Of endlesse Wandrings that it leads us to That sin sometimes whâ—ch we abhor to doe And otherwhile so strangely giddifies The Reason and the soules best Faculties That as I said before we doe not know What in our selves to bâ—ke or disallow Yea we such turnings and crosse wayes doe finde That ofâ— our Guides as well as we â—e blinde The Spiâ—it and the Flesh have their delight In things so diverse and so opposite And such a Law of sinne doth still abide Withâ—n our Members that we swarve aside Doe what we can and while we helpe the one To what seemes needfull th' otâ—â—â— is undone If by the Spirits motion I procâ—ed To compasse what I thinke my Soule may need My Body wants the while and I am faine To leave my course that her I may sustaine Lâ—ft my engagements or necessities Might my well meant endeavor scandalize If I but feed my Body that it may Assist my Spirit in some lawfull way It straight growes wanton If I fast it makes My spirit faint in what she undertakes And if I keepe a meane meane fruits are they And little worth which then produce I may If in a Christiâ—n love some houres I spend To be a comfort to some female friend Who needs my counfell I doe cause â—he while Another with hot jealousies to boyle Nor know I how my selfe excuse I may Vnlesse anothers weaknesse I display Which if I doe not or some lye invent They censure me unkinde or impudent I can nor doe nor speake nor thinke that thing But still some inconvenience it will â—ring Or some occasion of anevill be To me or others or to them and me And from the body of this Death by whom But by my Saviour can I freed become Oh! therefore sweet Redeemer succour lend me And from these bogs and sâ—ares of sin defend me Deare God assist in these perplexities Which from our fraile condition doe arise Sâ—t straight I pray thee Lord â—he crookednesse Oferring Nature and these faults redresse So out of frame is evâ—ry thing in me That I can hope for cure from none but thee To thee I therâ—fore kneele to thee I pray To thee my soule complaineth ev'ry day Doe thou but say Be whole or be thou cleane And I shall soone be pure and sound agen The Will thou gavâ—st me to affect thy Will Though it continue not so perfect still Aâ— when thou first bestow'dst the same accept it Ev'n such as my polluted Vessell kept it For though it wounded be through many fights Continu'd with my carnall appetites Yet iâ— my hâ—arts desire to me be knowne Thy Pleasure I preferre before minâ— owâ—e If I could chuse I would not guilâ—y be Of any â—ct diâ—plâ—asing unto thee In all my life I would not spâ—â—ke a word But thâ—t which to thy likâ—ng might accord I woulâ— not thinke a thought but wâ—at might fhow That fâ—om thy Spirit all â—y â—usings flow I would nor hate nor love nor hope nor feare But as unto thy praise it usefull were I would not have a joy within my heart Of which thou shouldâ—t not be the greater part Nor would I live or dye or happy be In life or death but Lord to honour thee Oh! let this Will which is the precious seed Of thine oâ—â—e Love be taken for the deed Assist thou mâ— against the potent evill Of my great Foes the World the Flesh the Devill Renew my fainting pow'rs my heart revive Refresh my spirits and my soule relieve Lord draw me by the cords of thy affection And I shall fall in love with thy perfection Vnloose my chaines and I shall then be free Convert me and converted I shall be Yea to my soule oh God! and to my senses Display thy beautie and thy excâ—â—lencies So plaine that I may have them still in sight And thou shalt ever be my sole delight The world though she should into pieces teare me With troubles from thy love should never scare me Nor â—ble be to tempt me from one duty To â—he with all her pleasure and her beauty Behold I came to seeke thee Lord ev'n here Where to attend thy presence most men feare Though here I saw the Pestilence withstand me I stand to know what worke thou wouldst command me From all the pleasures of the world and from Hâ—r hopes of safety I am bâ—â—her come Where thou art angry and to see thy frowne Am at thy feet with terror fallen downe Yet hence I would not flye although I might To gaine the chiefest of this worlds delight Till I perceive thou biddâ—st me goe away And then for twenty woâ—lds I would not stay I came as heartily as flâ—sh and blood Could come that hath in it so little good To doe thee service and if dye I must Loe here I am and I pronounce thee just Although thou slâ—y me yet my soule well knowes Thou lovâ—st me And I le trust in thee repose Though in my selfe I feele I am polluted I finde a better righteousnesse imputed Then I have lost Thy blessed Love doth fill me With joyes that will revâ—ve me though thou kill me My sins are great â—ut thy compassion's greater I haâ—e thy Quittance though I am thy Debtor And though my temp'rall hopes may be destroid Yet I have those that never shall be void Thus to the Lord my soule I powred out When I with dâ—ngers waâ— enclos'd about And though I was a sinner this appeased His wrath in Châ—ist aâ—d my gâ—iev'd soule was eased He graciously accepted in good part This poore oblation of an humbled heart His Mercy seâ—l'd my pardon and I shook The Pestilence which hold upon me tooke From off my shoulder without sense of harme As Paul did shake the Viper from his arme That weeke moreover God begâ—n to slack His Bow and call his bloody Angell backe VVho by degrees retyr'd as he came on For weeke by weeke untill it fâ—ll to none The number which the Pestilence did kill VVas constantly and much abated still VVhen we were fleating on that Inundation At first we sent a carnall Lamentation VVhich like the Raven â—rom Noahs Arke did flye And found nor rest nor hope of remedy Then sent we Dâ—ve-like Mournings but thâ—â—â— feet A while could with no resting places meeâ— Then forth againe we sent them out from â—ence VVing'd with moâ—e Charity and Penitence And then they brought an Olive-bâ—anch of peace VVhich made us hopefull of this Floods decrease The Lord did favour to this Kingdome daigne And brought from thrall his Iacob back againe His peoples crimes he freely did release His irâ— abated his hot rage did cease His praise had in our Land a dwelling place And Mercy there with Iustice did embrace And 't was a grace to be considered That a Disease so generally spred And so contagious in few weeks should from So many thousands to a cypher come That our infectious beds and roomes and stuffe VVhich in all likelyhood had beene enough To keepe the
reproach of them Whose Pride thy humble Mufings doth contemnâ— And â—o remember thee how vaine it were To seeke for life where such harsh dealings are And as I would not have thee wish to live â—or love of any thing this world can give So I am loath her troubles should have pow'r To make thee seeke to shorten life an houre But rather in contempt of all her spight To lengthen it untill pale Envie quite Consume her selfe and thou at last be sent From hence victorious crowned with content I therefore here perswade thee not to stay That vainly thou mightst foole thy life away Or that some poore applauses may be got Or for such trifling ends as profit not And whereof Reason her diâ—like infers For my opinion jumps in that with hers I doe not counsell thee to cast aside That care which teacheth wisely to provide For wholsome Antidotes Or to observe Such courses aâ— are likely to preserve Thy body sound nor is it my intent Thou shouldst employ by way of complemenâ— Thy time in visiting infected friends When to their comfortings it little tends Nor am I pleas'd in him that so presumes Or such a franticke foolishnesse assumes As desperately to thrust himselfe among The noisome breaâ—hings of a sickly throâ—g When such a danger nothing may availe And where the meanes of lifâ— will surely faile Nor would I now betray thee to thy sin Or worke thy losses that thy foes may win Or make thee tempt thy God or grieve thy friends Or barre thy Labors of their wished ends Nor canâ—â—t thou thinke thy Reaâ—on well hath said To cast such stumbling-blockes as she hath laid For just and comely things I doe advise And seeke not Mischiefes but their Remedies A carnall Wisedome sayes she seeth not What knowledge and assurance may be got Of those eternall things that objects are Of Chrâ—stian hope But wherefore shouldst thou feare What â—lesh and Blood blasphemously hath said Since into thee already are convaid â—â—th Notions and the reall sense of that Which they who would not see doe stumble at Meere humane Reason cannot â—each to know Of many thousand Creatures here below The sâ—cret natures Doe not wonder thou That few celestiall things perceive she can But call to minde that to be flâ—shly wise Is to be foolish in Truths Mysteries Give God the praise who hath on thee besâ—owne A better apprehension then thine 〈◊〉 Remember still to cherish this beleefe Let Prayer daily fet thy Faith releefe And be assur'd that I advise thee best What e're thy carnall Reason shall suggest If thou suppose that thou hast ought begun Which may thy Counâ—ry profit being done Or honor God proceed thou in his name With cheerfulnesse and finish up the same For God will either give thee life to doe it If cause theâ—e be or call another to