English Puritan & Reformed

What Peace to the Wicked

George Wither (1588-1667) · 3,212 words · 14 min

The source for this document is https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo2/A96787.0001.001

Project Note

This is licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND. This license allows reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.

The source of this document is the Early English Books Online (EEBO-TCP) website. Those books were transcribed in a character for character manner and can be very cumbersome to read since there was no standard spelling during that time. Many spelling variations such as "unlesse", "vnlesse", and "vnles" regularly appear.

This project was conceived to clean up those books as much as possible and make them more accessible to the interested reader, leading to the creation of a massive list of variant spellings and their corrections. This was used to clean up the text, but is of course only as complete as the list itself. Because of the nature of the original transcription, some words have missing characters or places where the original language (e.g., Greek) was not transcribed. This effort does not change that. Be aware that the original transcription can also be faulty and in some cases entire sentences may be missing.

Although this is no substitute for a properly compared, proofed, and scholarly edition, I believe that the result is a document which is far more accessible, particularly for searching for terms using standard spelling. The document has been cleaned and presented in what I hope is a pleasing and useful format for the vast majority of Christian brothers and sisters who just want access to read these spiritually nourishing works.

However, a word of warning: The Puritans were a very diverse group of people and their age was characterized with godliness, but also much upheaval, disputation and strife. They disagreed on many doctrines and some of these works contain less orthodox or Scriptural views than others. The reader is strongly advised to read with discernment, particularly if it is unknown whether author is trustworthy.

This project took a huge amount of time and skill to bring to fruition. I would particularly like to thank David Jonescue for the initial list of Puritans he found on EEBO and the concept behind this project as well as the continuous, unceasing efforts toward seeing this complete. Without his labor, this would not be available. Alex Sarrouf was invaluable in providing the initial list of over 7,000 spelling variations he had identified and corrected, as well as continuing to review more than 16,000 additions to that list for any typos.

Logan West
(with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf)
www.puritansearch.org

What Peace to the wicked? OR, An Expostulatorie Answer TO A Derisorie Question, Lately made CONCERNING PEACE.

BY A Free-man, though a Prisoner.

The AUTHOR spares his Name; not, that he dares not To let you know it; but, because he cares not. George Withers

Aug: 3 ^d London Printed in the Yeer 1646.

An Expostulatorie Answer to a Derisorie Question lately made concerning PEACE.

         ONe,
        
        who hath, seldom, in his days,
       
        From
        
         Fools,
        
        or
        
         Knaves,
        
        had love or praise;
       
        And, who, throughout this
        
         Isle,
        
        is known,
       
        With cheerfulness, to have bestowne
       
        His
        
         Wit, Paines, Person
        
        and
        
         Estate,
        
        The
        
         Public-Rights
        
        to vindicate,
       
        Along imprisonment hath had,
       
        For calling of a
        
         Spade,
        
        a
        
         Spade;
        
        Which (if a
        
         Court-Card
        
        ) might have been
       
        Next to the
        
         King,
        
        except the
        
         Queen.

        As
        
         He,
        
        in his confinement lay,
       
        Some asked him, the other day,
       
        When he supposed this
        
         War
        
        should end,
       
        Or what successes would attend
       
        Our hopes of
        
         Peace:
        
        which
        
         Question,
        
        though
       
        From
        
         Levity
        
        it seemed to flow,
       
        Or,
        
         scoffingly,
        
        to be expressed,
       
        Received this
        
         Answer,
        
        not in jest.

        Why ask ye when this
        
         War
        
        will cease?
       
        Or, when this
        
         Kingdom
        
        shall have PEACE?
       
        As if you thought, I could fore-show
       
        What things hereafter would ensue:
       
        Or, as if when the
        
         Truth
        
        were told,
       
        You value, or believe it could;
       
        Who, nor esteem, nor use have made
       
        Of those
        
         Fore-warnings
        
        you have had?

        They that will know what shall
        
         succeed,
        
        Must of
        
         Things-past
        
        take serious heed;
       
        And, glean
        
         Instructions,
        
        whilst they may,
       
        From Actions of the
        
         present-Day:
        
        For,
        
         past,
        
        and
        
         present Time
        
        declares,
       
        What, for the
        
         Future,
        
        GOD prepares;
       
        And, till
        
         these
        
        quicken their fore-sights,
       
        Men sit in darkness, till he smites.

