A BOTTLE OF HOLY TEARS, OR, Jeremies Threnes and Lamentations for Israels misery and Ierusalems woefull desolation, Metri­cally and Metaphrastically laid out in Verse, explai­ning plainely the meaning of the Prophet in his lamenting Phrases. Very suitable for these times, wherein we have a call every day to learne the Lesson of Englands Lamentation, Warre and Plague having made a strong entrance into divers parts of the Land, and leane Famine and Deso­lation knocking at the doore for entrance.

Therefore said I, looke away from me, I will weep bitterly, labour not to comfort me, because of the spoyling of the daughter of my people, Esay 22.4.
Consider ye and call for the mourning-women, and send for the cun­ning-women, that they may come, and teach your daughters wailing, and every one her neighbour Lamentation, Jer. 9.17, & 19.

YORKE, Printed by Tho. Broad, 1645.

To the godly Reader that understands what these times are, and practises Jeremies Lamentations with a sorrowing and sensible heart.

IN that day, (said the Prophet Esay, Esay 22.12.) did the Lord God of hostes call to weeping and to mourning, and to baldnesse, and to girding with sackcloth, in this day he calls for the same, for this is the day of Iacobs trouble. What he calls for, these Verses, as blacke as the Inke they are writ withall calls for also. Nazian. 1. pacificat. Nazian­zen confesses, he never read these lamen­ting lines of Ieremy, but with a lamen­ting heart, and with overflowing teares in his eyes. Not onely Ie­remies but ours are lamentable dayes, and doe challenge our Thre­nodies and mourning Verses. We have our sorrowfull Doctor Iere­my, and the Doctrine is our owne, or the Application rather comes home to us, our Jerusalem being on a fire, our Temples waste, our Elders and Prophets gone into Captivity, our Magistrates none to be found sitting in the gates, our Merchants are weary of the Land, and say it is more tempestuous then the sea, they beare dust and ashes upon their heads, our Virgines are defloured by an heard of Goates. Rachel weepes for her children, and will not be comforted, because they are not. Every one eates the flesh of his owne arme, Manasseh is against Ephraim, and Ephraim against Manasseh, and both against Iudah. O the cruell and unmercifull dealings of the men of these dayes, as if it were not onely true that the English were not onely gone to live among the Cannibals in New-England but a Colony of Cannibals were brought thence to devoure, and banquet with mans flesh in Old-England. O Lord to us belongeth confusion of face, to our Kings, to our Princes, and to our Fathers, because we have sinned against thee. Dan. 9.8. If there were true judgement given of our calamities what they are, it might be resolved thus and that [Page]justly, that the iniquity of the Throne, the Inxurie of the Palates, the oppressions of the Tribunals, the prophanenesse of the Sanctu­ary, the ungodlinesse of the street and market, are all met toge­ther in one, and have called forth the justice of God to plague us, and to be revenged on such a Nation as this. Wee have heard of fours great judgements the Lord threatens to great sinners, wilde beasts and those we have, belluine, brutish and bitter men, that need not learne in the wildernesse but set up a Lecture in the desert to the Tygers and Leopards to teach them to destroy and [...]eare in pieces, and for the other three, limos, lointos, and polemos, Famine, Plague, and War, (woe unto us that we have sinned,) they have said of the Land, Here will we dwell, for we have a delight therein. The Lord teach us the lesson of these dayes to lament and turne unto him. O all you carelesse soules that passe by, that have some ease and qui­et, when all the Land is steeped in bitternesse, and lies in the breach of the wrath of the Almighty, how can you goe with such a dry Summer in your eyes? Is it nothing to you, that the Land mourns, the Church hangs up her Harp on the Willow trees. Sion sorrowes, England and Ireland are bidding farewell to their broken hartstrings, behold and see if there be any sorrow like Englands sorrow, where­with the Lord hath afflicted her in the day of his fierce wrath. Come and vie teares with the weepers, bow your heads and eyes to the wounded, that having part in her sorrowes, when she findes comfort you may challenge a part in her joyes. For as none could goe into the Temple of Honour, but they must passe thorow the Temple of Vertue; so certainly it will come to passe that none shall enter into the glorious Temple of the Churches joy, but they that goe thorow the closet of mourning, earnestly bewailing both our sins, [...]say 66.10. and Gods peoples sufferings. Rejoyce with Jerusalem and be glad with her, all ye that love her: Rejoyce for joy with her, all ye that mourne for her. To this purpose I have plainly and sim­ply set upon my owne heart, and laboured to strike fire with Iere­mies flint and steele, that some of his compassionate sorrow might take hold on me in the midst of the passions of the Lords inheri­tance, and doe thinke the endeavour, Nahum 2.7. [...]ck. 7.16. be it never so meane, honest and good in calling upon others to learne to be Doves, tabring up­on their breasts, and mourning in the vallies. The Prophets mea­ning I have followed with a Metricall and Metaphrasticall inter­pretation, sometimes taking a Poeticall license to be more large, [Page]but alwayes following the Propheticall sense. Nor is it strange that Lamentation should be in Verse and Poetry, the Prophet writ it so in Hebrew meeter, spending foure Alphabets of Hebrew Let­ters, Hi [...]r [...]. Epist 115. ad Pau­lam Vrbi (somewhat like the 119. Ps. lme,) about it, the manner of Verse inost resembling a Trimeter Sapphicke. Why not sorrow in Verse when Davids Penitentiall, full of the wormewood of repentance in' 51. Psalme, was vented in mournfull Poetry, and had more water of godly sorrow in it, then the spring had Elementary water, in which Bathshebah bathed? If from this Prophets Threnes, Pelusi. epist. 298. Lib. 1. Lucae C [...]no­biarchae. who was pro­phetoon polyp [...]thestatos, the most calamitous of all the Prophets. I shall but gaine some few hearts, with holy and sorrowing sense by compassion, to lament the passions of the Lords people. I shall re­joyce, because wet seed carried out has a promise of sheaves to be reaped and brought home triumphantly. The Verse is neither Sce­nicall nor Cynicall, but plaine and passionate; Lacbrymosae p [...]mata pup­pi. Pers. Mat. 5. Es [...]y 57.18. not Martials Verse to breake the Diaphragme with laughter, but like Puppius his Verse, the Cloth and Fringe all teares. Englands state is sinfull and mour­full, the Lord teach us tomourne, that the next Message, we have from the Lord may be that of Christ, Blessed are you that mourne, for you shall be comforted. I will restore comforts to you, and to the Mourners.

Of the Name, the Argument, the Book, and the Author.

