The British Appeals with Gods Merciful Replies
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Logan West
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www.puritansearch.org
BRITISH APPEALS, WITH GOD'S Merciful Replies, On the behalf of the Common-wealth of England.
Contained in A Brief Commemorative Poem, Composed for a Memorial of some of those many signal Mercies, lately vouchsafed to this Rebublike ; especially, for those deliverances upon the appeals of the Parliaments, and Royal Forces at Naseby; of the English and Sccottish Armies near Dunbar in Scotland, and for the late Surrender of Edinburgh-Castle, &c.
By GEO. WITHER, Esquire.
Febr. 1. 1650.
Let this Poem, entitled the British Appeals, &c. be speedily Printed.
William Lenthall, Speaker.
Printed for the Author, and are to be sold by Nathaniel Brooks, at the Angel in Corn-hill, 1651.
BOUND BY J.MACKENZIE BOOKBINDER TO THE KING
〈1 page duplicate〉To the Sovereign MAIESTY OF THE Parliament of the English Republic, (by the grace of God) Keepers of the Liberties of England; Protectors of the true Christian Faith, and (within their Territories) Assertors of all the just Privileges of the Human Nature, against the Usurpations of Domestic and Forraigne Tyrants, &c. AND, ALSO, To the Right Honorable Council of STATE, established by their Authority.
THe praise of
God,
and of praise-
worthy Men▪
Are proper subjects of the
Poets
pen;
And they, of old (though disesteem'd of late)
Had power
heroic-titles
to create;
Or,
Attributes of Honor,
to confer
Where,
Worth,
most eminently, did appear;
And, none, have been more glorious under Heaven,
Then those, which they, deservedly, have given:
No, not those high-prized
Attributes,
with which
The Pope his
Royal-Vassalls
did enrich:
For, this
Power,
they enjoyed, long before
Popes
were; so shall, when they must be no m
••••
And, of their
Holiness,
had thus much odd
•
That, ere they could
〈…〉
Such as they were; and heretofore great
Kings
Ambitious were, of their
Canonizings.
But though
impostors
use to make a show,
With counterfeited
Jewels,
mine, are true;
And this, now being a
Triumphall-day,
Expecting all things in their best array,
My
Muse,
in her
Addresses
you salutes,
With such
New-titles,
and
high attributes,
As none have yet ascribed; that, I may show
To others, what I know to be your due.
For (though your
Justice,
and your
Mercy
be
The
Essence
of your
Glory
)
Wisemen,
see,
That, these are
accidents
which do belong
To
Power
; and, which, may help to make it strong,
And, should not be refused, when they are brought
By other men, and by yourselves unsought:
Nor, will they judged be, to overswell
A
modest height
to him that heedeth well,
What is, in
Petty-States,
ascribed to them,
Who are invested with a
Power-Supreme.
But these, are but a Preface to my gift,
Which, I present, out of a nobler drift,
Than by these Circumstances can appear;
For they mere Harbengers, or Ushers are
Unto that Trophie wherewith I assay
To imp, the Public-duties of this day:
And help to magn
•
fie his glorious
Name,
To whom, your
Piety
devotes the same.
Y
••
, these high
Titles
are not fixed here,
To make you
great,
in your own eyes, appear;
But, honorable, in the sight of those
〈◊〉
whom your
just commands
you shall impose:
〈…〉
to be viewed as
Remembrancers,
〈…〉
hat high trust, which God on you con
•
ers.
〈…〉
to serve sinister ends you take them,
〈…〉
titles of
dishonor
make them.
As largely, and as well, as my
weak-wit,
(My
leisure
and the
short time
) would permit,
I offer, here, a brief commem'rative,
Of those things, for which,
Thanks,
this day we give:
That, to
God's praise,
they may be thought upon,
When this our short
Solemnity
is done:
That,
unborn chlidren,
may commemorate
His
Mercies
in the
birth,
of this
new State,
When they shall read, by what
throws,
rent and torn
The
mother
was, before it could be born:
And, that, by knowing, what their
Freedoms
cost,
They may not let them carelessly, be lost:
Or, be unthankful, as now many are,
And, thereby, in that
blessing,
lose their share.
In lofty
strains,
I do not strive to sing,
But, in a
plain song,
humbly forth to bring
Such
Charmes,
as profitably may be read,
By those, who of my
Counsel,
have most need;
And, such, as may be useful, to expel
Those
evil spirits
which amongst us dwell,
To interrupt the setting of that
Peace,
Which brings an
universal happiness.
I owe a
thanks
to God; and
thanks
to you;
And though I cannot pay the half that's due,
Where least I
owe
; I, truly, have assaid
That, of a
great debt,
somewhat might be paid.
Despise it not, therefore, though much it lacks
Of what should be.
Quench not the smoking flax
;
Break not the bruised Reed.
But, acceptation
Vouchsafe, to this imperfect
Presentation
;
And, as I shall deserve it; so, let me
Preserved in your good opinion be.
anry 30. 1650.
Geo. Wi ••••
TO The Well-affected of the Common-wealth of ENGLAND.
WHen the late Act of Parliament came forth, commanding the celebration of a public Thanksgiving, upon the 30. of January last, for God's manifold mercies to this Republic ; and for those especially in the said Act expressed: though my own affairs were at that time in their crisis, and my urgent necessities required their immediate prosecution: yet my heart being moved with a strong desire to prepare somewhat (according to my faculty ) which migh help stir up this Nation▪ to glorify almighty God for our manifold and great Deliverances ; as was piously enjoined by Supreme Authority : I resolved to trust him with my own business ; and, wholly to set apart the remainder of that Moneth to compose a Commemorative Poem toward the illustration of his extraordinary favors to this Common-wealth, in his glorious goings forth with our Armies ; and in such other manifestations of his gracious Providence, as have conduced to the accomplishing of our just, and reasonable hopes. And, though I have not therein answered what may perhaps be expected in such an undertaking ; yet having done what my ability and the shortness of the time (made shorter by many accidental obstructions) would permit; I hope you will favourably ex •••• me, in regard it may nevertheless, be in some 〈…〉 useful to the better performance of the Du •••• 〈…〉 after the Day is past, by bringing to re ••••• many of those mercies which occasioned that days solemnization; and I presume, it wi will find good acceptation with you, whose eye God hath opened to see his wonderful loving kindness, and, whose hearts are not hardened to the • destruction, or shame, for shutting their eyes, willfully against the light, which heretofore shined up on them.
I have no hope to prevail upon such, as are perverse: for like Jannes and Jambres, they have obstinately opposed our deliverers, and have 〈◊〉 the Egyptians in resisting God. They have sometimes acknowledged his Finger in the miracles, wrought for us; as that people did, and yet persist in then obduracy. They, have seen the Rods of power and discipline, turned into, Serpents ; and that which was in the hand of lawful authority, to devour those, which were grasped by impostors. They have seen, as the Egyptians did, their Lakes, ponds, and Rivers, turned into blood : and all their fields, waters, and habitatitations filled with those, which were hieroglyphically signified by Frogs, Lice, Flies and Locusts. God, in like manner, hath proved them, by his judgments, and by plagues, upon their beasts, their fruits, their treasures, their persons, and their hopes of posterity : he hath punished them, as well with a gross darkness, and other privations, as by arming against them, all the Elements. They have seen their late King (for continuing in his hardness of heart) like Pharaoh, drowned (as it were) in the Red Sea, even in that sea of blood, which by his wisfullnesse hath overflowed these Islands. Yea they see those waters which gave passage for his people, to escape their 〈◊〉 ry, stand on both hands ready to swallow 〈◊〉 up; yet they being more blind and mad 〈…〉 Pharaoh and the Egyptians (because, they 〈◊〉 for examples) the • 〈…〉 purposes, as in despite of God, and will not acknowledge his Actings, though they see them ; nor his Voice, though they bear it, nor his hand though they feel it : Now, if all these things have not softened their hearts; and if neither the Pillar of fire which they see going daily before us, nor the Cloud, out of which God looks often very terrbly upon them, can move them to praise God with us, in our public acknowledgements of his mercies ; I must not think my charms will operate much upon them: and, therefore, to God's good pleasure, I will leave them, and you, who are better affected, to the enjoyment of his mercies ; whereof I humbly expect and confidently believe to be a partaker.
Your faithful, and ancient Remembrancer, GEO. WITHER.
The British Appeales, with God's merciful Replies, on the behalf of the Commonwealth of England, &c.
The Argument.
The
Muse,
begins, with
filial fear,
To raise a
joyful trophie,
here.
The
differences,
doth express
'Twixt
formal,
and
true thankfulness.
Brings out those
mercies
to your view,
For which our
praisefull thanks
are due.
Warns, all men, timely, to take heed,
What,
God
hath done; and may succeed,
To those, that will not understand
The
work
which he hath now in hand.
Then after some
thanksgiving-songs,
Informs, what further, yet belongs
To
thankfulness,
and open lays
Th' event, of
right
and
left-hand ways
MY
soul,
in honor of th'
Eternal King,
Of
Judgment,
and of
Mercy
now shall sing:
Of
Mercies,
and of
Judgments,
and, again,
Of
Mercies,
that they may not be in vain.
And that out of my
poverty,
I may
Add to the
public offerings
of this
Day,
A
supplement,
to fill up vacant places;
To fill up, extraordinary
Graces.
To make us
mindful,
what is further due,
To keep
sheedfull,
what may else ensue,
And perfect that, which others have begun,
Concerning what, the
Lord of Hosts,
hath, done.
I sing, the breaking of that
Brazen yoke,
Which, from our gauled necks, was lately broke;
The gracious
Verdicts
which the
Court of heaven,
To our
Appellant-combatants,
hath given;
The thrusting of the
Proud
out of the
Throne
;
The setting up, of
humble men,
thereon;
The
malice, craft,
and
willfulness,
of those,
Who were our
open,
or our
secret Foes
;
And, therewithal, the
matchless love,
of him,
Who from their
Tyrannies
did us redeem,
Shall be my
Song
: and I desire it may
Be
set
and
tuned,
unto such a
Key,
As, that, my
Readers,
may perceive, thereby,
The useful power of
hallow'd-Poesie,
In raising, God's neglected
mercies,
from
Forgetfulness,
to shine through
times to come.
My
Structure
therefore, shall be rather
strong,
Then
Lofty
; that, it may continue long:
And though my
Weakness,
may not reach to that,
Which my
Intentions
have been aiming at;
Yet, I am hopeful, that I shall be able,
To offer an
Oblation
acceptable:
For,
God
in
willingness,
takes much delight,
(Although, it can but set a
stone
upright,
As
Jacob
did) vouchsafing acceptation,
To every
Faithful-Offrers
free oblation;
And equalling the raising of
one stone,
Eve'n with the
Temple,
of great
Solomon.
I,
Voices
hear, of wondrous things abroad;
Of multitudes of
Mercies,
from our God;
Mercies,
too great, for
Scorners
to believe;
Too good, for
men unthankful,
to receive:
Such
Blessings,
as no former Age had greater;
Such, as no time ensuing shall have better
Yet, every day almost brings forth new matter
Of
exultation,
both by land, and water.
Good news,
employeth almost every month;
Yea, weekly from the
East,
the
West,
the
South
[come)
(And thence, from whence 'twas said no good can
Even from the
North, Glad tidings
are brought home.
To those, who for their own escapes, have mourned,
With
Zion's
Ruines, God, hath back returned
Those
Signal Victories,
which, you have heard,
In Public, by a
Public Act
declared;
With their
dependent-Mercies
: now, I will add
What from my
private notions
may be had;
O give attentive heed, to what is said;
And let it with do seriousness, be weighed:
For, I shall mention, (if time fail me not)
Things
neither to be slighted, or forgot.
But whence comes this? alas! now I am ready
To write, I find my shaking hand unsteady.
A shivering doth surprise me; and a fear,
As if some
Apparition,
did appear,
Obstructing my
Designs,
and, to assay
The turning of my thoughts, another way.
What ails my heart! that in this uncouth fashion,
There strives in me, a
Contradicting Passion?
Which like the twins, within
Rebeccas
Womb,
•
eem to be struggling, which may overcome.
Why is my
heart,
(which hath enough to do,
Wi
•
h
one
at once) thus overcharg'd with
two?
Two
Passions,
as destructive to each other,
As fire and water, clos
•
d uptogether:
And so divided, that, it hardly knows,
To whether, most reluctancy, it owes.
This, is a
day of triumph
; wherein, they
Who, have atchiev'd them, set us
Trophies
may
〈◊〉
ou
•
ward
Joy
and such as could not win
Externalis,
may keep Holyday
within,
•
heretofore, they so
good husbands
were,
•
o store up ought, for entertainment
there,
It is
a day,
wherein, I ought to sing,
A
Song of praise
; and purposed to bring
Expressions
forth, which might be to this
Nation,
A lengthening out of
Thanks,
and
exultation,
By making God's
free mercies,
thought upon,
When all this
generation,
shall be gone:
Yet, now I should perform, what I decreed;
I, am unable, further to proceed.
Of
glorious victories,
the Guns, the Bells,
And this days due
solemnization
tells,
To make us with more seriousness, to heed
God's
owning of our
Armies,
at their need;
And those
glad tidings,
which divulged are,
Invite to
mirth
; yet somewhat, bids me
fear
;
Yea, though my
lips
are tempting of a smile,
Mine
eyes
(I know not why) drop tears the while,
Seeming to tell me with a silent voice,
That we with
trembling
should this day
Rejoice
:
Yea, though I feel my heart is truly glad,
Of what I
hear
; it is as truly sad,
For what
I know,
for what I daily
see
;
For what
hath been
; or may
hereafter, be.
