The Simple Cobler of Aggawam in America Part 2

Woe be to them, who ever they be, that so trouble the wayes of G.o.d that they who have found the way to Heaven, cannot find the way to Church: And woe be to them, that so gaze at the glorious light, they say, will breake forth in the thousand yeares to come, that they make little of the gracious Truth that hath been revealed these sixteen hundred years past. And woe be to them that so under-value the first Master-Builders, I mean the Apostles of Christ, that unlesse he sends wiser than they, He must be accounted lesse faithfull in his house than _Moses_ was.

I have cause enough to be as charitable to others as any man living; yet I cannot but feare, that those men never Moored their Anchors well in the firme soile of Heaven, that are weather-waft up and down with every eddy-wind of every new doctrine. The good Spirit of G.o.d doth not usually tie up the Helme, and suffer pa.s.sengers to Heaven to ride a drift, hither and thither, as every wave and current carries them: that is a fitter course for such as the Apostle calls wandring Starres and Meteors, without any certaine motion, hurryed about with tempests, bred of the Exhalations of their own pride and self-wittednesse: whose d.a.m.nation sleepeth not, and to whom the mist of darknesse is reserved for ever, that they may suffer irreparable shipwrack upon the Sands and Rocks of their owne Errours, being of old ordained to condemnation.

Eightly, let all considerate men beware of ungrounded opinions in Religion: Since I knew what to feare, my timerous heart hath dreaded three things: a blazing starre appearing in the aire: a State Comet, I mean a favourite rising in a Kingdome, a new Opinion spreading in Religion: these are Exorbitancies: which is a formidable word: a _vacuum_ and an exorbitancy, are mundicidious evils. Concerning Novelties of opinions; I shall expresse my thoughts in these briefe pa.s.sages. First, that Truth is the best boone G.o.d ever gave the world: there is nothing in the world, any further then Truth makes it so; it is better then any creat' _Ens_ or _Bonum_, which are but Truths twins.

Secondly, the least Truth of G.o.ds Kingdome, doth in its place, uphold the whole kingdome of his Truths; Take away the least _vericulum_ out of the world, and it unworlds all, potentially, and may unravell the whole texture actually, if it be not conserved by an Arme of superiordinary power. Thirdly, the least Evangelicall Truth is more worth than all the Civil Truths in the world, that are meerly so. Fourthly, that Truth is the Parent of all Liberty whether politicall or personall; so much untruth, so much thraldome, _John 8. 32_.

Hence it is, that G.o.d is so jealous of his Truths, that he hath taken order in his due justice: First, that no practicall sin is so sinfull as some errour in judgement; no men so accursed with indelible infamie and dedolent impenitency, as Authours of Heresie. Secondly, that the least Error, if grown st.u.r.dy and pressed, shall set open the Spittle-doore of all the squint ey'd, wry-necked, and brazen-faced Errors that are or ever were of that litter; if they be not enough to serve its turne, it will beget more, though it hath not one crust of reason to maintain them. Thirdly, that that State which will permit Errors in Religion, shall admit Errors in policy unavoyably. Fourthly, that that Policy which will suffer irreligious Errors, shall suffer the losse of so much Liberty in one kind or other, I will not exempt _Venice_, _Rhaguse_, the _Cantons_, the _Nether-lands_, or any.

An easie head may soon demonstrate, that the pre-mentioned Planters, by Tolerating all Religions, had immazed themselves in the most intolerable confusions and inextricable thraldomes the world ever heard of. I am perswaded the Devill himselfe was never willing with their proceedings, for feare it would breake his wind and wits to attend such a Province. I speak it seriously according to my meaning. How all Religions should enjoy their Liberty, Justice its due regularity, Civill cohabitation morall honesty, in one and the same Jurisdiction, is beyond the Artique of my comprehension. If the whole conclave of h.e.l.l can so compromise, exadverse, and diametricall contradictions, as to compolitize such a multimonstrous maufrey of heteroclytes and quicquidlibets quietly; I trust I may say with all humble reverence, they can doe more then the Senate of Heaven. My _modus loquendi_ pardoned: I intirely wish much welfare and more wisdom to that Plantation.

It is greatly to be lamented, to observe the wanton fearlessnesse of this Age, especially of younger professors, to greet new opinions and Opinionists: as if former truths were grown superannuate, and saplesse, if not altogether antiquate. _Non senescet veritas._ No man ever saw a gray haire on the head or beard of any Truth, wrinckle, or morphew on its face: The bed of Truth is green all the yeare long. Hee that cannot solace himselfe with any saving truth, as affectionately as at the first acquaintance with it, hath not only a fastidious, but an adulterous heart.

