JOHN BARFORD, HIS PETITION TO GOD, FOR KING, AND PARLIAMENT. ⟨1645⟩
O God, thou God of Truth, I pray thee heare
My Soules request, for all that doe Thee feare.
Ther's but one Truth; to which both hold & bring
All thy owne People, to our soveraigne King.
And He to them, and all to joyne in One,
To cast out factious Sects, and suffer none:
Which doe Gods facred Ordinance refuse,
* Math. 18.17. 2 Pet. 2. 2.
Led by their Fancies, and doe Truth abuse.
All Sinnes foule plotters; let them be to him
As Gangrens, to the State, and to each limbe.
A Body perfect, may no Member misse;
Nor Kingdome stand, that long devided is:
No more blind Bullets, Fire, nor bloody Sword,
Dissentions end, but let just Law accord:
Brute bankerupt Ruffians, and Blasphemers are
All chiefe rejoycers, when true Christians jarre;
That they may Plunder, Pillage, Drink, and Whore,
And mourne when Mischief they can doe no more.
O GOD! thou need [...]st no Instrument of Hell
Fight for thy Truth, thy Breath can them expell:
Let not our Foure-score yeares of Ioy, thus turne
To horrid Out-cryes, and just cause to Mourne.
But let our King be guided whole by Thee:
In Happinesse to keepe his Kingdomes three:
And Banish all the Jesuitick crew,
That wee may sing Thee praises old and new.
Now heare sweet GOD, and settle Truth and Peace,
AMEN, I cry, Amen and never cease.
(☞ *⁎* ☜)