English Puritan & Reformed

Two Incomparable Generalissimos

George Wither (1588-1667) · 774 words · 3 min

The source for this document is https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/A96782.0001.001

Project Note

This is licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND. This license allows reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.

The source of this document is the Early English Books Online (EEBO-TCP) website. Those books were transcribed in a character for character manner and can be very cumbersome to read since there was no standard spelling during that time. Many spelling variations such as "unlesse", "vnlesse", and "vnles" regularly appear.

This project was conceived to clean up those books as much as possible and make them more accessible to the interested reader, leading to the creation of a massive list of variant spellings and their corrections. This was used to clean up the text, but is of course only as complete as the list itself. Because of the nature of the original transcription, some words have missing characters or places where the original language (e.g., Greek) was not transcribed. This effort does not change that. Be aware that the original transcription can also be faulty and in some cases entire sentences may be missing.

Although this is no substitute for a properly compared, proofed, and scholarly edition, I believe that the result is a document which is far more accessible, particularly for searching for terms using standard spelling. The document has been cleaned and presented in what I hope is a pleasing and useful format for the vast majority of Christian brothers and sisters who just want access to read these spiritually nourishing works.

However, a word of warning: The Puritans were a very diverse group of people and their age was characterized with godliness, but also much upheaval, disputation and strife. They disagreed on many doctrines and some of these works contain less orthodox or Scriptural views than others. The reader is strongly advised to read with discernment, particularly if it is unknown whether author is trustworthy.

This project took a huge amount of time and skill to bring to fruition. I would particularly like to thank David Jonescue for the initial list of Puritans he found on EEBO and the concept behind this project as well as the continuous, unceasing efforts toward seeing this complete. Without his labor, this would not be available. Alex Sarrouf was invaluable in providing the initial list of over 7,000 spelling variations he had identified and corrected, as well as continuing to review more than 16,000 additions to that list for any typos.

Logan West
(with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf)
www.puritansearch.org

THE TWO INCOMPARABLE GENERALISSIMO'S of the world, with their Armies briefly described and embattailed, visibly and invisibly opposing each other.

Argument.

         ACcording to the Enmity decreed
        
         Between the woman's and the Serpents seed
        
         In Paradise, each other doth defy,
        
         This hatred lasteth to Eternity:
        
         No marvel then that War is now begun
        
         unnaturally 'twixt father and the son.

The one is the old Serpent the Devil, General of the Church Malignant.

        CLad all in angry Arms of discontent,
       
        Because of his perpetual banishment
       
        From bliss, above five thousand years ago,
       
        And in revenge of that same fatal blow,
       
        Given him by that pure unspotted Child,
       
        Borne of a woman whom he so beguild,
       
        The old infernal Serpent ever since,
       
        Hath proved a hateful Rebell to his Prince,
       
        And all enraged with malice and despite,
       
        He leads his captive soldiers thus to fight.

        In Van, or Front march Infidels without
       
        The Church, then Perfecutors, and the rout
       
        Of Heretics within; the Middleward
       
        Profane, 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 sin, damnation, death and hell.
       
        The wings, or sides this body that inclose
       
        Are fleshly lusts, and worldly pleasures Foes,
       
        That by force of strong persuasion kill,
       
        Moe, than the Tempter can with all his skill.
       
        The Collonels, Captains, Drums and Trumpeters,
       
        And other such inferior Officers,
       
        Are infernal spirits hovering in the air;
       
        Th'word of command's Presumption and Despair.

         Thus
        
        Summum Malum, Summum Bonums
        
         Foe,
        
        Sets up his Standard here on earth below;
       
        And with his false suggestions, every hour
       
        Drawes to his party a Malignant power
       
        Of Potentates, as well as baser sort,
       
        His earthly fading kingdoms to support,
       
        And sends abroad his nimble
        
         Mercuries,
        
        Intelligencers, Scouts, and
        
         Aulick
        
        lies,
       
        And promiseth rewatds for all their pains,
       
        As pleasures, treasures, dignities and gains:
       
        But all these proffers prove but a flim-flam,
       
        He leaves them at the last like Doctor
        
         Lamb;
        
        And when delights, and life are gone and past,
       
        Then comes the sad
        
         Catastrophe
        
        at last,
       
        Endless and easeless torments in hell-fire,
       
        This is the Serpents and his soldiers hire.

The other is the Lord JESUS CHRIST, General of the Church Militant.

        AGainst this
        
         Hydra-headed
        
        Army stands
       
        The Prince of Peace, with his victorious bands
       
        Not that this glorious Conqueror doth nee
        
         •
        
        Created help, toeffect a noble deed;
       
        For He Himself did long ago subdue
       
        The Prince of darkness, and th'infernal crew;
       
        But to communicate He doth delight
       
        To silly Mortals His own matchless might,
       
        Which so upon them daily He confers,
       
        That in the end th'are more than conquerors;
       
        Yet none but slaves, and conquered by sin
       
        He makes His soldiers, and the field to win,
       
        After He first hath pulled them from the jaws
       
        Of death and hell, and given them new Laws
       
        And principles divine; then doth dispose
       
        Them thus in order 'gainst His Churches Foes.

        The Vant-guard doth consist of Saints, and brave
       
        Heroic Martyrs, who despise the grave;
       
        The true Professors of the Gospel next,
       
        (With scoffing
        
         Chams
        
        and lying
        
         Doeg's
        
        vext)
       
        March in the Middleward; But O the Reare,
       
        (That which most th'insernall force doth fear)
       
        Consisteth of the Generalls own merits,
       
        Which succor sends unto the fainting spirits
       
        Of all His soldiers, who else would be lost;
       
        The wings on each side of this glorious Hoast,
       
        Are stretched far above all earthly things,
       
        Spiritual graces making lively springs
       
        Of hope and joy with promises so sure
       
        Of heavenly life forever to endure.
       
        The Officers to this High General,
       
        Are brave Commanders, blessed Angels all,
       
        Who at their Captains beck like lightning move
       
        Th'word of command is this; I fear, and love.

        Thus stands the Christian armed against his Foes,
       
        Giving, and sometimes taking many blows,
       
        And that not by imaginary force
       
        But as really as did Foot and Horse
       
        Neare
        
         Winchester
        
        of late, where souls apace
       
        Fled to the frowning and the smiling face
       
        Of this great General; For only He
       
        Bindeth, and maketh men and Angels free.
       
        And by His mighty power doth so keep
       
        His soldiers happy souls that fall asleep
       
        That stinging death shall never hurt them, why?
       
        Because they die 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 arms thou dost intend,
       
        Or be unto thyself a Foe or Friend;
       
        For under one of these two Generalls
       
        The service of all men and Angels falls;
       
        You see the Captains and their wages both,
       
        O love the one then, and the other loath.

G W.