BEyond all doubt it is, that Jeremy was the Author of this Booke. He was the penne in the hand of the Holy Ghost, by which this Booke was written. Of all the Books in Scripture, this about the Author falls under the least question. Cassanae in Caral. glor. mund. The Ienes call the Book Echa, from the first word Quo­modo, as the French (it is thought) call their Salique Law, from the two first words, Si aliqua. The Hebrew Doctors and Rabbins call it Cinoth, that is Lamentations. Of the Greeks it is called Threnoi, because the mat­ter of it is Lamentable, the name of it is suitable, Lamentations. The Iews use to read this Scripture by the prescription of their Rabbins, Pet. a figue­iro in Lam. Jer. in Ca. 1. the 9. day of July, or the moneth Ab in their Synagogues, because that day Israel fell Ierusalem and the Temple were burnt. In the Greek and the Roman Bibles, the Booke begins with this proeme added to it, And it came to passe after Is­rael was carried into Captivity, and Ierusalem was laid desart, that the Prophet Jeremy sate and lamented with this Lamentation over Ierusalem, and said, 1 How doth, &c. Some thinke this Booke not to be a single one of it selfe, 2 but a part of Jeremies large Prophesies, and to go [...] on with it. Ju­nius and Tremelius thinke it to be the Booke of Lamentations made at Jo­siah [...] funerall 2 Chron. 35. Now whether there were two Bookes of La­mentations will fall under question. Sure it is, that much of the Iewes mi­sery came hasting on after Josiahs death, so as the sorrow for him turned in­to a proverbiall of great mourning, Zach. 12, 10 or the mourning of Hadadrimmon. 3 3. But for that it should be the Booke that underwent the penknife, and the martyrdome of fire by Jehojakim, Jer 36. needs not far to be sought after, seeing there was much matter of prediction, here onely of deploration. It re­mains to conclude that it contains as a bottle Jeremies tears, wherewith he bewasles the wretched estate of the Iewes and Ierusalem, writing an Epi­taph upon that dying City, whose misery he saw begun at Josiahs death, and foresaw her great desolation instant and imminent; yea, pressing fast onward under Zedekiah, in War, Famine, cr [...]ell Tyranny, and all evils, within the predicament of misery and prevailing enemies. By this writing he acts La­mentation, confession of sinne, appeale to Gods mercy, deprecates judgement, layes open Gods just wrath, Israels unjust wayes, thereby both exciting his owne people, and giving an example and a lesson to all people, to learne how to repent and turne to God, when he in his judgement is turned against them. He being a Prophet, it not onely stayes at that destruction by Babylonians un­der Zedekiah and Jehoiachin, Jer. 52. but withall fore-tells, fore-sces, and fore-bewailes Ierusalem, and Iewes deeper downefall by Titus and the Romans.

The Lamentations of the Prophet IEREMIE Metrically Meraphrased.

CHAP. I.

Verse. 1. COme see and wonder how great Zion sits
In sad alonenesse, lately her fair streets,
were fill'd with populous throngs. Now none wil woo
Poor forlorn Widow, none make love unto her
(a) How had she all Nations knees? her ears were blest her
With name of Princesse, servant now at best.
Verse. 2. Sad day's oft eas'd by night, when as kind sleep
Stops up tears Bottle: but her sorrows keep
Their watry course both with the Moon and Sun,
Her Cheeks are water Chanels where floods run:
Her eyes no standing Ponds, but flowing Springs;
(b) Yet no friend visits, no Lover comfort brings:
Once many a name, and face of loving friends,
Now low estate begins, their friendship ends.
Disloy all love's soon chang'd from amity
Verse. 3. By adverse state, to perverse enmitie
Judah is stript of all her Soveraignty,
And captive led in great servility:
Amongst the Heathenish routs this holy flock
Doth lead a restlesse life with Pagan folk.
In vain heart wishes to escape, hope waits,
The enemies have caught her in such straits.
Verse. 4. The wayes to Zion crowded with holy guests,
Which yearly came to keep her solemn feasts,
Pathwayes and gates now languishing lament,
Because few feet there tread, none them frequent:
The Priests are prodigall of sighs, and moan,
Depris'd of holy Office, Virgins groan,
Deeply afflicted: Zion knowes no lesse,
Herself in gulphed in great bitternesse.
Verse. 5 Beyond all this, her enemies doe command,
Shee must obey, they have the upper hand.
Her sins this scourge to the Lords hand did reach,
When the Word's rejected then the Rod shall teach.
Hee many sius these many sorrowes bred,
For this her children now are Captive led.
Verse. 6. That face of beauty, which Zion did renowne,
Like all her blisse is gone, uncomely growne.
As stragling Harts her Princes are become,
Wandring for food being pasture-pincht at home.
The strong pursuers doe them strengthlesse drive
'Cainst powerfull force poor weaknesse cannot strive.
Verse. 7. But O that misery, (c) once to have happy been,
Torments the memory of Jerusalem.
Of sorrowes children this is eldest sonne,
To say of former joyes, those dayes are done.
Her quondam pleasures she recounts full sad,
In deep affliction, which before she had,
Till th' inundation of her enemies power,
Which hath her land, selfe, people, all run o're.
Help none appeares. Her enemies seeing it, mock,
Yea her blest Sabbaths are their laughing stock.
Verse. 8. Deeply she sin'd, therefore she deeply smarts,
And Vagrant-like, wanders in forraine parts.
They that had waxen knees, in signe of honour
Rowing, doe now despise, cry fie upon her.
Because they see her nakednesse, with scorne
They thinke to cloath her. She, as one forlorne.
Drawes out her soule in sighes, her face she hides.
Verse. 9. In her fonle skirts pollution much abides.
Wherefore from high, thus low she did descend,
Because she quite forgot her latter end:
No Comforter appeares. O Lord behold
My miseries swelling tide, whiles enemies bold
Lift up themselves in pride.
Verse. 10. They make their prey
All her delights which hand can snatch away.
Nay, Lord, thy Sanctuary, that holy place,
Which all unhallowed feet of Heathen race,
Thou didst inhibit to enter, these she sees
Pollute that sacred pavement, which bow'd knees
Of worshipping Saints did kisse.
Verse. 11. See what rate bears
One little loaf of bread, when sighes and tears
Of th' people cannot buy it. For pittance small
Of meat, which might the flitting soule recall
To fainting body one day more to live,
Their costliest jewelrie they doe freely give.
My piteous case consider, Lord, meane while,
See how in every eye I am counted vile.
Verse. 12. O heavens! Are men turn'd flints, their heart­strings brass?
Has earth no bowels left? O (d) you that passe
With marbled ruthlesse hearts, and by me goe,
Lending no pity to condole my woe.
Is all compassion fled? O that I were
Among the sweating stones, they'd drop a teare
Amidst my groanes, and seeme to sympathize,
Whiles men goe on with juy celesse pumice eyes.
Ah unaffected stocks, behold and see,
If e're you knew miseries hyperbole
Climbe up so high. See how displeased God
Has printed all my flesh with his angry rod,
In blew and livid letters, all my read
A Lecture of his wrath falne on my head.
Verse. 13. Each member beares some mark of his fierce ire,
Within my bones he hath inclos'd a fire,
It feeds on me as fuell. 'Tis no boot!
For me to flee, a snare hath caught my foot.
Turn'd backward, desolate, fainting I remaine
Till th' Sun from East hath rid to watry maine.
Verse. 14. My sins are bundled altogether in one,
And like an Iron yoke, or heavy stone,
Laid on my neck, how am I pressed downe?
All strength and vigour is departed, gone.
In enemies hands the Lord hath lockt me sure,
Whence to escape are left no meanes, or power.
Verse. 15. In midst of th' land my worthies, men of might,
The Lord hath stampt, and trodden under feet.
Against my young men he hath led a band,
Which crush and spoile that flower of my land:
(e) The virgin daughter of Judah is pressed sore,
As grapes in wine-presse, drown'd in purple gore.
Verse. 16. Therefore mine eyes, mine eyes their rivers spend
And like to thriftlesse Prodigals make an end
Of all their watry store, because so far,
I am remov'd from my blest Comforter,
That should relieve my soule. My children lie
Most desolate by prevailing tyrannie.
Verse. 17. Zion spreads forth her hands, yet none draw neer
To solace her. Jacob is drown'd in feare
Of circling enemies, which have hedg'd him round
At Gods command. This is Jerusalems wound,
(f) Like women in pollutions all
her flie,
Shee is separate from all societie.
Verse. 18. Lord thou art just, I from thy Law have swerv'd,
And thou hast punisht, all this I deserv'd.
Draw neere all people, O see, and heare I pray
My sad laments, and sorrowes gloomy day.
My beauteous Maides and Young-men captives goe,
Forme, face and feature cannot bribe the foe.
Verse. 19. O (g) you my lovers, whose
promises kist the skie,
Where are your windy vowes? will none draw nie,
Have all deceiv'd? None answer at my call?
Ah my poore Priests and Elders, how they fall,
Breathing their finall gaspes whiles they seek meat,
They fall downe famisht in the open street.
Verse. 20. [...] thou thine eyes, O Lord, to my distresse,
My rolling bowels, I cannot expresse,
And tossing heart, what griefe doth them perplex,
For my rebellions did my God much vex.
No face of safety is seen, sword scornes the sheath,
Killing abroad, at home no guest but death,
Verse. 21. Slaying by famine. All my foes do know
How I doe sigh and sorrow laid full low,
Disconsolate. 'Tis matter of joy to them,
To see black clouds hang o're Jerusalem.
But Lord their course is next when mine is done,
Their day comes on when they shall have my roome.
I know when thou hast tryed and humbled me,
Thou'wilt use the rod to scourge mine enemie.
When I have drunk thine angers bitter cup,
As I have din'd, so shall mine enemies sup.
Verse. 22. Set all their wickednesse before thy face,
Make them decline afflictions in my case:
As I have sin'd so have they, let them smart
As I have smarted. For my fainting heart
Is ready to breake thorow these walles of clay
with bouncing sobs, thus spend I every day. *

