Rapture Occasioned by the Miraculous Deliverance of His Highness, Poem
VATICINIƲM CAƲSƲALE.
A RAPTURE Occaſioned By the late Miraculous Deliverance OF HIS HIGHNESSE THE Lord Protector, From a Deſperate Danger.
With, a NOVERINT UNIVERSI, in the Cloſe.
By Geo: Wither, Eſq
Who ſo dwelleth in the Secret, of the MOST HIGH, ſhall abide in the ſhadow, of the ALMIGHTIE.
LONDON, Printed for T. Ratcliffe, and E. Motterſhed. 1655.
A RAPTURE Occaſioned By the late Miraculous Deliverance OF HIS HIGHNESSE THE Lord Protector With, a Noverint Univerſi, in the Cloſe.
I Will not let this, ſlip into the Dark,
Or keep the Light, without a ſpecial mark:
For, when GOD Acts, or ſpeaks, each Word and Deed.
Should be obſerved, with ſome vſeful heed.
That, which hath hapned, cannot be undone,
Or ly conceal'd; For, many Lookers on,
And, (ſome, who love to trumpet forth Miſchances,
With Deſcantings, on all their Circumstances)
Have publſh'd what befell. Thence, Rumour ſpreads;
Puts various Fancies, into Peoples heads;
And every one draws Uſes, or, applies
As Malice fools him, or, Love makes him wiſe:
But, Providential favours, are expreſt,
As well in worſt, Events as in the best;
And, they who know not this, will never finde
The Ports of Comfort, with an Adverſe-winde,
When he that heeds this, ſteers through all Events,
Or, Cenſures, without fears, or Diſcontents:
Then, as a Secret, why ſhould we diſcloſe
From man to man, what ev'ry body knowes?
And, put the Jealous Ʋulgar, in a fear
There's ſomewhat done, not fit for them to hear?
Why, is it whiſper'd, ſtill, as if, to be
Surpriz'd by thoſe things, from which none are free,
Diſhonour on his Highneſſe could be throwne?
Or, as if him, it misbeſeem'd to owne
That Action, which occaſion'd an Event
Producing, ſome external Detriment?
Or, why it is conceiv'd, as if, to Us,
Or, unto him, his fall were Ominous?
Is it not good, we ſhould have, now and then,
Somewhat to minde us, that we are but men?
And, that our truſt in Princes, gaſping lies
In that ſhort blaſt, which from their noſtrils flies?
When he did Fall, was it not wondrous well,
That, from his ſeat, into GODS's Armes he fell▪
And, that, He falling, fell not in ſuch wiſe,
As they, who Riſe, to fall; But, Fell, to Riſe?
And to Ariſe with an improvement too,
By Thankfulneſse, for having ſcaped ſo?
As alſo, with that Mark, upon him ſet,
Of being GOD's eſpecial Favourite?
If, what befell, muſt needs be underſtood
As Ominous; why, ſhould it not of Good,
An Omen be? (as I beleeve it will,
Much rather, then prove Ominous for ill?
For, who can think, that, He was ſaved from
A Miſchief, that, to Miſchieves he might come?
Or, that, We, by his ſafty, from the Curſe
Of Anarchy, are ſaved, for a worſe?
Or, that, when Mercies GOD, is pleas'd to ſhewe,
They do portend ſome Evils to enſue?
What Inference more wicked, can be brought?
What, more prophanely! what, more vilely thought!
Tir'd with continual Cares, (in hope, to finde
Refreſhments, by Diverſions of the minde)
Er'e ſerious thoughts, were wholly laid aſide,
He grasp'd thoſe Raines, which, he had often tride
To mannage heretofore, with good ſucceſſe,
When, Small things he more minded; Great things, leſſe:
And, though he ſped not, as in former time,
His Acte, was not unſeemely; nor a Crime,
As they ſuppoſe, whoſe Memorie forgets,
What, others, or, what, beſt themſelves befits.
For,'twas not judged an Unprincely Game,
To drive a Chariot, when th'Olimpian Fame,
Was thirſted after; And, when on that Hill,
Kings, with their Equals, therein ſhew'd their skill,
And wrapt in Clouds, rais'd by their horſes heeles,
And, Thundrings, from their furious Charret wheeles,
Were emulous, the high-priz'd Wreaths to wear
Belonging to the skilfull'ſt Charioteer.
