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 | Miscellaneous works of George Wither |  |
Ah! were this Generation, but as wise
As compleat, in their martial Bravaries;
Or, but as meek, as they are wise in show,
And knew as well, the things they do not know
As those they do; and could more lay aside
Their avarice, their selfness, and their their pride,
Which bar them from the knowledge, & the love
Of that, which would their best expedient prove:
They would begin, their failing more to mark;
Find how they grope, and stumble in the dark,
And, GOD, would give them open eyes to see
How, and whereby, their peace might setled be;
And that the Course whereby they thought to flourish
Is but a by-path, to their ways that perish.
As compleat, in their martial Bravaries;
Or, but as meek, as they are wise in show,
And knew as well, the things they do not know
As those they do; and could more lay aside
Their avarice, their selfness, and their their pride,
Which bar them from the knowledge, & the love
Of that, which would their best expedient prove:
They would begin, their failing more to mark;
Find how they grope, and stumble in the dark,
And, GOD, would give them open eyes to see
How, and whereby, their peace might setled be;
And that the Course whereby they thought to flourish
Is but a by-path, to their ways that perish.
As we are yet, our struglings be in vain,
To cast our burthens, and shake off, our chain:
We do, but, when one side, doth scorch & burn,
The other side, upon the Gridiron turn:
Or, shall but leap, (do whatsoe'er we can)
Into the Fire, out of the frying-pan;
Till, we our duties, better think upon
To GOD-ward, then we hitherto have done;
Until more generally, we do obey
This Power, which over us now beareth sway;
Till also, they make good the expectation
Conceiv'd, since their additional-probation;
And, till among these Nations, here be seen
A greater change, then hitherto hath been.
To cast our burthens, and shake off, our chain:
We do, but, when one side, doth scorch & burn,
The other side, upon the Gridiron turn:
Or, shall but leap, (do whatsoe'er we can)
Into the Fire, out of the frying-pan;
Till, we our duties, better think upon
To GOD-ward, then we hitherto have done;
Until more generally, we do obey
This Power, which over us now beareth sway;
Till also, they make good the expectation
Conceiv'd, since their additional-probation;
And, till among these Nations, here be seen
A greater change, then hitherto hath been.
But, what change can here be, to set all right,
But such a change, as must destroy us quite,
And make all new? unless, the change be made
By him, from whom, all things their being had?
Or, some expedient, or reserve be found
Like that, made use of, when the World was drown'd?
For, most among us, are grown so deprav'd,
That, very few, can to Good use be sav'd.
Their wisdom, power and wealth, most men imploy
The welfare of each other to destroy.
The Common-people, do not understand
Those things, which GOD, and men have now in hand;
And, give assistance to rebellious Forces,
By railings, imprecations, skoffs and curses,
Instead of Prayers; and, so mis-believe,
That, now, no Charmer, can them undeceive.
So harsh and general a Diapaze
Of discords, in no Climate ever was
Since in Jerusalem the triple-faction
Foremention'd, wrought incurable distraction.
No People ever were so blinde, so giddy,
So vain, so false, mad, foolish, and so heady,
But, where a sad unparallel'd confusion
Threatned to bring a terrible Conclusion.
But such a change, as must destroy us quite,
And make all new? unless, the change be made
By him, from whom, all things their being had?
Or, some expedient, or reserve be found
Like that, made use of, when the World was drown'd?
For, most among us, are grown so deprav'd,
That, very few, can to Good use be sav'd.
Their wisdom, power and wealth, most men imploy
The welfare of each other to destroy.
The Common-people, do not understand
Those things, which GOD, and men have now in hand;
And, give assistance to rebellious Forces,
By railings, imprecations, skoffs and curses,
Instead of Prayers; and, so mis-believe,
That, now, no Charmer, can them undeceive.
So harsh and general a Diapaze
Of discords, in no Climate ever was
Since in Jerusalem the triple-faction
Foremention'd, wrought incurable distraction.
No People ever were so blinde, so giddy,
So vain, so false, mad, foolish, and so heady,
But, where a sad unparallel'd confusion
Threatned to bring a terrible Conclusion.