Verse. 1. HOw doth the city sit soli­tary that was ful of people how is she become as a Widdo [...] she that was great among the N [...] [...] ­tions, and Princesse among th [...] Provinces, how is she become tr [...] butary?

Verse. 2 Shee weepeth sore in that night, and her tears are on her [...] cheels: among all her lovers sh [...] hath none to comfort her, all her friends have dealt treacheron [...] with her, they are become h [...] enemies.

Verse. 3 Judah is gone into capti­vity, because of affliction, [...] because of great servitude: she dwelleth among the Heathen, [...] findeth no rest; al her perse [...] toues overtooke her between [...] straits.

Verse. 4 The wayes of Zion [...] mourn, because none come to [...] solemn feasts: all her gates [...] [Page 2]desolate: her Priests sigh: her Virgines are afflicted, and she is in bitternesse.

Verse. 5 Her adversaries are the chief her eu [...]ies prosper: for the Lord hath afflicted her; for the multi­tude of her tramigressims, he chil­dren are gone into captivity before the enemy.

Verse. 6. And from the daughter of Zien all her beauty is departed: her Princes are become like Harte, that finde no pasture, and they are gone without strength before the pursuer.

Verse. 7. Jerusalem remembred in the dayes of her affliction, and of her miseries, a I her pleasant things that shee had in the dayes of old, when her people fell into the hand of the enemy, and none did help her, the adversaries saw her, and did mocke at her Sabbaths.

Verse. 8. Ierusalem hath grievously finned, therefore she is removed: all that honoured her, despise her, because they have soon her naked­nesse: yea, she figheth and turneth backward.

Verse. 9. Her filthinesse is in her skirts, she remembreth not ber last end, therefore she came down won­derfully: she had no comforter: O [Page 3]Lord, behold my affliction for the enemy hath magnified himselfe.

Verse. 10. The adversary hath spread out his hand upon all her pleasant things: for she hath seen that the beathen entred into her Sanctus [...] ary, whom thou diddest command that they should not enter into thy congregation.

Verse. 11. All her people sigh, they seeke bread, they have given their pleasant things for meat to re­lieve the soule: see, O Lord, and consider: for I am become vile.

Verse. 12. Is it nothing to you, all ye that passe by? behold and see, if there be any sorrow like to my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the Lord hath affli­cted me, in the day of his fierce wrath.

Verse. 13. From above hath he sent fire into my bones, and it prevai­leth against them: be hath spread a net for my feet, he hath turned me backe: he hath made me de­solate, and faint all the day.

Verse. 14. The yoke of my transgressi­ons is bound by his hand [...] they are wreathed, & come up upon my [Page 4]necke: he hath made my strength to fall, the Lord hath delivered me into their hands, from whom I shall not be able to rise up.

Verse. 15. The Lord hath tr [...]dden under fo [...] all my mith men in the mad lest [...] the hath called an assembly against me [...] crush my [...]. The Lord [...] [...] righter of [...].

Verse. 16. [...] with [...] that shou [...] far from me [...] children are deso­late bee [...] the enemy y [...]ev [...]nled.

Verse. 17. Zion s [...]ea leth forth her hands, & there is name to comfore her: the Lord hath commanded concerning Iacob, that his adver­saries sh [...]uld be round about him; Ierusalem is as a menstruous wo­man among them.

Verse. 18. The Lord is righteous, for I have rebelled against his com­mandement: heare, I pray you, all people, and behold my sorrow: my virginis and my young men are gone into captivity.

Verse. 19. I called for my lovers, but they deceived me: my Priests and mine Elders gave up the ghost in the city, while they sought their meat to relieve their soules.

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Verse. 20. Behold, O Lord, for [...] I in distresse: my bowels are troubled: mine heart is turned within me, for I have grievously rebelled: abroad the sword here [...] veth, at home there is death.

Verse. 21. They have heard that I sigh, there is none to comfort me: all mine enemi [...]s have heard of my trouble, they are glad that thou hast done it: thou will bring the day that thou hast cal­led, and they shall be like un [...] me.

Verse. 22. Let all their wickednesse come before thee: and doe unto them, as thou hast done unto me for all my transgressions: for my sighs are many, and my heart it faint.

CHAP. II.

