English Puritan & Reformed

Letter for a Christian Family

John Vicars (1579 or 80-1652) · 723 words · 3 min

The source for this document is https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/B06426.0001.001

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

Protestant Unity, The best Policy to defeat Popery, all its Bloody Practices. OR, England's Happiness under such a Blessing. A Pleasant New SONG.

         Would
         
          England
         
         ever blest and happy be,
        
         It must be done by perfect Unity,
        
         Let
         
          Protestants
         
         in all things then agree.
        
         Then
         
          Rome
         
         shall fail like Lightning from the Sky,
        
         And all her plots shall soon Expire and Dye,
        
         Whilst we do prosper, and her Rage de
         
          •
         
         e.

To the Tune of, Now new the Fight's done, &c.

[illustration]

        NOw Plots upon Plots makes the
        
         Jesuits
        
        smile
       
        Who do think our Nation at last to beguile;
       
        Whilst Divisions grow rise, and Crowding come in
       
        Whilst
        
         Schismatics
        
        Clamour and rail at the sin
       
        Which themselves have contrived, for here it is plain
       
        They were wheeling the Kingdoms to Forty again.

        Whilst thus we'r divided, the Pope has his will,
       
        And thinks that at last he his Goffers shall fill;
       
        With Protestant Plunder to make him amends,
       
        For the infinite store that he yearly expends
       
        To raise War and Blood-shed, and to carry on
       
        His private designs, to the Devil best known.

        For he's his Grand Counselor, who so oft tried
       
        The way for to Conquer, is first to divide;
       
        For
        
         England
        
        United, not
        
         Rome,
        
        no nor Hell,
       
        Have the power for to shake, nor once for to quell
       
        Ourselves are the causers still of all our woe,
       
        Whilst Protestants Protestants, seek to over throw.

        Read but the Scriptures, and there you will find,
       
        A Kingdom divided could never yet stand;
       
        Then see all those whose Brains they did s
        
         •
        
        me,
       
        With the hearts of Sedition, or have har'd to presume
       
        To think ill of their King, let them do so no more,
       
        But a pardon of mercy, and goodness implore.

        Which will grieve to the heart our Blood seeking for,
       
        Who for this hundred years has sought our Woe
       
        By Plots and devices, then let us agree,
       
        Let
        
         Presbyter
        
        yield unto just Monarchy;
       
        Beneath whose Protection they happy may Live,
       
        And stiff-neck'd Baptists their Errors retrive.

        When a King that's so gracious does over us reign,
       
        What good man has reason or cause to complain?
       
        No there's none, for all such may happily live,
       
        And enjoy peace and plenty which Heaven does give:
       
        By Union our Church so firm founded will stand,
       
        That in vain all her foes then against her may band.

        Let Religious Cavels that late have been bred,
       
        All cease that the feet they may join with the head;
       
        And cordially let each his Loyalty prove,
       
        By striving to conquer each other in Love:
       
        And let kind Union Alleigeance create,
       
        That the King and his Kingdoms may ever be great.

        Then shall proud
        
         France
        
        no more
        
         〈◊〉
        
        to frown,
       
        Least our bold Armies should take her pride down;
       
        We conquering Ensigns to
        
         Rome
        
        might extend,
       
        If each man was faithful and true to his friend;
       
        There
        
         •
        
        ounhive the old Pope and his Crew,
       
        And lead them in Triumph New
        
         London
        
        to view.

        The object of Envy at which they still aim,
       
        And wish that once more they could see it in Flame;
       
        But in vain they might wish it once we agree,
       
        To support the great Throne of true Majesty:
       
        To Maugre all
        
         Christendom,
        
        as we have done,
       
        When by strict Union the Nation was one.

        Then let each Se
        
         •
        
        their pretenees lay down,
       
        And to him submit that does wear
        
         England's
        
        Crown;
       
        And let us like Brethren in strict Amity,
       
        To root out the Pope and his Agents agree:
       
        That the Nations may happy remain and be blest
       
        Whilst we are of plenty and pleasure possess.

        Then that proud Monarch past doubt we might awe,
       
        Who undertakes to give
        
         Christendom
        
        Law;
       
        And live in safety in spite of the Power
       
        Or that Starlet Whore who does seek to devour
       
        Our Lives and our Fortunes, to which we make way,
       
        When our King and his Laws we dare disobey.

        On such weak pretences as are not worth name
       
        Then who but yourselves have you reason to blame?
       
        If Popery thrives and the upper-hand get,
       
        Whilst murmuring against a good King you do sit;
       
        Under whose Reign you so happy might be,
       
        Then cease such Division, and let us agree.

Printed for F. Coles, T. Vere, J. Wright, J. Clarke W. Thackeray, and T. Passinger.