Carmen Expostulatorium: Or, A timely EXPOSTULATION With those both of The City of London, AND The present Army, Who have either endeavoured to engage these Kingdoms in a Second War; or neglected the prevention thereof. Intended, for averting (if it may be possible) of that general Destruction thereby threatened; and to that purpose, hastily (upon the immergent occasion) published. By GEO. WITHER.  2 COR. 11.19. 
Suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.  
Printed in the Year MDCXLVII.   

Carmen Expostulatorium: OR, A timely Expostulation with those both of the City of LONDON, and the present ARMY, who have either endeavoured to engage these Kingdoms in a Second War; or neglected the prevention thereof.  

THough, I have spoken heretofore in vain,  
And may do now; yet, I will speak again,  
In hope, that what by Reason, nor by Rhyme,  
Can be effected, may be done by Time:  
And, that, although my words be lost to some,  
They shall not fruitless, unto all, become.   

Hark! how the Drums beat! how the Trumpets are  
Sounding Alarms to a second-warre,  
Before the first is done! and, whilst yet green  
The wounds upon our bodies may be seen!  
Behold, that, which was coming long ago,  
Draws now so near, that none shall need fore-show  
What next will follow; or, what will ensue  
On that: For, we, without a glass, may view  
Such things in kenning, that unless our GOD,  
To them shall please to set a period;  
Or, make some such diversion, as no man  
Conjecture of, by any symptom, can,  
An universal Plague, on us will seize,  
Instead of Remedies, for our Disease.   

Why, then, shall I, in time of need, withhold  
That, which my conscience tells me, should be told?  
Why should I keep those premonitions back,  
Which I conceive, my friends at this time lack?  
A poor-man's counsel, once, (as we hear say)  
Did save a City: So, perhaps, this may.  
Excuse me therefore, if (much grieved at  
Your rash proceed) I expostulate,  
The sad condition, wherein, you to me,  
By this renewed war, may seem to be.   

Renowned Citizens! what do you mean,  
To make your dwellings, that unhappy Scoene  
Whereon there shall, in probability,  
Be acted, now, the bloodiest Tragedy,  
That e'er this Kingdom saw? Are you grown mad?  
And, is there no Physician to be had  
For, this distemperature? But, must it, here,  
Be Cuckow-moneth, or Dog-days all the year?   

Have you no drugs, that may lost wits restore?  
Can Patience, Herbagrace, nor Hellebore,  
Nor any other Simple, or Confection,  
Work out that noy some humour and infection,  
(That hath besotted you) till you grow fit  
For Bedlam? where, are no such madmen yet.   

Will nor Plaine-speakings, Parables, nor Charms,  
Make you regard, your safety, nor your harms?  
But, that, as in despite of all that can  
Be threatened, or foretell, by GOD, or man,  
You will resolved be to hurry on,  
Till you beyond all remedies are gone?  
Are you distempered so, that nought can please,  
Save, what, still more increaseth your disease?  
Think you no Balm, or Salve, or Physic good,  
But, that which mortifies, or draweth blood,  
To your destruction? would you feign make void  
All your late hopes? would you see all destroyed  
That, so much treasure; so much blood hath cost;  
And, let it, everlastingly, be lost,  
Your humour to fulfil; or, for a toy,  
Which, also, you perhaps, may never enjoy?  
Nay, will you now for nothing? or, for worse,  
Will you to purchase mischief, and a curse  
To you, and to your children, re-ingage  
Into a war? and, by a brutish rage,  
Expose those Freedoms to an overthrow,  
For, which your fathers did their lives bestow.  
To leave them unto you? And, which might be  
Confirmed for ever, if you could agree  
Upon those principles of common-Reason,  
Whose violation is the highest Treason?   

Have you not yet discovered who be they  
Who cheat you? nor whose game it is you play,  
By your divisions? And, when others find  
Your falsehoods for you, will you still be blind;  
Or, wink, as careless of the things you heed,  
Till, by long winking, you grow blind indeed?   

Discern you not whose Kingdom is befriended,  
Whilst, GOD and CHRIST, are formally pretended?  
Nor whose designs, promoted are, the while  
Some, with fair shows of piety, beguile  
Well-meaning men? And, carry on their actions,  
By working with, and in, those differing factions  
Which they first raised? Mark you not, how, by,  
And in, that duplifi'd-capacity,  
Their Ingineers do screw themselves into  
Most secrets on both sides? how, they undo  
(By means of that their unperceived gin)  
What, hath most privately contrived been?  
And, see you not, that thereby they do bring  
What,  the City, Parliament or King,  
Or any other party, doth propound,  
Advise or act, to give itself a wound,  
And further their particular design,  
Till GOD prevents it by some countermine?   

