Distressed Sion Relieved Or, The Garment of Praise for the Spirit of Heaviness. Wherein are Discovered the Grand Causes of the Churches Trouble and Misery under the late Dismal Dispensation. With a Compleat History of, and Lamentation for those Renowned Worthies that fell in England by Popish Rage and Cruelty, from the Year 1680 to 1688. Together with an Account of the late Admirable and Stupendious Providence which hath wrought such a sudden and Wonderful Deliverance for this Nation, and Gods Sion therein. Humbly Dedicated to their Present Majesties. By Benjamin Keach |
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A Complaint against Whoredom and Adultery.
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 | Distressed Sion Relieved |  |
A Complaint against Whoredom and Adultery.
Did filthy Lust and Whoredom ever rage
With more success than 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,
Than this of Whoredom and Adultery?
'Tis rank'd 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 produc'd t'express Idolatry,
Than 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,
That all the waters in the Sea can never
VVipe off, nor can it be forgot for ever.
The leud Embraces of Lascivious Dames
VVill rot their Bones, breed Cankers in their names,
Beget consumption in Estate and Purse,
Produce destruction, and a certain curse:
The common ends that such arrive unto
Are foul Diseases, Beggery and VVoe.
They're sottish Fools (says wise Demosthenes)
That buy Repentance at such rates as these:
VVho Sin to please an Enemy, that strives
To damn their Souls, and rob them of their Lives.
God in his Sacred Ordinances hath
Appointed such to an immediate Death.
VVould men but judge it as their greatest Foe,
They'd never love nor hug it as they do.
Each Sex is bad, but VVomen seem to be
The very Brokers of Immodesty;
Which makes that passage to be born in mind,
A Wise and vertuous Woman who can find?
Your City Dames and Ladies are on Fire
With wanton Passion, and unchast Desire,
Providing Meats on purpose to inflame
Their pamper'd Gallants to their wonted shame.
Bare Breasts and naked Necks a Harlots Dress,
Are strong Temptations unto wickedness.
All other Sins (th' Apostle does declare)
Which men commit without the Body are:
But this abominable Act alone,
Against his Body by a man is done.
Marriage to all, the undefiled Bed,
Is 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 Fools like them; though branded still they shew
The marks of folly, wheresoe're they go.
O how th' unclean and brutish man exceeds
Inferior Sinners in reproachful deeds!
With more success than 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,
Than this of Whoredom and Adultery?
54
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 produc'd t'express Idolatry,
Than 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,
That all the waters in the Sea can never
VVipe off, nor can it be forgot for ever.
The leud Embraces of Lascivious Dames
VVill rot their Bones, breed Cankers in their names,
Beget consumption in Estate and Purse,
Produce destruction, and a certain curse:
The common ends that such arrive unto
Are foul Diseases, Beggery and VVoe.
They're sottish Fools (says wise Demosthenes)
That buy Repentance at such rates as these:
VVho Sin to please an Enemy, that strives
To damn their Souls, and rob them of their Lives.
God in his Sacred Ordinances hath
Appointed such to an immediate Death.
VVould men but judge it as their greatest Foe,
They'd never love nor hug it as they do.
Each Sex is bad, but VVomen seem to be
The very Brokers of Immodesty;
55
A Wise and vertuous Woman who can find?
Your City Dames and Ladies are on Fire
With wanton Passion, and unchast Desire,
Providing Meats on purpose to inflame
Their pamper'd Gallants to their wonted shame.
Bare Breasts and naked Necks a Harlots Dress,
Are strong Temptations unto wickedness.
All other Sins (th' Apostle does declare)
Which men commit without the Body are:
But this abominable Act alone,
Against his Body by a man is done.
Marriage to all, the undefiled Bed,
Is 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 Fools like them; though branded still they shew
The marks of folly, wheresoe're 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 akeing Heart is sad,
To think of what I further have to add.
Is more than my distressed Soul can bear:
My panting Breast and akeing Heart is sad,
To think of what I further have to add.
| Distressed Sion Relieved | |