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._