ZION in DISTRESS: OR, THE GROANS OF THE Protestant CHURCH.  Lam. ay, 12. Is there any Sorrow like unto my Sorrow? Vers. 17. Zion spreadeth forth her Arms, and there is none to comfort her. Vers. 20. Behold, O Lord, I am in DISTRESS! 
— Quis talia Fando  
Temperet a lachrimis?—  Virgil. 
LONDON: Printed by George Larkin, for Enoch Prosser, at the Sign of the Rose and Crown in Sweethings-Alley, at the East End of the Royal Exchange, 1681.   

To the READER.  
YOu are here presented with a Revived Poem, with such Additions and Enlargements as makes it very different from the First Impression. It is suited to the Present State of the Protestant Church, showing the Causes of her present Calamity, with an Ennumeration of some Prevailing Sins; the Plots and Contrivances of ROME against ZION; the Marks of the Antichristian Beast and Scarlet Whore, with her Arraignment and Condemnation, (illustrated in difficult places with Marginal Notes.) Also some probable Discoveries of the Church's Redemption, and the approaching Glory of the Latter Day.  
We have now a plain Prospect (by the Gracious Discoveries of Providence) of those Horrid and Execrable Plots, which the restless Adversary has contrived against the Peace and very Being of ZION, and which were much in the dark when my Muse first bewailed its Condition, and suspected that this Epidemical Mischief (now Revealed) was then a hatching.  
In a Subject of Grief, a acquaint and ornamental Method is not to be expected: for an abrupt and sobbing Delivery is more natural in the Delineations of Sorrow, than a studied well-poized and artificial Harangue. The Subject is Divine, and too lofty for so weak a Muse; which I hope will oblige the Generous Reader to a candid and mild Construction. I have writ according to the measure of Light received, and have contributed my Mite (in a well-meaning Spirit) to reduce us to ourselves.  
Against the Reigning Evils which expose us to Temporal and Spiritual Enemies, many Wholesome Precepts from Scripture and Reason are given.  
The Rise, Progress, and Persecutions of the Man of Sin, are succinctly delivered, with the Evidence of Approved Historians, (some of them Papists) whose Evidence against Themselves ought to be convincing. There can't be too many Defendants against so Vigorous an Assailant as Rome is.  
There are many Excellent Tracts that discover the Villainies of Popery, and I wish they were more Common. It is a great comfort that the Spirit of the Nation is so much (and justly) incensed against it. And that our Parliament is so Thorough and Resolved to crush that Interest, whose Principles teach them to be (to all Heretics, for so they call Protestants) Traitorous Subjects, ill Neighbours, and worse Sovereigns.  
To promote the Just Odium of my Native Country against so destructive and malignant an Enemy, is (in part) the Design of this Essay; (which being of small bulk and price, may possibly come into more hands then larger Volumes.) If it contributes any thing in order to that End, it answers the Expectation of  
Your Souls Wellwisher.   

To his Friend the AUTHOR, On the FIRST IMPRESSION.  
WHat Muse is this, that thus inspires thy Brain,  
And leads thy Genius to so high a Strain?  
Must thy Aspiring Fancy now rehearse  
Thy Mother's Groans in an Elegiac Verse?  
Is Prose too mean and unregarded now,  
That still in Verse thou lettest the World know how  
SION's abused by Rome's Infernal Crew?  
How in her Blood they did their hands imbrue?  
Let thy Endeavours prosper: Let them prove  
To be Rome's shame: A Token of thy Love  
To thy Distressed Mother, (now the scorn  
Of black-mouthed Imps, who are of Satan born.)  
Aspiring Soul! What from her Sorrows climb  
To a Prophetic Spirit in thy Rhyme!  
Foretelling how she shall delivered be  
From all those Bloody Beasts, whom thou dost see  
God will destroy, and will thy Mother make  
heavens Glory, and Earth's Joy, for his Names sake.  
Jehovah bless thy Work this Book, though small,  
And make it prove a Preface to Rome's Fall.  
Vale.   

To my Friend the AUTHOR, Upon His REVIVED POEM.  
HEre's Grief in Raptures! Who could thus infuse  
All Strains of Sorrow? No Aonnian Muse  
Such Sacred Rhapsodies could e'er inspire:  
Nor were they borrowed from Apollo's Quire.  
No Inspiration from the Thespian Spring,  
Does teach our Poet in this mode to sing.  
He suks no Hippocrene, nor feeds upon  
The fancied Dew of Pagan Helicon.  
He mounts no Pegasus, nor gathers Drops  
Distilled by Clio from Parnassian Tops.  
These are but Whimsies— Some Seraphic Fire  
His Muse did with this Mourning Song inspire  
Who ran but, in the highest Notes of Grief,  
Weep Tears in Verse, when ZION wants Relief?  
Such as from. Art their lofty Strains do borrow,  
Do but describe an Artificial Sorrow:  
But his is purely Natural: for we  
Perceive it comes from perfect Sympathy.  
His clear discerning Soul her danger sees  
Approaching on by unperceived degrees.  
He gives us Warning to prevent the Stroke,  
To leave our Sins, and Mercy to invoke.  
Here's a Prophetic Glass, where we may view  
The swift Destruction that will (else) ensue.  
But Friend, we thank thee that thou hast not left us  
Without some hope, nor has thy Book bereft us  
Of Consolation; for the SCARLET WHORE  
Is there so Sentenced, that She'll rise no more.   

Zion in Distress: OR, THE GROANS OF THE PROTESTANT CHURCH.  

ZION.  
What dismal Vapour (in so black a  
form)  
Is this, that seems to Harbinger a Storm?  
What pitchy Cloud invades our Starry Sky,  
To stop the Beaming of the World's Great Eye?  
What spreading Sables of Egyptian Night,  
Would rob the Earth of its Illustrious Light?  
What interposing Fog obscures our Sun?  
What dire Eclipse benights our Horizon?  
Is England's Great and Royal Bridegroom fled?  
Is its Aurora newly gone to bed?  
That scattered Clouds make such prodigious haste,  
Combine in one, and reunite so fast.  
Clouds that so lately dissipated were,  
Do now conspire to make a Darker Air!  
I mourn impityed, groan without Relief!  
No bounds nor measures terminate my grief!  
The Sluices of mine Eyes are too too narrow  
To went the Streams of my increasing Sorrow.  
Ebbs follow swelling Floods, and Vernal Days  
Adorn the Fields that Winter disarrays:  
All States and Things have their alternate ranges,  
As Providence the Scene of Action changes.  
All Revolutions, hurries to and fro,  
At length some Rest and Settlement do know.  
But helpless I, have often looked about,  
To find some Ease, or Soul-Refreshment out;  
Yet can I see no prospect of Relief,  
But swift Additions multiply my grief.  
As Pilgrims wander in their deep distress  
Amongst the wild rapacious Savages,  
In pathless Deserts, where the midnight howls  
Of hungry Wolves, mixed with the screech of Owls,  
And Ravens dismal croaks, salute the Ears  
Of poor erratic trembling Passengers:  
So I'm sorrounded, so the Beasts of Prey  
Conspire to take my Life and Name away.  
My glowing Soul does melt, my Spirits faint  
●or want of vent; I'm pregnant with complaint.  
No Age nor Generation but has known  
●ome part of this my just and grievons moan.  
●ut now I'm far more dangerously charged;  
●y Bolder Foes my sorrows are enlarged:  
〈◊〉 hellish Tribe from black Avernus flew,  
●hat, Bloodhound-like, me and my Lambs pursue.  
Lord JESUS come! O let my Cries invoke  
Thy sacred Presence to divert the stroke.  
Are all my Friends withdrawn? what is there none  
Steps in to ease me of my grievous moan?   

Sion's Friend.  
WHat doleful noise salutes my wondering Ear  
What grief-expressing Note is that I hear  
Methinks the Accent of this Dismal Cry,  
Bespeaks some one in great extremity.  
The shrilness of the mournful Voice bespeaks  
A Woman's loud and unregarded shrieks.  
The more her deep and piercing sobs I heed,  
The more my Heart in sympathy does bleed.  
Ah! who can find her out? who can make known  
The Author of this Heart-relenting Moan?  
Doubtless, though Grief now seizes thou upon her,  
She is a Lady of high Birth and Honour;  
Of Royal Stem, extracted from Above,  
Nursed in the Chambers of the Father's Love;  
Espoused to a most Illustrious Prince,  
Who over all has Just Pre-eminence,  
Monarch of Monarches— Zion! Is it Thou!  
O mourn, my soul! O let my Spirit bow!  
Let all that love the Bridegroom sigh for grief;  
For Zion weeps as one past all Relief.  
But why, O Zion, since th● art beloved  
Of Heavens Supreme, art thou so sadly moved?  
Thy Arms expanded, thus implore the Skies?  
Thy streaming Rivulets, flow from thine eyes?  
●●is makes me wonder.—   

Zion.  
— MY forlorn Estate  
〈◊〉 poor, unpitied, mean and desolate;  
●ong have wandered in the Wilderness  
evolved in trouble, kept in sore Distress,  
〈◊〉 Caves, absconding from the horrid Rage  
●f Savage Beasts, until this later Age  
〈◊〉 made Attempts to look a little Out,  
●he Monster spied me, and does search about;  
●he Roaring Bloodhounds, greedy on the scent,  
●o kill, or drive me back again, are bend.  
●o Interval of Peace, no Rest they give,  
pronounce me cursed, and not fit to live:  
〈◊〉 Dragon fell, combined with the Beast  
●o gore my Sides, and spoil my Interest.  
●h' old Lion, Lionness, and Lion's Whelp,  
●ith dreadful Jaws, the other Beasts do help.  
●●gs, Bulls, and Foxes, Bears and Wolves agree  
●o rend, to tear, and make a spoil of me.  
●hat have been so delicately bred,  
〈◊〉 Children at a Royal Table fed;  
●n how exposed to the Infernal Spite  
〈◊〉 such as do in Fire and Blood delight.  
●ots hatched in Hell and Rome! that black design  
〈…〉 a Monarch; and to undermine  
Our Ancient Laws, subvert Religion, and  
Bow England's Neck to Antichrists command;  
Were but Preludiums to that dismal Urn  
(As martyred heaps in flaming Smithfield burn)  
Designed for Protestants, and all the Rest  
Who hate Rome's Idol, th' Image of the Beast.  
I am the Mark the Monsters aim at: All  
Their grand designs were to contrive my fall.  
If Friends or others any Favours show,  
They strait conspire to work their Overthrow.  
Ah vile Conspiracy! Ah cursed PLOT!  
So deeply laid! How canst thou be Forgot?  
Hell's grand Intrigues ne'er introduced a Brat  
Into the World, so horrible as that.  
Since Rome the western cheated Monarches rid,  
A Rampant WHORE, the horned Beast bestrid.  
Disgorging Plots, employing hellish Actors:  
May all our Offspring Exeerate such Factors!  
Zion forlorn! How very few regard  
Thy cries & tears, men's hearts are grown so hard!  
In Restless Hurries, tossed with every wind,  
No Ease, no Peace, no Comfort can I find  
The horrid Aspect of these Monsters do  
Affright my Children, some they worry too;  
On Some they seize, like greedy Beasts of prey,  
And to their Dens the Sacrifice convey.  
Renowned GODFREY! (whose immortal glory  
Mastyred for me, shall ever live in Story)  
Let every Loyal Eye that sees it there,  
Yield to his Name the Tribute of a Tour.  
Brave Soul! Thy Love and Loyalty do claim  
That King and People should proclaim thy Name,  
As England's Victim, ne'er to be forgot,  
fastening on Rome an everlasting Blot.  
The Great Jehovah, who is only Wise,  
Permits thy Fall as a sweet Sacrifice.  
Thy Barbarous Murder has made clearly out  
That Plot which none but Infidels can doubt.  
Those bloody Varlets, black Assassinates,  
Cursed Executioners of Rome's Debates,  
Drunk with Infernal Cruelty, made Thee  
A Specimen of England's Tragedy.  
By Thee we learn what Courtesy to hope  
From Romish Butchers, Vassals to the Pope.  
Thou leddest the Van, first fell into the Trap,  
From whence they say no Protestant shall 'scape.  
Pure Innocence Trepanned, amongst them came,  
Without suspicion, (like a harmless Lamb)  
Whilst they, like hungry Tigers, ready stood  
T'embrue their Talons in thy guiltless Blood.  
Thou little thought'st such an Infernal Snare  
Had been thus laid to trap Thee unaware!  
'Tis strange, say some, what Reason should engage  
Them to make Thee the Object of their Rage?  
The Cause was thus: The Babylonish Whore,  
Big with a Bastard, longed (as heretofore)  
〈◊〉 Christian Blood: her Favourites made haste,  
●a her great need to help her to a Taste.  
Of choicest Liquors this she calls the first,  
To cheer her linking heart and quench her thirst.  
Fearing Miscarriage, when her Spirits faint,  
She drinks the heart's Blood of some Martyred Saint  
Then Horseleech more insatiable, she cries,  
Give, give me that, or nothing will suffice  
My Craving Paunch; my pleasure must be done:  
This Heretic was a Pragmatic One;  
He knew my Secret Clubs, and would Reveal  
My Tragic Plots: We must prevent his Zeal.  
We'll Strangle Him, before He gives a glimpse  
Of our Designs, or Countermines our Imps.  
Ah Brutish Whore! of Cannibals the worse.  
This bloody Draught has brought an endless Curse  
On thee: And lasting Calendars we see  
Records this Instance of thy Cruelty.  
This Loyal Knight ne'er injured you, but stood  
Discharging Justice for his Countries Good.  
Will nought but Blood of Protestants give ease  
Or quench your thirst? What mischievous Disease  
Infects your Bowels? Must your Chruches' Food  
Be flesh of Saints? Your mornings-draught, their blood  
Felonious Strumpet! Must you be so bold,  
To steal by night into your Neighbours Fold?  
Seize on my Lambs? Thy Theft and Cruelty,  
As well as Murder, shall revenged be.  
But since He's gone, and Justice does pursue▪  
With eager steps th' Assassinating Crew,  
We'll acquiesce: For Heaven seems to call  
For Tears Cessation at his Funeral:  
Let Christians offer, through the Universe,  
Whole Hecatombs upon his bleeding Hearse.  
And could their Tears increase into a Flood,  
'Twere no excess— So much I prise his Blood.  
But other grounds of Grief are in mine Eye,  
Which cause my Sorrows to advance so high,  
That my o'er-burthened Heart can scarce express  
The nature of my Inward Heaviness.   

Sion's Friend.  
SIon, Thy sad and bitter Lamentation  
Does move my very Soul unto Compassion:  
But say, what Cause does aggravate your Fears,  
And thus provokes to further Cries and Tears?   

