will his Salvation show PSALM 111. 1. I 'le ever bless the Lord and praise His Name in secret with th' upright And in his Courts extol his ways Those Wonders done in Isr'els sight 2. His VVorks so great and many are They are a Meditation fit For the most Pious and by far Than other studies benefit 3. He great and glorious things hath done His Truth for ever shall abide He made us and to ev'ry one Hath been a Fort and constant guide 4. Those worthy deeds which he hath wrought VVithin each breast have left behind Impressions time can never blot The Lord is merciful and kind 5. VVhat-e're it is the Faithful want They never fail of a supply He will perform his Covenant To all his Servants faithfully 6. The Vertue of his VVorks were shown Unto his People in their sight The Heathen from their Lands were thrown And Israel enjoy'd their Right 7. His Actions just and righteous are All his appointments stand so fast And that exact uprightness bear They never alter to the last 8. From the Egyptian-Yoke he freed As he did vow to Abraham The Jews his own peculiar Seed Holy and Rev'rend his Name 9. Then let us all his Laws obey And of his Judgments stand in dread These teach us VVisdom and the way To our eternal Joys they lead 10. And while we here a Being have Let 's celebrate our Makers praise Translated hence we never leave To chant above the self same Lays PSALM 134. HAd not the Lord in a most signal way Stood up against our Foes may Isr'el say Had not the God of Jacob set us free VVhen held in Fetters of Captivity The Torrent of their Fury had o're-run Our Souls with ruine and destruction But now his glorious Name be ever prais'd He to renown our abject State hath rais'd And hath preserv'd us from their cruel Rage VVhich nothing but his Power coule asswage Safely at length our Souls escaped are Though late entangled from the Fowlers Snare Yet not our Strength nor Merits do we own To be the Cause of our Salvation It was the Arm of the Almighty Lord Who Fought and Conquer'd and our Joys restor'd PSALM 125. 1. WHoso on God relyes stands fixt sure As Sions holy Mount which shall endure Upon whose sacred Top the Lord declares He will reside and hear his Servants Pray'rs 2. As Salem's safe from storms on ev'ry hand Fenc'd with those lofty-Hills which round her stand So are the Faithful in th' Almighty's Arms Impail'd secure from all destructive harms 3. Yet for a while Oppression may take place And prosper here disturbing Isr'el's peace But the ungodly shall not long bear sway Lest that the Righteous prove as bad as they 4. For God is good his care is over those Who are sincere in heart who do repose Their confidence in him he 'l Crown their Love With all those Joys the Blessed reap above 5. As for those Souls who basely turn aside From all his Laws and wont his Yoke abide Whom none of all his Judgments can forewarn In endless-Flames they shall for ever burn While in perpet'al peace his Israel That Her'tage of his own shall ever dwell PSALM 133. 1. Lord How glorious in thine Eyes do those appear Who follow peace and as Religion binds In perfect union communion are Having no discords in their ways and minds 2. Such happy concord yields a fragrant smell Like to that precious Oyntment which was shed Upon thy High Priests Crown and downwards fell Upon his Beard and o're his Garments spread 3. As the refreshing-Dew did gently fall And cherish Hermon and bless Sions Hill So on the peaceful Heads of such Men shall The blessings of the Lord each Morn distill PSALM 140. 1. DEfend me Lord from Malice and Deceit From all those Snares the Proud have laid in wait To catch my Soul my ways they have beset VVith treach'rous Gins and Nets my Life to get But Lord their VViles without thy leave I know Cannot effect my wish'd-for overthrow 2. Like as a Serpent from his poys'nous Tongue Darts forth his Venome so they all day long From their destructive Tongues without just ground With slaund'rous Lyes my spotless Life do wound But thou my Shield art under whom I dwell Secure or in this Conflict I had fell 3. Yet Lord lest these Men should exalted be As sure they will if that they should go free Let their Device take no effect at all Wherein they thought to make me make them fall And rise no more let them in Flames expire And with thy burning VVrath Lord Fan the Fire 4. This fatal Doom let it for ever be The VVicked's Portion that the Just may see Thou wilt maintain their Cause and from thy Throne Confound the lying and backbiteing-Tongue Then shall the Righteous flourish in thy sight And Laud thy Name who do'st defend their Right The end of the Psalms THRENODIA OR THE LAMENTATIONS OF Jeremiah PARAPHRAS'D WITH A PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH By James Chamberlaine LONDON Printed by R. E. for R. Bentley and M. Magnes in Russel-Street in Covent-Garden 1680. LAMENTATIONS