BRITISH APPEALS, WITH GODS Mercifull Replies, On the behalfe of the Common-wealth of England.
Contained in A Briefe Commemorative Poem, Composed for a Memorial of some of those many signall Mercies, lately vouchsafed to this Rebublike; especially, for those deliverances upon the appeales of the Parliaments, and Royall Forces at Naseby; of the English and Sccottish Armies neer Dunbar in Scotland, and for the late Surrender of Edenburgh-Castle, &c.
By GEO. WITHER, Esquire.
Febr. 1. 1650.
Let this Poem, entituled the British Appeals, &c. be speedily Printed.
William Lenthall, Speaker.
Printed for the Author, and are to be sold by Nathaniel Brooks, at the Angel in Corn-hill, 1651.
[Page]BOUND BY J.MACKENZIE BOOKBINDER TO THE KING
[...]
To the Soveraigne MAIESTY OF THE Parliament of the English Republike, (by the grace of God) Keepers of the Liberties of England; Protectors of the true Christian Faith, and (within their Territories) Assertors of all the just Priviledges of the Humane Nature, against the Usurpations of Domestick and Forraigne Tyrants, &c. AND, ALSO, To the Right Honourable Councell of STATE, established by their Authority.
THe praise of
God, and of praise-
worthy Men▪
Are proper subjects of the
Poets pen;
And they, of old (though disesteem'd of late)
Had power
heroick-titles to create;
Or,
Attributes of Honor, to confer
Where,
Worth, most eminently, did appear;
And, none, have been more glorious under Heaven,
Then those, which they, deservedly, have given:
No, not those high-priz'd
Attributes, with which
The Pope his
Royall-Vassalls did enrich:
For, this
Power, they enjoyed, long before
Popes were; so shall, when they must be no m
[...]
And, of their
Holinesse, had thus much odd
[...]
That, ere they could
[...]
[Page]Such as they were; and heretofore great
Kings
Ambitious were, of their
Canonizings.
But though
impostors use to make a shew,
With counterfeited
Jewells, mine, are true;
And this, now being a
Triumphall-day,
Expecting all things in their best array,
My
Muse, in her
Addresses you salutes,
With such
New-titles, and
high attributes,
As none have yet ascrib'd; that, I may shew
To others, what I know to be your due.
For (though your
Justice, and your
Mercie be
The
Essence of your
Glorie)
Wisemen, see,
That, these are
accidents which do belong
To
Power; and, which, may help to make it strong,
And, should not be refus'd, when they are brought
By other men, and by your selves unsought:
Nor, will they judged be, to overswell
A
modest height to him that heedeth well,
What is, in
Petty-States, ascrib'd to them,
Who are invested with a
Power-Supream.
But these, are but a Preface to my gift,
Which, I present, out of a nobler drift,
Than by these Circumstances can appear;
For they meer Harbengers, or Ushers are
Unto that Trophie wherewith I assay
To imp, the Publick-duties of this day:
And help to magn
[...]fie his glorious
Name,
To whom, your
Piety devotes the same.
Y
[...], these high
Titles are not fixed here,
To make you
great, in your own eyes, appear;
But, honourable, in the sight of those
[...] whom your
just commands you shall impose:
[...] to be viewed as
Remembrancers,
[...] hat high trust, which God on you con
[...]ers.
[...] to serve sinister ends you take them,
[...] titles of
dishonour make them.
[Page]As largely, and as well, as my
weak-wit,
(My
leasure and the
short time) would permit,
I offer, here, a brief commem'rative,
Of those things, for which,
Thanks, this day we give:
That, to
Gods praise, they may be thought upon,
When this our short
Solemnity is done:
That,
unborn chlidren, may commemorate
His
Mercies in the
birth, of this
new State,
When they shall read, by what
throws, rent and torn
The
mother was, before it could be born:
And, that, by knowing, what their
Freedoms cost,
They may not let them carelesly, be lost:
Or, be unthankfull, as now many are,
And, thereby, in that
blessing, lose their share.
In lofty
strains, I do not strive to sing,
But, in a
plain song, humbly forth to bring
Such
Charmes, as profitably may be read,
By those, who of my
Counsell, have most need;
And, such, as may be usefull, to expell
Those
evill spirits which amongst us dwell,
To interrupt the setting of that
Peace,
Which brings an
universall happiness.
I owe a
thanks to God; and
thanks to you;
And though I cannot pay the half that's due,
Where least I
owe; I, truly, have assaid
That, of a
great debt, somewhat might be paid.
Despise it not, therefore, though much it lacks
Of what should be.
Quench not the smoking flax;
Break not the bruised Reed. But, acceptation
Vouchsafe, to this imperfect
Presentation;
And, as I shall deserve it; so, let me
Preserved in your good opinion be.
[...]an
[...]ry 30. 1650.
Geo. Wi
[...]
TO The VVel-affected of the Common-wealth of ENGLAND.
VVHen the late Act of Parliament came forth, commanding the celebration of a publick Thanksgiving, upon the 30. of January last, for Gods manifold mercies to this Republick; and for those especially in the said Act expressed: though my own affairs were at that time in their crisis, and my urgent necessities required their immediate prosecution: yet my heart being moved with a strong desire to prepare somewhat (according to my faculty) which migh help stir up this Nation▪ to glorifie almighty God for our manifold and great Deliverances; as was piously enjoyned by Supreme Authority: I resolved to trust him with my own businesse; and, wholly to set apart the remainder of that Moneth to compose a Commemorative Poem toward the illustration of his extraordinary favours to this Common-wealth, in his glorious goings forth with our Armies; and in such other manifestations of his gracious Providence, as have conduced to the accomplishing of our just, and reasonable hopes. And, though I have not therein answered what may perhaps be expected in such an undertaking; yet having done what my ability and the shortnesse of the time (made shorter by many accidentall obstructions) would permit; I hope you will favourably ex [...] me, in regard it may neverthelesse, be in some [...] usefull to the better performance of the Du [...] [...] after the Day is past, by bringing to re [...] many of those mercies which occasioned [Page] that dayes solemnization; and I presume, it wi will find good acceptation with you, whose eye God hath opened to see his wonderfull loving kindnesse, and, whose hearts are not hardened to the [...] destruction, or shame, for shutting their eyes, wilfully against the light, which heretofore shined up on them.
I have no hope to prevail upon such, as are perverse: for like Jannes and Jambres, they have obstinately opposed our deliverers, and have [...] the Egyptians in resisting God. They have sometimes acknowledged his Finger in the miracles, wrought for us; as that people did, and yet persist in then obduracy. They, have seen the Rods of power and discipline, turned into, Serpents; and that which was in the hand of lawfull authority, to devour those, which were grasped by impostors. They have seen, as the Egyptians did, their Lakes, ponds, and Rivers, turned into blood: and all their fields, waters, and habitatitations filled with those, which were hieroglyphically signified by Frogs, Lice, Flyes and Locusts. God, in like manner, hath proved them, by his judgements, and by plagues, upon their beasts, their fruits, their treasures, their persons, and their hopes of posterity: he hath punished them, as well with a gross darknes, and other privations, as by arming against them, all the Elements. They have seen their late King (for continuing in his hardnesse of heart) like Pharaoh, drowned (as it were) in the Red Sea, even in that sea of blood, which by his wisfullnesse hath overflowed these Islands. Yea they see those waters which gave passage for his people, to escape their [...]ry, stand on both hands ready to swallow [...] up; yet they being more blind and mad [...] Pharaoh and the Egyptians (because, they [...] for examples) the [...] [...] [Page] purposes, as in despight of God, and will not acknowledge his Actings, though they see them; nor his Voice, though they bear it, nor his hand though they feel it: Now, if all these things have not softned their hearts; and if neither the Pillar of fire which they see going daily before us, nor the Cloud, out of which God looks often very terrbly upon them, can move them to praise God with us, in our publick acknowledgements of his mercies; I must not think my charmes will operate much upon them: and, therefore, to Gods good pleasure, I will leave them, and you, who are better affected, to the enjoyment of his mercies; whereof I humbly expect and confidently believe to be a partaker.
Your faithfull, and ancient
Remembrancer, GEO. WITHER.
The British Appeales, with Gods mercifull Replies, on the behalf of the Commonwealth of England, &c.
The Argument.
The
Muse, begins, with
filiall fear,
To raise a
joyfull trophie, here.
The
differences, doth express
'Twixt
formall, and
true thankfulnesse.
Brings out those
mercies to your view,
For which our
praisefull thanks are due.
Warns, all men, timely, to take heed,
What,
God hath done; and may succeed,
To those, that will not understand
The
work which he hath now in hand.
Then after some
thanksgiving-songs,
Informs, what further, yet belongs
To
thankfulnesse, and open layes
Th' event, of
right and
left-hand wayes
MY
soul, in honour of th'
Eternall King,
Of
Judgement, and of
Mercy now shal sing:
Of
Mercies, and of
Judgements, and, again,
Of
Mercies, that they may not be in vain.
And that out of my
poverty, I may
Add to the
publick offrings of this
Day,
A
supplement, to fill up vacant places;
To fill up, extraordinary
Graces.
To make us
mindfull, what is further due,
To keep
sheedfull, what may else ensue,
And perfect that, which others have begun,
Concerning what, the
Lord of Hosts, hath, done.
[Page 2]I sing, the breaking of that
Brazen yoke,
Which, from our gauled necks, was lately broke;
The gracious
Verdicts which the
Court of heaven,
To our
Appellant-combatants, hath given;
The thrusting of the
Proud out of the
Throne;
The setting up, of
humble men, thereon;
The
malice, craft, and
wilfulnesse, of those,
Who were our
open, or our
secret Foes;
And, therewithall, the
matchlesse love, of him,
Who from their
Tyrannies did us redeem,
Shall be my
Song: and I desire it may
Be
set and
tuned, unto such a
Key,
As, that, my
Readers, may perceive, thereby,
The usefull power of
hallow'd-Poesie,
In raising, Gods neglected
mercies, from
Forgetfulnesse, to shine through
times to come.
My
Structure therefore, shall be rather
strong,
Then
Lofty; that, it may continue long:
And though my
Weaknesse, may not reach to that,
Which my
Intentions have been aiming at;
Yet, I am hopefull, that I shall be able,
To offer an
Oblation acceptable:
For,
God in
willingnesse, takes much delight,
(Although, it can but set a
stone upright,
As
Iacob did) vouchsafing acceptation,
To ev'ry
Faithfull-Offrers free oblation;
And equalling the raising of
one stone,
Eve'n with the
Temple, of great
Solomon.
I,
Voices hear, of wondrous things abroad;
Of multitudes of
Mercies, from our God;
Mercies, too great, for
Scorners to believe;
Too good, for
men unthankfull, to receive:
Such
Blessings, as no former Age had greater;
Such, as no time ensuing shall have better
Yet, every day almost brings forth new matter
Of
exultation, both by land, and water.
[Page 3]
Good newes, employeth almost every month;
Yea, weekly from the
East, the
West, the
South [come)
(And thence, from whence 'twas said no good can
Even from the
North, Glad tidings are brought home.
To those, who for their own escapes, have mourn'd,
With
Zions Ruines, God, hath back return'd
Those
Signal Victories, which, you have heard,
In Publick, by a
Publick Act declar'd;
With their
dependent-Mercies: now, I'le add
What from my
private notions may be had;
O give attentive heed, to what is said;
And let it with doe seriousnesse, be weigh'd:
For, I shall mention, (if time fail me not)
Things neither to be sleighted, or forgot.
But whence comes this? alas! now I am ready
To write, I find my shaking hand unsteady.
A shivering doth surprise me; and a fear,
As if som
Apparition, did appear,
Obstructing my
Designs, and, to assay
The turning of my thoughts, another way.
What ails my heart! that in this uncouth fashion,
There strives in me, a
Contradicting Passion?
Which like the twins, within
Rebeccas Womb,
[...]eem to be strugling, which may overcome.
Why is my
heart, (which hath enough to do,
Wi
[...]h
one at once) thus overcharg'd with
two?
Two
Passions, as destructive to each other,
As fire and water, clos
[...]d uptogether:
And so divided, that, it hardly knowes,
To whether, most reluctancy, it owes.
This, is a
day of triumph; wherin, they
Who, have atchiev'd them, set us
Trophies may
[...] ou
[...]ward
Ioy and such as could not win
Externalis, may keep Holyday
within,
[...]heretofore, they so
good husbands were,
[...]o store up ought, for entertainment
there,
[Page 4]It is
a day, wherein, I ought to sing,
A
Song of praise; and purposed to bring
Expressions forth, which might be to this
Nation,
A lengthening out of
Thanks, and
exultation,
By making Gods
free mercies, thought upon,
When all this
generation, shall be gone:
Yet, now I should perform, what I decreed;
I, am unable, further to proceed.
Of
glorious victories, the Guns, the Bells,
And this dayes due
solemnization tells,
To make us with more seriousnesse, to heed
Gods owning of our
Armies, at their need;
And those
glad tidings, which divulged are,
Invite to
mirth; yet somewhat, bids me
fear;
Yea, though my
lips are tempting of a smile,
Mine
eyes (I know not why) drop tears the while,
Seeming to tell me with a silent voice,
That we with
trembling should this day
Rejoyce:
Yea, though I feel my heart is truly glad,
Of what I
hear; it is as truly sad,
For what
I know, for what I daily
see;
For what
hath been; or may
hereafter, be.
