Miscellaneous works of George Wither

Of Christian love, the large extents;
The sad, the bad, the mad events
Of discord, here the Muse displaies;
That Idol SELFNES open laies.
Some other things to heed commends,
And, then, with praise, and Prayer ends.

What shall that Musing profit, which affords
Nothing but bare Relations, or meer words?
Or, what will things avail, that shall be read,
Concerning those, who sleep among the dead
If no advantages at all they give
To benefit, or better those that live?
Sure none; Lest, therefore, these may justly passe
For tingling Cymbals, or for sounding Brasse,
Some useful notes, or notions, ile discover
On this occasion, ere I passe it over.
And though I cannot talk, as others do,
Ile preach my way; and, preach to purpose too.

Of many things, which merit mention may,
Wherein my Friend, hath pattern'd out the way
Of walking, and of practise; three things, here,
Shall be insisted on, as those that are
Deserving speciall heed: Such, as (if we
Well imitate) a true ALL HEAL shall be:
End all Quarrels; Take off, from our eyes
The blinding scales, and filmes of prejudice
Which keeps us dark, and from a right perceiving,
of truth, and, in a wilfull misbeleeving.
An imitation thereof, would bring hither
Outward, and inward peace; and knit together

CHRISTS disunited members so, that love
Would ripen knowledg; knowledg help improve
A saving Faith; That Faith renew the Will;
A will renewed, would GODS minde fulfill,
And therewith so acquainted make us grow
That, we should learn to Act, as well as know.

The first of these is Love; love, not extending
It self, to these, or those, but comprehending
All things created, with an imitation
Of CHRIST, by meekness in his conversation
With Publicans, and sinners; and, with such
As knew but little, and beleev'd not much.
Such, was CHRISTS love; and (if I do not miss)
According to man's measure, such was his.

For, though, that vail of flesh which others wear,
And, that, which clothed him, when he was here,
Disguiz'd his inward man, and made him pass
For one of those, who running of a Race
Doth beat the air in vain; yet, they, whose eyes
Observed him when he was neer the prize,
Saw, he had usde the means, and chose the ground,
Which best advantag'd him, and would be crown'd,
When, many, at a loss themselves would find,
Who, better dieted, and disciplin'd
Were thought to be; For, none could know so well
What best befitted him, as he might tell.

Near to his latter end, he had attain'd
Such love to all, and, therewith, so unfain'd
A longing both to win, and to be won
Unto the Truth, that, he was Fo to none
So much, as to himself: and, by forbearing,
By hopefulness, long-suffering, patient hearing,
And meekness, without bitterness of spirit,
True quietness of heart he did inherit
Within himself; and waited, when GOD'S leisure
Would of his grace, to others, fill the measure.

My cognizance of him, perswades me so,
And, whether he thus perfect were or no,
It serves the turn, as well to let us see
What you, and I, and every man should be.

Yet, of this Christian temper I had proof,
To make it forth, with evidence enough.
For, though in fundamentals we agreed,
Essentially (as by what did succed,
Is manifest) yea, though we did accord
In one GOD, in one CHRIST, one Faith, one word.
One will, and hope; (as all true Christians do,)
Yet, in some accidentall means thereto
We disagree'd; yea, often, did dissent
In some things, which 'twixt others made a rent.
And, I was oft, so earnest in dispute,
His tenents to disprove, and to confute,
That, they who should have heard us, might have judg'd
Not me to him, but him to me, oblig'd,
And that like Paul and Barnabas, at least,
A parting, would have followed our contest.

Yet, though we both stood firm, to what we thought,
Nor losse of love, nor breach 'twixt us, it wrought;
But, rather, to each other kept us nearer,
The firmer in our friendship, and the dearer:
Because we both knew, that, one Judg we had,
In whom Atonement, would, at last, be made:
Because, we both intended, not that He,
Or, I, might conquer, but, Truth victor be:
And, this declareth his deserving, more
Then all, that I have said of him before.
For, what man els, but he, would not have thought
My Obligations, should my soul have brought
In bondage to his Judgment? or, at least
Kept me from owning mine, by hot contest?
Who els but he, would have continued on
His love, and bounty, unto such a One.

As thwarted his opinions? and, not rather
Have made me scatter what he holp to gather?
Converted former friendship, into hate,
And, sought to ruine me, in my Estate?
Which had with ease been done; since, at that time,
My chief subsistance, was receiv'd from him.
But, of his judgment, what er'e think I might
I knew his love was firm; his heart upright;
And, this beleef of no man, I could have
Who gave his charity, to make a slave:
Or, who from bondage did my flesh unbind
To lay a greater Thraldom, on my mind.
No, (though from servitude, he set me free)
If he, thus cruel, should to others be.
Nay, though a King, with me should share his Throne,
And prize me, as his chief elected one,
Were he a Tyrant over other men,
I could not give him love, for love agen:
Nay, further (be it spoke with reverence
To him I speak of, and without offence)
Could I believe that GOD, in whom I trust
Were (though he lov'd me) cruel and unjust,
I would not seek with him in Heav'n to dwell,
But, rather, go, and live alone in Hell.
For, he, that's with essential GOD delighted,
And, thereunto by hearty love united;
Should therewith feel to him, such vertue giv'n,
As would translate the lowest Hell to Heav'n.

