The Protector - A Poem
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Logan West
(with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf)
www.puritansearch.org
The Protector. A POEM Briefly illustrating the Supereminency of that Dignity; AND, Rationally demonstrating, that the Title of PROTECTOR, providentially conferred upon the Supreme Governor of the British Republic, 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;
Take these Hints at the Threshold.
The use of most things, which GOD frames,
He stamps upon them, by their Names.
The truest Honor, always, lies
In that, which Worldlings, most despise.
The greatest Power, not kept upright,
Soon swerves, and falls, by its own Weight.
The best Effects, Mankind enjoys,
By that, which their own work, destroys.
The gladdest Tidings, have been brought,
By means, and persons, set at Nought.
And saddest Danger, those attends,
Who court their Foes, and sleight their Friends.
LONDON, Printed by J.C. and are to be sold at the Angel in Paul 's Church-yard. 1655.
To the High and Mighty, OLIVER, By the grace of God, of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, with the Isles and Dominions thereof, Imperial PROTECTOR; as also, Catholic Defender of the oppressed Saints, throughout the World: GEO. WITHER humbly offers, this Illustration of that supereminent TITLE.
I Know, that Malice will impute to me
The guilt of
Flatt'ry
in a high degree:
Yet, with a conscience blameless of that sin,
Thus, in despite of
Envy,
I begin:
LORD, of the noblest of all
Sovereign Stiles,
Of BRITAN
's Empire, Provinces,
and
Isles:
Bright
Load-star
of the
North;
who (for
Director
As well, through
future times,
as for PROTECTOR
Of
us
who now survive) hast raised been
By
Providence,
that
Great Work
to begin,
Which hath been long in hope; and which, hence forth
Shall spread such
Influences
from the
North
Throughout the earth, as will their souls amaze,
Who, on thy late
Ascension,
stand at gaze:
Descend a little,
and cast down thine eyes
On this, which at thy feet displayed lies;
And, let thy great Humility, dispence
With what, may seem in me a
Confidence
Above my
Sphere:
for, to the
highest things,
The lowest, otherwhiles, additions brings,
If not obstructed by those
dire Aspects,
Which menace, now,
malevolent Effects.
Some days, before that
PARLIAMENT
was past,
Which, may, yet, called be, your
first,
and
last;
This
Poem,
(and the
Lines
which next ensue,
To usher it) was fitted for your view,
And, their perusal; who, might then have been
(As I supposed) much concerned therein.
But, somewhat intervening, which did seem
To make it out of season, at that time,
It was six months delayed, to wait upon
That subsequence which would ensue thereon;
And, now, a better
Oportunity
Appearing,
This,
in all humility,
Moves toward you again, in everything
The same it was, except this
prefacing,
Which here concludes. Let the Contents be weighed,
As they deserve: for,
this,
was that I said.
I Find among the best
Antiquities,
That, they who ruled the worlds chief
Monarchies
Gave those, whom they most favored, some
New name:
And, GOD
himself,
hath sometime done the same
To his
choice Favorites,
when he begun
Great
Changes,
and when
signal acts
were done,
In order to a
seas'nable proceed,
With what, had been
eternally decreed.
Now, in like manner, for the same intent,
He, by a
New name,
makes thee eminent,
Above all other
Princes,
to bring on
That
Kingdom,
which he promised long agon.
And, to that end,
YOU,
(of whom no man thought
In that way) from Obscurity are brought,
To show the
world,
That, he, even to this day,
Proceeds, with his
own works,
in his
own way;
Neither, her
Powers,
in his
Designments
needing,
Nor those great
Persons,
or that
means,
much heeding
Which
human prudence,
thinks, conducing to
That, which
eternal Wisdom
means to do.
And, he, perhaps, hath called me, from among
The
Vulgar,
and most despicable
Throng,
To help rough-hew their hearts, who by
dissensions,
Are Foes to their own
Peace,
and his
intentions:
As also, to illustrate so to
you,
And, unto
them,
the
Name
conferred now;
That, by observing it, both
You,
and
They
(Before it be too late) consider may
How
You,
and
They,
are thereby privileged;
Whereto, you, jointly, seem to be obliged;
Whereto, apart; what, will succeed upon
That, which shall
well,
or
wickedly
be done:
And, that the time is come, or near at hand,
Which offers us, the means, to
fall
or
stand.
At least, I do believe, that I was born
To act this Part; and will, till I return
To him that sent me; leaving the success
To
Providence,
which gets advantages
By disadvantage; and, oft, makes our gains
Then greatest, when most think, we lose our pains.
I was about to tell you, what I
hear;
What, some
suspect;
what, many seem to
fear;
And, what most men
repine
at: But, your
Sun
Wants not my
Candle,
nor needs this be done:
For, you have ev'rywhere, both
Ears,
and
Eyes,
To find where
Danger,
or
Advantage
lies;
And, I can bring you, but a
Gloworms
light,
Which rarely shines, except to them, whose
Night
Affliction
darkens: And, it seems, even then,
An
Ignis Fatuus,
to some Prudent men.
Till therefore, I shall find myself more able,
In your
Concernments
to be serviceable,
I will in
humble silence,
wait upon
What shall, by GOD, by
You,
and
Those,
be done
Who represent these
Nations;
and, who be
Objects of
Contemplation
now, to me,
Whereby, I Calculate what may succeed,
When, join'd together, I your
Actings
read:
For,
Truths,
to me, your
Trine-aspect
more clears,
Then all the
Constellations
of the
Sphears:
Yea, those
Three
show me, what things will be done,
Better, then all the
Stars,
the
Moon,
and
Sun.
There are some Clouds which trouble so my sight,
That I discern not things, which else I might:
But this I plainly view, that, much is left
Unto
Contingencis,
to be berest,
Or else enjoyed, according as
you
prove
Who, in the two
Inferior Orbs,
do move:
And, if I know
you,
or, by what proceeds
Either from
Circumstances, Words,
or
Deeds,
May know, what you unfeignedly desire,
(And whereunto you chiefly do aspire)
You aim at nothing more, then, to possess
A
Throne
established by
Righteousness:
And that those
Hesitations,
and that
Doubt,
In which you let these
Nations
ravel out
So many
Months,
is, neither
ill Design,
Nor
Evidence,
that you from them decline:
But, an
Expedient,
which, your wisdom tries
To work by, in your late
Emergencies.
Unless, I be deceived (which, God forbid)
In what you do, and what you lately did,
You, take no pleasure in delays, or troubles,
Which needlessly, their cost or labor doubles;
But, only, leave it to themselves, to state
Their
Questions,
and, their
heats
to moderate,
By their own
Prudence,
(without interposing
Your judgment, or their purposes opposing)
That, by a
free debate,
they fully may
Know their own
temper;
and,
you
find the way
To such
Resolvings,
as may best assure
A settlement of
Peace,
which will endure;
And, that, when
you,
by their
Contests
have found
Which
Members rotten
be, and which are
sound;
Who gives
good counsel,
who
bad things
infuses;
Who speaks his
Conscience,
who his
Trust
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
Public Interest,
Much better, then you either could have done,
By interrupting, what seemed 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
Sovereign Title
now ensues;
That, it may mind 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 loath to lose, and, must forgo,
When you grow disaffected thereunto:
For, you will find 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 find
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 oppressed me heretofore.
Believe this, SIR: for, from a heart it came,
Which prompts no
guile:
and, be assured, 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
willful sinning,
The glory of it, in the first
beginning.
'T is not my
Principle,
to take away,
Or, to resist the Power 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
Power:
and therefore, when at first,
Power
was dis-jointed, and I seemed enforced
To take one
Part
of what was then divided;
I clave to that, wherewith, I thought resided
Most
Equity,
adhering to the same
With Constancy; 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 destroyed became;
And, then, perceiving they were
both
to blame,
Left off the
Quarrel,
unto
Him,
that knew
Which best deserved, and, what to
both
was due.
Yet, firm continued, to this
Commonweal,
When, by the
Sword,
GOD, answered her Appeal,
According to our
Laws,
(which, in such case,
Combat
allows, when no proof else, takes place.)