Distempred, thus, I very seldom grow;
And, therefore, it, the more affects me, now,
With
Jealousies, and
Fear, left, somewhat may
Ere long befall us, to
beeloud this
day.
With me 'twas never thus, but when from
Spain
Our late unhappy
King, return'd again,
Depraved and made giddy by that
Cup
Of
Poyson, whereof there he took a
sup.
And, then, I felt these
Passions. I confesse
My joy was then, as great, my
fear no lesse;
Though neither much appeared to the
eye,
Or to the ear of any stander by.
It fareth, now with me, as on that
morning
Which, first, inform'd us, of his
safe returning;
[Page 5]For, when the voice of his
arrivall came,
The
City Bon-fires, blaz'd into a flame
Which menaced the
Clouds; the
Clouds powr'd down
A
floud, as if the
City they would drown.
The
Common people, were transported so,
(As 'tis their guise) that
wisemen could not know
Whether they might be thought,
exceeding glad,
Or, rather, to be
somewhat less than mad.
The
Earth seem'd
joyfull of his safe return;
The
heav'ns for something hidden seem'd to
mourn.
And, as in those, there then appear'd to be
A
diffring Passion, so, it was, with me.
Though, none more wish'd the
Kings returning
Though I was truly glad, to see him come, (home,
And for this
safe arivall shewed, then,
My
joy, as much, as other
sober men,
Yet,
joy and
sorrow strove in me together,
As if they labour'd to supplant each other:
And, long time kept me, in a doubtfull pause,
Of whether His
Return would give most
cause;
And by what hath succeeded, it appears,
My
joyes were far more causlesse than my
fears.
The same distempers, are,
this day in me,
Great, are my
joyes and
hopes, great also, be
My
griefs and
fears: God render them, successe,
And consequences, of more
happiness,
Then, followed after that; and take away
Th'
effects, and
causes, of my
fears, this day.
God, turn all to the best; and give us grace
To cleave to him, what ever come to passe.
God, give us
Will, those
Achans to remove,
Which, to the
publick Peace, destructive prove.
God, grant my
hopes, hereafter may be truer,
The
causes of my fear, much lesse, and fewer:
And, that, the Councells,
Charles did then neglect,
May be received, now with more respect;
[...]
[...]
Left his
example, that should make us better,
May make us worse, and our damnation greater.
For
God will not be mockt; nor will he spare
For ever, though a while he doth forbear.
Where greatest
Mercie, he, vouchsafes to shew,
The greatest of his Judgements will ensue.
He that improves not, ev'ry gift God gives,
(According to the measure he receives)
Shall lose the Talent upon him bestown,
And into
utter darknesse too be thrown.
Then much more, they who shall Gods
Grace requi
[...]
With willfull
disobedience or
despight:
And for that cause, it hath been said,
the Lord
Is mercifull, and therefore should be fear'd.
This being true, what Realms, or
Nations be
Obliged more to fear him now, than we?
If,
mercies, be inducements to
his fear,
(As all men well informed, know they are)
What people, now, inhabits on the earth,
That, hath more cause of
trembling, in their
mirth,
Or, of more
filial dread, when they draw nigh,
The
holy name, of God to sanctifie?
For whom hath he so many wonders wrought
Since out of
Aegypt, Jacobs God was brought,
As for this Isle, if we reflect upon
Those things aright, which, he for us for us hath don?
And, who can blame me, if I sing with
fear,
This day, when we consider,
what we are?
What,
God is? what, they seemed,
who have been,
Destroyed for our sakes? what we, have seen
Done, for us? by what
means, at, what a
season?
In what
great streights? how farre, beyond our
reasons
Or our
deserts? (Deserts said I? nay, when,
We had deserved worse than other men)
What passed
bondage, we are freed from?
What likely
slaveries, for time to come?
And what a heap of
blessings we have had
[Page 7]
[...]howr'd down, to make us, in his favour glad?
Who, can? (these things consider'd) who I say,
Can blame me, if, I
am afraid, this day,
Amidst our
Triumphs? and aloud should cry,
On other men,
to fear as much as I?
For such a
fear, no portion doth destroy,
Of ought which is essentiall to our
joy:
But helps to keep it, from an overcasting,
By future clouds, yea makes it everlasting;
Rather preventing harm, than harm portending,
And, from a dull
security, defending.
Already, I discover, that this
fear,
Which, at the first, destructive did appear,
To my
Design, (by making up a
Medley,
Which, on a
day of joy, lookt somewhat sadly)
Proves usefull to my
purpose, and makes
way,
To render that, which I intend to say,
Much more effectuall, than it would have been,
Unlesse it had been thereby usher'd in.
To make impression of a joyfull fear,
In those, who shall of Gods
protections, hear.
I feel my
spirit on a sudden freed,
From all
Distempers: therefore Ile proceed,
With what I purpos'd, and enumerate
Some of those
Mercies, which we celebrate
Thi
[...]d
[...]y, in hope to represent them so,
That, out of them a
filiall fear may flow,
So tempring ev'ry Reader, that none shall,
Neither
presume, nor by
despairing, fall:
Yea, so to set them forth, I will assay,
That, in
Remembrance, they continue may:
That I, who
write them, and that they who
read them,
May with more seriousnesse, hereafter, heed them,
More ofte
[...]
meditate them,
to encrease
Our
Joy into a
perfect thankfulnesse,
And, that, as in a
glasse, our eyes may see,
How worthlesse, how unthankfull, yet, we be;
To save mens lives, oft send them to their
grave,
If not to
Hell: how likewise to improve
Gods
judgements, and, the
Pledges of his love,
To our best benifits, and how to raise,
Such
Monuments, and
trophies, to his praise,
As, answer their intents, who set aside
This
day, to be, in publick,
sanctifi'd.
Without those
ends, the formall observation,
Of one
set-day is but a
profanation;
Or, meer
hypocrisie: It, makes men think
They offer
incense, when they offer
stink:
It makes them dream that they have somthing give
[...]
To God; when, they have but affronted heaven:
It proves like that
Peace-offering of the
Whore,
Which made her sin more boldly than before;
And to return again, to her offence,
With lesse
reluctance, and more
impudence:
To
fast a meal or twain, and to put on
A
sadnesse, for a day, is cheaper done,
Than, to
deny our selves; or, to supresse,
Our
Avarice, or our
ambitiousness.
To say,
the Lord be thanked; or to sing,
A
song of praises; is, an easier thing,
Than to expresse a hearty thankfulnesse,
By
works of mercie, and of
righteousnes:
As, giving to the poore, or, taking care
Of those that under great oppressions are:
And, 'tis alas! with us, too frequent, seen,
That some who
formally dispos'd have been
To outward duties, acting
joy, and
sorrow,
This day (with seeming zeal) come forth, to
morrow,
And prosecute their
avarice, their
pride,
(With whatsoe'r, they seem'd to lay asid
[...]
The former day) and, entertain as bad,
If not worse
spirits, than, before they had:
[Page 9]Pursuing wilfully,
Distructive wayes.
What e're the
Preacher, or, the
Charmer says.
He, that could finde
expedients to prevent
These
Prophanations, Well his time had spent;
And, thanks might merit, for so having done;
(Although, he peradventure shall have none,)
I, therefore, to that purpose, will assay
To set my
Meditations, for this
day,
To such a
Tune, as may have likelihood,
Of those
effects, if rightly understood;
For (though it move, but two or three, to dance
True
measures) my Designe it shall advance:
And, he, that doth accept a
willing heart,
More, then the best performances of
Art,
Will, perfect
his own work, in me, begun,
Though, that, which I perform, be weakly done.
It is not my intention to begin
Where, Gods
or'eflowing mercie, first broke in,
Upon this
Nation; For, that, would appear,
A work not for a
day, or for a
year,
But, for an
Age: and, my poor
Snuffe of Light,
Would leave me, in an
everlasting night,
E're I could half those
Mercies overlook,
Whereof, in few years, I have notice took:
Nay, in each Circumstance, should I display
Those, onely which, of this
Thankesgiving-day
Occasions were: I, might dilate thereon,
Till three such lives, as I have liv'd were gone.
I, therefore, will but offer up a
Beam,
Out of the
Sun; a
drop, out of a
Stream;
One
Grain, out of that
golden-mine, by which,
Our
God, hath made us, in his
Favours, rich:
Or, make a brief
Collection, at the most,
Of so much, that, this
day, may not be lost;
But give thereby a Longer lasting motion
To real
Thankefulness, and true
devotion.
[Page 10]Should I suppose a Tripled
Golden chain,
One fold whereof sufficed to contain,
These
British Isles, with all those
Seas inclos'd,
Which, may be in a,
Circle so suppos'd;
And, that, as many
Links, thereon were found,
As there are half-half Inches, in that
Round
Of
Land, and
Water: therewith, should I think,
I saw enamel'd, upon ev'ry
Link,
Ten hundred Thousand mercies; I, might read
All those
Inscriptions thereon Character'd,
As possibly, as make a full relation,
Of,
Gods proceedings, in our
preservation.
I, therefore, will but set forth, here, and there,
Such Links of
Providence, as do appear
To most mens view; that, somewhat may remain
Still visible, of
Mercies Golden Chain:
Looking, no further back, in my
designe,
Then, to the year
Six hundred thirty nine
Beyond a
Thousand; and, I will relate
But, onely, an
Epitomy, of what
Hath been vouchsaf'd since then; For, by the
Pa
[...]
You may conceive, what
Lyon I could draw:
And, if the whole proportion I should Lymn,
I could not do my
work, within the
time.
About, that
year, The
Tyrant (who now lies
Beneath our feet) with over weening eyes,
Had view'd himself; and Puffed up with Pride,
Began, to think, of being
Dei fide;
Or, at the least, of being somewhat more
Then
Man, or
King; or, then what heretofore
He was esteem'd: and, much endeavoured, too,
That, we (if possible) should think him so.
His
Tripple-Kingdom, upon him bestown,
For,
others; he, usurped as his
own;
Inchroching by undue
Prerogatives,
As well, upon his
Loyal Subjects lives,
With what else, to their
Liberties relates:
Nay, upon that, which is more dear then these,
(Upon the freedome of our
Consciences,)
He made assaults; well knowing, that would bes
[...]
Procure him (and secure him) all the rest:
And, how to prosecute it, he, was taught,
By them, who knew the way, to what he sought.
A
Councel, he had pick'd up, who might well
Be called his; and, with
Achitophel,
Be judged Peers; but, that, of him, in
Wit,
They came far short; and, have not so well, yet,
Their
houses Order'd; nor, secured so
Their
Persons, as, he had the hap to do.
His Flattering
Priests, and
Poets, urg'd him on,
To what, they found him willing to have done:
For, by the
first, there seem'd to be infus'd,
A
Conscience fitting him, to be abus'd:
And, by the
last, He, and his
Queen became
So often represented by the name
Of
Heath'nish Deities; that, they, at last,
Became (ev'n when their
Mummeries were past)
Like those they represented; and, did move,
Within their Sphears like,
Venus, Mars, and
Jove▪
And, had they onely failed, but, in thus
Themselves befooling;
Gods, delivering us
From being Vassals, to such
Mimick-Players,
Had merited our publike
Thanks, and
Prayers.
For, when the
Roman-Emperours begun
To fill the
Stage, they, Vilify'd the
Throne;
And, those
oppressions, quickly follow'd there;
Which, on the like beginnings, entred, here.
He, being thus transform'd, into a
thing,
No Longer worthy to be call'd a
King.
(Tho, fairly painted, and well varnish'd over,
The wickedness of his
Designes to Cover)
As, he, Ambitious was to sit upon;
And, had so couch'd his
Plots, (as he suppos'd)
And, so with
pow'r and
Policie, inclos'd,
His
Interest (ere heed thereof was taken)
That, few believ'd the
Structure could be shaken;
Or, that, a possibility had been,
Of those
Events, which we have lately seen:
Nor were they Possible untill,
Gods hand,
Did shake the
Rock, whereon the
Pile did stand.
For, that, secure his Actings might become,
Himself, as well
abroad, as here at
home,
He fortifi'd; and
Engineers did keep,
To render his Designes, as
large, as
Deep;
Neglecting little, which by right or wrong,
Might, in his
undertakings, make him strong.
With
Forain Princes, and each
neighbouring State,
(To whom, himself he might ingratiate)
He secretly comply'd; (by whatsoere
Relations, they might opposites appear.)
At home, himself, he strengthned many ways,
With what concerns him, who the Tyrant plays:
As, by depressing them, who might be foes
To his designes; by, high Advancing those
Who might promote them; by, disabling much
The
one, and making of the
other Rich:
By
projects, and
Employments, which might add
To them, and, take from others, what they had;
And, by all practices, which might mantain
This Cursed Principle,
Divide and Reign
His
ends he follow'd, whatsoere it cost,
In
Treasure, or in
blood, by others Lost.
