Time past we understood by story

The strength of Sin a Land to waste,

Now God to manifest his Glory.

The truth hereof did let us taste,

For many years, this Land appears

Of usefull things the Nursery,

Refresht and fenc’d with unity.

But that which crown’d each other Blessing

Was evidence of Truth Divine,

The Word of Grace such Light expressing,

Which in some prudent Hearts did shine,

Whose Flame inclines those noble minds

To stop the Course of Prophanacion

And so make way for Reformation.

But He that watcheth to devour,

This their intent did soon discry,

For which he strait improves his power

This worthy work to nullify

With Sophistry and Tiranny,

His agents he forthwith did fill

Who gladly execute his will.

And first they prove by Elocution

And Hellish Logick to traduce

Those that would put in execucion,

Restraint of every known abuse;

They seperate and ’sturb the State,

And would all Order overthrow,

The better sort were charged so.

Such false Reports did fill all places,

Corrupting some of each degree,

He whom the highest Title graces

From hearing slanders was not free,

Which Scruple bred, and put the Head

With primest members so at bate

Which did the Body dislocate.

A Lying Spirit mis-informed

The common peeple, who suppose

If things went on to be reformed

They should their ancient Customs lose,

And be beside to courses ty’d

Which they not yet their Fathers knew,

And so be wrapt in fangles new.

Great multitudes therefore were joyned

To Sathans plyant instruments,

With mallice, ignorance combined,

And both at Truth their fury vents;

First Piety as Enimy

They persecute, oppose, revile,

Then Freind as well as Foe they spoyle.

The beuty of the Land’s abollisht,

Such Fabericks by Art contriv’d,

The many of them quite demollisht,

And many of their homes depriv’d

Some mourn for freinds untimely ends,

And some for necessaries faint,

With which they parted by constraint.

But from those storms hath God preserved

A people to record his praise,

Who sith they were therefore reserved

Must to the heigth their Spirits raise

To magnify his lenity

Who safely brought them through the fire

To let them see their hearts desire

Which many faithfull ones deceased

With teares desired to behold,

Which is the Light of Truth professed

Without obscuring shaddowes old,

When spirits free, not tyed shall be

To frozen Forms long since compos’d,

When lesser knowledg was disclos’d.

VVho are preserv’d from foes outragious,

Noteing the Lords unfound-out wayes,

Should strive to leave to after-ages

Some memorandums of his praise;

That others may admiring say

Unsearchable his judgments are,

As do his works alwayes declare.