AN EXCLAMATION TO All those that Love the LORD JESUS in SINCERITY, Against an APOLOGY Written by an Ingenious Person. For Mr. COWLEY'S Lascivious and Profane VERSES.  
By a Dutiful Son of the CHURCH of ENGLAND.  
Heic, neque more probo videas, neque voce serenâ  
Ingentes trepidare Titos, cum Carmina lumbum  
Intrant, & tremulo scalpuntur ubi intima Versu.  Persius' Sat. 1. 
London, Printed for Robert Clavel, 1670.   

AN EXCLAMATION TO All those that Love the LORD JESUS in SINCERITY.  
SUch a Cloud of Dust has risen up amongst us by the Tumultuous Courses of Ignorant men, Running from the Orders of Our Church concerning things Indifferent (which themselves are sometimes pleased to call shadows, and Circumstances) that we can hardly discern the great Danger we are fallen into of becoming Guilty of a base Connivance to some Public, and most Contagious Impieties, which are as it were established by a Law; I mean, are Obtruded upon us with such Confidence, as if there were nothing in the Laws of Our Church, or State to Oppugn and Suppress them: I shall Instance only in the Reprinting of several Verses of Mr. COWLEY'S (since his Death) some of them so Notoriously Lascivious, others so Profane, that it cannot be easily imagined how the DEVIL could be more Gratified in any thing, then in the Plausible recommendation of them to the Sprightly Youths, and Pregnant Wits of this Nation. In Opposition to the Black Attempt of the Publisher of them, I shall here first Recite my Thoughts of them, which I Published in a certain Epistle about eleven years since: And then I shall make some Animadversions on what has been Written of late in the Defence of these Artifices of Baseness, and Impurity, for which I trust Mr. COWLEY was truly Penitent. For when He Died He Enjoined the Person, whom Before GOD, and His Holy Angels I now Charge with the Gild of this Impurity, to revise his Works, and to blot out whatsoever might seem the least offence to Religion, or good Manners. The words in the Epistle above mentioned are these: And now Reader, if thou be'st a CHRISTIAN indeed, I shall entreat thee by all the Love that thou owest to Him that was CRUCIFIED for thy sake, that thou wouldst Oppose with all thy Might, that Vain Spirit of Foolish Talking, and Writing, which is gone abroad into the World to the great Dishonour of HIS Name, who has told us that we shall give an Account of Every Idle Word. And here I cannot but Exclaim aloud against some of Mr. COWLEY'S Verses; particularly that part of his Book, which he entitles The Mistress, in which there are several Expressions so provoking to Speculative Lust, and Uncleanness, that I can't conceive how a CHRISTIAN that casts his Eye on them, can think otherwise, then that the Author did either Forget that There is a GOD, or that 'tis Sinful to be Lascivious. What Profaneness also is this Author guilty of, who uses these Sacred Words, HEAVEN, DEITY, DIVINE PRESENCE, FAITH, etc. to set forth his Dissolute Amorous Conceptions! (I should rather have said Wanton, or Lascivious, Amorous being too gentle a term) Let any man of Common Reason judge whether the Minds of any Readers Viciously Inclined (and such surely are all those that Delight in those POEMS) be not as apt to be wholly Debauched and Corrupted by a Work of this Nature, as those men's Bodies are to take Infection, when they are amongst Sick Folk, who are already disposed to the Disease. Alas! Alas! Are not men apt enough of themselves to be Vain in their Imaginations! Must the Froth, and Vanity of Wanton Minds be wrought up, and increased by the Wit, and Studies of such Learned Persons, and those owning the Name of CHRISTIANS! O Tempora! O Mores! I desire the Reader would take Notice, that This was Published in the Fanatic Times, after Mr. COWLEY'S Book (as I was credibly informed) had been Publicly Commended without Exception by an Eminent Person then in Oxford. And now let us see what the Apologist can say for the things I so much Abhor.  
