 | Miscellaneous works of George Wither |  |
19
A Sacrifice of Praise & Prayer
Offered unto Almighty GOD, by George Wither, for his gracious Providence, in providing for Him, his Wife and Children, during his Imprisonment in the disgraceful Goal at Newgate, and when left destitute of all ordinary means of subsistance, by being deprived both of his Estate and Liberty.
Lord, though my Prayers and my Praises be
Unworthy to be offer'd up to thee,
Thus (as I am obliged) I essay
To add unto thine Honour what I may,
By publishing both with my Tongue and Pen,
Thy Loving-kindness to the sons of men;
Especially, in those particulars
Whereby thy kindness unto me appears.
Unworthy to be offer'd up to thee,
Thus (as I am obliged) I essay
To add unto thine Honour what I may,
By publishing both with my Tongue and Pen,
Thy Loving-kindness to the sons of men;
Especially, in those particulars
Whereby thy kindness unto me appears.
Prais'd be thy blessed Name; for thou art speedy
In shewing thy compassion to the Needy;
And leav'st not any Suffrer in despair,
Who timely seeks thy help by faithful prayer,
In patient waiting during his probation,
For thy appointed hour of Salvation.
Of this, thy never failing Clemency,
Few men have had more evidence then I.
Or in all straights, vouchsaf'd more seasnably
A needfull, and a competent supply;
Yea, though my suffrings have been great and many,
And I in flesh as sensible as any
Of ev'ry grievance, thou hast by their length
Improved so my patience and my strength,
That, oft such grievances, were not alone
As tolerable as if they were none:
But such as also have my joy encreast,
When I to other men seem'd most opprest.
For, though I have compleated now well near,
In weal and wo, the three and fiftieth year,
And six Confinements, since I first begun
That Work, which I thought needful to be done;
Thou hast preserv'd me so, and me so arm'd
Against all Changes, that none me hath harm'd;
Which unto me a knowledge doth derive
Of what thou art, that's more than spec'lative;
That what experimentally I speak,
In other men may more impression make,
Than when I Notions only shall declare,
That were infus'd into me through the ear.
And 'tis not thy least Mercy, that of late
Thou dost their seeming Charity abate,
Who thought they might thereby have tempted me
To wrong my conscience, and be false to thee,
By smoothing or adulterating that,
Which to Truths vindication may relate:
For, when with needful food men bait their hook,
The heedless hungry Fishes are soon took;
And, whether we confide in thee or no,
Whilst we have Oyl and Meal, 'tis hard to know.
In shewing thy compassion to the Needy;
And leav'st not any Suffrer in despair,
Who timely seeks thy help by faithful prayer,
In patient waiting during his probation,
For thy appointed hour of Salvation.
Of this, thy never failing Clemency,
Few men have had more evidence then I.
Or in all straights, vouchsaf'd more seasnably
A needfull, and a competent supply;
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And I in flesh as sensible as any
Of ev'ry grievance, thou hast by their length
Improved so my patience and my strength,
That, oft such grievances, were not alone
As tolerable as if they were none:
But such as also have my joy encreast,
When I to other men seem'd most opprest.
For, though I have compleated now well near,
In weal and wo, the three and fiftieth year,
And six Confinements, since I first begun
That Work, which I thought needful to be done;
Thou hast preserv'd me so, and me so arm'd
Against all Changes, that none me hath harm'd;
Which unto me a knowledge doth derive
Of what thou art, that's more than spec'lative;
That what experimentally I speak,
In other men may more impression make,
Than when I Notions only shall declare,
That were infus'd into me through the ear.
And 'tis not thy least Mercy, that of late
Thou dost their seeming Charity abate,
Who thought they might thereby have tempted me
To wrong my conscience, and be false to thee,
By smoothing or adulterating that,
Which to Truths vindication may relate:
For, when with needful food men bait their hook,
The heedless hungry Fishes are soon took;
And, whether we confide in thee or no,
Whilst we have Oyl and Meal, 'tis hard to know.
Nor I, nor mine (though rob'd of all) ought lack
What's needful for the belly or the back.
