A Considering Glass, Part

A Considering Glass · Part

In ſtead of a Dedication, or an Epiſtle to the Reader, this Expoſtulation of the Author with Himſelf, is here inſerted.

GEORGE, were't not fit, ere from thy hands it paſs

To dreſs thy ſelf by thy Conſidering-Glaſs?

It hath now ſix months been expoſ'd to ſhow

And ſome ſay, Forth in publick let it go.

Some, cry, Conceal it; for it may undo thee,

Or at the beſt, bring outward miſchief to thee.

Say, ſhall, or ſhall I not divulge the ſame?

Shall it be ſpar'd, or given to the flame?

Quickly, reſolve, before it bee too late,

And Cautions needful, grow quite out of date.

Doſt thou beleeve, that many men will read it?

Or, if they do, that any much will heed it?

Except it be, to ſeek how to abuſe thee,

Or, finde out ſomewhat whereof to accuſe thee;

What ever thou ſhalt write, Self-intereſt

No more will entertain, then ſhall conſiſt

With her own Principles. Thou, to the SOT

Writ'ſt Greek: the worldly-wiſe regard it not;

And if, among Swine, thou thy pearls doſt caſt,

They'l tear thee, or defile thee at the leaſt.

Yet, if thy Conſcience doth incline thee to it,

More fear thou to neglect it, than to do it;

For, from thy Duties thou art not excus'd,

Although thy pains be ſleighted and abus'd.

And, it were better, miſchief ſhould befall

Unto one ſingle perſon, than to all:

He periſhing with an ill Conſcience too,

Becauſe, hee did not, what hee ought to do.

To make this, and tranſcribe it, I confeſs,

Much pains requir'd not, and the coſt is leſs.

In Ink and Paper: yet, perhaps, it may

Be better worth, than to be thrown away:

And though to my particular offence

It may redound a tenfold Recompence,

It will repay thy Country by return:

And, for thy ſelf alone, thou art not born.

My Country! Why perhaps my Country-men,

Think, they need not my ſervice; and, what then?

Am I oblig'd, if they be minded ſo,

To ſerve them still, whether they will or no?

I, fifty years, have ſerv'd them in my turn,

To that end, for which (I think) I was born,

For no reward, but injuries and ſcorn.

They, my Good Meanings, have repay'd with ill,

And, can it be expected, I ſhould ſtill

Serve them on ſuch hard terms? Then, ſo I will.

Haſt thou compoſed, without fear or wit,

What, may mens diſcontented humours fit?

Scribled enough, ſince here the Scoene did alter,

To purchaſe Newgate, or, to win a Halter?

If ſo, and that which is deſerved follows,

That will, perhaps, attend thee to the Gallows:

There, either rail upon thee, or, elſe ſay,

Thou wert a bold fool, and ſo go their way.

And, if thou writ'ſt but ſober Truth and Reaſon,

Or, that, which wiſe men think to bee in ſeaſon,

They will be all the world will give thee for't,

Shee'l ſay that, Thou, not worth the hanging art.

Not, worth the hanging! Hah! that's ſomewhat tho;

And may be worth as much, for ought I know,

As to be made a Viſcount, or an Earl,

A Marqueſs, or a Duke

For, great my Earthly Expectations are not,

And, if they come to nothing, much I care not.

I know, which way, to make mine honour greater

Than that, for which I muſt become a Debter

To other men; and, can augment the ſame

By that, which ſome do think, will do mee ſhame.

But, hark! in policy a while delay

To publiſh, this; thou haſt a Game to play

For Prelates Lands, which lately purchaſ'd were;

Thy Claims thereto, now in great hazard are,

And, thou, wilt both to borrow, and to pay,

Diſabled bee, if they bee took away:

Thy other Lands, by Cheaters were bereft,

And, if thou loſe theſe too, there's nothing left.

Their Temp'ralties, muſt be reſtor'd again,

And, thou concerning them, writ'ſt here, ſuch plain,

Such down-right Truths, that if there ſhould bee found

Surviving (or, new made) on Engliſh Ground

A Biſhop who will then thy cauſe befriend,

It may preſage that all the reſt will mend:

And, that, here conſtituted, wee ſhall ſee,

Such Biſhops, as Saint Paul ſaid they ſhould bee:

(Which our Scotch-Brethren, I ſuppoſe, will grant

To bee within, our Solemn Covenant)

But, that, is in great hazard; therefore, try

Their Holineſs, and their Humility:

And, if, as may be wiſh'd, thou ſhalt not ſpeed,

Then, with what thou intendeſt streight proceed.

Out! Out Upon't! this Motion is ſo evil,

That, 'tis a meer ſuggeſtion of the Devil.

This, is that fooliſh policy, that brings

Deſtruction upon Nations and their Kings.

'Tis in effect, as if my heart ſhould ſay,

Do, as moſt Worldlings do; and when that way

Thou proved haſt, and thereby reap'ſt no good,

From thenceforth, put thy truſt alone in GOD.

No, no; I bought thoſe Lands without offending

My Conſcience, or a wrong to them intending:

And, either ſtill mine by GOD's help I'll make them,

Or, let the Prelates, if it muſt be, take them;

Although I know them no Appurtenance

To them belonging by GOD's Ordinance.

A Covenant within his ſight I took,

Which, though by ſome it ſleighted be, and broke,

I dare not ſleight it ſo, but, to this hour

Have kept it (and will keep it) to my pow'r.

Art thou then thus reſolv'd? Yes, and till death

Reſolved am, whilſt I have Pen or Breath,

Thus, to be ſtill reſolv'd, unleſs GOD leaves mee,

Or elſe to change my mind his warrant gives mee.

I'll truſt GOD in the firſt place, not the laſt

Alone, and when all other hopes are paſt.

If Prelates, Parliaments, and Kings bereave mee

Of all I have, Hee, helpleſs will not leave mee.

But probable it ſeems, that, if hereby

Impriſonment, or extreme Poverty

Befalls now thou art old, that they who moſt

Thy hazard urge, will leave thee to be loſt:

What if they do? thou haſt a better hold:

GOD leaveth no man becauſe hee is old;

And never had hee firm Dependences

On him, that's frighted with ſuch Toyes as theſe.

Recall to mind, that many years ago,

When ſuch Adventures thou wert urg'd unto

It fell out otherwiſe. But there is yet

Another fear: Therefore conſider it.

Thou haſt Relations, who to thee are dear;

May theſe. not ſuffer more than they can bear,

By what may come? Alas! I'll not diſſemble,

My fears for them, do make my fleſh to tremble;

And, when I minde their hazards and their fears,

'Spight of Philoſophy I let fall tears.

But why, my Soul, art thou dejected ſo?

My Heart, why ſad within mee, doſ… … grow?

Still truſt in GOD, for hee will bee th… aid.

Of theſe vain Bug-bears be thou not afraid;

For they are GOD's much more than they are thine:

To him therefore the charge of them reſign.

This needleſs care, is but for Three, at moſt,

And, to the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoſt,

If thou commit them, bee will raiſe up Friends

To make for all their loſſes large amends.

But, they have ſaid, and ſo do many ſay,

That men are much eſtranged at this day

From what they were: that, in theſe latter times

They are grown much more hardned in their crimes,

And far leſs ſenſible than they were then

Of Sufferings, which befel to honeſt men,

Who (when their pains might that way be beſtown)

Preferr'd the common good before their own:

And that their number too, who now are griev'd,

Is more than theirs, by whom to be reliev'd,

They may have hope. Alas! if it be thus,

GOD only can, and hee must ſuccour us.

If it be ſo, our caſe is very ſad:

Yet fear not, Balm in Gilead may be had.

Thy Pains, and this Adventure ſuch times need:

On good Intentions, good effects ſucceed;

And, hee at laſt will finde it ſo, who ſcatters

His Bread, although it be upon the Waters:

For God is ſtill the ſame; his Truth will never

Be Falſhood, but continue Truth for ever.

Hee, who thee hath preſerv'd ſo many years

Amid ſo many Dangers, Foes and Fears,

As thou haſt paſſed through (and thy Oppreſſours

Deſtroy'd from time to time with their Succeſſours)

Will ſtill preſe… thee; or, elſe, thither take thee

From them, … hee'l ſecure for ever make thee;

And, be to Wife and Children at their need,

A Husband and a Father, in thy ſteed.

Well; I beleeve this; with my ſelf, therefore

Hereof, I will expoſtulate no more.

I have ſo well, in my Conſidering-Glaſs,

View'd, what my heart now is, with what it was,

And, for what may befall, prepar'd it ſo,

That, whither GOD will ſend it, let it go:

Take it among you, Newters, Friends and Foes,

And his Will be fulfilled, WIN or LOSE:

Who ſince I am excuſed from the coſt

Of Publication (becauſe, all I've lost)

Will in the beſt time, ſome mans heart incline

To add his Contribution unto mine;

That, what now ſix months hath peruſed been

In private, may more publickly be ſeen.

GEO. WITHER. Decemb. 13. 1660.

p. 1SPECULUM SPECULATIVUM: OR, A CONSIDERING-GLASSE; Compoſed, June XIII.M.DCLX.

The Contents.

OUr Modern Prophet (ſo did Paul,

A well known Heathen Poet call)

Doth, in the Muſes Mode relate

This Nations paſt and preſent ſtate.

Shews us, in this Conſidering-Glaſs,

What, ſhall hereafter come to paſs,

According as, wee do fulfil,

Or, croſs GOD's manifeſted Will.

Shews by what light hee doth behold

Thoſe things that are by him foretold.

Praics for the King, and minds him too,

In praying for him, what to do.

Some things, which to himſelf pertain,

He intermixeth (not in vain)

Which will as much advantage them

Who ſleight them not, as profit him.

And by the number of the Beaſt,

Bounds the laſt year of Antichriſt.

THough of my Friends, I may almoſt profeſs,

As did Elias, in another caſe,

I know not one (not one of thoſe at leaſt,

Who friendſhip for meer civil ends profeſt)

p. 2Yet here this day, may many thouſands be

Who are my real friends, unknown to mee:

Yea peradventure many among thoſe

Who at this preſent time are thought my Foes.

To them therefore, I wiſhing Grace and Peace;

Do now, where ere they live, theſe Lines addreſs

To fortifie their Faith, and them incline

By their endeavours to help ſtrengthen mine;

And that by our Petitions joyntly made,

Wee may get ſafety where it can be had;

For, whether of a low degree, or high,

To truſt to men, is truſting to a Lye.

I am ſurprized with another FIT,

But what it will produce, I know not yet.

Confuſedly things tumble in my breaſt,

And if confuſedly they bee expreſt,

You muſt be pleas'd to take them as you finde them,

(And, as begun, before I had deſign'd them)

Since when few knew what's beſt for them to do,

That will be done which they are forc'd unto;

And may perhaps too, have as good ſucceſs

As that with which more freedome I expreſs:

(At leaſtwiſe) when mens manners, and the times

Shall make them heed the Reaſon of my Rimes;

For nothing I'll inſiſt on, but what ſhall

Tend to GOD's glory, and the good of all.

Of no mens Perſons whoſoe're they are,

Will I accept, in what I ſhall declare:

(Not of mine own, in any thing that may

Wrong Juſtice, or my Conſcience any way)

Nor be ſo fearful, or ſo over-bold,

So over-hot, ſo luke-warm, or ſo cold,

That any juſtly ſhall my words deſpiſe,

That's honeſt, ſober, generous or wiſe:

p. 3But plainly tell things as I finde they are,

And then concerning them my thoughts declare;

Not limited by Method like to thoſe

Who make expreſſions of their minds in proſe;

But by Digreſsions, as the Muſes do,

When ſudden Raptures them incline thereto;

And in ſuch Language as may evidence

The Truth, without affected Eloquence.

Yet, nor the better, nor the worſe effect,

Whether I write, or write not, I expect

As to my Self; ſave, as I hope to raiſe

Thereby a Ground-work for GOD's future praiſe

From things obſerv'd; with which work to diſpenſe

I dare not, neither can without offence:

For GOD is much concern'd in things now done;

As alſo, in what may ſucceed thereon;

And if well known, and well weigh'd, all things were

Which, to mee pertinent at this time are,

As with thoſe Lepers who diſtreſſed ſate

'Twixt WAR and FAMINF, at Samaria's Gate;

So ſhould I ſeem to fare: for, whether they

Continu'd in that place, or went away,

Their hazards were the ſame; and ſo are mine,

Whether to WORDS, or Silence, I incline.

They at the laſt reſolved were to try

That courſe which they thought beſt; and ſo do I.

Which if no man regards, 'tis but the lot

That, I, and better men have often got.

Aſsiſt, Oh GOD! in what I ſeek to do;

For, when that MAZE, I wiſtly look into

Which wee are in, I am afraid almoſt

That I in ſome dark paſſage may be loſt.

Our Follies have ſo wrapt us in a Gin,

Compoſed both of Righteouſneſs and Sin,

p. 4Of Truth and Falſhood, of Non-ſenſe and Reaſon,

Of Good and Ill, of Loyalty and Treaſon;

And diſagreeing Judgements and Affections,

Have broken us into ſo many Fractions;

Our heads inforcing into ſuch croſs Angels,

Whereby the Net ſtill more and more intangles,

And faſtned it with ſuch a ſnarled knot,

That, to unty it, if thou help them not,

All humane pow'rs will be imploy'd in vain,

To ſet us at full liberty again.

But notwithſtanding, here is hardly ought

That, is not wholly out of order brought;

Yet, if thou liſt, when likelieſt means do fail,

Thou canſt make things unlikely to prevail.

Thy purpoſe, thou as well to paſs canſt bring

By my Gooſe-quill, as by an Angels Wing:

And, though on all ſides all have ſo miſ-done

That, I am like to give content to none;

If I may do thy Will, I ſhall not care

What elſe, enſues, or who diſpleaſed are.

Mens Failings and their Duties being ſhown,

Thy Juſtice and thy Mercies will bee known.

And, hoping, to that end, thou guid'ſt my Pen,

I'll without fear, make my Addreſs to men.

For, doubtleſs, I may boldly do mine Errant

To Kings and Nations, when I have thy warrant.

Full eighteen years and one month, very neer

Since wee began to ring the Changes here

Are paſt away; and ſince by often turning

Wee, have been broyling, to eſcape a burning:

But, what are wee the better, now, unleſs

Wee ſhall diſcover what things were amiſs;

And when wee finde them, ſeriouſly intend

Our courſes, for the future, to amend?

p. 5For, how can they have eaſe, who bear about them,

And in them, what they ſeek to cure without them?

Or, to obtain it ſhall be ſtill ſo mad,

As to expect it, where none can be had?

Or, how can poſſibly that Body be

From great Diſtempers, or Deſtruction free,

Whoſe Head and Members are from one another

Divided? or ſo cruel to each other

As not to let each part, enjoy that dole

VVhichWhich Nature gave them to preſerve the whole?

Our King's return'd: but we, to him from whom

Our perfect Peace, and ſaving-health muſt come,

Are not as yet return'd; and whilſt we are

As we now be, things will be as they were.