Yea, to the
Peoples Representative,
I, did (though thereby wronged) 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 pleased 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
Power
subdivided, I adhered
To that, in which most
Righteousness
appeared:
And, though I suffered still, without regard,
(Aiming at nobler Guerdon, and reward,
Then they could give me) did the best I could,
Their
Peace,
and crazy
Honor,
to uphold
By secret
Cautions,
and, by publishing
What I much feared their course would on them bring:
But,
Selfness, Pride,
and
Avarice,
made void
All good endeavors, till they were destroyed;
And, some among them, who deserved well,
Were wrapped up, in the
Mischiefs
which befell,
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 revealed
That
Mystery,
which was at first concealed:
And then, from late
Corruptions,
forth did peep
(As
Eve
from
Adam,
whilst he was asleep)
Appearances;
which, when they were reduced
To their perfection, visibly produced
The
present GOVERNMENT,
ere well I knew
What men were doing, or, what would ensue.
But, when it showed itself, I, plainly saw
A
Creature
formed, clothed with such
Power,
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 been;
And, how, to wonderment, he had asswag'd
Their
Fury,
who, were Envious, and enraged.
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 resolved, with all the strength I have,
(And, every Faculty which I receive)
To fortify that
Power,
which raised I see,
Till God himself removes it; though to me
It proved less favorable, yea, and more
Destructive, then the
Power,
which reigned 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 join together, in advancing that
New
Power,
and
Title,
which, GOD, did create;
Rather, then by a foolish
willfulness,
Oppose his
will,
and ruin your own
Peace.
Which
Mischief,
that you timely may prevent,
(And, not destructive
Discord
still foment)
I have contrived this
Engine,
to prepare
Their hearts for
Concord,
who divided are;
And show them, what Advantages may rise
By that, which they through
Ignorance
despise.
Consider therefore, duly, 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 forth'ring matters of great Consequence,
And of removing things which gave offense.
Consider what is offered to your view:
Remember, that some things, and not a few,
Which were foretold (even many years before
They came to pass) were carelessly passed ore,
And what befell. Remember, that, to you
I have naught tendered, yet, which proved untrue,
(If rightly understood) when 't was professed
Delib'rately, and, seriously expressed:
And, let me find 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, sometimes, with serious eyes,
To view, & Muse on that, w
ch
most despise:
And, now, amidst a world of
Things,
I am
Thereby inclined, to Contemplate a
Name;
For which, perhaps, I shall be thought as wise,
As he, who telleth
Straws,
or hunteth
Flies:
But, think men as they list, my Thinkings, too,
Shall be as free; and, what I please I will 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, falsely, say, that, I have taught my
Rimes
To soothe the
Innovations
of these Times:
As if, a zeal to
Public good,
none had,
Until it made him, in some measure, mad,
And partner in seditious ways, with those,
Who, to the
Present Power,
are always Foes.
A
Fawning Crew,
because I bars provide
Against their growing
Vanities,
and
Pride,
Have published, by
Fame,
(which is the Liar)
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 learned, 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 Sovereign Style,
Which lately was indeniz'd in this
Isle:
And, having sound what
Providence
will do,
There, where that Honor 's, I will honor too;
Not heeding, neither greatly taking care,
Who thinks I temp'rize, or who angry are:
This, was my
temper
known, when I was younger;
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 every Soul, preserved as free,
As I myself, desirous am to be:
And, therefore, when I have declared my mind,
Let all men Censure, as they stand inclinde.
Some,
mis-advised,
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
Germans,
on their CHIEF impose:
Not heeding, peadventure, what Offence
It had occasioned, against
Providence;
Nor, of what
Benefits,
it may deprive
Both
Him,
and
Us,
if their
Design
should thrive.
Therefore, I offer up this
Vindication,
Of what seems yet approved 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
flies,
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 called 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 restored
Those
Titles,
which the
Vulgar
have adored:
For, I envy 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 join'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
called a
King?
Or, so much as the
Name
of that retain,
To which, we long in bondage did remain?
As if it had bewitched 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 heavy burdens, which their
Tyrannies
Occasion'd? and, before the wounds are cured,
Which, we, in casting off those Chains, endured?
Or, why on him who hath our
Sovereign Power,
Should we bestow the Style of
Emperor?
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
Style
and
Power,
That now protecteth, were his friends, and our,
And, meant thereby to honor
Us,
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
Honors,
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 void
The
Dignity
confer'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
Power;
and lames his
Interest:
Yea, and disables him, to prosecute
That
Duty,
whereto, it did him depute.
It crosseth the designs of
Providence.
It will deprive him even of that
Defense
Which seems intended; and, will him expose
To all the purposed
Cavils
of his
Foes.
It woos 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 somewhat 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,
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 Power
should repossess
Whom GOD removed. But, neither more, nor less,
Will they be
privileged,
whether he
King,
or
Protector,
shall instiled be.
Nor can a
Name
of novel Institution,
Which in itself implies no diminution
Of
real Power
(but rather a supply)
Diminish ought of his Authority
That
Rules in Chief;
since, to him pertinent
(Even 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 Power
As that of
Kingship,
or of
Emperor,
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 Judgment, 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 Power:
And, that, each
Attribute
Or
Privilege,
which
Statute-laws
impute
To Powers in being, when they first were made,
Is (in each
Change
) with every force it had,
Transferred
thither,
and, to
that,
wherein
The
Supreme Power
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 offered, in the
lit'ral sense,
When here a
Woman
reigned; no wise-man thought
The
essence
of the
Laws
transgressed 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, imposed indiff'rently on
Things,
Or
Persons,
be unwisely tempted from
Realities;
will much deceived become
In what they hope for: and, when thought they are
Most safe,
be taken in an
unseen snare.
When once a
Supreme Power
is constituted,
Submitted to, and shall be such reputed,
Without resistance, or a
Protestation
Against it made in
Public,
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 only
that,
But every other
Right,
which doth invest
With
real Power;
whether, it be expressed
By
Law,
or not; and virtually makes void
All
Laws,
whereby
such Power
may be destroyed;
Until
another Power,
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
Powers
do neither swerve
From
Justice,
nor destroy, what to preserve
They were ordained; 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
Power
submit,
(Or, for the
Common Peace,
act under it)
Whilst it continues, merit no just blame,
Howe'er, that
Power,
to be a
Power
became;
So they, at first, conspired not with
those
By whose unrighteous actings, it arose:
For, GOD himself, commands us to obey
The
Powers that are;
not questioning
what way
They were acquired. His
Son,
whilst here on earth,
He did reside, (although
true King
by birth)
Paid Tribute to th'
Usurper,
that, he might
Advance GOD'S 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,
even when
The
Sovereign Power
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 GOD'S mercy got,
Mankind
would be destroyed: for, by our
siding,
With this, or with that
Faction;
by
dividing,
And
subdividing Powers,
as
Malice, Love.
Pride, Envy,
or
Self-interest
may move,
All would be torn in pieces; and no
Peace,
Be settled, till
Mankind,
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; even
Traitors
made
Their
Favorites,
whom they would have betrayed;
And, those cast out of Favor, without Reason,
Whose
faithfulness,
preserved them from their
treason.
Why then should we permit
Discretions
eyes
To be deceived with Cheating
Fallacies?
Why then should we of
Scarcrows
be afraid?
Or on
Foundations,
by GOD'S own hand laid,
Rebuild again old
Babylon?
or fix
To
Zion
'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
Human Policy
presume to add
Her Trimmings? as if he mistaken had
His purpose? Or, as if he had forgot
What
Title,
best became the
Power
and
lot
Which was confer'd on him, to whom, of late,
The
Supreme Seat,
it pleased him to translate,
From those who had abused it? For, that
Change
(Although irregular it seemed, and strange)
Is not of
Man,
but GOD; though men have been
Dull, and imperfect Instruments therein:
And, 't will established be; if he that bears
The
Scepter
shuns
ungodly Counselors;
Makes not a willful stand in
sinners ways,
Nor to the
Scorners Throne,
himself shall raise.
