An Epistle at Random in Prose and Meter, Letter · Poem
THough very much, and long, I have endur'd,
And, desp'rate Griefs, muſt desp'ratly be cur'd;
I, try no extaordinary Courſes,
Till ſtrong neceſſity thereto inforces:
For, though ſometimes, I feel ſo great a ſmart,
That, I am therewith pinched at the heart,
I, ſtill finde eaſe, within a little ſpace,
By Patience, well prepared with Herb-grace.
My Genius, lately mov'd me to this Charm,
(Which, if it doth no good, can do no harm)
And, therefore, I thus prove it: GOD, direct
And, bleſs it, with a prosperous effect:
For, if what over-hangs us, at this time,
Nor Prayers, Narrative, nor Proſe, nor Rime,
Nor Reaſon, can incline this Generation
In ſixteen years, to Juſtice, or Compaſſion,
I, ſhall believe my days of private mourning,
Muſt, till another Publick-overturning
Prolonged be; or, elſe, till I ſhall have
A Cure for all my Suffrings, in the Grave.
However, (as I do) I will till then
To keep my Claims on foot, employ my Pen
Sometimes in private, to make Proof of thoſe
Who to the World-ward, have made holy ſhows
That either by their ayd, I may obtain,
What, I have long petition'd for in vain;
Or, that to men unborn, I may declare
How mercileſs, their Predeceſſors, were;
How ſhameleſly unjuſt; how may ways
GOD proved them; how many ſeveral days,
Weeks, months and years, he waited, to make tryal,
How long, they would defer that ſelf-denial
Which they had voted; and that, times to come,
May glorifie GOD, in the Final Doom;
Which, to the World, will openly be known
In greater Judgments, or, in mercy ſhown,
When our three Factions, parallel to them,
Which were the Ruine, of Jeruſalem
Have acted out, their Parts; and left the Stage,
To thoſe, who ſhall begin another Age.
GOD, is the ſame, in all his Attributes
(Whatere to him, our Vanity imputes)
And, juſt now, by the Eies of Contemplation,
I ſee a mixed-Cup in preparation,
Wherein, ſuch Drugs are blended, ſharp & ſweet,
As, for our preſent Maladies are meet;
By which, I geſs, what things may come to paſs,
As Good, or Evil Counſels we embrace;
And, I will tell my Thoughts, though being told,
I fear, they will be ſlighted as of old:
For, I confeſs, that which my Soul foreſees,
She ſees like him, who ſaw, men walk like trees.
The ruine of that BEAST, is now at hand,
Which doth as yet, the HOLY-LAMB withſtand;
And, he of late, hath ſo affrighted been,
Leſt, his approaching Downfal muſt begin
Among theſe Nations, that, with all his might.
He ſeeketh means his Vaſſals to unite
Who muſt aſſiſt him; and in ſecret wiſe,
He hath conveyed hither, in diſguize,
Thoſe Locuſts, which aſcended with a ſmoke,
Whereby, they unperceiv'd, Diſguizes took
Of ſev'ral Forms, reſembling many Creatures
Of diff'ring Shapes, and of as diffring Natures,
To hide their Fraud; Theſe, lately pow'r have had
By Sorceries, to make the people mad,
And, by fomenting Diſcords, to deſtroy
The means, whereby, that peace they might enjoy
Which would preſerve them, & prepare a path
To that great work, which God determin'd hath.
For, though the ſons of Belial, do condemn
This Power, which God hath now ſet over them,
Becauſe, in outward ſhew, no ſuch effect
Is like to ſpring, from thence, as they expect;
Yet, ſhall the Power (againſt which many prate,
And raile, and write, maliciouſly of late)
Henceforth, from Violence, protected ſtand;
And be deſtroyed by no mortal hand
Except their own; and, till they ſhall in heart
From juſt and pious Principles depart:
But, either quite deſtory, or foil all thoſe,
Who, them, in their Authority oppoſe.
Yea, though, thoſe Interruptions they have had,
Whereby, they are not, now, ſo able made
As they may be, when time, adds thereunto
Compleatneſs, for the work they have to do:
They are, all that's remaining at this ſeaſon,
Conducible thereto, in humane Reaſon;
And, what to diſadvantage them, doth ſeem,
May give them, at the laſt, the more eſteem.
The more contemptible, they now are thought,
The more diſhonour will on them be brought
Whom they ſubdue. If, they be poor, and weak,
The louder, to his glory, will that ſpeak
Which, he, by them effects, who foils proud Kings
And mighty Foes, by deſpicable things.
This, is the power, whereto we ſhould adhere;
And, though to many men, it doth appear
Both by deficiency of Members lame,
(And, ſome, ſtill to retain, who do it ſhame)
'Tis GOD's Reſerve, to ſave us from the Curſe
Which we deſerve: and we ſhould make a worſe
(As we are qualifide) if, he, now ſhould
Permit things to be done, as many would,
Who know not, what ſome underhand intend,
That make fair ſhews, their Freedoms to befriend.
GOD, hath like Daniel in the Lyons Den
Them, from the beaſtly rage, of brutiſh men
Preſerved hitherto, (ee'n, when to me
It ſeem'd impoſſible, they ſafe could be)
And, this not for their righteouſneſs was done;
But, meerly for his mercy ſake alone,
That, thoſe few, who their truſt in him repoſe,
Be not inſulted over by their Foes.
