Selected quad for the lemma: power_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
power_n	absolute_a	government_n	king_n	3,052	5	4.0464	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A96764	The Protector. A poem briefly illustrating the supereminency of that dignity; and, rationally demonstrating, that the title of Protector, providentially conferred upon the supreme governour of the British republike, is the most honorable of all titles, and, that, which, probably, promiseth most propitiousness to these nations; if our sins and divisions prevent it not. / Composed by George Wither, Esq; ...	Wither, George, 1588-1667.	1655 (1655)	Wing W3184; Thomason E1565_2; ESTC R204098	29,693	63

who govern by That Name sufficient to indempnify Them both in their Estates and Persons from Those hazards which might else upon them come If He the Supreme Pow'r should repossess Whom GOD remov'd But neither more nor less Will they be priviledged whether he King or Protector shall instiled be Nor can a Name of novel Institution Which in it self implies no diminution Of real Pow'r but rather a supply Diminish ought of his Authority That Rules in Chief since to him pertinent Ev'n of due right is all enablement That 's necessary to effect those ends Which Government essentially intends For our PROTECTOR is not such a one As that whereby we did support the Throne In Non-age of a King as some conceive But that which to his Highness doth derive As absolute and as Supreme a Pow'r As that of Kingship or of Emperour Which arrogates no more then may subsist With GOD's and with his People's Interest And be it known though some think otherwise Whose Judgement we in many matters prize That by a King our Laws mean not alone That Name but also that which fills the Throne Be it a King a Queen or Parliament Or whatsoever else doth represent The Supreme Pow'r And that each Attribute Or Priviledge which Statute-laws impute To Pow'rs in being when they first were made Is in each Change with ev'ry force it had Transferred thither and to that wherein The Supreme Pow'r essentially is seen To act and to reside though in the Name Or other Accidents we change the same For to those Laws although some violence Seem'd to be offer'd in the lit'ral sence When here a Woman raign'd no wise-man thought The essence of the Laws transgress'd in ought Because she was no King nor will of that The Title of Protector ought abate And they who may by nice distinguishings Or Terms impos'd indiff'rently on Things Or Persons be unwisely tempted from Realities will much deceiv'd become In what they hope for and when thought they are Most safe be taken in an unseen snare When once a Supreme Pow'r is constituted Submitted to and shall be such reputed Without resistance or a Protestation Against it made in Publike by that Nation Whom it concerns or by some part at least Considerable claiming Interest Or share therein having enablement Likewise to guard those who thereto assent Such Constitution and the Being what It seems to be gives it not onely that But ev'ry other Right which doth invest With real Pow'r whether it be exprest By Law or not and virtually makes void All Laws whereby such Pow'r may be destroy'd Until another Pow'r that is more able Removeth it And then as warrantable That thenceforth grows as long as it doth reign And actually a Being doth retain Provided that such Pow'rs do neither swerve From Justice nor destroy what to preserve They were ordain'd nor leave a private wrong Unrecompensed quite or over-long When they are forced to endamage some That many may not to destruction come And all they who to such a Pow'r submit Or for the Common Peace act under it Whilst it continues merit no just blame Howe'er that Pow'r to be a Pow'r became So they at first conspired not with those By whose unrighteous actings it arose For GOD himself commands us to obay The Pow'rs that are not questioning what way They were acquir'd His Son whilst here on earth He did reside although true King by birth Paid Tribute to th' Usurper that he might Advance GODS work by waving his own right His Followers taught this doctrine yea did teach By Practice that which they by word did preach And did submit for Conscience sake ev'n when The Sov'raign Pow'r was grasp'd by worst of men And got by basest means which to this day Became a Guide to many in that way Which else had doubtful been And had we not This Rule to walk by through GODS mercy got Mankinde would be destroy'd for by our siding With this or with that Faction by dividing And subdividing Pow'rs as Malice Love Pride Envie or Self-interest may move All would be torn in pieces and no Peace Be setled till Mankinde to be should cease Why then should any so imprudent grow Or rather why so mad for they are so Who when they might unblamefully possess Their lives and portions in safe Quietness