Can you not yet discover (through their mist)  
Those juggle, which the spawn of Antichrist  
(False Priests, and lying Prophets) practise, now,  
To raise themselves, and work your overthrow?  
Nor, with what impudence they spread their lies,  
Their bitter swagger, and their blasphemies,  
To make new breaches, or to widen those,  
Which Love, and Prudence, had begun to close?  
And, which ere this, quite closed might have been;  
Had not they cast untempered dirt between?   

Perceive you not, that, some of both your factions,  
Do labour an increase of your distractions,  
Because they seem not safe from questioning,  
For falsehoods, to the Parliament, or King,  
Unless they shall endcavour to prevent  
The settling of that peaceful Government  
Which furthers justice? Yea, and see you not  
How, they conspire; how, they contrive, and plot  
To ruin all, in hope they may, by hap,  
Amidst the tumults, their just dooms escape?  
Or, by despairing of a good conclusion,  
Bring all things, with themselves, into confusion?   

Is it a time your Quarrels to renew,  
When all is hazarded, that's dear to you?  
Observe ye not, three Factions, like to them  
Which were the ruin of Jerusalem,  
At strife within your walls? Do you not see,  
What spighfull sparklings in their eyes there be?  
How sharply, they at one another whet  
Their slanderous tongues? how grinningly they set  
Their teeth against each other? And how they  
With pens dipped in black poison, do assay  
To re-ingage you; and, by cursed words,  
Provoke the re-unsheathing of your swords,  
That every son, and father, friend, and brother,  
May sheathe it in the heart of one another?   

Are you besotted so, not to perceive  
Who hath befooled you? who, the snares do wove,  
That have entrapped you? and who spiced the Bowl  
Which makes you drunken, stagger, reel and roll  
Into perdition? doth it not appear,  
That, to prevent the mischiefs which you fear,  
You run a hazard, to draw down upon you  
A greater, than they ever could have done you,  
Whom you distrust? And, that, in hope to shun  
Uncertainties, to certain deaths you run?   

Is GOD, now acting for you, and doth lurk  
Within a cloud, to hid from you his work?  
And, will you work against him, to destroy  
That preservation, which you might enjoy,  
By living to behold that saving-health,  
Which he was bringing to this Commonwealth?   

Have you concluded never to retire  
In your Career, till all is on a fire?  
And you, and yours, lie sprawling in the plashes  
Of your own blood? or, in your City's ashes?  
Or, till you view this goodly spacious frame,  
(The work of many Ages) in a flame?   

Have you so often heard it said, from him,  
(Whose true presages, no man will contemn,  
But Reprobates) what miserable Fate  
Attends that House, that City, and that State,  
Which is divided? Have his Prophecies  
So often been fulfilled before your eyes?  
And, are they, at this day, so likely, too,  
To be, ere long, fulfilled upon you;  
And, yet, will you a new-division run,  
As if you studied how to be undone?  
Or, as if you resolved on that path,  
Which to avoid, even GOD forewarned you hath?   

Have I myself, by GOD's permission, too,  
So often told you, what you would mis-do,  
What courses you would follow; what, reject?  
Fore-shown you plainly, what it would effect,  
If you did otherwise? Have you oft seen  
Those things fulfilled, which foretell have been,  
And spoken of them? Nay, have you oft read,  
And descanted on that which I have said,  
And jeered my predictions? yet, will you  
In every circumstance fulfil them now?  
Shall I be made (as me in scorn you call)  
A Prophet, as it were, in spite of all  
Which I fore-shewed you, with an intent,  
That you might take occasion to prevent  
What was foretell; and make my true predictions.  
By penitency, to appear but fictions?   

Have you cracked all my Almonds? And (instead  
Of making them a means of taking heed  
What course you steered) so acted, as if you,  
From them, had taken occasion to pursue  
Forbidden paths? that, future times may know  
GOD'S providence was pleased to fore-show  
What would be done by men impenitent,  
Though warnings do precede their punishment?   

But, let that pass, which cannot be undone;  
And, to prevent, what you, as yet, may shun,  
Let me upon the credit gotten from  
Things past, find means from perils yet to come,  
Your City to preserve; and, let me lose  
Or thrive, as I to you shall things propose  
To be considered on, without design,  
For any private, or base end of mine;  
Or to contribute strength to any Faction,  
Or, weaken any Party now in action,  
But as relating to the preservation  
Of this endangered City, State, or Nation.   

