Three Private Meditations, Meditation 1
Three Private MEDITATIONS Which being, for the moſt Part, of Publick Concernment, are therefore Publiſhed, by their Author GEO. WITHER.
The Firſt, is a Private Thankſgiving, conſiſting of three Hymns, whereby, GOD is magnified for his Mercy vouchſafed in the late Ingagement between the Engliſh and the Dutch, in June 1665. Compoſed after Celebrating the Publick Thanksgiving commanded by the King.
The Second, is a Sacrifice of Praiſe and Prayer, by him offered to Almighty GOD, for his providential reſpect, to Him, his Wife and Children, during his Impriſonment in the diſgraceful Goal of Newgate, when left deſtitute of all ordinary means of ſubſiſtance, by being deprived both of his Eſtate and Liberty.
The Third, Intituled NIL ULTRA, is a Soliloquium, wherein, this Author, expreſſes the improbability, of an effectual proceeding further, to prevent the Sins & Plagues increaſing, by ought, which he can offer to conſideration.
Imprinted in the Year, 1665.
A Private THANK-OBLATION Conſiſting of Three Hymns, whereby Almighty GOD is magnified for his Mercy vouchſafed in the late Ingagement between the Engliſh and the Dutch, in June 1665. after Celebration of the Publick Thanksgiving commanded by the King.
The firſt Hymn, is a Preparation of the heart, to the duty intended.
NOw, what to GOD's praiſe belongs,
I will ſing in holy Songs;
Who, ſhall from his heav'nly Quire,
With ſuch ſtraines my heart inſpire,
That, (though diſtant) I, and they
Therein, joyn together may:
For, his influenced Grace
Is not bard, by Time or Place.
2.
Let his Raies of Light Divine,
In me, and upon me ſhine;
Let his holy ſpirit ſhake
Drouſie fleſh, till it ſhall wake;
Touch my Lips, unloſe my Tongue,
That his Praiſes may be ſung;
For, till rouz'd up, from on high,
Dark, and dull and dumb am I.
3.
Humane words, cannot impart
What GOD ſpeaketh to my heart,
Nor my faultring tongue declare
All his Operations there,
Yet, I am compell'd ſometimes,
In plain Verſe, and broken Rimes,
Thus, to ſtammer out ſuch things,
As to me the ſpirit brings.
4.
To extol what GOD hath done,
Here, I muſ…ng am alone;
And, do praiſe him in my heart
For what none can claim a part:
But, what to his praiſe belongs
Ile now ſing in Vocal ſongs
And, will ſo his praiſe declare
That, no man ſhall therein ſhare.
The Second Hymn being an imperfect Narrative and confeſſion to Gods glory, of what he hath done for us, in the late Ingagement; how little, we have merited the mercies vouchſafed; and how merciful GOD hath been to both Nations.
LORD, in a publick meeting, I, this day
Have joyn'd, a Sacrifice of Thanks to pay;
And, being warmed at the common fire,
(By what external notions could inſpire)
To perfect that which is begun,
(And ought in duty to be done)
I, now withdraw into my heart,
To ſpeak to thee, who therein art;
And learn, how, I may to thy praiſe,
So ſanctifie my words and wayes,
That, henceforth, they may more conduce unto
Thy glory, then they heretofore could do.
Oh! let my Meditations be
Made acceptable unto thee.
2.
For Victory confer'd, we prais'd thy Name;
We hear, our foes have likewiſe done the ſame.
And doubtleſs, whoſoever loſt or won,
To thee, are praiſes due for what is done,
Yea, no leſs praiſe for what is loſt,
Then that, for which we triumph moſt;
The one our pride may elevate,
The other, humble us, for that
Which was miſ-acted, or miſ-ſpoke:
For, Thou, who heed of both haſt took,
So graciouſly, oh Lord, haſt ſhar'd betwixt
Both Nations, ſweet with bitter, intermixt,
That, no man, this day duly keeps,
Save he, who therein ſings and weeps.
3.
For, all Tranſactions, which concern in groſs
Our publick, or our private gain, or loſs
(And, which unto our knowledge, fame doth bring)
Well-weighd) gives cauſe, no leſs to weep, then ſing.
The good ſucceſſes we have had
Abate ſome fears to make us glad;
The hopes, which thoſe events do give
(Of what we willingly believe)
So high our expectations rear
As if, he we were above all fear.
But, when we hear the many Lamentations
For loſs of Limbs, Lives, and belov'd Relations,
To ſadneſs, all our Ioy it turns,
And, he, who much rejoyced mourns.
4.
A final Conqueſt is not yet obtain'd;
That, rarely with one Victory is gain'd:
For, they who looſe at firſt, at laſt, may win,
By mending faults, with which, they did begin.