Will unconstrained lose their sweet enjoying Of what they have and venture the destroying Of all that 's dear unto them to pull down A fixed Power and set up one unknown That will be or that may at least be worse And both on them and others bring the Curse Of All-devouring War yea and perchance A Family or Person here advance Who either will not heed their services Or else forget them when they get their Prize Or which is worse requite at last with ill Their cost their pains their hazards Good-will And leave them to the spights and scorns of those Whom they for their sakes did at first oppose For such things I have seen ev'n Traytors made Their Favourites whom they would have betray'd And those cast out of Favour without Reason Whose faithfulness preserv'd them from their treason Why then should we permit Discretions eyes To be deceiv'd with Cheating Fallacies Why then should we of Scarcrows be afraid Or on Foundations by GODS own hand laid Rebuild again old Babylon or fix To Sion's firm stones her untemper'd bricks Why when the work of God is both in Name And in the Thing of one Piece and the same Should Humane Policie presume to adde Her Trimmings as if he mistaken had His purpose Or as if he had forgot What Title best became the Pow'r and lot Which was conferr'd on him to whom of late The Supreme Seat it pleas'd him to translate From those who had abus'd it For that Change Although irregular it seem'd and strange Is not of Man but GOD though men have bin Dull and imperfect Instruments therein And 't will establish'd be if he that bears The Scepter shuns ungodly Counsellors Makes not a wilful stand in sinners ways Nor to the Scorners Throne himself shall raise But if this Title meerly did depend On humane prudence we should much offend Against her Principles by vary'ng from That Resolution whereto we are come Why then should we if now we Free-men are And by the world without reputed were A world within our selves be bound up to Their Customs who have nought with us to do Since 't will be thereby tacitely confest We are not Masters of that Interest Which we do claim nor can of right create As well as any other Supreme State New Dignities or make new Presidents When Time brings forth occasioned Events For this inferr'd we granted or believ'd That we our chief Ennoblements receiv'd From other States and are oblig'd become Those Rags of Honour onely to assume Which they have worn though soyled and disgrac'd By those on whom they were unjustly plac'd A Title giveth no essential Fame It is the Man

abuses Who strives to build up Truth who pulls it down Who neither stoops to smiles nor fears a frown Who merits to be stripped of his power Who seeks his own ends by pretending your Who flatters who is fickle who is stout Who fittest for the Work you are about With other such discov'ries that from thence You may extract Results of Consequence For Common benefit I do presume You will at last to that Conclusion come Which all Good-men expect and act what best Conduceth to the Publike Interest Much better then you either could have done By interrupting what seem'd carried on Or by possessing them with hopes to have Whatever they should pleased be to crave For Full-fed Steeds grow wanton if their Guiders Neglect the Rein and spoil themselves and Riders These are the thoughts to which my heart inclines Without a dictate of your own Designes From any hand which thoughts if you approve I have at this time nothing more to move But that you will be pleased to peruse What of your Sov'raign Title now ensues That it may minde you of his love who gave it Shew on what terms to what intent you have it And keep you careful that it be not changed Lest somewhat from you therewith be estranged Which you are loth to lose and must forgo When you grow disaffected thereunto For you will finde it so when 't is too late To seek th' effects which may be aimed at By such an Innovation and will see Ill Consequences which yet hidden be If as I think you are not I should finde Your Highness to be mutably inclinde I aim at nothing but to make you strong For that Work whereto seemeth to belong This your advancement and shall not desist Therein although my private Interest You should neglect or value me no more Then they who have opprest me heretofore Believe this SIR for from a heart it came Which prompts no guile and be assur'd I am As unto him who bears next under GOD Our Staff Protecting or Correcting ROD To your Highness both faithfully and conscientiously devoted GEO. WITHER To the Readers THe Subject of my Muse is now a TITLE Which though yet known unto the World but little May much concern it but abov the rest And in the first place Britain's Interest If we destroy not by a wilful sinning The glory of it in the first beginning 'T is not my Principle to take away Or to resist the Pow'r I should obey Or question