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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/34974-8.txt b/34974-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d5a1846 --- /dev/null +++ b/34974-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3221 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Simple Cobler of Aggawam in America, by +Theodore de la Guard + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Simple Cobler of Aggawam in America + +Author: Theodore de la Guard + +Release Date: January 15, 2011 [EBook #34974] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SIMPLE COBLER OF AGGAWAM *** + + + + +Produced by Simon Gardner, JackMcJiggins and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + +Transcriber's Notes + +This Plain Text version uses symbols from the ASCII and Latin-1 +character sets. Typeface differences in the original are indicated as +follows: + + italic typeface is represented by _underscores_ + small caps typeface is represented by UPPER CASE + blackletter font is represented by %percent symbols% + plain text appearing within italics is represented by =equals symbols= + +Special characters in the original are indicated as follows: + + [oe] represents the oe ligature + ^o, ^{th} represent superscript characters + [=x] represents a macron (horizontal bar above a character) + [per] represents a conventional abbreviation for "per" + [ver] represents a scribal abbreviation in the quoted document + [Gr: ... ] is used to denote Greek transliteration. + +Archaic, unusual and inconsistent spellings have been retained from the +original text. Where changes to the text have been made for +typographical errors, these are listed at the end of the book. + + * * * * * + + + THE + SIMPLE COBLER + OF + AGGAWAM in AMERICA. + + willing + + To help 'mend his Native Country, lamentably tattered, both + in the upper-Leather and sole, with all the + honest stitches he can take. + + And as willing never to be paid for his work, by Old English + wonted pay. + + IT IS HIS TRADE TO PATCH ALL THE YEAR LONG, gratis. + + Therefore I pray Gentlemen keep your purses. + + By THEODORE DE LA GUARD. + + _In rebus arduis ac tenui spe, fortissima + qu[oe]que consilia tutissima sunt._ Cic. + + In English, + + When bootes and shoes are torne up to the lefts, + Coblers must thrust their awles up to the hefts. + + This is no time to feare _Apelles gramm: + Ne Sutor quidem ultra crepidam._ + + LONDON, + + Printed by J. D. & R. I. for STEPHEN BOWTELL, at the signe of + the Bible in Popes Head-Alley, 1647. + + + + +NOTICE OF THE AUTHOR. + + +THE REVEREND NATHANIEL WARD, the writer of the following work, was born +at Haverhill, England, in 1570. Of this town his father was a clergyman. +He was educated at Cambridge, studied and practised law, travelled on +the Continent, afterwards commenced the study of divinity, became a +preacher of the Gospel, and was settled at Standon, in Hertfordshire. He +was a strong friend of the early settlers of New England before the +elder Winthrop's coming over. At a General Court of the Massachusetts +Company, held in London, on Wednesday the 25th of November, 1629, "Mr. +Whyte did reco[=m]end Mr. Nathaniel Ward of Standon" to be admitted to +the freedom of the Company. He was ordered before the Bishop, Dec. 12, +1631, to answer for his non-conformity. Being forbidden to preach, he +embarked in April, 1634, for this country. He arrived here in June, and +was settled as Pastor of the church at Ipswich, or Aggawam, the same +year. By reason of indisposition, he was, at his own request, in 1636, +released from his engagement with the church there. However thus +disengaged, he preached often during the time he remained in the colony. +The necessities of the infant Commonwealth called for his time, talents, +and acquirements. Nor did he refuse. Willing to do the good, which he +might, he lent a ready and efficient hand to the formation of our Legal +Code. He was appointed by the General Court, March 12, 1638, on a +committee to draw up a system of laws, for the consideration of the +freemen. The same legislative authority, May 13, 1640, granted him six +hundred acres of land for his service, at Pentucket, afterwards called +Haverhill. He preached the election sermon, 1641, in which he advanced +several things that savored more of liberty, than some of the +magistrates were prepared to approve. The same year, Oct. 7, "The +Govern'^r and m^r Hauthorne were Desired to speake to m^r Ward, for a +coppey of the liberties, and of the Capitall lawes to bee transcribed, +and sent to the severall townes." He wrote the "Simple Cobler" in 1645. +In this year, May 25, he was on a committee to draw up a Body of +Liberties, which were published in 1648, being the first printed volume +of the kind in this Colony. Though greatly assisted by Joseph Hills and +others in the composition and arrangement of so important a work, yet he +appears to have been a principal agent in its accomplishment. He sold +his interest at Haverhill, Nov. 25, 1646, to John Eaton, for £12,00. +Between this date and the 6th of January following, he returned to +England. On June 30th, 1647, he preached before the House of Commons, +and the same year published the "Simple Cobler." He was afterwards +settled in the ministry at Shenfield, near Brentwood, where he died in +1653, in his eighty-third year. + +Fuller, in his "Worthies of England," speaking of him, says, that he, +"following the counsel of the poet, + + Ridentem dicere verum, + Quis vetat? + + What doth forbid but one may smile, + And also tell the truth the while? + +hath in a jesting way, in some of his books, delivered much smart truth +of the present times." Dr. Mather, in his "Magnalia," remarks of him, +"he was the author of many composures full of wit and sense; among +which, that entituled _The Simple Cobler_ (_which demonstrated him to be +a subtil statesman_) was most considered." The same author adds, that +"some famous persons of old thought it a greater _glory_ to have it +enquired; _why such a one had not a statue erected for him?_ than to +have it enquired _why he had?_ If it be enquired, _why this our =St. +Hilary= hath among our Lives no statue erected for him?_ let that +enquiry go for part of one." And in the "Remarkables" of Increase +Mather, he observes, "An hundred witty Speeches of our Celebrated +_Ward_, who called himself _The Simple Cobler_ of Agawam, [and over +whose Mantel-piece in his House, by the way, I have seen those three +Words Engraved, SOBRIE, JUSTE, PIE, and a Fourth added, which was LÆTE:] +have been reported; but he had one Godly Speech, that was worth 'em all; +which was, _I have only Two Comforts to Live upon; The one is in the +Perfections of CHRIST; The other is in The Imperfections of all +CHRISTIANS._" + +Mr. Ward had several children. Among them, were John, settled in the +ministry at Haverhill, Mass., where he died, 1693; James, who practised +medicine; and a daughter, married to Gyles Fyrmin. These three last +accompanied their father to England. + +To illustrate how much Mr. Ward benevolently labored for the public good +with but small recompense, we quote another remark of Cotton Mather, as +to his son John. It follows: "He was a son most exemplarily _dutiful_ +unto his _parents_; and having paid some considerable _debts_ for his +_father_, he would afterwards humbly observe and confess, that God had +abundantly _recompenced_ this his dutifulness." Whether these debts were +paid in Old or New England is uncertain. + +Thus we have given a sketch of one, who deserves well of New England and +of friends to freedom every where,--so that it might be more evident how +he and the subsequent work were estimated by his contemporaries and +successors. + + D. P. + +BOSTON, March 8, 1843. + + +NOTE. + +This work passed through several editions at London in 1647. It was +reprinted in Boston in 1713. One of the earlier editions and that of +1713 have been used in preparing the present edition for the press. +After his first impression, the author made several additions to +succeeding ones, which will be found in this now issued.--The principal +of these additions are as follow: "A Word of Love to the Common People +of England," "A most humble Heel piece," &c., and "A respective word to +the Ministers of England." + +ED. + + + + + THE + SIMPLE COBLER + OF + AGGAWAM IN AMERICA. + + WILLING + + To help 'mend his Native Country, lamentably + tattered, both in the upper-Leather and sole, + with all the honest stitches he can take. + + And as willing never to be paid for his work, + by Old English wonted pay. + + _It is his trade to patch all the year long_, gratis. + Therefore I pray Gentlemen keep your purses. + + By _Theodore de la Guard_. + + _In rebus arduis ac tenui spe, fortissima + quæque consilia tutissima sunt._ Cic. + + In English, + + When bootes and shoes are torne up to the lefts, + Coblers must thrust their awles up to the hefts. + + This is no time to feare _Apelles gramm: + Ne Sutor quidem ultra crepidam_. + + LONDON, + + Printed by _J. D. & R. I. for Stephen Bowtell_, at the + signe of the Bible in Popes Head-Alley, 1647. + + + + + THE + SIMPLE COBLER + OF + AGGAWAM IN AMERICA. + + +Either I am in an Appoplexie, or that man is in a Lethargie, who doth +not now sensibly feele God shaking the Heavens over his head, and the +Earth under his feet: The Heavens so, as the Sun begins to turne into +darknesse, the Moon into blood, the Starres to fall down to the ground; +So that little Light of Comfort or Counsell is left to the sonnes of +men: The Earth so, as the foundations are failing, the righteous scarce +know where to finde rest, the Inhabitants stagger like drunken men; it +is in a manner dissolved both in Religions and Relations: And no +marvell; for, they have defiled it by transgressing the Laws, changing +the Ordinances, and breaking the Everlasting Covenant. The Truths of God +are the Pillars of the world, whereon States and Churches may stand +quiet if they will; if they will not, He can easily shake them off into +delusions, and distractions enough. + +Sathan is now in his passions, hee feeles his passion approaching; hee +loves to fish in royled waters. Though that Dragon cannot sting the +vitals of the Elect mortally, yet that Beelzebub can fly-blow their +Intellectuals miserably: The finer Religion grows, the finer hee spins +his Cobwebs, hee will hold pace with Christ so long as his wits will +serve him. Hee sees himselfe beaten out of grosse Idolatries, Heresies, +Ceremonies, where the Light breakes forth with power; he will therefore +bestirre him to prevaricate Evangelicall Truths, and Ordinances, that if +they will needs be walking, yet they shall _laborare varicibus_, and not +keep their path: he will put them out of time and place; Assascinating +for his Engineers, men of Paracelsian parts; well complexioned for +honesty; for, such are fittest to Mountebanke his Chimistry into sicke +Churches and weake Judgements. + +Nor shall hee neede to stretch his strength overmuch in this worke: Too +many men having not laid their foundation sure, nor ballasted their +Spirits deepe with humility and feare, are prest enough of themselves to +evaporate their owne apprehensions. Those that are acquainted with Story +know, it hath ever been so in new Editions of Churches: Such as are +least able, are most busie to pudder in the rubbish, and to raise dust +in the eyes of more steady Repayrers. Civill Commotions make roome for +uncivill practises: Religious mutations, for irreligious opinions: +Change of Aire, discovers corrupt bodies; Reformation of Religion, +unsound mindes. He that hath any well-faced phancy in his Crowne, and +doth not vent it now, fears the pride of his owne heart will dub him +dunce for ever. Such a one will trouble the whole _Israel_ of God with +his most untimely births, though he makes the bones of his vanity +sticke up, to the view and griefe of all that are godly wise. The devill +desires no better sport then to see light heads handle their heels, and +fetch their carreers in a time, when the Roofe of Liberty stands open. + +The next perplexed Question, with pious and ponderous men, will be: What +should bee done for the healing of these comfortlesse exulcerations. I +am the unablest adviser of a thousand, the unworthiest of ten thousand; +yet I hope I may presume to assert what follows without just offence. + +First, such as have given or taken any unfriendly reports of us +_New-English_, should do well to recollect themselves. We have beene +reputed a Colluvies of wild Opinionists, swarmed into a remote wildernes +to find elbow-roome for our phanatick Doctrines and practises: I trust +our diligence past, and constant sedulity against such persons and +courses, will plead better things for us. I dare take upon me, to bee +the Herauld of _New-England_ so farre, as to proclaime to the world, in +the name of our Colony, that all Familists, Antinomians, Anabaptists, +and other Enthusiasts, shall have free Liberty to keep away from us, and +such as will come to be gone as fast as they can, the sooner the better. + +Secondly, I dare averre, that God doth no where in his word tolerate +Christian States, to give Tolerations to such adversaries of his Truth, +if they have power in their hands to suppresse them. + +Here is lately brought us an extract of a _Magna Charta_, so called, +compiled between the Sub-planters of a _West-Indian_ Island; whereof +the first Article of constipulation, firmely provides free stable-room +and litter for all kinde of consciences, be they never so dirty or +jadish; making it actionable, yea, treasonable, to disturbe any man in +his Religion, or to discommend it, whatever it be. Wee are very sorry to +see such professed profanenesse in _English_ Professors, as +industriously to lay their Religious Foundations on the ruine of true +Religion; which strictly binds every conscience to contend earnestly for +the Truth: to preserve unity of spirit, faith and Ordinances, to be all +like-minded, of one accord; every man to take his brother into his +Christian care: to stand fast with one spirit, with one mind, striving +together for the faith of the Gospel: and by no meanes to permit +Heresies or erroneous opinions: But God abhorring such loathsome +beverages, hath in his righteous judgement blasted that enterprize, +which might otherwise have prospered well, for ought I know; I presume +their case is generally knowne ere this. + +If the devill might have his free option, I believe he would ask nothing +else, but liberty to enfranchize all false Religions, and to embondage +the true; nor should he need: It is much to bee feared, that laxe +Tolerations upon State pretences and planting necessities, will be the +next subtle Stratagem he will spread, to distate the Truth of God and +supplant the peace of the Churches. Tolerations in things tolerable, +exquisitely drawn out by the lines of the Scripture, and pensill of the +Spirit, are the sacred favours of Truth, the due latitudes of Love, the +faire Compartiments of Christian fraternity: but irregular +dispensations, dealt forth by the facilities of men, are the frontiers +of errour, the redoubts of Schisme, the perillous irritaments of carnall +and spirituall enmity. + +My heart hath naturally detested foure things: The standing of the +Apocrypha in the Bible; Forrainers dwelling in my Countrey, to crowd our +native Subjects into the corners of the Earth; Alchymized coines; +Tolerations of divers Religions, or of one Religion in segregant shapes: +He that willingly assents to the last, if he examines his heart by +day-light, his conscience will tell him, he is either an Atheist, or an +Heretique, or an Hypocrite, or at best a captive to some lust: +Poly-piety is the greatest impiety in the world. True Religion is _Ignis +probationis_, which doth _congregare homogenea & segregare heterogenea_. + +Not to tolerate things meerly indifferent to weak consciences, argues a +conscience too strong: pressed uniformity in these, causes much +disunity: To tolerate more than indifferents, is not to deale +indifferently with God; He that doth it, takes his Scepter out of his +hand, and bids him stand by. Who hath to doe to institute Religion but +God. The power of all Religion and Ordinances, lies in their purity: +their purity in their simplicity: then are mixtures pernicious. I lived +in a City, where a Papist preached in one Church, a Lutheran in another, +a Calvinist in a third; a Lutheran one part of the day, a Calvinist the +other, in the same Pulpit: the Religion of that place was but motly and +meagre, their affections Leopardlike. + +If the whole Creature should conspire to doe the Creator a mischiefe, +or offer him an insolency, it would be in nothing more, than in erecting +untruths against his Truth, or by sophisticating his Truths with humane +medleyes; the removing of some one iota in Scripture, may draw out all +the life, and traverse all the Truth of the whole Bible: but to +authorise an untruth, by a Toleration of State, is to build a Sconce +against the walls of heaven, to batter God out of his Chaire: To tell a +practicall lye, is a great sin, but yet transient; but to set up a +Theoricall untruth, is to warrant every lye that lies from its root to +the top of every branch it hath, which are not a few. + +I would willingly hope that no Member of the Parliament hath skilfully +ingratiated himselfe into the hearts of the House, that he might watch a +time to midwife out some ungracious Toleration for his own turne, and +for the sake of that, some others. I would also hope that a word of +generall caution should not be particularly misapplied. I am the freer +to suggest it, because I know not one man of that mind, my aime is +generall, and I desire may be so accepted. Yet good Gentlemen, looke +well about you, and remember how _Tiberius_ plaid the Fox with the +Senate of _Rome_, and how _Fabius Maximus_ cropt his ears for his +cunning. + +That State is wise, that will improve all paines and patience rather to +compose, then tolerate differences in Religion. There is no divine +Truth, but hath much Celestial fire in it from the Spirit of Truth: nor +no irreligious untruth, without its proportion of Antifire from the +Spirit of Error to contradict it: the zeale of the one, the virulency +of the other, must necessarily kindle Combustions. Fiery diseases seated +in the spirit, embroile the whole frame of the body: others more +externall and coole, are lesse dangerous. They which divide in Religion +divide in God; they who divide in him, divide beyond _Genus +Generalissimum_, where there is no reconciliation, without atonement; +that is, without uniting in him, who is One, and in his Truth, which is +also one. + +Wise are those men who will be perswaded rather to live within the pale +of Truth where they may bee quiet, than in the purliev's, where they are +sure to be hunted ever and anon, doe Authority what it can. Every +singular Opinion, hath a singular opinion of it self; and he that holds +it a singular opinion of himself, and a simple opinion of all +contra-sentients: he that confutes them, must confute all three at once, +or else he does nothing; which will not be done without more stir than +the peace of the State or Church can indure. + +And prudent are those Christians, that will rather give what may be +given, then hazzard all by yeelding nothing. To sell all peace of +Country, to buy some peace of Conscience unseasonably, is more avarice +than thrift, imprudence than patience: they deale not equally, that set +any truth of God at such a rate; but they deale wisely that will stay +till the Market is fallen. + +My prognosticks deceive me not a little, if once within three seven +years, peace prove not such a penny-worth at most Marts in Christendome, +that hee that would not lay down his money, his lust, his opinion, his +will, I had almost said the best flower of his Crown for it, while he +might have had it; will tell his own heart, he plaid the very ill +husband. + +Concerning Tolerations I may further assert. + +That Persecution of True Religion, and Toleration of false, are the +_Jannes_ and _Jambres_ to the Kingdome of Christ, whereof the last is +farre the worst. _Augustines_ tongue had not owed his mouth one +penny-rent though it had never spake one word more in it, but this, +_Nullum malum pejus libertate errandi_. + +_Frederick_ Duke of _Saxon_, spake not one foote beyond the mark when he +said, he had rather the Earth should swallow him up quick, then he +should give a toleration to any opinion against any truth of God. + +He that is willing to tolerate any Religion, or discrepant way of +Religion, besides his own, unlesse it be in matters meerly indifferent, +either doubts of his own, or is not sincere in it. + +He that is willing to tolerate any unsound Opinion, that his own may +also be tolerated, though never so sound, will for a need hang Gods +Bible at the Devils girdle. + +Every Toleration of false Religions, or Opinions hath as many Errours +and sins in it, as all the false Religions and Opinions it tolerates, +and one sound one more. + +That State that will give Liberty of Conscience in matters of Religion, +must give Liberty of Conscience and Conversation in their Morall Laws, +or else the Fiddle will be out of tune, and some of the strings cracke. + +He that will rather make an irreligious quarrell with other Religions, +then try the truth of his own by valuable Arguments, and peaceable +Sufferings; either his Religion, or himselfe is irreligious. + +Experience will teach Churches and Christians, that it is farre better +to live in a State united, though a little Corrupt, then in a State, +whereof some Part is incorrupt, and all the rest divided. + +I am not altogether ignorant of the eight Rules given by Orthodox +Divines about giving Tolerations, yet with their favour I dare affirme, + +That there is no Rule given by God for any State to give an Affirmative +Toleration to any false Religion, or Opinion whatsoever; they must +connive in some cases, but may not concede in any. + +That the State of _England_ (so farre as my Intelligence serves) might +in time have prevented with ease, and may yet without any great +difficulty deny both Toleration, and irregular Connivences, _salva +Republica_. + +That if the State of _England_ shall either willingly Tolerate, or +weakly connive at such Courses, the Church of that Kingdom will sooner +become the Devills Dancing-Schoole, then Gods-Temple; The Civill State a +Beare-garden, then an Exchange: The whole Realme a Pais base, then an +_England_. And what pity it is, that that Country which hath been the +Staple of Truth to all Christendome, should now become the Aviary of +Errors to the whole World, let every fearing heart judge. + +I take Liberty of Conscience to bee nothing but a freedome from sinne, +and error. _Conscientia in tantum libera, in quantum ab errore +liberata._ And liberty of Error nothing but a Prison for Conscience. +Then small will bee the kindnesse of a State to build such Prisons for +their Subjects. + +The Scripture saith, there is nothing makes free but Truth, and Truth +saith, there is no Truth but One: If the States of the World would make +it their sumoperous Care to preserve this One Truth in its purity and +Authority it would ease them of all other Political cares. I am sure +Satan makes it his grand, if not onely taske, to adulterate Truth; +Falshood is his sole Scepter, whereby he first ruffled, and ever since +ruined the World. + +If Truth be but One, me thinks all the Opinionists in _England_ should +not be all in that One Truth, some of them I doubt are out. He that can +extract an unity out of such a disparity, or contract such a disparity +into an unity; had need be a better Artist, then ever was _Drebell_. + +If two Centers (as we may suppose) be in one Circle, and lines drawn +from both to all the points of the Compasse, they will certainly crosse +one another, and probably cut through the Centers themselves. + +There is talke of an universall Toleration, I would talke as loud as I +could against it, did I know what more apt and reasonable Sacrifice +_England_ could offer to God for his late performing all his heavenly +Truths, then an universall Toleration of all hellish Errors, or how they +shall make an universall Reformation, but by making Christs Academy the +Devils University, where any man may commence Heretique _per saltum_; +where he that is _filius Diabolicus_, or _simpliciter pessimus_, may +have his grace to goe to hell _cum Publico Privilegio_; and carry as +many after him, as he can. + +_Religio docenda est, non coercenda_ is a pretty piece of _album +Latinum_ for some kinde of throats that are willingly sore, but _Hæresis +dedocenda est non permittenda_, will be found a farre better _Diamoron_ +for the Gargarismes this Age wants, if timely and throughly applyed. + + If there be roome in _England_ for + + _Familists_ } { _Manes_ + _Libertines_ } { _Lemures_ + _Erastians_ } { _Dryades_ + _Antitrinitarians_ } { _Homadryades_ + _Anabaptists_ } { _Potamides_ + _Antiscripturists_ } { _Naiades_ + _Arminians_ } { _Hinnides_ + _Manifestarians_ } { _Pierides_ + _Millinaries_ } then room { _Nereides_ + _Antinomians_ } for { _Pales_ + _Socinians_ } { _Anonides_ + _Arrians_ } { _Parcades_ + _Perfectists_ } { _Castalides_ + _Brownists[1]_ } { _Monides_ + Religious _Mortalians_ } { _Charites_ + Men but _Seekers_ } Good Spirits,{ _Heliconides_ + pernicious _Enthusiasts_ } but very { _Pegasides_ + Heretiques _&c._ } Devils. { _&c._ + + In a word room for Hell above ground. + + [1] By Brownists I mean not Independents, but dew-clawd Seperatists: + farre be it from me to wrong godly Independents. I truely acknowledge + that I judge my self neither able nor worthy to honour some of them as + they deserve. + +It is said, Though a man have light enough himselfe to see the Truth, +yet if he hath not enough to enlighten others, he is bound to tolerate +them, I will engage my self, that all the Devills in _Britanie_ shall +sell themselves to their shirts, to purchase a Lease of this Position +for three of their Lives, under the Seale of the Parliament. + +It is said, That Men ought to have Liberty of their Conscience, and that +it is Persecution to debarre them of it: I can rather stand amazed then +reply to this: it is an astonishment to think that the braines of men +should be parboyl'd in such impious ignorance; Let all the wits under +the Heavens lay their heads together and finde an Assertion worse than +this (one excepted) I will Petition to be chosen the universal Ideot of +the world. + +It is said, That Civill Magistrates ought not to meddle with +Ecclesiasticall matters. + +I would answer to this so well as I could, did I not know that some +Papers lately brought out of _New-England_, are going to the Presse, +wherein the Opinions of the Elders there in a late Synod, concerning +this point are manifested, which I suppose will give clearer +satisfaction then I can. + +The true English of all this their false Latine, is nothing but a +generall Toleration of all Opinions; which motion if it be like to take, +it were very requisite, that the City would repaire _Pauls_ with all the +speed they can, for an English _Pantheon_, and bestow it upon the +Sectaries, freely to assemble in, then there may be some hope that +_London_ will be quiet in time. + +But why dwell I so intolerable long about Tolerations, I hope my feares +are but panick, against which I have a double cordiall. First, that the +Parliament will not though they could: Secondly, that they cannot though +they would grant such Tolerations. God who hath so honoured them with +eminent wisdome in all other things, will not suffer them to cast both +his, and their Honour in the dust of perpetuall Infamy, doe what they +can; nor shall those who have spent so great a part of their substance +in redeeming their Civill Liberties from Usurpation, lose all that +remaines in enthralling their spirituall Liberty by Toleration. + +It is said Opinionists are many, and strong, that _de sunt Vires_, that +it is _turbata respublica_, I am very sorry for it, but more sorry, if +despondency of minde shall cause the least tergiversation in Gods +Worthies, who have receiv'd such pledges of his presence in their late +Counsels, and Conflicts. It is not thousands of Opinionists that can +pinion his Everlasting armes, I can hardly beleeve there is a greater +unbeleever then my Selfe, yet I can verily beleeve that the God of Truth +will in a short time scatter them all like smoake before the wind. I +confesse I am troubled to see Men so over-troubled about them; I am +rather glad to heare the Devill is breaking up house in _England_, and +removing somewhither else, give him leave to sell all his rags, and +odde-ends by the out-cry; and let his petty Chapmen make their Market +while they may, upon my poore credit it will not last long. Hee that +hath done so much for _England_ will go on to perfect his owne praise, +and his Peoples Peace: let good men stand still, and behold his further +Salvation. He that sitteth in the Heavens laughs at them, the most High +hath them in Derision, and their folly shall certainly be manifested to +all men. + +Yet I dare not but adde, and in the Name of God will adde, that if any +Publique members of Church or State, have been either open fautors, or +private abetters of any blasphemous, contagious Opinions; It will be +their wisdome to proportion their repentance to their Sin, before God +makes them Publique monuments of Ignominie, and Apostasie. + +Thirdly, That all Christian States, ought to disavow and decry all such +Errours, by some peremptory Statutary Act, and that in time, that +Subjects knowing fully the minde of the State, might not delude +themselves with vaine hopes of unsufferable Liberties. It is lesse to +say _Statuatur veritas, ruat Regnum_, than _Fiat justitia, ruat +C[oe]lum_; but there is no such danger in either of them. Feare nothing +Gentlemen, _Rubiconem transiistis, jacta est alea_, ye have turned the +Devill out of doores; fling all his old parrell after him out at the +windows, lest he makes an errand for it againe. _Quæ relinquuntur in +morbis post indicationem, recidivas facere consuevere._ Christ would +have his Church without spot or wrinckle; They that help make it so, +shall lose neither honour nor labour: If yee be wise, suffer no more +thorns in his sides or your owne. When God kindles such fires as these, +hee doth not usually quench them, till the very scum on the pot sides be +boyled cleane away, _Ezek. 24. 10, 11_. Yee were better to doe it your +selves, then leave it to him: the Arme of the Lord is mighty, his hand +very heavy; who can dwell with his devouring fire, and long lasting +burnings? + +Fourthly, to make speedy provision against Obstinates and disseminaries: +where under favour, two things will be found requisite. First, variety +of penaltyes, I meane certaine, not indefinite: I am a Crabbat against +Arbitrary Government. Experience hath taught us here, that politicall, +domesticall, and personall respects, will not admit one and the same +remedy for all, without sad inconveniences. Secondly, just severity: +persecution hath ever spread Truth, prosecution scattered Errour: Ten of +the most Christian Emperors, found that way best; Schollars know whom I +meane: Five of the ancient Fathers perswaded to it, of whom _Augustine_ +was one, who for a time argued hard for indulgency: but upon conference +with other prudent Bishops, altered his judgement, as appears in three +of his Epistles, to _Marcellinus_, _Donatus_, and _Boniface_. I would be +understood, not onely an Allower, but an humble Petitioner, that +ignorant and tender conscienced Anabaptists may have due time and means +of conviction. + +Fifthly, That every Prophet, to whom God hath given the tongue of the +learned, should teach, and every Angel who hath a pen and inkehorne by +his side write against these grieving extravagancies: writing of many +books, I grant is irkesome, reading endlesse. A reasonable man would +thinke Divines had declaimed sufficiently upon these Themes. I have ever +thought the Rule given, _Titus 3. 10._ which cuts the work short and +sharpe to be more properly prevalent, then wearisome waiting upon +unweariable Spirits. It is a most toylsome taske to run the wild-goose +chase after a well-breath'd Opinionist: they delight in vitilitigation: +it is an itch that loves a life to be scrub'd: they desire not +satisfaction, but satisdiction, whereof themselves must be judges: yet +in new eruptions of Error with new objections, silence is sinfull. + +As for my selfe, I am none of the disputers of this world: all I can +doe, is to guesse when men speake true or false divinity: if I can but +finde the parentall roote, or formall reason of a Truth, I am quiet; if +I cannot, I shore up my slender judgement as long as I can, with two or +three the handsomest props I can get: I shall therefore leave Arguments +to acuter heads, and onely speak a word of Love, with all Christian +respect to our deare Brethren in _England_, which are against baptizing +of Infants: I intreate them to consider these few things seriously and +meekly. First, what a high pitch of boldnesse it is for man to cut a +principall Ordinance out of the Kingdome of God; if it be but to make a +dislocation, which so far disgoods the Ordinance, I feare it altogether +unhallows it, to transplace or transtime a stated Institution of Christ, +without his direction, I thinke, is to destroy it. Secondly, what a +Cruelty it is to devest children of that onely externall priviledge +which their heavenly Father hath bequeathed them, to interest them +visibly in Himselfe, His Son, His Spirit, His Covenant of Grace, and the +tender bosome of their carefull Mother the Church. Thirdly, what an +Inhumanity it is, to deprive Parents of that comfort they may take from +the baptisme of their Infants dying in their Childehood. Fourthly, How +unseasonable and unkindely it is, to interturbe the State and Church +with these Amalekitish onsets, when they are in their extreame pangs of +travell with their lives. Fifthly, to take a through view of those who +have preambled this by path. Being sometimes in the Crowds of foraigne +Wederdopers, that is, Anabaptists; and prying into their inward frames +with the best eyes I had; I could not but observe these disguised guises +in the generality of them. + +First, a flat formality of Spirit without salt or savour in the +spiritualties of Christ, as if their Religion began and ended in their +Opinion. Secondly, a shallow slighting of such as dissent from them, +appearing too often in their faces, speeches and carriages. Thirdly, a +feeble, yet peremptory obstinacy; seldome are any of them reclaimed. +Fourthly, a shamefull sliding into other such tarpauling tenets, to keep +themselves dry from the showers of Justice, as a rationall minde would +never entertain, if it were not Errour-blasted from Heaven and Hell: I +should as shrewdly suspect that Opinion, that will cordially corrive +with two or three sottish errours, as that faith that can professedly +live with two or three sordid sins. I dare not feare our godly Brethren +in _England_ to be yet comming to this passe; how soon they may, +themselves know not, the times are slippery: They will undoubtedly finde +God as jealous of his Ordinances, as themselves are zealous of their +Opinions. + +Sixthly, That Authority ought to see their Subjects children baptized, +though their Parents judgements be against it, if there be no other +Evangelicall barre in the way. + +Seventhly, That prudent men, especially young, should doe well not to +ingage themselves in conference with Errorists, without a good calling +and great caution; their breath is contagious, their leprey spreading: +receive not him that is weak, saith the Apostle, to doubtfull +disputations; much lesse may they run themselves into dangerous +Sophistications. He usually hears best in their meetings, that stops his +eares closest; he opens his mouth to best purpose, that keeps it shut, +and he doeth best of all, that declines their company as wisely as he +may. + +Brethren, have an extraordinary care also of the late Theosophers, that +teach men to climbe to Heaven upon a ladder of lying figments. Rather +than the Devill will lose his game, he will out-shoot Christ in his owne +bow; he will out-law the Law, quite out of the word and world: +over-Gospell the Gospell, and quidanye Christ, with Sugar and Rats-bane. +Hee was Professour not long since at _Schelstat_ in _Alsatia_, where he +learned that no poyson is so deadly as the poyson of Grace. + +The wisest way, when all is said, is with all humility and feare, to +take Christ as himselfe hath revealed himselfe in his Gospel, and not as +the Devill presents him to prestigiated phansies. I have ever hated the +way of the Rosie-Crucians, who reject things as Gods wisedome hath +tempered them, and will have nothing but their Spirits. If I were to +give physick to Spryts, I would doe so too: but when I want physick for +my body, I would not have my soule tartared: nor my Animall Spirits +purged any way, but by my Naturall, and those by my bodily humours, and +those by such Ordinaries, as have the nearest vicinage to them, and not +by Metaphysicall Limbeckings. I cannot thinke that _materia prima_ or +_secunda_, should be good for me, that am at least, _Materia millessima +sexcentesima quadragesima quinta_. + +Here I hold my selfe bound to set up a Beacon, to give warning of a +new-sprung Sect of Phrantasticks, which would perswade themselves and +others, that they have discovered the Nor-west passage to Heaven. These +wits of the game, cry up and downe in corners such bold ignotions of a +new Gospell, new Christ, new Faith, and new gay-nothings, as trouble +unsetled heads, querulous hearts, and not a little grieve the Spirit of +God. I desire all good men may be saved from their Lunatick Creed, by +Infidelity; and rather beleeve these torrid overtures will prove in +time, nothing but horrid raptures downe to the lowest hell, from which +he that would be delivered, let him avoid these blasphemers, a late fry +of croaking Frogs, not to be indured in a Religious State, no, if it +were possible, not an houre. + +As some are playing young Spaniels, questing at every bird that rises; +so others, held very good men, are at a dead stand, not knowing what to +doe or say; and are therefore called Seekers, looking for new Nuntio's +from Christ, to assoile these benighted questions, and to give new +Orders for new Churches. I crave leave with all respect to tell them, +that if they looke into _Act. 20. 20. 25._ _Gal. 1. 8. 9._ _1. Tim. 6. +13. 16._ and find them not there; they may happily seeke as the young +Prophets did for Eliah's corps, where it never was, nor ever will be +found. + +I cannot imagine why the Holy Ghost should give _Timothy_ the solemnest +charge, was ever given mortall man, to observe the Rules he had given, +till the comming of Christ, if new things must be expected. + +Woe be to them, who ever they be, that so trouble the wayes of God that +they who have found the way to Heaven, cannot find the way to Church: +And woe be to them, that so gaze at the glorious light, they say, will +breake forth in the thousand yeares to come, that they make little of +the gracious Truth that hath been revealed these sixteen hundred years +past. And woe be to them that so under-value the first Master-Builders, +I mean the Apostles of Christ, that unlesse he sends wiser than they, He +must be accounted lesse faithfull in his house than _Moses_ was. + +I have cause enough to be as charitable to others as any man living; yet +I cannot but feare, that those men never Moored their Anchors well in +the firme soile of Heaven, that are weather-waft up and down with every +eddy-wind of every new doctrine. The good Spirit of God doth not usually +tie up the Helme, and suffer passengers to Heaven to ride a drift, +hither and thither, as every wave and current carries them: that is a +fitter course for such as the Apostle calls wandring Starres and +Meteors, without any certaine motion, hurryed about with tempests, bred +of the Exhalations of their own pride and self-wittednesse: whose +damnation sleepeth not, and to whom the mist of darknesse is reserved +for ever, that they may suffer irreparable shipwrack upon the Sands and +Rocks of their owne Errours, being of old ordained to condemnation. + +Eightly, let all considerate men beware of ungrounded opinions in +Religion: Since I knew what to feare, my timerous heart hath dreaded +three things: a blazing starre appearing in the aire: a State Comet, I +mean a favourite rising in a Kingdome, a new Opinion spreading in +Religion: these are Exorbitancies: which is a formidable word: a +_vacuum_ and an exorbitancy, are mundicidious evils. Concerning +Novelties of opinions; I shall expresse my thoughts in these briefe +passages. First, that Truth is the best boone God ever gave the world: +there is nothing in the world, any further then Truth makes it so; it is +better then any creat' _Ens_ or _Bonum_, which are but Truths twins. +Secondly, the least Truth of Gods Kingdome, doth in its place, uphold +the whole kingdome of his Truths; Take away the least _vericulum_ out of +the world, and it unworlds all, potentially, and may unravell the whole +texture actually, if it be not conserved by an Arme of superiordinary +power. Thirdly, the least Evangelicall Truth is more worth than all the +Civil Truths in the world, that are meerly so. Fourthly, that Truth is +the Parent of all Liberty whether politicall or personall; so much +untruth, so much thraldome, _John 8. 32_. + +Hence it is, that God is so jealous of his Truths, that he hath taken +order in his due justice: First, that no practicall sin is so sinfull as +some errour in judgement; no men so accursed with indelible infamie and +dedolent impenitency, as Authours of Heresie. Secondly, that the least +Error, if grown sturdy and pressed, shall set open the Spittle-doore of +all the squint ey'd, wry-necked, and brazen-faced Errors that are or +ever were of that litter; if they be not enough to serve its turne, it +will beget more, though it hath not one crust of reason to maintain +them. Thirdly, that that State which will permit Errors in Religion, +shall admit Errors in policy unavoyably. Fourthly, that that Policy +which will suffer irreligious Errors, shall suffer the losse of so much +Liberty in one kind or other, I will not exempt _Venice_, _Rhaguse_, the +_Cantons_, the _Nether-lands_, or any. + +An easie head may soon demonstrate, that the pre-mentioned Planters, by +Tolerating all Religions, had immazed themselves in the most intolerable +confusions and inextricable thraldomes the world ever heard of. I am +perswaded the Devill himselfe was never willing with their proceedings, +for feare it would breake his wind and wits to attend such a Province. I +speak it seriously according to my meaning. How all Religions should +enjoy their Liberty, Justice its due regularity, Civill cohabitation +morall honesty, in one and the same Jurisdiction, is beyond the Artique +of my comprehension. If the whole conclave of Hell can so compromise, +exadverse, and diametricall contradictions, as to compolitize such a +multimonstrous maufrey of heteroclytes and quicquidlibets quietly; I +trust I may say with all humble reverence, they can doe more then the +Senate of Heaven. My _modus loquendi_ pardoned: I intirely wish much +welfare and more wisdom to that Plantation. + +It is greatly to be lamented, to observe the wanton fearlessnesse of +this Age, especially of younger professors, to greet new opinions and +Opinionists: as if former truths were grown superannuate, and saplesse, +if not altogether antiquate. _Non senescet veritas._ No man ever saw a +gray haire on the head or beard of any Truth, wrinckle, or morphew on +its face: The bed of Truth is green all the yeare long. Hee that cannot +solace himselfe with any saving truth, as affectionately as at the first +acquaintance with it, hath not only a fastidious, but an adulterous +heart. + +If all be true we heare, Never was any People under the Sun, so sick of +new Opinions as _English-men_ nor of new fashions as _English-women_: If +God helpe not the one, and the devill leave not helping the other, a +blind man may easily foresee what will become of both. I have spoken +what I intend for the present to men; I shall speak a word to the women +anon: in the mean time I intreat them to prepare patience. + +Ninthly, that godly humble Christians ought not to wonder impatiently at +the wonderfull workes of God in these times: it is full Season for him +to work Soveraign worke, to vindicate his Soveraignty, that men may +feare before him. States are unstated, Rulers growne Over-rulers, +Subjects worse then men, Churches decayed. Tofts, Professors, empty +casks filled with unholy humours; I speake not of all, but too many; I +condemne not the generation of the just: God hath his remnant, whom he +will carefully preserve. If it bee time for men to take up Defensive +Armes against such as are called Gods, upon the point of _Salus populi_, +it is high time for him that is God indeed, to draw his Sword against +wormes and no men, upon the point of _Majestas imperii_: The piercing of +his Sword shall discover the thoughts of many hearts. + +Lastly, I dare averre, that it ill becomes Christians any thing +well-shod with the preparation of the Gospel, to meditate flight from +their deare Countrey upon these disturbances. Stand your ground ye +_Eleazars_ and _Shammahs_, stir not a foot so long as you have halfe a +foot of ground to stand upon: after one or two such Worthies, a great +Victory may be regained, and flying _Israel_ may returne to a rich +spoile. _Englishmen_, be advised to love _England_, with your hearts and +to preserve it by your Prayers. I am bold to say that since the pure +Primitive time, the Gospel never thrived so well in any soile on earth, +as in the _British_; nor is the like goodnesse of nature, or Cornucopian +plenty else-where to be found: if ye lose that Country, and finde a +better before ye come to Heaven, my Cosmography fades me. I am farre +from discouraging any, whom necessity of Conscience or condition thrusts +out by head and shoulders: if God calls any into a Wildernesse, Hee will +be no wildernesse to them, _Jer. 2. 31._ witnesse his large beneficence +to us here beyond expectation. + +Ye say, why come not we over to help the Lord against the Mighty, in +these Sacred battailes? + +I answer, many here are diligently observing the counsell of the same +Prophet, 22. 10. _Weepe not for him that is dead, neither bemoan him; +but weep for him that is gone away and shall returne no more to see his +Native Country._ Divers make it an Article of our _American_ Creed, +which a celebrate Divine of _England_ hath observed upon _Heb. 11. 9._ +That no man ought to forsake his owne countrey, but upon extraordinary +cause, and when that cause ceaseth, he is bound in conscience to returne +if he can: We are looking to him who hath our hopes and seasons in his +onely wise hand. + +In the mean time we desire to bow our knees before the Throne of Grace +day and night, that the Lord would be pleased in his tender mercy to +still the sad unquietnesse and per-peracute contentions, of that most +comfortable and renowned island, that at length He may have praise in +his Churches, and his Churches peace in him, through Jesus Christ. + + * * * * * + +Should I not keepe promise in speaking a little to Womens fashions, they +would take it unkindly: I was loath to pester better matter with such +stuffe; I rather thought it meet to let them stand by themselves, like +the _Quæ Genus_ in the Grammar, being Deficients, or Redundants, not to +be brought under any Rule: I shall therefore make bold for this once, to +borrow a little of their loose tongued Liberty, and mispend a word or +two upon their long-wasted, but short-skirted patience: a little use of +my stirrup will doe no harme. + + _Ridentem dicere verum, quid prohibet?_ + + _Gray Gravity it selfe can well beteam, + That Language be adapted to the Theme. + He that to Parrots speaks, must parrotize: + He that instructs a foole, may act th' unwise._ + +It is known more then enough, that I am neither Nigard, nor Cinick, to +the due bravery of the true Gentry: if any man mislikes a bully mong +drossock more then I, let him take her for his labour: I honour the +woman that can honour her selfe with her attire: a good Text alwayes +deserves a fair Margent: I am not much offended if I see a trimme, far +trimmer than she that wears it: in a word, whatever Christianity or +Civility will allow, I can afford with _London_ measure: but when I +heare a nugiperous Gentledame inquire what dresse the Queen is in this +week: what the nudiustertian fashion of the Court; I meane the very +newest: with egge to be in it in all haste, what ever it be; I look at +her as the very gizzard of a trifle, the product of a quarter of a +cypher, the epitome of nothing, fitter to be kickt, if shee were of a +kickable substance, than either honour'd or humour'd. + +To speak moderately, I truly confesse, it is beyond the ken of my +understanding to conceive, how those women should have any true grace, +or valuable vertue, that have so little wit, as to disfigure themselves +with such exotick garbes, as not only dismantles their native lovely +lustre, but transclouts them into gant bar-geese, +ill-shapen-shotten-shell-fish, Egyptian Hyeroglyphicks, or at the best +into French flurts of the pastery, which a proper English woman should +scorne with her heels: it is no marvell they weare drailes on the hinder +part of their heads, having nothing as it seems in the fore-part, but a +few Squirrils brains to help them frisk from ill-favor'd fashion to +another. + + _These whimm' Crown'd shees, these fashion-fansying wits, + Are empty thin brain'd shells, and fiddling Kits._ + +The very troublers and impoverishers of mankind, I can hardly forbear to +commend to the world a saying of a Lady living sometime with the Queen +of _Bohemia_, I know not where shee found it, but it is pitty it should +be lost. + + _The World is full of care, much like unto a bubble; + Women and care, and care and women, and women and care and trouble._ + +The Verses are even enough for such odde pegma's. I can make my selfe +sicke at any time, with comparing the dazling splender wherewith our +Gentlewomen were embellished in some former habits, with the +gut-foundred goosdom, wherewith they are now surcingled and debauched. +Wee have about five or six of them in our Colony: if I see any of them +accidentally, I cannot cleanse my phansie of them for a moneth after. I +have been a solitary widdower almost twelve yeares, purposed lately to +make a step over to my Native Country for a yoke-fellow: but when I +consider how women there have tripe-wifed themselves with their +cladments, I have no heart to the voyage, least their nauseous shapes +and the Sea, should work too sorely upon my stomach. I speak sadly; me +thinkes it should breake the hearts of English-men to see so many goodly +English-women imprisoned in French Cages, peering out of their +hood-holes for some men of mercy to help them with a little wit, and no +body relieves them. + +It is a more common then convenient saying, that nine Taylors make a +man: it were well if nineteene could make a woman to her minde: if +Taylors were men indeed, well furnished but with meer morall principles, +they would disdain to be led about like Apes, by such mymick Marmosets. +It is a most unworthy thing, for men that have bones in them, to spend +their lives in making fidle-cases for futilous womens phansies; which +are the very pettitoes of infirmity, the gyblets of perquisquilian +toyes. I am so charitable to think, that most of that mystery would +worke the cheerfuller while they live, if they might bee well discharged +of the tyring slavery of mis-tyring women: it is no little labour to be +continually putting up English-women into Out-landish caskes: who if +they be not shifted anew, once in a few moneths, grow too sowre for +their Husbands. What this Trade will answer for themselves when God +shall take measure of Taylors consciences is beyond my skill to imagine. +There was a time when + + _The joyning of the Red-Rose with the White, + Did set our State into a Damask plight._ + +But now our Roses are turned to _Flore de lices_, our Carnations to +Tulips, our Gilliflowers to Dayzes, our City-Dames, to an indenominable +Quæmalry of overturcas'd things. Hee that makes Coates for the Moone, +had need take measure every noone; and he that makes for women, as +often, to keepe them from Lunacy. + +I have often heard divers Ladies vent loud feminine complaints of the +wearisome varieties and chargable changes of fashions: I marvell +themselves preferre not a Bill of redresse. I would[2] _Essex_ Ladies +would lead the _Chore_, for the honour of their County and persons; or +rather the thrice honourable Ladies of the Court, whom it best beseemes: +who may wel presume of a _Le Roy le veult_ from our sober King, a _Les +Seigneurs ont Assentus_ from our prudent Peers, and the like _Assentus_ +from our considerate, I dare not say wife-worne Commons: who I beleeve +had much rather passe one such Bill, than pay so many Taylors Bills as +they are forced to doe. + + [2] All the Counties and shires of England have had wars in them since + the Conquest, but Essex, which is onely free, and should be thankfull. + +Most deare and unparallel'd Ladies, be pleased to attempt it: as you +have the precellency of the women of the world for beauty and feature; +so assume the honour to give, and not take Law from any, in matter of +attire: if ye can transact so faire a motion among yourselves +unanimously, I dare say, they that most renite, will least repent. What +greater honour can your Honors desire, then to build a Promontory +president to all foraigne Ladies, to deserve so eminently at the hands +of all the English Gentry present and to come: and to confute the +opinion of all the wise men in the world; who never thought it possible +for women to doe so good a work? + +If any man think I have spoken rather merrily than seriously he is much +mistaken, I have written what I write with all the indignation I can, +and no more then I ought. I confesse I veer'd my tongue to this kinde of +Language _de industria_ though unwillingly, supposing those I speak to +are uncapable of grave and rationall arguments. + +I desire all Ladies and Gentlewomen to understand that all this while I +intend not such as through necessary modesty to avoyd morose +singularity, follow fashions slowly, a flight shot or two off, shewing +by their moderation, that they rather draw countermont with their +hearts, then put on by their examples. + +I point my pen only against the light-heel'd beagles that lead the chase +so fast, that they run all civility out of breath, against these +Ape-headed pullets, which invent Antique foole-fangles, meerly for +fashion and novelty sake. + +In a word, if I begin once to declaime against fashions, let men and +women look well about them, there is somewhat in the businesse; I +confesse to the world, I never had grace enough to be strict in that +kinde; and of late years, I have found syrrope of pride very wholesome +in a due _Dos_, which makes mee keep such store of that drugge by me, +that if any body comes to me for a question-full or two about fashions, +they never complain of me for giving them hard measure, or under-weight. + +But I addresse my self to those who can both hear and mend all if they +please: I seriously feare, if the pious Parliament doe not finde a time +to state fashions, as ancient Parliaments have done in some part, God +will hardly finde a time to state Religion or Peace: They are the +surquedryes of pride, the wantonnesse of idlenesse, provoking sins, the +certain prodromies of assured judgement, _Zeph. 1. 7, 8_. + +It is beyond all account, how many Gentlemens and Citizens estates are +deplumed by their feather-headed wives, what usefull supplies the +pannage of _England_ would afford other Countries, what rich returnes to +it selfe, if it were not slic'd out into male and female fripperies: and +what a multitude of misimploy'd hands, might be better improv'd in some +more manly Manufactures for the publique weale: it is not easily +credible, what may be said of the preterpluralities of Taylors in +_London_: I have heard an honest man say, that not long since there were +numbered between _Temple-barre_ and _Charing-Crosse_, eight thousand of +that Trade: let it be conjectured by that proportion how many there are +in and about _London_, and in all _England_, they will appeare to be +very numerous. If the Parliament would please to mend women, which their +Husbands dare not doe, there need not so many men to make and mend as +there are. I hope the present dolefull estate of the Realme, will +perswade more strongly to some considerate course herein, than I now +can. + +Knew I how to bring it in, I would speak a word to long haire, whereof I +will say no more but this: if God proves not such a Barbor to it as he +threatens, unlesse it be amended, _Esa. 7. 20._ before the Peace of the +State and Church be well setled, then let my prophesie be scorned, as a +sound minde scornes the ryot of that sin, and more it needs not. If +those who are tearmed Rattle-heads and Impuritans, would take up a +Resolution to begin in moderation of haire, to the just reproach of +those that are called Puritans and Round-heads, I would honour their +manlinesse, as much as the others godlinesse, so long as I knew what man +or honour meant: if neither can find a Barbours shop, let them turne in, +to _Psal. 68. 21._ _Jer. 7. 29._ _1 Cor. 11. 14._ if it be thought no +wisdome in men to distinguish themselves in the field by the Scissers, +let it bee thought no injustice in God, not to distinguish them by the +Sword. I had rather God should know me by my sobriety, than mine enemy +not know me by my vanity. He is ill kept, that is kept by his owne sin. +A short promise is a farre safer guard than a long lock: it is an ill +distinction which God is loth to looke at, and his Angels cannot know +his Saints by. Though it be not the mark of the Beast, yet it may be the +mark of a beast prepared to slaughter. I am sure men use not to weare +such manes; I am also sure Souldiers use to weare other marklets or +notadoes in time of battell. + + * * * * * + +Having done with the upper part of my work, I would now with all humble +willingnesse set on the best peece of Soule-leather I have, did I not +feare I should break my All, which though it may be a right old English +blade, yet it is but little and weake. I should esteeme it the best +piece of workmanship my Cobling hand every wrought, if it would please +Him whose worke it is, to direct me to speake such a word over the sea, +as the good old woman of _Abel_ did over the wall, in the like exigent: +but alas, I am but simple. What if I be? + + _When States dishelv'd are, and Lawes untwist, + Wise men keep their tongues, fools speak what they list._ + +I would not be so unwise as to grieve the wise, if I were wise enough to +foresee it: I would speake nothing to the Cause or Continuance of these +wearisome Warres hitherto; the one is enough debated, the other more +than enough peracted. Nor would I declaime of the uncomlinesse, +unbrotherlinesse, unseasonablenesse and unreasonablenesse of these +direfull digladiations: every stroak strucke sounds too loud upon this +harsh string. I would much rather speake perswasives to a comely +brotherly seasonable and reasonable cessation of Armes on both sides, by +a drawn battaile: Wherein if I shall adventure a few over-bold words, I +intreat my ignorance, impartiality, and Loyalty may plead pardon for me. + +Foure meanes there are, and no more, within the compasse of my +consideration, conducing to what is desired. Either to get the Standard +fixed in heaven by the Lord of Hosts taken downe, I meane by +Reformation: Or to set up white colours instead of red, on one side or +other, I meane by Composition: Or by furling up all the Ensignes on both +sides, I meane by mutuall and generall Cessation: Or by still displaying +all the Colours and Cornets of every batallion, I mean by prosecution: +without Reformation there will hardly be any Composition; without +Composition little hope of Cessation; without Cessation there must and +will be Prosecution; which God forbid. + + +_Reformation._ + +When the Roman Standard was defixed with such difficulty at the battell +between _Hanniball_ and _Flaminius_ at _Thrasimene_, it proved an ill +Omen. _When God gives quietnesse, who can make trouble; when he hideth +his face, who can behold him?