To a Vertuous and Judicious Lady, who (for the exercise of her Devotion) built a Closet, wherein to
secure the most Sacred Booke of COMMON-PRAYER, from the view and violence of the
Enemies thereof, the Sectaries and Schismatiques of this Kingdome.
Written by a most Orthodox, Moderate, and Judicious Divine,
A banished Minister of this miserable Kingdome.
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SInce it hath pleasd our wise and new-born State
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The Common-Prayer-Book texcommunicate:
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To turne it out of all, as if it were
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Some grand Malignant, or some Cavaliere:
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Since in our Churches t is by them forbid
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To say such Prayers, as our Fathers did:
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So that Gods House must now be calld no more
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The House of Prayer, so ever calld before:
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As if those Christians were resolvd to use
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That House, as bad, as ever did the Jews:
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Since that of Christ, may now of Prayer be said,
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It wants a place whereon to lay its head.
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I cannot choose but think, it was your care,
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To build your Closet for distressed PRAYER;
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Which here in mourning clad, presents it selfe,
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Begging some little corner on your shelfe:
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For since t is banishd from all publique view,
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There be none dare it entertain, but you.
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How times and men are changd! who would have thought
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T have seen the Service-Book thus set at naught?
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A Book worth Gold, if rightly understood;
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Composd by Martyrs, sealed with their blood.
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Once burnt by Papists, meerly for this cause,
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It was repugnant to their Popish Lawes.
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Now by our Zelots t is condemnd to die,
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Because (forsooth) t is full of Popery.
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And thus we see the Golden meane defyd,
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And how (twixt two extreames) t is crucifyd.
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But t is no matter, we see stranger things,
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Kings must be Subjects now, and Subjects, Kings.
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The meaner sort of men have all the power;
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The upper end is now beneath the lower:
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The head below the feet; theyll weare the Crown:
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who would not think the worlds turnd upside down?
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Learning must now give place to Ignorance,
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So must a Statute to an Ordinance;
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Religion to Prophanenesse, and vain-glory;
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The Common-Prayer-Book to the Directory.
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All things are out of order, and I feare,
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Are like to be, till we are as we were:
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Till Bishops doe returne to end the stir
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Twixt th Independent and the Presbyter.
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Till Kings be Kings, and till we (wished) see
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The Church enjoy her ancient Lyturgie.
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Till Loyalty be had in more regard:
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And till Rebellion hath its just reward.
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And that these things may be, well not despaire:
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All this, and more, may be obtaind by Prayer.
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