A Voice Tending to the Pacification of Gods Wrath, Canto 2

A Voice Tending to the Pacification of Gods Wrath · Canto 2

p. 35The ſecond Canto.

The Contents.

This Canto's Preface being done,

The VOICE, to theſe effects, goes on;

Tells, how unworthy we are yet,

For Peace deſired, how unfit:

How vain, how harmfull Treaties be,

Till both Sides, in one Third agree;

And (laying by ignoble ends,)

Vſe likely meanes of being Friends.

Shewes, that the Peace, which moſt purſue▪

Will be nor permanent, nor true.

Then, that ſome Cures may heappli'd,

Declares which Parts are putrifi'd;

Which muſt be purg'd, without delay;

Or, cauteriz'd, or cut away,

If we will, e're it be too late,

Recure this weake, this dying State.

THe VOICE and Muzings, hitherto expreſt,

In me, ſo ſad, ſo ſerious Thoughts had left,

And, ſtamped them ſo deep into my breſt,

That, of it health, my Body they bereft:

p. 36And, e're my former ſtrength could be renew'd

(Or thoſe Affaires diſpens'd with, which deny

To be, at will, delayed or purſu'd)

Three moneths of Relaxation paſſed by:

And, in that ſpace, was op'ned ſuch a Sluce

To Interruptions, diſcompoſing ſo

My meditations; that, them to reduce

To their late temper, I had much adoe.

Oh GOD! from me, how faſt good motions fly!

How long are they unborn! how ſoon they dy!

My heart, that is corrupt enough to know

What any wicked man can think or ſay,

Before my feet, began harſh rubs to throw,

And, caſt great ſtumbling blocks orethwart my way.

When I had ſome remov'd, Loe, (with a jeere)

A thought within me ſaid; If nothing elſe

But Vertue guides thy Pen, what needed here,

All that, which of thy Selfe, this Poem tells?

Why mention'ſt thou (as if thou wert afraid

Thy Readers knew not, or forgot the ſame)

What thou fore-toldſt? what thou haſt thought or ſaid?

And what events on thy Predictions came?

And, in a Magiſteriall-ſtraine haſt ſpoke,

As if thou for a Prophet wouldſt be took?

Indeed, my Vanities, I find to be

More then enough, my Muſings to expoſe

To miſ-conſtructions; and, to bring on me

The ſharp reſult of ſuch like thoughts as thoſe:

For, never could I fix my mind upon

GOD'S Work ſo cloſely, but, Charrs great or ſmall,

Have ſtill been there with brought me to be done,

By thoſe old Haglers, whom I live withall.

Ev'n in this Taske, (though GOD ſtands over me

With Fire, and Sword) ſuch failings will appear,

And, ſo imperfect my endeavours bee,

…, much I grieve, to think how vain they are;

p. 37And feard, they had been but effects of pride,

Till thus, for me, another Thought replide.

GOD, pleaſed ſeemes, to make thy Vices do

Thoſe duties, which thy Virtues leave undone.

And what though this may add (if it prove ſo)

Diſhonour to thy ſelf, ſo GOD have none?

If thou thy Thoughts, haſt cloathed in ſuch words,

And, them in ſuch a dreſſing, forth ſhall ſend,

As beſt advantage to thy Selfe affords,

Why ſhould it any other man offend?

Or, if thou addeſt ought for thine own praiſe,

Why ſhould an envious Reader grudge the ſame,

Since Malice, and Diſpight, have many waies,

To turn ſuch empty Glories, to thy ſhame?

Or, why ſhouldſt thou forbeare, if cauſe thou find,

To make thy words help fortifie thy mind?

Thine own expreſſions, are ſometime the Charmes

Which waken thy Reſolves that were aſleep:

Thy Heart, the repetition of them warmes;

Thy Spirit from dejection they do keep.

The mentioning what GOD hath for thee done,

Or, what he hath inabled thee to do,

May to his glorie be inſiſted on;

And, otherwhile, to thy advantage too.

Why then, through Feare of witleſſe Cenſurers,

(Or, of an ayrie ſcoffe, ſhouldſt thou omit

Thy ſelfe to mention, or thine own affaires,

When thou (on good occaſion) thinkſt it fit?

Since, if thy Muſes would be ſo confin'd,

They to themſelues were traytors, or unkind.

And, to make voyd what ſhall well purpos'd be,

There intervene ſo many caſualties,

By miſ-conceiving, or miſ-knowing thee,

Sometime, ſuch Inconveniences ariſe,

As that, it may eſſentially advance

Thy Work in hand, if ſome few lines be ſpent,

p. 38To add, or to inlarge a circumſtance,

Which captious men may think impertinent;

For, when the Matter moves not that reſpect,

Which is deſir'd, perhaps, the Manner may:

And, if thou honeſtly thy hopes effect,

What though Fools think, that thou the Fool didſt play?

Although harſh doomes, this age to thee affords,

The Times to come, will give thee better words.

Thus ſpake my Thoughts; But, little do I care

How I am judg'd, ſave only for their ſake,

On whom thoſe Verities, which I declare,

May thereby, more or leſſe impreſſion make.

The care I tooke, was how to hear again

The VOICE, which I conceiv'd had much to ſay,

That to this Iſlands peace doth appertaine;

If, what is councelled, men would obey.

For, well I ſaw, although unſeen it was

By many, (and too well perceiv'd by ſome)

That ſuch a Time, was well nigh come to paſſe,

As my preceding Canto, ſaid ſhould come,

Before, the VOICE I heard, the reſt would ſay,

Of that, which was begun the other day.

Yea, I diſcovered them, on either ſide,

To be diſtracted and confounded, ſo,

By that which falſhood, policie, and pride,

Selfe-will, and Avarice, hath brought them to;

That, I began to feele my ſelfe affraid,

Deſtruction might or'e-whelme this Generation,

Before there would be meanes to hear, that ſaid,

Which may, perhaps, prevent out deſolation.

Aſſoon therefore, as GOD to me reſtor'd

Decayed ſtrength, and my infirmities,

Did Opportunities, and time afford,

I recompos'd my ſcatt'red faculties;

And, being then retir'd, and noiſe alaid,

The VOICE that ſpake before, thus, further ſaid.

p. 39Come Weakling, fit thy ſoule, prepare thine care,

Gird up thy loines, and ſet thy ſelfe apart,

That thou, the more intentively, mayſt heare

What, ſhall be further ſpoken to thy heart.

That TREATY, now, is at a fruitleſſe end

Which interrupted what I had to ſay:

That Hope, whereon ſo many did depend,

Is, like a faire bright Morning, paſt away

And, leaves you in a Cloud, that ſeemes to threat

A terrible tempeſtuous After-noone;

Which, you with many Feares, will round beſet,

Before the Day of Triall, ſhall be done:

And, therefore, that which will be now declar'd,

May, peradventure, find the more regard.

You look for Peace, (and he who well can ſing

That Song, deſerveth highly to be priz'd)

But, who can thither ſuch a bleſſing bring,

Where all Conditions of it are deſpis'd?

Or, what, as yet, have they to do with peace,

Whom theſe Corrections, move not to repent?

Whoſe Wickedneſſe, doth rather more increaſe,

Then ſeem abated, by their chaſtiſement?

Who can expect, the fretting Coroſives

Should be removed from your Feſt'ring ſore

Vntill the skillfull Surgeon firſt perceives,

It may, with healing ſalves be plaiſtred o're,

Vnleſſe, he rather hath a minde to ſee

The patient ruined, then cur'd to be?

How few haſt thou obſerv'd, whoſe former courſe

Is better'd by thoſe Plagues, which now are on them?

How many, rather, do appear the worſe?

And, to be more corrupt then thou haſt known them?

In what perpetuall broiles are they involved,

Who, for the publike welfare, moſt endeavour?

How friendleſſe are they, who are beſt reſolved?

And, in good reſolutions, dare perſever?

p. 40How many, into Parties quicklie band

A queſtioned Malignant to protect?

How few men, for that Innocent, will ſtand,

Whom Malice doth accuſe, or but ſuſpect?

And who now lives, and loves the Common-Right,

Who ſuffers not ſome inſolent deſpight?

Though moſt men ſee diſtractions hanging over

Their giddie heads; their Tragedie begun;

And, round about them, nothing can diſcover,

But univerſall Ruine drawing on;

Ambition, Malice, Avarice, and Pride,

Selfe-will, Selfe-love, Hypocriſie, and Guile,

As arrogantly ſtill on horſe-back ride,

As if no Plague had ſeized on this Iſle.

This man for Place; that, ſtriveth for Command;

Pretends the Publike-weale, but, ſeekes his Own;

And cares not, ſo he profit by the hand,

Though Law and Goſpell too, be overthrown:

And, He that in defence of them doth come,

Findes furious Foes abroad, and worſe at home.

In ev'rie Shire, in ev'rie Town and Citie,

The Kingdoms diſcords are epitomiz'd:

In everie Corporation, and Committee,

Some Engine for Diviſion is deviz'd.

Occaſions daily ſpring, each man ingaging,

To ſide with, or ſtand leaning, to ſome Faction,

And, by new quarrells, more and more enraging

Their Furie, to the heightning of Diſtraction.

An Emblem of which madneſſe, he might draw,

Who ſaw, within an old thatch'd Barne on fire,

Poore beggars quarrelling for louſie ſtraw,

(Or dunghill rags, new raked from the mire)

Who will nor heed their harmes, nor leave to brawl,

Vntill the Flames conſume Rogues, Rags, and All.

How can calme Peace be timelie wooed thither,

Where men ſo brutiſh are in their diſſentions,

p. 41And, where the meanes of knitting them together,

Are ſtill occaſions made of new contentions?

How can theſe Iles have Peace that are ſo vitious?

And, who have Factious Spirits rais'd on them,

As wilfully diſpos'd, as thoſe Seditious,

Who brought deſtruction on Hieruſalem?

How can they looke for Peace, while they contrive

Deſignes, enlarging, ſtill, their diſcontent?

While Policie, doth wedges daily drive,

Twixt ev'ry joynt, to make a cureleſſe rent?

And, while to mend the breaches of this Land

Ther's nothing brought, but pebble-ſtones and ſand?

Who can unite again a Broken-bone,

Whoſe parted ends, are ſet the from ward way?

How long will oyle and water mix in One?

Or, things quite Oppoſite together ſtay?

There are betwixt you ſuch Antipathies,

And ſuch abhominatings of each other,

That, in no ordinarie Power it lies,

To knit you in a perfect League together:

And 'tis not poſſible, your feſt'ring ſores,

Should ever heal, while in them there is found

That putrified fleſh, and rotten cores,

Which keep from cloſing, and from growing ſound?

And which will ſuddenly break forth again,

Augmenting more your hazzard, and your pain?

How can theſe miſerable Iſles have Peace,

While Juſtice, nor Compaſſion find regard?

While they who ſhould protect, do moſt oppreſſe?

Where ſin ſcapes blame, and Virtue wants reward?

