THE HISTORY OF THE Babylonish Cabal; OR The Intrigues, Progression, Opposition, Defeat, and Destruction Of the Daniel-Catchers; In a POEM. By Richard Steere. — Nec Lex est justior ulla, Quam Necis Artifices Arte perire suâ. Ovid. LONDON, Printed for Richard Baldwin in the Old Bayley. 1682. TO THE Right Honourable ANTHONY Earl of Shaftesbury, etc. My Lord, THere is hardly a kind of Persecution more Irresistible than that of Dedications.— No Monarch can defend himself from it, since the Invention of Printing. By this kind of Visit, a Plebeian (whether he Adorns or Disgraces the Press, 'tis no matter) can Vault into the view of the Most Exalted Wits, and Most Renowned of Men. If Custom be any Excuse for such fashionable Presumptions, I hope your Lordship will pardon the Boldness I have taken, to shelter this Product of some Retired hours, under the Protection of your Honourable Name. Some Sheets of the same nature were not long since presented to your Lordship in Prose, which Alarmed a Silent Spectators Muse, to Revive that Ingenious Paraphrase in the Modern Attire of Measure and Cadency; which though unadorned with those Affected Flights of Fancy, those Heaven-daring Metaphors, that (by an Antiphrasis) becautifie the Raptures of the PERPETUAL STATE-POET [the Achitophel-maker;] yet (my Lord) you will find it plain and honest, and expressive of the Sympathy which some of a Lower Orb, bear to the Contrived Sufferings of so Illustrious an Innocent as DANIEL was. But who can Fall when Heaven is the Protector? Or what Machinations can prosper, when countermined by the Divinity? If Men of Mere Wit will needs wantonly Allegorise SACRED HISTORY, and by Misapplied Parallels, throw Affronts upon our Great and Loyal Statesmen, than (whether They will, or no,) Men of Loyalty will borrow Scripture Artillery, and Allegorise it in a sober Attaque, to Batter down the Babel's of such Daniel-Catchers. That your Lordship may Live Long and Happy, to serve your King and Country, in spite of all your Enemies, is the Hearty Prayer of My Lord, Your Most Humble and Most Obedient Servant, R. S. THE HISTORY Of the Sham-Plot, Defeat, and Destruction Of the Daniel-Catchers, etc. BEhold how Rich, how Glorious is the Soul, Whose Faith is steadfast, and without control? Faith will the Temples with Great Glory Crown; Faith is the Hand which Takes the Blessing down; FaithsFaiths the Defensive, and Offensive Shield, Saves the Possessor, Makes th'Opposer yield. This Abel, Enoch, Noah, in their days Made th'Infant Earth Illustrious with its Rays. Abra'am was called the Father of this Grace, Isaac and Jacob in his steps did trace; Moses and Samuel have the same pursued, Who as Bright Stars of the first Magnitude, Dart down their several Bright Coelstial Rays Upon the Church, in her more Modern days; Who all a Glorious Constellation prove, Patterns of Piety, of Faith and Love. Can Daniel be forgot? or may he come, And with his Fellow- Prophets take a Room, Of Princes, and of Prophets, not the ●east; Whose Soul with this Eximious Faith possessed, To stop the Mouths of Lions, Faith is Crowned Because our Daniel Innocent was found. His History shall be our present Theme, And from that Fountain, we'll pursue the Stream, To paraphrase upon the State of things What Honours were conferred on him by Kings, His Lise, Imprisonment, and Sufferings, With that strong Faith which did his Soul Advance, Working Miraculous Deliverance. Take but a transient View of him, behold How his own Book doth his own State unfold. See how the Spirit hath displayed the Sense Of his Original, his Eminence. He is descended of Illustrious Blood, His Pedigree was doubtless Great and Good. The Seed of Princes he appears to be, Or some Prime Branch of the Nobility; His Conduct, and his Courage do proclaim The Greatness of his uncontrolled ●ame; For his Great Soul so Managed all Affairs, As he did Antitype those Characters; Nor in the Series of his Lives whole Story, Was Daniel found to be Derogatory, But Ornamental to his Birth and Glory. And as in Honour, so in Beauty he Arrives unto an excellent Degree; His Graceful Presence, Personage, and Face; Perfection vie with his Interior Grace, Each representing him Lovely and Rare, So fairly good, or else so goodly Fair, By Royal Mandate he's a Chosen one, Attaining perfect Education, In all the Chaldean Learning; he is Taught The Mysteries, and Policies of State, That he might stand before the King, or be A Privy Councillor to Monarchy, A Polished Pillar, fixed for the support Of Royalty, and Grandeur at the Court. Yet he Religiously avoids Excess, And frames his mind to be content with less; The King's delicious Dainties he denies, And all the Fullness of Court Luxuries; For Pulse and Water are his only Fare, Which to Great Men is an Example Rare. His Humane parts, with Grace Divine are Crowned, True Wisdom, and Great Knowledge do abound In him; for he by God was sanctified To be a Prophet, whereby he untied The knotty and most intricate of Dreams. By powerful Insluence of Celestial Beams, Puzzling Enigmas, Visions of the Night, He their Interpretation brings to Light. He fitted was for Public Government, Well qualified for what was Eminent; All these concurring fitted him to be Trusted with all Affairs of 〈◊〉. The King inspects his Wisdom and great Worth, His favour then to Honour calls him forth, Makes him his Lord LIEUTENANT next the Throne Over the Province of Great Babylon. More Honour yet the King on him confers, Creates him Greatest of his Treasurers; And as the King should say, I cannot see One of more Worth in all my Monarchy, Heaps Honour upon Honour, adding more Over the Magis him Chief Governor. To make his Royal Favour more complete, Daniel at Court is fixed Chief Favourite, And now involved in business for the King. (Honours and Offices do Troubles bring, Yet) Daniel won't neglect three times a day, (As he did use) unto his God to pray. And while his prayers mount the Throne of Grace, All worldly Cares do to his Thoughts give place; O happy Prince! more happy in this thing, Whose Counsellors fear God, obey the King. Daniel Exalted now to high Renown, Studies the only Interest of the Crown, He knew his Lord's great Interest would be, T'ave Officers of spotless Loyalty; Men● of an