Distressed Zion Relieved, Floating text

Distressed Zion Relieved · Floating text

p. 10A Poem written by Mr. Stephen Colledge a while before he was sent to Oxford, where he Suffered Death, Aug. 31. 1681.

Wrongful Imprisonment

Hurts not the Innocent.

WHat if I am into a Prison cast,

By Hellish Combinations am betray'd?

My Soul is free although my Body's fast:

Let them repent that have this evil laid,

And of Eternal vengeance be afraid;

Though Racks and Gibbets can my Body kill,

My God is with me, and I fear no ill.

p. 11What boots the clamours of the giddy Throng?

What Antidote's against a poysonous Breath?

What Fence is there against a Lying Tongue,

Sharpen'd by Hell to wound a man to Death?

Snakes, Vipers, Adders do lurk underneath:

Say what you will, or never speak at all,

Our very Prayers such Wretches Treason call.

But Walls and Bars cannot a Prison make,

The Free-born Soul enjoys its Liberty;

These clods of Earth it may incaptivate,

Whilst Heavenly Minds are conversant on high,

Ranging the Fields of Blest Eternity:

So let this Bird sing sweetly in my Breast,

My Conscience clear, a Rush for all the rest.

What I have done I did with good intent,

To serve my King, my Countrey, and the Laws;

Against the bloody Papists I was bent,

Cost what it will I'le ne're repent my Cause,

Nor do I fear their Hell-devouring Jaws;

A Protestant I am, and such I'le dye,

Maugre all Deaths, and Popish Cruelty.

But what need I these Protestations make,

Actions speak men far better than their words.

Whate're I suffer's for my Countrey's sake,

Not 'cause I had a Gun, or Horse, or Sword;

Or that my Heart did Treason e're afford;

No, 'tis not me (alone) they do intend,

But thousands more, to gain their cursed End.

p. 12And sure of this the World's so well aware,

That here 'tis needless more for me to say,

I must conclude, no time have I to spare,

My winged hours do fly too fast away,

My (work) Repentance must I not delay,

I'le add my Prayers to God for England's good

And if he please will Seal them with my Blood.

O Blessed God destroy this black design

Of Popish Consults! it's in thee we trust;

Our Eyes are on thee, help, O Lord, in time.

Thou God of Truth, most Merciful and Just,

Do thou defend us, or we perish must;

Save England, Lord, from Popish Cruelty,

My Countrey bless, Thy will be done on me.

Mans Life's a Voyage through a Sea of tears,

If he would gain the Haven of his Rest;

His signs must fill the Sails whilst some Men Steers.

When Storms arise let each man do his best,

And cast the Anchor of his hopes (opprest)

Till Time or Death shall bring us to that Shore

Where Time nor Death shall never be no more.

Laus Deo. Amen. From my Prison in the Tower, August 15, 1681. Stephen Colledge

p. 13Great Essex! Ah thy groans methinks I hear!

What ne're a Friend? hadst thou not one Friend near?

No…e, none to help; in vain it was to cry

When there were none but Savage Monsters nigh.

Since thy great Soul could not inticed be,

No… wouldst conceal their cursed cruelty,

They make a bloody Tragedy of thee.

Surpriz'd, lest all should be discovered

Unto this Dev'lish Policy they were led;

And to conceal their horrid Plot they try

Those wicked Arts, which do it justifie

Confirming it to all Posterity.

Though thy Assassinates like men appear,

Their curst attempt shew'd least of man was there,

Incarnate Devils certainly they were.

Ah cruel Tyrants! destitute of shame,

To murder both thy Body and thy Name.

Could not thy Blood their hellish thirst suffice?

But must thou die a double Sacrifice?

What! cut thy Throat with such barbarity,

And when thy Soveraign also was so nigh!

The Royal Prison, though a Tower strong,

Was no defence nor refuge to thee long.

Thou careful wast how to preserve thy life,

And yet didst fall by a curst Romish Knife.

Thy Head almost cut off; and yet they cry

That thy own hands did act the Tragedy;

…t now we hope it plainly will appear,

Who the vile Actors; who the Murderers were.

p. 14May I not borrow now (as many do)

Some proper lines, made on an Essex too.

Shall such a Noble Peer fall thus by Rome?

And shall I not drop tears upon his Tomb?

Shall none who loved him, move for a Vote?

Ye Lords and Commons, ye are bound to do't.

A Vote that all on that same day o'th' year

On which he fell shall mourn, or shed a tear,

Or else be judg'd a`Papist? It were wise

T' erect an Office in my Childrens Eyes,

For issuing forth a constant sum of tears,

There's no way else to pay him his Arrears,

And when we 've drien'd this Ages Eyes quite dry,

Let him be wept the next in History.

1683. Renowned Great Lord Russel next, …

Is markt out for this direful Tragedy,

Scarce had I dry'd mine Eyes for loss of one,

But they another Hero fall upon.

A braver Lord scarce ever lost his Head;

Nay few like him hath England ever bred.

From a most Noble Stem he did Spring forth,

And had a Spirit …uited to his Birth.

Had I not wept so many tears before,

For him whole Rivers from mine Eyes might pour.

Had I an Helicon in either Eye,

The thoughts of Russel soon may draw them dry.

Great Soul! too great for our inferior praise,

You for your self the Noblest Trophies raise.

Your Love to Sion, and your Native Land

Shall mention'd be, ev'n while the Earth doth stande

p. 15My loss and England's too who shall repair?

Great God! his hardned Enemies do not spare;

'Twas by the Blood of these Great Men I see

England was freed from Rome's curst Tyranny.

T'avoid the Odium of their cursed Plot,

Which notwithstanding ne're will be forgot,

Another was contriv'd, wherewith they thought

The innocent to insnare, who should be brought

Thereby to ruin; and then hop'd to see

Sion and her best Friends would ruin'd be;

This was the Second part of Rome's design

To work the overthrow of me and mine,

And these two Champions standing in their way

With bloudy hands they villanously slay.

The first inhumanely was Murdered,

The other they did publickly Behead.

They charged him indeed with odious Crimes,

(And many others too, in those black times:)

Crimes he to th' last did utterly deny,

Whose Noble Soul their malice did defie,

But Villains swore, and he alas must die.

O Heav'n and Earth be ye astonished!

How fain would they have struck off my poor Head,

Yet of my Blood that they themselves might clear,

Good Protestants the scandal on't must bear.

1683. Sydney, dear Sydney treacherously fell,

Whom I esteem'd a Prince in Israel;

Those Laws that were intended for defence,

Were wrested so thou couldst not have from thence

p. 16Any relief, but thou must likewise dye,

Although on thee no guilt at all did lye,

Jury and Judge dealt so inhumanely.

What hadst thou done? what cause of death in the

For Sion 'twas; 'twas for thy Love to me.

Thy Principles were such, Hell could not bear

The thoughts thereof, though publisht they ne're we

Thou wast too Just, and hadst such piercing Eyes,

Those Hellish Statesmen doubted a surprize,

And therefore made thee a third Sacrifice.

1684. By Popish Arts many more ruin'd were,

Poor Holloway likewise fell into the snare;

B'ing from th' Western World a Prisoner brought,

By those who fiercely his destruction sought;

Who at the place of Execution

Delivered his Bible unto one

Of his Relations, wherein he had writ

The following lines, which I do here transmit.

'Owner hereof prize this, and bless the Lord

'That yet to England doth his Word afford;

'Had I liv'd longer, hopes I should have had

'T' have seen times mend, but now expect them bad

'Truth will not do, for much of it I wrote,

'And for't I die much rather than the Plot.

'Did you know all, you'd say I did my part

'To free you from designed Popish smart.

And now alas! behold my dismal case,

Great Flouds of sorrow follow on apace.

Many Religious, Pious Men of worth

Are rendred vile, not fit to live on Earth.

p. 17Observe Rome's policy, who contriv'd it so

That Protestants should Protestants undo.

Conscience must now be basely shackled

Against its Light impos'd on, and misled,

And truckle like a Slave unto all those

Who did Christ's Regal power in man oppose:

Either their Consciences must wounded lye

Under despair for their Apostacy;

Or if they were resolved, and sincere,

They loss of Goods, Contempt and Scorn must bear;

Be sent to noisom Jayls, or to Exile,

Which many chose, rather than to defile

Their precious Souls, and treacherously dis-own,

Or yield the power of Christs righteous Throne

Up to Usurpers, who audaciously

Cry, All is Caesar's due, and so deny

God over Conscience has the Soveraignty.

No wonder they Laws violently break down;

That all our Civil Rights are overthrown.

That our Just Properties they take away,

And our most Ancient Liberties betray.

Since they the Glorious Monarchy of Heav'n

…o now Invade, and strive to have it given

…nto their hands that they may tread it down,

And impudently cry, All is their own.

Grand Rebels! what, attempt the Right of God?

… you not fear his dreadful Iron Rod?

Would you Dethrone him? would your hellish spite

…rive both God and Man of their just Right?

p. 18This you design'd (although in vain) to do;

And Christ's blest Kingdom fain would overthrow▪

One while they cry, Conscience to them must be…

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 'twould with their Interest sta…

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

p. 19Did 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;

…et all's denied by Romish Innocents,

…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,

…egraded and expos'd to brutish rage,

They on his Back their cruel strokes do lay,

Whereby their Hellish Plot they stifle may;

…et let them whip and lash him till he die,

And practice all their Romish cruelty,

…one of his Evidence he can deny.

p. 20'Tis 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;

p. 21Yea, 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 'tis 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.

p. 22In 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;

b… 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 h…a… their Wives and Childrens cry,

But sco…t and laught at them in …isery;

p. 23And 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,

But save their Husbands lives for Jesus sake.

…t being plain, most of those who were there,

Designed well, though taken in a snare.

But with what rage did he upon them fall,

Swearing, He'd make examples of 'um all,

Cry'd, On that Sign-p…st take and hang them up,

The Rogues shall all taste of this bitter Cup:

Whereby this bloody Wretch destroyed more

In a few Weeks, than Bonner did before

In full three years, many as faithful men

As suffered by Popish fury then.

He hang'd 'um up by two, by three, by seven,

Whose Blood aloud for vengeance cries to Heav'n.

Their Bodies likewise cut to pieces were,

Their Quarters hang'd o'th' Hedges here and there▪

Their Flesh was given to be Meat for Crows,

And all because they Antichrist oppose;

And were resolv'd never to bend the Knee

To Images, nor turn to Popery;

Nor ever Slaves or Vassals to become

Unto the Pope, and Scarlet Whore of Rome;

Whom Christ commands (his Saints, so to reward

As she has done to them) in's Holy Word.

Their ends were right, but they mistook their call,

And therefore God did suffer them to fall;

They did disdain those Yokes with generous scorn,

Which were by other servile Spirits born.

p. 24'They saw the threatning Storm approach from far,

'Fearing a thousand mischiefs worse than War,

'And therefore rushing on th' impetuous waves,

'Would rather die like Men than live like Slaves.

'To save Me and the Land they bravely try'd,

'Fail'd in th' attempt, and then as bravely dy'd.

'In vain would envious Clouds their Fame obscure,

'Which to Eternal Ages shall endure.

'If ill designs some to the Battel drew,

'Must all be scandalized for a few?

'If fawning Traytors in their Councils sate

''Tis base to mock, rather lament their Fate.

'Though Heav'n for England's Sins refuse to bless

'Their great Design with the desir'd success,

''Tis an unequal, brutish Argument,

'Always to judge the cause by the event;

'Thus the unthinking giddy multitude,

'An Innocent may Criminal conclude.

But woe to those who in cold Blood did kill,

And thereby did their own revenge fulfil.

The High-ways like a Slaughter-house became,

Or bloody Shambles, to their Enemies shame;

What multitudes of men did they destroy

And hang on Trees, which did so much annoy

The People round about, it made them cry,

O Lord defend us from Rome's cruelty.

But this Relation gives me little ease,

I must some other way seek to appease

My overflowing Passion; therefore I

Some of those Hero's Names cannot pass by

p. 25Until I drop some tears upon their Hearse,

That the next Age may mourn for them in Verse.

Brave Colonel Holmes, Wise, Valiant and Sincere,

Who didst to Sion true affection bear,

Thy worthy Name shall not forgotten be,

But shall recorded be in History

To after Ages; nor can thy Arrears

Be duly paid without a Flood of tears.

Great Soul! thy Life thou seemedst to despise,

Rather than ask it of thine Enemies.

Much less didst thou in any sort incline

Others to charge, to save that Life of thine.

How didst thou grieve and publickly bewail

Thy undertaking should so strangely fail?

But yet Prophetically didst Divine,

It would revive again in little time,

Though by what means it brought about should be,

It was impossible thou couldst then fore-see,

And thy Prediction now is come to pass,

Though by thy Foes it then contemned was.

And now the sad Spectators wondring saw,

The Horses long refuse the Sledge to draw;

The poor dumb Beasts by Heavens Instinct are

Made sharp Reprovers, whilst the lash they bear;

And seem to say, These men are innocent,

They must not die, God will not give consent,

And therefore he doth strangely us restrain

From drawing them, though lasht and lasht again.