How can he hope for Peace, that would enjoy

His wiſh on any termes? And, for the Shade,

The Subſtance of that merciemercy quite deſtroy,

Which might by patient Induſtrie be had?

Or, how can he be worthy of that Bleſſing,

Who (knowing how much, lately it hath coſt,

p. 42In bloud and Treaſure) would the repoſſeſſing

Of that deare purchaſe, for a toy, have loſt?

And, everlaſtingly, himſelfe undo,

To ſatisfie his Luſt, a yeare or two?

Who knoweth not, that much more dread you have,

Leſt of Eſtate, or Perſon, you ſhould loſe

The loved Freedomes; then to be a Slave

To him, whoſe Tyranny, the Soule undoes?

For, to that end you Give, you Lend, you Pay;

To that intent, ſtrict Covenants you make;

To that intent, you ſometimes Faſt and Pray;

To that intent, much Paines and Care you take.

Yea, many goodly things to that intent

You daily do, and many moe, intend:

But, your Peace-offrings, all in vaineare ſpent,

Till you direct them to their proper end;

And, till the Peace, for which your Suits you make,

Shall be deſir'd for Truths, and Mercies ſake.

Who ſees not, that a Peace you now deſire

For nought, but that you might againe enjoy

Your luſts; and, to thoſe Vanities retire,

Wherein you did your former dayes employ?

Who ſeeth not, that, like to thoſe Iſraelites,

Whom from th' Aegyptian Bondage GOD redeem'd,

You have the pleaſing of your Appetites,

Much more than your Deliverer eſteem'd?

Their Garlick, and their Fleſh-pots left behind,

They thought on more, than on that Servitude,

From which they came; and, more than they did mind,

Thoſe Wonders, and that MercieMercy, which GOD ſhew'd:

And, you have acted, as in imitation

Of that perverſe, and fooliſh generation.

You have forgot, already, to what height

Of Tyranny and Pride, the Court was rear'd;

What Projects for Oppreſſion, were in ſight;

What Injuries you felt, and what you fear'd.

p. 43You ſeeme to have forgot, to what degree

Of Inſolence the Prelacie was come:

How, generally, you began to be

Bewitched, by the Sorceries of Rome.

You, have not ſo obſerved, as you ought,

How neare, unto a helpleſſe overthrow,

You (by your Foes confederacies) were brought,

Before their purpoſe did apparant grow;

Nay, you yet heed not, what will ſoone betide,

If, now, from good-beginnings back you ſlide.

But, as afore-ſaid, like the ſottiſh Iewes,

(Who, of the Humane-nature, and of You,

Are perfect Types) GODS favours you abuſe;

And, ſo, your owne Inventions, you purſue.

Though like their Fierie-pillar, and their Cloud,

A ſpeciall Providence hath been your Guard;

An unbeleeving heart, your deeds have ſhow'd;

And, you of ev'rie Bug-beare are afeard.

Like them (ev'n while the Law to you is giving,

And all this Iland, like Mount Sinai ſmokes)

New Worſhips, and new GODS you are contriving;

Like them, you ſleight his Benefits, and ſtrokes;

And, in your Provocations, are as daring,

While he is Reſt and Peace, for you preparing.

So, you forget, how great your Bondage was,

And whereunto you fear'd it might encreaſe;

So, thoſe great Marvailes you ſtill over-paſſe,

Which GOD hath wrought, to perfect your releaſe:

So, when by ſome new Streight, your Faith he tries,

You wiſh that in your Bondage, you had ſtaid:

So, your Deliverers, you ſcandalize;

As if by them, your Freedomes were betray'd:

So, murmure you, when any thing you lack;

So, you, deſpaire, when carnall props decay;

So, ev'rie difficultie turnes you back,

And ſtands like Seas, and Gyants in your way:

p. 44And, ſo, through miſ-beleefe, your ſelves deprive

Of Bleſſings, which your Children ſhall receive.

And, thus it comes to paſſe, becauſe, like them

You are a ſtupid and a fooliſh Nation,

Who your Deliverances do contemne;

And, are like them, without conſideration.

Elſe, grudge you would not, for that, you are more

Imbroyl'd by ſeeking to preſerve your due,

And put to greater charges, than before

Your Vindication you did firſt purſue:

For, Prudent men, will while they are at eaſe,

Be willingly made ſick; and beare the coſt

Of Phyſick, for the cure of that diſeaſe,

Through which, ere long, their lives might elſe be loſt:

Yea, ev'rie ruſtick Seed-man, ſowes in hope,

(Advent'ring much) e're he receives a crop.

You juſtly might ſuppoſe, that Patients wit

Much craz'd, that when good phyſick works upon him,

Straight wiſheth, he had never taken it;

Cries out, that his Phyſitians have undone him;

Becauſe, they made him ſick, e're he was ſo:

Drinks, eats, and acts, both what and when he will;

Yea, thereby makes himſelfe more ſick to grow,

And cauſes that which would have cur'd, to kill.

Yet, this is your condition: and, if, now,

In this diſtemper'd, and unto ward plight,

Your kind Phyſitian had deſerted you,

(As for your peeviſhneſſe, he juſtly might)

Your labours paſt, and thoſe you ſhall beſtow,

Will prove like Arrowes, from a warped Bow.

You mark not, what great wonders GOD hath wrought,

To move your hardned Pharaohs to relent;

And that from ſlaveries, you might be brought,

Nor heed you, what your Foes, for you invent.

A thouſand things, unthought on, you let go,

Of conſequence, which wrought for you have bin,

p. 45Since your Deliverer began to ſhow

An Outlet, from the Bondage you were in.

As, in what dreadfull manner, in one place,

He ſeized by an unſeen-meſſenger,

A bold Tranſgreſſor (who ſo daring was,

As to provoke the Devill to appeare)

And, ſmoth'red him in loathſome ſmoke and ſtink,

Whilſt he preſum'd blaſphemous healths to drink.

You do not mark, how oftentimes the Plot,

Againſt you layd, hath croſſed been by Him,

When, elſe, you had no knowledge thereof got;

Nor, to prevent it, either Pow'r, or Time.

You have not memorized, as you ought,

How, GOD himſelfe, when your own ſtrength did faile,

For you, againſt your Enemies hath fought;

And made you conquer, when they did prevaile.

How wondrouſly, a Remnant, for a Seed,

In Ireland, he preſerves: how oft from ſpoile,

Your Garriſons and Armies, he hath freed,

When they have been in hazard of a foile:

Nor do you mind, how oft, him thank you may,

For ſaving, what, you would have fool'd away.

You ponder not, how often he hath ſav'd,

Where no Salvation was; how neare at hand,

He ſtill was found, when you protection crav'd;

And, when deſtruction over-hung the Land.

You have not heeded, how the Sapleſſe-breſt

Of wither'd Age, (when raging crueltie

The child of murth'red Parents had diſtreſt)

Did wonderfully, thereto milk ſupply:

Nor, for how many thouſand Families,

He food provides, whom War hath quite undone:

Nor, how his Grace reſtraines their Poverties,

From Outrage, whereinto they elſe had run;

And which, ere long, attempted you will ſee,

Vnleſſe more Iuſt, and Mercifull you bee.

p. 46You, hardly yet believe, that, in concluſion

The miſchiefs, by your Adverſaries done,

Muſt be the Ground-worke of their own confuſion;

Or, that your Peace is by this War begun.

You mark not, that when firſt the ſottiſh Dane,

Preparing was, your cauſleſſe Foes to aid,

GOD, then, to call him to account began,

For all that bloud whereon his Throne was laid:

Nor how, ev'n then, GOD faſtned in his noſe

The Swediſh-hooke, and found him work at home,

To ſhew, that He of Princes doth diſpoſe;

And, what of wilfull-Tyrants will become,

Though, by permiſſion, for a while, they may

The Fooles, or Mad-men, on their ſtages play.

You mark not, with ſuch thankfull obſervations,

As would become you, that, GOD's providence,

(Though you are threatned by ſome other Nations)

Hath (by ingagements) kept them yet, from hence.

And many other things unheeded are,

Which muſt conſid'red be, ere you aright

Your hearts, and your affections can prepare,

For ſuch a Peace, as will be worth your ſight.

Yea, many things muſt be repented too,

And much amended, ere you may expect,

That either ſwords, or words this work will do;

Or Blowes, or Treaties, bring your wiſht effect.

The Peace of GOD you never can poſſeſſe,

But, by attonement, with the GOD of Peace.

You, by a Treaty, had a hope to ſee

A Peace concluded on. But how alas!

How poſſibly may that accompliſht be!

Till means is found to bring it well to paſſe?

The Mediums to that work, are wanting, yet,

By which, the Parties who at variance are,

Should reconcile; and they themſelves have ſet

Too farre aſunder, to be brought ſo neare.

p. 47There wants a Third, by whom they ſhould unite:

For, moſt who are imploid as Inſtruments,

To joyne them, in Diviſions take delight:

And, private-intereſts, that work prevents;

Becauſe, when theſe, the way to Peace ſhall take,

Themſelves obnoxious to the Lawes they make.

The chiefeſt outward-Inſtruments, whereby

To joyne a King and Subjects diſunited,

Was wont to be that Chriſtian Charity,

By which the neighb'ring Princes were invited

To mediate, and labour to compoſe

Their diff'rences. As firſt, by friendly Words,

And prudent Arguments, perſwading thoſe

Who ſeem'd unjuſtly to have drawne their ſwords.

By threatnings, next: And, if nor argument,

Nor interceſſion, nor ſharp menaces

Prevail'd; they then, to help the innocent,

As they inabled were, would ſomtimes pleaſe;

Leſt, an unbounded, and uſurped pow'r

Should all oppreſſe, and all at laſt devoure.

But you have no ſuch hope; For, all the States,

And all the Kings and Princes, near, or farre,

Which were your Friends, and your Confederates,

Neglecters of this pious duty are.

The Swedes, the Germans, and thoſe other Nations,

Who really compaſſionate your griefe,

Are ſo ingag'd, for their own preſervations,

That, thence you neither can expect reliefe,

Nor means of an Attonement. From the Dane,

(Your old Oppreſſor) you long ſince, had found

What he reſolv'd; unleſſe, the Swede had tane

Occaſion to imploy him in the Sound:

And, ſhould the French, or Spaniard intercede,

Againſt their own Deſignments, they might plead.