CHAP. I. 1. The miserable estate of Jerusalem by reason of her Sin 12. She complaineth of her Grief 18. And confesseth Gods Judgment to be Righteous 1. HOw doth the City she that once was known To have her Temples circled with a Crown Sit with a mournful Wreath of Cypress now Like a forsaken VVidow on her Brow She that was once among the Nations great And as a glorious Princess ruling sate Among the lesser Provinces is made Unto the Foe to bow her stately Head 2. Down her pale Cheeks the pearly drops do trill Both Day and Night which from her Eyes distill Amongst her Lovers she hath found not one That doth the troubles of her Soul bemoan And that which adds fresh Fuel to her Woes Is that her Friends are now become her Foes 3. Judah for all those Cruelties which She Hath done is gone into Captivity She dwells among the Heathen where her mind Doth no repose from all her Trouble find All her Pursuers who did for her look Have in the narrow ways her overtook 4. The Ways of Sion mourn because no Guests As they were wont approach her solemn Feasts All her frequented Gates forsaken are No more Oblations in her Courts appear Because these fail her Rev'rend Priests do grieve Her lovely Virgins do in Sorrow live And She who once an undisturbed Peace And plenty had sits now in heaviness 5. Her Foes the only Chief are who command Within her Gates with an imperious Hand They prosper happy and successful are While She the Judgments of the Lord doth bear For her Transgressions are her Children gone Captives before her Foes to Babylon 6. From Sions Daughter all the lovely Grace Departed is that once adorn'd her Face Her Princes are with Hunger almost pin'd Become like Harts that can no Pasture find Vainly they think with fainting Limbs to fly Before the
due to Thee ERRATA PAge 14. l. 1. Assembly r. Synagogue l. 14. include in a Parenthesis p. 18. l. 22. needful r. sacred p. 24. l. 15. tyr'd r. tyred p. 39. l. 2. work r. works p. 40 l. 8. Disciple r. Disciples p. 50. l. 27. unto r. into p. 55. l. 11. inconsistant r. inconsistent p. 57. l. 23. ingen'ous r. ingenuous p. 63. l. 5. r. make p. 65. l. 6. hear r. here p. 68. l. 17. r. when to the three p. 69. l. 16. hea'vny r. heav'nly p. 88. l. 25. the r. their Souls p. 90. l. 2. those cruel marks the Jews p. 119. l. 12. soon r. some p. 136. l. 2. coule r. could p. 137. l. 13. r. and communion p. 145. l. 15. mounful r. mournful p. 152. l. 21. false r. base lyes p. 165. l. 6. Age r. Ag'd l. 7. looked r. look'd l. 19. are r. was tan'e p. 168. l. 11. r. Turn thou us Lord p. 169. l. 14. Sin r. Sins p. 170. l. 4. r. we have against thee done p. 187. l. 9. should r. shouldst l. 15. Women r. Woman p. 192. l. 18. higer r. high'r A SACRED POEM The Birth of S. John and the most holy Jesus Luke the first SInce there are many who have undertook Of those great Wonders to compile a Book Which of late years were in this Nation done Just in that order as they were made known To them by those who at the same time were Eye-witnesses of what they did declare To me who from the first have understood Exactly sev'ral things it seemed good To write Divine Theophilus to thee This following matter as 't was told to me That thou the truth of all those things may'st know Which I suppose was taught thee long ago In Herod's days who King of Jewry was There liv'd a sacred Priest call'd Zacha'ras One of Abia's Course he had to Wife Elizabeth of an Exemplar life The Virgin was before she knew his Bed Nor was she less devout when married Both righteous were both blamelesly did live In all those Laws God to the Jews did give No Child they had nor e're were like to have Elizabeth too old was to Conceive It came to pass while that he went to burn Within the Temple Incense in his turn Before the Lord and all the People were Without devoutly on their knees at Pray'r On the right hand o' th' flaming Altar he Perceiv'd an Angel of the Lord to be His aged Limbs scar'd at the Vision shook Trembling he stood until the Angel spoke The Promise of John's Birth and Office Fear not said he thy Prayers are heard a Son Thy Wife shall bear and thou shalt call him John Thousands of hearts glad at his birth shall be As well as thou and praise the Lord with thee He shall be great in the Almighty's sight For abstinence a perfect Nazarite Not tasting Drink that 's strong nor any Wine Endu'd early with the Spirit Divine Many of Isr'el's Children to the Lord Shall be converted by his pow'rful Word He shall before the true Messiah go I' th' Pow'r and Spirit of Elijah so That he shall make the Ceremonious Jews Admire Justice and her Paths to chuse And so prepare them to be wise that they Shall Christ receive and his Commands obey How shall I know since I am now grown old Said Zacharias what thou hast foretold Shall come to pass my Wife is likewise known Through heatless