Miscellaneous works of George Wither

An Interjection, occasioned by a sudden Ejaculation, whilst this Review of Neglected Remembrances was transcribing; which shall here stand inserted, thought it be no part of what was heretofore expressed, or intended to be hereunto added.

A THANKFUL RETRIBUTION,

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Page the Second.

BONI OMINIS VOTUM:

A Si quis, or Queries, with other Verses annexed.

These Verses next following, were upon the same Occassion presented to several Members of the House of Commons, repairing thither the 23d of December 1648, being the next day after their Humiliation, with an Imprinted Petition thereto annexed.

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An Interjection, occasioned by a sudden Ejaculation, whilst this Review of Neglected Remembrances was transcribing; which shall here stand inserted, thought it be no part of what was heretofore expressed, or intended to be hereunto added.

Alas! in this Review, to what good end
My words, my time and labour thus to spend
Am I enforc'd? Why am I troublesome
To others and my self, of things to come
Or past, still to make mention? since I see
Nor Judgments, whereof sensible men be
(From day to day) nor Mercies, which betwixt
Those Judgments intervene, or intermixt,
Much heeded are? although they such have been,
As are not in one Age or Place oft seen.

Oh Times! Oh Manners! how far wil these Nations
Proceed at last in their Prevarications,
If GOD thereto a bounder shall not set,
And they seek him no more then they do yet?
Our Posture at this present is the same
With Isr'els when they forth from Egypt came.
Two Mountains on both sides of them they had,
O're which no pass in safety could be made;
Before them was a Sea, where Ship or Boat
To waft them over, could not then be got.
Behind them, Pharoah with a dreadful Host
Pursu'de them, to recover what was lost,
And to reduce them to that servile state,
Which they were hopeful had been out of date;

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Or to destroy them quite, where did appear
No likely hope of a Deliverer:
For means of safety they could none espye,
Within the prospect of a carnal eye.

They, thus affrighted, to the LORD then cri'de,
Not as they should, who do in him confi'de;
But with more fear then faith; nay, worse then so,
They murmur'd, and upbraided Moses too,
In an uncivil and ingrateful mode,
As if without a warranty from GOD
He had imprudently pursu'd a course
Which they foresaw, and told him would make worse
Their bad Condition; yea, exprest a will,
Slaves (as they had been) to continue still.

Yet he (the meekest person who then liv'd)
As if he neither at that time perceiv'd
How him they injur'd; or how justly they
Deserv'd what seemed probable that day,
(Or how much base, unmanly slavishness
Their own tongues did apparently express)
He wav'd their murmurs, whilst they were afraid,
As if nought had amiss by them been said:
And, like a loving Father, speaking to
His Children, (knowing not when they mis-do)
Said gently thus: Fear not, stand still and see
With patience, how ye shall deliver'd be:
For these Egyptians who are now before
Your eyes this day, shall never fright you more:
And so befel it; for next morn they saw
Their foes lye dead, of whom they stood in awe,
Drown'd by the waves, and on that Sea-shore cast,
Through which they dry-shod, and in safety past.
Yet both that, with those Mercies which before
GOD had vouchsaf'd (with very many more

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Soon after) seemed to be so forgot,
As if they them, or him regarded not.

Now at this present time such is our case,
We are beleaguer'd as that People was;
With hazards upon every side confin'de;
With dangers both before us, and behind;
Not onely having many Foreign Foes,
But some likewise at home as bad as those;
And, worse within us also, who have brought us
To greater streights then all our Foes without us.
Those Jews we parallel in ev'ry thing,
Who injur'd Moses by their murmuring:
And, are as thankless unto GOD, who hath
Here acted, both in Mercy and in Wrath,
As many Wonders as by him were shown
In Egypt when King Pharoh was o'rethrown;
(Though they appear not such unto their sence,
Who shut the eyes of their Intelligence)
We as distrustful are as they, as giddy
In ev'ry Tryal too; we are as ready
To make a Golden Calf, and to prefer
That Idol before our Deliverer.
As much as they, we long to repossess
The Flesh-pots of our Lusts, our Slavishness,
(Which we did cry to be deliver'd from)
As soon as into any streight we come.