Th'Vnited Netherlands, who to purſue

This dutie, are oblig'd, beyond them all,

p. 48And, who (unleſſe they prove both falſe to you,

And to themſelves) themſelves remember ſhall:

Ev'n they have hitherto but only ſent

Iobs comforters unto you: or, perchance

To practiſe here, ſome peece of complement,

Which they have newly learn'd from Spaine, or France:

Ot, elſe, to ſee a patterne of that Plague,

Which muſt, from hence, tranſlated thither bee,

When they have quite forgotten their old league

With you, who ſpent your bloud, to ſet them free;

When they, in danger were to be enſlav'd,

As you are now, and, for aſſiſtance crav'd,

Now, whether theſe are blinded by ſome ſin

That cals for Vengeance; or, by ſome poore hope,

New works on this Iles ruines, to begin;

Or, whether Providence hath made that ſtop,

To fruſtrate ſuch like meanes, that, you might flie

To him alone; it doth not yet appeare:

But, will ere long. Meanewhile, the certaintie

Of this, becometh manifeſtly cleare;

That, GOD ſuſpendeth ev'rie help to Peace,

Which forraine Aid, or forraine interceſſion

Are like to add; and, ſuffers an encreaſe

Of jars at home, which threaten your perdition:

For, ev'rie thing eſſentiall to that bleſſing,

Are, well-nigh, taken out of your poſſeſſion.

Moſt Circumſtances, thereunto pertaining,

Are miſſing too. For, on th'one ſide, at leaſt,

There's not ſo much as willingneſſe remaining,

To further what they have in word, profeſt.

The Spheres in which they move, divert them from

A true Coujunction; and, from all Aſpects,

From whence good Influences uſe to come,

Or, any laſting peaceable-effects.

It is deſtructive to their maine Defigne,

And to their Principles, to make true Peace;

p. 49Or, with a faithfull purpoſe, to incline

To ſeek this Iſlands reall happineſſe.

Nor ſhould you think ſuch purpoſes they had,

Till, in their courſe, you ſee them retrograde.

As ſoon ſhall he that Weſtward alway goes,

Meet him, that ſtill an Eaſtward point doth ſteere,

As your two Factions firme together cloſe,

Till they, in their chiefe-aimes, approach more neer:

For, th'one is bent, the other to inſlave;

That other, is reſolved to be free:

The Laſt, would keep what GOD and Nature gave;

The Firſt, would ſeize, what ought not theirs to be.

And, theſe, from reconcilement are ſo farre,

That, all their kindneſſe is but to betray:

When moſt they talk of Peace, they purpoſe Warre;

When they embrace, they meane to ſtab and ſlay:

And, when they make you think the Warre is done,

The greateſt miſchiefe will be but begun.

Beſide, as yet, nor th'one, nor th'other ſide,

Nor King, nor People, Commoners, nor Peers,

Nor Flocks, nor Shepheards, have the courſe yet tride,

By which you can be ſaved from your feares.

A TREATIE may complete it: But, before

You venture that, you muſt be fit to Treat.

For, then, the work were half-way done, and more:

And, till that be, no ſtep you forward get.

In heat of quarrells, nothing done or ſpoke,

Can reconcile: a friends words move them not:

The more they talk, the more the peace is broke,

Till they their loſt conſid'ring-caps have got;

Till their hot bloud is cool'd, till rage is gone;

And, Reaſon doth examine them alone.

Then, peradventure, they with ſhame will view

Their overſights, their furiouſneſſe repent,

Diſtinguiſh Truths, from things that are untrue;

And, by that quarrell, future jarres prevent.

p. 50Thus likewiſe, when GOD, thereto ſaies Amen,

Your Diſagreements here, ſhall have an end:

Your Diſcords will be then allaid agen,

And, he that's now a Foe, ſhall be a Friend.

But, you muſt find, before this can be done,

A Preparation, and a Ground-work laid,

(With ſuch an alteration wrought upon

Your Hearrs) that Reaſon may be more obey'd:

GOD, make this Preparation; For, by none

But by himſelfe, this work may now be done.

When you may hope a Treaty will prevaile,

Good Symptoms, you to uſher it ſhall ſee;

Inducing you to hope it ſhall not faile:

And, for a taft, they ſuch as theſe will be.

Both ſides will to ſome Courſe themſelves apply

That ſhall declare their hearts are growing-lean;

Themſelves they will endeavour to deny;

Their tongues will nothing ſpeake, but what they mean.

You ſhall perceive more Juſtice, to be ſhowne;

More Charity among you will appear;

They will be meek, who to be proud were knowne;

Contentions will be fewer then they were;

And, they who on the Publike-Truſt attend,

Will leſſe abuſe it, for their private end.

A Change, thus wrought; theſe Virtues, in a while,

Will every where, beget themſelves eſteem:

By their eſteem the Fire-brands of this Jſle,

Will daily more abhominable ſeem:

That loathing of thoſe Monſters will increaſe

The number of true Converts: By that number,

The growing of Malignancie will ceaſe,

And Newters be awakened from their ſlumber:

By their awakening, ſuch will be affraid

Who have not gone malitiouſly aſtray:

That Feare will quickly make them well apaid

To leave their ſtanding, in the ſinners way,

p. 51And, when theſe from that Station ſhall be gone,

It will bring ſcorne upon the Scorners Throne.

Thus, as at firſt, Malignancie was bred

By ill example, and miſ-informations;

So, Good affections, will revive and ſpread,

And ſtrengthen by their changed Converſations.

Then, will ariſe a longing to be free

From your Imbroylments; with ſo true a ſight

Of preſent miſchiefs, and of what may be,

That, in the meanes of Peace, you will delight.

And, then, both Parties will be pleas'd to meet

On one ſet day, to fall with humbleneſſe,

For their foule bloudie ſins, before GODS feet,

Whoſe MercieMercy, far exceeder their wickedneſſe;

And he, perhaps, will make that complement,

An earneſt of your generall aſſent.

When ſuch like inclinations do appear,

(Both parties moving on, in ſome ſuch way,

As here is pointed at) they who draw neare

At firſt in generals, will every day,

Aſſent in ſome particular or other,

Till they who now ſo much divided be,

Shall lovingly unite again together,

And in one Diſcipline and Faith agree.

But, doubtleſſe, not till they themſelves deny,

And more forbeare, when they negotiate,

From ſeeking in their publike Agencie,

To ſerve and ſave themſelves, before the State;

Whoſe weale, to all men ſhould be dearer, far,

Then their eſtates, their lives, and honours are.

Nay, till both Parties do, at leaſt, agree

In all thoſe common principles, whereby

Humane Societie, preſerv'd may be,

With Nations Rights, and Chriſtian Libertie;

All Treaties will be miſcheevous, or vaine,

To men adhering to the better Courſe:

p. 52For, by ſuch Threatnings, Polititians gaine

Advantages, to make your being worſe.

Yea, by that meanes, theſe find occaſions may

To gaine, or give intelligence; to make

New plots, and friends; to haſten or delay,

As cauſe requires; and, other wayes to take

For their availe, which els they had not got:

And which true honeſty alloweth not.

Nor can, in any cauſe, a Treaty bring

More miſchief then in your; till on each ſide

The Parties treating, are in ev'ry thing

(Thereto pertaining) rightly qualifi'd:

Becauſe, when Forraigners alone are Foes,

Tis hard corrupting more then one or two;

Whereas, here want not multitudes of thoſe,

That, willingly, their Countrey would undo.

Nay, ſome among you are ſo void of reaſon,

To buy their Traytorſhips; and other ſome,

By conſcience, ſeem obliged to the treaſon:

And, theſe will to a Treatie never come,

To make true reconcilement; but, to gather

Advantages, for ſome new miſchief, rather.

You are this way, and many other wayes,

Corrupted ſo, ſo falſe, and ſo unfit

For Peace deſired; and for thoſe aſſayes,

Whereby you may acquire that bleſſing, yet,

That you muſt cleanſed be from that pollution

Which brought this curſe upon you; and whereby

Thoſe means are vainly put in execution,

Which might procure a bleſſed Vnity.

There is ſo little honeſty among you,

And your diſcretion is become ſo ſmall,

That they who moſt apparently do wrong you,

(And ſeek your Souls and Bodies to inthrall)

Have more incouragements, to help undo you,

Then they, who offer means of ſafety to you.

p. 53Inſtead of being linked faſt, in one,

Againſt the common-Foe, you have permitted

That band of amity to be und one,

Whoſe preſervation had theſe times befitted.

You, that in Fundamentalls do agree,

Are ſo divided about Circumſtances,

(Which might, at better leiſure, ſetled be)

That your Deſtroyers projects it advances:

And, if with ſpeed you cement not the breaches,

That which (ere long) muſt thereupon enſue,

Experience (which the verieſt ideots teaches;)

Will, to your greater ſorrow, daily ſhew;

Till you of all, are by thoſe foes deſpoil'd,

Whom you by good attonement might have foil'd.

You are a fickle, and inconſtant Nation,

Your ſerious promiſes deſerve no truſt;

Your words are full of baſe diſſimulation,

Your thoughts are vanity, your deeds unjuſt.

Your vertues are but few, your vices many;

Great is your Folly, and your Wiſdome ſmall;

Your Principles are ſuch (if you have any)

That, from your beſt reſolves you quickly fall.

With jealouſies, each other you purſue;

You misbelieve, and find, as you believ'd:

You, nor to GOD, nor men continue true:

And, therefore, of much comfort are bereav'd,

Which by their friendſhip might have been poſſeſt,

Who keep to you, that Faith which they profeſt.

Betwixt you, and your Brethren of the North,

The ſeeds of Diſcord ſecretly are ſown:

Much paine ſome take to make them tillow forth,

Diſſentions coales in ev'ry place are thrown;

And theſe by Folly, and by Malice, too,

So wilfully are blown by either ſide,

So ſcattered, and toſſed to and fro,

And ſo much fewell is to them appli'd;

p. 54That, if the patience of the Stottiſh-Nation

Exceed not Common-meaſure: If more true

They prove not to their Vowes, their Proteſtations,

And Chriſtian-principles, than ſome of You,

A worſe Diviſion will betwixt you ſpring,

Than this, between the People and the King.

For, this will in another Age abate,

But, that, unleſſe GODS grace prevent it ſhall,

Will grow into an everlaſting hate,

Or, bring a ſpeedy ruine on you all.

Now therefore, in both Nations, let thoſe few

Who faithfull are, firme in their Faith abide.

Now, let them to their Principles be true;

Now, let the Patience of the Saints be tri'd.

His laſt great Batt'rie, ANTICHRIST now reares,

His deepeſt Mines, againſt you ſinking be,

His pow'rfull Army, muſtred now appeares,

His chiefeſt Cunning, now, employeth he.

Oh! let him not by Force your Strength diſ-joyne,

Nor, by his fraud, your Counſels undermine.

But, let your Faith and Courage ſo prevaile,

That you may better Fixed-Stars appeare,

Than they, who daily by the Dragons-Taile,

Are ſmitten, or affrighted from their Spheare;

That, you may thoſe Elected-Ones be ſound,

Who cannot by Deceivers, be deceiv'd;

That, with thoſe Conquerours you may be crown'd,

Who ſhall not of their Garlands be bereav'd:

That, of the Kingdome, ſeizure you may take,

Which GOD, on Perſeverers doth beſtow;

And, not be ſhut from thence, by looking back,

When you have ſet your hands unto the plough.

In this Back-ſliding, ſome already are:

Some, nearer to it, than they are aware.