age past hopes to have a Son Gabriel's my name by the great God's command Before whose sacred presence I do stand With these glad Tydings I am sent to thee But since thou faithless art and wilt not be Perswaded of the truth of what I say Deaf shalt thou be and dumb until that day Thine aged Wife shall bring forth to thy joy From her now barren Womb this promis'd Boy Long did the People with amazement wait For Zacharias at the Temple Gate Forth at the length the aged Priest did come Deaf as the Angel said and likewise dumb Soon they perceiv'd something reveal'd had been By a wing'd Herald which he there had seen Beck'ning he stood but could not for his heart What he had heard and seen to them impart The Conception of S. John Baptist It came to pass so soon as he had done His priestly Office and the Crowd was gone The silent Priest departed to his home And streight his Wife receiv'd a pregnant Womb. Five Months from home not willing to abide The People's Censure she withdrew aside Although assur'd she was her marr'age Bed Was never stain'd with a disloyal deed She knew this Mercy in her aged days Was an unwonted Gift and so gave praise Unto the Lord who had remov'd that day From her the shame of barrenness away In the sixth Month the glorious Gabriel came From the Almighty to a Town whose name Was Nazareth within whose happy Wall There liv'd a Virgin whom they Mary call Youthful and florid as the blooming May Devout and piously imploy'd each day Of Body chast and humble too in mind In whom all Heavenly Graces brightly shin'd She was betroth'd to Joseph for a Wife A man all just and of a pious life And was descended from that valiant King Who Isr'el freed with a smooth Stone and Sling To her the Angel came as she alone On bended Knees was praying to the Throne Of the great God and thus to her he said The Salutation Hail thou most lovely person happy Maid The Lord is with thee thou art highly blest Of all thy Sex thou art the happiest When she beheld the glorious Messenger Who in this manner had saluted her A Rosy Blush diffus'd it self all o're Her lovely Face and shame-fac'd on the Flore She cast her Eyes troubled and in her mind seeking th' importance of his words to find But while she musing was silence he broke And thus the borrow'd Form to Mary spoke The Promise of Conception of the most Holy Jesus Fear not thou lovely Maid from Heavens King Before whose Face thou hast found Grace I bring Most joyful news Thou shalt conceive a Son Who shall to Isr'el bring Salvation Him thou shalt Jesus call he great shall be The happy product of Divinity He shall his Father David's Throne ascend His Scepter over Isr'el shall extend Of his Dominion there shall be no end To him the Rulers of the Earth shall bring Their borrow'd Crowns and own him as their King How can I hope blest Gabriel said she While I a Virgin am that this to me Can ever happen to conceive a Son A thing ne're heard off nor was ever known Thy God doth know how I have always led Throne A single life and ne're defil'd my Bed Therefore said Gabriel from the glorious Of the most High his Spirit shall come down And fruitful make thine hallow'd Womb to bear Jesus the Son of God thy Saviour What I have said th' Almighty will fulfill His Pow'r is able to effect his Will And as a Token
Hunter but fall down and dye 7. Jerusalem did to remembrance call When she afflicted was and made to fall Those pleasant and delightful things which she Lost when she went into Captivity Her jeering Foes upon her Sorrows play'd And May-Games at her sacred Sabbaths made 8. Jerusalem hath sinned grievously And is remov'd for her Impiety All that ador'd her do her now despise Having beheld her lew'd Adulteries Sighing she turns her mounful Face aside And vents her Sorrows in a Briny Tide 9. Fill'd with Pollution in her wanton mind Her fearful end could no admittance find Therefore when least she did of Judgment dream Down from her fancy'd Bliss she headlong came In a most fearful manner and no Eye Let fall a Tear at her Calamity Behold O Lord the troubles of my Breast And how they are by a proud Foe encreast 10. His impious hand hath from her Eyes remov'd Those sacred things which she so dearly lov'd Within her Courts the Heathen have been seen Who were forbad by Thee to enter in 11. Her starving People for the want of Bread Do sighing sit not to be comforted All their delightful things they given have For Food to save them from the noisome Grave Behold O Lord consider how I now Am held in no esteem and made to bow 12. Have ye no sense of my afflicted case Ye savage Monsters who this way do pass Stay but a while and tell me if your Eyes Have seen such sad amazing Miseries As my incensed God is pleas'd to lay Upon my Soul in this his wrathful day 13. He from above into my Bones hath sent Consuming-Fire as a punishment He for my Feet an unseen Net hath spread Amid'st those sinful Paths I us'd to tread And backwards turn'd me so that now I lye Wasting and fainting in my Misery 14. He round my Neck hath put the heavy Band Of my Transgressions with his angry Hand And my Herculean Strength hath weaken'd so That I am captiv'd by a feeble Foe Nor shall I ever able be again To burst asunder my uneasie Chain 15. The Lord hath trampled under foot the strong And valiant Men which did to me belong In fury he hath sent an armed Host To slay my Youth and spoil my fertile Coast As in a Wine-Press the Almighty hath Trod Judah's Daughter in his burning Wrath. 