University of Virginia Library

SPECULUM SPECULATIVUM:

OR, A CONDERING-GLASSE;

Composed, June XIII. DMCLX.

The Contents.

Our Modern Prophet (so did Paul,
A well known Heathen Poet call)
Doth, in the Muses Mode relate
This Nations past, and present state.
Shews us, in this Considering Glass,
What, shall hereafter come to pass,
According as, we do sulfil,
Or, cross GOD's manifested Will.
Shews by what light he doth behold
Those things that are by him foretold.
Prayes for the King, and minds him too,
In praying for him, what to do.
Some things, which to himself pertain,
He intermixeth not in vain)
Which will as much advantage them
Who sleight them not as profit him.
And by the number of the Beast,
Bounds the last year of Antichrist.
Though of my Friends, I may almost professe,
As did Elias, in another case,
I know not one (not one of those at least,
Who friendship for meer civil ends profest)
Yet here this day, may many thousands be
VVho are my real friends, unknown to mee:
Yea, peradventure many among those
VVho at this present time are thought my Foes.
To them therefore, I wishing Grace and Peace;
Do now, where ere they live, these Lines address
To fortifie their faith, and them incline
By their endeavours to help strengthen mine;
And that by our Petitions joyntly made,
VVe may get safety where it can be had;
For, whether of a low degree or high,
To trust to men is trusting to a Lye.
I am surprized with another FIT,
But what it will produce, I know not yet.
Confusedly things tumble in my breast,
And if confusedly they be exprest,
You must be pleas'd to take them as you find them,
(And, as begun, before I had design'd them)
Since when few knew what's best for them to do,
That will be done which they are forc'd unto;
And may perhaps too, have as good success
As that with which more freedome I express:
(At leastwise) when men's manners, and the times
Shall make them heed the Reason of my Rimes;
For nothing I'll insist on, but what shall
Tend to GOD's glory, and the good of all.
Of no mens Persons whosoe're they are,
Will I accept, in what I shall declare:
(Not of mine own, in any thing that may
Wrong Justice, or my Conscience any way)
Nor be so fearful, or so over-bold,
So over-hot, so luke-warm, or so cold,
That any justly shall my words despise,
That's honest, sober, generous or wise:
But plainly tell things as I finde they are,
And then concerning them, my thoughts declare;
Not limited by Method like to those
Who make expressions of their minds in prose;
But by Digressions, as the Muses do,
When sudden Raptures them incline thereto;
And in such Language as may evidence
The truth, without affected Eloquence.
Yet, nor the better, nor the worse effect,
Whether I write, or write not, I expect
As to my Self; save, as I hope to raise
Thereby a Ground-work for GOD's future praise
From things observ'd; with which work to dispense
I dare not, neither can without offence:
For GOD is much concern'd in things now done;
As also, in what may succeed thereon;
And if well known, and well weigh'd, all things were
VVhich, to mee petinent at this time are,
As with those Lepers who distressed sate
'Twixt VVAR and FAMINE, at Samaria's Gate;
So should I seem to fare: for, whether they
Continu'd in that place, or went away,
Their hazards were the same; and so are mine,
VVhether to VVORDS, or Silence, I incline.
They at the last resolved were to try
That course which they thought best; and so do I.
VVhich if no man regards, 'tis but the lot
That, I, and better men have often got.
Assist, Oh GOD! in what I seek to do;
For, when that MAZE I wistly look into
Which we are in, I am afraid almost
That I in some dark passage may be lost.
Our Follies have so wrapt us in a Gin,
Composed both of Righteousness and Sin,
Of Truth and Falshood, of Non-sense and Reason,
Of Good and Ill, of Loyalty and Treason;
And disagreeing Judgements and Affections,
Have broken us into so many Fractions;
Our heads inforcing into such cross Angles,
Whereby the Net still more and more intangles,
And fastned it with such a snarled knot,
That, to unty it, if thou help them not,
All humane pow'rs will be imploy'd in vain,
To set us at full liberty again.
But notwithstanding, here is hardly ought
That, is not wholly out of order brought;
Yet, if thou list, when likeliest means do fail,
Thou canst make things unlikely to prevail.
Thy purpose, thou as well to pass canst bring
By my Goose-quill, as by an Angels Wing:
And, though on all sides all have so misdone
That, I am like to give content to none;
If I may do thy Will, I shall not care
What else, ensues, or who displeased are.
Mens Failings, and their Duties being shown,
Thy Justice and thy Mercies will bee known.
And hoping, to that end, thou guid'st my Pen,
I'll without fear, make my Addresse to men.
For, doubtless, I may boldly do mine Errant
To Kings and Nations, when I have thy warrant.
Full eighteen years and one month, very neer
Since we began to ring the Changes here
Are past away; and since by often turning
We, have been broyling, to escape a burning:
But, what are we the better, now, unlesse,
We shall discover what things were amisse;
And when we finde them, seriously intend
Our courses, for the future, to amend?
For, how can they have ease, who bear about them,
And in them, what theyseek to cure without them?
Or, to obtain it shall be still so mad,
As to expect it, where none can be had?
Or, how can possibly that Body be
From great Distempers, or Destruction free,
Whose Head and Members are from one another
Divided? or so cruel to each other
As not to let each part, enjoy that dole
Which Nature gave them to preserve the WHOLE?
Our King's return'd: but we, to him from whom
Our perfect Peace, and saving-health must come,
Are not as yet return'd; and whilst we are
As we now be, things will be as they were.
We shall be cheated, if we do suppose
Wasps will turn Bees, or Doves proceed from Crows,
Till GOD himself, whose proper work it is,
Shall bring to passe that Metamorphosis,
Which hath been long expected by this Nation,
And, will require a longer expectation;
Ev'n till we more indeavour it, from him
VVho may to us, as to Jerusalem,
Cry out, How often have I sought your good,
And as a Hen that's careful of her brood,
Would fain have brooded you? but, you would not!
His Mercies we have sleighted, or forgot:
This negligence, (or, I might rather say
This wilfulness) hath made us at this day
So wretched, that no hope doth now remain
But that which quickly may be lost again:
For, we do finde, whatever is pretended,
That, like Sowre Ale in Summer we are mended;
And, that as since we innovated first,
At ev'ry Change, the last prov'd alwaies worst.
(Whether things were presented to our sight
In Habits old or new, in black or white)
So still, 'tis like to be, till we adhere
To Righteous Actings, with hearts more sincere,
By what vow, promise, or fair show soever,
The Politician works on his Beleever:
Yea, though the King should do the best he can,
And act beyond the sphear of mortal man:
For, here Herculean labours finde he shall,
And, that he's come now to th'Æugæan-stall,
Which must be cleansed (as the Poets say
That was) by turning Streams another way.
I, round about mee, hear a sound of Peace;
But I (as yet) discover nothing lesse;
Although, I do not see as heretofore
Swords drawn; or hear so oft, the Canons roar.
That, which some dream we have, I cannot find;
Either, I see too much, or they are blinde.
I see it possible; and with clos'd eyes
See also, how it may be otherwise,
Unless both Prince and People joyn as One
In doing that, which is yet left undone.
We have a King (God prosper him:) but hark!
He, hath a people too will finde him work.
He may perceive before this year wheels round,
That, with a wreath of thorns, they him have crown'd;
And, that among their Sweet-meats, taste he shall
A little Honey mixed with much Gall.
What can the Masters Art, at Helm prevail
To save the Ship, that spreadeth every sail
Amongst Rocks in a storm, from being sunk,
VVhen all his Mariners are sick or drunk?
VVhat can the wisest Single person do,
