A Voice Tending to the Pacification of Gods Wrath, Canto 4

A Voice Tending to the Pacification of Gods Wrath · Canto 4

p. 141The fourth Canto.

The Contents.

While here, our Authour doth recite

His Muſings 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 Jndividuall-One:

What courſe both King and State muſt take,

E're they their Peace with God ſhall make:

What he expects from ev'rie Nation,

From ev'rie Towne, and Corporation,

And ev'rie Houſe, in ſome degree,

Before our Peace renew'd will bee.

WHen from attention to that Silent-tongue, (heard,

Which, without words, reveales what you have

I came abroad; the Streets, and Temples rung

Of Victories: and, Signalls there appear'd,

Not only, of a valiant Reſolution,

In thoſe that conquer'd; but, of ſome divine

Diſpoſure of them, too, for execution

Of that, which GOD himſelfe, did fore-deſigne.

The ſcornfull Adverſaries ruſhed on,

To Policie, and Strength, themſelves commending.

The LORD of Hoſts, our Friends reli'd upon,

With Prayers fighting, and with Faith defending:

And, lo, GOD gave their Foes into their hand:

For, when he ſighteth, who can then withſtand?

p. 142The Victorie was great, and ev'rie one

Obſerv'd what circumſtances pleas'd him beſt;

But, that, my thoughts did moſt inſiſt upon,

(Which others, peradventure, minded leaſt.)

Theſe Royall-Enſignes from the Field were brought,

The Lion-Rampant, and the Dragon-flying,

The Roſes, and Portcullis; which, me thought,

Were Pledges, future MercieMercy ſignifying.

And, ſo, no doubt, they ſhall be, if that Race,

To which GOD calleth us, we now ſhall run;

And better heed the tokens of his Grace,

And, Earneſts of his love, than we have done.

For, valiant Fairfax, now, hath ſent us home,

In Hieroglyphick, ſignes of things to come.

The Ramping-Lion, (which doth fignifie

A Raging-Tyrant) may an Earneſt be,

That, GOD will from oppreſſing Tyrannie,

VponUpon our Good-abearing, ſet us free.

A Dragon, is that moſt prodigious Beaſt,

Whereby the Holy-Ghoſt hath typifi'd

That Foe, by whom the Saints are moſt oppreſt;

And, by whom, daily, they are crucifi'd.

The taking of that Enſigne, may fore-ſhew,

That (if we faithfully the work endeavour)

The pow'r of Antichriſt we ſhall ſubdue,

And, from theſe Iſlands, caſt his Throne for ever.

Vouchſafe us pow'r, ô GOD! vouchſafe us Grace,

To drive him, and his Angels, from this Place.

The joyning of the Roſes, doth declare,

That GOD will to thoſe honours us reſtore,

Wherewith he crown'd us, when in peace, and war,

We on our Creſt, thoſe lovely Flowers wore.

Their bluſhing Beauties are, to me, a ſigne,

Of that delightfull, and ſoule-pleaſing grace,

Which will make lovely our Church-Diſcipline,

When GOD hath chang'd our Diſcords, into Peace.

p. 143The ſweetneſſe, and the vertues of the Roſe,

Do ſeeme to promiſe to us thoſe effects,

And fruit, which from internall Graces flowes;

Yea, and their prickles are, in ſome reſpects,

Significant; for, I by them fore-ſee,

That his corrections, alwayes, needfull be.

By taking their Portcullis from the Foe,

It may portend (and if with penitence,

We proſecute the Work, it ſhall be ſo)

That, we have taken from them their defence.

It may betoken alſo, that GODS hand

Will bar our Gates, and make our Citie ſtrong,

And, by his MercieMercy, fortifie the Land,

Againſt all them, who ſeek to do us wrong.

But, for a ſurer token of his Grace,

GOD ſends us home, among the ſpoiles of War,

That Cabinet of Miſchiefe, wherein was

The proofe, of what our Foes intentions are:

And, that, their projects, GOD will ſtill diſcloſe,

And foole their Policies, this Prize fore-ſhowes.

I then obſerved, in that Victorie,

(Wherewith GODS hand, at that time, magnifi'd

The Peoples-Tribune) how much vanitie

Is in the Arme of fleſh, and vaunts of pride.

And, with what good ſucceſſe, he ſhall advance,

Who ſeconded with Meekneſſe, Faith, and Pray'r,

Doth fight againſt the rage of Arrogance,

Of Guilt, of Selfe-Dependence, and Deſpaire.

I, furthermore obſerved, that this ſtroke

Was given, by a Hand contemn'd of thoſe,

On whom it fell; and, that their ſtrength it broke,

When, to themſelves, great hopes they did propoſe:

Yea, when they ſeem'd aſſured of our fall;

And thought to ruine, and devoure us all.

And, they received that amazing-blow,

From thoſe Vnited-Brethren, whom they thought,

p. 144Their policies had diſ-united ſo,

That, ruine on themſelves, it ſhould have brought.

But, this, by their agreement, GOD prevented;

And gave that victorie to be a ſigne,

That, if we ſhall hereafter be contented,

In love, againſt the Common-Foe to joyne;

And, truſt him with our Conſcience, and our Cauſe;

We, by that bleſſed union, ſhall ſubdue

Th'oppoſers of our Liberties, and Lawes;

And feel the droppings of Mount-Sions dew

Be ſprinkling all theſe Iſlands, with increaſe

Of ſaving-knowledge, joyn'd with endleſſe peace.

I muſtred up, the manie black-events,

The manie jealouſies, and new-made factions,

The diſcontentments, and diſcouragements,

The frights, the loſſes, dangers and diſtractions

That might have follow'd, and o're-whelm'd us all,

If but that day, our ſpoilers had prevail'd;

If on that day, GOD had not heard us call,

If on that day, to help us he had fail'd.

And I deſire, that we could thanks expreſſe

For ſuch deliv'rances, aſwell, in deed,

As in a Verball-form of thankfulneſſe;

That, GOD might alwaies our devotions heed,

And anſwere us, when in diſtreſſe we pray,

As he our prayers anſwered, that day.

My heart rejoyced much in that ſalvation,

Becauſe, I knew it greater then it ſeem'd;

And, that it wrappeth up a preſervation,

To few men knowne; of fewer men eſteem'd.

So much, I joy not in the victorie,

As in that good, whereto it may conduce:

For, in GODS Judgments, as much joy have I,

As in his Mercies, when I ſee their uſe.

I laugh not, as when I have outward eaſe,

When I do feel GODS hand correcting me:

p. 145Yet, inwardly, it comforts, and doth pleaſe

As much, as when more glad I ſeeme to be.

And, more I feare a failing, on my part,

When I am moſt at eaſe, than when I ſmart.

And, I have ſeene, ſo frequently, a failing,

In proſecuting publike executions;

And, ſuch neglects (upon a ſmall prevailing)

Of good Deſignes, and prudent Reſolutions.

With ſuch a dull proceeding in purſuit

Of thoſe advantages, which GOD beſtowes:

And find them, ſtill, produce ſo little fruit

In ſubſtance, anſwerable to their ſhowes;

That, when I ſhould expreſſe my joyfulneſſe,

With ſuch a ſenſe as other entertaine:

A melancholly doth my ſoule oppreſſe,

As if it fear'd my joy would be in vaine;

But, at that time, ſome better hopes I had,

And, in thoſe hopes, my Prayer thus I made.

Eternall GOD! as mercifull, as juſt,

And, of both theſe the Eſſence in perfection:

Thou know'ſt my heart, and know'ſt I nor diſtruſt

Thy Pow'r, thy Providence, or thy Affection;

Though outwardly I do not much rejoyce,

It is not an unthankefulneſſe to thee,

That ſads my Soule, or ſilenceth my Voyce,

Whiles others tuning Hymnes of Praiſes be.

For, oft, my heart, enjoyes thee all the day;

Aloud to thee, my Spirit often cryes,

When, with my mouth, I not a word can ſay,

When not a teare will trickle from mine eyes:

And, though I neither pray, nor praiſe thee, then,

As I am bound; I do it as I can.

Thy mercies I confeſſe, and am as glad

Of Thee, and them, this day, as he that ſings;

Yet, when I mind what uſe of them is made,

And, what effects from thy compaſſion ſprings,

p. 146It mars my mirth: And therefore, now, in ſtead

Of their thanksgiving Pſalmes, I ſacrifice

My heart in Prayer; which, vouchſafe to heed,

And, do not LORD, my humble ſuits deſpiſe.

For, if thou grant them, it ſhall praiſe thee more,

Thanif that favour, by ten thouſand tongues,

Were, at this preſent time, repeated o're,

And celebrated in a thouſand ſongs.

That hath begot thee, one Thankſgiving-day.

But, this, ſhall make thee praiſed, here, for aye.

The many Mercies, LORD, I do confeſſe,

Which, by thy Bountie, we have here enjoy'd;

And, do acknowledge, with all thankefulneſſe,

That, ere this day, we had been all deſtroy'd,

Vnleſſe thy Goodneſſe, and thy Providence,

Had curb'd the furie of the raging Foe;

Yea, thy Abounding-love was our defence,

Or, we had, elſe, been our owne overthrow.

From thy free favour, and preventing-grace,

It doth proceed, that our deſpiſed Hoſt

Fled not before their Adverſaries face;

Or, fell not by them, who the field have loſt:

And, that, the Joyes which now our Citie hath,

Are not, this day, in Askalon, and Gath.

But, what will theſe prevailings be, at laſt,

If Grace thou, likewiſe, give not to purſue

Thoſe victories, which thou beſtowed haſt;

And, to improve the merciemercy thou didſt ſhew?

What will our ſad rejoycings, at the length,

And bloudy enterchanges, prove, O LORD?

But, an impairing of our native ſtrength,

To make a paſſage for the Forraine-ſword?

And, what from our diviſions, and the ſpoiles,

Torne daily from each other, can ariſe,

But utter devaſtation of theſe Iles?

And, (which is worſe than forraine enemies)

p. 147Selfe-murthers? Or, perhaps, a Dearth ſo great,

That, men ſhall kill each other for their meat?

Such things have been; and ſuch, for ought I ſee,

May here befall us, ere theſe wars be done,

If, thou permit our cruelties, to be

As wilfully purſued, as begun.

Thy judgements teach us, therefore, LORD, to feare;

So, make us, thy forbearances to weigh;

So, let thy kindneſſes our hearts prepare,

That, we no longer foole our Peace away.

Let not the ſighs, the prayers, and the cries

Of thy afflicted children, be in vaine.

Behold, how deſolate their dwelling lies;

Look on their wounds, obſerve how they are ſlaine;

How many, of their Fathers, are bereft!

How many widowes, deſolate are left!

Or, if this move thee not, mark how the Foe

Blaſphemes thy Name: See, with what height of pride

Againſt thy Truth, his malice he doth ſhow,

And, how thy holy things, he doth deride.

Mark, what damn'd Oaths, and curſes forth they roare,

And, with what lyes and ſlanders they do wrong us:

Mark, how they ſcorne the counſels of the poore,

And, to betray us; how they lurk among us.

Mark, how they play the hypocrites, array'd

Sometime, like Boſome-Friends; ſometime diſguis'd

With outward Sanctitie, while ſnares are layd,

That, unawares thy Saints may be ſurpriz'd:

And, let not us, who in thy Truth have joy'd▪

By thoſe, who perſecute it, be deſtroy'd.

If not on us, yet, LORD, compaſſion take

On thoſe that ſhall out of our loynes deſcend▪

If not for our, yet, for thine Honour-ſake,

To theſe deſtroying times, impoſe an end.

Ev'n for the ſake of thy Beloved-One,

Who, through our ſides, is wounded by our Foes,

p. 148Behold, what ſpoyles, what miſchieves they have done,

And help us, ere our ſorrow helpleſſe growes.

Teach us to ſee, and know, how miſerable

We are, and may be, if we perſevere,

As we begun; informe us how unable

We are to ſave our ſelves, from what we feare:

And, to conſider, too, how worthleſſe, we

Are of that merciemercy, which I beg of thee.

Vaine is the help of Armies, Foot, or Horſe;

Vaine is the pow'r of Nations, and of Kings;

Vaine is united policie, and force;

Vaine is the aid of all terreſtriall things:

Thou makeſt War; thou only makeſt Peace,

And, out of nothing, canſt create the ſame;

Nay, out of that, which diſcords doth encreaſe,

An everlaſting Concord thou canſt frame.

Although the people, like huge waters, rage;

The mountaines, yea, theſe Iſlands moved be;

Thou, in a moment, canſt the ſtorme aſſwage,

And, make all quiet, when it pleaſeth thee.

