University of Virginia Library

Of late a wondrous accident befell,
A zealous Cobler did neare Morefields dwell:
A holy Brother of the Separation,
A sanctified member by Vocation.
One that did place his principall delight,
To set such as doe walke aside, upright,
To mend bad Soales, and such as go astray,
Discreetly to support, and underlay.
This Reverend translating Brother (How)
Puts both his hands unto the spirituall Plow;
And at the Nags head, neare to Coleman-streete,
A most pure crew of Brethren there did meete,
Where their devotion was so strong and ample,
To turne a sinfull Taverne to a Temple,
They banish'd Bacchus thence, and some smal space
The drawers and the Bar-boy had some grace.
There were above a hundred people there,
With whom few understanders mingled were,
Who came to heare the learned Cobler How,
And how he preach'd, pray mark, Ile tell you now:
He did addresse himselfe in such a fashion
As well befitted such a Congregation.
He made some faces, with his hands erected,
His eyes (most whitest white) to heaven directed:
His hum, his stroking of his beard, his spitting,
His postures, and impostures done most fitting.
A long three quarters prayer being said,
(The good man knowing scarce for what he prai'd)
For where his speech lack'd either sence or weight,
He made it up in measure and conceit.
A worthy Brother gave the Text, and than
The Cobler (How) his preachment strait began
Extemp'ry without any meditation,
But only by the Spirits revelation,
He went through-stitch, now hither, & now thither,
And tooke great paines to draw both ends together:
For (like a man inspir'd from Amsterdam)
He scorn'd Ne sutor ultra crepidam;
His Text he clouted, and his Sermon welted,
His audience (with devotion) almost melted,
His speech was neither studied, chew'd or champ'd,
Or ruminated, but most neatly vamp'd.
He ran beyond his latchet I assure ye,
As nimble as a Fairie, or a Furie:
He fell couragiously upon the Beast,
And very daintily the Text did wrest;
His audience wondred what strange power did guide him,
'Tis thought no man can do the like beside him.
Yet some there were, whose censures were more quicker,
Said Calveskin doctrin would hold out no liquor.
'Gainst Schooles, and learning he exclaim'd amain,
Tongues, Science, Logick, Rhetorick, all are vain,
And wisdome much unfitting for a Preacher,
Because the Spirit is the only teacher.
For Christ chose not the Rabines of the Jewes,
No Doctors, Scribes, or Pharisees did chuse:
The poore unlearned simple Fisherman,
The poling, strict tole-gathering Publican,
Tent-makers, and poore men of meane desart,
Such as knew no degrees, or grounds of Art;
And God still being God (as he was then)
Still gives his Spirit to unlearned men,
Such as are Barbers, Mealmen, Brewers, Bakers,
Religious Sowgelders, and Button-makers,
Coopers, and Coblers, Tinkers, Pedlers, Weavers,
And Chimney sweepers, by whose good endeavours
The flock may fructifie, encrease, and breed
In sanctity, that from them may proceed
Whole multitudes of such a generation,
As may hold learning in small estimation.
The Latine is the language of the Beast,
Of Romes great Beast, that doth the world molest;
Besides the Bishops speake it when they will,
And all the Preachers babble Latine still;
Then since it is the Romish tongue, therefore
Let us that doe not Antichrist adore,
Leave it to Lawyers, Gentlemen, and such
Whose studies in the Scriptures are not much.

This was the very summe, the root, and pith,
The Coblers Lecture was full furnish'd with:
And having said his All (his prayer past)
He blest his Brethren, and came to his Laste.
And in some points, the Coblers case is cleare,
Christ chose not learned men when he was here,
Not Masters, or expounders of the Law,
(For he knew all things, and all things foresaw)
For had he chose great men of wealth & arts,
The Jewes (with slanderous tongues and hardened harts)
Would then have said that what he did, or said
Was done by their assistance, and their aide.
He therefore chose poore men in meanes & tongue,
That by weak means he might confound the strong.
Yet this is certain, that at Pentecost,
(When on th'Apostles fell the holy Ghost)
Each of them spake, each severall language then,
And were, and ne're shall be such learned men.
Not all the Universities that are,
Or were, or will be, with them may compare,
For never Bishops, or Divines inferiours,
But did acknowledge them for their superiours
For sanctity, and working Miracles,
For preaching sacred heavenly Oracles,
For perfect knowledge, and integrity,
For life and doctrines pure sincerity
Th'Apostles had more than the whole world had,
Therefore the Cobler and his crew are mad.

Objection.

But some (perhaps) may answer me, that then
No humane learning did inspire those men.
And that the Spirits mighty operation
Gave them the language of each severall Nation:
Indeed true Christian Churches have confest,
That long agone all miracles are ceast,
We must not look for signes and wonders now,
God plentifully doth his Word allow,
And Tongues are not so easily discern'd,
But men must study for them, to be learn'd.
For when the Apostles all were gone and dead,
By learned men the Gospell was or'espread:
And publish'd, and translated every where,
Else we had never had a Bible here.
'Twas Schollers, and grave learned men that did
Translate the Scriptures, which had still been hid
From all Sects, that would Order undermine,
Maintaining learning fits not a Divine.
Therefore if they (as they doe boast) inherite
So large a measure of th'unmeasur'd Spirit,
Let them speak tongues, as then the Apostles spake,
To work great wonders let them undertake;
Let them convert unto the Faith of Christ
Whole nations (whom the devil hath long entic'd.)
Let them the Moores, and barbarous Indians teach,
And to Man-eating Canniballs goe preach:
Let all those Brethren leave great Britaines Coast,
And travaile where the devill is honour'd most.
All you that are this Kingdomes pestilence,
I wish you goe, and drive the devils thence;
And then my Muse and I, in Verse will tell,
You and your Spirit have done wondrous well.