What other voice there was I cannot see

In this amazing wondrous Prodigy.

p. 26Yet all these warnings from the Foe are hid,

For dye they must, and dye they also did;

Although on foot to slaughter they must drudge,

To gratifie a most Tyrannical Judge.

Nor did the Gallant Father fall alone,

He in the Cause lost a Religious Son.

Poor Captain Holmes, few young men like to thee,

Did hazard all to set their Countrey free

From Rome's curst Yoke, and cruel Slavery.

The next Great Worthy 'mongst the vanquisht Host

Which in that hour of darkness I have lost,

A Preacher was, indu'd with Holy Art,

Who did dissolve the Stone in many a Heart,

His name was Lark; O come my Children now,

Pay him those tears which he laid out for you;

Ah! must he fall by Fate? Ah! must he yield?

His Life up too? but why not in the Field?

Must Sampson fall by the Philistines hand

Who from their Bondage strove to save the Land?

Well! by thy death thou hast prevailed so,

Thou hastenedst their utter overthrow,

And yet I cannot but lament to think

Of what a bitter Cup thy Flock do drink.

My loss of thee is more than loss of Ten,

Though they might be sober Religious men:

When Death thus with his hands lays hold upon

The Pillars of the House, the Building's gone,

Unless God in his Mercy instantly

Raise others up their places to supply:

p. 27But Ah! how many dye? how few appear

Them to succeed, and their great weight to bear.

In Jesus Christ's own Harvest in this Nation,

(which now seems white) there's cause of Lamentation.

A Chariot and an Horseman I have lost,

But he's above, incampt i'th' Heavenly Host.

Have you not seen an early rising Lark

Mounting aloft, making the Sun her mark?

Lo here's a Lark that soar'd up higher, higher;

Till he had sung himself into Heav'ns Quire.

From Earth to Heaven he went, and in a trice

His Soul ascended into Paradice.

Now stop mine Eyes, for fear your Floods should fail,

And I want tears for all I must bewail;

But yet I need not doubt; Springs I espy,

Yea Fountains, which will give a fresh supply

For two young Plants, who both sprang from one Stem,

Belov'd of God, I hope, as well as men.

Dear Hewlins, of what use might you have been,

If you to spare th' Almighty good had seen?

What cruel Tyrants had we lately here,

That two such tender Branches would not spare?

But when I think, of Grace that they had store,

And with what patience they their Sufferings bore,

It gives such comfort I can weep no more.

What Testimony did they leave behind,

Of that sweet joy which they in Christ did find?

When wicked men all pity do deny,

Our Saviour to compassion's mo…'d thereby;

p. 28And doubtless they are plac't in that High Sphere,

Where th' Spirits of Just Men Triumphant are.

Ah me! Alas! what means this Sea of Blood?

Oh! See, see, see, it breaks forth like a Flood.

Must Walcot, Bateman, Ayliff, Ansly too

Be all forgot, are no sighs to them due?

No, no, that must not be; I'm drencht in tears,

To hear this cry of Blood sound in mine Ears.

But lo! another Stream issues amain,

My sinking Spirits, Lord, with speed sustain.

Poor Nelthrop's gone too, and the Lady Lisle;

Nay more, the Gallant Noble Lord Argile.

Hath Scotland bred a greater Man than he?

Of Noble Birth, and Ancient Pedigree.

No danger could his High-born Soul restrain,

He strove his Countreys Liberty t' obtain.

And it to free from Romish Usurpation,

Beyond most of the Nobles in that Nation;

For which his Enemies many snares did lay,

Both his Estate and Life to take away,

Who only did design Tranquillity

To th' State; and to secure't from Slavery.

Were I but able I'de advance his Praise,

And with high strains of grief his Glory raise.

A Nobleman, Just, Pious, Valiant, Wise,

Able for Counsel, or for Enterprize;

Fit to set Cato Copies if alive,

Whose sharp discerning Judgment soon could dive

Into their Plots, though laid as deep as Hell;

But missing his Design, our Statesman fell.

p. 29Success sometimes does not the Wise attend,

The most Sagacious sometimes miss the end

They aim at; and yet may not be i'th' wrong;

The Race is not to th' swift, nor to the strong

The Battel is not always; and we see

This Scripture Proverb was made good in thee.

Farewel Argile! my weeping Muse shall burn

Her wither'd Laurel, at thy mournful Urn;

Contemn a Monument, and scorn a Stone;

Marbles have flaws, and must good men have none?

But gone he is; drop tears my Children all,

And mourn, because that day a Prince did fall:

Though he be gone, his Honour shall not dye,

My Children shall preserve his Memory.

Undaunted Rumbold is the next that I

Register in my mournful Elegy,

He both Couragious and Religious was,

Whose Zeal for's Countreys Freedom did surpass

Most others; and although he then did lye

Under the scandal and the infamy

Of secretly conspiring how to slay

His Soveraign Lord in a vile treacherous way,

Which he deny'd, and did abominate,

When his last Breath he yielded up to Fate

So wounded, that two Deaths he seem'd to dye:

Tears drop again, mine Eyes I cannot dry,

When I observe the Babylonish Train,

Strive all these worthy Mens repute to stain

With Lies, false Slanders, and black Calumny,

That they unpitied by all might die.

p. 30But to my comfort, I now hope the day

Is come, will wipe all their reproach away;

That whilst their Souls Triumphing are in Glory,

Their Fame will cleared be in future Story;

And that to all good Men their Memory

Will precious be to all Posterity.

But now my Muse back to the West must go,

And tell what there the Enemy more did do,

Where cause of grief be sure I cannot lack.

Brave Patchel next appears with Captain Blake;

And though I have great store of tears let fall,

Yet their sad Fate aloud on me doth call

To draw the Sluces up, and yet once more

From my wet Eyes fresh Floods of tears to pour;

For I perceive whole Troops together come

Of Western Sufferers, crying, Pray make room;

Why must our names be buried in the Croud?

And all our worth be vailed in a Cloud

Of dark Oblivion? Must we always lye

Under an Odium of the blackest dye?

Is nothing due unto our mangled Clay?

Will none strive our reproach to roul away?

Can you so partial be? What not a tear

For us to whom Liberty was so dear?

Do you disdain to speak in our defence,

Because some were of no great Eminence?

Was not our Blood as dear to us as theirs,

Whose death you do bewail with bitter tears?

A lust our mean dust be slightly trampled on,

And disregarded without sigh or groan?

p. 31Ah! Must we ever, ever be forgot?

And must our names like wicked Persons rot?

No, no, Great Souls! I equally resent

The sad misfortune of each Innocent;

And though some (not for want of Ignorance)

Cry 'gainst your Prince your Arms you did advance;

Yet your Allegiance sure could never bind

Your hands, that when Rome's power had undermin'd

The Constitution, thereby to o'rethrow

The Government, yet you must nothing do.

Must every man sit still, and quiet be?

And Law, Religion, Life in Jeopardy;

The contrary Jehovah hath made out,

And thereby our Salvation's brought about.

Yet Non-resistance is our duty still,

When Princes Rule by Law; but not by Will.

When Magistrates pursue that gracious end,

God by advancing of them did intend;

Then to resist them is a horrid thing,

And God to shame will all such Rebels bring.

But must Superiors be submitted to,

When they contrive to ruin and undo

Their faithful Subjects, and o'return the State,

And their most sacred Oaths do violate?

Is Government ordained to destroy,

Or to preserve the Rights that Men enjoy?

Suppose a Father should be led away,

T' attempt the Mothers Life, and strive to slay

His Innocent Children; and to those adhere,

Who unto them malicious Enemies were:

p. 32In such a case as this the Children sure,

Their Mothers, and their own Lives may secure.

Ought they not then their Fathers hands to bind,

So to prevent the mischief he design'd?

Don't Nature teach a Man to save his Life

From th' Treachery of Father, Child, or VVife?

Must Servants yield, and passively consent

Their Master from their Bones the Flesh should rent

Is it a crime if they won't this indure,

But seek a better Master to procure?

Self-preservation 'twas that moved you,

(Fore-seeing what was ready to insue,)

To seek such ways to save your selves and me,

VVhichWhich you thought Just, and hop'd would prosperous be

And though God did Success to you deny,

Yet you might act with all Integrity;

VVhichWhich Heav'n doth seem to Crown now with Applause,

And to Assert the Justice of your Cause.

Since 'twas ordain'd that spot should be the Scene

VVhere the Cause dy'd, there to revive't agen:

And though for what you therein were misled

I did lament, and many tears have shed;

Yet I must vindicate you from the wrong

You suffer'd have by many a viperous Tongue;

And will more of your worthy names revive,

Though at your slips I never will connive.

Dear Hicks, shall slanderous mouths seek to defame,

And to calumniate so sweet a name?

Ah! shall detracting malice go about

VVith its rude Breath to blow thy Taper out?

p. 33Well! let them all their full-mouth'd Bellows puff,

It is their Breath that stinks, and not thy snuff.

Oh what a judgment 'twere if such as they

Should but allow thy actions, and betray

Th' endanger'd name by their malign applause

To good opinion; that were a just cause

Of grief indeed; but to be made the Story

Of such false Tongues, Great Soul! it is thy Glory.

Ah! is he dead? did his poor Body fall

By th' rage of man? tears cannot him recall.

Yet might not then have died, but his day

Might have been lengthned, had he known the way

To Life and Peace which God hath since found out,

And for our safety, strangely brought about,

The day he longed for his Eyes had seen

If some things had, and some things had not been.

What he saw past, Heavens Eye fore-saw to come;

God saw how that contingent act should sum

The total of his days; His All-seeing Eye

(Though his own could not) saw that he should dye

That very fatal hour, yet saw his death

Not so, so necessary, but his Breath

Might have been spared to a longer date

Had he imbraced this, not taken that.

Had not a furious Judge condemned thee,

Void of all pity and humanity,

Thou might'st have liv'd and seen with joyful Eyes

That done, for which thou fell'st a Sacrifice;

Yet that God orders all things right w'are sure;

The Death of some may Life to more procure.

p. 34But here's just cause of further Lamentation,

For one we scarce can equal in the Nation.

A worthy Preacher, who could not comply

With what his Conscience could not justifie.

But hark how th' Enemy doth scoff and jear,

That a Dissenter's taken in the snare.

A better Sacrifice there could not come,

To please the Canibals of Bloody Rome,

Who do believe there is no Dish so good,

As a John Baptist's Head serv'd up in Blood.

But he's a Rebel; Ay! that, that's the cry;

Now as to that, let's weigh impartially

His dying words, now printed, which relate

He did believe Monmouth Legitimate,

Or Lawful Son of Charles, or else that he

Would ne're have acted in the least degree

In that design, and we may likewise find

The rest in general were of that mind;

And though they were mistaken, let's take care

Not to asperse what dying men declare.

But sober thoughts of them still to retain,

And not with Obloquy their Memory stain.

But lo! a multitude of Sufferers more

(Whose Blood for vengeance cries,) stand at the door

Open to them; my Muse; Ah! do but see

What a great number of them still there be;

Now they are come, 'tis fit I first make room

For the most gallant generous Battiscombe:

A worthy Person of a great Estate,

Although he was cut off by cruel Fate.

p. 35The wretched Judge allur'd him to accuse

Some other Gentlemen, which he did refuse

VVith scorn; for he abhorr'd his Life to buy

By such base and unmanly treachery.

VVen he o'th' Ladder was he seemed to smile;

Saying, He hoped in a little while

He should enjoy a Crown and Diadem

Of Glory in the New Jerusalem;

That from a Land of misery and woe

To the Coelestial Paradice he should go.

Hamling fell too, nor was his Innocence

Before so vile a Judge, the least defence

Against the Crimes wherewith they charged him,

Though altogether free from any Crime;

VVho neither was in Arms, nor did assist

Any that were; nor any who did List

Themselves for Monmouth; nay he did advise

His Son not to ingage, but to be wise,

And unto Gods dispose leave every thing,

VVho in due Season would Deliverance bring.

But he was a Dissenter, and for this

He must not live; for he accused is

By two such Rascals as did never care

VVhether 'twere truth or falshood they did Swear;

But with the Judges humour would comply,

And by such Evidence this man must die.

Next Mr. Brag a Man of good Descent,

And well known to be wholly innocent;

VVho though a Lawyer, yet no Law could have

VVhereby his Life from violence to save.

p. 36When Law and Justice both o're-ruled were,

And Judge and Jury too resolv'd to steer

By the false Compass of the Princes will,

In vain was the most Learned Lawyers skill;

None were secure, neither the weak nor strong:

Will was made Law whether 'twere right or wrong.

The Land-mark was remov'd, all Common laid;

And all our English Liberties betray'd.

But time will fail me, therefore I'll proceed,

And not forget Smith, Rose, and Joseph Speed,

And Evans too; shall such a man as he

Fall basely, and not draw a tear from me?