I fear, I go too high in my expressions,
Ile therefore stoop again, from these digressions
To speak what's possible to be beleev'd
Of those, by whom this cannot be receiv'd.
And shew them, in my common strain, how far
From Christian love, the greatest number are,
Who most professe it; that, affect they may
A far more excellent, and better way,

If carnall lusts, will give them time to read it,
And, their self-love, admit of Grace to heed it.

It is not love, but cruelty in those,
Who, would on others consciences impose
Their Yoaks, or break the bands of loving kindnes,
Because their friends have weaknesses, or blindnes:
Nay, (which of cruelties appears the worst)
Because, they would not be, from that divorst,
Which is their comforts chief preservative;
And, without which, none happily can live
Here, or hereafter; And, when doing so,
To these imposers, no true good can do.

What is a friend for; or, what better are
Those friends, then foes, who neither can forbear
Nor help to bear, that Friends infirmities
With meeknes, whom he hath been pleas'd to prize?
But, beat the lame, because, they cannot run,
Leave him that's blind, because he sees no Sun;
And, separate from them, for that, which they
Would willingly disclaim, and cast away
If they were able; or, els, did not fear
They, thereby, sinners against Conscience, were?
Whereas, they rather should with these abide,
To lead the lame; to be the blind-mans guide:
And, with long-suffring, to instruct the other,
Till he becomes a true beleeving Brother.
Oh! how far off! how far! are such as those
From imitating him, who lov'd his Foes?
(And dide to save them?) who pursue with hate
Their friends, for those concernments, which relate
Unto themselves alone? How far are such
From loving them, who have offended much?

This temper at this time, is very rare,
For gen'rally almost, we bite and tear,
So barbarously, each others flesh, and fleeces,
And rend CHRISTS Robes into so many peeces,

That, we seem rather Woolves, and doggs, then sheep,
Belonging to that Flock which he doth keep.
Nor are they, only, Woolves in sheeps array,
Who, thus their Woolvish nature do betray,
But, ev'n on some of us, who of his Fold
Are Members, this, distemper doth lay hold.

Ev'n we forsooth, for whom our GOD hath done
So much of late; we, we, who look upon
Our selves at this time, as a People chose
By speciall providence, to scourge his Foes;
And, to be they, whom he first cals to bring
Unto his Throne, our Everlasting King,
Whose Banners LOVE; Ev'n we, have here of late,
Instead thereof, advanc'd the Flagg of HATE
To be our Standard; and, the same display
With as much virulency as we may
Against each other: Yea, against those, too,
Who seek GOD'S face, as truly as we do.

Some of us, so aloft, our selves do carry
With hope of great atchievements temporary,
That, we forget from whence we first ascended;
Slight them, for whose sakes, we have been befriended;
None loving, but our selves; and looking on
All els, as if the Earth, for us alone,
Had been created; and all others, born
For objects of our hatred, or our scorn:
And, leave them unrewarded, by whose hands
The ground was won, on which our building stands.

Some of us, on a spirituall account,
To such an overweningnes do mount,
As if, we only, were the men, to whom
Belongs that Kingdom, which is yet to come;
Or, as if Heav'n, for none els were ordain'd,
But, those, who are among us entertain'd;
Bound up to our Rules; marked, with our Prints;
Or, qualifide with our distinguishments:

And, so bewitch't are we, by our own Dreams,
With that, which we have Preach'd upon those Theams,
That, if we take not heed, twill bring about
That mischief, which we purpose to keep out.

For, we through want of love, are so devided,
By having this way, or els that way, sided
To raise what others build up, or, in striving
To raise a Babell, of our own contriving;
That, some perchance, may see the Dragons tail,
Swing once more over us, ere we prevail.
Yea, want of love, on all sides, so misteaches,
Here, such Obstructions makes, and there, such breaches
That, we are like to make our common Foe,
An easie passage, where he could not go.
Yet, tis not possible to make us wake
From our vain Dreams, a safer course to take;
Unles, GOD, shall, our Adderlike deaf ear,
Pierce by some stranger charms, then, yet, we hear:
For, they are thought to speak words most in season,
Who speak most impudently, and least reason:
In which besottednes, if he walk on
Much longer, as too long time we have done,
(Acting, as if we thought, to shew, our folly
Would be an argument to prove us holy.
And drive still furiously against each other,
As if all shortly would be mad together,)
They, will not much mistake therein, who shall
This Isle, Great BEDLAM, now Great BRITAIN call.