O LORD! command a Calme, command a Peace,

That our unnaturall debates may ceaſe.

To us be reconcil'd, and (to begin

That reconcilement) let us ſo endeavour,

To breake the league, which we have made with ſin,

That Thou, and We, may now be friends for ever.

Make, for us, an Atonement with our King,

Let him perceive, in what his courſe will end:

What Miſcheeves evill Counſellours do bring,

What Vengeance doth on Tyranny attend.

Give him both ſight, and ſenſe, of that huge floud,

Which threatens daily, to o'rewhelme his head;

That roaring torrent, nay, that ſea of bloud,

Which, in theſe Iles, hath wilfully been ſhed.

And, with his wronged, and enraged Nations,

Make thou, for him, his Reconciliations.

p. 149His heart, is in thy hand; and, if thou pleaſe,

Thou canſt returne him to us, wholly changed.

Thou canſt yet make us mutually, with eaſe,

As deare, as if we had not been eſtranged.

Thou that reſtor'dſt Manaſſeh, canſt reſtore

Him to Himſelſe, to VsUs, and to thy Grace▪

And, it may glorifie thy goodneſſe more,

Than to advance another in his place.

Yea, and for us, it ſhall be better too,

If, with a true forgiveneſſe of each other,

We, that have lately been divided ſo,

Shall lovingly unite againe together.

For, what more ſweet, than when unkindneſſe ends,

In reconciling of divided friends?

Thou know'ſt, O GOD! that we have no deſire,

To take from Him, or His, the Royall Throne,

Or, pull it lower; but, to raiſe it higher,

And, ſet him, rather, faſter thereupon.

Thou know'ſt, that though his courſes we abhor,

We love his Perſon, and would faine prevent

That miſchiefe, which he ſeemes to labour for.

By hunting after his owne detriment.

If, by his wilfulneſſe, that bloud be ſpilt,

Which we would ſave; of them require it, LORD!

Who make him to be Patron of their guilt;

Or, bring him within danger of the Sword:

And, keep us, and our children, ever cleare,

From all the bloud, that ſhall be ſpoyled, here.

And, as for me, whom our Oppoſers blame,

As having my firſt principles forſaken,

(Becauſe I, now, againſt the Royall-Name,

With Reall-Majeſtie, a part have taken)

Thou know'ſt my heart, had never an intent,

The Shadow, for the Subſtance, to adore:

And, that if I, ſo fooliſhly had meant,

Diſcretion, bids me ſo to think no more▪

p. 150A Single-Perſon, or a Factious Rabble,

The King, by Armes, oppoſing, acteth Treaſon;

But, Kingdomes joyn'd by Counſells-warrantable,

Againſt a Tyrant, do the work of Reaſon.

Yea, 'tis the hand of GOD, that ſtrikes him, then,

Although he doth it by the ſword of men.

Thou know'ſt, O GOD! that, not a hand of our

Is rais'd againſt his Perſon, or his Seed;

Or, to diminiſh any Royall pow'r,

Which to diſcharge his Office he may need.

Or, for due honour. But, we, rather, fight

(As he would know, if undeceiv'd he were)

To ſave his Dignitie, to do him right,

And, keep him from Deſtructions drawing neare.

Thou know'ſt, we no offenſive War intended;

Nor, armed came, for any private Cauſe;

But, as our dutie binds, to have defended

Thy Truth, our Countrie's Liberties, and Lawes:

And, to remove the wicked from the Throne,

That, he may rule, with righteouſneſſe, thereon.

And, though to fright us from this dutie, LORD,

The ſons of Belial, whom we purſue,

Caſt termes on us, which better do accord

With their proceedings, as to them moſt due:

Yet, thou canſt witneſſe, that we called are,

And, come in true obedience to that Pow'r,

Of which, He but the name doth only weare;

Whilſt he abuſeth his owne Rights, and our:

Thou know'ſt his Wilfulneſſe doth us compell

(Since nor his Parl'aments, Thy Lawes, nor His,

Nor, other courſe prevailes) now to appeale

(In that, which at this time, depending is)

To thy Arbitrement: and, that, the Sword

May to our differences, an end afford.

Wherein, we pray thee, paſſ… thy Sentence ſo,

That, in thy Judgements, Mercy may abound;

p. 151Leſt, though but ſmall Severity thou ſhow,

The innocenteſt party, may be found

Ʋnable to abide it. For, mine eye,

Which only can behold the ſcam, or skin,

Of our Corruptions (and not much eſpie

Of thoſe Pollutions, which lie hid within)

Perceives the beſt ſo faulty; that, by thee,

If ſo put off this Bloodie-Triall were,

That, we might, now, ſome other way, agree:

It would the ſafeſt courſe, for both, appear.

But, LORD, thy will be done, though it be that,

Which fleſh and blood, moſt feares and trembles at.

For, who, that loves thy Attributes and Thee,

And ſees how they are ſleighted? who, that viewes,

How impudently broke thy Precepts be,

How ſpightfully thy foes thy friends abuſe;

And, how preſumptusſly this age goes on,

(Ev'n while th'avenging Angell is abroad)

To do as wickedly as it hath done,

Without regard of man, or feare of GOD?

Yea, who, that loves thine honour, grudgeth now

Thy ſaving of it? or, who wiſheth good

VntoUnto thy Saints, who grieveth to allow

Thy Juſtice, in avengement of their blood?

Or, who can thinke thy judgements have exceeded,

That hath our great offences duly heeded?

I do confeſſe, thy coming to this Nation

In theſe unlook'd-for Judgements, maketh it

To be a ſharp and dreadfull viſitation

To thoſe, that in ſecurity did ſit,

And, liv'd at eaſe. But, they who long have born

The violent oppreſſions of thy Foes,

The inſolence of Tyrants, and their ſcorn,

At thy approaches, tremble not, like thoſe:

For, their Deliverer, and Friend appears,

And, therefore, though we ſtand in awe of thee,

p. 152It is with conjug all, and filiall fears,

Mixt with whoſe tartueſſe, ſweetueſſes there be:

Yea, though thy judgments, fright us, when we hear them

Yet, LORD, we love them, more then we do fear them.

Whileſt thus, or unto ſuch effects I prai'd,

And meditated, by my ſelfe alone,

The VOICE began to ſpeak again, and ſaid;

Thy GOD obſerveth, what thou muſeſt on,

And will not faile thy hopes, if thou believe,

And perſevere. For, he is readier farre,

His bleſſings, and his benefits to give,

Then, they, who want them, to deſire them are.

And, when he doth deny them, or prolong them,

It is not out of back wardneſſe in him,

To condeſcend; but, that you might not wrong them,

Or entertain them with a ſleight eſteem.

Moſt, little prize good things, till much they coſt,

Few, know their happineſſe, till it be loſt.

You may perceive, by that, which GOD hath wrought

For theſe afflicted Iſles, in their diſtreſſe;

By manie things, which he to paſſe hath brought,

When miſchiefes were, almoſt, beyond redreſſe:

By thoſe diliv'rances, which you have had,

When to the brink of ruine you were come;

By thoſe eſcapes, which he for you hath made,

From plots, which none but he could ſave you from;

Yea, ſee you may by his oft freeing you,

When, careleſly, advantages you loſe;

And by that merciemercy, which he ſheweth, now,

That, he would ſoone ſecure you from your Foes,

Could you ſo mind, what doth to you belong,

That, merciemercy might not do his juſtice wrong.

Alas! he takes no pleaſure in your cries,

By your afflictions he can reap no good;

Your wound, are not delightfull to his eyes,

Nor joyes be in the ſhedding of your blood.

p. 153He better likes of Feaſts, then Faſting-dayes,

If you could uſe them, to your more availe,

Your mournings would not pleaſe, like ſongs of praiſe,

If you had fewer failings to bewaile.

He is not ſuch a cruell GOD, as manie,

Blaſphemouſlie, have fained him to be,

Delighted in the death, or griefe, of anie;

But, Love, and Joy eſſentiallie is he:

And, gave his Deareſt to be crucifi'd.

A ſaving-health for ſinners to provide:

Of him, if peace you rightlie ſeek, believe it,

He will vouchſafe it, when you ſhall appeare

A people qualified to receive it:

And, to expect it ſooner, vaine it were.

Your pride is not, as yet, enough abated,

Your wiſdom, is not, yet, enough befooled,

Your own deſervings, are, yet, over-rated,

You, by the rod, are not, yet, throughly ſchooled.

You have ſome ayerie Caſtles, yet, in building,

Some falſe dependencies, yet, undeſtroy'd,

Some groundleſſe hopes, not to deſpaire, yet, yeelding,

Some luſts, and ſome vaine pleaſures, yet in joy'd:

And, manie ſuch obſtructions, making, yet,

Theſe Kingdoms, for that happineſſe, unfit.

Your lofty minds, muſt, firſt, be ſtooped lower,

Your ſeparations, muſt draw, ſomwhat, nigher,

Your Formes of godlineſſe, muſt get more power,

Your baſe affections muſt be lifted higher:

Your headſtrong wilfulneſſe, muſt more be tamed,

Your Anchor, muſt with deeper hold, be grounded,

Your Charity, muſt farther be inflamed,

Your Faith, muſt on the rock, be better founded.

Your ſelves, muſt, by your ſelves, be more deni'd,

More care of publike duties muſt be took;

Your wanton fleſh muſt more be mortifi'd,

And, for your ſins, your hearts muſt more be broke,

p. 154E're theſe afflicted Iſles will repoſſeſſe

A ſafe, a reall, and a laſting peace.

Delude you not your ſelves, with guilefull ſhowes;

For, when they promiſe moſt, they moſt deceive.

To win, is, manie times, the way to loſe:

And, Victories, of ſafety may bereave.

Security, may loſe you, in a day,

What, watchfulneſſe was gaining, many years;

And, in a moment, GOD may take away

Your greateſt ſtrength, when ſtrongeſt it appears.

Were now, your adverſaries in your power;

Were not a dog, to barke againſt you, left,

And, Peace confirm'd; you might, within an houre,

Of all that happineſſe, be quite bereft.

Yea, and it ſhould be loſt again, e're long,

Vnleſſe, on better tearmes, you made it ſtrong.

VponUpon the juſtneſſe of the Cauſe, ſome truſt;

But, that, a vain dependence may be found:

For, if they, who defend it, be unjuſt,

A righteous Cauſe, may fall unto the ground.

The Jewes did flie before the Canaanites,

While but one Achan, in their Camp, remain'd;

They fell before the wicked Benjamites,

While, their impenitencie they retain'd.

Some think, becauſe the Word of Truth, is here,

GODS Ordinances, and his holy-things,

That, you a priviledged people are:

But, no ſecuritie, at all, this brings:

It, rather, calls for vengeance on that place,

Which anſwers not, in fruits, their meanes of grace.

The Arke, it ſelfe, from Iſrael, was borne,

And, they who kept it, ſlaughtered, for their ſin;

Ev'n GODS own Houſe was ra'zd, and made a ſcorne,

And, they inthral'd, who ſerved him therein.

GOD, for his Temples ſake, ſpar'd not oppreſſion,

Nor, for that Worſhip which they did profeſſe:

p. 155But, them he turned out of their poſſeſſions,

For acting ſin, in cloakes of holineſſe.

Do you ſuppoſe, that, GOD, will for the ſake

Of thoſe few righteous men, that, yet, remaine,

The preſent troubles from theſe Iſlands take,

And, ſettle all things here, in peace, again?

How can you ſuch a benefit expect,

Till righteous men, you better do affect.

If you, by them, ſuch bleſſings may enjoy,

Why are you not, to thoſe, more faithfull friends?

Why ſeek you to undo, or, to deſtroy

Thoſe men, on whom your weale ſo much depends?

Though, for their ſakes, you reap, at other times,

Great benefit; and often are ſecur'd,

From publike miſchiefes; yet, there have been crimes,

For which, this priviledge is not procur'd.

Though Noah, Job, and Daniel, interceded

At ſuch a ſeaſon, grace ſhould not be ſhowne:

They ſhould not get a pardon, when they pleaded,

For anie ſoules offending, but their own.

And, ſo it may be, for ought yet, you know,

With everie unrepentant ſinner, now.

Some, of you, have a hope, as vain as this,

Another way; for, manie men ſuppoſe

To be ſecured, by the wickedneſſe,

And crying ſins, of their blaſphemous Foes.

But, Edom did Jernſalem ſuppreſſe,

Although the former had tranſgreſſed more:

The Saints, although their errors may be leſſe,

Are daily murther'd by the Scarlet-Whore.