Have you considered rightly of the cause  
Which on your City, this engagement draws?  
And rightly weighed it, with all circumstances  
Thereto belonging; and what 'tis advances  
Your quarrel to this height? or how you find  
Those Leaders, by their principles inclined,  
Whose prudence you depend on? do you know  
How dim the sight of wisest men may grow  
By private interest, or by respect,  
To those men whom they malice, or affect,  
Or to opinions? If not, have a care  
How you engage: especially if war  
Be like to follow. For, we daily see  
By those discourses which divulged be  
By disagreeing parties; that, when they  
Each others writings happen to survey,  
At every page they seem to take offence,  
And judge it void of learning, truth, or sense;  
When he that is as wise, and in his ways  
, peruseth it with praise.   

Have you considered, seriously, how strong  
Your foes may prove? how chargeable, how long  
This war may be? who, shall the cost defray?  
How willingly the Citizens will pay  
That aid which you may need, when they are made  
Unable by a long decay of trade?  
Yea, when so many thousands want their bread,  
Who were by constant labour daily fed,  
And, shall consume their lives, or strength away,  
By watch, and hard duty, night and day?   

Have you wellweighed, for how long a space  
Provisions may be stopped from this place?  
How greatly, Famine may increase your charge?  
How, want, and nastiness, may then enlarge  
The Pestilence begun? how much, the three  
Dissenting Parties, which among you be,  
Your troubles may augment? Or, do you know,  
When you advanced are, to meet a foe  
Without your walls, what mischiefs may begin  
By means of some, whom you must leave within?  
Especially, when poverty extreme,  
Revenge, or avarice, hath tempted them,  
By unexpected opportunities,  
To act things for their own advantages?   

Are you, in these particulars, assured,  
To be, at each extremity, secured?  
Have you conceived, how truly miserable  
You shall be rendered, if you prove unable  
To overcome? And, though you victors be,  
How little comfort thereof you may see  
When you have summed up, what you shall lose?  
And (by removing them) what other foes,  
You may make way for, to the consummation  
Of all the strength, and glory, of this Nation?   

Yet, once again, look down into that hell,  
Wherein you are preparing now to dwell:  
Can you suppose, that all, whom you intent  
To arm, your Cause, and City, to befriend,  
Will act as you expect? Or, think you, they  
Can do, as much for you, as they can say?  
Can you, by any caution, be assured,  
Your goods and families will be secured  
From your own Party? Or, your persons free  
From outrage, when, among you, there shall be  
A general confusion, and their need?  
And yours, shall daily new distractions breed?  
Which every day, and week, will still grow greater,  
Till your afflictions have advised you better?   

Can you believe, that all your power and wit,  
(Which make small show of such effects, as yet)  
Shall able be, by force, or, gentle ways,  
To conjure down the spirits you may raise?  
Or, draw a circle, or provide a charm  
So strong, that none of them shall do you harm?   

Have you some works, which fain you would have done,  
For your own ends? and, think you, they have none?  
Or, that, they who did sleight a greater power,  
Will conscience make of trampling upon your?  
Or (if provoked) of treading on you, too,  
When they dislike of any thing you do?   

Can you conceive, that though you armed were  
Against all those whom you abroad may fear,  
That, in your streets, your houses, (nay, within  
Your chambers) there will not (as there hath been)  
A Party be, which will assay to make  
Your hopes abortive, if this course you take?  
Yea, multiply your sorrows, till th'event  
Grow desperate? Or, you too late repent;  
And, shall be overwhelmed with disorders,  
Fears, out-cries, violences, flames, and murders?   

Do you believe, those listed Reformadoes,  
Who puff you up with vaunt and bravadoes?  
(Mistake me not; I purpose no disgrace  
To all (who now abiding in this place,  
Are cast out of employment) do you think,  
Those, who are most courageous in their drink?  
Those, of the roaring Frenchified-Rout,  
With untrussed breeches, with shirts hanging out,  
And Codpieces beribanded about  
With particoloured Inkle? Or, that those  
Apprentices, who late in tumults risen,  
And, without check (to your perpetual shame)  
To force th'unguarded Senate, rudely came,  
(And foamed raging fury at their door,  
Like billows beating on the patiented shore)  
Think you, that such as these ordained have been  
To save you from the fears that you were in?  
To be Deliverers, do you believe  
These likey? or, are those, who to receive  
New entertainment (and perhaps old pay)  
Have only aimed at, such like men as may  
Be so relied upon; as, to engage  
Your City now, a second war to wage?  
If so; Oh! be more cautious, be more sage.   

Oh, where! where now, is all that piety,  
That prudence, and that Christian charity,  
Which you pretended to? where is that care  
Of public safety which did once appear?  
Where is that conscience of the preservation  
Of your own families from desolation,  
Which doth or should in every Christian dwell,  
That is not far below an Infidel?   

