Predictions of the Overthrow of Popery, Poem
PREDICTIONS OF THE Overthrow of Popery, And the Landing of the Prince of Orange IN THE WEST:
Written by George Wither Eſquire, in the year 1660. And ſome Propoſals fo… ▪ PERPETUAL PARLIAMEN… Written by the ſame Author in 1652.
TO Act the laſt Scene which proceeds their Doom,
They now new vampt upon the Stage are come;
And, though that with the King, as if his Friends
They ſeem to ſide, they come for other ends,
Which he not yet diſcerning, in his Grace
Vouchſafes them a conſiderable Place,
And of prevailing they already boaſt,
As if they ſaw the LAMB and all his Hoſt
Quite overthrown, which me as confident
Hath made that God their proud hopes will prevent,
And overthrow that Tyranny out-right,
By what they Dream ſhall raiſe it to its height.
But many Tryals muſt the Saints abide,
And very much their patience will be try'd
Here and elſewhere before that Act is done,
Which with an Anti-mask is now begun.
Our Friends inhabiting beyond the Waters,
And who were of our Tragedy Spectators,
Now Twenty years (though they perceive it not,
Or ſeem not to perceive it) in that Lot
Which theſe have caſt for us, deſigned are
(Or in what follows next) to have a ſhare,
For Hamans PURS on foot; not only here,
But likewiſe almoſt every other where.
And theſe think that to take them by his Gin,
With moſt ſpeed, is, with us firſt to begin.
But there's a Counter-Mine, which will be ſprung,
To blowup them, and all their Mines e're long, &c.
—wherein they ſee
The Beaſts late deadly wound nigh cur'd to be,
They on a ſudden, are become as Jolly,
As if they thought it to be cured wholly;
And, to impoſe their Mark, will now begin
To be more ſtrict than ever they have been;
So that e're long, few men ſhall live in peace,
Bear Office, or a free Eſtate poſſeſs
Where they have power, unleſs they marked are
In Hand, or Forehead, with their Character.
But, if that, whereof ſome imperfect views
Far off appear, accordingly enſues,
There will to thwart their hopes, a new Star blaze
Within the Weſt, that ſhall the World amaze;
And influences through the Ʋniverſe
So quickly, and prodigiouſly diſperſe,
That, aided by concurring Conſtellations,
It ſhall have ſome effects upon moſt Nations,
And cauſe ſuch changes, as will make a ſtand
In thoſe Attempts which they have now in hand.
Yet know, it will but a diverſion be,
Not that which muſt from Bondage ſet us free.
We, on this ſide the Water are not yet,Printed Anno 1652.
Confus'd enough, that order to beget
Which muſt eſtabliſh us, and ſhall therefore
Purſue Self-intereſt a little more.
With new Wine our old Bottles muſt be fill'd,
(Endangering Wine and Bottles to be ſpill'd)
Till ſuch as are in power be pleaſed to hear
The Counſel of a ſlighted Engineer.
With new Cloth our old Garments patcht muſt be,
(Whereby the Rents made wider ye ſhall ſee)
Till every old Rag be worn out, and then
The Robe ſo rent ſhall be renew'd again.
And they that own it, be ſecured more,
And much more dignified, than heretofore.
If they who muſt compleat it, make their choice
By Lot divine, as well as humane voice.
Whereto Self-ſeekers never will agree,
Until enforced by ſome ſtreights they be.
Before the Sons of Jacob entrance found
Into their Promis'd Land, they had a round,
Or progreſs to fulfil, and many years
They in the Deſarts were Probationers,
By ſeveral hardſhips, thereby to improve
The Seeds of Faith, new ſown at their remove
From Egypt, and by Signs and Wonders ſhown
To make unto themſelves their frailties known.
But they at each reſtraining of their Luſt,
Brake forth into repinings and diſtruſt;
Yea, into flat Rebellion, into rearing
Of Idols (when his Law God was preparing)
Into a wicked cauſleſs Murmuring
Againſt the Means of their delivering
From Egypt's. Tryal, and into Wiſhes vain,
That they might thither back return again▪
For which of many hundred thouſands none
Enjoy'd the Promis'd Reſt, but two alone.
And we are juſt like them, yea, we have done,
Since God, to bring us from our Thrall begun,
The very ſame things in the Wilderneſs
Of our Probation; and our Carcaſes
Shall there be left, unleſs we do betimes
Make an Attonement for our paſſed Crimes;
And with unfeignedneſs that courſe purſue
Which leads unto the Reſt, that is in view, &c.
There is a courſe whereby, without diſgrace,
Or danger, you may bring that work to paſs,
And free your ſelves from that great coſt and pain,
Which without thanks or profit you ſuſtain;
Afflicting others too, by thoſe Confuſions
Which are increaſt by your irreſolutions.
Until a better therefore ſhall appear,
Be pleaſed that Expedient to hear,
And by thoſe preventions, or that good
It promiſeth, you find a likelihood,
Take heed, that no ſelf-intereſt, divert
That approbation, whereunto your heart
Inclineth you; for God will find you out,
And croſs the Counter-work you go about.
In England and in Wales, there is a Shire,
For ev'ry Week that's numbred in the year.
By Twelve, according to the Months divide
The Counties, with their Perſons qualified
For Knights and Burgeſſes, proportioning
As near as may be, to an equalling
The number of the whole, ſo, or ſo many
Unto each Month, without omitting any.
Aſcertain then, the Month and Day, wherein
Each twelfth part an Election ſhall begin;
(The middle of the Week, appearing beſt,
As being furtheſt from the day of Reſt.)
On each firſt Wedneſday, of each Month, let thoſe
By whom our Deputies are to be choſe,
Reſpectively convene in ev'ry Shire,
Upon that Month, and Wedneſday ev'ry year,
Which is to them aſſign'd; and having choſen,
(At Months end) let each twelfth part, of the dozen,
Send up their Choſen men, to repreſent
Their Shires and Boroughs in the Parliament;
And on that very Day, in which they come,
Let all their Predeceſſors give them Room.
Thus one Month ſome, and Month by Month for ever
Let each twelfth part, ſtill orderly perſever
To take a turn, till ev'ry Shire hath had
A Month in ev'ry year; and having made
Their choice, let them ſtill enter and withdraw
Succeſſively by a perpetual Law,
No man a place of Truſt, ſupplying there,
At one Election, longer than one year.
The Book Intituled, The Perpetual Parliament, is deſigned to be Reprinted, and preſented to all the Members.
FINIS.
End of the text · George Wither, Predictions of the Overthrow of Popery (1689)