Verse. 1. WIth what a duskie cloak of foggie cloud
Is Zion clad, which doth her glory shroud,
And teneb [...]ize her beames? The angry Lord
Hath kickt her down from Heaven as one abhor'd.
Shee now lies soyl'd in dust, whom once right well
Each tongue did stile the Beauty of Israel.
In wrath he doth forget, and cleane forsake
His goodly (h) footstoole. He doth riddance make
Verse. 2. Of Jacobs stock, which issued from him,
They are [...]wallowed up without all pitying.
Judahs strong holds he hath battered to ground
Defil'd their kingdome, and their King discrown'd.
Verse. 3. His peoples flourishing (i) horne on high set up,
In anger is all broke, asunder cut.
His strong right hand, of nations so well knowne
For Israels onely help, is now withdrawne.
Round about Jacob his fiery fury burnes,
Like raging flame it all to ashes turnes.
Verse. 4. The Lord, as man of war, his bow hath bent,
Whence never frustrate arrow yet was sent.
Zions most excellent ones, joy to the eye
Once to behold them, now in dust doe lie,
Brought downe and slaine by his most mighty hand,
Whose wrath like fire is powr [...]d out on the Land.
Verse. 5. Israels palaces, forts are all destroy'd,
Quite swallow'd up, so much as erc she joy'd
Shee sorrowes now. Poore Judahs common song
Are mournfull Threnes and Lamentation.
Verse. 6. He hath remov'd his Tabernacle thence
With violent hand, the lands securest fence,
Now its a hedglesse garden. Empty, voyd,
Are places of assemblies, lately cloy'd
And surfetting with throngs, so many guests
Did come to celebrate her holy Feasts.
These Sabbaths * solemne dayes are now forgot,
Both Kings and Priests are ceas'd, whose holy lot
Was Altar-service: these despis'd are gone,
Remov'd by God in indignation.
Verse. 7. The Altar is cast off and Sanctuary
Abhor'd, the palaces given to th' enemy:
When (k) pious soules on solemne dayes before
In the Lords house did meet for to adore,
They gave an heavenly sound in Psalmes and praise,
There now alas the roaring enemies raise
An impious heathenish [...]oyse, like that for sound,
But not for sense o [...] harmony. To the ground
Verse. 8. Zions faire walls must fall, the Lord hath past
His purpose for it. Yea his line is cast
And stretch't upon't: his hand he doth not turne
From utter ruine. He hath taught to (l) mourne
The walls and ramparts, as if they had sense
To tune sad ditties for foes violence.
Verse. 9. Both gates & bars are broke, and sunk in ground
Yea all her Kings and Princes wander round
The Gentiles Countrey. Holy Law's no more,
(m) Prophets want visions which they had before.
Verse. 10. Zions grave Elders (n) on the earth are laid,
And earth is laid on them, for every head
Is crown'd with ashes, dust, all silent, sad.
[...]ackcloth is th' only Robe wherewith they are clad.
Jerusalems virgins, ripe with griefe and feares,
Walk with down hanging heads like ripened eares.
Verse. 11. O eyes, your welsprings fail and watry store,
My troubled bowels within are panged sore:
My (o) liver as liquor is powr'd out on the earth,
Because so great a famine, murderous dearth
Doth on the daughter of my people lie,
The silly sucklings famisht faint and die.
In every street their little corps lie spread,
Verse. 12. They cry upon their mothers, give us bread,
We pine, we perish, who will our hunger stay?
One drop of wine to queneh our thirst we pray.
Poore babes in vaine do cry and pule and crave,
Whiles mothers want to give what they would have.
Onely in mothers bosome they swoon and die,
And laid in street preach pity to each eye.
Verse. 13. What shall I take or seek to earths utmost hem,
To witnesse for thee, O Jerusalem?
Rhetorique is bankrupt, thou hast begger'd th' Arts,
Ovirgin daughter of Zion, all their parts
Cannot similitudes coyne fit to expreile
Thy dolours deluge, all compares are lesse
Inferiour much to thine. Could I but fetch
Example parallell from some dismall wretch,
Hence this small glimpse of comfort thou mighst see,
Thou we [...] not singula [...] in misery.
Yet to the Sea thy sad estate compar'd,
Some part by that rude shadow is declar'd.
As those proud swelling waves the banks or'e reach,
Levelling high-crested earth with many a breach,
And fearfull ruptures: thus tho waves of woe
Broke in upon thee, and ore run thee so,
As for thy breach small hopes of help remaine,
Nothing can stop when waves slow in amaine.
Verse. 14. Fie (o) on all oylie Serm [...]ns; flattering tongues,
Of sweet-run'd Prophets, that can sing no songs
But peace and safety. How could Zion stand
When please-eare Preachers did infect her Land?
All's well cry they, thou hast some sins indeed,
Yet desolating vastations no [...]e we reade
In all our visions. Foolish things and vaine
They see, but see not sin bring captives chaine.
Had they set our Zions abhorred wayes,
And all her sins, she had not seen these dayes
Of sad captivity, but their wi [...]s they spent,
To sift false causes of her banishment.
Verse. 15. Behold the passengers that traveil by
Doe wag their heads, clap hands and hi [...]ing cry,
Loe yonder ruin'd turrets, piles of stone,
Was the worlds beauty and perfection
Of all earths glorions Fabriches. Can this be
Jerusalems City we demolish [...]ce?
Verse. 16. See how thine enemies together flocke,
To vent the venome of their mouthes, they mocke:
Some Serpent-like doe his [...]c, some Dog-like grin,
Every one s [...]ive the Scorners prize to win,
In acting best upon Derisions stage,
See, see, shee's falne cry they in scornefull rage,
She's swallowed up: the day, the day is come
Of her woes, and our wishes; a sad doome.
Verse. 17. This is the time wel [...]okt for, long expested,
Gods purpose and dev [...]e is now effected.
Long since he threatned he [...] for sinne of old:
His wrath sulfills what's patience did with-hold.
She's tumbled downe, no piteous [...]n lo [...]t [...]ngu [...]
Draws ne [...]r, heef [...]s rej [...]ice, their ho [...]n's made arong
Verse. 18. In the Lords c [...]rs their h [...]rts aloud did cry,
O wall of Zion never more be dry:
Let slouds ve [...]ld [...]o h [...]te [...]es, nee [...] let sleeps key
Look up [...]li [...]ne [...]s w [...]p [...]eill essenigh [...] and day.
Verse. 19. Ri [...]e up and b [...]ak thy mi [...]night [...]u [...]ed [...]est,
In nightly watches powre [...]ut he [...]ta [...]d brest
Before the Lord in Prayers h [...]ld hands on high,
Crying, O save (p) [...] babes which fainting lie,
Stab'd through with hu [...]ger at h [...]ad of every street.
Verse. 20. O L [...]d hehold a miserab [...]e s [...]g [...]t,
A spect cle of wee, neverd d [...]eye
Read sad ler Argument of Tragedy.
Shall (q) bowell-bleeding mothers take and eat
Their span-long sucklings? O abh [...]rred meat?
Alas, their child-bed pangs were sport and mirth,
When travelling throwes fi [...]st brought these Infaats fo [...]th,
Compar'd with this: when mothers they must feed
Upon that flesh, which their owne flesh did breed.
O heavy judgement of necessity,
Inventing food 'gainst Na [...]ures cookery:
[...]no bit of such sad break-fast's worse then all
Earths griefes, that under imagination fall.
Shall Priests and Prophets slaine in Sanct [...]ary lie,
Finding no refuge, nor no Sanctuary?
Verse. 21. Both old and young in open streets lie slain,
My virgins and my young men drop like raine,
Falling by sword: no pity doth thee stay
From slaught [...]ing all in this thy wrathfull day.
Verse. 22. As at some solemn time they are grathred all,
Girt round with terrours here and there they fall,
Nothing (r) escapes, for what can safe remaine,
When God a day of anger doth proclaime?
My babes the solace of my life, which I
Brought up with care and swadled, these mine eye
(Why have I eyes to see it?) sees a prey,
Unto destroying enemies every day.

Verse. 1. HOw hath the Lord cove­red the daughter of Ziom with a cloud in his anger, and cast downe from heaven unto the earth the beanty of Israel, and remembred no [...] his fcotstoole in the day of his anger?

Verse. 2. The Lord swallowed up all the habitations of Iacob, and hath not pitted: he hath thrown down [Page 6]in his wrath the strong hold [...] of the daughter of Iuda [...]: he hath brought them down to the ground hee hath polluted the kingdom and the Princes thereof.

Verse. 3. He hath cut off in his fieres anger all the horn of Israel: he hath drawn back his right band from before the enemy, & be bur­ned against Iacob like a flaming fire whichd v [...]nreth round about

Verse. 4. He hath [...]ent his bow like an enemy: he stood with his right hand as an adversary, & slew all that were pleasant to the eye, in the Ta [...]ernacle of the daughter of Zion: he poured out his fury like fire.

Verse. 5. The Lord was an enemy: he hath swallowed up Israel, he hath swallowed up al her palaces: he hath destroyed his strong holds & hath in [...]reased in the daughter of Iudamourning & lamentation

Verse. 6. And he hath violently taken a­way his Tabernacle, as if it were of a garden, he hath destroyed his places of the assembly; the Lord hath caused the solemn Feasts & Sabbaths to be forgotten in Zion; and hath despised in the indignation of his anger, the King and the priest:

Verse. 7. The Lord hath cast off his Al­tar [...] he hath abhorred his Sanctua­ry: he hath given up into the hand of the enemy the walls of her pala­ces: they have made a noyse in the house of the Lord, as in the day of a solemne feast.

