Miscellaneous works of George Wither | ||
Yet, for the love which thereunto I bear,
Or, rather for the sake of those in her,
Whose prayers, faith and tears, have hitherto
Preserv'd her, I shall, still, as now I do,
Marke my Petition for her preservation,
And, that she may by Justice and Compassion
Break off from those sins, for which I discover,
A Cloud of Judgements to be hanging over:
And, which e're since the last great plague hath been,
Sometimes approaching, though by few men seen;
And which, whilst she to pow'r and wealth aspires,
Will by unheeded, immaterial fires,
Consume her dwellings, and decay her Trade,
Unless atonement speedily be made
By works of mercy, and that sacrifice
Which GOD hath promis'd he wil lnot despise.
Or, rather for the sake of those in her,
Whose prayers, faith and tears, have hitherto
Preserv'd her, I shall, still, as now I do,
Marke my Petition for her preservation,
And, that she may by Justice and Compassion
65
A Cloud of Judgements to be hanging over:
And, which e're since the last great plague hath been,
Sometimes approaching, though by few men seen;
And which, whilst she to pow'r and wealth aspires,
Will by unheeded, immaterial fires,
Consume her dwellings, and decay her Trade,
Unless atonement speedily be made
By works of mercy, and that sacrifice
Which GOD hath promis'd he wil lnot despise.
Miscellaneous works of George Wither | ||