Miscellaneous works of George Wither

Wither, George (1588-1667)

FIRST COLLECTION

Opobalsamum Anglicanum:

THREE GRAINS of Spirituall Frankincense,

Furor-Poeticus (i.e.)Propheticus.

Speculum Speculativum:

To the KING'S MAJESTY, If this Considering-Glass comes accidentally to his View.

[George, wer't not fit, ere from thy hands it pass]

SPECULUM SPECULATIVUM:

The Contents.

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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:

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A HYMNE Of Confession and Praise.

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Another Meditation relating to the Authors present Condition.

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The Contented Mans Morice.

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A POSTSCRIPT In answer to some cavilling Objections, made against the Author of this Considering-Glasse, since the composing thereof.

THE Shepherd of BLEDONHAM HIS CASE.

SIXTH COLLECTION

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A Triple Paradox;

Wherein are asserted, these particulars, that IMPRISONMENT, is more safe than LIBERTY; SLANDER, more advantageous than PRAISE; POVERTY, more profitable than RICHES.

For an INTRODUCTION, the AUTHOR flings this Express to the WORLD.

A Parlie, unto thee disdainful WORLD,
I found; and have to thee this Paper hurl'd.
Yet, neither for a Treaty or Compliance,
But, rather, still, to bid to thee Defiance;
For, what thou wer't, thou art; and I yet am
And will be, whilst I live, to thee the same.

Thou art become the Mistress of the Field;
Hast me beleaguer'd, summond me to yield
My Fortress, and thou so proceedest on,
As if thou wert assur'd, it should be wonn:
But, thereon thou perhaps, mayst yet attend
As long as did th'Infanta for Ostend;
And as she nothing had at last but Stones,
Get nothing but dead flesh, and rottenbones.
I see thine insolence, and every day
Hear what thy favourites are pleas'd to say,
How they extol thy Power, how they debase
My succours, and my helpers would disgrace.

I well observe, thou round begirt me hast;
That, having all my Outworks quite laid waste,
Thou, to compleat a Conquest, dost begin
A fierce assault to ruine all within.
That, to prevent the sending of supplies,
Thou fright'st my friends with slanders and with lies.
My Accusatrix too, become thou art;
And, justly (I acknowledge) in some part,
But, not in all: for, chiefly, thy temptations
Inducements were to those prevarications
Whereby, my Talents were sometime abus'd:
Though therefore, I seem worthily reduc'd
To what I am; thou undeservedly
Hast me pursued with malignity;
Because the love which I once bore to thee
Was more, than thou deservedest it should be;
Thou most injuriously requited hast
That love, which in my youth on thee I plac't;
For, though I never totally was thine,
Thou had'st (when least) more of me then was mine:
And, him, of his right, to whom all was due
I robbed then, thy service to pursue.
But, he, now gives me grace, thy wiles to hate,
And to observe them ere it is too late,
That what thou by thy falshoods dost intend,
Shall cross thine own Designments in the end.

Thou, having into many errors run me,
Thought'st by undoing me, to have undone me,
But art deceiv'd: for, that which thou hast done
Hath brought me to the knowledge of that Stone,
Which turneth dross to gold; and from offences
Instructs me to extract those Quintessences,
Which will preserve my Freedome in all places,
Supply all Wants; Convert all my Disgraces

To honours; and in every estate,
With all things needful, me accommodate.

The Devil by thine aid, hath long time sought
How, he his ends upon me might have wrought;
But, neither Thou nor He, nor both conjoyn'd,
Had power to bring to pass what was design'd,
Untill the FLESH, my Dalilah, you got
To be a third Associate in the Plot;
And then, both to her damage, and to mine
You, such progression made in your design,
That by deluding her, you soon prevail'd,
In that, whereof you otherwise had fail'd;
So, by her Frailty, more than by your Power,
(I, being in your clutches at this hour)
Am openly exposed (in some sort)
Like Sampson for a while, to make you sport;
But, stretched your malignity so far
That your own Actings, your own works will mar:
For, though my Dalilah your Vassal be,
And you by her means have surprized me,
Your Cords and Chains will off again be flung,
So that, we shall redeemed be ere long
From our Captivities, and in conclusion
Your own contrivements will be your confusion.

When thou pretendedest kindnesses to me
(And by them, didst intend to ruine me)
Thou gav'st me then, one of Pandora's Boxes,
Which, I return thee full of Paradoxes
That shall uncharm thy Witchcrafts, and destroy
Those Gins which thou against me dost employ:
For, if thou open it, (as it is sed
Prometheus opened what shee's fabuled
To have bestow'd on him) from thence will flow
Those Truths, which will thy falshoods overthrow,

And make some who admire them, to contemn
Those Juglings wherewithall thou foolest them:
As likewise all those Bugbear-Tyrannies,
Which thy oppressing-Instruments devise
To fright us from our duties, and adhere
To thy allurements, out of love or fear.

To batter down my petty single Sconce,
Thy three great'st Engines thou hast rais'd at once,
And so surrounded me within my Fort,
That, I have scarce one little Sally-port
Whereby I may have egress to offend
My Foes, or to give ingress to a friend.
Thy Ragged Regiment of POVERTY,
(And they which by RESTRAINT of LIBERTY,
Commanded are) enclose me so about
With double Trenches, that, here can to nought
For my Relief, admittance now be given,
Except it comes immediately from Heaven:
Moreover, at the four Winds, raised high,
Are four Mounts, whereupon thy Batteries lie
So diligently man'd by Major SLANDER
(An old and well experienced Commander
In such like services) that, several wayes
His great Artillery upon me playes.
At me perpetually his tongue-shot flies,
And his whole Culverings charg'd full with Lies,
Send poysoned Bullets, which I often hear,
Making loud cracks, or whizzing by mine ear.

But, I, at last, shall rout all this Brigade,
Quite frustrate those attempts which thou hast made
And raise again thy seige, or do as well
By dying nobly in my Citadel,
And, that it will to thee (when batter'd down)
Prove like the House by Sampson overthrown.

Then, those things, plainly will to thee appear,
Which thou at present, wilt not see nor hear;
And I shall be the same to thee and thine,
Which thou hast lately been to me and mine;
For, then, my Ghost, arrayed in white sheets
Shall haunt thy houses, walk about thy streets,
And fright thee day and night with repetition
Of what is hasting on, for thy perdition,
And will descend upon thee at those times
Wherein thou fill'st the measure of thy Crimes.

Mean while, to comfort others, and prevent
The tediousness of my Beleagurement,
Ile draw a Map, wherein Ile so express
The vanity of thy maliciousness,
That, they who list shall know how much I slight
Thy Triple-Forces, and contemn thy spight;
And I to thee, their weaknesses apart
Will so declare, that, unless blind thou art
Thou shalt perceive, I cannot be destroy'd,
By those whom thou against me hast employ'd
Although in one united: for, these three
SLANDER, IMPRISONMENT and POVERTY,
To fall upon me, all at once began
Before, thou didst repute me for a Man;
And though they charge me all at once agen,
Grown weaker by old age, than I was then,
My Helper is the same; and suffring long
Hath by his Grace, now made my power more strong.

I know thy pride this Confidence contemns:
For, faith and hope, are now thought but the dreams
Of those men, whom thou dost Phanaticks call:
But, whatsoev'r thou thinkst, proceed I shall.
And, if thou heedst what follows, thou shalt hear
How little, either thee, or thine I fear.

With that part of thy Forces Ile begin
Which, with the first Trench hath now shut me in.
Thou knowst, what outwardly, thou hast bereft;
Now, thou shalt know, what is within me left
But, never shalt attain to apprehend
How far my hidden store-house doth extend.

Confinement is more advantageous than Liberty.

Restraint, which is an Engine, right or wrong,
Made use of, (first, or last, short time or long)
By most Oppressors, hath been oft my lot;
And, at this present, I escape it not:
For, (though not in the ordinary way
It feemeth now inflicted) I might say,
I am imprisoned, and so confin'd
That, I am no way free, except in mind.
Of most enjoyments I am quite depriv'd
Which from external things may be deriv'd,
Yet thereby not undone; for I possess
My whole essential Freedome neretheless.
My toyes are lost, but by their deprivations
I furnish'd am with real consolations,
Which, though they to the world-ward make no shows
Yield sweeter comforts than the things I lose,
And make my hidden Freedoms to be more
Than those the world vouchsafed heretofore:
For, to her Freedoms, when respect I gave
I was then only free to be a slave,
Whereas, this, doth from nothing me restrain,
Which, to true Liberty, doth appertain.

That, which gives most content to flesh and blood
I finde to be the basest servitude;
And that we nothing have whereof to boast
Till what the world calls Liberty is lost.
What Freedom want I, save what being had
makes many Free-men slaves, and wise men mad?
None, have upon themselves, and others, brought
More plagues than they have done, who would be thought
The freest men: for Freedoms mis-imploy'd
Have lately all our Liberties destroy'd;
And, most, whom we much reverence as our betters
Are but our fellow-slaves in golden fetters.
What Liberty had I, whereof to vaunt
By those Infranchisements I seem to want?
I was at Liberty to rowle in dust,
To prosecute my fancies and my lust;
And therein joy'd, when I could walk abroad;
But, now, I finde the Services of GOD
Are Perfectst Freedom. That, I am debarr'd
Of nothing, which deserveth my regard;
And, that the Liberty I did possess,
Was not true Freedom, but Licentiousness;
At which experiment I am arriv'd,
By losing that whereof I am depriv'd.

This (though fore-seen it was) to me befell
Before I for it was prepared well,
And, I confess, at first it made a change
Within me, and without, that seemed strange:
But, not long after, at the second sight,
That, which appear'd the wrong-side, prov'd the right;
And I am well contented therewithall:
For, I could see GODS Mercies through the wall;
Discern'd, when inwardly, I turn'd mine eyes,
Much more of Heaven, than when I saw the skies.

And, that, from very little I was barr'd,
Which I have reason greatly to regard.

What can I see abroad, which hath not been
By me before, almost to loathing seen,
Or, heard not so describ'd, that being shown
It will not seem a thing already known?
Both Changes and Rechanges I have view'd;
Seen new things old become, old things renew'd;
Princes petitioning disdainful Grooms
Great Kings dethron'd, & Peasants in their rooms;
Laws out-law'd, Out-Laws raised to be Judges
Of Laws, Lives, Goods, and of our Priviledges,
By Law and Conscience; Loyaltie made Treason,
And Treason Loyaltie; Non-sense for Reason
Allow'd, and Reason thought irrational:
Yea, Meteors I have seen rise, and Stars fall;
Foundations that immoveable appear'd
Thrown down, and Castles in the Air uprear'd.
I have seen Heads and Feet exchange their places,
Wealth make men poor, and honour bring disgraces;
Beauties, which ravished beholders eyes
Wax more deformed than Anatomies,
Or, no more lovely to be lookt upon,
Than Rawridge, Mumble-crust, or Bloody-bone,
But, truth to say, they who most lovely be,
Now, no more pleasureful appear to me
Than Pictures, nor so much as ugly faces
Whose hearts are beautifi'd with inward graces,
Although to Beauty very few were more
A Servant, than I have been heretofore,
And if that please not, which I once lik'd best,
What pleasure is there to behold the rest?
That, at this present, and all other sights
Afford so little which my heart delights,

That, all the earth, and one poor little room
Are so equivalent to me become,
That I know nothing any other where
More to be priz'd than my enjoyments here;
And, that which makes me so indifferent
Nor melancholy is, nor discontent.

Confinement, in a house of strength doth dwell,
A homely, and sometimes a nasty Cell,
In furnitures, and in attendance poor,
A Cerberus lies alwayes at the door
Fawning a little, when we entring are
But ever snarls while we continue there:
Yet, I so quickly had found out his diet,
That, I knew either how to keep him quiet,
Or order so my self, that when I please,
I can lye down and sleep in LITTLE-EASE;
Enlarge within, that which without hath bound,
Contrive conveniences where none I found;
And, every whit as much content receive
In what I have not, as in what I have.

I view not here the pleasures of the fields
Or what a Garden, Grove, or Meddow yields
Which were of late my daily recreation,
But, I have Visions by my contemplation,
Which hither, during my Confinement brings
Not only sights of more essential things
But an assurance of enjoyments too,
Whereof I doubted more a while ago.

