a lovely Face nor Eye Wherein we can contentment find 'T is none of all these things that can Yield solid comforts to a Man 4. It is a faithful-hearted-Friend Whose kindness to me knows no date Though Poverty should be my end Scorns to convert his Love to hate Who when I sin will always be A Faithful Monitor to me 5. Unto whose breast I dare commit A secret safe as in my own Who ne're will in angry fit Betray his Trust to any One Nor from my Interest will be Withdrawn by Frowns or Flattery 6. If such a Friend I chance to find I 'le Center all my Joys in this I have a Jewel to my mind There 's not on Earth a greater Bliss Ambition may eck on desire Mine here shall rest and soar no higer The Sensualist ALL that below this heav'nly Orb doth move For Man was made and so ordain'd above What reason is there that he should deny Himself the Pleasure to content his Eye Woman that lovely Creature here was plac'd For his delight to gaze on and to taste That fragrant Balm which on her Lips doth grow For him to wanton in her Vale below All those rich Treasures both of Sea and Land Were they not made to bow to his Command And whatsoever his vast mind doth crave Was he not freely his desires to have Then where 's the Sin or how doth he amiss If he doth use them as his pleasure is Sure Man by God above the Brutes was grac'd With Reason and for nobler ends here plac'd As Soveraign over all than to allow His Reason should to 's Will and Passions bow This never could be the Creator's thought When out of Clay this curious piece he wrought And none but Folly will pretend to own This he design'd in his Creation 'T is true that Woman by the lib'ral hand Of Heav'n was fram'd to be at Mans command So as to make a loyal loving Wife And prove a Comfort in his tedious Life But not to gaze on with a lustful Eye Much less unmarryed in her Arms to lye And though the Treasures of the wealthy Shoar And Sea are subject to Man's lordly Pow'r Yet can't he without yielding up his sense And proving guilty of an high offence Claim as a Soveraign with a wanton Hand At will to rifle both the Sea and Land And make them bow unto his boundless Lust Then own the action not to be unjust He had not his Dominion to abuse The things created for his needful use But was to have a most regardful Eye Not to enslave them to his Luxury If so there 's no Man but a Fool will say He as his pleasure is may them enjoy A Prayer 1. GReat God! whose providential Care Is over all bow down thine Ear Unto my Pray'r permit not Thou The Devil my invet'rate Foe To work my final overthrow 2. So closely on our Souls he waits With his bewitching-tempting-Baits That straight our Sensual parts we please Embrace a short and transient ease And hazard all than Flesh displease 3. With-hold not then thy saving-Grace From me my God one Minutes space Lest this my brittle House of Clay With my immortal Soul a Prey Becomes to him the damn'd obey 4. O let thy Love procure for me An easier Fate than Misery 'T is just in thee my God I know Since unto Satan's Lure I bow Not to exalt but cast me low 5. Low as that Pit of Horrours where The Damned Howl and tortur'd are Where ' midst those Flames which them torment Which ever Blaze but ne're are spent They day and night their Curses vent 6. Although my Sins these Flames deserve Yet from their lasting Heats preserve My trembling Soul this I implore Except the same thing o're and o're I know not what to ask Thee more God's Goodness and Man's Folly WHen trembling Dust with awful fear Unto thy Throne of Grace draws near And in an humble posture brings To Thee his Catalogue of Sins No sooner he imparts his Grief But thou afford'st thy quick Relief And with forgiveness ready art To ease the Sorrows of his Heart Yet rather than we will forgo Some short-liv'd-Pleasures endless Wo We fondly Court and slight that Love Which will at length our Ruine prove Whereas would we obey thy Will Not suffering ours to have their fill If we thy Laws would not refuse Nor Favours willingly abuse We should enjoy that happiness The glorious Saints in Heav'n possess An Admonition 1. SOul let thy Contemplation be On Heaven and Eternity To fix thy thoughts on this base Earth Becomes not Thee of heav'nly Birth 2. Since all