16. No downy Sleep can on mine Eye-lids creep For these Afflictions day and night I weep Adown my Cheeks the briny Tears do rowl Because the Lord who should relieve my Soul Is far from me my Children des'olate are And Pris'ners made unto the Foe in War 17. Sion for Succour hath her Hands stretch'd out But all in vain the Lord hath round about Girt Jacob with his Foes Jerusalem Is as a menstr'ous Wretch abhorr'd by them 18. The Lord is Righteous and his Judgments all For my notorious Sins do justly fall Upon my wanton head I all my days Have been a Rebel to his sacred ways Hear I beseech you all ye passers by Look how forsaken I in Sorrow lye My Maids and young Men by a conq'ring-hand Are Captives led into another Land 19. I call'd on those whom I my Lovers thought To come and help me but they help'd me not My Priests and Elders in the Streets fell Dead Famish'd with Hunger for the want of Bread 20. Behold O Lord the Judgments of my Sin My Bowels work my heart can't rest within Sad and dejected in the midst of Woes I trembling sit to see the slaughtring Blows Of the devouring Sword abroad the while Within my Gates pale Famine makes a spoil 21. My treach'rous Friends have heard how sadly I Have mourn'd but none would to my help draw nigh My Foes have likewise all my Trouble known And greatly joy at what thy Hand hath done But thou wilt bring their stablish'd day at last And plague them sorely who have laid me waste 22. Then let their Sins in their full measure come Before thy Face and let them have their Doom A Doom as sharp as I have found from thee Do unto them as thou hast done to me It 's time O Lord that thou should'st take my part And ease the Pains of my afflicted Heart CHAP. II. 1. Jeremiah lamenteth the Misery of Jerusalem 20. He camplaineth thereof to God 1. HOw hath the Lord forsaken his delight And mask'd his Sion in the Shade of Night Took from her lovely Brow the awful Crown And hath from Heav'n to Earth her Beauties thrown Rememb'ring not in this his wrathful day The sacred Temple where we us'd to Pray 2. He ruin'd hath and utterly destroy'd Those pleasant Tents which Jacob long enjoy'd Thrown down the Holds of Judah's Daughter round And raz'd and made them level with the ground Yea as a thing unclean hath made the Land And all her Princes in his Eye-sight stand 3. He in his Fury Isr'els Strength hath quell'd And his all-sisting-Arm from him with-held Before the Foe in his consuming Ire Hath Jacob wasted with devouring Fire 4. To its full bent like a revengeful Foe His sin'wy-Arm hath drawn the fatal Bow And slew whate're in Sions Tent was known To be with pleasure and delight look'd on 5. He as a Foe hath Isr'els Land laid waste And all his Forts and Palaces defac'd In universal sorrow Judah lies Rending the gentle Air with mournful Cries 6. He from his Temple hath his presence took Like an unfruitful Garden it forsook In Rubbish laid his hallow'd House and those Scatter'd who there to serve in Course were chose Hath caus'd the solemn Feasts and Sabbaths too Of Sion to forgotten be and go Without their due observance and in 's Wrath The sacred King and Priest despised hath 7. No mounting Flames upon his Altar rise His Temple hateful is unto his Eyes Her Walls within whose Guards we us'd to stand Are given up into the Heathens Hand As in a solemn Feast their Voices are Heard in our Courts to rend the sounding Air. 8. The Lord hath purpos'd level as the ground To lay the Walls that compass Sion round And hath stretch'd out a Line resolved on Her utter Ruine and Subversion Therefore the shielding-Rampart and the Wall Together sunk and to the ground did fall 9. Her Brass-Ribb'd Gates which none could ever wound And Iron-Bars lye broken on the ground Her Kings and Princes who in Purple sate Dispencing Justice in her peaceful Gate Are Captives now among the Heathen gone No Law nor Justice in her Gates are known Her Prophets find no Vision from the Lord Nor in his House sounds forth the sacred Word 10. In a deep silence on the dusty ground The Elders sit with Woes encompast round With fulsome Dust strow'd on each hoary-Head And with repenting Sack-cloath covered The lovely Maids of Sion who would not Within their Breasts admit a ruffling thought Prest down with sorrow like the Aged go With palsi'd Limbs and Heads that downwards bow 11. My spungy Eyes which from their Channels ne're
