deceits.
Wee Old Impoſtors have, as well as New,
And Truth is made a baud to things untrue
When men rely on men; and, by Records
Of their own forging, dare arraign thy words
Before their Bar; whereas, they ſhould be try'd
(When they are queſtion'd by none elſe beſide
Thy Spirit and their Peers: which Priviledge
(If they might have before an upright Judge)
Would end a thouſand Quarrels, which will never
Till then have end; but multiply for ever.
I know no prudent Chriſtian, who diſlikes
The Name or Officer, term'd by the Greeks
Epiſcopos (and wee in Engliſh call
An Overſeer) if Epiſcopal
He truly be, and ſeeks not to obtrude
On other men a carnal ſervitude.
All Presbyters (as by thy Word appears)
Are Biſhops, and all Biſhops Presbyters;
And thou conferr'dſt precedency on none,
Except it be for Orders ſake alone,
To proſecute ſuch things as have relations
To thy Affairs, in ſeveral Congregations,
As when that we, confuſions to prevent,
A Prolocutor, or a Preſident
In Synods, and in Counſels conſtitute,
To whom a double honour we impute.
For ſuch like ends (if uſed ſoberly)
To ſome, belongeth a Precedency;
Yea, thy Church, being of a large extent,
Muſt have both Overſeers eminent,
And ſuper-eminent, that ſo ſhe may
With ſpeed and eaſe, in a well order'd way,
(As need requires) thoſe things communicate,
Which either Univerſally relate,
Or to Particulars. And, to purſue
This Order, there is doubtleſs alſo due
To ſuch, proportionably, both reſpect
And maintenance, to give it an effect,
With which all perſons duly qualifide
For that high Calling, will content abide;
Although it otherwhile amounts to leſs
Than when Corruption ſprung from an Exceſs;
And thy Apoſtle hath declar'd from thee,
That thus a Biſhop qualifi'd ſhould be.
A man that lives an unreproved Life,
The Conjugal Companion of one Wife,
One watchful, temperate, and hoſpitable,
One well compoſ'd, and for inſtruction able;
A man, that from exceſs in Wine refrains,
That ſeeks not to be rich by ſordid gains:
That neither is malicious, nor a ſtriker,
Nor of ought avariciouſly a ſeeker,
But juſt, no Novice; one that without blame
Guides his own houſe, and hath an honeſt fame.
And thou hast ſhew'd us, how he ſhould be choſe
When Judas his Apoſtleſhip did loſe.
If, I miſtake thy Paterns, make them, LORD,
Such as may therewith ev'ry way accord;
And ſo the Kings Heart toward them diſpoſe,
That as Matthias was, they may be choſe:
For, whilſt for their admittance they depend
Upon mens pleaſures, they will more intend
Their ſervices than thine: but, when they be
Elected by their Peers, and then by Thee,
As heretofore; they ſhall defie the BEAST,
And overthrow the Throne of Antichriſt.
Let him no Pow'r uſurp, whereby theſe may
Election have, by any other way
Than is agreeable to his intent,
By whom his Meſſengers at firſt were ſent:
For, by that means, into thy Church were brought
Such Overſeers, as much more have ſought
To ſerve themſelves than thee; much ſcandaliz'd
Thy Congregations, and made Truth deſpiſ'd.
Such, as unlike to thoſe Apoſtles be
Which were ordained by they Chriſt and Thee.
Their Pomp and Habit, Avarice and Pride,
Their Language, and ſome other marks beſide,
Are Symptomes which do make it very plain,
To whom, and to what Kingdome they pertain;
And that they ſeek not thine; unleſs, Oh GOD,
Thy Holy word I have miſ-underſtood.
I did believe the Kingdome of thy Son,
VVhichWhich was at firſt in poverty begun
By him, who had all Riches at command,
VVith all things in areadineſs at hand
That might at once have made his Kingdome here
More glorious than the Popedome doth appear,
VVould not have left it ſtruggling for that glory
VVhichWhich is compleated by things tranſitory,
Nigh ſev'nteen hundred years had they been ſo
Eſſential, as ſome think they are thereto.
In my ſimplicity, I rather thought
That hee who to advance his Kingdome ſought
By Piety and Meekneſs, did intend
That way to glorifie it to the end
Of Carnal vanities, and ſhould have had
Such Officers and Overſeers made
As rather therewith ſuited, than with thoſe
VVhoſe Kingdoms Satan hath at his diſpoſe:
And that they ſhould have had throughout all ages
The ſelf-ſame Badges, Liveries and Wages
As at the first, not ſuch as ſome do now
Uſurp and challenge as a ſacred due,
Making them ſeem Ambaſſadours to bee
Sent from the great Turk, rather than from thee.
Thus I believ'd, LORD, this, beleeve I ſtill
To bee according to thy ſacred VVill:
And thou doſt know, that what I now expreſs,
Flows from no ſelf-ends, or maliciouſneſs.
VVithout Compliances with ſuch as theſe,
The King may reign with honour, if hee pleaſe:
And with more ſafety, than if they acquir'd
That whereunto they lately had aſpir'd.
But, I confeſs, a pow'r he cannot have,
Both Soul and Body ſo much to inſlave,
As by their help, who in theſe latter Ages,
Have got two Maſters, and two ſorts of Wages;
And, by whoſe aid, the Throne of Antichriſt
Doth not a little, at this day, ſubſiſt.