Although King Solomon and David too
VVere of his Council? Joshua General,
Sampson his Champion, and his Life-guard all
Like David's Worthies, till men understand
Their own estate, heed, what GOD hath in hand;
What, he expects, and better can discover
VVhat Grace is offer'd, and what Plagues hang over?
Or, what can any Nations do, whose Kings
And Governours are heedless of such things?
These Duties, few of us regarded have,
But multipli'd our Feasts; made our selves brave;
Neglect, as others did, our day of Trial,
And sing unto the Lute, the Harp, or Viol,
Ev'n whilst our Brethren sharply punish'd are
For sins whereof their Judges are not clear:
For I, nor You, nor any one of them,
VVho with severity, their faults condemn,
Could be excus'd, if GOD should be severe
In questioning what hath been acted here.
As therefore, GOD shall bring them to my mind
To treat of those things I am now inclin'd,
VVhereby, Dooms threatened may be turned from
These Realms, or born with meekness when they come.
But, I will first inform you, by what light
I see those things, whereof I have a sight,
In hope it will be better, then be known
If Truth I write, or Fancies of mine own.
Immodestly we must not pry into
GOD's secrets: yet, what hee intends to do,
He, not alone doth by his Word reveal
With what to Sins, to Duties, VVo, or VVeal,
Relates: but Medium's also hath bestown
VVhereby, some future things may be fore-known;
And, hee expects, that we with industry
Should to the search of them our selves apply
According to that means: because, each thing
VVhich Disquisition may to knowledge bring,
VVill either hurt or profit, less or more,
As (for the most part) it hath been before
Sought, shun'd, hop'd, fear'd, and well consider'd on.
And that makes mee oft-times to muse upon
Things that may be, as well as those that are;
And, things past, with things present to compare,
That I may know, as much as Reason can,
VVith help of Grace, my duties as a man.
And, though it be of many disregarded,
GOD hath my pains, in that kind, oft rewarded
VVith such Discoveries that (if timely heeded)
They might have Plagues prevented, that succeeded.
VVhereof, lest you still doubt; here I will show
By what means I some future things fore-know,
That, you may prove, if those which I declare
Either Phanatick, or Impostures are.
My Muse acts by a Glass of Speculation,
VVhereto applying, what my Observation
Laies hold on, I do otherwhile fore-see
Some things, which either may, or may not be,
As that shall be omitted or fulfill'd
VVhich is by GOD, conditionally will'd.
Enthusiasms, I know, most men contemn;
No further therefore, I pretend to them
Than POETS may; though in all Generations
GOD may, and doth vouchsafe both Revelations
And Visions too (for ought yet known to mee)
VVhich may to us Premonitory be:
Since, frequently, prenotions I have had
(By some Impressions on my spirit made)
Of what ensu'd, which I could not have known
By any Light, or Virtue of mine own.
If therefore, you shall be inclin'd unto
My way of Divination, then, thus do:
VVithdraw your selves to some place all alone,
VVhere you shall interrupted be of none:
(The VVoods, your Closet, or the fragrant Field,
Conveniences for such a purpose yeeld)
VVhen you are there, place GOD before your eyes,
And, minding he your deeds and thoughts espies.
Cast backward, so far from you every thing
(As possibly) which an offence may bring
To such a Majesty; chiefly those ends
VVhose prosecution, neither truly tends
Unto GOD's honour or to edifie
Your selves or others; but, to vanity;
To satiate your Avarice or Pride,
Or such like Lusts. Thus, having sanctifi'd
Your Persons, place upon the right-hand side
GOD's Oracles, by which all things are tri'd.
You shall in them, exprest at large, behold
All Acts and Sufferings, whieh in times of old
Concern'd Him, or his People, with all those
To them relating, who were Friends or Foes,
So far forth, as to you their cognizance
Pertains, and as your VVeal it may advance.
These, by GOD's Providence transmitted were
To future ages, to be every where,
(Ev'n to the very utmost end of Time)
That VRIM and that THUMMIM unto them,
VVhereto they might repair, when they of ought
That needed Resolution, stood in doubt.
Therein, you all Occurrences may finde,
VVhich necessarily, in any kind,
Shall unto Faith or Manners appertain,
So long as in this world men do remain.
There are exemplifide, all humane failings,
All Changes, Hopes, Fears, Losings, and Prevailings,
Of Enemies or Friends: Things Good and Evil;
The Practices and Projects of the Devil;
Things Metaphysical, products of Nature
And Grace, with what concerneth ev'ry creature;
All Promises and Threatnings, which belong
To Faith or Unbeleef, to Right or VVrong,
VVith all things else that pertinent may be
To ev'ry Faculty, and each Degree,
VVhen with this GLASSE, you are acquainted grown
So that your Self, may to your self be known;
(For, it will shew more plainly than your face
You ever, yet beheld in any Glasse
VVhat's in your heart; and also let you see
What things are wanting, which there ought to be)
And, when by practice you enabled are
To know to what heads, those things to refer
Of which you would enquire, place opposite,
What you have by your hearing, or by sight
Discovered, to that Subject pertinent,
Concerning which, you seek to know th'event,
Or good or ill condition of the same,
And what you may conjecture without blame.
Then, well consider all the Circumstances
That qualifie, and all Appurtenances
That aggravate, to make men capable
Of Mercies, or to Judgements liable;
As likewise, all Essentials to that thing
Whose Nature, Merit, or demeriting
You seek to understand; or else what Meed
Or punishment is for the same decreed
According to the Rules, and Judged Cases,
Recorded in that Map of common places.
This being done, be confident (if you
have not for Truths received things untrue)
By paralleling Objects which you see,
Upon your left hand plac'd, with such as be
Upon the right, it will to you appear
Whether or not approveable they are;
And, what on Humane Actions, will ensue
Whereof you had an undeceived view;
Except an intervening change takes place
By secret sins, or unseen Acts of Grace.
Nay, otherwhile, it pleaseth Providence
To hint things not deducible from thence,
Concerning both the manner and the time
Of future Consequences, unto them
Who seek not out of Vanity or Pride
For hidden things; and they are verifi'd
Accordingly, when by what's fore-discerned
The welfare of GOD's people is concerned.
This, meerly, is a work of Contemplation,
Not practical without much Observation;
And will as harshly sound in most men's ears,
As Love-songs, to an aged Usurer's;
And, teachable it is not, save to those
Whom GOD shall by his Spirit pre-dispose
For such a search: but, 'tis attained then
Assoon by mean wits, as by wisest men;
And, better answers what their Queries are,
Than if the Influence of ev'ry Star,
With all their Constellations they could know,
And, more confirm'd thereby their Faith will grow.
Now, what of our Affairs, I pre-conjecture
By this GLASSE, I intend to read a Lecture
As pertinently, as my shallow wit,
And those confused Objects will permit
VVhich press as hard within me to come
As those Oppressions hemming me about
Strive to break in upon me: for 'twixt these
My soul and body lye in Little-ease.
Oh GOD, thine aid I once again implore,
That my Design make not our breaches more,
Nor quite compleat my ruine now begun;
At least till I thy work have wholly done:
For, I am of no Faction, but profess
To King and Country with true heartiness,
Both Loyalty and Love, with an intent
Dustruction and Disunion to prevent,
By offering to mens due considerations,
Some Objects of my private Observations
With those Products, which may arise from thence;
And which may likewise have an influence
On other things, that will relation have
To Thee and thine, whose interests to save
I so obliged am, that I would neither
Should be dishonour'd, or wrong done to either:
And, LORD, as this, my chief design to be,
Thou knowest, so vouchsafe to prosper me.
