Miscellaneous works of George Wither

[OMITTED] I did intend
Some Premonitions, forth to send.
But I, in vain, have more then once
Assaid to charm deaf Loggs and Stones:
And, at this time, If, I should throw
Those Pearls to Swine, th'event I know.
I, therefore, now resolved am
To wave, what to the seed of Cham,
I purposd; and will speak to those,
To whom my soul more service owes.

Yee Sonns of Japhet, who long whiles
Th'European Continent and Isles

Have now possest (by grace from him
Who hath, into the Tents of Sem,
Perswaded you) be pleasd to read,
What follows, with a serious heed:
For, though, perhaps, I scarcely know,
Whether I tell you Dreams, or no,
This will be usefull; and, there may
Be reall Truths, in what I say.

According to the numeration
Of years, by vulgar computation,
In sixteen hundred fiftie five,
The Roman-Tyrant will percieve
His Empire sinke (begin to fear
His Fatall Number draweth neer;
And, therewith growing faint and sick,
Throughout his Body-Politick,
Take swift advisement, how, he may
Procrastinate his Judgement-Day;
And, shall finde means out, to beguile
Himself, and others too, a while:
For, till six hundred sixty three,
A Project will pursued be,
Wherby, the Saints will much be griev'd;
And, many, doubt what they believ'd.

The Stratagem he shall devise,
Will be to cure th'Antipathies
Of his Chief Champions, that their power
May joyn, the Faithfull to devour:
And, he shall prosecute that way
With all the Force, and Craf, the may:
But, to unsettle the Pyrene
Which parts them (and, make Oile with Wine
Incorporate) less hard will prove
Then that Obstruction to remove;

Because, th'Event, which will be best
For th'one, marrs th'other's Interest;
And, them, will, at the last, expose
To Schisms, which no Designe shall close.

It is apparent, that by him
Who claims a Cath'like Diadem
(And who, his Locusts spreads throughout
The World, to bring that aime about)
His Rival will, in little space,
Be undermin'd, in ev'ry place,
If, to that Peace he condescends,
Which, his Friend seeming Foe intends,
(And, who will prove, at last, much rather
A Step-sire, then a Holy-Father.

For, then, that Ofspring of the Woulfe,
Will, on the City in the Gulf,
Great mischiefs bring: Next, by his crafts,
Divide, and break, those Sheaves, and Shafts,
Through Europe; by whose Leagues, you see,
His Projects unsuccessfull be;
And, by whose Unity, that Flood
Of Gog and Magog, is withstood,
Which, else, long since, had broken in,
And worse then Noah's Deluge bin.

But, Remedies may be foreseen,
Which, e're those mischiefs intervene
That are design'd, will fruitless make
Their Counsells; all their Engins break,
And, make the Pitfall and the Snare
Catch those, who did the same prepare.
For, if the Cup of Fornications,
Which hath inchanted Kings and Nations,
Hath not caroused been so long,
That; for all Charms it grows too strong,

He, whom they stile, the Christian King,
Will, with that Name, embrace the Thing
Relating to it: (Thereby, finde
That, they, whose ruine is design'd,
Are his Chief Strength) and, then, to those
Unite himself, who shall oppose
The Whore, the Dragon, and the Beast,
Which are, in three, one Antichrist:
That, so, the Kingdome, and the Doome,
Long look'd for (to his joy) may come.
But, those Occasions, if he lose,
Which Providence will, then, propose,
In his own Bowels, there will breed
A Gangreve, whereon will succeed
His Neighbours Fate; and give him, there,
His Portion, where his Interests are.

The year, six hundred sixty six,
A period, to the Beast, will fix,
If numbred from that time, in which
He rose, unto his highest pitch.
The next preceding thousand years,
The time of Sathans Bands, declare,
Who, when the Lord, of life, was slain
(And, Rome did to her height attain)
Restrained was, from bringing in
The Man, and Mystery, of Sin,
For so long space (though, in the dark,
It, sooner, did begin, to work)
But, when that set time, was expir'd,
The Birth was born, which, he desir'd;
Ev'n, that Impostor, which hath, here,
Now reign'd above six hundred yeere,
Since he got loose; whose chain, did last
Untill the thousandth year was past.

