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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The Churches Prayer.
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The Churches Prayer.
O Lord of Hosts consider my Estate,
Let me remain no longer desolate.
Have I not been most precious in thy sight?
Lord therefore do not my Petition slight.
But let thy bowels to thy Children move,
In token of parental, tender love;
Shall Sion totter, and the Beast be steady
In his proud Seat? Hast thou not seen already
VVhat they have done, who evil good do call,
From whom we can expect no good at all;
Let me remain no longer desolate.
Have I not been most precious in thy sight?
Lord therefore do not my Petition slight.
But let thy bowels to thy Children move,
In token of parental, tender love;
Shall Sion totter, and the Beast be steady
In his proud Seat? Hast thou not seen already
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From whom we can expect no good at all;
VVill they make Judgment i'th' right Channel go
Extirpate vice? make righteousness to flow
Like mighty Streams; VVill they a blessing be?
To me or mine who haters are of thee?
Can men of thorns expect sweet grapes to find?
VVill ravenous VVolves to innocent Lambs be kind
VVill such as have thy Childrens blood let out,
Striving to bring their black designs about,
And with mine Enemies daily still combine
To root out and destroy both me and mine;
VVill these be now chief Friends and me relieve?
Sure none but mad men would such things believe.
Extirpate vice? make righteousness to flow
Like mighty Streams; VVill they a blessing be?
To me or mine who haters are of thee?
Can men of thorns expect sweet grapes to find?
VVill ravenous VVolves to innocent Lambs be kind
VVill such as have thy Childrens blood let out,
Striving to bring their black designs about,
And with mine Enemies daily still combine
To root out and destroy both me and mine;
VVill these be now chief Friends and me relieve?
Sure none but mad men would such things believe.
If Thanks and Praises will on Earth be giv'n
If Hallelujahs will be sung in Heav'n
To thy great name for rasing Babylon.
If placing of a Papist on the Throne
Be for our good, by opening a door
For mens Salvation readier than before;
If the access of sinners easier be
In their approaches (Blessed God) to thee,
By Romanists having the Soveraignty,
Oh! then exalt them; Let all others fall
And Rome usurp Dominion over all.
If Hallelujahs will be sung in Heav'n
To thy great name for rasing Babylon.
If placing of a Papist on the Throne
Be for our good, by opening a door
For mens Salvation readier than before;
If the access of sinners easier be
In their approaches (Blessed God) to thee,
By Romanists having the Soveraignty,
Oh! then exalt them; Let all others fall
And Rome usurp Dominion over all.
But if in thy just and all seeing Eye,
Their monstrous crimes are of a crimson dye;
If they from their Original have been
The vilest wretches and the worst of men;
If for the future they intend to be
The Perpetrators of all Villany;
If their dark Heathenish Idolatry
Pride, horrid murthers and base Perjury
Mount up to Heavens High Imperial Throne;
If their Oppressions make thy Churches gone,
If they will burn the Scriptures, and suppress
All Books that treat of Gospel Holiness;
If guiltless Souls without respect to age
Or Sex, must be the objects of their rage;
If they are Enemies to thy Covenants,
If they would trample under foot thy Saints,
If 'cause thou dost not seem to hear, and save
Thy Sion, or to grant what she doth crave,
They Scoff at, and deride thy glorious name,
And put thy Faithful ones to open shame:
Their monstrous crimes are of a crimson dye;
If they from their Original have been
The vilest wretches and the worst of men;
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The Perpetrators of all Villany;
If their dark Heathenish Idolatry
Pride, horrid murthers and base Perjury
Mount up to Heavens High Imperial Throne;
If their Oppressions make thy Churches gone,
If they will burn the Scriptures, and suppress
All Books that treat of Gospel Holiness;
If guiltless Souls without respect to age
Or Sex, must be the objects of their rage;
If they are Enemies to thy Covenants,
If they would trample under foot thy Saints,
If 'cause thou dost not seem to hear, and save
Thy Sion, or to grant what she doth crave,
They Scoff at, and deride thy glorious name,
And put thy Faithful ones to open shame:
Then hear, O Lord? Thou see'st my power's gone:
In thee I trust; Besides thee there is none
That can thy Church from her Stern Foes deliver.
