 | Miscellaneous works of George Wither |  |
28
NIL ULTRA.
Being a Soliloquie, wherein this Authour expresseth the improbability of an effectual proceeding further, in his endeavours (to prevent the Sins and Plagues increasing) by ought offered to consideration.
When the Foundations are destroyed, what can the Righteous do?
Psal. 1. 3.
[1]
I at a Nonplus am this day,And know not what to think or say,
Or, what part I am next to play:
That therefore which I now express,
Whether the mark I miss or hit,
To publick view I will commit,
And leave to God the giving it,
In his own time, a good success.
29
2
We neither love his Laws nor Him;Those men whose deeds we did condemn,
We (by our imitating them)
Have justifi'd in all their works.
They, who have seemed self-deniers
In their professing Truths, are Liars,
Like Lillies look, but scratch like Briars;
Talk Christian-like, but live like Turks.
3
Some say I dote; and that 'tis so,I almost am perswaded too,
When I consider what I do:
For, little less than doteth he,
Who gives them Bread, who look for Chaff;
Cast Pearls to Swine, who look for Draff;
And strives to save them, who do laugh
When sinking down to Hell they be.
4
Examples we have had of old,And daily we fulfill'd behold,
What hath been oft of late foretold;
Yet more and more besotted grow.
Nor Chastisments, nor Mercy shew'd,
Though oft withdrawn, and oft renew'd;
Nor what hath for our sins ensu'd,
Can make us heed the things we know.
5
VVhat can by me be said or done,To stop them who still headlong run,
To meet the mischiefs coming on,
And which already are in view?
Since men will neither see nor hear
VVhat is apparant ev'ry-where,
30
VVho can prevent what may ensue?
6
How can good Sequels be expected,VVhere Truth and Reason are neglected,
And gross crimes, not alone suspected,
But acted also with shame?
VVhere men, all Prophanations dare,
In all well-doings cowards are;
And seem to have nor sence nor care,
Either of good, or evil Fame?
7
VVhen what relates to Earth and Heav'n,Seems of its proper use bereaven,
(And what for common use was given,
Made only for th'abusers sake)
VVhat humane Wit can save them from
A sad inevitable doom,
VVho false to other men become,
And Pitfalls for themselves do make?
8
VVhen first I did converse with men,They were exceeding wicked then;
But now seem worse by five in ten:
For, till of late I never heard,
That such Abominations were,
So impudently acted here
VVithin this Clime, as now they are
By probable Reports, aver'd.
9
If Justice executed were,If we were what we would appear,
In thought, in deed, in word, sincere;
Oppressors and self-seekers fewer;
31
VVho to good principles are true,
Might more successefully pursue,
VVhat would at last, our weal procure.
10
But whilst we see one crying sinBrings ev'ry day another in,
Whence new Corruptions do begin,
VVhat can the Righteous hope to do;
But meekly wait on GOD, (until
Her measure wickedness doth fill)
Submitting all things to his will,
And adding their Amen, thereto?
11
VVhilst we each mangie humour claw,Turn Grand Oppressions into Law,
Stand nor of GOD, or men in awe,
And, Truths, by Violence confute;
VVe bring but fewel to that fire,
Or breath to blow the flame still higher,
VVherein our hopes will quite expire;
And Prudence then is justly mute.
12
For when GOD threatens Desolations,If men turn due Humiliations
To Triumphs and vain Recreations;
VVhat can be justly then expected?
But changing hopes into despairs,
More Breaches, instead of Repairs,
And that our formal thanks and prayers,
Should be offensive, and rejected?
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13
Oft under Trust is hatched Treason,VVise to be thought, is to want Reason,
Sincerity is out of season;
Foundations likewise are orethrown:
To speak the Truth is now a Crime;
To look for Justice 'tis no time,
(To be a Knave, the way to clime)
And sin almost full ripe is grown.
14
My witness, therefore, having born,(Among men in the hope forlorn)
I'le all alone, sit down and mourn
For that which cannot prevented.
