The honest ghost or a voice from the vault [by Richard Brathwait] |
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In Answer to this Paper of Verses, intitled The Quaker;
whereof He was reported to be the Author.
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 | The honest ghost |  |
In Answer to this Paper of Verses, intitled The Quaker; whereof He was reported to be the Author.
Hold thy penurious Pen, injurious Elfe,
In taxing Quakers, I might touch my selfe.
These last seven yeares I lived in this Clime
And shew'd my selfe a Quaker all that time.
For when I saw a sterne Committee-man
I from that Sight a Quaker streight became;
For Fox I hold him a magnetick Sead;
In taxing Quakers, I might touch my selfe.
These last seven yeares I lived in this Clime
And shew'd my selfe a Quaker all that time.
For when I saw a sterne Committee-man
I from that Sight a Quaker streight became;
Quercedulæ sumus omnes,
—Alis volitantes vagis.
—Alis volitantes vagis.
Planc.
And NAILER, One that hits the naile oth' Head.
322
I turn'd to Quaker, and my Senses lost.
When an Excise-man or an undertaker
For State-assesse; these Sights made me a Quaker.
Tracing those Streets where I did mony ow,
The smell of Mace made me a Quaker too:
For They who on Parnassus build their nest
Are Slaves to Fortune; Subject to arrest.
Now in my age too when I weigh my sin,
I Quake to think Oth'State that I am in.
Cease Critick then, thus to traduce my quill,
I have a Quaker beene and must be still.
My Body is the Court-loft where I live,
From whence no Mortall can me freedome give,
Nor from my Grate procure me a release
Till my arrivall at the Port of Peace;
Where being once infranchis'd in that Citie
I'm priviledg'd from Debt, Assesse, Committee.
For you, my Quaking Sisters, yee doe make
Me when I see your rivell'd beauties, quake;
That you should pine, and spend your Spirits and dy
Like forlorne Sceletons, and know not why.
I wish, deare Ducklings, you would understand
That God requires no such thing at your hand.
How is it that you cry Repent, Repent,
And wast rich houres in fruitlesse discontent?
Why doe you hout and houle and take no rest
As if in HOPE you had no interest?
“Shun such impostur'd fancies; Fly to Him
“Whose light can cleare your cloud and clense your Sin.
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“But judg your selves; for that's the way to Heaven.
“Rend not your Clothes but Hearts: The Saints desire
“That you should try your selves, not Cloaths by fire.
“Make use of what is requisite and fit,
“You should not hate your flesh, but cherish it.
Be frolick then my Girles, and freely feed
And propagate your Doctrin by your seed.
“If Quaking proper be in any Sence
'Tis in the sweet injoyment of a Wench.
This was well knowne to Adam and his Eve;
And what they lov'd, let not their Children leave:
Yet so, as each may reape what he has sowne,
And ev'ry Adam have an Eve of's owne:
For though there were no Statute to forbid it,
God has pronounc'd a Curse 'gainst Him that did it.
| The honest ghost | |