God Save the King, To the reader – Poem
To the unprejudic'd Reader.
BEing apprehended by the report of the intended Proclamation of the KING, and carried to the Town of Lyme, I there found a Solemnity, ſuitable to the occaſion. The only ſtrife was, who could excell in the teſtimonies of their rejoycing. The Soldiery, with much order and galantry, diſcharged their part, as a proof of their former, and pledge of their future Loyalty: The unanimous Magiſtrates, being accompanied with the High Sheriff (who gratified the place with his perſonal preſence) prov'd the name of their Town to be Lyme-Regis, and triumphed at the recovery of that honorable title; the Countrey flock'd in with no leſs joy than admiration, at the proclaiming of a King, in the twelfth year of his reign: They now look'd on themſelves as deliver'd from any other perſon who had playd Rex ſince 48, in which time we have had ſuch along Parentheſis of tranſactions, as might be left out, without prejudice to the ſence. The Guns ſhouted every one according to his mouth; But cedant arma togae, the work begun in nomine Domini: The Pulpit was firſt engag'd, and the after Acclamations were but the Eccho's of that ſound, and repetitions of the Sermon, wherein if there be not a compoſition of Piety, Loyalty and ſtrength of reaſon in plain Engliſh; I am content to publiſh my ignorance. Let it be peruſed by unbiaſſed perſons, and it muſt be granted, that there is nothing affirmed but truth, and the probabilities are back'd with ſuch Arguments as make them next to certainty. There can be no ground for ſuſpition of flattery, ſeeing that the publication was not intended, and the preaching was at ſuch a diſtance from the Court: Beſides, the mixture of ſuch directions as pleaſe not thoſe who ſay, Iſa. 30.10Prophecy unto us ſmooth things. Neither is there any alteration in the Authors principles, who hath not only refus'd to engage in the late changes, but boldly ſet himſelf, and warn'd his people againſt thoſe that were given to them. It is confeſs'd, that many of the giddy multitude cry out now upon Ʋſurpers, who lately cry'd them up as much *Turba Remi ſequitur for tunam ut ſemper, & odit damnatos. Idem populus, &c.. But there was no underſtanding Subject (who had not loſt the ſence of his duty to God and the King) but mourn'd (at leaſt) in ſecret for the abominable violations of Allegiance and Covenant. How much the Proteſtant Religion, the King's Royal Family, the three Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland have ſuffer'd by the unparallel'd murther of his late Majeſty, I need not tell thee *Multis ille bonis flebilis occidit, nulli flebilior quàm mihi.. We have been like a body beheaded, for which no other head will ſerve, how artificially ſoever it be ſet on, and how quickly do thoſe heads fall off, that are but clap'd on upon us? which wanting a natural conjunction, will ſtand no longer than they are upheld by force; neither can there be any conveyance of ſpirits where there is not the right union. But ſince it hath pleaſed the Almighty (who for the tranſgreſſion of the Land hath ſuffer'd many to be Rulers thereof *Prov. 28.2.) to reſtore to us our Lawfull Sovereign, and ſo to ſet over us our proper head, this is matter of thankefulneſſe. Let us adore the wonders of providences, concurring to this bleſſed change, and fix our eyes on that eye in the wheel, which hath ordered all the turnings to this end. This is the Lords doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes. Muſt not the Enchanters themſelves (who have aſſayed to mock providence) confeſs, that this is the finger of God *Exod. 8.19.? How much reaſon there is for our rejoycing upon this occaſion, this enſuing ſhort Treatiſe will inform thee. Who could bow the hearts of the Elders of our Judah, as of one man, to ſend this meſſage to the King, 2 Sam. 19.14.Return thou and all thy Servants, but God who hath the hearts of all men in his hands? Who could overturn, overturn, overturn, till He came whoſe right it was, but God, who hath made the King's enemies the Inſtruments of their owne overthrow? The Counſels of Achitophels are turned into fooliſhneſs, in order to the preſervation of his ſacred Majeſties Perſon, and the twiſted intereſts of multitudes of the Kingdome, politickly engag'd, are as prudently undone, and cannot hold together againſt him. Gods patience in forbearing a Nation ſo guilty, is yet followed by his juſtice, both in vindicating thoſe, to whom guilt is imputed without cauſe; and in teſtifying againſt ſuch as have killed, and alſo taken poſſeſſion. The people that have been long kept under do now flock together like the fiſhes at Strigone, (a Town ſcituate on Danubius) and hold their heads above water, which (they ſay) was a token