I could not be at that Solemnization
Which honoured my Soveraigns Coronation,
Nor saw his Royal Train in their late Marches
Through LONDON, under their Triumphant Arches;
Yet in my solitariness, alone,
What they were doing, I did think upon,

With what should else be done, that's not done yet
And, which I wish we may not quite forget,
Nor so long, that there, may at length be lost
Much real honour, and no little cost;
And which, perhaps, to bring now into mind
By this expression, I am thus confin'd;
For Providence, did neither me restrain
At this time, nor infuse these thoughts in vain.

Ionick, Dorick, and Corinthians works,
In which, an Architectors cunning lurks
Apart, or inter-wove (with that apply'd
Whereby it may be richly beautifi'd)
I can conceive, as if I saw it made,
And all which paintings thereunto can add.
I know, as well as they who did behold
That costly Show, what Silver, Silk and Gold,
Pearls, Diamonds, and precious Rubies, can
Contribute to adorn a horse or man.
I have seen all materials which were thither,
To make up that great triumph, brought together.
Princes and Dukes, and Marquesses and Earls,
Plebeians, Men and Women, Boyes and Girls,
As many thousands as then present were
I did as well imagine to be there
As if I them had seen; and can suppose
Not only what is acted at such Shows,
But also, more than was at any one
Since first the Roman Triumphs were begun,
And fancy by my self such glorious things
As would quite beggar Emperors and Kings
To represent them. So, by being there
I had but seen a meaner Show than here
My fancy could have made; and what had I
Been then, I pray, advantaged thereby?

What had I gained then, by sitting long
And paying, to be crowded in a throng?
What great contentment could I have deriv'd
From what Mechanick Artists had contriv'd,
Compar'd to that which my imagination
Contriv'd in honour of that Coronation?
At which the Trophies cost, at most, no more
Than would have made some needy persons poor?
I seldom took, at any time much pleasure
In Shows, which ev'ry vulgar eye can measure;
And time and cost require to make them gay,
Yet in a moment vanish quite away,
Behinde them leaving nothing that conduces
To Pious, Moral, or to Civil uses.

What though I did not see the King that day?
I did in my Confinement, for him pray
As heartily as any person there,
And, GOD, perhaps, assoon the same will hear,
Although my Tongue was not then heard among
Those Acclamations of the vulgar throng,
Which did salute his ear; my silent Voice
Wing'd with Devotion (though it made no noise)
Ascended Heav'n, and may bring blessings down,
Which will conduce to setling of his Crown,
If he unfix it not by mis-endeavour,
Or, valuing of the Gift more than the Giver.
I do presume his duties on that day
He did discharge; and (wishing others may
Perform their dues to him) do not envy
The glory of that day's Solemnity
To him, for whom 'twas purpos'd, nor the sight,
Thereof, to those who took therein delight;
But wish'd, both might be perfectly contented
In what was at that present represented;

And hope, nought was to him ascribed then,
Which rather appertains to GOD than Men:
For, when to Hereds eloquent Orations
The people gave blasphemous Acclamations,
And he that honour to himself apply'd,
Whereby, GOD ought to have been glorifi'd,
The Doom, which that offence did on him bring,
Made him a lifeless, and a louzie King.

Of these things my confinement did produce
Some thoughts, which are perhaps of some good use.
I, likewise exercis'd my Meditation,
That day, on other things which have relation
To what was then in act; and mus'd upon
That, which occasion gave of things then done,
On some now past, and upon other some
Which probably will be in time to come.
I mus'd upon the Changes, and the Chances,
The Publick Troubles, and Deliverances
Which I have seen. I seriously did ponder
GODS, and Mens actions joyntly and asunder;
Our foolish Projects, his wise Providences,
Both in their Progress, and their Consequences.
I thought both on the People and the King,
What good or evil possibly might spring
From their deportments towards one another
Now by GODS mercy they are brought together.
On those too, in particular, I thought
Whom, GOD into his power hath lately brought:
How great, erewhile, his wants and sufferings were,
What, his enjoyments at this present are;
And, on some other matters, not a few,
Which these, to my consideration drew,
And which perhaps, that day had been by none
Mus'd on, so much, had I not been alone.

Moreover it occasion'd thoughts of that
Which to a Nobler Object doth relate;
Even to that Kingdom, King, and Coronation,
That should be thought on with more veneration
Than all the Monarchs in their greatest glory,
Who now live, or are memoriz'd in story.
My Contemplation, with as much content,
As others had, to me did represent
That DAY wherein CHRIST through Jerusalem
Rode meekly on an Ass, whilst after him
The people throng'd or laqued by his side,
And voluntarily HOSANNA cry'd,
Yet afterward pursuing him with scorns
Cry'd Crucifie, and crowned him with Thorns;
And this, me thought, was so considerable,
That it made all our Pomp seem defpicable.
For, then my Muses drew me by degrees,
To meditate on what my soul fore-sees
Concerning them, who, whilst they do pretend
CHRIST's Kingdom, do pursue another end;
And that, which for his glory was bestown,
Make use of, for advancement of their own.
Not seldom, likewise, I then thought upon
Those many thousand families undone,
Who sit and weep through want of what that day
Was wastfully and vainly, thrown away,
At such a time, wherein both Man and GOD,
Proceedings lookt for in another mode,
And when, our publick hazards and distress,
Requir'd another way of thankfulness.

Upon that solemn day, (not without wonder)
I saw and heard, the Lightning, rain, and thunder
Wherewith GOD seem'd to answer and out-vy
Our Guns and fire-Works, (though I was not nigh)

And such resemblance had the works of Art,
To Nature's, that they could not be apart
Distinguish'd; but that, to prevent our error,
The last was loudest, and infus'd more terrour.
This, I observed well; and furthermore
Took special heed, that nigh two Moneths before,
And likewise ever since, from Rainy weather
We were not oft free, one whole day together,
Until that Royal Triumph was begun,
Nor till that moment wherein it was done:
Yet, durst I not be so prophane, to say
(As one hath writ) it dar'd not rain that day.
Nor at that time, Flaminian like, durst I
Conjecture by a Heathenish Augurie
What GOD thereby intended: but, with awe
Consider'd upon what I heard and saw:
And I confess the Lightning, Rain, and Thunder
At this our Seed-time, caused me to ponder
On that, which Sumuel prayed GOD to send
In Harvest-time, and what that did portend;
Which I conceive to be a Meditation
Not then improper, for my Contemplation.
And, though some peradventure may suspect
That these expressions, may some way reflect
On what concerns them, it concerns him more
Whose cause and honour I prefer before
All earthly things; and can be not afraid,
Who ere shall be displeas'd with what I've said;
For, I was barr'd from seeing what is done
By men; that, GODS works might be mused on.

Such things, although we then much mind them not,
Should not amidst our Triumphs be forgot;
And, that, (which then by me was thought upon)
Much more effectually, perhaps, was done

In this condition which I now am in,
Than could in that state, wherein I have been:
Forgot therefore, by others, if it be
It will seem no great wonderment to me;
For, who remember Josephs in their sports,
Or in the jollities at Princes Courts?

Confinement (which I once a damage thought)
To me, hath other priviledges brought.
It manifests apparently to me
Who are my Kinsmen, who my Neighbours be;
And whether he who passeth by me than,
Be Levite, Priest, or a Samaritan:
For, Neighbourhood and Kindred, he best tryes
That's robbed, wounded, or, imprison'd lyes.

In Liberty, I sometimes doubted whether
They, who then came to visit me, were either
My Friends or Foes, for, I found other while
They whom I trusted most, did most beguile.
But, few or none my Visitants now are
Save they, whose Visitations are sincere;
The Friends I got, when I did walk abroad
I gain'd my self: These, are made mine by GOD.
These were acquired without pains or cost;
Not won by merit, nor by small faults lost.
The first, were for prosperity decreed,
The latter, for my help, in time of need,
And sought my Body out, unknown before
Because, they heard it was distrest, and poor;
Which hath to me, Confinement sweeter made,
Than all the Freedoms which I lately had;
And, me, with that Communion of the Saints,
Experimentally, it now acquaints,
Which, in this life enjoyed is, by all,
Who, in the life to come, enjoy it shall.

A Prison, cannot dreadful seem to me,
For, there I first was taught my A, B, C,
In Sufferings: There, when I had scarcely past
Mine Nonage, to be schooled I was place't.
And, so long as the Providence of GOD,
Was pleas'd, that, to instruct me with that Rod,
I should continue my abiding there.
Princes, my Tutors, and Correctors were.

A Prison, is that House of Discipline,
Wherein the MARTYRS usually begin
To be Probationers; it is the Colledge
Of SAINTS, wherein experimental knowledge
Is first acquired by a carnal sense
Of that, which tries their Christian patience.
Prisons, to them, are sanctified Temples,
Wherein, they by their meekness and examples
Preach to the world by Deeds (a powerful way)
What, many other do but meerly say.
And, as our Prelates, in each Cathedral
Have several places, which they please to call
More or less holy: so, there likewise be
Imprisonments of differing degree:
The Outer-ward, an entertainment gives
Most commonly to Murtherers and Thieves,
Or, such like malefactors, who displease
The world sometimes, and interrupt her ease,
For which they are confin'd, till their just guerdon
They shall receive, or bribe her for a pardon;
And whereto she gives all advantages
That may in Prisons granted be to these.

But, all her Prisoners are not confin'd
To Wards, and Receptacles of one kind.
The Inner-wards, which do to me appear
The same that Chancels unto Churches are,

Are not made use of (except now and then)
But for most holy and Religious men.
The deepest Dungeons be reserv'd for those
Who dare our Vices, or her Lusts oppose;
Or, things repugnant to our ends profess,
(When mov'd thereto by conscientiousness)
And, whosoere presumes to plead their cases,
As Innocents, doth hazard in like places
His own Restraint; or else unto suspects,
Which peradventure may have worse effects.
Yet, Freedom yields to none so much content,
As these enjoy, by such Imprisonment.
For, they with inward comforts are delighted,
Whilst they with outward darkness are benighted:
And sweet Refreshments, in amongst them come
When they are throng'd up in a nasty Room.
When, they of their familiars are depriv'd,
They are by those, who knew them not, reliev'd;
When they from earthly men, fast lockt have been,
Celestial Angels have sometime broke in;
Knockt off their chains; the gates and doors unbar'd
The Prison shook; the sturdy Jaylor scarr'd
And made him (falling down before them too)
Cry, Men and Brethren, say, what shall we do?

A Prison is the best retiring Room
That can be got; the best Museolum
For him, wherein to contemplate, that would
Those Objects without fallacy behold,
Which most concern him; or would notions have
Of what he ought to do, hope or believe;
For, most of those things, which abroad he spies,
Either delude his ears, or blind his eyes,
Pervert his Judgement, or withdraw his mind
From that, wherein his welfare he might find.

A Prison is a place; which he that can
Make use of, as becomes a prudent man,
Findes there, more lasting, and more perfect solace
Than in the greatest earthly Princes Pallace;
And, when he knows what Priviledges are
In this condition, will scorn all that's there.

In Prison, quickly, understand he shall
The worst that can to him, at last, befall.
There, he may notice take, how most men pother
Themselves; what plagues they are unto each other.
How, causelesly men terrified are
By those, to whom they dreadful would appear;
And, peradventure, if they patient be
That, they pursued by their Foes will see,
By which their self-destruction shall be wrought,
And those freed, whom, they into bondage brought.
There, they may learn, that to make black or white,
One hair, or add one straws-breadth to their height
Care nought avails; and in that poor estate
To laugh at all the worlds despight and hate:
For, over them, no power then left she hath,
Except of prosecuting them to death,
Which them ten thousand fold will happier make
Than all, that she can either give or take.
These are such benefits as I enjoy,
By what, now seems my Freedom to destroy.

In Prison, too, this Priviledge I have,
That, living, I descend into my Grave,
And by my Contemplation can fore-see
What my condition in that place will be.
I search it to the bottom, by that spark
Of Light, which shineth brightest in the dark.
The terrours of that Dungeon I fore-stall,
I, (as it were) pre-act my Funeral,

And in a manner also, see and hear
What will be said and done, when I am there;
Which are advantages not to be known,
Whilst in the world I flutter up and down.
In Prison also, when least room I have,
And close am kept, I, far beyond the Grave
Do Prospects view; and can see pretty well
What may concern men, both in Heaven and Hell;
Whereof, if here I should my knowledge speak
Them, for Phanatick dreams, the world would take;
And not believe the things I could declare,
Because, she knows that I was never there;
And, therefore, Ile proceed again to show
What, my Experiments are here below.