Zion.  
IF that my Head were Waters, and each Eye  
A brimful Fountain, I could drain 'em dry.  
I'm steeped in brackissh Floods, nay almost drowned,  
To see how Sin does every 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 barefaced in our present times?  
The God (incensed) has fearful Judgements sent,  
To humble men, and move them to repent;  
Yet 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  
Produced! Nor has the desolating Fire  
(A perfect Token of God's flaming Ire)  
Removed the City's Pride; 'twas great before,  
And now it seems to multiply much more.  
Fantastic Garbs, and Antic Modes declare  
How much from Pride their Souls reform 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 unrelieved Distress, unpityed 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 wantonise 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.  
What new-coined oaths, what modish execrations  
What damning, sinking, horrid Imprecations  
Do they disgorge? The Serpent's fiery hiss,  
That belches Sulphur from the black Abyss,  
Can scarce outdo this Ranting Tribe, who count  
The Man Genteel that is most paramount  
In wickedness; he that blasphemes aloud  
Christ's blood and wounds, is Courtier alamode.  
How can th'abused Earth but gape again,  
To swallow quick vile Wretches so profane!  
Can Heavens great Artillery so long  
Forbear the Treasons of a mortal Tongue?  
Jehovah's Attributes so vilely used!  
His sacred Essence and his Name abused▪  
Fresh Blasphemies they mint, new Curses frame,  
And Sins that never had before a Name.  
Graduates in Courtship are preferred, 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  
Judgements deferred, in evil makes them bold,  
Despising such by whom they are controlled.  
As if th' avenging Hand their Lives did spare,  
Thus to provoke Him without dread or fear.  
But poor Blasphemer, when thou art passed 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?  
Dost think a gloomy interposing Cloud,  
From God's all-searching Eye can be thy shroud?  
Or that because He is enthroned on high,  
Thy Deeds of Darkness He cannot espy?  
Or since his Judgements are so long delayed,  
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 Judgement 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.  
Dost thou not see how filthy Drunkenness  
Does reign 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 God's wrath at all,  
Nor what to Drunkards does so oft befall:  
Although God's Word has dreadful Warnings given,  
That Drunkards never shall inherit Heaven,  
But that their lot shall with damned 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 resolved they will  
Carouse full Goblets, and be filthy still.  
Thus men by Pride, by Oaths, by Worldliness,  
By daily swallowing Liquor to excess,  
Defile the Land, and do the Lord Provoke,  
To cause his Vengeance on the Land to smoke.  
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 Woe,  
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 ranked 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 produced 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 never  
Wipe off, nor can it be forgot for ever.  
But O what dismal Consequences wait  
For speedy entrance at the wretch's gate!  
●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, Beggary 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 
* Leu. 20. 10.  Ordinances hath  
appointed 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 virtuous Woman who can find?  
our City-Dames and Ladies are on fire  
With wanton passion, and unchaste desire;  
providing Meats on purpose to inflame  
●heir pampered Gallants to their wont shame.  
●●re Breasts and Naked Necks, a Harlot's 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:  
But 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 wheresoever they go.  
O how th'unclean and brutish man exceeds  
Inferior Sinners in reproachful Deeds!  
My Grievances are many, and my Fear  
Is more than 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 masterpiece of wonder!  
That's like to rend my very heart a sunder,  
When I consider that an Age of Light  
Produces Monsters blacker than 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 Evangelic Law  
A Trick of State to keep the World in awe.  
Creating Idols in their Brains; that even  
Make mocks of Hell, and a mere scorn of Heaven.  
But can such Fancies challenge an abode  
Within your Hearts, to disbelieve to GOD?  
On th' Universal Fabric cast an Eye,  
The Sea, the Earth, and the expanded Sky:  
Can so Sublime Illustrious an Effect  
●e formed without a Glorious Architect?  
●f Reason be your Rule, true Logicks Laws  
pronounce 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 produced, 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, than none can GOD define.  
●irst Principles are beyond Definition;  
No Logic reaches at so high a Vision:  
●Tis unrevealed to Reason, for no strain  
Of lofty Metaphysics 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 Reason's Maxims: For all things that be,  
May say they are their own Divinity,  
If each can make itself, and that which can  
Create itself, can so itself 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 Independency,  
Without Subordination: 'Tis a Theme,  
Without Inferior, making all Supreme.  
FIRST CAUSE suppose Time, & Time supposes  
Some second Acts, which Aftertime 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 called CONSCIENCE,  
Which of his Actions gives clear Evidence,  
Whether he likes or not: That's ready still  
To check the Course of his Disordered 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  
An Entombed Carcase 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 interest 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 scattered Atoms 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 Enterprise  
Which Rome, by Devil's 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 falter more and more,  
Though hover Vengeance threaten at the Door;  
Deceit, Soul-killing-Errors, Perjury,  
Injustice, Murder, Theft, Hypocrisy,  
Do so abound through our enlightened Isle,  
That sodom hardly e'er appeared more vile.   

A Complaint against Hypocrites.  
I am not only persecuted by  
My Open Foes, but Lurking Snakes do lie  
Within my●Bosom, using all their Art  
To seize my Vitals, and corrode my Heart.  
Such seeming Friends, such Traitors in disguise,  
Are more malignant than 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 mere Saints: but, Hypocrites in grain,  
Do all the while Intelligence maintain  
With my declared Foes, who proudly join,  
And all their Politics in one combine,  
To root my Name from off the very Earth,  
And make provision that no more get Birth.  
Betrayed 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 pejured Satesmen have the Art to smile  
Upon my Face, but cut my Throat the while.  
But grant, Dread Sovereign of the Universe,  
That whilst I weep my Grievances in Verse,  
Thy Sion's Interest may not be betrayed  
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 critic 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 bawling Canon's most impetuous shots,  
And foreign 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'envenomed dregs of th'Antichristian Cup,  
They judge it easy 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  
Aught 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.  
Awake O England! this Lethargic 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?  
Rouse up Repentance, let a lively Faith  
Now go to work; See how the Preaching Air  
Instead of Sinning, does exhort to Prayer;  
For thy Fantastic 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, Monarches 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 dost presage, that (trembling) I shall fall?  
Lord, canst thou see thy pleasant Vineyard Tore,  
And rooted up, by this rapacious Boar?  
● have my children's crying Sins provoked  
●hat dismal Sentence, not to be revoked?  
●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 calcined,  
〈◊〉 Scourges mended, and by heat refined,  
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  
impending 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 Heaven exposes the Results of Rome  
To Public Notice; since the Traitors 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.  
Whose 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 cursed Delinquents, whether small or great;  
Whose Freeborn Courages do scorn to stoop  
To be the Vassals of a Rascal-Pope,  
An Upstart Imp, whose Title ne'er was given  
By binding Laws of either Earth or Heaven.  
We therefore, dearest Mother, do conclude,  
That what has passed of Romish Interlude,  
Is near an Exit; that the Scene will be  
Changed from a Tempest to Serenity.   

Zion.  
O That's a Cordial! But my grief does borrow  
Some fresh Objections to renew my sorrow:  
For some that wish me well, do yet, in spite  
Of Gospel-Beamings, and the clearest Light,  
Retain some Romish Fragments, which displeases  
The meek, the humble, selfdenying JESUS.  
His way of Worship, Scripture does express;  
No Useless Pomp, no Artificial Dress  
Becomes Religion: Chastity abhors  
The Garb, the Painting, and the Gate of Whores.  
Why should my Friends a Virgin-Church pollute  
With any Relics of that Prostitute?  
Why Gaudy Things, that never had a Name  
In sacred Records, our Profession shame?  
Why are our Rites enamelled with their Gloss?  
Why must our Gold be mingled with their Dross?  
Why further Reformation is suppressed,  
T' uphold a Grandeur that's Usurped at best?  
Why Doors and Windows must be shunt up quite,  
To stop the Radiance of a further Light?  
And why must such as disallow those Tricks,  
Be branded as the vilest Schismatics?  
But that's not all: My Children more refined  
From those Corruptions, do afflict my mind.  
O depths of Sorrow that disturb my Rest!  
O racking Grief that rends my woeful Breast!  
Some are so Carnal, some so swiftly hurled  
Into the Labrinths of th'enticing World,  
That in the hurries of that crowded Road,  
They find small leisure to attend their God;  
Preferring filthy Gain, and illgot Wealth,  
Before the means of their Eternal Health.  
Some that in words respect me, I behold  
In that sad posture, betwixt hot and cold.  
Sometimes they seem for sanctity; sometimes  
Slide with the current of prevailing Crimes:  
Their Pulses beat with an alternate motion;  
Now for the World, then for some faint Devotion.  
Some that unto my Tabernacles were  
Admitted, left me for Egyptian Fare:  
These not content with my Celestial Diet,  
Do run with others to excess of Riot.  
Some to be Popular, away would give  
Those Gospel-Dutys that are positive:  
From such as these, my Sorrows do increase,  
That Sell God's Order for a seeming Peace;  
Such Open Gaps that do pervert the Laws  
Of my just Right, and well-defended Cause.  
But O! how many Easy Christians take  
Their Rest in Forms, and no distinction make  
'Twixt Shell and Kernel, that rely on Duty  
As if it were the sole adorning Beauty?  
Such give the Lord the more invalid part,  
Present their Body, but deny their Heart.  
Are not some Pastor's careless to provide  
A Word in Season, for the Flocks they guide?  
Some are too backward to supply the Need  
Of painful labourers, that their Souls do feed:  
Discouraged by Close-fisted Avarice,  
Despised, neglected, through this Hellish Vice.  
My Workmen languish, and have cause of moan,  
To see their Toil so ineffectual grown.  
The most Pathetic Preaching scarce can move  
Some Rocky Hearers to the Grace of Love.  
Must Hag-faced Envy, and foul-tongued Detraction,  
Envenomed Malice, and unfaithful Action,  
Ill-grounded Slander, and uncertain Rumours,  
Backbitings, Quarrels, and the worst of Humours  
Be practised thus? Ah grief of griefs to fee  
Professing People act iniquity  
To such a Pitch!— Some Husbands and some Wives  
Do lead such shameful, such unsavoury Lives;  
Whilst mutually at strife, they do impeach  
That Name that should be very dear to each:  
Such Pride, such surly, dogged reprehension  
For every Toy, such sharpness and contention,  
As does disgrace Religion, and does lay  
Blocks and Offences in a Converts Way.  
Ah! why can't Saints in Families eschew  
That which mere Heathens are ashamed to do?  
Their Houses are the Scene of Civil Wars,  
Of Brawls, of Discord, and Domestic Jars.  
In grace or comfort can they find increase,  
Or Heavenly Blessings, who are void of Peace?  
How oft do Parents Ill Example draw  
Their tender Children to infringe the Law  
And Sanctions of the Everlasting God:  
Do they not spoil them when they spare the Rod?  
To strict Extremes some Parents do adhere,  
Check not at all, or else are too severe:  
On Back and Belly they bestow much Cost,  
But care not if their Precious Souls be lost:  
Are they not guilty of Prodigious Folly  
That teach them Courtship, & neglect what's Holy?  
A Child untutored, (a mere lump of Sin,)  
May justly curse its cause of having been.  
Such as instruct, do doubly them beget,  
By timely Lessons labouring to defeat  
Their growth in Ill; such mould their better part  
By wise prevention of a Cankered heart.  
O! then's the time to give 'em Form and Mold  
For Trees admit no bending that are Old.  
Who timely sow such seed they would have grow,  
Will surely reap according as they sow.  
Some like the Ape, that does by hugging kill,  
Prompt on a Child to tip his tongue with ill  
In his first prattle: But it is less pain  
To form good Habits, then reform the vain.  
On th' other hand, how many Children do  
Prove vain, rebellious, disobedient to  
Their godly Parents? 'Slight their careful teaching  
Make Games of Prayer, and a mock of Preaching.  
Contempt of Parents, of what kind so e'er,  
Contracts a bitter Curse, which every where  
Will find them out. But O my aching Soul  
Beats sad Alarms of Grief! I must condole  
The dismal Fate of Youth! Alas how few  
The ways of God and Holiness pursue!  
But very eager to obey the Devil,  
In quickly learning every reigning Evil.  
Here you may see, if you survey the Nation,  
Our Youth grown old in vile abomination:  
Such early Graduates in the Hellish Science,  
Setting both Heaven and Hell at loud defiance.  
Let Grace and Virtue grovel in the Dust,  
Their Youth and Strength they'll sacrifice to Lust.  
That sacred Precept in the Word of Truth,  
To mind their Maker in the Days of Youth,  
They scorn to head: Ah fools! that would begin  
Conversion, when they can no longer sin.  
But know, preposterous Sots, the Day of Doom  
That dreadful Audit of Accounts) will come.  
How dare you run this vile Career, till Death,  
Like a Grim Sergeant, comes t'arrest your breath,  
When Tongues do falter, & your Eyestrings crack  
When stings of Horror do your Conscience rack,  
When Hell's Abyss sets open its spacious Gate,  
And Troops of Devils round about you wait,  
When nought but Horror and Confusion seizes,  
Upon your Senses, when those foul Diseases  
You got by vile Debauches, have at length  
Destroyed your Person, and subdued your Strength,  
Is this a Season to Detest your Lewdness,  
To talk of Virtue, or pretend to Goodness?  
Egregious Fools! how dare you to delay  
Your Souls Affair to that uncertain Day!  
O! Can you trust so grand a Work to that  
Moment of Anguish? when you know not what  
(When Sonnd) your end will be, nor yet how soon,  
Though brisk at Morning, you may die ere Noon!  
And if unchanged, your certain Doom will be  
To lie in Hell to all Eternity.   

Sion's Children.  
O Dismal State! O miserable Case!  
Enough to daunt all that are void of Grace!  
And crush the bragging of the stoutest mind!  
But are there still more grievances behind?   

Zion.  
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 gratify a Lust,  
Before what's honest, and supremely 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 Generous Rays  
●Replete with Spirit) famed the former days.  
●ious Discourses may reclaim the Vile;  
●ut they are hardened 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 Armfuls, 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 sum their Shop-books, but neglect the Heart;  
For that they think there's time enough, and look  
But seldom to the Reckon of that Book.  
How many come for Fashion-sake to hear?  
(What one receives, goes out at t'other Ear)  
How many loiter in their Christian Race,  
Profusely squandering the day of Grace?  
Many like Drones, on others Toil do live,  
Though 'tis less honour to receive than give.  
What lying, cheating, cozening 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 Father's Glory, and on High does mount,  
Is made by many but of small account;  
'Tis that that carries our Desires to God,  
And comes down freighted with a blessed Load  
Of sweet Returns; yet 'tis much disrespected,  
And Closet-Duty too too much neglected.  
Scriptures themselves are slighted and disused,  
And oft, when read, perverted or abused:  
Helping the Weak, is turned 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 fortified by Precept and Example)  
As if 'twere low for an exalted mind  
To be, to Gods Declared Will, confined;  
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 practised all the Duties given  
Unto the Church, which are without repeal?  
But if they're disannulled, who did reveal  
Their Abrogation to these bold Pretenders?  
God's 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 complete our Union.  
Why should Licentious Heat, my Children hurry  
To those Extremes? 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 gaudy is?  
Alas! no Folly can be more absund,  
Nor more exploded in Gods Holy word.  
All should to Gospel-Purity adhere;  
But to calumniate, vilify 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 Nicknames? and such vile miscalling?  
Who dares intrude into the Judgment-Seat  
Of God Almighty? who is only Great,  
And only Judgement gives; to him belongs  
To pass the Sentence, and to punish wrongs.  
Why cannot Christians with each other bear?  
Among Apostles some dissensions 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 entrap  
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 bloody 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.   

Zion.  
OF no relief? O than my Heart must break!  
Unless my Sons, their Mother's Counsel take;  
Which will those fatal flaming heats allay,  
Obstruct their Growth, and take 'em clear away.  
O can a Mother's Tears and woeful Cries  
Be disregarded in her children's Eyes?  
Can English Protestants, who do profess  
To serve one God in Truth and Holiness,  
'Slight all my Wishes, and Requests despise?  
O! Harken 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 Unity!)  
Let none that to those Principles do stick,  
Be branded with the name of Heretic;  
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 easy Credit to the Tales of either  
hotheaded Scribblers, 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 Brother's 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 sense,  
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 discharged 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 misshapen 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 scanned  
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'er 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 Baubles which the Lord abhors,  
Become the Sacred Truth's Competitors?  
Away with all such Rubs, let Truth take place!  
And then the Springs of Everlasting Grace  
Will drop down Blessings, Unity, Increase,  
Among my Children, as the fruits of Peace.   

Sion's Children.  
Our Common Danger, and the Real Sense  
(Which we have got by dear Experience)  
Of those Advantages, our cruel Foe  
Gets by our Factions, will unite us so,  
As that our Enemy's, shall ne'er prevail  
To break our League, or make our Courage fail:  
But tell, Dear Mother, has some new affright  
So discomposed 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?  
Show some Prognostics of that dismal Night,  
That threatens to succeed our Gospel-Light.   

