out And that cost may no longer be bestown On fruitless plants which he did never own Such is the Prelacy which did proceed From mixture both of good and evil seed As may declar'd by their Etraction be For this appears to be their Pedigree Not very long time ofter Noahs Flood When old Idolatries began to brood The forenam'd DRUIDES who from the Oak Which they much rev'renced their name first took In these Parts of the world usurp'd upon Mens Consciences as many since have done Ev'n in this Isle if that which may be read In old Records be true and being spread Into the neighb'ring Continent from hence In France next settling their chief residence Did there an uncontrouled power retain Until the days of Claudius Caesar's reign The Flamin-Prelacy which did begin Before that time then by degrees did win Pre-eminence and reverenced was Till Pontifical-Prelacy took place From that the papal prelacy deriv'd Their being and a Hierarchy contriv'd Accommodated with a Discipline From Gentiles Jews and Christians hetrogene For though compos'd of pieces patch'd together From all these taken it was like to neither For that the Christian worship might not seem To be inglorious in the worlds esteem Or rather that themselves advance they might Unto a princely and a pompous height In temporal enjoyments they took in Such Pageantries as had affected been By carnal Worshippers by alteration In some things and in some by imitation So by degrees they totally threw off That soberness and meekness with a scoff Which was in true sincerity profest Before the birth and reign of Antichrist The Spouse of CHRIST because she did appear In out-side poor though rich her Linings were With dis-respect they turned out of dore And in her stead trimm'd up a painted Whore So meer will-worship was set up at last And in the Throne of GOD an Idol plac'd From those the prelates came when these Nations Intended to reform their Innovations A carnal prudence dreaming that if they With their External pomp was took away Whereby some thought God's worship was adornd Religion and Devotion should be scorn'd The Prelacy upon that vain surmise Was here continu'd in a new Disguise Till that imposture was by Providence Made manifest and then it was from hence By GOD expel'd as both dishonourable To him and to his Church disserviceable To those intending no affront at all Whose Function simply is Episcopal But this Expulsion being for our sin Revers'd and Prelates now again brought in That and a Sacra-fames in Excess Not thirst and hunger after righteousness Hath so inrag'd them that they all devour Who fall within their new-restored pow'r With high contempt at last without regard Of what the KING hath graciously declar'd And those whom they of their Estates despoil With insolent upbraidings they revile As meriting nor livelihood nor place With them and as uncapable of Grace From GOD or men But cry are not these they Who lately took from Holy Church away Her Dowry spoil'd GOD'S Houses in the Land On sacred things laid sacrilegious hand And vilifide his Servants Thus they crow But they injurious are in doing so And have as much in their blasphemings fail'd On Hezekiah for GOD did not own Those Altars or High-places overthrown And then mis-called his nor owneth he For Bishops those who now so termed be Nor those impertinent Appurtenances Which Prelates please to term GOD'S Ordinances And though they should when they see Babel's fall Their dreadful howlings and their weepings call The Churches sighs and tears no whit availing To them would be their howling and bewailing And though some think this constitution brings Advantage to the Thrones of lawful Kings 'T will prove when thereinto they better look It strengthens them as Ivy doth an Oak And that of Men no one sort under Heaven Cause and Occasions have so often given Of private Quarrels Discords and Debates And Wars 'twixt Realms Nations Kings States The Shepherd therefore hopes this will by those Who can distinguish between Doves and Crows Consider'd be and manifest it then That greatest Clerks are not the wisest men Or that wise men through Avarice and Pride By wealth and honour may be led aside And though this hope should fail him in the main It will not altogether be in vain But for the present shall at least suffice To feed that part which upon Smoke relies Till with essential nourishment suppli'd By that which GOD hereafter will provide Yea though this charming should not prove so strong To fetch back that which doth to him belong Thenceforth content his Ewe and Lambs and he To live upon the Commons then will be However other hopes may have success His best hopes will be rather more then less For they are built on him who best can judge 'Twixt what is and what is not Sacrilege And if his Judges partially shall deal From them to that great Judge he will appeal Who cannot be deceiv'd But no distrust Hath he of their Uprightness who here must Be Judges in his Cause for they have seen What did befal them who unjust have been And hereby now though he be much pre-judg'd May know what on his part may be alleag'd That which is claim'd GOD will perhaps divide Betwixt both Parties when their Claims are tride For out of that which they erewhile possest The Prelates for their sins were justly cast The Shepherd was for his expelled too By him whose just doom he submits unto As therefore GOD shall please he is content To share in Mercy and in Chastisement Till he under that Heritage is brought Which at anothers cost for him was bought And whereto he vouchsafes him by his Grace A better Title in a better place If all be judg'd which he hath purchas'd here The Prelates due he 'll take his portion there For though it be a little while delaid 'T will prove the better share and be will paid This is the Shepherds Case and this the Course He means to take pray use him ne'er the worse For he had not exprest it in this mode But that the Cov'nant PRELATES to explode He conscientiously adheres unto And dares not slight the same as others do Because he can discern Truths from Delusions And knows their late Re-entries are Intrusions FINIS
shall go forward still in doing causlesse wrong I who now at your folly smile may weep for you ere long 4. The greatest harm I wish my Foes when me most wronged have Is that themselves they may not lose by what they seek to have And when that they shall come to try what they have brought me to That they nuoght else may loose thereby but what would them undo 5. Man liveth not by Bread alone and that should it be told Which now my life depends upon your eyes cannot behold You robb'd me of External Things but what the worse am I If I have in me Living Springs that never will be dry 6. From that which you debar me from me long you cannot keep My Noon is past my Night is come and I shall shortly sleep At first to Wither I was born though then a springing Tree And now my leavss away are torn I can but Wither'd be 7. The Birds do live the Lilies grow and are well cloath'd and fed Yet can not spin nor plow nor sow to get them Cloathes and Bread I therefore am without despair that he who cloaths the Grass And feeds the small'st Fowls of the Air will heed my present Case 8. But if my Lot reserve she shall untill another Life The worst that can to me