Thou hast my Wife and Children cloath'd & fed,
When I could neither give them Cloth nor Bread;
And from the Earth, (when in seed, branch and root,
I seemed likely to be rooted out;
My Withred Sprouts were then by thee replanted,
Where they enjoy the nourishment they wanted:
So timely, and in such a manner too,
VVas that vouchsaf'd which thou wert pleas'd to do;
That for it my Well-wishers prais'd thy Name;
And vext thereat my envious foes became;
Especially in that place, where their worst
And last despights were manifested first;
For there, and in their sight, by whom undone
I seem'd to be, that mercy was begun.
What's needful for the belly or the back.
Thou hast my Wife and Children cloath'd & fed,
When I could neither give them Cloth nor Bread;
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I seemed likely to be rooted out;
My Withred Sprouts were then by thee replanted,
Where they enjoy the nourishment they wanted:
So timely, and in such a manner too,
VVas that vouchsaf'd which thou wert pleas'd to do;
That for it my Well-wishers prais'd thy Name;
And vext thereat my envious foes became;
Especially in that place, where their worst
And last despights were manifested first;
For there, and in their sight, by whom undone
I seem'd to be, that mercy was begun.
The Families from whom I was design'd
To take my being, thou hast now twice joyn'd,
And their two Surnames, being joyn'd together,
Denominate my Grandson, HUNT L'VVITHER,
VVho is in possibility to have
Earth of his own wherein to make his Grave;
And find a Livelihood whilst here he lives,
If he thy Bounty thankfully receives;
(And no whit further shall be trusted in,
Than that should be, which hath supplied bin
Instead of what I lost) For, Lord, in thee,
(And not in what thou giv'st) our trust should be.
To take my being, thou hast now twice joyn'd,
And their two Surnames, being joyn'd together,
Denominate my Grandson, HUNT L'VVITHER,
VVho is in possibility to have
Earth of his own wherein to make his Grave;
And find a Livelihood whilst here he lives,
If he thy Bounty thankfully receives;
(And no whit further shall be trusted in,
Than that should be, which hath supplied bin
Instead of what I lost) For, Lord, in thee,
(And not in what thou giv'st) our trust should be.
My only Daughter when left portionless,
And without any likely hopefulness
Of more than thou didst on her Birthday give her;
Yea, when I was disabled to relieve her,
Thou didst, ev'n in that great necessity,
Espouse into a Loving Family,
Enobled by a Pedigree or Stem,
VVhich hath no blemish to disparage them;
Or such wants, as may make the reputation
Of Births and Titles lose their estimation.
Oh! let thy so uniting them together,
Make them a mutual blessing to each other;
And, by considring with due thankfulness,
What thou hast done for me in my distress,
Make both my Children and their whole descent
With thy good pleasure, at all times content;
That they to others, good example giving,
By their well-doing, joyn'd with right believing,
(And likewise heeding how thou dost proceed
With such as in thy Fatherhood confide)
They never may despair, though quite bereft
Of what their earthly Father might have left:
And, from my personal experiments,
Let them, thereof to minde them, take some hints.
And without any likely hopefulness
Of more than thou didst on her Birthday give her;
Yea, when I was disabled to relieve her,
Thou didst, ev'n in that great necessity,
Espouse into a Loving Family,
Enobled by a Pedigree or Stem,
VVhich hath no blemish to disparage them;
Or such wants, as may make the reputation
Of Births and Titles lose their estimation.
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Make them a mutual blessing to each other;
And, by considring with due thankfulness,
What thou hast done for me in my distress,
Make both my Children and their whole descent
With thy good pleasure, at all times content;
That they to others, good example giving,
By their well-doing, joyn'd with right believing,
(And likewise heeding how thou dost proceed
With such as in thy Fatherhood confide)
They never may despair, though quite bereft
Of what their earthly Father might have left:
And, from my personal experiments,
Let them, thereof to minde them, take some hints.
For when I by the world seem'd quite forsaken,
And she, with Lands and Goods, from me had taken
My Liberty; that, what then grieved me
Might more imbittred, and redoubled be,
By what my Children suffred; when, they had
No means of comfort, and, thereby grew sad:
Thou didst for that a Remedy provide,
By making them a Bridegroome, and a Bride
(Whilst I imprison'd was within that place,
Which added to my Poverty, disgrace)
To my good liking, and their own content,
Without self-seeking or disparagement.
