JONAS REDUX, OR A Divine WARNING-PIECE Shot from the FORT-ROYAL of NINIVE, TO ALL Cities, Countreys, Kingdoms, and Empires, to Exhort them to be careful how they do Admit of the Dominion of SIN, within their Respective Territories, lest they fall into the like danger.
BY JONAS ANGLICUS.
St. Paul.
Qui stat, videat ne cadat.
Horat.
Mutato nomine, de te—
LONDON, Printed for Henry Brome, at the Gun at the West End of St. Pauls. MDCLXXII.
To the Honourable Sir Joseph Sheldon Knight, ALDERMAN, And in near Election to the Majoralty of the most Honourable City of LONDON, and the whole Honourable Company of DRAPERS.
Most honour'd Sir,
THe many signal Obligations, that I have from my childhood receiv'd, from your most Reverend and Honourable Ʋncle, his Grace my Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, have very much encouraged me; but the great fame of your growing Virtues, hath emboldned me (especially having the honour to be a Draper by descent) to address my Jonas to you: who as he wants little of my Anagram, so I am sure hath been the fore-runner of my Fortunes: In this only I have by Divine Permission exceeded him, that for his three days, I have lain thirty years perfectly in a Whales belly; but I still trust in our most good and gracious God, that as he did him, so he will bring me, to a happy shore, either in this world, or a better. In the mean time, I hope, this glorious City, which hath receiv'd so many fatherly chastisements from the Divine hand, by Sword, Plague, and Fire, will by your noble Precept, and Example, take a fair warning, to sin no more, least a worse thing come upon them. I cannot but hope likewise, my hearty humble service, will prove no less acceptable to this most famous City, of which you are so near the Supreme Government, under the Kings Majesty, whom God long preserve in a most prosperous Reign, for his own glory, the good of this most Honourable City, and the comfort of all us, his poor Subjects, and most particularly of
Most honoured Sir, Your most obedient, and Affectionate Humble Servant, Jonas Anglicus.
CARMEN Heroicum de Propheta JONA à Balaena deglutito, & Ninivitarum ad DEUM Conversione.
UT latuit Jonas Triduum sub pectore Ceti,
Ʋt (que) Deus Populo fasso peccata popercit,
Dicere fort Animus. Tu per quem scilicet unum
Omnibus Omnipotens parcit, sic Christe guberna
Os calamam (que) meum, ne quis mihi versus inanis
Excidat Incanto qui, non tua Numina cantet:
Nam sine te non est, possim quod scribere quicquam,
Tu mihi Principium, & Medium, Tu Finis adesto.
Ʋrbs Antiqua fuit, paene alto vertice tangens
Sydera, Dives opum, gleba (que) uberrima pingui:
Assyrii coluere viri, quam Fama Minores
Concelebrasse tulit Nini cum nomine Regis;
Hanc rapidus Tigris foelicibus irrigat undis,
At (que) beat largo plenissima Copia Cornu,
Nil (que) deest penitus, rerum quod postulat usus.
Hen quàm difficile est, sortem benè ferre secundam!
Quam virtus & opes non sede morantur in una!
Dum nihil ergo deest Ʋrbi, dum Rebus abundat
Omnibus, in Tenebras ruit, at (que) oblita Jehovae
Qui Deus est unus, verus (que), Nefanda Deorum
Numina Fictorum vano veneratur Honore:
Cumq, sit id primum Crimen, Liquisse Jehovam,
Crimina sponte sua, mox caetera cuncta sequuntur,
Virtures (que) fugant miseris ex Maenibus Almas.
Hae coelum querulae repetunt, urbem (que) relinquunt,
Caeca (que) deplorant humanae pectora Gentis,
Quae fidens opibus, virtutum Redditur Hostis,
Veri oblita Dei, peccatis (que) oblita foedis.
At Deus aeterni residens super Aurea Coeli
Templa, suas cernens Natas ex urbe repulsas;
Protinus horribiles fremuit commotus in iras,
Et vix abstinuit, terras quin funditus omnes
Perderet illius Regionis, & igne cremaret,
Ni miseratus eas clementi corde fuisset:
Quod semper superat peccantis crimina mundi.
