Three Private MEDITATIONS Which being, for the most Part, of Public Concernment, are therefore Published, by their Author GEO. WITHER.
The
First,
is a
Private Thanksgiving,
consisting of
three Hymns,
whereby, GOD is magnified for his
Mercy
vouchsafed in the late
Ingagement
between the
English
and the
Dutch,
in
June
1665. Composed after Celebrating the
Public Thanksgiving
commanded by the
King.
The
Second,
is a Sacrifice of
Praise
and
Prayer,
by him offered to Almighty GOD, for his providential respect, to
Him,
his
Wife
and
Children,
during his Imprisonment in the disgraceful Goal of
Newgate,
when left destitute of all ordinary means of subsistence, by being deprived both of his
Estate
and
Liberty.
The
Third,
Intituled NIL ULTRA, is a
Soliloquium,
wherein, this
Author,
expresses the improbability, of an effectual proceeding further, to prevent the
Sins & Plagues
increasing, by ought, which he can offer to consideration.
Imprinted in the Year, 1665.
A Private THANK-OBLATION Consisting of
Three Hymns,
whereby Almighty GOD is magnified for his
Mercy
vouchsafed in the late
Ingagement
between the
English
and the
Dutch,
in
June
1665. after Celebration of the
Public Thanksgiving
commanded by the
King.
The first
Hymn,
is a
Preparation of the heart,
to the duty intended.
NOw, what to GOD's praise belongs,
I will sing in
holy Songs;
Who, shall from his
heavenly Choir,
With such
strains
my heart inspire,
That, (though distant) I, and they
Therein, join together may:
For, his influenced
Grace
Is not bard, by
Time
or
Place.
2.
Let his Raies of
Light Divine,
In me, and upon me shine;
Let his
holy spirit
shake
Drousie flesh,
till it shall wake;
Touch my
Lips,
unlose my
Tongue,
That his
Praises
may be sung;
For, till rouz'd up, from on high,
Dark,
and
dull
and
dumb
am I.
3.
Human words,
cannot impart
What GOD speaketh to my heart,
Nor my faultring
tongue
declare
All his Operations there,
Yet, I am compel'd sometimes,
In plain
Verse,
and broken
Rimes,
Thus, to stammer out such things,
As to me the
spirit
brings.
4.
To extol what GOD hath done,
Here, I mus
•
ng am alone;
And, do praise him in my heart
For what none can claim a part:
But, what to his
praise
belongs
I will now sing in
Vocal songs
And, will so his praise declare
That, no man shall therein share.
The Second Hymn being an imperfect
Narrative
and confession to God's glory, of what he hath done for us, in the late Ingagement; how little, we have merited the
mercies
vouchsafed; and how merciful GOD hath been to both
Nations.
LORD, in a
public meeting,
I, this day
Have join'd, a
Sacrifice of Thanks
to pay;
And, being warmed at the
common fire,
(By what
external notions
could inspire)
To perfect that which is begun,
(And ought in duty to be done)
I, now withdraw into my heart,
To speak to
thee,
who therein art;
And learn, how, I may to thy praise,
So sanctify my
words
and
ways,
That, henceforth, they may more conduce unto
Thy glory, then they heretofore could do.
Oh! let my
Meditations
be
Made acceptable unto thee.
2.
For
Victory
conferred, we praised thy
Name;
We hear, our
foes
have likewise done the same.
And doubtless, whosoever
lost
or
won,
To thee, are praises due for what is done,
Yea, no less praise for what is
lost,
Then that, for which we triumph most;
The one our
pride
may elevate,
The other,
humble us,
for that
Which was mis-acted, or mis-spoke:
For, Thou, who heed of both hast took,
So graciously, oh Lord, hast shar'd betwixt
Both
Nations, sweet
with
bitter,
intermixt,
That, no man, this day duly keeps,
Save he, who therein
sings
and
weeps.
3.
For, all
Transactions,
which concern in gross
Our
public,
or our
private gain,
or
loss
(And, which unto our knowledge,
fame
doth bring)
Well-weighd) gives cause, no less to
weep,
then
sing.
The
good successes
we have had
Abate some fears to make us glad;
The
hopes,
which those
events
do give
(Of what we willingly believe)
So high our
expectations
rear
As if, he we were above all fear.
But, when we hear the many
Lamentations
For loss of
Limbs, Lives,
and
beloved Relations,
To
sadness,
all our
Joy
it turns,
And, he, who much rejoiced mourns.
4.
A
final Conquest
is not yet obtained;
That, rarely with one
Victory
is gained:
For, they who loose at first, at last, may win,
By mending
faults,
with which, they did begin.
And, they who did at first prevail,
Find, oftentimes, their hopes to fail
Because to
trustless
things they trust,
Or else, employ to feed their Lust,
That, which thy
Majesty
intends
Should strengthen them to better ends.
When, therefore most
Victorious
we appear,
Let us
rejoice,
but, with a
trembling fear,
Lest, when the
rolling wheel
shall turn,
We, who rejoice, find cause to mourn.
5.
Thou art but little pleased (if ought at all)
To see us triumph, when our foes do fall;
Especially, when they (though ours they be)
Are thy
known enemies,
no more then we.
To be our GOD, we thee profess;
They (to our knowledge) do no less.
We say, our trust is in thy
Name,
They may as truly, say the same.
Their sins are many; we are sure
(Or may be) that, ours are not fewer.
We have not yet, our
hopes
at full enjoyed;
Nor are their
expectations
quite destroyed;
To praise thee therefore, we and they,
Are equally obliged this day.
6.
We say, the
Dutch
to us ingrateful be,
Our Conscience tells us, we are so to thee.
They with our
Nation
cruelly have dealt;
Our inhumanity, thy
Saints
have felt.
Their
Avarice,
makes them oppress;
Ill husbandry
and
idleness,
Have made our ways, as grievous prove,
To those, who seek for peace in love.
And, we, and they pursue the
course
Most likely, to make bad things worse.
Then, Lord, which off us, justly can expect
That, our
Contests,
should have a good effect?
Or, that the one should have a place
Above the other in thy Grace?
7.
Had it so pleased thee, thou at first
Shock,
Both
Earthen Pitchers,
mightest have justly broke;
But they, (as if they had been made of leather)
Are only bruiz'd by being knocked together:
Which, in mere love, to us and them,
Thou didst vouchsafe, to give us time,
With more advisement to take heed,
What, by
Contention
will succeed;
Lest both before their
quarrels
end,
Be broke like
pots,
which none can mend.
Lord, were there but that
mercy,
and no more,
In that, which we pretend to praise thee for,
It merits from
this,
and
that Nation,
An everlasting
Thank-oblation.
8.
For, in this
mercy,
unto both extended,
Are very many
mercies
comprehended,
So complicated, one within another,
And, to thy
Judgments,
linked so together,
That, if we could be brought to learn
How, they both
Nations
do concern;
To what, each
Judgment
doth direct,
What every
mercy
might effect;
What, we should seek, what we should shun,
And, what, ought timely to be done;
The wisest men among us, could not tell
Whether, those things which us have pleased well,
Or, that, which grieves us most, shall best
Thy
loving kindness
manifest.