LORD, therefore, to maintain the Pageantry
And Luſts of an exploded Prelacy,
Let not the KING expoſe to deſolation
So many thouſand perſons in this Nation,
As now are like to ſuffer, by a Rabble
Both unto Thee and Him unſerviceable.
They, who are uſeful Officers of thine,
According to that Antient Diſcipline,
Which from thy Holy Word we do derive,
And from the practice of Times Primitive,
May be provided for, without that coſt
Which hath for many years on them been loſt;
Without incurring needleſs violations
Of Contracts, or th' Ingagements of theſe Nations;
Without expoſing many Families
To ſuddenly-deſtructive Miſeries;
And without hazarding of thoſe Events
Which to ſuch harſhneſs may be Conſequents.
The Temp'ralties and Lordſhips they poſſest,
Belong'd not to the Calling they profest.
When first they were conferr'd, they brought perdition
To Piety, encreaſe to Superſtition,
And Miſchief to the Saints; for which they are
Ejected from them by that Civil War
VVhichWhich they occaſion'd; and though re-poſſeſſion
They may have for a while, by thy permiſſion,
I have a thought, that at their Reſtoration
(As at new laying Jericho's foundation)
Some ſignal thing will then be done that ſhall
Declare, thou art not pleaſed therewithall;
Which, from thy purpoſe if it diſagree
Pardon this babling of my thought to thee.
That thus, Oh LORD! my heart is now inclin'd
Concerning theſe, to ſpeak to thee my mind,
'Tis not becauſe thou need'ſt it ſhould be told,
But, that hereby, ſome other better ſhould
Conſider what by their means may befall,
Both in things ghoſtly, and things corporal.
Thou knoweſt that it is not my eſtate,
Which is by theſe in hazard now of late
To be bereft: for whether unto theſe,
Or unto mee, to give it thou ſhalt pleaſe,
I am content; ſince all the world is thine,
And ſo much as is needful, ſhall be mine.
Thou likewiſe knoweſt, that of none of theſe,
I judge the Perſons, or the Conſciences;
But, that I am in charity with all,
And, leave them by thy Doom to ſtand or fall.
The various Forms of worſhipping of thee;
Within thy Church are no offence to mee;
Becauſe there may be poſſibly Salvation
Through Chriſt, in every Chriſtian Diſpenſation,
To thoſe, who with a conſcientiouſneſs,
Beleeve and practiſe what they do profeſs.
The Prelates, not thy Biſhops, I oppoſe;
Nor Prelates, if they nought on mee impoſe,
For, when they leſs esteem Things Tranſitory,
They may be instrumental to thy Glory;
And, to thy Congregations will diſpenſe
Thy Sacred Myſteries, without offence:
When wee a little more are rub'd together,
To ſcour away the Ruſt from one another.
Although the Name of Biſhop doth offend,
Thy Son his Congregations did commend
To Overſeers, as well as to Preachers;
(To Deacons, and to ordinary Teachers)
And doubtleſs, though Ambition ſtrained further
That Diſcipline, a Primacie of Order
Is now ſo needful, that when thou haſt broke
The Bile of Pride, and quite away haſt took
From that Impoſthumation all the Core,
Thy Church will govern'd be as heretofore.
The Prelates being groſly led aſide
By their O'er-weening, Avarice and Pride,
VVould have thy Church, LAODICEA-like,
Her Glory, in External Pomp, to ſeek;
Their Faction onelyonly they conceive to bee
That Holy Church, which is approv'd by thee:
Like her, ſhee boaſteth that ſhee nothing needs,
That all Reformed Churches ſhe exceeds,
And, much triumphs now, in the reſtitution
Of her adored Rags of Superſtition:
But if their Prelacy aſide they lay,
Therewith, will all their Trinkets fall away:
The Treble, Mean, the Tenor and the Baſe,
And Counter-tenor, to a Diapaſe.
Thou then ſhalt bring, and to this people give
The Grace, as well to love and to believe,
As hear and do; and every differing String
Shall to the Muſick ſuch a Concord bring,
That, what at preſent doth obſtruct our Peace,
Shall to thy Praiſe hereafter adde increaſe.
This I believe, LORD, let us wait upon
Thy will with patience, till this ſhall bee done.
Mean-while, preſerve the People and the King,
From thoſe enſnarings, which theſe, elſe, may bring
Upon the Conſcience; or, lest wee by them
May bee withdrawn from thy Jeruſalem,
To Babylon; Let ſuch before our eyes
Unmasked ſtand, by whatſoe'r diſguiſe
They are conceal'd: For, much I am affraid,
A Game is dealing now, which may be play'd
To thy diſhonour, and Wolves forth be ſent
Among thy Lambs to fruſt rate his intent,
Who ſent Lambs among Wolves: for as of old
Wee were fore-warn'd, that ſome Deceivers would
Say, Here is CHRIST, and there is CHRIST, that they
Might ſet a falſe Chriſt up: So, at this day,
That undiſcern'd the Antichriſt may bee,
Some, tell us This, ſome, tells us, That is Hee:
But, by ſuch ſignal marks him thou haſt ſhown,
That hee to many thouſands is well known.
