Seasonable Precautions
The source for this document is https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/A66792.0001.001
Project Note
This is licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND. This license allows reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
The source of this document is the Early English Books Online (EEBO-TCP) website. Those books were transcribed in a character for character manner and can be very cumbersome to read since there was no standard spelling during that time. Many spelling variations such as "unlesse", "vnlesse", and "vnles" regularly appear.
This project was conceived to clean up those books as much as possible and make them more accessible to the interested reader, leading to the creation of a massive list of variant spellings and their corrections. This was used to clean up the text, but is of course only as complete as the list itself. Because of the nature of the original transcription, some words have missing characters or places where the original language (e.g., Greek) was not transcribed. This effort does not change that. Be aware that the original transcription can also be faulty and in some cases entire sentences may be missing.
Although this is no substitute for a properly compared, proofed, and scholarly edition, I believe that the result is a document which is far more accessible, particularly for searching for terms using standard spelling. The document has been cleaned and presented in what I hope is a pleasing and useful format for the vast majority of Christian brothers and sisters who just want access to read these spiritually nourishing works.
However, a word of warning: The Puritans were a very diverse group of people and their age was characterized with godliness, but also much upheaval, disputation and strife. They disagreed on many doctrines and some of these works contain less orthodox or Scriptural views than others. The reader is strongly advised to read with discernment, particularly if it is unknown whether author is trustworthy.
This project took a huge amount of time and skill to bring to fruition. I would particularly like to thank David Jonescue for the initial list of Puritans he found on EEBO and the concept behind this project as well as the continuous, unceasing efforts toward seeing this complete. Without his labor, this would not be available. Alex Sarrouf was invaluable in providing the initial list of over 7,000 spelling variations he had identified and corrected, as well as continuing to review more than 16,000 additions to that list for any typos.
Logan West
(with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf)
www.puritansearch.org
Tuba-Pacifica. Seasonable Praecautions, whereby is sounded forth a Re-Treat from the War intended between England and the United-Provinces of Lower GERMANY.
By GEO: WITHER, a Lover of Peace, and heartily well-affected toward both Nations.
Nimis Cautela non nocet.
Matthew 5. 9.
Blessed are the Peace-makers, for they shall be called the Children of God
ANNO. 1664. Imprinted for the Author, and is to be disposed of, rather for Love then Money.
TUBA-PACIFICA. Sounding a Retreat from the War intended between England and the United Provinces.
[illustration]
AN Ancient Emblem, relating to the said Nations.
Si Collidimur frangimur,
If we knock, we are broke.
AN Ancient Emblem, relating to the said Nations.
Si Collidimur frangimur,
If we knock, we are broke.
An
hour is come,
in which must be renewed
That
Work,
which I have hither to pursude;
And, I to utter what I have to say,
Will take the
Kue
that's offered whilst I may,
In hope that they, whose Prudence can descern
Those things which their well-being do concern,
Will hear and heed them, e're it be so late
That
Premonitious
will be out of date:
For,
Opportunities
may slip away
To morrow, which are offered us this day;
And 'tis all one to
Wise-men,
whether
Strangers
Or
Friends,
premonish them of likely dangers,
Or, whether unto them,
Alarums
from
A
Silver,
or a
Rams-horn Trumpet
come.
To me there are but two ways known, by which
Men may speed well or ill, grow poor or rich▪
To wit, by prosecuting
Good
or
Evil,
By cleaving close to God, or to the
Devil
And, they are two such
Masterships,
that, neither
Is pleased with him, who serves them both together;
Because, what is endeavor'd for the one
Obstructs what for the other shall be done.
Presuming therefore, you depend alone
On him, whom I serve, thus proceed I on.
A
commom Fame
Reports there will be
War
Betwixt the
English
and the
Hollander
And, by their
preparations,
I conceive
We may with probability, believe
It will be so. Their many panic Fears,
Their groundless hopes, their bitter Scoffs and Jeers,
Cast on each other, are plain
symptoms
too,
Of what, in likelihood, they mean to do.
We likewise, by the Truths and by the Lies
Which to divide them wicked men devise,
And, whereby such
Partakers
on both sides
Augment that hatred which still more divides,
May fear, as well as by their other deeds,
The
mischief
will go on, as it proceeds,
Untill the power doth rest in GOD alone,
To undo, what is willfully misdone.
But, that, which most confirms it, is the
sin,
The
Crying Crimes,
that both continue in
Without Repentance: For, among the rest
These I enumerate are not the least,
(Nor any whit abated, since GOD made
The late
Breach
up, which them else ruined had)
Such, as their bragging vaunts of that frail strength
Which will destroy their foolish hopes at length;
The confidence, the sottish vulgar gathers
From Ships and Armies, long hair, Muffs & Feathers;
Their hot contestings which shall have the hap
To wear the greatest
Bauble
in their Cap.
Or, whether 'twill at last, be brought to pass,
That th'
Ass
shall ride the
Man,
or
Man
the
Ass.
These, and some other things, that are perceived
Now acting, or about to be contrived,
Have made me, with small difference to deem
Most of them are as mad as they do seem.
And,
is it even so?
must you now lash
Each other, and your
earthen Pitchers
dash?
Must you, that have so long been
Friends,
now knock
Untill you into Potsherds quite are broke?
None taking heed or care how to prevent
That
mischief
which appeareth eminent,
And was presag'd about the ninetieth year
Now past, by this your well known
Emblem
here?
