 | Rogero-Mastir |  |
Thy Curtailling the Number of the Beast,
To make thy giddy Folk a jolly Feast,
Is such a Beastly Prank, as ne'er was play'd
By any, that of Truth Profession made.
What? To prophane the Text with frothy wit,
And sport at what the Holy Ghost hath writ?
He that shall dare invent such slipp'ry Tricks,
May shrink the Number of the Beast to six.
But William, nothing can more plainly show
How seard that Conscience is, from which did flow
Thy scoff, than that thou therewith dost belye
The Chief of Christian Vertues, Charity.
To make thy giddy Folk a jolly Feast,
Is such a Beastly Prank, as ne'er was play'd
By any, that of Truth Profession made.
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And sport at what the Holy Ghost hath writ?
He that shall dare invent such slipp'ry Tricks,
May shrink the Number of the Beast to six.
But William, nothing can more plainly show
How seard that Conscience is, from which did flow
Thy scoff, than that thou therewith dost belye
The Chief of Christian Vertues, Charity.
Thy Clamour against Excommunication,
Shews what thou wouldst be at; A Toleration
For Unclean Spirits in the Church to lurk,
And uncontroul'd to carry on their work
Against the Truth; that so they might effect?
The Mischief they design, and not be checkt.
Shews what thou wouldst be at; A Toleration
For Unclean Spirits in the Church to lurk,
And uncontroul'd to carry on their work
Against the Truth; that so they might effect?
The Mischief they design, and not be checkt.
That such as in their practice do Oppose
The principles of Truth, as do all those
That pay the Priest for preaching (though they may
It do, in never such a covert way)
That these, and other such (who are no less
Unfaithful to the Truth which they profess)
Might notwithstanding from Reproof be free,
Upon pretence they don't the Evil see.
The principles of Truth, as do all those
That pay the Priest for preaching (though they may
It do, in never such a covert way)
That these, and other such (who are no less
Unfaithful to the Truth which they profess)
Might notwithstanding from Reproof be free,
Upon pretence they don't the Evil see.
That such as will, when Persecution shall
Arise, may let Truth's Testimony fall;
Forsake their Meeting-Places, Skulk and hide,
And closely into Obscure Places glide;
Meet now and then, by stealth, in pit, or Gill,
And set a Lad to watch upon an Hill,
Or Hireling-like, into a Cock-loft creep,
Themselves to save, what e're befals the Sheep.
And though by such Unfaithfulness they break
The strength of Others, and make many Weak,
Though they Examples so pernicious show,
Yet should for Friends, and Preachers, blameless go.
Arise, may let Truth's Testimony fall;
Forsake their Meeting-Places, Skulk and hide,
And closely into Obscure Places glide;
Meet now and then, by stealth, in pit, or Gill,
And set a Lad to watch upon an Hill,
Or Hireling-like, into a Cock-loft creep,
Themselves to save, what e're befals the Sheep.
And though by such Unfaithfulness they break
The strength of Others, and make many Weak,
Though they Examples so pernicious show,
Yet should for Friends, and Preachers, blameless go.
That such as have in Truth's Profession stood,
May now, as some such did before the Flood,
In Marriages with Unbelievers link,
And yet expect, the Church, at least, should wink.
May now, as some such did before the Flood,
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And yet expect, the Church, at least, should wink.
That Zimri might his Cozbi (without fear
Of being peirced by a Phineas-Spear,)
From Midian fetch; And with her (as befell
Of old) the Plague bring upon Israel.
Of being peirced by a Phineas-Spear,)
From Midian fetch; And with her (as befell
Of old) the Plague bring upon Israel.
That by such Mixtures, They the Holy seed
Might Stain, and introduce a Mungrel Breed,
Which half the Language should of Ashdod speak;
And make God's Warth against his People reak.
Might Stain, and introduce a Mungrel Breed,
Which half the Language should of Ashdod speak;
And make God's Warth against his People reak.
