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 | Miscellaneous works of George Wither |  |
34
Because, he only knows, what will be done
By them, to whom Conditions are declar'd
With threatnings, and a promised reward,
As they shall be neglected, or fulfill'd;
Or, men are either well, or evill-will'd:
For, they, the Devil's, not GOD's, Prophets are,
Who, absolutely, either peace, or war,
Or shame, or honour, poverty, or wealth,
Or life, or death, or sicknesses, or health)
Shall promise unto them, who have transgress'd
Without conditions tacite, or express'd;
And they are Fools abus'd by ill suggestions,
Who tempt men, by demanding of such questions.
Yet, GOD, sometimes indulgently complies
With us, ev'n in our curiosities;
And, otherwhile, unsought for, giveth hints,
To prove us by conditional events.
Among some other things, made signes to me,
When, here a setled Government should be,
My Britains Genius hath long since recorded
A signal previous one, which is thus worded:
And, thereby, grow far greater than before, &c.
This, in the meaning, might have twice, ere this
Fulfill'd have been; and once, in Terminis,
If Pride, self-will, and frowardness of mind,
Had not, by false lights, made true Reason blind.
And, if that he, whom it will most concern,
Shall now, GOD's visitation-time discern,
(Not letting opportunities depart,
By suff'ring vain hopes to obdure his heart)
When GOD shall on his soul begin to strike,
A call to penitence, Manasseth-like,
But, meekly comes, and laies revenge aside,
All self-will, animosities, and pride;
It shall have such effects the self-same hour,
On these three Nations, by a secret pow'r,
As, will so change them too, that, ere the Sun
Is at his next height, and through Cancer run,
It will amaze the World; their Foes confound
Make some believe, all things are wheeling round;
Or, think, that Revolution drawing near
Which must conclude the great Platonick-year;
And, good, to many Realms, 'twill pre-divine
Betwixt the Tropicks on both sides the Line.
With us, ev'n in our curiosities;
And, otherwhile, unsought for, giveth hints,
To prove us by conditional events.
Among some other things, made signes to me,
When, here a setled Government should be,
My Britains Genius hath long since recorded
A signal previous one, which is thus worded:
Brit. Genius, Pag. 100.
A King, shall willingly himself un-king,And, thereby, grow far greater than before, &c.
Fulfill'd have been; and once, in Terminis,
If Pride, self-will, and frowardness of mind,
Had not, by false lights, made true Reason blind.
And, if that he, whom it will most concern,
Shall now, GOD's visitation-time discern,
35
By suff'ring vain hopes to obdure his heart)
When GOD shall on his soul begin to strike,
A call to penitence, Manasseth-like,
But, meekly comes, and laies revenge aside,
All self-will, animosities, and pride;
It shall have such effects the self-same hour,
On these three Nations, by a secret pow'r,
As, will so change them too, that, ere the Sun
Is at his next height, and through Cancer run,
It will amaze the World; their Foes confound
Make some believe, all things are wheeling round;
Or, think, that Revolution drawing near
Which must conclude the great Platonick-year;
And, good, to many Realms, 'twill pre-divine
Betwixt the Tropicks on both sides the Line.
| Miscellaneous works of George Wither | |