it Of better gifts And if thou grudge at this Thou seekest thine owne honor more then his And though a pious purpose thou pretend Thy holy shewâ—s have some unholy end Say thou among the mâ—ltitude must fall Say they that hate thee thereof triumph â—hall Or others out of levity contemne Thy course or thee unjâ—stly should condemne As Reason pleads what prejudice to thee Woâ—ld this be more then sâ—ch mens praâ—ses be What harme is this to thee whâ—n â—hou art gone And hast no seâ—se of any wrong that 's done What needst thou care if all the woâ—ld suppose To hell thou sinkest if thy spiâ—it it goes The way to heav'n And in that narrow path A â—lessed being unperceived hath Pursue brave Actions as a Christian ought And care not thou what shall of them be thought Except to rouze up other men it be By making them perceive what rouzed thee When thou dost walke uprightly walke thou on And scorne to looke aside who looks thereon For he 's a foole if not an hypocrite That in well-doing feeleth no delight Vntill some witnesse of his deeds he know Or feele some praises his proud saiâ—es to blow Nay he that cannot in a vertuous deed Wherein his Conscience warrants to proceed Persist without returning though he should Of all the world together be controul'd Or if he thought it not a favour too That God would call him such a worke to doe Yea though that for his paines he should become Abhorr'd of all men tâ—ll the Day of Doome Ev'n such a Man is farre below that height To which by perfect Vertue climbe he might And lose he doth by feares that are in vaine The bravest honor that his Faith can gaine Thy Reason sayes that thou a sinner art And thereupon doth urge thee to depart But wherefore should the guilt of sin â—ffright Fâ—â—m staying rather then from taking flight For if thou shalt remove away from hence Thy guilt retaining by impenitence God hath not so his Plagues confined hither But that they may pursue thee any whither And whereas here the danger and the feare Encompassing this place might so deterre So mollifie and awe thy heart within thee So move and to amend thy life so win thee That God shall clense thy soule of ev'ry staine And reconcile thee to himselfe againe Perhaps the wicked vaine securitâ— That will attend thee whither thou shalt flye May mâ—ke the measure of thy sinnes compleater Thy comforts fewer tâ—y afflictions greater When least thou fearest most of all disease thee And keepe off this that some worse thing may seize thee And though thy Reason urge thee to beeleve Thy friends may wronged be or too much griâ—ve By this adventure I thy Faith assure thee That if my Motives may to stay procure thee For such good purposes as I propose Thy God shall pay thy friends what ere they lose Make some by fearing what thy dangers are Of their owne wayes to take the greater care Kâ—epe others by preserving of them sad More watchfull that might else lesse heed have had And stiâ—re up thee for them and them for thee So zealous in continuall vowes to be As wâ—ll perchance worse perils drive away Then those which are so feared in thy stay Oh! God how many soules by fleeing hence Scape this and catch a deadlier Pestilence How many hearts whom Feare doth somewhat strike With sorrowes which begins Repentance-like And might by staying here accomplish that Which ev'ry true Beleever aimeth at Will fall from those beginnings by their flight And lose the feeling of Gods Iudgementâ— quite How many by wrâ—ng seeking to prevent Their heav'nly Fathers loving chastisement Incorâ—igible in their lives will grow And bring themselves to utter overthrow And oh what multitudes by staying here Shall change their dread into a filiall feare Their feare to love and love and laud thee too For sending that which they abhorred so Like them who in the Deeps employed be Here thou the wondrous works of God shalt see That thou maist tell â—he world what he hath done And sing the praise of that Almighty-One To this and future aâ—es And for
â—nough already shall more prudent grow By This. And I am wâ—llinâ— to be thought A foole that they more wisedome may be taught Yet I coâ—fesse that lately when I saw This course did hate and wants upon me draw And that without a Second I was faine The wâ—ight of aâ—l my trâ—ubles â—o suâ—taine I hâ—lfe resolvâ—â— that I would speake no more So plaine against Abuse as heretofore And thinking I had ventur'd well â—or one Did meane to leave â—he World her course to run Nay from good words alâ—hough it was a paine I fully was resolved to refraine But when I silence kept my heart became As hot within me as a flery flame Yea like new wine in vessels wanting vent My thoughts did swell my brest to be unpent Aâ—d at the last I empti'd with my quill A veine which did the following Volume fill Supposing by the publike Presse to send it To them for whose Remembrance I intend it But they who keepe the passage back did thrust in Bâ—fore perusall and be like distrust it Because my name it cary'd to be such As might upon their friends too neerely touch For some of them have said that were my writing As true as that of holy Iohns inditing They would not licence it so fearfull are These guilty Times the voice of Truth to heare When therefore I had this my Offring brought And laid it at their doore a while I thought My selfe discharged but my Conscience said My worke was lost and still my vow unpaid Till I had practis'd ev'ry likely way To tell the Message which I had to say And since the common way it might not passe To bring it by your Gate resolv'd I was My first determining of such a thing Did many severall doubts upon me bring Oné while I doubted that those fooles who mock At piety would make a laughing stock Of this and me and say with some disdaine That I would make my selfe a Prophet faine And puft with selfe conceit had peâ—n'd a Story For private ends and for mine owne vaine glory Or that with pride and arrogance deluded I had upon undecent things intruded Another while I doubted some would prate That these my Lines dishonoâ—eâ— the State And on the Government aspersions laid As of their warnings oft the Iewes have said Sometime I feared all my words would make But few or none the better heed to take Because I reade that many a Prophet spoke What small effect within his life time tooke Except in aggravating of abuses And leaving them the more without excuses Sometime againe I feared lest if You Referring this my Poem to their view Who misconceive it may and trusting them In censuring who causlâ—sly condemne Men innocent might by that evill chance Be wrong'd and suffâ—r for their ignorance â—hus Kings are ofâ—en injur'd and some perish In their dislâ—ke whom they are â—ound to cherish I sâ—w moreover that my Foes of late Had so much wronged me in my estatâ— By neâ—dlesse charge and causlesâ—e hindring me From those due profits which my Portion be That to recover them and to pursue My lawâ—ull right I haveÌ„ no meanes but you And your just favour Which if I should misse By giving to your eare distast in this My adversaries would prevaile I thought And my disgrace and ruine would be wrought These carnall doubtâ— and many other such Against my Reason did prâ—vaile so much That I was halfe afraid to venture on In that which ought with courage to be done But whilst I stagger'd and began to stay Me thought within me somewhat thus did say Base Coward hath God's love so many dayes To thee appeared and so many wayes Hast thou so often felt what thou dost know From nothing but the pow'r of God can flâ—w Hath he so plaiâ—ly told thee with what wiles The foolish world her selfe and those begâ—iles That harken to her Hath he made thee see How little harme her spight can doe to thee Nay hath he pleased bin to bring unto thee Great profits by those injuries men doe thee And shall the feare but of a paltry scoffe From that which he appointeth beat thee off Hath he so often kept thee from disgrace And fed and cloth'd thee mâ—erely oâ— his grace That thou shouldft now distrust he will deceive thee And when he sends thee on his Message leave thee Without those necessaries which pertaine To those who in his Service doe remaine Hath he no meaneâ— to bâ—ing thee fit supplies But such as thine owne wisdome can devise Hath God destroy'd so many of thy hopes And dost thou build them still on carnall props Didst thou so many times in secret vow Affiance in hiâ— promises and now Hast thou no surer helps to trust untâ— Then Kings and Pâ—inces And as others doe Who have not thy experience dost thou shrink As soone as any outward Stay doth sinke Wouldst thou thy God displease to keepe a friend Perhaps in vaine for sâ—me poore temporall end Is 't now a Season when the Lands transgressions Have shaken all to settle thy Possâ—ssions When all the I owne about thee is on fire Wouldst thou go build thy straw-clad Cottage hyer Well take thy course Yet know if thou forbeare What now thy Conscience bids thee to declare Thy foolish Hope shall faile thee ne're the lesse Thy wrongfull suffring shall hâ—ve no redresse Thou shalt have greater wants then pinch thee yet New sorrowes and disgraces thou shalt get In stead of helpe and which is worst of all A guilty Conscience too torment thee shall â—hen be advised and proceed to do That lawfull Act thy heart enclines unto And be thou sure that God will make thee strong Against the violence of ev'ry wrong Be stout and though all persons through the Land Ev'n Prince and People both should thee withstand Their opposition nothing harme thee shall But thou shalt bide them like a brazen wall And if thou suffer persecutions flame Thou shalt be but refined in â—he same Such thoughts weâ—e whispâ—r'd in me And though some Mâ—y think them vaine suggestions flowing â—rom Distemper'd Faâ—cy I dare boldly say They lye And I their motives doe obey All doubts and feares and stops are broken through And loe Dread Sov'raigne I have brought to you In all humilâ—tie my sâ—lfe and these My honest and my just REMEMBRANCES To passe for those to whom they appertaine Or here for my discharging to remaine God is already angry I 'me afraid Because this duty I so long delaid And stand or fall now I have reacht thereto I would not for the world it were to do Good SIR reject it not although it bring Appearances of some fantasticke thing At first unfolding for those Mysteries Which we most honor and most highly prise Doe seeme to be but foolishnesse to some And when our sin to any height is come It brings a height of folly which oft makes That course to seeme uncomely that God takes For our reproofe and chiefly if it cary