Oh! be not wilful in the prosecution  
Of an unfit and frantic resolution,  
Which, doubtless, by the malice of the Devil  
(And by his instruments) is now for evil  
Instilled into you; that, he might make void  
Those hopes, which we,  this time, had enjoied,  
If want of faith, and love, to one another,  
Endangered not our perishing together.   

Be, therefore, well advised, what will ensue,  
Before this cursed war you do renew?  
Be not deluded, or provoked by those  
Who care not how your City they expose  
To hardship, and to hazard: For, it may  
Endanger all; if I know what I say.   

Invite you not, from every quarter, hither  
Those plagues, and those confusions, altogether,  
Of which most places now have had a taste;  
Lest, all the storm descend on you at last;  
And you constrained be to swallow up  
The very dregs of their most bitter cup,  
As you by Riddles, intimation had;  
Though you of them, out small account have made;  
And, as all use to do, whose sins are ripe,  
And, take no warnings, till they feel the stripe.   

Regard not, what your flatterers pretend,  
But, rather, harken to your faithful friend,  
Who plainly doth foresee, the sad effects,  
To which your course intended, now directs.  
Be, yet, persuaded, your own selves to pity;  
Your friends, your little ones, your wives, your City;  
And do not unadvisedly fulfil  
Your foes designs; by your perverted will:   

What is't to me, what course you pitch upon,  
Who to the world-ward wholly am undone,  
And ruined already, by neglects,  
Of justice, on th'one side; and by th'effects  
Of war, on t'other? and, whose chief wealth lies  
In those things, which the world doth most despise?  
And which (I hope) till I my life shall finish,  
Nor peace nor war, nor ought else, shall diminish?  
What have I got? or what can I obtain  
By seeking thus, your madness to restrain,  
But their displeasure, who delight in war?  
And, my despiteful foes, already are?  
The profit will be yours; And, this alone  
My recompense will be, that I have done  
My duty, in persuading you unto  
That, which my heart believes, you ought to do.   

Contemn not, therefore, what I now advise,  
Though I may seem despised, in their eyes,  
Who counsel otherwise. Seek to be quiet;  
And, add this short-receipt unto your diet:  
To qualify your selfe-destroying-rage,  
Take, Time, Rue, Patience; and as much of Sage  
As may be needful: Then, mix speedily  
All these ingredients, and, them so apply  
As you have oft been taught; So, GOD shall cure  
Or qualify this English-Calenture;  
Which is, an Epidemical disease,  
That, on this nation, every where doth seize,  
As did the Sweeting Sickness: If we may  
Confide, in what Chronologers do say.   

Why will ye perish and endanger all  
Your neighbours; and, three Kingdoms by your fall,  
Since you may shun it, and be safe and blessed?  
A refuge, to the needy, and oppressed?  
What moveth you, that, to escape a fear,  
You fly into a mischief, or a snare?  
What is it makes you fear, where no fear is,  
And, fearless of true dangers, but, even this,  
That, neither of GOD'S threats, you awful grow;  
Nor love your neighbour, as you ought to do?   

Some of you, have, it seems, a thirst for blood,  
And, peradventure, for that reason, GOD  
Will give them blood to drink. Their heart is far  
From peace; and, he will come to them, in war.  
The sons of Consolation have been scorned;  
And, therefore, he his Messengers hath turned  
To sons of thunder, who, as they desire,  
Will speak to them in Sulphur and in Fire.   

A Spirit of detraction, and of lying,  
On paper-wings, among you hath been flying,  
Till, as it seems, GOD hath, for that offence,  
Exposed you to a reprobated sense,  
Believing lies; and, to an Appetite  
Bewitched with a gluttonous delight  
In blasphemies, and falsehoods; which are vented  
For every morning's breakfast, newly minted:  
And, that gross diet, hath begot in you  
Those evil humours, which distemper, now,  
Your Bodie-Politike; and makes your Peace  
Disrelish, by a loathsome nauseousness.   

You may, perchance, believe, by their delusions,  
Who have abused your trust, to your confusions,  
And their own shame; that, you yourselves are banding,  
For Christ his Kingdom: And, arm, for withstanding  
Of his opposers: But, take heed, I pray,  
Lest you prove, rather, to be such as they,  
Who, think they do GOD service, when they spill.  
The blood of those, who seek to do his will.   

