 | Miscellaneous works of George Wither |  |
VII. Another Scrap, to them, who carp at this Author's frequent writing.
VVhy should you be displeas'd, and have a loathing,
Of that which may do good, and cost you nothing?
Or, which you may pass by, without offence,
Or, giving you occasion of expence,
Unless you please? For, that which I compose,
On no man, I against his will, impose.
Of that which may do good, and cost you nothing?
Or, which you may pass by, without offence,
Or, giving you occasion of expence,
Unless you please? For, that which I compose,
On no man, I against his will, impose.
GOD is our Shield, our Fortress, and that Friend
On whom alone we alway should depend;
Yet, he expects an Activeness in those,
On whom a Christian Armour he bestows;
And, that we put it on, when there's occasion
Of War defensive, or, of an Invasion;
As also, that, we alwayes keep it clean,
And our selves ready, by good discipline:
For, of their Talents they will be bereav'd,
Who make not use of what they have receiv'd:
Yea, they will be surpriz'd, who, times and places
Neglect, wherein to exercise their Graces,
When means is offred; since it will make room
And entrance for Temptations when they come,
If we are negligent in doing that,
Which to our Perseverance doth relate.
The Roman Legions, which resided here,
(When no foes to oppose them did appear)
Bestow'd their spare hours with much diligence,
In making Preparations for defence
In times of need; New Fortresses did raise,
Built Bridges, Causeys, and made easie wayes
For future Marches, whereby, to and fro
In safety, they, and other men might go.
And, we must do the like, if we would be
From future dangers and surprizals free;
To which end, things that seem of little use
At present, may hereafter much conduce.
On whom alone we alway should depend;
Yet, he expects an Activeness in those,
On whom a Christian Armour he bestows;
And, that we put it on, when there's occasion
Of War defensive, or, of an Invasion;
As also, that, we alwayes keep it clean,
And our selves ready, by good discipline:
43
Who make not use of what they have receiv'd:
Yea, they will be surpriz'd, who, times and places
Neglect, wherein to exercise their Graces,
When means is offred; since it will make room
And entrance for Temptations when they come,
If we are negligent in doing that,
Which to our Perseverance doth relate.
The Roman Legions, which resided here,
(When no foes to oppose them did appear)
Bestow'd their spare hours with much diligence,
In making Preparations for defence
In times of need; New Fortresses did raise,
Built Bridges, Causeys, and made easie wayes
For future Marches, whereby, to and fro
In safety, they, and other men might go.
And, we must do the like, if we would be
From future dangers and surprizals free;
To which end, things that seem of little use
At present, may hereafter much conduce.
Our Patience will wear out, our Courage slack;
Our Spirits faint, and cause us to draw back
From needful Suffrings, unless in some measure
VVe daily shall improve spare time and leasure,
To fortifie our hearts by meditation,
VVhich is the nourishment and preservation
Of Hope and Faith. This, when my Friends are gon,
(VVhose Consolations I do feast upon
VVhilst they are present) if I those can void,
VVith whose Impertinences I am cloyd,
Moves me to gather up, that, into words,
VVhich their and my Experiment affords;
Lest that be lost, which else might serve in stead
Of Cordials at a sudden time of need.
Our Spirits faint, and cause us to draw back
From needful Suffrings, unless in some measure
VVe daily shall improve spare time and leasure,
To fortifie our hearts by meditation,
VVhich is the nourishment and preservation
Of Hope and Faith. This, when my Friends are gon,
(VVhose Consolations I do feast upon
VVhilst they are present) if I those can void,
VVith whose Impertinences I am cloyd,
Moves me to gather up, that, into words,
VVhich their and my Experiment affords;
Lest that be lost, which else might serve in stead
Of Cordials at a sudden time of need.
44
This, moves me, when my Foes threat and revile,
To muster thus (as 'twere in rank and file)
My scatter'd thoughts; and then to march up close
Ev'n to the Vanguard of my furioust Foes:
For, when we look grim Terrors in the face
Without dismay, it makes them to give place.
And, though the Champions of the world do laugh
To see my weapons, but a Sling, a Staff,
And Peble-stones; they will prevail, when they
Shall either perish, or else run away.
To muster thus (as 'twere in rank and file)
My scatter'd thoughts; and then to march up close
Ev'n to the Vanguard of my furioust Foes:
For, when we look grim Terrors in the face
Without dismay, it makes them to give place.
And, though the Champions of the world do laugh
To see my weapons, but a Sling, a Staff,
And Peble-stones; they will prevail, when they
Shall either perish, or else run away.
This moves me (when alone) lest else the Devil,
Or my own Flesh may tempt me to some evil,
(VVhen they shall idling find me) to retire
Into my self, and search what vain desire,
VVhat hope, or fear, or doubtings there do lurk,
VVhich either may advance, or counterwork
Those Principles of Grace, which by good use
And practice, I to habits may reduce.
Or my own Flesh may tempt me to some evil,
(VVhen they shall idling find me) to retire
Into my self, and search what vain desire,
VVhat hope, or fear, or doubtings there do lurk,
VVhich either may advance, or counterwork
Those Principles of Grace, which by good use
And practice, I to habits may reduce.
This, that those Notions may not fly away,
VVhich I find helpful, makes me oft imploy
My leasure times, in what, it seems, hath so
Increast my Scriblings, that they nauceous grow
To many Readers; and, perhaps to some,
VVho might by them advantaged become.
But I am pleas'd; for, that, my tast delights,
Which is disgustfull to their Appetites;
And what at this time they disrelish, may
Yeeld profit with delight, another day.
VVhich I find helpful, makes me oft imploy
My leasure times, in what, it seems, hath so
Increast my Scriblings, that they nauceous grow
To many Readers; and, perhaps to some,
VVho might by them advantaged become.
But I am pleas'd; for, that, my tast delights,
Which is disgustfull to their Appetites;
And what at this time they disrelish, may
Yeeld profit with delight, another day.
| Miscellaneous works of George Wither | |