For, ſo imprudent are Men diſcontent,

That, to avenge their perſonall neglects,

p. 55Complaints for private injuries, they vent

As Nationall-affronts, and diſ-reſpects;

Whereas, it is apparent ev'rie day,

That, many members of each ſev'rall Nation,

Do ſuffer, by their owne, as much as they,

In Perſon, in Eſtate, and Reputation:

And, that both Nations, mutually have ſhowne,

(Vnleſſe, perhaps, among the baſer ſort)

As loving a reſpect as to their owne,

And, therefore, let not Prudent-men retort

Miſtaken wrongs; or quarrels be begun

'Twixt them, for that, which Fooles and Knaves have done.

Let not thoſe jealouſies, which were perchance

Devis'd by them, who in your ſpoiles delight,

Make you, imprudently, their ends advance,

And you, to their Advantage, diſ-unite.

If ſome of them, diſcourteſies have ſhowne,

To ſome of yours; or, injuries have done;

It is no more than you, unto your owne

Have offred oft, ſince firſt this War begun.

An Army cannot poſſibly be free

From all Injuſtice; and, yet, oftentimes

Ill-will, and men who diſ-contented be,

Will make complaints, much larger than the crimes.

But curſed be their malice, and their tongues,

Who Nations would divide for private wrongs.

Your Fathers felt, and ſome of you have heard,

The Deadly-Fewds, betweene you heretofore;

Which, if your owne well-being you regard,

Would make you glad it might be ſo no more:

And entertaine, and cheriſh with all dearneſſe,

The brotherly Affection, which that Nation

Hath late expreſt; and with a true ſincereneſſe,

Be carefull of your mutuall preſervation.

Yea, if the ſons of Belial, and of Blindneſſe,

On either Partie, rightly underſtood,

p. 56How greatly, to perpetuate this kindneſſe

Between the Nations, it concernes their good,

(Ev'n in thoſe outward things which they reſpect)

They would not your diſ-union, ſo project.

Believe it, this is not the way to Peace,

But rather, to an never-ending war;

And likelier new troubles to increaſe

Then ſet a period unto thoſe that are.

And, they who willingly ſhall tind ſuch flames,

Or, wilfully foment them, merit well

To be eſteem'd (to their perpetuall ſhames)

The Plagues of earth, and Fierbrands of hell.

For, of your Scottiſh-Brethren, wherefore, now,

Yee Engliſh-Britaines, are ye jealous growne,

Who have expreſt more faithfulneſſe to you,

Then you your ſelves, unto your ſelves have ſhown?

Or, wherein have they ſeemingly abus'd

Your truſt, whereof, they may not be excus'd?

They would appeare to be confided in

With leſſe diſtruſt, if ever you had heard

On what conditions, they allur'd have bin

To be diſhonourable, for reward.

For, when the Prelates-War had them conſtrain'd

To arme themſelves againſt the ſuperſtitions

Intruded on them; when they had regain'd

Their Peace with honour, and on good conditions;

And, when your Army could have been content

Vonat'rally (on promiſe of reward)

To turne their Swords upon this Parliament,

(And ſo had ſurely done, had they not fear'd

The Scots, then, on their Rear) they were the men

who kept you from the miſcheef purpos'd then.

Had they been truſtleſſe; or, had aim'd at ends,

As baſe as many of your own have had;

Your Foe, e're this, had done what he intends:

And you and yours, perhaps, had ſlaves been made.

p. 57For, to allure them, four brave Northerne Shires

Should have annexed been to Scottiſh-ground:

To beare expences (and to pay Arreares)

A paune to be three hundred thouſand pound

In Jewells, was deſign'd. York, ſhould have had

The Soveraigne-Seat of royall-Reſidence;

The Scottiſh Generall, ſhould have been made

The chiefe of both your Armies; and, the Prince

In Scotland, ſhould have had his education;

All which, together, ſeem'd a ſtrong temptation.

Yet, more was offred: For, to each Commander

Revenue, Office, yea, and Honour too

Was promis'd; and th'unvaluable plunder

Of London, to both Armies: What to do?

To force the Parliament, to make the King

A Monarch abſolute; and you, and your,

Into perpetuall ſlavery to bring,

By an ill-gotten Arbitrary power.

But, theſe temptations, their brave minds abhor'd:

Of which their nobleneſſe, this VOICE ſhall be

An everlaſting Trophee, and Record;

Wherein, theſe times, and times to come, ſhall ſee

How, we to ſale were offred; and, how theſe

Diſdain'd to thrive, by baſe advantages.

If they be faithleſſe, and you ſhall be true,

GOD, will with ſhame and vengeance ſend them home.

If, you unfaithfully your Vowes purſue,

Poſſeſſors of your Land they ſhall become.

In ſpight of all your policies and power,

Here, they ſhall ſettle; whither they were ſet,

To do the work of GOD (as well as your)

Who will requite the kindneſſe you forget.

But, if without hypocriſie and guiles,

You, Brethren-like, ſhall ſtrengthen one another,

In ſetting up his Throne, within theſe Iſles,

By, and in whom, you ſeem, now, kn…t together;

p. 58Both, ſhall thereby, that happineſſe enjoy,

Which all the powers on Earth, ſhall not deſtroy.

Look therefore, well about you, and perſever

In your vow'd union: For, the maine deſigne

Is to divide you; and, to that indeavour

Your Foes, withall their Faculties combine.

Yea, and of ſuch like projects, there are other,

Through levitie, or malice ſo promoted,

As if to ruine theſe three Realmes together,

It were almoſt unanimouſly voted.

No Chronicle hath ſhowne; no age hath ſeen

An Empire ſo divided, and yet ſtand;

Or that a Nation ſo corrupt hath been,

Whoſe deſolation was not near at hand.

And, if you ſhall eſcape it; be it knowne

To all now living, and that ſhall be borne,

A greater MercieMercy never was beſtowne

On any Kingdome ſince a Crown was worne:

And that no Nations, who ſo much profeſſe

In outward ſhow, did ere deſerve it leſſe.

Although by vowes, and dutie you are tide,

Yet, you are careleſſe in purſuing either;

And play at faſt, and looſe on ev'ry ſide,

Fair ſeeming friends to both, but, true to neither.

He, that's within your Covenants, and conceives

Himſelfe ingaged; by thoſe Obligations,

To bring to triall thoſe whom he believes

Injurious to the ſafety of theſe Nations;

Oft into greater danger thereby falls,

Of ſecret miſchiefs, of reproofs, or troubles,

Then they whom juſtly to account he calls:

And, by this meanes, your Foe his power doubles,

Takes courage, and accompliſheth his ends,

By making you to ruine your own friends.

▪Tis, oft, more ſafe, to let the Commonweale

Be ruin'd, or betraid, then to oppoſe

p. 59A Traytor; or with freedome to reveale

That, which your vowes oblige you to diſcloſe.

Your perſonall immunities, of late,

Are ſo inſiſted on, that many feare

The Publike-Priviledge to vindicate;

Leaſt they Infringers of the firſt appeare.

And, if there be not ſome proviſions made,

Whereby free-men their minds may freely ſay,

When probable ſuſpitions they have had,

That ſome intruſted, do their truſt betray,

Your Priviledged Perſons, will advance

Their freedomes to the Publike hinderance.

Through ſome obſtructions, your moſt noble Court

Which is the Sanctuary, whereunto

Oppreſſed men, by multitudes reſort,

Yeelds leſſe reliefe, then it had wont to do.

For, publike Greevances are ſo increaſt,

That, time and leaſure, hardly can be gain'd,

To heare how men are privately oppreſt,

Till they are quite undone who have complain'd:

Beſide (which in Committees oft is done)

By making friends, to come, or keep away,

Vnwarranted advantages are won,

To wrong the Truth, or Juſtice, to delay,

Thus, when the Peeres or Commons are but few,

A miſchiefe unexpected may enſue.

For, when Reports or Motions ſhould be made,

If they who make them will deceitfull prove,

Occaſions doubtleſſe, may be watch'd, and had,

Injurouſly both to report and move;

Since they who ſhall report (if to their choice

The times be left) may their deſignes propoſe,

And get it paſſed by a Major-Voice,

E're their appearing, who the ſame oppoſe.

Yea, 'tis nor hard nor ſtrange to watch and wait,

A we…k or two, for ſuch advantages,

p. 60And gaine a Vote for that by this deceit,

Which in a Full-Aſſembly would diſpleaſe.

Thus, by mans wickedneſſe, a miſchiefe ſprings,

From juſteſt Courts, and from the nobleſt things.

And, if you ſoone returne not from your height,

Of Falſhood and Injuſtice, that which was

Your Idoll (and the Glorie of your might)

Your hope of bringing mightie things to paſſe;

Ev'n, that ſhall alſo fail you, in the end:

That, ſhall augment your manifold vexations:

That, ſhall become unable to defend,

Or ſave it ſelfe, among your deſperations.

Nay, that, ſhall by degrees it ſelfe corrupt

To ſuch a Monſter, as will fright you more,

More grieve, and more your quiet interrupt,

Than all oppreſſing Tyrants heretofore.

For, when in ſinning, men preſumptuous grow,

GOD makes their ſtrength to be their overthrow.

It was not meerly in the Government

By Kingſhip, that you were oppreſt of late:

It was not that, which brought the Detriment

Dilacerating ſo, both Church and State.

The Princes errours, and the Peoples crimes,

(Increaſing by their aiding of each other

In wickedneſſe) have made them, in theſe times,

A mutuall ſcourge; and both now ſmart together.

By godleſſe counſells you miſled your King:

Then kept him, ſtanding in the ſinners way:

And to the ſcorners throne him now you bring;

Whereon if once he ſettle (as he may,

If God prevent not) you, as yet, but ſee

Beginnings of thoſe plagues that felt muſt be.

Vnleſſe by penitence you break off ſin,

Your Parliamentall Members (when long ſitting,

And fewneſſe of the number, ſhall bring in

Both meanes, and opportunity, begetting

p. 61Such knowledge of each other, as is now

In ſome Committees) ſhall much repreſent

The Lands Corruptions; and make perfect ſhow

By whom, and from what body they were ſent.

For, then on Priviledges to inſiſt

Meer-perſonall, more then on Publike-Right:

To ſay their pleaſures; and do what they liſt,

In Lawes contempt, and Equities deſpight;

Shall grow in uſe, till you and they ſhall run

Another Courſe to be, yet, more undone.

You, then, ſhall ſee (though under other notions)

Your old Oppreſſions to return again:

As much falſe-play for profit and promotions,

As when you to your King, did firſt complain:

Then, you ſhall ſee your monſtrous-high-Commiſſion,

Your Councell-Table, your Star-Chamber too,

New-ſhapes aſſuming to their old Condition,

Revive, and act as they had wont to do▪

That Inſolence, that Pride Prelaticall,

Thoſe corporall and ghoſtly Tyrannies,

Which in your Clergie lately had a fall,

Shall riſe again, cloth'd with a new diſguiſe,

And act, what they who plaid before did mean.