9.
The
Trophies,
which most men delight to raise,
As testimonies of a
thankful praise,
For what thou daign'st, are but a
medley mirth,
Of wholesome
simples,
mixed with coarsest earth,
Or, with such noisome
weeds,
as grow
Upon dunghills here below,
That, to thy nostrils and thine eyes,
Offensive
fumings
vaporize,
Which do provoke thine anger more,
Then many errors heretofore:
And, that which for
thine honor,
some pretend,
Is for their
own praise,
or a baser end;
Either, to satisfy their
Lust,
Or, praise
false gods
in which they trust.
10.
My GOD, look not severely upon this,
Or, on ought else, that hath been done amiss;
For, no
oblation
can from us proceed,
Which will deserve a favorable heed.
Some of our
offerings,
now and then,
May beneficial be to
men,
Or, to thy
Saints
on earth extend,
If we confer them to that end
For which, they seem to be bestowed
(And, in their welfare, seek our own:)
But, to advantage thee, the precioust thing,
Which, we to please, or to appease, can bring,
Adds nothing; though thou pleased art,
With what comes from a faithful heart.
11.
Be mindful still, that we are
flesh and blood,
Whence, nothing can expected be that's good,
Till by his Cross it shall be mortify'd,
Who, to redeem it from corruption died.
Remember whereof we are made;
That even the best of us are bad;
Our seeming sanctified joys,
Uncomely actions and rude noise,
Which make thy best beloved sory,
Instead of adding to thy glory.
Oh! let hereof, a free unfain'd
confession,
(A
burnt oblation
made by true
contrition,
And, hallow'd by
Christ's
blood) purge hence,
All, that▪ which gives to thee offense.
12.
The more thou shalt enlarge our
wealth
and
power,
Our selves, let us lay down so much the lower;
And, rather use them to unite together
In love, then in destroying one another.
He, in the best mode gives thee praise,
Who, ordereth aright his
ways;
Who, justifies thee in thy
will,
By thereunto, conforming still;
And brings to thee a
contrite heart,
Ascribing thereto no desert:
This is, most gracious GOD, a
sacrifice,
Which thou didst never (never wilt) despise;
And, such a
sacrifice,
I pray
Make that, which I present this day.
13.
Unfaigned thanks my heart returns to thee,
For that, which thou hast done,
what e're it be,
Against,
or
for us:
hearty thanks we owe
Both for what thou withholdst, and dost bestow.
Prosperity
is no true sign
Who is a
Favorite
of thine;
Nor any one dost thou reject,
Whom frequently thou dost correct,
Unless he be more
willful
far
Then
frail,
as very many are;
And whether thou dost give us
wounds,
or
heal,
It will at last conduce unto our weal,
If we, (but as we may) persevere
In contributing our endeaver.
14.
Two
of thy greatest
Plagues,
on us, now lie;
The
third
is threatened, and seems very nigh:
Thy other
Judgments
also scatred are
So thick, though these three Kindoms evry where,
That, by them, very few or none,
Have scaped being seized upon;
Or, being pinched, in what relates
Unto their
Person
or
Estates:
Yet,
sin
doth most men so besot,
As if thy frowns they feared not;
And, are more zealous others to destroy,
Then, of the means their own peace to enjoy;
A madness, which worse plagues procures,
Then pestilential
Calentures.
15.
Arise oh GOD, advance thy
Throne
on high;
Thy self, let thine
own actings
glorify.
Thy
Justice
and thy
Mercy
so unite
That, they may honor thee in all men's sight.
Rebuke those who delight in
war,
And, to thy
Saints
injurious are:
Give
peace
to those, who
peace
affect,
And, them from all their foes protect,
That,
Righteousness
and
Peace
may hither
Return, and here, still reign together.
Thy foes, are now become exceeding strong,
Thy
coming,
therefore, Lord, defer not long.
But,
I have done:
for, thou, with pour
Art coming, and wilt keep thine hour.
16.
Dear GOD, this petty
sacrifice
of mine,
Was took out of a
Treasury
of thine,
And, of mine own, I, naught can thereto add,
Except my
heart,
which, from thee, too, I had.
Kept to thy
self,
now, let that be,
And, never left again to
me,
Or wander thither, where it may
Unto the world be made a prey;
Or, by the temptings of the Devil,
Be drawn unto the love of evil;
Then,
this
(and
that,
which I have heretofore,
To
praise
thee offered) thee, shall praise much more,
Then many things,
done, heard,
and
told,
In
Temples,
decked with silk, and gold.
The third
Hymn,
proceeds to a thankful Illustration of GOD's deserved
Praise,
by acknowledging his
Almightiness;
his observing what hath been openly and secretly done in every part of the world, by both the said Nations, and that no
praise
is justly due to either of us, but shame rather, for ought performed in the said Ingagement.
MOst Almighty
LORD of Hosts,
High
Protector
of our Coasts,
Who, commandst, as thou dost please,
Fire and Water, Earth and Seas;
Who, lookst down from heaven, upon
All that here on earth is done,
And, survey'st her darkest parts,
Even the Crannies of men's hearts.
2.
Thou beheldst the
Prepartions
Of these willful Neighbring
Nations;
Thou, hast heard what they have spoken,
Heedest what such words betoken:
Thou hast searched out their
Designs,
With what thereto them inclines,
And, knowest whether of the
two,
Is the worst, if one be so.
3.
Thou, observest what was done;
Not in
Africa
alone
Or, both
Indies;
but, what was
Done, likewise, in every place:
Why the
English
and the
Dutch
Are divided now so much:
What is false, with what is true;
And, to which most blame is due.
4.
Thou rememberest, what Relations
Have been long between these
Nations,
What
professions
to each other,
They did make when knit together;
Yea, what they professed to
thee,
Which now seems forgot to be,
As if they were not such
men,
Or such
Christions,
now, as then.
5.
To prevent what is begun,
Much, by thee, was timely done;
But, their
Avarice
and
Pride,
Them, did more and more divide.
To
self-will
they did adhere
Like men without
wit,
or
fear;
So, thou leftst them both, to do
What they were inclined unto.
6.
Then, with
Streamers
and with
Flags,
Foolish vaunts,
and
shameless brags,
They weighed Anchors from the shore,
Which, by some, was seen no more;
And, with an unchristian rage
'Gainst each other did engage;
Fire
and
Water,
in that hour,
Striving which should most devour.
7.
Dread of Death,
that man
amazes;
Noise, and smoke, and sudden blazes
This man
blinds, and deafneth so
That, he knows not
Friend
from
Foe.
Some, are slain by their own
Tools,
Wise-men
speed as ill as
Fools;
Here, a
Valiant Soldier
dies,
There, a
Coward
sprawling lies.
8.
Loud the thundering Guns did roar,
Sails,
and
Masts,
and
Keels
were tore;
Ships,
were either split, or fired;
Men,
by thousands, there expired,
This man sinks, and that man swims,
Some escapd, with loss of limbs,
But, to whether best befell,
Thou alone, oh Lord, canst tell.
