Miscellaneous works of George Wither

That he with Tools might for this work be fitted,
His Jailer, and his Keeper, he outwitted;
For, twas his greatest suffring, to be pent
From means, to give such meditations vent.

Sin, like the Ocean (but, not so well bounded)
These Islands hath on ev'ry side surronded,
And, many Breaches, lately made it hath
Which to the furious Tempests of GOD's wrath
Exposeth us (ev'n quite throughout these Lands)
So, that, Hills, Dales, and all in danger stands.
The Air, whose cloudy brow, upon us lowrs,
Dissolves it self, into destructive showrs,
To move us unto tears of penitence
By feeling that, whereof we have no sense.
For, they, who are most sensible of spoyl
(by Rains or Droughts) of corn, and wine and oyl,
Feel not in heart, the least remorce for sin;
But, when they should bewail it, laugh and grin.

They, who are very froward, and repine
If they loose but their monky or their swine,
(And, sometimes vex them selves till they are sick,
For losses, not amounting to a Chick)
And can with many bitter tears, bemone
Small suffrings, for their greatest sins shed none.

In mine own person, I much need not fear
Such temporary Plagues, as threatned are
By Rain or Winds, by cold, or scortching wether,
By suddain floods, or fires; for, I have neither
Estate to lose, nor hope of getting ought
Which, by such things, may be in hazard brought;
And, am at present, with my daily bread,
By his own hand, miraculously fed,
Whose All-sufficiency, should me sustain
Though all the world were to be drown'd again.
External things, are little pertinent
To my chief safety, or my best content:
For, should a Famine; me of life bereave
Death would be more advantage then to live
A life like mine; and as I have been us'd,
A speedy death, is rather to be chus'd.
Yet, whilst, I may be serviceable made
To him, from whom, this life at first I had,
I am content to live till it expires,
Although it were in stormes, in floods or fires;
And, likewise, am so sensible of that
Which to the Common welfare doth relate,
That up to GOD a prayer Ile prefer
To crave prevention of what many fear:
For, though I am not suffred to present
A prayer to King, Lord, or Parlement;
Here, to GOD's Throne I free access have got,
And he doth hear me when men hear me not:

Of which assured, in this loneliness,
My self to him, I humbly thus address.

Almighty and most merciful Creator,
Of heaven and earth, of fire, of aire and water,
With whatsoe're, consists of forme or matter,
Of all invisible, or to be seen,
Of all that is or shall be, or hath been,
Felt, heard or understood (excepting Sin,
At whose birth all Privations did begin.)
Thou, by whose wisdom all the whole Creation,
Is ordred, and hath still a preservation,
Make acceptable in thy sight, I pray,
What I shall meditate or write this day
And, let not my Requests be flong away,
Though we have often forfeited again
That Grace, which we did heretofore obtain,
And liable to all thy plagues remain.

We must confess, that in these last three years,
Thou hast abated many of our fears,
For thine own sake, and for the sakes of them,
Whom thy blaspheamers and their Foes contemn.
Awhile ago, we were surpriz'd with dread
Of hunger, and the scarcety of bread,
By such distemper'd seasons, as foreshew'd
That Chastisement which here, is now renew'd;
And, was remov'd, ere many had much sense,
Of what some felt, or of their own offence.
Once, we were frighted with such sicknesses
As seem'd forerunners of the worst disease;
And, till this hour, a brutish Discord,
Keeps us in daily hazard, that the Sword
Will be again unsheath'd: yea, though we are
Preserved still, from what we justly fear,
And that, thy patience might be more disern'd,

Have year, by year, been gratiously forewarn'd
(By Signes and wonders probably foreshewing,
The sad events, that seem to be pursuing
Our crying sins) yet, we do ne're the less,
Continue still in our obduratness.
Though, much Instruction, likewise, we have had,
Examples, Premonitions, publick made,
And extraordinary Dispensations,
To draw us, from our wilful aberrations,
We so increase them, that, it renders me,
Exceeding fearful to Petition thee,
Those Temporary Judgments to withdraw
Whereof, we at this present, stand in aw,
Lest they, whom no good counsel mollifies
Thy Justice and thy Mercy quite dispise;
And fall into that Reprobated sense,
Which brings unchangeable Impenitence:
For, that, the Consequence hath often proved,
When Plagues before Repentance were removed.