that which Providence approves Or sets up when another it removes Confirming visibly what it advances With all the Supplements and Circumstances Which make a Pow'r and therefore when at first Pow'r was dis-joynted and I seem'd inforc'd To take one Part of what was then divided I clave to that wherewith I thought resided Most Equity adhering to the same With Constancie and I think without blame Justly imputed for with an intent To serve as well the King as Parliament I put on Arms and as sincerely sought His good as theirs beneath whose Flag I fought Till I betwixt them nigh destroy'd became And then perceiving they were both to blame Left off the Quarrel unto Him that knew Which best deserv'd and what to both was due Yet firm continu'd to this Commonweal When by the Sword GOD answer'd her Appeal According to our Laws which in such case Combate allows when no proof else takes place Yea to the Peoples Representative I did though thereby wrong'd obedience give Contributing what I was able then With my Estate and also by my Pen Which though despised somewhat did effect Producing more Advantage then respect For they who were not pleas'd it should be known To come from me made my Designes their own And left me to the mischief of their hate Who malic'd my Affection to the State When their Pow'r subdivided I adher'd To that in which most Righteousness appear'd And though I suffer'd still without regard Aiming at nobler Guerdon and reward Then they could give me did the best I could Their Peace and crazie Honour to uphold By secret Cautions and by publishing What I much fear'd their course would on them bring But Selfness Pride and Avarice made void All good endeavours till they were destroy'd And some among them who deserved well Were wrapt up in the Mischiefs which befel Blam'd and unpiti'd yea and most of all By them whose wickedness drew on their fall How it so came to pass I could not mark For in a Cloud 't was done and in the dark As in respect of me till GOD reveal'd That Mystery which was at first conceal'd And then from late Corruptions forth did peep As Eve from Adam whilst he was asleep Appearances which when they were reduc'd To their perfection visibly produc'd The present GOVERNMENT ere well I knew What men were doing or what would ensue But when it shew'd it self I plainly saw A Creature form'd cloath'd with such Pow'r and awe That none but GOD himself could Author be Of that which I did then produced see Consid'ring what Confusions we were in What might much rather have expected bin And how to wonderment he had asswag'd Their Fury who were Envious and enrag'd Therefore although before that time I had Some Overtures within my own heart made And some Expedients fancy'd how to lay Foundations of our Peace another way And to rebuild the Structure late o'erthrown By gath'ring out from what was pulled down The Good from Bad and that which proved sound From Rubbish which therewith was mixed found I threw by my own thoughts and thenceforth sought To work on in that Work which GOD had wrought And am resolv'd with all the strength I have And ev'ry Faculty which I receive To fortifie that Pow'r which rais'd I see Till God himself removes it though to me It prov'd less favourable yea and more Destructive then the Pow'r which raign'd before And without other purpose to that end These Musings on this Title did intend Which here ensues that you away may cast Your own Designes as I did mine at last And joyn together in advancing that New Pow'r and Title which GOD did create Rather then by a foolish wilfulness Oppose his will and ruine your own Peace Which Mischief that you timely may prevent And not destructive Discord still foment I have contriv'd this Engine to prepare Their hearts for Concord who divided are And shew them what Advantages may rise By that which they through Ignorance despise Consider therefore duely what it may Concern you to take heed of what I say And that sometime a Title or a Word Scarce thought worth heed occasion may afford Of furth'ring matters of great Consequence And of removing things which gave offence Consider what is offer'd to your view Remember that some things and not a few Which were foretold ev'n many yeers before They came to pass were carelesly pass'd ore And what befel Remember that to you I have nought tender'd yet which prov'd untrue

