Fruits of Retirement Or, Miscellaneous Poems, Moral and Divine. Being Some Contemplations, Letters, &c. Written on a Variety of Subjects and Occasions. By Mary Mollineux ... To which is Prefixed, Some Account of the Author |
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Of This Age.
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 | Fruits of Retirement |  |
Of This Age.
O how doth England now polluted lye,And deeply plunged in Iniquity!
Are not her People bruitish, and so vain,
That ev'n as great Motives to complain
And mourn for her, as for that City was,
(Through whose sad Streets our Saviour did pass
Bearing his Cross) may now be found? For they
As did the Jews, contemn the Blessed Day
Of Visitation; hate the Heav'nly Light,
That shines in Darkness; daily do despight
Unto the only Author of all Good;
And trample under Foot the precious Blood
Of Holy Jesus, by the Father Sent
A Just High Priest, a Blessed Covenant,
Unto the People: Him do they despise,
And on their Beds do Wickedness devise
Against the Just and Innocent; for they,
That Live Uprightly, make themselves a Prey.
Alas, both Priests and People now are bent,
With one accord, God's Heritage to rent:
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Wherein he'll surely meet them, as a Bear
Bereaved of her Whelps; and then he'll take
Vengeance, for his Afflicted Isr'el's sake.
And though the Priests Peace unto many cry,
They know not Peace; but such as do deny
To feed them with the Fat, they Rent and Tare,
Like those of old; yea, Cruel War prepare
Against them. Thus, for all their Learning, they
Know not the Scripture-Record, (which doth say,
Touch ye not mine Anointed, neither harm
My Prophets; for I'll guard them with the Arm
Of my Salvation) Nor the Pow'r of God,
That will Chastize, as with an Iron Rod,
The Proud Rebellious Ones; who shall be known
To be but Hirelings, whom he will not own.
These are they that for Gain do prophesie
Devices of their Brain, and speak a Lye
To People; yet dare say, Thus saith the Lord;
When-as they do not rightly know his Word,
That's as a Fire and Hammer, to Destroy,
Consume, and Batter down Iniquity.
People, observing Priests to count their Gain
Their Godliness, rush into all Prophane
Abominations and Impurity;
Counting Religion a meer Policy
To over-awe dull Souls, whilst some enjoy
All the Delights wherewith Earth can supply
Their Soaring Fancies. Thus, alas, they run
The Road to Ruine, swift to be undone:
If Heav'n prevent not with a Gracious Hand,
They'll soon draw down sad Judgments on the Land.
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