these worldly-worldly-Glories quite Will like thy empty Dreams i' th' Night Vanish e're thy bright Morn doth break Why should'st thou pleasure in them take 3. When the last dreadful Trump shall all With its shril Voice to Judgment call Those who their God this World did make Must not of heav'nly Joys partake 4. The Crown of Glory only shall As a Reward to Virtue fall It never shall the Temples bind Of those who earthly things did mind The Penitent 1. I Who that precious time which thou hast lent Have dearest God! in sinful courses spent I who have chose to feed on Husks with Swine Rather than live under thy Rules Divine I thy ungracious Son unto thee home With bleeding heart weeping Eyes do come Asham'd that I so miserably have Mispent those Favours which thy bounty gave 2. And yet what reason have I to presume That e're thy Lips will pass a gentle Doom On my rebellious Life since it hath been wholly devoted to the ways of Sin No I in Justice cannot think thou'lt own Such an ungrateful Wretch to be thy Son Whose wanton Ear would never yield to hear The wholsome counsels of a Parent dear 3. But O my Father by that pow'rful word Look on thy humbled Creature and afford Some glimps of Comfort to my troubled mind And as thou stil'st thy self to be a kind And gracious Father be thou so to me Forgiving him who truly turns to Thee Look not upon me with a rig'rous Eye Of Justice but of Mercy lest I dye A Prayer before the Sacrament THou God who always tak'st delight to be Conferring good on those who trust in Thee Who from thy Bosome by eternal Doom Did'st send thy Son from whence all Joys do come To take our nature on him and to dy Th' accursed death for our Impiety Let me adore Thee for this mighty Love For this my Soul do thou obedient prove And grant dear Lord that I who humbly now Approach thine Altar to remember how And what Christ suffer'd may of Thee obtain Those dear-bought Mercies which his Death did gain I must confess when I consider Lord How I have sinn'd against thy sacred Word How oft I have refus'd to come and eat When I was summon'd to this heav'nly Treat I have not left within my troubled Breast A glimm'ring hope to be a welcome Guest Yet should I still absent should I forbear T' approach thy Table where such offers are How can I ever hope dear Christ to be Partaker of thy Love and Victory No I must never think thou 'lt own me when Thou sits in Judgment on the Sons of Men. Therefore to thee my God I come and bring My Soul and Body for an Offering Vouchsafe that at thy Hands they may a kind And gracious entertainment this day find And be enabled by thy Grace to move In the delightful Steps of holy Love Let not my Sins of Youth or riper Years Engage thee to forsake me to my Tears Have some regard and let me now partake Of thy Sons Mercies for his merits sake Amen and Amen A Farewell to the World THou glorious Nothing now adieu I 'le be no more a Slave to you Hence-forward all my time will I To a more serious Court apply Heaven and all its Joys above Shall be the Object of my Love And study of my Life each day Till I my borrow'd Earth repay And thou immortal God who art The rightful Sov'raign of my Heart Dispose my Thoughts and Actions now Strictly to keep this sacred Vow Thou know'st what mighty Foes they are I must engage with in this War The World on one hand will be sure To bring its Glories to allure And its Temptations will combine To shake this firm Resolve of mine My Flesh will all its vigour show To make me to its Dictates bow And the industr'ous-wily-Fiend Against me all his Pow'rs will bend Forces too great to be withstood By a Compound of Flesh and Blood Needs must I Faint and be subdu'd Unless with heav'nly force indu'd Yet I am fully bent to try Their Strength and Fight them till I dye And do not doubt but at my Death To have the never-fading-Wreath SOLI DEO GLORIA FINIS
