Salt Upon Salt, Collection of poems

Salt Upon Salt · Collection of poems

p. 1SALT upon SALT: Made out of certain ingenious Verſes upon the late Storm, and the Death of His Highneſs enſuing; by which Contemplative Object, occaſion is taken to offer to conſideration the probable neer approaching of greater Storms, and more ſad Conſequences.

The ſaid Verſes are theſe that next follow, according to the Author's printed Copy.

WE muſt reſign; heav'n his great Soul doth claims

In Storms as loud as his Immortal Fame;

His dying Groans, his laſt Breath ſhakes our Iſle,

And, Trees unout, fall for his Funeral-Pile;

About his Palace, their broad Roots are toſt

Into the Air; ſo, Romulus was loſt;

So, New-Rome, in a Tempeſt, mist her King,

And from obeying, fell to worſhipping.

On Oeta's top, thus Hercules lay dead,

With ruin'd Oaks, and Vines about him ſpread:

Thoſe, his laſt Furie, from the Mountain rent,

Our dying Hero, from the Continent

Raviſh'd whole Towns, and Forts from Spaniards reft,

As his last Legacy to Britain left.

The Ocean, which our Hopes had long confin'd,

Could give no Limits to his vaſter Minde.

Our Bounds inlargement was his lateſt toil,

Nor hath he left us priſ'ners to this Iſle;

p. 2Ʋnder the Tropick, is, our Language ſpoke,

And Part of Flanders hath receiv'd our Yoke.

From Civil-Broiles, he did us diſ-engage,

Found Nobler Objects for our Martial Rage,

And with wiſe Conduct, to His Country ſhew'd

Their Antient Way of Conquering abroad.

Ʋngrateful then, if we no tears allow

To Him, who gave us Peace, and Empire too.

Princes, who fear'd Him, griev'd, concern'd to ſee

No pitch of Glory, from the Grave is free:

Nature herſelf, took notice of His Death,

And, ſighing, ſwel'd the Sea, with ſuch a Breath;

That, to remotest ſhoars, her Billows rowl'd,

Th'approaching Fate of her great Ruler told.

The Reſult, occaſioned by the preceding Theam.

A Way with ſelf-reſpects; For now of late

My Private, and this Publick Weals Eſtate

Are much alike; and both of them, to me

Seem in this Criſis, at this day to be,

Threatning a Sudden Ruine, if much further

Confuſion ſpreads, before reduc'd to Order.

My Genius therefore, doth my Heart incline

To ſeek that Weal, whereon dependeth mine,

Leſt, whilſt for Private welfare, I endeavour,

That, and the Publick Peace, be loſt for ever.

This to prevent, (though ſome will think I dream)

There is occaſion couched in this Theam:

And (notwithſtanding, much it may be fear'd,

That, what it ſhall produce, will not be heard,

Among the tumults and confuſedneſs

Which now abound) it will have ſome Succeſs:

p. 3For, otherwhile, by Trifles, that is wrought,

Which could not by great Powers, to paſs be brought.

A ſmall ſhrill whiſtle, in a Storm, becoms

More ſignal then the beating of great Drums:

And, who knows not, (he breathing thereinto)

What, by a Ramshorn Trumpet, GOD, may do?

Our late loſs, doth on me to call begin,

As if I ſomewhat were concern'd therein,

And had a part to Act, wherein I may

Supply, at leaſt, a Fools part in the Play.

And, ſince occaſion given there is none,

I, of my own accord have taken one,

Which, if a cauſleſs anger, it provoke

To miſchieve me, the care's already took;

I am too low a mark for Supreme Pow'rs,

Too high, to dread an equal when he low'rs.

The main prop, of this Government is gone,

The Stone, our Maſter-builders built upon

Is now remov'd; and, either I miſtake,

Or, all that's built thereon begins to ſhake,

And quite aſunder too, will fall at length,

Unleſs upheld, with more then humane ſtrength.

No former Prince, whoſe Actions yeelded matter

So worthy of a Muſe that would not flatter,

Di'd at a time, wherein there liv'd ſo few

To give him that, which juſtly was his due,

(Without a diminution or exceſs,

Either of which, makes great things, to ſeem leſs)

For, having view'd moſt paper-monuments,

Whereby the Fancie of this Age preſents

His Fame to memorie; I finde their Rimes

Are ſo diſtracted, as if with theſe times

Their Authors ſympathized in their wit,

And knew not what they meant, nor what they writ:

p. 4Elſe, doubtleſs, none had fail'd ſo in expreſſing

His purpoſe, as to curſe, inſtead of bleſſing;

As he, whoſe Pcëm-elegiacal

Is clos'd up, with the name of Jerubbaal.

Some, ſo malitiouſly Invectives write,

As if their Pens, in Juice of Aconite

Were dipt (or rather in more venom'd matter)

So oppoſite to that, which they who flatter

Hide underneath their tongues, that, in the ſtead

Of ſhewing hatred only to the dead,

They, living men impoyſon through the ear

When their uncharitable Charms they hear:

For, theſe have not alone in ſcurrile Verſe,

Blur'd him with what their malice could aſperſe

True, or untrue; but, alſo, take GOD's roome,

Dare to proncunce his everlasting Doome;

And, wickedly, with Damned ſouls in Hell,

(As others do with Saints) him parallel:

Which argues an Intention, to defame

The perſon, though he merited no blame.

Some others, on that ſubject wantonize

As if their Muſe were hawking Butterflies:

Some, are all Oyl: ſome, have but this one fault,

The want of Sulphur, Mercurie, and Salt:

And, few of them, ſave he, whoſe lines preceding,

I make my Text, afford ought worth the reading:

And, they now put me into ſuch a fit

That, if I have not much more Grace then wit,

It may to harſher Cenſures me expoſe

Then any one of them, yet undergoes.

Except Obſcene Verſe, (and ſtrong lines, from whence

Are hardly ſcrew'd intelligible ſenſe)

Strains like to this, theſe Times, beſt prize to praiſe;

And, 'tis a ſmart neat Peece, ΘΡΙΚΙΟΝ ſayes:

p. 5Which, I deny not; for, it mounts as high

As any Engliſh Pegaſus can flie,

And, is as well-pac'd: But he feels the Reins

Lie looſe upon his Creſt, and overstrains,

To know, what beſt the ſeaſon doth befit

With his own Ends, this Author wants not wit,

And, I believe, takes much more care then I,

What will beſt pleaſe, and wherewith to complie;

Though I, have more then forty years and five

Found, that my Courſe, is not the Courſe to thrive.

Theſe Verſes, which to make my Theam I chuſe

Are but the ſportings, of their Authors Muſe,

And ſeem to me like Knacks which in a Hall,

I've ſeen hung up, for Flies to play withall.

Theſe are Wits bubbles, blown up with a Quill,

Which watrie-Circles, with weak-Air doth fill;

Or, like a ſquib, which fires, and cracks, and flies,

And, makes a noiſe, that little ſignifies.

I, envie not his Fame, who is deceaſt,

Nor ought, whereby, it may be more encreaſt:

I, never ſuffred ought by his Diſpleaſure;

But, did enjoy his Favour, in ſome meaſure,

Which he knows, unto whom all things are known,

I, more employ'd for his weal, then mine own,

And, diſadvantaged my ſelf, to do him

Such ſervices, as, I thought, I did owe him.

For theſe reſpects, none juſtly can ſuppoſe

I grudge him ought, which may by Verſe or Proſe,

Be added to his Fame; or, that the Mome

I'll play, by carping, or detracting from

Another's contributions, if I ſee

They are in truth, what they may ſeem to be.

I, ſhould be pleaſ'd that thoſe Lines, which precede,

(With what elſe doth relate to him that's dead)

p. 6Whereby, ſome think, he may be honor'd much,

To all who hear, or view them, might prove ſuch,

That, no occaſion might from them be took,

Of what, to his diſhonour, will be ſpoke;

Or, to encreaſe thoſe Vanities which are

Already, multiplied, over far.

I, therefore, now expect to be excuſ'd

Although at this time, I have nothing muſ'd,

That, may concern him, in the common mode;

For, in that place, he, now hath his abode

Where he regards not Bawbles. Praiſes, there,

Or Flatteries, no whit regarded are;

The moſt inchanting Charms, there, cannot charm him:

Detractions, or Invectives cannot harm him;

To write thoſe Truths, which might have done him ſhame

Whilſt here he liv'd; or gain'd the Writer blame,

Ought, now to be declar'd as well as thoſe

From whence his higheſt commendation flowes;

And, that may ſettle Peace, now being ſpoken,

Which in his life-time, might the Peace have broken.

The ſacred-Pen-men, future times acquaints,

Not only with the merits of the Saints,

But alſo, with their Failings; and as great

By th'one, as th'other, is mans benefit:

For, which reſpect, I will not be afrayd:

To ſpeak, what to good purpoſe, may be ſayd;

Nor, from my Text (as now) to wheel about

To fetch in that, which others needleſs thought;

For, Method, is not ſo much my intent,

As by good means, a miſchief, to prevent:

And, my digreſſions, may advance my end,

As much as that, which I did firſt intend.

'Tis now, high time, for us to ſpend our hours,

In gath'ring Fruits, and not in picking Flow's.

p. 7I love to ſee truth, in her nakedneſs;

And, that, ſhe ſhould ſometimes, put on a Dreſs,

With ſuch Poetick Flouriſhes adorn'd,

That ſafe may keep her, and from being ſcorn'd;

To which end, I my ſelf, compell'd have been

To mask and vail her, when I have foreſeen

Apparent Dangers; and another time

To cloath her, in that faſhionable Trim

Which moſt affect; that, there with brought acquainted,

True Beauty, may be known from what is painted.

And, that, they who were drawn in, by the Signe,

Might Gueſts be, for the goodneſs of the Wine.

My Reverence to the Muſes, is not ſmall;

For, all true Poets are Prophetical,

And had a Preparation in the Womb,

Before they forth into the World did come;

Not, that their Faculty, ſhould be appli'd

To ſtir up Carnal Luſt, or puff up Pride;

But, that they ſhould to Pietie invite,

And make Mankinde in Virtues more delight;

From which, prevaricating, they have loſt

Their Honour; and are quite deſpis'd almoſt.

They ſhould not ſtrive for words to pleaſe the ear,

In which, no ſolid Matter doth appear;

But, write ſo plainly, that, the meaneſt Wit

Might from their Muſings, reap ſome benefit.

They ſhould not weave their Webs of Stuffs that be

So, diff'ring, that, they never can agree;

Nor, when our Sin, for Sober-Mourning calls,

Play us a Jigg, or ſing us Madrigals.

Meer verbal Whimſeys, in a Serious Cauſe,

Which moſt part of the Readers more amaze

Then edifie; (by that which never was,

Nor is, nor ſhall hereafter come to paſs)

p. 8Look like ſolemnizing an Ordinance

In Pious Duties, with a Morrice-Dance;

Or, like their actings, who, againſt the Forces

Of well-arm'd Foes, bring Troops of Hobby-horſes.

What, in the Theam foregoing, is there ſaid

Which honours him deceaſed, if well weigh'd?

And hath not rather into queſtion brought

Things, which to queſtion, few men would have thought?

There, at his Death, a Storm, is fain'd to roar,

Which was o'er-blown almoſt a week before;

And, had it not been ſo, ſome would from thence

Have drawn, perhaps, an evil Conſequence;

More Fancies, forming in the People's Brain,

Then two ſuch Storms, would have blown out again.

Alluſions, too, are made, as if ſurmiz'd

That, He, henceforth ſhould be Idolatriz'd,

As more then Man, whom we this day perceive

Laid lower then the meaneſt Men that Live.

