University of Virginia Library


67

Another Song

[Time past we understood by story]

Time past we understood by story
The strength of Sin a Land to waste,
Now God to manifest his Glory.
The truth hereof did let us taste,
For many years, this Land appears
Of usefull things the Nursery,
Refresht and fenc'd with unity.
But that which crown'd each other Blessing
Was evidence of Truth Divine,
The Word of Grace such Light expressing,
Which in some prudent Hearts did shine,
Whose Flame inclines those noble minds
To stop the Course of Prophanacion
And so make way for Reformacion.
But He that watcheth to devour,
This their intent did soon discry,
For which he strait improves his power
This worthy work to nullify
With Sophistry and Tiranny,
His agents he forth with did fill
Who gladly execute his will.
And first they prove by Elocution
And Hellish Logick to traduce
Those that would put in execucion,
Restraint of every known abuse;

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They seperate and 'sturb the State,
And would all Order overthrow,
The better sort were charged so.
Such false Reports did fill all places,
Corrupting some of each degree,
To whom the highest Title graces
From hearing slanders was not free,
Which Scruple bred, and put the Head
With primest members so at bate
Which did the Body dislocate.
A Lying Spirit mis-informed
The common peeple, who suppose
[illeg.] things went on to be reformed
They should their ancient Customs lose,
And be beside to courses ty'd
Which they nor yet their Fathers knew,
And so be wrapt in fangles new.
Great multitudes therefore were joyned
[illeg.] Sathans plyant instruments,
With mallice, ignorance combined,
And both at Truth their fury vents;
[illeg.]st Piety as Enimy
They persecute, oppose, revile,
[illeg.]en Freind as well as Foe they spoyle.
[illeg.]e beauty of the Land's abollisht,
[illeg.]h Fabericks by Art contriv'd,
[illeg.] many of them quite demollisht,
And many of their homes depriv'd

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Some mourn for freinds untimely ends,
And some for necessaries saint,
With which they parted by constraint.
But from those storms hath God preserved
A people to record his praise,
Who sith they were therefore reserved
Must to the heigth their Spirits raise
To magnify his lenity,
Who safely brought them through the fire
To let them see their hearts desire
Which many faithfull ones deceased
With teares desired to behold,
Which is the Light of Truth professed
Without obscuring shaddowes old,
When spirits free, not tyed shall be
To frozen Forms long since compos'd,
When lesser knowledg was disclos'd.
VVho are preserv'd from foes outragious,
Noteing the Lords unfound-out wayes
Should strive to leave to after-ages
Some memorandums of his praise,
That others may admiring say
Unsearchable his judgments are,
As do his works alwayes declare.