A triple paradox affixed to a counter-mure raised against the furious batteries of restraint, slander and poverty, the three grand engines of the world, the flesh, and the devil / by major George Wither ...

A triple paradox affixed to a counter-mure raised against the furious batteries of restraint, slander and poverty, the three grand engines of the world, the flesh, and the devil / by major George Wither ...

Table of contents

Title page

The Author, to all thoſe who have relieved him in his Beleagurement.

For an INTRODUCTION, the AUTHOR flings this Expreſs to the WORLD.

Confinement is more advantageous than Liberty.

SLANDER is more Beneficiall than PRAISE.

Poverty is more profitable than Riches.

A Word on the behalf of Mr. Zachary Crofton Priſoner in the Tower.

[Page]A Triple Paradox; Wherein are aſſerted, theſe particulars, that (TY; IMPRISONMENT, is more ſafe than LIBERSLANDER, more advantageous than PRAISE; POVERTY, more profitable than RICHES.

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A Triple Paradox: Affixed to a COUNTER-MURE Raiſed againſt the Furious Batteries of Reſtraint, Slander and Poverty, The three Grand Engines OF The World, the Fleſh and the Devil.

By Major GEORGE WITHER, Who, now beleagured by their Forces, throws out unto them this DEFIANCE.

The ſaid PARADOX maintains theſe Particulars.

That Confinement is more ſafe than Liberty,

Slander more advantageous than Praiſe,

Poverty more profitable than Riches.

Nuſquam, non poteſt eſſe virtuti locus.

Seneca.

LONDON, Printed for the Author. 1661.

The Author, to all thoſe who have relieved him in his Beleagurement.

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IT is a more Bleſſed thing to Give, than to Receive; Therefore, having hitherto been a Receiver only, I am now deſirous to be a Giver alſo, though it be but of a Mite, or of a Cup of cold water; For, we are not to expect Benedictions or Acceprations, ſtrictly anſwerable to the quantity or quality of our Gifts conſidered in themſelves, but according to our Purpoſes and Abilities; which incourages me to ſend you a handful of ſuch Fruit as grows upon my WITHERD-Tree, now almoſt paſt bearing, that if you find it as pleaſant and as wholſome, as I conceived it to be, you having therewith refreſhed your ſelves, may if you pleaſe, pick out ſome of the Kernels, and by ſowing and replanting them in your Orchards, preſerve the kinde for future uſe, when my Tree is rotten.

I make not tender of this Diminutive Preſent, by way of R [...]tribution; For, GOD is your reward: but to be a teſtimonial of my Gratitude, and of my willingneſs, to have done more, if I had been able; or rather, that it may be a memorial of GODS Mercy to me vouchſafed by your hands when I was deſerted of the World; which ought never to be by me forgotten: For, I confeſs, I have thereby lived to produce this, and whatſoever I ſhall do hereafter in diſcharge of my duty, and had elſe, ere this day periſhed from the Earth, for ought I know to the contrary, though in my greateſt wants and uncertainty of Supplies I was always as far from a deſpairing Diſtruſt, as if I had then poſſeſſed a Vault filled with hidden Treaſures, which no man could take from me: And (though I am yet in no more certainty in reſpect of External Supplies) GOD preſerves in me the ſame confidence, and I believe he will always preſerve it in me.

This, is ſo great, and ſo extraordinary a Mercy, conſidering the many terrors, diſtruſts & neceſſities, wherewith many thouſands of better men are daily exerciſed & proved, that I conceive my ſelf obliged in conſcience, openly to acknowledge it both to glorifie him who vouchſafes it, and to confirm in my ſelf and other men, our Chriſtian hopes, by delaring what GOD hath [Page] done for my ſoul, who have nothing in my ſelf to deſerve it, but what is of his gift, and who have much more of my own, which rather deſerves the contrary. I am, and I hope ſhall ever be ſo far from being aſhamed of my preſervation by meer Charity, that I do eſteem it a greater honour & happineſs, than to have the moſt plentiful ſubſiſtance which the world can confer upon me by a conſtant Revenue, with an eminent dignitary annexed: For I have ſeen the beſt Proviſions of that kind, not only to fall but to bring their Poſſeſſors alſo to be worſe than nothing.

I had ſuperſcribed your Names (or hereto added a Catalogue of them:) but many of you are perſonally unknown, and, the reſt having diſcovered themſelves unto me, for our mutual comfort and converſation only (without any deſire that notice might be taken by other men of what hath been communicated, and paſſed between them and me) I do forbear making your Names publick, for that and other conſiderable reſpects. You are my friends by the ſureſt ſide: For you were not made mine by my induſtry, merit, ſolicitation, or in reſpect of any carnal Relations, but meerly by GODS Mediation who inclined your hearts to that voluntary compaſſion, whereof I had fruit in due ſeaſon, ſufficient to preſerve me, without ſordid want or dejection, in that condition wherein I am likely to be continued to fit me for that ſervice, which I have yet to do; and I am confident that he who made you my Friends, will ſo keep you; and make me thankful to him and you, whilſt we live in this world. Your Acceptation I doubt not of, nor of aſſiſtance by your prayers to the end of my Pilgrim [...]ge: For, though ſome of us may circumſtantially differ in our Iudgements, we are one in him and with him, in his Eſſential Truth, and in that love which knits all the Saints into one bleſſed and everlaſting Communion. I am

Your humble Beadſman, GEORGE WITHER.

For an INTRODUCTION, the AUTHOR flings this Expreſs to the WORLD.

A Parlie, unto thee diſdainful WORLD,

I ſound; and have to thee this Paper hurl'd.

Yet, neither for a Treaty or Compliance,

But, rather, ſtill, to bid to thee Defiance;

For, what thou wer't, thou art; and I yet am

And will be, whilſt I live, to thee the ſame.

Thou art become the Miſtreſs of the Field;

Haſt me beleaguer'd, ſummond me to yield

My Fortreſs, and thou ſo proceedeſt on,

As if thou wert aſſur'd, it ſhould be wonn:

But, thereon thou perhaps, mayſt yet attend

As long as did th' Infanta for Oſtend;

And as ſhe nothing had at laſt but Stones,

Get nothing but dead fleſh, and rotten bones.

I ſee thine inſolence, and every day

Hear what thy favourites are pleas'd to ſay,

How they extol thy Power, how they debaſe

My ſuccours, and my helpers would diſgrace.

[Page] I well obſerve, thou round begirt me haſt;

That, having all my Outworks quite laid waſte,

Thou, to compleat a Conqueſt, doſt begin

A fierce aſſault to ruine all within.

That, to prevent the ſending of ſupplies,

Thou fright'ſt my friends with ſlanders and with lies.

My Accuſatrix too, become thou art;

And, juſtly (I acknowledge) in ſome part,

But, not in all: for, chiefly, thy temptations

Inducements were to thoſe prevarications

Whereby, my Talents were ſometime abus'd:

Though therefore, I ſeem worthily reduc'd

To what I am; thou undeſervedly

Haſt me purſued with malignity;

Becauſe the love which I once bore to thee

Was more, than thou deſervedeſt it ſhould be;

Thou moſt injuriouſly requited haſt

That love, which in my youth on thee I plac't;

For, though I never totally was thine,

Thou had'ſt (when leaſt) more of me then was mine:

And, him, of his right, to whom all was due

I robbed then, thy ſervice to purſue.

But, he, now gives me grace, thy wiles to hate,

And to obſerve them ere it is too late,

That what thou by thy falſhoods doſt intend,

Shall croſs thine own Deſignments in the end.

Thou, having into many errors run me,

Thought'ſt by undoing me, to have undone me,

But art deceiv'd: for, that which thou haſt done

Hath brought me to the knowledge of that Stone,

Which turneth droſs to gold; and from offences

Inſtructs me to extract thoſe Quinteſſences,

Which will preſerve my Freedome in all places,

Supply all Wants; Convert all my Diſgraces

[Page] To honours; and in every eſtate,

With all things needful, me accommodate.

The Devil by thine aid, hath long time ſought

How, he his ends upon me might have wrought;

But, neither Thou nor He, nor both conjoyn'd,

Had power to bring to paſs what was deſign'd,

Untill the FLESH, my Dalilah, you got

To be a third Aſſociate in the Plot;

And then, both to her damage, and to mine

You, ſuch progreſſion made in your deſign,

That by deluding her, you ſoon prevail'd,

In that, whereof you otherwiſe had fail'd;

So, by her Frailty, more than by your Power,

(I, being in your clutches at this hour)

Am openly expoſed (in ſome ſort)

Like Sampſon for a while, to make you ſport;

But, ſtretched your malignity ſo far

That your own Actings, your own works will mar:

For, though my Dalilah your Vaſſal be,

And you by her means have ſurprized me,

Your Cords and Chains will off again be flung,

So that, we ſhall redeemed be ere long

From our Captivities, and in concluſion

Your own contrivements will be your confuſion.

When thou pretendedſt kindneſſes to me

(And by them, didſt intend to ruine me)

Thou gav'ſt me then, one of Pandora's Boxes,

Which, I return thee full of Paradoxes

That ſhall uncharm thy Witchcrafts, and deſtroy

Thoſe Gins which thou againſt me doſt employ:

For, if thou open it, (as it is ſed

Prometheus opened what ſhee's fabuled

To have beſtow'd on him) from thence will flow

Thoſe Truths, which will thy falſhoods overthrow,

[Page] And make ſome who admire them, to contemn

Thoſe Iuglings wherewithall thou fooleſt them:

As likewiſe all thoſe Bugbear-Tyrannies,

Which thy oppreſſing-Inſtruments deviſe

To fright us from our duties, and adhere

To thy allurements, out of love or fear.

To batter down my petty ſingle Sconce,

Thy three great'ſt Engines thou haſt rais'd at once,

And ſo ſurrounded me within my Fort,

That, I have ſcarce one little Sally-port

Whereby I may have egreſs to offend

My Foes, or to give ingreſs to a friend.

Thy Ragged Regiment of POVERTY,

(And they which by RESTRAINT of LIBERTY,)

Commanded are) encloſe me ſo about

With double Trenches, that, here can to nought

For my Relief, admittance now be given,

Except it comes immediately from Heaven:

Moreover, at the four Winds, raiſed high,

Are four Mounts, whereupon thy Batteries lie

So diligently man'd by Major SLANDER

(An old and well experienced Commander

In ſuch like ſervices) that, ſeveral wayes

His great Artillery upon me playes.

At me perpetually his tongue-ſhot flies,

And his whole Culverings charg'd full with Lies,

Send poyſoned Bullets, which I often hear,

Making loud cracks, or whizzing by mine ear.

But, I, at laſt, ſhall rout all this Brigade,

Quite fruſtrate thoſe attempts which thou haſt made

And raiſe again thy ſeige, or do as well

By dying nobly in my Citadel,

And, that it will to thee (when batter'd down)

Prove like the Houſe by Sampſon overthrown.

[Page] Then, thoſe things, plainly will to thee appear,

Which thou at preſent, wilt not ſee nor hear;

And I ſhall be the ſame to thee and thine,

Which thou haſt lately been to me and mine;

For, then, my Ghoſt, arrayed in white ſheets

Shall haunt thy houſes, walk about thy ſtreets,

And fright thee day and night with repetition

Of what is haſting on, for thy perdition,

And will deſcend upon thee at thoſe times

Wherein thou fill'ſt the meaſure of thy Crimes.

Mean while, to comfort others, and prevent

The tediouſneſs of my Beleagurement,

Ile draw a Map, wherein Ile ſo expreſs

The vanity of thy maliciouſneſs,

That, they who liſt ſhall know how much I ſlight

Thy Triple-Forces, and contemn thy ſpight;

And I to thee, their weakneſſes apart

Will ſo declare, that, unleſs blind thou art

Thou ſhalt perceive, I cannot be deſtroy'd,

By thoſe whom thou againſt me haſt employ'd

Although in one united: for, theſe three

SLANDER, IMPRISONMENT and POVERTY,

To fall upon me, all at once began

Before, thou didſt repute me for a Man;

And though they charge me all at once agen,

Grown weaker by old age, than I was then,

My Helper is the ſame; and ſuffring long

Hath by his Grace, now made my power more ſtrong.

I know thy pride this Confidence contemns:

For, faith and hope, are now thought but the dreams

Of thoſe men, whom thou doſt Phanaticks call:

But, whatſoev'r thou thinkſt, proceed I ſhall.

And, if thou heedſt what follows, thou ſhalt hear

How little, either thee, or thine I fear.

[Page] With that part of thy Forces Ile begin

Which, with the firſt Trench hath now ſhut me in.

Thou knowſt, what outwardly, thou haſt bereft;

Now, thou ſhalt know, what is within me left

But, never ſhalt attain to apprehend

How far my hidden ſtore-houſe doth extend.

Confinement is more advantageous than Liberty.

RESTRAINT, which is an Engine, right or wrong,

Made uſe of, (firſt, or laſt, ſhort time or long)

By moſt Oppreſſors, hath been oft my lot;

And, at this preſent, I eſcape it not:

For, (though not in the ordinary way

It ſeemeth now inflicted) I might ſay,

I am impriſoned, and ſo confin'd

That, I am no way free, except in mind.

Of moſt enjoyments I am quite depriv'd

Which from external things may be deriv'd,

Yet thereby not undone; for I poſſeſs

My whole eſſential Freedome neretheleſs.

My toyes are loſt, but by their deprivations

I furniſh'd am with real conſolations,

Which, though they to the world-ward make no ſhows

Yield ſweeter comforts than the things I loſe,

And make my hidden Freedoms to be more

Than thoſe the world vouchſafed heretofore:

For, to her Freedoms, when reſpect I gave

I was then only free to be a ſlave,

Whereas, this, doth from nothing me reſtrain,

Which, to true Liberty, doth appertain.

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That, which gives moſt content to fleſh and blood

I finde to be the baſeſt ſervitude;

And that we nothing have whereof to boaſt

Till what the world calls Liberty is loſt.

What Freedom want I, ſave what being had

makes many Free-men ſlaves, and wiſe men mad?

None, have upon themſelves, and others, brought

More plagues than they have done, who would be thought

The freeſt men: for Freedoms miſ-imploy'd

Have lately all our Liberties deſtroy'd;

And, moſt, whom we much reverence as our betters

Are but our fellow-ſlaves in golden fetters.

What Liberty had I, whereof to vaunt

By thoſe Infranchiſements I ſeem to want?

I was at Liberty to rowle in duſt,

To proſecute my fancies and my luſt;

And therein joy'd, when I could walk abroad;

But, now, I finde the Services of GOD

Are Perfectſt Freedom. That, I am debarr'd

Of nothing, which deſerveth my regard;

And, that the Liberty I did poſſeſs,

Was not true Freedom, but Licentiouſneſs;

At which experiment I am arriv'd,

By loſing that whereof I am depriv'd.

This (though fore-ſeen it was) to me befell

Before I for it was prepared well,

And, I confeſs, at firſt it made a change

Within me, and without, that ſeemed ſtrange:

But, not long after, at the ſecond ſight,

That, which appear'd the wrong-ſide, prov'd the right;

And I am well contented therewithall:

For, I could ſee GODS Mercies through the wall;

Diſcern'd, when inwardly, I turn'd mine eyes,

Much more of Heaven, than when I ſaw the skies.

[Page] And, that, from very little I was barr'd,

Which I have reaſon greatly to regard.

