England this fable plainly shows,  
a strong Ally no partner knows.  
The Bull the Goat, and patient Sheep one day,  
Leagued with the Lion, sought a common prey;  
A pray they took, an high and mighty hart;  
of which each thought to have his equal part:  
Soft, quoth the Lion, I the first share claim,  
Cause Lion King o'th' forest is my mane;  
The second you shall give me as my due,  
'Cause I am valiant, able to subdue:  
The third I take by force, and for the rest,  
Touch it who dares; yield it all, you had best.    

Speculum Speculativum: OR, A CONSIDERING-GLASSE; Being an INSPECTION Into the present and late sad Condition Of these NATIONS; With some CAUTIONAL EXPRESSIONS made thereupon, by GEORGE WHITHER, Immediately after His MAJESTY'S Restauration: To preserve in himself and others a Christian Obedience to GOD's various Dispensations. Hereby also are some Glimmerings discovered Of what will probably ensue hereafter.  
Fiat Justitia, Ruat Coelum:  
Rather than Justice should be made a scorn,  
Let all the Planets, from their Spheres be torn.  And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, When comest to Babylon, thou shalt read these words; and when thou hast made an end of reading this Book, thou shalt bind a stone to it, and cast it into the midst of Euphrates, and say, Thus shall Babylon sink, Jer. 51. 63. 
London, Written June XIII. MDCLX. and there Imprinted the same year.   

To the KING'S MAJESTY, If this Considering Glass comes accidentally to his View.  

SIR, Blessed is he that in God's Name doth come,  
In which Name I pronounce your welcome home;  
And, for your Health more heartily do pray,  
Than any one who drinks it every day.  
As often too, I have you in my thought  
As they, who with the first your favour sought;  
Which, if my heart you could as plainly see  
As what you now read, would believed be.  
When I had first composed what here ensues,  
I wished it, where you might the same peruse:  
For men unknown (or known without respect)  
So justly are affronted with neglect,  
For proffered Services to those, that have  
More Offerings daily than they can receive,  
That, I committed this to his Dispose,  
Who order every thing that comes or goes.   

If Providence hath brought this to your hand,  
Give up to REASON strait, the sole command  
O'er all your Passions; Make her of your Isle,  
(Your Isle of MAN) Queen-Regent, all the while  
You are perusing it; and let it be  
Read through, else it will wrong both You and Me.  
(Or you like Caesar, unperused perchance,  
May leave that, which your welfare might advance)  
To be her Subject, but so long endeavour  
As till that's done, and then, be King for ever,  
(Reigning with her) as absolute a Prince,  
As ever had o'er men pre-eminence:  
For, then, shall that, to you more glory add,  
Than hitherto from any Pen you had;  
And, be to you, a true Mnemosyne,  
When, peradventure, none so dares to be.   

This Glass (though formed it be of Common matter  
And, made by him, who knows not how to flatter)  
If, to a Prince, who needs it, it were sold,  
Were worth to him three times his weight in gold,  
If he knew how to use it as he should:  
Yet I had rather you for nothing had it,  
So that it wrought th' effect for which I made it,  
Than, from another, to receive that price  
In ready money paid me over twice:  
For, then, this Book (which hath not to your praise  
One single Page) thereto should Trophies raise  
More glorious, than, your LONDON'S wealth could rear  
If wholly, thereupon consumed it were.  
Your Happiness and Honour it intends:  
By not commending, it much more commends,  
Than all their Panegyrics who bestrow  
Those men with praises whom they do not know;  
And, magnify, when they ascend the Throne,  
All Kings alike; which praise is less than none;  
For, 'tis a Mock, deserving but returns  
Of sharp reproofs, or of neglect and scorns.  
If, wise and pious, you I had not thought,  
I, such like Gewgaws could to you have brought  
To put out of your mind, what GOD for you  
Hath lately done; and what you ought to do  
For Him and His. But neither self-esteem,  
Nor verbal Attributes can perfect him  
By whom, here, shall be an Establishment  
Of Justice in a Righteous Government.  
For, none else, but a selfdenying King,  
Shall that great Blessing to these Nations bring;  
And, his Name will be thereby honoured more  
Than all his Predecessors heretofore.  
And, they, who then live shall fulfilled behold  
What Britain's Genius, long ago foretold:  
For, I believe, that such a one will be,  
And also, much desire, you may be he.   

A King you are, who, now twice born hath been  
To Royalty; and therefore, by that Mean  
A Child of honour, by Regeneration  
You seem to be: and in the common fashion  
To celebrate your double birth, it could  
With your condition no proportion hold;  
For that Cause in a path, by no man trod,  
I seek to do you honour in this Mode,  
Which if accepted, your true praise will be;  
And, peradventure no disgrace to me.   

For as a Lady looking in a Mirror,  
Puts on her Dress, and Jewels without error,  
Heeding what is misplaced, or forgot,  
And to her Handmaid always trusteth not;  
So, by this Glass, you may have by reflection  
A sight of what pertains to your perfection.  
See, not with others, but, with your own eyes,  
Whether true Ornaments, or some Disguise,  
Be put upon you, which may render you  
Less lovely, when you come in open view.  
Herein, a Catalogue to you is shown  
Of many long-lost Jewels of the Crown;  
And such as add the most Essential Glory  
Unto those Crowns that are but transitory.  
A Course is offered here, whereby you may  
Outdo, all that, which Flatterers can say:  
(Or, by but so far forth endeavouring it,  
As Humane Frailties will the same permit)  
To praise you here, I do not undertake;  
But, that yourself praiseworthy you may make  
Is my design by bringing things to mind,  
Which written in your own heart you shall find.  
This shows the Means to make you honourable  
With what should always be inseparable  
From your own person, and doth also tend  
To your Immortal Glory, without end:  
It, such an honour gives, as will increase  
In their despite, who seek to make it less:  
An honour which depends not on men's tongues,  
Which Envy blasteth not, nor Malice wrongs;  
Which neither Degradations, nor Advances,  
Or, any humane Changes or Mischances  
Can blemish: for, it will be much more clear  
Than that Star, which within our Hemisphere  
Shined on your Birthday, whilst the Sun at height  
Displayed his beams to hide it from our sight.   

Somewhat, by that, perhaps, portended was;  
So will there be by this Considering-Glass.  
God grant my meaning be so understood,  
That, now it may an Omen be for Good.  
By great Afflictions you were lately proved,  
Which are in mercy totally removed.  
At present, by as great prosperities,  
Your Temper, and your Faithfulness God tries.  
And that things useful slip not out of thought,  
This, to your hands, by Providence was brought.  
Be pleased seriously to look thereon,  
For, you will find it a true Lydian-stone;  
And, if you bide the Touch, WORDS are too poor  
To celebrate your Worth; who can say more?   
Your Majesty's Loyal Subject, GEO. WITHER.   

In stead of a Dedication, or an Epistle to the Reader, this Expostulation of the Author with Himself, is here inserted.  

GEORGE, were't not fit, ere from thy hands it pass  
To dress thy self by thy Considering-Glass?  
It hath now six months been exposed to show  
And some say, Forth in public let it go.  
Some, cry, Conceal it; for it may undo thee,  
Or at the best, bring outward mischief to thee.  
Say, shall, or shall I not divulge the same?  
Shall it be spared, or given to the flame?  
Quickly, resolve, before it be too late,  
And Cautions needful, grow quite out of date.   

Dost thou believe, that many men will read it?  
Or, if they do, that any much will heed it?  
Except it be, to seek how to abuse thee,  
Or, find out somewhat whereof to accuse thee;  
What ever thou shalt write, Self-interest  
No more will entertain, then shall consist  
With her own Principles. Thou, to the SOT  
Writ'st Greek: the worldly-wise regard it not;  
And if, among Swine, thou thy pearls dost cast,  
They'll tear thee, or defile thee at the least.  
Yet, if thy Conscience doth incline thee to it,  
More fear thou to neglect it, than to do it;  
For, from thy Duties thou art not excused,  
Although thy pains be slighted and abused.  
And, it were better, mischief should befall  
Unto one single person, than to all:  
He perishing with an ill Conscience too,  
Because, he did not, what he ought to do.   

To make this, and transcribe it, I confess,  
Much pains required not, and the cost is less.  
In Ink and Paper: yet, perhaps, it may  
Be better worth, than to be thrown away:  
And though to my particular offence  
It may redound a tenfold Recompense,  
It will repay thy Country by return:  
And, for thy self alone, thou art not born.   

My Country! Why perhaps my Countrymen,  
Think, they need not my service; and, what then?  
Am I obliged, if they be minded so,  
To serve them still, whether they will or no?  
ay, fifty years, have served them in my turn,  
To that end, for which (I think) I was born,  
For no reward, but injuries and scorn.  
They, my Good Meanings, have repaid with ill,  
And, can it be expected, I should still  
Serve them on such hard terms? Then, so I will.   

Hast thou composed, without fear or wit,  
What, may men's discontented humours fit?  
scribbled enough, since here the Scoene did alter,  
To purchase Newgate, or, to win a Halter?  
If so, and that which is deserved follows,  
That will, perhaps, attend thee to the Gallows:  
There, either rail upon thee, or, else say,  
Thou wert a bold fool, and so go their way.  
And, if thou writ'st but sober Truth and Reason,  
Or, that, which wise men think to be in season,  
They will be all the world will give thee for't,  
she'll say that, Thou, not worth the hanging art.  
Not, worth the hanging! Ha! that's somewhat tho;  
And may be worth as much, for aught I know,  
As to be made a Viscount, or an Earl,  
A Marquis, or a Duke  
For, great my Earthly Expectations are not,  
And, if they come to nothing, much I care not.  
I know, which way, to make mine honour greater  
Than that, for which I must become a Debtor  
To other men; and, can augment the same  
By that, which some do think, will do me shame.   

But, hark! in policy a while delay  
To publish, this; thou hast a Game to play  
For Prelates Lands, which lately purchased were;  
Thy Claims thereto, now in great hazard are,  
And, thou, wilt both to borrow, and to pay,  
Disabled be, if they be took away:  
Thy other Lands, by Cheaters were bereft,  
And, if thou lose these too, there's nothing left.  
Their Temp'ralties, must be restored again,  
And, thou concerning them, writ'st here, such plain,  
Such downright Truths, that if there should be found  
Surviving (or, new made) on English Ground  
A Bishop who will then thy cause befriend,  
It may presage that all the rest will mend:  
And, that, here constituted, we shall see,  
Such Bishops, as Saint Paul said they should be:  
(Which our Scotch-brethrens, I suppose, will grant  
To be within, our Solemn Covenant)  
But, that, is in great hazard; therefore, try  
Their Holiness, and their Humility:  
And, if, as may be wished, thou shalt not speed,  
Then, with what thou intendest straight proceed.   

Out! Out Upon't! this Motion is so evil,  
That, 'tis a mere suggestion of the Devil.  
This, is that foolish policy, that brings  
Destruction upon Nations and their Kings.  
'Tis in effect, as if my heart should say,  
Do, as most Worldlings do; and when that way  
Thou proved haste, and thereby reap'st no good,  
From thenceforth, put thy trust alone in GOD.   

No, no; I bought those Lands without offending  
My Conscience, or a wrong to them intending:  
And, either still mine by GOD's help I'll make them,  
Or, let the Prelates, if it must be, take them;  
Although I know them no Appurtenance  
To them belonging by GOD's Ordinance.  
A Covenant within his sight I took,  
Which, though by some it slighted be, and broke,  
I dare not slight it so, but, to this hour  
Have kept it (and will keep it) to my power.   

Art thou then thus resolved? Yes, and till death  
Resolved am, whilst I have Pen or Breath,  
Thus, to be still resolved, unless GOD leaves me,  
Or else to change my mind his warrant gives me.  
I'll trust GOD in the first place, not the last  
Alone, and when all other hopes are past.  
If Prelates, Parliaments, and Kings bereave me  
Of all I have, He, helpless will not leave me.   

But probable it seems, that, if hereby  
Imprisonment, or extreme Poverty  
Befalls now thou art old, that they who most  
Thy hazard urge, will leave thee to be lost:  
What if they do? thou hast a better hold:  
GOD leaveth no man because he is old;  
And never had he firm Dependences  
On him, that's frighted with such Toys as these.  
Recall to mind, that many years ago,  
When such Adventures thou wert urged unto  
It fell out otherwise. But there is yet  
Another fear: Therefore consider it.  
Thou hast Relations, who to thee are dear;  
May these. not suffer more than they can bear,  
By what may come? Alas! I'll not dissemble,  
My fears for them, do make my flesh to tremble;  
And, when I mind their hazards and their fears,  
' Spite of Philosophy I let fall tears.   

But why, my Soul, art thou dejected so?  
My Heart, why sad within me, dos● 〈◊〉 grow?  
Still trust in GOD, for he will be th●●● aid.  
Of these vain Bug-bears be thou not afraid;  
For they are GOD's much more than they are thine:  
To him therefore the charge of them resign.  
This needless care, is but for Three, at most,  
And, to the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,  
If thou commit them, be will raise up Friends  
To make for all their losses large amends.   

But, they have said, and so do many say,  
That men are much estranged at this day  
From what they were: that, in these latter times  
They are grown much more hardened in their crimes,  
And far less sensible than they were then  
Of Sufferings, which befell to honest men,  
Who (when their pains might that way be bestown)  
Preferred the common good before their own:  
And that their number too, who now are grieved,  
Is more than theirs, by whom to be relieved,  
They may have hope. Alas! if it be thus,  
GOD only can, and he must succour us.   

If it be so, our case is very sad:  
Yet fear not, Balm in Gilead may be had.  
Thy Pains, and this Adventure such times need:  
On good Intentions, good effects succeed;  
And, he at last will find it so, who scatters  
His Bread, although it be upon the Waters:  
For God is still the same; his Truth will never  
Be Falsehood, but continue Truth for ever.  
He, who thee hath preserved so many years  
Amid so many Dangers, Foes and Fears,  
As thou hast passed through (and thy Oppressors  
Destroyed from time to time with their Successors)  
Will still prese●●● thee; or, else, thither take thee  
From them, 〈…〉 he'll secure for ever make thee;  
And, be to Wife and Children at their need,  
A Husband and a Father, in thy steed.   

Well; I believe this; with myself, therefore  
Hereof, I will expostulate no more.  
I have so well, in my Considering-Glass,  
Viewed, what my heart now is, with what it was,  
And, for what may befall, prepared it so,  
That, whither GOD will send it, let it go:  
Take it among you, Newters, Friends and Foes,  
And his Will be fulfilled, WIN-THE-FIGHT or LOSE:  
Who since I am excused from the cost  
Of Publication (because, all I've lost)  
Will in the best time, some man's heart incline  
To add his Contribution unto mine;  
That, what now six months hath perused been  
In private, may more publicly be seen.   
GEO. WITHER. Decemb. 13. 1660.   

SPECULUM SPECULATIVUM: OR, A CONSIDERING-GLASSE; Composed, June XIII. M.DCLX.  
The Contents.  

OUr Modern Prophet (so did Paul,  
A well known Heathen Poet call)  
Doth, in the Muse's Mode relate  
This Nations past and present state.  
Shows us, in this Considering-Glass,  
What, shall hereafter come to pass,  
According as, we do fulfil,  
Or, cross GOD's manifested Will.  
Shows by what light he doth behold  
Those things that are by him foretold.  
Praics for the King, and minds him too,  
In praying for him, what to do.  
Some things, which to himself pertain,  
He intermixeth (not in vain)  
Which will as much advantage them  
Who slight them not, as profit him.  
And by the number of the Beast,  
Bounds the last year of Antichrist.   

THough of my Friends, I may almost profess,  
As did Elias, in another case,  
I know not one (not one of those at least,  
Who friendship for mere civil ends professed)  
Yet here this day, may many thousands be  
Who are my real friends, unknown to me:  
Yea peradventure many among those  
Who at this present time are thought my Foes.  
To them therefore, I wishing Grace and Peace;  
Do now, where ere they live, these Lines address  
To fortify their Faith, and them incline  
By their endeavours to help strengthen mine;  
And that by our Petitions jointly made,  
We may get safety where it can be had;  
For, whether of a low degree, or high,  
To trust to men, is trusting to a Lye.   

I am surprised with another FIT,  
But what it will produce, I know not yet.  
Confusedly things tumble in my breast,  
And if confusedly they be expressed,  
You must be pleased to take them as you find them,  
(And, as begun, before I had designed them)  
Since when few knew what's best for them to do,  
That will be done which they are forced unto;  
And may perhaps too, have as good success  
As that with which more freedom I express:  
(At leastwise) when men's manners, and the times  
Shall make them heed the Reason of my Rhymes;  
For nothing I'll insist on, but what shall  
Tend to GOD's glory, and the good of all.  
Of no men's Persons whosoever they are,  
Will I accept, in what I shall declare:  
(Not of mine own, in any thing that may  
Wrong Justice, or my Conscience any way)  
Nor be so fearful, or so overbold,  
So overhot, so lukewarm, or so cold,  
That any justly shall my words despise,  
That's honest, sober, generous or wise:  
But plainly tell things as I find they are,  
And then concerning them my thoughts declare;  
Not limited by Method like to those  
Who make expressions of their minds in prose;  
But by Digressions, as the Muses do,  
When sudden Raptures them incline thereto;  
And in such Language as may evidence  
The Truth, without affected Eloquence.  
Yet, nor the better, nor the worse effect,  
Whether I write, or write not, I expect  
As to my Self; save, as I hope to raise  
Thereby a Groundwork for GOD's future praise  
From things observed; with which work to dispense  
I dare not, neither can without offence:  
For GOD is much concerned in things now done;  
As also, in what may succeed thereon;  
And if well known, and well weighed, all things were  
Which, to me pertinent at this time are,  
As with those Lepers who distressed sat  
'Twixt WAR and FAMINF, at Samaria's Gate;  
So should I seem to far: for, whether they  
Continued in that place, or went away,  
Their hazards were the same; and so are mine,  
Whether to WORDS, or Silence, I incline.  
They at the last resolved were to try  
That course which they thought best; and so do I.  
Which if no man regards, 'tis but the lot  
That, I, and better men have often got.   

Assist, Oh GOD! in what I seek to do;  
For, when that MAZE, I wistly look into  
Which we are in, I am afraid almost  
That I in some dark passage may be lost.  
Our Follies have so wrapped us in a Gin,  
Composed both of Righteousness and Sin,  
Of Truth and Falsehood, of Nonsense and Reason,  
Of Good and Ill, of Loyalty and Treason;  
And disagreeing Judgements and Affections,  
Have broken us into so many Fractions;  
Our heads enforcing into such cross Angels,  
Whereby the Net still more and more entangles,  
And fastened it with such a snarled knot,  
That, to untie it, if thou help them not,  
All humane powers will be employed in vain,  
To set us at full liberty again.  
But notwithstanding, here is hardly ought  
That, is not wholly out of order brought;  
Yet, if thou list, when likeliest means do fail,  
Thou canst make things unlikely to prevail.  
Thy purpose, thou as well to pass canst bring  
By my Goose-quill, as by an Angel's Wing:  
And, though on all sides all have so misdone  
That, I am like to give content to none;  
If I may do thy Will, I shall not care  
What else, ensues, or who displeased are.  
men's Failings and their Duties being shown,  
Thy Justice and thy Mercies will be known.  
And, hoping, to that end, thou guid'st my Pen,  
I'll without fear, make my Address to men.  
For, doubtless, I may boldly do mine Errand  
To Kings and Nations, when I have thy warrant.   

Full eighteen years and one month, very near  
Since we began to ring the Changes here  
Are passed away; and since by often turning  
We, have been broiling, to escape a burning:  
But, what are we the better, now, unless  
We shall discover what things were amiss;  
And when we find them, seriously intent  
Our courses, for the future, to amend?  
For, how can they have ease, who bear about them,  
And in them, what they seek to cure without them?  
Or, to obtain it shall be still so mad,  
As to expect it, where none can be had?  
Or, how can possibly that Body be  
From great Distempers, or Destruction free,  
Whose Head and Members are from one another  
Divided? or so cruel to each other  
As not to let each part, enjoy that dole  
Which Nature gave them to preserve the whole?   

Our King's returned: but we, to him from whom  
Our perfect Peace, and saving-health must come,  
Are not as yet returned; and whilst we are  
As we now be, things will be as they were.  
We shall be cheated, if we do suppose  
Wasps will turn Bees, or Doves proceed from Crows,  
Till GOD himself, whose proper work it is,  
Shall bring to pass that Metamorphosis,  
Which hath been long expected by this Nation,  
And, will require a longer Expectation,  
Even till we more endeavour it, from him  
Who may to us, as to Jerusalem,  
Cry out, How often have I sought your good,  
And as a Hen that's careful of her brood,  
Would fain have brooded you? but, you would not!  
His Mercies we have slighted, or forgot:  
This negligence, (or, I might rather say  
This wilfulness) hath made us at this day  
So wretched, that no hope doth now remain  
But that which quickly may be lost again:  
For, we do find, whatever is pretended,  
That, like Sour Ale in Summer we are mended;  
And, that as since we innovated first,  
At every Change, the last proved always worst.  
(Whether things were presented to our sight  
In Habits old or new, in black or white)  
So still, 'tis like to be, till we adhere  
To Righteous Actings, with hearts more sincere,  
By what vow, promise, or fair show soever,  
The Politician works on his Believer:  
Yea, though the King should do the best he can,  
And act beyond the sphere of mortal man:  
For, here Hercule an labours find he shall,  
And, that he's come now to th' Aeugaean-stall,  
Which must be cleansed (as the Poets say  
That was) by turning Streams another way.   

ay, round about me, hear a found of Peace;  
But I (as yet) discover nothing less;  
Although, I do not see as heretofore  
Swords drawn; or hear so oft, the Canons roar.  
That, which some dream we have, I cannot find;  
Either, I see too much, or they are blind.  
I see it possible; and with closed eyes  
See also, how it may be otherwise,  
Unless both Prince and People join as One  
In doing that, which is yet left undone.  
We have a King (GOD prosper him:) but hark!  
He, hath a people too will find him work.  
He may perceive before this year wheels round,  
That, with a wreath of thorns, they him have crowned;  
And, that among their Sweetmeats, taste he shall  
A little Honey mixed with much Gall.  
What can the Master's Art, at Helm prevail  
To save the Ship, that spreadeth every sail  
Amongst Rocks in a storm, from being sunk,  
When all his Mariners are sick or drunk?  
What can the wisest Single person do,  
Although King Solomon and David too  
Were of his Council? Joshua General,  
Sampson his Champion, and his Lifeguard all  
Like David's Worthies, till men understand  
Their own estate, heed, what GOD hath in hand;  
What he expects, and better can discover  
What Grace is offered, and what Plagnes hang over?  
Or, what can any Nations do, whose Kings  
And Governors are heedless of such things?   

These Duties, few of us regarded have,  
But multiplied our Feasts; made our selves brave;  
Neglect, as others did, our day of Trial,  
And sing unto the Lute, the Harp, or Viol,  
Even whilst our Brethren sharply punished are  
For sins whereof their Judges are not clear:  
For I, nor You, nor any one of them,  
Who with severity, their faults condemn,  
Could be excused, if GOD should be severe  
In questioning what hath been acted here.  
As therefore, GOD shall bring them to my mind  
To treat of those things I am now inclined,  
Whereby, Dooms threatened may be turned from  
These Realms, or born with meekness when they  
But, I will first inform you, by what light come.  
I see those things, whereof I have a sight,  
In hope it will the better, then be known  
If Truth I write, or Fancies of mine own.   

Immodestly we must not pry into  
GOD's secrets: yet, what he intends to do,  
He, not alone doth by his Word reveal  
With what to Sins, to Duties, Woe, or Weal,  
Relates: 〈◊〉 Medium's also hath bestown  
Whereby, some future things may before-known;  
And, he expects, that we with industry  
Should to the search of them ourselves apply  
According to that means: because, each thing  
Which Disquisition may to knowledge bring,  
Will either hurt or profit, less or more,  
As (for the most part) it hath been before  
Sought, shunned, hoped, feared, and well considered on;  
And that makes me ofttimes to muse upon  
Things that may be, as well as those that are;  
And, things past, with things present to compare,  
That I might know, as much as Reason can,  
With help of Grace, my duties as a man.  
And, though it be of many disregarded,  
GOD hath my pains, in that kind, oft rewarded  
With such Discoveries, that (if timely heeded)  
They might have Plagues prevented, that succeeded.  
Whereof, lest you still doubt, here I will show  
By what means I some future things foreknow.  
That, you may prove, if those which I declare  
Either fanatics, or Impostures are.   

My Muse acts by a Glass of Speculation,  
Whereto applying, what my Observation  
Lays hold on, I do otherwhile foresee  
Some things, which either may, or may not be,  
As that shall be omitted or fulfilled  
Which is by GOD, conditionally willed.  
Enthusiasms, I know, most men contemn;  
No further therefore, I pretend to them  
Than POETS may; though in all Generations  
GOD may, and doth vouchsafe both Revelations  
And Visions too (for aught yet known to me)  
Which may to us Premonitory be:  
Since, frequently, prenotions I have had  
(By some Impressions on my spirit made)  
Of what ensued, which I could not have known  
By any Light, or Virtue of mine own.   

If therefore, you shall be inclined unto  
My way of Divination, then, thus do:  
Withdraw yourselves to some place all alone,  
Where you shall interrupted be of none:  
(The Woods, your Closet, or the fragrant Field,  
Conveniences for such a purpose yield)  
When you are there, place GOD before your eyes,  
And, minding he your deeds and thoughts espies.  
Cast backward, so far from you every thing  
(As possibly) which an offence may bring  
To such a Majesty; chiefly, those ends  
Whose prosecution neither truly tends  
Unto GOD's honour, or to edify  
Yourselves or others; but, to vanity;  
To satiate your Avarice or Pride,  
Or such like Lusts. Thus, having sanctified  
Your Persons, place upon the right-hand side  
GOD's Oracles, by which all things are tried.  
You shall in them, expressed at large, behold  
All Acts and Sufferings, which in times of old  
Concerned Him, or his People, with all those  
To them relating, who were Friends or Foes,  
So far forth, as to you their cognizance  
Pertains, and as your Weal it may advance.  
These, by GOD's Providence transmitted were  
To future ages, to be every where,  
(Even to the very utmost end of Time)  
That URIM and that THUMMIM unto them,  
Whereto they might repair, when they of aught  
That needed Resolution, stood in doubt.   

Therein, you all Occurrences may find,  
Which necessarily, in any kind,  
Shall unto Faith or Manners appertain,  
So long as in this world men do remain.  
There are exemplifide, all humane failings,  
All Changes, Hopes, Fears, Lose and Prevading,  
Of Enemies or Friends: Things Good and Evil;  
The Practices and Projects of the Devil;  
Things Metaphysical, products of Nature  
And Grace, with what concerneth every creature;  
All Promises and threatenings, which belong  
To Faith or Unbeleef, to Right or Wrong,  
With all things else that pertinent may be  
To every Faculty, and each Degree.   

When with this GLASS, you are acquainted grown  
So that your Self, may to yourself be known;  
(For, it will show more plainly, than your face  
You ever, yet beheld in any Glass  
what's in your heart; and also let you see  
What things are wanting, which there ought to be)  
And, when by practice you enabled are  
To know to what heads, those things to refer  
Of which you would inquire, place opposite,  
What you have by your hearing, or by sight  
Discovered, to that Subject pertinent,  
Concerning which, you seek to know th' event,  
Or good or ill condition of the same,  
And what you may conjecture without blame.   