9.
Horrid
sights,
and
sounds without,
Them assaulted round about,
Which, in some, did thoughts begin
That, raised greater
Frights within;
And, though wounds did grieve them sore
That, tormented them much more;
For, their pains, none can declare,
Who, in
spirit
wounded are.
10.
This, we know, that thou art just,
As is everything thou dost:
Thou, art
kind,
and lov'st so well,
That by
woundings,
thou dost
heal.
Thou art wise, and actest so,
That, we thereby, we
wise
might grow;
And, by what was lately done,
Might
new mercies
be begun.
11.
Not to
us,
LORD, for the same,
Be the praise, but, to thy
Name:
Unto us, for what was done,
Nought belongs, but
shame
alone.
We, were so much terrify'd,
That, we knew not what we did,
Nor yet seem to understand,
What
work,
thou hast now in hand.
12.
This
Correction
was in
Love,
Which, if both should so improve
As (if they had grace) they may
By true
penitence,
this day
Our, endeavor to be
Friends,
To thine honor, so much tends,
That, it would for both these
Nations,
Prove the best, of their
Oblations.
13.
Victories,
do not belong
To an
Arm of Flesh,
though strong.
'It is nor
Policy
nor
Force,
Ships, nor Troops of Men and Horse;
No, nor
formal thanks and prayrs,
That prevents
Death
or
Despairs;
But, it is thy
powerful Arm,
That secures from
fear
and
harm.
14.
Therefore,
praise,
for all
well done,
I ascribe to thee alone:
All, that men have brought to pass,
Merits nothing but
Disgrace;
And the best that we can do,
Will but
Ruin
add thereto,
If we keep our
crooked ways,
Or, shall grudge at thy due
praise.
ARESOLVE,
Occasioned by somewhat spoken concerning this
Thank-Oblation,
and this Authors other Writings.
IT may be, many will these
Hymns
contemn,
Because, they do not relish well to them.
They likewise, may
Inferior God's
offend,
Because in this
Oblation,
I intend
No praise to them, but that, praise should be given
To magnify alone, my GOD in heaven.
The
first
of these, I leave to their own mode,
In offering up
Oblations
unto GOD:
For, if well-pleasing unto him they be,
They cannot be distasteful unto me;
And, whatsoever they of me shall say,
I may be thereby profited some way.
As for the
latter,
there is little need
That, I, to their deserving should take heed:
For,
Prophets, Priests, and Poets
of their own
Enough they have, to make their merits known.
These,
to extol their
Patrons,
can, and may
Write more, and speak much more, then I dare say,
Who, (whatsoe'er advantage thence may flow,)
Can praise no man, for what I do not know.
These, do as their
Inspirers,
them incline,
And, I do, as I am inspired by mine.
Moreover, it becomes not him, who sings
A
Song of praise
unto the
King of Kings,
The
Attributes
of
men
to intermingle
With his (as to those
works
he worketh single)
That, were to follow their absurd example
Who worship GOD and
Baal
within one
Temple,
Or Chroni
•
cle the Deeds by
HERO's
done,
With Tales of
Robin Hood,
and
Little John:
For these respects,
I
know men
Sober-witted
Will me excuse for what may seem omitted;
And, as for those men, who so prudent are not,
Whether, they me excuse, or no,
I care not.
To my Dearly Beloved Children.
ABout twenty years now past though I had then
temporal possessions,
which I might probly have given and bequeathed, I composed and intended for your
Legacy, A Soliloquie
and
Prayer
which I had spread in Writing before GOD on your behalves; and I believe it shall continue forever in his view: But, there being but one Copy thereof, both you and I were deprived of that
Composure,
when the Book for which I here suffer was taken out of my Closet. Therefore, being now likely to be so separted from you, how much soever it may concern our temporal or spiritual well-beings, that I may thenceforth perhaps never see you more. I send you this Sacrifice of Praise and Prayer, next following, to be instead of that which is lost; for it contains in effect somewhat, (as to the Petitionary part) of that which was spread before GOD (as aforesaid) in a larger Scrol. Take it into your serious considerations, and lay it up among your Evidences; For it will speak to your advantage, when I can speak no more for you; when other men who can speak for you, will not; when many perhaps will speak
against you, and when you shall not be able to speak for yourselves.
GOD, sanctify unto you this brief
Memorandum,
and you to his glory, that we may all meet together in him to our everlasting joy. Be obedient to your Mother, the enjoyment of whose Company, will more then recompense the loss of mine; For GOD hath endowed her with so much maternal prudence and love, that by her counsel, (if you despise it not) your
Posterity
may be continued on the Earth until
Christ
comes to gather together his
Elect.
Remember the counsel of your
earthly Father,
that the promise made by your
heavenly Father
to the
Rechabites
may be enlarged to you and your Posterities; For, your and their personal obedience to GODs Covenant made with all
Mankind
in
Christ Jesu,
will be required (according to that assisting Grace which he vouchsafeth) toward the accomplishing of what I have prayed for concerning you. The blessing of GOD be with you, and Farewell.
Your Affectionate Father, GEO: WITHER.
Newgate
Feb. 15. 1662.
A
Sacrifice of Praise and Prayer
Offered unto Almighty GOD, by
George Wither
for his gracious
Providence,
in providing for
Him,
his
Wife
and
Children,
during his Imprisonment in the disgraceful Gaol of NEWGATE, and when left destitute of all ordinary means of subsistence, by being deprived both of his
Estate
and
Liberty.
LORD, though my
Prayers
and my
Praises,
be
Unworthy to be offered up to thee,
Thus (as I am obliged) I assay
To add unto thine
honor
what I may,
By publishing both with my Tongue and Pen,
Thy
Loving kindness
to the Sons of men;
Especially, in those particulars
Whereby thy kindness unto me appears.
Prais'd be thy blessed
Name;
For, thou art speedy
In showing thy compassion to the needy;
And leave'st not any
suffrer
in despair
Who, timely seeks thy help by faithful prayer,
In patient waiting during his probation,
For thy appointed hour of Salvation.
Of this, thy never failing
Clemency,
Few men have had more evidence then I,
Or in all straights, vouchsafed more seasnably
A needful, and a competent supply
Yea though my
sufferings
have been great & many
And, I, in flesh as sensible as any
Of every
grievance,
thou hast by their length
Improved so my patience and my strength,
That, oft such
grievances,
were not alone
As tolerable as if they were none:
But, such as also, have my joy increased
When I to other men seemed most oppressed.
For, though I have completed now, well-near,
In weal and woe, the three and fiftieth year,
And six
Confinements,
since I first begun
That
work,
which I thought needful to be done;
Thou hast preserved me so, and me so armed,
Against all
changes,
that, none me hath harmed:
Which, unto me, a
knowledge
doth derive
Of what thou art, that's more then speculative;
That, what experimentally I speak,
In other men, may more impression make,
Then when I
Notions
only shall declare,
That were infused into me, through the ear.