VVe ſhall be cheated, if we doe ſuppoſe

Waſps will turn Bees, or Doves proceed from Crows,

Till GOD himſelf, whoſe proper work it is,

Shall bring to paſs that Metamorphoſis,

VVhichWhich hath been long expected by this Nation,

And, will require a longer Expectation,

Ev'n till we more indeavour it, from him

VVho may to us, as to Jeruſalem,

Cry out, How often have I ſought your good,

And as a Hen that's careful of her brood,

Would fain have brooded you? but, you would not!

His Mercies we have ſleighted, or forgot:

This negligence, (or, I might rather ſay

This wilfulneſs) hath made us at this day

So wretched, that no hope doth now remain

But that which quickly may be loſt again:

For, we do find, whatever is pretended,

That, like Sowre Ale in Summer we are mended;

And, that as ſince we innovated firſt,

At ev'ry Change, the laſt prov'd alwaies worſt.

p. 6(Whether things were preſented to our ſight

In Habits old or new, in black or white)

So ſtill, 'tis like to be, till we adhere

To Righteous Actings, with hearts more ſincere,

By what vow, promiſe, or fair ſhow ſoever,

The Politician works on his Beleever:

Yea, though the King ſhould do the beſt he can,

And act beyond the ſphear of mortal man:

For, here Hercule an labours finde he ſhall,

And, that he's come now to th' Aeugaean-stall,

Which muſt be cleanſed (as the Poets ſay

That was) by turning Streams another way.

I, round about mee, hear a found of Peace;

But I (as yet) diſcover nothing leſſe;

Although, I do not ſee as heretofore

Swords drawn; or hear ſo oft, the Canons roar.

That, which ſome dream we have, I cannot finde;

Either, I ſee too much, or they are blinde.

I ſee it poſſible; and with cloſ'd eyes

See alſo, how it may be otherwiſe,

Unleſs both Prince and People joyn as One

In doing that, which is yet left undone.

We have a King (GOD proſper him:) but hark!

He, hath a people too will finde him work.

He may perceive before this year wheels round,

That, with a wreath of thorns, they him have crown'd;

And, that among their Sweet-meats, taſte he ſhall

A little Honey mixed with much Gall.

What can the Maſters Art, at Helm prevail

To ſave the Ship, that ſpreadeth every ſail

Amongſt Rocks in a ſtorm, from being ſunk,

VVhen all his Mariners are ſick or drunk?

VVhat can the wiſeſt Single perſon do,

Although King Solomon and David too

p. 7VVere of his Council? Joſhua General,

Sampſon his Champion, and his Life-guard all

Like David's Worthies, till men underſtand

Their own eſtate, heed, what GOD hath in hand;

VVhat he expects, and better can diſcover

VVhat Grace is offer'd, and what Plagnes hang over?

Or, what can any Nations do, whoſe Kings

And Governours are heedleſs of ſuch things?

Theſe Duties, few of us regarded have,

But multipli'd our Feaſts; made our ſelves brave;

Neglect, as others did, our day of Trial,

And ſing unto the Lute, the Harp, or Viol,

Ev'n whilſt our Brethren ſharply puniſh'd are

For ſins whereof their Judges are not clear:

For I, nor You, nor any one of them,

VVho with ſeverity, their faults condemn,

Could be excuſ'd, if GOD ſhould be ſevere

In queſtioning what hath been acted here.

As therefore, GOD ſhall bring them to my mind

To treat of thoſe things I am now inclin'd,

VVhereby, Dooms threatned may be turned from

Theſe Realms, or born with meekneſs when they

But, I will firſt inform you, by what light come.

I ſee thoſe things, whereof I have a ſight,

In hope it will the better, then be known

If Truth I write, or Fancies of mine own.

Immodeſtly we muſt not pry into

GOD's ſecrets: yet, what hee intends to do,

He, not alone doth by his Word reveal

With what to Sins, to Duties, VVo, or VVeal,

Relates: … Medium's alſo hath beſtown

VVhereby, ſome future things may before-known;

And, hee expects, that we with induſtry

Should to the ſearch of them our ſelves apply

p. 8According to that means: becauſe, each thing

VVhichWhich Diſquiſition may to knowledge bring,

VVill either hurt or profit, leſs or more,

As (for the moſt part) it hath been before

Sought, ſhun'd, hop'd, fear'd, and well conſider'd on;

And that makes me oft-times to muſe upon

Things that may be, as well as thoſe that are;

And, things paſt, with things preſent to compare,

That I might know, as much as Reaſon can,

VVith help of Grace, my duties as a man.

And, though it be of many diſregarded,

GOD hath my pains, in that kind, oft rewarded

VVith ſuch Diſcoveries, that (if timely heeded)

They might have Plagues prevented, that ſucceeded.

VVhereof, leſt you ſtill doubt, here I will ſhow

By what means I ſome future things fore-know.

That, you may prove, if thoſe which I declare

Either Phanaticks, or Impoſtures are.

My Muſe acts by a Glaſs of Speculation,

VVhereto applying, what my Obſervation

Laies hold on, I do otherwhile fore-ſee

Some things, which either may, or may not be,

As that ſhall be omitted or fulfill'd

VVhichWhich is by GOD, conditionally will'd.

Enthuſiaſms, I know, moſt men contemn;

No further therefore, I pretend to them

Than POETS may; though in all Generations

GOD may, and doth vouchſafe both Revelations

And Viſions too (for ought yet known to me)

VVhichWhich may to us Premonitory be:

Since, frequently, prenotions I have had

(By ſome Impreſſions on my ſpirit made)

Of what enſu'd, which I could not have known

By any Light, or Vertue of mine own.

p. 9If therefore, you ſhall be inclin'd unto

My way of Divination, then, thus do:

Withdraw your ſelves to ſome place all alone,

Where you ſhall interrupted be of none:

(The Woods, your Cloſet, or the fragrant Field,

Conveniences for ſuch a purpoſe yeeld)

When you are there, place GOD before your eyes,

And, minding he your deeds and thoughts eſpies.

Caſt backward, ſo far from you every thing

(As poſſibly) which an offence may bring

To ſuch a Majeſty; chiefly, thoſe ends

VVhoſe proſecution neither truly tends

Unto GOD's honour, or to edifie

Your ſelves or others; but, to vanity;

To ſatiate your Avarice or Pride,

Or ſuch like Luſts. Thus, having ſanctifi'd

Your Perſons, place upon the right-hand ſide

GOD's Oracles, by which all things are tri'd.

You ſhall in them, expreſt at large, behold

All Acts and Sufferings, which in times of old

Concern'd Him, or his People, with all thoſe

To them relating, who were Friends or Foes,

So far forth, as to you their cognizance

Pertains, and as your VVeal it may advance.

Theſe, by GOD's Providence tranſmitted were

To future ages, to be every where,

(Ev'n to the very utmoſt end of Time)

That URIM and that THUMMIM unto them,

Whereto they might repair, when they of ought

That needed Reſolution, ſtood in doubt.

Therein, you all Occurrences may finde,

Which neceſſarily, in any kind,

Shall unto Faith or Manners appertain,

So long as in this world men do remain.

p. 10There are exemplifide, all humane failings,

All Changes, Hopes, Fears, Loſings and Prevadings,

Of Enemies or Friends: Things Good and Evil;

The Practices and Projects of the Devil;

Things Metaphyſical, products of Nature

And Grace, with what concerneth ev'ry creature;

All Promiſes and Threatnings, which belong

To Faith or Unbeleef, to Right or VVrong,

VVith all things elſe that pertinent may be

To ev'ry Faculty, and each Degree.

VVhen with this GLASSE, you are acquainted grown

So that your Self, may to your ſelf be known;

(For, it will ſhew more plainly, than your face

You ever, yet beheld in any Glaſſe

VVhat's in your heart; and alſo let you ſee

What things are wanting, which there ought to be)

And, when by practice you enabled are

To know to what heads, thoſe things to refer

Of which you would enquire, place oppoſite,

What you have by your hearing, or by ſight

Diſcovered, to that Subject pertinent,

Concerning which, you ſeek to know th' event,

Or good or ill condition of the ſame,

And what you may conjecture without blame.

Then, well conſider all the Circumſtances

That qualifie, and all Appurtenances

That aggravate, to make men capable

Of Mercies, or to Judgements liable;

As likewiſe, all Eſſentials to that thing

Whoſe Nature, Merit, or demeriting

You ſeek to underſtand; or elſe what Meed

Or puniſhment is for the ſame decreed

According to the Rules, and Judged Caſes,

Recorded in that Map of common places.

p. 11This being done, be confident (if you

Have not for Truths received things untrue)

By parallelling Objects which you ſee,

Upon your left hand plac'd, with ſuch as be

Upon the right, it will to you appear

VVhether or not approveable they are;

And, what on Humane Actions, will enſue

Whereof you had an undeceived view;

Except, an intervening change takes place

By ſecret ſins, or unſeen Acts of Grace.

Nay, otherwhile, it pleaſeth Providence

To hint things not deducible from thence,

Concerning both the manner and the time

Of future Conſequences, unto them

VVho ſeek not out of Vanity or Pride

For hidden things; and they are verifi'd

Accordingly, when by what's fore-diſcerned

The welfare of GOD's people is concerned.

This, meerly, is a work of Contemplation,

Not practical without much Obſervation;

And will as harſhly ſound in moſt mens ears,

As Love-ſongs, to an aged Uſurer's;

And, teachable it is not, ſave to thoſe

VVhom GOD ſhall by his Spirit pre-diſpoſe

For ſuch a ſearch: but, 'tis attained then

Aſſoon by mean wits, as by wiſeſt men;

And, better anſwers what their Queries are,

Than if the Influence of ev'ry Star,

VVith all their Conſtellations they could know,

And, more confirm'd thereby their Faith will grow.

Now, what of our Affairs, I pre-conjecture

By this GLASSE, I intend to read a Lecture

As pertinently, as my ſhallow wit,

And thoſe confuſed Objects will permit

p. 12VVhichWhich preſs as hard within me to come out,

As thoſe Oppreſſions hemming me about

Strive to break in upon me: for 'twixt theſe,

My ſoul and body lye in Little-eaſe.

Oh GOD, thine aid I once again implore,

That my Deſign make not our breaches more,

Nor quite compleat my ruine now begun;

At leaſt till I thy work have wholly done:

For, I am of no Faction, but profeſs

To King and Country with true heartineſs,

Both Loyalty and Love, with an intent

Deſtruction and Diſunion to prevent,

By offering to mens due conſiderations,

Some Objects of my private Obſervations

With thoſe Products, which may ariſe from thence;

And which may likewiſe have an influence

On other things, that will relation have

To Thee and thine, whoſe intereſts to ſave

I ſo obliged am, that I would neither

Should be diſhonour'd, or wrong done to either:

And, LORD, as this, my chief deſign to be,

Thou knoweſt, ſo vouchſafe to proſper me.

Betwixt Mount Gebal and Mount Gerazim,

At this day, to be placed, we do ſeem,

And, 'tis yet in ſuſpence, whether or not

A Bleſſing or a Curſe will be our lot:

The ſtrſt I hope for, and the laſt I fear,

Conſidering how ſtill qualifide we are:

And what a little change is in us made

By all the changes we have lately had.

If raging ſingly, Avarice, Ambition,

Self will, Prophaneneſs, Envy, Superſtition,

Hypocriſie and Malice we have found,

Scarce tolerable; what when they abound,

p. 13And are united, can be here expected,

(Or, may be rationally then effected)

But multiplied Injuries and Scorn,

Not eaſily expreſſed, much leſs born?

If here ſhall be with wicked Canaanites,

A mixture of as wicked Iſraelites,

Whoſe ſins will be as many (if not more)

And greater, than they have been heretofore,

How can our expectations be much better,

Than either former puniſhments, or greater?

So bad, ſo mad, our proſecutions be,

(By all that yet appeareth unto me)

As if we wilfully reſolv'd had been

Againſt all ſpoke without us, or within,

Or whatſoe'er to us Examples teach,

Or Conſcience, by our hopes or fears doth preach:

But, if thoſe Juglings which obſerved are

By me, ſhould unto ev'ry one appear,

All Juglers would unto contempt be brought;

They, who ſeem very wiſe, would fools be thought,

And many in themſelves grow doubtful whether

They to be pitied were, or ſcorned rather.

As great, as many, are the wrongs, the crimes,

The cruelties and falſhoods of theſe times,

As ever; and will ſuch continue ſtill,

Till Truth and Errour, and till Good and Ill,

Have plaid their Maſter-prize; to which intent

Their forces univerſally are bent

Againſt each other. From falſe hearts proceeds

Falſhood in words, and wickedneſs in deeds;

And whilſt we talk of Righteouſneſs and Peace,

They, who concealed their maliciouſneſs

With fair deportments do anew begin

So to declare what they have alwaies bin,

p. 14As makes, in many, inlets to ſome fear,

That, till it endeth in a Maſſacre,

No Vengeance will their projects terminate,

Or ſet a laſting period to their hate.

A bloodleſs Maſſacre here is already

Begun among us, and it will be bloody

When you perecive admittance of thoſe Strangers,

VVho firſt begun out plagues, renew our dangers;

And then, they who ſuppos'd their perſons free,

VVill with the reſt, in equal perils be:

For, boundleſs luſtings, miſchiefs will beget,

VVhichWhich lye within the womb unheeded yet,

Where Sin and Death are twins conceiv'd together,

Though born a little while before each other;

And, will in very ugly ſhapes be found

In many places, ere this year goes round;

Portended, and attended in ſtrange wiſe,

With Ominous Events, and Prodigies.

VVe ſhall ſee Gown-men tread on Men of War,

High Courts of Juſtice called to the Bar;

Thoſe, of whom no man lately ſtood in dread,

Arraign the Living, and condemn the Dead:

Make Martyrs, Saints and Reprobates of thoſe

VVhoſe good or bad conditon no man knows;

And act ſuch things as never yet were done

VVithin this Clymate ſince the world begun.

Yet, heed this, you, who with a ſober mind

Seek peace, and are not factiouſly inclin'd,

(And you, whoſe principle is to repair

VVhat is decay'd, with no worſe Tools than Prayer)

VVith Chriſtian patience bear the Viſitation

VVhichWhich is allotted to this Generation;

And know, that as now Nature runs the race

By her deſigned, ſo ſhall alſo Grace

p. 15Purſue her courſe, to purge us in theſe fires,

For that perfection whereto Faith aſpires.

Strive by renewing of your ſelf-denials,

To bear with conſtancy your fiery trials,

Which muſt be undergone: for they appear

In ſhew more painful than in proof they are;

As their experience found, who in times paſt

Have into Babels Fornaces been caſt,

When they were ſeven times heated; and as wee

May peradventure find, ere long 'twill be.

Be not afraid of your own ſins; for they

On your repentance will be done away:

Nor be diſcouraged, though your Foes at large

Shall ſum them up, and lay unto your charge

Falſe imputations alſo: for, with eaſe

Both Saints and Reprobates of whom they pleaſe

The Vulgar make: and, if prophane men ſhall

Be Judges betwixt David and King Saul,

The ſins of David might be made appear

As many, and much greater than Sants were;

And He, upon whoſe ſide GOD ſentence gave,

Amongſt moſt men, the leaſt eſteem would have.