Ergo vocat Jonam, Vatem quem mittat in Ʋrbem,
Ʋt Populis paenam meritam denunciet, ac si
Esse Mali pergent, perituros sulphure cunctos,
Dum lux Dena quater rutilo fulgeret Olympo.
Ille stupens, dubitans (que), Deo parere reousat,
Ambiguum (que) animum, nunc buc nunc dividit illuc.
Heu quid agam? reputat secum; qua voce furentes
Compellem populos? quodsi compello, Pericla
Mille parata mihi, me gens effraena necabit;
Sin aliqui forsan resipiscent, hos (que) misertus
Largus ut est veniae, Deus band extinxerit omnes,
Me Plebs deludet, Mendacem (que) Improba finget.
Quin potius quo Fata trahant, retrahant (que), repente
Profugio; Incautus subeam quàm tanta pericla.
Dixit: & Antiquam trepidus festinat Ioppen,
Conscendit (que) Ratem: Cilicum subiturus in Oras:
Vix è conspectu solidae Telluris, in Altum
Venerat, & Nantae spumas Maris aere ruebant,
Cum Deus observans illum, stat vertice Coeli,
Ah Miser, anne putas, inquit, te, evadere nostras
Posse manus? Homines sequeris? mea jussa recusas?
Dum fugis heu Scyllam, tibi mors erit ecce Charybdis.
Talia dum tacito secum Deus ore volutat,
Terribiles ventos, Tempestates (que) sonoras
Convocat, & subito Tonitru coelum excitat omne.
Luctantur Zephyrus (que) Auster (que) & vectus Eois
Eurus equis, mugit Pelagus, micat ignibus aether
Conscius, involvit Tenebris pluviae Oceanum nox,
Praesentum (que) necem ante oculos sibi quis (que) videbat;
Cuncta vel in solo coeunt elementa profundo
At (que) Chaos certum, mox omnia juncta minantur.
Horrent Attoniti, palmas (que) ad sydera tendunt,
Continuo Nautis gelidus pavor occupat Artus,
Navis & ut levior fiat, tum plurima vasa
Ejiciunt, laxant (que) foros, nihilominùs undis
Turbida cessat Hyems, iterum (que) iterum (que) relucent
Fulgura Fulminibus commixta, nec amplius ullae
Aut Terrae apparent, aut Coelum, aut Pontus, & Aer.
Ambigui vasto jactantur gurgite passim,
Incerti quo Fata ferant; ubi nulla salutis
Spes aderat, tandem decernunt mittere sortem,
Tantorum exipsis, si quis sit causa Malorum.
Ecce autem dum sic ductis stat sortibus urna,
Sors Jonam tangit; culpam mox ille fatetur,
Sum (que) ait Hebraeus, propter me talia fiunt,
Me propter qui nempe Dei mandata recuso,
Cui Mare, cui Tellus, cui oeli sydera parent:
Projicite in fluctum, & Pelago me immergite vasto,
Cessabit Pelagus, maris ira tumor (que) quiescent.
Mirantur Nautae, at (que) stupent, paulum (que) morantur,
An sine morte viri, fortasse quiescere fluctus
Inciperent, sed nulla quies, mora nulla frementis
Est salis; ergo, suos Divos tamen ante precati,
In mare praecipitem puppi (miserabile) ab alta
Deturbant. Natat ecce miser, fluctus (que) silescunt
Continuo, & placidi substernunt aequora venti.
At Pater AEthereus facit ut Balaena propinquet,
Ejectum (que) virum Pelago (que) patente Natantem
Excipiat veniens, ventris (que) voragine condat.
Tum vero Jonam vere circumstetit borror,
Obstupet, ac planè quasi mortuus, abditus Alvo
Balaenae ingemit; ut tandem vix reddita mens est,
Sic corde ingeminat, ventri (que) immurmurat imo:
Summe Deus, qui cuncta creas, servas (que) creata,
En Miser hic jacco, velut atra per Antra sepulchri
Conditus, in medio presentis limine mortis.