For, in them now, the ſafety doth conſiſt
Of ev'ry juſtly-claimed intereſt,
And, of each perſon, who ſeeks not to do
Thoſe things, that are deſtructive thereunto;
Or, to himſelf, by breaking of that peace
Which tendeth to our gen'ral happineſs.
If to make up this Repreſentative
There do remain but forty men alive
Of all thoſe perſons, which all England thorow
Should repreſent each City, Shire and Burrough,
If they be perſons principled aright,
Who in the fear of GOD themſelves unite,
They ſhall perform the work that's to be done,
As if of their full number wanted none:
Nay, better, though among them there be ſome
Who to that work deſtructive would become.
That number, them, doth lawful conſtitute
By Cuſtome, and for Action doth repute
Sufficient (whilſt together they ſhall ſtay)
Though all the reſt abſent themſelves away,
And to exclude all, who offenſive are,
Though, one half of their hands and eyes they were.
They are eſſentially, as fully free
To all Intentions, as they need to be,
Or can be now made, without extirpation
Of that, which is for common preſervation,
Made lawful, by a Law confirming more
True, Soveraignty, then any heretofore;
Ev'n by a ſentence, for this Commonweal.
Decreed by him, from whom there's no appeal:
And all the Arguments which I have yet,
Heard or peruſed, to invalid it,
Are ſo infirm, ſo frivolous and vain,
That, whilſt it here, a Being ſhall retain;
I'll add thereto, my help, to make them ſtrong,
Whether to me, they ſhall do right or wrong.
Which help, though chiefly it, conſiſts in words,
Will ſometimes be as uſeful as their ſwords,
Unleſs deſpis'd: And, if they can believe
What will be ſaid, ſuch help, this Charm will give,
Though it begins with terors. Mark it well:
For, 'tis a helpful and a lawful SPELL.
The Drums are beaten up. The Trumpet ſounds
Alarums, threatning future Deaths or Wounds.
That Grand Conspiracy; which was foretold
And typifi'd, by Iſr'els foes, of old,
Is forming up a Body, to prevent
What may ariſe out of this Parliament;
Aſhur, and Ammon, Amaleck, and Tyre,
Yea, Earth and Hell, againſt them, now conſpire.
Their Foes, from all parts, do begin to cluſtre,
Gog, Magog, and the Man of Sin do muſtre
Their Forces up. In their own boſome, lies
An Ambuſh too, of dangerous enemies;
And, nothing gives me ſo much cauſe of fear,
As, that, which may lye hid in ſecret, there.
Yet that fear, is ſurmounted far by Hope,
Which, hath unto despairing ſet a ſtop:
For, they are that ſmall Remnant, whence may ſpring
Thoſe Armies, of our everlaſting …ing,
Which will ſubdue the world, and ſet his Thron
Upon the ruines of great Babylon,
IF, they deſert not, what they have profeſt,
And, in his favour, loſe their intereſt:
That IF, remembring (leſt before the I,
We ſet the F, and cry aloud, Oh FI)
Let them be mindful, in humiliation,
That this year, is their laſt year of Probation;
And of all willful failings, now take heed,
Leſt worſe things, then befel them, do ſucceed.
Let them take courage alſo, and not fear
What, they ſhall either ſuffer, ſee, or hear:
For, he that ſaves by few; the wiſe, befools,
Defeats the ſtrong, and works with any tooles
Reſideth yet among them; and will never
Forſake them, whilſt they do their beſt endeavor.
That, ſo it may be done, let them ſtill minde,
Both what's before them, and what lies behinde.
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 this wrong
He pardons oft-times, and forbeateth long,
There is a ſet time, which now draweth near,
In which, he will, no longer, ſo forbear.
Let no man ſlight theſe Cautions, though by him,
Pronounced, who may deſpicable ſeem:
For, in theſe days, 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 ſhall purſue, like his, their End ſhall be.
This Power now ruling, raigns 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 Conſuſions on this Nation,
Be not forthwith 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 moneths more,
With all the eſſential parts, of ſuch a thing,
As may receive a timely perfecting,
(To qualifie that Rage, which may increaſe
The Breaches made into the Common-peace)
Then, all that this Power, 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 amount unto.
Hear this with patience; altho ſpoke by me:
Conſider well, if thus it may not be,
All ye, whom it concerns: For Iſraels Rock,
(Who hates requiting mercies with a mock)
Hath ſaid, that he muſt rule with Righteouſneſs
Who doth ov'r men, a ruling power poſſeſs;
And, we have felt, that Piety is vain,
Unleſs therewith morality, doth raign.
But, all may yet be well; unleſs, the Beaſt
With many heads, mars their own intereſt
By ignorance, or wilful diſobeying;
Or elſe, our Truſtees (by our truſt betraying)
Fail in performing, at their promis'd day,
That, which is hop'd for, and for which we pray.