Restraint, from me, hath totally shut out
That frivelous, and that offensive Rout,
Which interrupts my Musings with discourse
That's either wholly vain, or somewhat worse:
For, to nought else, it for the most part tends
But fruitless complements, or graceless ends;
And, what among us, is at meetings blown,
Wrongs other mens affairs, or else our own,
Whereas, our words whilst here we are together,
Tend to the edifying of each other,
In Faith or Manners; or else, to improve
That Hope, that Meekness, Constancy and Love
Which may enable, patiently to bear
Those Burthens, wherewith we oppressed are:
And, when our Bodies are asunder gone,
We never leave each other quite alone;
For, we (ev'n when corporeally apart)
Are present, both in Spirit and in Heart.

Though this Fraternity did often minde me,
Till my Imprisonment they could not finde me,

Nor did I know their persons. Thou, therefore
Oh foolish world, to my content add'st more
By my Restraint, than if to me were given
All carnal Freedoms on this side of Heaven;
And, if this be the great'st harms thou canst do,
Prethee, let every spight thou dost be two.

But, all the comforts which best friends afford,
(As they are men) may prove like Jonah's Gourd,
For, as next morning, that, did wither quite
Which GOD did cause to spring up in one night,
So, when the Sun burns, or a sharp wind blows,
This may as quickly fade, as it arose:
For, Death or Injuries, do every day
Take those mens lives, or, their estates away
Who are most charitable, and, of bread
They may have need, by whom I have been fed,
For, unto all men underneath the Sun
That may betide which doth befall to one.
Not therefore, upon those things which GOD sends,
But, on himself alone, my soul depends:
Here, all my confidence, vain world, is place't,
Or else I might be ruined at last;
And all my present hopes, as vain would be,
As if I had repos'd my trust in thee.

By this Restriction, not a few temptations
Will be repelled; many deviations
Of mine prevented; duties better done;
Things which have been forgot, more thought upon;
It peradventure may prepare me too,
For what I'm yet to suffer and to do,
Much better than that Freedom did, or could,
Which, by the Common Tenure I did hold:
And who knows, but some corporal mis-hap
I may or did by this Restraint escape,

Which might have else befell me when together
The people throng'd and trod upon each other.
Which, though no more but shunning so much harm,
As breaking of a neck, a legg, or arm,
Were considerable, and ten to one
Such mis-adventures daily fall upon
Some persons unconfin'd, when they least dread them,
Because, where dangers are, they little heed them.
Scap'd I no more here, than that flavish load
Of Complementings, wherewithall abroad
Men tire themselves, and others; that, alone
Sufficient were, if well consider'd on,
To make amends for all the sufferings
Which my confinement now upon me brings.

For, as to pay this life, I am a debter
To Nature, and then hope to have a better,
My Wants, Restraints, and Poverty do less
Afflict my Body, by all that distress
Now laid upon it, than my soul hath been
To hear and see, what I have heard and seen,
Whilest I had liberty abroad to go,
And hear and see, what many say and do:
With what dissembling Complements, Caresses,
Affected Speeches, flattering Addresses,
And false Pretendings, men of ev'ry sort
Do cheat, fool, claw, and one another court,
As if they did Realities intend
When, in meer Nullities, at last they end.
How, Letters, Promises, Vows, Declarations,
Orders, Oaths, Covenants, and Protestations
Annihilated are, and turn to smoak
Or stinks, which rather poison us, and choak
Than truly nourish; and how they go on
In acting still, such things as they have done

Who are destroyed; and yet, nere the less,
Dream they pursue the waies of Happiness.
I am, as well pleas'd, with my sad condition,
As others, with what they have in fruition,
And, if desire a longer life I could,
For nothing else the same desire I should,
Except it were that I might live to see
What GOD will do, and what their end will be.
Frequent I cannot, with conveniency
(As lately, when I had my Liberty,
I might have done) the Publick Congregation;
But, I, upon GOD's Word, by meditation,
(To exercise my self) may set apart
The time they dedicate; and both my heart
And my best Faculties, employ that day,
In preaching somewhat to the world my way
Which will advance GOD's glory, and improve
My Brethren in good life, hope, faith, and love:
Or, that prepare, which thereunto may tend,
When Daies and Times, with me will have an end:
And, GOD (I know) confines not Saving Graces
To ordinary Means, Forms, Times, or Places,
Nor is displeased when his services
Endeavour'd are, without contentiousness,
As we are able, and with upright heart,
Though of our duties we may fail in part.

Some other Notions, which in this estate
Are apprehended, I might now relate,
Which further may illustrate those mis-haps
That man by an Imprisonment escapes
But, they are Trifles to what I possess,
In my constrained Solitariness.
For, though it be not what I might have chose
(Had I been left unto mine own dispose)

It proves much better: and for that respect
What I most naturally do affect
I dare not absolutely to request,
(Much less make choice of) but to him that best
Knows what's best for me, wholly have resign'd
Both mine own self, and things of ev'ry kind.
'Tis he, who hath assign'd this lot, and all
What ere it be, which thereby doth befall;
And, this Restraint, not only makes him dearer
To me, but also, to him, draws me nearer,
So that the more my troubles do increase,
The nearer unto him is my access.
He, fortifies my confidence in him,
And heartens me, the World thus to contemn,
As boldly as if doubtless cause there were
For her to fear me, more than I fear her.
I have my fears, but they are nothing else
Save what Perdues and Scouts, and Centinels
Are to an Army: they do not dis-heart
A valiant Souldier; though they make him start
At first Alarm; but cause him to prepare
For those assaults, which nigh approaching are.
When I am judged, in an undone-case,
Because, confin'd, in wants, and in distress;
When all my outward Comforters are gone,
And, I lie musing on my bed alone
Of what I knew before, or heard that day;
Of what my Friends fear, and my Foes do say;
What men they are, who seem with me offended,
What is already done, and what intended;
Sometimes a little shuddring doth begin,
As if a panick-fear were breaking in,
Which he marks, ere to me it doth appear
Forthwith, steps down betwixt me and that fear

Supplies defects, expelleth doubts and sadness,
Replenisheth my heart with sober gladness,
About me sets his Angels, watch to keep,
And (as to his beloved) gives me fleep.

These things considered, Prisons and Restraints
(Which have been long, the portion of the Saints)
Are not alone things little to be fear'd,
But also many times to be preferr'd
Before those Liberties, and all those things
That can be found in Palaces of Kings;
What ere their flatterers are pleas'd to say,
By fruitless hopes, to drive their fears away.
For, more are there endanger'd, more destroy'd:
There, many times, is less content enjoy'd,
Less outward safety, and a great deal less
Of what conduceth to true happiness,
Than in a Prison: And who ere well heeds
What, there is done, and what thereon succeeds
Will finde cause, their condition to bewail
Sometimes, much more, than his that's in a Gaol.
For, errors flowing from Prosperity
Indanger more, because unseen they lie.
Men many by their Afflictions be prepar'd
For whatsoere can follow afterward,
And are oft fitted by a lingring grief,
For future happiness in death or life:
But, while corrupted by excessive Treasures,
Befool'd with honours, and bewitch'd with pleasures,
The cause of self-destruction still they nourish;
They grow as brutish as the beasts that perish;
And, daily so besotted, by degrees
That, sense of their humanity they leese;
So long dream, they are GOD's (or somewhat greater,)
Till they are Devils, or but little better;

And suddenly, when they think all goes well,
Sink from supposed Happiness to HELL.

Most men, (yea very many of the best)
Their Talents, till they Palm-like down are prest,
Improve not; nor their Duties truly do,
Till by Afflictions they are whipt thereto.
A Prison, was long time the School, wherein
Chast Joseph those progressions did begin,
Which, him forth from obscurity did bring
To be the second person to a King.
Jonas was not obedient to GOD'S Call
Till he, both by a Storm, and by a Whale,
Was disciplin'd: And, if I had a thought
My duties were performed as they ought
In any thing, affirmed it should be
That, thereto my Afflictions fitted me:
For, such like Simples, as I am, require
To make them yield forth Oyl, the Press, or Fire,
My Flinty-nature gives not out one spark
To light my self, or others in the dark,
Till knockt with Steel. This knowledge I have gain'd
Of mine own temper, and it is unfain'd.
To be imprison'd, slander'd, or made poor,
Shall therefore, henceforth, frighten me no more,
Nor make me, whilst I live asham'd of either
Of those three Lots, nor of them altogether.
Priests, Prophets, Kings and Saints, yea (whilst abode
He made on earth) the glorious Son of GOD
Was pleased to submit to all of them
(But to the latter two in an extream)
And, with such Company, Ile undergo
My share, and think, I'm thereby honour'd too.

To this effect, much more might here be said,
But, this will be sufficient, if well weigh'd,

Which, I suspect; for, very few men heed,
Or mind, long, what they hear, or what they read.

SLANDER is more Beneficiall than PRAISE.

Who, can express the pain of being stung
With such a fiery Serpent as the TONGUE?
Or, what can cure it, but his being ey'd,
Whom, once, the Brazen Serpent typifi'd?
'Tis far more sharp than Arrows, Darts or Spears;
Down to the heart, it pierces through the ears;
Not only wounds, but frighteth also more
Than murthring Canons, when they loudest roar;
Afflicteth us, whilst here we draw our breath,
And, Gangreeve-like, so spreadeth after death
(Ev'n to posterity upon our Names)
That it destroys the life of honest Fames.

This fury SLANDER, hath been quarter'd long,
In Rotten-Row, and Hart-street, at the Tongue;
Her Magazeens and Forges are all there,
The Shop at which she vents them, is the Ear,
In ev'ry Town and City; and no places
Or persons, her aspersions and disgraces
Can long avoid: For, ev'ry where she scatters
That shot wherewith the Forts of Fame she batters.
So venemous it is, that every touch
Proves mortal, or indangers very much,
And nothing shooteth more impoysoned pellets,
Except it be the flatteries of Prelates.

I must confess, that many years ago
I therewith have been often wounded so

That, very well, content I could have been
To lye down, where I might no more be seen;
And, my stupidity is not, yet, such
As not to feel indignities as much
As any man: But, I have learned how
To change my Sicknesses to Physick, now:
And when the world intendeth me a shame
By retroversion to convert the same
To that, which from bespattrings purifies,
And makes me both her Blame and Praise despise,
No more displeas'd, or pleased therewithall
Than if a whibling Cur, should fawn or bawl.
For, unto those Oppressions, heretofore
And now lay'd on me, whatsoever more
The world shall add; though they a while oppress,
Will, shortly, make them, not alone much less
But, also none at all; and wheel about
Upon her self, as soon as my Turn's out.

Praise, is a pleasing thing, to flesh and blood,
Yet, often doth it much more harm than good;
Puffs up with Pride, ore-weening and vain glory.
Or, with affection to things transitory
Beyond a safe Mean; and makes men suppose
Themselves to be, what ev'ry neighbour knows
They are not; yea, what they themselves do see
They neither are, nor possibly can be.
Whereas, to be without a cause despis'd,
Disprais'd, reproach'd, scoft, jeer'd and scandaliz'd,
An undue self-opinion doth remove
True Meekness and Humility improve;
Brings Constancy and Patience to their tryal,
And, at the last, to such a Self-denial,
As in the close will more contentment give us
Than all, whereof a Slander can deprive us.

The flatteries of his Lords, made Joash stumble,
Reviling speeches, made King David humble,
Good men, by praises, oft, are evil made,
But, by Reproaches harm they never had.

The World, which best is pleas'd with her own baubles
For that false titulary honor scrabbles,
Which is compos'd of aiery Attributes,
Or, which opinion only constitutes:
And, all her happiness, dependant seems
On vulgar approbations and esteems,
Which are, indeed, her Portion: but, to those,
Who can look both beyond, and through the Shows,
That such Toies make, nought therein doth appear
To merit their desire, love, hate or fear:
And, therefore, they respect them, (come, or go)
As Reason them obliges thereunto,
Or, as things, which (if grace divine be granted)
Indifferently, may be possest or wanted;
Make such use as they serve to, whilst they have them,
And yield them, when resum'd, to those who gave them.
For, had external honours in this place,
Been truly more essential than disgrace,
To happiness eternal; CHRIST had waved
The scandals of the Cross; we had been saved
And sanctifi'd should be without those troubles,
Scorns and reproaches, which the world now doubles
And may redouble: yea, in vain had he
A promise made, that they should blessed be
Who in his sufferings do with him partake,
And are reproach'd and slander'd for his sake.

These things consider'd, I am at full rest;
Slanders infringe not my chief interest.
Good or Ill words will me no more concern
When I am dead, than when I was unborn.

