A Voice Tending to the Pacification of Gods Wrath, Title page – Errata
Vox Pacifica: A VOICE TENDING TO The Pacification of GOD's wrath; and offering thoſe Propoſitions, or Conditions, by the acceptation, and performance whereof, in ſome good meaſure, a firme and continuing Peace may be obtained. It is directed to the KING, PARLIAMENTS, and PEOPLE of theſe Iſlands:
BY GEO. WITHER Eſquire, (a Commander in this War) heretofore their unneeded REMEBERANCER of Plagues and Deliverances paſt; and their timely Forewarner of the Judgments now come. He hath diſpoſed it into ſix BOOKS, or CANTO's, whereof foure onelyonly are contained in this VOLUMNE; and the other deferred to be hereafter publiſhed, as there ſhall be Cauſe.
To day, if you will heare this VOICE, harden not your hearts, &c.
LONDON Printed by Robert Auſtin, in the Old-Baily M DC XLV.
The meaning of the Frontiſpice.
A Trumpet ſounds a parlee to this Iſle,
And, over it, a Hand diſplayes, the while,
A Flag of Peace; that, this new Signe at doore,
May draw you in, to view a little more.
We hung it forth, that theſe beſotted Nations
May heed the ſeaſon of their Viſitations;
And, grow more carefull to conforme their wayes
To what this VOICE, and their known Duty, ſayes:
Though, yet, the moſt, our words no more have mark'd,
Then if a Cat had meaw'd, or Dog had bark'd.
You ſee the building; you have ſeen the Signe;
And, if it pleaſeth you, may taſt our Wine.
You view the Type, and Title, of the Play,
Our Argument, and where the Scoene we lay;
And, that, for which the Maker dearer paid,
May, when you pleaſe, for little be ſurvai'd;
Ev'n for as little as you thinke it worth,
When he, at that low rate, can ſet it forth:
And, that we offer no unwholſome Wares,
Our Licence, and our Priviledge, declares.
Neglect not courteſies, when few are done;
Nor Opportunities, till they are gone:
Nor doubt your uſage, though abroad you heare,
Our Authour, in reproving, is auſtere:
For, they who bring a well-compoſed minde,
In his moſt harſhreproofs, will mildneſſe finde:
And, none have been his Adverſaries, yet,
But, they, who wanted honeſty, or wit.
When his owne failings have to him appear'd,
Himſelfe no more then others he hath ſpar'd;
And, did, what, he ſuppoſeth, him became.
Let ev'ry Reader ſtrive to do the ſame,
And ſhortly, here, in ſubſtance will be ſeen,
What, in this Embleme, hath but ſhadow'd been
VOX PACIFICA
PAX VOBIS
TO THE KING, PARLIAMENTS, AND PEOPLE, OF Theſe BRITISH ISLES.
NOt to petition King, or Parliament,
Or Court the People, ſuits with his intent
Who ſends you this: Nor, is it come to crave
Your Favours, or, your Patronage to have.
It is almoſt too late; and 'twas too ſoon:
At this time, therefore, he expects that boone
From One who better knowes him; and from whom
This VOICE, doth to your ſight, and hearing come.
And, had he alwaies done ſo, he had loſt
Leſſe labour; and eſcaped with leſſe coſt.
He hath no mind to flatter: if he had,
To flatter at this time, were to be mad;
And, perad venture, alſo, he hath, now,
As little cauſe, as mind, to flatter you:
For, Courtſhip on that LADY, who beſtowes,
That poore, deſpis'd, deform'd and aged growes,
Who ſleighted him, and left him to diſpaire
When ſhe was wealthie, lovely, young, and faire.
Yet, that thoſe old affections may appeare,
With which, by him, you alway ſerved were;
And, that he may not give a juſt offence
(By ſeeming careleſſe of the reverence
Belonging to your Greatneſſe) he profeſſes,
That, meerly, for the ſake of theſe Expreſſes,
The freedome of bold-language he aſſumes;
And, that he nothing, for himſelfe, preſumes:
Nor, means to honour, love, or ſerve you, leſſe,
For your unkindneſſes, or your diſtreſſe.