Then, well consider all the Circumstances  
That qualify, and all Appurtenances  
That aggravate, to make men capable  
Of Mercies, or to Judgements liable;  
As likewise, all Essentials to that thing  
Whose Nature, Merit, or demeriting  
You seek to understand; or else what Meed  
Or punishment is for the same decreed  
According to the Rules, and Judged Cases,  
Recorded in that Map of common places.  
This being done, be confident (if you  
Have not for Truths received things untrue)  
By parallelling Objects which you see,  
Upon your left hand placed, with such as be  
Upon the right, it will to you appear  
Whether or not approvable they are;  
And, what on Humane Actions, will ensue  
Whereof you had an undeceived view;  
Except, an intervening change takes place  
By secret sins, or unseen Acts of Grace.  
Nay, otherwhile, it pleaseth Providence  
To hint things not deducible from thence,  
Concerning both the manner and the time  
Of future Consequences, unto them  
Who seek not out of Vanity or Pride  
For hidden things; and they are verified  
Accordingly, when by what's fore-discerned  
The welfare of GOD's people is concerned.   

This, merely, is a work of Contemplation,  
Not practical without much Observation;  
And will as harshly sound in most men's ears,  
As Lovesongs, to an aged Usurer's;  
And, teachable it is not, save to those  
Whom GOD shall by his Spirit pre-dispose  
For such a search: but, 'tis attained then  
Assoon by mean wits, as by wisest men;  
And, better answers what their Queries are,  
Than if the Influence of every Star,  
With all their Constellations they could know,  
And, more confirmed thereby their Faith will grow.   

Now, what of our Affairs, I pre-conjecture  
By this GLASS, I intent to read a Lecture  
As pertinently, as my shallow wit,  
And those confused Objects will permit  
Which press as hard within me to come out,  
As those Oppressions hemming me about  
Strive to break in upon me: for 'twixt these,  
My soul and body lie in Little-ease.   

Oh GOD, thine aid I once again implore,  
That my Design make not our breaches more,  
Nor quite complete my ruin now begun;  
At least till I thy work have wholly done:  
For, I am of no Faction, but profess  
To King and Country with true heartinesses,  
Both Loyalty and Love, with an intent  
Destruction and Disunion to prevent,  
By offering to men's due considerations,  
Some Objects of my private Observations  
With those Products, which may arise from thence;  
And which may likewise have an influence  
On other things, that will relation have  
To Thee and thine, whose interests to save  
I so obliged am, that I would neither  
Should be dishonoured, or wrong done to either:  
And, LORD, as this, my chief design to be,  
Thou knowest, so vouchsafe to prosper me.   

Betwixt Mount Gebal and Mount Gerazim,  
At this day, to be placed, we do seem,  
And, 'tis yet in suspense, whether or not  
A Blessing or a Curse will be our lot:  
The strst I hope for, and the last I fear,  
Considering how still qualifide we are:  
And what a little change is in us made  
By all the changes we have lately had.  
If raging singly, Avarice, Ambition,  
Self will, Profaneness, Envy, Superstition,  
Hypocrisy and Malice we have found,  
Scarce tolerable; what when they abound,  
And are united, can be here expected,  
(Or, may be rationally then effected)  
But multiplied Injuries and Scorn,  
Not easily expressed, much less born?  
If here shall be with wicked Canaanites,  
A mixture of as wicked Israelites,  
Whose sins will be as many (if not more)  
And greater, than they have been heretofore,  
How can our expectations be much better,  
Than either former punishments, or greater?  
So bad, so mad, our prosecutions be,  
(By all that yet appeareth unto me)  
As if we wilfully resolved had been  
Against all spoke without us, or within,  
Or whatsoe'er to us Examples teach,  
Or Conscience, by our hopes or fears doth preach:  
But, if those Juggle which observed are  
By me, should unto every one appear,  
All Jugglers would unto contempt be brought;  
They, who seem very wise, would fools be thought,  
And many in themselves grow doubtful whether  
They to be pitied were, or scorned rather.   

As great, as many, are the wrongs, the crimes,  
The cruelties and falsehoods of these times,  
As ever; and will such continue still,  
Till Truth and Error, and till Good and Ill,  
Have played their Master-prize; to which intent  
Their forces universally are bend  
Against each other. From false hearts proceeds  
Falsehood in words, and wickedness in deeds;  
And whilst we talk of Righteousness and Peace,  
They, who concealed their maliciousness  
With fair deportments do anew begin  
So to declare what they have always been,  
As makes, in many, inlets to some fear,  
That, till it endeth in a Massacre,  
No Vengeance will their projects terminate,  
Or set a lasting period to their hate.  
A bloodless Massacre here is already  
Begun among us, and it will be bloody  
When you perecive admittance of those Strangers,  
Who first begun out plagues, renew our dangers;  
And then, they who supposed their persons free,  
Will with the rest, in equal perils be:  
For, boundless lustings, mischiefs will beget,  
Which lie within the womb unheeded yet,  
Where Sin and Death are twins conceived together,  
Though born a little while before each other;  
And, will in very ugly shapes be found  
In many places, ere this year goes round;  
Portended, and attended in strange wise,  
With Ominous Events, and Prodigies.  
We shall see Gownsmen tread on Men of War,  
High Courts of Justice called to the Bar;  
Those, of whom no man lately stood in dread,  
Arraign the Living, and condemn the Dead:  
Make Martyrs, Saints and Reprobates of those  
Whose good or bad conditon no man knows;  
And act such things as never yet were done  
Within this Climate since the world begun.  
Yet, heed this, you, who with a sober mind  
Seek peace, and are not factiously inclined,  
(And you, whose principle is to repair  
What is decayed, with no worse Tools than Prayer)  
With Christian patience bear the Visitation  
Which is allotted to this Generation;  
And know, that as now Nature runs the race  
By her designed, so shall also Grace  
Pursue her course, to purge us in these fires,  
For that perfection whereto Faith aspires.  
Strive by renewing of your self-denials,  
To bear with constancy your fiery trials,  
Which must be undergone: for they appear  
In show more painful than in proof they are;  
As their experience found, who in times past  
Have into Babel's Fornaces been cast,  
When they were seven times heated; and as we  
May peradventure find, ere long 'twill be.  
Be not afraid of your own sins; for they  
On your repentance will be done away:  
Nor be discouraged, though your Foes at large  
Shall sum them up, and lay unto your charge  
False imputations also: for, with ease  
Both Saints and Reprobates of whom they please  
The Vulgar make: and, if profane men shall  
Be Judges betwixt David and King Saul,  
The sins of David might be made appear  
As many, and much greater than Sants were;  
And He, upon whose side GOD sentence gave,  
Amongst most men, the least esteem would have.  
But, GOD observed his heart; purged what did slow  
From humane frailty, as he purgeth now  
With sharp corrections, the late crying crimes  
Of Saints prevaricating in these times.   

Judgement, in our days, at GOD's house begins,  
Who takes such notice of our many sins,  
That since we would not mend when we were chidden,  
He will no longer now let them be hidden  
Or go unpunished: but we, that each other  
Provoked to sin, shall punish one another.  
Me blame not then, if I touch here and there,  
Those failings on all sides which causes were  
Of what we suffer: for, GOD will be known  
By doing Justice; and we ought to own  
Our great Transgressions, and not seek to hide  
Those Crimes, for which he lays even Kings aside,  
As well as other men; that all may know,  
He giveth equal dooms to high and low.  
Though, therefore, we sometimes a vail may cast  
O'er faulty Rulers, whilst their power doth last,  
To keep them from contempt, lest their disgrace  
May cause infringement of the Common Peace,  
We must not counter-act what GOD will do,  
When he reproves them, and removes them too:  
But, suffering with them by commiseration,  
As being worthy of like condemnation,  
Give GOD the glory, with our Pens and Breath,  
For what's intended by their shame or death.   

A sickness which is Epidemical  
(In some degree) hath seized upon all,  
And, ease we cannot have, till that hath wrought,  
Which to procure a remedy is brought.  
When Cures are to distempers first applied,  
We must expect, more torments to abide  
Than if we felt our Maladies alone,  
Without a Medicine working thereupon.  
Of our malignant humours to be eased,  
To take some poisonous Drugs we must be pleased;  
For our Physician, who doth truly know  
Their and our Natures, hath prescribed so.  
Diseases otherwhile need letting blood,  
Though with what is corrupt, that which is good  
Seems also lost: Gangrenes require sometimes  
To save the Whole, by cutting off of Limbs.  
Yea, otherwhile a welfare doth redound  
In common, when that suffers which is sound;  
And, once when sick to death the Body lay,  
'Twas cured by taking of the Head away.  
GOD, who of evil things can make good uses,  
And, by what is unwholesome, Health produces,  
Vouchsafeth to make passage now and then,  
To signal Blessings, by the sins of men;  
As when the sons of Jacob, who enslaved  
Their Brother, were thereby, from Famine saved.  
Which teacheth us, to be contented still  
To let him act, both when and how he will;  
To search into our own corruptions nearly,  
And not to censure any too severely.   

Since unto every one it may be known,  
That, no man's fault, so harms him as his own:  
Let over - bitter Censures be suspended,  
When you perceive a Brother hath offended  
By rashness, or through frailty, (though in that  
Which to our Common Welfare doth relate)  
Spare not the sin a jot, but spare the man  
(VVhoe'er) as much as possibly you can,  
Till some Concomitancies or th' Event  
Assures that malice was in his intent:  
And, though that may appear, assume not then,  
A power to judge, belonging not to men:  
Because, for ought you know, God might bereave him,  
Of counsel, or unto himself then leave him,  
For our Transgressions past; and to let in  
A public mercy, by his private sin;  
Thereby to humble us, and make us know  
That all our Weal from his mere Grace doth flow;  
And, that the sins of others to our peace  
As helpful were, as our own Righteousness.  
In former times and causes, it was so,  
Th' Egyptian Midwives, Rahab, Jael too,  
Did things which in their nature sinful are,  
Yet not alone by GOD made useful were  
To save his people, but he also saith,  
That even those actions were products of Faith.  
And, in these times perhaps here have been such,  
Whereon, if I with modesty shall touch,  
Let me be blameless; for, with good intent  
What GOD permits for our experiment,  
I here will mention, and to make it known,  
That there is nothing merely of our own,  
Or which is in us either good or evil,  
By Nature or suggestions of the Devil,  
That stops or furthers aught which GOD will do,  
Though our concurrence he requires thereto  
So far, as with his Will he us acquaints,  
Or, bounds, by unresistable restraints:  
For, when we are enjoined to that or this,  
It is for our advantage, not for his,  
Of us required; yea though we bounded be  
By Precepts, Rules or Laws, so is not he.  
As he himself shall please he can effect  
His Ends, whate'er we do, or shall neglect;  
And, when against us any Foe prevails,  
It is because we, not because he fails.   

In all our late contests, 'tis hard to say,  
Whether our Vice or Virtues made best way  
To that Design, whereby to pass were brought  
Those, which our best Aschievements have been thoughts;  
Or, whether led'by Folly or sound Reason  
By Fraud or Force, by Faithfulness or Treason  
We prospered most: and 'tis not yet agreed  
By all men, who our prosecutions heed,  
Whether that which befell us at the first,  
Or at the last, will prove the best or worst.  
The Louse or Lion, Black Dogs, or the white,  
Most mischievously either fawn or bite;  
Which Party most needs pardon for their Sin,  
Upon which side there hath most Traycors been:  
Or, whether their Deserts are worst or best  
Who shall be honoured most, or most disgraced;  
For, though we know what Causes men did own,  
With what heart they did act them, 'tis unknown.  
Prodigious Fruits in these times have been born;  
Crabs on the Vine, and Grapes upon the Thorn;  
And, Men and Causes, whether good or bad,  
Of Weal and Woe, by turns, like shares have had,  
To teach, that our late Changes have succeeded  
For some ends, which ought better to be needed.   

By one Irregularity, we see  
That, here in two months more progressions be  
In order to the Temporary peace  
Which most men are desirous to possess,  
Then all our Powers and Virtues, Wit and Cost  
Had brought to pass, in twenty years almost;  
And we according to late promisings,  
See creeping Motions toward some such things  
As are expected: but, they to and fro,  
Forward and backward, in their motion go  
So doubtfully, that 'tis as yet uncertain  
What resolutions are behind the Curtain.  
As doubtful 'tis, whether more praise or blame  
To them belong, who first contrived the same;  
Whether the Consequence, or that which first  
Thereto made pasage, will prove best or worst;  
And whether want of pre-conditioning  
Will bring at length, most damage to the King  
And his Old Party, or else unto those  
Who did his Entrance heretofore oppose:  
For Acts unjust, are oftwell carried on,  
And many righteous things unjustly done:  
Some things likewise there be resmebling Sand,  
Which he that graspeth with an open hand,  
May therewith load his palm: but, if he gripe  
Too hard, 'twill all between his fingers slip.   

Concerning that proceed, which brought to pass  
The Change, which lately here effected was,  
Some scrupling have been made: But, on the Fact,  
Or upon them who put the same in Act,  
I'll nothing peremptorily declare,  
Though therein, an Obliquity there were;  
Because, means failed me, whereby to inspect  
Aught further, than into the single Act;  
That, by the Circumstances I might see  
What Motives to their hearts proposed might be;  
What Spirit led them, and what straits they passed  
To that, which was resolved on at last:  
For, in such Cases, what they ought to do,  
Wise men are oft to seek, and good men too.   

If they who were chief Instruments in that  
Which wrought the Change, that we have seen of late,  
Sought only and unfeignedly that end,  
Whereto all Trusts and Actions ought to tend,  
And were but Circumstantially to blame,  
In plotting or pursuing of the same,  
Their fault (if any) is a Venial Crime,  
For which there may be made another time  
Amends to Sufferers; that perhaps may more  
Secure them, than they were secured before.  
Their Fault was but the error of a man,  
Which well the King may pardon: for, I can;  
Because, I know, what ere they did intend,  
GOD will have glory by it, in the end;  
And, all these Nations future welfare too,  
If they neglect not, what is yet to do.  
But, they whose Trust these trusties did abuse,  
Them, cannot peradventure so excuse:  
And (I believe) more wise than heretofore,  
Will henceforth never trust Good Fellow more;  
Nor Peasant, Peer, Priest, Prince, or Parliament,  
With that which may produce a Detriment  
To common Interest (till by some condition  
To them secured, they shall secure fruition  
Of such Concernments) if, once more they may  
Recover that which they did fool away.  
But, that's impossible, as things now stand;  
And, should GOD take the power out of his hand  
Who grasps it now, they who shall next enjoy it,  
No better peradventure would employ it  
Than others did, GOd therefore, keep us from  
Another Change, until his Kingdom come,  
Except a change of hearts; and at this time,  
Or his probation, let his Grace, in him  
Be so effectual, that he may endeavour  
To settle here, a righteous Throne for ever.  
For, every man that lives (at first or last)  
Before a Final Doom on him is past,  
Hath in his life-time, once (at least) an hour  
Wherein our gracious God, vouchsafes him power  
To ask and have; and to elect that path  
Which leads to weal or woe, to life or death:  
Yea, always at such times, GOD, who first loves,  
The soul of every humane-creature proves;  
And, those, who then, by giving him their heart,  
(Though with much failing) do perform their part,  
He will enable, and assist them still  
By his preventing Grace, to do his will.  
For they, as often as they go astray,  
Shall either hear a VOICE within them, say,  
(Or else behind them;) Of that course beware;  
Return, or thou art lost; thy way lies there,  
Which leads to safety. Thus the Spirit preacheth,  
And by means extraordinary teacheth  
Where common means fail: and till men contemn  
His Holy Spirit, God forsakes not them:  
But, afterward, indeed, although the same  
He sometime speaks, 'tis to increase their shame,  
Or others to instruct: for, than such Voices  
Are so drowned by the Whisper and Noises  
Of carnal things, that all is spoke in vain,  
Which to their weal or safety may pertain.   

The King by such temptations, and so many  
Beleagur'd seems, as never were by any  
With constancy and without foil withstood,  
Save by him, who was GOD with Flesh and Blood:  
For he stands now exposed to every evil,  
(Even in the Front) whereby World, Flesh, or Devil,  
May him assault; and with him 'twill go hard,  
Unless, GOD sends him in, an Angel-guard;  
Which (if it be his pleasure) that he may,  
My heart unfeignedly doth often pray,  
And that, at this time he submit his will,  
The mind of God, sincerely to fulfil:  
For, I believe, that as it did with Saul,  
(On his probation-day, long since befall)  
These Kingdoms will established be to him,  
As he with GOD complyeth at this time.  
Fair Opportunities this present day  
Are offered, which if he let slip away,  
We have but hitherto a course begun,  
Whereby we may at last be more undone:  
And though he should become ten times as strong  
In things which to a carnal strength belong,  
It will to settle him prevail no more,  
Than such powers have prevailed heretofore:  
Nor will it, when most mighty he appears  
To others, from his own heart, keep out fears  
Of things not to be feared; but at length  
Make him, perhaps, afraid of his own strength:  
And that which by a Trifle hath been lost,  
Will be recovered with as little cost  
As when 'twas won, assoon as their despite,  
Their sins and insolences are at height,  
Who shall by petulant exasperations,  
(Beyond the common patience of these Nations)  
Abuse his Grace, and turn their late success  
Into oppression, pride, and wantonness.  
This seems by some endeavoured (having ends  
Repugnant unto what the King intends)  
Who do proceed (as if that for the nonce)  
To make all sufferers desperate at once,  
By gelding and delaying of the Grace,  
For wihch the King spontaneously did pass  
His Royal Word: And this may an Event  
Produce, at last, whereof some will repent  
When 'tis too late; since, Mastiffs brook it worse  
To be o're-much provoked, than Fawning Curs.   

All vengeance doth to GOD alone belong:  
But, few remember this, when they have wrong.  
An English temper doth that life disdain  
Which is deprived of what should Life maintain:  
And whatsoever is menaced or follows,  
Some, in despite of Hangman, Rope and Gallows,  
Will any thing attempt, to vindicate  
Themselves from scorn, when robbed of their Estate:  
And they have little prudence, who conceive  
Bees will be quiet, when both from their Hive  
And Honey they are forced: or, that small things  
(When they are many, and have many stings)  
Are safely slighted; for, there hath succeeded  
Much mischief where this Caution was unheeded:  
And probable it seems, that if the King  
Deters what's hoped for, now, but till next Spring,  
Destroying many thousand Families  
By vacating their just Securities,  
(For what was bought or lent, to save these Lands  
From desolation, when into their hands  
The Supreme Power did slip by GOD's permissions,  
Who then had cast him out of his possessions)  
It will not be the next way to that peace  
Which many yet are hopeful to possess;  
Or have a consequent, to answer that  
Great Mercy, which GOD hath vouchsafed of late.   

If, for performing that which both Divine,  
And Humane Laws did warrant and enjoin,  
(To wit, obedience to those Powers that were  
In being) he from Innocents' doth tear  
Their Livelihoods; and their posterity  
Exposeth unto scorn and beggary,  
For having done their duties unto them  
Whom GOD advanced by debasing him,  
(And when he so unable was to give them  
Protection, or from their hand to reprieve them,  
That at the same time, he himself was glad  
To seek a Refuge where it might be had)  
It will not seem to be an Act of Grace,  
That corresponds with what expected was  
Before Monck gave us up into his power;  
And made our trusties much more his, than our.   

If he shall lay an over-heavy weight  
On those, whom he had left in such a straight,  
Without their fault (except a fault it were  
To lose, what they to keep unable were)  
Or, if he shall, as other men have done,  
Lose those Advantages that he hath won  
By Angling for a Frog, till from his Net  
The Fishes now enclosed forth shall get;  
Young Counsellors may prove to him as bad  
As those which foolish Rehoboam had.  
But this is more than probable (although  
The Priests and Prophets dare not tell him so,  
Who now most fawn upon him) that, even all  
GOD's Condescensions are conditional;  
And, that now or hereafter, their success  
Will to his Weal or Woe add more or less,  
Accordingly as he, and as these Nations  
Improve at this day, His and their Probations.  
Which Truth most men believe not, or forget;  
And, that makes me so often mention it.   

GOD gave unto his people, on conditions,  
The Land of Promise, to be their possessions;  
And, for their not performing of the same,  
They Vagabonds throughout the world became.  
Upon conditions also, Solomon  
Had promise of an everlasting Throne;  
Which he neglecting, ere the third descent,  
Ten parts of twelve were from his Kingdom rend.  
Yea, wicked Jeroboam might have had  
A settlement on him for ever made,  
Upon the like conditions: and, so may  
This King; but never any other way.   

If he comes hither with the selfsame heart,  
With which, he did, in likelihood depart;  
New covered over with a fairer skin,  
And fully fraughted with Revenge within:  
If he shall make his Royal Word a snare,  
If he by hopes delayed nourish fear  
Instead of love; by mental Reservations,  
(Or by deceivable Equivocations)  
His promise vacates; or, if what he swore  
In presence of his sovereign heretofore;  
Or, if he shall confine to others breasts  
Those Acts of Grace, which to his Interests  
Will most advantage give, when it is known  
The pardons which he granteth are his own:  
If he refers his Justice to their Zeal,  
Who may prefer their Ends before his Weal,  
Until it shall unhappily destroy  
That new-sprung hope which many yet enjoy;  
And by converting it into despair,  
Blasts that in Autumn, whereof blowings fair  
Appear this Spring; we may thereby perchance,  
Ere many Springs, compelled be to dance  
Another Matachin. If, GOD so please,  
I wish and pray it may be otherwise;  
And that this might be weighed: for, on this BALL  
None are so firmly fixed but they may fall  
If Righteousness and Truth support them not,  
What other prop soever they have got.  
We have a sight of this days joy and sorrow,  
But no man knows what will befall tomorrow:  
And should GOD be as rigorous as men,  
That which is done, would be undone again.   

I do believe, that (not excepting any)  
All men of great Offences, and of many  
Are guilty. And, I do suppose the King  
Hath not been free from blame in every thing.  
To him there may, either by Men or Heaven,  
Be somewhat on the scores, to be forgiven,  
As well as to the People: secret crimes  
May be informer, or in latter times  
Committed, wherein either he mis-did,  
Or his Progenitors, which yet are hid,  
And must be expiated, ere that Rest  
Where at we aim, wilfully be possessed;  
And have an Expiation by mere Grace,  
Or by that penance through which others pass.  
In order whereunto, GOD now perchance  
Him, to his Father's Throne doth re-advance;  
Either a new Progression to begin,  
Or else to fill the measure of their sin;  
And punish us, till ripened, he, or we,  
Or both, for Grace, or for Destruction be.   

If penitence alloy not that fierce wrath,  
Whereto our wickedness provoked him hath,  
There will impartial search be made, by GOD,  
As well for common, as for Royal blood;  
Yea, search on both sides, both for blood and treason,  
When equal Retributions are in season:  
And, as much guiltiness if he shall then  
In Kings discover, as in common men,  
Their Judges vindicate from guilt he shall,  
Though them we murderers and traitors call;  
And, their blood, if it guiltlessly be shed,  
Will cry as loud to GOD as Abel's did.  
What will it profit then, if there be none  
To question them on earth, for aught misdone,  
When they shall know, and truly understand,  
On what sad terms they fall into GOD's hand;  
Who shall the more offend, because they were  
More by him privileged than others are?  
GOD will not then be mocked, whatever they  
Shall dream, who put the thought thereof away;  
Or whatsoe'er a Prophet in Lawn Sleeves  
Or Kings and their Immunities believes;  
And though their Nobles also flatter them,  
As judah's did King Joash in his time.   

Hereof I would be his Remembrancer,  
If in the place of some of those I were  
Who ought to do it: yea, as now I am,  
I had adventured to perform the same,  
But that I lately have conceived a thought,  
These Lines will timely to his view be brought,  
By such a hand, as from it with respect  
It may be taken, and have good effect.  
And, if these Cautions he shall not contemn,  
(Expressed in true Loyalty to him)  
I may have hope, that Justice to obtain  
Which I have elsewhere sought long time in vain;  
And find it to be made a real sign  
Of his, and public Peace, as well as mine.  
For, all I shall expect will be no more,  
But, that, he make me neither rich nor poor;  
And me within that Grace would comprehend,  
Which he to some of those doth yet extend,  
Who both by their Examples and Command  
First drew me with his Opposites to stand;  
And who, if I mis-acted, did thereby  
Contract ten times a greater guilt than I.  
But, so the public Peace advanced may be  
Hereby, let what GOD will befall to me.  
To make their merits and demerits even,  
They should love much, to whom much is forgiven:  
Yet, some to whom he hath forgiven least,  
May love as well as they who love him best;  
And, better too perhaps, when they behold  
He executes that Justice which he should;  
With constancy pursuing, what, more tends  
To public Welfare, than to serve his ends.  
How these things may concern him, he best knows  
Next GOD, who will (I hope) his heart dispose  
To choose the way proposed at this time,  
And to pursue the same, enable him.  
Because, unless at this time, that probation  
For which GOD hath vouchsafed his Restoration,  
Produceth what with those ends may accord,  
For which he was by Providence restored,  
He'll turn the wheel, which hath so oft gone round,  
Till men according to his heart be found  
To rule his People; to direct his Sheep;  
To act his Will, and their own Vows to keep.  
Herein hath been much failing: and, I fear,  
Even for that Covenants breach, which many jeer,  
And impudently sleight, GOD from this Land  
Will not remove his now correcting hand,  
Till to a true repentance he shall bring  
For that sin, People, Parliament and King.   

A Judgement at this present is begun,  
Which will extend to all ere it be done;  
Even unto those who execute his doom  
On them, on whom it is already come;  
(Yea, signally, in some respect or other,  
To persons or estates, to friend or brother)  
If they whom it concerns do not amend  
What is misdone; wave, what they mis-intend;  
And harken to GOD's Voice in this their day  
Of Trial; and as (if they will) they may:  
For GOD, though much provoked, still giveth space  
'Twixt every Judgement, for preventing-grace:  
And now, to be a Cautional to him,  
(As his Corrections lately were to them  
Who reigned last) this King, shall see them scourged  
Who scourged him, until their sins be purged.  
God having cast his Predecessors out,  
For their, and also for our sins (no doubt)  
Them, with an Iron Rod begins to strike;  
To show, that sin he hates in all alike,  
And make it known that he will no man spare,  
(Though one of his own Household he appear)  
If he shall scandalously give offence  
In any kind, without true penitence.  
A dreadful Judgement he hath brought on those,  
Who made of Piety the fairest shows;  
And they, as traitors to their King are now  
By those pursued, whom they did pursue  
As traitors to their Country; and their Laws,  
Yea their own Swords, turn Foes unto their Cause:  
And they who lately, nor to friend nor foe,  
But for by-ends, would either Justice do,  
Or Mercy show, shall find in their distress,  
That others will to them be merciless.   

They, who were called Saints; and may be such,  
Although their failing hath been very much;  
Seem now the chief mark of GOD's indignation,  
And censured are as sons of Reprobation;  
Because, they often had forewarned been,  
(Twice were cast out of grace, and twice took in)  
Are now deprived, a third time, of that power  
Which they abused to their own harm and our:  
They are exposed to such extreme disgraces,  
Such hazards of their goods, lands, lives and places,  
And to such scorns, that never was there more  
Contempt cast upon any heretofore:  
For, they, who as their Chiefs acknowledged them  
(To their own shame) their persons did contemn;  
And, far beyond all precedents, revile  
Th' Authority they owned, even the while  
It was in being; though they did in that  
Make, as it were a Close-stool of their Hat.   