Betwixt Mount Gebal and Mount Gerazim,
At this day, to be placed, we do seem;
And, 'tis yet in suspence, whether or not
A Blessing or a Curse will be our lot:
The first I hope for, and the last I fear,
Considering how still qualifide we are:
And what a little change in us is made
By all the changes we have lately had.
If raging singly, Avarice, Ambition,
Self will, Prophaneness, Envy, Superstition,
Hypocrisie and Malice we have found
Scarce tolerable; what when they abound,
And are united, can be here expected,
(Or, may be rationally then effected)
But multiplied Injuries and Scorn,
Not easily expressed, much less born?
If here shall be with wicked Canaanites,
A mixture of as wicked Israelites,
Whose sins will be as many (if not more)
And greater, than they have been heretofore,
How can our expectations be much better,
Than either former punishments, or greater?
So bad, so mad, our prosecutions be,
(By all that yet appeareth unto mee)
As if we wilfully resolv'd had bin
Against all spoke without us, or within,
Or whatsoe'ere to us Examples teach,
Or Conscience, by our hopes or fears doth preach.
But, if those Juglings which observed are
By mee, should unto ev'ry one appear,
All Juglers would unto contempt be brought;
They, who seem very wise, would fools be thought,
And many in themselves grow doubtful whether
They to be pitied were, or scorned rather.
As great, as many, are the wrongs, the crimes,
The cruelties and falshoods of these times,
As ever; and will such continue still,
Till Truth and Errour, and till Good and Ill,
Have plaid their Masters-prize; to which intent
Their forces universally are bent
Against each other. From false hearts proceeds
Falshood in words, and wickedness in deeds;
And whilst we talk of Righteousness and Peace,
They, who concealed their maliciousness
VVith fair deportments do anew begin
So to declare what they have alwaies bin,
As makes, in many, inlets to some fear,
That, till it endeth in a Massacre,
No Vengeance will their projects terminate,
Or set a lasting period to their hate.
A bloodless Massacre here is already
Begun among us, and it will be bloody
VVhen you perceive admittance of those Strangers,
VVho first begun our plagues, renew our dangers;
And then, they who suppos'd their persons free,
VVill with the rest, in equal perils be:
For, boundless lustings, mischiefs will beget,
VVhich lye within the womb unheeded yet,
Where Sin and Death are twins conceiv'd together
Though born a little while before each other;
And, will in very ugly shapes be found
In many places, ere this year goes round;
Portended, and attended in strange wise,
VVith Omnious Events, and Prodigies.
Wee shall see Gown-men tread on Men of VVar,
High Courts of Justice called to the Bar;
Those, of whom no man lately stood in dread,
Arraign the Living, and condemn the Dead:
Make Martyrs, Saints and Reprobates of those
VVhose good or bad condition no man knows;
And act such things as never yet were done
VVithin this Clymate since the world begun.
Yet, heed this, you, who with a sober mind
Seek peace, and are not factiously inclin'd,
(And you, whose principle is to repair
VVhat is decay'd, with no worse Tools than prayer)
VVith Chrstian patience bear the Visitation
VVhich is allotted to this Generation;
And know, that as now Nature runs the race
By her designed, so shall also Grace
Pursue her course, to purge us in these fires,
For that perfection whereto Faith aspires.
Strive by renewing of your self-denials,
To bear with constancy your fiery trials,
Which must be undergone: for they appear
In shew more painful than in proof they are;
As their experience found, who in times past
Have into Babels Fornaces been cast,
When they were seven times heated; and as wee
May peradventure find, ere long 'twill be.
Be not afraid of your own sins; for they
On your repentance will be done away:
Nor be discouraged, though your Foes at large
Shall sum them up, and lay unto your charge
False imputations also: for, with ease
Both Saints and Reprobates of whom they please
The Vulgar make: and, if prophane men shall
Be Judges betwixt David and King Saul,
The sins of David might be made appear
As many and much greater than Sauls were;
And He, upon whose side GOD sentence gave,
Amongst most men, the least esteem would have.
But, GOD observ'd his heart; purg'd what did flow
From humane frailty, as he purgeth now
VVith sharp corrections, the late crying crimes
Of Saints prevaricating in these times.
Judgement, in our days, at GOD's house begins,
Who takes such notice of our many sins,
That since we would not mend when we were chidden;
He will no longer now let them be hidden
Or go unpunish'd: but we, that each other
Provok'd to sin, shall punish one another.
Me blame not then, if I touch here and there,
Those failings on all sides which causes were
Of what we suffer: for, GOD will be known
By doing Justice; and we ought to own
Our great Transgressions, and not seek to hide
Those Crimes, for which he lays ev'n Kings aside,
As well as other men; that all may know
He giveth equal dooms to high and low.
Though, therefore, we sometimes a vail may cast
O'er faulty Rulers, whilst their pow'r doth last,
To keep them from contempt, lest their disgrace
May cause infringement of the Common Peace,
VVe must not counter-act what GOD will do,
VVhen he reproves them, and removes them too:
But, suff'ring with them by commiseration,
As being worthy of like condemnation,
Give GOD the glory, with our Pens and Breath,
For what's intended by their shame or death.
A sickness which is Epidemical
(In some degree) hath seized upon all,
And, ease we cannot have, till that hath wrought
VVhich to procure a remedy is brought.
VVhen Cures are to distempers first appli'd,
VVe must expect, more torments to abide
Than if we felt our Maladies alone,
VVithout a Medicine working thereupon.
Of our malignant humours to be eas'd,
To take some poys'nous Drugs we must be pleas'd;
For, our Physician, who doth truly know
Their and our Natures, hath prescribed so.
Diseases otherwhile need letting bloud,
Though with what is corrupt, that which is good
Seems also lost: Gangrenes require sometimes
To save the Whole, by cutting off of Limbs.
Yea, otherwhile a welfare doth redound
In common, when that suffers which is sound;
And, once when sick to death the Body lay,
'Twas cur'd by taking of the Head away.
GOD, who of evil things can make good uses,
And, by what is unwholsome, Health produces,
Vouchsafeth to make passage now and then,
To signal blessings, by the sins of men;
As when the sons of Jacob, who inslaved
Their Brother, were thereby, from Famine saved.
VVhich teacheth us, to be contented still
To let him act, both when and how he will;
To search into our own corruptions nearly,
And not to censure any too severely.
Since unto every one it may be known,
That, no mans fault, so harms as his own:
Let over-bitter Censures be suspended,
When you perceive a Brother hath offended
By rashness, or through frailty, (though in that
VVhich to our Common VVelfare doth relate)
Spare not the sin a jot, but spare the man
(Who'er) as much as possibly you can,
Till some Concomitancies or th'Event
Assures that malice was in his intent:
And, though that may appear, assume not then,
A pow'r to judge, belonging not to men:
Because, for ought you know, God might bereave him,
Of counsel, or unto himself then leave him,
For our Transgressions past; and to let in
A publick mercy, by his private sin;
Thereby to humble us, and make us know
That all our VVeal from his meer Grace doth flow;
And, that the sins of others to our peace
As helpful were, as our own Righteousness.
In former times and causes, it was so,
The Ægyptian Mid-wives, Rahab, Jael too,
Did things which in their nature sinful are,
Yet not alone by GOD made useful were
To save his people, but he also saith,
That ev'n those actions were products of Faith.
And, in these times perhaps here have been such,
Whereon, if I with modesty shall touch,
Let me be blameless; for, with good intent
VVhat GOD permits for our experiment,
I here will mention, and to make it known,
