Miscellaneous works of George Wither

To Us and Him, forewarn us to pursue
Some speedy Course, Confusion to eschew,
And fortifie our Peace: But, what to do
Few know, or vvhat vvill best conduce thereto;
Nor shall know, till a Parliament convenes
To search vvhat GOD, this Prince, & People means.
In order to their wish'd-for Settlement,
The State hath chose another Instrument,
Whom GOD, hath in the room of OLIVER,
Permitted to be his Probationer.
In Prudence, this Expedient they have us'd,
Lest our Confusions, growing more confus'd,
Might bring in Anarchy: And if they now,
Pursue vvhat GOD's, and humane Laws allow,
And shall not Arbitrarily proceed
Ought further, then unquestionable Need
Necessitates, till those things on their Basis
Are fixed, vvhich vvere thrust out of their places:
It may in little time, conduce to that
Which Men of single Heart, have aimed at.
But, who, or what, vvill henceforth be a Bar
To Righteousness, the Sequel must declare,
And vvill make manifest, vvhat Mask soever
It put upon an opposite Endeavour.

If he hath conscientiously been chose,
(Which none but GOD and his Electors knows)
Our Peace, by this Prince, vvill be further'd more,
Then by him vvhom vve vvrought vvith heretofore.
Although he brings not such APPEARANCES
Either for His, or Our Advantages,
As did his Predecessor: for vve may
Finde those Defects supplide another vvay;
Yea, vvant perhaps, of what the former had
In some kindes, may to our advantage add.

Time, oft discovers in a timely season,
What cannot be till then discern'd by Reason.
Wise Samuel, fail'd in his conjecturing
VVhich of the Sons of Jesse should be King.
A Man of War, now fittest for the Throne
Some thought; but, vve behold instal'd thereon
A Man of Peace: And if in his Probations
He bide the Test, he shall be to these Nations,
A Fortress of Defence, in spight of those,
VVho, in his Government, shall him oppose;
Provided, vve obstruct not Providence,
By persevering in impenitence.

The Supreme Title, is on him confer'd,
And, by vvhat vvay soe'er it vvas acquir'd,
That, for the present vvith a Soveraign Pow'r
Invests him; and vvhatever we call our,
Is in his hands, vvith all th'Authority
VVhich Scepters, Globes, or Crowns do signifie.
And, of that Dignity he stands possest
(By GOD's permissive Providence, at least)
Not that he should Usurp, or challenge them,
As due unto his Fathers House, or Him;
But, being forfeited by our Transgression,
Them, in his hands he hath by sequestration,
To be secur'd there, till by Penitences,
A Pardon, be su'd out, for our Offences,
That, vvhat, by Natures Law, and by GOD's Word,
To us belongeth, may be then restor'd:
For, GOD, Almighty, to no other ends,
Such Seizures, by a Soveraign Prince intends:
Save when, on wicked Nations he bestowes
A wicked Prince, for both their overthrows.

If to GOD's ends, he Quadrate his Desire,
He, shall become, far greater then his Sire.

He shall do nobler things, then ere he did;
More he shall Conquer, then he conquered:
Affairs, which he of whom vve are bereft,
Both difficult and in confusion left,
He shall reduce to Order; not alone
Subduing Men and Realms, as he hath done,
But conquer also, those destructive Evils,
Which would destroy all, and triumph o'er Devils.
Nay, though he had been, either by his Youth,
By Flatterers, pretending zeal to Truth,
Or if he by a carnal Hope or fear
Of Danger, had been tempted to adhere
To those Designs, which under fair pretences,
May, to the Publick Rights, do violences;
Yet, if he shall conform to GOD, and them,
Whose Love, and Counsel, he should not contemn;
It shall (by much) a greater honour do him,
Then Scepters, Crowns, and Thrones can add unto him.
Yea, if upon the day of his Probation
He to the Supreme Council of this Nation,
(Assembled lawfully, and duly chose)
Shall rather hearken, then give ear to those
Who flatter him in secret; they shall never
Forsake him, but his Servants be for ever.
It shall on him, confer more Happiness
Then, I in words, am able to express.
VVin him more Love then can by gold be bought,
Bring in more Joy, keep Terrors better out,
And (whilst on Earth he lives) secure him more,
Then if each single Souldier vvere a score;
And, were my Life, of value to be pledg'd
For that Adventure, it should be ingag'd.

