 | Miscellaneous works of George Wither |  |
THE TWO INCOMPARABLE GENERALISSIMO'S of the world, with their Armies briefly described and embattailed, visibly and invisibly opposing each other.
The one is the old Serpent the Devill, Generall of the Church Malignant.
The other is the Lord Jesus Christ, Generall of the Church Militant.
Argument.
According to the Enmity decreedBetweene the womans and the Serpents seed
In Paradise, each other doth defie,
This hatred lasteth to Eternity:
No marvell then that Warre is now begun
Unnaturally 'twixt father and the son.
Clad all in angry Armes of discontent,
Because of his perpetuall banishment
From blisse, above five thousand yeares ago,
And in revenge of that same fatall blow,
Given him by that pure unspotted Child,
Borne of a woman whom he so beguild,
The old infernall Serpent ever since,
Hath prov'd a hatefull Rebell to his Prince,
And all enrag'd with malice and despight,
He leads his captive souldiers thus to fight.
Because of his perpetuall banishment
From blisse, above five thousand yeares ago,
And in revenge of that same fatall blow,
Given him by that pure unspotted Child,
Borne of a woman whom he so beguild,
The old infernall Serpent ever since,
Hath prov'd a hatefull Rebell to his Prince,
And all enrag'd with malice and despight,
He leads his captive souldiers thus to fight.
In Van, or Front march Infidels without
The Church, then Persecutors, and the rout
Of Heretiques within; the Middleward
Prophane, and all ungodly men do guard;
The Reare consists of an accursed Crew,
Terrible indeed, and hideous to view
(As Conscience awaked once can tell)
Deadly sinne, damnation, death and hell.
The wings, or sides this body that inclose
Are fleshly lusts, and worldly pleasures Foes,
That by force of strong perswasion kill,
Moe, than the Tempter can with all his skill.
The Collonels, Captains, Drums and Trumpeters,
And other such inferiour Officers,
Are infernall spirits hovering in the aire;
Th'word of command's Presumption and Despaire.
The Church, then Persecutors, and the rout
Of Heretiques within; the Middleward
Prophane, and all ungodly men do guard;
The Reare consists of an accursed Crew,
Terrible indeed, and hideous to view
(As Conscience awaked once can tell)
Deadly sinne, damnation, death and hell.
The wings, or sides this body that inclose
Are fleshly lusts, and worldly pleasures Foes,
That by force of strong perswasion kill,
Moe, than the Tempter can with all his skill.
The Collonels, Captains, Drums and Trumpeters,
And other such inferiour Officers,
Are infernall spirits hovering in the aire;
Th'word of command's Presumption and Despaire.
Thus Summum Malum, Summum Bonums Foe,
Sets up his Standard here on earth below;
And with his false suggestions, every houre
Drawes to his party a Malignant power
Of Potentates, as well as baser sort,
His earthly fading kingdomes to support,
And sends abroad his nimble Mercuries,
Intelligencers, Scouts, and Aulick lyes,
And promiseth rewards for all their paines,
As pleasures, treasures, dignities and gaines:
But all these proffers prove but a flim-flam,
He leaves them at the last like Doctor Lambe;
And when delights, and life are gone and past,
Then comes the sad Catastrophe at last,
Endlesse and easelesse torments in hell-fire,
This is the Serpents and his souldiers hire.
Sets up his Standard here on earth below;
And with his false suggestions, every houre
Drawes to his party a Malignant power
Of Potentates, as well as baser sort,
His earthly fading kingdomes to support,
And sends abroad his nimble Mercuries,
Intelligencers, Scouts, and Aulick lyes,
And promiseth rewards for all their paines,
As pleasures, treasures, dignities and gaines:
But all these proffers prove but a flim-flam,
He leaves them at the last like Doctor Lambe;
And when delights, and life are gone and past,
Then comes the sad Catastrophe at last,
Endlesse and easelesse torments in hell-fire,
This is the Serpents and his souldiers hire.