Then Madder, Kid, young Jenkins too all bled,

Who for his Youth ought to be pitied;

With Doctor Temple, Spark, and Captain Lisle

Kill'd in cold Blood, their malice was so vile;

And many hundred others who there fell

So barbarously, there's scarce a Parallel

Of Stirs that were in any former Reign,

Where so much cruelty was; and leaves a stain

Upon that time, will ne're be wip't away

Until the World and all things else decay.

But notwithstanding so much Blood was shed,

Some hundreds of poor Souls were banished;

Bereaved of their VVives and Children dear,

And into Forreign Countreys driven were,

And there exposed to all misery,

And the severities of Slavery.

The Husband separated from the VVife,

Depriv'd of all the joys of humane Life.

p. 37Their Goods, and their Estates all forfeited,

And nothing left wherewith to buy them Bread.

But should I all their miseries recount,

They to a mighty number would amount;

Yet now Great Nassaw's setled on the Throne,

VVe do not doubt but he'll regard their moan;

That on their sorrows he will cast his Eyes,

And of his Princely goodness, ease their cries.

But stay my Muse, for here's more cause of grief,

And I have still more cause of Heav'ns relief,

For now alas! two Martyrs I espy,

On whom were acted a sad Tragedy.

The one a Person of great worth and name,

A Citizen of London of much Fame,

VVho by Time serving wretches that would do

VVhat e're might please the Factious Romish Crew.

VVas doom'd to death by villanous Evidence,

Though for himself he made a just defence.

Alderman Cornish was this worthy man

That thus unjustly suffered. Who now can

Forbear to weep? or can forbear to tell

VVhat to a pious woman then befel?

Poor Mistress Gaunt, most dear thou wast to me,

Few of thy Sex ever excelled thee

… Zeal, in Knowledge, or in Charity,

VVho wast condemn'd a cruel death to die,

Cause thou relievedst men in misery.

These two I must bewail, who in one day

By Romish Treachery were swept away;

p. 38'Gainst whom these Miscreants malice did appear,

'Though altogether innocent and clear;

As doubtless we shall find apparently,

VVhen their Case stated is impartially.

As to the woman 'twill be shewed ere long.

That many ways she suffered much wrong,

VVho by a Jury at H…ks-Hall was freed,

Yet at th' Old-Bailey 'gainst her they proceed;

A London Jury took her Life away,

VVhichWhich they may answer for another day.

On the same day these worthy Christians fell,

Most of us may remember very well.

That Gods displeasure ere that day was done

Seem'd very evident to every one

That his works doth observe, and mind his hand

In his strange operations in the Land.

O come ye Angels, lend your glorious Stile!

Created Beings to lament a while.

Ye blessed Hosts that sing Jehovah's praise,

Assist my Muse in lamentable Phrase;

For now the City Streets ev'n run with Blood

Of those Just men, who only sought our good.

Ah! London, let all future Ages see

Thy grief, that Cornish lost his Life in thee.

Could not their burning thee abate their rage?

Nor their inslaving thee their wrath asswage?

Could not Great Russel's death them mollifie?

Nor Essex's murder stop their cruelty?

VVould not th' inthralling of Great Brittain do,

Religion and Liberty to o'rethrow?

p. 39Hast thou not many years triumpht in Blood,

Undoing thousands who most faithful stood

Unto their Countreys Interest, venturing all,

The Common-weal might not to ruine fall?

Oh cursed Rome! thou'lt soon thy measure fill,

Thy wickedness grows and increases still;

Religion's shame, and all the Worlds great curse,

Why dost thou still proceed from bad to worse?

And now, my Muse, methinks we shan't do right

To worthy Cornish, if we seem to slight

His memory, by a short Encomium

To whom so much is due; therefore let's come,

And in a few lines more expatiate

Upon the circumstances of his Fate.

Ah! London, London, did it not surprize?

Couldst thou behold poor Cornish with dry Eyes,

Hang'd like a Caitiff on a cursed Tree,

And acted in the very midst of thee?

To good men 'twas a grievous sight we know,

Though to some wretches 'twas a pleasing show.

A though with blushes Angels seem'd to see

This horrid Act; and Heav'n disturb'd to be.

What chearful looks this excellent Christian had,

…s through the Streets he his last Journey made?

To that in triumph he did seem to go

To death, as if he certainly did know

That Angels thence would carry him to bliss,

And place him where no pain nor sorrow is,

To be a Courtier to the King of Kings,

…eeding on joy that from Christ Jesus springs.

p. 40The Sun that Morning his bright Beams displays,

And sends upon the Earth his Golden Rays;

Smiling while those two Worthies here remain,

But seem'd to frown as soon as they were slain.

The Heav'ns their mourning Garments do put on

As if they'd shew, two Innocents were gone.

A Storm of Rain descends from that black Cloud

With dreadful Lightning, and with Thunder loud,

As if incensed Heav'n were in a Flame,

And Christ were coming to dissolve the same;

Or that the Judge of Judges now was come

(With all his Saints) to give the World its Doom

And wronged Cornish should be try'd again

By upright Jurors of that blessed Train.

And in white Robes of Righteousness appear

Before Heav'ns King, his innocence to clear.

Jehovah's Trumpet sounding shook the Earth,

And to great Floods of Rain with Fire, gave Birth.

Heav'n groan'd in Thunder, and did weep in Shower

Which did continue fiercely many hours:

Nor do I wonder that God thundered so

When two such worthy Martyrs bled below;

And since the Heav'ns seem so apparently

To justifie their Cause, why may not I?

But stay! no more of these, for I espy

Another Hero just before mine Eye;

Condemn'd a Prisoner ever to remain,

Who lay as dead, but now's reviv'd again:

Brave Johnson, who can't be omitted here,

A…ious Church-man, valiant and sincere:

p. 41A Man of Parts and Learning; a Divine

Who sought his Countreys good as well as mine.

Ah! was he whipt? Must he too be a Taster

Of the sharp Rod like to his Blessed Master?

In vain would envious Clouds his Fame obscure,

Reproach to him doth still more praise procure.

His Lord and Master too, was scourged sore

For bearing Witness to the Truth before;

Why then do virulent Tongues attempt to stain

The solid Glory which his Soul did gain.

But yet 'tis strange the Mother should consent

Her Sons should suffer such sad punishment.

Wounds from a Friend strike deep; but when from Foes

We dis-regard, slight, and contemn their blows.

And since few others move in the defence

Of wounded Honour, and wrong'd Innocence;

I for the kindness which to thee I bear,

At thy sad Sufferings must drop a tear.

Had all come from a treacherous Enemy

It had not been so great an injury;

But to be wounded i'th' House of thy Friends,

This, this all other cruelty transeends:

And then great Soul! to be degraded too

Was very hard to bear, but that you knew

This oft-times is the way to Dignity,

And Honour doth succeed Humility.

BUT now alas! new griefs do me surround,

Groans from the North my mournful Soul confound,

My Muse must now take wing and swiftly fly,

To have a view of Scotland's misery.

p. 42Be silent and attend; you soon will hear,

Their dismal cries will penetrate your Ear.

The Sufferings of my Children here were bad,

But in that Nation they were far more sad;

No place more like to France man ever saw,

Where Arbitrary Power stood for Law.

Men of all Ranks were seized, and did lye

In noisome Jayls, yet knew no reason why;

And to insnare them, swarms of cursed Spies

Abroad are sent under a false disguise,

Who strove t' incense them to dislike, and hate

The King, and all his Ministers of State:

And to extort some words from them, that so

They thereby might unwary Souls o'rethrow.

If they found any pious, just and good,

Then many snares were laid to suck their Blood,

By those vile Emissaries, who were sent

On purpose to intrap the Innocent,

Suborned Witnesses imployed were,

Who for their wages any thing would Swear,

Wh…eby M…s Lives, Estates and Honours too

Are all indangered; were they High or Low.

The Chiefest Peers, and Worthiest Patriots

Had many … the most unhappy Lots;

Unless they'd be Debaucht, down they must go,

And suffer as the meanest Rebels do.

I… to Gods Laws Men faithfully do stand,

And won't be Subject to the Kings command;

Refusing what their Conscience offends

Th' are judg'd, To Caesar then to be no Friends.

p. 43Some Men they try'd, and on that very day

Condemned, and their Lives were ta'ne away.

No Pray'rs nor Intercessions will they hear

A little time to grant them, to prepare

For Death; nay, they did impiously say,

Hell was too good for Rebels, such as they.

Yea, they made Law… the thoughts of men to reach,

Whom o… ill words or deeds none could impeach.

If of the Government they evil think,

They of Deaths bitter Cup are sure to drink.

Sometimes they wheedl'd them to a Confession,

Promising Life upon the same condition.

Come, come (say they) freely to us declare

What your conceptions of the Government are,

Speak what you think; sure you are not afraid,

Nor will disown what you so lately said?

Dissemble not in matters of your Faith,

Since you remember what the Scripture saith,

That they who won't confess Christ Jesus here,

He will not own them when he does appear.

Subscribe to your Profession; you shall see

How very kind and merciful we'l be.

Speak man! and let's your Testimony have,

If you will both your Soul and Body save.

Thus do they mock them with Expostulations,

As Priests and Jesuits do in Popish Nations:

But all the time they hide their cruel hate,

While thus they craftily expostulate.

For in the Council Men concealed stood

To witness what they said, and shed their Blood;

p. 44And thus with them they dealt most treacherously,

And many of their Lives depriv'd thereby.

And when they came to dye they beat a Drum,

Lest to the light their wickedness should come.

A very bad Cause sure, that could not bear

The dying words of those that Sufferers were;

But those that wary are, and won't accuse

Themselves of ought, they barbarously use

With 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.

p. 45Thus 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:

p. 46Yea 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;

VVhichWhich 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.

p. 47Thy Noble Patriots mourn, thy Priests are sad;

Thy Kirk has lost that Glory which she had.

'Tis 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.

p. 48I 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.

p. 49Sion'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 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▪

p. 50'The sweeping Plague (that Messenger of wrath)

'In such as scap'd sm…ll Reformation hath

'Produc'd! nor has the desolating Fire

'(A perfect token of Gods flaming Ire,)

'Burnt up the Cities Pride; 'twas 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.

p. 51A 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.

p. 52Judgments 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,

'Tis 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:

p. 53Dread 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?

p. 54'Tis 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 S…n to please an Enemy, that strives

To damn their Souls, and rob them of their Lives.

God in his Sacred **Lev. 20▪ 10.Lev 20:10Ordinances hath

Appointed such to an immediate Death.

VVould m…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;

p. 55Which 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.

No Fools like them; though branded still they shew

The marks of folly, wheresoe're they go.

O how th' unclean and brutish man exceeds

In erior Sinners in reproachful deeds!

My grievances are many, and my fear

Is more than my distressed Soul can bear:

My panting Breast and akeing Heart is sad,

To think of what I further have to add.

p. 56A Complaint against Atheism.

BUT O amazing Master-piece of wonder!

That's like to rend my very Heart asunder,

When I consider that an Age of Light

Produces Monsters blacker than the Night:

A cursed Tribe of wretched Atheists dare

Without all dread and reverential fear,

Strike at the Essence of the Great Jehove,

And all the Glories that reside Above,

As if meer fancies of a cloudy Brain,

And all Religion an Intrigue of Man:

That dare pronounce all Evangelick Law.

A trick of State to keep the World in awe,

Creating Idols in their Brains; that even

Make mocks of Hell, and a meer scorn of Heaven.

But can such fancies challenge an abode

Within your Heart to dis-believe a God?

On th' Universal Fabrick cast an Eye,

The Sea, the Earth, and the expanded Sky:

Can so sublime illustrious an Effect

Be form'd without a Glorious Architect?

If Reason be your Rule, true Logicks Laws

Pronounce Effects resulting from a Cause,

Whose order leads us to Infinity,

Sure Arguments of a Divinity.

Created things must a Creator have;

And that Begetter who first Being gave

p. 57Unto all Essences can't be Begot;

He's therefore God, and other else is not.

This causa prima, without time or date,

We do believe could not himself Create,

And therefore hence we do conclude that he

Must have his Essence from Eternity.

Who can make Phoebus his swift course reverse?

Or Ballance in his Palm the Universe?

Who can the Ocean in a Sieve confine?

If none can do't then none can God define.

First Principles are beyond definition;

No Logick reaches at so high a Vision:

'Tis unreveal'd to Reason, for no strain

Of lofty Metaphysicks can contain

Those Mysteries; true Wisdom therefore hath

Commanded Reason to give room to Faith.

If what we see had not a first Creator,

Then 'tis its own immediate Operator;

If so, it Acts before it had a Being:

But such conclusions are too dis-agreeing

With Reasons Maxims: For all things that be,

May say they are their own Divinity,

If each can make it self, and that which can

Create it self, can so it self sustain

In infinitum, and will ne're dissolve

It self; for Natures principal Resolve

Is, that no Essence will forbear to be,

If it can keep up its own Entity.

This strain of Atheistick Sophistry

Makes all of equal Independancy

p. 58Without Subordination: 'Tis a Theme,

Without inferior, making all Supreme.