_ _Whether it be against a nation or a man +onely._ _That the Hypocrite reigne not, lest the people be insnared_, +_Job 34. 29, 30_. How can the sword of the Lord put it selfe up into its +scabbard and be quiet, when himself hath given it a charge to the +contrary? _Jer. 47. 6, 7_. It was a Cardinall Truth which Cardinall +_Poole_ spake to H. 8. _Penes Reges est inferre bellum, penes autem Deum +terminare._ If Kings will make their beginnings, God will make his ends: +much more when himselfe begins: _When I begin I will also make an end_, +_1 Sam. 3. 12_. Farre better were it, for men to make an end with him in +time, than put him to make such an end with them as he there intends. + +Politicall Reformation he seemes to call for now _indigitanter_. When he +beholds Christian Kingdomes and States unsound in their foundations, +illineall in their superstructures, unjust in their administrations; he +kicks them in peeces with the foot of his Indignation: But when +Religious Statesmen frame and build by the levell and plummet of his +wisdome, then people may say as his servants of old, _Looke upon Zion +the City of our Solemnities; Your eyes shall see it a quiet habitation, +a Tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof +shall be removed, neither shall any of the coards thereof bee broken_; +_Isa. 33. 20._ neither by civill Commotions nor foraign Invasions. When +the coards of a State are exquisitely tight, and the stakes firmely +pitched; such a Tent though but a Tent shall not easily flutter or fall: +But _if the Tacklings be so loose, that the maine Mast cannot stand +steady, nor the Saile be well spread; then may the lame take and divide +a great prey_, ver. 23. If Religion, Laws, Liberties, Affections, +Conversations, and foraigne Federacies be slight; the strength of strong +men shall be weaknesse, and the weaknesse of the weak victorious. + +_Pura politeja ne unum admittit solæcismulum, neque valet, præscriptio +in politicis aut moralibus._ It may maintain a bright conjecture, +against a rusty Truth: a legible possession, against an obliterate +Claime: an inconvenience, against a convenience; where no cleare remedy +may be had: but never any thing that is formally sinfull, or materially +mischievous. When rotten States are soundly mended from head to foot, +proportions duly admeasured, Justice justly dispenced; then shall Rulers +and Subjects have peace with God and themselves: but till then, the +gayest Kingdomes shall be but ruffling scuffling, removing and commoving +hovells. For _England_, however the upper Stories are shroadly +shattered; yet the foundations and frame being good or mendable by the +Architectors now at worke, there is good hope, when peace is setled, +people shall dwell more wind-tight and water-tight than formerly. I +earnestly wish our Mr. Builders to remember, that punctuality in +Divinity and Politie, is but regularity; that what is amisse in the +mould, will misfashion the prosult: and that if this market be slipt, +things may grow as deare as ever they were. Most expert Gentlemen, bee +intreated at length to set our Head right on our shoulders, that we may +once look upwards and goe forwards like proper Englishmen. + + * * * * * + +God will also have Ecclesiasticall Reformation now, or nothing: And here +he stands not upon Kings, Parliaments or Assemblies, but upon his own +Termes. I feare hee will have all drosse and base metalls throughly +melted away by these combustions, before Hee quenches them; all his +Ordinances and vessells cast into his owne fashion, in his own mould, to +his own _amussim_, before he restores peace. There was not a stone left +upon a stone of the old Temple, before the new was erected. If this +first worke bee throughly and throughoutly dispatched as I hope it is, +the great _Remora_ is removed. If the Parliament and Assembly be pleased +to be as curious and industrious as I have seen a great Popish Bishop in +execcrating a Protestant Parish Church one day, and consecrating it the +next; they may adjourn awhile with leave enough. + +Some ten or twelve years before these Wars there came to my view these +two Predictions. + + 1. _When God shall purge this Land with soap and nitre, + Woe be to the Crowne, woe be to the Mitre._ + + The accent of the blow shall fall there. + +He that pities not the Crowne, pities not his owne soule. Hee that +pities not those that wore the Mitre, more than they pitied themselves, +or the Churches over which they insulted, or the State then corrupted +and now Corruined by their pride and negligence, is to blame. + + 2. _There is a set of Bishops comming next behind, + Will ride the devill off his legs, and break his wind._ + +Poore men! they might have kept his backe till this time for ought I +know, had they not put him beyond his pace: but Schollers must gallop, +though they tumble for it. Yet I commend them for this, they gave him +such straynes as made him blow short ever since. I doubt the Assembly +troubles him; and I doubt he troubles them. Well, the Bishops are gone: +If they have carried away with them all that was in the pockets of their +Holliday hose, fare them well; let them come againe when I give them a +new _Conge d' slier_, or send a Pursuivant for them; which if I doe, I +shall never trust myselfe more, though they have often done it for me, +who never deserved that honour. Some of them I confesse were very honest +men, and would have been honester if they dared for their fellows. + +The sad worke now, is to institute better things in their Roome, and to +induct better men in their roome; rather where, and how to finde those +things, they having cunningy laid them so farre out of the way; I doubt +some good men cannot see them, when they look full upon them: it is +like, the Bishops carryed away their eyes with them, but I feare they +left their Spectacles behind them. I use no spectacles, yet my eyes are +not fine enough, nor my hand steady enough to cut by such fine threads +as are now spun. I am I know not what; I cannot tell what to make of my +selfe, nor I think no body else: My Trade is to finde more faults than +others will mend; and I am very diligent at it; yet it scarce findes me +a living, though the Country findes me more worke than I can turne my +hand to. + +For Church work, I am neither Presbyterian, nor plebsbyterian, but an +Interpendent: My task is to sit and study how shapeable the Independent +way will be to the body of _England_, then my head akes on one side; and +how suitable the Presbyterian way, as we heare it propounded, will bee +to the minde of Christ, then my head akes on the other side: but when I +consider how the Parliament will commoderate a way out of both, then my +head leaves aking: I am not, without some contrivalls in my patching +braines; but I had rather suppose them to powder, than expose them to +preregular, much lesse to preter-regular Judgements: I shall therefore +rejoyce that the work is faln into so good hands, heads, and hearts, who +will weigh Rules by Troyweight, and not by the old Haber-du-pois: and +rather then meddle where I have so little skill, I will sit by and tell +my feares to them that have the patience to heare them, and leave the +red-hot question to them that dare handle it. + +I fear many holy men have not so deeply humbled themselves for their +former mis-worshippings of God as he will have them before he reveales +his secrets to them: as they accounted things indifferent, so they +account indifferent repentance will serve turne. _Son of man, if my +people be ashamed of all that they have done, then shew them the forme +of the house, and the fashion thereof_, else not, _Ezek. 43. 11_. A sin +in Gods worship, that seemes small in the common beame of the world, may +be very great in the scales of his Sanctuary. Where God is very jealous, +his servants should be very cautelous. + +I feare, the furnace wherein our new formes are casting, is over-heat, +and casts smoake in the eyes of our founders, that they cannot well see +what they doe, or ought to doe; _Omne perit judicium cum res transit in +affectum._ Truth and peace are the _Castor_ and _Pollux_ of the Gospell: +they that seek the one without the other, are like to finde neither: +Anger will hinder domestick Prayers, much more Ecclesiastique Councels. +What is produced by tumult, is either deficient or redundant. When the +judgements of good men concurre with a harmonious Diapason, the result +is melodious and commodious. Warring and jarring men are no builders of +houses for God, though otherwise very good. Instruments may be well made +and well strung, but if they be not well fretted, the Musique is marred. +The great Turke hearing Musitians so long a tuning, he thought it stood +not with his state to wait for what would follow. When Christ whips +Market-makers out of his Temple, he raises dust: but when he enters in +with Truth and Holinesse, he calls for deep silence, _Hab. 2. 20_. There +must not a toole be heard when the Tabernacle is reared: Nor is that +amiable or serviceable to men that passeth through so many ill +animadversions of Auditors and Spectators. If the Assembly can hardly +agree what to determine, people will not easily agree what to accept. + +I fear, these differences and delayes have occasioned men to make more +new discoveries then otherwise they would. If publique Assemblies of +Divines cannot agree upon a right way, private Conventicles of +illiterate men, will soon find a wrong. Bivious demurres breed devious +resolutions. Passengers to heaven are in haste, and will walk one way or +other. He that doubts of his way, thinkes hee loses his day: and when +men are gone awhile, they will be loth to turn back. If God hide his +path, Satan is at hand to turn Convoy: If any have a minde to ride +poste, he will helpe them with a fresh spavin'd Opinion at every Stage. + + _Where clocks will stand, and Dials have no light, + There men must goe by guesse, be't wrong or right._ + +I feare, if the Assembly of all Divines, doe not consent, and concenter +the sooner, God will breath a spirit of wisedome and meeknesse, into the +Parliament of no Divines, to whom the Imperative and Coactive power +supremely belongs, to consult such a contemperate way, as shall best +please him, and profit his Churches, so that it shall be written upon +the doore of the Assembly; _The Lord was not there._ + +I feare, the importunity of some impatient, and subtlety of some +malevolent mindes, will put both Parliament and Assembly upon some +preproperations, that will not be safe in Ecclesiasticall Constitutions. +To procrastinate in matters clear, as I said even now, may be dangerous; +so, not to deliberate in dubious cases, will be as perilous. We here, +though I think under favour, wee have some as able Steersmen as +_England_ affords, have been driven to tack about again to some other +points of Christs Compasse, and to make better observations before we +hoyse up sayles. It will be found great wisdome in disputable cases, not +to walk on by twylight, but very cautelously; rather by probationers for +a time, then peremptory positives: Reelings and wheelings in Church +acts, are both difficult and disadvantageous. It is rather Christian +modesty than shame, in the dawning of Reformation, to be very +perpensive. Christs mind is, that Evangelicall policies, should be +framed by Angelicall measures; not by a line of flaxe, but by a golden +Reed, _Rev. 21. 15_. + +I feare, he that sayes, the Presbyterian and Independent way, if rightly +carryed, doe not meet in one, he doth not handle his Compasses so +considerately as he should. + +I feare, if Authority doth not establish a sutable and peaceable +Government of Churches the sooner, the bells in all the steeples will +ring awke so long, that they will hardly be brought into tune any more. + +My last, but not least feare, is, That God will hardly replant his +Gospel in any part of Christendome, in so faire an Edition as is +expected, till the whole field hath been so ploughed and harrowed, that +the soile be throughly cleansed and fitted for new seed: Or whether he +will not transplant it into some other Regions, I know not: This feare I +have feared these 20 years, but upon what grounds I had rather bury than +broach. + +I dare not but adde to what preceded about Church-Reformation, a most +humble petition, that the Authority of the Ministry be kept in its due +altitude: if it be dropp'd in the dust, it will soon bee stifled: +Encroachments on both sides, have bred detriments enough to the whole. +The Separatists are content their teaching Elders should sit highest on +the Bench, so they may sit in the Chaire over-against them; and that +their ruling Elders shall ride on the saddle, so they may hold the +bridle. That they may likewise have seasonable and honorable +maintenance, and that certainly stated: which generally we find and +practise here as the best way. When Elders live upon peoples good wills, +people care little for their ill wills, be they never so just: Voluntary +contributions or non-tributions of Members, put Ministers upon many +temptations in administrations of their Offices: two houres care does +more dis-spirit an ingenuous man than two dayes study: nor can an Elder +be given to hospitality, when he knowes not what will be given him to +defray it: it is pity men of gifts should live upon men's gifts. I have +seen most of the Reformed Churches in Europ, and seene more misery in +these two respects, then it is meet others should hear: the complaints +of painfull _Pareus_, _David Pareus_, to my selfe, with tears, concerning +the Germane Churches, are not to be related. + +There is yet a personall Reformation, as requisite as the Politicall. +When States are so reformed, that they conforme such as are profligate, +into good civility: civill men, into religious morality: When Churches +are so constituted, that Faith is ordained Pastor, Truth Teacher, +Holinesse and Righteousnesse ruling Elders: Wisedome and Charity +Deacons: Knowledge, love, hope, zeale, heavenly-mindednesse, meeknesse, +patience, watchfulnesse, humility, diligence, sobriety, modesty, +chastity, constancy, prudence, contentation, innocency, sincerity, &c. +admitted members and all their opposites excluded: then there will bee +peace of Country and Conscience. + +Did the servants of Christ know what it is to live in Reformed Churches +with unreformed spirits, under strict order with loose hearts, how +formes of Religion breed but formes of Godlinesse, how men by +Church-discipline, learne their Church-postures, and there rest; they +would pray as hard for purity of heart, as purity of Ordinances. If we +mocke God in these, He will mocke us; either with defeat of our hopes; +or which is worse: when we have what we so much desire, we shall be so +much the worse for it. It was a well salted speech, uttered by an +English Christian of a Reformed Church in the Netherlands, Wee have the +good Orders here, but you have the good Christians in _England_. Hee +that prizes not Old _England_ Graces, as much as New _England_ +Ordinances, had need goe to some other market before hee comes hither. +In a word, hee that is not Pastor, Teacher, Ruler, Deacon and Brother to +himselfe, and lookes not at Christ above all, it matters not a farthing +whether he be Presbyterian or Independent: he may be a zealot in bearing +witnesse to which he likes best, and yet an Iscariot to both, in the +witnesse of his owne Conscience. + +I have upon strict observation, seen so much power of godlinesse, and +spirituall mindednesse in English Christians, living meerly upon Sermons +and private duties, hardly come by, when the Gospell was little more +than symptomaticall to the State; such Epidemicall and lethall formality +in other disciplinated Churches, that I professe in the hearing of God, +my heart hath mourned, and mine eyes wept in secret, to consider what +will become of multitudes of my deare Country-men, when they shall enjoy +what they now covet: Not that good Ordinances breed ill Consciences, but +ill Consciences grow stark nought under good Ordinances; insomuch that +might I wish an hypocrite the most perilous place but Hell, I should +wish him a Membership in a strict Reformed Church: and might I wish a +sincere Servant of God, the greatest griefe earth can afford, I should +wish him to live with a pure heart, in a Church impurely Reformed; yet +through the improvement of Gods Spirit, that griefe may sanctifie him +for Gods service and presence, as much as the meanes he would have, but +cannot. + +I speak this the rather to prevent, what in me lyes, the imprudent +romaging that is like to be in _England_, from Villages to Townes, from +Townes to Cities, for Churches sake, to the undoing of Societies, +Friendships, Kindreds, Families, Heritages, Callings, yea, the wise +Providence of God in disposing mens habitations, now in the very Infancy +of Reformation: by forgetting that a little leaven may season a large +lump: and it is much better to doe good than receive. It were a most +uncharitable and unserviceable part, for good men to desert their own +Congregations, where many may glorifie God in the day of his Visitation, +for their presence and assistance. If a Christian would picke out a way +to thrive in grace, let him study to administer grace to them that want: +or to make sure a blessing upon his Family; let him labour to multiply +the family of Christ, and beleeve, that he which soweth liberally, shall +reap abundantly; and hee that spareth more than is need, from them that +have more need, shall surely come to poverty: yea, let me say, that he +who forsakes the meanes of grace for Christ and his Churches sake, shall +meet with a better bargaine, namely, grace it selfe. It is a time now, +when full flocks should rather scatter to leane Churches, than gather +from other places, to make themselves fat; when able Christians should +rather turne Jesuites and Seminaries, than run into Covents and +Frieries: had this beene the course in the Primitive time, the Gospel +had been pinfolded up in a few Cities, and not spread as it is. + +What more ungodly sacriledge or manstealing can there be, then to +purloin from godly Ministers the first born of their fervent prayers and +faithfull preachings, the leven of their flocks, the incouragement of +their soules, the Crowne of their labours, their Epistle to Heaven? I am +glad to heare our _New-England_ Elders generally detest it _despuenter_, +and looke at it as a killing _Cordolium_: If men will needs gather +Churches out of the world (as they say) let them first plough the world, +sow it, and reap it with their own hands, and the Lord give them a +liberall Harvest. He is a very hard man that will reap where he hath not +sowed, and gather where he hath not strowed, _Mat. 25. 24_. + +He that saith, it is or was our case, doth not rightly understand +himself or us, and he that takes his warrant out of _Joh. 4. 37. 38._ is +little acquainted with Expositors. Wise men are amazed to hear that +conscientious Ministers dare spoile many Congregations to make one for +themselves. + +In matter of Reformation, this would be remembred, that in premonitory +judgements, God will take good words, and sincere intents; but in +peremptory, nothing but reall performances. + + +_Composition._ + +If Reformation were come thus neer, I should hope Composition were not +farre off: When hearts meet in God, they will soon meet in Gods wayes, +and upon Gods termes. But to avoid prolixity, which steales upon me; For +Composition, I shall compose halfe a dozen distichs concerning these +kind of Wars; wishing I could sing asleep these odious stirres at least +on some part, with a dull Ode. He is no Cobler that cannot sing, nor no +good Cobler that can sing well: + + _Si natura negat, facit indignatio versum_ } They are + _Qualemcunque potest_ ---- Juvenal } these. + + +1. + + _They seldome lose the field, but often win, + That end their wars, before their wars begin._ + + +2. + + _Their Cause is oft the worst, that first begin, + And they may lose the field, the field that win:_[3] + + +3. + + _In Civill warrs, 'twixt Subjects and their King, + There is no conquest got, by conquering._ + + +4. + + _Warre ill begun, the onely way to mend, + Is t' end the warre before the warre doe end._ + + +5. + + _They that will end ill warrs, must have the skill, + To make an end by Rule, and not by Will._ + + +6. + + _In ending warrs 'tween Subjects and their Kings, + Great things are sav'd, by losing little things._ + + [3] _Victrix causa Diis placuit, sed victa_ Catoni. Lucan. + +Wee heare that _Majestas Imperii_ hath challenged _Salus Populi_ into +the field; the one fighting for Prerogatives, the other defending +Liberties: Were I a Constable bigge enough, I would set one of them by +the heeles to keep both their hands quiet; I meane onely in a paire of +stocks, made of sound reason, handsomely fitted for the legges of their +Understanding. + +If _Salus Populi_ began, surely it was not that _Salus Populi_ which I +left in _England_: That _Salus Populi_ was as mannerly a _Salus Populi_ +as need bee: if I bee not much deceived, that _Salus Populi_ suffer'd +its nose to be held to the Grindstone, till it was almost ground to the +grisles; and yet grew never the sharper for ought I could discerne; What +was, before the world was made, I leave to better Antiquaries then +myselfe; but I thinke, since the world began, it was never storied that +_Salus Populi_ began with _Majestas Imperii_, unlesse _Majestas Imperii_ +first unharbour'd it, and hunted it to a stand, and then it must either +turne head and live, or turn taile and die: but more have been storyed +on the other hand than _Majestas Imperii_ is willing to heare: I doubt +not but _Majestas Imperii_ knows, that Common-wealths cost as much the +making as Crownes; and if they bee well made, would yet outsell an +ill-fashioned Crown, in any Market overt, even in _Smithfield_, if they +could be well vouched. + +But _Preces & Lachrymæ_, are the people's weapons: so are Swords and +Pistols, when God and Parliaments bid them Arme. Prayers and Teares are +good weapons for them that have nothing but knees and eyes; but most men +are made with teeth and nailes; onely they must neither scratch for +Liberties, nor bite Prerogatives, till they have wept and prayed as God +would have them. If Subjects must fight for their Kings against other +Kingdomes, when their Kings will; I know no reason, but they may fight +against their Kings for their own Kingdomes, when Parliaments say they +may and must: but Parliaments must not say they must, till God sayes +they may. + +I can never beleeve that _Majestas Imperii_, was ever so simple as to +think, that if it extends it self beyond its due Artique at one end, but +_Salus Populi_ must Antartique it as farre at the other end, or else the +world will be Excentrick, and then it will whirle; and if it once fall a +whirling, ten to one, it will whirle them off first, that sit in highest +chaires on cushions fill'd with Peacocks feathers; and they are like to +stand their ground fastest, that owne not one foot of ground to stand +upon. When Kings rise higher than they should, they exhale Subjects +higher than they would: if the _Primum Mobile_ should ascend one foot +higher than it is, it would hurry all the nether wheeles, and the whole +world on fire in 24 houres. No Prince exceeds in Soveraignty, but his +Subjects will exceed as farre in some vitious Liberty, to abate their +griefe; or some pernicious mutiny, to abate their Prince. + + _The crazy world will crack, in all the middle joynts. + If all the ends it hath, have not their parapoynts._ + +Nor can I beleeve that Crownes trouble Kings Heads, so much as Kings +heads trouble Crownes: nor that they are flowers of Crowns that trouble +Crowns, but rather some Nettles or Thistles mistaken for flowers. + +To speake plainer English, I have wondred these thirty yeares what Kings +aile: I have seen in my time, the best part of twenty Christian Kings +and Princes; Yet as Christian as they were, some or other were still +scuffling for Prerogatives. It must be granted at all hands, that +_Prærogativæ Regis_ are necessary Supporters of State: and stately +things to stately Kings: but if withall, they be _Derogativæ Regno_, +they are but little things to wise Kings. Equity is as due to People, as +Eminency to Princes: Liberty to Subjects, as Royalty to Kings: If they +cannot walk together lovingly hand in hand, _pari passu_, they must cut +girdles and part as good friends as they may: Nor must it be taken +offensively, that when Kings are haling up their top-gallants, Subjects +lay hold on their slablines; the head and body must move alike: it is +nothing meet for me to say with _Horace_, + + _Ut tu fortunam, sic nos te Car'le feremus._ + +But I hope I may safely say, + + _The body beares the head, the head the Crown; + If both beare not alike, then one will down._ + +Distracting Nature, calls for distracting Remedies; perturbing policies +for disturbing cures: If one Extreame should not constitute its +Anti-Extreame, all things would soon be in _extremo_: if ambitious +windes get into Rulers Crownes, rebellious vapours will into Subjects +Caps, bee they stopt never so close: Yet the tongues of Times tell us of +ten Preter-royall Usurpations, to one contra-civill Rebellion. + +Civill Liberties and Proprieties admeasured, to every man to his true +_suum_, are the _prima pura principia, propria quarto modo_, the _sine +quibus_ of humane States, without which, men are but women. Peoples +prostrations of these things when they may lawfully helpe it, are +prophane prostitutions; ignorant Ideottismes, under naturall noddaries; +and just it is that such as undersell them, should not re-inherit them +in haste, though they seeke it carefully with teares. And such +usurpations by Rulers, are the unnaturalizings of nature, +disfranchisements of Freedome, the Neronian nullifyings of Kingdomes: +yea, I beleeve the Devill himselfe would turne Round-head, rather then +suffer these Columnes of Common-wealths to be slighted: as he is a +creature, he feares decreation; as an Angell, dehominations; as a +Prince, dis-common-wealthings; as finite, these pen-infinite +insolencies, which are the most finite Infinites of misery to men on +this side the worlds dissolution: therefore it is, that with Gods leave, +he hath sounded an alarm to all the _susque deques_, pell-mels, one and +alls, now harrassing sundry parts of Christendome. It is enough for God +to be Infinite, too much for man to bee Indefinite. He that will flye +too high a quarry for Absolutenesse, shall stoope as much too low before +he remounts his proper pitch: If _Jacob_ will over top his brother out +of Gods time and way, he will so hamstring him, that hee shall make legs +whether he will or no, at his brothers approach: and such as over-run +all humane measure, shall seldome returne to humane mercy: There are +sins besides the sin against the Holy Ghost, which shall not be expiated +by sacrifice for temporall revenge: I mean when they are boyled up to a +full consistence of contumacy and impenitency. Let absolute Demands or +Commands be put into one scale, and indefinite refusalls into the other: +all the Goldsmiths in _Cheapeside_, cannot tell which weighs heaviest. +Intolerable griefes to Subjects, breed the _Iliaca passio_ in a body +politick, which inforces that upwards which should not. I speak these +things to excuse, what I may, my Countrymen in the hearts of all that +look upon their proceedings. + +There is a quadrobulary saying which passes current in the Westerne +World, That the Emperour is King of Kings, the _Spaniard_, King of Men, +the _French_, King of Asses, the _King_ of _England_, _King_ of Devills. +By his leave that first brayed the speech, they are pretty wise Devills +and pretty honest; the worse they doe, is to keep their Kings from +devillizing, and themselves from Assing: Were I a King (a simple +supposall) I would not part with one good English Devill, for some two +of the Emperours Kings, nor three of the _Spaniards_ Men, nor foure +_French_ Asses; If I did I should thinke my selfe an Asse for my labour. +I know nothing that _Englishmen_ want, but true Grace, and honest pride; +let them be well furnisht with those two, I feare they would make more +Asses, then _Spaine_ can make men, or the Emperour Kings. You will say I +am now beyond my latchet; but you would not say so, if you knew how high +my latchet will stretch; when I heare a lye with a latchet, that reaches +up to his throat that first forged it. + +He is a good King that undoes not his Subjects by any one of his +unlimited Prerogatives: and they are a good People, that undoe not their +Prince, by any one of their unbounded Liberties, be they the very least. +I am sure either may, and I am sure neither would be trusted, how good +soever. Stories tell us in effect, though not in termes, that over-risen +Kings, have been the next evills to the world, unto fallen Angels; and +that over-franchised people, are devills with smooth snaffles in their +mouthes. A King that lives by Law, lives by love; and he that lives +above Law, shall live under hatred doe what he can. Slavery and knavery +goe as seldome asunder, as Tyranny and Cruelty. + +I have a long while thought it very possible, in a time of Peace, and in +some Kings Reigne, for disert Statesmen, to cut an exquisite thred +between Kings Prerogatives, and Subjects Liberties of all sorts, so as +_Cæsar_ might have his due, and People their share, without such sharpe +disputes. Good Casuists would case it, and case it, part it, and part +it; now it, and then it, punctually. _Aquinas_, _Suarez_, or _Valentia_, +would have done it long ere this, had they not beene Popish, I might +have said knavish; for, if they be so any where, it is in their +Tractates of Priviledges. Our Common Law doth well, but it must doe +better before things doe as they should. There are some _Maximes_ in +Law, that would be taught to speake a little more mannerly, or else well +_Anti-Maxim'd_: we say, the King can doe a Subject no wrong; why may wee +not say, the Parliament can doe the King no wrong? We say, _Nullum +tempus occurrit Regi_ in taking wrong; why may wee not say, _Nullum +tempus succurrit Regi_ in doing wrong? which I doubt will prove as good +a Canon if well examined. + +Authority must have power to make and keep people honest; People, +honesty to obey Authority; both, a joynt-Councell to keep both safe. +Morall Lawes, Royall Prerogatives, Popular Liberties, are not of Mans +making or giving, but Gods: Man is but to measure them out by Gods Rule: +which if mans wisdome cannot reach, Mans experience must mend: And these +Essentialls, must not be Ephorized or Tribuned by one or a few Mens +discretion, but lineally sanctioned by Supreame Councels. In +_pro-re-nascent_ occurrences, which cannot be foreseen; Diets, +Parliaments, Senates, or accountable Commissions, must have power to +consult and execute against intersilient dangers and flagitious crimes +prohibited by the light of Nature: Yet it were good if States would let +People know so much beforehand, by some safe woven _manifesto_, that +grosse Delinquents may tell no tales of Anchors and Buoyes, nor palliate +their presumptions with pretence of ignorance. I know no difference in +these Essentialls, between Monarchies, Aristocracies, or Democracies; +the rule will be found par-rationall, say Schoolmen and Pretorians what +they will. And in all, the best Standard to measure Prerogatives, is the +Ploughstaffe; to measure Liberties, the Scepter: if the tearms were a +little altered into Loyall Prerogatives and Royall Liberties, then we +should be sure to have Royall Kings and Loyall Subjects. + + _Subjects their King, the King his Subjects greets, + Whilome the Scepter and the Plough-staffe meets._ + +But Progenitors have had them for four and twenty predecessions: that +would be spoken in the Norman tongue or Cimbrian, not in the English or +Scottish: When a Conquerour turnes Christian, Christianity turns +Conquerour: if they had had them time out of minde of man, before _Adam_ +was made, it is not a pin to the point in _foro rectæ rationis_: Justice +and Equity were before time, and will be after it: Time hath neither +Politicks nor Ethicks, good nor evill in it; it is an empty thing, as +empty as a _New-English_ purse, and emptier it cannot bee: a man may +break his neck in time, and in a lesse time then he can heale it. + +But here is the deadly pang, it must now be taken by force and dint of +sword: I confesse it is a deadly pang to a Spirit made all of flesh, but +not to a mortified heart: it is good to let God have his will as hee +please, when we have not reason to let him have it as we should; +remembring, that hitherto he hath taken order, that ill Prerogatives +gotten by the Sword, should in time be fetcht home by the Dagger, if +nothing else will doe it: Yet I trust there is both day and means to +intervent this bargaine. But if they should; if God will make both King +and Kingdome the better by it, what should either lose? I am sure there +is no great cause for either to make great brags. + + _Pax quo carior, eo charior._ + + _A peace well made, is likeliest then to hold, + When 'tis both dearly bought and dearly sold._ + +I confesse, he that parts with such pearles to be paid in old iron, had +need to be pityed more by his faithfull friends, than he is like to be +by his false flatterers. My heart is surcharged, I can no longer +forbear. + + * * * * * + +_My Dearest Lord_, and my more than _dearest King_, I most humbly +beseech you upon mine aged knees, that you would please to arme your +minde with patience of proofe, and to intrench your selfe as deep as you +can, in your wonted Royall meeknesse; for I am resolved to display my +unfurled soule in your very face, and to storme you with volyes of Love +and Loyalty. You owe the meanest true Subject you have, a close account +of these open Warres: they are no _Arcana imperii_. Then give mee leave +to inquire of your Majesty, what you make in fields of blood, when you +should be amidst your Parliament of peace: What you doe sculking in the +suburbs of Hell, when your Royall Pallaces stand desolate, through your +absence? What moves you to take up Armes against your faithfull +Subjects, when your Armes should bee embracing your mournfull Queen? +What incenses your heart to make so many widdowes and Orphans, and among +the rest your owne? Doth it become you, the King of the stateliest +Island the world hath, to forsake your Throne, and take up the +Manufacture of cutting your Subjects throats, for no other sin, but for +Deifying you so over-much, that you cannot be quiet in your Spirit, till +they have pluckt you downe as over-low? Doe your three Kingdomes so +trouble you, that they must all three be set on fire at once, that when +you have done, you may probably runne away by their light into utter +darknesse? Doe your three Crownes sit so heavy on your head, that you +will break the backs of the three bodies that set them on, and helpt you +beare them so honourably? Have your three Lamb-like flocks so molested +you, that you must deliver them up to the ravening teeth of evening +Wolves? Are you so angry with those that never gave you just cause to be +angry, but by their too much feare to anger you at all, when you gave +them cause enough? Are you so weary of Peace, that you will never be +weary of Warre? Are you so willing to warre at home, who were so +unwilling to warre abroad, where and when you should? Are you so weary +of being a good King, that you will leave your selfe never a good +Subject? Have you peace of Conscience, in inforcing many of your +Subjects to fight for you against their Conscience? Are you provided +with Answers at the great Tribunall, for the destruction of so many +thousands, whereof every man was as good a man as your Self, _qua_ man? + +Is it not a most unworthy part for you to bee running away from your +Subjects in a day of battel, upon whose Pikes you may come safe with +your naked breast and welcome? Is it honourable for you to be flying on +horses, from those that would esteeme it their greatest honour, to beare +you on their humble shoulders to your Chaire of Estate, and set you down +upon a Cushion stuffed with their hearts? Is it your prudence to be +inraged with your best friends, for adventuring their lives to rescue +you from your worst enemies? Were I a King, pardon the supposall, I +would hang that Subject by the head, that would not take me by the +heels, and dragge me to my Court, when he sees me shifting for life in +the ruined Countrey, if nothing else would doe it; And I would honour +their very heels, that would take me by the very head, and teach me, by +all just meanes, to King it better, when they saw me un-Kinging my selfe +and Kingdome: Doe you not know Sir, that, as when your people are sicke +of the Kings-evill, God hath given you a gift to heale them? so when +your selfe are sicke of it, God hath given the Parliament a gift to +heale you: Hath your Subjects love been so great to you, that you will +spend it all, and leave your children little or none? Are you so +exasperated against wise _Scotland_, that you will make _England_ your +foole or foot-stoole? Is your fathers Sonne growne more Orthodox, then +his most Orthodox father, when he told his Sonne, that a King was for a +kingdome, and not a kingdome for a King? parallell to that of the +Apostle; the husband is but by the wife, but the wife of the husband. + +Is _Majestas Imperii_ growne so kickish, that it cannot stand quiet with +_Salus Populi_, unlesse it be fettered? Are you well advised, in +trampling your Subjects so under your feet, that they can finde no place +to be safe in, but over your head: Are you so inexorably offended with +your Parliament, for suffering you to returne as you did, when you came +into their house as you did, that you will be avenged on all whom they +represent? Will you follow your very worst Councell so far, as to +provoke your very best, to take better counsell than ever they did? If +your Majesty be not Popish, as you professe, and I am very willing to +beleeve, why doe you put the Parliament to resume the Sacrament of the +Altar, or Consubstantions in saying, the King and Parliament, the King +and Parliament? breaking your simple Subjects braines to understand such +mysticall Parleenment? I question much, whether they were not better +speake plainer English, then such Latine as the Angels can hardly +construe, and God happily loves not to perse; I can as well admit an +ubiquitary King as another, if a King be abroad in any good affaire; but +if a King be at home and will circumscribe himselfe at _Oxford_, and +proscribe or discribe his Parliament at _Westminster_, if that +_Parliament_ will prescribe what they ought, without such paradoxing, I +should think God would subscribe a _Le Dieu le veult_ readily enough. + +Is your _Advisera_ such a _Suavamen_ to you, that hath been such a +_Gravamen_ to Religion and Peace? Shall the chiefe bearing wombe of your +Kingdome, be ever so constituted, that it cannot be delivered of its +owne deliverance, in what pangs soever it be, without the will of one +man-midwife, and such a man as will come and not come, but as he list: +nor bring a Parliament to bed of a well-begotten Liberty without an +entire Subsidy? Doe not your Majesty being a Schollar, know, that it was +a truth long before it was spoken, that _Mundus est unus aut nullus_, +that there is _Principum purum unum_, which unites the world and all +that is in it; where that is broken, things fall asunder, that +whatsoever is duable or triable, is fryable. + +Is the _Militia_ of your Kingdome, such an orient flower of your Crowne, +which all good Herbalists judge but a meere nettle, while it is in any +one mans hand living? May not you as well challenge the absolute +disposall of all the wealth of the Kingdome as of all the strength of +your Kingdome? Can you put any difference? unlesse it bee this, that +mens hearts and bones are within their skins, more proper and +intrinsecall, their lands and cattell more externall: dare you not +_concredit_ the _Militia_, with those to whom you may betrust your +heart, better then your owne breast? Will they ever harme you with the +_Militia_, that have no manner of _malitia_ against you, but for +mis-imploying the _Militia_ against them by the _malitia_ of your ill +Counsellours? What good will the _Militia_ doe you when you have wasted +the Realme of all the best _Milites_ it hath? May not your Majesty see +through a paire of Spectacles, glazed with inch-board; that while you +have your _Advisera_ in one hand, and the _Militia_ in the other, you +have the neckes of your Subjects under your feet, but not your heart in +your owne hand? doe you not know that _malum est, posse malum_? + +Hath Episcopacy beene such a religious Jewell in your State, that you +will sell all or most of your Coronets, Caps of honour, and blue +Garters, for six and twenty cloth Caps? and your Barons Cloakes, for so +many Rockets, whereof usually twenty have had scarce good manners enough +to keepe the other six sweet? Is no Bishop no King, such an oraculous +Truth, that you will pawne your Crowne and life upon it? if you will, +God may make it true indeed on your part: Had you rather part with all, +then lose a few superfluous tumours, to pare off your monstrousnesse? +Will you be so covetous, as to get more then you ought, by losing more +then you need? Have you not driven good Subjects enough abroad, but you +will also slaughter them that stay at home? Will you take such an ill +course, that no prayers can fasten that good upon you we desier? Is +there not some worse root than all these growing in your Spirit, +bringing forth all this bitter fruit? against which you should take up +Arms, rather then against your harmlesse Subjects? Doe you not foresee, +into what importable head-tearings and heart-searchings you will be +ingulfed, when the Parliament shall give you a mate, though but a Stale? +Methinkes it should breake your heart, to see such a one as I, presume +so much upon your clemency and too much upon your Majesty, which your +Selfe have so eclipsed by the interposall of your Selfe between your +Selfe and your Selfe, that it hath not ray's enough left to dazle downe +the height of my affections to the awe of my Judgement. + +Tres-Royall Sir, I once againe beseech you, with teares dropping from my +hoary head, to cover your Selfe as close as you may, with the best +shield of goodnesse you have: I have somewhat more to say, which may +happily trouble not your Selfe, but your followers, more than what is +already said. There lived in your Realme and Reigne two whom I may well +tearme Prophets, both now in a better Kingdome; whereof one foretold two +things concerning your Majesty, of these very proceedings, long before +they began; which being done and past shall bee buried in silence: the +other made this prediction about the same time. + + _King =Charles= will joyne Himselfe to bitter Griefe, + Then joyne to God, and prove a Godly Chiefe._ + +His words were in prose these, King _Charles_ will come into fetters, +meaning strong afflictions, and then prove as good a King, as such a +good King of _Israel_, whom he then named, but I need not: he was as +inwardly acquainted with the minde of God, as fervent and frequent a +Beadsman for your welfare, and had as religious Opticks of State, as any +man I know: foure other Predictions he made, full as improbable as this, +whereof three are punctually performed. A good Christian being sometime +in conflicts of Conscience, hurried with long tentations, used this +speech to my selfe, I am now resolved to be quiet, for I plainly see, +God will save me whether I will or no: If your Majesty would be pleased +to thinke so in your heart, and say so with your mouth, all the good +Subjects you have, would say, _Amen_, till the heavens rang, and I hope +you have few so bad, but would say, _So be it_. + +Much lamented Sir, If you will please to retire your Selfe to your +Closet, whither you may most safely come, and make your peace with God, +for the vast heritage of sinne your Intombed father left upon your +score, the dreadful Imprecation he poured upon the heads of his tender +posterity in _Summersets_ and _Overburyes_ Case, published in +Starchamber by his Royall command; your owne sinful marriage, the +sophistocation of Religion and Policie in your time, the luxury your +Court and Country, your connivance with the Irish butcheries, your +forgetfull breaches upon the Parliament, your compliance with Popish +Doegs, with what else your Conscience shall suggest: and give us, your +guilty Subjects example to doe the like, who have held pace and +proportion with you in our evill wayes: we will helpe you by Gods +assistance, to poure out rivers of tears, to wash away the streams of +blood, which have beene shed for these heavy accounts; we will also +helpe you, God helping us, to beleeve, that there is hope in _Israel_ +for these things; and Balme enough in his _Gilead_ to heale all the +broken bones of your three kingdomes, and to redouble your honour and +our peace: His Arme is infinite; to an infinite power all things are +equally faisable, to an infinite mercy, all sinnes equally pardonable. +The Lord worke these things in us and for us, for his compassions sake +in Jesus Christ. + +Sir, you may now please to discover your Selfe where you think meet; I +trust I have not indangered you: I presume your Ear-guard will keep +farre enough from you, what ever I have said: be it so, I have +discharged my duty, let them look to theirs. If my tongue should reach +your eares, which I little hope for; Let it be once said; the great King +of great _Britaine_, tooke advise of a simple Cobler, yet such a Cobler, +as will not exchange either his blood or his pride, with any Shoo-maker +or Tanner in your Realme, nor with any of your late Bishops which have +flattered you thus in peeces: I would not speake thus in the eares of +the world, through the month of the Presse for all the plunder your +plunderers have pillaged; were it not somewhat to abate your Royall +indignation toward a loyall Subject; a Subject whose heart hath been +long carbonadoed, _des veniam verbo_, in flames of affection towards +you. Your Majesty knowes or may know, time was, when I did, or would +have done you a better peece of service, than all your Troopes and +Regiments are now doing. Should I heare any Gentleman that follows you, +of my yeares, say hee loves you better than I, if it were lawfull, I +would sweare by my Sword, he said more than his sword would make good. + +Gracious Sir, Vouchsafe to pardon me my no other sins, but my long +Idolatry towards you, and my loving you too hard in this speech, and I +will pardon you your Treason against me, even me, by committing Treason +against your Selfe my Lord and King;[4] and your murther, in murthering +me, even me, by murthering my deare fellow Subjects, bone of my bone, +and flesh of my flesh, and of yours also. If you will not pardon me, I +will pardon my selfe, dwell in my own clothes as long as I can, and +happily make as good a shift for my proportion, as he that hath a +lighter paire of heeles: And when you have done what you please and what +you can, I am resolved to be + + _As loyall a Subject to your Majesty when I + have never a head on my shoulders, as + you a Royall King to me, when you have + your three Crownes on your head,_ + + Theod: de la Guard. + + [4] I speake in termes of Divinity not of Law and am deepely grieved + that I am forced to such necessary over boldnesse. + + _Sir_, + +I Cannot give you over thus; I most earnestly implore you, that you +would not deferre to consider yourselfe throughly, you are now returned +to the brinke of your Honour and our Peace, stand not too long there, +your State is full of distractions, your people of expectations, the +importune Affaires of your Kingdome perplexedly suspended, your good +Subjects are now rising into a resolution to pray you on to your throne, +or into your Tombe, into Grace with your Parliament and People, or into +Glory with the Saints in Heaven; but how you will get into the one, +without passing first through th' other, is the riddle they cannot +untye. If they shall ply the Throne of Grace hard, God will certainely +heare, and in a short time mould you to his minde, and convince you, +that it had and will bee farre easier to sit downe meekely upon the +_Rectum_, than to wander resolutely in obliquities, which with Kings, +seldome faile to dissembogue into bottomlesse Seas of sorrows. + +Dearest Sir, be intreated to doe what you doe sincerely; the King of +Heaven and Earth can search and discover the hiddenest corner of your +heart, your Parliament understands you farre better then you may +conceive, they have many eares and eyes, and good ones, I beleeve they +are Religiously determined to re-cement you to your Body so exquisitely, +that the Errors of State and Church, routed by these late stirs, may not +re-allee hereafter, nor Themselves be made a curse to the issue of their +own bodies, nor a Scoffe, to all Politique Bodies in Europe. The Lord +give your Majesty and all your Royall Branches _the spirit of wisedome +and understanding_, _the Spirit of knowledge and his feare_, for His +mercy and Christ his sake. + + * * * * * + +I Would my skill would serve me also, as well as my heart, to translate +Prince _Rupert_, for his Queen-mothers sake, _Eliz._ a second. Mismeane +me not. I have had him in my armes when he was younger, I wish I had him +there now: if I mistake not, he promised then to be a good Prince, but I +doubt he hath forgot it: if I thought he would not be angry with me, I +would pray hard to his Maker, to make him a right Roundhead, a wise +hearted Palatine, a thankfull man to the English; to forgive all his +sinnes, and at length to save his soule, notwithstanding all his +God-damne mee's: yet I may doe him wrong; I am not certaine hee useth +that oath; I wish no man else would. I dare say the Devills dare not. I +thank God I have lived in a Colony of many thousand English almost these +twelve yeares, am held a very sociable man; yet I may considerately say, +I never heard but one Oath sworne, nor never saw one man drunk, nor ever +heard of three women Adulteresses, in all this time, that I can call to +minde: If these sinnes bee amongst us privily, the Lord heale us. I +would not bee understood to boast of our innocency; there is no cause I +should, our hearts may be bad enough, and our lives much better. But to +follow my businesse. + +Prosecutions of Warres betweene a King and his Parliament, are the +direfull dilacerations of the world, the cruell Catastrophes of States, +dreadfull to speake of; they are _nefanda & n' agenda_: I know no +grounds can be given of them but two: Either upon Reason founded upon +some surmisall of Treason, which my reason cannot reach: I could never +conceive why a rationall King should commit Treason against a reasonable +Parliament; or how a faithfull Parliament against their lawfull King: +the most I can imagine, is a misprision of Treason, upon a misprision of +Reason. Hee that knows not the Spirit of his King, is an Atheist. Our +King is not _Charles le simple_ sometime of _France_: he understands not +our King that understands him not to bee understanding. The Parliament +is supposed Omniscient, because under God they are Omnipotent: if a +Parliament have not as much knowledge and all other vertues, as all the +Kingdome beside, they are no good Abridgement of the Common-wealth. I +beleeve Remonstrances have demonstrated enough concerning this point of +Reason, to give satisfaction to such as satisfaction will satisfie. + + +Or upon Will. + +The Will of a King is very numinous; it hath a kinde of vast +universality in it, it is many times greater than the will of his whole +kingdome, stiffened with ill Counsell and ill Presidents: if it be not a +foot and half lesser than the Will of his Councell, and three foot +lesser than the Will of his Parliament, it is too big. I think it were +well for a King if hee had no will at all, but were all Reason. What if +he committed his morall will to Divines, that were no Bishops? his +Politicall, to his Parliament, and a Councell chosen by Parliament? that +if ever it miscarry, they may blame themselves most, and him least. I +scarce know any King that hath such advantage as ours; his three +kingdomes lye so distinct and entire, that if he please, he might keep +them like three gardens without a weed, if he would let God keep his +will, without wilfulnesse and rashnesse. + +I have observed men to have two kindes of Wills, a Free-hold will, such +as men hold in _Capite_ of themselves; or a Copy-hold will, held at the +will of other Lords or Ladies. I have read almost all the Common Law of +_England_, and some Statutes; yet I never read, that the Parliament held +their will in such a _Capite_: their Tenure is _Knight-service_, and +good _Knight-service_ too, or else they are to blame. And I am sure, a +King cannot hold by Copy, at the will of other Lords; the Law calls that +_base tenure_, inconsistent with Royalty; much more base is it, to hold +at the will of Ladies: Apron-string _tenure_ is very weak, tyed but of a +slipping knot, which a childe may undoe, much more a King. It stands not +with our Queens honour to weare an Apron, much lesse her Husband, in the +strings; that were to insnare both him and her self in many unsafeties. +I never heard our King was Effeminate: to be a little Uxorious +personally, is a vertuous vice in Oeconomicks; but Royally, a vitious +vertue in Politicks. To speak English, Books and tongues tell us, I wish +they tell us true, that the Error of these Wars on our Kings part +proceeds only from ill Counsellours. + +Ill Counsellours are very ill Gamesters; if they see their own stake a +losing, they will play away King, Queen, Bishops, Knights, Rooks, +Pawnes, and all, before they will turne up the board: they that play for +lusts, will play away themselves, and not leave themselves so much as a +heart to repent; and then there is no Market left but Hell; if the case +be thus, it is to no end to look for any end, till one side make an end +of the other. + + _They that at stake their Crownes and Honours set, + Play lasting games, if Lust or Guilt doe bet._ + + +_Cessation._ + +If God would vouchsafe to give his Majesties Religion and Reason, power +to fling his Wills head over the Wall, in matter of Composition, and his +Subjects strength to throw their lusts after it, Arms would be soon laid +down, and Peace soon taken up. They that are not at peace with God, are +not at peace with themselves, whatever they think; and they that are not +at peace with themselves, cannot be at peace with others, if occasion +provokes, be their natures never so good. + +So farre as I can conjecture, the chiefe impediment to a generall and +mutuall Cessation of Armes, is, a despaire of mutuall and generall +forgivenesse. If ever _England_ had need of a generall Jubile in Heaven +and Earth, it is now. Our King and Parliament have been at great strife, +who should obtaine most Justice: if they would now strive, who should +shew most Mercy, it would heare well throughout the world. Here also my +speech must be twofold and blind-fold. It is now nine Moneths and more +since the last credible News was acted: it is possible by this, the +Parliament may be at the Kings mercy: Did I say a Kings mercy? what can +I say more? no man on earth, can shew more mercy then a King, nor shall +need more, when he comes to give an Account of his Kingdome: Nor did +ever any Parliament merit more mercy than this, for they never sinned, +that I know, I meane against the Common and Statute Law of _England_: it +is pity they who have given so many general pardons, should want one +now. If our King hath lost his way, and thereby learned to looke to his +path better hereafter, and taught many Successors to King it right for +many Ages; Me thinks it should impetrate a Royall Redintegration, upon a +Royall acknowledgement and ingagement. But how should an erring King +trust a provoked Parliament? Surely he may trust God safe enough; who +will never trust that State more with a good King, that will doe ill to +a King that is turned so good. Me thinks those passages of Scripture, +_Esa. 43. 24, 25._ _chap. 57. 17, 18_. The strange illation, _Hos. 2. 13, +14._ should melt a heart of steele into floods of mercy. + +For others, were my head, one of the heads which first gave the King +Counsell to take up these Armes, or to persist in them, when at any time +he would have disbanded, I would give that head to the Kingdome, whether +they would or no; if they would not cut it off, I would cut it off +myselfe, and tender it at the Parliament doore, upon condition that all +other heads might stand, which stand upon penitent hearts, and will doe +better on than off; then I would carry it to _London-Bridge_, and charge +my tongue to teach all tongues, to pronounce Parliament right hereafter. + +When a kingdom is broken just in the neck joynt, in my poore policy, +ropes and hatchets are not the kindliest instruments to set it: Next to +the spilling of the blood of Christ for sin, the sparing of the blood of +sinners, where it may be as well spared as spilt, is the best way of +expiation. It is no rare thing for Subjects to follow a leading King; if +he will take his truncheon in his hand, it is to be expected many will +put their swords in their Belts. Sins that rise out of mistake of +judgement, are not so sinfull as those of malice ordinarily: and when +multitudes sin, multitudes of mercy are the best Anodines. + + --_gratia gratis data, gratissima._ + + _Grace will dissolve, but rigour hardens guilt: + Break not with Steely blowes, what oyle should melt._ + + _In Breaches integrant, 'tween Principalls of States, + Due Justice may suppresse, but Love redintegrates._ + +Whosoever be pardoned, I pray not let _Britanicus_ scape, I mean a +pardon. I take him to be a very serviceable Gentleman; Out of my entire +respect to him, I shall presume to give him half a dozen stitches of +advice: + +I intreat him to consider that our King is not onely a man, but a King +in affliction; Kings afflictions are beyond Subjects apprehensions; a +Crown may happily ake as much as a whole Common-wealth. + +I desire him also to conceale himself as deeply as he can, if he cannot +get a speciall pardon, to weare a Latitat about his neck, or let him lie +close under the Philosophers stone, and I'le warrant him for ever being +found. + +If he be discovered, I counsell him to get his head set on faster than +our _New-England_ Taylors use to set on Buttons; Kings, and Kings +Childrens memories are as keen as their Subjects wits. + +If he fears any such thing, that he would come over to us, to helpe +recruite our bewildred brains: we will promise to maintain him so long +as he lives, if he will promise to live no longer then we maintain him. + +If he should bee discovered and his head chance to be cut off against +his will, I earnestly beseech him to bequeath his wits to me and mine in +Fee-simple, for we want them, and cannot live by our hands in this +Country. + +Lastly, I intreat him to keep his purse, I give him my counsell +_gratis_, confessing him to be more then my match, and that I am very +loath to fall into his hands. + + +_Prosecution._ + +If Reformation, Composition, Cessation, can finde no admittance, there +must and will be Prosecution: to which I would also speak briefly and +indifferently still to both sides; and first to that, which I had rather +call Royalists then Cavaliers; who if I mistake not, fight against the +Truth. + +Foolish Cowardly man (I pray patience, for I speak nothing but the pulse +of my owne heart) dreads and hates, nothing in Heaven or Earth, so much +as Truth: it is not God, nor Law, nor sinne, nor death, nor hell, that +he feares, but onely because he feares there is Truth in them: Could he +de-truth them all, he would defie them all: Let Perdition it self come +upon him with deadly threats, fiery swords, displayed vengeance, he +cares not: Let Salvation come cap in hand, with naked Reason, harmelesse +Religion, lawny embracements, he will rather flye or dye, than +entertaine it: come Truth in what shape it will, hee will reject it: +and when hee can beat it off with most steely prowesse, he thinkes +himselfe the bravest man; when in truth it is nothing but exsanguine +feeble exility of Spirit. Thy heart, saith the Prophet _Ezek. 16. 