Miscellaneous works of George Wither :: :: University of Virginia Library

A Memorandum to London,

Occasioned by the Pestilence there begun this present year MDCLXV, and humbly offered to the Lord Maior, Aldermen and Commonalty of the said City. By George Wither.

Thereto is by him added, a Warning-piece to London, discharged out of a Loophole in the Tower, upon meditating the deplorable Fier, which consumed the house of an eminent Citizen, with all the persons and goods therein, at the beginning of our most Joyful Festival, in December, 1662.

Also, a Single Sacrifice offered to Almighty GOD, by the same Author in his lonely confinement, for prevention of the Dearth feared, and probably portended, by immoderate Raines in June and July, 1663.

Moreover, in regard many have reported and believed this Author to be dead; we have annexed his Epitaph, made by himself upon that occasion.

------Quis Legit hæc, &c.
Who read such Lines as these?
How few men, do they please?

A Seasonable Memorandum

Humbly tendred to the City of London, the Lord Maior, Aldermen, and the whole Commonalty thereof, by occasion of the Pestilence, begun this year, MDCLXV.

By their Old Remembrancer, George Wither.

The Psalmist, when he saw Truths foes grow strong
A while resolved to withhold his Tongue
Ev'n from Good words; (as I have often done)
But, in his heart, New-musings then begun
To muster so, that, he was forc'd to break
His resolution, and his thoughts to speak.
So fares it now with me; and I must do
That which my Mover hath inclin'd me to:
Vouchsafe it hearing, and GOD be my speed,
For, it concerns you, and deserves good heed.

This, now commencing, is the fourtieth year,
Since first, the greatest Plague that raged here,
Within our time, was sent for our correction,
To scourge us, with a Pestilent Infection,

That, GOD's intention, being timely heeded
We, by Repentance, might have superseded
Those following Judgments, which have ever since
Inflicted been, for our Impenitence;
And, are still multiplying, as if from
GOD's quiver, Sharper Arrows were to come.

That year, I having lived, till the Sun
Had thrice twelve times, quite through the Zodiack run,
Consider'd I had spun out half that time
Within your Walls, and might be one of them
For whose Transgressions, that sharp Visitation
Came to destroy, or work a Reformation;
And, thereupon (without constraint) intended
To wait on God, where I had him offended;
That, if to spare my life, vouchsafe he should,
I might as truly serve him as I could,
By heeding both his Actings, and our own;
And making those things unto others known,
Which I should then observe, might best promote
His honour; and from being quite forgot,
Keep that upon Record, (though to our shame)
Which might hereafter, glorifie his Name.

During that Plague, not one night, all the while,
Remov'd I thence, the distance of one Mile,
Or shuned either person, place, or sight,
Which, me, experimentally then might
Acquaint with any thing, whereby to learn
My Duty, or what would my work concern;
By which means, I found reason to confess
(As Job in his probation did profess)
That, I, who heard of GOD, but by the ear,
Before that time, then, saw him as it were;

And, had some things, likewise, to me reveal'd
Which were from many wiser men conceal'd;
So that I both foresaw, and then foretold
What many thousands did fulfil'd behold
Soon after: yea, moreover, some of them
Who, many years, my Cautions did contemn,
(And scofft at my Predictions) justifi'd
That, which in times past, they did much deride.
But, in their old waies, most men did proceed
As if they took a very little heed,
Of any thing, past, present, or to come,
Which might preserve Peace, or prevent their Doom.

What I then saw, and foresaw would befall,
I did record, in that which I did call
BRITANS REMEMBRANCER; and have not been
Regardless, what transactions, here were seen
During those fourty years of Provocation,
Wherein, GOD's Spirit, by this Generation
Hath greeved been. Of that large Premonition,
At least four thousands at the first Impression
Were publisht through these Islands, to prevent
What seem'd at hand; and, to the same intent
In several modes, at several times before
This present day, five times as many more
Premonitory hints, whereon ensue
As mean effects, except among those few
For whose sake (next his Sons) GOD, yet hath pity
On these three Nations, and on this great City,
Though they have persecuted and opprest
Those, in whose Weal their welfare doth consist.

But, this comes not within the Creed of many
Nor can be possibly believ'd of any,
Whom Pride, Self-love, and Ignorance bewitches
Either with dotage upon Pleasures, Riches,

Or Power exorbitant; because no Grace
Can get admittance, where those fill the place,
For, these, are part of those things where withall
The Devil tempted Christ; and they who fall
By not resisting him in that temptation
Are drawn, at last, to yeeld him Adoration
(Though peradventure they perceive it not)
And, when he that advantage once hath got;
It is not in the power of any one
To dispossess him, bud of GOD alone.

Judgements and Mercies, in the common mode
Move not without th'immediate hand of GOD,
Or, some impulses extraordinary
When from his Dictates, wilfully they vary.
The most Convincing Truths, make them but madder;
They, to the wisest Charmer like the Adder,
Still stop their ears; and them he works upon
No more, then if he Sung unto a Stone.
This renders these more brutish then a beast
By whom CHRIST is but formally profest:
For, Beasts will shun the dangers that pursue them;
Meet those who feed them, when their meat they shew them;
Know their preservers, yea return them too,
Requitals, in their kind, for what they do:
Whereas besotted men, ev'n when they may
Perceive themselves beleagured ev'ry way
With mischiefs; although plainly they may see
That their Endeavours unsuccesful be
In spight of all their policy or power,
And, God, Avengments threatning every hour
By Prodegies, and by Events, that from
No mortall hand, to cross their hopes can come,

They either look on them as casualties,
Or, them not to concern, in any wise:
Then, with full sailes, run head long on that Rock
Which is in view; at their good counsel mock,
Who tell them lovingly, how to avoyd
That, whereby, they shall else be quite destroyd,
If they proceed; or, cast an Anchor where,
They, now in hope of Preservation are:
And, if these be not madmen, there are none
In Bedlam, where we hear is many a one.

Ev'n as a nice and wanton Appetite,
Longs after Kickshaws, and takes more delight
In dishes made up of they know not what,
And not so wholsome, as plain solid meat;
So, most men, with Expressions are best pleas'd
From whence, one sentence, hardly can be squeas'd
Which well consider'd, any way conduces
To civil manners or to pious uses,
Though you should strain out all, that every word
For Caution, or Instruction, might afford.
To all such true Phanaticks, this will seem,
To be perhaps, of very small esteem,
Because, it speaks plain sense, and is not deckt
And trim'd up with such gawds as they expect.
Yet this, & those strains which they much dispise,
May be a means to make some fools more wise.
GOD promis'd to his servants long ago,
He would upon their Children shed forth so
His holy spirit, in the later ages,
That they should be inspired with presages
Of things to come; and (to his Name be praise)
This we have seen accomplisht in our daies.
Strange Visions have appear'd, Truths are foretold,
By men and women too, both young and old,

Which (though to carnal men vain dreams they seem)
With such as know God, they have more esteem,
And will appear to be his Dispensations;
As proper also, to these Generations,
As those, which were dispenc'd, in ages past,
Unto the Jews at first; or, at the last,
When, as phanatik, and ridiculous,
Their Prophets to them seem'd, as ours to us.
For, oft by their Inspirer, they were moved
To Speak and Act, what was by few approved;
Sometimes, to personate, what was abhord,
Or seem'd not with good manners to accord,
Ev'n in their Judgements, who appeared then
The wisest and the most religious men;
Especially, when God impos'd on some,
Things to be signal of what was to come.
But, all his Dispensations heretofore,
And now in use (or whatsoever more,
Shall be hereafter) scarcely will suffice
To make us, in these doting ages wise.

God, hath omitted nothing to recal us
Or, to prevent that, which may else befal us;
For every year, and upon each occasion
That did occur (to cause a perturbation
Or breach into our Peace) he moved some
So zealous of our welfare to become,
That they their own peace have oft hazarded,
(And lost it too) by things endevoured
For our avail; yea, though their pains and cost,
(As to themselves) was likely to be lost
Persu'd their Aime, sometimes, by general
Precautions, which did much concern us all;

And, otherwhile, by memorizing that
Which in particular seem'd to relate
To Persons or to Places, as it best
Might bring advance to publick Interest:
Forewarnings have by GOD vouchsafed been
To you by others (as they cause have seen)
Who seem'd to come with more authority
And trusted with Credentials, whereof, I
Unworthy am; But, whatsoever they
Or I appear, that, which I have for you
Prepared by Gods help, I offer now,
In hope, it will be heeded somewhat more
Then that, which hath been tendred heretofore.

This year his former Judgements GOD repeats,
And, once again, your sinful City threats
With Pestilence. He, over us doth shake
A dreadful Rod, wherein I notice take
Of three sharp twiggs; and he above knows whether
They shall be singly felt or all together,
Because, he onely knows what will be done
To stay that, which already is begun,
And keep out those two, which your City threat,
But, have not yet got entrance through the gate.
London, I fear, unless thou take more heed
In what Course thou hereafter dost proceed
(Although that God's Long-suffering towards thee
Continues yet) at once, with all the three
Thou shalt be scourg'd: for mockt, GOD will not be.
I am resolved therefore, whatsoever
May be the Consequent of my endeaver,
Now to proceed in what he moves me to,
And, I in duty am oblig'd to do;
Because, though my Good will you should abuse,
Your faults, my negligence would not excuse,

Who, look for my reward (if any due)
From him, whose work I do, and not from you.

My first Memorials, in their Title page
Hold forth an Emblematical presage,
Besides much thereby verbally exprest
(Relating to the plague which doth infest
Your City now) which worth the observation
May be, in every such like Visitation,
And might have had, if heeded, good effects
(Which have been lost by manifold neglects)
And still may, were things better thought upon
Which thereby, are advised to be done.
But here, to adde that, will spend too much time,
And therefore, I referring you to them,
That, now will prosecute, which more then Reason
Perswadeth me, is at this day in season.

Your City, I have lov'd and honored,
And, no less now, then heretofore I did,
For, GOD hath made it, the most honour'd place
That is within these Isles, or ever was;
He hath inrolled, and renown'd her Name
Among the Cities of the greatest Fame,
That either are, or were below the Sun
Since men to dwell in Cities first begun.
Large Pledges, he upon her hath bestown
Of his especial Love; some favour shown
Vouchsaf'd to few of them; and such a measure
Hath stored up in her, of his hid treasure,
And intermixt, from time to time, so often
Mercies and Judgements, hardned hearts to soften;
So in Long-suffering, also doth persever
(Though we are at this day, grown worse then ever)
That I perceive in her a Seed and Root,
Which to his Glory shall bring forth good Fruit

In his due time; and this inclineth me
To send these Memorandums now to thee,
Intending in thy Sickness, here to stay
Once more, when thy false-lovers fly away;
And in, or near, thy borders, to remain
Till GOD restores thee unto health again;
Or, till by being quite deserted here,
I shall be forc'd to seek my bread elsewhere;
Of which I dreadless am. For, I depend
Upon that powerful, and most faithful friend
Who hath preserved me often since my birth,
From worse things then War, Pestilence, & Dearth.

Physitians, and all else, who ere they are
That, of Sick persons undertake the care,
Do challenge, and ought also to assume
(Though them, it may be it will misbecome
At other times) a freedom to speak so
And, and as occasion moves them thereunto,
To act what's pertinent to their disease
In way of Cure, although it may displease.
I may, and do, as justly challenge now
(Since neighbour like I mean to watch with you)
Like Liberty; and will be bold to tell
That which I know will help to make you well,
Although, therewith displeas'd, you froward be,
Harsh words for my good will return to me,
And rage like those, who seem to loose their wits
When they are in their Pestilential fits:
For, I shall sober be, though somewhat sad,
To see those, whom I would keep tame grow mad.
And you I hope, what ere shall now be said
Will patient be, when well my words are weigh'd.