terribly affraid The Publication of Christ's Birth Fear not said he most joyful News I bring To you and all the World this day a King And a Redeemer's born the Christ is He To Bethle'm haste and your Salvation see Yet that you may not when you come mistake And for the Lord of Life another take Within a Stable you shall find him lye With none but Joseph and his Mother by Then with the Angel of the Lord there stood An Host of heav'nly Spirits praising God Singing this following Hymn By those above Angels Archangels to the God of Love Be glory given for this Infants Birth And to the good a lasting peace on Earth Up from the Earth unto Heav'ns radiant Throne This blessed Quire was no sooner gone But that the trembling Shepheards by consent To see what they were told to Bethle'm went Thither they came there the Child they saw Lye in the Stable on a heap of Straw With Joseph and his Wife abroad they spread What they had seen and what the Angel said And all who heard them with amazement were Seiz'd at the Story which they did declare But Mary ponder'd these things o're and o're And grew in Faith and knowledg more more Back to their Flocks the joyful Shepheards went And all the time of their returning spent In glorifying of th' Almighty's Name For all those things which he reveal'd to them The Circumcision On the eighth day after the Child was born The pious Joseph early in the Morn With his Redeemer to th' Assembly came Who Circumcised was and by the Name Of Jesus call'd as Gabriel order gave Unto the Virgin e're she did conceive And when her forty days accomplisht were According to the Law they did repair With the Messiah to Jerusalem His Presentation in the Temple Where to the Priest they both presented him For by the Law the First-born Male among The Jews unto Jehovah did belong E're since that fatal night wherein he smote Aegypts First-born and thence his Isr'el brought Two Turtle Doves she for her self did bring Although a poor yet legal Offering Unto the Lord from out the bleating Flock A Lamb she could not purchase with her Stock Within the Town of Solyma liv'd one Who just and pious was call'd Simeon Full of the Holy Ghost attending there When Isr'els Consolation would appear To him the Spirit did reveal that he Should e're he dy'd the promis'd Blessing see He by divine impulse to th' Temple came Just as the Father and his pious Dame Arriv'd with the blest Off-spring of her Womb To do for him what the strict Law did doom Where in his presence they a tender made Of their First-born and his cheap ransome paid Then in his feeble Arms old Simeon took The heav'nly Babe and thus divinely spoke Nunc Dimittis Lord let me now into the silent Grave In peace depart since with mine Eyes I have Beheld the Christ which thou hast long foretold Whom now thy People in this place behold A Light to those who do in Darkness dwell And the great Glory of thine Israel Joseph and Mary much surprized were At those mysterious Truths the rev'rend Seer Concerning Jesus in that place declar'd Such as before their Ears had never heard Simeons Prophecy Then Simeon blest them and to Mary said Behold this Child of thine thou lovely Maid Is for the ruine of the Ungodly sent And the redemption of the Penitent And for a Sign in Isr'el he shall stand ' Gainst whom the wicked of the World shall band That all the thoughts of men which are conceal'd Both of the good and bad may be reveal'd And thou the Mother of this blessed Son When thou behold'st their barb'rous cruelty Shalt find thy Soul with sorrow over-run Some great affliction it shall bring to thee Anna's Prophecy Into the Temple at this instant came Of Asers Tribe a Widdow who by name Was Hannah call'd who in her younger life But seven years had liv'd a married Wife Eighty and four years old this woman was A strict observer of the Jewish Laws Who duly did the Temple-Prayers frequent And every Week two days in Fasting spent She likewise thank'd the Lord and spoke of him To all who dwelt within Jerusalem Now when the Parents had the Law fulfill'd Both unto Bethlem with the blessed Child Return'd again where for a while they were Till in a Dream th' Almighty did appear To Joseph with a strict command that he Should take the Child and into Aegypt flee There they remain'd until the Tyrant's death And afterwards return'd to Nazareth In Spirit strong and Stature Jesus grew Whom God with mighty Wisdome did indue When twelve years old the blessed Jesus was His Parents who devoutly kept the Laws Of the great God the time now drawing near To celebrate the annual Passover Took this same hopeful Child along with