        If to this
        
         Question,
        
        you would know
       
        An
        
         Answer,
        
        which the
        
         Truth
        
        shall show,
       
        And, not (with
        
         Ahab-like-Desires
        
        )
       
        Wish all your
        
         Prophets
        
        would be liars;
       
        Then, ask your
        
         Consciences,
        
        and they
       
        Will tell, what things expect you may:
       
        For, let my
        
         Troubles
        
        never cease,
       
        If ever some have other
        
         Peace
        
        Then what their
        
         Consciences
        
        fore-see,
       
        Though KING and PARLIAMENT agree

        But, lest the
        
         Conscience
        
        may be sear'd;
       
        Or, lest
        
         Delusions
        
        have appeared,
       
        Which promise
        
         Peace,
        
        when she is fled,
       
        (And
        
         Vengeance
        
        hangeth over-head)
       
        Ask your own
        
         Feares,
        
        and
        
         human-Reason▪
        
        What they conjecture of the
        
         season:
        
        Ask them, what sign it is of
        
         Peace,
        
        When
        
         wickedness
        
        doth more increase;
       
        What may be hoped for of that
        
         Nation,
        
        That sleights her
        
         days of Visitation;
        
        That mendeth not for
        
         words,
        
        nor
        
         blows▪
        
        That, in
        
         reforming,
        
        worser grows;
       
        That suffers
        
         them
        
        who serve Her best,
       
        To be most wronged, and oppressed;
       
        And, on her
        
         Face,
        
        all tokens hath
       
        Of
        
         desolation,
        
        and of
        
         wrath.

        When this is well inquired out,
       
        If still you shall remain in doubt,
       
        What we may seem fore-doomed unto;
       
        Let me persuade you thus to do.
       
        Get
        
         information,
        
        when the KING
       
        Intends a
        
         Palinode
        
        to sing;
       
        When he will their
        
         ill-counsels
        
        leave,
       
        Who are
        
         deceived,
        
        and
        
         deceive:
        
        What settled
        
         peace
        
        we can devise,
       
        Whilst
        
         Ireland's-blood
        
        for vengeance cries:
       
        Whilst they, who sought to have begot
       
        A Schism betwixt
        
         Us,
        
        and the
        
         Scot,
        
        Have
        
         Trust,
        
        or
        
         Power:
        
        or, else, whilst they
       
        Escape unblam'd, who scandals lay
       
        Upon that
        
         Army,
        
        by whose hand
       
        GOD, hath from
        
         Thrall,
        
        redeemed this
        
         Land;
        
        Both to the grief, and shame, of them,
       
        Who, their
        
         beginnings
        
        did contemn.
       
        Or, whilst the person of the PRINCE,
       
        (Which traitorously was sent from hence)
       
        Is kept in
        
         France,
        
        to have some fine
       
        New-foolish-mischievous Design
       
        Rais'd thereupon; for, who can tell,
       
        But, that, he there so long may dwell,
       
        As, his due birth-right to recover,
       
        And, bring his
        
         Peasant-Subjects
        
        over,
       
        To help persuade with us, that we
       
        Would, here, be slaves, as, there, they be.
       
        Now, if this be the plot, I fear,
       
        It will be long, ere
        
         Peace
        
        be here.

        What
        
         Peace
        
        can we expect, whilst they
       
        Who spoiled us, not only may
       
        Find
        
         mercy,
        
        (which we could allow)
       
        But, so imperious, also grow,
       
        As, to reproach us to our Faces,
       
        Even in our
        
         privileged-Places?
        
        Who, once, thought better
        
         fruits
        
        would come
       
        By that which we have parted from:
       
        But mark the end; and judge what
        
         Peace
        
        Will follow, when your friends decrease;
       
        When more
        
         Malignants
        
        are returned;
       
        When they who love the
        
         State,
        
        are scorned;
       
        And some, who served it, heretofore,
       
        Are grown as
        
         mad,
        
        as they are
        
         poor.

