A Private Thank-Oblation, Poem
Carmen Euchariſticon: A PRIVATE THANK-OBLATION, Exhibited to the Glory of THE LORD OF HOSTS, FOR The timely and wonderfull Deliverance, vouchſafed to this NATION, in the routing of a numerous Army of Iriſh Rebells before Dublin, by the Sword of his valiant Servant, MICHAEL JONES, Lievtenant-Generall for the Parliament of ENGLAND.
Compoſed by Geo. Wither Eſquire, Auguſt 29. 1649.
The longeſt laſting Sacrifice
Is that, which moſt neglected lies.
Sweet Incenſe into nothing fumes;
The Fat of Beaſts away conſumes;
A Song, which doth GOD's Works commend,
Continues longer; yet, hath end:
But perfect-love is an Oblation,
Which hath no finall conſumation.
Aug: 30 London: Printed by Robert Auſtin. 1649.
Carmen Euchariſticon: A PRIVATE THANK-OBLATION, EXHIBITED To the Glory of the LORD OF HOSTS, &c.
PƲblike-Duties being done,
By my ſelf, Ile now alone,
Conſummate a Private-one.
Therefore, O my Soul! awake;
And, let both, with heart and tongue,
Such a Song of Praiſe be ſung,
That, thereby, both old and young,
Of GOD's mercies heed may take.
For, ſuch Trophies (though now waved)
Moſes, Deborah, and David,
When they from their foes were ſaved,
Did, with good acceptance, raiſe:
And (though other Thank-Oblations
Periſh'd, with their Generations)
GOD is, yet, throughout all Nations,
Honor'd by their Songs of Praiſe.
We, to thee, O LORD! have praid,
Thanks returned, ſung, and ſaid,
And, our common-duty paid,
As we could perform the ſame:
That, which we have ſeen, and heard,
Of thy mercifull regard,
Hath been openly declar'd,
To the glory of thy Name.
But, O GOD! we may as well
Cloſe the Seas up, in a ſhell,
As inabled be to tell
Thy Compaſſions large extent;
Or, to make full illuſtration
Of thy favours to this Nation,
In our frequent preſervation
From the furious Foes intent.
For, that ſingle-mercy, LORD,
Which this Day we do record,
Many mercies doth afford,
More then all men can perceive.
That Deliverance, made way
For another joyfull-day,
And that, peradventure, may
Bring to paſſe, what we would have.
With vain Moab, did conſpire
Ammon, Amalek, and Tyre,
Threatning, like conſuming fire,
To deſtroy thy choſen Flock;
And, in hope, their will to do,
They have hired Balaam too,
With falſe Prophets many moe,
To advance a ſtumbling-block.
Of their vaine preſumings proud,
They like Thunder from a cloud,
Did begin to roar aloud
In deluded peoples ears;
And their empty vanities,
Bluſhleſſe brags, and ſhameleſſe lies,
Fill'd the hearts of men unwiſe,
With falſe hopes, and cauſeleſſe fears.
The fool'd Welſh, the faithleſſe Scot,
And our Engliſh miſ-begot,
Joyning in an Iriſh plot,
Sought to root us from the Land:
They with Sulphur, Sword, and Flame,
Round about our dwellings came,
And, had brought us all to ſhame,
Had not, GOD, ſtretch'd forth his hand.
But, he, thereof notice took;
And, as Siſera he ſtrook,
With his Hoſt, by Kiſhon-brook;
So, he ſmote them in their pride:
And, the ſame ſucceſſe they had
Which befell to Benhadad,
When, the like account he made,
That, the ſpoile he ſhould divide.
For, whilſt Ormond, and while Taaff,
In their Tents, did game, and quaff,
(At our ſad condition laugh)
And, of Captives prediſpos'd;
Then, that Arm, which they deſpis'd,
Suddenly, their Camp ſurpriz'd;
And, the ſnares, which they devis'd
For our feet, their owne inclos'd.
Mich'el, and his Angells, there
Threw their Dragon-Cavaliere,
With his Angells, from our Sphere,
In confuſion, to their owne;
Where, unable to repent,
They deſpairingly lament,
And blaſpheme with diſcontent,
Him, that hath ſuch mercy ſhowne.