What can I ſee abroad, which hath not been

By me before, almoſt to loathing ſeen,

Or, heard not ſo deſcrib'd, that being ſhown

It will not ſeem a thing already known?

Both Changes and Rechanges I have view'd;

Seen new things old become, old things renew'd;

Princes petitioning diſdainful Grooms

Great Kings dethron'd, & Peaſants in their rooms;

Laws out-law'd, Out-Laws raiſed to be Judges

Of Laws, Lives, Goods, and of our Priviledges,

By Law and Conſcience; Loyaltie made Treaſon,

And Treaſon Loyaltie; Non-ſenſe for Reaſon

Allow'd, and Reaſon thought irrational:

Yea, Meteors I have ſeen riſe, and Stars fall;

Foundations that immoveable appear'd

Thrown down, and Caſtles in the Air uprear'd.

I have ſeen Heads and Feet exchange their places,

Wealth make men poor, and honour bring diſgraces;

Beauties, which raviſhed beholders eyes

Wax more deformed than Anatomies,

Or, no more lovely to be lookt upon,

Than Rawridge, Mumble-cruſt, or Bloody-bone,

But, truth to ſay, they who moſt lovely be,

Now, no more pleaſureful appear to me

Than Pictures, nor ſo much as ugly faces

Whoſe hearts are beautifi'd with inward graces,

Although to Beauty very few were more

A Servant, than I have been heretofore,

And if that pleaſe not, which I once lik'd beſt,

What pleaſure is there to behold the reſt?

That, at this preſent, and all other ſights

Afford ſo little which my heart delights,

[Page] That, all the earth, and one poor little room

Are ſo equivalent to me become,

That I know nothing any other where

More to be priz'd than my enjoyments here;

And, that which makes me ſo indifferent

Nor melancholy is, nor diſcontent.

Confinement, in a houſe of ſtrength doth dwell,

A homely, and ſometimes a naſty Cell,

In furnitures, and in attendance poor,

A Cerberus lies alwayes at the door

Fawning a little, when we entring are

But ever ſnarls while we continue there:

Yet, I ſo quickly had found out his diet,

That, I knew either how to keep him quiet,

Or order ſo my ſelf, that when I pleaſe,

I can lye down and ſleep in LITTLE-EASE;

Enlarge within, that which without hath bound,

Contrive conveniences, where none I found;

And, every whit as much content receive

In what I have not, as in what I have.

I view not here the pleaſures of the fields

Or what a Garden, Grove, or Meddow yields

Which were of late my daily recreation,

But, I have Viſions by my contemplation,

Which hither, during my Confinement brings

Not only ſights of more eſſential things

But an aſſurance of enjoyments too,

Whereof I doubted more a while ago.

I could not be at that Solemnization

Which honoured my Soveraigns Coronation,

Nor ſaw his Royal Train in their late Marches

Through LONDON, under their Triumphant Arches;

Yet in my ſolitarineſs, alone,

What they were doing, I did think upon,

[Page] With what ſhould elſe be done, that's not done yet

And, which I wiſh we may not quite forget,

Nor ſo long, that there, may at length be loſt

Much real honour, and no little coſt;

And which, perhaps, to bring now into mind

By this expreſſion, I am thus confin'd;

For Providence, did neither me reſtrain

At this time, nor infuſe theſe thoughts in vain.

Ionick, Dorick, and Corinthians works,

In which, an Architectors cunning lurks

Apart, or inter-wove (with that apply'd

Whereby it may be richly beautifi'd)

I can conceive, as if I ſaw it made,

And all which paintings thereunto can add.

I know, as well as they who did behold

That coſtly Show, what Silver, Silk and Gold,

Pearls, Diamonds, and precious Rubies, can

Contribute to adorn a horſe or man.

I have ſeen all materials which were thither,

To make up that great triumph, brought together.

Princes and Dukes, and Marqueſſes and Earls,

Plebeians, Men and Women, Boyes and Girls,

As many thouſands as then preſent were

I did as well imagine to be there

As if I them had ſeen; and can ſuppoſe

Not only what is acted at ſuch Shows,

But alſo, more than was at any one

Since firſt the Roman Triumphs were begun,

And fancy by my ſelf ſuch glorious things

As would quite beggar Emperors and Kings

To repreſent them. So, by being there

I had but ſeen a meaner Show than here

My fancy could have made; and what had I

Been then, I pray, advantaged thereby?

[Page] What had I gained then, by ſitting long

And paying, to be crowded in a throng?

What great contentment could I have deriv'd

From what Mechanick Artiſts had contriv'd,

Compar'd to that which my imagination

Contriv'd in honour of that Coronation?

At which the Trophies coſt, at moſt, no more

Than would have made ſome needy perſons poor?

I ſeldom took, at any time much pleaſure

In Shows, which ev'ry vulgar eye can meaſure;

And time and coſt require to make them gay,

Yet in a moment vaniſh quite away,

Behinde them leaving nothing that conduces

To Pious, Moral, or to Civil uſes.

What though I did not ſee the King that day?

I did in my Confinement, for him pray

As heartily as any perſon there,

And, GOD, perhaps, aſſoon the ſame will hear,

Although my Tongue was not then heard among

Thoſe Acclamations of the vulgar throng,

Which did ſalute his ear; my ſilent Voice

Wing'd with Devotion (though it made no noiſe)

Aſcended Heav'n, and may bring bleſſings down,

Which will conduce to ſetling of his Crown,

If he unfix it not by miſ-endeavour,

Or, valuing of the Gift more than the Giver.

I do preſume his duties on that day

He did diſcharge; and (wiſhing others may

Perform their dues to him) do not envy

The glory of that day's Solemnity

To him, for whom 'twas purpos'd, nor the ſight,

Thereof, to thoſe who took therein delight;

But wiſh'd, both might be perfectly contented

In what was at that preſent repreſented;

[Page] And hope, nought was to him aſcribed then,

Which rather appertains to GOD than Men:

For, when to Hereds eloquent Orations

The people gave blaſphemous Acclamations,

And he that honour to himſelf apply'd,

Whereby, GOD ought to have been glorifi'd,

The Doom, which that offence did on him bring,

Made him a lifeleſs, and a louzie King.

Of theſe things my confinement did produce

Some thoughts, which are perhaps of ſome good uſe.

I, likewiſe exercis'd my Meditation,

That day, on other things which have relation

To what was then in act; and mus'd upon

That, which occaſion gave of things then done,

On ſome now paſt, and upon other ſome

Which probably will be in time to come.

I mus'd upon the Changes, and the Chances,

The Publick Troubles, and Deliverances

Which I have ſeen. I ſeriouſly did ponder

GODS, and Mens actions joyntly and aſunder;

Our fooliſh Projects, his wiſe Providences,

Both in their Progreſs, and their Conſequences.

I thought both on the People and the King,

What good or evil poſſibly might ſpring

From their deportments towards one another

Now by GODS mercy they are brought together.

On thoſe too, in particular, I thought

Whom, GOD into his power hath lately brought:

How great, erewhile, his wants and ſufferings were,

What, his enjoyments at this preſent are;

And, on ſome other matters, not a few,

Which theſe, to my conſideration drew,

And which perhaps, that day had been by none

Mus'd on, ſo much, had I not been alone.

[Page] Moreover it occaſion'd thoughts of that

Which to a Nobler Object doth relate;

Even to that Kingdom, King, and Coronation,

That ſhould be thought on with more veneration

Than all the Monarchs in their greateſt glory,

Who now live, or are memoriz'd in ſtory.

My Contemplation, with as much content,

As others had, to me did repreſent

That DAY wherein CHRIST through Ieruſalem

Rode meekly on an Aſs, whilſt after him

The people throng'd or laqued by his ſide,

And voluntarily HOSANNA cry'd,

Yet afterward purſuing him with ſcorns

Cry'd Crucifie, and crowned him with Thorns;

And this, me thought, was ſo conſiderable,

That it made all our Pomp ſeem deſpicable.

For, then my Muſes drew me by degrees,

To meditate on what my ſoul fore-ſees

Concerning them, who, whilſt they do pretend

CHRIST's Kingdom, do purſue another end;

And that, which for his glory was beſtown,

Make uſe of, for advancement of their own.

Not ſeldom, likewiſe, I then thought upon

Thoſe many thouſand families undone,

Who ſit and weep through want of what that day

Was waſtfully and vainly, thrown away,

At ſuch a time, wherein both Man and GOD,

Proceedings lookt for in another mode,

And when, our publick hazards and diſtreſs,

Requir'd another way of thankfulneſs.

Upon that ſolemn day, (not without wonder)

I ſaw and heard, the Lightning, rain, and thunder

Wherewith GOD ſeem'd to anſwer and out-vy

Our Guns and fire-Works, (though I was not nigh)

[Page] And ſuch-reſemblance had the works of Art,

To Nature's, that they could not be apart

Diſtinguiſh'd; but that, to prevent our error,

The laſt was loudeſt, and infus'd more terrour.

This, I obſerved well; and furthermore

Took ſpecial heed, that nigh two Moneths before,

And likewiſe ever ſince, from Rainy weather

We were not oft free, one whole day together,

Until that Royal Triumph was begun,

Nor till that moment wherein it was done:

Yet, durſt I not be ſo prophane, to ſay

(As one hath writ) it dar'd not rain that day.

Nor at that time, Flaminian like, durſt I

Conjecture by a Heatheniſh Augurie

What GOD thereby intended: but, with awe

Conſider'd upon what I heard and ſaw:

And I confeſs, the Lightning, Rain, and Thunder

At this our Seed-time, cauſed me to ponder

On that, which Sumuel prayed GOD to ſend

In Harveſt-time, and what that did portend;

Which I conceive to be a Meditation

Not then improper, for my Contemplation.

And, though ſome peradventure may ſuſpect

That theſe expreſſions, may ſome way reflect

On what concerns them, it concerns him more

Whoſe cauſe and honour I prefer before

All earthly things; and can be not afraid,

Who ere ſhall be diſpleas'd with what I've ſaid;

For, I was barr'd from ſeeing what is done

By men; that, GODS works might be muſed on.

Such things, although we then much mind them not,

Should not amidſt our Triumphs be forgot;

And, that, (which then by me was thought upon)

Much more effectually, perhaps, was done

[Page] In this condition which I now am in,

Than could in that ſtate, wherein I have been:

Forgot therefore, by others, if it be

It will ſeem no great wonderment to me;

For, who remember Ioſephs in their ſports,

Or in the jollities at Princes Courts?

Confinement (which I once a damage thought)

To me, hath other priviledges brought.

It manifeſts apparently to me

Who are my Kinſmen, who my Neighbours be;

And whether he who paſſeth by me than,

Be Levite, Prieſt, or a Samaritan:

For, Neighbourhood and Kindred, he beſt tryes

That's robbed, wounded, or impriſon'd lyes.

In Liberty, I ſometimes doubted whether

They, who then came to viſit me, were either

My Friends or Foes, for, I found other while

They whom I truſted moſt, did moſt beguile.

But, few or none my Viſitants now are

Save they, whoſe Viſitations are ſincere;

The Friends I got, when I did walk abroad

I gain'd my ſelf: Theſe, are made mine by GOD.

Theſe were acquired without pains or coſt;

Not won by merit, nor by ſmall faults loſt.

The firſt, were for proſperity decreed,

The latter, for my help, in time of need,

And ſought my Body out, unknown before

Becauſe, they heard it was diſtreſt, and poor;

Which hath to me, Confinement ſweeter made,

Than all the Freedoms which I lately had;

And, me, with that Communion of the Saints,

Experimentally, it now acquaints,

Which, in this life enjoyed is, by all,

Who, in the life to come, enjoy it ſhall,

[Page] A Priſon, cannot dreadful ſeem to me,

For, there I firſt was taught my A, B, C,

In Sufferings: There, when I had ſcarcely paſt

Mine Nonage, to be ſchooled I was place't.

And, ſo long as the Providence of GOD,

Was pleas'd, that, to inſtruct me with that Rod,

I ſhould continue my abiding there,

Princes, my Tutors, and Correctors were.

A Priſon, is that Houſe of Diſcipline,

Wherein the MARTYRS uſually begin

To be Probationers; it is the Colledge

Of SAINTS, wherein experimental knowledge

Is firſt acquired by a carnal ſenſe

Of that, which tries their Chriſtian patience.

Priſons, to them, are ſanctified Temples,

Wherein, they by their meekneſs and examples

Preach to the world by Deeds (a powerful way)

What, many other do but meerly ſay.

And, as our Prelates, in each Cathedral

Have ſeveral places, which they pleaſe to call

More or leſs holy: ſo, there likewiſe be

Impriſonments of differing degree:

The Outer-ward, an entertainment gives

Moſt commonly to Murtherers and Thieves,

Or, ſuch like malefactors, who diſpleaſe

The world ſometimes, and interrupt her eaſe,

For which they are confin'd, till their juſt guerdon

They ſhall receive, or bribe her for a pardon;

And whereto ſhe gives all advantages

That may in Priſons granted be to theſe.

But, all her Priſoners are not confin'd

To Wards, and Receptacles of one kind.

The Inner-wards, which do to me appear

The ſame that Chancels unto Churches are,

[Page] Are not made uſe of (except now and then)

But for moſt holy and Religious men.

The deepeſt Dungeons be reſerv'd for thoſe

Who dare our Vices, or her Luſts oppoſe;

Or, things repugnant to our ends profeſs,

(When mov'd thereto by conſcientiouſneſs)

And, whoſoere preſumes to plead their caſes,

As Innocents, doth hazard in like places

His own Reſtraint; or elſe unto ſuſpects,

Which peradventure may have worſe effects.

Yet, Freedom yields to none ſo much content,

As theſe enjoy, by ſuch Impriſonment.

For, they with inward comforts are delighted,

Whilſt they with outward darkneſs are benighted:

And ſweet Refreſhments, in amongſt them come

When they are throng'd up in a naſty Room.

When, they of their familiars are depriv'd,

They are by thoſe, who knew them not, reliev'd;

When they from earthly men, faſt lockt have been,

Celeſtial Angels have ſometime broke in;

Knockt off their chains; the gates and doors unbar'd

The Priſon ſhook; the ſturdy Iaylor ſcarr'd

And made him (falling down before them too)

Cry, Men and Brethren, ſay, what ſhall we do?

A Priſon is the beſt retiring Room

That can be got; the beſt Muſeolum

For him, wherein to contemplate, that would

Thoſe Objects without fallacy behold,

Which moſt concern him; or would notions have

Of what he ought to do, hope or believe;

For, moſt of thoſe things, which abroad he ſpies,

Either delude his ears, or blind his eyes,

Pervert his Iudgement, or withdraw his mind

From that, wherein his welfare he might find.

[Page] A Priſon is a place; which he that can

Make uſe of, as becomes a prudent man,

Findes there, more laſting, and more perfect ſolace

Than in the greateſt earthly Princes Pallace,

And, when he knows what Priviledges are

In this condition, will ſcorn all that's there.

In Priſon, quickly, underſtand he ſhall

The worſt that can to him, at laſt, befall.

There, he may notice take, how moſt men pother

Themſelves; what plagues they are unto each other.

How, cauſeleſly men terrified are

By thoſe, to whom they dreadful would appear;

And, peradventure, if they patient be

That, they purſued by their Foes will ſee,

By which their ſelf-deſtruction ſhall be wrought,

And thoſe freed, whom, they into bondage brought.