Oh draw thy flaming Arrows from thy Quiver,
To quell the Pride of this Insulting Crew;
Thy mighty Arm alone can them subdue:
On thee I have my absolute reliance;
Do thou assist, I'le bid them all defiance:
Hear, O my God, and for thy mercy Sake,
On Gasping Sion some compassion take;
I have been Ransom'd by the precious bloud
Of thy Dear Son, and fed with heavenly food;
Thy Churches sins O pardon and 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;
My breach thou canst repair, and cure my wound,
Nothing too difficult for thee is found:
Thou knowest my grief (O Lord) incline thine ear,
Revive my hope, and chace away my fear,
In Achors Valley open thou a door,
Make me rejoyce as I did heretofore;
I pray thee, break my bonds, ease my distress,
Bring me out of this dolesom wilderness,
Oh let me Shine like Sols illustrious light,
Make me an Army terrible in fight;
Rend off that Vail which does thy Sion cover,
Scatter the Clouds, whereby I may discover
What thou designest by this thy Dispensation
And what my work is in this generation.
'Tis time for thee to plead thy righteous cause
When wicked men make void thy righteous Laws,
Thou canst cause them to drink of their own cup,
And loftiest Cedars by the roots pluck up.
In thee I trust; Besides thee there is none
That can thy Church from her Stern Foes deliver.
Oh draw thy flaming Arrows from thy Quiver,
To quell the Pride of this Insulting Crew;
Thy mighty Arm alone can them subdue:
On thee I have my absolute reliance;
Do thou assist, I'le bid them all defiance:
Hear, O my God, and for thy mercy Sake,
On Gasping Sion some compassion take;
I have been Ransom'd by the precious bloud
Of thy Dear Son, and fed with heavenly food;
Thy Churches sins O pardon and forgive
And in sweet concord let thy Children live
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That they may worship thee with one accord;
My breach thou canst repair, and cure my wound,
Nothing too difficult for thee is found:
Thou knowest my grief (O Lord) incline thine ear,
Revive my hope, and chace away my fear,
In Achors Valley open thou a door,
Make me rejoyce as I did heretofore;
I pray thee, break my bonds, ease my distress,
Bring me out of this dolesom wilderness,
Oh let me Shine like Sols illustrious light,
Make me an Army terrible in fight;
Rend off that Vail which does thy Sion cover,
Scatter the Clouds, whereby I may discover
What thou designest by this thy Dispensation
And what my work is in this generation.
'Tis time for thee to plead thy righteous cause
When wicked men make void thy righteous Laws,
Thou canst cause them to drink of their own cup,
And loftiest Cedars by the roots pluck up.
But Lord, remember Sion, spare thy Vine,
That spreading Plant which thou hast chose for 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;
O God, I pray, bring it out thence once more,
Let thy hand plant, and water so the Root,
That all the Land may feast upon the fruit;
O let its cordial juice the Nation fill,
And let its boughs o're-shadow every Hill,
From Sea to Sea do thou her branches send,
From all her Enemies always her defend:
Preserve her Fence, be unto her a Wall,
And keep her from the violence of all
Wild Beasts, and from that Boars malicious power,
That would destroy her, and her fruit devour.
That spreading Plant which thou hast chose for 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;
O God, I pray, bring it out thence once more,
Let thy hand plant, and water so the Root,
That all the Land may feast upon the fruit;
O let its cordial juice the Nation fill,
And let its boughs o're-shadow every Hill,
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From all her Enemies always her defend:
Preserve her Fence, be unto her a Wall,
And keep her from the violence of all
Wild Beasts, and from that Boars malicious power,
That would destroy her, and her fruit devour.
Lord from on high thy Lovely Vine behold,
'Tis thine own Plant, of greater price than Gold;
Canst thou deny her thy assistance, while
These Ravenous Creatures do thy Vineyard spoil?
Take notice how her bulwarks are thrown down,
And more heart-breaking evils coming on;
Breach upon breach, Alas! I daily see,
And doubtless I shall quickly ruin'd be,
'Tis thine own Plant, of greater price than Gold;
Canst thou deny her thy assistance, while
These Ravenous Creatures do thy Vineyard spoil?