Of all esteem, they are now quite bereft,  
And, in so sad a plight have thousands left,  
Who trusted them with every thing they had,  
That their own selves alone, they have not made  
Thereby contemptible to Foes and Friends,  
(Lost their estates, their safeties, and their ends)  
And such confusions brought; that few or none  
Are sure, they shall not thereby be undone,  
Or damnified; but given cause likewise  
To this, and times to come, so to despise  
An English Parliament, that, if it get  
No better credit than it hath, as yet,  
It is in hazard to become a thing  
As much abhorred, as the name of King  
Was once in Rome; for their prevarications,  
Their self-ends, falsehoods, and dissimulations  
With King and People so destructive were,  
And both to Round-head, and to Cavalier  
(As then distinguished) that, if there be any,  
Few names are left, whereof there be not many  
Undone, or at least damnified, either  
In credit or estate, or both together:  
And, by those many thousands now undone,  
That mischief, so, from man, to man, doth run,  
That it infects three times as many more,  
And may bring beggary to every door,  
Besides, those quarrels which it may beget,  
Whose sad effects lie unperceived yet.  
Some, who had been most faithful to their side,  
They much oppressed whilst they were dignified;  
And, often when they did pretend a course  
To cure their Grievances, they made them worse.  
Then, what by such oppressed men from those  
Can looked for be, whom they pursued as foes,  
But to be kicked out of the world, or trod  
Into the dirt? Except our gracious GOD  
Hath now brought home the King to be a friend  
To all men who did honestly intend?  
And who, though in some things they did amiss,  
Sinned not with malice, or with wilfulness?   

The King's work will be now, both to relieve  
And to correct, as cause, he shall perceive,  
Without respect to persons, or wrongs done,  
Before a Reconcilement was begun;  
Except so far forth only, in relieving,  
In recompensing, honouring, or giving,  
As he's to those men, who with him engaged  
In charity, and gratitude obliged,  
Without destroying any in these Nations  
Who were submissive to GOD's Dispensations;  
And, who, were moved to that which they have done  
By Conscience, or by Ignorance alone,  
Without malicious purpose or design,  
Against a known Law, Moral or Divine.  
And therefore, where respect is to be had  
To sufferers, and to satisfaction made;  
The best expedient to prevent debates,  
And ruining of many men's estates,  
Will either be, if we had such trusties,  
Who by this change, life nor estates do lose,  
(And by confederating long together  
With public spoils enriched one another,  
Or, may be proved guilty of a Cheat,  
Which formerly did friend or foe defeat  
Of his estate; or, to the public wrong  
More power assumed, than did to them belong)  
To cause, that, they to whom these gave offence,  
May out of their estates have recompense;  
For, why should great Revenues be enjoyed  
By them, whose guilt hath guiltless men destroyed?  
Or rather, since that many among these  
Were intermixed (who their miscarriages  
Opposed to their power) whom none knows how  
From persons guilty, to distinguish now.  
Why should not for the Credit of the Nation  
(For Justice sake) and for the preservation  
Of common Peace, all parties help to bear  
Their heavy burdens, who oppressed are?  
For every man among us, more or less,  
Is some way guilty of this wickedness:  
And GOD, if this course long defer we shall,  
His Vengeance will divide among us all.  
Let therefore none, who in these suffering-times  
Shall scape the punishments due to their crimes,  
Insult o'er them that suffer, or suppose  
Their prospering from their well-deserving flows.  
Let them remember, and consider well,  
That they on whom the Tower of Silo fell,  
No greater sinners judged were than they  
On whom it fell not; and think at this day  
Some men may perish, who have been more free  
From guiltiness, than most that saved be.   

The King, together with his Parliament,  
May pardon every kind of punishment  
For faults against themselves; or any one,  
Except for what is wilfully misdone  
Against our Maker; but, nor he nor they,  
Can take the guilt of any sin away;  
And though he may connive at some offences,  
Or be deceived as to men's innocencies,  
Who by their cunning have found means of late  
Themselves with him to re-indintegrate:  
Yet, thousands know so well what they have done,  
And felt so much of what ensued thereon,  
That, though in charity, they do forgive  
Their falsehood, they'll remember't whilst they live.  
Let them remember too, what they have done,  
Lest GOD bring Vengeance when we call for none.  
Can any Peer or Commoner suppose,  
Who, in the supreme Council sat with those  
Who did the late unhappy war begin,  
And by their Declarations drew us in,  
(As men obliged in duty, to adhere  
To them, in what they prosecuting were)  
That, they are guiltless, though now blamed less  
Than others, who the same Cause did profess?  
Can they be blameless, who did with the first  
Begin the Quarrel, and till nigh at worst  
Continue it; not leaving on Record  
Ought, whereby their dissent might be declared?  
Nor sought for them, a saving, or protection,  
Who might be ruined by their defection?  
Doth it not greatly their crime aggravate,  
That they vouchsafed not to capitulate,  
That, Innocents', by their default abused,  
Might to some safe condition be reduced?  
But rather, to their own designs made way,  
By leaving them, to be the Spoilers prey?   

Though they forgot us, I suppose it fit  
To mind them; lest themselves they may forget  
When I am dead, and, therefore, I will here  
Leave somewhat to be their Remembrancer.  
Let them remember with consideration,  
With true repentance, and with due compassion,  
How many thousands (whilst they live at rest)  
Are either quite destroyed, or oppressed,  
Either in Person, Credit, or Estate,  
Whose aid they did not only oft entreat,  
But also (thereby to promote their end)  
Compelled to contribute, pay and lend;  
Yea, to engage their Persons in their Cause,  
Under pretence of Piety and Laws,  
Whom they have now made innocently poor,  
And forced to beg, or else to suffer more;  
Whilst they from all those miseries are clear,  
Whereof their failings chief occasions were:  
Not only, making that an Instrument  
To ruin them, which ruin should prevent;  
But also (probably) by their endeavour,  
To make, and keep the people Slaves, for ever.   

To write plain Truth, why should I be afraid?  
By what man may it not be justly said,  
Our public Faith hath been the shameless'st Debtor,  
And throughout all these Realms the greatest Cheater  
That ever was; and that our Parliaments  
Have been beyond all former Precedents.  
The worst Security (and never more  
Will be confided in, as heretofore)  
If unconfirmed they leave what hath been bought,  
And, what was justly sold (as than 'twas thought?)  
Or if they make not recompense at least  
To those, who by their actings are oppressed?  
For this is the same Nation, though the Cause,  
The Governor, and in some part the Laws  
Are changed now; GOD, who the wrong doth see?  
Is yet the same, the same will always be,  
And both for what is suffered, and was done,  
Will prosecute the Judgement that's begun.  
By mere Cheats, many thousand Families  
Destroyed are, and with complaints and cries,  
So fill men's ears, that they make all to grieve,  
Save those, who sense of no Afflictions have  
But of their own. The Children, do bemoan  
Their Aged Parents helplessly undone;  
Who, now have nothing left of what was theirs  
To recompense their pity, but sad tears:  
And, he, who thinks Life a gratuity  
In such a case, loves Life much more than I,  
Supposing that's a Mercy, which to me  
A barbarous cruelty appears to be.   

Oh GOD! how are thy kindnesses requited?  
How in our sufferings are our foes delighted?  
How justly dost thou many now condemn,  
And punish, for wrongs done to some of them?  
How are the Just and Unjust, wrapped together  
In one Snare, to torment and plague each other?   

It is believed, that many men there were,  
When Innovations, were beginning here,  
Who, being in themselves malevolent,  
(And for some private causes discontent)  
Designed and practised, how to bring to pass  
That, which their own, and our Destruction was:  
But, here were many more, who did endeavour  
To qualify the late infectious Fever  
Which had distempered us; and to retain  
The Loyalty that seems renewed again:  
Yet, now an Epidemical Disease  
Hath brought Confusion upon some of these  
As well as upon them, who fined perchance  
Much more through wilfulness, than ignorance.   

They, who did neither by their deeds or words,  
By counsel, by their pens, or by their swords,  
Begin those Innovations in the state,  
Which have been prosecuted here of late;  
No, nor so much as by a secret thought,  
Contribute to those Changes which were brought  
Upon these Islands, till they were effected  
By other men: they, who themselves subjected  
Either but passively, to those in power,  
To scape those mischiefs which might them devour;  
Or, merely act vely, to help prevent  
An Anarchy, and Evils imminent;  
Which is no more than God's law doth command,  
When he makes alterations in a Land;  
And hath been also, practised by all Nations  
In every Kingdom, through all Generations,  
When either by his grace, or his permission,  
He brings a people into our condition.  
Even they who did no more, are made to share  
With those, who wilfully transgressors were,  
And Murderers, and Traitors be reputed;  
As if the Kingdom, which was constituted  
Before these Changes had continued on,  
And all which hath by GOD and men been done,  
Were but a Dream, of which, now they awake,  
Men may at will, Interpretations make:  
Or, as if Actings, in a time of War,  
Were bounded, as in times of Peace they are:  
Whereas 'tis known, that, War doth silence all  
Laws, either Civil or Municipal:  
And, that, what then Necessity constrained,  
May by the Law of Nations be maintained,  
As justly, as those contracts which are made  
In times of peace by Laws which then we had;  
Though they, perhaps, who shall have po'wr to do  
What they themselves please, will not have it so.   

But, though we get not that, whereat we aim,  
We thereto will continue still our Claim,  
And plead our cause; in hope, that truth and reason  
May at this present, be declared in season.  
If prudent men collect and weigh the matters  
Which here my Muse confusedly now scatters,  
(Because at once within me I retain  
More Notions, than by words I can make plain)  
They may by them, if put together well,  
And duly heeded, my true meaning spell.  
They, who with no side factiously, took part,  
And only in sincerity of heart,  
Came to secure the Sovereign Magistrate,  
When called by those, who were co ordinate  
With him in power; they, who had no intent  
To make a breach 'twixt King and Parliament,  
But, faithfully did serve them both together,  
To have preserved their lawful Rights to either,  
And cannot be by conscience, law or reason;  
Delinquents any way (much less for Treason)  
Against their Prince, for giving aid to those  
Whom he himself authorised to be chose  
For his chief Council, and whom likewise, he  
Made everlasting Senators to be,  
Empowered to make Laws everlasting too,  
Until their own Act should themselves undo:  
They, who did those obey, whom to withstand,  
(Although made active by the King's command)  
Hath punished been with Death; even some of these  
Though acting also, with good Consciences,  
For this Obedience, suffered with the first,  
And may have also Lots among the worst  
On both sides; which to me appears, at least  
Injustice, or no Mercy, at the best.  
GOD may correct us thus, and justly too  
Though to our King and Country we have true  
Continued in the Main, for, in his sight  
There are demerits in the most upright,  
Which needs the Rod; and he chastises those  
Whom he befriended, by their greatest Foes;  
Because, not seldom times they gave to them  
Who were his Foes, occasions to blaspheme,  
His grace and his long-sufferings much abused  
His timely Premnonition oft refused.   

For, very oft, and very many ways  
They had Fore-warnings, of what in these days  
Is brought upon them; and, as many times  
As GOD forgave them, they renewed their Crimes.  
When therefore they had long without disregard.  
GOD's Messengers in ordinary heard;  
When, such as they themselves did most esteem,  
And those who preached in season unto them  
Upon their solemn Fasts, or feasting-dayes.  
They only thanked, but followed on their ways.  
Then (as he doth, at first, with Infidels)  
By signs prodigious, and by miracles,  
He proved them; but Pagans heretofore  
Have by that means, been wrought upon much more  
To warn them, and reprove them, he sent, than  
A company of despicable men,  
Who, though despised and houted at, they are  
(And to the greatest number do appear  
fanatics) were the Messengers of God,  
And such, as he found fit to send abroad  
To such a People, and at such a season  
As this, wherein, Rhyme works as much as Reason;  
And manifests, 'tis such a time with us,  
As when GOD's Prophets seemed ridiculous  
Unto the jews, by acting before them  
Such Signs, as made them more their words contemn.   

Among such like, he hath permitted me,  
Not only their Premonitor to be,  
But, likewise, to see, what I fore-exprest  
Fulfilled; and hear it, by themselves confessed:  
For, I took once, or oftener, every year,  
Occasion to be their Remembrancer;  
And, publicly declared what I knew  
To be misdone, and what things would ensue  
If not prevented; but most did deride  
My timely Cautions: Vanity and Pride  
Made ineffectual all my pains to be,  
And, not a little mischievous to me.  
Yet, still I persevered in declaring  
What they were doing, and GOD was preparing.   

Now fourteen years ago, with small regard,  
My English Opobalsamum declared,  
What would befall them; and, there, is recorded  
Among such like Expressions, one, thus worded,   Opobalsamum Anglicanum, Page 20. 

— Which side soever shall prevail,  
We have a Mischief se ling by entail  
On us, and on our heirs: For, in heart  
You do unite (though corporally apart)  
And join by close Compliances in one,  
In hope to compass what you have begun,  
Which is nor worse nor better, but to raise  
Your houses, both by good and evil ways:  
And for that end, to ruin you would bring.  
Law, Gospel People, Parliament and King,  
But ere this hope effected you shall see,  
Hark, Traitors, what your destiny shall be,  
Heed and observe it, for it is the Doom,  
Will, will without all peradventure come  
Upon your heads, who have your trust betrayed,  
Oppressions on your faithful Servants laid;  
And multiplied your wealth with greediness,  
By preying on your Country in distress.  
And, this it is; He, that such wrongs requites,  
Will give you portions among Hypocrites.  
Your Pride shall suddenly by shame be followed,  
You shall spew up the Gobbets you have swallowed;  
Your way shall perish etc.   

Unto that book, wherein this is expressed,  
I will refer you to peruse the rest.   

The preface to my SALT on SALT, records  
A Hint to that end, in these following words.   

Last year I sent a Flash which is let pass  
Unheeded, as a thing that never was;  
Now follows the Report, or, Clap of Thunder,  
Which have been seen and heard, thus far asunder,  
To give the longer Warning: for, the Shot,  
And Thunderbolts (if Grace prevent it not)  
Will next year flee among you. God, amend us,  
And then I am affured, he will defend us.   

Moreover, I, ten months, now past, foretold  
That nine months longer if defer they should  
Their Duties, and neglect the Grace twice shown,  
They, and their Projects will be overthrown,  
As now they are; and that they should be in  
That Purgatory which doth now begin.  
The premonition published last year  
To that effect, shall be repeated here.   See Epistolium Vagum-prosa-metricum Page 20. 

Let them remember, he that stands may fall,  
That every promise is conditional;  
And, that God's promises will be to them  
Performed, as they to others and to Him  
Perform their promises: for though a wrong  
He oft forgiveth, and forbeareth long,  
There is a set time, which now draweth near,  
Wherein, he will no longer so forbear.  
Let no man slight this Caution, though by him  
Divulged, who may despicable seem:  
For in these days, it often comes to pass  
That God speaks (as to Balaam by his Ass)  
To wisest men, by those whom fools they deem;  
To Kings, by persons that ignoble seem;  
And, if their Wills, as wilfully as he  
They still pursue, like his their ends will be.   

This Power now ruling, reigns by God's Commission,  
Yet, not without a fore-premised condition:  
For, by Unrighteousness it shall not stand,  
Though it were as the Signet on his hand.  
If they themselves with outward washings flatter,  
And, shall not cleanse the inside of the platter:  
If those Defects of Justice and Compassion  
Which lately brought confusion on this Nation,  
Be not forth with repaired in some degree  
(As means by God's Grace will vouchsafed be)  
And if a Model truly genuine,  
This August sixteen hundred fifty nine,  
Be not conceived and fully born, before  
The time exceeds the end of nine months more,  
With all the essential parts of such a thing  
As may receive a timely perfecting  
To qualify the rage that will increase  
The breaches made into the Common peace;  
Then all that this power thenceforth can endeavour,  
Will either be a Nullity for ever,  
Or else, a furtherance to that horrid pother  
Which will make facile entrance for another  
Oppressing Hand, that, will but Justice do  
So far as Vengeance doth extend unto.   

But lest you think it was by Accident  
That this presage hath had a Consequent  
Just at the time foretold, the same book showed  
In what mode also, that which hath ensued  
Should visit them; heed therefore, and compare  
What's now begun, with what these Lines declare.   In the Book last mentioned, Page 24. 

To cure those Frenzies for his future glory,  
GOD is preparing a New Purgatory  
To purge what may be purged from the dross,  
That of the pure Gold there may be no loss;  
The Judgements now beginning shall go round,  
And through these Islands, till all those are found  
Who have been false in that which they professed  
To GOD or to the public interest.  
From house to house, from man to man, they shall  
Procession make, till they have seized on all,  
All shall be proved, whether poor they be,  
Or rich, or of a high or low degree,  
By outward or by inward fiery Trials,  
Till they are brought to real Self-denials;  
'Twixt GOD and them, through Mercy to repent  
Their Failings, or to outward punishment.  
Those who shall in this Island scape his hand,  
Vengeance will seize on, in a Foreign Land;  
The foes of Peace among the common Rout,  
A Pestilence or Famine shall find out:  
They who have shuffled from the Soldier's fury,  
Shall fall into the mercy of a Jury;  
And, when they from the sword are in some hope  
To scape, shall then be hampered in a Rope.  
The Mischiefs which they shunned in the Street,  
Within a secret Chamber they shall meet.  
Those men whom nothing publicly pursues,  
Their Consciences in private shall accuse.  
They, who immovably do think to stand,  
Shall fall without the motion of a hand;  
And when the things they feared, cannot annoy them,  
That, which they slight, and feared not, shall destroy them.   

I told them likewise that their gross neglect  
Of justice as to me would have effect  
Upon themselves, that, what to me and mine  
They suffered to befall, would be a sign  
Of what their lot must be; and when it should  
So come to pass, my SALT on SALT foretold.   In these words, Page 47. 

That this bears date the last day of September,  
In sixteen hundred fifty eight remember;  
And that, a Reconcilement be before  
We have provoked GOD's patience one year more,  
Lest I myself be made another sign  
Of what the former Symptoms predivine:  
For, those Confusions which distract this State,  
Are typified in my outward Fate.  
And printed on me by that violation  
Of Justice, which defiles this Generation.  
They that seem to have enough in outward show,  
To bear their Part, and pay the Debts they owe,  
And for the future a sufficiency;  
So also, if I had my right, have I.  
As (notwithstanding this) with much ado  
They now subsist; so fares it with me too.  
As at the present, their Expenses be  
More than their Incomes, so it is with me.  
I have more Foes than Friends; and much I am  
Deceived, if they may not say the same.  
My Foes and troubles in another year  
Will ruin me, and so will also their,  
If he, on whose assistance I depend,  
Prevents not what their foes and mine intent,  
Before another year wheels round, I may  
Enjoy an outward peace, and so might they,  
If they embrace the means that will be shown,  
And follow not devices of their own.  
If timely Justice be vouchsafed to me,  
By timely Mercies they secured shall be.  
If I permitted am to be aestroyed,  
Their power, will not long after be enjoyed.   

Moreovet, my DARK-LANTERN fore-declared  
As plainly (as such things might be averred  
In such like times) what, Cromwell had designed,  
That they in power (had they been so inclined)  
Might have prevented it, when show he made  
To give up that Commission which he had.  
And had they been so prudent to have took't,  
They, his White Lion, at that time had dockt.   
These were my words:  

A homebred Lion, of a Hair unknown  
In Africa, by being overgrown,  
And dreadful to his Keepers, shall thereby  
Increase the rage of smothered jealousy,  
And lose his Tail, except betwixt his paws  
He couch his head, and hides his teeth and claws,  
Or else grows Rampant; what will follow then?  
Ask those you credit, they are cunning men;  
Of me you ask in vain, for 'tis my fate  
Never to be believed, till 'tis too late.   

ay, likewise did by parable express  
In that book with what servile flatteries,  
They fawned on their own Creature, whom they had  
Hewed out of Common blocks, and Idols made,  
With what would follow it; and my intent  
Was not, by my Perpetual-Parliament  
To make that such (as some have thought I meant)  
But, rather that Designment to prevent  
By some Diversion; for, full well I knew  
That my proposals they would not pursue.  
And, they who my Poetic fury read,  
Which was by me last winter published,  
May thence collect, that I did then foresee  
The Kings Return, and how it so would be,  
Though I my preconjectures did express  
(As then I thought) with some ambiguousness,  
To be excused; because of that Relation  
Which then I had, and my Faith's preservation:   

For, though that Poets in the world's first ages,  
Were Prophets, Priests, and Magisterial Sages,  
And, in all former times (as in Commendam)  
Have been allowed a Quid libet audendum;  
Yea, though there doth to sacred poesy,  
Belong a necessary Liberty  
In Language, not so pertinent to those  
Who hammer their Conceptions out in prose,  
Yet, that Good Spirit, which directs their Muses,  
Therewith, a prudent wariness infuses,  
That Malice may not thereat take offence  
To do them wrong, without much impudence,  
Or gross Injustice; and, for which wrong he,  
Will take Revenge, by whom inspired they be,  
When he shall pleased be to call them to  
That work which he prepared them to do.  
And though my muse hitherto appear  
But dreaming Fancies, whereat many jeer;  
They who observe, what at the foresaid time  
Befell to me, and afterward to them,  
And also knew, that all true Christians be  
Kings, Priests and Prophets too, in some degree,  
Shall find at last, that this Age Prophets had,  
And sober men (though they were judged mad)  
Whom God stirred up, to set before their eyes  
Those needful Cautions which vain men despise,  
Because it pleaseth him to give them pass  
By Instruments more scorned than Balaams' Ass.  
There are some at this day, on whom nicknames  
Are cast; and, whom, the Vulgar much defames;  
Who (though they failings have) are by Gods warrants  
Authorized to do such needful Errants  
As to these times relate, and to deride  
Our compliments, our vanities and pride:  
And, whatsoever Spirit them hath moved,  
We (not without cause) are by them reproved  
Of things, whereto our consciences, with them  
Bear witness, though their persons most contemn.   

Among these (as aforesaid) I am one  
By whom the work of GOD is to be done;  
And he thereto is pleased to make use  
Of poesy (at this time) when th' abuse  
Of that gift, hath profaned it, much more  
By Ribaldries, than ever heretofore.  
It may be too, I serve my Generation  
Thereby (although not wealth nor reputation  
It gets me) and my GOD, as well as they  
Who seek to take my purchased Lands away,  
As sanctified to them; for, even by these  
My scribble (as to term them some do please)  
Occurrences, which else would be forgot,  
(And passages which many minded not)  
Will so remembered be, that GOD shall have  
Some glory by them, and men good receive.  
And though I take no care at all to trick  
My Poems up, with flowers of Rhetoric,  
A day will come, wherein with due respect  
They shall more heeded be, and take effect.   

You, who believe this, and each Dispensation  
Of GOD's, to merit your Consideration,  
Improve them as you ought, in what strange ways,  
Or, in what form soever he them conveys:  
And though you suffer many persecutions,  
Or losses, in the various Revolutions  
Which do or may befall, be of good cheer;  
Yea, whatsoever you shall see or hear,  
Be not afraid of aught, which this last Turn  
May threaten to bring on, or to adjourn:  
Nor be discouraged what ere the King  
Permits, omits, or acteth, which may bring  
Harm in estate or person; for he comes  
To do GOD's work, and executes his dooms  
With, or against his will, and shall proceed  
No further, than hath been by him decreed.  
His power and heart are always in his hands:  
As well as we, accountable he stands  
For all that he shall do; and, GOD of him  
Now proof is making, as he did of them  
Who reigned last. Yea, peradventure now  
In proving him, is also proving you  
And me, and all these Nations, that his Grace  
And Justice one another may embrace.  
In which TEST, if we meekly wait th' Event,  
Till we behold how far this Parliament  
Will stretch their mercy; and then, till we see  
How far, the King's Grace will extended be,  
(Of his mere Goodness, and Self-inclination,  
Beyond their narrow limited Compassion)  
You, either shall by him, have an effect  
To answer what you justly may expect  
Or by GOD's Providence, who, if he please;  
Can turn your losses to advantages.  
For Consequents will follow to requite  
Your long-long sufferings in the world's despite.  
GOD will appear, for your just vindications,  
Who truly sought the welfare of these Nations  
In order to his glory; and so do it,  
That, to be his own Act, most men shall know it.  
And, by the King that Grace vouchsafe will he,  
Except his heart as hard as Pharaohs be;  
Or, is by such Enchanters led aside,  
As Jannes and as Jambres typifide.   

Try all things ere you counter-act, and heed  
Whether or no from GOD they do proceed;  
For, by their work if well the same you mark,  
Are workmen known, and workmen by their work  
As truly as a Tree is by his Fruit,  
His bark, his leaves, his blossoms, and his root.  
Since all is in GOD's hand, rest well assured  
That your chief interest will be secured  
In his best times, although the Royal power  
He more exalts, and brings the people lower.  
For, his way, to the highest exaltations,  
Is by Debasings, and by Degradations.  
And, whether more or less, he gives or takes,  
To, or from him, or them, it's for their sakes  
Conferred or withdrawn, to whom pertains  
That Kingdom, within which, no Tyrant reigns.  
GOD is our King, and doth but him depute  
To be here for a time, his Substitute:  
We are his people, and his pasture-sheep,  
Whom he is sent to govern, feed and keep;  
Not to oppress, to fleece, or to devour,  
And GOD retains us always in his power.   

What, can we have, or wish for, more than this?  
In whose hand are we safe, if not in his?  
Whether we have a Government or none,  
Whether it be by Many, or by One:  
In him External and Internal peace  
Must sought for be; In his especial Grace  
Is our Wellbeing, and without the same,  
All Governors, by whatsoever name  
Distinguished, and every Government,  
Which all the wit of mankind can invent,  
Will be destructive; and when left we be  
Unto ourselves, such, to ourselves are we.  
When we have Kings, & hope that they will save us  
From wrongs, they oft endeavour to enslave us.  
The more power we upon them do confer,  
The more thereby at last enslaved we are.  
For, they of wealth and Power admit no measure  
That's not as large as their own will and pleasure.  
If you confine them by a thousand laws,  
They break those bonds as easily as straws;  
And oft, when large in promise them we find,  
Their own advantage chiefly is designed.  
When on a Parliament our trust we laid,  
We thereby were oppressed and betrayed;  
And, may set up (as things are carried on)  
Four hundred Tyrants in the stead of one;  
Or, make that which our bondage should prevent,  
Help to enslave us by our own consent.  
If rather, in an Army we confide,  
They'll either turn unto another side,  
Or else prolong their service, till it shall  
Effect their ends, or eat us out of all.  
If on the common people we depend,  
They heed not that which to their Weal doth tend  
In common; for, their individual cares  
Are to increase, or keep their private shares.  
And to enjoy their Lusts a year or two,  
Will all their own posterity undo.  
If to themselves they should assume their power,  
They could not use it prudently one hour;  
So scattered lies, through many heads, their brain,  
That half a Nutshell will their wits contain:  
And fire and water, may as well agree,  
As they, who of so many Judgements be.   

The Nobles would deserve our trust no better;  
For, they would still endeavour to be greater,  
By making others less; and breed distractions  
Incurable, by everlasting Factions.  
Most men, the trust on them imposed, abuse,  
As well the choosers, as, they whom they choose:  
The first so slavish and so brutish are,  
They'll sell their birthrights for Roast beef and Beer,  
(As they but lately did) and, so, expose  
Our Lives, Estates, and Freedoms unto those,  
Who look more like our tumblers and our players,  
Then Senators, by whom our Grand Affairs  
Should be determined, The Last with zeal  
Make show a while, to serve the Commonweal,  
Till thereby some Advancement gain they may,  
And, then, their zeal is turned another way.  
If, our chief City, we our Trustee made,  
She, to enlarge her Charters, and her Trade,  
To make herself more powerful, and more rich,  
Hath ever been inclined so overmuch:  
And, to and fro, herself so often winds,  
To this, and that, as she occasion finds,  
That, when in her we do repose our trust,  
We shall have charters written in the Dust.   

