Withers Redevivus In a Small New-Years-Gift, Pro Rege et Grege: And to His Royal Highness the Prince of Orange. Wherein is a Most Strange and Wonderful Plot, lately found out and Discovered. And Recommended to all the Imposing Members of the Church of England, to be by them acted, as part of their last Lent Confession. Viz. To all Roman Catholick Priests and Jesuits of Persecuting Principles and Profession. With the Arraignment and Tryal of Innocent the XIth. Present Pope of Rome. Refused last Lent to be Licensed, by reason of the Matter therein contained. By T. P. |
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INTRODUCTIO Authoris Liber ad Lectorem.
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 | Withers Redevivus |  |
INTRODUCTIO Authoris Liber ad Lectorem.
By Liberty Great Truth will sure Prevail,Not by an English or a Roman Flail,
Let her but speak she'll make us all strike Sail,
The States of Holland, how much have they got
By this most Wise, and this true Christian Plot?
In giving Liberty as well to those
Who are Christ's Friends, as them who are his Foes.
Permitting Tares and Wheat (by them) to stand
Until the Harvest, (so did Christ command)
When other States and Kingdoms round about,
In this great Point have made so great a Rout,
(Like rageing Mad-men who have lost their Reason,
And cannot speak one wise word in due Season.
We wish some Prelates now would Understand
That so Christ's Truth may get the upper Hand)
All Impositions in God's Church are Vain,
Only State Tricks, A Roman Powder Trane,
To Blow up Truth, although Repent they may
When 'tis too Late, at the Great Judgment Day.
This won't then serve, 'twas not the Church but State
Which gave Dissenters such a broken Pate;
When they themselves (God knows) with one Consent,
Made Penal Laws in Acts of Parliament.
(To their great shame) an Everlasting Blot;
For by such Laws, both Church and State they have
Before their time, sent Thousands to their Grave.
Nay, some affirm, this Cruelty alone
Brought in those Bloudy Wars in Forty One:
Heav'n only knows, what now will be their Fate,
Who still shall trust in such a Church or State.
Our Worthy Prelates none now dares to touch,
Because Great Pillars of the Christian Church.
God still preserve them in their present Station,
Who under him are Saviours of our Nation,
Join'd with an Orange-tree have brought to pass,
To make Wise men no more to play the Ass:
The Tory Men of War are those we blame,
Which are a Blot unto the Christian Name:
These are the Men we challenge with our Pen,
All others are true Christian English Men,
They will not hurt us, these Imposers may,
And while the Sun doth shine, let us make Hay.
These are the Men we now would have to Run,
Like Mists and Fogs before the Rising Sun.
Read now our Postscript, there you may find Hope,
To see, e'er long, the Downfall of the Pope;
Truth hath arraign'd him, at the Court of Rome,
And in short time you may expect his Doom;
Who if found Guilty by his Noble Peers,
They'll Lop him shorter by his Head and Ears.
Vale.
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