 | Miscellaneous works of George Wither |  |
160
A POSTSCRIPT In answer to some cavilling Objections, made against the Author of this Considering-Glasse, since the composing thereof.
I Hear, my snarling Censurers Object,
That, all I write, is to the same Effect;
And, that the most part of what's here exprest,
It but cold Dishes, sent forth newly drest.
Mis-censures might be spar'd, though this were true:
For, where the Matter's old, th'Occasion's new:
And they will here see, if they heed it more,
Thrice Fifty Pages, never seen before.
But were it otherwise; how much trangrest
Had I therein, more then that Country Priest,
Who, having (or pretending it) a Call
Such to inform, as I oft meet withal,
Preach'd but one Sermon many years together,
And, till they had learn'd that, would preach no other?
That, all I write, is to the same Effect;
And, that the most part of what's here exprest,
It but cold Dishes, sent forth newly drest.
Mis-censures might be spar'd, though this were true:
For, where the Matter's old, th'Occasion's new:
And they will here see, if they heed it more,
Thrice Fifty Pages, never seen before.
But were it otherwise; how much trangrest
Had I therein, more then that Country Priest,
Who, having (or pretending it) a Call
Such to inform, as I oft meet withal,
Preach'd but one Sermon many years together,
And, till they had learn'd that, would preach no other?
Another of their cavilling Objections
Is this; that there are many Contradictions
In my Affirmatives. This true may be
To those men peradventure, who can see
But with one Eye; Or, look but on one side
Of that, whose Verity is to be tride:
Yet, all my Affirmations will be true,
When they are heeded with judicious view.
This is the same, which often such as they
Abusively, of Holy Scripture say,
Because they neither heed nor understand
How Circumstances, and the Points in hand,
May warrantize that to be verifi'd
In some respects, which ought to be deni'd
In othersome; as in the Controverse
'Twixt FAITH and WORKS; or such: which to reherse
Would be but labour lost, by adding more,
To manifest what most men knew before.
Is this; that there are many Contradictions
In my Affirmatives. This true may be
To those men peradventure, who can see
But with one Eye; Or, look but on one side
Of that, whose Verity is to be tride:
Yet, all my Affirmations will be true,
When they are heeded with judicious view.
161
Abusively, of Holy Scripture say,
Because they neither heed nor understand
How Circumstances, and the Points in hand,
May warrantize that to be verifi'd
In some respects, which ought to be deni'd
In othersome; as in the Controverse
'Twixt FAITH and WORKS; or such: which to reherse
Would be but labour lost, by adding more,
To manifest what most men knew before.
These my Detracting Readers, do moreover,
A Pers'nal Vanity in me discover
(As they think) which much levity implies.
Good Souls! how modest are they, and how wise!
I seek for, and I do assume, they say,
(At all times, in all places where I may)
Occasions to communicate and show
What I have writ, and what I seem to know,
To all men, whether Friends or Foes they be;
Wise Men or Fools; of high or low degree.
Which I'll confess: for, to my self alone
The harm which thereby can ensue, is done:
Doth any Prudent Man a Book compose,
Onely to teach himself, the things he knows?
Or, for the sakes alone, who learned be,
And better know those things, perhaps, then he?
Should not the weal of every one be sought?
As well the poorest, as the rich be taught?
And do not the Prophane, and Fools, asmuch
Good Cautions need, as they who are not such?
Doth any one, that's not a Fool at least,
His Candle light, to lock it in a chest?
Doth any, when a Town on fire appears,
Call out for help, where he knows no man hears?
Or think it onely needful to repair
At such times, to the Aldermen and Maior,
When two poor Labourers may do as much,
In an Emergency, as twenty such?
If there be any of this minde, who pass
For Prudent Men, let me be thought an ASSE.
A Pers'nal Vanity in me discover
(As they think) which much levity implies.
Good Souls! how modest are they, and how wise!
