University of Virginia Library

Thus in a plain petitionary mode,
I have been wrestling as it were with GOD,
For King and People: For whose sake I made
This GLASSE, which else no being should have had.
I must confess, my own sad Cause broke in,
As soon as ere I did therewith begin;
And would not suffer me to persevere,
Unless it therewith interwoven were.
Fain would I have forgot it; but I may
As well, if broyling on hot coals I lay,
Resolve I would not feel them, as I then
Could from it totally refrain my Pen:
For (as I have yet) I had then my share
With such, as this day most oppressed are.
Yea, mov'd I was, these Musings to compose,
When Scorns, Wrongs, Wants, and multiplying Foes,
Had overwhelm'd me so, that they had crackt
My Brains, if this Employment I had lackt.
Like ballast in a Ship, it kept me steddy,
When I had else been over-set, or giddy.
And, my Afflictions have permitted been,
Perhaps, not altogether for my sin;
But partly, that together with mine own,
The Grievances of others might be known;
And that for no respects I might forbear
My thankless Office of Remembrancer,
For which GOD had with Health, and Food, and Rayment
Vouchsaf'd me extraordinary payment,
Till I neglected it, on vain surmises,
Appearing in some rational disguises.

At first I lazie grew; then, fell in doubt
Whether the work I was employ'd about
Were GOD's, or rather somewhat, which to do,
Not Duty, but my Fancie led me to.
Then I began to think it might be spar'd,
Because I saw that neither much regard
My Musings had, not any such effect
As I by them did formerly expect:
And at the last, I fear'd if I went on
With what I purpos'd, I should be undone.

Thus, though in Conscience I was call'd unto it,
I did neglect it, till GOD whipt me to it;
And therefore now am justly thrust among
Those thousands, who complain of helpless wrong.
I dreaded, that it might encrease my Troubles;
And therefore, them upon me GOD redoubles.
I feared that some Losses might befal;
And therefore worthily have now lost all.
My Duties, I deferred to be done,
Till I should have more Rest; and now have none.
My wives and Childrens ruine I did fear;
And therefore I and they now begger'd are:
Yea, so much more then begger'd, as my Debt
Amounts unto, (for ought that I know yet.)
This, by my Carnal Prudence I have got;
And this in like case, will be each mans Lot
GOD, will have his work done for love or awe;
And since I did it not whilst I had Straw,
I now must gather Stubble. I was fain
To prosecute this (not without much pain)
When I had but a very little left,
And often threatned was to be ber eft
Ev'n of that little. Scarce one man I knew
Who cared for my soul; and very few
To whom I my condition might relate,
Or unto whom I might communicate
These Lines, without a mischief or a jeer,
When I conceived they most useful were;
Nor have I wherewith to the Press to send them,
Though I for publication do intend them;
Nor have I in my power a certainty
Of what should necessary things supply;
Nor know from whence it shall to me be given
For time to come, except it rain from Heav'n:
And (which of these Afflictions is the chief)
I freedom want to seek for my relief.

And whilst this was composing, the despight
VVhich long was riping, grew to such a height,
That evil News like Job I did receive,
As if the World from GOD had gotten leave
To try my Patience as she pleas'd should be,
Preserving onely Life and Health in me:
For by their Censures many did assay
To take my Confidence in GOD away:
Objecting, That my scriblings to make known
The Times Corruptions, flow'd but from mine own:
That, Malice, Envy, Pride, or private Spleen,
The Fountains are, whence issu'd they have been:
And press'd it so, as if it were a Crime
More capital, then any of our Time:
Which makes me unto GOD, sometimes to cry,
Search thou my heart, and give the world the lye.
She dayly seeks occasion to defame me,
To make me miserable, and to shame me:
She practiseth all means that may deject me,
And how she by despairings, may afflict me.
Yea, as if knowing I were musing now,
On somewhat which her Projects might o'erthrow,
Her Friend the Devil, doth afflict me more,
Then all that I have mentioned before,
By strongly tempting them, whose nigh relations
Can most augment my inward perturbations,
To be afraid, that I so much prefer
My own Designes, before my Weal and their;
That, what at this time I pursue, will be
The total Ruine both of them and me;
And, that what I resolve, doth rather flow
From Wilfulness, then Duties which I owe;
Or, at the best, from some Fanatick Fit
Proceeding from a boldness without wit:
And to convince me of what they alledge,
They thereof make my greatest Foe the Judge:
Which more perplext me, and my patience try'd
A great deal more then all the world beside:
For, neither World nor Devil could invent
A Remora like that, to my intent.