Moſt awful GOD' who when this world was made,
Gav'ſt that a Being, which no Being had:
Whoſe Wiſdom, from a Chaos made of nought,
All things into a perfect order brought;
And, by thy Word, eternally Divine,
Didſt out of Darkneſs, cauſe the Light to ſhine;
Enable thoſe, who have the preſent Power,
To act, what will be for their Weal and our.
And now, Oh all ye people of this Land,
At their need, aide them, with a liberal hand
And loyal heart, to act for your avail:
Let not the fault be yours, if they ſhall fails
Lay all your Animoſities aſide,
For, though to them diſhonour may betide,
The Conſequence thereof, will make you ſorry:
Their ſhame, will be the ruine of your glory.
If, otherwiſe it happen, what ſucceſs
May follow, 'twill be needleſs to expreſs,
And, to prevent it, I, thus often, here,
Adde this word IF, (which elſe leſs needful were)
For, great will be our ſorrows, when they ſhall
Unmindful be of that conditional.
We many ways lye open to perdition;
And, GOD, hath Magazeens of Ammunition
Enough, to puniſh, all Offenders, either
Singly; in parties; or elſe, all together
As he ſhall pleaſe: yet, he vouchſafes a ſhow,
Of ſuch things, as he probably may do;
That, we, our wills, and practiſes may bend
To act with Him, in what he doth intend.
Thoſe Judgments, may not all at once enſue,
Which may be fear'd, and will be juſtly due;
For, GOD's Long-ſuffering, ſhall perhaps once more
Juſtice with Mercy mix, as heretofore;
And, prove us, by a means, that ſome abhor,
And, other ſome, have madly longed for.
We have a Grand-Foe, whom he laid aſide,
And, will reſerve, till he hath foolifi'd
Their Expectations, who forgetful grow
Of what they ſuffer'd, but a while ago:
And, as he ſhew'd how miſchievous a thing,
The Jews deſired, when they crav'd a King,
By granting of it: (that, they might perceive
By feeling, what they would not elſe believe)
So, by the like Experiment, perchance,
He'll once more, cure this Nations ignorance:
Becauſe, the gracious ſentence by him given
On their behalfs, within the Court of Heaven,
Hath been by them deſpiſed, and contemn'd,
By ſiding with the party, there condemn'd.
Good GOD! how dare ſuch Traytors to pretend
Their Countries Laws, and freedoms to befriend?
What Humane Law, or Power, will ſuch as they
With Conſcience, or due Loyalty obey,
Who diſobey Thine? Juſtifie thy Foes?
Thy awful ſentence, wilfully oppoſe?
And, either will have him, to fill the Throne,
VVhom Thou haſt thence ejected, or elſe none?
This Provocation, may thy Juſtice move
(By ſome enlargement of his Chain) to prove
How fit, for what he claims to be his own,
That Out-cast, is by thy Corrections grown.
At that time, (if, it poſſible ſhall be
That ſuch a time, may be vouchſaf'd by thee)
If, he, unfeignedly himſelf reſigne
To that Courſe, which thy Providence Divine
May dictate, to compleat an Inſtrument
For ſettling ſuch an equal Government
As by thy Laws, and by the Laws of Nature,
Belong'd of old unto the humane-Creature,
And, will conduce unto the Common-good,
VVithout expence of Treaſure, or of Blood;
A Bleſſing might ſucceed unto theſe Nations,
Beyond our preſent hopes and expectations:
And, they, who now are plotting to make voyd
Thy purpoſes; would ſee their own deſtroy'd.
Then, ſhould the glorioust work be brought to paſs,
That ever for mans good, deſigned was;
And, way made, for that Kingdome, which their pride
Doth, as a meer Phanatick Dream deride;
And which, ſome Saints, too, (who in faith attend
The coming of it) much miſapprehend,
By fanc'ing things, which greatly inconſiſt
VVith ſuch a Kingdom, as is that of CHRIST.
VVhoſe final Conqueſts, not a Carnal-Sword
Muſt make; but, that two-edged one, the Word;
Ev'n that victorious Inſtrument, the Truth,
VVhichWhich doth proceed out of his ſacred-mouth.
And, they, whom he doth arm againſt his Foes
VVith tother Sword, are but in place of thoſe
By whom the trees & ſtones, were feld & ſquar'd,
VVhen matter for the Temple was prepar'd:
Partly by ſervants of the King of Tyre,
(Who wrought not for God's honor, but for hire)
Partly by Solomons; who did intend
Their labours, to a far more noble end.
If, he premiſed, ſhall have an intent
This way to act; and ſuch a ſettlement
Can bring to paſs, as may preparatory
Unto the Kingdom of Gods Grace and Glory
Appear to be; he, thereby ſhould attain
More honour, then to repoſſeſs again
The Kingdoms loſt, and to have thereunto
Annexed, three times thrice, as many moe:
For, then, that Roman-Monarchy, whoſe date
From her full-growth, with His, who ſprang from that
Seems numb'red, to the ſet time of their falls,
In that ſum, which her proper numerals
Make up (when ſimply joyn'd in numeration
According to their worth in valuation,
Reck'ning from that year in which CHRIST was ſlain,
And in which, Rome did to her height attain)
Should fall by his ayde; and win him a ſhare
In that, which for thy Saints, thou doſt prepare;
And I do wiſh he may (by ſhunning that
VVhichWhich hazards it, before it be too late)
Be partner in that honour, if it be
No bar, to what determin'd is by Thee.
