 | Miscellaneous works of George Wither |  |
BONI OMINIS VOTUM:
Imprinted 1656.
[_]
This (as a Symptome of a Good omen) was occasioned by the summoning of Extraordinary Grand Juries out of the eminent Baronets, Knights, Esquires and Gentlemen, to serve in their respective Counties, at the Summer Assizes 1656, which because it offers what is fit to be considered and remembred, (and is also very short) shall be here inserted without Abreviation.
Good speed to this Republick, and encrease
Of Happiness to those who seek her Peace.
Sad things are threatned, and a lowring Skye
Seems to portend great storms are drawing nigh:
But look above them, and good courage take,
The Sun still shines, although the Clouds be black,
And beamings through their darkest parts appear,
Whereby discernable Good Omens are,
With symptoms of the Blessing we expect,
If we our selves obstruct not their effect,
And turn them to ill signs; which to prevent,
That which yet follows gives a needful hint.
As both abroad and here within this Land,
Publick and private mens affairs now stand,
This Year is likely to be Critical,
About the time in which the leaves will fall;
And if Conjectures may be builded on,
We from what's acted, with what's left undone,
Spell'd both together, somewhat may deduce
To teach us what ere long will be in use.
Of Happiness to those who seek her Peace.
Sad things are threatned, and a lowring Skye
Seems to portend great storms are drawing nigh:
But look above them, and good courage take,
The Sun still shines, although the Clouds be black,
And beamings through their darkest parts appear,
Whereby discernable Good Omens are,
142
If we our selves obstruct not their effect,
And turn them to ill signs; which to prevent,
That which yet follows gives a needful hint.
As both abroad and here within this Land,
Publick and private mens affairs now stand,
This Year is likely to be Critical,
About the time in which the leaves will fall;
And if Conjectures may be builded on,
We from what's acted, with what's left undone,
Spell'd both together, somewhat may deduce
To teach us what ere long will be in use.
Whether it were the Policy of some
In hope it an obstruction might become
To Concord; or the Prudence of the Shrieve,
Or Special Providence, which did contrive
By those Grand Juries so to represent
Their Counties, we shall best know by th'event:
For, whether chearfully they meet and do
That Service which their Call invites them to;
Or, by a wilful Non-appearance, wave
That duty which the Common Cause doth crave,
It will be signal; and to many one
A Test, as virtual as the Lydian Stone:
And, likewise give an Intellectual View
Of some Result, which thereon will ensue
At their next Meeting, who to represent
This Nation, shall be by Election sent.
In hope it an obstruction might become
To Concord; or the Prudence of the Shrieve,
Or Special Providence, which did contrive
By those Grand Juries so to represent
Their Counties, we shall best know by th'event:
For, whether chearfully they meet and do
That Service which their Call invites them to;
Or, by a wilful Non-appearance, wave
That duty which the Common Cause doth crave,
It will be signal; and to many one
A Test, as virtual as the Lydian Stone:
And, likewise give an Intellectual View
Of some Result, which thereon will ensue
At their next Meeting, who to represent
This Nation, shall be by Election sent.
For those Grand Jurors are now chosen forth
Of them, whose Gifts, Estates, Degree or Birth,
Hath rankt them with the best; yea out of those
(Excepting onely open active Foes
To this Republick) who have been suspected
Meer Neuters, or else persons disaffected,
As well as from among them, whose true zeal
Hath kept them constant to this Commonweal,
That they who heartily well minded are,
Themselves henceforward some way might endear
Thereto; and thereby for the future stand
Enroll'd among the Patriots of this Land:
Endow'd with all their Liberties, and freed
From those Distinguishments which either breed
Or nourish secret hatred, to th'encrease
Of Quarrels, and diminishment of Peace.
Of them, whose Gifts, Estates, Degree or Birth,
Hath rankt them with the best; yea out of those
(Excepting onely open active Foes
To this Republick) who have been suspected
Meer Neuters, or else persons disaffected,
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Hath kept them constant to this Commonweal,
That they who heartily well minded are,
Themselves henceforward some way might endear
Thereto; and thereby for the future stand
Enroll'd among the Patriots of this Land:
Endow'd with all their Liberties, and freed
From those Distinguishments which either breed
Or nourish secret hatred, to th'encrease
Of Quarrels, and diminishment of Peace.
And who can tell what Providence by these
(Though diffring in their Judgments) will now please
To make Effectual for the preservation
Or settlement of Peace throughout this Nation,
When things are acted by a moderate
Expostulation, in a joint Debate?
Where ev'ry one may freely speak his thought,
And when it is consid'red as it ought,
That no man can of safety be assur'd,
Until the Publick Safety be secur'd.
(Though diffring in their Judgments) will now please
To make Effectual for the preservation
Or settlement of Peace throughout this Nation,
When things are acted by a moderate
Expostulation, in a joint Debate?
