Zion in Distress, Poem 1 · Part 5 – Part 6

Zion in Distress · Poem 1 · Part 5 – Part 6

p. 8Sion.

IF that my Head were Waters, and each Eye

A brim-full Fountain, I could drein 'em dry.

I'm ſteep'd in brackiſsh Floods, nay almoſt drownd,

To ſee how Sin does ev'ry where abound.

Where e'er 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 Actors of Debauchery.

What perpetrations of the blackeſt Crimes

Appear not bare-fac'd in our preſent times?

The God (incens'd) has fearful Judgments ſent,

To humble men, and move them to repent;

p. 9Yet they proceed in ſoul Impenitence,

And aggravate their horrid inſolence;

Seeming to bid Defiances to Heaven,

Scorning to take the dreadful Warnings given.

The ſweeping Plague (that Meſſenger of Wrath)

In ſuch as 'ſcap'd, ſmall Reformation hath

Produc'd! Nor has the deſolating Fire

(A perfect Token of Gods flaming Ire)

Remov'd the City's 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;

Though want, though poverty, and loſs of Trade,

Do many Men and Families invade;

Yet do they vaunt in pride and luxury,

As if they had vaſt Mines of Treaſures 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 fat)

Whilſt Lazarus lies ſtarving at the Gate.

A Complaint of 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.

p. 10What new-coin'd oaths, what modiſh execrations

What damming, ſinking, horrid Imprecations

Do they diſgorge? The Serpents fiery 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

Chriſts blood and wounds, is Courtier alamode.

How can th'abuſed Earth but gape again,

To ſwallow quick vile Wretches ſo prophane!

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 made

Moſt quick proficience in a helliſh Trade:

Such rant and roar, ſuch revel, domineer,

As if nor God nor Devil they did fear.

Approaching dangers can't diſturb their pleaſure

But ſtill they ſin until they fill their meaſure

Judgments deferr'd, in evil makes them bold,

Deſpiſing ſuch by whom they are controld.

As if th' avenging Hand their Lives did ſpare,

Thus to provoke Him without dread or fear.

But poor Blaſphemer, when 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 for bears to ſtrike?

p. 11Do'ſt 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 Judgements are ſo long delaid,

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.

Do'ſt thou not ſee how filthy Drunkenneſs

Does raign in City, and in Villages?

Some reel and wallow in the ſtreet, like Swine,

Whilſt others boaſt their ſtrength in drinking Wine:

Although to ſuch, God doth denounce a Curſe,

They mind it not, but ſtill grow worſe and worſe.

Dread not Examples of Gods wrath at all,

Nor what to Drunkards does ſo oft befall:

Altho Gods Word has dreadful 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.

Whate'er 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,

p. 12Defile the Land, and do the Lord Provoke,

To cauſe his Vengeance on the Land to ſmoak.

Sin ſets the door wide open, and makes way

For all the Sorrows of th' approaching day.

Theſe are in part the cauſe of England's Wo,

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 of Whoredom, Adultery, &c,

Did filthy Luſt and Whoredom ever rage

With more ſucceſs then 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,

Then this of Whoredom and Adultery?

'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,

Then 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,

As all the Waters in the Sea can nev'r

Wipe off, nor can it be forgot for ever.

But O what diſmal Conſequences wait

For ſpeedy entrance at the wretches gate!

p. 13…r lewd Embraces of laſcivious Dames

…ill rot their bones, breed cankers in their names,

…get conſumption in Eſtate and Purſe,

…oduce Deſtruction, and a certain Curſe:

…e common ends that ſuch arrive unto,

…e ſoul Diſeaſes, Beggery and Wo.

…ey're ſottiſh Fools (ſays wiſe Demoſthenes)

…at buy Repentance at ſuch Rates as theſe:

…hat ſin, to pleaſe an Enemy, that ſtrives

…o damn their Souls, and rob them of their lives.

…od in his Scared**Lev. 20. 10.Lev 20:10 Ordinances hath

…ppointed ſuch to an immediate Death.

…ould men but judge it as their greateſt Foe,

…hey'd never love, nor hug it as they do.

…ch Sex is bad, but Women ſeem to be

…he very Brokers of Immodeſty;

…hich makes that paſſage to be born in mind,

… wiſe and vertuous Woman who can find?

our City-Dames and Ladies are on fire

With wanton paſſion, and unchaſte deſire;

…oviding Meats on purpoſe to inflame

…heir pamper'd Gallants to their wonted ſhame.

…re Brests and Naked Necks, a Harlots Dress,

…re ſtrong Temptations unto Wickedneſs.

…ll other ſins (th' Apoſtle does declare)

Which men commit, without the Body are:

…t this abominable Act alone,

…gainſt his Body by a man is done.

…arriage to all, the Undefiled Bed,

Honourable; he that will, may wed:

p. 14But 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 Sots like them, for branded, ſtill they ſhow

The marks of Folly whereſoe'er they go.

O how th'unclean and bruitiſh man exceeds

Inferiour Sinners in reproachful Deeds!

My Grievances are many, and my Fear

Is more then my diſtreſſed Soul can bear:

My panting Breaſt and a king Heart is ſad,

To think of what I further have to add.

But O amazing maſter-piece of wonder!

That's like to rend my very heart a ſunder,

When I conſider that an Age of Light

Produces Monſters blacker then 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 me…r Francis 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 aw.

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 Hearts, to Diſ-believe to GOD?

On th' Vniverſal Fabrick caſt an Eye,

The Sea, the Earth, and the expanded Sky:

p. 15Can ſo Sublime Illuſtrious an Effect

…e form'd without a Glorious Architect?

