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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 | Distressed Sion Relieved |  |
For almost Thirty years last past have I
Seen Floods of Tears flowing continually
From Sions Eyes, whose sad distressed state
With Filial Sympathy I did relate.
In Sixty Six a year of expectation
Came no relief, but still fresh Lamentation;
When she was told her sorrows would be o're,
That year produc't more sorrow than before,
Which caus'd me who in Prison then did lye
To sigh and sob, and weep most bitterly,
In prospect of what I saw coming on
Poor Sion, e're her miseries would be gone,
And therefore did before that year run out,
Foretel some things time since hath brought about.
Sions Distresses plainly did appear,
And still they did increase year after year,
Until the time the Popish Plot was known,
That Grand Intrigue of Bloody Babylon,
My Soul had then some ease, I then did hope
The day was come should quite o'rethrow the Pope
And bloody Whore, That cursed Church of Rome
That she would now receive her fatal Doom;
But all my hopes being frustrate, I again
In the year Eighty pour'd out Tears amain.
For at that time came forth a new Addition
To Sions groans and sorrowful condition,
When I had thought poor Sions woes were gone
What dismal Clouds o're spread our Horizon;
Just as I deem'd I spy'd the morning Light.
How were we threatned with a dismal Night
Of Popish Darkness; this I did descry,
And mourn'd in Verse for England's misery,
But Sion's troubles I did most lament;
Whose Enemies were strong and insolent,
Which caused me in Christian Sympathy
With bitter groans my grief to testifie
In this sad manner:
Seen Floods of Tears flowing continually
From Sions Eyes, whose sad distressed state
With Filial Sympathy I did relate.
In Sixty Six a year of expectation
Came no relief, but still fresh Lamentation;
When she was told her sorrows would be o're,
That year produc't more sorrow than before,
Which caus'd me who in Prison then did lye
To sigh and sob, and weep most bitterly,
In prospect of what I saw coming on
Poor Sion, e're her miseries would be gone,
2
Foretel some things time since hath brought about.
Sions Distresses plainly did appear,
And still they did increase year after year,
Until the time the Popish Plot was known,
That Grand Intrigue of Bloody Babylon,
My Soul had then some ease, I then did hope
The day was come should quite o'rethrow the Pope
And bloody Whore, That cursed Church of Rome
That she would now receive her fatal Doom;
But all my hopes being frustrate, I again
In the year Eighty pour'd out Tears amain.
For at that time came forth a new Addition
To Sions groans and sorrowful condition,
When I had thought poor Sions woes were gone
What dismal Clouds o're spread our Horizon;
Just as I deem'd I spy'd the morning Light.
How were we threatned with a dismal Night
Of Popish Darkness; this I did descry,
And mourn'd in Verse for England's misery,
But Sion's troubles I did most lament;
Whose Enemies were strong and insolent,
Which caused me in Christian Sympathy
With bitter groans my grief to testifie
In this sad manner:
| Distressed Sion Relieved | |