Take notice how her bulwarks are thrown down,
And more heart-breaking evils coming on;
Breach upon breach, Alas! I daily see,
And doubtless I shall quickly ruin'd be,
Unless by some unknown and Glorious hand,
Thou speedily dost save me, and the Land.
Thou speedily dost save me, and the Land.
I am Christ's Spouse: His undefiled one;
Wilt thou permit me to be trod upon?
'Tis by thy grace I am intit'led so,
Great God! relieve me and divert my wo;
Who am surrounded every way with grief,
Oh let thy lovely smiles bring me relief;
Thou hast withdraw the beamings of thy grace,
And wrapt in Clouds the Splendor of thy face,
Which has upon me brought such anxious smart,
As tears my Soul, and makes my very heart:
Drop tears of blood: For if the glorious Sun
Of Righteousness be hid, where shall I run,
For joy or comfort in this dismal hour,
Who only to bemoan my self have power?
More she had spoke, but that her Passion ties
Her mournful Tongue; The Floodgates of her eyes,
In Chrystal Streams, do represent such anguish,
As makes her vital operations languish
Sunk in despairing Swouns, she scarce appears
To breathe or live, but by her Sighs and Tears.
Sion's Children.Wilt thou permit me to be trod upon?
'Tis by thy grace I am intit'led so,
Great God! relieve me and divert my wo;
Who am surrounded every way with grief,
Oh let thy lovely smiles bring me relief;
Thou hast withdraw the beamings of thy grace,
And wrapt in Clouds the Splendor of thy face,
Which has upon me brought such anxious smart,
As tears my Soul, and makes my very heart:
Drop tears of blood: For if the glorious Sun
Of Righteousness be hid, where shall I run,
For joy or comfort in this dismal hour,
Who only to bemoan my self have power?
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Her mournful Tongue; The Floodgates of her eyes,
In Chrystal Streams, do represent such anguish,
As makes her vital operations languish
Sunk in despairing Swouns, she scarce appears
To breathe or live, but by her Sighs and Tears.
Mourn, Mourn, Oh Heavens! And thou Oh earth bewail,
Weep ye blest Saints, until your Spirits fail,
For she that is the glory of the Earth,
Of the most Noble and Illustrious birth,
Lies sadly groaning in a deep despair
Whose grievous sorrows no tongue can declare
Oh! that our brethren would but hasten hither,
That in Gods fear we might confer together.
Weep ye blest Saints, until your Spirits fail,
For she that is the glory of the Earth,
Of the most Noble and Illustrious birth,
Lies sadly groaning in a deep despair
Whose grievous sorrows no tongue can declare
Oh! that our brethren would but hasten hither,
That in Gods fear we might confer together.
Sure you must grieve when her complaints you hear
You cannot certainly but shed a tear;
Do not your Eyes ev'n like 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,
And fall'n into the depth of bitterness,
Because of Sions Trouble and distress?
How can our hearts delight in things below?
How can we rest secure, as sinners do?
How can we comfort take, or pleasure find,
Or how can we the Worlds concernments mind?
Or with Terrene enjoyments be content,
And not poor Sions miseries lament?
How can we hear our Mothers doleful cries?
She Sighs, she Sobs, she Languishes, she lies
In dreadful Agonies, in bitter pain,
How can we bear her Enemies disdain?
Who wickedly reproach her every day,
And like a broken pot she's thrown away,
Despis'd and trod upon ev'n like the dung
The Drunkard on her makes his daily Song
But Christ will come, and look on her sad State,
And with poor Sion he'l Expostulate.
You cannot certainly but shed a tear;
Do not your Eyes ev'n like 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,
And fall'n into the depth of bitterness,
Because of Sions Trouble and distress?
How can our hearts delight in things below?
How can we rest secure, as sinners do?
How can we comfort take, or pleasure find,
Or how can we the Worlds concernments mind?
Or with Terrene enjoyments be content,
And not poor Sions miseries lament?
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She Sighs, she Sobs, she Languishes, she lies
In dreadful Agonies, in bitter pain,
How can we bear her Enemies disdain?