The fields were lately cloth'd beyond our hope
With an appearance of a fruitful crop,
Which moisture by unseasonable showrs,
So evidently, by degrees, devours
That, most men are afraid the teeming Earth
Insteed of Plenty, wil produce a Dearth;
And, they among us, who do most neglect
Removal of the Cause, most dread th'effect.
Yet, humane pitty, me doth so incline
To make the Common fear, a part of mine,
That, though I am not likely much to gain
Or loose thereby, whether it shine or Rain,
I, (as I am a man) well pleas'd could be
Thy Peoples votes, might be vouchsaf'd by thee.
To that intent, I meekly do assay
To mediate; but, now I come to pray,

That Spirit whose assistance is expected,
Withdraws, as if my suite would be rejected;
So, that I know not how to speak or write,
What gain thy gratious acceptation might
Through fear, my prayers may be turn'd to sin,
Considering, what Postures we are in.

For, who, the pleading of their Cause dares own,
On whom, a righteous King doth justly frown?
They being Rebels too, in whom appears
No penitence, but onely slavish fears?
Who, conscientiously, can pray for them
Who persevere all Justice to contemn?
Who turn away their eies, when thou forth sendst
Foretokens, of what thou for sin intendst?
Who hide them too, so far forth as they may
From other men; or, (if that fails) assay
To misinterpret them, when they do see
The things nor hid, nor disapprov'd can be?
Who, can with Faith, thy Grace for them implore,
Who, are unmerciful unto the poor?
Who, daily to thy burning wrath add fewel?
Who, both to others, and themselves are cruel?
Who, their afflicted Brethren to dispaiers
Expose? close up their ears against their prayers?
And most injuriouslys with those men deal?
Who, most endeavour, to advance their weal;
Yea, for whose sakes it is, that they are not
Destroy'd like Sodom, when thou caldst forth Lot?
Who, are so far, from striving to be better,
That still, to hide one sin, they act a greater,
Till they on one another heap so many
That they have little shame, or sense any;
Although their impudent abhominations
Have their Infection spread, through all these Nations?

LORD! who, on their behalf, can mediate
For any of those Blessingss which relate
Unto their temporary weal alone,
Who, of their Brethrens welfare, care have none?
Who, do employ their powre, but to oppress?
Turn all thy Graces into wantonness?
Fling, as it were defiance against heaven?
And, though by thee, they freely were forgiven
Innumerable debts, (and likewise are
By thee inrich'd more then before they were)
Take ne're the less, their fellows by the throat,
VVho owing them not much more then a Groat,
Forbearance crave, and at their feet do fall,
With, promise, when they can, to pay them all?
VVhat can such look for; but to be bereaven
Of that Grace, whereby they were once forgiven
Their debts; or think deserv'd, but, to be laid
In chains, till ev'ry farthing shall be paid?

VVho, can to thee be Advocate for those
VVho, both to Truth and Righteousness, are foes,
Though they profess both? who, though ever learning,
Can never get the knowledg & discerning
Of what pertains to th'essential Truth,
Because, they being all EAR, or all MOUTH,
Neither hear willingly, or speak of ought
VVhereby they may to stedfastness be brought?
But rather itch to hear, and speak, and do
That, which their own self-will doth prompt them to:
And, was infus'd into them by false teachers,
Whom they suppose to be the soundest Preachers,
VVhen they confirm them, in what doth belong
To their will-worship, be it right or wrong;
And keep up those Diana's, which were made
Their Goddesses, but to uphold their Trade?

These, twixt Beleevers, do contests maintain
For Trifles, which tend more to their own Gain
Then Godliness, or those means to increase
Which may conduce to setlement of peace,
In Christian Charity, and Righteousness.