Both these two summs, in one, contain
The joint, and the divided Reign,
Of bloody Rome, from her Declension,
And Antichrist's, from his Ascention
Into God's Throne: And, both their Falls
Are shewn, in their own Numeralls,
Without a wrested valuation,
Without disordred computation,
And, without adding, or omission,
A doubling, or a transposition,
Of any Letter. So, (by that
Accompt, whereby our Deeds we date)
About One thousand thirty four,
The Beast did, first, receive his Pow'r;
And, lose it shall, upon, or neer,
The thousandth and seven hundredth yeer:
Which makes, since first he took his Seat,
Six hundred sixtie six, compleat;
And, is the sum, which doth contain,
The, whole, continuance of his Reign.

Let those, that can receive it, heed
This Mystery, and, give it creed,
As it shall merit; for, to you,
Though it may seem as vain, as new,
It will not prove, to be so sleight,
Or, such a whimsicall Conceit,
As those, which groundless Fancy frames
From Titles, Attributes, or Names;
And, whereof, Wit makes Antichrists,
When, and of whomsoe're, it lists.

E're that day comes, you will behold
Such Changes, as no Age, of old,
Did ever see; and, year by year,
Strange Novelties will still appear;

Some mixt, and of a various make;
Medlies, composd of white and black,
Of truth, and falshood, wit, and folly,
Of sacred things, of things unholy;
And, some so plausible contriv'd
(With paint, and shadows unperceiv'd)
As would (if possible) beguile
Th'Elect: yea, they shall for a while,
Make many slip. Yet, these, must come
And (though offensive unto some)
Shall, at the last, Expedients be,
To make Dissenters, more agree.

There is, already, spreading forth
A Generation, from the North,
East, West, and Southward, who profess
Simplicity, and holiness,
Not much to be reprov'd: if, on
The Rightside, them you look upon;
Nor well to be allow'd, if, they
Intend, what some among them say:
For, if the truth of them be fam'd,
They, are our Levellers, new nam'd;
Or, els, th'old Cynicks, in a mode
Newly disguis'd, are come abroad,
To personate, in her excess,
Pride, with a shew of lowliness.
For, he that's proud, (and cannot be
By other means, so great, as he
That is the greatest) may with these,
As proudly, as Diogenes,
The Pomp of greatest men deride,
And, tread on Alexanders pride;
yet, in their sullen Cynick way,
Be twice as proud, perhaps, as they.

But my intent is to declare,
What they may be; not what they are.

Their goings out, are not with force,
Either of armed Foot, or Horse,
Neither with Multitude, or Power
Externall; but, by three or four,
Or two at once: Who, taking on
A Garb and speech, which few or none
Allow of (save themselves) neglect
All those expressions of respect,
Which are in use, to represent
A personall distinguishment,
Whether it in relation be
To Wealth, Age, Office, or Degree.

For this austereness, the Precise
Dislike them; them, the Rich despise;
The Proud, their manners doe deride,
As not complying with their pride;
The Covetous, they much displease,
And, all that love luxurious ease;
Which, doth beget them many foes,
Reproach, Imprisonments, and blowes:
Yet, Patiently they doe proceed,
As if they did nor greatly heed
Nor minde it: And, proceed they will
Their Work, and Errand to fullfill:
Wherein, the Best, may witness beare
Against the world (yea, and I fear
Against themselves) if well they heed
What admonitions they doe need.
And, when that they have walk'd their Round,
And stood their time, it will be found,
That, though some, under their disguise
Spread scandals, and preach blasphemies,