Although they change their Habits, and the Scoene▪

For, then ſome Prieſtlings, who as guiltie are

Of your Diviſions, as the Prelates-traine,

(Firſt kindling, and fomenting, ſtill, this warre,

As much as they) will make their meanings plaine.

Yea, by diviſions, and by ſubdividing,

According as their maine deſigne requires,

Oppoſing ſome, and with ſome other ſiding,

(As beſt may ſerve to compaſſe their deſires)

Shall Schiſmes, Sects, and Fancies multiply.

Beyond compute; and from the truth ſhall ſteal

So many hearts by fained ſanctitie,

By counterfeited honeſtie and zeale,

p. 62That, all your other Foes ſhall not diſeaſe

Your private, and the publike Reſt, like theſe.

For, (though enacted-Law, doth now of late

From Secular-employments them exclude)

To intermeddle with Affaires of State,

They will, by many meanes, themſelves intrude.

By gath'ring Parties, they will plots contrive,

To make thoſe greateſt, who will them obey;

To make them rich, by whom they hope to thrive,

And to ſuch ends will ſtudy, preach, and pray;

Joyne hands, ſollicite, covenant, petition;

(The Publike-good, ſtill their chiefe aime pretending)

And, whatſoever ſtands in oppoſition

To their Deſigne, ſhall want no ſuch commending,

As floweth from implacable deſpite,

Or, from the malice of an Hypocrite.

And, if e're long, there be not ſome endeavour,

To keep them to their Calling, (and to bound

Their meddling with Lay-matters) you ſhall never

Be free from Faction, while the Spheres go round.

Like Salamanders, theſe can never live,

But in a Flame; nor, long themſelves conforme

To any Reformation: For, they thrive

In Changes beſt, and ſwim beſt in a Storme.

And, many diffring Sects of theſe there are;

Some to an Independancie incline,

Some to a Preſbyterian-way adhere;

Yet, really, themſelves to neither joyne:

But, rather, take advantage to make uſe

Of that, which to their ends, may beſt conduce.

To limit theſe to ſome Parochiall Charge,

Were to impriſon them: For, they well know

From Congregations gather'd up at large,

What Profits, and Advantages do flow.

A Pariſh Income, though they largely grant

Both Tythes and Penſions, is but verie ſmall,

p. 63Compar'd to what that Prieſt itinerant,

Can gather up, who hath no bounds at all.

A Pariſh is too narrow for his Pride,

Or Avarice: And, in one place, perchance,

Should he be long compelled to reſide,

He could not ſo conceale his ignorance,

Or cover failings in his Converſation,

As, by an Ʋnconfined-Congregation.

Had theſe been regulated, and reduc'd,

To that Conformitie, which Reaſon would,

The Simple had not then been ſo ſeduc'd:

Nor, had the Common-People ſo been fool'd.

Had theſe, and their Antagoniſts been charm'd

By prudent Diſcipline, and made agree,

Your King and Parliament had not been arm'd

Againſt each other, as this day they be.

Had theſe been conjur'd downe; that Pietie,

That Prudent-meekneſſe, and ſweet Moderation,

By which a Part of that Fraternitie

Doth wreſtle for a bleſſing on this Nation,

Should more be honour'd; and, ere long, prevaile,

For curing of thoſe Plagues which they bewaile.

For, theſe, oft ſuffer the deſerved blame

Of Demas and Diotrophes; and ſhare,

(By being of their Calling) in their ſhame,

When of their Faults they no way guiltie are.

And, theſe, are they, whoſe Prayers and Examples,

Whoſe good advice, and whoſe well-temper'd Zeale

Shall keep your State, your Cities, and your Temples

From deſolation, and your Plague-ſore heale.

If therefore, Wit profane, or Scurrile tongue

Shall any of our cenſurings apply,

To do their worth or innocencie wrong,

Let it redound to their owne infamie:

Let ev'rie check, from which they ſhall be free,

An augmentation to their honour be.

p. 64And, let it not diſcourage them, a whit,

That, now, thoſe temp'rall Dignities are gone,

Which, oft, in their poſſeſſors, pride beget,

And, really, are honour unto none;

Since, by their lives, and doctrines, they may more

Their Perſons and their Callings dignifie,

Then Wealth and Titles have done, heretofore,

And, reach true honours higheſt pitch thereby:

For, who, when Prelacie did higheſt ſeem,

Were honour'd by the People, or the Peers,

With more unfain'd affection and eſteem,

Then they are now, whom reall worth endeers?

Oh! let this honour ſtill on them attend;

And, let their counſels move you to amend.

For, every one hath erred in his wayes;

King, Prieſt and People have alike miſgone;

As doth the Flock, ev'n ſo the Shepheard ſtrayes;

And, there is no man perfect, no not one.

It is not in the pow'r of words to tell,

How farre below eſteeme your vertues are:

Or, how in wickedneſſe you would excell,

If wholly left, to your own ſelves, you were.

Could you but look into your hearts, and view

How many villanies thoſe cavernes hide,

Beſide all thoſe, which words and deeds do ſhew,

Or, may by circumſtances, be deſcride;

You could not but unfainedly confeſſe,

That you are, yet, uncapable of peace.

Could you permit your blinded eyes to heed,

How, while you ſmart, you multiply offence;

How, that, which awfull penitence ſhould breed,

Hath changed errour, into impudence:

Could you perceive, before it were too late,

How faſt you fell away, ſince you began

To faile in your profeſſions to the State;

And, to be faithleſſe, both to GOD, and Man;

p. 65You would abhorre your ſelves, and be affraid

Your ſoules, by tranſmigration, would ere long,

Paſſe into ſottiſh Beaſts: For, you have ſtraid

Beyond that blockiſhneſſe which is among

The nobleſt Brutes; and, hardly do eſcape

With ſo much of true manhood, as the ſhape.

There is no pittie of the Fatherleſſe,

Or, of the poore afflicted Widdowes teares;

No charitable heed of their diſtreſſe,

Whoſe miſerie, moſt evident appears.

They, who have gladly, lent, and ſpent, and given

Goods, Blood, and beſt-aſſiſtance, to defend

The Common-ſafety, (till they have been driven

To want of Bread) have hardly found a friend:

Some other, who oft hazzarded their lives,

For your protection (and have quite undone

Their deareſt Children, and beloved Wives,

To do you ſervice) have been look'd upon

Without regard; and worſe, by far, have ſped

Then they, who nothing have contributed.

Nay (would it were but ſo) their, and your Foes,

By your injuſtice, or your heedleſneſſe,

Finde meanes to ſpatter, and to ruine thoſe,

Whom, to defend, you did (with vowes) profeſſe.

And (though their deeds have through this Iſle proclaim'd

Their faithfulneſſe) you gladly ſuffer them

By cunning whiſperers, to be defam'd;

And, Falſhoods words, Truths actions, to condemn

Before due trialls, you (through Avarice,

Or, Envie) with contentedneſſe, can heare

Deſert traduc'd; and, with ſuch prejudice,

Receive Detractions, as if glad you were,

Of ſuch falſe Quittances, to make a ſhow

Of having paid that debt which, yet, you owe▪

It is, indeed, the Polititians way,

Thus, to requite: And, therefore, he that bring…

p. 66Obligements, greater then diſcharge they may,

On thankleſſe Nations, or on fathleſſe Kings,

Inſtead of due reward, ſhall be repaid

With cauſleſſe jealouſies, and with ſuſpect,

Of having either failed, or betraid

Their Truſt, by fa…ſhood; or, by ſome neglect.

And, then, it muſt a MercieMercy be believ'd,

If He, for all the ſervice he hath done,

(In lieu of wh… he thought to have receiv'd)

With life and loſſe of honour, may be gone:

And, this, will, now, the portions be of ſome

Whom better uſage, better will become.

And, how can GOD have peace with ſuch a Nation,

In which this b…ſeneſſe, and this falſhood lurks,

Which is rejected with much deteſtation

Among the brutiſh Salvages and Turks?

Or, how can you to other men be true,

Who to your ſelves are falſe, as may appear

By many practices, which you purſue,

Through wilfulneſſe, through follie, or through feare?

For, whoſoever tyranny defends,

And ſets himſelfe that Party to oppoſe

Which for the Publike Libertie contends,

Betrayeth his own perſon to his Foes:

Or (if perchance, his perſon free he ſaves)

Himſelfe, in his Poſterity inſlaves.

Nay, you, who ſeem the better part to take,

Ev'n y…u, are to your ſelves, as falſe as they:

The Price of blood, a thing of nought you make,

And complement Advantages away.

Your Paſſes, and Protections, you beſtow,

Nor, as though to your ſafety they pertain'd;

But rather, your Authority to ſhow,

Who gave them; Or, that profit might be gain'd

To Clarks, and Secretaries. And, your care

Is not, at all times, how you may ſupply

p. 67A place of Truſt, with ſuch as fathfull are;

Or, fitteſt for the States neceſſitie:

But, ſooneſt they, thoſe favours do obtain,

Who ſell the Publike for their private gain.

Nor Ableneſſe their duty to diſcharge,

Nor loſſe, nor ſuffrings, for the common Cauſe,

Nor of Integrity, good proofes at large,

Reſpect to ſuch a mans preferment drawes:

Nay, he that by a generall aſſent

Was nominated, (and petition'd for)

Without his ſeeking, in the Parliament,

To ſervices of Truſt; and, which is more,

Had theſe imployments, alſo, recommended

By Order thence; hath, now, a year unheard

For anſwer, from thoſe Referrees attended,

Without ſo much as hope of their regard:

Becauſe, though to the Publike-weale it tends,

'Tis found it will diſprofit private friends.

Your Indiſcreet Indulgence, ſuffers thoſe

Who looſe their Bloud, and Liberties for you,

To lie in worſe condition, then your Foes,

To whom an equall uſage ſeemeth due.

Yea, while in loathſome dungeons, they remain,

Who captivated in your ſervice were,

Sweet Lodgings and reſpect their Foes obtain,

When in your Quarters they impriſon'd are.

By which unequallneſſe, (till their ſide pleaſe

To ſhow more mercy) much diſcouragement,

Your Partie findes; and, diſadvantages

Which moderate ſevereneſſe might prevent:

And, you more Cruelty, then MercieMercy ſhow,

When Mercy you on Cruell-men beſtow.

He that to ruine you no ſpight hath ſpar'd,

If he ſubmit, although but to deceive you,

Shall find more courteſie, and more regard,

Then he, who never left, nor meanes to leave you.

p. 68He, that with Outrage hath your townes embroil'd,

He, that hath in your blond, his hands imbrew'd,

Your friends of their chiefe livelihood deſpoil'd,

And, to his utmoſt power, that courſe purſu'd:

He, if for favour (though conſtrain'd) he come,

Shall not alone finde meanes to ſet him free,

With his Poſſeſſions, for a triviall ſumme:

But alſo quickly countenanced be

With Friends, and Favours, him inabling, too,

Your faithful'ſt friends, and ſervants to undo.