Distempred, thus, I very seldom grow;
And, therefore, it, the more affects me, now,
With
Jealousies,
and
Fear,
left, somewhat may
Ere long befall us, to
beeloud
this
day.
With me 'twas never thus, but when from
Spain
Our late unhappy
King,
returned again,
Depraved and made giddy by that
Cup
Of
Poison,
whereof there he took a
sup.
And, then, I felt these
Passions.
I confess
My joy was then, as great, my
fear
no less;
Though neither much appeared to the
eye,
Or to the ear of any stander by.
It fareth, now with me, as on that
morning
Which, first, informed us, of his
safe returning
;
For, when the voice of his
arrival
came,
The
City Bon-fires,
blaz'd into a flame
Which menaced the
Clouds
; the
Clouds
pour'd down
A
flood,
as if the
City
they would drown.
The
Common people,
were transported so,
(As 'tis their guise) that
wisemen
could not know
Whether they might be thought,
exceeding glad,
Or, rather, to be
somewhat less than mad.
The
Earth
seemed
joyful
of his safe return;
The
heavens
for something hidden seemed to
mourn.
And, as in those, there then appeared to be
A
diffring Passion,
so, it was, with me.
Though, none more wished the
Kings
returning
Though I was truly glad, to see him come, (home,
And for this
safe arivall
shown, then,
My
joy,
as much, as other
sober men,
Yet,
joy
and
sorrow
strove in me together,
As if they labor'd to supplant each other:
And, long time kept me, in a doubtful pause,
Of whether His
Return
would give most
cause
;
And by what hath succeeded, it appears,
My
joys
were far more causeless than my
fears.
The same distempers, are,
this day
in me,
Great, are my
joys
and
hopes,
great also, be
My
griefs
and
fears
: God render them, success,
And consequences, of more
happiness,
Then, followed after that; and take away
Th'
effects,
and
causes,
of my
fears,
this day.
God,
turn all to the best; and give us grace
To cleave to him, what ever come to pass.
God,
give us
Will,
those
Achan's
to remove,
Which, to the
public Peace,
destructive prove.
God,
grant my
hopes,
hereafter may be truer,
The
causes of my fear,
much less, and fewer:
And, that, the Councils,
Charles
did then neglect,
May be received, now with more respect;
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Left his
example,
that should make us better,
May make us worse, and our damnation greater.
For
God
will not be mocked; nor will he spare
For ever, though a while he doth forbear.
Where greatest
Mercy,
he, vouchsafes to show,
The greatest of his Judgments will ensue.
He that improves not, every gift God gives,
(According to the measure he receives)
Shall lose the Talent upon him bestowed,
And into
utter darkness
too be thrown.
Then much more, they who shall God's
Grace
requi
•
With willful
disobedience
or
despite
:
And for that cause, it hath been said,
the Lord
Is merciful, and therefore should be feared.
This being true, what Realms, or
Nations
be
Obliged more to fear him now, than we?
If,
mercies,
be inducements to
his fear,
(As all men well informed, know they are)
What people, now, inhabits on the earth,
That, hath more cause of
trembling,
in their
mirth,
Or, of more
filial dread,
when they draw nigh,
The
holy name,
of God to sanctify?
For whom hath he so many wonders wrought
Since out of
Egypt, Jacob's
God was brought,
As for this Isle, if we reflect upon
Those things aright, which, he for us for us hath don?
And, who can blame me, if I sing with
fear,
This day,
when we consider,
what we are?
What,
God is?
what, they seemed,
who have been,
Destroyed for our sakes?
what we, have seen
Done, for us?
by what
means,
at, what a
season?
In what
great straits?
how far, beyond our
reasons
Or our
deserts
? (Deserts said I? nay, when,
We had deserved worse than other men)
What passed
bondage,
we are freed from?
What likely
slaveries,
for time to come?
And what a heap of
blessings
we have had
•
howr'd down, to make us, in his favor glad?
Who, can? (these things considered) who I say,
Can blame me, if, I
am afraid,
this day,
Amidst our
Triumphs
? and aloud should cry,
On other men,
to fear as much as
I?
For such a
fear,
no portion doth destroy,
Of ought which is essential to our
joy
:
But helps to keep it, from an overcasting,
By future clouds, yea makes it everlasting;
Rather preventing harm, than harm portending,
And, from a dull
security,
defending.
Already, I discover, that this
fear,
Which, at the first, destructive did appear,
To my
Design,
(by making up a
Medley,
Which, on a
day of joy,
looked somewhat sadly)
Proves useful to my
purpose,
and makes
way,
To render that, which I intend to say,
Much more effectual, than it would have been,
Unless it had been thereby ushered in.
To make impression of a joyful fear,
In those, who shall of God's
protections,
hear.
I feel my
spirit
on a sudden freed,
From all
Distempers:
therefore I will proceed,
With what I purposed, and enumerate
Some of those
Mercies,
which we celebrate
Thi
•
d
•
y,
in hope to represent them so,
That, out of them a
filial fear
may flow,
So tempring every Reader, that none shall,
Neither
presume,
nor by
despairing,
fall:
Yea, so to set them forth, I will assay,
That, in
Remembrance,
they continue may:
That I, who
write
them, and that they who
read
them,
May with more seriousness, hereafter, heed them,
More often
•
meditate
them,
to
increase
Our
Joy
into a
perfect thankfulness,
And, that, as in a
glass,
our eyes may see,
How worthless, how unthankful, yet, we be;
How these
good things,
which,
God,
in
mercy,
ga
••
To save men's lives, oft send them to their
grave,
If not to
Hell
: how likewise to improve
God's
judgments,
and, the
Pledges of his love,
To our best benefits, and how to raise,
Such
Monuments,
and
trophies,
to his praise,
As, answer their intents, who set aside
This
day,
to be, in public,
sanctified.
Without those
ends,
the formal observation,
Of one
set-day
is but a
profanation
;
Or, mere
hypocrisy:
It, makes men think
They offer
incense,
when they offer
stink
:
It makes them dream that they have something give
•
To God; when, they have but affronted heaven:
It proves like that
Peace-offering
of the
Whore,
Which made her sin more boldly than before;
And to return again, to her offense,
With less
reluctance,
and more
impudence
:
To
fast
a meal or twain, and to put on
A
sadness, for a day,
is cheaper done,
Than, to
deny ourselves
; or, to supresse,
Our
Avarice,
or our
ambitiousness.
To say,
the Lord be thanked
; or to sing,
A
song of praises
; is, an easier thing,
Than to express a hearty thankfulness,
By
works of mercy,
and of
righteousness
:
As, giving to the poor, or, taking care
Of those that under great oppressions are:
And, 'tis alas! with us, too frequent, seen,
That some who
formally
disposed have been
To outward duties, acting
joy,
and
sorrow,
This day
(with seeming zeal) come forth, to
morrow,
And prosecute their
avarice,
their
pride,
(With whatsoe'r, they seemed to lay asid
•
The former day) and, entertain as bad,
If not worse
spirits,
than, before they had:
Pursuing willfully,
Distructive ways.
What e're the
Preacher,
or, the
Charmer
says.
He, that could find
expedients
to prevent
These
Prophanations,
Well his time had spent;
And, thanks might merit, for so having done;
(Although, he peradventure shall have none,)
I, therefore, to that purpose, will assay
To set my
Meditations,
for this
day,
To such a
Tune,
as may have likelihood,
Of those
effects,
if rightly understood;
For (though it move, but two or three, to dance
True
measures
) my Design it shall advance:
And, he, that doth accept a
willing heart,
More, then the best performances of
Art,
Will, perfect
his own work,
in me, begun,
Though, that, which I perform, be weakly done.
It is not my intention to begin
Where, God's
or'eflowing mercy,
first broke in,
Upon this
Nation
; For, that, would appear,
A work not for a
day,
or for a
year,
But, for an
Age:
and, my poor
Snuffe of Light,
Would leave me, in an
everlasting night,
E're I could half those
Mercies
overlook,
Whereof, in few years, I have notice took:
Nay, in each Circumstance, should I display
Those, only which, of this
Thankesgiving-day
Occasions were: I, might dilate thereon,
Till three such lives, as I have lived were gone.
I, therefore, will but offer up a
Beam,
Out of the
Sun
; a
drop,
out of a
Stream
;
One
Grain,
out of that
golden-mine,
by which,
Our
God,
hath made us, in his
Favors,
rich:
Or, make a brief
Collection,
at the most,
Of so much, that, this
day,
may not be lost;
But give thereby a Longer lasting motion
To real
Thankefulness,
and true
devotion.
Should I suppose a Tripled
Golden chain,
One fold whereof sufficed to contain,
These
British Isles,
with all those
Seas
enclosed,
Which, may be in a,
Circle
so supposed;
And, that, as many
Links,
thereon were found,
As there are half-half Inches, in that
Round
Of
Land,
and
Water:
therewith, should I think,
I saw enamel'd, upon every
Link,
Ten hundred Thousand mercies
; I, might read
All those
Inscriptions
thereon Character'd,
As possibly, as make a full relation,
Of,
God's
proceedings, in our
preservation.
I, therefore, will but set forth, here, and there,
Such Links of
Providence,
as do appear
To most men's view; that, somewhat may remain
Still visible, of
Mercies
Golden Chain:
Looking, no further back, in my
design,
Then, to the year
Six hundred thirty nine
Beyond a
Thousand
; and, I will relate
But, only, an
Epitomy,
of what
Hath been vouchsafed since then; For, by the
Pa
•••
You may conceive, what
Lyon
I could draw:
And, if the whole proportion I should Lymn,
I could not do my
work,
within the
time.
About, that
year,
The
Tyrant
(who now lies
Beneath our feet) with over weening eyes,
Had viewed himself; and Puffed up with Pride,
Began, to think, of being
Dei fide
;
Or, at the least, of being somewhat more
Then
Man,
or
King
; or, then what heretofore
He was esteemed: and, much endeavored, too,
That, we (if possible) should think him so.
His
Tripple-Kingdom,
upon him bestowed,
For,
others
; he, usurped as his
own
;
Inchroching by undue
Prerogatives,
As well, upon his
Loyal Subjects
lives,
As on their
Free-born Persons,
and
Estates
;
With what else, to their
Liberties
relates:
Nay, upon that, which is more dear then these,
(Upon the freedom of our
Consciences,
)
He made assaults; well knowing, that would bes
•
Procure him (and secure him) all the rest:
And, how to prosecute it, he, was taught,
By them, who knew the way, to what he sought.
A
Council,
he had picked up, who might well
Be called his; and, with
Achitophel,
Be judged Peers; but, that, of him, in
Wit,
They came far short; and, have not so well, yet,
Their
houses Order'd
; nor, secured so
Their
Persons,
as, he had the hap to do.
His Flattering
Priests,
and
Poets,
urged him on,
To what, they found him willing to have done:
For, by the
first,
there seemed to be infused,
A
Conscience
fitting him, to be abused:
And, by the
last,
He, and his
Queen
became
So often represented by the name
Of
Heath'nish Deities
; that, they, at last,
Became (even when their
Mummeries
were past)
Like those they represented; and, did move,
Within their Sphears like,
Venus, Mars,
and
Jove▪
And, had they only failed, but, in thus
Themselves befooling;
God's,
delivering us
From being Vassals, to such
Mimick-Players,
Had merited our public
Thanks,
and
Prayers.
For, when the
Roman-Emperors
begun
To fill the
Stage,
they, Vilify'd the
Throne
;
And, those
oppressions,
quickly followed there;
Which, on the like beginnings, entered, here.
He, being thus transformed, into a
thing,
No Longer worthy to be called a
King.
(Tho, fairly painted, and well varnish'd over,
The wickedness of his
Designes
to Cover)
A
Deep foundation
Laid, for such a
Throne,
As, he, Ambitious was to sit upon;
And, had so couched his
Plots,
(as he supposed)
And, so with
power
and
Policy,
enclosed,
His
Interest
(ere heed thereof was taken)
That, few believed the
Structure
could be shaken;
Or, that, a possibility had been,
Of those
Events,
which we have lately seen:
Nor were they Possible until,
God's
hand,
Did shake the
Rock,
whereon the
Pile
did stand.
For, that, secure his Actings might become,
Himself, as well
abroad,
as here at
home,
He fortifi'd; and
Engineers
did keep,
To render his Designes, as
large,
as
Deep
;
Neglecting little, which by right or wrong,
Might, in his
undertakings,
make him strong.
With
Forain Princes,
and each
neighbouring State,
(To whom, himself he might ingratiate)
He secretly comply'd; (by whatsoever
Relations,
they might opposites appear.)
At home,
himself, he strengthened many ways,
With what concerns him, who the Tyrant plays:
As, by depressing them, who might be foes
To his designs; by, high Advancing those
Who might promote them; by, disabling much
The
one,
and making of the
other
Rich:
By
projects,
and
Employments,
which might add
To them, and, take from others, what they had;
And, by all practices, which might mantain
This Cursed Principle,
Divide and Reign
His
ends
he followed, whatsoever it cost,
In
Treasure,
or in
blood,
by others Lost.