Zion.  
WHen Sol once touches our Meridian Line,  
It strait descends, does by degrees decline;  
Its heat grows less, its dis-appearing Light  
Yields to the Sable of approaching Night:  
Just so the Gospel in its Altitude,  
Once shot such Beams, that in this Isle ensued  
So great Conversion, that those former Days  
Did feel its blessed and universal Rays.  
A General Heat did warm this Happy Nation,  
From its benign and powerful Operation:  
But now it falls! and from our Horizon  
It's vigorous influence is almost gone.  
Thousands of Sermons lately have been preached,  
But very few (if any) sinners reached.  
How ineffectual is the quick'ning word!  
It shines, but warms not; it's but like a Sword  
That's fair to sight, but has no Edge at all;  
Few pricked at heart! and scarce do any fall  
At Jesus feet! or have a sense of Sin,  
Confessing how rebellious they have been!  
It is a dismal and apparent Sign  
That Night comes on, when Phoebus does decline,  
When Heat and Fervour fail, our Hemisphere  
Will quickly see its glory disappear.  
The Evening of the Natural Day is come,  
When Harvest-Work-men are repairing home:  
So when quick Summons of Omnipotence,  
Removes the Dressers of his Vineyard hence,  
We may conclude the Gospel-Morning past,  
Because God's Servants disappear so fast.  
Can I, when Gap-defenders fall asleep,  
But like old Isr'el, for my Prophets weep?  
How can the naked and unguarded Flock,  
Sustain the Brunt of an invading Shock?  
When of its Shepherds it is thus bereft,  
When scarce a Moses, or a Joshua's left,  
How many active Guides, most dearly loved  
By Me, have been in little time removed;  
Scarce can I dry mine Eyes for loss of one;  
But News arrive of many others gone:  
If that my Head were Waters, and each Eye  
A Well of Tears, I could distil 'em dry.  
Bright Lamps extinguished! and no other Lights  
Appear to chase the horror of our Nights!  
Shaken by concussions of my Foes I stand,  
Whilst few are raised to hold my trembling hand!  
If thus my Horsemen, and Commanders die,  
What will become of the poor Infantry?  
Who can support the burden of the Day,  
When such brave Hero's daily drop away?  
Is Summer past, or is the Harvest done?  
That such presages of a Storm come on!  
Sure God (as Monarches do) intendeth Wars,  
When he recalls his choice Ambassadors.  
Ah too licentious World! come, look about,  
Before the Lord, the bloody Flag puts out:  
When God from Sodom, righteous Lot did call,  
Sulphureous Flashes did consume them all.  
Another ground of my prevailing fear  
That England's black Catastrophe is near,  
Is that, as in the Closure of the Day,  
The Evening Wolves do range abroad to Prey  
So Romish Beasts in monstrous Swarms do peep  
From their black Caverns, to destroy my Sheep:  
Such hate the tell-tale-light, and therefore hide  
Themselves in Dens, until the Evening ●ide.  
Their cursed products are resolves of Night,  
Like silent Curs, that in the dark do bite.  
Another Symptom of the days declension,  
Is when the Shadows do increase dimension:  
So when I look about, I plainly see  
Our Evening shadows very long to be.  
In Humane bodies when the Head grows Hoary,  
It notes decay of Vigour, Strength and Glory.  
Grey hairs are thick upon our Ephraim's Head,  
His Strength decays, his Face is withered.  
When joints grow palsyed, & the Blood's congealed  
Into a Jelly, can the Man be healed?  
When limbs grow stiff, and feeble Age does plow  
Its wrinkled furrows on the Patient's brow;  
When heat gives place to a benumbing cold,  
When doting Fancy cares not to be told  
Of its approaches to a certain Grave;  
When it rejects the Physic that would save,  
The Case is desperate, for the Patient's just  
Upon the Point to be entombed in Dust:  
Even so (Alas!) this Gasping Nation lies  
Under the pressure of sad Maladies!  
'Tis sick at heart, yet seems averse to take  
That sacred Physic, whose Ingredients make  
Diseases vanish, and would ward the Blow  
Which will, (I fear) produce its overthrow.  
Ah! must our Glory (like a brittle Glass  
Reduced to Fractions) into Atoms pass!  
So Rude a Chaos! an unformed confusion!  
Threatening the whole with utter dissolution.  
Once Happy Isle, I grieve at thy condition:  
Where's thy Repentance? where is thy Contrition▪  
Thou hast been counted our Emanuel's Land,  
The Gospel seems on Tiptoe now to stand,  
To bid thee farewel: Must thy Sun so soon  
Be set! before it did approach to Noon!  
Must that Illustrious Morning-light be gone,  
That spread it Beams through all our Horizon?  
Must wretched Malice, and prodigious Lust,  
Must barefaced Pride, and impudent Distrust,  
Rob thee of this inestimable Jewel?  
How canst thou be so pitiless, so cruel  
Unto thyself? Sin is the flaming dart  
That cuts thy Veins, and wounds thy very heart.  
Can Zion choose but send out mournful Cries?  
And weep thy Downfall in sad Elegies?  
Within thy Bounds my Tabernacles were  
Built up, and I did long inhabit here.  
Thy Gospel-glory, and Renown's gone forth  
Into all Parts and Corners of the Earth.  
Thou mayst be justly styled the place of Vision?  
(Though made by Foes an Object of Derision)  
The Joy of Saints, the Protestant's Delight,  
The Mark and Butt of Antichristian spite.  
But if the Crown be ravished from thy Head,  
And Romish Clouds thy Lustre overspread,  
What heart so brawny, but thy doleful Cry  
Must move to pity? what relentless Eye,  
Can see thy fall, and not dissolve to drops?  
O fleeting Joys! O dis-appearing hopes!  
O hastening horror! O invading fears!  
Had I a Sea of never-emptyed tears,  
My boundless, helpless grief wide open sets  
The Sluices for its streaming Rivulets.  
The very Air, dressed in Prodigious Forms,  
Must groan in Thunder, and must weep in Storms.  
Nature, of strong Convulsions sickened is,  
To see this horrid Metamorphosis!  
Where Gospel Pastors did some Millions feed,  
Must blind and sottish ignorance succeed?  
Must all their Throats be cut that won't adore  
The hateful Carcase of a Rotten Whore?  
Must all that execrate Rome's Superstition,  
Be Murdered by a bloody Inquisition?  
Must such as won't to Idols ●ow, be broke?  
Must flaming Smithfield, belch out Fire and Smoke  
Of Martyred Saints? must all that will not turn  
(With Bibles and good Books) together burn?  
Must Monkish Torys, mere Incarnate Devils,  
Possess our Land, and pester it with Evils,  
Of such an odious and abhorred Grain,  
That but to name 'em is a lasting Stain?  
Must our Renowned Ministers give place  
To Romish Blockheads? O the vile disgrace  
Of such a Change! Must an adulterous Priest  
Belch out his Mass, where they have preached Christ  
Must that absurd and irreligious Tribe  
Who fetter Conscience, and regard a Bribe  
Beyond their Souls, be Leaders to our Flocks?  
Must paltry Nonsense, and those Apish Mocks,  
Miscalled Devotion, fill the House of Prayer?  
Must Pestilence infect our purer Air?  
Must Sodom be translated to our Isle,  
And filthy Priests our chastity defile?  
Must Satan's Factors in a humane shape,  
On modest Virgins perpetrate a Rape?  
Must all our painful Ministers be driven  
To fiery Stakes, if they renounce not Heaven?  
Must our dear Infants lose their harmless lives  
In f●aming Faggots, or with Popish Knives?  
Must guiltless blood through all our Streets rebound  
A mournful Echo? must the horrid sound  
Of Axes, Whips, and dreadful Scourges tear  
Our aching hearts, and pierce the yielding Air!  
All this will be, if Rome can but prevail!  
Amazement stops my Speech! my Spirits fail!  
I only can in Interjections cry,  
I sink in Trances! O! I die, I die!   

Sion's Children.  
AH! how can we with any Patience bear  
This sad Complaint? Can any Children hear  
Their Mother deluged in a Sea of Grief,  
And not step in to give her some relief!  
Cheer up, Illustrious Spouse, and be not cast  
Into despair, by this approaching blast:  
Christ is our Captain, than we may be bold,  
In all our storms, he is our Anchor-hold.  
But what's this Beast, of whom thou dost complain?  
Whence came he first? and of what date's his Reign?  
Give us his Marks, that we may surely know him,  
Repel his Pride, and quickly overthrow him  
With Universal and United Force,  
Our Armed Legions shall impede his Course.  
If God Commands (who does the Sceptre wield)  
we'll fight his Battles, and dispute his Field.  
In Martial Syllogisms our Arms shall speak:  
we'll storm his Wall, and make his Pillars quake.  
Araging Anger in our Bosom burns,  
Patience Provoked too much, to Fury turns.   

Zion.  

THis Beast above (a) twelve hundred years has been  
My Mortal Foe, he's called (b) The Man of Sin,   

(a) The most diligent and industrious Searchers into the Epocha, or Beginning of Antichristo as the learned Mede, Alstedius, Mr. T. L. in his Book entitled A Voice out of the Wilderness, Mr. Brightman, Tillinghast, with several other Eminent Men, seem harmoniously to agree that the Beast began his forty two Months, or one thousand two hundred and sixty (Prophetical) Days or Years, between the years 365. and 455. and therefore must consequently end in a short time. See Mr. Mede, page 600, & 601. To confirm which, the witness of the best Chronologers, Historians and Antiquaries concur; as also the posture of the World's Affairs, the unusual working of things, and the awakening Providences of God; which makes us hope, as Mr. Withers affirms, That that glorious Revolution will be in this present Age. And though famous Du Moulin, and some Others, speak not of the Pope's claiming the Title of Universal Bishop, till about the year 604. or 606. when the Traitor Phocas by the help ●f Boniface the 3d. murdered the Emperor Mauritius, (in requital of which, the Usurper Phocas gave the said Boniface that blasphemous Title, and decreed that the Roman Church should be head of all Churches; Which Platina a Papist, and a Writer of the Pope's Lives agrees to▪ as Beda, de 6 Aetat Mundi, Paul▪ Diacon. rer. Rom. 18. Histor. Longob. lib. 4. 11. Anast. Bibl. Vit. Bon. 3. Ado. Aetat. 6. Reg. Chron. l. 1. Aimon. de gest. Franc. lib. 4. c. 4.) Yet the same Du Moulin seems positively to affirm, that the Persecution of the Church under the Pope, shall have an end in (or about) the Year, 1689. See his Book entitled, The Accomplishment of the Prophecies, Pag. 4. 12. Thus Term once expired (saith he) the Truth that was apprest shall lift up her head afresh, and the Witnesses shall be seen to stand up again, who shall astonish the Church of Rome, etc.  
(b) 2 Thes. 2. 3. Man of Sin. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, is an Hebraism, and imports a person given up to Impiety and Wickedness, as Pro. 24. 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vir scientiae, a Man of knowledge, that is, Very Knowing, 2 Sam. 16. 8. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, vir sanguinum, A Man of Blood, that is, one arrived at a non ultra of impiety.   

This introducer of blind Superstition,  
Is styled in Holy Writ, (c) Son of Perdition.  
From Hell's Abyss, at first he did proceed,  
As in the Revelations (d) you may read:  
'Tis he whom Daniel calls (e) the little Horn,  
By whom three more up by the Roots were torn.   

(c) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, Son of Perdition, is also an Hebraism, and denotes, One designed for destruction, as a hopeless and graceless wretch. Chrysost. on 2 Thes. Hom. 3. tells us, he is called so because he shall be destroyed Piscator and Erasmus think it may be expounded, one desperate, and past all hope of Honesty— the perfect Copy of his Original Judas, who is called the Son of Perdition, John 17. 12. for he seemed an Angel, yet was a Devil— he was no Heathen, quitted Judaisme, followed Christ, was an Apostle, seemed to pity the Poor, pretended great affection to his Master, yet betrays him with a Kiss, loved the Bag, hatched a Villainy able to rend the Rocks, and make the Earth quake— In which let all impartial men consider whether the Romish Antichrist does not exactly Parallel him,  
(d) Rev. 11. 7. The Beast that a ascendeth out of that Bottomless Pit, etc.  
(e) Du Moulin, p. 379. amply demonstrates that the portion of the Roman Empire, which the Pope hath under him hath such proportion in respect of the whole Extent of the Roman Empire, as there is of ● to 10, that is little less than the third Part, agreeable to Dan. 7. 8.    

THe Marks of the Beast.  

First Mark.  

The Spirit aptly does characterise  
This Mushrooms growth, (f) declares he shall arise  
Not till a day of great Apostasy  
Corrupts true Faith and Gospel Purity:  
Just so it happened at that very time,  
When Rome's proud Prelate did attempt to climb  
To that Prodigious Grandeur which devours  
Both Regal, Princely and Imperial Powers.  
That such a Fall as then Predicted was,  
Did e'er his rising, truly come to pass,  
Some Learned Writers of their own confess,  
With detestation of their wickedness.   

(f) This is one way whereby we may know who the Man of Sin is, viz. He shall not be revealed until there come a falling away first, as 2 Thess. 2. 3. The Revelation of Antichrist was then to be, when there should appear some eminent Defection in the Church. Now Antiquity clearly makes out when that Apostasy was; it began an very early: It is affirmed by some, The Church did not continue a pure Virgin, nor retained her Primitive Purity, longer than one hundred years. But however, all approved Historians agree, that about the beginning of the Fourth Century, the Apostasy of which the Apostle speaketh, was visible, and fully manifested: Joan. Wolfius out of Jerom, saith, That about the year 390. the Law perished from the Priest, and the Vision from the Prophet; Avarice and Corruption crept into the Church; they condemned Meats and Marriage, and yet gave themselves up to luxurious Banquets and Uncleanness. In the year 326, it was endeavoured in the Council of Nice, to cause Bishops and Elders to refrain from their Wives. See Alsted in Chronologia testium Veritatis. Also the said Wolfius allegeth a Saying out of Augustine, applying it to the year 399. who speaketh thus: That Religion about that time was corrupted with Traditions land Humane Rites; that the condition of the Jews under the Law, was easier than that of Christians under the Gospel. Dionysius in an Epistle hinteth that they were burdened with Ceremonies and Traditions that were obtruded and laid upon Christians; and that the Sacraments both of Baptism and the Lords Supper, suffered great mutation, and was grievously corrupted. Also we find Chrysostom declaiming against the Bishop of Rome, concerning Purgarory; which thing is applied to the Year 410. or there abouts. Besides, we find mention made of worshipping of Images▪ which is reprehended by one Amphilocus Bishop of Iconium, as also by Epiphanius, whom we find speaking thus: Whence is this Image-Worship, and Design of the Devil? And a little after, he saith, Be mindful, my beloved Children, that ye bring not Images into the Church, but bear about God in your hearts.    

The Second Mark.  

WHen Rome's great Empire to its Period came,  
The Papal Hierarchy (h) usurped the same,  
By hellish Craft he makes that Seat his own,  
And forms Regalia's to a Tripple-Crown.  
This Man of Sin in * Gospel-Times we know  
Was but a hatching, and in Embryo;  
And e'er he could come to maturity,  
The † Roman Empire must dissolved be;  
Upon whose Ruins he hath built his Nest,  
An raised his Rampant Domineering Crest.   

(h) The second thing that was to precede the coming of Antichrist, was the taking away of the Sixth Head, viz. The Heathen Empire, which in the Apostles time * did let or hinder his Rise; He that now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way, and then shall that wicked one be revealed, etc. The Empire (saith du Moulin) which did bear rule, must be abolished, and out of the Ruins thereof the Son of Perdition is made manifest, and exalts himself: the Emperors hindered him, but the Empire being decayed in the West, and diminished in the East by the Saracens, the Pope found means to seize upon the chief City of the Empire, together with great part of Italy, and to devour the Neighbouring Churches and Realms at his pleasure. Du Moulin, ubi supra, p. 119. That this was the general Opinion of Antiquity, may be seen in Tertullian, lib. de Resurrect. cap. 24. Chrysost, 4 Sermon on 2 Thes. The Greek Scholiast. in loc. August. de civitat Dei, lib. 20. cap. 19 Iren. 11. quest to Algasia, Lipsius, etc. He that would see more particularly how the Bishop or Rome hath made his Market by the ruin of the Empire, let him read Signonius his History of the Kingdom of Italy: In the beginning of his third Book he shows how Pope Gregory the Second, because the Emperor opposed his setting up of Images in the Church, forbade the People to pay Tribute to him, and not so much as once to name him in their Public Service, Du Moulin, p. 157. This then being out of question, to wit, That the Roman Empire whereof St. Paul speaks, is already ruined, and that the Bishop of Rome thereupon rose to that height of pride and Blasphemy, it must needs follow that the Son of Perdition is revealed, and that this is he.    

The Third Mark.  

AT first from mean estate (1) this Beast arose,  
Came from the Earth, and did at length oppose  
The former Beast, the Roman Empire; he  
By help of Lombard's chased from Italy,  
Usurped his Seat, appropriates his Power,  
And doth the Saints (as bad as he) devour.  
Pope's Tragicks are the second part of his.  
As if that Soul by Metempseuchosis (2)  
Survived, and were translated into this.  
Now let all judge if Antichrist become  
That sees these Marks upon the Beast or R●me.   

(1) This Beast (saith Du Moulin) rose from a small beginning and mean estate, signified by a Little Horn in daniel's Prophecy, and in the Revelations of St. John by his rising out of the Earth, according as the Latins call such as get up from a little, Terrae Filios, as Mushrooms or Toad-stools, pag. 259. Now who is there but knows how mean and poor the Bishops of Rome were, before they came to be Earthly Monarches? then when they had not one foot of ground, that the Emperor caused them to be whipped, imprisoned, banished, etc. but by degrees to what a mighty height did he rise? He exercised the Power of the First Beast by little and little, he took the Empire upon him, (2) sat down in his very Seat, assumed his Habit and Shoes of Scarlet, and counterfeited the actions and rights of the Roman Empire: casting off his Crosier-Staff, he takes to hisself a Crown, and is clothed in Scarlet, which was proper to the Emperor: the Emperor had a Senate ●lad in Scarlet, and he hath a Senate of Cardinals clad in cloth of the same colour, and in many other things he seemed to represent the First Beast.    

The Fourth Mark.  

(1.) HE doth exalt himself above all those  
Called Gods on earth, does by his (2) Bulls oppose  
All Regal Edicts, that receive not their  
Obliging Sanction from his papal Chair,  
He like a Peerless Potentate does now  
Make sovereign Thrones, and Crowned Monarches bow.   

(1.) This is notorious to the World, though the brevity of Notes admit not room for many Examples.  
(2.) Pius the Fifth, sent a Bull to depose Qu. Elizabeth. See Jewel's View of Sedition, and Cambden's Eliz 1570. Tom. 1. Gregory the 13 laboured secretly to rnine her, Id. ibid. Anno 1378. Tom. 1. Sixtus 5. gave her Kingdom to the king of Spain, Anno 1588. ibid. Clement 8. Strictly commands that none should inherit the English Crown, how good soever his Title be, unless they be sworn and resolved Papists, he words are thus: Nisi ejusmodi esset, qui fidem Catholicam non modo toleraret, sed omni opp & study promoveret, & study promoveret, & more majorum jurejurando se id praestiturum susceperet. Camb. Ann. 1600. Tom. alter.   