befall will bring more Joy then Grief As Nightingales in summer do I 'll sing all Night and Day And so shall in a month or two sing Care and Life away Refreshed by these pertinent Digressions Which fertifie my faith against oppressions I will proceed to make an application Of what pertaineth to my last Narration The main breach made upon me and which drew Those mischiefs that did afterwards ensue To me did happen some few days before That Parliament was last shut out of door By whom those Grievances on me were brought And then that fell on them which I fore thought And did foretell perhaps that others may Be wary how they needlesly delay That justice which to poorest men belongs When much opressed by continued wrongs Which GOD will execute at first or last Hereafter as he hath done in times past In this Relation I nor Poetize As some may fancie nor Hyperbolize But here in simple plainnesse have set down The naked truth that when it shall be known GOD may be better praysed and these Nations Thenceforth take heed of wilful provocations For greater mischief then to most appears And very many complicated snares Intangle thousands who destructively Oppressed are this day as much as I To whom the grace intended can derive Nought else but such a life as I would give Ten times away to free them from Oppression Who suffer with me by my sad condition And whose complainings end soul-piercing words Lie pricking at my Heart like Darts and Swords How GOD hath fore-determin'd to dispose Of me from this time forth he onely knows And his will shall be mine but if this change Brings good to me it will be very strange For men prophane esteem'd would then appear More just then they who saints reputed were My foes much kinder then they who profest To be my friends and whom I served best As yet he hath retain'd me in their power Who day and night are hunting to devour And letteth loose upon me such a Herd Of brutes as David heretofore compar'd To Dogs Bulls Lyons Serpents and to those From out of whose mouths Adders Poyson flows Whose throats are like devouring graves whose tongues Are Mints of slanders oppressive wrongs In secret on a sudden shooting words More sharp then arrowes or two-edged swords And were these only Foes profest their scorn Or malice might with much more ease be born But some of them are those who many days Walk'd with me friend-like in the self same ways And Neighbours and acquaintance do begin To be to me as his to him had been My love to them with hatred they requite For kindnesses returning me despight Of me their scurrile Songs the drunkards make With whom the scoffers in their jeers partake They who as yesterday pretended had Some kindness are malitiously grown mad Combining and conspiring how they may My Life Estate and Credit take away As if until I wholly were destroy'd Their expectations could not be enjoy'd Although I know no good that can arise To them by what against me they devise Or why such wrongs by them to me are done Except it be because I did them none Or else for that their wayes I look into More then they are well-pleased I should do For be it known they who are thus inrag'd Are not of those who formerly ingag'd In that cause which I lately did oppose No no so justly these are not my Foes But men if they deserve that name whose base Dissembling Heart false Tongues and steeled Face Inclines them to make shew as if they never Did any thing against the King endeavour Whereas a chief of that debauched crew With his drawn Sword the late King did pursue And boasted heretofore with his own breath Of personal assistance at his death Another of them that he might endear Himself to those who last inthroned were Made Headless this Kings picture vowing then So to have done to him had he there been These are my persecutors these are they Who help spread snares and mischiefes in my way And some of those who yet in power a bide By playing fast and loose on either side Are their abettors for no cause to me Yet known unless they know I see Their Juglings or perhaps because they fear I may hereafter make them to appear Whereas I rather for my Countries sake To GOD for their Conversion prayers make That timely they their malice may repent Their own and our perditions to prevent And that by our malitiousnesse they bring No Damage to these Realms or to the King To superfiede that Mercy which I find GOD te confer on us is now inclinde Because our weal and wo will be involv'd Within each others as we are resolv'd And as for time to come we shall persever In Union or neglect a good endeavour Though by our sins and by the sins of those Who were acknowledged however chose For our Trustees our late immunities Are wholly forfeited whilst GOD shall please There is an open Gate through which I view A better way then we do yet pursue To re-obtain them and to settle that Desired Peace which we have aimed at There is a hope this King will be so just When those in whom the common people trust He thorowly hath tride to let us see That he shall prove at last our best Trustee Next under GOD and for us do much more Then all our Parliaments did heretofore Or will do now for they often do those Resemble so by whom they have been chose That we in probability shall never Accomplish that for which we do endeavour Till GOD shall other instruments provide To do his work and throw all these
thereon For you will finde it a true Lydian-stone And if you bide the Touch WORDS are too poor To celebrate your Worth who can say more Your Majesties Loyal Subject GEO. WITHER In stead of a Dedication or an Epistle to the Reader this Expostulation of the Author with Himself is here inserted GEORGE were 't not fit ere from thy hands it pass To dress thy self by thy Considering-Glass It hath now six months been expos'd to show And some say Forth in publick let it go Some cry Conceal it for it may undo thee Or at the best bring outward mischief to thee Say shall or shall I not divulge the same Shall it be spar'd or given to the flame Quickly resolve before it bee too late And Cautions needful grow quite out of date Dost thou beleeve that many men will read it Or if they do that any much will heed it Except it be to seek how to abuse thee Or finde out somewhat whereof to accuse thee What ever thou shalt write Self-interest No more will entertain then shall consist With her own Principles Thou to the SOT Writ'st Greek the worldly-wise regard it not And if among Swine thou thy pearls dost cast They 'l tear thee or defile thee at the least Yet if thy Conscience doth incline thee to it More fear thou to neglect it than to do it For from thy Duties thou art not excus'd Although thy pains be sleighted and abus'd And it were better mischief should befall Unto one single person than to all He perishing with an ill Conscience too Because hee did not what hee ought to do To make this and transcribe it I confess Much pains requir'd not and the cost is less In Ink and Paper yet perhaps it may Be better worth than to be thrown away And though to my particular offence It may redound a tenfold Recompence It will repay thy Country by return And for thy self alone thou art not born My Country Why perhaps my Country-men Think they need not my service and what then Am I oblig'd if they be minded so To serve