TRUTH

Man raised by Faith and Love, upon whose Head Honour sits fresh, let not thy Heart be led In ignorant ways of insolence and pride From Her, that to this day hath be thy guide; I never showed thee yet more Paths then one, And thou hast found sufficient That alone To bring Thee hither, then go forward still, And having most power, first subject thy Will, Give the first Fruits of Justice to thy Self, Then dost thou wisely Govern, though that Elf Of Sin and Darkness still opposing me, Counsels thy Appetite to Master Thee. But call to mind what brought thee to this Day, Was Falsehood, Cruelty, or Revenge the way? Thy lust or pleasures? peoples curse or hate? These were no ways could raise Thee to this State The ignorant must acknowledge, if then from Me, Which no Ill dare deny, or Sin control, Forsake me not, that can advance thy soul: I see a blessed yielding in thy Eye, Thou'rt mine, lead on, thy Name shall never die. What's here? the Missed of Error? dare his Spite Stain this Triumphant Mount? where our delight Hath be Divinely fixed so many Ages, Dare darkness now breathe forth her Insolent Rages, And hang in poisonous Vapours over the Place From whence we received Love and returned Grace? I see if Truth a while but turn her Eyes, Thick are the Mists that over fair Cities rise: We did expect to receive welcome here, From no deformed Shapes but Divine and Clear, In steed of Monsters that this place attends; To meet with Goodness and her Glorious Friends, Nor can they so forget me to be far, I Know there stands no other envious Bar: But that foul Cloud to Darken this Bright Day, Which with this Fan of Stars I'll Chase away. Vanish Infectious Fog that I may see This Cities Grace, that takes her Light from Me. Dare yet the works of Ugliness appear Gainst this Days Brightness, and see Us so near? How bold is Sin and Hell, that yet it dare Rise against Us? but know (Perditions Heir) T'is Idle to contend against our Power, Vanish again Foul Missed from Honours Bower. Father desist a while till I send forth A few Words to our Friend, that Man of Worth: The Power that Heaven, Love, and the Cities choice, Have all conferred on Thee with Mutual voice, As it is Great, Reverend, and Honourable, Meet it with equal Goodness, strive excel Thy former Self, as thy Command exceeds Thy last-yeares State, so let new Acts, old Deeds; And as great men in Riches and in Birth (Heightening their Bloods, and joining Earth to Earth,) Bestow their best hours and most serious cares In choosing out fit Matches for their Heirs: So never give Thou over day or hour Till with a Virtue thou hast matched this Power: For what is Greatness if not joined with Grace? Like one of High-bloud that hath married Base. Who seeks Authority with and Ignorant Eye, Is Like a man seeks out his Enemy: For where before his Follies were not spread Or his corruptions, then their clearly read Ee'n by the eyes of all men; it's so pure A Crystal of it self, it will endure No poison of Oppression, Bribes, Hired Law, But it'll appear soon in some crack or flaw, How ever men sooth their Hope's with Popular breath, If not in Life, she'ile find that crack in Death: I was not made to fawn or stroke fin smooth Be wise and hear me then that cannot sooth: I have set Thee High now, be so in Example, Made thee a Pinnacle in Honours Temple, Fixing ten thousand Eyes upon thy Brow There is no hiding of thy Actions now, They must abide the Light, and imitate Me, Or be thrown down to Fire where Errors be. Nor only with these words thy ear I feed, But give those partly that shall in Time succeed, To thee in present, and to them to come That Truth may bring you all with Honour home To these your Gates, and to those, after these Of which your own good Actions Keep the Keys; Then as the Loves of thy Society Hath flowed in Bounties on this Day and Thee, Counting all Cost too little for true Art, Doubling rewards there where they found Desert, In Thankfulness, Justice, and Virtuous care Perfect their Hope's, those thy Requitals are; With Fatherly Respect embrace'em all, Faith in thy Heart, and Plenty in thy Hall, Love in thy Walks, but Justice in thy State, Zeal in thy Chamber, Bounty at thy Gate: And so to Thee and these a Blessed Night, To thee Fair City, Peace, my Grace and Light. See yonder, Lady, Errors Chariot stands, Braving the Power of your incensed commands, Emboldened by the privilege of Night And her black Faction, yet to crown his Spite Which I'll confound, I burn in Divine wrath. Strike then, I give thee leave to shoot it forth.