A PARADOX Useful for the Times.  
Gentle Reader,  
AS a praeludium to the ensuing discourse, I would entreat you to take notice that some Sheets of printed Paper that flies up and down the Streets of this City in Mercury's hands, are worthy of high estimation; such are those Observations, Protestations, and Messages that truly pass between our gracious Sovereign, and his two Houses of Parliament, and some of our eloquent Tully's, and learned Demosthenes' Orations and Petitions that adhere to King and Parliament; but other Pamphlets that are against both, are little to be regarded, such is your lying Diurnals, your absurd Passages, your diabolical news from Heaven, your horrible, terrible, and fearful tidings, and such like: and to some of these I have seen an Order, a Vote, or the Clerk of Parliaments name inserted; But I believe the Honourable House, or Clerks never did intent such things, and therefore rather think that the covetous Stationers doth it to make their Books sell. But such things being suffered, and winked at, I do greatly fear will be a cause of ruin to this Kingdom. In filling people's minds full of jealousies both against King and Parliament. For the people of England being a free State, fear as great a tyrannical jurisdiction in an Aristocratical, or democratical government, as they do in the known Monarchical State of the Kingdom. In consideration whereof, I having played the fool to print 36. Sheets of Paper at my own charge, being neither against King nor Parliement, but for both, I was bold to cast one sheen of my diastrous losses into the Press. And having acted my part therein, I thought good for the vindication of my reputation in this kind of public writing, to let this Paradox pass the Press likewise: By which, I will briefly and plainly prove, That oftentimes good doth come of evil, wisdom from folly, and light out of darkness. Yet Truth itself saith, That a good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a bad tree bring forth good fruit: For answer whereunto: It is true, that a regenerate soul, though some Leaves of his profession may whither for want of fervent zeal in the time of temptation and though some rotten branches of bad actions may remain upon him for want of careful diligence; yet if he be sound at the heart, these leaves may be driven away by the tempestuous winds of afflictions, or pruned off with the sharp knife of Repentance, and the tree will not be much the worse, but rather the better: for instead of these old branches and leaves, there will spring strong sprigs, and wholesome fruit. Contrary, though an evil man may make a glorious show of his profession to God-ward, and do some good works of justice and charity towards his neighbour, to be seen of men, yet if they do not spring from the root of a true saving, justifying faith, he is but as the accursed Figtree, that quickly withers away in the time of temptation, or in the day of affliction: But from hence let none judge rashly of any man's election or reprobation, but judge charitably of all, though you may know them by their fruits, to learn to do better, or to imitate their virtues. Yet notwithstanding this objection, I will affirm my assertion to be true, That God hath, can, will, and doth daily bring evil out of good, wisdom out of folly, and light out of darkness. That God hath done this in former times, I can prove by many testimonies, but I will instance only in two. The first shall be of our first Parents. They did very evil in eating of the forbidden fruit, in doing evil they committed folly, and so did sin against the command of God, and by that sin did walk in darkness, according to Christ's rule, for they knew not whither to go to hid themselves from the all-searching eye of omniscience. Now for this evil, God sends the promised Messiah, the seed of the woman, according to the fullness of time: In hope whereof the Fathers, Patriarches, and Prophets lived a godly and religious life, which by Divines is reputed to be a greater blessing than Adam's being in Paradise, for that was an earthly Lordship, but by this he is heir apparent, and joynt-heire with Christ of a heavenly inheritance: for there he was to be but a man, but in heaven he shall be as the Angels, nay more, as the Son of God. Thus the wisdom of God the Father was given for the folly of man, and for his sensual blindness he had heavenly illuminations. Secondly, see this farther illustrated in the second Adam (Christ) did not that Traitor Judas very evil in betraying his Lord and Master with a kiss? And for a few pieces of refined earth, to sell a heavenly inheritance? Did not the Jews as bad, to seek the death of their Messiah, and exclude a murderer? Did not Pilate as bad as any, in giving judgement against an innocent, contrary to his own knowledge, and the counsel of his wife? And were not the soldiers vile wretches to revile, and spit upon a meek, and quiet Lamb, in whose mouth was no guile found? And were they not all fools to put him to death, that could only give them life? Did they not walk in darkness that blinded their eyes against the Son of righteousness? Therefore it appeareth plainly they loved darkness better than light, and accordingly they had it, for sure that was a dismal day to Judas, when he went and hanged himself, so that for very pain and vexation of spirit his bowels gushed out, an example to all Traitors; and was it not as black a day to Pilate, when after he had caused many of the Jews, and his own soldiers to be slain, he went and killed himself? and are not the Jews ever since in a cloud and mist of darkness, knowing not whither they go, being vagabonds upon the face of the earth, and dispersed, and hated of all Nations? Now see what good this evil brought. It is plain, It brought forth the blood of Christ for the redemption of mankind, one drop whereof were able to save ten thousand worlds. It is the believers lavor, wherein he baths his leprous soul, and comes out as white as Snow. for by the bloody death, and bitter passion of Jesus crucified, he