He, might, then, poſſibly ſurvive to view
How far forth my Conjecture will prove true,
Who (finding that the length of Satans chain,
And of the time in which that BEAST muſt raign,
Are, as they ſhould enſue ſucceſſively,
Summ'd, in M. D. C. L. X. V. and I,
Which takes in every Roman numeral)
Do geſs the time, when Babylon ſhall fall;
Will yet be forty years, or thereabout.
In which account, although I may be out,
Of this I'm certain; that it ſhall not ſtand
Beyond thy time, and that thy time's at hand.
But, ſhould God (unto whom alone 'tis known,
What special mercy, ſhall to him be ſhown)
Vouchſafe to prove him, and he then contemn
That Courſe, which Juſtice will propoſe to him,
As probably he will, and covet that,
Which was by others, lately aimed at.
If, he ſtrive, to eſtabliſh ſuch a Throne
As his forefathers lately ſat upon;
He, may prolong the Judgements, and the wrath
Which, on theſe Iſles, God's Angel poured hath
He, may be vexed, and inrag'd like them
Who, when they ſhould repent, do but blaſpheme;
As many now do, and as 'twas foretold
That (when GOD'S wrath, was poured out) they would.
He, may defer the mercies, which appear
To many of the Saints, approaching neer:
But, nothing better can be hoped from
That Kingdom, which his Party prays may come,
Or from himſelf; till we more cauſe have got
To truſt him, then his falſhood to the SCOT
May promiſe; or, their Tutorings, from whom
He, fraighted, with ill Principles may come.
Almighty God (ſhould he be pleas'd to prove him)
Can ſuddenly deſtroy him, or remove him
If he, when re-admitted, tyranniz'd,
Or, from what he profeſt, apoſtatiz'd:
He, that can make the worſt thing ſerve his ends,
As well as that, which to his pleaſure bends,
May make what proofs he will: But, we who know
No more, then what time, and events do ſhow,
Muſt Act as Reaſon dictates: Elſe, we ſhall
Or may be ruin'd, by what will befall.
If we well weigh what hazards they will make
Who, to keep tame that Lyon undertake,
Wch from the dam hath liv'd wild in the wood,
And been a long time fed with human …bloud,
And alſo, what a charge, and what a pain
It is to keep him always in a chain.
If, we heed well, what Plagues unſufferable,
It threatens, hither to admit the Rabble
Of Malecontents, which that ejected King,
Would with him, by his re-admiſſion bring;
How much, thoſe will deceive their expectation,
Who are moſt zealous of his reſtauration;
And, that, our charge, our dangers & our trouble,
They will in likelihood, much more then double,
Rather then make our miſeries the leſs,
Or, bring with them, a ſettlement of Peace;
Theſe & ſuch things conſider'd, we, are more
Then mad-men, if we him again reſtore;
Unleſs, GOD ſends him for a puniſhment,
Or makes him ſuch a real penitent
As was Manaſſes; whereof, we yet have
No ſigns, nor ſo much faith as to believe
So great a Miracle, when there is nought
To us appearing, why it ſhould be wrought.
I, write not thus (and, GOD, ſo proſper me,
As this is truth) that, he debar'd ſhould be
From ought, which for his weal might be enjoy'd;
But, that, my Countries weal be not deſtroy'd.
I am no Foe to him, becauſe that ſo
He is to me; but, as my Countries foe,
Or, one, who ſeeks unjuſtly to become
Poſſeſt of that, which GOD debars him from;
And, I believe, (whatere he, may ſuppoſe,)
Scarce one man in a hundred, among thoſe
VVho, now his cauſe, or him, ſeems to befriend,
Doth it, for any conſcionable end,
Or love to him, ſo much, as out of hate
To thoſe, who now poſſeſs the Chair of State,
Through hate, or Envy; or, in hope that they
Shall by a change, be profited ſome way:
And that the moſt part, mov'd through levity
Neither conſidring, what they do, or why
They ſo would have it, only, ebb and flow
According as the preſent winde doth blow:
For, moſt of theſe are but deluded Fools;
Men, from malignant Families, or Schools
New come; or, elſe, of deſperate Eſtates,
Or, of crackt Credits, or of crackt brain'd-pates;
(Or, ſuch as live by vanity and ſin)
Who, moſt deſirous are to bring him in.
And, I believe, that all men, whom he draws
To joyn with him, ſhall periſh in his Cauſe.
Tho ſome, (whom we know liers, and intend
To cheat us,) very much of late commend
His manners, praiſe his meekneſs, magnifie
His Chriſtian Patience, and his piety;
And have induc'd ſome hon…ſt men, to hope
He is not ſo vow'd vaſſal to the Pope
As we have heard: yet, they who find the fraud,
And purpoſes, of thoſe who him applaud;
(As alſo, whereunto they, are inclin'd,
Who publiſh this,) are not become ſo blind,
As not to ſee the bottom, and the end
Whereto their words and their endeavours tend.
And, theſe (not without cauſe) are much afraid
A Wolf, may in a Lamb-skin, be araid.