To teach us, that, in Princes, there's no truſt;

That, all meer Human-Glories, are but duſt;

And, that, Death will, their Vanity diſcover,

At whatſoe'er coſt, Double-Guilded over.

So, did His laſt Breath ſhake this Iſle of our,

As Pellets from a Pot-Gun, ſhake a Tow'r.

For, all her Shakings, to my beſt perceiving,

Riſe from our own Diſtempers who are Living.

So, for his Funeral-Pile, un-cut Trees fell;

So, Romulus and He were Parallel;

So, New-Rome, in a Tempeſt, miſt her King,

Then, from obeying, fell to worſhipping;

And, ſo, on Oeta, Hercules lay dead,

As Chalk's like Cheeſe, and Beer is like to Bread.

So, from the Continent, He Towns hath torn,

As he, who teats a Hedge, and gets a Thorn

p. 9Which wounds his hand, and when he dreads no harm,

Doth gangrene, to the loſing of his Arm.

So, are our Freedoms, and our Bounds inlarg'd,

As his, who, from a ſmall Debt, is diſcharg'd,

To re-oblige himſelf, in that, which may

Sweep Liberty, and all he hath, away;

And, if our Endings prove like our Beginnings,

Our Loſſes, vvill be greater then our Winnings.

What Comfort yields it, to impoſe a Yoke

On others, if our Fetters be not broke?

VVhat Pleaſure brings it, if our Confines be

Inlarged, if in them, vve are not free?

VVhat Profit, is it unto us at Home,

That ſome in Forraign Parts, inrich'd become,

If, vve mean vvhile are Beggars? or elſe more

At leaſt, impov'riſh'd, then we vvere before?

VVhat Honour is it, that, both Tropicks hear

Our Language, if to ſpeak Truth, few men dare?

Or vvhat by Conqueſts, vvill be got or ſav'd,

If they vvho Conquer'd, are at laſt inſlav'd?

Not unto us, not unto us, be given,

(Or to our Chiefs) but to the GOD of Heaven,

The thanks and honour, that, both our Late Wars

VVith Neighb'ring Foes, and our Domeſtick Jarrs

Are Super-added: VVould GOD, I could ſay,

VVere vvholly ended: (as I hope I may)

For, had not He, with our Protector ſtood,

VVe, till this day, had wallow'd in our Blood;

Yea, had not GOD, a timely ayd brought in,

Deſtroy'd long ſince, both He, and vve had bin.

Our Antient Way of Conquering abroad,

VVhichWhich this Muſe, doth implicitely applaud)

VVhat got vve by it, but a Curſed Game,

Atchiev'd vvith Blood, and loſt vvith Blood again?

p. 10I know not vvhat the Conſcience of a State

Or Policy by Law, may tolerate;

VVith that I vvill not meddle: But to me

It ſeemeth not to Quadrate or agree

VVith Moral Honeſty, or Sacred Laws,

(Unleſs there be unqueſtionable Cauſe,

And Pow'r apparent, vvhichwhich doth vvarrantize

GOD's calling us to ſuch an Enterprize)

That, vve, into our Neighbours Lot, ſhould fall

VVith Fire and Sword; and Honourable call

Thoſe Deeds, for vvhichwhich, LAVV, to their Actors gives

The ſtiles of Pyrats, Murtherers and Thieves:

Or, that, a few, ſhould vvithout free aſſent

Of all the People in a Parliament,

Ingage them by a Quarrel, which may coſt

Their Lives, and all that may vvith Life be loſt:

I know no Law or Goſpel, vvarranting

So hazzardous or reaſonleſs a thing;

Or, that, vve vvho ſubjection do profeſs

Unto the King of Righteouſneſs and Peace,

Should take the Wages, and the Colours carry

Of him, that's both His and our Adverſary.

Nor can I underſtand, how vve then do

As we would willingly be done unto,

VVhen to accompliſh the ambitious ends

Of Princes, vve have hazzarded our Friends,

To trouble, and infringe the Peace of thoſe,

VVho vvould not vvillingly have been our Foes;

Till many hundred thouſands are undone,

To ſatisfie the boundleſs Luſt of One;

Squandring away thoſe Bleſſings to th'increaſe

Of Diſcord, which we might have kept in Peace.

How many a goodly City, Town and Field,

VVhichWhich did a comfortable Dwelling yeild

p. 11To Millions, who were no way intereſted

In Tyrants Quarrels, have of late been waſted?

And, what a ſad Accompt to make have they

Upon whoſe heads, that Blood and Spoil doth lie?

Believe it; though to keep from Violation

Thoſe Laws, which have reſpect to every Nation,

GOD's Ʋniverſal Juſtice, doth engage

The Nations on each other, War to wage;

Yet, uſe they ſhould not make of His Commiſſions

To ſatisfie their Vengeance, their Ambitions,

Or Avarice; nor any vvay extend them

Beyond thoſe Ends for which he doth intend them.

It is but little leſs then Blaſphemy

The Works of Nature, ſo to miſ-apply

As this Muſe doth, who in a Strain doth write,

As if none could expreſs a Glow-Worm's light

Unleſs he did Hyperbolize, ſo far,

At leaſt, to equalize it to a Star.

He ſeems, as if he would inſinuate

That Nature, at his Death was paſſionate;

And makes that Creature ſpeak, which never Flatters

Or Speaks at all, ſave onelyonly in ſuch Matters,

As do concern GOD's glory, or, may ſhame

Thoſe Wits who groſsly miſ-apply the ſame.

So, Nature, hath took Notice of His Death,

And, ſighing, ſwel'd the Ocean with her breath,

The Death of her great Ruler to foreſhew,

As 'twas preſaged when my Cat did Mew:

For, Nature, never heed in ſuch wiſe, took

Of any Princes Death, but, when it ſhook

The Ʋniverſe, to ſee the SON OF GOD

Dead on the Croſs, with Arms diſplay'd abroad:

And from the Reverence that's due to ſuch!

High Myſteries, this, hath detracted much,

p. 12Of this kinde, and of ſuch-like Airy-Puffs,

Of ſuch deceivable, vain, empty ſtuffs,

Are moſt of all thoſe Books, and Trophies made,

Which Princes, to eternize them have had:

And, ſo ſmall credit, is attributed

To what is either to their Honour ſed,

Or their Diſhonour, that, wiſe Men reject it,

As of no Value; or at leaſt, ſuſpect it,

As an effect of Flatterie, or of Hate,

Though many ſet it at a higher Rate.

For, their Praiſe, whom we finde moſt prodigal

Of praiſes, merits no reſpect at all;

But, rather, from the Hearers, back returns

On him that's Prais'd, and on the Praiſer, Scornes:

And, ſeldom, ſhall you finde much worth in them,

That have immodest Praiſes, in eſteem.

Yet, theſe vain Blaſts of Fame, oft, ſound as loud

As Cannons, or as Thunder from a Cloud:

The People entertain them with Applauſe;

Of much Expenſe, they are the needleſs Cauſe:

By theſe, wiſe Men, are otherwhile bewitch'd;

By theſe, are Fools and Flatterers inrich'd:

But, thereby, ſuch effects alone are got;

As Powder hath, when fired without ſhot.

Yet, ſo to prize them, many men are given,

As if, without them, none could climb to Heaven;

Or, as if he, of whom moſt Lies we tell,

Should find leaſt Torments, in the Pains of Hell.

The Principle I own, is to adhere

To that Power, which Supremacy doth bear,

And I'll (without an Oath) be true to thoſe

VVho are by GOD, and by this People choſe,

Till they advance another, whom I ſee

Inveſted with Pow'r-Abſolute, to be;

p. 13And, whether he comes in, by Right or Wrong,

Leave that, to them, to whom it doth belong.

Him, I will ſerve, not with baſe Flatteries

VVhichWhich blind his Judgement, or put out his eyes.

In my Addreſſes, I will never tell

To him, what I may fear he knowes too well:

Nor further then I know him, magnifie him,

Leſt his own conſcience knowing I belie him,

(Or ſpeak more then my knowledge can acquire)

He, hereby know, I am a fawning Lyar.

Before him, I will thoſe things onelyonly ſet,

VVhichWhich I think, he may poſſibly forget,

Or, vvhichwhich unto his knowledge are not brought,

Or (if known) not conſider'd as they ought;

And, do it ſo, that he ſhall not deſpiſe

VVhat's done, if he be either Good, or Wiſe:

If not, yet vvhen my Duty I have done,

I'll bear with Patience, vvhat enſues thereon.

In all the Changes, vvhichwhich have been of late,

I have preſerv'd this Rule inviolate.

Though ſome think not, vvhen one Pow'r vvas made two,

And, wiſer Men, knew not vvhichwhich vvay to go.

For, ſo far as my conſcience vvould permit,

I ſerv'd that Pow'r vvhichwhich in the Throne did ſit

Moſt viſibly; in every change that came,

Siding vvith none in changing of the ſame:

And vvhen the Soveraignty, on him vvas plac'd

By GOD's permiſſion, vvho enjoy'd it laſt,

I did, accordingly, employ my Force

To keep vvhat might be naught, from being worſe;

Adventuring, ſometimes, ſo far therein,

That, to my diſadvantage, it hath bin.

I, was to him, in all things, alwayes true,

VVhichWhich nothing took from his Superiors due.

p. 14I did ſo far forth as it would conſiſt

VVith GOD's Praiſe, with the Publick Interest,

And his true Honour, do what in me lay

All thoſe Obſtructions to remove away,

VVhichWhich, by diſabling him, might heretofore

Have made his Dangers, and our Miſchieves more.

And, though thoſe Services which I could do him

Some will deride, they have been uſeful to him:

For, 'tis at preſent, known, to more then One,

Yet living, (and was known to him that's gone)

That, in the greateſt hazzard he e'er had,

I, ſeaſ'nably, by Providence was made

An Inſtrument of Safety, when th' intention

VVas almoſt rip'ned, beyond all Prevention.

Yea, to prevent them, vvho by his Diſgrace,

Endeavour'd to deſtroy the publick Peace:

His Actings, too, I praiſed as I ought,

In what, I, them to be Praiſe-worthy thought,

Conſider'd in themſelves: But, his Deſart

Left in the main, to Him, who knew his Heart:

And knowing it to be GOD's priviledge,

(Even his alone) of Secret things to judge,

No further ever did, (nor ever will)

Of him, or any man, judge well or ill,

Since firſt this Principle to me was known,

And by Conſideration, made mine own.

It is enough, that Princes whilſt they live

Are borne withal; and that vvhilſt they ſurvive

VVe hide their failings, that, none might through them

That Pow'r, and that Authority contemn

By which they Govern: for, a Tyranny,

Is ſomewhat better then an Anarchy.

If, I ſuſpect my Prince a vvicked man,

To make him better, I'll do what I can;

p. 15Leſt, he that's next be worſe: As once by Paul

Agrippa courted was, him court, I ſhall,

If, need be: or, vvill flatter him ſo far

As by our Servants, Children flatter'd are,

To make them do their Duties: but, not vvo hin.

For my own ends, to that which may undo him:

(VVhichWhich I conceive, is ſuch a Pious fraud

As GOD allows, and honeſt men applaud.)

In Life, I ſerv'd him thus; now Dead he lies

I'll ſpeak no more of him, then may ſuffice

To make thoſe better, and take better heed

VVho ſhall henceforward, in his Room ſucceed.

Examples, we from Holy-Writ, may take,

That of the Dead we nothing ought to ſpeak

But, vvhat is true; and that we are as well

Oblig'd, their failings as deſerts to tell.