If all be true we heare, Never was any People under the Sun, so sick of new Opinions as _English-men_ nor of new fashions as _English-women_: If G.o.d helpe not the one, and the devill leave not helping the other, a blind man may easily foresee what will become of both. I have spoken what I intend for the present to men; I shall speak a word to the women anon: in the mean time I intreat them to prepare patience.

Ninthly, that G.o.dly humble Christians ought not to wonder impatiently at the wonderfull workes of G.o.d in these times: it is full Season for him to work Soveraign worke, to vindicate his Soveraignty, that men may feare before him. States are unstated, Rulers growne Over-rulers, Subjects worse then men, Churches decayed. Tofts, Professors, empty casks filled with unholy humours; I speake not of all, but too many; I condemne not the generation of the just: G.o.d hath his remnant, whom he will carefully preserve. If it bee time for men to take up Defensive Armes against such as are called G.o.ds, upon the point of _Salus populi_, it is high time for him that is G.o.d indeed, to draw his Sword against wormes and no men, upon the point of _Majestas imperii_: The piercing of his Sword shall discover the thoughts of many hearts.

Lastly, I dare averre, that it ill becomes Christians any thing well-shod with the preparation of the Gospel, to meditate flight from their deare Countrey upon these disturbances. Stand your ground ye _Eleazars_ and _Shammahs_, stir not a foot so long as you have halfe a foot of ground to stand upon: after one or two such Worthies, a great Victory may be regained, and flying _Israel_ may returne to a rich spoile. _Englishmen_, be advised to love _England_, with your hearts and to preserve it by your Prayers. I am bold to say that since the pure Primitive time, the Gospel never thrived so well in any soile on earth, as in the _British_; nor is the like goodnesse of nature, or Cornucopian plenty else-where to be found: if ye lose that Country, and finde a better before ye come to Heaven, my Cosmography fades me. I am farre from discouraging any, whom necessity of Conscience or condition thrusts out by head and shoulders: if G.o.d calls any into a Wildernesse, Hee will be no wildernesse to them, _Jer. 2. 31._ witnesse his large beneficence to us here beyond expectation.

Ye say, why come not we over to help the Lord against the Mighty, in these Sacred battailes?

I answer, many here are diligently observing the counsell of the same Prophet, 22. 10. _Weepe not for him that is dead, neither bemoan him; but weep for him that is gone away and shall returne no more to see his Native Country._ Divers make it an Article of our _American_ Creed, which a celebrate Divine of _England_ hath observed upon _Heb. 11. 9._ That no man ought to forsake his owne countrey, but upon extraordinary cause, and when that cause ceaseth, he is bound in conscience to returne if he can: We are looking to him who hath our hopes and seasons in his onely wise hand.

In the mean time we desire to bow our knees before the Throne of Grace day and night, that the Lord would be pleased in his tender mercy to still the sad unquietnesse and per-peracute contentions, of that most comfortable and renowned island, that at length He may have praise in his Churches, and his Churches peace in him, through Jesus Christ.

Should I not keepe promise in speaking a little to Womens fashions, they would take it unkindly: I was loath to pester better matter with such stuffe; I rather thought it meet to let them stand by themselves, like the _Quae Genus_ in the Grammar, being Deficients, or Redundants, not to be brought under any Rule: I shall therefore make bold for this once, to borrow a little of their loose tongued Liberty, and mispend a word or two upon their long-wasted, but short-skirted patience: a little use of my stirrup will doe no harme.

_Ridentem dicere verum, quid prohibet?_

_Gray Gravity it selfe can well beteam, That Language be adapted to the Theme.

He that to Parrots speaks, must parrotize: He that instructs a foole, may act th' unwise._

It is known more then enough, that I am neither Nigard, nor Cinick, to the due bravery of the true Gentry: if any man mislikes a bully mong drossock more then I, let him take her for his labour: I honour the woman that can honour her selfe with her attire: a good Text alwayes deserves a fair Margent: I am not much offended if I see a trimme, far trimmer than she that wears it: in a word, whatever Christianity or Civility will allow, I can afford with _London_ measure: but when I heare a nugiperous Gentledame inquire what dresse the Queen is in this week: what the nudiustertian fashion of the Court; I meane the very newest: with egge to be in it in all haste, what ever it be; I look at her as the very gizzard of a trifle, the product of a quarter of a cypher, the epitome of nothing, fitter to be kickt, if shee were of a kickable substance, than either honour'd or humour'd.