Theſe fear, that from the Skarlet Strumpets Cup
He, and his Party, have ſuch dregs drunk up,
That, they are now in thoſe Distemperatures,
Which renders them incapable of cures;
And, ſo much, with thoſe vanities, beſotted
Whereon moſt Princes of the earth have doted,
That, theſe, when their hopes, are at height, will feel
(Like ill-wrought clay, upon a Potters wheel)
Themſelves, to durt be crumbled in the making;
Or, crack, and break to pieces, in the baking:
And, that, whatere the Peoples dotages
May promiſe, there will be no hope in theſe
Or in their Prince; unleſs there may be given
A teſtimonial of their change from heaven:
Nor, will it be for our advantage, then,
Unleſs, we alſo, be reformed men.
How, GOD, of him, or will of us diſpoſe
Is kept in ſecret, and he, only knows:
But, whether, he ſhall better be, or worſe,
(Likely to be a bleſſing, or a curſe)
He, neither is ſo good, nor yet ſo bad,
But, he, or ſuch another, will be had
As we demean or ſelves. Such, as are we,
Such, ev'ry way, our Governours will be.
For, GOD, gives ev'ry People, as their dues,
Such men to be their Princes as they chuſe;
And whether, good or bad, puts them together,
To be a curſe, or bleſſing to each other;
Till them from their allegiance he ſhall free,
As their demerits, or their merits be
Relating to themſelves, or unto him,
That is the Soveraign over both of them.
Ah! were this Generation, but as wiſe
As compleat, in their martial Bravaries;
Or, but as meek, as they are wiſe in ſhow,
And knew as well, the things they do not know
As thoſe they do; and could more lay aſide
Their avarice, their ſelfneſs, and their pride,
Which bar them from the knowledge, & the love
Of that, which would their beſt expedient prove:
They would begin, their failing more to mark;
Find how they grope, and ſtumble in the dark,
And, GOD, would give them open eyes to ſee
How, and whereby, their peace might ſetled be;
And that the Courſe whereby they thought to flouriſh
Is but a by-path, to their ways that periſh.
As we are yet, our ſtruglings be in vain,
To caſt our burthens, and ſhake off, our chain:
We do, but, when one ſide, doth ſcorch & burn,
The other ſide, upon the Gridiron turn:
Or, ſhall but leap, (do whatſoe'er we can)
Into the Fire, out of the frying-pan;
Till, we our duties, better think upon
To GOD-ward, then we hitherto have done;
Until more generally, we do obey
This Power, which over us now beareth ſway;
Till alſo, they make good the expectation
Conceiv'd, ſince their additional-probation;
And, till among theſe Nations, here be ſeen
A greater change, then hitherto hath been.
But, what change can here be, to ſet all right,
But ſuch a change, as muſt deſtroy us quite,
And make all new? unleſs, the change be made
By him, from whom, all things their being had?
Or, ſome expedient, or reſerve be found
Like that, made uſe of, when the World was drown'd?
For, moſt among us, are grown ſo deprav'd,
That, very few, can to Good uſe be ſav'd.
Their wiſdom, power and wealth, moſt men imploy
The welfare of each other to deſtroy.
The Common-people, do not underſtand
Thoſe things, which GOD, and men have now in hand;
And, give aſſiſtance to rebellious Forces,
By railings, imprecations, skoffs and curſes,
Inſtead of Prayers; and, ſo miſ-believe,
That, now, no Charmer, can them undeceive.
So harſh and general a Diapaze
Of diſcords, in no Climate ever was
Since in Jeruſalem the triple-faction
Foremention'd, wrought incurable diſtraction.
No People ever were ſo blinde, ſo giddy,
So vain, ſo falſe, mad, fooliſh, and ſo heady,
But, where a ſad unparallel'd confuſion
Threatned to bring a terrible Concluſion.
They, like to Sampſons Foxes, from each other
Turn heads; but, are united ſo together
With Firebrands, by their tails, that, as well they
Who run the ſame, as they wch thwart their way
Deſtroy the Cornfields thorow which they run,
And, meet with greater-miſchiefs then they ſhun
He, that oppreſſeth, doth of thoſe complain
Who, do apparent wrongs by him ſuſtain;
And, oft, finds means to tell ſo ſmooth a tale,
That innocence is daſht againſt the wall:
He, that the truth, nor loves, nor tells, nor teaches,
Writes, fights, pretends, yea, pays, and prays, and preaches,
As if he did profeſs it without guile;
Yet, is a friend to falſhood, all the while.
Some, without honeſty, the truth profeſs,
Some, hold the truth, but in unrighteouſneſs;
And, twixt theſe two, (as they the power divide)
CHRIST, and moſt honeſt men are crucifide.
With Tragedies, they make their Party glad,
And, joy in that, for which good men are ſad.
They love no news, like that which breedeth ſtrife,
Lies, (as if they were nouriſhments of life)
They feaſt on; and at them, who their untruths
Diſown, they ſtorm, as if then, from their mouths
The bread were ſnatcht: yea, when they know them falſe,
They love to tell, and hear, ſeditious tales,
By which the Common-peace may be ore thrown,
Although thereby, they quite deſtroy their own,
And multiply thoſe burthens, which, they lay
To their Charge, who, had took them elſe away;
Or, if not hindred in their enterprize,
By malice, falſhood, and Apoſtacies.