All, I (with hope to speed) can pray for such
Is, that they may not love the world too much;
Or, by hypocrisie, and lip professions,
(To get themselves a share in her possessions)
Obstruct the blessed work of Reformation
By Factions, to the final extirpation
Of all those Dispensations, which have yet
Some use; and which, whilst thou dost them permit,
They to advance thy Glory may improve:
And, by sincerely seeking Truth in Love,
So exercise thy Graces, whilst those last,
That, they will perfect be, when their times past.
My GOD, for these, to this effect I may
And, do (I know) with thy allowance pray;
Because, I hope, tis no malitious pride
Which hath to Selfness, drawn their hearts aside.

But, as for them, who have inclinde their ears
So long time, to ungodly Counsellers,
So persevered, in the sinners way,
And, therein with delight, so long made stay
That, to the Scorners Chair advanc'd they are,
Resolving with themselves to settle there;
The Dictates of thy holy ghost contemn,
Absolve the wicked, Innocents condemn,
Term evil, good, the best things evil call,
(Or, make twixt them no difference at all)
Ascribe thy Attributes unto the Devil
And his Vicegerent; make thee, of all evil

Prime Author; Thee detrude out of thy Throne
To set their Idol, and themselves thereon;
Pervert the lawful use of ev'ry Creature,
Till their depraving the whole humane nature
For Vengeance calls, and as it were, inforces
Thy Justice to turn Blessings into Curses;
What can be spoke for these, to save them from
Thy Judgments here, or in the world to come?
I cannot, LORD, thy mercy comprehend,
Nor know how far their malice doth extend,
Such things, are knowable to thee alone;
Therefore, concerning these, thy will be done.

The best of us have gone astray so far,
In Provocations, that, perhaps here are
Now, very many in the state of those
For whom, we are forbid to interpose
Our mediations betwixt them and Thee,
As touching Judgments, that now threanned be:
Such, ev'n among thy People heretofore,
Made thee forbid a Prophet to implore
Withholding of those Plagues, which at that time,
Were threatned to be hurled down on them.
Yea then, though thy choice worthies should have pleaded.
That, thy Decree might have been superseaded,
Thou didst resolve, their suite should not be heard
For any, save themselves, with good regard.
When sins grow ripe, and Scandalous become,
They seldom scape a temporary doome,
Though thou vouchsafest mercy, as to David
Whereby, the Souls that sinned, shall be saved.
LORD, though that growth, our Guilt attaineth hath,
Alway remember mercy, in thy wrath.

Some such like Barr, and prohibition now,
From thee is issued forth, for ought I know.
Alas! if so; what possibly can we
Endeavour, till it shall reversed be?
Or else dispens'd with? I can never pray
With confidence, for what suspect I may
Is not precarious: And, as qualifi'd
We are, things grantable may be deni'd,
At least, so long time, as that shall be wanting
Which makes the chief condition of their granting.
Tis not a slavish terror (without Love
And faithful Penitence) that will remove
The Plagues that lie upon us; or prevent
A Threatned Judgment, when 'tis imminent.
Tis not wil worshippings, though much applauded,
By their approvers, and by them begawded
With Superstitious Dressings, that can please
Thy Majesty, and thy just wrath appease:
Tis not our formal whinings, or Orations,
Or, our Confessions, or our Deprecations,
Or, Bablings with the Tongue, without a heart
That, will thy threatned Judgments quite divert,
Till thou hast done thy work which is in hand,
Or, till we more conform to thy command;
Whereto, perhaps, that, which we fear, may more
Conduce, then that, which we to scape implore.
For, few do conscience of their duties make
Much longer, then the Rod is on their back.
Yet, somewhat, makes me hopeful, that thou hast
Against what I would ask, no sentence past;
And, fain would I obtain from thee, this day,
A Publick Blessing, e're I go away,
Which might in some degree, abate the dread
Whereby, now, many are distempered.

To thee, thy Children for a Blessing cry
Upon those Fruits, which drench'd in waters lie;
And (though unworthy) Jacob like, I am
Resolv'd with thee, to wrestle for the same.
Let, not my LORD, be wrath, that I go on
To prosecute the suite I have begun;
For, I with filial fear approach thy Throne.