Falſe to your ſelves you are, in not aſſaying

To execute the fulneſſe of your power,

In theſe Extremities; and, in delaying

To take thoſe Freedomes which are juſtly your.

The Members of your Body waſted are;

And, ſuch as are of that conſumption glad,

(Vnleſſe prevented) will the cure defer,

Vntill it cannot poſſibly be had.

By raiſing feares of ſome ſuppoſed-thing,

Which neither is, nor was, nor ſhall be done,

VponUpon your ſelves, you many miſchiefs bring,

Which by a prudent-Stoutneſſe you may ſhun:

For, when you make an unexpected pawſe,

You weaken your Aſſiſtants, and your Cauſe.

You act not out your parts, as if you thought,

A Tragedie in earneſt, now, were plaid;

Or, that upon the Combat to be fought,

The Triall of your whole eſtates were laid:

For, to advance a frivolous deſigne,

To pleaſe a knave, that is a friend in ſhow,

To feed ſome luſt, whereto they do incline,

Or, ſhun the fury of a feared Foe;

Advantages you daily fool away.

Which by no humane pow'r can be recal'd;

Eternitie, you venture for a day,

And, when you might with braſſe be double wal'd,

p. 69You ſeek to fortifie the Kingdomes Cauſe

With paper-works, with rotten ſticks, and ſtrawes.

Thoſe Places and Imployments, whence ariſe

The greateſt profit, rarely are confer'd,

With conſcionable care of their ſupplies,

By faithfull men: but, thither are prefer'd

Thoſe, rather, whoſe chief aimes are how to make

Their private Fortunes; and, to that effect

Know how to move; and how to give or take,

To gaine themſelves advantage, and reſpect.

Yea, though there be ſuſpitions, and perchance,

Good evidences too, that ſome of theſe

The Cauſe of your oppoſers, will advance

(When they an opportunitie may ſeize)

To Offices of Truſt, you theſe commend,

Before your ſuffering and deſerving Friend.

Who their eſtates have now increaſed moſt,

But, they who for the publike ventur'd leaſt?

Whoſe paiments and preferment… more are croſt,

Then their, who (to their power) have ſerv'd you beſt?

In what Committees now, or in what Shires,

Are not, this day, a multitude of thoſe,

Whoſe faithfulneſſe undoubtedly appeares,

Diſabled, and diſcourag'd, by their Foes?

How gen'rally do you in ev'ry place,

Begin, well-known Malignants, now, to truſt

With your Affaires? And, ſuffer, with diſgrace.

True Patriots from imployment to be thruſt?

And, by this madneſſe, how are you betraid?

How open to deſtruction are you laid?

They, who were firſt in Armes, for your defence;

Who, firſt, their Free-will-Offerings to you brought;

And have continu'd faithfull, ever ſince,

Ev'n they are now, unſerviceable thought.

Contrariwiſe, they, who at firſt refuſed

To lend you aid, in Perſon, or in Pay,

p. 70They, who in word and deed, your cauſe abuſed

(And are unfaithfull to you to this day)

Ev'n they have now inſinuated ſo

By helpe of their Protectors: And, of theſe

So over-confident you daily grow,

That your beſt friends, you ruine, and diſpleaſe;

And, on your ſelves a greater hazzard bring,

Then all the armed Forces of the King.

For, thoſe accurſed Vipers, are with you,

So intermingled in your conſultations,

(Nay, rather, ſo incorporated now,

In private, and in State negotiations)

That, by a miracle it muſt be done,

If any good Deſigne to paſſe be brought,

Or, for the publike-ſafetie be begun,

Which will not, e're performed, come to nought:

And, if you are not pleas'd to have it ſo

Why did you? and why do you ſtill, permit,

Thoſe men whom faultring (if not falſe) you know,

In Counſell, ev'ry day, with you to to fit?

And, why for thoſe, do you your Friends neglect,

Vnleſſe your own perdition you affect?

Why elſe when Forts, or Forces to command,

On which the Publike-ſafety much depends,

Do you commit them rather to their hand,

Whom neither proofe, nor likelihood, commends,

To ſuch a Truſt? Why not unto their care

And keeping rather, who have courage ſhowne?

Of whoſe fidelitie, good proofes appear?

And whoſe experience hath been wel made known?

This could not be, but that you do preferre

Your ſons, your nephewes, and your friends, before

The Publike-weale, or els perſwaded are

That, your Deſtruction will afflict the more,

Vnleſſe, your own deviſes help undo you;

Or, ſome who are both near, and deare unto you.

p. 71How can there be among you thoſe foundations,

Whereon, your Peace or Safety, may erect,

While moſt men, for their own accommodations

Deſignments to the Publike loſſe project?

And, while to compaſſe their deſired ends,

They do not onelyonly miſchief, and delude

Themſelves, their kindred, neighbourhood, and friends,

Or miſ-inform the brainleſſe multitude;

But, by their cunning, alſo do contrive

Thoſe Engines, which good Diſcipline deface;

The State into unſtable poſtures drive,

Raiſe jarres, and jealouſies in every place;

And ſpread abroad the Devils Axioms too,

The unitie of Doctrine to undo.

Theſe Engineers, your power infeeble more,

And weaken more your hands, then all yet done,

By other adverſaries heretofore,

Since this unhappie Warfare firſt begun.

Theſe, while to build among you they pretended,

As partners in the work of Reformation,

Have ſecretlie their private Aimes befriended,

With hindrance to your wiſhed Reſtauration.

Sanballats, and Tobiahs, you have had,

Who, by diſſembling with you, to unite

Have rent you from your ſelves; and, thereby made

Both Parties feel the common Foes deſpight;

To be each others whip, and make the Truth

A theame of ſcorne, in everie drunkards mouth.

There are ſo manie failings in the beſt,

Such needleſſe, and ſuch wilfull breach of Lawes;

So careleſſe are you, of your Faith profeſt,

To thoſe, who have been faithfull in your Cauſe;

So hath your Falſhood, and your follie blended

Both right and wrong, both good and ill together,

That, both muſt be oppoſed or defended;

Or, els you muſt declare your ſelves for neither.

p. 72And (whether with the one, or t'other ſide

You ſhall partake, or for a Newter, ſtand)

No humane wiſdom, can for you provide,

A being, with true ſafety, in this Land:

So little wit, hath ordered this Place,

So little honeſty, ſo little grace.

And, theſe great miſcheifs roſe, from giving way

For every man, at pleaſure, to deface

Thoſe Out-works, which (though faultie) were a ſtay

Not uſeleſſe, till ſome better came in place.

For, he that would prevent an inundation

(By falſe-built Sea-banks) lets not every one

Teare down the Piles, and breake the old Foundation,

Leſt that which he would make, might be undone:

Nor for a Cobler, or a Fidler, ſends;

But, men experienc'd in ſuch works, doth call;

And, with ſuch warineſſe the fault amends,

That, no diſaſter may, mean-while, befall:

And, that the Old-worke, and the New-worke, may

Begin, and end together, in one day.

You thus proceeded not, but (with more heat

Then prudence, hurrying on) in haſt, you tore

The wharfage down; ev'n while the floods did threat

To drowne the fields, and Billowes rent the ſhore.

The furious Souldier was, with commendation,

Permitted to reforme, as he thought fit;

(Forbidding or affording toleration,

According to the modell of his wit)

And, he that was not mad enough to run

Their wildgooſe-chaſe, and ſet the world on fire,

To ſuffer by ſuſpition, ſtreight, begun;

And, forc'd was, from imployment to retire,

As not right principled, or drawne aſide,

By Balaams wages; or, unſanctifi'd.

And, theſe Reformers, not enough content,

To carve out Diſcipline, as they ſhall pleaſe,

p. 73(And Doctrine too) will on the Government,

Vnleſſe it be prevented, ſhortlie ſeize.

For, having no Foundation, like a feather,

Which from the bodie of a Fowle is torne.

They to and fro, are turn'd with everie weather;

Elſe, up and down, ſtill wreſtleſly are borne.

And, by theſe fooliſh Fires, ev'n as you ſee

By ſhining-vapours, riſing in the night,

Miſ-led from ſafe high-waies, poore people be,

To fall in Pits, and Ponds, by their falſe light;

So theſe, and other, have by their deluſions,

Brought on theſe Nations, miſchieves, and confuſions.

And theſe confuſions, not alone befall

The Civill State; but, have diſord'red ſo

Your Diſcipline Eccleſiaſticall,

That Church affaires, are out of order too.

Each one ſets up their private Idoll, there.

That man, contends for this; this man, for that.

Some, would have new things; ſome, for old things are,

Some, would have ſomthing, but they know not what.

Some, care not what they have: and ſome there be,

That would have nothing, which might them confine,

In doing, or believing; but, live free

In ev'rie thing, a perfect Libertine.

And, moſt, in ſuch a poſture do appeare,

As if the Towre of Babell raiſing were.

Some, to no Congregation, will repaire,

In which their duties are extemporarie;

As if (becauſe ſome call vaine bablings, praier)

No man poſſeſt that guift in ordinarie.

Some, do abhorre Set-Formes; as if they thought

The Spirit, whereby they were firſt indighted,

Diſpis'd the words, which by it ſelfe were taught,

If more then once, though with true zeale recited.

Some, care not how GODS Fields are over-grown

With Briars, and Thornes; ſome others, are ſo ſtrict.

p. 74That, for his Vineyards, they no place will owne,

But thoſe, from whence all weeds, and ſtones, are pickt;

As if they, for a Church, allowed not,

What hath a ſcarre, a wrinkle, or a ſpot.

A Militarie-Church, was well expreſt,

In ancient Hieroglyphicke, by the Moone;

To ſhew, that when her light was at the beſt,

(And when her brighteſt glorie ſhe puts on)

Some ſhadowes, or ſome Waynings, will declare,

That, in this world, ſhe hath not her perfection:

And, that the Sun, from whom her beauties are,

Conveigheth light unto her, by reflection.

Somtime, that Sun, doth hide his face away,

Leſt men aſcribe to Her, what is His due:

Somtime, her proper motions, her convey

Too high, or els, too farre, beyond the view

Of private-ſpirits: And, ſomtime, from ſight

Earths Globe, and ſomtime Clouds, obſcure her light.

Which, many, not conſid'ring, are offended

Without a cauſe; and indiſcreetly marre

That Beauty, which to poliſh they pretended;

And 'twixt her Members, raiſe inteſtine warre.

Some Weeds, and Corne, are in the blade ſo like,

That many Weeders have deceived bin;

And, oftentimes, good corne away do pick,

And make the crop, at harveſt, very thin.

A ſpotleſſe Church, or perfect Diſciplines

Go ſeek at None-ſuch: For, they are not found

In any place, between the Tropick-Lines,

Or any where, upon this earthly Round;

Though ſome have ſhaped modells, in their braine,

Of that, whereto, they never ſhall attaine.