But if this
Title
merely did depend
On
human 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 ourselves) be bound up to
Their
Customs,
who have naught with us to do?
Since, 't will be thereby tacitly confessed,
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 infer'd, we granted, or believed,
That, we our
chief Ennoblements
received
From
other States;
and, are obliged become
Those
Rags of Honor,
only, to assume,
Which they have worn, though soyled and disgraced
By those, on whom they were unjustly placed.
A
Title
giveth no essential
Fame;
It is the
Man,
that dignifies the
Name.
Tyrant,
was thought an honorable
Style,
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 Romans,
is of late,
Made
Titular;
no
Roman,
to this day,
Submits thereto, nor in
Rome
bears it sway.
The
Basis,
of true
Supreme honor
stands
Not upon
absolute,
but,
Just Commands.
A
Prince,
doth his Pre-eminence receive,
From
Virtue,
not from his
Appellative;
And
Righteousness,
adds 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 honorable Title is confessed
To be a fair Engagement, or at best,
An useful
Pledge,
and some
Memento
too,
Of what the Owner is obliged to do:
But, of itself, on him that fills the place
Of
Power,
it doth confer, nor
Worth,
nor
Grace.
It is an
Ornament,
that prized 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 confirmed 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 obtained a
Supreme Power,
Whether
Duke, Prince,
a
King,
or
Emperor,
Sophy, Grand Seignior, Pope,
(or what
Style
else
We place on him, who, other men excels)
He by the greatest of them, is possessed
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
Supremacy
pertains;
And, when it is considered
what
they are
Who, as chief
Sovereigns,
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 Power;
Command,
denominates an
Emperor;
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 style 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 completes
A person meriting, the
Supreme Seats,
Except this last, whose
Claimers
(swerving from
What their
high Style
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
power 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
Powers
of
GOG,
and
MAGOG,
stretched are;
And wheresoe'er those
Catholic pretenders
Oppress; these shall be
Catholic Defenders
Of men oppressed; and, GOD, to that end,
Shall universally this
Power
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 near, and few will yet believe.
None, of the other
Titles,
bring to mind
All
Duties,
whereto
Princes,
are enjoin'd;
And, such as owe them, frequently are cast,
Among the vile, and infamous, at last;
Because, they nor essential retain
Within themselves, the
Power,
those
Titles
fain,
Nor any of those
Virtues,
which assure
The
Dignity,
they formally procure.
But, if, that any
Title
under heaven,
Hath in times past, or, in this age been given,
That, truly magnifies; and, may conduce
To bring those
Virtues,
unto mind and use,
Which dignify the
Persons;
it is that
Which
Providence
conferred hath of late,
Upon our
Governor.
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, honorable through all
future times,
(Beyond compare;) when,
Kings
and
Emperors
Hav lost their
Names,
their
Kingdoms,
& their
Powers:
And, until here, that
King of kings
doth reign,
Whose Glory, heaven and earth, cannot contain.
This glorious
Title,
hath in it expressed,
No stamp of
Self-relation,
like the rest;
But, marks forth
One,
(as if from heaven 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 assumed, 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 succors 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 called a
Nation
to protect,
Implies (at least, in some degree) th' effect
Of every
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 find
More
Notions,
then in all those
Titles
join'd,
Which are throughout the whole world, owned by them,
Who do enjoy a
Sovereign Diadem.
Conduct, Pre-eminence, Rule,
and
Command,
Policy, 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 considered) it implies
That he, who owns it, should be truly
wise,
As well as
politick;
a foe to
Vice;
A friend to
Virtue;
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,
sweetening by
Compassion;
Due
recompense
to well-
deservers
giving;
Pard'ning the
Penitent,
th' Opprest
relieving;
Watchful for all Occasions how he may
Advance his
Peoples
welfare, every way:
As also, by what means he may prevent
The
Common,
and each
private Detriment;
A hearty Zealot of the
Public Faith;
By
Deeds
confirming, what in
Words
he saith;
And, readier 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 even 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
Virtue,
is inclinde,
Becomes, as well, a friend to all
Mankind
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 will never think it much
To sacrifice my life, and all I have,
His
Person, Power,
and
Dignity
to save
From his
Maligners:
whereas, if that he
Who ruled the whole world, were so kind 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 sat; yet, if I certain were
His heart stood not unfeignedly inclinde
To do (as he enablement should find)
The duty of his place; I could not prize
His Favors, nor his Greatness idolize,
Nor truly love him: yet, would still be true
Unto his
Power,
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 advanced 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 honorable;) that, both far and near,
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 Power,
Such, as of
Duke, King, Prince,
or
Emperor,
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 several 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 persuaded 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
heavy 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 called;
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 prepossessed
With
Pride, O'erweening,
or
Self-interest:
And, when those
Straights,
and those
Necessities,
Which from the
Powers 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 considered herewithal,
That, when to this great
Charge,
he had this
Call,
It was, when our
Unsettledness,
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 Ruin: 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 considered; and, therewith, if we
Well weighed, 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 Power; 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 been
'Twixt him and us; whereby, GOD's wrath may bring
Those
Mischiefs
back, we suffered 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 prepared, 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 younger 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 Judgments, 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;
Even 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 increased, 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
What they had preached & prayed for; &, how mute
They are become, since they have reap'd the fruit
Of their
Designes:
Should I, illustrate, how
They
counter-act
their
former actings,
now,
And feigned
Principles:
with how much hast
They follow them, whom their hands forth have cast,
To all excess; and, how imprudently
They do redintegrate, piece, and comply
With those, that would destroy them; you, would dread,
That, we deserved to be punished,
More then our
Predecessors;
and, that
He,
Who should deliver us, our
Scourge
must be.
Curs'd be their
Comments,
who shall this apply
To
Him,
or
Them,
who in sincerity
Did
preach,
or
pray,
or
act,
in order to
What
Providence
instructed them to
do,
And was
well done:
But let this be applide,
Only to those, who swerved are aside
From pious
Principles,
and sunk below
Those
Virtues,
whereof, they had but the
show.
For, such there be; and, their
Apostacies
May, probably, prolong our Miseries.
And, us, of that great happiness deprive,
Which, we, by our PROTECTOR might receive.
Should it prove so, how just soe'er he were,
His
Righteousness,
would not to us appear;
Nor is there possibility of
Peace
That will endure, till
Wickedness
decrease;
Till
Justice
more be prized; more care be took
Of
Public Faith;
men's
private faith,
less broke;
Oppressed men more
pitied; succors prayed,
Not so much, and so needlessly, delayed;
Burthens,
sustained for the preservation
Of
Public weal,
apportion'd in the
Nation
More equally; and, till men grow more wise,
To see wherein the
Common safety
lies.
For, till these things be done, what Human power
Can save us from the Plagues which will devour?
Who shall secure us? or, to what effect,
Have we set up one Person to Protect,
Or else to govern, or deliver us,
From swift destruction, if it still be thus?
What shall I say? what have we then to do,
Save humbly to submit ourselves unto
Some
Course,
that may reform what is amiss;
Whilst
means
thereof, and
time
afforded is;
And seek, by true Contrition, to revoke
The
Doom,
that GOD, may supersede the
stroke.
The thought of this, hath brought me to a
Pause,
And, my
Inspirer,
now, from me withdraws
That
Influence,
whereby I should proceed,
On my first
Text.
For, here, there may be need
Of some Digression, to another
strain;
That; what is spoken, be not said in vain.
Yea, here, (as in such
Themes,
it is my fashion)
A few words more, of
Use
and
Exhortation,
Precaution,
and
Precation,
I will add;
And, leave it unto those, for whom 'tis made;
That, by the worst Events, which can befall,
We may have
Peace;
and,
God,
the Praise of all.
Let us be pleased his Pleasure should be done;
And, for the time to come, let everyone
Be rather careful, his
own ways
to heed,
Then fearful, how
Another
will proceed.
Enough, we now our Brethren have oppressed,
Let us, henceforth, afford them, ease and rest;
That, GOD, may give us
Peace,
and save us from
That
Bondage,
which will, else, upon us come.