This providential mercy, did appear
The more, in that, they likewise married were,
(As I awhile before, presag'd they should)
Without such portions, as I lately could
Have given them, when thou didst me disable
Not without cause. And, tis considerable
That, they kept both their Weddings in the sight
Of those, who them pursu'd with most despight;
Ev'n in my plundred house, and at that time,
In which my wife had not to welcom them
A dish or spoon, but what a neighbour lent;
Or meat, but what by thee was thither sent.
Yea, thou hast, when the world deni'd us bread,
Me and my Consort competently fed,
(E'er since, the world depriv'd us of our own)
By them, whose faces are to us unknown;
To evidence, that all thy Saints are friends,
To him, who on thy providence depends,
And to the utmost of his power persevers
In just and conscientious endeavers:
Yea, though corruption so in him prevaileth,
That of his duty many wayes he faileth.
He, hoping those Experiments to some
May comfortable in like straits become:
Thus, for their sakes, in words exprest they be
For, without words, all things are known to thee.
And she, with Lands and Goods, from me had taken
My Liberty; that, what then grieved me
Might more imbittred, and redoubled be,
By what my Children suffred; when, they had
No means of comfort, and, thereby grew sad:
Thou didst for that a Remedy provide,
By making them a Bridegroome, and a Bride
(Whilst I imprison'd was within that place,
Which added to my Poverty, disgrace)
To my good liking, and their own content,
Without self-seeking or disparagement.
This providential mercy, did appear
The more, in that, they likewise married were,
(As I awhile before, presag'd they should)
Without such portions, as I lately could
Have given them, when thou didst me disable
Not without cause. And, tis considerable
That, they kept both their Weddings in the sight
Of those, who them pursu'd with most despight;
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In which my wife had not to welcom them
A dish or spoon, but what a neighbour lent;
Or meat, but what by thee was thither sent.
Yea, thou hast, when the world deni'd us bread,
Me and my Consort competently fed,
(E'er since, the world depriv'd us of our own)
By them, whose faces are to us unknown;
To evidence, that all thy Saints are friends,
To him, who on thy providence depends,
And to the utmost of his power persevers
In just and conscientious endeavers:
Yea, though corruption so in him prevaileth,
That of his duty many wayes he faileth.
He, hoping those Experiments to some
May comfortable in like straits become:
Thus, for their sakes, in words exprest they be
For, without words, all things are known to thee.
All this consider'd, I obliged am
To take unto my self deserved shame,
When therewith I will heed, how oft, by sin,
To thy commands I have rebellious bin;
As also, that exceeding graciousness,
Which thou to me vouchsafest ne'ertheless:
And it begets in me a greater fear,
Then when thy Chastisments upon me are;
For, in correcting me, thou art more mild
Then is a loving Father to his Child,
When he not only chideth, but intreats,
Kind language mixing also with his threats;
Whips him, then kisseth; and sometimes to see
Him weep, doth shed as many tears as he.
To take unto my self deserved shame,
When therewith I will heed, how oft, by sin,
To thy commands I have rebellious bin;
As also, that exceeding graciousness,
Which thou to me vouchsafest ne'ertheless:
And it begets in me a greater fear,
Then when thy Chastisments upon me are;
For, in correcting me, thou art more mild
Then is a loving Father to his Child,
When he not only chideth, but intreats,
Kind language mixing also with his threats;
Whips him, then kisseth; and sometimes to see
Him weep, doth shed as many tears as he.
LORD, for those mercies graciously afforded,
(Well meriting, by me to be recorded)
Accept this petty Sacrifice of praise,
And make us truly thankful all our dayes;
(Not only in our verbal Thank-Oblations,
But also, in our lives and conversations:)
For, though we cannot Golden Gifts prefer,
Yet we may offer Frankincense and Myrrh;
And from him, who hath not a Lamb to give,
A Dove thou with acceptance wilt receive.
