John Milton. (1608–1674). Complete Poems.
The Harvard Classics. 1909–14. |
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| On the New Forcers of Conscience under the Long Parliament |
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| (1646) |
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| BECAUSE you have thrown off your Prelate Lord, | |
| And with stiff vows renounced his Liturgy, | |
| To seize the widowed whore Plurality, | |
| From them whose sin ye envied, not abhorred, | |
| Dare ye for this adjure the civil sword | 5 |
| To force our consciences that Christ set free, | |
| And ride us with a Classic Hierarchy, | |
| Taught ye by mere A. S. and Rutherford? | |
| Men whose life, learning, faith, and pure intent, | |
| Would have been held in high esteem with Paul | 10 |
| Must now be named and printed heretics | |
| By shallow Edwards and Scotch What-d’ye-call! | |
| But we do hope to find out all your tricks, | |
| Your plots and packing, worse than those of Trent, | |
| That so the Parliament | 15 |
| May with their wholesome and preventive shears | |
| Clip your phylacteries, though baulk your ears, | |
| And succour our just fears, | |
| When they shall read this clearly in your charge: | |
| New Presbyter is but old Priest writ large. | 20 |
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