dreadful mark Of flaming vengeance that precedes the dark Approach of night can this vast Comet be Ought but the Prologue of calamity Prodigious Meteors blazing fiery Stars Are Heraulds sent to menace open VVars Against rebellious and polluted Coasts By him who is the mighty Lord of Hosts Awake O England this Lethargick sleep Is out of Season 't is a time to weep 'T is guilty Children tremble at the Rod Can you be stupid when the angry God Sets up this dreadful Ensign of his wrath Rouze up Repentance let a lively Faith Now go to work see how the preaching Air Instead of sinning does exhort to Prayer For thy fantastick Garbs Perfumes and all Thy orhwe trash it doth for Sackcloth call From carnal sports it bids thee quickly get Calls from the Taverns to the Mercy seat From that accursed Randezvouz of Lust It bids thee hasten and repent in dust Have not th' experience of past Ages given Their sad remarks upon these Signs in Heaven VVhat follow'd still but certain spoil of Nations Plagues Fire and Sword and other devastations The sure Eversion of some potent Crown The death of Heroes Monarchs tumbled down But thou Illustrious Architect of wonder Remove the sorrows which I labour under Does this amazing Prodigy betoken That Rampant Babel shall be quickly broken Does it portend that Antichrist shall break In pieces striving to destroy the weak Remains that on this blessed name do call Or does 't presage that trembling I shall fall Lord canst thou see thy pleasant Vineyard tore And rooted up by this rapacious Boar Or have my Childrens crying sins provok'd That dismal sentence not to be revok'd Gods methods were to chasten not destroy Those sinning Souls in whom he once took joy O give thy sinking Church a true discerning VVhat thou dost mean by this prodigious warning That by thy Spirits sacred Flame calcin'd By Scourges mended and by heat refin'd We may find Grace and all our ways amend For some strange change this doubtless doth portend Sion's Friend This was first published eight years ago Just as God did that Fiery Meteor show And when amaz'd at that astonishing sight What you have read I moved was to write What in my judgment it might signifie Though I did ne're pretend to Prophecy But yet we see some things since come to pass Of what so plainly then predicted was A dismal hour of darkness did appear And from that time increased every year Which England nor Gods Witnesses before Did ever see nor I hope ne're will more Our Governments Foundation up was torn Our famous City stript and left forlorn Good men turn'd out of Office without cause And those imploy'd who violate those Laws Which only can the Subjects Right secure And England did sad Slavery to endure Gods Witnesses have likewise since been slain Though they are lately brought to Life again Yea what a wondrous strange Catastrophie Has since befall'n Great Brittain's Monarchy And what a blow is thereby given to Rome We may presage what further is to come For I don't doubt ere its effects are o're The Church of Rome shall fall and rise no more And though proud Lewis triumph let him know It may foretel his final overthrow The Turks have felt the sad effects and shall Unless they own the truth entirely fall No Comet I believe did e're fore-show More good that unto Protestants should grow But lest I should appear unkind to be In stopping Sion's groans in misery I will forbear that she may yet relate What for some years has been her direful state And shew what grief she now does labour under Which seems to break her very Heart asunder Dear Mother pray be pleased to proceed For to your words I 'll give attentive heed Sion Your news is good but Oh! my Spirits faint Finding such doleful causes of complaint My panting Soul renewed grief doth feel My feeble knees beneath their burden reel Such are the black enormities and crimes Which do attend these dark and gloomy times Although I see a Parliament most just Yet I alas lye covered in the dust This was in Eighty when thou couldst not see The Saviour which God had prepar'd for thee I am beset within and round about Nor can I see how God will bring about Deliverance for my Enemies are strong And snares have laid to ruin me ere long And since my sins and Englands are so great â—t may God move to leave his Mercy-Seat And give us up into Rome's Hellish power To be destroy'd in this most dismal hour And if at this time we preserved be When Rome attacks us with such subtilty Playing with so much malice her last Game We ought to praise the great Jehovahs Name Since nothing but a Miracle can do this So very dangerous our condition is Sion's Children Ah Mother who can disallow your moan The Cause is just for every one must own Our failing great and that our sins provoke Impending Judgments and a future stroke If interceeding Mercy step not in To Ward the blow and Cancel all our sin But since amazing Providence now gives light And makes appear the dark Intrigues o' th' night Since Heav'n exposes the results of Rome To publick notice since the Traytors come To Legal Execution since the Grand Contrivers of these mischiefs dare not stand The Test of Law or due Examination 1680. Since such brave Hero's represent the Nation Whose Clear Sagacious penetrating Eyes Dive into Rome's abhorred Mysteries VVhose Noble Souls whose Loyal English Hearts The closest sleights of Antichristian Arts Can ne're deceive whose brave resolves defeat Those curs'd Delinquents whether small or great VVhose Free-born courages do scorn to stoop To be the Vassals of a doting Pope An upstart Vicar whose Pow'r ne're was given By binding Laws of either Earth or Heaven VVe therefore Dearest Mother do conclude That what has past of Romish interlude Is near an Exit That the Scene will be Chang'd from a Tempest to Serenity This was writ in 1680. respecting the Worthy Englisâ— Parliament then Sitting Such were our hopes then Sion O that 's a Cordial but my grief does borrow Some fresh objections to renew my sorrow For some that wish me well do yet in spite Of Gospel-beamings and the clearest Light Retain some Romish fragments which displeases The meek the humble self-denying JESUS His way of worship Scripture does express No useless Pomp no Artificial Dress Becomes Religion Chastity abhors The Garb the Painting and the Gate of Whores VVhy should my Friends a Virgin-Church pollute VVith any Relicks of that Prostitute VVhy gawdy things that never had their name In Sacred Records our Profession shame Why are our Rites enammel'd with their gloss Why must our Gold be mingled with their dross Why farther Reformation is supprest T' uphold a Grandeur that 's Usurp'd at best Why doors and windows must be shut up quite To stop the radiance of its further Light And why must such as disallow those tricks Be branded
melodiously to sing We heard the Turtles Voice too in our Land Such mighty Blessings Thankfulness command Blessings which England never knew before For which the God of Heaven we should adore And since our Sun is risen let him shine Most gloriously in Rays which are Divine Like powerful Sol whose Soul reviving Beams Whose warming nature and delightful gleams Send forth on all his powerful Influence So let him equally his warmth dispence Nor can we fail of this our expectation It 's like your self 't is like your Declaration You by some just sublime and sacred Arts Are both become the King and Queen of hearts You there erect your Throne 't is there you reign Sure such a Kingdom always will remain Oh may our Sun never Eclipsed be Oh may he send his Beams from Sea to Sea And may he give an Universal Light That all dark Regions may receive their sight And may his strong attractive Power likewise Dry up those naufeous sinks of sin that rise And grow so rife unto our Nations shame And high dishonour of Jehovah's Name May he his growing cherishing Beams display Upon the Good and Virtuous so that they May all strive to exceed in fruitfulness And flourish like those Trees the Lord doth bless But let him Lord be a hot scorching Sun To thy grand Foe The Whore of Babylon Let him make all those noisom weeds to fade And lose the glory which they lately had So that the Flower de Luce may hang the head It is high time it quite were withered Let proud Tyrconnels heart now die away To hear who does Great Britains Scepter sway Let our Dear Soveraign send such powerful Darts As may subdue the most rebellious hearts Of Teagues and Tories in that mournful Land O're which our Princes long have had command But let him be a healing Sun unto His