of their change of their Lord and Maſter. We are weary ſtudying the meaning of Common-wealth, and although we have had the name beaten into us, yet cannot poſſibly underſtand the thing. And the foreign, or lawleſneſs for five days amongst the Perſians, wherein there was ſo much robbing and killing, never made them more willing of government again than the violencies and illegalities here, in this long Interval, have made us ready to accept our Royal Sovereign. We have been reckon'd Offenders for a word, and the cruelty of the newerected Tribunals was ſuch, that the Judgement-ſeat little differ'd from a Shambles; the new Laws, like Draco's at Lacedemonia being written in Characters of bloud. But our hopes are revived, and we truſt, that if the Lord would have deſtroyed us, Judg. 13. 23.he would not have ſhewed us all theſe things. His moſt excellent Majeſty hath heightned our expectations by his gracious Declaration. The beſt and wiſeſt of the Nation have done that which God, our Laws, and Covenant, and the neceſſitie of vindicating themſelves and us from the horrid guilt of Regicide, have made their duty. Into what Chaos was the Church and State lately reduc'd? there is the power and wiſdome of a Creator requiſite to bring all into form; and happy ſhall he be whom the King of Kings will honour, as the chief Inſtrument hereof. This Sermon tels thee that Joſeph and David were by their Afflictions fitted for eminent ſervice; and I am ſure our dread Sovereign hath been bred in the ſame School, and doubt not but his Crown is made of gold purified in the fire. I ſhall not need to acquaint thee how his return runs parallel with that of Davids, after his baniſhment, who made uſe of the General and the Prieſts in order to his reduction *2 Sam. 19.11, 13: But my hearty wiſh is, that the men of Iſrael and Judah may not diſpute, who hath the greateſt part in him, v. 43.or moſt right to him; but that we may all joyn in prayſes, for the diſcovery whereof thou art not left here without directions; and let me beſeech thee (as the Author does) for the King's ſake, and for thine own ſake, to take heed of doing wickedly. 1 Sam. 12.25.Do not think thou canſt contribute to ſettlement by ſtudying revenge: this will evidence that thy deſire of the King is but for thine own ends; expect no patent for prophaneneſs, but be ſure, Ro. 13.4.that the Sword will be drawn for the puniſhment of evil doers. Do not think to justifie thy ſelf by condemning others, who poſſibly refuſe to drown their reaſon, to prove their Loyalty. Why ſhould not they come in amongst the Kings friends, who pray for his health, and drink only for their own? whither hath diviſion already carried us *En quo diſcordia cives Perduxit miſeros.? and how open hath it laid us to thoſe enemies that wait the like opportunity? Be of Mephiboſheth's temper, to part with thine own interest for the ſake of his Majeſty's quiet, Let him take all, 2 Sam. 19.30.ſeeing my Lord the King is come home in peace. Let us all agree to baniſh whatever may occaſion any further diſagreement. We have joyn'd in our Proclamations and Acclamations, let us joyn alſo in our Petitions to the King of Heaven, that our King, as Solomon, may build the Temple *1 Chro. 28.6., and cauſe the Kingdom to flouriſh, that he may be a Melchiſedeck, a King of Righteouſneſſe, that his Throne may be eſtabliſhed, and that under him we may live quiet and peaceable lives in all godlineſs and honeſty *1 Tim. 2.2.; which hath been, is, and ſhall be the hearty Prayer of him,
That confeſſeth his inſufficiency to adviſe thee; but, Profeſſeth his readineſs to ſerve thee,John Hodder, Miniſter of Hawkchurch.
GReat CHARLS the ſecond's Picture's here, Peruſe it;
Know that 'twas writ at diſtance, and excuſe it:
The lines are loyal, let choice Limners mend it;
Under correction we preſume to ſend it.
CHARLES, whoſe return revives each drooping heart,
And quickens each dead ſoul, to act its part:
Whoſe vertues though the French and Spaniſh ſaw,
Make England happy by no Salick Law.
This Monarch's riſing, firſt reſtores to health
The Kingdom deadly ſick o'th' Commonwealth.
Obſtructions thus remov'd, each lively vein
Conveighs its active ſpirits once again.
Hark how the Bels, Guns, Drums and Trumpets ring,
And loyal Pulpits cry, God ſave the King!
See how the blazing earth by Bon-fires tries
To tranſlate Heaven, and outſhine the ſkies,
Lyme's glorious Triumphs do beſpeak it glad
To gain the Title Regis, once it had.
My joys are mixt with pray'rs, that Charles his wain,
By Traytors hands be ne'r o'return'd again,
That Crown and Church may flouriſh, and the State
Be fix'd, in ſpite of ſtrange or home-bred hate.
That CHARLES be wiſe, as Solomon, to give
The Childe to thoſe would hav't united live.
Theophilus Philanax.