There, they may learn, that to make black or white,

One hair, or add one ſtraws-breadth to their height

Care nought avails; and in that poor eſtate

To laugh at all the worlds deſpight and hate:

For, over them, no power then left ſhe hath,

Except of proſecuting them to death,

Which them ten thouſand fold will happier make

Than all, that ſhe can either give or take.

Theſe are ſuch benefits as I enjoy,

By what, now ſeems my Freedom to deſtroy.

In Priſon, too, this Priviledge I have,

That, living, I deſcend into my Grave,

And by my Contemplation can fore-ſee

What my condition in that place will be.

I ſearch it to the bottom, by that ſpark

Of Light, which ſhineth brighteſt in the dark.

The terrours of that Dungeon I fore-ſtall,

I, (as it were) pre-act my Funeral,

[Page] And in a manner alſo, ſee and hear

What will be ſaid and done, when I am there;

Which are advantages not to be known,

Whilſt in the world I flutter up and down.

In Priſon alſo, when leaſt room I have,

And cloſe am kept, I, far beyond the Grave

Do Proſpects view; and can ſee pretty well

What may concern men, both in Heaven and Hell;

Whereof, if here I ſhould my knowledge ſpeak

Them, for Phanatick dreams, the world would take;

And not believe the things I could declare,

Becauſe, ſhe knows that I was never there;

And, therefore, Ile proceed again to ſhow

What, my Experiments are here below.

Reſtraint, from me, hath totally ſhut out

That frivelous, and that offenſive Rout,

Which interrupts my Muſings with diſcourſe

That's either wholly vain, or ſomewhat worſe:

For, to nought elſe, it for the moſt part tends

But fruitleſs complements, or graceleſs ends;

And, what among us, is at meetings blown,

Wrongs other mens affairs, or elſe our own,

Whereas, our words whilſt here we are together,

Tend to the edifying of each other,

In Faith or Manners; or elſe, to improve

That Hope, that Meekneſs, Conſtancy and Love

Which may enable, patiently to bear

Thoſe Burthens, wherewith we oppreſſed are:

And, when our Bodies are aſunder gone,

We never leave each other quite alone;

For, we (ev'n when corporeally apart)

Are preſent, both in Spirit and in Heart.

Though this Fraternity did often minde me,

Till my Impriſonment they could not finde me,

[Page] Nor did I know their perſons. Thou, therefore

Oh fooliſh world, to my content add'ſt more

By my Reſtraint, than if to me were given

All carnal Freedoms on this ſide of Heaven;

And, if this be the great'ſt harms thou canſt do,

Prethee, let every ſpight thou doſt be two.

But, all the comforts which beſt friends afford,

(As they are men) may prove like Ionah's Gourd,

For, as next morning, that, did wither quite

Which GOD did cauſe to ſpring up in one night,

So, when the Sun burns, or a ſharp wind blows,

This may as quickly fade, as it aroſe:

For, Death or Injuries, do every day

Take thoſe mens lives, or, their eſtates away

Who are moſt charitable, and, of bread

They may have need, by whom I have been fed,

For, unto all men underneath the Sun

That may betide which doth befall to one.

Not therefore, upon thoſe things which GOD ſends,

But, on himſelf alone, my ſoul depends:

Here, all my confidence, vain world, is place't,

Or elſe I might be ruined at laſt;

And all my preſent hopes, as vain would be,

As if I had repos'd my truſt in thee.

By this Reſtriction, not a few temptations

Will be repelled; many deviations

Of mine prevented; duties better done;

Things which have been forgot, more thought upon;

It peradventure may prepare me too,

For what I'm yet to ſuffer and to do,

Much better than that Freedom did, or could,

Which, by the Common Tenure I did hold:

And who knows, but ſome corporal miſ-hap

I may or did by this Reſtraint eſcape,

[Page] Which might have elſe befell me when together

The people throng'd and trod upon each other.

Which, though no more but ſhunning ſo much harm,

As breaking of a neck, a legg, or arm,

Were conſiderable, and ten to one

Such miſ-adventures daily fall upon

Some perſons unconfin'd, when they leaſt dread them,

Becauſe, where dangers are, they little heed them.

Scap'd I no more here, than that ſlaviſh load

Of Complementings, wherewithall abroad

Men tire themſelves, and others; that, alone

Sufficient were, if well conſider'd on,

To make amends for all the ſufferings

Which my confinement now upon me brings.

For, as to pay this life, I am a debter

To Nature, and then hope to have a better,

My Wants, Reſtraints, and Poverty do leſs

Afflict my Body, by all that diſtreſs

Now laid upon it, than my ſoul hath been

To hear and ſee, what I have heard and ſeen,

Whileſt I had liberty abroad to go,

And hear and ſee, what many ſay and do:

With what diſſembling Complements, Careſſes,

Affected Speeches, flattering Addreſſes,

And falſe Pretendings, men of ev'ry ſort

Do cheat, fool, claw, and one another court,

As if they did Realities intend

When, in meer Nullities, at laſt they end.

How, Letters, Promiſes, Vows, Declarations,

Orders, Oaths, Covenants, and Proteſtations

Annihilated are, and turn to ſmoak

Or ſtinks, which rather poiſon us, and choak

Than truly nouriſh; and how they go on

In acting ſtill, ſuch things as they have done

[Page] Who are deſtroyed; and yet, nere the leſs,

Dream they purſue the waies of Happineſs.

I am, as well pleas'd, with my ſad condition,

As others, with what they have in fruition,

And, if deſire a longer life I could,

For nothing elſe the ſame deſire I ſhould,

Except it were that I might live to ſee

What GOD will do, and what their end will be.

Frequent I cannot, with conveniency

(As lately, when I had my Liberty,

I might have done) the Publick Congregation;

But, I, upon GOD's Word, by meditation,

(To exerciſe my ſelf) may ſet apart

The time they dedicate; and both my heart

And my beſt Faculties, employ that day,

In preaching ſomewhat to the world my way

Which will advance GOD's glory, and improve

My Brethren in good life, hope, faith, and love:

Or, that prepare, which thereunto may tend,

When Daies and Times, with me will have an end:

And, GOD (I know) confines not Saving Graces

To ordinary Means, Forms, Times, or Places,

Nor is diſpleaſed when his ſervices

Endeavour'd are, without contentiouſneſs,

As we are able, and with upright heart,

Though of our duties we may fail in part.

Some other Notions, which in this eſtate

Are apprehended, I might now relate,

Which further may illuſtrate thoſe miſ-haps

That man by an Impriſonment eſcapes

But, they are Trifles to what I poſſeſs,

In my conſtrained Solitarineſs.

For, though it be not what I might have choſe

(Had I been left unto mine own diſpoſe)

[Page] It proves much better: and for that reſpect

What I moſt naturally do affect

I dare not abſolutely to requeſt,

(Much leſs make choice of) but to him that beſt

Knows what's beſt for me, wholly have reſign'd

Both mine own ſelf, and things of ev'ry kind.

'Tis he, who hath aſſign'd this lot, and all

What ere it be, which thereby doth befall;

And, this Reſtraint, not only makes him dearer

To me, but alſo, to him, draws me nearer,

So that the more my troubles do increaſe,

The nearer unto him is my acceſs.

He, fortifies my confidence in him,

And heartens me, the World thus to contemn,

As boldly as if doubtleſs cauſe there were

For her to fear me, more than I fear her.

I have my fears, but they are nothing elſe

Save what Perdues and Scouts, and Centinels

Are to an Army: they do not diſ-heart

A valiant Souldier; though they make him ſtart

At firſt Alarm; but cauſe him to prepare

For thoſe aſſaults, which nigh approaching are.

When I am judged, in an undone-caſe,

Becauſe, confin'd, in wants, and in diſtreſs;

When all my outward Comforters are gone,

And, I lie muſing on my bed alone

Of what I knew before, or heard that day;

Of what my Friends fear, and my Foes do ſay;

What men they are, who ſeem with me offended,

What is already done, and what intended;

Sometimes a little ſhuddring doth begin,

As if a panick-fear were breaking in,

Which he marks, ere to me it doth appear

Forthwith, ſteps down betwixt me and that fear

[Page] Supplies defects, expelleth doubts and ſadneſs,

Repleniſheth my heart with ſober gladneſs,

About me ſets his Angels, watch to keep,

And (as to his beloved) gives me ſleep.

Theſe things conſidered, Priſons and Reſtraints

(Which have been long, the portion of the Saints)

Are not alone things little to be fear'd,

But alſo many times to be preferr'd

Before thoſe Liberties, and all thoſe things

That can be found in Palaces of Kings;

What ere their flatterers are pleas'd to ſay,

By fruitleſs hopes, to drive their fears away.

For, more are there endanger'd, more deſtroy'd:

There, many times, is leſs content enjoy'd,

Leſs outward ſafety, and a great deal leſs

Of what conduceth to true happineſs,

Than in a Priſon: And who ere well heeds

What, there is done, and what thereon ſucceeds

Will finde cauſe, their condition to bewail

Sometimes, much more, than his that's in a Gaol.

For, errors flowing from Proſperity

Indanger more, becauſe unſeen they lie.

Men may by their Afflictions be prepar'd

For whatſoere can follow afterward,

And are oft fitted by a lingring grief,

For future happineſs in death or life:

But, while corrupted by exceſſive Treaſures,

Befool'd with honours, and bewitch'd with pleaſures,

The cauſe of ſelf-deſtruction ſtill they nouriſh;

They grow as brutiſh as the beaſts that periſh;

And, daily ſo beſotted, by degrees

That, ſenſe of their humanity they leeſe;

So long dream, they are GOD's (or ſomewhat greater,

Till they are Devils, or but little better;

[Page] And ſuddenly, when they think all goes well,

Sink from ſuppoſed Happineſs to HELL.

Moſt men, (yea very many of the beſt)

Their Talents, till they Palm-like down are preſt,

Improve not; nor their Duties truly do,

Till by Afflictions they are whipt thereto.

A Priſon, was long time the School, wherein

Chaſt Ioſeph thoſe progreſſions did begin,

Which, him forth from obſcurity did bring

To be the ſecond perſon to a King.

Ionas was not obedient to GOD'S Call

Till he, both by a Storm, and by a Whale,

Was diſciplin'd: And, if I had a thought

My duties were performed as they ought

In any thing, affirmed it ſhould be

That, thereto my Afflictions fitted me:

For, ſuch like Simples, as I am, require

To make them yield forth Oyl, the Preſs, or Fire,

My Flinty-nature gives not out one ſpark

To light my ſelf, or others in the dark,

Till knockt with Steel. This knowledge I have gain'd

Of mine own temper, and it is unfain'd.

To be impriſon'd, ſlander'd, or made poor,

Shall therefore, henceforth, frighten me no more,

Nor make me, whilſt I live aſham'd of either

Of thoſe three Lots, nor of them altogether.

Prieſts, Prophets, Kings and Saints, yea (whilſt abode

He made on earth) the glorious Son of GOD

Was pleaſed to ſubmit to all of them

(But to the latter two in an extream)

And, with ſuch Company, Ile undergo

My ſhare, and think, I'm thereby honour'd too.

To this effect, much more might here be ſaid,

But, this will be ſufficient, if well weigh'd,

[Page] Which, I ſuſpect; for, very few men heed,

Or mind, long, what they hear, or what they read.

SLANDER is more Beneficiall than PRAISE.

WHo, can expreſs the pain of being ſtung

With ſuch a fiery Serpent as the TONGUE?

Or, what can cure it, but his being ey'd,

Whom, once, the Brazen Serpent typifi'd?

'Tis far more ſharp than Arrows, Darts or Spears;

Down to the heart, it pierces through the ears;

Not only wounds, but frighteth alſo more

Than murthring Canons, when they loudeſt roar;

Afflicteth us, whilſt here we draw our breath,

And, Gangreeve-like, ſo ſpreadeth after death

(Ev'n to poſterity upon our Names)

That it deſtroys the life of honeſt Fames.

This ſury SLANDER, hath been quarter'd long,

In Rotten-Row, and Hart-ſtreet, at the Tongue;

Her Magazeens and Forges are all there,

The Shop at which ſhe vents them, is the Ear,

In ev'ry Town and City; and no places

Or perſons, her aſperſions and diſgraces

Can long avoid: For, ev'ry where ſhe ſcatters

That ſhot wherewith the Forts of Fame ſhe batters.

So venemous it is, that every touch

Proves mortal, or indangers very much,

And nothing ſhooteth more impoyſoned pellets,

Except it be the flatteries of Prelates.

I muſt confeſs, that many years ago

I therewith have been often wounded ſo

[Page] That, very well, content I could have been

To lye down, where I might no more be ſeen;

And, my ſtupidity is not, yet, ſuch

As not to feel indignities as much

As any man: But, I have learned how

To change my Sickneſſes to Phyſick, now:

And when the world intendeth me a ſhame

By retroverſion to convert the ſame

To that, which from be ſpattrings purifies,

And makes me both her Blame and Praiſe deſpiſe,

No more diſpleaſ'd, or pleaſed therewithall

Than if a whibling Cur, ſhould fawn or bawl.

For, unto thoſe Oppreſſions, heretofore

And now lay'd on me, whatſoever more

The world ſhall add; though they a while oppreſs,

Will, ſhortly, make them, not alone much leſs

But, alſo none at all; and wheel about

Upon her ſelf, as ſoon as my Turn's out.

Praiſe, is a pleaſing thing, to fleſh and blood,

Yet, often doth it much more harm than good;

Puffs up with Pride, ore-weening and vain glory,

Or, with affection to things tranſitory

Beyond a ſafe Mean; and makes men ſuppoſe

Themſelves to be, what ev'ry neighbour knows

They are not; yea, what they themſelves do ſee

They neither are, nor poſſibly can be.

Whereas, to be without a cauſe deſpiſ'd,

Diſpraiſ'd, reproach'd, ſcoft, jeer'd and ſcandaliz'd,

An undue ſelf-opinion doth remove

True Meekneſs and Humility improve;

Brings Conſtancy and Patience to their tryal,

And, at the laſt, to ſuch a Self-denial,

As in the cloſe will more contentment give us

Than all, whereof a Slander can deprive us.

[Page] The flatteries of his Lords, made Joaſh ſtumble,

Reviling ſpeeches, made King David humble,

Good men, by praiſes, oft, are evil made,

But, by Reproaches harm they never had.

The World, which beſt is pleaſ'd with her own baubles

For that falſe titulary honor ſcrabbles,

Which is compoſ'd of aiery Attributes,

Or, which opinion only conſtitutes:

And, all her happineſs, dependant ſeems

On vulgar approbations and eſteems,

Which are, indeed, her Portion: but, to thoſe,

Who can look both beyond, and through the Shows,

That ſuch Toies make, nought therein doth appear

To merit their deſire, love, hate or fear:

And, therefore, they reſpect them, (come, or go)

As Reaſon them obliges thereunto,

Or, as things, which (if grace divine be granted) them,

Indifferently, may be poſſeſt or wanted;

Make ſuch uſe as they ſerve to, whilſt they have

And yield them, when reſum'd, to thoſe who gave them.

For, had external honours in this place,

Been truly more eſſential than diſgrace,

To happineſs eternal; CHRIST had waved

The ſcandals of the Croſs; we had been ſaved

And ſanctifi'd ſhould be without thoſe troubles,

Scorns and reproaches, which the world now doubles

And may redouble: yea, in vain had he

A promiſe made, that they ſhould bleſſed be

Who in his ſufferings do with him partake,

And are reproach'd and ſlander'd for his ſake.