(3.) Some hold his Stirrup, (4.) some are made to wait  
Three Frosty Night's barefooted at his Gate.  
(5.) Imperial Heads lie prostrate at his Beck,  
And to his trampling feet submit their Neck.   

(3.) Pope Adrian 4. made the Emperor Frederick 1. to hold his Stirrup, and chid him for holding the wrong one, Balaeus in Act. Rom. Pont. in Vit. Adrian 4.  
(4.) Gregory 7. made the Emperor Henry 4. his Empress and Child, to wait 3 days and 3 night, in a Frosty Season, barefooted and barelegged, before his Gates, before they could get Audience. Id. In vit. Gregor. 7.  
(5) Alexander 3. Made the Emperor fall upon the ground, in the Temple of St. Mark at Venice, the whole People being present, and puts his Foot upon his Neck, uttering the Psalmists words, Psal. 91. 13. Thou shalt tread upon the Lion and the Adder, the young Lion and Dragon shalt thou trample under feet, Id. in vit. Alex. 3. see 40 Examples of this in the Learned Dr. White's Way of the Church. p. 18, 19, 20, 21.    

The Fifth Mark.  

ANother Mark, He in God's Temple sits,  
Boasting himself a God, and counterfeits  
True Holiness; when he assumed the Throne,  
There was a Temple (*) of the Holy One  
In Rome, and did continue so, till they  
Displaced Christ, (†) and flung his Truth away.   

'Tis expressly latd down by the Apostle, as an undoubted Mark of the Man of Sin, viz. That he should sit in the Temple of God. Chrysost. is very express, Hom. 3. 2. Thes. 8. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, that is, not in Jerusalem but in the Church, so Oecumenus, de Rome, lib. 3. cap. 13. and Theoph. Theodor. Ambros. Primus Anselm. Severian. apud imsum. Besides it was to be in a C●with 7 Hills, and where 7 kings of supreme Magistrates were or had been, which agrees to no City ty but Rome, as is demonstrated by peter du Moulin and others; if it be objected, That the Church of Rome at the time of Antichrists Rise, could not be the Temple of God, because upon the Great Apostasy that denomination ceases, it is answered▪ It might be called the Church and Temple of God then, though the Presence of God and the true Religion and Power of Godliness was gone it might retain the Name; as Royal Palaces keep their names when ruined; ' its said, I sa. I. 2 I. How is the Faithful City become an Harlot? Could she be a faithful City and a Harlot too? The meaning is, she was so, but now thus; so Matth. II. 5. Mark 7. ult 'tis said, The blind see, the deaf hear, the dumb speak, the lame walk, etc. that is, they were so, but now otherwise; a Woman keeps her Husband's Name though divorced for Whoredom; so Rome (*) was God's Temple & Christ's Church, but when she espoused another Head, and cast off her first Husband (†) and the true Faith, she became an Harlot and Synagogue of Satan, though bearing still the name of Church and Christian also. See an excellent Treatise, Entitled, The Man of Sin, Printed 1677. pag. 40. etc.    

The Sixth Mark.  

THis is the Beast upon whose Back the great  
Enticing Strumpet rides in Pompous State (*)  
By him she was supported all along,  
By his Imposture she was rendered strong.   

(*) So he carried me away in the Spirit into the Wilderness, and I saw a Woman set upon a Scarlet coloured Beast, full of Names of Blasphemy, having seven Heads and ten Horns, Rev. 17. 4. I will show the Mystery of the Woman, and the Beast that carries her, vers. 7.   

This Mark that (†) Notion throws quite out of Door,  
That says the Beast shall not arise before  
The Desolation of the Scarlet Whore.   

(†) It hath been a received Opinion of some Christians of late times, that the Beast who is the Antichrist or Man of Sin, shall not arise till the Whore is destroyed, and that when he comes he shall only Reign 3 Years and a half. Which Notion may seem strange to all considerate men; because that Beast who is of the 7th. and an 8th. all confess is the Man of Sin: and how evident is it that this very Beast bears up, and carries the Whore from first to last? Besides, Consider 'tis said, the 10 Horns of this very Beast's shall hate the Whore, and make her desolate, how could the Horns hate or hurt her, if the Beasts rise not till she is destroyed? can there be Horns and no Beast? And besides, should this Notion be received, it might seem strange that the Holy Spirit passeth by in silence, and takes no notice of this horrid Monster, or Succession of Popes, that have continued so long, having all the Marks and Characters so clearly upon him of Antichrist. If any should say, he doth not deny Christ come in the Flesh. I answer, In a Mystery he doth, and particularly, in his ordaining of Sacrifices, as it was under the Law, which cease all when the Antitype came, and by assuming the place of Christ's Supremacy and Government.    

The Seventh Mark.  

THe Holy Spirit most expressly faith,  
In later times some shall renounce the faith.  
That by the Spirit of Seduction led,  
Doctrine of Devils through the Earth shall spread,  
That belch out Falsehood in Hypocrisy  
And many Thousands do deceive thereby;  
Forbidding Marriage, (*) and the use of Meat,  
Which God ordained for every man to eat.   

(*) This is an undeniable Mark of the Son of Perdition, viz. That he shall forbid Marriages, and command to abstain from Meats, and who it is that commands to abstain from Meats, and who it is that suffers not his Clergy to Marry, and forbids the eating of Flesh on some eertain Day and seasons of the Year, is known to all. The Council of Chalcedon saith (Conon. Cap. 16.) ut nec Deo dicata Virgo, nec Monachus nuberit; That no Nun or Monk shall marry. Bellarmine in his 34. Cap. of the Book of Monks, styles the Marriage of Clarks and Monks by the name of Sacrilege; and affirms, That they sin less which commit Fornication after they have once taken a Vow, than they do which Marry; nay, and in the 19 Cap of the First Book of Clarks, he saith, That the Marriage of saints is not without some Sin, Pollution and Uncleanness. The General Council assembled at Trullo, to make Canons, tell us plainly in the 13 Canon, that in the Church of Rome, Whosoever will be a Deacon or Priest, must first protest that he will never any more after that have to do with his Wife, &— If a man be found to have broke the Ordinance of the Church, by eating Flesh in Lent, especially in the Week which they call the Holy Week, the Priest, saith my Author, hath no power to absolve him, etc. This Doctrine of the Pope, as ' its a Mark of Antichrist, so'its expressly called the Doctrine of Devils.    

The Eighth Mark.  

HE's not content to be Supreme below,  
And make all Sceptres to his Crosur bow;  
But th' impious Wretch is grown so bold that even  
He dares affront the Majesty of Heaven.  
What God Commands, this Imp of Hell controls,  
Condemns the saved, and saves condemned Souls:  
Himself he places in Jehouahs (a) Throne,  
As Chief of all, as Second unto none.   

(a) He shall oppose and exalt himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped, showing himself that he is God, 2▪ Thess. 2. He shall speak great things against the most High, Dan. 7. 25. That the Pope is guilty of opposition to, and emaltation of himself above the Majesty of God, is made appear by divers worthy Writers; the very Life and Soul of Popery seems to run in this vein. The Lord Jesus (saith one) is made a very Lackey to the Pope, he changes Times and laws at his pleasure. God says, Thou shalt make to thyself on graven Image, etc. The Pope takes away that Commandment, and declares ' its lawful to worship Images. The Lord bids us Search the Scriptures; the Pope opposeth this, and forbids the reading of them, nay burns to death those that do read them; and to prevent it, locks them up in an Unknown Tongue. God pardons Sins upon Repentance, the Pope without, for a Sum of Money. The Pope can invest a sorry Priest with power by uttering a few words to make a God, to turn Bread into the Real Body of Christ, and have power over him to do with him what he pleases when he hath done, and he can't deliver himself out of his hands.   

A brace of Keys he carries in his hand,  
To shut and open at his own Command.  
He curses and absolves, he binds, releases,  
Puts down, advances whomsoever he pleases.  
This is th' Apocalyptick Beast, that claims  
Sublimest Titles, and Blasphemous Names,  
With Matchless Pride, and Peerless Impudence,  
He does for Money with God's Laws dispense  
To fill his Purse (O shameless Avarice!)  
All sorts of Sins he values at a price (b)   

(b) What Sin is it but the Pope takes upon him to pardon for Money; besides be makes, the detestable Sins of Treason and Murder, if it be done in Zeal, and by his Authority, for the Promotion of the Pretended Holy Church, meritorious, Canonising black and brutish Sinners for Saints, in his Calendar, he exalts himself above the Word of God, he usurps God's Seat, by giving what Interpretation to God's Law he pleases, which he makes of equal Authority with it.    

The Ninth Mark.  

FAlse Miracles and Lying Wonders too  
This grand Deceiver does pretend to do (a)  
He fain would make th' abused World believe,  
That he with Ease can make a Dead Man live.  
They do such things, their Sottish Legend saith,  
As far exceeds all Truth or Humane Faith;  
Their Nature, Number, Circumstances all,  
Done by Achievements Dabolical;  
Their senselss Fables, arrant Fopperies,  
Are mere Impostures and apparent Lies.  
This is an Engine which the Granceless Wretch  
Does spread abroad, the Sons of Men to catch:  
And God lets such those horrid lies believe,  
Who Gospel-truths' would not in love receive,  
That they might perish and be damned thereby,  
The just desert of such Iniquity!   

(a) Even him whose coming is after the working of Satan with all Power, and Signs, and lying Wonders, 2 Thes. 2. 9 Bellarmin (de not▪ Eccl. l. 4. cap. 14.) maketh Miracles one infallible Sign of the True Church; md certain I am, the false and lying Wonders of the Roman Church, clearly showeth the Pope to be the Antichrist, or Son of Perdition. I have not room here to enumer ate many of them, only take one or two, by which you may judge of the rest. One Becanus' Head being off, St. Itas Prayers made it come posting through the Air, stand by the Body, and she joined them fast again, so that in one Hours space the Man became as lively as ever be had been in all his life.  
St. Anthony's Arm, that precious Relic at Geneva, was kissed and worshipped with great Devotion, whilst Popery kept its ground; but when the Gospel came, and the Relic was produced, 'twas found the Pisle of a Stag, Calv. de reliq. propinitium. Possibly you may have heard of the Wonders that Relic had done; and of St. Decumanus, who carried his own Head after it was cut off, to a Spring, and there washed off the Blood from it. A Country Curate, saith Erasmus, getting Crabs, and fastening Candles to their backs, set them a crawling up and down the Churchyard at Night, and in the Morning, after he had taken them in again, persuaded the People that they were poor distressed Souls in Purgatory, you must think such that wanted Masses and Alms▪ saith my Author; ye know the Proverb, No Penny, No Pater Noster: a fit Miracle to pick the People's Pockets. Lib. 22. Jo. Epist. p. 1529. in Epist. Edit. Basil. A Maid coming into a Garden, and taa Lettuce to eat it, crushed the Devil between her Teeth in the Lettuce; and this poor Devil, saith Du Moulin, whom she belike swallowed down together with the Lettuce, being commanded to go out, and checked by Equitius, excuseth himself, saying, Alas! what hurt did I? I was sitting quietly upon the Lettuce, and she came and bit me, the fault was in her for not making the Sign of the Cross when she gathered the Lettuce. Moreover, these ridiculous Impostors affirm, that when the Body of Pope Formosus was carried into St. Peter's Church, all the Images of the Saints that stood there, did him Obeisance; but above all, the Miracle of the ass that left his Provender to worship the Hoest, seems most ridiculous to King James: see his Apology, etc. Many of their pretended Miracles were wrought, as Writers intimate, about the 4 and 5 Century, and were contrived to confirm the Pope's Headship and Universal Supremacy, together with their idle stories of Purgatory, Images, Praying for the Dead, etc. Those that would see more, let them read Du Moulin, also a late Book Entitled, the Man of Sin.    

The Tenth Mark.  

HIs out Side's smooth, he's garbed in Sheep's array,  
But inwardly a ravenous Beast of Prey.  
He has a Mouth (a) wherewith he speaks great things,  
Blasphemes the glory of the King of Kings.   

(a) And there was given unto him a Mouth speaking great things, and Blasph●nys, Rev. 13. 5. And he opened his Mouth against God, to blaspheme his Name and Tabernacle, and them that dwell in Heaven, ver. 6. He shall speak great words against the Most High, Dan. 7. 25. This Mark of the Beast is apparently seen in the Pope, in those Insolent and Blasphemous Titles he assumes to himself; he is called Christ's Vicar, or his Viceroy and Lieutenant. Bellarm. de Rom. lib. 2. cap. 31. Foundation, Head, and Husband to the Catholic Church; Hid Holiness, that can be judged by no Man; though he draw an innumer able number to Hell, who shall say to him, what dost thou? What would you think to hear him called, The Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Root of David? so Begnius one of his Bishops Courted Pope Leo the Tenth, and thereupon bad the Daughter of Zion not to weep, saying, God had raised to her a Saviour▪ See Council Later▪ sub Leon 10. Sess. 6. ap. sur.  
He is frequently called by those of the Romish Church, Our Lord God the POPE. Exter. Joan. 22. Tit. 14. c. 4.  
And as touching his Blasphemies against those that dwell in Heaven, to wit, the Saints of God, 'tis evident that they are continually branded for Heretics Schismatics, and what not.    

The Eleventh Mark.  

'Tis He that aims at th' utter Dissolution  
Of precious Saints, by Bloody Persecution,  
That does pronounce no Christian fit to live,  
Unless they do his Beastly Mark receive.  
Forbids all Traffic, none must sell or buy,  
Except th' adorers of his Hierarchy.  
This Mark the Pope doth in his Forehead bear  
Of which full proof, is extant every where,  
The Numbers he hath (a) murdered do surmount  
The stricttest of Arithmeticks' account.  
They stained each Nation with a Crimson Flood  
And Swelling Current of my children's Blood.   

(a) He shall wear out the Saints of the Most High, Dan. 7. and caused as many as would not worship the Image of the Beast should be killed, Rev. 13. 5. We find upon Record, That Pope Innocent the 3. within the space of a few Months, made more than 200000 of the faithful to be slain, who they called Albigeans, he had made all Europe to stream with Blood; in St. Bartholomews' Massacre, in the Year 1572M more than 80000 were slain in cold blood▪ see Du Moulin p. 246. 247. The Duke de Alva (s●ith he) played the Butcher in Flanders, and under the show of Catholic Zeal, slew Millions of People, in recompense where of the Popesent hem a Holy Sword and Consecrated Gloves; besides the infinite numbers slew in other places, by Wars, bloody Massacres, and otherwise, of which you will hear more hereafter; so that by this time sure all may conclude Antichrist is come, and that this is he in whom all the Marks and Characters do so fully meet, which the Holy Ghost hath given of him.     

Sion's Sons.  
THese Marks are so notorious that we can  
Say of the Romish Pope, He is the Man:  
For these Characteristics truly are  
To him (and only him) peculiar.  
This raging Monster is that Beast of Prey:  
Shall we arise to take his Strength away?  
That hath so long time tyrannised thus  
(With Hellish Fury) over thee and us?  
Self-preservation is, by every creature  
Esteemed a Sacred Principle in Nature.  
Each Freeborn mind, must at those Tyrants spurn  
That would infect their Souls, their Bodies burn.  
Why should this Beast still rage and domineer  
As he hath done, without control or fear?   

