But though it pleased the Divine Providence, which sometimes vouchsafeth to bring good out of evil, to put a stop, in a great measure at least, to the prosecution here begun, yet in other parts, both of the city and country, it was carried on with very great severity and rigour; the worst of men for the most part being set up for informers; the worst of magistrates encouraging and abetting them; and the worst of the priests who first began to blow the fire, now seeing how it took, spread, and blazed, clapping their hands, and hallooing them on to this evil work. The sense whereof, as it deeply affected my heart with a sympathizing pity for the oppressed sufferers, so it raised in my spirit a holy disdain and contempt of that spirit and its agent by which this ungodly work was stirred up and carried on; which at length broke forth in an expostulatory poem, under the title of “Gigantomachia” (the Wars of the Giants against Heaven), not without some allusion to the second Psalm; thus:— Why do the heathen in a brutish rage, Themselves against the Lord of Hosts engage? Why do the frantic people entertain Their thoughts upon a thing that is so vain? Why do the kings themselves together set? And why do all the princes them abet? Why do the rulers to each other speak After this foolish manner, “Let us break Their bonds asunder; come, let us make haste, With joint consent, their cords from us to cast?” Why do they thus join hands, and counsel take Against the Lord’s Anointed? This will make Him doubtless laugh who doth in heaven sit; The Lord will have them in contempt for it. His sore displeasure on them He will wreak, And in His wrath will He unto them speak. For on His holy hill of Sion He His king hath set to reign: sceptres must be Cast down before Him; diadems must lie At foot of Him who sits in majesty Upon His throne of glory; whence He will Send forth His fiery ministers to kill All those His enemies who would not be Subject to His supreme authority. Where then will ye appear who are so far From being subjects that ye rebels are Against His holy government, and strive Others from their allegiance too to drive? What earthly prince such an affront would bear From any of his subjects, should they dare So to encroach on his prerogative? Which of them would permit that man to live? What should it be adjudged but treason? and Death he must suffer for it out of hand. And shall the King of kings such treason see Acted against Him, and the traitors be Acquitted? No: vengeance is His, and they That Him provoke shall know He will repay. And of a truth provoked He hath been In a high manner by this daring sin Of usurpation, and of tyranny Over men’s consciences, which should be free To serve the living God as He requires, And as His Holy Spirit them inspires. For conscience is an inward thing, and none