Witness, the late Inhumane
Massacre,
In
Ireland: when, in few days murthere
[...] were
Hundreds of Thousands; and as many mo
[...],
Soon after, by
Abetters thereunto,
[Page 13]A
Massacre, beyond (without compare)
Those, which in
Sicily and
Paris were,
Though both united; yet, it is believ'd
(Upon good grounds) to be at first, contriv'd
By him, or with his knowledge: But of this,
There is an
Hoast, or
Cloud of Witnesses,
That, he did palliate, and look thereon
Without Compassion, when the
Deed was done;
And, hath occasioned that
Sea of blood,
Whereby since then these
Isles have been o'erflow'd;
Ev'n by abusing these unhappy
Nations
With vain pretences, and false
Protestations.
Yet, much more great, the
deluge would have been,
Had not God's
mercy interpos'd between,
His
Cruelty, and
us, when, he assayd
To tempt the
Scotish Nation to give ayd
To his Designes; by promising, to add
Four English Counties, to the bounds they had.
When, likewise with the
Armies, in the North,
He tamper'd, bloody mischiefs to bring forth,
Of
[...]ing them largely; when, moreover, that
Was in designment, which, he aymed at,
In
Scotland, where, (about the self-same time)
A
Bloody Banquet, was prepar'd, by
him.
Before these things (and, e're we felt those harms
Which followed) he, found means to seize our
Arms;
And by meer power, ingrost into his hand,
The
stores of Powder, throughout all the Land.
He, likewise had contrived, how, to draw
To serve his ends, the
Masters of the Law,
By placing, or displacing; and, thereby,
Had, almost, fixt, a
Legal Tyranny.
By
maskings, and loose Revellings, at
Court:
He, closely wrought upon the yonger sort
Of wanton
Students; and allur'd thereby,
The flower, of all the
yong Nobilitie
To him, in whatsoere, he should design.
His
Councel-Table, was bespread with snares,
To catch, and hamper those, at unawares,
Who stood for
Liberty; his
Courts, were made
Both Instrumental to the
Bribing Trade,
And
Bawdes, to help advance unjust
designes,
By false
decrees, wrong
Judgments, mulcts, or
Fines:
For,
Justice, was afforded, there, to few
Save such, as to his
Interests were true:
And, most of those (without attending long)
Had what they su'd for, whether,
right or
wrong.
His overgrown
Prerogative, Laid hold
On our
Proprieties; and, scarcely should
Ere long, a
Natural-action to this
nation,
Allow'd have been, without a
dispensation,
Or
Fine, First paid: No; not, to
eat, or
drink,
To
go, or
come; to
speak, or safely
think,
Should we have been permitted; had not
God,
To his
usurpings, put a Period.
For, many, to Accompt. not for
deeds done
Have called been, or, for
bare-words, alone;
But otherwhile, to Question, some were brought
For those things, also, which, to have in
thought
They were suspected: yea, such was the Rage,
Of
Tyranny, that,
Children under age,
For
Childish words (spoke without ill intent)
Were, not alone, to severe Chastisement
Made Lyable; but, forc'd to suffer, too,
That painful death, which wilful
Traytors do:
As (by a cruel act, of all abhor'd)
Appears at
Sarum, yet, upon record.
No marvel then, if neither
Sope nor
Fir
[...]
Nor
Raking rotten Rags, out of the M
[...]e;
Or Freedom, in such poor and Trivial things,
As are
Tobacco-Pipes, and
Fiddle-strings,
[Page 15]Could be allowed in this
Common-weal,
Without a
Fine, or
Patent under Seal.
His
Peerage (some excepted) was indow'd,
With
Priviledges, but, to make them Proud,
And fit, them to oppress or to enslave
The people, unto
him, from whom they have
Their
empty Titles. Upon some of these
He did Confer the highest Offices,
By great sums, purchased; that, so, they mought
By selling dear (because they dearly bought)
Ingaged be, to share in his oppressions;
And, strengthen by in
Justice, their possessions:
To make them still, have need of his protection;
And,
[...]eave to him through
Fear, if not
Affection.
To this Intention, they had also share:
In those Base
Projects, which injurious were,
To
publike-right; and, they employ'd their power
To begger, to disgrace, or quite devour,
All those, who did not readily befriend,
His purpose; or, else, freely give, or Lend,
Or stand engag'd, to Answer his desire,
In whatsoe're he pleased to require:
And, he, that sought a remedy, by
Law,
For these
Intrusions, did but onely draw,
More mischiefs on himself: For, 'twas a
flower,
Slipt from the
Crown; and, by the
Royal power,
Deriv'd; that, they should be secur'd, by might,
From
wrongs receiving, and, from
doing right.
But,
God, for this
Injustice, now hath broke,
That
S
[...]pter: From their heads; their
Crowns hath took
And, shall destroy all those who will not see,
That want of
Justice, and of
Mercy, be
The Signal causes, of those desolations,
That fa
[...] on
private-Persons, Kings, or
Nations.
And, they, who for
Gods Justice, upon these,
(Together with, the great deliverances
[Page 16]Thereby, vouchsafed) cannot, yet perceive
Just causes, of the
Publike thanks we give;
Of their concernments, take so little heed,
That, to awaken them, I will proceed.
The
Tyrant, had some other Instruments,
(To further him, in his unjust intents)
In order to our
Bondage: among whom,
None did more mischievous to us become,
(Nor, any, for him, play their Prizes better)
Then, his proud
Priests: nor, was he more a debter
To any, then to them: and, I dare say,
So dearly for it, he, to none did pay.
His
Prelates, and their
Ʋnderlings, he bought
To serve his ends, (by giving what they sought
And what he had in Guift) or, else perchance,
He might in Vain, have
piped them a dance.
Instead of Preaching
Christ, they
Preach'd us down
To Slavery; and
Idoliz'd the Crown:
Then, to require what they had done, for
him;
He, fool'd away three
Royal-Crowns, for them:
They (seeming confident he should prevail)
Upon his
Kingly Person did intail,
Divinity; that, arrogate he might
His
Ʋsurpations, by a
Sacred right:
He, to retaliate what they bestow'd
With
Temporal possessions, them endow'd:
And these by their false Doctrines did besot
The
Vulger so; that, in them it begot,
Idolatry; and therein they hold on,
Their Dotage, though their
Deity is gone:
Yea, though their
Idol, quite destroy'd they see,
And,
Dagon-like, without a head to be.
To make his
Clerick Engines serviceable.
(Yet further) he, did strongly them enable
With
Pow'r Canonical; which would have brought
More mischiefs on us, then most had in thought;
[Page 17]And, such, as might at length, have entrance made
For all, that
superstition, would have had;
(Althought 'twas Cloked with a formal zeal,
Of
Piety, their purpose to conceal;)
And, when these
preparations, had unhallow'd
Our
Churches; Popery, would soon have follow'd:
The
People, should have been, once more, an
Ass,
For
Prelates to have ridden as it was;
Kings should have been but Blocks to help them on,
And,
Emperours, their Stirrups wait upon.
But, mark Gods,
Justice, and retaliation,
To these; for, it is worth your observation:
The
Prelates, justly, lost their
tempralties,
For smooth 'ring
Truth, and
Preaching vanities.
For
seizing that, which Legally is known,
The
Peoples right, the
King hath lost his own:
And
King and
Prelates, joyning both together,
In
Tyranny, have ruined each other.
Thus far, you see Gods
mercies; and, thereby
May see, his Justice, too, with half an eye,
And what must have succeeded ere this day,
If these, had t
[...]ved their wicked way;
And, we are graceless, if we praise not
him,
By whom, We had deliverance from them:
For, by those
Hydra's heads, not yet berest,
(And by that
Poyson, which is in them left)
It is apparant, We should scarfe have had,
A day of rest until our
Graves were made.
On us, by his
Assistants, he had brought
Such
Slavery, that, we had scarcely ought
T
[...] call our own; Or, at the least, left Free
From those Intrusions, which were like to be:
Yet, worse it would have been; as, might appear
Beyond dispute, should I make mention, here,
What, I have
known, and
seen, in preparation,
To bring a further
Bondage; on this
Nation.
[Page 18]Most, are forgetful of what's
past; and, some
By never heeding it, are now become
Unthankful
Murmurers, repining at
Their present
Contributions, to the
State:
Because, the
Payments, yet impos'd, are more,
By much (as they conceive) then heretofore:
(Considering, neither what
necessities
Now are; nor, from whose
Faults, they do arise.
There is, indeed, a very Large expence,
Occasioned to make our
Just-defence,
Against the many practices of those
Who,
settlement of Peace do still oppose:
And by long lasting
Wars, at Sea, and Land.
(In several Kingdoms) thereby, to withstand,
Our present enemies (and to prevent
Their future purposes) vast sums, are spent:
But, this, was by
Constraint; and, we have hope
These
Issues of expence, will quickly stop;
If we with Patience, for a while, could bear
With those
Disbursments which Compelled are:
And, would consider, at how much more
cost,
We were, that, all our
Freedoms might be Lost.
As, also, what great
Burthens, it would bring,
To readmit a
Tyrannizing King,
With all those swarms of
Locusts, and of
Flyes,
Which are begot, and fed by
Tyrannies:
With what must be exacted to maintain
The boundless Cravings, of his
hungry Train.
We like the Sons of
Jacob, were opprest;
And, God, is making us, a Path to
Rest,
As, he did them, so, he, doth lead us through
Much
Hardship, and great difficulties, now:
And some of us, like them, (nay, worse then they)
Ev'n almost at the Period of our
way,
Would back return; and, brutishly Complain
As if our
Ease, were sharper then our
pain.
[Page 19]Now therefore, I will here insert a
Note
Expressing part, of what we have forgot;
That, when our former
Burthens we review,
We may, more thankfully, our
Peace pursue.
We were oppressed by his vain expence,
Of Large
Revenues, which, for our
defence,
And for the
Nations honour, were with him,
Intrusted; For, by his consuming them
Upon vain
Lusts; constrain'd we were, to add
Supplies, oft-times; for which,
Returns we had
Of many new occasions, to increase
Our
Burthens, rather then to make them Less:
And still whatever was on him bestown
He took without Thanksgiving, as his own.
Great
Subsidies, which such like
payments gain'd
By false pretences (as by dangers fain'd.
Or some like that,) by him, were, also, spent
In prosecutions, to the detriment.
Of all the
Nation; and so, all that
Cost
Was, thereby (as to us) much worse then Lost.
By many, other
wayes, he did inlarge
Our
Burthens, and this
Nation over-charge.
By
Ʋniversal Loans; with an Intent,
Never, to render back, the money Lent.
By
Privy Seals; which, he did seldom pay
Except, for other borrowings, to make way.
By
Contributions, termed Free; altho,
We paid them, whether, we did List, or no.
By
houshould-Compositions, (for the
Table,
The
Kitchin, Sellar, and the
Royal Stable)
Which, of themselves, (if we consider shall
What,
Officers exacted, therewithall)
Might have maintain'd a
King, much better than
All
Scotlands Royal patrimony can.
Yet, this too, (as I finde, by Inquisition),
Was taken, by a forced
Composition.
[Page 20]To these, may added be, what he encroach'd
By
Projects, and by
Offices new Broach'd
By
selling-places, by
dround Lands, and
Fenns;
By
Fines, for
Cottages of other mens;
By wrong pretended right, to
Lands conceal'd;
By
Ʋlnage, and by
cloaths, and
Drapries seald;
By
Patents, Corporations, Fees, and
Toll;
By sev'ral
Writs and money by the
Poll:
By
Coate and,
Conduct-money; and, by that
For
Ships, which, was extreamly Grumbled at.
By
Tunnage, Poundage, Customes, both in use,
And
pretermitted; to the great abuse
Of Trade and
Merchants; who, tho paying of these
To be secur'd from
Pyrates on the Seas,
VVere left unguarded; to the frequent spoil,
Of
Private men, and weakning of this
Isle.
Moreover, out of our
Estates, he made
Large profit, by the
forfeitures, he had;
By Bonds
Recognizances, and, by
Suits;
By
Tenths, by
Lycences, and by
First-fruits,
Escheats, Amercements, Mulcts of several sorts,
In sev'ral
Causes; and in sev'ral
Courts.
By
Wards, and
Marriages; by suing forth
Of
Liveries (which now are nothing worth)
By
Honorary Titles, Sould to such
As were not thereby honoured so much,
As
honor was disgrac't; by great sums paid
For
Corronation-Knights; by
Coynage, Aid;
And, by a multitude of wayes beside,
(Too many, hereby, to be specifi'd)
This
Nation was opprest. All which, though now
Of their late Griefs, forgetful, many grow,
(More notice taking, of what Lies upon
Their backs, at
present, then, of what is
g
[...]e)
VVould, if sum'd up, a greater
Burthen prove
Then VVe have born, our
Bondage to remove
[Page 21]Considering his vast
Incomes, needlesly
VVere wasted, on his
Lusts; or, that thereby
He might
Inslave us: whereas, all we spent
VVas by
Constraint, or, that, VVe might prevent
Bell, and the
Dragons, ravenous designes:
And, therefore, whosoe're, thereat repines,
Doth neither his own
welfare, understand,
Nor, that great
work, which
God, hath now in hand.