Have you not one among you, rich or poor,
So wise as he, whose Counsel heretofore.
Preserv'd a
City,
and did then receive
The same reward, which men in this age give
For such-like services? Hath neither, place
A
man
so prudent as that
Woman
was
Who raised the siege from
Abel,
by her wit,
When
Joab
with an host beleagur'd it?
But, are you all of wisdom so bereft,
That, no
Expedient
seemeth to be left
Whereby to act until the sequels are
Ignoble Peace,
or a
destructive war
?
If it be so, from whence could it proceed
But from your failings both in word and deed?
From sordid
Avarice, Pride,
and
Self-will,
Inticing
Fleshly Lustings
to fulfil?
For, these deprave the Judgments of most
Nations▪
Cause them to fall away from their
Foundations;
Then, fly to
Refuges
patched up with
Lies,
Seek
Power
and
Riches
by those vanities
Which multiply
Oppressions
and increase
Confusions
to the ruin of that
Peace
They might enjoy: For, then their strength consists
In, and by those
corrupting Interests,
Which will engage them to rush further on
In their Oppressive ways long since begun,
Till they grow deaf to all that can be said
To make them of their just deserts afraid.
And should they then, their
crooked paths
forbear,
Most
private Tradings
at a
non-plus
were;
Yea all those
Incomes
whereupon depend
Their
Formal Grandeur
would soon have an end▪
For, many thousands, who did vast Estates
Get and uphold, by cherishing Debates,
By multiplying and delaying long
Vexatious suits, to many a poor man's wrong,
Would think themselves undone, if every
State
Their
Courts
of
Justice
should reduce to that
For which they were ordained; and Tyranny
Would Want fit
Tools
to bring to flavery
The
common people.
Very few know how
They may to GOD and their
Superiors
now
Perform their duties, and not both displease
Or th' one or th' other; For, what is by these.
Commanded, is not seldom, either quite
Repugnant, or obliquely opposite,
As they Interpretations of them make
Who to be Judges of them undertake.
Yea, those Professions, and those Trades whereby
Most live, are subject to such vanity
That honest men are difficultly able
To use them with a
Consence
warrantable.
It is no easy matter to devise
What would become of all those
Batter-flies
Who flutter up and down in
Princes Courts,
If their oppressive
Projects
of all sorts
Were took away; and what case were they in
Who at this day do live upon the sin
Of one another? But they'll be supplied
What ever to the
Public
shall be tide;
And at the last, (although their Friends they seem)
Destroy those
Governments
that nourished them,
Unless, according to what's
just
and
true
Themselves they modulize, with speed, a new;
Which,
how,
and by
whom,
that might well be done
Were an
Expedient
worthy muzing on.
Perhaps, if you did seriously take heed,
How this concerns you, and what would proceed
From such a
Constitution,
you might know
From whence the
quarrellings
between you flow,
And how to reconcile those differences
Which now increase your dangers and expenses.
Perceive you not, that your Prevarications,
Your Falshoods, and your gross dissimulations
With GOD, and with each other, so provokes
His anger, who on all men's actions looks,
That 'tis impossible you should have Peace
With
him,
your
selves
or
others,
till you cease
From provocations, and bring forth such fruit
As with a
real Reformation
suit,
And with those
Churches
which are truly
Christ's?
Yea, that your hopes will fail, though flattering
Priests
Do promise peace, and impudently, too,
Perswade, that GOD is pleased with what you do?
Observe you may, by what ensues thereon,
How, GOD abominates what is misdone
In managing the
Mysteries of State,
And heeds what is in secret aimed at
By
fair pretendings;
and how, they thereby
So long have sought themselves to fortify
That, most men are inclined to believe
Lest Good is meant, when sweetest words they give;
And that they have forgot on what conditions
Or, to what end God gave them their
Commissions.
Know you not, that a
spirit of delusion,
To bring upon you merited confusion,
Was Licensed to go forth and delude
Those
Prophets,
by whose counsel are pursued
Unrighteous Actions, that you may be sent
On Voyages like that which
Ahab
went?
Are your eyes wholly blinded? heed you not
That, such another
Spirit
is begot
'Twixt
you,
and 'twixt the
People
everywhere
Within your several Borders,
here
and
there,
(And at this time as active) as was that
Which GOD permitted to infatuate
Abimelech
and
Shechem,
till it had
Destroy'd them; all their Counsels frustrate made,
And brought upon both
Parties
that reward
Which for blood-thirsty persons is prepared?
If these things you have heeded, be not still
By those deluded who intend you ill;
But, wake out of your deep security,
And from that
Trance
wherein you seem to lie.
Consider seriously, what you intend;
E're it begin, think well how it may end;
What an intolerable heavy load
'Twill lay on most at home, on some abroad,
What
Treasure,
and how much
blood
will be spent;
How, both your Countries will be thereby rent
And shattered; beside, what not yet foreseen,
Is likewise possible to intervene,
From them, who watching to enjoy the spoil
By your contendings, laugh and jeer meanwhile;
Which to prevent; I sound out this
Retreat
From that
War,
wherewith you each other threat.