Quae mihi spes superest ullius certa salutis?
Sed tamen una salus à te sperare salutem.
Tu miserere bonus miseri peccata fatentis
Nec precon irato damnatum projice vultu:
Eripe sed diro è Piscis ventre, & deme ab undis,
Salvus ut ex illis iterum tua Templa revisam:
Tum prius hic Cetus, sicca tellure natabit,
Quam tua tanta meo labentur pectore facta.
Annuit his votis Deus; exaudit (que) vocantem,
Et cum Lux rosea jam tertia luce rediret,
Hunc Balaena Dei jussu, in solidam evomit oram.
Vera loquor nec ficta fides, Gens Ethnica quanquam
Rideat haec, at (que) hinc extet quo (que) fabula mendax,
Sit quondam ut vectus tergo Delphinis Arion.
Nam (que) hominum ratio, quae non capit, omnia ridet,
Et non vera putat, sed pagina sacra legenti;
Esse ea quae dixi vera ac certissima, monstrat;
Quandoquidem Christi Typus haec & Imago fuerunt:
Nam veluti triduum Ceti ille in ventre latebat,
Funera sic Christus passus, Tumulo (que) quiescens,
Tertia Lux postquam rediit, redivivus in Auras
Ipse simul rediit, de victo victor Averno,
Sed respiravit postquam, vires (que) recepit
Raptus Amithaides immensae è fluctibus undae,
Summus eum ad populum rursus jubet ire Jehovah;
Totius Interitum errantis nunciet Ʋrbis;
Jussa facit laetus, primi memor ille pericli.
O Miseri, exclamat, gens ô demersa nefandis
Criminibus, gens exitio Vicina futuro,
Audite, & memori mea dicta recondite mente:
Horrendos Ausus vestros at (que) Impia facta
Conspexit Deus, ille Deus, qui crimina semper
Pectore cuncta notat memori, paenis (que) rependit
Vindicibus, si non praesentibus, attamen olim
Aeternis, quae sunt vobis sine fine paratae.
Ille igitur vestra ob peceata exarsit in iras
Tantas, ut cum jam decies lux quarta resurget,
Perdere cuncta velit, quae tota urbs continet, igni.
Haec ubi dicta dedit vates, Timor anxius omnes
Cepit, & auditis Verbis tam tristibus, Ʋrbem
Horrida continuò per totam fama vagatur,
Advenisse diem fatis quo cuncta perirent.
Omnia Maestitiá querulâ, misero (que) tumultu
Implentur, penitus (que) omnes plangoribus aedes
Luctificis ululant? Coeli ferit ardua Fletur.
Rex ipse, invitas Rumor cum venit ad Aures,
Descendit Solio Regali, & veste Cilissa
Indutus, Capitis cineres in Vertice spargit,
Ac toti populo jejunia mandat, ut omnes
Suppliciter tristes, Sacci velamine cincti,
Numina tanta, Deitanti, decorde precentur,
Instantes (que) minas iras (que) avertere tentent.
Audiit Omnipotens voces, gemitus (que) vocantum,
Praebuit ac veniam votis, iras (que) remisit.
Ʋt Mandata Dei Jonas peragenda peregit,
Maenibus egressus miseris proeul urbe resedit,
Et sibi quae solem arcerent umbracla paravit,
Sub quibus expectans tandem spectare volebat
Quid fieret, cui dira Deus decreverat, Ʋrhi.
Ast ubi quae fuerat merita urbs Infanda malorum
Paenituisse Deum sentit, paenas (que) remissas,
Indolet, & plorans luctu cor torquet inani;
Vel quia jure putat plecti debere Scelestos,
Vel quia, ne mendax habeatur forte, veretur.
Ergo mori mavult, tali quam vivere pacto.