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Verse. 8. The Lord hath purpased to de­stroy the wall of the daughter of Z [...] ­on: he hath stretched out a line the hath not withdrawne his hand from destroying: therefore he made the rampart and the wall to la [...]ent they languished together.

Verse. 9. Her gates [...]re sunle into the ground: he hath destroyed and bro­len her barres: her King and her Princes are among the Gentiles: the lawis no more, her Prophets also fi [...]d no v [...]sion from the Lord.

Verse. 10. The elders of the daughter of Zion sit upon the ground and leep­silence: they have cast up dust upon their beads: hey have girded them­selve [...] with saclolo [...]th: the virgins of Ierusalem hang down their heads to the ground.

Verse. 11. Mine eyes do faile with tears: my bow [...]s are troubled: my liver is so [...]r [...]d [...]p [...]n the earth, for the de­struction of the daughter of my peo­ple because the children & the suck­lings swoon in the streets of the city.

Verse. 12. They say to their mothers, Where is corn and w [...]n? when they sw [...]ned as the wounded in the sireets of the city, when their settle was pow [...]red out into their mothers b [...]some.

Verse. 13. What thing shall I take to witnesse for thee? what thing shal I liken to thee, O daughter of Ierusa­lem? [Page 8]what shall I equall to thee th [...] I may comfort thee, O virgin daughter of Zion? for thy breach is great like the Sea [...] who can heal thee.

Verse. 14. Thy Prophets have seene vaine a [...]d f [...]olish things for thee, and they have not discovered thine iniquity, to turne away thy capti­vity: but have seen for thee fase burdens, and causes of banish­ment.

Verse. 15. All that passe by clap their hands at thee: [...]y visse and wag their head at the daughter of Je­rusalem, saying, Is this the City that men call the perfection of beauty, the jay of the whole earth?

Verse. 16. All thine enemies have opened their mouth against thee: they hisse and gnash the teath: they say, We have swallowed her up: certainely this is the day that [Page 9]we looked for: wee have found we have seen [...]t.

Verse. 17. The Lord hath done that which he had devised: bee hath ful­s [...]e his w [...]d that he had comman­ded in the dayes of old: hee hath throwne downe, and hath not pitied: and he hath caused thine enemy to rejoyce over thee, he hath set up the horne of thine adversaries.

Verse. 18. Their heart cryed unto the Lord, O wa [...]l of the daughter of Zi­on, let teares run downe like a river, day and night: give thy selfe no rest, let not the apple of thine eyes cease.

Verse. 19. Arise, cry out in the night: in the beginning [...]f the watches pon [...]r [...] out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord: lift up thine hands toward him, for the life of thy young children, that faint for hunger in the top of every street.

Verse. 20. Behold, O Lord, and co [...]si­der to whom thou hast [...]d me this shall the women eat their fruit, and chil­dren of aspan long? shall the Priest [Page 10]and the Prophet be slaine in the San­ctuary of the Lord.

Verse. 21. The young and the old lie on the ground in the streets: my virgins and my young men are fallen by the sword: thou hast slaine them in the day of thy anger: thou hast killed and not pitied.

Verse. 22. Thou hast called as in a so­lemne day by terrours round about, so that in the day of the Lords an­ger, none escaped nor remained; those that I have swadled & brought up, hath mine enemy consumed.

CHAP. III.

