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Exceeding dreadful, during such probations,
Will be the many suff'rings of these Nations,
Except those days be short'ned, or GOD, shall
Enable to sustain what may be fall.
For, that, which now is coming to the Test,
Is not, alone, the peoples interest,
As, what was lately controverted here
Betwixt them, and deceased Oliver;
Or, him and Stewart: or, a thing so vain
As now, the Dane and Swede, or France & Spain
Are striving for: But, whether good or evil;
CHRIST, or the Man of Sin, GOD, or the Devil
Shall have the Soveraignty; and wo to those
Who shall, that righteous interest oppose,
Which is to be decided, when the day
Shall come, to set their battels in aray.

But, 'tis already come; at least, so nigh
As to be seen by Contemplations eye.
Tis come; and, (though not, as 'tis misconceiv'd
By those, who have a Throne for CHRIST contriv'd,
As carnal as that is, which now must fall)
It will ere long, be visible to all,
Who have that eye-salve, which may help their eyes,
To see Truth shining through dark mysteries.
The Banners, of both Parties are display'd;
Both their Militia's, are in part aray'd;
The souldiers wages, on both sides is known,
The secret word, on many is bestown:
And, not one Promise doth to me appear
Of an escape, from that, which men may fear,
Save, as in their Probations, they make good
Their charge, (though to the loosing of their blood
If need require) with trusting to that grace,
Which, neither Is, nor shall be, nor ev'r was
To any wanting, who did not refuse it,
Nor when it is received, shall abuse it.

But, what will follow, can alone be known
To them, on whom that grace shall be bestown;
Or, by th'Events, of those Contingencies,
VVhich from a just progression, will arise;
And, must, the steps-probationary be
To that, which is GOD's absolute Decree;
For, whose accomplishment, I will attend
Till that time comes, or, till my life shall end.

Here, I had ended; but it fares with me
As with him, who, again shall never see
Those he departs from; and would leave behind him,
Somewhat, to make them, otherwhile to minde him.
Thus, would I do; or, rather, if I may
Make others minde themselves; & what this day
Seems drawing nigh. Oh, let him, with regard,
That speaks for you, (not for himself) be heard.

Let him, Oh Englands Representative,
Who, now, hath but a little time to live,
(And, fain would write, or say, before he dies,
That, for thy Weal, which thou shouldst not despise)
Let him this once be heard, with that respect
Which may produce a rational effect,
Lest, all thy Consultations, Cost and Pain,
Do prove at last, to be bestow'd in vain.

To him, who to your selves, did you restore,
Your selves resign, more now, then heretofore;
And, seek not, like your tyrannizing Kings,
At this time, to contrive and settle things
More for your selves, then to advantage those
Who, trust in you, for better ends repose;
Or, to advance your Freedoms, more then their
Just Rights, for whose sake, they conferred are.

Let not him, suffer more, who shall accuse
For breach of trust, then they who trust abuse,
As heretofore: For, there was once a time
Wherein, to charge a Member, for a crime,
Was prosecuted with a greatet zeal
Then his Guilt, who, then wrong'd the Commonweal:
Ev'n when to Stangate, yea, (some say) well nigh
To Lambeth-house, the People heard them cry,
'Tis for a MEMBER: and preserv'd was he
VVithin that House, who ought expel'd to be:
And, all the mercy, to th'Accuser shown,
VVas, to be kept a Pris'ner in his own.
But they who did it, were by Providence
Cast out; GOD keep all such, for ever thence.

Consider whether there do not, as yet
To your own knowledge, men among you sit
VVho much obstruct the mercies, GOD intends,
And, your progression in those righteous ends
VVhich you propose. (I mean not any one
VVho erres through humane Frailty; For, then none
Should be excus'd) but such as do transgress
Through Envy, and malitious wilfulness;
Or such Presumers, who, as Achan did,
Took Gold & rayment (things, that were forbid,
On danger of a Curse) such as bereave
The poor of their subsistence; or deceive
The Commonwealth; and whom their Avarice
To other things unlawful did intice,
VVhereby oppressed Innocents are wrong'd,
And Justice to their ruine, is prolong'd.

Consider, what may be the sad event
VVhere any such as these, are prevalent;
And, if you find such, and desire to thrive,
To them, in time, their due demerits give;
For, why, by palliating of their guilt,
Should your blood, like the Benjamites be spilt,
VVho brought on their whole Tribe, a wrath divine,
For murth'ring but one Levites Concubine?

Consider, when your Pardons were bestown,
VVhether it were not for ends of your own;
More to secure your selves, or to befriend
The Nations Foes, who on your Grace depend;
Or, otherwhile, because, you durst not do
That Justice, which you were oblig'd unto,
Much rather, then sincerely to express
Your love to mercy, and to righteousness:
If so, you finde it; then, betimes lament
Your failings, and effectually repent.

Consider, if, when we, to pacifie
The wrath of GOD, a day shall sanctifie
In Fastings, or Thanksgivings; whether, he
Can pleased with those sacrifices be,
Which cost us, nothing, but to spend a day,
(And formally, to pass some hours away)
In Emptiness, or Fulness; or, to hear
Those sins reprov'd, which, we will not forbear;
Yet, not to leave behind us, till the morrow,
One symptome, of true thankfulness, or sorrow?
Had it not then been fit, to lay aside
Some part of what, in Vanity and Pride
Hath been consum'd; their sufferings to relieve,
VVho cannot from the Publick purse receive
VVhat is their due, until GOD shall restore
Abilities, to make that Pittance more?