Fail'd to assist me with a moistning Tear Keep back their kind asswaging Dews from me Now I should use them in my Misery My Bowels tremble to behold the Fall And fatal Ruine of my People all To hear the little Sucklings make complaint Seeking for Food and as they seek it faint 12. They to their Mothers say with mournful Voice O where 's the Corn and Wine that should rejoyce Our drooping Souls In vain for Food they cry Fainting they sink within their Arms and Dye 13. Tell me forsaken Sion tell what thing Shall I to Witness take for thee or bring That can with thee compare O how shall I Think on a way to ease thy Misery No 't is beyond my Art thy Wound to reach For like the Sea so wide and deep a Breach Thy Sins have made that to close up thy Wound And make it whole no Balsome can be found 14. Thy Prophets have been busied with the Wind Taught thee according to thy wanton Mind They have not as they ought display'd thy Sin To turn thee from the Bondage thou art in But have pronounc'd instead of Truths false Lyes Which have ensnar'd thee in these Miseries 15. All that pass by insulting o're thy Bands Do hissing wag their Heads and clap their Hands Saying is this the City that Men call The joy of the whole Earth and chief of all 16. Thy hellish Foes joyful to see thy day As they walk by do gnash their Teeth and say What we have look'd for long proud Sions Doom Is on her now in all its rigour come Now we her Judgments have both seen and found Sion destroy'd and levell'd with the ground 17. VVhat God hath purpos'd in the days of Old And by his Prophets long ago foretold He hath fulfill'd unto the Earth hath thrown Thy stately Buildings without pity shown Nay he hath made thee to thy Foes a scorn And over thee exalted hath their Horn. 18. They cry'd unto the Lord O Sions Wall How art thou ruin'd and forsook by all Let Tears like an o'reflowing River rowl Down from thy weeping Eyes and to thy Soul Give no repose no respite to thine Eye Let it for ever flow and ne're be dry 19. Arise and cry in the first Watch o' th' Night Pour out thine Heart like water in the sight Of the Almighty and with Hands lift high Implore thy Sucklings Lives that fainting lye VVith Hunger in the top of ev'ry Street Beg till thou can'st with his Compassion meet 20. See and consider Lord on whom it is That thou hast laid so great a Plague as this Shall Women eat the tender fruit o' th' Womb Their Span-long-Children Shall thy House a Tomb Both to the Priest and Prophet now become 21. In ev'ry Street the youthful Heads are found With the Gray-hairs to kiss the flinty ground Thou hast my Virgins and my Young-Men all Slain and made pit'less by the Sword to fall 22. As in a Solemn Day thou hast call'd out Thy Terrours and beset me round about So that not one in this thy wrathful Day Remain'd or could by Flight escape away Those that I swadled and brought up the Foe Hath now O Lord consumed to my VVoe CHAP. III. 1. The Faithful bewail their Calamities 31. They acknowledge God's Justice 1. I Am the Man that hath Afflictions known By that smart Rod which he hath sent me down 2. Into sad darkness he my Soul hath brought And from mine Eyes the chearful Light shut out 3. Hath me forsaken and hath turn'd his Hand Against me that I now do trembling stand 4. He hath my tender Flesh Snow-white Skin Shrivell'd and broken all my Bones within 5. He hath Besieg'd me that I can't get free Walling me round with dreadful Misery 6. In dark and hideous places hath me put As are the Dead who in the Grave are shut 7. Hath round about me made so strong a Fence So weighty made my Chains I can't get hence 8. When I with a loud cry assail his Ear He shuts my Prayer out and will not hear 9. He hath block'd up my ways made me forsake The beaten Road and unknown Paths to take 10. Like as a rav'ning Bear he was to me Or as a Lyon lurking secretly 11. He stop'd me and in pieces did me Tear And left me mangled and unpityed there 12. He bent his murth'ring Bow made me stand Like a most certain Mark to guide his Hand 13. He caus'd the winged-Darts from 's horned-Bow With a swift flight into my Reins to go 14. I was a scorn to all my People they Made me the Subject of their Mirth all day 15. He hath me fill'd with bitter things and me Made drunk with Wormwood to my Misery 16. He hath me wounded with afflictions sore And me with Ashes covered all o're 17. He also hath my Soul remov'd from peace And I forget my former happiness 18. And said my Courage and my strength is fled And from the Lord my hope is perished 19. When I remember all those Sorrows I Have undergone and under which I lye 20. My Soul keeps them in mind and for all this She in my Bosome truly humbled is 21. This gives me hopes that the Almighty will Be my Defence and my Preserver still 22. And this must say that of his Mercy 't is That we are not consum'd because that his 23. Compassions fail not dayly they increase And great 's to us his Love and Faithfulness 24. The Lord my Portion is and therefore I Will hope in him in all my Misery 25. Good is the Lord and gracious to those Who seek him and their Trust in him repose 26. 