A Considering Glass, Postscript
A POSTSCRIPT In anſwer to ſome cavilling Objections, made againſt the Author of this Conſidering-Glaſs, ſince the compoſing thereof.
I Heare my ſnarling Cenſurers Object,
That, all I write, is to the ſame Effect;
And, that the moſt part of what's here expreſt,
Is but cold Diſhes, ſent forth newly dreſt.
Miſ-cenſures might be ſpar'd, though this were true.
For, where the Matter's old, th' Occaſion's new:
And they will here ſee, if they heed it more,
Thrice Fifty Pages, never ſeen before.
But were it otherwiſe, how much tranſgreſt
Had I therein, more then that Country Prieſt,
VVho, having (or pretending it) a Call
Such to inform, as I oft meet withall,
Preach'd but one Sermon many years together,
And, till they had learn'd that, would preach no other?
Another of their cavilling Objections
Is this; that there are many Contradictions
In my Affirmatives. This true may be
To thoſe men paradventure, who can ſee
But with one eye; Or, look but on one ſide
Of that, whoſe Verity is to be tride:
Yet, all my Affirmations will be true,
VVhen they are heeded with judicious view.
This is the ſame, which often ſuch as they
Abuſively, of Holy Scriptures ſay
Becauſe they neither heed nor underſtand
How Circumſtances, and the Points in hand,
May warrantize that to be verifi'd
In ſome reſpects, which ought to be deni'd
In otherſome: as in the Controverſe
'Twixt FAITH and WORKS; or ſuch: which to reherſe
Would be but labour loſt, by adding more,
To manifeſt what moſt men knew before.
Theſe my Detracting Readers, do moreover,
A Pers'nal Vanity in me diſcover
(As they think) which much levity implies.
Good Souls! how modeſt are they, and how wiſe
I ſeek for, and I do aſſume, they ſay,
(At all times, in all places where I may)
Occaſions to communicate and ſhow
What I have writ, and what I ſeem to know,
To all men, whether Friends or Foes they be;
Wiſe Men or Fools; of high or low degree.
Which I'll confeſſe: for, to my ſelf alone
The harm which thereby can enſue is done:
Doth any Prudent Man a Book compoſe,
OnelyOnly to teach himſelf, the things he knows?
Or, for their ſakes alone, who learned be,
And better know thoſe things, perhaps, then he?
Should not the weal of every one be ſought?
As well the pooreſt, as the rich be taught?
And do not the Prophane, and Fools, as much
Good Cautions need, as they who are not ſuch?
Doth any one, that's noot a Fool at leaſt,
His Candle light, to lock it in a chest?
Doth any, when a Town on fire appears,
Call out for help, were he knows no man hears?
Or think it onelyonly needful to repair
At ſuch times, to the Aldermen and Maior,
When two poor Labourers may do as much,
In an Emergency, as twenty ſuch?
If there be any of this mind, who paſſe
For Prudent Men, let me thought an ASSE.
Though in my Pocket, I no Orders carry
Like thoſe, who Preachers are in Ordinary,
I have them in my heart; and, in my way,
Oblig'd to preach GOD's Truths, no leſs then they,
Take up my Auditors, where I can find them;
And there, in my mode, of their Duties mind them.
For I have oft obſerv'd (and ſo may theſe
Obſerve it likewiſe often, if they pleaſe)
That, they whom ſome count deſpicable men,
Make better uſe of thoſe means, now and then,
Which to GOD's glory pertinent do ſeem,
(Or common good) then men of more eſteem;
And that ſometimes, the work of GOD we do,
By what is thought impertinent thereto.
We know, the Goſpel firſt to them was brought
Whom worldly wiſe men, baſe and fooliſh thought:
That, very many Publicans and Sinners
Were ſome of Chriſtianities beginners:
And that the Saints then thought it was but reaſon,
To do their Duties in, and out of Seaſon.
Theſe benefits are alſo reaped from
My reading what I write, to all that come.
Some things, I otherwhile, thereby collect
From thoſe who neither me nor that reſpect:
For in diſcourſe, before they are aware,
They let ſlip words which cautionary are.
To them who like my Lines, it Treatments makes
As acceptable as Ale, Wine and Cakes:
To thoſe who like them not, they ſerve my turn
Their Interruptions, quickly to adjourn:
For, they pretending Buſineſs to be done,
Requiring haſt (and that they muſt be gone)
Straight bid Adieu; and Farewel I reply:
Glad are theſe they are gone, and ſo am I.
More might be ſaid, to what hath been aver'd
By ſuch as theſe: But little they regard
What may in reaſon give them ſatisfaction,
Whoſe principal deſignment is Detraction:
And fruitleſſe are all rational Replies,
To what, Pride, Hate, and Folly may deviſe.