GODS Magazine, hath puniſhments enow,

To ſeize on all at once, that him offend;

He Scorpions hath for them, and Rods for you,

And, both will ſcourge, if both do not amend.

He, as he liſts, can make you whip each other;

Or, ſpare the one, or, puniſh both together.

p. 156Indeed, a Kingdomes laying-waſt, hath bin,

And, is ſometimes, deferred for the ſakes

Of righteous men, inhabiting therein:

But, that, but little for the ſafety makes,

Of Individuall ſinners. For, you ſee,

They, by the Sword, are pick'd out everie day,

Their habitations daily ruin'd be,

And their poſterities are ſwept away.

Yea, when, quite round them, all the neighbourhood

Stands unimpaired, they are ſomtime ſeized,

That, others may obſerve it, for their good,

Or, that GODS wrath may, thereby, be appeaſed:

And, otherwhile, the juſt are taken from

A wicked-place, toſcape the plagues to come.

But, what, or whom, need you ſuſpect, or feare,

Though both your Horſe & Foot, this day were routed?

Of your own ſelves, you well-conceited are

Of your own courſes, nothing is miſ-doubted.

You have deſignes, wherein you can confide,

Though GOD be verie little in your thought:

You, in a blindfold hope, can quiet bide,

Though, in due meanes, his aid you have not ſought.

You ſeem ſo knowing, that none muſt adviſe;

So righteous, that, you reformation hate;

So holy, that, your brethren you diſpiſe,

So powerfull, as if you preſerv'd the State:

And beare your ſelves, as if unto theſe Nations

GOD, were oblig'd, by ſpeciall obligations.

And, if but with a ſuperficiall look

A view of you were taken, on that ſide

Which faireſt ſhowes, you might be, then, miſtook,

For better then you'l prove, when you are tride.

You are now frequent in humiliation,

You are profeſt Reformers of your waies;

You are become the longeſt-praying Nation,

And, holieſt-talking people, in theſe daies,

p. 157Your ſimpleſt tradeſmen are grown mighty Preachers,

Your ſouldiers guifted are with double power,

Young ſillieſt women are admired teachers,

And ſpeak, and pray among you by the houre.

The chiefeſt places in your Common-weale,

Supplied are, with men of noted-zeale.

The godly party, now preferments gets,

(At leaſt, they who the form thereof put on)

And, when ſome of them, are prov'd counterfeits,

The honeſt party will be thought upon.

To keep the foremoſt-table of the LAW

Inviolate, you care, of late, have took;

And, many think, it ſhowes you ſtand in awe

Of GOD; and, that you at his honour look.

And, peradventure, (if it hinder not

Your luſts or profits) when you are at leaſure,

Some Orders or Proviſions may be got,

To make you carefull, in ſome better meaſure,

To keep the ſecond-Table: wherein, lies

The proofe of your faire-ſeeming ſanctities.

You zealouſly have, likewiſe, overthrowne

The monuments of Popiſh ſuperſtition;

Pull'd Croſſes, Images, and Altars down,

Even thoſe things that gave but juſt ſuſpition

Of an Idolatrous or fruitleſſe uſe;

As well appeareth, in not lettting paſſe

(When you demoliſh'd them, for their abuſe)

The guilded Organs, and the painted glaſſe.

You have for ev'rie week a Sabbath, now;

For every moon a Faſt; in private, more:

Thanksgiving daies, you likewiſe do allow,

For holy-daies, obſerved heretofore;

Which, of thoſe feaſts, will well ſupply the room,

Vntill you wearie of them ſhall become.

Theſe works are found among you, and of thoſe

Some part from upright-heartedneſſe doth flow,

p. 158And from thoſe rectified conſciences,

Which do a reall Reformation ſhow.

And, though the works themſelves have no deſerving

In their own nature, or, through imperfections,

Concomitant: yet, GOD, in you, obſerving

A will renew'd, and following his direction,

According to your power, accepteth ſo

A fraile performance, from a weake intent,

That, he as much, by Grace, imputes thereto,

As if it perfectly were done, and meant.

And (for a few thus qualifi'd) GOD hath

Deferr'd full proſecution of his wrath.

But, ſo far off, your Reformations, yet,

And pious ſhowes, are from deſerving ought,

Or from a likelihood, that they will fet

The peace, for which, you have both pray'd and ſought;

That, if more mercies GOD vouchſafe not to you,

Then by your Sanctitie deſerved are,

Your holy-things, would utterly undo you,

Though all your other ſins remitted were.

For, as, before their thrall, the wicked Jewes,

Did act a ſeeming-ſanctified part,

Approaching near to GOD, in words, and ſhewes,

Yet, kept themſelves, far from him, in their heart:

So, moſt of you have done: And, GOD therefore,

Your Sabbaths, Faſts, and Praiſes doth abhorre.

To him, your hands you lifted in a VOW;

A ſerious Covenant, with him, you made,

You made it alſo, not without a ſhow,

As if unfained purpoſes you had

To do, as you profeſt: And, you have ſeem'd

Not only to have rightly underſtood

That League, and highly thereof to have deem'd,

But, thereby, likewiſe you receiv'd much good.

Yet, as if, with well-doing, tir'd you were,

(Or, rather, as if you beſotted grew)

p. 159To tender it, you very little care,

Or, thereunto, conformity to ſhew.

A needleſſe duty, this, by ſome, is thought,

Or, preſſed farther, then of right, it ought.

But, if it hath impos'd unduly been,

Why were two Realms, ſo unadvis'd, to make it?

If righteo, us in your eyes, the ſame ſtill ſeem,

Why is not everie man requir'd to take it?

If, neceſſarilie, it was injoyn'd,

And lawfully, why ſhould you ſuffer them

Both libertie, and favour, too, to finde,

Who, therein, ſhall your Ordinance contemn?

Why, is there not a difference put, 'twixt thoſe

Who take it; and all thoſe who ſhall refuſe it?

And, puniſhment why do you not impoſe

On them who take it, only, to abuſe it?

Since, breach of publike Cov'nants is a ſin,

Which, alwaies, brings a publike vengeance in.

A Cov'nant broke, through with the Gibeonites,

(Who gained it a ſurreptitious way)

Brought down a Plague upon the Iſraelites,

Which coſt, the bloud of Princes, to allay.

No branch of this, is anie way unjuſt,

Or inconſiſtent, in the leaſt degree,

With anie dutie, which performe you muſt

As Chriſtians, or, as morall men you be;

Nor is it (being underſtood aright)

A barre to anie Chriſtians Libertie,

Or, humane Priviledge; though, at firſt ſight,

To ſome, theſe, may appeare infring'd thereby:

For, by that Covenant, you vow'd no more,

Then, what you were obliged to before.

It binds you no profeſſion to imbrace

Of Doctrine, Manners, or, of Diſcipline,

Ought farther, then conformable it is

VntoUnto the Canon of the Word-divine:

p. 160You vowed nothing to reject, but what

Shall prove, upon due triall, to be found

Deſtructive, or repugnant unto that;

Or, to the Bond, wherewith you ſhould be bound:

And, as you are obliged, by the ſame,

To nothing, any way unwarrantable;

So, likewiſe, you thereby, ingag'd became

No further to performe, than you are able:

Nor harme, thereby, to any can befall,

But, praiſe to GOD, and ſafetie unto all.

And, yet, this ſacred Covenant, and VOW,

Which tendeth to the prejudice of none,

Which Law-divine, and humane doth allow,

Which need conſtrain'd you to have undergone;

Which was reſolv'd on, by two prudent Nations,

Which, by the higheſt Senates, in both Lands,

Was made, and took, with due deliberations,

And, ſign'd with twentie hundred thouſand hands.

Thoſe Vowes, which you have ſealed with your bloud,

Thoſe Vowes, which in ten thouſand Congregations

Atteſted were; and which you call'd on GOD

To witneſſe too: Theſe Vowes, and Proteſtations,

Vow'd ſo religiouſly, and ſo atteſted,

Regarded are, as if you had but jeſted.

Who dream'd to ſee a VOW, cri'd up like that,

Obſerv'd no better, than conditions made

By Boyes, or Girles, at Puſh-pin, or at Cat?

Who could have thought, that Chriſtians ſhould have had

Of conſcience, or of credit, ſo ſmall care,

As to forget, nay, ſo much to deſpiſe

A Dutie, wherein ſo concern'd they are?

And, whereupon, Life, State, and Honour lies?

He that your Ordinances doth peruſe,

With your inſtructions, and marks what is done;

Can find out nothing, whereby to excuſe

Your ill purſuit, of what you well begun.

p. 161Or why, he ſhould, till you reforme your wayes,

Much heed, what ſuch a Nation, doth, or ſayes.

For, both ſo negligent, and falſe are you,

In what you vow'd: yea, both to GOD, and M…n,

So fooliſhly, ſo ſhameleſly untrue,

Moſt have been, ſince this Covenant began:

That (if you ſoon repent not) this one ſin

Will make a cureleſſe Breach: yea, this offence

Will bring incurable-Deſtruction in,

Without a ſpeedy, and true penitence.

Thus, that, which might have much advanc'd your peace▪

Is like, by your corruption, to procure,

In ſtead of what you hope for, an encreaſe

Of Plagues, and Troubles, longer to endure:

Yet, this is not the only meanes of Grace,

Which is, by you abuſed, in this place.

Your Provocations are as much, or more,

In other ſacred things: For, though ſome few

Have better out-ſides, now, than heretofore,

They are not really, the ſame they ſhew.

The hewing out of Reformation makes

Good chips; and, for each Carpenter, ſuch Fees,

That, whatſoever paines therein he takes,

No feare of any outward loſſe, he ſees.

In ſetting up of publike Diſciplines,

There are Devices, to contrive it ſo,

That men ſhall thereby act their owne Deſignes;

And few perceive, what they intend to do:

For, underneath a cloke of outward-zeale,

More projects are purſu'd, than they reveale.

And, otherwhile, GOD bringeth ſo about

His purpoſe, that, he makes men Inſtruments

To plot it, work it, yea, to fight it out,

Againſt the current of their owne intents.

Sometime, the furious zeale of Hypocrites,

Or wilfulneſſe of Tyrants, by the wages

p. 162Of Balaam, to his ſervice he invites;

And, them, againſt his enemies ingages.

By theſe, he Superſtition doth deface,

Pulls down Idolatrie, and way doth make

For them, to build his Church, up, in that place

Who ſeek to do his will, for Conſcience-ſake.

Yea, thus, he more then once or twice hath done,

Where famous Reformations were begun.

Thus Iehu, in a Fierie zeal, deſtroy'd

Baals Idols, with his Prophets: and, for this,

That Crown, which by his Maſter was enjoy'd,

GOD, for a while, entail'd on him, and his.

Thus likewiſe, in this Kingdom, your eighth Harrie

Made way for that which he intended not:

And, then, from manie a wealthy Monaſterie

Both Lands and goods, for his reward he got.

Yea, manie others furthered that work

Beneath whoſe outſide zeale, much avarice,

Much pride, with much hypocriſie, did lurk,

And, manie another ſecret luſt, and vice.

For which, now draweth near, the fatall day,

Of rooting them, and all their ſeed away.

Yet, their example makes not Theſe times free

From thoſe corruptions: for, much dawbing, ſtill,

With an untemper'd mortar, you may ſee;

And, with pretence of good, much doing-ill.

Much ſhow of Reformation, here, is made

In civill-matters; ev'n by them, that ſteale,

And ſuck the nouriſhment it ſhould have had,

From this diſtreſt, and ſickly Common-weale.

Yea, where it is expected, that extortion

Should moſt be puniſhed; there, now, are fees

Exacted, in the moſt extreme proportion:

And, He, that everie ſecret action ſees,

Will, ſhortly, find out ſome among them, too,

With whom, a Bribe, can more then conſcience do.

p. 163Yet, ſuch as theſe (when they are in the Chaire

Of Judgment, Equitie, Examination,

Or ſet in ſome Committee) offer faire,

In zealous language, toward Reformation;

Theſe look big on offenders; threaten vice,

And make ſome honeſt men, who come before them,

To take them for the birds of Paradiſe;

And ready, for their Virtues to adore them.

They grow familiar with your ableſt Preachers;

They hear them often (in appearance gladly)

They thanke them, praiſe them, as moſt powerfull Teachers:

They can bewaile the Times; look verie ſadly,

And ſeeme to be exceedingly affeard,

When they the threatnings of the WORD have heard.