Equal Spirit with his own. Were persons fittest to attend a Throne. This Policy of his appears to be An Act of unexampled Piety: Next to his Prince his Loyal care extends, And shows some signal Favour to his Friends, Great Comfort to the Church in her Exile, When Nursing Fathers on their Children smile: At his Request 'twas done, th'effects were so. For Shadrach, Meshech, and Abednego, Over th'Affairs of ●abylon were sent, To manage Grand Affairs of Government. See the Effects of his Industrious Care, When such Brave Men in public Office are, Whose publiek Spirits for the public good, Nebuchadnezzar's Idols have withstood; To which his Princes, and his ●ords of State, Pay Homage, whilst yet Inconsiderate. These Men alone with Faith and Courage filled, Against their God and Conscience scorn to yield; They give a check to th'uncontrolled Decree, Showing to God and King Fidelity. That Impious Law, which like a Torrent slows, (In honour to their God) they dare oppose: Though to the Face of Enraged Majesty, Confiding in their God, they dare defy. The Fullness of a generous Confidence, In the Great Power of a God Immense, Lifts their Resigning Souls so much the higher, Before Idolatry to choose the sire. This did the Glorious Miracle Increase, Honour to God, and to Religion Peace, Adds Credit here, and future Happiness. So little disadvantage doth attend On such, as on their God and Truth depend. Such as stand fast to what they do profess, Wrap themselves up in future Happiness; Such honour their Profession, and their God, Whose Faith on King's unjust Commands have trod; When in the face of Death, the King of Terrors, By owning God, convince the World of Errors. With Constancy and Courage such proclaim Triumphant Conquests of Eternal Fame. With what Assurance do such Souls convince? There's none Infallible, no not the Prince. And he in Capitals may Read at large, Such Men will certainly their Trust discharge, And well conclude, in such he may confide, Who from their God refuse to turn aside. What Service then did Daniel to the Crown? By lifting such to Places of Renown, Whose Noble Tempers, and Heroic Souls, Their Prince's Laws, when against God, controls. How happy is that Prince, whose Grand Affairs Are lodged in such Noble Breasts as theirs. Who rather yield their Lives to Death, than be Actors of Treason against Sovereignty. These are no Pimping Sycophants, that win Court-Favour, by alluring Kings to sin, No, their Brave Minds Debauches will explode, And all lewd Pleasures that affront their God. They'll rather have their Lives before him laid, Than yield his Interest should be betrayed, Ere they'll dishonour God, or slatter Men, Or stifle Conscience, they'll to Fire or Den, Which Truth in time makes glorious again, Thus Richly clothed with Graces, Daniel lives, Beloved of all those State-Superlatives. Th'Eternal Being often doth Recite, Daniel the Prophet is a Favourite; What greater Honour can on Mortals be, Than be Beloved of the Deity? His Prince that Mighty Monarch also loves him, For he a holy, prudent Statesman proves him, In whose high Favour he securely dwells, Wisdom and Piety in him excels. In the whole Series of this Monarch's Reign, What Great Esteem his Worthiness did gain, Nebuchadnezzar's Honour did maintain: Alas! what's this? what sweet Repose can be, Within the Arms of Earthly Majesty? When some at Prince's Favours do arrive, In their Esteem they not where else can live. Those warm Embraces of a Prince's Love, Chills their Devotion that it cannot move, To seek Repose Eternally above. Not walking in those paths which Daniel trod, Who thought his greatest Good was nigh his God, For he consults an Earthly Prince must die, Therefore seeks Peace with Divine Majesty. And Piety can no Assurance give, He shall secure in Princes Favours Live: The least Affront of Royalty destroys All hope of comfort in Terrestrial Joys: Or if by Death a Monarch be removed, The next Successor hates the Man he loved. Daniel Divinely may the World convince, There's no fixation on an earthly Prince: When that Great King Nebuchadnezzar's gone, Daniel forbears Attendance on the Throne. But for what cause our Prophet did retire, Whether his God his Service did require; Or whether King Belshazzar disapproved Whom his Grandfather had in honour loved; Or whether Time had Razed out the Fame Of his Memorials, or obscured his Name; Or whether by his distance from the Court, The King had lost the Fame of his Report; Or for what other cause to me unknown, He seems a perfect stranger to the Throne, Until a Hand without an Arm affords Strange characters both to the King and Lords; For they carouzing were in fluvious Bowls, Till the Almighty's Hand their Mirth controls, Which did with Terror such Amazement bring To this so Potent, but now Trembling King. He straightway did to his Magicians send, Who instantly on his Commands attend; But all in vain, for Mortals cannot see Th'Interpretation of the heavens Decree. No other Spirit can the thing declare, But his, whose Hand did write the Character. The Aged Queen to the Young King doth tell, Excelling Wisdom doth in Daniel dwell; Send Messengers for him, in him alone Is found Divine Interpretation: He's come, Belshazzar highly doth adore him, Honour and Dignity are laid before him, Which of no worth he modestly refuses, The King may give his Gifts to other uses. Yet will he serve his God and King in this, To let the King know what God's meaning is. No Flattery from Daniel's Lips will flow, But the King shall his Fatal Ruin know, And who but Daniel dares to tell him so? The clear Divine All seeing Eye behold, That he the Sceptre was unfit to wield, When in the Heavenly Balance he was weighed He was too light, the Scale turned Retrograde. And though on Earth he was a Monarch Crowned, Fit for Tomb than Empire he was found. Esau his Birth right greedily devours, So he profanely drinks an Emperors. No Cups so well could please his Impious mind, As what for sacred uses were designed: Upbraiding Heaven, daring to defy The Infinite All Ruling Deity; Having forgot the Generation past, When's Grandfather with Beasts had his Repast, Became a grater Brute in brutish sort, Turning into a Bachanale his Court, Forgetting he was Mortal, and must die, And pass