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<DATE>2008-05-02</DATE>
<RESPSTMT>
<NAME>Mona Logarbo</NAME>
<RESP>MURP</RESP>
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<ITEM>Proofed and reviewed as part of batch B080412.pdcc.</ITEM>
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<EEBO>
<IDG S="marc" R="UM" ID="B04748">
<STC T="W">p2678</STC>
<BIBNO T="umi">99890713</BIBNO>
<VID>181502</VID>
</IDG>
<TEXT>
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<DIV1 TYPE="poem">
<PB REF="1" MS="y"><!-- PDF PAGE 19 -->
<HEAD>A POEM OCCASIONED BY His Maje&s;ties mo&s;t Gracious Re&s;olution Declar'd in His Mo&s;t Honourable Privy Council, <DATE><HI>March</HI> 18. 1686/7.</DATE></HEAD>
<HEAD TYPE="sub">For <HI>Liberty of Con&s;cience,</HI></HEAD>
<LG>
<L>WHat <HI>Heavn'ly Beam</HI> thus Antidates the <HI>Spring,</HI></L>
<L>And Summers <HI>Warmth</HI> with Autumns <HI>Fruits</HI> doth bring?</L>
<L>That &s;preads New Life throughout <HI>Great Britains</HI> I&s;le,</L>
<L>And making the mo&s;t <HI>Sullen Tempers</HI> &s;mile,</L>
<L>Does all the Jarring Factions Reconcile?</L>
<L>'Tis an <HI>Indulgence</HI> from the <HI>Royal Bre&s;t,</HI></L>
<L>More <HI>Fragrant</HI> than the <HI>Spices</HI> of the <HI>East;</HI></L>
<L>More <HI>Welcome,</HI> than to greedy Mi&s;ers, <HI>Wealth;</HI></L>
<L>To Rebels, <HI>Pardon;</HI> or to Sick Men, <HI>Health.</HI></L>
<L>Sudden, yet Calm as the <HI>Ble&s;t Angels</HI> fly,</L>
<L><HI>His</HI> Re&s;olution comes for <HI>Liberty:</HI></L>
<L>Liberty in <HI>Things Sacred,</HI> that Each tread</L>
<L>That Path which <HI>Safe&s;t</HI> him to <HI>Bli&s;s</HI> may lead;</L>
<L>That <HI>Elephants</HI> may <HI>&s;wim,</HI> that <HI>Lambs may wade,</HI></L>
<L>And none each other <HI>worry</HI> or <HI>invade.</HI></L>
<L>In Heav'n are <HI>many Man&s;ions:</HI> And why then</L>
<L>Not <HI>&s;everal Tracts</HI> (tho' but <HI>One Road</HI>) for Men?</L>
<L>Keep the <HI>Foundations &s;ure,</HI> joyn <HI>Holy Life,</HI></L>
<L>And what need <HI>Circum&s;tantials</HI> cau&s;e <HI>&s;uch &s;trife?</HI></L>
<L><HI>So a kind</HI> Father <HI>does with equal Care</HI></L>
<L><HI>Cheri&s;h his</HI> Children, <HI>tho' perhaps, they</HI> wear</L>
<L><HI>Each, diver&s;e</HI> Features; <HI>each, a different</HI> Hair.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Religion is <HI>GOD</HI>'s Work upon the <HI>Soul,</HI></L>
<L>Which <HI>Penal Laws</HI> may <HI>&s;tartle,</HI> not <HI>Controul.</HI></L>
<L>Even <HI>Truth's-Profe&s;&s;ion,</HI> when <HI>enjoyn'd by Force,</HI></L>
<L>Does rarely make Men <HI>Better;</HI> often, <HI>Wor&s;e.</HI></L>
<L>For once compell'd unto Hypocri&s;ies,</L>
<L>The Sence of <HI>Vertue</HI> and <HI>Religion</HI> dyes;</L>