On ſpeculations, theſe have doted ſo,

(Which their own Fancies forme) that, they have loſt

The Body of Religion; and let go

That Forme thereof, which muſt enſhrine the Ghoſt.

p. 75And, he (who being in the fleſh) believes

The ſoule of Worſhip can retained be,

Or known, without a Forme, himſelfe deceives;

Yea others, with himſelfe, deceiveth he:

And, wanders (reſtleſſe) in perpetuall motion,

In queſt of empty-ſhades; and to purſue

Each flitting dreame, and ev'ry changing Notion,

Which comes within his intellectuall view:

Till Pride, upon his Fantaſie, begets

High thoughts of his own light, and in his breſt

Stirres up, and kindles thoſe diſtemper'd heats,

That keep the mind and body without reſt;

And, then perchance, he to a meteor growes,

Which Fooles, to be a Starre, a while, ſuppoſe.

But, if you mark ſuch well, their new-borne-blaze

Is quickly out; and you ſhall ſee, ere long,

Some Evills follow, whereof they were Cauſe

As well as Signes. And take you this, among

Your Notes; that, when your Marches furious be,

Like Jehu's, in Religions reformation;

(And ſo purſu'd, as if you ſaid, Come ſee

Our zeale for GOD) that, but for oſtentation,

Or, for your own advancements, you become

So zealous: and, that (when you execute

GOD's mandates, Jehu-like) you, for the ſame

Shall taſt, of his falſe zeale, the bitter-fruit;

That, other men may learn, his will to do,

For his owne ſake; and, with due meekneſſe too.

No few diſoſters had prevented bin,

If in the Worke now doing, you had learn'd

With whether part, 'twas fitteſt to begin:

Which might in GOD's own works have been deſcern'd:

For, though this World, in worth inferiour be

To Man; and, though the Body be below

The ſoule, in value; yet, created He

The meaneſt of theſe firſt: And, that may ſhow

p. 76How men ſhould work. For, had Man been created

Before the World; or, had the Soule been made

Before the Body, where had they been ſeated,

To exerciſe the Faculties they had?

Though nobleſt works ſhould firſt be thought upon,

Sometime, a meaner work ſhould firſt be done.

A Common-wealths, bleſt being, doth depend

VponUpon the Church: the Churches Reformation,

You, therefore, principally ſhould intend:

And yet, your zeale may merit commendation,

Though to reforme the Civill-government

You firſt begin, and waive a while the other;

If there ſhall happen ſome ſuch accident,

As hinders the reforming both together.

Elſe, peradventure, while you are contriving,

Your Forme of Diſcipline, there may begin

A miſchiefe, not alone of Peace depriving,

But, of a Countrey to profeſſe it in:

And, ſo, with you it hath almoſt ſucceeded;

Becauſe, this freedome was not timely heeded.

For, had you tim'd, and ordered aright

The Civill-Part; and, therewith brought along

The Church-Affaires (as by degrees you might)

The Work had prov'd leſſe grievous, and more ſtrong.

Or, had true Prudencie directed Zeale

Firſt, to reforme ſome things pertaining to

The ſafe well-being of the Common-weale;

Both, had not been, at once, diſtracted ſo.

And, yet, in this, the wiſdome of the State

Deſerves no check; but, rather, that Defection

Throughout the Land, which doth irregulate

The Works in hand, and keep them from perfection,

By multipli'd Obſtructions; and, ſometime,

By ſtreightning, and neceſſitating them.

For, ſuch is your corruption and your folly,

So falſe and hypocriticall you are;

p. 77So brutiſhly profane, and ſo unholy,

(Though you Religious-Nations would appeare)

That, had your temp'rall grievances been eas'd,

And all thoſe Priviledges been ſecur'd,

For which, to be at coſt, you yet are pleas'd,

(And many Deaths and dangers have endur'd)

Moſt would have hazarded nor life, nor limb,

Nor Goods nor paines, the Church to vindicate

From her enthralments; but, to ſink or ſwim,

Had left her in a deplorable ſtate:

And, therefore, GOD permitted the purſuit

Of Counſells, which have brought forth bitter fruit.

Ev'n as a Worldling, who hath ſpent his dayes

In carnall Pleaſures; and hath partner bin

With lewd Companions, in their wicked wayes,

(And in the practice of each crying ſin)

When he doth feele the ſtroke of ſome diſeaſe

Portending Death; and that the ſelf-ſame houre

Thoſe horrours on his conſcience alſo ſeize,

Which threaten Soule and Body to devoure;

Deſire of Life, and fearfulneſſe to die

Diſtracts him ſo, that heat once for aid,

Both from Phyſitians, and Divines doth crie;

And, having both, becometh ſo diſmaid,

That he receiveth benefit from neither:

But, hazards Soule and Body both together.

So, while you laboured at once to heale

The deſperate Diſeaſes, which of late

Endangered both Church and Common-weale;

Such longings, then, your double-zeale begate,

To cure them both together; and ſo ſtrove

Your Zelots, that, from both at once, they mought

The Cauſe of their diſtemperatures remove,

That, great Confuſions upon both, are brought:

Yea, both of them, are now expoſed more

To ſcandals, loſſes, errours, perturbations,

p. 78And hazards of deſtruction, than before:

That, whether now you ſeek their preſervations

Together or apart, you ſhall not, yet,

Obtaine that bleſſing, which you hope to get.

For, you muſt firſt be cleared of the ſin,

Which hinders from enjoying your deſire:

And, that which lately might have cleanſed bin

With water, muſt be purged now with fire.

Yea, ſince your follies and your ſins have brought

Thoſe great Confuſions both on Church and State,

For which the meanes, that might their cure have wrought,

Are now too feeble, and will come too late;

Since, into ſuch a Chaos all is changed,

That, all endeavours uſefull heretofore,

Have, daily, you from Concord, more eſtranged,

And made your miſchiefes, and your ſorrowes more,

No ordinary-courſe, can ſet you free

From thoſe diſtractions, wherein, now, you be.

This, being knowne (and in what great diſtreſſe

You plunged are) to you it appertaines

With penitencie, humbly to addreſſe

Your ſuits to him, in whom your help remaines.

And ere you make approaches to his Throne,

There muſt be (as was told you) ſome purgation,

From thoſe omiſſions, and thoſe deeds miſ-done,

Which make your prayers an abhomination.

The Zimri's and the Coſbi's of the time,

Of whoſe uncleanneſſe and whoſe impudence,

You talk of, yet, but as a Veniall crime,

Or, laugh at, as a triviall offence,

Muſt with more zeale (more ſpeed) receive their due;

Or, elſe, their ſins, GOD ſhall avenge on you.

For, theſe are ſo impure, that, in their Sin,

They are unſatisfi'd, unleſſe the ſame

H…th with ſome circumſtances acted bin,

Which proves them double-guiltie, without ſhame.

p. 79They are not pleas'd in Simple-Fornication,

Vnleſſe thereto, Adulteries they add:

Nor ſeemes that, now, ſufficient violation

Of Chaſtitie, unleſſe, the Crime be made,

Yet more abhominable, by beguiling

Some Innocent; or elſe by (offring force)

The Bed of Honour, with bold vaunts defiling:

Nay, there is found among you (if not worſe)

Vncleanneſſe more unmanly, and more ſtrange;

Adult'ries by conſent, and by exchange.

But, theſe are the defilements of your Peace,

Where yet they have not felt the rage of War;

Where, yet, the Courſe of Juſtice doth not ceaſe,

And where great ſhewes of Pietie yet are.

And, if ſuch impudence may there be found;

If there, you ſo corrupt already grow,

Oh I how do thoſe Ʋncleanneſſes abound,

Where cruell Outrage her grim face doth ſhow?

Sure words are inſufficient to expreſſe

The Rapes, the Raviſhments, and loathſome ſins,

Where War gives way to all Vnrulineſſe,

And Tyranny and Luſt the conqueſt wins:

When ſin and impudence is acted there,

Where Juſtice on her ſeats doth yet appeare.

Behold, this day, ev'n whilſt with Deſolation,

The Land is threatned, you have now let in,

A crying witkedneſſe, which to this Nation,

Was ever thought ſo hatefull to have bin;

That, though among the Jewes, a Law they had,

Inflicting Death upon it, you have none;

Becauſe, a Law is verie rarely made,

Concerning things unlikely to be done.

Who would have thought, there being neither Beare,

Nor Wolfe, nor Lyon on your Engliſh ground,

To ſeize upon your little Children there,

That many Beaſts and Monſters ſhould be found,

p. 80In humane ſhape, to ſteale and beare away

Your Infants, whilſt before your doores they play?

Who would have thought, that for ſo ſmall a price,

So many, could ſo quickly have been got,

To joyne in perpetrating of a Vice,

So horrible, and yet abhor it not?

That, their hard hearts could heare poore Children crie

VponUpon their fathers, or their mothers name,

Till, peradventure, in an agonie

Of extreme paſſion, liveleſſe they became.

Or (which is worſe) preſerv'd them, to be ſent

To Bondage, whilſt their Parents (almoſt wild)

Were left in everlaſting diſcontent,

By muſing, on their loſt-beloved-child?

This Crueltie hath in your ſtreets been ſeen;

Thus high, have your corruptions heightned been.

In theſe ſad times, while GODS afflicting hand

Lies heavie on you, and with ſword and fire,

Purſues, through ev'rie Corner of the Land;

And, reall Penitencie doth require.

In ſtead thereof, the People now begins

To grow more daring, and to practiſe crimes

(Beſide the old, or Epidemick ſins)

Which were unheard of here, in former times.

Blaſphemous Hereſie among you growes,

Like Sprouts at Spring-tide, from a new lopt tree:

And, ſo deteſtable, are ſome of thoſe,

That, pious men afraid to name them be:

Leſt they, who love the ſinfulneſſe of Sin,

Should, thereby, let ſuch miſchiefes further in.

Death, was the puniſhment, which for this crime

Was judged by the Law of Moſes due;

And, well it would become you at this time,

That Law, among theſe Nations to renue.

And if you ſhould obſerve, how little ſenſe

Of Perjurie, men ſeeme to have of late;

p. 81And what bold uſe is made of that Offence,

To ſerve the will of Malice, and of hate;

Or, with what eaſe, Oppreſſours, thereby may,

(And ſometimes do) not only ruinate

And honeſt Fame, but alſo take away,

As well their pretious lives, as an eſtate

From Innocents; Death, would not ſeem a Law

Too ſtrict, to keep thoſe Wicked ones, in awe.

The Land, through Oathes and Curſes, alſo, mournes:

For, ſome have learn'd new oathes, and imprecations,

Not heard of heretofore; and, GOD returnes

On their owne heads, their wiſhed-for Damnations.

In Curſings they delighted; and they ſoke

Like Oyle into their bones. They took a pride

In wiſhing Plagues; and, lo, as with a cloke

Therewith, now, wrapt they are on ev'rie ſide.

