Improvement of Imprisonment, Poem 15 – Poem 16
A Meditation upon the many Prodigies and Apparitions, which are mentioned by Publick writing, or common Fame.
VVE are inform'd, by queſtionleſs Preſages
(Vouchſafed to inſtruct ſucceeding Ages)
That warnings of Chriſt's coming, ſhould be given
By ſigns and wonders manifeſt from Heaven:
And, we have ſeen, in Hiſtories recorded,
That, Providence, in all times hath afforded,
Some Premotions of thoſe Deſolations
Which fell on Perſons, Places, States and Nations,
Before they came: For, our moſt gracious GOD,
(As doth a loving Father) ſhewes the Rod
Before he whips, that he thereby may fright
To Penitence, ere he begins to ſmite;
And, frequently, prevail, if that means may,
Us to reclaim, he flings the Rod away:
Which kind Indulgence, is in theſe times, more
Inlarged then, it hath been heretofore.
New Prodigies, we hear of ev'ry day,
And, likewiſe hear, how they are puft away
As but meer Fictions. If we find them ſo,
This, juſtly, thereupon inferr I do,
That, more preſumptuous we in theſe times are
Then ever any other People were:
For, very much corruption it implies
To be in thoſe who make and publiſh Lyes.
If there be Truth, in any of thoſe Viſions,
Or Extraordinary Apparitions,
Which are affirm'd; 'Tis no leſs wicked daring,
So to affront GOD's viſible appearing
In Signs and Wonders, as, both to contemn,
And ſeek by all means, how to ſmother them:
But, it is worſt of all, to publiſh Lyes
Of purpoſe, to diſcredit Verities,
As if we meant, to do the moſt we can
To try the Patience both of GOD, and Man.
If, we believe the things that are aver'd;
Why of GOD's Judgements, are we not afeard?
And, either ſeek to pacifie his Wrath,
Or, magnfie his Mercy, who, ſo hath
Forewarn'd, of what is likely to enſue,
That, we his Indignation may eſchew?
If we ſuſpect, what publickly is told,
Why do not they, who are in Pow'r (and ſhould)
Search out the Truth, that, by due puniſhment,
They ſuch like Provocations may prevent?
For, out of queſtion, to connive at Lyes,
Or ſmother Truths, worſe things preſignifies,
Then all the Apparitions, that have been
Theſe twenty years, in this our Climate ſeen;
(Though nothing doubted of) and will go nigh
At laſt, to turn all Truths into a Lye.
I muſt confeſs, that, though unto my Ears
There have been brought within theſe twenty years
So many ſtrange Reports, of ſights and Voices,
Earthquakes and Thunders, dreadful Storms & noiſes;
Of Ebbs and Tides, of Suns, and Moons, and Stars,
And Armies in the Clouds, portending Wars,
With ſuch like, as would have perhaps, amounted
Unto a hundred, if I them had counted;
Not one of thoſe I ſaw: yet, ſo unjuſt
I am not, as thoſe good men to diſtruſt
Who have aver'd them: for, though Prodigies
And ſuch miraculous Appearances,
Are daign'd in chief, to Infidels, and thoſe
Who in God's word, no confidence repoſe;
Yet, they are likewiſe, otherwhile, reveal'd
To true Believers, leſt, they be conceal'd
From thoſe whom they concern; or leſt, by them
Quite ſlieghted, who, the Works of GOD, contemn;
They, alſo their own welfare ſo neglect
That, they be totally without effect.
On truſt, I therefore take them: for, if we
Confirmed by their Witneſs may not be,
Whoſe Converſations are to us well known;
How, can we any Affirmations own
For Truths, Hiſtorically writ, by thoſe
Whoſe Converſation, no man living knowes?
For, my part I have with my carnal Eyes,
And, otherwiſe, beheld ſuch Prodigies
In Words and Deeds, that, although none of that
Were true, which I hear other men relate,
I (at the leaſt Myſteriouſly) diſcover
All thoſe old Miracles, new acted over,
In my time, which in Pharaohs days were wrought,
When Iſrael out of ſervitude was brought;
And, many a ſuch like wonderful proceed,
As we recorded in the Scriptures read.
I've ſeen th' Inchanter's (yea, and Aarons) Rod,
Turn'd into Serpents; Waters into blood.
I have ſeen Froggs ſent, and remov'd again,
And, yet, we as hard hearted ſtill remain.
I have obſerved, (at leaſt once or twice)
Our Duſt, to be transformed into Lice.
Plagues, which reſembled Locuſts, Flies, and Hail,
Yet not a jot upon our hearts, prevail.
The People, ev'n as Murrains do our Beaſts,
A Sin that's Epidemical, Infeſts;
And, ſo with Blaines and Byles we ſmitten be,
That, in a moral ſenſe, meer Scabs we be.