And, they who did at firſt prevail,
Find, oftentimes, their hopes to fail
Becauſe to truſtleſs things they truſt,
Or elſe, employ to feed their Luſt,
That, which thy Majesty intends
Should ſtrengthen them to better ends.
When, therefore moſt Victorious we appear,
Let us rejoyce, but, with a trembling fear,
Leſt, when the rowling wheel ſhall turn,
We, who rejoice, find cauſe to mourn.
5.
Thou art but little pleas'd (if ought at all)
To ſee us triumph, when our foes do fall;
Eſpecially, when they (though ours they be)
Are thy known enemies, no more then we.
To be our GOD, we thee profeſs;
They (to our knowledge) do no leſs.
We ſay, our truſt is in thy Name,
They may as truly, ſay the ſame.
Their ſins are many; we are ſure
(Or may be) that, ours are not fewer.
We have not yet, our hopes at full enjoy'd;
Nor are their expectations quite deſtroy'd;
To praiſe thee therefore, we and they,
Are equally oblig'd this day.
6.
We ſay, the Dutch to us ingrateful be,
Our Conſcience tells us, we are ſo to thee.
They with our Nation cruelly have dealt;
Our inhumanity, thy Saints have felt.
Their Avarice, makes them oppreſs;
Ill husbandry and idleneſs,
Have made our wayes, as grievous prove,
To thoſe, who ſeek for peace in love.
And, we, and they purſue the courſe
Moſt likely, to make bad things worſe.
Then, Lord, which off us, juſtly can expect
That, our Conteſts, ſhould have a good effect?
Or, that the one ſhould have a place
Above the other in thy Grace?
7.
Had it ſo pleaſed thee, thou at firſt Shock,
Both Earthen Pitchers, mightſt have juſtly broke;
But they, (as if they had been made of leather)
Are onelyonly bruiz'd by being knockt together:
Which, in meer love, to us and them,
Thou didſt vouchſafe, to give us time,
With more adviſement to take heed,
What, by Contention will ſucceed;
Leſt both before their quarrels end,
Be broke like pots, which none can mend.
Lord, were there but that mercy, and no more,
In that, which we pretend to praiſe thee for,
It merits from this, and that Nation,
An everlaſting Thank-oblation.
8.
For, in this mercy, unto both extended,
Are very many mercies comprehended,
So complicated, one within another,
And, to thy Judgments, linked ſo together,
That, if we could be brought to learn
How, they both Nations do concern;
To what, each Judgment doth direct,
What every mercy might effect;
What, we ſhould ſeek, what we ſhould ſhun,
And, what, ought timely to be done;
The wiſeſt men among us, could not tell
Whether, thoſe things which us have pleaſed well,
Or, that, which grieves us moſt, ſhall beſt
Thy loving kindneſs manifeſt.
9.
The Trophies, which moſt men delight to raiſe,
As teſtimonies of a thankful praiſe,
For what thou daign'ſt, are but a medly mirth,
Of wholſome ſimples, mixt with courſeſt earth,
Or, with ſuch noiſome weeds, as grow
Upon dunghils here below,
That, to thy noſtrils and thine eyes,
Offenſive fumings vaporize,
Which do provoke thine anger more,
Then many errors heretofore:
And, that which for thine honor, ſome pretend,
Is for their own praiſe, or a baſer end;
Either, to ſatisfie their Luſt,
Or, praiſe falſe gods in which they truſt.
10.
My GOD, look not ſeverely upon this,
Or, on ought elſe, that hath been done amiſs;
For, no oblation can from us proceed,
Which will deſerve a favourable heed.
Some of our offerings, now and then,
May beneficial be to men,
Or, to thy Saints on earth extend,
If we confer them to that end
For which, they ſeem to be beſtown
(And, in their welfare, ſeek our own:)
But, to advantage thee, the preciouſt thing,
Which, we to pleaſe, or to appeaſe, can bring,
Adds nothing; though thou pleaſed art,
With what comes from a faithful heart.
11.
Be mindful ſtill, that we are fleſh and blood,
Whence, nothing can expected be that's good,
Till by his Croſs it ſhall be mortify'd,
Who, to redeem it from corruption dy'd.
Remember whereof we are made;
That ev'n the beſt of us are bad;
Our ſeeming ſanctified joyes,
Uncomely actions and rude noiſe,
Which make thy beſt beloved ſory,
Inſtead of adding to thy glory.
Oh! let hereof, a free unfain'd confeſſion,
(A burnt oblation made by true contrition,
And, hallow'd by Chriſts blood) purge hence,
All, that▪ which gives to thee offence.