I nothing aim at, or design to do
But what I know GOD hath inclined me to,
And which you too, may know, if you well weigh
What I have written, with what I might say;
And, I believe, that man (who ere he be)
Who shall obstruct what's offered now by me
Shall thereby suffer as one who withstands
The mercy he intendeth to both Lands▪
With naught I charge you▪ but what th' one or th other
Is singly guilty of, or both together;
Nor ought whereto, unless you feared are,
You in yourselves a witness do not bear:
For my part, I shall neither gain nor loose
By
Peace
or
War,
or by that which ensues;
Because, he that on GOD his whole heart sets,
Will be the same, what ever he permits.
I love both
Nations,
truly wish them well,
And therefore shall not anything conceal
That may concern your safety, though with scorn
My
Premonitions
you should back return:
Permit me then, to speak a word in season;
For, sometimes, he that is a Fool speaks reason.
Though
Joseph
was a slave in deep disgrace;
A Prisoner more neglected then I was
In my late Thraldome; (no whit less in danger
By false Accusers, because, more a
stranger;
)
A
heathen King,
disdained not to take
Good Counsel from him, when her reason spake
Though he in him, no more of GOD could see
At first, then you at this time do in me.
I, no such
Revelations
will pretend
As give no warrant on them to depend
Save his own word who tells them; neither ought
Advise, but
Truths,
which GOD himself hath taught
As well to
you
as
me,
by his known
word,
Or by the
Olive-branch,
or, by the
Sword.
His
Justice
or his Mercy; which have spoke
That oft, whereof you little heed have took.
To fright you, no
predictions
I will fain
As many do, pumpt out of their own brain;
Nor speak in Riddles, nor such things declare
As you cannot without crakt patience hear,
If I may but that freedom have to speak,
Which
harmless Fools,
and
licens'd Jesters
take.
As
Moses,
from a principle of
Love
Said unto those two
Israelites
who strove,
So say I unto you who disagree;
Wrong not each other, for,
you Brethren be
By
Nature;
yea, by Grace too, so professed:
Be therefore
Christ
•
ans
or be
men
at least.
Like barbrous heathen wherefore should you strive,
And by
dissention
to yourselves derive
A mutual Plague? Act that which is designed
By them who to destroy you are inclined;
And, probably, can no way else effect
That
mischief
which their Malice doth project?
Consider what Advantages you had
By
concord,
how safe thereby you were made;
What you professed when you agreed together;
What heretofore, you have been to each other;
How strengthened, and how pow'rful you became
Whilst your
Designs
were in effect the same;
To your
Alies
how helpeful; and to those
How terrible, Who dared to be your Foes;
Even when the pow'rfulst of your
neighbouring Nations
Seem'd so assured of their expectations,
That their
Sea Forces,
in a proud bravado,
Were termed an
Invinsible Armado;
Till GOD befriending you, did with one puff
Bring down their Pride, and blow their Malice off.
Power, wealth, and honor, ever since that day
He, likewise, heaped on them, many away,
Whilst you continued Friends, though you had many
Backslidings and defects as gross as any.
As to your outward welfare, all things, yet,
To prosper, GOD doth graciously permit.
Some of you, have by loosing all, got more
Then ever they enjoyed heretofore;
Some other, though of all; no less bereft
Are twice as rich as they, now nothing's left,
By having thereby learned to prize that most,
Which being gotten never shall be lost▪
And, they who this
worlds wealth
do more desire
Have means enough their longings to acquire.
The chiefest
Foreign Trade
to you is given
In all the
Realms
and
Countries
under heaven.
Your
Ships
are numberless, your
Merchants
more
And richer, then the
Tirians
heretofore.
Your
Ware-houses
are stored by your Commerce
With all things precious through the
Universe;
For which you were envied by all those
Who either seemed your
Friends
or are your Foes.
Your
Naval Forces
if you timely might
Perswaded be sincerely to unite,
In
Righteousness,
would balance all the rest
Between the
Orient Indies
and the
West
And both the
Poles,
enabling you to give
Those Laws to all men, who by
Traffick
live,
Whereby, there might, for all, sufficient
Trade
In
safety,
and with
equity
be had;
Without which, whatsoever you shall obtain
Will prove but an unprofitable gain.
And, (which is more considerable, far,
Then all your honors, power and riches are)
GOD, hath among you, sown the
feeds of Grace
More plentifully then in any place
Below the
Sun:
his
Plants
refreshments wanting
Though set in
blood
and
Fire,
at their transplanting
Into your
Borders,
so well thrived there
Even then, that millions from them sprouted are;
And, more from them continually shall sprout
In spite of those who seek to root them out;
Yea, though you by your folly forfeit those
Advantages which he on you bestows,
For their sakes▪ whom some of you do revile
Oppress, and from their native Lands exile.
For, GOD hath made your
Country,
to become
The strongest
Bulwork
in all
Christendom,
Both against GOG and MAGOG
covered Foes
And such as openly, the Saints oppose;
That▪
saving Truth
and
sincere innocence
Might thereby be preserved from violence;
Especially, from their hate, who pursue
The precious seed of
Christ
in
them
and
you,
By
Antichristian wiles,
which hatched were
In your own
wombs,
and nursed up now are
By seeming Friends, who hide their fallacies
With gaudy
vails,
and vain
formalities,
Untill the souls for which they traps prepare
Are hunted unto death, or to their snare.
These
Ingineers,
within your bosoms lie,
And, what their chief aims are, no doubt have I.
Think on these things, and whether 'tis from me
Or from God, that you minded of them be;
For, what I had to write when I begun
I knew not; nor shall I know when 'tis done,
What, by my
Prompter,
I was moved unto
Untill I read it over as you do,
To see what is of God in every line
As if those
writings
had been none of mine.