But, if our
Citizens, who have forgot
Their former
Pressures (and, begin to dote
Upon an
Idol-Majeslie) would take,
More heed; they doubtless, more esteem would make
Of
Gods late
Mercies; and, an offring Bring
To expiate their cursed Murmuring.
If, they would mind, at what uncertainties,
They did possess their
goods, and
Liberties;
What
Interruptions, formerly they had;
What
Innovations, as concerning Trade:
How oft, their
Charters, upon slight pretence,
Were questioned, to put them to expence:
What
Presents, they have been Constrain'd to give,
For
Favours, which, they never could receive;
What
Bribes, to get their grievances remov'd;
And how unfruitful, Nay-the-less they prov'd;
What
Scorns, and What
disgraces, in time past,
On them, have undeservedly been cast;
How oft, when
Legally, they sought their own,
They were abus'd, and into Prisons thrown,
Till they were glad, to quit a
long-due-debt,
Lest, else, a greater mischief they might get.
Would they remember, their late sad Condition.
Occasion'd, by the Cruel
Inquisition
Set up at
Lambeth; by the merciless
Starchamber Court; and by th'Imperiousness
Of his
Court-Marshal; where their
Innocence,
Was rack't and tortur'd, by the Insolence,
Of
Pursuivants; and Cut-throat
Messengers.
Were it remembred more, how they, complain'd,
Of
grievances by their late
King sustain'd,
And his ill
Councellors: (whom we now see
Not half so worthy, of our blame as he)
They would not in their
Courage, be so poor;
Nor, so unlike, to what they were before.
Yea, would they but recal, how furiously
They Acted (ev'n almost to
mutiny)
Against the King; and to th' incouragement
Of this (then, Highly honour'd)
Parliament;
How zealously,
Horse, money, Arms, and
Plate,
They, then, Contributed, to Vindicate,
Their nigh-Lost
Liberties; how oft, they
fought,
To bring to Pass what, now to Pass is brought;
And, therewithall, would seriously take heed,
That whatsoere did thereupon succeed,
Beyond their
first aym, was,
Gods work (not our)
They would confess his
Justice, with his
Power,
And
Mercy: For, all these were manifest,
When, of his
Throne, the
King, he dispossest;
And took away both
Crown, and
Life from him,
That,
our, and
his long-sufferings, did contemn.
These things, could they consider somewhat more,
They would more thankful be, then heretofore;
And, not so irreligiously persever
To murmur, that, God blest their own
endeavour;
Nor, be so mad, to Ayd those, underhand,
Who, Gods,
declared purposes, withstand;
Lest, their
Ingratitude, he should repay
With greater
Plagues, then, he hath took away:
And, give them, in his anger, such a thing,
As they deserve, another,
Tyrant King.
If, Likewise, they, who in the
Country-s
[...]ng
Thanksgivings backward, (and with murmuring
[Page 23]Require Gods
mercies) would, by looking back,
On what is past, more heedful notice take
VVhat, yearly, out of their
Estates was taken,
In
Lamb, Veal, Butter, Poultery, Eggs, and
Bacon;
In
Wheat, Oats, Hay, and such like things as these,
(From which
exactions, they are now at ease)
How oft their
Teemes, and
Carts, were forced from
Their
husbandries, and
Harvest-works at home:
To their great detriment, for hyre, but small,
And, many times, for no reward, at all:
How oft, their
Saddle-Horses, as his own,
Were, by his
Courtiers. Posted up and down
As for the
Publike, upon
Publike Warrants,
When, they were, onely, sent on
Private arrants:
How, by the multiplying of his
Game,
Oppressed, and inslaved, they became,
To their great Detriment; yea, many times,
To their undoing, for
suspected Crimes:
And, how, their
Nimrods (or chief
Foresters)
VVith their insulting
Ʋnder-Officers,
Compelled many, for their preservations,
Quite to forsake, their
Ancient Habitations,
Or leave their
Fields, or
Woods, unto the spoyl
Of
Ʋseless Beasts, and
Beastly-men, the while.
VVould they, these things Consider; and, that those
Taxations, which the
State doth now impose;
VVith all their late oppressive
Plunderings,
Large Contributions, and
Free Quarterings,
VVere first occasion'd, by his
Tyranies;
(Or, their own False-hood, or Neutralities)
They would not, like the murmuring
Israelites,
Render abuse, Reproaches, and despights,
To their
Deliverers; because, a few,
Among them, to their trust, have prov'd untrue;
And, to their own loss, by their
selfishness,
Defer that
Peace, which, else, they might Possess.
[Page 24]Nor would they, so unthankfully, desire
To their
Aegyptian Thraldom, to retire,
And to their
Garlick; when there feet, were brought
So neer, unto that
Rest, which, long they fought:
Muchless, when they had (as it were) been fed
With
Manna. and, Mirac'lously been led
Through many
Streights (for wonderment, no les
[...]
Then,
Israel Passed, in the
Wilderness)
VVould they, by Stagg'ring, in a
Good-proceed,
Both re-inslave themselves, and all their seed.
Now, if (as other
Voluntary preachers
Presume to do) I, may to teach my
Teachers
Take boldness: I would seriously advise
Some, of our
Clergie, to become more wise:
Ev'n those, who, by a peevish frowardness,
Neglect, not onely, that due
Thankfulness,
VVhich is commanded; but, make others too
Prevaricate, from what they ought to do;
By slighting what
Authority injoyns,
And prosecuting of their own
Designes.
Oh, God! VVhat bold, what strange
Apostacie
Is this? And from a
Christian Ministry,
How disagrees it, that they should profess
Or, teach, or sooth up an
Ʋnthankfulness?
And, whence, proceeds it, but from their old vice,
Of
Selfishness, or
Pride, or
Averice?
VVhich, (as it hath, well near, already, done)
VVill loose them all, that, they insist upon;
If, they proceed to prosecute those ends
VVhich they and their
Fraternitie intends,
God, bears me witness, I envy them not
The least
Advantages which to their
Lot,
By right, pertain; But, rather, would improve,
My
Vote, (with real heartiness, and Love)
To give them
double-honour, and advanc
[...]
VVhat is thier due, by
sacred Ordinance:
[Page 25]For they who serve him without
By-Respects▪
Had never cause to say, that God neglects
Their service; though he sometime sends them forth,
Neither with
money, or with
money worth:
As, every one observes, who taketh heed,
How plentifully at all times of need,
He them supplies, that, his
allowance take
With
thankfulness, and work, for
Conscience sake,
Without Capitulating, whether they
In
Pensions, or, in
Tithes, shall have their pay.
What is it Angers them? Are they displeas'd,
(Though, of their former
Grievances, now eas'd)
That, they, themselves impow'red do not finde
To Act the
Prelates, in another kinde?
And, to succeed them in their vast
Possessions,
Which was the chiefe end of their Oppositions?]
Are they, again desirous of a
King?
How so? Since, they are those, who, first did bring
Those things to controversie, whereupon,
That
Justice, which they murmur at, was done?
What, can they hope, by bringing back again
That
Power, whereof, they lately did complain?
But, greater
mischiess, and a heavier
yoke,
Then that, which from their Necks, was lately broke?
Considering, what
Confed'rates, they now have
This
Nation, and
Themselves, to re-inslave?
Are they afraid those
Tithe-pigs may be lost,
VVhich have so many
Tracts and
Sermons cost
To prove them sacred? That's, a needless fear,
As, yet; For, by our
Laws confirm'd they are:
And, till
supream power, shall by
Law revoke them,
They, may receive them, as they lately took them:
And without question, all such due supplies
VVill still vouchsafed be, as many suffice.
Nor have they cause to murmur, though it may
Provided, for them be, some other way
[Page 26]Since, by their
Scotish Discipline, they find
Their claimed
Tithes, are seldom paid in kind.
Is it, their zeal against
New-Heresies,
The
Ranters Tenents, or the
Blasphemies,
VVhereof the
Scot injuriously avers
Our
State, and
Army to be favorers,
VVhich makes them discontent? I think not so,
VVhat er'e they may pretend: for, they well know,
The Parliament hath lately made a Law,
To keep
Blasphemous Libertines in aw;
And to correct their
Manners, who transgress
Against the
Rules of
Moral Righteousness;
And, from our
Armies frequently they hear,
That such, by them severely punish'd are.
Let them take heed, lest their
Endeavour flows
From
Causes which may prove much worse then those
There mentioned; ev'n from an
Interest▪
Pursu'd, to raise the throne of
Antichrist
A new found way: or else, from some vain hope,
In every parish to erect a Pope.
Let them take heed, lest er'e they be aware,
Their
Carnal policie may them ensnare:
For by that
power, whereat their
Parties aim,
They seem to be affected with his
Claim
VVho, to
Gods throne aspires: or else, to that
VVhich will produce a
double-headed State.
Or, that, at least, from thence, this may redound;
That, (if the
Royallists can cure their wound
By what, is now design'd; They, and their Friends
The
Romanists may thereby gain some ends
Obstructive to our
Peace; though totally
Destructive to their
New Presbytery;
VVhich they seditiously have
preach'd and
praid,
To build up by their
Ground-works, lately said.
Oh! therefore, let them speedily return
To their lost
Path; for their
backslidings, mourn;
And joyn with us, in singing of his
Praise.
Let them stir up their
Flocks to
Thankfulness,
Like others of their
Calling, who profess
The self-same
Faith; and help us, to redeem
The losses of
Advantages, and
Time,
Occasion'd by their
Schism; that, we and they
May friendlike walk together in
one way,
Partakers, of that happy
peaceful being,
Which is deferred, by our disagreeing.
For, were all well consider'd, all men would,
Without the least obscurity, behold,
What cause we have, to sing Gods
Praise, this day,
For taking of our
Slaveries away:
And, in the
first place, for removing
Him,
Who, wore,
unworthily, the
Diadem,
Of
Supreme Government. But, least, some, yet,
May our
fore-past-condition so forget,
As to believe, we might have been secur'd,
From that, which under
Kingship we endur'd,
By regulating it (which, I once thought,
Till, I by
Providence, was better taught)
Let them, with me, take notice, and, well weigh
How many hundred years, we did assay
This
Remedy in vain; and, heretofore
Spend all our pains, to wash a
Blackamore.
Let them look back, and heed, how oft we
Fought,
And by
fair-means, and humble
Prayer, sought
A firm establishment, of what, we knew,
(And had oft prov'd) to be our
proper-due:
How many
Charters, and, how many
Laws,
Were made, by
Kings, in favour of our
Cause:
How many
Curses, and sad
Imprecations,
Were laid upon their wilful
Violations:
How many times, their
Royal words, we had;
How many
Oaths, and
Vows, were sworn, and made;
[Page 28]Yet, faithlesly, still, broken, afterward,
Without remorse of Conscience, or, regard
Of
God, or
Men; and, still, revok'd, as soon
As
opportunities were fastned on,
To prosecute, again, their
Tyranny.
And, let us likewise, heed impartially,
How much, our late
King, labour'd to make void
His free
Donations; and, to have destroy'd
His own
Concessions: what dire
Imprecations
He likewise, ventred on; what
Protestations,
He dared, with a purpose to deceive;
And, with a hope of making us believe,
He, meant us well; when, he did all the while,
Intend his
Own-advantage, and, our
Spoil:
Improving, still, (what, er'e, he did pretend)
All our
Indulgences, to his
first end,
Ev'n to his
Death: witness, his, laying Plots
To make a
Rent, betwixt us, and the
Scots;
Yea, and, among
our selves, that very time,
In which, we
Treating were, of
Peace, with him.
Hoping, at last, by one device or other,
To make us, do his
work▪ and
fall together.
And, of those
Juglings, now, the fruits appear,
In
Ireland, Scotland, Holland, France, and
here.
What could, we have, expected, from a
King,
So wilful, and so false, in every thing?
Or, from the
Off-spring, of a
Generation,
So long time, rooted in
Prevarication?
So long, irreconcileably profest
An enemy, to
Publick Interest?
And, claiming, so
Imperiously, to be,
From all the Bands of
Law, and
Reason, free?
What hopes could we have had, that, we should ever
Have tam'd this
Leon, by our best endeavour?
Or, any of his
Whelps? or, means have found,
Whereby, they might have been, securely bound,
[Page 29]From Crushing all our bones; if, they again,
Should slip, their
Collers, or else break their
Chain?
For my part, I so well found, what he was;
That, though I had large offers of his
Grace,
And studied his chief good; yet, still I found,
His
Heart so hard, so double, and unfound,
(Ev'n to his last breath) that, I must confess
It was Gods
mercie, and, our
Happiness
That, he so fell; and, 'twill be to the
Glory
Of this our
Nation, in their future
Story,
That, whereas others have
Clandestinely,
By
Poyson, or by
Murther, secretly,
Remov'd their
Tyrants; we, with
open face;
By
Publick Justice; in a
Publick place;
In presence, of his
friends, and, in despight
Of all our
foes, and ev'ry opposite,
Try'd, Judg'd, and
Executed, without fear;
The greatest
Tyrant, ever reigning here.