her idle Children ev'ry day Sate downe to eate and drinke and rose to play For she was growne insensible of cares She had almost forgotâ—en sighes and teares And all this Iland in her cup of Pleasure With her had quafâ—ed so much out of measure Till they grâ—w drunke together through excesse And wilde and giddy in their drunkennesse They hâ—d almost forgotten him from whom Their ease and their prosperity dâ—d come They spent their houres in laughter and in song And grew regardlesse of the poore mans wroâ—g They alwayes clothed went in soft aray They fed themselues with dainties day by day And that no outward meaneâ— of pleasure might Be wanting to accomplish their delight Those iollities wherein they did appeare Were further'd by the season of the yeare The windes then breathed on them wholsome aire Tâ—e Gâ—oves thâ—ir suâ—â—er clothings did repaire The fruiâ—full Fâ—eldâ— witâ— fâ—esh grâ—ene gownes were clad Which Florâ— curiouâ—ly embroydered had The pleasant Gâ—rdens their choyce plaints displaid 〈◊〉 Orchâ—rd with gay blossomes wore arraid The winged Choristers did sweetly sing And with choice Musicke welcome in the Spring Their streets with mâ—â—chlesse bravery did shine Their Parlers many beauties did enshrine Their costly Bowres with rarities were hung And alwayes filled with a merry throng Of nought but sports triumphs were their dreams Wealth health honor were their studied theamâ—s No noisome Plagues within their Gates were found Of Grones their dwellings did but rarely sound Nor was there â—â—y storme or danger feared For in this Hemisphere so bright appeared New CHARLES his waine that sunlike he did chase All fogs of discontentment from each place And all those clouds of griefe expelled farre VVhich rose at settinâ— of our IACOB Starre But oh how â—â—â—stlesse are those lying showes Of happinesse on which most men repose Their greatest confidence And from our fight How swiftlâ— did these pleasures take their flight For whether he who from his heav'nly sphere Beholdeâ—h all our thoughâ—s and actions here Did with a searching eyâ— examine more Our coursâ—â— at that present then before Or whether hee our carelesnesse had cyde Or our hypocrisie or else our pride Oâ— our impiety or whâ—thâ—r he Did in this Iland or this Kingdome see Our old Idolatrâ—es come creeping in Or whether he some new devised sinne Descride to sprout among us here yea whether It were some one of these or all together Or what it was I know not But it prov'd A crying sâ—â—ne and so extreamly moov'd God 's gentlenessâ— that angry he became His browes were bended and his eyes did flame Me thought â— saw it so and though I were Afraid within his presence to appeare My Soule was rais'd above her common station Where what enâ—ues I view'd be Contemplation There is â— spacious Round which bravely reares Her Arch above the top of all the Spheares Vntill her bright Circumference doth rise Above the râ—ach of Mans or Angels eyes Conveying through the Bodies christalline Those Rayes which on our lower Globe doe shine And all the great and lesser Orbes doe lye Within the compasse of that Canopy In this large Roome of State is fixt a Throne From whence the wise Creator looks upon His workmanship and thence doth heare and see All sounds all plâ—â—es and all thiâ—gs that be Here sate the King of Gods and from about His eye-lids so much terror sparkled out That ev'ry circle of the Heav'ns it shooke And all the World did â—remble at his looke The prospect of the Skie â—hat earst was cleare Did with a lowâ—ing countenance appeare The troubled Ayre before his presence â—led Tâ—e Earth into her bosome â—hrunk her head The Deeâ—s did roâ—re the Heights did stand amaz'd The Moone anâ— Stars upon each other gaz'd Tâ—e Sun did stand unmoved in his path The Hoast of Heav'n wâ—s frigâ—tâ—d at his wrath And with a voice which made all Creatures quake To this effect the great ETERNALL spake Are we a GOD and is there pow'r in us Ta sâ—artle all our whole Creatiâ—n thus And yet are we despis'd as if these Pow'rs Were either lesser growne or none of ours Are we that with our â—entlesâ— breath can blow All things to nothing still abused so Hath our long suffring hardned so our Foes That now our Godhead into question groweâ— Nâ—y which is worse have we compassion showne Till we are quite neglected of our owne Is this the Land whom we have lov'd so long And in our love elected from among The Heathen Iles and at the first was burl'd Into the utmoâ—t corner of the world That we might raise the glory of her name To equall King domes of the greatest fame Is this that Iland which our love did place Within our bosome in the safe embrace Of great Oceanus and garden like Did wharâ—e about within her watry Dike With mighty Rocks and Cliffes whose tops were higher Then any foming Billow daâ—es aspire Is this the Kingdome which our band hâ—th made The Schoole and Shop of ev'ry Art and Tradâ— The Cornucopia of all needfull plenties The Storehouse and the Closset of our dainties Our Iewell house and Palace royall where The fairest of our Loves maintained are Is this the Couâ—tâ—y which our bounty served With store of bread when many Lands were starved And whom we have presâ—rved from the spoiles Of Foes abroad and from domesticke bâ—oyles Are theirs the Cities which doe weare the Flag Of Peace while Rochel Heidlebâ—rg and Prague And â—ll the Christian world engaged are In some offensive or defensive warre Are their 's the Cities to whose fleets were showne The pathlesse wayes through many seas unknowne Whose wealthy Merchants have encreast their trade From ev'ry Port and Creek that we have made Whose vesselâ— have by our protection gone Past both the Tropicks and through every Zone And made their petty Villages become Acquainted with more worlds then ancient Rome Is this that people unto whom we gave More lovely Bodies then most Nations have And in whose minds of our especiall grace We did the best â—pproved temper place Is this that People whom we did restore To humane shape when as the scaâ—let-whore Had with her charmed Cup of poisned wine Tranâ—form'd them into Asses Aâ—es and swine Did we in persâ—cution heare their cries Tâ—ke off the sâ—â—les of blindnesse from tâ—eir eyes Winâ—ke at their follies when they most offended Forbeare the punishments â—hat were intendeâ— From diverse Plagues inflicted them release Make Europe stand and wonder at their peace Yea save them fâ—om the malice of their Foe When all were like to perish at a blow And grace and favâ—ur undeserved shew Whâ—n they their owne destâ—â—ction did pursâ—e Hâ—ve we these threescâ—re yeares and upwards bâ—est Thâ—ir Kingdomesâ—rom â—rom those troubles that iâ—fest Most other States And when their soules had been Nigh famisht else did we provide a Queene A maiden Queene with vertues masculine To nurse them up in holy Discipline Did we provide when she her couâ—se had â—un