Who wickedly reproach her every day,
And like a broken pot she's thrown away,
Despis'd and trod upon ev'n like the dung
The Drunkard on her makes his daily Song
But Christ will come, and look on her sad State,
And with poor Sion he'l Expostulate.
‘Why art thou sometimes high, then low again
‘Sometimes at ease and then in bitter pain?
‘Doubtless th' are Throwes; Chear up and do not fear,
‘For thy deliverance is very near;
‘These labouring pangs will speedily be o're,
‘Take heart, thou shall not die; One or two more
‘Will bring that Child into the World which thou
‘Hast travell'd with in bitter pangs till now;
‘Address thy self to God, for surely he
‘From these thy tortures will deliver thee;
‘'Tis he alone that brings unto the birth,
‘And giveth strength and vigor to bring forth;
‘Then stay thy self upon th' Almighty Lord,
‘His gracious help he to thee will afford
‘Upon his promises do thou depend
‘And thou shalt see deliverance in the end.
‘Sometimes at ease and then in bitter pain?
‘Doubtless th' are Throwes; Chear up and do not fear,
‘For thy deliverance is very near;
‘These labouring pangs will speedily be o're,
‘Take heart, thou shall not die; One or two more
‘Will bring that Child into the World which thou
‘Hast travell'd with in bitter pangs till now;
‘Address thy self to God, for surely he
‘From these thy tortures will deliver thee;
‘'Tis he alone that brings unto the birth,
‘And giveth strength and vigor to bring forth;
‘Then stay thy self upon th' Almighty Lord,
‘His gracious help he to thee will 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 sences, mourning Sion brought,
With fainting looks, and with a weeping Eye
Unto her Children she renews her cry.
And to her sences, mourning Sion brought,
With fainting looks, and with a weeping Eye
Unto her Children she renews her cry.
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How am I spoil'd? How do I sit forlorn?
How long wil't be e're I shall cease to mourn?
I'm like a Ship by raging Tempests tost
'Midst Rocks and Sands, just ready to be lost.
Where every billow do's present a grave,
And Death in Triumph rides on every Wave.
But yet, I am ingraven on his hand,
And in his sight for ever I do stand.
Awake, O arm of God! Oh come away!
My woes are very great! Ah do not Stay!
Hear me, Dear Jesus; unto thee I cry,
Unless thou save me I must surely dye;
Christ.
In Glorious Regions of approachless Light,
VVhere Joys unmixt with perfect Love unite;
There do I sit; There do I see and hear
VVhat Kings and Potentates consulting are;
But in mine Ears methinks I hear the cry
Of some distressed Soul in misery;
My Bowels in me with compassion move,
Oh!—'tis the voice of her I dearly love;
She whom I purchast with my dearest blood,
Seems drencht, yea drown'd in tears, as in a Floud;
Some mighty Sorrow sure, and Tribulation,
Extorts from her this doleful Lamentation,
Enough to pierce my tender heart again,
And make the Temple once more rend in twain
Alas, poor Sion, thy Complaints I hear,
And I will rescue thee; Oh do not fear,
I know thy sorrows, and I hear thy cries,
And from what apprehensions they arise:
Know! I can still the blustring Winds and Seas,
And in the greatest anguish can give ease;
I can both wound and cure; Build up and break:
I kill, I make alive, I give, I take!
The Greatest Monarchs I can soon pull down,
I can make void, and then fill up the Throne;
VVhen I think fit, I make the Nations Shake,
And haughty Princes at my presence quake,
Kingdoms to totter, and reel to and fro;
All this and greater things for thee I'll do:
Although thy Foes do thee environ now,
All power and wisdom's mine, and I know how
Thee to support and make them all to bow,
I will arise, and Shew my Soveraignty,
And make them to the Rocks and Mountains fly;
Though with the Powers of Hell they have combin'd,
I will pursue them, and they shall not find
A hiding place my vengeance to avoid,
Till by my fury they are all destroy'd;
I'll soon bring down the most Exalted head,
The Mighty Ones I into dust will tread;
Thy cause I'll plead; Though I have silent stood,
I'll be reveng'd for all the righteous blood
That has run down, ev'n like a mighty Flood;
The day of vengeance shall no longer stay,
VVhat's due to Justice they shall surely pay.