Reveal him also to this King, and ſhew,
How they to whom there's Double Honour due,
May with all Neceſſaries bee ſupplide,
More to th' advance of Piety than Pride:
That other Nations, by that good Example,
May joyn in building thy Eſſential Temple
With ſuch Materials as may not confound
The Parts thereof, or make the Whole unſound.
And cauſe this King a Pattern to become
Of Juſtice to all Kings in Chriſtendome.
To that end I implore thy Majeſty
(For thine own Honours ſake which elſe thereby
May bee eclips' d) that hee uſurp not on
The Conſciences of Men, which is thy Throne;
Nor ſuffer any other in thy Name,
And with falſe Warrants to uſurp the ſame.
For, by that Rule whereby intrude they ſhall
On one indifferent thing, they may bar all;
And ere they leave encroaching thereupon,
Of Chriſtian Liberties, not leave us one.
Inſlaving of the Conſcience, to all evil
Sets open Gates: and only for the Devil
Or Antichriſt, it maketh Proſelytes,
And, doth but fill the world with Hypocrites.
Therefore, to all, who Faith in thee profeſs,
Who keep thy Moral Law, and common Peace
Endeavour to preſerve by word and deed,
Let ſuch a Freedome bee by him decreed;
That Truth and Errour, whilſt within thoſe Liſts
They keep themſelves, may for their Intereſts,
Contend at will; and let thoſe puniſh'd bee,
VVho break thoſe Liſts, as Traytors unto thee.
For, whereſo'er this prudently is done,
The fall of Babylon is there begun;
And Chriſt will give true Judgement betwixt them
VVho yet contend, in his appointed time.
For this King's likewiſe, and this People's ſake,
Both Him and Them, henceforth, ſo wary make,
That neither Vow, nor Covenant, nor Oath,
They violate: for, thou ſo much do'ſt loath
Unfaithfulneſs, that when thy People made
A Cov'nant, which thy prohibition had,
(Yea, notwithſtanding all Conditions were
Obtain'd by fraud) a puniſhment ſevere
Thou for the wilful breach thereof, did'ſt bring,
Both on thy choſen People, and their King.
A Vow likewiſe, by Jonathan infring'd
(Unwittingly) ſeverely was aveng'd:
And breach of Oaths in ev'ry Generation,
Hath been purſu'd by thee, with Indignation,
Though made to Infidels, and unto thoſe
Who were as well thine, as thy peoples Foes.
Yea, though men are in durance when they make them,
Thou wilt ſeverely puniſh thoſe who break them;
As by that dreadful Vengeance which appear'd,
(To make all future perjur'd Kings afear'd)
Thou brought'ſt on Zedekiah; and, of late,
Upon ſome Chriſtians, who did violate
A Contract with the Turk. Yea, ſaid it was
(As if thereof they were a ſpecial cauſe)
For Oaths, the Land doth mourn: and much I fear
That of our Mournings, they, chief cauſes are.
LORD, Cautious alſo make this King to bee
Of wronging Juſtice, and diſpleaſing thee,
By his impoſing Oaths, which may give cauſe
Of Claſhings, 'twixt Divine and Humane Laws;
Or, which inſnare, and rarely do produce
Effects equivalent to their abuſe:
For, to impoſe ſuch Oaths as may inſnare,
Which, dubious in their acceptations are;
Which, Ignorant Deponents may engage
In, or to that whereof they cannot judge,
Or which their Conſcience checks at, is an end
To which thou never didſt an Oath intend,
And is a wicked and a curſed Gin,
By Tyrants and by tyranny brought in.
Oh! make the King, mind and conſider it;
That, faſt and eaſie, his new Crown may ſit.
If thou haſt ſent him hither in thy Wrath,
'Tis what our wickedneſſe deſerved hath
So juſtly, that the ſame wee well may fear;
And that in our Corrections hee may ſhare,
'Tis alſo poſſible, as ſoon as hee
Hath dealt among us what our Dole muſt bee:
And then, our Executioners muſt ſup
The Dregs, at bottom of our Bitter Cup:
As alſo they, who with a barbarous noiſe
O'er us, in our Afflictions now rejoyce.
Thee, in humility, I, now therefore
With all th' affections of my heart implore,
To let with Judgments, Mercy come along,
To make our Patience and our Faith ſo ſtrong,
That, Hee and Wee, our Tryals may improve,
To turn thine Indignation into Love;
And not as Wee and our late Rulers did,
Provoke thee ſtill in anger to proceed:
Or, as they did, who, when thy Wrath on them
Was pour'd forth, did grow furious and blaſpheme:
But, to avert the danger wee are in,
Joyn in repentance, as wee did in ſin.
Give to the King, a Spirit fit to do
That ſignal Work, which thou haſt cal'd him to;
And give us meekneſſe to bee wrought upon
By that, which muſt by Thee and Him bee done:
For, ſuch and ſo great our Diſtempers bee,
That they are curable by none but Thee,
Or thoſe with whom Thou ſhalt co-operate
Our manifold Confuſions to abate.
It is a Pow'r to Thee alone confinde
To make all in one Houſhold, of one minde,
Much more 'tis thy peculiar, to atone
Three Nations, that, in him they may bee One.
Enable him therefore with every thing
Which to effect, thy purpoſes may bring.