30._ +is weake, like the heart of an imperious whorish woman: a man would +thinke, the heart of an imperious whore, were the very pummell of +_Scanderbergs_ sword; alas, she is hen-hearted, shee dares not looke +Truth in the face; if she dared, shee would neither be whorish, nor +imperious, nor weake. He shews more true fortitude, that prayes quarter +of the least Truth, at a miles distance, than hee that breakes through +and hewes downe the most Theban Phalanx that ever field bore. _Paul_ +exprest more true valour, in saying, I can doe nothing against the +Truth, than _Goliah_, in defying the whole hoste of _Israel_. + +Couragious Gentlemen, Yee that will stab him that gives you the lye; +take heed yee spend not your bloods, limbes and soules, in fighting for +some untruth: and yee that will fling out the gantlet to him that calls +you Coward, dishonour not your selves with such Cowardise, as to fight +against Truth, meerly for feare of it. A thousand pities it is, such +gallant Spirits should spend their lives, honours, heritages, and sweet +relations in any Warres, where, for ought many of them know, some false +mistake commands in Chiefe. + +Honoured Country-men, bee intreated to love Truth: if it loves not you +againe, and repaires not all your losses, then install some Untruth in +its roome for your Generall. If you will needs warre, be perswaded to +contend lawfully, wisely and stedfastly, against all errours in Divinity +and Policy: they are the cursed Counter-mures, dropt Portcullises, +scouring Angiports, sulphurious Granado's, laden murtherers, peevish +Galthropes, and rascall desperadoes, which the Prince of lyes imployes +with all his skill and malice, to maintaine the walls and gates of his +kingdome, when Truth would enter in with grace and peace to save +forlorne sinners, and distressed Commonwealthes: witnesse the present +deplorable estate of sundry States in Europe. + +Give me leave to speake a word more: it is but this; Yee will finde it a +farre easier field, to wage warre against all the Armies that ever were +or will be on Earth, and all the Angels of Heaven, than to take up Armes +against any truth of God: It hath more Counsell and strength than all +the world besides; and will certainely either gaine or ruine, convert or +subvert every man that opposes it. I hope ingenuous men will rather take +advice, then offence at what I have said: I had rather please ten, than +grieve one intelligent man. + + * * * * * + +If this side be resolute, I turne me to the other. + + * * * * * + +Goe on brave Englishmen, in the name of God, go on prosperously, because +of Truth and Righteousnes: Yee that have the Cause of Religion, the life +of your Kingdome and of all the good that is in it in your hands: Goe on +undauntedly: As you are Called and Chosen, so be faithfull: Yee fight +the battells of the Lord, bee neither desidious nor perfidious: You +serve the King of Kings, who stiles you his heavenly Regiments: +Consider well, what impregnable fighting it is in heaven, where the Lord +of Hosts is your Generall, his Angells your Colonels, the Stars your +fellow-souldiers, his Saints your Oratours, his Promises your +victuallers, his Truth your Trenches; where Drums are Harps, Trumpets +joyfull sounds; your Ensignes Christs Banners; where your weapons and +armour are spirituall, therefore irresistable, therefore impierceable; +where Sun and wind cannot disadvantage you, you are above them; where +hell it selfe cannot hurt you, where your swords are furbushed and +sharpened by him that made their metall, where your wounds are bound up +with the oyle of a good Cause, where your blood runs into the veynes of +Christ, where sudden death is present martyrdome and life; your +funeralls resurrections, your honour glory; where your widows and babes +are received into perpetuall pensions; your names listed among _Davids_ +Worthies; where your greatest losses are greatest gaines; and where you +leave the troubles of war, to lye down in downy beds of eternall rest. + +What good will it doe you, deare Countrymen, to live without lives, to +enjoy _England_ without the God of _England_, your Kingdome without a +Parliament, your Parliament without power, your Liberties without +stability, your Lawes without Justice, your honours without vertue, your +beings without wel-being, your wives without honesty, your children +without morality, your servants without civility, your lands without +propriety, your goods without immunity, the Gospel without salvation, +your churches without Ministery, your Ministers without piety, and all +you have or can have, with more teares and bitternesse of heart, than +all you have and shall have will sweeten or wipe away? + +Goe on therefore Renowned Gentlemen, fall on resolvedly, till your hands +cleave to your swords, your swords to your enemies hearts, your hearts +to victory, your victories to triumph, your triumphs to the everlasting +praise of him that hath given you Spirits to offer your selves +willingly, and to jeopard your lives in high perils, for his Name and +service sake. + +And Wee your Brethren, though we necessarily abide beyond _Jordan_, and +remaine on the American Sea-coasts, will send up Armies of prayers to +the Throne of Grace, that the God of power and goodnesse, would +incourage your hearts, cover your heads, strengthen your arms, pardon +your sinnes, save your soules, and blesse your families, in the day of +Battell. Wee will also pray, that the same Lord of Hosts, would discover +the Counsels, defeat the Enterprizes, deride the hopes, disdaine the +insolencies, and wound the hairy scalpes of your obstinate Enemies, and +yet pardon all that are unwillingly misled. Wee will likewise helpe you +beleeve that God will be seen on the Mount, that it is all one with him, +to save by many or few, and that he doth but humble and try you for the +present, that he may doe you good at the latter end. All which hee bring +to passe who is able to doe exceeding abundantly, above all we can aske +or thinke, for his Truth and mercy sake in Jesus Christ. + + _Amen. Amen._ + + + + + A Word of _IRELAND_: + + _Not of the Nation universally, nor of any man in + it, that hath so much as one haire of Christianity + or Humanity growing on his head or beard, + but onely of the truculent Cut-throats, + and such as shall take up Armes + in their Defence._ + + +These _Irish_ anciently called _Antropophagi_, man-eaters: Have a +Tradition among them, That when the Devill shewed our Saviour all the +kingdomes of the Earth and their glory, that he would not shew him +_Ireland_, but reserved it for himselfe: it is probably true, for he +hath kept it ever since for his own peculiar; the old Fox foresaw it +would eclipse the glory of all the rest: he thought it wisdome to keep +the land for a Boggards for his unclean spirits imployed in this +Hemisphere, and the people, to doe his Son and Heire, I mean the Pope, +that service for which _Lewis_ the eleventh kept his Barbor _Oliver_, +which makes them so blood-thirsty. They are the very Offall of men, +Dregges of Mankind, Reproach of Christendome, the Bots that crawle on +the Beast taile, I wonder _Rome_ it self is not ashamed of them. + +I begge upon my hands and knees, that the Expedition against them may be +undertaken while the hearts and hands of our Souldiery are hot, to +whom I will be bold to say briefly: Happy is he that shall reward them +as they have served us, and Cursed be he that shall do that work of the +Lord negligently, Cursed be he that holdeth back his Sword from blood; +yea, Cursed be he that maketh not his Sword starke drunk with _Irish_ +blood, that doth not recompense them double for their hellish treachery +to the _English_, that maketh them not heaps upon heaps, and their +Country a dwelling place for Dragons, an Astonishment to Nations: Let +not that eye look for pity, nor that hand to be spared, that pities or +spares them, and let him be accursed, that curseth not them bitterly. + + + + +A Word of Love to the Common People of _England_. + + +It is, your, now or never, to muster up puissant Armies of Prayers to +the Mercy Seate; your Body Representative, is now to take in hand, as +intricate a piece of worke, as ever fell into the hands of any +Parliament in the world, to tye an indissoluble knot upon that webb +which hath been woven with so much cost and bloud, wherein if they +happen to make one false maske, it may re-imbarque themselves and you +all into a deadly relapse of scorne and calamity. It is the worke of God +not of man, pray speedily therefore, and speedingly, give him no rest +till your rest be throughly re-established, Your God is a God whose Name +is All-sufficient, abundant in Goodnesse and Truth, on whom the Sonnes +of _Iacob_ never did, nor shall call in vaine, you have a Throne of +Grace wherto you may goe boldly; a Christ to give you a leading by the +hand and liberty of speech, an Intercessor in Heaven to offer up your +Prayers wrapp'd in his own; a large Charter _aske and have_, a Spirit to +helpe all your infirmities in that duty, a sure Covenant that you shall +be heard, and such late incouragement as may strengthen your feeble +hands for ever. If you who _may command God concerning the work of his +hand_, shall faile to demand the workemanship of his hand in this +worke, your children will proclaime you un-thrifts with bitter teares to +the worlds end. + +If you see no cause to pray, read + + _Jer. 18. 1.-10._ + +Be also intreated to have a continuall and conscientious care not to +impeach the Parliament in the hearts one of another by whispering +complaints, easilier told then tryed or trued. Great bodyes move but +slowely, especially when they move on three leggs and are over-loden +with weighty occasions. They have now sate full six years without +intermission to continue your being, many of their heads are growne gray +with your cares, they are the High Councell of the Kingdome, the great +Gilead of your Balme, the Phisitians of all your sicknesse; if any of +them doe amisse, blame yourselves, you chose them, be wiser hereafter; +you cannot doe the State, your selves, your posterity a more ungratefull +office then to impaire them with disparagements and discoragements who +are so studious to repaire your almost irreparable ruines. + +Be likewise beseeched, not to slight good ministers, whom you were wont +to reverence much, they are Gods Embassadours, your Ephods, your +Starres, your Horse-men & Chariots, your Watchmen, & under Christ your +Salvation, I know no deadlier Symptome of a dying People than to +undervalue godly Ministers, whosoever despiseth them shall certainly be +despised of God and men at one time or other. + + + + + A most humble heel-piece. + to the + Most Honourable Head-piece + the + Parliament of _England_. + + +I Might excuse my selfe in Part, with a speech _Lycurgus_ used in the +like exigent of State, _senectute fio audacior, publica necessitate +loquacior_, but it much better becomes mee with all lowlinesse and +uprightnesse, wherein I have failed to pray pardon on both my knees, +which I most humbly and willingly doe; only, before I rise, I crave +leave to present this six-fold Petition. + +That you would be pleased + + To preserve the Sacred reputation of Parliaments, or, wee shall have + no Common-wealth. + + To uphold the due estimation of good Ministers, else, we shall have no + Church. + + To heale the sad dislocation of our Head, throughly, perfectly, or, + wee shall have no King. + + To oppugne the bold violation of divine Truths, else wee shall have no + God. + + To proceed with what zeale you began, or what you began can come to + little end. + + To expedite worke with what speede you safely may, else ignorant + people will feare they shall have no end at all. + + Hee that is great in Counsell, and Wonderfull in Working, guide and + helpe you in All things, that doing All things in Him, by Him, and + for Him, you may doe All things like Him. + + _So be it._ + + + + +A respective word to the Ministers of ENGLAND. + + +Farre bee it from mee, while I dehort others to slight you my selfe, or +to despise any man but myselfe, whom I can never despise enough: I +rather humbly intreate you to forgive my boldnesse, who have most just +cause to judge my selfe lesse and lesse faithfull than the least of you +all, yet I dare not but bee so faithfull to you and my selfe, as to say + +They are the Ministers of _England_, that have lost the Land; for +Christs sake, put on His bowels, His wisdome, His zeale, and recover +it. + + I pray let me drive in half a dozen plaine honest Country Hobnailes, + such as the Martyrs were wont to weare; to make my work hold the + surer; and I have done. + + 1. _There, lives cannot be good, + There, Faith cannot be sure, + Where Truth cannot be quiet, + Nor Ordinances pure._ + + 2. _No King can King it right, + Nor rightly sway his Rod; + Who truely loves not Christ, + And truely fears not God._ + + 3. _He cannot rule a Land, + As Lands should ruled been, + That lets himself be rul'd + By a ruling Romane Queen._ + + 4. _No earthly man can be + True Subject to this State; + Who makes the Pope his Christ, + An Heretique his Mate._ + + 5. _There Peace will goe to War, + And Silence make a noise: + Where upper things will not + With nether equipoyse._ + + 6. _The upper world shall Rule, + While Stars will run their race: + The nether world obey, + While People keep their place._ + + +The Clench. + + _If any of these come out + So long 's the world doe last: + Then credit not a word + Of what is said and past._ + + + + +ERRATA AT NON CORRIGENDA. + + +Now I come to rubbe over my work, I finde five or six things like +faults, which would be mended or commended, I know not well which, nor +greatly care. + + +1. For _Levity_, read, _Lepidity_, ---- and that a very little, and that +very necessary, if not unavoydable. + + _Misce stultitiam Consiliis brevem + --Dulce est desipere in loco._ Horat. + +To speak to light heads with heavy words, were to break their necks: to +cloathe Summer matter, with Winter Rugge, would make the Reader sweat. +It is musick to me, to heare every Dity speak its spirit in its apt +tune: every breast, to sing its proper part, and every creature, to +expresse it self in its naturall note: should I heare a Mouse roare like +a Beare, a Cat lowgh like an Oxe, or a Horse whistle like a Red-breast, +it would scare ---- mee. + + _The world's a well strung fidle, mans tongue the quill, + That fills the world with fumble for want of skill, + When things and words in tune and tone doe meet, + The universall song goes smooth and sweet._ + +2. For _audacity_, read, _veracity_, or _Verum Gallice non libenter +audis_. Mart. Flattery never doth well, but when it is whispered through +a paire of lisping teeth; Truth best, when it is spoken out, through a +paire of open lips. Ye make such a noyse there, with Drums and Trumpets, +that if I should not speak loud, ye could not hear me: Ye talke one to +another, with whole Culvering and Canon; give us leave to talk Squibs +and Pistoletto's charged with nothing but powder of Love and shot of +Reason: if you will cut such deep gashes in one anothers flesh, we must +sow them up with deep stitches, else ye may bleed to death: ye were +better let us, your tender Countrymen doe it, than forraine Surgeons, +who will handle you more cruelly, and take no other pay, but your Lives +and Lands. + + ---- ---- _Aspice vultus, + Ecce meos, utinamque oculos in pectore posses + Inserere: & patrias intus deprendere Curas._ + (Ovid. Ph[oe]b. + + _He that to tall men speakes, must lift up 's head, + And when h' hath done, must set it where he did: + He that to proud men talkes, must put on pride; + And when h' hath done, 'tis good to lay 't aside._ + +3. For, _Yes, but you speak at three thousand miles distance, which +every Coward dare doe_, read, _if my heart deceives me not, I would +speak thus, in the Presence Chamber or House of Commons_; hoping _Homer_ +will speak a good word for me. + + [Gr: Tharsaleos gar anêr en pasin ameinôn + Ergoisi.] ---- + + Omnibus in rebus potior vir fortis & audax + Sit licet hospes, & è longinquis venerit oris. + + When Kings are lost, and Subjects cast away, + A faithfull heart should speak what tongue can say: + It skils not where this faithfull heart doth dwell, + His faithfull dealing should be taken well. + +4. For, _affected termes_, read, _I hope not_ ---- If I affect termes, +it is my feeblenesse; friends that know me, thinke I doe not: I +confesse, I see I have here and there taken a few finish stitches, which +may haply please a few Velvet eares; but I cannot now well pull them +out, unlesse I should seame-rend all. It seemes it is in fashion with +you to sugar your papers with Carnation phrases, and spangle your +speeches with new quodled words. Ermins in Minifer is every mans Coat: +Yet we heare some are raking in old musty Charnel books, for old mouldy +monosyllables; I wish they were all banisht to _Monmouthshire_, to +returne when they had more wit. + + _Multa renascentur quæ jam cecidere, cadentque + Quæ nunc sunt in honore vocabula, si volet usus._ + + (Hor. + +I honour them with my heart, that can expresse more than ordinary matter +in ordinary words: it is a pleasing eloquence; them more, that study +wisely and soberly to inhance their native language; them most of all, +that esteeme the late significant speech, the third great blessing of +the Land; it being so enriched, that a man may speak in many tongues in +his Mothers mouth; and an uplandish Rusticke, more in one word than +himselfe and all the Parish understands. Affected termes are unaffecting +things to solid hearers; yet I hold him prudent, that in these +fastidious times, will helpe disedged appetites with convenient +condiments, and bangled ears, with pretty quicke pluckes. I speake the +rather because, not long since, I met with a book, the best to mee I +ever saw, but the Bible; yet under favour, it was somewhat underclad, +especially by him who can both excogitate and expresse what hee +undertakes, as well as any man I know. + + _The world is growne so fine in words and wit, + That pens must now Sir =Edward Nich'las= it. + He that much matter speaks, speaks ne'r a whit, + If 's tongue doth not career 't above his wit._ + +5. For, _You verse it simply, what need have we of your thin Poetry_; +read, _I confesse I wonder at it my self, that I should turne Poet_: I +can impute it to nothing, but to the flatuousnesse of our diet: they are +but sadden raptures soone up, soone downe. + + --_Deductum dicere Carmen_, is highly commended by _Macrobius_. + + _Virgil_ himselfe said, _Agrestem tenui meditabor arundine musam_. + + _Poetry's a gift wherein but few excell; + He doth very ill, that doth not passing well. + But he doth passing well, that doth his best, + And he doth best, that passeth all the rest._ + +6. For _tediousnesse_, read, _I am sorry for it_ ---- Wee have a strong +weaknesse in N. E. that when wee are speaking, we know not how to +conclude: wee make many ends, before we make an end: the fault is in the +Climate; we cannot helpe it though we can, which is the Arch infirmity +in all morality: We are so near the West pole, that our Longitudes are +as long, as any wise man would wish, and somewhat longer. I scarce know +any Adage more gratefull, than _Grata brevitas_. + + _Verba confer maxime ad compendium._ Plaut. + + _Coblers will mend, but some will never mend, + But end, and end, and end, and never end. + A well-girt houre gives every man content, + Sixe ribs of beefe, are worth sixe weeks of Lent._ + +For, _all my other faults, which may bee more and greater than I see_, +read, _I am heartily sorry for them, before I know them, lest I should +forget it after_; and humbly crave pardon at adventure, having nothing +that I can think of, to plead but this, + + _Quisquis inops peccat, minor est reus._ Petron. + + _Poore Coblers well may fault it now and then, + They'r ever mending faults for other men. + And if I worke for nought, why is it said, + This bungling Cobler would be soundly paid?_ + + _So farewell England old + If evill times ensue, + Let good men come to us, + Wee'l welcome them to New. + + And farewell Honor'd Friends, + If happy dayes ensue, + You'l have some Guests from hence, + Pray welcome us to you. + + And farewell simple world, + If thou'lt thy Cranium mend, + There is my Last and All, + And a Shoem-Akers_ + END. + + + + +Postscript. + + + _This honest Cobler has done what he might: + That Statesmen in their Shoes might walk upright. + But rotten Shoes of Spannish running-leather: + No Coblers skill, can stitch them strong together. + It were best to cast such rotten stuff away: + And look for that, that never will decay. + + If all were shod with Gospel's lasting Peace; + Hatred abroad, and Wars at home would cease._ + + Jerome Bellamie. + +_FINIS._ + + + + +APPENDIX. + + + The following Letters, (from Hutchinson's History and Collections,) + &c., and Deed from Essex Registry of Deeds, Salem, (Lib. I., + Ipswich,) are supposed to possess sufficient interest to justify + their insertion here. + + BOSTON, 1843. + + +LETTER TO REV. JOHN COTTON. + +Salutem in Xto nostro. + + Reverend and dear friend, + +I was yesterday convented before the bishop, I mean to his court, and am +adjourned to the next term. I see such giants turn their backs, that I +dare not trust my own weak heart. I expect measure hard enough and must +furnish apace with proportionable armour. I lacke a friend to help +buckle it on. I know none but Christ himself in all our coast fitt to +help me, and my acquaintance with him is hardly enough to hope for that +assistance my weak spirit will want, and the assaults of tentation call +for. I pray therefore forget me not and believe for me also if there be +such a piece of neighbourhood among Christians. And so blessing God with +my whole heart for my knowledge of you and immerited interest in you, +and thanking you entirely for that faithful love I have found from you +in many expressions of the best nature, I commit you to the unchangeable +love of God our Father in his son Jesus Christ, in whom I hope to rest +for ever. + + Your's in all truth of heart + NATH'^L. WARDE. + + Stondon Mercy, + Dec. 13. 1631. + + +[Extracts from Johnson's Wonder-Working Providence, printed in London, +1658.] + +"_Of the Ninth Church of Christ gathered at =Ipswitch=._ + +"This year [1634] came over a farther supply of Eminent instruments for +furthering this admirable Worke of his, amongst whom the Reverend and +judicious servant of Christ Mr. _Nathaniel Ward_, who tooke up his +station at the Towne of _Ipswich_," "scituated on a faire and +delightfull River," "in the _Saggamooreship_, or Earldom of _Aggawam_." +"The peopling of this Towne is by men of good ranke and quality, many of +them having the yearly Revenue of large Lands in _England_ before they +came to this Wildernesse, but their Estates being imployed for Christ, +and left in banke as you have formerly heard, they are well content till +Christ shall be pleased to restore it againe to them or theirs. + +"Their meeting-house is a very good prospect to a great part of the +Towne, and beautifully built, the Church of Christ here consists of +about one hundred and sixty soules, being exact in their conversation, +and free from the Epidemicall Disease of all Reforming Churches, which +under Christ is procured by their pious Learned and Orthodox Ministery, +as in due place (God willing) shall be declared, in the meane time, look +on the following Meeters concerning that Souldier of Christ Master +_Nathaniel Ward_. + + _Thou ancient Sage, come =Ward= among + Christs folfe,[5] take part in this great worke of his, + Why do'st thou stand and gaze about so long; + Do'st war in jest, why, Christ in earnest is, + And hath thee arm'd with weapons for that end, + To wound and heale his enemies submitting, + Not carnally, then to this worke attend; + Thou hast prevail'd the hearts of many hitting. + Although the Presbytery unpleasant jar, + And errors daily in their braines new coyne: + Despayer not, Christs truth they shall not mar; + But with his helpe such drosse from Gold refine. + What Man do'st meane to lay thy Trumpet downe? + Because thy son like Warrier is become, + Hold out or sure lesse bright will be thy crowne, + Till death Christs servants labour is not done._" + + [5] _folke._ + + +LETTER FROM GYLES FYRMIN TO GOV. WINTHROP. + + Much honoured and deare Sir, + +But that I thinke it needlesse (God havinge more than ordinarye fitted +you for such trials) my letter might tell you with what griefe of spirit +I received the news of that sad affliction which is lately happened to +your worship, by means of that unfaithful wretch; I hope God will find a +shoulder to helpe you beare so great a burthen. But the little time +there is allotted me to write I must spend in requesting your worships +counsel and favour. My father in law Ward, since his sonne came over, is +varey desirous that wee might sett down together, and so that he might +leave us together if God should remove him from hence. Because that it +cannot be accomplished in this town, is verey desirous to get mee to +remove with him to a new plantation. After much perswasion used, +consideringe my want of accommodation here (the ground the town having +given mee lying 5 miles from mee or more) and that the gaines of physick +will not finde mee with bread, but, besides, apprehendinge that it might +bee a way to free him from some temptations, and make him more cheereful +and serviceable to the country or church, have yeelded to him. Herein, +as I desire your counsel, so I humbly request your favour, that you +would be pleased to give us the libertye of choosinge a plantation; wee +thinke it will be at Pentuckett, or Quichichchek, by Shawshin: So soon +as the season will give us leave to goe, wee shall informe your worship +which we desire: And if that, by the court of election, we cannot gather +a company to beegine it, wee will let it fall. Wee desire you would not +graunt any of them to any before wee have seene them. If your worship +have heard any relation of the places, wee should remaine thankful to +you, if you would bee pleased to counsel us to any of them. Further, I +would entreate for advise in this: The towne gave mee the ground (100 +acres) upon this condition, that I should stay in the towne 3 yeeres, +or else I could not sell it: Now my father supposes it being my first +heritage (my father having none in the land) that it is more than they +canne doe to hinder mee thus, when as others have no business, but range +from place to place, on purpose to live upon the countrey. I would +entreate your counsel whither or noe I canne sell it. Further: I am +strongly sett upon to studye divinitie, my studyes else must be lost: +for physick is but a meene helpe. In these cases I humbly referre to +your worship, as my father, for your counsel, and so in much haste, with +my best services presented to your worship, wishinge you a strong +support in your affliction, and a good and comfortable issue, I rest + +Your worships in what he canne to his power, + + Ipswich, 26. 10^{th} 1639. GYLES FYRMIN. + +Wee humbly entreate your secrecye in our desires. + + * * * * * + +November 25^o 1646./ + +This p^{r}sent writing wittnesseth that I, Nathaniel Ward of Ipswich in +New England have bargained & sould to John Eaton of Salsbury Coo[per] +all the land ground meadow & Co[=m]onage w^{th} their app^{r}tincs which +I have or ought to have at this p^{r}sent Day in Haverhill or Pentuckett +in New England to $have and to hold$ the said p^{r}misses to the said +John Eaton his heires & assignes paying for the same vnto the said +Nathaniel Ward his executo^{rs} administr^s or assignes the full su[=m]e +of twelve pounds of wheate & pipe-staves six pounds worth of one & six +pounds worth of the other to be deli[ver]ed to m^r Richard Russell or +Maior Sedgwick at Charles Towne before the end of September Next +ensuying the Dat hereof; such as shalbe good & merchantable at the +currant price at that tyme & place + + $In witness whereof$ I have set to my hand & seale. + NATH WARD + Wittnes + THOMAS HOWLETT + EDMAN BRIDGES + + * * * * * + +Transcriber's Notes + +Archaic, unusual and inconsistent spellings have been retained as they +appear in the original. + +Handwritten or penned changes and additions to the text are noted here, +where they appear to be errata, in several cases backed up by an earlier +print of the same text: + +Page 5: changed comma to semi-colon (... James, who practised medicine;) + +Page 5: changed "cotemporaries" to "contemporaries" (... estimated by +his contemporaries and successors.) + +Page 15: changed period and upper case "H" to comma and lower case "h" +(... when he said, he had rather the Earth should swallow him up ...) + +Page 34: handwritten insertion "one" ( ... to help them frisk from [one] +ill-favor'd fashion to another.) + +Page 70: handwritten insertion "of" ( ... the luxury [of] your Court and +Country, ...) + +Page 79: handwritten change of word order from "not let" to "let not" (I +pray not let _Britanicus_ scape, ...) + +Page 85: handwritten insertion "s" ( ... the Bots that crawle on the +Beast[s] taile, ...) + +Page 97: strikethrough deletion "in" ( ... that a man may speak [in] +many tongues in his Mothers mouth; ...) + + +Other changes to the text are listed here, where the printer evidently +used alternative type: + +Pages 1, 7 & 8: changed "VV" to "W" (THE SIMPLE COBLER OF AGGAWAM IN +AMERICA.) + +Page 10 onwards: changed "J" to "I". + +Page 47: changed "VVhen" to "When" (When Christ whips Market-makers out +of his Temple, ...) + +Page 103 (heading): changed "i646" to "1646" (November 25^o 1646.) + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Simple Cobler of Aggawam in America, by +Theodore de la Guard + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SIMPLE COBLER OF AGGAWAM *** + +***** This file should be named 34974-8.txt or 34974-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/4/9/7/34974/ + +Produced by Simon Gardner, JackMcJiggins and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Simple Cobler of Aggawam in America + +Author: Theodore de la Guard + +Release Date: January 15, 2011 [EBook #34974] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SIMPLE COBLER OF AGGAWAM *** + + + + +Produced by Simon Gardner, JackMcJiggins and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="trans-note"> + +<h4>Transcriber's Notes</h4> + +<p>Archaic, unusual and inconsistent spellings have been retained as they +appear in the original. Changes to the text are noted <a href="#Transcribers_Notes">at the end of the book</a>. +</p> + + +<!-- temporary notes: delete as appropriate --> +<p class="indent1">blackletter font is represented by <span class="blacklet">large bold typeface</span><br /> +[per] represents a symbol which is a conventional abbreviation for "per"<br /> +[ver] represents a scribal abbreviation in the quoted document</p> + +<h4>Contents:</h4> + +<p class="center"> +<a href="#TITLE_PAGE">Title Page</a><br /> +<a href="#NOTICE_OF_THE_AUTHOR">Notice of the Author</a><br /> +<a href="#NOTE">Note</a><br /> +<a href="#THE_SIMPLE_COBLER_OF_Aggawam_in_America"><b>The Simple Cobler of Aggawam in_America</b></a><br /> +<a href="#A_Word_of_IRELAND">A Word of IRELAND.</a><br /> +<a href="#A_Word_of_Love_to_the_Common_People">A Word of Love to the Common People of <i>England</i>.</a><br /> +<a href="#A_most_humble_heel-piece">A most humble heel-piece <span class="smcap">to the</span> Most Honourable Head-piece <span class="smcap">the</span> Parliament of <i>England</i></a><br /> +<a href="#A_respective_word_to_the_Ministers">A respective word to the Ministers of <i>England</i>.</a><br /> +<a href="#ERRATA">ERRATA AT NON CORRIGENDA</a><br /> +<a href="#Postscript">Postscript.</a><br /> +<a href="#APPENDIX">APPENDIX.</a><br /> +</p> +</div> + +<p><!-- Page 1 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> + + + +<h1><a name="TITLE_PAGE" id="TITLE_PAGE"></a><span class="small">THE</span><br /> +SIMPLE COBLER<br /> +<span class="small">OF</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">Aggawam</span> in <span class="smcap">America</span>.</h1> + +<p class="center"><span class="large">willing</span></p> + +<p class="center">To help 'mend his Native Country, lamentably tattered, both<br /> +in the upper-Leather and sole, with all the<br /> +honest stitches he can take.</p> + +<p class="center">And as willing never to be paid for his work, by Old English<br /> +wonted pay.</p> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">It is his trade to patch all the year long,</span> gratis.<br /> +Therefore I pray Gentlemen keep your purses.</p> + +<p class="center">By <span class="smcap">Theodore de la Guard</span>.</p> + +<p class="center"><i>In rebus arduis ac tenui spe, fortissima<br /> +quœque consilia tutissima sunt.</i> Cic.</p> + +<p class="center">In English,<br /><br /> +When bootes and shoes are torne up to the lefts,<br /> +Coblers must thrust their awles up to the hefts.</p> + +<p class="center">This is no time to feare <i>Apelles gramm:<br /> +Ne Sutor quidem ultra crepidam.</i></p> + +<p class="center">LONDON,<br /><br /> +Printed by J. D. & R. I. for <span class="smcap">Stephen Bowtell</span>, at the signe of +the Bible in Popes Head-Alley, 1647.</p> + +<hr class="long" /> + +<p><!-- Page 2 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span></p> + + + +<h2><a name="NOTICE_OF_THE_AUTHOR" id="NOTICE_OF_THE_AUTHOR"></a> +NOTICE OF THE AUTHOR.</h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The Reverend Nathaniel Ward</span>, the writer of the following +work, was born at Haverhill, England, in 1570. Of +this town his father was a clergyman. He was educated at +Cambridge, studied and practised law, travelled on the Continent, +afterwards commenced the study of divinity, became +a preacher of the Gospel, and was settled at Standon, in +Hertfordshire. He was a strong friend of the early settlers +of New England before the elder Winthrop's coming over. +At a General Court of the Massachusetts Company, held +in London, on Wednesday the 25th of November, 1629, +"Mr. Whyte did recom̅end Mr. Nathaniel Ward of Standon" +to be admitted to the freedom of the Company. He +was ordered before the Bishop, Dec. 12, 1631, to answer +for his non-conformity. Being forbidden to preach, he embarked +in April, 1634, for this country. He arrived here +in June, and was settled as Pastor of the church at Ipswich, +<!-- Page 3 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span>or Aggawam, the same year. By reason of indisposition, +he was, at his own request, in 1636, released from his engagement +with the church there. However thus disengaged, +he preached often during the time he remained in the +colony. The necessities of the infant Commonwealth called +for his time, talents, and acquirements. Nor did he +refuse. Willing to do the good, which he might, he lent a +ready and efficient hand to the formation of our Legal Code. +He was appointed by the General Court, March 12, 1638, +on a committee to draw up a system of laws, for the consideration +of the freemen. The same legislative authority, +May 13, 1640, granted him six hundred acres of land for +his service, at Pentucket, afterwards called Haverhill. He +preached the election sermon, 1641, in which he advanced +several things that savored more of liberty, than some of +the magistrates were prepared to approve. The same year, +Oct. 7, "The Govern'<sup>r</sup> and m<sup>r</sup> Hauthorne were Desired +to speake to m<sup>r</sup> Ward, for a coppey of the liberties, and of +the Capitall lawes to bee transcribed, and sent to the severall +townes." He wrote the "Simple Cobler" in 1645. In +this year, May 25, he was on a committee to draw up a +Body of Liberties, which were published in 1648, being the +first printed volume of the kind in this Colony. Though +greatly assisted by Joseph Hills and others in the composition +and arrangement of so important a work, yet he appears +to have been a principal agent in its accomplishment. +He sold his interest at Haverhill, Nov. 25, 1646, to John +Eaton, for £12,00. Between this date and the 6th of January +following, he returned to England. On June 30th, +1647, he preached before the House of Commons, and the +<!-- Page 4 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span>same year published the "Simple Cobler." He was afterwards +settled in the ministry at Shenfield, near Brentwood, +where he died in 1653, in his eighty-third year.</p> + +<p>Fuller, in his "Worthies of England," speaking of him, +says, that he, "following the counsel of the poet,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Ridentem dicere verum,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Quis vetat?<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">What doth forbid but one may smile,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And also tell the truth the while?<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>hath in a jesting way, in some of his books, delivered much +smart truth of the present times." Dr. Mather, in his +"Magnalia," remarks of him, "he was the author of many +composures full of wit and sense; among which, that entituled +<i>The Simple Cobler</i> (<i>which demonstrated him to be a +subtil statesman</i>) was most considered." The same author +adds, that "some famous persons of old thought it a greater +<i>glory</i> to have it enquired; <i>why such a one had not a +statue erected for him?</i> than to have it enquired <i>why he +had</i>? If it be enquired, <i>why this our</i> St. Hilary <i>hath among +our Lives no statue erected for him</i>? let that enquiry go for +part of one." And in the "Remarkables" of Increase +Mather, he observes, "An hundred witty Speeches of our +Celebrated <i>Ward</i>, who called himself <i>The Simple Cobler</i> +of Agawam, [and over whose Mantel-piece in his House, by +the way, I have seen those three Words Engraved, SOBRIE, +JUSTE, PIE, and a Fourth added, which was LÆTE:] +have been reported; but he had one Godly Speech, that +was worth 'em all; which was, <i>I have only Two Comforts to<!-- Page 5 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> +Live upon; The one is in the Perfections of CHRIST; +The other is in The Imperfections of all CHRISTIANS.</i>"</p> + +<p>Mr. Ward had several children. Among them, were +John, settled in the ministry at Haverhill, Mass., where he +died, 1693; James, who practised medicine; and a daughter, +married to Gyles Fyrmin. These three last accompanied +their father to England.</p> + +<p>To illustrate how much Mr. Ward benevolently labored +for the public good with but small recompense, we quote +another remark of Cotton Mather, as to his son John. It +follows: "He was a son most exemplarily <i>dutiful</i> unto his +<i>parents</i>; and having paid some considerable <i>debts</i> for his +<i>father</i>, he would afterwards humbly observe and confess, +that God had abundantly <i>recompenced</i> this his dutifulness." +Whether these debts were paid in Old or New England is +uncertain.</p> + +<p>Thus we have given a sketch of one, who deserves well +of New England and of friends to freedom every where,—so +that it might be more evident how he and the subsequent +work were estimated by his contemporaries and successors.</p> + +<p> +D. P.<br /> +</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Boston</span>, March 8, 1843.<!-- Page 6 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><a name="NOTE" id="NOTE"></a>NOTE.</h3> + +<p>This work passed through several editions at London +in 1647. It was reprinted in Boston in 1713. +One of the earlier editions and that of 1713 have +been used in preparing the present edition for the +press. After his first impression, the author made +several additions to succeeding ones, which will be +found in this now issued.—The principal of these +additions are as follow: "A Word of Love to the +Common People of England," "A most humble Heel +piece," &c., and "A respective word to the Ministers +of England."</p> + +<p class="right-just"><span class="smcap">Ed.</span></p> + +<hr /> + + +<p class="center"><!-- Page 7 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> +<a name="THE_SIMPLE_COBLER_OF_Aggawam_in_America" id="THE_SIMPLE_COBLER_OF_Aggawam_in_America"></a> +<span class="small">THE</span><br /> +<span class="extralarge">Simple Cobler</span><br /> +<span class="small">OF</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">Aggawam</span> in <span class="smcap">America</span>.</p> + +<p class="center">WILLING</p> + +<p class="center">To help 'mend his Native Country, lamentably<br /> +tattered, both in the upper-Leather and sole,<br /> +with all the honest stitches he can take.</p> + +<p class="center">And as willing never to be paid for his work,<br /> +by Old English wonted pay.</p> + +<p class="center"><i>It is his trade to patch all the year long</i>, gratis.<br /> +Therefore I pray Gentlemen keep your purses.</p> + +<p class="center">By <i>Theodore de la Guard</i>.</p> + +<p class="center"><i>In rebus arduis ac tenui spe, fortissima<br /> +quæque consilia tutissima sunt.</i> Cic.</p> + +<p class="center">In English,</p> + +<p class="center">When bootes and shoes are torne up to the lefts,<br /> +Coblers must thrust their awles up to the hefts.</p> + +<p class="center">This is no time to feare <i>Apelles gramm:<br /> +Ne Sutor quidem ultra crepidam</i>.</p> + +<p class="center">LONDON,</p> + +<p class="center">Printed by <i>J. D. & R. I. for Stephen Bowtell</i>, at the +signe of the Bible in Popes Head-Alley, 1647.</p> + +<hr /> +<p><!-- Page 8 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span></p> + + + +<h2><span class="small">THE</span><br /> +SIMPLE COBLER<br /> +<span class="small">OF</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">Aggawam</span> in <span class="smcap">America</span>.</h2> + + +<p>Either I am in an Appoplexie, or that man +is in a Lethargie, who doth not now sensibly +feele God shaking the Heavens over +his head, and the Earth under his feet: +The Heavens so, as the Sun begins to turne +into darknesse, the Moon into blood, the +Starres to fall down to the ground; So that little Light +of Comfort or Counsell is left to the sonnes of men: +The Earth so, as the foundations are failing, the +righteous scarce know where to finde rest, the Inhabitants +stagger like drunken men; it is in a manner +dissolved both in Religions and Relations: And no +marvell; for, they have defiled it by transgressing +the Laws, changing the Ordinances, and breaking the +Everlasting Covenant. The Truths of God are the +Pillars of the world, whereon States and Churches +may stand quiet if they will; if they will not, He +can easily shake them off into delusions, and distractions +enough.</p> + +<p>Sathan is now in his passions, hee feeles his passion +approaching; hee loves to fish in royled waters. +Though that Dragon cannot sting the vitals of the<!-- Page 9 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> +Elect mortally, yet that Beelzebub can fly-blow their +Intellectuals miserably: The finer Religion grows, +the finer hee spins his Cobwebs, hee will hold pace +with Christ so long as his wits will serve him. Hee +sees himselfe beaten out of grosse Idolatries, Heresies, +Ceremonies, where the Light breakes forth with power; +he will therefore bestirre him to prevaricate Evangelicall +Truths, and Ordinances, that if they will +needs be walking, yet they shall <i>laborare varicibus</i>, +and not keep their path: he will put them out of time +and place; Assascinating for his Engineers, men of +Paracelsian parts; well complexioned for honesty; +for, such are fittest to Mountebanke his Chimistry +into sicke Churches and weake Judgements.</p> + +<p>Nor shall hee neede to stretch his strength overmuch +in this worke: Too many men having not laid their +foundation sure, nor ballasted their Spirits deepe with +humility and feare, are prest enough of themselves to +evaporate their owne apprehensions. Those that are +acquainted with Story know, it hath ever been so in +new Editions of Churches: Such as are least able, +are most busie to pudder in the rubbish, and to raise +dust in the eyes of more steady Repayrers. Civill +Commotions make roome for uncivill practises: Religious +mutations, for irreligious opinions: Change of +Aire, discovers corrupt bodies; Reformation of Religion, +unsound mindes. He that hath any well-faced +phancy in his Crowne, and doth not vent it now, fears +the pride of his owne heart will dub him dunce for +ever. Such a one will trouble the whole <i>Israel</i> of +God with his most untimely births, though he makes<!-- Page 10 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> +the bones of his vanity sticke up, to the view and +griefe of all that are godly wise. The devill desires +no better sport then to see light heads handle their +heels, and fetch their carreers in a time, when the +Roofe of Liberty stands open.</p> + +<p>The next perplexed Question, with pious and ponderous +men, will be: What should bee done for the +healing of these comfortlesse exulcerations. I am the +unablest adviser of a thousand, the unworthiest of +ten thousand; yet I hope I may presume to assert +what follows without just offence.</p> + +<p>First, such as have given or taken any unfriendly +reports of us <i>New-English</i>, should do well to recollect +themselves. We have beene reputed a Colluvies +of wild Opinionists, swarmed into a remote wildernes +to find elbow-roome for our phanatick Doctrines +and practises: I trust our diligence past, and constant +sedulity against such persons and courses, will plead +better things for us. I dare take upon me, to bee the +Herauld of <i>New-England</i> so farre, as to proclaime to +the world, in the name of our Colony, that all Familists, +Antinomians, Anabaptists, and other Enthusiasts, +shall have free Liberty to keep away from us, and +such as will come to be gone as fast as they can, the +sooner the better.</p> + +<p>Secondly, I dare averre, that God doth no where +in his word tolerate Christian States, to give Tolerations +to such adversaries of his Truth, if they have +power in their hands to suppresse them.</p> + +<p>Here is lately brought us an extract of a <i>Magna +Charta</i>, so called, compiled between the Sub-planters<!-- Page 11 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> +of a <i>West-Indian</i> Island; whereof the first Article of +constipulation, firmely provides free stable-room and +litter for all kinde of consciences, be they never so +dirty or jadish; making it actionable, yea, treasonable, +to disturbe any man in his Religion, or to discommend +it, whatever it be. Wee are very sorry to +see such professed profanenesse in <i>English</i> Professors, +as industriously to lay their Religious Foundations +on the ruine of true Religion; which strictly +binds every conscience to contend earnestly for the +Truth: to preserve unity of spirit, faith and Ordinances, +to be all like-minded, of one accord; every man +to take his brother into his Christian care: to stand +fast with one spirit, with one mind, striving together +for the faith of the Gospel: and by no meanes to permit +Heresies or erroneous opinions: But God abhorring +such loathsome beverages, hath in his righteous judgement +blasted that enterprize, which might otherwise +have prospered well, for ought I know; I presume +their case is generally knowne ere this.</p> + +<p>If the devill might have his free option, I believe +he would ask nothing else, but liberty to enfranchize +all false Religions, and to embondage the true; nor +should he need: It is much to bee feared, that laxe +Tolerations upon State pretences and planting necessities, +will be the next subtle Stratagem he will spread, +to distate the Truth of God and supplant the peace of +the Churches. Tolerations in things tolerable, exquisitely +drawn out by the lines of the Scripture, and +pensill of the Spirit, are the sacred favours of Truth, +the due latitudes of Love, the faire Compartiments of<!-- Page 12 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> +Christian fraternity: but irregular dispensations, dealt +forth by the facilities of men, are the frontiers of errour, +the redoubts of Schisme, the perillous irritaments +of carnall and spirituall enmity.</p> + +<p>My heart hath naturally detested foure things: +The standing of the Apocrypha in the Bible; Forrainers +dwelling in my Countrey, to crowd our native +Subjects into the corners of the Earth; Alchymized +coines; Tolerations of divers Religions, or of one +Religion in segregant shapes: He that willingly assents +to the last, if he examines his heart by day-light, +his conscience will tell him, he is either an Atheist, +or an Heretique, or an Hypocrite, or at best a captive +to some lust: Poly-piety is the greatest impiety in +the world. True Religion is <i>Ignis probationis</i>, which +doth <i>congregare homogenea & segregare heterogenea</i>.</p> + +<p>Not to tolerate things meerly indifferent to weak +consciences, argues a conscience too strong: pressed +uniformity in these, causes much disunity: To tolerate +more than indifferents, is not to deale indifferently +with God; He that doth it, takes his Scepter out +of his hand, and bids him stand by. Who hath to +doe to institute Religion but God. The power of all +Religion and Ordinances, lies in their purity: their +purity in their simplicity: then are mixtures pernicious. +I lived in a City, where a Papist preached in +one Church, a Lutheran in another, a Calvinist in a +third; a Lutheran one part of the day, a Calvinist the +other, in the same Pulpit: the Religion of that place +was but motly and meagre, their affections Leopardlike.</p> + +<p>If the whole Creature should conspire to doe the<!-- Page 13 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> +Creator a mischiefe, or offer him an insolency, it +would be in nothing more, than in erecting untruths +against his Truth, or by sophisticating his Truths +with humane medleyes; the removing of some one +iota in Scripture, may draw out all the life, and traverse +all the Truth of the whole Bible: but to authorise +an untruth, by a Toleration of State, is to build a +Sconce against the walls of heaven, to batter God out +of his Chaire: To tell a practicall lye, is a great sin, +but yet transient; but to set up a Theoricall untruth, +is to warrant every lye that lies from its root to the +top of every branch it hath, which are not a few.</p> + +<p>I would willingly hope that no Member of the +Parliament hath skilfully ingratiated himselfe into the +hearts of the House, that he might watch a time to +midwife out some ungracious Toleration for his own +turne, and for the sake of that, some others. I would +also hope that a word of generall caution should not +be particularly misapplied. I am the freer to suggest +it, because I know not one man of that mind, my +aime is generall, and I desire may be so accepted. Yet +good Gentlemen, looke well about you, and remember +how <i>Tiberius</i> plaid the Fox with the Senate of <i>Rome</i>, +and how <i>Fabius Maximus</i> cropt his ears for his cunning.</p> + +<p>That State is wise, that will improve all paines and +patience rather to compose, then tolerate differences in +Religion. There is no divine Truth, but hath much +Celestial fire in it from the Spirit of Truth: nor no +irreligious untruth, without its proportion of Antifire +from the Spirit of Error to contradict it: the zeale of<!-- Page 14 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> +the one, the virulency of the other, must necessarily +kindle Combustions. Fiery diseases seated in the +spirit, embroile the whole frame of the body: others +more externall and coole, are lesse dangerous. They +which divide in Religion divide in God; they who +divide in him, divide beyond <i>Genus Generalissimum</i>, +where there is no reconciliation, without atonement; +that is, without uniting in him, who is One, and in +his Truth, which is also one.</p> + +<p>Wise are those men who will be perswaded rather +to live within the pale of Truth where they may bee +quiet, than in the purliev's, where they are sure to be +hunted ever and anon, doe Authority what it can. +Every singular Opinion, hath a singular opinion of it +self; and he that holds it a singular opinion of himself, +and a simple opinion of all contra-sentients: he +that confutes them, must confute all three at once, or +else he does nothing; which will not be done without +more stir than the peace of the State or Church +can indure.</p> + +<p>And prudent are those Christians, that will rather +give what may be given, then hazzard all by yeelding +nothing. To sell all peace of Country, to buy some +peace of Conscience unseasonably, is more avarice +than thrift, imprudence than patience: they deale not +equally, that set any truth of God at such a rate; but +they deale wisely that will stay till the Market is fallen.</p> + +<p>My prognosticks deceive me not a little, if once +within three seven years, peace prove not such a penny-worth +at most Marts in Christendome, that hee +that would not lay down his money, his lust, his opin<!-- Page 15 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span>ion, +his will, I had almost said the best flower of his +Crown for it, while he might have had it; will tell +his own heart, he plaid the very ill husband.</p> + +<p>Concerning Tolerations I may further assert.</p> + +<p>That Persecution of True Religion, and Toleration +of false, are the <i>Jannes</i> and <i>Jambres</i> to the Kingdome +of Christ, whereof the last is farre the worst. <i>Augustines</i> +tongue had not owed his mouth one penny-rent +though it had never spake one word more in it, but +this, <i>Nullum malum pejus libertate errandi</i>.</p> + +<p><i>Frederick</i> Duke of <i>Saxon</i>, spake not one foote beyond +the mark when he said, he had rather the Earth +should swallow him up quick, then he should give a +toleration to any opinion against any truth of God.</p> + +<p>He that is willing to tolerate any Religion, or discrepant +way of Religion, besides his own, unlesse it +be in matters meerly indifferent, either doubts of his +own, or is not sincere in it.</p> + +<p>He that is willing to tolerate any unsound Opinion, +that his own may also be tolerated, though never so +sound, will for a need hang Gods Bible at the Devils +girdle.</p> + +<p>Every Toleration of false Religions, or Opinions +hath as many Errours and sins in it, as all the false +Religions and Opinions it tolerates, and one sound +one more.</p> + +<p>That State that will give Liberty of Conscience in +matters of Religion, must give Liberty of Conscience +and Conversation in their Morall Laws, or else the +Fiddle will be out of tune, and some of the strings +cracke.<!-- Page 16 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span></p> + +<p>He that will rather make an irreligious quarrell with +other Religions, then try the truth of his own by valuable +Arguments, and peaceable Sufferings; either his +Religion, or himselfe is irreligious.</p> + +<p>Experience will teach Churches and Christians, +that it is farre better to live in a State united, though +a little Corrupt, then in a State, whereof some Part +is incorrupt, and all the rest divided.</p> + +<p>I am not altogether ignorant of the eight Rules +given by Orthodox Divines about giving Tolerations, +yet with their favour I dare affirme,</p> + +<p>That there is no Rule given by God for any State +to give an Affirmative Toleration to any false Religion, +or Opinion whatsoever; they must connive in +some cases, but may not concede in any.</p> + +<p>That the State of <i>England</i> (so farre as my Intelligence +serves) might in time have prevented with ease, +and may yet without any great difficulty deny both +Toleration, and irregular Connivences, <i>salva Republica</i>.</p> + +<p>That if the State of <i>England</i> shall either willingly +Tolerate, or weakly connive at such Courses, the +Church of that Kingdom will sooner become the Devills +Dancing-Schoole, then Gods-Temple; The Civill +State a Beare-garden, then an Exchange: The whole +Realme a Pais base, then an <i>England</i>. And what +pity it is, that that Country which hath been the Staple +of Truth to all Christendome, should now become +the Aviary of Errors to the whole World, let every +fearing heart judge.</p> + +<p>I take Liberty of Conscience to bee nothing but a<!-- Page 17 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> +freedome from sinne, and error. <i>Conscientia in tantum +libera, in quantum ab errore liberata.</i> And liberty +of Error nothing but a Prison for Conscience. +Then small will bee the kindnesse of a State to build +such Prisons for their Subjects.</p> + +<p>The Scripture saith, there is nothing makes free but +Truth, and Truth saith, there is no Truth but One: +If the States of the World would make it their sumoperous +Care to preserve this One Truth in its purity +and Authority it would ease them of all other Political +cares. I am sure Satan makes it his grand, if not +onely taske, to adulterate Truth; Falshood is his +sole Scepter, whereby he first ruffled, and ever since +ruined the World.</p> + +<p>If Truth be but One, me thinks all the Opinionists +in <i>England</i> should not be all in that One Truth, some +of them I doubt are out. He that can extract an +unity out of such a disparity, or contract such a disparity +into an unity; had need be a better Artist, then +ever was <i>Drebell</i>.</p> + +<p>If two Centers (as we may suppose) be in one Circle, +and lines drawn from both to all the points of the +Compasse, they will certainly crosse one another, and +probably cut through the Centers themselves.</p> + +<p>There is talke of an universall Toleration, I would +talke as loud as I could against it, did I know what +more apt and reasonable Sacrifice <i>England</i> could offer +to God for his late performing all his heavenly +Truths, then an universall Toleration of all hellish Errors, +or how they shall make an universall Reformation, +but by making Christs Academy the Devils Uni<!-- Page 18 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span>versity, +where any man may commence Heretique +<i>per saltum</i>; where he that is <i>filius Diabolicus</i>, or +<i>simpliciter pessimus</i>, may have his grace to goe to +hell <i>cum Publico Privilegio</i>; and carry as many after +him, as he can.</p> + +<p><i>Religio docenda est, non coercenda</i> is a pretty piece +of <i>album Latinum</i> for some kinde of throats that are +willingly sore, but <i>Hæresis dedocenda est non permittenda</i>, +will be found a farre better <i>Diamoron</i> for the +Gargarismes this Age wants, if timely and throughly +applyed.</p> + + + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Lists of unorthodox religious groups."