Yet, for the love which thereunto I bear,  
Or, rather for the sake of those in her,  
Whose prayers, faith and tears, have h'therto  
Preserved her, I shall, still, as now I do,  
Make my Petition for her preservation,  
And, that she may by Justice and Compassion  
Break off from those sins, for which I discover  
A Cloud of Judgements to be hanging over:  
And, which e'er since the last great plague hath been;  
Sometimes approaching, though by few men seen;  
And which, whilst she to power and wealth aspires,  
Will be unheeded; immaterial fires,  
Consume her dwellings, and decay her Trade,  
Unless atonement speedily be made  
By works of mercy, and that sacrifice  
Which GOD hath promised he will not despise.   

These trusties, will at last deceive us whether  
We trust them singly, or else all together.  
If then, we should to this conclusion draw,  
Be governed by the Letter of the Law;  
That, in itself, is grown so questionable,  
So like a Nose of Wax, so variable,  
And so uncertain made, as Lawyers please  
To make them speak for their advantages  
Who most advantage them; that, we shall there  
Continue as unsettled as we were,  
Till we are certain in what sense to take them;  
Which will not be as long as Lawyers make them,  
Who take more care to drive their own ends on,  
Than to provide that Justice may be done.   

Let me be bold to write Truths without blame,  
(Which I know may be written without shame)  
No person, persons, or that Government  
Which wisest men by general consent  
Shall constitute, is able to bring hither  
Both Truth and Peace, to settle them together,  
Until Almighty GOD shall to this Nation  
A means discover for the Regulation  
Of those who for their private interests,  
Confine both Law and Gospel to their breasts:  
For, from them chiefly, most of all that springs,  
Which either to this people or their Kings,  
Hath hurtful been; and till this be amended,  
Our Plagues may be adjourned, but never ended:  
For, by this means (mark if it be not so)  
Humane Affairs, thus, for the most part go.  
Councils and Parliaments do counter-act  
Unto themselves, in Judgement, and in Fact.  
And the same person, by the selfsame Law,  
For the same deed, they honour, hang, and draw.  
Howe'er the Power in being forms the Cause,  
For that, strait speaks Divinity and Laws.  
Let but another Power assume the Throne,  
Which quite contraries what the last hath done,  
Both Law and Gospel strait confirms the same,  
Even by their tongues from whence the Judement came  
Which ratified the former, and had laid  
Strict penalties to make their Votes obeyed;  
So, that which was the last year Truth and Reason,  
Is made the next year Heresy and Treason;  
And, Judges act that guilt which they condemn.  
In others, whilst they are condemning them.  
Oh Impudence! how! how! is Justice lost?  
How are poor men, like Dogs in blankets tossed?  
What great Revenues have been yearly paid,  
And what vast sums bestowed to be betrayed!  
Or, were at best, upon blind Guides conferred,  
Who knew not, whether they went right, or erred?   

GOD bless the King, and teach him what to do;  
GOD bless the People, and GOD bless me too;  
And keep us with our several Interests,  
From being wronged by Lawyers, and by Priests;  
And, from Aspersion, keep them also free,  
Who, in those Callings, just and honest be.   

These things I have observed: let us therefore  
Trust to ourselves, or other men no more;  
But, wholly leave to GOD our grand affairs,  
Lay by our Swords: betake us to our Prayers,  
And learn to use such Weapons which will shatter  
Such Fortresses, as Canons cannot batter;  
Lest, else, as lately, we do fight again  
Ourselves, out of one mischief into twain;  
Which into twenty more may be improved,  
Before it shall be totally removed.  
A Conquest by the Sword we lately had,  
But, that, our sins and follies frustrate made:  
We were by GOD's aid made victorious then,  
By letting forth the blood of other men:  
But the next Victory to be bestown,  
Must purchased be, by shedding of our own:  
Yea (mind this well) it to the Saints pertains,  
To bind in fetters and in iron chains  
Both Kings and Peers, and that these also may  
Break off those bands, and cast those cords away:  
If to assume that Power the Saints begin  
Unseas'nably, or lose it by their sin;  
Or, if they shall pursue the will of GOD  
With carnal Weapons, in a carnal mode,  
Seeking their own ends, when they his pretended,  
For, with sad Sequels those ways are attended.  
And, they will worthily be then corrected,  
With that, which must upon them be inflicted.  
But, when Repentance, and a fleshly doom,  
Hath purified them, they shall overcome  
By being vanquished, and prevail much more  
By losing, than by winning heretofore.  
Men have their failings; but a fiery Trial  
Will purge the dross, which want of self-denial  
Within them left; and when that's fumed away,  
They will be Gold refined without allay.   

In our own places, let us truly do  
What duty to Superiors calls us to.  
(An absolute Obedience unto none  
My conscience owes, save unto GOD alone;  
Yet, to what Sovereign power adjudgeth fit,  
I'll actively or passively submit)  
Let Soldiers fight; give Pilots room to steer;  
When we move, let us move in our own sphere,  
Our safety, from henceforth, expecting, from  
No Mountain, but from that, whence it must come.  
We had ere while a Power, which to our cost  
We misemployed, and therefore now 'tis lost.  
We, lately, active were even unto blood;  
But, now such activeness will do no good,  
And, we must passive be, till GOD shall please  
Our sins to pardon, and to give us ease:  
And he will show us then what must be done,  
If him with patience we attend upon.  
What we desired, he did not deny us;  
And, by what we desired, he now will try us.   

We have a King again: and since God gave him  
Upon such terms, as most desired to have him,  
We ought not to repine or to receded  
From that which we to him have promised;  
For, we our duties are obliged to do,  
Whether he keep his promises, or no.  
Leave him, unto that Covenant which was made  
'Twixt GOD and him, when he admittance had:  
For, GOD on our behalf, when that was done,  
Premised terms, though we ourselves made none,  
(Even such, as long ago upon record  
Expressed were, in his revealed word)  
And, if he keep them not, 'twill worse succeed  
With him, than if his signed and sealed Deed  
He should to us infringe (though Dispensations  
He had, from all the Prelates in these Nations,  
And Rome to boot) which, I should fear to say,  
If somewhat did not warrant me I may.   

His power now is great; yet, had been more  
Than ever English King had heretofore,  
(A●●onceive) had he content remained  
With what was providentially obtained  
Not looking backward, to hedge in the time,  
Which will be no advantage unto him.  
Had he not sought his Honour's Reparation,  
By building it upon the old Foundation  
On which it stood; not thought it best to own,  
That Interest, which GOD had overthrown,  
(And Humane policy inclined him to)  
He might have done more than he now can do.   

For Conquest giveth rather more than less  
Than he did by Inheritance possess;  
And his Reentry was equivalent  
To Conquest, though gained by assent:  
For Free Assent was given by no more  
Save those who were of his own side before;  
Until they saw he had that power supreme  
Which warranted Allegiance unto him;  
And that he had acquired interests  
In what they claim, by ploughing with their Beasts:  
For, where WAR is, till peace, renewed shall be  
In terminis, a Conqueror is he,  
Who victory by Stratagems hath gained  
As truly, as when by the sword attained.  
And his Admittance (whatsoe'er is thought)  
Was by none else, but his own paerty wrought  
Through GOD's permission, who, befooled them  
Who had been false unto themselves and him.  
It is a Conquest, which the Lord of Hosts  
Conferred on him (although no blood it costs)  
And they who do admit, without condition,  
A Foe professed, can challenge no fruition  
Of any right, which was enjoyed before,  
But that which he is pleased to restore;  
Till for Omissions, or for things misdone,  
GOD takes from him again what he had won,  
As, but a few months passed from them he did,  
Who in this Government did him preceded:  
And, this point I insist on to declare  
That (since of us our trusties had no care)  
How much to GOD we shall obliged be,  
If from our Hazards he shall set us free  
By moving this King's heart, us to restore  
To those enjoyments which we had before.   

When first the Norman by the Sword came in,  
A part of what the people's right had been  
Was by contract secured: when Solomon  
Was dead, although the Kingdom to his son  
Fell by inheritance; yet, maugre that,  
The Israelites came to capitulate  
With Rehoboam, and (as it appears)  
The Kingdoms, and his Father's Counsellors  
Advised admittance of Capitulation,  
As no less needful for his Confirmation,  
Than to content the people: but, he leaves  
Their counsel, and to giddy Fellows cleaves,  
Companions of this youth, by whose Bravadoes  
(Expressed with insolent Rodomontadoes)  
He lost ten Tribes of twelve. But no man thought  
Our Cause (it seems) worth speaking for, or sought  
To save our Interests, though we had those  
Empowered, who to that intent were chose,  
And much confided in. And, GOD did thus  
For his own glory pre-dispose of us,  
That we might see the vanity of them  
In whom we trusted, and trust more in him.  
It had not else been so; for through the Land,  
There was not sword nor spear in any hand  
But what we thought our own: nor power appearing  
For Charles without it, which was worth the fearing,  
If Providence had not transferred this power  
Into his hand, which we supposed our.  
So, all our freedoms, Life, Lands, goods and treasure,  
Were actually to this King's will and pleasure  
Resigned up: for, nothing doth appear  
That we of any thing secured are,  
Save by his Grace, though some a power than had  
To get Conditions usual to be made  
In such like Cases: which, if they had done,  
They had not thereby well discharged alone  
Their public Trust, and, rather more than less,  
Might thereby have advanced the common peace;  
But, saved unto the King much labour too,  
Which now he must be forced to undergo,  
Yet, peradventure when that he hath done  
The best he can, please very few or none:  
For 'tis impossible the blessed fruit  
Of perfect peace without power absolute,  
Should be produced, as we are now distracted,  
And as things will in likelihood be acted;  
'Cause such a Flower (as most wise men do know)  
Upon a single Root, doth always grow;  
And that, nought perfect Unity can breed,  
Save that, which from one spirit doth proceed.  
If, as he from these Kingdoms was expelled  
By Conquest, he re-entering, them had held  
As by Re-Conquest (which he might have done,  
Considering how Affairs were carried on)  
He might have brought most things to good conclusions,  
Without those interruptions and confusions  
Which will ensue; for, he obliged then  
By none, but GOD's and Nature's Laws had been;  
And should have had a large means to express  
His Mercy, Piety, and Righteousness,  
By prudent modelizing and contriving  
(Restoring, adding, giving and forgiving)  
As need required, without such restraints,  
Or giving these occasions of complaints,  
As now occur: whereas he coming in  
By that Right, which before had claimed been,  
(As interrupted only) he seems bounded  
By those Laws, whereon formerly 'twas founded.  
And (as at present it appears to me)  
So dubious Laws and Parliaments now be,  
That by the course intended to be taken,  
The Peace we hope to settle will be shaken  
When we suppose it fixed; by failings, found  
Hereafter, in some Principles unsound;  
Or else, because some actings will appear  
Not homogeneous to those Laws that are:  
And, as things are, with us 'tis little better  
Then if we conquered were, for, we are debtor  
Unto the King, for all in our possessions  
By his spontaneous Act, and Free Concessions;  
And whatsoever we can do or say,  
If, now he will be Absolute, he may.  
There be enough, who for their private ends,  
Will drive on whatsoever he intends,  
Whether it be to do us right or wrong;  
And thereunto, our sins will make them strong,  
Till GOD again deliver us, who hath  
Now made us, justly, Objects of his wrath.   

For, if they are our trusties duly chose,  
Who now of us and our Affairs dispose,  
(And us into the King's hand wholly gave  
Without Reserve) then, every thing we have  
Is His; and more it boots not than a Rush  
Now to deny it: for, within a bush,  
We shall our Heads but like the Woodcock hide,  
Whom by his Tail, the Fowler hath espied.  
We are reduced unto a conquered State,  
Though we ourselves are pleased to wink thereat.  
The CUP pretended stolen to have been,  
(By whose device soe'er it was put in)  
Is found within our sacks; and we this day  
Like joseph's Brethren, to the King must say:  
We are thy servants: Providence Divine  
Hath for our sins made our possessions thine:  
For, we can challenge nothing as our own,  
But what of thy free Grace hath been bestown:  
Or what thou shalt be pleased to afford  
Upon Request: or, of thine own accord.  
This we must say, how loath soe'er we are:  
And, without scruple, this affirm I dare,  
That, till the selfsame Providence, or He,  
Or both together, join to make us free:  
(Which will vouchsafed be, with, or without  
His will, when our probation-time is out)  
We never shall be freed; but, without rest,  
Be more and more enslaved, and oppressed.   

Then, let none think I wrong this Nation, though  
I say 'tis conquered: nor, by being so,  
Fear they so much will disadvantaged be,  
As, by a vain suppose that they are free;  
Since, by not making this acknowledgement,  
GOD, of due thanks and glory we prevent:  
For, had the King assumed the sovereign power,  
(As being made by him, a Conqueror)  
With no worse purpose, than to constitute  
A righteous throne (to which Power Absolute  
Is so Essential, that without the same,  
Less Power, in great Confusions will be lame)  
He possibly might have effected that,  
Which to attempt, now 'tis perhaps too late.  
This, was the mind of GOD (as I believe)  
When he to him did that advantage give;  
And, I am hopeful, he will bend that way  
The Power that's left, as far forth as he may:  
For, he is neither Heathen, Jew, or Turk,  
empowered to do only his own work;  
Nor we, I hope, as were the Canaanites,  
To be destroyed, nor those Amalekites  
With whom God purposeth a War for ever,  
Unless we in impenitence persever,  
To make us liable to such a doom  
As did on that and other Nations come.  
But, by this King, GOD rather doth intend  
Our much depraved Manners to amend:  
And deals with us, as he hath always done  
With his own people, since the world begun.  
When they by murmurings for flesh provoked him;  
He, in displeasure gave them Quails, & choked them:  
And he with us, in some things parallel  
Thereto hath dealt, if we observe them well.  
When he by Moses them from bondage brought,  
(To lead them back again) they had a thought  
To choose another Captain; for which crime,  
He kept them in the Desert a long time:  
Even till all that Rebellious Generation  
Was quite worn out for that prevarication.  
This, let us well consider of, and learn  
How much (and in what) it may us concern.  
A King like other Nations they would have,  
And what they asked, GOD with a vengeance gave:  
Yet, by his mercy from his wrath did save them,  
And plagues & blessings therewith mixed gave them.  
When by the Sword of Nabuchadnezzar,  
The Jews were subjugated (as we are  
For our transgressions) though their Conqueror  
Was not of their own Nation, as is our:  
(Or, of their Faith, so much as a pretender,  
Either to be Professor or Defender)  
GOD by Him, and by his Successors brought them,  
Not only to be humbled, till they sought him;  
But also, gave them favour in their sights;  
Made some of them their chiefest Favourites:  
Yea, to repair enabled them, at last,  
Their Temple and their Cities, which lay waste;  
And to possess again that Land, from whence  
They were ejected by impenitence.  
Why then should we not hope, since to these Nations  
Our present King hath manifest Relations:  
(The same Faith holds, and of his own accord  
To be propitious hath engaged his Word)  
That, GOD, by him, will, at the least, restore  
All that which he possessed heretofore?  
Why should we not believe, that God's intent  
Is to be gracious in his chastisement?  
And may apply unto us Lenitives  
By this King, when he hath with Corrosives  
First made us curable; somewhat I declared  
Among such other things (without regard)  
Now, thirty five years past, that doth appear  
Upon Record in my Remembrancer,  
Which now, perhaps, beginneth way to make  
For what my Britain's Genius did fore-speak;  
And, GOD, in Judgement, mindeth us, as yet,  
In Mercy, though his kindness we forget.  
Yea, if our sins make not his purpose void,  
That, whereby some now fear to be destroyed,  
Shall save us from that mischief which we fear,  
When unavoidably it seemeth near.  
For, notwithstanding, for their sins and our,  
Our former Governors did lose their power;  
Though they, and we have justly forfeited  
Those Freedoms which we lately challenged,  
And did possess (when after our Appeal,  
We were empowered to form a Commonweal)  
The change which now befalls will be of use  
Hereafter, better sequels to produce.  
We have but only lost, upon the wheel  
A broken pot, and work men without skill.  
GOD, hath not wholly, us of Grace bereft,  
Although, to Grace, the King he hath received;  
Nor hath he at this present brought him home  
At our cost (without bloodshed) to become  
A Tyrant, but our King, and unto us  
To be as gracious, as to him, he was,  
In thus restoring him with Conditions,  
Unto his late lost Honour and Possessions.  
GOD hath from Mesech lately brought him hither  
Not that this People should be forced thither;  
Or that their Burdens he should more increase,  
Now that's removed which did him oppress.  
GOD, did supply his wants, and him restore  
To Riches lost, not to make others poor;  
Nor from afflictions him redeemed, that he  
Should for past injuries avenged be;  
Or have a Kingdom here, like one of those  
Which Satan on his Homagers bestows.  
But, such a Kingdom, that his people might  
Submit unto him, with a true delight,  
And worship their Creator without fear,  
In holiness, and in uprightness here.  
And, if his Power be not this way employed,  
The best men's hopes, will be a while made void:  
And his for ever (though he should recover  
Ten times more strength and gild his acting over  
With acquaint pretences, and the fairest Paints  
Of Politicians, or dissembling Saints.)  
For, though the Rabble, who were yesterday  
His open Foes, now make professions may,  
Of being loyal, and to morrow should  
Swear to become his slaves, they frustrate would  
His best hopes; for, they are a flood that flows  
This way, and that way, as the next wind blows.   

The Essence of a Kingly interest  
Doth in, and by the Common good consist,  
Even in the whole, and not in any part  
(Although as noble as the Head or Heart)  
And to indulge aught further than it shall  
Tend really unto the good of all;  
Destroys the whole, turns Royalty to Faction,  
And breeds at length a general Distraction:  
For, when the limbs, the head or heart surpass  
Their due proportions, they make others less;  
And all the body will not only grow  
Deformed, but unserviceable too:  
So, likewise, Kings, if liberty they grant  
To any part to be exorbitant,  
Or in themselves be so, 'twill quite destroy  
That compound being, which they shall enjoy.  
They further should promote no interest  
Than with the public good it may consist;  
And that each individual, without wrongs,  
May that possess, which to the same belongs.  
By Justice he should cause a Restoration;  
Of all Encroachments made by Usurpation;  
And recompense for every Injury  
Sustained by Supreme Authority,  
How ere acquired, if the Sufferer  
In conscience, thereunto obedient were;  
And no way active in that innovation,  
Which was the former Powers Eradication.  
No party or profession whatsoe'er,  
Neither the Prelate, Priest or Presbyter,  
Or other Sect, nor King nor Parliament  
Should be indulged to common detriment;  
For, that would be destructive to that end,  
Whereto all Constitutions ought to tend.   

'Tis mercy, and performing righteous things  
That strengthens Kingdoms, and preserveth Kings;  
And they are their best Subjects who adhere  
To Piety, and sound in Manners are:  
Not they who think the glory of a Throne  
Consisteth in the Guilding laid thereon:  
Or, in such Vanities as did begin  
To spring up when the King first entered in:  
For, though those Fools (who such enjoyment crave  
Assoon, as of prevailing, hopes they have)  
Insult, Jeer, brag, and insolently brave it,  
Cry, Now it is as we ourselves would have it,  
And run out into that Licentiousness  
Which evidently may to all express  
What they desire; he, that, on such relies,  
Himself, with Snowballs only fortifies;  
And will by their assistance be at length  
As old Rome was, oppressed by his own strength.  
And, if abused, the Grace now offered be,  
Some, yet may live another change to see:  
For, One unheeded sits above our heads,  
Who men's Fanatic vanities derides;  
And Judgements in dark Clouds concealed are,  
Which will surprise us, ere we be aware,  
Unless we with more prudent moderation  
Shall from henceforward manage that occasion  
Which GOD hath given of a happy close  
Betwixt them, who have overlong been foes,  
For, to that end (though not well heeded yet)  
The King and we are in this posture met.   

If, he be now King by the Grace of GOD,  
(As we entitle him) sent for our good,  
And not in wrath: if, as his Title saith,  
He be a true Defender of the Faith,  
(Which is my hope) he, seriously will heed,  
How in his chief concernments, men proceed:  
And, if he than finds, that, more in despite  
To those whom they hate, than to do him right,  
Some things by some are acted: and the spoil  
Of others rather aimed at, than this Weal,  
(By prosecutions overviolent  
To his dishonour and indangerment)  
'Twill bring forth an unlooked-for effect  
To those, upon whom he without suspect  
Doth yet depend; and make him plainly see,  
That, from thenceforth, his confidence must be  
In GOD, and in those, who, with him partake  
For GOD's, for Justice, and for Conscience sake;  
And not in those who value not those things  
Which most essential are to Souꝰraign Kings;  
Though they pretend to suffer for GOD's cause,  
And his; or, fain obedience to his Laws;  
Much less trust them, who did assist the Boys  
With Shouts, Drums, Guns and Squibs to make a noise  
About their bonfires, hemmed in with Dances  
Scarce modest, and sometimes with petulances  
As scandalous, as if those men had best  
Their Loyalty and Gratitude expressed,  
Who, when he was proclaimed, most rudely swaggered  
Drunk to his Health, until they spewed & staggered;  
Consumed that, on one beast, which to the poor  
Distributed, might have refreshed a score:  
And, when they should have praised GOD, for the grace  
To them vouchsafed, blasphemed him to his face.   

If such prevarications do presage  
A settled power, or a Reformed Age,  
I am deceived; and wholly had despaired  
To see our Breaches in my time repaired;  
But that the King hath given hopes of late,  
By some proceeds, that he doth aim thereat;  
And by his Proclamation startled them  
From that, which many did expect from him:  
Yea, I have feared, that I might have lived  
To see all Heath'nish Vanities revived.  
(With all old Superstitions) and, I pray,  
This fear may wholly be removed away:  
For, what some have expected all along,  
And, from what Root, their zeal to Kingship sprung;  
By many 'twas fore-shown, who did aspire  
To public trust. That, which they now desire  
Confirms it also; and perhaps it may  
Be manifest to all another day,  
When they shall either miss their expectations,  
Who welcomed him with loudest acclamations,  
Or else, when they enjoy them; which to see,  
I should be grieved, and so, I hope would he.  
But if to those things, which do now begin  
In every place already, to flow in,  
He puts not stop, ere further they proceed,  
His power, perhaps, it shortly will exceeded;  
And, we shall here behold (with new additions)  
Profaneness, and exploded Superstitions,  
Not only countenanced without awe  
Of GOD, and Men, but settled by a Law:  
For, this (or I am much deceived) is that  
Which is by very many aimed at.   

It was not (as these did pretend) to bring  
From his late banishment, their lawful King;  
Nor love unto his Person, or his Cause,  
Or zeal to true Religion or the Laws,  
Which made so many, who had active been  
To drive him out, make haste to fetch him in:  
Nor, that they could better be content  
With Kingship or some other Government,  
Or persons then with those that ruled before:  
But some did hope to have enjoyed more  
A Liberty, whereby, without control  
They might in brutish lusts at pleasure roll.  
Some had a hoping of raising their Estate;  
In some hope sprung from Envy or from hate,  
Conceived against those persons who acquired  
Those honours or some profits they desired:  
And, not a few, who were at no expense  
In this King's service, or to make defence  
Of him or his cause, hopeful were to get  
(By suing to him, and pretending it)  
Repair of those consumed Estates, which they  
Had either drunk, or whored, or gamed away.  
Some, other, thereby, hoped for fruition  
Of their beloved Mistress Superstition;  
Freedom, to swear GOD damn them, without a we  
Of Magistrate, or mulct imposed by Law;  
To waste, the day, and night, in drinking, gaming,  
In cheating, roaring, whoring, and blaspheming,  
Without reproofs. Some looked for increase  
Of Trading, or of making Taxes less;  
And, othersome (another way affected)  
Together with a King, returns expected  
Of Masks and Revels, Tournaments and Plays,  
Maypoles, Wakes, Church-ales and those holidays,  
Wherein young men might have permitted been  
As heretofore, to dance upon the Green,  
With suchlike liberties as may be used  
Sometimes (if soberly) and not abused:  
And, some, it may be, had an expection  
The Lord's day should a day of recreation  
Be made again; and preaching twice a day,  
By some new Canon would be took away;  
That all men (as they have internal motions)  
Might have time for their pleasures or devotions.  
These were strong motives to some late Expresses  
Of loyalty, as also to th' addresses  
Subscribed not long before by many a one  
To OLIVER, and likewise to his Son,  
Whom quickly they deserted, though they had  
To live and die with them professions made  
Without enforcement, at the first, to make them,  
Or at the last, so tamely to forsake them.  
As much they magnifide them in their Lyrics,  
Heroic Poems, Odes, and Penegyricks,  
As they extol the King. No flattering pen  
Could more ascribe to any mortal men:  
And, though such dawbings cannot keep from shame  
Their persons, nor from infamy their name,  
(As now appears) yet this magnificat  
The world still sings. This common strain is that  
Which most men do affect and in this wise  
Flattery still sings to all Stars when they rise:  
Yea, all their songs unto this present day,  
Are but the same, new set another way:  
And, their composers do deserve no more  
Then begging Fiddlers begging at the door.  
Who if it might their servile ends advance,  
Would, to the same tune play the devil a dance.  
Such are too many, who do make a show  
Of loyalty by their expresses now.  
As little worth regarding is their love;  
And, doubtless very fickle it would prove,  
If GOD should be provoked to estrange  
His favour, and permit another change.  
They who against one party lately cried,  
Hang, hang the Rogues; against the other side  
Would then cry out as loud, Hang, hang them all:  
And, those whom they now praise, as much miscall:  
For, what their chiefest expectations are,  
They make it evidently to appear  
By Words and Deeds; and there are symptoms too,  
What things, if cause were given, they would do.  
Hornets and Wasps, begin to show their stings.  
The butterflies display their pointed wings  
In every Garden, and there, spawn the seed  
which Palmer worms, and Caterpillars, breed.  
They, who were lately Maggots are grown Flies,  
In our ears buzzing, fleering in our eyes;  
And, up were set, the world's Gods altogether  
As soon as ere the King approached hither;  
Who, probably, in Flanders had remained,  
If, otherways, their ends they could have gained,  
And Dick, perhaps, GEORGE, Jack, or any thing,  
With popular app'auses had been King.   

But, these Insecti, though they greatly swarm,  
Can do the King not so much good, as harm:  
Nor can those who through want of wit & courage  
Will sell their birthrights for a mess of Porridge,  
To this establishment contribute aught,  
Till they be better disciplined and taught:  
It is not they in Linen Ephods, neither  
Those Chimerims who now conspire together;  
Nor those vain and fantastical baboons  
Who jet in Feathers and in Pantaloons,  
Who fix a King; but, those grave men among  
Our Nobles. And the civil vulgar throng,  
Who love the Public peace, and do profess  
A Loyalty in truth and soberness,  
Without regard of any Interest,  
Save that, which may with other men's consist.  
The rest (if well considered) are a number  
Of animals, which more confound and cumber,  
Then settle Governments; and are to Kings  
But troublesome unprofitable things.  
I have observed them well: and long ago  
(Perceiving what they likely were to do,  
Who know the way, as often as they please  
To bring to pass, their own Designs by these)  
Upon Occasions given, was so bold,  
That what I preconjectured, I foretell;  
And how these acting singly, or together.  
To public Damage, made use of each other.  
This oft I did before the Parliament  
Became their self-destroying instrument)  
In plain terms, or Aenigmas; as the time  
Would bear it; and as well in Prose as Rhymes:  
I did the like to him, and to his son,  
Whom GOD permitted to usurp the Throne,  
(As two addresses, which I did prefer  
To their own hands, yet extant may declare)  
And whereby, such advantages I got  
As usually they get who flatter not.   