You lov'd not Bleſſings: but, when you enjoy'd

Peace, plentie, health, and ſafetie, you deſpis'd

Thoſe Mercies; and behold, they are deſtroy'd,

That they, hereafter, may be better priz'd.

You, long have partners been in ev'rie ſin,

And, now, each others Hang-men, you have bin.

When ev'rie neighb'ring houſe is in a flame,

You ſtore your owne, as if no danger were.

In Honeſtie's, and in Religion's name,

You credit get; and publike Robbers are.

To lye, and to be perjur'd for the Cauſe

Of GOD, your King, or Countrey, is a gin

To catch Opixion; whereby, moſt, he drawes,

That is moſt bold, and impudent therein.

By ſome pretence, to benefit the State,

Religion to promote, or aid the King,

You colour your oppreſſions; ſlander, cheat,

And, put in practice almoſt any thing:

You, by a ſhew, the Gen'rall to preſerve,

Particulars, unmercifully ſtarve.

p. 82You wrong the meaning of your Parliament

When their eſtates you ſeize who are their Foes;

To their undoing, who are innocent,

And blameleſſe, though the Creditors, of thoſe.

And, were it our Deſignment to accuſe

Particulars (as to informe and warne,

In gen'rall termes; that, they, who yet abuſe

Their power, more humanitie might learn)

We could have inſtanced in many things,

Diſcov'ring, that, their number is not few,

Whoſe Crueltie, Reproach, and Curſes, brings

On thoſe Proceedings, which they did purſue

With Prudence, and with MercieMercy, ſhould relieve

The Publike, more; and, private men, leſſe grieve.

One part of you, contributes to the King;

The other Partie, to the Parliament:

To theſe, you perſonall aſſiſtance bring;

To theſe, you liberally your goods have lent:

Yet, moſt of you, who thus ingaged are,

Are both to King, and Parliament untrue:

For, many ſignes your faithleſneſſe declare,

And many things your giddineſſe doth ſhew.

You are moſt firme to that, which you conceive

Your private weal, or ſafety, beſt promotes:

While that is doubtfull, you, Demurs can weave;

When that is plaine, you quickly turne your Coats;

And, to that end, you craftily provide

Quaint ſhifts, to ſerve your turnes, on either ſide.

Some, by Intelligence, themſelves indear;

Or, by ſome ſervice acted under-hand.

By ſecret Favours, Friends you can prepare,

Who in the Gap, for you, at need ſhall ſtand.

Some, have a Son, a Father or a Brother,

Who Ledger with your Adverſe-party, lies;

To make good Terms of Peace, for one another,

According as Occaſions may ariſe.

p. 83And (to advance this Project) they, who ſpend

Their Blood, and Fortunes, with a ſingle heart,

(Indeavouring truly for the nobleſt end)

Engaged are, to act a deſp'rate part;

Which, into preſent miſchiefs, them doth caſt,

And, into feares of greater, at the laſt.

You, have not Faith enough, in GOD, to truſt;

(Though, wonder-working Faith, you do pretend)

And, that, hath tempted you to things unjuſt:

That, makes you on your arme of fleſh depend.

That, makes you bold, when you ſhould rather feare;

And, fearfull grow, when you ſhould bolder be:

That, makes your Foe ſo vigilant appeare;

And, you, ſo many things, to over-ſee.

That, makes you, for your Ayd, poor tricks deviſe,

And take that Courſe which Scandall on you draws:

That, makes you think, that falſe Reports, and Lies,

Are meritorious in an Honeſt-Cauſe:

And, by theſe fallings, you your peace delay;

And juſtifie your foes, in their lewd way.

They, who abhorre Pluralities in other,

And in your Clergie hate non-reſidence;

Can, Office unto Office joyn together,

And, in themſelves, ſuppoſe it no offence.

Some, can heap up Command, upon Command;

Share, or take all the honour, and the pay,

(When but for cyphers, nay for leſſe they ſtand)

And other mens true value take away.

Some, when the Publike was in great diſtreſſe,

(Though they Commanded few, had pay for many)

Yea, ſome of you (who better minds profeſſe)

Were paid for ſouldiers, when you had not any:

And, ſome have took, (who yet for payment call)

In Plunder and Free-quarter, more then all.

Of Orphans cries, and of the Widdowes tears,

Whoſe Fathers and whoſe Huſbands for your ſake,

p. 84Have ſpent their lives, and fortunes in theſe wars,

More heed, more care, more pitie, you muſt take.

When at your doores, and at your feet they lie,

To crave a part of that which is their own,

To feed them in their great neceſſity,

More Bowells of Compaſſion, muſt be ſhowne.

And, they who, to contribute, have not ſpar'd

Paines, Councells, Prayers, Perſons, nor Eſtates

In publike duties, muſt finde more regard,

Before the furie of this Plague abates:

For, who can hope the GOD of Righteouſneſſe,

Will ſhew forth merciemercy, to the mercileſſe?

They, who in Peace, the blood of War have ſhed

As Ioab did; or, have expos'd their friends,

And faithfull ſouldiers, to be murthered

To hide their Plots, or to effect their Ends,

Muſt not be winked at: nor they, who dare

So partiall in their judgements to become,

As to inflict on thoſe that equalls are

In their tranſgreſſions, an unequall-doome:

For, of this partiall dealing there is found,

A murmur in your ſtreets: and, Common-fame

Reports, injuſtice ſo much to abound;

That, he ſpeedes beſt, who merits greateſt blame:

And, that, for ſin, when Acceſſaries bleed,

The Principalls find favour, and are freed.

Your Beaſts of prey, who live upon the ſpoile,

And, by the publike ruines, fat are growne,

Muſt either quite be chaſed from this Iſle,

Or, from their dens, be rouz'd, and hunted down.

Your Ambodexters, who are neither true,

To GOD, nor Man, to King, nor Parliament,

Muſt learn a better temp'rature to ſhew,

And of their fraud, and fickleneſſe repent.

Thoſe Rotten-Members, thoſe falſe Officers,

And thoſe Committee-men, who have deceiv'd

p. 85The Kingdomes Truſt, muſt for that guilt of theirs,

Paſſe other doomes, then yet they have receiv'd,

Before thoſe wrongs, and practices, do ceaſe,

Which keep away your much deſired Peace.

They who have almoſt perfected the times

For deſolation, by habituating

Themſelves in Sodom's, and Gomorrah's crimes;

And, by an impudently imitating

Of their impenitence: ev'n they, that had

The pride of life, ſacietie of bread,

And liv'd in idleneſſe; muſt, now, be made

To taft their ſuffrings, who are hunger-fed:

To feele the paines of their laborious life,

Who, ſweat in good employments; and the ſcorne,

Which humble-men have long without reliefe,

By their oppreſſion, and ambition, borne.

Theſe muſt be humbled, and perhaps deſtroy'd,

Before your expectations are enjoy'd.

Your counterfeit and raſh Reformers, too,

Muſt change their hearts, and regulate their zeale,

Ere you ſhall compaſſe what you hope to do,

In matters of the Church, or Common-weale.

Your Scribes and Phariſees, who by long prayer,

Devour poore Widdowes houſes; and by ſhewes

Of honeſtie (and by pretending faire

To pietie) good meaning ſoules abuſe:

They, who in tithing mint, and anniſe, are

More ſtrict, then in the weightie points of Law;

And, burthens great, for other men prepare,

When they themſelves will hardly lift a ſtraw:

Theſe, muſt, e're perfect Peace you here ſhall ſee,

Be more unvizarded, then yet they be.

Your pettie-Tyrants, muſt be likewiſe fewer,

Then now they are; e're GOD will condeſcend,

To eaſe your burthens, or your griefes to care;

Or, bring your diſ-agreements to an end.

p. 86For, how, in equitie, can you expect

Your GOD ſhould free you, from thoſe injuries,

That Sov'raignty-abuſed may inflict?

Whilſt you, on one another, tyrannize?

Or, how can, poſſibly, true Peace be there,

Where well nigh all are Tyrants to their power?

And, as they get advantage domineer,

Inſult, oppreſſe, impov'riſh, and devoure?

For, this oppreſſion you may plainly ſee

In ſome of everie Calling, and Degree,

Nigh ev'rie one the King exemplifies,

In uſurpation of Prorogatives,

Above his due: Nay, that which he denies

VntoUnto his Prince; injuriouſly, he ſtrives

To take unto himſelfe. The Peer, upon

The Commoner uſurps: The Huſband, ſo

VponUpon the Wife: The Father, on the Son;

And, on their Servants, thus, the Maſter, do.

In everie Corporation, thus preſume

The Governours; yea, thus the Magiſtrate

Of loweſt ranke, doth on himſelfe aſſume

What, in his Chiefe, he will not tolerate:

And, they who their own Freedoms, fain would ſave,

Are alwaies willing, others to inſlave.

Theſe, and ſuch Scabs, and Tetters, muſt be ſear'd

E're they will heal; And, you muſt cut away

Thoſe Members, whereon Gangrieves have appear'd:

Which, els, this Kingdoms body will deſtroy.

For, multitudes of thoſe, among you, hide

Their Addle-heads: yea, many ſuch as theſe

(Corrupting, both the one, and other ſide)

Do keep incurable this Lands diſeaſe.

And, to your ſafetie, it would moſt redound,

(And your deſired Peace, the more aſſure)

If, by each partie, their own faults were found;

And, they themſelves, endeavour'd their own cure:

p. 87Which, ſhall perhaps, begin, when on one day,

Both Parties, for this Grace, ſhall Faſt, and Pray.

But, why ſhouldſt thou be kept attending, here,

What further (to this purpoſe) may be ſaid,

And be the while (when thou no harm doſt fear)

Injuriouſly rewarded, and betraid?

Lo; they that hate thee, while thou art imploid

To ſeek their Peace; have now prevailed ſo,

That, if their plot thou quickly make not void,

They, whom thou honour'ſt moſt, ſhall thee undo.

That miſchief to prevent, make therefore ſpeed;

And, mark, when thy endeavour thou haſt done,

What juſtice or injuſtice ſhall ſucceed:

For, gueſſe thou mayeſt, by what befalls thereon,

How ſafely thou haſt ventur'd thy eſtate

VponUpon the publike-Faith, or publique-Fate.

The VOICE here paws'd againe; and, forth I went

To ſee, how I requited was by them,

In whoſe defence, my fortunes, I have ſpent;

My life adventur'd, and conſum'd my time.

If they deceive my hope, my greateſt grief

Will be for them; becauſe, I plainly ſee

Their failing me, of promiſed relief,

Will more diſhonour them, then hinder me.

For, nor on Peeres nor Commons, I depend:

But, on his pow'r, and on his love alone,

Who, ere I had my being, was my Friend;

And, ſhall be, when my Foes are all undone.

By Him, in all oppreſſions, I am eas'd;

With whatſoere he pleaſes, I am pleas'd.