> +<tr> +<td colspan="2" align="right">If there be roome in <i>England</i> for</td></tr> +<tr> +<td rowspan="18" class="bot">Religious Men <br />but pernicious Heretiques</td> +<td align="left" class="btr"><i>Familists</i></td> +<td rowspan="9" class="bot">then room for</td> +<td align="left" class="btl"><i>Manes</i></td></tr> +<tr> +<td align="left" class="br"><i>Libertines</i></td> +<td align="left" class="bl"><i>Lemures</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" class="br"><i>Erastians</i></td> +<td align="left" class="bl"><i>Dryades</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" class="br"><i>Antitrinitarians</i></td> +<td align="left" class="bl"><i>Homadryades</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" class="br"><i>Anabaptists</i></td> +<td align="left" class="bl"><i>Potamides</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" class="br"><i>Antiscripturists</i></td> +<td align="left" class="bl"><i>Naiades</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" class="br"><i>Arminians</i></td> +<td align="left" class="bl"><i>Hinnides</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" class="br"><i>Manifestarians</i></td> +<td align="left" class="bl"><i>Pierides</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" class="br"><i>Millinaries</i></td> +<td align="left" class="bl"><i>Nereides</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" class="br"><i>Antinomians</i></td> +<td rowspan="9" class="bot">Good Spirits,<br /> but very Devils.</td> +<td align="left" class="bl"><i>Pales</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" class="br"><i>Socinians</i></td> +<td align="left" class="bl"><i>Anonides</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" class="br"><i>Arrians</i></td> +<td align="left" class="bl"><i>Parcades</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" class="br"><i>Perfectists</i></td> +<td align="left" class="bl"><i>Castalides</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" class="br"><i>Brownists<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a></i></td> +<td align="left" class="bl"><i>Monides</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" class="br"><i>Mortalians</i></td> +<td align="left" class="bl"><i>Charites</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" class="br"><i>Seekers</i></td> +<td align="left" class="bl"><i>Heliconides</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" class="br"><i>Enthusiasts</i></td> +<td align="left" class="bl"><i>Pegasides</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" class="bbr"><i>&c.</i></td> +<td align="left" class="bbl"><i>&c.</i></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p class="center">In a word room for Hell above ground.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> By Brownists I mean not Independents, but dew-clawd Seperatists: +farre be it from me to wrong godly Independents. I truely +acknowledge that I judge my self neither able nor worthy to honour +some of them as they deserve.<!-- Page 19 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span></p></div> + +<p>It is said, Though a man have light enough himselfe +to see the Truth, yet if he hath not enough to +enlighten others, he is bound to tolerate them, I will +engage my self, that all the Devills in <i>Britanie</i> shall +sell themselves to their shirts, to purchase a Lease of +this Position for three of their Lives, under the Seale +of the Parliament.</p> + +<p>It is said, That Men ought to have Liberty of their +Conscience, and that it is Persecution to debarre them +of it: I can rather stand amazed then reply to this: +it is an astonishment to think that the braines of men +should be parboyl'd in such impious ignorance; Let +all the wits under the Heavens lay their heads together +and finde an Assertion worse than this (one excepted) +I will Petition to be chosen the universal Ideot of +the world.</p> + +<p>It is said, That Civill Magistrates ought not to meddle +with Ecclesiasticall matters.</p> + +<p>I would answer to this so well as I could, did I not +know that some Papers lately brought out of <i>New-England</i>, +are going to the Presse, wherein the Opinions +of the Elders there in a late Synod, concerning +this point are manifested, which I suppose will give +clearer satisfaction then I can.</p> + +<p>The true English of all this their false Latine, is nothing +but a generall Toleration of all Opinions; which +motion if it be like to take, it were very requisite, +that the City would repaire <i>Pauls</i> with all the speed +they can, for an English <i>Pantheon</i>, and bestow it +upon the Sectaries, freely to assemble in, then there +may be some hope that <i>London</i> will be quiet in time.<!-- Page 20 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span></p> + +<p>But why dwell I so intolerable long about Tolerations, +I hope my feares are but panick, against which +I have a double cordiall. First, that the Parliament +will not though they could: Secondly, that they cannot +though they would grant such Tolerations. God +who hath so honoured them with eminent wisdome +in all other things, will not suffer them to cast both +his, and their Honour in the dust of perpetuall Infamy, +doe what they can; nor shall those who have spent +so great a part of their substance in redeeming their +Civill Liberties from Usurpation, lose all that remaines +in enthralling their spirituall Liberty by Toleration.</p> + +<p>It is said Opinionists are many, and strong, that <i>de +sunt Vires</i>, that it is <i>turbata respublica</i>, I am very +sorry for it, but more sorry, if despondency of minde +shall cause the least tergiversation in Gods Worthies, +who have receiv'd such pledges of his presence in +their late Counsels, and Conflicts. It is not thousands +of Opinionists that can pinion his Everlasting armes, I +can hardly beleeve there is a greater unbeleever then +my Selfe, yet I can verily beleeve that the God of +Truth will in a short time scatter them all like smoake +before the wind. I confesse I am troubled to see Men +so over-troubled about them; I am rather glad to +heare the Devill is breaking up house in <i>England</i>, and +removing somewhither else, give him leave to sell all +his rags, and odde-ends by the out-cry; and let his +petty Chapmen make their Market while they may, +upon my poore credit it will not last long. Hee that +hath done so much for <i>England</i> will go on to perfect +his owne praise, and his Peoples Peace: let good<!-- Page 21 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> +men stand still, and behold his further Salvation. He +that sitteth in the Heavens laughs at them, the most +High hath them in Derision, and their folly shall certainly +be manifested to all men.</p> + +<p>Yet I dare not but adde, and in the Name of God +will adde, that if any Publique members of Church or +State, have been either open fautors, or private abetters +of any blasphemous, contagious Opinions; It will be +their wisdome to proportion their repentance to their +Sin, before God makes them Publique monuments of +Ignominie, and Apostasie.</p> + +<p>Thirdly, That all Christian States, ought to disavow +and decry all such Errours, by some peremptory +Statutary Act, and that in time, that Subjects knowing +fully the minde of the State, might not delude +themselves with vaine hopes of unsufferable Liberties. +It is lesse to say <i>Statuatur veritas, ruat Regnum</i>, than +<i>Fiat justitia, ruat Cœlum</i>; but there is no such danger +in either of them. Feare nothing Gentlemen, +<i>Rubiconem transiistis, jacta est alea</i>, ye have turned +the Devill out of doores; fling all his old parrell after +him out at the windows, lest he makes an errand for +it againe. <i>Quæ relinquuntur in morbis post indicationem, +recidivas facere consuevere.</i> Christ would have +his Church without spot or wrinckle; They that help +make it so, shall lose neither honour nor labour: If +yee be wise, suffer no more thorns in his sides or your +owne. When God kindles such fires as these, hee +doth not usually quench them, till the very scum on +the pot sides be boyled cleane away, <i>Ezek. 24. 10, +<!-- Page 22 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span>11</i>. Yee were better to doe it your selves, then leave +it to him: the Arme of the Lord is mighty, his hand +very heavy; who can dwell with his devouring fire, +and long lasting burnings?</p> + +<p>Fourthly, to make speedy provision against Obstinates +and disseminaries: where under favour, two +things will be found requisite. First, variety of penaltyes, +I meane certaine, not indefinite: I am a Crabbat +against Arbitrary Government. Experience hath +taught us here, that politicall, domesticall, and personall +respects, will not admit one and the same remedy +for all, without sad inconveniences. Secondly, just +severity: persecution hath ever spread Truth, prosecution +scattered Errour: Ten of the most Christian +Emperors, found that way best; Schollars know whom +I meane: Five of the ancient Fathers perswaded to it, +of whom <i>Augustine</i> was one, who for a time argued +hard for indulgency: but upon conference with other +prudent Bishops, altered his judgement, as appears in +three of his Epistles, to <i>Marcellinus</i>, <i>Donatus</i>, and +<i>Boniface</i>. I would be understood, not onely an Allower, +but an humble Petitioner, that ignorant and +tender conscienced Anabaptists may have due time +and means of conviction.</p> + +<p>Fifthly, That every Prophet, to whom God hath +given the tongue of the learned, should teach, and +every Angel who hath a pen and inkehorne by his +side write against these grieving extravagancies: +writing of many books, I grant is irkesome, reading +endlesse. A reasonable man would thinke Divines +had declaimed sufficiently upon these Themes. I have +ever thought the Rule given, <i>Titus 3. 10.</i> which cuts<!-- Page 23 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> +the work short and sharpe to be more properly prevalent, +then wearisome waiting upon unweariable Spirits. +It is a most toylsome taske to run the wild-goose +chase after a well-breath'd Opinionist: they delight +in vitilitigation: it is an itch that loves a life to be +scrub'd: they desire not satisfaction, but satisdiction, +whereof themselves must be judges: yet in new eruptions +of Error with new objections, silence is sinfull.</p> + +<p>As for my selfe, I am none of the disputers of this +world: all I can doe, is to guesse when men speake +true or false divinity: if I can but finde the parentall +roote, or formall reason of a Truth, I am quiet; if I +cannot, I shore up my slender judgement as long as +I can, with two or three the handsomest props I can +get: I shall therefore leave Arguments to acuter +heads, and onely speak a word of Love, with all +Christian respect to our deare Brethren in <i>England</i>, +which are against baptizing of Infants: I intreate them +to consider these few things seriously and meekly. +First, what a high pitch of boldnesse it is for man to +cut a principall Ordinance out of the Kingdome of God; +if it be but to make a dislocation, which so far disgoods +the Ordinance, I feare it altogether unhallows +it, to transplace or transtime a stated Institution of +Christ, without his direction, I thinke, is to destroy +it. Secondly, what a Cruelty it is to devest children +of that onely externall priviledge which their heavenly +Father hath bequeathed them, to interest them visibly +in Himselfe, His Son, His Spirit, His Covenant of +Grace, and the tender bosome of their carefull Mother +the Church. Thirdly, what an Inhumanity it is, to<!-- Page 24 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> +deprive Parents of that comfort they may take from +the baptisme of their Infants dying in their Childehood. +Fourthly, How unseasonable and unkindely it is, to +interturbe the State and Church with these Amalekitish +onsets, when they are in their extreame pangs of +travell with their lives. Fifthly, to take a through +view of those who have preambled this by path. +Being sometimes in the Crowds of foraigne Wederdopers, +that is, Anabaptists; and prying into their inward +frames with the best eyes I had; I could not but observe +these disguised guises in the generality of them.</p> + +<p>First, a flat formality of Spirit without salt or savour +in the spiritualties of Christ, as if their Religion +began and ended in their Opinion. Secondly, a shallow +slighting of such as dissent from them, appearing +too often in their faces, speeches and carriages. Thirdly, +a feeble, yet peremptory obstinacy; seldome are +any of them reclaimed. Fourthly, a shamefull sliding +into other such tarpauling tenets, to keep themselves +dry from the showers of Justice, as a rationall minde +would never entertain, if it were not Errour-blasted +from Heaven and Hell: I should as shrewdly suspect +that Opinion, that will cordially corrive with two or +three sottish errours, as that faith that can professedly +live with two or three sordid sins. I dare not feare +our godly Brethren in <i>England</i> to be yet comming to +this passe; how soon they may, themselves know not, +the times are slippery: They will undoubtedly finde +God as jealous of his Ordinances, as themselves are +zealous of their Opinions.</p> + +<p>Sixthly, That Authority ought to see their Sub<!-- Page 25 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span>jects +children baptized, though their Parents judgements +be against it, if there be no other Evangelicall +barre in the way.</p> + +<p>Seventhly, That prudent men, especially young, +should doe well not to ingage themselves in conference +with Errorists, without a good calling and great caution; +their breath is contagious, their leprey spreading: +receive not him that is weak, saith the Apostle, to +doubtfull disputations; much lesse may they run +themselves into dangerous Sophistications. He usually +hears best in their meetings, that stops his eares closest; +he opens his mouth to best purpose, that keeps it +shut, and he doeth best of all, that declines their company +as wisely as he may.</p> + +<p>Brethren, have an extraordinary care also of the +late Theosophers, that teach men to climbe to Heaven +upon a ladder of lying figments. Rather than the +Devill will lose his game, he will out-shoot Christ in +his owne bow; he will out-law the Law, quite out of +the word and world: over-Gospell the Gospell, and +quidanye Christ, with Sugar and Rats-bane. Hee +was Professour not long since at <i>Schelstat</i> in <i>Alsatia</i>, +where he learned that no poyson is so deadly as the +poyson of Grace.</p> + +<p>The wisest way, when all is said, is with all humility +and feare, to take Christ as himselfe hath revealed +himselfe in his Gospel, and not as the Devill presents +him to prestigiated phansies. I have ever hated the +way of the Rosie-Crucians, who reject things as Gods +wisedome hath tempered them, and will have nothing +but their Spirits. If I were to give physick to Spryts,<!-- Page 26 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> +I would doe so too: but when I want physick for my +body, I would not have my soule tartared: nor my +Animall Spirits purged any way, but by my Naturall, +and those by my bodily humours, and those by such +Ordinaries, as have the nearest vicinage to them, and +not by Metaphysicall Limbeckings. I cannot thinke +that <i>materia prima</i> or <i>secunda</i>, should be good for +me, that am at least, <i>Materia millessima sexcentesima +quadragesima quinta</i>.</p> + +<p>Here I hold my selfe bound to set up a Beacon, to +give warning of a new-sprung Sect of Phrantasticks, +which would perswade themselves and others, that +they have discovered the Nor-west passage to Heaven. +These wits of the game, cry up and downe in +corners such bold ignotions of a new Gospell, new +Christ, new Faith, and new gay-nothings, as trouble +unsetled heads, querulous hearts, and not a little +grieve the Spirit of God. I desire all good men may +be saved from their Lunatick Creed, by Infidelity; and +rather beleeve these torrid overtures will prove in +time, nothing but horrid raptures downe to the lowest +hell, from which he that would be delivered, let him +avoid these blasphemers, a late fry of croaking Frogs, +not to be indured in a Religious State, no, if it were +possible, not an houre.</p> + +<p>As some are playing young Spaniels, questing at +every bird that rises; so others, held very good men, +are at a dead stand, not knowing what to doe or say; +and are therefore called Seekers, looking for new +Nuntio's from Christ, to assoile these benighted questions, +and to give new Orders for new Churches. I<!-- Page 27 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> +crave leave with all respect to tell them, that if they +looke into <i>Act. 20. 20. 25.</i> <i>Gal. 1. 8. 9.</i> <i>1. Tim. 6. +13. 16.</i> and find them not there; they may happily +seeke as the young Prophets did for Eliah's corps, +where it never was, nor ever will be found.</p> + +<p>I cannot imagine why the Holy Ghost should give +<i>Timothy</i> the solemnest charge, was ever given mortall +man, to observe the Rules he had given, till the +comming of Christ, if new things must be expected.</p> + +<p>Woe be to them, who ever they be, that so trouble +the wayes of God that they who have found the way +to Heaven, cannot find the way to Church: And woe +be to them, that so gaze at the glorious light, they say, +will breake forth in the thousand yeares to come, that +they make little of the gracious Truth that hath been +revealed these sixteen hundred years past. And woe +be to them that so under-value the first Master-Builders, +I mean the Apostles of Christ, that unlesse he +sends wiser than they, He must be accounted lesse +faithfull in his house than <i>Moses</i> was.</p> + +<p>I have cause enough to be as charitable to others +as any man living; yet I cannot but feare, that those +men never Moored their Anchors well in the firme +soile of Heaven, that are weather-waft up and down +with every eddy-wind of every new doctrine. The +good Spirit of God doth not usually tie up the Helme, +and suffer passengers to Heaven to ride a drift, hither +and thither, as every wave and current carries them: +that is a fitter course for such as the Apostle calls +wandring Starres and Meteors, without any certaine +motion, hurryed about with tempests, bred of the Ex<!-- Page 28 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span>halations +of their own pride and self-wittednesse: +whose damnation sleepeth not, and to whom the mist +of darknesse is reserved for ever, that they may suffer +irreparable shipwrack upon the Sands and Rocks +of their owne Errours, being of old ordained to condemnation.</p> + +<p>Eightly, let all considerate men beware of ungrounded +opinions in Religion: Since I knew what to feare, +my timerous heart hath dreaded three things: a blazing +starre appearing in the aire: a State Comet, I +mean a favourite rising in a Kingdome, a new Opinion +spreading in Religion: these are Exorbitancies: +which is a formidable word: a <i>vacuum</i> and an exorbitancy, +are mundicidious evils. Concerning Novelties +of opinions; I shall expresse my thoughts in these +briefe passages. First, that Truth is the best boone +God ever gave the world: there is nothing in the +world, any further then Truth makes it so; it +is better then any creat' <i>Ens</i> or <i>Bonum</i>, which are but +Truths twins. Secondly, the least Truth of Gods +Kingdome, doth in its place, uphold the whole kingdome +of his Truths; Take away the least <i>vericulum</i> +out of the world, and it unworlds all, potentially, and +may unravell the whole texture actually, if it be not +conserved by an Arme of superiordinary power. Thirdly, +the least Evangelicall Truth is more worth than +all the Civil Truths in the world, that are meerly so. +Fourthly, that Truth is the Parent of all Liberty +whether politicall or personall; so much untruth, so +much thraldome, <i>John 8. 32</i>.</p> + +<p>Hence it is, that God is so jealous of his Truths, that<!-- Page 29 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> +he hath taken order in his due justice: First, that no +practicall sin is so sinfull as some errour in judgement; +no men so accursed with indelible infamie and dedolent +impenitency, as Authours of Heresie. Secondly, +that the least Error, if grown sturdy and pressed, +shall set open the Spittle-doore of all the squint ey'd, +wry-necked, and brazen-faced Errors that are or ever +were of that litter; if they be not enough to serve its +turne, it will beget more, though it hath not one crust +of reason to maintain them. Thirdly, that that State +which will permit Errors in Religion, shall admit Errors +in policy unavoyably. Fourthly, that that Policy +which will suffer irreligious Errors, shall suffer the +losse of so much Liberty in one kind or other, I will +not exempt <i>Venice</i>, <i>Rhaguse</i>, the <i>Cantons</i>, the <i>Nether-lands</i>, +or any.</p> + +<p>An easie head may soon demonstrate, that the pre-mentioned +Planters, by Tolerating all Religions, had +immazed themselves in the most intolerable confusions +and inextricable thraldomes the world ever heard +of. I am perswaded the Devill himselfe was never +willing with their proceedings, for feare it would +breake his wind and wits to attend such a Province. +I speak it seriously according to my meaning. How +all Religions should enjoy their Liberty, Justice its +due regularity, Civill cohabitation morall honesty, in +one and the same Jurisdiction, is beyond the Artique +of my comprehension. If the whole conclave of Hell +can so compromise, exadverse, and diametricall contradictions, +as to compolitize such a multimonstrous +maufrey of heteroclytes and quicquidlibets quietly;<!-- Page 30 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> +I trust I may say with all humble reverence, they can +doe more then the Senate of Heaven. My <i>modus loquendi</i> +pardoned: I intirely wish much welfare and +more wisdom to that Plantation.</p> + +<p>It is greatly to be lamented, to observe the wanton +fearlessnesse of this Age, especially of younger professors, +to greet new opinions and Opinionists: as if +former truths were grown superannuate, and saplesse, +if not altogether antiquate. <i>Non senescet veritas.</i> No +man ever saw a gray haire on the head or beard of any +Truth, wrinckle, or morphew on its face: The bed +of Truth is green all the yeare long. Hee that cannot +solace himselfe with any saving truth, as affectionately +as at the first acquaintance with it, hath not only +a fastidious, but an adulterous heart.</p> + +<p>If all be true we heare, Never was any People under +the Sun, so sick of new Opinions as <i>English-men</i> +nor of new fashions as <i>English-women</i>: If God helpe +not the one, and the devill leave not helping the other, +a blind man may easily foresee what will become +of both. I have spoken what I intend for the present +to men; I shall speak a word to the women anon: +in the mean time I intreat them to prepare patience.</p> + +<p>Ninthly, that godly humble Christians ought not +to wonder impatiently at the wonderfull workes of +God in these times: it is full Season for him to work +Soveraign worke, to vindicate his Soveraignty, that +men may feare before him. States are unstated, Rulers +growne Over-rulers, Subjects worse then men, +Churches decayed. Tofts, Professors, empty casks +filled with unholy humours; I speake not of all, but<!-- Page 31 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> +too many; I condemne not the generation of the just: +God hath his remnant, whom he will carefully preserve. +If it bee time for men to take up Defensive +Armes against such as are called Gods, upon the point +of <i>Salus populi</i>, it is high time for him that is God +indeed, to draw his Sword against wormes and no +men, upon the point of <i>Majestas imperii</i>: The piercing +of his Sword shall discover the thoughts of many +hearts.</p> + +<p>Lastly, I dare averre, that it ill becomes Christians +any thing well-shod with the preparation of the Gospel, +to meditate flight from their deare Countrey upon +these disturbances. Stand your ground ye <i>Eleazars</i> +and <i>Shammahs</i>, stir not a foot so long as you have +halfe a foot of ground to stand upon: after one or +two such Worthies, a great Victory may be regained, +and flying <i>Israel</i> may returne to a rich spoile. +<i>Englishmen</i>, be advised to love <i>England</i>, with your +hearts and to preserve it by your Prayers. I am bold +to say that since the pure Primitive time, the Gospel +never thrived so well in any soile on earth, as in the +<i>British</i>; nor is the like goodnesse of nature, or Cornucopian +plenty else-where to be found: if ye lose +that Country, and finde a better before ye come to +Heaven, my Cosmography fades me. I am farre +from discouraging any, whom necessity of Conscience +or condition thrusts out by head and shoulders: +if God calls any into a Wildernesse, Hee will be no +wildernesse to them, <i>Jer. 2. 31.</i> witnesse his large beneficence +to us here beyond expectation.<!-- Page 32 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span></p> + +<p>Ye say, why come not we over to help the Lord +against the Mighty, in these Sacred battailes?</p> + +<p>I answer, many here are diligently observing the +counsell of the same Prophet, 22. 10. <i>Weepe not for +him that is dead, neither bemoan him; but weep for +him that is gone away and shall returne no more to +see his Native Country.</i> Divers make it an Article +of our <i>American</i> Creed, which a celebrate Divine of +<i>England</i> hath observed upon <i>Heb. 11. 9.</i> That no +man ought to forsake his owne countrey, but upon extraordinary +cause, and when that cause ceaseth, he is +bound in conscience to returne if he can: We are looking +to him who hath our hopes and seasons in his +onely wise hand.</p> + +<p>In the mean time we desire to bow our knees before +the Throne of Grace day and night, that the Lord +would be pleased in his tender mercy to still the sad +unquietnesse and per-peracute contentions, of that +most comfortable and renowned island, that at length +He may have praise in his Churches, and his Churches +peace in him, through Jesus Christ.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Should I not keepe promise in speaking a little +to Womens fashions, they would take it unkindly: +I was loath to pester better matter with such +stuffe; I rather thought it meet to let them stand by +themselves, like the <i>Quæ Genus</i> in the Grammar, +being Deficients, or Redundants, not to be brought +under any Rule: I shall therefore make bold for this +once, to borrow a little of their loose tongued Liberty, +and mispend a word or two upon their long-wast<!-- Page 33 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span>ed, +but short-skirted patience: a little use of my +stirrup will doe no harme.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>Ridentem dicere verum, quid prohibet?</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>Gray Gravity it selfe can well beteam,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>That Language be adapted to the Theme.</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>He that to Parrots speaks, must parrotize:</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>He that instructs a foole, may act th' unwise.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>It is known more then enough, that I am neither +Nigard, nor Cinick, to the due bravery of the true +Gentry: if any man mislikes a bully mong drossock +more then I, let him take her for his labour: I honour +the woman that can honour her selfe with her attire: +a good Text alwayes deserves a fair Margent: I am +not much offended if I see a trimme, far trimmer than +she that wears it: in a word, whatever Christianity or +Civility will allow, I can afford with <i>London</i> measure: +but when I heare a nugiperous Gentledame inquire +what dresse the Queen is in this week: what the +nudiustertian fashion of the Court; I meane the very +newest: with egge to be in it in all haste, what ever +it be; I look at her as the very gizzard of a trifle, the +product of a quarter of a cypher, the epitome of nothing, +fitter to be kickt, if shee were of a kickable substance, +than either honour'd or humour'd.</p> + +<p>To speak moderately, I truly confesse, it is beyond +the ken of my understanding to conceive, how +those women should have any true grace, or valuable +vertue, that have so little wit, as to disfigure +themselves with such exotick garbes, as not only dismantles +their native lovely lustre, but transclouts<!-- Page 34 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> +them into gant bar-geese, ill-shapen-shotten-shell-fish, +Egyptian Hyeroglyphicks, or at the best into French +flurts of the pastery, which a proper English woman +should scorne with her heels: it is no marvell they +weare drailes on the hinder part of their heads, having +nothing as it seems in the fore-part, but a few +Squirrils brains to help them frisk from ill-favor'd +fashion to another.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>These whimm' Crown'd shees, these fashion-fansying wits,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Are empty thin brain'd shells, and fiddling Kits.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The very troublers and impoverishers of mankind, +I can hardly forbear to commend to the world a saying +of a Lady living sometime with the Queen of +<i>Bohemia</i>, I know not where shee found it, but it is +pitty it should be lost.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>The World is full of care, much like unto a bubble;</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Women and care, and care and women, and women and care and trouble.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The Verses are even enough for such odde pegma's. +I can make my selfe sicke at any time, with +comparing the dazling splender wherewith our Gentlewomen +were embellished in some former habits, +with the gut-foundred goosdom, wherewith they are +now surcingled and debauched. Wee have about five +or six of them in our Colony: if I see any of them +accidentally, I cannot cleanse my phansie of them for +a moneth after. I have been a solitary widdower almost +twelve yeares, purposed lately to make a step +over to my Native Country for a yoke-fellow: but<!-- Page 35 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> +when I consider how women there have tripe-wifed +themselves with their cladments, I have no heart to +the voyage, least their nauseous shapes and the Sea, +should work too sorely upon my stomach. I speak sadly; +me thinkes it should breake the hearts of English-men +to see so many goodly English-women imprisoned +in French Cages, peering out of their hood-holes +for some men of mercy to help them with a little +wit, and no body relieves them.</p> + +<p>It is a more common then convenient saying, that +nine Taylors make a man: it were well if nineteene +could make a woman to her minde: if Taylors were +men indeed, well furnished but with meer morall +principles, they would disdain to be led about like +Apes, by such mymick Marmosets. It is a most unworthy +thing, for men that have bones in them, to +spend their lives in making fidle-cases for futilous +womens phansies; which are the very pettitoes of infirmity, +the gyblets of perquisquilian toyes. I am so +charitable to think, that most of that mystery would +worke the cheerfuller while they live, if they might +bee well discharged of the tyring slavery of mis-tyring +women: it is no little labour to be continually putting +up English-women into Out-landish caskes: who +if they be not shifted anew, once in a few moneths, +grow too sowre for their Husbands. What this Trade +will answer for themselves when God shall take measure +of Taylors consciences is beyond my skill to +imagine. There was a time when</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>The joyning of the Red-Rose with the White,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Did set our State into a Damask plight.</i><br /></span> +<!-- Page 36 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span></div></div> + +<p>But now our Roses are turned to <i>Flore de lices</i>, +our Carnations to Tulips, our Gilliflowers to Dayzes, +our City-Dames, to an indenominable Quæmalry of +overturcas'd things. Hee that makes Coates for the +Moone, had need take measure every noone; and he +that makes for women, as often, to keepe them from +Lunacy.</p> + +<p>I have often heard divers Ladies vent loud feminine +complaints of the wearisome varieties and chargable +changes of fashions: I marvell themselves preferre +not a Bill of redresse. I would<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> <i>Essex</i> Ladies +would lead the <i>Chore</i>, for the honour of their County +and persons; or rather the thrice honourable Ladies +of the Court, whom it best beseemes: who may wel +presume of a <i>Le Roy le veult</i> from our sober King, a +<i>Les Seigneurs ont Assentus</i> from our prudent Peers, +and the like <i>Assentus</i> from our considerate, I dare not +say wife-worne Commons: who I beleeve had much +rather passe one such Bill, than pay so many Taylors +Bills as they are forced to doe.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> All the Counties and shires of England have had wars in them +since the Conquest, but Essex, which is onely free, and should be +thankfull.</p></div> + +<p>Most deare and unparallel'd Ladies, be pleased to +attempt it: as you have the precellency of the women +of the world for beauty and feature; so assume the +honour to give, and not take Law from any, in matter +of attire: if ye can transact so faire a motion among +yourselves unanimously, I dare say, they that most +renite, will least repent. What greater honour can<!-- Page 37 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> +your Honors desire, then to build a Promontory president +to all foraigne Ladies, to deserve so eminently at +the hands of all the English Gentry present and to +come: and to confute the opinion of all the wise men +in the world; who never thought it possible for women +to doe so good a work?</p> + +<p>If any man think I have spoken rather merrily +than seriously he is much mistaken, I have written +what I write with all the indignation I can, and no +more then I ought. I confesse I veer'd my tongue to +this kinde of Language <i>de industria</i> though unwillingly, +supposing those I speak to are uncapable of +grave and rationall arguments.</p> + +<p>I desire all Ladies and Gentlewomen to understand +that all this while I intend not such as through necessary +modesty to avoyd morose singularity, follow +fashions slowly, a flight shot or two off, shewing by +their moderation, that they rather draw countermont +with their hearts, then put on by their examples.</p> + +<p>I point my pen only against the light-heel'd beagles +that lead the chase so fast, that they run all civility +out of breath, against these Ape-headed pullets, +which invent Antique foole-fangles, meerly for fashion +and novelty sake.</p> + +<p>In a word, if I begin once to declaime against fashions, +let men and women look well about them, there +is somewhat in the businesse; I confesse to the world, +I never had grace enough to be strict in that kinde; +and of late years, I have found syrrope of pride very +wholesome in a due <i>Dos</i>, which makes mee keep such +store of that drugge by me, that if any body comes<!-- Page 38 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> +to me for a question-full or two about fashions, they +never complain of me for giving them hard measure, +or under-weight.</p> + +<p>But I addresse my self to those who can both hear +and mend all if they please: I seriously feare, if the +pious Parliament doe not finde a time to state fashions, +as ancient Parliaments have done in some part, +God will hardly finde a time to state Religion or +Peace: They are the surquedryes of pride, the wantonnesse +of idlenesse, provoking sins, the certain prodromies +of assured judgement, <i>Zeph. 1. 7, 8</i>.</p> + +<p>It is beyond all account, how many Gentlemens +and Citizens estates are deplumed by their feather-headed +wives, what usefull supplies the pannage of +<i>England</i> would afford other Countries, what rich returnes +to it selfe, if it were not slic'd out into male +and female fripperies: and what a multitude of misimploy'd +hands, might be better improv'd in some more +manly Manufactures for the publique weale: it is not +easily credible, what may be said of the preterpluralities +of Taylors in <i>London</i>: I have heard an honest +man say, that not long since there were numbered between +<i>Temple-barre</i> and <i>Charing-Crosse</i>, eight thousand +of that Trade: let it be conjectured by that +proportion how many there are in and about <i>London</i>, +and in all <i>England</i>, they will appeare to be very +numerous. If the Parliament would please to mend +women, which their Husbands dare not doe, there +need not so many men to make and mend as there +are. I hope the present dolefull estate of the Realme, +will perswade more strongly to some considerate +course herein, than I now can.<!-- Page 39 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span></p> + +<p>Knew I how to bring it in, I would speak a word +to long haire, whereof I will say no more but this: +if God proves not such a Barbor to it as he threatens, +unlesse it be amended, <i>Esa. 7. 20.</i> before the Peace of +the State and Church be well setled, then let my +prophesie be scorned, as a sound minde scornes the +ryot of that sin, and more it needs not. If those who +are tearmed Rattle-heads and Impuritans, would take +up a Resolution to begin in moderation of haire, to +the just reproach of those that are called Puritans and +Round-heads, I would honour their manlinesse, as +much as the others godlinesse, so long as I knew what +man or honour meant: if neither can find a Barbours +shop, let them turne in, to <i>Psal. 68. 21.</i> <i>Jer. 7. 29.</i> +<i>1 Cor. 11. 14.</i> if it be thought no wisdome in men +to distinguish themselves in the field by the Scissers, +let it bee thought no injustice in God, not to distinguish +them by the Sword. I had rather God should +know me by my sobriety, than mine enemy not know +me by my vanity. He is ill kept, that is kept by his +owne sin. A short promise is a farre safer guard than a +long lock: it is an ill distinction which God is loth to +looke at, and his Angels cannot know his Saints by. +Though it be not the mark of the Beast, yet it may be +the mark of a beast prepared to slaughter. I am sure +men use not to weare such manes; I am also sure +Souldiers use to weare other marklets or notadoes in +time of battell.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Having done with the upper part of my work, I +would now with all humble willingnesse set on<!-- Page 40 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> +the best peece of Soule-leather I have, did I not feare +I should break my All, which though it may be a +right old English blade, yet it is but little and weake. +I should esteeme it the best piece of workmanship my +Cobling hand every wrought, if it would please Him +whose worke it is, to direct me to speake such a word +over the sea, as the good old woman of <i>Abel</i> did over +the wall, in the like exigent: but alas, I am but simple. +What if I be?</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>When States dishelv'd are, and Lawes untwist,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Wise men keep their tongues, fools speak what they list.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>I would not be so unwise as to grieve the wise, if +I were wise enough to foresee it: I would speake +nothing to the Cause or Continuance of these wearisome +Warres hitherto; the one is enough debated, the +other more than enough peracted. Nor would I declaime +of the uncomlinesse, unbrotherlinesse, unseasonablenesse +and unreasonablenesse of these direfull +digladiations: every stroak strucke sounds too loud +upon this harsh string. I would much rather speake +perswasives to a comely brotherly seasonable and +reasonable cessation of Armes on both sides, by a +drawn battaile: Wherein if I shall adventure a few +over-bold words, I intreat my ignorance, impartiality, +and Loyalty may plead pardon for me.</p> + +<p>Foure meanes there are, and no more, within the +compasse of my consideration, conducing to what is +desired. Either to get the Standard fixed in heaven +by the Lord of Hosts taken downe, I meane by Re<!-- Page 41 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span>formation: +Or to set up white colours instead of red, +on one side or other, I meane by Composition: Or +by furling up all the Ensignes on both sides, I meane +by mutuall and generall Cessation: Or by still displaying +all the Colours and Cornets of every batallion, +I mean by prosecution: without Reformation +there will hardly be any Composition; without Composition +little hope of Cessation; without Cessation +there must and will be Prosecution; which God forbid.</p> + + +<h3><i>Reformation.</i></h3> + +<p>When the Roman Standard was defixed with +such difficulty at the battell between <i>Hanniball</i> +and <i>Flaminius</i> at <i>Thrasimene</i>, it proved an ill +Omen. <i>When God gives quietnesse, who can make +trouble; when he hideth his face, who can behold him?</i> +Whether it be against a nation or a man onely. +<i>That the Hypocrite reigne not, lest the people be insnared,</i> +<i>Job 34. 29, 30</i>. How can the sword of the +Lord put it selfe up into its scabbard and be quiet, +when himself hath given it a charge to the contrary? +<i>Jer. 47. 6, 7</i>. It was a Cardinall Truth which Cardinall +<i>Poole</i> spake to H. 8. <i>Penes Reges est inferre bellum, +penes autem Deum terminare.</i> If Kings will make +their beginnings, God will make his ends: much more +when himselfe begins: <i>When I begin I will also +make an end</i>, <i>1 Sam. 3. 12</i>. Farre better were it, for +men to make an end with him in time, than put him +to make such an end with them as he there intends.</p> + +<p>Politicall Reformation he seemes to call for now +<i>indigitanter</i>. When he beholds Christian Kingdomes<!-- Page 42 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> +and States unsound in their foundations, illineall in +their superstructures, unjust in their administrations; +he kicks them in peeces with the foot of his Indignation: +But when Religious Statesmen frame and build +by the levell and plummet of his wisdome, then people +may say as his servants of old, <i>Looke upon Zion +the City of our Solemnities; Your eyes shall see it a +quiet habitation, a Tabernacle that shall not be taken +down; not one of the stakes thereof shall be removed, +neither shall any of the coards thereof bee broken</i>; +<i>Isa. 33. 20.</i> neither by civill Commotions nor foraign +Invasions. When the coards of a State are exquisitely +tight, and the stakes firmely pitched; such a Tent +though but a Tent shall not easily flutter or fall: +But <i>if the Tacklings be so loose, that the maine Mast +cannot stand steady, nor the Saile be well spread; +then may the lame take and divide a great prey</i>, ver. +23. If Religion, Laws, Liberties, Affections, Conversations, +and foraigne Federacies be slight; the strength +of strong men shall be weaknesse, and the weaknesse +of the weak victorious.</p> + +<p><i>Pura politeja ne unum admittit solæcismulum, neque +valet, præscriptio in politicis aut moralibus.</i> It may +maintain a bright conjecture, against a rusty Truth: a +legible possession, against an obliterate Claime: an +inconvenience, against a convenience; where no cleare +remedy may be had: but never any thing that is formally +sinfull, or materially mischievous. When rotten +States are soundly mended from head to foot, +proportions duly admeasured, Justice justly dispenced; +then shall Rulers and Subjects have peace with God<!-- Page 43 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> +and themselves: but till then, the gayest Kingdomes +shall be but ruffling scuffling, removing and commoving +hovells. For <i>England</i>, however the upper Stories +are shroadly shattered; yet the foundations and +frame being good or mendable by the Architectors +now at worke, there is good hope, when peace is setled, +people shall dwell more wind-tight and water-tight +than formerly. I earnestly wish our Mr. Builders +to remember, that punctuality in Divinity and +Politie, is but regularity; that what is amisse in the +mould, will misfashion the prosult: and that if this +market be slipt, things may grow as deare as ever +they were. Most expert Gentlemen, bee intreated at +length to set our Head right on our shoulders, that we +may once look upwards and goe forwards like proper +Englishmen.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>God will also have Ecclesiasticall Reformation now, +or nothing: And here he stands not upon Kings, +Parliaments or Assemblies, but upon his own Termes. +I feare hee will have all drosse and base metalls +throughly melted away by these combustions, before +Hee quenches them; all his Ordinances and vessells +cast into his owne fashion, in his own mould, to his +own <i>amussim</i>, before he restores peace. There was +not a stone left upon a stone of the old Temple, before +the new was erected. If this first worke bee +throughly and throughoutly dispatched as I hope it is, +the great <i>Remora</i> is removed. If the Parliament and +Assembly be pleased to be as curious and industrious +as I have seen a great Popish Bishop in execcrating<!-- Page 44 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> +a Protestant Parish Church one day, and consecrating +it the next; they may adjourn awhile with leave +enough.</p> + +<p>Some ten or twelve years before these Wars there +came to my view these two Predictions.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">1. <i>When God shall purge this Land with soap and nitre,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Woe be to the Crowne, woe be to the Mitre.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p> +The accent of the blow shall fall there.<br /> +</p> + +<p>He that pities not the Crowne, pities not his owne +soule. Hee that pities not those that wore the Mitre, +more than they pitied themselves, or the Churches +over which they insulted, or the State then corrupted +and now Corruined by their pride and negligence, +is to blame.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">2. <i>There is a set of Bishops comming next behind,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Will ride the devill off his legs, and break his wind.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Poore men! they might have kept his backe till this +time for ought I know, had they not put him beyond +his pace: but Schollers must gallop, though they +tumble for it. Yet I commend them for this, they +gave him such straynes as made him blow short ever +since. I doubt the Assembly troubles him; and I +doubt he troubles them. Well, the Bishops are gone: +If they have carried away with them all that was in +the pockets of their Holliday hose, fare them well; +let them come againe when I give them a new <i>Conge +d' slier</i>, or send a Pursuivant for them; which if I +doe, I shall never trust myselfe more, though they<!-- Page 45 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> +have often done it for me, who never deserved that +honour. Some of them I confesse were very honest +men, and would have been honester if they dared for +their fellows.</p> + +<p>The sad worke now, is to institute better things in +their Roome, and to induct better men in their roome; +rather where, and how to finde those things, they having +cunningy laid them so farre out of the way; I +doubt some good men cannot see them, when they +look full upon them: it is like, the Bishops carryed +away their eyes with them, but I feare they left their +Spectacles behind them. I use no spectacles, yet my +eyes are not fine enough, nor my hand steady enough +to cut by such fine threads as are now spun. I am I +know not what; I cannot tell what to make of my +selfe, nor I think no body else: My Trade is to finde +more faults than others will mend; and I am very +diligent at it; yet it scarce findes me a living, though +the Country findes me more worke than I can turne +my hand to.</p> + +<p>For Church work, I am neither Presbyterian, nor +plebsbyterian, but an Interpendent: My task is to sit +and study how shapeable the Independent way will +be to the body of <i>England</i>, then my head akes on +one side; and how suitable the Presbyterian way, as +we heare it propounded, will bee to the minde of Christ, +then my head akes on the other side: but when I consider +how the Parliament will commoderate a way +out of both, then my head leaves aking: I am not, +without some contrivalls in my patching braines; but +I had rather suppose them to powder, than expose<!-- Page 46 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> +them to preregular, much lesse to preter-regular Judgements: +I shall therefore rejoyce that the work is faln +into so good hands, heads, and hearts, who will weigh +Rules by Troyweight, and not by the old Haber-du-pois: +and rather then meddle where I have so little +skill, I will sit by and tell my feares to them that have +the patience to heare them, and leave the red-hot +question to them that dare handle it.</p> + +<p>I fear many holy men have not so deeply humbled +themselves for their former mis-worshippings of God +as he will have them before he reveales his secrets to +them: as they accounted things indifferent, so they +account indifferent repentance will serve turne. <i>Son +of man, if my people be ashamed of all that they have +done, then shew them the forme of the house, and the +fashion thereof</i>, else not, <i>Ezek. 43. 11</i>. A sin in Gods +worship, that seemes small in the common beame of +the world, may be very great in the scales of his Sanctuary. +Where God is very jealous, his servants should +be very cautelous.</p> + +<p>I feare, the furnace wherein our new formes are casting, +is over-heat, and casts smoake in the eyes of our +founders, that they cannot well see what they doe, or +ought to doe; <i>Omne perit judicium cum res transit +in affectum.</i> Truth and peace are the <i>Castor</i> and <i>Pollux</i> +of the Gospell: they that seek the one without +the other, are like to finde neither: Anger will hinder +domestick Prayers, much more Ecclesiastique Councels. +What is produced by tumult, is either deficient +or redundant. When the judgements of good men +concurre with a harmonious Diapason, the result is me<!-- Page 47 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span>lodious +and commodious. Warring and jarring men +are no builders of houses for God, though otherwise +very good. Instruments may be well made and well +strung, but if they be not well fretted, the Musique +is marred. The great Turke hearing Musitians so +long a tuning, he thought it stood not with his state +to wait for what would follow. When Christ whips +Market-makers out of his Temple, he raises dust: but +when he enters in with Truth and Holinesse, he calls +for deep silence, <i>Hab. 2. 20</i>. There must not a toole +be heard when the Tabernacle is reared: Nor is that +amiable or serviceable to men that passeth through so +many ill animadversions of Auditors and Spectators. +If the Assembly can hardly agree what to determine, +people will not easily agree what to accept.</p> + +<p>I fear, these differences and delayes have occasioned +men to make more new discoveries then otherwise +they would. If publique Assemblies of Divines cannot +agree upon a right way, private Conventicles of +illiterate men, will soon find a wrong. Bivious demurres +breed devious resolutions. Passengers to heaven +are in haste, and will walk one way or other. He +that doubts of his way, thinkes hee loses his day: and +when men are gone awhile, they will be loth to turn +back. If God hide his path, Satan is at hand to turn +Convoy: If any have a minde to ride poste, he will +helpe them with a fresh spavin'd Opinion at every +Stage.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>Where clocks will stand, and Dials have no light,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>There men must goe by guesse, be't wrong or right.</i><br /></span> +<!-- Page 48 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span></div></div> + +<p>I feare, if the Assembly of all Divines, doe not consent, +and concenter the sooner, God will breath a spirit +of wisedome and meeknesse, into the Parliament of +no Divines, to whom the Imperative and Coactive +power supremely belongs, to consult such a contemperate +way, as shall best please him, and profit his +Churches, so that it shall be written upon the doore +of the Assembly; <i>The Lord was not there.</i></p> + +<p>I feare, the importunity of some impatient, and subtlety +of some malevolent mindes, will put both Parliament +and Assembly upon some preproperations, +that will not be safe in Ecclesiasticall Constitutions. +To procrastinate in matters clear, as I said even now, +may be dangerous; so, not to deliberate in dubious +cases, will be as perilous. We here, though I think +under favour, wee have some as able Steersmen as +<i>England</i> affords, have been driven to tack about +again to some other points of Christs Compasse, and +to make better observations before we hoyse up sayles. +It will be found great wisdome in disputable cases, not +to walk on by twylight, but very cautelously; rather +by probationers for a time, then peremptory positives: +Reelings and wheelings in Church acts, are both difficult +and disadvantageous. It is rather Christian +modesty than shame, in the dawning of Reformation, +to be very perpensive. Christs mind is, that Evangelicall +policies, should be framed by Angelicall measures; +not by a line of flaxe, but by a golden Reed, +<i>Rev. 21. 15</i>.</p> + +<p>I feare, he that sayes, the Presbyterian and Independent +way, if rightly carryed, doe not meet in one,<!-- Page 49 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> +he doth not handle his Compasses so considerately as +he should.</p> + +<p>I feare, if Authority doth not establish a sutable +and peaceable Government of Churches the sooner, +the bells in all the steeples will ring awke so long, +that they will hardly be brought into tune any more.</p> + +<p>My last, but not least feare, is, That God will hardly +replant his Gospel in any part of Christendome, in +so faire an Edition as is expected, till the whole field +hath been so ploughed and harrowed, that the soile +be throughly cleansed and fitted for new seed: Or +whether he will not transplant it into some other Regions, +I know not: This feare I have feared these 20 +years, but upon what grounds I had rather bury than +broach.</p> + +<p>I dare not but adde to what preceded about Church-Reformation, +a most humble petition, that the Authority +of the Ministry be kept in its due altitude: +if it be dropp'd in the dust, it will soon bee stifled: +Encroachments on both sides, have bred detriments +enough to the whole. The Separatists are content +their teaching Elders should sit highest on the Bench, +so they may sit in the Chaire over-against them; and +that their ruling Elders shall ride on the saddle, so +they may hold the bridle. That they may likewise +have seasonable and honorable maintenance, and that +certainly stated: which generally we find and practise +here as the best way. When Elders live upon +peoples good wills, people care little for their ill +wills, be they never so just: Voluntary contributions +or non-tributions of Members, put Ministers upon<!-- Page 50 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> +many temptations in administrations of their Offices: +two houres care does more dis-spirit an ingenuous +man than two dayes study: nor can an Elder be given +to hospitality, when he knowes not what will be +given him to defray it: it is pity men of gifts should +live upon men's gifts. I have seen most of the Reformed +Churches in Europ, and seene more misery +in these two respects, then it is meet others should +hear: the complaints of painfull <i>Pareus</i>, <i>David Pareus</i>, +to my selfe, with tears, concerning the Germane +Churches, are not to be related.</p> + +<p>There is yet a personall Reformation, as requisite as +the Politicall. When States are so reformed, that +they conforme such as are profligate, into good civility: +civill men, into religious morality: When Churches +are so constituted, that Faith is ordained Pastor, +Truth Teacher, Holinesse and Righteousnesse ruling +Elders: Wisedome and Charity Deacons: Knowledge, +love, hope, zeale, heavenly-mindednesse, meeknesse, +patience, watchfulnesse, humility, diligence, +sobriety, modesty, chastity, constancy, prudence, contentation, +innocency, sincerity, &c. admitted members +and all their opposites excluded: then there will +bee peace of Country and Conscience.</p> + +<p>Did the servants of Christ know what it is to live +in Reformed Churches with unreformed spirits, under +strict order with loose hearts, how formes of Religion +breed but formes of Godlinesse, how men by Church-discipline, +learne their Church-postures, and there +rest; they would pray as hard for purity of heart, +as purity of Ordinances. If we mocke God in these,<!-- Page 51 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> +He will mocke us; either with defeat of our hopes; +or which is worse: when we have what we so much +desire, we shall be so much the worse for it. It was +a well salted speech, uttered by an English Christian +of a Reformed Church in the Netherlands, Wee have +the good Orders here, but you have the good Christians +in <i>England</i>. Hee that prizes not Old <i>England</i> +Graces, as much as New <i>England</i> Ordinances, +had need goe to some other market before hee comes +hither. In a word, hee that is not Pastor, Teacher, +Ruler, Deacon and Brother to himselfe, and lookes +not at Christ above all, it matters not a farthing whether +he be Presbyterian or Independent: he may be a +zealot in bearing witnesse to which he likes best, and +yet an Iscariot to both, in the witnesse of his owne +Conscience.</p> + +<p>I have upon strict observation, seen so much power +of godlinesse, and spirituall mindednesse in English +Christians, living meerly upon Sermons and private +duties, hardly come by, when the Gospell was little +more than symptomaticall to the State; such Epidemicall +and lethall formality in other disciplinated +Churches, that I professe in the hearing of God, my +heart hath mourned, and mine eyes wept in secret, to +consider what will become of multitudes of my deare +Country-men, when they shall enjoy what they now +covet: Not that good Ordinances breed ill Consciences, +but ill Consciences grow stark nought under +good Ordinances; insomuch that might I wish an +hypocrite the most perilous place but Hell, I should +wish him a Membership in a strict Reformed Church:<!-- Page 52 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> +and might I wish a sincere Servant of God, the greatest +griefe earth can afford, I should wish him to live +with a pure heart, in a Church impurely Reformed; +yet through the improvement of Gods Spirit, that +griefe may sanctifie him for Gods service and presence, +as much as the meanes he would have, but +cannot.</p> + +<p>I speak this the rather to prevent, what in me lyes, +the imprudent romaging that is like to be in <i>England</i>, +from Villages to Townes, from Townes to Cities, for +Churches sake, to the undoing of Societies, Friendships, +Kindreds, Families, Heritages, Callings, yea, +the wise Providence of God in disposing mens habitations, +now in the very Infancy of Reformation: by +forgetting that a little leaven may season a large lump: +and it is much better to doe good than receive. It +were a most uncharitable and unserviceable part, for +good men to desert their own Congregations, where +many may glorifie God in the day of his Visitation, +for their presence and assistance. If a Christian would +picke out a way to thrive in grace, let him study to +administer grace to them that want: or to make sure +a blessing upon his Family; let him labour to multiply +the family of Christ, and beleeve, that he which +soweth liberally, shall reap abundantly; and hee that +spareth more than is need, from them that have more +need, shall surely come to poverty: yea, let me say, +that he who forsakes the meanes of grace for Christ +and his Churches sake, shall meet with a better bargaine, +namely, grace it selfe. It is a time now, when +full flocks should rather scatter to leane Churches,<!