them To keep this great Feast at Jerusalem And when the days of it accomplisht were Joseph and Mary homewards did repair With their Acquaintance and Relations who In Naz'reth did dwell or near thereto Christ's stay at Jerusalem and conferring with the Doctors Onwards they travell'd but ne're mist their Son Who in Jerus'lem staid to them unknown Until they had a whole days Journey gone Then ' mongst their Kindred and their Friends they went Inquiring for him but no news they learnt With thoughtful care for their neglect of him They back return'd unto Jerusalem After a three days search their Child they found Within the Temple Porch encompass'd round With the most noted Rabbies of the Jews Asking such things which did the Scribes amuse So that they all with wonder seised were At his wise answers and discourses there When ' midst the learned of the Jewish Land His Mother and her Husband saw him stand Th' amazed Virgin to her Son did go Jesus said she thou did'st unkindly do To raise such fears within thy Fathers mind And mine as thou did'st by thy stay behind But he reply'd the fittest place for me Is where I am know ye not I must be About my Fathers business But they could Not this mysterious Speech of his unfold However back to Nazareth he came With his ore-joyed Parents at that same Laborious Calling eighteen years he wrought Which Joseph did profess and him had taught And to their just Commands was never known To shew himself a disrespectful Son His Baptism Up to the Age of thirty years being grown He forthwith went to be Baptiz'd by John Who at the River Jordan was that time Baptizing sev'ral that did come to him But John this Office at the first did wave Until the Ever-blest such Reasons gave To have it done that in the Peoples sight He there conferr'd on him that needful Rite When lo th' Eternal Spirit from above Hov'ring descended on him as a Dove And from the Clouds at that same time was heard A thundring Voice which these same words declar'd This is my well-beloved Son in whom I
Sad Rejoyce And the lov'd Laz'rus did return From the close Prison of his Urn. As thou was pleas'd to raise from dust His sensless Carkass so I trust Thou 'lt call my Soul from ev'ry trust And from this earthly Prison free It to a glorious Liberty To Death 1. SInce Adam sinn'd and by that fatal Fall Gave thee a Sov'raign Power over all It is decreed we must obey thy Call 2. To thy dark Cell when thou command'st I 'le go Since my dear Lord hath trod that Path I know No Terrors I shall meet in th' Shades below 3. Pale Fear adieu go find some other Breast For thine abode ne're think that thou shalt rest Within my Bosom I 'le have no such Guest 4. And since it is decreed my Body must Return from whence it had it's Birth at first Pronounce thy Sentence discharge thy Trust 5. But know thy conq'ring-Dart in time will fly Into thy cruel-Heart then thou shalt dye But ne're with me enjoy Eternity 6. Yet I declare thou art my real Friend Since from this earthly Prison thou dost send My Soul unto those Joys which have no end The Morning Sacrifice 1. NO sooner doth the chearful Light Dispel the Horrours of the Night But like the Lark my Soul aloft Mounts to her God in Notes most soft Recounts to Him with great delight All her past Mercies of the Night 2. And since thou dearest Lord do'st prize A thankful Heart since in thine Eyes It is of value ev'ry day This grateful Tribute I will pay And 't were a madness since no more Thou do'st exact to run o' th' Score 3. For O my Soul what more befits Thee to return for benefits Than what the Angels do always Chant forth his most deserved Praise Who ev'ry dawn doth give new Birth To all thy solid Joys on Earth On Reprobation 1. I Cannot think my God thou didst create Some Men on purpose for no happier State Than endless Torments which shall know no date 2. Nor dare I own a thought that Christ did dye Only for Some not All intention'lly These Doctrines I abhor most perfectly 3. That Man the noblest of thy Works should be By thee design'd for endless Misery To shew thy Justice and thy Sov'raignty 4. My Soul shall never entertain a thought Of so much horrour of that God who sought Our Restauration and redemption bought 5. When all along thou promises do'st make To all Mankind who will their Sins forsake Thou wilt forgive shall I thy Word not take 6. Yes Lord I will though boldly some declare Thy known and secret Will so diff'rent are When thou say'st live thou ne're intend'st to spare 7. 