First CAUSE supposes time, and time supposes

Some second Acts which after-time discloses.

So view their Series, you may trace them all

(As links in Chains) to their Original

The Great JEHOVAH; whose unfathom'd Glory

Is Emblem'd in the Universe before ye.

There is a thing in Man call'd CONSCIENCE,

Which of his Actions gives clear Evidence,

Whether he likes or not that's ready still

To check the course of his disorder'd will:

It is Eccentrick to his sensual part,

Arraigns his words, his deeds, his very heart;

And if it finds they be irregular,

It does pursue them with continual War.

What can this just, this inward witness be,

But some bright Beam of a Divinity?

In former times was not Jehovah known

By Miracles which visibly were shown?

Can Reason brag that Causes natural

Could raise the dead? or that a Word can call

An Intomb'd Carcase to behold the Light?

Make sound a Cripple? give the Blind their sight?

If not, then surely it will follow hence,

That 'tis an Act of some Omnipotence:

That such were done we have the common Vote

Of Pagans, Jews, and all the Men of Note,

Whose Works are Extant, whom we may believe,

Because they had no int'rest to deceive.

p. 59Whence come those Judgments which you daily hear,

Of wrath and vengeance darted every where

Against Prophaners of that Sacred Name?

Whence come those Arrows, that consuming Flame

Which terrifies the World? and whence the Breath

That strikes Blasphemers with a sudden Death?

Which of these rare Philosophers can show

What makes the spacious deep to Ebb and Flow?

Let them produce their Maxims, if they can,

How scatter'd Atoms can compose a Man?

VVho brandishes those blazing Signs of wonder?

VVho frights the Earth with rapid peals of Thunder?

VVho did defeat the fatal Enterprize

VVhichWhich Rome by Devils Council did devise?

VVho sets the Comets in the angry Sky,

Those dismal Harbingers of misery?

God does himself by many ways make known,

Fore-warning men of what's a coming on:

Yet senseless Mortals faulter more and more,

Though hovering vengeance threaten at the door,

Deceit, Soul-killing-Errors, Perjury,

Injustice, Murder, Theft, Hypocrisie,

Do so abound through our enlightned Isle,

That Sodom hardly e're appear'd more vile.

A Complaint against Hypocrites.

I am not only Persecuted by

My open Foes, but lurking Snakes do lye

p. 60VVithin my Bosom, using all their Art

To seize my Vitals, and corrode my Heart.

Such seeming Friends, such Traytors in disguise,

Are more malignant than known Enemies:

For the Attaques of these, a man may VVard;

Those unsuspected, stand within our Guard.

How many seem to reverence my name,

For worldly Ends, or to avoid the shame

Of Irreligion? frequently they go

To worship God, and so devout do show

As if meer Saints; but Hypocrites in grain,

Do all the while Intelligence maintain,

VVith my declared Foes, who proudly join,

And all their Politicks in one combine,

To root my name from off the very Earth,

And make provision that no more get Birth;

Betray'd by middle and by low degrees,

But most of all by Capital Grandees.

Such as my peace and safety should procure,

Contribute most to make me unsecure:

Such seem their purpose by soft words to smother;

So Boatsmen look one way, but row another.

Such perjur'd Statesmen have the Art to smile

Upon my Face, but cut my Throat the while.

But grant, dread Soveraign of the Universe,

That whilst I weep my grievances in Verse,

Thy Sion's interest may not be betray'd

To Rome, by Protestants in Masquerade.

O let me hear the joyful Trumpet sounded,

That does proclaim their Babylon confounded▪;

p. 61Rome's black Militia is all up in Arms,

Annoying Europe in unusual swarms.

This critick moment they expect and hope,

To thrust Me out, and introduce a Pope

To plague this Noble Nation, that has been

A VVall, a Fort, a Counterscarp between

Their bawling Canons most impetuous shots,

And Forreign States, that countermines their Plots.

The desp'rate Archers are aware of this,

They know that England the chief Bulwark is,

To check their growth: If they could make it sup

Th' invenom'd dregs of th' Antichristian Cup,

They judge it easie to subdue the rest

Of my European Gospel-interest.

But Oh! my melting, Soul-tormenting fears

Burst into sighs, and bubble into tears.

Observe the Heavens! view that 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, 'tis a time to weep;

'Tis 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

p. 62Now 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:

p. 63That 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;

p. 64For 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,

…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.

p. 66VVhose 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 Englis… 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?

p. 67Why 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 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'…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 fo… the world, then for some faint devotion:

Some …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:

p. 68From 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.

p. 69…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.

p. 70Some 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?

p. 71When 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;

…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

p. 72Base 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.

p. 73…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

…o sum their Shop-books, but neglect the He art;

…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,

…rofusely squandering the day of Grace?

Many like Drones on others toyl do live,

Though 'tis 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.

'Tis that which carries our desires to God,

And comes down fraighted with a blessed load

Of sweet returns; yet 'tis much disrespected,

And Closet Prayer too too much neglected.

p. 74Scriptures 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 'twere 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.

p. 75Why 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

p. 76In 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.

p. 78Your 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 a warm debate.

VVho loses Error, truly gains the field,

And he is Victor, that to truth does yield;

VVhere e're you find it, though in mean aray,

Subscribe and win the glory of the day.

O: what's the world, but Shackles to the mind

VVhat's Reputation, but a fleeting▪ wind.

VVhy should those bawbles which the Lord abhors

Become the Sacred Truths Competitors?

Away with all such rubs let truth take place

And then the Springs of Everlasting grace

VVill drop down blessings, Unity, increase

Among my Children as the Fruits of peace.

Sion's Children.

Our common danger, and the Real sence,

Which we have got by dear experience

p. 79Of those advantages our cruel Foe

Gets by our Factions, will unite us so,

As that our Enemies shall ne'er prevail

To break our League, or make our courage fail.

But speak (Dear Mother,) has some new affright

So discompos'd you, that you fear our Light

Is near Extinction? Tell your Sons, we pray;

What are the Symptoms of th' expiring day.

Why do you Judge, that Englands day of grace

Draws to an Evening, and declines apace?

Shew some prognosticks of that dismal night,

That threatens to succeed our Gospel Light.

Sion.

When Sol once touches our Meridian Line,

It straight descends, does by degrees decline;

Its heat grows less, its dis-appearing Light

Yields to the Sable of approaching night:

Just so the Gospel in its Altitude,

Once shot such beams, that in this Isle ensu'd

So great conversion, that those former days

Did feel its blest and universal Rays.

A general heat did warm this happy Nation,

From its benign and powerful operation

But now it falls and from our Horizon

Its vigorous influence is almost gone.

Thousands of Sermons lately have been preacht,

But very few (if any) sinners reacht.

How ineffectual is the quickening word!

It shines, but warms not, 'tis but like a Sword

p. 80That's fair to sight, but has not Edge at all,

Few prick'd at heart, and scarce do any fall

At Jesus feet; Or have a sense of sin,

Confessing how Rebellious they have been!

It is a dismal and apparent sign

That night comes on, when Phoebus does decline,

When heat and fervour fail, our hemisphere

Will quickly see its glory disappear.

The ev'ning of the nat'ral day is come

When harvest-work-men are repairing home:

So when quick Summons of Omnipotence,

Removes the Dressers of his Vineyard hence,

We may conclude the Gospel-morning past,

Because Gods Servants disappear so fast.

Can I when Gap-defenders fall asleep,

But (like old Israel) for my Prophets weep?

How can the naked and unguarded Flock,

Against devouring Wolves sustain the shock,

When of the Shepherds it is thus bereft,

When scarce a Moses or a Joshua's left

How many active Guides, most dearly lov'd

By me, have been, in little time remov'd,

Scarce can I dry mine Eyes for loss of one,

But news arrives of many others gone:

Ah if my head were waters, and each Eye

A well of tears, I could distil 'em dry;

Bright Lamps extinguish't! and no other Lights

Appear to chase the horrour of our nights!

Shook by concussions of my Foes, I stand

Whilst few are rais'd to hold my trembling hand,

p. 81If thus my Horsemen and Commanders dye

What will become of the poor Infantry?

Who can support the burden of the day,

When such brave Hero's daily drop away?

Is summer past, or is the harvest done?

That such Presages of a Storm come on!

Sure God (as Monarchs do) intendeth Wars,

When he recals his choice Embassadors.

Ah too Licentious world! Come look about,

Before the Lord the bloudy Flag puts out,

When God, from Sodom righteous Lot did call,

Sulphurious flashes did consume them all.

Another ground of my prevailing fear,

That England's black Catastrophe is near,

Is that, as in the closure of the day,

The Evening-wolves do range abroad to prey.

So Romish Beasts in monstrous swarms do peep

From their black Caverns to destroy my Sheep:

Such hate the tell tale-Light, and therefore hide

Themselves in Dens, until the Ev'ning tide

Their cursed products are resolves of night,

Like silent Curs, that in the dark do bite.

Another Symptom of the days declension,

Is when the Shadows do increase dimension.

So when I look about I plainly see

Our Ev'ning Shadows very long to be;

In humane bodies when the head grows hoary,

It notes decay of vigor, strength, and glory,

Gray hairs are thick upon our Ephraims head

His Strength decays, his Face is withered,

p. 82When Joynts grow palsi'd, and the blood's congeal'd,

Into a J…lly, can the man be heal'd?

When limbs grow Stiff, and feeble Age does plow

Its wrinkled furrows on the Patients brow,

When heat gives place to a benumming cold,

When doting fancy cares not to be told

Of its approaches to a certain Grave,

When it rejects the Physick that would save;

The case is desperate, for the Patient's just

Upon the point to be intomb'd in dust:

Even so (Alas!) This gasping Nation lies

Under the pressure of sad Maladies!

'Tis sick at heart yet seems averse to take

That Sacred Physick whose Ingredients make

Diseases vanish, and would ward the blow

Which will I fear produce its overthrow:

Ah! must our glory, (like a brittle Glass

Reduc'd to fractions) into Atomes pass

So Rude a Chaos! An unform'd confusion

Threatning the whole with utter dissolution.

Once happy Isle, I grieve at thy condition

Where's thy Repentance? Where is thy contrition?

Thou hast been counted our Emanuel's Land

The Gospel seems on Tip-toe now to stand

To bid thee farewel: Must thy Sun so soon

Be set! before it did approach to noon!

Must that illustrious Morning-light be gone

That spread its beams through all our Horizon!

Must wretched Malice and prodigious Lust

Must bare-fac'd pride, and impudent distrust▪;

p. 83Rob thee of this inestimable Jewel?

How canst thou be so pittyless, so cruel

Unto thy self? Sin is the flaming dart

That cuts thy Veins, and Wounds thy very heart,

Can Sion chuse but send out mournful cries

And weep thy downfal in sad Elegies?

Within thy bounds my tabernacles were

Built up, and I did long inhabit here

Thy Gospel-glory, and Renown's gone forth

Into all parts and▪ corners of the Earth,

Thou maist be Justly stil'd the place of Vision

(Though made by foes an Object of derision)

The Joy of Saints, the Protestants delight,

The Mark and Butt of Antichristian spite.

But if the Crown be ravish't from thy head,

And Romish Clouds thy Lustre overspread,

VVhat heart's so brawny but my doleful cry

Must move to pity? VVhat relentless Eye

Can see thy fall and not dissolve to drops?

Oh fleeting Joys; Oh disappearing hopes!

Oh hastning horrour, Oh invading fears!

Had I a sea of never empty'd tears,

My boundless, helpless grief wide open sets

The Sluces for its Streaming Rivulets

The very Air, drest in prodigious Forms,

Must groan in Thunder, and must weep in Storms;

Nature of strong convulsions sickned is,

To see this horrid Metamorphosis:

VVhere Gospel Pastors did some Millions feed

Must Blind and Sottish ignorance succeed?

p. 84Must all their throats be cut that won't adore

The hateful carcass of a filthy Whore?

Must all that execrate Romes Superstition,

Be Murder'd by a bloudy Inquisition?

Must such as won't to Idols bow, be broke?

Must flaming Smithfield belch out Fire and Smoke

Of Martyr'd Saints? Must all that will not turn,

VVith Bibles and good Books together burn?

Must Monkish Tories, meer incarnate Devils

Possess our Land, and pester it with Evils

Of such an odious and abhorred grain,

That but to name 'em is a lasting stain?

Must our Renowned Ministers give place

To Romish Block-heads? Oh the vile disgrace

Of such a change? Must an adulterous Priest

Belch our his Mass, where they have preached Christ.

Must that absur'd and irreligious Tribe,

VVho fetter conscience, and regard a bribe

Beyond their Souls, be leaders to our Flocks

Must Paultry non-sence, and those Apish Mocks

Miscall'd devotion, fill the house of prayer?

Must Pestilence infect our purer Air?

Must Sodom be translated to our Isle,

And filthy Priests our chastity defile?

Must Satans factors in a humane Shape

On modest Virgins perpetrate a Rape?