When GOD, by despicable
means
and
men,
(As he to do is pleased now and then)
Speaks to a
King
or
Nation,
it doth carry
A show of somewhat extraordinary
To be considered on with serious heed,
And it importeth somewhat to succeed.
When waving men trained up in learned Schools
He speaks to them, by those whom they count fools,
Makes others (as of old some Prophets were)
Actors in things that scandalous appear
To most Spectators, yea, ridiculous
To sober men (as oft of late with us)
Rendring them
signs
unto their generation
Of what's to come; 'tis worth consideration;
(Especially when injuries and scorn
Are patiently with sober stoutness born,
For conscience sake and all men, truly wise
Although such
dispensations
fools despise)
Are deeply sensible, of what on those
The ignorance and hate, of some impose,
To whom, it will be manifest ere long,
That, they have injured those, to their own wrong.
If yet you know it not, now be it known
That, by the power which is on you bestowed
To be on all occasions, whilst you have it
Employed for his honor who first gave it)
You were entrusted, and enabled so
As you have been, not your own will to do;
Or, that you to exalt yourselves above
Your Neighbors, GOD'S donations, might improve
Into such an exorbitance of power
That, at your pleasure, you might them devour,
Oppress your Brethren, and advantage them
Who Adversaries are to
you
and
him:
For, they were given to preserve their Peace
Who, under you, in love and righteousness
Desire to live; the same
Faith
have professed,
And by
Usurping Tyrants
are oppressed;
Which
Grace
if you shall turn into oppression
Or wantonness, will hasten your perdition;
Make many of your truest Friends grow sad
And me, who of your welfare should be glad,
Be forced ray work to close (in imitation
Of
Jeremiah
) with a
Lamentation.
You will but give your foes just cause to laugh
To see you quarrelling for straw and chaff
Wilst they get opportunity to burn
Those Granards down, whereby the precious corn
Might be preserved, wherewith your bread of life,
May be supplied, if you desist from strife.
Who can assure you that the provocations
Whereby, now very many in both
Nations,
Exasperated are, will not afford
Fit opportunities by your discord
Some such contrivances then to project
And prosecute as prudence may suspect?
For, though what Faction moves mad men to do
Will ruin them at last, so 'twill you too.
What, men who have good consciences will shun
Will by men without consciences be done
When God shall let them loose, or call together
All sors of sinners to correct each other.
'It is likewise possible, that many things
Pretended causes of your quarrellings
If they were well examined would be found
Meer scandals raised without real ground,
To make misactings on both sides appear
(By
Aggravations
) greater then they were.
For, in both
Nations,
there is such a Rabble
(By their ill manners much more despicable
Then by their
Fortunes
) who, for servile ends,
In hope of profit, (or to make them friends
Of those whom they sought to exasperate)
Did some misactings much more aggravate
Then there was cause; and so, that which was bad
Was by their falsehood, more offensive made:
This, hath been kindling 'twixt you many years
A smothering Fire, which now to Blaze appears;
But hitherto these had not power to blow
The flame so high as they have raised it now:
For, GOD did but permit them for
probation
And though it was of long continuation,
Hath so your wealth increased, that as 'twixt
Lot
And
Abraham,
it now hath strife begot.
GOD,
by his grace, direct you to a course,
The
consequent
thereof may not be worse.
Your
force united
hath been heretofore
A terror to the vassals of that
Whore
Which rides the
Beast:
yea, often such a dread
To her, when she at highest bore her head
That, she's inrag'd to see you have so long
Against her
Soceries
continued strong;
Though to supplant you she laid many a
Train
Which had not then contrived been in vain,
Had you been so divided as this day
You are, or as perhaps e're long you may.
But
Unity
did make you so
compact
A
Body,
that her
wiles
could not distract
Your prudent Counsels, neither from your course
Divert you, by her
cunning
join'd with
force▪
This▪ by
experience
found, she doth begin
To work upon you by another
Gin
Which will extend to many far and near
Who deem they thereby unconcerned are:
For, they who foolishly, themselves now flatter▪
That they by fishing in your troubled water
Shall get
Advantages,
will be bereaved
Of those expectancies, now preconceived:
For, that which follows, be it whatsoever
Will further▪ GOD'S designments, but not their;
And, though you may by folly, loose your ends
She shall not bring to pass, what she intends.
If she by this
Division,
break your power
She thinks that she shall easily devour
The
scattered Churches,
which in hazard lie
Within the limits of her Sov'raignty;
Then, those that stronger are (though more remote)
As soon as opportunities are got
To practice on them, by the force of
Arms
Or, by the power of her besotting
Charms▪
And if they take effects, her work is done,
Untill GOD'S
Counter-work
shall be begun,
Who, though man's working with him he expects,
Shall no advantage lose by their defects
Who give Advantages unto his Foes,
By trifling that away which he bestows,
To do him service. But, they shall become
Partakers with
Apostates
in their doom.