During the last power (in an oblique way)  
As touching him, who reigneth at this day,  
I hinted that, which now is come to pass  
In such wise, as I might in such a case  
At such a time as that; with what Events,  
To his beginnings would be consequents,  
If on the Giddy Vulgar he depended,  
In prosecuting what should be intended:  
Or, if he sought a Kingship to erect  
Like what mere earthly Princes do effect:  
Wherein, although I had no worse Design  
Then with the public weal to wrap up mine,  
I am, for my plain dealing, as a Foe  
Both scandalised and oppressed so.  
That all the Mercy some vouchsafe me would,  
Is Life deprived of all things that should  
In me and my relations Life uphold.  
Which is a cruelty, and such away,  
Of kill men a hundred times aday,  
That GOD with due avengement will repay:  
For, though men are not so, yet he is just;  
The measure, which they gave, receive they must.  
Yea, measure running over, and pressed down,  
Unless God show more grace than they have shown.   

I have not much deceived been, in aught  
Which with Pre-meditation I forethought,  
And heretofore divulged relating to  
These Nations, in the things they ought to do;  
Or, unto that, which would require their heed,  
How therein they go backward, or proceed.  
ay, lately pray conjectured and foretell,  
That London was a Mount whence issue should  
A wind, which hither likely was to blow  
A change, that of our greatest weal or woe,  
(As likewise of her own) would be the cause:  
And, by her aid, that change is come to pass.  
Let her so mind it now, that GOD may bless  
Her future actings with a good success;  
For, that to them this Caveat give I may,  
Thus purposely I stepped out of the way.  
My Muse once more shall here likewise recall  
What I presaged would to myself befall;  
Yea, though I touched upon it heretofore,  
I will illustrate it a little more.  
Me therefore, to insist thereon permit,  
For as it me concerns to mention it,  
It may concern you to, and doth declare  
That poor men's wrongs by GOD observed are.  
Upon my heart I strong impressions had,  
That I, should of their fall a sign be made;  
Who for my faithful service me oppressed;  
And, they, who last the supreme power possessed,  
This day, both see, and feelingly perceive,  
That's come to pass which they would not believe  
To them I told, both jointly and apart,  
(But seemed to speak to men without a heart)  
That, they in reason had good cause to fear,  
If they should offer still, a Deaf man's Ear  
To my complaints, a very sad reward,  
Would be the sequel of their Disregard.  
Yet, though with humbleness I them implored  
By every means, which those times, did afford,  
(Save bribes and flattery they would seldom hear  
Aught which concerned me, except it were  
An accusation; or to grant an Order,  
Which more my Ruin, than Relief did further;  
Or, do me Justice during my oppressions,  
Nigh eighteen years complained of by Petitions,  
And, by addresses, tentered unto them  
(Not seldom, by some hundred at a time)  
Nor to me their Engagements made they good;  
Nor those discharged by which engaged I stood  
For them; nor for their Debts detained from me  
Three times six years, although made due they be  
By Ordinance and Orders: nor would they  
Vouchsafe as much as interest to pay,  
By them allowed; (though I much did need it,  
Both to relieve me, and preserve my Credit.)  
Nor could I that enjoy, which I had bought,  
And they had sold, (as I in Justice ought;  
Till my Estate and Credit was o'erthrown  
By them, through their neglecting of their own;  
Though they were not alone obliged unto it,  
But likewise had both power and means to do it.   

A single foe, could do me in one hour  
More injury, than all my Friends had power  
To right whilst they reigned, though I seemed befriended  
Of many, who to Righteousness pretended.  
Though early at their doors, and also late,  
As at Bethesda-pool the Cripple sat)  
I waited on them, I went every day  
Both without Help, and with small Help, away;  
No more prevailing, then if still I had  
To blocks or statutes, my Petitions made.   

These Grievances, increasing every year,  
Raised at the length, my Damages well near  
To twice five thousand pounds; and so increased,  
My debts, by troubles, suits, and interest,  
That wants, thereby, still multiplying more,  
I was, at last, made somewhat worse than poor:  
From seven hundred pounds per annum, brought  
To be some hundred pounds less worth than nought,  
So losing my repute, with my estate.  
(Which many new perplexities begat)  
To every wrong, I liable was made,  
When no means left for my defence I had.  
And, most men then perceiving that the Doom  
Which I foresaw would come, was then nigh come,  
And likely to destroy them in whose hands  
Lay all my whole Estate in Debts and Lands,  
And, that the Title which thereinII had,  
Would, as they stood or fell, prove good or bad;  
My Creditors grew thereby so afraid,  
What I then owed them, never would be paid,  
That, more to pay one debt, then would pay two,  
Was thereby (maugre all that I could do)  
Straight torn away: and I, could neither set,  
Nor sell, nor borrow, neither payment get  
Of what was due, to buy things necessary,  
Or save my credit till it did miscarry,  
By forfeitures and burdens, cast upon me,  
So mercilessly, that it hath undone me,  
As to the world; unless GOD shall prevent  
That, which now threats a further Detriment;  
For, when the CURS which did before but bawl,  
(As when you see a hunted Stag doth fall  
By alber Dogs) immediately fell in,  
And from the flesh began to tear the skin.   

To make complaints, I saw it was in vain;  
For, none I know to whom I might complain,  
With hope of help; and certainly perceived,  
That, though by them, I seemed to be bereft  
Of my Estate, yet GOD's hand was therein,  
And, that the Judgement which doth now begin  
At his own House, did mark me out for one,  
Upon whom Execution must be done:  
Therefore, forthwith, examining my heart,  
And, finding that far less than my desert  
Was brought upon me; to his Chastisement  
I humbly do submit, and will present,  
Ere I proceed, this my Confession,  
With Praises intermixed, and Contrition.   

A HYMN Of CONFESSION and PRAISE.  

1.  
LORD, Thou from dust didst raise me,  
When I no being had,  
And I in flesh to praise thee,  
A living Soul was made:  
That, therefore, I may praise thee,  
as I am bound to do,  
Still henceforth let me praise thee,  
In Soul and Body too.   

2.  
To have thy Will fulfilled,  
To thee, I oft have prayed;  
Which, that I truly willed,  
Now, comes it to be tried;  
And, that, my Soul obeys thee,  
as thou thy Will mak'st known,  
I am resolved to praise thee,  
by laying down mine own.   

3.  
Thy Servants are confounded,  
this day with shame of face,  
And with their Plagues surrounded  
for their neglects of Grace;  
On us therefore to praise thee  
a Judgement is begun,  
In which, my heart, to praise thee  
still cries, thy Will be done.   

4.  
And, since by my Transgressions,  
the breach was wider made,  
I will by my Confessions  
unto thy Glory add;  
Oh! make thou them to praise thee  
so hearty and sincere;  
That, other men to praise thee  
their failings may declare.   

5.  
Me, thou hast not corrected  
with worse or sharper things.  
This are sometimes inflicted  
upon the greatest Kings:  
By Charity to praise thee,  
their wants thou then supplid'st;  
And, now to make me praise thee,  
that way for me providest.   

6.  
Nought heretofore I wanted  
wherewith to give thee praise;  
But, what to me was granted,  
I wasted otherways:  
And, since I did not praise thee  
when I enjoyed most,  
I now am come to praise thee  
when all I had is lost.   

7.  
Oft, when my Conscience chid me,  
I, in my sins went on;  
She therefore lately led me  
to what hath me undone;  
Yet, that, at last will praise thee,  
for which, I suffer must;  
And I confess to praise thee,  
that all thy ways are just.   

8.  
The portion by thee given,  
I, on my Lusts have spent;  
Sinned against Thee and Heaven,  
for which, I now repent:  
And since I did not praise thee,  
as I obliged have been,  
I meekly now do praise thee  
In sufferings for my sin.   

9  
Of earthly Joys and Pleasure  
that most desired are,  
To me in ample measure  
thou didst vouchsafe a share;  
But, I for them to praise thee  
performed not my part;  
And therefore, now I praise thee  
with sad and contrite heart.   

10.  
An honest Reputation  
on me thou hast bestown,  
That, to this Generation  
thy praise I might make known.  
But by what I should praise thee,  
I sought a fruitless fame;  
And therefore now I praise thee  
for my Reproach and shame.   

11.  
Of Good Men, much esteemed  
I rendered was by thee;  
But, better oft I seemed  
than I could truly be:  
I therefore now do praise thee  
that my Defects were hid,  
And, that, some now dispraise me  
for what I never did.   

12.  
To thee I am a Debtor  
for what I most esteem;  
(No earthly blessing better  
deserving Thanks doth seem)  
And for the, same still praise thee,  
though lately for my sin,  
That, for which now I praise thee,  
a bitter-sweet hath been.   

13.  
But sharp and sweets together  
(through all my life-time passed)  
And, single shares of either  
so timely, deigned thou hast:  
That, I not only praise thee  
for what most sweet appeared;  
But, also, truly praise thee  
for what I shunned and feared   

14.  
Thou didst with Robes adorn me,  
which men of Honour wear,  
That Fools the less might scorn me  
when I thy praise declare:  
But, what thou gav'st to praise thee,  
I did to folly turn:  
And therefore, now I praise thee  
in Garments thred-bare-worn.   

15.  
To, thousands, much delightful,  
my Youthful days were made;  
My Heart was blithe, and sprightful  
thy praise the more was spread  
But, I with them to praise thee  
did not what should be done;  
For which, I'm left to praise thee  
all day and night, alone.   

16.  
My private Faith infringed  
to others and to thee,  
Thou lately hast avenged  
by public breach to me:  
And therefore now I praise thee  
for that just doom of thine;  
Oh! make them also praise thee  
whose sins have punished mine.   

17.  
Inspite of their Oppressions  
who my Destruction sought,  
Thou gav'st me large possessions,  
which now are come to nought:  
And since I did not praise thee  
when I enjoyed more,  
I justly now do praise thee  
in Wants, Distress, and Poor.   

18.  
ay, heretofore, had fullness  
of every pleasant meat,  
Which brought on me a dulness,  
that made me thee forget:  
And therefore now to praise thee,  
Affliction, bread prepares;  
And thou dost make me praise thee,  
in drinking of my tears:   

19  
Like Baruch, out of season  
things for myself I sought;  
Miss by Carnal Reason,  
lent, borrowed, built, and bought  
But, left the way to praise thee  
that's taught me in thy Schools,  
And therefore now to praise thee  
I, numbered am with Fools.   

20.  
Yet, as to sink me lower,  
Scorns, wrongs, and Wants increase;  
So, daily Faith gets power,  
Hope thrives, and Fears grow less;  
To move me to dispraise thee,  
the more my Temper tries,  
My Spirit, still, to praise thee,  
a pitch the higher flies.   

21.  
Though I myself have nothing,  
in thy hands all things be:  
And harbour, food and clothing  
thou wilt provide for me:  
For thou hast means to praise thee  
stirred up in every Town,  
Whereby each man may praise thee  
who hath not of his own.   

22.  
And for Reptue or Treasures  
I will not thee implore;  
For friends, lands, goods, and pleasures  
enjoyed heretofore,  
I, rather, ask to praise thee,  
what most extols thy Name,  
Although it be to praise thee.  
in Sorrow, Death, and Shame.   

23.  
Whilst here my sins benight me,  
still cause thy face to shine:  
For what will more delight me,  
than Corn, and Oil, and Wine.  
And though oppression weighs me  
quite down unto the ground,  
I, with more joy shall praise thee,  
then when wealth did abound.   

And whatsoever betid me  
I will not change my Case,  
With any who derides me,  
nor shall distrust thy Grace,  
My soul desires to praise thee,  
and loves thy praise so well,  
That, might I there best praise thee  
thee, praise I would in HELL.   

25.  
For, Thee to love thou movest me,  
which shows thou lovest Me,  
And doubtless whilst thou lovest me,  
even Hell a Heaven would be:  
Since, Love enough to praise Thee,  
he, that could thither bear,  
Should make the Devils praise thee,  
And, quench the Fires there.   

26.  
For LOVE all things created,  
subdued Hell and Death;  
Thy Law it hath completed,  
outlasteth Hope and Faith.  
Thou, when that love doth praise thee,  
givest best respects thereto;  
And, till in love we praise thee.  
in vain is all we do.   

27.  
Were I therefore bereaven  
of all that's called mine,  
Of Body, Soul, and Heaven,  
my love should live in thine:  
And, as I then did praise thee,  
when I no being had;  
So I again shall praise thee,  
When I am quite unmade.   

28.  
But, never comprehended  
Can be thy Love to me;  
And therefore never ended  
My Songs of praise must be:  
A Hymn wherein to praise thee  
I have on earth begun;  
And better hope to praise thee  
When this short life is done.   

29.  
Then, when asleep Death lays me,  
LORD, let me from the Grave  
(Where Deadmen cannot praise thee  
A Joyful Rising have:  
Let those likewise who praise thee  
With me, whilst I am here,  
Where Saints and Angels praise thee,  
(To praise thee) meet me there.    

Two other Meditations here I'll add,  
Which though such Muse mean esteem have had  
In latter times, may now as useful be  
To some, in my case, as they are to me.   


1.  
BUt are in my Riches gone?  
and all those fled away  
Whose love depended thereupon?  
for ever, Farewell they.  
Since these have gotten wings,  
I will not them pursue;  
But set my heart on better things,  
and bid them quite adieu.   

'Tis GOD that gives and takes,  
whose love remains the same;  
And whether rich or poor he makes,  
still blessed be his Name.  
With sufferings to comply,  
loath was I to begin,  
But better thoughts of them have I,  
since they have proved been.   

3.  
For, what I dreadful thought  
when first the same appeared,  
Hath joys to me by sorrows brought;  
and hopes by what I feared.  
To be despised and poor  
if in my GOD I trust,  
Will me at last advantage more  
than if I nothing lost.   

4.  
Long time I have professed  
in words a Christian Creed,  
And now am-with occasions blest  
to show it forth by Deed.  
We, holy men would seem,  
and up for Saints are cried,  
But now comes that Probation time  
In which we must be tried.   

5.  
Whilst Riches I enjoyed,  
They made me but a drudge,  
To be on their affairs employed,  
and on their Errands trudge.  
Me poor my plenties kept;  
made me engage my Friends;  
And often wake whilst others slept,  
to wait upon their ends.   

6.  
They filled me with Desires,  
whose Lusting endless was,  
And only brought forth thorns and briers  
to choke the seeds of Grace.  
They made me fearful too  
Of Tyrants and of Knaves,  
Yea (which is ten times worse than so)  
Made me a slave to slays.   

7.  
My heart then be content,  
let wealth and honour go,  
For, better things to thee are meant  
then these can raise thee to.  
Let those who on them dote,  
by our deportment see,  
That in those Gods we trusted not  
which their chief Idols be.   

8.  
Though my despightful Foes  
Now my Estaie is gone,  
(I having nothing else to lose)  
my body seize upon,  
Therefore take thou no care,  
for GOD thy help will be,  
And put on them a greater fear  
than they can put on thee.   

9  
And to increase that load  
which I at present bear,  
Though they say Where now is thy God,  
of whom thy boastings were?  
He will of me, of me be found,  
and also make it known,  
(When open shame shall them confound)  
that he my Cause doth own.   

10.  
Thy Cross with patience take,  
do not there at repine,  
But bear it stoutly for his sake  
who bore his Cross for thine.  
Still meekly in thy way  
therewith proceed thou so,  
That others it encourage may  
to what they see thee do.   

11.  
The Lot of Saints hath been  
Afflictions, Wants, and Scorns;  
And he that is the best of Men  
was mocked and crowned with Thorns.  
No House to him they gave  
wherein to rest his head;  
Him also in a borrowed Grave,  
they laid when he was dead.   

12.  
Yea, he that's LORD of all  
when first with flesh arrayed,  
Was meanly housed in a Stall,  
and in Manager laid.  
A Guest so poor he was,  
that whilst he lodged there,  
The labouring Ox, and toiling Ass  
his Chamber-fellows were.   

13.  
Yet Wisemen from the East,  
were guided by a Star,  
To bring to this despised Guest  
Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh,  
They fooled for his sake  
a Tyrannising King;  
GOD'S Angels, care of him did take,  
and round about him sing,   

14.  
To him, allied am I,  
and he will send to me,  
Howe'er obscured, the like supply,  
as oft as need shall be.  
For timely he relieves  
all those that trust in him,  
And charge unto his Angels gives,  
to be a guard to them.   

15.  
In Stables, Barns and Stalls,  
the poor as much he heeds,  
As those that are in Princes halls,  
to help them at their needs.  
Yea, unto them he comes,  
and will their sufferings mark,  
Although they lie in nasty Rooms,  
or Dungeons deep and dark.   

16.  
A portion more secure  
then Goods or Lands is he,  
An Heritage that will endure  
when Kingdoms lost shall be.  
And when exposed to shame  
their Bodies we behold,  
It shall more magnify their name,  
than Statues made of gold.   

17.  
But this to them will seem  
who dote on outward things,  
No better than an idle Dream  
which no assurance brings.  
If pompously they live,  
and in rich Tombs may lie,  
Themselves they happy men believe,  
although like beasts they die.   

18.  
And I am half in fear  
when this is sung among  
Those who in love with riches are,  
'twill seem a Bedlam-Song:  
For, seldom we perceive  
that when his Mammon's gone,  
A Rich Man's able to believe,  
he is not quite undone.   

19  
It makes them almost mad  
to hear another preach,  
That joys and comfort may be had  
whereto they cannot reach.  
LORD help their unbelief,  
and mitigate their fears;  
For, though they pity not my grief,  
yet, I do pity theirs.   

20.  
Preserve in me that Grace  
which now infused I find:  
And let not time, events nor place,  
hereafter change my mind:  
For in them good or bad,  
External things have nought;  
But, as Good, or ill use is made,  
Or else, as got or sought.    

Another Meditation relating to the Author's present Condition.  

1.  
MY Foes, you have your hearts desire,  
a spoil of me you make;  
And (as I hear) you now inquire  
what Course I mean to take.  
I now am brought so low, you say,  
so destitute and poor,  
That well assure yourselves you may  
I shall arise no more.   

2.  
You, naytheless may be deceived,  
and of your aims have missed;  
For, in those things which are bereaved,  
my wealth doth not consist:  
And I have that within my view  
which if pursued it be,  
May make me as much laugh at you,  
as you now laugh at me.   

3.  
But, though it makes you to be glad  
to see my griefs increased,  
I have for some of you been sad  
when you were less oppressed.  
And if you shall go forward still  
in doing causeless wrong,  
I, who now at your folly smile,  
may weep for you ere long.   

4.  
The greatest harm I wish my Foes  
when me most wronged have,  
Is, that themselves they may not lose  
by what they seek to have.  
And when that they shall come to try  
what they have brought me to,  
That they nuoght else may lose thereby  
but what would them undo.   

5.  
Man liveth not by Bread alone  
and that (should it be told)  
Which now my life depends upon  
your eyes cannot behold.  
You robbed me of External Things,  
but what the worse am I,  
If I have in me Living Springs  
that never will be dry.   

6.  
From that, which you debar me from,  
me, long you cannot keep;  
My Noon is past, my Night is come,  
and I shall shortly sleep.  
At first, to Whither I was born  
(though then a springing Tree)  
And now my leauss away are torn,  
I can but Withered be.   

7.  
The Birds do live, the Lilies grow,  
and are well clothed and fed;  
Yet can not spin, nor plough, nor sow,  
to get them clothes and Bread:  
ay, therefore am without despair,  
that he who clothes the Grass,  
And feeds the smallest Fowls of the Air,  
will heed my present Case.   

8.  
But if my Lot reserve she shall  
until another Life,  
The worst that can to me befall,  
will bring more Joy than Grief:  
As Nightingales in summer do,  
i'll sing all Night and Day;  
And so shall in a month or two,  
sing Care and Life away.    

Refreshed by these pertinent Digressions,  
Which fertifie my faith against oppressions,  
I will proceed to make an application  
Of what pertaineth to my last Narration.  
The main breach made upon me (and which drew  
Those mischiefs that did afterwards ensue)  
To me did happen some few days before  
That Parliament was last shut out of door,  
By whom those Grievances on me were brought,  
And, then that fell on them, which I fore thought  
And did foretell; perhaps that others may  
Be wary, how they needlessly delay  
That justice which to poorest men belongs,  
When much oppressed by continued wrongs;  
Which GOD will execute, at first or last,  
Hereafter as he hath done in times past.   

In this Relation, I, nor Poetize;  
(As some may fancy) nor Hyperbolise:  
But, here, in simple plainness have set down  
The naked truth, that when it shall be known,  
GOD may be better praised, and these Nations  
Thenceforth take heed of wilful provocations.  
For, greater mischief then to most appears,  
(And very many complicated snares)  
Entangle thousands, who destructively  
Oppressed are this day, as much as I:  
To whom the grace intended can derive  
Nought else, but such a life as I would give  
Ten times away, to free them from Oppression,  
Who suffer with me, by my sad condition;  
And, whose complain, end soul-piercing words,  
Lie pricking at my Heart, like Darts and Swords.   

How GOD hath fore-determined to dispose  
Of me, from this time forth, he only knows;  
And, his will shall be mine: but, if this change  
Brings good to me, it will be very strange:  
For, men profane esteemed, would then appear  
More just, than they who saints reputed were;  
My foes much kinder, than they who professed  
To be my friends, and whom I served best.  
As yet, he hath retained me in their power,  
Who day and night, are hunting to devour;  
And, letteth loose upon me such a Herd  
Of brutes, as David heretofore compared  
To Dogs, Bulls, Lions, Serpents, and to those  
From out of whose mouths, Adders Poison flows;  
Whose throats are like devouring graves; whose tongues  
Are Mints of slanders & oppressive wrongs;  
In secret, on a sudden shooting words  
More sharp than arrows, or two-edged swords;  
And were these only Foes professed, their scorn  
Or malice, might with much more ease be born:  
But, some of them, are those who many days  
Walked with me friend-like in the self same ways;  
And, Neighbours and acquaintance do begin  
To be to me, as his to him had been:  
My love to them, with hatred they requite;  
For kindnesses, returning me despite.  
Of me, their scurrile Songs the drunkards make,  
With whom the scoffers in their jeers partake.  
They, who as yesterday, pretended had  
Some kindness, are maliciously grown mad,  
Combining and conspiring, how they may  
My Life, Estate and Credit take away;  
As if until I wholly were destroyed  
Their expectations could not be enjoyed:  
Although I know no good that can arise  
To them, by what against me they devise:  
Or why such wrongs by them to me are done,  
Except it be, because I did them none:  
Or, else, for that their ways I look into,  
More, than they are well-pleased I should do.   

For, be it known, they who are thus enraged  
Are not of those who formerly engaged,  
In that cause which I lately did oppose;  
No, no, so justly, these are not my Foes:  
But, men, (if they deserve that name) whose base  
Dissembling Heart false Tongues, and steeled Face:  
Inclines them to make show, as if they never  
Did any thing against the King endeavour:  
Whereas, a chief of that debauched crew,  
With his drawn Sword the late King did pursue;  
And boasted heretofore (with his own breath)  
Of personal assistance at his death:  
Another of them, that he might endear  
Himself to those who last enthroned were,  
Made Headless this King's picture; vowing then,  
So to have done to him, had he there been.   

These are my persecutors; these are they  
Who help spread snares and mischiefs in my way:  
And, some of those who yet in power a bide,  
(By playing fast and loose on either side)  
Are their abettors; for no cause to me  
Yet known; unless they know I see  
Their Juggle: or perhaps, because they fear  
I may hereafter make them to appear.  
Whereas, I rather (for my Country's sake)  
To GOD, for their Conversion, prayers make,  
That, timely, they their malice may repent,  
Their own, and our perditions to prevent;  
And that by our maliciousness they bring  
No Damage to these Realms, or to the King,  
To superfiede that Mercy, which I find  
GOD, te confer on us, is now inclined,  
Because our weal and woe will be involved,  
Within each others, as we are resolved,  
And, as for time to come we shall persever  
In Union, or neglect a good endeavour.  
Though by our sins, and by the sins of those  
Who were acknowledged (however chose)  
For our trusties, our late immunities  
Are wholly forfeited, whilst GOD shall please;  
There is an open Gate, through which I view  
A better way, than we do yet pursue,  
To re-obtain them, and to settle that  
Desired Peace which we have aimed at.  
There is a hope, this King will be so just  
(When those in whom the common people trust  
He thoroughly hath tried) to let us see,  
That, he shall prove at last our best Trustee,  
Next under GOD, and for us do much more  
Than all our Parliaments did heretofore,  
Or will do now; for, they often do those  
Resemble so, by whom they have been chose,  
That, we in probability shall never  
Accomplish that for which we do endeavour,  
Till GOD shall other instruments provide  
To do his work, and throw all these aside.  
He, those that are in being, doth permit  
To be therein with him, Co-workers yet:  
And there's a course that may with ease be taken  
To build a Throne, which never shall be shaken;  
For, if that be performed, whereupon  
The King is readmitted to the Throne;  
And, if due glory to the King of Heaven  
Shall for the mercy now vouchsafed be given,  
His chastisement (nigh twice so many years)  
Continuing as Nebuchadnezars)  
Will make way in this day of probation,  
To much more, than was by that Restoration  
Vouchsafed to him; for, he establish may  
A Throne to last until the Judgement day;  
Whereby, shall be continued (so far forth  
As may concern Christ's Kingdom here on earth)  
The Majestracy and the Ministry,  
(If we lose not this opportunity)  
Reformed and vindicated (in short time)  
From those contempts which have been cast on them.  
Yea, if this King neglect not now to do  
That, whereto providence doth prompt him to,  
And would assist him in; the more he found  
At his Return confusions to abound,  
The more he shall be magnifide thereby,  
If, by his wisdom and his industry,  
With GOD's assistance, he shall so restore  
Those Powers, that they may interfere no more:  
For, than they shall apart, and both together,  
Be active and a strengthening to each other,  
To those good ends for which they were ordained;  
Which was, that wickedness should be restrained;  
And that each other men might not oppress,  
But, in uprightness and in holiness  
Live lovingly, and serviceable here  
To GOD, and each to other, without fear.   

My Genius many times inclineth me  
Of these things his Remembrancer to be:  
But, I have neither place to undertake  
That Office, nor a fluent tongue to speak;  
And should I write, I have so often tried  
That course and found my writings cast aside,  
(Though want of will, or leisure to peruse them,  
Or else referred to those who did abuse them)  
That, seldom times, the good effects they wrought,  
Which by them I have rationally sought;  
And they have not alone been often scorned,  
But also to my advantage turned.  
Beside, Kings will not easily forgo  
What they resolve to act, or not to do:  
So wedded are they to their Policies,  
And so bedazled are their Carnal Eyes  
With that bewitching splendour and false glory  
Which Satan put on kingdoms transitory,  
That, as to Jeroboam it befell  
Though I should with a threefold miracle  
My word confirm; a sequel might succeed  
As ineffectual as at that time did.  
But, to neglect aught, which I think (in reason)  
Tends to secure the King, may be high treason:  
On his behalf therefore, to GOD in prayer,  
(To whom I can more easily repair)  
I will address myself, without delay,  
In words both weighed and measured for him pray,  
And spread them on that Paper, to remain  
For those that will to pray them over again;  
Till that which I on his behalf have prayed,  
Shall some way to his knowledge be conveyed.   