Account with Divine Majesty; No wonder that the God Omnipotent, This sudden Summons to Belshazzar sent; No Variation in this firm Decree; He who is all Immutability, Signs with his Hand the King's Mortality. Yet ere he goes to his Eternal Port, He will Exalt Good Daniel in his Court, Thereby to Bribe the Heavens to reprieve, And to Revoke the Doom, that he may Live. Daniel a Friend of God's, he did Esteem, Was Policy to make God Friends with him; Therefore proclaims him, by his Great Command, To be the Third Chief Ruler in his Land. But then alas! what sudden Change, how soon Low, Earthly Glory is from Mortals gone? Honour and Riches make them Wings, and fly, As Streams do lessen when the Fountain's dry. The King that night is summoned to the dust, Where his profane Acts do his Glories Rust. The Prophecy's fulfilled, the King must come Unto his Judgement, and Eternal Doom. When next Darius (mounts the Losty Throne,) The Mede is now King of Great Babylon. Fame to his Ears Daniel's great worth makes known. In whom was found so Excellent a Soul, Whose temperate mind his passions could control. The Aged King by his Grave Wisdom knows, This weighty Crown will be too ponderous For his Grey Head, his Age consults his Ease, And therefore chooseth sixscore Deputies: And over them he constituteth three, The Best Beloved of his Monarchy, To whom all those accountable must be: And of these Three, although Beloved all, Daniel's Commission is for Principal. The Prime and Greatest Minister of State, And Next Immediate to the Potentate. His Honours now with Greatest Lustre, we May in the Zenith of his Glories see, Now Lord High Precedent of great Renown, Over the Counsels that attend the Crown; And o'er the Treasures of Darius' State, His Government is next Immediate. Nor did the King his Favours thus bestow, Ere he had Reason for his doing so; For his serene and well poised Judgement found Faith, Prudence, Policy in him abound. A Spirit of so Excellent a frame, That his deserts laid to his Honour's claim. But he no sooner Mounted is above, In full possession of his Prince's Love; No sooner on the wing of Favour flies, To Lofty Honours vast Transcendencies, Though ne'er so justly merited, and due, Black-Envious-Rankard-Spirits will pursue, With eager mind● filled with Revengeful hate, What may eclipse the Greatness of their State, What between them and Honour (though Beloved By their Great sovereign) must be now removed. What, shall an Alien Lord it over me? One of the Children of Captivity? Shall we that are the Natives of the Land, In our own Country bend to his Command? Shall he Monopolise our Prince's Love, While we like Clouds below his Glories move? How can you bear your Princes, Lords & Peers? Shall Babel's Honours be a Foreigners? Let us Remove him, he once being gone, Then our Access is nigher to the Throne. While many strive for Honour here, how few Do the Eternal Crown of Life pursue. Immortal Honour such a Drug is grown, They'll rather satisfy themselves with none; For the same Eye which for the one doth strive, Cannot the value of the other give. Methinks I see their Cabal Counsel crowd Under the covert of a sooty Cloud, Shaking their PLOT-CONTRIVING CASE OF BRAINS, Taking all dexterous and laborious pains, Gaping for Breath, whilst others lend an Ear, And each by turns commences Counsellor. This will not do, says one, th'other replies, How shall we dress him for Our Sacrifice? Then how they scratch their Heads, & by't their Nails, When this, and that, and th'other Counsel fails. Are his State Ministrations all so Just? Can we not find him vary in his Trust? Let's his Attendants bribe, for they may see Something Defective in his Family. Can it be possible he Erred not? or May not some words confound the Orator? May we not artificially expound, If but a doubtful syllable be found Drop from his Lip? what th'occasion be, Treason is meant against His Majesty. Thus with malicious undermining Arts, Their consultation at his Honour darts; What shall we do? is there no hope to bring Some guilty Accusation to the King? Can we not find some colourable Story Diminutive to Dignity and Glory? Can we not dive into his Inmost part? May not some Traitorous Thought lodge in his heart? Which we might squeeze into a treasonous sense, And publicly produce for Evidence; But is his Soul too, Innocent and clear? And no hope left for an Endictment here? Curse of his Faith, his Loyalty, his Trust; Would he were not, unless he were unjust. Our Circumspection ought to be our care, Which while unguarded, does invite a snare; For with our Greatest Diligence we scarce Repel those Darts that would our Honours pierce; Great Personages cannot be too wise For their Conspiring, Plotting Enemies; Whose greedy Lusts, their Int'rest to advance, Dare swear Men Traitors by their Coumenance. But to their Honour, let the World admire, They without Evidence could not conspire; Let it remain unto posterity, As a Remark of HEATHEN PIETY, These Heathen Conspirators scorn to foul, With Base degenerate Perjury, the Soul. Though their Revenge so fiercely they engage, Base Subornation must not help their Rage; They will not Damn their Souls for those they hate, Foul Perjury mere Heathen boggle at. Rome doth from Hell such Impious Customs fetch, Which conscientious Heathens scorn to teach, Such Monstrous Births as these can never come, But from that Hydra Triple Crown of Rome, Who issues Dispensations and Commissions, Grants to the Greatest Villainies Permissions, Rapine, Rebellion, Treason, Fire and Blood, Is the Religion of this viprous Brood. Can EIGHTY EIGHT, th' accursed POWDER-PLOT, And STROMBOLONIAN LONDON be forgot? So many Living Monuments appear, Proves Rome more Impious than the Heathens were. May heavens Dread Anger drive this Torrent home, With all their Fry to Lucifer or Rome. And may their Plots and sham's confounded be, Ere they arrive to full Maturity. Mean time, O Lord, protect the Innocent, And all Rome's Cursed Black Designs prevent. To their Cabal let us Return, and there We find our Plotting Politics despair Of the Success, in all they have designed, Nothing defective in him they can finds; For his Allegiance to his Prince is such, They cannot Daniel's Reputation touch. And this Despair makes them