 | Miscellaneous works of George Wither |  |
68
June 15. 1665. A PRECAUTION Relating to the time present.
Two years are past, since what precedes was writ
When here, Excessive Rains occasion'd it.
The present Drougth, now makes us as much fear,
A Dearth may probably conclude this year:
For want of timely moisture, in the spring,
Hath in the Bud, nipt many a growing thing;
And that Defect continuing to this day,
Starves herbs, and turns the standing grass to hay.
The Winter corn, as yet, prick up their ears;
But, to decay, the Summer Crop appears;
And both (if GOD prevent not) may consume
Before our usual harvest time is come.
When here, Excessive Rains occasion'd it.
The present Drougth, now makes us as much fear,
A Dearth may probably conclude this year:
For want of timely moisture, in the spring,
Hath in the Bud, nipt many a growing thing;
And that Defect continuing to this day,
Starves herbs, and turns the standing grass to hay.
The Winter corn, as yet, prick up their ears;
But, to decay, the Summer Crop appears;
And both (if GOD prevent not) may consume
Before our usual harvest time is come.
As, when to cure, or give their Patients ease,
(Who long have suffred by a strong Disease)
A good Physitian first applies for cures
His best known helps in such distempratures,
That failing, tries another; and that done,
Doth then, through ev'ry course of Physick run,
Repeats it often too; and as Events
Occasion it, makes new Experiments:
Ev'n so, hath GOD proceeded with this Nation,
To bring us to a timely Reformation;
Yet, our habitual wickedness is such,
That, nothing works upon us very much,
Except it be the quite contrary way:
For, when we should Repent, and Fast and Pray,
We Feast and Triumph: when we should release
The Prisoner, we the Freeman do oppress.
When we the poor and needy should relieve,
The Rich we begger, and the poor we grieve.
When Princes should put mourning Garments on,
Each Vassal is arayed like a Don.
The meanest Pinnaces weare Silken Sailes,
And like the Peacock spread their gaudy Tailes.
Yea, in the steed of due humiliations,
In publick, here are publick provocations,
Still multiplied quite throughout the land,
Ev'n whilst we lie beneath GOD's heavy hand,
And manifestly see, both ev'ry blessing
Withdrawing, and Plagues ev'ry day increasing.
(Who long have suffred by a strong Disease)
A good Physitian first applies for cures
His best known helps in such distempratures,
That failing, tries another; and that done,
Doth then, through ev'ry course of Physick run,
Repeats it often too; and as Events
Occasion it, makes new Experiments:
Ev'n so, hath GOD proceeded with this Nation,
To bring us to a timely Reformation;
Yet, our habitual wickedness is such,
That, nothing works upon us very much,
69
For, when we should Repent, and Fast and Pray,
We Feast and Triumph: when we should release
The Prisoner, we the Freeman do oppress.
When we the poor and needy should relieve,
The Rich we begger, and the poor we grieve.
When Princes should put mourning Garments on,
Each Vassal is arayed like a Don.
The meanest Pinnaces weare Silken Sailes,
And like the Peacock spread their gaudy Tailes.
Yea, in the steed of due humiliations,
In publick, here are publick provocations,
Still multiplied quite throughout the land,
Ev'n whilst we lie beneath GOD's heavy hand,
And manifestly see, both ev'ry blessing
Withdrawing, and Plagues ev'ry day increasing.
He therefore, justly may, if so he pleases,
Do, like Physitians, when they find Diseases
To, be incurable. They then permit,
Such Patients to take what course they think fit;
Leave them to any Emperick, who will
Pretend to that wherein he hath no skill;
Send them to Epsom, or the Tunbridge water,
Or, that at Lewsham (to which tis no matter)
Or to that Country Air, where first they drew
Their breaths, to try what thereon will ensue.
Thither, if GOD sends after them a Blessing,
Tis more then they deserve, and worth confessing:
For, tis of his meer Grace; And, this, sometimes
He doth vouchsafe ere men repent their Crimes.
Such mercies none can sound, much less express;
For they are infinitely fathomless.
And, if they work not, in a timely day,
GOD's will be done, is all, that I dare pray.
Do, like Physitians, when they find Diseases
To, be incurable. They then permit,
Such Patients to take what course they think fit;
Leave them to any Emperick, who will
Pretend to that wherein he hath no skill;
Send them to Epsom, or the Tunbridge water,
Or, that at Lewsham (to which tis no matter)
Or to that Country Air, where first they drew
Their breaths, to try what thereon will ensue.
Thither, if GOD sends after them a Blessing,
Tis more then they deserve, and worth confessing:
For, tis of his meer Grace; And, this, sometimes
He doth vouchsafe ere men repent their Crimes.
Such mercies none can sound, much less express;
For they are infinitely fathomless.
And, if they work not, in a timely day,
GOD's will be done, is all, that I dare pray.
| Miscellaneous works of George Wither | |