GReat King of Kings, to whom are chiefly given  
All praises; who, in Hell, in Earth, in Heaven,  
Hast sovereign Power: who Kingdoms dost bestow,  
Change Governments, set up and overthrow  
As thou shalt please and always art both just  
And merciful in every thing thou dost:  
Since thou, by Interchanges of thy Grace  
And Judgements, hast a long time in this place  
Vouchsafed Experiments which do declare  
What Thou art, and what, in ourselves we are.  
(Informed us of what is now at hand  
By signs upon the waters and the Land,  
As also in the air by peace and battle  
By judgements upon Men, and upon Cattle)  
And pleased art (as we behold this day)  
To bring our King into a likely way  
Of settlement upon his Father's Throne:  
Perfect, I pray thee, the work thou hast begun.  
Let thy vouchsafing him a Restoration,  
Uncloged with aa Explicite obligation,  
No disadvantage to thy people bring,  
But rather add more honour to the King,  
By manifesting that his actings be  
Products of Virtue, from compulsion free:  
And lest they fall into that great offence  
Which may obdure into Impenitence,  
(As Jeroboam and his people did  
When their Idolatry thou didst forbid)  
Permit thou not his Failings or his Sin,  
To frustrate what thy Mercy doth begin.   

Let all these Nations on their part endeavour  
To make this Reconcilement firm for ever,  
By that Obedience joined with true Affection,  
Which may deserve his Fatherly Protection:  
And let their welfare be to him as dear,  
As if they Children of his body were:  
For, no Bond of Allegiance firm abides,  
If equally not fastened on both sides;  
Nor can their mutual Ties long lasting be,  
Unless their Duties they perform to thee,  
Their sovereign Paramount who, search dost make  
What course thy Vice-Roys, and their subjects take:  
And always dost a wicked People bring  
To be enslaved by a wicked King;  
Not long preserving any Kingdom clear  
From Rebels, where the Prince's Tyrants are:  
For, thou acceptest no Person, as to that  
Which unto Common Justice doth relate;  
Though slowly, many times, thy Judgements come,  
That Mercy may have time to bring them home.   

Since he who governs men ought to be just,  
On his part let the King perform his Trust  
On him imposed, and sincerely do  
All things that really conduce thereto;  
Shunning such Flatterers, and such Whisper  
As by degrees may tempt him to those things  
Which will at last divide them from each other  
Whom now thy Providence hath brought together,  
Lest they by Fraudulent Equivocations  
Annihilate each others Expectations.   

With Wisdom and with Grace, his Heart enlarge,  
The Duties of his Calling to discharge,  
Without pretending more than he intends;  
Which practice always in dishonour ends.  
When once the promise of a King is broken,  
Few afterward regard what shall be spoken  
By him, what probable excuse soever  
To vindicate himself he shall endeavour:  
And though in his Designs a while he speeds  
That's one in Words, another in his Deeds;  
Yet, he who by that practice gaineth most,  
Gets nothing at the last whereof to boast.  
Let him take counsel from thy Written Word,  
How he should wield the Sceptre and the Sword,  
Lest they may prove worse Tools, than if he had  
Been born to use the Mattock and the Spade.  
Incline him also to enure his Ear,  
The Voice of Truth in her own terms to hear,  
Lest of such things as to his Weal pertain,  
He may sometimes in ignorance remain.  
And since he is thy Steward both by Name  
And Office, let him execute the same,  
As one who knows, that he for all things done  
Must give account, and no man knows how soon.  
For though, thou call'st Kings Gods, yet die they must  
Like other men, and mingle with their Dust.  
Him, keep thou mindful, that thou didst not make  
These Nations for his ends, or for his sake,  
But him to be their Servant; and to own  
No Privileges upon him bestown  
But for their Welfare; and that he should do  
To all men as he would be done unto.  
Truehearted men, to serve him, let him take,  
Or them by his example such to make,  
Instruct him, LORD, for, one of these will be  
More useful, than of others, two or three.  
What he is in Himself, let it be known  
By those, on whom his Favours are bestown,  
Though undeserved, he vouchsafe to some  
His Grace, that they more gracious may become;  
As thou dost oftentimes, when we transgress  
Through frailty, and not with maliciousness.   

Make him consider well, things lately passed,  
With what at present thou vouchsafed haste,  
And what may yet ensue: Make him to mind  
(If thereof, him forgetful thou shalt find)  
Through what wants, to abundance thou hast brought him;  
What Lessons, by Affliction thou hast taught him;  
What Snares and Dangers, thou hast freed him from,  
To what security he now is come,  
Without premised Conditions, or engaging  
Himself with others; or, by what the waging  
Of War might have required, or by complying  
With those, who for self-ends, at watch were lying:  
What Hopes, and Fears, and Doubts, he had that night  
In which he made escape from Woster-Fight;  
As also, when he Sanctuary took  
Within the Body of a Hollow Oak;  
What secret Vows and Promises were made  
By him to thee, when he Direction had  
Unto that LANE, whereby he found a pass  
Out of those hazards wherein then he was:  
Make him therewith consider, to what end  
That great Deliverance thou didst intend,  
And what thou mayst expect this day from him  
For all by thee vouchsafed since that time.  
Moreover, make him take especial heed,  
Why thou with him and others didst proceed  
As we have lately seen: wherefore, all those  
And their Adheres, who, most did him oppose,  
Thou giv'st into his hands: why, from the Throne  
Thou flung'st him; why, again setst him thereon;  
Lest else, False Prophets, or Court-Parasites,  
Detractors, bold Impostors, Hypocrites,  
Or such like, may divert him by Delusions  
To that which is pursued with sad conclusions,  
And not so much to his Wellbeing tends,  
As to accomplish their own wicked ends:  
Or, lest an Overweening may persuade him,  
That his own Wisdom prevalent hath made him;  
And that thou hast vouchsafed a good success  
To his Desires, for his own Righteousness.   

Let him some way, provide a Reparation  
Of Public Faith, by whose late violation  
These Nations are defamed; and (which is worse)  
Made liable unto a dreadful Curse  
Which may extend to him. Unsafe is he  
With People that anathemized be.  
His Person, though their sufferings reach not to,  
To those, who now to him relate, they do;  
And, those Oppressions which are lately cast  
On thousands, will extend to him at last,  
If he endeavour not what in him lies  
To cure their Grievances, and stint their Cries:  
For well enough it doth appear to thee,  
That, neither all Men, nor their Causes be  
Such as to him they represented are;  
Or, as unto the World they yet appear.  
As mercy, therefore thou hast shown to him  
So let him also mercy show to them  
Who now are in his power: for, although thee  
They have offended, they, thy people be;  
And I desire it should by him be heeded,  
That whosoever against such have proceeded  
Beyond thy Limits (to pursue their own  
Revenge or Ends) do so incur thy frown,  
That on themselves it brings at latter end  
Those mischiefs which to others they intent.  
Let him take also conscientious heed,  
He makes that pardon which is promised,  
(So far as thou allow'st) so full and free,  
As he expects, thine unto him should be;  
Else, Reckon, 'twixt you two will not be even,  
For, as he pardons, he shall be forgiven.   

Discerning give him, betwixt Rights and Wrongs,  
To whom a Frown, to whom a Smile belongs;  
Betwixt usurped Prerogatives, and those  
Through whose Defects, Pow'r-needful he may lose;  
'Twixt Formal and Essential Piety's,  
True Doctrines, and deluding Sophistries;  
Betwixt Nathaniel, and an Ananias,  
Men biased, and men without a Bias;  
Betwixt thy Prophets, and the Priests of Baal,  
By whatsoever, Names themselves they call:  
Lest peradventure, some of those he takes  
Into his bosom, may at last prove Snakes.   

Give him an understanding heart, to judge  
Betwixt true and pretended Sacrilege;  
Lest such as heretofore befooled Kings,  
By placing Holiness in Common Things,  
Turn thy true Worship into Superstitions,  
To multiply their temporal Fruitions;  
Abuse his Piety as much (or more)  
As they abused Princes heretofore;  
Besainting them for their misplaced Zeal,  
When 'tis but such as was in Jezabel,  
Who fed four hundred Prophets every day  
From her own Table; such, perhaps as they  
Who in these days do arrogate to be  
Thy Prophets, or Apostles sent from thee:  
or, what are they ought better, who now dare  
To count those Holy Things which offered were  
To Devils; and, would that, as sacred hold  
For which the souls of men were bought and sold?   

Such Merchants may among us now be found,  
And therefore (lest ere long they more abound)  
Enable and incline the King to try  
All spirits; that, with none he may comply,  
Who may by his indulgence undermine  
His Throne, and set the MAN of SIN on thine.  
Thy Pastors teach him to distinguish from  
Those Thiefs, who in at window use to come:  
And make him cherish those that are sincere  
In thy Profession, by what name soever  
They shall be called; since, things may be the same  
Essentially, which differ in the Name.   

LORD! 'tis thy Cause, for which I have begun  
This Pleading; I will therefore plead it on.  
Let him of Demas and Diotrephes  
Take special heed: for, perilous are these;  
And so are also they who do suppose  
Religion doth consist in mimic shows,  
Or, in those Gaudy Furnitures, with which  
The Scarlet-Strumpet, Nations did bewitch:  
Or in observing things indifferent,  
As if Essentially pertinent;  
Or in opposing or neglecting them  
Contentiously; or, with the mind of them  
Who said, What needs this waste? for, nor their use  
Nor their dis-use, but only their abuse,  
Gives just offence: yea, 'tis not our abating,  
Or adding; but, 'tis our necessitating  
Indifferent Things, which renders them to be  
Offensive to thy Saints, or unto thee.  
Let him take heed of those, who with pretence  
To Piety, affect Pre-eminence:  
For, those began the Quarrel whence did spring  
The Breach betwixt this People and the King.  
And these, Oh GOD! if thou prevent it not,  
Will re-beget what they at first begot.  
The King was young when he departed hence,  
And could not know them then; they, ever since  
Were in a posture, which suppressed their pride,  
And made them lay their haughtiness aside:  
But when their late plucked wings are overgrown  
With Feathers, they will perfectly be known.  
Vouch safe him such a sanctified discerning,  
That neither their Formalities nor Learning,  
Their Fawn, their Dissembled Sanctity,  
Or their pretendings to Antiquity,  
Deceive him; for, by such like specious sleights  
The Great Deceiver brought in his Deceits.  
We Old Impostors have, as well as New,  
And Truth is made a bawd to things untrue  
When men rely on men; and, by Records  
Of their own forging, dare arraign thy words  
Before their Bar; whereas, they should be tried  
(When they are questioned by none else beside  
Thy Spirit and their Peers: which Privilege  
(If they might have before an upright Judge)  
Would end a thousand Quarrels, which will never  
Till then have end; but multiply for ever.   

I know no prudent Christian, who dislikes  
The Name or Officer, termed by the Greeks  
Episcopos (and we in English call  
An Overseer) if Episcopal  
He truly be, and seeks not to obtrude  
On other men a carnal servitude.  
All Presbyters (as by thy Word appears)  
Are Bishops, and all Bishop's Presbyters;  
And thou conferr'dst precedency on none,  
Except it be for Orders sake alone,  
To prosecute such things as have relations  
To thy Affairs, in several Congregations,  
As when that we, confusions to prevent,  
A Prolocutor, or a Precedent  
In Synods, and in Counsels constitute,  
To whom a double honour we impute.  
For such like ends (if used soberly)  
To some, belongeth a Precedency;  
Yea, thy Church, being of a large extent,  
Must have both Overseers eminent,  
And supereminent, that so she may  
With speed and ease, in a well ordered way,  
(As need requires) those things communicate,  
Which either Universally relate,  
Or to Particulars. And, to pursue  
This Order, there is doubtless also due  
To such, proportionably, both respect  
And maintenance, to give it an effect,  
With which all persons duly qualifide  
For that high Calling, will content abide;  
Although it otherwhile amounts to less  
Than when Corruption sprung from an Excess;  
And thy Apostle hath declared from thee,  
That thus a Bishop qualified should be.   

A man that lives an unreproved Life,  
The Conjugal Companion of one Wife,  
One watchful, temperate, and hospitable,  
One well composed, and for instruction able;  
A man, that from excess in Wine refrains,  
That seeks not to be rich by sordid gains:  
That neither is malicious, nor a striker,  
Nor of aught avariciously a seeker,  
But just, no Novice; one that without blame  
Guides his own house, and hath an honest fame.   

And thou hast showed us, how he should be chose  
When Judas his Apostleship did lose.  
If, I mistake thy Patterns, make them, LORD,  
Such as may therewith every way accord;  
And so the King's Heart toward them dispose,  
That as Mathias was, they may be chose:  
For, whilst for their admittance they depend  
Upon men's pleasures, they will more intend  
Their services than thine: but, when they be  
Elected by their Peers, and then by Thee,  
As heretofore; they shall defy the BEAST,  
And overthrow the Throne of Antichrist.   

Let him no Power usurp, whereby these may  
Election have, by any other way  
Than is agreeable to his intent,  
By whom his Messengers at first were sent:  
For, by that means, into thy Church were brought  
Such Overseers, as much more have sought  
To serve themselves than thee; much scandalised  
Thy Congregations, and made Truth despised.  
Such, as unlike to those Apostles be  
Which were ordained by they Christ and Thee.  
Their Pomp and Habit, Avarice and Pride,  
Their Language, and some other marks beside,  
Are Symptoms which do make it very plain,  
To whom, and to what Kingdom they pertain;  
And that they seek not thine; unless, Oh GOD,  
Thy Holy word I have misunderstood.   

I did believe the Kingdom of thy Son,  
Which was at first in poverty begun  
By him, who had all Riches at command,  
With all things in areadiness at hand  
That might at once have made his Kingdom here  
More glorious than the Popedom doth appear,  
Would not have left it struggling for that glory  
Which is completed by things transitory,  
Nigh sev'nteen hundred years had they been so  
Essential, as some think they are thereto.  
In my simplicity, I rather thought  
That he who to advance his Kingdom sought  
By Piety and Meekness, did intend  
That way to glorify it to the end  
Of Carnal vanities, and should have had  
Such Officers and Overseers made  
As rather therewith suited, than with those  
Whose Kingdoms Satan hath at his dispose:  
And that they should have had throughout all ages  
The selfsame Badges, Liveries and Wages  
As at the first, not such as some do now  
Usurp and challenge as a sacred due,  
Making them seem Ambassadors to be  
Sent from the great Turk, rather than from thee.   

Thus I believed, LORD, this, believe I still  
To be according to thy sacred Will:  
And thou dost know, that what I now express,  
Flows from no self-ends, or maliciousness.   

Without Compliances with such as these,  
The King may reign with honour, if he please:  
And with more safety, than if they acquired  
That whereunto they lately had aspired.  
But, I confess, a power he cannot have,  
Both Soul and Body so much to enslave,  
As by their help, who in these latter Ages,  
Have got two Masters, and two sorts of Wages;  
And, by whose aid, the Throne of Antichrist  
Doth not a little, at this day, subsist.   

LORD, therefore, to maintain the Pageantry  
And Lusts of an exploded Prelacy,  
Let not the KING expose to desolation  
So many thousand persons in this Nation,  
As now are like to suffer, by a Rabble  
Both unto Thee and Him unserviceable.  
They, who are useful Officers of thine,  
According to that Ancient Discipline,  
Which from thy Holy Word we do derive,  
And from the practice of Times Primitive,  
May be provided for, without that cost  
Which hath for many years on them been lost;  
Without incurring needless violations  
Of Contracts, or th' Engagements of these Nations;  
Without exposing many Families  
To suddenly-destructive Miseries;  
And without hazarding of those Events  
Which to such harshness may be Consequents.   

The Temp'ralties and Lordships they possessed,  
Belonged not to the Calling they professed.  
When first they were conferred, they brought perdition  
To Piety, increase to Superstition,  
And Mischief to the Saints; for which they are  
Ejected from them by that Civil War  
Which they occasioned; and though re-possession  
They may have for a while, by thy permission,  
I have a thought, that at their Restoration  
(As at new laying Jericho's foundation)  
Some signal thing will then be done that shall  
Declare, thou art not pleased therewithal;  
Which, from thy purpose if it disagree  
Pardon this babbling of my thought to thee.   

That thus, Oh LORD! my heart is now inclined  
Concerning these, to speak to thee my mind,  
'Tis not because thou needest it should be told,  
But, that hereby, some other better should  
Consider what by their means may befall,  
Both in things ghostly, and things corporal.  
Thou knowest that it is not my estate,  
Which is by these in hazard now of late  
To be bereft: for whether unto these,  
Or unto me, to give it thou shalt please,  
I am content; since all the world is thine,  
And so much as is needful, shall be mine.  
Thou likewise knowest, that of none of these,  
I judge the Persons, or the Consciences;  
But, that I am in charity with all,  
And, leave them by thy Doom to stand or fall.  
The various Forms of worshipping of thee;  
Within thy Church are no offence to me;  
Because there may be possibly Salvation  
Through Christ, in every Christian Dispensation,  
To those, who with a conscientiousness,  
Believe and practise what they do profess.  
The Prelates, not thy Bishops, I oppose;  
Nor Prelates, if they nought on me impose,  
For, when they less esteem Things Transitory,  
They may be instrumental to thy Glory;  
And, to thy Congregations will dispense  
Thy Sacred Mysteries, without offence:  
When we a little more are rubbed together,  
To scour away the Rust from one another.  
Although the Name of Bishop doth offend,  
Thy Son his Congregations did commend  
To Overseers, as well as to Preachers;  
(To Deacons, and to ordinary Teachers)  
And doubtless, though Ambition strained further  
That Discipline, a Primacy of Order  
Is now so needful, that when thou hast broke  
The Bile of Pride, and quite away hast took  
From that Imposthumation all the Core,  
Thy Church will governed be as heretofore.   

The Prelates being grossly led aside  
By their Overweening, Avarice and Pride,  
Would have thy Church, LAODICEA-like,  
Her Glory, in External Pomp, to seek;  
Their Faction only they conceive to be  
That Holy Church, which is approved by thee:  
Like her, she boasteth that she nothing needs,  
That all Reformed Churches she exceeds,  
And, much triumphs now, in the restitution  
Of her adored Rags of Superstition:  
But if their Prelacy aside they lay,  
Therewith, will all their Trinkets fall away:  
The Treble, Mean, the Tenor and the Base,  
And Counter-tenor, to a Diapase.  
Thou then shalt bring, and to this people give  
The Grace, as well to love and to believe,  
As hear and do; and every differing String  
Shall to the Music such a Concord bring,  
That, what at present doth obstruct our Peace,  
Shall to thy Praise hereafter add increase.  
This I believe, LORD, let us wait upon  
Thy will with patience, till this shall be done.   

Meanwhile, preserve the People and the King,  
From those ensnaring, which these, else, may bring  
Upon the Conscience; or, lest we by them  
May be withdrawn from thy Jerusalem,  
To Babylon; Let such before our eyes  
Unmasked stand, by whatsoever disguise  
They are concealed: For, much I am afraid,  
A Game is dealing now, which may be played  
To thy dishonour, and Wolves forth be sent  
Among thy Lambs to frust rate his intent,  
Who sent Lambs among Wolves: for as of old  
We were forewarned, that some Deceivers would  
Say, Here is CHRIST, and there is CHRIST, that they  
Might set a false Christ up: So, at this day,  
That undiscerned the Antichrist may be,  
Some, tell us This, some, tells us, That is He:  
But, by such signal marks him thou hast shown,  
That he to many thousands is well known.  
Reveal him also to this King, and show,  
How they to whom there's Double Honour due,  
May with all Necessaries be supplied,  
More to th' advance of Piety than Pride:  
That other Nations, by that good Example,  
May join in building thy Essential Temple  
With such Materials as may not confound  
The Parts thereof, or make the Whole unsound.  
And cause this King a Pattern to become  
Of Justice to all Kings in Christendom.   

To that end I implore thy Majesty  
(For thine own Honour's sake which else thereby  
May be eclips'd) that he usurp not on  
The Consciences of Men, which is thy Throne;  
Nor suffer any other in thy Name,  
And with false Warrants to usurp the same.  
For, by that Rule whereby intrude they shall  
On one indifferent thing, they may bar all;  
And ere they leave encroaching thereupon,  
Of Christian Liberties, not leave us one.  
Enslaving of the Conscience, to all evil  
Sets open Gates: and only for the Devil  
Or Antichrist, it maketh Proselytes,  
And, doth but fill the world with Hypocrites.  
Therefore, to all, who Faith in thee profess,  
Who keep thy Moral Law, and common Peace  
Endeavour to preserve by word and deed,  
Let such a Freedom be by him decreed;  
That Truth and Error, whilst within those Lists  
They keep themselves, may for their Interests,  
Contend at will; and let those punished be,  
Who break those Lists, as Traitors unto thee.  
For, wheresoever this prudently is done,  
The fall of Babylon is there begun;  
And Christ will give true Judgement betwixt them  
Who yet contend, in his appointed time.   

For this King's likewise, and this People's sake,  
Both Him and Them, henceforth, so wary make,  
That neither Vow, nor Covenant, nor Oath,  
They violate: for, thou so much dost loath  
Unfaithfulness, that when thy People made  
A Covenant, which thy prohibition had,  
(Yea, notwithstanding all Conditions were  
Obtained by fraud) a punishment severe  
Thou for the wilful breach thereof, didst bring,  
Both on thy chosen People, and their King.  
A Vow likewise, by Jonathan infringed  
(Unwittingly) severely was avenged:  
And breach of Oaths in every Generation,  
Hath been pursued by thee, with Indignation,  
Though made to Infidels, and unto those  
Who were as well thine, as thy people's Foes.  
Yea, though men are in durance when they make them,  
Thou wilt severely punish those who break them;  
As by that dreadful Vengeance which appeared,  
(To make all future perjured Kings afeared)  
Thou brought'st on Zedekiah; and, of late,  
Upon some Christians, who did violate  
A Contract with the Turk. Yea, said it was  
(As if thereof they were a special cause)  
For Oaths, the Land doth mourn: and much I fear  
That of our Mournings, they, chief causes are.   

LORD, Cautious also make this King to be  
Of wronging Justice, and displeasing thee,  
By his imposing Oaths, which may give cause  
Of Clashing, 'twixt Divine and Humane Laws;  
Or, which ensnare, and rarely do produce  
Effects equivalent to their abuse:  
For, to impose such Oaths as may ensnare,  
Which, dubious in their acceptations are;  
Which, Ignorant Deponents may engage  
In, or to that whereof they cannot judge,  
Or which their Conscience checks at, is an end  
To which thou never didst an Oath intent,  
And is a wicked and a cursed Gin,  
By Tyrants and by tyranny brought in.  
Oh! make the King, mind and consider it;  
That, fast and easy, his new Crown may sit.   

If thou hast sent him hither in thy Wrath,  
'Tis what our wickedness deserved hath  
So justly, that the same we well may fear;  
And that in our Corrections he may share,  
'Tis also possible, as soon as he  
Hath dealt among us what our Dole must be:  
And then, our Executioners must sup  
The Dregs, at bottom of our Bitter Cup:  
As also they, who with a barbarous noise  
O'er us, in our Afflictions now rejoice.  
Thee, in humility, I, now therefore  
With all th' affections of my heart implore,  
To let with Judgements, Mercy come along,  
To make our Patience and our Faith so strong,  
That, He and We, our Trials may improve,  
To turn thine Indignation into Love;  
And not as We and our late Rulers did,  
Provoke thee still in anger to proceed:  
Or, as they did, who, when thy Wrath on them  
Was poured forth, did grow furious and blaspheme:  
But, to avert the danger we are in,  
Join in repentance, as we did in sin.   

Give to the King, a Spirit fit to do  
That signal Work, which thou hast called him to;  
And give us meekness to be wrought upon  
By that, which must by Thee and Him be done:  
For, such and so great our Distempers be,  
That they are curable by none but Thee,  
Or those with whom Thou shalt cooperate  
Our manifold Confusions to abate.  
It is a Power to Thee alone confined  
To make all in one Household, of one mind,  
Much more 'tis thy peculiar, to atone  
Three Nations, that, in him they may be One.  
Enable him therefore with every thing  
Which to effect, thy purposes may bring.  
Assist him at this time, that he may 'bide  
That Test, whereby he now is to be tried;  
Lest his Return (ere many turns about)  
A worse Turn prove, than his last turning out.  
From Sycophants preserve him, and from those  
Who hide their Private Malice, under shows  
Of Public Ends. From every man's unjust  
Pretending, who departeth from his trust,  
Protect him: for, he that was false to them  
Who gave him credit, will be false to him:  
Yea, he that is a Traitor to a Stranger,  
If he may get Reward, and scape the Danger,  
Will to betray his Country, Prince, or Friend,  
One time or other, some just Cause pretend.  
But, principally, LORD, preserve him from  
That Self-Will, which Self-Ruine doth become  
To all who cherish it, and maketh void  
All means which to preserve him are employed.   

If from those Places where he lately sought  
His Refuge, any Leven he hath brought,  
Which working on the Frailties of his Youth,  
Hath soured the Doctrines of thy saving Truth,  
By him professed; purge it by thy Grace.  
Lest it may poison him, and all his Race.  
Great have been his Temptations; great likewise  
Have been their many Opportunities,  
Who sought to work upon him; and if home  
A Conqueror o'er all this, he is come,  
It will of him, to all these Nations, be  
A Testimonial signed and sealed by thee:  
And, to be thy CONFESSOR he will more  
Deserve, than did King EDWARD heretofore.   

Make him consider, that, to be a King,  
Is not to be an Independent Thing;  
Two ways, at least, a Relative is He;  
Thou, and his People, Antecedents be:  
That, for their sakes in chief, not for his own,  
His dignity of Kingship, was bestown.  
That, he hath no just Power, but what they gave,  
Or, thou permittest him in wrath to have,  
To punish, when against thee they rebel;  
Or else in order to their commonweal,  
That Ordination was for Good, not Evil,  
Save when made by themselves, or by the Devil,  
Which, sometimes GOD permits (for many Ages)  
So pay his Executioners their Wages.  
This, well considering, let him not intend,  
Or Kingship claim, to any other end  
Then thou rain'st; nor practice to grow strong  
By offering violence, or doing wrong;  
Lest thou let lose those Mastiffs which will tear  
Those Royal Robes, which he in peace might wear.  
Those Beasts an ancient Hieroglyphic are,  
Of Englishmen: By thee chained up they were,  
When he came in; and though they then were pleased,  
And fawned, they will be mad when they are teased,  
And fly on any thing, fearless of dangers,  
Or odds, especially, if teased by Strangers.   

This to prevent, let him not now provoke them,  
But rather, with a soft hand, gently struck them;  
Assure him that no people can disgust,  
Or disoblige a KING that shall be just.  
Since, when a true respect to them is shown,  
It makes not only their Estates his own,  
(And will enrich him more than if he could  
Turn all our Mountains into Ophir-Gold)  
But, also builds him in their Heart, a Throne  
Of Perfect Love, for him to rest upon.   

Make him but of this mind, and I shall seem  
Henceforth as worthy of his good esteem,  
For these Remembrances, as they that in  
His suffering have with him partakers been;  
And much more to his honour it will add,  
Then if a PANEGYRIC I had made.  
Make him but thus affected, LORD, to be,  
And in thy Name, I'll warrant this from thee,  
That, henceforth it shall more and more increase  
His honour; settle Him in perfect peace;  
All present fears and jealousies remove;  
End all our Quarrels in an endless Love;  
Convert all that which will be found in Story  
Of our late failings, to thy future glory;  
And, make that useful to preserve from blame  
Hereafter, that was heretofore our shame.   

