Divine Poems, Title page – To the reader
Divine Poems (by way of Paraphraſe) ON THE TEN Commandments. Illuſtrated with Twelve Copper Plates, ſhewing how Perſonal Puniſhments has been inflicted on the Tranſgreſſors of theſe Commandments, as is Recorded in the Holy Scripture. Never before printed. Alſo a Metrical Paraphraſe upon the Creed and Lords Prayer. Written by George Wither Eſ que Author of Brittains Remembrancer.
Pſal. 119. 5.
Would God my ways were ſo directed that I might keep thy Statutes.
Licenſed according to Order.
LONDON Printed by T. S. And are to be ſold by R. Janeway in Queens Head Ally in Pater Noſter Row. 1688.
To all ſuch as have formerly been Friends to the Author, his Daughter and only ſurviving Child Dedicates theſe Meditations.
IT was ſeldom my Fathers practice, (eſpecially of late years,) to Dedicate his Works to particular or great Perſons; And did I attempt any euch thing now, I ſhould be afraid leſt I might diſturb his reſt in the Grave. All you therefore that had a kindneſs as well for his Perſon as his Works, I deſire to accept of my good will in ſending this Relique of his abroad in publick; Which though it hath been written ſome conſiderable time, is but lately minded or come to hand. And however it happened to be bundled up with other old Writings (where I found it) yet I verily believe it was deſigned for the Preſs by thoſ many alterations he had made, which had ſo blur'd the Original Copy, that I was forced to get it Tranſcribed before it was fit for my ſelf or any body elſe to read: And having now peruſed it, I could not in conſcience conceal ſuch neceſſary Truths as are therein contained, in hopes that it may take the effect himſelf deſires in his Epiſtle to the Reader expreſt in his Prayer; believing, that that good Spirit which firſt dictated thoſe Petitionary words will accompany them to the Worlds end. And then I alſo believe, that what I have done in making this publick will be acceptable both to God and Man, which that it may, ſhall ever be the Prayers of
Your aſſured Friend in all Offices of Love and Service E. B. From my Lodgings at Mr. Snowdens a Printer, at the lower end of Great Carter-lane, the 23d of April, 1688.
ADVERTISEMENT.
THE Copper Plates mentioned in my Fathers following Epiſtle, in ſome of his removals from one Habitation to another have been loſt, ſo that I have been forced to get new ones made.
TO THE READER.
IN that great Plague, which (as I believe) was the moſt contagious Peſtilence that euer afflicted this City of London, it pleaſed God to encloſe me there, and to give me grace to make ſuch obſervations upon his Juſtice and Mercy, as I hope (however others eſteem of them) ſhall never of me be forgotten during life.
A while before this laſt Viſitation, the ſame gracious God provided me a little place to eſcape unto, where I did but only hear of that which my Brethren ſuffered, and therefore (as I may well fear) was not ſo ſenſible of their miſery as I ought to have been.
Yet I was not altogether without Meditations as became the time, (but as the neceſſities wherewithal God hath yet exerciſed me would give leave) endeavoured to employ ſome hours in the conſideration of things pertinent to the Honour of my Preſerver, that I might not appear leſs thankful for this deliverance, which was without Terror, than I ſeemed to be for that which I obtained with fear and danger.
Part of my Muſings were upon the Moral Law, the neglect whereof (being the cauſe of all Plagues) is never impertinently thought upon, much leſs when the hand of God is extended to chaſtiſe us for infringment of the ſame. And what I then meditated, is now offered unto the publick view, that it might the oftner occaſion me and others to be mindful of our Duties.
Neither my Eſtate, nor the place I lived in would afford me the uſe of Books, at that time, therefore inſtead of them I peruſed mine own Heart to to ſee what I could read there: For in the Heart of Man it was originally written. And though our corruption hath now ſo defaced it that we need ſome helps to explain the eſſential meaning of the Holy Text long ſince written in Stone; Yet if we would but be ſo diligent as good Antiquaries in examining defective Inſcriptions upon decayed Monuments, we might ſometime find the Truth more certainly than by truſting over-confidently to the ſearch of others, who many times deliver their own Fancies inſtead of the right meaning of Gods Law.
Others I confeſs (though not many in the Engliſh Tongue) have to this purpoſe devulged large Commentaries But ſome want Money to purchaſe them, and ſome want leiſure to peruſe them: for they are ſo large that many Readers had rather venture to break all the Commandments than to ſcan over thoſe Tracts; and yet perhaps theſe brief Meditations have expreſſed ſomewhat which is not found in any of them.
I profeſs not (as I have elſewhere ſaid) to teach the Learned, but to be unto them a Remembrancer only of what they already know (which will otherwhile happen by this means even when they take up my Books to peruſe them with contempt rather than for any better end) yet they who are as Ingenious as Learned, have entertained them with good reſpect as not unuſeful.
The ſame Spiritual nouriſhment which others have tendred more artificially dreſſed for the publick Feaſts of the Soul; I have here and elſewhere indifferently fitted for their private refreſhments, who are beſt nouriſhed with plain Diet, and who have heretofore wanted either opportunities or due care to come to thoſe Repaſts. And if I can but find means to relieve the Blind and Lame in underſtanding, till a more powerful means ſhall fetch them from the Hedges and High-way-ſides to be Gueſts at the great Banquet, I ſhall hope to have done ſomewhat worth my pains.