That there is nothing meerly of our own,
Or which is in us either good or evil,
By Nature or suggestions of the Devil,
That stops or furthers ought which GOD will do,
Though our concurrence he requires thereto
So far, as with his Will he us acquaints,
Or, bounds, by unresistable restraints:
For, when we are enjoyn'd to that or this,
It is for our advantage, not for his,
Of us requir'd; yea though we bounded be
By Precepts, Rules or Laws, so is not he.
As he himself shall please he can effect
His Ends, whatere we do, or shall neglect;
And, when against us any Foe prevails,
It is because we, not because he fails.
In all our late contests, 'tis hard to say,
Wether our Vice or Vertues made best way
To that Design, whereby to pass were brought
Those, which our best Atchievments have been thought;
Or, whether led by Folly or sound Reason
By Fraud or Force, by Faithfulness or Treason
We prospered most: and 'tis not yet agreed
By all men, who our persecutions heed,
Whether that which befell us at the first,
Or at the last, will prove the best or worst.
The Louse or Lion, Black Dogs, or the White,
Most mischievously either fawn or bite;
Which Party most needs pardon for their Sin,
Upon which side there hath most Traytors been;
Or, whether their Deserts are worst or best
VVho shall be honour'd most, or most disgrac't;
For, though we know what Causes men did own,
With what heart they did act them, 'tis unknown.
Prodigious Fruits in these times have been born;
Crabs on the Vine, and Grapes upon the Thorn;
And, Men and Causes, whether good or bad,
Of Weal and Woe, by turns, like shares have had,
To teach, that our late Changes have succeeded
For some ends, which ought better to be heeded.
By one Irregularity, we see
That, here in two months more progressions be
In order to the Temporary peace
VVhich most men are desirous to possess,
Then all our Pow'rs and Vertues, Wit and Cost
Had brought to pass, in twenty years almost;
And we according to late promisings,
See creeping Motions toward some such things
As are expected: but, they to and fro,
Forward and backward, in their motion go
So doubtfully, that 'tis as yet uncertain
What Resolutions are behind the Curtain.
As doubtful 'tis, whether more praise or blame
To them belong, who first contriv'd the same;
Whether the Consequence, or that which first
Thereto made passage, will prove best or worst;
And whether want of pre-conditioning
Will bring at length, most damage to the King
And his Old Party, or else unto those
VVho did his Entrance heretofere oppose:
For Acts unjust, are oft well carried on,
And many righteous things unjustly done:
Some things likewise there be resembling Sand,
VVhich he that graspeth with an open hand,
May therewith lode his palm: but, if he gripe
Too hard, 'twill all between his fingers slip.
Concerning that proceed, which brought to pass
The Change, which lately here effected was,
Some scruplings have been made: But, on the Fact,
Or upon them who put the same in Act,
I'll nothing peremptorily declare,
Though therein, an Obliquity there were;
Because, means fail'd me, whereby to inspect,
Ought further, than into the single Act;
That, by the Circumstances I might see
What Motives to their hearts propos'd might be;
VVhat Spirit led them, and what streights they past
To that, which was resolved on at last:
For, in such Cases, what they ought to do,
Wise men are oft to seek, and good men too.
If they who were chief Instruments in that
VVhich wrought the Change, that we have seen of late,
Sought only and unfeignedly that end,
VVhereto all Trusts and Actions ought to tend,
And were but Circumstantially to blame,
In plotting or pursuing of the same,
Their fault (if any) is a Venial Crime,
For which there may be made another time
Amends to Sufferers; that perhaps may more
Secure them, than they were secur'd before.
Their Fault was but an errour of a man,
VVhich well the King may pardon: for, I can;
Because, I know, what ere they did intend,
GOD will have glory by it, in the end;
And, all these Nations future welfare too,
If they neglect not, what is yet to do.
But, they whose Trust, these Trustees did abuse
Them, cannot peradventure so excuse;
And (I beleeve) more wise than heretofore,
VVill henceforth never trust Good Fellow more;
Nor Peasant, Peer, Priest, Prince, or Parliament,
VVith that which may produce a Detriment
To common Int'rest (till by some condition
To them secur'd, they shall secure fruition
Of such Concernments) if, once more they may
Recover that which they did fool away.
But, that's impossible, as things now stand;
And, should GOD take the pow'r out of his hand
Who grasps it now, they who shall next enjoy it,
No better peradventure would employ it
Than others did. GOD therefore, keeps us from
Another Change, until his Kingdom come,
Except a change of hearts; and at this time,
Of his probation, let his Grace, in him
Be so effectual, that he may endeavour
To settle here, a righteous throne for ever.
For, ev'ry man that lives (at first or last)
Before a Final Doom on him is past,
Hath in his life-time, once (at least) an hour
VVherein our gracious God, vouchsafes him pow'r
To ask and have; and to elect that path
VVhich leads to weal or wo, to life or death:
Yea, always at such times, GOD, who first loves,
The soul of ev'ry humane-creature proves;
And, those, who then, by giving him their heart,
(Though with much failing) do perform their part,
He will enable, and assist them still
By his preventing Grace, to do his will.
For they, as often as they go astray,
Shall either hear a VOICE within them say,
(Or else behind them;) Of that course beware;
Return, or thou art lost; thy way lies there,
Which leads to safety. Thus the Spirit preacheth,
And by means extraordinary teacheth
Where common means fail: and till men contemn
His Holy Spirit, God forsakes not them:
But, afterward, indeed, although the same
He sometimes speaks, 'tis to increase their shame,
Or others to instruct: for, then such Voices
Are so drown'd by the Whisperings and Noises
Of carnal things, that all is spoke in vain,
Which to their weal or safety may pertain.
The King by such temptations, and so many
Beleagur'd seems, as never were by any
With constancy and without foil withstood,
Save by him, who was GOD with flesh and bloud:
For, he stands now expos'd to ev'ry evil,
(Ev'n in the Front) whereby World, Flesh, or Devil,
May him assault; and with him 'twill go hard,
Unless, GOD sends him in, an Angel-guard;
Which (if it be his pleasure) that he may,
My heart unfeignedly doth often pray;
And that, at this time, he submit his will,
The mind of God, sincerely to fulfil:
For, I beleeve, that as it did with Saul,
(On his probation-day, long since befall)
These Kingdoms will establish'd be to him,
As he with GOD complyeth at this time.
Fair Opportunities this present day
Are offer'd, which if he let slip away,
We have but hitherto a course begun,
Whereby we may at last be more undone:
And though he should become ten times as strong
In things which to a carnal strength belong,
It will to settle him prevayl no more
Than such pow'rs have prevailed heretofore:
Nor will it, when most mighty he appears
To others, from his own heart, keep out fears
Of things not to be feared; but at length
Make him, perhaps, afraid of his own strength:
And that which by a Trifle hath been lost,
VVill be recover'd with as little cost
As when 'twas won, assoon as their despight,
Their sins and insolencies are at height,
VVho shall by petulant exasperations,
(Beyond the common patience of these Nations)
Abuse his Grace, and turn their late success
Into oppression, pride, and wantonness.
This, seems by some endeavour'd (having ends
Repugnant untowhat the King intends)
Who do proceed (as if that for the nonce)
To make all Suff'rers desperate at once,
By gelding and delaying of the Grace,
For which the King spontaneously did pass
His Royal Word: And, this may an Event
Produce, at last, whereof some will repent
When 'tis too late; since Mastives brook it worse
To be o're-much provokt, then Fawning Curs.
All vengeance doth to GOD alone belong:
But, few remember this, when they have wrong.
