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 | Miscellaneous works of George Wither |  |
The peoples voice is GOD's, the Proverb saies;
And is so, many times, but, not alwaies.
Their Voice is, that the best means to prevent
Our threatned ruine, is a Parliament
(Next under GOD) that must be truly free.
This, I believe, but, gain'd how shall that be,
Or when procur'd? If, none we free must call,
But, when there is a freedom left to all
To chuse, or to be chose; Some other way
We must be sav'd before we see that day,
Else we shall be destroy'd. Must we give Theeves
(Who live but by their pardons and Reprieves)
Pow'r, to dispose as they shall please to do
Of our Estates, and think it reason too?
To sober men appears it to be just,
With murtherers to put our Lives in trust?
To any wise men, will it prudence seem,
To leave those Freedoms which we did redeem
With bloud and vast sums, in the hands of those,
From whom we won them, (being still our Foes?)
Consent to take what freedom they will give us,
Who are the men who did, and would inslave us?
And, cauterized consciences permit
In judgement, on our consciences to sit?
And is so, many times, but, not alwaies.
Their Voice is, that the best means to prevent
Our threatned ruine, is a Parliament
(Next under GOD) that must be truly free.
This, I believe, but, gain'd how shall that be,
Or when procur'd? If, none we free must call,
But, when there is a freedom left to all
To chuse, or to be chose; Some other way
We must be sav'd before we see that day,
Else we shall be destroy'd. Must we give Theeves
(Who live but by their pardons and Reprieves)
Pow'r, to dispose as they shall please to do
Of our Estates, and think it reason too?
To sober men appears it to be just,
With murtherers to put our Lives in trust?
To any wise men, will it prudence seem,
To leave those Freedoms which we did redeem
With bloud and vast sums, in the hands of those,
From whom we won them, (being still our Foes?)
Consent to take what freedom they will give us,
Who are the men who did, and would inslave us?
And, cauterized consciences permit
In judgement, on our consciences to sit?
| Miscellaneous works of George Wither | |