 | Miscellaneous works of George Wither |  |
In the Book last mentioned, Page 24.
To cure those Frenzies, for his future glory,
GOD is preparing a New Purgatory
To purge what may be purged from the drosse,
That of the pure Gold there may be no losse;
The Judgements now beginning shall go round,
And through these Islands, till all those are found
Who have been false in that which they profest
To GOD, or to the publick interest.
From house to house, from man to man, they shall,
Procession make, till they have seiz'd on all,
All shall be proved, whether poor they be,
Or rich, or of a high or low degree,
By outward, or by inward fiery Trials,
Till they are brought to real Self-denials.
'Twixt GOD and them, through Mercy to repent
Their Failings, or to outward punishment.
Those, wha shall in this Island scape his hand,
Vengeance will seize on, in a Forreign Land;
The foes of Peace among the common Rout,
A Pestilence or Famine shall finde out:
They who have shuffled from the Souldiers fury,
Shall fall into the mercy of a Jury;
And, when they from the sword are in some hope
To scape, shall then be hampered in a Rope.
The Mischiefs which they shunned in the Street,
Within a secret Chamber they shall meet.
Those men whom nothing publickly pursues,
Their Consciences in private shall accuse.
They, who immoveably do think to stand,
Shall fall without the motion of a hand;
And when the things they fear'd cannot annoy them.
That, which they sleight, and fear'd not, shall destroy them.
GOD is preparing a New Purgatory
To purge what may be purged from the drosse,
That of the pure Gold there may be no losse;
The Judgements now beginning shall go round,
And through these Islands, till all those are found
Who have been false in that which they profest
To GOD, or to the publick interest.
56
Procession make, till they have seiz'd on all,
All shall be proved, whether poor they be,
Or rich, or of a high or low degree,
By outward, or by inward fiery Trials,
Till they are brought to real Self-denials.
'Twixt GOD and them, through Mercy to repent
Their Failings, or to outward punishment.
Those, wha shall in this Island scape his hand,
Vengeance will seize on, in a Forreign Land;
The foes of Peace among the common Rout,
A Pestilence or Famine shall finde out:
They who have shuffled from the Souldiers fury,
Shall fall into the mercy of a Jury;
And, when they from the sword are in some hope
To scape, shall then be hampered in a Rope.
The Mischiefs which they shunned in the Street,
Within a secret Chamber they shall meet.
Those men whom nothing publickly pursues,
Their Consciences in private shall accuse.
They, who immoveably do think to stand,
Shall fall without the motion of a hand;
And when the things they fear'd cannot annoy them.
That, which they sleight, and fear'd not, shall destroy them.
I told them likewise, that their gross neglect
Of Justice as to me, would have effect
Upon themselves, that, what to me and mine
They suffered to befal, would be a signe
Of what their lot must be; and when it should
So come to pass, my SALT on SALT foretold.
Of Justice as to me, would have effect
Upon themselves, that, what to me and mine
They suffered to befal, would be a signe
Of what their lot must be; and when it should
So come to pass, my SALT on SALT foretold.
| Miscellaneous works of George Wither | |