Must all our painful Ministers be driven

To Fiery Stakes, if they renounce not heaven?

Must our dear Infants lose their harmless lives

In flaming Faggots, or with Popish Knives?

p. 85Must guiltless blood through all our Streets rebound

A mournful Eccho? Must the horrid sound

Of Axes, Whips, and dreadful Scourges tear

Our aking hearts and pierce the yielding Air?

All this will be, if Rome can but prevail!

Amazement stops my Speech! My Spirits fail!

I only can in interjections cry,

I sink in trances! O I dye, I dye!

Sions Children.

Ah! How can we with any patience bear

This sad Complaint? Ah! How can Children hear

Their Mother delug'd in a Sea of grief,

And not step in to give her some relief?

Chear up, Illustrious Sion, be not cast

Into despair by this impending blast;

Christ is our Captain, and we may be bold.

For in all Storms he is our Anchor hold

But what's that Beast where of thou dost complain

From whence came he? And of what date's his Reign?

Give us his marks, that we thereby may know him,

And then abate his pride, and overthrow him

With Universal, and United force,

Our Armed Legions shall impede his course,

I'th' cause of God who does all Scepters weild

We'l fight his battels, and dispute i'th' Field,

In Martial Syllogisms our Arms shall speak

We'l storm his Walls, and make his Butwarks quake

Revenge and Anger in our bosom burns

Patience too much provoke to fury turns.

p. 86Sion.

See! That's the Beast upon whose back the great

Iaticing Strumpet rides in pomp and State

By him she was supported all along

By his Impostures she was rendred strong

He's not content to be Supream below,

And make all Scepters to his Crozier bow,

But th' Impious wretch is grown so bold that ev'n

He dares affront the Majesty of Heav'n

VVhat God Commands this Antichrist controuls

Condemns the Sav'd, and saves Condemned Souls.

Himself he places in jehovahs Throne,

As Principal, and Second unto none;

A brace of Keys he carries in his hand

To shut and open at his own Command;

He curses and absolves; He binds, releases,

Puts down, advances, whom so e're he pleases

This is th' Apocalyptick Beast that claims

Sublimest Titles, and Blasphemous names,

VVith matchless Pride, and monstrous Impudence,

He does for money with Gods Laws dispence;

Yea, such is his unheard of avarice,

Upon the worst of crimes he set a price.

Sion's Children.

These Marks are so notorious that we can

Clearly discern the Pope of Rome's the Man,

This raging Monster▪ and this Beast of prey;

Shall we arise, and take his strength away,

p. 87That hath so long time tyrannized thus

With Hellish fury over thee and us?

Self preservation is by every creature

Esteemed a Sacred Principle in Nature;

Each Free-born Soul must at those Tyrants spurn

That would infect their Souls; Their bodies burn

Why should this Beast still rage and domineer

As he hath done without controul or fear.

Sion.

Gods time is best, and in due season he

Will bring this Beast to his Catastrophe.

He sits in Heav'n, and there beholds with scorn

This Rebels Pride; His glorious Son that's born

Heir of the World, and Prince of Kingdoms too,

Shall surely reign because it is his due

For all to him the Soveraign Rule must yield;

His is the Crown; He shall the Scepter weild;

To Jesus all shall bow; He shall be King,

And to poor Sion shall Redemption bring.

Forty two months unto this Beast is given

So long shall he tread down the Host of Heav'n;

And now I hope the end thereof draws nigh,

And that some will be spirited from on high,

Who in the Great Jehovahs name shall sound

Such an Alarm as shall his power confound.

Another Enemy, his Confederate

There is likewise, that my forlorn Estate

Hath much occasion'd, and of whom before

I made complaint; The proud insulting Whore,

p. 88Who with lascivious looks and wanton eyes

Incites to Lust and all Debaucheries.

By her provoking and bewitching charms

Grandees she doth intice into her arms,

Corrupting Princes by her incantations,

And ruining the Nobles of the Nations.

Great God! Assist me, lest my Spirits fail,

That I the State of Monarchs may bewail,

Who to her Yoke yield their Illustrious necks

And move like Vassals at her haughty becks;

Ah! they that should my nursing Fathers be

Are Executioners of her Cruelty,

And by her influence the Civil Power

Is made a dreadful Engine to devour

The Saints of God, and kick at their Creator,

But let them know the Soveraign Arbitrator

Of all their destinies, is Great and Just,

And can at pleasure crumble them to dust

Thus hath she made the Greatest Kings and Peers

Submit to her Dominion many years,

Exhaust their treasures, ruinate their fame,

And at the last gain nought but loss and shame;

For by ingaging in her Hellish Plots

They to their names have gain'd Eternal Blots;

Nay of their Kingdoms some depriv'd have been

As it in divers Nations has been seen;

Impudent Strumpet! Whose curst wiles defile

Mens Consciences, and do their Souls beguile

And when involved in the deepest guilt

She then pretends to wash away the filth

p. 89By impious Pardons; Yea to such a height

Of folly does bewitch them, that the sight

Of Death approaching won't make them confess

Apparent guilt and horrid wickedness;

And by her Arts, when they are parting hence

Their Fronts Steels with such hardned impudence

That though brought to a most deserved death,

With lies and falshoods they resign their breath,

Her Agents buzzing in their doubting ears

False hopes, whereby they may forget their fears,

Who like ill Angels round about them hover,

Doubting they should their Villanies discover.

VVhen some are stretcht upon the fatal block,

And Justice ready to discharge the stroke,

Such is the strength of her inebriation,

That they, (Oh! horrible) on their Salvation

Protest they're innocent, when all the while

No Treason ever did appear more vile

Than that for which Impartial Justice them

To a just death as Traytors did condemn;

For Rome, by downright impudence ev'n would

Outface the Sun, and baffle if she could

The clearest proofs, and Solid'st evidence

Produc'd by Heavens unerring Providence.

Ah cruel Mistriss of deluded Souls!

That's not content to make them arrant fools,

To lose Estates and Lives, but must thereby

Make them stab conscience when they come to dye

She to incourage Treasons does prefer

Those Traytors Martyrs in her Calender

But will this recompence the loss of Thrones,

Or ease the Soul in hell of its sad groans.

Sions Children.

Shall we (indangered by her Plots) arise,

And curb this Harlot who our God defies?

Why should her Treasons any more annoy

Thy precious Saints, and Nations thus destroy?

Let's make her drink of that invenom'd Cup

She fiill'd for us; Shall she not drink it up?

Will none fall on, provoked by just ire

To eat her flesh, and burn her in the Fire?

Sion.

Dear Children! as to what you have requir'd,

At present you must keep your selves retir'd,

Make no attempts until God from on high

Affords you strength this Babel to defie;

At present you are ev'n like Persons dead

And seem unable to erect your head,

But then you shall appear to be alive,

Gods Spirit shall your fainting Souls revive,

VVho to the fixed time will be exact

VVhen he'l begin this strange and dreadful Act,

To the confusion of your Enemies,

Then God will cause his Witnesses to rise,

And you will have a clear and gracious Call

To join with those that on the Whore shall fall.

p. 91Sion's Friend.

These lines were writ eight years ago or more

In the book which I mentioned before

We then had hopes of what was drawing near;

But stay my Muse! To Sion lend an Ear,

To what she at that time was heard to say

About the Dispensations of that day.

Sion.

VVith patience (Children) wait upon the Lord,

Until his saving Strength he does afford;

To him you all must make your Supplication,

For from him only is my expectation.

Oh! sigh with me, and in your Spirits groan,

Send up strong cries to the Almighties Throne,

Give him no rest until those happy days

I shall exalted be, and made the praise

Of all the Earth; And I will likewise cry

And mount my voice to Him who sits on High.

The Churches Prayer.

O Lord of Hosts consider my Estate,

Let me remain no longer desolate.

Have I not been most precious in thy sight?

Lord therefore do not my Petition slight.

But let thy bowels to thy Children move,

In token of parental, tender love;

Shall Sion totter, and the Beast be steady

In his proud Seat? Hast thou not seen already

p. 92VVhat they have done, who evil good do call,

From whom we can expect no good at all;

VVill they make Judgment i'th' right Channel go

Ex…irpate vice? make righteousness to flow

Like mighty Streams; VVill they a blessing be?

To me or mine who haters are of thee?

Can men of thorns expect sweet grapes to find?

VVill ravenous VVolves to innocent Lambs be kind

VVill such as have thy Childrens blood let out,

Striving to bring their black designs about,

And with mine Enemies daily still combine

To root out and destroy both me and mine;

VVill these be now chief Friends and me relieve?

Sure none but mad men would such things believe.

If Thanks and Praises will on Earth be giv'n

If Hallelujahs will be sung in Heav'n

To thy great name for rasing Babylon.

If placing of a Papist on the Throne

Be for our good, by opening a door

For mens Salvation readier than before;

If the access of sinners easier be

In their approaches (Blessed God) to thee,

By Romanists having the Soveraignty,

Oh! then exalt them; Let all others fall

And Rome usurp Dominion over all.

But if in thy just and all seeing Eye,

Their monstrous crimes are of a crimson dye;

If they from their Original have been

The vilest wretches and the worst of men;

p. 93If for the future they intend to be

The Perpetrators of all Villany;

If their dark Heathenish Idolatry

Pride, horrid murthers and base Perjury

Mount up to Heavens High Imperial Throne;

If their Oppressions make thy Churches gone,

If they will burn the Scriptures, and suppress

All Books that treat of Gospel Holiness;

If guiltless Souls without respect to age

Or Sex, must be the objects of their rage;

If they are Enemies to thy Covenants,

If they would trample under foot thy Saints,

If 'cause thou dost not seem to hear, and save

Thy Sion, or to grant what she doth crave,

They Scoff at, and deride thy glorious name,

And put thy Faithful ones to open shame:

Then hear, O Lord? Thou see'st my power's gone:

In thee I trust; Besides thee there is noneDeut. 32. 36.Deut 32:36

That can thy Church from her Stern Foes deliver.

Oh draw thy flaming Arrows from thy Quiver,

To quell the Pride of this Insulting Crew;

Thy mighty Arm alone can them subdue:

On thee I have my absolute reliance;

Do thou assist, I'le bid them all defiance:

Hear, O my God, and for thy mercy Sake,

On Gasping Sion some compassion take;

I have been Ransom'd by the precious bloud

Of thy Dear Son, and fed with heavenly food;

Thy Churches sins O pardon and forgive

And in sweet concord let thy Children live

p. 94Teach them true saving knowledge from thy Word,

That they may worship thee with one accord;

My breach thou canst repair, and cure my wound,

Nothing too difficult for thee is found:

Thou knowest my grief (O Lord) incline thine ear,

Revive my hope, and chace away my fear,

In Achors Valley open thou a door,

Make me rejoyce as I did heretofore;

I pray thee, break my bonds, ease my distress,

Bring me out of this dolesom wilderness,

Oh let me Shine like Sols illustrious light,

Make me an Army terrible in fight;

Rend off that Vail which does thy Sion cover,

Scatter the Clouds, whereby I may discover

What thou designest by this thy Dispensation

And what my work is in this generation.

'Tis time for thee to plead thy righteous cause

When wicked men make void thy righteous Laws,

Thou canst cause them to drink of their own cup,

And loftiest Cedars by the roots pluck up.

But Lord, remember Sion, spare thy Vine,

That spreading Plant which thou hast chose for thine,

Make that to flourish, and be ever green,

And full of Clusters as before 't has been

From Egypt thou hast brought it heretofore;

O God, I pray, bring it out thence once more,

Let thy hand plant, and water so the Root,

That all the Land may feast upon the fruit;

O let its cordial juice the Nation fill,

And let its boughs o're shadow every Hill,

p. 95From Sea to Sea do thou her branches send,

From all her Enemies always her defend:

Preserve her Fence, be unto her a Wall,

And keep her from the violence of all

Wild Beasts, and from that Boars malicious power,

That would destroy her, and her fruit devour.

Lord from on high thy Lovely Vine behold,

'Tis thine own Plant, of greater price than Gold;

Canst thou deny her thy assistance, while

These Ravenous Creatures do thy Vineyard spoil?

Take notice how her bulwarks are thrown down,

And more heart-breaking evils coming on;

Breach upon breach, Alas! I daily see,

And doubtless I shall quickly ruin'd be,

Unless by some unknown and Glorious hand,

Thou speedily dost save me, and the Land.

I am Christ's Spouse: His undefiled one;

Wilt thou permit me to be trod upon?

'Tis by thy grace I am intit'led so,

Great God! relieve me and divert my wo;

Who am surrounded every way with grief,

Oh let thy lovely smiles bring me relief;

Thou hast withdraw the beamings of thy grace,

And wrapt in Clouds the Splendor of thy face,

Which has upon me brought such anxious smart,

As tears my Soul, and makes my very heart:

Drop tears of blood: For if the glorious Sun

Of Righteousness be hid, where shall I run,

For joy or comfort in this dismal hour,

Who only to bemoan my self have power?

p. 97More she had spoke, but that her Passion ties

Her mournful Tongue; The Floodgates of her eyes,

In Chrystal Streams, do represent such anguish,

As makes her vital op…rations languish

Sunk in despairing Swouns, she scarce appears

To breathe or live, but by her Sighs and Tears.