But, if that he and they, whom 'twill concern  
Now to be just and prudent, shall not learn  
What thou intend'st; but act as they have done  
Who lately were ejected from the Throne;  
If, yet, the King and Judges of the Land  
Kiss not thy SON, and timely understand  
What's threatened now, but prosecute their lust,  
And be as merciless, and as unjust  
As others were; I will once more be bold  
To tell them what to others I have told,  
Even in thy Name: That, though a while they flourish,  
They, and the Course they prosecute, shall perish.  
And, this my Prayer (though they slight it shall)  
Will prove at last to be Prophetical  
In every Branch, as well as Precatory:  
But be it what shall most be for thy glory.   

LORD, hear me, and vouchsafe that those Conditions  
On which thou condescend'st to such Petitions,  
May be performed, and acceptation have,  
(Although they cannot merit what I crave)  
For, Prayers can for no man take effect,  
Who wilfully his Duty shall neglect.   

In mercy too, remember Me, and Mine:  
Increase our faith; keep close our hearts to thine,  
In all our Trials: Be not so severe  
To heed the murmurings, the distrusts or fear  
Whereto we tempted are, but pardon all  
Our Failings, that we stumble not to fall.  
Grant, that these Prayers may as well prepare  
Both me and every one who shall them hear,  
To mind our Duties, as be helps to crave  
Of thee, those Mercies which I ask to have.   

One word more, for my dear Relations sake,  
Be pleased to hear: Compassion on them take:  
And since by my Adventures they are left  
Quite comfortless, (of every thing bereft  
Whereby they may subsist) some Hearts prepare  
Of them, in their Desertions, to take care:  
Or, since that they are thine, vouchsafe thou rather,  
To be to them a Husband, and a Father:  
For, though they may hope well, they cannot know  
What Spirit 'tis, from whence my Actings flow;  
And therefore cannot my Partakers be,  
In those Refreshments which I have from thee;  
As well, because they see men oft bereft  
Of Reason, and to their own Fancies left;  
As also, for that by our separation  
We are deprived of mutual consolation.  
As for myself, I ask no more of thee,  
But that Grace which will all-sufficient be.  
Life is preserved with a little matter;  
And, he that with course cloth, and bread and water,  
Content remaineth, neither can be poor,  
Nor miserable, though he has no more.   

To this endeavour give some good effect;  
And, so to prosecute it, me direct,  
That without fruit, my pains be not bestown  
Through other men's defaults, or by my own:  
And, pardon it, if I, myself, have sought,  
By minding my own Cause, more than I ought;  
Whereof (I do confess) I am afraid  
I may be guilty, by self-love o'er-swaid)  
But, humbly to thy Grace, my Soul appeals,  
Which will suffice for that, and all faults else.  
For what I have done well, the praise be thine:  
For what's amiss, let all the blame be mine.   

Thus in a plain petitionary mode,  
I have been wrestling as it were with GOD,  
For King and People: For whose sake I made  
This GLASS, which else no being should have had.  
I must confess, my own sad Cause broke in,  
As soon as ere I did therewith begin;  
And would not suffer me to persevere,  
Unless it therewith interwoven were.  
Fain would I have forgot it; but I may  
As well, if broiling on hot coals I lay,  
Resolve I would not feel them, as I then  
Could from it totally refrain my Pen:  
For (as I have yet) I had then my share  
With such, as this day most oppressed are.  
Yea, moved I was, these Muse to compose,  
When Scorns, Wrongs, Wants, and multiplying Foes,  
Had overwhelmed me so, that they had cracked  
My Brains, if this Employment I had lacked.  
Like Ballast in a Ship, it kept me steady,  
When I had else been over-set, or giddy.  
And, my Afflictions have permitted been,  
Perhaps, not altogether for my sin;  
But partly, that together with mine own,  
The grievances of others might be known;  
And that for no respects I might forbear  
My thankless Office of Remembrancer,  
For which GOD had with Health, and Food, and Raiment  
Vouchsafed me extraordinary payment,  
Till I neglected it, on vain surmises,  
Appearing in some rational disguises.   

At first I lazy grew; then, fell in doubt  
Whether the work I was employed about  
Were GOD's, or rather somewhat, which to do,  
Not Duty, but my Fancy led me to.  
Then I began to think it might be spared,  
Because I saw that neither much regard  
My Muse had nor any such effect  
As I by them did formerly expect:  
And at the last, I feared if I went on  
With what I purposed, I should be undone.   

Thus, though in Conscience I was called unto it,  
I did neglect it, till GOD whipped me to it;  
And therefore now am justly thrust among  
Those thousands, who complain of helpless wrong.  
I dreaded, that it might increase my Troubles;  
And therefore, them upon me GOD redoubles.  
I feared that some Losses might befall;  
And therefore worthily have now lost all.  
My Duties, I deferred to be done,  
Till I should have more Rest; and now have none.  
My Wives and children's ruin I did fear;  
And therefore I and they now beggared are:  
Yea, so much more then beggared, as my Debt  
Amounts unto, (for aught that I know yet.)  
This, by my Carnal Prudence I have got;  
And this in like case, will be each man's Lot  
GOD, will have this work done for love or awe;  
And since I did it it not whilst I had Straw,  
I now must gather Stubble. I was fain  
To prosecute this (not without much pain)  
When I had but a very little left,  
And often threatened was to be bereavest  
Even of that little. Scarce one man I knew  
Who cared for my soul; and very few  
To whom I my condition might relate,  
Or unto whom I might communicate  
These Lines, without a mischief or a jeer,  
When I conceived they most useful were;  
For have I where with to the Press to send them,  
Though I for publication do intend them;  
Nor have I in my power a certainty  
Of what should necessary things supply;  
Nor know from whence it shall to me be given  
For time to come, except it rain from Heaven:  
And (which of these Afflictions is the chief)  
I freedom want to seek for my relief.   

And whilst this was composing, the despite  
Which long was riping, grew to such a height,  
That evil News like Job I did receive,  
As if the World from GOD had gotten leave  
To try my Patience as she pleased should be,  
Preserving only Life and Health in me:  
For by their Censures many did assay  
To take my Confidence in GOD away:  
Objecting, That my scribbling to make known  
The Time's Corruptions, flowed but from mine own:  
That, Malice, Envy, Pride, or private Spleen,  
The Fountains are, whence issued they have been:  
And pressed it so, as if it were a Crime  
More capital, than any of our Time:  
Which makes me unto GOD, sometimes to cry,  
Search thou my heart, and give the world the lie.  
She daily seeks occasion to defame me,  
To make me miserable, and to shame me:  
She practiseth all means that may deject me,  
And how she by despairings, may afflict me.  
Yea, as if knowing I were musing now,  
On somewhat which her Projects might overthrow,  
Her Friend the Devil, doth afflict me more,  
Then all that I have mentioned before,  
By strongly tempting them, whose nigh relations  
Can most augment my inward perturbations,  
To be afraid, that I so much prefer  
My own Designs, before my Weal and their;  
That, what at this time I pursue, will be  
The total Ruin both of them and me;  
And, that what I resolve, doth rather flow  
From Wilfulness, than Duties which I owe;  
Or, at the best, from some Fanatic Fit  
Proceeding from a boldness without wit:  
And to convince me of what they allege,  
They thereof make my greatest Foe the Judge:  
Which more perplexed me; and my patience tried  
A great deal more than all the world beside:  
For neither World nor Devil could invent  
A Remora like that, to my inten.   

ay, notwithstanding, still proceeded on  
To do, what I think needful to be done;  
As all men should, who know obliged they are,  
Their Deeds by their own Consciences to square,  
And not by other men's; because, that none  
Must answer for their faults, but they alone.  
If this be not my Work and that work too,  
Which I was principally born to do,  
I know not wherefore I was born, or why  
I lived, but to eat, and drink, and die;  
Which made me in condition, at the least,  
As low, if not much lower than a Beast,  
Considering what Faculties they be  
Wherewith my Maker bathe endowed me:  
And if such Works as these, are fit for none  
But perfect men, they never can be done.   

Was I enabled this way to express  
My mind so plainly and with easiness,  
In my distracting troubles, to no end  
But Time, and Ink, and Paper to misspend?  
Are we, by GOD, so often called upon  
To heed what he, and we our seves have done,  
(And stir up others to perform the same)  
For nothing but to be exposed to blame,  
Or to miscensures, when we undertake  
That thankless Office, for mere Conscience sake?  
Is Poesy, which wise Men have believed  
A Gift from GOD, even in the womb received,  
(And, whereby David did both Trophies raise  
To his REDEEMER 's everlasting Praise,  
And leave behind him for our imitation,  
Reproofs of Tyrants, in his Generation)  
Is that now grown quite useless, in all those  
To whom a portion thereof he bestows,  
Except Lust to inflame? To cast disgrace  
On Virtue, or extol a painted Face?  
Is it in these days, not to be allowed,  
Unless it be to Idolise the Proud:  
Or flatter Fools? I'll wonder then no more:  
Why Poets are less prized than heretofore.  
No marvel they are slighted; and, perhaps,  
Cherished like Parrots, or maintained with scraps.  
Like Spaniels, & must think much honour done them,  
If their great Patrons please to grin upon them:  
For, they deserve no better need than so,  
If that be all the work they have to do.  
This way it is and shall be well employed  
By me, although I thereby am destroyed:  
And, though it is an old adjudged case,  
That Poets must be poor, I'll not be base.  
My poverty is without precedent,  
For I am poor by Acts of Parliament.  
I was not in that condition thrown,  
Till they who cracked my credit lost their own;  
And if the King pleaseth, he may make me rich,  
Yet lose no honour, nor in treasure much;  
For, had I but mine own, my Debts to free,  
I should suppose myself as rich as he.   

From GOD, if this proceed not, I shall have  
The recompense I merit to receive;  
Which will be at the worst an outward trouble,  
And loss of that which I have built with stubble:  
But, if it flows from him it will produce  
Effects which to his glory shall have use;  
And, he will bring it forth at such a time,  
As, serviceable make it will to him.  
Yea, though in the Thames it should be thrown,  
Like that which being tie unto a Stone  
Was sunk in Euphrates (and no more seen  
After in Babel it once read had been)  
And will be made available to that  
Which, in composing it, I aimed at.  
Till that time, therefore, I will lay it by,  
Not doubting such a time is drawing nigh.   

If this King (as I hope) be hither sent,  
As well for Mercy, as for Chastisement,  
(For, we need both) it, such effects will bring,  
That we in Judgement shall of Mercy sing.  
For my part, whatsoe'er my Portion be,  
I'll take that thankfully which falls on me,  
As sent from GOD, whoere he be that brings it,  
Yea, though at me, in rage, the Devil flings it:  
For (be it known and heeded) not in vain  
Die they, who in the forlorn Hope are slain:  
Nor useless to a Victory are they,  
Who are supposed to throw their Lives away  
By desperate attempts; since Providence  
(Whose way transcendeth man's intelligence)  
Acts very many times, by things which we  
Think may to her own ends repugnant be.  
They who were slain when first the Fight begun,  
And they who fought until the Field was won,  
May (whatsoe'er to others doth appear)  
In work and honour, merit equal share.  
Nay, signal Victories are got sometime  
By that which hath been punished as a Crime.   

To me and many other men beside,  
May, peradventure, such a Lot betid;  
However, I submit unto his pleasure,  
Who acts in his own time, by weight and measure;  
And, forasmuch as I have no defence  
Against my Foes, but naked Innocence,  
(Or words, which are amongst them sometimes shot,  
To let them understand I fear them not)  
I, (that my Flesh my be preserved from  
Dejection in her mode, till succours come)  
My fortress keeping, their Affronts despise,  
Shoot back their stones, and dirt into their eyes;  
Believing, they to peace will now incline,  
Or, be reduced to harder straits than mine,  
As they but lately were, who did contemn  
The Sequels, whereof I forewarned them.  
And, if by Storm, they take my life away,  
(Which, I as little do regard, as they)  
It, in their Souls may leave a Sting behind it,  
Which, will with Torment, make them sometimes mind it.   

But, here I yet remain; and for a Close  
(In reference to our Antichristian Foes)  
I'll add this Corollary by the way,  
Whilst on his Horns, the B E A S T is tossing Hay:  
For, if deceived I am not, our Disease  
Chiefly proceedeth, underhand, from these.  
And though (a farther-off removed Cause  
Pretending) they bescratch us with the Paws  
Of other Beasts: it plainly may be seen  
By whom our troubles have contrived been.  
ay, therefore, make but a Defensive War  
With such as mine own adversaries are;  
And (to his Captains as th' Assyrian, King  
Once gave command) intent no Dart to fling,  
To be destructive to Foe great or small,  
Whose hate to me, is only personal;  
But, at those only, whose hate doth extend  
To HIM, and HIS, on whom I do depend.   

To act the last Scoene which precedes their Doom,  
They, now new vampt upon the Stage are come;  
And though that with the KING, as if his Friends,  
They seem to side, they come to other ends,  
Which, he not yet discerning, in his grace  
Vouchsates them a considerable place;  
And, of prevailing they already boast,  
As if they saw the LAMB, and all his Host  
Quite overthrown; which, me as confident  
Hath made, that GOD their proud hope will prevent;  
And overthrow that Tyranny outright,  
By what they think shall raise it to its height.   

But, many trials must the Saints abide,  
And very much their patience will be tried  
Here and elsewhere, before that Act is done,  
Which with an Anti-mask is now begun.  
Our Friends inhabiting beyond the Waters,  
And who were of our Tragedies Spectators  
Now twenty years (though they perceive it not,  
Or seem not to perceive it) in that Lot  
Which these have cast for us, designed are  
(Or in what follows next to have a share:  
For, haman's PUR's on foot; not only here,  
But, like wise almost every other where;  
And these think, that to take them by his Gin  
With most speed, is, with us, first to begin.  
But, there's a Counter mine, which will be sprung,  
To blow up them, and all their Mines, ere long.   

Six hundred sixty six, draws on apace,  
And not one day beyond that, shall they pass:  
It is the number of that MAN OF SIN,  
Whereto his Kingdom hath confined been  
By him that cannot lie: and, long ago  
To many, that Epocha I did shows,  
From whence his Reign begins; and, by a light,  
(As I believe) which shines without deceit,  
It numbers out his Reign as certainly  
As women reckon the Nativity  
Of Children in their wombs, which hath success  
Within a very few days more or less:  
And of that Mystery, what heretofore  
I have expressed, I'll here express once more;  
Because, those Nations which may much be needed,  
Cannot be too oft told, nor too well heeded.   

To former times, this Mystery was dark,  
And lay a long while, covered like a spark  
In ashes, lest perhaps what at this time  
Will comfort us, might have discouraged them  
Who lived then: for, men rejoice to hear  
The day of their deliverance is near:  
But nothing save discomfort could they gain,  
By knowing Tyranny so long should reign.  
Herein, I circumstantially perchance  
May somewhat ere through humane ignorance;  
But, as to that which was essentially  
To us intended by this Mystery,  
I shall not fail of; which is, to presage  
That Babylon shall fall in this our Age.   

seven Numerals the Roman Empire had,  
Whereby of old they Computations made;  
And in them was their Destiny fore-shown,  
(Though to themselves perhaps it was unknown.)  
These, placed singly, as they valued are,  
Do truly (though misteriously) declare  
How long that Empire, with what sprung therefrom,  
Should last, when to the full height it should come:  
For, M.D.C.L.X. with V. and I.  
Do number up, in Chronogrammistry,  
Years Sixteen hundred sixty six; and, that  
Will be of Roman Tyrannies the date.  
No other Number either more or less,  
If none of these you double or displace,  
Can be by them expressed. If you ask when  
This Number did begin; I say, even then  
When Rome declined first, from her height of pride,  
Which was, when Jesus Christ was crucified:  
For, at that time her glory did abate.  
This Number therefore you must calculate.  
From, or about, the known time of Christ's Passion,  
Not from the first day of his Incarnation.  
A silence (as it were) seemed to have been  
In heaven, during th' interval between  
His Death and his Ascension, as if caused  
By seeing that done which had much amazed  
The whole Creation, when that they did see  
The LORD OF LIFE hang dead upon a Tree.  
The Devil, probably, at that time too,  
Was at a stand, and knew not what to do.  
But, soon perceiving that the snare he wrought  
Was broke, to make another, straight he sought;  
Which, to prevent, an Angel in a Chain,  
(His other powers, him suffering to retain)  
Did for a thousand years restrain the Devil  
From setting up that Mystery of Evil,  
Which in Paul's time he was at work upon.  
But when those thousand years were fully gone,  
He raised it up; and GOD permitteth him,  
To manage his own Engine for a time,  
That, Truth and Error might here for a space,  
Make trial of their strengths; and, that each Grace  
And virtue of the Saints, by exercise  
Improved might be, to fit them for the prize  
Prepared for those, who shall engage with CHRIST,  
And overcome the Dragon and the Beast.   

A thousand years sharp Trials they withstood;  
Yet than they struggled but with Flesh and Blood;  
And, for the most part, all their Combats then,  
Were like Saint Paul's at Ephesus, with Men  
Resembling Beasts: but since Iniquity  
Was set up vailed with a Mystery,  
(As in these latter Times) with greater Evils  
The Saints do grasp: for they contend with Devils  
In shape of men, in temporal Confusion,  
Made terrible by spiritual delusions;  
And therefore GOD allotted unto him  
Who tyrannizeth now, a shorter time;  
And to a certain day his reign did fix,  
Which endeth at six hundred sixty six:  
And he who knows on what day it begun,  
May know the day on which it will be done.  
Which I believe, will visibly appear  
In, or about the sev'nteenth hundred year.  
And thus much only, therefore to foreknow,  
(With how nigh to an end it seemeth now)  
May make us hopeful, and our faith uphold,  
As well, as if year, day, and hour were told:  
Yea, and it better serves to exercise  
Our Constancy, then if 'twere otherwise;  
And if well heeded, peradventure may  
Keep some upright, who might else fall away  
In these back sliding days; wherein, they see  
The Beasts late deadly wound nigh cured to be.  
They on a sudden are become as jolly  
As if they thought it to be cured wholly;  
And, to impose their Mark, will now begin  
To be more strict than ever they have been;  
So that ere long, few men shall live in peace,  
Bear Office, or a free Estate possess,  
Where they have power, unless they marked are  
In hand or forehead, with their Character.  
But, if that, whereof some imperfect views  
Far-off, appear, accordingly ensues,  
There will, to th' wart their hopes, a New Star blaze  
Within the West, that shall the world amaze;  
And Influences through the Universe  
So quickly, and prodigiously disperse,  
That, aided by concurring Constellations,  
It shall have some effect, upon most Nations,  
And cause such Changes, as will make a stand  
In those Attempts which they have now in hand.  
Yet know, it will but a Diversion be,  
Not that which must from Bondage set us free.  
And know likewise, that this which last of all  
I have expressed, is but conjectural,  
And springs from Notions merely rational,  
That possibly may, or may not befall.  
Those Notions, which may variously relate  
To me and others, in our twofold state,  
Are summed up for a General Forewarning;  
GOD, give my Readers spirits of discerning,  
And so much Grace and Meekness, as to heed  
His Truth, from whomsoe'er it shall proceed.  
Such Contemplations are not in my power  
At all times; for, my Flesh oft draws me lower;  
And I am forced to please her otherwhile,  
By Strains, that harmlessly may her beguile  
With hopes of what she looks for in her mode.  
Till that comes, which essentially is good.  
And if these both together can maintain  
My Faith in patence, 'tis not work in vain:  
For, such so great, so many are my Foes,  
(And frailties too, more than my own heart knows)  
And so maliciously do they contrive  
My ruin (more perhaps then some believe)  
That, oft I'm forced to answer (I confess)  
The Fool according to his foolishness;  
And when surprised, upon my guard to stand,  
With any lawful Tool that comes to hand.   

GOD, hath in bidding to the world defiance,  
Preserved me hitherto without compliance  
In any base mode (though by brining on me  
Great Mischiefs, she hath now three times undone me;  
And, I am hopeful, he is with me still  
As he hath been; and therefore, to his will  
And free disposure, I will all things leave  
Which may to me or mine relation have:  
And in contempt, of what my foes intent,  
These Muse, this ensuing Jig shall end;  
Which blame not, if you find it somewhat long:  
To shorten Grief, I lengthen out my Song.   

The Contented Man's Morris.  

1.  
FAlse World, thy Malice I espy  
with what thou hast designed;  
And therein with thee to comply,  
who likewise are combined:  
But, do thy worst, I thee defy,  
Thy Mischiefs are confined.   

2.  
From me, thou my Estate hast torn,  
by Cheat me beguiled:  
Me thou hast also made thy scorn;  
with Troubles me turmoiled:  
But to an Heritage I'm born,  
that never can be spoiled.   

3.  
So wise I am not, to be mad,  
though great are my Oppressions;  
Nor so much fool as to be sad,  
though robbed of my Possessions;  
For, Cures for all sores may be had,  
and Grace for all Transgressions.   

4.  
These words in youth my MOTTO were,  
and mine in Age I'll make them;  
I neither have, nor want, nor care;  
when also first I spoke them:  
I thought Things would be as they are,  
and meekly therefore take them.   

5.  
The Riches I possess this day  
are no such Goods of Fortune  
As King can give or take away,  
or Tyrants make uncertain:  
For, hid within my self are they  
behind an unseen Curtain.   

6.  
Of my Degree, but few or none  
were daily so frequented;  
But now I'm left of every one,  
and therewith well contented:  
For, when I am with GOD alone,  
much folly is prevented.   

7.  
Then why should I give way to grief?  
Come, strike up Pipe and Tabor;  
He that affecteth GOD in chief,  
and as Himself his Neighbour,  
May still enjoy a happy life,  
although he lives by labour.   

8.  
Not me alone have they made poor,  
by whom I have been cheated;  
But very many thousands more  
are of their hopes defeated;  
Who little dreamt heretofore  
of being so ill treated.   

9  
Then if my courage should be less  
than their who never prized  
The Resolutions I profess  
(and almost idolised)  
I well deserved in my distress  
to be of all despised.   

10.  
Our sad Complaints, our Sighs and Tears,  
make Meat nor Clothing cheaper:  
Vain are our earthly Hopes and Fears,  
this Life is but a Vapour:  
And therefore indespight of Cares,  
I'll sing, and dance and caper.   

11.  
Though Food nor Raiment left me were,  
I would of wants be dreadless:  
For then, I quickly should be there  
where Bread and Cloth are needless:  
And in those Blessings have my share,  
whereof most men are heedless.   

12.  
I than should that attain unto  
For which I now endeavour;  
From my False Lovers thither go,  
where Friendship faileth never:  
And through a few short pangs of Woe,  
to Joys that last for ever.   

13.  
For Service done, and love expressed,  
(though very few regard it)  
My Country owes me Bread, at least,  
but, if I be debarred it,  
Good Conscience is a daily Feast,  
and sorrow never marred it.   

14.  
My Grand Oppressors had a thought,  
when Riches they bereft,  
That then, my Ruin had been wrought,  
but they are quite deceived:  
For, them the Devil much mis-taught  
when that weak snare they woven.   

15.  
If in those Courses I had gone  
wherein they are employed,  
Till such Achievements had been won,  
as are by them enjoyed,  
They might have wagered ten to one  
I should have been destroyed.   

16.  
But, Proofs have now confirmed me  
how much our Vice offendeth,  
And what small helps our Virtues be  
to that which GOD intendeth,  
Till he himself shall make us free,  
and our Defects amendeth.   

17.  
Not one is from corruption clear;  
men are depraved wholly:  
Mere Cruelties their Mercies are,  
their Wisdom is but Folly;  
And when most righteous they appear,  
then, are they most unholy.   

18.  
There is no Trust in temporal Things,  
for they are all unsteady:  
That no assurance from them springs,  
too well I find already;  
And that even Parliaments and Kings  
are frail, or false, or giddy.   

19  
All stands upon a tottering Wheel,  
which never fixed abideth;  
Both Commonweals and Kingdoms reel:  
he, that in them confideth,  
(Or trust their Faith) shall Mischiefs feel,  
with which soever he sideth.   

20.  
This Wit, I long ago was taught,  
but then I would not heed it:  
Experience must by Fools be bought,  
Else they'll not think they need it.  
By this means was my Ruin wrought;  
Yet, they are Knaves who did it.   

21.  
When to the ground depressed I was,  
our Mushrooms and our Bubbles  
Whom neither Truth, nor Wit, nor Grace,  
but Wealth and Pride ennobles,  
As cruel were, as they are base,  
and jeered me in my troubles.   

22.  
And, when their hate, these had made known,  
new mischiefs it beg at me,  
For, every Rascal dirty Clown,  
Presumed, to amate me;  
And all the CURS about the Town,  
Grinned, snarled, and barked at me.   

23.  
Since therefore 'tis not in my power,  
(though oft I fore-discern them)  
To shun the world's despites one hour,  
thus into mirth I'll turn them;  
And neither grieve nor pout, nor lower,  
but laugh, and sing and scorn them.   

24.  
This FIT, at seventy years and two,  
and thus to spend my hours,  
The world's contempt, inclines me to,  
whilst she my state devours;  
If this be all that she can do,  
A Fig for all her powers.   

25.  
Yet I and she, may well agree,  
though we have much contended;  
Upon as equal terms are we,  
as most who are offended:  
For, I slight her, and she sleights me,  
and there's my Quarrel ended.   

26.  
This only doth my mirth allay,  
I am to some engaged,  
Who sigh and weep, and suffer may,  
whilst thus I sing incaged:  
But I've a GOD, and so have they,  
by whom that Care's assuaged.   

27.  
And he that gives us in these days  
new Lords may give us new Laws;  
So that our present Puppet-H●ys,  
our Whismies, Brawls, and Gewgaws,  
May turned be to songs of praise,  
and holy Hallelujahs.    

Thus I have added some few Ballads more  
To those, which my Deriders heretofore  
Have scoffingly so called: and, though I please  
To sing Defiance in such words as these,  
(To make them somewhat wiser (if I might)  
Who are yet wise, but in their own conceit)  
'Tis no revengeful or malicious scorn,  
Which back upon my scorners I return.  
My Jollities, my Caprings and Advances,  
Are not like those you see in Morrice-Dances;  
Nor is my mirth like their, who cheat their souls  
With Music, Banquets, and overflowing Bowls:  
'Tis no mere outward or corporeal sense  
Of Pleasures or Immunities, from whence  
My Joys do spring: nor are they such as their  
Who by long-Suffring stupefied are:  
(For, few men living, of all Humane passions,  
Have deeper sense, or of their Aggravations)  
But, my Exulting flow from apprehension  
Of that, whereto my Faith hath an extension;  
And of those Objects which I make those ends  
To which my actings and my suffering tends,  
As doth a wounded Conqueror, who cries,  
Courage, my Mates, the day is ours; then dies:  
Or rather; like a Martyr on the Rack,  
Who when his Flesh tears, and his Sinews crack,  
Casts on the Tyrant a disdainful smile,  
And in GOD'S Love, rejoiceth all the while.   

That which is purposed by my Caresses,  
And sparklings from my soul in these Expresses,  
Is partly to preserve in my own heart  
Those Resolutions, which might else depart:  
Whereat grudge not, as if you thought I heeded  
That which myself concerneth, more than needed;  
For, moderate Self-love, is that whereby  
We must to others measure Charity.  
'Tis partly too, for others informations  
That I so oft insert Preoccupations  
Relating to myself, and to prevent  
Annihilating of that good intent  
Which I pursue; by taking that away  
Which prejudice allege in private may.   