Yet, when all this is done, they paſſe away,

Through all theſe threatnings, and through all their fears,

To proſecute their luſts, the ſelfe-ſame day,

In which GODS wrath was thundered in their ears.

Yea, thus they do, when vengeance on the Road

Is marching towards them, and in their view;

Thus brazen-fac'd, thus feareleſſe of their GOD,

And thus irrationall, themſelves they ſhew.

Their faſts and praiſes are but complements,

With GOD and men, to furniſh out their ſcoene,

Or, ſerve to cover-over their intents:

But, little to that purpoſe they ſhould meane.

What e're the Preacher or the Propher ſaies,

Reſolv'd they are, to follow their own waies.

The Times, which you have either for confeſſions

Of ſins, or publike mercies, ſet apart,

Are ſolemnized with ſuch dull expreſſions,

As if they were perform'd without a heart.

And, though your Faſtings, as Kings Ahabs, had

Some recompence obtain'd in outward things,

In lieu of Outward-ſhowes, that you have made;

Yet, little reall fruit that dutle brings.

p. 164You faſt not from Oppreſſion, Fraud, and Strife,

Nor from your Avarice, and baſe-deſignes;

You faſt not, from a wicked courſe of life,

Nor from thoſe luſts, whereto your fleſh inclines:

Your heads, you, in the morning, humbly bow:

And, look, e're night, with an imperious-brow▪

GOD cares not for your ſolemne Faſting-day,

Except you come before him, more prepar'd:

You meet, and grant the Preacher leave to ſay

What he ſhall pleaſe; but, give it no regard.

Once, in a Moone, what is it, to repaire

VntoUnto the Church; and, there, ſit out a meale?

Sleep out, perhaps, a Sermon, or a Prai'r;

And, then come home, and fill your bellies well?

Or, what availeth it, to ſigh, and groane,

And, make a crabbed face, an houre or two;

Or, whine out words, in ſome affected tone;

Or, yawne out Lamentations, as ſome do?

What will all this availe, if you depart

With an unſanctifi'd diſſembling heart?

When, on the ſet Humiliation-dayes,

Your well-affected Brethren faſt, and mourn;

When ev'ry Congregation weeps, and prayes,

That, GOD, in merciemercy, might, to them, return:

Some (as if in deſpight of that Decree,

And, in contempt of GOD) dance, feaſt, and ſing;

Or, drinking healths, to their confuſion, be,

Who, for the Publike-Weale, Peace-Offrings bring.

And, many, who would ſeem to ſacrifice

A contrite-ſpirit, and a broken-heart,

Come, loaded with ſo many vanities,

That, back, unto their dwellings, they depart,

Not onelyonly, leſſe accepted then before;

But, more deſpiſed, and polluted more.

It is not to be thought, GOD doth regard

A Formall-habit, ſo you do appear

p. 165With hearts reform'd, and with a ſoule prepar'd,

His holy-Word obediently to hear.

Yet, know, that he expects, when you profeſſe

A ſorrow for your ſins, you ſhould put on

That outward, and that inward humbleneſſe,

By which, the dutie may be truly done.

He doth expect, that, when you near ſhall draw

VntoUnto his Throne, you ſhould approach thereto

With ſo much reverence, and filiall awe,

That, to the ſame, you no diſhonour do;

Nor, make prophane Beholders, to contemne

His Worſhip, by your meane eſteem of him.

For, ſome would ſcarce believe, you ſerv'd a GOD,

Who hath a power to puniſh, or to ſave;

Or, be perſwaded, that you fear'd his rod,

Or, that you need of his compaſſion have;

If they obſerv'd, how cloath'd to him you come,

Or, heeded your behaviours, in his ſight,

Or, ſaw you, after you returned home,

And, what your converſations were, that night.

For, many, of you, habited appeare

Like thoſe, which to the Revells are invited;

And, not, as if you men of ſorrow were,

Or, with GOD's anger, or your ſins, affrighted;

But trim'd with toyes, which, at that time, and place,

Shewes, either want of wit, or, want of grace.

And, when you ſhould appear, with looks compos'd.

According to the ſervice you pretend,

Your thoughts, by your deportment, ſeem diſpos'd.

As if imployed to ſome other end.

Your voice is more imperious, and more loud,

Then, well befits a Faſt: you laugh, and grin,

And, often, have thoſe looks, and geſtures, ſhow'd,

Which fitter for a Theater have been,

Then for a Temple, in a day of Faſting:

Which, if GOD ſhould, ſeverely, look upon,

p. 166Your dayes of mourning, would be everlaſting;

And, your afflictions never would be done:

For, he would ſee (not without Indignation)

You come, but, with a fain'd Humiliation.

And, then, among thoſe errours, and preſumings,

Which make your holy-things abhominable,

(And, which you muſt repent) are your aſſumings

VntoUnto your ſelves, what you are never able,

Nor, warranted to practiſe. For, the Pride,

Which hath begot this Boldneſſe, doth bring on

Thoſe dreamings, and o're-weenings, which divide,

Diſtract, and trouble you, as they have done.

You, miſſing his true meaning, who hath ſaid,

You ſhould be Prieſts, and Prophets to the LORD,

From Truth, and Decencie, have lately ſtrai'd;

And, made your Pray'rs, and Preaching, ſo abhorr'd,

That in the ſtead of what you have expected,

Increaſe of Plagues, and Diſcords, is effected.

And, ſome of you, this Ignorance hath brought

To ſuch preſumption, that you vilifie

That PRAYER, which by CHRIST himſelfe was taught,

And, turn'd Devotion into Blaſphemie;

You, have not only offered ſtrange-fire,

But, alſo, things uncleane: for, you preſent

Your Luſts unto Him; and, thoſe things require,

Which, make Him with your offrings diſcontent.

When, therefore, you preſent the Sacrifice

Of Prayer, know, that as you are not bounded

To Verball-Formes; ſo, you ſhould not deſpiſe

The Rule, whereon that dutie ſhould be grounded;

Leſt that, which might of Bliſſe, a meanes have bin,

A meanes become, of letting Curſes in.

Of GOD, they ſeeme not prudently conceited,

Who think, that thoſe Petitions he deſpiſeth,

Which his owne Spirit hath, for us, indited;

And only likes of thoſe, which man deviſeth:

p. 167Or, that, he will impute it as a Vice,

If in thoſe wants, which formerly you had,

You ſhall preſent him one Petition twice,

Or, oftner, though with true devotion made:

Or, that, at all times, all men, ſhould repaire

VntoUnto his Trone, with ſuits extemporarie,

Becauſe, thoſe few that have the gift of Pray'r,

Can, quickly, to fit words, their meanings marrie▪

For, this is but a novell-impoſition,

Ariſing out of Pride, and Superſtition.

(As of Virginitie, long ſince was ſaid)

Let them to whom GOD gives the ſame receive it.

But, let it not on any man be laid,

To whom it hath not pleaſed him to give it.

To ſpeak in publike, Moſes was leſſe able

Than Aaron; and, yet, GOD did him endow

With kowledge, and with gifts more honourable;

And, from his Holy-Spirit they did flow.

The wiſeſt heart, hath not the nimbleſt tongue:

Nor is it, ſtill, the Spirits inſpiration,

Whereby, ſo many preach, and pray ſo long:

But, Memorie, upon premeditation,

And, that, makes oft a fairer ſhew, in words,

Than Grace, with gifts more ſanctifi'd, affords.

And, by this help of Nature, carnall men,

Not only gain eſteeme beyond their merit;

And, Player-like, act parts, which, now and then

Are, falſly, thought out-flowings of the Spirit:

But, by this qualitie, have, alſo, brought

Contempt on better men: and, oft, thereby,

Into their ſimple hearers hearts, have wrought,

In ſtead of Truth, bewitching hereſie.

Yet, this their Tongue-craft, now, hath ſuch eſteeme,

That he, who to himſelfe, aſſumeth not

This gift, doth ſcarce to them a Chriſtian ſeeme:

And, therefore, many, now, the ſame have got,

p. 168Who care not, though theſe offrings of the tongue

Be wholly Non-ſenſe, ſo they may be long.

GOD values your Devotions, by their ſtrength

Of Faith; and by your pious inclination;

And, not by that tautologie, or length,

Which hath, of late, begun to be in faſhion.

It was a Phariſaicall-Tradition,

Ariſing partly from hypocriſie,

And, partly, from a Jewiſh ſuperſtition,

Which fool'd their Feminine ſimplicitie,

As it doth ours. And, therefore, though he ſeeme

Almoſt a Reprobate, who dares reprove

That cuſtome, (which thoſe men do moſt eſteeme,

Who, with their owne conceptions, are in love)

Yet, many of them, as your Saviour ſaid,

Have only prated, when they thought they pray'd.

Let, then, your Praying, and your Preaching, too,

Be ſuch, as may True-Pietie advance:

And, not the work of your Deſtroyer, do,

By pleaſing Self-conceit, and Ignorance,

In giving leave to ev'rie giddie braine,

To preach what ever Fancie ſhall invent;

And, heaps of thoſe falſe-Teachers entertaine,

Who bring you Tidings, which were never ſent.

A myſterie, I will to you unfold,

Whereof, if you take heedfull obſervation,

A glimmering-light, you ſhall, thereby, behold,

To help promote both Peace, and Reformation;

And, give ſome hint, whereby you may provide,

Againſt thoſe Errours, which do much divide.

There were two SIMONS, in the primitive,

And purer times, who typified that

Which doth concerne you: For, you do derive

Your Evill-being, and your Good-eſtate,

From what they ſignifie. The Name imports

In Engliſh, HEARING; and, theſe did fore-ſhow,

p. 169That, in the Church, from Hearers of two ſorts,

Great Schiſmes, and much Hereſie would flow.

From SIMON-PETER, which is in your tongue,

Hearing-the-Rock, the Faithfull-Hearers came:

From SIMON-MAGVS, all thoſe Hearers ſprung,

Which were ſeduc'd, according to his Name:

For, by Interpretation, 'tis as much

With you, as if yee ſaid, Hearing-the-Witch.

As Simon-Peter, and the Sorcerer,

Long ſince contended, whether of the two,

Should get poſſeſſion of the Peoples eare,

Ev'n ſo thoſe hearings, at this preſent, do.

As Simon-Magus, untill Peter ſpoke,

Had ſo bewitch'd the common-people, then,

That, for the POW'R of GOD, they him miſtook;

So, Formall-hearing, now, bewitcheth men.

So, it is idoliz'd: and, ſome have thought,

When, formally, that Dutie they had paid,

The Holy-Ghoſt might for the ſame be bought:

But, as then, Peter of the money ſaid,

Their Hearing with them periſh, who ſuppoſe,

That, GOD his Graces, for ſuch wares beſtowes,

You, of this itching, this bewitching Hearing,

Have had Experiments: and, at this day,

There are ſuch bitter fruits therof appearing,

That, you had need be watchfull: and, to pray,

That, GOD would pleaſe, to ſanct…fie the eare,

And, circumciſe your hearts, that you may know,

When, you the Witch, and when you Peter heare,

That, you, in Grace, may edified grow.

And, that this Information make you not

Reſpectleſſe of that Hearing, or that Preaching,

Whereby, that Saving, knowledge may be got,

Which no man hath, but by the Spirits teaching:

And, that, you ſo may Heare, that GOD may bleſſe

Hearing, with Faith, & Faith with Truth-full-Peace.

p. 170Take heed unto your Prayers, that they reach not

Their length, that Widowes-houſes do devoure;

Take heed unto your Preachings, that, you preach not

The Spirit weak; and raiſe a fleſhly-power.

Take heed in Giving thanks, you do not ſay,

In heart, when GOD hath victories beſtowne;

That, of your Foes, his hand did thouſands ſlay,

And, that, there fell ten thouſands by your owne.

VntoUnto your Faſts, and your Humiliations,

Take, likewiſe, heed, leſt by your negligences,

Thoſe Duties may be greater aggravations

Of your, but, ſeeming-ſorrow'd-for-Offences.

And, take heed, leſt hypocriſie may breed

Obſtructions in you, of due Taking-heed.

If truly you deſire a happie-Peace,

Repent your falſe Repentance; and, in haſte,

Your ſuits, with true ſinceritie addreſſe,

Before the Day of merciemercy ſhall be paſt.

Reforme your Publike Faſts; and let them ſhow,

Ev'n in the Out-ward-man, ſo truly ſad,

That, others may your inward-ſorrow know,

And, by the ſame, ſo ſenſible be made,

Of what you feele; that it may make them find

A change in their owne hearts; and, by that change,

Become to pious dutie ſo inclin'd,

That, them from Vanitie, it may eſtrange;

And, ev'rie day, one, thus, draw on another

To Penitence, till all repent together.