Aſſiſt him at this time, that hee may 'bide
That Teſt, whereby hee now is to bee tride;
Leſt his Return (ere many turns about)
A worſe Turn prove, than his laſt turning out.
From Sycophants preſerve him, and from thoſe
Who hide their Private Malice, under ſhows
Of Publike Ends. From ev'ry mans unjuſt
Pretending, who departeth from his truſt,
Protect him: for, he that was falſe to them
Who gave him credit, will be falſe to him:
Yea, he that is a Traytor to a Stranger,
If he may get Reward, and ſcape the Danger,
Will to betray his Country, Prince, or Friend,
One time or other, ſome juſt Cauſe pretend.
But, principally, LORD, preſerve him from
That Self-Will, which Self-Ruine doth become
To all who cheriſh it, and maketh voyd
All means which to preſerve him are imploy'd.
If from thoſe Places where he lately ſought
His Refuge, any Leven he hath brought,
Which working on the Frailties of his Youth,
Hath ſowr'd the Doctrines of thy ſaving Truth,
By him profeſſed; purge it by thy Grace.
Leſt it may poyſon him, and all his Race.
Great have been his Temptations; great likewiſe
Have been their many Opportunities,
Who ſought to work upon him; and if home
A Conqueror o'er all this, he is come,
It will of him, to all theſe Nations, be
A Teſtimonial ſign'd and ſeal'd by thee:
And, to be thy CONFESSOR he will more
Deſerve, then did King EDWARD heretofore.
Make him conſider, that, to be a King,
Is not to be an Independent Thing;
Two ways, at leaſt, a Relative is He;
Thou, and his People, Antecedents be:
That, for their ſakes in chief, not for his own,
His dignity of Kingſhip, was beſtown.
That, he hath no juſt Pow'r, but what they gave,
Or, thou permitteſt him in wrath to have,
To puniſh, when againſt thee they rebel;
Or elſe in order to their commonweal,
That Ordination was for Good, not Evil,
Save when made by themſelves, or by the Devil,
Which, ſometimes GOD permits (for many Ages)
So pay his Executioners their Wages.
This, well conſid'ring, let him not intend,
Or Kingſhip claim, to any other end
Then thou deſign'ſt; nor practice to grow ſtrong
By offering violence, or doing wrong;
Leſt thou let looſe thoſe Maſtives which will tear
Thoſe Royal Robes, which he in peace might wear.
Thoſe Beaſts an ancient Hierogliphick are,
Of Engliſhmen: By thee chain'd up they were,
When he came in; and though they then were pleas'd,
And fawn'd, they will be mad when they are teas'd,
And fly on any thing, fearleſſe of dangers,
Or odds, eſpecially, if teas'd by Strangers.
This to prevent, let him not now provoke them,
But rather, with a ſoft hand, gently ſtroke them;
Aſſure him that no people can diſguſt,
Or diſoblige a KING that ſhall be juſt.
Since, when a true reſpect to them is ſhown,
It makes not onelyonly their Eſtates his own,
(And will enrich him more then if he could
Turn all our Mountains into Ophir-Gold)
But, alſo builds him in their Heart, a Throne
Of Perfect Love, for him to reſt upon.
Make him but of this mind, and I ſhall ſeem
Henceforth as worthy of his good eſteem,
For theſe Remembrances, as they that in
His ſuffering have with him partakers been;
And much more to his honour it will adde,
Then if a PANEGYRICK I had made.
Make him but thus affected, LORD, to be,
And in thy Name, I'll warrant this from thee,
That, henceforth it ſhall more and more encreaſe
His honour; ſettle Him in perfect peace;
All preſent fears and jealouſies remove;
End all our Quarrels in an endleſſe Love;
Convert all that which will be found in Story
Of our late failings, to thy future glory;
And, make that uſeful to preſerve from blame
Hereafter, that was heretofore our ſhame.
But, if that he and they, whom 'twill concern
Now to be juſt and prudent, ſhall not learn
What thou intend'ſt; but act as they have done
Who lately were ejected from the Throne;
If, yet, the King and Judges of the Land
Kiſs not thy SON, and timely underſtand
What's threatned now, but proſecute their luſt,
And be as mercileſſe, and as unjuſt
As others were; I will once more be bold
To tell them what to others I have told,
Ev'n in thy Name: That, though a while they flouriſh,
They, and the Courſe they proſecute, ſhall periſh.
And, this my Prayer (though they ſleight it ſhall)
Will prove at laſt to be Prophetical
In ev'ry Branch, as well as Precatory:
But be it what ſhall most be for thy glory.
LORD, hear me, and vouchſafe that thoſe Conditions
On which thou condeſcend'ſt to ſuch Petitions,
May be perform'd, and acceptation have,
(Although they cannot merit what I crave)
For, Prayers can for no man take effect,
Who wilfully his Duty ſhall neglect.
In mercy too, remember Me, and Mine:
Increaſe our faith; keep cloſe our hearts to thine,
In all our Tryals: Be not ſo ſevere
To heed the murm'rings, the diſtruſts or fear
Whereto we tempted are, but pardon all
Our Failings, that we ſtumble not to fall.
Grant, that theſe Prayers may as well prepare
Both me and every one who ſhall them hear,
To mind our Duties, as be helps to crave
Of thee, thoſe Mercies which I ask to have.