-- Page 53 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> +than gather from other places, to make themselves +fat; when able Christians should rather turne Jesuites +and Seminaries, than run into Covents and Frieries: +had this beene the course in the Primitive time, the +Gospel had been pinfolded up in a few Cities, and not +spread as it is.</p> + +<p>What more ungodly sacriledge or manstealing can +there be, then to purloin from godly Ministers the first +born of their fervent prayers and faithfull preachings, +the leven of their flocks, the incouragement of their +soules, the Crowne of their labours, their Epistle to +Heaven? I am glad to heare our <i>New-England</i> Elders +generally detest it <i>despuenter</i>, and looke at it as a +killing <i>Cordolium</i>: If men will needs gather Churches +out of the world (as they say) let them first plough +the world, sow it, and reap it with their own hands, +and the Lord give them a liberall Harvest. He is a +very hard man that will reap where he hath not sowed, +and gather where he hath not strowed, <i>Mat. 25. +24</i>.</p> + +<p>He that saith, it is or was our case, doth not rightly +understand himself or us, and he that takes his warrant +out of <i>Joh. 4. 37. 38.</i> is little acquainted with +Expositors. Wise men are amazed to hear that conscientious +Ministers dare spoile many Congregations +to make one for themselves.</p> + +<p>In matter of Reformation, this would be remembred, +that in premonitory judgements, God will take +good words, and sincere intents; but in peremptory, +nothing but reall performances.<!-- Page 54 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><i>Composition.</i></h3> + +<p>If Reformation were come thus neer, I should +hope Composition were not farre off: When +hearts meet in God, they will soon meet in Gods +wayes, and upon Gods termes. But to avoid prolixity, +which steales upon me; For Composition, I shall compose +halfe a dozen distichs concerning these kind of +Wars; wishing I could sing asleep these odious stirres +at least on some part, with a dull Ode. He is no Cobler +that cannot sing, nor no good Cobler that can sing well:</p> + +<table summary="Display of Juvenal quotation."> +<tr><td align="left"><i>Si natura negat, facit indignatio versum</i> <br /> +<i>Qualemcunque potest</i> —— Juvenal</td> +<td><span style="font-size:300%">}</span></td> +<td>They are these.</td></tr> +</table> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="linenum">1.</span> +<span class="i0"><i>They seldome lose the field, but often win,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>That end their wars, before their wars begin.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="linenum">2.</span> +<span class="i0"><i>Their Cause is oft the worst, that first begin,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>And they may lose the field, the field that win:</i><a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="linenum">3.</span> +<span class="i0"><i>In Civill warrs, 'twixt Subjects and their King,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>There is no conquest got, by conquering.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="linenum">4.</span> +<span class="i0"><i>Warre ill begun, the onely way to mend,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Is t' end the warre before the warre doe end.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="linenum">5.</span> +<span class="i0"><i>They that will end ill warrs, must have the skill,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>To make an end by Rule, and not by Will.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="linenum">6.</span> +<span class="i0"><i>In ending warrs 'tween Subjects and their Kings,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Great things are sav'd, by losing little things.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> <i>Victrix causa Diis placuit, sed victa</i> Catoni. Lucan.<!-- Page 55 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span></p></div> + +<p>Wee heare that <i>Majestas Imperii</i> hath challenged +<i>Salus Populi</i> into the field; the one fighting for Prerogatives, +the other defending Liberties: Were I a +Constable bigge enough, I would set one of them by +the heeles to keep both their hands quiet; I meane +onely in a paire of stocks, made of sound reason, +handsomely fitted for the legges of their Understanding.</p> + +<p>If <i>Salus Populi</i> began, surely it was not that <i>Salus +Populi</i> which I left in <i>England</i>: That <i>Salus +Populi</i> was as mannerly a <i>Salus Populi</i> as need bee: +if I bee not much deceived, that <i>Salus Populi</i> suffer'd +its nose to be held to the Grindstone, till it was almost +ground to the grisles; and yet grew never the sharper +for ought I could discerne; What was, before +the world was made, I leave to better Antiquaries then +myselfe; but I thinke, since the world began, it was +never storied that <i>Salus Populi</i> began with <i>Majestas +Imperii</i>, unlesse <i>Majestas Imperii</i> first unharbour'd it, +and hunted it to a stand, and then it must either turne +head and live, or turn taile and die: but more have +been storyed on the other hand than <i>Majestas Imperii</i> +is willing to heare: I doubt not but <i>Majestas Imperii</i> +knows, that Common-wealths cost as much the +making as Crownes; and if they bee well made, would +yet outsell an ill-fashioned Crown, in any Market +overt, even in <i>Smithfield</i>, if they could be well +vouched.</p> + +<p>But <i>Preces & Lachrymæ</i>, are the people's weapons: +so are Swords and Pistols, when God and Parliaments +bid them Arme. Prayers and Teares are<!-- Page 56 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> +good weapons for them that have nothing but knees +and eyes; but most men are made with teeth and +nailes; onely they must neither scratch for Liberties, +nor bite Prerogatives, till they have wept and +prayed as God would have them. If Subjects must +fight for their Kings against other Kingdomes, when +their Kings will; I know no reason, but they may +fight against their Kings for their own Kingdomes, +when Parliaments say they may and must: but Parliaments +must not say they must, till God sayes they +may.</p> + +<p>I can never beleeve that <i>Majestas Imperii</i>, was ever +so simple as to think, that if it extends it self beyond +its due Artique at one end, but <i>Salus Populi</i> must +Antartique it as farre at the other end, or else the +world will be Excentrick, and then it will whirle; +and if it once fall a whirling, ten to one, it will whirle +them off first, that sit in highest chaires on cushions +fill'd with Peacocks feathers; and they are like to +stand their ground fastest, that owne not one foot of +ground to stand upon. When Kings rise higher than +they should, they exhale Subjects higher than they +would: if the <i>Primum Mobile</i> should ascend one foot +higher than it is, it would hurry all the nether wheeles, +and the whole world on fire in 24 houres. No Prince +exceeds in Soveraignty, but his Subjects will exceed +as farre in some vitious Liberty, to abate their griefe; +or some pernicious mutiny, to abate their Prince.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>The crazy world will crack, in all the middle joynts.</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>If all the ends it hath, have not their parapoynts.</i><br /></span> +<!-- Page 57 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span></div></div> + +<p>Nor can I beleeve that Crownes trouble Kings +Heads, so much as Kings heads trouble Crownes: nor +that they are flowers of Crowns that trouble Crowns, +but rather some Nettles or Thistles mistaken for +flowers.</p> + +<p>To speake plainer English, I have wondred these +thirty yeares what Kings aile: I have seen in my time, +the best part of twenty Christian Kings and Princes; +Yet as Christian as they were, some or other were still +scuffling for Prerogatives. It must be granted at all +hands, that <i>Prærogativæ Regis</i> are necessary Supporters +of State: and stately things to stately Kings: +but if withall, they be <i>Derogativæ Regno</i>, they are +but little things to wise Kings. Equity is as due +to People, as Eminency to Princes: Liberty to Subjects, +as Royalty to Kings: If they cannot walk together +lovingly hand in hand, <i>pari passu</i>, they must +cut girdles and part as good friends as they may: Nor +must it be taken offensively, that when Kings are +haling up their top-gallants, Subjects lay hold on their +slablines; the head and body must move alike: it is +nothing meet for me to say with <i>Horace</i>,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>Ut tu fortunam, sic nos te Car'le feremus.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>But I hope I may safely say,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>The body beares the head, the head the Crown;</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>If both beare not alike, then one will down.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Distracting Nature, calls for distracting Remedies; +perturbing policies for disturbing cures: If one Ex<!-- Page 58 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span>treame +should not constitute its Anti-Extreame, all +things would soon be in <i>extremo</i>: if ambitious windes +get into Rulers Crownes, rebellious vapours will into +Subjects Caps, bee they stopt never so close: Yet the +tongues of Times tell us of ten Preter-royall Usurpations, +to one contra-civill Rebellion.</p> + +<p>Civill Liberties and Proprieties admeasured, to every +man to his true <i>suum</i>, are the <i>prima pura principia, +propria quarto modo</i>, the <i>sine quibus</i> of humane +States, without which, men are but women. Peoples +prostrations of these things when they may lawfully +helpe it, are prophane prostitutions; ignorant Ideottismes, +under naturall noddaries; and just it is that +such as undersell them, should not re-inherit them in +haste, though they seeke it carefully with teares. And +such usurpations by Rulers, are the unnaturalizings of +nature, disfranchisements of Freedome, the Neronian +nullifyings of Kingdomes: yea, I beleeve the Devill +himselfe would turne Round-head, rather then suffer +these Columnes of Common-wealths to be slighted: +as he is a creature, he feares decreation; as an Angell, +dehominations; as a Prince, dis-common-wealthings; +as finite, these pen-infinite insolencies, which are the +most finite Infinites of misery to men on this side the +worlds dissolution: therefore it is, that with Gods +leave, he hath sounded an alarm to all the <i>susque deques</i>, +pell-mels, one and alls, now harrassing sundry +parts of Christendome. It is enough for God to be Infinite, +too much for man to bee Indefinite. He that +will flye too high a quarry for Absolutenesse, shall +stoope as much too low before he remounts his proper<!-- Page 59 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> +pitch: If <i>Jacob</i> will over top his brother out of Gods +time and way, he will so hamstring him, that hee shall +make legs whether he will or no, at his brothers approach: +and such as over-run all humane measure, +shall seldome returne to humane mercy: There are +sins besides the sin against the Holy Ghost, which +shall not be expiated by sacrifice for temporall revenge: +I mean when they are boyled up to a full consistence +of contumacy and impenitency. Let absolute Demands +or Commands be put into one scale, and indefinite +refusalls into the other: all the Goldsmiths in <i>Cheapeside</i>, +cannot tell which weighs heaviest. Intolerable +griefes to Subjects, breed the <i>Iliaca passio</i> in a body +politick, which inforces that upwards which should +not. I speak these things to excuse, what I may, my +Countrymen in the hearts of all that look upon their +proceedings.</p> + +<p>There is a quadrobulary saying which passes current +in the Westerne World, That the Emperour is +King of Kings, the <i>Spaniard</i>, King of Men, the +<i>French</i>, King of Asses, the <i>King</i> of <i>England</i>, <i>King</i> +of Devills. By his leave that first brayed the speech, +they are pretty wise Devills and pretty honest; the +worse they doe, is to keep their Kings from devillizing, +and themselves from Assing: Were I a King (a simple +supposall) I would not part with one good English +Devill, for some two of the Emperours Kings, nor three +of the <i>Spaniards</i> Men, nor foure <i>French</i> Asses; If I +did I should thinke my selfe an Asse for my labour. +I know nothing that <i>Englishmen</i> want, but true +Grace, and honest pride; let them be well furnisht<!-- Page 60 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> +with those two, I feare they would make more Asses, +then <i>Spaine</i> can make men, or the Emperour Kings. +You will say I am now beyond my latchet; but you +would not say so, if you knew how high my latchet +will stretch; when I heare a lye with a latchet, that +reaches up to his throat that first forged it.</p> + +<p>He is a good King that undoes not his Subjects by +any one of his unlimited Prerogatives: and they are +a good People, that undoe not their Prince, by any +one of their unbounded Liberties, be they the very +least. I am sure either may, and I am sure neither +would be trusted, how good soever. Stories tell us +in effect, though not in termes, that over-risen Kings, +have been the next evills to the world, unto fallen Angels; +and that over-franchised people, are devills +with smooth snaffles in their mouthes. A King that +lives by Law, lives by love; and he that lives above +Law, shall live under hatred doe what he can. Slavery +and knavery goe as seldome asunder, as Tyranny +and Cruelty.</p> + +<p>I have a long while thought it very possible, in a +time of Peace, and in some Kings Reigne, for disert +Statesmen, to cut an exquisite thred between Kings +Prerogatives, and Subjects Liberties of all sorts, so as +<i>Cæsar</i> might have his due, and People their share, +without such sharpe disputes. Good Casuists would +case it, and case it, part it, and part it; now it, and +then it, punctually. <i>Aquinas</i>, <i>Suarez</i>, or <i>Valentia</i>, +would have done it long ere this, had they not beene +Popish, I might have said knavish; for, if they be so +any where, it is in their Tractates of Priviledges.<!-- Page 61 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> +Our Common Law doth well, but it must doe better before +things doe as they should. There are some <i>Maximes</i> +in Law, that would be taught to speake a little +more mannerly, or else well <i>Anti-Maxim'd</i>: we say, +the King can doe a Subject no wrong; why may wee +not say, the Parliament can doe the King no wrong? +We say, <i>Nullum tempus occurrit Regi</i> in taking +wrong; why may wee not say, <i>Nullum tempus succurrit +Regi</i> in doing wrong? which I doubt will +prove as good a Canon if well examined.</p> + +<p>Authority must have power to make and keep people +honest; People, honesty to obey Authority; both, +a joynt-Councell to keep both safe. Morall Lawes, +Royall Prerogatives, Popular Liberties, are not of +Mans making or giving, but Gods: Man is but to +measure them out by Gods Rule: which if mans wisdome +cannot reach, Mans experience must mend: +And these Essentialls, must not be Ephorized or Tribuned +by one or a few Mens discretion, but lineally +sanctioned by Supreame Councels. In <i>pro-re-nascent</i> +occurrences, which cannot be foreseen; Diets, Parliaments, +Senates, or accountable Commissions, must +have power to consult and execute against intersilient +dangers and flagitious crimes prohibited by the light +of Nature: Yet it were good if States would let People +know so much beforehand, by some safe woven +<i>manifesto</i>, that grosse Delinquents may tell no tales of +Anchors and Buoyes, nor palliate their presumptions +with pretence of ignorance. I know no difference in +these Essentialls, between Monarchies, Aristocracies, +or Democracies; the rule will be found par-rationall,<!-- Page 62 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> +say Schoolmen and Pretorians what they will. And +in all, the best Standard to measure Prerogatives, is +the Ploughstaffe; to measure Liberties, the Scepter: +if the tearms were a little altered into Loyall Prerogatives +and Royall Liberties, then we should be sure +to have Royall Kings and Loyall Subjects.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>Subjects their King, the King his Subjects greets,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Whilome the Scepter and the Plough-staffe meets.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>But Progenitors have had them for four and twenty +predecessions: that would be spoken in the Norman +tongue or Cimbrian, not in the English or Scottish: +When a Conquerour turnes Christian, Christianity +turns Conquerour: if they had had them time out +of minde of man, before <i>Adam</i> was made, it is not a +pin to the point in <i>foro rectæ rationis</i>: Justice and +Equity were before time, and will be after it: Time +hath neither Politicks nor Ethicks, good nor evill in +it; it is an empty thing, as empty as a <i>New-English</i> +purse, and emptier it cannot bee: a man may break +his neck in time, and in a lesse time then he can +heale it.</p> + +<p>But here is the deadly pang, it must now be taken +by force and dint of sword: I confesse it is a deadly +pang to a Spirit made all of flesh, but not to a mortified +heart: it is good to let God have his will as hee +please, when we have not reason to let him have it +as we should; remembring, that hitherto he hath +taken order, that ill Prerogatives gotten by the Sword, +should in time be fetcht home by the Dagger, if nothing +else will doe it: Yet I trust there is both day and<!-- Page 63 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> +means to intervent this bargaine. But if they should; +if God will make both King and Kingdome the better +by it, what should either lose? I am sure there +is no great cause for either to make great brags.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>Pax quo carior, eo charior.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>A peace well made, is likeliest then to hold,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>When 'tis both dearly bought and dearly sold.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>I confesse, he that parts with such pearles to be +paid in old iron, had need to be pityed more by his +faithfull friends, than he is like to be by his false +flatterers. My heart is surcharged, I can no longer +forbear.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><i>My Dearest Lord</i>, and my more than <i>dearest +King</i>, I most humbly beseech you upon mine +aged knees, that you would please to arme your minde +with patience of proofe, and to intrench your selfe as +deep as you can, in your wonted Royall meeknesse; +for I am resolved to display my unfurled soule in your +very face, and to storme you with volyes of Love and +Loyalty. You owe the meanest true Subject you +have, a close account of these open Warres: they are +no <i>Arcana imperii</i>. Then give mee leave to inquire +of your Majesty, what you make in fields of blood, +when you should be amidst your Parliament of peace: +What you doe sculking in the suburbs of Hell, when +your Royall Pallaces stand desolate, through your +absence? What moves you to take up Armes against +your faithfull Subjects, when your Armes should bee<!-- Page 64 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> +embracing your mournfull Queen? What incenses +your heart to make so many widdowes and Orphans, +and among the rest your owne? Doth it become you, +the King of the stateliest Island the world hath, to +forsake your Throne, and take up the Manufacture of +cutting your Subjects throats, for no other sin, but +for Deifying you so over-much, that you cannot be +quiet in your Spirit, till they have pluckt you downe +as over-low? Doe your three Kingdomes so trouble +you, that they must all three be set on fire at once, that +when you have done, you may probably runne away +by their light into utter darknesse? Doe your three +Crownes sit so heavy on your head, that you will +break the backs of the three bodies that set them on, +and helpt you beare them so honourably? Have your +three Lamb-like flocks so molested you, that you must +deliver them up to the ravening teeth of evening +Wolves? Are you so angry with those that never +gave you just cause to be angry, but by their too much +feare to anger you at all, when you gave them cause +enough? Are you so weary of Peace, that you will +never be weary of Warre? Are you so willing to +warre at home, who were so unwilling to warre abroad, +where and when you should? Are you so +weary of being a good King, that you will leave your +selfe never a good Subject? Have you peace of Conscience, +in inforcing many of your Subjects to fight +for you against their Conscience? Are you provided +with Answers at the great Tribunall, for the destruction +of so many thousands, whereof every man was +as good a man as your Self, <i>qua</i> man?<!-- Page 65 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span></p> + +<p>Is it not a most unworthy part for you to bee running +away from your Subjects in a day of battel, upon +whose Pikes you may come safe with your naked +breast and welcome? Is it honourable for you to be +flying on horses, from those that would esteeme it +their greatest honour, to beare you on their humble +shoulders to your Chaire of Estate, and set you down +upon a Cushion stuffed with their hearts? Is it your +prudence to be inraged with your best friends, for +adventuring their lives to rescue you from your worst +enemies? Were I a King, pardon the supposall, I +would hang that Subject by the head, that would not +take me by the heels, and dragge me to my Court, +when he sees me shifting for life in the ruined Countrey, +if nothing else would doe it; And I would +honour their very heels, that would take me by the +very head, and teach me, by all just meanes, to King +it better, when they saw me un-Kinging my selfe and +Kingdome: Doe you not know Sir, that, as when +your people are sicke of the Kings-evill, God hath +given you a gift to heale them? so when your selfe +are sicke of it, God hath given the Parliament a gift +to heale you: Hath your Subjects love been so great +to you, that you will spend it all, and leave your children +little or none? Are you so exasperated against +wise <i>Scotland</i>, that you will make <i>England</i> your foole +or foot-stoole? Is your fathers Sonne growne more +Orthodox, then his most Orthodox father, when he +told his Sonne, that a King was for a kingdome, and +not a kingdome for a King? parallell to that of the +Apostle; the husband is but by the wife, but the wife +of the husband.<!-- Page 66 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span></p> + +<p>Is <i>Majestas Imperii</i> growne so kickish, that it cannot +stand quiet with <i>Salus Populi</i>, unlesse it be fettered? +Are you well advised, in trampling your Subjects +so under your feet, that they can finde no place +to be safe in, but over your head: Are you so inexorably +offended with your Parliament, for suffering +you to returne as you did, when you came into their +house as you did, that you will be avenged on all +whom they represent? Will you follow your very +worst Councell so far, as to provoke your very best, +to take better counsell than ever they did? If your +Majesty be not Popish, as you professe, and I am +very willing to beleeve, why doe you put the Parliament +to resume the Sacrament of the Altar, or Consubstantions +in saying, the King and Parliament, +the King and Parliament? breaking your simple +Subjects braines to understand such mysticall Parleenment? +I question much, whether they were not better +speake plainer English, then such Latine as the +Angels can hardly construe, and God happily loves +not to perse; I can as well admit an ubiquitary King +as another, if a King be abroad in any good affaire; +but if a King be at home and will circumscribe himselfe +at <i>Oxford</i>, and proscribe or discribe his Parliament +at <i>Westminster</i>, if that <i>Parliament</i> will prescribe +what they ought, without such paradoxing, I +should think God would subscribe a <i>Le Dieu le +veult</i> readily enough.</p> + +<p>Is your <i>Advisera</i> such a <i>Suavamen</i> to you, that +hath been such a <i>Gravamen</i> to Religion and Peace? +Shall the chiefe bearing wombe of your Kingdome,<!-- Page 67 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> +be ever so constituted, that it cannot be delivered of +its owne deliverance, in what pangs soever it be, without +the will of one man-midwife, and such a man as +will come and not come, but as he list: nor bring a +Parliament to bed of a well-begotten Liberty without +an entire Subsidy? Doe not your Majesty being a +Schollar, know, that it was a truth long before it was +spoken, that <i>Mundus est unus aut nullus</i>, that there +is <i>Principum purum unum</i>, which unites the world +and all that is in it; where that is broken, things fall +asunder, that whatsoever is duable or triable, is fryable.</p> + +<p>Is the <i>Militia</i> of your Kingdome, such an orient +flower of your Crowne, which all good Herbalists +judge but a meere nettle, while it is in any one mans +hand living? May not you as well challenge the absolute +disposall of all the wealth of the Kingdome +as of all the strength of your Kingdome? Can you +put any difference? unlesse it bee this, that mens +hearts and bones are within their skins, more proper +and intrinsecall, their lands and cattell more externall: +dare you not <i>concredit</i> the <i>Militia</i>, with those to +whom you may betrust your heart, better then your +owne breast? Will they ever harme you with the +<i>Militia</i>, that have no manner of <i>malitia</i> against you, +but for mis-imploying the <i>Militia</i> against them by +the <i>malitia</i> of your ill Counsellours? What good +will the <i>Militia</i> doe you when you have wasted the +Realme of all the best <i>Milites</i> it hath? May not your +Majesty see through a paire of Spectacles, glazed +with inch-board; that while you have your <i>Advisera</i> +in one hand, and the <i>Militia</i> in the other, you have<!-- Page 68 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> +the neckes of your Subjects under your feet, but not +your heart in your owne hand? doe you not know +that <i>malum est, posse malum</i>?</p> + +<p>Hath Episcopacy beene such a religious Jewell in +your State, that you will sell all or most of your Coronets, +Caps of honour, and blue Garters, for six and +twenty cloth Caps? and your Barons Cloakes, for so +many Rockets, whereof usually twenty have had +scarce good manners enough to keepe the other six +sweet? Is no Bishop no King, such an oraculous +Truth, that you will pawne your Crowne and life upon +it? if you will, God may make it true indeed on +your part: Had you rather part with all, then lose a +few superfluous tumours, to pare off your monstrousnesse? +Will you be so covetous, as to get more then +you ought, by losing more then you need? Have you +not driven good Subjects enough abroad, but you will +also slaughter them that stay at home? Will you take +such an ill course, that no prayers can fasten that good +upon you we desier? Is there not some worse root +than all these growing in your Spirit, bringing forth +all this bitter fruit? against which you should take up +Arms, rather then against your harmlesse Subjects? +Doe you not foresee, into what importable head-tearings +and heart-searchings you will be ingulfed, when +the Parliament shall give you a mate, though but a +Stale? Methinkes it should breake your heart, to see +such a one as I, presume so much upon your clemency +and too much upon your Majesty, which your +Selfe have so eclipsed by the interposall of your Selfe +between your Selfe and your Selfe, that it hath not<!-- Page 69 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> +ray's enough left to dazle downe the height of my +affections to the awe of my Judgement.</p> + +<p>Tres-Royall Sir, I once againe beseech you, with +teares dropping from my hoary head, to cover your +Selfe as close as you may, with the best shield of +goodnesse you have: I have somewhat more to say, +which may happily trouble not your Selfe, but your +followers, more than what is already said. There lived +in your Realme and Reigne two whom I may well +tearme Prophets, both now in a better Kingdome; +whereof one foretold two things concerning your Majesty, +of these very proceedings, long before they began; +which being done and past shall bee buried in +silence: the other made this prediction about the +same time.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>King</i> Charles <i>will joyne Himselfe to bitter Griefe,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Then joyne to God, and prove a Godly Chiefe.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>His words were in prose these, King <i>Charles</i> will +come into fetters, meaning strong afflictions, and then +prove as good a King, as such a good King of <i>Israel</i>, +whom he then named, but I need not: he was as inwardly +acquainted with the minde of God, as fervent +and frequent a Beadsman for your welfare, and had +as religious Opticks of State, as any man I know: +foure other Predictions he made, full as improbable as +this, whereof three are punctually performed. A good +Christian being sometime in conflicts of Conscience, +hurried with long tentations, used this speech to my +selfe, I am now resolved to be quiet, for I plainly see, +God will save me whether I will or no: If your Ma<!-- Page 70 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span>jesty +would be pleased to thinke so in your heart, and +say so with your mouth, all the good Subjects you +have, would say, <i>Amen</i>, till the heavens rang, and I +hope you have few so bad, but would say, <i>So be it</i>.</p> + +<p>Much lamented Sir, If you will please to retire your +Selfe to your Closet, whither you may most safely +come, and make your peace with God, for the vast +heritage of sinne your Intombed father left upon your +score, the dreadful Imprecation he poured upon the +heads of his tender posterity in <i>Summersets</i> and <i>Overburyes</i> +Case, published in Starchamber by his Royall +command; your owne sinful marriage, the sophistocation +of Religion and Policie in your time, the luxury +your Court and Country, your connivance with the +Irish butcheries, your forgetfull breaches upon the +Parliament, your compliance with Popish Doegs, with +what else your Conscience shall suggest: and give +us, your guilty Subjects example to doe the like, +who have held pace and proportion with you in our +evill wayes: we will helpe you by Gods assistance, +to poure out rivers of tears, to wash away the streams +of blood, which have beene shed for these heavy accounts; +we will also helpe you, God helping us, to +beleeve, that there is hope in <i>Israel</i> for these things; +and Balme enough in his <i>Gilead</i> to heale all the broken +bones of your three kingdomes, and to redouble +your honour and our peace: His Arme is infinite; +to an infinite power all things are equally faisable, to +an infinite mercy, all sinnes equally pardonable. The +Lord worke these things in us and for us, for his compassions +sake in Jesus Christ.</p> + +<p>Sir, you may now please to discover your Selfe<!-- Page 71 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> +where you think meet; I trust I have not indangered +you: I presume your Ear-guard will keep farre enough +from you, what ever I have said: be it so, I have discharged +my duty, let them look to theirs. If my +tongue should reach your eares, which I little hope +for; Let it be once said; the great King of great <i>Britaine</i>, +tooke advise of a simple Cobler, yet such a Cobler, +as will not exchange either his blood or his pride, +with any Shoo-maker or Tanner in your Realme, nor +with any of your late Bishops which have flattered +you thus in peeces: I would not speake thus in the +eares of the world, through the month of the Presse +for all the plunder your plunderers have pillaged; +were it not somewhat to abate your Royall indignation +toward a loyall Subject; a Subject whose heart +hath been long carbonadoed, <i>des veniam verbo</i>, in +flames of affection towards you. Your Majesty knowes +or may know, time was, when I did, or would have +done you a better peece of service, than all your +Troopes and Regiments are now doing. Should I +heare any Gentleman that follows you, of my yeares, +say hee loves you better than I, if it were lawfull, I +would sweare by my Sword, he said more than his +sword would make good.</p> + +<p>Gracious Sir, Vouchsafe to pardon me my no other +sins, but my long Idolatry towards you, and my loving +you too hard in this speech, and I will pardon you +your Treason against me, even me, by committing +Treason against your Selfe my Lord and King;<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a> and<!-- Page 72 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> +your murther, in murthering me, even me, by murthering +my deare fellow Subjects, bone of my bone, +and flesh of my flesh, and of yours also. If you will +not pardon me, I will pardon my selfe, dwell in my +own clothes as long as I can, and happily make as +good a shift for my proportion, as he that hath a +lighter paire of heeles: And when you have done +what you please and what you can, I am resolved +to be</p> + +<p style="text-align:right"> +<i>As loyall a Subject to your Majesty when I<br /> +have never a head on my shoulders, as<br /> +you a Royall King to me, when you have<br /> +your three Crownes on your head,</i><br /> +</p> + +<p style="text-align:right"> +Theod: de la Guard.<br /> +</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> I speake in termes of Divinity not of Law and am deepely grieved +that I am forced to such necessary over boldnesse.</p></div> + +<p> +<i>Sir</i>,<br /> +</p> + +<p>I Cannot give you over thus; I most earnestly implore +you, that you would not deferre to consider +yourselfe throughly, you are now returned to the +brinke of your Honour and our Peace, stand not too +long there, your State is full of distractions, your people +of expectations, the importune Affaires of your +Kingdome perplexedly suspended, your good Subjects +are now rising into a resolution to pray you on to your +throne, or into your Tombe, into Grace with your Parliament +and People, or into Glory with the Saints in +Heaven; but how you will get into the one, without +passing first through th' other, is the riddle they cannot +untye. If they shall ply the Throne of Grace +hard, God will certainely heare, and in a short time<!-- Page 73 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> +mould you to his minde, and convince you, that it +had and will bee farre easier to sit downe meekely +upon the <i>Rectum</i>, than to wander resolutely in obliquities, +which with Kings, seldome faile to dissembogue +into bottomlesse Seas of sorrows.</p> + +<p>Dearest Sir, be intreated to doe what you doe sincerely; +the King of Heaven and Earth can search +and discover the hiddenest corner of your heart, your +Parliament understands you farre better then you may +conceive, they have many eares and eyes, and good +ones, I beleeve they are Religiously determined to +re-cement you to your Body so exquisitely, that the +Errors of State and Church, routed by these late stirs, +may not re-allee hereafter, nor Themselves be made +a curse to the issue of their own bodies, nor a Scoffe, +to all Politique Bodies in Europe. The Lord give +your Majesty and all your Royall Branches <i>the spirit +of wisedome and understanding</i>, <i>the Spirit of knowledge +and his feare</i>, for His mercy and Christ his sake.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>I Would my skill would serve me also, as well as +my heart, to translate Prince <i>Rupert</i>, for his +Queen-mothers sake, <i>Eliz.</i> a second. Mismeane me +not. I have had him in my armes when he was +younger, I wish I had him there now: if I mistake +not, he promised then to be a good Prince, but I doubt +he hath forgot it: if I thought he would not be angry +with me, I would pray hard to his Maker, to make +him a right Roundhead, a wise hearted Palatine, a +thankfull man to the English; to forgive all his sinnes, +and at length to save his soule, notwithstanding all<!-- Page 74 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> +his God-damne mee's: yet I may doe him wrong; I +am not certaine hee useth that oath; I wish no man +else would. I dare say the Devills dare not. I thank +God I have lived in a Colony of many thousand English +almost these twelve yeares, am held a very sociable +man; yet I may considerately say, I never heard +but one Oath sworne, nor never saw one man drunk, +nor ever heard of three women Adulteresses, in all +this time, that I can call to minde: If these sinnes +bee amongst us privily, the Lord heale us. I would +not bee understood to boast of our innocency; there +is no cause I should, our hearts may be bad enough, +and our lives much better. But to follow my businesse.</p> + +<p>Prosecutions of Warres betweene a King and his +Parliament, are the direfull dilacerations of the world, +the cruell Catastrophes of States, dreadfull to speake +of; they are <i>nefanda & n' agenda</i>: I know no +grounds can be given of them but two: Either upon +Reason founded upon some surmisall of Treason, +which my reason cannot reach: I could never conceive +why a rationall King should commit Treason +against a reasonable Parliament; or how a faithfull +Parliament against their lawfull King: the most I can +imagine, is a misprision of Treason, upon a misprision +of Reason. Hee that knows not the Spirit of his +King, is an Atheist. Our King is not <i>Charles le +simple</i> sometime of <i>France</i>: he understands not our +King that understands him not to bee understanding. +The Parliament is supposed Omniscient, because under +God they are Omnipotent: if a Parliament have<!-- Page 75 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> +not as much knowledge and all other vertues, as all +the Kingdome beside, they are no good Abridgement +of the Common-wealth. I beleeve Remonstrances +have demonstrated enough concerning this point of +Reason, to give satisfaction to such as satisfaction will +satisfie.</p> + + +<p>Or upon Will.</p> + +<p>The Will of a King is very numinous; it hath a +kinde of vast universality in it, it is many times greater +than the will of his whole kingdome, stiffened +with ill Counsell and ill Presidents: if it be not a foot +and half lesser than the Will of his Councell, and +three foot lesser than the Will of his Parliament, it is +too big. I think it were well for a King if hee had +no will at all, but were all Reason. What if he committed +his morall will to Divines, that were no Bishops? +his Politicall, to his Parliament, and a Councell +chosen by Parliament? that if ever it miscarry, they +may blame themselves most, and him least. I scarce +know any King that hath such advantage as ours; +his three kingdomes lye so distinct and entire, that if +he please, he might keep them like three gardens without +a weed, if he would let God keep his will, without +wilfulnesse and rashnesse.</p> + +<p>I have observed men to have two kindes of Wills, +a Free-hold will, such as men hold in <i>Capite</i> of themselves; +or a Copy-hold will, held at the will of other +Lords or Ladies. I have read almost all the Common +Law of <i>England</i>, and some Statutes; yet I never +read, that the Parliament held their will in such<!-- Page 76 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> +a <i>Capite</i>: their Tenure is <i>Knight-service</i>, and good +<i>Knight-service</i> too, or else they are to blame. And +I am sure, a King cannot hold by Copy, at the will of +other Lords; the Law calls that <i>base tenure</i>, inconsistent +with Royalty; much more base is it, to hold +at the will of Ladies: Apron-string <i>tenure</i> is very +weak, tyed but of a slipping knot, which a childe may +undoe, much more a King. It stands not with our +Queens honour to weare an Apron, much lesse her +Husband, in the strings; that were to insnare both +him and her self in many unsafeties. I never heard +our King was Effeminate: to be a little Uxorious personally, +is a vertuous vice in Oeconomicks; but Royally, +a vitious vertue in Politicks. To speak English, +Books and tongues tell us, I wish they tell us true, +that the Error of these Wars on our Kings part proceeds +only from ill Counsellours.</p> + +<p>Ill Counsellours are very ill Gamesters; if they see +their own stake a losing, they will play away King, +Queen, Bishops, Knights, Rooks, Pawnes, and all, +before they will turne up the board: they that play +for lusts, will play away themselves, and not leave +themselves so much as a heart to repent; and then +there is no Market left but Hell; if the case be thus, +it is to no end to look for any end, till one side make +an end of the other.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>They that at stake their Crownes and Honours set,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Play lasting games, if Lust or Guilt doe bet.</i><br /></span> +<!-- Page 77 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span></div></div> + + +<h3><i>Cessation.</i></h3> + +<p>If God would vouchsafe to give his Majesties Religion +and Reason, power to fling his Wills head +over the Wall, in matter of Composition, and his Subjects +strength to throw their lusts after it, Arms would +be soon laid down, and Peace soon taken up. They +that are not at peace with God, are not at peace with +themselves, whatever they think; and they that are +not at peace with themselves, cannot be at peace with +others, if occasion provokes, be their natures never so +good.</p> + +<p>So farre as I can conjecture, the chiefe impediment +to a generall and mutuall Cessation of Armes, is, a +despaire of mutuall and generall forgivenesse. If ever +<i>England</i> had need of a generall Jubile in Heaven +and Earth, it is now. Our King and Parliament have +been at great strife, who should obtaine most Justice: +if they would now strive, who should shew most +Mercy, it would heare well throughout the world. +Here also my speech must be twofold and blind-fold. +It is now nine Moneths and more since the last credible +News was acted: it is possible by this, the Parliament +may be at the Kings mercy: Did I say a +Kings mercy? what can I say more? no man on +earth, can shew more mercy then a King, nor shall +need more, when he comes to give an Account of his +Kingdome: Nor did ever any Parliament merit more +mercy than this, for they never sinned, that I know, +I meane against the Common and Statute Law of +<i>England</i>: it is pity they who have given so many +general pardons, should want one now. If our King<!-- Page 78 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> +hath lost his way, and thereby learned to looke to +his path better hereafter, and taught many Successors +to King it right for many Ages; Me thinks it +should impetrate a Royall Redintegration, upon a Royall +acknowledgement and ingagement. But how +should an erring King trust a provoked Parliament? +Surely he may trust God safe enough; who will never +trust that State more with a good King, that will +doe ill to a King that is turned so good. Me thinks +those passages of Scripture, <i>Esa. 43. 24, 25. chap. +57. 17, 18</i>. The strange illation, <i>Hos. 2. 13, 14.</i> +should melt a heart of steele into floods of mercy.</p> + +<p>For others, were my head, one of the heads which +first gave the King Counsell to take up these Armes, +or to persist in them, when at any time he would +have disbanded, I would give that head to the Kingdome, +whether they would or no; if they would not +cut it off, I would cut it off myselfe, and tender it at +the Parliament doore, upon condition that all other +heads might stand, which stand upon penitent hearts, +and will doe better on than off; then I would carry +it to <i>London-Bridge</i>, and charge my tongue to teach +all tongues, to pronounce Parliament right hereafter.</p> + +<p>When a kingdom is broken just in the neck joynt, +in my poore policy, ropes and hatchets are not the +kindliest instruments to set it: Next to the spilling +of the blood of Christ for sin, the sparing of the blood +of sinners, where it may be as well spared as spilt, is +the best way of expiation. It is no rare thing for +Subjects to follow a leading King; if he will take his +truncheon in his hand, it is to be expected many will<!-- Page 79 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> +put their swords in their Belts. Sins that rise out of +mistake of judgement, are not so sinfull as those of +malice ordinarily: and when multitudes sin, multitudes +of mercy are the best Anodines.</p> + +<p> +—<i>gratia gratis data, gratissima.</i><br /> +</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>Grace will dissolve, but rigour hardens guilt:</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Break not with Steely blowes, what oyle should melt.</i><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>In Breaches integrant, 'tween Principalls of States,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Due Justice may suppresse, but Love redintegrates.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Whosoever be pardoned, I pray not let <i>Britanicus</i> +scape, I mean a pardon. I take him to be a very +serviceable Gentleman; Out of my entire respect to +him, I shall presume to give him half a dozen stitches +of advice:</p> + +<p>I intreat him to consider that our King is not onely +a man, but a King in affliction; Kings afflictions are +beyond Subjects apprehensions; a Crown may happily +ake as much as a whole Common-wealth.</p> + +<p>I desire him also to conceale himself as deeply as +he can, if he cannot get a speciall pardon, to weare a +Latitat about his neck, or let him lie close under the +Philosophers stone, and I'le warrant him for ever +being found.</p> + +<p>If he be discovered, I counsell him to get his head +set on faster than our <i>New-England</i> Taylors use to +set on Buttons; Kings, and Kings Childrens memories +are as keen as their Subjects wits.</p> + +<p>If he fears any such thing, that he would come over +to us, to helpe recruite our bewildred brains: we will<!-- Page 80 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> +promise to maintain him so long as he lives, if he +will promise to live no longer then we maintain him.</p> + +<p>If he should bee discovered and his head chance +to be cut off against his will, I earnestly beseech him +to bequeath his wits to me and mine in Fee-simple, +for we want them, and cannot live by our hands in +this Country.</p> + +<p>Lastly, I intreat him to keep his purse, I give +him my counsell <i>gratis</i>, confessing him to be more +then my match, and that I am very loath to fall into +his hands.</p> + + +<h3><i>Prosecution.</i></h3> + +<p>If Reformation, Composition, Cessation, can finde +no admittance, there must and will be Prosecution: +to which I would also speak briefly and indifferently +still to both sides; and first to that, which I had rather +call Royalists then Cavaliers; who if I mistake +not, fight against the Truth.</p> + +<p>Foolish Cowardly man (I pray patience, for I speak +nothing but the pulse of my owne heart) dreads and +hates, nothing in Heaven or Earth, so much as +Truth: it is not God, nor Law, nor sinne, nor death, +nor hell, that he feares, but onely because he feares +there is Truth in them: Could he de-truth them all, +he would defie them all: Let Perdition it self come +upon him with deadly threats, fiery swords, displayed +vengeance, he cares not: Let Salvation come cap +in hand, with naked Reason, harmelesse Religion, +lawny embracements, he will rather flye or dye, than +entertaine it: come Truth in what shape it will, hee<!-- Page 81 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> +will reject it: and when hee can beat it off with +most steely prowesse, he thinkes himselfe the bravest +man; when in truth it is nothing but exsanguine feeble +exility of Spirit. Thy heart, saith the Prophet +<i>Ezek. 16. 30.</i> is weake, like the heart of an imperious +whorish woman: a man would thinke, the heart of +an imperious whore, were the very pummell of <i>Scanderbergs</i> +sword; alas, she is hen-hearted, shee dares +not looke Truth in the face; if she dared, shee would +neither be whorish, nor imperious, nor weake. He +shews more true fortitude, that prayes quarter of the +least Truth, at a miles distance, than hee that breakes +through and hewes downe the most Theban Phalanx +that ever field bore. <i>Paul</i> exprest more true valour, +in saying, I can doe nothing against the Truth, than +<i>Goliah</i>, in defying the whole hoste of <i>Israel</i>.</p> + +<p>Couragious Gentlemen, Yee that will stab him +that gives you the lye; take heed yee spend not +your bloods, limbes and soules, in fighting for some +untruth: and yee that will fling out the gantlet to him +that calls you Coward, dishonour not your selves +with such Cowardise, as to fight against Truth, meerly +for feare of it. A thousand pities it is, such gallant +Spirits should spend their lives, honours, heritages, +and sweet relations in any Warres, where, for +ought many of them know, some false mistake commands +in Chiefe.</p> + +<p>Honoured Country-men, bee intreated to love +Truth: if it loves not you againe, and repaires not all +your losses, then install some Untruth in its roome for +your Generall. If you will needs warre, be perswad<!-- Page 82 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span>ed +to contend lawfully, wisely and stedfastly, against +all errours in Divinity and Policy: they are the cursed +Counter-mures, dropt Portcullises, scouring Angiports, +sulphurious Granado's, laden murtherers, peevish +Galthropes, and rascall desperadoes, which the Prince +of lyes imployes with all his skill and malice, to +maintaine the walls and gates of his kingdome, when +Truth would enter in with grace and peace to save +forlorne sinners, and distressed Commonwealthes: +witnesse the present deplorable estate of sundry States +in Europe.</p> + +<p>Give me leave to speake a word more: it is but +this; Yee will finde it a farre easier field, to wage +warre against all the Armies that ever were or will be +on Earth, and all the Angels of Heaven, than to take +up Armes against any truth of God: It hath more +Counsell and strength than all the world besides; and +will certainely either gaine or ruine, convert or subvert +every man that opposes it. I hope ingenuous +men will rather take advice, then offence at what I +have said: I had rather please ten, than grieve one +intelligent man.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>If this side be resolute, I turne me to the other.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Goe on brave Englishmen, in the name of God, go +on prosperously, because of Truth and Righteousnes: +Yee that have the Cause of Religion, the life of your +Kingdome and of all the good that is in it in your +hands: Goe on undauntedly: As you are Called and +Chosen, so be faithfull: Yee fight the battells of the +Lord, bee neither desidious nor perfidious: You serve<!-- Page 83 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> +the King of Kings, who stiles you his heavenly Regiments: +Consider well, what impregnable fighting +it is in heaven, where the Lord of Hosts is your Generall, +his Angells your Colonels, the Stars your fellow-souldiers, +his Saints your Oratours, his Promises +your victuallers, his Truth your Trenches; where +Drums are Harps, Trumpets joyfull sounds; your +Ensignes Christs Banners; where your weapons and +armour are spirituall, therefore irresistable, therefore +impierceable; where Sun and wind cannot disadvantage +you, you are above them; where hell it selfe +cannot hurt you, where your swords are furbushed +and sharpened by him that made their metall, where +your wounds are bound up with the oyle of a good +Cause, where your blood runs into the veynes of +Christ, where sudden death is present martyrdome and +life; your funeralls resurrections, your honour glory; +where your widows and babes are received into perpetuall +pensions; your names listed among <i>Davids</i> +Worthies; where your greatest losses are greatest +gaines; and where you leave the troubles of war, to +lye down in downy beds of eternall rest.</p> + +<p>What good will it doe you, deare Countrymen, to +live without lives, to enjoy <i>England</i> without the +God of <i>England</i>, your Kingdome without a Parliament, +your Parliament without power, your Liberties +without stability, your Lawes without Justice, your +honours without vertue, your beings without wel-being, +your wives without honesty, your children +without morality, your servants without civility, your +lands without propriety, your goods without immunity, +the Gospel without salvation, your churches with<!-- Page 84 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span>out +Ministery, your Ministers without piety, and all +you have or can have, with more teares and bitternesse +of heart, than all you have and shall have will sweeten +or wipe away?</p> + +<p>Goe on therefore Renowned Gentlemen, fall on +resolvedly, till your hands cleave to your swords, your +swords to your enemies hearts, your hearts to victory, +your victories to triumph, your triumphs to the everlasting +praise of him that hath given you Spirits to +offer your selves willingly, and to jeopard your lives +in high perils, for his Name and service sake.</p> + +<p>And Wee your Brethren, though we necessarily +abide beyond <i>Jordan</i>, and remaine on the American +Sea-coasts, will send up Armies of prayers to the +Throne of Grace, that the God of power and goodnesse, +would incourage your hearts, cover your heads, +strengthen your arms, pardon your sinnes, save your +soules, and blesse your families, in the day of Battell. +Wee will also pray, that the same Lord of Hosts, +would discover the Counsels, defeat the Enterprizes, +deride the hopes, disdaine the insolencies, and wound +the hairy scalpes of your obstinate Enemies, and yet +pardon all that are unwillingly misled. Wee will +likewise helpe you beleeve that God will be seen on +the Mount, that it is all one with him, to save by +many or few, and that he doth but humble and try you +for the present, that he may doe you good at the latter +end. All which hee bring to passe who is able to +doe exceeding abundantly, above all we can aske or +thinke, for his Truth and mercy sake in Jesus Christ.</p> + +<p> +<i>Amen. Amen.</i><br /> +<!-- Page 85 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr class="long" /> +<h2><a name="A_Word_of_IRELAND" id="A_Word_of_IRELAND"></a>A Word of <i>IRELAND</i>:</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Not of the Nation universally, nor of any man in<br /> +it, that hath so much as one haire of Christianity<br /> +or Humanity growing on his head or beard,<br /> +but onely of the truculent Cut-throats,<br /> +and such as shall take up Armes<br /> +in their Defence.</i><br /> +</p> + + +<p>These <i>Irish</i> anciently called <i>Antropophagi</i>, +man-eaters: Have a Tradition among them, +That when the Devill shewed our Saviour all the +kingdomes of the Earth and their glory, that he would +not shew him <i>Ireland</i>, but reserved it for himselfe: +it is probably true, for he hath kept it ever since for +his own peculiar; the old Fox foresaw it would eclipse +the glory of all the rest: he thought it wisdome to +keep the land for a Boggards for his unclean spirits +imployed in this Hemisphere, and the people, to doe +his Son and Heire, I mean the Pope, that service for +which <i>Lewis</i> the eleventh kept his Barbor <i>Oliver</i>, +which makes them so blood-thirsty. They are the +very Offall of men, Dregges of Mankind, Reproach +of Christendome, the Bots that crawle on the Beast +taile, I wonder <i>Rome</i> it self is not ashamed of them.</p> + +<p>I begge upon my hands and knees, that the Expedition +against them may be undertaken while the<!-- Page 86 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> +hearts and hands of our Souldiery are hot, to whom +I will be bold to say briefly: Happy is he that shall +reward them as they have served us, and Cursed be +he that shall do that work of the Lord negligently, +Cursed be he that holdeth back his Sword from blood; +yea, Cursed be he that maketh not his Sword starke +drunk with <i>Irish</i> blood, that doth not recompense +them double for their hellish treachery to the <i>English</i>, +that maketh them not heaps upon heaps, and +their Country a dwelling place for Dragons, an Astonishment +to Nations: Let not that eye look for +pity, nor that hand to be spared, that pities or spares +them, and let him be accursed, that curseth not them +bitterly.</p> + + + +<hr class="long" /> +<p><!-- Page 87 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="A_Word_of_Love_to_the_Common_People" id="A_Word_of_Love_to_the_Common_People"></a>A Word of Love to the Common People +of <i>England</i>.</h2> + + +<p>It is, your, now or never, to muster up puissant +Armies of Prayers to the Mercy Seate; your Body +Representative, is now to take in hand, as intricate +a piece of worke, as ever fell into the hands of any +Parliament in the world, to tye an indissoluble knot +upon that webb which hath been woven with so +much cost and bloud, wherein if they happen to make +one false maske, it may re-imbarque themselves and +you all into a deadly relapse of scorne and calamity. It +is the worke of God not of man, pray speedily therefore, +and speedingly, give him no rest till your rest be +throughly re-established, Your God is a God whose +Name is All-sufficient, abundant in Goodnesse and +Truth, on whom the Sonnes of <i>Iacob</i> never did, nor +shall call in vaine, you have a Throne of Grace wherto +you may goe boldly; a Christ to give you a leading +by the hand and liberty of speech, an Intercessor in +Heaven to offer up your Prayers wrapp'd in his own; +a large Charter <i>aske and have</i>, a Spirit to helpe all +your infirmities in that duty, a sure Covenant that +you shall be heard, and such late incouragement as +may strengthen your feeble hands for ever. If you +who <i>may command God concerning the work of his +hand</i>, shall faile to demand the workemanship of his<!-- Page 88 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> +hand in this worke, your children will proclaime you +un-thrifts with bitter teares to the worlds end.</p> + +<p>If you see no cause to pray, read</p> + +<p> +<i>Jer. 18. 1.-10.</i><br /> +</p> + +<p>Be also intreated to have a continuall and conscientious +care not to impeach the Parliament in the hearts +one of another by whispering complaints, easilier told +then tryed or trued. Great bodyes move but slowely, +especially when they move on three leggs and are +over-loden with weighty occasions. They have now +sate full six years without intermission to continue +your being, many of their heads are growne gray with +your cares, they are the High Councell of the Kingdome, +the great Gilead of your Balme, the Phisitians +of all your sicknesse; if any of them doe amisse, +blame yourselves, you chose them, be wiser hereafter; +you cannot doe the State, your selves, your posterity +a more ungratefull office then to impaire them with +disparagements and discoragements who are so studious +to repaire your almost irreparable ruines.