Verse. 1. I Am (s) the son of sorrowes, who have seen
Afflictions Center, and sore schoold have been
Under Gods stinging red.
Verse. 2. From lightsom walks
I am brought to sullen darknesse, obscure vaults.
Depriv'd of joyes of all eye-cheering light.
Verse. 3. Surely 'gainst me God turns himselfe to fight,
Under his heavy hand I daily groane.
Verse. 4. My wrizzeld skin neighbours too neer the bone,
My wrinkled face and flesh my age belie,
Crowne old with griefe, not years. My bones do lie
Scatte [...]d and broken.
Verse. 5. He has built a wall
'Gainst me; my ease is paine, my sweets are gall.
Verse. 6. Cles'd up in cells of darknesse am I laid,
Like those whom death long since hath prisoners made.
Verse. 7. When I would scape (crosse to my hopes) I finde
An high thorn (r) hedge, where with the Lord dab binde
And keep me in.
Verse. 8. A heavy chaine I beare,
Then doe I cry and shout, but where's Gods care?
He shuts out all my prayers.
Verse. 9. Stops up my way
With hewen stones: yea, all my pathes that lay
So straight, are crooked made.
Verse. 10. Like hungry Bear:
Or (u) greedy Lion lurking close to teare,
And seise upon some prey, he watcht for me.
Verse. 11. I walke in uncouth pathes, compell'd to flee:
Peece-meale he [...]ent me, tore me in his hate,
Then leaves me to my selfe most desolate.
Verse. 12. With (w) full bent bow he aimes at me too
Sets me for marke: nor doth he misse the white.
Verse. 13. O how his arrowes doe increase my paines,
Fixing their Iron teeth even in my reines!
Verse. 14. To all my people I am made (x) a scorne
And subject of their songs, whiles I doe mourne
They rime all day upon me.
Verse. 15. Drunken sots
Would practise temperance at my wormwood pots,
And bitter cups, which I have drunke so sore,
As staggering full, now I can beare no more.
Verse. 16. Even as with gravell stones my teeth are broke,
I'am roll'd in ashes, choakt with dust and smoake.
Verse. 17. Thou hast divorc'd a lovely-linked pai [...]e,
My soule and peace, my prosperous dayes to faire,
Are quite remov'd, drow'nd in oblivion.
Verse. 18. That I am forc'd to say, my hope is gone.
Yea, perisht from the Lord, all strength extinct,
Verse. 19. Whiles I remember how I lie fast linkt
In sore affliction, and to minde recall
My daily draughts of wormewood, and of gall.
Verse. 20. This I remember, and for this my soule
Is deeply humbled
Verse. 21 Yea, my heart doth roll,
And busied seekes what sins doe cause my woe:
Ile not despaire, for humble hopes doe grow.
Verse. 22. O the large sea of mercies in the Lord,
We merit the edge, he strikes with back of sword.
[...] (y) his transcendent grace which knows no end,
[...] for our sins he doth not vengeance send,
[...] alt [...]erly destroy. O mercies rare,
[...] spare not sinning, God doth smiting pare.
Verse. 23. So oft as Sun doth every morning rise,
[...] merc [...]es are p [...]esented to our eyes.
[...] faithfull is our God in truth and love [...]
Verse. 24. My (z) soule hath chosen thee, O Lord above,
Whiles others seeke for wealth, ease, honours store,
[...]ord thou art my portion, I desire no more,
Therefore Ile hope in him in lowest state,
Verse. 25. For God is good to all that on him waite
Verse. 26. 'Tis a good thing, and piece of rarest Art,
[...] darne to waite on God with patient heart.
[...] with soule-calming hopes to rest possest,
[...]ill Gods saving health be manifest.
Verse. 27. 'Tis good our shoulders be inur'd betime
[...] beare Gods yoke even in our youthly prime,
[...]arly acquaintance with Gods scourging hand
[...]ns his servants, makes them understand.
Verse. 28. He sits alone, with silence bolts his lips,
[...] bursting out into impatient sits.
[...] why such burthens he has borne before,
Verse. 29. Therefore he's (a) silent, hopes God wil restore.
Verse. 30. Unto the smiting hand he gives his cheeke,
[...] filled with reproaches doth not seeke
[...]ny revenge.
Verse. 31. This comfort he doth gather,
[...] may correct, but casts not off for ever.
Verse. 32. For some short time his Saints are tried with grief,
[...] then Gods tender heart, beyond beliefe,
[...] ravells with paine deliverance to send,
[...] endlesse mercy seekes our miseries end.
Verse. 33. Oh how (b) unwillingly doth our gracious God
[...] forth his hand to take sins smarting rod,
[...]o scourge rebellious men.
Verse. 34 He hates that might
Which [...]reades downe thralled captives under feet.
Verse. 35. He doth adhorre unjust oppressione all,
When greatnesse brib'd causes, right causes fall.
Verse. 36. Against all such he sets his hand and heart,
Who doe the poore in rightfull cause subvert.
Verse. 37 What are mens words, decrees but wind & sand?
Things onely come to passe by Gods command.
Verse. 38. What punishing evill, or what pleasing good
Meet we withall, which comes not all from God?
Both come at his decree.
Verse. 39. O men mo [...] vaine,
Why d [...]e ye murmure, or at all complaine?
No bitter draughts vex us without, within,
Which first we did not brew and tunne in sin.
Verse. 40. Let us then in ou sufferings search and try,
What sins in heart or life doe cherisht lie,
Verse. 41. Turning to God with lift up hands & heart,
Praying the Father in heaven to ease our smart.
Verse. 42. We Lord have sinn'd with great rebellion.
Thou scourgest us with sharp correction,
Thou spar'st us not.
Verse. 43. But in thy angry mood
Thou smitest, [...]yest, coverest us with bloud,
Yea, thou exc [...]udest pity.
Verse. 44. When our prayers
Are climb'd up to the top of heavenly staires,
Hoping by this ascent to finde thy grace,
Then dost thou not asient, but hid'st thy face,
Masked with angers cloud O mise [...]ies masse!
When our poor prayers to Gods eare may not passe!
Verse. 45. We [...] counted base by vilest raffe of men,
Refuse and rubbish is our best es [...]eeme.
Verse. 46. Our e [...]emies all have opd their mouth as large,
Venting reproaches with a full discharge.
Verse. 47. Where is our safety? here feare, there a snare,
Woes and astations our best neighbours are.
Verse. 48. Mine (c) eyes are full with briny-streaming tears
Because my peoples judgement beats mine cares.
Verse. 49. Mine eyes gutter my cheekes, I never cease,
Nor intermit my moane for Zions case:
Verse. 50. Untill from heaven the Lord cast piteous eye
Upon my people in their misery.
Verse. 51. Mine heart affects mine eyes, mine eyes my heart
[...] in this wretched consort know their part. [...] daughters of my City to deplore.
Verse. 52. Like (d) weake-wing'd bird, so am I chased
[...] my fierce foes, and guiltlesse without crime,
[...] [...]wk for harmlesse dove the clouds doth climbe.
Verse. 53. I lie in dungeons bottome as one dead,
With ponderous pressing stones upon me laid,
[...] strangle hopes of life.
Verse. 54. I'am drown'd & gone,
[...] plenty (e) of waters have my head o're-flowne,
Which made me say, Lord thou hast done enough,
How am I perisht, I am quite cut off.
Verse. 55. Yet in the dungeon deep, Lord I did pray,
[...]nd call'd upon thy name.
Verse. 56. Turne not away
[...]ine eare from my sad sighes, deep-breathed cries,
know thou heard'st me, O let comfort rise.
Verse. 57. Yea, Lord I gather hopes, for when I prayed,
[...]hou didst draw neere and say, be not affraid.
Verse. 58. The causes of my soul thou hast pleaded well,
[...]nd hast redeem'd my life from lowest Hell.
Verse. 59. O Lord thou knowest my wrongs & injuries,
[...] and up for me and judge mine enemies.
Verse. 60. I doe appeale for witnesse to thine eyes.
[...]ho saw their busie thoughts alwayes devise [...]
[...]ngeance and malice.
Verse. 61. (f) Their reproaches al
[...]ine eares have heard, which they on me let fall.
Verse. 62. What their curst lips did vent, who 'gainst me rose,
[...] plots their hearts invent, O Lord thou knows.
[...]hold their sitting downe for to conspire,
[...] rifing up to act what they desire.
[...] their musicke, their best dish at feasts
[...]on my broken head to breake some jests.
[...]ey call on minstrels when they merry be,
[...]'s heare the Song of Zions misery,
[...]rusalems last good night. That pleasant stroke
[...] enemies sorrowes, will our sorrowes choke.
Verse. 64. Render to them, O Lord, a recompence,
According to their deeds and bad intents.
Verse. 65. Lay on their wicked hearts thy hardning curse.
That they may daily grow from ill to worse.
Verse. 66. Lord in thy wrath destroy them, be they dri­ven
From all abiding undercope of Heaven.

Verse. 1. I Am the man that hath seen af­fliction by the rod of his wrath.

Verse. 2. He hath led me and brought me, into derknes, but not into light.

Verse. 3. Surely against me is he urned, he turneth his hand against me all the day.

Verse. 4. My flesh & my skin hath he made old, he hath broken my bones.

Verse. 5. He hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall and traoell.

Verse. 6. He hath set me in darke places, as they that be dead of old.

Verse. 7. He hath hedged me about, that I cannot getout: he hath made my chaine heavy.

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Verse. 8. Also when I cry and shout, shutteth out my prayer.

Verse. 9. He hath enclosed my way with hewen stone: he hath made my pathes crooked.

Verse. 10. He was unto me as a bear ly­ing in waite, and as a Lion in secret places.

Verse. 11. He hath turned aside my wayes and pulled me in peeces: he hath made me desolate.

Verse. 12. He hath bent his bow, and se [...] me as a marke for the arrow.

Verse. 13. He hath caused the arrower [...] his quiver to enter into my re [...].

Verse. 14. I was a derision to all my peo­ple, and their song all the day.

Verse. 15. He hath filled me with bitter­nesse, he hath made me drunken with wormewood.

Verse. 16. He hath also broken my teeth with gravell stones, he hath covered me with ashes.

Verse. 17. And thou hast removed my soule farre off from peace: I forget prosperity.

Verse. 18. And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the Lord.

Verse. 19. Remembring mine affliction & my misery, the wormwood & the gall

Verse. 20. My soulhe hath them still in remembrance, and is humbld in me.

Verse. 21. This I recall to my minde, therefore have I hope.

Verse. 22. It is of the Lords mercies that [Page 12]we are not consumed, because his compassions faile not.

Verse. 23. They are new every morning; great is thy faithfulnesse.

Verse. 24. The Lord is my portion, saith my soule, therefore will I hope in him.

Verse. 25. The Lord is good unto them that waite for him, to the soule that seeketh him.

Verse. 26. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly waite for the sovation of the Lord.

Verse. 27. It is good for a man that he beare the yoke in his youth.

Verse. 28. He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him.

Verse. 29. He putteth his mouth in the dust, if so be there may be hope.

Verse. 30. He giveth his cheeke to him that smiteth him, he is filled full with reproach.

Verse. 31. For the Lord will not cast off for ever.

Verse. 32. But though he cause griefe, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.

Verse. 33. For he doth not afflict willing­ly, nor grieve the children of men.

Verse. 34. To crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth.

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Verse. 35. To turn aside the right of a [...] before the face of the most High.

Verse. 36. To subvert aman in bi [...] [...] the Lord approveth not.

Verse. 37. Who is he that saith, [...] commeth to passe, when the [...] commandeth it not.

Verse. 38. Ous of the mouth of the [...] High proceedeth not evill and go [...]

Verse. 39. Wherefore doth a living [...] complaine, a man for the punishm [...] of his sinnes.