To speak moderately, I truly confesse, it is beyond the ken of my understanding to conceive, how those women should have any true grace, or valuable vertue, that have so little wit, as to disfigure themselves with such exotick garbes, as not only dismantles their native lovely l.u.s.tre, but transclouts them into gant bar-geese, ill-shapen-shotten-sh.e.l.l-fish, Egyptian Hyeroglyphicks, or at the best into French flurts of the pastery, which a proper English woman should scorne with her heels: it is no marvell they weare drailes on the hinder part of their heads, having nothing as it seems in the fore-part, but a few Squirrils brains to help them frisk from ill-favor'd fashion to another.

_These whimm' Crown'd shees, these fashion-fansying wits, Are empty thin brain'd sh.e.l.ls, and fiddling Kits._

The very troublers and impoverishers of mankind, I can hardly forbear to commend to the world a saying of a Lady living sometime with the Queen of _Bohemia_, I know not where shee found it, but it is pitty it should be lost.

_The World is full of care, much like unto a bubble; Women and care, and care and women, and women and care and trouble._

The Verses are even enough for such odde pegma's. I can make my selfe sicke at any time, with comparing the dazling splender wherewith our Gentlewomen were embellished in some former habits, with the gut-foundred goosdom, wherewith they are now surcingled and debauched.

Wee have about five or six of them in our Colony: if I see any of them accidentally, I cannot cleanse my phansie of them for a moneth after. I have been a solitary widdower almost twelve yeares, purposed lately to make a step over to my Native Country for a yoke-fellow: but when I consider how women there have tripe-wifed themselves with their cladments, I have no heart to the voyage, least their nauseous shapes and the Sea, should work too sorely upon my stomach. I speak sadly; me thinkes it should breake the hearts of English-men to see so many goodly English-women imprisoned in French Cages, peering out of their hood-holes for some men of mercy to help them with a little wit, and no body relieves them.

It is a more common then convenient saying, that nine Taylors make a man: it were well if nineteene could make a woman to her minde: if Taylors were men indeed, well furnished but with meer morall principles, they would disdain to be led about like Apes, by such mymick Marmosets.

It is a most unworthy thing, for men that have bones in them, to spend their lives in making fidle-cases for futilous womens phansies; which are the very pett.i.toes of infirmity, the gyblets of perquisquilian toyes. I am so charitable to think, that most of that mystery would worke the cheerfuller while they live, if they might bee well discharged of the tyring slavery of mis-tyring women: it is no little labour to be continually putting up English-women into Out-landish caskes: who if they be not shifted anew, once in a few moneths, grow too sowre for their Husbands. What this Trade will answer for themselves when G.o.d shall take measure of Taylors consciences is beyond my skill to imagine.

There was a time when

_The joyning of the Red-Rose with the White, Did set our State into a Damask plight._

But now our Roses are turned to _Flore de lices_, our Carnations to Tulips, our Gilliflowers to Dayzes, our City-Dames, to an indenominable Quaemalry of overturcas'd things. Hee that makes Coates for the Moone, had need take measure every noone; and he that makes for women, as often, to keepe them from Lunacy.

I have often heard divers Ladies vent loud feminine complaints of the wearisome varieties and chargable changes of fashions: I marvell themselves preferre not a Bill of redresse. I would[2] _Ess.e.x_ Ladies would lead the _Ch.o.r.e_, for the honour of their County and persons; or rather the thrice honourable Ladies of the Court, whom it best beseemes: who may wel presume of a _Le Roy le veult_ from our sober King, a _Les Seigneurs ont a.s.sentus_ from our prudent Peers, and the like _a.s.sentus_ from our considerate, I dare not say wife-worne Commons: who I beleeve had much rather pa.s.se one such Bill, than pay so many Taylors Bills as they are forced to doe.

[2] All the Counties and shires of England have had wars in them since the Conquest, but Ess.e.x, which is onely free, and should be thankfull.

Most deare and unparallel'd Ladies, be pleased to attempt it: as you have the precellency of the women of the world for beauty and feature; so a.s.sume the honour to give, and not take Law from any, in matter of attire: if ye can transact so faire a motion among yourselves unanimously, I dare say, they that most renite, will least repent. What greater honour can your Honors desire, then to build a Promontory president to all foraigne Ladies, to deserve so eminently at the hands of all the English Gentry present and to come: and to confute the opinion of all the wise men in the world; who never thought it possible for women to doe so good a work?

If any man think I have spoken rather merrily than seriously he is much mistaken, I have written what I write with all the indignation I can, and no more then I ought. I confesse I veer'd my tongue to this kinde of Language _de industria_ though unwillingly, supposing those I speak to are uncapable of grave and rationall arguments.

