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NOTES AND QUERIES. [2-* S. no 36, Sept. 6. '6fi. 



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Indeed for Self-Defence to fight 



'Gainst private Foes was Nature's Right. 



They ever had it, and still have it, 



And therefore to their Prince ne're gave it. 



Besides, the Magistrate's empowr'd 



In other cases t'use the Sword. 



Though Vengeance is the Subject's Crime, 



It's very innocent in him. 



Vengeance belongs to God alone : 



Who has it not from God, has none. 



In state of Nature People were 



All free and equal, and cou'd ne're 



That Pow'r possess, much less confer. 



No, 'tis the Prince Gods place supplies: 



'Tis his Prerogative to chastise 



The Evil, redress Injuries. 



If Rulers are for publick Good 



Their Jus divinum's understood. 



Unerring Wisdom can't be thought 



To leave the Choice to giddy Rout. 



But granting Peoples Right, I say, 

 They ought not, cou'd not give't away. 

 In vain had they such Right from Heaven, 

 If they shou'd part with't, 'soon as given. 

 It were Impiety and Sin 

 To give away a Right Divine. 



Nor is it like, they'd all consent 

 To lose their share of ijovernment. 

 Nor cou'd they meet all for a Choice, 

 That ev'ry Jlan might give his Voice. 

 Some might be Busy, others Sick ; 

 Some their Proceedinijs might dislike. 

 Now if they all were free before. 

 How cou'd those, who did ne're concur. 

 Lose that their Liberty and Pow'r.' 



These Knots, and such like, I defy 

 Pretended Patriots to unty. 

 Be sure they can't : And then their Cause 

 Is grown much weaker by the Laws. 

 The Laws which own our Kings Divine, 

 And tye the Crown to Royal Line. 

 The Laws, which make Allegiance due 

 Without your Oaths, or theirs to you. 

 The Laws, which give to ev'ry Man his own. 

 To People their Estates, to Kings their Crown. 



Some idly fancy, That protection 

 Doth nat'rally infer Subjection. 

 To which, I say, if this were True, 

 Subjection were ev'en Cromwers due. 

 He was Protector, (Name and Thing) 

 He did th' whole Office of a King. 

 No, 'tis a Right for to Protect us, 

 Can only Lawfully Subject na. 

 Who has no Right to Englands Throne, 

 To Englands Fealty can have none. 

 And when the lawful King's turn'd out, 

 (Whose will to govern is past doubt.) 

 It is not Merit, but a Crime 

 His People to Protect 'gainst him. 

 It is to keep him from his Right 

 Who wou'd Protect us, if he might. 

 It is to make himself Supreme, 

 And to Protect himself, not them. 

 It's to maintain his Usurpation, 

 And to entail on Captive Nation 

 A lasting War, and Desolation. 

 And is this such a mighty Favour, 

 As to deserve the Name of Saviour? 

 For my part, I shou'd give him rather 

 A harder Name than that of Father. 

 And with the Cynick wish him gone. 

 Not stand betwisLt me and the Suu. 



Lit. 



If where it's due, we pay SuhJectioHt 

 My Friends, we shall not want Protection. 

 And now, I think I've made it clear, 

 We cannot with good Conscience swear. 

 We cannot take Oaths Old and New, 

 And to both Faithful prove, and True. 

 And if I must Starve or Comply : 

 Be sure, I wou'd not swear, I'de die. 

 I'de suffer ought for my dear Saviour's Laws, 



Who dy'd for me ^^ 



I can't well suffer in a better Case." 



Difficult 



The poo?' Lay-man's Resolution 

 Times. — 



" All in amaze at what is past, I stood. 

 Doubting within my self, what's Bad, what's Good; 

 Surpris'd at this so strange and sudden Turn, 

 At which such Numbers joy'd, so few did inourn. 

 Where am I now, thought I? What! Have I past 

 So long in Truth's Plain Path, and now at last, 

 After a Race of Fifty Years and more, 

 Doubt that same Truth that Best Men own'd before ! 



" Away, Away. 



" That Lawful Kings God's own Anointed are. 

 And have from him that Royal Crown they wear: 

 From him their Scepter, and from him their Sword, 

 Are Truths <\i»pera'd throughout the Sacred IVord : 

 That calls 'em Gods, and bids us them obey; 

 To Honour them is a just Debt we pay: 

 That bids us not resist, and if we do. 

 Tells us we shall be dnmn'd for doing so. 

 If Kings command what's ///, we must, in short. 

 Not do't, because 'tis 111, but suffer for't. 



" Now tell me. Learned Priests, if this ben't true ; 

 And if it be, what will become of you? 



" You Reverend Clergy, that have heretofore 

 With these same Doctrines made vour Pulpits roar; 

 And boldly to the VVorhl. in Print, made known. 

 That 'tis the Scriptures Sence, as 'twas your own : 

 Your own, until that fatal Tarn of State, 

 T'our Wonder and our Ruin chanc'd of late: 

 Your own, until that TryctZ came; and then. 

 Though call'd Divines, you shew'd your selves but Men : 

 Then, when, like Truth's bold Champions, bravely you 

 Should, though to Death ther<e Sacred Points persue ; 

 Tamely and basely you the Cause forsook, 

 Betray'd the Church, and vour Allegiarce broke. 

 Good God ! What Fears, VVIiat Thirst of Wealth will do ! 

 Even among such Holy Men as you. ' 



" Poor me' What shall I do? What shall I say? 

 Where shall I go? when thus our Guides do stray. 

 But, God be thank'd, they are not tainted all : 

 Some yet remain, that have not bow'd to Baal ; 

 Whose Praises for a loftier Muse do call. 



" But let them stray that will ; I'le keep the Road, 

 And tread the Steps our late Fore-Fathers trod: 

 I'le Fear my God, Honour my Lawful King : 

 I'le meddle not with those that Changes bring. 

 Fix'd on a Rock, I'm sure I firmly stand ; 

 Let Storms now rage by Sea, or roar by Land. 

 Here then I'le fix, here shall my Center be: 

 And let the World turn which way 'twill for me. 

 Lord ! Keep me ; for I wholly trust in Thee. 



" AMEN. AMEN." 





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