The other vertue, of my now dead Friend,
Which to our imitation, Ile commend,
Is, to be zealous, in the pulling down
Of our great Idol, now, more famous grown,
Then was Diana; and, ador'd by us,
Much more then she was once, at Ephesus.
That weak, that base, that despicable ELFE,
Cal'd SELFNES, which, man sets up in himself;

And, for whose services, and adoration,
We from all things within the whole Creation,
Make patterns to our selves: And, not of these
Alone, make we fantastick images
But, of things also, which had neither birth,
Or being, on or underneath the earth;
Neither within the water, ayr, or fire,
Or any where, in lower place, or higher.

This, is that God, which now is worship'd more,
Then Baal, and all those Idols heretofore,
Which did provoke to wrath. There, are our loves
Most fixt. Thereto, our Temples, Altars, Groves
Are consecrated; and, what els, beside
Whereby, an Idol may be glorifide.
Thereto, those Tithes, those Duties, those Oblations,
Thanksgivings, Prayers, solemn Observations.
All forms, and ceremonies, (whether taught
By truth, or, superstitiously in brought;)
Our Governments, our Parliaments, our Laws,
Our Armies, our unjust, and righteous Cause;
Our Conquests, all our wisdom, all our wealth;
Our honor, beauty, with our youth, and health;
Our righteousnes (if we in us, have any;
Our wickednesses, (whereof we have many;)
Ev'n Scriptures, Judgments, mercies, Sacraments,
With what els, GOD ordains, or man invents,
Are all, by some among us, now converted,
(Or, rather, to speak properly, perverted)
Some way to serve, as to advance the praise
Of SELFNES, that great Idol of our dayes.
And, some, who vote, and speak against it more
Then many; more, then any, her adore.

Most, who pretend, to serve the Common-weal,
Do most intend, from thence to rob and steal
Wherewith, to sacrifice before the shrine,
Of that lou'd Idol; which doth glare, and shine,

With jewels, gold, and those embellishments,
Which should have been the publike Ornaments,
They, from poor Orphans, and sad Widdows, tear
Their Garments, for their pseudo-god to wear:
Pluck from their hungry mouths, their bread and meat,
For that devouring God of theirs to eat:
And, then, for his drink-offerings, pour forth floods
Of faithfull servants, Friends, and Childrens bloods.

Most, who pretend true Justice to maintain,
Do more contend, to wrong those who complain,
Then how to right them; that thereby they may
Make innocents, this cursed Idols pray:
And, to their faithful friends, are most severe;
Either, to make a shew, as if they were
Impartiall: or, perhaps, thereby, to pay
A good desert, the clean contrary way.

Most, who pretend to charity, do give
Either, in hope they, thereby shall receive
Some benefit; or els in hope to raise
A Monument, or Trophie of self praise:
And few out of a tendernes of heart,
Give, to releeve, or to reward desert.

Most, who pretend to friendship, do but buy
With complements, or some cheap courtesie,
Their self advantages; and, to more charge,
When they are put, it is but to inlarge
Their selfnes, and, some way thereby, among
Such other ends, to make their party strong.
For, when unserviceable, these are grown,
They cast them off, as Persons never known.
Yea, when the times doth come, which truly shows
Who is a Friends, they then become their Foes.

Most, who pretend for GOD, that vertue fain
For nought; with them, is godlines, but gain.
They frequently, more bold with him do make,
Then with all others; and from him dare take

What ere they can, to sacrifice unto,
This Idoll; and suppose no wrong they do.
Yea, those pert Jewish women, who had given
And, would give spice Cakes to the Queen of Heaven
(And had befoold their Husbands to consent
That, them they should, in GODS despight, present,
Took not his Oyl, his pure Wheat, and his spices,
To make, their wicked wilfull Sacrifices,
With bolder impudence, then many a one
Among us, for this to Idols use have done.

A Spirit, being, GOD, in no need stands
Either of Churches, Tithes, or Rents, or Lands,
Or Forms, or any of those other things,
Which, for GODS worship, our devotion brings:
For, these will do his deity no good:
But, selfnes, is a God of flesh, and blood,
That will be highly pleas'd with those, oblations
Which GOD Almighty, counts abominations,
If not made use of, with all circumstances,
Which, in a right way, piety advances.
And, therefore, we do purpose (if we may)
To take them, for this Idol, quite away.
But peradventure, ere effect that finds
We may be taken hence, or change our minds.

