The two incomparable generalissimo's of the world, with their armies briefly described and embattailed, visibly and invisibly opposing each other. Wither, George, 1588-1667. This text is an enriched version of the TCP digital transcription A96782 of text R210287 in the English Short Title Catalog (Thomason 669.f.10[5]). Textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. The text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with MorphAdorner. The annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). Textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. This text has not been fully proofread Approx. 6 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 1 1-bit group-IV TIFF page image. EarlyPrint Project Evanston,IL, Notre Dame, IN, St. Louis, MO 2017 A96782 Wing W3204B Thomason 669.f.10[5] ESTC R210287 99869098 99869098 162546 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A96782) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 162546) Images scanned from microfilm: (Thomason Tracts ; 246:669f10[5]) The two incomparable generalissimo's of the world, with their armies briefly described and embattailed, visibly and invisibly opposing each other. Wither, George, 1588-1667. 1 sheet ([1] p.) s.n., [London : 1644] Signed G.W. (i.e. George Wither). Caption title. Imprint from Wing. Verse - "Clad all in angry Armes of discontent,". A duel between the Devil ("Generall of the Church Malignant") and Christ ("Generall of the Church Militant"). Reproduction of the original in the British Library. eng Christian poetry, English -- Early modern, 1500-1700. A96782 R210287 (Thomason 669.f.10[5]). civilwar no The two incomparable generalissimo's of the world, with their armies briefly described and embattailed, visibly and invisibly opposing each Wither, George 1644 907 1 0 0 0 0 0 11 C The rate of 11 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the C category of texts with between 10 and 35 defects per 10,000 words. 2007-06 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2007-06 Apex CoVantage Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2007-08 Emma (Leeson) Huber Sampled and proofread 2007-08 Emma (Leeson) Huber Text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion THE TWO INCOMPARABLE GENERALISSIMO'S of the world , with their Armies briefly described and embattailed , visibly and invisibly opposing each other . Argument . ACcording to the Enmity decreed Betweene the womans and the Serpents seed In Paradise , each other doth defie , This hatred lasteth to Eternity : No marvell then that Warre is now begun unnaturally 'twixt father and the son . The one is the old Serpent the Devill , Generall of the Church Malignant . CLad all in angry Armes of discontent , Because of his perpetuall banishment From blisse , above five thousand yeares ago , And in revenge of that same fatall blow , Given him by that pure unspotted Child , Borne of a woman whom he so beguild , The old infernall Serpent ever since , Hath prov'd a hatefull Rebell to his Prince , And all enrag'd with malice and despight , He leads his captive souldiers thus to fight . In Van , or Front march Infidels without The Church , then Perfecutors , and the rout Of Heretiques within ; the Middleward Prophane , and all ungodly men do guard ; The Reare consists of an accursed Crew , Terrible indeed , and hideous to view ( As Conscience awaked once can tell ) Deadly sinne , damnation , death and hell . The wings , or sides this body that inclose Are fleshly lusts , and worldly pleasures Foes , That by force of strong perswasion kill , Moe , than the Tempter can with all his skill . The Collonels , Captains , Drums and Trumpeters , And other such inferiour Officers , Are infernall spirits hovering in the aire ; Th'word of command's Presumption and Despaire . Thus Summum Malum , Summum Bonums Foe , Sets up his Standard here on earth below ; And with his false suggestions , every houre Drawes to his party a Malignant power Of Potentates , as well as baser sort , His earthly fading kingdomes to support , And sends abroad his nimble Mercuries , Intelligencers , Scouts , and Aulick lyes , And promiseth rewatds for all their paines , As pleasures , treasures , dignities and gaines : But all these proffers prove but a flim-flam , He leaves them at the last like Doctor Lambe ; And when delights , and life are gone and past , Then comes the sad Catastrophe at last , Endlesse and easelesse torments in hell-fire , This is the Serpents and his souldiers hire . The other is the Lord JESUS CHRIST , Generall of the Church Militant . AGainst this Hydra-headed Army stands The Prince of Peace , with his victorious bands Not that this glorious Conquerour doth nee● Created helpe , t' effect a noble deed ; For He Himselfe did long ago subdue The Prince of darknesse , and th'infernall crew ; But to communicate He doth delight To silly Mortals His owne matchlesse might , Which so upon them daily He conferres , That in the end th' are more than conquerers ; Yet none but slaves , and conquered by sinne He makes His souldiers , and the field to winne , After He first hath pull'd them from the jawes Of death and hell , and given them new Lawes And principles divine ; then doth dispose Them thus in order 'gainst His Churches Foes . The Vant-guard doth consist of Saints , and brave Heroick Martyrs , who despise the grave ; The true Professours of the Gospell next , ( With scoffing Chams and lying Doegs vext ) March in the Middleward ; But O the Reare , ( That which most th'insernall force doth feare ) Consisteth of the Generalls owne merits , Which succour sends unto the fainting spirits Of all His souldiers , who else would be lost ; The wings on each side of this glorious Hoast , Are stretched farre above all earthly things , Spirituall graces making lively springs Of hope and joy with promises so sure Of heav'nly life for ever to endure . The Officers to this High Generall , Are brave Commanders , blessed Angels all , Who at their Captaines becke like lightning move Th'word of command is this ; I feare , and love . Thus stands the Christian arm'd against his Foes , Giving , and sometimes taking many blowes , And that not by imaginary force But as really as did Foot and Horse Neare Winchester of late , where soules apace Fled to the frowning and the smiling face Of this great Generall ; For only He Bindeth , and maketh men and Angels free . And by His mighty power doth so keepe His souldiers happy soules that fall asleepe That stinging death shall never hurt them , why ? Because they dye to live eternally . To the Reader . Now may thine eye convey unto thy heart , Thine own condition ( Reader ) on whose part Or side , to take up armes thou dost intend , Or be unto thy selfe a Foe or Friend ; For under one of these two Generalls The service of all men and Angels falls ; You see the Captaines and their wages both , O love the one then , and the other loath . G W.