Money, that, like the Swords of Kings, Is the last Reason of all things:
And therefore need not doubt our Play,
Has all Advantages that way:
As long as Men have Faith to fell,
And meet with thofe that can pay well;
Whose half-ftarv'd Pride and Avarice,
One Church and State will not fuffice
T'expose to Sale; befides the Wages
Of ftoring Plagues to After-Ages,
Nor is our Money lefs our own,
Than 'twas before we laid it down :
For 'twill return, and turn t' account,
If we are brought in play upon't;
Or, but by cafting Knaves, get in,
What Pow'r can hinder us to win?
We know the Arts we us'd before,
In Peace and VVar, and something more,
And by th' unfortunate Events,
Can mend our next Experiments:
For when w' are taken into Trust,
How eafie are the Wifeft chous'd?
Who see but th' Out-fides of our Feats,
And not their fecret Springs and VVeights:
And while they're bufie at their Ease,
Can carry what Defigns we please:
How eafie is't to ferve for Agents,
To profecute our own Engagements?
To keep the Good Old Caufe on Foot,
And prevent Pow'r from taking Root;
Inflame them both with falfe Alarms,
Of Plots, and Parties taking Arms ;
To keep the Nations VVounds too wide,
From healing up of Side to Side;
Profefs the Paffion❜test Concerns,
For both their Interests, by Turns.
The only way t' improve our own,
By dealing faithfully with none;
(As Bowls run true, by being made
On purpose false, and to be sway'd.)
For if we should be true to either,
'Twould turn us out of both together:
And therefore have no other Means,
To ftand upon our own Defence;
But keeping up our ancient Party
In Vigor, Confident, and Hearty:
To reconcile our late Disse nters,
Our Brethren, though by other Ventures,
Unite them, and their diff'rent Maggots,
As long and short Sticks are in Faggots,
And make them join against us close,
As when they firft began t' Espouse;
Erect them into Separate,
New Jewish Tribes in Church and State;
To join in Marriage and Commerce,
And only 'mong themselves converse,
And all that are not of their Mind,
Make Enemies to all Mankind:
Take all Religion in and stickle,
From Conclave, down to Conventicle;
Agreeing ftill, or disagreeing,
According to the Light in Being.
Sometimes, for Liberty of Conscience,
And Spiritual Mif-rule in one Senfe:
But in another quite contrary,
As Difpenfations chance to vary;
And ftand for, as the Times will bear it,
All Contradictions of the Spirit;
Protect their Emiffaries, empowṛ'd
To preach Sedition and the Word:
And when th' are hamper'd by the Laws,
Release the Lab'rers for the Caufe;
And turn the Perfecution back,
On those that made the first Attack.
To keep them equally in Awe,
From breaking, or maintaining Law;
And when they have their Fits too foon,
Before the Full-Tides of the Moon:
Put off their Zeal t' a fitter Season,
For fowing Faction in, and Treason;
And keep them hooded, and their Churches,
Like Hawks from bating on their Perches.
That when the Bleffed Time fhall come,
Of quitting Babylon and Rome.
They may be ready to restore
Their own Fifth-Monarchy once more;
Mean while, be better'd Arm'd to Fence
Against Revolts of Providence:
By watching narrowly, and fnapping |
All Blind-fides of it, as they happen :
For, if Success could make us Saints,
Our Ruine turn'd us Mifcreants:
A Scandal that would fall too hard
Upon a Few, and unprepar'd.
These are the Courses we must run,
Spite of our Hearts, or be undone :
And not to ftand on Terms or Freaks,
Before we have fecur'd our Necks.
But do our Work, as out of Sight,
As Stars by Day, or Suns by Night:
All Licence of the People own,
In Oppofition to the Crown.
And for the Crown as fiercely fide,
The Head and Body to divide.
The End of all we first defign'd,
And all that yet remains behind :
Be sure to spare no Publick Rapine,
On all Emergencies that happen;
For 'tis as eafie to fupplant
Authority, as Men in Want:
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