This, is in every heart, the Antichrist,
Which doth usurp CHRISTS Temples, and resist
His raigning there. There, paramount is he
(Though other Antichrists, there, also be)
His chiefest opposite; and gives offence,
More then his Foes, of greater eminence.
The Devill, doth in the World, against him rant,
As his chief Foe; In his Church militant,
(At large) The man of sin; And this, or that
Corruption in each individual State
Or Congregation: But, this, hath alone
In every single man, the supream Throne

Of opposition; though, sometimes, appearing
In one beloved sin, and sometimes wearing
Another habit, as it best befits
The place, or person, where, inthron'd it sits:
And, though the Devill, Turk, and Pope, and all
Whom, in their sphears, The Antichrist we call
Should down be thrown; we shal rejoyce in vain
If, in our hearts, this Antichrist still raign.

This, is that Idol, which prolongs our woes:
This, is that Idol, which, if ere we lose
Our present hopes, is that, which will effect it:
And, I do more then probably suspect it.
This, is the last thing, my deceased friend,
Declaim'd against, before his latter end,
As likely to be that abomination,
Which will occasion here, a desolation;
If not destroy'd, or, at least, debased
Within those Temples, wherein it is placed.

This Idol, hath in every heart a shrine;
Yea, (though I hate it) doth possesse in mine
The inmost room; there, screwed in so fast,
That, thence, I fear, it hardly will be cast
Till all that Fabrick shall be broken down,
Wherewith it is incorporated grown,
It knows what now I think, what now I write,
And sticks the closer to me, in despight
Of all that I can think, or say, or do:
Yea, and by means of this performance too,
The more exalted in my heart will be,
If, GOD himself, shall not deliver me.
But, he will add sufficiency of Grace;
For, I intend ev'n in that very place,
Where fixt it stands, to sacrifise the Beast
With all the trinkets of self Interest:
Which, if I can do, while 'tis fixed there,
Will better please, then if destroy'd it were.

Another Virtue in my Friend, no less
Deserving heed, was Conscientiousness
In words and works; whereof, an imitation,
Would bring much happiness unto this Nation.
For while good Conscience, entertain we shall,
It keeps a never-ending Festivall,
Which gladdeth more the heart, then when we feast
To entertain our best beloved Guest.
If sleighted; it becomes our greatest Fo:
If cherished; it such a Friend will grow,
That, when all else forsake us, and abuse us;
When they oppress, and causlesly accuse us;
When opportunity the Devil wins,
To muster up against us, all our sins;
When, GOD perhaps, doth lay upon us too,
A heavy hand: when Death (as it will do)
Arresteth us, our countless debts to pay,
And, to his dungeon carries us away;
Ev'n then, when all our honors and our wealth,
Our youth, our strength, our pleasures, and our health,
Shrink from us; when, our best beloved Friends,
Our wives and children, upon whom depends
Our greatest earthly comforts, will forgo us;
Lodg us among the dead, where none shall know us;
And, leave us without succour, all alone,
To give account for that which we have done:
Then, will this Friend, if well we cherish her;
(Yea, though she formerly abused were,
If we be sorrowfull for our offence
And reconciled by true penitence)
Will go along with us unto the Grave;
Remove all thence, whereof, we dread may have;
Sleep there with us, whilest there we shall remain;
Rise with us, when we shall arise again;
And, make us there, with joyfulness appear
Before that Judge, when other men shall fear:

For, having in this life, the privileges,
Of our Accusers, Witnesses, and Judges,
(Which none else hath by our terrestriall Laws,)
Before hand, she determineth our Cause.

She, by the Law that's written in our hearts,
Doth judg us; and no jot from that departs;
So that no Soul, can justly counter-plead,
An Ignorance; or stand in any need
Of an Interpreter, or, witness brought,
To testifie, of what, was good or nought:
For, none, will she condemn for that offence,
Whereof, he bringeth not an evidence
Within himself, to clear, or to condemn,
For that, which is objected unto them.
And, whosoever to this judgment comes,
Shall blame themselves, and justifie her dooms.

Look therefore that you keep this Judg your friend,
And that, by your fault, she who will pretend
To be this Conscience, be not entertain'd
Instead thereof: For, Conscience may be strain'd
So far, and by accustomed refusing
Good counsell; and by wilfully abusing
Her just reproofs, till her away we chase
And let an evil conscience take her place.
And, what events, may afterward eusue,
I leave it, to be thought upon, by you.

How, we may know a Conscience rectifide;
How, to preserve it, we may means provide;
How to recover it again when lost;
Time to compose a large discourse would cost.
To sound the depths, I therefore will forbear,
And onely add, for your example here,
What, by occasion of my Friend, that's gone,
I have, since his departure, mused on.

Good Conscience, whereof high esteem be made
Three Objects hath; to which there must be had

A due respect, asunder, and together,
Without neglecting, what belongs to either;
Except in things, wherein the less is debter,
To wave his due, for that, which is the greater.

GOD is the first; our neighbours, or our brother
(In some respects) the next; our selves the other;
Whose welfare, in some cases, may before
The second be preferr'd, and render'd more:
Because, it is the Rule whereby to square,
That love, which to our neighbours, we should bear.