Zion.  
YOu are to wait for God's great Dispensations,  
At whose disposal is the fate of Nations;  
His time is best, and in due Season he  
Will bring this Beast to his Catastrophe.  
He sits in Heaven, and beholds with Scorn,  
This Rebel's Pride. His glorious Son that's born  
Heir of the World, and Prince of Kingdoms too,  
Shall surely Reign, because it is his due;  
For all to him the Sovereign Rule must yield;  
He shall the Crown and Royal Sceptre wield:  
Nations shall serve him; Kings that have abhorred  
His Name, shall pay him Homage, as their Lord.  
To JESUS all shall bow, he shall be King,  
And to poor Zion shall Redemption bring.  
Till this Beast's month, and latest hour be spent,  
No Humane Weapon can his Rage prevent.  
To suffer Persecution I'm appointed,  
Till Instruments are chosen and anointed  
For my Deliverance; your work's to prey,  
And be prepared for that blessed day;  
When Babel falls, and Zion is restored  
To height of favour, with her Blessed Lord.  
The day approaches, and if you would win  
Renown by Fight, then encounter Sin;  
That homebred Foe, which in your Bosom lurks,  
And like the Venom of an Aspic works  
Through all your Vitals; 'tis the Capital  
And grandest foe, that would betray you all;  
It corresponds with those that do expose  
To torments, all that with the Bridegroom close;  
Till this is conquered, I shall not arise,  
Nor be delivered from mine enemies.  
This Traitor makes my very heart to faint,  
And does occasion most of my Complaint;  
For by's conspiring with the Beast and Devil,  
I am surrounded with the present evil.  
Besides these Foes of my forlorn Estate,  
There is another strong Confederate,  
The Proud, Imperious and Insulting Whore,  
Of whom I made a sad Complaint before;  
She with lascivious Looks and Wanton Eyes  
Prompts on to Lust and all Debaucheries;  
By her salacious and bewitching Charms  
She does entice Great Men into her Arms,  
Corrupting Princes by her Incantations,  
Destroys the brave Nobility of Nations.  
Great God assist me, ere my Spirits fail!  
That I the State of Monarches may bewail,  
Who to her Yoke yield their Illustrious Necks,  
And move (like Vassals) at her saucy becks.  
Oh! they that should My Nursing-fathers' be,  
Are Executioners of Cruelty,  
By this Whore's influence, the Civil Power  
Is made a dreadful Engine to devour  
The Saints of God, and kick at the Creator;  
But let them know that Sovereign Arbitrator  
Of all their Destinies, is Great and Just,  
And can, at pleasure, tumble them to Dust.  
What pity is't that Dukes and Noble Peers,  
With other Heroes, should for many years  
Thus truckle to that Proud, Usurping Whore,  
And for her sake enslave themselves? nay more,  
Exhaust their Treasure, and debase their Name,  
And bring themselves to such reproach and shame,  
By thus engaging in her Hellish Plots,  
Which fastens on them Everlasting Blots.  
That shameless Strumpet, whose accursed Wiles  
Trappans the Conscience, and the Soul beguiles,  
When she involves them in the deepest guilt,  
She does pretend to wash away the filth,  
By impious Pardons! Yea, to such an height  
Does she bewitch Men, that the very sight  
Of Tyburn, cannot move them to confess,  
Their load of guilt and horrid Wickedness;  
It is her Art, when they are parting hence,  
To steel their Fronts with shameless impudence.  
When they are drawn to a deserved Death,  
With lies She makes them to resign their breath.  
She makes them drunk till they forget their fears,  
Her Agents buzzing in their doubting Ears;  
Who (like ill Angels) round about them hover,  
For fear they should her Rogueries discover.  
When some are stretched upon the fatal Block,  
And Justice ready to discharge the stroke;  
Such is the strength of her Inebriation,  
That they (oh horrible!) on their Salvation.  
Protest they're innocent! when all the while  
No Treason ever did appear more vile,  
Then that for which Impartial Justice hath  
Judged them (as Traitors, to deserved Death.  
Rome (by their frantic Resolutions) would  
Outface the Sun, and baffle) if She could)  
The clearest Proofs, and solid'st Evidence  
Produced by heavens unerring Providence.  
Ah! Cruel Mistress of deluded Souls!  
That's not content to make them arrant Fools  
To lose Estates and Lives, but must thereby  
Make them stab Conscience, when they come to Die.  
She, to encourage Treasons, does prefer  
Those Traytor-Martyrs in her Calendar.   

ZIONS' Sons.  
This Whore and Beast in Interest are so joined,  
That many puzzled are, which way to find,  
whereiny the differ, pray tell us therefore,  
How is the Beast, distinguished from the Whore.   

ZION.  


(a) The Pope's the Beast, usurping over all,  
A Power Supreme and Magisttraticall;  
This Scarlet Beast does in the strictest sense,  
Lay claim to Secular Pre-eminence.  
The Roman Empire lost the Ruling Seat,  
The Pope usurped it, and from thence grew great,  
All Kings that he could by his craft allure,  
Receive their Power; and Investiture,   
This Whore cannot be the Beast.   

(a) 1. Because the Beast is expressed in the Masculine Gender, the Man of Sin, the Son of Perdition, and the Beast that was, and is not even HE is the Eight and of the Seven, i e. He came up by means of the Liberty and large Revenues The Seven Heads, viz. The Christian Emperors gave to the Ch● rch and Churchmen, though a different and distinct sort of Government to all before it, but Mystery Babylon is expressed by the Feminine Gender, a Woman a Whore, Mother of Bar●●●; I saw the Woman drunk with the Blood of the Saints, 〈◊〉 And when I saw her I wondered, etc.  
2. The Angel describes them distinct, the one from the other, a Beast and Whore, I John saw them as clearly distinct as a Beast is from her that sits upon him, and I saw a Woman set upon a Scarlet coloured Beast, Rev. 17. 3.  
3. If the Beast and Whore were 〈◊〉 and the same, than the Whore sets up and rides upon herself▪ then which nothing can be more absurd and ridiculous.  
4. There is as real a difference between the Man of sin, and the Wh●re or false Church, as is between Christ and the true Church: the Beast or Antichrist is the Head, the Whore is the Body; and indeed it was by renouncing the Headship and Government of Christ Jesus, and espousing, owning, and swarming to the Headship and Supremacy of the Pope, that first gave the Church of Rome, the denomination of a Whore; for a Woman that has Two Heads, Two Husbands can be no other.  
5. Moreover 'tis evident that the Beast shall remain though in Captivity, his Power being taken away after the Whore is destroyed. And burned with Fire, Rev. 1). 19, 20● Dan. 726.   

From him: the Whores, th' (b) Ecclesiastic State,  
Or Romish Hierarchy, that take her Seat  
Upon the back of this Ten horned Steed,  
(Which gores my side, and makes my Children bleed.)   

(b) Though 'tis granted the Magistratical Power ●f Popish Kings in large sense is singified by the Beast who do support the Ecclesiastic State or false Church, yet Originally it more strictly resides in the Pope, for by a ●olentary submission to him: he is become their Master, as Du Moulin, page 161. Observes their Crowns being at the Pope's disposal, who takes it, and gives it (saith he) to whom he thinks good, which things have been Noted by Buicciardine, that famous Historian, in his History of the rises and advancements of the Pope.    

ZIONS' Sons.  
SHall we (endangered by her Plots) arise  
To curb this Whore, that our great God defies?  
Why should her Treasons any more annoy  
Thy precious Saints and Nations thus destroy,  
Le's make her Drink in that envenomed Cup  
She fills for us shall she not swill it up;  
Will none fall on, provoked by flaming ire,  
To Eat her Flesh, and burn her in the fire?   

ZION.  
Who instrumental in that work shall be;  
Read well the Sacred Scriptures, you may see  
Rev. Esa. Jerem.  
And since the matter you do understand,  
It brings me comfort on the other hand:  
As 'twas foretell in Sacred Scripture story  
You are inlightnened with the Angel's glory;  
As for my Children who before did live,  
Light from this Angel they could not receive.  
My Children brought forth in the latter days,  
Shall do great matters to Jehovah's praise.  
I see some good men do desire to know  
The time when they this Whore shall overthrow;  
I cannot blame them for this very thing,  
To the whole World it will much glory bring.  
Then shall the Gospel through the Earth be spread  
And Men instead of Husks shall feed on Bread;  
God's Worship shall its freedom then enjoy,  
Rome's Locust than shall you no more annoy.  
There shall be then a wonderful increase  
Of Sion's glory and of Israel's peace;  
Then shall my Children in sweet consort sing  
Anthems of joy to the Eternal King.  
No names then of distinction more shall be,  
But speak one Language all they shall agree  
In peace and Oneness and blessed Harmony.  
But to reply to what you have required,  
At present you must keep yourselves retired  
Make no attempts until the Lord on high,  
Does give you strength this Babel to defy.  
You now do seem to lie as persons dead,  
As being unable to erect your head:  
But than you shall appear to be alive,  
The Spirit of the Lord shall you revive:  
God hath (I know) set down the time exact,  
When he'll begin this strange and dreadful Act,  
To the confusion of your Enemies.  
When God shall call his Witnesses to rise;  
Then from the Heavens, they shall hear a voice,  
Which shall make all their Spirits to rejoice.  
Then shall they have so evident a call,  
That they strait way shall on this Strumpet fall.  
With patience therefore wait upon the Lord,  
Until his saving strength he doth afford.  
To him you are to make your supplication,  
For from him only is my expctation.  
O sigh with me, and in your Spirits groan,  
And send strong cries up to his gracious Throne:  
Give him no rest till, (in those glorious days.)  
Of all the Earth, I'm made the only praise.  
And I'll lift up my voice to God on High,  
And make my moan to him, and thus will cry.   

ZIONS' Prayer.  
O Lord of Hosts, consider my Estate,  
Let me remain no longer desolate.  
Have I not been most precious in thy sight?  
O do not therefore my Petition slight;  
O let thy Bowels, to thy Children move,  
In tender token of Parental love.  
Shall Zion totter? And the Beast grow steady  
In his proud Seat? Hast thou not tried already?  
What some advantage, or what Gospel good,  
Is to be hoped for, from the wicked Brood?  
Canst thou expect they'll serve thee better Now?  
Are they more like to bless the World below;  
Then thy Poor Zion? If their measures be  
Repleted brimful of Iniquity,  
Then by just forfeiture, their right is gone,  
To Earthly Power, and Dominion.  
Will these thy saving Gospel Truths preserve?  
Or in pure Worship at thine Altars serve?  
Will these protect the Innocent and good,  
And not provoke thee with their crying blood?  
Will they make Judgement in right channels go!  
Extirpate Vice? Make Righteousness to flow  
Like mighty streams? Are they in Covenant  
with Thee? Or wert thou ever pleased to grant  
Them any Promises that they should wear  
The Sacred badges of thy Name? And bear  
The Sovereign Rule? Will Fathers, and young men,  
Within thy Church, be prized and honoured then?  
Shall they not rather, by their Barbarous hands,  
Be Butchered, for obeying thy Commands?  
Will not thy children's Souls in danger be  
Of swift Damnation, by Rome's blasphemy?  
If Laud on Earth and Praises will be given,  
If Hallalujahs will be sung in Heaven,  
To thy great Name, for raising Babylon,  
And bringing Zion to Destruction:  
If then the Door of Grace, be opened more,  
For men's Salvation, than it was before.  
If Sinners access unto the blessed Jesus,  
Be made more free; if cure of Soul Diseases  
Be then more easy, then let Zion fall.  
And Rome Usurp Dominion over all.  
But if in sight of thine allseeing Eye,  
Their Monstrous Crimes are of so black a die:  
If from their very Springing, they have been,  
The vilest Wretches, and the worst of men:  
If for the future they intent to be  
The Perpetrators of all Villainy.  
If their black sins, of gross Idolatry,  
Pride, horrid Murders, and Adultery,  
Mount up to Heavens great Imperial Throne,  
If thy oppression makes thy Church's groan;  
If they will burn thy Scriptures and suppress  
All Books that treat of Gospel Holiness?  
If guiltless Souls of every Sex and Age,  
Will be made Sacrifices to their Rage;  
If they are Foes, without thy Covenants,  
If they will trample on thy precious Saints;  
If they (because thou didst not hear and save  
Thy praying Zion, from a sinking Grave)  
Deride thy Glory, and blaspheme thy Name,  
And put thy Faithful ones to open shame.  
Deut. 32. 36.  
Then hear O Lord, thou see'st my power is gone,  
In thee I trust, besides thee there is none,  
That can thy Zion, from her Foes deliver,  
O draw some flaming Arrows from thy Quiver  
To quell the pride of this oppressing Crew,  
Thy mighty Arm alone can them subdue.  
On Thee I fix an absolute Reliance,  
Do Thou but help, I'll bid them all defiance.  
Hear and consider, for thy Mercy sake,  
On gasping Zion some compassion take.  
I have been ransomed with the precious Blood  
Of thy dear Son, and filled with Heavenly Food.  
O Lord I pray, thy Church's sins forgive,  
And in sweet concord let thy Children live;  
Teach them true saving knowledge from thy word  
That they may worship Thee with one accord.  
Thou canst the Prostrate raise, and cure his wound  
For nothing difficult for Thee is found.  
Thou knowest my grief, O Lord incline thy Ear,  
Revive my hope, and chase away my fear.  
In Achors Valley open thou a Door,  
And make me sweetly sing as heretofore;  
I pray Thee break the Bonds of my distress,  
And lead me from this dolesome Wilderness.  
O let me shine like Sols illustrate light,  
And be's an Army terrible in fight.  
Pull off that Veil that does thy Zion cover,  
Those clouds, O scatter that I may discover  
What thou dost mean by this thy dispensation,  
And what my work is in this Generation.  
It's time for Thee to plead thy People's cause,  
When wicked men make void thy righteous Laws.  
Thou canst destroy them with their brimful Cup,  
And lofty Cedars, by the roots pull up;  
But Lord remember for to spare thy Vine,  
That spreading Plant which thou hast chosen thine,  
Make that to flourish and be ever green,  
And full of clusters as before't has been.  
From Egypt thou hast brought it heretofore:  
From thence I pray deliver it once more,  
Let thine hand plant it, give it steadfast root,  
That all the Land may Feast upon its Fruit;  
O let its Cordial Juice the Nation fill,  
And let its boughs o'reshadow every Hill;  
From Sea to Sea do thou her branches send,  
And her, from all her Enemies defend;  
Make up her Hedge, her Fence, be thou a Wall,  
To keep her from the violence of all  
Rapacious Bears, and from the greedy Boar  
that would destroy it, and its fruit devour.  
Lord from on high thy lovely Vine behold,  
thin own Plantation, valued more than Gold;  
Canst thou deny thy helping hand the while  
Wild Beasts thy Vineyard ravage thus and spoil,  
I am Chrst's Spouse, his undefiled One,  
Canst thou permit me to be trod upon;  
'Tis by thy Grace I am Entitled so,  
Great God relieve me, and divert my woe,  
I am surrounded on all sides with pain,  
O let me see thy lovely smiles again.  
Thou hast withdrawn the beamings of thy grace,  
And wrapped in clouds the splendour of thy Face;  
O this has caused such anxious grief and smart,  
As tears my Soul, and rends my very heart  
To tears of blood, whilst thou the glorious Sun  
Of light art hid: O whether shall I run,  
For beams of comfort in this dolesome hour?  
Whilst I lie delu'd in this Brinish shower  
More would she speak, but her great passion ties  
Her mournful tongue: the Floodgates of her eyes  
In crystal streams do represent an anguish,  
That makes her vital operations languish.  
Sunk in despairing sounds, she scarce appears  
to breath or live, but by her sights and tears,   

ZIONS Sons.  
Mourn, mourn O heavens; and thou, O Earth bewail  
And weep ye Saints until your spirits fail,  
For she that is the glory of the Earth,  
Of the most Noble and Illustrious Birth,  
Lies sadly weltering in a deep despair,  
Her grievous sorrows, can no tongue Declare,  
O that our Brethren would, but hasten hither  
That in Gods fear we may confer together  
You must needs grieve, when her complaints you hear  
Do not your hearts dissolve into a tear?  
Do not your Eyes like to a Fountain stream?  
And all your Joys, turn to a mourning Theme?  
Does not your nightly rest from you depart?  
Are you not pierced to the very heart?  
Are you not in the depth of bitterness,  
Because of Zion and her sore distress?  
How can your heart's delight in thins below?  
How can you sleep in peace as others do?  
How can we comfort have, or Pleasure find?  
Or how can we the World's concernments mind?  
How can we eat or drink with hearts content,  
And not with grief poor Zions state lament?  
How can we bear our Mother's doleful cries,  
She sighs, she sobs, she languishes, she dies,  
In dreadful Agonies, in bitter pain,  
How can we brook her Enemy's disdain?  
She is reproached by every Drunken Sot,  
And thrown away like to a broken Pot.  
She is depis'd and trod upon like Dung,  
The Drunkard on her makes his daily Song:  
But Christ will turn and will expostulate  
The Case with Zion, touching her Estate.  
Why art thou sometimes up, then down again?  
Sometimes at ease, sometimes in bitter pain?  
They're doubtless throws cheer up and do not fear  
For thy deliverance is very near.  
Those labouring pangs shall speedily be o'er,  
Fear not, thou shalt not die, one, or two more  
Shall bring that Child into the World, which thou  
Hast trave'ld with in bitter pangs till now.  
Address they self to God, for surely he  
From these thy Tortures will deliver thee,  
'Tis he a loan that brings unto the Birth,  
And does give strength and vigour to bring forth;  
Then stay thyself upon this blessed Lord,  
His gracious help he will to the afford,  
Upon his Promises do thou depend,  
And thou shalt see deliverance in the end.  
These words of comfort like a Cordial wrought  
And to her senses, mourning Zion brought,  
With languished looks, she casts a weeping Eye  
Upon her Children, and Reaves her cry.   