For, though (blinded in their ſin)
Outwardly, they jeer and grin;
Helliſh horrors lurk within,
Filling their faint hearts with fears:
Their chief refuge, is a lie;
And, which way ſoe're they fly,
Guilt purſues them with a cry,
Which the GOD of Juſtice hears.
Their accuſing conſcience, feels
Vengeance following them at heels,
And, her dreadfull Charet wheels
Threatning, what to them is due:
Yet, infernall indignation,
Stirs them up to vindication,
Height'ned by a deſperation
Of thoſe ends, which they purſue.
And, that made them take the field,
(Truſting in their ſword and ſhield)
When their conſcience bid them yeeld:
But, they ſoon did back retire,
And, to fly away began,
As when the Philiſtins ran,
From the ſword of Jonathan,
And, but one ſleight armed Squire.
Never was there ſuch a day
Seen till then at*Dublin. Ballacleagh,
Since the†The River at Dublin. Liffy waſh'd her Kea,
And, there, firſt, the‖The Sea Water. Sea-Nimphs met:
For, GOD's arm, did there, and then,
Give us Limster back agen,
When it was nigh loſt; and, when,
Hope, was with deſpairs beſet.
Yet, as if that daies ſucceſſe,
Had too little been, unleſſe
He conſider'd our diſtreſſe,
In our London-Derry friends;
Or, leſt els, blind ignorance
Might judge, that an act of chance,
He, our free deliverance,
Into Ʋlſter, too, extends.
And, by that redoubled blow,
Gave another overthrow;
For, Deſignements one or two,
By that means diſſolved be:
Which hath ſo inraged them,
That, they raile, revile, blaſpheme,
And their own beleefe condemn,
For believing what they ſee.
Oh! what pen, or tongue is there
Fully able to declare,
What, to us, GOD'S Mercies were
Since our Champion he hath been?
Nay, who can half that recite,
VVhichWhich for us, in open ſight,
He hath done ſince Nasby-Fight,
Where, he, firſt, was plainly ſeen?
He hath magnifi'd his worth
In moſt glorious marchings forth,
From the South, unto the North,
And, through all our Britiſh-Coaſts;
England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales,
Towns, and Fields, and Hills, and Dales,
Sea, and Land, him, juſtly calls
The Victorious LORD of HOASTS.
Frequently, our eyes behold,
Mercies, great and manifold,
Such, as were in times of old,
By his Choſen Flock enjoy'd:
Such, as were vouchſafed, when
Hundreds, chaſed were by ten;
Thouſands, by a hundred men,
And great Hoasts, by few deſtroy'd.
VVe have ſeen God marching, ſo,
VVith our Friends, againſt our Foe,
As he did, long time ago,
VVhen his-Iſr'el were oppreſt:
And, ſecuring us from feare;
VVhen our hopes at loweſt were;
VVhen deſpis'd, we did appeare,
And our-perill moſt increaſt.
VVhen all ſeem'd at once on fire;
VVhen our Brethren did conſpire,
VVith our Foes, to blow that higher,
VVhichWhich did flame too high, before;
VVhen within their hearts they ſaid,
We ſo deep, our Plots have laid,
That divine, with humane aid,
Shall prevent them, now no more.
Yea, when ſaid it was by ſome,
What is of their God become,
Who, they dream'd, ſhould ſave them from
What our Counſell hath decreed?
Then, did God, himſelf, ariſe;
Then, his Arme, in glorious wiſe,
Saves us from our Enemies,
In the times of greateſt need.
And not only from their power,
(Arm'd, and gaping to devoure,)
Hath he kept this Land of our,
But, he more then this hath done;
Them, who to inſlave us thought,
And, our cauſleſſe ruine ſought,
Underneath our feet he brought,
That they might be trod upon.
Nay, we have, yet more to ſay:
Though our Foes, lie night and day,
In our boſomes, to betray;
And diſguiſed are like Friends;
God, hath ſtill prevented ſo,
VVhat their malice prompts them to,
That, themſelves, they ſtill undo;
But, accompliſh not their ends.
