University of Virginia Library


344

TO Dr. SHERLOCK, ON Occasion of his taking the Oaths, 1690.

And have you now at length resolv'd to take
The Oath, so long refus'd for Conscience sake?
So fam'd a Champion for the Loyal Church,
(So call'd) to leave her, and her Friends, i'th' Lurch!
Doctor, in short, you have amaz'd us all,
Making that Nothing you Religion call.
Had you comply'd at first, 't had been a Jest,
And you no more to blame, than were the rest;
But after such mature Deliberation,
(Preaching up Loyalty in spite o'th' Nation)
At last to turn Apostate on a sudden,
Shews, tho' a Church-man, that you are no good One.
The Senseless Book y' have Writ in your Defence;
Discovers more your Guilt, than Innocence:
Each Argument therein does seem to say,
Your Reason, with Religion, 's fled away.
Now some pretend you tempted were by Woman,
Nay, by a Wife, which is a thing not common,
To Sin against the Laws Divine and Humane:

345

Her Importunity was such, they say,
When you did Preach, she never ceas'd to Pray;
Until at length, by force of much Perswasion,
She brought your Doctorship into the Fashion,
To take an Oath, to justify the Reign
Of William, till King James return'd again.
But, Doctor, most believe what she cou'd say,
Had not prevail'd to make you go astray,
And with the present Government to join,
If little William had not past the Boyn:
But now you from your Principles do swerve,
For fear that you and yours shou'd come to starve;
Trusting to Providence (it seems) your Soul,
But for your Body, you're not such a Fool.
Doctor, in fine, you'll live to curse your Fate,
And then repent, (alas!) when 'tis too late!
Reproachful Ruin still such Crimes attends;
Your Friends you've made your Foes, your Foes no Friends.