        If, yet, you cannot well discern,
       
        When
        
         Peace
        
        will back again return,
       
        Get knowledge, with all speed ye may,
       
        What game
        
         Malignants
        
        have to play;
       
        How far they have, as yet, to run
       
        In that wild
        
         Course,
        
        too soon begun;
       
        When they are like to call to mind
       
        What lies
        
         before them,
        
        and
        
         behind;
        
        What
        
         future-plot
        
        it may advance,
       
        To let so many pass to
        
         France,
        
        On their bare
        
         words,
        
        who careless are
       
        Of what they either
        
         say,
        
        or
        
         swear:
        
        What can be hoped-for, of those
       
        Who are, irrationally, Foes:
       
        With
        
         safety,
        
        what we can propound,
       
        Where, little, save
        
         deceit,
        
        is found:
       
        Or, what good
        
         Harvest
        
        can be mown,
       
        Where, only,
        
         mischief
        
        hath been sown:
       
        And, when these things are truly weighed,
       
        You will
        
         think
        
        as much as may be
        
         said.

        If not; then, next, inquire, how long
       
         Divisions
        
        will be raised among
       
        The
        
         Lord's
        
        and
        
         Commons;
        
        and, when we
       
        Shall find both
        
         Houses
        
        so agree,
       
        That, to the public detriment,
       
        Nor
        
         House,
        
        nor
        
         Member
        
        shall dissent,
       
        Or be united; but, insist
       
        Upon the
        
         common-interest;
        
        And,
        
         Privilege,
        
        nor
        
         Custom,
        
        strain,
       
        An
        
         Innovation
        
        to maintain,
       
        Whereby they may
        
         invade
        
        each other,
       
        Or,
        
         separate
        
        from one another:
       
        For, you have heard what lot betides
       
        A
        
         House,
        
        or
        
         Kingdom,
        
        that divides;
       
        And know, what's likely to succeed,
       
        Till our
        
         Peace-makers
        
        are agreed.

        If, wast,
        
         Jerusalem
        
        was made,
       
        Who, therein, but three
        
         factions,
        
        had;
       
        This
        
         Island,
        
        how may we deplore,
       
        Wherein are
        
         three times three,
        
        and more!

        Some, with the
        
         Parliament
        
        partake;
       
        Some, for the
        
         King
        
        a
        
         party
        
        make,
       
        As he is
        
         King:
        
        And, some, that,
        
         He
        
        A
        
         Tyrant
        
        might become to be:
       
        Some, would a
        
         Popular-estate;
        
        Some,
        
         Aristocracy
        
        create:
       
        Some, are a
        
         faction,
        
        for the
        
         Pope;
        
        Some, to maintain the
        
         Prelates
        
        hope;
       
        Some, for the
        
         Presbyterians
        
        vote;
       
        Some,
        
         Independency
        
        promote,
       
        Some, strive for
        
         this,
        
        and some for
        
         that,
        
        Some, neither know, nor care for what,
       
        So
        
         Wars
        
        go on, and get they may
       
         Free-quarter, Plunder,
        
        and their
        
         Pay.
        
        Some, fight their
        
         Liberties
        
        to save;
       
        Some, that they others might
        
         enslave;
        
        Some, for
        
         Religion,
        
        and for CHRIST;
       
        Some, that, they may do what they
        
         list;
        
        Some, for the
        
         Common-wealths
        
        avail;
       
        Some, for
        
         themselves,
        
        with tooth, and nail;
       
        And, they that have the
        
         basest end,
        
        As fairly, as the
        
         best,
        
        pretend;
       
        Not caring, whether their desire
       
        Obtained be, by
        
         sword,
        
        or
        
         fire;
        
        By
        
         truth
        
        or
        
         lies,
        
        with
        
         love
        
        or
        
         hate;
        
        By
        
         treachery,
        
        or
        
         fair debate.

        This is our
        
         posture;
        
        and, whilst we
       
        So
        
         foolish, false,
        
        and
        
         factious
        
        be,
       
        (Or whilst affairs continue thus)
       
        Who knows what will become of us?
       
        Or, when the
        
         man,
        
        who these lines penned,
       
        Shall find
        
         good usage,
        
        or a
        
         friend?