And 'tis not thy least
Mercy,
that of late,
Thou dost their seeming
Charity
abate,
Who, thought, they might thereby have tempted
To wrong my conscience, and be false to thee, me
By smothring, or Adulterating that
Which, to
Truths
vindication may relate:
For, when with needful food men bait their hook,
The heedless hungry Fishes are soon took;
And, whether, we confide in thee or no,
Whilst we have Oil and Meal, tis hard to know.
Nor, I, nor mine, (though robbed of all) ought lack,
That's needful for the belly, or the back.
Thou hast my Wife and Children clothed and fed,
When I could give them neither Cloth nor Bread;
And, from the earth, when (in seed branch & root)
I seemed likely to be rooted out,
My
Withred sprouts,
were then by the re-planted,
Where they enjoy the nourishment they wanted:
So timely, and in such a manner too,
Was that vouchsafd, which thou were pleased to do,
That, for it, my
well-wishers
praised thy
Name;
And vext thereat, my envious foes become.
Especially, in that place, where their worst
And last despights, were manifested first;
For, there, and in their sight, by whom undone
I seemed to be, that mercy was begun.
The
Families,
from whom I was designed
To take my
Being,
thou hast now twice join'd,
And, their two
Surnames,
being join'd together,
Denominate my
Grandson,
HUNT L' WITHER,
Who, is in possibility to have
Earth of his own, wherein to make his Grave;
And find a
livelihood
whilst here he lives,
If he, thy Bounty thankfully receives;
(And, no whit farther shall be trusted in,
Then that should be, which hath supplied been
Instead of what I lost) For, Lord, in thee,
(And, not in what thou givest) our trust should be.
My only
Daughter,
when left
portionless,
And without any likely hopefulness
Of more then thou didst on her Birthday give her;
Yea, when I was disabled to relieve her
Thou didst, even in that great necessity,
Espouse into a
Loving Family,
Enobled, by a
Pedigree,
or
Steem
Which hath no blemish to disparage them;
Or, such wants, as may make the reputation
Of
Births,
and
Titles
loose their estimation.
Oh! let thy so uniting them together,
Make them a mutual blessing to each other;
And, by considring with due thankfulness,
What thou hast done for me in my distress,
Make both my Children, and their whole descent
With thy good pleasure, at all times content;
That, they to others, good example giving,
By their
woell-doing,
join'd with
right believing,
(And likewise heeding how thou dost proceed
With such as in thy
Fatherhood
confide)
They never may despair, though quite berest
Of what their
earthly Fathers
might have left:
And, from my personal experiments,
Let them, thereof to mind them, take some hints.
For, when I by the world, seemed quite forsaken
And, she, with
Lands
and
Goods,
from me had taken
My
Liberty;
that, what then grieved me
Might more embitter'd, and redoubled be
By what my Children suffered; when, they had
Mo means of comfort, and, thereby grew sad:
Thou, didst for that a Remedy provide,
By making them, a
Bridegoome,
and a
Bride
(Whilst I imprisoned was within that place
Which added to my
Poverty
disgrace)
To my good liking, and their own content,
Without self-seeking, or dispargement.
This providential mercy, did appear
The more, in that, they likewise married were,
(As I awhile before, presag'd they should)
Without such
portions,
as I lately could
Have given them, when thou didst me disable
Not without cause. And, tis considerable
That, they kept both their Weddings in the sight
Of those, who them pursude with most despite;
Even in my
plundered house,
and at that time,
In which my
wife,
had not to welcome them
A
dish
or
spoon,
but what a neighbor lent;
Or Meat, but what by thee was thither sent.
Yea, thou hast, when the world denied us bread
Me,
and my
Consort,
competently fed.
(E're since, the world deprived us of our own)
By them, whose faces are to us unknown;
To evidence, that all thy
Saints
are friends,
To him, who on thy
providence
depends,
And to the utmost of his power persevers
In just and conscientious endeavers:
Yea, though corruption so in him prevaileth,
That of his duty many ways he faileth.
He, hoping those
Experiments,
to some
May comfortable in like
straits
become,
Thus, for their sakes, in
words
expressed they be;
For, without
words,
all things are known to thee.
All this considered, I obliged am
To take unto myself deserved shame,
When, therewith I well heed, how oft, by sin,
To thy Commands, I have rebellious been;
As also, that exceeding graciousness,
Which thou to me vouchsafest ne'rtheless:
And, it begets in me a greater fear,
Then when thy
Chastisements
upon me are;
For, in correcting me, thou art more mild
Then is a loving Father to his Child,
When he not only
chideth,
but
intreats,
Kind language,
mixing also, with his
threats;
Whips him, then kisseth; and sometimes to see
Him weep doth shed as many tears as he.
LORD, for those
mercies,
graciously afforded,
(Well meriting, by me to be recorded)
Accept this petty
Sacrifice of Praise,
And, make us truly thankful all our days,
(Not only in our
verbal Thank-oblations
But also, in our
lives
and
conversations)
For, though we cannot golden gifts prefer
Yet, we may offer
Frankincense
and
Myrrh;
And from him, who hath not a
Lamb
to give,
A
Dove,
thou with acceptance wilt receive.
Vouchsafe us, in each temporary trial
A constant progress with true
self-denial;
Let not the
Benefits
we have received
Be underpriz'd, because we were bereaved
Of those
externals,
which we have enjoyed,
For, their enjoyment might have us destroyed;
Yea, those whom thou makest
poor
thou lov'st as much
As those, whom thou art pleased to
enrich;
And, by thy
Grace▪
we may advantage make,
Of whatsoever thou dost
Give
or
Take.
Keep
me
and
mine
from that Prevarication
Which turns thy
proffered grace,
to
Reprobation
Incline us to desire, and to embrace
All means of perseverance in thy
Grace,
And, never let the
asking,
or the
granting,
Of any necessary gift be wanting.
Make us to shun and hate, all things, whereby
We may offend thy awful
Majesty;
Nor limiting thy
Mercy,
neither slandering
Thy just
Decrees,
as causes of our wandering:
For, no man to be wicked is enforced,
Or left by thee, until he leaves thee first;
Which▪ all men will confess when from their eyes
That scurffe is rubbed, which yet upon them lies.
So knit us in one
True love knot
together
By loving thee, and love to one another.
That, we in all
Temptations
fast may stand
And
Satan,
nor the world dissolve that band;
For, where
Love,
in the heart keeps residence,
Diff rence in
Judgment,
gives no more offense
Then diff'ring faces, although more delight
We take in those, who
love
and
judge aright.
When we offend, Correct us as our
Father
With all thy
Temporary scourges,
rather
Then suffer
sins,
by sins to be corrected,
(Which is the greatest Plague can be inflicted)
And that, we faint not underneath thy
Rod,
With
stripes,
mix mercy still, my gracious GOD.
I ask nor
Honors, Liberty,
nor
Wealth,
Nor
temporary pleasures
no nor
health,
Save, so far only, as hou knowest the use
Of such things to thine honor may conduce
With our
eternal safety,
and the Good
Of those with whom we have a
Brotherhood.