Contrary-wise, if he their Lore pursue
VVho will perswade him, that all is his due

VVhich he can grasp; or shall instead of Law
Imploy the sword, to keep Free-Men in aw;
GOD, will arise; and none shall need to strive,
A Remedy, by Violence, to contrive.
For if we vvait on him, and sit but still,
Submitting patiently unto his Will,
Our Chief Oppressors he will cause to be
Their own destruction, and so set us free.
Or, make our Foes our Friends, and back restore
All that was taken from us heretofore.
By such means, GOD in former times releast
His People, who by Tyrants were opprest,
As doth appear, by that which did befal
In Babylon, and in th'Egyptian-thral,
VVhere, not a man made use of hand, or tongue
To free himself, by violence, from wrong,
Except by Prayers, which (although offence
It gives to some) is lawful violence.
And, by some such means when GOD's time is come,
Our Bondage, we shall be deliver'd from.

GOD, hath a thousand wayes, to break the pow'r
Of twentie thousand Tyrants in an hour;
Yet, may prove many Tooles, till he finds one,
Or, moe, to finish what he hath begun.
If this turn Edge, he, peradventure may
Take those again, that have been flung away,
VVhich being purged in Afflictions Fire,
VVill, now be pliable to his Desire.
Their Actings, vvhom vve now impow'red see,
VVill shortly, evidently signal be,
Of what shall follow: But, I fear th'event,
VVill not produce a happy Settlement,
Till our Trustees, Elected shall appear
For Conscience-sake, more then for Belly-Cheer,

Or such-like by-respects; (by which we seem
To have our Birth-Rights in a mean esteem:)
And, till, GOD, likewise, hath by Lot a Voice,
(As well as men) both in the future Choice
Of our Protectors; and of others too,
Who must help act the work that's yet to do.
But, this will be no pleasing Proposition
To Avarice, Self-seeking and Ambition.

There's yet a Signe (to which things fore-exprest
Relation have) more signal then the rest,
Which, if it shall continue as it hath
Continu'd, will add Vengeance, unto Wrath;
And, what vain hope soever, we may cherish,
VVe, with our Prince and Government, shall perish.
GOD, where this grows predominant, despises
All Vows, Tears, Prayers, Cries and Sacrifices,
Fasts and Thanksgivings: For, he findes them all
VVhere this remains, but Hypocritical.
This is that Signe, which did in ev'ry Age,
Those irrevocable Fore-Dooms presage,
That introduc'd the final Desolations,
Of all those mighty Empires, Kings and Nations,
VVhereof there's little left now, but a Name,
Preserv'd among us by an empty Fame,
For our Examples: This is that which shook
Their Thrones, their Crowns defac'd, their Scepters broke:
Yet, this Signe is upon us, at this day;
From us, with speed, remove it LORD, away.

You look, as men expecting I should show
VVhat Signe that is. Good GOD! what do you know
If this you know not? Do you not behold
That Signe, by what I have already told?
Are you asleep Friends? have you neither Ears
Nor Eyes, that, undiscern'd this yet appears?