To make this dutie further to extend,

(And, grow more generall) you ſhall do well,

VntoUnto your Adverſaries to commend,

(And unto thoſe, who in your quarters dwell)

This motion: That (ſince both of you profeſſe

One GOD) you might aſſemble on one day,

To meet before his Preſence, to confeſſe

Your wickedneſſe, wide open, there, to lay

p. 171Your Cauſes; And, for judgement, to referre

Your ſelves to him. For, ſuch an introduction,

A meanes to draw you ſomwhat nearer were,

And, to remove, it may be, ſome obſtruction

Which hinders Peace; or, els, to bring that, on,

By which, your work, the ſooner may be done.

If, they that have the better Cauſe, think fit

(With ſome ſuch meek and pious invitations

As they might frame) for this end, to admit

That day, whereon their Foes humiliations

Pretended are; it either ſhall allure

Your Adverſaries to that Penitence,

Which will a ſpeedy amity procure:

Or, aggravate, ſo greatly their offence,

That GOD ſhall quite reject them, as if they

Refuſed your Appeal; or, to abide

His Doome: and did intend ſome other way,

Or, by ſome other Cenſor, to be tri'd:

And, what event will thereupon enſue,

It were a needleſſe matter to fore-ſhew.

When all are thus aſſembled, on one day,

Or els, of all, ſo many as GOD's grace

Shall make, therewith, content: (For, though it may

To you, be ſomwhat, yet nor Time, nor Place,

Are, in reſpect of Him, conſiderable)

Yea, when you in his preſence ſhall appeare

To this effect (as he ſhall you inable)

Fall down before him, with all meekneſſe, there.

Together then; with ſeriouſneſſe, begin

The Faſt anew. In true humiliations,

Let all bewaile their errours, and their ſin,

Till, in their mournings, and their Lamentations,

The famous mourning, equallize they ſhall

Of Hadadrimmon in Megiddo Vale.

Let, joyntly, People, State, and King, unite

In penitence, as they in ſinne have done.

p. 172Themſelves, let them, for all their ſinnes, indite.

(Their new and ancient ſins) before GOD's Throne.

And, foraſmuch, as in this later-Age,

And, in this place, he ſeemeth, as it were,

To bring all things, again, upon the ſtage,

Which, heretofore, in action, did appeare:

(Yea, ſince they, who will heed it, may behold

All that concernes th' Eſtates, or converſation

Of Saints, or ſinners, in GOD's Word fore-told,

Epitomized in this Generation)

Let not his warnings, both by Word, and Deed,

Be fruſtrated, through want of taking-heed.

Remember to be waile your Gentiliſmes,

Your Babyloniſh-whoredomes, heretofore,

Your ancient-hereſies, and moderne-Schiſmes,

That, GOD, for theſe, may judge theſe Iſles no more.

Obſerve, and well obſerve it; that, becauſe:

You govern'd leſſe by Law, then by your will;

That, GOD, almoſt, depriv'd you of thoſe Lawes:

And, that, becauſe (your projects to fulfill,

Or, to promote your carnall-Policies)

Morality, and Piety, by you,

Were made but ſtales: the worlds old-Hereſies,

And Heath'niſh-manners, are ſprung up anew,

To interrupt, and marre the publike-Peace,

For your diſſembling, and unthankfulneſſe.

Remember, that, like Iſrael, you have ſpar'd

The Canaanites, that ſhould have been deſtroi'd:

That, like rebellious Saul, you had regard

To Agag, and forbidden ſpolles enjoi'd.

Remember, how you ſtagger'd off, and on,

Betwixt the LORD, and Baal, in ancient-time,

And, how farre, you, in later yeares, have gone

To repollute theſe Iſlands, by that crime.

Remember, that, like Judah, you have made.

Confed'racies, with ſuch as are GOD's Foes;

p. 173Though warnings, counſells, and commands you had

To ſhun their friendſhips, who the Truth oppoſe:

And, mindfull be, how you on them reli'd,

Whom Egypt, and whom Aſbur, typifi'd.

Remember, that, you have, like Solomon,

(Though you had his example to beware)

Been careleſſe, thoſe Alliances to ſhun,

Which, both pernitious, and forbidden were.

For, all this Empire, guiltineſſe contracted,

As well, by heeding not, to have prevented

What, by your Kings, and Peeres of State, was acted,

As, in not having, yet, this ſin repented.

Repent, that, as in Judah, by her Kings,

You have, by halves, reform'd Religion too:

Call, therewithall, to mind, what fruit it brings,

The work of GOD, with negligence, to do.

And, humbled be, for ev'ry other ſin,

Whereof theſe Iſles have, jointly, guilty bin.

Let thoſe three Parties, which have made, this day,

Theſe Iſlands wretched, by their great Tranſgreſſions,

And, chas'd their Glory, and their Peace, away,

Make, jointly, and aſunder, their confeſſions:

For, all have much offended, ev'n the beſt

Are guiltie of enough, to have deſtroi'd

The temporall well-being they poſſeſt,

And, all their hopes of what may be enjoi'd.

Let luke-warme Newters, thoſe poore-ſpirited,

Degenerated Britains, without heart,

(Who, as ignobly, have demerited,

As thoſe, who perſecute the guiltleſſe part)

Repent, and change their temper, out of hand,

Leſt they be juſtly ſpu'd out of the land.

Let them, that are ſuppoſed beſt affected,

And, who, the beſt approved Cauſe befriended,

Examine, how their duties are neglected,

How falſe they are, in what they have pretended;

p. 174How faintly they the publike-Guard began;

By what ill meanes, they their Good-Cauſe purſu'd;

How little truſt in GOD, how much in Man,

(And in an outward aid) hath oft, been ſhew'd;

How heedl…ſſe, of their Covenant, they grow;

How many of them ſleight the Vow they took;

How they inlarge, how they contract it, now;

How wilfully, how frequently, 'tis broke;

And, how the publike ſorrow they prolong,

By doing Pi…, and Iuſtice wrong.

Let your Malignant-partie (or, of them,

So many as are, yet, not gone ſo farre,

That they all timely warnings muſt contemne)

Remember, of what crimes they guilty are.

Let them conſider that to have their will,

Or, that ambitious humours they may feed,

Or, that ſome other luſt they may fulfill,

How, they have made their Countrey ſmart and bleeed.

Let them conſider, that they have purſu'd

Their tyrannies, in theſe unhappie wars,

As if they meant a pattern to have ſhew'd,

Of Rehoboam, and his Councellers;

Or, how King Ahabs party went to fight

At Ramoth-Gilead, as in GODS deſpight.

Let ENGLAND mourn apart, for all thoſe crimes,

Which do poilute her at this preſent day;

And, thoſe committed in preceding times,

That GOD may take his heavie hand away.

Her fickleneſſe, in faith, and in attire;

Her great abuſe of plenties, by exceſſe;

Her perſecutions, both by ſword and fire,

Of thoſe who did the holy faith profeſſe.

Her wantonnizing with the meanes of Grace,

Her thankleſneſſe for that long Peace ſhe had,

Her ſleighting it when ſhe forewarned was

Of that great breach, which GOD on her hath made.

p. 175Yea, all her other ſinnes let her lament:

Let her, all Nationall-defaults repent.

Let SCOTLAND mourn apart, and ſearch, wherfore

Her ſinnes upon her face, and on her back,

GOD, at this preſent, doth ſo deeply ſcore,

Now, when ſhe doth of ſin moſt conſcience make.

Let her examine, if ſhe hath no End

To ſeize on ſome advantage, for her owne;

While, her diſtreſſed Siſter to defend,

She, piouſly, a readineſſe hath ſhown.

If ſhe be guilty, of ſo baſe a thought,

Let her repent it, e're GOD ſearch it out:

If ſhe be cleare, Truth ſhall to light be brought;

And, they who of her faithfulneſſe, now, doubt,

Shall praiſe her Children; if they have a care,

Their lying, and their bragging to forbeare.

Let IRELAND mourn apart; and, not, alone,

For her late Trecheries, and for the guilt

Which her inhumane Natives brought upon

Their heads, for bloud of Innocents new-ſpilt;

But, alſo, for the ſinnes of all thoſe Nations,

Within her borders, who, for their oppreſſions

Were caſt out of their ancient-habitations;

And, lately, driven from their now-poſſeſſions.

Let her, that brutiſh Ignorance lament,

Where with, ſhe, many ages, was polluted;

That Heath'niſh-Chriſtianity repent,

Which, her blind Children, piety reputed;

And, her Rebellions, and Idolatry,

Let her bewaile, with true humility.

Let her obſerve, what her Tranſgreſſions be;

That She, unto the praiſe of GOD, may ſay;

In all his judgements truly juſt is he,

And, that, with Mercies, he did them allay.

For, if a ſtrict inquirie he had made,

For all the Bloud, th' Oppreſſion, and the Guile,

p. 176Of which, he, Information might have had,

There had not one been living in that Ile.

Both Scot, and Engliſh, verie ſtudious were,

To plant themſelves upon her fruitfull plaines;

But, how, Religion might be planted there,

They tooke but verie little care, or paines.

To ſave the Soule, not many were employ'd,

And, therefore, many Bodies, were deſtroy'd.

Had her late Planters, as induſtrious bin,

Her Natives, with Religion to enrich,

As how to make themſelves great men, therein,

(Or, if their care had been but halfe ſo much)

Some hundred thouſands had, this day, poſſeſt

Their lives, and livelihoods; who, at their coſt,

For times to come, Examples have increaſt

Of goodly-hopes, through want of Prudence, loſt.

And, therefore, let them learne, who yet ſurvive,

Not to neglect CHRISTS Kingdome; if they would,

Their Kingdome, or their Heritage ſhould thrive;

Or, that, their Hopes, or Labours proſper ſhould.

Yea, if they ſeek on Earth a firme poſſeſſion,

Let them not build their houſes by oppreſſion.

For, not a few of her Inhabitants,

Both out of England, and from Scotland came,

Meane in eſteeme; oppreſt with many wants;

And, many of them, many wayes to blame;

Some, with projections, nor diſcreet, nor juſt;

Some, to defraud their Creditours, and Friends,

Of their eſtates; ſome, to enjoy their luſt,

And, other ſome, for other ſuch like ends,

Came over to that Kingdome, nor much knowne,

Nor much regarded; who, in little ſpace,

Were not alone exceeding wealthy growne,

But, made both Earles, and Barons of the Place:

And, they, who ſuddenly, aloft did clime,

Were pulled to the ground in ſhorter time,

p. 177They, whoſe …bundance, over-night was more,

Then they could value; e're the following day

Diſclos'd it ſelfe, were made exceeding poore;

And, glad from all their wealth, to run away:

Scarce leaſure had they (leſt they loſt their lives,

With their eſtates) to take, of all they had,

Enough, wherewith their children, and their wives,

Might clothed be, when their eſcapes they made.

The loſſe, the frights, the blond-ſhed, and the cries,

Felt, ſuffered, ſeen, and heard, in thoſe black-nights,

Preſent O Ireland, ſtill, before thine eyes:

Stil, I let thy children keep them in their ſights.

That Viſitation, let them ſo bewaile,

Eſpecially, the ſins that cauſed it,

That, they, nor their poſterity, may faile

To mind the ſame; and, let them not forget

To mourn apart, for that ſad deſolation,

Nor to be thankfull, for their Preſervation.

Let every Corporation, Town, and City,

Within theſe Iſlands alſo mourn apart;

That, their Inhabitants may find more pity,

Then may be challenged, by due deſert.

Some, of them, have the benefit enjoy'd

Of GODS protections, both from fire, and ſword:

Some of them, have been touch'd, but not deſtroy'd,

For which, what can they leſſe then thanks afford?

Let them acknowledge his preventing-Graces,

Who, yet are ſafe; and, that, GOD pleas'd hath bi…

To keep Dſtroyers from their dwelling places,

So oft, ſo much polluted, by their ſin:

And, let all thoſe whom he began to ſmite,

Be thankfull, that, they were not ruin'd quite.

For, great are thoſe oppreſſions, which, of late,

Have cri'd for vengeanch, on ſome Governours,

Of Myſteries, and Townes-incorporat…,

Who have abuſed both their Truſt and Powers.

p. 178Thoſe Priviledges, which to them were deign'd,

With chiefe reſpect unto the Common-good,

Are oft inſiſted on (yea, and maintain'd)

As if their Granter ſhould be underſtood,

To meane ſome favours to particular Places,

With damage to the Publike; which, makes void

His CHARTERS, ipſo facto: For, ſuch Graces

Are by their owne exceſſiveneſſe deſtroi'd,

If Reaſon may be Judge; which, heretofore,

The greateſt ſway, in humane Actions, bore.

