 | Sion in distress |  |
A Complaint of Oaths.
Volleys of Oaths, with horrid Blasphemy,
And dreadful Cursings, in mine Ears do cry.
Mark but our impious Gallants when they meet,
Observe the mode how they each other greet.
What new-coin'd oaths, what modish execrations,
What damming, sinking, horrid Imprecations
Do they disgorge? The Serpents fiery hiss,
That belches Sulphur from the black Abyss,
Can scarce out-do this Ranting Tribe, who count
The Man Genteel that is most paramount
In wickedness; he that blasphemes aloud
Christs blood and wounds, is Courtier alamode.
How can th'abused Earth but gape again,
To swallow quick vile Wretches so prophane!
Can Heavens great Artillery so long
Forbear the Treasons of a mortal Tongue?
Jehovah's Attributes so vilely us'd!
His sacred Essence and his Name abus'd.
Fresh Blasphemies they mint, new Curses frame,
And Sins that never had before a Name.
Graduates in Courtship are preferr'd, who made
Most quick proficience in a hellish Trade:
Such rant and roar, such revel, domineer,
As if nor God nor Devil they did fear.
Approaching dangers can't disturb their pleasure,
But still they sin until they fill their measure.
Judgments deferr'd, in evil makes them bold,
Despising such by whom they are controld.
As if th'avenging Hand their Lives did spare,
Thus to provoke Him without dread or fear.
But poor Blasphemer, when thou art past by,
'Tis not t'indulge thee in iniquity.
Think'st thou the God of Purity does like
Such ways, because he yet forbears to strike?
Do'st think a gloomy interposing Cloud;
From Gods all-searching Eye can be thy shroud?
Or that because He is inthron'd on high,
Thy Deeds of Darkness He cannot espy?
Or since his Judgements are so long delaid,
Wilt thou proceed, and be no whit afraid?
Wilt thou His Patience without end abuse,
Slight true Repentance, and His Grace refuse?
If so, thy Judgment hastens—For a Rod
Will quickly reach thee from an angry God.
Because of Oaths the Land does greatly mourn,
For which my Soul much inward grief has born.
And dreadful Cursings, in mine Ears do cry.
Mark but our impious Gallants when they meet,
Observe the mode how they each other greet.
10
What damming, sinking, horrid Imprecations
Do they disgorge? The Serpents fiery hiss,
That belches Sulphur from the black Abyss,
Can scarce out-do this Ranting Tribe, who count
The Man Genteel that is most paramount
In wickedness; he that blasphemes aloud
Christs blood and wounds, is Courtier alamode.
How can th'abused Earth but gape again,
To swallow quick vile Wretches so prophane!
Can Heavens great Artillery so long
Forbear the Treasons of a mortal Tongue?
Jehovah's Attributes so vilely us'd!
His sacred Essence and his Name abus'd.
Fresh Blasphemies they mint, new Curses frame,
And Sins that never had before a Name.
Graduates in Courtship are preferr'd, who made
Most quick proficience in a hellish Trade:
Such rant and roar, such revel, domineer,
As if nor God nor Devil they did fear.
Approaching dangers can't disturb their pleasure,
But still they sin until they fill their measure.
Judgments deferr'd, in evil makes them bold,
Despising such by whom they are controld.
As if th'avenging Hand their Lives did spare,
Thus to provoke Him without dread or fear.
But poor Blasphemer, when thou art past by,
'Tis not t'indulge thee in iniquity.
Think'st thou the God of Purity does like
Such ways, because he yet forbears to strike?
11
From Gods all-searching Eye can be thy shroud?
Or that because He is inthron'd on high,
Thy Deeds of Darkness He cannot espy?
Or since his Judgements are so long delaid,
Wilt thou proceed, and be no whit afraid?
Wilt thou His Patience without end abuse,
Slight true Repentance, and His Grace refuse?
If so, thy Judgment hastens—For a Rod
Will quickly reach thee from an angry God.
Because of Oaths the Land does greatly mourn,
For which my Soul much inward grief has born.
Do'st thou not see how filthy Drunkenness
Does raign in City, and in Villages?
Some reel and wallow in the street, like Swine,
Whilst others boast their strength in drinking Wine:
Although to such, God doth denounce a Curse,
They mind it not, but still grow worse and worse.
Dread not Examples of Gods wrath at all,
Nor what to Drunkards does so oft befall:
Altho Gods Word has dreadful Warnings given,
That Drunkards never shall inherit Heaven,
But that their lot shall with damn'd Spirits be,
In Chains of Darkness to Eternity.
They drink, carouse, and waste their jolly breath,
Upon the brink of Everlasting Death.
Whate'er ensues, they are resolv'd they will
Carouse full Goblets, and be filthy still.
Thus men by Pride, by Oaths, by Worldliness,
By daily swallowing Liquor to excess,
Defile the Land, and do the Lord provoke,
To cause his Vengeance on the Land to smoak.
Sin sets the door wide open, and makes way
For all the Sorrows of th'approaching day.
These are in part the cause of England's Wo,
And will (if Grace prevents not) it undo.
But there are other hainous Sins behind,
Which pierce my Bowels, and perplex my Mind.
Does raign in City, and in Villages?
Some reel and wallow in the street, like Swine,
Whilst others boast their strength in drinking Wine:
Although to such, God doth denounce a Curse,
They mind it not, but still grow worse and worse.
Dread not Examples of Gods wrath at all,
Nor what to Drunkards does so oft befall:
Altho Gods Word has dreadful Warnings given,
That Drunkards never shall inherit Heaven,
But that their lot shall with damn'd Spirits be,
In Chains of Darkness to Eternity.
They drink, carouse, and waste their jolly breath,
Upon the brink of Everlasting Death.
Whate'er ensues, they are resolv'd they will
Carouse full Goblets, and be filthy still.
Thus men by Pride, by Oaths, by Worldliness,
By daily swallowing Liquor to excess,
12
To cause his Vengeance on the Land to smoak.
Sin sets the door wide open, and makes way
For all the Sorrows of th'approaching day.
These are in part the cause of England's Wo,
And will (if Grace prevents not) it undo.
But there are other hainous Sins behind,
Which pierce my Bowels, and perplex my Mind.
| Sion in distress | |