Take Then,
Gamaliels counsel, and submit,
To that, which
Providence, adjudgeth fit
Should come to pass; left else, perhaps, you may
Be found resisters of your
God, this day.
Halt not 'twixt two
opinions, as ye do;
But, heed his
walkings, and, conform thereto.
if, to this
Government, you do adhere,
Let, it, by your
Obedience, now appear:
If, you
Dissent; make publick your
Protest,
As we have done; unite your
Interest,
To
Him, whom you desirous are should Reign:
And,
if you dare, come, and appeal again
To
God, That, he may quickly send you thither,
Where, you may perish, or repent together:
For, we are confident, the
work begun
Our
God, will prosper, still, as he hath done;
And, that when such as you, are in your
place,
We, shall behold the
fulness of his Grace.
[Page 30]But er'e you grow so mad to run that way,
Be pleas'd to hear, what I have more to say.
What profit will you get at last by that,
Which you have indiscreetly aimed at,
Tho it should thrive; and, you, should hither bring
VVith all his
Rabblement, the
Scotish King?
Should they with all their strength unite together,
And like an
Inundation, flow in hither;
Set your Fair
Towns, and
Villages on fire,
(As you, in probability, desire)
VVhich would be done, (though you desir'd it not)
If, there to your assistance they had got:
If, with a
Lousie Army they should cover
Your fruitful fields; spread your fair
Meadows over
VVith their
Devouring-Troops; your houses fill
VVith
Nasty sluts, and
Grooms against your will;
Making your
Parlours, and your
Halls to stink
VVith sluttery, like a dunghill, or a sink:
If you should see your
hardly-gotten-stores,
Devour'd by loose
Commanders, and their
whores;
Their
Brutish followers rudely take the bread,
VVith which, your
Little-children should be fed,
Out of their hands; and keep you so in aw,
That you should scarcely dare to lodge in
straw,
(Although your own) whilst those bold
guests did lie
In your
soft beds; and some stand emptie by:
Should you behold them, proudly domineer,
VVhere you this day, both
Lords, and
Masters are:
Should you, who may, in peace enjoy your lives,
See your estates, your
Children, and your
Wives,
Incroach'd upon; the
first of them possest
By those, who
faigned friendship had profest;
The other, ev'n before your face, mis-us'd;
The last, perhaps, immodestly abus'd:
And you your self, if that appear dislik'd)
Disgracefully, both flouted at, and kickt.
[Page 31]Should you bel ol
[...] such things, which (if they come
Upon those terms that are desir'd by some)
VVould surely follow; what should you then gain
By that, whereof you seem to be so fain?
Think you, the most Malignant
Cavaliers,
The worst of
Papists, and of
Presbyters
(United in a
Trinity together)
VVill bring you
puritie of worship hither?
Or, can the wisest man alive conceive,
VVhat
Linsey-woolsey-stuff the
Kirk must weave,
To make a Garment, which will fit and please,
A
body, made up of such
Crooks as these?
Or frame a
discipline that will agree,
VVith such dissenting parties as those
three?
Can you be so imprudent to suppose,
That your
New feigned friends, and
Ancient foes,
(Disgraced and engrag'd as now they are)
VVith any good intentions will draw near?
Or give you
precious things, to make you brave?
Or better
Fields and
Gardens, then you have?
Or that your entertainment, whilst they stay,
VVill cost you less then what we
monthly pay
Unto our
Army, which by that expence
Is yet maintained, for our just defence?
Or can you dream (if at their choice it stand)
That, having found the sweetness of this
Land,
The
Scots, will be so mad, as thence to go
To feed on
Thistles, and to lie in
Snow?
Or think you, they, had lately, gone away
So quietly, but to obtain their
pay,
To render them more able to come back,
When more it might for their
advantage make?
Do you believe that, they intend to bring
Their lately Crown'd, and
new-converted King,
To vindicate the justness of our
Cause?
Our ancient
Freedoms, and our
English Laws?
[Page 32]Or, that, they (having little of their own,
To keep him) so much cost would have bestown,
But, that, they are made hopeful to advance
As well their
own wealth, as his
maintenance
From your
Estates? Can your
Dull brains, admit,
That,
he, or
his, for ever, will forget,
His
Fathers head? his own deserv'd disgrace?
And, on what Terms, you forc'd him to embrace
A
loathed Covenant, which, he did take,
More for a
Kingdom, then for
Conscience sake?
Or can you be so blinde, as not to see
That, all things, which in your possession be,
VVill scarce suffice to make full recompence,
For
Damages, and
losses, ever since
These
wars began; when, he makes Computation
Thereof, and shall demand a
Reparation?
Especially, when all his
needy-Train,
And
Greedy-party, shall to him complain
For satisfaction, of their Vast
Arrears?
Losses, and
Expectations, like to theirs?
Believe it, E're that
debt, will quite be paid,
They, who are yet, of no such thing afraid,
VVill finde, that most (or all of them) shall be
Contributers thereto, as well as
we,
VVho are
proscrib'd: And, that, if they are
rich,
It will not then, consider'd be so much,
How they affected stood, as
what they have,
To satisfie the lusts, of those that crave:
And, all they, who are
Neuters, now, or
Friends
In secret, unto that, which he intends,
Shall, finde small means, to help distinguish them
From those, whom he, for
Traytors, will condemn.
And, their false friends, will then retaliate
Their former
hate, and
falshood to this
State.
Oh! left, this come to pass, more thankful be
To
him, who hath begun, to set you free,
[Page 33]From former
Bondage; and, from what you may,
Occasion, by an
Ill-advised way.
Observe well, whether that, which God hath wrought,
[...]or this poor
Nation, could to pass be brought,
[...]
strength, or
Wit of men; had he not been,
Our
helper; and, assistances brought in.
How, had so
many, been so oft, by
few,
Defeated else? how, had the Foes they flew
And took, so often, more then doubled those,
Whom, they in open
Battle, did oppose?
[...]ow, else, had we so often saved been
[...] bringing of one
Single-vote, between
Our
spoil, and
us? how, having had, a
Foe
[...] strong, so Craftie (and, a
Party too
Of his, within our bosomes) had we thus,
Prevailed, and escap'd, what threatned us?
Yea, and, among so, many murmurings;
Among so many disencouragings,
As we have had? and, (which is worse then so)
Amidst, A
People, not so wise, to know,
Who, seeks their
Weal? how, had we stood so long
But, that,
God gave us
hearts, and made us
strong:
Had I, a
memory, and time to spare,
But half those
Evidences to declare,
Which, of
Gods Providence, my observation
Hath taken heed of, by the dispensation,
Of
mercies, to this
Land, since, he begun,
[...] prosecute, what he for us hath done,
[...] Order to our
Peace; you, would behold
[...]
chain of
Graces, richer, then of
Gold,
Pearls, Diamonds, and
Rubies; and, believe
[...]o
other Nations ever did receive,
More
tokens of his love. Could I disclose,
[...] Mischievous and deep
Designes of those,
Who laid the first foundation of this
War;
[...], how far on, their
Projects carried were,
[...]
[...]
In
England, and in
Ireland, ere our eyes,
Observ'd the
chief ends of their Policies:
How, first, the
Lawyers and Ambitious
Priests,
Were woo'd and won to serve his
Interests;
And, active to become, In making void
The Just
proprieties, that we injoy'd,
In
Civil things; and, render our condition
More flavish by inducing
Superstition.
How, next he wrought upon, those
Hypocrites,
Who, seeming
Patrons, of the
peoples rights,
Became, at last to be the worst of those,
Who to the
Publike-Liberties, are foes.
Could, I expression make, How,
God improv'd,
His
mercies to this
Isle when he remov'd
Strafford, and
Canterbury; how, their
Plot,
To ruine us, by ayming at the
Scot,
(As their first
mark) was made the means of
[...]
Which we were hopeless of arriving at,
(By such a far-fetcht Compass) and, brought on
What we did never purpose to have done.
Should I, at full, illustrate here, how, they
Came, first, to do their
own work; then, took
[...]
To Further
ours; and, by meer standing still,
Enabled us, to do (against their Will)
What they pretended, with no true intents;
As hath been manifested by th' events.
Such, as their fraudful
Juggling, in receiving
The
King neer
Newark; thereby, us hereaving:
Of those
Advantages, for which we
Fought:
And, for which, we their help had dearly bought.
Such, as their wresting, that, which they profest
Four our
Joynt Good, to
private-Interest;
Making the
Covenant, seem a just occasion,
Of Prosecuting an unjust
Invasion.
Such, as their
Practices when, here they Lay
Like
Snakes within our bosoms, to betray
[Page 35]
[...] ruine us; by working upon those,
Who were too Credulous, of their
fair-shows,
[...]
Piety, and
Love; For, whilst they were
With kindness, entertain'd amongst us, here,
They were but
Spies and
Agents to promote
Their own designes; And, doubtless, had it not
[...] God prevented been we had been more
[...] this by them inslav'd, them heretofore,
[...] by those Actings, which we saw by them
Pursu'd when they, were weakned from the dream
Which they pretended, (and which we did take
[...] truth, till we, from dreamings did awake)
All men may evidently now perceive
What,
we, of their
Intentions may believe.
If, I, could make you apprehend the
grace,
Which
God vouchsafed when he pleased was
To move the
King a
Parliament to call,
That should be made destructive unto all
His own
Designes; permitting, that he should
[...] his
Fine-Devices, be so fool'd,
As to restore, (of that
Just-power it had)
[...] much, as that, It could not be
un-made,
Without it own
Assent; you would believe,
That,
Mercie, was a
visible reprieve
From our undoing. For, that made the way,
To other
Priviledges which long lay,
Unheeded, or unpractised; because,
Prerogative, had swallowed up the
Laws,
Or, seis'd upon the
Power, by which, we might
Regain possession, of our
Ancient-Right.
But, having, thereby, got that
Power again,
Which, we are hopeful, they shall still retain)
They (for abusing
Kingship, heretofore)
Enacted, that, we should have,
Kings, no more.
Should I, sum up, what dangers did appear,
And, what,
Gods open, and close
mercies were,
[Page 36]When
Glocester was besieg'd; when, many thought,
They, other
habitations must have fought;
And, sent the
Goods, and
Treasure, they could spare
To
Amsterdam, to be secured there.
VVhen,
Bristol was resign'd; and, all the Land
(Save one poor Corner) in the
Tyrants hand.
When, in the
West, one
General, began
To grow afraid, and from his Army ran,
When, by another, somthing was was misdone,
Of no mean consequence, at
Dennington.
When, other
Chiefs, (by rambling up and down)
With their
Brigades, their Credits had, or'e thrown:
And, did begin to Act destructively.
To them, whose good success, they did envy.
When,
they, who for our
Succour, feign'd to come,
Conspir'd against us,
here, and, then went
home
To prosecute their
mischiefs,. When, the Foe,
Became so strong, and,
We, so weak did grow,
That, for our
Re-enforcement, we were fain
To take all comers; and, some to constrain;
In whom, we could but sorily confide.
VVhen, in our
Houses false friends did reside,
More to our cost, and to the hazarding
Of all; then all, the
Armies, of the
King.
VVhen, Our first
Champions (who did over-ween
Their own deserts) swoln bigg with Pride, and Spleen,
Jeer'd our
New-Model'd-Army, as if none
Could do such
wond'rous feats, as they had done,
VVhen, from the
Parliament, by shameless
lyes,
VVeekly perpetuated by supplies)
The
peoples hearts, were woo'd away, to those,
That
were, and
are, and
will be, still their
Foes▪
VVhen
Fury had possessed many so,
That, like a sudden
Torrent, they did flow
Impetuously, up to the
Senate-dore;
Yea, break in thither, and, there
foam, and ro
[...]
[Page 37]Should I proceed on further, and, with these
Make mention of Gods great
deliverances,
When, he at
Hull, the first and second time,
Did Nullifie a
Royal Stratagem.
When likewise, there appear'd a dang'rous
Rent,
[...]
City, Army, and in
Parliament;
Not onely, those dividing from
each other,
[...]ut from
themselves, to ruine altogether.
When, both the
Armies unto God appeal'd,
As to their
Soveraign Judge, at
Naasby-field:
When, all things, that were dear unto us, lay,
Upon the doubtful
Tryal of
one day.
When
God, at
Brainford, by a
poor mans wit,
And
Vallour, (which none hath consider'd yet)
[...] our
Chief-city. For, had not,
He, been,
The
King, had then surpriz'd it, by
design,
VVith all our
Train (left for him in the way
[...]
Hammersmith) whilst, our
Commanders lay
[...]cure at
London; who, did, little fear,
[...] great a
danger, had been, then so near.
[...], should I tell, with every
Circumstance,
God's
mercie shewn in our
Deliverance,
VVhen (after quenching of the
Gen'ral flame)
[...]fested, with new,
Mischiefs, we became.
VVhen
Wales revolted; when, with
Surrey, Kent,
And,
Essex follow'd that bad president.
VVhen,
Scotland (their confederate) came in
[...] second, what their falshood did begin;
[...], after all their great
hopes, and vain
Braggs,
Were glad, to begg the saving of their
Craggs.