I will, and must acknowledge, that in you  
There is a zeal: But, this is also true,  
That, most of you have not obtained, yet,  
That knowledge, which true Zealots doth befit.  
Religious, I confess, you are; and, so,  
The Jews were too, when GOD did overthrow  
Their greatest City; yea, they never seemed  
So worthily devout to be esteemed,  
(According to their Law) yet, then GOD shook  
Their whole foundation, and quite from them took  
That Law, and place, for which they did not spare  
Their lives, nor aught, which unto them was dear.  
Yea, through that means, by which they would prevent  
That loss, they lost it: Even when innocent,  
And guiltless blood they spilt: And, they who run  
Their course, will doubtless far as they have done.   

Yourselves therefore delude not, with bare shows  
Of sanctity; but seriously dispose  
Your minds to charity, that Christian peace  
May settled be; and brutish discord cease.  
For, all your pious, and your moral works  
Are nothing better, then are those of Turks,  
Or Pagans, till a will renewed doth move  
To action, by a principle of love.   

You preach; but, preach ye Christ, with less contention,  
And, that shall be of strife a good prevention:  
You writ; but, put less gall into your ink;  
And, let not your expressions taste, and stink  
Of bitter slanders, to the provocation  
Of vengeance, and of furious indignation:  
For, when from us unseemingly speeches flow,  
Although out cause be right, we are not so.  
You fast: But, if you fast not more from strife,  
Oppression, pride, and from a wicked life;  
Your fastings, never will procure your peace,  
But, rather, your confusions more increase.   

You pray: But, pray as Phineas did; and we  
Shall better fruits of your long-prayer see.  
You list yourselves, the Army to resist:  
But, to be reconciled, have better list  
Then you have had: And, seek, and follow more  
The likely way of peace, than heretofore.  
For, you may conquer more with loving words,  
Then with your pistols, and your naked swords:  
And, you shall get more profit and more praise,  
Then by those Forces you intent to raise:  
And, thousands, who would dying, curse your rage,  
Shall live, and bless you, in another age.   

What makes you, and our Army now to be,  
So jealous of-each other as, we see,  
But, even self-love and pride, which you, and they  
Pursue in others? Or, because each day  
You more and more, in manners grow like them,  
Whose guiltiness you rail at, and condemn?  
For, most of those, who in these times pretend  
To Reformation, do but seem to mend  
Their neighbour's faults, that, they, thereby, to make  
Themselves, and Fortunes, may occasion take;  
Yea, zealously they labour to remove  
And punish Tyrants: But, it may from love,  
And not from hate of Tyranny arise,  
That, they remove those men who tyrannize.  
For, it is done, perhaps, that in the room  
Of Tyrants, they, like Tyrants may become;  
Else 'twere not possible, that we should see  
Suppressed Tyrants, every day to be  
Out-vied by their Successors; and outgone  
By those, who blamed most, what they have done.  
'Tis not, because you seek the public good,  
That you renew this War: For, letting-blood,  
(Especially, now when the Dogstar reigns)  
So near the heart, and in those master-veines,  
Now likely to be oped, seems, to me,  
Not Physic, but, true butchery, to be.  
'Tis not for GOD, that you do now promove  
This Quarrel: For, you know, that GOD is Love;  
And, when he doth engage you in a war,  
It always evidently doth appear,  
How it conduceth to the preservation  
Of amity, and union, in a Nation;  
And that we cannot otherwise avoid  
The having of those Freedoms quite destroyed,  
By which we should conserve it: But, in this  
Your quarrel, no such thing apparent is.   

'Tis not, because one Party doth incline  
Unto a differing form of Discipline,  
Which t'other side dislikes, from whence arose  
This Quarrel, (though from thence it partly flows:)  
For, prudence, wheresoever love remains,  
In any measure, tempers or restrains  
From all extremes; as you by those may see,  
Who moderate in either Party be,  
And firm to principles, which do preserve  
The essence of our Faith: And, they observe  
That your contentions, rather, do arise  
From fleshly lusts, and carnal vanities,  
Then from that zeal pretended; and, there's none  
Will doubt it, if you wilfully go on  
In bloudsned; and, endeavour not for grace,  
To make your fury, give discretion place.   

'Tis not the fall, or the imperfections  
Of your opinions, but, of your affections,  
Which heightens discords; and a will to please  
Back-sliding Demas, and Diotrophes,  
Which hath surprised you. 'Tis a disregard  
Of Justice, in chastisements, and reward,  
And, that respect of persons, which each side  
Is guilty of; if both be not belied.   