ZION.  
I Am afraid my God hath me forsaken,  
My sighs he minds not, scarce bestows a look.  
His former pity, he hath quite forgot,  
His Anger's kindled & his wrath is hot;  
When that burns sore, how can I choose but mourn?  
How am I spoiled, how am I rend and torn?  
●m like a Ship with raging Tempest tossed  
Midst Rocks and Sands, just ready to be lost:  
Where every Bellow does present a grave,  
And Death in Triumph rides on every wave.  
Ah! But I am, engraven on his hand,  
And in his sight for evermore shall I stand.  
Awake, O Arm of God, and do not stay,  
My sorrows are so great, O say not nay,  
Hear me, dear Jesus, unto thee I cry,  
Unless thou save me, I must surely die,   

CHRIST.  
IN glorious Regions of approachless light  
Where Joys unmixed with perfect love unite;  
There do I sit, there do I see and hear  
What Kings and Potentates consulting are,  
resounding in mine Ears continually,  
●hear a bitter, and complaining cry.  
I feel my Bowels with compassion move,  
And therefore 'tis the voice of one I love,  
She whom I purchased with my dearest blood▪  
Seems drenched in tears and drowned in flood▪  
Some grievous sorrow, or great tribulation,  
Extorts from her this doleful lamentation,  
Enough to pierce my tender heart again.  
And make the Temple rend once more in twain▪  
Alas poor Zion! thy sad voice I hear,  
I'll come and help thee, for I know thy fear,  
And what occasions these thy lanquid Moans,  
I know thy sorrow, and I hear thy Groans.  
'Tis I can still the blust'ring Winds and Seas,  
And in thy greatest Anguish give thee ease.  
'Tis I can wound, and cure; I build, I break,  
I kill, I make alive: I give and take.  
And can (if I think fit) make Nations shake,  
And Kingdoms totter, reeling to and fro:  
I for thy sake, strange things will quickly do.  
In thy affliction, great distress and pain,  
Of which thou dost, so grievously complain,  
I am afflicted: What they do to thee.  
Of hurt or wrong, I take as done to me;  
I tender thee as th' Apple of mine Eye,  
Fear not therefore, thy proudest Enemy.  
Although with Foes thou art environed now,  
All power and wisdom is mine; and I know how  
To strengthen thee, and make them all to bow▪  
I will arise and show my Sovereignty;  
I'll make them to the Rocks and Mountains fly;  
Though with the Powers of Hell they have combined  
I will pursue them, & they shall not fiud  
A hiding place my vengeance to avoid,  
Till by my fury they be all destroyed  
I will bring down each high and lofty head,  
Their mighty ones like Mortar I will tread.  
Thy cause I'll plead, though silent I have stood,  
I'll be revenged for all the Righteous blood,  
That has run down like to a Mighty flood.  
And therefore now; I'll make no long delay,  
What's due to Justice, they shall surely pay;  
Besides the bloody wrongs thou dost repeat  
The crying Martyrs loudly do entreat  
Me to avenge their blood, therefore I will  
Come down in fury, and those Monsters kill;  
Then, thou before me very strong shalt wax,  
For I'll make thee my dreadful Battleax.  
Thy Horn shall Iron be, & thy Hoof Brass,  
With which thou shalt tread down the Serpent's race.  
Thy Sons that scattered o'er the Earth throughout,  
I will soon gather with a mighty shout.  
The Mighty they shall overcome with Slings,  
And bind in Fetters persecuting Kings.  
Ill lay thy Stones, with Colours fair and sure,  
Thy strong Foundation shall be Sapphire's pure:  
Although I seemed to have forsaken thee,  
Yet, from all bondage I will set thee free,  
Though I have thee afflicted heretofore,  
I'll turn my hand upon the bloody Whore;  
Because thou dost my holy Name profess,  
Ill break in piece them that thee oppress:  
Armed with Commission from the great Jehove,  
I will come down and all thy Griefs remove.  
All Weapons formed against my Zion, shall  
Unprosp'rous prove, for I will break them all.  
I'll teach thy Children, give thee lasting Peace,  
Converted Gentiles shall the Church increase.  
Though wicked Men with words do thee deride,  
Thy Borders I'll enlarge on every side.  
Each hungry Soul with plenty I will feed,  
The Earth I will divide among thy Seed.  
I've promised that they shall the world possess,  
And will perform it now in Righteousness.  
I will descend unto my Holy Hill,  
The Earth with knowledge I will quickly fill.  
I will supperss all Luxury and Riot,  
The Heathen in my presence shall be quiet.  
Above all Kings I shall exalted be,  
And Rule the Earth with Sovereign Majesty.  
When all the Kingdoms in the World are mine,  
Then thou in Beauty like a Queen shalt shine;  
And with thy Children in sweet Consort sing,  
Triumphant Hallelujahs to your King.   

ZION.  
O Matchless Grace, and Love beyond degree!  
Now I am certain there is none like Thee,  
In Heaven or Earth, were there ten thousand more  
For thou hast found a Salve for every Sore.  
Transported by thy love, with joy I cry,  
My Ravished Spirit must exalt the high.  
And mighty Lord, by whose unbounded grace,  
My hearts enlarged to run the blessed Race;  
Thou shalt conduct me to thy living Springs:  
From thence I'll movant up, as with Eagles Wings,  
Unto the Heavenly Mount of Faith's desire,  
Where I thy Grace and Glory will admire;  
Then I'll descend from those Abodes above,  
To be embraced in the Arms of Love.  
I'll hold thee fast, and never let th●● go,  
For by thy loss, O what a Depth of Woe  
Did I sustain! In what a dreadful Case  
Was I, when thou didst hide thy glorious face!  
Thee having, though nought elsn what have I not?  
Without thee, though all else what have I got?  
Lord having all things, and not thee, what have I?  
Let me enjoy but thee, what further crave I?  
Without thee nothing is of worth to me;  
All things are vile— when once compared to thee.  
To be thy Portion, Lord, thou didst me choose,  
And thou my Portion art: I'll ●●'re refuse  
So rich a Grace: thou art my Heritage,  
Thou art a God of Love from Age to Age,  
And therefore evermore I'll dwell with thee,  
For thou alone, my Hiding-place shalt be.  
In time of trouble and of fury great,  
I will unto thy Holy Name retreat;  
Which is a sure defence to all that fly  
With care and speed from their iniquity.  
When I was down, thou lift'st me up on high,  
And I thy Name will therefore magnify.  
O Lord, with Patience I will undergo  
Their indignation, for I well do know  
I have provoked thy great and glorious Name,  
Which is the cause that I do suffer shame:  
Although at present I am low and mean,  
Poor and despised, and so long time have been;  
Thou canst all Sorrows to thy Zion bless,  
I therefore, in thy Pleasure acquiesce;  
I'll wait upon thee, till thou dost arise  
To break in pieces all mine Enemies:  
My precious Cause then I do leave with thee,  
Which thou, O Lord, wilt surely plead for me;  
Thy Voice is to my ravished Soul so sweet,  
That I'm revived, and set upon my feet:  
I'll speak thy Praise in Songs, because I see  
That Glory near, which thou hast promised me.  
And now thou bloody Whore, that art my Foe,  
My time's at hand, which thou shalt quickly know.  
My God has not forsaken me, for now  
He will advance me, and make thee to bow:  
Then shalt thou hide (for shame) thy filthy head,  
Whilst I, in Triumph, shall upon thee tread;  
Because so long, thou hast upon me trod,  
And in Contempt hast said, Where is thy God?  
He will therefore in Right retaliate,  
And bring just Vengeance on thy cursed Pate.   

Babylon.  
POOR Zion! thou art much mistaken;  
I'm mounted high, thou art forsaken:  
Sure thou art Frantic, when thou dost  
Make such a vain and groundless boast:  
The final Conquest must be mine,  
And swift Destruction must be thine;  
For all my Wounds I've got a Cure,  
From all your Darts I am secure.  
I am arrived at height of Bliss,  
My Glory in its Zenith is.  
I am a Queen, and shall remain  
Supreme on Earth, I only reign  
In glittering Grandeur over all.  
Great Monarches Me their Mistress call:  
How can I fall, when such a Prop  
Supports, as my Lord God the POPE?  
All Men on Earth, His Vassals are,  
Who sits in Peter's Holy Chair;  
The Empire of the World he hath,  
He keeps the Keys of Hell and Death▪  
Dost think he fears the little tricks  
Of thy small brood of Heretics?  
He can make use (when he doth please)  
Of Peter's Sword, as well as Keys.  
His Canons roar, as loud as Guns,  
To crush thy feeble, Pigmy-Sons.  
Let but his Bulls give an Alarm,  
he'll make all Christendom to Arm  
Themselves in my defence, and work  
Thine Overthrow; didst thou not lurk  
Some Hundred Years, that none could see,  
Or know, what was become of thee?  
He that could rend thy force asunder,  
Has still the Strength to keep thee under:  
He will thee in Subjection keep,  
So that thou shalt not dare to peep.  
Am I not armed with the Power  
Of all the Earth? I can devour  
Your Interest at a single Mess,  
I have fit Cooks such Meals to dress;  
Th' Imperial and the Regal Sword  
Are brandished when I give the word:  
Great Princes, Dukes and Nobles will  
With all their force My Mind fulfil;  
My Gentry who brave Heroes are,  
Resolved be, no Pains to spare;  
Their Very Lives they'll freely spend  
To bring my Purpose to an end;  
My Brisk Mounsieurs, My Spanish Dons,  
Will over-match thy silly Sons:  
My Rogues in Grain, I ready have,  
Obedient like a Turky-slave:  
If bid to thrust their bloody Knives  
In throats of Fathers, Children, Wives,  
In any's out their own they'll do't,  
And lay them sprawling at my Foot.  
I've Teagues and Torys at my Beck,  
Will wring their Heads as Chickens Neck;  
Tried Villains! that will never start  
From Mother's Womb to tear the heart  
Of Unborn-Infants; they'll deflower,  
Then rip her up in half an hour:  
Faint Rogues will melt with qualms of fears  
At Father's Groans, or Mother's Tears;  
But mine are void of any Sense,  
Not plagued with bawling Conscience.  
To some I give no constant pay,  
Yet they can hunt and live by Prey.  
Your Infants that (like Carp) are stewed  
In their own blood, their Chaps have chewed.  
The Father's Cawls shall make a light  
For those Sweet Banquets of the Night.  
What e'er my greedy Stomach craves,  
But Nod, 'tis done, by ready Slaves:  
They know no scruples nor dispute,  
But act just like a Turkish Mute.  
Besides all these, I could describe  
Vast Musters of my Sacred Tribe:  
My Clergy makes a numerous Host,  
That wait in swarms in every Coast.  
Yea, even in all Rebellious Regions,  
I have in secret Armed Legions:  
A Great Grandee my Ensign carries,  
The Jesuits are my Janissaries.  
Thou see'st what Troops do guard my Chair,  
What canst thou do then but Despair?  
Thou seest me lodged in safe abode,  
Whilst thou'rt forsaken by the God.  
he's doubtless pleased with my behaviour,  
For I alone have got his Favour.  
Th' Apocalyptick Prophecy  
You falsely do to me apply;  
For I from Sin am washed clean;  
Thou art the Whore, he there does mean;  
I am the Church, and therefore I,  
Thy Threats, Thy GOD, and Thee, Defy.   

Zion.  
LEave off, leave off, thou Bloody minded Whore  
Imagine not that thou shalt Evermore  
Thus Domineer in Pomp and swacy Pride,  
For God e'er long, thy Rulers will divide.  
Those Mighty Ones, in whom is all thy Trust,  
Long shall not hold, but into pieces must  
Be surely broken: thou shalt quickly see  
The swift beginning of thy Misery.  
Those that did love thee most, will hate thee so,  
That they will seek thy utter Overthrow;  
As was their love, their hatred then will be,  
And to destroy thee they will all agree.  
Thou hast enslaved them to thy brutish Lust,  
Whilst they (like simple Fools) in no wise durst  
Offend or cross thy base and bloody mind;  
That they have been bewitched, they then will find,  
By thine alluring Voice, and lustful Eye,  
To join with thee in black iniquity.  
Thy Flatteries shall then no more deceive;  
Nor thy base Whoredoms Thousands more bereave  
Of inward peace, and outward riches, so  
As they have been, to their eternal Woe:  
Then shall they see thy Villainous Intent,  
In setting them against the Innocent.  
To Glut thy Base Adulterous Desire,  
Their sinful hearts were in a flaming Fire,  
And through the Instigation of the Devil,  
Became partakers of this Monstrous Evil.  
But, what approaches? Hark! methinks I hear  
Some Dreadful Noise! see how the Mountains tear  
And Mighty Hills do into pieces fly;  
Whilst Lightning flashes through the Angry Sky;  
The Stars and Planets in Confusion hurled,  
Have banished Nature's Order from the World.  
See how the Melting Orbs of Heaven sweat,  
Like Parchment Parched, and shrivelled up with heat,  
Loud Thunder-Cracks through the Enraged Air,  
With frightful Aspects Meteors do appear,  
To usher in the Day of heavens dread Ire  
On those, who do against the Saints conspire.  
Gods (long incensed) Majesty is come  
To judge the Whore, and pass her final Doom.  
Of Treason she is under an Attainder,  
For which Impartial Justice will arraign her.  
She's seized upon and in the Jailor's hands,  
Who only waits for Justice's Commands.  
Jehovah bids, that Babylon the great  
Be forthwith brought before his Judgement-seat   

Justice.  
MOst Sovereign Lord, who is it dares gainsays  
What thou command'st? I must and will obey  
Lo, here I bring the Scarlet Strumpt forth  
Before thee who createdst Heaven and Earth:  
Thy Judgment-Seat she seems to slight and scorn,  
Says she's as guiltless as the Child unborn.   

Jehovah.  
HEr Crimes lay open, and her facts declare,  
Turn up her Skirts and let her faults appear:  
Let th'universe by her Indictment see  
The cause of my most just Severity.   

Justice.  
DRead sovereign of the World! I will proceed,  
And will her black Indictment loudly read.  
Come forth, Great Whore! and hear your dismal charge,  
Which shall by proofs be evidenced at large.  
By th' Name of BABYLON, thou'rt hither cited,  
And by the Name of Whore, thou standest Indicted.  
Thou void of Grace, and Gods most Holy Fear,  
To Satan's Machinations didst adhere;  
With him, to plot against thy sovereign Prince,  
To whom thou ought'st to yield Pre-eminence.  
In Ancient times he was thine only Spouse,  
(Our Holy Law no Bigamy allows)  
Yet thou hast him perfidiously forsaken,  
And to thyself another Husband took;  
And with a graceless Impudence art led  
By they lewd Train, to an Adulterous Bed.  
Thou hast dethroned him, and thy brazen face  
Sets up a Monstrous Traitor in his place,  
To whom thou hast Blasphemous Titles given,  
Exalting him above the God of Heaven.  
Thou hast not only played th' Adulteress,  
But plain Idolatry thou dost profess;  
Of Treason, Murder, Theft, (abhorred things!)  
Of Burning Cities, poisoning of Kings,  
Of Undermining States, and furthermore,  
Of spoiling Trade, and making Kingdoms poor,  
Of horrid Plots, of causeless bloody Wars,  
And of contriving cruel Massacres,  
Thou guilty art; thy bloody Rage has hurled  
Millions of Innocents' Out of the World:  
Prodigious Numbers have in divers Lands  
Been Sacrificed by thy bloodthirsty hands.  
Insatiate Butcheries that know no end!  
Thou stabd'st men, when thou Pity didst pretend.  
In times of Peace thy horrid rage has shed  
Blood without Measure, thou hast murdered  
(Perfidious Wretch!) thy nearest Neighbour's when  
They thought themselves the most secure of m●n,  
Thou hast made Currents of their guiltless 〈◊〉  
To run like Waters of a mighty Flood;  
So void of Pity, your inhuman rage  
Destroyed the Saints, and spared no Sex nor Age.  
Speak Bloody Whore, hold up thy Graceless Head,  
Guilty, or Not? By Law thou art to plead.   

Babylon.  
LOok down, Blessed Virgin! and bid Justice stays  
Speak to thy Son to drive my Foes away:  
You Glorious Saints, who near St. Mary stand,  
In my distress, lend me your helping hand.  
All Angels, and Arch-Angels I invoke,  
To strengthen me, and to divert the Stroke:  
These Heretics will work wy Overthrow,  
I am amazed, I know not what to do!   

Belzebub.  
WHat needs my Darling thus to stand and pause, Laws,  
Thou knowst the Custom of our Romish  
Though black as Hell, yet be not so forlorn;  
Swear, that thou'rt guiltless, as the Child unborn.  
What Violence to Hereticksy ou do,  
Is lawful, honest, and your Duty too.   

Justice.  
Pled Vile Delinquent! or thou shalt receive  
The Fatal Sentence which I am to give.   

Babylon.  
I Do affirm the Charge is false, and I  
All Points of this Indictment do deny.  
Produce your Proofs, I'll stand in just Defence  
Of my apparent, spotless Innocence.   