If there needed any excuse to be made that his Love-Verses should take up so great a share in his Works, it may be alleged that they were composed, when he was very young. But it is a vain thing to make any kind of Apology for that sort of Writings. If Devout, or Virtuous Men will superciliously forbid the minds of the young, to adorn those subjects about which they are most conversant: They would put them out of all capacity of performing graver matters, when they come to them. For the Exercises of all men's Wits, must be always proper for their Age, and never too much above it: And by practice, and use in lighter Arguments, they grow up at last to excel in the most weighty. I am not therefore ashamed to commend Mr. Cowley's Mistress. I only except one or two Expressions, which I wish I could have prevailed with those that had the right of the other Edition to have left out. But of all the rest I dare boldly pronounce that never yet so much was written on a Subject so Delicate, that can less offend the severest rules of Morality. The whole Passion of Love is intimately described, with all its mighty Train of Hopes, and Joys, and Disquiets. Besides this amorous tenderness, I know not how in every Copy there is something of more useful Knowledge very naturally, and gracefully insinuated, and every where there may be something found, to inform the minds of wise Men, as well as to move the hearts of young Men or Women.  
The Author of this Empty Rhetoric must not be Over-Angry if I tell him that it puts me in mind of a far greater piece of Wit (and that Accompanied with Honesty) delivered by an Heathen Poet: 
Fures, ait, Pedio. Pedius quid? Crimine rasis,  
Librat in antithetis—  A Fine Colour for a Lascivious Poem, this, a Intimate Description of the whole Passion of Love! But what does the man Intent? Is he in good earnest of this Opinion, that 'tis Requisite that those Ingenious Young men, that are much addicted to Venery, should Exercise their Fancies in Composing the most Accurate Expressions of the Pleasures they take in the Imagination only or in the Grossest Acts of Carnality; And that for this reason, that their Fancies so Exercised in their Youth will make them the better Poets, or Rhetoricians, when they come to a Riper Age? It may be alleged, says He, that they were composed when he was very young. But by Publishing them so many years after, He gave the World a sad Instance of that Saying, Quo semel est imbuta recens, etc. If He had Observed the Instruction of the Wise Man, Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth, He would certainly even in those Days have Applied his Mind to things Pleasing in His Sight, Who tells us that we shall give Account in the Day of Judgement of every Idle Word.  
It is a vain thing, etc. It is a vain thing indeed to make any kind of Apology for that sort of Write in any Part of the world, not altogether Heathenish, or Apostate from the Practice of the CHRISTIAN Religion; for such an Apology will certainly redound to the Shame, at least to the Infamy of the (Unrelenting) Author.  
If Devout, or Virtuous Men will superciliously forbid, etc. Since no Devout or Virtuous Men, as Such, can do any thing Superciliously, whether this passage be not most notoriously Foolish and Impertinent, let any one judge, who is himself a Person of True Honour and Virtue.  
I am not ashamed, says He, to commend Mr. COWLEY'S MISTRESS: And I trust I shall never be ashamed to Confess the Faith of CHRIST Crucifi'd, and manfully to fight under his Banner against Sin, the World, and the Devil: And with this Resolution I Bid Defiance to him as an Enemy of the Cross of CHRIST; and Charge him with the Gild of Violating the Obligation laid on him by Mr. COWLEY, (when he recommended to his Care the revising of all his works) That he should be sure to let nothing pass, that might seem the least offence to Religion, or Good Manners. To destroy all plausible Pretences of the Innocency of this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 (expressly forbidden by the Holy Apostle, Coloss. 3.8.) I doubt not but by GOD'S Assistance I shall in a few words clearly Demonstrate that such a Tenent, viz. that It is Inoffensive to good Manners, is wholly Destructive to the CHRISTIAN Religion, whose main Scope, and Drift is this, to make Man Partaker of the Divine Nature through a sense of His Interest in GOD Assuming the Humane Nature to Sanctify Him wholly in SPIRIT, SOUL, and BODY. Now I boldly aver to All the world (Despising the Shame of being never so much Reproached by men Puffed up by their Fleshly Mind) that GOD INCARNATE is the Principal Object even of Our Passionate or Sensitive Love: And that the Habit of Exercising this PASSION Directly upon CHRIST, and All Our other PASSIONS, or Sensitive Affections (upon their various Objects) in a way of Subserviency thereunto, is the thing Chiefly employed in the Sanctification of the SOUL and BODY, viz. as the SOUL is taken in Contradistinction to the SPIRIT: But I conceive that