People and their Differences subdue When Both have run their Race Crown Both on high Among thy Saints to all Eternity So prays your Majesties most humble and most obedient and truly Loyal Subject Benj. Keach TO THE READER YOU are here presented with a Poem that gives a full Relation of the woful state and sufferings of the Protestant Church from the year 1680. until the year 1688. Together with an Account of those Worthy Christians and Renowned Heroes that suffered during the same space of time In the year 1666. I wrote a Treatise called Sion in Distress I then perceiving Popery ready to bud and would if God prevented not spring up afresh in this Land and then in 1680. came forth a new Edition with such Enlargements which made it very different from the first Impression which was entituled also Sion in Distress or The Groans of the True Protestant Church wherein I shewed the Causes of her Calamities with an Enumeration of some prevailing Sins together with the Plots and Contrivances of Rome against Sion which Book received general Acceptance But now this as the Title assures you brings better News for our great joy and astonishment at what God hath wrought he hath graciously been pleased to turn our sorrow and mourning into Rejoicing You have therefore an Account of the glorious Deliverance both of Church and State from Popery and Slavery by the hand of His now present Majesty which as it is the Wonderment of this present Age so it will be no doubt of future Generations But since the excellencies of things appear best when compared to their contraries as Light when compared to Darkness and Health to Sickness and Liberty to Bonds c. I have repeated many things that you have in Sion in Distress which set forth her deplorable condition that so we may the more clearly discern and admire the present blessing and future glory of God's Church but because many grounds of Sions Complaint still continue such I mean as respect the Divisions that are amongst good Protestants and the sad Enormities of Professors she doth repeat those her Sorrows with some fresh aggravations and additions of them And since the Great Whore is fallen and suddenly too in this Kingdom and many that represent her are in hold I have added something concerning her Tryal Sentence or Condemnation that was in the last which part lookt to such a happy hour as this is and tho' we cannot perfectly foresee what God is about to do as yet we being but in the morning of the approaching glory yet are we full of expectation that the work of God in respect of these great and longed for blessings will not go back again but do believe their present Majesties are raised up to be glorious Instruments in the hand of God beyond what some 't is like may suppose nor do I doubt but that the slain Witnesses are a-getting out of their graves time will open things clearer to us But I am sure we cannot sufficiently adore the Divine Goodness for that Salvation wrought by his own right hand let us strive to be thankful to God and labour to live in love one with another and improve the present Providence for since God hath graciously been pleased to do wonders for us let us endeavour to do some great things for him If this may stir up any to act and do valiantly in Israel and be any ways useful to the Church of God or to any Member thereof I have my desire Who am still thy Souls Friend and Servant for Christs sake Benjamin Keach On the Ingenious Author of the Poem called Distressed Sion Relieved OUR Author heated with Seraphick Fire Which did his late lamenting Muse inspire He thereby in the highest notes of grief Wept Tears in Verse when Sion lackt Relief From Art high lofty strains he would not borrow But only did describe a Natural sorrow His clear discerning Soul did then foretel Her danger and what afterward befel He gave us warning to prevent the stroke Sins to forsake and M 〈…〉 y to invoke Yet would not without Consolation leave us Nor did that Book of comfort quite bereave us But still assur'd us That the Scarlet Whore Should in a short time fall and rise no more What he did then predict we hope that we Within a little while perform'd shall see That Heav'n on Sion's sorrows will look down And for her sufferings will at length her Crown That Sion late distrest God will relieve And for her troubles comfort to her give These Hopes our Authors Soul do now inspire they rouse his Muse and make him to admire What Great Deliverance is already wrought So great that it was ev'n beyond our thought This he in cheerful accents to us sings And our past sufferings to our memory brings The Glory of those Worthies he revives That for their Countrey offered their Lives They Popery and Slavery did withstand Which was ev'n ready to o're-spread the Land. And though God did not then success afford Our Author doth their Gallant Names record And thereby hath himself obtain'd a Name That shall be registred
Engines of most horrid cruelty Tormenting them they rather chose to die The torturing Boot and burning Matches too They made these innocent Souls to undergo And after all were Sentenc'd unto death And villainously were depriv'd of Breath Some that were guiltless yet were Sentenced To lose their Ears and then be Banished And after this again Examin'd were Whether to their Opinions they adhere If so a second Sentence doth succeed And they are instantly condemn'd to bleed Thus multitudes of Men and Families Were ruined by such Barbarities Extravagant Fines and long Imprisonment And all the Hellish ways Rome can invent Were exercis'd severely on all those Who Popery and Slavery durst oppose Yea they not only took their Lives away But their good Name seek likewise to destroy By representing them as Mortal Foes T' th' King and that they did his Power oppose Thus was our Saviour dealt with by the Jews And thus did they his blest Apostles use Hoping that by their heaping infamy Upon good men they would obnoxious be Unto the Censure of the Mobile And by this their Infernal Policy Induce them all Religion to decry Especially if they be Men of Name As many were whom they sought to defame And hereby thought all Piety to root out Their vile Intrigues with ease to bring about For when Men all Religion do defie They 'll quickly suck in Rome's Idolatry Their wicked Laws good Men must not transgress Nay which is worse they force them to profess And to declare They just and righteous are And fit to be obey'd yea they must Swear They will defend them and that Power too That did Enact them which was hard to do There 's one thing more that 's grievous to relate Which shews their cruel and malicious hate That finding Legal Tryals 'gainst them slow And troublesome they grant a power to The rude ungovern'd Souldiers so that they Have pow'r to challenge and examine may Whom they think fit and Oaths likewise impose Scotland ne're saw such Justices as those Yea they commanded and enjoined were To put to death all such as would not Swear Yea if they would not answer the demands Of these loud wretches then into their hands They fell who most severely them did use The French Dragoons could them not worse abuse And in few weeks no less than Fifty dy'd Of those that their curst Tyranny decry'd No Judge these Martyr'd Christians did condemn Neither did any Jury pass on them The Souldiers without cause destroy'd them all Which doth aloud to Heav'n for vengeance call They kill and slay without respect to Age Or Sex to gratifie their brutish rage They raise an Army like to that in France Their Arbitrary Power to advance And the Intrigues of Rome to carry on And this for Scotland s sorrows makes me moan Poor men Free Quarters must provide or they Are plundered and all is swept away And many hundred sober Persons were Inhumanely destroy'd year after year No former Tyrant scarcely did invent More Tortures than good men there under-went VVhich they must suffer or must else defile Their Consciences with their Opinions vile It seem'd as if Inquisitors were come To Scotland now from Spain or else from Rome Ah! poor inslaved Land Ah! must thou be The Scene of Popish Pride and Cruelty Thy Magistrates are ravening VVolves become Of Esau's Race fit Instruments for Rome Thy Noble Patriots mourn thy Priests are sad Thy Kirk has lost that Glory which she had 'T is good for thee to weigh and lay to Heart What caus'd these woes under which thou dost smart Hast thou not been too hot and too severe And hence are forc'd such miseries now to bear Learn wisdom then and mild and gentle be Since God