And, whilst I live, (as is inferr'd before)
They harm a little, and they profit more.
If Scandals neither mend nor mar my health,
Increase not troubles, nor decrease my wealth,
Save in opinion onely; all those losses
Are cur'd, if my vote, that opinion crosses.
And (prate who list) I will as merry bee
As is a Pye upon a Cherry-tree.
Praise, or dispraises, if so be my heart
Assures, that neither of them by desert
To mee belongs, my own Phanatick brain
Is cause of all, whereof I do complain,
Or take delight in: praise, blame, bless, or curse,
I am no whit the better, or the worse;
And, all men are as much concern'd as I
In what's then spoken, be it Truth, or Lye.

If of a hundred Crimes I guilty were,
All which, as evidently did appear,
As in a cloudless day, the Sun at noon;
The world, but as the spots within the Moon,
Would look upon them, if, for my defence
I have a face well braz'd with impudence;
An Oily Tongue, a Crocodiles moist eye,
Can finde great Friends, bribe, flatter, fawn and lye,
Ore-awe my neighbours, or, my self express
A friend to them, in their licentiousnesse.
But, were I, both in words and deeds, as free
From just reproof, as mortal man may be,
Had I, but one great neighbour, who envies
All men suppos'd more honest, or more wise,
Than hee is thought; therewith a neighbourhood,
Which take delight in nothing that is good;
Abhorring all, as their injurious foes,
Who, them, in their unrighteous waies oppose;
Or, if I be constrained to have dealing,
With such, by some relation, or nigh dwelling,

Who think, there's nothing rational or just,
But, what tends to their profit, or their lust;
It is impossible to scape the wrongs
Of wicked hands, or of malicious tongues:
And, therefore, he, with whom it thus doth fare
Must study patience, how his lot to bear;
And in this case, can look for no defence
But from GODS Justice, and his Innocence,
Which is sufficient unto them that know
What consolations from those fountains flow.

What, is there to be fear'd in Slandrous Tales,
Whether, they shall be either true or false?
A false Report more mischieves those who spread it,
Than harmeth me. If it impairs my credit,
I may recover it again ere long,
And also peradventure, by that wrong
Improve some Vertue, or abate some Pride,
Within my self till that time, unespy'd.
Although hard words, give harder knocks than stones,
And crack our Credits, yet, they break no Bones;
And, if unjustly thrown, by spightful fingers,
They prove most mischievous unto their flingers.
One fault which Conscience findes, afflicts me more
Than twenty slanders, yea than twenty score:
So long as that lyes quietly in me,
I shall not care who my Accusers be;
And, when that shall accuse me (as sometime
It doth) I sue out an Appeal to him
Who straight acquits me; else I must confess
I should as much fear mine own Righteousness
As all my Sins; for, I esteem them both
Alike impure, and as a menstruous cloath.

If I am justly blam'd for things misdone,
Or, for faults wherein I am going on,
It doth by bringing on me shame of face,
Repentance bring, and to that state of Grace

From which I falling was; and stay the course
Which might have drawn me on from bad to worse,
Until, that by habituated sin,
Endless Impenitency had broke in:
Much more, therefore, to these I am a debter
Who speak ill, than to those men who speak better
Than I deserve: And, though that in their ends
They differ, they may be as useful friends
Who speak of me opprobriously, sometimes,
As they, who praise me, or excuse my crimes.

For, I have long observ'd that all Relations,
Nigh or far off (what ever Obligations
Have nearly joyned them, or whatsoere
Their Quarrels, Bonds, or Disobligements are)
Be (for the most part) either friends or foes,
But, as a prosp'rous, or a cross wind blows;
Or, as their inter'st or Expectancy
May be secur'd, or doth at hazzard lye.
The Love or Hatred, which I finde in them,
Differs but in the Measure, or the Time,
Or, in th'Occasions, which have them inclin'd,
To friendliness, or else to be unkinde.
They frown or smile, they praise, or they disgrace,
Destroy and save, and stab, or else imbrace,
Even as the fit which comes upon them, takes them,
And either pleased, or displeased makes them.
Such will their words and deeds be then to thee,
What ere thou art to them, or they to thee.
As bitter Language, I have heard 'twixt those
That were dear Lovers, as 'twixt greatest Foes,
Yea, and more bitter too, in some respects
Considering their Causes and Effects.

A Foes Revilings very sharp appear,
But, when our Friends exasperated are
With, or without Cause given of offence,
There is between them greater difference

(Or at the least, but very little less)
Than tasted is between the bitterness
Of unpeel'd Wallnut-kernels, and strong Gall,
VVhen with our tongues distinguish them we shall.

Moreover, I have sometimes also seen
That, they, who have unto each other been
Most mischievous, so reconcil'd together
(Though little vertue hath appear'd in either)
So kind in words and deeds, for outward ends,
And, so ingaged mutually as friends
In their Concernments, as if they had never
At variance been; but, hearty friends for ever.
VVhich, when I mind, I neither pleasure have
In Praises, nor do slanders me bereave
Of much content, from whom soe're they come,
So long as I finde Innocence at home;
Nor, in my own respect at any time,
So griev'd am I, as otherwhile for them
VVho have mis-censur'd me; because I know
From what distempers usually they flow;
And that the sob'rest and the wisest men
Have some Deliriums on them now and then.
Exception is not alwayes to be took
By what shall by a Friend or Foe be spoke:
For, men in passion, whether they appear.
Pleas'd or displeas'd, speak few things as they are,
Nor alwayes as they think, but, rather say
That, which the passion bearing then chief sway
Transports them to; although a wound it give
To their own souls, which pains them whilst they live.

But, Friends and Foes, both good and ill report,
And all terrestrial things of every sort,
VVill shortly have an end (with me at least.)
The worst, as well as that whereof the best
Esteem I had, will into nothing fly:
My Slanders, and my Slanderers will dye.

At present, therefore them no more I dread
Than if I saw they were already dead;
And, that which dead or living, shall to me
Befall, will equally forgotten be.
By living, I, their scandals may out-live,
And good proofs of my innocency give.
VVhen I am dead, what ever men shall please
To speak or do, it cannot me disease:
And, they who after death do men defame,
Or shall expose their bodies unto shame,
Bring that dishonour which they did intend
To others, on themselves, at latter end:
Yea, make some question, and suspect their merits;
Repute them persons of ignoble spirits;
And, what they hoped should confirm their peace,
Their terrours and their dangers will increase.
Slanders (though poyson in themselves) have been
To me a precious Antidote for sin,
Preventing, not a few times more than one,
That, wherein else perhaps I had mis-done,
(And I, thereby, effects like his have found
Who had a Sickness cured by a wound)
Whereas, contrariwise, a vain Applause
Of sins or follies, are a frequent cause.

I well remember, that, when I was young
(And in both kinds an Object of the Tongue,
As now I am) I reaped, many wayes,
By Slanders, much more profit than by Praise.
For, Praises made me sometimes over-ween,
And (as if no defects in me had been)
Neglect the means, that, supplements might add
To what, I more in Show, than Substance had.
It, likewise, me to envy did expose,
From which great disadvantages arose,
And scandals, without cause: But Grace divine
Cross'd thereby, what the Devil did design:

For, Defamation, so soon was begun,
That, what it charg'd me with, was never done.
That, sin prevented was, and many more
By sending of the Scandal forth before
The Crime was acted; So, into a Blessing
A Curse was turn'd, which merits this confessing;
And also, me obliges, all my dayes,
On all occasions, to give GOD the praise;
For, if, perhaps it had over-flowed then,
The stream had never kept his bounds again.

The scoffs and jeers, cast on me by the Rimes
Of some reputed Poets in these times
Have been my great advantage: for, th'esteem
Which in my youthful dayes I had of them
Had else perhaps, from my simplicity
Drawn me, by their familiarity
To those affected Vanities with which
They have infected fools, and claw'd their itch.
Were I but as ambitious of that name
A POET, as they are, and think I am,
It might a little vex me, when I hear
How often, in their Pamphlets me they jear,
Because, Truth seasonably I convey
To such as need it, in a homely way,
Best pleasing unto those who do not care
To crack hard shells in which no kernels are;
Or for strong Lines, in which is little found,
Save an affected phrase, and empty sound.
But, I do read them with a smiling pitty
To finde them to be wicked, who are witty.
At their Detractions, I do not repine;
Their Poems I esteem as they do mine:
Their Censures, I with sleighting overpass,
Who, like words without sense, wit without grace;
And, better am contented, without cause
To hear their mis-reports, than their Applause.

As also, that, they should by Pantaloons
Admired be, and honour'd by Buffoons.
Yea, as Job said, should they a Book compile
Against me (as they may, and did erewhile)
I would receive it, on my shoulders bear it,
And as a Crown, upon my head would wear it.

My fearlesness of SLANDERS doth not flow
From Ignorance, which hinders me to know
How, I am scandaliz'd: for it appears
In Print, and I have heard it through both ears.
I daily hear what ignominious lyes
Detraction, to defame me doth devise.
I know, whence they proceed; whereto they tend,
In what likewise they possibly may end:
And it would stagger and affright me too,
Unless I knew the worst, all this could do
For, they, who Idolize the Prelacy
Impute to me no less than Blasphemy,
And Sacriledge: And, I may well expect
That, when their hopes have taken full effect,
Though they with me at present, do but dandle,
They then will curse me with Bell, Book and Candle.
How ever, for their persons I will pray:
For, malice hath not mov'd me to gain-say
Their Prelacy; nor hope to get again
What they usurp, and doth to me pertain:
But, meerly conscientiousness of that
Which in my place I vow'd to vindicate.

Some, call me Traytor too; but well I wot,
They do not so beleeve, or know me not.
I never did betray my trust to any,
Though I my self have been betray'd by many.
With Traytors I have numbred beenf orone,
And serv'd their ends, yet I my self was none:
For, if like Absolom they did pretend
To Sacrifice, and had another end,

I went on in simplicity of heart,
And did not from my Principles depart.
If they intended, or committed Treason,
I wronged not my Conscience, or my Reason
By ought mis-done, except it were, perchance,
Through over-sight, or else through Ignorance;
For which, the Plagues now Epidemical,
To me, as unto other men befall.
I never was in any factious Plot,
Nor likely seems it, by what I have got,
That, with them in their Actings, I was one
VVho, thriv'd by those designs they carried on;
Though being subject to the present Law,
I now do suffer, like Jack Fletchers Daw.
But, howsoere, I seem to merit blame
None, to the King, are truer than I am.

Yet, if in Fame, we credit may repose,
I am designed to be one of those,
VVho shall not be vouchsaf'd that Common grace,
VVhich at his Coronation granted was.
GOD's will be done: Perhaps, the King well knows
I need not, what on others he bestows;
Or, to me, singly, will his favour show,
That I his Magnanimity may know;
And, that he will more gracious be to those
VVho, him did not maliciously oppose,
Than they, whom I did serve, were to their friends,
Because they did not serve them, to their ends.
But, if Report hath not divulg'd a Lye,
VVhat, can I lose, or others get thereby?
My whole estate, already is bereft,
And, what will there be found, where's nothing left?
My life, you'l say; Alas! that's little worth,
It hath been wasting, ever since my birth;
And (when it was at best) too poor a thing,
To satisfie the Vengeance of a King.

It will to most men seem ridiculous,
To hear a Lion Rampant, kill'd a Mouse,
Or, see an Eagle stoop down from on high,
To trusse a Titmouse, or a Butterfly.
The dread of such a loss will not come neer me,
For, Age will shortly kill me, though he spare me;
And, when there's no conveniency of living,
Life, neither is worth asking or the giving.

But GOD's intentions, and the hearts of Kings,
Are such inscrutable and hidden things,
That, none can search their bottomes; then much less
Can they be fathom'd by maliciousness.
Their wayes of working their own pleasures out,
Are, many times, by wheeling round about,
By cross and counter-actings, and by those
Which seem'd their own Designments to oppose.
The faithfull'st men, they do expose oft-times
To hazzards; or with such as are for crimes
Condemn'd, they number them; or, prove them by
Desertions, dis-respects, and Poverty;
And, frequently, do fit them for those places
Wherein they best may serve them, by disgraces;
But principally, at those times, wherein,
Hypocrisie, becomes the Reigning-sin.

More things I might insert, which have relations
In this kinde, to my own prevarications,
And, to th'Improvements, which have oft ensu'd
By Scandals, which I then would have eschew'd.
But, my Experiments will work on none,
VVho cannot by their own, be wrought upon.
Consider therefore all ye unto whom
This Writing, by GOD's providence doth come,
VVhat, in your selves and others, you have heeded,
VVhich hath from Slanders, and from Praise proceeded;
And, you shall finde more by the last undone
Than by the former, at least, ten to one.