For, if by simptomes, I the truth may gather,  
The City, and the Army too, had rather  
Adventure their safe being (by denial  
Of yielding up their minions to trial)  
Then to permit, that Justice shall proceed  
Impartially. Both are, it seems, agreed,  
What ever their well-willers do propose,  
To save their Malefactors, though they lose  
Themselves, and all their Tribe, (as, for that crime,  
The Benjamites once did, in former time)  
And (which more aggravates) even thus they do,  
Though they have seen the King, for doing so,  
Set half beside his Throne; And, though they see  
This Parliament, endangered to be,  
Even for the selfsame fault: So hard a thing,  
It is, even for the best of men, to bring  
Their wills, and their affections, to submit  
To justice, though they cannot fly from it.  
But, they will still be trying to avoid  
Her just injunctions, till they be destroyed,   

And hence, hence, chiefly floweth all those factions,  
Those mischiefs, discords, and all those distractions,  
That are among us; And, he that assays  
To show them the disorder of their ways,  
(And their unsafeness) though with no intent,  
But, their, and your destruction, to prevent:  
Or, when he minds them of it, though he spares  
Their persons; And the matter so prepares,  
By couching it in generals, that they  
Who are to blame, correct their errors may,  
Without disgrace; yet, they return him still,  
Unkindnesses (at least) for his good will;  
Deprive him, of his freedom, or estate;  
Eclipse his credit, or his person hate;  
Or, at the best, regard what he hath spoke,  
No more than doth a Starve, or a block.   

And, ten to one, when some of those do hear  
These motives unto peace; they, will go near  
To question it before Authority,  
As if I had enfeebled much thereby,  
The people's hands. The Jews, to this effect,  
In such a case, did spitefully object  
Against the life of jeremy; but, he  
Who saved him then, will do the like for me.   

Oh! let the City; Let our Army too,  
Consider wisely, what they have to do;  
And, that, among the best, are imperfections  
Which call to us, for brotherly affections  
To cover them; and, helps, to cure them, rather,  
Then Instruments to seek, or, Arms to gather  
To spoil each other. 'Tis our Ignorances'  
And want of, love and meekness which advances  
Our spleens against our brethren. We so long  
Have, at each other, bitter-speakings fling.  
And shot the Arrows of revising words;  
That, they provoke us, to unsheathe our swords,  
And, execute; before it doth appear  
Which party is to blame; and which is clear:  
Or, whether any cause may be perceived,  
Why both (though guilty) may not be reprieved.   

Their party, or their single interest  
Doth, oft, so bias men from what is best  
For them to practise: And, vain policy  
In outward seeming, doth appear so nigh  
To blameless prudence; that it draws them on  
To think injustice warrantable done:  
Or, that, (at least) it warrants them to think,  
They, at injustice, in their own, may wink:  
Especially, if they conceive, it may  
From any good design, take strength away.  
And this false principle, and wrong proceed,  
Made thereupon, much injury doth breed.   

This makes, the Presbyterian-Party mad,  
That, any of their side, though never so bad,  
Should questioned be. This, also blinds them so  
From seeing what it doth invite them to,  
That it hath rendered them much willinger  
To hazard all by a renewing-war,  
Then, leave them to that trial, which perchance  
Would clear them; And their innocence advance.   

This maketh many, on the other side,  
As partial, and unable to abide  
That, their partakers, should with aught be charged:  
Whereas, had their impeachments been enlarged  
With such of their own party, who, by fame  
Proclaimed are, to be no less to blame,  
Then some accused; And, of whose offence,  
They might have got as good intelligence;  
It had prevented all those jealousies,  
Which from their seeming partialities,  
Have lately sprung; and, which will be removed,  
When they, who so advised, have improved  
Their counsel into practice; As e'er this  
It had been done; but, that, you know there is  
A Remora in most things; and, that some  
To all good motions, opposites become.   

Had they (as I presume they mean to do)  
Cast resolutely off, all leaning to  
That, which their party doth denominate,  
And, only sought the settling of the State,  
According to the Laws; and how to bring  
An Union 'twixt the people and the King,  
By bringing all, indifferently to bide  
Th'impartial Test, by which they should be tried;  
It had, before this day, a period set,  
To our chief troubles. And, this peace is, yet,  
But, for a time, deferred; unless you mar  
That future blessing, by a present war.   

Demur, therefore, a while,  you pursue  
Those thoughts or actions, which your hearts may rue,  
Do not false courage from those vap'ring take,  
Or, those highflying vaunts, which they do make,  
Who would engage you; though, with fair preten  
To reason, justice; and with confidence,  
They would beguile you. For, no men appear  
More arrogant, more bold, or less to fear  
Then they, whom GOD infatuates, rejects,  
And giveth over unto those effects,  
Which their own wit to put in action those,  
As in despite of what he doth propose.   