doth never love severity If ever he return to thee again Let not thy sharpness all thy glory stain Let such who can't unite and joyn with thee Have equal Love and Christian Liberty Or else at length a fiercer Storm may come Than what thou hast already had from Rome Farewel poor Scotland for I must be gone And now methinks I hear poor Ireland groan With a sad Heart I take my leave of thee And what is doing there resolve to see AH dismal sight What! all in Popish hands Not one good Protestant that here commands Must Wolves be Keepers of my harmless Sheep Take heed poor Souls take heed and do not sleep Ah! now I see what the King did intend Is this the love and kindness of a Friend Did he pretend all should have equal share Of Trust and Honour how does this appear Yet let their Honour go if that were all I should not care but when to mind I call The sad and dismal year of Forty One And what by Irish Papists then was done I cannot think my Children safe to be Whilst only such are in Authority Is 't fit such bloody Butchers should bear sway Whose Hearts were never changed to this day Here 's not a Constable ev'n so mean a place But what is of the Irish Popish Race I fear dear Children if God don't appear Your utter ruin now approaches near I cannot but lament when I behold These hungry Lions compassing my Fold If Heav'n don't them deter and soon prevent You will ere long be all in pieces rent But yet cheer up I long expected have The Lion of the North will come to save Both me and mine and will great Wonders do Protecting of these Lands from overthrow The Chicken of the Eagle will appear And vanquish all my Foes both far and near When you of him have Tidings weep no more For your Redemption then is at the door I can't stay longer here my Eye doth glance To pity my poor Children too in France But should I dive into their State I fear I should want strength their miseries to bear BUT other grounds of grief are in mine Eye ' Which cause my sorrows to advance so high ' That my o're-burthen'd Heart can scarce express ' The nature of my inward heaviness Sion's Friend Sion thy sad and bitter lamentation Does move my very Heart unto compassion But say what cause does aggravate your fears And thus provokes to further cries and tears Sion Oh if my Head were waters and each Eye A Springing Fountain I could drein 'em dry I 'm steep'd in brackish Floods nay almost drown'd To see how Sin does ev'ry where abound This was my cry and moan Eight years ago And worse since that I find these evils grow therefore must repeat them o're again For these alas do England's Glory stain And bring reproach likewise on my blest name The grief of Heaven and my Childrens shame ` Where-e re I am I nought can see or hear But that which doth my Soul in pieces tear It breaks my Heart that England thus should be A Scene for th' Actors of Debauchery What perpetrations of the blackest Crimes Appear not bare-fac'd in our present times Though God incens'd has fearful Judgments
1. Sion 2. Her Children 3. the Beast and Where overthrown 4 The two Witnesses Rising 5. Pope and Jesuit 6. Enemies of the Church all Flying 7. Angels destroying them Distressed Sion RELIEVED OR The Garment of Praise for the Spirit of Heaviness Wherein are Discovered the Grand Causes of the Churches Trouble and Misery under the late Dismal Dispensation With a Compleat History of and Lamentation for those Renowned Worthies that fell in England by Popilh Rage and Cruelty from the Year 1680 to 1688. Together with an Account of the late Admirable and Stupendious Providence which hath wrought such a sudden and Wonderful Deliverance for this Nation and Gods Sion therein Humbly Dedicated to their Present Majesties By Benjamin Keach Author of a Book called Sion in Distress or the Groans of the True Protestant Church Licensed and Entred according to Order LONDON Printed for Nath. Crouch at the Bell in the Poultrey near Cheapside 1689. To their Most Excellent Majesties William and Mary by the Grace of God King and Queen of England c. Dread Soveraigns May it please your Majesties MOST graciously to cast your Princely Eyes And to accept of this small worthless Mite From one whose Soul 's enamour'd with the sight Of seeing you brought to Great Britains Throne Which Angels do delight to look upon Methinks I see the Cherubs clap their wings Singing sweet Anthems to the King of Kings That such a King and Queen are set on high In glorious Power and Soveraign Majesty No marvel 't is since by Angelick Power You 're both preserved to this happy hour For sure he 's blind who can't discern most clear T was by Heavens Conduct you were both brought here Such a stupendious Providence before Was never known and never may no more Be seen again in this Great Northern Isle Which fills our hearts with joy makes us smile What a distressed and for lorn estate Was this now glorious Kingdom in of late Poor England alas did bleeding lye For many years inslav'd by Tyranny And Sion too was in the same condition Weeping with bitter groans and deep contrition Let me a little freely now dilate Upon Great Britains miserable state When first on her you cast your Royal look And her Salvation likewise undertook A glorious Enterprize which Heaven did bless With such amazing and admir'd success Sick sick as heart can hold the Kingdom lies Filling each corner with her mournful cryes Sometimes she burns as when a Fever heats Anon Despair brings cold and clammy sweats No rest she gains or if she do she dreams Of Massacres Fires Blood and direful Theams She no Physicians finds Bold Empiricks Are from St. Omers sent to try their tricks Who wicked crafty counsel take together To poyson her 't was this that brought them hither Nay hold says Petre we 'l first let her blood That 's fit for her and will do us most good Her Blood 's infected so corrupt I see Naught else can cure her Northern Heresie But let us first prescribe a Golden Pill To ease her that she may suspect no ill But may conclude we choice Physicians be The Pill that they prepar'd was Liberty Curiously gilt it was and tasted well But when 't was down she in t ' an Ague fell Then these State-Mountebanks do her assure Jesuits-Powder will effect the cure Yet still she 's sick and seiz'd with stronger fits Which made most think these Drs. all were Cheats Their Physick was of such a composition It made the Body Politick in confusion And many evidently did foresee 'T was to effect a direful Tragedy They did pretend to purge ill humours out That they their black Designs might bring about And th' evil humours which did lurking lie In divers parts o' th' Body grew thereby More strong and vigorous and did disturb What nature did before so strongly curb That wise Physicians made this wise conclusion T would wholly change the Bodys constitution From good to bad from healthy free and sound Would cause malignant humours to abound Ill ones no doubt it was design'd to nourish Tho' for a while some good ones it did cherish Thus may a Medicine which is safe and good As Liberty is if rightly understood When ill prepared and unduly given Prove dangerous as any under Heaven And pity 't is this universal Pill That has wrought wonders was design'd so ill But ah what shall she do th' Impostors Art Her head doth poison and corrupt her heart Must she O must she die O hear her groans Hear Sions too O hearken how she moans There is no help but from the God of Wonder 'T is he alone that 's able to bring under This Foe to Nature which is grown so strong And hath her vital parts opprest so long All her Physicians weep and secretly Were heard to say poor England now must die Unless th' Almighty by his own right hand Work Miracles to save our sinking Land. But who 's the Instrument will rise up for her Who is the Man whom God delights to honour To bring relief when all her hopes were gone Great Sir 'T was you Jehovah fixt upon No sooner heard she your victorious Name But she reviv'd and cheerful soon became But ah the Winds were cross this made us fear We n're should have your long'd for presence here And when we heard you were upon the Seas Our hearts rejoyced yet had not perfect ease We doubted still what dangers you might meet In that most Glorious and Renowned Fleet Yet still our Prayers more fervent were and more To see your Royal Person safe on shore And all the time in England you have been What strange amazing wonders have we seen A poor sick Land divided by Christs power Made whole and all united in an hour United so as joyntly to combine To own this just and glorious design O're us long hung a black and dismal Cloud From whence we fear'd a dreadful storm of blood Yet when it brake nought but sweet dews distill This this may sure our souls with wonder fill To see a Mighty Army rais'd by Rome Some flie for fear and others Friends become To gain the Victory yet never fight This plain appears Gods hand to all mens sight Poor Sion who i' th' dust did prostrate lie Bewailing her approaching misery Began to rouse and on her feet to stand When you upon the English Shore did land She long expected in our Hemisphere A glorious Star would certainly appear And now he 's come she can't for bear to sing With Joy to welcom her desired King And as the Sun whose powerful reflection Gives to all Vegetables a resurrection Even so Gods Witnesses now raised are Whose bodies lay like dead so lately here For though it was in the cold Winter time We saw so great a change in our sharp Clime As made us cry The Winter now is gone Your powerful Rays in this our Horizon Made Flowers bud as in the early Spring And chirping Birds