Sion's Children.

Mourn, Mourn, Oh Heavens! And thou Oh earth bewail,

Weep ye blest Saints, until your Spirits fail,

For she that is the glory of the Earth,

Of the most Noble and Illustrious birth,

Lies sadly groaning in a deep despair

Whose grievous sorrows no tongue can declare

Oh! that our brethren would but hasten hither,

That in Gods fear we might confer together.

Sure you must grieve when her complaints you hear

You cannot certainly but shed a tear;

Do not your Eyes ev'n like a Fountain stream,

And all your joys turn to a mourning Theme?

Does not your nightly rest from you depart?

Are you not pierced to the very heart,

And fall'n into the depth of bitterness,

Because of Sions Trouble and distress?

How can our hearts delight in things below?

How can we rest secure, as sinners do?

How can we comfort take, or pleasure find,

Or how can we the Worlds concernments mind?

Or with Terrene enjoyments be content,

And not poor Sions miseries lament?

p. 96… can we hear our Mothers doleful cries?

… Sighs, she Sobs, she Languishes, she lies

… dreadful Agonies, in bitter pain,

… can we bear her Enemies disdain?

… wickedly reproach her every day,

And like a broken pot she's thrown away,

Despis'd and trod upon ev'n like the dung

The Drunkard on her makes his daily Song

But Christ will come, and look on her sad State,

End with poor Sion he'l Expostulate.

'Why art thou sometimes high, then low again

'Sometimes at ease and then in bitter pain?

'Doubtless th' are Throwes; Chear up and do not fear,

'For thy deliverance is very near;

'These labouring pangs will speedily be o're,

'Take heart, thou shall not die; One or two more

'Will bring that Child into the World which thou

'Hast travell'd with in bitter pangs till now;

'Address thy self to God, for surely he

'From these thy tortures will deliver thee;

''Tis he alone that brings unto the birth,

'And giveth strength and vigor to bring forth;

'Then stay thy self upon th' Almighty Lord,

'His gracious help he to thee will afford

'Upon his promises do thou depend

'And thou shalt see deliverance in the end.

These words of Comfort, like a Cordial wrought

And to her sences, mourning Sion brought,

With fainting looks, and with a weeping Eye

Unto her Children she renews her cry.

p. 98Sion.

How am I spoil'd? How do I sit forlorn?

How long wil't be e're I shall cease to mourn?

I'm like a Ship by raging Tempests tost

'Midst Rocks and Sands, just ready to be lost.

Where every billow do's present a grave,

And Death in Triumph rides on every Wave.

But yet, I am ingraven on his hand,

And in his sight for ever I do stand.

Awake, O arm of God! Oh come away!

My woes are very great! Ah do not Stay!

Hear me, Dear Jesus; unto thee I cry,

Unless thou save me I must surely dye;

Christ.

In Glorious Regions of approachless Light,

VVhere Joys unmixt with perfect Love unite;

There do I sit; There do I see and hear

VVhat Kings and Potentates consulting are;

But in mine Ears methinks I hear the cry

Of some distressed Soul in misery;

My Bowels in me with compassion move,

Oh!—'tis the voice of her I dearly love;

She whom I purchast with my dearest blood,

Seems drencht, yea drown'd in tears, as in a Floud;

Some mighty Sorrow sure, and Tribulation,

Extorts from her this doleful Lamentation,

Enough to pierce my tender heart again,

And make the Temple once more rend in twain

p. 99Alas, poor Sion, thy Complaints I hear,

And I will rescue thee; Oh do not fear,

I know thy sorrows, and I hear thy cries,

And from what apprehensions they arise:

Know! I can still the blustring Winds and Seas,

And in the greatest anguish can give case;

I can both wound and cure; Build up and break▪

I kill, I make alive, I give, I take!

The Greatest Monarchs I can soon pull down,

I can make void, and then fill up the Throne;

VVhen I think fit, I make the Nations shake,

And haughty Princes at my presence quake,

Kingdoms to totter, and reel to and fro;

All this and greater things for thee I'll do:

Although thy Foes do thee environ now,

All power and wisdom's mine, and I know how

Thee to support and make them all to bow,

I will arise, and Shew my Soveraignty,

And make them to the Rocks and Mountains fly;

Though with the Powers of Hell they have combin'd,

I will pursue them, and they shall not find

A hiding place my vengeance to avoid,

Till by my fury they are all destroy'd;

I'll soon bring down the most Exalted head,

The Mighty Ones I into dust will tread;

Thy cause I'll plead; Though I have silent stood,

I'll be reveng'd for all the righteous blood

That has run down, ev'n like a mighty Flood;

The day of vengeance shall no longer stay,

VVhat's due to Justice they shall surely pay.

p. 100Besides the cruel wrongs thou dost repeat,

The bloud of former Martyrs does intreat

Me to avenge their cause; I therefore will

Come down in fury and those Monsters kill,

For though I seem'd to have forsaken thee,

Yet from all bondage I will set thee free;

Though I have thee afflicted heretofore,

I'll turn my hand upon the Bloudy Whore

Shortly, her place shall never know her more.

Because thou dost my Holy name profess,

I'll break in peices such as thee oppress;

Arm'd with Commission from the Great Jehove,

I will come down, and all thy griefs remove,

All weapons form'd against my Churches shall

Unprosperous prove, for I will break them all,

All Kingdoms of the Earth shall now be mine,

And thou in beauty like a Queen shalt Shine,

And with thy Children in sweet consort sing,

Triumphant Hallelujahs to your King.

Sion.

Thy voice is to my ravisht Soul so sweet,

I am reviv'd, and set upon my feet;

I'll speak thy Praise in Songs, because I see

That Glory near, which thou hast promis'd me;

And now, Great Babylon, who art my Foe,

My time's at hand, and thou shalt quickly know

My God has not forsaken me, for now

He will advance me, and make thee to bow;

p. 101…hen shalt thou hide for shame thy wretched head,

Whilst I in triumph will upon thee tread?

…cause thou upon me so long hast trod,

… in contempt hast said; Where is that God?

… therefore will rightly retaliate,

…nd bring just vengeance on thy cursed pate,

The Insolent Triumph of the Romish Strumpet over the Protestant Church.

VVHy do these Hereticks so brisk appear,

And their false Church such jollity declare?

…r silly Souls! 'Tis now but Eighty seven,

…nd soon you'll find I with you will be ev'n:

… smile to think how much thou art mistaken,

'Tis I am mounted high; Thou art forsaken;

…ure thou are frantick, and thy senses fail,

To think that over me thou canst prevail,

… final Conquest I shall make o're thee;

…nd swift destruction shall thy portion be.

… all my wounds I now have got a cure,

…nd from your fiery darts I am secure:

…ow am raised to the height of bliss,

…nd all my Glory in its Zenith is,

… am a Queen, and so shall still remain,

…nd as Supream I o're the Earth will reign,

… Pomp and Glory I must govern all,

The Mightiest Monarchs me their Mistriss call.

How can I fall when such a Holy prop

…oes me support as, My Lord God the Pope.

p. 102The Great men of the Earth his Vassals are,

VVho sits in grandeur in St. Peters Chair;

The Glorious Empire of the VVorld he hath,

And he retains the keys of Heaven, and Death;

Think not that he regards the little tricks

Of the weak, ignorant, and damn'd Hereticks,

Alas! He can make use, when e're he please,

Of Peters Sword, as well as Peters Keys.

He'l make his Canons roar louder than Guns,

To ruin those thou call'st, Thy Protestant Son's;

If once his roaring Bulls give the Alarm,

He'l make all Christendom forthwith to arm

Themselves in my defence, who soon will work,

Thy overthrow; Alas! didst thou not lurk,

Hundreds of years in holes where none could see

Or understand what was become of thee?

He that then broke thy feeble force asunder,

Has still sufficient strength to hold thee under,

And in such strict Subjection thee will keep,

That thou e're long shalt not even dare to peep;

Am I not arm'd with the Stupendious power

Of all the Earth? Can't I with ease devour

Thy whole Concernments at one single mess?

Have not Skilful Cooks such meals to dress?

… Imperial and the Royal Sword,

… to be brandish't at my word;

Great Britains King, and Catholick Nobles will

My Interest to promote, use all their Skill,

Oh! happy hour; Oh long desired day,

Great James doth now the Royal Scepter sway;

p. 103Ah! VVhat a night of darkness has been here,

On me and mine, when nothing did appear,

But black despair, until this happy Reign;

And dost thou think e're to prevail again?

Is not the Soveraign Power in my hand?

I'll make thee now submit to my command,

The Sacred Sword is once more giv'n to me,

And all shall now obey the Holy See.

Heav'n has beheld my sorrows, and therefore

In favour, me hath visited once more;

Nor can I now miscarry; For you see,

How wise our King, and's Secret Council be;

VVhat e're you hope, 'tis certain I can't fail,

VVhen over Crowned Heads I thus prevail;

VVhen Reverend Jesuits sit at the Helm,

They'll quickly raise up my Jerusalem.

The former Governments for many years,

Ruin'd the Monarchy, and increast my fears;

The Old Foundations we will raze up quite,

And new ones raise, either by force or right;

Impudent Varlets question Royal pleasure,

Though from the Power Divine he takes his measure;

VVhy may not Gods Vicegerent justly claim,

The same Dominion? And why not aim,

At such an absolute Soveraignty, that none

Shall contradict whatever he'll have done?

If th' People rule, what use is there of Kings,

VVhen Subjects may at pleasure clip their wings?

This with my Doctrine never will agree,

VVhere Will is Law, there's the best Monarchy.

p. 104This is the Government I approve of too,

'Twill strengthen me, and work thy overthrow;

A Parliament shall do what er'e they please,

That so disturbed minds we may appease;

But if they fail; We have already seen,

That none of them for many years have been

Fit to be trusted; And their name I hate,

For they Eclipse the glory of the State;

They make the Crown seem but an Airy thing;

As good be nothing as not Absolute King.

Why may not Kings be as they were of old,

Why should they be in any thing controul'd?

I'le have it here e're long as 'tis in France,

'Tis only that my Glory will advance;

I now perceive what made us lose the Game,

It was our slow proceedings caus'd the same;

Our timorous Spirits; But to my Joy I know,

We now have one who fast enough will go,

Delays are dangerous; The Sword is ours;

By Law declar'd; what need we other powers?

We may be counted Fools indeed, or worse,

If we can't make the Sword command the Purse;

And though the Nation be inslav'd thereby,

Who shall contend with Just Authority?

For Monarchy is so Divine a thing,

None dares gainsay what e're's done by the King.

He surely is accountable to none,

But God alone who set him on the Throne.

Your Protestants will to Providence impute

Their thraldom, and will presently grow mute,

p. 105For they poor pious Fools think the Decree,

Of Heav'n falls on them, though from Hell it be;

And when their Reason is abus'd by it,

Religion then will teach them to submit,

For Non-resistance is a truth so clear,

Your Reverend Church-men preach it every where,

And well they may; Does not the Apostle Paul,

Declare what doom will on Resisters fall?

For all who do resist Authority,

Are doubtless damn'd to all Eternity.

But seeing Tyranny does so odious look

To catch you Hereticks we must hide the hook,

And of your Burdens give you present ease,

That afterward we may do what we please;

For since the Nation is returned back,

Dear Mother Church will never see them lack

Money nor Men, so that they all shall see,

My Purse as open as my arms now be;

Besides Great Sums the Catholicks in France

Have offered my Interest to advance,

Lewis the Great vast Treasures will bestow,

If he thereby can work your overthrow:

The Pope will likewise drein his Treasures dry,

Before he'l lose this opportunity

You to depress and me to set on high;

No Aid from Parliaments we need to crave

Without Demand money enough we have,

And thus the Commons we shall gratify,

By taking off the pressures which did lye

p. 106So heavy on them in the former Reign,

VVhereby we hope their very hearts to gain.

Some others of thy Children we will please,

By giving of their Consciences some ease;

VVe'll give them Conventicle room that they

May let us steal the Englishman away,

And though the greatest part of them I see,

Are crafty Foxes and discover me,

Yet divers of them us do magnify,

Since we declared for their Liberty;

That Declaration hath great Service done,

And many discontented minds has won.

I odious strove to make the former Reign,

That of our Actings they might not complain;

So that they now confess, a Popish King

Is no such dangerous or frightful thing:

VVe manag'd all at such a subtle Rate,

One heretick we made another hate,

And their destruction we contrived so,

That blindfold they might utterly undo,

And ruin one another; Yet not see,

How subtilly things were carryed on by me.

And you'll perceive within a little while,

We only did design you to beguile,

That you might quietly the halter take,

Or else be burnt in Smithfield at the Stake.