If rightly understood when 't was profess'd Delib'rately and seriously express'd And let me finde respect as I intend Your weal by that which new I recommend Your ancient Remembrancer Geo. Wither The Protector A POEM Briefly illustrating the Supereminency of that Dignity WIse Providence which leaves unheeded neither she falling hair or wagging of a feather Induceth me somtimes with serious eyes To view Muse on that which most despise And now amidst a world of Things I am Thereby inclin'd to Contemplate a Name For which perhaps I shall be thought as wise As he who telleth Straws or hunteth Flyes But think men as they list my Thinkings too Shall be as free and what I please I 'll do For now of boundless Freedoms many dream And I may prove as wise as one of them A Factious Rout because I much decline Their Principles pretend I fall from mine And falsly say that I have taught my Rimes To soothe the Innovations of these Times As if a zeal to Publike good none had Until it made him in some measure mad And partner in seditious ways with those Who to the Present Pow'r are always Foes A Fawning Crew because I bars provide Against their growing Vanities and Pride Have published by Fame which is the Lyer That my last Lines were voted to the fire As if Wise men a blameful act would do Because mis-jugding Fools would have it so But I much value not how I displease Such vain and partial Censurers as these For having learn'd that Knaves and Fools are those Who to my Musings are still greatest Foes I now again adventure maugre them To descant on another Casual-Theame That 's offered by the New Sprung Soveraign Style Which lately was indeniz'd in this Isle And having sound what Providence will do There where that Honour 's I will honour too Not heeding neither greatly taking care Who thinks I temp'rize or who angry are This was my temper known when I was yonger And as I older grow it groweth stronger Our needless Novelties approve I not Nor on Antiquities did ever dote Which are not useful nor is 't my intent To cavil about things indifferent But would have ev'ry Soul preserv'd as free As I my self desirous am to be And therefore when I have declar'd my minde Let all men Censure as they stand inclinde Some mis-advis'd or some deluded friends And some concealing mis-directed ends With fair Pretendings would have laid aside This Title and his Highness digniside With what the Jews imprudently once chose Or what the Germanes on their CHIEF impose Not heeding peadventure what Offence It had occasion'd against Providence Nor of what Benefits it may deprive Both Him and Vs if their Designe should thrive Therefore I offer up this Vindication Of what seems yet approv'd of by this Nation Which though it may a Vanity appear To those who know not what things proper are Nor what is useful shall by what succeeds Shew how much this Age these Expressions needs And have effects which may to others be Of much advantage though of none to me Did I not ghess at what our Eagle flyes And to what Heights I must advance mine eyes To heed in what transcendent Sphere he goes I might have sought him among Kites and Crows And call'd them by his Name or else to Him Communicated what belongs to them As others would have done and lost the view Of things that are and things that will ensue Knew I not also that to new Creations There do belong peculiar Appellations To keep things from Confusion I perchance Deluded by Self-love or Ignorance Yet blinding others might have prized more Those Attributes thought glorious heretofore And been as violent to have restor'd Those Titles which the Vulgar have ador'd For I envie not that men should bestow The highest Titles where most Worth they know But I heed that when Things and Names agree And that when joyn'd by Providence they be There 's somewhat in it of more Consequence Then all men at first sight collect from thence Especially when old Names may obstruct Th' effects which changing of a Name product As in this present case which some that have More Wit then Grace do well enough perceive Why then should we desire again that Thing Which formerly these Nations call'd a King Or so much as the Name of that retain To which we long in bondage did remain As if it had bewitch'd us still to bear Some mark of that whereby inthral'd we were And which did by relapse do what we could Corrupt still into what it was of Old Why should we court it now whilst on us lies The heavie burthens which their Tyrannies Occasion'd and before the wounds are cur'd Which we in casting off those Chains endur'd Or why on him who hath our Sov'reign Power Should we bestow the Stile of Emperour A drooping Title shuffled off and on Till it hath scarcely Place to rest upon Or Person which at this day owns the same According to the Grandeur of that Name If they who gave him first his Stile and Pow'r That now protecteth were his friends and our And meant thereby to honour Vs and Him Why now should we their Noble Gift contemn Why by the name of King should we now call him Which is below the Honours that befall him And makes him to be rather less then greater As in himself and rather worse then better As to his People For it renders voyd The Dignity conferr'd and now enjo'd At best it mixeth with it but as Clay With Iron which both takes the strength away And value of it adding thereunto Nothing but what that structure may