â—o now Invade and strive to have it given â—nto their hands that they may tread it down And impudently cry All is their own Grand Rebels what attempt the Right of God â—â— you not fear his dreadful Iron Rod Would you Dethrone him would your hellish spite â—â—â—rive both God and Man of their just Right This you design'd although in vain to do And Christ's blest Kingdom fain would overthrow One while they cry Conscience to them must beâ— Another time Christ's Right they did defend When it did seem to favour their design Conscience in all its rights they undermine But when they found 't would with their Interest staâ— And with th' Intrigues that they then had in hand They cry Nought's juster than that all men do To others as they would be done unto But to return nothing for many years Is seen but Persecution Bloud and Tears No Liberty at all Conscience must have But the Dissenters Prison proves his Grave Where hundreds of them lay long buried Whilst others of their Goods were plundered Many in filthy Jayls so long did lye That poysoned with the stench they there did dye Law and Religion both were trampled down And most good men term'd Enemies to the Crown Charters of Towns and Cities ta'ne away That Popery and Slavery might bear sway No Stone 〈…〉 unturn'd whereby they might Bring 〈◊〉 poor England an Eternal Night Of Popish darkness many therefore fled Whilst others were strangely dis-spirited Divers good Magistrates were laid aside And wicked men for Judges they provide Void of all fear of God who any thing Would give for Law they thought would please 〈◊〉 King Did a Dissenter Law or Justice crave He 's branded for a Rascal Rebel Slave Yet many men so strangely blinded were They could not see though things appear'd so clear Because that King a Protestant was thought Matters by him so cunningly were wrought And carried on but when he came to fall All things were plain and bare-fac't unto all For the next King his Visage did lay down And publickly himself a Papist own And I likewise more clearly did espy My dreadful danger then approaching nigh The Popish Plot under a Cloud was hid And a Sham Plot contrived in its stead Though own'd by three Successive Parliaments â—et all 's denied by Romish Innocents â—hose Jesuits who hang'd for Treason were Themselves free from all guilt or crime declare 〈◊〉 th' unborn Child nor is this strange since they 〈◊〉 Dispensation have That they may say Whatever will preserve their Cause from blame And Holy Church secure from her just shame 1685. Therefore is Dr. Oates brought on the Stage â—egraded and expos'd to brutish rage They on his Back their cruel strokes do lay Whereby their Hellish Plot they stifle may â—et let them whip and lash him till he die And practice all their Romish cruelty â—one of his Evidence he can deny 'T is to his Honour and Immortal praise And to his name it will high Trophies raise Those many hundred stripes laid on by Rome Are as so many Monuments become More great and lasting than a Marble Tomb. Poor Dangerfield couragious and bold Whom Rome's Incendiaries never could By horrid threats or subtle flattery Prevail upon to gainsay or deny What he of their Intrigues did testifie Unto a cruel whipping they him doom Which yet could not his Fortitude o'recome 'T would pierce ones Heart to think what miseries He suffered from his bloody Enemies And though perhaps not well prepar'd to die Yet he must fall by Romish Tyranny A Villain in the midst of all his pain Stabbing his tender Eye out with a Cane Which pierc't so deep he in great torments lay That never ceast till Death took him away The Fence b'ing thus thrown down the ravenous Beasts Rush in and of poor Innocents make Feasts Wild Boars and Bears yea Wolves and Tygers strive All to destroy and leave no Lambs alive Religion Laws though all good mens great care Yea and mens precious Lives they did not spare That England seem'd as if it were become A Scene of misery and a prey to Rome And what could Sion do Alas poor I Bewail'd my state but saw no comfort nigh Yea my poor Children about me hung B'ing hardly able to endure the wrong And sharp Assaults of those fierce Fiends of Hell Yet knew not how their malice to repel About this time i' th' West there did appear Some unto whom their Countrey was most dear Striving to free it but mistook the time And Person too who Landed then at Lyme A Man belov'd but not the Instrument God chosen had and now to us hath sent To save our Land and Sion from that blow Which would have been to both an overthrow 1685. But of my joys I must forbear to sing A doleful noise seems in my Ears to ring And still grows louder sure 't is from the West What 's that I see a cruel savage Beast A Man no sure a Monster though he came Of Humane Race he don't deserve that name A cursed Spirit of th' Infernal Legion A Lord Chief Justice of the Lower Region I cannot rest hot strugling rage aspires And fills my Free-born Soul with Noble Fires My Muse soars high and now she doth despise What e're below attempts to Tyrannize Ah! but again she faints how shall I tell What to those poor mistaken Souls befel The dismal news of Rapine Spoil and Blood Shed in those Parts which ran ev'n like a Flood Works strange Effects in my afflicted Soul For grief my Bowels do within me rowl In biting Satyr I could even contemn That Villanous Judge who Innocents did condemn Who on the Bench did nought but what he knew Would gratifie the bloody Popish Crew Though nature seems assistance to refuse Revenge and Anger both inspire my Muse. Shall the Wretch live why is he spar'd so long Justice seems to complain of having wrong Th' Infernai Daemons angry seem to say Dead or alive we him will fetch away And at his stay they all seem to repine That to their vengeance we don't him resign But Ah! his Blood can never recompence His ruining so many Innocents And it may seem the wonder of the time And some are apt to think may be a crime That we no more regard their memory Who for their Countries welfare dar'd to dye Poor Hearts who seeing we were drawing nigh To Vassalage and ROMISH Tyranny Resolv'd to save Religion and the Laws But mist and fell into this Tygers Claws Whose mind upon the prey was wholly bent Pitying none though ne're so Innocent bâ—â— like an hungry Wolf or furious Bear Without remorse the harmless Lambs did tear No time of preparation would he give To many nor Petitions would receive Nor would he hâ—aâ— their Wives and Childrens cry But scoâ—t and laught at them in â—isery And though they pity beg'd with sighs and groans He was relentless to their tears and moans Beg'd that distressed Widdows he 'l not make