Consider, (since among you there are some,
VVho, do believe, a Kingdome is to come,
VVhereof CHRIST must be King) whether or no
Your Government, should not be modell'd so;
That, when the People, shall Elect by Voyce
Double Trustees; GOD should by lot make choyce
Of which him pleaseth? VVhen that we have had
Our Option, wherefore should not His be made?
So 'twas, when Isr'el, first a King enjoy'd,
And, when the first Apostleship was voyd.
Who would not be content to stand or fall
VVith what, would so indifferent be to all?
Or, not submit to him, who will become,
Do what we can, the Giver of our Doom?
Or, who will this oppose, but they who doubt
GOD, will in his Elections, leave them out?

More might be said: But, you know how to draw
The Body of a Lyon, by the Paw.
If, these things, you consider; and shall do,
Your best endeavour to conform thereto,
This, I am sure of, (though I cannot tell
VVhat will be done) that, all they, shall do well
VVhose Consciences, unfeignedly attest
That, they, to do all well, have done their best.

How pleasing, this will prove, well know I not;
But, how I might have pleased, well I wot.
If, I, had flattered those men in their waies,
VVho, whatsoev'r they merit, look for praise.
If, Pillows to their Elbowes I had sow'd,
Sooth'd up the Covetous, fawn'd on the Proud,
And been like many other, so ripe-witted,
My Poems with their humours to have fitted:
Had I, another been, not he I am,
None knowing what I was, or, whence I came;
Then, had (as I did) thirty years ago,
Foretold what should be, and, what see they do
Accordingly fufill'd; and then, had got
By that success, (which often faileth not)
Amongst the People, such a reputation,
As they, who seem to speak by Revelation;
It may be I had been a Saint esteem'd
As Madmen are in Turky; or, now seem'd
Less despicable; or, else, my predictions
Had been as well regarded as those Fictions.
Or foolish lying Prophesies, by which
Impostors, this deluded age bewitch.
If, I, on that advantage, had made known
Some Crotchets or Chimera's of mine own,
For selfish ends; or, had I then pretended
To some new-light; such Novelties commended
To his age, as are pleasing, at this day.
Or had I, (which, I could, as well as they
VVho practise it) put on the tempting Dress
Of seeming zeal, and formal-holiness;
Forborn to speak, what few men love to hear;
Not bid them leave, what no man can forbear;
And, in those things complide which most affect;
I might have been the Father of some Sect:
Yea, so, should have been favoured perchance,
As to have got some temporal advance:
For, few men, (could my heart therewith comply)
Had better means, for such a cheat, then I.

But, these were not my Aims, & I have gain'd
As much, as I had hope to have attain'd.
And, having fully prov'd what is in men,
VVill henceforth lay by, my displeasing Pen:
Not doubting, but this Letter, will effect
As much as whilst I live, I must expect.

I, now have writ enough, to that intent
VVhich first I had; yea, much more then I ment
VVhen I began, this; and thereby make known
A Cause, more worthy heeding, then mine own;
Wherein, if I prevail hereby, no more
Then, by what I have written heretofore,
I, shall believe th'effect would be much less
Hereafter, should I, any more express.

The Preface last year to my SALT on SALT,
Fore-warned (and I think it not my fault
If none regard it) that, to us, this year
Effects of dreadful Thunders, would appear;
And, so it comes to pass: yet, little heeded,
Save as things, which have casually succeeded:
I'll therefore, henceforth let them credit give
To what they dream, and I do not believe.
Enough is here writ, to make most of those
That shall be Knaves, or Fools, to be my Foes.
And, where can I live, (unless God shall please)
Where, I can long be safe from some of these?
But, in their presence, he my Table spreads;
My Soul, nor their Power, nor their Malice dreads;
He, heretofore, hath me defended from
Their Purposes, and will, for, time to come,
In that which most concerns me; though men may
Take Life, Estate, and outward things, away.

I have already said, and writ enough,
For men prophane, and Hypocrites to scoff:
Therefore, henceforth, let each man do the thing
That likes him, as when Isr'el had no king.
Let him, that will be wilful, have his will:
Let him that's filthy, so continue still,
Until another, to supply my room,
Shall with a more prevailing Spirit come.

Look to thy self, Oh BRITAIN! I will here
No more be thy despis'd REMEMBRANCER:
For, as those, who (when they neglects did meet,
Were bid, to shake the dust from off their feet)
I, am excus'd; and, 'tis not my belief,
That, I am bound to preach unto the Deaf,
And cast away my Pearls, as I have done,
Where they and I, shall still be trampled on.
My Soul, is clear from any blood of thine;
GOD grant, thou mayst as guiltless be of mine,
Thine own, and other mens; and at thy need,
Speed better, in thy suits, then yet I speed.

I will no more, affright thee with Alarms
By my Predictions, of approaching harms,
As in times past, nor add to thy offence,
By minding thee, of thine impenitence;
Nor seem to play the Fool, to make those wise
Who, will not see, wherein their safety lies:
But, cease to meddle in those Publick-matters,
Which, thy False Prophets, and Prognosticaters,
Have puzzell'd: But, to him, a suitor be,
VVho, from what's threatned, can deliver thee.

To works of this kind, here, I fix a bound,
This, is the last time, wherein I will sound
My Trumpet to these Nations; or make known
Ought which concerns thy matters, or mine own
In publick wise, or, in a private way,
Save, as my Neighbours, either do, or may;
Unless, I, from within, have such a Call
As cannot safely be dispens'd withal:
Or, else, an outward Call from those who may
Command me, if they think, that I can say
VVhat to the Publick welfare will relate:
But, there is little likelyhood of that;
And, therefore, I intend to spare my breath,
To vent my Thoughts in private till my death.

Oh that I fail not, of my expectations,
(In this dark Den, of cruel habitations,
By outward or by inward perturbations)
To take thy Kingdom, (wherein, at this day,
Thine enemies and mine, the Tyrants play)
COME, come, LORD JESU, quickly come away.