'T is good for Man to wait the leisure time Of Gods Salvation and to trust in him 27. 'T is good for Man in 's Youth his Neck to fit Unto the Yoke and to Gods Laws submit 28. Us'd to the Yoke he doth no murmurs vent But bears with patience Heaven's punishment 29. Humbles himself and doth with hopes attend When the Almighty will his succour lend 30. Reproach'd by those who do his Ruine seek Unto their Stroaks he gives his tender Cheek 31. Knowing that God wont him forsake but be A just Avenger of his Injury 32. That though he send Afflictions yet at last They who them suffer shall his Mercies taste 33. He takes no pleasure to chastise at all Or let Afflictions on his Creatures fall 34. To crush the Fetter'd Pris'ner of the Earth Under his Feet to whom he did give Birth 35. To turn aside the Right of any one That craves admittance to the sacred Throne 36. To overthrow the Cause that righteous is The Lord doth not nor will approve of this 37. Who is' t that says a thing and when 't is brought To pass dares say that Heaven will'd it not 38. Out from the sacred Lips of God can't come Both Good and Bad he gives a righteous Doom 39. Why then doth Man repine when struck by God Wer 't not for
's Sin he 'd never feel his Rod. 40. Let 's search and try our ways let 's turn unto Our angry God and see what he will do 41. Let 's with our Hands lift up our Hearts on high And thus bespeak the dreadful Deity 42. We all have sinn'd we all have Rebels been Therefore thou hast us plagued for our Sin 43. With Wrath thou hast o'rewhelm'd and clos'd us all And made us pit'less to thy Fury fall 44. In a thick Cloud thou hast thy self inshrin'd That through't our Prayers should no passage find 45. We are by all men the Off-scouring deem'd And look'd on as unfit to be esteem'd 46. With open Mouths our Foes their Joys express Glad to behold us plung'd in deep distress 47. Fear and a Snare are come on us and we Destroyed are with great severity 48. Mine Eyes with Rivers of salt Tears gush out For the Destruction on my People brought 49. Adown my Cheeks they glide and will not cease Till from my troubles he doth me release 50. Till that the Lord in mercy will look down They 'l never stop but Day and Night will run 51. My very Heart with grief within me 's torn To hear the Daughters of my City mourn 52. Like as a Bird so am I chas'd by those Who are without just cause my mortal Foes 53. Into a Dung'on dark they have me thrown And over-whelm'd me with a Massy-Stone 54. Billows of Sorrows o're my Head did pass Then I concluded that I ruin'd was 55. I call'd upon thy Name O Lord most high Out of the Dung'on in my Misery 56. Unto my Voice thou hast inclin'd thine Ear With-hold not now and be not deaf but hear 57. Thou in the day when I did call drew'st near Did'st answer and command me not to fear 58. Thou thou only Lord maintain'st my Cause And did'st my Life redeem from Bloody Paws 59. And now O Lord since thou hast seen my wrong Judg thou my Cause it doth to thee belong 60. Thou hast with watchful Eye their Vengeance seen And all their thoughts that have against me been 61. Thou hast O Lord both heard their Scoffs and known All that against me in their hearts is done 62. Unto those Lips who do against me rise Thou art no Stranger nor to their device 63. When they uprise or when they lye along I am the Subject of their mirthful Song 64. Give them O Lord their due and speedy Doom Full Cups of Vengeance let them flowing come 65. Let killing Sorrow sit on ev'ry Heart Let not thy Fatal Curse from them depart 66. Pursue and chase them in thine anger Lord And from the Earth destroy them with thy Sword CHAP. IV. 1. Sion bewaileth her pitiful estate 13. She confesseth her Sins 1. HOw is the beamy-Gold grown dim as Night How is the pure Gold chang'd which was most bright How are the Temple-stones with dirty Feet Defil'd and scatter'd into ev'ry Street 2. The Noble Men of Sion lik'ned to The most fine Gold how are they look'd on now But as the Potters handy-work of Clay No other Honour or esteem have they 3. The watry-Monsters ne're deny the Breast But give their Young the Teat when they request My People cruel to their Young Ones are Like th' unnatural Ostrich void of care 4. With scortching thirst the tender Suckling's Tongue Cleaves to the vaulted Roof of 's Mouth the Young And harmless Infants that can scarcely speak Ask of their Parents Bread but none they break 