And, hereto, I will add, but this
Request
(Which comprehends all that can be expressed)
For
me
and
mine.
Oh! let it LORD, be plac
•
t,
Where it may stand, as long as
Time
shall last,
Within thy sight; and though, nor I, nor they
For whom I sue, can merit what I pray,
Vouchsafe it, for his sake, in whom I have
So much confided, as his
Boone
to crave.
Let us Dear GOD, from whom our Children sprung,
And, all their
Off-spring,
whether
old
or
young,
Who, from our loins have being, or shall come
Into this world, until the
day of Doom,
By him be so preserved, at whose cost
Redeem'd we were, that no
soul
may be lost,
Or be deprived of thy promises
In passing thorough this
life's wilderness,
Either by
Adams
fault, or our own guilt;
And then, of other things give what thou wilt:
For, this I value more, then if I had
Thy Grant, we should all
Kings
and
Queens
be made,
Possessing in this life the largest measure
Of temporary
honors, wealth,
and pleasure.
For they are Baubles, in respect of that
My sanctified Ambition aimeth at.
They who obtained most of them, were but slaves
Who dropt with Infamy into their Graves;
And oft less misery, to them befalls
Who get their bread, by robling under stalls;
Or, in this world, advanced are no higher
Then raking dirty rags out of the mire.
Thus, I in brief, have sum'd up my
Request;
Grant this, and let who pleaseth, take the rest.
LORD, I know none, who, ever heretofore
Did in this mode, thy Majesty implore;
And, from what he believes of thee it comes,
That, so to do, thy servant now presumes.
Forgive me if this absolute Petition
Extends beyond the bound of my
Commission;
For, nothing I intend, what ere I crave,
Save, what thou art well-pleased I should have,
Whose will I so prefer before mine own
In all things (if to me my heart is known)
That whatsoever may succeed thereon
Now, or hereafter,
Let thy will be done.
My soul thou hast inclined to belive
His Promises, who said,
Ask, and receive;
Help then my
unbelief:
For, if the grant
Of this
Petition
shall that fullness want
Which is desired; no want of
Love
in thee
Occasions it, but, some defects in me;
And, that
Obstruction,
which thereon is cast,
Shall by thy Love removed be at last.
He that in
Faith
and
Love
can to this
Prayer
Say, for himself,
Amen,
shall nev'r despair;
For, it implies, he is no stranger to
What,
man
may hope for, and what, GOD, will do.
An Advertisement.
WHen that
private Poem,
was taken from me' for which I am now a
Prisoner,
many Printed Books, Writings, and Evidences, being my proper Goods, were therewith unlawfully taken away; among which, there was a
Manuscript
in Verse, Intituled
A Legacy to my Children,
consisting (as I remembember) of about three or four sheets, wherein, that which is prayed for in the preceeding
Meditation,
in relation to my
Posterity,
was much enlarged with
Expostulations
and
Petitions
thereto pertinent. The Restoration thereof, I would acknowledge to be a favor, though it ought not in justice to be detained, because it contains nothing offensive to the Civil or Spiritual Government now Established: And this Advertisement is inserted, in hope, one of those to whose hand it may come, will be a means of restoring unto me both that
Manuscript,
and an
Elegy,
which was also therewith taken from me. I would likewise be thankful to the Restorer.
Geo. Wither.
At my House in the
Savoy, June 1665.
was this Advertisement added.
NIL ULTRA. Being a
Soliloquie,
wherein this
Author,
sxpresseth the improbability of an offectual proceeding further, in his endeavors (to prevent the
Sins
and
Plegues
increasing) by ought offered to consideration.
Psalm 1. 3.
When Foundations are destroyed, what can the Righteous do?
I, At a Non-plus, am this day,
And, know not what to think or say,
Or, what part I am next to play:
That, therefore, which I now express,
Whether the
mask
I miss or
hit,
To public view I will commit,
And, leave to GOD, the giving it
In his own time, a good success.
2.
We neither love his
Laws
nor
him;
Those men, whose Deeds we did condemn
We (by our imitating them)
Have justified in all their works.
They, who have seemed
self-deniers,
In their professing
Truths,
are liars,
Like
Lilies
look, but scratch like Briars;
Talk, Christian-like, but, live like
Turks.
3.
Some, say I dote; and that 'tis so,
I almost am persuaded too,
When I consider what I do:
For little less then doteth he,
Who gives them
bread,
who look for
Chaff,
Casts
pearls
to swine, who long for
Draff,
And strives to save them, who do laugh
When sinking down to hell they be.
4.
Examples
we have had of old,
And, daily, we fulfilled behold,
What, hath been oft, of late foretold;
Yet, more and more besotted grow.
Nor
Chastisements
nor
Mercy
showed,
Though oft withdrawn, and oft renewed,
Nor what hath for our sins ensude,
Can make us heed the things we know.
5.
What can by me, be
said
or
done,
To stop them, who still headlong run,
To meet the mischieves coming on,
And, which already are in view?
Since, men will neither see nor hear
What is apparent everywhere,
Nor have Grace, Courage, wit or fear,
Who can prevent what may ensue?
6.
How can
Good sequels
be expected,
Where
Truth
and
Reason
are neglected,
And,
gross crime,
not alone suspected,
But, acted also, with shame?
Where, men all profanations dare,
In all well-doing,
cowards
are,
And seem to have nor sense, nor care,
Either of
good,
or
evil Fame?
7.
When, what relates to
earth
and heaven,
Seems of it proper use hereaven,
(And what for common use was given,
Made, only, for th'
Abusers
sake)
What
human wit,
can save them from
A sad inevitable
doom,
Who, false to other men become,
And,
pitfalls,
for themselves do make?
8.
When first I did converse with men,
They were exceeding wicked then;
But, now seem worse by five in ten:
For, till of late, I never heard,
That, such abominations were,
So impudently acted, here
Within this
clime,
as now they are
By probable
Reports,
aver'd.
9.
If,
Justice
executed were,
If, we were what we would appear,
In thought, in deeds and word, sincere,
Oppressors,
and
self-seekers
fewer;
It might be hoped, that, those few,
Who, to
good principles
are true,
Might more successfully pursue
What would at last, our weal procure.
10.
But, whilst we see, one
crying sin
Brings every day, another in,
Wence new CorruptioNs do begin,
What, can the Righteous hope or do;
But, meekly wait on GOD. (until
Her measure,
wickedness
doth fill)
Submitting all things to his will,
And, adding their
Amen,
therero?
11.
Whilst we each
mangie humor
claw
Turn
Grand Oppressions
into
Law,
Stand nor of GOD, or
men
in awe,
And,
Truths,
by
Violence
confute;
We bring but fuel to that fire,
Or, breath to blow the
flame
still higher,
Wherein, our hopes will quite expire;
And,
Prudence
then, is justly mute.
12.
For, when GOD threatens
Desolations,
If men turn due
humiliations,
To
Triumphs,
and vain
Recreations;
What, can be justly then expected?