That grand
Impostris
now resolves to play
Divisions,
making all those whom she may,
Dance to her
Fiddle;
and to bring about
Her purposes, hath very little doubt:
For, as a wasted Candle when it sinks
Into the greasy socket (and there stinks)
Sends greater flashings forth, and blazeth more
A little while, then any time before;
So, she doth now, with her whole force persue
The mischief she hath long designed for you;
And, not much wanting seemeth to complete
That, whereupon her heart hath long been set:
For, to that end, were sent forth before hand,
Her
Emissaries
into every land,
With
Dispensations
(as occasion haps)
To make use of all courses,
forms,
and
shapes:
And these have into all
Societies
All
Constitutions
and
Fraternities,
(Divine or Civil) all Affairs, Relations,
And Interests, what ever in both
Nations,
Screw'd, such a
party,
that, chief sway they carry
In things divine, civil, and military;
So, that, as once it was profanely said,
Should GOD stand
neuter,
till her game were plaid,
She would prevail against you, at this time,
Because, no aid shall be withheld from them
Who malice you, nor any furtherance
Her
power
and sinking
Throne
to readvance
Which
Antichrists
confederates can add,
Or, from profanest persons may be had.
Be therefore heedful that by your dissention
You make not feizable her ill intention
By trusting to the Complements of those
Who are her
vassals,
and your secret foes,
And (as you, oft do)
speak fair,
but to deceive
That they without suspicion may contrive
Your whole destruction, and recover power
To re-enlarge their
Babylonian Tower▪
Which, is this day as truly their design,
As those thoughts, whereon, now I think, are mine.
Blest let them be who seriously endeavor,
To reconcile you; cursed, they who sever
Whom GOD hath joined; For no outward curse
To any can befall; that will be worse
Then that which will in likelihood betide
To these two Nations if they long divide;
But, they who of the breach most guilty are
The greatest burden of that curse shall bear.
I am no Person who confederates
With
home-bred male-contents,
or
Foreign states
Either to get revenge for wrongs received
Or that some gain may be thereby derived
Unto myself: For, whatsoever it be,
That which best pleaseth GOD, best pleaseth me;
And having no designments of mine own
Can wait with patience till his will be shown.
I, being one who having oft foreseen,
And fore-told things that have fulfilled been,
Endeav'ring to prevent the prosecutions,
Of wicked actions and rash Resolutions,
Am by a power which I dare not oppose
Once more stirred up, to preadmonish those
(As heretofore) who now seem rushing on
In that
Career,
as other men have done,
Which tendeth unto that end which befell
To those, who slighted, what I did fore-tell:
And, I to speak again must not forbear;
Vouchsafe therefore to me a patient ear▪
Be wary, that your
Avarice
and Pride,
Prove not to be a motive to divide
At this time, though when you divided last
Your likely hazards were soon over-past,
And plagues removed ere any penitence
Had testifi'd remorse for your offense,
Lest, greater evils follow, and the trouble
Removed then, returns upon you double▪
For,
Nations
to expose to wars unjust
Meerly to satisfy a
private Lust,
And those enforce the greatest weight to bear,
Who no way guilty of transgressing are
Of that which in a
War
engages them,
Is questionless, a
sanguinary crime
From which, no temporary
privilege
Can vindicate, before a
Righteous Judge:
But, it will bring down Vengeance in due season
From him whose
Justice
cannot be called
treason
Although your
High Priests,
and some others too,
The boldness may assume to term it so.
If wrongs be done, let all good means be used
To judge between th' Accuser and Accus'd
E're sentence pass; and do not then prolong
Due recompense to them who have had wrong;
Lest by delaying what you should restore,
Instead of righting him, you wrong him more.
Ere
battle
you begin, let peace be offered,
Accept a good
expedient,
when 'tis proffered.
Remit small faults where you find
penitence:
Upon the same terms, let the greatest offense
Be pardoned also, when the perpetration
Of wrong, exceeds all means of expiation;
In that, you will imitate the King of heaven
Who often hath such
Crimes
to you forgiven.
Make not the
Sword
your Umpier, till you see
A remedy, no other way can be▪
Your just Rights to preserve, do what you can,
But, fight not to enslave another man;
Nor venture your own Countries to inflame
That you may get a fruitless aiery fame;
Much less to grasp a
power,
which when acquired
Will in your hands, be like
Granados
fired;
Yet, to avoid the mischief and the Curse
Of
War,
make not a Peace that shall be worse.
Nor when you are at rest provoke his wrath
Who, quietness to you vouchsafed hath,
By cheating them of their just expectations
Who truly wish the welfare of both
Nations,
Adventuring their persons and estates,
To save what to your
interest
relates;
And then entrusted you with their defense,
Thereby, but as a
second consequence.
If you would keep Rebellious men in awe,
To everyone his
birth-right
due by Law
Preserve impartially; and unto none
Deny that which is due to everyone;
Lest, whilst abroad engaged you become
In warfare, there may be worse fraies at home:
For▪ that
Allegiance
which is in all Lands
'Twist
Prince
and
People,
upon two feet stands,
So, that if th' one fails in what it should do,
In equity, so will the other, too;
Men who are much oppressed against reason,
Will not much fear to act what you call
Treason;
And, then, from questioning, on whom there lies
The greatest guilt; small profit can arise.
Which way soever, therefore, GOD shall deign
To make you Friends, and give you
Rest
again,
With moderation, and with Justice use
That
Mercy;
for if you the same abuse
This, without question, will ensue thereon;
Both, shall one way or other be undone.
The
conquered
shall enslaved be; and they
Who conquer, be made slaves another way▪
Make not your
Rest
to be a
snare
or
Stale
As Fowlers do, to cath Birds there withal.
Nor means, yourselves with such vast power to arm,
As helps not so much, to do
good▪
as
harm;
For GOD will heed it, and you shall be caught
Even in those Traps, which your own hands have wrought,
And as old
Rome
was you shall be at length
Orewhelm'd and destroyed, by your
own strength.