When, our perfideous
Seamen, did betray
Their trust; and with our
Sea-guard stole away.
When, our
unfriendly Neighbours, looked on,
The
Treason, as well pleas'd with what was done;
[...], did, encrease our hazard, by supplying
[...]
Foes wants; and, by
under-hand-complying▪
(VVith every
Inland Town) save
two, were lost.
VVhen our sick
Army, likewise, near
Dunbar
Inclosed by their Adversaries were,
VVithout the least,
Reserve, in their distress;
Weak Weary, Wounded, Hungry, Harbourless,
Wet, Cold, and
Straightned so, that in their Power
(Both by the
Foes opinion, and by
Our,)
They seem'd to bee; till,
God look't through the cloud
And, then, the
Lowly, trampled on the
Proud.
And, lastly; when,
Surrender up was made
Of
Edenborough Castle; which, we had,
At such a season as much more then doubles
The
Benefit; considering, what troubles,
(VVhat dangers) might have follow'd; had
[...]
So opportunely, that
Strong-Fortress got:
And this great
mercie, was the
Just occasion,
Of this
days meeting and
Solemnization.
VVhen these
Deliv'rances, and of this kinde,
Some others, I do fully call to minde;
VVith all the
Circumstances, too, whereby
VVe might illustrate every
Victory,
To Gods due praise; and, to th' annihilating
Of our
Endeavours; therewith Meditating,
VVhat, we have
gain'd; and what it might have cost
Had any of our hopes, in these, been lost;
(Or, his
Assistances with-holden been
During those
straights, which, we were sometimes
[...]
I cannot, but unfainedly confess,
His
Goodness, with a hearty
thankfulness;
And, for the Honour of his
Name, assay,
To keep, an
Everlasting Holyday.
To these
Considerations, I might add,
How many are displeas'd, and almost mad,
VVith Rage, to see that, still, in their dispignt.
God looks upon our
Thrivings, with
delight,
[Page 39]
[...], still, makes void their Malice; still, unknots,
From time to time) and Nullifies their
Plots.
[...] Constantly,
He, Leads our
Armies on
VVith Victories; as if, the
Work were done
Before they came; and, left them nothing else
[...] do; but, take the
pris'ners, and the
Spoyls.
[...] strangely.
He, in
Ireland, did begin
[...] make us
Room; when, we had scarce, therein
[...] of Landing, wherein, we might say
[...] could have been secured, for
one day.
[...] swiftly, he hath prosecuted there,
[...]vengements, for the bloody
Massacre,
[...] our dear
Brethren; and, what fair hopes,
he
Vouchsafes, that fully it aveng'd will be.
[...] great a
Mercie, t'was that now the
Scot,
[...]
Re-invading us prevented not
[...] making, in their
Land the feat of
War;
Which, they intended should be setled
here:
[...], what this
Blessing is, they truely
see,
[...]
feel, this day, where, now, both
Armies be.
But, over and above all this, there's, yet
[...]
Mercie, which, if we forget
[...] mention, to God's praise, we do amiss:
[...], much it will avail us; and, 'tis this.
[...] Bloody
Irish, whose chief interest,
Depends upon the, ten horns of the
Beast,
And, Sea of
Rome) have with all diligence,
Endeavour'd for assistances from thence:
[...] was there want, in them, of
Willingness,
[...] second their desires; yet, nay-the-less,
They have obtained, hitherto, thereby,
[...]
Aid, considerable, or
supply:
[...],
God, who, our
Avenger is become,
[...] cast on that
Leviathan of
Rome,
[...]
Chain; and, Fastned in his Nostrils too,
[...]Hook which hinders what he fain would do.
(As if, to finde them
Work, till his were done)
Hath so distracted ev'ry
Christian King,
And ev'ry▪
Commonwealth, near neigh'bouring,
With Jealousies, and discontents at
home;
With Wars
abroad; Or, with
Invasions from
Their
forraign foes; that, what they would have do
[...]
They dar'd not: but, stood, onely, looking on,
To see our
Fall; to watch, how we did play
Our
Game; and, where, their best
Advantage lay,
What, but a
Providence, and, such a one,
As may ascribed be to
God alone,
Could so have tim'd, and
Order'd every thing,
That, they, advantages to us might bring?
What,
Denmark would have done, their foe, the
Swed
[...]
Did, by an Act unlooked for, impede.
What,
France intended, was made also vain,
By their
Domostique Jars, and, wars with
Spain.
What,
Spain, could have been highly pleas'd with
[...]
Was hinder'd, both by
France, and
Portugal.
The Powerful, and wary
Netherlanders,
Were grown so jealous, of their own
Commanders,
That, though they were unfreindly, at the first,
(And, Countenanc'd our
Foes, in what they durst)
Yet, peradventure, seeing (or else fearing)
A
mischief, over their own heads, appearing;
They, have not put opon us, worse conditions,
Then, very well became such
Polititians.
But, had not
God, in season, took from thence,
That rash, and over-much intrusted
Prince,
Who had almost inslav'd them;
we, and
they,
Or,
both of us, had (probably) this day,
Been much imbroyl'd: and, therefore,
they, and
we
Should, for that timely favour, thankful be.
The
Portugal, hath had his bridles too,
Restraining him, from, what, he fain wuld do
[...] hands in action, and his eyes from sleep;
[...] that which he hath done in opposition,
[...] us, will but accelerate perdition,
[...] those whom he secur'd, against our
State;
[...] bring them, to repent, when 'tis too late:
[...] 'twill but keep our
[...] abroad, a while,
[...] shew the
world, Gods favour to this Isle;
[...] make it heed, what
work, he hath begun;
[...] make them know, that, what is left undone,
[...] but for triall of their
faith, and our;
[...], to illustrate so, his boundless
power,
[...] they may be assured to confess,
[...]
love, his
wisdome and his
righteousnesse.
And for assurance, that, it shall be thus,
[...] what
earnest, God hath given us,
[...], we had long time, controverted, here,
[...]
interest; and made the same appear,
[...] humble
pleadings, and by hearty
cries,
[...]
God against our late
Kings tyrannies;
[...] saw no good success: we brought our
cause,
According to our ancient English Lawes)
Before
him by
appeals. And by the
sword,
[...] last decision, which those
Lawes affoord)
[...] the same, to proof; both
parties being,
[...]ntented, and in that
appeal agreeing.
[...]orthwith, both Drums, and Trumpets thereupon,
[...]unded a
Charge; the
battells join'd, fell on;
[...],
God before whose
throne our
cause was tri'd,
[...]
victory, gave
sentence on our side.
This
Judgement (not by all, approv'd at first)
[...]me
traytors, and some
friends would have revers'd,
And fought to wave it, as a doubtfull
triall;
Although throughout the world, without deniall,
And throughout all times) even to this day,
[...]
disputes, decided are, this way.
[Page 42]But to assure us, that the
sentence came
From
God; he, hath, again, confirm'd the same
By
seconding that act of
providence,
And, making us,
victorious, ever since.
Thereto, therefore, adhering; we have thrown
With confidence, the
tyrant from his Throne:
Making him also, pay the forfeiture
Of life, our present
title, to secure.
And, therein, not alone our
Consciences,
Do warrant us, and, all those
witnesses
Of
providence, which have therein appear'd:
But, to the
world, the same is, likewise, clear'd,
By all those pow'rfull
Kings, and neighbouring
States
[...]
Who, have observed, how
God vindicates
Our
cause; and they have now pronounc'd us
free▪
As we of right, and by Gods
verdict be.
For, their
Ambassadours, who now reside,
With us, our liberty have justifi'd,
By their
acknowledgements; and, witnesse bear
Thereby, to what
Gods sentence did declare:
Yea, by their
free concession of the same,
They make themselves as liable to blame
As we; for, if our
Nation justly may
Be counted
Murtherers; now so must they:
At least, as
accessaries to that deed,
By which we from our
servitude, were freed.
If,
Righteously, our winnings we possesse;
They, are partakers of our
righteousnesse,
By those
acknowledgements; and,
God, shall them
Reward, for their so justifying him:
If they by no sinister actings mar
That
blessing, whereto,
way, it may appear.
However; we, obliged are to praise
Gods
mercie, that we see in our own daye
[...]
Such
blossoms of the fruits, which we expect
That, our
endeavours have so good effect;
[Page 43]As, that the pow'rfullst
Princes of all those
Whom we suspected
Neuters (if not
foes)
Are so convinced as to mediate
An
amicable Juncture, with our
State,
In time sincerenesse; or, dissemblers are:
Which, were an evidence of greater fear,
And basenesse, then, we either can detect;
Or, shall, without some future cause, suspect.
Oh! what a blindnesse, what a frowardnesse,
Doth some of our own
Nation, yet possess,
That, other men can so farre off, discern
What,
God, hath done for us; and thereby learn
Both to be wise in time, and
kisse the son
Before his
burning anger is begun,
And yet they, still, continue obstinate:
Grumble at
providence, bark at the
State,
Like dogs against the moon, and snarl at all
Who will not as they do,
good things, miscall.
It may be, such as these, when they shall see
VVhat's here expressed, will be mad at me:
Menace, defame and hate, revile, and curse,
Or, peradventure, mean me, what is worse)
Yea, some who wish me well, may think I might
Have wiser been, than, to provoke despight,
Or, needlesly, (as they suppose) engage
Against the violence of brutish
rage.
But, I defie that
wisdome, which perswades
A
private heed, which
publick right, invades.
[...] never yet, an ease, or safety, found
[...] ought, which to my
Conscience, gave a wound.
Already too too many such, now are,
VVho either seem ashamed, or, else fear
[...]o own Gods
Mercies, or, the
publick causes,
VVithout some
reservations, blinds, or
pauses,
[...]o save that
interest, which to enjoy,
[...]n
[...]eas'
[...]bly, themselves, they may destroy.
[Page 44]By this
self-love are miseries begun:
Within this channell, hitherto, they run;
By this, we lose
Gods love; by this, we make
Our courage feeble, and from other; take
[...]
That confidence in us which might engage
Their faithfullnesse; and, them to us oblige,
With willingnesse, to help establish that,
Which for the
Publick-weal, is aimed at.
For my part I intend a resolution,
To further what we have in prosecution.
I see Gods
mercies, and I understand
His purpose, in the
works he hath in hand:
And therefore, whosoe're displeas'd shall grow,
Will publish forth, what of his love I know.
It is my duty, 'tis my proper
call;
(If I have any in this world, at all.)
Yea
born I was, (if born I were for ought)
To do the
work, which, I to do have fought:
And, if my
Faculty (such as it is)
Was given me for ought, it was for
this
Which I am doing, and I will employ it
This way, as long, as I with health enjoy it.
What ever, I have publickly profest,
Was
really intended; not in
jest.
Neither for praise, or profit, or to please,
(Except what
frailty doth inject of these)
Nor out of
contradiction unto those
Who shall dislike it, do I this compose:
And, therefore neither,
carnall hopes, or
fear
Shall make, me, my known
duty, to forbear.
For no respect, to
Parliament or
King,
Or to my
self, have Im any thing
Diffe blingly, spoke hitherto my thought;
Although much mischief on me it hath brought▪
And I hope never to be frighted from
A
[...] expression, whatsoever come.
[Page 45]But to declare the truth, and speak my mind,
As often as, I just occasion find;
[...]n spight of all the spitefull
world can do,
And all the rage of
Powers Infernall too.
And whence springs this my confidence? not from
Those
grounds, whereby, most men, do now become
Couragious in their
actings: nor from our
Prevailings hitherto: nor from that
power
We have acquir'd: or those advantages,
Whereby we are made hopefull to possesse
Our wished ends: nor trust I to th' events
Of our
endeavours, or our best
intents:
For, all these things, although they promise fair,
May find a
change, and leave us in despair:
[...]n this alone my boldnesse doth consist:
[...] see
Gods presence, and his
interest,
[...]n all that's done: I have a glimmering, too,
Of that, which he designs e're long, to do,
Though yet delay'd: and, therefore, whatsoe're
[...]efalls me, am resolv'd to persevere
[...]n driving on his
work, though I should see
As great a
change, as may supposed be.
Yea should I perish in this
Cause, and knew,
When I were dying not one, thereto true;
[...] should, even then believe, that, God, alone
Would finish that, which he hath now begun;
And make his
glorie, be the better seen
By those
Obstructions, which will intervene.
Thus, having added somewhat to prevent
The prejudice, which threatens my intent:
And sum'd up also, (as my
weaknesse could)
A
part of that for which we render should
Our
thanks this day; I pu
[...]pose to compose
Some formall
Odes of
thanfullnesse, for those
[...]o
[...] desirous be, when they rejoyce,
To witnesse their intentions, by the
voice.
[Page 46]This, prudent men, thought very pertinent
(And an inseparable
complement)
For such a
duty: though,
fanatick fools,
Who have nor
wit, nor
musick in their souls,
Perceive not, with, what good effects we may
Use them in our
devotions, at this day.