Our duties to all these, were in the heart
First written; and renew'd again, in part,
By common grace: But, sin hath so defaced
That Table, and that writing so much rased,
That, we must seek to make up that Record
By what, GOD hath supplied in his Word;
And, they, who would preserve the conscience fair
And blameless, to that Glass, must oft repair;
Which, (by that aid, which GOD to add will please)
Shews us, our several duties, to all these.

All they, whose Conscience is this way renew'd,
Know what should be embrac'd, and what eschew'd.
Such, will not of his honor, GOD, bereave,
To save their Countrey; nor, their lives to save,
Spoil or betray that; nor, themselves deprive
Of ought, which they to serve these, did receive
Through cowardise or sloth; nor, to enjoy
The pleasures of the flesh, the Soul destroy.
To GOD, they will not make a sacrifice
Of guiltless blood; or, honour him with lies:
Or, offer to him things achiev'd by stealth,
By fraud or rapine; nor their Common-wealth
Repair, inrich, or strengthen, by oppressions;
By tollerating any known transgressions,
To Piety destructive; or, to that
True Justice, whose defect, may ruinate

Humane society; either, by fearing
To draw their swords against a Tyrants daring;
Or seeking, by a warlike way of murther,
How, to inlarge their territories further;
In hope of needles gain, or fruitles glory,
Rais'd out of black deeds, by a bloody story:
But, persecute the troublers of their peace,
Till safety, may be setled; and, then, cease:
That, throughout the World it may be known,
They sought not to inlarge, but save their own;
And to disable those from doing wrong,
Who, els, would all the World embroyl, ere long.

Such, will not make their Publique Faith a scorn,
That they who live, and they who are unborn
May in times future, be discourag'd from
Assisting, when another need shall come;
And, let all, rather unto ruine run,
Then trust, what is not to be trusted on.
Such, will not (as in times of need they may)
Take some mens lands, and livelyhoods away,
The Publique to secure, without supply,
For losse of that, which it was saved by:
But, to each private sufferer, reimburse
Their private damage, from the Publique purse.

Such, will not misemploy their Powr, in place
Of supream Trust, unjustly, to disgrace
Their faithfull servants, upon bare surmizes,
On misreports, which evill will devises
To blast their credit, ruine their Estate,
(Perhaps their lives too) by objecting hate
Which is untrue. For, they not being there
Who could refute that, wherewith charg'd they were,
(Nor suffred to take notice, from whose tongue
They, in their absence, did receive that wrong)
A prejudice, doth bring a censure on them,
Which ere they can prevent it, hath undone them.

If they good conscience have, who thus can do;
Ile think, the devill hath some conscience too;

How seared are the consciences of those,
Who, give their friends, much lesse respect then foes?
Obliging them by favours whom they fear,
Would els be traytors, (or perhaps so are)
And disoblige true men, because, they know
No injury can make them lesse then so?
What consciences, have they who do pretend,
The Publique hath not, to releeve a friend
That's perishing; and, yet the self-same day
(Though no need were) profusely give away
Large sums among themselves; and gratifie
Those men, who with their faction do comply?
(And own their ways, opinions, and designs)
As if they did possesse, the Indian Mines?
What Consciences have they, who pay some worst,
Who merit best; and last, who serv'd them first?
Provide for those; who for self-ends do serve;
And let the Common-wealths true servant starve?
Give ready Coyn to some; and unto them
Who did the same work, at the self-same time,
Not any thing at all? except, perchance,
A Warrant, Order, or an Ordinance,
Which by begetting others, doth still add
New troubles, and expence to what they had;
And without profit, so inlarge their cost,
By pretious time, and tedious labour lost;
That, if at first, their debts they had forgiven
(And added so much more, to make all even)
To get a flat deniall; some, had gain'd
Much more thereby, then will be now obtain'd,
Though they were pay'd to morrow? One, I know
Who by experiment, hath found it so;
Yet, some of them, who may this conscience own,
Would seem to think, great things on him, bestown:

Because, Gods mercy, other wayes suppiles
That, which to him, their Justice yet denies.

What partiall Consciences are also theirs?
Who, in establishing of just Arrears,
Gave some full Interest for debts delay'd,
And none to others, for like debts unpay'd
Ten summers after; and, which may, before
They are discharg'd, stand charged ten years more?
And then at last, perhaps, aside be lay'd
Among those debts, that never shall be pay'd?