Tempora purpurei finem jam veris habebant,
Et vehemens aestu donis Cerealibus aestas
Gaudebat; calidos (que) urebat Syrius agros,
Per (que) agros una Jonam, qui frigora captans
Ʋmbrarum, reperire nequit: cum Coelitus aestum
Huic fugat Omnipotens, hederam (que) repente virentem
Procreat: haec serpens toti sua brachia Jonae
Circum laxa dedit, summas (que) secuta per Auras
Edidit umbriferum quo delitet ille Cubiclum.
Hinc subeunt pectus Jonae nova gaudia laeti.
Sed quam parva nimis, quam parvo tempore durant
Gaudia? dum fruticem semper putat ille futurum,
Ecce volente Deo, cum jam nox altera adesset,
Vermis adest, hederamq, arrodit iniqua comantem.
Illa cadit, penitus (que) aret; tum Gaudia Jonae
Diffugiunt, iterum (que) novas mox ardet in iras.
Id Deus aspiciens, horum ceu conscius Author,
Num tibi, Amithaide, tantos, ait, herba dolores
Arida facta parit, quam nox dedit una vigentem,
Altera languentem subito exarescere vidit?
Cur ego non parcam buic urbi, quae Maenibus amplis
Terrigenas tot habet, quot hand vix gramina campis,
Qui cuncti ignorant curvum discernere recto?
Non ego prava probo, vehemens sed turpia plecto.
At qui me veniam votis ex Corde precantur
Supplicibus, faciles illis placidissimus Aures
Praebeo, nec culpae memini, paenas (que) remitto.
O & Londinum sis Ninivaea Secunda
Ter faelix Niobe, Lachrymis vel Nobile Saxum.
Dixit, & ut dixit populo fecit (que) priori,
Sic nobis etiam dicit (que) facit (que) benignus.
Illum ergo, ex animo, meeum, sic quilibet oret:
Omnipotens, Aeterue Deus, qui cunctà creasti,
Nos quo (que), cen vitiis Ʋrbs haeo immersa nefandis,
Crimina Criminibus semper cumulando meremur
Nil nisi perpetuas iras Phlegetontis, & ignes
AEternos. Quis enim coelestia Numina curat?
Quis syncera colit divini dogmata verbi?
Vana Superstitio, Frandes, scelerata Libido,
Turpis Avarities, cum (que) Ambitione Tyrannis
Constituêre sibi Regnum, virtute repulsâ,
Quae misere é Terrae fugit procul omnibus oris;
Heu fugit proeul illa accusatura scelesti
Indigenas caecos mundi. Refipiscite, clamat,
O Miseri, resipisce animis O & Anglia caecis,
At tu, summe Deus, qui nil nisi parcere nosti,
Ac nisi corde rogent veniam, tunc perdere tandem;
Nos quo (que) qui veniam te supplice voce rogamus,
Resfice placatis oculis, paenas (que) remitte,
Quas meriti fuimus, tum quas (que) meremur in horas:
Vincere da Satanam, propriam da vincere carmem,
Nostra (que) mitte tuum sanctum in praecordia Flatum,
Qui Peccaturos moneat, moveat (que) pigrorum
Longuentes animos, dum quae Meliora decebat
Non faciunt stolidi, sed Deteriora sequnntur.
Sic Tua, sic Nati sic sancti Numina Flatus,
Non intermissis celebrabunt Landibus omnes.
Laus Christo Trino & Uni Deo.
A Heroick POEM upon the Prophet JONAS, who was Swallowed by a Whale, and the Conversion of the NINIVITES to GOD.
HOW Jonas lay three days within a Whale,
By God committed to that moving Jayle,
And how confessing Ninive God spar'd,
My hand is ready, and my Pen prepar'd.
Thou blessed Saviour, by whose bloud alone
The world is spar'd from like Destruction,
So rule my heart, and hand, that not a word
May fall, but what thy glory may afford:
For without thee I can to nothing tend,
Be my beginning, middle, and my end.
An Ancient City stood, with lofty Towers,
Touching the Stars, and rich in Fruits, and Flowers;
Held by Assyrians, and late Poets sing
Was so call'd Ninive, from Ninus King:
This stately Tygris waters all about,
Blest with a Horn of Plenty all throughout;
There nothing wanted that did need require,
Or that the heart of Man could well desire.