them still whether they will or no I fifty years have serv'd them in my turn To that end for which I think I was born For no reward but injuries and scorn They my Good Meanings have repay'd with ill And can it be expected I should still Serve them on such hard terms Then so I will Hast thou composed without fear or wit What may mens discontented humours fit Scribled enough since here the Scoene did alter To purchase Newgate or to win a Halter If so and that which is deserved follows That will perhaps attend thee to the Gallows There either rail upon thee or else say Thou wert a bold fool and so go their way And if thou writ'st but sober Truth and Reason Or that which wise men think to bee in season They will be all the world will give thee for 't Shee 'l say that Thou not worth the hanging art Not worth the hanging Hah that 's somewhat tho And may be worth as much for ought I know As to be made a Viscount or an Earl A Marquess or a Duke For great my Earthly Expectations are not And if they come to nothing much I care not I know which way to make mine honour greater Than that for which I must become a Debter To other men and can augment the same By that which some do think will do mee shame But hark in policy a while delay To publish this thou hast a Game to play For Prelates Lands which lately purchas'd were Thy Claims thereto now in great hazard are And thou wilt both to borrow and to pay Disabled bee if they bee took away Thy other Lands by Cheaters were bereft And if thou lose these too there 's nothing left Their Temp'ralties must be restor'd again And thou concerning them writ'st here such plain Such down-right Truths that if there should bee found Surviving or new made on English Ground A Bishop who will then thy cause befriend It may presage that all the rest will mend And that here constituted wee shall see Such Bishops as Saint Paul said they should bee Which our Scotch-Brethren I suppose will grant To bee within our Solemn Covenant But that is in great hazard therefore try Their Holiness and their Humility And if as may be wish'd thou shalt not speed Then with what thou intendest streight proceed Out Out Upon 't this Motion is so evil That 't is a meer suggestion of the Devil This is that foolish policy that brings Destruction upon Nations and their Kings 'T is in effect as if my heart should say Do as most Worldlings do and when that way Thou proved hast and thereby reap'st no good From thenceforth put thy trust alone in GOD. No no I bought those Lands without offending My Conscience or a wrong to them intending And either still mine by GOD's help I 'll make them Or let the Prelates if it must be take them Although I know them no Appurtenance To them belonging by GOD's Ordinance A Covenant within his sight I took Which though by some it sleighted be and broke I dare not sleight it so but to this hour Have kept it and will keep it to my pow'r Art thou then thus resolv'd Yes and till death Resolved am whilst I have Pen or Breath Thus to be still resolv'd unless GOD leaves mee Or else to change my mind his warrant gives mee I 'll trust GOD in the first place not the last Alone and when all other hopes are past If Prelates Parliaments and Kings bereave mee Of all I have Hee helpless will not leave mee But probable it seems that if hereby Imprisonment or extreme Poverty Befalls now thou art old that they who most Thy hazard urge will leave thee to be lost What if they do thou hast a better hold GOD leaveth no man because hee is old And never had hee firm Dependences On him that 's frighted with such Toyes as these Recall to mind that many years ago When such Adventures thou wert urg'd unto It fell out otherwise But there is yet Another fear Therefore consider it Thou hast Relations who to thee are dear May these not suffer more than they can bear By what may come Alas I 'll not dissemble My fears for them do make my flesh to tremble And when I minde their hazards and their fears ' Spight of Philosophy I let fall tears But why my Soul art thou dejected so My Heart why sad within mee dos◠〈◊〉 grow Still trust in GOD for hee will bee thâ—â—â— aid Of these vain Bug-bears be thou not afraid For they are GOD's much more than they are thine To him therefore the charge of them resign This needless care is but for Three at most And to the Father Son and Holy Ghost If thou commit them bee will raise up Friends To make for all their losses large amends But they have said and so do many
be honour'd most or most disgrac'd For though we know what Causes men did own With what heart they did act them 't is unknown Prodigious Fruits in these times have been born Crabs on the Vine and Grapes upon the Thorn And Men and Causes whether good or bad Of Weal and Woe by turns like shares have had To teach that our late Changes have succeeded For some ends which ought better to be needed By one Irregularity we see That here in two months more progressions be In order to the Temporary peace VVhich most men are desirous to possess Then all our Pow'rs and Vertues Wit and Cost Had brought to pass in twenty years almost And we according to late promisings See creeping Motions toward some such things As are expected but they to and fro Forward and backward in their motion go So doubtfully that 't is as yet uncertain What resolutions are behind the Curtain As doubtful 't is whether more praise or blame To them belong who first contriv'd the same Whether the Consequence or that which first Thereto made pasage will prove best or worst And whether want of pre-conditioning VVill bring at length most damage to the King And his Old Party or else unto those VVho did his Entrance heretofore oppose For Acts unjust are oftwell carried on And many righteous things unjustly done Some things likewise there be resmebling Sand Which he that graspeth with an open hand May therewith lode his palm but if he gripe Too hard 't will all between his fingers slip Concerning that proceed which brought to pass The Change which lately here effected was Some scruplings have been made But on the Fact Or upon them who put the same in Act I 'll nothing peremptorily declare Though therein an Obliquity there were Because means fail'd me whereby to inspect Ought further than into the single Act That by the Circumstances I might see What Motives to their hearts propos'd might be What Spirit led them and what straits they past To that which was resolved on at last For in such Cases what they ought to do Wise men are oft to seek and good men too If they who were chief Instruments in that VVhich wrought the Change that we have seen of late Sought only and unfeignedly that end VVhereto all Trusts and Actions ought to tend And were but Circumstantially to blame In plotting or pursuing of the same Their fault if any is a Venial Crime For which there may be made another time Amends to Sufferers that perhaps may more Secure them than they were secur'd before Their Fault was but the errour of a man VVhich well the King may pardon for I can Because I know what ere they did intend GOD will have glory by it in the end And all these Nations future welfare too If they neglect not what is yet to do But they whose Trust these Trustees did abuse Them cannot peradventure so excuse And I beleeve more wise than heretofore Will