Zion in Distress, Poem 1 · Part 9 – Part 12
Sion.
STill more behind? O that there were no more!
Since they're too many that I've told before:
Maſters and Servants, Kings and Subjects err
In their Relation: does not each prefer
Baſe, Selfiſh Ends to gratifie a Luſt,
Before what's honeſt, and ſupreamly Juſt?
Ah! how much time, among the Saints, 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-dutys! O! how few do nouriſh
That Love and Zeal which heretofore did flouriſh!
A Love whoſe flaming Heat and Gen'rous Rays
…Replete with Spirit) fam'd the former days.
…ious Diſcourſes may reclaim the Vile;
…ut they are hard'ned in their Sins the while
…aints do converſe like them, and rather learn
Their vicious Tricks, then teach them to diſcern
The diſmal Snares and Perils that do lurk
… sinful Words, and every evil Work.
…me are ſo convetous, that they would graſp
The World in Arm-fulls, till their latest Gaſp.
…me 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
To ſumm their Shop-books, but neglect the Heart;
For 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,
Profuſely 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? O! how they over-rate
What they would ſell? but if they be to buy,
They undervalue each Commodity.
But why ſhould Pride, that vile Abomination,
Be found in Saints? muſt every Apiſh Faſhion
Bewitch their minds, when God is ſo Expreſs
In ſtrict for …idding 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 that carrys our Deſires to God,
And comes down fraighted with a bleſſed Load
Of ſweet Returns; yet 'tis much diſreſpected,
And Cloſet-Duty too too much neglected.
Scriptures themſelves are ſlighted and diſ-us'd,
And oft, when read, perverted or abus'd:
Helping the Weak, is turn'd into a ſlighting;
Goſpel-Reproofs perverted to backbiting.
Many that do of God their Mercy crave,
Yet on the Needy little Mercy have;
All owe their Bleſſings to 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 pretences
That they have more Divine Intelligence
Then 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 Dutys 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 Cobling-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, if that a ſweet Communion
(At leaſt of Love) did but compleat our Vnion.
Why ſhould Licentious Heat, my Children hurry
To thoſe Extreams? muſt they each other worry
For trivial things? do they not all agree
…n Fundamentals of Divinity?
Is there no Room for Love? or muſt that grace
Among my Children, have no proper place?
Why muſt one Saint be 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 abſund,
Nor more exploded in Gods Holy word.
All ſhould to Goſpel-Purity adhere;
But to calumniate, villifie 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, and ſhake the Fundament
Of True Religion, why ſuch angry brawling?
Such 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,
Deſtroys our ſafety, for they ſet a GAP
Open for Rome, that would us all intrap
In Fatal Snares: their Maxim is, we know,
Divide and Rule; Diſtract and Overthrow.
Their Crafty Agents to 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 bloudy 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.
O can a Mothers Tears and woful Crys
Be diſ-regarded 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?
O! 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:
In ſuch you all, will certainly agree;
(O happy Model of ſweet Vnity!)
Let none that to thoſe Principles do ſtick,
Be branded with the name of Heretick;
It glads my heart to hear 'em call each other
By tha… 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 eaſie Credit to the Tales of either
Hot-headed Scriblers, or licentious tongues,
That often load the innocent with Wrongs:
So Helliſh Monks did ſerve Waldenſian Saints
With horrid clamour, and unjuſt complaints:
So Popiſh Impudence ſpews out its Gall
To make us odious, and beſpatter all
The Reformation; ſure that cauſe is bad
Whoſe chief ſupport from Railing muſt be had.
If giddy rumour, or uncertain fame
Should raiſe a Slander on your Brothers Name,
Repair to him, and in Converſe you'll ſee
Whether he guilty, or not guilty be:
If he be faulty, tell him of his ſin;
Be mild and ſecret, and you may him win.
Admoniſh gently, let your whole diſcourſe
Be full of ſavour, love and Scripture-force.
This is the way to bring him to a ſence,
And Gods preſcribed Method to convince;
But if you fail, then leave him to his God,
Who can reform, or puniſh with a Rod.
Your Work is done, you have diſcharg'd the part
Of Friend, of Brother, of a Chriſtian heart.
Before Belief, examine what is vented,
Good Men by Malice may be repreſented
In Monſtrous Shapes: Some that to God are dear,
Hatred will paint like a miſhapen Bear;
Believe not therefore diſtant imputation?
No Cenſure's Juſt, before Examination.
In all Debates be ſure to lay aſide
All prejudice, and let the Scriptures guide
Your calm, ſedate Diſputes, let Truth be ſcann'd
With cool Reſolves: O! let that great Command
Of Love take place! for that ſhould moderate
All Eager Sallies in a warm Debate.
Who loſes Error, truly gains the Field;
And he is Victor, that to Truth does yield.
Where e're you find it, though in mean array,
Subſcribe, and win the Glory of the Day.
O! what's the World, but Shackles to the Mind?
What's Reputation, but a fleeting Wind?
Why 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
Will drop down Bleſſings, Vnity, Increaſe,
Among my Children, as the fruits of Peace.
Sion's Children.
OVr Common Danger, and the Real Sence
(Which we have got by dear Experience)
Of thoſe Advantages, our cruel Foe
Gets by our Factions, will unite us ſo,
As that our Enemys, ſhall ne're prevail
To break our League, or make our Courage fail:
But tell, Dear Mother, has ſome new affright
So dis-compos'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 England's Day of Grace
Draws to an Evening, and declines apace?
Shew ſome Prognoſticks of that diſmal Night,
That threatens to ſucceed our Goſpel-Light.