Let those, who have occasioned the Cries
Of men oppressed, seek by a
Sacrifice
Of
Righteousness,
and both by Restitution
Of Spoils, and willing Contribution,
To take that Curse off, which on us is brought
Through breach of
Public faith
(nigh set at naught.)
For, till that be endeavor'd, GOD will blast
Our
Counsels,
and aside our
Prayers
cast;
As we do theirs, who, grov'l at our feet,
And, with sad
Exclamations,
fill the street.
'T is not the
cheap Oblations
of
Thanksgivings,
With much Hypocrisy, and Mis-believings
Prophan'd; nor
Formal Fastings,
nor a Zeal
Of settling this distracted
Commonweal,
For our own safety; which, will serve, alone,
To expiate those Evils we have done:
No, nor the fervor, wherewith we express
Our Care of that
Religion
we profess;
And, to explode all other, that will make
Atonement
for us, whilst the
Rules
we break
Of
Moral honesty:
or, whilst we want
That
Love,
which ought to be concomitant
Therewith; and are not truly purged from that
Which our
Devotion,
doth contaminate:
For, undefiled
Religion,
doth consist
In succouring the
Widow,
the
Opprest
And
Fatherless;
of which, until we take
More care, we, of our
Faith,
false boastings make:
And, that
Religion,
which our
Wits
we strain
To settle, will professed be in vain.
Let us so labor, therefore, to enjoy
Religious Truth,
that, neither we destroy
The
Civil peace;
nor, barb'rously neglect
Morality;
whose willful dis-respect
Destruction brings. To him, let us
submit,
Whom, GOD, hath raised up, on the
Throne
to sit.
Let us conform, unto that
Power,
which IS;
Because, all
Powers
that are, be only His
To whom all
Thrones
belong; whether he hath
In
love,
vouch safed it, or, in his
wrath.
For, unto whomsoever he commits
That
Power;
or, who'er,
full dominion
gets,
They will be inexcusable, who shall
Reject, whom GOD, investeth therewithal;
Since, if they bring us
Peace,
we are too blame,
If we, with them, comply not in the same,
Or, help not to improve it; though, it more
Should cost, then would have bought it heretofore.
Though, with a
Sword
they come, let us obey,
Till he who sent it, takes the same away;
Who, as he raised them, ere we were aware,
Will cast them down, when we least able are,
If they transgress their bounds, and shall forget
To what intent, they on their
Thrones
were set.
Yea, when to us, no likelihood appears
Of
Freedom,
or
Deliv'rance
from our Fears,
GOD, will (even when for us too strong they grow)
By their own
Power,
effect their overthrow.
As upon those, who having heretofore
Abus'd their
Power,
are to be seen no more.
And, no
Good man,
shall need, his hand to rear
Against them: for, enough there always
were,
And
are,
and
will be;
whom,
Revenge, Despight,
Self-interests,
or
Envy,
will incite
To execute GOD's wrath: and, in their sin,
When
Tyrants
rage, and hardened are therein,
As
Pharaoh.
was; such things as they despise
(Even
Frogs
and
Caterpillars, Lice
and
Flies
)
Will waste them: yea, their own vain
Wit
and
Will
Should ruin them, though all things else stood still;
And, they themselves,
Traitors
enough would raise,
(Complying with them, in their evil ways)
To root them out: the
Mag gots
which were bred
By their rank
Lusts,
and by their
Carrion
sed,
Shall eat them up. And, these
signs
will fore-run
That
Destiny,
when their sad
fall
draws on.
Projectors, Flatt'rers,
and
Buffoons,
will then
Find more esteem, then
good
and
sober men:
Prudent advice,
and
timely-spoken Truth,
Shall be despised: Rash
unexperienc'd youth,
Like
Rehoboam
's Counsel, shall be heard,
And
grave advice
obtain but small regard:
The
Temporizer,
who, himself inclines
To humor and to further their Designes,
Shall find most favor; they, who faithful are
To
Public Interest,
they, more shall fear
Then their known Foes; and, them out of their way
Remove, or else destroy them, if they may.
And (mark this well) when that 's done, next of all,
And quickly too, will follow their own fall.
Be therefore,
wise,
ye
Princes; Rulers,
learn
What, may your
weal
and
honor,
most concern.
Be careful, that, you sin not against
Him,
Who, raised you, to a
Sovereign Diadom.
As it becomes his
Vice-roys,
govern so,
That, to the world, his Justice you may show,
For propagation of that
Kingdom,
here,
Which we expect; and, will ere long appear.
And
Thou,
whose
Title,
here I celebrate;
Thou,
who, hast opportunity of that
Which may to GOD and
Men,
most pleasing be;
(And, hast the means thereof, conferred on thee,
First, and above all others;) lose thou not
Those great
advantages,
which thou hast got,
For all the proffers, which this world can make.
To
Sodom,
or to
Egypt,
look not back,
Lest, thou be made a
Monument
of
Salt
To keep those, who come after, from thy fault;
Or, leave thy bones, obscured, by desolation,
Within the
Wilderness
of thy
Probation.
Thou,
who art now, the worlds new
Northern Star,
Let, in thine
Orb,
no
Course irregular
(
Oblique
or
Retrograde
) divert thee from
Those
motions,
which, thy
Circle
best become;
Lest, from that
Heaven,
in which thou now dost shine,
Down to the
Earth,
thou back again decline.
And, like the
Star
called
Wormwood,
bitter make
Those
waters,
whence, we now
refreshments
take.
Since, there are
Constellations
of some might,
Whose
motions,
to thy
Course,
are opposite;
Give no occasion of the sad effects,
Which are portended, by their cross
Aspects.
Since, they, who love thee best, find in thy
way,
Great
Dangers; Fear
much, for thee;
watch & pray:
Oh! be not too secure; trust not upon
What, may by
human Power,
or
Wit
be done:
But, cleave to him, who raised thee to this hight;
Yea, keeps thee on the
Throne,
in their despite:
And, think thou hast great Cause, good heed to take,
When, like a
Man,
thou hear'st an
Ass
to speak.
If we expect a
Blessing,
let us, too,
Without
Hypocrisy,
our duties do,
To those in
Power:
To him, partic'larly,
That, over us, hath now the
Sov'raignty;
With true obedience, not in show, or word,
Ascribing, what our hearts do not afford:
Nor let us seek, in secret, to deprive him,
Of that, which openly we seem to give him:
For,
Falsehood,
shall be falsely dealt withal;
And,
Sand
and
Pebbles
make as firm a wall
In our defense, as either
word,
or
deed,
Which, from
dissimulation,
doth proceed.
Let us not grudge at, what must make him able
To do his
Office,
in an honorable
And pow'rful way; lest, that, which fails thereby,
On our
account,
to our own
loss,
may lie.
If, to that end, he seeks
accommodations,
He seeks them, for the honor of these
Nations,
As well as for his own; and, more, perchance,
The
Public,
then his
private,
to advance.
And, what, too little, or too much will be
To that
end;
he, may better know then we.
If, in this late
Establishment,
he aims
At
Safety;
't is no more then
Nature
claims;
And, to accept of less, then may, in reason
Thereto suffice, were by misprision
treason
Against the
Dignity,
on him bestowed,
And, may betray our
Safety,
with his own.
We, whose abodes, are on the
Globe
below,
Some
motions
of the
Stars
above, may know:
But, 't is impossible, that we should learn
All things, which may their
influence
concern:
And, 'tis not easy, for our eyes to heed
What, they may be constrained to, in their need,
Whose hands must tune so many
diff'ring strings,
And have, in charge, so many
thousand things.
Though, such as mark not, that
Emergencies
Oft happen; and, that, perils may arise
(Unthought upon) which, will necessitate
The
Supreme Officer,
of every State
To act some things, which are not warrantable
By their
known Laws:
yet,
wise-men
(who are able
To see how far, they justly, then, may go
Beyond
Set Rules
) do rationally know,
That,
Arbitrary Power,
in some degree,
(And in some
cases
) must allowed be
As if by
Law
expressed; or, that, all
Earths
Governments,
would into pieces fall.