Which, for a while, obstruct those ends,
That, Providence, by them, intends)
It will, to Prudent men, appear,
That, signes, unto this Age, they are,
Of Things, which will, hereafter, more
Consider'd be, then heretofore;
As were some Actions, which, of old,
The World did, with contempt, behold,
When, they gave true signification,
Of what befell that Generation.
And, though that some, of these, assay,
To take the wholsome Rules away,
Of Faith, and Life, in hope to finde
Christ, formed in their selfish minde,
Without the Word; A Fierie-triall
Will give, at last, a flat deniall,
To their false hopes; Their own Work burn,
To nothing; Make them back return,
To Truths Foundation; Or, else, leave them
To those Delusions, which deceive them.

Wait, therefore, on each Dispensation,
With Christian meekness, moderation,
And charity: For, Time, will show
Whether, they be of God, or no;
How much of their designe, is evill;
How much of self, or, of the Devill:
And, men, thus tempred, shall not need
To fear th'Events, that will succeed,
Till they are greater haters grown,
Of these mens faults, then of their own.

Lights, from obscurity, will blaze,
Of other kinds; which, though they'le cause
Divisions, (and imperfect be,)
Will help Times future, how to see

Some Truths, conceal'd; and, lead the sight,
Gradatim, to the noblest Light;
If, of those false Gleams, men beware,
Which, will, by Flashes, here and there,
Break out, among them. Some, are such,
As neither help, nor hinder, much;
But, are like those, which, many think,
They doe behold, when hard they wink;
Or, like to those we view, sometime,
Glare out of rotten wood, or slime.
Some, like nocturnall wandring Fires,
(Which lead men into Pits and Mires)
Will oft appear; and, may doe harm:
But, we, against them, have a Charm;
And, they, who will, well know them may;
For, they appear not, in the day;
And, if men heed it, they shall finde
Such, alwaies, leave a stinke behinde.

The time, now, seemeth neer, likewise,
When, they, on whom Cain's curse yet lies,
Will make some Trialls, how they may,
To their long-failing hopes, make way.
For, now, that Ev'ning draweth on,
Wherein, they to and fro, shall run,
Like Doggs, about the Citie wall,
(As was foretold) and grin, and bawle,
Because, they have no Revelation,
To satisfie their expectation:
And, God, to pass, is bringing, now,
A nobler Work, (for ought we know)
Then they design: And, some of them,
Will fit, for that Jerusalem
They look not after: Yea, perchance,
What they would marre, they shall advance

And, when a carnall rest is sought,
Finde that, to which they should be brought.

For, (though they are disperst among
The Nations, and have wandred long
In much contempt) preserv'd they were
For somewhat, which, time will declare
When that day comes. Perhaps, those things,
Which David, in their person sings,
Of their undated desolation,
Will bring them to consideration,
That, all their Tokens are bereft;
That, they have not one Prophet left;
Nor any Prophecies, that give
Assurance, of what they believe;
Or promise, that, God, will restore
Their Nation, as oft, heretofore,
When they had sinn'd: And, that, the crime,
For which they suffer so long time,
Is, some fault, of a deeper die,
Then either their Idolatrie,
Or, all their ancient Crimes: yea, that
The Sin which makes them desolate,
Must be the sale, and crucifying
Of him, who, for their ransome dying,
Foretold the Plague, in which is neer
Compleated sixteen hundred yeer;
And, wherein, they shall still abide,
Till they confesse whom, they denide.
For, though their Law, they never better
Observ'd, according to the Letter,
Then they have done, since him they kild,
By whom, alone, it was fulfild;
Their legall service, to their Curse
Still adds, and daily makes it worse.