According to our Proverb, the Bell clinketh
Just so, as in his fancy, the fool thinketh
And, they who flattring praises love to hear,
Immediately, such to themselves appear,
As represented by their Parasite,
Though no more like than Black-swans are to white.

Such Panegyricks I have sometime seen
That, hard to be resolved, it had been,
By him, whose judgement you therein should crave,
Whether, the Panegyrist were more knave
Than he was Fool, for whom, the same was made:
But, of their equal Impudence I had
No doubt at all, when wistly I had heeded
What one gave, tother took, and what succeeded.
For, I have oftentimes observ'd, thereby,
Good Men deprav'd; Great Men, to Tyranny
Incouraged; That, which is due to men
By Natures Law, at first, they seize and then
Those Attributes, at last, intrude upon
That ought to be ascrib'd to GOD alone.
Which evidences, that, Immodest Praise
Is worse than Slander, and a ground-work layes,
Whereon a superstructure may be built,
To sink the Builders, down to shame and guilt.

SLANDERS, and Persecutions of the Tongue
A portion likewise is, which doth belong
Unto the Saints; and sanctifi'd they are
By him, with whom, an individual share
Each must expect; we, do but only sup
At brim, he drunk the bottome of the Cup:
We altogether merited the blame,
He underwent the sorrow and the shame.
False witnesses against him were suborn'd;
His Glory was to his dishonour turn'd;
His nearest friends forsook him, and forswore him,
His foes preferr'd a Murtherer before him;

His Innocency not alone reproaching,
But, likewise most injuriously incroaching
Upon his righteous person, him pursu'd
Till by a shameful death, he death subdu'd,
And breaking from the grave, to Heav'n ascended,
By Angels to Immortal Life attended;
Where, now inthron'd, he Thrones prepared hath
For all, who follow him in that rough path;
And every slander, scorn, reproach and shame,
He suffr'd here, adds glory to his Name.

This is the way, and hath been ever since,
Through which all men must pass, who go from hence
To that Eternity, where shall be worn
The Robes of honour, when the Rags of scorn
Shall off be thrown. On him I fix mine eyes,
And, that, will me enable to despise
Terrestrial shame and honour: That, makes all
My troubles, when at greatest, seem but small.
That, makes me, whilst my Body is confin'd,
Take pleasure, in the freedomes of the Minde;
Not dreading present, or ensuing wrongs,
Of wicked hands, or of malicious tongues.
This Paradox, it helps me to maintain,
That, where the Grace of GOD is not in vain,
More profit, bitterest reproach affords,
Than all the worlds Applauses, and fair words.

Poverty is more profitable than Riches.

Another Black-Guard hath beleagur'd me,
That, seems to be the worst of all the three
For, therewith, whosoever hath to do,
Still is in danger of these other two,

Imprisonment and Slander, who attend
On Poverty unto her latter end.
Yet, whatsoever in her self she seem,
She merits not a total dis-esteem:
For, 'tis an instrument of good and evil,
Oft-times imploy'd against us by the Devil,
And, oft by GOD himself, to such effects
As may prevent the mischief he projects,
By tempting to those manifold abuses
Which Riches being mis-employ'd produces.
There are two sorts of Poverty, that spring
From diffring Roots; effects they likewise bring
Both diffring and alike: for, providence
Maugre all humane wit and diligence,
Makes many poor, and all their industries
Rendreth successeless by Contingencies,
VVhich no man can fore-see, or wholly shun
VVho shall be thereby outwardly undone.
This Poverty, afflicts, at first, as much
As any, but, disparages not such
As bear it well; and though it grieveth many,
(Except by their own fault) destroyes not any.
The other sort, is sordid, vile, and base,
Yet, draws her Pedigree, from such a Race,
As doth in Country, City, and in Court,
Still bear an extraordinary port:
For, by the Fathers, or the Mothers side,
It sprung from Prodigality or Pride,
Or, from Improvidence or Idleness,
And, is indeed, near kin to all Excess,
Though her Alliance, these, now scorn and wave,
Because, that she is ragged, and they brave.
She, at this present time, both against me
And others is employ'd: But, though she be
Made use of by the world; yet, I well know
The World it self abhors her as a foe,

And, with a slavish dreadfulness doth fear her,
On whatsoere occasion, shee comes near her.
Yea, till this Bug-bear, was more known to mee,
I, dreaded her almost as much as shee,
And, did the best I could, to keep her from
That nearness whereunto she now is come.
For, he that would disgrace, and bring us to
That State, which questionless might us undo,
Let him but justly say that wee are poor,
And, to destroy us, hee need say no more.
VVhereas disgrac'd thereby we shall be much
If, we continue to be very rich
Of whatsoever crime or crimes, we stand
Convicted by the known Laws, of this Land.
For, VVealth cannot alone our Pardons buy
And blot out every former Infamy;
But, in a short time also, make us capable
Of Trusts or places that be honourable;
Yea, though they be those places which dispence
To all the people, Law and Conscience;
And marry Ladies (neither nor poor, nor painted)
As if our bloods had with no crimes been tainted.
But, to be poor, implieth every whit,
As if we had nor honesty, nor wit,
And, every thing, which since our lives begun,
VVee honestly, nor prudently have done,
Shall so traduced be as if that nought
Had e're by us, been well done, spoke, or thought.
There, where we have been kindly entertain'd,
A civil usage, hardly shall be daign'd.
There, where we have been honour'd in times past,
Neighbours and Kinsmen will their doors make fast;
Our old familiars will our persons shun,
Like Rats, our Servants from the house will run,
Which, then will be a place of desolation,
And few thenceforth approach our habitation,

But, Serjeants, Shreeves, or Bayliffs (beasts of prey)
That little, which is left, to fetch away:
And, when there doth remain nor sticks nor stones,
Dead or alive, they'l take our Flesh and Bones.

If all I should expresse, that might be said
In this kind, you would think mee still afraid
Of Poverty; and, that which I should speak,
In some, perhaps, would such impressions make
That, they with difficulty would beleeve
What benefits I now thereby receive:
Forbearing therefore, that which I might add
I'le tell what profits may thereby be had;
That, others (who can think I do not lye)
May be no more afraid thereof than I:
That, also, they who thereby grieved are,
May in my Consolations have a share,
To bear those burthens without discontent,
Which are now on them, or seem imminent:
For, little I will mention which was brought
By reading, or by hearsay to my thought;
But, that Philosophy, which Reason teaches,
(Experience hath confirm'd, and GOD's Grace preaches)
Unto my heart; that, it may sympathize
With their hearts, who the same shall not despise:
Which, though exprest in language rude and plain,
Will, peradventure, to good use remain,
When they, who of their Elegancies boast,
Are, with their Kickshaws, in oblivion lost.
When most are also, quite forgot, whom they
Now dream, shall by their Poems, live for aye:
And, when, that, which they despicable deem,
VVith wise, and honest men, shall finde esteem.

In my Restraint, I therefore, do not whine;
At my Reproaches, I do not repine,
Nor murmure at my losses; nor want sense
Of what is in them, which may give offence.

My seeming-friends, I must confess, are fewer,
But, they whom now God gives mee are much truer;
For, these that now I have, I finde more willing
To give a pound, than those to pay a shilling.
Yet, some of these are so poor, that, I'm fain
Them, from their free Donations to restrain,
Because, that of my Sufferings they are grown
More sensible, than they are of their own.
And this, an evidence of that doth give,
VVhich pleaseth better than what I receive;
Since it demonstrates, GOD, hath in this Nation
A people, capable of his compassion.

I am not ignorant how much disgrace
Is thrown on Poverty, nor in what base
Account they are, who, thereby are constrain'd
Meerly, by Charity, to bee maintain'd:
Yet nought ashamed am of that estate
VVhich most so scorn, and so abominate.
For, without loss of honour, men of merit,
This Portion very many times inherit.
Great Consuls, and renowned Generals
(In such an exigent as oft befalls
To very many thousands in this Nation)
Have had relief without dis-reputation
By Common Charity: and, Antient Story
Hath kept memorials of it to their glory.
But, I refer that which I might express
(To take this Blur off) to another place.

To have subsistance by meer Charity
Is, to subsist by GOD, immediately,
And, they are wicked, or, vain fools, at least,
By whom those Exhibitions are disgrac't.
For, very many of GOD's favourites
Have been oft, thereby, from the worlds despights
Preserv'd: yea, to the World, it would appear
If shee would heed it, that, her Minions are

Expos'd to such a Lot, and (without shame)
Have been by Alms preserved as I am:
And, not in those necessities alone,
VVhich by mis-accidents are undergone,
Are they reliev'd; but, very many be
Thereby likewise upheld, in that degree,
VVhich much is honour'd; yea, ev'n to Excesse,
In outward splendor, and vain pompeousnesse.
For, this way, not alone are Monks and Friers
Maintained, with their Abbots and their Priors,
But, even the great Prelates, all their lives,
By Charities abused Donatives;
And, yet as loftily advance their crest
As if they had been Barons born, at least,
Precedency usurping upon those,
By whom, they from obscurity arose.

By most men, Poverty is thought so base,
That, they repute it for the great'st disgrace
VVhich can betide them, by what way soever
It comes; or howsoere they shall indeavour
To keep it off; and think it not their least
Dishonour, when enforced to subsist
By Charity, although it shall be used
VVith thankfulness, and in no wise abused.
And, many seek to turn it to my shame
That I now brought to this condition am.
Yet, what's to mee befallen worse or more
Than to good, wise, and great men heretofore?
Renowned Princes in preceding ages,
Have sought, and had Supplies and Patronages,
From Forein Kings and States, in their distresses
VVithout reprocah: yea, he that now possesses
These three great Kingdomes was by indigence
Constrained (not a very long time since)

By Charity, to be both cloath'd and fed;
To slake his hunger with a poor mans bread,
And, to accept it, not alone from those
Who were his friends, but also from his foes,
(Whose gifts were baits, whose Table was a snare,
And, of whom, if hee do not well beware,
More mischief, and, dishonour will be done him
Than by the Poverty then brought upon him.)
Some other persons also, of great birth,
From place to place have wandr'd through the earth
Maintain'd by the Charity alone,
Sometime by many, and sometimes by one;
And other while, have seem'd so left by all,
That they into great poverty did fall.
Yet n'eretheless, whilst they have Preservation
Retain still in the world some Reputation.
They are meer fools, or worse, who do beleeve
That, more disgrace, than these I can receive
From such an In-come: for (by what I gather
From thence) it is a real honour rather,
That, GOD supplieth (as it were) from Heaven,
When earthly wealth and honours are bereaven.
When Israel had been Captiv'd sev'nty year,
Hee made, even those, by whom inslav'd they were
Them, from their tedious thraldome to redeem,
VVhen there was none to help or pity them.
It was their honour, that their preservation
Should be vouchsafed, so to admiration,
That Nations all, might in all times to come,
By heeding it, consider well, from whom
They must in such like cases aid expect;
And, that, though by a long delay'd effect
They seem forgot, and outward hopes quite past,
There will bee a Deliverer at last,

By whom, those wants for which they have been scorn'd
Shall, to their honour, certainly be turn'd.

What is it more to my Dis-reputation
That GOD provideth for my preservation
By Charity, than 'tis disgrace to those
Who their Estates by Fire or Water lose
And, thereupon the State vouchsafes a Breef,
Whereby to ask, and to receive releef?
Nay, what supply can be so honourable
As that, which from hearts, by hands charitable
Is raised and conferr'd, (unaskt, unsought)
By them, of whom I never heard, or thought?
This way (which without shame I do confess)
GOD hath vouchsaf'd releef in my distress,
To mee, as hee to men in like estate,
Hath done in former times, and now of late.
E're while at Piedmont in their persecutions
Our Brethren hee reliev'd by contributions;
And, should I think it my disgrace can be
That, hee doth for my family and mee
Provide, as for a Nation? I beleeve
It blame deserv'd, if so I should conceive.

Though I had ask'd; what without asking came,
None could impute it justly to my blame
All things consider'd: for, a Publick Score,
Demonstrates, that this Nation owes mee more
Than Food and Rayment; and that, in the fine
My Want, will more be their disgrace than mine.
My beggarly condition, is a Portion
More noble, than Wealth gotten by Extortion,
Bribes, projects, and those cheats whereby some bee
Advanced to great wealth, and high degree,
Thought honourable: yea Benevolences,
And forced Loans, which otherwhile by Princes

Exacted be, much more disgraceful are
Than what my Benefactors do confer;
For, at my need, it giveth mee releef,
And, to the Givers, is no wrong or grief.