An English temper doth that life disdain
VVhich is depriv'd of what should Life maintain:
And whatso'er is menaced or follows,
Some, in despight of Hang-man, Rope and Gallows,
VVill any thing attempt, to vindicate
Themselves from scorn when rob'd of their Estate:
And they have little prudence, who conceive
Bees will be quiet, when both from their Hive
And Honey they are forc'd: or, that small things
(VVhen they are many, and have many stings)
Are safely slighted; for, there hath succeeded
Much mischief where this Caution was unheeded:
And probable it seems, that if the King
Defers what's hop'd for, now, but till next Spring,
Destroying many thousand Families
By vacating their just Securities,
(For what was bought or lent, to save these Lands
From desolation, when into their hands
The Supreme pow'r did slip by GOD's permission,
VVho then had cast him out of his possessions)
It will not be the next way to that peace
VVhich many yet are hopeful to possess;
Or have a consequent, to answer that
Great Mercy, which GOD hath vouchsaf'd of late.
If, for performing that which both Divine,
And Humane Laws did warrant and enjoyn,
(To wit, obedience to those Pow'rs that were
In being) he from Innocents doth tear
Their Livelihoods; and their posterity
Exposeth unto scorn and beggery,
For having done their duties unto them
VVhom GOD advanced by debasing him,
(And when he so unable was to give them
Protection, or from their hand to reprieve them,
That at the same time, he himself was glad
To seek a Refuge where it might be had)
It will not seem to be an Act of Grace,
That corresponds with what expected was
Before Monck gave us up into his power;
And made our Trustees much more his, than our.
If he shall lay an over-heavy weight
On those, whom he had left in such a streight,
VVithout their fault (except a fault it were
To lose, what they to keep unable were)
Or, if he shall, as other men have done,
Lose those Advantages that he hath won
By Angling for a Frog till from his Net
The Fishes now inclosed forth shall get;
Young Counsellors may prove to him as bad
As those which foolish Rehoboam had.
But, this is more than probable (altho
The Priests and Prophets dare not tell him so,
VVho now most fawn upon him) that, even all
GOD's Condescentions are conditional;
And, that now or hereafter, their success
VVill to his weal or woe add more or less,
Accordingly as he, and as these Nations
Improve at this day, His and their Probations.
VVhich Truth most men beleeve not, or forget;
And, that makes mee so often mention it.
GOD gave unto his people, on conditions,
The Land of Promise, to be their possessions;
And, for their not performing of the same,
They Vagabonds throughout the world became.
Upon conditions also, Solomon
Had promise of an everlasting Throne:
VVhich he neglecting, ere the third descent,
Ten parts of twelve were from his Kingdome rent.
Yea, wicked Jeroboam might have had
A settlement on him for ever made,
Upon the like conditions: and, so may
This King; but never any other way.
If he comes hither with the self-same heart,
VVith which, he did, in likelihood depart;
New cover'd over with a fairer skin,
And fully fraughted with Revenge within:
If he shall make his Royal Word a snare,
If he by hopes delayed nourish fear
In stead of love; by mental Reservations,
(Or by deceiveable Equivocations)
His promise vacates; or, if what he swore
In presence of his Sov'raign heretofore;
Or, if he shall confine to other brests
These Acts of Grace, which to his Interests
Will most advantage give, when it is known
The pardons which he granteth are his own:
If he refers his Justice to their Zeal
Who may prefer their Ends before his Weal,
Until it shall unhappily destroy
That new-sprung hope which many yet enjoy;
And by converting it into despair,
Blasts that in Autumn, whereof blowings fair
Appear this Spring; we may thereby perchance,
Ere many Springs compelled be to dance
Another Matachin. If, GOD so please,
I wish and pray it may be otherwise;
And that this might be weigh'd: for, on this BALL
None are so firmly fixt, but they may fall
If Righteousness and Truth support them not,
What other prop soever they have got.
We have a sight of this days joy and sorrow,
But no man knows what will befall to morrow:
And should GOD be as rigorous as men,
That which is done, would be undone agen.
I do beleeve, that (not excepting any)
All men of great Offences, and of many
Are guilty. And, I do suppose the King
Hath not been free from blame in every thing.
To him there may, either by men, or heaven,
Be somewhat on the scores, to be forgiven
As well as to the People: secret crimes
May be in former, or in latter times
Committed, wherein either he misdid,
Or his Progenitors, which yet are hid,
And must be expiated, ere that Rest
Whereat we aym, will fully be possest;
And have an Expiation by meer Grace,
Or by that pennance through which others pass.
In order whereunto, GOD now perchance
Him, to his Fathers Throne doth re-advance;
Either a new progression to begin,
Or else to fill the measure of their sin;
And punish us, till ripen'd, he, or we,
Or both, for Grace, or for Destruction be.
If penitence allay not that fierce wrath,
Whereto our wickedness provok'd him hath,
There will impartial search be made, by GOD,
As well for common, as for Royal bloud;
Yea, search on both sides, both for bloud and treason,
When equal Retributions are in season:
And, as much guiltiness if he shall then
In Kings discover, as in common men,
Their Judges vindicate from guilt he shall,
Though them we murtherers and traytors call;
And, their bloud, if it guiltlesly be shed,
Will cry as loud to GOD as Abels did.
What will it profit then, if there be none
To question them on earth: for ought misdone,
When they shall know, and truly understand,
On what sad terms, they fall into GOD's hand;
Who shall the more offend, because they were
More by him priviledg'd than others are?
GOD will not then be mockt, whatever they
Shall dream, who put the thought thereof away;
Or whatso'er a Prophet in Lawn Sleeves
Of Kings and their Immunities believes:
And though their Nobles also flatter them,
As Judahs did King Joash, in his time.
Hereof I would be his Remembrancer,
If in the place of some of those I were
VVho ought to do it: yea, as now I am,
I had adventur'd to perform the same,
But that I lately have conceiv'd a thought,
These Lines will timely to his view be brought,
By such a hand, as from it with respect
It may be taken, and have good effect.
And, if these Cautions he shall not contemn,
(Expressed in true Loyalty to him)
I may have hope, that Justice to obtain
VVhich I have elsewhere sought long time in vain;
And finde it to be made a real sign
Of his, and publick peace, as well as mine.
For, all I shall expect will be no more
But, that, he make me neither rich nor poor;
And mee within that Grace would comprehend,
VVhich he to some of those doth yet extend,
VVho both by their Examples and Command
First drew mee with his Opposites to stand;
And who, if I mis-acted, did thereby
Contract ten times a greater guilt than I.
But, so the publick peace advanc'd may be
Hereby, let what GOD will befall to mee.
To make their merits and demerits even,
They should love much, to whom much is forgiven:
Yet, some to whom he hath forgiven least,
May love as well as they who love him best;
And, better too perhaps, when they behold
Hee executes that Jnstice which he should;
With constancy pursuing, what, more tends
To publick Welfare, than to serve his ends.
How these things may concern him, he best knows
Next GOD, who will (I hope) his heart dispose
To chuse the way proposed at this time,
And to pursue the same, enable him.
Because, unless at this time, that probation
For which GOD hath vouchsaf'd his Restoration,
Produceth what with those ends may accord,
For which he was by Providence restor'd,
He'll turn the Wheel, which hath so oft gone round,
Till men according to his heart be found
To rule his People; to direct his Sheep;
To act his Will, and their own Vows to keep.
Herein hath been much failing: and, I fear,
