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.