The Authors Apology for his Book
Come, Truth, although in Swadling-clouts, I find
Informs the Judgement, rectifies the Mind,
Pleases the Understanding, makes the Will
Submit; the Memory too it doth fill
With what doth our Imagination please;
Likewise, it tends our troubles to appease.
Sound words I know Timothy is to use;
And old Wives Fables he is to refuse,
But yet grave Paul, him no where doth forbid
The use of Parables; in which lay hid
That Gold, those Pearls, and precious stones that were
Worth digging for; and that with greatest care.
Let me add one word more, O man of God!
Art thou offended? dost thou wish I had
Put forth my matter in an other dress,
Or that I had in things been more express?
Three things let me propound, then I submit
To those that are my betters, (as is fit.)
1. I find not that I am denied the use
Of this my method, so I no abuse
Put on the Words, Things, Readers, or be rude
In handling Figure, or Similitude,
In application; but, all that I may,
Seek the advance of Truth, this or that way:
Denyed, did I say? Nay, I have leave,
(Example too, and that from them that have
God better pleased by their words or ways,
Then any man that breatheth now adays,)
Thus to express my mind, thus to declare
Things unto thee, that excellentest are.
Informs the Judgement, rectifies the Mind,
Pleases the Understanding, makes the Will
Submit; the Memory too it doth fill
With what doth our Imagination please;
Likewise, it tends our troubles to appease.
Sound words I know Timothy is to use;
And old Wives Fables he is to refuse,
But yet grave Paul, him no where doth forbid
The use of Parables; in which lay hid
That Gold, those Pearls, and precious stones that were
Worth digging for; and that with greatest care.
Let me add one word more, O man of God!
Art thou offended? dost thou wish I had
Put forth my matter in an other dress,
Or that I had in things been more express?
Three things let me propound, then I submit
To those that are my betters, (as is fit.)
1. I find not that I am denied the use
Of this my method, so I no abuse
Put on the Words, Things, Readers, or be rude
In handling Figure, or Similitude,
In application; but, all that I may,
Seek the advance of Truth, this or that way:
Denyed, did I say? Nay, I have leave,
(Example too, and that from them that have
God better pleased by their words or ways,
Then any man that breatheth now adays,)
Thus to express my mind, thus to declare
Things unto thee, that excellentest are.
2. I.