Their ſlandrous Tongues, and Pens, whom wound they not
Save him that is unknown, or elſe forgot.
They skoff, and jeer (not wickedneſs and folly,
Wch may be jeer'd) but things that are moſt holy:
And, ſince times round began, no humane eyes
Did read ſo many curſed blaſphemies,
So much prophaneſs, and ſcurrility,
Or ſuch impure and filthy ribaldry,
As in this Iſle, hath in ſo little ſpace,
Been publiſh'd, to our National diſgrace.
But, what can more from thoſe expected be
Who think none but licentious men are free?
And, whoſe ambition, more affects to have
The freedom of a Beaſt, or of a Slave,
Then that which both by nature, and by grace,
Belongs of right, unto the humane race?
Like earboar'd ſlaves, (who, bondmen have been made
So long, that, when their freedom may be had
They ſlight it) ſo do theſe; and, as conceiving
There were, no poſſibility of living
In this world, (or hereafter to be ſav'd)
Except they ſerv'd a Tyrant, and were ſlav'd;
They, now rebelliouſly, a Captain chuſe
To lead them back to bondage, like the Jewes;
As if it were deſigned by theſe Nations
To be like them, in all their deviations.
Oaths, againſt Oaths, and Covenants are took,
Fitter to be repented of, and broke
Then to be kept; and, Piety, they make
A ſeeming warrant to infringe and break
That which obligeth all mens Conſciences,
And, wherewith, nor GODS Laws, nor mans diſpenſes,
Thus, at this preſent, conſtituted is
This Nation; and, what change, muſt mend all this?
Oh madmen! (if ye are not ſo bereft
Of reaſon, that among you none is left)
Be you your ſelves the Judges, if I lay
That to your charge, which is not as I ſay.
Or, whether I dar'd ſay it, in a time
So wicked, without warranty from him,
Who, in this ſad day. of our Viſitation
Inclines me to it, for your preſervation.
To cure theſe 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.
From houſe to houſe, from man to man, they ſhall
Proceſſion make, till they have ſeiz'd on all.
All ſhall 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 chaſtiſement.
Thoſe, who ſhall in this Iſland, ſcape his hand,
Vengeance, will ſeize on, in a Forraign-Land:
The Foes of Peace among the Common-rout,
A Peſtilence, or Famine ſhall root 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 hide; ſhall then be hamper'd in a Rope.
The miſchiefs they have 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 immovably 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 not, ſhall deſtroy them.
Exceeding dreadful, during ſuch probations,
Will be the many ſuff'rings of theſe Nations,
Except thoſe days be ſhort'ned, or GOD, ſhall
Enable to ſuſtain what may be fall.
For, that, which now is coming to the Teſt,
Is not, alone, the peoples interest,
As, what was lately controverted here
Betwixt them, and deceaſed Oliver;
Or, him and Stewart: or, a thing ſo vain▪
As now, the Dane and Swede, or France & Spain
Are ſtriving for: But, whether good or evil;
CHRIST, or the Man of Sin, GOD, or the Devil
Shall have the Soveraignty; and wo to thoſe
Who ſhall, that righteous intereſt oppoſe,
Which is to be decided, when the day
Shall come, to ſet their battels in aray.
But, 'tis already come; at leaſt, ſo nigh
As to be ſeen by Contemplations eye.
Tis come; and, (though not, as 'tis miſconceiv'd
By thoſe, who have a Throne for CHRIST contriv'd,
As carnal as that is, which now muſt fall)
It will ere long, be viſible to all,
Who have that eye-ſalve, which may help their eyes,
To ſee Truth ſhining through dark myſteries.
The Banners, of both Parties are diſplay'd;
Both their Militia's, are in part aray'd;
The ſouldiers wages, on both ſides is known,
The ſecret word, on many is beſtown:
And, not one Promiſe doth to me appear
Of an eſcape, from that, which men may fear,
Save, as in their Probations, they make good
Their charge, (though to the looſing of their blood
If need require) with truſting to that grace,
Which, neither Is, nor ſhall be, nor ev'r was
To any wanting, who did not refuſe it,
Nor when it is received, ſhall abuſe it.
But, what will follow, can alone be known
To them, on whom that grace ſhall be beſtown;
Or, by th… Events, of thoſe Contingencies,
VVhichWhich from a juſt progreſſion, will ariſe;
And, muſt, the ſteps-probationary be
To that, which is GOD's abſolute Decree;
For, whoſe accompliſhment, I will attend
Till that time comes, or, till my life ſhall end.
Here, I had ended; but it fares with me
As with him, who, again ſhall never ſee
Thoſe he departs from; and would leave behind him,
Somewhat, to make them, otherwhile to minde him.
Thus, would I do; or, rather, if I may
Make others minde themſelves; & what this day
Seems drawing nigh. Oh, let him, with regard,
That ſpeaks for you, (not for himſelf) be heard.