henceforth never trust Good Fellow more Nor Peasant Peer Priest Prince or Parliament With that which may produce a Detriment To common Int'rest till by some condition To them secur'd they shall secure fruition Of such Concernments if once more they may Recover that which they did fool away But that 's impossible as things now stand And should GOD take the pow'r out of his hand Who grasps it now they who shall next injoy it No better peradventure would employ it Than others did GOd therefore keep us from Another Change until his Kingdome come Except a change of hearts and at this time Or his probation let his Grace in him Be so effectual that he may endeavour To settle here a righteous Throne for ever For ev'ry man that lives at first or last Before a Final Doom on him is past Hath in his life-time once at least an hour Wherein our gracious God vouchsafes him pow'r To ask and have and to elect that path Which leads to weal or woe to life or death Yea alwaies at such times GOD who first loves The soul of ev'ry humane-creature proves And those who then by giving him their heart Though with much failing do perform their part Hee will enable and assist them still By his preventing Grace to do his will For they as often as they go astray Shall either hear a VOICE within them say Or else behinde them Of that course beware Return or thou art lost thy way lyes there Which leads to safety Thus the Spirit preacheth And by means extraordinary teacheth Where common means fail and till men contemn His Holy Spirit God forsakes not them But afterward indeed although the same Hee sometime speaks 't is to encrease their shame Or others to instruct for then such Voices Are so drown'd by the Whisperings and Noises Of carnal things that all is spoke in vain Which to their weal or safety may pertain The King by such temptations and so many Beleagur'd seems as never were by any With constancy and without foil withstood Save by him who was GOD with Flesh and Blood For hee stands now expos'd to ev'ry evil Ev'n in the Front whereby World Flesh or Devil May him assault and with him 't will go hard Unless GOD sends him in an Angel-guard Which if it be his pleasure that he may My heart unfeignedly doth often pray And that at this time hee submit his will The mind of God sincerely to fulfil For I beleeve that as it did with Saul On his probation-day long since befall These Kingdomes will establish'd be to him As hee with GOD complyeth at this time Fair Opportunities this present day Are offer'd which if he let slip away Wee have but hitherto a course begun Whereby we may at last be more undone And though he should become ten times as strong In things which to a carnal strength belong It will to settle him prevail no more Than such pow'rs have prevailed heretofore Nor will it when most mighty he appears To others from his own heart keep out fears Of things not to be feared but at length Make him perhaps afraid of his own strength And that which by a Trifle hath been lost Will be recover'd with as little cost As when 't was won assoon as their despight Their sins and insolencies are at height Who shall by petulant exasperations Beyond the common patience of these Nations Abuse his Grace and turn their late success Into oppression pride and wantonness This seems by some endeavour'd having ends Repugnant unto what the King intends Who do proceed as if that for the nonce To make all Suff'rers desperate at once By gelding and delaying of the Grace For wihch the King spontaneously did pass His Royal Word And this may an Event Produce at last whereof some will repent When 't is too late since Mastives brook it worse To be o're-much provokt than Fawning Curs All vengeance doth to GOD alone belong But few remember this when they have wrong An English temper
Credit of the Nation For Justice sake and for the preservation Of common Peace all parties help to bear Their heavy burthens who oppressed are For every man among us more or less Is some way guilty of this wickedness And GOD if this course long defer we shall His Vengeance will divide among us all Let therefore none who in these suffering-times Shall scape the punishments due to their crimes Insult o're them that suffer or suppose Their prosp'ring from their well-deserving flows Let them remember and consider well That they on whom the Tower of Silo fell No greater sinners judged were than they On whom it fell not and think at this day Some men may perish who have been more free From guiltiness than most that saved be The King together with his Parliament May pardon every kind of punishment For faults against themselves or any one Except for what is wilfully mis-done Against our Maker but nor he nor they Can take the guilt of any sin away And though he may connive at some offences Or be deceiv'd as to mens innocencies Who by their cunning have found means of late Themselves with him to re-indintegrate Yet thousands know so well what they have done And felt so much of what ensu'd thereon That though in charity they do forgive Their falshood they 'l remember 't whilst they live Let them remember too what they have done Lest GOD bring Vengeance when we call for none Can any Peer or Commoner suppose Who in the supream Council sate with those Who did the late unhappy war begin And by their Declarations drew us in As men oblig'd in duty to adhere To them in what they prosecuting were That they are guiltless though now blamed less Than others who the same Cause did profess Can they be blameless who did with the first Begin the Quarrel and till nigh at worst Continue it not leaving on Record Ought whereby their dissent might be declar'd Nor sought for them a saving or protection Who might be ruined by their defection Doth it not greatly their crime aggravate That they vouchsaf'd not to capitulate That Innocents by their default abus'd Might to some safe condition be reduc'd But rather to their own designs made way By leaving them to be the Spoilers prey Though they forgot us I suppose it fit To minde them lest themselves they may forget When I am dead and therefore I will here Leave somewhat to be their Remembrancer Let them remember with consideration With true repentance and with due compassion How many thousands whilst they live at rest Are either quite destroyed or opprest Either in Person Credit or Estate Whose aid they did not only oft intreat But also thereby to promote their end Compelled to contribute pay and lend Yea to engage their Persons in their Cause Under pretence of Piety and Laws Whom they have now made innocently poor And forc'd to beg or else to suffer more Whilst they from all those miseries are clear Whereof their failings chief occasions were Not onely making that an Instrument To ruine them which ruine should prevent But also probably by their endeavour To make and keep the people Slaves for ever To write plain Truth why should I bee afraid By what man may it not be justly said Our publick Faith hath been the shameless'st Debter And throughout all these Realms the greatest Cheater That ever was and that our Parliaments Have been beyond all former Presidents The worst Security and never more Will be confided in as heretofore If unconfirm'd they leave what hath been bought And what was justly sold as then 't was thought