undo It cracks the Instrument which doth invest Him in his Pow'r and lames his Interest Yea and disables him to prosecute That Duty whereto it did him depute It crosseth the designes of Providence It will deprive him ev'n of that Defence Which seems intended and will him expose To all the purpos'd Cavils of his Foes It wooes him from that Principle whereon His Safety stands to lean and rest upon A Pinaclc which totters under all Who do ascend it and portends a Fall In brief it many ways exposeth him To Dangers which my sight though somwhat dim Better it may be can foresee then some Who do supply a more perspicuous Room It giveth shells for kernels and the shade Of that which he before in essence had And if by others flatt'ries or by ought Which may to that end rise from his own thought He waves this Title for the best of those The World admires he therewithal hath chose His Portion in the world and will at last Prove like to them with whom his lot is cast Some of the Long-robe to advance their Trade And others that an Inlet might be made To what they hope for and perhaps contrive In secret our Old Title would revive Because from Kingship they have hope to draw Advantage by the letter of our Law To all his Substitutes

that dignifies the Name Tyrant was thought an honourable Stile Until Oppressors did the same defile By lustful Insolence in Tarquin's race Kingship at Rome first fell into disgrace And 't was from thence exploded with such hate That though the King of Romanes is of late Made Titular no Romane to this day Submits thereto nor in Rome bears it sway The Basis of true Supreme honour stands Not upon absolute but Just Commands A Prince doth his Pre-eminence receive From Vertue not from his Appellative And Righteousness addes more to his renown Then Conquest Title Scepter and a Crown As quickly will appear when he shall want That Dignity and grows exorbitant An honourable Title is confest To be a fair Engagement or at best An useful Pledge and some Memento too Of what the Owner is oblig'd to do But of it self on him that fills the place Of Pow'r it doth confer nor Worth nor Grace It is an Ornament that priz'd should be And also that which may in some degree Illustrate him that wears it if he frame His Actions answerable to the same According to the purposes of those Who did on him the Sov'raignty impose And that which on our Chief hath been of late Conferr'd and is confirm'd now by our State Is more significant to that intent Then All whereof there 's any President Throughout the Universe unless it be In some far Climate yet unknown to me To him who hath obtain'd a Supreme Pow'r Whether Duke Prince a King or Emperour Sophy Grand Seignior Pope or what Stile else We place on him who other men excels He by the greatest of them is possest Of no more Sov'raignty then by the least For all their Titles are equivalent According to their Seigniories extent Because he that dependeth upon none Is made as absolute by any One Of those or other Titles as by all Which will appear when I discover shall How much or little each of them contains Of that which to Supremacie pertains And when it is considered what they are Who as chief Soveraigns these Titles wear A Duke is but a Leader supreme Prince Is one who claims the chief Pre-eminence A King is he who hath a Ruling Pow'r Command denominates an Emperour Sophie the Persian Title signifies A Person who in governing is wise Grand Seignior which the Turks ambitiousness Now arrogates doth Power in Chief express The stile of Pope implies a Fatherhood And more relateth to a Peoples good Then any of the former though as little He doth conform his Actings to his Title But all those Titles want that which compleats A person meriting the Supreme Seats Except this last whose Claimers swerving from What their high Stile implieth are become Stepfathers unto those whom they pretend To father foster cherish and defend And GOD as well for their Deliverance As our shall this Protectors pow'r advance Or his Successors till it quite sets free All Nations who to them enslaved be Avenging all the blood which they have shed The blood of Saints whom they have massacred Of late or heretofore yea look how far The Pow'rs of GOG and MAGOG stretched are And wheresoe'er those Catholike pretenders Oppress these shall be Catholike Defenders Of men oppressed and GOD to that end Shall universally this Pow'r extend It hath already as that Angel did Of whom John wrote to that intent bestrid A great part of the world and one foot stands upon the Seas the other on the Lands But whither do my Contemplations fly I may perchance unseal a Mystery Before the time my Muse therefore descend And prosecute the Subject I intend Thereby to further that which I conceive Is drawing neer and few will yet believe None of the other Titles bring to minde All Duties whereto Princes are