But, GOD obſerv'd his heart; purg'd what did ſlow

From humane frailty, as he purgeth now

VVith ſharp corrections, the late crying crimes

Of Saints prevaricating in theſe times.

Judgement, in our days, at GOD's houſe begins,

Who takes ſuch notice of our many ſins,

That ſince we would not mend when we were chidden,

He will no longer now let them be hidden

Or go unpuniſh'd: but we, that each other

Provok'd to ſin, ſhall puniſh one another.

Me blame not then, if I touch here and there,

Thoſe failings on all ſides which cauſes were

p. 16Of what we ſuffer: for, GOD will be known

By doing Juſtice; and we ought to own

Our great Tranſgreſſions, and not ſeek to hide

Thoſe Crimes, for which he laies ev'n Kings aſide,

As well as other men; that all may know,

He giveth equal dooms to high and low.

Though, therefore, we ſometimes a vail may caſt

O'er faulty Rulers, whilſt their pow'r doth laſt,

To keep them from contempt, leſt their diſgrace

May cauſe infringement of the Common Peace,

We muſt not counter-act what GOD will do,

When he reproves them, and removes them too:

But, ſuff'ring with them by commiſeration,

As being worthy of like condemnation,

Give GOD the glory, with our Pens and Breath,

For what's intended by their ſhame or death.

A ſickneſs which is Epidemical

(In ſome degree) hath ſeized upon all,

And, eaſe we cannot have, till that hath wrought,

Which to procure a remedy is brought.

When Cures are to diſtempers firſt appli'd,

We muſt expect, more torments to abide

Than if we felt our Maladies alone,

Without a Medicine working thereupon.

Of our malignant humours to be eas'd,

To take ſome poys'nous Drugs we muſt be pleas'd;

For our Phyſician, who doth truly know

Their and our Natures, hath preſcribed ſo.

Diſeaſes otherwhile need letting bloud,

Though with what is corrupt, that which is good

Seems alſo loſt: Gangrenes require ſometimes

To ſave the Whole, by cutting off of Limbs.

Yea, otherwhile a welfare doth redound

In common, when that ſuffers which is ſound;

p. 17And, once when ſick to death the Body lay,

'Twas cur'd by taking of the Head away.

GOD, who of evil things can make good uſes,

And, by what is unwholſome, Health produces,

Vouchſafeth to make paſſage now and then,

To ſignal Bleſſings, by the ſins of men;

As when the ſons of Jacob, who inſlaved

Their Brother, were thereby, from Famine ſaved.

VVhichWhich teacheth us, to be contented ſtill

To let him act, both when and how he will;

To ſearch into our own corruptions nearly,

And not to cenſure any too ſeverely.

Since unto every one it may be known,

That, no mans fault, ſo harms him as his own:

Let over-bitter Cenſures be ſuſpended,

VVhen you perceive a Brother hath offended

By raſhneſs, or through frailty, (though in that

VVhichWhich to our Common Welfare doth relate)

Spare not the ſin a jot, but ſpare the man

(VVhoe'er) as much as poſſibly you can,

Till ſome Concomitancies or th' Event

Aſſures that malice was in his intent:

And, though that may appear, aſſume not then,

A pow'r to judge, belonging not to men:

Becauſe, for ought you know, God might bereave him,

Of counſel, or unto himſelf then leave him,

For our Tranſgreſſions paſt; and to let in

A publick mercy, by his private ſin;

Thereby to humble us, and make us know

That all our Weal from his meer Grace doth flow;

And, that the ſins of others to our peace

As helpful were, as our own Righteouſneſs.

In former times and cauſes, it was ſo,

Th' Aegyptian Mid-wives, Rahab, Jael too,

p. 18Did things which in their nature ſinful are,

Yet not alone by GOD made uſeful were

To ſave his people, but he alſo ſaith,

That ev'n thoſe actions were products of Faith.

And, in theſe times perhaps here have been ſuch,

Whereon, if I with modeſty ſhall touch,

Let me be blameleſs; for, with good intent

What GOD permits for our experiment,

I here will mention, and to make it known,

That there is nothing meerly of our own,

Or which is in us either good or evil,

By Nature or ſuggeſtions of the Devil,

That ſtops or furthers ought which GOD will do,

Though our concurrence he requires thereto

So far, as with his VVill he us acquaints,

Or, bounds, by unreſiſtable reſtraints:

For, when we are enjoyn'd to that or this,

It is for our advantage, not for his,

Of us requir'd; yea though we bounded be

By Precepts, Rules or Laws, ſo is not he.

As he himſelf ſhall pleaſe he can effect

His Ends, whatere we do, or ſhall neglect;

And, when againſt us any Foe prevails,

It is becauſe we, not becauſe he fails.

In all our late conteſts, 'tis hard to ſay,

Whether our Vice or Vertues made beſt way

To that Deſign, whereby to paſs were brought

Thoſe, which our beſt Aschievements have been thoughts;

Or, whether led'by Folly or ſound Reaſon

By Fraud or Force, by Faithfulneſs or Treaſon

We proſpered moſt: and 'tis not yet agreed

By all men, who our proſecutions heed,

Whether that which befel us at the firſt,

Or at the laſt, will prove the beſt or worſt.

p. 19The Louſe or Lion, Black Doggs, or the white,

Moſt miſchievouſly either fawn or bite;

Which Party moſt needs pardon for their Sin,

Upon which ſide there hath moſt Traycors been:

Or, whether their Deſerts are worſt or beſt

Who ſhall be honour'd moſt, or moſt diſgrac'd;

For, though we know what Cauſes men did own,

With what heart they did act them, 'tis unknown.

Prodigious Fruits in theſe times have been born;

Crabs on the Vine, and Grapes upon the Thorn;

And, Men and Cauſes, whether good or bad,

Of Weal and Woe, by turns, like ſhares have had,

To teach, that our late Changes have ſucceeded

For ſome ends, which ought better to be needed.

By one Irregularity, we ſee

That, here in two months more progreſſions be

In order to the Temporary peace

VVhichWhich moſt men are deſirous to poſſeſs,

Then all our Pow'rs and Vertues, Wit and Coſt

Had brought to paſs, in twenty years almoſt;

And we according to late promiſings,

See creeping Motions toward ſome ſuch things

As are expected: but, they to and fro,

Forward and backward, in their motion go

So doubtfully, that 'tis as yet uncertain

What reſolutions are behind the Curtain.

As doubtful 'tis, whether more praiſe or blame

To them belong, who firſt contriv'd the ſame;

Whether the Conſequence, or that which firſt

Thereto made paſage, will prove beſt or worſt;

And whether want of pre-conditioning

VVill bring at length, moſt damage to the King

And his Old Party, or elſe unto thoſe

VVho did his Entrance heretofore oppoſe:

p. 20For Acts unjuſt, are oftwell carried on,

And many righteous things unjuſtly done:

Some things likewiſe there be reſmebling Sand,

Which he that graſpeth with an open hand,

May therewith lode his palm: but, if he gripe

Too hard, 'twill all between his fingers ſlip.

Concerning that proceed, which brought to paſs

The Change, which lately here effected was,

Some ſcruplings have been made: But, on the Fact,

Or upon them who put the ſame in Act,

I'll nothing peremptorily declare,

Though therein, an Obliquity there were;

Becauſe, means fail'd me, whereby to inſpect

Ought further, than into the ſingle Act;

That, by the Circumſtances I might ſee

What Motives to their hearts propos'd might be;

What Spirit led them, and what ſtraits they paſt

To that, which was reſolved on at laſt:

For, in ſuch Caſes, what they ought to do,

Wiſe men are oft to ſeek, and good men too.

If they who were chief Inſtruments in that

VVhichWhich wrought the Change, that we have ſeen of late,

Sought only and unfeignedly that end,

VVhereto all Truſts and Actions ought to tend,

And were but Circumſtantially to blame,

In plotting or purſuing of the ſame,

Their fault (if any) is a Venial Crime,

For which there may be made another time

Amends to Sufferers; that perhaps may more

Secure them, than they were ſecur'd before.

Their Fault was but the errour of a man,

VVhichWhich well the King may pardon: for, I can;

Becauſe, I know, what ere they did intend,

GOD will have glory by it, in the end;

p. 21And, all theſe Nations future welfare too,

If they neglect not, what is yet to do.

But, they whoſe Truſt theſe Truſtees did abuſe,

Them, cannot peradventure ſo excuſe:

And (I beleeve) more wiſe than heretofore,

Will henceforth never truſt Good Fellow more;

Nor Peaſant, Peer, Priest, Prince, or Parliament,

With that which may produce a Detriment

To common Int'reſt (till by ſome condition

To them ſecur'd, they ſhall ſecure fruition

Of ſuch Concernments) if, once more they may

Recover that which they did fool away.

But, that's impoſſible, as things now ſtand;

And, ſhould GOD take the pow'r out of his hand

Who graſps it now, they who ſhall next injoy it,

No better peradventure would employ it

Than others did, GOd therefore, keep us from

Another Change, until his Kingdome come,

Except a change of hearts; and at this time,

Or his probation, let his Grace, in him

Be ſo effectual, that he may endeavour

To ſettle here, a righteous Throne for ever.

For, ev'ry man that lives (at firſt or laſt)

Before a Final Doom on him is paſt,

Hath in his life-time, once (at leaſt) an hour

Wherein our gracious God, vouchſafes him pow'r

To ask and have; and to elect that path

Which leads to weal or woe, to life or death:

Yea, alwaies at ſuch times, GOD, who firſt loves,

The ſoul of ev'ry humane-creature proves;

And, thoſe, who then, by giving him their heart,

(Though with much failing) do perform their part,

Hee will enable, and aſſiſt them ſtill

By his preventing Grace, to do his will.

p. 22For they, as often as they go aſtray,

Shall either hear a VOICE within them, ſay,

(Or elſe behinde them;) Of that courſe beware;

Return, or thou art loſt; thy way lyes there,

Which leads to ſafety. Thus the Spirit preacheth,

And by means extraordinary teacheth

Where common means fail: and till men contemn

His Holy Spirit, God forſakes not them:

But, afterward, indeed, although the ſame

Hee ſometime ſpeaks, 'tis to encreaſe their ſhame,

Or others to inſtruct: for, then ſuch Voices

Are ſo drown'd by the Whiſperings and Noiſes

Of carnal things, that all is ſpoke in vain,

Which to their weal or ſafety may pertain.

The King by ſuch temptations, and ſo many

Beleagur'd ſeems, as never were by any

With conſtancy and without foil withſtood,

Save by him, who was GOD with Fleſh and Blood:

For hee ſtands now expos'd to ev'ry evil,

(Ev'n in the Front) whereby World, Fleſh, or Devil,

May him aſſault; and with him 'twill go hard,

Unleſs, GOD ſends him in, an Angel-guard;

Which (if it be his pleaſure) that he may,

My heart unfeignedly doth often pray,

And that, at this time hee ſubmit his will,

The mind of God, ſincerely to fulfil:

For, I beleeve, that as it did with Saul,

(On his probation-day, long ſince befall)

Theſe Kingdomes will eſtabliſh'd be to him,

As hee with GOD complyeth at this time.

Fair Opportunities this preſent day

Are offer'd, which if he let ſlip away,

Wee have but hitherto a courſe begun,

Whereby we may at laſt be more undone:

p. 23And though he ſhould become ten times as ſtrong

In things which to a carnal ſtrength belong,

It will to ſettle him prevail no more,

Than ſuch pow'rs have prevailed heretofore:

Nor will it, when moſt mighty he appears

To others, from his own heart, keep out fears

Of things not to be feared; but at length

Make him, perhaps, afraid of his own ſtrength:

And that which by a Trifle hath been loſt,

Will be recover'd with as little coſt

As when 'twas won, aſſoon as their deſpight,

Their ſins and inſolencies are at height,

Who ſhall by petulant exaſperations,

(Beyond the common patience of theſe Nations)

Abuſe his Grace, and turn their late ſucceſs

Into oppreſſion, pride, and wantonneſs.

This ſeems by ſome endeavour'd (having ends

Repugnant unto what the King intends)

Who do proceed (as if that for the nonce)

To make all Suff'rers deſperate at once,

By gelding and delaying of the Grace,

For wihch the King ſpontaneouſly did paſs

His Royal Word: And this may an Event

Produce, at laſt, whereof ſome will repent

When 'tis too late; ſince, Maſtives brook it worſe

To be o're-much provokt, than Fawning Curs.

All vengeance doth to GOD alone belong:

But, few remember this, when they have wrong.

An Engliſh temper doth that life diſdain

Which is depriv'd of what ſhould Life maintain:

And whatſo'er is menaced or follows,

Some, in deſpight of Hang-man, Rope and Gallows,

Will any thing attempt, to vindicate

Themſelves from ſcorn, when robb'd of their Eſtate:

p. 24And they have little prudence, who conceive

Bees will be quiet, when both from their Hive

And Honey they are forc'd: or, that ſmall things

(When they are many, and have many ſtings)

Are ſafely ſlighted; for, there hath ſucceeded

Much miſchief where this Caution was unheeded:

And probable it ſeems, that if the King

Deters what's hop'd for, now, but till next Spring,

Deſtroying many thouſand Families

By vacating their juſt Securities,

(For what was bought or lent, to ſave theſe Lands

From deſolation, when into their hands

The Supream Pow'r did ſlip by GOD's permiſſions,

Who then had caſt him out of his poſſeſſions)

It will not be the next way to that peace

Which many yet are hopeful to poſſeſs;

Or have a conſequent, to anſwer that

Great Mercy, which GOD hath vouchſaf'd of late.

If, for performing that which both Divine,

And Humane Laws did warrant and enjoyn,

(To wit, obedience to thoſe Pow'rs that were

In being) he from Innocents doth tear

Their Livelihoods; and their poſterity

Expoſeth unto ſcorn and beggery,

For having done their duties unto them

Whom GOD advanced by debaſing him,

(And when he ſo unable was to give them

Protection, or from their hand to reprieve them,

That at the ſame time, he himſelf was glad

To ſeek a Refuge where it might be had)

It will not ſeem to be an Act of Grace,

That correſponds with what expected was

Before Monck gave us up into his power;

And made our Truſtees much more his, than our.

p. 25If he ſhall lay an over-heavy weight

On thoſe, whom he had left in ſuch a ſtreight,

Without their fault (except a fault it were

To loſe, what they to keep unable were)

Or, if he ſhall, as other men have done,

Loſe thoſe Advantages that he hath won

By Angling for a Frog, till from his Net

The Fiſhes now incloſed forth ſhall get;

Young Counſellors may prove to him as bad

As thoſe which fooliſh Rehoboam had.

But this is more than probable (altho

The Prieſts and Prophets dare not tell him ſo,

Who now moſt fawn upon him) that, even all

GOD's Condeſcentions are conditional;

And, that now or hereafter, their ſucceſs

Will to his Weal or Woe add more or leſs,

Accordingly as he, and as theſe Nations

Improve at this day, His and their Probations.

Which Truth moſt men beleeve not, or forget;

And, that makes mee ſo often mention it.

GOD gave unto his people, on conditions,

The Land of Promiſe, to be their poſſeſſions;

And, for their not performing of the ſame,

They Vagabonds throughout the world became.