Theſe things conſider'd, I am at full reſt;

Slanders infringe not my chief intereſt.

Good or Ill Words will me no more concern

When I am dead, than when I was unborn.

[Page] And, whilſt I live, (as is inferr'd before)

They harm a little, and they profit more.

If Scandals neither mend nor mar my health,

Increaſe not troubles, nor decreaſe my wealth,

Save in opinion onely; all thoſe loſtes

Are cur'd, if my vote, that opinion croſſes.

And (prare who liſt) I will as merry bee

As is a Pye upon a Cherry-tree.

Praiſe, or diſpraiſes, if ſo be my heart

Aſſures, that neither of them by deſert

To mee belongs, my own Phanatick brain

Is cauſe of all, where of I do complain,

Or take delight in: praiſe, blame, bleſs, or curſe,

I am no whit the better, or the worſe;

And, all men are as much concern'd as I

In what's then ſpoken be it Truth, or Lye.

If of a hundred Crimes I guilty were,

All which, as evidently did appear,

As in a cloudleſs day, the Sun at noon;

The world, but as the ſpots within the Moon,

Would look upon them, if, for my defence

I have a face well braz'd with impudence;

An Oily Tongue, a Crocodiles moiſt eye,

Can finde great Friends, bribe, flatter, fawn and lye,

Ore-awe my neighbours, or, my ſelf expreſs

A friend to them, in their licentiouſneſſe.

But, were I, both in words and deeds, as free

From juſt reproof, as mortal man may be,

Had I, but one great neighbour, who envies

All men ſuppoſ'd more honeſt, or more wiſe,

Than hee is thought; therewith a neighbourhood,

Which takes delight in nothing that is good;

Abhorring all, as their injurious foes,

Who, them, in their unrighteous waies oppoſe;

Or, if I be conſtrained to have dealing,

With ſuch, by ſome relation, or nigh dwelling,

[Page] Who think, there's nothing rational or juſt,

But, what tends to their profit, or their luſt;

It is impoſſible to ſcape the wrongs

Of wicked hands, or of malicious tongues:

And, therefore, he, with whom it thus doth fare

Muſt ſtudy patience, how his lot to bear;

And in this caſe, can look for no defence

But from GODS Juſtice, and his Innocence,

Which is ſufficient unto them that know

What conſolations from thoſe fountains flow.

What, is there to be fear'd in Slandrous Tales,

Whether, they ſhall be either true or falſe?

A falſe Report more miſchieves thoſe who ſpread it,

Than harmeth me. If it impairs my credit,

I may recover it again ere long,

And alſo peradventure, by that wrong

Improve ſome Vertue, or abate ſome Pride,

Within my ſelf till that time, uneſpy'd.

Although hard words, give harder knocks than ſtones,

And crack our Credits, yet, they break no Bones;

And, if unjuſtly thrown, by ſpightful fingers,

They prove moſt miſchievous unto their flingers.

One fault which Conſcience findes, afflicts me more

Than twenty ſlanders, yea than twenty ſcore:

So long as that lyes quietly in me,

I ſhall not care who my Accuſers be;

And, when that ſhall accuſe me (as ſometime

It doth) I ſue out an Appeal to him

Who ſtraight acquits me; elſe I muſt confeſs

I ſhould as much fear mine own Righteouſneſs

As all my Sins; for, I eſteem them both

Alike impure, and as a menſtruous cloath.

If I am juſtly blam'd for things miſdone,

Or, for faults wherein I am going on,

It doth by bringing on me ſhame of face,

Repentance bring, and to that, ſtate of Grace

[Page] From which I falling was; and ſtay the courſe

Which might have drawn me on from bad to worſe,

Until, that by habituated ſin,

Endleſs Impenitency had broke in:

Much more, therefore, to theſe I am a debter

Who ſpeak ill, than to thoſe men who ſpeak better

Than I deſerve: And, though that in their ends

They differ, they may be as uſeful friends

Who ſpeak of me opprobriouſly, ſometimes,

As they, who praiſe me, or excuſe my crimes.

For, I have long obſerv'd that all Relations,

Nigh or far off (what ever Obligations

Have nearly joyned them, or whatſoere

Their Quarrels, Bonds, or Diſobligements are)

Be (for the moſt part) either friends or foes,

But, as a proſp'rous, or a croſs wind blows;

Or, as their inter'ſt or Expectancy

May be ſecur'd, or doth at hazzard lye.

The Love or Hatred, which I finde in them,

Differs but in the Meaſure, or the Time,

Or, in th' Occaſions, which have them inclin'd,

To friendlineſs, or elſe to be unkinde.

They frown or ſmile they praiſe, or they diſgrace,

Deſtroy and ſave, and ſtab, or elſe imbrace,

Even as the fit which comes upon them, takes them,

And either pleaſed, or diſpleaſed makes them.

Such will their words and deeds be then to thee,

What ere thou art to them, or they to thee.

As bitter Language, I have heard 'twixt thoſe

That were dear Lovers, as 'twixt greateſt Foes,

Yea, and more bitter too, in ſome reſpects

Conſidering their Cauſes and Effects.

A Foes Revilings very ſharp appear,

But, when our Friends exaſperated are

With, or without Cauſe given of offence,

There is between them greater difference

[Page] (Or at the leaſt, but very little leſs)

Than taſted is between the bitterneſs

Of unpeel'd Wallnut-kernels, and ſtrong Gall,

VVhen with our tongues diſtinguiſh them we ſhall.

Moreover, I have ſometimes alſo ſeen

That, they, who have unto each other been

Moſt miſchievous, ſo reconcil'd together

(Though little vertue hath appear'd in either)

So kind in words and deeds, for outward ends,

And, ſo ingaged mutually as friends

In their Concernments, as if they had never

At variance been; but, hearty friends for ever.

VVhich, when I mind, I neither pleaſure have

In Praiſes, nor do ſlanders me bereave

Of much content, from whom ſoe're they come,

So long as I finde Innocence at home;

Nor, in my own reſpect at any time,

So griev'd am I, as otherwhile for them

VVho have miſ-cenſur'd me; becauſe I know

From what diſtempers uſually they flow;

And that the ſob'reſt and the wiſeſt men

Have ſome Deliriums on them now and then.

Exception is not alwayes to be took

By what ſhall by a Friend or Foe be ſpoke:

For, men in paſſion, whether they appear.

Pleas'd or diſpleas'd, ſpeak few things as they are,

Nor alwayes as they think, but, rather ſay

That, which the paſſion bearing then chief ſway

Tranſports them to; although a wound it give

To their own ſouls, which pains them whilſt they live.

But, Friends and Foes, both good and ill report,

And, all terreſtrial things of every ſort,

VVill ſhortly have an end (with me at leaſt.)

The worſt, as well as that whereof the beſt

Eſteem I had, will into nothing fly:

My Slanders, and my Slanderers will dye.

[Page] At preſent, therefore them no more I dread

Than if I ſaw they were already dead;

And, that which dead or living, ſhall to me

Befall, will equally forgotten be.

By living, I, their ſcandals may out-live,

And good proofs of my innocency give.

VVhen I am dead, what ever men ſhall pleaſe

To ſpeak or do, it cannot me diſeaſe:

And, they who after death do men defame,

Or ſhall expoſe their bodies unto ſhame,

Bring that diſhonour which they did intend

To others, on themſelves, at latter end:

Yea, make ſome queſtion, and ſuſpect their merits;

Repute them perſons of ignoble ſpirits;

And, what they hoped ſhould confirm their peace,

Their terrours and their dangers will increaſe.

Slanders (though poyſon in themſelves) have been

To me a precious Antidote for ſin,

Preventing, not a few times more than one,

That, wherein elſe perhaps I had miſ-done,

(And I, thereby, effects like his have found

Who had a Sickneſs cured by a wound)

Whereas, contrariwiſe, a vain Applauſe

Of ſins or follies, are a frequent cauſe.

I well remember, that, when I was young

(And in both kinds an Object of the Tongue,

As now I am) I reaped, many wayes,

By Slanders, much more profit than by Praiſe.

For, Praiſes made me ſometimes over-ween,

And (as if no defects in me had been)

Neglect the means, that, ſupplements might add

To what, I more in Show, than Subſtance had.

It, likewiſe, me to envy did expoſe,

From which great diſadvantages aroſe,

And ſcandals, without cauſe: But Grace divine

Croſs'd thereby, what the Devil did deſign:

[Page] For, Defamation, ſo ſoon was begun,

That, what it charg'd me with, was never done.

That, ſin prevented was, and many more

By ſending of the Scandal forth before

The Crime was acted; So, into a Bleſſing

A Curſe was turn'd, which merits this confeſſing;

And alſo, me obliges, all my dayes,

On all occaſions, to give GOD the praiſe;

For, if, perhaps it had over-flowed then,

The ſtream had never kept his bounds again.

The ſcoffs and jeers, caſt on me by the Rimes

Of ſome reputed Poets in theſe times

Have been my great advantage: for, th' eſteem

Which in my youthful dayes I had of them

Had elſe perhaps, from my ſimplicity

Drawn me, by their familiarity

To thoſe affected Vanities with which

They have infected fools, and claw'd their itch.

Were I but as ambitious of that name

A POET, as they are, and think I am,

It might a little vex me, when I hear

How often, in their Pamphlets me they jear,

Becauſe, Truth ſeaſonably I convey

To ſuch as need it, in a homely way,

Beſt pleaſing unto thoſe who do not care

To crack hard ſhells in which no kernels are;

Or for ſtrong Lines, in which is little found,

Save an affected phraſe, and empty ſound.

But, I do read them with a ſmiling pitty

To finde them to be wicked, who are witty.

At their Detractions, I do not repine;

Their Poems I eſteem as they do mine:

Their Cenſures, I with ſleighting overpaſs,

Who, like words without ſenſe, wit without grace;

And, better am contented, without cauſe

To hear their miſ-reports, than their Applauſe.

[Page] As alſo, that, they ſhould by Pantaloons

Admired be, and honour'd by Buffoons.

Yea, as Iob ſaid, ſhould they a Book compile

Againſt me (as they may, and did erewhile)

I would receive it, on my ſhoulders bear it,

And as a Crown, upon my head would wear it.

My fearleneſs of SLANDERS doth not flow

From Ignorance, which hinders me to know

How, I am ſcandaliz'd: for it appears

In Print and I have heard it through both ears.

I daily hear what ignominious lyes

Detraction, to defame me doth deviſe.

I know, whence they proceed; whereto they tend,

In what likewiſe they poſſibly may end:

And it would ſtagger and affright me too,

Unleſs I knew the worſt, all this could do

For, they, who Idolize the Prelacy

Impute to me no leſs than Blaſphemy,

And Sacriledge: And, I may well expect

That, when their hopes have taken full effect,

Though they with me at preſent, do but dandle,

They then will curſe me with Bell, Book and Candle.

How ever, for their perſons I will pray:

For, malice hath not mov'd me to gain-ſay

Their Prelacy; nor hope to get again

What they uſurp, and doth to me pertain:

But, meerly conſcientiouſneſs of that

Which in my place I vow'd to vindicate.

Some, call me Traytor too; but well I wot,

They do not ſo beleeve, or know me not.

I never did betray my truſt to any,

Though I my ſelf have been betray'd by many.

With Traytors I have numbred beenf or one,

And ſerv'd their ends, yet I my ſelf was none:

For, if like Abſolone they did pretend

To Sacrifice, and had another end,

[Page] I went on in ſimplicity of heart,

And did not from my Principles depart.

If they intended, or committed Treaſon,

I wronged not my Conſcience, or my Reaſon.

By ought miſ-done, except it were, perchance,

Through over-ſight, or elſe through Ignorance;

For which, the Plagues now Epidemical,

To me, as unto other men befall.

I never was in any factious Plot,

Nor likely ſeems it, by what I have got,

That, with them in their Actings, I was one

VVho, thriv'd by thoſe deſigns they carried on,

Though being ſubject to the preſent Law,

I now do ſuffer, like Jack Fletchers Daw.

But, howſoere, I ſeem to merit blame

None, to the King, are truer than I am.

Yet, if in Fame, we credit may repoſe,

I am deſigned to be one of thoſe,

VVho ſhall not be vouchſaf'd that Common grace,

VVhich at his Coronation granted was.

GOD's will be done: Perhaps, the King well knows

I need not, what on others he beſtows;

Or, to me, ſingly, will his favour ſhow,

That I his Magnanimity may know;

And, that he will more gracious be to thoſe

VVho, him did not maliciouſly oppoſe,

Than they, whom I did ſerve, were to their friends,

Becauſe they did not ſerve them, to their ends.

But, if Report hath not divulg'd a Lye,

VVhat, can I loſe, or others get thereby?

My whole eſtate, already is bereft,

And, what will there be found, where's nothing left?

My life, you'l ſay; Alas! that's little worth,

It hath been waſting, ever ſince my birth;

And (when it was at beſt) too poor a thing,

To ſatisfie the Vengeance of a King.

[Page] It will to moſt men ſeem ridiculous,

To hear a Lion Rampant, kill'd a Mouſe,

Or, ſee an Eagle ſtoop down from on high,

To truſſe a Titmouſe, or a Butterfly.

The dread of ſuch a loſs will not come neer me,

For, Age will ſhortly kill me, though he ſpare me;

And, when there's no conveniency of living,

Life, neither is worth asking or the giving.

But GOD's intentions, and the hearts of Kings,

Are ſuch inſcrutable and hidden things,

That, none can ſearch their bottomes; then much leſs

Can they be fathom'd by maliciouſneſs.

Their wayes of working their own pleaſures out,

Are, many times, by wheeling round about,

By croſs and counter-actings, and by thoſe

Which ſeem'd their own Deſignments to oppoſe.

The faithfull'ſt men, they do expoſe oft-times

To hazzards; or wirh ſuch as are for crimes

Condemn'd, they number them; or, prove them by

Deſertions, diſ-reſpects, and Poverty;

And, frequently, do fit them for thoſe places

Wherein they beſt may ſerve them, by diſgraces;

But principally, at thoſe times, wherein,

Hypocriſie, becomes the Reigning-ſin.

More things I might inſert, which have relations

In this kinde, to my own prevarications,

And, to th' Improvements, which have oft enſu'd

By Scandals, which I then would have eſchew'd.

But, my Experiments will work on none,

VVho cannot by their own, be wrought upon.

Conſider therefore all ye unto whom

This Writing, by GOD's providence doth come,

VVhat, in your ſelves and others, you have heeded,

VVhich hath from Slanders, and from Praiſe proceeded;

And, you ſhall finde more by the laſt undone

Than by the former, at leaſt, ten to one.

[Page] According to our Proverb, the Bell clinketh

Juſt ſo, as in his fancy, the fool thinketh

And, they who flattring praiſes love to hear,

Immediately, ſuch to themſelves appear,

As repreſented by their Paraſite,

Though no more like than Black-ſwans are to white.

Such Panegyricks I have ſometime ſeen

That, hard to be reſolved, it had been,

By him, whoſe judgement you therein ſhould crave,

Whether, the Panegyriſt were more knave

Than he was Fool, for whom, the ſame was made:

But, of their equal Impudence I had

No doubt at all, when wiſtly I had heeded

What one gave, tother took, and what ſucceeded.