VVe have ſeen GOD, in our daies,
VValking on, in all thoſe waies,
VVhichWhich (to his eternall praiſe)
VVere in former Ages, trod:
In our joyes, and when we weep,
In our wakings, in our ſleep,
On the Heights, and in the Deep,
VVe have ſeen thy ſteps O GOD!
We have ſeen, here, where we dwell,
Works of thine, which parallel
All that ancient-ſtories tell
Touching either Foes, or Friends.
Yea, if all Records were loſt,
We by that, which now thou doſt,
Might collect what do we muſt,
And, what each mans way attends.
We have ſeen (and ſee we ſhall)
What to Pharoah did befall,
And ordained is for all
VVho ſhall obſtinate remain:
VVe have ſeen, that upon ſuch,
Plagues, or Mercies work not much,
And, that theſe two often touch
On ſome, ſoftned hearts, in vain.
VVe have known men, once or twice,
VVarned; yea, afflicted thrice;
Yet, habituated Vice,
In her poſture doth abide
And, her Lovers, without ſtop,
Proſecute their fruitleſſe hope,
Though their Partners daily drop,
Down to hell, on ev'ry ſide.
We have ſeen the pride of Kings,
With thoſe much deſired things,
Whence their vain ambition ſprings,
Scorn'd, deſpis'd, and ſet at nought.
VVe, their ſilk, their pearls, their gold,
And their prccious Jemms, behold
Scattred, pawned, bought and ſold;
And to ſhame, their glory brought.
VVe have ſeen fair ſeeming Starrs,
Thither tumbled from high Sphears,
VVhere their vanity appears;
And that wiſemen may diſpenſe
VVith deluding Sophistries,
To promote, what they deviſe,
Till they put their truſt in lies,
Through a reprobated ſenſe.
VVe have ſeen, when GOD, once, makes
Search for Blood, what hills he ſhakes;
VVhat high Cedars, down he breaks;
And what portion he prepares
For Apoſtates, Balaamites,
For blood-thirſty Canaanites,
And ſelf-ſeeking Hypocrites,
VVhen their ſin at full appears.
All theſe things, and many moe
Such as theſe, we ſee and know:
Oh! that we could mind them too!
And our lives thereby amend:
For his Mercy ſhown of late,
(And which we commemorate,
By Commandment from the State)
Was vouchſafed to that end.
Let us therefore not ſuppoſe,
'Tis enough to do like thoſe,
VVho make only Verball ſhowes
Of the duties in command;
For, unleſſe, in deeds, as well
As in words, our thanks we tell,
As unthankfully we deal,
As if we had curſt, and ban'd.
Yea, although our Temples ring
Of GODS praiſe; though loud we ſing,
And all thoſe Thank-offrings bring,
VVhichWhich the Formaliſt oblates;
Yet, if we perform no more,
He our preſents doth abhor,
As the hiring of a whore,
And our vain Lip-ſervice hates.
If, we therewith, do not heed,
How with us GOD doth proceed;
And, how, he at every need,
Hears us, timely, when we call,
That, to ſuch, as helpleſſe lie,
VVe may yeild the like ſupply,
VVhen to us, for help they cry;
VVe, ere long time, rue it ſhall.
Yea, unleſſe we pity more
The oppreſſions of the poore,
Then we-have done heretofore,
And to Juſtice more adhere;
This, will prove but a deluſion,
And all mercies in concluſion,
Bring upon us juſt confuſion,
When ſuch vengeance we leaſt feare.
Still, in ſelfneſſe if we live;
Much receive, but nothing give;
Cheare our ſelves, and others grieve;
We are in the way of death:
And, of whatſoe're eſteem,
In our owne conceits, we ſeem,
God will caſt us quite from him,
If we ſettle in that path.
For, it is for nothing leſſe
Then this Nations righteouſneſſe,
Or, our ſakes, that GOD doth bleſſe
Thoſe deſignes we undertake:
But, 'tis rather from their ſin,
Who have our oppoſers been,
Whence our Victories begin,
And, for GOD's free mercy ſake.
For no goodneſſe of our owne,
Did GOD's hand the King uncrowne,
And pull other Tyrants downe;
Nor, becauſe, he, yet, doth ſee
That our zealous Proteſtations,
Or pretended Reformations
Of our great abhominations,
With our practiſes agree.