Ignorant perſons may be advantaged hereby mediately or immediately; by receiving Information or occaſion of Reformation: yea the Compoſing thereof in Verſe will cauſe many to be the more delighted therewith; Some the better to remember it, others out of curioſity to take notice of it, who may afterward give it more ſerious entertainment, and no doubt all good men will afford it a favourable cenſure ſo far as it ſhall deliver the Truth.
So far only I deſire it ſhould be allowed, and in that deſire do humbly ſubmit the ſame to the Cenſure of Authority, and the Succeſs to Gods bleſſing. Which I beſeech Oh Glorious God ſo to manifeſt in this Mite vouchſafed out of the Infinite treaſury of thy holy Spirit, that like a grain of Muſtard Seed it may be fruitful to the encreaſe of Piety beyond the expectation anſwerable to ſo deſpiſed a means: For ſome in theſe days have perverted the plain meaning of thy Law; yea ſome have lately ſtrived both by their words and works to make the ſame wholly void and of no uſe, that they ſeem either not to have known, or to have quite forgotten; That thy Truth remaineth from one Generation to another, or That thy righteouſneſs is an everlaſting righteouſneſs, in ſo much that we may juſtly repeat unto thee this complaint of thy Prophet David; Lord it is time for thee to lay to thine hand, for they have deſtroyed thy Law. Hear my prayer O Lord, and though I am ſmall, and of no reputation, yet ſince I would not forget thy Law, deliver me from mine Oppreſſors, and ſo teach me thy Statutes, that I may keep them unto the end; yea though the proud have me in deriſion, and almoſt made an end of me upon Earth, yet let my heart be made ſo upright in thy Statutes, that I may not be aſhmed to remember thy promiſe made to thy Servant, even that wherein thou haſt cauſed me to truſt; Let it quicken me, and be my comfort in my troubles. For thou art all my portion, and I have determined to keep thy word; Before I was afflicted I went ſo much aſtray that it was good for me to have ſome troubles. O let me hereafter be always exerciſed in thy Law; Let it be a Lanthorn unto my feet, and a Light unto my path. Look upon me, and be merciful unto me as thou uſeſt to be unto thoſe who love thy name. Let the proud be aſhamed that they have dealt falſly with me. Let ſuch as fear thee be turned unto me, and comfort thou me according to the years wherein I have been afflicted, that they who ſee it may glorifie thy name, for mine eyes have almoſt failed with waiting for thy aſſurance. Though I have gone aſtray like a Sheep, yet ſeek thy Servant, and deal with me according to thy mercy. Let all theſe my Supplications come before thee, that my Soul may live, that my Lips may praiſe thee, and that my Tongue may ſing of thy Goodneſs and Mercy for ever and ever, Amen.
Sir, among other kindneſſes vouchſafed in your Neighbourhood, I received from you the Copper Plates, which are now made uſe of in this Book. The words which I have added unto thoſe dumb Figures will make them (I hope) much more profitable, and cauſe them to be a means of publiſhing thoſe Caveats and Univerſal Duties which are pertinent, as well to the General well-being of Mankind, as to the Glory of God; which two things were the proper ends of our Creation, and ought alſo to be the chief care of our life.
To thoſe ends therefore, and that your coſt might not be unprofitably beſtowed, I have returned the Coppies of thoſe Figures which you gave me, illuſtrated with ſuch Meditations as my leiſure and ability could afford. And they do now as well ſpeak as make ſigns what is prepared for wilful Tranſgreſſors of theſe Laws, whereby if God may receive any honour, or his Children profit, I deſire it may be ſome honour and advantage, which is the deſire of
Your Hearty and Wellwiſhing Friend GEO. WITHER.
The Decalogue.
And theſe wordes which I Command th… this day ſhalbe in thine heart. And thou ſhall rehearſe them Continually unto thy children and ſhalt talke of them when thou … in thine houſe and as thou walkeſt by the way, and when thou lieſt downe & when thou riſeſt up.
And thou ſhalt binde them for a ſigne vponupon … they Shalbe as … thine eies Alſo thou ſhalt write them vponupon the poſtes of thine houſe and vponupon thy gate…
6 Deut: 6.7-8.9.
I THOV SHALT HAVE NONE OTHER GODS BVT ME
II THOV SHALT NOT MAKE TO THY SELFE ANY GRAVEN YMAGE
III THOV SHALT NOT TAKE Ye NAME OF Ye LORD THY GOD IN VAINE
IIII REMEMBER THAT THOV KEEP HOLY Ye SABBOTH DAY
V HONOR THY FATHER AND THY MOTHER
VI THOV SHALT DO NO MVRDER
VII THOV SHALT NOT COMMIT ADVLTERIE
VIII THOV SHALT NOT STEALE
IX THOV SHALT NOT BEARE FALSE WITNESSE
X THOV SHALT NOT COVET
Beholde I ſee before you this day a bleſſing and a Curſe; The bleſsing if ye Obey the Comaundements of the Lord your GOD which I Cōmand you this day.
And the Curſe if ye wil not obey y• Commandements of ye Lord your GOD but t…ne Out of the way which I Command you this day to go after other gods which ye hauehave not known.
… Deut 26 27 28
Optimum …t aliena frui inſania
Happy ſhall that man become,
Who this Law departs not from:
Bleſſings will deſcend on him,
From the Mount of Gerizim;
But from Ebal they ſhall hear
Curſes, who rebellious are.
Death, for them, attending ſtands,
Who ſhall break theſe juſt Commands;
And to thoſe who them obey,
God propoſeth life for aye.