Direct us, how in this, and such like cases,
We may make acceptable our Addresses,
Lest, we grow overwhelmed with dispairs,
Or, come with over peremptory Prayers:
For, somewhat thou, at all times, hast to grant
To comfort those, who consolation want,
When they are sensible of their condition,
And come before thee with unfaind contrition.
Yea, though, when we are outwardly distrest,
We may not absolutely make request
For what seems needful; yet, when we resigne
In all our sutes, our own will unto thine,
Our wants (if in particular deni'd)
Are with a Fatherlike respect suppli'd
Some other way, by mercifully granting
A better thing, then that, which we thought wanting.
For, thou, till he himself shall bar the door,
Excludest no mans prayre, who doth implore
In Faith and Charity, that, which may tend
To give him, a well-being without end.
Of this, experiment I oft have had,
And, me thou confident thereof hast made.
This Creed, thou hast been pleas'd to teach me, LORD,
Both by thy holy spirit, and thy word,
Confirming my experience day by day,
That, I to other men declare it may,

As I in duty, am oblig'd to do,
When thou my heart inclinest thereunto.
And, by thy favour, now proceed I can
In that, which, when these musings I began,
I neither able was to prosecute,
As I intended; or commence my sute,
In terms, which I could think fit to present
To thee; or, to my self, could give content.
But, now the Bars remov'd and I can make
A shift to Stammer, what I could not speak.
By thy Assistance likewise, I believe
That, what I now shall pray for, thou wilt give;
Ev'n ev'ry thing (implicitly at least)
Which shall in this my Prayer be exprest:
I, therefore, in thy sight, now spread abrode
My private meditations, in this mode;
And hope, it shall be spread, where many may
Add their Amen to that, for which I pray:
And, that their joyning in this my Oblation,
Will gain us all shares in thy acceptation.
Oh! I should then sing, with a Joyful heart
LORD, let thy servant, now, in peace depart.

That Everlasting Gospel make more known,
By which, thy Love eternal is forth shown
To all mankind; and which, a glorious throng
Of Angels, publish'd in a Joyful song,
(Unto the glory of thy blessed Name)
When first thy Son aray'd with flesh became;
That, all the world may know, the same Goodwill
Which thereby was exprest, continues still:
And, that, Desire to know both Good and Evil,
Proceeded from our Selves, and from the Devil,
But, not from thee, who, didst intend Salvation
To Adam, and to all his Generation;

Not reprobating any of his Race
Save such as wilfully dispis'd thy Grace,
And, justly, caused the product of that
Which, thou didst never prenecessitate.
Thy Love to all mankinde, compels me oft
(Though for it, I maligned am, and scoft)
To preach it to the world, that, men may more
Mind it with thankfulness, then heretofore.
I know this Truth is own'd, ev'n among those
VVho, unto thee are yet, apparent foes;
And, that, hath hindreth many to embrace
The Doctrine of thy Universal Grace,
Because, they are not heedful, that, unless
These held some Truths with that unrighteousness
VVhich they maintain, not many would believe
That Mistery, by which they do deceive.
But, to prevent their wiles, unclose their eies,
VVho cannot yet perceive their fallacies;
And let it be made manifest to them
VVho do not wilfully the means contemn,
VVhich, thou vouchsafed unto all men hast,
And alwaies wilt, at first, or at the last.
Let that large mercy, our hearts work upon,
More then thy Judgments hitherto have done;
To which intention, let thy Saints improve
That Influence which thy Eternal Love
Hath shed on them, to work throughout this Nation
By Love and Gentleness, a Reformation;
Which will be then more speedy, and sincere
Then that, which is compel'd, & wrought by fear.