Do you not hear the Groans of Men distrest?
The Loud-loud Cries, of those who are opprest?
Nor what a sad Complaint attested stands
This day, by many hundreds of their hands?
Have you not heard, how Pris'ners do complain?
Nor seen what Tears are poured out in vain
By Widdows and poor Orphanes? see ye not
What vast Estates are by Oppressors got,
To their undoing, who their Lively-hood,
Their Fathers, Husbands, or their Brothers Blood
Lost for the Publick? see you not how sad
(Poor souls) they are? how lean, and how unclad?
Have you not heard a Merciless-Decree
Condemn the Just, and set the Wicked free?
Do you not see, that, hundreds of Petitions
Have many yeers made known Mens sad conditions,
Without Compassion? and what dis-regard
Befalls them, who have merited reward?
Observe you not, that they, who made complaints
Ev'n unto those who are esteemed Saints,
Finde them as sensless of their saddest moans,
As men hew'd out of Blocks, or carv'd in stones?
And, that Hypocrisie (in GOD's account
The worst of sins) is now grown Paramount?
Have you not seen Blood, as if water spilt,
And Black Designes with Golden Colours guilt?
Nor many foul Offences made appear
As if they meritorious Actions were?
Perceive you not, who joyning are together,
VVho give and take Pow'r, to and from each other,
To re-infringe our Christian Liberty?
And, by pretending Zeal to Piety,
Or Civil Peace, advance the Interest
Of our old Foe, the Seven-headed Beast,

VVith his False Prophet? and invented have
A Grin, both Soul and Body to inslave?

Perceive you not, that Importunities,
VVhich made one from his Bed and Children rise,
(And mov'd a Judge, who fear'd not GOD nor Men)
Prevails not now, as it prevailed then?
And, that, Mens tender Mercies are become
More cruel, then their Cruelties to some?
Nay, see you not, this Signe more signal made
By that, which our Apostacies now add?
And, that, this day, we do apparently
Stand guilty of the great'st Apostacie
From our first Covenants, Vows and Protestations,
Then ever could be charged on these Nations?
Obsérve you not, what foolish Prophesies
VVe take up? how, of Fictions and of Lies
VVe make us Refuges, as heretofore
They did, whose Paper-Works, we down have tore?
And how the lying Prophets and the Priests
Comply, to save their carnal Interests?
Have you not lately taken observation,
That Laws by gross, have had a confirmation,
Of which there's nothing on Record, (or little)
To warrant them, except their Names or Title?
And heed you not what Mischieves that abuse
VVith such-like, may insensibly produce?

VVell, GOD, forgive us all; for I believe
These things you may apparently perceive.
But, if you shall make doubt, whether or no
It be, as I believe, or else, not so,
To GOD Himself, for tryal I'll appeal,
And, to the People of this Commonweal,
VVho, know what's done, and will not be afraid
To justifie what may be truly said.

For, when this Signe is fix'd; though men look high
Or big, it shews Destruction draweth nigh.
Yea, though the Proud may seemingly contemn
This Signe, it will impressions leave on them:
For, horrid inward Pangs, and secret Dread
VVill seize upon their Hearts, when this is read;
And that great Storm of Brimstone, Fire, and Snares,
VVhich GOD, for men impenitent prepares,
VVill oft to minde be brought; and waking keep
Their eyes, sometimes, when they desire to sleep.

But to be plain (why should there be a doubt
Of that whereof, Proofs need not to be brought?)
I, see the want of Justice and Compassion
(The most apparent Signe of Desolation)
So evident; that, I, do boldly here
Before GOD, Men and Angels, witnesse bear
That our Oppressions are at this day more
Then ere I knew them at one time before,
Since first I knew the world; though I have been
No stranger where mens actings best are seen;
And, where I saw (for their and our Offences)
Six Parliaments cut off by Violences,
Or by untimely ends, within the space
Of these last twenty years, and somewhat less:
Yea, though I've seen two Governments arow
Destroyed for Injustice; and see now
A Third indanger'd; which thus makes me speak,
And like the Son of Crœsus, forth to break
Into expressions beyond Expectation,
To make men seek their timely Preservation.
For this Signe is so fatal, that unless
It quickly be remov'd by Righteousness
And Brotherly Compassion, we shall never
Enjoy that Peace for which we do endeavor.