To mine own Countrymen, I will write or say
Nought at this time, which any justly may
Apply to them alone; lest, some once more
May term it scandalous as heretofore,
Or call me
Libeller,
for being bold
To tell them
Truths
(although in season told.)
I, Have, so often in particular
And so long time been their
Remembrancer
With small regard (except from such as do
Love
simple Truth,
and suffer for it too)
That, I to them, will nothing mention here,
Save that in which, an equal part to bear
Both
Nations
may be said, without my blame;
Because, thereby, I somewhat hopeful am
To raise thence an
expedient
to escape
The being caught again, in my old
Trap.
But I will apart, a word or two express
To our
Dutch Neighbors
in true friendliness.
Remember what of old the
English Nation
Hath been to you; and with how much compassion
They, your Protection timely undertook
When you extremely by the
Spanish yoke
Oppressed lay; and whether the pursuing
Of those things which are at this present doing,
May not at last reduce you back to that
Deplor'd condition, or a worse estate;
And bring you once again, inslav'd to lie
Beneath such an unbounded
Monarchy
As you abhor: Your
Senators
are wise,
They in their heads, I know do bear their eyes
And▪ if they be not hoodwinckt▪ need by none
Be minded, what should be considered on:
Yet, since but men, let them not be offended
With what is by a
stranger
recommended
Unto their serious heed, and let my
caution
Be acceptable unto your whole
Nation▪
Consider, whether all they who pretend
Your
Country, Cause,
and
Intr'st
to befriend
May not more complemental prove then real,
When time shall bring their Friendship to a trial,
And be as false to you, as you have seen
Most
States
and
Princes,
often to have been
Unto each other, though aly'd by
blood,
By
Aides
in times of need,
Leagues, neighbourhood,
And all engagements whatsoever, which might
Devised be, them, firmly to unite.
Think, whether such have not a
party
now
Among you▪ which as things to ripeness grow,
Will help improve them, to set up a
power
Tending to their advantage more then your:
Yea, whether, you already may not see
That, some to such a purpose, active be,
This day among you; and, take timely heed,
That, what you would prevent, may not succeed.
Ill words corrupt good manners;
and I hear
That, you no scurrile language do forbear
Which either heighten may the indignation
And fury kindled in our
English Nation,
Or, make them to be hated of your own;
As if you wholly resolute were grown,
So to
divide both,
that by no endeaver,
They might be reconciled again, forever.
This fault, which to the
vulgar
I impute
Will questionless produce a poisonous fruit,
And, therefore, though I truly may confess
My
Countrymen
have not offended less,
In that kind (and may peradventure take
Occasion from these
Lines,
a change to make
Within themselves) I, heartily entreat
Both you and them, his love to imitate
Whose doctrines we profess, and bridle more
Their rude tongues, then they have done heretofore
That, from good words, there may at last proceed,
True
reconcilement
both in
Word
and
Deed.
Of one thing more, put you in mind I would
(Which now to your remembrance bring I should)
Were I not hopeful you oft mind it so,
As it becomes you, and repent it too,
And that, we shall give mutual satisfaction
For every scandal and injurious action,
On either charged, for which, to make even
'It is in our power; the rest must be forgiven.
Lord GOD, vouchsafe thy mercy to these Lands
And, if with thy good pleasure it now stands,
T
he Plagues for their demerits due, ad
•
ourn,
That
Peace
with
Grace
united may return
Before the madness of this Generation
Hath frustrated their means of preser
•
ation.
By
Judgments,
and by
Mercies
interwove,
By chastisements in anger and in love,
By threatenings and by gentile invitations,
Thou, to reclaim us from prevarications
Hast oft assayed; adding unto these
Whisperings in secret to our consciences;
Spoke to our ears by
men,
unto our eyes
By
Apparitions
and by
Prodigies:
Yea, whilst I am writing this, there doth appear
A Blazing Star within our hemisphere,
Aswell unto our neighbors as to us
Made visible: And wherefore Glares it thus
With an Aspect so dreadful at this time,
But, to point at, and for warn us and them
Of some approrahing mischief, whereof heed
Is to be taken by us, with all speed.
Lord, let us not, still obstinate remain
Rendring (as heretofore) at quite in vain,
That's
seen,
or
said,
or
done,
till none forever
By
Word,
or
Deed,
our safety shall endeaver▪
That time is not yet come, I will spend therefore
In hope of good success, a few words more▪
And, look to be excused if I shall thrice,
Write that, which I have writ already twice;
For, neither can hard flints or knotty blocks
Be shap'd without reiterated strokes.
Why should you quarrel? what are now your wants,
But,
Grace
and
Faith
to use well what GOD grants?
The World is wide enough, the Seas have room
Sufficient for your Ships to go and come:
Expedients
will be found which may procure
An honorable peace that will endure
Without a disadvantage unto either
If to make proof thereof you join together.
Impartial
Justice
brotherly compassion
Love, me kness, piety, humiliation
Faith, prayer, penitence, with such like things
Are those, whence wealth, and peace, and honor springs
To them who will persuaded be to do
To others as they would be done unto;
As jealous to redress a neighbors wrongs
As in that which to their own ease belongs;
As forward, an
oppressed
man to hear
As cruel
Tyrants
to afflict him are;
And could forbear intruding on GOD'S right
A settled peace thereby enjoy they might,
Without fear; yea, without a just suspicion
Of Treasons, Insurrections or Sedition:
And, they whom you distrust, will be more true
Then they, in whom you trust, shall be to you,
If you endeaver to contract a
peace
And keep it, by unfeigned righteousness:
Although such
mediums
are but scoffed at
Or slighted, by most
Ministers
of
State.