Verse. 40 Let us search and try our [...] and turne againe to the Lord.

Verse. 41. Let us loft up our heart [...] our hands unto Gods the he [...]

Verse. 42. We bout trausgressed and [...] rebelled, th [...]n hast not pardoned.

Verse. 43. Thou best covered with an [...] and pers [...]enied us: th [...] hast slai [...] thou bast not pitied.

Verse. 44. Thou hast covered thy self w [...] a cloud, that our prayer should [...] passe thorow.

Verse. 45. Thou hast made us at the [...] scouring and refuse in the [...]idst the people.

Verse. 46. All our enemies have op [...] their mouthes against us.

Verse. 47. Feare and asnare is come up us, desolation and destruction.

Verse. 48. Mine eye ranneth down [...] rivers of water, for the destruction the danghter of my people.

Verse. 49. Mine eye trickleth down [...] ceaseth not, without any inter miss [...]

Verse. 50. Till the Lord looke down, [...] behold from heaven.

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Verse. 51. Mine eye assecteth mine heart because of all the daughters of my city.

Verse. 52. Mine enemies chased me sore like a bird, without cause.

Verse. 53. They have cut off my life in the dungeon, and cast a stone upon me.

Verse. 54. Waters flowed over mine head, then I said, I am cut off.

Verse. 55. I called upon thy name, O Lord out of the low dungeon.

Verse. 56. Thou hast heard my voyced hide not thy eare at my breathing, at my cry.

Verse. 57. Thou drewest neere in the day that I called vpon thee: Thou saidest Peare not.

Verse. 58. O Lord thou hast pleaded the causes of my soule, thou hast redce­med my life.

Verse. 59. O Lord, thou hast seene my wrong, judge thou my cause.

Verse. 60. Thou hast seen all their venge­ance, and all their imaginations a­gainst me.

Verse. 61. Thou hast heard their reproach O Lord, and all their imaginations against me.

Verse. 62. The lips of those that rose up against me, and their device against me all the day.

Verse. 63. Behold their sitting down, and their rising up, I am their musicke.

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Verse. 64. Render unto them a recompence O Lord, according to the worke of their hands.

Verse. 65. Give them sorrow of heart, thy curse unto them.

Verse. 66. Persecute and destroy them in anger, from under the heavens of the Lord.

CHAP. IIII.

Verse. 1. HOw (g) is the gold of Zions glorious frame
Grown dim and dark, not meriting the name
Of mettals monarch? That which gilded was
With star-like burnisht gold, how dull as brasse;
(Yeelding no glistring lustre to the eye)
Is it become? the heavenly Sanctuary
Cast downe in every street may finde her stones.
Verse. 2. Jerusalems children, the most precious ones,
Passing all pearles for price, for beauty gold,
How are they now as cheape as pitchers sold,
Esteem'd as Potters ware?
Verse. 3. Can any kind
Of Earths or Oceans Animals be unkind,
And cruell as the daughter of Zion is,
Like (h) hardned Ostrich in the wildernesse,
That doth her new hatch'd young forget, forsake?
Yet the Sea-calves as carefull, dammes doe take
Piteous affection, hold dugs to their young.
Verse. 4. But here the sucking-child with glued tongue
To roofe of mouth, dry'd up with thirst doth cry:
Younglings yell out for bread, ready to die
With extreme hunger. Yea, the dearth's so great,
As not one little loafe is left to eat,
Verse. 5. They who before had all delicious fare,
Whose trencher rob'd the Earth, the Sea, the Aire,
Now in the streets become the beggers mates,
Wishing the fragments of their ancient cates.
The (i) scarlet sirs, which on beds downe-hils laid,
Poore wretches now, their beds are dung-hils made.
Verse. 6. For Sions punishment exceedeth far
Sodoms destruction, there is no compare.
Their sins were (k) scourged with a fiery lash,
But yet that judgement passed in a flash,
Made quicke dispatch, and swallowed them up all;
This spun in length, like dripping raine doth fall.
Verse. 7. Her Nazarites, those sober votaries,
Whom neither snow nor milke could equalize
For purest white, whose faces did appeare
Ruddier then Rubies, polisht and more cleare
Then any Saphires, now that glorie's gone:
Verse. 8. Their faces bracke as coale, not to be knowne
Of knowne familiars. Skin cleaves to the bone,
No flesh remaines to make partition.
Like age in others is juycie, succulent,
These wither'd, dry as sticks, all moysture spent.
Verse. 9. Death opes an easier gate for them by far,
Who lose the [...] aime of life by sword of war,
Then those whom (l) lingring famines sword doth slay,
And bear to th'grave a long, and languid way:
When all the feeding flore of house, barne, field,
[...]ieads emptinesse, and can no succour yeeld.
Verse. 10. Mother, whose bowels boyl'd with passionate heat.
Sore hunger-smit, their infants boyl'd for meat.
What mothers belly nine months had sod in bloud,
Is cookt and sod for that same beilies food:
So great a famine, such a deep distresse
The daughter of my people doth oppresse
Verse. 11. Now hath the Lord his fury brought to passe,
Powr'd out his wrath which long since threatned was,
When God kindles his fire, it burnes up all.
Zions foundations into ashes fall.
Verse. 12. Kings far remote, which had receiv'd the fame,
And earths Inhabitants which had heard the name
Of great Jerusalem, (how her forts and towers
Scorned all feares of strongest adverse powers)
Never would these beleeve, nor could devise
How any foe or force should it surprise.
Amongst Impossibles this thing was thought,
That Sion should to ruine ere be brought.
Verse. 13. Her (m) Prophets most unprofitable were,
No sope, no nitre can her Priests wash cleare
From guiltinesse of sins, which were the cause
That all did end with such a bloudy clause.
By them the just were slaughter'd in the Land,
Whose bloud shall be required at their hand,
For their examples full of sinne and vice
Fill'd others, made sins measure fully rise:
To Idols these did innocent infants slay.
Verse. 14. In the (n) streets full of bloud as blind they stray,
Legall pollutions no way can they avoid.
Where ere they touch their clothes are smeard with bloud.
Verse. 15. Yet even as lepets, as they walk they cry,
Uncleane, Uncleane, keep off, O come not nye:
The very Gentiles said, Sure God no more
Will such curst wretches to their land restore:
Verse. 16. God in his fury hath disperst them farre,
They have lost his guarding, and regarding care.
The holy Priests with them had no respect,
The hoarie Elders honour was neglect.
Verse. 17. Alas (deceiving hopes) our eyes with paine
B [...]ate like our pulses, whiles we looke in vaine,
Waiting for help from nations witherd hand,
As if whom heaven throwes down earth could make stand
Verse. 18. Our steps they trace, and nets in every street
Our hunting Nimrods laid to catch our feet.
Our (o) and, our end drawes neere, heavens destin'd doom
Our sins have ripened wrath the day is come.
Verse. 19. Like Eagles aieric tyrants, birds of prey,
So are our enemies swift-wing'd us to slay
And us slow-flighted fowle pursuing o're-take
On mountaines, or entrap by lying waite
In the wild desart.
Verse. 20. (p) Our anointed King
Given by the Lord, our soules next dearest thing
Nostriss best breath, their pits did him devoure,
Whose covering wings we counted refuge sure,
Looking his shadow would us safety give
Amongst the Heathen, in hopes againe to live.
Verse. 21. Goe to, O daughter of Edom, laugh a while,
Mocke on Inhabitant of Uz, and smile,
Fleering at our so sad, so low estate.
[...] shalt thou not Gods cup of wrath escape.
It's comming towards thee, thou shalt drunken lie,
Showing thy nakednesse to every eye.
Verse. 22. Chaere up O Sion, now the Lord hath done
His taske of Justice, all his wrath is gone.
What punishments on thee he did intend
To inflict for sin, are finisht, at an end.
Never againe shalt thou so desolate be
Transported, carried in captivity.
But thou (q) O daughter of Edom that didst stand
Laughing at Sion, shalt sore feele the hand
Of God, for all thy sins correcting thee,
Laying on thine head thine owne iniquity.
God in his people will sinne scourge and hate,
Much lesse shall sinfull Edom scourging scape.