Consider well (for now high time it is,
That you and all men should consider this)

I say, consider how you have improved
GOD's Mercy since his Judgments were removed;
How, that provoking sinfulness abates,
And that Abhomination which God hates:
Nay well consider if it be not more
Abhominable, then it was before.
I fear it much, and ev'ry day this fear
Increaseth by what I do see and hear;
For, since I knew the world (which I have known
And heeded, till an old man I am grown)
I never heard this Nation so defam'd
As now of late; and sins not to be nam'd
By modest men, with so much impudence
So often acted with so little sence
Of manhood, nor with such impunity
By persons of no vulgar quality.
Both old and young men, high, low, rich and poor,
Out acted have transgressors heretofore;
Children are left so loose to speak and do
What their corruption doth incline them to,
(And ill example teach) that if their course
Continue long, we shall at last grow worse
Then Sodom and Gomorrah; which GOD knows
I do not mention (as some may suppose)
To scandalize this City or this Nation
But to provoke them to a Reformation.

To that intent, (so far forth as it shall
Concern this City) speedily let all
Who are in power, with prudence and in love
The strength of their Authority improve
Them to indulge and keep from violence,
Whose conversations are without offence;
And, by their executing of the Law
In purity, strive to keep those in awe

Who either shall malitiously transgress
(By an infringment of the publick peace)
Or wilfully commit, abet or teach
What, of the Moral Law may be a breach.
That nothing may by you be done unto
Another, which you would not have him do
To you, if in his case; search what you find,
That may on you be charged, in that kind,
And heartily repent it. That, moreover
You may faults, which will else lye hid, discover;
Consider, whether you have not with gladness
Insulted over men opprest with sadness,
Afflictions heaped up, upon Afflictions,
Or, added Cruelty to due corrections,
By seeking more to satisfie your Lust,
Or Vengeance, then to execute what's just
For Justice sake; or else, to please their Foes,
Condemned Innocents, their lives to lose.

Your waies examine, & search out what crimes
You have of late, more then in former times
Been guilty of: As, whether you have been
Or not, defiled with that scarlet sin,
Which in times past your City did abhor,
As being a peculiar heretofore
Of that Malignant City, where the Whore
Bestrides the Beast: be heedful also, whether
It be not partly, or else altogether
His work, to be in cruelties delighted;
To see meek, honest, harmless men dispighted
For Conscience sake; inhumanly exil'd
Husbands from wives, the parent from the child
Imprison'd to the loosing of their lives
Their little Children, their beloved Wives,
And their whole Families expos'd thereby

To that unspeakable extremity
Of wants and sufferings, which no flesh and blood
Can bear, without immediate help from GOD.
Whose will is thereby wilfully withstood.
And why all this? not for transgressing Laws
Of GOD or Nature, but alone, because
These could not condiscend the world to please
By an infringment of their consciences.

Heed what this may deserve, if you desire
To stop the Plague begun; lest else the fire
Which may be kindled in your habitations,
Do quite consume them ev'n to their foundations.
For, GOD, of his Prerogatives is Jealous
To vindicate all those he will be zealous
Who suffer for his sake, although perchance
They may be blamable through Ignorance,
Or other, humane frailties; for where he
Sees Faith and Love, their sins he will not see.
As for their Persecutors, though he may
His just Avengments, for a while delay,
The patience of his people he doth mind,
And, they who shew no mercy, none shall find.

Examine, whether since you made your peace
With GOD, the renovation and increase
Of wilful sins deserved not renewing
Of Plagues removed, and of worse ensuing.
It is not without cause, that God now hath
Such complicated Judgements, in his wrath
On thee and thine inflicted, when grown great
In hopes, thou thoughtst thy happiness compleat:
Nor is it hidden from thee altogether
For what sin, GOD sends this, or that plague hither.
In truth, all Plagues are due unto each sin
When with Impenitence, persisted in,

Yet, frequently the ROD's wherewith we are
Corrected, shew forth in Particuler
What we offended in. For Superstition
Was Gideons Family brought to perdition;
King Davids pride, made manifest in him
By numbring of the people) brought on them
A Pestilence: GOD visited the earth
For wilful breach of Covenants, with Dearth;
And (as to Zedikiak and to Saul
It did for that provoking sin befal)
The chief offenders and their Children too,
Stand liable to death for sinning so.
Oppression, Cruelty and Idolizing
The Creature (or things of our own devising)
Have been chastiz'd with servitude and war,
And, when Will-worshipings imposed are
On others, with inhumane violence,
Injustice acted with such impudence
As Jezabels and Ahabs, rarely shall
Such, scape from that, which did to them befal.
But, when that Hipocrites, by lying hid
As Annanias and Saphira did,
(Till GOD discover'd them) may possibly
Obscure the grouth of Infant Piety;
When they, who Truths foundations overthrow,
When, her malitious persecutors, grow
So mighty, that the Saints unable are
To calm them, or their furious rage to bear;
Or, when Prophaness and Abhominations
Like Sodoms, wholly, hath corrupted Nations
Or Cities, till there shall appear in men
Nor will nor power, them to reclaim agen;
GOD, in such cases, to himself alone
Assumes the punnishing of what's misdone

And very frequently doth punish too,
In such a mode as mortals cannot do:
Sometimes, by Sudden Death, when they are in
Their Jollity, or in the Act of sin;
Sometimes, by sicknesses that long endure,
Whereof no man can find the Cause or Cure;
Sometimes, by that, which (till their provocation
Of GOD) had been a means of preservation;
Sometimes, they of their lives have been bereaven
By Lightning, or by Thunderbolts from Heaven;
And, otherwhile (struck with dispaireful fears)
Are made to be Self-Executioners.

This gives a Hint of that which more affords
Then fully is expressed by my words
To make it plain; but either thou, no doubt
Or, some for thee, will search and find it out;
Or, by the the searching after it, discern
Somewhat, which thee as nerely will concern.
Take heed of neighbours, and familiar friends,
Who fawn upon thee for their own base ends,
And love thee not, (though they respect profess
By many shews of hearty friendliness)
For, some of them, already cause have bin
Of adding much both to thy Plagues and sin.
But, specially, of thine own self take heed
For, thence thy greatest dangers will proceed.
Consider therefore, by thy self alone,
What thou omitted hast, and what misdone;
Whether thy folly, falsehood, fickleness,
Apostacy from what thou didst profess,
Falling from thy First Love, by mis-advice;
Thy Luxury, thy sordid Avarice,
Or, some vain hopes, deserv'd not deprivation
Of that, whereof, thou hadst an expectation;

Heed, whether, to have cured, or prevented
One Plague, thy self thou hast not complemented
Into a score; (at least, to stop one curse,
Indanger'd drawing on thee many worse.)
Observe, if ever Beggery and Pride;
Did both together, upon one horse ride
So frequently as now, through every street,
Or walk so often on the self-same feet;
And, whether mischiefs which at present fall
On some, will not at last extend to all.
Mind well what thou art doing; what is done;
What is designed, but not yet begun;
For what thou both with words and swords hast pleaded;
What, thou hast most affected, or most dreaded,
What thereon follow'd, or might have succeeded;
What factions thou hast favor'd, and what still
Wouldst favour, were thy power like thy will.

London, if seriously thou ponderst this
Thou wilt perceive that what succeeds amiss
Flowes chiefly from thy self; and how can those
Be friends to any who are their own foes?
Thy Chiefs, care not how others they inslave,
So, they themselves from servitude may save,
Yet, these in fine, by that which doth befal
Become to be the basest slaves of all,
Ev'n Bondslaves to their Lusts, and to the Devil
By getting an habitual love of evil.
They hunt for honour, but, their fiery Title
Will adde to them, less honour then a little.
They covet to be rich; but wealth shall more
Increase those wants and Lusts, that make them poor.
In Policy and Powre, their trust is plac't
Yet, they become dispised fools at last.

Yea, we have seen those whom wealth, wit, and powre
Supported, sink down breathless in one hour,
That, we may know, there is an unseen hand
Which oft strikes those, who without fear, may stand
Of humane Justice, and beyond the reach
Of Mortals: That, therefore, which this may teach
Let all those heed, who, yet much heed it not:
And, let them (by whom this is oft forgot)
Remember ther's an all beholding eie,
Which ev'ry secret purpose can espie;
And, Angels alwaies ready at command,
To execute what no powre can withstand;
And such, as will for no bribe or respect,
The prosecution of their charge neglect.

Let likewise, those who most oppressed are
Be taught hereby, still patiently to bear
The Cross impos'd for trial of their Faith:
(What ever, their oppressor doth or saith)
In perseverance, let them still attend
On GOD with meekness, till their Trials end.
And leave all Carnal weapons, to their use
Who, must be ruined by their abuse.
I do presume, among you many are
Who, to this wholesome Principle adhere,
And, that if into practise carried on
It shall both supersede the Plague begun
And ev'ry other feared Plague prevent
If timely they their other sins repent.
For GOD, will winck at many faults in those
Who love, and leave Revenge to his dispose;
Yea, oftentimes experience we have had
That, worse it makes things which before were bad,
When through impatience we in our own mode,
Attempt to do, what must be done by GOD.

Or, our own suffering shall prolong (at lest)
By our self-actings, when we do our best.

This Pestilence, which now is brought in hither,
I am assur'd, proceeds not altogether
From Causes meerly natural, but comes
To execute GOD's just deserved Dooms,
From his immediate hand; and will therefore,
Those Medcines need, which must do somewhat more
To cure, or stay it from proceeding on,
Then can be, by joint Art and Nature done.
If you desire a Soveraign Antidote
The best I know (if you neglect it not)
Is metaphorically call'd Herb-grace,
And will be very useful in this case;
Some, term it Rue, because twill not begin
To operate, until we Rue our sin.
Take Rue and Reasons then, which signifie
Repentance and Discretion; These apply
As you find cause; which, if you do, and Fast
From things that were offensive in times past,
Keep from thenceforth a constant wholesome diet,
And in your hearts endeavour to be quiet,
My life for yours, GOD will your Souls deliver
From ev'ry hurtful arrow in his quiver.
Nor this, nor any Plague shall you anoy,
Although as to the flesh, it should destroy;
For, that can adde to mans loss or grief
VVhose expectation is a better life.

GOD, to this Pestilence hath joyned War,
And Famine, seems not from us to be far;
VVhich, if it now shall come will make the trouble
VVe feel already, to be more then double,
Because, our fellow feeling is no more
Of what they suffer, whome these times make poor.

For, such are our deportments, as if neither
Sword, Pestilence and Dearth, put altogether
Were no more, but an Army which did stand
Arayed, to be at our own command,
To execute our pleasures upon those,
(Although our friends) whom we repute our foes.
And therefore, have rejoyced when they seiz'd
On them, with whom we highly were displeas'd.
When, unto us, ill grounded hopes appear
Whereby, of Mercies we presuming are;
We are frollick, as if GOD did see
Our gross Hypocrisies, no more then we.
But, let men heed well whether, to acquire
The Sequels which they naturally desire
Is to insult when GOD corrects their foes,
Or, censure his Intents concerning those
Whom he Afflicts; as if for wrong to them
It rather were, then for offending him:
Or, as if sins to others onely known,
Were more considerable then their own.

There is observ'd, much Arragance and folly
In some of thy Relations; from which wholly
Thou for the time past, canst not cleared be;
Therefore to keep from future scandal free,
And also, for thy Credits reputation
Take these Memento's to consideration.
Consider, if it sober men befits
To sing with Jollity about the streets
Vain Triumph-Songs, when war is but begun
As when a final Victory is won;
Since tis well known, that many who at first
Have thrived best, at last have thrived worst;
And, that GOD justly suffereth sometime,
(For Causes which are onely known to him)

Those, more then once, before their foes to fall,
Whose Cause he best approveth; and who shall
Be conquerors at last: and that, where guilt
Is equal, he lets blood be often spilt,
And war prolongs, or maketh peace twixt them
Who disagree, as they make peace with him.
Therefore, when you are underneath the Rod,
Remember, you are in the hands of GOD.
When he hath crown'd your hopes with good success,
Demean your selves with Christian Lowliness:
For, when his Mercies much inlarged are,
He doth expect a joyful filial fear:
This, labour to preserve, lest else, the lack
Thereof, may bring reversed Judgments back.