For, I have oftentimes obſerv'd, thereby,

Good Men deprav'd; Great Men, to Tyranny

Incouraged; That, which is due to men

By Natures Law, at firſt, they ſeize and then

Thoſe Attributes, at laſt, intrude upon

That ought to be aſcrib'd to GOD alone.

Which evidences, that, Immodeſt Praiſe

Is worſe than Slander, and a ground-work layes,

Whereon a ſuperſtructure may be built,

To ſink the Builders, down to ſhame and guilt.

SLANDERS, and Perſecutions of the Tongue

A portion likewiſe is, which doth belong

Unto the Saints; and ſanctifi'd they are

By him, with whom, an individual ſhare

Each muſt expect; we, do but only ſup

At brim, he drunk the bottome of the Cup:

We altogether merited the blame,

He underwent the ſorrow and the ſhame.

Falſe witneſſes againſt him were ſuborn'd;

His Glory was to his diſhonour turn'd;

His neareſt friends forſook him, and forſwore him,

His foes preferr'd a Murtherer before him;

[Page] His Innocency not alone reproaching,

But, likewiſe moſt injuriouſly incroaching:

Upon his righteous perſon, him purſu'd

Till by a ſhameful death, he death ſubdu'd,

And breaking from the grave, to Heav'n aſcended,

By Angels to Immortal Life attended;

Where, now inthron'd, he Thrones prepared hath

For all, who follow him in that rough path;

And every ſlander, ſcorn, reproach and ſhame,

He ſuffr'd here, adds glory to his Name.

This is the way, and hath been ever ſince,

Through which all men muſt paſs, who go from hence

To that Eternity, where ſhall be worn

The Robes of honour, when the Rags of ſcorn

Shall off be thrown. On him I fix mine eyes,

And, that, will me enable to deſpiſe

Terreſtrial ſhame and honour: That, makes all

My troubles, when at greateſt, ſeem but ſmall.

That, makes me, whilſt my Body is confin'd,

Take pleaſure, in the freedomes of the Minde;

Not dreading preſent, or enſuing wrongs,

Of wicked hands, or of malicious tongues.

This Paradox, it helps me to maintain,

That, where the Grace of GOD is not in vain,

More profit, bittereſt reproach affords,

Than all the worlds Applauſes, and fair words.

Poverty is more profitable than Riches.

ANother Black-Guard hath beleagur'd me,

That, ſeems to be the worſt of all the three

For, therewith, whoſoever hath to do,

Still is in danger of theſe other two,

[Page] Impriſonment and Slander, who attend

On Poverty unto her latter end.

Yet, whatſoever in her ſelf ſhe ſeem,

She merits not a total diſ-eſteem:

For, 'tis an inſtrument of good and evil,

Oft-times imploy'd againſt us by the Devil,

And, oft by GOD himſelf, to ſuch effects

As may prevent the miſchief he projects,

By tempting to thoſe manifold abuſes

Which Riches being miſ-employ'd produces.

There are two ſorts of Poverty, that ſpring

From diffring Roots; effects they likewiſe bring

Both diffring and alike: for, providence

Maugre all humane wit and diligence,

Makes many poor, and all their induſtries

Rendreth ſucceſſeleſs by Contingencies,

VVhich no man can fore-ſee, or wholly ſhun

VVho ſhall be thereby outwardly undone.

This Poverty, afflicts, at firſt, as much

As any, but, diſparages not ſuch

As bear it well; and though it grieveth many,

(Except by their own fault) deſtroyes not any.

The other ſort, is ſordid, vile, and baſe,

Yet, draws her Pedigree, from ſuch a Race,

As doth in Country, City, and in Court

Still bear an extraordinary port:

For, by the Fathers, or the Mothers ſide,

It ſprung from Prodigality or Pride,

Or, from Improvidence or Idleneſs,

And, is indeed, near kin to all Exceſs,

Though her Alliance, theſe, now ſcorn and wave,

Becauſe, that ſhe is ragged, and they brave.

She, at this preſent time, both againſt me

And others is employ'd: But, though ſhe be

Made uſe of by the world; yet, I well know

The World it ſelf abhors her as a foe,

[Page] And, with a ſlaviſh dreadfulneſs doth fear her,

On whatſoere occaſion, ſhee comes near her.

Yea, till this Bug-bear, was more known to mee,

I, dreaded her almoſt as much as ſhee,

And, did the beſt I could, to keep her from

That nearneſs whereunto ſhe now is come.

For, he that would diſgrace, and bring us to

That State, which queſtionleſs might us undo,

Let him but juſtly ſay that wee are poor,

And, to deſtroy us, hee need ſay no more.

VVhereas diſgrac'd thereby we ſhall be much

If, we continue to be very rich,

Of whatſoever crime or crimes, we ſtand

Convicted by the known Laws, of this Land.

For, VVealth cannot alone our Pardons buy

And blot out every former Infamy;

But, in a ſhort time alſo, make us capable

Of Truſts or places that be honourable;

Yea though they be thoſe places which diſpence

To all the people, Law and Conſcience;

And marry Ladies (neither nor poor, nor painted)

As if our bloods had with no crimes been tainted.

But, to be poor, implieth every whit,

As if we had nor honeſty, nor wit,

And, every thing, which ſince our lives begun,

VVee honeſtly, nor prudently have done,

Shall ſo traduced be as if that nought

Had e're by us, been well done, ſpoke, or thought.

There, where we have been kindly entertain'd,

A civil uſage, hardly ſhall be daign'd.

There, where we have been honour'd in times paſt,

Neighbours and Kinſmen will their doors make faſt;

Our old familiars will our perſons ſhun,

Like Rats, our Servants from the houſe will run,

Which, then, will be a place of deſolation,

And few thenceforth approach our habitation,

[Page] But, Serjeants, Shreeves, or Bayliffs (beaſts of prey)

That little, which is left, to fetch a way:

And, when there doth remain nor ſticks nor ſtones,

Dead or alive, they'l take our Fleſh and Bones.

If all I ſhould expreſſe, that might be ſaid

In this kind, you would think mee ſtill afraid

Of Poverty; and, that which I ſhould ſpeak,

In ſome, perhaps, would ſuch impreſſions make

That, they with difficulty would beleeve

What benefits I now thereby receive:

Forbearing therefore, that which I might add

I'le tell what profits may thereby be had;

That, others (who can think I do not lye)

May be no more afraid thereof than I:

That, alſo, they who thereby grieved are,

May in my Conſolations have a ſhare,

To bear thoſe burchens without diſcontent,

Which are now on them, or ſeem imminent:

For, little I will mention which was brought

By reading, or by hearſay to my thought;

But, that Philoſophy, which Reaſon teaches,

(Experience hath confirm'd, and GOD's Grace

Unto my heart; that, it may ſympathize

With their hearts, who the ſame ſhall not deſpiſe: preaches

Which, though expreſt in language rude and plain,

Will, peradventure, to good uſe remain,

When they, who of their Elegancies boaſt,

Are, with their Kickſhaws, in oblivion loſt.

When moſt are alſo, quite forgot, whom they

Now dream, ſhall by their Poems, live for aye;

And, when, that, which they deſpicable deem,

VVith wiſe and honeſt men, ſhall finde eſteem.

In my Reſtraint, I therefore, do not whine;

At my Reproaches, I do not repine,

Nor murmure at my loſſes; nor want ſenſe

Of that is in them, which may give offence.

[Page] My ſeeming-friends, I muſt confeſs, are fewer,

But, they whom now God gives mee are much truer;

For, theſe that now I have, I finde more willing

To give a pound, than thoſe to pay a ſhilling.

Yet, ſome of theſe are ſo poor, that, I'm fain

Them, from their free Donations to reſtrain,

Becauſe, that of my Sufferings they are grown

More ſenſible, than they are of their own.

And this, an evidence of that doth give,

VVhich pleaſeth better than what I receive;

Since it demonſtrates, GOD, hath in this Nation

A people, capable of his compaſsion.

I am not ignorant how much diſgrace

Is thrown on Poverty, nor in what baſe

Account they are, who, thereby are conſtrain'd

Meerly, by Charity, to bee maintain'd:

Yet nought aſhamed am of that eſtate

VVhich moſt ſo ſcorn, and ſo abominate.

For without loſs of honour, men of merit,

This Portion very many times inherit.

Great Conſuls, and renowned Generals

(In ſuch an exigent as oft befalls

To very many thouſands in this Nation)

Have had relief without diſ-reputation

By Common Charity: and, Antient Story

Hath kept memorials of it to their glory.

But, I refer that which I might expreſs

(To take this Blur off) to another place.

To have ſubſiſtance by meer Charity

Is, to ſubſiſt by GOD, immediately,

And, they are wicked, or, vain fools, at leaſt,

By whom thoſe Exhibitions are diſgrac't.

For, very many of GOD's favourites

Have been oft, thereby, from the worlds deſpights

Preſerv'd: yea, to the World, it would appear

If ſhee would heed it, that, her Minions are

[Page] Expoſ'd to ſuch a Lot, and (without ſhame)

Have been by Alms preſerved as I am:

And, not in thoſe neceſſities alone,

VVhich by miſ-accidents are undergone,

Are they reliev'd; but, very many be

Thereby likewiſe upheld, in that degree,

VVhich much is honour'd; yea, ev'n to Exceſſe,

In outward ſplendor, and vain pompouſneſſe.

For, this way, not alone are Monks and Friers

Maintained, with their Abbots and their Priors,

But, even the great Prelates, all their lives,

By Charities abuſed Donatives;

And, yet as loftily advance their creſt

As if they had been Barons born, at leaſt,

Precedency uſurping above thoſe,

By whom, they from obſcurity aroſe.

By moſt men, Poverty is thought ſo baſe,

That, they repute it for the great'ſt diſgrace

VVhich can betide them, by what way ſoever

It comes; or howſoere they ſhall indeavour

To keep it off; and think it not their leaſt

Diſhonour, when enforced to ſubſiſt

By Charity, although it ſhall be uſed

VVith thankfulneſs, and in no wiſe abuſed.

And, many ſeek to turn it to my ſhame

That I now brought to this condition am.

Yet, what's to mee befallen worſe or more

Than to good, wiſe, and great men heretofore?

Renowned Princes in preceding ages,

Have ſought, and had Supplies and Patronages.

From Forein Kings and States, in their diſtreſſes

VVithout reproach: yea, he that now poſſeſſes

Theſe three great Kingdomes was by indigence

Conſtrained (not a very long time ſince)

[Page] By Charity, to be both cloath'd and fed;

To ſlake his hunger with a poor mans bread,

And, to accept it, not alone from thoſe

Who were his friends, but alſo from his ſoes,

(Whoſe gifts were baits, whoſe Table was a ſnare,

And, of whom, if hee do not well beware,

More miſchief, and, diſhonour will be done him

Than by the Poverty then brought upon him.)

Some other perſons alſo, of great birth,

From place to place have wandr'd through the earth

Maintain'd by the Charity alone,

Sometime by many, and ſometimes by one;

And other while, have ſeem'd ſo left by all,

That they into great poverty did fall.

Yet n'eretheleſs, whilſt they have Preſervation

Retain ſtill in the world ſome Reputation.

They are meer fools, or worſe, who do beleeve

That, more diſgrace, than theſe I can receive

From ſuch an In-come: for (by what I gather

From thence) it is a real honour rather,

That, GOD ſupplieth (as it were) from Heaven,

When earthly wealth and honours are bereaven.

When Iſrael had been Captiv'd ſev'nty year,

Hee made, even thoſe, by whom inſlav'd they were

Them, from their tedious thraldome to redeem,

VVhen there was none to help or pity them.

It was their honour, that their preſervation

Should be vouchſafed, ſo to admiration,

That Nations all, might in all times to come,

By heeding it, conſider well, from whom

They muſt in ſuch like caſes aid expect;

And, that, though by a long delay'd effect

They ſeem forgot, and outward hopes quite paſt,

There will bee a Deliverer at laſt,

[Page] By whom, thoſe wants for which they have been ſcorn'd

Shall, to their honour, certainly be turn'd.

What is it more to my Diſ-reputation

That GOD provideth for my preſervation

By Charity, than 'tis diſgrace to thoſe

Who their Eſtates by Fire or Water loſe

And, thereupon the State vouchſafes a Breef,

Whereby to ask, and to receive releef?

Nay, what ſupply can be ſo honourable

As that, which from hearts, by hands charitable

Is raiſed and conferr'd, (unaskt, unſought)

By them, of whom I never heard, or thought?

This way (which without ſhame I do confeſs)

GOD hath vouchſaf'd releef in my diſtreſs,

To mee, as hee to men in like eſtate,

Hath done in former times, and now of late.

E're while at Piedmont in their perſecutions

Our Brethren hee reliev'd by contributions;

And, ſhould I think it my diſgrace can be

That, hee doth for my family and mee

Provide, as for a Nation? I beleeve

It blame deſerv'd, if ſo I ſhould conceive.

Though I had ask'd; what without asking came,

None could impute it juſtly to my blame

All things conſider'd: for, a Publick Score,

Demonſtrates, that this Nation owes mee more

Than Food and Rayment; and that, in the fine

My Want, will more be their diſgrace than mine.

My beggarly condition, is a Portion

More noble, than Wealth gotten by Extortion,

Bribes, projects, and thoſe cheats whereby ſome bee

Advanced to great wealth, and high degree,

Thought honourable: yea Benevolences,

And forced Loans, which otherwhile by Princes

[Page] Exacted be, much more diſgraceful are

Than what my Benefactors do confer;

For, at my need, it giveth mee releef,

And, to the Givers, is no wrong or grief.

I hear that is diſgracefully objected

VVhich by my Poverty is now effected:

My houſe, they ſay, is deſolate become,

And, I confin'd am to a ſingle room;

My wife is of her Dowry quite deſpoil'd;

I cannot give the portion of a childe

To Son or Daughter, which a while ago

I offred, and was able to beſtow:

And, that, where lately we had good reſpect

Scoffs, flouts and jeers, are added to neglect;

And, though theſe hardſhips poſſibly I may

VVith patience bear, yet, certainly, ſay they,

Theſe his Relations cannot: yes, they can

And have done, ever ſince the ſtorm began:

For, we fore-ſaw it, and we did prepare

A ſtock of Patience, thoſe events to bear.

My Spouſe is CHRIST's Spouſe, by a Law Divine,

More his, than ſhe by Humane Law is mine.

Our Children (though the world uſurps a power

O're them) are likewiſe, much more his than our;

And, of her ſcorn, though ſhe an Object makes them

He neither helpleſs leaves them, or forſakes them.

He made this Globe, with all that therein is;

All things that are in Heav'n and Earth are his;

VVe know it, and therefore do not deſpair

That here on Earth; our loſs hee will repair,

Or, give us better Portions, where, they never

Shall be impair'd, but injoy'd for ever.

Yea, I am confident, that, if it may

But add unto GOD's glory any way,

[Page] Or, make for their Advancement in that path

VVhich, to Eternity, a tendance hath,

He'l either keep them Virgins to attend

The LAMB, when he brings Babel to an end,

Or, marry them ere long, without my coſt,

And, give them better Portions than they loſt,

Or, at the worſt, they ſhall content be made

VVith (be it more or leſs) what may be had.