sent To humble men and move them to repent Yet they proceed in foul impenitence And aggravate their horrid insolence Seeming to bid defiance unto Heaven Scorning to take the dreadful warnings given ' The sweeping Plague that Messenger of wrath ' In such as scap'd smâ—ll Reformation hath ' Produc'd nor has the desolating Fire ' A perfect token of Gods flaming Ire ' Burnt up the Cities Pride 't was great before ' And now it seems to multiply much more ' Fantastick Garbs and Antick Modes declare ' How much from Pride their Souls reformed are ' Should any Women have such Children Born ' With such Attire as on their Heads are worn ' Would it not them affright and terrifie ' God may do so it you don 't speedily ' Reform your Lives and cast your Fashions off ' Which make ill men at you revile and scoff ' Though Want though Poverty and loss of Trade ' Do many Men and Families invade ' Yet do they vaunt in Pride and Luxury ' As they had Mines of Treasure lying by ' Some know not what to eat nor how to go ' Yet on the Poor will no compassion show ' Whose unregarded cries unheeded moans ' Whose unreliev'd distress unpity'd groans ' Can scarce extort a Mite such do not grudge 'To purchase Hell at dearest rates and drudge 'To please their brutish Lusts who void of measure ' Consume Estates to wantonize in pleasure ' Tumbling in Riot as proud Dives sate ' Whilst Lazarus lies starving at the Gate A Complaint against Oaths VOlleys of Oaths with horrid Blasphemy And dreadful Cursings in mine Ears do cry Mark but our impious Gallants when they meet Observe the Mode how they each other greet What new coin'd Oaths what modish Execrations What Damning Sinking horrid Imprecations Do they disgorge the Serpents flery hiss That belches Sulphur from the black Abyss Can scarce out-do this Ranting Tribe who count The Man Genteel that is most Paramount In wickedness he that Blasphemes aloud Christ's Blood and Wounds a Courtier 's Alamode How can th' abused Earth but gape again To swallow quick vile wretches so prophane How can Heavens great Artillery so long Forbear the Treasons of a Mortal Tongue Jehovah's Attributes so vilely us'd His Sacred Essence and his Name abus'd Fresh Blasphemies they mint new Curses frame And sins that never had before a name Graduates in Courtship are preferr'd who 'ave made Most quick proficience in the Hellish Trade That Rant and Roar Revel and Domineer As if nor God nor Devil they did fear Approaching dangers can't disturb their pleasure But still they sin until they fill their measure Judgments deferr'd in evil makes them bold Despising such by whom they are controul'd As if th' avenging hand their Lives did spare Thus to provoke him without dread or fear But poor Blasphemer though thou art past by 'T is not t'indulge thee in iniquity Think'st thou the God of purity does like Such ways because he yet forbears to strike Dost think a gloomy interposing Cloud From Gods All-searching Eye can be thy shroud Or that because he is inthron'd on high Thy deeds of darkness he cannot espy Or since his Judgments are so long delay'd Wilt thou proceed and be no whit afraid Wilt thou his patience without end abuse Slight true Repentance and his Grace refuse If so thy Judgment hastens for a Rod Will quickly reach thee from an angry God Because of Oaths the Land does greatly mourn For which my Soul much inward grief has born A Complaint against Drunkenness DOst thou not see how filthy Drunkenness Does reign in City and in Villages Some reel and wallow in the Streets like Swine Whilst others boast their strength in drinking Wine Although to such God doth denounce a curse They mind it not but still grow worse and worse Dread not Examples of Gods wrath at all Nor what to Drunkards does so oft befal Although Gods Word has fearful warnings given That Drunkards never shall inherit Heaven But that their Lot shall with damn'd Spirits be In Chains of darkness to Eternity They Drink Carouse and waste their jolly Breath Upon the brink of Everlasting death What-e're ensues they are resolv'd they will Carouse full Goblets and be filthy still Thus men by Pride by Oaths by Worldliness By daily swallowing Liquor to Excess Defile the Land and do the Lord provoke To cause his vengeance on the Land to smoke Sin sets the door wide open and makes way For all the sorrows of th' approaching day These are in part the cause of Englands woe And will if Grace prevents not it undo But there are other heinous Sins behind Which pierce my Bowels and perplex my Mind A Complaint against Whoredom and Adultery DID filthy Lust and Whoredom ever rage With more success than in the present Age Abominations of so vile a name That their bare mention is indeed a shame What Sin more hateful in Jehovah's Eye Than this of Whoredom and Adultery 'T is rank'd as chief and marches in the Van Of all the gross Debaucheries of Man In those black Muster-Rolls God does Record Of grand offences in his holy Word What more affronts the second Table or Provokes the Lord No fitter Metaphor Could be produc'd t' express Idolatry Than that abhorred name Adultery Besides the terrors of Gods fiery wrath Which judges such to Everlasting death On Earth amongst all sober men they gain So vile a blot so infamous a stain That all the waters in the Sea can never VVipe off nor can it be forgot for ever The loud Embraces of Lascivious Dames VVill rot their Bones breed Cankers in their names Beget consumption in Estate and Purse Produce destruction and a certain curse The common ends that such arrive unto Are foul Diseases Beggery and VVoe They 're sottish Fools says wise Demosthenes That buy Repentance at such rates as these VVho Sâ—n to please an Enemy that strives To damn their Souls and rob them of their Lives God in his Sacred Ordinances hath Appointed such to an immediate Death VVould mâ—n but judge it as their greatest Foe They'd never love nor hug it as they do Each Sex is bad but VVomen seem to be The very Brokers of Immodesty Which makes that passage to be born in mind A Wise and vertuous Woman who can find Your City Dames and Ladies are on Fire With wanton Passion and unchast Desire Providing Meats on purpose to inflame Their pamper'd Gallants to their wonted shame Bare Breasts and naked Necks a Harlots Dress Are strong Temptations unto wickedness All other Sins th' Apostle does declare Which men commit without the Body are But this abominable Act alone Against his Body by a man is done Marriage to all the undefiled Bed Is honourable he that will may Wed But Whoremongers God judges and they shall Be cast into the Lake both great and small The Wiseman calls th' Adulterer a Fool And well he may for he destroys his Soul.
as the vilest Schismaticks But that 's not all my Children more refin'd From those corruptions do afflict my mind Oh depths of sorrow that disturb my rest Oh racking grief that rends my woful Breast Some are so carnal some so swiftly hurl'd Into the Lab'â—inths of th' inticing World That in the hurries of that crouded Road They find small leisure to attend their God Preferring filthy gain and ill-got wealth Before the means of their Eternal health Some that in words respect me I behold In that sad posture betwixt hot and cold Sometimes they seem for sanctity sometimes Slide with the current of prevailing crimes Their Pulses beat with an alternate motion Now foâ— the world then for some faint devotion Some â—hat unto my Tabernacle were Admitted left me for Egyptians fare These not content with my Celestial Diet Do run with others to excess of Riot Some to be popular away would give Those Gospel-duties that are positive From such as these my sorrows do increase That sell Gods order for a seeming peace Allow such gaps as do pervert the Laws Of my just Right and well-defended Cause But O! how many easy Christians take Their rest in forms and no distinction make 'Twixt shell and kernel that rely on Duty As if it were the sole adorning Beauty Such give the Lord the more invalid part Present their Bodies but deny their Heart Are not some Pastors careless to provide A Word in Season for the Flocks they guide Some are too backward to supply the need Of painful Lab'rers that their Souls do feed Discourag'd by close-fisted Avarice Despis'd neglected through this Hellish Vice. My Workmen languish and have cause of moan To see their toyl so ineffectual grown The most pathetick Preaching scarce can move Some Rocky hearers to the Grace of Love. Must hag-fac'd Envy and foul-tongu'd Detraction Invenom'd Malice and unfaithful Action Ill grounded Slander and uncertain Rumors Backbiting Quarrels and the worst of Humors Be practic'd thus Ah grief of griefs to see Professing people act iniquity To such a pitch some Husbands and some Wives Do lead such shameful such unsavoury Lives Whilst mutually at strife they do impeach That name that should be very dear to each â—uch pride such churlish reprehension For every toy such sharpness and contention As does disgrace Religion and does lay Blocks and offences in a Converts way Ah! why can 't we in Families eschew That which meer Heathens are asham'd to do Their Houses are the Scene of Civil Wars Of Brawls of Discord and Domestick Jars In Grace or Comfort can they find increase Or Heavenly Blessings who are void of peace How oft do Parents ill Example draw Their tender Children to infringe the Law And Sanctions of the