Witness, the late Inhumane
Massacre,
In
Ireland
: when, in few days murthere
•
were
Hundreds of Thousands
; and as many mo
•
,
Soon after, by
Abetters
thereunto,
A
Massacre,
beyond (without compare)
Those, which in
Sicily
and
Paris
were,
Though both united; yet, it is believed
(Upon good grounds) to be at first, contrived
By him, or with his knowledge: But of this,
There is an
Hoast,
or
Cloud of Witnesses,
That, he did palliate, and look thereon
Without Compassion, when the
Deed
was done;
And, hath occasioned that
Sea of blood,
Whereby since then these
Isles
have been o'erflow'd;
Even by abusing these unhappy
Nations
With vain pretences, and false
Protestations.
Yet, much more great, the
deluge
would have been,
Had not God's
mercy
interposed between,
His
Cruelty,
and
us,
when, he assayd
To tempt the
Scottish Nation
to give aid
To his Designes; by promising, to add
Four English Counties, to the bounds they had.
When, likewise with the
Armies,
in the North,
He tamper'd, bloody mischiefs to bring forth,
Of
•
ing them largely; when, moreover, that
Was in designment, which, he aimed at,
In
Scotland,
where, (about the self-same time)
A
Bloody Banquet,
was prepared, by
him.
Before these things (and, e're we felt those harms
Which followed) he, found means to seize our
Arms
;
And by mere power, ingrost into his hand,
The
stores of Powder,
throughout all the Land.
He, likewise had contrived, how, to draw
To serve his ends, the
Masters of the Law,
By placing, or displacing; and, thereby,
Had, almost, fixed, a
Legal Tyranny.
By
maskings,
and loose Revelings, at
Court
:
He, closely wrought upon the younger sort
Of wanton
Students
; and allured thereby,
The flower, of all the
young Nobility
And
Gentry
of his
Kingdoms
to incline
To him, in whatsoever, he should design.
His
Council-Table,
was bespread with snares,
To catch, and hamper those, at unawares,
Who stood for
Liberty
; his
Courts,
were made
Both Instrumental to the
Bribing Trade,
And
Bauds,
to help advance unjust
designs,
By false
decrees,
wrong
Judgments, mulcts,
or
Fines
:
For,
Justice,
was afforded, there, to few
Save such, as to his
Interests
were true:
And, most of those (without attending long)
Had what they su'd for, whether,
right
or
wrong.
His overgrown
Prerogative,
Laid hold
On our
Proprieties
; and, scarcely should
Ere long, a
Natural-action
to this
nation,
Allow'd have been, without a
dispensation,
Or
Fine,
First paid: No; not, to
eat,
or
drink,
To
go,
or
come
; to
speak,
or safely
think,
Should we have been permitted; had not
God,
To his
usurpings,
put a Period.
For, many, to Account. not for
deeds done
Have called been, or, for
bare-words,
alone;
But otherwhile, to Question, some were brought
For those things, also, which, to have in
thought
They were suspected: yea, such was the Rage,
Of
Tyranny,
that,
Children
under age,
For
Childish words
(spoke without ill intent)
Were, not alone, to severe Chastisement
Made Lyable; but, forced to suffer, too,
That painful death, which willful
Traitors
do:
As (by a cruel act, of all abhorred)
Appears at
Sarum,
yet, upon record.
No marvel then, if neither
Sope
nor
Fir
•
Nor
Raking rotten Rags,
out of the M
••
e;
Or Freedom, in such poor and Trivial things,
As are
Tobacco-Pipes,
and
Fiddle-strings,
Could be allowed in this
Common-weal,
Without a
Fine,
or
Patent under Seal.
His
Peerage
(some excepted) was indow'd,
With
Privileges,
but, to make them Proud,
And fit, them to oppress or to enslave
The people, unto
him,
from whom they have
Their
empty Titles.
Upon some of these
He did Confer the highest Offices,
By great sums, purchased; that, so, they mought
By selling dear (because they dearly bought)
Ingaged be, to share in his oppressions;
And, strengthen by in
Justice,
their possessions:
To make them still, have need of his protection;
And,
••
eave to him through
Fear,
if not
Affection.
To this Intention, they had also share:
In those Base
Projects,
which injurious were,
To
public-right
; and, they employed their power
To beggar, to disgrace, or quite devour,
All those, who did not readily befriend,
His purpose; or, else, freely give, or Lend,
Or stand engaged, to Answer his desire,
In whatsoever he pleased to require:
And, he, that sought a remedy, by
Law,
For these
Intrusions,
did but only draw,
More mischiefs on himself: For, 'twas a
flower,
Slipt from the
Crown
; and, by the
Royal power,
Deriv'd; that, they should be secured, by might,
From
wrongs receiving,
and, from
doing right.
But,
God,
for this
Injustice,
now hath broke,
That
S
••
pter
: From their heads; their
Crowns
hath took
And, shall destroy all those who will not see,
That want of
Justice,
and of
Mercy,
be
The Signal causes, of those desolations,
That fa
••
on
private-Persons, Kings,
or
Nations.
And, they, who for
God's Justice,
upon these,
(Together with, the great deliverances
Thereby, vouchsafed) cannot, yet perceive
Just causes, of the
Public thanks
we give;
Of their concernments, take so little heed,
That, to awaken them, I will proceed.
The
Tyrant,
had some other Instruments,
(To further him, in his unjust intents)
In order to our
Bondage
: among whom,
None did more mischievous to us become,
(Nor, any, for him, play their Prizes better)
Then, his proud
Priests:
nor, was he more a debtor
To any, then to them: and, I dare say,
So dearly for it, he, to none did pay.
His
Prelates,
and their
Underlings,
he bought
To serve his ends, (by giving what they sought
And what he had in Guift) or, else perchance,
He might in Vain, have
piped them a dance.
Instead of Preaching
Christ,
they
Preach'd us down
To Slavery
; and
Idoliz'd the Crown:
Then, to require what they had done, for
him
;
He, fooled away three
Royal-Crowns,
for them:
They (seeming confident he should prevail)
Upon his
Kingly Person
did intail,
Divinity
; that, arrogate he might
His
Usurpations,
by a
Sacred right:
He, to retaliate what they bestowed
With
Temporal possessions,
them endowed:
And these by their false Doctrines did besot
The
Vulger
so; that, in them it begot,
Idolatry; and therein they hold on,
Their Dotage, though their
Deity
is gone:
Yea, though their
Idol,
quite destroyed they see,
And,
Dagon-like,
without a head to be.
To make his
Clerick Engines
serviceable.
(Yet further) he, did strongly them enable
With
Power Canonical
; which would have brought
More mischiefs on us, then most had in thought;
And, such, as might at length, have entrance made
For all, that
superstition,
would have had;
(Althought 'twas Cloked with a formal zeal,
Of
Piety,
their purpose to conceal;)
And, when these
preparations,
had unhallow'd
Our
Churches
; Popery, would soon have followed:
The
People,
should have been, once more, an
Ass,
For
Prelates
to have ridden as it was;
Kings
should have been but Blocks to help them on,
And,
Emperors,
their Stirrups wait upon.
But, mark God's,
Justice,
and retaliation,
To these; for, it is worth your observation:
The
Prelates,
justly, lost their
tempralties,
For smooth 'ring
Truth,
and
Preaching vanities.
For
seizing that,
which Legally is known,
The
Peoples right,
the
King
hath lost his own:
And
King
and
Prelates,
joining both together,
In
Tyranny,
have ruined each other.
Thus far, you see God's
mercies
; and, thereby
May see, his Justice, too, with half an eye,
And what must have succeeded ere this day,
If these, had t
•
ved their wicked way;
And, we are graceless, if we praise not
him,
By whom, We had deliverance from them:
For, by those
Hydra's heads,
not yet berest,
(And by that
Poison,
which is in them left)
It is apparent, We should scarfe have had,
A day of rest until our
Graves
were made.
On us, by his
Assistants,
he had brought
Such
Slavery,
that, we had scarcely ought
T
••
call our own; Or, at the least, left Free
From those Intrusions, which were like to be:
Yet, worse it would have been; as, might appear
Beyond dispute, should I make mention, here,
What, I have
known,
and
seen,
in preparation,
To bring a further
Bondage
; on this
Nation.
Most, are forgetful of what's
past
; and, some
By never heeding it, are now become
Unthankful
Murmurers,
repining at
Their present
Contributions,
to the
State
:
Because, the
Payments,
yet imposed, are more,
By much (as they conceive) then heretofore:
(Considering, neither what
necessities
Now are
; nor, from whose
Faults,
they do arise.
There is, indeed, a very Large expense,
Occasioned to make our
Just-defense,
Against the many practices of those
Who,
settlement of Peace
do still oppose:
And by long lasting
Wars,
at Sea, and Land.
(In several Kingdoms) thereby, to withstand,
Our present enemies (and to prevent
Their future purposes) vast sums, are spent:
But, this, was by
Constraint
; and, we have hope
These
Issues of expense,
will quickly stop;
If we with Patience, for a while, could bear
With those
Disbursments
which Compelled are:
And, would consider, at how much more
cost,
We were, that, all our
Freedoms
might be Lost.
As, also, what great
Burthens,
it would bring,
To readmit a
Tyrannizing King,
With all those swarms of
Locusts,
and of
Flies,
Which are begot, and fed by
Tyrannies:
With what must be exacted to maintain
The boundless Cravings, of his
hungry Train.
We like the Sons of
Jacob,
were oppressed;
And, God, is making us, a Path to
Rest,
As, he did them, so, he, doth lead us through
Much
Hardship,
and great difficulties, now:
And some of us, like them, (nay, worse then they)
Even almost at the Period of our
way,
Would back return; and, brutishly Complain
As if our
Ease,
were sharper then our
pain.
Now therefore, I will here insert a
Note
Expressing part, of what we have forgot;
That, when our former
Burthens
we review,
We may, more thankfully, our
Peace
pursue.
We were oppressed by his vain expense,
Of Large
Revenues,
which, for our
defense,
And for the
Nations honor,
were with him,
Intrusted; For, by his consuming them
Upon vain
Lusts
; constrained we were, to add
Supplies,
ofttimes; for which,
Returns
we had
Of many new occasions, to increase
Our
Burthens,
rather then to make them Less:
And still whatever was on him bestowed
He took without Thanksgiving, as his own.
Great
Subsidies,
which such like
payments
gained
By false pretences (as by dangers feigned.
Or some like that,) by him, were, also, spent
In prosecutions, to the detriment.
Of all the
Nation
; and so, all that
Cost
Was, thereby (as to us) much worse then Lost.
By many, other
ways,
he did enlarge
Our
Burthens,
and this
Nation
over-charge.
By
Universal Loans
; with an Intent,
Never, to render back, the money Lent.
By
Privy Seals
; which, he did seldom pay
Except, for other borrowings, to make way.
By
Contributions,
termed Free; altho,
We paid them, whether, we did List, or no.
By
household-Compositions,
(for the
Table,
The
Kitchen, Sellar,
and the
Royal Stable
)
Which, of themselves, (if we consider shall
What,
Officers
exacted, therewithal)
Might have maintained a
King,
much better than
All
Scotland's
Royal patrimony can.
Yet, this too, (as I find, by Inquisition),
Was taken, by a forced
Composition.
To these, may added be, what he encroach'd
By
Projects,
and by
Offices
new Broach'd
By
selling-places,
by
dround Lands,
and
Fenns
;
By
Fines,
for
Cottages
of other men's;
By wrong pretended right, to
Lands concealed
;
By
Ulnage,
and by
clothes,
and
Drapries seald
;
By
Patents, Corporations, Fees,
and
Toll
;
By several
Writs
and money by the
Poll:
By
Coat
and,
Conduct-money
; and, by that
For
Ships,
which, was extremely Grumbled at.
By
Tunnage, Poundage, Customs,
both in use,
And
pretermitted
; to the great abuse
Of Trade and
Merchants
; who, though paying of these
To be secured from
Pirates
on the Seas,
Were left unguarded; to the frequent spoil,
Of
Private men,
and weakening of this
Isle.
Moreover, out of our
Estates,
he made
Large profit, by the
forfeitures,
he had;
By Bonds
Recognizances,
and, by
Suits
;
By
Tenths,
by
Lycences,
and by
First-fruits,
Escheats, Amercements, Mulcts
of several sorts,
In several
Causes
; and in several
Courts.
By
Wards,
and
Marriages
; by suing forth
Of
Liveries
(which now are nothing worth)
By
Honorary Titles,
Sould to such
As were not thereby honored so much,
As
honor
was disgracit; by great sums paid
For
Corronation-Knights
; by
Coynage, Aid
;
And, by a multitude of ways beside,
(Too many, hereby, to be specifi'd)
This
Nation
was oppressed. All which, though now
Of their late Griefs, forgetful, many grow,
(More notice taking, of what Lies upon
Their backs, at
present,
then, of what is
g
•••
e
)
Would, if summed up, a greater
Burthen
prove
Then We have born, our
Bondage
to remove
Considering his vast
Incomes,
needlessly
Were wasted, on his
Lusts
; or, that thereby
He might
Inslave us:
whereas, all we spent
Was by
Constraint,
or, that, We might prevent
Bell,
and the
Dragons,
ravenous designs:
And, therefore, whosoe're, thereat repines,
Doth neither his own
welfare,
understand,
Nor, that great
work,
which
God,
hath now in hand.