I, notwithstanding, still proceeded on
To do, what I think needful to be done;
As all men should, who know oblig'd they are,
Their Deeds by their own Consciences to square,
And not by other mens; because, that none
Must answer for their faults, but they alone.
If this be not my Work, and that work too,
Which I was principally born to do,
I know not wherefore I was born, or why
I lived, but to eat, and drink, and die;
Which made me in condition, at the least,
As low, if not much lower then a Beast,
Considering what Faculties they be
Wherewith my Maker hath endowed me:
And if such Works as these, are fit for none
But perfect men, they never can be done.

Was I enabled this way to express
My minde so plainly, and with easiness,
In my distracting troubles, to no end
But Time, and Ink, and Paper to mispend?
Are we, by GOD, so often call'd upon
To heed what he, and we ourselves have done,
(And stir up others to perform the same)
For nothing but to be expos'd to blame,
Or to mis-censures, when we undertake
That thankless Office, for meer Conscience sake?
Is Poesie, which Wise Men have believ'd
A Gift from GOD, ev'n in the Womb receiv'd,
(And, whereby David did both Trophies raise
To his REDEEMER's everlasting Praise,
And leave behinde him for our imitation,
Reproofs of Tyrants, in his Generation)
Is that now grown quite useless, in all those
To whom a portion thereof he bestows,
Except Lust to inflame? To cast disgrace
On Vertue, or extol a painted Face?
Is it in these days, not to be allow'd,
Unless it be to idolize the Proud,
Or flatter Fools? I'll wonder then no more,
Why Poets are less priz'd then heretofore.
No marvel they are slighted; and, perhaps,
Cherish'd like Parrots, or maintain'd with scraps,
Like Spaniels, and must think much honour done them,
If their great Patrons please to grin upon them:
For, they deserve no better meed then so,
If that be all the work they have to do.
This way it is, and shall be still, employ'd
By me, although I thereby am destroy'd:
And, though it is an old adjudged case,
That Poets must be poor, I'll not be base.
My Poverty is without president,
For I am poor by Acts of Parliament.
I was not into that condition thrown,
Till they who crackt my credit lost their own;
And if the King please, he may make me rich,
Yet loose no honour, nor in treasure much;
For, had I but mine own, my Debts to free,
I should suppose my self as rich as he.

From GOD, if this proceed not, I shall have
The recompence I merit to receive;
VVhich will be at the worst an outward trouble,
And loss of that which I have built with stubble:
But, if it flows from him, it will produce
Effects which to his glory shall have use;
And, he will bring it forth at such a time,
As, serviceable make it will to him.
Yea, though into the Thames it should be thrown,
Like that which being tide unto a Stone
VVas sunk in Euphrates (and no more seen
After in Babel it once read had been)
And will be made available to that
VVhich, in composing it, I aimed at.
Till that time, therefore, I will lay it by,
Not doubting such a time is drawing nigh.

If this King (as I hope) be hither sent,
As well for Mercy, as for Chastisement,
(For, we need both) it, such effects will bring,
That we in Judgements shall of Mercy sing.
For my part, whatsoere my Portion be,
I'll take that thankfully which falls on me,
As fent from GOD, whoere he be that brings it,
Yea, though at me, in rage, the Devil flings it:
For (be it known and heeded) not in vain
Die they, who in the forlorn Hope are slain:
Nor useless to a Victory are they,
VVho are suppos'd to throw their Lives away
By desperate attempts; since Providence
(VVhose way transcendeth mans intelligence)
Acts very many times, by things which we
Think may to her own ends repugnant be.
They who were slain when first the Fight begun,
And they who fought until the Field was won,
May (whatsoere to others doth appear)
In work and honour, merit equal share.
Nay, signal Victories are got sometime
By that which hath been punish'd as a Crime.

To me and many other men beside,
May, peradventure, such a Lot betide;
However, I submit unto his pleasure,
VVho acts in his own time, by weight and measure;
And, sorasmuch as I have no defence
Against my Foes, but naked Innocence,
(Or words, which are amongst them sometime shot,
To let them understand I fear them not)
I, (that my Flesh may be preserved from
Dejection in her mode, till succours come)
My Fortress keeping, their Affronts despise,
Shoot back their stones, and durt into their eyes;
Believing, they to peace will now incline,
Or, be reduc'd to harder streights then mine;
As they but lately were, who did contemn
The Sequels, whereof I fore-warned them.
And, if by Storm, they take my Life away,
(Which, I as little do regard, as they)
It, in their Souls may leave a Sting behinde it,
Which, will with Torment, make them sometimes mind it.