Yet, you have Cities, Townes, and Myſteries,

Which do not only, by ſuch Grants, as theſe,

Oppreſſe the Publike, without Remedies;

And, injure Strangers, by their Franchiſes:

But, alſo by miſ-uſage of their Grants,

And, by their Pow'r do many times oppreſſe

The pooreſt of their owne Inhabitants;

Enſlaving them, by wrongs, without redreſſe.

For, of thoſe profits, which conferred were

(As well their needy members to ſuſtaine,

As, decently, that port and charge to beare,

Which, to thoſe Corporations do pertaine)

Moſt part is ſwallowed, by a private purſe;

Or, ſpent in Feaſtings, which is ſomewhat worſe.

And, when ſo bad a Corporation growes,

As to oppreſſe a Stranger, or their owne,

He, that their tyranny then, undergoes,

Is irrecoverably overthrowne,

For, to a Body-politike belongs

No Soule: And, if no Soule, what Conſcience, then?

And, if no Conſcience, how can it, of wrongs

Be ſenſible? when it had wronged men?

It doth conſiſt of many, and can raiſe

The larger Bribe; the ſooner find a friend;

Or, ſearch out, by what perſons, or what wayes,

It may (him whom it profecures) offend:

p. 179And, which is worſt (when other enemies;

Time, ſlaies;) This, is a Foe that never dies.

Let, therefore, all your Bodies-Politike

Lament their ſins apart, leſt GOD deſtroy

Thoſe Priviledges, which, without deſert,

And, to the wrong of others, they enjoy.

Among the reſt, let ev'rie Academ,

Lament apart, till they, are purged from

Their great corruptions, leſt, from out of them,

Your bane, as from a poiſon'd Fountaine come:

For, their pollutions one maine cauſe have bin,

Of all your preſent miſchiefest yea, from thence

Proceeded not alone much of that ſin,

Which hath deſil'd theſe Iſles; But, that offence,

And, thoſe diviſions, alſo, which of late,

Have almoſt ruined both Church, and State.

For, there, through want of prudent Government;

Good principles, and pious education,

Your youth, which were, for knowledge; thither ſent,

Loſt civill manners, wit, and reputation.

Thence was it, that your Clergie-men became

Such Roarers, and ſuch Toſſe-pots, as they were.

Their Life, and Doctrine, growne ſo much to blame,

Was firſt corrupted, and perverted there.

There, they were taught to fawne, and flatter, well,

For their preferment; and, how to become

Fit Prieſts for Ahab, Baal, and …abel.

Or, Pimps, and Panders, for the Whore of Rom…s

GOD grant, that for their ſins, they ſo may mourne,

That, they to GOD; and, GOD, to them may turne.

Let your Aſſembly of Divines, …part,

Repent and mourne; themſelves, examining,

What aimes, what hopes, what purpoſes, what heart,

And, what deſires, they to their meetings, bring.

Let them conſider, whether, none advances

Traditions of their owne, to be received,

p. 180And to be practis'd, as Gods Ordinances;

Which are; in truth, not ſuch to be believed.

Let them examine, whether they do carrie

A due reſpect to Chriſtian-Liberty,

If they inforce thoſe things, as neceſſary,

Of which there is no true neceſſity;

And, whether, they have not removed hence,

What, might have edifi'd, without offence.

Let it be heeded whether they have care,

As CHRIST himſelfe, and, his Apoſtles had,

What things the people, and the times, can beare,

E're they impoſe them; leſt; they make them mad,

Inſtead of right reforming: Let them trie,

Their ſpirits well, and ſearch, if there be none

Who dare pretend divine Authority

For that, which GOD commands, not to be done.

Let ſearch be made, if any Diſcipline

Hath been projected, for a private end,

Or, to advance a politike Deſigne,

Which needleſly, weak Chriſtians might offend;

Or, which may cauſleſſe jealouſies increaſe,

Inlarge your troubles, or deferre your Peace.

Let all their Brethren of the Clergie, too,

In every Faction, ſeriouſly repent,

And mourn apart; This, let them chieſly do,

Who look'd one way, while they another went.

Let them conſider, whether they pretend not

Great diligence, and zeale, to bring to paſſe

That juſt, and pious work, which they intend not

So much, as that, which therewith cover'd was;

Let them examine, alſo, if the while

They cozen others, others will not ſeek,

With falſhoods, their Deceivers to beguile,

And, to requite their practice, with the like,

Till all theſe Kingdoms, and theſe Churches, rue

The pathes and vanities, which they purſne.

p. 181For, as they had deſignes upon the State.

Their aimes to further; ſo have others had

Deſignes on them, whereby they have, of late,

To wicked purpoſes, advantage made.

Some, to the Preſbyterian-ſide adhere,

Some to your Independents: But, with thoſe,

Who, buſieſt, in partaking, do appeare,

Another Faction, ſecretly, doth cloſe,

Which parts it ſelfe among them, and, thereby,

Spies out the ſtrength, and weakneſſes of either;

Foments their quarrellings, and, doth comply,

As friend to one ſide, yet, is true to neither;

But, covertly, by means of thoſe two Factions,

Increaſeth publike dangers, and diſtractions.

Theſe, by this craft, have made the zeale of thoſe,

On either ſide, whoſe purpoſes are good,

The Kingdomes peace, unheeded, to oppoſe,

With ſuch, as, openly, the ſame withſtood.

So that, if Envie, Avarice, and Pride,

Whence ſprung that Aconite, that Clergic-bane,

Which hath your Clergie, lately, giddifi'd,

Shall not, by penitence, away be tane,

Your quarrells will perpetuated be;

And, neither Church, nor State, nor Corporation,

Nor Families, be from diviſions free.

Now, therefore, in a true humiliation,

Let ev'ry one of them, prepare his heart,

For his tranſgreſſions, to lament apart.

Your Militarie-Men, apart, muſt mourne,

Aſwell as theſe. And, therefore, that, they may,

With true compunction, from their wayes returne;

Let them, to heart, their many failings lay.

Let your Commanders mourne, for all thoſe harmes,

Which have been ſuffred, under their Commands,

By their neglecting of that Law of Armes,

Whereon, the honour of a Souldier ſtands.

p. 182Let them bewaile the plunders, rapes, and murthers,

The Breaches of Lawes-morall, and Divine,

The violences, riots, and diſorders

Commited tho of Di c

And, for their Avarice, and their Ambition,

Whereby, they do prolong your ſad condition.

Let them not thinke, that none ſo worthie are

To be advis'd withall, (or of eſteeme)

For Souldiery, as they that boaſt, and ſweare,

Or arrogate to be, what they, but ſeem.

Let them not think, they better may confide

In Officers, who have not ſo much braine

To keep their legs from ſlaggering aſide,

Then in a Souldier of a ſober-ſtraine.

Or, that this War had e're the worſe went on,

Had all been countenanc'd in their Command,

Who, for the worke-ſake, ventur'd thereupon;

And did, aſwell as others, underſtand

The moderne-Diſcipline, and, therewith, too,

Knew what the Greeks, and Romans uſe to do.

Let them repent their treacherous complying

With your profeſſed foes; their favour-ſhowing

To men ſuſpected; and their grace-denying,

Where be…ter truſt, and more reſpect was owing.

Let them be ſorrie, that the faithfulneſſe,

Or, at the leaſt, the prudence, which they wanted,

Made publike charge, and dangers to increaſe

By Paſſes, and Protections, lightly granted.

And, let their hearts of adamant, and ſteel,

Be prick'd with ſuch remorſe, and penitence,

That, in themſelves, a loathing they may feel

Of their inhumane ſpoiles, and inſolence

Committed in that Countrey, which hath bred them;

And, on their friends, who payed, arm'd, & fed them.

Moreover, let the Gentrie of the land

Bewaile their many vanities, apart;

p. 183The duties of their calling underſtand,

And lay their many failings more to heart.

For, moſt have liv'd, as if to idleneſſe,

And to debaucherie they had been borne,

And large eſtates, for nothing, did poſſeſſe,

But, for ſupplies of luſt, to ſerve their turn.

A die, a cocke, a hound, hawke, horſe, or whore,

Were chiefeſt objects of their contemplation:

Their ſinnes alone, are, though you had no more,

Enough to bring a Land to deſolation:

And, they have been chiefe cauſe, and inſtruments

Of all theſe Plagues, for which this Realme laments.

But, much will want of perfecting a peace,

Vntill your Men of Law perſwaded be

To mourn apart. For, they will re-increaſe

Your quarrells, elſe, aſſoon as you agree.

By their formalities, and ſlow proceeding,

Your remedie, for injuries is made

A miſchiefe, the diſeaſe, oft times, exceeding:

And, if ſome eye, unto them, be not had,

So many places in your Parliament

They will ſupply, and fill ſo many Chaires

In your Committees; that, much derriment

VntoUnto the Subject; and ſome cloſe impaires

Of publike freedomes, (e're you be aware)

Which ſlip upon you, if you have not care.

They have, already, made the common way

Of Trialls, very greatly, to inlarge

Your troubles, by impertinent delay,

And circumſtances, to the ſuiters charge.

So ſtrong a party they have alwaies had,

That your Great-Charter, which doth interdict

Delay of Juſtice, was, in that point, made

(E're ſince the grant) a Law without effect.

But when their Courts, and practiſes have reach'd

Oppreſſions height; They, as the Clergie were,

p. 184Shall downe, into another Orb, be fetch'd,

And taught to keep a conſtant motion there.

This Work, upon ſome Courts, hath been begun;

Another time, it ſhall be fully done.

Let ev'rie Oiconomick-Government,

And ev'rie ſingle perſon, through the Nation,

In ev'rie Family, apart lament,

And take his wayes into examination.

For, all Eſtates and Common-weals, that be,

Conſiſt of theſe: And, whenſoe're you ſhall

Thoſe Pettie-Governments reformed ſee,

You, then, are in the way, of mending all.

If ev'rie Houſhold-Prince, and Officer,

Within his Juriſdiction, would but pleaſe,

To make compleat a Reformation, there,

The Work-deſired, ſhould be done with eaſe.

Let each one, therefore, take the ſame in hand,

In all relations, wherein he may ſtand.

Let ev'rie Maſter, prudently direct;

And, ev'rie Servant, faithfully obey:

Let ev'rie Huſband, husband-like affect,

And, ev'rie Wife, a wife-like love repay.

Let Parents, parent-like, their hearts enlarge,

Their filiall duties, let the Children do;

Let, ſingly, all of theſe their parts diſcharge,

Both to the Family, and Strangers, too.

Yea, let each perſon, individually,

Now, take himſelfe, apart, and, all alone,

His heart examine, what Impietie,

By him, hath been occaſioned, or done,

Whereby your Peace was broke; and, then aſſay,

To help renew it, by what means he may.

But, chiefly, let the Royall-Family

Admit this Diſcipline, that others may

Receive encouragement, and light, thereby,

To find a Penitentiarie-way.

p. 185Oh I let the King, if ever he expect,

To ſee the Citie of his Throne, in peace,

Go mourne apa…; and, let his thoughts reflect

VponUpon his folly, and unrighteouſneſſe.

Let him like David; (and not Ahab-like)

Take meekly thoſe reproofs, that GOD ſhall ſend,

And, let them on his heart ſo kindly ſtrike,

That, he enraged grow not, but amend.

With that great Patterne, of true Penitence.

When he, like ſheep, beholds his people ſlaine;

Let him not look, too much, on their offence,

But, rather, let him of his own complaine,

That, they may do the like; and, GOD perceiving

True penitence, quit both, by free forgiving.

Let not the Jezabel of Rome delude him,

With her black witch-crafts, and her fornications,

The cup of her deluſions; if in vaine

His warnings prove, the deepeſt he ſhall ſink,

Into that Lake, whence none can riſe againe.

Becauſe, he hath not only had a ſight

(Beyond them all) of her ſeducing waies;

But, alſo, hath acknowledged that Light,

And, wilfully, himſelfe to her betraies:

Yea, and to make his ſin, and ſhame the more,

Betraies the bloud of others, to the Whore.