And, this, is but that
Power,
whereby we arm
Each
Private person,
when a
Common harm
Is menaced: for, when a
City
burns,
To
save it,
he pulls down, and overturns
What, he thinks fit; and, takes away their right,
From
Some,
that
All,
may not be rum'd quite.
No less, should be his
Power,
if need require,
Who, may have otherwhile, a
Gen'ral Fire
To
stop,
or
quench;
by which, not only,
one,
But,
many Cities,
may be quite undone:
Yea,
three great Nations;
for whose good, I trust,
He will improve it, and, appear as just
As I believe him; and, bring all, at last,
Into a
right Course,
when the
danger
's past.
Whate'er he proveth; whether by his
will
Or
Law
he Rules; or, comes, for
good
or
ill;
Let all of us, over whom GOD gives him power,
Make conscience, that the fault be none of our.
For, though that this PROTECTOR, is not he
Whom long we looked for; this was sent to be
His
Ways preparer;
and, is, (though not that
Supreme Protector
) one, subordinate
To him; and substituted for
Probation,
Both of
himself,
and of this
Generation,
In order to
Christ's Empire;
to break down
Both our
Self-confidences,
and his
own,
As well as their, who have been mischievous
Unto that
Kingdom,
which lies hid in
us.
Whereof, take heed, lest when you shall resist
His
Power,
you take a part with
Antichrist;
And, in the stead of settling
Common peace,
Our Public Jars, and private Woes, increase.
Heed, also, this; that, those
Events,
which shall
Thereon succeed, are but
conditional,
To fail, or be effected, as, thereto
Both
Parties,
shall
conform, omit,
or
do:
And, that this
Title,
likely to be made
The most renowned, that ever
Mortal
had,
May, by
Prevarications,
fall below
The vilest
Names,
that Malice can
bestow;
And, that, what, we to build up have presumed,
May, by a
firy trial,
be consumed.
Should it so prove, then, therewith mindful be,
That, our
works
only, would be lost; not
we:
And, that, we need not to despair or fear,
(If, to a
Right Foundation,
we adhere)
Whatever follows: for, best speed we shall,
When, we are
Nothing;
and, GOD's
All
in All.
But, should our
North-star
be removed from hence,
Or, we deprived of his
Influence
By
Counter-working Powers,
(which, to suspect
I am not prone) I fear, that sad effect
Will come to pass by some default of our;
As, by our
Envy, murm'ring at his Power;
Or, else, by some way, him
provoking
so,
That, GOD may leave him, his own
will,
to do,
For our just punishment; and, therewithal
Permit him, through some
Oversights,
to fall
Into such
errors,
or such
negligences,
As, on himself, may bring sad Consequences.
Moses,
the best and meekest of all men
In his time living, and, perhaps, since then;
By being, thus exasperated, lost
The honor, to be
Leader
of GOD's Host
Into their
promised land;
and, after all
His
glory,
in the
wilderness
did fall:
Thus, for like
Provocations,
GOD oft hath
Set over
Nations,
RULERS, in his wrath;
And, for some
oversights,
makes
Kings,
to share
In those
Corrections,
wherewith scourged they are.
Thus, heretofore, for
Isr'else
wickedness,
King
David,
was permitted to transgress;
And, thus,
we,
and our
Chief,
for what is ill,
In us, may be
joint-suff'rers;
yet, he, still
Continue in
Uprightness,
as to that
Which doth concern him, in his
best Estate.
For, though
Detraction,
raised by his
Foes,
(And, no less, by the Levity, of those
Who, owe him love and duty) strives to veil
His
Worth;
by showing, wherein he doth fail
Their expectations: yet, (for ought I see)
His
Actions
hitherto, not only be
Unblameable, but also ought, at least
By an
acknowledgement,
to be expressed
(All things considered) with high applause,
As bringing
welsare
as the
Public cause.
And, therefore, though the nature of my
Theme,
Doth not invite me now, to speak of
him,
But, of his
Title
only; And, though none
Should give their
Plaudits,
till the
Play
be done;
(Or, crown men, till the
Coronation-day,
Which is their last) yet, somewhat I will say
To hint, in brief, what, more at large, I might
Express, should I, a
Panegyric
write:
Yea, in despite of
Envy,
(though by
him,
I should no more be favor'd, then by them
Who hate me) I will with confidence aver,
And, maugre
Malice,
make it to appear,
That, if he had not often, great things done,
Beyond mere
human hope,
and far outgone
All presidents of
Senators,
or
Sages,
Princes,
or
Captains,
in preceding Ages,
And all
those,
who had lately
Supreme Power,
We had not been a
Nation,
at this hour,
Enabled to subsist, within our
doors;
Or, from
Invasion,
to have kept our
shores.
Whereas, we now, are by the
Sword
of GOD,
In this
Protector
's hand, bowed to, abroad;
In
Peace at home; enabled to assist
Our
friends; emboldened, where we list,
To spread our Sails:
The
Envy
grown, of those
Who
slighted
us; made
dreadful
to our
Foes;
And, in so short time, that, the
work
was done
Almost, as suddenly as 'twas begun.
Nay, more then this, (if more then this, can be
Atchiev'd for our advantage) it is
He
Who, was that happy
Instrument,
whereby
GOD, saved us from a barb'rous
Anarchy;
And, from a
Tyranny,
which had, perhaps,
Appear'd ere thi, in many several shapes;
And, may, yet, seize us, if Sin should deprive
This
Commonwealth,
of her
Preservative.
This, is so evident, that I believe,
His
Enemies,
my witness will receive;
And, that a feigned
Poem,
in his praise,
We need not, by
Hyperboles,
to raise;
Or, by strained
Metaphors,
which, make him, more
Envi'd
then
honored:
And, the Cause wherefore
I wave those
Strains,
is, lest, instead of wat'ring
Virtues,
with modest Praises; I, by flatt'ring
Might hap to drown them; and, destroy that
end,
Whereto, my
rational endeavors
tend.
That, therefore, those good aims may be effected,
Whereto, they are intentionally directed,
Let us, with humble and true
Self-denial,
Submit to tarry out our
days of trial;
And, if some yet, among us, doubtful are
Whether, by GOD, or
men
advanced he were,
Let them, (as wise
Gamaliel
did advise)
Wait, without off'ring force, what from
success
May be resolved: For, sure more dangers will
Rise from
resistance,
then from
sitting still.
Jointly let us assent, in carry'ng on
That
work,
which GOD, appointeth to be done;
And, not deprive ourselves of
real good,
To settle an uncertain
Likelihood:
If there were Likelihood of anything
Which, we by other
means,
to pass might bring,
Conducing more unto our happiness,
Then, what the
Course in act,
yet promises.
Let us recall, with due considerations,
What, hath been long time suffered by these
Nations,
Through those destructive
Discords,
lately bred
Betwixt the
Peoples Trustees,
and their
Head;
As also, 'twixt themselves: Let it be weighed,
What
Burthens
were, thereby upon us laid,
And, yet, lie heavy: Let the mournful cries,
Of Families undone; the weeping eyes
Of
Childless mothers,
and, the dying groans
Of many
Fathers,
slaughtered with their
Sons,
(And,
Friends
imbrued in each others gore
By Civil Wars) make us consider more
What, may again befall; and, by regard
To what
hath been,
prevent, what
afterward
May follow, if that
Quarrel
should renew
In which, our
Swords,
unhappily we drew;
And, which, would now, upon a worse
Account,
Revive; and, to a worse result amount.
Oh! think of these things with a serious thought,
Before
Repentance
be too dearly bought:
And, suffer not, our former countless cost,
In treasure, blood, and labor, to be lost;
But, rather with due thankfulness to heaven,
Enjoy in
Peace,
what, GOD hath left, or
given.
Let, for the future, none of us repine
At that, which hath by
Providence
divine
Effected been; but, patiently attend
Till, he, who hath begun, shall make an end:
For, whether to our
weal,
or
we
it prove,
His
ways
are
just,
and all his
works
are
love.