The Newes he brings, accepted if it be,
Will warrantize the Speaker to be free:
And, if it be deſpiſed, he conceives,
Some will grow bold, ere long, without your leaves;
And, make you heare, with ruder complements,
A blunter Language, and to worſe intents:
For, dreadfull things are murmur'd; and unleſſe
Men more conforme, to that which they profeſſe,
You'l find, ere long, he dareth, without feare,
To ſpeak more truth, then many dare to heare.
What ever He, what e're his Language ſeems;
Your Perſons, none more values, or eſteems.
None loves your Honours, or your ſafeties, more
Then he yet doth, and hath done heretofore.
None, oft'ner his own blame hath ventur'd on,
That others might not wholly be undone;
Or, is more free from aimes, at that which tends
To perſonall reſpects, or private ends.
And, thus profeſſeth he, that you might grow
More honourable, by believing ſo.
He, that hath done GOD'S errand, was, ere now,
Reputed a*2 King, 9.11. Mad-fellow: Some, of you,
Have ſo been pleas'd, perhaps, of him to ſay,
Becauſe he hath appear'd in ſuch a way,
As, never, ſince the Chriſtian-paths, were trod,
Was traced, by a Meſſenger from GOD.
But, times have been; and, this is ſuch a time,
In which the People, much regard not them
Who ſpeak in Ordinary: And, then muſt
Some Ploughman, or ſome Herdman, forth be thruſt
To help awake them; and, He, perad venture,
With Riddles, Signes, or Parables, muſt enter;
Or, els, by ſome unuſuall ſtraines proceed,
To make his Hearers give the better heed;
And, know, the Spirit ſtoupeth from on high,
Somtime, ev'n with a vulgar*2 King. 3.15. Minſtralfie.
Be pleaſed, therefore, not to under-prize
Him, or his Preſent; leſt (when his diſguiſe
Is taken off) you find him ſomwhat els
Then you have thought, or his appearance tels.
Permit you not the crafty Polititians
In either Faction, to beget ſuſpitions,
That, he, who wrote this VOICE, hath ſome Intents,
For compaſſing whereof, he, now, invents
A Fancie, and pretends the publike-Peace,
When, really, he aimes at nothing leſſe.
For, that his purpoſes, no other were
Then he profeſſeth, plainly ſhall appeare
To men of ingenuity, or wit,
Who weigh things paſt, with what he, now, hath writ.
For, whoſoe're hath obſervation took,
With what impartiall-freedome he hath ſpoke
To either ſide, (nor ſparing Friend, nor Foe;
Nor caring, who diſpleas'd, or pleas'd ſhall grow)
Can never draw that falſe concluſion thence,
Without much folly, or much impudence.
Yea, ſince it is apparent, that his Pen
Hath ſpar'd himſelfe, no more then other men;
Since he hath, now, nigh five and thirty years,
This Freedome uſed; and nought, yet, appears
To be, thereby, acquir'd, but ſad events,
Diſgraces, loſſes, cloſe impriſonments,
Deſpights and miſchiefs; how can you ſuppoſe
His folly ſuch, that, now, the world worſe growes,
He thinks, this courſe will him advantage more,
Or, bring him fewer miſchiefs, then before?
He knowes, there is the ſelfe-ſame baſen…ſſe, yet,
The ſame corruption, the ſame little wit,
And malice, which in former times was here;
Though, now, in other habits they appeare,
And act another way. He knowes, what then
Beſt pleas'd; and, what will, now: yet, takes agen
The ſelfe-ſame Courſe: Becauſe, he knowes from whom
His meſſages, and warranties do come:
And, that it ſhall be more his reputation,
To be undone, by ſuch a Generation,
For doing of his Dutie; then, therby,
To be advanc'd for furth'ring vanitie,
Till he and they into perdition fall,
Like Sheep, or Bullocks, ſlaught'red in their ſtall.
This, hath ſo ſteel'd him, that he can abide
To heare a fooliſh-Gallant him deride,
And (taking up his Poem) grin, and ſay;
Come, let us heare what novelties we may
Collect from this New-Prophet? and behold,
What future things, are here, by him, fore-told?
