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 | Miscellaneous works of George Wither |  |
But, if a Parliament thus chosen, be
By Custome lawful, and reputed free;
We must be as we are, till resolution
Be taken up, to mend that Constitution.
For though this Age to GOD alloweth not
His choice, out of our chosen ones, by lot,
(As when Matthias, after mans election,
Was chose, when chusers had less imperfection:)
And though this Lottery was thrown aside,
Because it bounded Avarice and Pride;
And pleas'd not them whose aime was to retain,
Or to acquire pre-eminence and gain;
Yea, though it hath, without good reason why,
Been wav'd by Clergy and by Laity;
By Lot, not only the first vacant place
To an Apostleship supplied was,
But, also, Saul thereby Election had
Before he by the people King was made:
Moreover, Achans crime when close conceal'd
From humane knowledge, was by Lot reveal'd.
Then, that Expedient, why should we explode,
And, in things doubtful, shun the Test of GOD?
His providence will order all we do,
Whether, thereby we pleased are or no;
And his concurrence in our choice by Lot
Is just and needfull, though we like it not.
By Custome lawful, and reputed free;
We must be as we are, till resolution
Be taken up, to mend that Constitution.
For though this Age to GOD alloweth not
His choice, out of our chosen ones, by lot,
(As when Matthias, after mans election,
Was chose, when chusers had less imperfection:)
And though this Lottery was thrown aside,
Because it bounded Avarice and Pride;
And pleas'd not them whose aime was to retain,
Or to acquire pre-eminence and gain;
Yea, though it hath, without good reason why,
Been wav'd by Clergy and by Laity;
By Lot, not only the first vacant place
To an Apostleship supplied was,
21
Before he by the people King was made:
Moreover, Achans crime when close conceal'd
From humane knowledge, was by Lot reveal'd.
Then, that Expedient, why should we explode,
And, in things doubtful, shun the Test of GOD?
His providence will order all we do,
Whether, thereby we pleased are or no;
And his concurrence in our choice by Lot
Is just and needfull, though we like it not.
| Miscellaneous works of George Wither | |