Upon conditions alſo, Solomon

Had promiſe of an everlaſting Throne;

Which he neglecting, ere the third deſcent,

Ten parts of twelve were from his Kingdome rent.

Yea, wicked Jeroboam might have had

A ſettlement on him for ever made,

Upon the like conditions: and, ſo may

This King; but never any other way.

If he comes hither with the ſelf-ſame heart,

With which, he did, in likelihood depart;

p. 26New cover'd over with a fairer skin,

And fully fraughted with Revenge within:

If he ſhall make his Royal Word a ſnare,

If he by hopes delayed nouriſh fear

Inſtead of love; by mental Reſervations,

(Or by deceivable Equivocations)

His promiſe vacates; or, if what he ſwore

In preſence of his Sov'raign heretofore;

Or, if he ſhall confine to others breaſts

Thoſe Acts of Grace, which to his Intereſts

Will moſt advantage give, when it is known

The pardons which he granteth are his own:

If he refers his Juſtice to their Zeal,

Who may prefer their Ends before his Weal,

Until it ſhall unhappily deſtroy

That new-ſprung hope which many yet enjoy;

And by converting it into deſpair,

Blaſts that in Autumn, whereof blowings fair

Appear this Spring; we may thereby perchance,

Ere many Springs, compelled be to dance

Another Matachin. If, GOD ſo pleaſe,

I wiſh and pray it may be otherwiſe;

And that this might be weigh'd: for, on this BALL

None are ſo firmly fixt but they may fall

If Righteouſneſs and Truth ſupport them not,

What other prop ſoever they have got.

We have a ſight of this days joy and ſorrow,

But no man knows what will befall tomorrow:

And ſhould GOD be as rigorous as men,

That which is done, would be undone agen.

I do beleeve, that (not excepting any)

All men of great Offences, and of many

Are guilty. And, I do ſuppoſe the King

Hath not been free from blame in every thing.

p. 27To him there may, either by Men or Heaven,

Be ſomewhat on the ſcores, to be forgiven,

As well as to the People: ſecret crimes

May be informer, or in latter times

Committed, wherein either he miſ-did,

Or his Progenitors, which yet are hid,

And muſt be expiated, ere that Reſt

Where at wee aim, willfully be poſſeſt;

And have an Expiation by meer Grace,

Or by that pennance through which others paſs.

In order whereunto, GOD now perchance

Him, to his Fathers Throne doth re-advance;

Either a new Progreſſion to begin,

Or elſe to fill the meaſure of their ſin;

And puniſh us, till ripen'd, he, or we,

Or both, for Grace, or for Destruction be.

If penitence allay not that fierce wrath,

Whereto our wickedneſs provok'd him hath,

There will impartial ſearch be made, by GOD,

As well for common, as for Royal blood;

Yea, ſearch on both ſides, both for blood and treaſon,

When equal Retributions are in ſeaſon:

And, as much guiltineſs if he ſhall then

In Kings diſcover, as in common men,

Their Judges vindicate from guilt he ſhall,

Though them we murtherers and traytors call;

And, their blood, if it guiltleſly be ſhed,

Will cry as loud to GOD as Abels did.

What will it profit then, if there be none

To queſtion them on earth, for ought miſ-done,

When they ſhall know, and truly underſtand,

On what ſad terms they fall into GOD's hand;

Who ſhall the more offend, becauſe they were

More by him priviledg'd than others are?

p. 28GOD will not then be mockt, whatever they

Shall dream, who put the thought thereof away;

Or whatſoe'er a Prophet in Lawn Sleeves

Or Kings and their Immunities beleeves;

And though their Nobles alſo flatter them,

As Iudahs did King Joaſh in his time.

Hereof I would be his Remembrancer,

If in the place of ſome of thoſe I were

Who ought to do it: yea, as now I am,

I had adventur'd to perform the ſame,

But that I lately have conceiv'd a thought,

Theſe Lines will timely to his view be brought,

By ſuch a hand, as from it with reſpect

It may be taken, and have good effect.

And, if theſe Cautions he ſhall not contemn,

(Expreſſed in true Loyalty to him)

I may have hope, that Juſtice to obtain

Which I have elſewhere ſought long time in vain;

And finde it to be made a real ſign

Of his, and publick Peace, as well as mine.

For, all I ſhall expect will be no more,

But, that, he make mee neither rich nor poor;

And mee within that Grace would comprehend,

Which he to ſome of thoſe doth yet extend,

Who both by their Examples and Command

Firſt drew mee with his Oppoſites to ſtand;

And who, if I miſ-acted, did thereby

Contract ten times a greater guilt than I.

But, ſo the publick Peace advanc'd may be

Hereby, let what GOD will befall to mee.

To make their merits and demerits even,

They ſhould love much, to whom much is forgiven:

Yet, ſome to whom he hath forgiven leaſt,

May love as well as they who love him beſt;

p. 29And, better too perhaps, when they behold

He executes that Juſtice which he ſhould;

With conſtancy purſuing, what, more tends

To publick Welfare, than to ſerve his ends.

How theſe things may concern him, he beſt knows

Next GOD, who will (I hope) his heart diſpoſe

To chuſe the way propoſed at this time,

And to purſue the ſame, enable him.

Becauſe, unleſs at this time, that probation

For which GOD hath vouchſaf'd his Restoration,

Produceth what with thoſe ends may accord,

For which he was by Providence reſtor'd,

He'll turn the wheel, which hath ſo oft gone round,

Till men according to his heart be found

To rule his People; to direct his Sheep;

To act his Will, and their own Vows to keep.

Herein hath been much failing: and, I fear,

Ev'n for that Covenants breach, which many jeer,

And impudently ſleight, GOD from this Land

Will not remove his now correcting hand,

Till to a true repentance he ſhall bring

For that ſin, People, Parliament and King.

A Judgement at this preſent is begun,

Which will extend to all ere it be done;

Ev'n unto thoſe who execute his doom

On them, on whom it is already come;

(Yea, ſignally, in ſome reſpect or other,

To perſons or eſtates, to friend or brother)

If they whom it concerns do not amend

What is miſ-done; wave, what they miſ-intend;

And hearken to GOD's Voice in this their day

Of Tryal; and as (if they will) they may:

For GOD, though much provokt, ſtill giveth ſpace

'Twixt ev'ry Judgement, for preventing-grace:

p. 30And now, to be a Cautional to him,

(As his Corrections lately were to them

Who reigned laſt) this King, ſhall ſee them ſcourg'd

Who ſcourged him, until their ſins be purg'd.

God having caſt his Predeceſſors out,

For their, and alſo for our ſins (no doubt)

Them, with an Iron Rod begins to ſtrike;

To ſhew, that ſin he hates in all alike,

And make it known that he will no man ſpare,

(Though one of his own Houſhold he appear)

If he ſhall ſcandalouſly give offence

In any kinde, without true penitence.

A dreadful Judgement he hath brought on thoſe,

Who made of Piety the faireſt ſhows;

And they, as traytors to their King are now

By thoſe purſued, whom they did purſue

As traytors to their Country; and their Laws,

Yea their own Swords, turn Foes unto their Cauſe:

And they who lately, nor to friend nor foe,

But for by-ends, would either Juſtice do,

Or Mercy ſhow, ſhall finde in their diſtreſs,

That others will to them be mercileſs.

They, who were called Saints; and may be ſuch,

Although their failing hath been very much;

Seem now the chief mark of GOD's indignation,

And cenſur'd are as ſons of Reprobation;

Becauſe, they often had fore-warned been,

(Twice were caſt out of grace, and twice took in)

Are now depriv'd, a third time, of that pow'r

Which they abus'd to their own harm and our:

They are expos'd to ſuch extream diſgraces,

Such hazards of their goods, lands, lives and places,

And to ſuch ſcorns, that never was there more

Contempt caſt upon any heretofore:

p. 31For, they, who as their Chiefs acknowledg'd them

(To their own ſhame) their perſons did contemn;

And, far beyond all preſidents, revile

Th' Authority they owned, ev'n the while

It was in being; though they did in that

Make, as it were a Cloſe-ſtool of their Hat.

Of all eſteem, they are now quite bereft,

And, in ſo ſad a plight have thouſands left,

Who truſted them with ev'ry thing they had,

That their own ſelves alone, they have not made

Thereby contemptible to Foes and Friends,

(Loſt their eſtates, their ſafeties, and their ends)

And ſuch confuſions brought; that few or none

Are ſure, they ſhall not thereby be undone,

Or damnified; but given cauſe likewiſe

To this, and times to come, ſo to deſpiſe

An Engliſh Parliament, that, if it get

No better credit than it hath, as yet,

It is in hazard to become a thing

As much abhorred, as the name of King

Was once in Rome; for their prevarications,

Their ſelf-ends, falſhoods, and diſſimulations

With King and People ſo deſtructive were,

And both to Round-head, and to Cavalier

(As then diſtinguiſh'd) that, if there be any,

Few names are left, whereof there be not many

Undone, or at leaſt damnified, either

In credit or eſtate, or both together:

And, by thoſe many thouſands now undone,

That miſchief, ſo, from man, to man, doth run,

That it infects three times as many more,

And may bring beggery to ev'ry door,

Beſides, thoſe quarrels which it may beget,

Whoſe ſad effects lye unperceived yet.

p. 32Some, who had been moſt faithful to their ſide,

They much oppreſt whilſt they were dignifi'd;

And, often when they did pretend a courſe

To cure their Grievances, they made them worſe.

Then, what by ſuch oppreſſed men from thoſe

Can lookt for be, whom they purſu'd as foes,

But to be kickt out of the world, or trod

Into the dirt? Except our gracious GOD

Hath now brought home the King to be a friend

To all men who did honeſtly intend?

And who, though in ſome things they did amiſs,

Sin'd not with malice, or with wilfulneſs?

The Kings work will be now, both to relieve

And to correct, as cauſe, he ſhall perceive,

Without reſpect to perſons, or wrongs done,

Before a Reconcilement was begun;

Except ſo far forth onelyonly, in relieving,

In recompencing, honouring, or giving,

As he's to thoſe men, who with him ingaged

In charity, and gratitude obliged,

Without deſtroying any in theſe Nations

Who were ſubmiſſive to GOD's Diſpenſations;

And, who, were mov'd to that which they have done

By Conſcience, or by Ignorance alone,

Without malicious purpoſe or deſign,

Againſt a known Law, Moral or Divine.

And therefore, where reſpect is to be had

To ſuff'rers, and to ſatisfaction made;

The beſt expedient to prevent debates,

And ruining of many mens eſtates,

Will either be, if we had ſuch Truſtees,

Who by this change, life nor eſtates do leeſe,

(And by confederating long together

With publick ſpoils inriched one another,

p. 33Or, may be proved guilty of a Cheat,

Which formerly did friend or foe defeat

Of his eſtate; or, to the publick wrong

More power aſſum'd, than did to them belong)

To cauſe, that, they to whom theſe gave offence,

May out of their eſtates have recompence;

For, why ſhould great Revenues be injoy'd

By them, whoſe guilt hath guiltleſs men deſtroy'd?

Or rather, ſince that many among theſe

Were intermixt (who their miſcarriages

Oppoſed to their power) whom none knows how

From perſons guilty, to diſtinguiſh now.

Why ſhould not for the Credit of the Nation

(For Juſtice ſake) and for the preſervation

Of common Peace, all parties help to bear

Their heavy burthens, who oppreſſed are?

For every man among us, more or leſs,

Is ſome way guilty of this wickedneſs:

And GOD, if this courſe long defer we ſhall,

His Vengeance will divide among us all.

Let therefore none, who in theſe ſuffering-times

Shall ſcape the puniſhments due to their crimes,

Inſult o're them that ſuffer, or ſuppoſe

Their proſp'ring from their well-deſerving flows.

Let them remember, and conſider well,

That they on whom the Tower of Silo fell,

No greater ſinners judged were than they

On whom it fell not; and think at this day

Some men may periſh, who have been more free

From guiltineſs, than moſt that ſaved be.

The King, together with his Parliament,

May pardon every kind of puniſhment

For faults againſt themſelves; or any one,

Except for what is wilfully miſ-done

p. 34Againſt our Maker; but, nor he nor they,

Can take the guilt of any ſin away;

And though he may connive at ſome offences,

Or be deceiv'd as to mens innocencies,

Who by their cunning have found means of late

Themſelves with him to re-indintegrate:

Yet, thouſands know ſo well what they have done,

And felt ſo much of what enſu'd thereon,

That, though in charity, they do forgive

Their falſhood, they'l remember't whilſt they live.

Let them remember too, what they have done,

Leſt GOD bring Vengeance when we call for none.

Can any Peer or Commoner ſuppoſe,

Who, in the ſupream Council ſate with thoſe

Who did the late unhappy war begin,

And by their Declarations drew us in,

(As men oblig'd in duty, to adhere

To them, in what they proſecuting were)

That, they are guiltleſs, though now blamed leſs

Than others, who the ſame Cauſe did profeſs?

Can they be blameleſs, who did with the firſt

Begin the Quarrel, and till nigh at worſt

Continue it; not leaving on Record

Ought, whereby their diſſent might be declar'd?

Nor ſought for them, a ſaving, or protection,

Who might be ruined by their defection?

Doth it not greatly their crime aggravate,

That they vouchſaf'd not to capitulate,

That, Innocents, by their default abus'd,

Might to ſome ſafe condition be reduc'd?

But rather, to their own deſigns made way,

By leaving them, to be the Spoilers prey?

Though they forgot us, I ſuppoſe it fit

To minde them; leſt themſelves they may forget

p. 35When I am dead, and, therefore, I will here

Leave ſomewhat to be their Remembrancer.

Let them remember with conſideration,

With true repentance, and with due compaſſion,

How many thouſands (whilſt they live at reſt)

Are either quite deſtroyed, or oppreſt,

Either in Perſon, Credit, or Eſtate,

Whoſe aid they did not only oft intreat,

But alſo (thereby to promote their end)

Compelled to contribute, pay and lend;

Yea, to engage their Perſons in their Cauſe,

Under pretence of Piety and Laws,

Whom they have now made innocently poor,

And forc'd to beg, or elſe to ſuffer more;

Whilſt they from all thoſe miſeries are clear,

Whereof their failings chief occaſions were:

Not onelyonly, making that an Inſtrument

To ruine them, which ruine ſhould prevent;

But alſo (probably) by their endeavour,

To make, and keep the people Slaves, for ever.

To write plain Truth, why ſhould I bee afraid?

By what man may it not be juſtly ſaid,

Our publick Faith hath been the ſhameleſs'ſt Debter,

And throughout all theſe Realms the greateſt Cheater

That ever was; and that our Parliaments

Have been beyond all former Preſidents.

The worſt Security (and never more

Will be confided in, as heretofore)

If unconfirm'd they leave what hath been bought,

And, what was juſtly ſold (as then 'twas thought?)

Or if they make not recompence at leaſt

To thoſe, who by their actings are oppreſt?

For this is the ſame Nation, though the Cauſe,

The Governour, and in ſome part the Laws

p. 36Are changed now; GOD, who the wrong doth ſee?

Is yet the ſame, the ſame will alwaies be,

And both for what is ſuffered, and was done,

Will proſecute the Judgement that's begun.