Ev'n for that Covenants breach, which many jeer,
And impudently sleight, GOD from this Land
Will not remove his now correcting hand,
Till a true repentance he shall bring
For that sin, People, Parliament and King.
A Judgement at this present is begun,
Which will extend to all ere it be done;
Ev'n unto those who execute his doom
On them, on whom it has already come;
(Yea, signally, in some respect or other,
To persons or estates, to friend or brother)
If they whom it concerns do not amend
What is misdone; wave, what they mis-intend;
And hearken to GOD's Voice in this their day
Of Tryal; and as (if they will) they may:
For GOD though much provokt, still giveth space
Twixt ev'ry Judgement, for preventing-grace:
And now, to be a Cautional to him,
(As his Corrections lately were to them
Who reigned last) this King, shal see them scourg'd
VVho scourged him, until their sins be purg'd,
God having cast his Predecessors out,
For their, and also for our sins (no doubt)
Them, with an Iron Rod begins to strike;
To shew, that sin he hates in all alike,
And make it known that he will no man spare,
(Though one of his own Houshold he appear)
If he shall scandalously give offence
In any kind, without true penitence.
A dreadful Judgement he hath brought on those,
VVho made of Piety, the fairest shows;
And they, as traytors to their King, are now
By those pursued, whom they did pursue
As traytors to their Country; and their Laws,
Yea their own Swords, turn Foes unto their Cause:
And they who lately, nor to friend nor foe,
But for by-ends, would either Justice do,
Or Mercy show, shall find in their distress,
That others will to them be merciless.
They, who were called Saints; and may be such,
Although their fayling hath been very much;
Seem now the chief mark of GOD's indignation,
And censur'd are as sons of Reprobation;
Because, they often had fore-warned been,
(Twice were cast out of grace, and twice took in)
Are now depriv'd, a third time, of that pow'r
VVhich they abus'd to their own harm and our:
They are expos'd to such extream disgraces,
Such hazards of their goods, lands, lives and places,
And to such scorns, that, never was there more
Contempt cast upon any heretofore:
For, they, who as their Chiefs acknowledg'd them
(To their own shame) their persons did contemn;
And, far beyond all presidents, revile
Th'Authority they owned, ev'n the while
It was in being; though they did in that
Make, as it were a Close-stool of their Hat.
Of all esteem, they are now quite bereft,
And, in so sad a plight have thousands left,
Who trusted them with ev'ry thing they had,
That their own selves alone, they have not made
Thereby contemptible to Foes and Friends,
(Lost their estates, their safeties, and their ends)
And such confusions brought, that few or none
Are sure, they shall not thereby bee undone,
Or Damnified; but given cause likewise
To this, and times to come, so to despise
An English Parliament, that, if it get
No better credit than it hath, as yet,
It is in hazard to become a thing
As much abhorred, as the name of King
Was once in Rome; for their prevarications,
Their self-ends, falshoods, and dissimulations
With King and People so destructive were,
And both to Round-head and to Cavalier
(As then distinguished) that, if there be any,
Few names are left, whereof there be not many
Undone, at at least damnified, either
In credit or estate, or both together:
And, by those many thousands now undone,
That mischief, so, from man, to man, doth run,
That it infects three times as many more,
And may bring beggery to ev'ry door,
Besides, those quarrels which it may beget,
Whose sad effects lye unperceived yet.
Some, who had been most faithful to their side,
They much opprest whilst they were dignifi'd;
And, often when they did pretend a course
To cure their Grievances, they made them worse.
Then, what by such oppressed men from those
Can look't for be, whom they pursu'd as foes,
But to be kikt out of the world, or trod
Into the dirt? Except, our gracious GOD
Hath now brought home the King to be a friend
To all men who did honestly intend?
And who, though in some things they did amisse,
Sin'd not with malice, or with wilfulness?
The Kings work will be now, both to relieve
And to correct, as cause, he shall perceive,
Without respect to persons, or wrongs done,
Before a Reconcilement was begun;
Except so far forth onely, in relieving,
In recompencing, honouring, or giving,
As he's to those men, who with him ingaged
In charity, and gratitude obliged,
Without destroying any in these Nations
VVho were submissive to GOD's Dispensations;
And, who, were mov'd to that which they have done
By Conscience, or by Ignorance alone,
VVithout malicious purpose or design,
Against a known Law, Moral or Divine.
And therefore, where respect is to be had
To suff'rers, and to satisfaction made;
The best expedient to prevent debates,
And ruining of many mens estates,
VVill either be, if we had such Trustees,
VVho by this change, life nor estates do leese,
(And by confederating long together
VVith publick spoils inriched one another,
Or may be proved guilty of a Cheat,
Which formerly did friend or foe defeat
Of his estate; or, to the publick wrong
More power assum'd, than did to them belong)
To cause, that, they to whom these gave offence,
May out of their estates have recompence;
For, why should great Revenues be enjoy'd
By them, whose guilt hath guiltless men destroy'd?
Or rather, since that many among these
Were intermixt (who their miscarriages
Opposed to their power) whom none knows how
From persons guilty, to distinguish now:
Why should not for the Credit of the Nation,
(For Justice sake) and for the preservation
Of common peace, all parties help to bear
Their heavy burthens who oppressed are?
For, ev'ry man among us, more or less,
Is some way of guilty of this wickedness:
And GOD, if this course long defer wee shall,
His Vengeance will divide among us all.
Let therefore none, who in these suffering times
Shall scape the punishments due to their crimes,
Insult o'er them that suffer, or suppose
Their prosp'ring from their well-deserving flows.
Let them remember, and consider well,
That they on whom the Tower of Silo fell,
No greater sinners judged were than they
On whom it fell not; and think at this day
Some men may perish, who have been more free
From guiltiness, than most that saved be.
The King, together with his Parliament,
May pardon every kinde of punishment
For faults against themselves; or any one,
Except for what is wilfully misdone
Against our Maker: but, nor he nor they,
Can take the guilt of any sin away;
And though hee may connive at some offences,
Or be deceiv'd as to mens innocencies,
Who by their cunning have found means of late
Themselves with him to re-indintegrate:
Yet, thousands know so well what they have done,
And felt so much of what ensu'd thereon,
That, though in charity, they do forgive
Their falshood, they'l remember't whilst they live.
Let them remember too, what they have done,
Lest GOD bring Vengeance when we call for none,
Can any Peer or Commoner suppose,
Who, in the supream Council, sate with those
Who did the late unhappy war begin,
And by their Declarations drew us in,
(As men oblig'd in duty, to adhere
To them, in what they prosecuting were)
That, they are guiltless, though now blamed lesse
Than others, who the same Cause did professe?
Can they be blamelesse, who did with the first
Begin the Quarrel, and till nigh at worst
Continue it; not leaving on Record
Ought, whereby their dissent might be declar'd?
Nor sought for them, a saving, or protection,
Who might be ruined by their defection?
Doth it not greatly their crime aggravate,
That they vouchsaf'd not to capitulate,
That, Innocents, by their default abus'd,
Might to some safe condition be reduc'd?
But rather, to their own designs made way,
By leaving them, to be the Spoilers prey?
Though they forgot us, I suppose it fit
To mind them; lest themselves they may forget
When I am dead; and, therefore, I will here
Leave somewhat to be their Remembrancer.
Let them remember with consideration,