My Lot, I'le meekly take with those,
VVhom GOD shall unto that expose,
VVhich may befall both Friends and Foes,
And therewith will remain contented.
15
This now, is all that can be done;That therefore I resolving on,
VVill let the world a while alone,
And GOD therein to work his will?
Ile only take that Ammunition,
VVhich gives no just cause of suspicion,
And (without seeking their perdition)
Let filthy men be filthy still.
16
Thus far forth I have trod the Maze,VVithout offence to any Cause,
That's justifi'd by righteous Laws;
But now no further can proceed:
For so Confusion here abounds,
That Good and Evil it confounds,
33
VVhich fruitless makes both word and deed.
17
For they who dance upon the brinkOf Hell it self (and fondly think
They are secure because they wink;)
Their open danger cannot see,
But are so vext to hear me tell
Their Heaven borders upon Hell;
That for my wishing of them well,
They wish but little good to me.
18
Perhaps too, as the Round now goes,They who my good intents oppose,
(And are both mine and their own foes)
May seek to take my life away:
If they so do; when that is done,
I shall beyond their reach be gone;
And he who all deeds looks upon,
VVill suddenly their spight repay.
19
Yet I shall make no such Request,As may not with their weal consist:
I, neither by the Sword, or Pest,
Or Famine, wish aveng'd to be;
Or by ought else, which might destroy
The Life which here they do enjoy,
(Though they that Mercy mis-imploy;)
This rather shall my Prayer be,
20
Let GOD confound their pride, their hate,And all their Plots annihilate,
Who shall design to practise that,
Which may to his dishonour tend.
34
Whereby ungodly men contrive;
How they another may deprive
Of his just Freedom, Foe, or Friend.
21
This Deprecation doth not reachMens Persons, or that Love impeach
Which Christian Verity doth teach:
For, to avenge themselves of wrong,
That giveth liberty to none;
But, to do good for evil done
Required is of every one,
To whom a Saintship doth belong.
22
The Publick Welfare I preferBefore mine own particular;
And this for truth I may aver,
Whoever shall the same deny:
My Country, or my Sovereign Lord,
Neither by actions, or by word,
Or by my Pen, or by my Sword,
To self-ends injured have I.
23
I have not broke my Faith to thoseWho did a Trust in me repose,
Whether they prov'd my Friends or Foes;
But did with Loyalty submit,
To do, or suffer under them
Who exercise the Power Supream,
Which is at the dispose of Him,
Who gives and takes, as he sees fit.
24
I never did for Love or Hate,Act, or design to innovate
35
But did my duties in my place;
And when I fear'd that for our sin
An Anarchy was creeping in,
Endeavor'd, when it did begin,
How to preserve the Common-Peace.
25
When Civil Pow'rs were so divided,That then both Fools and Wise men sided
As Interest or Conscience guided,
I sought not to inlarge the rent;
But, being called Aid to bring,
To, (and by) them, whose counselling
Had been Authoriz'd by the King,
I, to perform my duty, went.
26
Retir'd from Court and City then,I liv'd among plain Countrymen,
Employing otherwhile the Pen,
My private Musings to record;
Which, I had more desire to do,
Then that which I was call'd unto,
Till I was importuned so,
That I at last, put on my Sword.
27
To do my best, forth arm'd I came,(My Conscience warranting the same)
And porpos'd nothing worthy blame,
By unjust violence, or guile.
For, in sincerity I thought,
A course we follow'd as we ought,
Whereby means might to pass be brought,
Divided Friends to reconcile.
36
28
But so divsions them inrag'd,Who were in that Contest engag'd,
And, such ill consequents presag'd,
That, I my Troop did soon disband;
And, hopeless I should ought assay
Successful in a martial way,
My Sword, and Arms quite flung away,
And took my Pen again in hand.
29
Such new Adventures this began,That, I appeared to be then
Betwixt the Fire and Frying-pan:
For, such proceedings I espy'd;
That, they who with the best intent
Pursu'd the way in which they went
(And ill to neither party meant)
Found least respect on either side.