        Ask those who now of
        
         peace
        
        do dream,
       
        Who, shall procure the same, for them,
       
        If many are become their foes,
       
        Whom they to be their Champions chose:
       
        If these our substance have bestowed,
       
        To make
        
         new fortunes,
        
        of their own;
       
        If they the
        
         public wrongs
        
        increase,
       
        To gain themselves a
        
         private peace;
        
        If yet, the
        
         people
        
        doubtings have,
       
        What to refuse, or what to crave;
       
        If they unsettled, yet, abide,
       
        And constant unto neither side;
       
        If, scarcely, they resolved are,
       
        Whether, they would have
        
         peace,
        
        or
        
         war;
        
        Or, whether re-admit they shall
       
         Charles
        
        to be King, or none at all;
       
        For, doubtless, if these matters go
       
        As honest men much fear they do,
       
        A
        
         wise man
        
        needs not break his brain
       
        To search what
        
         peace
        
        we shall obtain;
       
        Since, whilst thus blind, and mad we be,
       
        What will ensue, a
        
         fool
        
        may see.

        Ask of our
        
         Lord's,
        
        that, were the
        
         screen
        
        Which, anciently, did stand between
       
        The
        
         King,
        
        and
        
         Commons,
        
        what th'intaile
       
        Of
        
         titles,
        
        without
        
         power,
        
        avail
       
        To such an use; And, how the
        
         shade
        
        Of what their
        
         Predecessors
        
        had
       
        Shall find sufficiency to do,
       
        What, oft, the
        
         substance
        
        reached not to:
       
        And, having weighed
        
         what they are now;
        
         What they have been;
        
        what
        
         they may grow,
        
        And, what
        
         we fear,
        
        till fixed they are,
       
        As honourably, in their
        
         sphere,
        
        As heretofore: Or, till the
        
         State
        
        Shall all her
        
         spheres
        
        anew create,
       
        And place them so, that, neither
        
         Orb
        
        Each others motion shall disturb;
       
        Think, what we justly may expect
       
        Those clashings will, at last effect,
       
        Which now
        
         obstructive
        
        are; and may
       
         Destructive
        
        prove, another day;
       
        If some
        
         new mischief
        
        should begin
       
        Without our
        
         circle,
        
        or within,
       
        Before the feinds appeased are grown,
       
        Which, we have almost conjur'd down:
       
        For, by consid'ring things like these,
       
        You may conjecture, if you please,
       
        (Without a new
        
         Prognostication
        
        )
       
        What will befall this
        
         Generation.

        Yet, least presumptions may arise
       
        (To fool you with false hopes and lies)
       
        Observe the
        
         Commons,
        
        if, of them,
       
        None serve two Masters at a time:
       
        Nay, search if none among them be
       
        Who, servants are, this day, to
        
         three,
        
        And false to all: Observe, of those
       
        Whom we for
        
         public-service
        
        chose,
       
        How many failed the
        
         Common-trust;
        
        How vile some are, and how unjust:
       
        How perilous, and hard a task▪
       
        It is, those
        
         Members
        
        to unmaske
       
        That, in affection, are unsound;
       
        How much more hard when they are found
       
        To cut them off: what mean effect
       
        The
        
         faithful party
        
        must expect
       
        Concerning
        
         peace,
        
        while such as they
       
        The cunning
        
         Ambodexters
        
        play;
       
        And what small hope there is of rest,
       
        While we have
        
         Cancers
        
        in our breast.

        Ask them, who sit to take Accounts,
       
        To what their two years pain amounts;
       
        Or, what the
        
         Common-wealth
        
        it betters,
       
        When they have found who are her
        
         debtors;
        
        If, when their guiltiness is known,
       
        And published throughout the town,
       
        A
        
         cheating-Sharke
        
        may rail at
        
         them
        
        Who justly have convicted
        
         him;
        
        Yea, be employed as before,
       
        Where he may cheat the
        
         State
        
        of more;
       
        And be as confident, as though
       
        He merited by doing so.
       