VVhere Joys unmixt with perfect Love unite;
There do I sit; There do I see and hear
VVhat Kings and Potentates consulting are;
But in mine Ears methinks I hear the cry
Of some distressed Soul in misery;
My Bowels in me with compassion move,
Oh!—'tis the voice of her I dearly love;
She whom I purchast with my dearest blood,
Seems drencht, yea drown'd in tears, as in a Floud;
Some mighty Sorrow sure, and Tribulation,
Extorts from her this doleful Lamentation,
Enough to pierce my tender heart again,
And make the Temple once more rend in twain
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And I will rescue thee; Oh do not fear,
I know thy sorrows, and I hear thy cries,
And from what apprehensions they arise:
Know! I can still the blustring Winds and Seas,
And in the greatest anguish can give ease;
I can both wound and cure; Build up and break:
I kill, I make alive, I give, I take!
The Greatest Monarchs I can soon pull down,
I can make void, and then fill up the Throne;
VVhen I think fit, I make the Nations Shake,
And haughty Princes at my presence quake,
Kingdoms to totter, and reel to and fro;
All this and greater things for thee I'll do:
Although thy Foes do thee environ now,
All power and wisdom's mine, and I know how
Thee to support and make them all to bow,
I will arise, and Shew my Soveraignty,
And make them to the Rocks and Mountains fly;
Though with the Powers of Hell they have combin'd,
I will pursue them, and they shall not find
A hiding place my vengeance to avoid,
Till by my fury they are all destroy'd;
I'll soon bring down the most Exalted head,
The Mighty Ones I into dust will tread;
Thy cause I'll plead; Though I have silent stood,
I'll be reveng'd for all the righteous blood
That has run down, ev'n like a mighty Flood;
The day of vengeance shall no longer stay,
VVhat's due to Justice they shall surely pay.
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Besides the cruel wrongs thou dost repeat,
The bloud of former Martyrs does intreat
Me to avenge their cause; I therefore will
Come down in fury and those Monsters kill.
For though I seem'd 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 Bloudy Whore
Shortly, her place shall never know her more.
The bloud of former Martyrs does intreat
Me to avenge their cause; I therefore will
Come down in fury and those Monsters kill.
For though I seem'd 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 Bloudy Whore
Shortly, her place shall never know her more.
Because thou dost my Holy name profess,
I'll break in peices such as thee oppress;
Arm'd with Commission from the Great Jehove,
I will come down, and all thy griefs remove,
All weapons form'd against my Churches shall
Unprosperous prove, for I will break them all,
All Kingdoms of the Earth shall now be mine,
And thou in beauty like a Queen shalt Shine,
And with thy Children in sweet consort sing,
Triumphant Hallelujahs to your King.
I'll break in peices such as thee oppress;
Arm'd with Commission from the Great Jehove,
I will come down, and all thy griefs remove,
All weapons form'd against my Churches shall
Unprosperous prove, for I will break them all,
All Kingdoms of the Earth shall now be mine,
And thou in beauty like a Queen shalt Shine,
And with thy Children in sweet consort sing,
Triumphant Hallelujahs to your King.
Sion.
Thy voice is to my ravisht Soul so sweet,
I am reviv'd, and set upon my feet;
I'll speak thy Praise in Songs, because I see
That Glory near, which thou hast promis'd me;
And now, Great Babylon, who art my Foe,
My time's at hand, and 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 wretched head,
Whilst I in triumph will upon thee tread?
Because thou upon me so long hast trod,
And in contempt hast said; Where is that God?
He therefore will rightly retaliate,
And bring just vengeance on thy cursed pate,
I am reviv'd, and set upon my feet;
I'll speak thy Praise in Songs, because I see
That Glory near, which thou hast promis'd me;
And now, Great Babylon, who art my Foe,
My time's at hand, and thou shalt quickly know
My God has not forsaken me, for now
He will advance me, and make thee to bow;
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Whilst I in triumph will upon thee tread?
Because thou upon me so long hast trod,
And in contempt hast said; Where is that God?
He therefore will rightly retaliate,
And bring just vengeance on thy cursed pate,
| Distressed Sion Relieved | |