But, changing
hopes
into
despairs,
More
Breaches,
instead of Repairs,
And, that our formal
thanks
and prayers,
Should be offensive, and rejected?
13.
Oft, under
Trust
is hatched
Treason,
Wise to be thought, is to want
Reason,
Sincerity
is out of season,
Foundations, likewise, are orethrown:
To speak the Truth is now a Crime
To look for
Justice,
'tis no time,
(To be a Knave, the way to elime)
And,
sin,
almost full ripe is grown.
14.
My
witness,
therefore, having born,
(Among men in the hope forlorn)
I will, all alone, sit down and mourn
For that, which cannot be prevented.
My
Lot,
I le meekly take with those,
Whom, GOD, shall unto that expose,
Which may befall both Friends and Foes,
And, therewith will remain contented.
15.
This, now, is all that can be done;
That, therefore, I resolving on,
Will let the
world
awhile alone,
And, GOD, therein, to work his will?;
I will only take that
Ammunition,
Which gives no just cause of suspicion,
And (without seeking their perdition)
Let filthy men, be filthy still.
16.
Thus far forth, I have trod the
Maze,
Without offense to any
cause,
That's justifide, by
Righteous Laws;
But, now, no further can proceed:
For, so,
confusion
here abounds,
That,
Good
and
Evil,
it confounds,
And whirles us in an endless
Round,
Which fruitless makes both
word
and
deed.
17.
For, they who dance upon the brinck
Of Hell
itself (and fondly think
They are secure because they wink;)
Their open danger cannot see,
But, are so vext to hear me tell
Their
Heaven
borders upon
Hell;
That, for my wishing of them well,
They wish but little good to me.
18.
Perhaps too, as the
Round
now goes,
They who my good intents oppose,
(And are both mine and their own foes)
May seek to take my life away:
If they so do; when that is done,
I shall beyond their reach be gone;
And he who all deeds looks upon,
Will suddenly, their spite repay.
19.
Yet, I shall make no such
Request,
As may not with their
we
•
l
consist:
I, neither by the
Sword,
or
Pest,
Or
Famine,
wish avenged to be;
Or by ought else, which might destroy
The life which here they do enjoy,
(Though they that Mercy mis-employ;)
This, rather shall my
Prayer
be.
20.
Let GOD confound their
pride,
their
hate,
And all their
Plots
annihilate
Who shall design to practice that
Which may to his dishonor tend.
Let none of those endeavors thrive,
Whereby ungodly men contrive;
How, they another may deprive
Of his just freedom,
Foe,
or
Friend.
21.
This
deprecation,
doth not reach
Men's
Persons,
or that
Love
impeach
Which
Christian Verity
doth teach:
For, to avenge themselves of wrong,
That, giveth liberty to none;
But, to do
good
for
evil done
Required is of everyone,
To whom a
Saintship
doth belong.
22.
The
public welfare
I prefer
Before mine own
particular;
And this for truth I may aver,
Who ever shall the same deny;
My
Country,
or my
Sovereign Lord,
Neither by
actions,
or by
word,
Or by my
Pen,
or by my
Sword,
To
self-ends,
injured have I.
23.
I have not broke my Faith to those
Who did a
Trust
in me repose,
Whether they proved my
Friends,
or
Foes,
But, did with Loyalty submit
To
do,
or
suffer
under them
Who exercise; the
Power Supreme,
Which is at the dispose of him
Who
gives
and
takes,
as he sees fit.
24.
I never did for Love or Hate
Act, or Design, to innovate
The Government of
Church
or
State,
But did my duties in my place;
And when I feared, that for our sin
An
Anarchy
was creeping in,
Endeavor'd, when it did begin,
How, to preserve the
Common-Peace.
25.
When
Civil Powers
were so divided,
That then, both Fools and Wise men sided
As
Interest
or
Conscience
guided,
I sought not to enlarge the rent;
But, being called
Aid
to bring,
To, (and by) them, whose counseling
Had been Authoriz'd by the
King,
I, to perform my duty, went.
26.
Retir'd from
Court
and
City
then,
I lived among
plain Countrymen,
Employing otherwhile, the
Pen,
My
private Musings
to record;
Which, I had more desire to do,
Then that which I was called unto,
Till I was importuned so
That, I at last, put on my
Sword.
27.
To do my best, forth armed I came,
(My
Conscienee
warranting the same)
And purposed nothing worthy blame,
By unjust
violence,
or
guile.
For, in sincerity I thought
A course we followed as we ought,
Whereby,
means
might to pass be brought,
Divided Friends to reconcile.
But, so
divisions
them inrag'd,
Who were in that Contest engaged,
And, such
ill consequents
presag'd,
That, I my
Troop
did soon disband;
And, hopeless I should ought assay
Successful in a
martial war,
My
Sword,
and
Arms
quite flung away,
And took my
Pen
again in hand.
29
Such new
Adventures
this began,
That, I appeared to be than
Betwixt the
Fire
and
Frying-pan:
For, such proceedings I espy'd;
That, they who wi
•
h the best intent
Pursu'd the way in which they went
(And ill to neither party meant)
Found least respect, on either side.
30
To see what was done
well;
or
ill,
I had just cause, against my will,
To be there, an ey-witness still,
Where
grand Affairs
transacted were.
As well the
Person
as the
Name
I knew of most men, who by Fame
Were said to merit praise or blame,
And, who did best or worst appear.
31.
Self-love,
base
Avarice,
and
Pride,
I saw among themselves divide
The
public Rights,
on either side;
Their, Foes befriending out of season,
Well-meaning Innocents destroying,
Their power to favor guilt employing,
And, often, to a self-destroying,
Against their Friends committing
Treason.
32.
I saw both GOD and
Man
offended,
Much finding fault, but little mended,
Good Life
and
Piety
pretended;
But, few whose
words
and
works
were one:
They who most quarrel'd with each other,
In evil so agreed together,
That to repose a trust in either,
I found but little cause, or none.
33.
The worse men were, they seemed the better,
To serve their ends, and much the fitter
To be enriched, and made greater.
Him who did most indulge their sin,
Or, to inflame their lust brought fuel,
Or, were unto their foes most cruel,
They kept about them as a Jewel;
And, such, their chief esteem did win.
34.
Such as had neither
Grace
nor
Wit,
Such as
Job
judged men unfit
Among his
Shepherds dugs
to sit,
Even such as were, the other day,
More worthy of contempt then those
Who lived by picking Hips and Sloes
(With such food as on Hedges grows)
Were honored; yea, few more then they.
35.
These having scratched up wealth and power
In
Court,
and
City, Town,
and
Tower,
Did act as if our fatal hour
Were hither making an advance:
The mean while, men,
here
and abroad,
At
Hazzard
plaid, in such a mode,
(At
hide, at Even, and at Odd)
As if all things were ruled by chance.
36.
Thereby, my hazards greater were
Then those which I had cause to fear,
When
War
most dreadful did appear:
For, at what I before had done,
One party only,
took offense;
But, I have anger, ever since,
All parties,
who have lost the sense
Of what they seem to carry on.
37.
