Hymn V. For a member of the Parliament.
[_]
It is necessary that the Rule whereby things are to be
regulated should be streight: and therefore, Lawmakers
ought to be VVise and uprightmen, lest
the chief Remedy of our Evils, be made worse then
the Evils themselves. To the Members of our high
Court of Parliament, this is well known; yet,
this Hymn, shall perhaps, be a means to remember
some of them of that which they know.
Sing this as the 4 Psalme.
[1]
They, no mean place of Trust, receive,
VVho by free-choice have gain'd,
That Facultie Legislative,
VVhich I have now obtain'd.
For, they have ample Pow'r, from those,
By whom, they chosen be,
In Temporall-Things, to binde, and lose,
As they just Cause, do see.
2
VVho e're, therefore, they be, that shall
Ambiciously Affect,
To fill such Roomes, before those call,
VVho, freely, should elect;
VVho e're those be; they, more presume,
Then Justice doth permit;
And, more, unto themselves, assume,
Then Reason judgeth fit.
3
VVhoe're likewise, for private ends,
For Favour, Fear, or hate;
To harm his Foes; To please his Friends:
Or, save his own Estate:
Yea, whosoer'e his dearest Blood,
(Or, those by Him, begot)
Prefers before the Common-good;
This Trust, deserveth not.
4
Law-givers personate a Part,
VVhich doth in them, require,
A Prudent-Brain, an Vpright-Heart,
A rectifide-Desire:
For, who beleeves that they can give,
To others, Laws-upright?
VVho, lewdly Talk, prophanely Live,
And, in vain Things delight?
5
Imprudent Legislators, may
Much greater Mischiefs cause,
And, Innocencie more betray,
Then they that break the Laws.
For, He that many Laws doth breake,
May wrong but one or two:
But they which one Bad Law shall make,
VVhole Kingdomes may undo.
6
Inspire me Lord with grace, therefore,
VVith Wisdom, and Stout Zeal,
And, with uprightnesse, evermore,
To serve the Common-weale.
And, so to serve, that, their offence,
(At all times) I may shun,
Who serve it so, as if the Prince,
And Kingdome, were not one.
7
He that with one of these partakes,
Vnto the others wrong,
VVhat goodly shew soe're he makes,
VVill injure both ere long.
Yea, whatsoever such pretend;
(VVhat ere they swear, or say)
They, will be Traitors, in the end,
And, one, or both, betray.