Consider, whether Ships, Arms, men and horse,
With policy united unto Force,
Can prosper to th'advancement of their end,
Who, upon those things, or themselves depend:
Who, all their opposites as much dispise
As if their Armies were but Gnats and Flies,
Think to subdue them with jeers, mocks & taunts,
Puff up each other, with braggs, shameless vaunts,
And lies devised by their foolish makers
To keep from fainting Cowardly Partakers,
Whose Consciences accusing them of guilt,
(Because, their hopefulst Refuges are built
On Quicksands) they become heart-sick with fear,
As oft as any evil News they hear;
And, on each slight Report of good success,
Insteed of pious and meek thankfulness,
Run to the Taverns (which are much more free
To all, then pious Meeting places be)
There, heathen like, nay rather more uncivil,
Offer up Drink Oblations to the Devil.

And, to chear up each others drooping Souls
Sing songs between their glasses and their bowls;
Or intermix Reports of what was won
Or lost, though that was never said or done.

Such Sacrificers, may find some effect
In part, according to what they expect,
But neither for their Faith or Righteousness;
Nor will our hopes, longlasting be, unless
Use, of the Common means for our defence,
Be Sanctified by true confidence
In GOD, and we with his known will comply,
Bearing what ere betides us patiently;
Improve each Favour and Deliverance,
To somewhat which his Glory may advance;
And whereby, they who are opprest and grieved
May some way charitably be relieved:
For, it is no beseeming Thank-Oblation
For Mercies, when a City or a Nation
Shall Solemnize it with but little else,
Save Gunshot, Bonfires, Jangling of the Bells,
Or, making others of their Joys partakers,
Onely, in smoke and stinck, of Squibs & Crackers;
Or gathering rude throngs of men and boys,
To make about those flames a barbrous noise,
Which must be fed with fewel forc'd from some
Who had none left to make a fire at home;
Then drink healths to each other in the street
Untill they cannot stand upon their feet,
Or else loose their own healths: what thus to do
Can wise men think it will amount unto
But meer dispight of GOD, contempt of grace,
And, throwing (as it were) durt in his face
For, Benefits receiv'd; though they make shew
As if they had return'd him all his due,

When, they but please themselves, by doing that
Whereby they sing their own Magnificat?
What can be deemed a just recompence
For such ingratitude, for an offence
So foul, so capital, but that insteed
Of future Blessings, Curses should succeed?
London, heed this, and if thou wittingly
Of such Prophaness and impiety
Art guilty now, or hast been heretofore,
Repent it, and henceforth, do so no more.
But, herein, some will more concerned be
Then thou art, yet, I mention this to thee
With some hope, that, they will the less contem
What's written here, because, not writ to them.

Much more I have to adde, which I forbear
Lest, I by adding more then thou canst bear
With patience, may destroy what I design
For this whole Nations welfare and for thine,
By so displeasing thee, with what I write
That, thou slight all whereto, I thee invite:
For, though thy flattrers make thee to believe,
Thou art in better case, then I conceive,
Thy best friends know, that thine own provocations,
Imprudency in some of thy Relations,
(Ev'n of thy Watchmen) who should cures provide
For thy distempers, are so giddifi'd,
And, that their Eies, their Ears, yea and their brains
(With every faculty which appertains
To thy weal) are obstructed so, by fumings
From their Self-seekings, & their, high presumings,
That thou art, by what these in thee have wrought
Into an dangerous Consumption brought;
For, thy decay of Trade, much hath increast
Their Poverty who thereby are distrest:

Thy hands and feet whose labour heretofore
Supplyd thy wants, now, can do little more,
Because, thy ablest members, by whom these
Employd have been, partake of their disease:
And, such Confusions daily do begin
To multiply, and farther to break in,
That, I am at a stand, what more to say
Or, what on thy behalf, I ought to pray.
Yet, one Expedient, I now think upon
Whereby, it may be, somewhat will be done
For they availe, if thou shalt not omit
(As GOD inables) to endeavour it.
And therefore, let that which I next express
Be read, and minded with due heedfulness.
In thee, are at this day, the chief Well-springs,
Of all those good, and of those evil things
Which throughout these three Nations are disperst;
And of the Later, were the Stream reverst
Or dam'd up at the Fountain; and, the first
Set freely open here, it would become
A Rivolet of Waters, flowing from
That River, which through New-Jrrusalem
His Currant hath, still issuing out of him
Who, of those Living waters is the head
VVhich through all Nations will at last be spread.
And London, three times happy, shalt thou be
If this Blest Fountain may break forth in thee,
To sweeten ev'ry Cistern in these Lands,
VVhich now, brimful of stincking water stands,
And breed all these Infections in our Clime,
VVhich are so baneful to us, at this time.
There is a possibility of this
If we our parts do, as GOD hath done his;

Or, but endeavour so to co operate
With him, as he enables us, in that
Which he requires (thereto vouchsaving still
Assistance to our deeds, and to our will.)
By this Compliance, that New Heaven and earth
VVhich is expected, would ere long come forth;
And Righteousness, then from thy habitations
As amply flow out, thorow all these Nations
As wickedness doth now; or heretofore
It did, when ill examples made it more.

This Change, more happiness would hither bring
Then, when in triumph thou broughtst in the King,
And of rejoicing, give more cause by much,
Then we shall have when we do beat the Dutch,
And are from dread of that delivered too,
VVhich some suspect the French intend to do;
Yea, and from what, more dangers threats then either
Of those two singly, or both joyn'd together:
Ev'n from those, which are possible to come
From Factiousness, and Male contents at home.
But this Joy will encrease, and all our fears
Abate, when men do more incline their ears
To what's proclaimed by those Trumpeters
VVhom GOD reserved, to make proclamation
Of that, which most concerns this Generation;
And, when the Influences of GOD's graces
By supreme persons, and by powerful places
Shall not obstructed be, as we have seen
Of late, and as they very long have been,
By Antichristian wiles; and those through whom
They are more dangerous to us become,
Because their formal piety makes showes
To be for him, whom, chiefly they oppose.

Thou art abused by misinformations,
Not thou alone, but likewise these three Nations
By those Mintmasters of untruths and lies,
Who cheat the whole world with their fallacies,
Yea, much dis-serviced, dishonor'd too,
Is he, to whom, they yet pretend to do
Good services; and they by their Deceits,
Have him reduced unto may Streights
Which will destroy him, ere he is aware,
Unless, GOD shall unsnarle him from their snare;
And, in what misbefals, thou wilt have share.
To take my counsel, then, think it no shame,
(Although, a poorer man then he I am
Who sav'd a City; for, a Mouse may gnaw
That snare asunder, which, nor Lions paw
Nor teeth can break. Go, quickly, quickly lay
Your Skarlet Gowns, and your gold chains away;
Fast, watch and pray; do as King David did;
(When he the pestilential Angel spide)
Of somewhat, unto GOD an offring make
Which is thine own; that he a gift may take
Made acceptable, by, and in his son,
To stay the Plague, which newly is begun.
Shut up your selves awhile, and throw aside
Your factiousness, your malice and your pride;
Lust, Avarice, and them with ev'ry Sinn
Whereby the wrath of God provok'd hath been.
Fall down before his feet with humbleness,
Your misdeeds, with true penitence confess,
Especially, those crying sins, whereby
You often have insenst his Majesty.
Among which, no crime can offend him more
Then when you shall (as Cain did heretofore)

Destroy your bretheren, because, to GOD
They dare not sacrifice in such a mode,
As they believe he neither doth command
Nor takes, with good acceptance, from their hand.
Your Priviledges, they do not invade
By violence; but, lovingly perswade
To what they do believe, promoteth best
Gods glory, and the Publick Interest.
Be thou as charitable unto them;
Leave that to God alone, which unto him
Alone belongs; when he into the Land
Hath cast his seed, permit the Crop to stand
Till harvest time, & pluck not that away,
Which looks like wheat, though it may prove but Ray
But, weed out that alone, which ev'ry one
Knows hurtful to the Corn, and will be none.
Thus, having way prepar'd to make your peace,
With GOD, in Faith and Love emplore his Grace.

This being done; the next work, which to do
Thou art, as I believe, oblig'd unto,
Is to improve the powre thou hast in him
Who over all these Islands is supream,
And with whom, thou dost in more favour stand
Then any other City of this Land.
Whilst his esteem of thee, doth seem to last
(And ere fit opportunities are past)
Unto his Royal Throne make thy Address,
Emplore him, with deliberate advice,
To hear and heed that, without prejudice
Which may in season, offred be by them
Who fear God, and both love and honour him,
With an intent to serve him faithfully,
Without selfends in ev'ry thing, whereby

Their services shall really consist
With GOD's, with his, and with their Interest,
For whose sake, he originally gave
All those Prerogatives that Princes have.
For, though men so unbiassed, may dare
To speak some Truths which all men cannot bear,
(When cause requires) they will with moderation
So heed what tendeth to the preservation
Of common peace, and of the dignity
Belonging to his royal Majesty,
(Whom God hath honor'd by restoring him
Unto his Predecessors Diadem)
That, neither he, nor they, nor I, nor you,
Shall have cause, to dislike what will ensue.

If you believe this, and endeavour so
To prosecute it, as you, may yet do,
Who knows, what he, who hath the hearts of Kings
(And the disposing of all other things
VVithin his powre) will do, although this may
Proposed seem, in a dispised way.
Tis an adventer, which though partly lost
VVill bring in some return, that's worth the cost:
And those streights (if well heeded) wherein he
This City, and all these three Kindoms be
Adventrers needs, and somewhat to be done
VVhereof, no likelihood is yet begun.

For, that which must draw order from confusions,
To our Destractions, timely, put conclusions,
And, so, divine and civil pow'rs unite
That, neither, may infring each other right,
Effected cannot be, by hauty words,
By Policy, or temporary swords,
Nor by that Formal Sanctity with which
The Grand Impostors of this world bewitch

Deluded souls (that all things may become
Subjected to their Arbitarry Doome)
But by such Instruments and by such waies,
As those, by which Christ did begin to raise
His Kingdom at the first; and by which here
It shall continue untill he appear
With that powre, which shall batter & beat down,
More Idol Temples then were overthrown.
Since his first coming; and, root out all those
Idolatries, which out of them arose;
Together with the Thrones of all those Kings,
That are partakers in such worshippings,
And made drunk with her Cup who rides the Beast;
The Subjects of his Kingdom, have opprest,
And shall oppress them without penitence,
For provocations, by that great offence.
More might be said, but, this shall now suffice;
“GOD make us all unto salvation wise,
“Preserve us in his love, so knit together
“That we in his love may preserve each other;
And, that all we can think, or say, or do
May now, and in the close, conduce unto
The glorifying of his holy Name
Though to our selves, it may occasion shame.

Amen.

A Warning-Piece to London,

Discharged out of a Loophole in the Tower during the Authors Close imprisonment there.

It was meditated upon the deplorable consuming of an eminent Citizen with his whole Family, in the night, by a sad and suddain Fire, at the beginning of our most Joyful Festival, in Decemb. 1662.

[_]

The Author conceived, that it would better stir up the hearts of some, by being sung, then Read: Therefore, he composed it in Lyrick Verse, fitted to the Tune of the Lamentation, at the end of the singing Psalms, if the last Strain of that Tune shall be repeated with the two last lines in every Stanza.