the Sensible Heats resulting from this Divine PASSION are in the Abhorrency of whatever is Inconsistent therewith, and Apt to Extinguish it, then in the Direct Embraces of its Object. If any Learned man shall find upon his thoughts any Objections or Scruples to be proposed against what I have now written on this Mystical Subject, I should be Glad to undertake the Solution of them, if he would propose them in Latin, but I am very Averse from speaking of These Things at large, Directly, and in the most Accurate Terms in the Hearing of the Vulgar, being well Assured that the Power, and Virtue of this Truth may be Conveyed into any Pious, and Vvell-disposed Soul in other Terms, then what will Convince Gain-Sayers, etc. Now whether if so Great a WIT as Mr. COWLEY had Employed his Youthful FIRE in the Exercise of such a PASSION, as would have made him to Cry out unto GOD with the Spouse in the Canticles, Draw me, we will run after thee; And to say with that Glorious Martyr St. Ignatius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, My Love was Crucified; and with that Mirror of Wit, Learning and Virtue, Prudentius (speaking of the Name of CHRIST) 
O nomen praedulce mihi, Lux & Decus & Spes,  
Praesidiumque meum, requies ô certa laborum,  
Blandus in ore Sapor, fragrans Odour, irriguus Fons,  
Castus amor, Pulchra Species, Syncera Voluptas.  Whether, I say, if he had so Employed his Youthful FIRE, or Amorous Constitution, it would not have been more to the Advantage of himself, and others, than the Pleasing himself with the Writing of those wanton Imaginations, I leave to the Consideration of those to whom this Paper is chiefly Directed, viz. those that LOVE the LORD JESUS in Sincerity. But to evince this great and important Truth to the meanest Capacity, viz. that this cursed Tenent, that the Writing, or Reading of such Verses, as I here pronounce so Odious, and Detestable (unless with an Holy Scorn and Indignation) is not Offensive to Religion, or Good Manners; is wholly Destructive to the CHRISTIAN Religion, I shall produce this plain Text of Scripture: Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the Name of the LORD JESUS, giving thanks to GOD, and the FATHER by him. Coloss. 3.17. Now if any man shall say that the making of such Verses, etc. may be judged to be a work done in the Name of the LORD JESUS, I shall only bid him to consider that our GOD is a Consuming Fire!  
jamblicus witnesses that Pythagoras and his Followers did hold that all our Actions should tend to the sincere Acknowledgement, and service of the DEITY: His very words are these (De Vitâ Pythag. c. 28) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. A blush would well become the youthful cheeks of those whom this Apologist encourages in their witty impieties, at the reading of this. Here I cannot but use the words of the truly Learned Dr. CASAUBON (in a late Treatise of Credulity, and Incredulity, p. 140.) O that Christians, or rather men professing Christianity, had as much conscience, and sense of goodness, and piety as some Heathens have had! I shall take the Confidence to tell this Gentleman (who contrary to the Request of his dying Friend) has disturbed the CHRISTIAN world with the publication of these filthy Lines (which certainly may be rightly termed Simulachra & pabula amoris) that even the Epicurean Lucretius would have scorned this Action of his.  
Sed fugitare decet (says he, Lib. 4.) Simulachra & pabula Amoris,  
Absterrere sibi, atque aliò convertere mentem.  
Perhaps those who flight my words will be somewhat affected with what I shall here collect out of Mr. Henry Vaughan's Preface to his Book entitled Silex Scintillans: SACRED POEMS, and private EJACULATIONS. A large Encomium of this excellent Gentleman I find amongst the Poems of the incomparable Mrs. Katherine Philip's, (who I presume) by her acquaintance with Mr. COWLEY was the instrument of the great and good GOD to excite him to that sense of Piety, which he discovered in that desire above mentioned, that his works should be revised, etc. O that he had lived to have blotted out those naughty things (particularly his wicked Encomium of that disgrace of Our Nation, that detestable Apostate, that LEVIATHAN Infidel) and to have testified his Repentance with his own Pen! But the Judgements of GOD are unsearchable, and his ways past finding out.  
Mr. Vaughan's Repentance for the like Follies is by himself largely declared in these following words:  
Well it were for them, (the Authors of idle Poems▪) if those willingly studied, and wilfully published vanities could defile no spirits but their own; but the case is far worse. These Vipers survive their Parents, and for many ages after (like Epidemic Diseases) infect whole Generations, corrupting always and unhallowing the best-gifted souls, and the most capable Vessels: for whose Sanctification, and welfare the glorious Son of GOD laid down his life, and suffered the precious blood of his blessed, and innocent heart to be poured out.  