But, if our
Citizens,
who have forgot
Their former
Pressures
(and, begin to dote
Upon an
Idol-Majeslie
) would take,
More heed; they doubtless, more esteem would make
Of
God's
late
Mercies
; and, an offering Bring
To expiate their cursed Murmuring.
If, they would mind, at what uncertainties,
They did possess their
goods,
and
Liberties
;
What
Interruptions,
formerly they had;
What
Innovations,
as concerning Trade:
How oft, their
Charters,
upon slight pretence,
Were questioned, to put them to expense:
What
Presents,
they have been Constrain'd to give,
For
Favors,
which, they never could receive;
What
Bribes,
to get their grievances removed;
And how unfruitful, Nay-the-less they proved;
What
Scorns,
and What
disgraces,
in time past,
On them, have undeservedly been cast;
How oft, when
Legally,
they sought their own,
They were abused, and into Prisons thrown,
Till they were glad, to quit a
long-due-debt,
Lest, else, a greater mischief they might get.
Would they remember, their late sad Condition.
Occasion'd, by the Cruel
Inquisition
Set up at
Lambeth
; by the merciless
Starchamber Court
; and by th'Imperiousness
Of his
Court-Marshal
; where their
Innocence,
Was rackit and tortured, by the Insolence,
Of
Officers
; of
Clerks; Apparators
;
Of
Pursuivants
; and Cut-throat
Messengers.
Were it remembered more, how they, complained,
Of
grievances
by their late
King
sustained,
And his ill
Counselors
: (whom we now see
Not half so worthy, of our blame as he)
They would not in their
Courage,
be so poor;
Nor, so unlike, to what they were before.
Yea, would they but recall, how furiously
They Acted (even almost to
mutiny
)
Against the King; and to th' encouragement
Of this (then, Highly honor'd)
Parliament
;
How zealously,
Horse, money, Arms,
and
Plate,
They, then, Contributed, to Vindicate,
Their nigh-Lost
Liberties
; how oft, they
fought,
To bring to Pass what, now to Pass is brought;
And, therewithal, would seriously take heed,
That whatsoever did thereupon succeed,
Beyond their
first aim,
was,
God's work
(not our)
They would confess his
Justice,
with his
Power,
And
Mercy
: For, all these were manifest,
When, of his
Throne,
the
King,
he dispossessed;
And took away both
Crown,
and
Life
from him,
That,
our,
and
his long-sufferings,
did contemn.
These things, could they consider somewhat more,
They would more thankful be, then heretofore;
And, not so irreligiously persevere
To murmur, that, God blest their own
endeavor
;
Nor, be so mad, to Ayd those, underhand,
Who, God's,
declared purposes,
withstand;
Lest, their
Ingratitude,
he should repay
With greater
Plagues,
then, he hath took away:
And, give them, in his anger, such a thing,
As they deserve, another,
Tyrant King.
If, Likewise, they, who in the
Country
-s
•
ng
Thanksgivings
backward, (and with murmuring
Require God's
mercies
) would, by looking back,
On what is past, more heedful notice take
What, yearly, out of their
Estates
was taken,
In
Lamb, Veal, Butter, Poultery, Eggs,
and
Bacon
;
In
Wheat, Oats, Hay,
and such like things as these,
(From which
exactions,
they are now at ease)
How oft their
Teemes,
and
Carts,
were forced from
Their
husbandries,
and
Harvest-works
at home:
To their great detriment, for hire, but small,
And, many times, for no reward, at all:
How oft, their
Saddle-Horses,
as his own,
Were, by his
Courtiers.
Posted up and down
As for the
Public,
upon
Public Warrants,
When, they were, only, sent on
Private arrants:
How, by the multiplying of his
Game,
Oppressed, and enslaved, they became,
To their great Detriment; yea, many times,
To their undoing, for
suspected Crimes:
And, how, their
Nimrods
(or chief
Foresters
)
With their insulting
Under-Officers,
Compelled many, for their preservations,
Quite to forsake, their
Ancient Habitations,
Or leave their
Fields,
or
Woods,
unto the spoil
Of
Useless Beasts,
and
Beastly-men,
the while.
Would they, these things Consider; and, that those
Taxations,
which the
State
doth now impose;
With all their late oppressive
Plunderings,
Large Contributions,
and
Free Quarterings,
Were first occasioned, by his
Tyranies
;
(Or, their own False-hood, or Neutralities)
They would not, like the murmuring
Israelites,
Render abuse, Reproaches, and despights,
To their
Deliverers
; because, a few,
Among them, to their trust, have proved untrue;
And, to their own loss, by their
selfishness,
Defer that
Peace,
which, else, they might Possess.
Nor would they, so unthankfully, desire
To their
Egyptian Thraldom,
to retire,
And to their
Garlic
; when there feet, were brought
So near, unto that
Rest,
which, long they fought:
Muchless, when they had (as it were) been fed
With
Manna.
and, Mirac'lously been led
Through many
Streights
(for wonderment, no les
•
Then,
Israel
Passed, in the
Wilderness
)
Would they, by Stagg'ring, in a
Good-proceed,
Both re-enslave themselves, and all their seed.
Now, if (as other
Voluntary preachers
Presume to do) I, may to teach my
Teachers
Take boldness: I would seriously advise
Some, of our
Clergy,
to become more wise:
Even those, who, by a peevish frowardness,
Neglect, not only, that due
Thankfulness,
Which is commanded; but, make others too
Prevaricate, from what they ought to do;
By slighting what
Authority
enjoins,
And prosecuting of their own
Designes.
Oh, God! What bold, what strange
Apostasy
Is this? And from a
Christian Ministry,
How disagrees it, that they should profess
Or, teach, or sooth up an
Unthankfulness?
And, whence, proceeds it, but from their old vice,
Of
Selfishness,
or
Pride,
or
Averice?
Which, (as it hath, well near, already, done)
Will loose them all, that, they insist upon;
If, they proceed to prosecute those ends
Which they and their
Fraternitie
intends,
God, bears me witness, I envy them not
The least
Advantages
which to their
Lot,
By right, pertain; But, rather, would improve,
My
Vote,
(with real heartiness, and Love)
To give them
double-honor,
and advanc
•
What is their due, by
sacred Ordinance:
For they who serve him without
By-Respects▪
Had never cause to say, that God neglects
Their service; though he sometime sends them forth,
Neither with
money,
or with
money worth:
As, everyone observes, who taketh heed,
How plentifully at all times of need,
He them supplies, that, his
allowance
take
With
thankfulness,
and work, for
Conscience sake,
Without Capitulating, whether they
In
Pensions,
or, in
Tithes,
shall have their pay.
What is it Angers them? Are they displeased,
(Though, of their former
Grievances,
now eased)
That, they, themselves impow'red do not find
To Act the
Prelates,
in another kind?
And, to succeed them in their vast
Possessions,
Which was the chief end of their Oppositions?]
Are they, again desirous of a
King
?
How so? Since, they are those, who, first did bring
Those things to controversy, whereupon,
That
Justice,
which they murmur at, was done?
What, can they hope, by bringing back again
That
Power,
whereof, they lately did complain?
But, greater
mischiess,
and a heavier
yoke,
Then that, which from their Necks, was lately broke?
Considering, what
Confed'rates,
they now have
This
Nation,
and
Themselves,
to re-enslave?
Are they afraid those
Tithe-pigs
may be lost,
Which have so many
Tracts
and
Sermons
cost
To prove them sacred? That's, a needless fear,
As, yet; For, by our
Laws
confirmed they are:
And, till
supreme power,
shall by
Law
revoke them,
They, may receive them, as they lately took them:
And without question, all such due supplies
Will still vouchsafed be, as many suffice.
Nor have they cause to murmur, though it may
Provided, for them be, some other way
Since, by their
Scottish Discipline,
they find
Their claimed
Tithes,
are seldom paid in kind.
Is it, their zeal against
New-Heresies,
The
Ranters Tenants,
or the
Blasphemies,
Whereof the
Scot
injuriously avers
Our
State,
and
Army
to be favorers,
Which makes them discontent? I think not so,
What ere they may pretend: for, they well know,
The Parliament hath lately made a Law,
To keep
Blasphemous Libertines
in awe;
And to correct their
Manners,
who transgress
Against the
Rules
of
Moral Righteousness
;
And, from our
Armies
frequently they hear,
That such, by them severely punished are.
Let them take heed, lest their
Endeavor
flows
From
Causes
which may prove much worse then those
There mentioned; even from an
Interest▪
Pursu'd, to raise the throne of
Antichrist
A new found way: or else, from some vain hope,
In every parish to erect a Pope.
Let them take heed, lest ere they be aware,
Their
Carnal policy
may them ensnare:
For by that
power,
whereat their
Parties
aim,
They seem to be affected with his
Claim
Who, to
God's
throne aspires: or else, to that
Which will produce a
double-headed State.
Or, that, at least, from thence, this may redound;
That, (if the
Royalists
can cure their wound
By what, is now designed; They, and their Friends
The
Romanists
may thereby gain some ends
Obstructive to our
Peace
; though totally
Destructive to their
New Presbytery
;
Which they seditiously have
preached
and
prayed,
To build up by their
Ground-works,
lately said.
Oh! therefore, let them speedily return
To their lost
Path
; for their
backslidings,
mourn;
Observe God's
Providence,
approve his
ways,
And join with us, in singing of his
Praise.
Let them stir up their
Flocks
to
Thankfulness,
Like others of their
Calling,
who profess
The self-same
Faith
; and help us, to redeem
The losses of
Advantages,
and
Time,
Occasion'd by their
Schism
; that, we and they
May friendlike walk together in
one way,
Partakers, of that happy
peaceful being,
Which is deferred, by our disagreeing.
For, were all well considered, all men would,
Without the least obscurity, behold,
What cause we have, to sing God's
Praise,
this day,
For taking of our
Slaveries
away:
And, in the
first place,
for removing
Him,
Who, wore,
unworthily,
the
Diadem,
Of
Supreme Government.
But, least, some, yet,
May our
fore-past-condition
so forget,
As to believe, we might have been secured,
From that, which under
Kingship
we endured,
By regulating it (which, I once thought,
Till, I by
Providence,
was better taught)
Let them, with me, take notice, and, well weigh
How many hundred years, we did assay
This
Remedy
in vain; and, heretofore
Spend all our pains, to wash a
Blackamore.
Let them look back, and heed, how oft we
Fought,
And by
fair-means,
and humble
Prayer,
sought
A firm establishment, of what, we knew,
(And had oft proved) to be our
proper-due
:
How many
Charters,
and, how many
Laws,
Were made, by
Kings,
in favor of our
Cause:
How many
Curses,
and sad
Imprecations,
Were laid upon their willful
Violations
:
How many times, their
Royal words,
we had;
How many
Oaths,
and
Vows,
were sworn, and made;
Yet, faithlesly, still, broken, afterward,
Without remorse of Conscience, or, regard
Of
God,
or
Men
; and, still, revok'd, as soon
As
opportunities
were fastened on,
To prosecute, again, their
Tyranny.
And, let us likewise, heed impartially,
How much, our late
King,
labor'd to make void
His free
Donations
; and, to have destroyed
His own
Concessions:
what dire
Imprecations
He likewise, ventred on; what
Protestations,
He dared, with a purpose to deceive;
And, with a hope of making us believe,
He, meant us well; when, he did all the while,
Intend his
Own-advantage,
and, our
Spoil:
Improving, still, (what, ere, he did pretend)
All our
Indulgences,
to his
first end,
Even to his
Death:
witness, his, laying Plots
To make a
Rent,
betwixt us, and the
Scots
;
Yea, and, among
ourselves,
that very time,
In which, we
Treating
were, of
Peace,
with him.
Hoping, at last, by one device or other,
To make us, do his
work▪
and
fall together.
And, of those
Juglings,
now, the fruits appear,
In
Ireland, Scotland, Holland, France,
and
here.
What could, we have, expected, from a
King,
So willful, and so false, in everything?
Or, from the
Off-spring,
of a
Generation,
So long time, rooted in
Prevarication?
So long, irreconcilably professed
An enemy, to
Public Interest?
And, claiming, so
Imperiously,
to be,
From all the Bands of
Law,
and
Reason,
free?
What hopes could we have had, that, we should ever
Have tamed this
Leon,
by our best endeavor?
Or, any of his
Whelps?
or, means have found,
Whereby, they might have been, securely bound,
From Crushing all our bones; if, they again,
Should slip, their
Collers,
or else break their
Chain?
For my part, I so well found, what he was;
That, though I had large offers of his
Grace,
And studied his chief good; yet, still I found,
His
Heart
so hard, so double, and unfound,
(Even to his last breath) that, I must confess
It was God's
mercy,
and, our
Happiness
That, he so fell; and, 'twill be to the
Glory
Of this our
Nation,
in their future
Story,
That, whereas others have
Clandestinely,
By
Poison,
or by
Murder,
secretly,
Remov'd their
Tyrants
; we, with
open face
;
By
Public Justice
; in a
Public place
;
In presence, of his
friends,
and, in despite
Of all our
foes,
and every opposite,
Try'd, Judge'd,
and
Executed,
without fear;
The greatest
Tyrant,
ever reigning here.
Take Then,
Gamaliel's
counsel, and submit,
To that, which
Providence,
adjudgeth fit
Should come to pass; left else, perhaps, you may
Be found resisters of your
God,
this day.
