George Withers' Emblemes

Truth, oft ©pprcflcdj tee may fee,
ISM) quite iuppreft it cannot bee.
iLLVSTR.XXXVHI. Book. 3
|His is that f ruitfull Plant, which when it growes,
Where wholcfome Water in abundance flowes,
Was ,by the Pfalmifi, thought a likely 7 ret,
The Emblem, of a blefjcd-man, to bee :
For, many wayes, it fitly typifies,
The Righteous-man, with his proprieties ;
And, thofe true Venues, which doe helpe increafe
His growing, in tlve ftatc of Btefledntfje.
The Palme, (ia this our Emblem, figur'd,thus)
Deprefled with a &M»*,doth fhew to us
The pow'r of Truth: For, as this tree doth fpread,
And thrive the more , when weights piefle downe the head-
So, Gods eternall Truth (which all the pow'r
And fpight of HeU, did labour to devoure)
Sprung high, and flourifhed the more, thereby,
When Tyrants crufh'd it , with their crueltie.
And, all inferiour Truths, the fame will doc,
According as they make approaches to
The beft Perfeelien ;
or, as they conduce
To God's due praifi,ot fome fuch pious ufe.
Lord, ftill, preferve this Truth's integtitie,
Although on ev'ry fide , the wicked prie,
To fpic how they may difadvantage it.
Yea, Lord, though Sinners in high place doe fit,
(As David faith) yet, let them not eppreffe
Thy Veritie , by their imperioufneiTe.
But, make both Her, and her Profeffors, bide
The Test, like Silver [even times purifide.
Thar,all Truths lovers, may with comfort fee,
Slice may depreft, but, not, opprejjed bcc.
They,