12.
The more thou ſhalt inlarge our wealth and power,
Our ſelves, let us lay down ſo much the lower;
And, rather uſe them to unite together
In love, then in deſtroying one another.
He, in the beſt mode gives thee praiſe,
Who, ordereth aright his wayes;
Who, juſtifies thee in thy will,
By thereunto, conforming ſtill;
And brings to thee a contrite heart,
Aſcribing thereto no deſert:
This is, moſt gracious GOD, a ſacrifice,
Which thou didſt never (never wilt) deſpiſe;
And, ſuch a ſacrifice, I pray
Make that, which I preſent this day.
13.
Unfaigned thanks my heart returns to thee,
For that, which thou haſt done, what e're it be,
Againſt, or for us: hearty thanks we owe
Both for what thou withholdſt, and doſt beſtow.
Proſperity is no true ſign
Who is a Favourite of thine;
Nor any one doſt thou reject,
Whom frequently thou doſt correct,
Unleſs he be more wilful far
Then fraile, as very many are;
And whether thou doſt give us wounds, or heal,
It will at laſt conduce unto our weal,
If we, (but as we may) perſever
In contributing our endeaver.
14.
Two of thy greateſt Plagues, on us, now lie;
The third is threatned, and ſeems very nigh:
Thy other Judgments alſo ſcatred are
So thick, though theſe three Kindoms evry where,
That, by them, very few or none,
Have ſcaped being ſeiz'd upon;
Or, being pincht, in what relates
Unto their Perſon or Eſtates:
Yet, ſin doth moſt men ſo beſot,
As if thy frowns they feared not;
And, are more zealous others to deſtroy,
Then, of the meanes their own peace to enjoy;
A madneſs, which worſe plagues procures,
Then peſtilential Calentures.
15.
Ariſe oh GOD, advance thy Throne on high;
Thy ſelf, let thine own actings glorifie.
Thy Juſtice and thy Mercy ſo unite
That, they may honor thee in all mens ſight.
Rebuke thoſe who delight in war,
And, to thy Saints injurious are:
Give peace to thoſe, who peace affect,
And, them from all their foes protect,
That, Righteouſneſs and Peace may hither
Return, and here, ſtill raign together.
Thy foes, are now become exceeding ſtrong,
Thy coming, therefore, Lord, defer not long.
But, I have done: for, thou, with powre
Art coming, and wilt keep thine hour.
16.
Dear GOD, this petty ſacrifice of mine,
Was took out of a Treaſury of thine,
And, of mine own, I, naught can thereto add,
Except my heart, which, from thee, too, I had.
Kept to thy ſelf, now, let that be,
And, never left again to me,
Or wander thither, where it may
Unto the world be made a prey;
Or, by the temptings of the Devil,
Be drawn unto the love of evil;
Then, this (and that, which I have heretofore,
To praiſe thee offer'd) thee, ſhal praiſe much more,
Then many things, done, heard, and told,
In Temples, deckt with ſilk, and gold.
The third Hymn, proceeds to a thankful Illuſtration of GOD's deſerved Praiſe, by acknowledging his Almightineſs; his obſerving what hath been openly and ſecretly done in ev'ry part of the world, by both the ſaid Nations, and that no praiſe is juſtly due to either of us, but ſhame rather, for ought performed in the ſaid Ingagement.
MOſt Almighty LORD of Hoaſts,
High Protector of our Coaſts,
Who, commandſt, as thou doſt pleaſe,
Fire and Water, Earth and Seas;
Who, lookſt down from heav'n, upon
All that here on earth is done,
And, ſurvey'ſt her darkeſt parts,
Ev'n the Crannies of mens hearts.
2.
Thou beheldſt the Prepartions
Of theſe wilful Neighbring Nations;
Thou, haſt heard what they have ſpoken,
Heedeſt what ſuch words betoken:
Thou haſt ſearch'd out their Deſigns,
With what thereto them inclines,
And, knowſt whether of the two,
Is the worſt, if one be ſo.
3.
Thou, obſerveſt what was done;
Not in Africa alone
Or, both Indies; but, what was
Done, likewiſe, in ev'ry place:
Why the Engliſh and the Dutch
Are divided now ſo much:
What is falſe, with what is true;
And, to which moſt blame is due.
4.
Thou remembreſt, what Relations
Have been long between theſe Nations,
What profeſſions to each other,
They did make when knit together;
Yea, what they profeſt to thee,
Which now ſeems forgot to be,
As if they were not ſuch men,
Or ſuch Chriſtions, now, as then.
5.
To prevent what is begun,
Much, by thee, was timely done;
But, their Avarice and Pride,
Them, did more and more divide.