Halt not 'twixt two
opinions,
as ye do;
But, heed his
walkings,
and, conform thereto.
if, to this
Government,
you do adhere,
Let, it, by your
Obedience,
now appear:
If, you
Dissent
; make public your
Protest,
As we have done; unite your
Interest,
To
Him,
whom you desirous are should Reign:
And,
if you dare,
come, and appeal again
To
God,
That, he may quickly send you thither,
Where, you may perish, or repent together:
For, we are confident, the
work
begun
Our
God,
will prosper, still, as he hath done;
And, that when such as you, are in your
place,
We, shall behold the
fullness of his Grace.
But ere you grow so mad to run that way,
Be pleased to hear, what I have more to say.
What profit will you get at last by that,
Which you have indiscreetly aimed at,
Tho it should thrive; and, you, should hither bring
With all his
Rabblement,
the
Scottish King?
Should they with all their strength unite together,
And like an
Inundation,
flow in hither;
Set your Fair
Towns,
and
Villages
on fire,
(As you, in probability, desire)
Which would be done, (though you desired it not)
If, there to your assistance they had got:
If, with a
Lousie Army
they should cover
Your fruitful fields; spread your fair
Meadows
over
With their
Devouring-Troops
; your houses fill
With
Nasty sluts,
and
Grooms
against your will;
Making your
Parlors,
and your
Halls
to stink
With sluttery, like a dunghill, or a sink:
If you should see your
hardly-gotten-stores,
Devour'd by loose
Commanders,
and their
whores
;
Their
Brutish followers
rudely take the bread,
With which, your
Little-children
should be fed,
Out of their hands; and keep you so in awe,
That you should scarcely dare to lodge in
straw,
(Although your own) whilst those bold
guests
did lie
In your
soft beds
; and some stand empty by:
Should you behold them, proudly domineer,
Where you this day, both
Lord's,
and
Masters
are:
Should you, who may, in peace enjoy your lives,
See your estates, your
Children,
and your
Wives,
Incroach'd upon; the
first
of them possessed
By those, who
feigned friendship
had professed;
The other, even before your face, mis-used;
The last, perhaps, immodestly abused:
And you yourself, if that appear dislik'd)
Disgracefully, both flouted at, and kicked.
Should you bel ol
•
such things, which (if they come
Upon those terms that are desired by some)
Would surely follow; what should you then gain
By that, whereof you seem to be so fain?
Think you, the most Malignant
Cavaliers,
The worst of
Papists,
and of
Presbyters
(United in a
Trinity
together)
Will bring you
purity of worship
hither?
Or, can the wisest man alive conceive,
What
Linsey-woolsey-stuff
the
Kirk
must weave,
To make a Garment, which will fit and please,
A
body,
made up of such
Crooks
as these?
Or frame a
discipline
that will agree,
With such dissenting parties as those
three?
Can you be so imprudent to suppose,
That your
New feigned friends,
and
Ancient foes,
(Disgraced and engrag'd as now they are)
With any good intentions will draw near?
Or give you
precious things,
to make you brave?
Or better
Fields
and
Gardens,
then you have?
Or that your entertainment, whilst they stay,
Will cost you less then what we
monthly
pay
Unto our
Army,
which by that expense
Is yet maintained, for our just defense?
Or can you dream (if at their choice it stand)
That, having found the sweetness of this
Land,
The
Scots,
will be so mad, as thence to go
To feed on
Thistles,
and to lie in
Snow?
Or think you, they, had lately, gone away
So quietly, but to obtain their
pay,
To render them more able to come back,
When more it might for their
advantage
make?
Do you believe that, they intend to bring
Their lately Crown'd, and
new-converted
King,
To vindicate the justness of our
Cause?
Our ancient
Freedoms,
and our
English Laws?
Or, that, they (having little of their own,
To keep him) so much cost would have bestowed,
But, that, they are made hopeful to advance
As well their
own wealth,
as his
maintenance
From your
Estates?
Can your
Dull brains,
admit,
That,
he,
or
his,
forever, will forget,
His
Fathers head?
his own deserved disgrace?
And, on what Terms, you forced him to embrace
A
loathed Covenant,
which, he did take,
More for a
Kingdom,
then for
Conscience
sake?
Or can you be so blind, as not to see
That, all things, which in your possession be,
Will scarce suffice to make full recompense,
For
Damages,
and
losses,
ever since
These
wars
began; when, he makes Computation
Thereof, and shall demand a
Reparation?
Especially, when all his
needy-Train,
And
Greedy-party,
shall to him complain
For satisfaction, of their Vast
Arrears?
Losses,
and
Expectations,
like to theirs?
Believe it, E're that
debt,
will quite be paid,
They, who are yet, of no such thing afraid,
Will find, that most (or all of them) shall be
Contributers
thereto, as well as
we,
Who are
proscrib'd:
And, that, if they are
rich,
It will not then, considered be so much,
How they affected stood,
as
what they have,
To satisfy the lusts, of those that crave:
And, all they, who are
Neuters,
now, or
Friends
In secret, unto that, which he intends,
Shall, find small means, to help distinguish them
From those, whom he, for
Traitors,
will condemn.
And, their false friends, will then retaliate
Their former
hate,
and
falsehood
to this
State.
Oh! left, this come to pass, more thankful be
To
him,
who hath begun, to set you free,
From former
Bondage
; and, from what you may,
Occasion, by an
Ill-advised way.
Observe well, whether that, which God hath wrought,
•
or this poor
Nation,
could to pass be brought,
〈◊〉
strength,
or
Wit
of men; had he not been,
Our
helper
; and, assistances brought in.
How, had so
many,
been so oft, by
few,
Defeated else? how, had the Foes they flew
And took, so often, more then doubled those,
Whom, they in open
Battle,
did oppose?
•
ow, else, had we so often saved been
〈◊〉
bringing of one
Single-vote,
between
Our
spoil,
and
us?
how, having had, a
Foe
〈◊〉
strong, so Craftie (and, a
Party
too
Of his, within our bosoms) had we thus,
Prevailed, and escaped, what threatened us?
Yea, and, among so, many murmurings;
Among so many disencouragings,
As we have had? and, (which is worse then so)
Amidst, A
People,
not so wise, to know,
Who, seeks their
Weal?
how, had we stood so long
But, that,
God
gave us
hearts,
and made us
strong:
Had I, a
memory,
and time to spare,
But half those
Evidences
to declare,
Which, of
God's Providence,
my observation
Hath taken heed of, by the dispensation,
Of
mercies,
to this
Land,
since, he begun,
〈◊〉
prosecute, what he for us hath done,
〈◊〉
Order to our
Peace
; you, would behold
〈◊〉
chain
of
Graces,
richer, then of
Gold,
Pearls, Diamonds,
and
Rubies
; and, believe
•
o
other Nations
ever did receive,
More
tokens
of his love. Could I disclose,
〈◊〉
Mischievous and deep
Designes
of those,
Who laid the first foundation of this
War
;
〈◊〉
, how far on, their
Projects
carried were,
〈1 page duplicate〉
〈1 page duplicate〉
In
England,
and in
Ireland,
ere our eyes,
Observ'd the
chief ends
of their Policies:
How, first, the
Lawyers
and Ambitious
Priests,
Were wooed and won to serve his
Interests
;
And, active to become, In making void
The Just
proprieties,
that we enjoy'd,
In
Civil things
; and, render our condition
More flavish by inducing
Superstition.
How, next he wrought upon, those
Hypocrites,
Who, seeming
Patrons,
of the
people's rights,
Became, at last to be the worst of those,
Who to the
Public-Liberties,
are foes.
Could, I expression make, How,
God
improved,
His
mercies
to this
Isle
when he removed
Strafford,
and
Canterbury
; how, their
Plot,
To ruin us, by aiming at the
Scot,
(As their first
mark
) was made the means of
〈◊〉
Which we were hopeless of arriving at,
(By such a far-fetched Compass) and, brought on
What we did never purpose to have done.
Should I, at full, illustrate here, how, they
Came, first, to do their
own work
; then, took
〈◊〉
To Further
ours
; and, by mere standing still,
Enabled us, to do (against their Will)
What they pretended, with no true intents;
As hath been manifested by th' events.
Such, as their fraudful
Juggling,
in receiving
The
King
near
Newark
; thereby, us hereaving:
Of those
Advantages,
for which we
Fought:
And, for which, we their help had dearly bought.
Such, as their wresting, that, which they professed
Four our
Joynt Good,
to
private-Interest
;
Making the
Covenant,
seem a just occasion,
Of Prosecuting an unjust
Invasion.
Such, as their
Practices
when, here they Lay
Like
Snakes
within our bosoms, to betray
〈◊〉
ruin us; by working upon those,
Who were too Credulous, of their
fair-shows,
〈◊〉
Piety,
and
Love
; For, whilst they were
With kindness, entertained amongst us, here,
They were but
Spies
and
Agents
to promote
Their own designs; And, doubtless, had it not
〈◊〉
God prevented been we had been more
〈◊〉
this by them inslav'd, them heretofore,
〈◊〉
by those Actings, which we saw by them
Pursu'd when they, were weakened from the dream
Which they pretended, (and which we did take
〈◊〉
truth, till we, from dreamings did awake)
All men may evidently now perceive
What,
we,
of their
Intentions
may believe.
If, I, could make you apprehend the
grace,
Which
God
vouchsafed when he pleased was
To move the
King
a
Parliament
to call,
That should be made destructive unto all
His own
Designes
; permitting, that he should
〈◊〉
his
Fine-Devices,
be so fooled,
As to restore, (of that
Just-power
it had)
〈◊〉
much, as that, It could not be
un-made,
Without it own
Assent
; you would believe,
That,
Mercy,
was a
visible reprieve
From our undoing. For, that made the way,
To other
Privileges
which long lay,
Unheeded, or unpractised; because,
Prerogative,
had swallowed up the
Laws,
Or, seis'd upon the
Power,
by which, we might
Regain possession, of our
Ancient-Right.
But, having, thereby, got that
Power
again,
Which, we are hopeful, they shall still retain)
They (for abusing
Kingship,
heretofore)
Enacted, that, we should have,
Kings,
no more.
Should I, sum up, what dangers did appear,
And, what,
God's
open, and close
mercies
were,
When
Gloucester
was besieged; when, many thought,
They, other
habitations
must have fought;
And, sent the
Goods,
and
Treasure,
they could spare
To
Amsterdam,
to be secured there.
When,
Bristol
was resigned; and, all the Land
(Save one poor Corner) in the
Tyrants
hand.
When, in the
West,
one
General,
began
To grow afraid, and from his Army ran,
When, by another, something was was misdone,
Of no mean consequence, at
Dennington.
When, other
Chiefs,
(by rambling up and down)
With their
Brigades,
their Credits had, or'e thrown:
And, did begin to Act destructively.
To them, whose good success, they did envy.
When,
they,
who for our
Succor,
feigned to come,
Conspir'd against us,
here,
and, then went
home
To prosecute their
mischiefs,.
When, the Foe,
Became so strong, and,
We,
so weak did grow,
That, for our
Re-enforcement,
we were fain
To take all comers; and, some to constrain;
In whom, we could but sorily confide.
When, in our
Houses
false friends did reside,
More to our cost, and to the hazarding
Of all; then all, the
Armies,
of the
King.
When, Our first
Champions
(who did over-ween
Their own deserts) swoln bigg with Pride, and Spleen,
Jeer'd our
New-Model'd-Army,
as if none
Could do such
wondrous feats,
as they had done,
When, from the
Parliament,
by shameless
lies,
Weekly perpetuated by supplies)
The
people's
hearts, were wooed away, to those,
That
were,
and
are,
and
will be,
still their
Foes▪
When
Fury
had possessed many so,
That, like a sudden
Torrent,
they did flow
Impetuously, up to the
Senate-door
;
Yea, break in thither, and, there
foam,
and ro
••
Should I proceed on further, and, with these
Make mention of God's great
deliverances,
When, he at
Hull,
the first and second time,
Did Nullifie a
Royal Stratagem.
When likewise, there appeared a dang'rous
Rent,
〈◊〉
City, Army,
and in
Parliament
;
Not only, those dividing from
each other,
•
ut from
themselves,
to ruin altogether.
When, both the
Armies
unto God appealed,
As to their
Sovereign Judge,
at
Naasby-field
:
When, all things, that were dear unto us, lay,
Upon the doubtful
Trial
of
one day.
When
God,
at
Brainford,
by a
poor man's
wit,
And
Vallour,
(which none hath considered yet)
〈◊〉
our
Chief-city.
For, had not,
He,
been,
The
King,
had then surprised it, by
design,
With all our
Train
(left for him in the way
〈◊〉
Hammersmith
) whilst, our
Commanders
lay
••
cure at
London
; who, did, little fear,
〈◊〉
great a
danger,
had been, then so near.
〈◊〉
, should I tell, with every
Circumstance,
God's
mercy
shewn in our
Deliverance,
When (after quenching of the
Gen'ral flame
)
••
fested, with new,
Mischiefs,
we became.
When
Wales
revolted; when, with
Surrey, Kent,
And,
Essex
followed that bad president.
When,
Scotland
(their confederate) came in
〈◊〉
second, what their falsehood did begin;
〈◊〉
, after all their great
hopes,
and vain
Braggs,
Were glad, to beg the saving of their
Craggs.