enjoyn'd And such as owe them frequently are cast Among the vile and infamous at last Because they nor essential retain Within themselves the Pow'r those Titles fain Nor any of those Vertues which assure The Dignity they formally procure But if that any Title under heav'n Hath in times past or in this age been giv'n That truely magnifies and may conduce To bring those Vertues unto minde and use Which dignifie the Persons it is that Which Providence conferred hath of late Upon our Governour For though it seem Through Novelty not grown up to esteem Yet if unhappily there be not wanting Concomitances useful to its planting It will be reverenc'd in farthest Climes And honourable through all future times Beyond compare when Kings and Emperours Hav lost their Names their Kingdoms their Pow'rs And until here that King of kings doth raign Whose Glory heav'n and earth cannot contain This glorious Title hath in it exprest No stamp of Self-relation like the rest But marks forth One as if from heav'n sent down Who seeks his Peoples weal more then his own It is the chiefest of GOD's Attributes Which he to those men whom he here deputes Communicates and ought therefore by none To be assum'd but God-like men alone Who in their hearts have purposed to be At least by Imitation such as He And ready to contribute in his stead Due succours to all Suppliants in their Need. It is a Name of mercy and affection Which not alone engageth to Protection But likewise to a strenuous Opposition Of Tyrants Tyrannies and all Oppression For to be call'd a Nation to protect Implies at least in some degree th' effect Of ev'ry Means which may be helpful to Those Works which GOD provided Him to do And nobler is in that respect then those Loud-sounding Titles which our Fathers chose Because we therein comprehended finde More Notions then in all those Titles joyn'd Which are throughout the whole world own'd by them Who do enjoy a Sov'raign Diadem Conduct Pre-eminence Rule and Command Policie Grandeur both by Sea and Land And that Paternity which they possess To whom is mis-imputed Holiness Are but a Part and that part very little Of what is intimated by this Title For being well consider'd it implies That he who owns it should be truly wise As well as politick a foe to Vice A friend to Vertue free from Avarice Awful of GOD affectionate to Man His Welfare seeking by all means he can Stout and yet humble in his Exaltation Just and his Justice sweetning by Compassion Due recompence to well deservers giving Pard'ning the Penitent th' Opprest relieving Watchful for all Occasions how he may Advance his Peoples welfare ev'ry way As also by what means he may prevent The Common and each private Detriment A hearty Zelot of the Publike Faith By Deeds confirming what in Words he saith And readyer for his Flocks his life to stake Then of their Flesh or Fleece a prey to make Nor to his own alone doth he extend His Goodness but ev'n to the worlds far end Will stretch it also as acknowledging All men for Subjects of that Heav'nly King Whom he but represents and unto whom He must account when Audit-day is

come And of necessity to all he must Be righteous who will to his own be just Since universal Justice must make strong His Arm who would defend his own from wrong And he who to this Vertue is inclinde Becomes as well a friend to all Mankinde As to his Native People when they need Protection and from Tyrants to be freed This is a true PROTECTOR such a one As I desire should ever fill the Throne Of these three Nations And if he prove such Who governs now I 'll never think it much To sacrifice my life and all I have His Person Pow'r and Dignity to save From his Maligners whereas if that he Who rul'd the whole world were so kinde to me As to advance me to the second place Within his Government and when he was Remov'd by death could and would set me there Where he had sate yet if I certain were His heart stood not unfeignedly inclinde To do as he enablement should finde The duty of his place I could not prize His Favours nor his Greatness idolize Nor truely love him yet would still be true Unto his Pow'r and give him all his due This a PROTECTOR is according to The meaning of his Name Thus should he do This is that supereminent Degree Whereto I strive that he advanc'd should be Whom I inaugurate and would hereby Transmit to pass through all Posterity Among the Heroes whose wide-spreading Fames Make vulgar Appellations and New-Names Grow honourable that both far and neer This Title high exalted may appear Until it hath attained an esteem Beyond all Attributes in former time Room therefore and henceforth let Names of Pow'r Such as of Duke King Prince or Emperour Sophie Grand Seignior and that which they own Who claim the wearing of a Triple Crown Descend that in their place I may enthrone The Title of PROTECTOR which in One Contains