Meditations Upon the Lords Prayer, Title page – To the reader
MEDITATIONS UPON The Lords Prayer: WITH A PREPARATORY PREAMBLE, To the Right Underſtanding, and True Uſe of this PATTERN.
Contemplated by the Author, during the time, wherein his Houſe was viſited by the Peſtilence 1665. and is dedicated to them, by whoſe Charity, God preſerved him and his Family, from periſhing in their late troubles.
That, which we have, we are oblig'd to give,
In recompence, of that which we receive,
And, with ſome, this will reliſh, though it be
Fruit gather'd from an aged Wither'd Tree.
Many particulars, pertinent to theſe laſt times, are hereby offered to conſideration, by the ſaid Authour, Geo. Withe… ▪
Legite, & perlegite.
Read all, leſt wrong, by prejudice enſue,
Either unto this Author, or to you:
For, ſince all cannot be expreſt together,
One place muſt often help expound another.
LONDON, Printed in the Year 1665.
To the Authors Chriſtians, Friends (by whoſe Charity, GOD, hath hitherto preſerved him in manifold troubles and ſufferings) Grace and Peace in our Lord Jeſus Chriſt.
THe repute of a POET, which I have had among ſome, hath cauſed many Pious well-meaning perſons to ſuſpect that Meditations upon a Subject of this Nature, are neither proper to me, nor like to produce any conſiderable Esteem or Effect: y…t, I have better hopes; for, Poeſie is a good Gift, vouchſafed for a pr…paratory to Prophecy, and oft hath been improved to the honour of God, by thoſe who abuſed it not to ſerve the World, the F…ſh, and the Devil. In ſome degrees, it hath alſo been ſo ſanctified unto me, by Gods Grace, that many who had a ſiniſter Opinion of that Faculty, have acknowledged themſelves profited th…reby, in Duti…s relating both to GOD and Man; which makes me hop…ful, theſe Muſings will not be Fruitleſs.
I have rcceived ſeaſonable Refreſhments, from many of you, whoſe Perſons or Names, I yet know not, nor am likely to know whilſt I live; therefore, I must commit your Reward to him who knows you, and will remember your kindneſſes, when we have quite forgotten each other. I know, that you who are living, expect nothing from me toward a Recompence; and the greateſt number of my known Friends in this City, have their Reward already; for, I believe they are with God. Yet, to diſcharge my Conſcience (that the like Charity may not ſeem caſt away upon thoſe, who may as much need it, and better deſerve it) I endeavoured to leave behind me a grateful Teſtimony, which might be ſome evidence, that, I conſumed not the remainder of my life (preſerved by your Mercy) either in idleneſs, or in living wholly to my ſelf; and among other ſuch-like endeavourings (partly publiſhed, and partly reſerved in private hands) compoſed the enſuing Meditations, during my ſolitarineſs in the late Peſtilence, as alſo, that I might have been found well-doing, if God ſhould have then called me.
This, being finiſhed by his Gracious aſſiſtance, I now offer it up for a Thank-oblation to him; and bequeath it alſo, as a token of my gratitude to you, who are yet living, hoping it will be acceptable to both, being the Fruit of his Mercy and yours, without more of mine, then the putting that into words, which God put into my heart, when I had no Book but his; nor ſo much in memory, w…itten by any humane Author upon this Subject, as may be comprehended in one line; and, being carried upon the wings of my ſingle Contemplation to various Objects, like an Eagle flying every way to ſeek food for her ſelf and her Eaglets; you will here finde ſome things perhaps, which will be offenſive to weak ſtomacks: But, I know it is wholeſome, and am confident that if it be taſted without prejudice, it will at laſt, be pleaſing to their Appetites, who at firſt diſguſt it. However, I have well intended it, and Gods will be done.
VVe may in Judgement differ in ſome Caſes
As innocently, as we do in Faces:
But, in our Failings, if preſerve we ſhall
The Bond of Love, it makes amends for all.
Until, therefore, convinc'd by Truth Divine,
Enjoy your Conſcience, and leave me to mine.
He, that ſo doth not, though he Truth profeſs,
Shall elſe, retain it in unrighteouſneſs,
And, he, whom Loving Caution, doth offend,
VVill, that while, be nor mine, nor his own Friend.
Savoy, Decemb. 30. 1665. I am, your Faithful and humble Servant, GEO. WITHER.