[1]

VVake London wake, Fast, watch, and pray,
Well heed likewise this Warning-song;
To eat and drink, rise up and play,
Hath been thy daily practise long:
Oh! from henceforth, remember more,
Thy Brethren, whom oppressors grieve;
Refresh the fick, relieve the poor;
For none without good works believe.
If hardly sav'd the Righteous are
Ah! how shall wilful sinners fare?

2

The Rich man, heedlesly discerns
The near approaching day of wrath,
To fill his Warehouse and his Barnes,
Is all the present care he hath.
At large, he preparation makes
For offerings to his Belly God,
Till Justice an occasion takes
To mixe those offrings with his blood;
When fools in folly most delight,
They, often, loose their Souls that night.

3

Our Love is cold, nigh ripe our sin,
And, in their march, GOD's Judgments be;
At his own house they do begin;
Then, from them, who shall now be free?
To make us thereof take more heed,
One house they singled out of late,
And, in a bright flame-colour'd weed,
Upon the top thereof they sate
And when to sleep they laid their heads,
Consum'd her dwellers in their beds.

4

Why should not each man to whose ear
This news was in the morning brought,
Upon himself reflect with fear,
Thus, thereon musing, in his thought?
LORD, this unlook'd for stroke of thine,
Hath often been deserved by me;
This sad mishap might have been mine
This night, had it so pleased thee;
But, (praised be thy holy name)
Here, yet alive, and safe I am.

5

Oh with what terrors, were they stroke
How sadly were they discompos'd,
To find themselves when they awoke
With stifling fumes, and flames inclos'd?

It made their terror much the more,
If to remembrance they did call
What they had done, awhile before,
And, what so quickly did befal.
More dreadful it appears to me,
Then Dungeons, Racks, and Halters be.

6

Thus will they fare, when his last Doome
To pass on sinners, Christ appears;
Thus, in a moment, he will come,
When least the world his coming fears.
Thus, whether then her heedless heart
Is either sleeping or awake,
Surprized with a suddain start,
They shall with horrid terrors quake,
When they behold with sad amaze,
All things about them in a blaze.

7

Unless my thoughts misdictate me,
A secret Judgment, in this Act,
May doubtlesly discerned be
To shew GOD's hand was in the fact.
For, though his waies are in the dark,
Forth from the Cloud, a flashing breaks
To shew us, (if we such things mark)
His purpose, by the Course he takes.
In darkness he hath perfect Light,
And all mens deeds are in his sight.

8

But, though this Judgment be severe,
Let not us who escape it, ween
Them, greater sinners then we are;
But, judg what our deserts have been.
Christ doom'd not those whom Pilat slew
As more to blame, then other men,
Though with their blood he did imbrew,
That, which they sacrifized then;

And of those persons judg'd as well,
On whom the Towre of Silo fell.

9

Hereof, small sense have carnal men;
This, for sad news, at Noon they tell,
Return unto their sins agen,
And sleep next night at brink of hell:
That, which concerns their safety most,
As quickly slips out of their mind
As letters written in the dust,
Blown out with ev'ry puff of wind.
Of others harms, how senseless grown
Are they, who do not mind their own?

10

This came to pass within thy walls,
That, thou mightst thereof take good heed,
Mind, who thereby upon thee calls,
And think, what further may succeed:
It was not from those places far,
Where much to be, thou dost delight,
That thou shouldst heed thy dealings there;
And, it befel there in the night,
That, thou, a stricter watch maist keep:
For Sathan wakes, when men do sleep.

11

Hereof, likewise, let heed be took,
That, when thy heart was most supine,
This Judgment, in upon thee broke,
Amidst thy Musick, mirth and wine;
And, that, unless for sin thou mourn,
Relieve and comfort men distrest,
Thy Feasts, to Fastings GOD will turn,
And, smite thee when thou fearst it least.
When Sodom sinned without shame,
Down thereon, Fire and Brimstone came.

12

The Drowned world, was warn'd of old
Of what would in short time befal,

By Words and Doeeds it was foretold,
Yet unregarded still by all.
They married and in marriage gave,
Did eat and drink, as we do now,
Did so, the wrath of GOD outbrave,
And, as we, liv'd they car'd not how:
But, lo, when in least awe they stood,
Out break the Deeps, in came the Flood

13

Thou, LONDON, whosoe're doth weep,
Dost, on thy Viol, play and sing;
Thy Children, daily revel keep,
Ev'n when their Passing bells do ring.
Themselves on costly Beds they streach,
Regarding not how Joseph fares;
To them, who of Repentance preach
They listen, but with Adders ears.
And, well he speeds, who shall be heard,
If mischiefs be not his reward.

14

In sixteen hundred ten and one,
I, notice took of publick Crimes,
With mine own faults, I first begun;
Observ'd the Changes of the Times:
And, what GOD had on me bestown
Employed for the Common good;
Therein, I sought to find mine own,
Which, was so oft misunderstood,
That I, for being so employd,
Have been three times, nigh quite destroyd.

15

In sixteen hundred twenty five,
When thou wert sick, I watcht by thee;
Then, did my First Forewarning give,
And, this perhaps, my last must be.
For, now, my Tools away are took,
Some things half wrought, some but begun;

Quite being rob'd of alll my stock,
Concludes my work, before tis done;
And that Flesh Ragg, by me yet worn,
May soon drop off, or, off be torn.

16

Here, I yet live, where, what me grieves,
But few of thine, have heeded much;
Nor Mayors, Aldermen, or Sheriffs
Or any noble, great or rich;
But, in Long-suffrings being old,
(If not relived by the poor)
By sickness, hunger, or by cold
Death had ere now, unlockt my door.
Lest thou as much neglected be,
Think more on GOD, though less on me.

17

My Publick warnings, are supprest,
As once, was Jeremiahs Roll;
Which GOD, will when he sees it best,
Revive, with an inlarged Skroll:
Meanwhile, by stifled musings tir'd,
The flames within me closly pent,
Like powder in Granado's fir'd,
Do tear my heart, through want of vent,
And crack my earthen vessel more
Then all my suffrings heretofore.

18

Within thy West and Eastern Jail.
Now twice ten months confind I've lain,
Denied both Relief, and Bail,
Which Law allows, and Rogues obtain:
To tell, what others did, or said,
Is thought in me a grand misdeed,
Though being of their harms afraid,
I did but bid my friends take heed:
If this be falls for words well ment,
Woe to ill deeds, with ill intent.

19

Alas! how apt are we to fear,
Or fancy danger, where is none?
Yet how unapt, how loth to hear,
What may prevent a certain one?
Except propounded in their mode,
Who, in their own conceit are wise,
The Counsels both of Men and GOD
They, either frustrate, or dispise:
Which being well weigh'd, is a signe,
That, to destruction they decline.

20

Seaven daies before the late sad night,
Thy Prætor, seized in my hands
What GOD inclined me to write,
For timely warnings to these Lands;
So, that, which to their weal conduc'd,
Hath hitherto been fruitless made;
And, I more strictly have been us'd,
Though, I before, hard measure had.
But, GOD, by whom it was begun,
Will gard me, till my work is done.

21

No more seems now within my powre,
But, down to lie, beneath my Lode,
Attending my Redemption hour,
With patient waiting on my GOD.
Yet, there is hope, that Prayers may
To what is feared stoppage put;
And, since, to Heaven ther's open way,
(Though from the world, I close am shut)
As Jonas did (when in a Whale;
Close prisoner kept) to God ile call.

22

Correct us LORD, but not in wrath,
Purge rather, what misdone hath been,
By any temporary Death,
Then by correcting sin with sin,

For all the blood that hath been spilt,
Let us, who think our selves most clear,
In private, search out our own guilt,
And, wherein else, we faulty are,
That, by a self-condemning Doom,
We may escape the wrath to come.

23

Preserve thy Church, Lord, bless the King
And, seeing thou hast him restor'd,
Him, out of all his troubles bring,
And, make his will, with thine accord,
That under his Protection here,
We, without faction, hate or strife,
(In all uprightness, without fear)
May live a sanctified life,
And, he indulge the Conscience tender,
As best becomes, the Faiths Defender.

Thus, on what lately did befal,
I sung my Musings, to the wall,
Which gave thereto, as much regard
As most will, when abroad tis heard:
For, little have such lines as these,
Which may a Carnal pallat please.
The wanton huggs a wanton strain,
The miser, that which treats of Gain;
Ambitious men give most applause
To that, which their, Ambition claws;
In lies and follies, fools delight,
And, if this ever come to sight,
It will by none, be relish'd well
Save those, with whom the Graces dwell.

The more Precautions are in season,
(The more agreeable to Reason)

Their Rage it will the more increase,
Who are inclined to oppress;
And, if I die not in this place,
It will be meerly of GOD's grace,
To make it known, the Rage of man,
Is bounded, do the worst he can.
These Musings, and some other too,
Escap'd surprize, with much ado,
And, that whereof I was bereft
Me, for awhile in sadness left;
Yet, much more sorrowful am grown
For others sakes, then for mine own,
Because, the world so misbefriends,
What to her own well being tends.

God, never any Place bereaves
Of saving means, till him it leaves;
Nor is their any man quite lost,
Till he resists the holy Ghost.
He, helpless leaves no willing one
In acting what he would have done;
But, when to selfness, man adheres
Then, as he worketh, so he fares.
GOD, gives first motion to each wheel,
In motion also, keeps it still,
If he with him Compliance feel,
Else let's it go which way it will.
Thus he will do, and thus hath done,
Ev'n ever since the world begun.

That, men his works and mind might mark,
He preach'd by Noah and his Ark,
And, to prevent their threatned doom
Allow'd them sixcore years to come.
That, Sodom timely might repent,
He, Lot to be exemplar sent;

When Balam misaffected was
He made a Preacher of his Ass;
And by a Whale, he Jonas sent
To bid the Ninevites repent,
Who, more thereto inclined were
Though heathens, then most Christians are.
What did to Israels weal belong,
He gave by Moses in a song,
That, when Records could not be had,
They, thereof mindful might be made.
When their Transgressions were nigh full,
To Babel they were sent to school;
Since which time, they still growing worse
(Till they incur'd Cains dreadful Curse,
For shedding of their brothers blood,
Who died zealous of their good)
Them, out of their good land, GOD hurl'd,
To rovee like him about the world;
Depriv'd (now sixteen hundred years)
Of Prophets and Remembrancers:
And, in this mode, with ev'ry Nation
God deals, e're final Reprobation.

LORD! from their wandrings call them home;
Into thy fold, back let them come.
We got advantage by their fall
Let it increase by their Recall.
Since they, and we in ev'ry sin,
Have Paralels, a long time been,
Let our joint force, henceforth be spent
To move each other to repent,
That, they and we may in that Place,
Become Partakers of thy Grace,
Where Jews and Gentiles shall be saved,
By our Redeemer, and thy David.

By wiser men, in times of old,
Much was exprest, which I have told,
And, they have both in Prose and Rimes,
Forewarnings given in their times;
Declar'd in season, how GOD deals
With wicked Realms and Common-weals.
Our own Records likewise declare
GOD's frequent dispensations here;
How constantly, avenging wrath
In ev'ry Age pursued, hath
The greatest Tyrants in their turns,
Though sometimes, he their doom adjourns.
But, that, no just excuse will be
Either, to other men, or me,
If we shall negligently do
What, GOD inclines our hearts unto,
And may, now, or in future daies
Advance mans welfare, and God praise.
For, on us lieth Obligations,
To bring forth in our Generations,
VVhat needful seems to be exprest;
In such a manner also drest
As best that Ages temper fits
In which we live, and best begets
A timely heed, in those to whome
VVe serviceable would become:
Yea, we to them must hand it too;
Else, lamely, we our duties do.
Thus, I according to my powre
Have done, and therefore kiss the Towre
From whence, I send this Warning-shot
By Ammunition hardly got.