Let him, Oh Englands Repreſentative,
Who, now, hath but a little time to live,
(And, fain would write, or ſay, before he dies,
That, for thy Weal, which thou ſhouldſt not deſpiſe)
Let him this once be heard, with that reſpect
Which may produce a rational effect,
Leſt, all thy Conſultations, Coſt and Pain,
Do prove at laſt, to be beſtow'd in vain.
To him, who to your ſelves, did you reſtore,
Your ſelves reſign, more now, then heretofore;
And, ſeek not, like your tyrannizing Kings,
At this time, to contrive and ſettle things
More for your ſelves, then to advantage thoſe
Who, truſt in you, for better ends repoſe;
Or, to advance your Freedoms, more then their
Juſt Rights, for whoſe ſake, they conferred are.
Let not him, ſuffer more, who ſhall accuſe
For breach of truſt, then they who truſt abuſe,
As heretofore: For, there was once a time
Wherein, to charge a Member, for a crime,
Was proſecuted with a greater zeal
Then his Guilt, who, then wrong'd the Common-weal:
Ev'n when to Stangate, yea, (ſome ſay) well nigh
To Lambeth-houſe, the People heard them cry,
'Tis for a MEMBER: and preſerv'd was he
VVithin that Houſe, who ought expel'd to be:
And, all the mercy, to th' Accuſer ſhown,
VVas, to be kept a Pris'ner in his own.
But they who did it, were by Providence
Caſt out; GOD keep all ſuch, for ever thence.
Conſider whether there do not, as yet
To your own knowledge, men among you ſit
VVho much obſtruct the mercies, GOD intends,
And, your progreſſion in thoſe righteous ends
VVhichWhich you propoſe. (I mean not any one
VVho erres through humane Frailty; For, then none
Should be excus'd) but ſuch as do tranſgreſs
Through Envy, and malitious wilfulneſs;
Or ſuch Preſumers, who, as Achan did,
Took Gold & rayment (things, that were forbid,
On danger of a Curſe) ſuch as bereave
The poor of their ſubſiſtence; or deceive
The Commonwealth; and whom their Avarice
To other things unlawful did intice,
VVhereby oppreſſed Innocents are wrong'd,
And Juſtice to their ruine, is prolong'd.
Conſider, what may be the ſad event
VVhere any ſuch as theſe, are prevalent;
And, if you find ſuch, and deſire to thrive,
To them, in time, their due demerits give;
For, why, by palliating of their guilt,
Should your blood, like the Benjamites be ſpilt,
VVho brought on their whole Tribe, a wrath divine,
For murth'ring but one Levites Concubine?
Conſider, when your Pardons were beſtown,
VVhether it were not for ends of your own;
More to ſecure your ſelves, or to befriend
The Nations Foes, who on your Grace depend;
Or, otherwhile, becauſe, you durſt not do
That Juſtice, which you were oblig'd unto,
Much rather, then ſincerely to expreſs
Your love to mercy, and to righteouſneſs.
If ſo, you finde, it; then, betimes lament
Your failings, and effectually repent.
Conſider, if, when we, to pacifie
The wrath of GOD, a day ſhall ſanctifie
In Faſtings, or Thankſgivings; whether, he
Can pleaſed with thoſe ſacrifices be,
Which coſt us, nothing, but to ſpend a day,
(And formally, to paſs ſome hours away)
In Emptineſs, or Fulneſs; or, to hear
Thoſe ſins reprov'd, which, we will not forbear;
Yet, not to leave behind us, till the morrow,
One ſymptome, of true thankfulneſs, or ſorrow?
Had it not then been fit, to lay aſide
Some part of what, in Vanity and Pride
Hath been conſum'd; their ſufferings to relieve,
VVho cannot from the Publick purſe receive
VVhat is their due, until GOD ſhall reſtore
Abilities, to make that Pittance more?
Conſider, (ſince among you there are ſome,
VVho, do believe, a Kingdome is to come,
VVhereof CHRIST muſt be King) whether or no
Your Government, ſhould not be modell'd ſo;
That, when the People, ſhall Elect by Voyce
Double Truſtees; GOD ſhould by lot make choyce
Of which him pleaſeth? VVhen that we have had
Our Option, wherefore ſhould not His be made?
So 'twas, when Iſr'el, firſt a King enjoy'd,
And, when the firſt Apoſtleſhip was voyd.
Who would not be content to ſtand or fall
VVith what, would ſo indifferent be to all?
Or, not ſubmit to him, who will become,
Do what we can, the Giver of our Doom?
Or, who will this oppoſe, but they who doubt
GOD, will in his Elections, leave them out?
More might be ſaid: But, you know how to draw
The Body of a Lyon, by the Paw.
If, theſe things, you conſider; and ſhall do,
Your beſt endeavour to conform thereto,
This, I am ſure of, (though I cannot tell
VVhat will be done) that, all they, ſhall do well
VVhoſe Conſciences, unfeignedly atteſt
That, they, to do all well, have done their beſt.
How pleaſing, this will prove, well know I not;
But, how I might have pleaſed, well I wot.
If, I, had flattered thoſe men in their waies,
VVho, whatſoev'r they merit, look for praiſe.