Vouchsafe us, in each temporary trial
A constant progress with true self-denial;
Let not the benefits we have received
Be underpriz'd, because we were bereaved
Of those externals, which we have enjoyed,
For, their enjoyment might have us destroyed;
Yea, those whom thou mak'st poor thou lov'st as much
As those, whom thou art pleased to inrich;
And, by thy Grace we may advantage make,
Of whatsoever thou dost Give or Take.
(Well meriting, by me to be recorded)
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And make us truly thankful all our dayes;
(Not only in our verbal Thank-Oblations,
But also, in our lives and conversations:)
For, though we cannot Golden Gifts prefer,
Yet we may offer Frankincense and Myrrh;
And from him, who hath not a Lamb to give,
A Dove thou with acceptance wilt receive.
Vouchsafe us, in each temporary trial
A constant progress with true self-denial;
Let not the benefits we have received
Be underpriz'd, because we were bereaved
Of those externals, which we have enjoyed,
For, their enjoyment might have us destroyed;
Yea, those whom thou mak'st poor thou lov'st as much
As those, whom thou art pleased to inrich;
And, by thy Grace we may advantage make,
Of whatsoever thou dost Give or Take.
Keep me and mine from that Prevarication
VVhich turns thy proffred Grace to Reprobation.
Incline us to desire, and to embrace
All means of perseverance in thy Grace,
And, never let the asking, or the granting,
Of any necessary gift be wanting.
Make us to shun and hate all things, whereby
We may offend thy awful Majesty;
Nor limiting thy Mercy, neither slandring
Thy just Decrees, as causes of our wandring:
For, no man to be wicked is inforc't,
Or left by thee, untill he leaves thee first;
Which all men will confess, when from their eyes
That scurff is rub'd which yet upon them lies.
VVhich turns thy proffred Grace to Reprobation.
Incline us to desire, and to embrace
All means of perseverance in thy Grace,
And, never let the asking, or the granting,
Of any necessary gift be wanting.
Make us to shun and hate all things, whereby
We may offend thy awful Majesty;
Nor limiting thy Mercy, neither slandring
Thy just Decrees, as causes of our wandring:
For, no man to be wicked is inforc't,
Or left by thee, untill he leaves thee first;
Which all men will confess, when from their eyes
That scurff is rub'd which yet upon them lies.
So knit us in one True-love-knot together,
By loving thee, and love to one another.
That, we in all Temptations fast may stand
And Sathan, nor the world dissolve that band;
For, where Love in the heart keeps residence
Diff'rence in Judgment, gives no more offence
Then diff'ring faces, although more delight
We take in those, who love and judge aright.
VVhen we offend, Correct us as our Father
VVith all thy Temporary scourges, rather
Then suffer sins, by sins to be corrected,
(VVhich is the greatest Plague can be inflicted)
And that, we faint not underneath thy Rod,
With stripes, mix mercy still, my gracious GOD.
By loving thee, and love to one another.
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And Sathan, nor the world dissolve that band;
For, where Love in the heart keeps residence
Diff'rence in Judgment, gives no more offence
Then diff'ring faces, although more delight
We take in those, who love and judge aright.
VVhen we offend, Correct us as our Father
VVith all thy Temporary scourges, rather
Then suffer sins, by sins to be corrected,
(VVhich is the greatest Plague can be inflicted)
And that, we faint not underneath thy Rod,
With stripes, mix mercy still, my gracious GOD.
I ask nor Honors, Liberty, nor Wealth,
Nor temporary pleasures, no nor health,
Save, so far only, as thou know'st the use
Of such things, to thine honor may conduce
VVith our eternal safety, and the Good
Of those with whom we have a Brotherhood.
And, hereto I will add but this Request,
(VVhich comprehends all that can be exprest)
For me and mine. Oh let it, LORD, be plac't,
Where it may stand, as long as Time shall last,
Within thy sight; and though, nor I, nor they
For whom I sue, can merit what I pray,
Vouchsafe it for his sake, in whom I have
So much confided, as his Boone to crave.
Nor temporary pleasures, no nor health,
Save, so far only, as thou know'st the use
Of such things, to thine honor may conduce
VVith our eternal safety, and the Good
Of those with whom we have a Brotherhood.