LONDON, as Moses gave a song to be
Israels MEMENTO, I give this to thee;
To shew, that (though the world doth me deprive
Of what was hers) I somewhat have to give
Which I by GOD's free grace, may call mine own,
And, is not needlesly on thee bestown.
But, e're some change, the means thereof bereave,
Now, both of Friends and Foes, Ile take my leave;
Adue my Foes; for often, by event,
You did me good, though none to me you ment.
To pray for you, I know, I am your debter,
And, therefore so I do; GOD, make you better,
And so to mark and mind what he intends,
That, we may in his Love, henceforth be friends.
My friends, farewel; and no whit grieved be
Though you should me no more in Babel see,
For, at the Holy Lambe, we safe shall meet,
E're long, in New Jerusalems high street.

Written in the Towre 1662.

[The meek, and humble to advise]

The meek, and humble to advise
I write; but not to teach the wise.
You must not therefore, here expect,
Such Strains as these times best affect;
For, you may have enough of those
By others writ, in verse and prose.

A SINGLE SACRIFICE,

Humbly offred to Almighty GOD, by the Author during his lonely Confinement in the Towre, to mediate his gratious preventing the Dearth feared, and probably portended, by immoderate Rains in June and July, 1663.

That he with Tools might for this work be fitted,
His Jailer, and his Keeper, he outwitted;
For, twas his greatest suffring, to be pent
From means, to give such meditations vent.

Sin, like the Ocean (but, not so well bounded)
These Islands hath on ev'ry side surronded,
And, many Breaches, lately made it hath
Which to the furious Tempests of GOD's wrath
Exposeth us (ev'n quite throughout these Lands)
So, that, Hills, Dales, and all in danger stands.
The Air, whose cloudy brow, upon us lowrs,
Dissolves it self, into destructive showrs,
To move us unto tears of penitence
By feeling that, whereof we have no sense.
For, they, who are most sensible of spoyl
(by Rains or Droughts) of corn, and wine and oyl,
Feel not in heart, the least remorce for sin;
But, when they should bewail it, laugh and grin.

They, who are very froward, and repine
If they loose but their monky or their swine,
(And, sometimes vex them selves till they are sick,
For losses, not amounting to a Chick)
And can with many bitter tears, bemone
Small suffrings, for their greatest sins shed none.

In mine own person, I much need not fear
Such temporary Plagues, as threatned are
By Rain or Winds, by cold, or scortching wether,
By suddain floods, or fires; for, I have neither
Estate to lose, nor hope of getting ought
Which, by such things, may be in hazard brought;
And, am at present, with my daily bread,
By his own hand, miraculously fed,
Whose All-sufficiency, should me sustain
Though all the world were to be drown'd again.
External things, are little pertinent
To my chief safety, or my best content:
For, should a Famine; me of life bereave
Death would be more advantage then to live
A life like mine; and as I have been us'd,
A speedy death, is rather to be chus'd.
Yet, whilst, I may be serviceable made
To him, from whom, this life at first I had,
I am content to live till it expires,
Although it were in stormes, in floods or fires;
And, likewise, am so sensible of that
Which to the Common welfare doth relate,
That up to GOD a prayer Ile prefer
To crave prevention of what many fear:
For, though I am not suffred to present
A prayer to King, Lord, or Parlement;
Here, to GOD's Throne I free access have got,
And he doth hear me when men hear me not:

Of which assured, in this loneliness,
My self to him, I humbly thus address.

Almighty and most merciful Creator,
Of heaven and earth, of fire, of aire and water,
With whatsoe're, consists of forme or matter,
Of all invisible, or to be seen,
Of all that is or shall be, or hath been,
Felt, heard or understood (excepting Sin,
At whose birth all Privations did begin.)
Thou, by whose wisdom all the whole Creation,
Is ordred, and hath still a preservation,
Make acceptable in thy sight, I pray,
What I shall meditate or write this day
And, let not my Requests be flong away,
Though we have often forfeited again
That Grace, which we did heretofore obtain,
And liable to all thy plagues remain.

We must confess, that in these last three years,
Thou hast abated many of our fears,
For thine own sake, and for the sakes of them,
Whom thy blaspheamers and their Foes contemn.
Awhile ago, we were surpriz'd with dread
Of hunger, and the scarcety of bread,
By such distemper'd seasons, as foreshew'd
That Chastisement which here, is now renew'd;
And, was remov'd, ere many had much sense,
Of what some felt, or of their own offence.
Once, we were frighted with such sicknesses
As seem'd forerunners of the worst disease;
And, till this hour, a brutish Discord,
Keeps us in daily hazard, that the Sword
Will be again unsheath'd: yea, though we are
Preserved still, from what we justly fear,
And that, thy patience might be more disern'd,

Have year, by year, been gratiously forewarn'd
(By Signes and wonders probably foreshewing,
The sad events, that seem to be pursuing
Our crying sins) yet, we do ne're the less,
Continue still in our obduratness.
Though, much Instruction, likewise, we have had,
Examples, Premonitions, publick made,
And extraordinary Dispensations,
To draw us, from our wilful aberrations,
We so increase them, that, it renders me,
Exceeding fearful to Petition thee,
Those Temporary Judgments to withdraw
Whereof, we at this present, stand in aw,
Lest they, whom no good counsel mollifies
Thy Justice and thy Mercy quite dispise;
And fall into that Reprobated sense,
Which brings unchangeable Impenitence:
For, that, the Consequence hath often proved,
When Plagues before Repentance were removed.

The fields were lately cloth'd beyond our hope
With an appearance of a fruitful crop,
Which moisture by unseasonable showrs,
So evidently, by degrees, devours
That, most men are afraid the teeming Earth
Insteed of Plenty, wil produce a Dearth;
And, they among us, who do most neglect
Removal of the Cause, most dread th'effect.
Yet, humane pitty, me doth so incline
To make the Common fear, a part of mine,
That, though I am not likely much to gain
Or loose thereby, whether it shine or Rain,
I, (as I am a man) well pleas'd could be
Thy Peoples votes, might be vouchsaf'd by thee.
To that intent, I meekly do assay
To mediate; but, now I come to pray,

That Spirit whose assistance is expected,
Withdraws, as if my suite would be rejected;
So, that I know not how to speak or write,
What gain thy gratious acceptation might
Through fear, my prayers may be turn'd to sin,
Considering, what Postures we are in.

For, who, the pleading of their Cause dares own,
On whom, a righteous King doth justly frown?
They being Rebels too, in whom appears
No penitence, but onely slavish fears?
Who, conscientiously, can pray for them
Who persevere all Justice to contemn?
Who turn away their eies, when thou forth sendst
Foretokens, of what thou for sin intendst?
Who hide them too, so far forth as they may
From other men; or, (if that fails) assay
To misinterpret them, when they do see
The things nor hid, nor disapprov'd can be?
Who, can with Faith, thy Grace for them implore,
Who, are unmerciful unto the poor?
Who, daily to thy burning wrath add fewel?
Who, both to others, and themselves are cruel?
Who, their afflicted Brethren to dispaiers
Expose? close up their ears against their prayers?
And most injuriouslys with those men deal?
Who, most endeavour, to advance their weal;
Yea, for whose sakes it is, that they are not
Destroy'd like Sodom, when thou caldst forth Lot?
Who, are so far, from striving to be better,
That still, to hide one sin, they act a greater,
Till they on one another heap so many
That they have little shame, or sense any;
Although their impudent abhominations
Have their Infection spread, through all these Nations?

LORD! who, on their behalf, can mediate
For any of those Blessingss which relate
Unto their temporary weal alone,
Who, of their Brethrens welfare, care have none?
Who, do employ their powre, but to oppress?
Turn all thy Graces into wantonness?
Fling, as it were defiance against heaven?
And, though by thee, they freely were forgiven
Innumerable debts, (and likewise are
By thee inrich'd more then before they were)
Take ne're the less, their fellows by the throat,
VVho owing them not much more then a Groat,
Forbearance crave, and at their feet do fall,
With, promise, when they can, to pay them all?
VVhat can such look for; but to be bereaven
Of that Grace, whereby they were once forgiven
Their debts; or think deserv'd, but, to be laid
In chains, till ev'ry farthing shall be paid?

VVho, can to thee be Advocate for those
VVho, both to Truth and Righteousness, are foes,
Though they profess both? who, though ever learning,
Can never get the knowledg & discerning
Of what pertains to th'essential Truth,
Because, they being all EAR, or all MOUTH,
Neither hear willingly, or speak of ought
VVhereby they may to stedfastness be brought?
But rather itch to hear, and speak, and do
That, which their own self-will doth prompt them to:
And, was infus'd into them by false teachers,
Whom they suppose to be the soundest Preachers,
VVhen they confirm them, in what doth belong
To their will-worship, be it right or wrong;
And keep up those Diana's, which were made
Their Goddesses, but to uphold their Trade?

These, twixt Beleevers, do contests maintain
For Trifles, which tend more to their own Gain
Then Godliness, or those means to increase
Which may conduce to setlement of peace,
In Christian Charity, and Righteousness.

All, I (with hope to speed) can pray for such
Is, that they may not love the world too much;
Or, by hypocrisie, and lip professions,
(To get themselves a share in her possessions)
Obstruct the blessed work of Reformation
By Factions, to the final extirpation
Of all those Dispensations, which have yet
Some use; and which, whilst thou dost them permit,
They to advance thy Glory may improve:
And, by sincerely seeking Truth in Love,
So exercise thy Graces, whilst those last,
That, they will perfect be, when their times past.
My GOD, for these, to this effect I may
And, do (I know) with thy allowance pray;
Because, I hope, tis no malitious pride
Which hath to Selfness, drawn their hearts aside.

But, as for them, who have inclinde their ears
So long time, to ungodly Counsellers,
So persevered, in the sinners way,
And, therein with delight, so long made stay
That, to the Scorners Chair advanc'd they are,
Resolving with themselves to settle there;
The Dictates of thy holy ghost contemn,
Absolve the wicked, Innocents condemn,
Term evil, good, the best things evil call,
(Or, make twixt them no difference at all)
Ascribe thy Attributes unto the Devil
And his Vicegerent; make thee, of all evil

Prime Author; Thee detrude out of thy Throne
To set their Idol, and themselves thereon;
Pervert the lawful use of ev'ry Creature,
Till their depraving the whole humane nature
For Vengeance calls, and as it were, inforces
Thy Justice to turn Blessings into Curses;
What can be spoke for these, to save them from
Thy Judgments here, or in the world to come?
I cannot, LORD, thy mercy comprehend,
Nor know how far their malice doth extend,
Such things, are knowable to thee alone;
Therefore, concerning these, thy will be done.

The best of us have gone astray so far,
In Provocations, that, perhaps here are
Now, very many in the state of those
For whom, we are forbid to interpose
Our mediations betwixt them and Thee,
As touching Judgments, that now threanned be:
Such, ev'n among thy People heretofore,
Made thee forbid a Prophet to implore
Withholding of those Plagues, which at that time,
Were threatned to be hurled down on them.
Yea then, though thy choice worthies should have pleaded.
That, thy Decree might have been superseaded,
Thou didst resolve, their suite should not be heard
For any, save themselves, with good regard.
When sins grow ripe, and Scandalous become,
They seldom scape a temporary doome,
Though thou vouchsafest mercy, as to David
Whereby, the Souls that sinned, shall be saved.
LORD, though that growth, our Guilt attaineth hath,
Alway remember mercy, in thy wrath.