But, here I yet remain; and for a Close
(In reference to our Antichristian-Foes)
I'll adde this Corollary by the way,
Whilst on his Horns, the BEAST is tossing Hay:
For, if deceiv'd I am not, our Disease
Chiefly proceedeth, under hand, from these.
And though (a farther-off removed Cause
Pretending) they bescratch us with the Paws
Of other Beasts; it plainly may be seen
By whom our Troubles have contrived been.
I, therefore, make but a Defensive War
With such as mine own Adversaries are;
And (to his Captains, as th'Assyrian King
Once gave command) intend no Dart to fling,
To be destructive to Foe great or small,
Whose hate to me, is onely personal;
But, as those onely, whose hate doth extend
To HIM, and HIS, on whom I do depend.

To act the last Scœne which precedes their Doom,
They, now new vampt, upon the Stage are come;
And though that with the KING, as if his Friends,
They seem to side, they come to other ends,
Which, he not yet discerning, in his grace
Vouchsafes them a considerable place;
And, of prevailing they already boast,
As if they saw the LAMB, and all his Host
Quite overthrown; which me as confident
Hath made, that GOD their proud hope will prevent;
And overthrow that Tyranny out-right,
By what they dream shall raise it to its height.

But, many Tryals must the Saints abide,
And very much their patience will be tride
Here and elsewhere, before that Act is done,
Which with an Anti-mask is now begun.
Our Friends inhabiting beyond the Waters,
And who were of our Tragedies Spectators
Now twenty years (though they perceive it not,
Or seem not to perceive it) in that Lot
Which these have cast for us, designed are
(Or in what follows next) to have a share:
For, Hamans PUR's on foot; not onely here,
But, likewise almost ev'ry other where;
And these think, that to take them by his Gin
With most speed, is, with us, first to begin.
But, there's a Counter-mine, which will be sprung
To blow up them, and all their Mines, ere long.

Six hundred sixty six, draws on apace,
And not one day beyond that, shall they pass:
It is the Number of that MAN OF SIN,
VVhereto his Kingdom hath confined been
By him that cannot lye: and, long ago
To many, that Epocha I did show,
From whence his Reign begins; And, by a Light,
(As I believe) which shines without deceit,
It numbers out his Reign as certainly
As women reckon the Nativity
Of Children in their VVombs, which hath success
VVithin a very few days more or less:
And of that Mystery, what heretofore
I have exprest, I'll here express once more;
Because, those Notions which may much be needed,
Cannot be too oft told, nor too well heeded.

To former Times, this Mystery was dark,
And lay a long while, cover'd like a spark
In ashes, lest perhaps what at this time
Will comfort us, might have discourag'd them
Who lived then: for, men rejoyce to hear
The day of their deliverance is near;
But nothing save discomfort could they gain,
By knowing Tyrrany so long should reign.
Herein, I circumstantially perchance
May somewhat erre through humane ignorance;
But, as to that which was essentially
To us intended by this Mystery,
I shall not fail of; which is to presage
That Babylon shall fall in this our Age.

Sev'n Numerals the Romane Empire had,
Whereby of old they Computations made;
And in them was their Destiny foreshown,
(Though to themselves perhaps it was unknown.)
These, placed singly, as they valued are,
Do truly (though mysteriously) declare
How long that Empire, with what sprung there-from,
Should last, when to the full height it should come:
For, M. D. C. L. X. with V. and I.
Do number up, in Chronogrammistry,
Years Sixteen hundred sixty six; and, that
Will be of Roman Tyrannies the date.
No other Number either more or less,
If none of these you double or displace,
Can be by them exprest. If you ask when
This Number did begin; I say, ev'n then
When Rome declin'd first, from her height of pride,
Which was, when Jesus Christ was crucifide:
For, at that time her glory did abate.
This Number therefore you must calculate
From, or about, the known time of CHRIST's Passion,
Not from the first day of his Incarnation.
A silence (as it were) seem'd to have been
In heaven, during th'interval between
His Death and his Ascention, as if caus'd
By seeing that done which had much amaz'd
The whole Creation, when that they did see
The LORD OF LIFE hang dead upon a Tree.
The Devil, probably, at that time too,
VVas at a stand, and knew not what to do.
But, soon perceiving that the snare he wrought
VVas broke, to make another, streight he sought;
VVhich, to prevent, an Angel in a Chain,
(His other pow'rs, him suff'ring to retain)
Did for a thousand years restrain the Devil
From setting up that Mystery of Evil,
VVhich in Pauls time he was at work upon.
But when those thousand years were fully gone,
He rais'd it up; and GOD permitteth him
To manage his own Engine for a time,
That, Truth and Errour might here for a space,
Make ttyal of their strength; and, that each Grace
And Vertue of the Saints, by exercise
Improv'd might be, to fit them for the prize
Prepar'd for those, who shall engage with CHRIST,
And overcome the Dragon and the Beast.