Yet, GOD hath been to us (and at this time)
Continues the same GOD he was to them.
Though their example, which should make us better,
Hath made our Provocations much the greater,
He with us dealeth, as a Father mild,
Whose heart is grieved by a froward Child;
And, as he did with stubborn Ephraim
When Anger and Compassion moved him

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To cry out thus, What shall I do to thee?
For at a stand with us he seems to be,
Both by his frequently himself estranging,
And by his oft returning, and oft changing
His Judgments and his Mercies, that we may
Be changed, and reform our crooked way.

We have this day (though in another mode)
The daily Presence of our gracious GOD
To lead us through that Wilderness of Sin
In which we have a long time wandring been:
He guides, guards, and provideth us Supplies
In all our wants, (though in another wise)
And is with us as wonderfully here,
As when his People brought from Egypt were.
The self-same Cloud and Pillar we have had,
(Though varied) and, as effectual made
To all intents and purposes, as they
Then had; and to refresh us in the way
Unto the Land of Rest, we have that Rock
Whereof they drank, unto that purpose broke:
And, though we oft stray, shall to what we tend
Attain, when we are at our Journeys end;
If we believe, and persevere to do
So much as GOD enableth us unto.
For, he requireth not from any one
A scruple more then may by him be done;
Nor doth expect from any to receive
More then what he at first, or last shall give;
Because of all omissions and mis-actions,
He hath in full accepted satisfactions
By his Deservings, who secure us may
From whatsoever Debts we cannot pay;
If on his Mediation we depend,
With Faith and Penitence at our lives end;

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That Mark retaining, which distinguisheth
Christs chosen Sheep from Goats, in Life and Death;
To wit, that love to him, and to each other,
Which knits for ever, GOD and Man together.

This is that everlasting Gospel which
We were foretold, an Angel was to preach
To ev'ry Kindred, People, Tongue and Nation
Throughout the earth to bring men to Salvation:
And, for a preparation thereunto,
He cry'd aloud, (as all true Prophets do)
Fear God; to Him, and to the Lamb give praise,
For now the hour is come, (these are the dayes)
Wherein his Judgments must be pour'd on them
Who shall not glorifie and worship him
By whom Heaven, Earth, the Fountains & the Seas
Created were, and ev'ry thing in these.

The fear of God is that which first lets in
True Wisdom; that brings Penitence for sin:
By these within the heart of man is wrought
Such Faith and Grace, that they then taking root,
Do seasonably bring forth such blessed fruit,
As by degrees destroys the thorns and weeds
Which either choak or starve the holy Seeds,
From whence the means of those enjoyments springs
Whereof to us that Gospel tydings brings.

This method long ago was practised
By John the Baptist, when he ushered
Christ and his Everlasting Gospel in,
By preaching of true penitence for sin:
And thereby did prepare before his face,
The way intended, to soul-saving Grace.

Such Consequents, as promis'd are to spring
From Christ and his Apostles publishing

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This Gospel (whether it shall come abroad
As preached in the ordinary mode,
Or by the Holy Ghost, which oft conveighs
The same by extraordinary wayes)
Are without fail to them vouchsaf'd for ever,
Who entertaine it; and shall still endeavour
Conformity, sincerely, that to do
Which Grace and Nature them inables to.
But everlastingly it shall not be
Preacht in this World: For this believe must we,
That his Commission, who Authorized
Those men, by whom it was first published,
Is nigh expir'd; and that it shall not last
One minute longer, when that date is past;
Which will be in that Moment wherein all
Shall die, or changed be; but sooner shall
Be so to them, who summon'd are away
By Death, before that Grand Assizes day.