Yet, that he may have all the meanes to fetch him

Back from perdition (if he be not gone

So far, by wilfulneſſe, that none can reach him)

Let him be perſonally call'd upon,

To look unto his waies. And, ſince you know,

His Flatterers, preſent him their falſe glaſſe,

Himſelfe, thereby, unto himſelf, to ſhow,

And make him ſeeme the man he never was;

p. 186Help thou to undeceive him; leſt he may,

With his three earthly Kingdomes (now halfe loſt)

Fool deſp'rately, a heav'nly Crown away

And, think, he ſhall redeem it, at the coſt

Of trimming up the Weſtern end of PAVLS,

By Fines, extracted from afflicted Soules.

Firſt, bid him call to mind (with mourning for them)

The ſins which did his Fathers-houſe pollute;

And, in his heart, ſo ſeriouſly, abhor, them,

That, it may bring forth penitentiall fruit.

The bloud of War that hath in Peace been ſhed;

The manifold uncleanneſſes therein;

The ſuperſtitions, thereby, cheriſhed;

Offences known, and thoſe that hid have bin:

The proſecution of the royall-bloud

In Arabella; (guilty of no crime,

Except it were offenſive, to be good,

And, to have had her being, in his time.).

The matchleſſe prophanation of a Day

For Gowries death: his many great oppreſſions;

The fooling of the Kingdomes wealth away,

And Subjects lives, by cheating Expeditions:

With whatſoe're offences, of this kind,

He ſhall, upon a ſtrict enquirie, find.

Wiſh him, with like affections, to recall

The ſlips of his own Reigne, and of his life;

The miſchiefs, which to Him, and you, befall,

In hunting for a ſuperſtitious Wife:

His making of Nobility a ſcorne,

By dignifying men of baſe-condition;

By chooſing Counſellours, to ſerve his turne,

In ſetling things, unworthy his fruition.

By ſuffring of his royall Proclamations

To be abuſed to injurious ends;

By making ſhowes of verball Reformations,

For publike good, when rapine he intends.

p. 187By faining fears, when cauſe of feare, none give him;

And, by proteſting, untill few believe him.

Let Him conſider, that, all thoſe, for whom

Againſt two Kingdome, he, in Armes, appears,

And, whoſe Protector He is now become,

Are men, whom nothing, but their ſin, endears.

Let Him conſider, what a ſea of bloud,

In his three Kingdomes, hath, of late, been ſpilt,

For thoſe, who ſhare among them all his good,

And, make him culpable of all their guilt.

Let him conſider, that, what, now, he ſtrives,

And fights for, is, but, power to be undone;

Or, that he may, by his Prerogatives,

Without controule, unto the Devill run:

For, unto him, that power, or that ſupply

Which may be for his good, none ſhall deny.

Let him remember, what the German-horſe

Should have been ſent for: Let him call to minde

Diſtreſſed Rochel: And, that, which will worſe

Afflict him, when his feeling he ſhall finde,

Poore gaſping Ireland; whoſe wide-gaping wound

Calls out for vengeance, and, his honour taints

With deep-di'd ſtaines. His flat'rers feigne a ſound

From Straffords bloud; and other ſuch black-Saints;

But, that Illuſion will not keep him long

From hearing Ireland: For, two Kingdomes more

Have ſent in bloud, to make a triple-Song;

Which, will, ſo dreadfully, ſo loudly roare,

That, he ſhall heare (unleſſe repent he do)

Ere long; and heare it, with a vengeance, too.

Let him repent, his having, long, attempted

His loving-people, to inſlave, and grieve:

For, he from vengeance will not be exempted,

By pleading an uſurp'd Prerogative.

Let him repent, the cov'ring his intents

With Proteſtations, and religious ſhowes:

p. 188Since, theſe are made ſuch thred-bare complements,

That, ev'ry one, almoſt, their meaning knowes:

Nor let him longer foole himſelfe, to think,

The World perceives not, what his projects be:

For, he is blinde, or, wilfully, doth wink,

Who cannot, at a hundred loop-holes ſee,

That, many yeares, before this war begun,

He purpoſed the courſe, he, now, doth run▪

Then, that he may, without deſpairing, heare,

Let him, with penitence, before it comes,

To all thoſe wholſome Counſels lend an eare,

Which, timely, may prevent enſuing doomes.

To mollifie his heart, let him preſent

Before his underſtanding, and his eye,

How ſpoiled, and how miſerably rent

His three late-happy-Kingdomes, now, do lie.

Let him give eare unto thoſe juſt complaints

Which his diſtreſſed Subjects have prefer'd;

Let him regard the ſuffrings of the Saints;

Let living-moanes, or, dying-groanes, be heard:

The Widdowes prayer, and, the Orphans cries,

Leſt, GOD, to hear him, in diſtreſſe, denies.

Let him remember, that, they, who complain,

And, of whoſe Townes, he, now, doth aſhes make,

Are thoſe, who, for his ſafe return from Spaine,

Made joyfull-Feaſts, and Bonfires, for his ſake.

Let him conſider, that, theſe are the Nations,

(Ev'n theſe, whom, now, he tramples under-feet,)

Who him received with glad acclamations,

And him did, oft with love-expreſſions, meet.

Let him conſider, that, they, who enjoy

His preſence, now, are thoſe that prey upon him;

Ev'n ſome of thoſe, who lab'red to deſtroy

His Fathers houſe; and, thoſe that have undone him,

Both in his reputation, and, eſtate;

And, merit not his favour, but his hate.

p. 189Let him take notice, that, by his digreſſion

From prudent Counſells, his moſt cruell Foes

Have ſo impriſon'd him in their poſſeſſion,

That, of himſelfe, he cannot, now, diſpoſe.

And, ſince all Europe knowes it, let him know,

That, though they flatter, and, upon him fawne,

He, deſpicable, in their eyes, doth grow;

And, is, by them, eſteem'd but as a pawne.

Yea, let him alſo know that, he hath got

So little credit, upon either ſide,

That, as the Parliament, now, truſts him not.

So, but few other much in him confide.

Nor will his loſt repure, to him return,

Till, for his errours, he ſhall truly mourn.

Let him conſider, that, whereas he ſought

To multiplie wild-beaſts, within his land,

That, GOD, in juſtice, now, the ſame hath brought

Almoſt into a Deſart, to his hand.

To nouriſh Beaſts, his Huntſmen took away

His peoples birth-right: And, behold, now, he

Is, therefore, hunted, like thoſe Beaſts of Prey,

By which, the neighb'ring towns moleſted be.

When he was in his artificiall-heav'n,

Which flatring Poets, and his Painters made,

Let him re-minde, what Attributes were given;

With what high Epithetes, they made him glad;

What joy, in vanities, he, then, did take;

And, what a GOD of him, his Prieſts did make.

Let him take notice, that, there was a doubt,

His Father came not, fairly, to his end;

And, that, when meanes was made to ſearch it out,

And, Witneſſes commanded to attend,

The Parliament, abruptly, up was broken;

And, no proceeding, afterward, therein.

Let him conſider, what this may betoken,

What jealouſies, it, juſtly, might let in.

p. 190If any were ſuſpected, without cauſe,

Their Innocence, by triall, had been clear'd:

If juſtly tax'd; why had not, then, the Lawes

Their courſe? why was not that accuſer heard?

Cleare, or not cleare, ſome body was to blame,

That, ſuch an accuſation quaſht became.

Nay, theſe three Kingdomes did neglect, in this,

Adutie, which they, queſtionleſſe, did owe:

And, partly, for that negligence it is,

That, GOD, for bloud, doth make enquirie, now.

For, of each Subject of the meanſt reſpect,

Ev'n of the Beggar, by the high-way ſide,

The King hath an accompt, upon ſuſpect,

That, by the hand of violence he di'd.

And, ſhould a King, that, living, had protected

So many millions, dying, ſo be fleighted,

That, when he to be murther'd was ſuſpected,

Not one ſhould be examin'd or indited?

Believe it, this Neglect is, now, rewarded:

For, thouſands die, and petiſh, unregarded.

In all three Kingdoms, was there never a one

To ſecond, the Phyſitians, Egleſham

And Ramſey? had he not a powerfull Son?

And his Beloved ſervant, Buckingham?

Were there not ſome about him, who then had

No hopes, but thoſe which on his life were laid:

Had he not Lords, and Earles enough, then, made,

Who, by this dutie, might have partly paid

For his reſpects? Could none of all thoſe things

Call'd Biſhops, upon whom in life he doted;

Whom he eſteem'd the Angell-guard of Kings,

Whom he, out of the dung-hill, had promoted,

To ſit with Princes? could of all theſe, none

Repute him worth regard, when he was gone?

Let him remember, and conſider well,

What judgements, have, on that neglect, enſu'd;

p. 191How ſuddenly, the Duke, ſoon after, fell;

What direfull vengeance hath this Land purſu'd

Ev'n to this day: and know, there is a GOD,

Who (though Kings do neglect it, or, aſſay

To hide it) will be ſearching after bloud;

And, all concealed miſchiefs open lay.

This, let him do; leſt, he, that might have worn

The glorious'ſt Chriſtian Wreath, ere long, become

To be abroad, … laughing-ſtock, and ſcorn,

And, paſt regaining honour, here, at home.

For, yet, he may return; and, if he do,

He ſhall recover all his Honour, too.

There is a way (if he will ſeek to finde it)

To greateſt Honours, thorow this Diſgrace:

There is a meanes (if he will, truly, minde it)

By which, this wonder may be brought to paſſe.

To no worſe end, this VOICE doth, now, diſcover

His failings, but, to drive him to this courſe.

To no worſe purpoſe is he, thus, blackt over,

But, that, he might not be defiled worſe.

And, this VOICE propheſies, that, if he ſhall

With upright-heartedneſſe, purſue that Path,

He ſhall not onelyonly be reſtor'd to all

His honours loſt, and be redeem'd from wrath,

But, alſo, farre more honourable grow,

Then all the Kings of Europe, raigning now.

Belief works greater wonders; let him then,

Believe it may be; and, it ſhall be done.

He hath, too much, believed many men,

Whoſe Word was leſſe to be reli'd upon.

The precious'ſt Pe…rles lie deepeſt in the Seas,

The richeſt ſtones from hardeſt recks are hew'd,

The darkeſt mornings have prov'd glorious dayes.

Great mercies to great Sinners, have been ſhew'd.

When, to repentance, GOD was pleas'd to call

Manaſſeh, few were better Kings then he:

p. 192When he converted perfecuting Saul,

A glorious change in him, the Church did ſee;

And, ſo there may be, now: For, who can tell,

But, that, to make you riſe, your Sov'raigne fell?

If he ſuppoſe, that, he may find evaſions▪

From any thing, againſt him, here, expreſt;

Yet, of offences; ſince he gave occaſions,

Let him not, in his own uprightneſſe, reſt:

But, ſince GOD, both with Scandalls, and the Sword,

Purſues him at the heeles, let him repent.

Let him indeavour, in a true accord,

To meet him in his lawfull Parliament:

For, if, with humbleneſſe, he can ſubmit

To GOD's corrections, he will, ſoon, forgive him:

He hath another bleſſing; for him, yet;

He, unto favour, will, again receive him:

And, when his Sov'raigne ſhall, thus highly grace him,

With their old love, his Subjects ſhall imbrace him.

But, ere this reconcilement can be had,

His Parliament, reform'd muſt, alſo, be;

And, their Attonement, muſt, with GOD be made

For, him they have provok'd, as well as he.

And, though the better Cauſe their partie hath▪

And, proſecutes it, ſtoutly, now and then,

Their failings, alſo, have deſerved wrath;

And, many of them, are no better men.

The greateſt Counſells, in the world, may erre

In Judgment, and in Fact: For, they conſiſt

Of many men, among whom, ſome there are,

Who do not what they ſhould, but, what they liſt.

And, ſuch, have, in your choice Aſſemblies, bin

Occaſions of much errour, and, much ſin.

Then, let the Bodies-Repreſentative

Of theſe three Kingdomes; but eſpecially,

Thy Parliament, O ENGLAND, now, receive

This ſummons to a true humility.

p. 193Let ev'rie Individuall Member, there,

Lament apart. Let him, both as a Man

And, as he qualified, doth appeare,

For publike ſervice, do the beſt he can,

To purge out, by an humble penitence,

What guilt ſoever, he, by wilfulneſſe,

Or weakneſſe, hath incurred, ever ſince

A place in that High-Court, he did poſſeſſe:

And, let him not diſdaine, who ere he be,

To take this counſell, though it come by thee▪

Remember him, if he be of the Peers,

The dutie of his Peerage: For, betweene

The Sov'raigne-Perſon, and the Commoners,

He ſtandeth, as an Honourable Meane,

The Body-Politike, to temper ſo,

That, ev'rie Part, and Member, of the ſame,

May, to that due, and faire proportion grow,

Which will be moſt convenient for the ſame.