That, GOD, may have due Praiſe by every one;

That Men, by knowing truly, what is done,

In thoſe things, vvhichwhich concern them; (and by whom

Their Miſchieves, or their Benefits do come)

May actuate accordingly, in ſeaſon,

The Dictates of their Conſcience, and ſound Reaſon.

It vvas not then thought (as now in theſe times

Perhaps, it may be) that, to blaze the crimes

Of Eli, David, or Jehoſaphat,

Or Hezekiah; (though unto the State

Some of them had reſpect) vvas ſawcineſs,

Or vvant of Manners, though they did expreſs

Both to thoſe times, and future Generations

Their Failings, vvith their proper aggravations.

And therefore, if a juſt occaſion be,

Expect the like plain-dealing novv from me:

For to the ſame End, I vvill do mine Arrants,

And make good my Commiſſion, by their Warrants.

p. 16I, grant it Thankleſneſs, as he infers,

If we for Benefactors have no tears

When they are dead: For, I deſire we may

Their Dues, both to the Dead and Living pay:

But, I conceive it more ingratitude,

Upon the World, our Fictions to obtrude,

And, let that as impertinent paſs by,

Which GOD permits, or acts, to glorify

His Juſtice, or his merciemercy, whoſe neglect;

Make other things, to want their due effects.

GOD, make us grateful for what is beſtown,

In ſuch wiſe, that to every one his own

We may aſcribe, and, not to any give

So much, that, of his dues, we him deprive;

Nor ſo much to one man, that, they may be

Defrauded, who, deſerv'd as well as He.

Such Partialities, at firſt, brought in

All Tyrannies: By ſuch, Free-men have bin

Enſlaved by degrees, and thereunto

Our Fawnings add more, then all elſe can do;

And 'tis impoſſible a means to finde

To keep thoſe Free, who have a ſlaviſh minde,

Or Curriſh nature; For, the firſt want courage,

And give their Birth-rights, for a Miſs of Porrage:

The other, muſt like Bandogs chained be,

Elſe none who live among them, can be free.

GOD, grant us grace, ſo to bewail his Fate,

Who is deceaſt, as to rejoyce in that

Which is thereby deſign'd: and, to take heed

We do not complementally proceed

In formal mournings, till the Counterfeit

Makes us, thoſe Christian mournings to forget

Which are now cal'd for; and till we have more

True Cauſe of ſorrow then we had before;

p. 17And, for the Dead, purſue a formal grieving

Deſtructive to the welfare of the Living:

Leſt, when the Dead, their Dead, in earth ſhall cloth,

One day, become a mourning-day to both.

For, to ſuſpect, juſt cauſe enough I find

Some miſchief, for that day would be deſign'd

And acted too, if Vengeance could raiſe pow'r

To do, what might be done at ſuch an hour:

As thoſe deſpights, do queſtionleſs aſſure

Which on his Scutcheon and his Portraiture

VVere lately acted, if believe we may

VVhat ſeems believ'd, and common Fame doth ſay.

Interments of the Dead, were firſt intended

Leſt by them, they who live, might be offended

If not remov'd from ſight: Therefore, by giving

Things to the Dead, belonging to the living,

Doth injure both; and neither get, nor give

Such honour, as we may perhaps conceive:

But are occaſions rather of Diſgraces

And of returning durt into our Faces.

So Cynical my humor never was

To think, men ſhould be buried like an Aſs;

Nor ſhall I Judas-like, be diſcontent

To ſee a box of pretious Odors ſpent

In burying him; though for a while the Poor

May want it; if, their wants it make not more

Then they can bear; And, mends be made for that

Which they have ſuff'red ere it be too late.

But, I abhor it, when I do behold

Walls clothed, and poor men expos'd to cold

And nakedneſs: or at their needleſs coſt

Another honour'd whilſt their credit's loſt

VVhichWhich is more worth then Life; and which to ſave,

They many times, their Lives adventur'd have.

p. 18Small honour, by that Fun'rall-Pomp, is got

VVhere they who bear the charge approve it not.

To bring a Prince, with glory to his grave,

Is not to make his lifeleſs Image brave;

To give as great a reverence thereunto

As Pagans, to their Idols, us'd to do,

Or, as they, who like worſhip have appli'd

Unto his Image who was crucifi'd.

It is not to make Pageants at their coſt

(VVho think they have too much already loſt)

VVith thoſe vain Ceremonial Rites attended,

VVhereby, the ſober-minded are offended;

And till Spectators, Jeeringly do ſay,

It is a very coſtly Puppet-Play.

Or, till it gives them cauſe to be afear'd

That, way thereby, to worſe things is prepar'd:

For, this way, was Idolatry brought in;

This way, moſt Superſtitions did begin;

And, this way, if GOD let it be purſu'd

A little further, they will be renew'd

Till that day comes, in which, what men endeavor

To build up, ſhall deſtroyed be for ever.

Philip of Spain, the Second (as 'tis ſayd)

Did, of a Funeral-Pageant, thus arayd,

A Patern leave; which is reſembled much

By this; one circumſtance, (and ſome few ſuch)

Excepted, (and for ought that I yet know,

That might be privately, performed too.)

Thoſe Anti-roomes of State, with Blacks beclad,

Through which, men to th' Effigies paſſage had,

And, wherein they were forced to ſtand bare,

Becauſe a property unuſeful there:

For, Pater-noſters, they ſhould there have ſed,

And Ave-Maries, for the Soul that's dead,

p. 19If they that Ceremonie had obſerved

For which thoſe places were at firſt reſerved;

And, whereto (though unpractis'd at this day)

Such Innovations, will perhaps make way.

VVe are already, drawing very nigh

To ſuperſtitions, and Idolatrie;

And, at the Back-door, that is coming in,

VVhichWhich at the Fore-door, hath expelled bin.

Who, would have thought, that we, who do neglect

One of the goodlieſt Piles of Architect

In all the Christian World, becauſe, long ſince,

It ſeem'd profan'd, by things which gave offence?

That we, ſhould raiſe up Trophies, in its ſtead,

Of Straws and Sticks, and Kexes to the Dead?

And with exploded Vanities, defile

The Palaces, and Temples of this Iſle?

Who, having ſeen what zeal expreſſed was

In pulling down of Croſſes, painted Glaſs,

Old Altars, Images of Saints and Kings,

(And with theſe, of ſome inoffenſive things)

Did then ſuppoſe, he ſhould have liv'd to ſee

An Idol, in that place advanc'd to be,

Where heretofore, an Altar, and a Rood

To be adored by the People ſtood?

Who can believe, that HE, who viliſide

Not long ago, the vanitie and pride

Of former Princes? That, HE, who had ſpoke

Againſt the heavie burthens, and the yoak

By them impos'd, and was himſelf the Rod

And ſword aſſum'd into the hand of GOD,

To root them out? That HE, who but of late,

VVhen he diſmiſt the Counſellors of State

Sayd to their Sergeant, Take away that Bable;

(His Mace at that time, lying on the Table)

p. 20Should ever of his own accord, think fit

Thoſe Trinkets which he ſleighted to admit?

And, when he down into the Grave deſcended,

Should thither, with more vain pomps be attended

Then any Engliſh Prince, that heretofore

A Soveraign Scepter, in theſe Iſlands bore?

Oh! times, oh manners! how exceeding vain

Is mans Heart, and how giddy, is his Brain?

Who thinketh not, that ſuch a Change hath ſeen,

And, heeds what they ſeem'd who ſo chang'd have been?

But, that, far greater Changes, will appear,

If GOD, prevents not, that which we may fear?

For that old Leven, which aſide was lay'd,

Into the lump, is ſecretly convey'd:

And now corruptions, do ſo over-ſpread

The Body Politick, from foot to head,

That ſwarms of Hornets, and of Butterflies,

Produc'd and fed, by new-ſprung Vanities,

Are like to multiply, till they ſhall drive

The lab'ring Bees, quite out of every Hive.

Excuſe my zeal, if over-tarr I'ſeem

In this point; For, from no diſguſt of him,

For whoſe pretended honour this is done,

Nor from malevolence to any one

Who did deſign it, this expreſſion flows;

Nor from what Prejudice, may miſ-ſuppoſe;

But, from the Cauſe that's given of offence,

And, what I fear may be the Conſequence.

What Meteors, Windes, and Tempeſts do foreſhow

I know not, neither take much care to know;

Becauſe, they rather warn us, to take heed

What's doing, then declare what will ſucceed:

But, by our Flatteries, and by other things

Which Pride produces; by what daily ſprings,

p. 21From our ſelf-ſeekings; from our Avarices,

And, from our many other ſordid Vices,

This, I am ſure's preſag'd, that if we run

Much farther, in the Courſe that's yet hel'd on,

(And, GOD, our folly to take place permits)

We ſhall ere long run quite out of our wits;

And, be at laſt deſtroyed all together,

By that Storm, which I ſee approaching hither.

But, who am I, that ſay I do foreſee

A Storm, that you ſhould credit give to me?

How can ſuch things, to me, you ſay be known?

How know you, when the Sun is almoſt down

That, Night will follow? and the Day draw near

When you behold the morning-Star appear?

Look not on him, who tells what may enſue,

But look to that, whereby you may eſchew

The threatned Plague, which (as GOD's threatnings all

Are for the moſt part) is conditional.

To that intent, your old neglected Friend

Amongſt you, one Remembrance more, will ſend

To ſecond this, before perceive he ſhall

A MENE TEKEL, written on your Wall,

Unleſs he ſees GOD's patience out of date,

And all fore-warnings, like to come too late.

Mean while, take this that follows: For he knows

You look for Signs, of that which he fore-ſhows;

And, theſe (although they trivial may appear)

Are true Fore-tokens of what's drawing near.

Black Clouds, are now aſcending o're theſe Lands,

Whoſe Figures do portend ſome humane hands

Promoting that great Storm; But, when abroad

It ſpreads, you will perceive the hand of GOD,

Who, by a ſlow-approaching doth expreſs,

He comes to puniſh, with unwillingneſs.

p. 22Each man, who is not wilful, plainly ſees,

He etners into Judgement, by degrees,

To move us to Repentance, that the Doom,

But threatned yet, might vaniſh ere it come.

GOD, hath made known unto us, in ſome meaſure,

By every Element, his juſt Diſpleaſure:

Thoſe things, without which, nothing is enjoy'd,

Have all our late Enjoyments much deſtroy'd.

By ſudden Fires, our dwellings are conſum'd,

And, into ſmoak, our pretious things are fum'd.

The Waters, in their Wombs, have ſwallow'd up

No little Portion of the Merchants hope,

And, overflowing new, and Antient Bounds,

Swept Flocks and Herds out of the lower Grounds.

The Air, by Storms and Blaſtings, Froſts and Snows,

Deſtroy'd our laſt Crops, in their faireſt ſhows;

Yea, after publickly we made Confeſſions

That, GOD, accepting our Humiliations,

Had thereupon, vouchſafed pregnant Hopes

Of Future Health, and of more Plenteous Crops;

Even ſince that likely hope, we, for our Sin,

Depriv'd of that Expectancy have bin.

The Earth which bears us, too; for our Offences

With-holds her Bounty. Their ſweet Influences

The Heavens withdraw. Death, when unlook'd for, ſeizes

More oft then formerly, by New-Diſeaſes;

And, they, to give Accompt, are call'[d upon,

Who liv'd, as if accomptable to none.

