University of Virginia Library

Occasional Conformity.

A proper new Ballad. By a West-Saxon.

Occasionly as we discours'd of Queen, and Church, and Nation,
Occasionly we took to view that Engine, call'd Occasion.
Occasion fram'd for nothing else, but to occasion Mischief;
A Cloak to cover Hypocrites, of whom the Devil is chief.
Occasion for a Loop-hole serves, whenever there's occasion,
To leave Plain-dealing in the lurch, and fly to dear Evasion.
The Loyalist may hang himself, and damn's Equivocation,
That fusty Ware's now thrown aside, Occasion's all the fashion.
Let England prize her Native Wares, and not be for Outcomers;
We've home-spun Jesuits of our own, more fine than from St. Omers.
These Saints of freshest date devis'd this new Trick, call'd Occasion,
By this they have refin'd upon all former Reformation.
Dull Martyrs spill their Blood in vain for want of this Device, Sir;
By this they might have Heathens been, and Christians in a trice, Sir.
Occasion more Faces has upon Occasion surely,
Than ever Hugh or Burgess had, who taught the Gospel purely.
True Scot, upon Occasion, can look like English Bishop;
And Quack out-does, with Whiggish Wares, all such as come to his Shop.
Occasion can make a Man, with little or no trouble,
Sincere as canting Whitaker, and honest as Tom Double.
Occasion permits the Saints occasionly to lye, Sir;
And fathom Mysteries too deep for such as you and I Sir.
Occasionly they shall conform, occasionly dissent, Sir,
Occasionly shall take an Oath to break it with intent, Sir.
Occasionly shall go to Church, occasionly to Meeting;
Occasionly betray their Lord, while they like Judas greet him.
Occasionly deny him too, in open view of Men, Sir;
And where's the harm? for when 'tis fit, they own him can agen, Sir.
Occasionly communicate, occasionly refrain, Sir;
But constantly communicate when 'twill occasion Gain, Sir.
When 'twill occasion Godly Men to Parliament to ride-a,
And there with great Sincerity to take Occasion's side-a.
When 'twill occasion Cheats to scape, and hinder fair Accompting,
When 'twill occasion Lets and Rubs, past Honesty's surmounting.
On such Occasions they can kneel like rankest Idolaters;
But Turn once serv'd, and Place obtain'd, no stiffer Idol-haters.
Thus 'casionly for God they are, and 'casionly for Devil,
Occasionly for Good again, occasionly for Evil.
Occasionly for Heaven bound, occasionly for Hell, Sir;
But surely 'twould be sad to have occasion there to dwell, Sir.