Preserve that pretious seed, sown in this Land;
Now, many Ages past, by thine own hand;
It hath been often watred by the Blood
Of thy Elect; hath many Storms withstood,

And took such root, that, now it doth extend
By sev'ral Branches, to the worlds far end.
Permit it not to suffer diminution
Either by calms, or storms of Persecution.
Let not the lofty Cedars over-top it,
The wild-swine root it up, or tame-beast crop it;
Nor weeds or brambles (among which it grows)
Starve it, or choak it; nor the greedy Crows
Devour it; nor the swarms of Locusts, which
In smoke, ascended from th'infernal Ditch;
But, let it, when appearing most opprest,
Palm-like, most thrive, and be the more increast,
Till th'earth it fills; and till up rooted be
All plants, that were not planted there by thee.
This, I first pray for Lord, because possessing
Hereof, doth lay the ground of ev'ry blessing.

Correct thou not these Nations in thy wrath,
But, in that measure, which shews mercy hath
An intrest in thy Justice. Let them hold
The same proportion which they did of old,
In thy severest chastisements; that, neither
Both Good and Evil, be destroy'd together,
Nor, their hopes thereby vacated, by whom
There is a Kingdom look'd for, yet to come.
Five wicked Cities might have spared been,
Had twice five, Righteous men been found therein:
Yea, Thou (although in them there was but one)
Defer'dst their dreadful doom till he was gone.
LORD, I hope, here are many thousands yet,
On whom thy Seal, on whom thy Mark is set.
Who trust in thee, whose faith doth not yet fail;
Who, their own, and the Nations guilt bewaile:
For their sakes, lay aside thy wrath again;
Let thy Sun shine, and let thy Clouds drop Rain

Both on the just and unjust, as thou hast
Been pleased to vouchsafe in Ages past;
That, Spring and Summer, Seed and Harvest-times
Untill the world shall end, may in all Climes
Be from each other still distinguished,
As long ago, by thee was promised.
At this time also, to this sinful Nation,
Extend thy wonted favour & compassion,
By blowing hence those clouds, whose frequent showrs
Spoil not alone grass herbs and pleasant flowers,
But, threaten also, to destroy those crops,
Whereby the painful husband-man hath hopes
To be rewarded for his toil and cost;
Yea, let this Isle, which now despairs almost,
Of such a blessing, be secured from
That Famine, which we are afraid will come.

Both of our Earthly, and thy heavenly bread,
Preserve the means, that therewith being fed,
In soul and body, we may for the same
In flesh and spirit magnifie thy Name
Till Christ shall come. Continue in this place,
The special pledges, of thy special Grace,
Close up those Rents, which malice hath made wide;
Unite by Love, those whom self-will and Pride
Have dis-united: For, thy Love was that
Which made thee at the first, this world create;
And, 'tis the same essential Love (by thee
In thy Elect made active) which must free
The world again, from that confus'd estate
Whereto 'tis brought by Envy and by Hate.
To that end, let thy spirit, (unto whom
All Dispensations, till thy Son shall come
Committed are) the hearts of men incline
To be obedient to that Discipline,

In ev'ry Form, which they believe to be
To them injoyned by thy word and thee;
And, that accept of, which they shall profess
And practise with unbiast Consciences.
Make thy Elect to stand out all the shocks,
Of Tyranny, like never moved Rocks;
And give them prudence, to discern the wiles,
Whereby, their Antichristian foe beguiles
Unstable hearts; and please to pardon that
Wherein through frailty, they shall deviate.
Indow them withall sanctified graces
That may enable in their several places
To do thee honor: And, LORD, let the Pride
Of their Oppressors, break so, and devide
Their Power and Counsels, that, they may at length
Be ruined, by their own Wit, and Strength.

Behold, the many troubles of this Nation,
With mercy, and vouchsafe it thy salvation.
Make haste to our deliverance oh LORD,
And, succour us according to thy word.
Let them be turned backward, and with shame
Confounded, who blaspheme thy holy Name;
Who, with their own inventions do defile
Thy Ordinances, and pursue the spoil
Of those who seek thy face. Let them who cry
Aha Aha, and say insultingly,
So we would have it, when thy people are
Opprest, be caught at last, in their own snare,
That, they who love thy Truth, may to thy praise
Rejoyce in thy salvation all their dayes.