From such corrupted consciences as these,
Hath sprung our Epidemicall disease:
Those manyfold complainings, in our streets,
Wherewith each friend his sad companion greets:
Those scandals, which are publish'd in disgrace
Of persons, who were lately in the place.
Supream Trust: hence, also, flows that hate,
The Quarrels, discontentment, and debate,
Which is amongst us: Hence, those hazzards rise
Which make us fearfull, and our Enemies
Still hopefull, that, it either shall occasion
Some broyl within, or, some without Invasion.
And, if I may beleeve what my heart tels,
That, which they do expect, or somewhat els
Equivalent, will shortly come to passe,
If we below, and they who are in place
Above us, make not conscience of our wayes
More then we have done, in preceding dayes.
For, if there be a GOD, as my soul knows
There is, by that, which daily from him flows:
If there be devils, as I know well to,
There are by what, I see their servants do.
GOD, or the Devill will to us appear
By some new Act of Grace, or work of fear,
To purge hearts, from death procuring works,
And that hypocrisie within them lurks;

And keep us to the rule of doing so,
To others, as we would be done unto.
Of which good practise, whilst he here was living
My Westrow (having by examples of giving)
Deserved to be a pattern, I, contrived,
This way, of having him, again revived;
That, I, and you, and others, by the light
From hence reflecting, may walk more upright.

Lord, let these overflowings of my Spirit,
Which, in themselves have neither powr, nor merit,
Produce forth good effects; and not be found
Like that, which gives an useles, empty sound.
Let it be some way, fruitfull unto them,
Who had relations in the flesh to him,
Who, hereof gave occasion; and, some way
To every Reader, who peruse it may;
And, not a memorandum only be
To other men; but, likewise unto me.
Vouchsafe me grace, whilst, here I live to serve
(In this my Generation) not to swarve
From my appointed work; but to persever
In doing it, with vigilant endeavour,
That, of my Talent, when I must appear
To give account (which time approacheth near)
I may be faithful found, and to that joy
Admittance have, which nothing can destroy.

Let neither fears, nor hopes, neglects, or wrongs,
Deter from doing what to me belongs:
And, though my faculty hath small esteem,
And needles to the World, perhaps, may seem,
In those affairs which may be pertinent
To thy great work: make it a supplement
Of some good use; that, times to come may see
My wither'd leaves, did help adorn the Tree
During that season, wherein cloth'd it stood;
And, were for cure of some diseases good.

Of what, in others, to be good, or ill,
I have observ'd; let application, still,
So to my self be made, that what I saw,
To be amisse in them, may me withdraw
From erring paths; and, in their steps to tread,
Who have uprightly walk'd, (alive or dead.)
That, I may truly foot thy measures, too,
As well as pipe them out, to those that do:
Lest, I my self, a Reprobate be found,
When all things have compleatly daunc'd their round.

Let not the Revolutions, or the changes,
Or, that prevarication which now ranges
Throughout the World, me, from my station carry;
Or, cause me from good Principles to vary.
But, in the stream, of all those great distractions,
Diffring opinions, counter-marching actions,
Plottings, designings, threatnings, and pertakings,
Whimsies, Chimeras, doubtings, and mistakings,
Fawnings, and frownings, praises, or disgraces,
Wants, and aboundings, in all times, and places,
So steddy keep my Judgment, and so clear,
That, all my Life, I firmly may adhear,
To truth, and honesty; and, plainly see
What man intends, or is design'd by thee,
And, whatsoere, without me, makes a din;
Let, me have alwayes, peace, and joy, within,

My life, hath been a Warfar to this day;
And troubles multiply: Yet, if it lay
Within my powr, to chuse what other lot
The best man living hath, (or I have not)
And, might my self, my own self being make;
Let me no comfort, in my Portion take,
If, I, would chuse aught els, but that which now
I have, and thy free mercy, shall allow:
For, of thy love, so well assur'd am I;
Of what, within thy pow'r doth also-lie:

And how, thou best knowst, what for me is best,
That, on thy Wisdom, Powr, and Love, Ile rest.

I, love to see the doing what thou dost,
(Oh GOD! most holy, powrful, wise, and just)
And, therefore, though my flesh be terrifide
By thy approaches, and, oft loth to bide
Where, I may stand to see thee marching on,
And doing, here, such things as thou hast done:
Yea, though sometime, such horrors on me cease,
That, they do shake my bones; yet naytheles,
My Spirit, so is pleased, to behold
Those Judgments, and those mercies manifold,
Which I observe; that, in no other time,
Nor, (might I chuse) in any other Clime,
Would I have liv'd, save where I might have seen
Such things, as have to me discovered been:
No, though thy Judgments, which, now on us be,
Have, in the flesh, with others, wrapt up me,

For, whatsoever former times afford;
Whatever, hath been written in the Word;
What signs, or wonders, have been to thy glory
Recorded in prophane, or sacred story,
Hath been a new transacted, in my dayes.
So, have I seen the River, and the Seas
Made passable: So, have I seen thy wonders
In blood, and Vermine; in fire, hail, and thunders;
And, in those other dreadfull signs, whereby
Thou, heretofore didst Pharaoh terrifie;
Mysteriously, or morally (at least)
If not in all things, lit'rally exprest:
And, have observ'd, that, they on other men
Have now, the same effects, which they had then.
To carnal wisdom, but events of chance
They do appear; and, such, to ignorance.
Great Kings, and Princes, will not yet be wise,
But fool themselves, with vanities, and lies;