Everlasting God Do they not spoil them when they spare the Rod To strange Extreams some Parents do adhere Check not at all or else are too severe On Back and Belly they bestow much cost But care not if their precious Souls be lost Are they not guilty of prodigious folly That teach them Courtship and neglect what 's holy A Child untutor'd a meer lump of sin May justly curse its cause of having been Such as instruct do doubly them beget By timely Lessons lab'ring to defeat Their growth in ill such cure their better part By wise prevention of a canker'd Heart Oh! then 's the time to give 'em Form and Mold For Trees admit no bending that are old Who timely sow such Seed they would have grow Will surely reap according as they sow Some like the Ape that does by hugging kill Prompt on a Child to tip his Tongue with ill In his first prattle but it is less pain To form good habits than reform the vain On th' other hand how many Children do Prove vain rebellious disobedient to Their godly Parents slight their careful teaching Make sport of Prayer and a mock of Preaching Contempt of Parents of what kind so e're Contracts a bitter curse which every where Will find them out But Oh my akeing Soul Beats sad Alarms of grief I must condole The dismal Fate of Youth alas how few The ways of God and holiness pursue But very eager to obey the Devil In quickly Learning every reigning evil Here you may see if you survey the Nation Our youth grown old in vile Abomination Such early Graduates in the Hellish Science Setting both Heaven and Hell at loud defiance Let Grace and Vertue grovel in the dust Their Youth and Strength they 'l Sacrifice to Lust That Sacred Precept in the Word of Truth To mind their Maker in the days of Youth They scorn to heed Ah Fools that would begin Conversion when they can no longer Sin But know preposterous Souls the day of Doom That dreadful Audit of Accounts will come How dare you run this vile career till Death Like a grim Serjeant comes t arrest your Breath When your Tongues faulter and your Eye strings crack When stings of horror do your Conscience rack When Hells Abyss sets ope its spacious Gate And Troops of Devils round about you wait When nought but horror and confusion seizes Upon your Sences when those foul Diseases You got by vile Debauches have at length Destroy'd your Persons and subdu'd your Strength â—s this a Season to detest your Leudness To talk of Vertue or pretend to Goodness Egregious Fools how dare you to delay Your Souls Affairs to that uncertain day Oh! can you trust so grand a work to that Moment of anguish when you know not what When sound your end will be nor yet how soon Though brisk at Morning you may die ere Noon And if unchang'd your certain doom will be To lye in Hell to all Eternity Sion's Children O dismal state O miserable case Enough to daunt all that are void of grace And crush the bragging of the stoutest mind But are there still more grievances behind Sion Still more behind O that there were no more Since they 'r too many that I 've told before Masters and Servants Kings and Subjects err In their Relation does not each prefer Base selfish Ends to gratifie a Lust Before what 's honest and supreamly just Sion's Friend Thus thus I 'm sure it was that year when I Publisht that Book of Sion's Misery For King and People strangely were misled And the curst Popish Plot near smothered And many other horrid shameless crimes I' th' Land were perpetrated in those times But I 'll have done Dread Matron pray declare What th' other Motives of your sorrows are Sion Ah! how much time by Christians is spent In fruitless idle talk how negligent In holy conference strange to each other How dull is each to quicken up his Brother In Gospel-duties O! how few do nourish That Love and Zeal which heretofore did flourish A Love whose flaming heat and gen'rous rays Repleat with Spirit fam'd the former days Pious discourses may reclaim the vile But they are hardn'd in their sins the while Christians converse like
them and rather learn Their vicious tricks than teach them to discern The dismal snares and perils that do lurk In sinful words and every evil work Some are so covetous that they would grasp The World in Arm-fulls till their latest gasp â—ome full of Envy others do express Their Lust on dainties feeding to Excess 〈◊〉 nice and delicate in choice of Meat Whilst their poor Brethren scarce have Bread to eat Merchants and Traders have a nimble Art â—o sum their Shop-books but neglect the He art â—or that they think there 's time enough and look But seldom to the Reck'nings of that Book How many come for fashion sake to hear What one receives goes out at t'other Ear How many loyter in their Christian Race â—rofusely squandering the day of Grace Many like Drones on others toyl do live Though ' t is less honour to receive than give What Lying Cheating Couz'ning and Deceit Do Traders use Oh! how they over-rate What they would sell but if they be to buy They under-value each commodity But why should Pride that vile Abomination Be found in Christians must each Apish Fashion Bewitch their Minds when God is so Express In strict forbidding of so vile a Dress Prayer that sacred Ordinance that holds An intercourse with Heaven which beholds The Fathers Glory and on high does mount Is made by many but of small account 'T is that which carries our desires to God And comes down fraighted with a blessed load Of sweet returns yet 't is much disrespected And Closet Prayer too too much neglected Scriptures themselves are slighted and disus'd And oft when read perverted or abus'd Helping the weak is turn'd into its slighting Gospel-reproofs perverted to Backbiting Many that do of God his Mercy crave Yet on the needy little Mercy have They own they 've Blessings from the God of Love Yet too too many do unthankful prove Some follow whimsies that do nearly border Upon confusion and despise all order Such on all sacred Institutions trample Though fortify'd by Precept and Example As if 't were low for an exalted mind To be to Gods declared will confin'd But can these men of Rapture make pretence That they have more Divine intelligence Than all th' illustrious Saints as Prophets Priests Apostles Martyrs and Evangelists That were the Scribes and Messengers of Heaven And strictly practic'd all the Duties given Unto the Church which are without repeal But if they 're disanul'd who did reveal Their Abrogation to these bold pretenders Gods Laws are sound and need no humane menders But Oh! that dismal evil that 's behind Disturbs my Reason and distracts my Mind It is Division that unhappy word Has done more mischief than a Popish Sword Could ever do Oh! that a sweet Communion At least of Love did but compleat our Union Why should licentious heat my Childern hurry To those Extreams must they each other worry For trivial things do they not all agree In fundamentals of Divinity Is there no room for Love or must that grace Among my Children have no proper place Why is one Christian angry with his Brother If not so tall as he or with another Because his face is not so white as his Or that his habit not so gawdy is Alas no folly can be more absurd Nor more exploded in Gods holy word All should to Gospel-purity adhere But to calumniate vilifie and jeer All such as are not of their very pitch Is Anti-gospel and a practice which The Lord abhors If causes of Dissent Evert not Truth nor shake the Fundament Of true Religion why such angry bawling Suck odious nick-names and such vile miscalling Who dares intrude into the Judgment-seat Of God Almighty who is only great And only judgment gives to him belongs To pass the sentence and to punish wrongs Why cannot Christians with each other bear Among Apostles some dissentions were But did they therefore Persecute each other These Mortal conflicts Brother against Brother Destroy our safety for they set a gap Open for Rome that would us all intrap In fatal snares their Maxim is we know Divide and rule distract and overthrow Their crafty Agents do creep in among Our heedless parties and divide the throng That with more ease they may us all devour Destroy our Nation and subvert our Power Why therefore do not Protestants agree As one against the common Enemy Who waits with bloody hand t' involve 'em all In one destruction Epidemical Sion's Children Ah Mother who can remedy your grief For this Disease admits of no relief Sion Of no relief O then my Heart must break Unless my Sons their Mothers counsel take Which will those fatal flaming heats allay