One word more, for my dear Relations ſake,
Be pleas'd to hear: Compaſſion on them take:
And ſince by my Adventures they are left
Quite comfortleſſe, (of every thing bereft
Whereby they may ſubſiſt) ſome Hearts prepare
Of them, in their Deſertions, to take care:
Or, ſince that they are thine, vouchſafe thou rather,
To be to them a Husband, and a Father:
For, though they may hope well, they cannot know
What Spirit 'tis, from whence my Actings flow;
And therefore cannot my Partakers be,
In thoſe Refreſhments which I have from thee;
As well, becauſe they ſee men oft bereft
Of Reaſon, and to their own Fancies left;
As alſo, for that by our ſeparation
We are depriv'd of mutual conſolation.
As for my ſelf, I ask no more of thee,
But that Grace which will all-ſufficient be.
Life is preſerved with a little matter;
And, he that with courſe cloath, and bread and water,
Content remaineth, neither can be poor,
Nor miſerable, though he has no more.
To this endeavour give ſome good effect;
And, ſo to proſecute it, me direct,
That without fruit, my pains be not beſtown
Through other mens defaults, or by my own:
And, pardon it, if I, my ſelf, have ſought,
By minding my own Cauſe, more then I ought;
Whereof (I do confeſs) I am affraid
I may be guilty, by ſelf-love o'er-ſwaid)
But, humbly to thy Grace, my Soul appeals,
Which will ſuffice for that, and all faults elſe.
For what I have done well, the praiſe be thine:
For what's amiſs, let all the blame be mine.
Thus in a plain petitionary mode,
I have been wreſtling as it were with GOD,
For King and People: For whoſe ſake I made
This GLASSE, which elſe no being ſhould have had.
I muſt confeſs, my own ſad Cauſe broke in,
As ſoon as ere I did therewith begin;
And would not ſuffer me to perſevere,
Unleſs it therewith interwoven were.
Fain would I have forgot it; but I may
As well, if broyling on hot coals I lay,
Reſolve I would not feel them, as I then
Could from it totally refrain my Pen:
For (as I have yet) I had then my ſhare
With ſuch, as this day moſt oppreſſed are.
Yea, mov'd I was, theſe Muſings to compoſe,
When Scorns, Wrongs, Wants, and multiplying Foes,
Had overwhelm'd me ſo, that they had crackt
My Brains, if this Employment I had lackt.
Like Balaſt in a Ship, it kept me ſteddy,
When I had elſe been over-ſet, or giddy.
And, my Afflictions have permitted been,
Perhaps, not altogether for my ſin;
But partly, that together with mine own,
The grievances of others might be known;
And that for no reſpects I might forbear
My thankleſſe Office of Remembrancer,
For which GOD had with Health, and Food, and Rayment
Vouchſaf'd me extraordinary payment,
Till I neglected it, on vain ſurmiſes,
Appearing in ſome rational diſguiſes.
At firſt I lazy grew; then, fell in doubt
Whether the work I was employ'd about
Were GOD's, or rather ſomewhat, which to do,
Not Duty, but my Fancy led me to.
Then I began to think it might be ſpar'd,
Becauſe I ſaw that neither much regard
My Muſings had nor any ſuch effect
As I by them did formerly expect:
And at the laſt, I fear'd if I went on
With what I purpos'd, I ſhould be undone.
Thus, though in Conſcience I was call'd unto it,
I did neglect it, till GOD whipt me to it;
And therefore now am juſtly thruſt among
Thoſe thouſands, who complain of helpleſs wrong.
I dreaded, that it might encreaſe my Troubles;
And therefore, them upon me GOD redoubles.
I feared that ſome Loſſes might befal;
And therefore worthily have now loſt all.
My Duties, I deferred to be done,
Till I ſhould have more Reſt; and now have none.
My Wives and Childrens ruine I did fear;
And therefore I and they now begger'd are:
Yea, ſo much more then begger'd, as my Debt
Amounts unto, (for ought that I know yet.)
This, by my Carnal Prudence I have got;
And this in like caſe, will be each mans Lot
GOD, will have this work done for love or awe;
And ſince I did it it not whilſt I had Straw,
I now muſt gather Stubble. I was fain
To proſecute this (not without much pain)
When I had but a very little left,
And often threatned was to be bereſt
Ev'n of that little. Scarce one man I knew
Who cared for my ſoul; and very few
To whom I my condition might relate,
Or unto whom I might communicate
Theſe Lines, without a miſchief or a jeer,
When I conceived they moſt uſeful were;
For have I where with to the Preſs to ſend them,
Though I for publication do intend them;
Nor have I in my power a certainty
Of what ſhould neceſſary things ſupply;
Nor know from whence it ſhall to me be given
For time to come, except it rain from Heav'n:
And (which of theſe Afflictions is the chief)
I freedom want to ſeek for my relief.
And whilſt this was compoſing, the deſpight
Which long was riping, grew to ſuch a height,
That evil News like Job I did receive,
As if the World from GOD had gotten leave
To try my Patience as ſhe pleas'd ſhould be,
Preſerving onelyonly Life and Health in me:
For by their Cenſures many did aſſay
To take my Confidence in GOD away:
Objecting, That my ſcribling to make known
The Times Corruptions, flow'd but from mine own:
That, Malice, Envy, Pride, or private Spleen,
The Fountaines are, whence iſſu'd they have been:
And preſs'd it ſo, as if it were a Crime
More capital, then any of our Time:
Which makes me unto GOD, ſometimes to cry,
Search thou my heart, and give the world the lye.