Some, naytheless, will judge me worthy blame
And punishment, thus to disclose the shame
Of this my Nation; and, I should confess
That for so doing, I deserv'd no less,
If Malice had inclin'd me thereunto;
Or, if I ought have aggravated so,
That it exceedeth Truth; or, if o'er-blown
These Crimes had been, unless by me made known.
But, 'tis not so, nor so; And, if he may
Deserve the Rod, who doth but write or say
What is mis-done, (and speaks it with intent
Those Mischieves which may follow to prevent)
What merit they, who act them without care
Of what sad things, they certain Symptomes are?

That this bears Date the last day of December
In sixteen hundred fifty eight, remember;
And, that a Reconcilement be before
VVe have provok'd GOD's Patience, one yeer more;
Lest, I my self, be made another Signe
Of what the former Symptomes pre-divine.
For, those Confusions VVhich distract this Sate,
Are typified in my outward Fate,
And printed on me, by that violation
Of Justice, which defiles this Generation.
They seem to have enough in outward show,
To bear their Port, to pay the Debts they ow,
And for the future a sufficiency:
So also, if I had my Right, have I.
As (notwithstanding this) with much ado
They, now subsist: So, fares it with me too.
As, at the present, their Expences be
More then their Incomes; So it is with me.
They have more Foes then Friends; And much I am
Deceived, if I may not say the same.

My Foes and troubles in another year
May ruine me; and so will theirs I fear
If he on whose assistance I depend
Prevents not what their Foes and mine intend,
Before another yeer wheels round, I may
Enjoy an outward Peace; And so shall they
If they embrace the means, that will be shown,
And, follow not Devices of their own.
Yea, that perhaps, which will to them betide,
Shall in my Lot, be first pretypifide.
If timely Justice, be vouchsaf'd to me,
By timely Mercies, they reliev'd shall be:
If I, permitted am to be destroy'd,
Their Power, may not long after be enjoy'd:
And GOD so much incensed may appear
(As with the Jews once) that, he none will hear
But for himself, who ere from thenceforth stands
Within the Gaps, to keep Plagues from these Lands.

Thus, in plain language, and in homely Rimes
You have a brief Character of these times,
Made on a sleight occasion; to awake
The drowzie; that more heedful, it may make
Men heedless; and him to be somewhat wiser
Who is not of good Counsel, a Despiser.
A Souldiers dream, but of a barly-Cake
Told to his fellow, when he did awake,
And Spirited with his Interpretation,
Produced an Effect, worth observation;
And so may this, although to some, it seem,
No better then a silly Souldiers dream.
I'll add no more (though much more add I might)
For, here will be too much for them to sleight,
Who, in those Flatt'ries, much more pleasure have
That send them with dishonour to the Grave,

Then in plain spoken Truths, which would to them
Have brought salvation, if embrac'd in time.
And here, will be enough to startle some,
To stir up others, till th'Alarum come
To such a number, as may then suffice
To make a reconciling Sacrifice.
Unless we Sodom-like, stand unreform'd
Until with Fire and Brimstone, we are storm'd.

This SALT, made out of SALT, I took occasion
To boyl up, for the service of my Nation
To this height, as conceiving it was meet
To keep what's yet unputrified sweet,
And those corrupted humors to expel
Which in GOD's nostrils have an evil smel.
I hope, men will not throw it in mine eyes,
Neither so universally despise
These timely warnings, that they shall by none
To good effect, be read, and thought upon:
And, if but two or three, shall thereby gain
Some benefit, I have not lost my pain.

Mine be the shame, if I, hereby to him
Intend disgrace, whose Verses, are my Theam.
I did but thus, his Mercury calcine
For Physick; Let him do as much by mine;
And, if, ought from my failings, he deduce
Which may to others, be of wholsom use,
I, shall be pleas'd; because, what lose I may
In one kind, will be gain'd another way.
But, if he hath, so generous a minde
As to believe he hath, I am inclinde,
He will return me thanks, that I have us'd
To no worse purpose, that which he hath mus'd.
Yea, and rejoyce, that, what in sport he writ,
This needful premonition did beget.

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