'T is strange they should some few dark places wrest To speak their Sense when Lord thou dost protest Such thoughts were never harbour'd in thy Breast 8. How vile's that Man whose heart doth not agree With 's Tongue good God and just how is' t that we What Man 's asham'd of attribute to thee 9. What in my heart I think to All I 'le tell Such contradictions sure can never dwell With perfect Purity their Mansion's Hell 10. Were I to represent to th' publick-View A Devil Hypocrite or Trayt'rous Jew I would delineate them as these do you 11. What strange presumption do these Gnosticks show To make as if they did thy Secrets know Which none can tell who doth converse below 12. In thy most sacred Writ 't is manifest There 's none excluded all Men may be blest If they are willing with eternal Rest 13. For thou art good and gracious unto all Long-suffering to us Sinners and dost call All to repentance would'st have none to fall 14. And for this purpose Christ for all did dye He hath affirm'd this Truth who cannot lye To doubt of which confronts Divinity 15. Most safe it is to rest on this belief Most satisfactory it eases Grief And yields a poor desponding Soul relief A Meditation on Mans Folly LOrd what a foolish thing is Man How fond is he of Toys How doth he spend that little Span Of his in empty Joys But for that precious Soul of his He takes no future care To fit it for immortal Bliss Such thoughts too serious are Himself to ev'ry pleasure gives And drowns his Soul in Lust In all destructive Sins he lives Till levell'd with the Dust Give me O Lord that pious care And that obsequious love That all my Actions may declare I seek that place above Where we from Sin exempt shall be From Sorrow and from Tears And where no Trouble we shall see Nor frighted be with Fears A Vow I Vow Lord give me grace no beauteous smile No Wedg nor Honor shall my Soul beguile From strict obedience no not all the art Of the seducing Fiend shall tempt my Heart Though all the Glories of the World should be Amass'd together in one Treasury And by him tender'd yet I would not bow To his damn'd Scepter but I 'de keep my Vow Deus mi. BLess me with peace of Conscience And in my Soul with innocence Love of my God and dearest Friends And my Ambition hath its ends This Lord 's the All I must confess I dare on Earth call happiness I limit not thy Providence To act according to my sence Dispose of me as thou think'st fit And make my Will to thine submit Domine Jesu 1. THe Vertue of that Balm which did distill From thy pierc'd side infuse into my Will That thy good pleasure here I may fulfill 2. Make me to Thee as to the Center move Each thought and act refine inslame my love To all thy ways that I may faithful prove 3. And since to thee the Cross must be my guide That joy which made thee make me to abide Its weight till I in Paradise reside To a young Person that was about to Vow Celibacy 1 Tim. Chap. 5. Ver. 14. I will therefore that the younger Women marry bear Children guide the House give none occasion to the Adversary to speak reproachfully SHe who her Reason lays aside And Superstition makes her Guide Can never hope by that false Light To do an action that is right In all religious Duties know Most principally e're we Vow Right Reason should be sought unto Those which endure her rigid Test Them to embrace and leave the rest Then must thou love that state as best Which God in Paradise hath blest There Marr'age took its early Date There they began to Procreate Gen. 2.18 1.21 A single Life He did foresee Was inconvenient Multiply The great Creator did command And what he Wills none should withstand Had not his Wisdom lik'd by far The marryed Life though link'd to care As tending to a nobler end Than Celibacy can pretend Thy Sex had never had its Birth Thy Being was to Man the Earth And not to live a strict Recluse Neither to God or Man of use Is it in thee a pious part The great Design of Heav'n to thwart To vow a