Gods,
Prophets, who, knew best what did belong
To
praises; did expresse them, oft, in
Song,
And, left them written, as the best
Records,
To memorize, what
present time affoords,
Worth recommending to Posterity:
Or, of safe keeping it in memorie:
For, seeing
Hymnes beget no expectation
Of ought proceeding from an
inspiration,
Upon emergent cause; but are a
story,
Expressing, briefly, to th'
almighties Glory,
Matter, of fact, (as that which hath been done,
Lately for us, or many ages gone,
For, others, whose well-being did relate,
To us) those Odes continue still in date;
And should sometimes, repeated be, to show
What,
God hath done; that, hopefull we might gro
[...]
Of like
Protection: and, be comforted
By those examples, when our hopes are dead.
And necessary 'tis, that, those
Records
Should be preserved, still, in their
first words,
That, future times, a certainty may see
In those things, which commemorated be.
And out of question, (to the end of dayes)
He, who sincerely sings the, to Gods praise,
Shall feel within him (being so dispos'd)
That
spirit move, by which they were compos'd.
Therfore, though
Scorners, & those
dull soul'd things
Whose judgement knows not, whether better
[...]
The
Nightingall or
Cuckow, flout me shall,
And in contempt, these
Hymnes my Ballads
[...]ll;
[Page 47]
[...] will not be discouraged by these;
From saying, or, from singing, what I please;
But, in an awfull, Joyfull strain, begin
A
song, to usher this dayes
praises in.
Yea, in those
forms, which are by them abhor'd;
[...], and my
houshold, thus, will praise the
Lord.
Sing this as the
100. Psalm.
1.
WIth aweful
Joy, and joyful
Fear,
To sanctifie, O Lord, this day,
Before thy
Foot-stool we appear;
And, our
Thank-offrings here to pay:
Which though it be no other thing,
Then thy
Free-mercies to confesse;
Or,
Songs, unto thy praise to sing;
Vouchsafe acceptance, nay-the-lesse.
2.
Within our selves, we are so poor,
That, we have nothing of our own,
But, what we had from thee, before;
Which, by our
sins impair'd is grown:
For, our
wit, beauty, strength, and
health,
(The goods of body, and of mind)
Our time, our honours, and our wealth,
To serve our lusts, have been resign'd.
3.
And, therefore, till thou shalt renew
Thine
Image, by our fault defac'd,
We, and our
Offrings, from thy view,
Deservedly, may forth be cast.
There is no musick in our
Songs,
That's worthy to be heard of thee;
Because, our
hearts, eyes, ears, and
tongues,
Prophaned, and untuned be.
4.
Yet by those favours, heartned on,
W
[...]ch were on us bestown, of late,
[Page 48]A
Hymn, we joyntly have begun,
To sing this Day, at
Mercies gate.
Lord! those
eternall doores unclose,
Through which thy speciall graces flow;
The cords of our Corruption lose,
And, let thy Spirit on us blow.
5.
Then, ev'ry word, we hear, or say,
With ev'rything, that's done, or thought
(In celebrating of this Day)
Shall do thee honour, as it ought:
And, they that study publike harms,
Or, flout, what we are doing here,
Shall be so bound up, by these Charms,
That when they flout us, they shall fear.
Thus, having by an humble
preparation,
Made, first our way to God, for
acceptation
Of our intended
praises; and, that done,
A little meditated thereupon;
Or, exercis'd our thoughts, on other
Notions,
Which may be pertinent, to these
devotions;
We, in a second
Canto, will relate
Some
heads of that which we
commemorate:
And, thus, expresse our
thankefulnesse to God,
In
exultations, of a higher
Mode.
Sing this as the
113. Psalm.
1.
OH God! how good! how kind art thou!
What help, what grace, dost thou bestow
On us, in our distrest estate!
Our
tears to
triumphs, thou hast turn'd,
We now do
sing, who lately
mourn'd,
And, by our Foes, were jeered at.
When we were weak, poor and forlorn,
Expos'd to dangers, fears and scorn,
Our
Comforter, thou didst become:
[Page 49]And, when we dreaded
shame of face;
Spoils, death, or wounds, joyn'd with disgrace;
Those fears, we were deliver'd from.
As thou, from base and servile bands,
And out of cruel
Pharoahs hands,
Thine Heritage redeemd'st of old:
Ev'n so, from those, who fought our harm,
Thou broughtst us off, with out-stretch'd arm,
With
signs and
wonders manifold.
They so, were blinded, Lord, by thee,
Who, might have
seen, but vvould not see;
Nor hear when they were counsell'd well:
And He that fraud, and force imploy;d,
To make our Lavvs, and Freedomes void;
In our own view, like
Pharoah, fell.
This is the
Day, whereon our
Yoke
Of
Norman Bondage, first was broke;
And,
England from her chains made free▪
This is the Day, vvhereon the Lord,
Did manumit us by the
sword,
And, 'tis novv
signall, by decree.
Slaves, they deserve to be, therefore,
And to be bar'd for evermore,
The
Freedoms of this
Commonweal,
Who shall not thankfull, now appear,
And vindicate with sword and spear,
Gods just Replies, to our
Appeal.
By thee, our Freedoms, Lord, vve got;
Oh! to our keeping, leave them not:
But, still their
Guardianship retain.
And, let not those, vvho under thee,
Sub
[...]ers, of those
Freedoms be,
[...] our
[...]ins, forfeit them, again:
On th
[...]se alone, that are unjust
[Page 50]Or shall be traytours in their trust,
To this
Republike, or to
Thee,
Let thy avenging justice fall;
And, on all those who hinder shall,
That
Peace, with
Truth, may setled be:
5.
Write in our hearts, thy sacred Law;
And, let no
future failings, draw
Our former cursed bondage back:
But, our
depraved wills renew,
And, to thy
service, keep us true;
Which, wil our
Freedoms perfect make.
The
Kingdom, Power, and
Praise be thine
As long as Moon, and Sun shall shine:
Be, likewise, thou our
Heritage:
And, in this
Nation, let there be
No other King, or GOD, but thee,
What e're they are, who thereat rage.
Warm'd by these
Charmes, I do begin to feel
Another
motion, in an higher
wheel,
Inclining my
invention, to indite
Expressions, raised to a loftier
height;
That (if it can be done) I may awake
Some other, in my
praises to partake.
Be silent then; For, I intend a
strain,
That shall reach
heaven, and, eccho, down again
Such
repercussions, hither, through the ayre,
As will within our
Foes beget despaire,
Of their
designes; and, those, to us, unite
In
praises, who, in
Englands peace, delight:
Sing this as the
148. Psalm, doubling the last strain of the Tune.
1.
ALl you, that present are,
Come, let our
hearts, and
tongues,
The
Praise of God declare,
[Page 51]In
new-Thanksgiving songs;
Come, let us sing
[...]trains, that may make the walls to shake,
The Roofs to ring:
Still sounding higher,
[...]ill thereby, we, with
Angells, be
Joyn'd in one Quire.
Related, we have heard,
What he, for us, hath done;
With how much disregard,
Our Foes, he looks upon:
And, we have seen,
[...]ow, he befriends, when
righteous ends
Pursu'd have been:
VVe, likewise vievv
VVhat will befall, to those that shall
Their lust pursue.
We see, or may behold,
That, he our
Armies leads;
And (as in times of old)
His Banner o're them spreads,
And for our sakes,
[...]hrough threats and spights, through depths and heights,
Their passage makes,
VVhilst, to his praise
Their Foes to nought, are justly brought,
In plainer waies.
He, made both
Seas and
Wind,
To them assistance lend;
And, what they had design'd,
Sun, Moon, and
Clouds befriend.
F
[...]rce, he repells;
[...] them bold, to march where cold,
[...] hunger dwells:
[Page 52]And, when their
fear
Did most abound, they mercy found,
And
Victors were.
5.
To him doth
Praise belong:
For, he did them subdue,
Who num'rous were, and strong,
When we were weak, and few;
And, when our Foes
Came bragging on, and thought all won,
They all did lose.
Still, be it thus;
Lord! alway, so, them overthrow
VVho malice us.
6.
His wise-foresight prevents,
The
Politicians wiles:
He, crosses their intents,
He, at their
Projects smiles:
In his due time,
He still unknots, all hidden plots,
Contriv'd by them:
And, in that snare,
VVhich, for our feet, they closely set,
Still caught they are.
7.
Vain
sons of men, therefore,
Your bruitish grumbling cease;
Pursue false-hopes no more,
But follow after peace.
More prudent grow;
Reform your waies, and sing his Praise
As now we do:
Oh! whilst you may
In
God rejoyce, and hear his
Voice
VVhile 'tis to day.
8.
Let all men do the same,
[Page 53]Of whatsoe're degree;
And magnifie his Name,
As all obliged be.
His Righteousnesse,
[...]
Power and
Grace, in ev'ry place
Let all confesse:
And lay aside
[...]heir own deserts, their selfish hearts,
Their stinking pride.
Your strength to him submit,
You, that have conquests won:
Wise men ascribe your wit,
To him, ev'n him alone.
For, he supplies
[...]he Fool with skill, and, when he will
Be fools the wise.
And, certainly,
[...]nto to your Foes, he, gives the blows
By which they die.
10.
Rich-men, your precious things
Bring forth, your Thanks to show;
Before him, (Oh ye Kings)
Your
Heads, and
Scepters bow;
And, as 'tis meet,
[...]ome from your
Thrones, and cast your
Crowns
Beneath his feet:
For,
Kingdomes all
[...]o him pertain, and he again
Resume them shall.
11.
Oh! let all things that
were,
That
are, or shall
ensue;
(Or, but in
thought appear)
The
Praise, O God, forth-shew;
[...]ill
Times last bound:
And, let it run, when time is done,
An endlesse
Round;
[Page 54]Where, needs not be
Privations Night, that we true Light
May better see.
12.
Mean time, let not his praise
Be meerly, in our Voice,
As if vve thought to raise
A
Trophy, out of Noise:
But, let us more
Our Thanks expresse, in Righteousnesse,
Then heretofore:
Els (this is plain)
False shows we make, and, do but take
GODS
Name in vain.
These
Hymns I offer up, to be instead
Of some short
Chronicle, for them to read,
Who have not means to get a
larger Book,
Or leisure-time, long
Tracts to overlook.
And many, peradventure, who should els
Never have heard a word, of what this tells,
Shall thereby know it, and thence, take occasion
To magnifie Gods
Mercies, to this
Nation.
Here I had made an end, but that I find
Another
Christian duty, which to mind
I must present. All these, forepast
Expressions
Of Gods great
mercies, and our fair
Professions
Of
thankfuinesse, but words, or actions be,
Which
hypocrites may do, as well as we,
(As to the outward man) and, many times,
By them, that
service, best performed seems.
These, are but
offrings of our
lips, and
tongues,
Or exercises of the breath, and lungs,
In which, we formally may act a part,
With little fervor, and without a
heart.
If we upon inquiry find it thus,
In those
Thanksgivings offred now by us,
[...]ll be to God, but an
abomination.
We, therefore shall do well, when we have ended
[...]e
publike duties, unto us commended,
[...]
Power supreme) in private, to retire
[...]
to our selves, and of our hearts inquire
[...]w things are there, and whether all be so
[...]earnest, as it ought to be, or no.
[...] we perceive a failing, let us, then,
[...]nfesse it, as becomes
repentant men:
[...]d take occasion, thence, to magnifie
[...]ods
love the more, and humbly vilifie
[...]r wayes before him, for the
favours done,
[...]ill, then, most thankfully be thought upon,
[...]hen we consider, that, the
Grace bestown,
[...]as not, without our
self-desert, alone:
[...]t, when we rather merited his wrath.
[...]ercie, by
guileinesse, more lustre hath,
[...]nd Gods
commiseration will appear
[...]ice greater, when 'tis known, how vile we are.
Oh! let us therefore, take more care to see,
[...]th
what we are, and, what
we ought to be,
[...]hom,
God, hath so much favour'd: let us know,
[...]at we our
thankfullnesse are bound to show
[...] well with
other members, as with
tongues,
[...]d, with what, ever else to us belongs.
[...]e ought to bring a
circumcised ear,
[...]ot deaf to
truth, or, readier to hear
[...]
false report, then, that which represents
[...]he grievances, and wrongs of
innocents.
[...] pitifull, and an
impartiall eye,
[...] look upon, the poore mans miserie,
[...]nd turn from
vanities: well cleansed
hands:
[...]tive, in executing, Gods
Commands:
[...], not to
bloodshed swift, but, ordered
[...]he paths of
Christian holinesse, to tread;
[Page 56]And ev'ry other
Member, serving to
Those
duties, which they were ordain'd to do.
Let ev'ry man consider, what,
he was;
What, he at this time
is; unto what
place
God, hath
preferred him: unto what
end:
What,
he hath done; and,
what, he doth intend:
Whether,
to other men, he hath done so,
As, he would others, unto him should do.
Whether his
Power be faithfully employ'd,
To further that, for which it is enjoy'd;
Or, to enrich himself. Whether, his
wealth,
His
reputation, wisdome, strength, and
health,
Have been improv'd aright; and, whether, he
Is really the same, he seems to be,
By those externall
actings, which expresse
His
Justice, Piety, and
Thankefulnesse.