This, without wavering, beleeve I do,

And, others will perhaps, beleeve it too,

VVhen they conſider Marriages in Heaven

By GOD himſelf are made, and Portions given,

In Love and Vertue, without prepoſſeſſing

Of any other Medium, but his bleſſing.

Wealth, in itſelf, is neither good nor bad,

Nor Poverty, nor takes from, nor doth add

To Happineſs Eſſential, but, as they

Are ſanctifi'd, and as our games wee play:

And, of the two, in that, leaſt danger lies,

VVhich we moſt ſeek to ſhun, and moſt deſpiſe.

Wealth, makes men waſteful, diſſolute and lazy,

In manners rude, in Mind and Body crazy;

Makes bold-men cowards, Free-men doth inſlave;

Many, to loſe themſelves, their wealth to ſave.

It ſo befools them, that Aſſe-like, ſome bear

Their golden-load, till, meat for worms they are,

Enjoying no more profit by their Treaſure,

Save meerly, an imaginary pleaſure

VVhilſt here they live; and, as if hope it gave

It would be uſeful to them in the grave

They hugg it, hoard it, and do lock it faſt,

(As long as living breath in them doth laſt)

Not ſenſible of any detriment

VVhich they do thereby cauſe, or might prevent.

[Page] And, I beleeve, three Families, for one,

That thereby thrive, by Riches are undone,

Through thoſe debauchments whereto they allure,

Till, ſoul or bodies ruine, they procure.

Contrariwiſe, deſpiſed Poverty,

Incites to courage, and to induſtry,

Breaks thraldoms Yoaks; cures often, thoſe diſeaſes

VVhich Luxury ingenders, or increaſes;

For, 'tis an Antidote againſt the Gout,

And helps to purge all thoſe ill humours out,

That, ſend men to their graves, by an exceſs

Either in gluttony, or drunkenneſs.

Exorbitant deſires it doth reſtrain,

An empty belly makes a witful brain:

A croſſeleſs purſe, to him ſmall danger brings

VVho bears it; for, before the Theef hee ſings.

And, when he dies, that which makes thoſe men ſad,

VVho, whilſt they liv'd, things in abundance had,

Afflicts not him that's poor; for he's depriv'd

Of nought, but what oppreſt him whilſt he liv'd.

A very poor man alſo, ſcapes their fates,

VVho are belov'd, or hang'd for their Eſtates,

And, ſome at this time, (I beleeve) will judge

The laſt of theſe, to be a priviledge.

Though many, not a little do rejoyce

In that rude, loud, and everlaſting noiſe

VVhich, in moſt rich mens houſes you ſhall hear,

VVhere every Room is made a thorow-fare;

Or, where, ſo many ſervants help to do

Their works, as make one Buſ'neſs, more than two;

VVhere, for each man who faithfully obeyes him,

The Maſter feeds another, who betrayes him

And, thrice as many, who, by night or day

Do ſteal, perhaps, or ſpoil, or waſte away

[Page] More (oftentimes) than would the charges bear

Of paying twice their wages, for that year:

Though many like this; 'tis to me an eaſe

That Poverty hath freed me quite from theſe.

I, now, finde much more joy, than in much pelf,

That, I have learned how to ſerve my ſelf;

To bruſh my Cloak, my garments to unlooſe,

Put on and off, my ſtockings and my ſhooes,

And, that, without my Servants, I can bee

As well content, as they are without mee;

I know both how to want, and to abound;

And much more pleaſure, I, in this have found,

Than in choyce meats, that in a time of need,

On bread alone, I ſavourly can ſeed,

Or; on as ſcanty, and as homely fare

(In my old age) as men that pooreſt are:

Yet, be both more in health, and no leſſe able,

Than when GOD gave a fully furniſh'd table,

With meat ſo well cook't, that it did invite

At every meal, a double-Appetite.

And, I, whoſe worſt apparel uſ'd to be

As good as any mans of my degree,

Can in thoſe garments, without ſhame, appear

Which, I, but lately was aſham'd to wear;

Unto which confidence, till want had brought mee,

Philoſophy, that leſſon never taught mee.

I, muſt likewiſe, ingenuouſly confeſs

That, my diſtractions have been ten times leſs

Since I had nothing left, than whil'ſt I had

VVhat, in opinion, mee a rich man made:

And, this is gain'd by loſing what is gone,

That, now, 'twixt having wealth, and having none,

I know the difference to be ſo ſmall,

That, upon neither of them, dote I ſhall:

[Page] For, as much certainty, I do perceive

In that uncertainty, at which I live

As is in any temporal eſtate

Of Goods or Lands (eſpecially of late)

Now, therefore, I deſire not to be Rich,

Or to be Poor, becauſe (not knowing which

Will beſt advantage mee) I to his pleaſure

Have left it, who, knows what Eſtate, and Meaſure

Of Wealth and Poverty, beſt fit mee ſhall

To do that, whereto hee vouchſafes a Call.

I neither Wealth nor Poverty will chuſe;

Nor, which ſoere he gives will I refuſe.

But, moſt men would have ſomewhat of their own,

As if ſupplies by Charity beſtown,

Would ſooner fail them; yea, although their Father

Well cloaths and feeds them, they deſire much rather

To finger their whole Portion, that they might

Purſue their own deſires, out of his ſight.

Some other, altogether do rely

On their own prudence, and ſelf-induſtry,

And, of Contingencies, are ſo afraid

That, thus within themſelves their hearts have ſaid;

We poſſibly, into ſuch wants may fall,

And, ſo deſerted likewiſe be of all

By whom we have been harbour'd, cloath'd and ſed,

(Some of them being ruin'd, and ſome dead)

That, unleſs wee can ſome Reſerve provide,

Whereby, what e're haps, wee may be ſupply'd,

Wee may become exceeding miſerable;

Eſpecially, if us to diſ-enable,

Old Age, Reſtraint, and Sickneſs ſhould increaſe,

And, to Neceſſities, add Helpleſneſs.

Should this befall (as poſſibly it may)

Our Poverty would be too great, they'l ſay,

[Page] VVith patience to be born: Alas! poor men,

I'le grant all this may happen: but, what then?

Did ever you yet know, or ſee, or hear,

That Lands or goods freed any from this fear?

If not, how can you hope to bring to paſs

That, which by no man, yet effected was?

Have you not ſtill a GOD? and, is not hee,

A Refuge, though all other failing be?

Your Truſt was never plac'd on him alone,

If him, you cannot truſt, when all is gone.

VVhile ſomewhat's left, whereby ſubſiſt we may,

As David ſaid, wee boaſt of him all day,

But, bee aſſur'd, that e're from hence yee go,

Hee'l make proof, whether it be thus or no.

Him, and our own Cauſe, wee do much miſtake,

VVhen 'tis at beſt, the ſame at worſt, wee make,

And, ſo much on his Gifts our hearts are ſet,

That, him, who did beſtow them, we forget.

To GOD, be therefore, praiſe, who, by this trial

Gives mee both proof and means of Self-denial.

I, am as worthleſs as the worſt of you,

I, nothing know by mine own merits due,

But, that which now I ſuffer, and much worſe,

(The wages of an everlaſting curſe)

My frailties are as great, my ſins as many

As yours; worſe than my ſelf I know not any,

Though ſome ſo ſeem: and, yet, GOD's promiſes

Make way through all theſe diſadvantages,

So well to know him, that I do beleeve

My truſt in him, hee never will deceive;

And, that it would for my advantage be

If all that may be fear'd, ſhould fall on mee.

VVere that condition (as it may bee) mine,

I, then, ſhould have no more cauſe to repine

[Page] Than any other man, who to the doom

Of Death ſubmitteth, when his time is come:

For, he who feels this day nor want nor ſorrow,

May be in worſe eſtate than I to morrow.

So long, as I, have any work to do,

I ſhall have what is needfull thereunto.

And when 'tis at an end, no matter whether

The ſtroke of Death ſhall be received, either

By Axe or Halter, (ſo I merit not,

What is by Law the Malefactors Lot.)

Or, ſtarving, or, by one of thoſe diſeaſes

Which, ordinarily, the body ceizes.

For, that ſhame, which men fear, whilſt they have breath

By ſuffring, what they count a ſhameful death

Is ſhar'd among mankind, and every one

Bears part thereof with mee, when I am gone.

And, whilſt I live, what e're can ſuffred be,

May fall as well to any, as to mee.

Upon my death-bed, or, upon a Rack,

When fleſh and bones, and all my ſinews crack,

I may be therewithall, as blithe and frolick,

As, when a burning Feaver, or, the Collick

Age, or Conſumptions, or the Peſtilence

Shall be the means to carry mee from hence.

The pains of theſe, are oftentimes as ſtrong,

They do continue ev'ry whit, as long;

And, at a Rich mans door, a Lazar dies

Sometimes as eaſily, as he that lyes

Upon a bed of Down, and who till death

All neceſſaries in abundance hath.

This, being well obſerv'd, it may appear

That, we are fooled with falſe hope, or fear,

When we ſhall dream to be ſecured more

From all events, by being rich, than poor,

[Page] Or, that, there any ſtate on earth can be,

VVhich may not have the ſame Cataſtrophe.

VVhen GOD vouchſafes to make mens Poverties

To glorifie him, he doth ſend ſupplies,

Ev'n by unlikely means; and makes that nouriſh

VVhereby, they, who are fed with dainties periſh.

Them, on whom Tyrants no compaſſion have,

He, in the fiery furnaces can ſave;

When they are caſt into a Lions den,

He maketh beaſts more merciful than men.

He, (when to manifeſt his Power Divine

It pleaſeth him) turns Water into Wine

Which, at a poor mans wedding once was done

More to his honour, than when Conduits run

With Sack and Claret; which magnificence

Adds honour to the marriage of a Prince.

He, when men hungring after Righteouſneſs

Wait on him in a hungry Wilderneſs,

Feeds thouſands with a few loaves, and two fiſhes,

As full, as if they had ten thouſand diſhes.

The bottome of a Barrel, and a Cruſe

Shall Meal and Oyl ſufficiently produce,

To keep a family in time of Dearth,

Until he ſends a Plenty upon earth.

He, when the Creditor, for payment asks

(With rigor) doth fill many empty Casks,

Out of one pot of Oyle, until there be

A competence, to ſet the Debter free,

And, for his livelihood, in time to come.

Yea, by devourers, he doth nouriſh ſome:

For, daily, that Elias might be fed

The Ravens brought unto him fleſh and bread.

This hath been; and ſome things I can aver

Of this kind, in mine own particular.

[Page] Once, twice, nay, oftner I have been diſtreſt

As, I now am; and three times at the leaſt,

Have had repair vouchſafed mee by GOD,

In ſuch an extraordinary mode,

That, many did admire, at my ſupply;

As very well they might; for, ſo did I.

And, when it ſeaſonably may be ſhown,

The manner of it will perhaps be known.

At, this time, that, which many did ſuppoſe

Would mee, ere now, have ruin'd; on my foes

Hath caſt a bridle, and will keep mee from

What they intend, until my hour is come;

And, peradventure, then, reſtrain them too,

From acting all, that they intend to do.

That, which both my Eſtate and Reputation

Should have deſtroyed, is my preſervation

Another away; and an advantage brings,

In better and more profitable things.

For, Slanders, gain mee credit; that, doth glad mee

Which was intended to deject and ſad mee;

That, which purſued, is, to make mee poor

Makes my wants leſs, and my contentments more.

And, as if GOD had purpoſ'd to beſtow

A ſign upon mee, plainly to fore-ſhow

That, thoſe Afflictions, and abhorred places,

Which add to others, torments and diſgraces,

Should comfort mee, when common comforts fail,

NEW GATE, ſuppoſ'd an ignomineous Jaile

To mee, hath (as it were a Patroneſs)

Contributed releef in my diſtreſs,

Perhaps, from ſome of them, whoſe preſſures were

Either as great, or greater, than, mine are:

Which (as I am obliged) to GOD's praiſe

I do, and ſhall acknowledge all my daies

[Page] To be an action, which doth ſignifie

A greater Mercy, than that bare ſupply;

For, it informs, and well aſſureth mee

A Priſon, ſhall no dammage bring to mee,

And, that thoſe places, which, make many poor,

Will make mee richer than I was before.

Theſe things, I thus expreſs, that others may

Perſwaded be, I do not write or ſay

What I have read or heard, or whereof I

Have no more in mee, ſave the Theory;

And, knowing, this, which into words I ſpin

Flows forth from what is really, within,

And, by experience learn'd, it might effect

That operation which I do expect.

Moſt men, ſuppoſe them ſigns they are beloved

Of GOD, and all their waies by him approved,

(How negligent ſoe're of his commands)

When outward things do proſper in their hands.

They count them marks of his eſpecial Grace

If their Cows caſts not Calf; if he doth bleſs

Their Oxen; if their flocks of Sheep increaſe;

If none doth in their perſons them oppreſs;

If their new-purchaſ'd Titles be made good;

If, by their Trades and Rents, they to their Brood

May leave great Portions; if, they may at Court

Finde favour; and, if bleſſings of this ſort

Be multiply'd upon them, they ſuppoſe

God is their Friend, and foe unto their foes.

Indeed, theſe, bleſſings are; But ſigns to mee

Of GOD's eſpecial Grace, theſe, rather be;

That, when of Land and Goods I am bereft,

And, no external comfort ſeemeth left,

I can depend on him, and be more glad,

In his love, than in all that e're I had:

[Page] That, I am freely juſtifi'd by him

In that, for which the world doth mee condemn:

That, I perceive, he deigneth mee releef,

By that, which uſually augmenteth grief;

And, that, when moſt inrag'd oppreſſors are,

Of their diſpleaſure, I am leaſt in fear:

That, things which threaten troubles to prolong

(Till they are helpleſs) make my faith more ſtrong,

My fear as little, whilſt the Fight doth laſt,

As at the Triumph, when all danger's paſt;

And, that, their waies, who do moſt malice mee,

Neither the waies of GOD, or good men be.

Theſe things, are of GOD's love a truer ſign

Than an increaſe of Corn, of Oyl and Wine,

And, I do ſmile to think, how like poor ſlaves

They will e're long, ſneak down into their graves,

Who, make falſe boaſt of GOD, when they with ſhame

Shall know, that, by their ſpight I better'd am.

And, when my Country hears the next Age tell

How, mee they uſ'd, who alwaies lov'd it well;

What, better men have ſuffer'd; what, in vain

Was ſaid; what done, undone, and done again;

How, Truth's bely'd; how Lies upheld for Truth;

How much the heart diſſented from the mouth;

Their Deeds from what they ſeem to think and ſay;

And, how, at faſt and looſe, we now do play;

It will be thought, perhaps, this Generation

Had loſt Faith, Reaſon, Iuſtice, and Compaſſion,

And, they, who ſhall by ſtrict examination,

Search out the cauſe of this prevarication

Will finde an hypocritical Devotion

Sprung from the love of Riches and Promotion,

(Diſ-robing Piety of her plain Dreſſe,

To be diſ-figur'd with that pompouſneſs

[Page] Which is affected by the Man of Sin)

Of all that is amiſs, chief cauſe hath been.

I muſt not ſcribble all that might be pend

Upon this Subject, leſt I more offend

Than profit, or, leſt, for want of ſpeed,

Be hindred, in my purpoſe to proceed.

But, one more Argument, I'le therefore add

Whereby, it out of queſtion may be made,

That, to be very Rich, indangers more

A real Happineſs, than to be poor;

And, prov'd it ſhall be by a Demonſtration,

That, will admit no future confutation.

