Zion in Distress, Poem 1 · Sentence
The Sentence.
ROME Thou haſt been Indicted by the Name of Myſtery, Babylon, Mother of Harlots, Scarlet-coloured Whore, and Falſe Church, or pretended Spouſe of Jeſus Chriſt. And found guilty of all theſe horrid and prodigious Crimes, following:
Thou didſt firſt fall from the Holy Religion of God and his Son, which were eſtabliſhed▪ and profeſſed in the Apoſtles time. Thou didſt ſet up the vile Monſter the POPE, the Man of Sin, that foul, Blaſphemous Beaſt. Thon didſt most ſacrilegiouſly give thoſe Attributes and Titles to him, that belong to Jehovah and the Great Emanuel. Thou mad'ſt his Decrees in Wicked Counſels, above the Laws of God, (the Vniverſal Sovereign) Thou haſt made void the Laws and Conſtitutions of the Goſpel, forming whole Nations into Churches, though the greateſt part do ſhew themſelves the worſt of Men. Thou haſt made Nurſeries of Prieſts and vile Men, and impowered them to take Confeſſions for Money, and forgive Sins. Thou haſt hypocritically abuſed all ſorts of People, by perſwading them that thou haſt power to heal their ſoul here, and help them hereafter, by which curſed frauds thou haſt drawn a great part of the Riches of Europe into thine unhallowed hands. Thou haſt laid Cloſe Siege to the Courts of Princes, and drawn them into the higheſt ſtrains of Wickedneſſ to commit fornication, promote Idolatry▪ and take away the lives of Innocents. Thou haſt layn in wait (where they would not fulfil thy bloudy and barbarous Luſts) to contrive Treaſons, Sedition and Rebellion againſt them, to Depoſe and Murder them by Excommunications, Poyſons and Powder-Plots. Thou haſt corrupted all Countrys and Kingdoms (where thy power extended) by ſuch downright and abominable Ieolatrys, that Heathens themſelves were never guilty of worſe. Thou haſt not only countenanced Stews and Brothel-Houſes, where abominable Sodomy and Adulteries are practiced, but even thy very Nunneries are become Habitations of Whoredom and Filthineſs, the bottoms of whoſe Motes and Ponds, have ſhewed the Murders of New born Babes. Thou haſt killd the best Men; thou haſt not ſpared delicate Women and ſucking Children. Thou haſt made away many Millions both of Chriſtians and poor Heathens. And after ſo Helliſh a ſort, that the beſt learned Heart and Tongues want Rhetorick to ſet it forth; Thou haſt cut them to pieces in Cool Bloud, thou haſt chained to Stakes and burnt them. Thou haſt ripped up Women with Child, and Raviſht Women and Maids—and then haſt barbarously ſlain them—Thou haſt been guilty of burying alive, Roasting upon Spits, ſcalding with burning Oyl and boyling Lead—Blowing their Heads in pieces with Gun-Powder; thou haſt made Women Widdows, Children Fatherless; Houſes and Villages, Towns and Cities without Inhabitants. Thou haſt destroyed by Fire and Sword and all manner of Hoſtitities and Outrages. Thou haſt fomented Wars betwixt Kingdoms and Nations. Thou haſt done thy endeavour to make all men ſlaves, but thy own accursed Tribe of Cardinals, Arch-Biſhops, Biſhops, &c. Thou hast Murder'd multitudes of Souls, as well as deſtroy'd multitudes of Bodys. In ſhort, thou hast filled the Earth with Corruption, and loaded it with Oppraſſion, and ſtandeſt in the way of its promiſed Deliverance and Reſtitution. And for all this Apoſtacy, Oppreſſions, Adulteries, Fornications, Rebellions, Treaſons and Blaſphemies, with the guilt of a mighty Maſs of Innocent Bloud, which hath been proved againſt thee, and from which thou canſt not defend thy ſelf, and for which, both by the Law of God, Nature and Nations, thou oughteſt to ſuffer, thy Sentence therefore is—
Thou ſhalt continue in ſafe Cuſtody till the 1260 Years be expired, (which is now very near) and then thou ſhalt he taken from off the Beaſt, where thou art imperiouſly Mounted, thy Golden Cup (with which thou haſt deceived the Nations) ſhall be taken out of thy hand, and by the Hand of God, the Horns of the Nations, and Swords of Good Men, thou ſhalt have theſe Judgements come upon thee in one day, Death, Mourning and Famine, and thou ſhalt be utterly burnt with Fire, like a Woman that hath broken Wedlock, and ſlain her Sovereign; At which all the Hoſt of Saints and Angels, ſhall ſay Amen,—Hallelujah.