</p> + +<p>Be likewise beseeched, not to slight good ministers, +whom you were wont to reverence much, they are +Gods Embassadours, your Ephods, your Starres, your +Horse-men & Chariots, your Watchmen, & under +Christ your Salvation, I know no deadlier Symptome +of a dying People than to undervalue godly Ministers, +whosoever despiseth them shall certainly be despised +of God and men at one time or other.<!-- Page 89 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span></p> + + + +<h2><a name="A_most_humble_heel-piece" id="A_most_humble_heel-piece"></a>A most humble heel-piece.<br /> +<span class="smcap">to the</span><br /> +Most Honourable Head-piece<br /> +<span class="smcap">the</span><br /> +Parliament of <i>England</i>.</h2> + +<p>I Might excuse my selfe in Part, with a speech +<i>Lycurgus</i> used in the like exigent of State, <i>senectute +fio audacior, publica necessitate loquacior</i>, but it +much better becomes mee with all lowlinesse and +uprightnesse, wherein I have failed to pray pardon on +both my knees, which I most humbly and willingly +doe; only, before I rise, I crave leave to present this +six-fold Petition.</p> + +<p class="indent4">That you would be pleased</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>To preserve the Sacred reputation of Parliaments, +or, wee shall have no Common-wealth.</p> + +<p>To uphold the due estimation of good Ministers, +else, we shall have no Church.</p> + +<p>To heale the sad dislocation of our Head, throughly, perfectly, +or, wee shall have no King.<!-- Page 90 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span></p> + +<p>To oppugne the bold violation of divine Truths, +else wee shall have no God.</p> + +<p>To proceed with what zeale you began, +or what you began can come to little end.</p> + +<p>To expedite worke with what speede you safely may, +else ignorant people will feare they shall +have no end at all.</p> + +<p>Hee that is great in Counsell, and Wonderfull in +Working, guide and helpe you in All things, that +doing All things in Him, by Him, and for Him, +you may doe All things like Him.</p> + +<p style="margin-left:10em;"> +<i>So be it.</i><br /> +<!-- Page 91 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span></p></div> + + + +<hr class="long" /> +<h2><a name="A_respective_word_to_the_Ministers" id="A_respective_word_to_the_Ministers"></a>A respective word to the Ministers +of ENGLAND.</h2> + + +<p>Farre bee it from mee, while I dehort others +to slight you my selfe, or to despise any man +but myselfe, whom I can never despise enough: I +rather humbly intreate you to forgive my boldnesse, +who have most just cause to judge my selfe lesse and +lesse faithfull than the least of you all, yet I dare not +but bee so faithfull to you and my selfe, as to say</p> + +<p>They are the Ministers of <i>England</i>, that have lost +the Land; for Christs sake, put on His bowels, His +wisdome, His zeale, and recover it.<!-- Page 92 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I pray let me drive in half a dozen plaine honest +Country Hobnailes, such as the Martyrs were +wont to weare; to make my work hold the +surer; and I have done.</p></div> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="linenum">1.</span> +<span class="i0"><i>There, lives cannot be good,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i1"><i>There, Faith cannot be sure,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Where Truth cannot be quiet,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i1"><i>Nor Ordinances pure.</i><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="linenum">2.</span> +<span class="i0"><i>No King can King it right,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i1"><i>Nor rightly sway his Rod;</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Who truely loves not Christ,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i1"><i>And truely fears not God.</i><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="linenum">3.</span> +<span class="i0"><i>He cannot rule a Land,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i1"><i>As Lands should ruled been,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>That lets himself be rul'd</i><br /></span> +<span class="i1"><i>By a ruling Romane Queen.</i><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="linenum">4.</span> +<span class="i0"><i>No earthly man can be</i><br /></span> +<span class="i1"><i>True Subject to this State;</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Who makes the Pope his Christ,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i1"><i>An Heretique his Mate.</i><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="linenum">5.</span> +<span class="i0"><i>There Peace will goe to War,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i1"><i>And Silence make a noise:</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Where upper things will not</i><br /></span> +<span class="i1"><i>With nether equipoyse.</i><!-- Page 93 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="linenum">6.</span> +<span class="i0"><i>The upper world shall Rule,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i1"><i>While Stars will run their race:</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>The nether world obey,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i1"><i>While People keep their place.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>The Clench.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>If any of these come out</i><br /></span> +<span class="i1"><i>So long 's the world doe last:</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Then credit not a word</i><br /></span> +<span class="i1"><i>Of what is said and past.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + + + +<hr class="long" /> +<p><!-- Page 94 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="ERRATA" id="ERRATA"></a>ERRATA<br /> +AT NON<br /> +CORRIGENDA.</h2> + + +<p>Now I come to rubbe over my work, I finde five +or six things like faults, which would be mended +or commended, I know not well which, nor greatly +care.</p> + + +<p>1. For <i>Levity</i>, read, <i>Lepidity</i>, —— and that a +very little, and that very necessary, if not unavoydable.</p> + +<p> +<i>Misce stultitiam Consiliis brevem<br /> +—Dulce est desipere in loco.</i> Horat.<br /> +</p> + +<p>To speak to light heads with heavy words, were to +break their necks: to cloathe Summer matter, with +Winter Rugge, would make the Reader sweat. It is +musick to me, to heare every Dity speak its spirit in +its apt tune: every breast, to sing its proper part, and +every creature, to expresse it self in its naturall note: +should I heare a Mouse roare like a Beare, a Cat lowgh +like an Oxe, or a Horse whistle like a Red-breast, it +would scare —— mee.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>The world's a well strung fidle, mans tongue the quill,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>That fills the world with fumble for want of skill,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>When things and words in tune and tone doe meet,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>The universall song goes smooth and sweet.</i><br /></span> +<!-- Page 95 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span></div></div> + +<p>2. For <i>audacity</i>, read, <i>veracity</i>, or <i>Verum Gallice +non libenter audis</i>. Mart. Flattery never doth well, +but when it is whispered through a paire of lisping +teeth; Truth best, when it is spoken out, through a +paire of open lips. Ye make such a noyse there, with +Drums and Trumpets, that if I should not speak loud, +ye could not hear me: Ye talke one to another, with +whole Culvering and Canon; give us leave to talk +Squibs and Pistoletto's charged with nothing but powder +of Love and shot of Reason: if you will cut such +deep gashes in one anothers flesh, we must sow them +up with deep stitches, else ye may bleed to death: +ye were better let us, your tender Countrymen doe it, +than forraine Surgeons, who will handle you more +cruelly, and take no other pay, but your Lives and +Lands.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>—— —— Aspice vultus,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Ecce meos, utinamque oculos in pectore posses</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Inserere: & patrias intus deprendere Curas.</i><br /></span> +<span style="padding-left:15em;">(Ovid. Phœb.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>He that to tall men speakes, must lift up 's head,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>And when h' hath done, must set it where he did:</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>He that to proud men talkes, must put on pride;</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>And when h' hath done, 'tis good to lay 't aside.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>3. For, <i>Yes, but you speak at three thousand miles +distance, which every Coward dare doe</i>, read, <i>if my +heart deceives me not, I would speak thus, in the Presence +Chamber or House of Commons</i>; hoping <i>Homer</i> +will speak a good word for me.<!-- Page 96 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span></p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">ΕργοισιΘαρσαλεος γαρ ανηρ εν πασιν αμενων<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Εργοισι. ——<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>Omnibus in rebus potior vir fortis & audax</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Sit licet hospes, & è longinquis venerit oris.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>When Kings are lost, and Subjects cast away,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i1"><i>A faithfull heart should speak what tongue can say:</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>It skils not where this faithfull heart doth dwell,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i1"><i>His faithfull dealing should be taken well.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>4. For, <i>affected termes</i>, read, <i>I hope not</i> —— If +I affect termes, it is my feeblenesse; friends that +know me, thinke I doe not: I confesse, I see I have +here and there taken a few finish stitches, which may +haply please a few Velvet eares; but I cannot now +well pull them out, unlesse I should seame-rend all. +It seemes it is in fashion with you to sugar your papers +with Carnation phrases, and spangle your speeches +with new quodled words. Ermins in Minifer is +every mans Coat: Yet we heare some are raking in +old musty Charnel books, for old mouldy monosyllables; +I wish they were all banisht to <i>Monmouthshire</i>, +to returne when they had more wit.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>Multa renascentur quæ jam cecidere, cadentque</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Quæ nunc sunt in honore vocabula, si volet usus.</i><br /></span> +<span style="padding-left:15em;">(Hor.</span> +</div></div> + +<p>I honour them with my heart, that can expresse +more than ordinary matter in ordinary words: it is a +pleasing eloquence; them more, that study wisely +and soberly to inhance their native language; them +most of all, that esteeme the late significant speech,<!-- Page 97 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> +the third great blessing of the Land; it being so enriched, +that a man may speak in many tongues in his +Mothers mouth; and an uplandish Rusticke, more in +one word than himselfe and all the Parish understands. +Affected termes are unaffecting things to solid hearers; +yet I hold him prudent, that in these fastidious +times, will helpe disedged appetites with convenient +condiments, and bangled ears, with pretty quicke +pluckes. I speake the rather because, not long since, +I met with a book, the best to mee I ever saw, but +the Bible; yet under favour, it was somewhat underclad, +especially by him who can both excogitate and +expresse what hee undertakes, as well as any man I +know.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>The world is growne so fine in words and wit,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i1"><i>That pens must now Sir</i> Edward Nich'las <i>it.</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>He that much matter speaks, speaks ne'r a whit,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i1"><i>If 's tongue doth not career 't above his wit.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>5. For, <i>You verse it simply, what need have we of +your thin Poetry</i>; read, <i>I confesse I wonder at it my +self, that I should turne Poet</i>: I can impute it to +nothing, but to the flatuousnesse of our diet: they +are but sadden raptures soone up, soone downe.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>—<i>Deductum dicere Carmen</i>, is highly commended +by <i>Macrobius</i>.</p> + +<p><i>Virgil</i> himselfe said, +<i>Agrestem tenui meditabor arundine musam</i>.</p></div><p><!-- Page 98 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span></p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>Poetry's a gift wherein but few excell;</i><br /></span> +<span class="i1"><i>He doth very ill, that doth not passing well.</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>But he doth passing well, that doth his best,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i1"><i>And he doth best, that passeth all the rest.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>6. For <i>tediousnesse</i>, read, <i>I am sorry for it</i> —— Wee +have a strong weaknesse in N. E. that when wee +are speaking, we know not how to conclude: wee +make many ends, before we make an end: the fault +is in the Climate; we cannot helpe it though we +can, which is the Arch infirmity in all morality: +We are so near the West pole, that our Longitudes +are as long, as any wise man would wish, and somewhat +longer. I scarce know any Adage more gratefull, +than <i>Grata brevitas</i>.</p> + +<p> +<i>Verba confer maxime ad compendium.</i> Plaut.<br /> +</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>Coblers will mend, but some will never mend,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i1"><i>But end, and end, and end, and never end.</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>A well-girt houre gives every man content,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i1"><i>Sixe ribs of beefe, are worth sixe weeks of Lent.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>For, <i>all my other faults, which may bee more and +greater than I see</i>, read, <i>I am heartily sorry for them, +before I know them, lest I should forget it after</i>; and +humbly crave pardon at adventure, having nothing +that I can think of, to plead but this,</p> + +<p> +<i>Quisquis inops peccat, minor est reus.</i> Petron.<br /> +</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>Poore Coblers well may fault it now and then,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i1"><i>They'r ever mending faults for other men.</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>And if I worke for nought, why is it said,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i1"><i>This bungling Cobler would be soundly paid?</i><!-- Page 99 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>So farewell England old</i><br /></span> +<span class="i1"><i>If evill times ensue,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Let good men come to us,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i1"><i>Wee'l welcome them to New.</i><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>And farewell Honor'd Friends,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i1"><i>If happy dayes ensue,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>You'l have some Guests from hence,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i1"><i>Pray welcome us to you.</i><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i1"><i>And farewell simple world,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>If thou'lt thy Cranium mend,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i1"><i>There is my Last and All,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>And a Shoem-Akers</i><br /></span> +<span style="padding-left:9em">END.</span> +</div></div> + +<hr class="long" /> +<h2><a name="Postscript" id="Postscript"></a>Postscript.</h2> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>This honest Cobler has done what he might:</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>That Statesmen in their Shoes might walk upright.</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>But rotten Shoes of Spannish running-leather:</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>No Coblers skill, can stitch them strong together.</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>It were best to cast such rotten stuff away:</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>And look for that, that never will decay.</i><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>If all were shod with Gospel's lasting Peace;</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Hatred abroad, and Wars at home would cease.</i><br /></span> +<span style="padding-left:15em;">Jerome Bellamie.</span> +</div></div> + +<p class="center"><i>FINIS.</i><!-- Page 100 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr class="long" /> +<h2><a name="APPENDIX" id="APPENDIX"></a>APPENDIX.</h2> + + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The following Letters, (from Hutchinson's History and Collections,) &c., +and Deed from Essex Registry of Deeds, Salem, (Lib. I., Ipswich,) are +supposed to possess sufficient interest to justify their insertion here.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Boston, 1843.</span></p></div> + + +<h4>LETTER TO REV. JOHN COTTON.</h4> + +<p class="center">Salutem in Xto nostro.</p> + +<p> +Reverend and dear friend,<br /> +</p> + +<p>I was yesterday convented before the bishop, I mean +to his court, and am adjourned to the next term. I see +such giants turn their backs, that I dare not trust my +own weak heart. I expect measure hard enough and must +furnish apace with proportionable armour. I lacke a +friend to help buckle it on. I know none but Christ himself +in all our coast fitt to help me, and my acquaintance +with him is hardly enough to hope for that assistance my +weak spirit will want, and the assaults of tentation call +for. I pray therefore forget me not and believe for me +also if there be such a piece of neighbourhood among +Christians. And so blessing God with my whole heart +for my knowledge of you and immerited interest in you, +and thanking you entirely for that faithful love I have +found from you in many expressions of the best nature, +I commit you to the unchangeable love of God our Father +in his son Jesus Christ, in whom I hope to rest for +ever.</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 9em;">Your's in all truth of heart</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 16em;"><span class="smcap">Nath'<sup>L</sup>. Warde.</span></span><br /> +<br /> +Stondon Mercy,<br /> +Dec. 13. 1631.</p> + +<hr /> +<p><!-- Page 101 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span></p> + + +<p class="center">[Extracts from Johnson's Wonder-Working Providence, printed in London, 1658.]</p> + +<p class="center">"<i>Of the Ninth Church of Christ gathered at</i> Ipswitch.</p> + +<p>"This year [1634] came over a farther supply of Eminent +instruments for furthering this admirable Worke +of his, amongst whom the Reverend and judicious servant +of Christ Mr. <i>Nathaniel Ward</i>, who tooke up his station at +the Towne of <i>Ipswich</i>," "scituated on a faire and delightfull +River," "in the <i>Saggamooreship</i>, or Earldom of <i>Aggawam</i>." +"The peopling of this Towne is by men of good ranke and +quality, many of them having the yearly Revenue of large +Lands in <i>England</i> before they came to this Wildernesse, +but their Estates being imployed for Christ, and left in +banke as you have formerly heard, they are well content till +Christ shall be pleased to restore it againe to them or theirs.</p> + +<p>"Their meeting-house is a very good prospect to a great +part of the Towne, and beautifully built, the Church of +Christ here consists of about one hundred and sixty soules, +being exact in their conversation, and free from the Epidemicall +Disease of all Reforming Churches, which under +Christ is procured by their pious Learned and Orthodox +Ministery, as in due place (God willing) shall be declared, +in the meane time, look on the following Meeters concerning +that Souldier of Christ Master <i>Nathaniel Ward</i>.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>Thou ancient Sage, come</i> Ward <i>among</i><br /></span> +<span class="i1"><i>Christs folfe,<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> take part in this great worke of his,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Why do'st thou stand and gaze about so long;</i><br /></span> +<span class="i1"><i>Do'st war in jest, why, Christ in earnest is,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>And hath thee arm'd with weapons for that end,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i1"><i>To wound and heale his enemies submitting,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Not carnally, then to this worke attend;</i><br /></span> +<span class="i1"><i>Thou hast prevail'd the hearts of many hitting.</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Although the Presbytery unpleasant jar,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i1"><i>And errors daily in their braines new coyne:</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Despayer not, Christs truth they shall not mar;</i><br /></span> +<span class="i1"><i>But with his helpe such drosse from Gold refine.</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>What Man do'st meane to lay thy Trumpet downe?</i><br /></span> +<span class="i1"><i>Because thy son like Warrier is become,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Hold out or sure lesse bright will be thy crowne,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i1"><i>Till death Christs servants labour is not done."</i></span> +</div> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> <i>folke.</i></p></div> + +<hr /> + +<p class="center"><!-- Page 102 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> +LETTER FROM GYLES FYRMIN TO GOV. WINTHROP.</p> + +<p> +Much honoured and deare Sir,<br /> +</p> + +<p>But that I thinke it needlesse (God havinge more than +ordinarye fitted you for such trials) my letter might +tell you with what griefe of spirit I received the news of +that sad affliction which is lately happened to your worship, +by means of that unfaithful wretch; I hope God will find +a shoulder to helpe you beare so great a burthen. But the +little time there is allotted me to write I must spend in requesting +your worships counsel and favour. My father in +law Ward, since his sonne came over, is varey desirous that +wee might sett down together, and so that he might leave +us together if God should remove him from hence. Because +that it cannot be accomplished in this town, is verey desirous +to get mee to remove with him to a new plantation. After +much perswasion used, consideringe my want of accommodation +here (the ground the town having given mee lying 5 +miles from mee or more) and that the gaines of physick will +not finde mee with bread, but, besides, apprehendinge that it +might bee a way to free him from some temptations, and +make him more cheereful and serviceable to the country or +church, have yeelded to him. Herein, as I desire your counsel, +so I humbly request your favour, that you would be pleased +to give us the libertye of choosinge a plantation; wee +thinke it will be at Pentuckett, or Quichichchek, by Shawshin: +So soon as the season will give us leave to goe, wee +shall informe your worship which we desire: And if that, +by the court of election, we cannot gather a company to +beegine it, wee will let it fall. Wee desire you would not +graunt any of them to any before wee have seene them. If +your worship have heard any relation of the places, wee +should remaine thankful to you, if you would bee pleased to +counsel us to any of them. Further, I would entreate for advise +in this: The towne gave mee the ground (100 acres) +upon this condition, that I should stay in the towne 3 yeeres,<!-- Page 103 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> +or else I could not sell it: Now my father supposes it being +my first heritage (my father having none in the land) that it +is more than they canne doe to hinder mee thus, when as +others have no business, but range from place to place, on +purpose to live upon the countrey. I would entreate your +counsel whither or noe I canne sell it. Further: I am +strongly sett upon to studye divinitie, my studyes else must +be lost: for physick is but a meene helpe. In these cases +I humbly referre to your worship, as my father, for your +counsel, and so in much haste, with my best services presented +to your worship, wishinge you a strong support in +your affliction, and a good and comfortable issue, I rest</p> + +<p>Your worships in what he canne to his power,</p> + +<p> +Ipswich, 26. 10<sup>th</sup> 1639.       <span class="smcap">Gyles Fyrmin.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>Wee humbly entreate your secrecye in our desires.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>November 25º 1646./</p> + +<p><span class="blacklet">T</span>his p<sup>r</sup>sent writing wittnesseth that I, Nathaniel Ward of +Ipswich in New England have bargained & sould to John +Eaton of Salsbury Coo[per] all the land ground meadow & +Com̅onage w<sup>th</sup> their app<sup>r</sup>tincs which I have or ought to have +at this p<sup>r</sup>sent Day in Haverhill or Pentuckett in New England +to <span class="blacklet">have and to hold</span> the said p<sup>r</sup>misses to the said John +Eaton his heires & assignes paying for the same vnto the +said Nathaniel Ward his executo<sup>rs</sup> administr<sup>s</sup> or assignes +the full sum̅e of twelve pounds of wheate & pipe-staves +six pounds worth of one & six pounds worth of the other +to be deli[ver]ed to m<sup>r</sup> Richard Russell or Maior Sedgwick at +Charles Towne before the end of September Next ensuying +the Dat hereof; such as shalbe good & merchantable at the +currant price at that tyme & place</p> + +<p> +<span class="blacklet">In witness whereof</span> I have set to my hand & seale.</p> +<p><span style="padding-left:20em;"><span class="smcap">Nath Ward</span></span> +Wittnes<br /> +<span class="smcap">Thomas Howlett</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">Edman Bridges</span><br /> +</p> + +<div class="trans-note"> + +<h4><a name="Transcribers_Notes" id="Transcribers_Notes"></a>Transcriber's Notes</h4> + +<p>Corrections to more evident typographical errors are listed here, +together with handwritten or penned changes and additions to the text, +where they appear to be errata (in several cases backed up by an earlier +print of the same text):</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_5">5</a>: changed comma to semi-colon (... James, who practised medicine;)</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_5">5</a>: changed "cotemporaries" to "contemporaries" (... estimated by +his contemporaries and successors.)</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_15">15</a>: changed period and upper case "H" to comma and lower case "h" +(... when he said, he had rather the Earth should swallow him up ...)</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_34">34</a>: handwritten insertion "one" ( ... to help them frisk from [one] +ill-favor'd fashion to another.)</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_70">70</a>: handwritten insertion "of" ( ... the luxury [of] your Court and +Country, ...)</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_79">79</a>: handwritten change of word order from "not let" to "let not" +(I pray not let <i>Britanicus</i> scape, ...)</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_85">85</a>: handwritten insertion "s" ( ... the Bots that crawle on the +Beast[s] taile, ...)</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_97">97</a>: strikethrough deletion "in" ( ... that a man may speak [in] +many tongues in his Mothers mouth; ...)</p> + +<p><br /> +Other changes to the text are listed here, where the printer evidently +used alternative type:</p> + +<p>Pages <a href="#Page_1">1</a>, <a href="#Page_7">7</a> & <a href="#Page_8">8</a>: changed "VV" to "W" (THE SIMPLE COBLER OF AGGAWAM IN +AMERICA.)</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_10">10</a> onwards: changed "J" to "I". +"J" was used for "I" on some pages and not others - which suggests it was a limitation of typesetting, not intended by the author.</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_47">47</a>: changed "VVhen" to "When" (When Christ whips Market-makers out +of his Temple, ...)</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_103">103</a> (heading): changed "i646" to "1646" (November 25<sup>o</sup> 1646.)</p> + +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Simple Cobler of Aggawam in America, by +Theodore de la Guard + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SIMPLE COBLER OF AGGAWAM *** + +***** This file should be named 34974-h.htm or 34974-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/4/9/7/34974/ + +Produced by Simon Gardner, JackMcJiggins and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Simple Cobler of Aggawam in America + +Author: Theodore de la Guard + +Release Date: January 15, 2011 [EBook #34974] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SIMPLE COBLER OF AGGAWAM *** + + + + +Produced by Simon Gardner, JackMcJiggins and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + +Transcriber's Notes + +This Plain Text version uses symbols from the ASCII and Latin-1 +character sets. Typeface differences in the original are indicated as +follows: + + italic typeface is represented by _underscores_ + small caps typeface is represented by UPPER CASE + blackletter font is represented by %percent symbols% + plain text appearing within italics is represented by =equals symbols= + +Special characters in the original are indicated as follows: + + [oe] represents the oe ligature + ^o, ^{th} represent superscript characters + [=x] represents a macron (horizontal bar above a character) + [per] represents a conventional abbreviation for "per" + [ver] represents a scribal abbreviation in the quoted document + [Gr: ... ] is used to denote Greek transliteration. + +Archaic, unusual and inconsistent spellings have been retained from the +original text. Where changes to the text have been made for +typographical errors, these are listed at the end of the book. + + * * * * * + + + THE + SIMPLE COBLER + OF + AGGAWAM in AMERICA. + + willing + + To help 'mend his Native Country, lamentably tattered, both + in the upper-Leather and sole, with all the + honest stitches he can take. + + And as willing never to be paid for his work, by Old English + wonted pay. + + IT IS HIS TRADE TO PATCH ALL THE YEAR LONG, gratis. + + Therefore I pray Gentlemen keep your purses. + + By THEODORE DE LA GUARD. + + _In rebus arduis ac tenui spe, fortissima + qu[oe]que consilia tutissima sunt._ Cic. + + In English, + + When bootes and shoes are torne up to the lefts, + Coblers must thrust their awles up to the hefts. + + This is no time to feare _Apelles gramm: + Ne Sutor quidem ultra crepidam._ + + LONDON, + + Printed by J. D. & R. I. for STEPHEN BOWTELL, at the signe of + the Bible in Popes Head-Alley, 1647. + + + + +NOTICE OF THE AUTHOR. + + +THE REVEREND NATHANIEL WARD, the writer of the following work, was born +at Haverhill, England, in 1570. Of this town his father was a clergyman. +He was educated at Cambridge, studied and practised law, travelled on +the Continent, afterwards commenced the study of divinity, became a +preacher of the Gospel, and was settled at Standon, in Hertfordshire. He +was a strong friend of the early settlers of New England before the +elder Winthrop's coming over. At a General Court of the Massachusetts +Company, held in London, on Wednesday the 25th of November, 1629, "Mr. +Whyte did reco[=m]end Mr. Nathaniel Ward of Standon" to be admitted to +the freedom of the Company. He was ordered before the Bishop, Dec. 12, +1631, to answer for his non-conformity. Being forbidden to preach, he +embarked in April, 1634, for this country. He arrived here in June, and +was settled as Pastor of the church at Ipswich, or Aggawam, the same +year. By reason of indisposition, he was, at his own request, in 1636, +released from his engagement with the church there. However thus +disengaged, he preached often during the time he remained in the colony. +The necessities of the infant Commonwealth called for his time, talents, +and acquirements. Nor did he refuse. Willing to do the good, which he +might, he lent a ready and efficient hand to the formation of our Legal +Code. He was appointed by the General Court, March 12, 1638, on a +committee to draw up a system of laws, for the consideration of the +freemen. The same legislative authority, May 13, 1640, granted him six +hundred acres of land for his service, at Pentucket, afterwards called +Haverhill. He preached the election sermon, 1641, in which he advanced +several things that savored more of liberty, than some of the +magistrates were prepared to approve. The same year, Oct. 7, "The +Govern'^r and m^r Hauthorne were Desired to speake to m^r Ward, for a +coppey of the liberties, and of the Capitall lawes to bee transcribed, +and sent to the severall townes." He wrote the "Simple Cobler" in 1645. +In this year, May 25, he was on a committee to draw up a Body of +Liberties, which were published in 1648, being the first printed volume +of the kind in this Colony. Though greatly assisted by Joseph Hills and +others in the composition and arrangement of so important a work, yet he +appears to have been a principal agent in its accomplishment. He sold +his interest at Haverhill, Nov. 25, 1646, to John Eaton, for L12,00. +Between this date and the 6th of January following, he returned to +England. On June 30th, 1647, he preached before the House of Commons, +and the same year published the "Simple Cobler." He was afterwards +settled in the ministry at Shenfield, near Brentwood, where he died in +1653, in his eighty-third year. + +Fuller, in his "Worthies of England," speaking of him, says, that he, +"following the counsel of the poet, + + Ridentem dicere verum, + Quis vetat? + + What doth forbid but one may smile, + And also tell the truth the while? + +hath in a jesting way, in some of his books, delivered much smart truth +of the present times." Dr. Mather, in his "Magnalia," remarks of him, +"he was the author of many composures full of wit and sense; among +which, that entituled _The Simple Cobler_ (_which demonstrated him to be +a subtil statesman_) was most considered." The same author adds, that +"some famous persons of old thought it a greater _glory_ to have it +enquired; _why such a one had not a statue erected for him?_ than to +have it enquired _why he had?_ If it be enquired, _why this our =St. +Hilary= hath among our Lives no statue erected for him?_ let that +enquiry go for part of one." And in the "Remarkables" of Increase +Mather, he observes, "An hundred witty Speeches of our Celebrated +_Ward_, who called himself _The Simple Cobler_ of Agawam, [and over +whose Mantel-piece in his House, by the way, I have seen those three +Words Engraved, SOBRIE, JUSTE, PIE, and a Fourth added, which was LAETE:] +have been reported; but he had one Godly Speech, that was worth 'em all; +which was, _I have only Two Comforts to Live upon; The one is in the +Perfections of CHRIST; The other is in The Imperfections of all +CHRISTIANS._" + +Mr. Ward had several children. Among them, were John, settled in the +ministry at Haverhill, Mass., where he died, 1693; James, who practised +medicine; and a daughter, married to Gyles Fyrmin. These three last +accompanied their father to England. + +To illustrate how much Mr. Ward benevolently labored for the public good +with but small recompense, we quote another remark of Cotton Mather, as +to his son John. It follows: "He was a son most exemplarily _dutiful_ +unto his _parents_; and having paid some considerable _debts_ for his +_father_, he would afterwards humbly observe and confess, that God had +abundantly _recompenced_ this his dutifulness." Whether these debts were +paid in Old or New England is uncertain. + +Thus we have given a sketch of one, who deserves well of New England and +of friends to freedom every where,--so that it might be more evident how +he and the subsequent work were estimated by his contemporaries and +successors. + + D. P. + +BOSTON, March 8, 1843. + + +NOTE. + +This work passed through several editions at London in 1647. It was +reprinted in Boston in 1713. One of the earlier editions and that of +1713 have been used in preparing the present edition for the press. +After his first impression, the author made several additions to +succeeding ones, which will be found in this now issued.--The principal +of these additions are as follow: "A Word of Love to the Common People +of England," "A most humble Heel piece," &c., and "A respective word to +the Ministers of England." + +ED. + + + + + THE + SIMPLE COBLER + OF + AGGAWAM IN AMERICA. + + WILLING + + To help 'mend his Native Country, lamentably + tattered, both in the upper-Leather and sole, + with all the honest stitches he can take. + + And as willing never to be paid for his work, + by Old English wonted pay. + + _It is his trade to patch all the year long_, gratis. + Therefore I pray Gentlemen keep your purses. + + By _Theodore de la Guard_. + + _In rebus arduis ac tenui spe, fortissima + quaeque consilia tutissima sunt._ Cic. + + In English, + + When bootes and shoes are torne up to the lefts, + Coblers must thrust their awles up to the hefts. + + This is no time to feare _Apelles gramm: + Ne Sutor quidem ultra crepidam_. + + LONDON, + + Printed by _J. D. & R. I. for Stephen Bowtell_, at the + signe of the Bible in Popes Head-Alley, 1647. + + + + + THE + SIMPLE COBLER + OF + AGGAWAM IN AMERICA. + + +Either I am in an Appoplexie, or that man is in a Lethargie, who doth +not now sensibly feele God shaking the Heavens over his head, and the +Earth under his feet: The Heavens so, as the Sun begins to turne into +darknesse, the Moon into blood, the Starres to fall down to the ground; +So that little Light of Comfort or Counsell is left to the sonnes of +men: The Earth so, as the foundations are failing, the righteous scarce +know where to finde rest, the Inhabitants stagger like drunken men; it +is in a manner dissolved both in Religions and Relations: And no +marvell; for, they have defiled it by transgressing the Laws, changing +the Ordinances, and breaking the Everlasting Covenant. The Truths of God +are the Pillars of the world, whereon States and Churches may stand +quiet if they will; if they will not, He can easily shake them off into +delusions, and distractions enough. + +Sathan is now in his passions, hee feeles his passion approaching; hee +loves to fish in royled waters. Though that Dragon cannot sting the +vitals of the Elect mortally, yet that Beelzebub can fly-blow their +Intellectuals miserably: The finer Religion grows, the finer hee spins +his Cobwebs, hee will hold pace with Christ so long as his wits will +serve him. Hee sees himselfe beaten out of grosse Idolatries, Heresies, +Ceremonies, where the Light breakes forth with power; he will therefore +bestirre him to prevaricate Evangelicall Truths, and Ordinances, that if +they will needs be walking, yet they shall _laborare varicibus_, and not +keep their path: he will put them out of time and place; Assascinating +for his Engineers, men of Paracelsian parts; well complexioned for +honesty; for, such are fittest to Mountebanke his Chimistry into sicke +Churches and weake Judgements. + +Nor shall hee neede to stretch his strength overmuch in this worke: Too +many men having not laid their foundation sure, nor ballasted their +Spirits deepe with humility and feare, are prest enough of themselves to +evaporate their owne apprehensions. Those that are acquainted with Story +know, it hath ever been so in new Editions of Churches: Such as are +least able, are most busie to pudder in the rubbish, and to raise dust +in the eyes of more steady Repayrers. Civill Commotions make roome for +uncivill practises: Religious mutations, for irreligious opinions: +Change of Aire, discovers corrupt bodies; Reformation of Religion, +unsound mindes. He that hath any well-faced phancy in his Crowne, and +doth not vent it now, fears the pride of his owne heart will dub him +dunce for ever. Such a one will trouble the whole _Israel_ of God with +his most untimely births, though he makes the bones of his vanity +sticke up, to the view and griefe of all that are godly wise. The devill +desires no better sport then to see light heads handle their heels, and +fetch their carreers in a time, when the Roofe of Liberty stands open. + +The next perplexed Question, with pious and ponderous men, will be: What +should bee done for the healing of these comfortlesse exulcerations. I +am the unablest adviser of a thousand, the unworthiest of ten thousand; +yet I hope I may presume to assert what follows without just offence. + +First, such as have given or taken any unfriendly reports of us +_New-English_, should do well to recollect themselves. We have beene +reputed a Colluvies of wild Opinionists, swarmed into a remote wildernes +to find elbow-roome for our phanatick Doctrines and practises: I trust +our diligence past, and constant sedulity against such persons and +courses, will plead better things for us. I dare take upon me, to bee +the Herauld of _New-England_ so farre, as to proclaime to the world, in +the name of our Colony, that all Familists, Antinomians, Anabaptists, +and other Enthusiasts, shall have free Liberty to keep away from us, and +such as will come to be gone as fast as they can, the sooner the better. + +Secondly, I dare averre, that God doth no where in his word tolerate +Christian States, to give Tolerations to such adversaries of his Truth, +if they have power in their hands to suppresse them. + +Here is lately brought us an extract of a _Magna Charta_, so called, +compiled between the Sub-planters of a _West-Indian_ Island; whereof +the first Article of constipulation, firmely provides free stable-room +and litter for all kinde of consciences, be they never so dirty or +jadish; making it actionable, yea, treasonable, to disturbe any man in +his Religion, or to discommend it, whatever it be. Wee are very sorry to +see such professed profanenesse in _English_ Professors, as +industriously to lay their Religious Foundations on the ruine of true +Religion; which strictly binds every conscience to contend earnestly for +the Truth: to preserve unity of spirit, faith and Ordinances, to be all +like-minded, of one accord; every man to take his brother into his +Christian care: to stand fast with one spirit, with one mind, striving +together for the faith of the Gospel: and by no meanes to permit +Heresies or erroneous opinions: But God abhorring such loathsome +beverages, hath in his righteous judgement blasted that enterprize, +which might otherwise have prospered well, for ought I know; I presume +their case is generally knowne ere this. + +If the devill might have his free option, I believe he would ask nothing +else, but liberty to enfranchize all false Religions, and to embondage +the true; nor should he need: It is much to bee feared, that laxe +Tolerations upon State pretences and planting necessities, will be the +next subtle Stratagem he will spread, to distate the Truth of God and +supplant the peace of the Churches. Tolerations in things tolerable, +exquisitely drawn out by the lines of the Scripture, and pensill of the +Spirit, are the sacred favours of Truth, the due latitudes of Love, the +faire Compartiments of Christian fraternity: but irregular +dispensations, dealt forth by the facilities of men, are the frontiers +of errour, the redoubts of Schisme, the perillous irritaments of carnall +and spirituall enmity. + +My heart hath naturally detested foure things: The standing of the +Apocrypha in the Bible; Forrainers dwelling in my Countrey, to crowd our +native Subjects into the corners of the Earth; Alchymized coines; +Tolerations of divers Religions, or of one Religion in segregant shapes: +He that willingly assents to the last, if he examines his heart by +day-light, his conscience will tell him, he is either an Atheist, or an +Heretique, or an Hypocrite, or at best a captive to some lust: +Poly-piety is the greatest impiety in the world. True Religion is _Ignis +probationis_, which doth _congregare homogenea & segregare heterogenea_. + +Not to tolerate things meerly indifferent to weak consciences, argues a +conscience too strong: pressed uniformity in these, causes much +disunity: To tolerate more than indifferents, is not to deale +indifferently with God; He that doth it, takes his Scepter out of his +hand, and bids him stand by. Who hath to doe to institute Religion but +God. The power of all Religion and Ordinances, lies in their purity: +their purity in their simplicity: then are mixtures pernicious. I lived +in a City, where a Papist preached in one Church, a Lutheran in another, +a Calvinist in a third; a Lutheran one part of the day, a Calvinist the +other, in the same Pulpit: the Religion of that place was but motly and +meagre, their affections Leopardlike. + +If the whole Creature should conspire to doe the Creator a mischiefe, +or offer him an insolency, it would be in nothing more, than in erecting +untruths against his Truth, or by sophisticating his Truths with humane +medleyes; the removing of some one iota in Scripture, may draw out all +the life, and traverse all the Truth of the whole Bible: but to +authorise an untruth, by a Toleration of State, is to build a Sconce +against the walls of heaven, to batter God out of his Chaire: To tell a +practicall lye, is a great sin, but yet transient; but to set up a +Theoricall untruth, is to warrant every lye that lies from its root to +the top of every branch it hath, which are not a few. + +I would willingly hope that no Member of the Parliament hath skilfully +ingratiated himselfe into the hearts of the House, that he might watch a +time to midwife out some ungracious Toleration for his own turne, and +for the sake of that, some others. I would also hope that a word of +generall caution should not be particularly misapplied. I am the freer +to suggest it, because I know not one man of that mind, my aime is +generall, and I desire may be so accepted. Yet good Gentlemen, looke +well about you, and remember how _Tiberius_ plaid the Fox with the +Senate of _Rome_, and how _Fabius Maximus_ cropt his ears for his +cunning. + +That State is wise, that will improve all paines and patience rather to +compose, then tolerate differences in Religion. There is no divine +Truth, but hath much Celestial fire in it from the Spirit of Truth: nor +no irreligious untruth, without its proportion of Antifire from the +Spirit of Error to contradict it: the zeale of the one, the virulency +of the other, must necessarily kindle Combustions. Fiery diseases seated +in the spirit, embroile the whole frame of the body: others more +externall and coole, are lesse dangerous. They which divide in Religion +divide in God; they who divide in him, divide beyond _Genus +Generalissimum_, where there is no reconciliation, without atonement; +that is, without uniting in him, who is One, and in his Truth, which is +also one. + +Wise are those men who will be perswaded rather to live within the pale +of Truth where they may bee quiet, than in the purliev's, where they are +sure to be hunted ever and anon, doe Authority what it can. Every +singular Opinion, hath a singular opinion of it self; and he that holds +it a singular opinion of himself, and a simple opinion of all +contra-sentients: he that confutes them, must confute all three at once, +or else he does nothing; which will not be done without more stir than +the peace of the State or Church can indure. + +And prudent are those Christians, that will rather give what may be +given, then hazzard all by yeelding nothing. To sell all peace of +Country, to buy some peace of Conscience unseasonably, is more avarice +than thrift, imprudence than patience: they deale not equally, that set +any truth of God at such a rate; but they deale wisely that will stay +till the Market is fallen. + +My prognosticks deceive me not a little, if once within three seven +years, peace prove not such a penny-worth at most Marts in Christendome, +that hee that would not lay down his money, his lust, his opinion, his +will, I had almost said the best flower of his Crown for it, while he +might have had it; will tell his own heart, he plaid the very ill +husband. + +Concerning Tolerations I may further assert. + +That Persecution of True Religion, and Toleration of false, are the +_Jannes_ and _Jambres_ to the Kingdome of Christ, whereof the last is +farre the worst. _Augustines_ tongue had not owed his mouth one +penny-rent though it had never spake one word more in it, but this, +_Nullum malum pejus libertate errandi_. + +_Frederick_ Duke of _Saxon_, spake not one foote beyond the mark when he +said, he had rather the Earth should swallow him up quick, then he +should give a toleration to any opinion against any truth of God. + +He that is willing to tolerate any Religion, or discrepant way of +Religion, besides his own, unlesse it be in matters meerly indifferent, +either doubts of his own, or is not sincere in it. + +He that is willing to tolerate any unsound Opinion, that his own may +also be tolerated, though never so sound, will for a need hang Gods +Bible at the Devils girdle. + +Every Toleration of false Religions, or Opinions hath as many Errours +and sins in it, as all the false Religions and Opinions it tolerates, +and one sound one more. + +That State that will give Liberty of Conscience in matters of Religion, +must give Liberty of Conscience and Conversation in their Morall Laws, +or else the Fiddle will be out of tune, and some of the strings cracke. + +He that will rather make an irreligious quarrell with other Religions, +then try the truth of his own by valuable Arguments, and peaceable +Sufferings; either his Religion, or himselfe is irreligious. + +Experience will teach Churches and Christians, that it is farre better +to live in a State united, though a little Corrupt, then in a State, +whereof some Part is incorrupt, and all the rest divided. + +I am not altogether ignorant of the eight Rules given by Orthodox +Divines about giving Tolerations, yet with their favour I dare affirme, + +That there is no Rule given by God for any State to give an Affirmative +Toleration to any false Religion, or Opinion whatsoever; they must +connive in some cases, but may not concede in any. + +That the State of _England_ (so farre as my Intelligence serves) might +in time have prevented with ease, and may yet without any great +difficulty deny both Toleration, and irregular Connivences, _salva +Republica_. + +That if the State of _England_ shall either willingly Tolerate, or +weakly connive at such Courses, the Church of that Kingdom will sooner +become the Devills Dancing-Schoole, then Gods-Temple; The Civill State a +Beare-garden, then an Exchange: The whole Realme a Pais base, then an +_England_. And what pity it is, that that Country which hath been the +Staple of Truth to all Christendome, should now become the Aviary of +Errors to the whole World, let every fearing heart judge. + +I take Liberty of Conscience to bee nothing but a freedome from sinne, +and error. _Conscientia in tantum libera, in quantum ab errore +liberata._ And liberty of Error nothing but a Prison for Conscience. +Then small will bee the kindnesse of a State to build such Prisons for +their Subjects. + +The Scripture saith, there is nothing makes free but Truth, and Truth +saith, there is no Truth but One: If the States of the World would make +it their sumoperous Care to preserve this One Truth in its purity and +Authority it would ease them of all other Political cares. I am sure +Satan makes it his grand, if not onely taske, to adulterate Truth; +Falshood is his sole Scepter, whereby he first ruffled, and ever since +ruined the World. + +If Truth be but One, me thinks all the Opinionists in _England_ should +not be all in that One Truth, some of them I doubt are out. He that can +extract an unity out of such a disparity, or contract such a disparity +into an unity; had need be a better Artist, then ever was _Drebell_. + +If two Centers (as we may suppose) be in one Circle, and lines drawn +from both to all the points of the Compasse, they will certainly crosse +one another, and probably cut through the Centers themselves. + +There is talke of an universall Toleration, I would talke as loud as I +could against it, did I know what more apt and reasonable Sacrifice +_England_ could offer to God for his late performing all his heavenly +Truths, then an universall Toleration of all hellish Errors, or how they +shall make an universall Reformation, but by making Christs Academy the +Devils University, where any man may commence Heretique _per saltum_; +where he that is _filius Diabolicus_, or _simpliciter pessimus_, may +have his grace to goe to hell _cum Publico Privilegio_; and carry as +many after him, as he can. + +_Religio docenda est, non coercenda_ is a pretty piece of _album +Latinum_ for some kinde of throats that are willingly sore, but _Haeresis +dedocenda est non permittenda_, will be found a farre better _Diamoron_ +for the Gargarismes this Age wants, if timely and throughly applyed. + + If there be roome in _England_ for + + _Familists_ } { _Manes_ + _Libertines_ } { _Lemures_ + _Erastians_ } { _Dryades_ + _Antitrinitarians_ } { _Homadryades_ + _Anabaptists_ } { _Potamides_ + _Antiscripturists_ } { _Naiades_ + _Arminians_ } { _Hinnides_ + _Manifestarians_ } { _Pierides_ + _Millinaries_ } then room { _Nereides_ + _Antinomians_ } for { _Pales_ + _Socinians_ } { _Anonides_ + _Arrians_ } { _Parcades_ + _Perfectists_ } { _Castalides_ + _Brownists[1]_ } { _Monides_ + Religious _Mortalians_ } { _Charites_ + Men but _Seekers_ } Good Spirits,{ _Heliconides_ + pernicious _Enthusiasts_ } but very { _Pegasides_ + Heretiques _&c._ } Devils. { _&c._ + + In a word room for Hell above ground. + + [1] By Brownists I mean not Independents, but dew-clawd Seperatists: + farre be it from me to wrong godly Independents. I truely acknowledge + that I judge my self neither able nor worthy to honour some of them as + they deserve. + +It is said, Though a man have light enough himselfe to see the Truth, +yet if he hath not enough to enlighten others, he is bound to tolerate +them, I will engage my self, that all the Devills in _Britanie_ shall +sell themselves to their shirts, to purchase a Lease of this Position +for three of their Lives, under the Seale of the Parliament. + +It is said, That Men ought to have Liberty of their Conscience, and that +it is Persecution to debarre them of it: I can rather stand amazed then +reply to this: it is an astonishment to think that the braines of men +should be parboyl'd in such impious ignorance; Let all the wits under +the Heavens lay their heads together and finde an Assertion worse than +this (one excepted) I will Petition to be chosen the universal Ideot of +the world. + +It is said, That Civill Magistrates ought not to meddle with +Ecclesiasticall matters. + +I would answer to this so well as I could, did I not know that some +Papers lately brought out of _New-England_, are going to the Presse, +wherein the Opinions of the Elders there in a late Synod, concerning +this point are manifested, which I suppose will give clearer +satisfaction then I can. + +The true English of all this their false Latine, is nothing but a +generall Toleration of all Opinions; which motion if it be like to take, +it were very requisite, that the City would repaire _Pauls_ with all the +speed they can, for an English _Pantheon_, and bestow it upon the +Sectaries, freely to assemble in, then there may be some hope that +_London_ will be quiet in time. + +But why dwell I so intolerable long about Tolerations, I hope my feares +are but panick, against which I have a double cordiall. First, that the +Parliament will not though they could: Secondly, that they cannot though +they would grant such Tolerations. God who hath so honoured them with +eminent wisdome in all other things, will not suffer them to cast both +his, and their Honour in the dust of perpetuall Infamy, doe what they +can; nor shall those who have spent so great a part of their substance +in redeeming their Civill Liberties from Usurpation, lose all that +remaines in enthralling their spirituall Liberty by Toleration. + +It is said Opinionists are many, and strong, that _de sunt Vires_, that +it is _turbata respublica_, I am very sorry for it, but more sorry, if +despondency of minde shall cause the least tergiversation in Gods +Worthies, who have receiv'd such pledges of his presence in their late +Counsels, and Conflicts. It is not thousands of Opinionists that can +pinion his Everlasting armes, I can hardly beleeve there is a greater +unbeleever then my Selfe, yet I can verily beleeve that the God of Truth +will in a short time scatter them all like smoake before the wind. I +confesse I am troubled to see Men so over-troubled about them; I am +rather glad to heare the Devill is breaking up house in _England_, and +removing somewhither else, give him leave to sell all his rags, and +odde-ends by the out-cry; and let his petty Chapmen make their Market +while they may, upon my poore credit it will not last long. Hee that +hath done so much for _England_ will go on to perfect his owne praise, +and his Peoples Peace: let good men stand still, and behold his further +Salvation. He that sitteth in the Heavens laughs at them, the most High +hath them in Derision, and their folly shall certainly be manifested to +all men. + +Yet I dare not but adde, and in the Name of God will adde, that if any +Publique members of Church or State, have been either open fautors, or +private abetters of any blasphemous, contagious Opinions; It will be +their wisdome to proportion their repentance to their Sin, before God +makes them Publique monuments of Ignominie, and Apostasie. + +Thirdly, That all Christian States, ought to disavow and decry all such +Errours, by some peremptory Statutary Act, and that in time, that +Subjects knowing fully the minde of the State, might not delude +themselves with vaine hopes of unsufferable Liberties. It is lesse to +say _Statuatur veritas, ruat Regnum_, than _Fiat justitia, ruat +C[oe]lum_; but there is no such danger in either of them. Feare nothing +Gentlemen, _Rubiconem transiistis, jacta est alea_, ye have turned the +Devill out of doores; fling all his old parrell after him out at the +windows, lest he makes an errand for it againe. _Quae relinquuntur in +morbis post indicationem, recidivas facere consuevere._ Christ would +have his Church without spot or wrinckle; They that help make it so, +shall lose neither honour nor labour: If yee be wise, suffer no more +thorns in his sides or your owne. When God kindles such fires as these, +hee doth not usually quench them, till the very scum on the pot sides be +boyled cleane away, _Ezek. 24. 