consult their Wits, Since this, nor that, nor th'other project hits. It is proposed, and the Proposal finds An universal One and All, their Minds Concur, they at Religion will begin, To find his holy Duty to be sin; For his Exact Obedience to his God Must be the Snare, the Trap, the Net, the Rod, His dear Devotions, (which though he esteem) Must be the Cord by which we'll strangle him. Get the Decree but signed, (the work is done,) Then let him pray, and End what we Begun, Pray to the Grave, each Motion of his Breath In prayer to his God, he prays to death. Say, is't agreed, My Lords? is this the way? Nemine Contradicente, bears the sway. There needs no greater Judgement upon those, Whose Consultations do the heavens oppose. They that 'gainst God their close Devices bend, His Honour is engaged to defend; They who conspire 'gainst Divine Majesty, In their own Plots shall their own Ruin see; For he that shoots at Piety and Grace, Hits God himself directly in the Face; That Malice which one single Soul doth wound, Would, if it could, the Deity confound. This new Contrivance hits so rarely well, The humour of it doth so much Excel All they have done, or thought upon before, Th'Invention they are ready to adore. O how they chuckle! how they bless their wits, For being such Ingenious Counterfeit! The Rare Intexture of this Plot shuts out All kind of Room for Jealousy, or Doubt; It cannot miss, it is so strongly laid, He must deny his God, or be betrayed; If he be Just to him, his Life is ours, This Blessed Invention makes us Conquerors. Thus the Decree, with general Assent, Passes the Peers, as Votes in Parliament, Who with unanimous Results agree, And for Assent, Address His Majesty. They by a Law Enact him God on Earth, And whoso owns another it is death: The God of Heaven now must be denied, And in his Room the King is Deined; To him each Soul must his Devotions pay, And to no other Deity must pray; For all Petitions must be spread before him; They as a God for thirty days adore him, Allowing God, as School boys for their Plays, An undivided Month of holy days; And whoso dares in thirty days to pray To any other God, his Life shall pay. O King Darius, thou art mounted high. Who says you're Gods? when God says you must die Those Tributes due to Caesar I will pay, But who makes man a God? doth man betray? Those Honours and Prerogatives, which be The proper Rights of Earthly Majesty; I in obedience to my God will bring And pay as due unto my Sovereign King. But those that Kings Exalt to that degree, As they did Herod by their Flattery, Are none of Caesar's Friends, for God above Now for his Honour is obliged to move, And with his slaming Darts, and Arrows keen, Let's Mortal Kings know that they are but Men. Thus that Blasphemous Rout, the Papal Tribe, My Ink's not black enough for to describe, How have they Deified their Idol Pope? (Our Great Lord God) he'd more become a Rope. Darius ne'er consults from whence might spring The Branches of this new promoted thing, Blinded with Honour and Ambition, he Can not Inspect his Nobles Hattery; The Treacherous Design was hid from him, He did it perfect Loyalty Esteem, Some Policy of State that might procure A Grandeur of his Empire more secure, That in his Glory he might brighter shine, And therefore doth more easily incline; Especially since he has but of late, Mounted the Babylonian Throne of State; Those proffered Honours he doth not withstand, But the Decree signs with his Royal hand. This Mortal Monarch, King of Babylon, Justles th' Immortal Being from his Throne; But his Ambitious, Daring, Rash Design, Calls from an Angry God, Revenge Divine. A Rash Result! such may repent too late, Who answer first, ere they premeditate; To do, and then consider, is it good, T'answer a question ere 'tis understood? Thus I this senseless fancy understand, It shall be so; what was't you did demand? Men may pretend great Politics to be, But such an Act is far from Policy, To do, and then to say, what have I done? Would I had let this Stratagem alone, Looks like the Fool described by Solomon. A wise man's Tongue is in his Heart, for he Ere he resolves, looks what th'effect will be The Plot is laid, Sagacious Daniel sees This an Intrigue laid by his Enemies, His piercing Judgement soon informs his mind, That his Destruction's by their Plots designed, In that Decree did Daniel plainly Read, His Execution firmly was Decreed. Yet 'tis below his Generous Soul to move One step from God, his firm Devotions prove, How little he doth dread their Stratagem; He bids Defiance both to it and them. He scorns to Live, Death he will rather choose, And will his Life before his Duty lose. Ere he will want Communion with his God, For thirty days, he'll pass that Bloody Road Which they provided for him, their Decree Must be his way to Immortality: If the True Ends of Life he cannot have, 'Tis not worth Living, better choose the Grave. Death is the only way to set him free, The Port that lets in to Eternity, Where he may commune with his God by prayer; Daniel resolves to serve him here or there. No sooner had that Royal Hand and Pen Signed that Ensnaring Law, but these Great Men Turn all Informers, greedy of their prey, How to Ensnare, Trapan, Accuse, Betray The Lord High Precedent, for he alone Their Object is, he sits too nigh the Throne; How do they sneak about his house, and creep Under the windows, and through crannies peep. Methinks I see how covertly they stand, Each a Dark Lantern in his trembling hand, Their easy Footsteps, and their watchful Ears, With their dumb signs, and silent characters, That nothing might impede, but that they may Through their own silence hear the Prophet pray. O how their hopes do swell, their blood doth rise! When they behold the Casement open flies! How their hearts leap for Joy, their Souls revive, In hope this opportunity will thrive! And he Brave Spirit, scorning to Retire, Or to obscure the thing which they desire, Doth that on purpose to confirm their Ears, That they, nor yet their Impious Law he fears: But his Devotions to his God will pay, And in Despite of their Decree will pray. The wings of Faith and Zeal, mount him above Fear of Darius' hate, or hope of Love. Shall Daniel his Beloved God disown? Or wear a Mask on his