Let us not change that
Title
which is given
(For ought we know of) by decree from heaven:
Nor, let a
looking backward,
on those things
Which time, and ripeness, to their
Period
brings,
Obstruct our
looking forward;
as if naught
For our avail, could possibly be wrought
Save by that
Power,
which once we idoliz'd,
Until it grew to be as much despised,
As honored heretofore; and mischievous
Both to its own
self-being,
and to us.
For, GOD, will have it known, that an
Extent
Is set to every
State
or
Government;
And, that there is no
Kingdom, Power,
or
Glory,
But,
His,
alone, which is not transitory.
We have dim
Revelations,
of some things
By, and through whose imperfect glimmerings,
We grope, and stumble onward, toward that
Which we by
faith
and
hope
have aimed at;
Slipping, sometimes, beside the
safest path,
Or, on each other falling foul, in wrath;
Because, we, but in part, see, whereunto
Our
Courses
tend, or what we ought to do.
Yet, we are bound, according, to that
Light
To make our
Progresses,
with all our might;
And, not distrust th'
affection
of our
Guide,
How weak a means soever he provide:
For, when we find ourselves, quite in the dark,
And, where
Light-real,
casteth forth, no spark,
We must
stand still;
and, totally resign
Our
selves,
unto that
Providence divine,
Which governs all; lest, such
false lights
appear
As those, wherewith, all men deluded are,
Who, in such
Streights,
are tempted to
despair;
To
murmur;
or, their
losses to repair,
By
wicked means;
And, so, in hope to shun
A
Hazard,
unto Deaths assured run.
As our
Affairs
now stand, we seem, like those
Whom, on both sides,
high mountains
did enclose
Not to be climb'd; whose
fore-right march
was barred
By
Seas,
through which, no hope of
pass,
appeared:
Who had behind their backs a pow'rful
Host
By whose swift coming on, all means was lost
Of safe
Retreats:
They could not
downward
dive;
Nor knew they, how to get to
heaven
alive:
But, they a
Moses,
and an
A'ron
had,
Who, lately, for them, had a
passage
made
Through no less
difficulties:
yea, their GOD
Did manifest among them his abode
Even in that
Streight,
and, forward, made them go,
With
safety,
and
triumphant honor
too.
Observe the
Parallel: Divisions,
here,
Have raised
Factions,
which, like
Mountains
are
On each hand straightning us: before our eyes,
Much People, like the
Red-sea,
raging lies,
And, murmuring, as if a Pass were sought,
Whereby, their
Liberties,
would come to naught:
That
Pharaoh,
and his
servants,
from whose yoke,
We are escaped; encouragement have took
To follow after us (as if, they thought
Not
Providence,
but
Chance,
our freedom brought:)
And, even this
Earth
and
Air,
gives food and breath
To those, that have with them conspired our death.
Yet, we have still a
Moses
in our
Camp;
And, those, on whom, there doth appear the stamp
Of
A'rons
sanctity; and, (which is more)
God, still, with us, abides as heretofore.
Why, should we then desist to trust upon
His kindness, who so much for us hath done?
Can we suspect, that he, whose
mercy
gave us
A
man
impow'r'd, and qualisi'd to save us
From our
Oppressors;
did intend that he
Should make us presently his slaves to be?
Did any grudge at
Moses,
whom he sent
For their
Deliverer;
but such as went
Down quick to
hell?
or, those whom he did slay
With
fire from heaven,
or, from
earth
took away
By his immediate hand? Nay, when King
Saul
He in his wrath, up to the Throne did call,
Were any then displeased therewithal,
But wicked men, and
sons of Belial?
Oh! take good heed, whose Justice, you accuse;
Whose
Goodness,
and whose
Mercy
you abuse.
Be not, still faithless; but, on him depend,
Whose
loving kindness,
hath nor change, nor end.
Learn, but so well to
know
him, as you may,
And, by that
knowledge,
you will find the way
To
love
him so, that you from thenceforth, shall
With your
estates,
your
bodies, souls,
and
all,
Intrust him; and, admit of no suspect
That, his
Designes,
can have an ill effect,
Concerning you; or, that, the
Power,
or
failing,
Of others, can obstruct your hopes prevailing.
But, if you cannot, upon him rely,
What, will you do? To whose help, would you fly?
Affairs,
will not succeed, as many dream.
We are at such a loss, that things which seem
To some, most likely, will not be effected,
According to the
mode
they have projected.
We see our old
Foundations
broken down;
We see the
Powers
we had, quite overthrown;
We find, that our own
wisdom,
is unable
To counsel us; and, so unprofitable
(Through
Contradictions
) that, it doth but add
New fears, or jealoufies, to those we had;
And menace
dangers,
likely to be more
Destructive, then our
Troubles
heretosore.
The
present time,
is almost wholly spent
A
general Destruction,
to prevent;
And those men, by whose
private Interest,
The
Public strength,
and
safety
doth subsist,
Are without remedy exposed the while,
To sure, and irrecoverable spoil:
Which, when this
Commonwealth
restored appears,
Will leave them, in their
triumphs,
little
shares.
Would you return again, unto the
Power
First laid aside? That, rather will devour
Then bring us help: All, that this
Island
hath
Will not suffice to satisfy his wrath,
With their
Ambition, Avarice,
and
Lust,
Who, in, upon your
Rights,
with him, will thrust:
Yea, many, who, now hope, they shall acquire
Great things thereby, will perish in that fire;
And, none of those, who think most safe to be
Shall from the
common mischief,
then, be free.
Would you resume the
Power
abolished, next?
(Whereby you were so many ways perplexed?)
Let it appear a
Power;
and, we will, then,
If it be
Righteous,
give it
place
agen.
But it hath now no
being:
nor, was able
To save it
self,
or to be profitable
To others, whilst it reigned. We, have, now,
An
Image
of it raised; but, who knows how
It will comply with
that,
which raised it?
And, if it shall not, what will then befit
A
prudent People?
but, close to adhere
To that, wherein, GOD's
Power
shall most appear?
What reason is there, we should doat so much
On our
Old Staff,
new pieced with a
Crutch,
That, if it shall be forced out of our hand,
We will, thenceforward, neither go, nor stand?
But, Childlike, (who, if he a toy desire,
Throws all his other play-games into fire
When that 's denied him) all our good destroy,
Because, we may not somewhat more enjoy?
Oh! heed this folly; and, be rather taught
By Fools, then be Fools, and bring all to naught:
For, GOD, by
men
and
means,
that most despise,
Effects things, which the Prudence of the
Wise,
Doth but retard; and, where the means hath been
Most weak; there, was his
Power
and
Love,
most seen.
Make not, unjust suspicions of a failing
In
others;
to obstruct, your
own prevailing.
He, upon whom, GOD's
Providence
bestows
The
Supreme Power,
without all doubting, knows,
Or may know, (yea, and shall know, late or soon,
By some things past, or some things to be done)
That, on his
Good-behavior,
it is daign'd;
And, could not possibly, be long sustained,
If,
He,
should leave him, from whom, he derives
His
strength,
his
honor,
and
preservatives.
He, hath observed, (if my information
Be true) that an inherent inclination
To Tyranny, is found in everyone,
That is advanced to a
Sovereign Throne,
Which will corrupt him wholly, by degrees,
Unless by
Grace,
that danger he foresees,
With watchfulness; still, lab'ring to possess
His
Spirit,
in perpetual
h
•
mblexess,
And, 'twixt his people, and
himself,
to make
No difference, but, for his
Callings
sake.
His
wisdom,
shows him what unstableness
There is, in all, that he doth, yet possess:
He, finds by this time, what it is to take
The weight of three great
Kingdoms
on his back,
What ha
•
ards he is in, as well by those
Who, seem to be his
friends,
as by his
foes:
Yea, well enough he sees, what
hardship
stands,
Before him, and what
downfals
at both hands;
And, will not therefore, doubtless, be so mad
(When an
assured safety
may be had)
To live in
danger;
or, to blot the
Story
Which, hath so much recorded to his glory;
By acting, or intending, what may turn
His
far-spread honor,
to his
future scorn.
To
trust
him, therefore, why should we refuse
Whom we did
trust?
and when we cannot choose?
Nay, when, by cur
distrust,
we cannot snun
Those
Rocks,
on which, we likely are to run?
