University of Virginia Library

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.