doth as truly trample upon sin, death, and hell, as if he had himself performed the same: Now what greater benefit than the salvation of the soul? None surely. Again, out of their folly did arise wisdom to his redeemed, even the best of all, for the knowledge of Christ Jesus crucified is more, and above all the wisdom in the world: I desire nothing saith holy Paul) but the knowledge of Christ Jesus, and him crucified. Is not here then great light for darkness, wisdom for folly, and good for evil, we see it apparent, it hath been so: behold it in the second degree, that it may and can now be so; For God is as able and as willing as ever he was: then consider the time wherein we live. Is it not reported for certain, That the King's favourites, and the Lordly Gentlemen did intent to bring up a Tyrannical jurisdiction over the Commons of England, Scotland, and Ireland, as it is in France? did they not attempt it by Monopolies, Projects, exaction in Courts of justice, and other ways, was this well done? No sure, it was very ill. Did not the Lordly Bishops, and imperious Clergy seek to Lord it over God's Inheritance, so to eat the honey of the poor labouring Bee, to make themselves fat like idle Drones, was this well done? Surely no, It was very ill. Again, It is said, That some would have an Aristocratical government in this Island, that hath been so many years a free Monarchy, thereby to make the Prince a Subject to his Nobles, and the Commons slaves to many imperious Lords, will this bewell? Surely no, but very ill; for I had rather be subject to one Royal King, and his officers, then be under so many distinct Lords, and their favourites, as I here it is beyond the Sea, where they are enforced to pay for their own meat and drink, and be exacted of all their labour, which would be as grievous to an ingenuous spirit, as the Egyptian bondage.  
Again, there is of late sprung up a strange kind of Pharisaical Teachers, who though in words they despise the kingdom of Antichrist, yet their deeds establish it. And because they would make people believe that all they utter is by the Spirit, they scorn the words of Christ, & at the close of their Sermons give God thanks that they have forgotten the Lords Prayer, and because they would seem to excel the Law and the Prophets, they expunge the fifth Commandment out of the Decalogue, and that you may see they have a Revelation above the Apostles, they cancel the 5. Article in their Creed. And thus they preach, choosing a Text, from whence they draw an observation as far from it as the East is from West. Another he rails nonsense against the Book of Common-Prayer for its well composed repetitions, and never considers his own vain babbling, another is angry, that Cheapside Cross hath more gold than he hath in his purse: another like Diogenes in a Tub, b●bbles he knows not what, and because the Church hath been used by Papists, he is afraid to come into it: etc. Are these things well done? surely no. Wherein we show our folly, and contemning light, we walk in darkness, so that we know not whether we go nor what to do, for these differences raised the bloody rebellion in Ireland, and doth now threaten destruction to this Kingdom. But God is the same God still, he can and will when he sees best, bring out of all these evils much good in a well composed Monarchical government. By this all men may learn wisdom, and grave Senators understanding: and out of all this darkness of error and blindness, we may walk in the clear light, and so shine Brighter and brighter, till it be perfect day, that so the Lord may continue to be unto us a good and a gracious God, and we may continue to be unto him a chosen generation, a royal Priesthood, a holy Nation, a peculiar people, even his own pleasant plant. Thirdly and lastly, That good doth daily spring out of evil, I would prove by many Precedents, but I will only instance in myself: For I have lately made two Books, the one entitled Annual world, and sacred Poems, the other A rare pattern of justice and mercy, with a Meteor & a Star, which I thought was a good work, and is so approved in itself by many judicious and learned men, but my ends was bad, for I did them for by respects, and not chief for the glory of God: which I will illustrate in this fable following. It is by Poets reported, that Phaeton, the too adventurous son of Sob, and Clymene, having with much entreaty obtained of his Father Phoebus, the guiding of his Chariot for one day, and being utterly unable to perform such an enterprise, let the horses raines slip, and had thereby almost set the whole world on fire, scorching Aethiopia, and many other places, till at length Jupiter perceiving his boldness, and fearing to be burnt himself, struck him with a Thunderbolt, and he fell into the River Eridanus, now called Po, or Padus; which fable, as it doth lively represent the picture of inconsiderate, and ambitious men in general, so in particular it is verified in me, for notwithstanding the grave advice of my late judicious, loving Master, Sir James Cambell, and other my friends, who wish● me to surcease my fruitless labour in making Books, especially now in this paper-age, wherein many strive to vent the froth of their inventions into the Press, so that lying and scandalous Pamphlets fly about the City in every corner, and prove vendible ware, whereas solid and learned men's works are nothing regarded: And for me to trouble myself in making Books, who never came within the view of double topped Parnassus, I mean the two Universities of this Island, and never proceeded beyond the Rudiments of learning, I mean the Grammar, it could not choose but prove a fruitless labour: Yet having for some small time conversed with Star-crowned Urania, that soul-ravishing, and heavenly Muse, I could not rest satisfied with a little taste of her divine Nactor, till I had so intoxicated my senses, that in a frantic humour, I have set the frame of heaven in a combustion, for I have stated the Sun, Moon, and Stars upon such improper objects, as