CANTO II.]
HUDIBRAS.
353
For who first bred them up to pray,
And teach the House of Commons way?
Where had they all their gifted phrases, 635
But from our Calamies and Cases?[1]
Without whose sprinkeling and sowing,
Whoe'er had heard of Nye or Owen?[2]
Their dispensations had been stifled,
But for our Adoniram Byfield;[3] 640
And had they not begun the war,
They 'd ne'er been sainted as they are:[4]
For saints in peace degenerate,
And dwindle down to reprobate;
Their zeal corrupts, like standing water, 645
In th' intervals of war and slaughter;
And teach the House of Commons way?
Where had they all their gifted phrases, 635
But from our Calamies and Cases?[1]
Without whose sprinkeling and sowing,
Whoe'er had heard of Nye or Owen?[2]
Their dispensations had been stifled,
But for our Adoniram Byfield;[3] 640
And had they not begun the war,
They 'd ne'er been sainted as they are:[4]
For saints in peace degenerate,
And dwindle down to reprobate;
Their zeal corrupts, like standing water, 645
In th' intervals of war and slaughter;
- ↑ Calamy was minister of Aldermanbury, London, a zealous Presbyterian and Covenanter, and frequent preacher before the Parliament. He was one of the first who whispered in the conventicles, what afterward he proclaimed openly, that for the cause of religion it was lawful for the subjects to take up arms against the king. Case, also, a Presbyterian, upon the deprivation of a loyalist, became minister of Saint Mary-Magdalen church, Milk-street; where it was usual with him thus to invite his people to the communion: "You that have freely and liberally contributed to the Parliament, for the defence of God's cause and the gospel, draw near," &c., instead of the words, "Ye that do truly and earnestly repent you of your sins." He was one of the Assembly of Divines, preached for the Covenant, and printed his sermon; preached often before the Parliament, was a bitter enemy to Independents, and concerned with Love in his plot.
- ↑ Philip Nye was an Independent preacher, zealous against the king and bishops beyond most of his brethren. He went on purpose into Scotland to expedite the Covenant, and preached before both Houses in England, when that obligation was taken by them. He was at first a Presbyterian, and one of the Assembly; but afterwards left them. At the Restoration, it was debated by the Healing Parliament, for several hours, whether he should not be excepted from life. Doctor Owen was the most eminent divine of the Independents, and in great credit with Cromwell. He was promoted by them to the deanery of Christchurch, of Oxford. In 1654, being vice-chancellor, he offered to represent the university in Parliament; and, to remove the objection of his being a divine, renounced his orders, and pleaded that he was a layman. He was returned; but his election being questioned in the committee, he sat only a short time.
- ↑ Byfield, originally an apothecary, was a noted Presbyterian, chaplain to Colonel Cholmondely's regiment, in the Earl of Essex's army, and one of the scribes to the Assembly of Divines. Afterwards he became minister of Collingborn, in Wilts, and assistant to the commissioners in ejecting scandalous ministers.
- ↑ Had not the divines, on the Presbyterian side, fomented the differences, the Independents would never have come into play, or been taken notice of.