With true repentance, and with due compassion,
How many thousands (whilst they live at rest)
Are either quite destroyed, or opprest,
Either in Person, Credit, or Estate,
Whose aid they did not onely oft intreat,
But also (thereby to promote their end)
Compelled to contribute, pay and lend;
Yea, to engage their Persons in their Cause,
Under pretence of Piety and Laws,
Whom they have now made innocently poor,
And forc'd to beg, or else to suffer more;
Whilst they from all those miseries are clear,
VVhereof their failings chief occasion were:
Not onely, making that an Instrument
To ruine them, which ruine should prevent;
But also (probably) by their endeavour,
To make, and keep the people Slaves, for ever.
To write plain Truth, why should I bee afraid?
By what man may it not be justly said,
Our publick faith hath been the shamless'st Debter,
And throughout all these Realms the greatest Cheater
That ever was; and that our Parliaments
Have been beyond all former Presidents:
The worst Security (and never more
VVill be confided in, as heretofore)
If unconfirm'd they leave what hath been bought,
And, what was justly sold (as then 'twas thought?)
Or, if they make not recompence at least
To those, who by their actings are opprest?
For this is the same Nation, though the Cause
The Governour, and in some part the Laws
Are changed now; GOD, who the wrong doth see,
Is yet the same, the same will alwaies be,
And both for what is suffered, and was done,
VVill prosecute the Judgement that's begun.
By meer Cheats, many thousand Families
Destroyed are, and with complaints and cryes,
So fill mens ears, that they make all to grieve,
Save those, who sense of no Afflictions have
But of their own. The Children, do bemoan
Their Aged Parents helplesly undone;
VVho, now have nothing left of what was theirs
To recompence their pitty, but sad tears:
And, he, who thinks Life a gratuity
In such a case, loves Life much more than I.
Supposing that's a Mercy, which to mee,
A barb'rous cruelty, appears to be.
Oh God! how are thy kindnesses requited?
How in our suff'rings are our foes delighted?
How justly dost thou many now condemn,
And punish, for wrongs done to some of them?
How are the Just and Unjust, wrapt together
In one Snare, to torment and plague each other?
It is beleev'd, that many men there were
VVhen Innovations, were beginning here,
VVho, being in themselves malevolent,
(And for some private causes discontent)
Design'd and practis'd, how to bring to pass
That, which their own, and our Destruction was:
But, here were many moe, who did indeavour
To qualifie the late infectious Fever
VVhich had distemper'd us; and to retain
The Loyality that seems renew'd again:
Yet, now an Epidemical Disease
Hath brought Confusion upon some of these
As well as upon them, who sin'd perchance
Much more through wilfulnesse, then ignorance.
They, who did neither by their deeds or words,
By counsel, by their pens, or by their swords,
Begin those Innovations in the state,
VVhich have been prosecuted here of late;
No, nor so much as by a secret thought,
Contribute to those Changes which were brought
Upon these Islands, till they were effected
By other men: they, whom themselves subjected
Either but passively, to those in power,
To scape those mischiefs which might them devour;
Or, meerely actively, to help prevent
An Anarchy, and Evils imminent;
(Which is no more then God's law doth command,
VVhen he makes alterations in a Land;
And hath been also, practis'd by all Nations
In every Kingdom, through all Generations,
VVhen either by his grace, or his permission,
He brings a poople into our Condition.
Ev'n they who did no more, are made to share
VVith those, who wilfully transgressors were,
And Murtherers, and Traytors be reputed;
As if the Kingdom, which was constituted
Before these Changes had continued on,
And all which hath by God and men been done,
VVere but a Dream, of which, now they awake,
Men may at will, Interpretations make:
Or, as if Actings, in a time of War,
Were bounded, as in times of Peace they are:
VVhereas tis known, that, War doth silence all
Laws, either Civil or Municipal:
And, that, what then Necessity constrain'd,
May by the Law of Nations be maintain'd,
As justly, as those contracts which are made
In times of peace by Laws which then we had;
Though they, perhaps, who shall have pow'r to do
What they themselves please, will not have it so.
But, though we got not that, whereat we aim,
We thereto will continue still our Claim,
And plead our cause; in hope, that truth and reason
May at this present, be declar'd in season.
If prudent men collect, and weigh the matters
Which here my Muse confusedly now scatters,
(Because at once within me I retain
More Notions, then by words I can make plain)
They may by them, if put together well
And duly heeded, my true meaning spell.
They, who with no side factiously, took part,
And onely, in sincerity of heart,
Came to secure the Soveraign Magistrate,
VVhen call'd by those, who were co-ordinate,
VVith him in pow'r: they, who had no intent
To make a breach 'twixt King and Parliament,
But, faithfully did serve them both together,
To have preserved their lawful Rights to either,
And cannot be by conscience law or reason;
Delinquents any way (much less for Treason)
Against their Prince, for giving aid to those
VVhom he himself authoriz'd to be chose
For his chief Councell, and whom likewise, he
Made everlasting Senators to be,
Impowr'd to make Laws everlasting too,
Until their own Act should themselves undo:
They, who did those obey, whom to withstand,
(although made active by the Kings command)
Hath punish't been with Death; ev'n some of these
Though acting also, with good Consciences,
For this Obedience, suffer'd with the first,
And may have also Lots amongst the worst
On both sides; which to me appears, at least
Injustice, or no Mercy, at the best.
GOD may correct us thus, and justly too,
Though to our King and Countrey we have true
Continued in the Main: for, in his sight
There are demerits in the most upright,
VVhich needs the Rod; and he chastises those
Whom he befriended, by their greatest Foes;
Because, not seldome times they gave to them
VVho were his Foes, occasions to blaspheme;
His grace and his long-sufferings much abus'd
His timely Premonitions oft refuse
For, very oft, and very many wayes
They had Fore-warnings, of what in these dayes
Is brought upon them; and, as many times
As GOD forgave them, they renew'd their Crimes.
VVhen therefore they had long) without disregard,
GOD's messengers in ordinary heard;
VVhen, such as they themselves did most esteem,
And those who preacht in season unto them
Upon their solemne Fasts, or feasting-days,
They only thankt, but follow'd on their ways.
Then, (as he doth, at first, with Infidels,)
By signes prodigious, and by miracles,
He proved them: but, Pagans heretofore
Have by that means, been wrought upon much more
To warn them, and reprove them, he sent, then
A company of despicable men,
VVho, though despis'd and houted at, they are,
(And to the greatest number do appear
Phanaticks) were the messengers of God,
And such, as he found fit to send abroad
To such a People, and at such a season
As this, wherein, Rime works as much as Reason;
And manifests, 'tis such a time with us,
As when GOD's Prophets seem'd ridiculous
Unto the Jews, by acting before them
Such Signs, as made them more their words contemn.
Among such llke, he hath permitted me,
Not only their Premonitor to be,
But, likewise, to see, what I fore-exprest
Fulfill'd; and hear it, by themselves confest:
For, I took once, or oftner, ev'ry year,
Occasion to be their Remembrancer;
And, publickly declared what I knew
To be misdone, and what things would ensue
If not prevented but most did deride
My timely Cautions: Vanity and Pride,
Made ineffectual all my pains to be,
And, not a little mischievous to me.
Yet, still I persevered in declaring
What they were doing, and GOD was preparing.
Now fourteen years ago, with small regard,
My English Opobalsamum declar'd,
What would befall them; and, there, is recorded
Among such like Expressions, one, thus worded,