This, makes him bold, and reſolute, for you;
Who, for himſelfe, doth baſhfully purſue
The meaneſt favour, while you ſeeme to ſee
Another, who thereof may worthier be.
And, therefore, now, this one time him regard,
For your owne ſakes, though never afterward.
Be warie, that this VOICE you truly heed,
Before to any cenſure, you proceed,
Condemning it, or him, by whom it came;
Leſt your, your ſelves, incurre the greateſt blame:
And, thereupon, this alſo, may enſue;
That, thouſands for that cenſure, cenſure you,
When they perceive, that you a courſe have run,
Whereby, you are diſhonour'd, and undone.
And, to this end; of thoſe, who cauſe have bin
Of all your preſent Plagues, and of that ſin,
Which brought them on you (that two-horned-Beaſt)
Beware of: yea, be warie that no Prieſt,
Of either ſide, make void what this VOICE tels,
By their prejudicating it: Or els,
By ſhowes of Learning, or fain'd Holineſſe,
Make you beleeve, that this way to expreſſe
Divine concernments: Or, for Saints, to uſe
The Muſes language, ſome way doth abuſe
Their Sanctitie: Or, that this way of Preaching,
Is Heath'niſh, and a Pagan-ſtraine of teaching.
For, though moſt Poets were, long time ago,
(And yet are) Prieſts of Luſt, and Drunkenneſſe,
They, from their firſt beginning, were not ſo;
But, men inſpir'd divinely, to expreſſe
The will of GOD; and, by their holy Songs,
To rouze up that affection in the heart,
Which to the Love of Pietie belongs;
And, to incline it to the better-part.
At this our Author aimes; and, to reſtore
That Gift, to what it hath been heretofore,
His Muſes conſecrates: and, ſhewes the way,
That, others (if it pleaſe them) follow may.
Permit not then, the rigidneſſe of thoſe,
Who think Divinitie confin'd to proſe;
And, Verſe ordain'd, at firſt, for nothing els
But, carnall fancies, fooliſh charms, and ſpels:
Oh! ſuffer none of thoſe (who have beſide
Their ignorance, much envie, and much pride)
Your judgements to pervert, divert your eyes,
Or, fill your eares, with vanities and lies,
To keep off your attention, from this VOICE,
By juggling with Formalities, and noyſe;
Both to the prolongation of your woe,
And, loſſe of good effects which thence may flow.
For, if this VOICE be welcome to your eare,
The bleſſed way of Peace, it ſhall prepare:
And by the Charmings of this new-tun'd Song
The rage of War, ſhall be allaid e're long.
That wicked Spirit ſhall be charmed downe,
By whom, the ſeeds of diſcords, have beene ſowne:
The Hags and Furies, that have danced here,
No longer, to affright you, ſhall appeare:
But, all the ſacred vertues, and the graces,
Shall beautifie your Deſolated-places.
If you contemne this VOICE, what e're you deem,
Of that it ſpeaketh, (or, what e're he ſeem,
Who now proclaimes it) GOD ſhall ſpread the ſame,
In ſpight of all detractions, to your ſhame,
And to the honour of that Inſtrument,
By whom it comes: yea, as a Monument,
Ev'n you, (and yours, who ſleight it) ſhall preſerve it
From being loſt; your cloſets ſhall reſerve it,
To bear a Teſtimoniall of your crimes,
And your impenitence, to future times:
Or, for a warning, to ſome age to come;
Or, to exalt GODS Juſtice in your doome:
The leaſt of which, will yeeld a rich returne
For all his paines, though you his labour ſcorne.
Should you deſpiſe theſe counſels, it will ſhew
So plainly, thoſe events which muſt enſue,
That, he ſhall neither value thoſe reſpects
The world affords, nor care for her neglects:
But (your ſad doomes bewailing) ſhall deſire,
That, he and his, may ſpeedily retire
To that ſafe reſting-place, wherein are found
Sure ſhelters, from thoſe plagues, that will abound:
And, where he never more ſhall feel, or heare
The ſcornes of pride, the rage of malice feare:
Or, labour, as he hath done, heretofore,
To make a White-man of a Blackamoore.