But, gracious LORD, beside that wasting Rain,
Which makes this Nation with much fear complain
And brings me now to thee; there is a Flood
Portending Inundations too, of Blood,

Ev'n blood of Innocents, for whose prevention
To be Petitioner I have intention.
A portion of thy word, concerning Cain
To me, a mystery seems to contain
Implying somewhat which relates to those
Who were, and shall unto thy Saints be foes
Throughout all Times; and doth relate, likewise,
To them, who offer thee that sacrifice
In which thou most delight'st: For, ever since
That day, Will-worshippers have took offence
At their Oblations; and proceeded on
In that, which he so long ago begun.
Cain was the first that persecuted them
Who in their worship differed from him;
And, I collect thence, that, ev'n from that hour
Thou didst subject them to the temp'ral power
Of all those persecutors, of whom, he
Became the Type, whoever they should be.
And, as I understand that Hystory,
Therein is couched the whole mystery
Of that iniquity, which now is grown
Almost full ripe, and shall be overthrown
In thy appointed time; but, not till then,
Nor by the weapons or the hands of men:
For, thou hast markt them to be saved from
Destroying, till their fatal hour is come.
And I conceive likewise by what thou hast
In that memorial to the world exprest,
Thou wilt avenge it, on all, who withstand
Their persons, with a life-destroying-hand,
Though they are murdrers; &, that, this suctjection
Tends to thy glory, and the Saints perfection;
Whereof, some of them, take so little heed,
That of precautions they may have some need.

This hath inclin'd me, conscientiously
To shun opposing them destructively
In whom there is a visiability
Of Sov'raign Power, although tyrannical;
Untill that some way, it grow doubtful shall
To whom it appertains; as, here of late,
When it was thought, thou didst that power translate
To other hands, and when he, who bereft
Them thereof, to an Anarchy, us left.
And, thou, who knowst my heart, knowst I did never
To pull down, or to set up Thrones endeaver:
But, only, to preserve the common peace,
Complide with that, which did the Throne possesse,
Till thou restor'dst him, who was driv'n hence,
And, to whom, true, I have been ever since.

Now, also, to preserve, still, as I ought,
That peace, whose preservation, I then sought;
I do implore thee, on behalf of him
Who wears this day, the Supream Diadem,
That, from those evil Counsellors, he may
Deliver'd be, who do, or shall assay,
To bring him to a wilful resolution,
Of being partner in that persecution
Which they intend: And, that, in all temptations
(And maugre all severest provocations)
Thy Saints, may be preserved from contriving
And acting, what may tend to the depriving
Them of their lives or power, who e're they be,
In whom that Power shall be confer'd by thee.
And grace vouchsafe them, alwayes to persist
In that obedience, which may manifest
That, conscientiously they may submit
To what thou hast ordain'd, or shall permit

For their probation; till the fewd and War
'Twixt Good and Evil, at a period are:
And, that, upon thy will they may attend
Untill that Good and Evil, hath an end,
Which had form us proceeding, and gives place
To that Eternal GOODNESSE, which IS, WAS
And SHALL BE, when all evil heretofore
In Being, shall a being have no more.

Meanwhile confer all means, whereby both they
And he, may walk on, in a peaceful way.
Thy Judgment to the King vouchsafe to give
That, he, and we in Righteousness may live:
That, he may to the Prisoners and the poor,
Shew mercy; to the wrong'd, their dues restore;
And be as kind and merciful to them,
Who are opprest, as thou hast been to him:
That, our high Mountains may produce thy peace,
And little Hills, the fruits of Righteousness;
For, whether high or low, all shall receive
Such measure, as to other men they give.
I know this will be done, even by the drops
Of mercy, which to keep alive my hopes,
Are in this place, to me derived from
Thy Bounty, to fore-shew, a shower will come
That shall refresh both me, and those, at full,
Who, at this time, each others case condole.