That such as list might in their Discontent,
The seamless Garment of our Saviour rent;
Make Breaches in the Church, Dissention sow,
And cause Divisions amongst Friends to grow;
And that they might, although they Guilty be
Of All these Crimes, from all Reproof be free;
Nor only so: but to be own'd expect
Ev'n by that Church, whose Power they reject.
The seamless Garment of our Saviour rent;
Make Breaches in the Church, Dissention sow,
And cause Divisions amongst Friends to grow;
And that they might, although they Guilty be
Of All these Crimes, from all Reproof be free;
Nor only so: but to be own'd expect
Ev'n by that Church, whose Power they reject.
This pleases wondrous well the Libertine;
The loose Licentiats think it very fine.
And to be loose and yet retain their Station,
They baul amain at Excommunication.
The loose Licentiats think it very fine.
And to be loose and yet retain their Station,
They baul amain at Excommunication.
But (blest be God) our Saviour hath not left
His Church so void of power, nor her bereft
Thereof to be will suffer; but that shee
Hath in her self full pow'r her self to free
From such Pretenders, who unto her cling,
Only that they may Scandall on her bring,
His Church so void of power, nor her bereft
Thereof to be will suffer; but that shee
Hath in her self full pow'r her self to free
From such Pretenders, who unto her cling,
Only that they may Scandall on her bring,
Our Saviour his Disciples hath directed,
That such, as private Warnings had neglected,
Should to the Churches Censure be refer'd,
(Which plainly shews, The Church is to be heard)
And whoso Her neglects to hear, saith He,
Let him be as an Heathen Man to thee.
And that the Church did such Cut off declare
From her Communion, as unruly were,
In the Apostles days, the Texts here set.
Sufficient are a Credence to beget.
That such, as private Warnings had neglected,
Should to the Churches Censure be refer'd,
(Which plainly shews, The Church is to be heard)
And whoso Her neglects to hear, saith He,
Let him be as an Heathen Man to thee.
And that the Church did such Cut off declare
From her Communion, as unruly were,
In the Apostles days, the Texts here set.
Sufficient are a Credence to beget.
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This is a Principle that hath a place
Even in Nature too as well as Grace.
In living Bodies how doth Nature strive
The foul and penant Humours out to drive?
And reason good: for why should that remain
Which would corrupt the Health, or Beauty stain?
All Liquors that have life, by defectation,
Purge out their Dregs, and make a separation.
Even in Nature too as well as Grace.
In living Bodies how doth Nature strive
The foul and penant Humours out to drive?
And reason good: for why should that remain
Which would corrupt the Health, or Beauty stain?
All Liquors that have life, by defectation,
Purge out their Dregs, and make a separation.
And shall Christs Church alone less power have,
Than unto natural Bodies Nature gave,
That she must to Communion those receive,
Who her of Life and Honour would bereave,
No, no our Saviour hath his Church indu'd
With pow'r, from her Communion to exclude
Vnruly spirits, Evil Workers, Those
That Christian Order in Christs Church oppose.
Than unto natural Bodies Nature gave,
That she must to Communion those receive,
Who her of Life and Honour would bereave,
No, no our Saviour hath his Church indu'd
With pow'r, from her Communion to exclude
Vnruly spirits, Evil Workers, Those
That Christian Order in Christs Church oppose.
That which to other Churches is a stain,
In that they don't within due Bounds contain
Themselves; but outward penalties impose,
In Body, or Estate, or both on those
They Excommunicate: which doth not stand
With Christian Practice, or with Christ's Command.
But William, no such things can charged be
On Friends; Nay, that they from such things are free,
Thy Self hast own'd, than whom where's any more sparing,
To own a Truth, or to Asperse more daring?
In that they don't within due Bounds contain
Themselves; but outward penalties impose,
In Body, or Estate, or both on those
They Excommunicate: which doth not stand
With Christian Practice, or with Christ's Command.
But William, no such things can charged be
On Friends; Nay, that they from such things are free,
Thy Self hast own'd, than whom where's any more sparing,
To own a Truth, or to Asperse more daring?
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