If it be so, let us take timely heed
What Doctrine thence, doth by result proceed:
For Christ himself, is he who did predict
The Judgments which we both feel and expect.
He is that Angel in a Mystery,
Who through the midst of the Heavens did flye.
Twas he, whom 'twixt the Heavens of the Law
And Gospel many Prophets flying saw,
To bring the News and Means to every Nation
Of Peace on Earth, by reconciliation
'Twixt GOD and Man. We have already seen,
Some of those Tokens, which foretold have been,
To signifie to us the General Doom,
That should soon after their appearance come;

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And should they be commemorated here.
It very evidently would appear,
That hitherward it speedily advances
To them who heed well the known Circumstances
In GOD's and humane Actings. He hath pour'd
The Viols forth, whereby some are devour'd,
And some tormented; yet, most men grow more
Blasphemous, and more wicked then before.
And had we no sign else to predeclare
The sounding of the Seventh Trump, is near,
Save that, and those Divisions, which of late
Republicks, Realms and Persons separate
From others, and themselves; we need not shew
Another Symptome of what will ensue.

To hasten such Dooms (among other Crimes
Which are predominant in these our times)
One I have seen reiterated here
With impudence in publick ev'ry year,
Which will not go unpunish'd, though the Nation
Hath entertain'd it with much veneration:
But I have yet no warrant to declare it,
And therefore till I have so, will forbear it.

With these, there is likewise one special Sign
Concurrent, mention'd in Records Divine,
(Not least considerable) 'tis a defection
By wanting of that Natural affection
Which constitutes the Manhood; for that sin
Doth to be Epidemieal begin;
Yea, ev'n the natural Act of Generation,
Which was ordained for our preservation,
So is corrupted into an excess
Of brutish Lustings, beyond beastliness,
And filthiness, grown up to such a height,
That many in their sins take less delight

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Except they lawlesly be carried on,
And shall be likewise impudently done.
To which end, ev'n our honest Recreations
Are lately scandalized by these Nations,
And oft abused; yea, the Tunes and Songs
Which to a sober merriment belongs,
Are so estranged now from what they were
In former times, (and within Sixty year)
That in my apprehension there doth seem
So vast a diffrence betwixt these and them,
As 'twixt the croakings of a Ravens throat,
And Linnets, or a Nightingales clear note.
Which unto me appeareth to portend
Our pleasant things are drawing to an end;
And, that our sins, and their deserved doom
Are now almost to their last period come.

One Sign more I will add unto those many
Foremention'd, which as signal is as any:
Some of the true Christ do begin to doubt,
And where to find another, hunt about;
Not wanting such as will be undertaking
To bring them unto one of their own making.
Thus much, as I believe, his words implies,
Who said false Christs and Prophets should arise
In latter times; for I have in my dayes
Seen that to be fulfilled many wayes.
The greatest number Christians now profest,
Send one another unto Antichrist,
And say that's he: In Turky at this day,
He is expected, (as reports do say.)
And many last year were in expectation
To hear thereof, ere now, a confirmation.
And I, because I credit not that Fame,
A man of little Faith reputed am.

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Some confidently tell us he is here,
To wit, in this Church whereof now we are;
And, so I hope, although it may be thought
We have not entertain'd him as we ought;
Nor are so charitable unto them,
Who conscientiously do worship him.

Some say, he's there, in such or such a place
Wherein a secret Meeting is, or was;
Some other send men to the Wilderness,
Affirming he is there; perhaps by this
Intruding, that he by the Humane Creature,
May found be in his own wild until'd Nature:
But this believe not, for till thither he
Comes of himself, found there he cannot be,
Nor any where, save where that Love resides
Which doth expel that self-love which divides
His Flocks, and causeth men no care to take
Those breaches to repair, which Pride doth make.
Not many take into consideration
How to improve aright this Visitation;
They do both good and evil things mis-name,
The wicked they acquit, the righteous blame;
Their Interests sometimes confound together,
To th'one sometimes apply what's due to th'other.
And, as the Jews (their type) did justifie
Themselves in acting that Impiety
For which they are corrected; we begin
To say, like them, the troubles we are in,
And loss of all the good things now bereft,
Befall us onely because we had left
Such Idolizings, as when Spice-Cakes given
For an Oblation to the Queen of Heaven,
By them omitted were. Such thoughts have we
Of GOD, and of those Judgments which now be

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On us inflicted; yea, their parallel
We are in all, wherein they did not well.