But, such a
Blessing,
never can he got
Or kept, by that whereon most Nations dote.
The constitution of whose Governments
Are made according to such
presidents
As
Jeroboam
left, and lost thereby
That
Kingdom
which on his posterity,
Should have been fixed, had he not counsel took
From
flesh
and
blood,
and God's advice forsook.
Not those men, whose Advantages are least,
Or most, shall thrive▪ but, they who use them best;
Make GOD alone their
Refuge,
and contend
That
cursed strife,
in blessed peace may end.
'It is not your carnal policies, or forces,
Your Forts, Ships, Armies, Guards of men & horses;
Your fair pretending what was never meant,
Your heavy
Taxes
beyond president,
Your flattering
Parasites
or your
Buffoones,
Your roaring
Hectors,
and your
Pantaloones,
Or Oaths enforced, or great Brags and lies,
Nor their complyings whose Hypocrisies
Are much depended on, that will effect
Those Conquests and those Triumphs they expect
Who boast before their Armor is put off,
And, at the weapons of the spirit scoff:
For, what by
vanity
may be obtained
Shall thereby, be devoured▪ as soon as gained.
You have betwixt you (as implied before)
Half of all
Foreign Tradings,
if not more.
Your many
Manufactures,
are become
Staple commodities,
that bring you home
Three times as much in▪ value every year
As those things, which among you growing are
Amounted to unwrought; and you are grown
As rich in Foreign wares as in your own▪
The
Seas
have been your
Fish-ponds,
and afford
Enough to make both rich, could you accord
And both, alike were frugal. Means of
Trade
Is in a thousand places to be had,
Which to employ you will sufficient be,
When you like
Christian Brethren
shall agree,
Or, but like
moral men;
nay, if but so
As many
Infidels,
and some Beasts do;
And, GOD and Natures Laws, would you direct
Aright, if, them, you did not willfully neglect,
Make your
own Will
a Law, and were inclined
To that, which hath corrupted all
Mankind▪
Rendring, what for man's real weal was given
The greatest outward Plague on this side heaven.
So willfully pursuing your own ways
For yourself-ends; that he who doth not praise
Your folly, or with silence pass it by,
Is thought no
Friend,
if not an
enemy,
And, to reprove
Vice
is become a Crime
Judge'd Capital among you at this time.
If you consider these things as you ought,
(And shall not be displeased to hear them brought
Thus bluntly to remembrance) I have hope
I may still scape the
Gollows
and the Rope
For speaking Truths in season, unto them
Who, their well-willers causesly condemn▪
And, from their
Native Countries,
banish those
For whose sakes, GOD hath kept them from their foes,
Waiting with
long-longsuffering,
when to him
They will return, that, he may turn to them.
This you may do; And I have hope of it:
For, GOD is resident among you, yet.
His
Canal sticks
are not from you removed;
Within your
Borders,
of his best beloved
Are many thousands, for whose sake, he hath
Remembered
Mercy,
in his hottest
wrath.
Good Laws you have; some, likewise, who profess
And practice them, in
truth
and
righteousness
Though from your
first Loves,
you are fallen much
And, your defects are at this present, such
As in the seven
Asian Churches
were
When first the
Mystery
was hatching there
Which now ore-spreads the world▪ you have not that
Comply'd with, but, the same abominate;
And therefore, that you may, return to him
GOD hath premonish'd you as he did them,
Expecting that you better should improve
Then heretofore, his patience and his love,
Lest else, you speedily may be bereft
As they were, of what, yet appeareth left.
A
moral Charity
retains a place
Among you, though grown colder then it was.
You have a
form of GODliness,
whereon
If you depended not as you have done,
That, which
essential is,
would more have been
Improved, and the
power,
thereof more seen.
Among your many
Vices,
blended are
Some
Virtues,
which, if you would take more care
To cherish, God would such assistance give
That they should, for the future better thrive.
Though you have multiplied prevarications
By many carnal, gross abominations,
And, are with
Jezebel
(that Sorceresse)
(Who counterfeits herself a
Prophetess
)
Open Confederates; some of you hate
Her
Heresies,
and
their,
who imitate
The
Nichola
•
tans:
God, now therefore
Hanges forth to you a
Flag of Truce,
once more,
(Into a
Comet
formed) and sets it there
Where, it, at one view, may to both appear;
That you might speedily and jointly, do
Through
Fear,
that which
Love
could not win you to.
For, though the
Wisards
of preceding Ages
And, some how deemed no
despicable Sages,
Think these prodgious
Meteors
called Stars
Are constituted of such
Characters
And
shapes,
as do undoubtingly fore-show
What things particularly will ensuce,
(Because such
consequents
have ofter been
Observed, they are much deceived therein.)
There's no such virtue proper to their natures;
For, they are only serviceable creatures
Employ'd by
Providence,
to such an end
As we by
fired Beacons
do intend,
When an
Invasion's
threatened; They declare
In general, that
foes
approaching are;
Stir up the
Nation
to a timely heed
But, who their Foes are, what
plagues
will succeed,
How long they will continue; upon whom
They first will seize, at what time, they will come;
Or such like things by them we cannot know:
For, they no more then
Beacons
can fore-show.