5. They who did use on choicest Food to feed Perish i' th' Streets and none their crys do heed They who were Rob'd with Cloath of Tyrian-Dy Naked upon a loathsome Dunghil lye 6. My People for their Sins more chast'ned are Than e're the People of lew'd Sodom were Their City soon consumed was to th' Ground And no appearing Foe Encamp'd it round 7. Her Nazarites who were more purely White Than is the Fleecy Snow and Milk to sight More Ruddy than the Rubies ever were And than the polish'd Saphyr shin'd more clear 8. So changed are as to their Faces now That one them cannot for their Blackness know Close to their Iv'ry-Bones their Skin is shrunk And wither'd like a dead Trees Sapless Trunk 9. Those who are killed by the Sword are far Better than they who slain by Famine are For these when stricken by it lingring lye And by degrees doe pine away and Dye 10. The half starv'd Mothers forced were to Eat The Fruit of their own Wombs for want of Meat So much distress'd and to this dismal pass Were they reduc'd when Sion ruin'd was 11. The Lord his furious Indignation hath Accomplish'd and pour'd out his burning Wrath He such a Fire hath in Sion made As hath in Rubbish her Foundations laid 12. The Crowned Heads and those of meaner Birth That trod the globous-Surface of the Earth Would not have thought that ever any Foe Should have on Sion seiz'd and brought it low 13. For the notorious Sins of those who were Her Priests Prophets all these Judgments are Upon her brought they are the Cause of all The Purple Blood that in her Streets did fall 14. Defil'd with Blood which in the Streets they shed Like Blind Men up and down they wandered And were so foul that Men did them detest And durst not come to touch their sacred Vest 15. The Rabble with a loud Stentorean cry Call'd to the Priests and bid them thence to fly Depart depart ye are unclean said they Therefore they fled and roved Night and Day The Heathen follow'd with a dreadful Yell And said they should no more in Sion dwell 16. The Wrath of God hath them dispersed quite He will no more abide them in his sight Because they neither to their Priests did give A due respect nor did their Age relieve 17. Whil'st we expecting looked towards the Coast Of Egypt waiting for a succ'ring Host Our gazing Eyes were dim and weary grown Looking for help from whence we could have none 18. From Street to Street they did pursue us so That we could no where from their Fury go Upon our Lives is past the fatal Doom Our Days are finish'd and our End is come 19. Our deadly Foes in Flight much swifter are Than is the quick Wing'd Eagle of the Air They have pursu'd us on the Mountains and Have waited for us in the Desart Sand. 20. The Lord 's Anointed in their Nets are ta'ne In whom we hop'd by their Hands is Slain Of whom we said under his Shaddow we Shall live secure and from our Fears be free 21. Rejoyce O Edom's Daughter be thou joy'd Who did'st insult when Sion was destroy'd Thou shalt e're-while the Cup of Fury taste Be sham'd as She was and like her laid Waste 22. Thy Woes O Sion are fulfill'd no more Shalt thou be Captive made as heretofore But O thou Edom Heaven will begin To visit thine Offence and show thy Sin CHAP. V. A pitiful Complaint of
Sion in Prayer to God 1. BE mindful thou of all our Woes whose Throne In Heaven is on our reproach look down 2. The Land thou gav'st us to Possess is Till'd By Heathens and our Houses with them fill'd 3. No King we have our Cities all are left As mournful Widows of their Loves bereft 4. We can't fetch Water from the Chrystal Spring Nor Fuel get unless its price we bring 5. Our Necks are with a grievous Bondage prest Wearied we are and can obtain no rest 6. We have for Bread implored Egypts Aid And a firm League with wicked Ashur made 7. Our Fathers have transgrest and are no more We their Transgressions and our own have bore 8. Servants have rul'd and had o're us command None would us free from their imperious Hand 9. We ran the hazard of our lives for Meat Because the Sword around did for us wait 10. Our Skin did black as is the Oven look Because lank-Famine rag'd in ev'ry nook 11. They forc'd the Wives in Sion and in wild And burning Lust their lovely Maids defil'd 12. They hang'd our Princes up and had no care To honour them who Priests or Aged were 13. They made the Young-Men labour at the Mill With weighty Burdens did the Children kill 14. No Law-dispensing-Elder now doth sit In Sions Gate nor 's Musick heard in it 15. The Joy and Pleasure of our Heart is fled Our Daunce we now in mournful Measures Tread 16. The State and glory of our Realm is gone Wo to us for our Sins have it undone 17. For this our Hearts are Faint our Griefs increase And for these things our Eyes ne're Weeping cease 18. But chiefly for that Sion fam'd of Old To be thy Joy is now the Foxes hold 19. But why O Lord thou