I am not able to enumerate
The many wayes whereby we separate
From one another; nor dare say how few
Go right, if there be but one way that's true.
Nor know how to be safe, unless there were
As well a preaching to the heart, as ear:
For, most what now proceeding from the mouth
Is, only counter-pleadings between Truth
And error; which both sides, to fortifie
With so much confidency do applie
The words or meanings of Gods holy writ,
That, had we no way to ascertain it
But these, or those men, or my yea or no,
None could know what they should believe or do.
For, as well Supream Powers as private men
Are Patrons of gross errors now and then;
And by Authority that is supprest
Which was by like Authority profest.
With ev'ry windy Doctrine flur'd about,
Some are not half so zealously devout
And resolute professors of what's true,
As of what is Heretical and New:
And others oldest and sound Truths condemn,
Because they are but Novelties to them.

Some term all those Phanaticks who dissent
From them in Judgment, although innocent.
Some call them Saints and Martyrs, who by some
Are judg'd the cause of all the Plagues now come.
The Romanists, unto our Separation
From them, ascribe this present Visitation.
Some others say, it is our toleration
Of their Idolatries, which plagues this Nation.

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Some to entrenching on mens Consciences
Impute it. Some to our tolerating these.
Some to expelling of the Hi'rachy:
Some to suppressing the Presbytery.
Some to Rebellious actings against Kings;
Some other unto quite contrary things.
And the result of all summ'd up together,
Is this, Each shifts his guilt off to another.
But, GOD before the Round hath wheel'd about,
Will find the principal Offenders out,
Either while time runs on, or, when he shall
To universal Judgment summon all.

That which should have two feet to stand upon,
We cripple, by allowing it but one:
Some zealous are for Temples built with stones;
Some for those spiritualiz'd in flesh and bones.
Some are for Conquests by the Temp'ral Sword;
Some to be Victors by the Two-edged Word.
Some look for Christ in that Jerusalem
Which was in Palestine; and some for him
(In that Jerusalem which doth descend
From Heaven) do in Faith and Hope attend:
And, too too often also, they who be
At union in their Judgments, disagree
So long (for By-ends) timely to improve
Their knowledg, faith and works, by Christian Love,
That in all, whereby they to merit thought,
Their Labour's lost, and all for which they wrought,

Delusions now so many are, and such
In these last times, that they endanger much
Ev'n GOD's Elect; and do presignifie
The day of Vengeance is approaching nigh:
And partly seems to be charactared
By what the best men hope, and worst men dread.

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However, let no soul despair that hath
Sad apprehensions of the day of Wrath;
By this, or what in my Review you find
Conditionally predicted, to remind
What was neglected; for, among us here
Christ's everlasting Gospel to our ear
Is preached yet; and, not yet is the day
Of Reconcilement passed quite away.
Come, let us therefore, ere it shall grow dark,
To scape the Storm and Fire, flye to th'Ark
Which hath been slighted; there is yet a place
For Mercy, and an open door for Grace.
When Penitence brings Reformation in,
It makes a Blessing, what a Plague had been:
Yea, then 'twill to her future weal be turn'd,
That this great City was to ashes burn'd:
She Phœnix-like, shall gloriously arise
Out of that Rubbish wherein now she lies;
And I, which now am disrespected here,
Shall have a Monument erected there.
GOD all advantages to save us, takes,
Forsaketh none, till him he first forsakes;
Made not one man (though some so please to say)
To be a sinner or a cast-away:
But all in love, that they might be by him
Possessed with delight, and he by them.
For, when the sin of one had all destroy'd,
That his Love should not thereby be made void,
He to redeem them gave his onely Son,
Who ransom'd all again, excepting none.