I desire all Ladies and Gentlewomen to understand that all this while I intend not such as through necessary modesty to avoyd morose singularity, follow fashions slowly, a flight shot or two off, shewing by their moderation, that they rather draw countermont with their hearts, then put on by their examples.

I point my pen only against the light-heel'd beagles that lead the chase so fast, that they run all civility out of breath, against these Ape-headed pullets, which invent Antique foole-fangles, meerly for fashion and novelty sake.

In a word, if I begin once to declaime against fashions, let men and women look well about them, there is somewhat in the businesse; I confesse to the world, I never had grace enough to be strict in that kinde; and of late years, I have found syrrope of pride very wholesome in a due _Dos_, which makes mee keep such store of that drugge by me, that if any body comes to me for a question-full or two about fashions, they never complain of me for giving them hard measure, or under-weight.

But I addresse my self to those who can both hear and mend all if they please: I seriously feare, if the pious Parliament doe not finde a time to state fashions, as ancient Parliaments have done in some part, G.o.d will hardly finde a time to state Religion or Peace: They are the surquedryes of pride, the wantonnesse of idlenesse, provoking sins, the certain prodromies of a.s.sured judgement, _Zeph. 1. 7, 8_.

It is beyond all account, how many Gentlemens and Citizens estates are deplumed by their feather-headed wives, what usefull supplies the pannage of _England_ would afford other Countries, what rich returnes to it selfe, if it were not slic'd out into male and female fripperies: and what a mult.i.tude of misimploy'd hands, might be better improv'd in some more manly Manufactures for the publique weale: it is not easily credible, what may be said of the preterpluralities of Taylors in _London_: I have heard an honest man say, that not long since there were numbered between _Temple-barre_ and _Charing-Crosse_, eight thousand of that Trade: let it be conjectured by that proportion how many there are in and about _London_, and in all _England_, they will appeare to be very numerous. If the Parliament would please to mend women, which their Husbands dare not doe, there need not so many men to make and mend as there are. I hope the present dolefull estate of the Realme, will perswade more strongly to some considerate course herein, than I now can.

Knew I how to bring it in, I would speak a word to long haire, whereof I will say no more but this: if G.o.d proves not such a Barbor to it as he threatens, unlesse it be amended, _Esa. 7. 20._ before the Peace of the State and Church be well setled, then let my prophesie be scorned, as a sound minde scornes the ryot of that sin, and more it needs not. If those who are tearmed Rattle-heads and Impuritans, would take up a Resolution to begin in moderation of haire, to the just reproach of those that are called Puritans and Round-heads, I would honour their manlinesse, as much as the others G.o.dlinesse, so long as I knew what man or honour meant: if neither can find a Barbours shop, let them turne in, to _Psal. 68. 21._ _Jer. 7. 29._ _1 Cor. 11. 14._ if it be thought no wisdome in men to distinguish themselves in the field by the Scissers, let it bee thought no injustice in G.o.d, not to distinguish them by the Sword. I had rather G.o.d should know me by my sobriety, than mine enemy not know me by my vanity. He is ill kept, that is kept by his owne sin.

A short promise is a farre safer guard than a long lock: it is an ill distinction which G.o.d is loth to looke at, and his Angels cannot know his Saints by. Though it be not the mark of the Beast, yet it may be the mark of a beast prepared to slaughter. I am sure men use not to weare such manes; I am also sure Souldiers use to weare other marklets or notadoes in time of battell.

Having done with the upper part of my work, I would now with all humble willingnesse set on the best peece of Soule-leather I have, did I not feare I should break my All, which though it may be a right old English blade, yet it is but little and weake. I should esteeme it the best piece of workmanship my Cobling hand every wrought, if it would please Him whose worke it is, to direct me to speake such a word over the sea, as the good old woman of _Abel_ did over the wall, in the like exigent: but alas, I am but simple. What if I be?

_When States dishelv'd are, and Lawes untwist, Wise men keep their tongues, fools speak what they list._

I would not be so unwise as to grieve the wise, if I were wise enough to foresee it: I would speake nothing to the Cause or Continuance of these wearisome Warres. .h.i.therto; the one is enough debated, the other more than enough peracted. Nor would I declaime of the uncomlinesse, unbrotherlinesse, unseasonablenesse and unreasonablenesse of these direfull digladiations: every stroak strucke sounds too loud upon this harsh string. I would much rather speake perswasives to a comely brotherly seasonable and reasonable cessation of Armes on both sides, by a drawn battaile: Wherein if I shall adventure a few over-bold words, I intreat my ignorance, impartiality, and Loyalty may plead pardon for me.