When, our perfideous
Seamen,
did betray
Their trust; and with our
Sea-guard
stole away.
When, our
unfriendly Neighbors,
looked on,
The
Treason,
as well pleased with what was done;
〈◊〉
, did, increase our hazard, by supplying
〈◊〉
Foes
wants; and, by
under-hand-complying▪
When, all our
Ports,
upon the
Irish
Coast,
(With every
Inland Town
) save
two,
were lost.
When our sick
Army,
likewise, near
Dunbar
Inclosed by their Adversaries were,
Without the least,
Reserve,
in their distress;
Weak Weary, Wounded, Hungry, Harbourless,
Wet, Cold,
and
Straightned
so, that in their Power
(Both by the
Foes
opinion, and by
Our,
)
They seemed to be; till,
God
looked through the cloud
And, then, the
Lowly,
trampled on the
Proud.
And, lastly; when,
Surrender
up was made
Of
Edinburgh Castle
; which, we had,
At such a season as much more then doubles
The
Benefit
; considering, what troubles,
(What dangers) might have followed; had
〈◊〉
So opportunely, that
Strong-Fortress
got:
And this great
mercy,
was the
Just occasion,
Of this
days
meeting and
Solemnization.
When these
Deliv'rances,
and of this kind,
Some others, I do fully call to mind;
With all the
Circumstances,
too, whereby
We might illustrate every
Victory,
To God's due praise; and, to th' annihilating
Of our
Endeavors
; therewith Meditating,
What, we have
gained
; and what it might have cost
Had any of our hopes, in these, been lost;
(Or, his
Assistances
withholden been
During those
straights,
which, we were sometimes
〈◊〉
I cannot, but unfeignedly confess,
His
Goodness,
with a hearty
thankfulness
;
And, for the Honor of his
Name,
assay,
To keep, an
Everlasting Holyday.
To these
Considerations,
I might add,
How many are displeased, and almost mad,
With Rage, to see that, still, in their dispignt.
God
looks upon our
Thrivings,
with
delight,
〈◊〉
, still, makes void their Malice; still, unknots,
From time to time) and Nullifies their
Plots.
〈◊〉
Constantly,
He,
Leads our
Armies
on
With Victories; as if, the
Work
were done
Before they came; and, left them nothing else
〈◊〉
do; but, take the
pris'ners,
and the
Spoyls.
〈◊〉
strangely.
He,
in
Ireland,
did begin
〈◊〉
make us
Room
; when, we had scarce, therein
〈◊〉
of Landing, wherein, we might say
〈◊〉
could have been secured, for
one day.
〈◊〉
swiftly, he hath prosecuted there,
•
vengements,
for the bloody
Massacre,
〈◊〉
our dear
Brethren
; and, what fair hopes,
he
Vouchsafes, that fully it avenged will be.
〈◊〉
great a
Mercy,
'twas that now the
Scot,
〈◊〉
Re-invading
us prevented not
〈◊〉
making, in their
Land
the feat of
War
;
Which, they intended should be settled
here:
〈◊〉
, what this
Blessing
is, they truly
see,
〈◊〉
feel,
this day, where, now, both
Armies
be.
But, over and above all this, there's, yet
〈◊〉
Mercy,
which, if we forget
〈◊〉
mention, to God's praise, we do amiss:
〈◊〉
, much it will avail us; and, 'tis this.
〈◊〉
Bloody
Irish,
whose chief interest,
Depends upon the, ten horns of the
Beast,
And, Sea of
Rome
) have with all diligence,
Endeavor'd for assistances from thence:
〈◊〉
was there want, in them, of
Willingness,
〈◊〉
second their desires; yet, nay-the-less,
They have obtained, hitherto, thereby,
〈◊〉
Aid,
considerable, or
supply:
〈◊〉
,
God,
who, our
Avenger
is become,
〈◊〉
cast on that
Leviathan
of
Rome,
〈◊〉
Chain
; and, Fastned in his Nostrils too,
•
Hook which hinders what he fain would do.
God,
likewise, ever since, our
wars
begun,
(As if, to find them
Work,
till his were done)
Hath so distracted every
Christian King,
And every▪
Commonwealth,
near neigh'bouring,
With Jealousies, and discontents at
home
;
With Wars
abroad
; Or, with
Invasions
from
Their
foreign foes;
that, what they would have do
••
They dared not: but, stood, only, looking on,
To see our
Fall
; to watch, how we did play
Our
Game
; and, where, their best
Advantage
lay,
What, but a
Providence,
and, such a one,
As may ascribed be to
God
alone,
Could so have tim'd, and
Order'd
everything,
That, they, advantages to us might bring?
What,
Denmark
would have done, their foe, the
Swed
•••
Did, by an Act unlooked for, impede.
What,
France
intended, was made also vain,
By their
Domostique Jars,
and, wars with
Spain.
What,
Spain,
could have been highly pleased with
••
Was hindered, both by
France,
and
Portugal.
The Powerful, and wary
Netherlanders,
Were grown so jealous, of their own
Commanders,
That, though they were unfriendly, at the first,
(And, Countenanc'd our
Foes,
in what they durst)
Yet, peradventure, seeing (or else fearing)
A
mischief,
over their own heads, appearing;
They, have not put opon us, worse conditions,
Then, very well became such
Politicians.
But, had not
God,
in season, took from thence,
That rash, and over-much entrusted
Prince,
Who had almost inslav'd them;
we,
and
they,
Or,
both of us,
had (probably) this day,
Been much imbroyl'd: and, therefore,
they,
and
we
Should, for that timely favor, thankful be.
The
Portugal,
hath had his bridles too,
Restraining him, from, what, he fain wuld do
〈◊〉
Hollander,
and
Spaniard
daily keep
〈◊〉
hands in action, and his eyes from sleep;
〈◊〉
that which he hath done in opposition,
〈◊〉
us, will but accelerate perdition,
〈◊〉
those whom he secured, against our
State
;
〈◊〉
bring them, to repent, when 'tis too late:
〈◊〉
'twill but keep our
〈◊〉
abroad, a while,
〈◊〉
show the
world,
God's favor to this Isle;
〈◊〉
make it heed, what
work,
he hath begun;
〈◊〉
make them know, that, what is left undone,
〈◊〉
but for trial of their
faith,
and our;
〈◊〉
, to illustrate so, his boundless
power,
〈◊〉
they may be assured to confess,
〈◊〉
love,
his
wisdom
and his
righteousness.
And for assurance, that, it shall be thus,
〈◊〉
what
earnest,
God hath given us,
〈◊〉
, we had long time, controverted, here,
〈◊〉
interest
; and made the same appear,
〈◊〉
humble
pleadings,
and by hearty
cries,
〈◊〉
God
against our late
Kings
tyrannies;
〈◊〉
saw no good success: we brought our
cause,
According to our ancient English Laws)
Before
him
by
appeals.
And by the
sword,
〈◊〉
last decision, which those
Laws
afford)
〈◊〉
the same, to proof; both
parties
being,
••
ntented, and in that
appeal
agreeing.
•
orthwith, both Drums, and Trumpets thereupon,
•
unded a
Charge
; the
battles
joined, fell on;
〈◊〉
,
God
before whose
throne
our
cause
was tried,
〈◊〉
victory,
gave
sentence
on our side.
This
Judgment
(not by all, approved at first)
••
me
traitors,
and some
friends
would have reversed,
And fought to wave it, as a doubtful
trial
;
Although throughout the world, without denial,
And throughout all times) even to this day,
〈…〉
disputes,
decided are, this way.
But to assure us, that the
sentence
came
From
God
; he, hath, again, confirmed the same
By
seconding
that act of
providence,
And, making us,
victorious,
ever since.
Thereto, therefore, adhering; we have thrown
With confidence, the
tyrant
from his Throne:
Making him also, pay the forfeiture
Of life, our present
title,
to secure.
And, therein, not alone our
Consciences,
Do warrant us, and, all those
witnesses
Of
providence,
which have therein appeared:
But, to the
world,
the same is, likewise, cleared,
By all those pow'rfull
Kings,
and neighbouring
States
•
Who, have observed, how
God
vindicates
Our
cause
; and they have now pronounced us
free▪
As we of right, and by God's
verdict
be.
For, their
Ambassadors,
who now reside,
With us, our liberty have justified,
By their
acknowledgements
; and, witness bear
Thereby, to what
God's sentence
did declare:
Yea, by their
free concession
of the same,
They make themselves as liable to blame
As we; for, if our
Nation
justly may
Be counted
Murderers
; now so must they:
At least, as
accessories
to that deed,
By which we from our
servitude,
were freed.
If,
Righteously,
our winnings we possess;
They, are partakers of our
righteousness,
By those
acknowledgements
; and,
God,
shall them
Reward, for their so justifying him:
If they by no sinister actings mar
That
blessing,
whereto,
way,
it may appear.
However; we, obliged are to praise
God's
mercy,
that we see in our own day
•
Such
blossoms
of the fruits, which we expect
That, our
endeavors
have so good effect;
As, that the pow'rfullst
Princes
of all those
Whom we suspected
Neuters
(if not
foes
)
Are so convinced as to mediate
An
amicable Juncture,
with our
State,
In time sincerenesse; or, dissemblers are:
Which, were an evidence of greater fear,
And baseness, then, we either can detect;
Or, shall, without some future cause, suspect.
Oh! what a blindness, what a frowardness,
Doth some of our own
Nation,
yet possess,
That, other men can so far off, discern
What,
God,
hath done for us; and thereby learn
Both to be wise in time, and
kiss the son
Before his
burning anger
is begun,
And yet they, still, continue obstinate:
Grumble at
providence,
bark at the
State,
Like dogs against the moon, and snarl at all
Who will not as they do,
good things,
miscall.
It may be, such as these, when they shall see
What's here expressed, will be mad at me:
Menace, defame and hate, revile, and curse,
Or, peradventure, mean me, what is worse)
Yea, some who wish me well, may think I might
Have wiser been, than, to provoke despite,
Or, needlessly, (as they suppose) engage
Against the violence of brutish
rage.
But, I defy that
wisdom,
which persuades
A
private heed,
which
public right,
invades.
〈◊〉
never yet, an ease, or safety, found
〈◊〉
ought, which to my
Conscience,
gave a wound.
Already too too many such, now are,
Who either seem ashamed, or, else fear
•
o own God's
Mercies,
or, the
public causes,
Without some
reservations, blinds,
or
pauses,
•
o save that
interest,
which to enjoy,
•
n
•
ease'
••
bly, themselves, they may destroy.
By this
self-love
are miseries begun:
Within this channel, hitherto, they run;
By this, we lose
God's
love; by this, we make
Our courage feeble, and from other; take
•
That confidence in us which might engage
Their faithfulness; and, them to us oblige,
With willingness, to help establish that,
Which for the
Public-weal,
is aimed at.
For my part I intend a resolution,
To further what we have in prosecution.
I see God's
mercies,
and I understand
His purpose, in the
works
he hath in hand:
And therefore, whosoe're displeased shall grow,
Will publish forth, what of his love I know.
It is my duty, 'tis my proper
call
;
(If I have any in this world, at all.)
Yea
born
I was, (if born I were for ought)
To do the
work,
which, I to do have fought:
And, if my
Faculty
(such as it is)
Was given me for ought, it was for
this
Which I am doing, and I will employ it
This way,
as long, as I with health enjoy it.
What ever, I have publicly professed,
Was
really intended
; not in
jest.
Neither for praise, or profit, or to please,
(Except what
frailty
doth inject of these)
Nor out of
contradiction
unto those
Who shall dislike it, do I this compose:
And, therefore neither,
carnal hopes,
or
fear
Shall make, me, my known
duty,
to forbear.
For no respect, to
Parliament
or
King,
Or to my
self,
have Im anything
Diffe blingly, spoke hitherto my thought;
Although much mischief on me it hath brought▪
And I hope never to be frighted from
A
〈◊〉
expression, whatsoever come.
But to declare the truth, and speak my mind,
As often as, I just occasion find;
•
n spite of all the spiteful
world
can do,
And all the rage of
Powers Infernal
too.
And whence springs this my confidence? not from
Those
grounds,
whereby, most men, do now become
Couragious in their
actings:
nor from our
Prevailings hitherto: nor from that
power
We have acquired: or those advantages,
Whereby we are made hopeful to possess
Our wished ends: nor trust I to th' events
Of our
endeavors,
or our best
intents
:
For, all these things, although they promise fair,
May find a
change,
and leave us in despair:
•
n this alone my boldness doth consist:
•
see
God's presence,
and his
interest,
•
n all that's done: I have a glimmering, too,
Of that, which he designs e're long, to do,
Though yet delayed: and, therefore, whatsoever
•
efalls me, am resolved to persevere
•
n driving on his
work,
though I should see
As great a
change,
as may supposed be.
Yea should I perish in this
Cause,
and knew,
When I were dying not one, thereto true;
•
should, even then believe, that, God, alone
Would finish that, which he hath now begun;
And make his
glory,
be the better seen
By those
Obstructions,
which will intervene.
Thus, having added somewhat to prevent
The prejudice, which threatens my intent:
And summed up also, (as my
weakness
could)
A
part
of that for which we render should
Our
thanks
this day; I pu
•
pose to compose
Some formal
Odes
of
thanfullnesse,
for those
••
o
〈◊〉
desirous be, when they rejoice,
To witness their intentions, by the
voice.