it seemes it could not be That God from this Disease would shelter thee Reported also that of Grace forsaken And by the sin of Drunkennesse o'retaken Thou brokâ—st thy neck It may be those men thought That when the Plagueâ—hy â—hy life to end bad brought They shâ—uld have added somâ—what to have slaine The life of good Report which might remaine Nor was that ayme quite void For though of all Grosse sins the staine of tâ—at least bâ—ur thee shall Some straight beleev'd what malice did surmise Condemn'd thy Vertues for Hypocrisies Made guilty all thy Lines of evill ends Vs'd thee as Iob was used by his friends Did on thy Life unâ—hristian Censures passe Affirm'd thy Death had showed what it was And many a one that heard it shall not know Vntill his dying day it was not so But then they shall perceive that most of that Is false which men of others use to prate But wonder it is none that thou among Some Strangers in thy Fame hast suffred wrong For â—o thy Neighbours though they privy be To no such act as may difparage thee But unto many rather which in show Appeared from a Christian minde to flow Ev'n they in private whisp'rings many times Have taxed thee as guilty of those crimes Thou never perpetratedst but dost more Abhor them then do Mizers to be poore And from thâ—se blots the more thy life is free The more is theirs defilde by slaundring thâ—e In wicked Places where yet nâ—ver came Thy fooâ— some acâ—ed follies in thy name That others present knowing not thy face Might spread abroad of thee to thy disgrace VVhat others did And such a mischiefe none But perfect Malice could have thought upon Thy very Prayers and thy Charities Have â—â—cked beene and judg'd hypocrisies When thou wert beâ—â— employed thou wert sâ—re The bâ—sest imputations to endure When thy intentions haâ—e beene most sincere Mens misconstructions alwayes haâ—shest were And when thy piouâ—â— action thou hadst wrought Then they the greatest mischiefe on thee brought The best and most approved of those Laies By thee composed for thy Makers praise Have lately greatly multipli'd thy Fâ—es And not procur'd alone the spight of those Whom brutish Ignorance besâ—ts among The misconceiving and illâ—terate throng But they who on the seats of Iudgement sate Thee and those Labours have inveighed at The Learned who should wiser men have beene Did censure that which they had never seene Ev'n they wâ—o make faire shewes of sanctiâ—y God grant it be not with hypocrisiâ— With spightfulnesse that scarce can matched be Have shamefully trâ—duced that and thee Nay of the Clergy some and of the chiefe Have with unseemly fâ—ry post beleefe So undervalu'd and so vilifi'd Those Labors which the tryall will abide When their proud spleene is wasted that unlesse God had in mercy curb'd their furiousnesse And by his might abated in some measure That pow'r of acting their impeâ—ious pleasure Their place and that opinion they had gained Of knowledge and sincerity unfained Had long ere this no doubt made so contemn'd Those Lines and thee that thou hadst beene condemn'd VVithout a triall And so true a feeling Hadst gain'd ere now of base and partiall dealing That Discontenâ—â—ight then have urg'd thy stay In hope this Plague would thâ—t have tooke away But thou by others hast receiv'd the â—â—ings Of Malice otherwayes in other things Those men whose over-grosse and open crimeâ— Are justly taxed in thiâ—â—â—onest â—imes Have by the generall notice of thy name Sought how to bring thee to a generall shame By raising causelesse rumors to be blowne Through ev'ry quarter where thy lines are knowne For there 's no place without an enuious â—are And slanâ—rous tongues be ready ev'ry where To cast with willingnesse disgrace on those Of whom some good report beforehand goes And since thou canst not answer ev'ry man As he that 's knowne in some few Townships can The falsest Rumors Men divulge of thee Doe soone become a common Fame to be Moreover that lesse cause there may appeare Why thou shouldst life desire or dying feare The most affected thing this world containes Hath torâ—ur'd thee with most heart-breaking paines For they whom thou hast loved they to whom Thou didst obliged many wayes become Yea â—hey who knew thy faithfulnesse ev'n they Have made their outward kindnesses the way To make thee most ingratefull seeme to be Yea they have heaped more disgrace on thee More griefes and disadvantages then all Thy Foes together bring upon thee shall And long pursued have to thy vexation Their courses with harsh trickes of agâ—ravation Yet still pretending Love which makes the curse Of this Affliction twenty times the worse I will â—ot say that thou afflâ—cted art In this by them without thy owne desert For who perceives in all how he offends Or thinks that God correction causelesse sends Nor will I say this injury proceeds Fromany Malice For perhaps it breeds From their distemper'd love And God to show Some needfullsecret which thou best maist know By this experiment a while doth please To make thy late Contentments thy Disease Thy first Acquaintanâ—e who did many a yeare Enjoy thy fellowship and glad appeare To seeme thy friends have wearied out their love By length of time and strangers now doe prove Thou also seest thy new acquaintance be Worne out as fast as gotten For to thee Most come for nothing but to satisfie Their idle fruitlesse curiositie And having seene and found thee but a man Their friendship ended just as it began Nay they who all thy course of life have seene And in appearancâ— have perswaded beene So well of thy uprightnesse as if noâ—ght Could move in them of thee one â—vill thought These by a little absence or the sound Of some untrue Relation wanting ground Doe all their good opinion someâ—ime change Suspect thy mannâ—rs and themselves â—strange So unexpecteâ—ly and without cause That what to judge of them it makes thee pause For they that vertuous are but in the show Doe soone suspect that all men else are so Thâ—se things are very bitter unto such Whose hearts are sensible to ev'ry touch Of kindnesse and unkindnesse and they make Life tedious where they deepe imprâ—ssion take But many other griefes thy Soule doe grinde And thou by them art pained in a kinde So diffâ—ring from the common sense of others Although thy patience much distemper smothers That Reason might me thinkes contented be Thou shouldst pursue thy Death to set thee free I speâ—ke not this as if thou didst repinâ— At these or any other lots of thine Nor to discourage thee beâ—ause the World So little of her Grace on thee hath hurl'd For I would have thee scorne her love and know That wheâ—her shâ— will favour thâ—e or no I wilâ— in thy due season make thee rise To honor by that way which meâ— despise Ev'n to those honors which are greater then The greatest that conferred are by men And this I mention in
Plague among us till it had Our Cities and our Townes unpeopled made Should from their noyâ—omnesse so soone be â—râ—ed Is out of doubt a matter worth our heed Yea t is a Merâ—y though most mind it not VVhich in this Land should never be forgot That from an enemy so dangerous So great a City and so populous Should in three months be purified so That all men might with safety come and goe For e're the following Winter was expired The Citizens were to their homes retired The Terme from Reading was recalled hither From ev'ry Quarter Clients came together New trading was begun another brood Soone fild the houses which unpeopled â—â—ood Our Gentry tooke up their old rendevow And such a concourse through our streets did flow That ev'ry place was fill'd and of all those Those many thousands who their lives did lose But some â—ew monâ—hs before no want was found The people ev'ry where did so abound To thee oh Lord to thee oh Lord be praise For thou dost wound and cure strike down and raise Thou kill'st and mak'st alive thou frownst at night And thou art pleased e're the morning light VVhen we offend thee thou a while dost leave us VVhen we repent thou dost againe receive us To ruine thou deliver'st us and then Râ—turne againe thou saift ye sonnes of men For in thy wisedome thou considered hast That man is like a bubble or a blast A heape of Dust a tuft of wither'd Grasse A fading Fâ—owre that soone away doth passe A Moment fled which never shall retire Or smoaking Flaxe that quickly loseth fire An idle â—reame which nothing doth betoken A bruised Reed which may with ease be broken And therefore â—ost in Iudgement Mercy minde Yea in thy greatest anger thou art kinde As is the space twixt heav'n aâ—d eaâ—th above So large to those that feare thee is thy love As far â—s doth from Èâ—st the Westâ—eside â—eside So fâ—r thou dâ—st from us our sins divide Such aâ— a father to his childe doth beare Sâ—â—h love is thine to those who thee do feare Tâ—y Iustice thou froâ—â—ge to age declarest But such as love thee thou for ever sparest I thou but turne away from us thy face Loe we are breathâ—esse in a moments space Thy looke doth us with life againe endue And all our losses instantly renew As oft as we rebell thou dost forgive us And though into distâ—esse sometime thou drive us Yet alwaâ—es in our sorrowes we were eyed And thou didst please to heare us when we cried With tâ—â—rst and hunger faint some stray'd aside To seeke a place where safe they might abide With worse then bands of iron they were chained And in the gloomy shâ—des of Dâ—ath detained With hâ—â—â— and â—ickâ—esse they dejected were And to deliver them no helpe was there Their wickednessâ— when they were plagued for Their soules thâ— sweetest morâ—â—ls did abhor They for their follies did afflicted lye And to the gates of Death approached nigh Their soules within them were nigh dead with feare Yea they distracted and amazed were But when to thee they called they were eased And out of all their troubles quite released Thou sent'st abroad thy Word and they were healed Thy Wrâ—t of Indignation was repealed FroÌ„ out of Death's black shades tâ—ey were reprieved And in their sorrowes and their paines relieved From East and West from North South and from Their sev'rall wandrings thou shalt call them home In ev'ry quarter of the Realme thou soughtst â—hem Yea to their City back againe thou