POEMS Annent the keeping of YULE, pro and con.

Many People retaining the Dreggs of Romish Superstition, (especially such things as are grate­ful to the Flesh,) make a pretence of keeping the 25th. of December, in Commemoration of the Nativity of our Blessed Saviour, (not only without any Scripture Precept or Example) but also, do so far abuse the same, that most who make a pretence of Observing it as a Day of Thanksgiving, make it a Day of Rioting and Drunkenness; Wherefore I thought it may not be improper at this time to shew in some measure the ill consequences of such a practice; And while I was Advising, whether I had best only offer some Arguments a­gainst the Observation of Anniversary Days, or Refute the Arguments made use of to Re­commend them; I Resolved on the latter, and for that end have inserted a Poem out of Felthame's Resolves for the Affirmative, and have annexed one of my own for the Negative, which I hope will be looked on by the unprejudiced Reader as a [...]u [...] Refutation of the other; But however it be, I suppose none will blame me for Wresting or Mincing of my Antagonists Arguments, as is usual in Debates.

SHall Blood and Ruine find a Day
To Feast and Play?
Shall we go out in Rage and still
Rejoice when Brothers, Brothers Kill;
Shall we each Year the growing State
Of our great Senate Celebrate?
Shall Anual Rights, and hightned Mirth
Frolick each petty Prince's Birth?
And shall the Lord of Life's blest Day
Be thrown away?
Dear Day! thy Memory to me,
Shall precious be,
Since God at first his Stamp did set,
And Man till now continued it,
I'le shew my Joy and Thanks: Suppose,
That very day no Mortal knows;
Yet since Just Power does one Command,
That one to me as well shall stand,
As Leaving Aegypt; which in one,
Yet was not done.
No Day since the Creation yet,
was Grac'd like it;
Crowded with Miracles it came
Into the World: The Heavens Proclaim,
By New Created Light the Thing,
While th' Host of God descend and Sing,
The Joy to Shepherds th' Angel brings,
And a bright Star doth Summond Kings.
To all Mankind glad Tydings flyes,
To the Weak and Wise.
And where the Prince does not forbid,
The Subject's ty'd,
T' obey him in Viceroy: So,
Where God my Father says not No,
There my Blest Mother his Chaste Spouse
The Church, as Mistriss rules the House.
No Steward of a Private Farm
Shall there my just Obedience Charm.
Jews may reject the Day, but I
Will Christian Dye.
WHether Kings may Command a Day
For Sport and Play?
In Mem'ry of the Day th' are Born,
Or day Crowns by them first were worn,
I'le not determine; Yet I say,
Tho' Subjects do those Laws obey,
The Conscience is not touch'd; because
Th' Obedience call'd for by these Laws
Do not to Spiritual matters Reach,
To Pray and Preach.
If this Day still has been in Fashon,
Since Christ his Passion,
How comes't to pass 'tis still unknown?
For one may think he would shown
The day, had he thought fit it should
Be keept as now some People would.
The Passover was not by Guess,
All Israel had that Law express.
When th' other is as plainly shown
We shall it own.
That Day was greatly Grac'd, 'tis true,
What will ensue?
Can any Pow'r on Earth Command
A Holy day in Force to stand?
If one, why not six, ten or more?
Or why not as well Fifeteen Score
As Papists have almost already
Dedicat to their Saints and Lady?
So where God Six of the Sev'n allows?
Scarce two they chuse.
Neither a Wife nor Viceroy may
Boldly Gainsay,
Their Prince or Husband's Just Command,
Nor may the Church God's Law Gainstand,
And put Restraints where he puts none,
As 'postatizing Rome hath done:
In this Grant once the Church a Span,
She'le take ten Cubits if She can.
To be no more than's Written w [...]
Shall me S [...]

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