Against this Hydra-headed Army stands
The Prince of Peace, with his victorious bands;
Not that this glorious Conquerour doth need
Created helpe, t'effect a noble deed;
For He Himselfe did long ago subdue
The Prince of darknesse, and th'infernall crew;
But to communicate He doth delight
To silly Mortals His owne matchlesse might,
Which so upon them daily He conferres,
That in the end th'are more than conquerers;
Yet none but slaves, and conquered by sinne
He makes His souldiers, and the field to winne,
After He first hath pull'd them from the jawes
Of death and hell, and given them new Lawes
And principles divine; then doth dispose
Them thus in order 'gainst His Churches Foes.
The Prince of Peace, with his victorious bands;
Not that this glorious Conquerour doth need
Created helpe, t'effect a noble deed;
For He Himselfe did long ago subdue
The Prince of darknesse, and th'infernall crew;
But to communicate He doth delight
To silly Mortals His owne matchlesse might,
Which so upon them daily He conferres,
That in the end th'are more than conquerers;
Yet none but slaves, and conquered by sinne
He makes His souldiers, and the field to winne,
After He first hath pull'd them from the jawes
Of death and hell, and given them new Lawes
And principles divine; then doth dispose
Them thus in order 'gainst His Churches Foes.
The Vant-guard doth consist of Saints, and brave
Heroick Martyrs, who despise the grave;
The true Professours of the Gospell next,
(With scoffing Chams and lying Doegs vext)
March in the Middleward; But O the Reare,
(That which most th'infernall force doth feare)
Consisteth of the Generalls owne merits,
Which succour sends unto the fainting spirits
Of all His souldiers, who else would be lost;
The wings on each side of this glorious Hoast,
Are stretched farre above all earthly things,
Spirituall graces making lively springs
Of hope and joy with promises so sure
Of heav'nly life for ever to endure.
The Officers to this High Generall,
Are brave Commanders, blessed Angels all,
Who at their Captaines becke like lightning move;
Th'word of command is this; I feare, and love.
Heroick Martyrs, who despise the grave;
The true Professours of the Gospell next,
(With scoffing Chams and lying Doegs vext)
March in the Middleward; But O the Reare,
(That which most th'infernall force doth feare)
Consisteth of the Generalls owne merits,
Which succour sends unto the fainting spirits
Of all His souldiers, who else would be lost;
The wings on each side of this glorious Hoast,
Are stretched farre above all earthly things,
Spirituall graces making lively springs
Of hope and joy with promises so sure
Of heav'nly life for ever to endure.
The Officers to this High Generall,
Are brave Commanders, blessed Angels all,
Who at their Captaines becke like lightning move;
Th'word of command is this; I feare, and love.
Thus stands the Christian arm'd against his Foes,
Giving, and sometimes taking many blowes,
And that not by imaginary force
But as really as did Foot and Horse
Neare Winchester of late, where soules apace
Fled to the frowning and the smiling face
Of this great Generall; For only He
Bindeth, and maketh men and Angels free.
And by His mighty power doth so keepe
His souldiers happy soules that fall asleepe
That stinging death shall never hurt them, why?
Because they dye to live eternally.
Giving, and sometimes taking many blowes,
And that not by imaginary force
But as really as did Foot and Horse
Neare Winchester of late, where soules apace
Fled to the frowning and the smiling face
Of this great Generall; For only He
Bindeth, and maketh men and Angels free.
And by His mighty power doth so keepe
His souldiers happy soules that fall asleepe
That stinging death shall never hurt them, why?
Because they dye to live eternally.
To the Reader.
Now may thine eye convey unto thy heart,Thine own condition (Reader) on whose part
Or side, to take up armes thou dost intend,
Or be unto thy selfe a Foe or Friend;
For under one of these two Generalls
The service of all men and Angels falls;
You see the Captaines and their wages both,
O love the one then, and the other loath.
G. W.
| Miscellaneous works of George Wither | |