By meer Cheats, many thouſand Families

Deſtroyed are, and with complaints and cryes,

So fill mens ears, that they make all to grieve,

Save thoſe, who ſenſe of no Afflictions have

But of their own. The Children, do bemoan

Their Aged Parents helpleſly undone;

Who, now have nothing left of what was theirs

To recompence their pitty, but ſad tears:

And, he, who thinks Life a gratuity

In ſuch a caſe, loves Life much more than I,

Suppoſing that's a Mercy, which to mee

A barb'rous cruelty appears to be.

Oh GOD! how are thy kindneſſes requited?

How in our ſuff'rings are our foes delighted?

How juſtly doſt thou many now condemn,

And puniſh, for wrongs done to ſome of them?

How are the Juſt and Unjuſt, wrapt together

In one Snare, to torment and plague each other?

It is beleev'd, that many men there were,

When Innovations, were beginning here,

Who, being in themſelves malevolent,

(And for ſome private cauſes diſcontent)

Deſign'd and practiſ'd, how to bring to paſs

That, which their own, and our Deſtruction was:

But, here were many moe, who did indeavour

To qualifie the late infectious Fever

Which had diſtemper'd us; and to retain

The Loyalty that ſeems renew'd again:

Yet, now an Epidemical Diſeaſe

Hath brought Confuſion upon ſome of theſe

p. 37As well as upon them, who fin'd perchance

Much more through wilfulneſs, than ignorance.

They, who did neither by their deeds or words,

By counſel, by their pens, or by their ſwords,

Begin thoſe Innovations in the ſtate,

Which have been proſecuted here of late;

No, nor ſo much as by a ſecret thought,

Contribute to thoſe Changes which were brought

Upon theſe Iſlands, till they were effected

By other men: they, who themſelves ſubjected

Either but paſsively, to thoſe in power,

To ſcape thoſe miſchiefs which might them devour;

Or, meerly act vely, to help prevent

An Anarchy, and Evils imminent;

Which is no more than God's law doth command,

VVhen he makes alterations in a Land;

And hath been alſo, practis'd by all Nations

In every Kingdom, through all Generations,

VVhen either by his grace, or his permiſſion,

He brings a people into our condition.

Ev'n they who did no more, are made to ſhare

VVith thoſe, who wilfully tranſgreſſors were,

And Murtherers, and Traytors be reputed;

As if the Kingdom, which was conſtituted

Before theſe Changes had continued on,

And all which hath by GOD and men been done,

VVere but a Dream, of which, now they awake,

Men may at will, Interpretations make:

Or, as if Actings, in a time of War,

VVere bounded, as in times of Peace they are:

VVhereas 'tis known, that, VVar doth ſilence all

Laws, either Civil or Municipal:

And, that, what then Neceſsity conſtrain'd,

May by the Law of Nations be maintain'd,

p. 38As juſtly, as thoſe contracts which are made

In times of peace by Laws which then we had;

Though they, perhaps, who ſhall have po'wr to do

What they themſelves pleaſe, will not have it ſo.

But, though we get not that, whereat we aim,

We thereto will continue ſtill our Claim,

And plead our cauſe; in hope, that truth and reaſon

May at this preſent, be declar'd in ſeaſon.

If prudent men collect and weigh the matters

Which here my Muſe confuſedly now ſcatters,

(Becauſe at once within me I retain

More Notions, than by words I can make plain)

They may by them, if put together well,

And duly heeded, my true meaning ſpell.

They, who with no ſide factiouſly, took part,

And onelyonly in ſincerity of heart,

Came to ſecure the Soveraign Magiſtrate,

When call'd by thoſe, who were co ordinate

With him in pow'r; they, who had no intent

To make a breach 'twixt King and Parliament,

But, faithfully did ſerve them both together,

To have preſerv'd their lawful Rights to either,

And cannot be by conſcience, law or reaſon;

Delinquents any way (much leſs for Treaſon)

Againſt their Prince, for giving aid to thoſe

Whom he himſelf authoriz'd to be choſe

For his chief Councel, and whom likewiſe, he

Made everlaſting Senators to be,

Impowr'd to make Laws everlaſting too,

Until their own Act ſhould themſelves undo:

They, who did thoſe obey, whom to withſtand,

(Although made active by the Kings command)

Hath puniſh't been with Death; ev'n ſome of theſe

Though acting alſo, with good Conſciences,

p. 39For this Obedience, ſuffer'd with the firſt,

And may have alſo Lots among the worſt

On both ſides; which to me appears, at leaſt

Injuſtice, or no Mercy, at the beſt.

GOD may correct us thus, and juſtly too

Though to our King and Countrey we have true

Continued in the Main, for, in his ſight

There are demerits in the moſt upright,

Which needs the Rod; and he chaſtiſes thoſe

Whom he befriended, by their greateſt Foes;

Becauſe, not ſeldome times they gave to them

Who were his Foes, occaſions to blaſpheme,

His grace and his long-ſufferings much abus'd

His timely Premnonition oft refus'd.

For, very oft, and very many wayes

They had Fore-warnings, of what in theſe dayes

Is brought upon them; and, as many times

As GOD forgave them, they renew'd their Crimes.

When therefore they had long without diſ-regard.

GOD's Meſſengers in ordinary heard;

When, ſuch as they themſelves did moſt eſteem,

And thoſe who preacht in ſeaſon unto them

Upon their ſolemn Faſts, or feaſting-dayes.

They only thankt, but follow'd on their wayes.

Then (as he doth, at firſt, with Infidels)

By ſigns prodigious, and by miracles,

He proved them; but Pagans heretofore

Have by that means, been wrought upon much more

To warn them, and reprove them, he ſent, then

A company of deſpicable men,

Who, though deſpis'd and houted at, they are

(And to the greateſt number do appear

Phanaticks) were the Meſſengers of God,

And ſuch, as he found fit to ſend abroad

p. 40To ſuch a People, and at ſuch a ſeaſon

As this, wherein, Rime works as much as Reaſon;

And manifeſts, 'tis ſuch a time with us,

As when GOD's Prophets ſeem'd ridiculous

Unto the Iews, by acting before them

Such Signs, as made them more their words contemn.

Among ſuch like, he hath permitted me,

Not only their Premonitor to be,

But, likewiſe, to ſee, what I fore-expreſt

Fulfill'd; and hear it, by themſelves confeſt:

For, I took once, or oftner, ev'ry year,

Occaſion to be their Remembrancer;

And, publickly declared what I knew

To be miſdone, and what things would enſue

If not prevented; but moſt did deride

My timely Cautions: Vanity and Pride

Made ineffectual all my pains to be,

And, not a little miſchievous to me.

Yet, ſtill I perſevered in declaring

VVhat they were doing, and GOD was preparing.

Now fourteen years ago, with ſmall regard,

My Engliſh Opobalſamum declar'd,

VVhat would befall them; and, there, is recorded

Among ſuch like Expreſsions, one, thus worded,

Opobalſamum Anglicanum, Page 20.

—Which ſide ſoever ſhall prevail,

We have a Miſchief ſe ling by entail

On us, and on our heirs: For, in heart

You do unite (though corporally apart)

And joyn by cloſe Compliances in one,

In hope to compaſs what you have begun,

p. 41Which is nor worſe nor better, but to raiſe

Your houſes, both by good and evil wayes:

And for that end, to ruine you would bring.

Law, Goſpel People, Parliament and King,

But ere this hope effected you ſhall ſee,

Hark, Traytors, what your deſtiny ſhall be,

Heed and obſerve it, for it is the Doom,

Will, will without all peradventure come

Upon your heads, who have your truſt betray'd,

Oppreſſions on your faithful Servants laid;

And multiplied your wealth with greedineſs,

By preying on your Country in diſtreſs.

And, this it is; He, that ſuch wrongs requites,

Will give you portions among Hypocrites.

Your Pride ſhall ſuddenly by ſhame be follow'd,

You ſhall ſpew up the Gobbets you have ſwallow'd;

Your way ſhall periſh &c.

Unto that book, wherein this is expreſt,

I will refer you to peruſe the reſt.

The preface to my SALT on SALT, records

A Hint to that end, in theſe following words.

Laſt year I ſent a Flaſh which is let paſs

Unheeded, as a thing that never was;

Now follows the Report, or, Clap of Thunder,

Which have been ſeen and heard, thus far aſunder,

To give the longer Warning: for, the Shot,

And Thunderbolts (if Grace prevent it not)

Will next year flee among you. God, amend us,

And then I am affur'd, he will defend us.

Moreover, I, ten months, now paſt, foretold

That nine months longer if defer they ſhould

p. 42Their Duties, and neglect the Grace twice ſhown,

They, and their Projects will be overthrown,

As now they are; and that they ſhould be in

That Purgatory which doth now begin.

The premonition publiſhed laſt year

To that effect, ſhall be repeated here.

See Epiſtolium Vagum-proſa-metricum Page 20.

Let them remember, he that ſtands may fall,

That ev'ry promiſe is conditional;

And, that God's promiſes will be to them

Perform'd, as they to others and to Him

Perform their promiſes: for though a wrong

He oft forgiveth, and forbeareth long,

There is a ſet time, which now draweth near,

Wherein, he will no longer ſo forbear.

Let no man ſlight this Caution, though by him

Divulged, who may deſpicable ſeem:

For in theſe dayes, it often comes to paſs

That God ſpeaks (as to Balaam by his Aſſe)

To wiſeſt men, by thoſe whom fools they deem;

To Kings, by perſons that ignoble ſeem;

And, if their Wills, as wilfully as he

They ſtill purſue, like his their ends will be.

This Pow'r now ruling, reigns by God's Commiſſion,

Yet, not without a fore-premis'd condition:

For, by Unrighteouſneſs it ſhall not ſtand,

Though it were as the Signet on his hand.

If they themſelves with outward waſhings flatter,

And, ſhall not cleanſe the inſide of the platter:

If thoſe Defects of Juſtice and Compaſſion

Which lately brought confuſion on this Nation,

p. 43Be not forth with repair'd in ſome degree

(As means by God's Grace will vouchſafed be)

And if a Model truly genuine,

This Auguſt ſixteen hundred fifty nine,

Be not conceiv'd and fully born, before

The time exceeds the end of nine months more,

With all the eſſential parts of ſuch a thing

As may receive a timely perfecting

To qualifie the rage that will encreaſe

The breaches made into the Common peace;

Then all that this pow'r thenceforth can endeavour,

Will either be a Nullity for ever,

Or elſe, a furth'rance to that horrid pother

Which will make facile entrance for another

Oppreſſing Hand, that, will but Juſtice do

So far as Vengeance doth extend unto.

But leſt you think it was by Accident

That this preſage hath had a Conſequent

Juſt at the time foretold, the ſame book ſhew'd

In what mode alſo, that which hath enſued

Should viſit them; heed therefore, and compare

What's now begun, with what theſe Lines declare.

In the Book laſt mentioned, Page 24.

To cure thoſe Frenzies for his future glory,

GOD is preparing a New Purgatory

To purge what may be purged from the droſs,

That of the pure Gold there may be no loſs;

The Judgements now beginning ſhall go round,

And through theſe Iſlands, till all thoſe are found

Who have been falſe in that which they profeſt

To GOD or to the publick intereſt.

p. 44From houſe to houſe, from man to man, they ſhall

Proceſsion make, till they have ſeiz'd on all,

All ſhal be proved, whether poor they be,

Or rich, or of a high or low degree,

By outward or by inward fiery Trials,

Till they are brought to real Self-denials;

'Twixt GOD and them, through Mercy to repent

Their Failings, or to outward puniſhment.

Thoſe who ſhall in this Iſland ſcape his hand,

Vengeance will ſeize on, in a Forreign Land;

The foes of Peace among the common Rout,

A Peſtilence or Famine ſhall finde out:

They who have ſhuffled from the Souldiers fury,

Shall fall into the mercy of a Jury;

And, when they from the ſword are in ſome hope

To ſcape, ſhall then be hamper'd in a Rope.

The Miſchiefs which they ſhunned in the Street,

Within a ſecret Chamber they ſhall meet.

Thoſe men whom nothing publickly purſues,

Their Conſciences in private ſhall accuſe.

They, who immoveably do think to ſtand,

Shall fall without the motion of a hand;

And when the things they fear'd, cannot annoy them,

That, which they ſleight, and fear'd not, ſhall deſtory them.

I told them likewiſe that their groſs neglect

Of Iuſtice as to me would have effect

Upon themſelves, that, what to me and mine

They ſuffered to befal, would be a ſign

Of what their lot muſt be; and when it ſhould

So come to paſs, my SALT on SALT foretold.

In theſe words, Page 47.

That this bears date the last day of September,

In ſixteen hundred fifty eight remember;

p. 45And that, a Reconcilement be before

We have provok'd GOD's patience one year more,

Leſt I my ſelf be made another ſign

Of what the former Symptomes pre-divine:

For, thoſe Confuſions which diſtract this State,

Are typified in my outward Fate.

And printed on me by that violation

Of Juſtice, which defiles this Generation.

They that ſeem to have enough in outward ſhow,

To bear their Part, and pay the Debts they ow,

And for the future a ſufficiency;

So alſo, if I had my right, have I.

As (notwithſtanding this) with much ado

They now ſubſiſt; ſo fares it with mee too.

As at the preſent, their Expences be

More than their Incomes, ſo it is with me.

I have more Foes than Friends; and much I am

Deceived, if they may not ſay the ſame.

My Foes and troubles in another year

Will ruine me, and ſo will alſo their,

If he, on whoſe aſſistance I depend,

Prevents not what their foes and mine intend,

Before another year wheels round, I may

Enjoy an outward peace, and ſo might they,

If they embrace the means that will be ſhown,

And follow not devices of their own.

If timely Juſtice be vouchſaf'd to me,

By timely Mercies they ſecur'd ſhall be.

If I permitted am to be aeſtroy'd,

Their power, will not long after be enjoy'd.

Moreovet, my DARK-LANTERN fore-declar'd

As plainly (as ſuch things might be averr'd

p. 46In ſuch like times) what, Cromwel had deſign'd,

That they in power (had they been ſo inclin'd)

Might have prevented it, when ſhew he made

To give up that Commiſſion which he had.

And had they been ſo prudent to have tookt,

They, his White Lion, at that time had dockt.

Theſe were my words:

A homebred Lion, of a Hair unknown

In Affrica, by being over-grown,

And dreadful to his Keepers, ſhall thereby

Increaſe the rage of ſmother'd Iealouſie,

And loſe his Tail, except betwixt his paws

He couch his head, and hides his teeth and claws,

Or elſe grows Rampant; what will follow then?

Ask thoſe you credit, they are cunning men;

Of me you ask in vain, for 'tis my fate

Never to be believ'd, till 'tis too late.

I, likewiſe did by parable expreſs

In that book with what ſervile flatteries,

They fawn'd on their own Creature, whom they had

Hew'd out of Common blocks, and Idols made,

With what would follow it; and my intent

VVas not, by my Perpetual-Parliament

To make that ſuch (as ſome have thought I meant)

But, rather that Deſignment to prevent

By ſome Diverſion; for, full well I knew

That my propoſals they would not purſue.