Or if they make not recompence at least To those who by their actings are opprest For this is the same Nation though the Cause The Governour and in some part the Laws Are changed now GOD who the wrong doth see Is yet the same the same will alwaies be And both for what is suffered and was done Will prosecute the Judgement that 's begun By meer Cheats many thousand Families Destroyed are and with complaints and cryes So fill mens ears that they make all to grieve Save those who sense of no Afflictions have But of their own The Children do bemoan Their Aged Parents helplesly undone Who now have nothing left of what was theirs To recompence their pitty but sad tears And he who thinks Life a gratuity In such a case loves Life much more than I Supposing that 's a Mercy which to mee A barb'rous cruelty appears to be Oh GOD how are thy kindnesses requited How in our suff'rings are our foes delighted How justly dost thou many now condemn And punish for wrongs done to some of them How are the Just and Unjust wrapt together In one Snare to torment and plague each other It is beleev'd that many men there were When Innovations were beginning here Who being in themselves malevolent And for some private causes discontent Design'd and practis'd how to bring to pass That which their own and our Destruction was But here were many moe who did indeavour To qualifie the late infectious Fever Which had distemper'd us and to retain The Loyalty that seems renew'd again Yet now an Epidemical Disease Hath brought Confusion upon some of these As well as upon them who fin'd perchance Much more through wilfulness than ignorance They who did neither by their deeds or words By counsel by their pens or by their swords Begin those Innovations in the state Which have been prosecuted here of late No nor so much as by a secret thought Contribute to those Changes which were brought Upon these Islands till they were effected By other men they who themselves subjected Either but passively to those in power To scape those mischiefs which might them devour Or meerly act vely to help prevent An Anarchy and Evils imminent Which is no more than God's law doth command VVhen he makes alterations in a Land And hath been also practis'd by all Nations In every Kingdom through all Generations VVhen either by his grace or his permission He brings a people into our condition Ev'n they who did no more are made to share VVith those who wilfully transgressors were And Murtherers and Traytors be reputed As if the Kingdom which was constituted Before these Changes had continued on And all which hath by GOD and men been done VVere but a Dream of which now they awake Men may at will Interpretations make Or as if Actings in a time of War VVere bounded as in times of Peace they are VVhereas 't is known that VVar doth silence all Laws either Civil or Municipal And that what then Necessity constrain'd May by the Law of Nations be maintain'd As justly as those contracts which are made In times of peace by Laws which then we had Though they perhaps who shall have po'wr to do What they themselves please will not have it so But though we get not that whereat we aim We thereto will continue still our Claim And plead
they saw he had that power supreme VVhich warranted Allegiance unto him And that he had acquired interests In what they claim by plowing with their Beasts For where WAR is till peace renew'd shall be In terminis a Conqueror is he VVho victory by Stratagems hath gain'd As truly as when by the sword attain'd And his Admittance whatsoe'er is thought VVas by none else but his own paerty wrought Through GOD's permission who befooled them VVho had been false unto themselves and him It is a Conquest which the Lord of Hosts Confer'd on him although no bloud it costs And they who do admit without condition A Foe profest can challenge no fruition Of any right which was enjoy'd before But that which he is pleased to restore Till for Omissions or for things misdone GOD takes from him again what he had won As but a few months past from them he did Who in this Government did him preceed And this point I insist on to declare That since of us our Trustees had no care How much to GOD we shall obliged be If from our Hazards he shall set us free By moving this Kings heart us to restore To those enjoyments which we had before When first the Norman by the Sword came in A part of what the peoples right had been VVas by contract secur'd when Solomon VVas dead although the Kingdom to his son Fell by inheritance yet maugre that The Israelites came to capitulate VVith Rehoboam and as it appears The Kingdoms and his Fathers Counsellers Advis'd admittance of Capitulation As no less needful for his Confirmation Than to content the people but he leaves Their counsel and to giddy Fellows cleaves Companions of this youth by whose Bravado's Exprest with insolent Rodomontado's He lost ten Tribes of twelve But no man thought Our Cause it seems worth speaking for or sought To save our Interests though we had those Impowr'd who to that intent were chose And much confided in And GOD did thus For his owne glory pre-dispose of us That we might see the vanity of them In whom we trusted and trust more in him It had not else been so for through the Land There was not sword nor spear in any hand But what we thought our own nor pow'r appearing For Charls without it which was worth the fearing If Providence had not transfer'd this pow'r Into his hand which we supposed our So all our freedoms Life Lands goods and treasure VVere actually to this Kings will and pleasure Resigned up for nothing doth appear That we of any thing secured are Save by his Grace though some a pow'r then had To get Conditions usual to be made In such like Cases which if they had done They had not thereby well discharg'd alone Their publick Trust and rather more than less Might thereby have advanc'd the common peace But sav'd unto the King much labour too Which now he must be forc'd to undergo Yet peradventure when that he hath done The best he can please very few or none For 't is impossible the blessed fruit Of perfect peace without pow'r absolute Should be produc'd as we are now distracted And as things will in likelihood be acted ' Cause such a Flow'r as most wise men do know Upon a single Root doth always grow And that nought perfect Unity can breed Save that which from one spirit doth proceed If as he from these Kingdoms was expel'd By Conquest he re-entring them had held As by Re-Conquest which he might have done Consid'ring how Affairs were carried on He might have brought most things to good conclusions VVithout those interruptions and confusions VVhich will ensue for he obliged then By none but GOD's and Natures Laws had been And should have had a large means to express His Mercy Piety and Righteousness By prudent modelizing and contriving Restoring adding giving and forgiving As need required without such restraints Or giving these occasions of complaints As now occur whereas he coming in By that Right which before had claimed been As interrupted only he seems bounded By those Laws whereon formerly 't was founded And as at present it appears to me So dubious Laws and Parliaments now be That by the course intended to be taken The Peace we hope to settle will be