        Ask, if they have not power to call
       
        Aswell the
        
         great ones,
        
        as the
        
         small,
        
        To give accompt; Those, whom we hear
       
         Cum Privil
         
          •
         
         gio
        
        (as it were)
       
        Have plundered, at an easy rate,
       
         Coyne, Jewels, Household-stuff
        
        and
        
         Plate;
        
        And if you find they have not leave
       
        To question all men who deceive
       
        The
        
         Public-Trust,
        
        know, we are yet,
       
        For
        
         Peace with Righteousness,
        
        unfit.

        Then search, if you have eyes to see
       
         Paths,
        
        that so blind, so crooked be,
       
        What courses those
        
         Committees
        
        take
       
        Which, everywhere, such rumblings make.
       
        Mark seriously, if they appear
       
        Such, as the people say they are;
       
        So false, so proud, so insolent,
       
        So careless whom they discontent;
       
        So scandalous unto the State,
       
        In prosecuting private hate;
       
        So bold, from
        
         Equity
        
        to vary,
       
        By
        
         courses
        
        merely
        
         Arbitrarie;
        
        And if you find them to be such,
       
        You need not then to question much
       
        What will befall this harrowed Land,
       
        While these Authorized shall stand.

        Then, mark what favors now some have
       
        Who sought these Kingdoms to enslave;
       
        How well-befriended, some appear,
       
        Who
        
         Neuters
        
        were, and worse now are;
       
        How, some exposed be to scorn
       
        Who, of this war, the heat have borne;
       
        What scandals are of them devised;
       
        How their deserts are under-prized:
       
        And, having heedfully survey'd
       
        How
        
         good,
        
        with
        
         evil,
        
        is repay'd;
       
        Mind well the
        
         Doctrine,
        
        and the
        
         use,
        
        And think, what these things may produce.

        Enquire, moreover, how you find
       
        To
        
         works of mercy,
        
        men inclined;
       
        How, their poor wives and children fare,
       
        Who for their
        
         Countre
         
          •
         
        slaughtered are;
       
        How,
        
         honest causes
        
        are prefer'd;
       
        How speedily your
        
         suits
        
        are heard;
       
        How
        
         Offices
        
        conferred be;
       
        And if some have not two, or three,
       
        Who for the
        
         public,
        
        neither
        
         spent,
        
        Nor
        
         gave,
        
        nor
        
         hazarded,
        
        nor
        
         lent,
        
        Ought worth regard, whilst they have none,
       
        Who in your service, were undone.

        Observe, how equally men share
       
        Those
        
         Pensions
        
        which allowed are:
       
        How little
        
         Best-deservers
        
        get;
       
        How many of them, nere a whit;
       
        How conscionably, and, how well,
       
         Rewards,
        
        and
        
         Punishments,
        
        we deal,
       
        Which are the
        
         Pillars,
        
        whereon stand
       
        The
        
         Peace,
        
        and
        
         Honor
        
        of the
        
         Land.
        
        Observe, if when we spend a day
       
        In
        
         praises,
        
        or to
        
         fast,
        
        and
        
         pray,
        
        If
        
         preaching
        
        tend not more to strife.
       
        Then to
        
         sound-Doctrine,
        
        or
        
         good-life;
        
        If more we seek not to fulfill
       
        Our sev'rall
        
         humors,
        
        and our
        
         will,
        
        Then to perform a
        
         Thank-oblation,
        
        Or,
        
         duties of Humiliation;
        
        Or, if the worship we profess
       
        Be not an outside holiness,
       
        No deeper rooted then the tongue;
       
        Forced fruit, that fades as soon as sprung:
       
        For, as it proveth, when you see
       
        These things to trial brought shall be,
       
        You may without much failing, guess,
       
        What likelihoods we have of
        
         Peace.