Or, what, adventures either
He,
or
We
(Since, in an equal hazard, both yet be)
So both be safe; and, he hath power to do
That
Work,
which GOD hath called him unto,
If, both, submit unto the
frugal cost,
Of yielding
Part,
that,
All
may not be lost?
And, give unto each other, that, whereby
Both may be strong, against an
Enemy
Which threatens both? and, who, may else destroy
Both Parties,
and possess what both enjoy?
For, your
Maligners,
do the world surround;
Have
Snares
above, and
Engines
under-ground;
A
Partie,
both abroad, and here at home;
As well in
London,
as in
France
and
Rome:
Spies,
in your
houses,
watching what ye do;
Yea, in your
Chambers,
and your
Bosoms
too:
Nay more; they hope, if their
close Plots
do fail,
That, they, by your
mis-actings,
may prevail,
Through, their infusing that, into your breasts
Whereby they may advance their
Interests;
And, when their
Power,
is quite enfeebled grown,
Cause you, to be destroyed by your
own.
Hear, and believe me, (who have oft foretold,
What, some found true, though few regard it would)
This, is designed: yet, you may, ne'ertheless
In safety be, if, by your willfulness
You let not
Oportunities
pass by,
Which, now, are in your
hand,
and in your
eye:
An entrance into
Rest,
GOD, would now give,
If, you, will in humility
believe.
Believe
then: and, although you do not heed
GOD's
promises;
believe, what he by
deed
Hath warranted, (with many gracious
Pledges
Thereof, vouchsafed in our
Pilgrimages;
)
And hath, with
signal wonders
ratifide
That,
diffidence,
withdraw us not aside.
Those
mercies
passed, which
fore-tokens
were
Of more to come, consider, as they are
To be considered; lest, they aggravate
Our sins, and, bring us to that sad estate
Which we were in; and, wheel us back again
To
Egypt,
there, forever, to remain.
And, know this; (for, I nothing dare conceal,
Which, now, my heart inclines me to reveal)
That, they, who for
Self-interest,
enforce
A
final breach;
(and, of so great a
Curse;
Needless occasions, willfully do give)
With
Hypocrites,
their
Portion
shall receive;
Who, are the worst of
sinners;
and whose doom
Is, to possess in
Hell,
the lowest room.
Yea, know, if we unite not in the day
Wherein, GOD offers
Peace,
(and, whilst we may)
The time, will be but short, betwixt the
Power
That, doth
Protect;
and, that, which will devour.
But, LORD, prevent what's threatened; & suppress
That wicked
Spirit
of
Contentiousness,
Which now doth reign: and, though we merit not
This
Grace;
yea, though, we have almost forgot
What
Bondage
we were in; what
Rest
we want;
And, whereto, we are bound by
Covenant;
Save us!
Oh, save us, in this present
Crisis
Of
Good,
and
Ill,
and, from our own
Devices.
Assist us, in performing our
Conditions,
That, thou mayst have the
Praise
of our
fruitious,
And, we, the
Comfort;
who, are at this day,
Upon the verge of being cast away,
Or of admission to that blessed
Rest,
In which consists, our noblest
Interest.
Let not th'enjoyment of a glorious
Blessing,
Now offered; (and, not far from our possessing)
Be vacated by
us,
who, are to share
The greatest part, in what thou wilt confer
If thankfully received: Let not that
High
Title,
wherewithal thou hast of late
Thy
servant
honored, work effects on
him
Like those, which usually are found in them,
Who, seek themselves: nor, let
Initiations,
So far beyond our hopes, our expectations,
And, former
Presidents,
be like the blaze
Of
Comets,
which, a while amuse, amaze,
Or some way cheer beholders in the night
Of their
Afflictions,
and, then, vanish quite.
But, let them grow and rise, until they are
Improv'd, into a glorious
fixed Star.
Let not my much unworthiness, by whom
This
Suit
is made, a bar thereto become;
Nor cause those, with the less effect to heed
Those
Cautions,
which, I give them, now, to read.
For, through an
earthen trunk
though 'tis expressed,
(Or, by a
Rams-horn-trumpet,
at the best)
Thy
Spirit
lent the breath, which gives the sound,
And, will not let it be quite useless found;
But make it pertinent unto their
shame,
Or to their
honor,
who shall hear the same.
It tunes, a well-known
Note;
here's nothing spoke,
In
Riddles,
which may doubtfully be took,
As heretofore, when I was so inspired
To speak, as our
Condition,
then, required.
These
Counsels,
though, a
man unwise
may give them,
A
wise man,
without blushing, may receive them;
And, he that sitteth in the highest place
May heed them with more honor, then disgrace,
If, he as well consider shall, from
whom
They may be sent, as by
whose hand,
they come.
This, is a
Piping,
which the
Babes
who play
Within the
Market-place,
soon practice may
To
dance
unto; and, 'twill be well for them,
If, now, their
Fathers,
do not so contemn
This
Music,
that hereafter, they begin
Instead thereof, a bloody
Matachin.
For, though, these
Warnings,
come in that disguise
Which
Ignorance,
and
flouting Wits
despise:
And, is a kind of
Preaching,
which these times
Esteems no better, then of scurrile
Rimes:
This, will appear, one of those many
ways,
Whereby, GOD, speaks unto these
later days;
And, which, if slighted, will be scor'd among
Those
Warnings,
that, have been contemned, too long.
A RECAL to the Reader.
MY POEM'S done; yet, prithee
READER
stay:
I have another word or two, to say,
Wherewith, before thou hence depart, I will
These following leaves of
empty paper
fill:
That, if it shall be possible, I might
Once in my life, to thy advantage write,
And, of my
labor,
view some
fruit,
before
I, there am laid, where, I shall speak no more;
And, that, those
Truths,
which I have oft, in vain,
Spoke mildly, be not
echoed
forth again
With dreadful
Repetitions,
unto those
Who, to my
Charmes,
their
Adders
ears now close;
Or, scorn, and slight them, as
fantastic dreams,
Or, needless descants, upon trivial
Theams.
Having perus'd this, what art thou the better?
Unless, thou find arising from the
Letter,
That
Spirit,
which begot these words in me,
The
Soul
of them, infusing into thee?
With credit of their Truth, and with a sense
Of that,
eternal Love's,
sweet influence,
Which, for thy welfare, did my heart incline
To pour forth my
Affections,
into thine?
That, thou mightest, timely, take from hence occasion
Of due resolvings, for thy preservation:
For, on this fatal
juncture of Affairs,
Either thy
Ruin,
or else, thy
Repairs
Do now depend; and, will have an effect,
According, as thy
Course,
thou shalt direct.
What, wilt thou profit by it, if thou, still,
Retainest a Perverseness in thy
Will?
How ill dost thou requite me, if, my
Love
No change in thy
affections,
hereby move?
Since, I, desire no other recompense,
But, that, thou mayst have benefit from hence?
And, I, that small share, which a
single one
Hath in that good, which is to
many
done?
And, with, how little
comfort,
shall I speak
Another time, if, no effect, this take?
What, had I thereby lost, if unexprest,
These things, had still remained in my breast?
Since, I had been, whilst they continued there,
The same I am, now they divulged are?
Or, what, by setting thus my heart at large,
Gain I, except, my
Consciences
discharge,
With some weak hopes, that, thou, and others, may
Be benefited, by the words I say?
Sure, none: Then, grudge me not that small effect,
Which, from this Friendly service, I, expect
By thy improvement; in which profit, thine
Will be a
Portion,
far exceeding mine.
If, for my sole
Advantage,
thou believe
I, publish this; thy
thinkings,
thee deceive;
Nor,
Profit,
or
Protection, peace
or
praise
Do I obtain, or look for, in these days
By such
Expressions;
or, by
Services
Which are so little cared for, as these.
Whilst many, sad
Confusions
on us lies;
Whilst, most men, their own safety do despise;
And, when, few, any
Cautions
much regard,
Save those, whereby, vain ends may be preser'd;
I shall, to this intent, prevail no more
Then if I should endeavor, to out-roar
The
Winds
and
Seas.