For, 'tis not our
conformity, to that
Which is this day, commanded by the
State,
(Or, other like
performances) alone,
That, maketh acceptable what is done.
'Tis not
Religion, stew'd into a vapour;
Taking, of
Notes, at
Sermons, in a paper;
Or, giving sixpence, or perhaps, a shilling,
Wherein, consists a laudable fulfilling
Of this daies-duty: no, beloved
Nation,
'Tis
Justice, Justice; Bowells of
compassion;
Sincerenesse in your
deeds; truth in your
hearts;
And, purifying of your
inward parts;
Which makes a
Sacrifice to be approv'd,
Or
Sacrificer perfectly belov'd:
And, 'tis the want of these, that, most estranges
From GOD; and brings the most destructive
chang
[...]
Which, being true; all men (in what they may)
Should to perform the duty of
this day,
Be diligent: But most conduce, it shall
Unto the
Publike-good, in generall;
Should take themselves into
Examination,
And search, what in them wanteth, to expresse
A hearty, and unfained thankfulnesse:
Let, therfore those, on whom, at this time, lies
The greatest
Trust, reflect, a while, their eyes
Upon themselves; to make enquirie, whether
There be not in their
publike-actings, either
Some falshood, or some failings, which may need
A
Reformation, and a better
heed:
Whether, they have not swallow'd, what may choke
Themselves, at last; Gods, righteous wrath provoke;
And, frustrate all our former
Preservations;
Our present Joys, and future expectations.
Let them examine, how much, yet, they want
Of making good their vowed
Covenant,
Not in the
Scottish, but the
English sense)
Which hath relation to our just defence,
And, to that
mutuall aid, which, to each other
We vow'd; when, we were thereby joyn'd together.
Let them examine, whether, they have not
That part, of their
Ingagement, so forgot,
As, to desert their friends, in th' executions
Of their just
Vow, and, made their
Prosecutions
More mischievous to them, then unto those
That, were appa
[...]ently our
guilty Foes:
And, whether, whilst this
Lot, on them attends,
Men, may not cheaper, be
truth's foes, then friends.
Let them examine, if there be not some,
Who to their
Counsells, and
Committees come,
[...]eldome, or never; but, to set those free
From
Prosecution, who, most guilty be:
And, whether, many of them, do not know
Who, these men are, and often, find it so,
Much to their grief; because, they are unable
To hinder, what they know unwarrantable.
[Page 58]Let, them consider, whether, some effects
Of
partiall, and of
personall respects,
Have not oft times, destroy'd an
Innocent,
The just dooms, of the
guilty, to prevent:
Whether, this
Lord, that
kinsman, or their
friend;
(Or, he, that can promote their
private end)
This
Lady, with the fair bespotted face;
That
gallant, in the suit bedawb'd with Lace;
Or, seeming
Converts, who, perhaps, are come
To
Fine, for means, to mischief us, at home;
Let them I say, consider whether, these
Are not receiv'd with more
civiliti
[...]s,
And, with much more respect, then many are,
Who, from the first beginning of this
war,
Have served faithfully; and ever stood
Firm, in all
Trialls, for the
Publike-good.
Let them examine, whether,
they and
we,
Partakers, of one
Common-Justice be,
According to our right: Or, whether they
Allow not to themselves, what they deny
To some of
us, who, have the self-same
Cause;
And, claim the self-same
equity, and
Laws.
Let them examine, whether, none of them,
Seek
opportunities, and watch for
time
How, to surprize their
House, to gain a
Vote,
Which, in a full Court, never had been got;
Because, their
motions, had been, then, gainsaid,
By many, and, their
purpose, better weigh'd.
Let them examine, how, they do pursue
Their
self-denying Votes, which, gave a shew
Of honorable, and of good
intentions;
Though frustrate, by unlooked for preventions.
Let them examine, if these
Common-weals
Can hope for benefit, by just
Appeals,
Against
Oppressors, who shall
Office bear,
When in
Supreme Authority they are,
[Page 59]And while they shall be priviledged so,
That, they may Judges be; and
Parties, too,
In those
Appeals; and, how, their
bribery,
Or other injuries, can possibly
Be prov'd; where, all
Appellants, against these,
Shall find so many disadvantages
To struggle through; and while those they impeach,
Are in a
Sanctuary, out of reach.
Let them examine, if the
distributions
Of
places, gainfull by their executions,
Are equally divided; or, bestown
So frequently, for any
merit, known,
As, for some nigh
relation, unto those
Who get the power, such
places to dispose:
And, whether,
one, may
five, or
six, deserve,
Whilst, many of our
friends, are like to starve,
Who, might have been reliev'd; yea, made our debter;
And, serv'd the
Common wealth, perhaps much better.
Let them examine, whether, they, who
lent
And, freely gave, till all they had, was spent,
The
Publike to secure; are car'd for, so,
As they have been, who, fought our overthrow:
Whether, they see not many more arise
To
speak for them, upon emergencies;
To
represent their seeming-sad
conditions;
To
offer, and to
second, their
Petitions;
To get
Provisoes, pardons, or
Reprieves,
(And, means to keep their
children, and their
wives)
Then do for those, when their distresse appears,
Who, freely, spent their
bloud, to save our
tears.
Let them examine, whether, some of them
Do not by their proceedings, both condemn
And, help destroy themselves; when, in their
Choises
Of
Publike-Ministers, they give in
Voices,
Or
Names, for by-respects, or kindreds sake;
Enabling them,
Confed'racies to make,
[Page 60]For
private interest: let them, together
Take consultation, and examine whether
They favour not, among them, such as drive
Those
actings on, whereby, they may contrive
The ruine of our
Cause. Let them, moreover,
Examine, whether, none they can discover
Who constantly endeavour, to bring in
Those, who most worthily, depriv'd have been
Of their late
trust; that, they might them assist
In strengthening their
corrupted interest:
And, whether, an
indulgency to these,
May not procure some disadvantages
To that
Militia, which, hath been, of late,
Established, to fortifie the
State:
And, let them, if they find it to be so,
Prevent the mischiefe, e're it further go.
Let them examine, whether,
Avarice,
Ambition, malice, pride, or some such
Vice,
Hath not been so indulg'd, as, that it may
Deprive us of the comforts, which this day
We have hope: yea, let us all,
apart,
And, joyntly, seek true
Peace, with perfect heart.
These
memorandums, I am bold to add,
That, our
Thanksgivings, may be thereby made
More perfect; and, more acceptable, too,
By minding, what, we further have to do:
That, by these
Observations, I may keep
My
friends, from singing of themselves asleep,
In that
security, which will destroy
The truest sweetnesse, of our present
joy:
That, we might save
Supreme Authority,
From that contempt, that blame, and obloquy,
Which, may be cast upon it, by our
Foes,
Or, by the secret
faithlesnesse, of those,
Who (by pretending for it) have much wronged
Their
Actings, and our
miseries prolonged:
[Page 61]
[...]d that we may not by our heedlesnesse
[...] those things, which will mar our
happinesse,
[...]wle
Elegies, and roar out
Lamentations,
[...]ead of
songs of praise, and
Exultations,
Lord! give thou hereunto, those good events
Which, may, in somwhat, answer my intents:
[...]nd, take with acceptation,
I, thee pray,
[...]is my imperfect, this may weak assay.
[...]sten thy work,
and bring it to conclusion;
[...]aw us, out of that chaos-like confusion,
[...] which we are: As, in our preservation
[...]ou hast appear'd, so in our restauration
[...] unity,
please, likewise, to appear;
[...]at, Peace
and truth,
may keep their dwellings here.
Let Parliament,
and people,
from this day,
[...]ise thee, by Reformation of their way.
[...] City, Countrey,
and both poore and rich,
[...]deavour with sincerity, as much.
[...]t our victorious Armie,
do the same;
[...]tributing unto thy glorious Name
[...] their prevailings;
persevering, still,
[...] faithfull executing of thy will,
[...]d seeking publick-peace
without design
[...]ought, which may to selfishnesse
incline.
[...]nd, make us all, with as much willingnesse,
[...] forth thy praises,
for the righteousnesse
[...] thy severest Judgements;
as, to sing
[...]anks, for those blessings,
which thy mercies
bring.
And, my
dear countreymen, let me not pray
[...]r you in vain: nor sing my
songs, this day
[...]
Beasts, and
Rocks, and
Mountains, to be heard,
As they have often been) without regard:
[...]st, I have cause to change my joyfull
Odes,
[...] mournfull
Epicedes, and
Palinodes.
[...] ill presaging
Raven to this
Nation,
[...] would not be (croaking of
desolation
[Page 62]And sad events) I, rather with the
Dove,
My winged
Contemplations, would improve
To bring such
Olive-leaves, as may declare
Your
overflowings, quite abated are:
But, all that is allow'd by my
Commissions,
Is, only to declare, on what
conditions,
We may have
Peace; and, what events, God hath
Design'd, both to the
right, and
left hand path.
Let me not, therefore, whistle to the
wind,
And,
emptinesse, in my good wishes find.
For, why should this day of our
visitation
Be overpassed by this
generation?
Why do the
Gentry rage? why murmur so
The brutish
Common people, as they do?
New
Vanities, why do they still devise?
Themselves befooling every day with
lies?
Though, every dayes, experience doth declare,
How false their hopes and expectations are:
If they would learn to
love, and to
believe,
God, thereunto, a blest Event should give;
And make them know, and see (with comfort too)
What, he is doing, and intends to do.
But I begin to feel within my breast,
A
Rapture, pressing on to be exprest.
Oh! hear me therefore, and let none despise
To heed it: for I'le now sing
Prophecies,
Which (whatsoe're you think) shall be as true,
As if a
wiser man had told them you.
If you shall (oh ye
Brittains) reunite,
In
love, and, but, according to your might,
Add your endeavours, chearfully, to do,
What
Grace and
Reason, will invite you to,
Your
way shall prosper: and, (my soul for yours)
Neither all
earthlies nor
Infernall powers,
Shall able be to make a future
rent,
Betwixt you; or to shake that governme
[...]
[Page 63]Which God will settle here: but it shall stand
[...]s long, as there is, either
sea or
land:
[...]nd be renown'd among all other
Nations,
[...]hroughout the
world, and through all
Generations.
This
Island, then, the
Darling shall become,
[...]ot only, of all
States in
Christendome;
[...]ut, likewise, of all those within the sound
[...]f everie
wind, that blows within this
Round.
[...] shall be made the
Magazine of all
[...]hose things on earth, which men do precious call:
[...]nd, of all
vertues, morall and
divine,
[...]hat may be found, where
Sun and
Moon do shine:
[...]or, God shall take delight, to multiply
[...]is
blessings on it, and to beautifie
[...]ut
cities, fields, and
persons, with each thing,
[...]hat
honour, ornament or
peace may bring.
But, if against the
Light you shut your
eyes;
[...]ood
counsel, if you frowardly despise:
[...] you from
God, shall turn away your
heart;
[...]he way of
Justice, and of truth pervert:
[...], timely
mercies you neglect to shew
[...]o those that
need (God, having unto you
[...]ouchsaf'd so many favours, and, protections,
[...] your great straights, and manifold afflictions)
[...]r, shall abuse the
powre or
trust bestown,
[...]o set up vain
devices of your own,
[...]stead of what concerns the throne of
Christ;
[...]r, this free
Nations, lawfull
interest;
[...]r, shall maliciously pursue a
course,
[...]hat, leads away, from
better things, to worse:
[...]hen, know your
doom, for, here I'le tell it you,
[...]nd speak it out, without
Aenigmaes too.
God, with a
black-sad cloud shall overcast
[...]our hopes; and, on you, breath a sudden blast
[...]hat will shrink up, (before you are aware
[...]ll those fair bloomings, which this day appear;
Which promised rich
harvest fruits, to bring:
And, as his
mercies, have exceeding been,
So shall his
Judgements, when they do begin.
Yea, should you
conquer, till, you did not know
Abroad, or, here
at home, one able foe.
Should all those
Princes, and those powrfull
Sta
[...]
Who court you now, prove firm
confederates;
Or, should you stand possest of all their
powrs,
Of whom, you are, or may be
Con querours;
Yet,
mark well this (unlesse, we shall with speed,
Reform some things, which
Reformation need:
And with more
Courage, with more
verity,
More
self-deniall, and
sincerity,
Witnesse our
thankfullnesse (which, by Gods grace,
I hope, will in due time, be brought to passe)
A
thing, which no man yet, knows what to call,
(Or whence 'twill come) our hopes endanger shall
Yea, such a thing, as is not yet in
thought,
(And which most men will sleight and set at nough
[...]
When first it shall appear) will overthrow
Our
Glorie, and lay all our
honour low,
Till we repent: but, then, we shall arise
From our disgrace again, to be more wise:
And they who in their hearts abide sincere,
Shall see this
change, without much
harm, or
fear▪
More, I might say, but, my
set time is gone.
Take this, among you; and,
Gods will be done,
FINIS.
In the last page of the Epistle l.21.r. setling. p.6.l. [...].r. J [...] seed. p.7.l.29. r. either and or.