Where ev'ry one may freely speak his thought,
And when it is consid'red as it ought,
That no man can of safety be assur'd,
Until the Publick Safety be secur'd.
We know, that diffring Simples put together,
So qualifie and so correct each other,
Though some are poysonous) that they purge away
Malignant Humours, which would else destroy
The life of man; so they who formerly
Did in their singular Capacity
And private Judgments, sometimes act or speak
What did at least endanger, if not break
The Common Peace; may when they gath'red are
Into one fellowship, be helpful there
To benefit their Countrey ten times more
Then they have been, or could be heretofore.
Yea, as the fat Lime, and the barren Sand
When they well mixed are, do make a band
To bind together rough or hewed stone,
(Which neither of them could have done alone)
Ev'n so by them who are Dissenters now,
Our Publick Buildings may the firmer grow,
When they into One Structure shall be fixt,
Well qualifi'd, and rationally mixt.
So qualifie and so correct each other,
Though some are poysonous) that they purge away
Malignant Humours, which would else destroy
The life of man; so they who formerly
Did in their singular Capacity
And private Judgments, sometimes act or speak
What did at least endanger, if not break
The Common Peace; may when they gath'red are
Into one fellowship, be helpful there
To benefit their Countrey ten times more
Then they have been, or could be heretofore.
Yea, as the fat Lime, and the barren Sand
When they well mixed are, do make a band
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(Which neither of them could have done alone)
Ev'n so by them who are Dissenters now,
Our Publick Buildings may the firmer grow,
When they into One Structure shall be fixt,
Well qualifi'd, and rationally mixt.
This peradventure may some good presage
To them who are convened to engage
Within a higher Orb, or shortly must
Become our Trustees in a greater Trust:
For he who hath consid'red it, believes
That if those Petty Representatives,
By loving Prudence, shall prepare a way
Thereto (as in good likelihood they may)
That Nobler Body, which to its perfection
Are (for the most part) rais'd by their Election,
Might be so modaliz'd, and temper'd so,
That Discords into Sympathies would grow,
And all our Fears and Dangers in the close
Quite vanish, to the terror of our Foes.
To them who are convened to engage
Within a higher Orb, or shortly must
Become our Trustees in a greater Trust:
For he who hath consid'red it, believes
That if those Petty Representatives,
By loving Prudence, shall prepare a way
Thereto (as in good likelihood they may)
That Nobler Body, which to its perfection
Are (for the most part) rais'd by their Election,
Might be so modaliz'd, and temper'd so,
That Discords into Sympathies would grow,
And all our Fears and Dangers in the close
Quite vanish, to the terror of our Foes.
It may be thus, and will be thus, if yet
Mens Wilfulness hath left them any Wit:
For, why should they who now may be at rest,
Run hazards to advance their Interest,
Whom nothing else, can satisfie but Pow'r,
All others at their pleasure to devour?
And spoilers of their own Estates become,
To make a Fortune for they know not whom?
Or seek to have that Game afresh begun,
By which all may be lost, and nothing won?
Mens Wilfulness hath left them any Wit:
For, why should they who now may be at rest,
Run hazards to advance their Interest,
Whom nothing else, can satisfie but Pow'r,
All others at their pleasure to devour?
And spoilers of their own Estates become,
To make a Fortune for they know not whom?
Or seek to have that Game afresh begun,
By which all may be lost, and nothing won?
I hope they shall be wiser, and that we
In this Expedient shall so wary be,
That whatsoever others may intend,
We shall endeavour to promote that End
We ought to prosecute; and at the last
Our Anchor in a peaceful Harbour cast.
In this Expedient shall so wary be,
That whatsoever others may intend,
We shall endeavour to promote that End
145
Our Anchor in a peaceful Harbour cast.
I wish it heartily; and (since I see
Wishings are vain where no endeavours be)
That, those whom it concerns, provoke I may
To seek this blessing, and to help make way
To that I wish for, I compos'd this Spell;
Let him who mov'd me to it, speed it well;
And make it so consider'd by this Nation
(Before things grow beyond consideration)
That Words which to their safety do pertain,
May not be alwayes spoke to them in vain;
For they are fools who still pursue a Course
Which makes a sickly being to be worse:
And they are also little less then mad,
Who would exchange a good one for a bad:
Or put in hazard a possessed Lot,
In hope to get what never can be got.
Wishings are vain where no endeavours be)
That, those whom it concerns, provoke I may
To seek this blessing, and to help make way
To that I wish for, I compos'd this Spell;
Let him who mov'd me to it, speed it well;
And make it so consider'd by this Nation
(Before things grow beyond consideration)
That Words which to their safety do pertain,
May not be alwayes spoke to them in vain;
For they are fools who still pursue a Course
Which makes a sickly being to be worse:
And they are also little less then mad,
Who would exchange a good one for a bad:
Or put in hazard a possessed Lot,
In hope to get what never can be got.
| Miscellaneous works of George Wither | |