Classic Poem

To Mr. John Hammon minister in the parish of Bewdly,
for the battering downe of the Vanityes of the Gentiles,
which are comprehended in a Maypole; written by a
Zealous Brother from the Black-fryers

The mighty Zeale which thou hast new put on,
Neither by Prophet nor by Prophets sonne
As yet prevented, doth transport mee so
Beyond my selfe, that, though I ne're could go
Farr in a verse, and all Rithmes haue defy'd
Since Hopkins , and old Thomas Sternhold dy'de,
(Except it were that little paines I tooke
To please good people in a prayer-booke
That I sett forth or so) yet must I raise
My Spirit for thee, who shall in thy praise
Gird up her Loynes , and furiously run
All kinde of feet , saue Satans cloven one .
Such is thy zeale , so well dost thou express it,
That (wer't not like a Charme ) I'de say, Christ blesse it .
I needs must say 'tis a Spirituall thing
To raile against a Bishopp , or the King ;
Nor are they meane adventures wee haue bin in,
About the wearing of the Churches linnen ;
But these were private quarrells: this doth fall
Within the Compass of the generall .
Whether it be a Pole painted , and wrought
Farr otherwise, then from the wood 'twas brought,
Whose head the Idoll-makers hand doth croppe,
Where a lewd Bird , towring upon the topp
Lookes like the Calfe at Horeb ; at whose roote
The unyoak't youth doth exercise his foote;
Or whether it reserve his boughes, befreinded
By neighb'ring bushes, and by them attended:
How canst thou chuse but seeing it complaine,
That Baalls worship't in the Groves againe?
Tell mee how curst an egging, what a sting
Of Lust do their unwildy daunces bring?
The simple wretches say they meane no harme,
They doe not, surely; but their actions warme
Our purer blouds the more: for Sathan thus
Tempts us the more, that are more Righteous.
Oft hath a Brother most sincerely gon,
Stifled in Prayer and contemplation ,
When, lighting on the place where such repaire,
He viewes the Nimphes, and is quite out in's prayer.
Oft hath a Sister , grownded in the truth,
Seeing the iolly carriage of the youth,
Bin tempted to the way that's broad and bad;
And (wer't not for our private pleasures) had
Renounc't her little ruffe , and goggle Eye ,
And quitt her selfe of the Fraternity .
What is the mirth, what is the melody
That setts them in this Gentiles vanity?
When in our Sinagogue wee rayle at sinne,
And tell men of the faults which they are in,
With hand and voice so following our theames,
That wee put out the side-men from their dreames:
Sounds not the Pulpett , which wee then belabour
Better , and holyer , then doth the Tabour ?
Yet, such is unregenerate mans folly,
Hee loves the wicked noyse, and hates the Holy .
Routes and wilde pleasures doe invite temptation,
And this is dangerous for our damnation.
Wee must not moue our selves , but, if w'are mov'd,
Man is but man; and therefore those that lov'd
Still to seeme good , would evermore dispence
With their owne faults, so they gaue no offence .
If the times sweete entising, and the blood
That now begins to boyle, haue thought it good
To challenge Liberty and Recreation,
Let it be done in Holy contemplation :
Brothers and Sisters in the feilds may walke,
Beginning of the holy worde to talke,
Of David and Vriahs Lovely wife,
Of Thamar , and her lustful Brothers strife;
Then, underneath the hedge that woes them next,
They may sitt downe , and there Act out the Text :
Nor do wee want, how ere wee liue austeere,
In Winter Sabbath-nights our lusty cheere;
And though the Pastors Grace, which oft doth hold
Halfe an howre long, make the provision cold,
Wee can be merry; thinking't nere the worse
To mend the matter at the second course .
Chapters are Read , and hymnes are sweetly sung ,
Ioyntly commanded by the nose , and tongue ;
Then on the worde wee diversly dilate,
Wrangling indeed for heat of zeale , not hate :
When at the length an unappeased doubt
Feircely comes in , and then the light goes out .
Darkness thus workes our peace, and wee containe
Our fyery spiritts till wee see againe.
Till then, no voice is heard, no tongue doth goe,
Except a tender Sister shreike , or so.
Such should be our Delights , grave and demure ,
Not so abominable , not so impure
As those thou seek'st to hinder, but I feare
Satan will bee too strong ; his kingdome's here.
Few are the righteous now, nor do I know
How wee shall ere this Idoll overthrow.
Since our sincerest Patron is deceast,
The number of the Righteous is decreast.
But wee do hope these times will on, and breed
A Faction mighty for us; for indeede
Wee labour all, and every Sister ioynes
To haue Regenerate Babes spring from our Loynes:
Besides, what many carefully haue done,
Getting the unrighteous man a righteous sonne.
Then stoutly on, let not thy Flock range lewdly
In their old Vanity, thou Lampe of Bewdly .
One thing I pray thee, do not too much thirst
After Idolatryes last Fall; but first
Follow this suite more close, let it not goe
Till it be thine as thou would'st haue't: for soe
Thy Successors, upon the same entayle,
Hereafter, may take up the Whittson-Ale .