If these Expressions no advantage be  
To other men, they are of use to me.  
'Tis not amiss, lest I forgetful grow,  
To mind myself sometimes of what I know,  
And make to others known, that they who keep  
Good Consciences, may sing themselves asleep  
Amidst their greatest Foes; and without fear  
Awake, when they by them alarmed are:  
That, he on whom God makes his face to shine,  
May be as glad as they, whose corn and wine  
Doth still increase, and with content be crowned,  
Which way soever the Rolling wheel goes round;  
For, he that acts in sufferings what he teaches,  
Moves more, than when but verbally he preaches.   

But, most men so a bound in their own sense,  
And rather so incline to take offence  
At such Expressions, then them to regard;  
That much of this perhaps might have been spared.  
However, neither much more pains or cost,  
Can I now loose, then is all ready lost;  
Since therefore what she likes, the world hath got  
From me, I'll give her what she liketh not;  
For not much longer am I now to bear  
Her burdens, or the scorn of Fools to hear;  
And in my Grave, when I am laid asleep,  
These Mussings will believed memorials keep,  
Of things which to GOD'S glory shall pertain,  
Till his Trump calls me to awake again;  
For, though Truths will to our posterities  
Conveyed be among a heap of Lies,  
They will to those who love them, shine as clear  
As Diamonds which mixed with Charcoals are:  
And therefore, till death quite depriveth me  
Of seeing that which in the Flesh I see,  
And Faith foresees; to my eternal King  
To this effect, I'll Hallelujah sing.   

1.  
GOD sits where he doth see and hear,  
Where Kings and Lords consulting are,  
And heeds what is intended there:  
Sing therefore Hallelujah.  
To make them better understand  
His Will, and what he hath in hand,  
He wonders acts at Sea and Land:  
Sing therefore Hallelujah.   

2.  
His Mercies here were lately shown,  
They who abused them are o'erthrown,  
And now by Judgements he is known:  
Sing therefore Hallelujah.  
He several ways men's hearts hath tried,  
He fool's their Wit, he shames their Pride,  
And by their shame is glorified;  
Sing therefore Hallelujah.   

3.  
To trials every man he brings,  
He spares nor Commoners nor Kings,  
And of his deeds the whole earth rings.  
Sing therefore Hallelujah.  
Such marvels as in times of old,  
Have either written been or told,  
We did with our own eyes behold:  
Sing therefore Hallelujah.   

4.  
He stirs and stills the winds and seas;  
Yea, Kings and Nations can appease,  
Things, oft, less tameable than those;  
sing therefore Hallelujah.  
He wounds and cures, he builds and breaks,  
He kills and saves, he gives and takes,  
And as he finds cause, mars or makes:  
sing therefore Hallelujah.   

5.  
He by contention endeth firife;  
By leaving helpless, gives Relief;  
And, by death bringeth unto life.  
sing therefore Hallelujah.  
He for well-doing and for ill,  
Doth promises and Threats fulfil,  
And is both just and gracious still.  
sing therefore Hallelujah.   

6.  
By doing Right he cureth wrongs,  
Turns mournful cries to joyful songs;  
To all gives what to them belongs.  
sing therefore Hallelujah.  
He giveth ease, by making sore;  
He makes men rich by being poor,  
And loser's win, by losing more:  
sing therefore Hallelujah.   

7.  
To crown all this, and cure the fear  
Which doth in many Saints appear,  
His Kingdom now is drawing near:  
Sing therefore Hallelujah.  
For GOG and MAGOG join in one,  
Their Gen'ral Musters are begun,  
And their destruction cometh on:  
Sing therefore Hallelujah.   

8.  
As he foretold us heretofore,  
Revenge pursues the Scarlet whore,  
And she ere long shall be no more  
sing therefore Hallelujah.  
The Kings and Captains of his Foes  
Shall then be Carrion for the crows,  
And all who do the LAMB oppose;  
sing therefore Hallelujah.   

9  
That we more watchful might be made,  
We lately three Probations had;  
And now he doth another add.  
sing therefore Hallelujah.  
New offers of his grace mave we;  
And though yet obstinate we be,  
Still merciful to us is he;  
sing therefore Hallelujah.   

So, farewell Friends. I will not say for ever;  
For though I lately purposed, that I never  
In this mode more would write th' Event hath shown  
I had then work undone, to me unknown;  
And therefore, till he thereto puts an end  
Who knows my Task, his pleasure I'll attend,  
And prosecute it, until he shall say,  
Thy Labour now is finished; COME AWAY.   

Mean while, that I my SOUL may ready make,  
For such a CALL, and willingly forsake  
Mhis place; I'll sometimes hearten her along  
With this that follows, or some suchlike SONG.   

1.  
MY Soul, come let us go,  
In Sodom longer linger not;  
look not behind thee so,  
But call to mind the wife of LOT.  
Let nothing here  
To thee be dear,  
Or captive thy desires;  
GOD will thereon,  
When we are gone,  
Rain down consuming Fires.   

2.  
Though with a glorious light,  
The SUN thereon begins to rise,  
A dreadful Storm ere night,  
Her careless Dwellers will surprise.  
Come, come away,  
Without delay;  
Quite cast her out of mind:  
For worth thy thought  
In her there's nought,  
Which thou shalt leave behind.   

3.  
GOD's mercies they condemn;  
His Kindness with despites repay;  
still when he speaks to them,  
They turn their heads another way.  
When he entreats,  
Reproves, or threats,  
To heed it they disdain;  
Or with a scoff  
They put it off,  
And obstinate remain.   

4.  
GOD here hath pitched his Tent;  
And here, had they his counsel took,  
To dwell for ever meant;  
But they, alas! have him forsaken.  
This, which a place  
Like EDEN was,  
Is now defiled with sin;  
Still Fruit it bears,  
That fair appears;  
But 'tis all dust within.   

5.  
Then from this cursed Plain  
Flee, to those Everlasting Hills,  
where safe thou may'st remain,  
And whereon thy Redeemer dwells.  
here make no stay:  
for though there may  
In ZOAR safety seem,  
when such Storms be,  
secure are we  
No where, except in him.   

6.  
This is their fatal day,  
Which day perhaps, may last a year;  
and true Repentance may  
Avert the DOOM approaching near.  
but, I much doubt,  
that trifled out  
This Day of Grace will be.  
Therefore in fear,  
And danger here,  
Our stay, will always be.   

Now my last Public work I hope is ended;  
Blessed be he that's therewith not offended:  
For, whatsoe'er it seems, I shall expect  
A CONSEQUENT, as this doth take effect.   

My Exercise without me, and within,  
Afflictions and distractions, long have been;  
If therefore, what in hast I did indite,  
When those disturbances were at their height,  
Confused appears; the better 'twill declare  
What mine, and other men's conditions are.  
And, if therein, aught seems to merit blame,  
They who are Candid, will excuse the same.   
G. W.   

A POSTSCRIPT In answer to some cavilling Objections, made against the Author of this Considering-Glass, since the composing thereof.  

I Hear my snarling Censurers Object,  
That, all I write, is to the same Effect;  
And, that the most part of what's here expressed,  
Is but cold Dishes, sent forth newly dressed.  
Miscensures might be spared, though this were true.  
For, where the Matter's old, th' OccasionsOccasions new:  
And they will here see, if they heed it more,  
Thrice Fifty Pages, never seen before.  
But were it otherwise, how much transgressed  
Had I therein, more than that Country Priest,  
Who, having (or pretending it) a Call  
Such to inform, as I oft meet withal,  
Preached but one Sermon many years together,  
And, till they had learned that, would preach no other?   

Another of their cavilling Objections  
Is this; that there are many Contradictions  
In my Affirmatives. This true may be  
To those men paradventure, who can see  
But with one eye; Or, look but on one side  
Of that, whose Verity is to be tried:  
Yet, all my Affirmations will be true,  
When they are heeded with judicious view.  
This is the same, which often such as they  
Abusively, of Holy Scriptures say  
Because they neither heed nor understand  
How Circumstances, and the Points in hand,  
May warrantize that to be verified  
In some respects, which ought to be denied  
In othersome: as in the Controverse  
'Twixt FAITH and WORKS; or such: which to rehearse  
Would be but labour lost, by adding more,  
To manifest what most men knew before.   

These my Detracting Readers, do moreover,  
A personal Vanity in me discover  
(As they think) which much levity implies.  
Good Souls! how modest are they, and how wise  
I seek for, and I do assume, they say,  
(At all times, in all places where I may)  
Occasions to communicate and show  
What I have writ, and what I seem to know,  
To all men, whether Friends or Foes they be;  
Wise Men or Fools; of high or low degree.  
Which I'll confess: for, to myself alone  
The harm which thereby can ensue is done:  
Doth any Prudent Man a Book compose,  
Only to teach himself, the things he knows?  
Or, for their sakes alone, who learned be,  
And better know those things, perhaps, than he?  
Should not the weal of every one be sought?  
As well the poorest, as the rich be taught?  
And do not the Profane, and Fools, as much  
Good Cautions need, as they who are not such?  
Doth any one, that's noot a Fool at least,  
His Candle light, to lock it in a chest?  
Doth any, when a Town on fire appears,  
Call out for help, were he knows no man hears?  
Or think it only needful to repair  
At such times, to the Aldermen and Mayor,  
When two poor Labourers may do as much,  
In an Emergency, as twenty such?  
If there be any of this mind, who pass  
For Prudent Men, let me thought an ASS.   

Though in my Pocket, I no Orders carry  
Like those, who Preachers are in Ordinary,  
I have them in my heart; and, in my way,  
Obliged to preach GOD's Truths, no less than they,  
Take up my Auditors, where I can find them;  
And there, in my mode, of their Duties mind them.  
For I have oft observed (and so may these  
Observe it likewise often, if they please)  
That, they whom some count despicable men,  
Make better use of those means, now and then,  
Which to GOD's glory pertinent do seem,  
(Or common good) than men of more esteem;  
And that sometimes, the work of GOD we do,  
By what is thought impertinent thereto.  
We know, the Gospel first to them was brought  
Whom worldly wise men, base and foolish thought:  
That, very many Publicans and Sinners  
Were some of Christianity's beginners:  
And that the Saints than thought it was but reason,  
To do their Duties in, and out of Season.  
These benefits are also reaped from  
My reading what I write, to all that come.  
Some things, I otherwhile, thereby collect  
From those who neither me nor that respect:  
For in discourse, before they are aware,  
They let slip words which cautionary are.  
To them who like my Lines, it Treatments makes  
As acceptable as Ale, Wine and Cakes:  
To those who like them not, they serve my turn  
Their Interruptions, quickly to adjourn:  
For, they pretending Business to be done,  
Requiring haste (and that they must be gone)  
Strait bid Adieu; and Farewell I reply:  
Glad are these they are gone, and so am I   

More might be said, to what hath been averred  
By such as these: But little they regard  
What may in reason give them satisfaction,  
Whose principal designment is Detraction:  
And fruitless are all rational Replies,  
To what, Pride, Hate, and Folly may devise.    

THE Shepherd of BLEDONHAM HIS CASE.  
Who was lately ejected out of his Possessions, by the Successors of the Flamens, and Arch-Flamins; falsely pretending a Divine Right to the said Possessions.  
The said Case is truly stated, in a Pastoral Prosopopeia, by an intermixture of Literal and Metaphorical Expressions.  

AT BLEDONHAM, among malicious Clowns,  
a Shepherd kept a Flock upon the Downs;  
Beloved as well, till there he did reside,  
As any of his Rank, 'twixt Thame and Tweed.  
Not many in this Isle, were better known;  
He managed few Affairs, except his own:  
He was a Friend to all men, save to those  
Whose Vices made them his malignant Foes;  
And never was his Enmity extended  
Unto their persons, with whom he contended.  
Him, their Companions, men of honour made,  
And he by honest means, possessions had  
Of such a fair Estate, that many more  
Supposed him to be rich, than thought him poor:  
For, he had Fields & Groves Flocks, Herds & Corn,  
Enough to keep him, both from want and scorn.   

But, that Wheel turning, which doth now & then.  
O'erthrow great Kings as well as Common men,  
It, with a quick whirl, on a luckless day,  
So swept his Crops, Goods, Flocks and Herds away,  
That he of all, was well-near quite bereft,  
And had but one good Ewe, and two Lambs left,  
Which every day at his own Table fed,  
And every night, lodged in, or near his bed.   

As soon as this Disaster was begun,  
Another forthwith followed thereupon.  
A petty Nimrod (as with an intent  
To hurtsome Beasts of prey, which did frequent  
The Fields where these Lambs fed) attended on  
By those, who, where a Mischief may be done,  
Take most delight, did often, with his Hounds,  
So much disturb their quiet in those grounds,  
That having thereby much affrighted been,  
The Lambs became unproveable ane lean.  
The Ewe alone, still undismayed, held out,  
And being fat, well fleshed, and very stout,  
Preserved her own, till an uncivil rout  
Of neighbouring Churls, with Cur-dogs pulled the Fleeces  
From off their backs, and tore them into pieces.   

What these Lines mean, but few of those who read them,  
Can know, save they who felt the wrongs, or did them  
For, they were acted with more barbarousness  
Than we can by this Parable express;  
Even by that Spirit, which did first engage  
These Nations into that unhappy rage  
Which is not yet allayed; and will hold on  
Whilst they are cherished, by whom 'twas begun.   

When this befell, the Shepherd was from home,  
To stop another mischief like to come;  
And hearing his poor Flock was worride so,  
A deep fie fetched; yet, since their wool might grow,  
And, Time, increase their number to a greater,  
(In hope things might succeed hereafter better)  
Some Consolation for a while received:  
But, thereof also, quickly was bereaved:  
For not alone decreased his cattle be  
From very many bundreds unto three,  
In perishing estate; but, seized now  
Are those Possessions too, from whence might grow  
Subsistence and increase: and (which is worse)  
Not on him singly, falls this heavy curse,  
But they whose Prosecutions made him poor,  
Will make a hundred thousands Beggars more;  
Whose Poverty may those Oppressions add,  
Whereby that number double will be made.   

By these Mishaps, this Pastor in one year  
(And less) is made a poor Philosopher;  
Who now doth bear about him all his stock,  
And to themselves, is forced to leave his Flock,  
Expecting nothing henceforth but Oppressions  
From those, who have usurped his Possessions:  
For, they who on his Livelihood now seize,  
Successors are to those old Druids,  
And to those Flamens and Arch-flamins, here,  
Who Prelates of the Pagan Priesthood were:  
And, probably, will be to him and those  
Who serve his GOD, unreconciled Foes;  
Because they do pretend themselves to be  
Prelated above others in degree,  
As Supreme Priests and Pastors unto PAN,  
The Prince of Shepherds, and both GOD & MAN.   

On that account, those superstitious things,  
And Heath'nish Ceremonious Trinketings,  
Which in the worship of false gods were used  
By them, are without warrant introduced  
In to the Christian Church, as sanctified;  
And to maintain that Carnal pomp and pride  
Which these affect, they claim, and take, and hold  
What's due to Him, as due to them of old.  
This, under colour of a Deodand  
They challenge; and therein, a Royal hand  
Supports them yet, because he knows them not:  
But, when such information he hath got,  
Whereby they may to him be truly known,  
'Tis hoped that each man will enjoy his own:  
In which hope, many thousands now undone,  
Take up their Cross, and patienty walk on.   

This Shepherd (not deluded by their folly)  
Who heed a Raven's croaking from the Holly  
Or such like Auguries: foresaw by whom  
And why, those which now befall, are come.  
He therefore, when they came, stood undismayed,  
And looking up to Heaven, thus meekly said:  
GOD gives and takes, and blessed be his Name;  
Though I am not, yet he, is still the same;  
And on him fixed, my trust unshaken stands  
Even whilst I am in my Oppressor's hands;  
Expecting my Deliverance from him,  
And nothing but Revenge and Scorns from them.  
If unto one, he shall vouchsafe to grant  
But so much Grace, as many of them want,  
I shall possess, bought at another's cost,  
An Heritage, that never will be lost;  
And ere this Generation is quite gone,  
That, which hath long been hoped for, will be done.   

Believing this, he wholly cast away  
Vexatious Care, permitting these to play  
Their pranks at will, till they with cruel scorn  
From Him and His their whole Estate had torn;  
Yet, he no more fears their despites to him,  
Then they do fear what he can do to them:  
And may perhaps, yet pipe them such a strain,  
As ere next Sheepshear will fetch back again  
Some part of what is lost: for, 'twill be found  
His late Possessions were but Fairy-ground,  
And not so sanctified, that all those  
Who walked upon it, must put off their shoes;  
Unless there be a Sophistry in Schools,  
That's able to turn wise men into fools,   

If they do merit to be credited  
Who in that Manor-house inhabited,  
From which the Shepherd's cast; they, there were frighted  
With Sounds and Apparitions, when benighted;  
And that therein (before that he came thither)  
Zim, Jim, with such Hobgoblins danced together.  
And these perhaps, will thither come again,  
As to a place which doth to them pertain  
By Tenant-Right, now their Old Lords are come  
To re-admit them to their dancing-Room.  
It may be too, till by him repossessed  
They who intrude, may there take little rest;  
Or, till they shall that wicked charge withdraw,  
That makes a sin, where none is made by Law;  
And impudently therewithal dare brand  
Not only purchasers of prelates-land  
Opposed now by them, but also fling  
That Gild, both upon Parliament and King,  
In whose defence, the Shepherd doth defy  
Not one alone, but all the prelacy;  
And if they prove, before an equal Judge,  
That, purchasing their Lands, is Sacrilege;  
Or more a sin, then marketting of Eggs,  
He will resign his claim, for two Tithe Pigs.  
Nay, if of Sacrilege he prove them not  
To be more guilty when those Lands were got,  
And whilst that they in their possession were,  
Then any of their purchasers now are,  
He will submit to be anathamized  
By them, and of all honest men despised.   

For, were a faithful Demonstration made  
Of what beginning prelacy first had;  
By what ways, prelate's usually aspire;  
How, they their large Revenues did acquire;  
How they have been from time to time enjoyed,  
How often to the public harm employed;  
What persons owned them, and to what ends  
Their Constitutions principally tends,  
With suchlike; which are left upon Records,  
Whose credit doubtless evidence affords;  
It plainly manifested would appear,  
That, none so truly sacrilegious are;  
That, few have acted more destructively  
To civil peace, and real piety;  
Or oftener upon King's intrusions made,  
By whose Indulgence they their being had.   

They, who now heed the posture they are in,  
And how pedantically they begin  
To act their parts, since they have been new-shelld  
Within those walls, from whence they were expelled,  
Do wonder much, that men of their profession  
And parts, should fail so much in their discretion:  
For, their untimely Avarice and Pride,  
Even their best friends and favourers deride,  
With fear, that their Ambition will not cease,  
Till it destroys again they common peace;  
And they who love the King, begin to see,  
That unto him they mischievous may be.  
Most of their Conversations are on earth;  
What is this Pars'nage, what that Vic'rage worth?  
Are their chief Queries, or which way to make  
Their Markets, and Advantages to take  
Without regard, whose right they do enjoy,  
How many Families they do destroy;  
Or what disturbance or disreputation  
They bring on King, Parliament or Nation.  
To such ends, they have bawld of Sacrilege,  
Till they have set most hearers teeth on edge,  
By their continual grating on that bone  
Which their own Jaws will break, ere they have done.  
That Scarecrow now affrighteth none but fools,  
Who are but lately crept out of their schools:  
For, that which they have charged the people with,  
Doth yet stick fast between their tongue and teeth,  
And will he proved by a holy Text,  
The Thirtieth day of Fedruary next.   

If those Revenues we examine shall,  
Which they the Church's patrimony call,  
The great Diana, for which some with us  
Cry out, as once they did at Ephesus,  
Is but an Idol; and their Out-cries made,  
Are only to preserve a sordid Trade,  
Whereby those Craftsmen seek to be enriched,  
Who with their Drugs have silly men bewitched.  
The price of Dogs, and wages of a Whore,  
Might owned have been as justly heretofore  
For holy things, if offered they had been;  
Yea, with less impudence, and with less sin:  
For, some of them (as in despite of Heaven)  
Were Merchandizing for men's souls, and given  
In high contempt of him, whose heartblood bought  
That, which they to a worthless price have brought,  
Yet sold too dear; because the Buyers lost  
As well their own safe-being, as their cost.  
Mere simple and despairing Malefactors  
Were by the Devil's Brokers and Contractors,  
Abused with Mock-pardons: Heirs defeated  
Of their Estates; Widows and Orphans cheated;  
And many a poor soul with a Passport sent  
To Heaven, as he thought, when to Hell he went.   

This way, had those Pessessions their advance,  
Which now are termed GOD's Inheritance;  
And what can be a greater Derogation  
From him then this? Or, what a Provocation  
More daring, then for men to challenge that  
As his, which he doth more abominate  
Than Dogs or Strumpets? Or, what can in reason  
More properly reputed then high Treason  
Against the King, then to engage him for  
And Interest which GOD doth so abhor?  
And which insensibly may draw him in  
To be a partner with the MAN of SIN  
In guilt and punishment; by (to their emds)  
Perverting, what he piously intends.   

Let this be well observed: for, GOD doth yet  
Their Prosecutions hitherto permit  
But for Probation only, that he may  
Try, who will turn to him; who fall away;  
Who, will not unto his Covenant adhere;  
Who, for preferment, profit, or for fear,  
Will wave the same; how far forth those Pretenders  
Will active be; and how far their Defenders  
Will patronise them; that those things which are  
Yet doubtful, may undoubtedly appear;  
That, those plants which God planted may bear fruit,  
Those which he planted not, be rooted out;  
And that cost may no longer be bestown  
On fruitless plants which he did never own:  
Such is the Prelacy, which did proceed  
From mixture both of good and evil seed:  
As may declared by their Etraction be;  
For, this appears to be their Pedigree.   

Not very long time, ofter Noah's Flood,  
When old Idolatries began to brood,  
The forenamed DRUIDS, who from the Oak  
Which they much rev'renced, their name first took,  
In these Parts of the world, usurped upon  
men's Consciences (as many since have done)  
Even in this Isle (if that which may be read  
In old Records be true) and being spread  
Into the neighbouring Continent from hence  
In France next settling their chief residence,  
Did there, an uncontrolled power retain,  
Until the days of Claudius Caesar's reign.  
The Flamin-Prelacy, which did begin  
Before that time; then by degrees did win  
Pre-eminence and reverenced was,  
Till Pontifical-Prelacy took place;  
From that, the papal prelacy derived  
Their being; and a Hierarchy contrived,  
Accommodated with a Discipline  
From Gentiles, Jews and Christians hetrogene:  
For, though composed of pieces patched together,  
From all these taken, it was like to neither.  
For, that the Christian worship might not seem  
To be inglorious in the world's esteem;  
Or rather, that themselves advance they might  
Unto a princely and a pompous height  
In temporal enjoyments, they took in  
Such Pageantries as had affected been  
By carnal Worshippers, by alteration  
In some things; and in some by imitation:  
So, by degrees, they totally threw off  
That soberness and meekness with a scoff,  
Which was in true sincerity professed,  
Before the birth and reign of Antichrist.   

The Spouse of CHRIST, because she did appear  
In outside poor, though rich her Linings were,  
With disrespect they turned out of door,  
And, in her stead, trimmed up a painted Whore:  
So, mere will-worship was set up at last,  
And in the Throne of GOD, an Idol placed.  
From those, the prelate's came; & when these Nations  
Intended to reform their Innovations,  
A carnal prudence, dreaming, that, if they,  
With their External pomp was took away,  
(Whereby some thought God's worship was adorned)  
Religion and Devotion should be scorned;  
The Prelacy, upon that vain surmise,  
Was here continued in a new Disguise;  
Till that imposture was by Providence  
Made manifest; and then, it was from hence  
By GOD expelled, as both dishonourable  
To him, and to his Church disserviceable;  
To those intending no affront at all,  
Whose Function simply is Episcopal.   

But, this Expulsion, being for our sin  
Reversed, and Prelates now again brought in,  
That, and a Sacra-fames (in Excess)  
(Not thirst and hunger after righteousness)  
Hath so enraged them, that, they all devour,  
Who fall within their new-restored power,  
With high contempt (at last without regard)  
Of what the KING hath graciously declared.  
And those whom they of their Estates despoil,  
With insolent upbraid they revile,  
As meriting nor livelihood, nor place  
With them; and as uncapable of Grace  
From GOD or men: But, cry, are not these they  
Who lately took from Holy Church away  
Her Dowry? spoiled GOD'S Houses in the Land?  
On sacred things laid sacrilegious hand?  
And vilifide his Servants? Thus, they crow:  
But, they injurious are, in doing so;  
And have as much in their blaspheming failed,  
On Hezekiah: for, GOD, did not own  
Those Altars or High-places overthrown,  
And then miscalled his; nor owneth he  
For Bishops, those who now so termed be;  
Nor those impertinent Appurtenances,  
Which Prelates please to term GOD'S Ordinances.  
And, though they should, when they see Babel's fall,  
Their dreadful howl, and their weep call  
The Church's sighs and tears; no whit availing  
To them, would be their howling and bewailing.  
And, though some think this constitution brings  
Advantage to the Thrones of lawful Kings,  
'Twill prove, when thereinto they better look,  
It strengthens them, as Ivy doth an Oak;  
And, that, of Men, no one sort under Heaven,  
Cause and Occasions have so often given,  
Of private Quarrels, Discords and Debates,  
And Wars, 'twixt Realms & Nations, Kings & States.   

The Shepherd therefore, hopes this, will by those  
Who can distinguish between Doves and Crows,  
Consider'd be; and manifest it then,  
That, greatest Clerks, are not the wisest men;  
Or, that, wise men through Avarice and Pride,  
By wealth and honour, may be led aside.  
And, though this hope should fail him in the main,  
It will not altogether be in vain;  
But, for the present, shall at least suffice  
To feed that part which upon Smoke relies,  
Till with essential nourishment supplied  
By that, which GOD hereafter will provide.  
Yea, though this charming should not prove so strong  
To fetch back that which doth to him belong,  
Thenceforth, content, his Ewe and Lambs, and he,  
To live upon the Commons then will be.  
However, other hopes may have success,  
His best hopes will be rather more than less:  
For, they are built on him, who best can judge  
'Twixt what is, and what is not Sacrilege;  
And if his Judges partially shall deal,  
From them, to that great Judge he will appeal,  
Who cannot be deceived. But no distrust  
Hath he of their Uprightness, who here must  
Be Judges in his Cause; for, they have seen  
What did befall them who unjust have been;  
And hereby now, though he be much prejudged,  
May know what on his part may be alleged.   

That which is claimed, GOD will perhaps divide  
Betwixt both Parties when their Claims are tried:  
For, out of that which they erewhile possessed,  
The Prelates for their sins were justly cast:  
The Shepherd was for his expelled too,  
By him, whose just doom he submits unto;  
As therefore GOD shall please he is content  
To share in Mercy and in Chastisement,  
Till he under that Heritage is brought,  
Which at another's cost, for him, was bought;  
And whereto, he vouchsafes him by his Grace  
A better Title, in a better place.  
If all be judged, which he hath purchased here  
The Prelates due; he'll take his portion there;  
For, though it be a little while delayed,  
'Twill prove the better share, and be will paid.   

This, is the Shepherd's Case, and this the Course  
He means to take: pray, use him ne'er the worse:  
For, he had not expressed it in this mode,  
But that the Covenant PRELATES to explode,  
He conscientiously adheres unto,  
And dares not slight the same, as others do;  
Because, he can discern Truths from Delusions,  
And knows their late Re-entries, are Intrusions.   
FINIS.