I seek for, and I do assume, they say,
(At all times, in all places where I may)
Occasions to communicate and show
What I have writ, and what I seem to know,
To all men, whether Friends or Foes they be;
Wise Men or Fools; of high or low degree.
Which I'll confess: for, to my self alone
The harm which thereby can ensue, is done:
Doth any Prudent Man a Book compose,
Onely to teach himself, the things he knows?
Or, for the sakes alone, who learned be,
And better know those things, perhaps, then he?
Should not the weal of every one be sought?
As well the poorest, as the rich be taught?
And do not the Prophane, and Fools, asmuch
Good Cautions need, as they who are not such?
Doth any one, that's not a Fool at least,
His Candle light, to lock it in a chest?
Doth any, when a Town on fire appears,
Call out for help, where he knows no man hears?
162
At such times, to the Aldermen and Maior,
When two poor Labourers may do as much,
In an Emergency, as twenty such?
If there be any of this minde, who pass
For Prudent Men, let me be thought an ASSE.
Though in my Pocket, I no Orders carry
Like those, who Preachers are in Ordinary,
I have them in my heart; and, in my way,
Oblig'd to preach GOD's Truths, no less then they,
Take up my Auditors, where I can finde them;
And there, in my mode, of their Duties minde them.
For I have oft observ'd (and so may these
Observe it likewise often, if they please)
That, they whom some count despicable men,
Make better use of those means, now and then,
Which to GOD's glory pertinent do seem,
(Or common good) then men of more esteem;
And that, sometimes, the work of GOD we do,
By what is thought impertinent thereto.
We know, the Gospel first to them was brought
Whom worldly wise men, base and foolish thought:
That, very many Publicans and Sinners
Were some of Christianities beginners:
And that the Saints then thought it was but reason,
To do their Duties in, and out of Season.
These benefits are also reaped from
My reading what I write, to all that come.
Some things, I otherwile, thereby collect
From those who neither me nor that respect:
For in discourse, before they are aware,
They let slip words which cautionary are.
To them who like my Lines, it Treatments makes
As acceptable as Ale, Wine and Cakes:
To those who like them not, they serve my turn
Their Interruptions, quickly to adjourn:
For, they pretending Business to be done,
Requiring haste (and that they must be gone)
Straight bid Adieu; and Farewel I reply:
Glad are these they are gone, and so am I.
More might be said, to what hath been aver'd
Like those, who Preachers are in Ordinary,
I have them in my heart; and, in my way,
Oblig'd to preach GOD's Truths, no less then they,
Take up my Auditors, where I can finde them;
And there, in my mode, of their Duties minde them.
For I have oft observ'd (and so may these
Observe it likewise often, if they please)
That, they whom some count despicable men,
Make better use of those means, now and then,
Which to GOD's glory pertinent do seem,
(Or common good) then men of more esteem;
And that, sometimes, the work of GOD we do,
By what is thought impertinent thereto.
We know, the Gospel first to them was brought
Whom worldly wise men, base and foolish thought:
That, very many Publicans and Sinners
Were some of Christianities beginners:
And that the Saints then thought it was but reason,
To do their Duties in, and out of Season.
These benefits are also reaped from
My reading what I write, to all that come.
Some things, I otherwile, thereby collect
From those who neither me nor that respect:
For in discourse, before they are aware,
They let slip words which cautionary are.
To them who like my Lines, it Treatments makes
As acceptable as Ale, Wine and Cakes:
163
Their Interruptions, quickly to adjourn:
For, they pretending Business to be done,
Requiring haste (and that they must be gone)
Straight bid Adieu; and Farewel I reply:
Glad are these they are gone, and so am I.
By such as these: But little they regard
What may in reason give them satisfaction,
Whose principal designment is Detraction:
And fruitless are all rational Replies,
To what, Pride, Hate, and Folly may devise.
| Miscellaneous works of George Wither | |