Fail'd to assist me with a moistning Tear Keep back their kind asswaging Dews from me Now I should use them in my Misery My Bowels tremble to behold the Fall And fatal Ruine of my People all To hear the little Sucklings make complaint Seeking for Food and as they seek it faint 12. They to their Mothers say with mournful Voice O where 's the Corn and Wine that should rejoyce Our drooping Souls In vain for Food they cry Fainting they sink within their Arms and Dye 13. Tell me forsaken Sion tell what thing Shall I to Witness take for thee or bring That can with thee compare O how shall I Think on a way to ease thy Misery No 't is beyond my Art thy Wound to reach For like the Sea so wide and deep a Breach Thy Sins have made that to close up thy Wound And make it whole no Balsome can be found 14. Thy Prophets have been busied with the Wind Taught thee according to thy wanton Mind They have not as they ought display'd thy Sin To turn thee from the Bondage thou art in But have pronounc'd instead of Truths false Lyes Which have ensnar'd thee in these Miseries 15. All that pass by insulting o're thy Bands Do hissing wag their Heads and clap their Hands Saying is this the City that Men call The joy of the whole Earth and chief of all 16. Thy hellish Foes joyful to see thy day As they walk by do gnash their Teeth and say What we have look'd for long proud Sions Doom Is on her now in all its rigour come Now we her Judgments have both seen and found Sion destroy'd and levell'd with the ground 17. VVhat God hath purpos'd in the days of Old And by his Prophets long ago foretold He hath fulfill'd unto the Earth hath thrown Thy stately Buildings without pity shown Nay he hath made thee to thy Foes a scorn And over thee exalted hath their Horn. 18. They cry'd unto the Lord O Sions Wall How art thou ruin'd and forsook by all Let Tears like an o'reflowing River rowl Down from thy weeping Eyes and to thy Soul Give no repose no respite to thine Eye Let it for ever flow and ne're be dry 19. Arise and cry in the first Watch o' th' Night Pour out thine Heart like water in the sight Of the Almighty and with Hands lift high Implore thy Sucklings Lives that fainting lye VVith Hunger in the top of ev'ry Street Beg till thou can'st with his Compassion meet 20. See and consider Lord on whom it is That thou hast laid so great a Plague as this Shall Women eat the tender fruit o' th' Womb Their Span-long-Children Shall thy House a Tomb Both to the Priest and Prophet now become 21. In ev'ry Street the youthful Heads are found With the Gray-hairs to kiss the flinty ground Thou hast my Virgins and my Young-Men all Slain and made pit'less by the Sword to fall 22. As in a Solemn Day thou hast call'd out Thy Terrours and beset me round about So that not one in this thy wrathful Day Remain'd or could by Flight escape away Those that I swadled and brought up the Foe Hath now O Lord consumed to my VVoe CHAP. III. 1. The Faithful bewail their Calamities 31. They acknowledge God's Justice 1. I Am the Man that hath Afflictions known By that smart Rod which he hath sent me down 2. Into sad darkness he my Soul hath brought And from mine Eyes the chearful Light shut out 3. Hath me forsaken and hath turn'd his Hand Against me that I now do trembling stand 4. He hath my tender Flesh Snow-white Skin Shrivell'd and broken all my Bones within 5. He hath Besieg'd me that I can't get free Walling me round with dreadful Misery 6. In dark and hideous places hath me put As are the Dead who in the Grave are shut 7. Hath round about me made so strong a Fence So weighty made my Chains I can't get hence 8. When I with a loud cry assail his Ear He shuts my Prayer out and will not hear 9. He hath block'd up my ways made me forsake The beaten Road and unknown Paths to take 10. Like as a rav'ning Bear he was to me Or as a Lyon lurking secretly 11. He stop'd me and in pieces did me Tear And left me mangled and unpityed there 12. He bent his murth'ring Bow made me stand Like a most certain Mark to guide his Hand 13. He caus'd the winged-Darts from 's horned-Bow With a swift flight into my Reins to go 14. I was a scorn to all my People they Made me the Subject of their Mirth all day 15. He hath me fill'd with bitter things and me Made drunk with Wormwood to my