sole Eternal One Who hast an everlasting settled Throne 20. Do'st thou so long forget and leave us here And to our Out-cries wilt not lend an Ear 21. Turn thou Lord and we shall turned be And let us have the Days we once did see 22. But thou hast cast us off thine angry look Shows that thou hast thy Sion quite forsook CONCLVSION THus hath my Pen through various Troubles past Traverst the Woes of Sion and at last Unto the end of her Complaint is come Grant that our Sion may not find her Doom In Thee we hope in Thee we Trust alone To thee we fly save us Thou Mighty One This Favour from our Princes can't be had Thou only can'st preserve and make us glad A Prayer for the Church ETernal God to whom all Knees shall bow Unto whose goodness we our Beings owe How have we all from thy Commandments Following our vain Imagination Hast thou not seen thy Mercies slighted all gone Thy Laws and Judgments in contempt to fall And heard how we with impious Mouths have said There is no God no God who hath us made I cannot Lord but tremble when I muse On these our fearful Sin nor can I chuse But burst into a sad and doleful Cry What merit we for our Impiety We here deserve to feel thy heaviest Doom And those eternal Flames i' th' World to come But thou who art an ever gracious God To anger slow unwilling with thy Rod To grieve the Sons of Men who ready art Fully to pardon the returning heart But a consuming Fire that will burn The Soul that will not be induc'd to turn Make us sincerely sorrowful for all Make us sincerely sorrowful for all Our crying Sins that for thy Vengeance call Forgive us all our secret and our known Transgressions which we against thee done And grant that we may willingly no more Provoke thy furious Wrath as heretofore And since our Hearts are in thy Hands O Lord Make them obed'ent to thy Will and Word Send into ev'ry Breast that peaceful Dove Thy holy and eternal Sp'rit of Love To rule and lead us in the way of Peace Whose end is everlasting Happiness That for the future there may not arise Amongst us baneful Animosities Be gracious to thy Church and scatter all That dayly seek and Plot to make her Fall Make them to perish in their strange device And never rise to work her Miseries But let thy Goodness and thy Mercies flow Upon her Head with her always go And since a dismal Cloud with frowning Brow Hovers o're thy despised Sion now O let thy Goodness a quick-piercing-Ray Send down and chase this direful Cloud away That it upon her may not fall and we For our Offences thereby Ruin'd be But chiefly Lord we here do thee invoke To save her from Romes hateful hellish Yoke Let not that Man of Sin wh ' exalts his Throne Above the Powers that on Earth are known Subject her to his most imperious Sway And make her to his Avarice a Prey Infat'ate his Designs and on him lay The Mischiefs purpos'd to Her day by day Cover with thy out-stretched Wings the Great And Gracious Sov'raign of our Church State In spight of those who rage and cursing stand To see the Scepter flourish in his Hand Preserve his sacred Life and make them all Who seek his Ruine by his Hand to fall Here Crown him with a long and blessed Peace And when he Dyes with endless Happiness Bless likewise those who at thy Altar serve Grant that their Lips may right'ous Truths preserve Let both their Lives and Doctrins be sincere And let them like the Stars shine bright and clear Bless all inferiour Ministers of State Fill them with wholsome Justice in the Gate Let well weigh'd Judgment from their Mouths proceed And not the name of Friend or Foe to heed Be good to all thy People ev'ry where And keep them in thy Faith and in thy Fear Convert the unconverted make us all To own one Shepheard and to know his Call Then we thy People who to thee belong From day to day will with a thankful Song Set forth thy Praise and to the World declare How great thy Goodness and thy Mercies are POEMS ON SEVERAL Occasions By the same Hand LONDON Printed by R. E. for R. Bentley and M. Magnes in Russel-Street in Covent-Garden 1680. Poems on several Occasions The Sinners Wish AH could I Lord at thy blest Hands Receive a Freedom from my Bands From killing Sins and worldly-Cares From future Torments dismal Fears Were I as certain of thy Love As Angels that enjoy 't above Beauty with her bewitching-Smiles VVhich Fetters Millions with her Wiles Should ne're embrace me in her Arms I 'de stand unconquer'd at her Charms Those wealthy Treasures of the Shoar The costly Gems the glitt'ring Oar These I 'de contemn upon this score That I might Heavens Treasures know And when I dye may thither go Say Lord the Word and 't shall be so On Lazarus rais'd Lord THe Grave obey'd Deaths Bands did fall Asunder at thy pow'rful Call And all those faithless Lookers on Beheld his Resurrection Such charming Rhet'rick's in thy Voice The Dead Revive the