How hard a thing it is to bear such hap!
Virtue and Wealth sit seldom in one lap.
Whilst Ninivites with all things thus abound,
Reeling in darkness, and the world went round,
Forgetting God, who is the only True,
And giving Idols, what's his only due:
So leaving God, which is the greatest sin,
All villany besides doth streight creep in.
All vertues chas'd out of their City walls,
Carry complaints to Heaven of their foul falls;
Bewailing so the madness of Mankind,
Quick-sighted to all Vice, to Virtue blind:
Forgetting God, and all besmear'd with evil
Give themselves up to th' Clutches of the Devil.
But God above sitting 'ith' highest Throne
Of's Temples there, hearing his Daughters moan;
Was streight provok'd to a most grievous wrath,
And scarce abstain'd from thund'ring Ruin forth
'Gainst all the Neighb'ring parts, and burnt with Fire
But that his mercy mollifi'd his Ire:
As that is always greater than the world,
Though into Millions more Transgressions hurl'd;
Therefore he calls good Jonas, him to send,
And bid them all their manners for to mend,
Or to denounce this Doom, if they go on
They should be all in Conflagration gon.
Fire and Brimstone should be sent from Heaven,
Ere' the Suns course was finisht six times seven.
Th' Amaz'd and doubting Prophet doth refuse,
So daring Gods own dictate to abuse.
But he's recall'd again, and changeth mind
So oft as Sails are alter'd by the wind.
What shall I do? so he begins his moan,
But straight his voice was strangled with a groan.
Yet he proceeds, How shall I dare come near
A people without grace, or wit, or fear?
If I go on, those Villains are so rude
I shall be murther'd by the multitude;
But if they shall repent, and pardon merit,
As God's most gracious, and forgiving Spirit;
Or shall not execute his Fury full,
Then will they scoff, and kill me for a Gull.
No, I will rather go in spite of Fate,
Into the Sea, than to that City Gate.
So said, he hastens to th' Seas nearest Dore,
And mounts a Ship, bound for Cilician shore:
Scarce was he got clear out of sight of Land,
And Mariners did to their office stand,
But the All-seeing God observing this,
From Heavens heighth, as all things done amiss.
Ah witless wretch d' ye think ye ever can
Escape my hands, by a Retreat to Man?
Opposing so my Preccepts, Scylla fly
And fall upon Charybdis, and so dy?
This whilst th' Almighty ponder'd in his mind,
The Seas were rais'd with a Tempestuous wind,
Which God did call to make the Prophet quake,
Whilst with that storm the very earth did shake.
The Air and Water meets, yet you'ld think under,
Was th' only Seat, and Region of Thunder.
There West and South are at a furious strife,
Which shall be soonest Master of his life:
Nay Eurus with his Oriental Steeds,
Doth puff and blow, whilst the poor Seaman bleeds:
The bellowing waves do give a dismal note.
Like Io with her metamorphos'd throat.
The knowing sky was with its Lightning light,
Whilst guilty Seas were all involv [...]d in night.
There death's presented to each mortal eye,
Which they look on, and pray, but cannot fly.
Nay, what the dismall'st horror represents,
There's sad confusion of all Elements,
And a most certain Chaos doth appear,
Fire, Earth and Air, dwell all with Water there.
Now you must think though hot at work, cold Fear
Possest each limb, and Artery that was there.
Yet that their Ship more lightly pass those waves,
They throw their wealth into those wat'ry graves:
But Seas not sated with that Sacrifice,
Swell higher yet, nay higher, higher rise.
Now Thunder mixt with Lightning, doth conspire
To make Earth look like Air, and Sea like Fire.
So were they toss'd in that outragious Gulf,
That all abord thought they held th' ears of a Wolf.
Thus turmoild with th' uncertainty of Fate,
No hopes appear the Tempest should abate;
So they determine to be try'd by Lot
Who are the truly Innocent, who not.