10, 11_. Yee were better to doe it your +selves, then leave it to him: the Arme of the Lord is mighty, his hand +very heavy; who can dwell with his devouring fire, and long lasting +burnings? + +Fourthly, to make speedy provision against Obstinates and disseminaries: +where under favour, two things will be found requisite. First, variety +of penaltyes, I meane certaine, not indefinite: I am a Crabbat against +Arbitrary Government. Experience hath taught us here, that politicall, +domesticall, and personall respects, will not admit one and the same +remedy for all, without sad inconveniences. Secondly, just severity: +persecution hath ever spread Truth, prosecution scattered Errour: Ten of +the most Christian Emperors, found that way best; Schollars know whom I +meane: Five of the ancient Fathers perswaded to it, of whom _Augustine_ +was one, who for a time argued hard for indulgency: but upon conference +with other prudent Bishops, altered his judgement, as appears in three +of his Epistles, to _Marcellinus_, _Donatus_, and _Boniface_. I would be +understood, not onely an Allower, but an humble Petitioner, that +ignorant and tender conscienced Anabaptists may have due time and means +of conviction. + +Fifthly, That every Prophet, to whom God hath given the tongue of the +learned, should teach, and every Angel who hath a pen and inkehorne by +his side write against these grieving extravagancies: writing of many +books, I grant is irkesome, reading endlesse. A reasonable man would +thinke Divines had declaimed sufficiently upon these Themes. I have ever +thought the Rule given, _Titus 3. 10._ which cuts the work short and +sharpe to be more properly prevalent, then wearisome waiting upon +unweariable Spirits. It is a most toylsome taske to run the wild-goose +chase after a well-breath'd Opinionist: they delight in vitilitigation: +it is an itch that loves a life to be scrub'd: they desire not +satisfaction, but satisdiction, whereof themselves must be judges: yet +in new eruptions of Error with new objections, silence is sinfull. + +As for my selfe, I am none of the disputers of this world: all I can +doe, is to guesse when men speake true or false divinity: if I can but +finde the parentall roote, or formall reason of a Truth, I am quiet; if +I cannot, I shore up my slender judgement as long as I can, with two or +three the handsomest props I can get: I shall therefore leave Arguments +to acuter heads, and onely speak a word of Love, with all Christian +respect to our deare Brethren in _England_, which are against baptizing +of Infants: I intreate them to consider these few things seriously and +meekly. First, what a high pitch of boldnesse it is for man to cut a +principall Ordinance out of the Kingdome of God; if it be but to make a +dislocation, which so far disgoods the Ordinance, I feare it altogether +unhallows it, to transplace or transtime a stated Institution of Christ, +without his direction, I thinke, is to destroy it. Secondly, what a +Cruelty it is to devest children of that onely externall priviledge +which their heavenly Father hath bequeathed them, to interest them +visibly in Himselfe, His Son, His Spirit, His Covenant of Grace, and the +tender bosome of their carefull Mother the Church. Thirdly, what an +Inhumanity it is, to deprive Parents of that comfort they may take from +the baptisme of their Infants dying in their Childehood. Fourthly, How +unseasonable and unkindely it is, to interturbe the State and Church +with these Amalekitish onsets, when they are in their extreame pangs of +travell with their lives. Fifthly, to take a through view of those who +have preambled this by path. Being sometimes in the Crowds of foraigne +Wederdopers, that is, Anabaptists; and prying into their inward frames +with the best eyes I had; I could not but observe these disguised guises +in the generality of them. + +First, a flat formality of Spirit without salt or savour in the +spiritualties of Christ, as if their Religion began and ended in their +Opinion. Secondly, a shallow slighting of such as dissent from them, +appearing too often in their faces, speeches and carriages. Thirdly, a +feeble, yet peremptory obstinacy; seldome are any of them reclaimed. +Fourthly, a shamefull sliding into other such tarpauling tenets, to keep +themselves dry from the showers of Justice, as a rationall minde would +never entertain, if it were not Errour-blasted from Heaven and Hell: I +should as shrewdly suspect that Opinion, that will cordially corrive +with two or three sottish errours, as that faith that can professedly +live with two or three sordid sins. I dare not feare our godly Brethren +in _England_ to be yet comming to this passe; how soon they may, +themselves know not, the times are slippery: They will undoubtedly finde +God as jealous of his Ordinances, as themselves are zealous of their +Opinions. + +Sixthly, That Authority ought to see their Subjects children baptized, +though their Parents judgements be against it, if there be no other +Evangelicall barre in the way. + +Seventhly, That prudent men, especially young, should doe well not to +ingage themselves in conference with Errorists, without a good calling +and great caution; their breath is contagious, their leprey spreading: +receive not him that is weak, saith the Apostle, to doubtfull +disputations; much lesse may they run themselves into dangerous +Sophistications. He usually hears best in their meetings, that stops his +eares closest; he opens his mouth to best purpose, that keeps it shut, +and he doeth best of all, that declines their company as wisely as he +may. + +Brethren, have an extraordinary care also of the late Theosophers, that +teach men to climbe to Heaven upon a ladder of lying figments. Rather +than the Devill will lose his game, he will out-shoot Christ in his owne +bow; he will out-law the Law, quite out of the word and world: +over-Gospell the Gospell, and quidanye Christ, with Sugar and Rats-bane. +Hee was Professour not long since at _Schelstat_ in _Alsatia_, where he +learned that no poyson is so deadly as the poyson of Grace. + +The wisest way, when all is said, is with all humility and feare, to +take Christ as himselfe hath revealed himselfe in his Gospel, and not as +the Devill presents him to prestigiated phansies. I have ever hated the +way of the Rosie-Crucians, who reject things as Gods wisedome hath +tempered them, and will have nothing but their Spirits. If I were to +give physick to Spryts, I would doe so too: but when I want physick for +my body, I would not have my soule tartared: nor my Animall Spirits +purged any way, but by my Naturall, and those by my bodily humours, and +those by such Ordinaries, as have the nearest vicinage to them, and not +by Metaphysicall Limbeckings. I cannot thinke that _materia prima_ or +_secunda_, should be good for me, that am at least, _Materia millessima +sexcentesima quadragesima quinta_. + +Here I hold my selfe bound to set up a Beacon, to give warning of a +new-sprung Sect of Phrantasticks, which would perswade themselves and +others, that they have discovered the Nor-west passage to Heaven. These +wits of the game, cry up and downe in corners such bold ignotions of a +new Gospell, new Christ, new Faith, and new gay-nothings, as trouble +unsetled heads, querulous hearts, and not a little grieve the Spirit of +God. I desire all good men may be saved from their Lunatick Creed, by +Infidelity; and rather beleeve these torrid overtures will prove in +time, nothing but horrid raptures downe to the lowest hell, from which +he that would be delivered, let him avoid these blasphemers, a late fry +of croaking Frogs, not to be indured in a Religious State, no, if it +were possible, not an houre. + +As some are playing young Spaniels, questing at every bird that rises; +so others, held very good men, are at a dead stand, not knowing what to +doe or say; and are therefore called Seekers, looking for new Nuntio's +from Christ, to assoile these benighted questions, and to give new +Orders for new Churches. I crave leave with all respect to tell them, +that if they looke into _Act. 20. 20. 25._ _Gal. 1. 8. 9._ _1. Tim. 6. +13. 16._ and find them not there; they may happily seeke as the young +Prophets did for Eliah's corps, where it never was, nor ever will be +found. + +I cannot imagine why the Holy Ghost should give _Timothy_ the solemnest +charge, was ever given mortall man, to observe the Rules he had given, +till the comming of Christ, if new things must be expected. + +Woe be to them, who ever they be, that so trouble the wayes of God that +they who have found the way to Heaven, cannot find the way to Church: +And woe be to them, that so gaze at the glorious light, they say, will +breake forth in the thousand yeares to come, that they make little of +the gracious Truth that hath been revealed these sixteen hundred years +past. And woe be to them that so under-value the first Master-Builders, +I mean the Apostles of Christ, that unlesse he sends wiser than they, He +must be accounted lesse faithfull in his house than _Moses_ was. + +I have cause enough to be as charitable to others as any man living; yet +I cannot but feare, that those men never Moored their Anchors well in +the firme soile of Heaven, that are weather-waft up and down with every +eddy-wind of every new doctrine. The good Spirit of God doth not usually +tie up the Helme, and suffer passengers to Heaven to ride a drift, +hither and thither, as every wave and current carries them: that is a +fitter course for such as the Apostle calls wandring Starres and +Meteors, without any certaine motion, hurryed about with tempests, bred +of the Exhalations of their own pride and self-wittednesse: whose +damnation sleepeth not, and to whom the mist of darknesse is reserved +for ever, that they may suffer irreparable shipwrack upon the Sands and +Rocks of their owne Errours, being of old ordained to condemnation. + +Eightly, let all considerate men beware of ungrounded opinions in +Religion: Since I knew what to feare, my timerous heart hath dreaded +three things: a blazing starre appearing in the aire: a State Comet, I +mean a favourite rising in a Kingdome, a new Opinion spreading in +Religion: these are Exorbitancies: which is a formidable word: a +_vacuum_ and an exorbitancy, are mundicidious evils. Concerning +Novelties of opinions; I shall expresse my thoughts in these briefe +passages. First, that Truth is the best boone God ever gave the world: +there is nothing in the world, any further then Truth makes it so; it is +better then any creat' _Ens_ or _Bonum_, which are but Truths twins. +Secondly, the least Truth of Gods Kingdome, doth in its place, uphold +the whole kingdome of his Truths; Take away the least _vericulum_ out of +the world, and it unworlds all, potentially, and may unravell the whole +texture actually, if it be not conserved by an Arme of superiordinary +power. Thirdly, the least Evangelicall Truth is more worth than all the +Civil Truths in the world, that are meerly so. Fourthly, that Truth is +the Parent of all Liberty whether politicall or personall; so much +untruth, so much thraldome, _John 8. 32_. + +Hence it is, that God is so jealous of his Truths, that he hath taken +order in his due justice: First, that no practicall sin is so sinfull as +some errour in judgement; no men so accursed with indelible infamie and +dedolent impenitency, as Authours of Heresie. Secondly, that the least +Error, if grown sturdy and pressed, shall set open the Spittle-doore of +all the squint ey'd, wry-necked, and brazen-faced Errors that are or +ever were of that litter; if they be not enough to serve its turne, it +will beget more, though it hath not one crust of reason to maintain +them. Thirdly, that that State which will permit Errors in Religion, +shall admit Errors in policy unavoyably. Fourthly, that that Policy +which will suffer irreligious Errors, shall suffer the losse of so much +Liberty in one kind or other, I will not exempt _Venice_, _Rhaguse_, the +_Cantons_, the _Nether-lands_, or any. + +An easie head may soon demonstrate, that the pre-mentioned Planters, by +Tolerating all Religions, had immazed themselves in the most intolerable +confusions and inextricable thraldomes the world ever heard of. I am +perswaded the Devill himselfe was never willing with their proceedings, +for feare it would breake his wind and wits to attend such a Province. I +speak it seriously according to my meaning. How all Religions should +enjoy their Liberty, Justice its due regularity, Civill cohabitation +morall honesty, in one and the same Jurisdiction, is beyond the Artique +of my comprehension. If the whole conclave of Hell can so compromise, +exadverse, and diametricall contradictions, as to compolitize such a +multimonstrous maufrey of heteroclytes and quicquidlibets quietly; I +trust I may say with all humble reverence, they can doe more then the +Senate of Heaven. My _modus loquendi_ pardoned: I intirely wish much +welfare and more wisdom to that Plantation. + +It is greatly to be lamented, to observe the wanton fearlessnesse of +this Age, especially of younger professors, to greet new opinions and +Opinionists: as if former truths were grown superannuate, and saplesse, +if not altogether antiquate. _Non senescet veritas._ No man ever saw a +gray haire on the head or beard of any Truth, wrinckle, or morphew on +its face: The bed of Truth is green all the yeare long. Hee that cannot +solace himselfe with any saving truth, as affectionately as at the first +acquaintance with it, hath not only a fastidious, but an adulterous +heart. + +If all be true we heare, Never was any People under the Sun, so sick of +new Opinions as _English-men_ nor of new fashions as _English-women_: If +God helpe not the one, and the devill leave not helping the other, a +blind man may easily foresee what will become of both. I have spoken +what I intend for the present to men; I shall speak a word to the women +anon: in the mean time I intreat them to prepare patience. + +Ninthly, that godly humble Christians ought not to wonder impatiently at +the wonderfull workes of God in these times: it is full Season for him +to work Soveraign worke, to vindicate his Soveraignty, that men may +feare before him. States are unstated, Rulers growne Over-rulers, +Subjects worse then men, Churches decayed. Tofts, Professors, empty +casks filled with unholy humours; I speake not of all, but too many; I +condemne not the generation of the just: God hath his remnant, whom he +will carefully preserve. If it bee time for men to take up Defensive +Armes against such as are called Gods, upon the point of _Salus populi_, +it is high time for him that is God indeed, to draw his Sword against +wormes and no men, upon the point of _Majestas imperii_: The piercing of +his Sword shall discover the thoughts of many hearts. + +Lastly, I dare averre, that it ill becomes Christians any thing +well-shod with the preparation of the Gospel, to meditate flight from +their deare Countrey upon these disturbances. Stand your ground ye +_Eleazars_ and _Shammahs_, stir not a foot so long as you have halfe a +foot of ground to stand upon: after one or two such Worthies, a great +Victory may be regained, and flying _Israel_ may returne to a rich +spoile. _Englishmen_, be advised to love _England_, with your hearts and +to preserve it by your Prayers. I am bold to say that since the pure +Primitive time, the Gospel never thrived so well in any soile on earth, +as in the _British_; nor is the like goodnesse of nature, or Cornucopian +plenty else-where to be found: if ye lose that Country, and finde a +better before ye come to Heaven, my Cosmography fades me. I am farre +from discouraging any, whom necessity of Conscience or condition thrusts +out by head and shoulders: if God calls any into a Wildernesse, Hee will +be no wildernesse to them, _Jer. 2. 31._ witnesse his large beneficence +to us here beyond expectation. + +Ye say, why come not we over to help the Lord against the Mighty, in +these Sacred battailes? + +I answer, many here are diligently observing the counsell of the same +Prophet, 22. 10. _Weepe not for him that is dead, neither bemoan him; +but weep for him that is gone away and shall returne no more to see his +Native Country._ Divers make it an Article of our _American_ Creed, +which a celebrate Divine of _England_ hath observed upon _Heb. 11. 9._ +That no man ought to forsake his owne countrey, but upon extraordinary +cause, and when that cause ceaseth, he is bound in conscience to returne +if he can: We are looking to him who hath our hopes and seasons in his +onely wise hand. + +In the mean time we desire to bow our knees before the Throne of Grace +day and night, that the Lord would be pleased in his tender mercy to +still the sad unquietnesse and per-peracute contentions, of that most +comfortable and renowned island, that at length He may have praise in +his Churches, and his Churches peace in him, through Jesus Christ. + + * * * * * + +Should I not keepe promise in speaking a little to Womens fashions, they +would take it unkindly: I was loath to pester better matter with such +stuffe; I rather thought it meet to let them stand by themselves, like +the _Quae Genus_ in the Grammar, being Deficients, or Redundants, not to +be brought under any Rule: I shall therefore make bold for this once, to +borrow a little of their loose tongued Liberty, and mispend a word or +two upon their long-wasted, but short-skirted patience: a little use of +my stirrup will doe no harme. + + _Ridentem dicere verum, quid prohibet?_ + + _Gray Gravity it selfe can well beteam, + That Language be adapted to the Theme. + He that to Parrots speaks, must parrotize: + He that instructs a foole, may act th' unwise._ + +It is known more then enough, that I am neither Nigard, nor Cinick, to +the due bravery of the true Gentry: if any man mislikes a bully mong +drossock more then I, let him take her for his labour: I honour the +woman that can honour her selfe with her attire: a good Text alwayes +deserves a fair Margent: I am not much offended if I see a trimme, far +trimmer than she that wears it: in a word, whatever Christianity or +Civility will allow, I can afford with _London_ measure: but when I +heare a nugiperous Gentledame inquire what dresse the Queen is in this +week: what the nudiustertian fashion of the Court; I meane the very +newest: with egge to be in it in all haste, what ever it be; I look at +her as the very gizzard of a trifle, the product of a quarter of a +cypher, the epitome of nothing, fitter to be kickt, if shee were of a +kickable substance, than either honour'd or humour'd. + +To speak moderately, I truly confesse, it is beyond the ken of my +understanding to conceive, how those women should have any true grace, +or valuable vertue, that have so little wit, as to disfigure themselves +with such exotick garbes, as not only dismantles their native lovely +lustre, but transclouts them into gant bar-geese, +ill-shapen-shotten-shell-fish, Egyptian Hyeroglyphicks, or at the best +into French flurts of the pastery, which a proper English woman should +scorne with her heels: it is no marvell they weare drailes on the hinder +part of their heads, having nothing as it seems in the fore-part, but a +few Squirrils brains to help them frisk from ill-favor'd fashion to +another. + + _These whimm' Crown'd shees, these fashion-fansying wits, + Are empty thin brain'd shells, and fiddling Kits._ + +The very troublers and impoverishers of mankind, I can hardly forbear to +commend to the world a saying of a Lady living sometime with the Queen +of _Bohemia_, I know not where shee found it, but it is pitty it should +be lost. + + _The World is full of care, much like unto a bubble; + Women and care, and care and women, and women and care and trouble._ + +The Verses are even enough for such odde pegma's. I can make my selfe +sicke at any time, with comparing the dazling splender wherewith our +Gentlewomen were embellished in some former habits, with the +gut-foundred goosdom, wherewith they are now surcingled and debauched. +Wee have about five or six of them in our Colony: if I see any of them +accidentally, I cannot cleanse my phansie of them for a moneth after. I +have been a solitary widdower almost twelve yeares, purposed lately to +make a step over to my Native Country for a yoke-fellow: but when I +consider how women there have tripe-wifed themselves with their +cladments, I have no heart to the voyage, least their nauseous shapes +and the Sea, should work too sorely upon my stomach. I speak sadly; me +thinkes it should breake the hearts of English-men to see so many goodly +English-women imprisoned in French Cages, peering out of their +hood-holes for some men of mercy to help them with a little wit, and no +body relieves them. + +It is a more common then convenient saying, that nine Taylors make a +man: it were well if nineteene could make a woman to her minde: if +Taylors were men indeed, well furnished but with meer morall principles, +they would disdain to be led about like Apes, by such mymick Marmosets. +It is a most unworthy thing, for men that have bones in them, to spend +their lives in making fidle-cases for futilous womens phansies; which +are the very pettitoes of infirmity, the gyblets of perquisquilian +toyes. I am so charitable to think, that most of that mystery would +worke the cheerfuller while they live, if they might bee well discharged +of the tyring slavery of mis-tyring women: it is no little labour to be +continually putting up English-women into Out-landish caskes: who if +they be not shifted anew, once in a few moneths, grow too sowre for +their Husbands. What this Trade will answer for themselves when God +shall take measure of Taylors consciences is beyond my skill to imagine. +There was a time when + + _The joyning of the Red-Rose with the White, + Did set our State into a Damask plight._ + +But now our Roses are turned to _Flore de lices_, our Carnations to +Tulips, our Gilliflowers to Dayzes, our City-Dames, to an indenominable +Quaemalry of overturcas'd things. Hee that makes Coates for the Moone, +had need take measure every noone; and he that makes for women, as +often, to keepe them from Lunacy. + +I have often heard divers Ladies vent loud feminine complaints of the +wearisome varieties and chargable changes of fashions: I marvell +themselves preferre not a Bill of redresse. I would[2] _Essex_ Ladies +would lead the _Chore_, for the honour of their County and persons; or +rather the thrice honourable Ladies of the Court, whom it best beseemes: +who may wel presume of a _Le Roy le veult_ from our sober King, a _Les +Seigneurs ont Assentus_ from our prudent Peers, and the like _Assentus_ +from our considerate, I dare not say wife-worne Commons: who I beleeve +had much rather passe one such Bill, than pay so many Taylors Bills as +they are forced to doe. + + [2] All the Counties and shires of England have had wars in them since + the Conquest, but Essex, which is onely free, and should be thankfull. + +Most deare and unparallel'd Ladies, be pleased to attempt it: as you +have the precellency of the women of the world for beauty and feature; +so assume the honour to give, and not take Law from any, in matter of +attire: if ye can transact so faire a motion among yourselves +unanimously, I dare say, they that most renite, will least repent. What +greater honour can your Honors desire, then to build a Promontory +president to all foraigne Ladies, to deserve so eminently at the hands +of all the English Gentry present and to come: and to confute the +opinion of all the wise men in the world; who never thought it possible +for women to doe so good a work? + +If any man think I have spoken rather merrily than seriously he is much +mistaken, I have written what I write with all the indignation I can, +and no more then I ought. I confesse I veer'd my tongue to this kinde of +Language _de industria_ though unwillingly, supposing those I speak to +are uncapable of grave and rationall arguments. + +I desire all Ladies and Gentlewomen to understand that all this while I +intend not such as through necessary modesty to avoyd morose +singularity, follow fashions slowly, a flight shot or two off, shewing +by their moderation, that they rather draw countermont with their +hearts, then put on by their examples. + +I point my pen only against the light-heel'd beagles that lead the chase +so fast, that they run all civility out of breath, against these +Ape-headed pullets, which invent Antique foole-fangles, meerly for +fashion and novelty sake. + +In a word, if I begin once to declaime against fashions, let men and +women look well about them, there is somewhat in the businesse; I +confesse to the world, I never had grace enough to be strict in that +kinde; and of late years, I have found syrrope of pride very wholesome +in a due _Dos_, which makes mee keep such store of that drugge by me, +that if any body comes to me for a question-full or two about fashions, +they never complain of me for giving them hard measure, or under-weight. + +But I addresse my self to those who can both hear and mend all if they +please: I seriously feare, if the pious Parliament doe not finde a time +to state fashions, as ancient Parliaments have done in some part, God +will hardly finde a time to state Religion or Peace: They are the +surquedryes of pride, the wantonnesse of idlenesse, provoking sins, the +certain prodromies of assured judgement, _Zeph. 1. 7, 8_. + +It is beyond all account, how many Gentlemens and Citizens estates are +deplumed by their feather-headed wives, what usefull supplies the +pannage of _England_ would afford other Countries, what rich returnes to +it selfe, if it were not slic'd out into male and female fripperies: and +what a multitude of misimploy'd hands, might be better improv'd in some +more manly Manufactures for the publique weale: it is not easily +credible, what may be said of the preterpluralities of Taylors in +_London_: I have heard an honest man say, that not long since there were +numbered between _Temple-barre_ and _Charing-Crosse_, eight thousand of +that Trade: let it be conjectured by that proportion how many there are +in and about _London_, and in all _England_, they will appeare to be +very numerous. If the Parliament would please to mend women, which their +Husbands dare not doe, there need not so many men to make and mend as +there are. I hope the present dolefull estate of the Realme, will +perswade more strongly to some considerate course herein, than I now +can. + +Knew I how to bring it in, I would speak a word to long haire, whereof I +will say no more but this: if God proves not such a Barbor to it as he +threatens, unlesse it be amended, _Esa. 7. 20._ before the Peace of the +State and Church be well setled, then let my prophesie be scorned, as a +sound minde scornes the ryot of that sin, and more it needs not. If +those who are tearmed Rattle-heads and Impuritans, would take up a +Resolution to begin in moderation of haire, to the just reproach of +those that are called Puritans and Round-heads, I would honour their +manlinesse, as much as the others godlinesse, so long as I knew what man +or honour meant: if neither can find a Barbours shop, let them turne in, +to _Psal. 68. 21._ _Jer. 7. 29._ _1 Cor. 11. 14._ if it be thought no +wisdome in men to distinguish themselves in the field by the Scissers, +let it bee thought no injustice in God, not to distinguish them by the +Sword. I had rather God should know me by my sobriety, than mine enemy +not know me by my vanity. He is ill kept, that is kept by his owne sin. +A short promise is a farre safer guard than a long lock: it is an ill +distinction which God is loth to looke at, and his Angels cannot know +his Saints by. Though it be not the mark of the Beast, yet it may be the +mark of a beast prepared to slaughter. I am sure men use not to weare +such manes; I am also sure Souldiers use to weare other marklets or +notadoes in time of battell. + + * * * * * + +Having done with the upper part of my work, I would now with all humble +willingnesse set on the best peece of Soule-leather I have, did I not +feare I should break my All, which though it may be a right old English +blade, yet it is but little and weake. I should esteeme it the best +piece of workmanship my Cobling hand every wrought, if it would please +Him whose worke it is, to direct me to speake such a word over the sea, +as the good old woman of _Abel_ did over the wall, in the like exigent: +but alas, I am but simple. What if I be? + + _When States dishelv'd are, and Lawes untwist, + Wise men keep their tongues, fools speak what they list._ + +I would not be so unwise as to grieve the wise, if I were wise enough to +foresee it: I would speake nothing to the Cause or Continuance of these +wearisome Warres hitherto; the one is enough debated, the other more +than enough peracted. Nor would I declaime of the uncomlinesse, +unbrotherlinesse, unseasonablenesse and unreasonablenesse of these +direfull digladiations: every stroak strucke sounds too loud upon this +harsh string. I would much rather speake perswasives to a comely +brotherly seasonable and reasonable cessation of Armes on both sides, by +a drawn battaile: Wherein if I shall adventure a few over-bold words, I +intreat my ignorance, impartiality, and Loyalty may plead pardon for me. + +Foure meanes there are, and no more, within the compasse of my +consideration, conducing to what is desired. Either to get the Standard +fixed in heaven by the Lord of Hosts taken downe, I meane by +Reformation: Or to set up white colours instead of red, on one side or +other, I meane by Composition: Or by furling up all the Ensignes on both +sides, I meane by mutuall and generall Cessation: Or by still displaying +all the Colours and Cornets of every batallion, I mean by prosecution: +without Reformation there will hardly be any Composition; without +Composition little hope of Cessation; without Cessation there must and +will be Prosecution; which God forbid. + + +_Reformation._ + +When the Roman Standard was defixed with such difficulty at the battell +between _Hanniball_ and _Flaminius_ at _Thrasimene_, it proved an ill +Omen. _When God gives quietnesse, who can make trouble; when he hideth +his face, who can behold him?_ _Whether it be against a nation or a man +onely._ _That the Hypocrite reigne not, lest the people be insnared_, +_Job 34. 29, 30_. How can the sword of the Lord put it selfe up into its +scabbard and be quiet, when himself hath given it a charge to the +contrary? _Jer. 47. 6, 7_. It was a Cardinall Truth which Cardinall +_Poole_ spake to H. 8. _Penes Reges est inferre bellum, penes autem Deum +terminare._ If Kings will make their beginnings, God will make his ends: +much more when himselfe begins: _When I begin I will also make an end_, +_1 Sam. 3. 12_. Farre better were it, for men to make an end with him in +time, than put him to make such an end with them as he there intends. + +Politicall Reformation he seemes to call for now _indigitanter_. When he +beholds Christian Kingdomes and States unsound in their foundations, +illineall in their superstructures, unjust in their administrations; he +kicks them in peeces with the foot of his Indignation: But when +Religious Statesmen frame and build by the levell and plummet of his +wisdome, then people may say as his servants of old, _Looke upon Zion +the City of our Solemnities; Your eyes shall see it a quiet habitation, +a Tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof +shall be removed, neither shall any of the coards thereof bee broken_; +_Isa. 33. 20._ neither by civill Commotions nor foraign Invasions. When +the coards of a State are exquisitely tight, and the stakes firmely +pitched; such a Tent though but a Tent shall not easily flutter or fall: +But _if the Tacklings be so loose, that the maine Mast cannot stand +steady, nor the Saile be well spread; then may the lame take and divide +a great prey_, ver. 23. If Religion, Laws, Liberties, Affections, +Conversations, and foraigne Federacies be slight; the strength of strong +men shall be weaknesse, and the weaknesse of the weak victorious. + +_Pura politeja ne unum admittit solaecismulum, neque valet, praescriptio +in politicis aut moralibus._ It may maintain a bright conjecture, +against a rusty Truth: a legible possession, against an obliterate +Claime: an inconvenience, against a convenience; where no cleare remedy +may be had: but never any thing that is formally sinfull, or materially +mischievous. When rotten States are soundly mended from head to foot, +proportions duly admeasured, Justice justly dispenced; then shall Rulers +and Subjects have peace with God and themselves: but till then, the +gayest Kingdomes shall be but ruffling scuffling, removing and commoving +hovells. For _England_, however the upper Stories are shroadly +shattered; yet the foundations and frame being good or mendable by the +Architectors now at worke, there is good hope, when peace is setled, +people shall dwell more wind-tight and water-tight than formerly. I +earnestly wish our Mr. Builders to remember, that punctuality in +Divinity and Politie, is but regularity; that what is amisse in the +mould, will misfashion the prosult: and that if this market be slipt, +things may grow as deare as ever they were. Most expert Gentlemen, bee +intreated at length to set our Head right on our shoulders, that we may +once look upwards and goe forwards like proper Englishmen. + + * * * * * + +God will also have Ecclesiasticall Reformation now, or nothing: And here +he stands not upon Kings, Parliaments or Assemblies, but upon his own +Termes. I feare hee will have all drosse and base metalls throughly +melted away by these combustions, before Hee quenches them; all his +Ordinances and vessells cast into his owne fashion, in his own mould, to +his own _amussim_, before he restores peace. There was not a stone left +upon a stone of the old Temple, before the new was erected. If this +first worke bee throughly and throughoutly dispatched as I hope it is, +the great _Remora_ is removed. If the Parliament and Assembly be pleased +to be as curious and industrious as I have seen a great Popish Bishop in +execcrating a Protestant Parish Church one day, and consecrating it the +next; they may adjourn awhile with leave enough. + +Some ten or twelve years before these Wars there came to my view these +two Predictions. + + 1. _When God shall purge this Land with soap and nitre, + Woe be to the Crowne, woe be to the Mitre._ + + The accent of the blow shall fall there. + +He that pities not the Crowne, pities not his owne soule. Hee that +pities not those that wore the Mitre, more than they pitied themselves, +or the Churches over which they insulted, or the State then corrupted +and now Corruined by their pride and negligence, is to blame. + + 2. _There is a set of Bishops comming next behind, + Will ride the devill off his legs, and break his wind._ + +Poore men! they might have kept his backe till this time for ought I +know, had they not put him beyond his pace: but Schollers must gallop, +though they tumble for it. Yet I commend them for this, they gave him +such straynes as made him blow short ever since. I doubt the Assembly +troubles him; and I doubt he troubles them. Well, the Bishops are gone: +If they have carried away with them all that was in the pockets of their +Holliday hose, fare them well; let them come againe when I give them a +new _Conge d' slier_, or send a Pursuivant for them; which if I doe, I +shall never trust myselfe more, though they have often done it for me, +who never deserved that honour. Some of them I confesse were very honest +men, and would have been honester if they dared for their fellows. + +The sad worke now, is to institute better things in their Roome, and to +induct better men in their roome; rather where, and how to finde those +things, they having cunningy laid them so farre out of the way; I doubt +some good men cannot see them, when they look full upon them: it is +like, the Bishops carryed away their eyes with them, but I feare they +left their Spectacles behind them. I use no spectacles, yet my eyes are +not fine enough, nor my hand steady enough to cut by such fine threads +as are now spun. I am I know not what; I cannot tell what to make of my +selfe, nor I think no body else: My Trade is to finde more faults than +others will mend; and I am very diligent at it; yet it scarce findes me +a living, though the Country findes me more worke than I can turne my +hand to. + +For Church work, I am neither Presbyterian, nor plebsbyterian, but an +Interpendent: My task is to sit and study how shapeable the Independent +way will be to the body of _England_, then my head akes on one side; and +how suitable the Presbyterian way, as we heare it propounded, will bee +to the minde of Christ, then my head akes on the other side: but when I +consider how the Parliament will commoderate a way out of both, then my +head leaves aking: I am not, without some contrivalls in my patching +braines; but I had rather suppose them to powder, than expose them to +preregular, much lesse to preter-regular Judgements: I shall therefore +rejoyce that the work is faln into so good hands, heads, and hearts, who +will weigh Rules by Troyweight, and not by the old Haber-du-pois: and +rather then meddle where I have so little skill, I will sit by and tell +my feares to them that have the patience to heare them, and leave the +red-hot question to them that dare handle it. + +I fear many holy men have not so deeply humbled themselves for their +former mis-worshippings of God as he will have them before he reveales +his secrets to them: as they accounted things indifferent, so they +account indifferent repentance will serve turne. _Son of man, if my +people be ashamed of all that they have done, then shew them the forme +of the house, and the fashion thereof_, else not, _Ezek. 43. 11_. A sin +in Gods worship, that seemes small in the common beame of the world, may +be very great in the scales of his Sanctuary. Where God is very jealous, +his servants should be very cautelous. + +I feare, the furnace wherein our new formes are casting, is over-heat, +and casts smoake in the eyes of our founders, that they cannot well see +what they doe, or ought to doe; _Omne perit judicium cum res transit in +affectum._ Truth and peace are the _Castor_ and _Pollux_ of the Gospell: +they that seek the one without the other, are like to finde neither: +Anger will hinder domestick Prayers, much more Ecclesiastique Councels. +What is produced by tumult, is either deficient or redundant. When the +judgements of good men concurre with a harmonious Diapason, the result +is melodious and commodious. Warring and jarring men are no builders of +houses for God, though otherwise very good. Instruments may be well made +and well strung, but if they be not well fretted, the Musique is marred. +The great Turke hearing Musitians so long a tuning, he thought it stood +not with his state to wait for what would follow. When Christ whips +Market-makers out of his Temple, he raises dust: but when he enters in +with Truth and Holinesse, he calls for deep silence, _Hab. 2. 20_. There +must not a toole be heard when the Tabernacle is reared: Nor is that +amiable or serviceable to men that passeth through so many ill +animadversions of Auditors and Spectators. If the Assembly can hardly +agree what to determine, people will not easily agree what to accept. + +I fear, these differences and delayes have occasioned men to make more +new discoveries then otherwise they would. If publique Assemblies of +Divines cannot agree upon a right way, private Conventicles of +illiterate men, will soon find a wrong. Bivious demurres breed devious +resolutions. Passengers to heaven are in haste, and will walk one way or +other. He that doubts of his way, thinkes hee loses his day: and when +men are gone awhile, they will be loth to turn back. If God hide his +path, Satan is at hand to turn Convoy: If any have a minde to ride +poste, he will helpe them with a fresh spavin'd Opinion at every Stage. + + _Where clocks will stand, and Dials have no light, + There men must goe by guesse, be't wrong or right._ + +I feare, if the Assembly of all Divines, doe not consent, and concenter +the sooner, God will breath a spirit of wisedome and meeknesse, into the +Parliament of no Divines, to whom the Imperative and Coactive power +supremely belongs, to consult such a contemperate way, as shall best +please him, and profit his Churches, so that it shall be written upon +the doore of the Assembly; _The Lord was not there._ + +I feare, the importunity of some impatient, and subtlety of some +malevolent mindes, will put both Parliament and Assembly upon some +preproperations, that will not be safe in Ecclesiasticall Constitutions. +To procrastinate in matters clear, as I said even now, may be dangerous; +so, not to deliberate in dubious cases, will be as perilous. We here, +though I think under favour, wee have some as able Steersmen as +_England_ affords, have been driven to tack about again to some other +points of Christs Compasse, and to make better observations before we +hoyse up sayles. It will be found great wisdome in disputable cases, not +to walk on by twylight, but very cautelously; rather by probationers for +a time, then peremptory positives: Reelings and wheelings in Church +acts, are both difficult and disadvantageous. It is rather Christian +modesty than shame, in the dawning of Reformation, to be very +perpensive. Christs mind is, that Evangelicall policies, should be +framed by Angelicall measures; not by a line of flaxe, but by a golden +Reed, _Rev. 21. 15_. + +I feare, he that sayes, the Presbyterian and Independent way, if rightly +carryed, doe not meet in one, he doth not handle his Compasses so +considerately as he should. + +I feare, if Authority doth not establish a sutable and peaceable +Government of Churches the sooner, the bells in all the steeples will +ring awke so long, that they will hardly be brought into tune any more. + +My last, but not least feare, is, That God will hardly replant his +Gospel in any part of Christendome, in so faire an Edition as is +expected, till the whole field hath been so ploughed and harrowed, that +the soile be throughly cleansed and fitted for new seed: Or whether he +will not transplant it into some other Regions, I know not: This feare I +have feared these 20 years, but upon what grounds I had rather bury than +broach. + +I dare not but adde to what preceded about Church-Reformation, a most +humble petition, that the Authority of the Ministry be kept in its due +altitude: if it be dropp'd in the dust, it will soon bee stifled: +Encroachments on both sides, have bred detriments enough to the whole. +The Separatists are content their teaching Elders should sit highest on +the Bench, so they may sit in the Chaire over-against them; and that +their ruling Elders shall ride on the saddle, so they may hold the +bridle. That they may likewise have seasonable and honorable +maintenance, and that certainly stated: which generally we find and +practise here as the best way. When Elders live upon peoples good wills, +people care little for their ill wills, be they never so just: Voluntary +contributions or non-tributions of Members, put Ministers upon many +temptations in administrations of their Offices: two houres care does +more dis-spirit an ingenuous man than two dayes study: nor can an Elder +be given to hospitality, when he knowes not what will be given him to +defray it: it is pity men of gifts should live upon men's gifts. I have +seen most of the Reformed Churches in Europ, and seene more misery in +these two respects, then it is meet others should hear: the complaints +of painfull _Pareus_, _David Pareus_, to my selfe, with tears, concerning +the Germane Churches, are not to be related. + +There is yet a personall Reformation, as requisite as the Politicall. +When States are so reformed, that they conforme such as are profligate, +into good civility: civill men, into religious morality: When Churches +are so constituted, that Faith is ordained Pastor, Truth Teacher, +Holinesse and Righteousnesse ruling Elders: Wisedome and Charity +Deacons: Knowledge, love, hope, zeale, heavenly-mindednesse, meeknesse, +patience, watchfulnesse, humility, diligence, sobriety, modesty, +chastity, constancy, prudence, contentation, innocency, sincerity, &c. +admitted members and all their opposites excluded: then there will bee +peace of Country and Conscience. + +Did the servants of Christ know what it is to live in Reformed Churches +with unreformed spirits, under strict order with loose hearts, how +formes of Religion breed but formes of Godlinesse, how men by +Church-discipline, learne their Church-postures, and there rest; they +would pray as hard for purity of heart, as purity of Ordinances. If we +mocke God in these, He will mocke us; either with defeat of our hopes; +or which is worse: when we have what we so much desire, we shall be so +much the worse for it. It was a well salted speech, uttered by an +English Christian of a Reformed Church in the Netherlands, Wee have the +good Orders here, but you have the good Christians in _England_. Hee +that prizes not Old _England_ Graces, as much as New _England_ +Ordinances, had need goe to some other market before hee comes hither. +In a word, hee that is not Pastor, Teacher, Ruler, Deacon and Brother to +himselfe, and lookes not at Christ above all, it matters not a farthing +whether he be Presbyterian or Independent: he may be a zealot in bearing +witnesse to which he likes best, and yet an Iscariot to both, in the +witnesse of his owne Conscience. + +I have upon strict observation, seen so much power of godlinesse, and +spirituall mindednesse in English Christians, living meerly upon Sermons +and private duties, hardly come by, when the Gospell was little more +than symptomaticall to the State; such Epidemicall and lethall formality +in other disciplinated Churches, that I professe in the hearing of God, +my heart hath mourned, and mine eyes wept in secret, to consider what +will become of multitudes of my deare Country-men, when they shall enjoy +what they now covet: Not that good Ordinances breed ill Consciences, but +ill Consciences grow stark nought under good Ordinances; insomuch that +might I wish an hypocrite the most perilous place but Hell, I should +wish him a Membership in a strict Reformed Church: and might I wish a +sincere Servant of God, the greatest griefe earth can afford, I should +wish him to live with a pure heart, in a Church impurely Reformed; yet +through the improvement of Gods Spirit, that griefe may sanctifie him +for Gods service and presence, as much as the meanes he would have, but +cannot. + +I speak this the rather to prevent, what in me lyes, the imprudent +romaging that is like to be in _England_, from Villages to Townes, from +Townes to Cities, for Churches sake, to the undoing of Societies, +Friendships, Kindreds, Families, Heritages, Callings, yea, the wise +Providence of God in disposing mens habitations, now in the very Infancy +of Reformation: by forgetting that a little leaven may season a large +lump: and it is much better to doe good than receive. It were a most +uncharitable and unserviceable part, for good men to desert their own +Congregations, where many may glorifie God in the day of his Visitation, +for their presence and assistance. If a Christian would picke out a way +to thrive in grace, let him study to administer grace to them that want: +or to make sure a blessing upon his Family; let him labour to multiply +the family of Christ, and beleeve, that he which soweth liberally, shall +reap abundantly; and hee that spareth more than is need, from them that +have more need, shall surely come to poverty: yea, let me say, that he +who forsakes the meanes of grace for Christ and his Churches sake, shall +meet with a better bargaine, namely, grace it selfe. It is a time now, +when full flocks should rather scatter to leane Churches, than gather +from other places, to make themselves fat; when able Christians should +rather turne Jesuites and Seminaries, than run into Covents and +Frieries: had this beene the course in the Primitive time, the Gospel +had been pinfolded up in a few Cities, and not spread as it is. + +What more ungodly sacriledge or manstealing can there be, then to +purloin from godly Ministers the first born of their fervent prayers and +faithfull preachings, the leven of their flocks, the incouragement of +their soules, the Crowne of their labours, their Epistle to Heaven? I am +glad to heare our _New-England_ Elders generally detest it _despuenter_, +and looke at it as a killing _Cordolium_: If men will needs gather +Churches out of the world (as they say) let them first plough the world, +sow it, and reap it with their own hands, and the Lord give them a +liberall Harvest. He is a very hard man that will reap where he hath not +sowed, and gather where he hath not strowed, _Mat. 25. 24_. + +He that saith, it is or was our case, doth not rightly understand +himself or us, and he that takes his warrant out of _Joh. 4. 37. 38._ is +little acquainted with Expositors. Wise men are amazed to hear that +conscientious Ministers dare spoile many Congregations to make one for +themselves. + +In matter of Reformation, this would be remembred, that in premonitory +judgements, God will take good words, and sincere intents; but in +peremptory, nothing but reall performances. + + +_Composition._ + +If Reformation were come thus neer, I should hope Composition were not +farre off: When hearts meet in God, they will soon meet in Gods wayes, +and upon Gods termes. But to avoid prolixity, which steales upon me; For +Composition, I shall compose halfe a dozen distichs concerning these +kind of Wars; wishing I could sing asleep these odious stirres at least +on some part, with a dull Ode. He is no Cobler that cannot sing, nor no +good Cobler that can sing well: + + _Si natura negat, facit indignatio versum_ } They are + _Qualemcunque potest_ ---- Juvenal } these. + + +1. + + _They seldome lose the field, but often win, + That end their wars, before their wars begin._ + + +2. + + _Their Cause is oft the worst, that first begin, + And they may lose the field, the field that win:_[3] + + +3. + + _In Civill warrs, 'twixt Subjects and their King, + There is no conquest got, by conquering._ + + +4. + + _Warre ill begun, the onely way to mend, + Is t' end the warre before the warre doe end._ + + +5. + + _They that will end ill warrs, must have the skill, + To make an end by Rule, and not by Will._ + + +6. + + _In ending warrs 'tween Subjects and their Kings, + Great things are sav'd, by losing little things._ + + [3] _Victrix causa Diis placuit, sed victa_ Catoni. Lucan. + +Wee heare that _Majestas Imperii_ hath challenged _Salus Populi_ into +the field; the one fighting for Prerogatives, the other defending +Liberties: Were I a Constable bigge enough, I would set one of them by +the heeles to keep both their hands quiet; I meane onely in a paire of +stocks, made of sound reason, handsomely fitted for the legges of their +Understanding. + +If _Salus Populi_ began, surely it was not that _Salus Populi_ which I +left in _England_: That _Salus Populi_ was as mannerly a _Salus Populi_ +as need bee: if I bee not much deceived, that _Salus Populi_ suffer'd +its nose to be held to the Grindstone, till it was almost ground to the +grisles; and yet grew never the sharper for ought I could discerne; What +was, before the world was made, I leave to better Antiquaries then +myselfe; but I thinke, since the world began, it was never storied that +_Salus Populi_ began with _Majestas Imperii_, unlesse _Majestas Imperii_ +first unharbour'd it, and hunted it to a stand, and then it must either +turne head and live, or turn taile and die: but more have been storyed +on the other hand than _Majestas Imperii_ is willing to heare: I doubt +not but _Majestas Imperii_ knows, that Common-wealths cost as much the +making as Crownes; and if they bee well made, would yet outsell an +ill-fashioned Crown, in any Market overt, even in _Smithfield_, if they +could be well vouched. + +But _Preces & Lachrymae_, are the people's weapons: so are Swords and +Pistols, when God and Parliaments bid them Arme. Prayers and Teares are +good weapons for them that have nothing but knees and eyes; but most men +are made with teeth and nailes; onely they must neither scratch for +Liberties, nor bite Prerogatives, till they have wept and prayed as God +would have them. If Subjects must fight for their Kings against other +Kingdomes, when their Kings will; I know no reason, but they may fight +against their Kings for their own Kingdomes, when Parliaments say they +may and must: but Parliaments must not say they must, till God sayes +they may. + +I can never beleeve that _Majestas Imperii_, was ever so simple as to +think, that if it extends it self beyond its due Artique at one end, but +_Salus Populi_ must Antartique it as farre at the other end, or else the +world will be Excentrick, and then it will whirle; and if it once fall a +whirling, ten to one, it will whirle them off first, that sit in highest +chaires on cushions fill'd with Peacocks feathers; and they are like to +stand their ground fastest, that owne not one foot of ground to stand +upon. When Kings rise higher than they should, they exhale Subjects +higher than they would: if the _Primum Mobile_ should ascend one foot +higher than it is, it would hurry all the nether wheeles, and the whole +world on fire in 24 houres. No Prince exceeds in Soveraignty, but his +Subjects will exceed as farre in some vitious Liberty, to abate their +griefe; or some pernicious mutiny, to abate their Prince. + + _The crazy world will crack, in all the middle joynts. + If all the ends it hath, have not their parapoynts._ + +Nor can I beleeve that Crownes trouble Kings Heads, so much as Kings +heads trouble Crownes: nor that they are flowers of Crowns that trouble +Crowns, but rather some Nettles or Thistles mistaken for flowers. + +To speake plainer English, I have wondred these thirty yeares what Kings +aile: I have seen in my time, the best part of twenty Christian Kings +and Princes; Yet as Christian as they were, some or other were still +scuffling for Prerogatives. It must be granted at all hands, that +_Praerogativae Regis_ are necessary Supporters of State: and stately +things to stately Kings: but if withall, they be _Derogativae Regno_, +they are but little things to wise Kings. Equity is as due to People, as +Eminency to Princes: Liberty to Subjects, as Royalty to Kings: If they +cannot walk together lovingly hand in hand, _pari passu_, they must cut +girdles and part as good friends as they may: Nor must it be taken +offensively, that when Kings are haling up their top-gallants, Subjects +lay hold on their slablines; the head and body must move alike: it is +nothing meet for me to say with _Horace_, + + _Ut tu fortunam, sic nos te Car'le feremus._ + +But I hope I may safely say, + + _The body beares the head, the head the Crown; + If both beare not alike, then one will down._ + +Distracting Nature, calls for distracting Remedies; perturbing policies +for disturbing cures: If one Extreame should not constitute its +Anti-Extreame, all things would soon be in _extremo_: if ambitious +windes get into Rulers Crownes, rebellious vapours will into Subjects +Caps, bee they stopt never so close: Yet the tongues of Times tell us of +ten Preter-royall Usurpations, to one contra-civill Rebellion. + +Civill Liberties and Proprieties admeasured, to every man to his true +_suum_, are the _prima pura principia, propria quarto modo_, the _sine +quibus_ of humane States, without which, men are but women. Peoples +prostrations of these things when they may lawfully helpe it, are +prophane prostitutions; ignorant Ideottismes, under naturall noddaries; +and just it is that such as undersell them, should not re-inherit them +in haste, though they seeke it carefully with teares. And such +usurpations by Rulers, are the unnaturalizings of nature, +disfranchisements of Freedome, the Neronian nullifyings of Kingdomes: +yea, I beleeve the Devill himselfe would turne Round-head, rather then +suffer these Columnes of Common-wealths to be slighted: as he is a +creature, he feares decreation; as an Angell, dehominations; as a +Prince, dis-common-wealthings; as finite, these pen-infinite +insolencies, which are the most finite Infinites of misery to men on +this side the worlds dissolution: therefore it is, that with Gods leave, +he hath sounded an alarm to all the _susque deques_, pell-mels, one and +alls, now harrassing sundry parts of Christendome. It is enough for God +to be Infinite, too much for man to bee Indefinite. He that will flye +too high a quarry for Absolutenesse, shall stoope as much too low before +he remounts his proper pitch: If _Jacob_ will over top his brother out +of Gods time and way, he will so hamstring him, that hee shall make legs +whether he will or no, at his brothers approach: and such as over-run +all humane measure, shall seldome returne to humane mercy: There are +sins besides the sin against the Holy Ghost, which shall not be expiated +by sacrifice for temporall revenge: I mean when they are boyled up to a +full consistence of contumacy and impenitency. Let absolute Demands or +Commands be put into one scale, and indefinite refusalls into the other: +all the Goldsmiths in _Cheapeside_, cannot tell which weighs heaviest. +Intolerable griefes to Subjects, breed the _Iliaca passio_ in a body +politick, which inforces that upwards which should not. I speak these +things to excuse, what I may, my Countrymen in the hearts of all that +look upon their proceedings. + +There is a quadrobulary saying which passes current in the Westerne +World, That the Emperour is King of Kings, the _Spaniard_, King of Men, +the _French_, King of Asses, the _King_ of _England_, _King_ of Devills. +By his leave that first brayed the speech, they are pretty wise Devills +and pretty honest; the worse they doe, is to keep their Kings from +devillizing, and themselves from Assing: Were I a King (a simple +supposall) I would not part with one good English Devill, for some two +of the Emperours Kings, nor three of the _Spaniards_ Men, nor foure +_French_ Asses; If I did I should thinke my selfe an Asse for my labour. +I know nothing that _Englishmen_ want, but true Grace, and honest pride; +let them be well furnisht with those two, I feare they would make more +Asses, then _Spaine_ can make men, or the Emperour Kings. You will say I +am now beyond my latchet; but you would not say so, if you knew how high +my latchet will stretch; when I heare a lye with a latchet, that reaches +up to his throat that first forged it. + +He is a good King that undoes not his Subjects by any one of his +unlimited Prerogatives: and they are a good People, that undoe not their +Prince, by any one of their unbounded Liberties, be they the very least. +I am sure either may, and I am sure neither would be trusted, how good +soever. Stories tell us in effect, though not in termes, that over-risen +Kings, have been the next evills to the world, unto fallen Angels; and +that over-franchised people, are devills with smooth snaffles in their +mouthes. A King that lives by Law, lives by love; and he that lives +above Law, shall live under hatred doe what he can. Slavery and knavery +goe as seldome asunder, as Tyranny and Cruelty. + +I have a long while thought it very possible, in a time of Peace, and in +some Kings Reigne, for disert Statesmen, to cut an exquisite thred +between Kings Prerogatives, and Subjects Liberties of all sorts, so as +_Caesar_ might have his due, and People their share, without such sharpe +disputes. Good Casuists would case it, and case it, part it, and part +it; now it, and then it, punctually. _Aquinas_, _Suarez_, or _Valentia_, +would have done it long ere this, had they not beene Popish, I might +have said knavish; for, if they be so any where, it is in their +Tractates of Priviledges. Our Common Law doth well, but it must doe +better before things doe as they should. There are some _Maximes_ in +Law, that would be taught to speake a little more mannerly, or else well +_Anti-Maxim'd_: we say, the King can doe a Subject no wrong; why may wee +not say, the Parliament can doe the King no wrong? We say, _Nullum +tempus occurrit Regi_ in taking wrong; why may wee not say, _Nullum +tempus succurrit Regi_ in doing wrong? which I doubt will prove as good +a Canon if well examined. + +Authority must have power to make and keep people honest; People, +honesty to obey Authority; both, a joynt-Councell to keep both safe. +Morall Lawes, Royall Prerogatives, Popular Liberties, are not of