And, what detraction, from the Reputation
Of Princes, is that Manly Recreation,
More now? or, then it was, when, Charles, of late,
For his diſport, upon the Coach-box, ſate?
(As many times he did) and not diſdaine
To let Inferiours, ride in Charles his Waine?
Or, what Diſhonour is it, that, through one
Miſhap, he fail'd, of what was, oft, well done?
It was not want of skill, to uſe the Raine,
That ſtout, and chaſt Hippolitus was ſlaine:
But, an unlookt for, dreadful Apparition,
(Of purpoſe rais'd, to haſten his perdition)
Frighted his horſes; which, with headstrong furie,
Their Driver, from the Beaten paths, did hurry
Among the Rocks: And, what, thereon befell,
(The Storie is ſo known) I need not tell.
Yet, this I will obſerve, (to make the Fable,
To my Intention, further ſerviceable)
That, though aſunder dragd, his Members were,
It magnifide his Wiſdome, Love, and Care,
Who made him ſound, more then it harmed him,
Who had that hurt: For, every ſcatter'd Lim,
Was re-united, without detriment
In any kinde, by that diſmemberment
Only, to Virbius, from Hippolitus,
His name was chang'd, as, it befalleth us,
When, from our Selfneſſe, we are rent and torne,
To be Regenerated, or New-borne.
And, ſo (I hope) when we have ſum'd up all
Which, to his Highneſſe hapned, by his Fall,
His gaines, will be much greater then his coſt;
And, nothing, but ſelf-confidence, be loſt.
This, by the way: now I to that will come;
Which mov'd me, on this ſubject to preſume.
A free Officiouſneſſe, doth me employ
To be, this once, inſtead of Philips boy,
Who, ev'ry morning, call'd on him to minde
That, he was Mortal, and of humane kinde:
For, though his ſad diſaſter hath of late,
In likelihood, remembred him, of that,
It will not be amiſſe, that, I ingage
His Caution, further, by this ſurpluſage;
Leſt, though his Piety, ſhall him incline
To do his duty, I may faile of mine,
Who think my ſelf oblig'd, when I ſhall ſee
Occaſion, his Remembrancer to be,
As I have bene to others; who, thereto
Gave leſſe regard, then he (I hope) will do.
As GOD, hath often ſhown, 'twas he, that, arm'd
His head in battel; and, preſerv'd unharm'd
His Perſon, when the chance of Warre he tride,
And thouſands ſlaughtered fell, on ev'ry ſide:
So, he now gives a new Experiment,
That, it is he alone, who doth prevent,
The Danger of his Peace; and, that, there are
Perils incloſing him, when none appeare.
It doth informe him, with a ſident tongue,
What warineſſe, doth now to him belong
More then in former times; and, that there are
Aſwell in his Retirements, as in Warre,
Gards, Sentinels, and Watchings, neceſſary
With ſtrictneſſe to be kept; leſt he miſcarry.
Moreover, it informes, that, had he none
Maligning him; Ev'n he Himſelf, alone,
Might be his own Deſtroyer; by forgetting
Due Care: Or, elſe, by acting, or omitting
Such things, as have a very nigh relation,
Either to Danger, or to Preſervation.
It calls on him, to minde, how many wayes,
And meanes there are, of cutting ſhort his dayes
If GOD, prevent not: yea, it calls on him,
Both, to redeeme, and husband well, his Time;
And, loudly calls; that, for the Mercy ſhowne,
It may, in ſhewing Mercy, be beſtowne:
That, they, who of his Juſtice, well beleeve,
May bleſſe him, for the Comforts, they receive;
That, they, who, in his ruine would have joy'd,
May rather wiſh, their own Deſignes deſtroy'd;
And, that, the Bleſsing, may be carried on,
Which, his, and our PROTECTOR, hath begun.
It likewiſe, calls upon us all, to heed
Both our own wayes; and how, GOD, doth proceed;
Chiefly, in what, of late, vouchſafed was
By his applying of preventing Grace,
For his Deliv'rance, in whoſe life conſiſts
The likelieſt Gard of publike Intereſts;
And, which, includes, of Mercies, yet to come,
Another Pledge: and, as it were, the ſum
Or, brief Epitome, of all things done
For our availe, ſince firſt the Wars begun.