shaken VVhen we suppose it fixt by failings found Hereafter in some Principles unsound Or else because some actings will appear Not homogeneous to those Laws that are And as things are with us 't is little better Then if we conquer'd were for we are debter Unto the King for all in our possessions By his spontaneous Act and Free Concessions And whatsoever we can do or say If now he will be Absolute he may There be enough who for their private ends Will drive on whatsoever he intends Whether it be to do us right or wrong And thereunto our sins will make them strong Till GOD again deliver us who hath Now made us justly Objects of his wrath For if they are our Trustees duely chose Who now of us and our Affairs dispose And us into the Kings hand wholly gave Without Reserve then ev'ry thing we have Is His and more it boots not than a Rush Now to deny it for within a bush We shall our Heads but like the Woodcock hide Whom by his Tail the Fowler hath espide We are reduc'd unto a conquer'd State Though we our selves are pleas'd to wink thereat The CUP pretended stolen to have been By whose device soere it was put in Is found within our sacks and we this day Like Josephs Brethren to the King must say We are thy servants Providence Divine Hath for our sins made our possessions thine For we can challenge nothing as our own But what of thy free Grace hath been bestown Or what thou shalt be pleased to afford Upon Request or of thine own accord This we must say how loth soere vve are And vvithout scruple this affirm I dare That till the self-same Providence or Hee Or both together joyn to make us free VVhich will vouchsafed be with or without His will when our probation-time is out We never shall be freed but without rest Be more and more inslaved and opprest Then let none think I wrong this Nation tho I say 't is conquer'd nor by being so Fear they so much will disadvantag'd be As by a vain suppose that they are free Since by not making this acknowledgement GOD of due thanks and glory we prevent For had the King assum'd the Sov'raign pow'r As being made by him a Conquerour With no worse purpose than to constitute A righteous throne to which Pow'r Absolute Is so Essential that without the same Less Power in great Confusions will be lame He possibly might have effected that Which to attempt now 't is perhaps too late This was the mind of GOD as I beleeve VVhen he to him did that advantage give And I am hopeful he will bend that way The Pow'r that 's left as far forth as he may
hither Who probably in Flanders had remain'd If otherways their ends they could have gain'd And Dick perhaps GEORGE Jack or any thing With popular app'auses had been King But these Insecti though they greatly swarm Can do the King not so much good as harm Nor can those who through want of wit courage Will sell their birth-rights for a mess of Porredge To this establishment contribute ought Till they be better disciplin'd and taught It is not they in Linen Ephods neither Those Chimerims who now conspire together Nor those vain and fantastical baboons Who jet in Feathers and in Pantaloons Who fix a King but those grave men among Our Nobles And the civil uulgar throng Who love the Publick peace and do profess A Loyalty in truth and soberness VVithout regard of any Interest Save that which may with other mens consist The rest if well consider'd are a number Of animals which more confound and cumber Then settle Governments and are to Kings But troublesome unprofitable things I have observ'd them well and long ago Perceiving what they likely were to do VVho know the way as often as they please To bring to pass their own Designes by these Upon Occasions given was so bold That what I pre-conjectur'd I fore-told And how these acting singly or together To publick Damage made use of each other This oft I did before the Parliament Became their self-destroying instrument In plain terms or Aenigma's as the time Would bear it and as well in Prose as Rimes I did the like to him and to his son VVhom GOD permitted to usurp the Throne As two addresses which I did prefer To their own hands yet extant may declare And whereby such advantages I got As usually they get who flatter not During the last pow'r in an oblique way As touching him who reigneth at this day I hinted that which now is come to pass In such wise as I might in such a case At such a time as that with what Events To his beginnings would be consequents If on the Giddy Vulgar he depended In prosecuting what should be intended Or if he sought a Kingship to erect Like what meer earthly Princes do effect VVherein although I had no worse Designe Then with the publick weal to wrap up mine I am for my plain dealing as a Foe Both scandalized and oppressed so That all the Mercy some vouchsafe me would Is Life deprived of all things that should In me and my relations Life uphold Which is a cruelty and such away Of killing men a hundred times aday That GOD with due avengement will repay For though men are not so yet he is just The measure which they gave receive they must Yea measure running over and prest down Unless God shew more grace then they have shown I have not much deceived been in ought Which with Pre-meditation I fore-thought And heretofore divulg'd relating to These Nations in the things they ought to do Or unto that which would require their heed How therein they go backward or proceed I lately pre conjectur'd and fore-told That London was a Mount whence issue should A wind which hither likely was to blow A change that of our greatest weal or woo As likewise of her own would be the cause And by her aid that change is come to passe Let her so mind it now that GOD may bless Her future actings with a good success For that to them this Caveat give I may Thus purposely I stept out of the way My Muse once more shall here likewise recal What I presag'd would to my self befal Yea though I toucht upon it heretofore I will illustrate it a little more Me therefore to insist thereon permit For as it me concerns to mention it It may concern you to and doth declare That poor mens wrongs by GOD observed are Upon my heart I strong impressions had That I should of their fall a signe be made Who for my faithful service me opprest And they who last the supreme pow'r possest This day both see and feelingly perceive That 's come to passe which they would not believe To them I told both jointly and apart But seem'd to speak to men without a heart That they in reason had good cause to fear If they should offer still a Deaf man's Ear To my complaints a very sad reward Would be the sequel of their Dis-regard Yet though with humbleness I them implor'd By ev'ry means which those times did afford Save bribes and flatt'ry they would seldome hear Ought which concerned me except it were An accusation or to grant an Order Which more my Ruine then Relief did further Or do me Justice during my oppressions Nigh eighteen years complain'd of by Petitions And by addresses tenter'd unto them Not seldome by some hundred at a time Nor to me their Ingagements made they good Nor those discharg'd by which ingag'd I stood For them nor for their Debts detain'd from me Three times six years although made due they be By Ordinance and Orders nor would they Vouchsafe as much as interest to pay By