Religion? No, 'tis below the Greatness of his Soul, To slain Religion with an act so foul; As not to do the thing he does profess, He from his Principles will not digress; His holy Resolutions bear the sway, His God in spite of Mortals he'll obey. No sooner have their piercing Eyes inspection Of the least Motion towards Genuflection; When they behold those sacred Joints to bend, How greedily their Eyes his Motions tend, How his preparatory Sighs they mind? What they have sought, now they expect to find. They diligently hearken, not for zeal, Their Itching Ears wait but for an Appeal, That they might hear his voice, so as to prove It was directed to a God above. And though the Heavens, (as if the force they felt At his pathetical Expressions) melt, A different Effect in them it seals, Their putrid hearts it hardens or congeals. Illustrious Prophet, little do we know What various Passions in thy mind doth flow; Within thy sacred Breasts such thoughts may live, Nature 'gainst Grace, Grace against Nature strive. Or thou art Ecstasied beyond the cares Of thy terrestrial, transient, low affairs. Surely thy Soul flies upwards to its Rest, Sweet Divine Raptures issue from thy Breast, Methinks I hear thy heavenly thoughts expressed. And must I now forsake my God, or pay My Life to Man, if I my God obey, Must I on such unhappy terms as these Forfeit my Life, or God of Life displease? Shall the confederating Heathens say, Die Daniel, die, or Heaven disobey? Must my Devotions hurl me to the Grave? Must Prayer kill, which is a means to save? 'Tis worse than Death to live one day alone, Without Access to the Celestial Throne; How then shall I with Thirty Days dispense? What's Life, when Means of Life is banished hence? Must I upon my Lips these Fetters wear? Must my Affections and my Tongue forbear To call upon my God? my Hope, my Trust, No, let me Die I do prove unjust. Rather let Beasts a passage tear, and free My Captive Soul from its Captivity; That it may to Eternal Manfions sly, And take possession of Eternity. Now let them Rend me from Darius' Love, For that their Heaven is, but mine's above. My Body is the King's, at his Command, But my dear Soul is in my Maker's hand; To the fierce Lions I'll become a prey, I my God's Commands will disobey. The Heathens shall not glory over me, Nor yet Rejoice in my Apostasy. Hold, pause a little Daniel, dost not sly Upon thy winged Zeal at pitch too high? Are all the sweets of Life of no esteem? Will not this Daring Act Self-murder seem? If thou destroy thy Life, which thou may'st spare? Will God-incourage a Selfmurderer? Why wilt thou vainly cast thyself away? Is't not sufficient in thy thoughts to pray? The Ceremonies but the outward shell, Will not Ejaculation do as well? God is a Spirit, if thy Spirit move, He thy Devotion will as well approve; What from thy Soul's most secret Altar flies, Will be accepted as a Sacrifice; God the Desires of the Humble meets, And sighs to him from contrite hearts, are sweet; Mental Devotion to thy Soul is free, Which countermines their damned Conspiracy. Ah! no, these weak Temptations cannot find Admittance to Appal his Noble Mind: Daniel to buy his Life, won't sell his God: But in those paths which he before had trod, He still will move; his Soul must still have vent; His Lips must call on the Omnipotent; He with his Speech his God still glorifies, Though his Destruction in his Duty lies; Though he should swiftly pray himself to Air, He will approach his God in vocal prayer; He'll rather to the Lions be a prey, Than to neglect his Duty for a day; And while his Enemies do strictly watch, He to his God in prayer doth approach; He ne'er regards his Crafty OBSERVATOR, But thus Exalts his Voice to his Creator. The Prayer. ALmighty and Omnipotent Jehove, Thou Glorious and Eternal God above, Whose Habitation is Eternal Light, My God, in Thee Alone is my delight; O thou, whose Fullness only doth possess Immensity, and Everlastingness. Lord, what is Man, the Son of Man, that thou Thy Glorious Ear to such an one dost bow? O how illustrious is thy Grace when we Are made the Objects of thy Clemency! To Thee, O Lord, to Thee Alone I bend, O let my prayers to thy Throne ascend! What is Darius, Lord? whom Men advance; Can he as God, command Deliverance: Such would Invade the Glory of thy Throne, Who make their Deity a Mortal one; A God they do adore, who cannot save Either himself, or others from the Grave. Pardon, O pardon their blasphemous Deed. O let thy Mercies all their Gild exceed; Though their Design was principally laid, My Divine Privileges to Invade; They would debar me from Access to Thee, They would eclipse that glorious Liberty, And draw a Curtain 'twixt my God and me. Lord, what is life to me, unless I may (Life of my Soul,) the God of Life obey? Open the Door of Grace, O Lord, that I May to the Bosom of thy Favour fly; O let me praise thee, let my only Aim Be in my day to glorify thy Name. Lord, I am in thy hand, grant me thy power, That over Death I may be Conqueror. Give me a holy Courage, that I may Triumph in Death, ere Heaven disobey; And let my Sacrifice effectual prove, To tell the world, God only dwells above. Redeem thy Church,— — But then O strange surprise, With Vulgar Tumults, and exalted cries. The house with loud Alarms is begirt round, The horrid Noise his pure Devotions drowned; The Conspirators with a full mouthed cry, Bawl, Treason, Treason, 'gainst His Majesty. And with a Guard surprise his prostrate Soul, Whose thoughts were mounted far above the Pole, Bring him away, Darius cannot save Him, from the paunches of a Living Grave; They without Perjury could safely swear, He to the God of Heaven made his prayer; And now their Plot is to perfection brought, They have obtained the only thing they sought, For in the snare the Innocent is caught. And now how briskly do they pass to Court! Happy is he can give the first Report, And to Darius' Ears Evidence bring, Of one that prays to God, and not the King. But with what subtlety do they proceed! To make more sure what lately was decreed; They the Transgressor do at first obscure, To make the Law stronger, or more secure. For they well knew, the King so well did love him, Nothing could from his Princely Favour move him. He would dispense