She dayly ſeeks occaſion to defame me,
To make me miſerable, and to ſhame me:
She practiſeth all means that may deject me,
And how ſhe by deſpairings, may afflict me.
Yea, as if knowing I were muſing now,
On ſomewhat which her Projects might o'erthrow,
Her Friend the Devil, doth afflict me more,
Then all that I have mentioned before,
By ſtrongly tempting them, whoſe nigh relations
Can moſt augment my inward perturbations,
To be afraid, that I ſo much prefer
My own Deſignes, before my Weal and their;
That, what at this time I purſue, will be
The total Ruine both of them and me;
And, that what I reſolve, doth rather flow
From VVilfulneſſe, then Duties which I owe;
Or, at the beſt, from ſome Fanatick Fit
Proceeding from a boldneſſe without wit:
And to convince me of what they alledge,
They thereof make my greateſt Foe the Judge:
Which more perplext me; and my patience try'd
A great deal more then all the world beſide:
For neither VVorld nor Devil could invent
A Remora like that, to my inten.
I, notwithſtanding, ſtill proceeded on
To do, what I think needful to be done;
As all men ſhould, who know oblig'd they are,
Their Deeds by their own Conſciences to ſquare,
And not by other mens; becauſe, that none
Muſt anſwer for their faults, but they alone.
If this be not my Work and that work too,
Which I was principally born to do,
I know not wherefore I was born, or why
I lived, but to eat, and drink, and die;
Which made me in condition, at the leaſt,
As low, if not much lower then a Beaſt,
Conſidering what Faculties they be
Wherewith my Maker bath endowed me:
And if ſuch VVorks as theſe, are fit for none
But perfect men, they never can be done.
Was I enabled this way to expreſſe
My mind ſo plainly and with eaſineſſe,
In my diſtracting troubles, to no end
But Time, and Ink, and Paper to miſpend?
Are we, by GOD, ſo often call'd upon
To heed what he, and we our ſeves have done,
(And ſtir up others to perform the ſame)
For nothing but to be expos'd to blame,
Or to miſ-cenſures, when we undertake
That thankleſs Office, for meer Conſcience ſake?
Is Poeſie, which wiſe Men have believ'd
A Gift from GOD, ev'n in the womb receiv'd,
(And, whereby David did both Trophies raiſe
To his REDEEMER's everlaſting Praiſe,
And leave behind him for our imitation,
Reproofs of Tyrants, in his Generation)
Is that now grown quite uſeleſs, in all thoſe
To whom a portion thereof he beſtows,
Except Luſt to inflame? To caſt diſgrace
On Vertue, or extol a painted Face?
Is it in theſe daies, not to be allow'd,
Unleſs it be to Idolize the Proud:
Or flatter Fools? I'll wonder then no more:
Why Poets are leſs priz'd then heretofore.
No marvel they are ſlighted; and, perhaps,
Cheriſh't like Parrots, or maintain'd with ſcraps.
Like Spaniels, & muſt think much honor done them,
If their great Patrons pleaſe to grin upon them:
For, they deſerve no better need then ſo,
If that be all the work they have to do.
This way it is and ſhall be well employ'd
By me, although I thereby am deſtroy'd:
And, though it is an old adjudged caſe,
That Poets muſt be poor, I'll not be baſe.
My poverty is without preſident,
For I am poor by Acts of Parliament.
I was not in that condition thrown,
Till they who crackt my credit loſt their own;
And if the King pleaſeth, he may make me rich,
Yet looſe no honour, nor in treaſure much;
For, had I but mine own, my Debts to free,
I ſhould ſuppoſe my ſelf as rich as he.
From GOD, if this proceed not, I ſhall have
The recompence I merit to receive;
Which will be at the worſt an outward trouble,
And loſs of that which I have built with ſtubble:
But, if it flows from him it will produce
Effects which to his glory ſhall have uſe;
And, he will bring it forth at ſuch a time,
As, ſerviceable make it will to him.
Yea, though in the Thames it ſhould be thrown,
Like that which being tide unto a Stone
Was ſunk in Euphrates (and no more ſeen
After in Babel it once read had been)
And will be made available to that
Which, in compoſing it, I aimed at.
Till that time, therefore, I will lay it by,
Not doubting ſuch a time is drawing nigh.
If this King (as I hope) be hither ſent,
As well for Mercy, as for Chaſtiſement,
(For, we need both) it, ſuch effects will bring,
That we in Judgement ſhall of Mercy ſing.
For my part, whatſoere my Portion be,
I'll take that thankfully which falls on me,
As ſent from GOD, whoere he be that brings it,
Yea, though at me, in rage, the Devil flings it:
For (be it known and heeded) not in vain
Die they, who in the forlorn Hope are ſlain:
Nor uſeleſſe to a Victory are they,
Who are ſuppos'd to throw their Lives away
By deſperate attempts; ſince Providence
(Whoſe way tranſcendeth mans intelligence)
Acts very many times, by things which we
Think may to her own ends repugnant be.