The Lots being cast, Jonas is found the man
In Gods disfavour, deny't if he can:
No, he confesseth fairly, I'me a Jew,
And for my sake great God doth thus pursue:
'Tis for my sake, who lately disobey'd
Him who has always Earth, Seas, and Heavens sway'd:
Cast me into these waves, and streight the Main
Will be appeas'd, and you at rest again.
The Mariners amazed stand and stay,
Hoping the storm may cease another way;
And so to save the man, but yet no peace,
Nor fury of the angry billows cease.
Then having each one pray'd unto his God
That he'd abate the sharpness of his rod,
They throw poor Jonas or'e the highest Bord
To see if's death their safety would afford:
There the wretch swims, and storms are straitway said,
As if the Sea had made the winds afraid.
But the great God of Heaven caus'd a Whale
To come and take him into's living Jayl.
The horror that then seis'd poor Jonas heart,
Is not to be exprest in any part;
And buryed thus alive, he doth complain,
Though yet he's scarce come to himself again;
His heart doth humbly yet to God address,
I'th' bottom of that swimming Wilderness.
Almighty God who hast created all,
And keep'st all things created least they fall,
Behold me miserable Sinner here
As buri'd in a living Sepulchre;
So in the middle plac'd of present death,
What hopes have I of any future breath?
But now my hopes are thou wilt safety bring,
When I've no hopes in any mortal thing.
Be merciful to him that doth confess,
Cast not thy Servant into wretchedness;
Let not this fishes belly and the waves
Be turn'd into my Dungeon, or my Graves.
Deliver me, O Lord, from this dark Den,
That I may see thy Temples among'st men.
Then shall this fish swim sooner upon land
Than I will disobey thy just command.
Thus gracious God was pleas'd to hear him pray
In his quick Sepulchre, and the third day
Th' obedient Whale did straight by Gods command
Cast the converted Prophet on dry land.
This is all truth I speak, though Heathen wits
Have laugh'd at this, with other holy Writs;
And so have thrust amongst the fabulous pack,
A false Arion on the Dolphins back.
So in mans reason what's not to command
They jeer, because they cannot understand;
Nor will believe at all, though Sacred Writ
Do certifie at large the truth of it.
Nay, though it be the Figure of our Christ,
Yet they do what they can to have it hiss'd.
For as he lay three days within a Whale,
So past the Son of Man through Earths black Jayl;
From whence returning Conqueror to the World,
Hell and the Grave he to confusion hurl'd.
So when our Prophet was again restor'd
To th' open Air, he the great God ador'd,
And taught obedience by his so late fall,
Goes straight to preach their ruine, One and All.
Bold Amithaides now does appear
Obedient to his God without all fear,
Remembring his past danger; and cries out,
You wretched people, that are drown'd throughout,
In Seas of sins, and near a future fire,
Hear what I say, and so avoid Gods Ire.
Your horrid words, and your more impious deeds,
For which, though yours do not, my poor heart bleeds,
God hath beheld, that God who always pays
Offenders, and in equal ballance weighs.
So if he punish not with present pain,
Eternal torments sinners shall remain;
Which are prepar'd for you without all end,
Unless you shall your selves and manners mend.
He therefore is so angry for your sins,
By that the fortieth day from hence begins,
All shall be surely by sad Fire destroy'd,
Unless his wrath by Pennance you avoid.
This when the Prophet spoke, an anxious fear
Struck every person that his words did hear,
And a sad Horror seiz'd on all the Town,
The Swordmen well as those that wore the Gown,
That now the day was come when all should fall
By Fire from Heaven, in Pile Funeral.
All places now were fill'd with sad complaint,
And he before was Devil now turns Saint.
All Quarters now were fill'd with grievous cries,
And sighs of sinners pierc'd the very skies.
The King who thought he did command the Globe,
Descends from Princely Throne, and Royal Robe,
And clad with Hair-cloth next his tender skin,
With Ashes on that head, a Crown was in;
Commands a Fast through all his People too,
And taught by his example what to do.
So in Procession, and with one accord,
They humbly go about and seek the Lord.