Hereto, the Naturaliſt, perhaps will ſay,

Such things do happen to us every day,

Or, in a ſhort time, either more or leſs:

Which I will grant; but notwithſtanding, this

He muſt grant too, that from the Worlds beginning

Theſe vvere, and are, the known Rewards of Sinning:

p. 23That they are alſo Signes, GOD vvill bring greater

And more Afflictions, if we grow not better:

That Judgements, (though they be not general)

On Families, and Private Perſons fall

Ev'n day by day: That, we have lately ſeen

Large Vials of GOD's Wrath, powr'd forth have been

Upon the ſtubborn Iriſh, and the Scot,

To warn us what will alſo be our Lot;

And that none ſhould GOD's Patience, therefore ſlight,

Becauſe a long time, He forbears to ſmite;

Or, puff'd by timely Warnings, when he ſends them,

Becauſe this way, to us he recommends them:

For, this way, they declared were of old,

And, this way, they ſhall now again be told.

But, hear me further, and relate I ſhall

Some things, which do not ev'ry year befall;

Our ableſt Horſe, (ev'n thoſe perhaps, wherein

More truſt repoſed was, then ſhould have bin)

Die ſuddenly, and Ditches are beſtrow'd

With thoſe Eones, whereupon our Gallants rode:

Their Stink (as once a Prophet ſaid) aſcends,

Yet, ſtill, his hand againſt us, GOD, extends.

Thoſe Leggs, likewiſe, which are our Second-Strength

Do reel already, and will ſink at length

That Body which they bear: the Wings by which

We flew from Shoar to Shoar, and were made rich,

Begin to flag, and fly not to and fro,

With ſuch Succeſs, as they were wont to do.

Some, whoſe new Honours bloomed but laſt Spring,

Fell with the Leaf, to ſhew, how vain a thing

Ambition is, and let them underſtand

VVho flouriſh yet, their Winter is at hand.

Much, of our pretious Life-Blood up is drunk,

The Sinews of our Pow'r are crack'd and ſhrunk;

p. 24Our Honour, vvith our Publick Faith is loſt;

Our Private Credits are deſtroy'd almoſt:

And, hard it is to ſay, whether the Debtor

Or Creditor, is in Condition better.

The Parliaments Securities are ſlighted,

And, He, whom they have by their Acts invited

To purchaſe, (and, of paying whoſe juſt Dues

An Ordinance, and Orders made fair ſhews)

Though, more then ten years, are elapſed ſince,

Gets neither Mony, Land, nor Recompence,

Nor hope of Juſtice; but, Suits, to the waſting

Of his Eſtate, which may be everlaſting:

And, they, who ſhould, from theſe Oppreſſions clear him,

Either regard him not, or, or ſit and jeer him;

Though both by Law, and Oath, they ſtand oblig'd

To ſee the Publick Credit diſ-engag'd.

That which is due to Poor Men, is delay'd

Till they have loſt it twice, ere 'tis once pay'd.

He that hath Lent, till he can lend no more,

Is ſure to loſe all, that he lent before;

And, that which to be given, hath been thought,

Proves dearer otherwhile, then vvhat we bought.

All which things, being rightly underſtood,

Are Signes (if not of much ill) of ſmall good.

Should I here mention all Prevarications,

Which being fifteen Years together, tide

(As by the Leg) near London to reſide,

They vvould fill up a Volume: and, but that

Thouſands can vvitneſs vvhat I might relate,

It vvould be thought, I did Ʋntruths aver,

And, that, I vvere a ſhameleſs ſlanderer:

For, our Abominations have exceeded

All Meaſure, and are more then can be heeded.

p. 25It can by no true Engliſhman be born,

Without much Indignation, and more ſeorn,

To ſee Foot-walkers, vvhen on Horſe-back ſet,

So much their late Condition to forget,

As, ſuperciliouſly to look on thoſe

By whom, out of Obſcurity they roſe;

And when men ſeek but Juſtice, and their own,

How theſe, (as if to have an Alms beſtown

They vvere implor'd) provoke vvith harſh replies

The ſuff'ring-Suppliant, till his Blood doth riſe,

And Words are ſpoken, vvhereon doth enſue

Another Wrong, becauſe he ſpoke vvhat's true.

Sometimes, from vveek to vveek, from year to year,

Suits are defer'd, vvhichwhich they vvith ſpeed ſhould hear;

Yet, nothing then effected, but expence,

More adding to a former indigence.

Both Means and Time, vvhichwhich fully might enable

To do their Work; they ſpend in Bibble-babble,

Or needleſs Complements; and vvill not vvave

A Feaſt or Viſit, though it vvere to ſave

A man from Ruine; and when Plaints are long,

By long Oppreſſion, they away are flung.

Their Suppliants are forc'd to hunt them thorough

Their ſtarting holes, like Rabbets through their Borough.

Yet, hardly come to ſpeak with them, before

They (as it were) ſet Purſe-Nets, at each door;

And then, unleſs they likewiſe, get a Hay

Pitch'd round about them, they will ſlip away.

That, which is abſolutely in their Pow'r,

And, might be finiſhed in half an hour,

Is made a Buſineſs during term of life;

And, then, the Suitor dies without relief:

For, Suppliants are oft defer'd ſo long,

That, they at laſt, vvho ſhould redreſs the Wrong

p. 26Are puzzel'd too; and ſuch as have been griev'd

So num'rous grow, that few can be reliev'd.

No marvail; for the Body-Politick

In every part almoſt, is Lame or Sick;

So, that, thoſe Limbs, which in themſelves are able,

Are render'd by the reſt unſerviceable;

For, though the Foot be whole, it cannot go

Becauſe, the Great Gout, lames the greateſt Toe.

And, very mean performances are found

Where, in both Hands, there's but one finger ſound.

If, it objected be, that ſuch Delayes

May juſtly be occaſion'd many vvwayes;

'Tis granted, that, it may be ſo in ſome;

But not till twice ſeven years elaps'd become,

Without apparent wrong: And, that abuſes

Are this way offer'd, for which no excuſes

May be allow'd, ſome thouſands living are,

VVho, if need be, thereof can vvitneſs bear.

VVhen Publick-Debts have many yeers been due,

And Creditors compel'd for them to ſue

Till they, in Labour, time, and other Coſt,

The Principal, and ſo much more have loſt,

The Shameleſs Officers inſtead of paying,

Put off the Creditors, with this harſh ſaying,

'Tis an old Debt; as if men did them wrong

To ask for that vvhichwhich had been due ſo long;

And, that, the way to right them, vvho implore

Redreſs for old wrongs, vvere to do them more.

Nay, there is ſo much falſehood and deceit

In many, that, they make poor men to vvait

From day to day, from morning untill noon,

From noon till night, Delay, ſtill ſpinning on,

(Till many dayes and nights, and weeks are ſpent)

As if to grant their Suits they truly meant,

p. 27Although they from the firſt hour, did intend

To give them flat denial in the end.

And, uſually, when they ſpeak fair and ſmile,

They pick your Purſe, or cut your Throat the while.

They, who are guilty of ſuch things, and know

That I, and thouſands, know them to be ſo,

Will ſay, perhaps, I Rail; but 'tis no matter;

To Rail, is ſomewhat better then to Flatter.

None but a Fool with term it Railing, when

Reproaching Vices, we conceal the Men.

None, but a Brazen-fac'd-Offender dares,

Exceptions take to that, which truth avers;

And none but Mad-men caſt reproach on thoſe

Who chide them, to prevent their overthows.

I will proceed to further Demonſtration

Of thoſe Signes, which portend a Deſolation.

Strange Prodigies, which not ſo oft have been

In this our Clymate, are now often ſeen.

By Looks, or Language, it is hard to know

VVhom you may now repute your Friend or Foe:

They, who have but one Head, have now two Faces,

And two Tongues: Both their Offices and Places,

The Members of the ſelf-ſame Body ſhift;

Though neither of them, hath the others gift.

The Little Toe, although to be a Thumb

It hath been rais'd, will not content become,

Unleſs it may obtain that both the Hands

Shall be ſubjected under his commands.

The Head's cut off; and though that in its ſtead,

The Foot, may have admittance to be Head,

It (quite forgetting what it vvas before)

VVill ſcarce be pleas'd, unleſs it may be more.

Nay, from Ambition, Vermine are not free;

That naſty Body-Lice, would Head-Lice be.

p. 28Thoſe wicked Spirits that engender ſtrife,

Among us, more then ever, are now rife.

Stupidity, Diſtraction, Giddineſs,

VVith ſuch-like, many thouſands do poſſeſs;

And, haunted now, our Habitations are

VVith vvorſe Hobgoblins, then the Faires vvere.

To their own Principles, but very few,

Save Enemies and wicked Men are true.

Thoſe Changes, which but rarely did befal,

Are in theſe Iſlands Epidemical.

The Servant rides, the Maſter goes on foot,

And, is his Servant's Servant, too, to boot:

The ſilly School-Boyes do preſume to teach;

The Foxes pray, the fooliſh Geeſe do preach;

And, moſt things are ſo turned topſy-turvy,

That what looks beſt, methinks, is very ſcurvy.

Not onelyonly thoſe Aegyptians, among whom

We live, oppreſſors of us are become,

But Brethren alſo ſtrive; yea, Saints, with ire

Are ſo inflam'd, that they can out for fire

From Heaven, on thoſe, who onelyonly diſagree

From them, in things that but indiff'rent be;

And, we are told, by one whom I believe,

VVhat it portends, where ſuch things we perceive

By Natural Experience, we have found

That, Inſtruments which yeild a diff'ring ſound,

(And Tones, are Voices, though they various be)

In Conſort, do melodiouſly agree.

So, we ſhould likewiſe, finde theſe Differences

In Judgement, whereat we now take Offences,

VVould make true Harmony, if we to Him

Did leave it, who knows how to order them;

And took more care (then moſt of us have done)

To ſet our own Tongues, and our Hearts in tune.

p. 29Our Friends in Forraign Parts, and here at home,

Each of the other jealous are become;

And ſhould there be a Breach, no Mortal knows

VVhether our old Friends, or our elder Foes,

VVould prove our greateſt Enemies; or, whether

They, would to miſchieve us, joyn all together.

Our New Allies, are likely at our need,

To be to us, but an Aegyptian Reed,

Or, like a coſtly Armour, by whoſe weight,

VVe are more tir'd, then guarded in the Fight;

And ſomewhat ſounds from them (unleſs Fame lies)

VVhichWhich an unpleaſing Sequel ſignifies.

Theſe things, (at leaſt united) do foreſhew

That, ſome foul Weather ſhortly may enſue:

GOD, alſo ſtands, with Arm outſtretched ſtill,

The Sentence of His Juſtice to fulfil.

If we conſult but with meer Human Reaſon,

VVhat's likely to ſucceed at ſuch a Seaſon

As this appears, by loſs of him alone,

VVho lately was removed from the Throne:

VVhat Counſels and what Coſt it will require

To keep ſo many Irons in the Fire

As he hath left unwrought; and what it would

Coſt more, to let them lie till they are cold.

If vve conſider, That he was of late

The Middle, and, main Pillar, of this State;

The Atlas (as the Attribute that's giv'n

By one, hath term'd Him) of our Britiſh Heav'n,

And, into what Confuſions, it is thought

All things at his Deceaſe, might have been brought;

Obſerving therewithal (without concluding

Upon falſe Theſes, or, our ſelves deluding)

In what apparent Dangers we are left,

By being, at this time, of him bereft,

p. 30It may portend, although the Sun ſhines yet,

A Storm will riſe before that he doth ſet.

And yet, we ought not ſo much to reflect

Our thoughts on Him, that we thoſe things neglect

Which more concern us; or ſuppoſe that we

Depriv'd of any ſuch advantage be,

As is conceived; for, he had not gone,

But, that, the work ordain'd for him vvas done.