them allowed though I much did need it Both to relieve me and preserve my Credit Nor could I that enjoy which I had bought And they had sold as I in Justice ought Till my Estate and Credit was o'rethrown By them through their neglecting of their own Though they were not alone oblig'd unto it But likewise had both power and means to do it A single foe could do me in one hour More injury then all my Friends had pow'r To right whilst they reign'd though I seem'd befriended Of many who to Righteousness pretended Though early at their dores and also late As at Bethesda-pool the Cripple sate I waited on them I went ev'ry day Both without Help and with small Help away No more prevailing then if still I had To blocks or statutes my Petitions made These Grievances increasing ev'ry year Rais'd at the length my Damages well near To twice five thousand pounds and so increast My debts by troubles suits and interest That wants thereby still multiplying more I was at last made somewhat worse then poor From seven hundred pounds per annum brought To be some hundred pounds less worth then nought So loosing my repute with my estate Which many new perplexities begat To ev'ry wrong I liable was made When no means left for my defence I had And most men then perceiving that the Doom Which I fore-saw would come was then nigh come And likely to destroy them in whose hands Lay all my whole Estate in Debts and Lands And that the Title which thereinII had Would as they stood or fell prove good or bad My Creditors grew thereby so affraid What I then ow'd them never would be paid That more to pay one debt then would pay two Was thereby maugre all that I could do Streight torn away and I could neither set Nor sell nor borrow neither payment get Of what was due to buy things
lovest me ev'n Hell a Heaven would be Since Love enough to praise Thee he that could thither bear Should make the Devils praise thee And quench the Fires there 26. For LOVE all things created subdued Hell and Death Thy Law it hath compleated outlasteth Hope and Faith Thou when that love doth praise thee givest best respects thereto And till in love we praise thee in vain is all we do 27. Were I therefore bereaven of all that 's called mine Of Body Soul and Heaven my love should live in thine And as I then did praise thee when I no being had So I again shall praise thee When I am quite unmade 28. But never comprehended Can be thy Love to me And therefore never ended My Songs of praise must be A Hymne wherein to praise thee I have on earth begun And better hope to praise thee When this short life is done 29. Then when asleep Death lays me LORD let me from the Grave Where Dead-men cannot praise thee A Joyful Rising have Let those likewise who praise thee With me whilst I am here Where Saints and Angels praise thee To praise thee meet me there Two other Meditations here I 'll add Which though such Musings mean esteem have had In latter times may now as useful be To some in my case as they are to me 1. BUt are in my Riches gone and all those fled away Whose love depended thereupon for ever Farewell they Since these have gotten wings I will not them pursue But set my heart on better things and bid them quite adieu 'T is GOD that gives and takes whose love remains the same And whether rich or poor he makes still blessed be his Name With suffrings to comply loth was I to begin But better thoughts of them have I since they have proved been 3. For what I dreadfull thought when first the same appear'd Hath joys to me by sorrows brought and hopes by what I fear'd To be despis'd and poor if in my GOD I trust Will me at last advantage more then if I nothing lost 4. Long time I have profest in words a Christian Creed And now am-with occasions blest to shew it forth by Deed. We holy men would seem and up for Saints are cride But now comes that Probation time In which we must be tride 5. Whilst Riches I enjoyd They made me but a drudge To be on their affairs imployd and on their Errands trudge Me poor my plenties kept made me engage my Friends And often wake whilst others slept to wait upon their ends 6. They fild me with Desires whose Lusting endlesse was And onely brought forth thorns and briers to choak the seeds of Grace They made me fearful too Of Tyrants and of Knaves Yea which is ten times worse then so Made me a slave to slayes 7. My heart then be content let wealth and honour go For better things to thee are meant then these can raise thee to Let those who on them dote by our deportment see That in those Gods we trusted not which their chief Idols be 8. Though my despightful Foes Now my Estaie is gone I having nothing else to lose my body seize upon Therefore take thou no care for GOD thy help will be And put on them a greater fear then they can put on thee 9. And to encrease that load which I at present bear Though they say Where now is thy God of whom thy boastings were He will of me of me be found and also make it known When open shame shall them confound that he my Cause doth own 10. Thy Cross with patience take do not there at repine But bear it stoutly for his sake who bore his Cross for thine Still meekly in thy way therewith proceed thou so That others it encourage may to what they see thee do 11. The Lot of Saints hath been Afflictions Wants and Scorns And he that is the best of Men was mockt and crown'd with Thorns No House to him they gave wherein to rest his head Him also in a borrow'd Grave they laid when he was dead 12. Yea he that 's LORD of all when first with flesh arrayd Was meanly housed in a Stall and in Manager layd A Guest so poor he was that whilst he lodged there The labouring Ox and toyling Ass his Chamber-fellows were 13. Yet Wisemen from the East were guided by a Star To bring to this despised Guest Gold Frankincence and Myrrhe They fooled for his sake a Tyrannizing King GOD'S Angels care of him did take and round about him sing 14. To him allide am I and he will send to me Howere obscurd the like supply as oft as need shall be For timely he relieves all those that trust in him And charge unto his Angels gives to be a guard to them 15. In Stables Barns and Stalls the poor as much he heeds As those that are in Princes halls to help them at their needs Yea unto them he comes and will their suffrings mark Although they lie in nasty Rooms or Dungeons deep and dark 16. A portion more secure then Goods or Lands is he An Heritage that will endure when Kingdoms lost shall be And when exposd to shame their Bodies we behold It shall more magnifie their name then Statues made of gold 17. But this to them will seem who dote on outward things No better then an idle Dream which no assurance brings If pompously they live and in rich Tombs may lie Themselves they happy men believe although like beasts they die 18. And I am half in fear when this is sung among Those who in love with riches are 't will seem a Bedlam-Song For seldome we perceive that when his Mammon's gone A Rich Man's able to believe he is not quite undone 19. It makes them almost mad to hear another preach That joyes and comfort may be had whereto they cannot reach LORD help their unbelief and mitigate their fears For though they pity not my grief yet I do pity theirs 20. Preserve in me that Grace which now infus'd I find And let not time events nor place hereafter change my mind For in them good or bad External things have nought But as Good or ill use is made Or else as got or sought Another Meditation relating to the Authors present Condition 1. MY Foes you have your hearts desire a spoyle of me you make And as I hear you now inquire what Course I mean to take I now am brought so low you say so destitute and poor That well assure your selves you may I shall arise no more 2. You naytheless may be deceiv'd and of your aims have mist For in those things which are bereav'd my wealth doth not consist And I have that within my view which if pursude it be May make me as much laugh at you as you now laugh at me 3. But though it makes you to be glad to see my griefs encreast I have for some of you been sad when you were less opprest And if you