…f Reaſon be your Rule, true Logicks Laws

…ronounce Effects reſulting from a Cauſe,

Whoſe Order leads us to Infinity,

…ure Arguments of a Divinity.

Created Things muſt a Creator have;

And that Begetter who firſt Being gave

To Eſſences produc'd, can't be Begot;

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

This Cauſa Prima, without Time or Date,

…s He that did all Entity create.

The Firſt could not Himſelf create; ſo He

Muſt have His Eſſence from Eternity.

Who can make Phoebus his ſwift Courſe Reverſe?

Or balance in his Palm the Univerſe?

Who can the Ocean in a Sieve confine?

…f none can do't, then none can GOD define.

…irſt 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.

…f what we ſee had not a firſt Creator,

Then 'tis its own immediate Operator;

…f ſo, it Acts, before it had a Being:

But ſuch Concluſions are too dikſagreeing

With Reaſons Maxims: For all things that be,

May ſay they are their own Divinity,

p. 16If each can make it ſelf, and that which can

Create it self, can ſo it ſelf ſuſtain

In infinitum, and will ne'er dissolve

Its ſelf; for Nature's principal Reſolve

Is, That no Eſſence will for bear to be,

If it can keep up its own Entity.

This ſtrain of Aatheiſtick Sophiſtry

Makes all of equal Independancy,

Without Subordination: 'Tis a Theam,

Without Inferior, making all Supreme.

FIRST CAUSE ſuppose Time, & 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 unfathomd 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,

Arraingns 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

p. 17An Intomb'd Carcaſs 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.

Whence come thoſe Judgements 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 terrrifys the World? & 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 Atomes can compoſe a Man?

Who brandiſhes thoſe blazing Signs of Wonder?

Who frights the Earth with rapid Peals of Thunder?

Who did defeat the Fatal Enterprize

Which Rome, by Devils Counſel, did deviſe?

Who ſets the Comet in the Angry Sky,

Thoſe diſmal Harbingers of Miſery?

God does Himſelf by many Ways make known;

Forewarning 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, Hipocriſy,

p. 18Do ſo abound through our enlightned Iſle,

That sodom hardly e'er appear'd more vile.

A Complaint againſt Hypocrites.

I am not onelyonly perſecuted by

My Open Foes, but Lurking Snakes do lie

Within my…Boſom, uſing all their Art

To ſeiz my Vitals, and corrode my Heart.

Such ſeeming Friends, ſuch Traytors in diſguiſe,

Are more malignant then known Enemies:

For the Attaques of Theſe, a man may ward;

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

With my declared Foes, who proudly joyn,

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 pejur'd Sateſmen have the Art to ſmile

Upon my Face, but cut my Throat the while.

p. 19But grant, Dread Soveraign of the Vniverſe,

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.

Rome'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 Wall, a Fort, a Counterſcrap between

Their bauling Canon's most impetuous ſhots,

And forraign Saints; that countermines their Plots.

The deſp's 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 O 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 Heralds ſent to menace open Wars

Against rebellious and polluted Coaſts,

By Him who is the mightly Lord of Hoſts.

p. 20Awake O England! this Lethargick Sleep

Is out of Seaſon, 'tis a time to weep;

If guilty Children tremble at the Rod,

Can you be ſtupid when the Angry God

Sets up this dreadful Enſign of his Wrath?

Rouze up Repentance, let a lively Faith

Now go to work; See how the Preaching Air

Inſtead of Sinning, does exhort to Prayer;

For thy Fantaſtick Garbs, Perfumes and all

Thy other 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 Rendezvous of Luſt

It bids thee haſten, and repent in Duſt.

Have not th' Experience of paſt Ages given

Their ſad Remarks upon thoſe Signs in Heaven?

What f…llow'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 dos't preſage, that (trembling) I ſhall fall?

Lord, canſt thou ſee thy pleaſant Vineyard Tore,

And rooted up, by this rapacious Boar?

p. 21… have my Childrens crying Sins provok'd

…hat diſmal Sentence, not to be revok'd?

…ods Methods were to chaſten, not deſtroy

…oſe Sinning Souls in whom he once took joy)

… give thy Sinking Church a true diſcerning

…hat thou doſt mean by this prodigious Warning;

…hat by thy Spirits ſacred Flame calcin'd,

… Scourges mended, and by heat refin'd,

We may find Grace. But oh! My Spirits faint

…nder the Preſſure of my Great Complaint!

… panting Soul another grief doth feel,

… feeble Knees beneath their burden Reel.

Sion's Children.

AH Mother! who can diſallow your moan?

The cauſe is juſt, for every one muſt own

…ur failings great, and that our ſins provoke

…mpending Judgement, and a future Stroke,

…f interceding Mercy ſteps not in

To ward the blow, and cancel out our Sin.

But ſince unthought-of Providence gives light,

And calls the Sun to ſee the Acts of Night;

Since Heav'n expoſes the Reſults of Rome

To Publick Notice; ſince the Traytors come

To Legal Execution; ſince the grand

Contrivers of this Miſchief dare not ſtand

To Teſt of Law, or due Examination;

Since ſuch brave Heroes repreſent the Nation.

p. 22Whoſe clear ſagacious penetrating Eyes

Dive into Rome's abhorred Myſteries;

Whoſe Nobler Souls, whoſe Loyal Engliſh Hearts,

The cloſeſt Slights of Antichriſtain Arts

Can ne'er deceive; whoſe brave Reſolves defeat

Thoſe curs'd Delinquents, whether ſmall or great;

Whoſe Free-born Courages do ſcorn to ſtoop

To be the Vaſſals of a Raſcal-Pope,

An Vpſtart Imp, whoſe Title ne'er was given

By binding Laws of either Earth or Heaven.

We 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.