broughtst them And there now joyâ—uâ—l and in health they be From all their feares and all their dangers free Oh would that men this love would think upon And tell their seed what wonders thou hast done Would they Oblations of thanksgiving bringing Thy works would praise and publish them in singing Oh! would they were so wise that they might leaâ—ne Thine infinite compassion to discerne And that they would assist me to declare How greaâ— thy Iudgements and thy Mercies are Though none can of thy favours make relation Nor fully utter all thy commendation Yet let us doe our best that we may raise A thankfull Trophee to thy boundlesse praise Let us whom thou hast saved thee conâ—esse And to our utmost pow'r tâ—y goodnesse blesse Let us proclaime thy bounties in the street And preach thee where ouâ— Congregations meet Let us in private at noone morne and night And in all plâ—ces in thy praise delight Let Prince and Priest and People old and yong The rich the poore the feeble and the strong Men Angels and all creatures that have name Vnite their pow'rs to publish out thy fame But howsoever others may endevor Let me oh God let me oh God! persever To magnifie thy glory Let nor day Nor any morne or evening passe away In which I shall not to remembrance bring Thy Iudgements and of thy great Mercy sing Let never whilst I live my heart forget Those Dangers and that strong entangled Net In which my soule was hamper'd Let me see When in this world I shall best pleased be My dangers such appearing as they were When me they â—ound about enclosed here Yea when o'rewhelm'd with terrors I did call Like Ionas from the belly of the Whale And was deliver'd Lord remember thou That with unfainednesse I beg thee now To keepe me alwayes mindâ—ull of thy love And if hereaâ—ter I forgetfull prove Let this unfainednesse which thou dost give An Earnest be of what I shall receive In time to come Refresh my cooled zeale And let thy Spirit thy hid Love reveale Let nor the fawning World nor cunning Devill Nor wanton Flesh incite my heart to evill Let not my wandâ—ing eyes be tempted by Those Objects that aâ—lure to Vanity Nor let my eares be charmed by their tongues Whâ— to betray me chant out Syren-songs Let me nor taste a Pleasure nor obtaine That carnall Rest whereof I am so faine Till it shall make me plainly to perceive Thy love and teach me foolish paths to leave Let me be still in want and ever striving With some afflâ—ctions whilst that I am living Till they for better Fortunes better me And then let into Rest my entrance be From yeare to yeare as thou hast yearly done New sorrowes and new trials bring thou on My stubborne heart till thou hast softned it And made it for thy service truly fiâ— Buâ— give me hopes and daily comforts too To strengthen me as thou hast us'd to doe And that in Iustice Mercy may appeare Inflict Oh Lord no more then I can beare I feele and tremble that I feele it thus My flesh hath fâ—ailties which are dangerous To mine owne safety and as soone as thou Shalt quite remove the feares that seize me now My sense of thee and those good thoughts I doubt May faile within me or be rooted out Some Lâ—st may queÌ„ch them or some Care may choke them Vaine hoâ—â—s may vaile theÌ„ or new-thoughts revoke theÌ„ The wisdome of
higher Station I was brought There I beheld what ruine and confusion Was of these Mâ—mmeries the sad conclusion There â—aw I what Catastrophâ—s attend Those Vanities wherein ouâ— times we spend How God still counterworks and overthrowes The projects of the Devill and our Foâ—s And tell I could â—ut that it would be prated I some Prophetiâ—k spirit arrogated Strange newes to those mâ—nâ— eares who have not learned What nay by Mâ—litation be disâ—erned Yet all thâ—â—â— conceâ—vâ— I cannot write Nor would I though I coâ—ld for so I might Throw Pearles to Swiâ—n of whom I may be torne Be tâ—ampled in the mâ—re and maâ—e a scorne Nay tell mâ— selâ—e I dâ—re not what I spy When I have â—â—oughts of most transcendency Lest Pride possesse me and should cast me downe As far below as I on high havâ— flowne For when we nearest unto heav'n do soâ—re Till we are there our perils are the more Since there is wickedâ—esse which we doe call The wickednesse that is spiâ—ituâ—ll In heâ—v'nly places And as we doe know Theâ—e is a Lightâ—ing which dotâ— oftâ—n goe Quite thrâ—ugh tâ—e body to the vitall paâ—t And kill the very spirits at the hâ—art Yâ—t never harme the flâ—sh becauâ—â— it mâ—y Through v'ry porâ—us member make it way Wâ—thout imprâ—ssiâ—n So from our offences Thâ— Devill doth extract some Qâ—â—ntessâ—â—ses Which we may rightly namâ— the spiriâ— of 〈◊〉 And tilâ— ouâ— thoughts have sublimatâ—d bin They aâ—e too grosse for that to worke upon But when â—ucâ— Sublimations are begun He doâ—h infuse his â—hymâ—caâ—l receipt And â—ither wâ—â—kâ— precipitaâ—â—on stâ—aâ—ght Oâ— mâ—kes those Vâ—â—tues which pure gold were thoghâ— When they shall come to triall worse then nought I saw this danger as my soule did flye To God ward and the Devills Chymistry I learâ—â—d how to frustâ—ate by assuming Hâ—milâ—â—y and shunning high presuming I of those lovelâ— Gâ—aceâ— got the view Which teâ—ch us how such perilâ— to eschew I learned there how thâ—y mâ—gâ—t be pâ—ocured How theâ— continuâ—nce might be still secured And in my pow'â— iâ— is not to exprâ—sse How I was fiâ—l'd with hâ—pes of happinesse My thoughts yet climbed higher and perceiveâ— A â—lâ—mpse oâ— thinâ—s â—hâ—t caâ—not be â—oncâ—ived The Love of God the Ioyes that are â—o coâ—e Aâ—d many fights â—hat long were hâ—dden from My blinded Soule This set my heart â—n fire To climbe a litâ—le and a little highâ—â— Till I was up so high that I did see The World but like an Atome under me Me thought it was not worth my looking on Much lesse the setting of my love upon My soule did strive to mixe her selfe among The Cherubins and in their Angell-song To beare a part and secrets to unskreene That cannot by our mortall eyes be seene And I would gladly thither have ascended Wheâ—e joyes are perfect and all woes are ended As thus I mounted by degrees I felt My strength to faile me and my wings to melt My flesh waxt faint my objects grew too pure For my grosse understanding to endure A kind of shuddring did my heart surprise Like that which comes when sudden thoughts arise I far'd like him who sleeping dreames of store And waking finds himselfe exceeding poore A pow'r unseene did hold upon me take And to my soule to this effect it spake I say it was Gods Spirit if you doubt I arrogate come heare the matter out For who the Speaker is that will disclose And if 't were he his Flocke his language knowes Despaire not Soule it said though thou art faine To sinke from these to common thoughts againe Nor murmur thou that yet thou must not rise To thy wisht height God's favoâ—r will suffise For that which wants and these high thoughts are giv'n In earnest of chat part of thine in heav'n Which by tâ—y Royall Master is prepared And in thy time allotted shall be shared Stâ—ive to ascend but straine not over long Thy clâ—mbing spirits lest thou doe them wrong The Flesh is heavy though the Soule be light And Heav'n is seldome reached at one flight Mount high but mount not higher then thy bound Lest thou be loft and all that thou hast found Search deepe but search no deeper then thy pow'r Lest some infernall Depth may thee devoure Obseâ—ve thy Makers glory by reflection But gaze not overmuch at his perfection Lest that great lustre blinde thee Take thou heed Lest while thou thinkst thou homeward dost proceed Thou quite be loft For though these flights do raise Thy Soule with pleasure they are dangerous wayeâ— When higher then the vulgar pitch she towres She meets with Principalities and Pow'rs Who wrestle with her that she may not rise Or tempt her on by Curiosities To lead the mind astray untill it wanders Among the windings of unsafe Meanders Then doth it whirle about to see things hidden Pryes after Secresies that are forbidden And by a path which tends to Heav'n in show Arivéth unaware at Hell below Take heedof this the way to heav'n is steep Yet e're thou climbe it thou must often creep The worke appointed thee is yet unended And Gods good pleasure must be still attended Ev'n in this world untill he calâ— thee thence His Kingdome must be got by viâ—lence Thou must with many frailties yet contend Before thy Christian warfare hath an end The World is brewing yet another Cup Of Bitternesse for thee to swallow up Thou hast from Heav'n an Arrand yet to doe Which if God hinder not will call thee to More troubles and more hatred bring upon thee Then all thy former Messages have won thee And be thou sure the Devill will devise Alâ— slâ—nders and all wicked infamies That may dispaâ—age thee or â—ruitlesse make That use â—ll woâ—ke which thou dost undeâ—take Thou must prepare tâ—ine eares to â—eare the noise Of causelesse threâ—tnings or the foolish voicâ— Of ignorâ—nt â—eprâ—vers â—nd expect The secret Câ—â—sures of eaâ—h gâ—ddy Sect. Thou must provide thy selfe to heaâ—e great Lords Talke withouâ—â—eason big impeâ—ious woâ—ds Thou must contented be to make repaiâ—e If need require before the Scornâ—rs Chaire To heare tâ—em jeere and flout and take in hand To scoffe at what â—hey doâ— not understand Or say perhaps that of tâ—y selfe thou mak'st Some goodly thing or thâ—t thou undertak'st Above thy Calling or uâ—warranted Not heeding from whoâ—e mouth it hath bin sed Gods Wisdome oft elects what mâ—n despise And foolish things to foole the worldly wise But â—eaâ—e thou nâ—t For he that in all places And from all dangers wants and all disgraces Hath hiâ—herto preserv'd theâ— will secure Thy safety now That hand which did procure Release from thy cloâ—e Thraldomes and maintained Thy heaâ—t content while thou went so restrained Will be the same for ever and like stubble Consume or like the weakest water-bubblâ— Dissolve tâ—e force of ev'ry machination Whereby the world shall seek thy molestation Thougâ— thou in knowledgâ— arâ— a Child as yet And seemest not by outward Calling fiâ— For such a taske yet doe not