So, this late
Exhalation
doth portend
Some
Judgment
on offenders will descend
Ere long, to make them watchful, and prepare
To do those duties which expected are▪
But in particular presignifies
Nor
this,
nor
that;
nor any terrifies
Who more desires to know▪ how by GOD'S grace,
To
do his will,
then
what will come to pass.
He that is so affected, seldom fears
The influence of
Comets,
or of
Sta
•
s;
Whereas, they who in folly are benighted
Oft, With a harmless
Glow-worm
are affrighted.
Thus far, my mind I have once more expressed
And hopeful am, ere long to be at rest
From all my Labors; for, my life, almost,
To bring this seasonably forth, it cost.
But, some perhaps will now say,
what is he
That your
Remembrancer
presumes to be?
To those, I make this answer; I am one
Who stands instead of such a
Block
or
Stone,
As
Charity
did set up heretofore
By high-way sides, and sometime at each door,
To save men from the violent approaches
Of drunken Horse-men, Waggons, Carts & Coaches,
And in that service, often are abused
Curst, broken, cracked, hackt, cut, flasht, knocked, and bruised
By those, who stumbling on them, heedless are
To what good purpose they were fixed there.
And, if this be my Lot, I as I may,
Will bear it, as I have done till this day.
For, that which follies hath to many seemed
Hath by much wiser men, been well esteemed:
And, I despare not, though confused noises▪
Should at this time drown and confound the voices
Of sober men: For, when the raging
water
Doth loudest roar;
winds,
make the tacklings clatter,
Raffle the sails, and keep the greatest bustle,
The
storm
is pierced by the
Boat-swains
whistle;
So that all heedful
Mariners,
thereby
Perceive whereto their hands they should apply.
So, likewise, though the Rumor of that
War
Which many hope for, and as many fear,
With other such confusions, as our sad
Distractions at this present thereto add,
Will make these
Lines,
a while, of small regard
With many, and with difficulty heard;
They shall, ere long, by some, with good respect
Be entertained, and have good effect;
For days will come wherein, that, shall from them
Be echoed forth, which all will not contemn;
And, from whence, at the last, a
Voice
will come
That shall out-sound the rattling of a
Drum;
Yet fright no soul but that man's, who depends
On
carnal weapons,
and hath
carnal ends.
Praecautiones aenigmaicae per omnes personac terminationes, Modi Imperativi declinatae, numero singulari & plurali.
| Cave MBR. & ED. | Cavete V. |
| Caveto A, Caveto B. | Cavetote A. |
| Caveat P. P. P. P. & P. | Caveant O. |
Jam qui rident Ha, ha, he,
Mox clamabunt. Heu, Vah, Vae.
Caveamus ergo, ac Amemus, ni perimus.
A COROLLARY.
Some think, I, an
Apology
may need
For daring thus to bid my Friends take heed;
And, so perhaps I may; For, not long since,
I suffered for as blamless an offense;
And, heretofore, informed was of ONE,
Who said; that to be totally undone
Much less displease him would, then if that he
Should from undoing, be preserved by me;
And, shortly after (with no little shame)
That, which he might have scapt, upon him came.
I hope they wiser are whom, to
take heed
I now advise and that they'll better speed.
What e're succeds;
Praise
will to GOD belong,
And of the
Saints,
this shall be then the Song.
A Hallelujah, alluding to the 150 Psalm.
Come praise the LORD, come
praise him
Where Saints assembled are,
As he's
Almighty praise him
His Righteousness declare.
In his
excellings praise him
With Trumpet and with Flute,
With Harp and Psaltery
praise him,
With Viol and with Lute,
Let nothing that can
praise him
Unactive be▪ or mute.
Upon the Timbrol
praise him
In songs his praise advance;
Upon the Organs
praise him
And praise him in the Dance;
On tingling Symbals
praise him
That, make the loudest noise
And let each crature
praise him
That sense or breath enjoys,
Yea, let privations
praise him
Although they have no voices.
The Mystical sense of what is literal expressed by the Metaphorical and Allegorical contexture of the proceeding Hymn, in the Original Text, according to the Authors under standing thereof, is as follows.
BY the Sanctuary is meant the Congregations of the Saints. By the Firmament of God's power, the unchangeableness of his Almightiness. By his mighty acts, his unresistible Justice. By his excellent greatness. his Mercy, which is said to be over all his works, and his most excellent Attribute. By the Trumpet or Flute, we are exhorted to praise him in our martial expeditions. By the Psaltry and Harp, in our spirimal rejoicings. By the Viol and Lute in our corporeal and civil recreations. By the Timbrel in those actions which are of a spiritual and natural mixture. By the Dance in all those things wherein we move together, and counteract apart, by deeds, words, and dissenting opinions; for in a Dance, are various motions, sidings, turnings, returnings, and moving all one way. By Ten steinged I • struments and the Organ▪ the faculties of our souls and the members of our bodies. By Cymbals, and loud Cymbals, the internal breathings, and external ejaculations of the heart and voice in prayer and praising God. The last two lines of both the foregoing Stanza's, consisting of ten a piece are but a Supplement to my Paraphrase of the 150 Psalm, and not found in the Original. This is in brief my private judgment, not totally excluding the Sense and Interpretation of other pious men.
FINIS.