Yet, some, may, under this Rejection,
Be Objects, of divine Election,
(As I beleeve) And, who can tell
When, God, shall pleased be, to seal
Twelve times twelve thousands, of the Race
Of Isr'el, by a stamp of Grace?
(And, when to make up, he shall please,
The Gentiles fulness) but, that these
Shall mustred be, and called thither,
Where those, Elect, must meet together;
Who are to act that finall doome,
Which, on his greatest Foe, must come?
(And, who can tell, but, that by those,
At whose rejection, we were chose,
To witness against their offence,
(And, whose preserving, ever since,
Confirms our Faith) may usefull prove,
To set forth his impartiall love,
Who suffers all, aside to goe,
That, he, to all, might mercy show?
If so; he's blest, whom, God, then makes
So wise, that, neither he partakes
In their, deserv'd, Infatuation,
Nor doth obstruct their Restauration.

Some, seem to fear, that, if the Jews,
(And, others too) who may abuse,
That Liberty, should, in this Nation,
Obtain, their wish'd for, tolleration,
They, peradventure, thereby might
Eradicate the Truth, outright;
And, surely, whosoe're intends,
That Freedome, for sinister ends,
(Or, without Cautions, would thereby
Infringe his own security:

But, Truth's prevailing, none needs doubt,
Where she hath Rome to fight it out;
For, most refin'd and strong, she grows,
When she is hem'd about with Foes.

No thought (much less a Resolution)
Have I, to force, by persecution,
Religious duties: yet, I may,
Both justly think, and safely say,
That, if Exile, and Forfeits too,
On him, with us, who should forgoe
His Christian Faith, imposed were,
Those Penalties, were not severe.
For, if the way, which he then chuses,
Be safer, then what he refuses,
He buyes it, at an easie Rate,
With less of Country, and Estate;
And, if he changeth Good for Bad,
He, justly, forfeits all he had.

Were that Provision made; not many
Would, on those terms, be Jews, if any.
But, neither Jews, nor Turks, are worse
Then Hypocrites: No greater Curse
Can their admission, hither, bring,
Then doth, from their Contagion, spring,
Who, to be Christians, doe profess;
And, are, in manners, nothing less.

Whose, is the greater Blasphemie?
His, who denies Christ's Deitie,
Or Incarnation, with his tongue,
And, doth him some despitefull wrong,
Externally? (meerly, perchance,
Through blindness, and, through ignorance;)
Or, rather his, whose heart denieth
Him, with whom he, in words, complieth?

What Heathens, Jews, or Turks, can be
So pestilentiall, as is he
Who, preacheth Christ, from place to place?
Who, boasteth of his saving Grace?
Who, doth profess him, to be good?
Who, hath his Raiment, and his food
By that Profession? Who, doth praise
His Love, his Precepts, and his Waies,
Yet, in his life, himself doth shew
Worse then a Pagan, Turk, or Jew?

Beleeve it; till reform'd we are
In Manners, we might, rather, fear
The Jews admission, will our shame
Much more illustrate, and our blame,
Then harm us otherwayes; or, more
Obdure their hearts, then heretofore,
But, that, a Pow'r, above men sits,
Which, out of Darknes, Light begets.

Most Christian Nations, doe pretend,
To seek their Weal; and, to that end,
Make daylie prayers: (yea, some, too,
This duty, with sincereness, doe)
But, he's an Hypocrite, who sayes,
That, he, for their Conversion prayes,
Yet, thereunto, no means affords,
Save, only, formall, empty, words.

More then most Nations, we are thought,
Their Restauration to have sought.
They, also, thereof, notice take,
Yet, when they come, a proof to make,
Of our sincerity; Lo, we
Grow fearfull, what th'events may be.
But, in due season, God, I trust,
Will render us, as wise, and just,

As wary; and, direction give
To Act, as well as to beleeve,
What he requires; lest, we abuse
Our selves; take Jesuites for Jews,
And Runagadoes, from our Creed,
To be the ancient Hebrew-seed;
Or, else, shut up our hearts to those,
To whom, our soul more Mercy owes:
For, such, as truly are descended
From Jacob (though they have offended)
Are to be look'd upon, as men,
Who may be reconcil'd agen.