And, they who my Poetick fury read,

VVhichWhich was by me laſt winter publiſhed,

May thence collect, that I did then foreſee

The Kings Return, and how it ſo would be,

p. 47Though I my preconjectures did expreſs

(As then I thought) with ſome ambiguouſneſs,

To be excus'd; becauſe of that Relation

Which then I had, and my Faiths preſervation:

For, though that Poets in the worlds firſt ages,

Were Prophets, Prieſts, and Magiſterial Sages,

And, in all former times (as in Commendam)

Have been allow'd a Quid libet audendum;

Yea, though there doth to ſacred poeſie,

Belong a neceſſary Liberty

In Language, not ſo pertinent to thoſe

Who hammer their Conceptions out in proſe,

Yet, that Good Spirit, which directs their Muſes,

Therewith, a prudent warineſs infuſes,

That Malice may not thereat take offence

To do them wrong, without much impudence,

Or groſs Injustice; and, for which wrong he,

Will take Revenge, by whom inſpir'd they be,

When he ſhall pleaſed be to call them to

That work which he prepared them to do.

And though my muſings hitherto appear

But dreaming Fancies, whereat many jeer;

They who obſerve, what at the foreſaid time

Befel to me, and afterward to them,

And alſo knew, that all true Chriſtians be

Kings, Prieſts and Prophets too, in ſome degree,

Shall finde at laſt, that this Age Prophets had,

And ſober men (though they were judged mad)

Whom God ſtir'd up, to ſet before their eyes

Thoſe needful Cautions which vain men deſpiſe,

Becauſe it pleaſeth him to give them paſs

By Inſtruments more ſcorn'd than Balaams Aſs.

There are ſome at this day, on whom nick-names

Are caſt; and, whom, the Vulgar much defames;

p. 48Who (though they failings have) are by Gods warrants

Authorized to do ſuch needful Errants

As to theſe times relate, and to deride

Our complements, our vanities and pride:

And, whatſoever Spirit them hath moved,

We (not without cauſe) are by them reproved

Of things, whereto our conſciences, with them

Bear witneſs, though their perſons moſt contemn.

Among theſe (as aforeſaid) I am one

By whom the work of GOD is to be done;

And he thereto is pleaſed to make uſe

Of poeſie (at this time) when th' abuſe

Of that gift, hath prophaned it, much more

By Ribaldries, than ever heretofore.

It may be too, I ſerve my Generation

Thereby (although not wealth nor reputation

It gets me) and my GOD, as well as they

Who ſeek to take my purchas'd Lands away,

As ſanctified to them; for, ev'n by theſe

My ſcriblings (as to term them ſome do pleaſe)

Occurrences, which elſe would be forgot,

(And paſſages which many minded not)

Will ſo remembred be, that GOD ſhall have

Some glory by them, and men good receive.

And though I take no care at all to trick

My Poems up, with flow'rs of Rhetorick,

A day will come, wherein with due reſpect

They ſhall more heeded be, and take effect.

You, who believe this, and each Diſpenſation

Of GOD's, to merit your Conſideration,

Improve them as you ought, in what ſtrange wayes,

Or, in what form ſoe'er he them conveys:

And though you ſuffer many perſecutions,

Or loſſes, in the various Revolutions

p. 49Which do or may befall, be of good chear;

Yea, whatſoever you ſhall ſee or hear,

Be not afraid of ought, which this laſt Turn

May threaten to bring on, or to adjourn:

Nor be diſcouraged what ere the King

Permits, omits, or acteth, which may bring

Harm in eſtate or perſon; for he comes

To do GOD's work, and executes his dooms

With, or againſt his will, and ſhall proceed

No further, than hath been by him decreed.

His pow'r and heart are alwayes in his hands:

As well as we, accomptable he ſtands

For all that he ſhall do; and, GOD of him

Now proof is making, as he did of them

Who reigned laſt. Yea, peradventure now

In proving him, is alſo proving you

And me, and all theſe Nations, that his Grace

And Juſtice one another may imbrace.

In which TEST, if we meekly wait th' Event,

Till we behold how far this Parliament

Will ſtretch their mercy; and then, till we ſee

How far, the Kings Grace will extended be,

(Of his meer Goodneſs, and Self-inclination,

Beyond their narrow limited Compaſſion)

You, either ſhall by him, have an effect

To anſwer what you juſtly may expect

Or by GOD's Providence, who, if he pleaſe;

Can turn your loſſes to advantages.

For Conſequents will follow to requite

Your long-long ſufferings in the worlds deſpight.

GOD will appear, for your iuſt vindications,

Who truly ſought the welfare of theſe Nations

In order to his glory; and ſo do it,

That, to be his own Act, moſt men ſhall know it.

p. 50And, by the King that Grace vouchſafe will he,

Except his heart as hard as Pharaohs be;

Or, is by ſuch Inchanters led aſide,

As Jannes and as Jambres typifide.

Try all things ere you counter-act, and heed

Whether or no from GOD they do proceed;

For, by their work if well the ſame you mark,

Are work-men known, and work-men by their work

As truly as a Tree is by his Fruit,

His bark, his leaves, his bloſſoms, and his root.

Since all is in GOD's hand, reſt well aſſur'd

That your chief intereſt will be ſecur'd

In his beſt times, although the Royal power

He more exalts, and brings the people lower.

For, his way, to the higheſt exaltations,

Is by Debaſings, and by Degradations.

And, whether more or leſs, he gives or takes,

To, or from him, or them, its for their ſakes

Conferred or withdrawn, to whom pertains

That Kingdom, within which, no Tyrant reigns.

GOD is our King, and doth but him depute

To be here for a time, his Substitute:

We are his people, and his paſture-ſheep,

Whom he is ſent to govern, feed and keep;

Not to oppreſs, to fleece, or to devour,

And GOD retains us alwayes in his power.

What, can we have, or wiſh for, more than this?

In whoſe hand are we ſafe, if not in his?

Whether we have a Government or none,

Whether it be by Many, or by One:

In him External and Internal peace

Muſt ſought for be; In his eſpecial Grace

Is our Well-being, and without the ſame,

All Governours, by whatſoever name

p. 51Diſtinguiſhed, and ev'ry Government,

Which all the wit of mankinde can invent,

Will be deſtructive; and when left we be

Unto our ſelves, ſuch, to our ſelves are we.

When we have Kings, & hope that they will ſave us

From wrongs, they oft endeavour to enſlave us.

The more pow'r we upon them do confer,

The more thereby at laſt enſlav'd we are.

For, they of wealth and Pow'r admit no meaſure

That's not as large as their own will and pleaſure.

If you confine them by a thouſand laws,

They break thoſe bonds as eaſily as ſtraws;

And oft, when large in promiſe them we finde,

Their own advantage chiefly is deſign'd.

When on a Parliament our truſt we laid,

We thereby were oppreſſed and betray'd;

And, may ſet up (as things are carried on)

Four hundred Tyrants in the ſtead of one;

Or, make that which our bondage ſhould prevent,

Help to inſlave us by our own conſent.

If rather, in an Army we confide,

They'l either turn unto another ſide,

Or elſe prolong their ſervice, till it ſhall

Effect their ends, or eat us out of all.

If on the common people we depend,

They heed not that which to their Weal doth tend

In common; for, their individual cares

Are to encreaſe, or keep their private ſhares.

And to enjoy their Luſts a year or two,

VVill all their own poſterity undo.

If to themſelves they ſhould aſſume their power,

They could not uſe it prudently one hour;

So ſcatter'd lyes, through many heads, their brain,

That half a Nut-ſhell will their wits contain:

p. 52And fire and water, may as well agree,

As they, who of ſo many Judgements be.

The Nobles would deſerve our truſt no better;

For, they would ſtill endeavour to be greater,

By making others leſs; and breed diſtractions

Incurable, by everlaſting Factions.

Moſt men, the truſt on them impos'd, abuſe,

As well the chuſers, as, they whom they chuſe:

The firſt ſo ſlaviſh and ſo brutiſh are,

They'l ſell their birthrights for Roſt beef and Beer,

(As they but lately did) and, ſo, expoſe

Our Lives, Eſtates, and Freedoms unto thoſe,

VVho look more like our tumblers and our players,

Then Senators, by whom our Grand Affairs

Should be determined, The Laſt with zeal

Make ſhew a while, to ſerve the Commonweal,

Till thereby ſome Advancement gain they may,

And, then, their zeal is turn'd another way.

If, our chief City, we our Truſtee made,

Shee, to inlarge her Charters, and her Trade,

To make her ſelf more pow'rful, and more rich,

Hath ever been inclin'd ſo over-much:

And, to and fro, her ſelf ſo often windes,

To this, and that, as ſhe occaſion findes,

That, when in her we do repoſe our truſt,

We ſhall have charters written in the Duſt.

Yet, for the love which thereunto I bear,

Or, rather for the ſake of thoſe in her,

Whoſe prayers, faith and tears, have h'therto

Preſerv'd her, I ſhall, ſtill, as now I do,

Make my Petition for her preſervation,

And, that ſhe may by Juſtice and Compaſſion

p. 53Break off from thoſe ſins, for which I diſcover

A Cloud of Judgements to be hanging over:

And, which e're ſince the laſt great plague hath been;

Sometimes approaching, though by few men ſeen;

And which, whilſt ſhe to pow'r and wealth aſpires,

Will be unheeded; immaterial fires,

Conſume her dwellings, and decay her Trade,

Unleſs atonement ſpeedily be made

By works of mercy, and that ſacrifice

Which GOD hath promis'd he will not deſpiſe.

Theſe Truſtees, will at laſt deceive us whether

We truſt them ſingly, or elſe all together.

If then, we ſhould to this concluſion draw,

Be govern'd by the Letter of the Law;

That, in it ſelf, is grown ſo queſtionable,

So like a Noſe of Wax, ſo variable,

And ſo uncertain made, as Lawyers pleaſe

To make them ſpeak for their advantages

Who moſt advantage them; that, we ſhall there

Continue as unſetled as we were,

Till we are certain in what ſenſe to take them;

Which will not be as long as Lawyers make them,

Who take more care to drive their own ends on,

Than to provide that Juſtice may be done.

Let me be bold to write Truths without blame,

(Which I know may be written without ſhame)

No perſon, perſons, or that Government

VVhichWhich wiſeſt men by general conſent

Shall conſtitute, is able to bring hither

Both Truth and Peace, to ſettle them together,

Until Almighty GOD ſhall to this Nation

A means diſcover for the Regulation

p. 54Of thoſe who for their private intereſts,

Confine both Law and Goſpel to their breſts:

For, from them chiefly, moſt of all that ſprings,

VVhichWhich either to this people or their Kings,

Hath hurtful been; and till this be amended,

Our Plagues may be adjourn'd, but never ended:

For, by this means (mark if it be not ſo)

Humane Affairs, thus, for the moſt part go.

Councils and Parliaments do counter-act

Unto themſelves, in Judgement, and in Fact.

And the ſame perſon, by the ſelf-ſame Law,

For the ſame deed, they honour, hang, and draw.

Howe're the Pow'r in being forms the Cauſe,

For that, ſtraight ſpeaks Divinity and Laws.

Let but another Pow'r aſſume the Throne,

Which quite contraries what the laſt hath done,

Both Law and Goſpel ſtraight confirms the ſame,

Ev'n by their tongues from whence the Judement came

Which ratifide the former, and had laid

Strict penalties to make their Votes obaid;

So, that which was the laſt year Truth and Reaſon,

Is made the next year Hereſie and Treaſon;

And, Judges act that guilt which they condemn.

In others, whilſt they are condemning them.

Oh Impudence! how! how! is Juſtice loſt?

How are poor men, like Dogs in blankets toſt?

VVhat great Revenews have been yearly paid,

And what vaſt ſums beſtow'd to be betray'd!

Or, were at beſt, upon blind Guides confer'd,

Who knew not, whether they went right, or err'd?

GOD bleſs the King, and teach him what to do;

GOD bleſs the People, and GOD bleſs me too;

p. 55And keep us with our ſeveral Intereſts,

From being wrong'd by Lawyers, and by Prieſts;

And, from Aſperſion, keep them alſo free,

Who, in thoſe Callings, juſt and honest be.

Theſe things I have obſerv'd: let us therefore

Truſt to our ſelves, or other men no more;

But, wholly leave to GOD our grand affairs,

Lay by our Swords: betake us to our Pray'rs,

And learn to uſe ſuch Weapons which will ſhatter

Such Fortreſſes, as Canons cannot batter;

Leſt, elſe, as lately, we do fight again

Our ſelves, out of one miſchief into twain;

Which into twenty more may be improved,

Before it ſhall be totally removed.

A Conqueſt by the Sword we lately had,

But, that, our ſins and follies fruſtrate made:

We were by GOD's aid made victorious then,

By letting forth the bloud of other men:

But the next Victory to be beſtown,

Muſt purchas'd be, by ſhedding of our own:

Yea (mind this well) it to the Saints pertains,

To bind in fetters and in iron chains

Both Kings and Peers, and that theſe alſo may

Break off thoſe bands, and caſt thoſe cords away:

If to aſſume that Pow'r the Saints begin

Unſeas'nably, or loſe it by their ſin;

Or, if they ſhall purſue the will of GOD

VVith carnal Weapons, in a carnal mode,

Seeking their own ends, when they his pretended,

For, with ſad Sequels thoſe ways are attended.

And, they will worthily be then corrected,

VVith that, which muſt upon them be inflicted.

p. 56But, when Repentance, and a fleſhly doom,

Hath purifi'd them, they ſhall overcome

By being vanquiſht, and prevail much more

By looſing, than by winning heretofore.

Men have their failings; but a fiery Trial

VVill purge the droſs, which want of ſelf-denial

VVithin them left; and when that's fum'd away,

They will be Gold refin'd without allay.

In our own places, let us truly do

VVhat duty to Superiours calls us to.

(An abſolute Obedience unto none

My conſcience ows, ſave unto GOD alone;

Yet, to what Soveraign power adjudgeth fit,

I'le actively or paſſively ſubmit)

Let Souldiers fight; give Pilots room to ſteer;

VVhen we move, let us move in our own ſphear,

Our ſafety, from henceforth, expecting, from

No Mountain, but from that, whence it muſt come.

VVe had ere while a Power, which to our coſt

VVe miſ-employ'd, and therefore now 'tis loſt.

VVe, lately, active were ev'n unto blood;

But, now ſuch activeneſs will do no good,

And, we muſt paſſive be, till GOD ſhall pleaſe

Our ſins to pardon, and to give us eaſe:

And he will ſhew us then what muſt be done,

If him with patience we attend upon.

VVhat we deſired, he did not deny us;

And, by what we deſir'd, he now will try us.

We have a King again: and ſince God gave him

Upon ſuch terms, as moſt deſir'd to have him,

VVe ought not to repine or to receed

From that which we to him have promiſed;

For, we our duties are oblig'd to do,

VVhether he keep his promiſes, or no.

p. 57Leave him, unto that Cov'nant which was made

'Twixt GOD and him, when he admittance had:

For, GOD on our behalf, when that was done,

Premiſed terms, though we our ſelves made none,

(Ev'n ſuch, as long ago upon record

Expreſſed were, in his revealed word)

And, if he keep them not, 'twill worſe ſucceed

VVith him, than if his ſign'd and ſealed Deed

He ſhould to us infringe (though Diſpenſations

He had, from all the Prelates in theſe Nations,

And Rome to boot) which, I ſhould fear to ſay,

If ſomewhat did not warrant me I may.