Becauſe, it ſhews that Wealth hath not alone

More hurt to many ſingle perſons done

Than Poverty, but, alſo to the Race

Of all mankind; and unto GOD's Free-Grace

Injurious been; diſhonour brought to CHRIST,

And, ſet up his oppoſers Intereſt.

Obſerve it, for, I, nothing will alledge

But, that, whereof, the meaneſt wit may judge.

I need not tell you, wee more eaſily

May drive a Camel through a needles eye,

Or, thread it with a Cable, than, to heaven

Rich men aſcend, or thither may be driven.

For, moſt have heard, he ſpake to that effect

Whoſe judgement none have reaſon to ſuſpect;

Yet, I will ſhew to you what way he went,

And how, by his example to prevent

That difficulty; For, he did not ſay,

One thing to us, and walk another way

As many do, and did, who would be thought

To follow him, and teach us what he taught.

In plain expreſſion I will let you ſee

Who, thoſe Impoſtors and Apoſtates be

[Page] Who ſpeak ſometimes his words, and do profeſs

His Truth, yet are in practice nothing leſs.

CHRIST, knowing well, that, Avarice, Ambition,

Wealth and Preferments ripen to perdition,

And, that, they ſo inſenſibly deprave

The beſt and wiſeſt men, if way they give

To their Allurements; that, although he were

The Son of GOD, and needed not to fear

The frailties of his fleſh, he, to the Law

Conformed, and preſerved it in awe

By true obedience; mortifi'd that nature

Which he aſſumed from the Humane-creature.

Both by an unconſtrain'd Humility,

And, by a voluntary Poverty:

And, did for our example, and our ſake

Forbear, of things indifferent to partake,

Leſt, we, who know not how aright to uſe

Our Liberty, things lawful might abuſe

By taking that for food, which was provided

For Phyſick rather, when a Cure we needed.

When, firſt, from Heav'n he came (though Lord of all

In Heav'n and Earth he was) within a ſtall

He took up his firſt Lodging; paſſed on

Throughout his Childe-hood, as he had begun;

And, to the world, no better did appear

Than Son to Joſeph, a poor Carpenter.

When to mans age he came (for ought we know)

He liv'd by labour, as ſuch poor men do.

And, when he did begin to manifeſt

Himſelf to be the Saviour JESUS CHRIST,

His Royalty was furniſh'd out no more

With Earthly Riches, than it was before;

He had nor Lands, nor Goods, to finde him bread,

Nor any Houſe, wherein to reſt his head.

[Page] He had, for what was needful, no ſupplies

But, pious men and womens Charities.

Poor deſpicable Fiſher-men (or ſuch)

And, thoſe, who neither Noble were, nor Rich

He thoſe for his Diſciples; and when theſe

[...] [...] abroad on his Ambaſſages,

They were forbidden either to take care

Wher [...] with they might be fed, or what to wear,

Or, m [...]y to provide for their expence,

But, le [...]ve thoſe things unto GOD's providence.

To them his Goſpel-principles he gave,

And, taught them how themſelves they ſhould behave

In their Diſcipleſhip, both where neglect

They found, and alſo where they had reſpect.

[...] them injoyned, to be meek and humble,

[...] likeli'ſt block to make them ſtumble

[...], to Precedency, not to aſpire,

[...] Lordly Attributes deſire:

[...] Diſciples in their low'ſt condition

Began to be infected with Ambition.

The Sons of Zebede, when they were poor,

Were tainted therewithall; And, how much more

It doth deprave men when they wealthy grow

CHRIST did fore-ſee, and we have liv'd to know

By that, wherein the Prelacy hath varied

From his Example; and, by him who carried

The Bag in his time, we have learned too,

What Avarice may make a Biſhop do.

Moreover, when by publick Acclamation

CHRIST had a viſible inauguration

Into that Kingdome, whereto he was born,

No rich or Royal Robes by him were worn;

Nor ſought he to be honour'd with ſuch things

As are affected by terreſtrial Kings,

[Page] But, meekly, through Jeruſalem did paſs

Not on a barbed Steed, but, on an Aſſe,

(Which none had backt before) & which nor Pad,

Nor ſaddle, trappings, or a foot-cloth had,

Save what the people on his back had thrown,

And, to that purpoſe taken from their own.

When he was crown'd, no golden Crown he wore

Lin'd with ſoft Fur, but, one much worſe than poor:

A Wreath of Thorns, he wore upon his head;

He, had no better Scepter than a Reed;

A Purple Robe, was caſt on him in ſcorn,

To be at that ſad Coronation worn.

For him, there was prepar'd no other Throne,

Except a Croſs, to be advanc'd upon.

Nor Fun'ral Rites, nor Monument, nor Grave,

Had he when dead, but, what ſome lent or gave.

Thus, poorly was his Kingdome here begun;

Thus, his Affairs of State were carried on.

So long, as he a life on earth retaind,

Like no terreſtriall Monarch, here he reign'd;

But, glorifi'd his Kingdom in this mode:

And, when that he aſcended up to GOD,

Hee, by his Holy Spirit, ſo did minde,

(And ſo inſpire thoſe whom he left behinde)

To propagate the ſame, that they purſu'd

The Diſcipline and Paterne, which he ſhew'd.

From SATANS Kingdoms, to diſtinguiſh it,

He added whatſoever did befit

A Righteous Government, in every thing

Which might advance the Throne of ſuch a King,

Without thoſe Baubles which do more oppreſs

Their Subjects, than promote the Common Peace.

To this end, and preſerve with purity

The Church and Saints in their integrity,

[Page] They left behinde them precepts, counſels, cautions,

And, many (not ambiguous) declarations,

Both to inform us of the mind of CHRIST,

And, of the wiles of that great Antichriſt

Which was to come, and ſhould foundationslay

To ſet a Kingdome up, another way;

That, might (if poſſible) be thought to be

CHRIST's Kingdome, as now thouſands live to ſee

The world reputes what they erected have,

And, with her Ornaments, made rich and brave.

Moreover, that CHRIST's Vineyard and Cornfield,

Might fruits both nouriſhing and pleaſant yeeld,

No needful diligence, at firſt was wanting,

In digging, dreſſing, ſowing, or in planting;

Or, ſo to beautifie it, that none might

Deſpiſe it, or not therein take delight.

And, that, none ſhould by Pride, or Avarice

Intrude upon their Brethrens Legacies,

They, truly, his Laſt Tſtament recorded;

The ſame into a Goſpel-Law they worded,

Which hath ſufficiency, without additions

By humane policies, or new Traditions,

To conſtitute his Kingdome, and prevent

Prevarications, by miſ-government.

To bar out Innovations, they by Deed

Confirmed, what they had in words decreed.

From no true principles of Faith they ſwerved,

Devotions reverence they well preſerved,

With ut new-ſangles, and thoſe trincketings,

That Superſtition to adorn it brings.

The Sacrament (by which the death of Chriſt

Should be remembred) they made not the Teſt

Of things, no way relating to that end,

For which, that Mystery he did intend,

[Page] Or, rendring, what ſhould be by his intention,

The Band of Love, a means to breed diſſention:

Nor was the Bread or Wine, then Idoliz'd;

But, that Love-feaſt, was duly ſolemniz'd,

In decency, without vain pomp of State;

Altars, Court-cubbord like, beſet with Plate;

Waxe-lights at noon, in Silver-Candleſticks,

Or, any other of thoſe needleſs tricks,

Which were firſt introduced, in thoſe daies

When Wooden-Prieſts, got ſilver Chalices.

They uſ'd no ſuperſtitious Adorations,

Cringings, ridiculous geſticulations,

Or mimick Actions: nor theſe, or thoſe, poſtures

Of Body; neither places, times, or veſtures,

Were ſo eſſential made, or neceſſary

To holy Duties, that, none ought to vary

From thoſe Formalities: nor, painted walls,

Nor Pictures had they, Supplices, nor Palls,

Chimers, hoods, Rochets, nor rich Copes, nor Tippets,

Nor was their Service cut out into ſippets,

For, ſuch toyes (then unknown) did not begin

Till Ancichriſt aroſe and brought them in;

And, till with Wealth and Dignities inricht

The Presbyters, and Biſhops were bewitcht.

To have prevented this (as I have ſaid)

A good Foundation CHRIST himſelf had laid,

And, at the firſt, that Structure was begun,

Which, he intended ſhould be built thereon.

Such as were then, by ſacred Ordination,

Call'd Biſhops, watchful were, and took occaſion

From ev'ry ſlip, to travel, preach, and write,

That, errours and miſ-deeds prevent they might.

As ſoon as Demas and Diotrephes,

With ſuch like, were obſerved in their daies

[Page] To innovate, and labour to begin

That Prelacy which, afterward crept in,

They ſo oppoſ'd it, that, till from his chain,

The Devil (then confin'd) was loos'd again,

None could ſetup what a faction begun,

Though many were then working thereupon;

For, CHRIST's Apoſtles, and their true ſucceſſors

(In ſpight of Innovators, of Oppreſſors

And Hereticks) by that ſimplicity

Of Truth, which was profeſt in Poverty,

Did ſo diſtinguiſh it, from what by thoſe

Advanc'd would be, when Antichriſt aroſe,

That, they inviolate maintaind thereby

Her honour, and her native purity,

Without that carnal Pomp, and coſtly Pride

With wch, the STRUMPET, now ſeems glorifi'd.

And wherewith, ſhee hath half the world inchanted,

Since Heatheniſh Deities, were firſt ſupplanted.

That Miracle, was wrought by GOD, through them

Whoſe Poverty the world did then contemn:

Ev'n when their Worſhippers were in full power,

And, when inrag'd at height, ſought to devour

Their ſcorn'd Oppoſers, they withall that odds

Were not then able to ſupport their Gods.

But, when the Saints were as diſtreſt and poor,

As they, who ſeek their bread from door to door,

When, they broke through a tenfold perſecution,

To put their Maſters will in execution;

When in deſpiſed habits through each Nation

They preach'd the bleſſed means of our ſalvation;

Were counted Fools, and as much diſ-eſteem'd

As any, who are now Phanaticks deem'd;

When, they had neither Academick Halls,

Schools, Colledges, or ſumptuous Cathedrals,

[Page] Nor Univerſities, nor Deans, nor Doctors,

Prebends, Archdeacons, Chancellours or Proctors,

Nor Rents, nor Tythes, nor Penſions, nor Oblations,

Excepting onely good mens free-donations;

When they, nor Biſhops had, nor Presbyters,

Save, ſuch as holy Scripture characters,

(Who claimed no Precedence, or Submiſſion,

From thoſe, authoriz'd by the ſame Commiſſion;

When, they were meek and lowly, in their places,

Poor in their Temporalties, and rich in Graces;

When, they (as neceſſary to ſalvation)

On no man, did impoſe an Obſervation

Of daies, times, forms, or Ceremonious Rite,

But, as to edifying, tend it might;

And, left them to be practiſ'd, or omitted,

As, either they might, or might not be fitted

To holy Duties, without juſt offences,

To other mens, or their own conſciences:

(In which caſe, none that hath Sobriety,

Will bar another of his Liberty.)

When Paſtors medled not at all, or little,

With Soveraigns, whether they themſelves, or Title

Were good or bad; excepting in thoſe caſes

Which did concern the duties of their places;

But, in the fear of GOD, obedient were

To that Power, which did viſibly appear

Impowered to protect them (whilſt it ſtood

With that obedience, which they owe to GOD;

And, did by ſuffring, render ſatisfaction,

For what they dared not perform in action.)

When, Emperours nor Kings did them eſteem,

Nor flatter'd were, or fawn'd upon, by them;

Ev'n then by theſe, mens Doctrines and Examples,

Were all the Gentiles great and glorious Temples

[Page] Throughout the world deſtroy'd: their Superſtitions

(From which New Rome retrived her Traditions)

Were then by thoſe expell'd: Their Oracles,

Then ſilenc'd were; Their jugling Miracles

Were prov'd Impoſtures: Then, the Sophiſtries

Of thoſe whom former ages thought moſt wiſe,

Were found but fallacies; their wiſdome folly;

Unſound their Manners, their beleef unholy;

Their books of Curious Arts, whereby great fame

They had acquir'd, were caſt into the flame;

And, then, their Flamins, and Archflamins too,

(Who domineered as the Prelates do)

Were (as theſe, in the time appointed ſhall)

Brought to thoſe dooms, which on Impoſtors fall.

The Worſhip alſo, wherewithall the Jews,

The worlds credulity ſought to abuſe,

As well as her Philoſophy, was foil'd

At their own weapons; of that glory ſpoil'd

Whereof they boaſted; and all this was done,

Without the Outward Pomp, now doted on.

And, if the Prelates, can with all the glory,

Which they have gotten by things Tranſitory,

And, by the help of all the Kings on earth,

To ſuch another Miracle give birth,

Ile think, that they as great Impoſtors are,

As Jannes, and as Jambres long ſince, were;

Yet, ſtill beleeve, that, maugre all their power,

The Rods of theſe, will their charm'd Rods devour.

That, which the Prelates take to be a ſign

Of Sanctity, the moſt becoming ſhrine

Of ſacred Piety, and true Devotion,

I mean, that Pomp, whereby (for ſelf promotion)

They ſeek to trim and paint it, forth hath brought

(Compar'd to this) not any thing worth ought

[Page] But meer contempt: for, by the zeal of thoſe,

Who, made ſuch poor, and deſpicable ſhows,

More honour to the Church of Chriſt is done,

Than all their wealth and honours, have thereon

Conferr'd, in more than fifteen hundred years,

By all their great and potent Favourers.

They, whom the Churches Poverty brought forth,

Though poor externally, had inward worth;

Good life was practiſ'd, ſacred Truth profeſt

Religion, with ſincerity imbrac't,

In her poor Driſs, by many an humble Saint,

Without the fucus of a Whoriſh paint;

And, till men leaving their plain ſober way,

Sought by external wealth, to make her gay,

The Church, in Piety, did ſtill increaſe

Though outward perſecutions did not ceaſe.

But, what hath followed ſince her Poverties,

Are chang'd for temporal wealth and dignities?

Since Princely Prelates ſought for carnal things,

Had learn'd to flatter Emperours and Kings,

And, cheat them with a ſeeming Loyalty,

Made credible by fained Piety?

Since they, an Ambodexters part could play,

Had got two Maſters, and a double pay,

Topt wreathes Imperial with a Triple crown,

Made Rebels Martyrs, trod Allegiance down

And, had on ſo much wealth and honour ceaſ'd,

That they could turn the ſcale wch way they pleaſ'd,

What, hath er'e ſince that time, proceeded thence

But, products of Deſtructive conſequence?

And thoſe Confuſions, for which (without ſhame)

Some, to the Saints of GOD, impute the blame,

As heretofore, the Heathen Tyrants did

To them, whoſe blood they innocently ſhed?

[Page]

And, though that in their publick declamations,

(As alſo, in their private exultation.)

The Prelates, to a joy tranſported ſeem,

Like (as they ſay themſelves) men in a dream,

To ſee that Wealth, and Pomp reſtor'd again,

Whereof, ſmall hope they did erewhile retain;

Though, of a golden Hierarchie dreaming,

They (ſtill the Poverty of CHRIST blaſpheming)

Do think, the Angels are as glad as they

Of that, wherein they triumph at this day;

And, ſay (which I conceive to be a lye)

That, they, could well content have been to dye,

The next day after they reſtor'd had been

To that condition, which they now are in;

Yet, I beleeve, it will not, in the cloze,

Make them ſo happy, as they now ſuppoſe;

Or, give much cauſe unto this Generation,

To be well pleaſed in their reſtauration.