Prerogative, but he Would set his Best Beloved Daniel free, If he foresaw what they by Craft obscure. His Royal Word they once again procure; That whosoe'er denies what is Decreed, The ravening Beasts shall on his Body feed; This once obtained, these Politics proceed: One who pretends to Loyalty and Trust, Proves to your Sacred Majesty unjust. Your Royal Law, which all aught to obey, And as a Debt unto your Greatness pay, Is disesteemed, slighted, and countermanded, As though, Dread Lord, you had it not commanded; One whom to Honour, you have lifted high, Scorns to obey your Sacred Majesty. Ungrateful Rebel! Traitor to the Crown, Which did Exalt him to so high Renown; His high Disdain on your Decree hath trod, And will not own Darius is a God, But prays to something which to us doth seem To be at greater Distances from him: For to the heavens, and not unto your Throne, He is Exalted in Devotion. This vile pernicious Ill Example may, Entice your Subjects in their minds astray, After some other God, and so deprive Darius of his Great Prerogative. Shall he not Die? shall not the Law proceed? Hath not our God Darius so Decreed? I cannot change nor alter my Decree, Bring forth the Traitor instantly to me, And then produce your Witness; which is he? This Daniel is the Man, this Captive Slave, That dares your Great and Royal Law outbrave. Daniel, dear Daniel, oh, what have I done! I Issued out my Rash Resolves too soon; Ah! you in this have Rend from me a Gem, Of equal value with my Diadem. My Soul is wounded for this Rash Decree, Which puts a Period to all Loyalty; For in his Breast such faithfulness did dwell, His unexampled Love did all excel: And must I lose him? must he be Removed? Shall I be dispossessed of what I Loved? Ah! what Distraction wounds my troubled Breast? Of what I most esteemed, I'm dispossessed. Who could imagine that your snare was laid Against your King, whose Interest is betrayed? In this vile Act, by which is overthrown The strongest Pillar that supports my Throne, My Glorious State will totter when he's gone. This is so far from Loyalty and Trust, As it proclaims you hateful and unjust To me, whom you in scorn a God have made, By which my only Angel is betrayed. What shall I say? you're Enemies of Peace, Who hate what is your Sov'raigns' Happiness; For I in him alone was happy made, But now too late I find we're both betrayed; I was a King, would I had been content, Without Invading the Omnipotent. But I too late my Errors have surveyed, Darius and his Daniel is betrayed. Unhappy Daniel, thy unhappy State Makes Thee an Object both of Love and Hate; Thy King his singular Respects doth show, The Nobles hate Thee to thy overthrow. He, if he could, thy Honours would support. But they design to Tear Thee from the Court, And with a voice unanimous they cry, Deliver Daniel to us, he must Diego To satisfy the Law, why was it made? If Kings their own Prerogatives Invade. The King demurs, unwilling to proceed; His hand would cancel what he has Decreed. How willing would His Majesty Reprieve, Although for once he strained Prerogative. But since their Plot hath had so good success, They will again impatiently address; Nor will they be denied of their Demand. The King himself shall not the Law withstand, But void of manners saucily proceed, To tell the King the Law he once Decreed, He cannot change, nay shall not, nor is able, The Medes and Persians Law's unalterable. And though the King the Kingdom's Laws would null, We will be satisfied to the full; Daniel must Die, why doth the King contrive What by that Law is dead, to keep alive? In vain Darius thy protecting hands Strive to preserve, what thy own Law commands. To Dire Destruction, thou in Honour must Doom thy Endeared Fav●…rite to Dust. The King Commands; but O what Inward Care! What Grief, what Soul-sick Trouble, what Despair Approach his Royal Breast! he sighs, he grieves, He weeps and sobs when he the Sentence gives. Ah Da-Da- Daniel, whom I Lo-Lo-Love, Thy De De-Death must th-th-Thee Remove, The Se-Se-Sentence I cannot deny, Dear Daniel, thou M-M-M-M-must Die. And now farewell thou matchless Peer, adieu, My Brightest Star I never more shall view. Thou most Illustrious, True and Loyal one; Thou Greatest Treasure of an Earthly Throne. Never was King so happily possessed, Never was any Mortal Monarch Blest With such a Faithful Servant, such a Flower, The only Glory of an Emperor. But thou art mounting to Eternal Joys. Beyond the Light, Low, Mean, and Trivial Toys Of Earthly Honours, where thou shalt be Blest In Glorious Mansions of Eternal Rest; Freely could I dis-robe myself of State, And leave to be an Earthly Magistrate, To change myself to Spirit, and to sly With my Dear Daniel to Eternity. But that I stay behind to sacrifice Whole Hecatombs of th'Impious Enemies, To thy unspotted, uncorrupted mind. They my avowed severe Revenge shall find. Destruction as a Recompense I'll pay To those who did thy Innocence betray. But stay my thoughts, is not that God the same Who met his Servants in the furious Flame? My Faith persuades me to a firm belief, Thy God will show his Power, and send Relief, And lest thy Enemies the same should fear, And so consult to send some Murderer, More cruel than the Ravenous Lions are. I to prevent any such Black Design, With my own Signet will the Prison sign; I'll seal thee up to the protecting hand, Of thy own God, the God of Sea and Land. How stately to the Den doth Daniel move, Laden with Trophies of his Prince's Love? Clothed with the Graces of his God is he, Armed in holy Armour, Cap. a Pe. He nothing leaves behind him that may seem. Needful to take to Heaven along with him. Thoughts of Revenge he doth so much defy, As he can wish his greatest Enemy An equal share in Glory with his own, Whose Malice sought his Dire Destruction: Those who did causelessly his Life betray, For their Eternal Happiness he'll pray. How like an Isaac is our Daniel come? Ready to pass from th' Altar to the Tomb; Behold th'unspotted Sacrifice is dressed. On which the Priestly Lions are to feast; But to his wonder and amazement finds, Their Savage Nature vary from their kinds; What Miracle is here, this fatal Den, Presents more Favour than Enraged Men. More Friendship in the Lion's Den is shown, Than