30
To see what was done well or ill,I had just cause, against my will,
To be there, an ey-witness still,
Where grand affairs transacted were.
As well the Person as the Name
I knew of most men, who by fame
Were said to merit praise or blame,
And who did best or worst appear.
31
Self-love, base Avarice, and Pride,I saw among themselves divide
The publick Rights, on either side;
Their Foes befriending out of season;
Well-meaning Innocents destroying,
Their pow'r to favour Guilt employing,
37
Against their Friends committing Treason.
32
I saw both GOD and Man offended,Much finding fault, but little mended;
Good Life and Piety pretended;
But few whose words and works were one:
They who most quarrell'd with each other,
In evil so agreed together,
That to repose a trust in either,
I found but little cause, or none.
33
The worse men were, they seem'd the betterTo serve their ends, and much the fitter
To be inriched and made greater.
Him who did most indulge their sin;
Or, to inflame their lust brought fewel;
Or, were unto their foes most cruel,
They kept about them as a Jewel;
And, such, their chief esteem did win.
34
Such as had neither Grace nor Wit,Such as Job judged men unfit
Among his Shepherds Dogs to sit;
Ev'n such as were, the other day,
More worthy of contempt than those
Who liv'd by picking Hips and Sloes,
(With such food as on Hedges grows)
VVere honour'd; yea few more than they.
35
These having scratcht up wealth and power,In Court and City, Town and Tower,
Did act as if our fatal hour
VVere hither making an advance:
38
At hazard plaid, in such a mode,
(At Hide, at Even, and at Odd)
As if all things were rul'd by chance.
36
Thereby my hazards greater wereThan those which I had cause to fear,
When War most dreadfull did appear:
For, at what I before had done,
One party only took offence;
But, I have anger'd ever since
All parties, who have lost the sence
Of what they seem to carry on.
37
This made me dip my Pen in Gall,Impartially reproving all,
Without regard what might befall
To me, whilst just things I intended:
For, alwayes I regarded so
Their Honour, and their Profit too,
With whom my Muses had to do,
That none have cause to be offended.
38
It nev'rtheless, on me so broughtTheir hate, whose welfare I had sought,
That of mine own they left me nought,
Which might my likely want supply:
No place whereon to rest my head,
No certainty of daily bread,
But in my old age to be fed
And cloathed by pure Charity.
39
In which strait GOD provided so,That I yet live his work to do,
39
Yea, more than when it larger seem'd:
For, what's bereaved was but Lumber,
Which did with many cares becumber,
And, is not put into the number
Of things which merit best esteem.
40
I therefore, whatsoev'r befel,To High and Low did plainly tell,
(Whether they took it ill or well)
Such things as I thought needful were;
And oft expressed with my Pen,
What might minde me and other men,
More heed to take, both how, and when,
Unto our selves we Traytors are.
41
And time to come, when I am dead,Shall find there will be still much need
To tolerate one in my stead,
That may pursue what I begun.
VVhen God so pleaseth, let him come
To do him service in my room;
And, let the Work he calls me from,
Thrive better than it yet hath done.
42
My time is almost wholly past;And, thinking this may be the last,
For a Nil Ultra here 'tis plac't,
As having no more now to say:
But if my life God longer spare,
And shall my heart anew prepare,
His pleasure further to declare,
I'le take this Bounder-stone away.
40
43
I sute it thus unto these times,In that with which most fancies chimes,
Expressing that in gingling Rimes,
Which I suppose to be in season;
Else little heed they give thereto;
Or, if plain Truths observe they do,
Good meanings are mistaken so,
That safe it is not to speak Reason.
44
Things may result sometimes perchance,Ev'n from a trifling circumstance,
Which will be helpful to advance
Th'effecting of a Grand Design.
Once e're Elisha would begin
To speak, a Fidler was call'd in;
Of use, that seem'd then to have been
For his Work; so may this for mine.
Man proposeth, but GOD disposeth, and his will be done.
God save the King.
| Miscellaneous works of George Wither | |