That of the hidden Manna thou maist eate And gâ—ine the Stone inscribed with a Name Which none can know but he that weaâ—es the same For I must tell thee thou art run astray And like a whorish wife hast cast away Thy old affection thy fiâ—st-love is gone Anâ— other friends thy heart hath doted on Thou â—st not halse that zeale which thou hast bore To thy Redeemers honor heretofore That simplenesse thou hâ—st not in thy workes Put base dâ—ssâ—mâ—ling in thine actions lurkes Some Doctrines also are in thee profest Without â—eproofe which God doth much detest Thou dost let goe unpunished in thee Those persons that notorious sinners be And impudently wicked thou mak'st light Of their misdeeds in vertuous mens despight Thou hast conniv'd at those who in the Land Have with an high and an imperious hand Like Iezabel oppressed and bereav'n Thou poore mans portion in contempt of Heav'n Thou hast blasphemers who dâ—e falsely say That they are Catholiques and none but they Yet if they heeded what their words imply Their owne Distinction givâ—s themselves the Lye The Babylonish Strumpet thou as yet Within â—â—y territories dost permit Who doth sâ—duce Gods people and thy Nâ—â—ions And make them drunken with her Fornications Tho hast those Hypocrites that make a show Of zealâ—â—s hearts when they are nothing so Tâ—ou hast those Bâ—alamites that in the way Of weake Profâ—ssâ—rs stumbling blocks doe lay And praâ—tise cunning sleiâ—htâ— oâ— policy To bring thee bâ—â—ke unto Idolatry To trouble and diâ—tract thee they invent Stâ—ange quâ—stions douâ—tfull and impertinent By needlesse provings by their vaine confutingâ— By over nice distinctions and dispâ—tingâ— And by their multitudes of windy notions They have so inâ—orrupted thy devotions So over whelm'd thy Faitâ— so tired out Thy knowledge with still running round about That there is left but litâ—le care in thee How much decayed thy good manners bâ— Indeed of thy lost Vertues there 's a Fame Remaining still and thou hast yet a Name To be alive but some doe greatly feare That thou art either dâ—â—d or very neare Though Laodicea like thou proudly vauntest That rich thou art and that thou nothing wantâ—st Though thou art hâ—ppy in thine owne esteeme And dost to thine owne sâ—lfe quick-sighted seeme Yet were thy Iudgement cleared thou wouldst finde That thou art wretched naked poore and blinde Thou dost almost that lukewarme temper hold Which neither can be termed hot nor cold Thy wiâ—kednesse is well neere growne as ripe As hers that served for thy Prototype Nay Gods great Volume mentions not a sin Wherewith or place oâ— person taxt hath bin But thou hast practis'd it and of thine owne Host added others to those times unknowne With our first Parents there are some in thee Who â—trive to eate of Gods forbiddâ—n tree And have upon them such an itch to know Those tâ—ingâ— which he vâ—uchsafeth not to show That from their eyes true wisâ—dome it hath hid And mâ—re enâ—ang r'd them then Adâ—m did Thou hast a brood of Cainites that enviâ—s Their breâ—hrens better pleasing sacrifice And peâ—secutâ—s and slanders what it may All those that walke not in their wiâ—ked way And thâ—rst with greedinesse to shed tâ—eir blood Who seeke their safeties and effect their good There be amâ—ng thee some just like that Race Who being made the Soâ—nes of God by Gâ—ace Did with mans female issue fall in love And these beget a mungrell brood that prove The Giants of their times and those that will The measure of the worlds misdeeds fulfill They as those carelesse people did on whom An universall Deluge once did come Eate drinke and take their pleasure without care How many or how great their follies are And though a Iudgement on their head is pour'd They will not heed it till they are devour'd As soone as any Plaâ—ue from us is gone We build and plant and in our sins run on Or when with Noah blessings we have had In stâ—ad of being in Gods favour glad We doe in some vaine miâ—th bewray our folly Iâ— drunken feastings or in games unholy Since out of beastly Sodom they were got Thy Children have among themselves like Lot Committed much uncleannesse whence proceeds A Race which discord in thy borders breeds Like Laban many wickedly detaine The workmans hire and make unlawfull gaine From their owne Children Some with Ismaâ—l Are bitter mockers some with Esau sell Their heav'nly Birth-rights for what d' yee think For worse then porridge ev'n for smoake and slinke We havâ— aâ— mâ—gâ—ty Hunters now adayes As Nimrod and as wilfull in their wayes Somâ— of their brethren merchandizes make Liâ—e Iacobs Sonnes and money for them take With Simeon and with Levi some pretend Religioâ—s cause when for some other end They doe projâ—ct and mâ—â—kes of holy zeale Doe often bloody cruelties conceale For wives for wealth and for our vaiâ—e dâ—lights We change Religioâ— like the Sichemites We have those Iudges who will Iudah-like Their brother for his fault severely strike Deride taunt censure and without compassion To death condemne him for the same transgression Which they are far more guilty oâ— then he And those the Plague-sores of this Iland be We have in either sex of those that are As wicked as the wife of Potiphar Ev'n those who so wil slander and accuse If any to obey their lust refuse Like Er and Onâ—n we have wicked heires Who rather would consume themselves and theirs In fruitlesse vanities then part from ought By which their brothers welfare might be wrought With Phar'oh we Gods judgements do contemn And grow the bolder and the worse by them When he most plagued us we most presumed And sinned most when we were most consumed Nor â—lood nor frogs nor loathsome lice nor flyes Nor murraines biles nor botches can suffice To make our Nations their bad lives reforme Nor Locusts nor the leafe-devouring worme Nor horrid darknesse liable to sense Nor Haile nor Thunders nor the Pestilence Nor bringing us to spâ—ings that bitter are Nor sweetning those things that unsav'ry were Nor strange deliv'rances by sea and land Nor Gods protecting us with his owne hand Nor Qâ—ailes nor Manna blessings which be rare Nor favouâ—s which more ordinary are No nor Gods dreadfull Anger nor his Love Can our hard hearts unto repentance move But we lâ—ke Aegypâ— in rebellion be And full as faithlesse as the Iewes are we Among us we have wealthy men who may Wâ—ole Groves dispend yet on the Sabbath day They 'll gather sticks Ev'n to the Devill some With no lesse worthy sacrifices come Then sons and daughters For what lesse do they Who them in wedlocke wickedly betray To open Hereticks Or they that make Their mar'ages foâ— wealth and horâ—ors sake Without affection And I pray what lesse Doe they who force their children to professe Vnlawfull trades There be among us living Too many that ev'n whilst the Law is giving Doâ— set up golden-calves Such men are they Who in the Church
only witnesse who are friends To base corruption Let their suits be scorn'd And no respect unto them be retuâ—n'd Leâ— ev'ry one of those that shall be sent To represent thy Body represent Thy true repentance Let them lay aside Prejudicate opinionâ— faction pride And to their utmost in tâ—emselves restraine All those enormities which they retaine That setting to their owne desires a law They may the more enabled be to draw A Rule for others Let all they that come To serve the Publike leave such thoughts at home As meerly private are for in them luâ—ks An enmitie to all good publike works Let none propose in such a Congregation What is not first prepar'd by consultaâ—ion For otherwhile their pretious houres are spent About a needlesse trâ—fling argument And oft from matters of least moment spring Those disagreeings which great harme â—o bring What their forefathers unto them did leave Let them not suffer any to bereave Their children of For they mâ—y that deny Ev'n to thâ—ir King provided loyally They do it in â—esiâ—ting his demands By legall Pleadingâ— not by force of hands It â—s as Naboths Vineyard and to live He merits not who doth repine to give His life to save it yea accuâ—st is be That would not zealous in those causes be Let them therefore their ancient rights maintain By all just meanes and let them yeeld againe The royall dues For those things prosper not Which are amisse â—â—om God or Cesar got All wrongs shall be revenged but none brings Such vengeance as the