For, while they keep their Station; and ſo long,

As, in the Three-Eſtates, there is retain'd

A comely Symetrie; there can no wrong,

By either, from the other, be ſuſtain'd:

Nor, can all humane policie invent,

A nobler, or a ſafer Government.

But, if thoſe Parts encroach upon each other,

Or, act to other purpoſes, than thoſe,

For which they were ordain'd, they'll fall together,

Into that Chaos, from which firſt they roſe.

If therefore any Peere, through ſome diſtruſt

Of others, or corruption of his owne,

Math any way been failing, in that Truſt,

Which GOD, by birth-right, hath on him beſtowne,

Or, if for his advantage, he hath ſought,

To gaine a pow'r, or priviledge, whereby

A dammage, on the Publike, may be brought;

Let him repent him, of that injurie;

p. 194Leſt elſe GODS juſtice, and the Peoples wrath,

Teare from him, that poore honour which he hath.

Bid them not think, that their Immunities,

And their large Priviledges granted were,

That, they the common people might deſpiſe;

And, wrong that pow'r, with which they truſted are.

Bid them take heed, they do not ſo comply,

To help enlarge an uncontrolled Pow'r,

That, they at laſt, enable Tyranny,

The Lords, as well as Commons, to devour.

For, by that meanes, they ſhall not only bring

The Commons into bondage; But, make way

For him, that is a tyrannizing-King,

Their honours, alſo, in the duſt to lay;

And, to advance thoſe Vndeſerving-Groomes,

That, ſhall out-brave them, and poſſeſſe their roomes.

Is't not enough, that ſome of them, of late,

Were lifted to their Station, from among

The Commons, for their falſhood to the State?

And doing Innocence, and Vertue wrong?

For, ſome of them, at this day, had not won

The honour of a Lordſhip, had they not,

With ſtoutneſſe, for the Common-wealth, begun;

And, by betraying it, their Titles got.

Is't not enough, that, by ſuch meanes as theſe,

They have attained to that high degree,

Thoſe Freedomes, and thoſe Princely Priviledges,

Which due unto the nobleſt Virtues be;

Vnleſſe, now they are up, it ſeemeth meet,

To let them tread the Kingdome, under feet?

Is't not ſufficient, that nigh fortie yeeres,

Moſt Honours, proſtituted did become

To ſale? and, that ſo many of your Peeres

Have raiſed been, out of the verie ſcum

Of all mankind? Can they not be content,

With what they have acquir'd, to go away?

p. 195While they are wink'd at, cannot they repent?

That, what they have, they may, in peace, enjoy?

But, will they, ſtill, endeavour to oppreſſe,

And, to encroach upon the publike right?

Vntill the People, ſtirr'd with furiouſneſſe,

Deprive them of their May-game-Honours quite?

Let them, with wiſdome, rather be content,

To ſave what they have gotten, and repent.

For thoſe exorbitancies, let them mourn,

Whereby they have irregularly mov'd.

Let them, with meekneſſe, now, to GOD return,

And not be mad, becauſe they are reprov'd:

Leſt, if this VOICE diſpleaſe them, they enforce,

E're long, the ſending of a Meſſenger,

Which will afflict them, and enrage them worſe,

Than he, whom at this preſent, they ſhall heare.

Let them, their Perſons, and their Families,

Hereafter, with that vertuouſneſſe ennoble,

Which getteth favour in good peoples eies;

And, ſpite of envie, makes their honours double:

So, they a reall-Honour will poſſeſſe;

And, none ſhall thrive, who ſeeks to make it leſſe.

Let ev'rie Member of the Commons-Houſe,

For his Tranſgreſſions, alſo, mourne apart.

Let him, in ſecret, by himſelfe, peruſe

The thoughts, and inclinations of his heart.

Let him examine, how he firſt came in,

To be of that Great-Councell: whether he

Was not begotten, and conceiv'd in ſin,

A Member of this Parlament to be.

And, if it hath been ſo; then, all alone,

Let him that Crime-Originall repent;

And, all that he hath actually miſ-done,

Since he hath ſitten in this Parlament:

For, till theſe be repented, all the fruit

Of his endeavours, will be like the Root.

p. 196As, he were verie fooliſh, who ſuppoſes,

Where he but Brambles, or but Nettles planted,

To gather Tulips, Violets, and Roſes;

So, out of queſtion, they no folly wanted,

Who could conceive, that Burgeſſe, or, that Knight,

Whom, firſt, corruption choſe (and who ſtill dotes

On that which gave him power) can be right,

To Pietie, or Juſtice, in his Votes.

Let him ſearch, whether that ſtrict Oath he took,

At his Admittance, and the VOW, ſince made,

Hath not been either negligently broke,

Or, wilfully, ſome violation had:

And, if he find it ſo, let him condole

His failings, with repentance, and be whole.

If he hath more purſued his owne ends,

Than publike ſervices: If he hath ſtriven

For feare, for gaine, or for reſpect of Friends,

That, an injurious cenſure ſhould be given:

If he hath found himſelfe, ſince his Election,

Puft up with that intollerable pride,

Or, that opinion of his owne perfection,

Which is in ſome of them, with ſcorne, eſpi'd:

If he hath, by his Pow'r, or by his Place,

Occaſion took, on abſent men, to throw

Aſperſions undeſerv'd, to their diſgrace;

Or, damage, e're themſelves they wrong'd could know;

Let him be ſorrie for his impudence,

And, ſeek to make amends, for that offence.

If he hath injur'd any, by delay;

Or, by unfit advantages, or times,

Procured Votes, a ſurreptitious way;

Or juſtified ſinners in their crimes:

If he hath croſſed Vertues due reward,

By plotting, packing, ſiding, or partaking;

By hiding that, which ought to be declar'd,

By cowardly, an honeſt Cauſe, forſaking:

p. 197If, he hath under blame, or cenſure, brought

Thoſe innocents, who, meerly, out of zeale

VntoUnto the Publike, have, ſincerely, ſought

His folly, or his falſhood, to reveale;

And knew it true, (although their proofes did faile;)

Let him, his cruelty, in that, bewaile.

And, let your Parliament take ſpeciall care

Of this abuſe; leſt, els, a ground be lai'd,

Whereon, their cunning foes may engines reare,

Whereby, they may be wrong'd, if not betrai'd.

For, though in juſtice they ſhould vindicate

The honour of their Members, whenſoever

Raſh levitie, malignancie, or hate,

To injure or aſperſe them, ſhall endeavour;

Yet, when good probabilities, induce

The well-affected, to miſtruſt, or feare,

Some publike dammage, danger, or abuſe,

By that, which they ſhall either ſee, or heare,

By any Member, either done, or ſaid;

Why ſhould it not, unto his charge be laid?

If, where, it ought, a ſecret be reveal'd;

If, for the publike, without private ſpleen;

If, paſt due time, it hath not been conceal'd;

If, probabilitie thereof hath been;

If, he that ſpeaks it, be no way defam'd,

And, of concernment if the ſame appears,

Why ſhould the ſpeaker, be reprov'd or blam'd,

For thus diſcloſing, what he thinks, or hears?

If it be falſe, th'accuſed, need not feare it;

For, if he be not otherwaies ſuſpected,

None, without proof, unto his wrong, will heare it.

And, if he blameleſſe be, and well affected,

The zeal of his accuſer, hee'l commend;

And, count him his, becauſe, the Kingdoms friend.

Your Senators, their priviledges have,

Not for their own, but for the publike ſake;

p. 198And, they abuſe the truſt their Countrey gave,

Who, any further uſe, of them ſhall make.

And, who can judge it reaſonable, then,

To make the people more afraid to wrong

The priviledges, of your Single-men,

Then thoſe, which to the Commonwealth belong?

Were it not fitter, to adventure on

Diſhonouring a Commoner, or Peer,

Then ſuffer all of them to be undone,

Through want of ſpeaking that which you ſhall hear?

Let them, who Freedoms-perſonall would cheriſh,

To publike dammage; with their freedoms, periſh.

This way, the Royalliſts did firſt begin

To ſcrew up their Prerogative, to that,

Which, made it more indulgent to have bin,

To ſerve their turnes, then to ſecure the State.

And, if there be not ſtill a prudent care

That, Priviledges claſh not; and, that they

Which are ſubordinate, may not appeare

In force, untill their Betters, give them way;

Deſtruction will ſucceed. Let, therefore, ſo

Each Member, on his Priviledge inſiſt,

That, both by claime and practice, he may ſhow,

They are not to be uſed, as men liſt;

Or, turned into Bug-bears, to affright

The Common-wealth, from claiming of her right.

Let, therefore, care be took, and, quickly too,

That, her due rights the Common-wealth enjoy;

That, private men their duties better do;

And, that, diviſions do not all deſtroy.

Let not thoſe fooliſh Toyes, who do beſot

Themſelves, with arrogance, preſume to prate,

As if a Parliament had them begot,

To be the heires-apparent to the State.

Permit you not Religious-Melancholy,

Phlegmatick-Av'rice, or, Zeale-Cholerick,

p. 199Nor an exceſſiveneſſe of Sanguime-Folly,

To make both Church and State grow deadly ſick,

Nay, rather mad; and, in their mad diſtractions,

To teare themſelves, into a thouſand fractions.

Let not your King and Parliament, in One,

Much leſſe apart, miſtake themſelves, for that,

Which is moſt worthy to be thought upon:

Or, think, they are eſſentially, the STATE,

Let them not fancie, that, th'Authority

And Priviledges upon them beſtown,

Conferred, to ſet up a Majeſty,

A Power, or a Glory, of their own.

But, let them know, 'twas for another thing,

Which they but repreſent; and, which, ere long,

Them, to a ſtrict account, will, doubtleſſe, bring,

If any way, they do it wilfull wrong:

For, that, indeed, is, really, the Face,

Whereof, they are the ſhadow, in the glaſſe.

Moreover, thus informe them, that, if either,

They, ſtill, divided, grow from bad, to worſe;

Or, (without penitence unite together)

And, by their ſin, provoke him to that courſe;

GOD, out of their confuſions, can, and will

Create a cure; and, raiſe a lawfull-power,

His promiſe to his people to fulfill;

And, his, and their Oppoſers, to devour.

Yea, bid both King, and Parliament, make haſt,

In penitence, united, to appeare:

Leſt, into thoſe Confuſions, they be caſt,

Which will affright them both; and, make them feare,

And, know, there is, on earth, a greater-thing,

Then, an unrighteous Parliament, or King.

More might be ſaid; but, that which is behinde,

Requires another ſeaſon: Thou, therefore,

Another opportunity muſt finde,

If, thou deſir'ſt to be informed more.

p. 200Perhaps, thou haſt, already, more expreſt,

Then many will approve, if thou reveale it:

Yet, if thou look for any temp'rall-reſt;

Let hopes, nor fears, compell thee to conceal it▪

Thy Scorners, in deriſion, lately, ſaid,

Thou art a Prophet; but, when all is told

Which is behind, their pride will be afraid,

Tha…, ſome enſuing things, thou didſt behold,

And, that, what e're thou art, thou haſt declar'd

Thoſe Councells, whereof notice ſhould be took;

Thoſe warnings, which are worthy of regard;

And, like a true-man, and a free-man ſpoke.

Let it be therefore, ſpoken, without fear:

And, Let him, that hath eares to hear it, hear.

The VOICE here, left to ſpeake; and, here, will I

For this time, leave to write; and, fit, and mourn

For Britains, and mine own iniquity,

Vntill, that VOICE, with perfect Peace, return.

O GOD! returne it, quickly; and, let not

This portion of it, be divulg'd in vain;

Or, ſo deſpiſed be, or ſo forgot,

That, Words of Peace, we never heare again.

Speak Peace, how ever, to thy Servants heart;

Speak to his Soul, in grace and mercy, LORD!

That, from thy wayes, he never may depart;

Or, diſ-obedient be unto thy Word.

Forgive him, all the vanities, that lurke

Within his heart; All deeds, by him, miſdone,

And every word, and thought, whereby this worke

Defil'd hath been, ſince, firſt, it was begun.

Of outward-mercies, and, of ſome more eaſe

From his afflictions, too, he ſhould be glad:

But, ſince ther's as much bane, as bliſſe, in theſe;

Give, what thou knoweſt fitteſt to be had.

And, let an Eccho, from this VOICE, redound

VntoUnto thy praiſe, an everlaſting-ſound. Amen.

FINIS.

End of the text · George Wither, A Voice Tending to the Pacification of Gods Wrath (1645)