This, made me dip my
Pen
in Gall,
Imparrially reproving all
Without regard what might befall
To me, whilst just things I intended:
For, always I regarded so
Their honor, and their profit too;
With whom my
Muses
had to do,
That, none have cause to be offended.
38.
It ne'retheless, on me so brought
Their hate, whose welfare I had sought,
That of mine own, they left me naught
Which might my likely want supply:
No place whereon to rest my head,
No certainty of daily bread,
But, in my old Age to be fed
And clothed, by pure Charity.
39.
In which strait, GOD provided so
That, I yet live his work to do,
Well pleased with my portion too;
Yea, more then when it larger seemed;
For, what's bereaved was but
Lumber,
Which did with many cares becumber,
And, is not put into the number
Of things which merit best esteem.
40.
I therefore, whatsoever befell,
To high and low did plainly tell,
(Whether they took it ill or well)
Such things as I thought needful were;
And oft expressed with my Pen,
What might mind me and other men,
More heed to take, both
how,
and
when,
Unto ourselves, we traitors are.
41.
And,
Time to come,
when I am dead,
Shall find, there will be still much need,
To tolerate one in my stead,
That may persue what I begun.
When God so pleaseth, let him come
To do him service in my room,
And, let the work he calls me from,
Thrive better, then it yet hath done.
42.
My time is almost wholly past;
And, thinking this may be the last,
For a
Nil Ultra
here 'tis placit
As having no more now to say:
But if my life God longer spare,
And shall my heart a new prepare,
His pleasure further to declare,
I will take this
Bounder-stone
away.
43.
I suit it thus, unto these times,
In that with which most fancies chimes,
Expressing that in
jingling Rimes,
Which I suppose to be in season:
Else little heed they give thereto;
Or, if plain Truths observe they do,
Good meanings are mistaken so,
That, safe it is not to speak
Reason.
44.
Things may result sometimes perchance,
Even from a trifling circumstance,
Which will be helpful to advance
Th' effecting of a
Grand Design.
Once e're
Elisha
would begin
To speak, a
Fidler
was called in;
Of use, that seemed then to have been
For his
Work;
so, may this for mine.
Man proposeth, but GOD disposeth, and his will be done.
God save the King.
Here followeth a
brief Defense
in answer to private
Objections,
lately made against some passages in this
Authors
Writings, heretofore published.
I Am informed by good friends, that among those
Expressions
which I thought pertinent to this
Generation,
I have here and there intermingled that which is distasteful to many who are not therein of my judgment, and that I have thereby lost their good esteem. This I find experimentally so true, that not a few have neglected me, more to my grief in relation to them, and for their sakes then for mine own, who am not ignorant how I might both have prevented, and may yet repair that loss hereafter. Nevertheless, whatsoever I am, or may be thereby exposed unto, my resolution is, neither to desert those
Principles
whereto I conscientiously adhered, until I am convinced of error; nor to deceive any man by seeming that which I am not: For, I so abhor to comply for mere outward respects with any
Person
or
Society,
in things which I cannot yet believe are agreeable to God's
revealed will,
and
Christian prudence;
and so far also from recanting what I have conscientiously professed, though to my personal disadvantage, though I lose all my seeming friends yet left, (who have not
Love
enough to be peaceably minded toward their Brethren, who are conformable, according to their understanding, to the whole will of God revealed in his word) that, as I will neither obstinately resist, or willfully neglect the means of better
information;
so I will not recede from the
Christian Liberty
due to me, and all other men.
Many suppose there is no
salvation,
save in that
particular Church
only, whereof they are
Members:
But, I do believe, (as to me it seems implied in the 87.
Psalm)
that the
City of GOD
extends itself into every part of the world, even into
Egypt, Phylistia, Tyre, Ethiopia,
yea and into
Babylon
also; and, that under every outward
Form
and
Dispensation
whatsoever, GOD hath an
elect people,
who are Citizens of
Zion,
though their
particular Churches,
which are, as it were, distinct
Wards
of that
spiritual Corporation,
may have many blemishes, ignorances, errors, and defilements for the present.
In many things, we err all:
They, who know most, know but in part; yea, the
Apostles
long time after they were chosen by our
Savour,
judged not aright of his
Kingdom,
nor were free from being ambitious of a
Prelatical Preheminency,
but subject to many misapprehensions; and some of them seduced for a while, by an Anti-Christian
persecuting spirit;
as many persons in
Congregational
and
National Churches
have ever since been, and zealous without knowledge, in Practices and Principles tending to that
Babylonish Confusion,
which will universally come to an end e're long, though it hath lately begun to be reinforced. True
Faith
cannot be evidenced without
good works;
which being imperfect in the best men, we have no such certain
mark,
whereby unfeigned
Disciples
may be known, as by their being loving to each other, and charitably affected toward all men; yea, although they are our personal enemies: and this
mark
of distinguishment
Christ
himself hath left us.
Upon these and such like considerations, I have
been as wary as possibly I could, so to use my
Christian Liberty
at all times, and in all places, that I might not offend a weak believer: And, we have so many among us, who dissent from each other, that it makes the performance of that duty very difficultly inoffensive; and hath put me to more trouble in the flesh, and occasioned more outward inconveniences, by infringing my just
private liberty,
then many of those sufferings put together, which are very grievous to other men. I dare, and do openly profess, (though some think it needless) my belief and judgment, as oft as I see just occasion is given: yet I do not voluntarily separate myself from any Persons or Congregations, who are not apparently and maliciously wicked in their lives or doctrines; but separate from their damnable errors and sins only, as much as I may: yea, my Conscience makes me afraid, I may justly offend by not complying in some things
Indifferent,
Civil or Divine, which are not repugnant to God's revealed Word, though not thereby commanded.
Where I know not any weak brother to be then present, whom I may thereby offend, (and when I am thereto inclined for no carnal respects) I can communicate with any professing belief in
Christ Jesus,
either in
Humiliations, Thanksgivings, Breaking of Bread
in commemoration of our Savior's Passion, or in
Prayer,
where nothing is so idolatrously or superstitiously enjoined or practiced, that it derogates from the honor of God, or is contrary to the Canon of his
Word,
or may in my understanding seem destructive to true
Piety
or
Morality:
For, all other such deficiencies or superfluities,
as we may suppose to be in the outward worship of God, do but exercise
love, humility,
or
meekness,
and I look upon them where such be, as I do upon mine own failings or performances. Whatsoever, where I come, which I find to be so done or spoken, that I may absolutely conform thereunto, without offense to God and mine own Conscience, I therein join; and when ought is acted or said, whereto I cannot fully assent, I lift up my heart in secret prayer to God, beseeching him to vouchsafe pardon to me, and them for what is ignorantly offended in; and to rectify both mine and their erroneous understandings, who are then present: which practice of mine, if not worthy to be exemplar, I hope deserves, at least, a charitable censure.