in the Royal Court of Babylon. A Glorious Spirit did his Soul invest, True Righteousness was fixed in his Breast; He was begirt with Truth and Innocence: These were his Arms, or Armour of Defence; His Adamantine Shield he held so fast, As made him Lion-proof; they'll rather fast, Nay starve, than taste, or touch such heavenly Food, And Die with Thirst, ere drink his sacred Blood: Civil instead of savage they appear; They crouch, submit, and filled with awe and fear, They tremble attempt in Rage t'abuse, Whom neither God, nor yet the King accuse. Thus Daniel in his Duty stands before His God, and God Demands of him no more; He yields his Life, his Faith to testify, And rather than be false to God will Die; Whose life the hand of providence protects, He shall not Die that thus his life neglects, But he shall freely keep, what freely he Offered to give, it shall Restored be; The heavenly Power's engaged to set him free. The Royal King in Mourning Robes is dressed, His Thoughts abandon any kind of Feast; His Mourning Soul fasts for his Best Beloved, Which Envy from him had to Death Removed; All kind of Mirth is banished from the Court, No Jovial pastimes, no delightful sport, Can have admittance there; the King's in tears, Whose Grief creates Remorseness in his Peers; No work for Fiddlers, Interludes or Plays, Mourning is hung upon the Poet's Bays. No Singing, Dancing, no delightful Airs Are heard in Court, but doleful sighs and tears. The Harp, the Organ, Flagellet and Flute, The Violin, the Dulcimer and Lute In silence hang by, in the Music Room, As Rotten Ragged Scutcheons o'er a Tomb. The King now out of tune, nothing can bear, That is Delightful to the Eye or Ear; His thoughts present him Daniel's cries and groans, Whilst Lions Roar his Funeral o'er his Bones. But Daniel's Music is to him more sweet, While they lie crouching prostrate at his Feet; They so melodiously do snore the Song Of his Salvation, he can frame his Tongue To sing with them, and lift his voice on high, In Hallelujahs to the Deity. His Joints at every snort they breath can move, And Dance Corantoes to the God above. But all this while the King is discontent; Alas! he cannot yet behold th'Event Of this Dread Tragedy, he thinks at least, Daniel's imboweled in those Savage Beasts; Therefore his Princely Eyes can take no Rest; Sleep is a perfect stranger to his Eyes, Before their Glances Ghastly Daniel lies; And since his Best Beloved Watchman's go, He cannot slumber, but will watch alone. Ah! his Dear Daniel sleeps in Death, and shall He who did love him, sleep at's Funeral? But all this while Daniel securely lies, Watching amidst his sleeping Enemies, And is become as a Life Guard of theirs, Who were designed his Executioners: Their Ghastly Eyes, and Yawning Mouths are closed, They sleep secure, the heavens hath them Reposed. Mean time his pure Ejaculations fly; His faithful Prayers mount above the Sky. Behold a Miracle is here expressed, The Sacrifice doth pray, and not the Priest, He prays they may not make a Midnight Feast. No sooner did Aurora open the Day. Driving the Black and Darksome Clouds away; No sooner were the Sable Curtains drawn, And Dawning Brightness mounts the Horizon. But Great Darius Riseth from his Bed, To visit Daniel, if Alive or Dead. The first approaching Light his steps convey, A Visit to the Lion's Den to pay; And by his hasty Motion it appears, He'll satisfy at once his hopes and fears; His hope that Daniel lives, fills him with Joys, His fear that he is dead, the same destroys. Darius' heart is in the Lion's Den, And new he moves to meet his heart again; How briskly I behold his Royal Feet, With nimble motion hurry through the street! His winged thoughts fly swifter than a Dove, Yet can't surpass the motion of his Love. He values not the Compliments of State, Nor minds if his Retinue on him wait; Nor for his Coach or Chariot will he stay, Lest it should too much of his time delay; If he can find his Daniel but alive, 'Tis satisfaction in superlative. Might not Darius have a Faith which came By its Original from Abraham? Who against hope, firmly in hope believes, And strongest Faith the most Assurance gives. What though the Lion's Beasts of Rapine are, And though by hunger made the eagerer; And what though human flesh and blood be sweet, A novel Dish, and not their usual Meat: 'Tis possible that Life from Death may spring; Sure some such Faith as this possess the King. He cries aloud, his voice the Air doth fill, Ho! Daniel, Daniel, art thou living still? Hold, hold Darius, cease thy hollow voice, Lest thou awake the Lions with the noise▪ Thy loud Alarms, thy unexpected cries, May Rouse the savage Beasts to Sacrifice Thy Dearest Daniel, who among them lies. If they have fasted all the night from Food, May they not take their morning draught in blood? And break their Fasts on that delicious Meat, Which they last night set up and could not cat? Brutes can no Reason give for their Delay, Their savage Nature is for present prey; They cannot trust, but Run at all that lies Within the prospect of their greedy Eyes. Faith is a stranger to their Ravenous Claws, Sense only cloys, or tires their greedy Jaws; They think not of hereafter, or before, But gorge their Guts till they can eat no more, The King well knew, if Daniel missed their Jaws, 'Twas Providence, not Project was the cause. The King's unchangeable Affections prove The greater Confirmation of his Love; His Princely Favours pass beyond the Grave; His Faith beyond his Sense, what's lost will save. Through the Impenetrable Stones he calls, His Soul wrapped up in sighs, doth pierce the walls, And safely doth arrive at Daniel's Ears, Whose Joy doth swell, when he his Master hears. Daniel, what greater honour can be shown? Was ever Mottal Man so waited on? Was ever Prisoner, when condemned by Fate, Attended with such Majesty and State? Thy God within, thy King without the Gate, Waits in his Person, where he stays till he The happy Prospect of his Daniel see; And to Return Thanks to those savage Beasts, For their Accommodations to their Guests; For they, contrary to their Nature now, To the Beloved of their Master bow. Now may you hear this worthy Porentate, Express his Soul in Accents passionate. O Daniel! servant to the