Obstruct their growth and take 'em clear away Oh! can a Mothers tears and woful cries Be disregarded in her Childrens Eyes Can English Protestants who do profess To serve one God in truth and holiness Slight all my wishes and requests despise Oh! hearken to my counsel and be wise Let wrathful Pride and foolish Self-conceit Let Quibbles and Sophistical Deceit Be quite exploded let a cool debate All Fundamentals of Religion state 〈◊〉 such you all will certainly agree Oh happy Model of sweet Unity Let none that to those Principles do stick Be branded with the name of Heretick It glads my Heart to hear 'em treat each other By that sweet title of a Christian Brother Next if you would not Charity explode Abuse the guiltless and affront your God Judge not your Brethren at a distance neither Give easy Credit to the Tales of either Hot-headed Scriblers or Licentious tongues That often load the Innocent with wrongs So hellish Monks did serve Wald ensian Saints With horrid Clamour and unjust Complaints So Popish Impudence spews out its Gall To make us odious and bespatter all The Reformation Sure that cause is bad Whose chief support from Railing must be had If giddy Rumour or uncertain Fame Should raise a slander on your brothers name Repair to him and in converse you 'll see Whether he guilty or not guilty be If he be faulty tell him of his sin Be Mild and Secret and you may him win Admonish Gently let your whole discourse Be full of Savour love and Scripture force This is the way to bring him to a sence And Gods prescribed Method to convince But if you fail then leave him to his God Who can reform or punish with a Rod. Your work is done you have discharg'd the part Of Friend of Brother of a Christian heart Before Belief examine what is vented Good men by Malice may be represented In Monstrous Shapes Some that to God are dear Hatred will paint like a Mishapen Bear Believe not therefore distant imputation No censure 's just before Examination In all Debate 's be sure to lay aside All prejudice and let the Scriptures guide Your calm sedate disputes let truth be scan'd VVith cool resolves O! Let that great Command Of Love take place for that should moderate All Eager Sallies in
and haughty be May all be smitten with great fear And meet the like Catastrophe As those who lately in this Land Declar'd Their will should us command Let all men know The Power Divine Is absolute and that alone None ever 'gainst him did combine But they were surely overthrown 'T is He pulls down and sets up too And who dares say What dost thou do To the Discontented Subject COme Sir let us a while debate About great Brittains Present State What is it you would have Is 't Liberty as Englishmen Or had you rather be again A fetter'd Romish slave Are you so fond of Tyranny That you fain back again would fly To Egypts former fare Do you not know their Garlick's strong Their Flesh Pots have been poysoned long For shame come no more there Hath God Wrought wonders in our Land Ev'n by another Moses's hand And yet when all is done Will you to Egypt shew your love And slight the works of God above And back again be gone What Humour 's this of Discontent That such a King and Parliament You will not cleave unto By whom God hath such wonders done Who have such mighty hazards run To save the Land and you You lately seemed full of grief And greatly did desire relief And now 't is come will ye With sullen minds repine and say Things are not carried that same way Which we did hope to see Ah! be not like Haman of old Who though exalted yet b'ing told That Mâ—â—decai also â—s in the favour of the King â—id much sorrow to him bring Ah! no such hatred show â— those who have an equal right â— favour in their Princes sight And faithful Subjects are â—ho are Free-born as well as you â—hy may not they of Honour too Expect an equal share â— that which pleaseth all the Land â—ith your self Interest will not stand How can it helped be â—all England wholly be undone â—nd be by Popery over-run To humor such as ye â— do not shew your selves again Of the vile race of Cursed Cain Must Abel have no Friend But be observ'd with envious Eyes And by you made a Sacrifice Until the World shall end O be not guilty of such pride Not to be on your Soveraigns side Unless he please to show His indignation and suppress Those that love Truth and Righteousness And better are than you Can none be Loyal to the King But only those that roar and sing And drink his health each day Come don't mistake for certainly He shews the greatest Loyalty Who for him most doth Pray Let all good Protestants agree And live in love and unity For 't is the only thing That 's pleasing unto God above And will procure to us his Love And other blessings bring Since God designs good unto all VVhy should we on each other fall Or shew so ill a mind As by unjust and evil ways To hinder that by our delays VVhich good men long to find Shall any Christian be so vain To plead for Laws that do prophane The Holy Sacrament VVhich Christ did never institute Nor any ought to prostitute To such a low intent To that design and only end It was ordain'd let us attend Lest God offended be And bring his dreadful Judgments forth To cut us down in his great wrath For such iniquity It 's neither righteous just nor good And has too long already stood Oh! let it fall for ever The King will stronger be hereby His subjects serve him cheerfully And all cement together An Hymn of Praise INstead of Grief Joy now appears And scatter'd are our dismal fears The Northern Lyon's come See how our haughty Foes do cry And a◠〈◊〉 â—â—oks see how they fly 〈…〉 ir sad doom â—f men refuse and will not speak The Rocks and Stones will silence break For Heav'n and Earth resolve To Judge great Babels bloudy Whore And she ere long shall be no more Her power shall dissolve The Star we did expect t' appear â—s risen in our Hemisphere And warning gives to all Of wonders which will suddenly Amaze the World far off and nigh For Rome must surely fall Strange and amazing Tragedies Kept secret long from all mens Eyes To light will all now come Such Viilanies as were never known Which Devils are asham'd to own Yet acted were by Rome She that did say I sit a Queen And hop'd no sorrow to have seen Now strangely is brought under Which sure could never have been done By any hand but his alone Who is the God of wonder And he who hath such Marvels wrought And with just vengeence down hath brought Englands and Sions Foe Will greater things effect e're long And cause his Saints another Song To sing than now they do For there are none stand in his way But they must fall or him obey For God is risen up Those who have ruined good men Unless Repentance they obtain Must drink that very Cup For God a Righteous Judge will be For wicked men a scourge has he Let them be who they will He is a God that cannot lye And therefore will Impartially On all his Word fulfil Come therefore and loud praise proclaim Unto Jehovahs Glorious Name All you his People Dear Who long time have desir'd to see An end of Sions misery For her Salvation's near The Tryal and Condemnation of Mystery Babylon the Great Whore. BUT what approaches Heark Methinks I hear The Sound of dreadful Trumpets in mine ear To usher in Gods day of wrath and Ire On those who did against his Saints conspire The Great Assize that happy day is come To Judge and give the Whore her Fatal Doom She 's charg'd with Treason 'gainst Gods Holy Laws Impartial Justice now will try the Cause She 's seiz'd upon and in the Jaylors hand Who will produce her when he has command Jehovah bids that Babylon the Great Be forthwith brought before the Judgment Seat. Justice Most Sovereign Lord who is it dares gain say VVhat thou command'st I must and will obey Lo here I bring the Scarlet Strumpet forth 〈…〉 createdst Heaven and Earth Thy Judgment Seat she seems to slight and scorn Says â—he saâ— guiltless as the Child unborn Jehovah Her crimes lay open and her facts declare Turn up her â—â—irts and let her faults appear Let th' Universe by her indictment see The cause of my most Just severity Justice Dread Soveraign of the VVorld I will proceed And will her black â—ndictment loudly read Come forth great VVhore hear thy dismal charge VVâ—â—â—n sâ—alâ— by proofs be evidenc'd at large By th' name of Babylon thou art hither Cited And by the name of VVhore thou stand'â—t Indicted Thou void of Grace and Gods most holy Fear To Satans Machiâ—ations didst adhere VVith him to Plot against thy Soveraign Prince To whom thou oughtst to yield Preheminence In Ancient times he was thine only Spouse Our Holy Law no Bigamy allows Yet thou base him perfidiously forsook And to thy â—elf another Husband took And with
