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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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On the Ingenious Author of the Poem called, Distressed Sion Relieved.
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On the Ingenious Author of the Poem called, Distressed Sion Relieved.

Our Author heated with Seraphick Fire,
Which did his late lamenting Muse inspire.
He thereby in the highest notes of grief
Wept Tears in Verse when Sion lackt Relief
From Art high lofty strains he would not borrow.
But only did describe a Natural sorrow.
His clear discerning Soul did then foretel
Her danger, and what afterward befel.
He gave us warning to prevent the stroke,
Sins to forsake, and Mercy to invoke,
Yet would not without Consolation leave us,
Nor did that Book of comfort quite bereave us,
But still assur'd us, That the Scarlet Whore
Should in a short time fall and rise no more.
What he did then predict we hope that we
Within a little while perform'd shall see,
That Heav'n on Sion's sorrows will look down,
And for her sufferings will at length her Crown.


That Sion late distrest, God will relieve,
And for her troubles comfort to her give.
These Hopes our Authors Soul do now inspire
they rouse his Muse, and make him to admire
What Great Deliverance is already wrought,
So great that it was ev'n beyond our thought.
This he in cheerful accents to us sings,
And our past sufferings to our memory brings.
The Glory of those Worthies he revives,
That for their Countrey offered their Lives.
They Popery and Slavery did withstand,
Which was ev'n ready to o're-spread the Land.
And though God did not then success afford,
Our Author doth their Gallant Names record;
And thereby hath himself obtain'd a Name
That shall be registred in the Book of Fame;
When he is gone, his Works shall never dye,
But still be Famous to Posterity.
C. N.