GOD, rais'd him, by Destroying, to prepare

A vvay for that which he intends to rear,

And, to that purpoſe qualifi'd him ſo,

As they were, vvhom of old he call'd to do

Such Services; and, as it ſeems, intended

No further uſe of him, when that vvas ended:

He ſaw, the Pow'r vvhichwhich vvas on him beſtowne

Imployed in Deſignments of his own;

Then, re-aſſum'd it: and, they had been troubled

Perhaps, who pray his Spirit might be doubled

On his Succeſſor, if GOD, ſhould have ſaid

AMEN, to that, for which they blindly pray'd.

VVe, likewiſe, (as of late that Parliament

From vvhom he took the Supreme Government)

So Idolized, that, vve thought too little

Confer'd upon him by the Soveraign Title

VVhichWhich, GOD permitted him to undertake.

And, what his Army pleas'd of him to make.

To govern us, vve long'd for ſuch a Thing

As other Nations have; forſooth, a King,

VVith all the former burthenſome Aray

Of Kingſhip, which vvas lately took away:

Though he, as much as Fleſh and Blood could do,

Refus'd it, vvith ſome perſeverance too.

And, not content to make him parallel

VVith all who are recorded to excel

p. 31In Vertues, by Prophane or Sacred Story;

But plac'd him, in a higher Sphere of Glory.

VVe gave him Attributes, vvhichwhich unto none

Belongs, but to the Deitie alone;

And towards him, our ſelves oft ſo behaved,

As if by him alone, we could be ſaved;

VVhichWhich peradventure, did provoke GOD's vvrath

To do to Him and Us, as done He hath.

GOD's dealing therefore, let us duly vveigh,

To do him all the honour, that we may:

For no reſpect of Perſons, Love, or Fear,

Should from that Duty, flatter or deter.

To that intent, it will have ſome Relation,

To know and heed, that his laſt Viſitation

By Sickneſs, did that Day on him appear,

VVhichWhich made the time compleatly juſt a Year,

Since he ſolemnized a Publick Faſt

To pacifie GOD's Wrath for Failings Paſt;

As alſo for removing from our Clime,

Such Sickneſſes, as raged at that time:

And, that, ſome Cautions, for that day prepar'd,

VVere in their Seaſon, unto him prefer'd,

To minde him vvhat ſmall good could be expected

From Formal-Faſts, vvhere Juſtice was neglected;

And what at laſt would follow thereupon,

If Works of Mercy, were ſtill left undone.

At that time, ſuch Pre-Cautions tendred vvere

(As, if need be, hereafter you ſhall hear)

For, GOD, to offer them, did me incline,

And, to his hands, they were prefer'd by mine:

But, whether he peruſed them or no,

Since they preſented were, I neither know,

Nor vvhat Effect they had, if that be none,

VVhichWhich at the years end, did enſue thereon.

p. 32We ſhould conſider too, how on that day,

Juſt that day twelve-month he was took away,

(Wherein he kept a Formal Celebration

Of Thankfulneſs, for publike preſervation)

That very day, of his chief Triumphs turning

Into a ſad and Fatal day of mourning:

How that day, whereon (if Fame hath not lide)

He purpos'd to be crowned King, he dide;

Leaving an Image, with a waxen Face,

To be inſtal'd, and crowned in his place:

Which, as ſince we defac'd Crowns, 'twas the firſt

That wore one, I deſire, may be the worſt,

Who ſhall from this time forward, live to bear

A Soveraign Scepter, or a Crown to wear.

If we conſider duly as we ought,

Theſe things; with ſuch like, as to ſerious thought

Are thereby tendred; more, from thence there might

Inferred be, then I think fit to write.

Or, ſhould I tell, vvhat vvas prepar'd, likewiſe,

To make compleat his Formal Sacrifize

Laſt mentioned, and what effects it had,

Some wholſome uſes, might thereof be made

Which muſt deferred be; becauſe my Reaſon

Perſwades me, that they are not, yet in ſeaſon.

I know a Flatt'rer, feared not to ſay

That, was the third time, his Victorious day

By conqu'ring Death: But, wiſemen, do contemn

That Gloſs, becauſe, that day, Death conquer'd him;

And, do believe, and know, that none but he

Who dide for our Redemption on a Tree

(And, rais'd himſelf, to breathe immortal breath)

Ought to be ſtil'd the Conqueror of Death.

He onelyonly, vvho, above the Heav'ns doth dwell,

And conquered vvith Death, both Sin and Hell,

p. 33Deſerves that Attribute: and they, vvho dare,

To others give the ſame, Blaſphemers are,

Except in that ſenſe, which, makes all who die

In him, partakers of his Victorie.)

He had his ſhare of Honour, and, not little

His Portion was; Let not his Masters Title

Aſcribed be to him: For, they, who hear it,

And are his Servants, cannot, will not bear it;

Nor be affraid to ſpeak, vvhat may encreaſe

GOD's honour, vvhoſe ſoe're it maketh leſs.

GOD call'd him hence that day, to make us heed,

That, he in all his Actings doth proceed

By Number, Weight, and Meaſure; both to places,

And Times referring them in many caſes,

To make obſervable his Viſitations;

As alſo, to raiſe up our contemplations

To that, vvhichwhich he Deſigns: yea, he advances

Their executions, oft, with Circumſtances,

Not common; that, by fearching, we may finde

His meaning, and conform unto his minde.

I know, he vvas upon that day, advis'd

To ſomewhat, vvhichwhich he ſhould not have deſpis'd

Whereto he gave ſmall heed, or none at all,

Till vvhat vvas juſtly feared did befal:

And, vvho knows, vvhat beſide that vvwas neglected?

VVhat vvas pretended then, vvhat, ſince projected?

Or, vvhat miſe-proſecuted, or miſ-done,

Which might provoke the great Almighty-one,

To call him on that very day from hence,

VVhichWhich vvas the day of his magnificence;

And lay the Scepter level with the ſpade.

Oh! make thereof, ſuch uſe as ſhould be made;

For, knowing vvhat I know, relates thereto,

I, cannot unobſerved let it go.

p. 34We know that Death, vvhichwhich is the hire of Sin,

On that day, always payable hath bin,

In vvhichwhich 'tis acted, though, GOD, by reprieve

Defers it oft, or, vvholly doth forgive.

We know there are ſome ſins, for vvhichwhich, ev'n they

VVho are GOD'S choſen ones, are took away

From thoſe Enjoyments, vvhichwhich they might have had,

Until a Forfeiture of them is made.

Moſes, for ſpeaking raſhly, was denyed

The promis'd Land, and in that Deſart dyed,

Where others fell; and, thus, it doth befal

To many of GOD's Saints, if not to all.

We either know, or vve ſhould know, likewiſe,

That, for our National impieties

As vvell as for their own ſins, Princes may

In wrath be given, or, be took away.

The Holy-Ghoſt hath ſaid, that, when to lies

The King gives ear (and ſuch are Flatteries)

The people, there are wicked. And, our ſin

The Cauſe in chief, hath peradventure bin,

VVhichWhich, from his firſt Intentions, him declin'd,

To that vvhichwhich vvas not for our weal deſign'd,

Nor for his honour: yea, our ſelves vve may

Moſt juſtly blame, if he forſook the way

VVherein, he by the Publike-Card ſhould ſteer:

For, ſome of us thereto his Tempters were,

And, by our ſervile Flatt'ries, both made voyd

His firſt Reſolves, and our own Hopes deſtroy'd.

As, therefore, when GOD, gave the Jews a King,

He then, did by a dreadful Thundering,

And by a great Rain in their Harveſt time,

Declare that they had much diſpleaſed him;

So, peradventure, that Storm, which did roar

So univerſally four days before

p. 35He took hence our Protector, was intended

To ſignifie, that he is much offended

With all this Land, ev'n from him that's on high

Enthron'd, to him, who in the ſtreet doth lie:

For, not alone, high Palaces it rock'd,

But, alſo very dreadfully it knock'd

At ev'ry door; and made a ſignal ſpoile,

In ev'ry Shire and Province of this Iſle.

Oh! let us therefore ſearch out his intent;

For, when he ſpeaks loud, there is ſomewhat meant

Deſerving more then ordinary heed,

Whereon (if ſleighted) miſchief will ſucceed.

He ſeldom, putteth forth a dreadful Voyce,

Save unto thoſe, whom nothing moves but Noyſe:

And, if that, wakes them not, nor makes them fear him,

The next time, they ſhall feel him, ere they hear him.

Let not a vain reſpect to Worms and Dust,

Make us to GOD, and to our ſelves unjuſt:

For, what he acts, and how he doth proceed,

We ought, in ev'ry Circumstance to heed,

Whomever it concerns, and nothing hide,

Whereby he may be duly glorifide,

Or, men reform'd. Then, let us, ſince we may

Be dead to morrow, hear his Voyce to day.

We have had many days, wherein, he hath

Shewn Mercy, and forewarn'd us of his wrath.

Sometimes, in Calm-ſtill voyces, he doth ſpeak;

Sometimes, in whirl-winds, which the Rocks do break;

As once 'twas ſayd to Iſr'el heretofore,

Then what he hath done, what ſhould he do more?

We have had many days, wherein, we made

Both Vows and Prayers, which acceptance had;

In them we made ſome ſhews of penitence

For that, which gave him cauſe to take offence,

p. 36And for an Ahab-like humiliation,

GOD, of his dooms, vouchſaf'd a mitigation;

Yet, ſtill, the very ſame, our Courſes be.

Now, GOD, will have his days as well as we.

He hath decreed a time, wherein, he will

As we have done our pleaſure, his fulfil;

And who can tell, how ſlowly, or how ſoon,

That, which he hath reſolved, ſhall be done?

What look we for? Lo, on a day of note,

Our Shepherd, our Protector, he hath ſmote.

A Prince, of whom our own and neighb'ring Nations,

Had great proofs, and far greater expectations:

Beyond his ſet day, if he ſpar'd not him,

How can we hope, he will defer our time?

Who knows, but that, if it ſucceeded thus

With him in one yeer, One yeer more to us

May be as fatal, if we ſtill put off

Repentance, and at this fore-warning ſcoff?

Protector, and ye Counſellors of State,

Be therefore wiſe, before it be too late:

Ye Princes, and ye Judges of the Land,

Learn, and obſerve what GOD hath now in hand:

And all ye people throughout theſe three Nations,

Take notice of thoſe dreadful Viſitations

Which are portended, that, they may be made

Quite voyd, and have Effects to make you glad.

Truſt not in Riches, for, they wings have got,

And, will flie off, when you ſuſpect it not.

Truſt not in Earthly Power; for 'twill at length,

Break, and be ruined, by its own ſtrength.

Truſt not in Princes; For you can of none

Have more hopes, then you had of him that's gone;

But, truſt him, who, doth no mans truſt deceive;

Of whom nor Death, nor ought elſe can bereave;

p. 37And, vvho, nor Love, nor Power, nor wiſdom lacks

To finiſh, what for you he undertakes.

Think, and ſpeak ſoberly of him that's gone;

For, he the work of GOD hath carry'd on,

So far as his appointed Station vvent;

And, being but a mortal Inſtrument

Made of the ſelf-ſame brittle earthen ſtuff,

That others are, was not, of ſo much proof

Againſt the baneful Flatteries of thoſe,

VVho ſeem'd his true Friends, as againſt his Foes

In open Field, who could not act the part

Of ſuch as made their Batt'ries on his heart.

I look upon his Failings as mine own,

And neither whilſt he lived made them known,

(Nor will diſcloſe them further being dead)

But, that the living may be profited,

And that, GOD may be honour'd as he ought

By that which to remembrance ſhould be brought.