I laugh to see some of your Children join

With us, to bring about our blest Design,

These Mighty Statesmen, like unwary Fools,

To serve a present turn become my Tools;

p. 107I knew what they from Penal Laws did fear,

And did foresee how ease would them ensnare.

Look on the Army, and you'll soon espy,

Not mine, but your destruction's drawing nigh;

What though you grin? No matter for your hate,

To rule by Law becomes a Sneaking State;

We value not what e're you prate or say

Regard to you will our Intrigues betray;

When you cant't bite, what hurt will barking do?

Nay in a while we'll spoil your barking too.

My Holy Mass begins now to go down,

Is boldly said in City and in Town,

For even in London, there two Chappels are,

To which without controul all may repair,

And in the middle of that City stand,

With divers more in several Parts o'th' Land.

This, I assure you, fills my Soul with joy,

Nor do I matter though it some annoy.

Since I observe them guarded carefully,

By Protestants now in Authority.

Thou silly Wretch, do I not all command?

Is not the Kingdoms strength all in my hand?

The Sword and Scepter too, even all the power;

Such blessings Heav'n upon my head does shower.

But yet our Claws and Teeth must not appear

Until more firmly all things setled are.

Yea, what doth further to my glory add,

Comes from the joyful news I lately had,

The Turk our Pagan Enemy, is o'recome,

And forc't to fly before all-conquering Rome?

Hungary whose reduction cost so dear,

And who t'oth' Hereticks closely did adhere,

Is now recover'd, and in tears returns,

And for her former deviations mourns:

The Transilvanians likewise, do comply,

And now submit to my authority;

With many other Protestants I could name,

Who in those Countreys my Protection claim.

Ah! What a face of things does now appear,

This is my Jubilee; A glorious year;

England and Scotland both returned are

Unto their Mother, and th' Apostolick Chair

Tho' Ireland still is unto me most Dear;

Yet all are mine; They all themselves submit,

And prostrate lye at Mother Churches feet;

Into my bosom they again are come,

And like the Prodigal are returned home.

What mighty favours are bestow'd on me?

No Widdowhood, nor sorrow shall I see,

Ever hereafter I shall sit as Q…een,

Though almost desolate I have lately been;

We sing Te Deum, and Great Gifts we send

For joy that now thy Power's at an end,

Thou art subdu'd; Thy witnesses are slain,

They never more shall me torment again;

My Children now under their Mothers wings,

Are safe; Which Joy to Holy Father brings;

There's little more for me, or mine to do,

But since we have contriv'd thy overthrow,

That we now root thy name from off the Earth;

And this Design is almost at the birth,

And cannot fail, Vengeance will you or'ethrow,

The Plot is laid so strong and secreet too;

And such great men therein concerned are,

That of success we never need despair,

My Chancellor and Loyal Judges will,

Spare for no Cost, no Pains, no Time, no Skill;

Nay they resolve their very Lives to spend,

Rather than not perform what I intend,

My brisk Monsieurs, and losty Spanish Dons,

Will overmatch thy Weak and Silly Sons;

Of murdering Villains I great numbers have,

As pliable as any Turkish slave,

Who at my beck will with their bloody Knives,

Massacre Fathers, Infants, Virgins, Wives.

Kill any but themselves; I'm sure they'll do't,

And quickly lay them sprawling at my foot;

I've Irish Teagues and Tories still at hand,

To act the greatest mischiefs I command;

Bold hardned Miscreants who will never start,

If bid to tear out their own Mothers heart.

Faint hearted Rogues may melt with qualms and fears,

At Fathers groans, or Mothers bitter tears,

But mine, as little pitty have, as sence,

And ne're are plagu'd with gripes of Conscience,

Many of these I have in constant pay,

For they can hunt and live upon the Prey;

Thy tender Infants that like Carps were stew'd,

In their own bloud, their Teeth have often chew'd,

p. 110With humane Fat, Candles they made, to light

Them in those horrid Banquets of the night.

Whatever 'tis my greedy Stomach craves,

Let me but nod, 'tis done by these my slaves.

They know no Scruples, Scorning to dispute,

But always act just like a Turkish Mute;

Nor need you wonder they do thus, since I

End…vour to perswade them certainly

That …ey do well, and will gain Heav'n thereby.

For what will Holy Church, advance, is right,

Though ne're so hateful in Jehovahs sight.

Therefore besides those I did now describe,

I have vast numbers of my Sacred Tribe,

My Clergy make a very numerous Host,

And wait but for my Word, in every Coast;

Nay in these Northern, and Heretical Regions,

I have in secret, many armed Legions,

The Priest, the Mon…, the Fryer my Ensign carrie,

The Jesuits are still my Janisaries;

Having such Troops as these to guard my Chair,

Sure it will make your Protestants despair,

That so invincible I now should be!

And that thy God hath quite forsaken thee.

Since he to me discovers so much favour,

My deeds sure to him are a pleasant savour,

Therefore th' Apocaly ptick Prophecy,

You very foolishly to me apply,

Who from pollution, and all Stains am clean;

Thou art that filthy Harlot he doth mean:

p. 111I am his Holy Church, and it is I

Thy threatnings, Thy God, and Thee defy.

BUT what approaches? Hark! methinks I hear,

A dreadful noise! What is it? Ah! I fear,

All is not well; A Lyon seems to Roar,

The Eccho comes too from the Eastern shore;

Dear Children wake! Rouze up and look about,

Guard all the Coasts with speed the Land throughout;

My very heart does tremble, Ah! I quake,

What shall I do! Ah! what course shall I take?

The Lyon of the North; I doubt 'tis he,

That is foretold in ancient Prophecy,

What! in the midst of all my Jollities,

Must I meet with this terrible surprize,

And into such amazement now be thrown,

Just when I thought that all had been my own?

Oh blessed Virgin help! Ah pity show,

Scatter my fears, my enemies overthrow;

St. Patrick, and St. Andrew, George and all,

Unite your strength! Oh now prevent my fall,

Oh haste, make haste, or I am quite undone,

What shall I do? Oh whither shall I run?

Romes Angel Guardian, I do thee invoke,

To save our Church, and to divert this stroke;

You Saints and Martyrs who at Tyburn dy'd,

Pray the blest Virgin to be on our side;

O mighty Neptune, with an angry brow,

Upon my Foes thy utmost vengeance show,

That this proud Pharaoh, whose ambitious mind

To ruin Mother Church hath now design'd,

May ne'r prevail; From landing, oh! him keep,

Let all his hopes be buried in the deep.

Why are the Sea's so calm? will they consent,

Him to preserve, to my sad detriment?

Ah! raise yourboistrous winds and swelling waves,

And in your bowels let them have, their graves,

p. 112Break all their Ships, let them sink down like lead,

And in the raging Seas be buried.

Look out you English Heroes, hoist your Sails,

Cursed be he whose heart or courage fails;

Fight valiantly, and then I need not fear,

That Eighty Eight will be a fatal year.

Ah! heark; He's landed, that's bad news if true,

And in the West. I dread what will insue,

What cursed Star bears Rule? Ah! cruel Fate,

The Sea, and Seamen both now shew their hate,

What! none t' oppose, none that will them withstand?

What! suffer such an Enemy to land?

Are all the Gods asleep on whom I call?

No they have heard me; and on him will fall.

Though he has seap'd the Seas you'l soon perceive,

Vengeance much longer will not let him live.

Chear up my gallant Souldiers; you I trust,

Will never fly; Therefore with speed you must,

Be all in readiness, and do not fear,

But fierce as Lyons, 'gainst your foes appear;

Though he pas pass'd the Seas, yet let yourrage

Declare, he greater dangers must ingage,

In glittering Armor now march bravely on,

Fight but like men, and then the day's our own;

You'll be Invincible, none can you oppose,

For you in Number, Courage, Skill, your Foes,

Do far exceed, I likewise do depend

Much on my Forreign Allies who will lend

Both Money, Men and Council, for the Cause;

Then down go all the Hereticks and their Laws,

Their Houses, Lands, their Gold and Silver too,

We'll Seize, and then distribute them to you.

Hah! What's the matter; What bad news again!

How are things carried pray, at Salisbury Plain

We hear the Enemy is coming on,

With mighty force, and is oppos'd by none,

Our damn'd Heretical Army do declare,

That they to Popery sworn Enemies are;

p. 113Some to our Foes are gone, and more will go,

…av'n pity us; Alas! What shall we do?

…y more then that, the worst is still behind,

…ost of the Greatest Peers with them are join'd.

…e hear they are an hundred thousand strong,

…nd we much doubt they will be here ere long,

…ll things against us now seem to combine,

…s if our ruin all men did design

Such pannick fears our senses do affright,

We neither strength nor courage have to fight,

Such Giants, as we hear, our Enemies are,

Whose Men and Horses both do armour wear

Their frightful whiskers and two handed Swords

No little terror to our men affords,

One of these Brandenburghers sure will be

Able to cut off many such as we.

But silence! Heark! Another Post! What now?

Bad Tydings still?—Alas I scarce know how,

Or what to tell you, but most certainly

Our Army does before the Enemy fly;

All, All is lost, Ah! Where now shall we run?

Shift for your selves, sad times are coming on,

Sure so unfortunate none ever were,

Oh see how th' Hereticks do laugh and jeer!

So great an Army scattered and gone,

Who soon might have a glorious Conquest now!

Had they resolv'd to face the enemy,

We quickly should have got the Victory.

But Stay! Stay! Stay! Here's more ill news I fear,

A Post from Reading I see drawing near,

Well what's done there—Alas the Town is taken,

I doubt that all our Saints have us forsaken:

Some were there slain, and other… put to flight;

The Teagues are kill'd; The Scots refuse to fight,

Nay which is worse, The King this night is gone,

Ah now my heart fails quite! w▪ are all undone:

Alas! must I be tamely forc'd to yield,

Must I thus cowardly forsake the Field,

p. 114Must all my hopes be blasted in a day?

Let Vengeance fall on those, who did betray

The cause I've carryed on from age to age,

With deepest policy, and fiercest rage.

Fly Children for your lives; Oh! search about,

And strive to find some place of refuge out.

A Protestant.

See how they look, and with what dread and fear

These guilty wretches now fly here and there,

To hide their Heads? and skulk in holes alone,

And dare not now themselves for Papists own;

They post away, and hurry to and fro,

To Dover, Portsmouth, and Gravesend they go,

Their Priests and Jesuits are in great despair,

Throw off their Gowns, and run they scarce know where▪

Their Judges too that lately gave their Votes,

So learnedly from their dispensing Throats,

Who, what Rome would have done, durst ne`re deny,

But to all Arbitrary Power did comply,

Are routed now, and forc't in haste to trudge,

Each wishing he had never been a Judge:

The Chancellor, that Mighty Man of sence,

Is nonplust now, how to escape from hence;

That Loyal Soul, that zealous Slave to Rome,

The Wappingers on him pronounce his doom:

He that to them did always malice bear,

By providence, at last was taken there,

Others were seiz'd that strove themselves to save,

Who in short time may their deme…its have.

Great Nassaw, like the rising Sun, appears,

Whose warming influence drys up all our tears,

Marching to London with his Noble train,

Whereby our dying hopes revive again:

But let us hear what Sion now does say,

Who seem'd o'rewhelm'd with grief the other day.

p. 116Sion.

"Ah! I am still perplext; although I stand

"Amaz'd to see these wonders in the Land,

"I know not yet how things with me may go,

"Nor what my gracious God intends to do:

"Whether my Foes are absolutely slain,

"Or whether yet they may not rise again,

"Whether my Children shall have equal share

"Of favour and protection, without fear,

"And whether those who did our Rights betray,

"And for a mess of Pottage, sold away

"Our dear bought Freedoms, shall now trusted be,

"As Conservators of our Libertie.

"Yet let things go as the great God shall please,

"(I must rejoice in this my present ease,)

"Who by his Glorious and Almighty Pow'r

"Sent us relief in a most needful hour,

"Whereby my dreadful and most cruel Foe

"Received an amazing overthrow.

"But yet I find some strugling in my Womb,

"Another Birth I do expect to come,

"That God who hath this gracious work begun,

"Will greater things effect ere he has done,

"I intermissions have, now ease, then pain,

"Sometimes I soar aloft, then down again.

Having thus spoke she bow'd, and with her tears

Bedew'd the parched Earth; when straight appears

A comforter by pittying Heav'n then sent,

To raise her drooping Spirits almost spent,

And his approach unto her having made,

In most obliging terms thus to her said.

"Distressed Church, I fully know thy grief,

"And as thou hast received some relief,

"So God will hear thy sighs and fervent Pray'rs,

"And suddenly will wipe away all tears

"From thy wet Eyes, and all thy griefs expell,

And in sweet peace and safety thou shalt dwell,

p. 117"My Grand Design I've publickly made known,

"Each part whereof in time thou shalt see done,

"Wait but with patience; I, for Englands good,

"Think nought too much; No not my dearest blood

"I equally my favour will extend

"To all whose Faithfulness shall them commend,

"Unto my service; and appear to be

"Lovers of Englands Ancient Liberty.