For, to theſe Nations, or unto our King,

What, can I think, theſe golden Calves will bring

Save, at the laſt, what followed upon that,

Which Ieroboams policy of State

Produc'd in Iſr'el, when he (as it were

Inſpight of GOD) ſet golden Calves up there?

And, his Succeſſors walkt on in that way,

VVhat er'e thoſe Prophets, from thenceforth, could ſay

VVhom GOD, in Juſtice, or in Mercy, ſent

Their threatned deſolation to prevent?

VVhat, is more likely, if th' abominations

Of, almoſt ev'ry Good-man, in theſe Nations

Shall be indulg'd? (and, though it ever ſince

It firſt begun, produc'd nought but offence?)

For, Obſervation daily finds it plain,

That, fear of loſſes, or the hope of gain,

[Page] Or, of Promotion, will root out apace

The ſeeds and plants, of Piety and Grace.

And, ſince, already, it ſo multiplies

Apoſtates, and augments Hypocriſies,

What can be thought, but, that, thoſe daies, we ſee

Wherein, th' Elect ſhall hardly ſaved be,

Unleſs GOD ſhorten them for, whatſoere

Men ſay, or do, they fall into a ſnare;

And, thoſe Deceivers, whereof laſt I ſpoke,

To blinde mens eyes, have raiſed ſuch a ſmoak,

That, few, know which way ſafely turn they may;

Or, what to think, beleeve, hope, do, or ſay.

Such Hiſtories, as are approv'd by thoſe,

Who never did the Prelacy oppoſe,

Affirm, that when the Churches Augmentation

Of wealth and honour, by the free donation

Of Conſtantine, was firſt on them conferr'd,

A voice, was in the Air diſtinctly heard,

Which did theſe words, articulately ſay,

Into the Church is poiſon pour'd this day:

And, thereupon, that, quickly did enſue,

Which, manifeſts the Saying to he true:

For, they, who read Hiſtorical Relations,

Of what hath been in former Generations,

(As alſo, in their times) diſcreetly heeding

What, their Experience addeth to their reading,

Will finde, that, here, and, almoſt ev'ry where,

The Prelates cauſe of many miſchieves were.

Yea, that the greateſt troubles on the earth,

Sprung indirectly, or directly, forth

From their Ambition, Avarice and Pride.

When Gold and Silver they had multipli'd.

How many troubles, have been here of late,

Occaſion'd by what they did innovate?

[Page] How many thouſand Families undone

In theſe three Kingdomes are, ſince they begun,

Thoſe Whimzies, which the prime occaſion were

Of all the Civil Wars and diſcords here?

And, what more will enſue, GOD only knows,

For, wee, already ſee ill boding ſhows.

Their Avarice, and matchleſs greedineſs,

Of hoarding Treaſure up, to an exceſs

At ſuch a time as this, wherein the State

Is ſtraitned; (and when much it doth abate

That, Trading, whereby, our neceſſities

Publick, and Private, ſhould have their ſupplies)

Produceth ill effects; and how by theſe

Both in their Civil Peace, and Conſciences,

Men may diſturbed be, there's cauſe of fear,

By what in their deportments doth appear.

And, I obſerv'd this (which Ile now record)

That, when they firſt begun to be reſtor'd,

With them, return'd, (God grant there come no

May-poles, Maid-marian, & the hobby-horſe, (worſe)

Beſide, ſome other heatheniſh Prophanations,

Maugre the Kings late pious Proclamations.

It would fill many volumes to collect

What Prelacy did heretofore effect;

How troubleſome in other Common-weals,

And Kingdomes, it hath to GOD's Iſraels,

And, other people been: how oft have they

Endeavoured their Soveraigns to betray,

Unto the See of Rome? how oft, to bring

The People into bondage to their King,

That, when their purpoſe they had wrought on him

Both King and people, might be ſlaves to them?

How inſolent and impudent a power,

Was then uſurped when an Emperour

[Page] Did hold the Stirrup? when an Engliſh king

They to ſo great a ſlavery did bring,

(And foolery to boot) as to decline

His Royal Perſon, at Tom Beckets ſhrine?

Do pennance there, and be ſo much befoold,

That, ſchool-boy-like, he was with Rods there ſchool'd,

By Canterbury Monks? when, he, that trod

Upon his Leige Lords neck (blaſpheming GOD)

That piece of ſcripture, to himſelf applide

Which could in none, but CHRIST, be verifide?

Intolerable was his arrogance,

But, ſuch are oft effects of their advance;

And, thus, have Kings and Emperors been rewarded,

Who, their lean Gammons, had with fat inlarded.

Theſe, are the bleſſed and the holy fruits,

Of their great wealth, and Lordly Attributes;

Yet, theſe are not the worſt; for Kings and Princes,

Were not alone by Prelates inſolencies,

Abuſ'd like other men, in what relates

Unto their lives, their honours and eſtates;

But, GOD, is alſo, thruſt out of his Throne:

Ev'n his Peculiars are uſurp'd upon;

And, ſuch Intruſions are now made, by theſe

Upon mens Faiths, and on their Conſciences,

That, they make many Proſtites for the Devil,

Expoſe them to an everlaſting evil,

And, cauſes are of miſchiefs and offence,

VVhich all the world can never recompence:

For, Bonds they lay, where GOD doth none impoſe;

Unbinde, from what he never will unloſe;

And, whatſoere he ſpeaks, his words, by theſe,

Are made to mean, what ever they ſhall pleaſe.

But, let the Saints in patience perſevere;

For, though theſe arrogantly domineer,

[Page] And in their hopes grow every day more ſtrong,

Their time of ſtanding, will not now be long:

The Kings, who with the Cup of Fornications

Have been made Drunk, for many Generations,

Will at the laſt grow ſober, or elſe mad,

To ſee what power on them, theſe Juglers had,

And, help to bring that fatal Iudgement on,

Which muſt reward them for what they have done:

Great Babylon it ſelf, will ſhortly fall,

And, they ſhall have their Portion therewithall.

To do us harm, they had not been ſo able,

If in thoſe Principles, men had been ſtable

Which conſtitute CHRIST's Church; nor to aſſiſt

As they have done, the Throne of Antichriſt.

Had theſe been ſtill content to ſeek no more

(As Biſhops were in ages heretofore)

Than might ſupply things needful in their place,

For Nature to promote the works of Grace,

(Nor ſtretched their Precedency ought further,

Than did conduce to Decency, and Order)

It had not ſuch ill conſequents produc'd:

And, could they but, yet, timely be reduc'd,

To that Bound; Diſcords, would ere long be ended,

And, much, that is amiſs would be amended.

(GOD Bleſs the King, and open ſo his eyes,

That, he may ſee in what his ſafetie lies;

And proſper mee, as I deſire hee may

Walke and continue, in that bleſſed way,

Which truly to his glory doth redound;

Whom he ſo kind, and merciful hath found.

My prayers are, that GOD would make him ſtrong

Againſt the Charms of every gloſing Tongue;

In Grace and Vertues, daily ſo improve him,

That, GOD and Men, for ever more may love him:

[Page] And, that, I may finde favour in his ſight,

According as I am in heart, upright:

For, whatſoever, hee ſhall bee to mee;

To him, I'm true, and ſo will ever be.

GOD, pardon all that I have done amiſs,

And, ſo, I finiſh this Parentheſis.)

Here, I have ſhown you, by plain demonſtration,

Which (as I ſaid) admits no confutation,

That, Poverty (though much deſpiſ'd) is better

Than Riches; and, that, I thereto am debter

Much more, for what concerns my happineſs,

Than, by what can be got by an exceſs

In Wealth and Honour: And, what's here rehearſt,

Will bee approv'd, when Synods have reverſt

Their Votes; and be by Wiſeſt men upheld

VVhen Acts of Parliament ſhall be repeal'd,

That, were confirm'd, by Commons, Lords & King,

VVhen, GOD, ſhall to effect, his purpoſe bring,

And, thoſe men to their wits, who, little heeded,

VVhat, would enſue that, wherein they proceeded.

Now I have done. If this you can beleeve,

And, GOD, his bleſſing thereunto ſhall give,

I have what, I deſired for my paine;

And, what's here writ, ſhall not be writ in vain:

for, all that's in my words, is in my heart,

In every circumſtance, and every part.

Perhaps, this deſpicable Barly-cake,

May tumble, till a fatal breach it make

Into the Tents of Midian: but, thereon

VVhat ere elſe follows, let GOD's will be done.

Though no man living, ſhould the ſame regard,

A good work, to it ſelf gives full reward;

And, there is nothing, that can make it leſs,

Than what it is, or, bar it from increaſe:

[Page] For, though ſuch Accidents, may oft befall,

As, that, it will not ſo appear to all,

Nor Poverty, Impriſonment, Diſgrace,

Life, death, good, bad condition, time nor place,

Praiſes, Privations, nor ought that hath name,

Makes real Vertue, not to be the ſame.

Glory be to GOD.

A Word on the behalf of Mr. Zachary Crofton Priſoner in the Tower.

‘Whatſoever ye would that men ſhould do unto you, do ye the ſame unto them; for this is the Law and the Prophets,’Matth. 7. 12.

SInce all men erre, and one way, or another,

Occaſion what miſ-happens to each other,

I cannot but be ſenſible of that,

Which may bee mine, and ev'ry mans eſtate.

CROFTON's a Priſoner, and, ſome ſay, muſt dye;

Yet, I, from none, can learn the reaſon why.

If his declaring for the COVENANT,

Be all his Crime, a reaſon I ſhall want,

To ſatisfie mee, by what Law wee ſhall

Conclude that his Offence is Capital;

Or, how, that can imputed be for ſin,

Which, by no Law, hath yet forbidden been.

GOD, bleſs the King and State; and ſo mens reaſon

Preſerve, that, we may once know Truth from Treaſon,

Leſt we at laſt be brought into a ſnare,

And, be uncertain, when we Traitors are:

For, though it ſafely might bee juſtifi'd

That, rather than GOD, Men ſhould be obey'd;

Such, may not be their own Friends, who condemn

That man, who pleaded both for GOD, and them,

And, to the hazzard of his life perſiſts,

In vindicating their Joynt-Intereſts,

To no mans diſadvantage, except thoſe,

Who, are to GOD and Men, apparent foes.

Mee thinks, it is great pity, that, a man

Who, to GOD, King and Church, both may, and can

Be ſerviceable; and, who doth profeſs

His Judgement, in meer conſcientiouſneſs

[Page] Without deſign'd contempt, unto the State,

Or, purpoſing a mutinous debate,

And, never gave juſt cauſe to be ſuſpected,

He was to either of them diſaffected,

(But, unto both of them, good ſervice did,

When they of Faithful Servants had moſt need;

And, hath but done his duty, to oppoſe

Thoſe Harpies, which to all Good men are foes)

Should by miſtake, or, by miſ-information,

As one, who had deſerved no compaſſion,

A Sufferer with Malefactors be

Becauſe, hee ſees not, what he cannot ſee;

Or, elſe, becauſe he cannot credit give

To what, he findes no reaſon to beleeve;

For, who will care for life, where Prelacy

Attains to ſuch a height of Tyranny,

That, it inſlaves both Soul and Body too?

And, where, of what we ſhould beleeve and do,

No certainty, can by their LIGHT be known,

Nor leave obtain'd, to make uſe of our own,

Though voluntarily the King ingag'd

To let the Conſcience be ſo priviledg'd;

And, Mercy, in ſome other things, did ſhow

Whereof, the Prelacy will not allow,

Whether the COVENANT, by right, or wrong,

Were made, or burnt, it doth not now belong

To private men to queſtion: For, when dooms

Are paſt in Parliament, the Caſe then comes

Before GOD's Judgement-Seat; and, woe to them,

Who, that, which hee approves of, ſhall condemn.

Till, therefore, he, thence anſwers their appeal

Wiſe men, their private thinkings will conceal,

And, him implore, to whom referr'd it is,

To right what's wrong, and pardon what's amiſs.

What, Fame reports by Crofton to be done

I, ſingly and ſincerely muſing on,

Do finde, by that; whereof inform'd I am,

That, hee more merited reward than blame,

Unleſs, that, wherein other men have err'd

(Without his fault) may be to him transferr'd.

The Covenant hee took, but did not make it;

Nor forced any one to take, or break it;

[Page] But, in his place alone, the ſame maintain'd

(To his own hazzard) as it appertain'd

Unto the honour, peace, and preſervation

Both of the Royal perſons, and the Nation,

As he thought it oblig'd; and as it ſtood

In force, relating to the Will of GOD

And, no jot further; unleſs, wee ſuppoſe

Hee err'd, in preſſing it, to bar out thoſe

Who, have been, ſtill are, and will be agen,

Foes unto GOD, to Kings, and Common men,

As ſoon as they themſelves enabled finde,

To do the work, for which they were deſign'd.

For, that, which CROFTON moſt inſiſted on,

(As purpoſ'd by the Covenant to be done)

Is an exploding of the Hierarchy

Brought in, by Antichriſtian-Prelacy,

(To whoſe ſupport, his Oath cannot extend

Who, CHRIST's Faith, is obliged to defend.)

And, if that, be a fault, GOD, mee forgive,

For, therein, I reſolve, to dye, and live.

The ſtreſs of his Caſe, as appears to mee,

Lies there; if, hee of ought elſe guilty bee,

I, leave him to excuſe himſelf; for, never

Saw I his face, nor ſhall perhaps for ever.

But, hee's in durance, and I fain would do

As, in his Caſe, I would bee done unto;

And, peradventure, it will needful bee

That, ſome, ere long, ſhould do as much for mee.

There are, beſides thoſe actings, which do fall

Within the duties of our Common-call,

Some, having ſo peculiar Relation,

To GOD's Deſignments in our Generation,

That, they not onely do the force abate

Of what is call'd, The Reaſon of the State,

But, of thoſe Precepts alſo, at ſometimes,

Whoſe violations are moſt hainous Crimes,

In any other caſe; as may appear,

By many proofs, which I will now forbear.

GOD, doth a Generation-work deſign;

For, ev'ry man: Theſe, are a part of mine,

And, I had rather dye ten deaths for one

Than take ten lives, to let it bee undone.

Till that is done, mee, Lord vouchſafe to keep;

And, David-like, then, let mee fall aſleep.

Act. 13. 36.

[Page]

Information about this book

Title statement

A triple paradox affixed to a counter-mure raised against the furious batteries of restraint, slander and poverty, the three grand engines of the world, the flesh, and the devil / by major George Wither ...

Wither, George, 1588-1667.

Edition statement

1661

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2006-06 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A66791

ID [STC]

Wing W3202

ID [STC]

ESTC R12397

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

12931574

ID [OCLC]

ocm 12931574

ID [VID]

95689

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Series

Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A66791)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 95689)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 993:32)

Source

— A triple paradox affixed to a counter-mure raised against the furious batteries of restraint, slander and poverty, the three grand engines of the world, the flesh, and the devil / by major George Wither ..., Wither, George, 1588-1667..

Extent

[4], 73, [3] p.

Printed for the author,. London :: 1661.. (Reproduction of original in Huntington Library.) (In verse.)

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