Opobalsamum Anglicanum, Page 20.

See Fpistolium Vagum-prosa-metricum Page 20

In the Book last mentioned, Page 24.

In these words, Page 47.

These were my words:

A homebred Lyon, of a Hair unknown
In Affrica, by being over-grown,
And dreadful to his Keepers, shall thereby
Increase the rage of smother'd Jealousie,
And loose his Tail, except betwixt his paws
He couch his head, and hides his teeth and claws,
Or else grows Rampant: what will follow then?
Ask those you credit, they are cunning men;
Of me you ask in vain, for tis my fate
Never to be believ'd, till 'tis too late.
Yet, for the love which thereunto I bear,
Or, rather for the sake of those in her,
Whose prayers, faith and tears, have hitherto
Preserv'd her, I shall, still, as now I do,
Marke my Petition for her preservation,
And, that she may by Justice and Compassion
Break off from those sins, for which I discover,
A Cloud of Judgements to be hanging over:
And, which e're since the last great plague hath been,
Sometimes approaching, though by few men seen;
And which, whilst she to pow'r and wealth aspires,
Will by unheeded, immaterial fires,
Consume her dwellings, and decay her Trade,
Unless atonement speedily be made
By works of mercy, and that sacrifice
Which GOD hath promis'd he wil lnot despise.
GOD bless the King, and teach him what to do;
GOD bless the People, and GOD bless me too;
And keep us with our several Interests,
From being wrong'd by Lawyers and by Priests;
And, from Aspersion, keeps them also free,
Who in those Callings, just and honest be.

A HYMNE Of Confession and Praise.

Two other Meditations here I'll add,
Which though such Musings mean esteem have had
In latter times, may now as useful be
To some, in my case, as they are to me.

Another Meditation relating to the Authors present Condition.

A man that lives an unreproved Life,
The Conjugal Companion of one Wife,
One watchful, temperate, and hospitable,
One well compos'd, and for instruction able;
A man, that from excess in Wine refrains,
That seeks not to be rich by sordid gains:
That neither is malicious, nor a striker,
Nor of ought avariciously a seeker.
But just, no Novice; one that without blame
Guides his own house, and hath an honest fame.

The Contented Mans Morice.

So, farewel Friends. I will not say for ever:
For though I lately purpos'd, that I never
In this mode more would write: th'Event hath shown
I had then work undone, to me unknown:
And therefore, till he thereto puts an end
Who knows my Task, his pleasure I'll attend,
And prosecute it, until he shall say,
Thy Labour now is finish'd; COME AWAY.
Mean while, that I my SOUL may ready make,
For such a CALL, and willingly forsake
This place; I'll sometimes hearten her along
With this that follows or some such-like SONG.
Now my last Publike Work I hope is ended;
Blessed be he that's therewith not offended:
For, whatsoe'er it seems, I shall expect
A CONSEQUENT, as this doth take effect.
My Exercise without me, and within,
Afflictions and Distractions, long have been;
If therefore, what in haste I did indite,
When those Disturbances were at their height,
Confus'd appears; the better 'twill declare
What mine, and other mens conditions are.
And, if therein, ought seems to merit blame,
They who are Candid, will excuse the same.