Thou hast contrived innumerable Treasons Rebellions and Sâ—ditions thereby endeavouring to betray Kingdoms aâ—d States and to subject them to the Pope and See of Rome Thou hast laboured to Corrupt and Debauch all Nations by countenancing and allowing Stews and â—othel-houses where filthy and abominable Sodomy and Adulteries are praâ—tiâ—â—d Hast murthered the best of Men even the Saints of Jesus putting them to all manner of cruel Tortures and Deaths that with the Devil's assistance could be invented Ripping up Women with Child causing thy villanous Sons to ravish Chast Women and Virgins and then barbarously Murthering them Thou hast Burned Thousands alive Roasted many on Spâ—â—s Thrown worthy Christians into Furnaces of boyling Oyl Blown their Heads in pieces with Gun-powder Fleaing off their Skins alive Starving several to Death and exercising on them abundance of other hideous Torments Thou hast made Wives to be Widdows and Children Eâ—therleis Towns and Cities to be without Inhabitant Hast burned famous Cities and destroyed diveâ—s Countries by Fire Sword and other lamentable Devastations and hast endeavour'd to enslave others by depriving them of their Just and Good Laws Liberties and Properties Thou hast not only murder'd the Bodies but likewise the Souls of multitudes of People In short Thou hast been guilty of shedding a mighty mass of innocent Blood by cutting off Millions of Men Women and Children without cause and many other unspeakable Enormities hast thou committed For all which horrid Crimes thou hast been Legally Indicted and Tryed and against which thou hast made no defence And therefore by the Laws of God Nature and Nations thou oughâ—est to be Punished according to the following Sentence Thou shalt be thrown off the Ten Horn'd Beast in every Kingdom whereon thou hast sate and all the 7 Vials of God's Wrath shall successively be poured out upon thee by the Angel out of the Temple till thou art utterly consumed from off the face of the Earth The Horns or Powers of the Nations which thou hast deceived with the Swords of good men shall destroy thee Death Mourning and Famine shall come upon thee in one day and thou shalt be utterly burnt with Fire Amen Hallelujah An Hymn of Praise upon Babylons Fall grounded upon Revel 19. 1 2 3 4. ROuse up my Muse attend and hear What Melody is in mine ear For Sions Joy is at the door Great Babel howls and is in pain Now falling is that Bloudy Whore And never more shall rise again The Saints and all that dwell on high Sing Allelujahs constantly That haughty City called Great Which boasted of her lofty Seat Is on a sudden now brought under She prostrate in the dust does lye Hearken I hear a mighty Thunder Which no good man doth terrify For Babels fall'n and Saints now sing Sweet Allelujahs to their King. Out of the Throne voices descend As if they would the Heavens rend With Praises unto God on High For he 's come forth in dreadful ire And hath the VVhore Judg'd righteously To be consum'd in flaming Fire They Hallelujahs sing amain Nay heark They double them again See! How her Smoak does fill the air Whilst Harpers sing and merry are And with one voice loud Praise proclaim To God the Lord Ornnipotent Ah! how they magnify his name With th' highest strains they can invent Again they Hallelujahs sing To God and Christ their Glorious King. Yet this Joy's only in One Isle Which Babel lately strove to spoil Scituate in the Northern Sea. That Heav'n has sav'd from Bloudy Rome Could Ireland too asjoyful be Would God in Mercy to them come How would it add unto our Joys Our Hallelujahs and our Praise A Happy Land thou seem'st to be And greater Glory shalt thou see If by Repentance thou dost fly To God in Christ by Faith and Pray'r And cast off all Iniquity For God will then remove thy fear And then thou shalt have cause to sing Sweet Allelujahs to thy King. Poor Ireland and France also E're long shall triumph as we do For God will quickly crush his Foes Their Bloud like water out he 'l pour Their Flesh shall feeding be for Crows And the Great Whore shall be no more That Allelujahs may be sung Throughout the Earth by old and young Now God Omnipotent will Reign Who will the Pride of Nations stain And make his Pow'r and Glory known His Son he 'l set on Sion Hill His Enemies shall be overthrown He will the Earth with Glory fill In th' heights of Sion we shall sing Sweet Allelujahs to our King. Sighs for Ireland O Lord who hast such wonders wrought Of late as well as formerly And down with vengeance now hast brought Thy Churches bloudy Enemy Oh! look upon poor Ireland And save them with thine own right hand Lord Bless our King and as he 's great Let him be likewise just and good His Enemies O Lord defeat VVho greedily thirst for his blood Oh! be his guard continually From workers of Iniquity Shall England thus triumph and sing VVhilst Ireland still does bleeding lye Ah! this is an afflicting thing It wounds our Souls and makes us cry To Ireland Lord send help we pray Ah! succour them without delay Unite us here and make us one And let our mutual Love appear Let 's never into fractions run And then our Foes we need not fear Whilst Protestants united be No dread of Rome or Popery The Sun on us begins to shine Lord let it break forth more and more And by that mighty pow'r of thine Confound our Foes as heretofore Arise O Lord Let Ireland be Reliev'd with speed and sav'd by thee These days in England seem to us As pleasant as the flourishing spring Oh ' let them still continue thus Prevent our Foes Preserve our King Thy People Lord in Ireland Redeem with thy out-stretched hand When we for Darkness look't and Night At Evening â—yde we did behold The Sun broke forth with Glorious Light As in the Scripture 't is foretold O're Ireland Lord thy beams display Like to the dawning of the day Let not our Sun Eclipsed be Nor Clouds of Darknes interpose Between Great Britain Lord and thee Since thus in Mercy thou art rose From Ireland let 's good Tydings here That thou likewise art risen there Let not thy Glorious Sun appear To lighten only these dark Parts But let the Nations far and near Thy Gospel-Light have in their hearts From Ireland Lord all Clouds expel Oh pity there thy Israel Let Light and Glory there break forth And Popish darkness thence be gone That all good Protestants on Earth In the Truth may be joyn'd in one On Ireland Lord Compassion take Their Sorrows we our own would make Let the French Tyrant thy Great Foe The Scourge and Plague of Christendom Receive an utter Overthrow Ah! quickly let his downfall come Those vile Usurpers Lord abase And pity there thy Childrens case Let France and Spain and Germany Enlightned be and let them see The folly of Idolatry From Babylon Lord make them flee Because her Judgment now is come And they thereby may 'scape her doom Let Christendom new Christened be why should they still believe a Lye And not on Names depend But see The great Deceits of Popery Christ's Name no good at all will do Unless they have his Nature too Let thy blest Gospel grow and work Victoriously in every place Let Tartars and the ignorant Turk Enlightned be with Heavenly Grace Poor Ireland Lord relieve with speed For whom our Hearts do almost bleed Send forth thy Light ev'n like the Morn That it o're all the Earth may fly From Cancer unto Capricorn That all Lands which in darkness lye May see how they have gone astray And be reduc'd to the Right way The fulness of the Gentiles now Bring in and give them all a Call That they may unto Jesus bow And under his Dominion fall That Popish Pow'r which do's annoy Poor Ireland Lord do thou destroy The Gospel-Tydings and good News Of Jesus Christ the Saviour Declare to the hard-hearted Jews And their strong Unbelief o're-power Oh let the Gospel on them shine For Abraham's sake that Friend of thine The Saints be'ng many Members join'd One Body make the Head thou art Lord let them have One Will One Mind Let this One Body have One Heart Then shall I see a blest increase Of Sion's Glory Israel's Peace Out of all Nations under Heaven Expel thick Darkness Lord away Let Power to thy Saints be given That all may thee and them obey Mean while let these three Northern Lands United be in Sacred Bands Let Holland likewise Happy be 〈◊〉 those Great Sev'n Preserve these Three FINIS * Lev. 20 10. Deut. 32. 36. * Rev. 17. 18.