I hear that is disgracefully objected
VVhich by my Poverty is now effected:
My house, they say, is desolate become,
And, I confin'd am to a single room;
My wife is of her Dowry quite despoil'd;
I cannot give the portion of a childe
To Son or Daughter, which a while ago
I offred, and was able to bestow:
And, that, where lately we had good respect
Scoffs, flouts and jeers, are added to neglect;
And, though these hardships possibly I may
VVith patience bear, yet, certainly, say they,
These his Relations cannot: yes, they can
And have done, ever since the storm began:
For, we fore-saw it, and we did prepare
A stock of Patience, those events to bear.
My Spouse is CHRIST's Spouse, by a Law Divine,
More his, than she by Humane Law is mine.
Our Children (though the world usurps a power
O're them) are likewise, much more his than our;
And, of her scorn, though she an Object makes them
He neither helpless leaves them, or forsakes them.
He made this Globe, with all that therein is;
All things that are in Heav'n and Earth are his;
VVe know it, and therefore do not despair
That here on Earth; our loss hee will repair,
Or, give us better Portions, where, they never
Shall be impair'd, but injoy'd for ever.
Yea, I am confident, that, if it may
But add unto GOD's glory any way,

Or, make for their Advancement in that path
VVhich, to Eternity, a tendance hath,
He'l either keep them Virgins to attend
The LAMB, when he brings Babel to an end,
Or, marry them ere long, without my cost,
And, give them better Portions than they lost,
Or, at the worst, they shall content be made
VVith (be it more or less) what may be had.
This, without wavering, beleeve I do,
And, others will perhaps, beleeve it too,
VVhen they consider Marriages in Heaven
By GOD himself are made, and Portions given,
In Love and Vertue, without prepossessing
Of any other Medium, but his blessing.

Wealth, in it self, is neither good nor bad,
Nor Poverty, nor takes from, nor doth add
To Happiness Essential, but, as they
Are sanctifi'd, and as our games wee play:
And, of the two, in that, least danger lies,
VVhich we most seek to shun, and most despise.
Wealth, makes men wasteful, dissolute and lazy,
In manners rude, in Mind and Body crazy;
Makes bold-men cowards, Free-men doth inslave;
Many, to lose themselves, their wealth to save.
It so befools them, that Asse-like, some bear
Their golden-load, till, meat for worms they are,
Enjoying no more profit by their Treasure,
Save meerly, an imaginary pleasure
VVhilst here they live; and, as if hope it gave
It would be useful to them in the grave
They hugg it, hoard it, and do lock it fast,
(As long as living breath in them doth last)
Not sensible of any detriment
VVhich they do thereby cause, or might prevent.

And, I beleeve, three Families, for one,
That thereby thrive, by Riches are undone,
Through those debauchments whereto they allure,
Till, soul or bodies ruine, they procure.
Contrariwise, despised Poverty,
Incites to courage, and to industry,
Breaks thraldoms Yoaks; cures often, those diseases
VVhich Luxury ingenders, or increases;
For, 'tis an Antidote against the Gout,
And helps to purge all those ill humours out,
That, send men to their graves, by an excess
Either in gluttony, or drunkenness.
Exorbitant desires it doth restrain,
An empty belly makes a witful brain:
A crosseless purse, to him small danger brings
VVho bears it; for, before the Theef hee sings.
And, when he dies, that which makes those men sad,
VVho, whilst they liv'd, things in abundance had,
Afflicts not him that's poor; for he's depriv'd
Of nought, but what opprest him whilst he liv'd.
A very poor man also, scapes their fates,
VVho are belov'd, or hang'd for their Estates,
And, some at this time, (I beleeve) will judge
The last of these, to be a priviledge.
Though many, not a little do rejoyce
In that rude, loud, and everlasting noise
VVhich, in most rich mens houses you shall hear,
VVhere every Room is made a thorow-fare;
Or, where, so many servants help to do
Their works, as make one Bus'ness, more than two;
VVhere, for each man who faithfully obeyes him,
The Master feeds another, who betrayes him
And, thrice as many, who, by night or day
Do steal, perhaps, or spoil, or waste away

More (oftentimes) than would the charges bear
Of paying twice their wages, for that year:
Though many like this; 'tis to me an ease
That Poverty hath freed me quite from these.
I, now, finde much more joy, than in much pelf,
That, I have learned how to serve my self;
To brush my Cloak, my garments to unloose,
Put on and off, my stockings and my shooes,
And, that, without my Servants, I can bee
As well content, as they are without mee;
I know both how to want, and to abound;
And much more pleasure, I, in this have found,
Than in choyce meats, that in a time of need,
On bread alone, I savourly can feed,
Or; on as scanty, and as homely fare
(In my old age) as men that poorest are:
Yet, be both more in health, and no lesse able,
Than when GOD gave a fully furnish'd table,
With meat so well cook't, that it did invite
At every meal, a double-Appetite.
And, I, whose worst apparel us'd to be
As good as any mans of my degree,
Can in those garments, without shame, appear
Which, I, but lately was asham'd to wear;
Unto which confidence, till want had brought mee,
Philosophy, that lesson never taught mee.

I, must likewise, ingenuously confess
That, my distractions have been ten times less
Since I had nothing left, than whil'st I had
VVhat, in opinion, mee a rich man made:
And, this is gain'd by losing what is gone,
That, now, 'twixt having Wealth, and having none,
I know the difference to be so small,
That, upon neither of them, dote I shall:

For, as much certainty, I do perceive
In that uncertainty, at which I live
As is in any temporal estate
Of Goods or Lands (especially of late)
Now, therefore, I desire not to be Rich,
Or to be Poor, because (not knowing which
Will best advantage mee) I to his pleasure
Have left it, who, knows what Estate, and Measure
Of Wealth and Poverty, best fit mee shall
To do that, whereto hee vouchsafes a Call.
I neither Wealth nor Poverty will chuse;
Nor, which soere he gives will I refuse.

But, most men would have somewhat of their
As if supplies by Charity bestown,
Would sooner fail them; yea, although their Father own,
Well cloaths and feeds them, they desire much rather
To finger their whole Portion, that they might
Pursue their own desires, out of his sight.
Some other, altogether do rely
On their own prudence, and self-industry,
And, of Contingencies, are so afraid
That, thus within themselves their hearts have said;
We possibly, into such wants may fall,
And, so deserted likewise be of all
By whom we have been harbour'd, cloath'd and fed,
(Some of them being ruin'd, and some dead)
That, unless wee can some Reserve provide,
Whereby, what e're haps, wee may be supply'd,
Wee may become exceeding miserable;
Especially, if us to dis-enable,
Old Age, Restraint, and Sickness should increase,
And, to Necessities, add Helplessness.
Should this befall (as possibly it may)
Our Poverty would be too great, they'l say,

VVith patience to be born: Alas! poor men,
I'le grant all this may happen: but, what then?
Did ever you yet know, or see, or hear,
That Lands or goods freed any from this fear?
If not, how can you hope to bring to pass
That, which by no man, yet effected was?
Have you not still a GOD? and, is not hee,
A Refuge, though all other failing be?
Your Trust was never plac'd on him alone,
If him, you cannot trust, when all is gone.
VVhile somewhat's left, whereby subsist we may,
As David said, wee boast of him all day,
But, bee assur'd, that e're from hence yee go,
Hee'l make proof, whether it be thus or no.
Him, and our own Cause, wee do much mistake,
VVhen 'tis at best, the same at worst, wee make,
And, so much on his Gifts our hearts are set,
That, him, who did bestow them, we forget.
To GOD, be therefore, praise, who, by this trial
Gives mee both proof and means of Self-denial.

I, am as worthless as the worst of you,
I, nothing know by mine own merits due,
But, that which now I suffer, and much worse,
(The wages of an everlasting curse)
My frailties are as great, my sins as many
As yours; worse than my self I know not any,
Though some so seem: and, yet, GOD's promises
Make way through all these disadvantages,
So well to know him, that I do beleeve
My trust in him, hee never will deceive;
And, that it would for my advantage be
If all that may be fear'd, should fall on mee.
VVere that condition (as it may bee) mine,
I, then, should have no more cause to repine

Than any other man, who to the doom
Of Death submitteth, when his time is come:
For, he who feels this day nor want nor sorrow,
May be in worse estate than I to morrow.

So long, as I, have any work to do,
I shall have what is needfull thereunto.
And when 'tis at an end, no matter whether
The stroke of Death shall be received, either
By Axe or Halter, (so I merit not,
What is by Law the Malefactors Lot.)
Or, starving, or, by one of those diseases
Which, ordinarily, the body ceizes.
For, that shame, which men fear, whilst they have breath
By suffring, what they count a shameful death
Is shar'd among mankind, and every one
Bears part thereof with mee, when I am gone.
And, whilst I live, what e're can suffred be,
May fall as well to any, as to mee.
Upon my death-bed, or, upon a Rack,
When flesh and bones, and all my sinews crack,
I may be therewithall, as blithe and frolick,
As, when a burning Feaver, or, the Collick
Age, or Consumptions, or the Pestilence
Shall be the means to carry mee from hence.
The pains of these, are oftentimes as strong,
They do continue ev'ry whit, as long;
And, at a Rich mans door, a Lazar dies
Sometimes as easily, as he that lyes
Upon a bed of Down, and who till death
All necessaries in abundance hath.
This, being well observ'd, it may appear
That, we are fooled with false hope, or fear,
When we shall dream to be secured more
From all events, by being rich, than poor,

Or, that, there any state on earth can be,
VVhich may not have the same Catastrophe.

VVhen GOD vouchsafes to make mens Poverties
To glorifie him, he doth send supplies,
Ev'n by unlikely means; and makes that nourish
VVhereby, they, who are fed with dainties perish.
Them, on whom Tyrants no compassion have,
He, in the fiery furnaces can save;
When they are cast into a Lions den,
He maketh beasts more merciful than men.
He, (when to manifest his Power Divine
It pleaseth him) turns Water into Wine
Which, at a poor mans wedding once was done
More to his honour, than when Conduits run
With Sack and Claret; which magnificence
Adds honour to the marriage of a Prince.
He, when men hungring after Righteousness
Wait on him in a hungry Wilderness,
Feeds thousands with a few loaves, and two fishes,
As full, as if they had ten thousand dishes.
The bottome of a Barrel, and a Cruse
Shall Meal and Oyl sufficiently produce,
To keep a family in time of Dearth,
Until he sends a Plenty upon earth.
He, when the Creditor, for payment asks
(With rigor) doth fill many empty Casks,
Out of one pot of Oyle, until there be
A competence, to set the Debter free,
And, for his livelihood, in time to come.
Yea, by devourers, he doth nourish some:
For, daily, that Elias might be fed
The Ravens brought unto him flesh and bread.

This hath been; and some things I can aver
Of this kind, in mine own particular.

Once, twice, nay, oftner I have been distrest
As, I now am; and three times at the least,
Have had repair vouchsafed mee by GOD,
In such an extraordinary mode,
That, many did admire, at my supply;
As very well they might; for, so did I.
And, when it seasonably may be shown,
The manner of it will perhaps be known.

At, this time, that, which many did suppose
Would mee, ere now, have ruin'd; on my foes
Hath cast a bridle, and will keep mee from
What they intend, until my hour is come;
And, peradventure, then, restrain them too,
From acting all, that they intend to do.
That, which both my Estate and Reputation
Should have destroyed, is my preservation
Another away; and an advantage brings,
In better and more profitable things.
For, Slanders, gain mee credit; that, doth glad mee
Which was intended to deject and sad mee;
That, which pursued, is, to make mee poor
Makes my wants less, and my contentments more.
And, as if GOD had purpos'd to bestow
A sign upon mee, plainly to fore-show
That, those Afflictions, and abhorred places,
Which add to others, torments and disgraces,
Should comfort mee, when common comforts fail,
NEWGATE, suppos'd an ignomineous Jaile
To mee, hath (as it were a Patroness)
Contributed releef in my distress,
Perhaps, from some of them, whose pressures were
Either as great, or greater, than, mine are:
Which (as I am obliged) to GOD's praise
I do, and shall acknowledge all my daies

To be an action, which doth signifie
A greater Mercy, than that bare supply;
For, it informs, and well assureth mee
A Prison, shall no dammage bring to mee,
And, that those places, which, make many poor,
Will make mee richer than I was before.
These things, I thus express, that others may
Perswaded be, I do not write or say
What I have read or heard, or whereof I
Have no more in mee, save the Theory;
And, knowing, this, which into words I spin
Flows forth from what is really, within,
And, by experience learn'd, it might effect
That operation which I do expect.