Justice.  
THat like a Harlot, of thine own accord,  
Thou hast forsaken thine Espoused Lord,  
Will be made evident (to thy disgrace)  
By clear probation in its proper place.  
You say, that you your God can daily make,  
Which is an Idol of a Wafer-Cake.  
If thou dost Shrines and Images adore,  
And proved to be th' Apocalyptick Whore;  
If thou upon the Scarlet Beast doth sit,  
And Lewdness with so many Kings commit;  
It clearly follows from these Marks, that thou  
Art a mere Strumpet, and hast broke thy Vow.  
If thou art by the Papal Edicts led,  
Dis-owning Christ, and making that thy Head:  
The consequence is clear, for thou must be  
Guilty of Whoredom and Idolatry.  
And to examine thy Notorious Deeds,  
This great Tribunal out of hand proceeds:  
Call in the Witnesses—  

Waldenses.  
Albigenses.  
Protestants of Piedmont.  
Savoy, etc.   
— DRead Lord! we're here,  
And with our just Complaints do now appear.  
That Bloody Whore, the Prisoner at the Bar,  
Has followed us with a perpetual War,  
Because we would not to her Idols bow,  
Nor her cursed Edicts and base pranks allow.  
About the dismal Year of Fifty Five,  
A dreadful Massacre she did contrive  
Within the Territories of Savoy,  
Where thirty Thousand Souls she did destroy  
In three days time, Cursed Edicts bid them turn  
To Popery, or they must hang or burn.  
Which when those Innocents' refused to do,  
Most horrid Execution did ensue;  
Our brethren's Brains out of their Heads were beaten  
And by her Imps were fried and after eaten:  
Our Children rend to pieces, thrown to Dogs,  
And our dear Pastors flung (as Meat) to Hogs;  
Others on Pikes into the Air were tossed,  
And many others they alive did roast;  
Some tied with Ropes they pierced unto the (hearts,  
And hung up others by their Secret Parts.  
Houses and Barn-fulls they have burnt, so that  
Our Sufferings are beyond an Estimate.  

Bohemia.  
Germany.  
Poland.  
Lithuania, etc.   
TO satisfy this cruel Strumpet's Lust,  
Some Thousands have been turned unto dust:  
Our Towns and Famous Cities of Renown  
She hath dis-peopled, burnt or broken down:  
The Ruins still appear and desolations  
In many places of our Spoilt Nations.  
Great Multitudes unnumbered were our Slain  
Which in the Field unburied did remain:  
Our Brethren they have hung upon a Beam  
And then consumed them in a lingering flame.  
Some she has into boiling Cauldrons put,  
And many others into pieces cut,  
Without respect unto the Hoary Head,  
Into their Throats they poured down melted Lead;  
And many other deaths she did contrive:  
Some burned were, and others flayed alive.  
Into deep Mines, three thousand Souls and more,  
At several times were tumbled by this Whore;  
Because they would not their Religion leave,  
And unto Romish Superstitions cleave,  
That worthy Man John Huss, was burned to death,  
For owning of the Apostolic Faith;  
Jerom of Prague, to fill her Measure up,  
She made, soon after, drink of the same Cup.  
'Twere endless to enumerate our grief:  
From thee, Just Judge, we do expect Relief.   

France.  
AH! How shall I my inward grief disclose!  
What Tongue is able to recount my Woes?  
Prodigious Numbers of my Natives have,  
By this Whores means, found an untimely Grave.  
The barbarous Harlot would not be content,  
To kill or drive them into Banishment;  
But with unheard of Crueltys she must  
Their bodies mangle, to assuage her Lust;  
Some hanged in Water, yield their strangled breath;  
Some brained on Anvils, some were starved to death;  
Some hall'd with Pulleys, till the Top they meet  
With heavy Weights and Loads upon their feet.  
Raped Maidens stabbed, poor Infants yet unborn,  
From Mother's Wombs by bloody hands were torn  
How many thousand guiltless Christians were  
Butchered in the Parisian Massacre?  
Some broke on Crosses, some were cut in twain,  
Whilst others languish in a lingering pain.  
Our Worthy Kings have lost their Noble Lives  
By Jesuits Poisons, and by Monkish Knives.  
I can produce an uncontroulled Record  
Of many Thousands Murdered by the Sword.  
It would require whole Volumes to transcribe  
The bloody acts of this Infernal Tribe.  
Deep dolour hinders what I would say more!  
O Glorious Judge! avenge me on this Whore.  

Italy.  
Spain.  
Portugal.  
Low Countries, etc.   
REnowned Judge! those Witnesses that have  
Their Grief presented & do Judgement crave,  
Save us much labour, for we heretofore  
Have felt the same, from this blond-thirsty Whore.  
Besides, being next her Seat, and near her Power,  
Her greedy Jaws Our Brethren did devour  
With cruel Spite, and without intermission,  
We have been tortured in her Inquisition.  
No Tongue can speak the unexampled terror  
Of that cursed Pattern of Infernal horror.  
They count it mild, when they our Persons burn,  
And Wives and Children into Ashes; turn;  
They say they're courteous when our Throats they cut  
Or when in Dungeons (vile as Hell) we're put.  
They say they favour us, when they employ  
Their Daggers, Pistols, Axes to destroy.  
In lingering flames they did our Brethren roast,  
On Halberds tops we saw our Infants tossed:  
All this we've suffered, and a Thousand more,  
And that by means of this Infernal Whore.   

Ireland.  
COuld deepest grief receive Additions, I  
Would give Examples of her Cruelty.  
I can her in more monstrous colours draw,  
Than Bloody Nero, or Caligula.  
Those horrid Tortures which may Brethren say  
She exercised on them, the same I may  
Affirm t' have suffered, by the instigation  
Of this vile Strumpet, whose Abomination.  
Stinks in the Nostrils of each civil Nation.  
Her cursed Priests, when first they did begin  
Our Massacre, proclaimed it was a sin  
Unpardonable, if they durst to give  
Quarter, or our Necessities relieve;  
Some they stripped Naked, than they bid them go  
Through Bogs & Mountains, in the Frost & Snow  
Men, Women, Children, than were butchered,  
And all that spoke our Language punished;  
The very cattle, if of English breed,  
They slashed and mangled, that they could not feed.  
With joy, that Romish and rebellious Brood  
Have washed their hands in Martyed English blood▪  
Thousands of naked Protestants that fled  
From these Barbarians have been famished.  
Their faithless Gentry, that pretended love,  
Persuaded th' English that they would remove  
Their Goods to them; Yet (once possession got)  
They (like perfidious wretches) cut their Throat.  
Numbers of naked Women they did drive  
Into a Barn, and burned them all alive.  
Each Sex and Age, that could not from them fly,  
Did by these Bloodhounds, without mercy die.  
Once at the fatal Bridge of Portladown,  
A thousand Souls these Miscreants did drown;  
A couple (with five Children) first they hung,  
And in a Hole th' expiring bodies flung;  
The youngest on the Mother's breast did stick,  
Cries, Mammy, Mammy, yet is buried quick.  
Some hacked to pieces, travailing Women stripped,  
And half●born Infants from their bellies ripped!  
Which (with their Mothers) hungry Dogs did eat,  
And Swine fed on them, as on common meat.  
When some poor Souls in burning Houses Cry,  
The Villains said, How sweetly do they Fr●!  
When holy Scripture in the flames did cast,  
They cry, 'Tis Hell-fire, and a lovely blast;  
That blessed Book, when some have trampled on,  
They cry, Plague on't, that has the mischief done.  
They made poor Wives, their Husband's blood to spill,  
And trembling Youths, their aged Parents kill.  
They forced the Son to stab his Dearest Mother,  
And then one Brother to destroy the other.  
Some they put fast in Stocks, then teach a Brat  
To rip them, and make Candles of their Fat.  
How many Virgins did they Ravish first?  
Then with their Heartsblood quench their eager thirst!  
Some they did bury just unto the Head,  
And left them on surrounding Grass to feed.  
Struck fast on tenterhooks, grave Matrons were,  
And Virgins hanged up in their Mothers Hair.  
Some, with their small Guts, were forced to run  
About a Tree, until their Life was gone.  
The Mouths of godly Ministers they cut  
Unto their Ears; betwixt their Jaws they put  
A monstrous Gag, then with a Romish Scoff  
They bid them preach, their Mouths were large enough.  
In these furies bragged, that (to their joy)  
They did Two hundred thousand Souls destroy.  
We therefore pray, as others did before,  
For a just Sentence on this bloody Whore.   

Scotland.  
O Monstrous horror! Oh abhorred sink  
Of Villainy! O bloody Throats that drink  
The Bloods of Innocents'! which oft they qua●t  
As freely as a common Morning's Draught!  
Thousands of mine were butchered by this Whor●  
In that poor Nation, that has spoke before  
The sufferings of my guiltless Natives, were  
Equal with theirs in every little there.  
Yet this blood thirsty Courtesan of Rome,  
Was not content, but tortured me at home.  
Some burnt, some hanged, some scourged, some banished,  
Some drowned, and some in Dungeons murdered.  
A sinking Grief forbids me to enlarge,  
Or else with ease I'd aggravate her charge.  
Since Gospel Light did in my Borders shine,  
She thirsted to destroy both me and mine.  
Her Imps all parts, like filthy Locusts fill,  
And such as they cannot delude, they kill.  
Her Wolves put on the Habit of my Sheep,  
And in their Folds destroy them as they sleep.  
They have an art to work upon the weak,  
That they Gods Order should in pieces break;  
Under pretences of refromed Devotion,  
They instigate the Rabble to Commotion;  
That in those troubled Waters they may fish,  
And bring about their long expected with.  
Their cursed Politics have been employed,  
To r●in those that they have so decayed.  
A thousand Forgeries they do invent,  
To charge their Plots upon the innocent:  
That (Whilst they act the Rogues in Masquerade)  
Poor guiltless Saints the Victims may be made▪  
Thus have I opened something of my Grief,  
And from the Judge expect a quick relief.   

England.  
HAd I has many Tongues at my commands,  
As Argus' Eyes, Briareus Hands;  
I scarce could in a Century express  
One half of my unspeakable distress!  
In every Age I had some Sons of Light,  
That would discover Rome's Egyptian Night;  
Yet they no sooner on the Stage appear,  
But that her Setting Dogs, like Bloodhounds, we●  
Upon the scent, and never left pursuit,  
Until to death they did them persecute.  
My Royal Edicts this bold Whore has broke,  
And on my Neck clapped her Tyrannic Yoke.  
Vast Treasures from my Natives were extorted,  
And to enrich her Exchequer transported.  
Prodigious Sums she yearly squeezed hence,  
For Pardons, Obits, Annals, Peter-pences.  
And though each Land where she her Triumphs l●●  
Whose swarms of Locusts Priests and Friar's w●●  
These (as the Janissaries to the Turk)  
Were faithful slaves still to promote her work.  
Whilst to maintain these Drones, she swept awa●  
The Fat and Wealth of Nations for their prey.  
Such as would not be by her Witchcraft led  
Were tortured, murhered, burnt or massacred.  
The Papal Beast could in a Frollick tell,  
I was his Fountain inexhaustible.  
She planted Priests, and Ganymedes she rooted,  
Within my Bowels, which the Land polluted;  
With such a pest of vile Debaucheries,  
As Pagans, Turks, and Infidels outvies.  
She crushes any that her Acts opposes;  
My Kings she Poisons, Murders or Deposes.  
Some she deludes her Sovereignty to own,  
And does instruct them to betray the Crown.  
Her lurking Imps do menace me with storms,  
Like Egypt's Frogs in pestilential swarms.  
She is so greedy nothing will suffice,  
Unless I'm more a general Sacrifice.  
●Tis known to all the Earth, how many ways  
She martyred Protestants in Marian days.  
Then was I made a dismal Field of Blood,  
Which ran like currents of a swelling flood.  
She stirs the Spaniard in a great bravado,  
For to invade me with his proud Armado.  
The hellish Powder Treason she prepares,  
At once to blow up Commons, Kings and Peers.  
Her hellish Brands (without a spark of pity)  
Consumed to Ashes my Imperial City.  
Nought but my Ruin her can satiate,  
My Justices she does assassinate.  
●or many years she has been carrying on  
A damned Intrigue for my Destruction.  
And all the ways that Satan prompts her to  
Contrive my fall, she's ready still to do.  
Her spite and malice nothing will abate,  
●ts still more deadly and inveterate.  
Dread Providence shall ever have my thanks,  
That has discovered her infernal pranks;  
Yet I am still in danger, and therefore  
D● beg just sentence on this bloody Whore.   

The Evidence summed up.  
O Gulf of horror! O profound Abyss!  
Was ever mischief half so black as this!  
Thou monstrous Whore, what Language can express  
The boundless measure of thy wickedness.  
Throughout the Earth thou hast such mischief wrought  
As is amazing to a humane thought.  
It would compel a heart of stone to melt,  
When it revolves what protestants have felt.  
Thy bloody fury and infernal rage,  
Has persecuted them in every age.  
Thou mad'st the Magistrates their Enemies,  
And all the tortures which thou couldst devise, Toes  
Thou didst inflict, as testimony shows,  
Some thou didst hang by the Head, some by th●  
Some millions thou didst burn and broil on Coals  
And others starve to death in stinking holes.  
Some thou didst cut to pieces very small,  
And Infants Brains didst dash against the Wall.  
Upon their Bodies thou didst tread like dung,  
Thou hadst no mercy upon old or young.  
By thy cursed crew were Women ravished,  
Who then (like Butchers) knocked them on the hea●  
Some had their Eyes and Tongues by thee pulled out,  
Some were made harborless, and forced about  
To wander, till in Woods and dismal Caves  
They found their woeful and untimely Graves.  
What rocky heart but justly may admire  
Thy rage, that made poor Children to set fire  
To fatal piles in which their Parents dear  
In cruel flames consumed to ashes were.  
Thy wicked Agents have some Millions slain,  
Who did endure the most inhuman pain.  
Thy Bishops, Monks, and Friars could devise,  
Whose blood to me for speedy Vengeance Cries.  
The ways thou tookst to run a Soul from error  
Was unexampled flesh-amazing terror  
Of horrid Racks whereon a man must lie,  
Tortoured to death, and dying cannot die.  
Accursed Wretch, didst thou not give Commission  
For to erect thy bloody Inquisition;  
That loathsome Dungeon and most ghastly Cell,  
A place of horror representing Hell,  
Where nothing is so plentiful as tears,  
Where Martyred Protestant's can find no ears  
To hear their Cries and lamentable moans,  
Nor Hearts to pity their extorted groans;  
Where Saints in torments all their days must spend,  
Not knowing when their sufferings will have end.  
Thousands by thee were in Bohemia slain,  
Whose Carcases unburied did remain.  
Thou madest thy Vassals fall upon that Nation,  
On no less penalty than their Damnation.  
Didst thou not promise upon that condition  
To give them full and absolute remission,  
The vilest wretch that on the Earth has stood;  
You fully pardoned, if he'd shed the blood  
Of one Bohemian; O stupendious rage!  
Not to be paralleded in any Age,  
But by thyself, 'twas judged De Alva's Crime  
That he destroyed no more in six years' time  
Than eighteen thousand souls; were they so few  
In the account of this bloodthirsty Crew!  
But if the Wretch (De Alva's) bloody Bill  
Come short in numbers, yet his hand did fill  
It up with torments; dreadful to rehearse,  
The very mention cannot choose but pierce  
A Marble heart, make Infidels relent,  
Torments that none but Devils could invent.  
But if all this was over-little still,  
His Predecessors did enlarge the Bill:  
For from the time thy hellish Inquisition  
Did from the Devil first receive Commission,  
By cruel torments (which they still retain)  
There were a hundred fifty thousand slain,  
From that black season when the hellish rage  
Of Jesuits acted on th' European Stage  
In England, France, in Italy, and Spain,  
By thy accursed bloody hands were slain  
Nine hundred thousand souls, or thereabout,  
(ere many years had run their circuits out)  
Of poor Americans by cruel Spain  
In fifty years were many Millions slain.  
The poor Waldenses whose enlighted eye  
Thy filthy Whoredoms quickly did espy.  
Thou hast with raging Persecutions rend  
And murdered Parents with their innocent  
And harmless Babes; thy more than barbarous crew  
Their cursed hands did in their blood imbrue;  
At once were eighty Infants famished,  
And many thousands basely Murdered.  
When some have fled unto obscurest Caves,  
Thy Villains made their hiding place their Graves.  
What part of Europe now can make their boast,  
And say they have not tasted (to their cost)  
Of thy Malignity? What shall I say  
Of Germany, whose Martyred Spirits pray  
For speedy Vengeance on thy cursed head?  
That Sea of blood thou hast in Ireland shed,  
Cries night and day for Justice; now I fix  
My serious thoughts upon black sixty six,  
Thou bloody Strumpet, how canst thou repair  
The loss of England's great Imperial Chair;  
How many rich men were to beggars turned,  
When that brave Isles, Metropolis was burned  
By thy accursed Imps, Firebrands of Hell,  
Incarnate Devils without parallel.  
Brave Merchants of their great Estates bereft,  
To day Rich men, to morrow nothing left;  
Their Wives and Children harbourless became,  
Their substance all consumed in the flame.  
But to conclude, I have not yet forgot  
Thy Powder-Treason, nor thy modern Plot,  
Nor all thy dismal Villainies that were  
Done in the Merindolian Massacre.  
Should I but recapitulate thy charge,  
And speak of all thy Rogueries at large  
‛ I would fill vast Volumes; Often did I see  
The Lord of Life was Crucify'd by thee  
When this dear Members blood by thee was shed,  
Millions unnumbered basely Murdered.  
Yet still thou hast the impudence to say  
That thou art innocent unto this day-  
Thou shameless Courtesan, didst thou not run  
With filthy Panders, and renounced the Son  
Of Glory, this did thine Espousals break;  
Canst thou deny it, shameless Strumpet, speak.   