Mans +making or giving, but Gods: Man is but to measure them out by Gods Rule: +which if mans wisdome cannot reach, Mans experience must mend: And these +Essentialls, must not be Ephorized or Tribuned by one or a few Mens +discretion, but lineally sanctioned by Supreame Councels. In +_pro-re-nascent_ occurrences, which cannot be foreseen; Diets, +Parliaments, Senates, or accountable Commissions, must have power to +consult and execute against intersilient dangers and flagitious crimes +prohibited by the light of Nature: Yet it were good if States would let +People know so much beforehand, by some safe woven _manifesto_, that +grosse Delinquents may tell no tales of Anchors and Buoyes, nor palliate +their presumptions with pretence of ignorance. I know no difference in +these Essentialls, between Monarchies, Aristocracies, or Democracies; +the rule will be found par-rationall, say Schoolmen and Pretorians what +they will. And in all, the best Standard to measure Prerogatives, is the +Ploughstaffe; to measure Liberties, the Scepter: if the tearms were a +little altered into Loyall Prerogatives and Royall Liberties, then we +should be sure to have Royall Kings and Loyall Subjects. + + _Subjects their King, the King his Subjects greets, + Whilome the Scepter and the Plough-staffe meets._ + +But Progenitors have had them for four and twenty predecessions: that +would be spoken in the Norman tongue or Cimbrian, not in the English or +Scottish: When a Conquerour turnes Christian, Christianity turns +Conquerour: if they had had them time out of minde of man, before _Adam_ +was made, it is not a pin to the point in _foro rectae rationis_: Justice +and Equity were before time, and will be after it: Time hath neither +Politicks nor Ethicks, good nor evill in it; it is an empty thing, as +empty as a _New-English_ purse, and emptier it cannot bee: a man may +break his neck in time, and in a lesse time then he can heale it. + +But here is the deadly pang, it must now be taken by force and dint of +sword: I confesse it is a deadly pang to a Spirit made all of flesh, but +not to a mortified heart: it is good to let God have his will as hee +please, when we have not reason to let him have it as we should; +remembring, that hitherto he hath taken order, that ill Prerogatives +gotten by the Sword, should in time be fetcht home by the Dagger, if +nothing else will doe it: Yet I trust there is both day and means to +intervent this bargaine. But if they should; if God will make both King +and Kingdome the better by it, what should either lose? I am sure there +is no great cause for either to make great brags. + + _Pax quo carior, eo charior._ + + _A peace well made, is likeliest then to hold, + When 'tis both dearly bought and dearly sold._ + +I confesse, he that parts with such pearles to be paid in old iron, had +need to be pityed more by his faithfull friends, than he is like to be +by his false flatterers. My heart is surcharged, I can no longer +forbear. + + * * * * * + +_My Dearest Lord_, and my more than _dearest King_, I most humbly +beseech you upon mine aged knees, that you would please to arme your +minde with patience of proofe, and to intrench your selfe as deep as you +can, in your wonted Royall meeknesse; for I am resolved to display my +unfurled soule in your very face, and to storme you with volyes of Love +and Loyalty. You owe the meanest true Subject you have, a close account +of these open Warres: they are no _Arcana imperii_. Then give mee leave +to inquire of your Majesty, what you make in fields of blood, when you +should be amidst your Parliament of peace: What you doe sculking in the +suburbs of Hell, when your Royall Pallaces stand desolate, through your +absence? What moves you to take up Armes against your faithfull +Subjects, when your Armes should bee embracing your mournfull Queen? +What incenses your heart to make so many widdowes and Orphans, and among +the rest your owne? Doth it become you, the King of the stateliest +Island the world hath, to forsake your Throne, and take up the +Manufacture of cutting your Subjects throats, for no other sin, but for +Deifying you so over-much, that you cannot be quiet in your Spirit, till +they have pluckt you downe as over-low? Doe your three Kingdomes so +trouble you, that they must all three be set on fire at once, that when +you have done, you may probably runne away by their light into utter +darknesse? Doe your three Crownes sit so heavy on your head, that you +will break the backs of the three bodies that set them on, and helpt you +beare them so honourably? Have your three Lamb-like flocks so molested +you, that you must deliver them up to the ravening teeth of evening +Wolves? Are you so angry with those that never gave you just cause to be +angry, but by their too much feare to anger you at all, when you gave +them cause enough? Are you so weary of Peace, that you will never be +weary of Warre? Are you so willing to warre at home, who were so +unwilling to warre abroad, where and when you should? Are you so weary +of being a good King, that you will leave your selfe never a good +Subject? Have you peace of Conscience, in inforcing many of your +Subjects to fight for you against their Conscience? Are you provided +with Answers at the great Tribunall, for the destruction of so many +thousands, whereof every man was as good a man as your Self, _qua_ man? + +Is it not a most unworthy part for you to bee running away from your +Subjects in a day of battel, upon whose Pikes you may come safe with +your naked breast and welcome? Is it honourable for you to be flying on +horses, from those that would esteeme it their greatest honour, to beare +you on their humble shoulders to your Chaire of Estate, and set you down +upon a Cushion stuffed with their hearts? Is it your prudence to be +inraged with your best friends, for adventuring their lives to rescue +you from your worst enemies? Were I a King, pardon the supposall, I +would hang that Subject by the head, that would not take me by the +heels, and dragge me to my Court, when he sees me shifting for life in +the ruined Countrey, if nothing else would doe it; And I would honour +their very heels, that would take me by the very head, and teach me, by +all just meanes, to King it better, when they saw me un-Kinging my selfe +and Kingdome: Doe you not know Sir, that, as when your people are sicke +of the Kings-evill, God hath given you a gift to heale them? so when +your selfe are sicke of it, God hath given the Parliament a gift to +heale you: Hath your Subjects love been so great to you, that you will +spend it all, and leave your children little or none? Are you so +exasperated against wise _Scotland_, that you will make _England_ your +foole or foot-stoole? Is your fathers Sonne growne more Orthodox, then +his most Orthodox father, when he told his Sonne, that a King was for a +kingdome, and not a kingdome for a King? parallell to that of the +Apostle; the husband is but by the wife, but the wife of the husband. + +Is _Majestas Imperii_ growne so kickish, that it cannot stand quiet with +_Salus Populi_, unlesse it be fettered? Are you well advised, in +trampling your Subjects so under your feet, that they can finde no place +to be safe in, but over your head: Are you so inexorably offended with +your Parliament, for suffering you to returne as you did, when you came +into their house as you did, that you will be avenged on all whom they +represent? Will you follow your very worst Councell so far, as to +provoke your very best, to take better counsell than ever they did? If +your Majesty be not Popish, as you professe, and I am very willing to +beleeve, why doe you put the Parliament to resume the Sacrament of the +Altar, or Consubstantions in saying, the King and Parliament, the King +and Parliament? breaking your simple Subjects braines to understand such +mysticall Parleenment? I question much, whether they were not better +speake plainer English, then such Latine as the Angels can hardly +construe, and God happily loves not to perse; I can as well admit an +ubiquitary King as another, if a King be abroad in any good affaire; but +if a King be at home and will circumscribe himselfe at _Oxford_, and +proscribe or discribe his Parliament at _Westminster_, if that +_Parliament_ will prescribe what they ought, without such paradoxing, I +should think God would subscribe a _Le Dieu le veult_ readily enough. + +Is your _Advisera_ such a _Suavamen_ to you, that hath been such a +_Gravamen_ to Religion and Peace? Shall the chiefe bearing wombe of your +Kingdome, be ever so constituted, that it cannot be delivered of its +owne deliverance, in what pangs soever it be, without the will of one +man-midwife, and such a man as will come and not come, but as he list: +nor bring a Parliament to bed of a well-begotten Liberty without an +entire Subsidy? Doe not your Majesty being a Schollar, know, that it was +a truth long before it was spoken, that _Mundus est unus aut nullus_, +that there is _Principum purum unum_, which unites the world and all +that is in it; where that is broken, things fall asunder, that +whatsoever is duable or triable, is fryable. + +Is the _Militia_ of your Kingdome, such an orient flower of your Crowne, +which all good Herbalists judge but a meere nettle, while it is in any +one mans hand living? May not you as well challenge the absolute +disposall of all the wealth of the Kingdome as of all the strength of +your Kingdome? Can you put any difference? unlesse it bee this, that +mens hearts and bones are within their skins, more proper and +intrinsecall, their lands and cattell more externall: dare you not +_concredit_ the _Militia_, with those to whom you may betrust your +heart, better then your owne breast? Will they ever harme you with the +_Militia_, that have no manner of _malitia_ against you, but for +mis-imploying the _Militia_ against them by the _malitia_ of your ill +Counsellours? What good will the _Militia_ doe you when you have wasted +the Realme of all the best _Milites_ it hath? May not your Majesty see +through a paire of Spectacles, glazed with inch-board; that while you +have your _Advisera_ in one hand, and the _Militia_ in the other, you +have the neckes of your Subjects under your feet, but not your heart in +your owne hand? doe you not know that _malum est, posse malum_? + +Hath Episcopacy beene such a religious Jewell in your State, that you +will sell all or most of your Coronets, Caps of honour, and blue +Garters, for six and twenty cloth Caps? and your Barons Cloakes, for so +many Rockets, whereof usually twenty have had scarce good manners enough +to keepe the other six sweet? Is no Bishop no King, such an oraculous +Truth, that you will pawne your Crowne and life upon it? if you will, +God may make it true indeed on your part: Had you rather part with all, +then lose a few superfluous tumours, to pare off your monstrousnesse? +Will you be so covetous, as to get more then you ought, by losing more +then you need? Have you not driven good Subjects enough abroad, but you +will also slaughter them that stay at home? Will you take such an ill +course, that no prayers can fasten that good upon you we desier? Is +there not some worse root than all these growing in your Spirit, +bringing forth all this bitter fruit? against which you should take up +Arms, rather then against your harmlesse Subjects? Doe you not foresee, +into what importable head-tearings and heart-searchings you will be +ingulfed, when the Parliament shall give you a mate, though but a Stale? +Methinkes it should breake your heart, to see such a one as I, presume +so much upon your clemency and too much upon your Majesty, which your +Selfe have so eclipsed by the interposall of your Selfe between your +Selfe and your Selfe, that it hath not ray's enough left to dazle downe +the height of my affections to the awe of my Judgement. + +Tres-Royall Sir, I once againe beseech you, with teares dropping from my +hoary head, to cover your Selfe as close as you may, with the best +shield of goodnesse you have: I have somewhat more to say, which may +happily trouble not your Selfe, but your followers, more than what is +already said. There lived in your Realme and Reigne two whom I may well +tearme Prophets, both now in a better Kingdome; whereof one foretold two +things concerning your Majesty, of these very proceedings, long before +they began; which being done and past shall bee buried in silence: the +other made this prediction about the same time. + + _King =Charles= will joyne Himselfe to bitter Griefe, + Then joyne to God, and prove a Godly Chiefe._ + +His words were in prose these, King _Charles_ will come into fetters, +meaning strong afflictions, and then prove as good a King, as such a +good King of _Israel_, whom he then named, but I need not: he was as +inwardly acquainted with the minde of God, as fervent and frequent a +Beadsman for your welfare, and had as religious Opticks of State, as any +man I know: foure other Predictions he made, full as improbable as this, +whereof three are punctually performed. A good Christian being sometime +in conflicts of Conscience, hurried with long tentations, used this +speech to my selfe, I am now resolved to be quiet, for I plainly see, +God will save me whether I will or no: If your Majesty would be pleased +to thinke so in your heart, and say so with your mouth, all the good +Subjects you have, would say, _Amen_, till the heavens rang, and I hope +you have few so bad, but would say, _So be it_. + +Much lamented Sir, If you will please to retire your Selfe to your +Closet, whither you may most safely come, and make your peace with God, +for the vast heritage of sinne your Intombed father left upon your +score, the dreadful Imprecation he poured upon the heads of his tender +posterity in _Summersets_ and _Overburyes_ Case, published in +Starchamber by his Royall command; your owne sinful marriage, the +sophistocation of Religion and Policie in your time, the luxury your +Court and Country, your connivance with the Irish butcheries, your +forgetfull breaches upon the Parliament, your compliance with Popish +Doegs, with what else your Conscience shall suggest: and give us, your +guilty Subjects example to doe the like, who have held pace and +proportion with you in our evill wayes: we will helpe you by Gods +assistance, to poure out rivers of tears, to wash away the streams of +blood, which have beene shed for these heavy accounts; we will also +helpe you, God helping us, to beleeve, that there is hope in _Israel_ +for these things; and Balme enough in his _Gilead_ to heale all the +broken bones of your three kingdomes, and to redouble your honour and +our peace: His Arme is infinite; to an infinite power all things are +equally faisable, to an infinite mercy, all sinnes equally pardonable. +The Lord worke these things in us and for us, for his compassions sake +in Jesus Christ. + +Sir, you may now please to discover your Selfe where you think meet; I +trust I have not indangered you: I presume your Ear-guard will keep +farre enough from you, what ever I have said: be it so, I have +discharged my duty, let them look to theirs. If my tongue should reach +your eares, which I little hope for; Let it be once said; the great King +of great _Britaine_, tooke advise of a simple Cobler, yet such a Cobler, +as will not exchange either his blood or his pride, with any Shoo-maker +or Tanner in your Realme, nor with any of your late Bishops which have +flattered you thus in peeces: I would not speake thus in the eares of +the world, through the month of the Presse for all the plunder your +plunderers have pillaged; were it not somewhat to abate your Royall +indignation toward a loyall Subject; a Subject whose heart hath been +long carbonadoed, _des veniam verbo_, in flames of affection towards +you. Your Majesty knowes or may know, time was, when I did, or would +have done you a better peece of service, than all your Troopes and +Regiments are now doing. Should I heare any Gentleman that follows you, +of my yeares, say hee loves you better than I, if it were lawfull, I +would sweare by my Sword, he said more than his sword would make good. + +Gracious Sir, Vouchsafe to pardon me my no other sins, but my long +Idolatry towards you, and my loving you too hard in this speech, and I +will pardon you your Treason against me, even me, by committing Treason +against your Selfe my Lord and King;[4] and your murther, in murthering +me, even me, by murthering my deare fellow Subjects, bone of my bone, +and flesh of my flesh, and of yours also. If you will not pardon me, I +will pardon my selfe, dwell in my own clothes as long as I can, and +happily make as good a shift for my proportion, as he that hath a +lighter paire of heeles: And when you have done what you please and what +you can, I am resolved to be + + _As loyall a Subject to your Majesty when I + have never a head on my shoulders, as + you a Royall King to me, when you have + your three Crownes on your head,_ + + Theod: de la Guard. + + [4] I speake in termes of Divinity not of Law and am deepely grieved + that I am forced to such necessary over boldnesse. + + _Sir_, + +I Cannot give you over thus; I most earnestly implore you, that you +would not deferre to consider yourselfe throughly, you are now returned +to the brinke of your Honour and our Peace, stand not too long there, +your State is full of distractions, your people of expectations, the +importune Affaires of your Kingdome perplexedly suspended, your good +Subjects are now rising into a resolution to pray you on to your throne, +or into your Tombe, into Grace with your Parliament and People, or into +Glory with the Saints in Heaven; but how you will get into the one, +without passing first through th' other, is the riddle they cannot +untye. If they shall ply the Throne of Grace hard, God will certainely +heare, and in a short time mould you to his minde, and convince you, +that it had and will bee farre easier to sit downe meekely upon the +_Rectum_, than to wander resolutely in obliquities, which with Kings, +seldome faile to dissembogue into bottomlesse Seas of sorrows. + +Dearest Sir, be intreated to doe what you doe sincerely; the King of +Heaven and Earth can search and discover the hiddenest corner of your +heart, your Parliament understands you farre better then you may +conceive, they have many eares and eyes, and good ones, I beleeve they +are Religiously determined to re-cement you to your Body so exquisitely, +that the Errors of State and Church, routed by these late stirs, may not +re-allee hereafter, nor Themselves be made a curse to the issue of their +own bodies, nor a Scoffe, to all Politique Bodies in Europe. The Lord +give your Majesty and all your Royall Branches _the spirit of wisedome +and understanding_, _the Spirit of knowledge and his feare_, for His +mercy and Christ his sake. + + * * * * * + +I Would my skill would serve me also, as well as my heart, to translate +Prince _Rupert_, for his Queen-mothers sake, _Eliz._ a second. Mismeane +me not. I have had him in my armes when he was younger, I wish I had him +there now: if I mistake not, he promised then to be a good Prince, but I +doubt he hath forgot it: if I thought he would not be angry with me, I +would pray hard to his Maker, to make him a right Roundhead, a wise +hearted Palatine, a thankfull man to the English; to forgive all his +sinnes, and at length to save his soule, notwithstanding all his +God-damne mee's: yet I may doe him wrong; I am not certaine hee useth +that oath; I wish no man else would. I dare say the Devills dare not. I +thank God I have lived in a Colony of many thousand English almost these +twelve yeares, am held a very sociable man; yet I may considerately say, +I never heard but one Oath sworne, nor never saw one man drunk, nor ever +heard of three women Adulteresses, in all this time, that I can call to +minde: If these sinnes bee amongst us privily, the Lord heale us. I +would not bee understood to boast of our innocency; there is no cause I +should, our hearts may be bad enough, and our lives much better. But to +follow my businesse. + +Prosecutions of Warres betweene a King and his Parliament, are the +direfull dilacerations of the world, the cruell Catastrophes of States, +dreadfull to speake of; they are _nefanda & n' agenda_: I know no +grounds can be given of them but two: Either upon Reason founded upon +some surmisall of Treason, which my reason cannot reach: I could never +conceive why a rationall King should commit Treason against a reasonable +Parliament; or how a faithfull Parliament against their lawfull King: +the most I can imagine, is a misprision of Treason, upon a misprision of +Reason. Hee that knows not the Spirit of his King, is an Atheist. Our +King is not _Charles le simple_ sometime of _France_: he understands not +our King that understands him not to bee understanding. The Parliament +is supposed Omniscient, because under God they are Omnipotent: if a +Parliament have not as much knowledge and all other vertues, as all the +Kingdome beside, they are no good Abridgement of the Common-wealth. I +beleeve Remonstrances have demonstrated enough concerning this point of +Reason, to give satisfaction to such as satisfaction will satisfie. + + +Or upon Will. + +The Will of a King is very numinous; it hath a kinde of vast +universality in it, it is many times greater than the will of his whole +kingdome, stiffened with ill Counsell and ill Presidents: if it be not a +foot and half lesser than the Will of his Councell, and three foot +lesser than the Will of his Parliament, it is too big. I think it were +well for a King if hee had no will at all, but were all Reason. What if +he committed his morall will to Divines, that were no Bishops? his +Politicall, to his Parliament, and a Councell chosen by Parliament? that +if ever it miscarry, they may blame themselves most, and him least. I +scarce know any King that hath such advantage as ours; his three +kingdomes lye so distinct and entire, that if he please, he might keep +them like three gardens without a weed, if he would let God keep his +will, without wilfulnesse and rashnesse. + +I have observed men to have two kindes of Wills, a Free-hold will, such +as men hold in _Capite_ of themselves; or a Copy-hold will, held at the +will of other Lords or Ladies. I have read almost all the Common Law of +_England_, and some Statutes; yet I never read, that the Parliament held +their will in such a _Capite_: their Tenure is _Knight-service_, and +good _Knight-service_ too, or else they are to blame. And I am sure, a +King cannot hold by Copy, at the will of other Lords; the Law calls that +_base tenure_, inconsistent with Royalty; much more base is it, to hold +at the will of Ladies: Apron-string _tenure_ is very weak, tyed but of a +slipping knot, which a childe may undoe, much more a King. It stands not +with our Queens honour to weare an Apron, much lesse her Husband, in the +strings; that were to insnare both him and her self in many unsafeties. +I never heard our King was Effeminate: to be a little Uxorious +personally, is a vertuous vice in Oeconomicks; but Royally, a vitious +vertue in Politicks. To speak English, Books and tongues tell us, I wish +they tell us true, that the Error of these Wars on our Kings part +proceeds only from ill Counsellours. + +Ill Counsellours are very ill Gamesters; if they see their own stake a +losing, they will play away King, Queen, Bishops, Knights, Rooks, +Pawnes, and all, before they will turne up the board: they that play for +lusts, will play away themselves, and not leave themselves so much as a +heart to repent; and then there is no Market left but Hell; if the case +be thus, it is to no end to look for any end, till one side make an end +of the other. + + _They that at stake their Crownes and Honours set, + Play lasting games, if Lust or Guilt doe bet._ + + +_Cessation._ + +If God would vouchsafe to give his Majesties Religion and Reason, power +to fling his Wills head over the Wall, in matter of Composition, and his +Subjects strength to throw their lusts after it, Arms would be soon laid +down, and Peace soon taken up. They that are not at peace with God, are +not at peace with themselves, whatever they think; and they that are not +at peace with themselves, cannot be at peace with others, if occasion +provokes, be their natures never so good. + +So farre as I can conjecture, the chiefe impediment to a generall and +mutuall Cessation of Armes, is, a despaire of mutuall and generall +forgivenesse. If ever _England_ had need of a generall Jubile in Heaven +and Earth, it is now. Our King and Parliament have been at great strife, +who should obtaine most Justice: if they would now strive, who should +shew most Mercy, it would heare well throughout the world. Here also my +speech must be twofold and blind-fold. It is now nine Moneths and more +since the last credible News was acted: it is possible by this, the +Parliament may be at the Kings mercy: Did I say a Kings mercy? what can +I say more? no man on earth, can shew more mercy then a King, nor shall +need more, when he comes to give an Account of his Kingdome: Nor did +ever any Parliament merit more mercy than this, for they never sinned, +that I know, I meane against the Common and Statute Law of _England_: it +is pity they who have given so many general pardons, should want one +now. If our King hath lost his way, and thereby learned to looke to his +path better hereafter, and taught many Successors to King it right for +many Ages; Me thinks it should impetrate a Royall Redintegration, upon a +Royall acknowledgement and ingagement. But how should an erring King +trust a provoked Parliament? Surely he may trust God safe enough; who +will never trust that State more with a good King, that will doe ill to +a King that is turned so good. Me thinks those passages of Scripture, +_Esa. 43. 24, 25._ _chap. 57. 17, 18_. The strange illation, _Hos. 2. 13, +14._ should melt a heart of steele into floods of mercy. + +For others, were my head, one of the heads which first gave the King +Counsell to take up these Armes, or to persist in them, when at any time +he would have disbanded, I would give that head to the Kingdome, whether +they would or no; if they would not cut it off, I would cut it off +myselfe, and tender it at the Parliament doore, upon condition that all +other heads might stand, which stand upon penitent hearts, and will doe +better on than off; then I would carry it to _London-Bridge_, and charge +my tongue to teach all tongues, to pronounce Parliament right hereafter. + +When a kingdom is broken just in the neck joynt, in my poore policy, +ropes and hatchets are not the kindliest instruments to set it: Next to +the spilling of the blood of Christ for sin, the sparing of the blood of +sinners, where it may be as well spared as spilt, is the best way of +expiation. It is no rare thing for Subjects to follow a leading King; if +he will take his truncheon in his hand, it is to be expected many will +put their swords in their Belts. Sins that rise out of mistake of +judgement, are not so sinfull as those of malice ordinarily: and when +multitudes sin, multitudes of mercy are the best Anodines. + + --_gratia gratis data, gratissima._ + + _Grace will dissolve, but rigour hardens guilt: + Break not with Steely blowes, what oyle should melt._ + + _In Breaches integrant, 'tween Principalls of States, + Due Justice may suppresse, but Love redintegrates._ + +Whosoever be pardoned, I pray not let _Britanicus_ scape, I mean a +pardon. I take him to be a very serviceable Gentleman; Out of my entire +respect to him, I shall presume to give him half a dozen stitches of +advice: + +I intreat him to consider that our King is not onely a man, but a King +in affliction; Kings afflictions are beyond Subjects apprehensions; a +Crown may happily ake as much as a whole Common-wealth. + +I desire him also to conceale himself as deeply as he can, if he cannot +get a speciall pardon, to weare a Latitat about his neck, or let him lie +close under the Philosophers stone, and I'le warrant him for ever being +found. + +If he be discovered, I counsell him to get his head set on faster than +our _New-England_ Taylors use to set on Buttons; Kings, and Kings +Childrens memories are as keen as their Subjects wits. + +If he fears any such thing, that he would come over to us, to helpe +recruite our bewildred brains: we will promise to maintain him so long +as he lives, if he will promise to live no longer then we maintain him. + +If he should bee discovered and his head chance to be cut off against +his will, I earnestly beseech him to bequeath his wits to me and mine in +Fee-simple, for we want them, and cannot live by our hands in this +Country. + +Lastly, I intreat him to keep his purse, I give him my counsell +_gratis_, confessing him to be more then my match, and that I am very +loath to fall into his hands. + + +_Prosecution._ + +If Reformation, Composition, Cessation, can finde no admittance, there +must and will be Prosecution: to which I would also speak briefly and +indifferently still to both sides; and first to that, which I had rather +call Royalists then Cavaliers; who if I mistake not, fight against the +Truth. + +Foolish Cowardly man (I pray patience, for I speak nothing but the pulse +of my owne heart) dreads and hates, nothing in Heaven or Earth, so much +as Truth: it is not God, nor Law, nor sinne, nor death, nor hell, that +he feares, but onely because he feares there is Truth in them: Could he +de-truth them all, he would defie them all: Let Perdition it self come +upon him with deadly threats, fiery swords, displayed vengeance, he +cares not: Let Salvation come cap in hand, with naked Reason, harmelesse +Religion, lawny embracements, he will rather flye or dye, than +entertaine it: come Truth in what shape it will, hee will reject it: +and when hee can beat it off with most steely prowesse, he thinkes +himselfe the bravest man; when in truth it is nothing but exsanguine +feeble exility of Spirit. Thy heart, saith the Prophet _Ezek. 16. 30._ +is weake, like the heart of an imperious whorish woman: a man would +thinke, the heart of an imperious whore, were the very pummell of +_Scanderbergs_ sword; alas, she is hen-hearted, shee dares not looke +Truth in the face; if she dared, shee would neither be whorish, nor +imperious, nor weake. He shews more true fortitude, that prayes quarter +of the least Truth, at a miles distance, than hee that breakes through +and hewes downe the most Theban Phalanx that ever field bore. _Paul_ +exprest more true valour, in saying, I can doe nothing against the +Truth, than _Goliah_, in defying the whole hoste of _Israel_. + +Couragious Gentlemen, Yee that will stab him that gives you the lye; +take heed yee spend not your bloods, limbes and soules, in fighting for +some untruth: and yee that will fling out the gantlet to him that calls +you Coward, dishonour not your selves with such Cowardise, as to fight +against Truth, meerly for feare of it. A thousand pities it is, such +gallant Spirits should spend their lives, honours, heritages, and sweet +relations in any Warres, where, for ought many of them know, some false +mistake commands in Chiefe. + +Honoured Country-men, bee intreated to love Truth: if it loves not you +againe, and repaires not all your losses, then install some Untruth in +its roome for your Generall. If you will needs warre, be perswaded to +contend lawfully, wisely and stedfastly, against all errours in Divinity +and Policy: they are the cursed Counter-mures, dropt Portcullises, +scouring Angiports, sulphurious Granado's, laden murtherers, peevish +Galthropes, and rascall desperadoes, which the Prince of lyes imployes +with all his skill and malice, to maintaine the walls and gates of his +kingdome, when Truth would enter in with grace and peace to save +forlorne sinners, and distressed Commonwealthes: witnesse the present +deplorable estate of sundry States in Europe. + +Give me leave to speake a word more: it is but this; Yee will finde it a +farre easier field, to wage warre against all the Armies that ever were +or will be on Earth, and all the Angels of Heaven, than to take up Armes +against any truth of God: It hath more Counsell and strength than all +the world besides; and will certainely either gaine or ruine, convert or +subvert every man that opposes it. I hope ingenuous men will rather take +advice, then offence at what I have said: I had rather please ten, than +grieve one intelligent man. + + * * * * * + +If this side be resolute, I turne me to the other. + + * * * * * + +Goe on brave Englishmen, in the name of God, go on prosperously, because +of Truth and Righteousnes: Yee that have the Cause of Religion, the life +of your Kingdome and of all the good that is in it in your hands: Goe on +undauntedly: As you are Called and Chosen, so be faithfull: Yee fight +the battells of the Lord, bee neither desidious nor perfidious: You +serve the King of Kings, who stiles you his heavenly Regiments: +Consider well, what impregnable fighting it is in heaven, where the Lord +of Hosts is your Generall, his Angells your Colonels, the Stars your +fellow-souldiers, his Saints your Oratours, his Promises your +victuallers, his Truth your Trenches; where Drums are Harps, Trumpets +joyfull sounds; your Ensignes Christs Banners; where your weapons and +armour are spirituall, therefore irresistable, therefore impierceable; +where Sun and wind cannot disadvantage you, you are above them; where +hell it selfe cannot hurt you, where your swords are furbushed and +sharpened by him that made their metall, where your wounds are bound up +with the oyle of a good Cause, where your blood runs into the veynes of +Christ, where sudden death is present martyrdome and life; your +funeralls resurrections, your honour glory; where your widows and babes +are received into perpetuall pensions; your names listed among _Davids_ +Worthies; where your greatest losses are greatest gaines; and where you +leave the troubles of war, to lye down in downy beds of eternall rest. + +What good will it doe you, deare Countrymen, to live without lives, to +enjoy _England_ without the God of _England_, your Kingdome without a +Parliament, your Parliament without power, your Liberties without +stability, your Lawes without Justice, your honours without vertue, your +beings without wel-being, your wives without honesty, your children +without morality, your servants without civility, your lands without +propriety, your goods without immunity, the Gospel without salvation, +your churches without Ministery, your Ministers without piety, and all +you have or can have, with more teares and bitternesse of heart, than +all you have and shall have will sweeten or wipe away? + +Goe on therefore Renowned Gentlemen, fall on resolvedly, till your hands +cleave to your swords, your swords to your enemies hearts, your hearts +to victory, your victories to triumph, your triumphs to the everlasting +praise of him that hath given you Spirits to offer your selves +willingly, and to jeopard your lives in high perils, for his Name and +service sake. + +And Wee your Brethren, though we necessarily abide beyond _Jordan_, and +remaine on the American Sea-coasts, will send up Armies of prayers to +the Throne of Grace, that the God of power and goodnesse, would +incourage your hearts, cover your heads, strengthen your arms, pardon +your sinnes, save your soules, and blesse your families, in the day of +Battell. Wee will also pray, that the same Lord of Hosts, would discover +the Counsels, defeat the Enterprizes, deride the hopes, disdaine the +insolencies, and wound the hairy scalpes of your obstinate Enemies, and +yet pardon all that are unwillingly misled. Wee will likewise helpe you +beleeve that God will be seen on the Mount, that it is all one with him, +to save by many or few, and that he doth but humble and try you for the +present, that he may doe you good at the latter end. All which hee bring +to passe who is able to doe exceeding abundantly, above all we can aske +or thinke, for his Truth and mercy sake in Jesus Christ. + + _Amen. Amen._ + + + + + A Word of _IRELAND_: + + _Not of the Nation universally, nor of any man in + it, that hath so much as one haire of Christianity + or Humanity growing on his head or beard, + but onely of the truculent Cut-throats, + and such as shall take up Armes + in their Defence._ + + +These _Irish_ anciently called _Antropophagi_, man-eaters: Have a +Tradition among them, That when the Devill shewed our Saviour all the +kingdomes of the Earth and their glory, that he would not shew him +_Ireland_, but reserved it for himselfe: it is probably true, for he +hath kept it ever since for his own peculiar; the old Fox foresaw it +would eclipse the glory of all the rest: he thought it wisdome to keep +the land for a Boggards for his unclean spirits imployed in this +Hemisphere, and the people, to doe his Son and Heire, I mean the Pope, +that service for which _Lewis_ the eleventh kept his Barbor _Oliver_, +which makes them so blood-thirsty. They are the very Offall of men, +Dregges of Mankind, Reproach of Christendome, the Bots that crawle on +the Beast taile, I wonder _Rome_ it self is not ashamed of them. + +I begge upon my hands and knees, that the Expedition against them may be +undertaken while the hearts and hands of our Souldiery are hot, to +whom I will be bold to say briefly: Happy is he that shall reward them +as they have served us, and Cursed be he that shall do that work of the +Lord negligently, Cursed be he that holdeth back his Sword from blood; +yea, Cursed be he that maketh not his Sword starke drunk with _Irish_ +blood, that doth not recompense them double for their hellish treachery +to the _English_, that maketh them not heaps upon heaps, and their +Country a dwelling place for Dragons, an Astonishment to Nations: Let +not that eye look for pity, nor that hand to be spared, that pities or +spares them, and let him be accursed, that curseth not them bitterly. + + + + +A Word of Love to the Common People of _England_. + + +It is, your, now or never, to muster up puissant Armies of Prayers to +the Mercy Seate; your Body Representative, is now to take in hand, as +intricate a piece of worke, as ever fell into the hands of any +Parliament in the world, to tye an indissoluble knot upon that webb +which hath been woven with so much cost and bloud, wherein if they +happen to make one false maske, it may re-imbarque themselves and you +all into a deadly relapse of scorne and calamity. It is the worke of God +not of man, pray speedily therefore, and speedingly, give him no rest +till your rest be throughly re-established, Your God is a God whose Name +is All-sufficient, abundant in Goodnesse and Truth, on whom the Sonnes +of _Iacob_ never did, nor shall call in vaine, you have a Throne of +Grace wherto you may goe boldly; a Christ to give you a leading by the +hand and liberty of speech, an Intercessor in Heaven to offer up your +Prayers wrapp'd in his own; a large Charter _aske and have_, a Spirit to +helpe all your infirmities in that duty, a sure Covenant that you shall +be heard, and such late incouragement as may strengthen your feeble +hands for ever. If you who _may command God concerning the work of his +hand_, shall faile to demand the workemanship of his hand in this +worke, your children will proclaime you un-thrifts with bitter teares to +the worlds end. + +If you see no cause to pray, read + + _Jer. 18. 1.-10._ + +Be also intreated to have a continuall and conscientious care not to +impeach the Parliament in the hearts one of another by whispering +complaints, easilier told then tryed or trued. Great bodyes move but +slowely, especially when they move on three leggs and are over-loden +with weighty occasions. They have now sate full six years without +intermission to continue your being, many of their heads are growne gray +with your cares, they are the High Councell of the Kingdome, the great +Gilead of your Balme, the Phisitians of all your sicknesse; if any of +them doe amisse, blame yourselves, you chose them, be wiser hereafter; +you cannot doe the State, your selves, your posterity a more ungratefull +office then to impaire them with disparagements and discoragements who +are so studious to repaire your almost irreparable ruines. + +Be likewise beseeched, not to slight good ministers, whom you were wont +to reverence much, they are Gods Embassadours, your Ephods, your +Starres, your Horse-men & Chariots, your Watchmen, & under Christ your +Salvation, I know no deadlier Symptome of a dying People than to +undervalue godly Ministers, whosoever despiseth them shall certainly be +despised of God and men at one time or other. + + + + + A most humble heel-piece. + to the + Most Honourable Head-piece + the + Parliament of _England_. + + +I Might excuse my selfe in Part, with a speech _Lycurgus_ used in the +like exigent of State, _senectute fio audacior, publica necessitate +loquacior_, but it much better becomes mee with all lowlinesse and +uprightnesse, wherein I have failed to pray pardon on both my knees, +which I most humbly and willingly doe; only, before I rise, I crave +leave to present this six-fold Petition. + +That you would be pleased + + To preserve the Sacred reputation of Parliaments, or, wee shall have + no Common-wealth. + + To uphold the due estimation of good Ministers, else, we shall have no + Church. + + To heale the sad dislocation of our Head, throughly, perfectly, or, + wee shall have no King. + + To oppugne the bold violation of divine Truths, else wee shall have no + God. + + To proceed with what zeale you began, or what you began can come to + little end. + + To expedite worke with what speede you safely may, else ignorant + people will feare they shall have no end at all. + + Hee that is great in Counsell, and Wonderfull in Working, guide and + helpe you in All things, that doing All things in Him, by Him, and + for Him, you may doe All things like Him. + + _So be it._ + + + + +A respective word to the Ministers of ENGLAND. + + +Farre bee it from mee, while I dehort others to slight you my selfe, or +to despise any man but myselfe, whom I can never despise enough: I +rather humbly intreate you to forgive my boldnesse, who have most just +cause to judge my selfe lesse and lesse faithfull than the least of you +all, yet I dare not but bee so faithfull to you and my selfe, as to say + +They are the Ministers of _England_, that have lost the Land; for +Christs sake, put on His bowels, His wisdome, His zeale, and recover +it. + + I pray let me drive in half a dozen plaine honest Country Hobnailes, + such as the Martyrs were wont to weare; to make my work hold the + surer; and I have done. + + 1. _There, lives cannot be good, + There, Faith cannot be sure, + Where Truth cannot be quiet, + Nor Ordinances pure._ + + 2. _No King can King it right, + Nor rightly sway his Rod; + Who truely loves not Christ, + And truely fears not God._ + + 3. _He cannot rule a Land, + As Lands should ruled been, + That lets himself be rul'd + By a ruling Romane Queen._ + + 4. _No earthly man can be + True Subject to this State; + Who makes the Pope his Christ, + An Heretique his Mate._ + + 5. _There Peace will goe to War, + And Silence make a noise: + Where upper things will not + With nether equipoyse._ + + 6. _The upper world shall Rule, + While Stars will run their race: + The nether world obey, + While People keep their place._ + + +The Clench. + + _If any of these come out + So long 's the world doe last: + Then credit not a word + Of what is said and past._ + + + + +ERRATA AT NON CORRIGENDA. + + +Now I come to rubbe over my work, I finde five or six things like +faults, which would be mended or commended, I know not well which, nor +greatly care. + + +1. For _Levity_, read, _Lepidity_, ---- and that a very little, and that +very necessary, if not unavoydable. + + _Misce stultitiam Consiliis brevem + --Dulce est desipere in loco._ Horat. + +To speak to light heads with heavy words, were to break their necks: to +cloathe Summer matter, with Winter Rugge, would make the Reader sweat. +It is musick to me, to heare every Dity speak its spirit in its apt +tune: every breast, to sing its proper part, and every creature, to +expresse it self in its naturall note: should I heare a Mouse roare like +a Beare, a Cat lowgh like an Oxe, or a Horse whistle like a Red-breast, +it would scare ---- mee. + + _The world's a well strung fidle, mans tongue the quill, + That fills the world with fumble for want of skill, + When things and words in tune and tone doe meet, + The universall song goes smooth and sweet._ + +2. For _audacity_, read, _veracity_, or _Verum Gallice non libenter +audis_. Mart. Flattery never doth well, but when it is whispered through +a paire of lisping teeth; Truth best, when it is spoken out, through a +paire of open lips. Ye make such a noyse there, with Drums and Trumpets, +that if I should not speak loud, ye could not hear me: Ye talke one to +another, with whole Culvering and Canon; give us leave to talk Squibs +and Pistoletto's charged with nothing but powder of Love and shot of +Reason: if you will cut such deep gashes in one anothers flesh, we must +sow them up with deep stitches, else ye may bleed to death: ye were +better let us, your tender Countrymen doe it, than forraine Surgeons, +who will handle you more cruelly, and take no other pay, but your Lives +and Lands. + + ---- ---- _Aspice vultus, + Ecce meos, utinamque oculos in pectore posses + Inserere: & patrias intus deprendere Curas._ + (Ovid. Ph[oe]b. + + _He that to tall men speakes, must lift up 's head, + And when h' hath done, must set it where he did: + He that to proud men talkes, must put on pride; + And when h' hath done, 'tis good to lay 't aside._ + +3. For, _Yes, but you speak at three thousand miles distance, which +every Coward dare doe_, read, _if my heart deceives me not, I would +speak thus, in the Presence Chamber or House of Commons_; hoping _Homer_ +will speak a good word for me. + + [Gr: Tharsaleos gar aner en pasin ameinon + Ergoisi.] ---- + + Omnibus in rebus potior vir fortis & audax + Sit licet hospes, & e longinquis venerit oris. + + When Kings are lost, and Subjects cast away, + A faithfull heart should speak what tongue can say: + It skils not where this faithfull heart doth dwell, + His faithfull dealing should be taken well. + +4. For, _affected termes_, read, _I hope not_ ---- If I affect termes, +it is my feeblenesse; friends that know me, thinke I doe not: I +confesse, I see I have here and there taken a few finish stitches, which +may haply please a few Velvet eares; but I cannot now well pull them +out, unlesse I should seame-rend all. It seemes it is in fashion with +you to sugar your papers with Carnation phrases, and spangle your +speeches with new quodled words. Ermins in Minifer is every mans Coat: +Yet we heare some are raking in old musty Charnel books, for old mouldy +monosyllables; I wish they were all banisht to _Monmouthshire_, to +returne when they had more wit. + + _Multa renascentur quae jam cecidere, cadentque + Quae nunc sunt in honore vocabula, si volet usus._ + + (Hor. + +I honour them with my heart, that can expresse more than ordinary matter +in ordinary words: it is a pleasing eloquence; them more, that study +wisely and soberly to inhance their native language; them most of all, +that esteeme the late significant speech, the third great blessing of +the Land; it being so enriched, that a man may speak in many tongues in +his Mothers mouth; and an uplandish Rusticke, more in one word than +himselfe and all the Parish understands. Affected termes are unaffecting +things to solid hearers; yet I hold him prudent, that in these +fastidious times, will helpe disedged appetites with convenient +condiments, and bangled ears, with pretty quicke pluckes. I speake the +rather because, not long since, I met with a book, the best to mee I +ever saw, but the Bible; yet under favour, it was somewhat underclad, +especially by him who can both excogitate and expresse what hee +undertakes, as well as any man I know. + + _The world is growne so fine in words and wit, + That pens must now Sir =Edward Nich'las= it. + He that much matter speaks, speaks ne'r a whit, + If 's tongue doth not career 't above his wit._ + +5. For, _You verse it simply, what need have we of your thin Poetry_; +read, _I confesse I wonder at it my self, that I should turne Poet_: I +can impute it to nothing, but to the flatuousnesse of our diet: they are +but sadden raptures soone up, soone downe. + + --_Deductum dicere Carmen_, is highly commended by _Macrobius_. + + _Virgil_ himselfe said, _Agrestem tenui meditabor arundine musam_. + + _Poetry's a gift wherein but few excell; + He doth very ill, that doth not passing well. + But he doth passing well, that doth his best, + And he doth best, that passeth all the rest._ + +6. For _tediousnesse_, read, _I am sorry for it_ ---- Wee have a strong +weaknesse in N. E. that when wee are speaking, we know not how to +conclude: wee make many ends, before we make an end: the fault is in the +Climate; we cannot helpe it though we can, which is the Arch infirmity +in all morality: We are so near the West pole, that our Longitudes are +as long, as any wise man would wish, and somewhat longer. I scarce know +any Adage more gratefull, than _Grata brevitas_. + + _Verba confer maxime ad compendium._ Plaut. + + _Coblers will mend, but some will never mend, + But end, and end, and end, and never end. + A well-girt houre gives every man content, + Sixe ribs of beefe, are worth sixe weeks of Lent._ + +For, _all my other faults, which may bee more and greater than I see_, +read, _I am heartily sorry for them, before I know them, lest I should +forget it after_; and humbly crave pardon at adventure, having nothing +that I can think of, to plead but this, + + _Quisquis inops peccat, minor est reus._ Petron. + + _Poore Coblers well may fault it now and then, + They'r ever mending faults for other men. + And if I worke for nought, why is it said, + This bungling Cobler would be soundly paid?_ + + _So farewell England old + If evill times ensue, + Let good men come to us, + Wee'l welcome them to New. + + And farewell Honor'd Friends, + If happy dayes ensue, + You'l have some Guests from hence, + Pray welcome us to you. + + And farewell simple world, + If thou'lt thy Cranium mend, + There is my Last and All, + And a Shoem-Akers_ + END. + + + + +Postscript. + + + _This honest Cobler has done what he might: + That Statesmen in their Shoes might walk upright. + But rotten Shoes of Spannish running-leather: + No Coblers skill, can stitch them strong together. + It were best to cast such rotten stuff away: + And look for that, that never will decay. + + If all were shod with Gospel's lasting Peace; + Hatred abroad, and Wars at home would cease._ + + Jerome Bellamie. + +_FINIS._ + + + + +APPENDIX. + + + The following Letters, (from Hutchinson's History and Collections,) + &c., and Deed from Essex Registry of Deeds, Salem, (Lib. I., + Ipswich,) are supposed to possess sufficient interest to justify + their insertion here. + + BOSTON, 1843. + + +LETTER TO REV. JOHN COTTON. + +Salutem in Xto nostro. + + Reverend and dear friend, + +I was yesterday convented before the bishop, I mean to his court, and am +adjourned to the next term. I see such giants turn their backs, that I +dare not trust my own weak heart. I expect measure hard enough and must +furnish apace with proportionable armour. I lacke a friend to help +buckle it on. I know none but Christ himself in all our coast fitt to +help me, and my acquaintance with him is hardly enough to hope for that +assistance my weak spirit will want, and the assaults of tentation call +for. I pray therefore forget me not and believe for me also if there be +such a piece of neighbourhood among Christians. And so blessing God with +my whole heart for my knowledge of you and immerited interest in you, +and thanking you entirely for that faithful love I have found from you +in many expressions of the best nature, I commit you to the unchangeable +love of God our Father in his son Jesus Christ, in whom I hope to rest +for ever. + + Your's in all truth of heart + NATH'^L. WARDE. + + Stondon Mercy, + Dec. 13. 1631. + + +[Extracts from Johnson's Wonder-Working Providence, printed in London, +1658.] + +"_Of the Ninth Church of Christ gathered at =Ipswitch=._ + +"This year [1634] came over a farther supply of Eminent instruments for +furthering this admirable Worke of his, amongst whom the Reverend and +judicious servant of Christ Mr. _Nathaniel Ward_, who tooke up his +station at the Towne of _Ipswich_," "scituated on a faire and +delightfull River," "in the _Saggamooreship_, or Earldom of _Aggawam_." +"The peopling of this Towne is by men of good ranke and quality, many of +them having the yearly Revenue of large Lands in _England_ before they +came to this Wildernesse, but their Estates being imployed for Christ, +and left in banke as you have formerly heard, they are well content till +Christ shall be pleased to restore it againe to them or theirs. + +"Their meeting-house is a very good prospect to a great part of the +Towne, and beautifully built, the Church of Christ here consists of +about one hundred and sixty soules, being exact in their conversation, +and free from the Epidemicall Disease of all Reforming Churches, which +under Christ is procured by their pious Learned and Orthodox Ministery, +as in due place (God willing) shall be declared, in the meane time, look +on the following Meeters concerning that Souldier of Christ Master +_Nathaniel Ward_. + + _Thou ancient Sage, come =Ward= among + Christs folfe,[5] take part in this great worke of his, + Why do'st thou stand and gaze about so long; + Do'st war in jest, why, Christ in earnest is, + And hath thee arm'd with weapons for that end, + To wound and heale his enemies submitting, + Not carnally, then to this worke attend; + Thou hast prevail'd the hearts of many hitting. + Although the Presbytery unpleasant jar, + And errors daily in their braines new coyne: + Despayer not, Christs truth they shall not mar; + But with his helpe such drosse from Gold refine. + What Man do'st meane to lay thy Trumpet downe? + Because thy son like Warrier is become, + Hold out or sure lesse bright will be thy crowne, + Till death Christs servants labour is not done._" + + [5] _folke._ + + +LETTER FROM GYLES FYRMIN TO GOV. WINTHROP. + + Much honoured and deare Sir, + +But that I thinke it needlesse (God havinge more than ordinarye fitted +you for such trials) my letter might tell you with what griefe of spirit +I received the news of that sad affliction which is lately happened to +your worship, by means of that unfaithful wretch; I hope God will find a +shoulder to helpe you beare so great a burthen. But the little time +there is allotted me to write I must spend in requesting your worships +counsel and favour. My father in law Ward, since his sonne came over, is +varey desirous that wee might sett down together, and so that he might +leave us together if God should remove him from hence. Because that it +cannot be accomplished in this town, is verey desirous to get mee to +remove with him to a new plantation. After much perswasion used, +consideringe my want of accommodation here (the ground the town having +given mee lying 5 miles from mee or more) and that the gaines of physick +will not finde mee with bread, but, besides, apprehendinge that it might +bee a way to free him from some temptations, and make him more cheereful +and serviceable to the country or church, have yeelded to him. Herein, +as I desire your counsel, so I humbly request your favour, that you +would be pleased to give us the libertye of choosinge a plantation; wee +thinke it will be at Pentuckett, or Quichichchek, by Shawshin: So soon +as the season will give us leave to goe, wee shall informe your worship +which we desire: And if that, by the court of election, we cannot gather +a company to beegine it, wee will let it fall. Wee desire you would not +graunt any of them to any before wee have seene them. If your worship +have heard any relation of the places, wee should remaine thankful to +you, if you would bee pleased to counsel us to any of them. Further, I +would entreate for advise in this: The towne gave mee the ground (100 +acres) upon this condition, that I should stay in the towne 3 yeeres, +or else I could not sell it: Now my father supposes it being my first +heritage (my father having none in the land) that it is more than they +canne doe to hinder mee thus, when as others have no business, but range +from place to place, on purpose to live upon the countrey. I would +entreate your counsel whither or noe I canne sell it. Further: I am +strongly sett upon to studye divinitie, my studyes else must be lost: +for physick is but a meene helpe. In these cases I humbly referre to +your worship, as my father, for your counsel, and so in much haste, with +my best services presented to your worship, wishinge you a strong +support in your affliction, and a good and comfortable issue, I rest + +Your worships in what he canne to his power, + + Ipswich, 26. 10^{th} 1639. GYLES FYRMIN. + +Wee humbly entreate your secrecye in our desires. + + * * * * * + +November 25^o 1646./ + +This p^{r}sent writing wittnesseth that I, Nathaniel Ward of Ipswich in +New England have bargained & sould to John Eaton of Salsbury Coo[per] +all the land ground meadow & Co[=m]onage w^{th} their app^{r}tincs which +I have or ought to have at this p^{r}sent Day in Haverhill or Pentuckett +in New England to $have and to hold$ the said p^{r}misses to the said +John Eaton his heires & assignes paying for the same vnto the said +Nathaniel Ward his executo^{rs} administr^s or assignes the full su[=m]e +of twelve pounds of wheate & pipe-staves six pounds worth of one & six +pounds worth of the other to be deli[ver]ed to m^r Richard Russell or +Maior Sedgwick at Charles Towne before the end of September Next +ensuying the Dat hereof; such as shalbe good & merchantable at the +currant price at that tyme & place + + $In witness whereof$ I have set to my hand & seale. + NATH WARD + Wittnes + THOMAS HOWLETT + EDMAN BRIDGES + + * * * * * + +Transcriber's Notes + +Archaic, unusual and inconsistent spellings have been retained as they +appear in the original. + +Handwritten or penned changes and additions to the text are noted here, +where they appear to be errata, in several cases backed up by an earlier +print of the same text: + +Page 5: changed comma to semi-colon (... James, who practised medicine;) + +Page 5: changed "cotemporaries" to "contemporaries" (... estimated by +his contemporaries and successors.) + +Page 15: changed period and upper case "H" to comma and lower case "h" +(... when he said, he had rather the Earth should swallow him up ...) + +Page 34: handwritten insertion "one" ( ... to help them frisk from [one] +ill-favor'd fashion to another.) + +Page 70: handwritten insertion "of" ( ... the luxury [of] your Court and +Country, ...) + +Page 79: handwritten change of word order from "not let" to "let not" (I +pray not let _Britanicus_ scape, ...) + +Page 85: handwritten insertion "s" ( ... the Bots that crawle on the +Beast[s] taile, ...) + +Page 97: strikethrough deletion "in" ( ... that a man may speak [in] +many tongues in his Mothers mouth; ...) + + +Other changes to the text are listed here, where the printer evidently +used alternative type: + +Pages 1, 7 & 8: changed "VV" to "W" (THE SIMPLE COBLER OF AGGAWAM IN +AMERICA.) + +Page 10 onwards: changed "J" to "I". + +Page 47: changed "VVhen" to "When" (When Christ whips Market-makers out +of his Temple, ...) + +Page 103 (heading): changed "i646" to "1646" (November 25^o 1646.) + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Simple Cobler of Aggawam in America, by +Theodore de la Guard + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SIMPLE COBLER OF AGGAWAM *** + +***** This file should be named 34974.txt or 34974.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/4/9/7/34974/ + +Produced by Simon Gardner, JackMcJiggins and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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