Misery 16. He hath me wounded with afflictions sore And me with Ashes covered all o're 17. He also hath my Soul remov'd from peace And I forget my former happiness 18. And said my Courage and my strength is fled And from the Lord my hope is perished 19. When I remember all those Sorrows I Have undergone and under which I lye 20. My Soul keeps them in mind and for all this She in my Bosome truly humbled is 21. This gives me hopes that the Almighty will Be my Defence and my Preserver still 22. And this must say that of his Mercy 't is That we are not consum'd because that his 23. Compassions fail not dayly they increase And great 's to us his Love and Faithfulness 24. The Lord my Portion is and therefore I Will hope in him in all my Misery 25. Good is the Lord and gracious to those Who seek him and their Trust in him repose 26. 'T is good for Man to wait the leisure time Of Gods Salvation and to trust in him 27. 'T is good for Man in 's Youth his Neck to fit Unto the Yoke and to Gods Laws submit 28. Us'd to the Yoke he doth no murmurs vent But bears with patience Heaven's punishment 29. Humbles himself and doth with hopes attend When the Almighty will his succour lend 30. Reproach'd by those who do his Ruine seek Unto their Stroaks he gives his tender Cheek 31. Knowing that God wont him forsake but be A just Avenger of his Injury 32. That though he send Afflictions yet at last They who them suffer shall his Mercies taste 33. He takes no pleasure to chastise at all Or let Afflictions on his Creatures fall 34. To crush the Fetter'd Pris'ner of the Earth Under his Feet to whom he did give Birth 35. To turn aside the Right of any one That craves admittance to the sacred Throne 36. To overthrow the Cause that righteous is The Lord doth not nor will approve of this 37. Who is' t that says a thing and when 't is brought To pass dares say that Heaven will'd it not 38. Out from the sacred Lips of God can't come Both Good and Bad he gives a righteous Doom 39. Why then doth Man repine when struck by God Wer 't not for
's Sin he 'd never feel his Rod. 40. Let 's search and try our ways let 's turn unto Our angry God and see what he will do 41. Let 's with our Hands lift up our Hearts on high And thus bespeak the dreadful Deity 42. We all have sinn'd we all have Rebels been Therefore thou hast us plagued for our Sin 43. With Wrath thou hast o'rewhelm'd and clos'd us all And made us pit'less to thy Fury fall 44. In a thick Cloud thou hast thy self inshrin'd That through't our Prayers should no passage find 45. We are by all men the Off-scouring deem'd And look'd on as unfit to be esteem'd 46. With open Mouths our Foes their Joys express Glad to behold us plung'd in deep distress 47. Fear and a Snare are come on us and we Destroyed are with great severity 48. Mine Eyes with Rivers of salt Tears gush out For the Destruction on my People brought 49. Adown my Cheeks they glide and will not cease Till from my troubles he doth me release 50. Till that the Lord in mercy will look down They 'l never stop but Day and Night will run 51. My very Heart with grief within me 's torn To hear the Daughters of my City mourn 52. Like as a Bird so am I chas'd by those Who are without just cause my mortal Foes 53. Into a Dung'on dark they have me thrown And over-whelm'd me with a Massy-Stone 54. Billows of Sorrows o're my Head did pass Then I concluded that I ruin'd was 55. I call'd upon thy Name O Lord most high Out of the Dung'on in my Misery 56. Unto my Voice thou hast inclin'd thine Ear With-hold not now and be not deaf but hear 57. Thou in the day when I did call drew'st near Did'st answer and command me not to fear 58. Thou thou only Lord maintain'st my Cause And did'st my Life redeem from Bloody Paws 59. And now O Lord since thou hast seen my wrong Judg thou my Cause it doth to thee belong 60. Thou hast with watchful Eye their Vengeance seen And all their thoughts that have against me been 61. Thou hast O Lord both heard their Scoffs and known All that against me in their hearts is done 62. Unto those Lips who do against me rise Thou art no Stranger nor to their device 63. When they uprise or when they lye along I am the Subject of their mirthful Song 64. Give them O Lord their due and