His power now is great; yet, had been more

Than ever Engliſh King had heretofore,

(A… …onceive) had he content remain'd

VVith what was providentially obtain'd

Not looking backward, to hedge in the time,

VVhichWhich will be no advantage unto him.

Had he not ſought his Honours Reparation,

By building it upon the old Foundation

On which it ſtood; not thought it beſt to own,

That Intereſt, which GOD had overthrown,

(And Humane policy inclin'd him to)

He might have done more than he now can do.

For Conqueſt giveth rather more than leſs

Than he did by Inheritance poſſeſs;

And his Re-entry was equivalent

To Conqueſt, though gained by aſſent:

For Free Aſſent was given by no more

Save thoſe who were of his own ſide before;

Until they ſaw he had that power ſupreme

VVhichWhich warranted Allegiance unto him;

And that he had acquired intereſts

In what they claim, by plowing with their Beaſts:

p. 58For, where WAR is, till peace, renew'd ſhall be

In terminis, a Conqueror is he,

VVho victory by Stratagems hath gain'd

As truly, as when by the ſword attain'd.

And his Admittance (whatſoe'er is thought)

VVas by none elſe, but his own paerty wrought

Through GOD's permiſſion, who, befooled them

VVho had been falſe unto themſelves and him.

It is a Conqueſt, which the Lord of Hoſts

Confer'd on him (although no bloud it coſts)

And they who do admit, without condition,

A Foe profeſt, can challenge no fruition

Of any right, which was enjoy'd before,

But that which he is pleaſed to reſtore;

Till for Omiſſions, or for things miſdone,

GOD takes from him again what he had won,

As, but a few months paſt from them he did,

Who in this Government did him preceed:

And, this point I inſiſt on to declare

That (ſince of us our Trustees had no care)

How much to GOD we ſhall obliged be,

If from our Hazards he ſhall ſet us free

By moving this Kings heart, us to reſtore

To thoſe enjoyments which we had before.

When firſt the Norman by the Sword came in,

A part of what the peoples right had been

VVas by contract ſecur'd: when Solomon

VVas dead, although the Kingdom to his ſon

Fell by inheritance; yet, maugre that,

The Iſraelites came to capitulate

VVith Rehoboam, and (as it appears)

The Kingdoms, and his Fathers Counſellers

Advis'd admittance of Capitulation,

As no leſs needful for his Confirmation,

p. 59Than to content the people: but, he leaves

Their counſel, and to giddy Fellows cleaves,

Companions of this youth, by whoſe Bravado's

(Expreſt with inſolent Rodomontado's)

He loſt ten Tribes of twelve. But no man thought

Our Cauſe (it ſeems) worth ſpeaking for, or ſought

To ſave our Intereſts, though we had thoſe

Impowr'd, who to that intent were choſe,

And much confided in. And, GOD did thus

For his owne glory pre-diſpoſe of us,

That we might ſee the vanity of them

In whom we truſted, and truſt more in him.

It had not elſe been ſo; for through the Land,

There was not ſword nor ſpear in any hand

But what we thought our own: nor pow'r appearing

For Charls without it, which was worth the fearing,

If Providence had not transfer'd this pow'r

Into his hand, which we ſuppoſed our.

So, all our freedoms, Life, Lands, goods and treaſure,

VVere actually to this Kings will and pleaſure

Reſigned up: for, nothing doth appear

That we of any thing ſecured are,

Save by his Grace, though ſome a pow'r then had

To get Conditions uſual to be made

In ſuch like Caſes: which, if they had done,

They had not thereby well diſcharg'd alone

Their publick Truſt, and, rather more than leſs,

Might thereby have advanc'd the common peace;

But, ſav'd unto the King much labour too,

Which now he muſt be forc'd to undergo,

Yet, peradventure when that he hath done

The beſt he can, pleaſe very few or none:

For 'tis impoſſible the bleſſed fruit

Of perfect peace without pow'r abſolute,

p. 60Should be produc'd, as we are now diſtracted,

And as things will in likelihood be acted;

'Cauſe ſuch a Flow'r (as moſt wiſe men do know)

Upon a ſingle Root, doth always grow;

And that, nought perfect Unity can breed,

Save that, which from one ſpirit doth proceed.

If, as he from theſe Kingdoms was expel'd

By Conqueſt, he re-entring, them had held

As by Re-Conqueſt (which he might have done,

Conſid'ring how Affairs were carried on)

He might have brought moſt things to good concluſions,

VVithout thoſe interruptions and confuſions

VVhichWhich will enſue; for, he obliged then

By none, but GOD's and Natures Laws had been;

And ſhould have had a large means to expreſs

His Mercy, Piety, and Righteouſneſs,

By prudent modelizing and contriving

(Reſtoring, adding, giving and forgiving)

As need required, without ſuch reſtraints,

Or giving theſe occaſions of complaints,

As now occur: whereas he coming in

By that Right, which before had claimed been,

(As interrupted only) he ſeems bounded

By thoſe Laws, whereon formerly 'twas founded.

And (as at preſent it appears to me)

So dubious Laws and Parliaments now be,

That by the courſe intended to be taken,

The Peace we hope to ſettle will be ſhaken

VVhen we ſuppoſe it fixt; by failings, found

Hereafter, in ſome Principles unſound;

Or elſe, becauſe ſome actings will appear

Not homogeneous to thoſe Laws that are:

And, as things are, with us 'tis little better

Then if we conquer'd were, for, we are debter

p. 61Unto the King, for all in our poſſeſſions

By his ſpontaneous Act, and Free Conceſſions;

And whatſoever we can do or ſay,

If, now he will be Abſolute, he may.

There be enough, who for their private ends,

Will drive on whatſoever he intends,

Whether it be to do us right or wrong;

And thereunto, our ſins will make them ſtrong,

Till GOD again deliver us, who hath

Now made us, juſtly, Objects of his wrath.

For, if they are our Truſtees duely choſe,

Who now of us and our Affairs diſpoſe,

(And us into the Kings hand wholly gave

Without Reſerve) then, ev'ry thing we have

Is His; and more it boots not than a Ruſh

Now to deny it: for, within a buſh,

We ſhall our Heads but like the Woodcock hide,

Whom by his Tail, the Fowler hath eſpide.

We are reduc'd unto a conquer'd State,

Though we our ſelves are pleas'd to wink thereat.

The CUP pretended ſtolen to have been,

(By whoſe device ſoere it was put in)

Is found within our ſacks; and we this day

Like Joſephs Brethren, to the King muſt ſay:

We are thy ſervants: Providence Divine

Hath for our ſins made our poſſeſsions thine:

For, we can challenge nothing as our own,

But what of thy free Grace hath been beſtown:

Or what thou ſhalt be pleaſed to afford

Upon Requeſt: or, of thine own accord.

This we muſt ſay, how loth ſoere vve are:

And, vvithout ſcruple, this affirm I dare,

That, till the ſelf-ſame Providence, or Hee,

Or both together, joyn to make us free:

p. 62(VVhichWhich will vouchſafed be, with, or without

His will, when our probation-time is out)

We never ſhall be freed; but, without reſt,

Be more and more inſlaved, and oppreſt.

Then, let none think I wrong this Nation, tho

I ſay 'tis conquer'd: nor, by being ſo,

Fear they ſo much will diſadvantag'd be,

As, by a vain ſuppoſe that they are free;

Since, by not making this acknowledgement,

GOD, of due thanks and glory we prevent:

For, had the King aſſum'd the Sov'raign pow'r,

(As being made by him, a Conquerour)

With no worſe purpoſe, than to conſtitute

A righteous throne (to which Pow'r Abſolute

Is ſo Eſſential, that without the ſame,

Leſs Power, in great Confuſions will be lame)

He poſſibly might have effected that,

Which to attempt, now 'tis perhaps too late.

This, was the mind of GOD (as I beleeve)

VVhen he to him did that advantage give;

And, I am hopeful, he will bend that way

The Pow'r that's left, as far forth as he may:

For, he is neither Heathen, Jew, or Turk,

Impow'red to do only his own work;

Nor we, I hope, as were the Canaanites,

To be deſtroy'd, nor thoſe Amalekites

VVith whom God purpoſeth a VVar for ever,

Unleſs we in impenitence perſever,

To make us liable to ſuch a doom

As did on that and other Nations come.

But, by this King, GOD rather doth intend

Our much depraved Manners to amend:

And deals with us, as he hath always done

VVith his own people, ſince the world begun.

p. 63VVhen they by murmurings for fleſh provok't him;

He, in diſpleaſure gave them Quails, & choakt them:

And he with us, in ſome things parallel

Thereto hath dealt, if we obſerve them well.

VVhen he by Moſes them from bondage brought,

(To lead them back again) they had a thought

To chuſe another Captain; for which crime,

He kept them in the Deſert a long time:

Ev'n till all that Rebellious Generation

Was quite worn out for that prevarication.

This, let us well conſider of, and learn

How much (and in what) it may us concern.

A King like other Nations they would have,

And what they askt, GOD with a vengeance gave:

Yet, by his mercy from his wrath did ſave them,

And plagues & bleſſings therewith mixed gave them.

When by the Sword of Nebuchadnezzar,

The Jews were ſubjugated (as we are

For our tranſgreſſions) though their Conquerour

Was not of their own Nation, as is our:

(Or, of their Faith, ſo much as a pretender,

Either to be Profeſſor or Defender)

GOD by Him, and by his Succeſſors brought them,

Not only to be humbled, till they ſought him;

But alſo, gave them favour in their ſights;

Made ſome of them their chiefeſt Favorites:

Yea, to repair enabled them, at laſt,

Their Temple and their Cities, which lay waſte;

And to poſſeſs again that Land, from whence

They were ejected by impenitence.

Why then ſhould we not hope, ſince to theſe Nations

Our preſent King hath manifeſt Relations:

(The ſame Faith holds, and of his own accord

To be propitious hath engag'd his Word)

p. 64That, GOD, by him, will, at the leaſt, reſtore

All that which he poſſeſſed heretofore?

VVhy ſhould we not believe, that God's intent

Is to be gracious in his chaſtiſement?

And may apply unto us Lenitives

By this King, when he hath with Corroſives

Firſt made us curable; ſomewhat I declar'd

Among ſuch other things (without regard)

Now, thirty five years paſt, that doth appear

Upon Record in my Remembrancer,

VVhichWhich now, perhaps, beginneth way to make

For what my Britains Genius did fore-ſpeak;

And, GOD, in Judgement, mindeth us, as yet,

In Mercy, though his kindneſs we forget.

Yea, if our ſins make not his purpoſe void,

That, whereby ſome now fear to be deſtroy'd,

Shall ſave us from that miſchief which we fear,

VVhen unavoidably it ſeemeth neer.

For, notwithſtanding, for their ſins and our,

Our former Governours did loſe their pow'r;

Though they, and we have juſtly forfeited

Thoſe Freedoms which we lately challenged,

And did poſſeſs (when after our Appeal,

VVe were impowr'd to form a Commonweal)

The change which now befalls will be of uſe

Hereafter, better ſequels to produce.

VVe have but onelyonly loſt, upon the wheel

A broken pot, and work men without skill.

GOD, hath not wholly, us of Grace bereaved,

Although, to Grace, the King he hath received;

Nor hath he at this preſent brought him home

At our coſt (without bloodſhed) to become

A Tyrant, but our King, and unto us

To be as gracious, as to him, he was,

p. 65In thus reſtoring him with Conditions,

Unto his late loſt Honour and Poſſeſſions.

GOD hath from Meſech lately brought him hither

Not that this People ſhould be forced thither;

Or that their Burthens he ſhould more increaſe,

Now that's removed which did him oppreſs.

GOD, did ſupply his wants, and him reſtore

To Riches loſt, not to make others poor;

Nor from afflictions him redeem'd, that he

Should for paſt injuries avenged be;

Or have a Kingdome here, like one of thoſe

VVhichWhich Satan on his Homagers beſtows.

But, ſuch a Kingdome, that his people might

Submit unto him, with a true delight,

And worſhip their Creator without fear,

In holineſs, and in uprightneſs here.

And, if his Pow'r be not this way imploy'd,

The beſt mens hopes, will be a while made void:

And his for ever (though he ſhould recover

Ten times more ſtrength and gild his acting over

VVith quaint pretences, and the faireſt Paints

Of Polititians, or diſſembling Saints.)

For, though the Rabble, who were yeſterday

His open Foes, now make profeſſions may,

Of being loyal, and to morrow ſhould

Swear to become his ſlaves, they fruſtrate would

His beſt hopes; for, they are a flood that flows

This way, and that way, as the next wind blows.

The Eſſence of a Kingly interest

Doth in, and by the Common good conſiſt,

Ev'n in the whole, and not in any part

(Although as noble as the Head or Heart)

And to indulge ought further then it ſhall

Tend really unto the good of all;

p. 66Deſtroys the whole, turns Royalty to Faction,

And breeds at length a general Diſtraction:

For, when the limbs, the head or heart ſurpaſs

Their due proportions, they make others leſs;

And all the body will not only grow

Deformed, but unſerviceable too:

So, likewiſe, Kings, if liberty they grant

To any part to be exorbitant,

Or in themſelves be ſo, 'twill quite deſtroy

That compound being, which they ſhall enjoy.

They further ſhould promote no intereſt

Than with the publick good it may conſiſt;

And that each individual, without wrongs,

May that poſſeſs, which to the ſame belongs.

By Juſtice he ſhould cauſe a Reſtoration;

Of all Incroachments made by Uſurpation;

And recompence for ev'ry Injury

Suſtained by Supream Authority,

How ere acquired, if the Sufferer

In conſcience, thereunto obedient were;

And no way active in that innovation,

Which was the former Powr's Eradication.

No party or profeſſion whatſoere,

Neither the Prelate, Prieſt or Presbyter,

Or other Sect, nor King nor Parliament

Should be indulg'd to common detriment;

For, that would be deſtructive to that end,

Whereto all Conſtitutions ought to tend.

'Tis mercy, and performing righteous things

That ſtrengthens Kingdoms, and preſerveth Kings;

And they are their beſt Subjects who adhere

To Piety, and ſound in Manners are:

Not they who think the glory of a Throne

Conſiſteth in the Guilding laid thereon:

p. 67Or, in ſuch Vanities as did begin

To ſpring up when the King firſt entred in:

For, though thoſe Fools (who ſuch enjoyment crave

Aſſoon, as of prevayling, hopes they have)

Inſult, Jeer, brag, and inſolently brave it,

Cry, Now it is as we our ſelves would have it,

And run out into that Licentiouſneſs

Which evidently may to all expreſs

What they deſire; he, that, on ſuch relies,

Himſelf, with Snow-balls only fortifies;

And will by their aſſiſtance be at length

As old Rome was, oppreſt by his own ſtrength.

And, if abus'd, the Grace now offer'd be,

Some, yet may live another change to ſee:

For, One unheeded ſits above our heads,

Who mens Phanatick vanities derides;

And Judgements in dark Clouds concealed are,

Which will ſurprize us, ere we be aware,

Unleſs we with more prudent moderation

Shall from henceforward manage that occaſion

Which GOD hath given of a happy cloſe

Betwixt them, who have over-long been foes,

For, to that end (though not well heeded yet)

The King and we are in this poſture met.