Be pleased to confirm this my belief,
Redouble still, our Courage, as our Grief
Shall be augmented: And although among
Thy Foes, our bodies perish in the throng;
By those external Judgments, which we shall
Occasion to be Epidemical,
Inflict them, rather then permit thy Name
To be exposed to reproachful shame,

By suffering wickedness with proud despight,
To violate thy Justice in thy sight;
Or, wantonize with grace, till it becomes
The saddest of all Temporary dooms:
For, common myseries less grievous are
Unto thy Saints, though they in them have share,
Then all their private sufferings, when they see
Their insolence who sleighted them and thee,
So winked at, as if thou either wouldst not,
Avenge thy self upon them, or else could not.
Thy Souldiers will be pleas'd amid thy foes
To die, e're any honor thou shouldst lose,
Since death by them, needs never to be fear'd,
Who know with what life, thou wilt them reward.
Let Dagons temple then, be overthrown
Though Sampson die, in pulling of it down:
For, all thy Souldiers, seek their glorifying
In conquering, although it be by dying.
Our General, in person, led the Van
That way, when he his glorious Conquest wan,
Bereft Death of his deadly sting, thereby,
And, over Hell, triumphed gloriously.

Preserve those, in thy Truth by Faith and Love,
Whom thou shalt please in these last times to prove
By fiery tryals: So, what e're wind blows,
Whether, it rains or shines, or hails or snows;
Whether thou shak'st the heavens or the earth,
Or both; whether, War, Pestilence, or Dearth
Shall visite this depraved Generation,
Thine, shall be free from inward pertubation,
And sing, a blessed Requiem to their soul,
When their Oppressors gnash their teeth and howl.

To that Salvation which thou dost design
For thy Elect, preserve thou, me and mine;

And, in our several passages thereto,
Whether, the way in which we are to go
Be either rough or smooth, or short or long,
Keep us content; and let our Faith be strong
Although the flesh is weak. Let our Afflictions
And, our prosperities, with benedictions
So sanctified be throughout our dayes,
That, thou mayst in our lives & deaths have praise
A large Petition (whereof now bereft)
Before thy face, long since ingrost I left,
Whereby, I thee besought to this effect,
For my Posterity; and to direct
And keep them in thy ways: LORD, though to me
The words are lost, they are not so to thee;
My spoilers, cannot hide them from thine eyes,
Nor wilt thou, my Requests therein despise.

Rememember those, by whom we have been fed,
When we were by the world depriv'd of bread.
Vouchsafe thou, for their Charitableness,
They, never want a Friend in their distress;
Or comforts, when on their sick beds they lie,
Or, Freedom, though on outward bands they die:
Mind them, when I of them forgetful grow;
Know them, though I their persons may not know;
Their Alms-deeds, which they labour to conceal,
Let thy Son, before all the world reveal;
And, what for me or mine, in these my prayers,
I have desired, grant to them and theirs.

My Foes have some way been my Benefactors,
(Though, therein, they against their wills were Actors
For, that, which to afflict me they design,
Adds more to their vexation, then to mine;
And, that, whereby, they thought me to have harmed,
Against all future mischiefs, me hath armed.

In which respect, without dissimulations,
They, are to me, an object of compassion,
And, I beseech thee, so their hearts to turn
That, for their sins, they heartily may mourn.
To operate in them a preparation,
To prosecute the means of their salvation,
Their, too much loving of themselves abate,
Which hath inclin'd them other men to hate,
And more to punish them, who reprehend,
Their sins, then those, who, against thee offend.
Bereave them of that wealth, in which they trust,
And spend, in giving fewel to their lust;
That Power exorbitant, make to be less,
Which doth but Pride, and Tyranny increase;
Lest they may make themselves the slaves of sin,
And to be Devils, who might Gods have been.
Forgive them their offences against thee,
When for them, truly penitent they be:
For, all their wrongs to me I can forgive
As I from thee forgiveness would receive.
This Charity of mine to them, is thine;
Thou, thereunto my heart dost now incline;
Then, surely, if thou hast a love for those
Who hate thee, yea whilst they continue Foes,
Thou wilt on them bestow all I can crave,
If they contemn not, that which they might have.
And, who, can then, be hopeless of thy Grace,
Who, in true faith, and love shall seek thy face?
Oh hear me, in what to their welfare tends,
For all in general, both Foes and Friends,
(To whom, Christs ransom shall not bounded be,
More by their own fault, then by thy Decree;
And, who against themselves, shut not that Gate
Which thou to all Mankind, hast open set.)

