Miscellaneous works of George Wither

God, keep all safe abroad; I'm in my Bed,
And, see no danger yet, or cause of dread.
Emanuel my Protector is become,
He, keeps all Pannick-fears out of this Roome,
And, though the Devil and my Foes together
Confederated, they can bring none hither.
Here's nought, that any way doth me disease,
Unless, it be a few poor starveling Fleas,
Which, I perceive are more afraid of me,
Then cause I have of them afraid to be:
For, if I do but shrugg, where it doth itch,
They skip into a hole, and there they couch.
No Thief, I think, to rob me dares appear,
Within these Walls, the Gallowes are so near;
And, likewise, I believe, 'tis known full well,
I've nought to lose, nor ought for them to steal.
I no Back-biters had, since to this house
I my Commitment had, except, one Louse
Which now is dead, (not having left behind
A son or daughter, that I yet can find)

And, though I were assaulted with a score
(As here, some are oft-times with many more)
I am assur'd, my Landress hath a gift
To rid them; and it is a cleanly shift.

I do suspect, that, thus it doth not fare
With all men, who rejoyce that I am here;
But, that, although they speak big words and grin,
They have more fears without them, or within;
And, that, some thousands who yet walk the street
With more, and with worse misadventures meet:
For, Terrors are abroad, and ev'ry where
It doth in Language, or in looks appear.
I, just now, hear a sound like to Alarms;
Drums beating, and the clattering of Arms;
I (as they pass along, hear Souldiers voyces,
Words of Command, and Military Noises,
Which, by the time, and darkness of the night,
Doth many of the Neighbour-hood affright,
And makes me think (although I cannot tell
What is amiss) that, all things go not well.

What should the matter be? I hope, the men
Whom we saw dead, are not alive agen;
For, though I live yet, (and live longer may)
I did expect to rise, assoon as they.
Most hoped, they, er'e now should have been free,
From that, wherewith disturbed they still be;
But, many see, here's dayly an increase
Of what, may more infringe the Common-peace.
The Citizens, I hear, strict watch do keep
This night, in Arms: I hope, were they asleep
We should be safe; and that, this will hereafter
Yield much less cause of sorrow, then of laughter:
For, all our Factions are now of each other
So fearful, that they'l hardly come together,

Unless affrighted in the dark they are,
And fall foul on each other, unaware.

Men might (if there withall they could be pleas'd)
Of pains and cost and troubles, be much eas'd,
(With much more safety, and more, honour too)
Yet, make no night Alarms as now they do.
He, that's a pious, and an honest liver,
Needs not the Mores Bow, nor the Parthians Quiver,
Nor, to be singly, much less double garded:
For, Innocence is by it self, well warded;
And, when she's most maliciously surrounded,
Then, soonest, her Oppressors are confounded.
Of all the Foes, that are, or ever were,
There's none so bad, or dangerous as Fear:
For, it not onely many a man distresses,
When Plenty, Power, and Honour, he possesses,
(And all the pleasures of his life destroys,
Whilst ev'ry thing he seemingly enjoyes)
But, makes Plagues also, which will never come
To be a greater torment unto some,
Then they are, or, then they can be, if all
Whereof they are afraid, should them befall.

Moreover, it is such a foe as none
Can easily escape when seiz'd upon.
Nor Power nor Policy, nor Walls of Brasse
To keep it out, can strengthen any place;
Nor Flesh and Blood, by Sratagem, or Ginn
Expell it can, when it hath broken in.
Were all the Wealth and Weapons in the Land,
And all the People, at one Mans Command,
They could not fortifie his heart from fears;
For, Terrours will creep in ev'n at the ears,
And passage make through ev'ry other Sence,
In spight of all resistance and defence.

