Sigh for the Pitchers Breathed Out, Title page – Dedication
Sigh for the Pitchers: Breathed out in a Perſonal Contribution TO THE NATIONAL HUMILIATION the laſt of May, 1666.
In the Cities of London and Weſtminſter, UPON The near approaching ENGAGEMENT Then expected, Between the Engliſh and Dutch Navies.
Wherewith are complicated ſuch Muſings as were occaſioned by a Report of their Actual Engagement; and by obſerving the Publike Rejoycing whilſt this was preparing by the Author GEORGE WITHER.
Hold, If ye knock, ye are broke. Hold. Unleſs God prevent.
Imprinted in the ſad year expreſſed in this ſeaſonable CHRONOGRAM LorD haVe MerCIeMercy VponUpon VsUs. MDCLXVI.
To the Engliſh Nation, and to every Individual Perſon within theſe Brittiſh Iſles, Geo. Wither, wiſhes that Grace, Peace, and Love in CHRIST JESUS, which by an unfeigned Humiliation, may reconcile us all to GOD; Vnite us by an indiſſolvable Band of Charity, to each other; and in a Chriſtian Amity, withall Nations through the world.
MY Sighs concern you all, throughout this Nation
Who are this day, in true Humiliation
To ſeek the face of GOD; For, we make One
Of thoſe two Pitchers whom I do bemone:
And, unto whom (then fearing much their breaking,
When firſt I ſaw War preparations making)
I ſent a Trumpet, both with an Intent
And hope, that which was feared, to prevent;
Which, failing my good purpoſe to produce,
I ſend this now, to mediate a Truce;
For, who can tell, but that my words may have
Such …ſſue now, as heretofore GOD gave
Unto a private-womans when ſhe ſpoke
For Abel, what effect in ſeaſon took?
So may it proſper as I am ſincere
In that, Which I have Superſcribed here;
And, let my Foes on earth, be ſtill as many
As there are men, if I wiſh ill to any;
Or, am not pleaſd that all ſhould live and die
As happy, both in Life and Death as I
Who ſhall not, by a final Wilfulneſs,
Deprive themſelves of what they might poſſeſs;
And ſlander GOD, as cauſe Original
Of that, which doth amiſs to them befal.
For, though, not few, my Adverſaries be
Or ſuch, as, yet, bear no good will to me,
I, ev'n for that cauſe, am in love, their debter;
For, him, who loves his Foes, GOD, loves the better:
Yea, having partly been, in my diſtreſs
Relievd by ſome few who, do naytheleſs
Seem ſtill my Enemies; it, makes me more,
Love GOD, and all Mankinde, then heretofore.
A time is come, in which, it is our turn
Both altogether, and apart to mourn:
Thoſe General Calamities befal
Which, for a general Repentance call,
And, for particular Humiliation,
In order to a publick Reformation,
From which, at preſent, are excepted none;
No, not the King, who ſitteth on the Throne:
For, that which is in Cottages begun
Will ſeize the Pallace, ere the Round is run,
If GOD in mercy, anſwer not our hope,
And, to our ſins and fears, vouchſafe a Stop.
To that end, though this be not what I would
Or, ſhould contribute, it is what I could
And, may now, be as uſefully expreſt,
As what more artificially is dreſt:
Yea, (though it be, that onelyonly) in effect,
Which I have oſt preferd without reſpect,
This, ſeems a very ſeaſonable time,
To greet you, with a Reaſonable Rime.
Accept it therefore, and be not offended
With what is conſcientiouſly intended.
GOD, who from us doth Trifles oft receive,
Requires of none, more then he hath to give;
And, if you ſhall accept what's in my powr
He, will of that accept, which is in your;
For, all that is contributed, by this,
Worth your acceptance, is not mine, but his.