A good wit in a bad subject is (as Solomon said of the fair and foolish woman) like a Jewel of gold in a swine's snout, Prov. 11.22. Nay the more acute the Author is, there is so much the more danger, and death in the work. Where the Sun is busy upon a Dunghill, the issue is always some unclean Vermin.  
And here because I would prevent a just censure by my free confession, I must remember that I myself have for many years together languished of this very sickness; and it is no long time since I have recovered. But blessed be GOD for it! I have by his saving assistance suppressed my greatest follies, and those which escaped from me are (I think) as innoxious, as most of that vein use to be; besides they are interlined with many virtuous, and some pious mixtures. What I speak of them is truth, but let no man mistake it for an extenuation of faults, as if I intended an Apology for them, or myself, who am conscious of so much guilt in both, as can never be expiated without special sorrows, and that cleansing, and precious effusion of my Almighty Redeemer: and if the world will be so charitable as to grant my request, I do here most humbly, and earnestly beg that none would read them.  
But an idle or sensual subject is not all the poison in these Pamphlets. Certain Authors have been so irreverently bold, as to dash Scriptures, and the sacred Relatives of God with their impious conceits; And (which I cannot speak without grief of heart) some of those desperate adventurers may (I think) be reckoned amongst the principal, or most learned writers of English Verse.  
The suppression of this pleasing and prevailing evil, lies not altogether in the power of the Magistrate; for it will fly abroad in Manuscripts, when it fails of entertainment at the Press. The remedy lies wholly in their bosoms, who are the gifted persons, by a wise exchange of vain and vicious subjects for divine Themes, and Celestial Praise. The performance is easy, and were it the most difficult in the World, the reward is so glorious, that it infinitely transcends it: for they that turn many to righteousness shall shine like the stars for ever, and ever: whence follows this undeniable inference, That the corrupting of many, being a contrary work, the recompense must be so too; and then I know nothing reserved for them but the blackness of darkness for ever; from which, O GOD, Deliver all penitent, and reformed Spirits.  
The Divine PASSION I have been speaking of is expressed rarely well in several of his Poems, particularly in one which he entitles Mount of Olives, which begins thus.  
When first I saw true BEAUTY, and thy Joys  
Active, as light, and calm without all noise,  
Shined on my soul, I felt through all my powers  
Such a rich air of sweets, as Evening showers  
Fanned by a gentle gale convey and breath  
On some parched bank, crowned with a flowery wreath;  
Odours, and Myrrh, and Balm in one rich flood  
O'reran my heart, and spirited my blood;  
My thoughts did swim in Comforts, and mine eye  
Confessed, The World did only paint, and lie.  
That the World is indeed such a Liar, they shall find by woeful experience, who give Ear to the Songs of the SIRENS of this age, the charming Rhetoric of seditious or lascivious Fancies.  
If any Person of Learning, and Gravity find himself inclined to judge me Guilty of Imprudence in publishing this Paper, I shall beseech him by the Mercies of GOD to consider the advice I shall here give him in the Speech of that Noble Martyr ROMANUS, as it is Recorded by Prudentius (〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hymn. 10)  
Contemn praesens Vtile, o Prudens Homo,  
Quod terminandum, quod relinquendum est tibi.  
Omit Corpus rem sepulchri &c funeris,  
Tende ad futuram Gloriam, perge ad DEUM:  
Agnosce qui sis, Vince mundum, & saeculum.  
For satisfaction to any man who shall think himself concerned in the controversy I have here undertaken, I shall hereunto subscribe my Name: And I do solemnly Promise, that if any Learned Person whatsoever shall undertake to oppose me (either in public or in private) in this design to render such Writings most odious and detestable to all those that have named the Name of CHRIST; I shall give him an answer upon this condition, that he shall not oblige me to conceal any Letters to be written upon this occasion (either his or mine) if I shall conceive that the publication of them may any way conduce to the Glory of GOD and the good of Men.  
I shall conclude with that exhortation of the Blessed Apostle, Be not deceived: Evil Communications corrupt good Manners. By those words of an Heathen Poet: 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. He plainly upbraids those foolish men, who professing Christianity, make excuses for that kind of wickedness which I here oppose, as if (forsooth) much excess were to be allowed in Love, and even more in Poetry.  
DIXI, & nulla meam vertet sententia mentem.  
EDMUND ELYS Rector of East-Allington in Devon.  
FINIS.