wrong to God and Kings If but in word alone nay but in thought We have against our Prince committed ought Which is disloyall hid it shall noâ— lye But be revealed by a winged-spy Let therefore all just freedomes of the Land That can be proved â—orth in publike stand And not in old Records halfe smother'd lye In danger to be lost by casualty Or else embezel'd or by wormes and dust To be devoured or by those we trust Let us not whisper them as men that feare The claiming of their due high treason wâ—re Nor let us as we doe in coâ—ners prate As if the Sov'raigne power or the State Encroacht injuriously and so defame The government disgrace the royall Name And nourish by degrees an evill spirit That us of all our peace will dis-inherit But let us if we see our ancient right Infâ—inged bring our grievances to light Speak loyally and orderly and plaine Those things which for our owne we can maintaine So Kings the truth perceiving and their ends Who did abuse their trust will make amends â—or all our suffrings givâ— our foes their doome And make us more secure for times to come But bring not when ye come to plead with Kings Against their claimes some bare conjectuâ—ings For what thou hast no ceâ—taine evidence To be thy right the right is in the Prince It is a royalty to Monaâ—ks due But if for any Freedome ye can shew A Law enacted or a Custome old Or Presidents that have not beene controld As often as produced ye may lay Your claiâ—e and keep it ev'ry lawfull way Each President and every Demand Which doth from time to time opposed stand Concludeth nothing This let â—ach man heed And with a conscionable awe pâ—oceed In such affaiâ—es Let pure humility True piety true love and charity Be brought along And when all these â—e bring Then goe with lâ—yalty and mâ—et your King In his and your affaireâ— without mistrust And then as certainly as God is just In ev'ry due reqâ—est ye shall prevaile Oâ— gaine some gâ—eat advantage if ye faile Desire of God to teach and guide you so That in this narrow path you straight may go If you would have a King be just to you Be ye upright and to his honor true Yeeld first to him iâ— ev'ry fit demand And long capitulating do not stand On what you may determinate with speed Because perhaps delay may danger breed Afâ—ord him his requests unto youâ— pow'rs Be his the fault if he denieth yours Or if miscounselled he shall reâ—uâ—re What shall his weale oppuâ—ne or your desire Goe cast your selves before him with submission Present him with petition on petition With one accord and with a feaâ—lesse face Informe him how much hindrance or disgrace Or danger to the Land there may accrue If He your loyall counsell shall eschew For God because his lawes we disobey Vs at our Soveraignes feet doth meane to lay To humble us a while If we repent To all our loyall suits he will assent If otherwise God will give up this Land Our lives and freedomes all into his hand Go offer while to offer you are free And what you give him shall peace-offrings be If that which for atonement you provide With love and penitence be sanctifide The world agâ—inst our State doth now conspire Intestine dangers also doe require That we in concord should united be And to supply the Kingdomes wants agree Lest while we stâ—ive and fondly froward grow We be surprised by our common foe Vnwise is he that in a dangerous place Doth stay to wash a spot out of his face When Outlawes he approaching heares that may His body wound or take his head away If I should heare a Lyon neare me roare I 'de arme my selfe though I with wounds were sore And what I had not leasure then to cure Would seek to heale when I of life were sure In times of trouble all must look for crosses And they must â—eare who cannot shift their losses There may be smart by what we sâ—ffer shall But better smart then not to be at all When I do think a blow my head may harme I 'le ward it off although it break mine arme For though my arme be lost yet I may lâ—ve But on my head a blow my death may give I am not so besotted as to think We ought to give the wanton pall at drink Vntill the head be giddy left it may Bring all the body headâ—ong to decay Nor praise I them that are so over-wise To spare what shall be needâ—ull to suffise The gen'rall want although to needlesse ends Some private hâ—nd the publike wealth dispends This only is the scope of my petition That all be done with love and with discretion For we must understand that mâ—ny things Which are not just in us are just in Kings And that it is a kind â—f trait ' rousnesse To give them more then due as well as lesse They who deny the King free pow'r to do What his Republikes weale conduceth to Because some Law gaâ—nsayes ev'n those deprive Their Sov'raigne of a due prerogative Since for the common good it just may be That some injustice may be done to me Or any few Moreover men that say Kings may do more then of true right they may And that no law doth bound them make a King And him that is a Tyrant all one thing In my opinion these men are like those Who
thy favoâ—rs yet appeare By moulding out the Heathen Salvages To be a people far surpassing these This Lord thou couldst effect and make of them Thy people whom these most of all contemne And since this Nation in their wealâ—â—y peace Have sent out Colonies but to enâ—rease Their private gaine since they faire showâ—s have made Of publishing thy Gospell when the Trade For cursed lucre as the Times reveale Was chiefest founder of their fained zeale Since they in that and other things pretend Religion when t is farthest from their end Thou didst but right if thou shouldst force their seâ—d To setâ—le on some barbarous Coast for reed And there thy Truth to those with sorrow preach Whom they neglected in their weale to teach But since it were no more for thee to doe This Land to save and call anoâ—her too Then one such worke so compasse why I pray Shouldst thou remove their Candlestick away Why maist not Thou who all compassion art Thy people rather by thy pow'r convert Then quite destroy them wherefore shouldst thou noâ— Their errors forth â—f thy remembrance blot As heretofore And alwayes praised be For that abundant Love which is in thee Why should their Foes and thine with jeering say Now â—ow we see our long-expected Day Why wâ—lt thou give them cause to domineere Ev'n those who love not thee to laugh and fleere Aâ— their destruction who thy Truth profest If not uâ—fainedly in shew at least Though tâ—ey have ill-deserv'd why should the shame Of their offâ—nces fall upon thy Name And thy Blasphemers by thy Peoples fall Assume the â—oldnesse on themselves to call Thy Gospel into question Or thereby Tâ—eiâ— shamelesse falshoods seeke to justifie Why should the wicked take occasion from Thâ—se â—lagues to say Where is their God become Where is their pow'r on which they did râ—pose Where is their â—aith where are the hopes of those Their sâ—rvices Oh! for thine owne deare sake However they desâ—rve compassion take Deare SIR have pittie and as often thou Hast granted my request vouchsafe it now Yea to those many thousands heretofore From thy abundance adde one favour more By these and other Motives breathed from A zealous brest the heav'ns are overcome His love of us doth so our Sampson wound That he hath taught us how he may be bound Yea Holy-writ informeth us that He By such like Charmings will compelled be And now they so prevailed that the rage Of our great God they partly did aswage Which MERâ—Y by his looke had quickly heeded And taking that aâ—vantage thus proceeded Oh! what a coâ—fort is it to behold Thine Eye speak Mercy and thy Brow unfold A reconcilement Now I seeme to see Thy gracious face to shine againe on me I finde it is the jealousie of Love And no effect of hatred which doth movâ— Thy wronged Patience and that when thou hidesâ— Thy presence in an angry Cloud or chidest It 〈◊〉 not alwayes in consuming wrath â—o punish as the faulâ— deserved hath But that thy frighting Iudgements might prevaile To worke aâ—endment when thy Love doth faile That People whom so much thou didst affâ—ct How canst thoâ— have a purpose to reject So long as in their Coâ—fines doth remaine That Number which thy Vengeance doth restraine Who can beleeve â—hat thou defraâ—a'st such cost To purchase what thou meanest shall be lost Or labour to erect them didst bestow For nothing else but them away â—o throw VVhy should I thinke thy endlesse goodnesse had So little care to save what thou hast made That Sathans Hate shouâ—d for their Desolation Out-worke thy Love in working their Salvation Or that the boundlesnesse of Mâ—ns transgression Could over-match thine Infiniâ—e Compassion It mâ—y not be beleeved Or that this Preâ—ended warre for finall ruine is Since if in summoning thy Iudgementâ— now Thou hadst propos'd their uâ—ter overthrow Thou wouldst not have discovered an assection â—y still coâ—tinuâ—ng them in thy proteâ—tion As yet thou dost Nor â—aâ—ly sâ—nd unto them Love-tokens as if kindnesse thou wouldst doe them VVhich they should never know of nor make show Os having â—eft them when t is nothing so Thus havâ— I seene on eaâ—th a Lover use His Best-beloved when she did abuse His true affection Though he seeme unkindâ— That her unkindnesse