For our Watchmen, the faithful
MINISTRY.
Lift up your voice, Cry Watch-men, cry aloud.
Dangers and duties to be laid forth, and prest
from clear, just, and convincing grounds.
Religion suffers by Usurpers, proud,
Of successe insolent. Now, Sion's plea
In dispute is, the Glorious Liberty
From trampling on Religion.
Of Sacred Truth restrain'd, It's beauty marr'd;
Prodigious Toleration boldly dar'd
To be maintain'd. How men upon them take
Despising of Dominion, everting of lawfull
Government.
The ground-work of just Government to shake,
On Crowns to Trample, of due pow'r deprive
All pow'rs, from them that pow'r do not derive?
How languisheth the Work of God? His Cause
From marring of God's work and shaming of the
Covenant.
Discountenanc'd? Divine and Humane Lawes
All violate? How a reproach become
Our solemne Covenant, abroad, at home?
What grounds for reall fears? What snares contriv'd?
From fears of further attempts, and proof of
former snares; from practises against parliaments and domineering over God's
Inheritance.
How are of Righteous Priviledge depriv'd
The highest Justice Courts? The honest side,
Expos'd, as preys, to avarice and pride?
Imprison'd, spoil'd, effronted, put to flight,
Of lives and fortunes not secure one night.
Then whether fury's drive? at Christ's own Throne
From displaying of banners against the Son of
God, whose enemies are our enemies, and with whose suffering members we are
bound to sympathise.
Strike not these Apostates? The Highest One
Engag'd is in our quarrell. We, of late,
Conceiv'd our losses and our suffrings great,
While over-aw'd by Arms, till God arose,
Made bare his Arme, and Proudlings did oppose;
But Rods of Children, reck'ning, here, and there,
We, but the finger, they the loyns do bear.
Where now our fellow-feeling, former zeal?
Shall in this exigent faith also fail?
To you bold freedome fitly doth agree
Whom Truth in former Tryalls hath set free.
Take, take your Watch-towre; thence, around you view
As heavens give order, your Commission shew,
Men of God's Counsell. God drives on designes
And last, from God's purposed destruction of
obstinate revolters against Truth and lawfull Authority, however imployed
for our sins, as the rods of his just indignation.
(In which, his Justice and deep wisdome shines)
By men, whose wills his hand leads on to act
His holy will, and guilty of the fact
Them holds, as having byass'd from his ends,
By other motions turn'd then he intends,
And all for their just ruine. Whence to fire
Shall Rods, when God's Commission doth expire.
What stick we then? shall not the Lord bring down
Perfidious Traytours to Christ Jesus' Crown?
As clouds evanish, as the morning dew,
As Chaffe, and chimney smok driven hence we view,
Shall not divine displeasure sweep away
From off the earth thoses warmes that dimne our day?
Shall publick Prayer, and the secret moan
Of Saints, unanswer'd ly at Justice Throne?
To you the times is given to understand;
Shew, if fit times do call, hand join'd in hand
That all for God, true valour to improve,
With Echoes of joint acclamations, move,
Let Colours fly, Drums beat. Gird on your Swords.
Arme, Gallants, Arme; the Battell is the Lord's.