Some such like Barr, and prohibition now,
From thee is issued forth, for ought I know.
Alas! if so; what possibly can we
Endeavour, till it shall reversed be?
Or else dispens'd with? I can never pray
With confidence, for what suspect I may
Is not precarious: And, as qualifi'd
We are, things grantable may be deni'd,
At least, so long time, as that shall be wanting
Which makes the chief condition of their granting.
Tis not a slavish terror (without Love
And faithful Penitence) that will remove
The Plagues that lie upon us; or prevent
A Threatned Judgment, when 'tis imminent.
Tis not wil worshippings, though much applauded,
By their approvers, and by them begawded
With Superstitious Dressings, that can please
Thy Majesty, and thy just wrath appease:
Tis not our formal whinings, or Orations,
Or, our Confessions, or our Deprecations,
Or, Bablings with the Tongue, without a heart
That, will thy threatned Judgments quite divert,
Till thou hast done thy work which is in hand,
Or, till we more conform to thy command;
Whereto, perhaps, that, which we fear, may more
Conduce, then that, which we to scape implore.
For, few do conscience of their duties make
Much longer, then the Rod is on their back.
Yet, somewhat, makes me hopeful, that thou hast
Against what I would ask, no sentence past;
And, fain would I obtain from thee, this day,
A Publick Blessing, e're I go away,
Which might in some degree, abate the dread
Whereby, now, many are distempered.

To thee, thy Children for a Blessing cry
Upon those Fruits, which drench'd in waters lie;
And (though unworthy) Jacob like, I am
Resolv'd with thee, to wrestle for the same.
Let, not my LORD, be wrath, that I go on
To prosecute the suite I have begun;
For, I with filial fear approach thy Throne.

Direct us, how in this, and such like cases,
We may make acceptable our Addresses,
Lest, we grow overwhelmed with dispairs,
Or, come with over peremptory Prayers:
For, somewhat thou, at all times, hast to grant
To comfort those, who consolation want,
When they are sensible of their condition,
And come before thee with unfaind contrition.
Yea, though, when we are outwardly distrest,
We may not absolutely make request
For what seems needful; yet, when we resigne
In all our sutes, our own will unto thine,
Our wants (if in particular deni'd)
Are with a Fatherlike respect suppli'd
Some other way, by mercifully granting
A better thing, then that, which we thought wanting.
For, thou, till he himself shall bar the door,
Excludest no mans prayre, who doth implore
In Faith and Charity, that, which may tend
To give him, a well-being without end.
Of this, experiment I oft have had,
And, me thou confident thereof hast made.
This Creed, thou hast been pleas'd to teach me, LORD,
Both by thy holy spirit, and thy word,
Confirming my experience day by day,
That, I to other men declare it may,

As I in duty, am oblig'd to do,
When thou my heart inclinest thereunto.
And, by thy favour, now proceed I can
In that, which, when these musings I began,
I neither able was to prosecute,
As I intended; or commence my sute,
In terms, which I could think fit to present
To thee; or, to my self, could give content.
But, now the Bars remov'd and I can make
A shift to Stammer, what I could not speak.
By thy Assistance likewise, I believe
That, what I now shall pray for, thou wilt give;
Ev'n ev'ry thing (implicitly at least)
Which shall in this my Prayer be exprest:
I, therefore, in thy sight, now spread abrode
My private meditations, in this mode;
And hope, it shall be spread, where many may
Add their Amen to that, for which I pray:
And, that their joyning in this my Oblation,
Will gain us all shares in thy acceptation.
Oh! I should then sing, with a Joyful heart
LORD, let thy servant, now, in peace depart.

That Everlasting Gospel make more known,
By which, thy Love eternal is forth shown
To all mankind; and which, a glorious throng
Of Angels, publish'd in a Joyful song,
(Unto the glory of thy blessed Name)
When first thy Son aray'd with flesh became;
That, all the world may know, the same Goodwill
Which thereby was exprest, continues still:
And, that, Desire to know both Good and Evil,
Proceeded from our Selves, and from the Devil,
But, not from thee, who, didst intend Salvation
To Adam, and to all his Generation;

Not reprobating any of his Race
Save such as wilfully dispis'd thy Grace,
And, justly, caused the product of that
Which, thou didst never prenecessitate.
Thy Love to all mankinde, compels me oft
(Though for it, I maligned am, and scoft)
To preach it to the world, that, men may more
Mind it with thankfulness, then heretofore.
I know this Truth is own'd, ev'n among those
VVho, unto thee are yet, apparent foes;
And, that, hath hindreth many to embrace
The Doctrine of thy Universal Grace,
Because, they are not heedful, that, unless
These held some Truths with that unrighteousness
VVhich they maintain, not many would believe
That Mistery, by which they do deceive.
But, to prevent their wiles, unclose their eies,
VVho cannot yet perceive their fallacies;
And let it be made manifest to them
VVho do not wilfully the means contemn,
VVhich, thou vouchsafed unto all men hast,
And alwaies wilt, at first, or at the last.
Let that large mercy, our hearts work upon,
More then thy Judgments hitherto have done;
To which intention, let thy Saints improve
That Influence which thy Eternal Love
Hath shed on them, to work throughout this Nation
By Love and Gentleness, a Reformation;
Which will be then more speedy, and sincere
Then that, which is compel'd, & wrought by fear.

Preserve that pretious seed, sown in this Land;
Now, many Ages past, by thine own hand;
It hath been often watred by the Blood
Of thy Elect; hath many Storms withstood,

And took such root, that, now it doth extend
By sev'ral Branches, to the worlds far end.
Permit it not to suffer diminution
Either by calms, or storms of Persecution.
Let not the lofty Cedars over-top it,
The wild-swine root it up, or tame-beast crop it;
Nor weeds or brambles (among which it grows)
Starve it, or choak it; nor the greedy Crows
Devour it; nor the swarms of Locusts, which
In smoke, ascended from th'infernal Ditch;
But, let it, when appearing most opprest,
Palm-like, most thrive, and be the more increast,
Till th'earth it fills; and till up rooted be
All plants, that were not planted there by thee.
This, I first pray for Lord, because possessing
Hereof, doth lay the ground of ev'ry blessing.

Correct thou not these Nations in thy wrath,
But, in that measure, which shews mercy hath
An intrest in thy Justice. Let them hold
The same proportion which they did of old,
In thy severest chastisements; that, neither
Both Good and Evil, be destroy'd together,
Nor, their hopes thereby vacated, by whom
There is a Kingdom look'd for, yet to come.
Five wicked Cities might have spared been,
Had twice five, Righteous men been found therein:
Yea, Thou (although in them there was but one)
Defer'dst their dreadful doom till he was gone.
LORD, I hope, here are many thousands yet,
On whom thy Seal, on whom thy Mark is set.
Who trust in thee, whose faith doth not yet fail;
Who, their own, and the Nations guilt bewaile:
For their sakes, lay aside thy wrath again;
Let thy Sun shine, and let thy Clouds drop Rain

Both on the just and unjust, as thou hast
Been pleased to vouchsafe in Ages past;
That, Spring and Summer, Seed and Harvest-times
Untill the world shall end, may in all Climes
Be from each other still distinguished,
As long ago, by thee was promised.
At this time also, to this sinful Nation,
Extend thy wonted favour & compassion,
By blowing hence those clouds, whose frequent showrs
Spoil not alone grass herbs and pleasant flowers,
But, threaten also, to destroy those crops,
Whereby the painful husband-man hath hopes
To be rewarded for his toil and cost;
Yea, let this Isle, which now despairs almost,
Of such a blessing, be secured from
That Famine, which we are afraid will come.

Both of our Earthly, and thy heavenly bread,
Preserve the means, that therewith being fed,
In soul and body, we may for the same
In flesh and spirit magnifie thy Name
Till Christ shall come. Continue in this place,
The special pledges, of thy special Grace,
Close up those Rents, which malice hath made wide;
Unite by Love, those whom self-will and Pride
Have dis-united: For, thy Love was that
Which made thee at the first, this world create;
And, 'tis the same essential Love (by thee
In thy Elect made active) which must free
The world again, from that confus'd estate
Whereto 'tis brought by Envy and by Hate.
To that end, let thy spirit, (unto whom
All Dispensations, till thy Son shall come
Committed are) the hearts of men incline
To be obedient to that Discipline,

In ev'ry Form, which they believe to be
To them injoyned by thy word and thee;
And, that accept of, which they shall profess
And practise with unbiast Consciences.
Make thy Elect to stand out all the shocks,
Of Tyranny, like never moved Rocks;
And give them prudence, to discern the wiles,
Whereby, their Antichristian foe beguiles
Unstable hearts; and please to pardon that
Wherein through frailty, they shall deviate.
Indow them withall sanctified graces
That may enable in their several places
To do thee honor: And, LORD, let the Pride
Of their Oppressors, break so, and devide
Their Power and Counsels, that, they may at length
Be ruined, by their own Wit, and Strength.

Behold, the many troubles of this Nation,
With mercy, and vouchsafe it thy salvation.
Make haste to our deliverance oh LORD,
And, succour us according to thy word.
Let them be turned backward, and with shame
Confounded, who blaspheme thy holy Name;
Who, with their own inventions do defile
Thy Ordinances, and pursue the spoil
Of those who seek thy face. Let them who cry
Aha Aha, and say insultingly,
So we would have it, when thy people are
Opprest, be caught at last, in their own snare,
That, they who love thy Truth, may to thy praise
Rejoyce in thy salvation all their dayes.

But, gracious LORD, beside that wasting Rain,
Which makes this Nation with much fear complain
And brings me now to thee; there is a Flood
Portending Inundations too, of Blood,

Ev'n blood of Innocents, for whose prevention
To be Petitioner I have intention.
A portion of thy word, concerning Cain
To me, a mystery seems to contain
Implying somewhat which relates to those
Who were, and shall unto thy Saints be foes
Throughout all Times; and doth relate, likewise,
To them, who offer thee that sacrifice
In which thou most delight'st: For, ever since
That day, Will-worshippers have took offence
At their Oblations; and proceeded on
In that, which he so long ago begun.
Cain was the first that persecuted them
Who in their worship differed from him;
And, I collect thence, that, ev'n from that hour
Thou didst subject them to the temp'ral power
Of all those persecutors, of whom, he
Became the Type, whoever they should be.
And, as I understand that Hystory,
Therein is couched the whole mystery
Of that iniquity, which now is grown
Almost full ripe, and shall be overthrown
In thy appointed time; but, not till then,
Nor by the weapons or the hands of men:
For, thou hast markt them to be saved from
Destroying, till their fatal hour is come.
And I conceive likewise by what thou hast
In that memorial to the world exprest,
Thou wilt avenge it, on all, who withstand
Their persons, with a life-destroying-hand,
Though they are murdrers; &, that, this suctjection
Tends to thy glory, and the Saints perfection;
Whereof, some of them, take so little heed,
That of precautions they may have some need.

This hath inclin'd me, conscientiously
To shun opposing them destructively
In whom there is a visiability
Of Sov'raign Power, although tyrannical;
Untill that some way, it grow doubtful shall
To whom it appertains; as, here of late,
When it was thought, thou didst that power translate
To other hands, and when he, who bereft
Them thereof, to an Anarchy, us left.
And, thou, who knowst my heart, knowst I did never
To pull down, or to set up Thrones endeaver:
But, only, to preserve the common peace,
Complide with that, which did the Throne possesse,
Till thou restor'dst him, who was driv'n hence,
And, to whom, true, I have been ever since.