<L>And then, on next fair Opportunity,</L>
<L>With greater Heats they to wild Furies fly.</L>
<L>For <HI>True Religion</HI> never <HI>Faction</HI> breeds,</L>
<L>Nor the Support of <HI>Impions Weapons</HI> needs.</L>
<L>Let <HI>Mahomet</HI> pre&s;cribe his <HI>Alchoran</HI></L>
<L>To be advanc'd by Arms, fa&s;t as it can:</L>
<L>Chri&s;t's Go&s;pel is a Law of Peace and Love,</L>
<L>And by <HI>Conviction</HI> on the <HI>Heart</HI> doth move.</L>
<L>When <HI>Solomon</HI> of Old, <HI>God's Temple</HI> Rear'd,</L>
<L>No noi&s;e of <HI>Axes</HI> was, nor <HI>Hammers</HI> heard:</L>
<L><HI>Hard upon Hard</HI> no la&s;ting Work will make,</L>
<L>Nor can one <HI>Flint</HI> another kindly break;</L>
<L>But <HI>Moderation</HI> is a <HI>Cement</HI> &s;ure,</L>
<L>'Tis that which makes the <HI>&V;niver&s;e</HI> endure:</L>
<L>'Tis that which makes the&s;e Realms a <HI>Tem|perate Zone,</HI></L>
<L>Betwixt the <HI>Torrid,</HI> and the <HI>Frozen</HI> One.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>More than One hundred years the <HI>State</HI> had Try'd</L>
<L>To Uniform tho&s;e <HI>Sects</HI> that wou'd <HI>Divide,</HI></L>
<L>But &s;till the Teeming <HI>Hydra</HI> Multiply'd</L>
<L>Whil&s;t <HI>one Re&s;olve</HI> of Mighty <HI>JAMES,</HI> allays</L>
<L>The <HI>Tempe&s;ts</HI> of the <HI>Pa&s;t</HI> and <HI>Following</HI> Days;</L>
<L>Unites his <HI>Subjects,</HI> makes 'em <HI>Friends,</HI> and &s;o</L>
<L>All <HI>Seeds</HI> of <HI>Faction</HI> wholly does o'erthrow.</L>
<L><HI>Holland</HI> no longer &s;hall <HI>Our People</HI> drain;</L>
<L>No more our Wealthy <HI>Manufactures</HI> gain:</L>
<L>Henceforth <HI>Rebellion</HI> can have no Pretence,</L>
<L>To Arm the <HI>Rabble</HI> for their <HI>Faiths Defence.</HI></L>
<L>Since <HI>Each Mode</HI> of <HI>Religion</HI> now is Free,</L>
<L>They'll All, I hope, con&s;pire in Loyalty.</L>
</LG>
<LG>
<L>Let no Bold <HI>Peevi&s;h</HI> Man (prone to <HI>Exce&s;s</HI>)</L>
<L>Abu&s;e this Favour to Licentiou&s;ne&s;s;</L>
<L>Refine too much on <HI>Soveraign Decrees</HI></L>
<L>Of's <HI>God,</HI> or's <HI>King;</HI> but with <HI>true humbled knees</HI></L>
<L>Thank <HI>Both,</HI> for all the Freedom they enjoy,</L>
<L>And Chearfully Each follow his Employ:</L>
<L>No <HI>Rival&s;hip</HI> be found in any <HI>Sect,</HI></L>
<L>But who <HI>mo&s;t Souls</HI> to Heaven &s;hall Direct.</L>
</LG>
</DIV1>
</BODY>
<BACK>
<DIV1 TYPE="license">
<P><HI>This may be Printed,</HI></P>
<CLOSER><DATELINE><DATE>March 22. 1686. R. P.</DATE></DATELINE></CLOSER>
</DIV1>
<DIV1 TYPE="colophon">
<P><HI>LONDON,</HI> Printed by <HI>George Larkin,</HI> at the <HI>Coach</HI> and <HI>Hor&s;es</HI> without <HI>Bi&s;hop&s;gate.</HI> 1687.</P>
</DIV1>
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