Most men, suppose them signs they are beloved
Of GOD, and all their waies by him approved,
(How negligent soe're of his commands)
When outward things do prosper in their hands.
They count them marks of his especial Grace
If their Cows casts not Calf; if he doth bless
Their Oxen; if their flocks of Sheep increase;
If none doth in their persons them oppress;
If their new-purchas'd Titles be made good;
If, by their Trades and Rents, they to their Brood
May leave great Portions; if, they may at Court
Finde favour; and, if blessings of this sort
Be multiply'd upon them, they suppose
God is their Friend, and foe unto their foes.
Indeed, these, blessings are; But signs to mee
Of GOD's especial Grace, these, rather be;
That, when of Land and Goods I am bereft,
And, no external comfort seemeth left,
I can depend on him, and be more glad,
In his love, than in all that e're I had:

That, I am freely justifi'd by him
In that, for which the world doth mee condemn:
That, I perceive, he deigneth mee releef,
By that, which usually augmenteth grief;
And, that, when most inrag'd oppressors are,
Of their displeasure, I am least in fear:
That, things which threaten troubles to prolong
(Till they are helpless) make my faith more strong,
My fear as little, whilst the Fight doth last,
As at the Triumph, when all danger's past;
And, that, their waies, who do most malice mee,
Neither the waies of GOD, or good men be.

These things, are of GOD's love a truer sign
Than an increase of Corn, of Oyl and Wine,
And, I do smile to think, how like poor slaves
They will e're long, sneak down into their graves,
Who, make false boast of GOD, when they with shame
Shall know, that, by their spight I better'd am.
And, when my Country hears the next Age tell
How, mee they us'd, who alwaies lov'd it well;
What, better men have suffer'd; what, in vain
Was said; what done, undone, and done again;
How, Truth's bely'd; how Lies upheld for Truth;
How much the heart dissented from the mouth;
Their Deeds from what they seem to think and say;
And, how, at fast and loose, we now do play;
It will be thought, perhaps, this Generation
Had lost Faith, Reason, Justice, and Compassion,
And, they, who shall by strict examination,
Search out the cause of this prevarication
Will finde an hypocritical Devotion
Sprung from the love of Riches and Promotion,
(Dis-robing Piety of her plain Dresse,
To be dis-figur'd with that pompousness

Which is affected by the Man of Sin)
Of all that is amiss, chief cause hath been.

I must not scribble all that might be pend
Upon this Subject, lest I more offend
Than profit, or, lest, for want of speed,
Be hindred, in my purpose to proceed.
But, one more Argument, I'le therefore add
Whereby, it out of question may be made,
That, to be very Rich, indangers more
A real Happiness, than to be poor;
And, prov'd it shall be by a Demonstration,
That, will admit no future confutation.
Because, it shews that Wealth hath not alone
More hurt to many single persons done
Than Poverty, but, also to the Race
Of all mankind; and unto GOD's Free-Grace
Injurious been; dishonour brought to CHRIST,
And, set up his opposers Interest.
Observe, it, for, I, nothing will alledge
But, that, whereof, the meanest wit may judge.

I need not tell you, wee more easily
May drive a Camel through a needles eye,
Or, thread it with a Cable, than, to heaven
Rich men ascend, or thither may be driven.
For, most have heard, he spake to that effect
Whose judgement none have reason to suspect;
Yet, I will shew to you what way he went,
And how, by his example to prevent
That difficulty; For, he did not say,
One thing to us, and walk another way
As many do, and did, who would be thought
To follow him, and teach us what he taught.
In plain expression I will let you see
Who, those Impostors and Apostates be

Who speak sometimes his words, and do profess
His Truth, yet are in practice nothing less.

CHRIST, knowing well, that, Avarice, Ambition,
Wealth and Preferments ripen to perdition,
And, that, they so insensibly deprave
The best and wisest men, if way they give
To their Allurements; that, although he were
The Son of GOD, and needed not to fear
The frailties of his flesh, he, to the Law
Conformed, and preserved it in awe
By true obedience; mortifi'd that nature
Which he assumed from the Humane-creature,
Both by an unconstrain'd Humility,
And, by a voluntary Poverty:
And, did for our example, and our sake
Forbear, of things indifferent to partake,
Lest, we, who know not how aright to use
Our Liberty, things lawful might abuse
By taking that for food, which was provided
For Physick rather, when a Cure we needed.

When, first, from Heav'n he came (though Lord of all
In Heav'n and Earth he was) within a stall
He took up his first Lodging; passed on
Throughout his Childe-hood, as he had begun;
And, to the world, no better did appear
Than Son to Joseph, a poor Carpenter.
When to mans age he came (for ought we know)
He liv'd by labour, as such poor men do.
And, when he did begin to manifest
Himself to be the Saviour JESUS CHRIST,
His Royalty was furnish'd out no more
With Earthly Riches, than it was before;
He had nor Lands, nor Goods, to finde him bread,
Nor any House, wherein to rest his head.

He had, for what was needful, no supplies
But, pious men and womens Charities.
Poor despicable Fisher-men (or such)
And, those, who neither Noble were, nor Rich
He chose for his Disciples; and when these
He sent abroad on his Ambassages,
They were forbidden either to take care
Wherewith they might be fed, or what to wear,
Or, mony to provide for their expence,
But, leave those things unto GOD's providence.
To them his Gospel-principles he gave,
And, taught them how themselves they should behave
In their Discipleship, both where neglect
They found, and also where they had respect.
He them injoyned, to be meek and humble,
And, as the likeli'st block to make them stumble
Warn'd, to Precedency, not to aspire,
Or any Lordly Attributes desire:
For, his Disciples in their low'st condition
Began to be infected with Ambition.
The Sons of Zebede, when they were poor,
Were tainted therewithall; And, how much more
It doth deprave men when they wealthy grow
CHRIST did fore-see, and we have liv'd to know
By that, wherein the Prelacy hath varied
From his Example; and, by him who carried
The Bag in his time, we have learned too,
What Avarice may make a Bishop do.

Moreover, when by publick Acclamation
CHRIST had a visible inauguration
Into that Kingdome, whereto he was born,
No rich or Royal Robes by him were worn;
Nor sought he to be honour'd with such things
As are affected by terrestrial Kings,

But, meekly, through Jerusalem did pass
Not on a barbed Steed, but, on an Asse,
(Which none had backt before) & which nor Pad,
Nor saddle, trappings, or a foot-cloth had,
Save what the people on his back had thrown,
And, to that purpose taken from their own.
When he was crown'd, no golden Crown he wore
Lin'd with soft Fur, but, one much worse than poor:
A Wreath of Thorns, he wore upon his head;
He, had no better Scepter than a Reed;
A Purple Robe, was cast on him in scorn,
To be at that sad Coronation worn.
For him, there was prepar'd no other Throne,
Except a Cross, to be advanc'd upon.
Nor Fun'ral Rites, nor Monument, nor Grave,
Had he when dead, but, what some lent or gave.
Thus, poorly was his Kingdome here begun;
Thus, his Affairs of State were carried on.
So long, as he a life on earth retaind,
Like no terrestriall Monarch, here he reign'd;
But, glorifi'd his Kingdom in this mode:
And, when that he ascended up to GOD,
Hee, by his Holy Spirit, so did minde,
(And so inspire those whom he left behinde)
To propagate the same, that they pursu'd
The Discipline and Paterne, which he shew'd.
From SATANS Kingdoms, to distinguish it
He added whatsoever did befit
A Righteous Government, in every thing
Which might advance the Throne of such a King,
Without those Baubles which do more oppress
Their Subjects, than promote the Common Peace.
To this end, and preserve with purity
The Church and Saints in their integrity,

They left behinde them precepts, counsels, cautions,
And, many (not ambiguous) declarations,
Both to inform us of the mind of CHRIST,
And, of the wiles of that great Antichrist
Which was to come, and should foundations lay
To set a Kingdome up, another way;
That, might (if possible) be thought to be
CHRIST's Kingdome, as now thousands live to see
The world reputes what they erected have,
And, with her Ornaments, made rich and brave.

Moreover, that CHRIST's Vineyard and Cornfield,
Might fruits both nourishing and pleasant yeeld,
No needful diligence, at first was wanting,
In digging, dressing, sowing, or in planting;
Or, so to beautifie it, that none might
Despise it, or not therein take delight.
And, that, none should by Pride, or Avarice
Intrude upon their Brethrens Legacies,
They, truly, his Last Tstament recorded;
The same into a Gospel-Law they worded,
Which hath sufficiency, without additions
By humane policies, or new Traditions,
To constitute his Kingdome, and prevent
Prevarications, by mis-government.

To bar out Innovations, they by Deed
Confirmed, what they had in words decreed.
From no true principles of Faith they swerved,
Devotions reverence they well preserved,
Without new-fangles, and those trincketings,
Which Superstition to adorn it brings.
The Sacrament (by which the death of Christ
Should be remembred) they made not the Test
Of things, no way relating to that end,
For which, that Mystery he did intend,

Or, rendring, what should be by his intention,
The Band of Love, a means to breed dissention:
Nor was the Bread, or Wine, then Idoliz'd;
But, that Love-feast, was duly solemniz'd,
In decency, without vain pomp of State;
Altars, Court-cubbord like, beset with Plate;
Waxe-lights at noon, in Silver-Candlesticks,
Or, any other of those needless tricks,
Which were first introduced, in those daies
When Wooden-Priests, got silver Chalices,
They us'd no superstitious Adorations,
Cringings, ridiculous gesticulations,
Or mimick Actions: nor these, or those, postures
Of Body; neither places, times, or vestures,
Were so essential made, or necessary
To holy Duties, that, none ought to vary
From those Formalities: nor, painted walls,
Nor Pictures had they, Surplices, nor Palls,
Chimers, hoods, Rochets, nor rich Copes, nor Tippets,
Nor was their Service cut out into sippets,
For, such toyes (then unknown) did not begin
Till Antichrist arose and brought them in;
And, till with Wealth and Dignities inricht
The Presbyters, and Bishops were bewitcht.

To have prevented this (as I have said)
A good Foundation CHRIST himself had laid,
And, at the first, that Structure was begun,
Which, he intended should be built thereon.
Such as were then, by sacred Ordination,
Call'd Bishops, watchful were, and took occasion
From ev'ry slip, to travel, preach, and write,
That, errours and mis-deeds prevent they might.
As soon as Demas and Diotrephes,
With such like, were observed in their daies

To innovate, and labour to begin
That Prelacy which, afterward crept in,
They so oppos'd it, that, till from his chain,
The Devil (then confin'd) was loos'd again,
None could set up what a faction begun,
Though many were then working thereupon;
For, CHRIST's Apostles, and their true successors
(In spight of Innovators, of Oppressors
And Hereticks) by that simplicity
Of Truth, which was profest in Poverty,
Did so distinguish it, from what by those
Advanc'd would be, when Antichrist arose,
That, they inviolate maintaind thereby
Her honour, and her native purity,
Without that carnal Pomp, and costly Pride
With wch, the STRUMPET, now seems glorifi'd.
And wherewith, shee hath half the word inchanted,
Since Heathenish Deities, were first supplanted.

