Clievelandi Vindiciæ, or, Clieveland's genuine poems, orations, epistles, &c. purged from the many false and spurious ones which had usurped his name, and from innumerable errours and corruptions in the true copies : to which are added many never printed before, with an account of the author's life.

The Officer's Rejoynder.

SIR,

HAd not Indulgent Mercy provided for troubled Spirits Sacred Oracles, how troubled had you been to contrive some∣thing worthy of Laughter? How easie had the Expence of your Wit been trussed up in an Egg-shell. I dare not trace in holy Ground, it is not safe nibbling there. You see what Doctrine I make of your Use; but yet so far as yours is Profane give me lieve to nibble at Wit. Though I dare not undertake like a mighty Coloss (whose ve∣ry motion doth Cleave Land, like Terram findere) to devour indigested lumps of Wit, as the Cyclops Men at a Morsel, and then retail it out, as a Juggler doth Inkle, by the Yard; yet allow me to nibble, and I'll allow you the Gift in Preaching. Pity

it is the provission of so many savoury Les∣sons, wholsome Instructions, even so many pious Collections, as might worthily have entitled you to the comfortable Subsistence of a well-gleb'd Vicarage. Besides the Advantage of a Wit, which would require another Wit to tell how great; such a Di∣vine Knowledge, as might enable you to profane every Leaf of Holy Writ; Un∣known Sanctity, and a Conscience so ten∣der I dare not touch. Pity it is such ac∣complish'd Gifts and prodigious Parts should be misemploy'd in Secular affairs. Such an Holy Father might have begot as many Babes for the Mother-Church of Newark, as our Party of late hath done Garrisons, and converted as many Souls as Chaucer's Friar with the Shoulder-bone of the lost Sheep. But you say you expected (I thought you had had more than you ex∣pected) but however you expected Peni∣tential Language and Humble Style, (the Groat I will not meddle with, 'tis Ho∣oly Coyn) an Address full of Complaints; Sir, we, like your selves, can speak big of our Losses, and yet with more Ingenuity confess them; though I for modesty will not ask you who stole from you of late a Fort-town? or who run away with the King? But of that— For that precise

Summ, I see you are willing to quarrel at Preciseness; it was to tell you, Revenge would have transferr'd it upon your ve∣ry— How you quarrel at your good! Had you mistaken him for a Tax-gatherer, and eased him of his Portage before he ar∣riv'd at your Chappel of Ease, I would not you should have abated him a fourth part for his Forwardness, and put it upon the File of Contribution for his Majestie's good Garrison of Newark; I should have liked the Security well, and when your Works had fail'd to save you, expected a return upon the Publick Faith; the Meditation whereof putteth me upon this Advice: Think not Prophaneness can compact with Mud, to cast up a Trench of Security. At∣tempt not (though a Giant) to reach at Stars; to throw that Proverb at you,

Be wise on this side Heaven.