Foure meanes there are, and no more, within the compa.s.se of my consideration, conducing to what is desired. Either to get the Standard fixed in heaven by the Lord of Hosts taken downe, I meane by Reformation: Or to set up white colours instead of red, on one side or other, I meane by Composition: Or by furling up all the Ensignes on both sides, I meane by mutuall and generall Cessation: Or by still displaying all the Colours and Cornets of every batallion, I mean by prosecution: without Reformation there will hardly be any Composition; without Composition little hope of Cessation; without Cessation there must and will be Prosecution; which G.o.d forbid.

_Reformation._

When the Roman Standard was defixed with such difficulty at the battell between _Hanniball_ and _Flaminius_ at _Thrasimene_, it proved an ill Omen. _When G.o.d gives quietnesse, who can make trouble; when he hideth his face, who can behold him?_ _Whether it be against a nation or a man onely._ _That the Hypocrite reigne not, lest the people be insnared_, _Job 34. 29, 30_. How can the sword of the Lord put it selfe up into its scabbard and be quiet, when himself hath given it a charge to the contrary? _Jer. 47. 6, 7_. It was a Cardinall Truth which Cardinall _Poole_ spake to H. 8. _Penes Reges est inferre bellum, penes autem Deum terminare._ If Kings will make their beginnings, G.o.d will make his ends: much more when himselfe begins: _When I begin I will also make an end_, _1 Sam. 3. 12_. Farre better were it, for men to make an end with him in time, than put him to make such an end with them as he there intends.

Politicall Reformation he seemes to call for now _indigitanter_. When he beholds Christian Kingdomes and States unsound in their foundations, illineall in their superstructures, unjust in their administrations; he kicks them in peeces with the foot of his Indignation: But when Religious Statesmen frame and build by the levell and plummet of his wisdome, then people may say as his servants of old, _Looke upon Zion the City of our Solemnities; Your eyes shall see it a quiet habitation, a Tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall be removed, neither shall any of the coards thereof bee broken_; _Isa. 33. 20._ neither by civill Commotions nor foraign Invasions. When the coards of a State are exquisitely tight, and the stakes firmely pitched; such a Tent though but a Tent shall not easily flutter or fall: But _if the Tacklings be so loose, that the maine Mast cannot stand steady, nor the Saile be well spread; then may the lame take and divide a great prey_, ver. 23. If Religion, Laws, Liberties, Affections, Conversations, and foraigne Federacies be slight; the strength of strong men shall be weaknesse, and the weaknesse of the weak victorious.

_Pura politeja ne unum admitt.i.t solaecismulum, neque valet, praescriptio in politicis aut moralibus._ It may maintain a bright conjecture, against a rusty Truth: a legible possession, against an obliterate Claime: an inconvenience, against a convenience; where no cleare remedy may be had: but never any thing that is formally sinfull, or materially mischievous. When rotten States are soundly mended from head to foot, proportions duly admeasured, Justice justly dispenced; then shall Rulers and Subjects have peace with G.o.d and themselves: but till then, the gayest Kingdomes shall be but ruffling scuffling, removing and commoving hovells. For _England_, however the upper Stories are shroadly shattered; yet the foundations and frame being good or mendable by the Architectors now at worke, there is good hope, when peace is setled, people shall dwell more wind-tight and water-tight than formerly. I earnestly wish our Mr. Builders to remember, that punctuality in Divinity and Politie, is but regularity; that what is amisse in the mould, will misfashion the prosult: and that if this market be slipt, things may grow as deare as ever they were. Most expert Gentlemen, bee intreated at length to set our Head right on our shoulders, that we may once look upwards and goe forwards like proper Englishmen.

G.o.d will also have Ecclesiasticall Reformation now, or nothing: And here he stands not upon Kings, Parliaments or a.s.semblies, but upon his own Termes. I feare hee will have all drosse and base metalls throughly melted away by these combustions, before Hee quenches them; all his Ordinances and vessells cast into his owne fashion, in his own mould, to his own _amussim_, before he restores peace. There was not a stone left upon a stone of the old Temple, before the new was erected. If this first worke bee throughly and throughoutly dispatched as I hope it is, the great _Remora_ is removed. If the Parliament and a.s.sembly be pleased to be as curious and industrious as I have seen a great Popish Bishop in execcrating a Protestant Parish Church one day, and consecrating it the next; they may adjourn awhile with leave enough.

Some ten or twelve years before these Wars there came to my view these two Predictions.