she may thereby findâ— Yea though he faine some outward disrespecâ—â— Yet in his heaâ—t so truly he affects That whatsâ—ever good he can he does her By meanes unscene to her lost vertues woâ—es her For hâ—r well-doing takes a thousand cares Of her ill-doing hath ten thousand seares Wakes not but thoughts of her in waking keepes Sleeps not but dreameth of her when he sleepâ—s Not ceasing to endâ—avour 〈◊〉 he see Some sparkes of lost affection kindled be And as her over sights she doth deplore So he his love discovers more and more Vntill the fire that was a long timâ— bid Breake forth and flame as high as e're it did I never knew thee yet to ruiâ—ate A wicked Kingdomâ— or a sinfull State Professing thee but thou didst first withdrâ—w From those Offenders thy abused Law And as in Christian Realmes the temp'rall Sword Cuts off no Preacher of thy blessed Word For any Crime committed untill he Of Holy-orders first degraded be So thou most frequently dost first remove The Scales of Grace and Pledges of thy Love Bâ—fore thou give up Lands into their pow'r Wâ—o them and theirs shall finally devoure For till thy holy things be fetched from Thâ—ir Coast such Desolation shall not come Those they retaine And if conclude I shall From hope of any blessing temporall That yet thou lovest them and dost intend Their Land with future favours to befriend That King which thou hast now on them bestowne Some token of thy Clemency hath showne For if man may by good externall signes Conjecture whereunto his heart enclines If Thou to whom all secrets open be See'st that in him which mortalls hope they see And hast not mockt that People sor their sinne With shewes of things that have not reall bin As Lord forbid No Kingdome hath a Prince Whose infant yeares gave â—etter â—vidence â—hat with an earthly Crowne he should inherit A plentious portion of thy sacred Spirit None liveth now on whom the gen'rall eye Did so much gaze and so few scapes espy Fâ—w private men were in their youth so frâ—e From all those vanities which frequent be In these rude times he having meanes to doe His pleasure and perhaps sâ—rong temptings too Who seemed of those knowledges more faine That might informe him to obey and raigne How well those crossings was he thought to beare Which in the times of his subjection were And with how brave a temper to neglect To be aveng'd of wrongs and disrespect â—hat Sonne did in his Fathers life time show â—â—iliall feare and love united so Or which of all thy Vice-royes dâ—dst thou see Appâ—are more zealously devout then â—e Thou knowest which But if they doe not erre Who things by
probability inferre It might be said The world had not his peere In all those vertues that are mention'd here And should confâ—ssed be ev'n of his soe They had not flattred who affiâ—med so Since what was of his worth at home conceivâ—d All Europe for a verity received And loâ— now by thy Grace he sitteth on The seat of Rule and in his Fathers Thâ—one VVho giveth signes of truer love to thee Or of more conscience of his Charge theâ— He VVhat Monarke in appearance better preacheâ—h By good Examples what thy Precepts teacheth Or which of all his reverend Prelacy In shewes of true religious constancie Outgoes or equals him Oh! if so cleare His vertues prove as yet they doe appeare How glorious will they grow And what a light VVill he become when he ascends the height Of his great Orbe And oh what pitty 't were His minde should ever fall below that spheare Of Grace which he hath climb'd or that thy Love Should wanting be to keepe him still above How grievous would it be that his beginning So hopefull and such lâ—ve and honour winning Should faile that expectation which it hath And make thee shut thy favour up in wrath Let not oh God! let not the sins of others Nor any fog which Vertues glorie smothers Ascending from his frailties make obscure His rising honor which yet seemeth pure If might in him be wâ—nting of that worth Which to the publike view is blazâ—d sorth Forgive and perfect him that he may grow To be in deed what he appeares in show Yea Lord as farre as humane frailty can Permit the saâ—e make him ev'n such a Man As now that Kingdome needs and spare that Nation For him which else deserveth Desolation 〈◊〉 If he be what he seemeth Thou I know â—ilt save his Land from utter overthrow Thou in the life-time of a pâ—ous King Wert never yet accustomed to bring Destruction For thou shewedst him compassion Who did but once well act humiliation â—v'n wicked Ahab and within his Times Thou wouldst not punâ—sh no noâ— his owne Crimes Oh! be as mercifull as thou hast bin And let this King thy favours triumph in â—et that exceeding Grace already shew'd him Ev'n that wherewith thy Spirit hath indu'd him Be Pledges of some greater Gifts with whicâ— Thou shalt in future times his heart enrich His brâ—st inflame thou with a sacred fire Teach him to aske and give him his desire Grant him thy Wìsdome and thy Righteousnesse The wrongs of all his People to redresse Let him the Widow and the Orphane save Releeving all that need of succour have And let his Mountaines and each lesser Hill Hiâ— humbler Dales with peace and plenty fill As he was honor'd in his Preservation So let him glory still in thy Salvation As he persisteth to relie on thee So let him sure of thy protection be Be thou his onely joy Be thou I pray His Triumph on his Coronation-â—ay Crowne thou his head with purified gold Make stâ—ong his Scepter â—nd his Throne uphold To be renowned by thy Grace divine As long as either Sunne or Moone shall shine Since thou to rule thine Isrâ—el dost appoint him Let thy most holy Spirit Lord anoint him Make thou a league with him as thou hast done With David and adopt him for thy Sonnâ— To thee Thou art my Father let him say My God my Rocke of safety and my stay Throghout those LaÌ„ds where thou to raign shalt place him With Title of thy First-begotten grace him And let his Kingdomes harbor none of them Who shall deny him to be their Supreme So guard and so enclose him with thine Arme The Man of Sinne may nevâ—r doe him harme To him his Adversaries all subject And prosper none that him shall disaffect Lead thou his Armies when his Warre beginnes Make thou his Peace when he the Battle winnes Let still thy Truth and Love with him abide Let in thy Name his name be glorifi'd Doe thou the Seas into his pow'r dâ—liver Make thou his right hand reach beyond the River And plant so strongly on the Banks of Rhyne Those fruitfull Branches of his Fathers Vine VVhom late the salvage Bore with tripled pow'r Hath rooted up with purpose to devoure That they may spread their Clusters far and nigh And fill and top the Germane Empery Yea minde thou Lord the scornâ—s and deâ—amations Which they have borne among their neighboring nations And please to comfort them and make them glad According to the sorrowes they have had To them so sanctifie their great affliction That it may bring their vertues to perfection And fit them for some place in which they shall Helpe reare againe decaying Sions wall Oh! keep for them a favour still in store Preserve them in thy League for evermore Blesse thou that Race which is or shall be given As lasting make it as the dayâ—s of heav'n And if thy Lawes or Iudgements they forsake Or if thy League or Covenant they breake With Rods let them in mercie be corrected But never fall for aye to be rejected The like for this new Monark I emplore In him encrease thy Graces more and more Make â—im a Blessing for all Christendome Make him a Patterne for all Times to come Make him in ev'ry happy course persever And let him live for ever and for ever His Royall Robe he hath but new put on And I my prayers have but new begun Oh let me to thy Majestie prefer These few Petitions in particular And place them where they may both day and night Stand evermore unfolded in thy sight First teach him to consider how and why Tâ—ou hast enthron'd him on a seat so high And so to think on his great charge and trust As one who knowes he come to reckning mâ—st Foâ— honors if by thee they be not blest Make wisest men as brutish as a beast Teach him to minde how great the favour waâ— When thou of thy meere motion and thy Grace Didst from so many millions chuse out him To weare this Kingdomes fourefold Diadem And make thy Servants favour'd in his sight As thou hast made of him thy Favorite Teach him the fittest meanes to take away And let none murmure at his just delay Those Groves and those Hill-Altars in the Land Which suffred are untâ—ll his dayes to stand And give him wisedome wisely to foresee That Wheat from Chaffe may well distinguisht be For some will else bring Truth into suspition Condemne good Discipline for Superstition And with faire shewes of Piety beguile That underhand they may encroach the while On Gods Inheritance and from her teare Those outward Ornamâ—nts his Bride doth weare Oh! let him purge from Church and Commonweale Those inflammations of corrupted zeale And indigested humors which doe spread Distempers through the Stomacke paine the Head And by prepost'rous courses raise a storme To rend that Body which it would reforme Let him his Reformations first begin Like David with himselfe and search within The closset of his