A thousand years sharp Tryals they withshood;
Yet then they strugled but with Flesh and Blood;
And, for the most part, all their Combates them,
VVere like Saint Paul's at Epheus, with Men
Resembling Beasts: But since Iniquity
Was set up vailed with a Mystery,
(As in these latter Times) with greater Evils
The Saints do grasp: for, they contend with Devils
In shape of men, in temporal Confusions,
Made terrible by spiritual delusions;
And therefore GOD allotted unto him
VVho tyrannizeth now, a shorter time;
And to a certain day his reign did fix,
VVhich endeth at six hundred sixty six:
And he who knows on what day it begun,
May know the day on which it will be done.
VVhich I believe will visibly appear
In, or about the sev'nteenth hundred year.
And thus much onely, thereof to foreknow,
(VVith how nigh to an end it seemeth now)
May make us hopeful, and our Faith uphold,
As well, as if year, day, and hour were told:
Yea, and it better serves to exercise
Our Constancy, then if 'twere otherwise;
And if well heeded, peradventure may
Keep some upright, who might else fall away
In these back-sliding days; wherein, they see
The Beasts late deadly wound nigh cur'd to be.
They on a sudden are become as jolly
As if they thought it to be cured wholly:
And, to impose their Mark, will now begin
To be more strict then ever they have been;
So that ere long, few men shall live in peace,
Bear Office, or a free Estate possess,
VVhere they have power, unless they marked are
In hand or forehead, with their Character.
But, if that, whereof some imperfect views
Far-off, appear, accordingly ensues,
There will, to thwart their hopes, a New Star blaze
VVithin the West, that shall the world amaze;
And Influences through the Universe
So quickly, and prodigiously disperse,
That, aided by concurring Constellations,
It shall have some effects upon most Nations,
And cause such Changes, as will make a stand
In those Attempts which they have now in hand.
Yet know, it will but a Diversion be,
Not that which must from Bondage set us free.
And know likewise, that this which last of all
I have exprest, is but a conjectural,
And springs from Notions meerly rational,
That possibly may, or may not befal.
Those Notions, which may variously relate
To me and others, in our twofold state,
Are summ'd up for a General Fore-warning;
GOD, give my Readers spirits of discerning,
And so much Grace and Meekness, as to heed
His Truth, from whomsoe'er it shall proceed.
Such Contemplations are not in my pow'r
At all times; for, my Flesh oft draws me lower;
And I am forc'd to please her otherwhile,
By Strains, that harmlesly may her beguile
With hopes of what she looks for in her mode,
Till that comes, which essentially is good.
And if these both together can maintain
My Faith in patience, 'tis not work in vain:
For, such, so great, so many are my Foes,
(And frailties too, more then my own heart knows)
And so malitiously do they contrive
My ruine (more perhaps then some believe)
That, oft I'm forc'd to answer (I confess)
The Fool according to his foolishness;
And, when surpriz'd, upon my guard to stand,
With any lawful Tool that comes to hand.

GOD, hath in bidding to the world defiance,
Preserv'd me hitherto without compliance
In any base mode (though by bringing on me
Great Mischiefs, she hath now three times undone me:
And, I am hopeful, he is with me still
As he hath been; and therefore, to his will
And free disposure, I will all things leave
VVhich may to me or mine, relation have:
And in contempt, of what my foes intend,
These Musings, this ensuing Jigg shall end;
Which blame not, if you finde it somewhat long:
To shorten Grief, I lengthen out my Song.