Living God, Whose Habitation, Dwelling and Abode, Is in Eternal, Everlasting Light; Whose Eyes can penetrate the sable Night, Is thy God able by his Power to free, From Death, from Bondage, and Captivity, Such as depend on his Ability? Darius' Queries, yet is far from doubt. His Faith confirms what he is come about, For he affirms, thy God will set thee free, His Confidence was in the Deity. Experience past confirms his Faith the more, That God can do, what he has done before; He the Effects of Faith doth now embrace, For Living Daniel stands before his face; Which through the Grates no sooner he esples, The sudden Vision doth his Soul surprise; As in an Ecstasy of Joy he stands, And upwards elevates his Princely hands; Being struck dumb with admiration, hears His daniel's voice approach his Royal Ears, In the same stile, in the same Loyal sound, O King for ever live, live ever Crowned With the Celestial Diadem of Glory. When thou hast perfected thy Earthly Story. Praises ascend from me to God above, That he the heart of my dread Lord did move, Thus to bestow on me his princely Love. From Prayer he to Preaching doth proceed, Though from his Chapel yet he is not freed. The King stands in the porch and doth not stir, But is content to be his Auditer: Into two Branches he his theme doth bring, Leaving the Application to the King; He first the goodness of his God declares, Next his own innocency he avers: And these two points doth he unite to prove, The mighty God doth Innocency love, His Duty he from hence doth justify, Both to Divine and Earthly Majesty. Such cannot be unfaithful to their King, Who to their God are just in every thing; Darius ne'er was satisfied more, In any Sermon he e'er heard before; The Surly Lions seem to understand, And watch the motion of his Lip and Hand, How mute, and how demure they sit and hear, As if his voice were music to the Ear. And if his silence so much awed their sense, How were they charmed with his Eloquence. Experience worketh confidence, for he Can the Beasts Love, and his own safety see, Well may he trust whom he hath found his Friends, One Mercy on another still depends, The same deliverance which first set him free, Makes him still trust in its security; That which the Lion and the Bear subdue, Was the same Faith which the Philistine slew, The Israelites on th'other shore that stood, Were sureties for such as pass the flood: So the same saith, as firmly doth engage Still to preserve, as first to stay the rage Of the fierce Lions till the Charm be past, Which clearly quits the Innocent, and , Which by his faith is justified at last: The Sermon being done, the Seals are tore, And open flies the stony Chapel door: The Captive issues forth, where soon he spies His Royal Prince wrapped up in ecstasies: He's Heaven struck with Joy and admiration, His Soul is rap't in Divine Contemplation, He like a Statue stands, fixed and unmoved, His Royal Eyes gaze on his best beloved, His ravished thoughts are glutted with excess Of Heavenly Raptures, which he can't express. After some pause,— deliberately he Doth reassume the thoughts of Majesty, And thundering forth with terror on his Brow, Those dreadful mandates which must follow now; Orders for Execution forth are sent, In favour of his Lord High Precedent: Those who have his destruction thus designed, Must the revenge of great Darius find: Those who his life have plotted to betray, Shall their own lives, instead of daniel's pay, What they would take from him, they down must lay. This Day's Deliverance is of high Esteem, When Heaven Beloved Daniel did Redeem; And now the King Resolves to keep a Feast, In Memory of his Reprieved Guest; But the first Course he to the Lions sends, To make their fasting Appetites amends; They could not taste the Dish that first was dressed, Therefore the King supplies 'em with a ●east; Varieties of Sexes, choice of Meat, 'Cause on a single Dish they cannot eat; On which, when served, their eager stomaches feed, They have not patience till the Cloth be spread. Daniel gave Thanks before, they scorn the fashion, But fall on boldly without Invitation; They're so impatient, that they cannot stay, But meet each Course while in the middle way; Ere the Meat comes to Table they devour, And drink Carouzes to the Emperor, In the heartsblood of these Man catching Fiends, Those vile Trappaners of the King's best Friends; The crackling of whose Joints their Music is; They find no sweeter Melody than this; And having supped, betake themselves to Rest, Well satisfied with this Delicious Feast, Till they awake, and Rouse themselves again, To overlook the Fragments in the Den; They ready are for more, if more there be Found acting Treason 'gainst his Majesty. Thirsting with greedy Appetites for Blood, As those Men did, who lately were their food. And 'tis but Natural, that the Flesh of those Monsters of Nature, whose Designs oppose Sov'regnity in Monarches, and contrive His Best of Subjects to Entomb alive; 'Tis natural I say, that such should be Incorporate in Inhumanity. To savage Nature they degenerate, Savage they are, and in that savage state, They justly are condemned to savage fate. No need of Process, Summoning, or Juries; He who Infallibly both Just and Pure is, Sits Judge in Court, he who alone surveys Dark obscure thoughts, untrodden crooked ways Of sinful Mortals; he who sits on high Condemns, and who shall dare to justify? 'Twas he those Catifs to destruction hurled, And by his Miracle convinced the world. It is a Maxim Politic in State, And the prime Lesson of a Potentate, To fix the Crown on his own Temples sure, And in his Royal Throne to sit secure; Therefore at first remov's what may impede The Diadems fixation on his head; And if Conspiracy hereafter moves So losty as to strike at what he loves, Then Policy calls Majesty to rouse, And his Beloved Subjects Cause espouse: For such as venture at his Royal Breast, To rend from thence what he doth value best, Will the next onset ravenously fly To strike the very Heart of Majesty; That insolence which dares attempt the one, Dares undermine, or overthrow the Throne. The Great Darius will decree o●… more, But not against the Heavens, as before, He will be God no longer, but lay down His Divine Title for a mortal one.