George Withers' Emblemes

Dedicatorie-j-i
Whilft You hive nign'd that, yet, no people fee,
A Richer 7
or more Peaceful/ Jme, thin wee i
Your Civill Actions (to the.publike eye)
Are faire examples ofMoralitie,
So manifeft • That, if he Truth did fing,
Who faid, The World doth imitate the King;
My Mufes dare, with boldnefTe to prefage,
A Chart, a Pious, and a Profperous Age.-
And, that, the ftormes which, late, thefe Realities deterr'd ,
Shall all be quite removed, or deferr'd
Till you Afcend-. And, future times have Ccenc,
That, your Examples have no: followed beene.
Thus, you are living Emblems, to this Ration
Which being mirk'd with heedefull fpecularkm,
May ferve, as well, to help? us how to fee
Our Happinejfe, As, what our Duties be.
And, it' I might unlocke all My/leries,
Which doe declare, how in a fiurc-fold-wife,
Your Lives are ufefull Emblems; I, perchance,
Should vexe blind Zeale, or anger Ignorance ;
And, teach well-temper' d Sprits, how to fee,
That ,we, for Bleflhgs, oft, Vnthankefull be.
For, as you, Both, Prime Children are of thofe
Two Sifter-Churches, betwixt whom, yet, growes
Vnfeemely (trife ; So, Ton, perhaps, may be.
An Emblem, how thofe Mothers may a^ree.
And, not by your Example, oneiV, (how,
How wrought it may be ; but, effect it fo.
Yea, peradventure, God, united Tou,
Thar, fuch able;Ted Vn ion might enfue
And, that, Your living-loviitglj, together
Your Chriftian hopefklUeffe, of one another
Your mild forbearance, harfli attempts to proove ;
Your micnal-wa ting, untill God hall move
By fomc c ilme -voice, or peacefull infiltration,
That Heart Which need :th berter Information ;
And, that, your Charities, might give a ftgne,
How, ill the* Daughters, of the Spovs e Divine
Might reco iclied be j Aid fh ?w, that, Swords,
Tlames, Threats, and Fnae,xi ike no true Accsrds
Go d grant a better Vn iqs may appeare
Yet, wi'n I no: the tollerating h -re,
Of Po'it.'cke-.lgreenents; f\rih.'iv than
K
Our wholfome Lames, and, Civ ill.vowes to man,
With Piety, approve) but, fuch, as may
Make up i bleflcd Con cor d, every way
Might it be Co ;
your Vertues, would become
A Glorious Blefing, to all Christ en dome :
Your Em a l e m hould,bv future Generations;
Beplac'dam mgthe famous Conftellatons,
And 9
aftcr-ti»ies [ though, Mee, this AgedcCpifc)
Would thinke, thefe Verfes, had beenc Prophecies.
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