My Conſcience bears me witneſs that I know

No malice, in my heart againſt a Foe,

Much leſs againſt a Friend, vvhom I profeſt

To ſerve; and vvho, to his own Intereſt

(In what he from the right-way did decline)

Did much more injury, then unto mine.

His Words and Deeds, were all the means I had

To know him by; and what Reſult was made

By me thereon, I did ſince his deceaſe

Thus briefly in an Epitaph expreſs,

Which here I'll add, the Cenſures to prevent

Both of the Flatt'rer and Malevolent,

Who (in a manner) crucifie his Name,

Betwixt a Glorious and In-glorious Fame

As much as may be, to advance ſelf-ends,

And nullifie, what GOD, thereby intends.

p. 38The EPITAPH.

HEre Dead He lies; who, Living here,

Was Britain's greateſt Hope and Fear.

And, by what was on Him beſtown,

Had all His Equals over-grown:

His Predeceſſor's Sins and our,

Made way for Him to Soveraign Power;

By rendring that an Act of Reaſon

And Juſtice, which had elſe been Treaſon.

No Prince, was ever heretofore

More praiſed, or diſpraiſed more.

Advantages, few ever won

So great: None loſt ſo great a one.

This World afford no Pattern can

Which better ſhews what is in Man.

His Vertues, were mough to do,

So much as GOD deſign'd Him to.

He Failings had: But, when liv'd any

That had not every way as many,

If he (whilſt here abode he made)

Such Tempters and Temptations had?

Preſume not therefore; but with Fear

Minde, what you know, and ſee, and hear:

Yea heed, what GOD, and Men have done,

But judge none but your ſelves alone;

And aim in chief, how to increaſe

GOD's Glory, and the Publick Peace.

This Change, and failing of our Expectations,

In many ſev'ral Things, which have Relations

p. 39To Us and Him, forewarn us to purſue

Some ſpeedy Courſe, Confuſion to eſchew,

And fortifie our Peace: But, what to do

Few know, or vvhat vvill beſt conduce thereto;

Nor ſhall know, till a Parliament convenes

To ſearch vvhat GOD, this Prince, & People means.

In order to their wiſh'd-for Settlement,

The State hath choſe another Inſtrument,

Whom GOD, hath in the room of OLIVER,

Permitted to be his Probationer.

In Prudence, this Expedient they have us'd,

Leſt our Confuſions, growing more confus'd,

Might bring in Anarchy: And if they now,

Purſue vvhat GOD's, and humane Laws allow,

And ſhall not Arbitrarily proceed

Ought further, then unqueſtionable Need

Neceſſitates, till thoſe things on their Baſis

Are fixed, vvhichwhich vvere thruſt out of their places:

It may in little time, conduce to that

Which Men of ſingle Heart, have aimed at.

But, who, or what, vvill henceforth be a Bar

To Righteouſneſs, the Sequel muſt declare,

And vvill make manifeſt, vvhat Mask ſoever

It put upon an oppoſite Endeavour.

If he hath conſcientiouſly been choſe,

(Which none but GOD and his Electors knows)

Our Peace, by this Prince, vvill be further'd more,

Then by him vvhom vve vvrought vvith heretofore.

Although he brings not ſuch APPEARANCES

Either for His, or Our Advantages,

As did his Predeceſſor: for vve may

Finde thoſe Defects ſupplide another vvay;

Yea, vvant perhaps, of what the former had

In ſome kindes, may to our advantage add.

p. 40Time, oft diſcovers in a timely ſeaſon,

What cannot be till then diſcern'd by Reaſon.

Wiſe Samuel, fail'd in his conjecturing

VVhichWhich of the Sons of Jeſſe ſhould be King.

A Man of War, now fitteſt for the Throne

Some thought; but, vve behold inſtal'd thereon

A Man of Peace: And if in his Probations

He bide the Teſt, he ſhall be to theſe Nations,

A Fortreſs of Defence, in ſpight of thoſe,

VVho, in his Government, ſhall him oppoſe;

Provided, vve obſtruct not Providence,

By perſevering in impenitence.

The Supreme Title, is on him confer'd,

And, by vvhat vvay ſoe'er it vvas acquir'd,

That, for the preſent vvith a Soveraign Pow'r

Inveſts him; and vvhatever we call our,

Is in his hands, vvith all th' Authority

VVhichWhich Scepters, Globes, or Crowns do ſignifie.

And, of that Dignity he ſtands poſſeſt

(By GOD's permiſſive Providence, at leaſt)

Not that he ſhould Uſurp, or challenge them,

As due unto his Fathers Houſe, or Him;

But, being forfeited by our Tranſgreſſion,

Them, in his hands he hath by ſequeſtration,

To be ſecur'd there, till by Penitences,

A pardon, be ſu'd out, for our Offences,

That, vvhat, by Natures Law, and by GOD's Word,

To us belongeth, may be then reſtor'd:

For, GOD, Almighty, to no other ends,

Such Seizures, by a Soveraign Prince intends:

Save when, on wicked Nations he beſtowes

A wicked Prince, for both their overthrows.

If to GOD's ends, he Quadrate his Deſire,

He, ſhall become, far greater then his Sire.

p. 41He ſhall do nobler things, then ere he did;

More he ſhall Conquer, then he conquerred:

Affairs, which he of whom vve are bereft,

Both difficult and in confuſion left,

He ſhall reduce to Order; not alone

Subduing Men and Realms, as he hath done,

But conquer alſo, thoſe deſtructive Evils,

Which would deſtroy all, and triumph o'er Devils.

Nay, though he had been, either by his Youth,

By Flatterers, pretending zeal to Truth,

Or if he by a carnal Hope or fear

Of Danger, had been tempted to adhere

To thoſe Deſigns, which under fair pretences,

May, to the Publick Rights, do violences;

Yet, if he ſhall conform to GOD, and them,

Whoſe Love, and Counſel, he ſhould not contemn;

It ſhall (by much) a greater honour do him,

Then Scepters, Crowns, and Thrones, can add unto him.

Yea, if upon the day of his Probation

He to the Supreme Council of this Nation,

(Aſſembled lawfully, and duly choſe)

Shall rather hearken, then give ear to thoſe

Who flatter him in ſecret; they ſhall never

Forſake him, but his Servants be for ever.

It ſhall on him, confer more Happineſs

Then, I in words, abm able to expreſs.

VVin him more Love then can by gold be bought,

Bring in more Joy, keep Terrors better out,

And (whilſt on Earth he lives) ſecure him more,

Then if each ſingle Souldier vvere a ſcore;

And, were my Life, of value to be pledg'd

For that Adventure, it ſhould be ingag'd.

Contrary-wiſe, if he their Lore purſue

VVho will perſwade him, that all is his due

p. 42VVhichWhich he can graſp; or ſhall inſtead of Law

Imploy the ſword, to keep Free-Men in aw;

GOD, will ariſe; and none ſhall need to ſtrive,

A Remedy, by Violence, to contrive.

For if we vvait on him, and ſit but ſtill,

Submitting patiently unto his Will,

Our Chief Oppreſſors he will cauſe to be

Their own deſtruction, and ſo ſet us free.

Or, make our Foes our Friends, and back reſtore

All that was taken from us heretofore.

By ſuch means, GOD in former times releaſt

His People, who by Tyrants were oppreſt,

As doth appear, by that which did befal

In Babylon, and in th' Egyptian-thral,

VVhere, not a man made uſe of hand, or tongue

To free himſelf, by violence, from wrong,

Except by Prayers, which (although offence

It gives to ſome) is lawful violence.

And, by ſome ſuch means when GOD's time is come,

Our Bondage, we ſhall be deliver'd from.

GOD, hath a thouſand wayes, to break the pow'r

Of twentie thouſand Tyrants in an hour;

Yet, may prove many Tooles, till he finds one,

Or, moe, to finiſh what he hath begun.

If this turn Edge, he, peradventure may

Take thoſe again, that have been flung away,

VVhichWhich being purged in Afflictions Fire,

VVill, now be pliable to his Deſire.

Their Actings, vvhom vve now impow'red ſee,

VVill ſhortly, evidently ſignal be,

Of what ſhall follow: But, I fear th' event,

VVill not produce a happy Settlement,

Till our Truſtees, Elected ſhall appear

For Conſcience-ſake, more then for Belly-Cheer,

p. 43Or ſuch-like by-reſpects; (by which we ſeem

To have our Birth-Rights in a mean eſteem:)

And, till, GOD, likewiſe, hath by Lot a Voice,

(As well as men) both in the future Choice

Of our protectors; and of others too,

Who muſt help act the work that's yet to do.

But, this will be no pleaſing Propoſition

To Avarice, Self-ſeeking and Ambition.

There's yet a Signe (to which things fore-expreſt

Relation have) more ſignal then the reſt,

Which, if it ſhall continue as it hath

Continu'd, will add Vengeance, unto Wrath;

And, what vain hope ſoever, we may cheriſh,

VVe, with our Prince and Government, ſhall periſh.

GOD, where this grows predominant, deſpiſes

All Vows, Tears, Prayers, Cries and Sacrifices,

Faſts and Thankſgivings: For, he findes them all

VVhere this remains, but Hypocritical.

This is that Signe, which did in ev'ry Age,

Thoſe irrevocable Fore-Dooms preſage,

That introduc'd the final Deſolations,

Of all thoſe mighty Empires, Kings and Nations,

VVhereof there's little left now, but a Name,

Preſerv'd among us by an empty Fame,

For our Examples: This is that which ſhook

Their Thrones, their Crowns defac'd, their Scepters broke:

Yet, this Signe is upon us, at this day;

From us, with ſpeed, remove it LORD, away.

You look, as men expecting I ſhould ſhow

VVhat Signe that is. Good GOD! what do you know

If this you know not? Do you not behold

That Signe, by what I have already told?

Are you aſleep Friends? have you neither Ears

Nor Eyes, that, undiſcern'd this yet appears?

p. 44Do you not hear the Groans of Men diſtreſt?

The Loud-loud Cries, of thoſe who are oppreſt?

Nor what a ſad Complaint atteſted ſtands

This day, by many hundreds of their hands?

Have you not heard, how Pris'ners do complain?

Nor ſeen what Tears are poured out in vain

By Widdows and poor Orphanes? ſee ye not

What vaſt Eſtates are by Oppreſſors got,

To their undoing, who their Lively-hood,

Their Fathers, Husbands, or their Brothers Blood

Loſt for the Publick? ſee you not how ſad

(Poor ſouls) they are? how lean, and how unclad?

Have you not heard a Mercileſs-Decree

Condemn the Juſt, and ſet the Wicked free?

Do you not ſee, that, hundreds of Petitions

Have many yeers made known Mens ſad conditions,

Without Compaſſion? and what diſ-regard

Befalls them, who have merited reward?

Obſerve you not, that they, who made complaints

Ev'n unto thoſe who are eſteemed Saints,

Finde them as ſenſleſs of their ſaddeſt moans,

As men hew'd out of Blocks, or carv'd in ſtones?

And, that Hypocriſie (in GOD's account

The worſt of ſins) is now grown Paramount?

Have you not ſeen Blood, as if water ſpilt,

And Black Deſignes with Golden Colours guilt?

Nor many foul Offences made appear

As if they meritorious Actions were?

Perceive you not, who joyning are together,

VVho give and take Pow'r, to and from each other,

To re-infringe our Chriſtian Liberty?

And, by pretending Zeal to Piety,

Or Civil peace, advance the Intereſt

Of our old Foe, the Seven-headed Beaſt,

p. 45VVith his Falſe Prophet? and invented have

A Grin, both Soul and Body to inſlave?

Perceive you not, that Importunities,

VVhichWhich made one from his Bed and Children riſe,

(And mov'd a Judge, who fear'd not GOD nor Men)

Prevails not now, as it prevailed then?

