And try if we by mediation For Covenant and the Caufe's fake? 730 735 But Ver. 736.] This was the Solemn League and Covenant, which was first framed and taken by the Scottish Parliament, and by them fent to the Parliament of England, in order to unite the two nations more closely in religion. It was received and taken by both Houses, and by the City of London; and ordered to be read in all the churches throughout the kingdom; and every perfon was bound to give his confent, by holding up his hand, at the reading of it. Ibid.-and Caufe's fake.] Sir William Dugdale informs us that Mr. Bond, preaching at the Savoy, told his auditors from the pulpit, "That they ought to "contribute and pray, and do all they were able, to "bring in their brethren of Scotland for fettling of "God's caufe: I fay (quoth he) this is God's caufe; "and if our God hath any caufe, this is it; and if "this be not God's caufe, then God is no god for me; "but the Devil is got up into heaven." Mr. Calamy, in his fpeech at Guildhall, 1643, fays, "I may truly fay, as the Martyr did, that if I had as many lives as hairs on my head, I would be willing to facrifice "all thefe lives in this caufe;" Which pluck'd down the King, the Church, and the Laws, To fet up an idol, then nick-nam'd The Cause, Like Bell and Dragon to gorge their own maws; as it is expreffed in "The Rump Carbonaded." But in that quarrel Dogs and Bears, 740 745 759 Is plain enough to him that knows Nor liberty of Confciences, 765 Nor Lords and Commons' Ordinances; Nor for the Church, nor for Church-lands, Th' Egyptians worfhip'd dogs, and for Others ador'd a rat, and fome 775 For that church fuffer'd martyrdom. 780 They Ver. 765.] Nor for free Liberty of Confcience. Thus the two first editions read: the word free was left out in 1674, and all the fubfequent editions; and Mr. Warburton thinks for the worfe; free liberty being a most beautiful and fatirical periphrafis for licentioufnefs, which is the idea the Author here intended to give us. Ver. 766.] The King being driven from the Parliament, no legal acts of Parliament could be made; therefore when the Lords and Commons had agreed upon any bill, they published it, and required obedience to it, under the title of An Ordinance of Lords and Commons, and fometimes, An Ordinance of Parliament. They have more wit, alas! and know 785 In them th' infection of our ills. For, as fome late philofophers Have well obferv'd, beafts that converse 790 With man take after him, as hogs Get pigs all th' year, and bitches dogs. From whence, no doubt, th' invention came Of this lewd antichristian game. 800 To this, quoth Ralpho, Verily The point seems very plain to me; It is an antichristian game, Unlawful both in thing and name. First, for the name; the word Bear-baiting No more be prov'd by Scripture, than 805 810 Provincial, Provincial, Claffic, National, For when men run a-whoring thus Ralpho, thou doft prevaricate: For though the thefis which thou lay'st Than Synods are, thou doft deny Yet there's a fallacy in this; For if by fly homeofis, 815 820 825 830 Ver. 831, 832.] Thefe two lines left out in the edi tions 1674, 1684, 1689, 1700, and restored 1704. |