Miscellaneous works of George Wither

Bvt are my Riches gone?
and all those fled away
Whose love depended thereupon?
for ever, Farewel they.
Since these have gotten wings,
I will not them pursue;
But set my heart on better things,
and bid them quite adieu.

2

'Tis GOD that gives and takes,
whose love remains the same;
And whether rich or poor he makes,
still blessed be his Name.
With suffrings to comply,
Loath was I to begin,
But better thoughts of them have I,
Since they have proved been.

3

For, what I dreadfull thought
when first the same appear'd,
Hath joys to me by sorrows brought,
and hopes by what I fear'd.
To be despis'd and poor
if in my GOD I trust,
Will me at last advantage more
then if I nothing lost.

4

Long time I have prefest
in words a Christian Creed,
And now am with occasions blest
to shew it forth by Deed.
We, holy men would seem,
and up for Saints are cride,
But now comes that Probation-time
In which we must be tride.

5

Whilst Riches I enjoyd,
They made me but a drudge,
To be on their affairs imployd,
and on their Errands trudge.
Me poor my plenties kept;
made me engage my Friends;

And often wake whilst others slept,
to wait upon their ends:

6

They fild me with Desires,
whose Lusting endlesse was,
And onely brought forth thorns and briers
to choak the seeds of Grace.
They made me fearfull too
Of Tyrants and of Knaves,
Yea (which is ten times worse then so)
Made me a slave to slayes.

7

My heart then be content,
Let wealth and honour go,
For, better things to thee are meant
Then these can raise thee to.
Let those who on them dote,
by our deportment see,
That in those Gods we trusted not
which their chief Idols be.

8

Though my despightfull Foes
Now my Estate is gone,
(I having nothing else to lose)
my body seize upon,
Therefore take thou no care,
for GOD thy help will be,
And put on them a greater fear
then they can put on thee.

9

And to encrease that load
which I at present bear,
Though they say Where now is thy GOD,
of whom thy boastings were?

100

He will of me, of me be found,
and also make it known,
(When open shame shall them confound)
that he my Cause doth own.

10

Thy Cross with patience take,
doe not thereat repine,
But bear it stoutly for his sake
who bore his Cross for thine.
Still meekly in thy way
therewith proceed thou so,
That others it encourage may
to what they see thee do.

11

The Lot of Saints hath been
Afflictions, Wants, and Scorns;
And he that is the best of Men
Was mockt and crown'd with Thorns:
No House to him they gave
wherein to rest his head;
Him also in a borrow'd Grave,
they laid when he was dead.

12

Yea, he that's LORD of all
when first with flesh arrayd,
Was meanly housed in a Stall,
and in Manger layd.
A Guest so poor he was,
that whilst he lodged there,
The labouring Ox, and toyling Ass
His Chamber-fellows were.

13

Yet Wisemen from the East,
were guided by a star,

101

To bring to this despised Guest
Gold, Frankincence and Myrrhe,
They fooled for his sake
a Tyrannizing King;
GOD'S Angels, care of him did take,
and round about him sing.

14

To him, allide am I,
and he will send to me,
Howere obscurd, the like supply,
as oft as need shall be.
For timely he relieves
all those that trust in him,
And charge unto his Angels gives,
to be a guard to them.

15

In Stables, Barns, and Stalls,
the poor as much he heeds,
As those that are in Princes halls,
To help them at their needs.
Yea, unto them he comes,
and will their suffrings marke,
Although they lie in nasty Rooms,
or Dungeons deep and dark.

16

A portion more secure
then Goods or Lands is he.
An Heritage that will endure
when Kingdoms lost shall be.
And when exposd to shame
their bodies we behold,
It shall more magnifie their name
then Statues made of gold.

102

17

But this to them will seem
who dote on outward things,
No better then an idle Dream
which no assurance brings.
If pompously they live,
and in rich Tombs may lie,
Themselves they happy men believe,
although like beasts they die.

18

And I am half in fear
when this is sung among
Those who in loue with riches are,
'twill seem a Bedlam-Song:
For, seldome we perceive
that when his Mammon's gone,
A Rich Man's able to believe,
he is not quite undone.

19

It makes them almost mad
to hear another preach,
That joyes and comfort may be had
whereto they cannot reach.
LORD help their unbelief,
and mitigate their fears
For, though they pity not my grief,
yet, I do pity theirs.

20

Preserve me in that Grace
which now infus'd I find:
And let nor time, events nor place,
hereafter change my mind:
For in them good or bad,
External things have nought;

103

But, as Good or ill use is made,
Or else, as got or sought.

University of Virginia Library

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