Make us true Lovers, as we ought to be,
And, we shall be beloved still of thee.
Incline us charitably to regard
The poor mans prayers, and ours shall be heard.
Make us upright, and then shall rich and poor,
More advantageous be then heretofore
Unto themselves; and they who hate each other,
Shall love, and live in amity together.
None, then, shall make a prayer, to enjoy
In private, what weal-publick, may destroy,
But, all our suits, (as in destructive Rains
Or Droughts) shall be prefer'd for what pertains
Unto the common good; and very many
Be benefitted, without harm to any.
I shall, moreover, be permitted then,
To do thee service with my Tongue and Pen,
And, thou, with other blessings, wilt send hither
What I now pray for, seasonable weather.

LORD! should these meditations be despis'd,
Or, (as some have been lately) here surpriz'd,
And smother'd; I beseech thee, let them not
By thee, be dis-regarded or forgot;
Nor that, which yet remains to be exprest,
Be stifled any longer in my brest:
For, that, hath been more torment to my mind,
Then to my Body, to be here confin'd.
But, each branch only grant of these Requests
As with thine own good pleasure best consists;
And, that in chief, which hath preferred been
To work in us, Repentance of all sin;
Lest else, when from one Judgment we are freed,
Another, and another still succeed,
Till e're from all our fears, thou us deliver,
We feel the sharpest arrows in thy Quiver.

Though all alone, the world hath shut me here,
And, from her self, exil'd me, as it were,
She, being part of that great Work Divine,
In which there is aswel a share of mine
As hers: (And, though no sense she seems to have
Of what I suffer in this living Grave;)
I have a Fellow-feeling of her fears,
As by these private musings it appears,
Which often, heretofore I have exprest,
On her behalf, and now, by this Request;
Which GOD (I know) for his own sake hath heard,
Although my prayer merits no regard.

The last great Rainy-day, I first begun
These Meditations; and, e're they were done,
The Clouds were blown away, the Sun appear'd,
The face of heaven was from thick vapours clear'd,
And, he, who lately mustred them together,
Continues, yet, a seasonable weather
That will renew the hopes (if it holds on)
Which this year promised, when it begun.
For, (to the blessed name of GOD be praise)
The earth begins her face again to raise,
Out of her watry bed, chear'd by those Rayes
Whose absence, made her many weeks of days
Sit melancholly, and aside to throw,
Those dressings, wherewith she is trimmed now.

This, doth to me, appear to be a sign
That, to compassion, GOD doth still incline,
And, will, once more, make proof what Reformation
Shall be endeavour'd after this probation.
Oh! in some measure, let this grace effect
That, which he justly, may from us expect,
Lest worse befall: For, GOD will not be mockt;
The doors of heaven, are not yet so fast lockt,

But, that, he suddainly may send again,
Not only such another wasting rain,
(Or in the stead thereof a scorching Drouth
And make the tongue, cleave to the parched mouth,)
But Fire and Brimstone too, if he so please;
Whereas, now, whilst his mercy doth appease
His wrath, a little hearty penitence,
Improv'd, may keep some other Plague from hence,
And, for one sin that truly is repented,
Three may removed be, or else prevented.

Meditated and composed during the Authors close Confinement in the Tower, July. 1663.

Oh! that men would praise the Lord for his goodness,
and for his wondrous works to the Children of men.

Psalm 107 8.

[_]

The whole Psalm is very pertinent to stir up to a due consideration and practise of this duty.

University of Virginia Library

A SINGLE SACRIFICE,

Humbly offred to Almighty GOD, by the Author during his lonely Confinement in the Towre, to mediate his gratious preventing the Dearth feared, and probably portended, by immoderate Rains in June and July, 1663.