Now, also, to preserve, still, as I ought,
That peace, whose preservation, I then sought;
I do implore thee, on behalf of him
Who wears this day, the Supream Diadem,
That, from those evil Counsellors, he may
Deliver'd be, who do, or shall assay,
To bring him to a wilful resolution,
Of being partner in that persecution
Which they intend: And, that, in all temptations
(And maugre all severest provocations)
Thy Saints, may be preserved from contriving
And acting, what may tend to the depriving
Them of their lives or power, who e're they be,
In whom that Power shall be confer'd by thee.
And grace vouchsafe them, alwayes to persist
In that obedience, which may manifest
That, conscientiously they may submit
To what thou hast ordain'd, or shall permit

For their probation; till the fewd and War
'Twixt Good and Evil, at a period are:
And, that, upon thy will they may attend
Untill that Good and Evil, hath an end,
Which had form us proceeding, and gives place
To that Eternal GOODNESSE, which IS, WAS
And SHALL BE, when all evil heretofore
In Being, shall a being have no more.

Meanwhile confer all means, whereby both they
And he, may walk on, in a peaceful way.
Thy Judgment to the King vouchsafe to give
That, he, and we in Righteousness may live:
That, he may to the Prisoners and the poor,
Shew mercy; to the wrong'd, their dues restore;
And be as kind and merciful to them,
Who are opprest, as thou hast been to him:
That, our high Mountains may produce thy peace,
And little Hills, the fruits of Righteousness;
For, whether high or low, all shall receive
Such measure, as to other men they give.
I know this will be done, even by the drops
Of mercy, which to keep alive my hopes,
Are in this place, to me derived from
Thy Bounty, to fore-shew, a shower will come
That shall refresh both me, and those, at full,
Who, at this time, each others case condole.

Be pleased to confirm this my belief,
Redouble still, our Courage, as our Grief
Shall be augmented: And although among
Thy Foes, our bodies perish in the throng;
By those external Judgments, which we shall
Occasion to be Epidemical,
Inflict them, rather then permit thy Name
To be exposed to reproachful shame,

By suffering wickedness with proud despight,
To violate thy Justice in thy sight;
Or, wantonize with grace, till it becomes
The saddest of all Temporary dooms:
For, common myseries less grievous are
Unto thy Saints, though they in them have share,
Then all their private sufferings, when they see
Their insolence who sleighted them and thee,
So winked at, as if thou either wouldst not,
Avenge thy self upon them, or else could not.
Thy Souldiers will be pleas'd amid thy foes
To die, e're any honor thou shouldst lose,
Since death by them, needs never to be fear'd,
Who know with what life, thou wilt them reward.
Let Dagons temple then, be overthrown
Though Sampson die, in pulling of it down:
For, all thy Souldiers, seek their glorifying
In conquering, although it be by dying.
Our General, in person, led the Van
That way, when he his glorious Conquest wan,
Bereft Death of his deadly sting, thereby,
And, over Hell, triumphed gloriously.

Preserve those, in thy Truth by Faith and Love,
Whom thou shalt please in these last times to prove
By fiery tryals: So, what e're wind blows,
Whether, it rains or shines, or hails or snows;
Whether thou shak'st the heavens or the earth,
Or both; whether, War, Pestilence, or Dearth
Shall visite this depraved Generation,
Thine, shall be free from inward pertubation,
And sing, a blessed Requiem to their soul,
When their Oppressors gnash their teeth and howl.

To that Salvation which thou dost design
For thy Elect, preserve thou, me and mine;

And, in our several passages thereto,
Whether, the way in which we are to go
Be either rough or smooth, or short or long,
Keep us content; and let our Faith be strong
Although the flesh is weak. Let our Afflictions
And, our prosperities, with benedictions
So sanctified be throughout our dayes,
That, thou mayst in our lives & deaths have praise
A large Petition (whereof now bereft)
Before thy face, long since ingrost I left,
Whereby, I thee besought to this effect,
For my Posterity; and to direct
And keep them in thy ways: LORD, though to me
The words are lost, they are not so to thee;
My spoilers, cannot hide them from thine eyes,
Nor wilt thou, my Requests therein despise.

Rememember those, by whom we have been fed,
When we were by the world depriv'd of bread.
Vouchsafe thou, for their Charitableness,
They, never want a Friend in their distress;
Or comforts, when on their sick beds they lie,
Or, Freedom, though on outward bands they die:
Mind them, when I of them forgetful grow;
Know them, though I their persons may not know;
Their Alms-deeds, which they labour to conceal,
Let thy Son, before all the world reveal;
And, what for me or mine, in these my prayers,
I have desired, grant to them and theirs.

My Foes have some way been my Benefactors,
(Though, therein, they against their wills were Actors
For, that, which to afflict me they design,
Adds more to their vexation, then to mine;
And, that, whereby, they thought me to have harmed,
Against all future mischiefs, me hath armed.

In which respect, without dissimulations,
They, are to me, an object of compassion,
And, I beseech thee, so their hearts to turn
That, for their sins, they heartily may mourn.
To operate in them a preparation,
To prosecute the means of their salvation,
Their, too much loving of themselves abate,
Which hath inclin'd them other men to hate,
And more to punish them, who reprehend,
Their sins, then those, who, against thee offend.
Bereave them of that wealth, in which they trust,
And spend, in giving fewel to their lust;
That Power exorbitant, make to be less,
Which doth but Pride, and Tyranny increase;
Lest they may make themselves the slaves of sin,
And to be Devils, who might Gods have been.
Forgive them their offences against thee,
When for them, truly penitent they be:
For, all their wrongs to me I can forgive
As I from thee forgiveness would receive.
This Charity of mine to them, is thine;
Thou, thereunto my heart dost now incline;
Then, surely, if thou hast a love for those
Who hate thee, yea whilst they continue Foes,
Thou wilt on them bestow all I can crave,
If they contemn not, that which they might have.
And, who, can then, be hopeless of thy Grace,
Who, in true faith, and love shall seek thy face?
Oh hear me, in what to their welfare tends,
For all in general, both Foes and Friends,
(To whom, Christs ransom shall not bounded be,
More by their own fault, then by thy Decree;
And, who against themselves, shut not that Gate
Which thou to all Mankind, hast open set.)

Make us true Lovers, as we ought to be,
And, we shall be beloved still of thee.
Incline us charitably to regard
The poor mans prayers, and ours shall be heard.
Make us upright, and then shall rich and poor,
More advantageous be then heretofore
Unto themselves; and they who hate each other,
Shall love, and live in amity together.
None, then, shall make a prayer, to enjoy
In private, what weal-publick, may destroy,
But, all our suits, (as in destructive Rains
Or Droughts) shall be prefer'd for what pertains
Unto the common good; and very many
Be benefitted, without harm to any.
I shall, moreover, be permitted then,
To do thee service with my Tongue and Pen,
And, thou, with other blessings, wilt send hither
What I now pray for, seasonable weather.

LORD! should these meditations be despis'd,
Or, (as some have been lately) here surpriz'd,
And smother'd; I beseech thee, let them not
By thee, be dis-regarded or forgot;
Nor that, which yet remains to be exprest,
Be stifled any longer in my brest:
For, that, hath been more torment to my mind,
Then to my Body, to be here confin'd.
But, each branch only grant of these Requests
As with thine own good pleasure best consists;
And, that in chief, which hath preferred been
To work in us, Repentance of all sin;
Lest else, when from one Judgment we are freed,
Another, and another still succeed,
Till e're from all our fears, thou us deliver,
We feel the sharpest arrows in thy Quiver.

Though all alone, the world hath shut me here,
And, from her self, exil'd me, as it were,
She, being part of that great Work Divine,
In which there is aswel a share of mine
As hers: (And, though no sense she seems to have
Of what I suffer in this living Grave;)
I have a Fellow-feeling of her fears,
As by these private musings it appears,
Which often, heretofore I have exprest,
On her behalf, and now, by this Request;
Which GOD (I know) for his own sake hath heard,
Although my prayer merits no regard.

The last great Rainy-day, I first begun
These Meditations; and, e're they were done,
The Clouds were blown away, the Sun appear'd,
The face of heaven was from thick vapours clear'd,
And, he, who lately mustred them together,
Continues, yet, a seasonable weather
That will renew the hopes (if it holds on)
Which this year promised, when it begun.
For, (to the blessed name of GOD be praise)
The earth begins her face again to raise,
Out of her watry bed, chear'd by those Rayes
Whose absence, made her many weeks of days
Sit melancholly, and aside to throw,
Those dressings, wherewith she is trimmed now.

This, doth to me, appear to be a sign
That, to compassion, GOD doth still incline,
And, will, once more, make proof what Reformation
Shall be endeavour'd after this probation.
Oh! in some measure, let this grace effect
That, which he justly, may from us expect,
Lest worse befall: For, GOD will not be mockt;
The doors of heaven, are not yet so fast lockt,

But, that, he suddainly may send again,
Not only such another wasting rain,
(Or in the stead thereof a scorching Drouth
And make the tongue, cleave to the parched mouth,)
But Fire and Brimstone too, if he so please;
Whereas, now, whilst his mercy doth appease
His wrath, a little hearty penitence,
Improv'd, may keep some other Plague from hence,
And, for one sin that truly is repented,
Three may removed be, or else prevented.

Meditated and composed during the Authors close Confinement in the Tower, July. 1663.

Oh! that men would praise the Lord for his goodness,
and for his wondrous works to the Children of men.

Psalm 107 8.

[_]

The whole Psalm is very pertinent to stir up to a due consideration and practise of this duty.

June 15. 1665. A PRECAUTION Relating to the time present.

Two years are past, since what precedes was writ
When here, Excessive Rains occasion'd it.
The present Drougth, now makes us as much fear,
A Dearth may probably conclude this year:
For want of timely moisture, in the spring,
Hath in the Bud, nipt many a growing thing;
And that Defect continuing to this day,
Starves herbs, and turns the standing grass to hay.
The Winter corn, as yet, prick up their ears;
But, to decay, the Summer Crop appears;
And both (if GOD prevent not) may consume
Before our usual harvest time is come.

As, when to cure, or give their Patients ease,
(Who long have suffred by a strong Disease)
A good Physitian first applies for cures
His best known helps in such distempratures,
That failing, tries another; and that done,
Doth then, through ev'ry course of Physick run,
Repeats it often too; and as Events
Occasion it, makes new Experiments:
Ev'n so, hath GOD proceeded with this Nation,
To bring us to a timely Reformation;
Yet, our habitual wickedness is such,
That, nothing works upon us very much,

Except it be the quite contrary way:
For, when we should Repent, and Fast and Pray,
We Feast and Triumph: when we should release
The Prisoner, we the Freeman do oppress.
When we the poor and needy should relieve,
The Rich we begger, and the poor we grieve.
When Princes should put mourning Garments on,
Each Vassal is arayed like a Don.
The meanest Pinnaces weare Silken Sailes,
And like the Peacock spread their gaudy Tailes.
Yea, in the steed of due humiliations,
In publick, here are publick provocations,
Still multiplied quite throughout the land,
Ev'n whilst we lie beneath GOD's heavy hand,
And manifestly see, both ev'ry blessing
Withdrawing, and Plagues ev'ry day increasing.

He therefore, justly may, if so he pleases,
Do, like Physitians, when they find Diseases
To, be incurable. They then permit,
Such Patients to take what course they think fit;
Leave them to any Emperick, who will
Pretend to that wherein he hath no skill;
Send them to Epsom, or the Tunbridge water,
Or, that at Lewsham (to which tis no matter)
Or to that Country Air, where first they drew
Their breaths, to try what thereon will ensue.
Thither, if GOD sends after them a Blessing,
Tis more then they deserve, and worth confessing:
For, tis of his meer Grace; And, this, sometimes
He doth vouchsafe ere men repent their Crimes.
Such mercies none can sound, much less express;
For they are infinitely fathomless.
And, if they work not, in a timely day,
GOD's will be done, is all, that I dare pray.

The Authors Epitaph.

Composed by himself, upon a Common fame Of his being dead and buried. It hath a short Preface prefixed, and an Epilogue added after it, for a Copartment to set it off.

The Preface.