And pray his Mercy to avert the pain
His Justice threatens, they'd deserv'd again.
Th [...] Almighty heard their cries and grievous groans,
And so was pleased too with their sad moans,
That he remitted all their sins, so loth
Is God to vengeance, and to shew his wrath.
As Jonas had performed Gods command,
Gets from the City far on a high land;
And to keep off the Sun, prepares a shade,
Desirous for to see the end God made
With that rebellious and most sinful City,
Which had not yet deserv'd his Prayers, nor pity.
But when he found God did himself repent,
And from's intended punishment relent;
He grieves as much the clean contrary way,
To find from God his angry-Plagues delay.
Either for that he thought they ought to die
As wicked men, or that he seem [...]d to lie:
Therefore he chooseth to embrace his death
Rather than length of a dishonour'd breath.
Now was it neer the end of purple Spring,
And Ceres 'gan her Summer gifts to bring:
Now raging Syrius burnt the foaming fields,
And the poor Prophet to his fury yields.
For now he can no longer find the shade,
Which he well hop'd his hands had surely made:
So the divine dignation from above
Chaseth the heat, and plants him in a Grove
Of green and growing Ivy, which imbrac'd
His shaded limbs, as by it they'd been lac'd:
So starting up aloft unto the Sky,
Gave a delightful shade for him to ly.
Here Jonas joys do strait begin again,
And hopes he shall be quit now of all pain.
But see how little are, and how unsure
The pleasures that all mortals can procure!
Whilst Jonas thought himself secure i'th' shade
Which by Gods will one single night had made:
Behold God willing now, another night
A Worm destroys it and its umbrage quite:
It withers straight, and falls, so Jonas joys
Are fled, and pleasures turn'd to sharp annoys.
So he grows angry, but Almighty God
Knowing himself the Author of that Rod,
Why Jonas▪ swith he▪ doth that give thee grief
To see that dry'd which gave before relief,
And that which only one night kindly gave,
Another dry and languishing would have?
Why should not I then Nonive so spare
In which so many Souls of Mortals are,
And holds so many in its spacious walls,
As the fields grass, Trees leaves before their falls;
Who all don't know yet what is wrong from right:
I love the simply good, but punish spite;
But they who with an humble heart do crave
My gracious pardon, their remission have;
I always yield to Sinners gracious ears,
By hearty sorrows they avoid all fears
Of my displeasure, and from Heavens high vaults
Drops an Indulgence for all humanne faults.
So London like great Ninive appears,
Thrice happy Niobe turn'd stone with tears.
He said, and so he did, and as to them,
So he's to us unwilling to condemn;
Therefore let us, who' of's glory careful are,
Approach his Sacred Presence with this Prayer.
Almighty and great God, who mad'st us all,
Make us t' avoid that City's sins and fall.
And though we do by heaping Crimes on Crimes,
Deserve thy wrath shew'd in the worst of Times,
Nay all the Phlegetons and Stygian Fire,
Which thou'st prepar'd for Sinners in thine Ire.
For who doth worship right thy holy Name?
Who keep's thy Word and Will with divine Flame?
Vain Superstition, Frauds and wicked Lust
With dirty Avarice, Ambition must
Reign or'e our Members, Virtues being supprest,
Or fled to Heaven there to take their rest.
Oh they are fled away t' accuse us there
Of our ungrateful sins, and follies here;
So they cry down to us, Sinners repent,
And God from's Indignation will relent.
But thou, Great God, who know'st best how to spare,
And only chastnest who obdurate are;
Us also who with suppliant voice require
Thy Grace, look on with pleas'd eyes and appeas'd Ire,
Remit the punishments we have deserv'd,
By following Satan, and our flesh so serv'd,
Send down thy Holy Spirit to our hearts,
Which may convert us Sinners in all parts.
Inflame our Souls to follow better things
Than those which shew much Honey, but leave Stings,
So Thine, Thy Sons, and Holy Spirits breath,
Wee'l glorifie with Prayers until death.
Laus Christo Trino & Ʋni Deo,