Aegyptian Darkneſs too, hath here, among
Our other Plagues, continu'd very long,
With likelihood to be as groſſe, as there,
Unleſs, the Sun of Righteouſneſs appear;
Yea, I have ſeen our Firſt-born alſo ſlain,
Yet, ſtill, we in obduracy remain.
I, therefore, wonder not, if private Viſions,
Prodigeous ſights, and Dreadful Apparitions,
(Diſcern'd but here & there) have nought effected,
Since, things more Signal, are ſo much neglected.
Where, Moſes and the Prophets are not heard,
One from the Dead, will find but ſmall regard.
In vain are Dumb-ſhewes, where, a ſpeaking ſign
Can to no heedfulneſs, mens hearts incline.
When CHRIST's own Words, will not with credit paſs,
In vain, will be the ſpeakings of an Aſſe:
Yet, ſpeak muſt, when GOD ſhall his tongue untie;
And, whatſoere ſucceedeth, ſo will I.
A Riddle for Recreation, not impertinent to this Place.
INto a Park, I lately came,
Wherein are many herds of Game,
Whereof the Keepers take no care,
And yet, they in abundance are.
They are a Cattle of ſtrange Breed
Which, on no Browſe, nor Graſſe do feed;
Are Found, before that they are ſought;
Aſwell in ſleep, as waking caught:
So ſilently, they hunted are
That, neither Hound nor Horn we hear
When chatc't: They, are the onelyonly things,
Left free for Beggars and for Kings
To Hunt at will: and, all that we
Aſſur'd of by our Charters be.
What Park is this? What Game are theſe?
Tell me, and Hunt there, when you pleaſe.
A Proclamation made by this Priſoner, with the adviſe of his Privy Counſel, the Muſes.
OH Yee's, Oh Yee's, Oh Yee's: if any man
In Country, Court or City tell me can
Where my laſt Poem call'd Vox Vulgi lies,
(Seiz'd lately in my Chamber by ſurprize)
On penalty, of what elſe follow may,
Let him produce it, e're my Tryal day;
(Which, yet, I am not certain, when, or where
It will be, neither do I greatly care.)
He, who to me, the ſame will timely bring,
Shall be rewarded: So, GOD Save the King.
Given, this 17th. of the 8th. Month, 1661. At my Head Quarters in Newgate, which is, at preſent, all the places of abode upon earth, which the Prince of this World and his Prelacie have left me. Geo. Wither.
A Concluding Epigram.
VVIth theſe Cards, I, an After-game have play'd,
But, there's one Card, by ſhuffling, ſo miſlaid,
That, now my fore-game's loſt; yet, if I may
Juſt Dealing find, Fair Gameſters, and Fair-play,
What ever happens, I no queſtion make
But, I at laſt, may thereby ſave my ſtake;
And, when the Sett is ended, win much more
Then ere I got by Play, or Work before.
If any good Effects, hereby enſue,
A Thanks to GOD, is for my Troubles due:
For, had he not made way to ſend me hither,
Theſe Fragments, had not thus been ſcrap'd together.
Thoſe Papers, which are hitherto ſuppreſt,
Shall that occaſion, which will manifeſt
(At laſt) a more effectual operation
Then, if they might have had free Publication.
If, alſo, God, me, here ſhall exerciſe
With greater Tryals, better Fruits then theſe
They will produce: Therefore, they ſhall to me
Be welcome, when, or whatſoere they be.
Yet, for the ſakes of other men, well pleas'd
I ſhould be, from my Troubles to be eas'd;
Becauſe, until mine ſhall have ſome redreſſe,
Their ſuff'rings, are not likely to be leſſe.
LORD, therefore, if thou pleaſe, make it a ſign,
Their Troubles will ſoon end, by ending mine.
I, thereof, am a little hopeful made,
By ſome foretokens, which I newly had.
Three likely ſigns thereof, he daigned hath;
For, my Beloved Conſort, he from death,
Was pleas'd to raiſe (ev'n whilſt within this place
I have remain'd, expoſed to diſgrace
And Poverty) he, for my Children too,
Whilſt this was writing, hath provided ſo
That, without Portions, to their good content,
They married are, without diſparagement;
All parties, Chriſtian confidence profeſſing
Of their dependance on GOD's future bleſſing.
He, in the preſence, and amidſt my Foes,
Hath ſpread my Table; and, ſuch bounty ſhowes,
That, theſe are nothing, but the Scraps and Crums
Of that ſupply, which, dayly, from him comes.
Appello DEUM, REGEM, POPULUM, PARLIAMENTUM.
I do, appeal, to judge of my intent,
To GOD, King, People, and the Parliament:
For, one of theſe, I'm ſure, my Friend will be,
And, I hope well, of all the other three;
But, they know not my heart, ſo well as he.