A Triple Paradox, Title page – Dedication
A Triple Paradox: Affixed to a COUNTER-MURE Raiſed againſt the Furious Batteries of Reſtraint, Slander and Poverty, The three Grand Engines OF The World, the Fleſh and the Devil.
By Major GEORGE WITHER, Who, now beleagured by their Forces, throws out unto them this DEFIANCE.
The ſaid PARADOX maintains theſe Particulars.
That Confinement is more ſafe than Liberty,
Slander more advantageous than Praiſe,
Poverty more profitable than Riches.
Nuſquam, non poteſt eſſe virtuti locus.
Seneca.
LONDON, Printed for the Author. 1661.
The Author, to all thoſe who have relieved him in his Beleagurement.
IT is a more Bleſſed thing to Give, than to Receive; Therefore, having hitherto been a Receiver only, I am now deſirous to be a Giver alſo, though it be but of a Mite, or of a Cup of cold water; For, we are not to expect Benedictions or Acceprations, ſtrictly anſwerable to the quantity or quality of our Gifts conſidered in themſelves, but according to our Purpoſes and Abilities; which incourages me to ſend you a handful of ſuch Fruit as grows upon my WITHERD-Tree, now almoſt paſt bearing, that if you find it as pleaſant and as wholſome, as I conceived it to be, you having therewith refreſhed your ſelves, may if you pleaſe, pick out ſome of the Kernels, and by ſowing and replanting them in your Orchards, preſerve the kinde for future uſe, when my Tree is rotten.
I make not tender of this Diminutive Preſent, by way of R…tribution; For, GOD is your reward: but to be a teſtimonial of my Gratitude, and of my willingneſs, to have done more, if I had been able; or rather, that it may be a memorial of GODS Mercy to me vouchſafed by your hands when I was deſerted of the World; which ought never to be by me forgotten: For, I confeſs, I have thereby lived to produce this, and whatſoever I ſhall do hereafter in diſcharge of my duty, and had elſe, ere this day periſhed from the Earth, for ought I know to the contrary, though in my greateſt wants and uncertainty of Supplies I was always as far from a deſpairing Diſtruſt, as if I had then poſſeſſed a Vault filled with hidden Treaſures, which no man could take from me: And (though I am yet in no more certainty in reſpect of External Supplies) GOD preſerves in me the ſame confidence, and I believe he will always preſerve it in me.
This, is ſo great, and ſo extraordinary a Mercy, conſidering the many terrors, diſtruſts & neceſſities, wherewith many thouſands of better men are daily exerciſed & proved, that I conceive my ſelf obliged in conſcience, openly to acknowledge it both to glorifie him who vouchſafes it, and to confirm in my ſelf and other men, our Chriſtian hopes, by delaring what GOD hath done for my ſoul, who have nothing in my ſelf to deſerve it, but what is of his gift, and who have much more of my own, which rather deſerves the contrary. I am, and I hope ſhall ever be ſo far from being aſhamed of my preſervation by meer Charity, that I do eſteem it a greater honour & happineſs, than to have the moſt plentiful ſubſiſtance which the world can confer upon me by a conſtant Revenue, with an eminent dignitary annexed: For I have ſeen the beſt Proviſions of that kind, not only to fall but to bring their Poſſeſſors alſo to be worſe than nothing.
I had ſuperſcribed your Names (or hereto added a Catalogue of them:) but many of you are perſonally unknown, and, the reſt having diſcovered themſelves unto me, for our mutual comfort and converſation only (without any deſire that notice might be taken by other men of what hath been communicated, and paſſed between them and me) I do forbear making your Names publick, for that and other conſiderable reſpects. You are my friends by the ſureſt ſide: For you were not made mine by my induſtry, merit, ſolicitation, or in reſpect of any carnal Relations, but meerly by GODS Mediation who inclined your hearts to that voluntary compaſſion, whereof I had fruit in due ſeaſon, ſufficient to preſerve me, without ſordid want or dejection, in that condition wherein I am likely to be continued to fit me for that ſervice, which I have yet to do; and I am confident that he who made you my Friends, will ſo keep you; and make me thankful to him and you, whilſt we live in this world. Your Acceptation I doubt not of, nor of aſſiſtance by your prayers to the end of my Pilgrim…ge: For, though ſome of us may circumſtantially differ in our Iudgements, we are one in him and with him, in his Eſſential Truth, and in that love which knits all the Saints into one bleſſed and everlaſting Communion. I am
Your humble Beadſman, GEORGE WITHER.