They, like to Sampsons Foxes, from each other
Turn heads; but, are united so together
With Firebrands, by their tails, that, as well they
Who run the same, as they wch thwart their way
Destroy the Cornfields thorow which they run,
And, meet with greater mischiefs then they shun
Turn heads; but, are united so together
With Firebrands, by their tails, that, as well they
Who run the same, as they wch thwart their way
Destroy the Cornfields thorow which they run,
And, meet with greater mischiefs then they shun
He, that oppresseth, doth of those complain
Who, do apparent wrongs by him sustain;
And, oft, finds means to tell so smooth a tale,
That innocence is dasht against the wall:
He, that the truth, nor loves, nor tells, nor teaches,
Writes, fights, pretends, yea, pays, and prays, and preaches,
As if he did profess it without guile;
Yet, is a friend to falshood, all the while.
Some, without honesty, the truth profess,
Some, hold the truth, but in unrighteousness;
And, twixt these two, (as they the power divide)
CHRIST, and most honest men are crucifide.
Who, do apparent wrongs by him sustain;
And, oft, finds means to tell so smooth a tale,
That innocence is dasht against the wall:
26
Writes, fights, pretends, yea, pays, and prays, and preaches,
As if he did profess it without guile;
Yet, is a friend to falshood, all the while.
Some, without honesty, the truth profess,
Some, hold the truth, but in unrighteousness;
And, twixt these two, (as they the power divide)
CHRIST, and most honest men are crucifide.
With Tragedies, they make their Party glad,
And, joy in that, for which good men are sad.
They love no news, like that which breedeth strife,
Lies, (as if they were nourishments of life)
They feast on; and at them, who their untruths
Disown, they storm, as if then, from their mouths
The bread were snatcht: yea, when they know them false,
They love to tell, and hear, seditious tales,
By which the Common-peace may be orethrown,
Although thereby, they quite destroy their own,
And multiply those burthens, which, they lay
To their Charge, who, had took them else away;
Or, if not hindred in their enterprize,
By malice, falshood, and Apostacies.
And, joy in that, for which good men are sad.
They love no news, like that which breedeth strife,
Lies, (as if they were nourishments of life)
They feast on; and at them, who their untruths
Disown, they storm, as if then, from their mouths
The bread were snatcht: yea, when they know them false,
They love to tell, and hear, seditious tales,
By which the Common-peace may be orethrown,
Although thereby, they quite destroy their own,
And multiply those burthens, which, they lay
To their Charge, who, had took them else away;
Or, if not hindred in their enterprize,
By malice, falshood, and Apostacies.
Their slandrous Tongues, and Pens, whom wound they not
Save him that is unknown, or else forgot.
They skoff, and jeer (not wickedness and folly,
Wch may be jeer'd) but things that are most holy:
And, since times round began, no humane eyes
Did read so many cursed blasphemies,
So much prophaness, and scurrility,
Or such impure and filthy ribaldry,
As in this Isle, hath in so little space,
Been publish'd, to our National disgrace.
But, what can more from those expected be
Who think none but licentious men are free?
And, whose ambition, more affects to have
The freedom of a Beast, or of a Slave,
Then that which both by nature, and by grace,
Belongs of right, unto the humane race?
Save him that is unknown, or else forgot.
They skoff, and jeer (not wickedness and folly,
Wch may be jeer'd) but things that are most holy:
And, since times round began, no humane eyes
Did read so many cursed blasphemies,
So much prophaness, and scurrility,
Or such impure and filthy ribaldry,
As in this Isle, hath in so little space,
Been publish'd, to our National disgrace.
But, what can more from those expected be
Who think none but licentious men are free?
And, whose ambition, more affects to have
The freedom of a Beast, or of a Slave,
Then that which both by nature, and by grace,
Belongs of right, unto the humane race?
Like earboar'd slaves, (who, bondmen have been made
So long, that, when their freedom may be had
They slight it) so do these; and, as conceiving
There were, no possibility of living
In this world, (or hereafter to be sav'd)
Except they serv'd a Tyrant, and were slav'd;
They, now rebelliously, a Captain chuse
To lead them back to bondage, like the Jewes;
As if it were designed by these Nations
To be like them, in all their deviations.
