TO THE LORD GENERAL CROMWELL, ON THE PROPOSALS OF CERTAIN MINISTERSAT THE COMMITTEE FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE GOSPEL
(1652)
CROMWELL, our chief of men, who through a cloud
Not of war only, but detractions rude,Guided by faith and matchless fortitude,To peace and truth thy glorious way hast ploughed,And on the neck of crowned Fortune proud
Hast reared God's trophies, and his work pursued,While Darwen stream, with blood of Scots imbrued,And Dunbar field, resounds thy praises loud,And Worcester's laureate wreath: yet much remains
To conquer still; Peace hath her victories
No less renowned than War: new foes arise,Threatening to bind our souls with secular chains.
Help us to save free conscience from the paw
Of hireling wolves, whose Gospel is their maw.