And, are like Pharaoh, daily hardned so,
As if they dared thee, thy worst to do.
Yea, their inchanters, though they cannot stand
Before thee, (and acknowledg tis thy hand,
Which is upon them) do endeavour still,
To seek themselves, and to resist thy will.
And, all of us, almost as heedles are,
Of what thou dost, as Jacobs offs-pring were.

Thy Judgments, mercies, threatnings, promises,
The severall causes, and effects of these,
Have been to me, exemplifide a new,
By that, which hath been offred to my view:
Th'occurrances, betwixt thy Friends, and Foes,
Long time ago, foretipifying those
That should succeed, (and, were for Presidents,
That like proceedings, would have like Events
Throughout all ages) I've seen parallel'd
By those, which with mine eyes, I beheld:
And, by those tipes, compar'd with what I saw,
Did, sometimes from them such conclusions draw,
That, I foretold, when few beleeved me,
What, they and I, have liv'd, fulfil'd to see.

And, though, thou art not pleas'd to let me know,
Perspicuously, what is approaching now:
Yet, I see dim appearances, whereby
I may suspect a mischief drawing nigh.
A Cloud, which like a mans hand seems to be,
Or, els, a mans hand, like a Cloud I see
Threatning a storm. I see, me thinks, oh! Father,
Vapours far off disperst, begin to gather
Into divided bodies, whence may break
A voice of Thunder, and things dreadfull, speak,
With sad events; If we with speed repent not;
And, thou, the plagues, which we deserve, prevent not.
Oh! therefore, turn our hearts; and unto thee
So, from our own wayes let us turned be,

That, thou maist still continue thy compassion,
With thy accustom'd favours, to this Nation.

And, my beloved Brethren, for whose warnings,
I, thus adventure my dim fore-discernings
To publique censure, though not for my sake,
For your own safety, notice of them take:
And, of your vanities, repent with speed;
That, Judgments, but conditionally decreed,
May be averted: And, that, those good things,
Of whose approach the season symptoms brings,
Deferred may not be: For, there is, yet,
Somwhat, to be removed, which doth LET,
That Kingdoms coming, for which, many pray;
And, that Removall, must prepare the Way.

If, GOD, this way, by judgments, must inforce,
It will, for us, now living, be the worse;
And, we shall bear the strong pangs of that BIRTH
Which, that mysterious WOMAN will bring forth,
On whom, the DRAGON waiteth to devour
The MANCHILD, who (deliver'd from his power
By his Almighty Father, and our GOD)
Shall rule the Nations, with an IRON ROD.
But, if we willingly remove from hence,
That LET; it shall produce a recompence,
Which will requite our labour, and destroy
The great Obstructer of our promis'd Joy.

Here, I had done. But somwhat, presseth in,
On which, I could anew again begin.
It doth not much concern my Theam, I know;
But, what, of that? It may concern you, tho.
My Muse, oft times, when she is on her wings,
Wheels from her Game, to unexpected things
Which come to view; and, thereby more hath won
Somtimes, then if aside she had not gone.
So, may she now; Ile therefore, let her fly
At what she sees, although I know not why.

The Kingdom look'd for, seems to be near
By many tokens, which to me appear,
As well upon the Governments of those
Who, thereto are profest, or secret Foes,
As on the SAINTS: For, when I was but young,
(And ever since my child-hood, all along)
I, thereto had an eye; And, in this clime,
(Or little World) I've seen within my time
Four Governments, almost as differing
Both in the roots, from which they forth did spring,
And discipline, as DANIELS Monarchies:
And, much, to be consider'd, in them lies,
To make me to beleeve, that, CHRIST is shaking
The Worlds foundations; and, approaches making.

The first was, when much fam'd ELIZABETH,
Raig'nd here; In whose time, (though I drew my breath
Not thirteen years) I, observations made
Of things, then said and done, both good, and bad,
More then my age did promise, and, er'e taught,
Was to the best part, of my knowledg brought.
During this Monarchy, I did perceive,
Sincerity, begin to take her leave;
That, Christian zeal abate, and cool again,
Which was so hot, when she began to Raign;
And, introductions of such deviations,
As, both forego, and foreshow alterations.
Yet, that, which then did seem to keep in aw
These Nations, was, the GOSPEL, and the LAW.