Still by his actings in the dispensation
Of Judgments and of Mercies to this Nation,
(Ev'n by the late Plague of devouring fire)
He manifests, that he doth not desire

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Our total Ruine; but, takes all occasions
Allow'd by Justice, for our preservations:
And though ours sins as red as Scarlet show,
He can and will make us as white us snow,
If we repent them; or, if we but would
Endeavour it so far forth as we could:
For, he in sinners deaths takes no delight,
Or, any without cause to grieve or smite:
But in pure love dispenseth his correction,
To bring our happiness unto perfection.

This is my Creed, which should I not confess
To glorifie GOD's Love and Righteousness,
(When by occasions thereto mov'd I am,
That others may likewise believe the same)
I merited to be shut out from those
To whom GOD everlasting Mercy shows:
For, could we see, or apprehend how near
He standeth, when far off he doth appear,
Co-operating for, and with us too,
(In that which for our selves we cannot do)
We would more love then fear him (though his blows
Are very sharp) since intents by those,
Is hammering the self-love of the Creature
Into the Will and Temper of his Nature,
To make true Union, which till then, will be
Impossible; for, nothing can agree
With ought so perfectly as to unite,
When diametrically opposite,
As those two Natures be; because the other
Th'one would destroy, if till then knit together.

Repine not therefore, at what GOD shall do,
What ere it be; but willingly thereto
Submit your selves, and heartily repent
Your Provocations. Let us all lament,

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Not thereto frighted by a slavish fear
(Of Judgments which now felt or threatned are
By this Review) but in pure love to him
Whose Mercy saves, when Justice might condemn;
And persevereth to redintegrate
By Love, ev'n those who persever'd in Hate.
Do thus, and then the Judgments which in part
Now executing are, GOD will divert.
Repent what you have done, and he will too
Repent of what he threatned hath to do.
For such Repentance well consists with that
Immutability which doth relate
Unto the Deity; and will accord
With Attributes ascribed in his Word.
Yea, though from my Predictions you scape free,
I shall then counted a true Prophet be,
And this my Interjection will appear
Not so improperly inserted here,
As I my self suppos'd, when 'twas begun,
It would appear to many, being done:
For, till I had compos'd what here is pen'd,
I knew not all whereto it might extend;
Nor know I yet: and therefore I do leave it
To such effects as GOD shall please to give it.

But how my soul! how came it so to pass,
That this Ejaculation, with Alas,
(And with sad Musings) was begun at first?
Since thou dost know, that when things are at worst,
GOD then comes in, and often doth repair
Our Breaches, when brought near unto despair?
The Aid delay'd a while, he brings at length,
(Ev'n when we have no likely means, or strength
To help our selves) why then shouldst thou be sad,
Who frequently experiments hast had

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That Mercy hath to thee been more then doubled,
When others thought thee most extreamly troubled
Thou wert vouchsaf'd the greatest inward Rest,
When in thy Body thou seem'dst most opprest;
And to be kept unharmed in the flame,
Is more then preservation from the same.

Then what thou hast perswaded others to,
Continue (as thou hast profest) to do:
In what GOD's glory may advance, persever;
Depend on him; be pleas'd with whatsoever
He either shall permit, or hath decreed,
And to discharge thy Conscience still proceed,
Not fearing that thy labour or thy cost
In doing of thy Duty, will be lost:
For fully recompens'd thy pains would be,
Though thou shouldst edifie but two or three.

The World, the Devil, yea mine own flesh too
(Offended much with what I say or do)
Conspire together, and Confederates be
Both to discourage and disparage me;
Pretending they have somewhat to produce,
To prove me blamable without excuse:
(And may destroy me, if nought intervene,
To bar the prosecuting what they mean)
Yet I defie them both to act and say
The worst they either would effect, or may;
For, though they find me many grains too light,
I have a white Stone that will make up weight,
And such a Friend as hath on me bestown
A Righteousness more perfect then mine own.
He cheers me with assurance that he will
To me what he hath been, continue still;
By GOD's free-gift this hope, this faith I have,
And they will send me safe beyond my Grave.

University of Virginia Library

An Interjection, occasioned by a sudden Ejaculation, whilst this Review of Neglected Remembrances was transcribing; which shall here stand inserted, thought it be no part of what was heretofore expressed, or intended to be hereunto added.