        Then, if you be not some of
        
         those
        
        Who slight what other men propose,
       
        How probable soere it seem,
       
        (Unless it may advantage them,
       
        Or propagate the private ends,
       
        Of their Confederates, and Friends)
       
        An
        
         ear,
        
        and
        
         eye,
        
        pray sometime have ye
       
        Upon our
        
         Armies,
        
        and the
        
         Navy:
        
        An
        
         eye,
        
        securely to behold;
       
        An
        
         care
        
        to hear what hath been told,
       
        Of some, who much entrusted were
       
        With
        
         Arms,
        
        and with
        
         provisions
        
        there;
       
        Or, had
        
         Commissions
        
        to array,
       
        To
        
         furnish, fortify,
        
        or
        
         pay
        
         Ships, Forts,
        
        or
        
         men:
        
        And, those in chief,
       
        Employ'd for
        
         Ireland's
        
        first relief,
       
        And our first
        
         Armies;
        
        Even, when all
       
        Did lie at stake, and seem to call
       
        For faithful, stout, and honest men:
       
        Observe, how they discharged, then,
       
        The trust repos'd; how, some were made
       
        Commanders; pay, and titles had;
       
        But scarce a man: how, others, now,
       
        Have used the
        
         Common-wealth,
        
        and
        
         you:
        
        And, if in any, you shall find
       
         Ueceit,
        
        in this accursed kind,
       
        Forgive them not; yea, when at last
       
         Acts of Oblivion,
        
        shall be past
       
        For open foes; no grace provide
       
        For men untrue to their own side,
       
        Least, as our
        
         Peace,
        
        they have defer'd,
       
        They mar it, likewise, afterward:
       
        But, as occasions offered be,
       
        Mind them, although you mind not me:
       
        For, where, in favor, such are found
       
        When
        
         peace
        
        is made, 'twill not be sound.

        Enquire, (if you can tell of whom
       
        To make inquiry) what's become
       
        Of all the public
        
         Protestations,
        
        Ingag'd for private Reparations;
       
        What, of that
        
         Vow,
        
        which did express
       
        A
        
         mutual-aid,
        
        in all distress;
       
        What of the
        
         self-denying-Vote,
        
        Which goodly hopes in us begot;
       
        What of those
        
         Orders,
        
        whereupon
       
        Some trusted, till they were undone;
       
        What of the
        
         public-Faith,
        
        in which
       
        We thought ourselves exceeding rich,
       
        Though all were lost, so that remained
       
        Inviolated, and unstained:
       
        Inquire (I say) throughout the
        
         Land,
        
        In what condition these now stand;
       
        For, when of these you have obtained
       
        That certainty, which may be gained,
       
        It will, undoubtedly, appear
       
        What we may either hope or fear.

        Inquire yet further, (least you may
       
        Expect, perhaps, a
        
         Sunshine-day,
        
        And meet a storm) in what good mind
       
        That sort of people you shall find
       
        Yeleep'd the
        
         Clergy:
        
        For, the
        
         Stem
        
        Of all our mischiefs was in
        
         Them.
        
        Their faction, avarice, and pride,
       
        Did, first of all, this
        
         Isle
        
        divide.
       
        From them, at first, the
        
         Firebrand
        
        came
       
        That set this
        
         Empire
        
        in a flame;
       
        When 'twas nigh quenched again, they blew
       
        Those coals, which did the fires renew,
       
        They did the Nations re-engage;
       
        The people's vexed minds enrage,
       
        By feigned shows, and false pretences,
       
        Abusing tender consciences.
       
        The course, by them, at first, begun
       
        Is, to this day, continued on:
       
        And, therefore, take this
        
         Truth
        
        from me,
       
        For, you shall find it true to be:
       
        That, till you see
        
         these
        
        more estrang'd
       
        From what they were; their
        
         posture
        
        changed;
       
        Yea, till they better their
        
         condition;
        
        Confine themselves to their
        
         Commission;
        
        Leave off to jangle, fool, and fiddle
       
        With what they should not intermeddle;
       
        And, be as pious, and as wise
       
        As they are outwardly precise;
       
        (And, as those few among them are,
       
        For whose sakes God abates the
        
         war
        
        )
       
        Nor
        
         King,
        
        nor
        
         Peers,
        
        nor
        
         Commons
        
        neither,
       
        Nor these united altogether,
       
        Shall able be that
        
         Peace
        
        to make
       
        Which their contentions will not shake

        Make one
        
         inquiry
        
        more, to see,
       
        And search, what most of those men be,
       
        On whose endeavors you depend
       
        To bring your troubles to an end▪
       
        Mark, how their
        
         Duties
        
        they attend
       
        In
        
         private,
        
        how their time they spend;
       
        What
        
         company
        
        they most frequent;
       
        What
        
         matters
        
        give them best content;
       
        What conscience of their debts they make;
       
        What wrongs they do; what bribes they take;
       
        What by their neighbors they were thought
       
        Til they obtained what they sought;
       
        And, to what purpose they employ,
       
        The power, and places, they enjoy.