But, yet he hopes; and yet, a while expects
Some other, and more ſuitable effects,
To his deſires: which (if they ſhould ſucceed
Accordingly, will bring him, or, his ſeed,
To ſee (forth of theſe Fires) that Phanix riſe,
Which, is the chiefe deſire, of all their eyes,
Who love Ieruſalem. And, with this hope,
His heart, he comforting, here, makes a ſtop;
And ſignifies, that, He, who doth preferre
This VOICE, is your deſpis'd REMEMBRANCER.
GEO. WITHER.
A Poſtſcript.
BE pleas'd to know, that, though our Author gives,
In theſe four Canto's, fretting Coroſives,
He taketh no contentment in your ſmart;
But, ſtudies to perform that Leaches part,
Who, rather, ſeekes his patients life to ſave,
Then, how to flatter him into his grave.
If you (with patience) let this Plaiſter lie,
The next that he intendeth to apply,
Shall be a Balſome, which will cure and eaſe;
And (if you be not verie hard to pleaſe)
Give proofe (what ever, knaves and fooles pretend)
Why, ev'ry honeſt man, ſhould be his friend.
The Contents of the ſeverall Canto's contained in this Volumne
The Contents of the firſt Canto.
Firſt, here is to your view prefer'd
When, where, and how this VOICE was heard:
What kind of Muzings, were the ground:
What worlds, and wonders, may be found
Within our ſelves: what ſafe-Retreats
From thoſe oppreſſions, frands, and baits
Which are without: how little feare
Of Terrours, which affright us here:
How plainly, there, a man may ſee
The villanies, that acted be
For private ends, with publike ſhowes.
How generall the miſchiefe growes:
Why, to acquaint you with this VOICE,
GOD, by ſo meane a man, makes choice:
Then, ſhewes how our grand-hopes deceive us,
And, prayes his aid, that muſt relieve us.
The Contents of the ſecond Canto.
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 be appli'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 Contents of the third Canto.
Here, whether you be pleas'd, or no,
This Author, maketh bold to ſhow
That Portion of his private wrongs,
Whoſe knowledge, and redreſſe, belongs
To Publike Juſtice; that, her eye
May through his wounds, her own eſpie.
The VOCE, then ſpeakes again, and ſchooles,
In Him, all other froward-Fooles,
Who, with impati…ncie do vent
Their private wrongs, or diſcontent:
As if their Trifles could be heard,
When Kingdomes cannot …nd… regard.
It ſhewe…, our Senate blampleſſe are,
Of thoſe Diſtractions, raging here;
And, where the Fault, and Fountatine lies,
From whence, our preſent plagues ariſe.
The Contents of the fourth Canto.
While here, our Authour doth recite
His Muzings after Naesby fight,
The VOICE returnes; and, doth begin
To ſhew us, what muſt uſher in
Exiled Peace. Then, told are we,
How kept our Vowes, and Covenants be:
How we reforme, and faſt, and pray:
What Thankfulneſſe we do repay:
What, muſt in generall be done;
What, by each Individuall-One:
What courſe both King and State muſt take,
E're they their Peace with GOD ſhall make:
What he expects, from ev'ry Nation,
From ev'ry Town, and Corporation,
And ev'ry Houſe, in ſome degree,
Before our Peace renew'd will be.
Theſe faults are diſcovered in the printing, which the Reader is deſired to mend with his pen, and to pardon ſuch other as are over-ſeene.
PAg. 3. line 30. read rectifie. pag. 15. lin. 9. read tezed. p. 18. l. 8. read yee. p. 41. l. 4. read in. p. 50. l. 16. read clean. p. 52. l. 1. r. Treatings. p. 57. l. 23. r. yee. p. 105. l. 36. r. this war. p. 123. l. 36. r. fore-ſhow. p. 128. l. 24. r. you. l. 25. r. your ſorrow. p. 130. l. 28. r. inward. p. 142. l. 29. r. winning. p. 144. l. 12. r. Our loſſes by the Sword werepoſſeſſe. p. 145. l. 27. r. invokes. p. 155. l. 3. r. oppreſſions. p. 159. l. 19. r. though. ibid. l. 28. r. Chriſtian-libertie.