And, hereto I will add but this Request,
(VVhich comprehends all that can be exprest)
For me and mine. Oh let it, LORD, be plac't,
Where it may stand, as long as Time shall last,
Within thy sight; and though, nor I, nor they
For whom I sue, can merit what I pray,
Vouchsafe it for his sake, in whom I have
So much confided, as his Boone to crave.
Let us Dear GOD, from whom our Children sprung,
And, all their Off-spring, whether old or young,
Who, from our loins have being, or shall come
Into this world, until the day of Doom,
By him be so preserved, at whose cost
Redeem'd we were, that no soul may be lost,
Or be deprived of thy promises
In passing thorow this lifes wilderness,
Either by Adams fault, or our own gilt:
And then, of other things give what thou wilt:
For, this I value more, then if I had
Thy Grant, we should all Kings and Queens be made,
Possessing in this life the largest measure
Of temporary honors, wealth, and pleasure.
For they are Baubles, in respect of that
My sanctify'd Ambition aimeth at.
They who obtain'd most of them, were but slaves,
VVho dropt with infamy into their Graves;
And oft less misery to them befalls,
VVho get their bread by cobling under stalls;
Or, in this world, advanced are no higher
Then raking dirty rags out of the mire.
Thus I in brief have summ'd up my Request,
Grant this, and let who pleaseth, take the rest.
And, all their Off-spring, whether old or young,
Who, from our loins have being, or shall come
Into this world, until the day of Doom,
By him be so preserved, at whose cost
Redeem'd we were, that no soul may be lost,
Or be deprived of thy promises
In passing thorow this lifes wilderness,
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And then, of other things give what thou wilt:
For, this I value more, then if I had
Thy Grant, we should all Kings and Queens be made,
Possessing in this life the largest measure
Of temporary honors, wealth, and pleasure.
For they are Baubles, in respect of that
My sanctify'd Ambition aimeth at.
They who obtain'd most of them, were but slaves,
VVho dropt with infamy into their Graves;
And oft less misery to them befalls,
VVho get their bread by cobling under stalls;
Or, in this world, advanced are no higher
Then raking dirty rags out of the mire.
Thus I in brief have summ'd up my Request,
Grant this, and let who pleaseth, take the rest.
LORD, I know none, who ever heretofore
Did in this mode thy Majesty implore;
And, from what he believes of thee it comes,
That, so to do, thy servant now presumes.
Forgive me if this absolute Petition
Extends beyond the bound of my Commission;
For, nothing I intend, what ere I crave,
Save, what thou art well-pleased I should have,
VVhose will I so prefer before mine own
In all things (if to me my heart is known)
That whatsoever may succeed thereon
Now or hereafter, Let thy will be done.
My soul thou hast inclined to believe
His Promises, who said, Ask, and recieve;
Help then my unbelief: For if the grant
Of this Petition shall that fulness want
VVhich is desir'd; no want of Love in thee
Occasions it, but, some defects in me;
And that Obstruction which thereon is cast,
Shall by thy Love removed be at last.
He that in Faith and Love can to this Prayer
Say for himself, Amen, shall ne'er dispair;
For, it implies, he is no stranger to
What man may hope for, & what God will do.
Did in this mode thy Majesty implore;
And, from what he believes of thee it comes,
That, so to do, thy servant now presumes.
Forgive me if this absolute Petition
Extends beyond the bound of my Commission;
For, nothing I intend, what ere I crave,
Save, what thou art well-pleased I should have,
VVhose will I so prefer before mine own
In all things (if to me my heart is known)
That whatsoever may succeed thereon
Now or hereafter, Let thy will be done.
My soul thou hast inclined to believe
His Promises, who said, Ask, and recieve;
Help then my unbelief: For if the grant
Of this Petition shall that fulness want
VVhich is desir'd; no want of Love in thee
Occasions it, but, some defects in me;
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Shall by thy Love removed be at last.
He that in Faith and Love can to this Prayer
Say for himself, Amen, shall ne'er dispair;
For, it implies, he is no stranger to
What man may hope for, & what God will do.
Newgate Feb. 1661.
| Miscellaneous works of George Wither | |