        Then cast an eye upon the
        
         Rabble;
        
        And, taking view (if you be able)
       
        Of all together, great and small,
       
        Mark well the
        
         Tantamount
        
        of all.
       
        Mark, if we be not like an Hoast
       
        That's routed when the battle's lost;
       
        And, if we deal not
        
         gifts,
        
        and
        
         blows,
        
        Like
        
         madmen,
        
        both to friends and foes:
       
        Mark, how those
        
         hypocrites,
        
        that here
       
        Promoters of the
        
         truth
        
        appear,
       
        Walk in their
        
         masking-suits
        
        abroad,
       
        As if they thought, to cozen God,
       
        As they do men▪ Mark too, that
        
         crew,
        
        Which is profane in open view,
       
        How boldly, and how daringly
       
        (Even when God's thunderbolts do fly)
       
        They do offend; and, whether we
       
        May not to those, compared be,
       
        Who, sawing are those planks asunder,
       
        Whereon they stand, when Hell is under.

        When these
        
         inquiries
        
        you have made,
       
        To see what light may thence be had;
       
        And when you know, as well as I,
       
        Those hindrances, and reasons, why
       
        That VOICE of
        
         Peace,
        
        yet goes not on,
       
        Which this time
        
         twelve month
        
        was begun;
       
        And, shall observe, with due regard,
       
        What hath been formerly declared;
       
        I will disclose a great deal more,
       
        Then I have told you heretofore:
       
        But, not till then: yet, least you may
       
        Despair, or faint, before that day;
       
        I will deliver, ere I go,
       
        A comfortable word or two.

        There may be PEACE, ere long, though y
        
         ••
        
        We nor know how, nor merit it:
       
        For, GOD oft shows great
        
         mercies,
        
        where
       
        The greatest of all
        
         sinners
        
        are;
       
        And if
        
         self-seekers
        
        be descri'd,
       
        Before this
        
         Isle
        
        they more divide;
       
        If
        
         Factions, Wrongs,
        
        and
        
         Discontent
        
        Endanger not this Parliament;
       
        And, if the
        
         Faithful-Members
        
        can
       
        But cast out from them now and than
       
        A
        
         trouble-house:
        
        And, timely swage
       
        The vexed
        
         people's
        
        rising rage;
       
        Offer, three more, such
        
         peace-oblations
        
        As that was of th'EXAMINATIONS;
       
        And out of
        
         Counties, Towns,
        
        and
        
         Cities,
        
        One
        
         Hecatombe
        
        of their
        
         Committees;
        
        And, by their prudence, work it so,
       
        That
        
         honest men
        
        esteemed may grow;
       
        That,
        
         Priest
        
        and
        
         People,
        
        down may lay
       
        Their works of
        
         stubble,
        
        and of
        
         hay,
        
        Their
        
         names,
        
        and
        
         terms,
        
        of SEPARATION▪
       
        And meekly seek the preservation
       
        Of TRUTH, in LOVE; if, in one year,
       
         Peace
        
        be not firmly settled here;
       
        My
        
         loanes,
        
        and
        
         losses,
        
        yet unpaid,
       
        (With my
        
         Arrears,
        
        three years delayed)
       
        I will forfeit wholly to the
        
         State;
        
        And, live still, as I have done of late,
       
        By swallowing
        
         wrongs,
        
        by empty
        
         Air,
        
        And,
        
         patience,
        
        kept, through
        
         faith,
        
        and
        
         prayer,

        Thus, to the
        
         Question
        
        made, you have
       
        That
        
         Answer,
        
        which our
        
         Prisoner
        
        gave▪
       
        Who, other
        
         Tales
        
        will tell, if He
       
        Much longer, shall imprisoned be.

A Spaniel beaten, at your foot will lie:

An English-Mastive, at your face will fly.

Take this, and consider of it, till more comes.