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 | Miscellaneous works of George Wither |  |
Judgement, in our days, at GOD's house begins,
Who takes such notice of our many sins,
That since we would not mend when we were chidden;
He will no longer now let them be hidden
Or go unpunish'd: but we, that each other
Provok'd to sin, shall punish one another.
Me blame not then, if I touch here and there,
Those failings on all sides which causes were
Of what we suffer: for, GOD will be known
By doing Justice; and we ought to own
Our great Transgressions, and not seek to hide
Those Crimes, for which he lays ev'n Kings aside,
As well as other men; that all may know
He giveth equal dooms to high and low.
Though, therefore, we sometimes a vail may cast
O'er faulty Rulers, whilst their pow'r doth last,
To keep them from contempt, lest their disgrace
May cause infringement of the Common Peace,
VVe must not counter-act what GOD will do,
VVhen he reproves them, and removes them too:
But, suff'ring with them by commiseration,
As being worthy of like condemnation,
Give GOD the glory, with our Pens and Breath,
For what's intended by their shame or death.
Who takes such notice of our many sins,
That since we would not mend when we were chidden;
He will no longer now let them be hidden
Or go unpunish'd: but we, that each other
Provok'd to sin, shall punish one another.
Me blame not then, if I touch here and there,
Those failings on all sides which causes were
28
By doing Justice; and we ought to own
Our great Transgressions, and not seek to hide
Those Crimes, for which he lays ev'n Kings aside,
As well as other men; that all may know
He giveth equal dooms to high and low.
Though, therefore, we sometimes a vail may cast
O'er faulty Rulers, whilst their pow'r doth last,
To keep them from contempt, lest their disgrace
May cause infringement of the Common Peace,
VVe must not counter-act what GOD will do,
VVhen he reproves them, and removes them too:
But, suff'ring with them by commiseration,
As being worthy of like condemnation,
Give GOD the glory, with our Pens and Breath,
For what's intended by their shame or death.
| Miscellaneous works of George Wither | |