Babylon.  
I am the Mother Church, and hence deny  
That filthy name I am indicated by.  
The odious Epithets of Scarlet Whore,  
Is daily laid unjustly at my door.  
I am Christ's Church, his Spouse and only love,  
His undefiled one and spotless Dove.  
Pray then forbear the Sentence, look about  
To find that Whore and grand Deliquent out.  
Bold Heretics, who never would adhere,  
To the true Faith and Apostolic Chair.  
Have born my just rebukes, some more, some less,  
As was their Pride, Rebellion, Wickedness.   

Judge.  
Thou graceless Wretch, thou art bereft of shame,  
How drast thou thus deny thy proper name.  
Christ's Church, his Members never did annoy,  
Nor persecute, and millions thus destroy.  
'Tis to no purpose for thee to dispute,  
For all thy Forgeries I can confute.  
I am thy Judge, and never will pass by  
Thy horrid Acts, and bloody Villainy.  
The times at hand when I'll fulfil my word,  
And in just fury draw my glittering sword.  
My frown shall make thy proud foundation quake,  
And all the Pillars of thy House I'll shake.  
Dost think because I did forbear so long,  
That I'll revenge not my dear children's wrong.  
What I resolve to do or will command,  
No Pope nor Devil can the same withstand.  
He that presumed great Monarches to depose,  
Shall soon be tumbled down by some of those  
Whom he so crushed; from Hell he did ascend,  
And thither shall be flung down in the end.  
He'll surely fall and never rise again;  
The hope thou hast of him is therefore vain.  
There's no recalling of the Sentence gone,  
Thy Execution day approaches on,  
Thy Pardon-Merchants then shall cry and howl,  
And thy Destruction (in this sort) condole.  
" Illustrious City thou wert great and fair,  
" Most brave and sumptuous, even beyond compare.  
" Alas! how quickly are thy Judgements come,  
" Thy fall, thy ruin, and thy final doom.  
" Our Trade is gone, our gainful Merchandise  
" Is lost, and no man does regard our Cries.  
" O sad Destruction! we are all undone,  
" What shall we do, or whither shall we run?  
" O that the Mountains and the Hills would cover  
" Us, till the Vengeance of the Lord be over!   

Truth.  
Most glorious Judge, since this bold Whore denies  
Her filthy lewdness, and Adulteries,  
Let me but prove it, and proclaim her shame,  
'Tis known that I a saithful Witness am.  
It has been Evidenced by Vision clear  
That some strange Monster should on earth appear,  
Which by imperfect views did first amaze  
Segacious minds when they on it did gaze;  
Which made men's Judgements to divide asunder  
To see an Object of unusual Wonder,  
A Woman! City! and a scarlet Whore!  
The like on Earth was never seen before.  
A Woman in her pompous glory dressed,  
And sitting on a Monstrous Horned Beast,  
Who it deciphered by prodigious things,  
His very Horns (explained) are Crowned Kings.  
And then this mighty wonder to complete,  
She's placed on a Seven-hilled Seat;  
She's styled a Woman, and a Whore, because  
She once submitted to Enacted Laws,  
As other women do, when they do wed  
A Husband, and enjoy a Marriage bed.  
And who this Woman is, shall now be known,  
Her proper Title is (Great Babylon)  
Who in great Pomp and Royal State doth ride,  
Excelling haughty Jezebel in Pride;  
Who in our modern times hath boasting been,  
That she Rules all men as a mighty Queen,  
Trampling on Kings and Crowned Potentates,  
Commanding Kingdoms, Commonwealths, and States,  
Requiring Subjects blindly to obey,  
Pressing the Beast, and Horns, to kill and slay  
At such a rate, as that all Christendom  
Like Butchers bloody Shambles are become.  
If by this Mark she is not understood,  
Neither by Garb, Beast, Actions, or by Blood,  
To other ways of proof, I'll quickly come  
And show this Whore to be the Church of Rome.  
The Woman which th' Adpostle John beheld  
Arrayed in Purple, and in Pomp upheld  
By that blasphemous, scarlet coloured Beast  
That was with Gold and Stones of value dressed:  
Holding a Cup full of Abominations,  
And black pollutions of her Fornications;  
That with great King's Adultery commits,  
And on a Sev'n-hilled Habitation sits,  

* Rev. 17. 18.  The holy Angel of the Lord explains  
That 'tis that City which so proudly Reigns  
Over the Kings of th' Earth; but all these Notes,  
And what besides the blessed Spirit quotes,  
With Papal Rome, exactly do agree,  
She therefore must this bloody Strumpet be.  
If all the Marks that of this Whore are given  
Will not meet any where so plain and even  
As on the Church and People I did name,  
Then certainly She is the very same;  
First, then 'tis evident that there is none  
May be so fitly styled Babylon.  
Was Babylon a People of Renown  
To that same height the Church of Rome is grown.  
Had Babylon a great and peerless King?  
This Church can show an Image of that thing.  
Did Babylon poor Israel Invade?  
This Church on Zion the same Invades made.  
Did Babylon make Salem desolate?  
This hath brought Zion near to that Estate.  
Did Babylon make Prophets drink their Tears,  
Shake Kingdoms, and fill People's hearts with fears?  
This Church, hath done so; yea, and far outdone  
Her Arch type, and so beyond her run.  
Did Babylon the Prophets bear away  
●nto Captivity, and make a prey  
Of all the Treasure that her hand could find?  
This Papal Church is not a whit behind.  
On th' ablest guides she laid her hellish hands,  
Confining them to Prison under Bands;  
As if 'twere not enough for her to do,  
She seized their Persons, and their substance too.  
Did Babylon God's Worship overthrow,  
Set up an Idol, and command to Bow?  
This Church hath done the fame, yea, and much more,  
Filled heaped measure, and much running o'er.  
'Twas she that took the Word of God away,  
And by a String of Beads taught men to pray.  
She robbed the Laity of the blessed Cup,  
And spoiled the Feast where Children come to Sup,  
At the Lord's Table where they used to mind  
The blessed things their Saviour left behind.  
She did set up her Superstitious Mass,  
As rank an Idol as yet ever was,  
Commanding adoration to be given  
Of equal honour with the God of Heaven;  
Imposing Vows, unwarranted Traditions,  
Implicit Faith, and thousand Superstitions,  
Pretended Miracles, apperent Lies,  
Damnable Errors, and ●ond Fopperies;  
She clogs the Conscience, and to make all well,  
Boasts all her Dictates are Infallible.  
Did Babylon the burning Work begin?  
Make a hot Farnace? Thrust God's Worthies in?  
This Church herein hath driven such a trade,  
That thousands, broiling Martyrs she hath made.  
She sets the Pope above the holy one,  
The great Jehovah and his blessed Son.  
'Tis she declares him Universal Head,  
'Tis she forbids the Bible to be read.  
'Tis she that first did from the Faith depart,  
'Tis she that wounded Zion to the heart.  
'Tis she hath been the occasion of all evil,  
'Tis she advanced the Doctrine of the Devil.  
'Tis she that taught her Sons to swear and lie,  
To vouch great falshdods, and plain truths deny.  
'Tis she that did forbid the Marriage Bed,  
Whilst her vile Clergy such ill lives have led▪  
Was it not she that Canon did create,  
Commanding plainly to abstain from meat,  
Which God gave licence unto all to eat.  
If from this charge she can herself defend,  
Then may she make the Judge and Law her friend  
Or if she can produce another tribe,  
To whom we may this Character ascribe;  
With greater clearness than we do to her,  
We will consent her Sentence to defer.   

Judge.  
Room, since thou canst not make a fair defence,  
And show to all the World thine innocence.  
'Tis very evident that all these things,  
Have been fulfilled on Kingdoms and their Kings.  
And now if there no other People be,  
That did the like, than thou alone art she.  
Let thy denials trouble men no more,  
Thou only art the bloody scarlet Whore.  
Therefore in Justice I at length am come,  
(Being long provoked) to pass thy final d●om.   

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. Thou 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 Universal Sovereign) Thou hast made void the Laws and Constitutions of the Gospel, forming whole Nations into Churches, though the greatest part do show 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 persuading 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 lain in wait (where they would not fulfil thy bloody and barbarous Lusts) to contrive Treasons, Sedition and Rebellion against them, to Depose and Murder them by Excommunications, Poisons and Powderplots. Thou hast corrupted all Countries and Kingdoms (where thy power extended) by such downright and abominable jeolatries, that Heathens themselves were never guilty of worse. Thou hast not only countenanced Stews and Brothel- Houses, where abominable Sodomy and Adulteries are practised, but even thy very Nunneries are become Habitations of Whoredom and Filthiness, the bottoms of whose Motes and Ponds, have showed the Murders of New born Babes. Thou hast killed 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 Rhetoric to set it forth; Thou hast cut them to pieces in Cool Blood, thou hast chained to Stakes and burned them. Thou hast ripped up Women with Child, and Ravished Women and Maids— and then hast barbarously slain them— Thou hast been guilty of burying alive, Roasting upon Spits, scalding with burning Oil and boiling Lead— Blowing their Heads in pieces with Gunpowder; thou hast made Women Widows, 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, etc. Thou hast Murdered multitudes of Souls, as well as destroyed multitudes of bodies. 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 Apostasy, Oppressions, Adulteries, Fornications, Rebellions, Treasons and Blasphemies, with the guilt of a mighty Mass of Innocent Blood, which hath been proved against thee, and from which thou canst not defend thyself, 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.    

The AVTHOR's REQUEST.  

I.  
SOme things, great God, my Soul doth long to have,  
Before these transient days of mine be over;  
Which things in deep humility I crave,  
Before I go from hence, and be no more.  
Till my Requests I can of thee obtain,  
I shall be filled with sorrow, grief, and pain.   

II.  
Alas my Griefs are now increased double!  
O that thou wouldst be pleased to hear O Lord!  
Then should my Soul be free from inward trouble  
If what I humbly ask thou wouldst afford  
Until thy grace allows me my Request,  
I cannot cease, nor give thee any rest.   

III.  
'Tis not for fading Riches of this World,  
Nor empty Honour, that to thee I cry;  
Such with a puff are oft to nothing hurled,  
They get them Wings, and from Possessors fly.  
All sublunary things uncertain be;  
I ask them not, some better things I see.   

IV.  
'Tis not for Pleasures that are transitory,  
Which fill vain Fancies with a foolish Joy;  
But for some Glimpses of Diviner Glory,  
Which my transported Soul longs to enjoy.  
Can Riches, Honours, fading Pleasures give  
The things I want, whilst on the Earth I live?   

V.  
The things that I am longing to receive,  
Most precious are; O let me humbly urge,  
That thou thy presence unto me wouldst give,  
My heart from sin that thou wouldst also purge.  
These are the things my never-ceasing Cry  
Petitions for; Lord grant them e'er I die.   

VI  
Thy presence does more consolate my heart,  
Then sweetest Honey, or the Honeycomb:  
I will (with Mary) choose the better part:  
'Tis Sin my Soul would be delivered from:  
Then I thy Name in Songs will magnify  
And happy be, when e'er I come to die.   

VII.  
Let thy good Spirit be my blessed Guide,  
And in thy House let me for ever dwell;  
From Gospel-truths' O let me never slide,  
Nor find my Conscience like another Hell:  
And I thy Name for evermore shall praise  
And happy be when I shall end my Days.   

VIII.  
Lord whatsoever my Estate is here,  
With sweet Submission let me be content,  
When I'm most troubled, then be thou most near,  
And never from me thy dear self absent:  
This will my prostrate Spirit highly raise,  
And if I suffer, to thy Name be praise.   

IX.  
Teach me, I pray thee, that Celestial Skill,  
My Days to number, as thy Saints have done;  
Let me still yield unto thy blessed Will,  
And wait upon thee till my Glass be run:  
So shall my Raptur'd Tongue thy praise proclaim  
And sing Hosannas to thy Glorious Name.   

X.  
O regulate my Tongue, and make me see,  
How few my days are, and how short their length,  
Let all my Trust be still reposed in thee;  
Relax thy scourge, or add unto my strength:  
Be thou my way, my strength, my light that I  
May learn to live, and in thy favour die.   

XI.  
When hungry, let thy Manna be my meat;  
When circled in the dark, enlighten me;  
When I am weary, O! be thou my Seat;  
And when imprisoned, do thou set me free:  
So filled, enlightened, after sweet repose,  
Enlarged from Bonds, I will thy praise disclose.   

XII.  
In time of wrath, when fury waxes great,  
Be thou my Bulwark and securest Tower;  
To thy transcending Name let me retreat,  
And be defended by thy mighty Power.  
Secure me till thy Vengeance is passed over,  
That I thy Praises may to all discover.   

XIII.  
Let me with Patience run that blessed Race,  
And From my weights, which very sore have been,  
Be now set free, that with a swifter pace  
I may the Prize of lasting Glory win.  
Be thou my Guide, do thou direct my Path,  
Lord give me Patience, & with Patience Faith.   

XIV.  
Thy Children are as (many) Members joined  
Which make one body, whose blessed Head thou art,  
O cause them with an undivided mind  
And perfect Union, to have all one heart:  
Then shall I hope to see a blessed increase  
Of sion's Glory, and of Israel's Peace.   

XV.  
Thy Children have in many things provoked  
Thee, but in Mercy pass Offences by.  
By Grace, O Lord, let Judgement be revoked  
That they may live thy Name to magnify;  
And I thy Goodness will proclaim to all,  
And warning take, lest I myself do fall.   

XVI.  
Remember Zion in her aching grief,  
She mourns, she weeps, and is in inward pain,  
Do thou in Mercy, send her such relief  
That she (with cause) may never more complain;  
Then (not till then) my sorrows will be over,  
And I thy goodness will to all discover.   

XVII.  
O let thy Gospel through the Earth be spread!  
Rome's black design, O let thy Grace prevent!  
Permit not them to grow into a Head,  
As they have purposed, with a full intent.  
Then shall I (quickened by a holy Flame)  
Ascribe the Glory to thy Blessed Name.   

XVIII.  
I pray thee scatter our enraged Foes,  
And baffle all who proudly have combined  
Against thine Heritage, do thou expose  
Them to be tossed as Chaff before the Wind;  
Preserve thy Flock from bloody Babel's hand,  
Establish Truth and Quiet in the Land.   

XIX.  
O God whose dreadful Judgements are severe,  
And whose great Mercy's full of sweet compassion  
Destroy thy Church's Foes both far and near,  
And grant to me the joy of thy Salvation;  
Then will I spend the Remnant of my days.  
In Psalms of Thanks to thee, and Hymns of Praise.   

XX.  
Make haste to judge the Persecuting Whore,  
Thy righteous Judgement quickly execute;  
Let her so fall that she may rise no more.  
O Lord be pleased to grant my earnest suit,  
That I may see her fall before I die.  
That I thy Name may therefore magnify.   

XXI.  
O Lord, establish thiee own interest,  
And set thy Son upon his blessed Throne;  
Destroy the Kingdom of the Scarlet Beast,  
Let Christ his Foes to conquer now go on,  
That on the Top of Zion I may sing  
Aloud, Hosanna to the Highest King.   

XXII.  
What thou, O Lord, hast to thy Zion told  
Of Blessings that thou hast for her in Store;  
Them once fulfilled, O let mine Eyes behold,  
And then let me go hence and be no more  
In this disturbing World, but let me be  
Translated to a blessed Eternity.   

XXIII.  
In all the course of my short Pilgrimage,  
Be thou my Load-Star, let my heedful Eye  
Be fixed on thee, that when I leave the Stage,  
I may be fitted and prepared to die;  
That when this transitory life is over,  
With Angels I may sing for evermore.   

XXIV.  
Whate'er of any Suit thou dost deny,  
Grant me True Faith, that I may still believe  
That through Christ's Ransom, when I come to die  
A Glorious Crown from thee I shall receive,  
O Lord of Hosts, vouchsafe me my request,  
Let me enjoy but thee, and I will rest;  
For having thee, all precious things I have,  
And in the World there's nothing else I crave.    

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 always, 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 Eyes,  
The Daystar 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 haste, their time to waste  
In sleep and slothfulness;  
Yet such presume, they shall assume  
His Glory ne'er the less.   

VIII.  
But they indeed on fancies 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 woeful 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 over.   

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 Lamb's 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 endeavour,  
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,  
God's Word doth show, who love them do,  
Shall go unto the Devil.   

XVIII.  
You must remove, your dearest Love  
From Earth, and things thereof;  
For this hath been a crying Sin,  
Now cast it therefore off.   

XIX.  
On things above, set all your love,  
Affections and desire;  
These things below, God will overthrow  
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'er long will find.   

XXI.  
You must not rest on Self-Intrest,  
But wholly 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, Lions come on,  
Which do in pieces tear.   

XXIV.  
Subdue your Sin; for it hath been  
Your greatest Enemy:  
If that does reign, you strive in vain,  
You must it Crucify.   

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 farewell.   
FINIS.