If, Pillows to their Elbowes I had ſow'd,
Sooth'd up the Covetous, fawn'd on the Proud,
And been like many other, ſo ripe-witted,
My Poems with their humours to have fitted:
Had I, another been, not he I am,
None knowing what I was, or, whence I came;
Then, had (as I did) thirty years ago,
Foretold what ſhould be, and, what ſee they do
Accordingly fufill'd; and then, had got
By that ſucceſs, (which often faileth not)
Amongſt the People, ſuch a reputation,
As they, who ſeem to ſpeak by Revelation;
It may be I had been a Saint eſteem'd
As Madmen are in Turky; or, now ſeem'd
Leſs deſpicable; or, elſe, my predictions
Had been as well regarded as thoſe Fictions
Or fooliſh lying Propheſies, by which
Impoſtors, this deluded age bewitch.
If, I, on that advantage, had made known
Some Crotchets or Chimera's of mine own,
For ſelfiſh ends; or, had I then pretended
To ſome new-light; ſuch Novelties commended
To his age, as are pleaſing, at this day.
Or had I, (which, I could, as well as they
VVho practiſe it) put on the tempting Dreſs
Of ſeeming zeal, and formal-holineſs;
Forborn to speak, what few men love to hear;
Not bid them leave, what no man can forbear;
And, in thoſe things complide which moſt affect;
I might have been the Father of ſome Sect:
Yea, ſo, ſhould have been favoured perchance,
As to have got ſome temporal advance:
For, few men, (could my heart therewith comply)
Had better means, for ſuch a cheat, then I.
But, theſe were not my Aims, & I have gain'd
As much, as I had hope to have attain'd.
And, having fully prov'd what is in men,
VVill henceforth lay by, my displeaſing Pen:
Not doubting, but this Letter, will effect
As much as whilſt I live, I muſt expect.
I, now have writ enough, to that intent
VVhichWhich firſt I had; yea, much more then I ment
VVhen I began, this; and thereby make known
A Cauſe, more worthy heeding, then mine own;
Wherein, if I prevail hereby, no more
Then, by what I have written heretofore,
I, ſhall believe th' effect would be much leſs
Hereafter, ſhould I, any more expreſs.
The Preface laſt year to my SALT on SALT,
Fore-warned (and I think it not my fault
If none regard it) that, to us, this year
Effects of dreadful Thunders, would appear;
And, ſo it comes to paſs: yet, little heeded,
Save as things, which have caſually ſucceeded:
I'll therefore, henceforth let them credit give
To what they dream, and I do not believe.
Enough is here writ, to make moſt of thoſe
That ſhall be Knaves, or Fools, to be my Foes.
And, where can I live, (unleſs God ſhall pleaſe)
Where, I can long be ſafe from ſome of theſe?
But, in their preſence, he my Table spreads;
My Soul, nor their Power, nor their Malice dreads;
He, heretofore, hath me defended from
Their Purpoſes, and will, for, time to come,
In that which moſt concerns me; though men may
Take Life, Eſtate, and outward things, away.
I have already ſaid, and Writ enough,
For men prophane, and Hypocrites to ſcoff:
Therefore, henceforth, let each man do the thing
That likes him, as when Iſr'el had no king.
Let him, that will be wilful, have his will:
Let him that's filthy, ſo continue ſtill,
Until another, to ſupply my room,
Shall with a more prevailing Spirit come.
Look to thy ſelf, Oh BRITAIN! I will here
No more be thy deſpis'd REMEMBRANCER:
For, as thoſe, who (when they neglects did meet,
Were bid, to ſhake the duſt from off their feet)
I, am excus'd; and, 'tis not my belief,
That, I am bound to preach unto the Deaf,
And caſt away my Pearls, as I have done,
Where they and I, ſhall ſtill be trampled on.
My Soul, is clear from any blood of thine;
GOD grant, thou mayſt as guiltleſs be of mine,
Thine own, and other mens; and at thy need,
Speed better, in thy ſuits, then yet I ſpeed.
I will no more, affright thee with Alarms
By my Predictions, of approaching harms,
As in times paſt; nor add to thy offence,
By minding thee, of thine impenitence;
Nor ſeem to play the Fool, to make thoſe wiſe
Who, will not ſee, wherein their ſafety lies:
But, ceaſe to meddle in thoſe Publick-matters,
Which, thy Falſe Prophets, and Prognoſticaters,
Have puzzell'd: But, to him, a ſuitor be,
VVho, from what's threatned, can deliver thee.
To works of this kind, here, I fix a bound,
This, is the laſt time, wherein I will ſound
My Trumpet to theſe Nations; or make known
Ought which concerns thy matters, or mine own
In publick wiſe, or, in a private way,
Save, as my Neighbours, either do, or may;
Unleſs, I, from within, have ſuch a Call
As cannot ſafely be diſpens'd withal:
Or, elſe, an outward Call from thoſe who may
Command me, if they think, that I can ſay
VVhat to the Publick welfare will relate:
But, there is little likelyhood of that;
And, therefore, I intend to ſpare my breath,
To vent my Thoughts in private till my death.
Oh! that I fail not, of my expectations,
(In this dark Den, of cruel habitations,
By outward or by inward perturbations)
To take thy Kingdom, (Wherein, at this day,
Thine enemies and mine, the Tyrants play)
COME, come, LORD JESU, quickly come away.