Zion in Distress, Poem 3
An Alarm to the Wiſe and Fooliſh Virgins.
I.
ALL you that fear the Lord, give ear
To what I do indite,
There is a cry, the Bridegrooms nigh,
'Tis near the midſt of Night.
II.
Rouſe up, awake, your Lamps to take,
And longer do not ſlumber;
You muſt them trim, to tend on him
Into the Wedding Chamber.
III.
You Virgins all, to you I call,
What Oil have you in ſtore?
If you have none, you are undone,
Then look to it therefore.
IV.
Watch then alway, Our Lord doth ſay,
None knows the day nor hour
Watch carefully, for you are nigh
The day of his great Power.
V.
With ſpeed ariſe, lift up your Eies,
The Day-Star doth appear,
Riſe from your Bed, raiſe up your Head,
Redemption's very near.
VI.
Such as are wife, their time do prize,
Preparing for their Lord,
To them he will, his Word fulfil
And his ſweet ſmiles afford.
VII.
But Fools do haſt, their time to waſte
In ſleep and ſlothfulneſs;
Yet ſuch preſume, they ſhall aſſume
His Glory ne'r the leſs.
VIII.
But they indeed on fancys feed,
'Twill come to ſuch an Ebb,
That they ſhall ſee their hopes will be
Like to the Spiders Wed.
IX.
They ſtill do keep themſelves aſleep,
And know not where they be,
Were they awake, how would they quake
Their woful State to ſee?
X.
You who remain ſo very vain,
And in a formal ſtate,
And all the while have got no Oil,
You'll mourn when 'tis too late.
XI.
You who profeſs, and not poſſeſs
The Truth in Life and Power;
Your ſtate is bad, and will be ſad
Before this day be o'er.
XII.
You have the Shel, but no Kernel,
The Chaff but not the Wheat,
The Husks you take, and do forſake
Your Souls moſt precious Meat.
XIII.
'Tis the laſt Day, O! therefore pray,
And faithful now abide
Unto the Lord with one accord,
And be on the Lambs ſide.
XIV.
Still have a care, and do not dare
In Babel to remain;
For if you do, then muſt you know,
With her you ſhall be ſlain.
XV.
Come, haſt away without delay,
With all ſpeed and indeavour,
Her end is come, her fatal Doom,
Therefore your Souls deliver.
XVI.
You now do hear, her Ruine's near,
Your Sins therefore forſake,
And you'll prevent the puniſhment
Of which ſhe muſt partake.
XVII.
All her Pleaſures and rich Treaſures
Hate as monſtrous evil,
Gods Word doth ſhew, who love them do,
Shall go unto the Devil.
XVIII.
You muſt remove, your deareſt Love
From Earth, and things thereof;
For this hath bin a crying Sin,
Now caſt it therefore off.
XIX.
On things above, ſet all your love,
Affections and deſire;
Theſe things below, God will o'erthrow
With his Conſuming Fire.
XX.
Alas poor Souls! be not ſuch Fools
To labour for the Wind,
The Wealth you heap, you ſhall not keep,
As you e're long will find.
XXI.
You muſt not reſt on Self-Intreſt,
But wholy for the Lord,
He'll elſe at laſt you ſurely blaſt,
According to his Word.
XXII.
There are ſome Men, cry loud, When, when,
Wilt thou in Glory come?
But few repent, or do relent,
And pray for his Kingdom.
XXIII.
But ſuch ſhall ſee, with them 'twill be
As when one'ſcapes a Bear,
Which being gone, Lyons come on,
Which do in peices tear.
XXIV.
Subdue your Sin; for it hath been
Your greateſt Enemy:
If that does reign, you ſtrive in vain,
You muſt it Crucifie.
XXV.
In every Land, there's none ſhall ſtand
And happy be indeed,
But only thoſe whom God hath choſe,
Who on Chriſt Jeſus feed.
XXVI.
O therefore cry continually
For Chriſt and precious Grace
That being bleſt, you all may reſt
When you have run your race.
XXVII.
The great Bridegroom when he doth come,
Will all ſuch entertain,
And you ſhall then be happy Men,
And with him ever Reign.
XXVIII.
He'll place you high in Majeſty,
Your honour ſhall excel;
And ſo I'll end, who am your Friend
And bid you all farewel.
FINIS.
End of the text · Benjamin Keach, Zion in Distress (1681)