This, prudent men, thought very pertinent
(And an inseparable
complement
)
For such a
duty
: though,
fanatic fools,
Who have nor
wit,
nor
music
in their souls,
Perceive not, with, what good effects we may
Use them in our
devotions,
at this day.
God's,
Prophets,
who, knew best what did belong
To
praises
; did express them, oft, in
Song,
And, left them written, as the best
Records,
To memorize, what
present time
affords,
Worth recommending to Posterity:
Or, of safe keeping it in memory:
For, seeing
Hymns
beget no expectation
Of ought proceeding from an
inspiration,
Upon emergent cause; but are a
story,
Expressing, briefly, to th'
almighty's
Glory,
Matter, of fact,
(as that which hath been done,
Lately for us, or many ages gone,
For, others, whose well-being did relate,
To us) those Odes continue still in date;
And should sometimes, repeated be, to show
What,
God
hath done; that, hopeful we might gro
•
Of like
Protection
: and, be comforted
By those examples, when our hopes are dead.
And necessary 'tis, that, those
Records
Should be preserved, still, in their
first words,
That, future times, a certainty may see
In those things, which commemorated be.
And out of question, (to the end of days)
He, who sincerely sings the, to God's praise,
Shall feel within him (being so disposed)
That
spirit
move, by which they were composed.
Therefore, though
Scorners,
& those
dull soul'd things
Whose judgment knows not, whether better
〈◊〉
The
Nightingall
or
Cuckow,
flout me shall,
And in contempt, these
Hymns
my Ballads
••
ll;
•
will not be discouraged by these;
From saying, or, from singing, what I please;
But, in an awful, Joyful strain, begin
A
song,
to usher this days
praises
in.
Yea, in those
forms,
which are by them abhorred;
•
, and my
household,
thus, will praise the
Lord.
Sing this as the
100.
Psalm.
1.
WIth awful
Joy,
and joyful
Fear,
To sanctify, O Lord, this day,
Before thy
Foot-stool
we appear;
And, our
Thank-offerings
here to pay:
Which though it be no other thing,
Then thy
Free-mercies
to confess;
Or,
Songs,
unto thy praise to sing;
Vouchsafe acceptance, nay-the-less.
2.
Within ourselves, we are so poor,
That, we have nothing of our own,
But, what we had from thee, before;
Which, by our
sins
impaired is grown:
For, our
wit, beauty, strength,
and
health,
(The goods of body, and of mind)
Our time, our honors, and our wealth,
To serve our lusts, have been resigned.
3.
And, therefore, till thou shalt renew
Thine
Image,
by our fault defaced,
We, and our
Offrings,
from thy view,
Deservedly, may forth be cast.
There is no music in our
Songs,
That's worthy to be heard of thee;
Because, our
hearts, eyes, ears,
and
tongues,
Prophaned, and untuned be.
4.
Yet by those favors, heartened on,
W
••
ch were on us bestowed, of late,
A
Hymn,
we jointly have begun,
To sing this Day, at
Mercies gate.
Lord! those
eternal doors
unclose,
Through which thy special graces flow;
The cords of our Corruption lose,
And, let thy Spirit on us blow.
5.
Then, every word, we hear, or say,
With ev'rything, that's done, or thought
(In celebrating of this Day)
Shall do thee honor, as it ought:
And, they that study public harms,
Or, flout, what we are doing here,
Shall be so bound up, by these Charms,
That when they flout us, they shall fear.
Thus, having by an humble
preparation,
Made, first our way to God, for
acceptation
Of our intended
praises
; and, that done,
A little meditated thereupon;
Or, exercised our thoughts, on other
Notions,
Which may be pertinent, to these
devotions
;
We, in a second
Canto,
will relate
Some
heads
of that which we
commemorate
:
And, thus, express our
thankfulness
to God,
In
exultations,
of a higher
Mode.
Sing this as the
113.
Psalm.
1.
OH God! how good! how kind art thou!
What help, what grace, dost thou bestow
On us, in our distrest estate!
Our
tears
to
triumphs,
thou hast turned,
We now do
sing,
who lately
mourned,
And, by our Foes, were jeered at.
When we were weak, poor and forlorn,
Expos'd to dangers, fears and scorn,
Our
Comforter,
thou didst become:
And, when we dreaded
shame of face
;
Spoils, death, or wounds, join'd with disgrace;
Those fears, we were delivered from.
As thou, from base and servile bands,
And out of cruel
Pharaoh's
hands,
Thine Heritage redeemd'st of old:
Even so, from those, who fought our harm,
Thou broughtest us off, without-stretched arm,
With
signs
and
wonders
manifold.
They so, were blinded, Lord, by thee,
Who, might have
seen,
but would not see;
Nor hear when they were counsel'd well:
And He that fraud, and force employ;d,
To make our Laws, and Freedomes void;
In our own view, like
Pharaoh,
fell.
This is the
Day,
whereon our
Yoke
Of
Norman Bondage,
first was broke;
And,
England
from her chains made free▪
This is the Day, whereon the Lord,
Did manumit us by the
sword,
And, 'tis now
signal,
by decree.
Slaves,
they deserve to be, therefore,
And to be barred for evermore,
The
Freedoms
of this
Commonweal,
Who shall not thankful, now appear,
And vindicate with sword and spear,
God's
just Replies, to our
Appeal.
By thee, our Freedoms, Lord, we got;
Oh! to our keeping, leave them not:
But, still their
Guardianship
retain.
And, let not those, who under thee,
Sub
•••
ers,
of those
Freedoms
be,
〈◊〉
our
•
ins, forfeit them, again:
On th
•
se alone, that are unjust
Or shall be traitors in their trust,
To this
Republic,
or to
Thee,
Let thy avenging justice fall;
And, on all those who hinder shall,
That
Peace,
with
Truth,
may settled be:
5.
Write in our hearts, thy sacred Law;
And, let no
future failings,
draw
Our former cursed bondage back:
But, our
depraved wills
renew,
And, to thy
service,
keep us true;
Which, will our
Freedoms
perfect make.
The
Kingdom, Power,
and
Praise
be thine
As long as Moon, and Sun shall shine:
Be, likewise, thou our
Heritage
:
And, in this
Nation,
let there be
No other King, or GOD, but thee,
What e're they are, who thereat rage.
Warm'd by these
Charmes,
I do begin to feel
Another
motion,
in an higher
wheel,
Inclining my
invention,
to indite
Expressions,
raised to a loftier
height
;
That (if it can be done) I may awake
Some other, in my
praises
to partake.
Be silent then; For, I intend a
strain,
That shall reach
heaven,
and, echo, down again
Such
repercussions,
hither, through the air,
As will within our
Foes
beget despair,
Of their
designs
; and, those, to us, unite
In
praises,
who, in
England's
peace, delight:
Sing this as the
148.
Psalm, doubling the last strain of the Tune.
1.
ALl you, that present are,
Come, let our
hearts,
and
tongues,
The
Praise
of God declare,
In
new-Thanksgiving songs
;
Come, let us sing
•
trains, that may make the walls to shake,
The Roofs to ring:
Still sounding higher,
•
ill thereby, we, with
Angels, be
Join'd in one Choir.
Related, we have heard,
What he, for us, hath done;
With how much disregard,
Our Foes, he looks upon:
And, we have seen,
•
ow, he befriends, when
righteous ends
Pursu'd have been:
We, likewise view
What will befall, to those that shall
Their lust pursue.
We see, or may behold,
That, he our
Armies
leads;
And (as in times of old)
His Banner over them spreads,
And for our sakes,
•
hrough threats and spights, through depths and heights,
Their passage makes,
Whilst, to his praise
Their Foes to naught, are justly brought,
In plainer ways.
He, made both
Seas
and
Wind,
To them assistance lend;
And, what they had designed,
Sun, Moon,
and
Clouds
befriend.
F
•
rce, he repells;
〈…〉
them bold, to march where cold,
〈◊〉
hunger dwells:
And, when their
fear
Did most abound, they mercy found,
And
Victors
were.
5.
To him doth
Praise
belong:
For, he did them subdue,
Who num'rous were, and strong,
When we were weak, and few;
And, when our Foes
Came bragging on, and thought all won,
They all did lose.
Still, be it thus;
Lord! always, so, them overthrow
Who malice us.
6.
His wise-foresight prevents,
The
Politicians
wiles:
He, crosses their intents,
He, at their
Projects
smiles:
In his due time,
He still unknots, all hidden plots,
Contriv'd by them:
And, in that snare,
Which, for our feet, they closely set,
Still caught they are.
7.
Vain
sons of men,
therefore,
Your brutish grumbling cease;
Pursue false-hopes no more,
But follow after peace.
More prudent grow;
Reform your ways, and sing his Praise
As now we do:
Oh! whilst you may
In
God
rejoice, and hear his
Voice
While 'tis today.
8.
Let all men do the same,
Of whatsoever degree;
And magnify his Name,
As all obliged be.
His Righteousness,
〈◊〉
Power
and
Grace,
in every place
Let all confess:
And lay aside
•
heir own deserts, their selfish hearts,
Their stinking pride.
Your strength to him submit,
You, that have conquests won:
Wise men ascribe your wit,
To him, even him alone.
For, he supplies
•
he Fool with skill, and, when he will
Be fools the wise.
And, certainly,
•
nto to your Foes, he, gives the blows
By which they die.
10.
Rich-men, your precious things
Bring forth, your Thanks to show;
Before him, (Oh ye Kings)
Your
Heads,
and
Scepters
bow;
And, as 'tis meet,
•
ome from your
Thrones,
and cast your
Crowns
Beneath his feet:
For,
Kingdoms
all
•
o him pertain, and he again
Resume them shall.
11.
Oh! let all things that
were,
That
are,
or shall
ensue
;
(Or, but in
thought
appear)
The
Praise,
O God, forth-show;
•
ill
Times
last bound:
And, let it run, when time is done,
An endless
Round
;
Where, needs not be
Privations Night,
that we true Light
May better see.
12.
Mean time, let not his praise
Be merely, in our Voice,
As if we thought to raise
A
Trophy,
out of Noise:
But, let us more
Our Thanks express, in Righteousness,
Then heretofore:
Els (this is plain)
False shows
we make, and, do but take
GOD'S
Name
in vain.
These
Hymns
I offer up, to be instead
Of some short
Chronicle,
for them to read,
Who have not means to get a
larger Book,
Or leisure-time, long
Tracts
to overlook.
And many, peradventure, who should else
Never have heard a word, of what this tells,
Shall thereby know it, and thence, take occasion
To magnify God's
Mercies,
to this
Nation.
Here I had made an end, but that I find
Another
Christian duty,
which to mind
I must present. All these, forepast
Expressions
Of God's great
mercies,
and our fair
Professions
Of
thankfuinesse,
but words, or actions be,
Which
hypocrites
may do, as well as we,
(As to the outward man) and, many times,
By them, that
service,
best performed seems.
These, are but
offerings
of our
lips,
and
tongues,
Or exercises of the breath, and lungs,
In which, we formally may act a part,
With little fervor, and without a
heart.
If we upon inquiry find it thus,
In those
Thanksgivings
offered now by us,
•
verbal, and mere
corporal oblation
•
ll be to God, but an
abomination.
We, therefore shall do well, when we have ended
•
e
public duties,
unto us commended,
〈◊〉
Power supreme
) in private, to retire
〈◊〉
to ourselves,
and of our hearts inquire
••
w things are there, and whether all be so
•
earnest, as it ought to be, or no.
〈◊〉
we perceive a failing, let us, then,
••
nfesse it, as becomes
repentant men
:
•••
d take occasion, thence, to magnify
•
ods
love
the more, and humbly vilify
••
r ways before him, for the
favors
done,
•
ill, then, most thankfully be thought upon,
•
hen we consider, that, the
Grace
bestowed,
•
as not, without our
self-desert,
alone:
••
t, when we rather merited his wrath.
•
ercie,
by
guileinesse,
more luster hath,
•
nd God's
commiseration
will appear
••
ice greater, when 'tis known, how vile we are.
Oh! let us therefore, take more care to see,
••
th
what we are,
and, what
we ought to be,
•
hom,
God,
hath so much favor'd: let us know,
••
at we our
thankfulness
are bound to show
〈◊〉
well with
other members,
as with
tongues,
••
d, with what, ever else to us belongs.
••
e ought to bring a
circumcised
ear,
••
ot deaf to
truth,
or, readier to hear
〈◊〉
false report,
then, that which represents
••
he grievances, and wrongs of
innocents.
〈◊〉
pitiful, and an
impartial eye,
〈◊〉
look upon, the poor man's misery,
•
nd turn from
vanities
: well cleansed
hands
:
•
tive, in executing, God's
Commands:
〈◊〉
,
not to
bloodshed
swift, but, ordered
•
he paths of
Christian holiness,
to tread;
And every other
Member,
serving to
Those
duties,
which they were ordained to do.
Let every man consider, what,
he was
;
What, he at this time
is
; unto what
place
God, hath
preferred him
: unto what
end
:
What,
he hath done
; and,
what, he doth intend:
Whether,
to other men, he hath done so,
As, he would others, unto him should do.
Whether his
Power
be faithfully employed,
To further that, for which it is enjoyed;
Or, to enrich himself. Whether, his
wealth,
His
reputation, wisdom, strength,
and
health,
Have been improved aright; and, whether, he
Is really the same, he seems to be,
By those external
actings,
which express
His
Justice, Piety,
and
Thankfulness.