If, he be now King by the Grace of GOD,

(As we entitle him) ſent for our good,

And not in wrath: if, as his Title ſaith,

He be a true Defender of the Faith,

(VVhichWhich is my hope) he, ſeriouſly will heed,

How in his chief concernments, men proceed:

And, if he then findes, that, more in deſpight

To thoſe whom they hate, than to do him right,

Some things by ſome are acted: and the ſpoyl

Of others rather aim'd at, then this Weal,

p. 68(By proſecutions over-violent

To his diſhonour and indangerment)

'Twill bring forth an unlooked-for effect

To thoſe, upon whom he without ſuſpect

Doth yet depend; and make him plainly ſee,

That, from thenceforth, his confidence muſt be

In GOD, and in thoſe, who, with him partake

For GOD's, for Juſtice, and for Conſcience ſake;

And not in thoſe who value not thoſe things

VVhichWhich moſt eſſential are to Sovꝰraign Kings;

Though they pretend to ſuffer for GOD's cauſe,

And his; or, fain obedience to his Laws;

Much leſs truſt them, who did aſſiſt the Boys

With Shouts, Drums, Guns and Squibs to make a noiſe

About their bonfires, hemmed in with Dances

Scarce modeſt, and ſometimes with petulances

As ſcandalous, as if thoſe men had beſt

Their Loyalty and Gratitude expreſt,

Who, when he was proclaim'd, moſt rudely ſwagger'd

Drunk to his Health, until they ſpew'd & ſtagger'd;

Conſum'd that, on one beaſt, which to the poor

Diſtributed, might have refreſh'd a ſcore:

And, when they ſhould have prais'd GOD, for the grace

To them vouchſaf'd, blaſphem'd him to his face.

If ſuch prevarications do preſage

A ſetled pow'r, or a Reformed Age,

I am deceiv'd; and wholly had deſpair'd

To ſee our Breaches in my time repair'd;

But that the King hath given hopes of late,

By ſome proceeds, that he doth aim thereat;

And by his Proclamation ſtartled them

From that, which many did expect from him:

Yea, I have feared, that I might have liv'd

To ſee all Heath'niſh Vanities reviv'd.

p. 69(With all old Superſtitions) and, I pray,

This fear may wholly be remov'd away:

For, what ſome have expected all along,

And, from what Root, their zeal to Kingſhip ſprung;

By many 'twas fore-ſhown, who did aſpire

To publick truſt. That, which they now deſire

Confirms it alſo; and perhaps it may

Be manifeſt to all another day,

When they ſhall either miſs their expectations,

Who welcom'd him with loudeſt acclamations,

Or elſe, when they enjoy them; which to ſee,

I ſhould be griv'd, and ſo, I hope would he.

But if to thoſe things, which do now begin

In ev'ry place already, to flow in,

He puts not ſtop, ere further they proceed,

His power, perhaps, it ſhortly will exceeded;

And, we ſhall here behold (with new additions)

Prophaneneſſe, and exploded Superſtitions,

Not only countenanced without aw

Of GOD, and Men, but ſetled by a Law:

For, this (or I am much deceiv'd) is that

Which is by very many aimed at.

It was not (as theſe did pretend) to bring

From his late baniſhment, their lawful King;

Nor love unto his Perſon, or his Cauſe,

Or zeal to true Religion or the Laws,

Which made ſo many, who had active been

To drive him out, make haſt to fetch him in:

Nor, that they could better be content

With Kingſhip or ſome other Government,

Or perſons then with thoſe that rul'd before:

But ſome did hope to have enjoyed more

A Liberty, whereby, without controul

They might in bruitiſh luſts at pleaſure roul.

p. 70Some had a hoping of raiſing their Eſtate;

In ſome hope ſprung from Envy or from hate,

Conceiv'd againſt thoſe perſons who acquir'd

Thoſe honours or ſome profits they deſir'd:

And, not a few, who were at no expence

In this Kings ſervice, or to make defence

Of him or his cauſe, hopefull were to get

(By ſuing to him, and pretending it)

Repair of thoſe conſum'd Eſtates, which they

Had either drunk, or whor'd, or gam'd away.

Some, other, thereby, hoped for fruition

Of their beloved Miſtriſs Superſtition;

Freedome, to ſwear GOD damn them, without a we

Of Magiſtrate, or mulct impos'd by Law;

To waſt, the day, and night, in drinking, gaming,

In cheating, roaring, whoring, and blaſpheming,

Without reproofs. Some looked for encreaſe

Of Trading, or of making Taxes leſs;

And, otherſome (another way affected)

Together with a King, returns expected

Of Masks and Revels, Turnaments and Plays,

May-poles, Wakes, Church-ales and thoſe holy-days,

Wherein young men might have permitted been

As heretofore, to dance upon the Green,

With ſuch-like liberties as may be us'd

Sometimes (if ſoberly) and not abus'd:

And, ſome, it may be, had an expection

The Lords day ſhould a day of recreation

Be made agen; and preaching twice a day,

By ſome new Canon would be took away;

That all men (as they have internal motions)

Might have time for their pleaſures or devotions.

Theſe were ſtrong motives to ſome late Expreſſes

Of loyalty, as alſo to th' addreſſes

p. 71Subſcribed not long before by many a one

To OLIVER, and likewiſe to his Son,

Whom quickly they deſerted, though they had

To live and die with them profeſſions made

Without enforcement, at the firſt, to make them,

Or at the laſt, ſo tamely to forſake them.

As much they magnifide them in their Lyricks,

Heroick Poems, Odes, and Penegyricks,

As they extol the King. No flattering pen

Could more aſcribe to any mortal men:

And, though ſuch dawbings cannot keep from ſhame

Their perſons, nor from infamy their name,

(As now appears) yet this magnificat

The world ſtill ſings. This common ſtrain is that

Which moſt men do affect and in this wiſe

Flattry ſtill ſings to all Stars when they riſe:

Yea, all their ſongs unto this preſent day,

Are but the ſame, new ſet another way:

And, their compoſers do deſerve no more

Then begging Fidlers begging at the door.

Who if it might their ſervile ends advance,

Would, to the ſame tune play the devil a dance.

Such are too many, who do make a ſhow

Of loyalty by their expreſſes now.

As little worth regarding is their love;

And, doubtleſs very fickle it would prove,

If GOD ſhould be provoked to eſtrange

His favour, and permit another change.

They who againſt one party lately cride,

Hang, hang the Rogues; againſt the other ſide

Would then cry out as loud, Hang, hang them all:

And, thoſe whom they now praiſe, as much miſ call:

For, what their chiefeſt expectations are,

They make it evidently to appear

p. 72By Words and Deeds; and there are ſymptomes too,

What things, if cauſe were given, they would do.

Hornets and Waſps, begin to ſhew their ſtings.

The butterflies diſplay their pointed wings

In every Garden, and there, ſpawn the ſeed

which Palmer worms, and Catterpillars, breed.

They, who were lately Maggots are grown Flies,

In our ears buzzing, fleering in our eyes;

And, up were ſet, the worlds Gods altogether

As ſoon as ere the King approached hither;

Who, probably, in Flanders had remain'd,

If, otherways, their ends they could have gain'd,

And Dick, perhaps, GEORGE, Jack, or any thing,

With popular app'auſes had been King.

But, theſe Inſecti, though they greatly ſwarm,

Can do the King not ſo much good, as harm:

Nor can thoſe who through want of wit & courage

Will ſell their birth-rights for a meſs of Porredge,

To this eſtabliſhment contribute ought,

Till they be better diſciplin'd and taught:

It is not they in Linen Ephods, neither

Thoſe Chimerims who now conſpire together;

Nor thoſe vain and fantaſtical baboons

Who jet in Feathers and in Pantaloons,

Who fix a King; but, thoſe grave men among

Our Nobles. And the civil uulgar throng,

Who love the Publick peace, and do profeſs

A Loyalty in truth and ſoberneſs,

VVithout regard of any Intereſt,

Save that, which may with other mens conſiſt.

The reſt (if well conſider'd) are a number

Of animals, which more confound and cumber,

Then ſettle Governments; and are to Kings

But troubleſome unprofitable things.

p. 73I have obſerv'd them well: and long ago

(Perceiving what they likely were to do,

VVho know the way, as often as they pleaſe

To bring to paſs, their own Deſignes by theſe)

Upon Occaſions given, was ſo bold,

That what I pre-conjectur'd, I fore-told;

And how theſe acting ſingly, or together.

To publick Damage, made uſe of each other.

This oft I did before the Parliament

Became their ſelf-deſtroying inſtrument)

In plain terms, or Aenigma's; as the time

Would bear it; and as well in Proſe as Rimes:

I did the like to him, and to his ſon,

VVhom GOD permitted to uſurp the Throne,

(As two addreſſes, which I did prefer

To their own hands, yet extant may declare)

And whereby, ſuch advantages I got

As uſually they get who flatter not.

During the laſt pow'r (in an oblique way)

As touching him, who reigneth at this day,

I hinted that, which now is come to paſs

In ſuch wiſe, as I might in ſuch a caſe

At ſuch a time as that; with what Events,

To his beginnings would be conſequents,

If on the Giddy Vulgar he depended,

In proſecuting what ſhould be intended:

Or, if he ſought a Kingſhip to erect

Like what meer earthly Princes do effect:

VVherein, although I had no worſe Deſigne

Then with the publick weal to wrap up mine,

I am, for my plain dealing, as a Foe

Both ſcandalized and oppreſſed ſo.

That all the Mercy ſome vouchſafe me would,

Is Life deprived of all things that ſhould

p. 74In me and my relations Life uphold.

Which is a cruelty, and ſuch away,

Of killing men a hundred times aday,

That GOD with due avengement will repay:

For, though men are not ſo, yet he is juſt;

The meaſure, which they gave, receive they muſt.

Yea, meaſure running over, and preſt down,

Unleſs God ſhew more grace then they have ſhown.

I have not much deceived been, in ought

Which with Pre-meditation I fore-thought,

And heretofore divulg'd relating to

Theſe Nations, in the things they ought to do;

Or, unto that, which would require their heed,

How therein they go backward, or proceed.

I, lately pre conjectur'd and fore-told,

That London was a Mount whence iſſue ſhould

A wind, which hither likely was to blow

A change, that of our greateſt weal or woo,

(As likewiſe of her own) would be the cauſe:

And, by her aid, that change is come to paſſe.

Let her ſo mind it now, that GOD may bleſs

Her future actings with a good ſucceſs;

For, that to them this Caveat give I may,

Thus purpoſely I ſtept out of the way.

My Muſe once more ſhall here likewiſe recal

What I preſag'd would to my ſelf befal;

Yea, though I toucht upon it heretofore,

I will illuſtrate it a little more.

Me therefore, to inſiſt thereon permit,

For as it me concerns to mention it,

It may concern you to, and doth declare

That poor mens wrongs by GOD obſerved are.

Upon my heart I ſtrong impreſſions had,

That I, ſhould of their fall a ſigne be made;

p. 75Who for my faithful ſervice me oppreſt;

And, they, who laſt the ſupreme pow'r poſſeſt,

This day, both ſee, and feelingly perceive,

That's come to paſſe which they would not believe

To them I told, both jointly and apart,

(But ſeem'd to ſpeak to men without a heart)

That, they in reaſon had good cauſe to fear,

If they ſhould offer ſtill, a Deaf man's Ear

To my complaints, a very ſad reward,

Would be the ſequel of their Diſ-regard.

Yet, though with humbleneſs I them implor'd

By ev'ry means, which thoſe times, did afford,

(Save bribes and flatt'ry they would ſeldome hear

Ought which concerned me, except it were

An accuſation; or to grant an Order,

Which more my Ruine, then Relief did further;

Or, do me Juſtice during my oppreſſions,

Nigh eighteen years complain'd of by Petitions,

And, by addreſses, tenter'd unto them

(Not ſeldome, by ſome hundred at a time)

Nor to me their Ingagements made they good;

Nor thoſe diſcharg'd by which ingag'd I ſtood

For them; nor for their Debts detain'd from me

Three times ſix years, although made due they be

By Ordinance and Orders: nor would they

Vouchſafe as much as intereſt to pay,

By them allowed; (though I much did need it,

Both to relieve me, and preſerve my Credit.)

Nor could I that enjoy, which I had bought,

And they had ſold, (as I in Juſtice ought;

Till my Eſtate and Credit was o'rethrown

By them, through their neglecting of their own;

Though they were not alone oblig'd unto it,

But likewiſe had both power and means to do it.

p. 76A ſingle foe, could do me in one hour

More injury, then all my Friends had pow'r

To right whilſt they reign'd, though I ſeem'd befriended

Of many, who to Righteouſneſs pretended.

Though early at their dores, and alſo late,

As at Betheſda-pool the Cripple ſate)

I waited on them, I went ev'ry day

Both without Help, and with ſmall Help, away;

No more prevailing, then if ſtill I had

To blocks or ſtatutes, my Petitions made.

Theſe Grievances, increaſing ev'ry year,

Rais'd at the length, my Damages well near

To twice five thouſand pounds; and ſo increaſt,

My debts, by troubles, ſuits, and intereſt,

That wants, thereby, ſtill multiplying more,

I was, at laſt, made ſomewhat worſe then poor:

From ſeven hundred pounds per annum, brought

To be ſome hundred pounds leſs worth then nought,

So looſing my repute, with my eſtate.

(Which many new perplexities begat)

To ev'ry wrong, I liable was made,

When no means left for my defence I had.

And, moſt men then perceiving that the Doom

Which I fore-ſaw would come, was then nigh come,

And likely to deſtroy them in whoſe hands

Lay all my whole Eſtate in Debts and Lands,

And, that the Title which thereinII had,

Would, as they ſtood or fell, prove good or bad;

My Creditors grew thereby ſo affraid,

What I then ow'd them, never would be paid,

That, more to pay one debt, then would pay two,

Was thereby (maugre all that I could do)

Streight torn away: and I, could neither ſet,

Nor ſell, nor borrow, neither payment get

p. 77Of what was due, to buy things neceſſary,

Or ſave my credit till it did miſcarry,

By forfeitures and burthens, caſt upon me,

So mercileſly, that it hath undone me,

As to the world; unleſs GOD ſhall prevent

That, which now threats a further Detriment;

For, when the CURS which did before but bawl,

(As when you ſee a hunted Stag doth fall

By alber Dogs) immediately fell in,

And from the fleſh began to tear the skin.

To make complaints, I ſaw it was in vain;

For, none I know to whom I might complain,

With hope of help; and certainly perceived,

That, though by them, I ſeem'd to be bereaved

Of my Eſtate, yet GOD's hand was therein,

And, that the Judgement which doth now begin

At his own Houſe, did mark me out for one,

Upon whom Execution muſt be done:

Therefore, forthwith, examining my heart,

And, finding that far leſs then my deſert

Was brought upon me; to his Chaſtiſement

I humbly do ſubmit, and will preſent,

Ere I proceed, this my Confeſſion,

With Praiſes intermixed, and Contrition.