Let not those foolish, fruitless, policies,  
(Those impudent and those truth-seeming lies)  
Which they on all occasions do invent,  
As their most useful gin and instrument  
To work their ends; Let not these draw you to  
Their course, from that, wherein you ought to go:  
For, they do but delude you. When ye hear  
That, they give out, the Counties will appear  
To be your aid; believe it not, till you  
Perceive them coming: For, they do not know  
Your Quarrel; neither why you should oppose  
Your most deserving Friends, as greatest Foes.   

When you shall hear them, for the King pretend,  
That, they may draw his party, to befriend  
Their new design. Or, when they cry, The King!  
The King! The King! with promises to bring  
His person hither; and make show to settle  
Your peace by him: Believe them, but a little,  
For, they who so pretend, do neither dare  
To bring him hither; neither able are.   

And, though they were; The King so well descries  
Where, his best play, and chief advantage, lies;  
What, with his principles, may best agree;  
Why, they, who would not have him, willing be  
To have him now: Yea, so to him 'tis known,  
Who for the public ends; who, for their own,  
Restrain him, or enlarge him; whom to trust;  
Who, firm, or fickle were; who false, or just,  
Either to him, or others; And, hath made  
So many proofs, of things whereof he had  
No trial heretofore; that, well I know,  
His bought experience will permit him, now,  
To trust to none but them, whose honesty  
Is their chief honour, and best policy:  
And, when GOD hath inclined him, so to do;  
He shall trust us, and we shall trust him too.   

That, this Conjunction may not be prevented,  
Let that, which you determine, be repent.  
Quench, ere too late, the fire which is begun;  
And, lest, to be unquenchable it run,  
Remove the fuel; power upon the flame  
True penitential tears; And, grow more tame,  
More wise, more charitable, yea, more meek;  
And, in GOD'S grace, your peace and safety seek:  
Which, cannot be expected, whilst with them,  
You are at variance, who are dear to him;  
Or, whilst you those resist, whom he doth call  
To do his work; although, perhaps, they shall  
Not do it for his sake, as they pretend;  
But, for their own, and some unworthy end.   

By, generally, shutting up your shops,  
Make not a sad obstruction, in the hopes  
Of your subsistence; which, will oversoone  
Consumed be, though that were left undone:  
For, by this Stratagem, your Politicians,  
Will but accelerate their own perditions,  
By heightening of their fury, who thereby,  
Shall feel the gripes of helpless poverty:  
Use, rather, what good means your wits afford  
As well to keep off hunger, as the sword;  
That, you may have a being, till GOD please  
To consummate the cure of this disease.   

Take heed, what those good Priests, and Prophets say,  
Who preach to you, a charitable way,  
Unto your peace; And, do not be beguiled  
By those, who counsel to divide the Child;  
But, trust unto his wisdom, and his doom  
From whom, the sentence, on your ways, must come:  
And if you needs will armed be, put on  
(As you ought, long ere this time, to have done)  
The Christians complete Arms. For, then, if you  
Shall be destroyed, so, will I be too.   

If, for the publikeweal, that Host appear,  
Of whose intents, you seem to stand in fear;  
You have no cause of dread. If, they conceal  
A private aim, beneath a public zeal;  
Or veil their pride, their Avarice, or hate,  
With Godliness, or service to the State;  
If they shall seek, one faction to suppress;  
Indulge the wicked, or the wickedness  
Of their own party; And, proceed, as though  
God would not heed, what they unjustly do;  
Then, God himself against them shall appear;  
And, for your City's guard, a standard rear:  
A buckler he shall wield, and interpose  
'Twixt you, and them, to ward away their blows:  
Then, he shall save you from their cruelty,  
And, be avenged on their hypocrisy,  
Without your guilt: And, crumble them, till they,  
With all their hopes, and glories, fume away;  
As theirs have done, who out of grace were thrust,  
In former times, for their abused trust.   

And, this will be, successively, the doom,  
That shall on all our false Reformers come,  
Till all such perish; and, till such appear,  
As, neither will, for profit, love, or tear,  
Corrupted be. If, for sinister ends,  
You false have played, with your well-meaning Friends:  
If, you, to gain advantages, have strayed  
From due performing aught, which you have said:  
If, out of wilfulness, or, out of pride,  
And haughtiness of mind, you thus provide  
To give them battle; GOD will find it out,  
And punish, till amendment he hath wrought.  
Yea, both of you, if both of you shall be  
Alike perverse, alike reward will he.   

But, hark! a strong Alarm I do hear,  
The Army, you so dread, is drawing near,  
And, will not long be hence; I will therefore  
(Before the Drums beat, and the Cannons roar  
Too loud for them to hear me) now direct  
Some words to them, in hope of good effect:  
For, thousands of them know me: and, perchance,  
It may more profit you, than an advance  
With all your force against them. Howsoever;  
I'll try, how GOD will prosper my endeavour.   