And, that, Mens tender Mercies are become

More cruel, then their Cruelties to ſome?

Nay, ſee you not, this Signe more ſignal made

By that, which our Apoſtacies now add?

And, that, this day, we do apparently

Stand guilty of the great'ſt Apostacie

From our firſt Covenants, Vows and Proteſtations,

Then ever could be charged on theſe Nations?

Obſerve you not, what fooliſh Propheſies

VVe take up? how, of Fictions and of Lies

VVe make us Refuges, as heretofore

They did, whoſe Paper-Works, we down have tore?

And how the lying Prophets and the Prieſts

Comply, to ſave their carnal Intereſts?

Have you not lately taken obſervation,

That Laws by groſs, have had a confirmation,

Of which there's nothing on Record, (or little)

To warrant them, except their Names or Title?

And heed you not what Miſchieves that abuſe

VVith ſuch-like, may inſenſibly produce?

VVell, GOD, forgive us all; for I believe

Theſe things you may apparently perceive.

But, if you ſhall make doubt, whether or no

It be, as I believe, or elſe, not ſo,

To GOD Himſelf, for tryal I'll appeal,

And, to the People of this Commonweal,

VVho, know what's done, and will not be afraid

To juſtifie what may be truly ſaid.

p. 46For, when this Signe is fix'd; though men look high

Or big, it ſhews Deſtruction draweth nigh.

Yea, though the proud may ſeemingly contemn

This Signe, it will impreſſions leave on them:

For, horrid inward Pangs, and ſecret Dread

VVill ſeize upon their Hearts, when this is read;

And that great Storm of Brimſtone, Fire, and Snares,

VVhichWhich GOD, for men impenitent prepares,

VVill oft to minde be brought; and waking keep

Their eyes, ſometimes, when they deſire to ſleep.

But to be plain (why ſhould there be a doubt

Of that whereof, Proofs need not to be brought?)

I, ſee the want of Juſtice and Compaſſion

(The moſt apparent Signe of Deſolation)

So evident; that, I, do boldly here

Before GOD, Men and Angels, witneſſe bear

That our Oppreſſions are at this day more

Then ere I knew them at one time before,

Since firſt I knew the world; though I have been

No ſtranger where mens actings beſt are ſeen;

And, where I ſaw (for their and our Offences)

Six Parliaments cut off by Violences,

Or by untimely ends, within the ſpace

Of theſe laſt twenty years, and ſomewhat leſs:

Yea, though I've ſeen two Governments arow

Deſtroyed for Injuſtice; and ſee now

A Third indanger'd; which thus makes me ſpeak,

And like the Son of Croeſus, forth to break

Into expreſſions beyond Expectation,

To make men ſeek their timely Preſervation.

For this Signe is ſo fatal, that unleſs

It quickly be remov'd by Righteouſneſs

And Brotherly Compaſſion, we ſhall never

Enjoy that Peace for which we do endeavor.

p. 47Some, naytheleſs, will judge me worthy blame

And puniſhment, thus to diſcloſe the ſhame

Of this my Nation; and, I ſhould confeſs

That for ſo doing, I deſerv'd no leſs,

If Malice had inclin'd me thereunto;

Or, if I ought have aggravated ſo,

That it exceedeth Truth; or, if o'er-blown

Theſe Crimes had been, unleſs by me made known.

But, 'tis not ſo, nor ſo; And, if he may

Deſerve the Rod, who doth but write or ſay

What is miſ-done, (and ſpeaks it with intent

Thoſe Miſchieves which may follow to prevent)

What merit they, who act them without care

Of what ſad things, they certain Symptomes are?

That this bears Date the laſt day of December

In ſixteen hundred fifty eight, remember;

And, that a Reconcilement be before

VVe have provok'd GOD's Patience, one yeer more;

Leſt, I my ſelf, be made another Signe

Of what the former Symptomes pre-divine.

For, thoſe Confuſions VVhichWhich diſtract this Sate,

Are typiſied in my outward Fate,

And printed on me, by that violation

Of Juſtice, which defiles this Generation.

They ſeem to have enough in outward ſhow,

To bear their Port, to 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 me too.

As, at the preſent, their Expences be

More then their Incomes; So it is with me.

They have more Foes then Friends; And much I am

Deceived, if I may not ſay the ſame.

p. 48My Foes and troubles in another year

May ruine me; and ſo will theirs I fear

If he on whoſe aſſiſtance I depend

Prevents not what their Foes and mine intend,

Before another yeer wheels round, I may

Enjoy an outward peace; And ſo ſhall they,

If they embrace the means, that will be ſhown,

And, follow not Devices of their own.

Yea, that perhaps, which will to them betide,

Shall in my Lot, be firſt pretypifide.

If timely Juſtice, be vouchſaf'd to me,

By timely Mercies, they reliev'd ſhall be:

If I, permitted am to be deſtroy'd,

Their power, may not long after be enjoy'd:

And GOD ſo much incenſed may appear

(As with the Jews once) that, he none will hear

But for himſelf, who ere from thenceforth ſtands

Within the Gaps, to keep Plagues from theſe Lands.

Thus, in plain language, and in homely Rimes

You have a brief Character of theſe times,

Made on a ſleight occaſion; to awake

The drowzie; that more heedful, it may make

Men heedleſs; and him to be ſomewhat wiſer

Who is not of good Counſel, a Deſpiſer.

A Souldiers dream, but of a barly-Cake

Told to his fellow, when he did awake,

And Spirited with his Interpretation,

Produced an Effect, worth obſervation;

And ſo may this, although to ſome, it ſeem,

No better then a ſilly Souldiers dream.

I'll add no more (though much more add I might)

For, here will be too much for them to ſleight,

Who, in thoſe Flatt'ries, much more pleaſure have

That ſend them with diſhonour to the Grave,

p. 49Then in plain ſpoken Truths, which would to them

Have brought ſalvation, if embrac'd in time.

And here, will be enough to ſtartle ſome,

To ſtir up others, till th' Alarum come

To ſuch a number, as may then ſuffice

To make a reconciling Sacrifice.

Unleſs we Sodom-like, ſtand unreform'd

Until with Fire and Brimſtone, we are ſtorm'd.

This SALT, made out of SALT, I took occaſion

To boyl up, for the ſervice of my Nation

To this height, as conceiving it was meet

To keep what's yet unputrified ſweet,

And thoſe corrupted humors to expel

Which in GOD's noſtrils have an evil ſmel.

I hope, men will not throw it in mine eyes,

Neither ſo univerſally deſpiſe

Theſe timely warnings, that they ſhall by none

To good effect, be read, and thought upon:

And, if but two or three, ſhall thereby gain

Some benefit, I have not loſt my pain.

Mine be the ſhame, if I, hereby to him

Intend diſgrace, whoſe Verſes, are my Theam.

I did but thus, his Mercury calcine

For Phyſick; Let him do as much by mine;

And, if, ought from my failings, he deduce

Which may to others, be of wholſom uſe,

I, ſhall be pleas'd; becauſe, what loſe I may

In one kind, will be gain'd another way.

But, if he hath, ſo generous a minde

As to believe he hath, I am inclinde,

He will return me thanks, that I have us'd

To no worſe purpoſe, that which he hath mus'd.

Yea, and rejoyce, that, what in ſport he writ,

This needful premonition did beget.

p. 50WHen I had pen'd this, and o'erview'd the ſame,

Therewith conſid'ring what a worm I am,

What they are, who, offence thereat may take;

What miſconstructions, Prejudice may make;

With what ſcorn and contempt it may be read;

And, having therewithal conſidered

That, I, am one adhering to no Faction,

To give me countenance in ſuch an Action.

Nor having in my ſelf, pow'r to defend me,

From Injuries, nor Patron to befriend me;

It quail'd my Courage; and I'll not diſſemble,

It made my heart ake, and my Fleſh to tremble.

And I had hid my Talent in the ground,

Ʋnleſs, a timely Cordial had been found.

But, he who gave it, my faint heart reviv'd;

From him, new Reſolutions I receiv'd,

Wherewith confirm'd, my Soul to him addreſt

Such Muſings, as are next, in Words expreſt.

LORD GOD, if, to thy-glory, this may tend,

Give it, ſome way a Paſport to that end,

And ſet thy Imprimatur thereupon;

For, Thou haſt done it, if it be well done:

If it be ſuch, as will not honour thee,

'Tis mine, and as mine, let it ſmother'd be.

I feel a ſtrong perſwaſion, in my minde,

That, hereunto, I was by thee inclinde

And, that, there may be ſomewhat more expreſt,

Whereby, thine, and the Publike Intereſt

May be advanced; which if it be ſo,

And, thou ſhalt pleaſe, to call me thereunto,

p. 51By giving me a Spirit, that may fit

So weak an Agent, to adventure it,

I'll proſecute it home, although it ſhall

Coſt all, which in this World, I mine can call.

I have been ſubject to ſome Heſitations,

Through pity, to thoſe dear and near Relations,

Which thou on me beſtow'dſt; and thereby, have

Loſt much, which by that means, I thought to ſave,

To make me take more heed, by, and from whom

All things that ſhall advantage me, muſt come:

Them, therefore, henceforth, I reſolve to truſt

To thy diſpoſal, whom, I knew ſo juſt,

That, thou of thoſe, unmindful canſt not be,

Who truly place their Confidence on thee:

And, now to fix in me, a Confidence

For time to come, upon thy Providence,

By thoſe Experiments, which I have ſeen,

I will confeſs, what thou, to me haſt been.

So univerſally thou doſt extend

Thy Love, that, all men it doth comprehend,

Who ſhall not wilfully reject thy Grace,

When thou, to them ſhalt offer an embrace;

And, all things doſt vouchſafe, which may enable

To honour thee, or make life comfortable,

So far, as we may carnal things poſſeſs,

Without obſtructing, our chief happineſs.

To evidence this gratiouſneſs of thine,

No living mans experience outgoes mine:

For, ev'ry Faculty of mine hath heard

Thy wondrous Mercies, thereunto declar'd

In its own language, to th' intelligence

As well of every Paſſión, and each ſenſe,

As of my Reaſon; ſo, that I can ſay

They have to me, abounded ev'ry way.

p. 52For ſince I knew the World (ev'n ever ſince)

Thine, extraordinary providence

Hath watched over me; and, I, from none

Have had ſubſiſtence, but, from thee alone;

Or, by thoſe, whom no temporal Relation

Could move thereto, without thine Invitation;

Kind'red have been to me, in wants and dangers,

If not my Foes, at beſt, more ſtrange then Strangers:

And, not the ſmalleſt portion of my wrong

Hath from their malice, or their envie ſprung.

Few have been more Cenſorious of my ways,

Or, apter to believe what malice ſays.

That, which my ſecret Foes deſigned had,

To ruine my eſtate, thereto did add;

And, through thy mercy, more unto me gave

Then ere I got, by all the Friends I have.

Friendſhips acquired by mine own endeavor,

And, all my own works, have been fruitleſs ever;

Except it were, to bring thoſe troubles on me,

Which have no leſs then twice or thrice undone me,

And made work for thy Mercy. Thrice, thou haſt

Redeem'd me, when in Priſon I was caſt

By Supreme Pow'r; and freed me without ſhame,

When I was threatned, by the voyce of Fame

With loſs of limb and tortures, and knew none

On whom I could rely but thee alone.

Through dangers, into ſafety, thou haſt led me;

And, when I wanted meat, by Ravens fed me.