That Fear is such a Terrour, I well know
For I have felt it, though I do not now,
Save, as a natural passion, which, if well
We moderate, is, what a Sentinel
Is to an Army; and by Flesh and Blood,
Though, possibly, it cannot be with stood,
(Especially, when by a wilful Sin,
Against Good Conscience acted, it breaks in
And growes inraged) yet, by Grace we may
Subdue it; And, this, is the only way.

Take Fear and Love, well tempered together,
(As much, as may sufficient be of either)
Fire quencheth Fire; The oil of Scorpions, heals,
The Scorpions sting; and, if, of all things else
You would be fearless, you must fear GOD, so
As man ought; Do, as to be done unto
You would expect, and to that Fear, add Love;
For, Love expelleth ev'ry other Fear
(If placed on right Objects, and sincere)
Plucks up all Vices, and plants in their places
Habitual Vertues, and Celestial Graces.
The Love of GOD , with Filial Fear begins,
And with a detestation of all sins.
The knowledge of our Natural Estate,
In us, Desires to cure it will Create.
The Love of GOD in Christ, then, being known,
(And, what, when we incurable were grown
He hath done for us) will more Love beget
If we no false suggestions do admit;
That Love, will also, dayly stronger grow
If we GOD's nature truly learn to know.
And, not as Eve did, him suspect of Evil;
Ascribe to him, what's proper to the Devil;

Suspect the Promises which he doth give us;
Nor think that he intendeth to deceive us.
For, if we love him, we will then believe him,
In all his Attributes due Glory give him.
We then will do, and not disputing stand,
Of that which he forbids, or doth command.
Nor fear, nor stagger, from that Resolution
(Who ever countermands their execution)
But, love him so, as having understood
That all his Works, and his Commands are good:
So love him, that, we love his whole Creation,
Nought hating, but what's his abomination.
We will not then permit Humane Tradition
With his known will, to stand in competition;
Lay bonds on them, whom he from Bondage frees;
Charge him, with Ordinances and Decrees
Which he did never make; but forged were
By him, who, layes for ev'ry Soul a snare;
Or, by his Instruments, whose Merchandizes
And Pomp, are much advanc'd by those devises:
We will not, when he graciously invites,
To penitence, reject him with despights,
And, foes implacable, to them appear
Who zealous of their Weal and Safety are.

These are the Well-springs of those many errors
Distractions, miseries, and Pannick Terrours
Which are among us. That, which chiefly here
Begetteth troubles and augmenteth fear,
Is, want of such a Fear, and such a Love,
As may become effectual to improve
Those Judgements & these Mercies, which our eyes
Have seen; & whereby, (though we see GOD tryes
These Nations to this day) nor Prince, nor Peer
Nor Priest nor People, doth as yet appear

So mindful as they ought to be of that
Which, was, for, or against them, done of late:
Nor see I any Fruit which thence proceeds,
Save Thorns & Brambles, Thistles, tares or weeds.
But, they who stop their Ears and shut their Eyes,
Against those Wonders and those Prodigies,
Which have been lately sent to startle them
From that security, wherein they Dream;
And they who are not much displeas'd alone
With Publication of what God hath done,
But, also with his Word; shall see and hear,
Those things, ere long, with trembling & with fear,
Which will not be concealed; but, befall
So openly, as to be known to all.
These, have the causes been, that Christendom
Is lately, an Acheldama become;
For, these are those things, which advance the works
Of Antichrist, and make way for the Turks.
Let us repent therefore, whilst we have space,
Lest Fields of Blood, be turned to Golgotha's.
Let us, in this our Visitation day
Give ear unto GOD's Voice, whilst yet we may;
Not like Bruit Beasts pursuing one another,
But, lincking fast in Charity together,
Be reconcil'd to GOD, with Loving-awe:
For, that sums up the Gospel, and the Law.
Do this, and if of ought you fearful be,
Let all, that you can fear, fall upon me.

University of Virginia Library

An Antidote against Fear, composed upon the Citizens being unexpectedly in Arms, Sept. 28. 1661. at night.