My contemplating of his Dangers-paſt,
Makes them ſeeme great: yet, it hath made this laſt,
Exceed them all; and ſo great to have bin,
That, ſurely, had not, God himſelf, ſtept in,
To bring him Succour, ſuddenly from heav'n
No ſafety had been found; no Quarter giv'n.
Thus have we ſeen, a tender Mother, run
(Or, rather fly) when her dear only Son
Was innocently playing in the ſtreet;
And ſnatch him, from among the horſes feet
Indangering his Life: Thus, have we ſeen.
A Loving Bridegroome, throw himſelf between
Death, and his Bride; and bravely fetch her from
A Peril, which was deſperate become.
To tell this Danger, were to tell you that,
Which I can better Fancie, then relate;
And, which (as I conceive it) cannot well
Be better ſhowne, by any parallel,
Then when a brave Ship, on huge Billowes toſt,
With Sails full-ſpread, Helme broke, and Ruther loſt,
Is by a ſtrong storme, in the darkeſt night,
Forc'd to a ſtrange Coaſt, with a winde fore-right,
Upon the Rocks, which over-hanging, lie,
The foming Flouds, a hundred fathomes high;
Where, every Wave, all cries for help, out roares;
Threating deſtruction, both from Seas and ſhoares:
Where, can be ſeen nor Earth, nor Heav'n, nor Light,
But dark blinde wayes, to everlaſting night;
And, where, no ſuccour, finde admittance can
By all the Power, and all the wit of man.
By this Deſcription, you, perhaps, may gueſſe
From what a depth of deſp'rate dang'rouſneſſe
His Highneſſe was repreev'd; and, who, alone
Muſt, then, be his Deliverer, or none.
Thence, you may likewiſe, gather, if you will,
(And not continue blinde, and froward, ſtill)
Who takes charge of him; Whom, they do oppoſe;
Who without cauſe, at this time are his Foes;
And, for what end, ſuch aids vouchſafed be
In great immergencies; And, ſo may HEE.
Oh! let us, therefore, better now, improve
The evidences of Eternal Love,
Then we have done: and, let his Highneſſe, minde,
How bountiful, how gracious, and how kinde,
Our GOD hath been to him; that, ſo he may
Unto his People, part thereof repay,
In love to them: Let him remember, too,
Had he miſcari'd, what had been to do:
What, likely to be ſuffer'd; not alone
By ſome of us; but, ev'n by ever'y one,
Who breaths the Britiſh aire; and, not deſpiſe
This Counſel, though the Giver ſeeme unwiſe.
Yea, let it be conſider'd, (to improve
A haſt'ning, unto Unitie in Love)
What ſad Confuſions, had anew been hurld.
Upon this much unſetled Britiſh world,
(And, upon others, whom we would reſpect)
If, what was almoſt done, had took effect.
Let this great Mercy, never be forgot;
Chiefly, of him, who hath the largeſt Lot
In this Deliverance; Leſt worſe he ſpeed,
When of a Helper, he ſhall ſtand in need.
And, let it make him, more to haſten on
That, which his Prudence prompteth ſhould be done;
Leſt, ſome ſuch Humane Caſualtie prevents
The manifeſting of his good Intents,
And gives his Foes, occaſions to beleeve
Their owne vaine thoughts; And makes his friends to grieve.
I doubt not, what I counſel▪ If I did,
It had with me, in mine own heart, lain hid.
But, He, who me emboldneth unto this,
Perſwades me, that my aims, I ſhall not miſs:
Gives me, for earnest of them, a preſage,
Of healths Returne, with future Tutulage:
Shews me, by what conditions, he may gaine
Th' Eſhabliſhment, he labours to obtaine;
And (ſecret things conſider'd) bids me, tell him,
'Twas Mercy, not a Miſchief, that befel him:
That, alſo, there are greater Mercies, yet,
For him, reſerv'd; if he ſhall not forget
This Favour; nor the Vowes, and Protestations,
Made heretofore, to GOD, and to theſe Nations:
Aſſures me, that, on theſe Conditions lies,
The higheſt glory, whereto he can riſe;
And, that, if he eſcape the ſtumbling ſtones,
Environing th'Aſcent, to Earthly Thrones,
He, without fear of any harme, ſhall tread
On Vipers Aſpes, and on the Dragons head:
That, Emperour to ſtile him, ſhould not better
His happy Lot, or make him ought the greater;
But, rather ſeeme, a fooliſh over-lay
Of pureſt Ophir Gold, with common Clay.