and shall be well employ'd By me although I thereby am destroy'd And though it is an old adjudged case That Poets must be poor I 'll not be base My poverty is without president For I am poor by Acts of Parliament I was not in that condition thrown Till they who crackt my credit lost their own And if the King pleaseth he may make me rich Yet loose no honour nor in treasure much For had I but mine own my Debts to free I should suppose my self as rich as he From GOD if this proceed not I shall have The recompence I merit to receive Which will be at the worst an outward trouble And loss of that which I have built with stubble But if it flows from him it will produce Effects which to his glory shall have use And he will bring it forth at such a time As serviceable make it will to him Yea though in the Thames it should be thrown Like that which being tide unto a Stone Was sunk in Euphrates and no more seen After in Babel it once read had been And will be made available to that Which in composing it I aimed at Till that time therefore I will lay it by Not doubting such a time is drawing nigh If this King as I hope be hither sent As well for Mercy as for Chastisement For we need both it such effects will bring That we in Judgement shall of Mercy sing For my part whatsoere my Portion be I 'll take that thankfully which falls on me As sent from GOD whoere he be that brings it Yea though at me in rage the Devil flings it For be it known and heeded not in vain Die they who in the forlorn Hope are slain Nor uselesse to a Victory are they Who are suppos'd to throw their Lives away By desperate attempts since Providence Whose way transcendeth mans intelligence Acts very many times by things which we Think may to her own ends repugnant be They who were slain when first the Fight begun And they who fought until the Field was won May whatsoere to others doth appear In work and honour merit equal share Nay signal Victories are got sometime By that which hath been punish'd as a Crime To me and many other men beside May peradventure such a Lot betide However I submit unto his pleasure Who acts in his own time by weight and measure And forasmuch as I have no defence Against my Foes but naked Innocence Or words which are amongst them sometimes shot To let them understand I fear them not I that my Flesh my be preserved from Dejection in her mode till succours come My fortresse keeping their Affronts despise Shoot back their stones and durt into their eyes Believing they to peace will now incline Or be reduc'd to harder streights then mine As they but lately were who did contemn The Sequels whereof I fore-warned them And if by Storm they take my life away Which I as little do regard as they It in their Souls may leave a Sting behinde it Which will with Torment make them sometimes mind it But here I yet remain and for a Close In reference to our Antichristian Foes I 'll adde this Corollary by the way Whilst on his Horns the B E A S T is tossing Hay For if deceiv'd I am not our Disease Chiefly proceedeth underhand from these And though a farther-off removed Cause Pretending they bescratch us with the Paws Of other Beasts it plainly may be seen By whom our troubles have contrived been I therefore make but a Defensive VVar With such as mine own adversaries are And to his Captains as th' Assyrian King Once gave command intend no Dart to fling To be destructive to Foe great or small Whose hate to me is onely personal But at those onely whose hate doth extend To HIM and HIS on whom I do depend To act the last Scoene which precedes their Doom They now new vampt upon the Stage are come And though that with the KING as if his Friends They seem to side they come to other ends VVhich he not yet discerning in his grace Vouchsates them a considerable place And of prevailing they already boast As if they saw the LAMB and all his Host Quite overthrown which me as confident Hath made that GOD their proud hope will prevent And overthrow that Tyranny out-right By what they think shall raise it to its height But many tryals must the Saints abide And very much their patience will be tride Here and elsewhere before that Act is done Which with an Anti-mask is now begun Our Friends inhabiting beyond the VVaters And who were of our Tragedies Spectators Now twenty years though they perceive it not Or seem not to perceive it in that Lot Which these have cast for us designed are Or in what follows next to have a share For Hamans PUR's on foot not onely here But like wise almost ev'ry other where And these think that to take them by his Gin With most speed is with us first to begin But ther 's a Counter mine which will be sprung To blow up them and all their Mines ere long Six hundred sixty six draws on apace And not one day beyond that shall they pass It is the number of that MAN OF SIN VVhereto his Kingdom hath confined been By him that cannot lye and long ago To many that Epocha I did shows From whence his Reign begins and by a light As I believe which shines without deceit It numbers out his Reign as certainly As women reckon the Nativity Of Children in their wombs which hath success VVithin a very few days more or less And of that Mystery what heretofore I have exprest I 'le here express once more Because those Nations which may much be needed Cannot be too oft told nor too well heeded To former times this Mystery was dark And lay a long while cover'd like a spark In ashes lest perhaps what at this time Will comfort us might have discourag'd them Who lived then for men rejoyce to hear The day of their deliverance is near But nothing save discomfort could they gain By knowing Tyranny so long should reign Herein I circumstantially perchance May somewhat ere through humane ignorance But as to that which was essentially To us intended by this Mystery I shall not fail of which is to presage That Babylon shall fall in this our Age. Sev'n Numerals the Romane Empire had Whereby of old they Computations made And in them was their Destiny fore-shown Though to themselves perhaps it was unknown These placed singly as they valued are Do truly though misteriously declare How long that Empire with what sprung there-from Should last when to the full height it should come For M.D.C.L.X. with V. and I. Do number up in Chronogrammistry Years Sixteen hundred sixty six and that Will be of Roman Tyrannies the date No other Number either more or less If none of these you double or displace Can be by them exprest If you