For, 'tis not our
conformity,
to that
Which is this day, commanded by the
State,
(Or, other like
performances
) alone,
That, maketh acceptable what is done.
'It is not
Religion,
stew'd into a vapor;
Taking, of
Notes,
at
Sermons,
in a paper;
Or, giving sixpence, or perhaps, a shilling,
Wherein, consists a laudable fulfilling
Of this days-duty: no, beloved
Nation,
'It is
Justice, Justice
; Bowells of
compassion
;
Sincerenesse
in your
deeds; truth
in your
hearts
;
And, purifying of your
inward parts
;
Which makes a
Sacrifice
to be approved,
Or
Sacrificer
perfectly beloved:
And, 'tis the want of these, that, most estranges
From GOD; and brings the most destructive
change
•
Which, being true; all men (in what they may)
Should to perform the duty of
this day,
Be diligent: But most conduce, it shall
Unto the
Public-good,
in general;
That such as have chief
Power,
in either
Nation
Should take themselves into
Examination,
And search, what in them wanteth, to express
A hearty, and unfeigned thankfulness:
Let, therefore those, on whom, at this time, lies
The greatest
Trust,
reflect, a while, their eyes
Upon themselves; to make inquiry, whether
There be not in their
public-actings,
either
Some falsehood, or some failings, which may need
A
Reformation,
and a better
heed
:
Whether, they have not swallowed, what may choke
Themselves, at last; God's, righteous wrath provoke;
And, frustrate all our former
Preservations
;
Our present Joys, and future expectations.
Let them examine, how much, yet, they want
Of making good their vowed
Covenant,
Not in the
Scottish,
but the
English
sense)
Which hath relation to our just defense,
And, to that
mutual aid,
which, to each other
We vowed; when, we were thereby join'd together.
Let them examine, whether, they have not
That part, of their
Ingagement,
so forgot,
As, to desert their friends, in th' executions
Of their just
Vow,
and, made their
Prosecutions
More mischievous to them, then unto those
That, were appa
•
ently our
guilty Foes
:
And, whether, whilst this
Lot,
on them attends,
Men, may not cheaper, be
truth's
foes, then friends.
Let them examine, if there be not some,
Who to their
Counsels,
and
Committees
come,
•
eldome, or never; but, to set those free
From
Prosecution,
who, most guilty be:
And, whether, many of them, do not know
Who, these men are, and often, find it so,
Much to their grief; because, they are unable
To hinder, what they know unwarrantable.
Let, them consider, whether, some effects
Of
partial,
and of
personal respects,
Have not oft times, destroyed an
Innocent,
The just dooms, of the
guilty,
to prevent:
Whether, this
Lord,
that
kinsman,
or their
friend
;
(Or, he, that can promote their
private end
)
This
Lady,
with the fair bespotted face;
That
gallant,
in the suit bedawb'd with Lace;
Or, seeming
Converts,
who, perhaps, are come
To
Fine,
for means, to mischief us, at home;
Let them I say, consider whether, these
Are not received with more
civiliti
•
s,
And, with much more respect, then many are,
Who, from the first beginning of this
war,
Have served faithfully; and ever stood
Firm, in all
Trialls,
for the
Public-good.
Let them examine, whether,
they
and
we,
Partakers, of one
Common-Justice
be,
According to our right: Or, whether they
Allow not to themselves, what they deny
To some of
us,
who, have the self-same
Cause
;
And, claim the self-same
equity,
and
Laws.
Let them examine, whether, none of them,
Seek
opportunities,
and watch for
time
How, to surprise their
House,
to gain a
Vote,
Which, in a full Court, never had been got;
Because, their
motions,
had been, then, gainsaid,
By many, and, their
purpose,
better weighed.
Let them examine, how, they do pursue
Their
self-denying Votes,
which, gave a show
Of honorable, and of good
intentions
;
Though frustrate, by unlooked for preventions.
Let them examine, if these
Common-weals
Can hope for benefit, by just
Appeals,
Against
Oppressors,
who shall
Office
bear,
When in
Supreme Authority
they are,
And while they shall be privileged so,
That, they may Judges be; and
Parties,
too,
In those
Appeals
; and, how, their
bribery,
Or other injuries, can possibly
Be proved; where, all
Appellants,
against these,
Shall find so many disadvantages
To struggle through; and while those they impeach,
Are in a
Sanctuary,
out of reach.
Let them examine, if the
distributions
Of
places,
gainful by their executions,
Are equally divided; or, bestowed
So frequently, for any
merit,
known,
As, for some nigh
relation,
unto those
Who get the power, such
places
to dispose:
And, whether,
one,
may
five,
or
six,
deserve,
Whilst, many of our
friends,
are like to starve,
Who, might have been relieved; yea, made our debtor;
And, served the
Common wealth,
perhaps much better.
Let them examine, whether, they, who
lent
And, freely gave, till all they had, was spent,
The
Public
to secure; are cared for, so,
As they have been, who, fought our overthrow:
Whether, they see not many more arise
To
speak
for them, upon emergencies;
To
represent
their seeming-sad
conditions
;
To
offer,
and to
second,
their
Petitions
;
To get
Provisoes, pardons,
or
Reprieves,
(And, means to keep their
children,
and their
wives
)
Then do for those, when their distress appears,
Who, freely, spent their
blood,
to save our
tears.
Let them examine, whether, some of them
Do not by their proceedings, both condemn
And, help destroy themselves; when, in their
Choises
Of
Public-Ministers,
they give in
Voices,
Or
Names,
for by-respects, or kindreds sake;
Enabling them,
Confed'racies
to make,
For
private interest
: let them, together
Take consultation, and examine whether
They favor not, among them, such as drive
Those
actings
on, whereby, they may contrive
The ruin of our
Cause.
Let them, moreover,
Examine, whether, none they can discover
Who constantly endeavor, to bring in
Those, who most worthily, deprived have been
Of their late
trust
; that, they might them assist
In strengthening their
corrupted interest
:
And, whether, an
indulgency
to these,
May not procure some disadvantages
To that
Militia,
which, hath been, of late,
Established, to fortify the
State
:
And, let them, if they find it to be so,
Prevent the mischief, e're it further go.
Let them examine, whether,
Avarice,
Ambition, malice, pride,
or some such
Vice,
Hath not been so indulged, as, that it may
Deprive us of the comforts, which this day
We have hope: yea, let us all,
apart,
And, jointly, seek true
Peace,
with perfect heart.
These
memorandums,
I am bold to add,
That, our
Thanksgivings,
may be thereby made
More perfect; and, more acceptable, too,
By minding, what, we further have to do:
That, by these
Observations,
I may keep
My
friends,
from singing of themselves asleep,
In that
security,
which will destroy
The truest sweetness, of our present
joy
:
That, we might save
Supreme Authority,
From that contempt, that blame, and obloquy,
Which, may be cast upon it, by our
Foes,
Or, by the secret
faithlesnesse,
of those,
Who (by pretending for it) have much wronged
Their
Actings,
and our
miseries
prolonged:
••
d that we may not by our heedlessness
〈◊〉
those things, which will mar our
happiness,
••
wle
Elegies,
and roar out
Lamentations,
••
ead of
songs of praise,
and
Exultations,
Lord! give thou hereunto, those good events
Which, may, in somewhat, answer my intents:
•
nd, take with
acceptation,
I, thee pray,
••
is my imperfect, this may weak assay.
•
sten thy
work,
and bring it to conclusion
;
•
awe us, out of that chaos-like confusion,
〈◊〉
which we are: As, in our
preservation
•
ou hast appeared, so in our
restauration
〈◊〉
unity,
please, likewise, to appear
;
••
at, Peace
and
truth,
may keep their dwellings here.
Let
Parliament,
and
people,
from this day,
••
ise thee, by Reformation of their way.
〈◊〉
City, Country,
and
both poor and rich,
••
deavour with sincerity, as much.
••
t our victorious
Army,
do the same
;
••
tributing unto thy glorious
Name
〈◊〉
their
prevailings;
persevering, still,
〈◊〉
faithful executing of thy
will,
••
d seeking
public-peace
without
design
•
ought, which may to
selfishness
incline.
•
nd, make us all, with as much willingness,
〈◊〉
forth thy
praises,
for the righteousness
〈◊〉
thy severest
Judgments;
as, to sing
•
anks, for those
blessings,
which thy
mercies
bring.
And, my
dear countrymen,
let me not pray
••
r you in vain: nor sing my
songs,
this day
〈◊〉
Beasts,
and
Rocks,
and
Mountains,
to be heard,
As they have often been) without regard:
••
st, I have cause to change my joyful
Odes,
〈◊〉
mournful
Epicedes,
and
Palinodes.
〈◊〉
ill presaging
Raven
to this
Nation,
•
would not be (croaking of
desolation
And sad events) I, rather with the
Dove,
My winged
Contemplations,
would improve
To bring such
Olive-leaves,
as may declare
Your
overflowings,
quite abated are:
But, all that is allowed by my
Commissions,
Is, only to declare, on what
conditions,
We may have
Peace;
and, what events, God hath
Design'd, both to the
right,
and
left hand path.
Let me not, therefore, whistle to the
wind,
And,
emptiness,
in my good wishes find.
For, why should this day of our
visitation
Be overpassed by this
generation?
Why do the
Gentry
rage? why murmur so
The brutish
Common people,
as they do?
New
Vanities,
why do they still devise?
Themselves befooling every day with
lies
?
Though, every days, experience doth declare,
How false their hopes and expectations are:
If they would learn to
love,
and to
believe,
God, thereunto, a blest Event should give;
And make them know, and see (with comfort too)
What, he is doing, and intends to do.
But I begin to feel within my breast,
A
Rapture,
pressing on to be expressed.
Oh! hear me therefore, and let none despise
To heed it: for I will now sing
Prophecies,
Which (whatsoever you think) shall be as true,
As if a
wiser man
had told them you.
If you shall (oh ye
Britons
) reunite,
In
love,
and, but, according to your might,
Add your endeavors, cheerfully, to do,
What
Grace
and
Reason,
will invite you to,
Your
way
shall prosper: and, (my soul for yours)
Neither all
earthlies
nor
Infernal powers,
Shall able be to make a future
rent,
Betwixt you; or to shake that governme
••
Which God will settle here: but it shall stand
•
s long, as there is, either
sea
or
land:
•
nd be renowned among all other
Nations,
•
hroughout the
world,
and through all
Generations.
This
Island,
then, the
Darling
shall become,
•
ot only, of all
States
in
Christendom
;
•
ut, likewise, of all those within the sound
•
f every
wind,
that blows within this
Round.
•
shall be made the
Magazine
of all
•
hose things on earth, which men do precious call:
•
nd, of all
virtues, moral
and
divine,
•
hat may be found, where
Sun
and
Moon
do shine:
•
or, God shall take delight, to multiply
•
is
blessings
on it, and to beautify
•
ut
cities, fields,
and
persons,
with each thing,
•
hat
honor, ornament
or
peace
may bring.
But, if against the
Light
you shut your
eyes
;
•
ood
counsel,
if you frowardly despise:
〈◊〉
you from
God,
shall turn away your
heart
;
•
he way of
Justice,
and of truth pervert:
〈◊〉
, timely
mercies
you neglect to show
•
o those that
need
(God, having unto you
•
ouchsaf'd so many favors, and, protections,
〈◊〉
your great straights, and manifold afflictions)
•
r, shall abuse the
pour
or
trust
bestowed,
•
o set up vain
devices
of your own,
•
stead of what concerns the throne of
Christ
;
•
r, this free
Nations,
lawful
interest
;
•
r, shall maliciously pursue a
course,
•
hat, leads away, from
better things, to worse
:
•
hen, know your
doom,
for, here I will tell it you,
•
nd speak it out, without
Aenigmaes
too.
God, with a
black-sad
cloud shall overcast
•
our hopes; and, on you, breath a sudden blast
•
hat will shrink up, (before you are aware
•
ll those fair bloomings, which this day appear;
Set back your
Dialls,
nip your
forward Spring,
Which promised rich
harvest fruits,
to bring:
And, as his
mercies,
have exceeding been,
So shall his
Judgments,
when they do begin.
Yea, should you
conquer,
till, you did not know
Abroad,
or, here
at home,
one able foe.
Should all those
Princes,
and those powrfull
Sta
•••
Who court you now, prove firm
confederates
;
Or, should you stand possessed of all their
powrs,
Of whom, you are, or may be
Con querours
;
Yet,
mark well this
(unless, we shall with speed,
Reform some things, which
Reformation
need:
And with more
Courage,
with more
verity,
More
self-denial,
and
sincerity,
Witness our
thankfulness
(which, by God's grace,
I hope, will in due time, be brought to pass)
A
thing,
which no man yet, knows what to call,
(Or whence 'twill come) our hopes endanger shall
Yea, such a thing, as is not yet in
thought,
(And which most men will sleight and set at nough
•
When first it shall appear) will overthrow
Our
Glory,
and lay all our
honor
low,
Till we repent: but, then, we shall arise
From our disgrace again, to be more wise:
And they who in their hearts abide sincere,
Shall see this
change,
without much
harm,
or
fear▪
More, I might say, but, my
set time
is gone.
Take this, among you; and,
God's will be done,
FINIS.
In the last page of the Epistle l.21.r. settling. p.6.l. •• .r. J • seed. p.7.l.29. r. either and or.