Thus, otherwhile, Remembrances I ſcatter,
As, GOD, and Man's proceedings, offer matter;
Not without ſome diſcernable effect:
(Though neither they, nor I, gain much reſpect.)
For, on my Self, they have an operation
Not needleſſe; yea, the leſſe good acceptation,
They have with others, they, thereby, to me
The more effectual, ſometimes rendred be;
And, teach me to be quiet, and to beare
What misbefals me, with more Joy, then Care.
Thus, when the Bowes of Malice are ful bent,
And, poys'ned ſhafts, made ready to be ſent
Againſt th' upright in heart; I, interpoſe
Minerva's ſheild, ſometimes, unknown to thoſe
Whom it ſecures; and, when, for what was done,
Others, with all the thanks, away have gone.
Long ſince, with ſuchlike Spels, and Charmes as theſe,
I did aſſay, to cure the Kings diſeaſe;
But, either, he was over-deaf to heare,
Or elſe, not ſtrong enough, my Charmings were.
Oft, afterward, I ſung unto the State,
Some Leſſons, which, when 'twas a day too late,
Were called for; and frequently there fell
Much ill to me, for wiſhing others well.
Sometimes, I, to the Common-people fidle
To ſtill their madneſſe; and, oft foole, and riddle
To make them wiſer: but, with little gaines,
To them; and, loſſe of labour, for my paines.
And, now, to charme thoſe, I endeav'ring am,
Who ſeek to turne his Glory, into ſhame,
Whom GOD, hath honour'd; That, I might make leſſe
(If poſſible) their ſottiſh bruitiſhneſſe,
Who wound themſelves, through him; and ſcoff and jear
At Mercy, ſhown to their Deliverer,
In ſuch a Danger, as could be, by none
Removed, but, by an Almighty-one.
Vaine ſons of men, how long, will ye deſpiſe
Good Counſel! and, ſtill, follow after Lies!
Not knowing, or not heeding, that, GOD hath
Maugre your Spite, your Envie, and your Wrath,
Made him to be your Lord, whom you contemn;
To Supream honours height, advanced him;
Laughs you to ſcorn; Turns al your oppoſitions,
To his advantage and your own perditions:
Not heeding, GOD, hath given all theſe Lands;
All theſe three Nations, up, into his hands;
And, him, on them beſtow'd; to make proof, whether
He, or elſe They; or, both of them, or neither,
Will hearken to his Voice: that, he may do,
What their proceedings will incline him to.
Fooles! 'tis not as you dream: But, whatſoe're
He Was, or Is, or, ſhall to you appear,
GOD, from among your ſelves, did him advance,
To gard his Flocks, and his Inheritance;
To be a friendly comforter of thoſe,
Who are his Friends; A terror to his Foes:
And, what, you fret and ſtorme at, was not done,
By mans deſignments; but, by GOD, alone.
Through all theſe Iſlands, be it therefore known;
And, to all perſons, every where, which own,
Relation to this Empire; that by him,
Who hath diſpoſe of every Diadem,
(Of Scepters, Crowns, & Thrones) the change was made,
Which did remove the Government we had;
(When our great ſins deſerv'd to be bereft,
Of all thoſe Priviledges, which are left)
And, that, GOD, in meer mercy, did tranſlate
The Power, which was in other men, of late,
To be with him intruſted, who is now
Stil'd, your PROTECTOR. Know, likewiſe, that, you
Are bound, by Law and Conſcience, to obay;
And humbly at his Throne, your ſelves to lay
On thoſe Conditions, only, whereon, he
Hath your Protector, undertook to be.
Moreover, Be it known, that, if he ſhall
Performe his Part; and, you perverſly fall
Into rebellious actings; or, not ceaſe
From thoſe, which may diſturbe the common-peace;
His Scepter, ſhall, perforce, your ſtif necks bend
To that, which he doth Righteouſly intend;
And, either thereunto obedient make you,
Or, therewith, bruiſe; or, elſe, to peeces break you:
Leſt, your perverſneſse, bring a Tirant hither,
To break us; never to be ſet together.