Next her, out from the Caledonian Wood,
A ramping Lyon came; and, up he stood.
As, he first got this pow'r, he kept the same,
By acting of the Fox, and seeming tame.
To his devourings, he impos'd no measure:
The Law he govern'd by, was WILL, and PLEASURE;
And, he pursude, what he design'd at first,
As far, as any crafty coward durst.

More stoutly, his Successor, carried on,
Then politickly, what his SIRE begun;
And after many struglings, and much cost,
Himself, his Kingdoms, and desigments he lost.
Yet, for that Government, thus much Ile say,
Justice and piety, wore in that day,
The fairest out side; and, were trim'd about
With many Ornaments, now, nigh worn out;
And, goodnes, had a very glorious shell,
Although the kernels therein prov'd not well.

Against this Government, the People rose,
In throaning them, whom they themselves had chose:
And whilst they were continu'd on the Throne;
NECESSITIE, was law, for what was done:
Which Law, to lengthen, and corroborate,
They, new NECESSITIES did still create;
Till their Adorers, did their Pow'r contemn,
And, found great need of all things, but of THEM.
For, by indulging selfnes, they destroy'd,
What had, by self-deniall been enjoy'd;
And made themselves so rich, and some so poor,
That, now, the Peoples choice, is out of dore.
Yet, whilst they kept the Throne, GOD, by them wrought
Effects, which will not wholly come to nought:
For, though self-seeking, most prevailed then,
There were among them, good, and righteous men,
(To GOD, and to their Country serviceable.)
Whose number, had it been proportionable
To ten, for each five Cities, Towns, or Shiers;
Had made the work, reserv'd for others, theirs.

The SWORD, hath now, obtain'd the soveraign pow'r,
Let it, Oh LORD! protect, and not devou'r.
Let, it take notice, that it is prepar'd,
The Vineyard, only, to secure and gard,
(Or, cut away those Plants, which might annoy
The fruitfull Vines, and their sweet grapes destroy)

Not to possesse the same as if it own.
Let us (although the pow'r thereon bestown,
Should be abus'd) obediently attend,
Till to the raign, thereof, thou setst an end:
For, when thou pleasest, thou, canst in one hour,
Make it destroy it self, by its own Powr,

To rule us, thou hast now advanced it;
Let us, for conscience sake, therefore, submit,
Whether it be for future good, or ill;
Because, to have it so, it is thy will.
Thou canst as well by Arms, as by the Gown
Rule peaceably, and make thy mercy known.
Although it be a Sword, that bears the sway,
Let, it thine Adversaries, only, slay;
Let none of thine, have any cause to fear it:
And, let it no wayes dammage those that wear it.

Still, mindfull make it, for whose good, and ayd
'Twas first advanced, disciplin'd, and payd:
Who, did contribute, what, first, made it strong
To conquer: who, still adds, what doth belong
To keeping of that Powr; and, let it not
Indanger those by whom it was begot;
Wrong their propriety, whom it defended;
And whose just preservation was intended;
Nor, breake those antient bounds which kept should be
'Twikt man and man; and, betwixt man, and Thee;
And, upon whose Infringers thou hast laid,
Curse, whereof, all, ought to be afraid.
Let it perform the works thereto appointed;
Make way for Justice, and for thy Anointed:
And, when the time design'd thereto is done,
Let it, to what must follow, yeeld the Throne.

The next, I hope shall be the LIVING-WORD.
Let his long look'd for KINGDOM come, Oh LORD!
Let over us, that King of Nations raign,
To whom, all praise, and Glory doth pertain.

For, whatsoer'e this proves, that best will please us.
Come therefore, quickly: Quickly come, LORD JESUS.

Mean while, accept a sacrifice of praise,
For what hath been vouchsafed in these days,
By way of preparation, to that End,
For which, in Faith, and hope, we do attend.
Accept of praises, from the single hearted,
For all thy Saints, which are from hence departed;
And, for all those, who shall make up the sum,
By which thy Kingdom, will compleat become.
Accept my Thanks, for what thou didst confer
On me, by him that's gone, and those, yet here:
Accept it rather, for that love of thine,
Vouchsafed from thy self, to me and mine,
By frequent pledges; and, for that Free grace,
Whereby before all time, I chosen was,
To be eternally made One with Thee;
And, in thy self, accept them LORD, of me.

Thus, having my Friends Obit, truly truly kept
Six nights, (whilst others round about me slept)
Here, that Contexture, which conceiv'd I had,
Is now produced, spun, and weav'd, and made.
'Tis true the Object, of my contemplations,
Was WESTROW: But, from him, my Meditations,
Rose higher; and my soul did contemplate
Things, which concern these Nations, and this State;
And, thereupon, some hints, are interweaved,
Which will (if passed by, as unperceived)
Make this, which is, the Muses way of giving
Life to the Dead; to be, unto the Living,
An ominous presage; at least to some,
Of death, of shame, or, of worse things to come.

University of Virginia Library

The fourth CANTO.