Rumors of things that shall be, are begun
Sometimes, before they actually are done,
That, we thereby forewarned, may prepare
To entertain them, when in Act they are;
And, four times, at the least, (though yet I am
Surviving it) my death hath been by Fame
Divulged so, that some, no credit give
To those men who affirm that I yet live.

At this time also, a Report doth goe
That, I was lately dead and buried too:
Perhaps, not without being fore-design'd
That I, in prison might be hunger-pin'd:
For, having nothing left, that was mine own,
Or ought allow'd, save what should be bestown,
By their compassion, who have me preserved
From being in my close Confinement starved,
I might have dy'd indeed, through want of bread,
Had all my Friends believed me to be dead.

It may have likewise, an Ill Consequent,
If, I shall be releast; which, to prevent
I have compos'd this following Epitaph,
Thus Prefaced, with this short Paragraph,
And, sent it to my Friends, that, they may know
I live, and live in hope, that what I owe
To them, repaid (in life or death) shall be,
By GOD, although, not probably by me.
That, also, what this Epitaph expresseth
May mind me of my duty, till life ceaseth;
And, be by others, with some profit read,
Both whilst, that I am living, and when dead.

The Epitaph.

By way of Epitaph, thus sed
George Whither, when Fame voic'd him dead.

If, I did scape the dooms of those,
Whose heads and limbs, fed Rats and Crows,
(And, was not thrown into the fire
Or water, when breath did exspire)
Then, here, (or somewhere else) my Bones,
Lie raked up, with Earth and Stones.

Their burial place, you shall do well
To learn from those men who can tell,
And in what mode inter'd they were;
For, I do neither know nor care,
Or, what was either sung, or said,
By others, when I there was laid;
Nor any whit, suspitious am
That, they shall be expos'd to shame

Nor fear I troubling of their rest,
By those who living men molest,
Because, how e're the world shall please
To use them, they shall be at ease,
When that, which her despight intends
To me, shall ceaze on her own friends;
As it befel to some, of late,
If that be true, which fame doth prate.

My Life was nor too long, nor short,
Nor, without Good and Ill Report;
And, profited, as many waies
I was by Scandals, as by praise.
Great foes I had, and very many,
Friends too, a few, as kinde as any,
And, seldome felt their earthly hell,
Who love, and are not lov'd as well:
For, that, whereof they had sharp sense,
I knew, but, by intelligence.

A Wife I had, as fit for me
As any one a live could be;
Yea, as if, GOD, out of each other
Had made us, to be joyn'd together.
And, whilst she lives, what ere is sed
Of my Death, I am but half dead.

Beside the Issue of my Brain,
I had six children, whereof twain
Did live, when we divided were,
And, I, alive was buried here.
When, Portions, I had none to give
God gave them (as I, did believe
He would) a means, whereby to live:
Which is here mention'd, to this end,
That others, may on him depend.

I priz'd no Honours, bought or sold,
Nor wish'd for youth, when I was old,
But, what each Age, Place, and Degree,
Might best become, best pleased me.
I coveted nor Ease, nor Wealth
(No, not enjoyment of my health)
Ought further, then it had relation
To GODs praise; and my Souls Salvation.
When I seem'd rich, I wanted more
Then e're I did when deemed poor;
And, when in Body, most confind,
Enjoy'd most freedom in my mind.
I was not Factious or Seditious,
Though thereof, many were Suspitious,
Because, I humor'd not the times,
In Follies, and destructive crimes.

In things, that Good or Evil were,
I had abundantly my share;
And, never wish'd to change my Lot
For what another man had got,
Or, that, in any time or place,
My Birth had been, save where it was.
So wise I was not to be mad
Though much opprest; or, to be sad
When my Relations did conceive
I had exceeding Cause to grieve:
For, GOD, in season, still supplide
Those needful things the world denide,
Disposing ev'ry thing, so well
To my content, what ere befel,
That, thankful praise to him was due;
And, will be, for what shall ensue.

I sold not Honesty, to buy
A formal Garbe of Sanctity;

Nor to hate any was inclin'd
Because, they were not of my mind;
Nor fear'd to publish Truths in season,
Though termed Heresie or Treason,
But, spake, what I conceiv'd might tend
To benefit both foe and friend;
And, if in Love, they seem'd sincere,
With their Infirmities, could bear.
I practis'd what I did believe,
And pinned upon no mans sleeve,
My Faith or Conscience; for, ther's none
Judgd, by what other men have done.

My sins were great, and numerous grown;
My Righteousness, was not mine own,
Yet, more prevail'd by Grace divine,
Then if it had been wholly mine.
I loved all men, feared none
Except my self, and GOD alone;
And, when I knew him, did not make
Esteem of ought, but for his sake.
On him, in life time depended,
By Death are all my troubles ended,
And, I shall live again, ev'n here,
When my Redeemer, doth appear,
Which (by what I have seen and heard)
I know, will not be long defer'd;
Nor that Raign, here on Earth, among
His Saints, which they have look'd for long.
But, that, which we shall then behold,
May better be believ'd then told;
Because, we may presume as well
To put the Sea into a shell,
As to demonstrate, unto men,
Of flesh and blood, what will be then.

Nor oft, nor much desire had I,
Long time to live, or soon to die;
But, did the work I had to do,
As I enabled was thereto;
Then, whether lt seem'd Good or Ill,
Left that, and all things, to Gods will;
And, when this mind is not in me,
That, I am dead, assured be.

Do Reader, what I have well done;
What I have err'd in, learn to shun;
And, when I must no more appear,
Let this, be thy Remembrancer.

The Epilogue.

This, I perceive will take up too much Room,
Within a Church, or, on a Chappel Tombe;
And, peradventure, need a larger Stone
Then my estate will buy to write it on:
Ile therefore, let it wander on betwixt
The two Poles, till it finds where to be fixt:
For, though it seems brought forth before the time,
It may, whilst it continues in this Clime,
Some way advantage me, by bringing that
Into my minde, which I might else forget,
That, Whilst I live, I might conform thereto
So far forth, as I am oblig'd to do.

Moreover, I shall know, (when this is read)
What will be said of me when I am dead;
Which, that man cannot hear, who shall not have
An Epitaph, till he is in his Grave.

Some part thereof, may likewise useful seem
To others, who my words, now disesteem:
For, through the spatious earth, I know not ought,
That is, or may be said, or done, or thought,
But, hath a tendance, if we heed it will,
Either to what is good or what is ill:
A Single haire, or fluttring of a Bird,
May providentially, sometimes afford
Hints, or precautions, to incline us, to
What we ought to Observe, beleive, or do.

This, also will be, as it were, to some
A Messenger, who from the dead is come,
To Preach what is agreeable to Reason,
(Although it be a Preachment out of season)
But, now, both dead and living Preachers too,
Are sleighted, whatsoe're they say or do.
And, if such Predicants found no regard,
Where Moses and the Prophets were not heard,
What, probably, from those can be expected
Who Christ and his Apostles, have neglected?
Yet, from dead Letters, and from men deceast
There comes (from what in lifetime they exprest)
A voice sometimes, to which men will incline,
A willing ear; and so, there will from mine.

A Petitionary Meditation on the behalf of F. S. The Authors much Honoured and Charitable, Friend then visited by a Languishing Sickness.

In my contemplatings, VERSE, is to me
What DAVID's Harp, to him, was wont to be;
And, (on occasions offered) unto GOD)
I, often, make Addresses, in this mode.

Lord, thou didst raise me friends, when few or none
I had, whom I could much depend upon;
And, none of those, had they not first been thine,
Could possibly have been a Friend of mine,
In such a manner, or at such a time
As when thy kindness did appear in them:
For, such Respectiveness, to men that are
In my case, is at this time, very rare.
Thereby, they worthily therefore, are grown
More precious for thy sake, then for their own;
And, me to them it binds, in Bonds more strong,
Then if their frindship, from themselves had sprung.

My GOD, to thee, for one of those by whom
Thou hast refreshed me I now am come
To offer what my poverty affords;
Which (though it be no more then hearty words)
Be pleased to accept, for those proceeds,
That were extended unto me in deeds;
And, thereunto, vouchsafe thou to impute
That vigour, which I cannot contribute;
Since, there is nothing in my best oblation,
Which of it self, can merit acceptation.

On his behalf, whom thou to me hast given,
I, here on earth, Petition thee in heaven,
(Not for our own deserts, but for his sake,
Who did for all mankind atonement make)
That (if it shall be pleasing unto thee)
His crazed health may now renewed be,
And, he continue by thy preservation,
A faithful servant to this generation,
Till he those works hath finish'd altogether,
For which thou principally sentst him hither;
And, till they who yet want him, less may miss
His passage from them, to eternal Bliss:
For, Life, and all that therewith is bestown,
He had, as well for their sakes, as his own.

Thy people thought themselves oblig'd to plead
To Christ for him, who for them, had but made
A Synagogue: Elias thou didst hear
For, her, by whom, refresh'd his bowels were:
And, thou hast promised an easie bed,
To them, by whom the hungry soul is fed;
Whereby I am incourag'd, and inclin'd,
To pray for him; who hath to me been kind,
With hope, it shall some good product beget
Both to thy glory, and his benefit.
For, thou hast to the prayers of the poor,
An ear as open, now, as heretofore,
And grantst the humble sutes of faithful men,
Aswell, as of thy greatest Prophets, then.

To thee, I dare not absolutely pray
For ought, belonging to the present day,
Save what that patern warrants, which hath taught
To whom, for what, and how to pray we ought.
When therefore LORD, my frailty shall incline
My will, to what repugnant is to thine,

(Though I should ask it) let it be deny'd,
And, wants, according to thy will supply'd.
The objects, and the subjects, of my prayers
Are positively, nor hopes fears, or dispaires,
Or paines, or pleasures; neither joy nor greif;
No nor a temporary Death or Life,
(Though they concern my self) except they fall
Within the verge of that Conditionall
With which thou bound'st them: For, enough there is
Besides that, grantable, unless amisse
We ask it. And soon'st, thou wilt that dispence,
When Faith assaults thee with most violence.
Such things as thou hast promis'd, we may crave;
Such things in their best season, we shall have,
Though they are oft deferr'd, till we know better
How, by their use, to make the blessings greater:
Such things, I dare to ask, and persevere
In asking them, untill vouchsafd they are;
And, such things, ile now beg of thee, for him
Whose cause I plead: LORD, therefore grant thou them

Confirm him in that Love, whence all things had
Their Beings, when created things were made;
And, which at last, will knit up all in one
That was created, when the world begun.
Contentment give him, with what change soere
Thou shalt be pleas'd to exercise him here.
Preserve him in the saving faith of CHRIST,
Which will secure the blessed interest
That, he to all men offers; and to none
Denieth, who, to lay fast hold thereon
Not wilfully, and finally neglects,
Thou having cur'd his natural defects.
Grant him true self-denyal: him befriend,
With constant perseverance to the end

Of all his tryals: Every sin forgive
Committed in the flesh, whilst he shall live.
Enable him, whilst he hath time and place,
To make such an improvement of thy grace
On him conferred, that, as day by day,
Sin sprouts up, it may rooted be away.
In all, whereby the world, the flesh, or Devil
May him assault, deliver him from evil,
And all distemperatures, that may begin
Either from things without him, or within.
Let these Petitions, for his Consolation
Be sanctified by CHRIST's Mediation,
And lie still spread before thee, whilst in life,
My Friend is sensible of pains and grief.
So far forth also, as that, which by me
Is pray'd for now, shall with thy will agree,
Let him with faith, in our Redeemers name
Both for himself and me, desire the same.
And (to conclude this prayer) let all those
By whom, thou hast been pleased to dispose,
Thy manyfold Love-tokens unto me,
In all, here prayed for, partakers be
At ev'ry need; till thou translatst us thither
Where, all thine, shall with thee, live still together.

Amen.