"All Protestants I jointly will respect,

"And equally my People will protect.

"But yet the best deserving Men I will

"Imploy; and chiefly them incourage still.

"My subjects Hearts I would unite together,

"That nothing might divide them more for ever.

"I none but treacherous Papists will disown,

"Or such as are sowrn Enemies to my Crown.

"To such (they must expect) I shall appear,

"(As Justice leads me to it) most severe.

"The Good and Virtuous I shall always cherish,

"That Truth and Goodness in my reign may flourish.

"My coming was design'd to cover all,

"That Persecution upon none should fall

"In these poor Kingdoms; But that now at last

"Forgetting all the mischiefs which are past,

"Whereby ill men contriv'd, to bring about

"their Plots, and root the true Religion out,

"Not only here, but likewise in each Land,

"Where it establisht is by Christs right hand;

"I now resolve, if God will prosper me,

"All Protestants shall safe and happy be,

"And live in perfect Love and Unity.

Protestant Church.

GReat Sir! your Speeches to your Parliament

Sufficiently discover your intent.

Yea they revive our Souls; neither do we

See cause to doubt of your Integrity.

p. 118But hope that God who such great things hath wrought,

And by your hand this strange Deliverance brought,

Will so endear you to the hearts of all

True Englishmen, especially those that call

Sincerely upon Heaven; That they may cry

With Pray'rs and Tears for you continually,

And never to the Throne of Grace draw near,

But you upon their tender Hearts may bear.

Your last most gracious offer, That you'l ease

Your Subjects of so great a Tax, doth please,

And them obliges to that high degree,

They all will strive who shall most Loyal be.

Your Justice in asserting each mans right,

To worship God according to that Light

He hath receiv'd, will multitudes procure,

To own your Interest, and your Rights secure.

For who will not to Caesars Cause be true,

When Caesar unto God doth give his due?

And the Almighty's Government will maintain,

Who over Conscience is sole Soveraign,

If any do the Civil State disturb,

On such you justly ought to put a curb,

But if like Men, and Christians they do live,

Doubtless just Liberty to them you'l give.

Nor will our Parliament this Right deny,

Whose Protestant zeal, hath rais'd their Fame so high

For you we ought to praise the God of Heaven,

Who by your means such blessings hath us given,

When all our Liberties were near infring'd,

And Englands Fundamental Laws unhing'd,

When all things both in Church and State did run

To ruin; and we judg'd our selves undone,

You under God, have now restor'd our Laws,

And likewise have defended Sions Cause.

The Mighty God (Dread Prince) chose you to be

Our only help in great extremity.

With double blessings may you both be Crown'd,

Who in compassion to us did abound.

p. 119My Children resolve unanimously

With you to stand and fall; To'live and dye:

With hazard of your life their Chains you broke,

And off their necks remov'd the Romish Yoke;

With vast expence you this great act have done,

And of your Person have much danger run.

Shall I not then with all my Children cry,

We with our King and Queen will live and die?

Our lives we, under God, to you do owe,

And therefore whatsoever we can do,

Can't be too much; And in a grateful way

We ought to strive your goodness to repay;

We find our rising proves our Enemies fall,

Where are they now that did us then inthrall?

They dig'd a Pit, and in it fallen are,

Yea wonderfully catcht in their own snare.

This is Gods doing, and is marvellous,

Even to our Enemies as well as us.

And therefore now my self I must address,

Unto the God of Truth and Righteousness,

I'le lift my Soul to him in Thanks and Praise,

And ne're forget his Wonders in these days.

The Churches Song of Praise and Thanksgiving to God for her late Gracious deliverance.

OH matchless Grace; Oh Love beyond degree,

Now I am certain there is none like thee,

In Heav'n or Earth; I will Praise thee therefore,

For thou a Salve hast now found for my sore,

Transported by thy Love, with Joy I cry,

My ravisht Spirit must exalt the High

And Mighty God, by whose unbounded grace,

My heart's enlarg'd to run the blessed race.

Thou shalt conduct me to the Living Springs,

From thence I'le rise up as with Eagles Wings

Unto that heavenly Mount of Faiths desire,

Where thy Transcendent Glory I'll admire;

p. 120And in those happy Seats of Bliss above

I'l be imbraced in thy Arms of Love.

I'l hold thee fast, and never let thee go,

For by thy loss, Oh what a depth of woe

Did I fall into? What a dreadful case

Was I in, when thou Lord didst hide thy face?

If I have thee, I nothing else need trave,

Without thee (if all else) I nothing have;

Nothing without thee is of worth to me,

All things are vanity, compar'd to thee.

To be thy Portion, Lord, thou didst me chuse,

And sure so great a grace I'll ne're refuse,

Thou art my Saviour, and my Heritage,

My Sanctuary too, from Age to Age;

I therefore evermore will dwell with thee,

And thou alone my hiding place shalt be.

When I was fal'n, thou raisedst me on High

For which thy blessed name I'll magnify,

Thou didst in mercy look on my distress,

When I, Lord, was in woful heaviness,

Beset with cruel Foes, and could not s…

The many dangers that incompast me;

Thou didst observe my ruin very near,

And thou didst suddenly for me appear,

Didst send thy Servant speedily away

To save me from the ravenous Beasts of Prey;

Thou, like a tender Father, couldst not see

Thy Children fail by Romish Cruelty;

Thy special favours may I ne're forget,

Let them with Power on my heart be set.

Ah! how unworthy was this sinful Land,

For whom thou didst stretch forth thy mighty hand,

To save and help them in that dreadful hour,

When all their hope was lost, and all their power?

Though thy own Children too unworthy were,

This did not hinder thy Parental care;

How earthly, unbelieving, Ah! how vain?

How did their Lives their Holy Calling stain?

p. 121Cold, Carnal, Senseless, dead; They seem'd to be

A People laden with iniquity.

Deserving nothing at thy hands O Lord,

When thou this great deliverance didst afford,

I then did much bewail their faults and crimes,

Both those of old, and those of latter times;

Yet thou o'relookedst then unworthiness,

And camest down to save them ne'retheless.

Thou wonderfully didst make it appear,

That these strange works' which thou hast shewed here,

Were like to those in Egypt long ago,

When thou didst Pharaoh utterly o'rethrow.

For when we thought we should have been destroy'd,

And their dire vengeance never could avoid,

We saw them suddenly before us fall,

And could not do us any hurt at all.

A raging sea we seem'd, before, to see,

Behind us was a raging Enemy,

But when thy chosen Servant did draw near,

The threatning waters soon divided were,

A sure presage Gods presence too was there,

Who sav'd us from what we so much did fear;

These are thy doings, Lord, and Marvellous

Are all thy Dispensations unto us.

Nay let us not forget, this one thing more,

As worthy notice, as those nam'd before,

The People of the Land divided were,

Nay to each other did much hatred bear,

Yet thou no sooner sent'st thy Servant hither

But they united, and were join'd together

All as One man against their comon Foe,

In prayers, in wishes and in Arms also,

Which gave me hopes that the set time was come,

Of thy great wrath against the Whore of Rome.

Our Nobles and our Gentry did their part,

Assisting both with counsel, hand and heart,

Like our Old English Heroes they did rise,

And chearfully espouse this enterprize.

p. 122Undauntedly they undertook the Cause

Of our Religion, Liberties, and Laws,

Their free-born Souls contemn'd the Romish Yoke,

And to a just revenge it did provoke

These Gallant Spirits who could not endure

The Jesuits should our slavery procure,

With so much impudence; that they seem'd to laugh

At all our Laws, and at our Parliaments Scoff.

A great Convention, Lord, thou didst convene,

And didst unite them so that like brave men,

The Throne they did declare Vacant to be,

And it to fill again, did soon agree,

To the great Satisfaction of the Land,

And with their Lives they did ingage to stand

By William thy Servant and our King,

Whom for our safety thou didst hither bring.

All this we saw perform'd by thee alone

Who dost abase and set upon the Throne,

To every man dost measure what is right,

And actest still what seems good in thy sight;

Ah! how didst thou confound, ev'n in an hour,

Those dark Intrigues, contrived by the Power

Of bloudy Rome, and carried on so long,

And by such Aids, that they grew mighty strong

Here and abroad; So that they durst to say,

All was their own, and they should have the day;

When in her heart she said; I fit a Queen,

And ne're shall loss of Children see agen:

Yet then, Oh blessed Lord, thou heardst our cries,

And suddenly our Enemies didst surprize.

As soon as thy poor Protestants abroad

Heard these Strange wonders of our Gracious God.

It did their Spirits raise, and them enliven,

To sing the Praises of the God of Heav'n;

Poor Holland that was so much threatned,

And to effect the work, all ventured,

Began thereat again to raise its head.

p. 123Then we were sore distressed, it was they

That to relieve us hastened away;

They 'gainst our Foes for our defence did stand,

Let them be dear to thee, and to this Land,

How were thy People strengthened thereby,

Who did before like withered branches lye,

Expecting mischief would upon them fall,

And Popery would overwhelm us all.

All Praise and Glory therefore now be given

Unto the Lord of Lords, and King of Heaven;

O let the Throne surely establisht be

In righteousness; which will Establish me:

And let the King so wisely all dispose,

To please …s God, and disappoint his Foes:

Let his Court still with Virtuous Men abound,

And let no vitious Persons there be found;

This will most happy days to him procure,

And cause his Government long to endure.

Let Scotland to his Crown united be,

That we may live in peace and amity,

Incline their minds their Interest to discern,

And that our Union is their great Concern.

Do not forget poor Irelands sad fate,

Destroy those Rebels who disturb that State,

O give our Armies Victory and Success,

Thy People save; Their Enemies distress:

This is my Prayer, and when this is done,

I'le sing the Praises of the Three in One.

Mean while let us our best Affections raise

To celebrate, in grateful Songs, his praise

Who has been our deliverer in these days.

An Hymn of Gratitude▪ and Thankfulness.

I do not in a lofty strain

Strive to revive Great Hectors Glory;

Nor the all-conquering Pagan Train,

p. 124Whose acts recorded are in Story;

Nor is it our Great Williams Fame,

Who came, and saw, and overcame.

Nor any of those Worthy Nine,

Nor Alexanders Great renown,

Whose Deeds were thought almost Divine,

When Victory did his Temples Crown;

But 'tis the Praise of God I sing,

Who hath wrought Wonders by our King.

My Heart and Tongue, shall both rejoice,

Whil'st England sings Triumphantly,

And with a loud melodious voice,

Doth laud the name of God most High;

O'tis his praise; That Holy One

That I must magnify alone.

My Heart is warm'd whil'st I proclaim,

The praises of the God of wonder,

My lips shall glorify his name

Whose voice is like a mighty Thunder;

I'll bless him, for 'tis he alone

Has vacated, and fill'd the Throne,

Whose Feet are like to burning Brass,

Whose Eyes are like a flaming Fire,

Who bringeth wondrous things to pass,

Him I adore, him I admire;

What changes hath he suddenly,

Made in Great Brittains Monarchy?

My Soul and Pen shall both express

The Praises of Great Judahs Lion,

The sweet and fragrant Flower of Jess,

The Holy Lamb; The King of Sion;

For He it is, and he alone

Has vacated and fill'd the Throne,

Whose Head is Whiter than the Snow,

That's driven with the Eastern Wind,

Whose Visage like a Flame doth show,

p. 125Confining all, yet unconfin'd.

…is He who Marvels wrought of late,

…o save a sinking, bleeding State.

…e praise his name, who hath made known

The Man to us, he fixt upon,

…o save us from the envious frown

O'th' bloudy Whore of Babylon,

… Righteousness, Oh! let him Reign,

That nothing may his Glory stain.

…or this great subject of my Verse,

Though discontented subjects should

Refuse Gods praises to rehearse,

The Hills, the Rocks, and Mountains would

Make his deserved Praises known

For Wonders here so lately shown.

You twinkling Stars, which day and night,

Do your appointed circuit run,

…weet Cynthia in thy monthly flight,

Also thou bright and flaming Sun,

Who to the Earth Gods blessing bring;

Do you Great Brittains mercies sing.

That all Gods Foes both far and near,

Who Tyrannize 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.

'Tis He pulls down, and sets up too,

And who dares say, What dost thou do?

p. 126To 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 'tis 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 M…decai also

p. 127…s in the favour of the King,

…id much sorrow to him bring,

Ah! no such hatred show

… those who have an equal right

… favour in their Princes sight,

And faithful Subjects are;

…ho are Free-born as well as you,

…hy may not they of Honour too

Expect an equal share?

… that which pleaseth all the Land,

…ith your self Interest will not stand

How can it helped be?

…all England wholly be undone,

…nd be by Popery over-run,

To humor such as ye?

… 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.

p. 128Let all good Protestants agree,

And live in love and unity,

For 'tis 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,

VVhichWhich good men long to find.

Shall any Christian be so vain

To plead for Laws, that do prophane

The Holy Sacrament?

VVhichWhich 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… … …oks see how they fly,

…ir sad doom.

p. 129…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

…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:

p. 130For 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.