They who were ſlain when firſt the Fight begun,
And they who fought until the Field was won,
May (whatſoere to others doth appear)
In work and honour, merit equal ſhare.
Nay, ſignal Victories are got ſometime
By that which hath been puniſh'd as a Crime.
To me and many other men beſide,
May, peradventure, ſuch a Lot betide;
However, I ſubmit unto his pleaſure,
Who acts in his own time, by weight and meaſure;
And, foraſmuch as I have no defence
Againſt my Foes, but naked Innocence,
(Or words, which are amongſt them ſometimes ſhot,
To let them underſtand I fear them not)
I, (that my Fleſh my be preſerved from
Dejection in her mode, till ſuccours come)
My fortreſſe keeping, their Affronts deſpiſe,
Shoot back their ſtones, and durt into their eyes;
Believing, they to peace will now incline,
Or, be reduc'd to harder ſtreights then mine,
As they but lately were, who did contemn
The Sequels, whereof I fore-warned them.
And, if by Storm, they take my life away,
(Which, I as little do regard, as they)
It, in their Souls may leave a Sting behinde it,
Which, will with Torment, make them ſometimes mind it.
But, here I yet remain; and for a Cloſe
(In reference to our Antichriſtian Foes)
I'll adde this Corollary by the way,
Whilſt on his Horns, the B E A S T is toſſing Hay:
For, if deceiv'd I am not, our Diſeaſe
Chiefly proceedeth, underhand, from theſe.
And though (a farther-off removed Cauſe
Pretending) they beſcratch us with the Paws
Of other Beaſts: it plainly may be ſeen
By whom our troubles have contrived been.
I, therefore, make but a Defenſive VVar
With ſuch as mine own adverſaries are;
And (to his Captains as th' Aſſyrian, King
Once gave command) intend no Dart to fling,
To be deſtructive to Foe great or ſmall,
Whoſe hate to me, is onelyonly perſonal;
But, at thoſe onelyonly, whoſe hate doth extend
To HIM, and HIS, on whom I do depend.
To act the laſt Scoene which precedes their Doom,
They, now new vampt upon the Stage are come;
And though that with the KING, as if his Friends,
They ſeem to ſide, they come to other ends,
VVhichWhich, he not yet diſcerning, in his grace
Vouchſates them a conſiderable place;
And, of prevailing they already boaſt,
As if they ſaw the LAMB, and all his Hoſt
Quite overthrown; which, me as confident
Hath made, that GOD their proud hope will prevent;
And overthrow that Tyranny out-right,
By what they think ſhall raiſe it to its height.
But, many tryals muſt the Saints abide,
And very much their patience will be tride
Here and elſewhere, before that Act is done,
Which with an Anti-mask is now begun.
Our Friends inhabiting beyond the VVaters,
And who were of our Tragedies Spectators
Now twenty years (though they perceive it not,
Or ſeem not to perceive it) in that Lot
Which theſe have caſt for us, deſigned are
(Or in what follows next to have a ſhare:
For, Hamans PUR's on foot; not onelyonly here,
But, like wiſe almoſt ev'ry other where;
And theſe think, that to take them by his Gin
With moſt ſpeed, is, with us, firſt to begin.
But, ther's a Counter mine, which will be ſprung,
To blow up them, and all their Mines, ere long.
Six hundred ſixty ſix, draws on apace,
And not one day beyond that, ſhall they paſs:
It is the number of that MAN OF SIN,
VVhereto his Kingdom hath confined been
By him that cannot lye: and, long ago
To many, that Epocha I did ſhows,
From whence his Reign begins; and, by a light,
(As I believe) which ſhines without deceit,
It numbers out his Reign as certainly
As women reckon the Nativity
Of Children in their wombs, which hath ſucceſs
VVithin a very few days more or leſs:
And of that Myſtery, what heretofore
I have expreſt, I'le here expreſs once more;
Becauſe, thoſe Nations which may much be needed,
Cannot be too oft told, nor too well heeded.
To former times, this Myſtery was dark,
And lay a long while, cover'd like a ſpark
In aſhes, leſt perhaps what at this time
Will comfort us, might have diſcourag'd them
Who lived then: for, men rejoyce to hear
The day of their deliverance is near:
But nothing ſave diſcomfort could they gain,
By knowing Tyranny ſo long ſhould reign.
Herein, I circumſtantially perchance
May ſomewhat ere through humane ignorance;
But, as to that which was eſſentially
To us intended by this Myſtery,
I ſhall not fail of; which is, to preſage
That Babylon ſhall fall in this our Age.
Sev'n Numerals the Romane Empire had,
Whereby of old they Computations made;
And in them was their Deſtiny fore-ſhown,
(Though to themſelves perhaps it was unknown.)
Theſe, placed ſingly, as they valued are,
Do truly (though miſteriouſly) declare
How long that Empire, with what ſprung there-from,
Should laſt, when to the full height it ſhould come:
For, M.D.C.L.X. with V. and I.
Do number up, in Chronogrammiſtry,
Years Sixteen hundred ſixty ſix; and, that
Will be of Roman Tyrannies the date.
No other Number either more or leſs,
If none of theſe you double or diſplace,
Can be by them expreſt. If you ask when
This Number did begin; I ſay, ev'n then
When Rome declin'd firſt, from her height of pride,
Which was, when Jeſus Chriſt was crucifide:
For, at that time her glory did abate.