all which their Attributes afford Yea all the worlds grand Titles in one word And shall by what it intimates direct Till He who these Dominions doth protect Hath by example taught how to reduce All Governments to their intended use Or broke them into pieces who persist To tyrannize and rant it as they list This a PROTECTOR is or ought to be And such a one as this I hope is He Who now reigns over us although as yet To exercise our faith GOD doth permit Some doubtings and some few dissatisfactions Because we know not of his sev'ral Actions The Grounds Reasons which were they so known To us as those Designes that are our own Would make perhaps these Nations to believe They should that great Deliverance receive Which they expect and by his means receive it If they could be perswaded to believe it At least so far forth as they justly can Expect so great a Blessing by a Man Subject to Frailties and who did on him Assume that heavie Burthen at that time Wherein all things were to Confusion brought And wherein Contrarieties were sought With so much violence that few or none Knew what to crave or what might best be done When for this Thing one Faction madly bawl'd When for much diff'ring things another call'd A third for somewhat which would quite destroy What both the former craved to enjoy When some drew back when others on did hurry To their Designments with a headstrong fury When most each others purpose did mistake Or of best Meanings worst Construction make Through weakness or by being prepossest With Pride O'erweening or Self-interest And when those Straights and those Necessities Which from the Pow'rs preceding did arise Did him to Arbitrary Acts enforce That things grown much amiss might not grow worse For these things make it difficult to know What really he is what he would do Or what he can do whilst our sins and passions Foment our Strife or whilst Mis-applications Mis-representings or such-like obstruct That Blessing which GOD's mercy would product If likewise we consider'd herewithal That when to this great Charge he had this Call It was when our Unsetledness had made it So hazardous that none else would have had it But such as probably had ere this day Thereby both to their own Designes made way And to our total Ruine And when some Who did project what now to pass is come Did not perhaps intend so much thereby To raise him to a Supreme Dignity As to ensnare him and to mount him to That eminence in hope thereby to do His Adversaries work and him at length To weaken by re-burth'ning him with strength Were this consider'd and therewith if we Well weigh'd how great yet out Distempers be And what Necessity and Prudence may Constrain him to in that untrodden way Wherein he marches that the Work begun May not dishonourably now be done Through want of Pow'r and bring a sad return Of Mischief with an everlasting Scorn We would believe his Actions did produce What rather praise required then excuse Yea by this Observation and by what We know well done we would not judge of that We know not yet and by what we discern Without suspect as perfectly might learn How by his Foot a harmless Lamb to draw As to describe a Lion by his Paw But who can us assure that for our sin Mis-understandings have not raised bin 'Twixt him and us whereby GOD's wrath may bring Those Mischiefs back we suffer'd by a King And make our Surgeon put us to more pain Then those late wounds whereof we did complain What Peace can we expect if for such Times He was prepar'd in which loud-crying Crimes Still unrepented of will not afford A milder way of Curing then the Sword Or what reproof deserves that Instrument Who then acts that for which he forth was sent If I should here those sins enumerate Which are revived in this Land of late Yea and improved much beyond the Crimes Which I took heed of in my yonger times And am perhaps preserved to be old That I to some good purpose might behold The works of GOD and Men and to this Nation Be serviceable in my Generation For Future times It plainly would appear What future Judgements we might justly fear And that it will be to my Maker's praise Hereafter although slighted in these days To have it testified on record How righteous he is still in deed and word How merciful he to these Lands hath been Ev'n when we him correcting us have seen And how in Love he still proceedeth on Though still we do as ill as we have done Should I illustrate those Prevarications Those Vanities and those Abominations Which are increas'd since here we did pretend A Reformation and how some offend By gross Extravagances whose false Zeal To GOD to Justice this Commonweal Hath made them rich and great how they could preach And pray till by pretendings they did catch VVhat they had preach'd pray'd for how mute They are become since they have reap'd the fruit Of their Designes Should I illustrate