That Miracle, was wrought by GOD, through them
Whose Poverty the world did then contemn:
Ev'n when their Worshippers were in full power,
And, when inrag'd at height, sought to devour
Their scorn'd Opposers, they withall that odds
Were not then able to support their Gods.
But, when the Saints were as distrest and poor,
As they, who seek their bread from door to door,
When, they broke through a tenfold persecution,
To put their Masters will in execution;
When in despised habits through each Nation
They preach'd the blessed means of our salvation;
Were counted Fools, and as much dis-esteem'd
As any, who are now Phanaticks deem'd;
When, they had neither Academick Halls,
Schools, Colledges, or sumptuous Cathedrals,

Nor Universities, nor Deans, nor Doctors,
Prebends, Archdeacons, Chancellours or Proctors,
Nor Rents, nor Tythes, nor Pensions, nor Oblations,
Excepting onely good mens free-donations;
When they, nor Bishops had, nor Presbyters,
Save, such as holy Scripture characters,
(Who claimed no Precedence, or Submission,
From those, authoriz'd by the same Commission;
When, they were meek and lowly, in their places,
Poor in their Temporalties, and rich in Graces;
When, they (as necessary to salvation)
On no man, did impose an Observation
Of daies, times, forms, or Ceremonious Rite,
But, as to edifying, tend it might;
And, left them to be practis'd, or omitted,
As, either they might, or might not be fitted
To holy Duties, without just offences,
To other mens, or their own consciences:
(In which case, none that hath Sobriety,
Will bar another of his Liberty.)
When Pastors medled not at all, or little,
With Soveraigns, whether they themselves, or Title
Were good or bad; excepting in those cases
Which did concern the duties of their places;
But, in the fear of GOD, obedient were
To that Power, which did visibly appear
Impowered to protect them (whilst it stood
With that obedience, which they owe to GOD;
And, did by suffring, render satisfaction,
For what they dared not perform in action.)
When, Emperours nor Kings did them esteem,
Nor flatter'd were, or fawn'd upon, by them;
Ev'n then by these, mens Doctrines and Examples,
Were all the Gentiles great and glorious Temples

Throughout the world destroy'd: their Superstitions
(From which New Rome retrived her Traditions)
Were then by those expell'd: Their Oracles,
Then silenc'd were; Their jugling Miracles
Were prov'd Impostures: Then, the Sophistries
Of those whom former ages thought most wise,
Were found but fallacies; their wisdome folly;
Unsound their Manners, their beleef unholy;
Their books of Curious Arts, whereby great fame
They had acquir'd, were cast into the flame;
And, then, their Flamins, and Archflamins too,
(Who domineered as the Prelates do)
Were (as these, in the time appointed shall)
Brought to those dooms, which on Impostors fall.

The Worship also, wherewithall the Jews,
The worlds credulity sought to abuse,
As well as her Philosophy, was foil'd
At their own weapons; of that glory spoil'd
Whereof they boasted; and all this was done,
Without the Outward Pomp, now doted on.
And, if the Prelates, can with all the glory,
Which they have gotten by things Transitory,
And, by the help of all the Kings on earth,
To such another Miracle give birth,
Ile think, that they as great Impostors are,
As Jannes, and as Jambres long since, were;
Yet, still beleeve, that, maugre all their power,
The Rods of these, will their charm'd Rods devour.

That, which the Prelates take to be a sign
Of Sanctity, the most becoming shrine
Of sacred Piety, and true Devotion,
I mean, that Pomp, whereby (for self promotion)
They seek to trim and paint it, forth hath brought
(Compar'd to this) not any thing worth ought

But meer contempt: for, by the zeal of those,
Who, made such poor, and despicable shows,
More honour to the Church of Christ is done,
Than all their wealth and honours, have thereon
Conferr'd, in more than fifteen hundred years,
By all their great and potent Favourers.
They, whom the Churches Poverty brought forth,
Though poor externally, had inward worth;
Good life was practis'd, sacred Truth profest
Religion, with sincerity imbrac't,
In her poor Dress, by many an humble Saint,
Without the fucus of a Whorish paint;
And, till men leaving their plain sober way,
Sought by external wealth, to make her gay,
The Church, in Piety, did still increase
Though outward persecutions did not cease.

But, what hath followed since her Poverties,
Are chang'd for temporal wealth and dignities?
Since Princely Prelates sought for carnal things,
Had learn'd to flatter Emperours and Kings,
And, cheat them with a seeming Loyalty,
Made credible by fained Piety?
Since they, an Ambodexters part could play,
Had got two Masters, and a double pay,
Topt wreathes Imperial with a Triple crown,
Made Rebels Martyrs, trod Allegiance down
And, had on so much wealth and honour ceas'd,
That they could turn the scale wch way they pleas'd,
What, hath e're since that time, proceeded thence
But, products of Destructive consequence?
And those Confusions, for which (withont shame)
Some, to the Saints of GOD, impute the blame,
As heretofore, the Heathen Tyrants did
To them, whose blood they innocently shed?

And, though that in their publick declamations,
(As also, in their private exultations)
The Prelates, to a joy transported seem,
Like (as they say themselves) men in a dream,
To see that Wealth, and Pomp restor'd again,
Whereof, small hope they did erewhile retain;
Though, of a golden Hierarchie dreaming,
They (still the Poverty of CHRIST blaspheming)
Do think, the Angels are as glad as they
Of that, wherein they triumph at this day;
And, say (which I conceive to be a lye)
That, they, could well content have been to dye,
The next day after they restor'd had been
To that condition, which they now are in;
Yet, I beleeve, it will not, in the cloze,
Make them so happy, as they now suppose;
Or, give much cause unto this Generation,
To be well pleased in their restauration.

For, to these Nations, or unto our King,
What, can I think, these golden Calves will bring
Save, at the last, what followed upon that,
Which Jeroboams policy of State
Produc'd in Isr'el, when he (as it were
In spight of GOD) set golden Calves up there?
And, his Successors walkt on in that way,
VVhat er'e those Prophets, from thenceforth, could say
VVhom GOD, in Justice, or in Mercy, sent
Their threatned desolation to prevent?
VVhat, is more likely, if th'abominations
Of, almost ev'ry Good-man, in these Nations
Shall be indulg'd? (and, though it ever since
It first begun, produc'd nought but offence?)
For, Observation daily finds it plain,
That, fear of losses, or the hope of gain,

Or, of Promotion, will root out apace
The feeds and plants, of Piety and Grace.
And, since, already, it so multiplies
Apostates, and augments Hypocrisies,
What can be thought, but, that, those daies, we see
Wherein, th'Elect shall hardly saved be,
Unless GOD shorten them? for, whatsoere
Men say, or do, they fall into a snare;
And, those Deceivers, whereof last I spoke,
To blinde mens eyes, have raised such a smoak,
That, few, know which way safely turn they may;
Or, what to think, beleeve, hope, do, or say.

Such Histories, as are approv'd by those,
Who never did the Prelacy oppose,
Affirm, that when the Churches Augmentation
Of wealth and honour, by the free donation
Of Constantine, was first on them conferr'd,
A voice, was in the Air distinctly heard,
Which did these words, articulately say,
Into the Church is poison pour'd this day:
And, thereupon, that, quickly did ensue,
Which, manifests the Saying to he true:
For, they, who read Historical Relations,
Of what hath been in former Generations,
(As also, in their times) discreetly heeding
What, their Experience addeth to their reading,
Will finde, that, here, and, almost ev'ry where,
The Prelates cause of many mischieves were.
Yea, that the greatest troubles on the earth,
Sprung indirectly, or directly, forth
From their Ambition, Avarice and Pride,
When Gold and Silver they had multipli'd.

How many troubles, have been here of late
Occasion'd by what they did innovate?

How many thousand Families undone
In these three Kingdomes are, since they begun,
Those Whimzies, which the prime occasion were
Of all the Civil Wars and discords here?
And, what more will ensue, GOD only knows,
For, wee, already see ill boding shows.
Their Avarice, and matchless greediness,
Of hoarding Treasure up, to an excess
At such a time as this, wherein the State
Is straitned; (and when much it doth abate
That, Trading, whereby, our necessities
Publick, and Private, should have their supplies)
Produceth ill effects; and how by these
Both in their Civil Peace, and Consciences,
Men may disturbed be, there's cause of fear,
By what in their deportments doth appear.
And, I observ'd this (which Ile now record)
That, when they first begun to be restor'd,
With them, return'd (God grant there come no worse)
May-poles, Maid-marian, & the hobby-horse,
Beside, some other heathenish Prophanations,
Maugre the Kings late pious Proclamations.

It would fill many volumes to collect
What Prelacy did heretofore effect;
How troublesome in other Common-weals,
And Kingdomes, it hath to GOD's Israels,
And, other people been: how oft have they
Endeavoured their Soveraigns to betray,
Unto the See of Rome? how oft, to bring
The People into bondage to their King,
That, when their purpose they had wrought on him
Both King and people, might be slaves to them?
How insolent and impudent a power,
Was then usurped when an Emperour

Did hold the Stirrup? when an English king
They to so great a slavery did bring,
(And foolery to boot) as to decline
His Royal Person, at Tom Beckets shrine?
Do pennance there, and be so much befoold,
That, school-boy-like, he was with Rods there school'd,
By Canterbury Monks? when, he, that trod
Upon his Leige Lords neck (blaspheming GOD)
That piece of scripture, to himself applide
Which could in none, but CHRIST, be verifide?
Intolerable was his arrogance,
But, such are oft effects of their advance;
And, thus, have Kings and Emperors been rewarded,
Who, their lean Gammons, had with fat inlarded.

These, are the blessed and the holy fruits,
Of their great wealth, and Lordly Attributes;
Yet, these are not the worst; for Kings and Princes,
Were not alone by Prelates insolencies,
Abus'd like other men, in what relates
Unto their lives, their honours and estates;
But, GOD, is also, thrust out of his Throne:
Ev'n his Peculiars are usurp'd upon;
And, such Intrusions are now made, by these
Upon mens Faiths, and on their Consciences,
That, they make many Proslites for the Devil,
Expose them to an everlasting evil,
And, causes are of mischiefs and offence,
VVhich all the world can never recompence:
For, Bonds they lay, where GOD doth none impose;
Unbinde, from what he never will unlose;
And, whatsoere he speaks, his words, by these,
Are made to mean, what ever they shall please.

But, let the Saints in patience persevere;
For, though these arrogantly domineer,

And in their hopes grow every day more strong,
Their time of standing, will not now be long:
The Kings, who with the Cup of Fornications
Have been made Drunk, for many Generations,
Will at the last grow sober, or else mad,
To see what power on them, these Juglers had,
And, help to bring that fatal Judgement on,
Which must reward them for what they have done.
Great Babylon it self, will shortly fall,
And, they shall have their Portion therewithall.

To do us harm, they had not been so able,
If in those Principles, men had been stable
Which constitute CHRIST's Church; nor to assist
As they have done, the Throne of Antichrist.
Had these been still content to seek no more
(As Bishops were in ages heretofore)
Than might supply things needful in their place,
For Nature to promote the works of Grace,
(Nor stretched their Precedency ought further,
Than did conduce to Decency, and Order)
It had not such ill consequents produc'd:
And, could they but, yet, timely be reduc'd,
To that Bound; Discords, would ere long be ended,
And, much, that is amiss would be amended.

(GOD Bless the King, and open so his eyes,
That, he may see in what his safetie lies;
And prosper mee, as I desire hee may
Walke and continue, in that blessed way,
Which truly to his glory doth redound;
Whom he so kind, and merciful hath found.
My prayers are, that GOD would make him strong
Against the Charms of every glosing Tongue;
In Grace and Vertues, daily so improve him,
That, GOD and Men, for ever more may love him;

And, that, I may finde favour in his sight,
According as I am in heart, upright:
For, whatsoever, hee shall bee to mee;
To him, I'm true, and so will ever be.
GOD, pardon all that I have done amiss,
And, so, I finish this Parenthesis.)

Here, I have shown you, by plain demonstration,
Which (as I said) admits no confutation,
That, Poverty (though much despis'd) is better
Than Riches; and, that, I thereto am debter
Much more, for what concerns my happiness,
Than, by what can be got by an excess
In Wealth and Honour: And, what's here rehearst,
Will bee approv'd, when Synods have reverst
Their Votes; and be by Wisest men upheld
VVhen Acts of Parliament shall be repeal'd,
That, were confirm'd, by Commons, Lords & King,
VVhen, GOD, shall to effect, his purpose bring,
And, those men to their wits, who, little heeded,
VVhat, would ensue that, wherein they proceeded.
Now I have done. If this you can beleeve,
And, GOD, his blessing thereunto shall give,
I have what, I desired for my paine;
And, what's here writ, shall not be writ in vain:
for, all that's in my words, is in my heart,
In every circumstance, and every part.
Perhaps, this despicable Barly-cake,
May tumble, till a fatal breach it make
Into the Tents of Midian: but, thereon
VVhat ere else follows, let GOD's will be done.
Though no man living, should the same regard,
A good work, to it self gives full reward;
And, there is nothing, that can make it less,
Than what it is, or, bar it from increase:

For, though such Accidents, may oft befall,
As, that, it will not so appear to all,
Nor Poverty, Imprisonment, Disgrace,
Life, death, good, bad condition, time nor place,
Praises, Privations, nor ought that hath name,
Makes real Vertue, not to be the same.

Glory be to GOD.

University of Virginia Library

A Triple Paradox;

Wherein are asserted, these particulars, that IMPRISONMENT, is more safe than LIBERTY; SLANDER, more advantageous than PRAISE; POVERTY, more profitable than RICHES.

For an INTRODUCTION, the AUTHOR flings this Express to the WORLD.

Confinement is more advantageous than Liberty.

SLANDER is more Beneficiall than PRAISE.

Poverty is more profitable than Riches.