And, that, if prudently you do comply,
He may, at laſt, improve his Sov'raignty,
To make you farre more happy, and more free,
Then elſe, you had been, or had means to be.
And, now great OLIVER, to thee, likewiſe,
Let this be known; and, do not thou deſpiſe
The Publiſher; GOD, doth expect to have
Honour from them, to whom he honour gave:
That, ſuch, who have the rule o're men, be juſt:
That, they their Vowes infringe not, nor his truſt:
That, they conſider, he bestowes large meaſure,
Of Power upon them, not to act their pleaſure,
Or to fulfill their luſt; but, doth inlarge
His Bounty, that their Place, they may diſcharge
With Courage: That, he Riches doth provide,
Leſt Avarice, might draw their hearts aſide;
Or, wants, to do injuſtice, them compell:
That, he gives honours, not to make them ſwell
Above their Brethren; but, them, to exempt
From what, may fall upon them, by contempt:
And, that, all theſe things, are on them beſtown,
Much more, for others ſakes, then for their own.
Know SIR, that, GOD, from perſons in your place,
Expects all this; and thereto offers Grace,
And Power, for asking: That, (what ere ſome ſay)
He, none neceſſitates to go aſtray;
Nor leaves, nor hardens any (not the worſt)
Till, Love to ſelfneſſe, makes them, leave him firſt.
If, this, thou well conſidering, ſhalt act
Accordingly; performing thy Contract,
With GOD, and with his People; he, ſhall then,
Give thee the Love, and Hearts, of all Good men:
Fixe thee as firmly, as the Rocky ſhoares,
Which ſleight the Ocean, when it foames and roares:
And brighter make thy Fame, and ſpread it more,
Then any mans renowned heretofore:
For, in Fames Book, thou maiſt inrolled be
The firſt, who, made a People truly free:
And firſt-borne, of thoſe Viceroyes, who, ſhall take
Their Throns from HIM, whoſe Kingdom down will break,
All Monarchies of Tirants; with all thoſe,
Who, help patch up, the Clay and Iron toes,
The Reliques of that Image, which hath bin
The prop of him, that's call'd, the man of ſin.
All this may be: and, if thou ſtrive to go
The way, that open lies; It ſhall be ſo.
Oh! loſe not this advantage, for a Buble,
Which, in vain hope, begins, & ends with trouble.
And, laſtly, Be it known, (not by event
Which may be to thy future detriment,
But, by pre-caution) that, if faile thou ſhalt
Without this Peoples obſtinate default,
Of what they, juſtly may from thee expect,
Who art advanc'd their freedomes to protect;
Or ſhalt abuſe thy Power, them, to oppreſſe;
Or, leave them unreliev'd, in their diſtreſſe,
So, that, they muſt be forc'd to cry, and call,
To GOD, for help: GOD, hear, and help them ſhall:
Search what is done: And, though their former ſin,
Hath great, and full of provocations bin,
He, for the preſent time, will paſſe it by,
And on thy failings, only, caſt an eye:
Avenge their Cauſe; call thee, accompt to give,
Of all thoſe Favours, which thou didſt receive;
(Of that late Mercy, too, among the reſt,
Which hath occaſion'd, what, is here expreſt)
And, with much indignation, caſt thee down,
When, to its height, thy Confidence is grown.
Yea, they, who ſhall moſt flatter, and with whom
Thou, ſhalt then, think moſt ſafe thou mayſt become,
Will help deſtroy thee: And, this, ſhall to Thee
A ſad preſage, of thy deſtruction be,
Which, may be made a Prophecie Divine,
Of Everlaſting Good, to Thee, and Thine.
But, to his Saints, GOD, gives a bleſſed cloſe;
And, keeps his Vengeance, only, for his Foes.
Thus, I have ſhown, that, Mercy which produces
Contempt in Scorners, came for better uſes:
Let it, by all, whom it concerns, be weigh'd;
And, when, I've more to ſay, It ſhall be ſaid.
Geo. Wither.
End of the text · George Wither, Rapture Occasioned by the Miraculous Deliverance of His Highness (1655)