Twice, nigh as poor as Job, I have been made;

And ev'ry time, that, which was loſt, I had

To me returned double; without cheating

The Common-Wealth; or private men defeating,

Of what to them belonged; Nor, by wiving,

(Which is to ſome, a ſudden way of thriving)

p. 53Was my Eſtate repair'd; nor thereunto,

Did I, by fawning upon Friend or Foe,

Add ought; nor ever had a Legacy

To me bequeath'd, theſe loſſes to ſupply;

But, by ſuch means, that, if I ſhould declare it,

Few would, perhaps, believe it, when they hear it.

For, I confeſs, that I my ſelf do wonder,

When paſt, and preſent things, I duly ponder,

In what great Wants, I, without Want have liv'd,

And under what Oppreſſions, I have thriv'd.

This makes the World, which hitherto hath grutcht

That, I, with what is hers ſhould be enricht,

(As many think I am) to wonder more

How I, whom ſhe intended to keep poor,

Subſiſt in her deſpight, then, how all they

Grew wealthy, who were beggars tother day:

And from her ſight, thy Bounty, being hid,

She thinks, I thrived, as her Servants did.

And, leaves no means unpractis'd, to deſtroy

That Competencie, which, I yet enjoy.

When to be thought poor, it may do me ſhame,

(Or, make me poorer, then ſhe thinks I am)

She taketh all occaſions, then, to ſay

That, more I owe, then ever I can pay.

When to be deem'd rich, may deprive of that

Which is my due; ſhe trebles my Eſtate.

But to prevent the miſchief, which thereby

Had elſe enſude, thou ſent'ſt in a ſupply;

And, always, haſt enabled me, at leaſt

To bear the weight, wherewith, I was oppreſt.

Thou, likewiſe, kept'ſt me without ſhame of face,

Maugre Detractions, malice, when Diſgrace

Was then, and there intended, where it might

With moſt diſparagement, on me alight:

p. 54And though but few, more ſcandaliz'd have been,

Few, of my Rank, have liv'd in more eſteem.

Thou, from the violence of great Oppreſſors

Of Pietie's, and Friendſhip's, falſe Profeſſors

Haſt often ſav'd me; yea, and from the Rage

Of thoſe, to whom, I long ſince did preſage

VVhat they, and I, ſaw afterward inflicted,

According as my Muſes had predicted;

And, they, who then, for that, at me did rave,

Have many yeers, lain quiet in the Grave.

In that great Peſtilence (whereof no time

Hath mentioned the like, in this our Clime)

Thou did'ſt preſerve me, when on ev'ry ſide,

In ſhort time, many twenty thouſands dide,

Though underneath the ſelf-ſame Roof I lay,

VVhere many by that Plague were took away,

That I might leave that Judgement on record,

To them who were reſerved for the ſword:

And when the Sword was ſent his work to do,

From that, thy Mercy, did preſerve me too.

Thou haſt, moreover, from the menacing

And dreadful Wrath of an incenſed King

Deliver'd me, without a Mediator,

Or back receding in the ſmalleſt matter,

From Truths aver'd. Thou from th'unjuſt intent

Of Evil Members in a Parliament

Did'ſt twice preſerve me: and, all thoſe Neglects,

Of Juſtice, and thoſe other ſad effects

Which I have ſuff'red, Demonſtrations be

VVhat, moſt men are, and what thou art to me.

Nay (which is more then this) thou haſt, thereby

Not onelyonly ſhewn to me the Vanity

Of other men; but alſo, made mine own

Deficiencies unto my ſelf, more known:

p. 55And both my Sins and Follies to appear

More my advantage, then my Vertues were:

For, thoſe things, which the Devil to undo me

Deſign'd; and whereto Fleſh and Blood did wo me,

Thou mad'ſt to be a means of Preſervations

From thoſe, and alſo, from the like Temptations;

And all the troubles, which the world brings on me,

With thoſe great Injuries which have been done me,

(Inſtead of harming me) have in the Duſt

But tumbled me, to rub away the Ruſt;

Or been a neceſſary Diſcipline,

To fit me for thoſe Services of Thine,

VVhichWhich elſe had been omitted to this day;

Or, if done, not ſo done, as now they may:

For which my Soul out of that Duſt doth raiſe

A Voice, in Hallelujahs, to thy Praiſe.

Yet leſt, theſe thy great Mercies, might at length,

Prove ineffectual, by that little ſtrength

VVhichWhich is in Fleſh and Blood, if they vvere quite

Depriv'd of that, wherein they take delight;

THOƲ, who know'ſt vvhat defects are in mans nature,

(And therefore art indulgent to thy Creature)

Haſt graciouſly been pleas'd to intermingle

VVhat might diſtaſte, or be unwholeſome ſingle;

So temp'ring ſweet vvith ſow'r, that I by neither

Might harm receive, but Good from both together:

And, vvhereſoe'er I live, doſt ſtill provide

To neighbour me, one of the Sons of Pride,

To make me vvatchful, and conſider vvell

VVhere I yet am; and, among whom I dwell.

To me, Thou likewiſe haſt vouchſaf'd a ſhare

In vvhatſoever Pleaſant doth appear

To men of all Degrees, vvho grow not mad

Or drunk, by thoſe Delights, vvhichwhich they have had:

p. 56For Poverty and Sorrow have to me

Made Common thing…, more pleaſureful to be

Then their chief Dainties, vvho to that are born

VVhichWhich muſt be won by others, ere 'tis worn;

VVho have but ſuch Enjoyments at the beſt,

As they, who come full gorged to a Feaſt.

Yet, when of thoſe Delights, I am bereav'd,

By whoſe enjoyment, I content receiv'd;

They leave not, (when departing I do finde them)

A Bitterneſs upon my Soul behinde them;

But, give the better appetite to thoſe

Whoſe taſte, and pleaſure, I ſhall never loſe:

And LORD, it flows from thy great Mercy, too,

That, fleſh and blood, ſhould willingly forgo

What conſtitutes themſelves, to place affection

Upon an inconceivable Perfection.

Though, (as Thou know'ſt) the world my Foe hath bin,

And, would afford me little ſhare therein;

A Portion I have alſo, there acquir'd

By thy Free-Grace, more then I once deſir'd:

And vvhen I coveted more to poſſeſs,

(Though by a lawful meanes,) thou mad'ſt it leſs,

To minde me, that, nought will with me indure,

Save what by Thy meer Bounty, I procure.

If, therefore, it be loſt, confeſs I muſt

That, Thy permiſſion of it will be juſt;

And, with contentment, I will let it go,

Though all the reſt, be taken from me too:

For, I moſt covet thoſe things to enjoy,

Which neither I, nor others can deſtroy:

And, though ſometime, Thy Cup imbitter'd be,

By thoſe diſtempers vvhichwhich remain in me,

I take it, naytheleſs, with true Thanksgiving,

And vvould not change my Lot with any living.

p. 57Though out of Levity and Cuſtom, too,

I, ev'ry day, think, wiſh, and ſpeak, and do

Like other fooliſh Men: yet, if I know

Mine own Mind, though Thou vvould'ſt on me beſtow

All I could vviſh, for vviſhing; I vvould vvave

That Grant: and onelyonly ask of Thee to have

VVhat Thou vvilt; and that Thou vvould'ſt take away

My Self-will, though my Life upon it lay:

For nought I now deſire, to have or be,

But what may be beſt pleaſing unto Thee:

And, if this temper could be ſtill retain'd,

Men vvould believe, vvhat they, yet, think is fain'd.

To fortifie my Faith, and that deſire

VVherewith, at preſent, Thou doſt me inſpire,

Thus of thy Mercies paſt, I have in part

Confeſſion made: and, if I know my heart,

I durſt not them before Thee thus aver,

VVho knoweſt all things, if untrue they vvere.

Yet, pardon my miſtakes, if any be,

And, make, what I conceive thou art to me,

A Pledge, of what thou wilt be, to mine end.

Above all other Enemies, defend

And, ſave me from my ſelf: For, World nor Devil,

Can then inflict upon me any evil,

That ſhall deprive me of ought tranſitory,

Which may advance my welfare, or thy Glory.

Next to my ſelf, my ſecond-ſelf, and They

Who ſprung from us, do ſtand moſt in the way

To hinder me, in that, whereto, my minde

Perſwadeth me, it is by thee inclinde:

For, my reſpect to them, I muſt confeſs,

Oft, makes me guilty of faint-heartedneſs.

Oh! be ſo merciful to them and me,

That, neither of us, may a Grievance be

p. 58Unto each other, in vvhat doth pertain

To Thy Affairs, whilſt vve on Earth remain;

Or make us, vvith Reluctancy, to ſpare

Our ſelves to ſerve Thee; Or, vvhat is more dear

To either, then our ſelves: But, give each other

To thee, that we in thee, may live together

VVhen we are called hence, and timely know

Our Bliſs conſiſts not in things here below.

I know, Thou art vvell pleas'd it ſhould be thus,

And that, hereto Thou wilt enable us:

For, though I feel them, to be ſomewhat neerer

Unto my Fleſh, Thou to my Soul art dearer;

And, as thou gav'ſt them vvhen they vvere deſir'd,

I'll back return them, vvhen they are requir'd,

VVith mine own Soul to boot: Do not diſpiſe

This All; For, in theſe, All, I ſacrifice.

To Thee, for theſe Relations, I am Debter,

Then vvhichwhich I know no man enjoyeth better,

VVho meriteth ſo little the poſſeſſing

Of any extraordinary Bleſſing.

Yet, if thou haſt a Work to call me to,

By which, I may my Self, and them undo,

I'll undertake it, ſo, Thou ſtand but by me,

And ſhalt thereto, with needful Pow'r ſupply me.

Yea, though Thou ſhalt no more Thy Bleſſings double

As heretofore; but waſte away in trouble

(By multiplied Sufferings, Wants, and Grief)

The remnant of my, yet, prolonged Life;

I am reſolv'd, that, I will never more

Thereat, repine again, as heretofore:

But onelyonly pray, my Sins, may be forgiven,

Believe, and love, and ſeek my LOT in Heav'n.

LORD, keep me in this minde; and then, let MAN,

World, Fleſh, and Devil, do the worſt they can.

p. 59Sarcaſmus Aenigmaticus. Hereto is added the following Riddle, with the occaſion of compoſing it, as neither altogether impertinent to what precedes, nor to what is counſelled by this Portion of Scripture;

Anſwer a Fool, according to his fooliſhneſs, leſt he be wiſe in his own conceit, Prov. 26.5.

AS well, to Foes, as Friends, I thought it fit

To ſhew this Poem, ere I publiſh'd it,

Becauſe a Foe, ſometimes, lets fall a word,

Which (heeded well) more Caution may afford

Then friendly Cenſurers: And, to that end,

When I to ſome had read what here is pen'd;

By them, propoſed jeering Queſtions were,

Fit for no Anſwer but by Counter-jeer.

Yet I will Anſwer them, when unto me

This following RIDDLE, ſhall unriddl'd be.

WHat may that be, which, when it is Expreſt

Is most Unknown? Is Worſt, when 'tis at Beſt?

And when it is at Greateſt, then 'tis Leaſt?

'Tis Black and White, Red, Yellow, Blew and Green;

Yet, Underſtood, Felt, Smelt, Heard, Taſted, Seen;

Neither now is, nor ſhall be, nor hath been.

p. 60To any one, who tells me what it is,

That's anſwerable ev'ry way to this,

I do engage; and thereto ſet my hand,

To tell him any thing he doth demand.

George Wither.

ERRATA.

PAge 1. line 20 for Vines, read Pines.

Page 9. line 25. for Super-added, read Superſeded.

Page 18. line 32. for becauſe, read became.

Page 22. line 8. for all, read of.

Page 23. line 11. for puff'd, read paſs.

Page 24. line 14. put out or.