University of Virginia Library

To his Meditation.

Thy meaning here (ô Muse) I pray dilate,
Canst thou the Lord preserve, or vindicate:
Is not Jehovah all-sufficient,
In and of himself? pray, what hast thou meant
By these thy words? I answer, some do strive
In this our age to rob, bereave, deprive
God of his titles, they think it no shame,
To say he mocks poor souls, now can you blame
Me thus to speak, since errours out of date?
To Gods dispraise are fash'ons now of late;
The foes to truth say in Predestination,
The Lord is guilty of Equivocation,
Which I deny in all my foll'wing pages,
Concording with Gods Word & learned Sages.
Yet not this 'lone, but many errours more
Have landed here of late on th'English shore,
Which I oppose according to my gift:
And if by this I chance to give a lift,
And displace this errour, un'versall grace,
Together with Freewill, which creeps apace
Into our faith of late; I shall do more
In these few lines, than many heretofore
In greater Volumes; 'cause I understand
The hearts of all men are within Gods hand,
To be turned by whom, and when he please:
I have a hope, that this may do't with ease.
I'm satisfi'd (ô Muse) with this thou say'st,
'Tis wel thou speak'st thy mind ere thou decay'st.
Go forth with speed, & pow'r against thy foes,
Fear none of them, thy Patron will oppose
Them all, thou hast likewise some friends that will,
While they can speak, defend thine honest quill:
While truth thou lov'st, & falshood dost disdain,
Thy neer and faithfull friend I shall remain.