speedy Doom Full Cups of Vengeance let them flowing come 65. Let killing Sorrow sit on ev'ry Heart Let not thy Fatal Curse from them depart 66. Pursue and chase them in thine anger Lord And from the Earth destroy them with thy Sword CHAP. IV. 1. Sion bewaileth her pitiful estate 13. She confesseth her Sins 1. HOw is the beamy-Gold grown dim as Night How is the pure Gold chang'd which was most bright How are the Temple-stones with dirty Feet Defil'd and scatter'd into ev'ry Street 2. The Noble Men of Sion lik'ned to The most fine Gold how are they look'd on now But as the Potters handy-work of Clay No other Honour or esteem have they 3. The watry-Monsters ne're deny the Breast But give their Young the Teat when they request My People cruel to their Young Ones are Like th' unnatural Ostrich void of care 4. With scortching thirst the tender Suckling's Tongue Cleaves to the vaulted Roof of 's Mouth the Young And harmless Infants that can scarcely speak Ask of their Parents Bread but none they break 5. They who did use on choicest Food to feed Perish i' th' Streets and none their crys do heed They who were Rob'd with Cloath of Tyrian-Dy Naked upon a loathsome Dunghil lye 6. My People for their Sins more chast'ned are Than e're the People of lew'd Sodom were Their City soon consumed was to th' Ground And no appearing Foe Encamp'd it round 7. Her Nazarites who were more purely White Than is the Fleecy Snow and Milk to sight More Ruddy than the Rubies ever were And than the polish'd Saphyr shin'd more clear 8. So changed are as to their Faces now That one them cannot for their Blackness know Close to their Iv'ry-Bones their Skin is shrunk And wither'd like a dead Trees Sapless Trunk 9. Those who are killed by the Sword are far Better than they who slain by Famine are For these when stricken by it lingring lye And by degrees doe pine away and Dye 10. The half starv'd Mothers forced were to Eat The Fruit of their own Wombs for want of Meat So much distress'd and to this dismal pass Were they reduc'd when Sion ruin'd was 11. The Lord his furious Indignation hath Accomplish'd and pour'd out his burning Wrath He such a Fire hath in Sion made As hath in Rubbish her Foundations laid 12. The Crowned Heads and those of meaner Birth That trod the globous-Surface of the Earth Would not have thought that ever any Foe Should have on Sion seiz'd and brought it low 13. For the notorious Sins of those who were Her Priests Prophets all these Judgments are Upon her brought they are the Cause of all The Purple Blood that in her Streets did fall 14. Defil'd with Blood which in the Streets they shed Like Blind Men up and down they wandered And were so foul that Men did them detest And durst not come to touch their sacred Vest 15. The Rabble with a loud Stentorean cry Call'd to the Priests and bid them thence to fly Depart depart ye are unclean said they Therefore they fled and roved Night and Day The Heathen follow'd with a dreadful Yell And said they should no more in Sion dwell 16. The Wrath of God hath them dispersed quite He will no more abide them in his sight Because they neither to their Priests did give A due respect nor did their Age relieve 17. Whil'st we expecting looked towards the Coast Of Egypt waiting for a succ'ring Host Our gazing Eyes were dim and weary grown Looking for help from whence we could have none 18. From Street to Street they did pursue us so That we could no where from their Fury go Upon our Lives is past the fatal Doom Our Days are finish'd and our End is come 19. Our deadly Foes in Flight much swifter are Than is the quick Wing'd Eagle of the Air They have pursu'd us on the Mountains and Have waited for us in the Desart Sand. 20. The Lord 's Anointed in their Nets are ta'ne In whom we hop'd by their Hands is Slain Of whom we said under his Shaddow we Shall live secure and from our Fears be free 21. Rejoyce O Edom's Daughter be thou joy'd Who did'st insult when Sion was destroy'd Thou shalt e're-while the Cup of Fury taste Be sham'd as She was and like her laid Waste 22. Thy Woes O Sion are fulfill'd no more Shalt thou be Captive made as heretofore But O thou Edom Heaven will begin To visit thine Offence and show thy Sin CHAP. V. A pitiful Complaint of