They, though rejected, are a Nation,
Who claim a right in that Creation,
Which we possess: At least, to Live,
A right, by Nature, they receive,
That, ought not to be rendred void,
Lest, God's Fore-purpose be destroi'd.
He, hath disperst them, here and there,
That, we might not presume, but fear;
And, of that Grace, be mindfull made,
Which we, by their Rejection, had:
But, if all Countries, where they be
Should (as they might, as well as wee)
Deny them an Abiding-place,
Where should they finde the means of grace?
Where should they live the life of Nature,
The Birth-right, of each living Creature?
How, by our Mercy, shall they gain
That Mercy, which, in words, we fain
To further? Which way, shall we show
That Love, which, unto them, we owe,
For their Fore-Fathers sake, by whom
Salvation, unto us, did come?

Or, how, to them, shall that succeed,
Which, Providence hath fore-decreed?

They, like to Cain, are mark'd out so,
That, (though abhor'd, where e're they goe)
They are preserv'd; and have aboad
(Ev'n by the Common Grace of God)
In sev'ral places, not a few,
For which, they owe no thank to you;
Nor much to them, with whom they dwell,
Because, their Souls, or Bodies, weal
Moves litttle, with their Entertainers,
Save, when, by them, they may be gainers.
But, being neither Pro, nor Con,
In things, by others, to be done:
My private judgment having shown,
I'le leave each Reader to his own.

God's Works, with Clouds, are vail'd about,
Deep, high, (yea, past our finding out;
And, many things, he hath to doe,
To make his passage thereunto;
Which, to unriddle, 'twill be hard,
Because, mysteriously declar'd,
By Glimerings only, to our eyes,
Our Faith, and Hope, to exercise,
Which, else, would fail; and, to provide
Against the puffings up, of Pride.
For, Revelations, when most clear,
Of such a Ghostly nature are,
(And, that, which should be understood,
By them, is, unto flesh and blood,
So hardly taught) that, few can see
Their certainty, though true they be.

I cannot speak, what I conceive,
Nor utter that, which I beleeve,

Yet, I conceive, beleeve, and mark,
Enough to guide me through the dark,
Without despair: And, my foresight
Discernes, by Raies, which give true light,
That, e're God's Work effect shall take,
He, will, by sev'rall Changes, shake
Thrones, Pow'rs, and Scepters, to break down
Those Kingdomes, which oppose his own:
That, likewise, he shall bring to nought
All things, that humane Wit, hath taught:
Yea, all that holiness, in which
The Carnall Gospeller seems rich;
And, bring a Generation in,
Which, all things will, anew, begin
(Save that Foundation, which must stand,
Till there is neither Sea, nor Land.)

The Life, wch hath lain hid with Christ,
Shall then, in us, be manifest,
To mortifie, and take away
That life of Sinne, which, to this day,
Hath been upheld; Infuse that Light,
Which makes a Day, without a Night;
And, which shall not, as it hath done,
Need either Star, or Moon, or Sun.
Our Outward, and our Inward parts,
Our Will, and Longings of our hearts,
It shall renew; renew our Birth,
Our Governments, the Heav'ns, the Earth;
Yea, make all new, and, as a Scrowl,
Wrap up all old things, in a Roll.

In order thereunto, our eies
Have, lately, seen a Prince arise,
His entrance making through great Floods
Of water; through unlikelyhoods,

And Difficulties, which no hand,
But his, who made both Sea and Land,
Could have remov'd: And, though his Foes,
Doe multiply; Though, malice grows
Implacable, and many aime,
To turn his Glory into shame;
He is receiv'd, by other some,
With Love and Honor, as one come,
And, sent, by Providence, from Heav'n,
To make the Dales, and Mountains, ev'n;
To countenance, protect, and shrowd
The Meek, and Righteous, from the Proud;
Their Rights and Freedoms, to restore,
To those that were opprest, and poor;
And, Introductions to prepare,
For things, which doe not, yet, appear:
And, doubtles, if he shall ------ [OMITTED]

Hîc deest multum.