I have, now, year, by year,
And almost day by day, attended there
Full twice six years; where, was within one
wall
A perfect
Representative
of all
Within this
Isle,
both at the best and worst;
And I so well observed it, from the
first,
Even to the
last;
and, by that
Model,
see
So truly, what of those may judged be
Whom they did
represent,
that I presume
God's
providence
constrained me to consume
So many hours, to wait on them in vain,
That, by such loss, I, better things might gain.
What can be got by
words?
where sighs, & groans,
And tears, & cries, move
men
no more then stones?
When five, or ten, or twelve whole years delay
Shall be no more considered then a day?
And, when nor
wants,
nor justness of the
Cause,
Nor
Importunitie,
compassion draws;
Or, where few Suits are brought to wished end
But by a
Bribe,
or some corrupted friend?
What, can be got by
words,
desired by none?
When
deeds,
which, for the
Public weal
were done,
And, beg'd for, with a
vowed Retribution,
Have neither good respect, nor restitution?
Where, setious
Protestations,
are forgot?
Where
promises,
seem things intended not?
And, when most men, resolved seem, to cherish
Their
willfulness,
although thereby, they perish?
If, for my
words,
receive again, I may
Respective words, I take it for large pay,
And, 'twill enough content me, if my
will
To do thee
good,
be not repay'd with
ill;
Or, if I may but know, ere 't is too late,
My hope, of what is justly aimed at,
Shall be denied, with loss of no more
cost,
Or,
time,
then is thereon, already lost:
For, such a
mercy,
many had prserv'd,
Whom fruitless hopes have beggar'd, yea, & starved.
If, thou suppose, I, gain, by what I write;
Consider it, and thou such thoughts wilt slight.
What profit is it, which, thence raise he may
Who
writes,
and
prints,
and freely gives away
At his own charge? and, doth expect no more,
But, good
acceptance,
and the
reading over?
What gain I, else, for time and labor spent,
But, to my face, perhaps, a
Complement?
And, sometimes, when my back is turned about,
A
secret sleight,
or, else, an
open flout?
What
Patronage,
have I, yet thereby gained
Through which, my
cause,
or
person,
is sustained?
What
favors,
am I likely to obtain,
Who flatter not the
proud,
nor sooth the
vain?
But, rather, venture
Freedom,
and
Estate,
Then, not to speak
truth
home; or, speak too late
So, need require it; so, my free expression
Wrongs not the
Common Peace,
nor
sound discretion
Nor
Innocents;
nor, those, who
guilty
are,
Arraigneth anywhere, save at the
Bar
Of their own
Consciences,
by
Writs,
that come
In
gen'ral
terms, and to I know not whom?
If, thou conceive, that, I ambitious am
Of
Praise
hereby; Thou, therein art too blame.
What
praise,
from POETRY, can I expect,
Which, finds an
Epidemical neglect?
Chiefly, from such as mine, upon such
Theams
As I oft choose? and, when both
winds
and
streams
Against me are? and, also, in a time,
When
Poetry
itself is thought a crime?
When, they, who would reputed be,
most holy,
Look on it, as
Profaneness,
or mere
folly?
When, they, you call the WITS, all strains disgust
That, sooth not
vanity,
or stir up
lust?
Or, are not, with forced
metaphors,
and
words
(Whose
juncture,
neither perfect sense affords,
Nor any useful matter) sent abroad
Drest, and trimmed up, in their
affected mode?
And, when the most part, are so ignorant,
That, they, sufficient understanding want
To read a
Verse?
and, put no difference
'Twixt best
Composers,
and that base
non-sense
Which,
Pedlers,
up and down the
Country
bring,
And,
Rogues
and
Whores
about the
City
sing?
Nor, is my
Peace,
or safety to be got
Thereby; and, doubtless, if I know it not,
I am a
fool:
for, I, have often lost
My
Freedom
by it, with no
little cost.
He, that their
Courses,
constantly gainsays,
Who,
Ahab
-like, are willful in their ways,
From them, gets nothing, by his
contradiction,
But,
Micah
's bread and water of
affliction.
And, what on my
Remembrancer,
ensu'd,
(Which, thousands in my time, fulfilled have viewed)
Informs me fully, what retaliation
I, am to look for, from this
Generation.
Who, then can think, that, he, who doth expose
His
thoughts,
as I have done, to
friends
and
foes,
Amidst so many
Factions?
(when, but one
He well can please, and, peradventure none?)
Who then, I say, can think, that
outward rest
Was his chief aim? or, his own
Interest
The
mark
he shot at? or, that he shall ever
Find
Peace external,
whilst, he doth persevere
In such a
Course?
until, a
change,
GOD brings,
As well in
Manners,
as in other things?
Such, only, hitherto, hath been my
lot,
That, I, in
sixty six
years have scarce got
Six months
together of that common
Rest,
Which is by many, all their life possessed;
And, now of late, unto what
Side
soe'er,
Or,
Principle,
I truly did adhere:
Some men of all
Sides;
even of
That,
whose
Cause
Hath had my
suffrages, pen, purse, applause,
And
faithful'st aid,
hath brought as sad effects
On me, by their despights, or disrespects,
As have all they, whose more deserved hate,
My
Pen,
for their sakes, did exasperate.
Nay; would it were no worse: By some of those,
I suffer more, then, by our
common Foes.
Which, here, I mention, only to prevent
A
false surmise;
and, not in discontent:
For, I, embrace my
Portion,
with
thanks-giving,
And, would not change it, with the best man living!
To sum up all, and give thee my best pledge
For my good meaning, in what I allege;
I hereby call to witness,
Him,
that knows
What, in my heart, I secretly propose,
That, my chief purpose in divulging this,
Is, to reform, those things which are amiss
Both, in myself, and others: to make strong
His hand, to whom this
Title
doth belong:
And, to preserve that
Peace,
which, being lost,
More then our lives, and our estates may cost.
I look for nothing, but to be abused
And, some way to be wrongfully accused
By those whom
this
distastes, that, it may seem
The less worth hearing, by my disesteem:
And if his
Virtue,
who must break the blow
Defend me not, I am sure it will be so.
I nothing seek on me to be bestowed
Save only that, which is by right mine own;
To disengage me from the
world;
wherein
(And wherewith) I, unwarily have been
Too far, of late, engaged; and, from whom
I cannot fairly disoblig'd become,
Without a
Retribution,
of such things
Which she hath lent; yea, which her
promisings
Embolden'd me to take; (and, which, she knows
That, more then twice told, she unto me owes,
Upon a just
Account.
) But, were I free,
I hope she should not re-entangle me
In ought, save what will visibly pertain
More to the
Public,
then my
private gain.
For, my
ambition,
is to live and die
Henceforth, unheeded; and, retired to lie
Where, I a little while, without annoy,
My
self,
with my
relations,
may enjoy:
And, then, resign my place, to him, that must
Supply it, when I slumber in the dust.
But if this be too great an earthly bliss,
For my enjoyment; yet I am sure of this,
That, I shall there be laid, ere it be long,
Where, I shall have no sense of
right
or
wrong;
And, though
I nothing have,
rest quiet, there,
Where, I shall also, neither
want,
nor
care.
This
Postscript,
READER, is on thee bestowed,
To rouse thy
Spirit,
and hold up mine own;
(Who, have enough to do, to keep my mind
Close to that
work,
for which I was designed,
Amid those great temptations, and desertions
Which set before me manifold diversions:)
And, if, thou make me, now, no recompense,
For this my
Pains,
by drawing profit hence
Unto thyself; thou, wholly, wilt destroy,
That, which I hereby hoped to enjoy,
And, dost me wrong. To thee, thus much, to tell
I had a mind: which being done,
Farewell.
Henceforth,
say,
or or
gainsay;
do, what ye will;
(Let him, that's
filthy,
so continue still.)
I have done my part, to make clean what was foul;
I, to my power, have here discharged my
Soul,
Of what it had in
charge;
and, on this
string
Will strike no more: But for the future sing
To GOD, and to myself, till they appear
Who come with
eyes to see,
and
ears to hear.
FINIS.