This Number therefore you muſt calculate.
From, or about, the known time of Chriſt's Paſſion,
Not from the firſt day of his Incarnation.
A ſilence (as it were) ſeem'd to have been
In heaven, during th' interval between
His Death and his Aſcenſion, as if cauſ'd
By ſeeing that done which had much amaz'd
The whole Creation, when that they did ſee
The LORD OF LIFE hang dead upon a Tree.
The Devil, probably, at that time too,
Was at a ſtand, and knew not what to do.
But, ſoon perceiving that the ſnare he wrought
Was broke, to make another, ſtreight he ſought;
Which, to prevent, an Angel in a Chain,
(His other pow'rs, him ſuff'ring to retain)
Did for a thouſand years reſtrain the Devil
From ſetting up that Myſtery of Evil,
Which in Pauls time he was at work upon.
But when thoſe thouſand years were fully gone,
He rais'd it up; and GOD permitteth him,
To manage his own Engine for a time,
That, Truth and Errour might here for a ſpace,
Make tryal of their ſtrengths; and, that each Grace
And vertue of the Saints, by exerciſe
Improv'd might be, to fit them for the prize
Prepar'd for thoſe, who ſhall engage with CHRIST,
And overcome the Dragon and the Beaſt.
A thouſand years ſharp Tryals they withſtood;
Yet then they ſtrugled but with Fleſh and Blood;
And, for the moſt part, all their Combates then,
Were like Saint Paul's at Epheſus, with Men
Reſembling Beaſts: but ſince Iniquity
Was ſet up vailed with a Myſtery,
(As in theſe latter Times) with greater Evils
The Saints do graſp: for they contend with Devils
In ſhape of men, in temporall Confuſion,
Made terrible by ſpirituall deluſions;
And therefore GOD allotted unto him
VVho tyrannizeth now, a ſhorter time;
And to a certain day his reign did fix,
VVhichWhich endeth at ſix hundred ſixty ſix:
And he who knows on what day it begun,
May know the day on which it will be done.
VVhichWhich I believe, will viſibly appeare
In, or about the ſev'nteenth hundred year.
And thus much onelyonly, therefore to foreknow,
(VVith how nigh to an end it ſeemeth now)
May make us hopeful, and our faith uphold,
As well, as if year, day, and hour were told:
Yea, and it better ſerves to exerciſe
Our Conſtancy, then if 'twere otherwiſe;
And if well heeded, peradventure may
Keepe ſome upright, who might elſe fall away
In theſe back ſliding daies; wherein, they ſee
The Beaſts late deadly wound nigh cur'd to be.
They on a ſudden are become as jolly
As if they thought it to be cured wholly;
And, to impoſe their Mark, will now begin
To be more ſtrict then ever they have been;
So that ere long, few men ſhall live in peace,
Bear Office, or a free Eſtate poſſeſſe,
VVhere they have power, unleſs they marked are
In hand or forehead, with their Character.
But, if that, whereof ſome imperfect views
Far-off, appear, accordingly enſues,
There will, to th wart their hopes, a New Star blaze
VVithin the VVeſt, that ſhall the world amaze;
And Influences through the Univerſe
So quickly, and prodigiouſly diſperſe,
That, aided by concurring Conſtellations,
It ſhall have ſome effect, upon moſt Nations,
And cauſe ſuch Changes, as will make a ſtand
In thoſe Attempts which they have now in hand.
Yet know, it will but a Diverſion be,
Not that which muſt from Bondage ſet us free.
And know likewiſe, that this which laſt of all
I have expreſt, is but conjectural,
And ſprings from Notions meerly rational,
That poſſibly may, or may not befal.
Thoſe Notions, which may variouſly relate
To me and others, in our twofold ſtate,
Are ſumm'd up for a General Forewarning;
GOD, give my Readers ſpirits of diſcerning,
And ſo much Grace and Meekneſſe, as to heed
His Truth, from whomſoe'er it ſhall proceed.
Such Contemplations are not in my pow'r
At all times; for, my Fleſh oft draws me lower;
And I am forc'd to pleaſe her otherwhile,
By Strains, that harmleſly may her beguile
With hopes of what ſhe looks for in her mode.
Till that comes, which eſſentially is good.
And if theſe both together can maintain
My Faith in patence, 'tis not work in vain:
For, ſuch ſo great, ſo many are my Foes,
(And frailties too, more then my own heart knows)
And ſo malitiouſly do they contrive
My ruine (more perhaps then ſome believe)
That, oft I'm forc'd to anſwer (I confeſſe)
The Fool according to his fooliſhneſſe;
And when ſurpriz'd, upon my guard to ſtand,
With any lawful Tool that comes to hand.
GOD, hath in bidding to the world defiance,
Preſerv'd me hitherto without compliance
In any baſe mode (though by brining on me
Great Miſchiefs, ſhe hath now three times undone me;
And, I am hopeful, he is with me ſtill
As he hath been; and therefore, to his will
And free diſpoſure, I will all things leave
Which may to me or mine relation have:
And in contempt, of what my foes intend,
Theſe Muſings, this enſuing Jigg ſhall end;
Which blame not, if you find it ſomewhat long:
To ſhorten Grief, I lengthen out my Song.