More had been said; but, some begin,
Already, both to jeer, and grin.
That's worse, which was exceeding bad:
They that were foolish, are grown mad:
Truth, is less favoured, then Lies:
To be known honest, or thought wise,
Is dangerous; and, he best thrives,
Who, no man trusteth, or beleeves;
And, can, by fals dissembling shows,
Hide that, which he beleevs, or knows:
I see it; and, am stricken dumb;
From 'twixt my finger and my thumb,
My Penne is fall'n: 'Tis also Night,
And, I had rather sleep, then write.

If, therefore, you desirous grow,
To learn the rest, ask them that know
What others think, and pleased are,
To speak to them, who will not hear:
For, having heard, what will befall
To him, who tells his Mare a tale;
To cool my broth, my breath I'le keep,
And, try to sing my self asleep.

SONG.

My Soul, come listen to my Charms:
And, now she rests betwixt mine arms,
Sound out, yee everlasting Spheres,
That Musick, which no mortall hears:
And, whilst thereto, my Tongue forth sings
Those calm, and blessed Requiems,
Which, this depraved World contemns,
Thy self, my discomposed heart,
New-tune (in Consort) to bear part,
With them, upon her quav'ring strings.

Though all things in confusion be;
Though, from corruption none are free,
Why should our Bowels yerne, or pant?
What need we fear? What can we want,
Which we, by reason, would enjoy?
No rising, or declining Star,
Our blisse, can either make, or mar;
No influence, of Moon or Sun,
Or, ought omitted, or misdone,
Our peace, or safety, can destroy.

Look up, to that bespangled Skie,
So bright, so spacious, and so high:
A higher Orbe, those Orbes contains,
Where my Redeemer, lives and reigns;
To him, by contemplation, mount,
By him, Hopes Anchor, cast, and weigh;
On him, by Faith, firm holdfast lay;
With him, by Love, thy self unite;
Through him, establish thy delight;
And, of him, make thy chief account.

Then, from that height, thine eyes down cast,
On all things, which on Earth are plac't;
(Ev'n on the bravest of those things,
Which are the pride, and joy of Kings)
And, on those Bugbears, which men dread:
And, when thou findest, what they prove,
(How worthless of thy Fear, or Love)
Thou may'st, with confident repose,
Ly down, alone, where all thy Foes,
Their Banners, have against thee spread.

Sleep, then; for, all, those windes that blow,
And bluster round about thee so,
Into a calm, will either turn,
Or, breath away, at last, with scorne,
And, prove but puffs, to be despis'd.
Sleep; for, those goodly seeming Gaudes,
Which thou admired'st, are but shades,
That, in a moment, will be gone,
And, worthy, really, of none,
But, Fools, or Madmen, to be priz'd.

Sleep; for, those earnest Longings, which
Disturb'd thy Rest, are but an Itch,
Or, Dreamings, that will take their flight,
As soon as Day removes the Night,
Though, much account of them thou mak'st.
Sleep; for thou neither feel'st, nor hear'st,
Such Bears, or Lions, as thou fearst;
They are but squeekings of small Mice,
Or, niblings, of those Fleas, and Lice,
Wch, will fall from thee, when thou wak'st.

And, you, who have disturbers bin,
Of Rest, without me, or within,
Submit your selves to due controll:
And, when, on my retired soul,
A sweet refreshing sleep, shall seize,
I, charge you, by the Pow'r of those
Who guard th'Elected from their Foes,
(On penalty, of whatsoe're
The damn'd Infernall Spirits fear)
That, her, you wake not, till she please.

Give ear, oh, regardfully give ear
What is timelie here expressed relating to this Generation.

University of Virginia Library

Vaticinium Poeticum:

OR RATHER A Fragment of some Presages, partly long since, and partly lately written; which (though the Beginning and later End be clipt off) are neither altogether imperfect, nor impertinent, to these times, &c.

Hic , desunt nonnulla

Hîc deest multum.

SONG.