may cause amazement to the beholders. Therefore it is no wonder, if with the said Phaeton, or rather with foolish Icarus, if I with the wings of a vain hope, and as you may think an unadvised pride, striving to ascend into a Bright firmament of favour, am cast down into an ocean of contempt and disdain. Herein was my folly, and thus to obtain Bright, I have walked in darkness. But yet to vindicate my reputation in this particular, these Books may not unfitly be compared to those holy waters Ezekiel saw flow out of the Sanctuary, which from a shallow Ford, no deeper than his ankles, became a River impassable, and I myself may not unfitly be compared to kind hearted Leander, a young man in Abydos, who for the love of Ero, a beautiful Damsel of Sestos, did oftentimes in the night swim over the narrow Sea of Hellespont, it being between those two Towns, to obtain the society of his Love; But at length one night the Sea being rough, he was drowned: so I in like manner have oftentimes waded over these waters, but at the first I only drenched my foot, as is to be seen in Libro Amoris, and by many cheerful perambulatious, and loving welcomes, I had free and easy access to my love, at the next time those Poetical waters flowed up to my ankles, as appeareth in sacred Poems, and with much alacrity I oft visited her, but then these divine waters began to flow up to my chin, as is to be seen in my Annual world, so that I drowned all worldly things in a spiritual sense. Yet these I passed over likewise, and had many times the society of my Love. But at the last these waters began to be rough, and the winds blue, and a great tempest arose, as is to be seen in my Meteor, so that I was in danger to be drowned, yet these I passed over likewise, and had hopes of my love. But my Pattern of Justice and Mercy hath captivated my senses, so that in these waters I am like to be drowned, and have lost her who was never found by me in the way I sought her. Yet in maintenance of these my labours of love, I will hazard my life and fortunes, for first in my Annual world, I have not ascribed any inherent holiness in one day above another, but made a reverend Memorandum, and divine meditation on every day through the year, which I think is lawful, and am sure it is the duty of every Christian so to do, and though I do borrow a better form of prayer than I am able of myself to compose according to my matter, though it be out of our Church Liturgy, which some call the English Mass-book, I esteem of my Book never the worse, for I had rather speak 4. or 5. words with understanding, than a great deal of nonsense to no purpose. In my sacred Poems I have used the assistance of learned Du Bartas, and other Poets elegant expressions on the day in general, and all the days in the week, for which I, and so I hope all understanding people will love my Apothecary's Shop the better for such variety of expressions, though some say this dead fly hath made all my Books of ointment unsavoury. Thirdly, for my Pattern of justice and mercy, and my Star, there is few finds fault with, but in my Meteor they think to have a great advantage against me, because I compared my late honoured Master to Laban and Nabal, who in bad qualities is as far unlike them, as an Apple is like an Oyster, but for riches and honour, so it is true, I did compare him like them, and my unworthy self like Jacob and David, for penury and poverty, and my love to Rachel in her Christian name, but otherwise as unlike them, as Chalk is like Cheese: If it can be proved that Rachel is as fair and amiable as her namesake, if I am as industrious as Jacob, or as holy as David, which is very well known to the contrary, than I will affirm my Master to be as covetous as Laban, and as churlish as Nabal. Besides, I think it no more presumption in me to use these comparisons, nor dishonour to my Master, or Rachel, to be so compared, than it was for Moses to compare himself like unto Christ, Deut. 18. 15. for it is well known that Moses was borne in sin, and committed many actual crimes, but Christ was free from ●●ther, Original, he was conceived by the Holy Ghost, or actual, there was no guile found in his mouth: but yet Moses, as he was a Man, a Prophet, and deliverer ●f the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage, so he was like Christ: a true man, of the flesh of his Virgin mother, The Prophet of the highest, and deliverer of Mankind out of Satan's slavery. Therefore now let the most Critical Parasite join himself with the most holy that may be found, and show me in particular, by writing under their hands, and not in reviling terms, with a big look, and loud voice, (for I cannot endure scolding) wherein is my light with darkness, or my holy and vain unprofitable things mixed, which are altogether inconsistent and wherein I have dishonoured my Master in my Books, and if I do not satisfy them in the view of all the world, I will endure the greatest punishment they can inflict upon me, but if they fail to do this, be they who they will that abused me, to my late Master living, and do now endeavour to oversway my judicious loving friends good opinion of me, and of my honest endeavours, I do here pronounce in the sight of God, and before all the world, that they are a company of malicious detractors, wolves in sheep's clothing, flattering Sycophants, etc. But I am not alone thus wronged, for these kind of people have abused Authority. Therefore I will commend them to study how they may vindicate their reputations, and give thanks to God, that out of my folly he hath taught me to be so wise as to make no more Books, and that out of the most darkest sentence therein I can find a great deal of light to comfort and cheer my soul after all her vexations, in all places, and at all times, from this time forth for ever more, Amen.  
Soli Deo honour & gloria.  
 

Printed in that same Climacterian year,  
When Gods wondrous works in this Land did appear:  
In abasing the proud, exalting the low,  
As Christ and the Prophets foretold long ago.