Most of the quarrellings amongst
Christian Professors,
are about matters of less moment then tithing
mint,
and
annise,
and occasion the neglect of weightier matters, as it will appear, if well heeded; as also, that most of our Contests spring from
self-love,
though pretended for
God;
and tend more to satisfy the ambition and covetousness of men, then to advance his honor or true piety. For, it is evident, that a
superintendency
over divine Rites, and the Worship of God, is unduly assumed by many, surreptitiously obtained, and magisterially usurped by some who had no lawful call thereunto; yea, & viciously exercised (in my judgment) by all those who endeavor to compel men (otherwise then by loving compellations) either to the omission, or to the use of this or, that
Discipline
or
Form of Prayer,
against their Consciences. They who think no
Oblation
's accepted
of God, but those
set forms,
or extemporary Devotions which they affect, are equally guilty of a superstitious error: For, both the one and the other, may be complete or defective, warrantably or unwarrantably exhibited, according as they are performed.
Extempory Prayers
are
set forms
to all who hear them, except to the
speakers
only; and perhaps also, to some of their knowledges, who speak them, the greatest part of those Prayers are
set forms,
and otherwhiles, in that regard the more acceptable: For, that
form
which the
Spirit
of God hath at any time dictated, never leaves it to be less effectual then it was at first, if it shall at any other time be offered up on the like occasion by those, who with the same devotion, and a true sense of what is wanting, shall faithfully pray for it in the same words.
Some have affirmed in my hearing, that by declaring my private judgment touching matters controverted, I exposed myself to more sufferings, then were necessarily adventured: yet I do not so believe: For all that I have publicly affirmed in subjects of that nature, whereupon troubles ensued, was by me intended for
God's Glory
and the common good, (though turned to my personal detriment in appearance) and they have hitherto, brought upon me no mischief, which God hath not converted to my spiritual advantage; whereas, many of those things, which my Censurers practice and profess, have occasioned uncharitable separations, without any benefit to themselves or others; yea disturbed their own and the public tranquility, to the daily enlargeing of breaches, and to the hazard of an universal
irreconcilable
Discord;
if the probable
evil consequents,
be not timely prevented, by an amicable declaring what we are persuaded in our own heart, as we find just occasion; and by leaving other men to the same Liberty, until they shall be as conscientiously inclined to believe otherwise: and then perhaps many will suspect their own discretion as much as now they do mine; and make it to themselves questionable, who required their former
actings
or
sufferings,
at their hands. Let this be considered by all those
Censurers
of my open heartedness, to whom this shall come; and let my friends be many or few, as God pleaseth; for my trust is in him only; his honor is my chief aim; from him I cannot conceal what I believe; and from men (as touching things relating to his Service, and the peace of his Church) I will not; nor dissemble my belief: as it should more appear, if it were always, as free for me to publish my thoughts, as I am to write them, at this present.
It is for such respects, questioned by some,
What I am as to Religion?
and of what
Society
I profess myself to be; whereto I answer, that I profess myself a
Catholic Christian:
mistake me not; I do not mean a
Roman Catholic,
which are terms contradictory to themselves, being so united; because, the addition of
Roman
to
Catholic,
destroys that
Denomination.
I am a member of that
Church
which is
Universal,
and of every
particular Church
in those places where I reside, so far forth only (and no further) as it is a member of the
Church Catholic,
professing and practicing in purity, the
Faith, Doctrine,
and
Discipline
thereof. I am not of
Paul,
or
Apollo's,
or
Cephas,
or any
Society,
but as they are of
Christ Jesus;
whom I desire to know (as
Paul
said he did) not only as he was in the flesh, but as he is spiritually to be known also; and to avoid that dividing into
parties,
which from the
Apostles
time until this day, hath tended more to the nourishing of
Discord,
and confirming of
Errors,
then to edification in
Piety
and
good life.
I separate from no
Church,
adhering to the foundations of Christianity, not willfully professing and practicing what may be destructive thereto, though there be some defects or corruptions therein. I join not in doing or approving what is not approvable in my understanding, yet am as far from a
disaffectionate separation
on my part, as from separating myself from myself, or a limb from my body, though painful and loath some unto me, by a wound or some disease: For I shall cherish it until it so corrupts and gangreens, that it may destroy my whole body; and then I shall willingly be rid of it. In like manner, waiting in
love
upon God's good pleasure toward me and every weak member of
Christ's mystical Body,
I will endeavor to preserve myself and them in unity, and leave the anathamizing or judging others to him only, whose members they are, or pretend to be.
The Title of a
Catholic Christian
aforementioned, I affect not out of singularity, but admit of it by way of distinction only, to answer their questionings, who ask of what
Religion,
or of what
Church
I am: And I profess an absolute adherence to the
Catholic Church
only, because that only is infallible, and the
Sanctuary
of God upon earth, wherein his
Mystcries
are preserved in purity; and wherein I may have assurance of salvation by continuing therein. I wave the confining my belief or practice to any one
National
or
Congregational Society
of
Christians,
not out of a factious inclination, or petulent disesteem of any: But having a desire to be instrumental in uniting men dissenting in judgment both unto God, and to each other in
Love,
I conceive that endeavor would be suspected of partiality, and not so effectually prosecuted, if I made myself a party with any one Fraternity more then with another: some of whom strain at a Gnat, and swallow a
Cammel; or so presume of their infallibility, that they exclude all as Reprobates, who dissent from them in
Doctrine
or
Discipline;
having also more affection for those who are zealous in the
Opinions
and
Formalities
which they approve, (though held in unrighteousness for carnal ends) then they have for them, who are conscientious professors of the
Truth
in godliness and sincerity, according to their measure of faith and understanding, if they dissent from them but in a Crotchet. For these and such like respects I suffer not myself to be bound up with any
Congregation,
as aforesaid) but so far as the
Christian Liberty,
and the exercise of
Charity
towards all men may be preserved: as also the
Peace
and
Credit
of all
Societies
professing
Jesus Christ,
so far forth as it ought to be; for though he may have somewhat to allege against them, (as he had against the seven Churches in
Asia,
to whom he wrote by St.
John)
they are all in some degree
Nurses
of
Piety
and
good manners:
And many thousands have had, and have in them,
initiations
into that which is best approvable. Our
National Church
was my first
Nurse,
and I confess with thankfulness, I from thence first drew nourishments, strengthening me towards eternal life; that I had there also,
dry Nurses,
some of which fed me wholesomely, and some to the endangering my being poisoned or starved. But I have but one
Spiritual Mother,
which is the
Catholic Church
aforementioned.
There are other
Objections
whispered; some against my late published Meditations upon the
Lord's Prayer;
some against my Tract, entitled,
The Persecution of the Tongue among Brethren,
a manuscript not yet published; and some others, which I shall by God's assistance, vindicate as soon as I have leisure, from misapprehensions; and make it evident, there are many who have heretofore complained of severity in those, by whom they were persecuted for their Consciences, who would quickly (had they power answerable to their will improve it into that
Persecution,
which is the
Mark
of the BEAST in the forehead, or in the hand. But, having for just cause, added this here, I will conclude for the present, heartily beseeching GOD, that his
Peace
may be established and continued among his
Saints
forever.
FINIS.