Friends of that honoured Army, by whom, we  
Have had assistance; and, yet hope to see  
This War concluded; me with patience hear.  
And, to that end, a little while forbear  
To prosecute that work, which may be done  
Yet soon enough. And, oh! I fear, too soon.  
I come with no defiance; nor to bring  
A charge against you, touching any thing  
Wherein you may be censured to abuse  
Your power or trust: For, thereof to accuse,  
I neither have Commission, nor intent:  
Nor knowledge, have I, were I thereto bend,  
Of the determinations, or the ways  
Which you pursue; save, as that Rumour says,  
Whose contradictions, do so much condemn  
Her own Relations, that, I trust not them.   

Nor do I blame you, though it be confessed  
In your expresses, that you have transgressed  
The bounds of Common-Order, in some things:  
Because, to me experience, knowledge, brings  
Of that Necessity, which lawful makes  
What Law forbids: And, that when self-will takes  
A lawless Liberty, which may disable  
To save the public, by means warrantable,  
In ordinary course; the SUMMUM JUS  
Of humane nature, then, entitles us,  
Unto a rightful freedom, to dispense  
With any humane Law, in our defence.  
Because, our preservation, is that end,  
Whereto all Laws do principally tend.   

Now, whether you necessitated were  
To such a course, you more concerned are  
In weighing it then I; and, better know  
Upon what grounds you have conceived so.  
I know that such necessities may be;  
I know, that they, who feel them, best can see,  
How great they are: I, likewise know, that they  
And their adherents, who the tyrant's play,  
Have seldom such necessities confessed,  
To light on any, till they were oppressed  
Beyond repair; And, therefore, leaving, now,  
This matter to be scanned, alone, by you,  
And your own consciences; I will present  
What, I think, future mischiefs may prevent.  
If, therefore, now, among you, any be  
Who need it, take this brief advice of me.   

If you come armed, not for war, but peace,  
And, look, that GOD should your proceed bless;  
Remember those main principles, whereon  
You seem to ground, what hath, by you, been done.  
GOD's glory, public safety, and the Laws,  
With your just liberty, were all the cause  
Of your engaging; and, therefore take heed,  
That, you for no designment, now, proceed,  
Of private consequence, lest you destroy  
The hope of that, which you might else enjoy.   

Let, in your sight, your brethren's blood be dear;  
Let not the riches of this place, appear  
A prize, to draw, or tempt you, further than  
Becometh just, and bravely-minded men.  
To this renowned City, wherein you  
Have many Friends, a true compassion show,  
Though she provoked you; know, that nobler, far,  
Are Saviour's, than an Executioner.  
Let Justice have due course, though hand she lay  
Upon your Darlings: For, one Achan may  
Endanger your whole Camp; and you have seen  
How plagued, for Injustice, we have been.  
From needless violence, withhold your hands,  
Let moderation be in your demands;  
That, by your actions, they, whose Papers fly,  
To your dishonour, may receive the lie.   

To utter now unto you, I have more,  
Yea, many things material, yet, in store.  
But, whilst this line is writing, I am told,  
Oh, Line is entered, and our Southerne-Hold.  
And, therefore, here I pause—   

These words are vain; and, all, that we can do,  
Except, GOD adds his blessing thereunto.   

" O LORD! thou great Peacemaker, therefore say,  
" Amen to that, for which I now shall pray.  
" Out of our present dangers, safety bring;  
" Out of our darkness, let thy true light spring;  
" Peace, out of these our wars; love, out of hate;  
" Out of disorders, a well-setled State.  
" Let People, City, King, and Parliament,  
" And, all dissenting-parties, now, assent,  
" And, so, unite; that, none may them divide:  
" Make us well principled; and, so, abide.  
" Make us sincerely practise, and profess  
" A single-Truth, in simple-Righteousnesse.   

" Yea, now, when all the Powers within this Land,  
" Are in confusion, and amazed stand,  
" Affrighted by each other; now, when sin  
" Is like to hazard all; do thou begin  
" To work alone; and, raise, thou, out of that,  
" A Change, which all the Land shall wonder at.   

" And, if my own corruptions be not, yet,  
" Too many, such a blessing to permit,  
" Mind me in mercy too; And, mind me, so,  
" That, they, who have oppressed me, may know,  
" I am a Servant, who, to thee, is dear;  
" What ever, to the world, I may appear:  
" And, hasten that Deliverance, O LORD!  
" Which thy compassion shall to me afford:  
" For, in my sufferings, I am left alone;  
" And, friend, or hope, but thee, LORD! I have none.   
Fiat voluntas Dei.