So long, that, when their freedom may be had
They slight it) so do these; and, as conceiving
There were, no possibility of living
In this world, (or hereafter to be sav'd)
Except they serv'd a Tyrant, and were slav'd;
They, now rebelliously, a Captain chuse
To lead them back to bondage, like the Jewes;
As if it were designed by these Nations
To be like them, in all their deviations.
Oaths, against Oaths, and Covenants are took,
Fitter to be repented of, and broke
Then to be kept; and, Piety, they make
A seeming warrant to infringe and break
That which obligeth all mens Consciences,
And, wherewith, nor GODS Laws, nor mans dispenses,
Thus, at this present, constituted is
This Nation; and, what change, must mend all this?
Fitter to be repented of, and broke
Then to be kept; and, Piety, they make
A seeming warrant to infringe and break
That which obligeth all mens Consciences,
And, wherewith, nor GODS Laws, nor mans dispenses,
Thus, at this present, constituted is
This Nation; and, what change, must mend all this?
Oh madmen! (if ye are not so bereft
Of reason, that among you none is left)
Be you your selves the Judges, if I lay
That to your charge, which is not as I say.
Or, whether I dar'd say it, in a time
So wicked, without warranty from him,
Who, in this sad day of our Visitation
Inclines me to it, for your preservation.
Of reason, that among you none is left)
Be you your selves the Judges, if I lay
That to your charge, which is not as I say.
Or, whether I dar'd say it, in a time
So wicked, without warranty from him,
Who, in this sad day of our Visitation
Inclines me to it, for your preservation.
To cure these Frenzies for his future glory,
GOD, is preparing a New-purgatory,
To purge what may be purged from the dross,
That, of the Pure Gold there may be no loss.
The Judgements, now beginning, shall go round,
And through these Islands, till all those are found
Who have been false, in that which they profest
To GOD, or to the Publick-Interest.
From house to house, from man to man, they shall
Procession make, till they have seiz'd on all.
All shall be proved, whether poor they be
Or rich, or, of a high or low degree,
By outward, or by inward fiery trials,
Till they are brought to real self-denials
Twixt GOD and them, through mercy to repent
Their failings; or, to outward chastisement.
GOD, is preparing a New-purgatory,
To purge what may be purged from the dross,
That, of the Pure Gold there may be no loss.
The Judgements, now beginning, shall go round,
And through these Islands, till all those are found
Who have been false, in that which they profest
To GOD, or to the Publick-Interest.
From house to house, from man to man, they shall
Procession make, till they have seiz'd on all.
All shall be proved, whether poor they be
Or rich, or, of a high or low degree,
By outward, or by inward fiery trials,
Till they are brought to real self-denials
Twixt GOD and them, through mercy to repent
Their failings; or, to outward chastisement.
Those, who shall in this Island, scape his hand,
Vengeance, will seize on, in a Forraign-Land:
The Foes of Peace among the Common-rout,
A Pestilence, or Famine shall root out.
They, who have shuffled from the Souldiers fury,
Shall fall into the mercy of a Jury;
And, when they, from the Sword, are in some hope
To hide; shall then be hamper'd in a Rope.
The mischiefs they have shunned in the street,
Within a secret Chamber, they shall meet.
Those men, whom nothing publickly pursues,
Their Consciences, in private, shall accuse;
They, who immovably do think to stand,
Shall fall, without the motion of a hand;
And when the things they fear'd, cannot annoy them
That, which they sleight, and fear not, shall destroy them.
Vengeance, will seize on, in a Forraign-Land:
The Foes of Peace among the Common-rout,
A Pestilence, or Famine shall root out.
They, who have shuffled from the Souldiers fury,
Shall fall into the mercy of a Jury;
And, when they, from the Sword, are in some hope
To hide; shall then be hamper'd in a Rope.
The mischiefs they have shunned in the street,
Within a secret Chamber, they shall meet.
Those men, whom nothing publickly pursues,
Their Consciences, in private, shall accuse;
They, who immovably do think to stand,
Shall fall, without the motion of a hand;
And when the things they fear'd, cannot annoy them
That, which they sleight, and fear not, shall destroy them.
| Miscellaneous works of George Wither | |