To ſelf-will they did adhere
Like men without wit, or fear;
So, thou leftſt them both, to do
What they were inclin'd unto.
6.
Then, with Streamers and with Flags,
Fooliſh vaunts, and ſhameleſs braggs,
They weigh'd Anchors from the ſhore,
Which, by ſome, was ſeen no more;
And, with an unchriſtian rage
'Gainſt each other did ingage;
Fire and Water, in that hour,
Striving which ſhould moſt devour.
7.
Dread of Death, that man amazes;
Noiſe, and ſmoke, and ſudden blazes
This man blinds, and deafneth ſo
That, he knows not Friend from Foe.
Some, are ſlain by their own Tools,
Wiſe-men ſpeed as ill as Fools;
Here, a Valiant Souldier dies,
There, a Coward ſprawling lies.
8.
Loud the thundring Guns did roar,
Sails, and Maſts, and Keels were tore;
Ships, were either ſplit, or fir'd;
Men, by thouſands, there expir'd,
This man ſinks, and that man ſwims,
Some eſcapd, with loſs of limbs,
But, to whether beſt befell,
Thou alone, oh Lord, canſt tell.
9.
Horrid ſights, and ſounds without,
Them aſſaulted round about,
Which, in ſome, did thoughts begin
That, rais'd greater Frights within;
And, though wounds did grieve them ſore
That, tormented them much more;
For, their pains, none can declare,
Who, in spirit wounded are.
10.
This, we know, that thou art juſt,
As is ev'ry thing thou doſt:
Thou, art kind, and lov'ſt ſo well,
That by woundings, thou doſt heal.
Thou art wiſe, and acteſt ſo,
That, we thereby, we wiſe might grow;
And, by what was lately done,
Might new mercies be begun.
11.
Not to us, LORD, for the ſame,
Be the praiſe, but, to thy Name:
Unto us, for what was done,
Nought belongs, but ſhame alone.
We, were ſo much terrify'd,
That, we knew not what we did,
Nor yet ſeem to underſtand,
What work, thou haſt now in hand.
12.
This Correction was in Love,
Which, if both ſhould ſo improve
As (if they had grace) they may
By true penitence, this day
Our, endeavour to be Friends,
To thine honor, ſo much tends,
That, it would for both theſe Nations,
Prove the beſt, of their Oblations.
13.
Victories, do not belong
To an Arm of Fleſh, though ſtrong.
'Tis nor Policy nor Force,
Ships, nor Troops of Men and Horſe;
No, nor formal thanks and prayrs,
That prevents Death or Deſpairs;
But, it is thy powerful Arm,
That ſecures from fear and harm.
14.
Therefore, praiſe, for all well done,
I aſcribe to thee alone:
All, that men have brought to paſs,
Merits nothing but Diſgrace;
And the beſt that we can do,
Will but Ruine add thereto,
If we keep our crooked wayes,
Or, ſhall grudge at thy due praiſe.
ARESOLVE, Occaſioned by ſomewhat ſpoken concerning this Thank-Oblation, and this Authors other Writings.
IT may be, many will theſe Hymns contemn,
Becauſe, they do not reliſh well to them.
They likewiſe, may Inferiour Gods offend,
Becauſe in this Oblation, I intend
No praiſe to them, but that, praiſe ſhould be given
To magnifie alone, my GOD in heaven.
The firſt of theſe, I leave to their own mode,
In offring up Oblations unto GOD:
For, if well-pleaſing unto him they be,
They cannot be diſtaſteful unto me;
And, whatſoever they of me ſhall ſay,
I may be thereby profited ſome way.
As for the latter, there is little need
That, I, to their deſerving ſhould take heed:
For, Prophets, Prieſts, and Poets of their own
Enough they have, to make their merits known.
Theſe, to extoll their Patrons, can, and may
Write more, and ſpeak much more, then I dare ſay,
Who, (whatſoe'er advantage thence may flow,)
Can praiſe no man, for what I do not know.
Theſe, do as their Inſpirers, them incline,
And, I do, as I am inſpir'd by mine.
Moreover, it becomes not him, who ſings
A Song of praiſe unto the King of Kings,
The Attributes of men to intermingle
With his (as to thoſe works he worketh ſingle)
That, were to follow their abſurd example
Who worſhip GOD and Baal within one Temple,
Or Chroni…cle the Deeds by HERO's done,
With Tales of Robin Hood, and Little John:
For theſe reſpects, I know men Sober-witted
Will me excuſe for what may ſeem omitted;
And, as for thoſe men, who ſo prudent are not,
Whether, they me excuſe, or no, I care not.