But by merciemercy he makes way.
To his feare; that, yet we may
Hear his voice, while 'tis, to day;
Whereunto, if we incline,
Maugre, then, all former ſinnings,
Our late ſeaſonable winnings,
Shall be pledges, and beginnings
Of a mercy more divine.
Oh, now therefore, let our praiſe
Be right-walkings, in his wayes,
And, believing what he ſaies:
Let our thankfulneſſe be, ſtill,
In true charity expreſt;
In relieving men oppreſt;
And, indeavouring our beſt,
In obedience, to his will.
Let us prudently forbeare
To wax proud, or domineere,
When GOD, for us, doth appeare;
And, with awe expreſſe our joy:
Leſt, if we preſumptuous grow,
He may (for our doing ſo)
Turne his anger from our Foe;
Or, both him and us deſtroy.
We have ſeen the ſtrong defeated;
By himſelf, the cheater cheated;
Men ambitious lower ſeated;
And, long-fixed Pow'rs remov'd;
Nay, ev'n ſuch as we reputed
Things divinely conſtituted,
Are deſtroy'd; and, they confuted,
Who, have them, for ſuch, approv'd.
We have ſeen thoſe things deſpiſed,
Which our Fathers highly prized,
And the whole earth Idolized;
Therefore, let us, now, for ever,
Conſtant be to that perfection,
Which deſerveth not rejection,
And, renounce our vaine affection
To the waies of our deceiver.
Let thoſe things, which GOD hath done
For theſe Iſles, be thought upon,
Not at ſuch ſet times, alone,
As the Civill Pow'rs command;
But; now let us; all our dayes,
Meditate his works, and waies,
And be mindfull of his praiſe;
Whilſt there ſhall be Sea, or Land.
And, Oh my eternall Lord!
Let thy al-ſubduing Sword,
But, that chiefly of thy Word,
Thus prevaile, for evermore;
Make it ſtill victorious grow,
Till to thee all Monarchs bow,
And, till vengeance thou ſhalt throw
On the Dragon, and the Whore.
Well accept, this day, what wee
Have in publike offred thee;
And, this private Mite, from me,
Which I now preſume to add:
For, in ev'ry Act of Grace,
Which by thee vouchſafed was,
Since my breathings in this place,
I, ſome ſpeciall fruits have had.
In the many variations
Of thy works, and diſpenſations,
Unto theſe divided Nations,
I have learn'd to find out thee.
I, by them, thy mind diſcover,
And, I daily read thee over,
As my God, King, Father, Lover;
And, as all in all, to mee.
I have found thee in their failings;
In their loſings, and prevailings;
In their joyes, and their bewailings;
In their hardneſſe, and their blindneſſe:
In their Truſt, and their ſuſpitions,
In their falſe, and true profeſſions,
In their good, and bad conditions;
In their love, and their unkindneſſe.
And, although this Generation,
Yet, beholds not what relation,
To their fall; or preſervation,
My deſpiſed Poems have;
Some, ere long, will better heed them,
And (though few, now, think they need them)
Thou, wilt give them cauſe to read them,
VVhen I ſhall be in my grave.
Oh! till then, let me perſever,
My known duties to endeavour,
VVith true patience, howſoever
Thou ſhalt exerciſe my Faith:
And, in ev'ry ſtrong Temptation,
Tryall, Straight, or Tribulation,
Mind me, for my Conſolation,
VVhat, thy truthfull Spirit ſaith.
To what ever, thou ſhalt call me,
Or, what ever may befall me,
Let no Terrene-Power appale me,
From declaring of thy Truth;
Let me, all my wits apply,
Thy great Name to magnifie,
VVhilſt I live; and when I die,
Let thy praiſe be in my mouth.
And, when here I have compleated,
That, for which I was created,
Let me thither be tranſlated,
VVhere thy Saints, the Lamb attend;
That, I, may in praiſing him,
There communicate with them,
In that everlaſting Hymn,
VVhichWhich, will never have an end.
AMEN. HALELUJAH.
FINIS.
End of the text · George Wither, A Private Thank-Oblation (1649)