The foure ages of England, or, The iron age with other select poems / written by Mr. A. Cowley.

CHAP. XV.

ANd yet these Souldiers go t' undo us quite, And steale our reason, as they have our right: Both say they fight for our Religion, And Laws, which all our safety stands upon; Yet they'ld bewitch us so, we should not see, That by this warr both violated be, Unlesse we take prophanenesse for the true Religion, and injury for due. If prisonment be liberty, and peace Be made by open warres: if truth increase By new broach't heresies; then Churches are Maintain'd by blood, and Kingdomes rul'd by warre, If in those two a Gordian knot were knit, 'Tis fit that wisdome then should open it, And not the sword. Warr is the Common nurse Of Barbarisme; Souldiers add curse to curse: Those rude Profeffors o'th' reforming Trade, How unfit instruments will they be made To rectifie the Church, that hardly name God, but in Oaths, when wine or wrath in flame Themselves above themselves: or if there are Men of more conscience, then the rest, or care, 'Tis but to gloze their Actions; we all see Their courses are full of impietie. How can we exercise Religion now, When want of Lawes doth liberty allow

To all prophanenesse? Such lewd men as they Have made the Warr a Common Holiday To all licentiousnesse. We hardly can Serve God aright (so vile is every man;) Nor live uprightly in such times as these, Being so wicked in the daies of peace. Is this Religion, when each Souldier dares Become a Bishop, to correct our Prayers, And new-coine all our orders? each retaines A publique Synod in his factious braines. Temples which pious Fathers have erected For Divine VVorships, how are they rejected? Made stalls for horse and men (more beasts then they) Where God did feed his flock, horse feed on hey. Garments to Churches giv'n by Saints, t' adorne The Sheep, by sacrilegious Wolves are worne: And harmlesse Railes, which stood in the defence O'th' Table, from irrev'rent violence, They have thrown down; as if they would allow No railing, but such as from Pulpets flow. VVho e're but sees these acts, must needs allow Gods House was n'ere more den of thieves, then now. Such bad effects, or more pernicious farr, VVe must expect, when an eternall VVarr Cures a divided Church; the victorie VVill prove more pestilent then the War can be.