Verse. 1 HOw is the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold chan­ged! the stones of the Sanctitary are powred out in the top of every street.

Verse. 2. The procious sons of Zion, compa­rable to fine gold, how are they estea­med as earthen pitchers, the worke of the hands of the potter.

Verse. 3. Even the sea monsters draw out the brest, they give sucke to their young ones: the daughter of my peo­ple is become cruell, like the ostri­ches in the wildernesse.

Verse. 4. The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roofe of his mouth for thirst: the young children aske bread, and no man breaketh it unto them.

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Verse. 5. They that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: they that were brought up in searlet, embrace dunghills.

Verse. 6. For the punishment of the ini­quity of the daughter of my people, is gre [...]er then the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was over throwne as in a moment, and no hand stayed on her.

Verse. 7. Her Nazarites were pure [...] then snow, they were whiter then milke, they were more ruddy in body then rubies, their polishing was of Saphire.

Verse. 8. Their visage is blacker then a coale: they are not knowne in the streets their skin cleaveth to their hones: it is withered, it is become like a sticke.

Verse. 9. They that be slaine with the sword, we better then they that bee slaine with hunger: for these pine a­way, [Page 17]stricken thorow for want of the fruits of the field.

Verse. 10. The hands of the pitifull wo­men have sodden their own children, they were their meat in the destru­ction of the daughter of my people.

Verse. 11. The Lord hath accomplished his jury, be hath powred out his fierce anger, he hath kindled a fire in Z [...], and it hath devoured the foundati­ons thereof.

Verse. 12. The Kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world would not have beleeved, that the adversa­ry and the enemy should have entred into the gates of Ierusalem.

Verse. 13. For the sins of her Prophets, and the iniquities of her Priests, th [...] here shed the bloud of the just in the midst of her.

Verse. 14. They have wandred as blind men in the streets, they have pollu­ted themselves with bloud, so the men could not couth their garments.

Verse. 15. They cryed unto them; Depart ye, it is uncleane, depart, de­part, touch not, when they fled away and wandred: they said among the heathen, They shall no m [...]re sosourne there.

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Verse. 16. The anger of the Lord hath divided them, he will no more regard them: they respected not the persons of the Priests, they favoured not the Elders.

Verse. 17. As for us, our eyes as yet failed for our vaine help: in our watching we have watched for a na­tion that could not save us.

Verse. 18. They bunt our steps that we cannot goe in our streets: our end is neere, our dayes are fulfilled, for our end is come.

Verse. 19. Our persecutors are swifter then the Eagles of the heaven: they pursued us upon the mountaines, they laid waite for us in the wildernesse.

Verse. 20. The breath of our nostrills, the anointed of the Lord was taken in their pits, of whom we said, Ʋnder his shadow we shall live among the heathen.

Verse. 21. Rejoyce and be glad O daugh­ter of Edom, that dwellest in the land of Ʋz, the cup also shall passe thorow unto thee: thou shalt be drunken, and shalt make thy selfe naked.

Verse. 22. The punishment of thine ini­quity is accomplished, O daughter of Zion, he will no more carry thee [Page 19]away into captivity he wil visit thine iniquity, O daughter of Edom, he [...] discover thy sins.

CHAP. V.

Verse. 1 O Lord, behold what weight upon us lies,
Ease this thy grievous hand with gracious eies
Consider how thou sett'st us as the butt,
Where wicked men reproaches dayly shoot.
Verse. 2. Our proper right, inheritance and lands
Strangers possesse, they fall in aliens hands.
Verse. 3. Who ever saw orphans and fatherlesse
Used as thresholds, have seen our distresse:
Our mothers mourne as those in widow-hood.
Verse. 4. We lay out money for every peece of wood:
A (r) very cup of water cannot come
To quench our thirst without a little summe.
Both birds and beasts at Natures Inne may call,
Drinke at each brooke, and none for payment call:
Better their case then ours, we are not thus,
Even Natures Commons are inclos'd to us.
Verse. 5. Our neck doth crack with persecutions weight,
Paines spend the day, and restlesnesse the night.
Verse. 6. We (s) sold our selves to the Egyptians side,
And to the Assyrians, to be satisfied
With bellies full of meat.
Verse. 7. Our fathers (t) laid
These egges of sin, which are our dinner made:
Our Ancestors (now dead) the grapes did eate,
Our teeth are edg'd, their sins their sons now beate.
Verse. 8. Though we be free-men, slaves do us command,
Nor's any left to help us from their hand.
Verse. 9. With danger of curlives our bread we bought,
When we sought meat, the sword us also sought,
And watched for us in the wildernesse.
Verse. 10. Our skin the covering garment of the flesh,
All comely, beauteous hew it quite forscoke,
As (n) heated oven grown blacke with smudge and smooke,
So was it blackned by the famines force,
With [...]ring the body, hind [...]ing natures course.
Verse. 11. Besides our enemies (for to let us see
A perfect Map of misery) goatish be.
Ravishing Zions women in the heate
Of their most lustfull rage: poore maids intreat
In Judahs cities, not t'unlock their shame,
Defloured, they depart who Virgins came.
Verse. 12. Every degree had share in mischief [...]s lot,
The Princes were hang'd up and scaped not.
None gave respectfull reverence to the face
Of gravest Elders, their account was base.
Verse. 13. They caus'd our (w) young men toil in servile
Drudging as slaves, to turne the mill and grinde.
What cruell hand will weaklings shoulders try
With leaden load? yet our poore children ery,
And crying fall, contending all in vaine,
Their wood and fagots burdens to sustaine.
Verse. 14. Had great Jerusalem a comelier sight,
Then when the Elders in (x) her gates did meet,
To weight in seales of equity right and wrong,
Aiding weake poore, against oppressors strong?
Now all the sea [...]ts are empty, no furr'd gowne,
Or scarlet robe, lifts up right cause cast downe.
The sportfull youth, which made the streets resound
With (y) musick, now lament, all mirth is drown'd,
Never a merry twang of harp or lute
Is heard, the stroke of sorrow strikes all mute.
Verse. 15. Our hearts and joy break off acquaintance all,
Our dance is done, to m [...]u [...]ning now we fall.
Verse. 16. The (z) erowne of glory which adorn'd our head
Is falne and with it all our glory fled.
Woe, woe to us, whose sins create this crosse
Of miseries highest gaine, joyes d [...]pest losse.
Verse. 17. For this [...]ur heart is faint, this dims our eye,
Weeping, and waiting long for remedy.
Verse. 18. Alas poore Zion, who can spare his eyes,
Seeing how des [...]late thy m [...]untaine lies?
Where best of men frequented, now the beasts,
And [...]avening (a) Foxes make their dens and nests.
Verse. 19. Such is the fickle state of humane things
Compos'd of mutables, where each day brings
Exchanging passages of joy and sorrow,
This dayes successe, excesse of griefe to morrow:
But Lord thou dost remaine the same for ever,
(b) Immutable and changelesse altogether,
Thou hast a stable kingdome, steddy throne,
Lasting beyond last generation.
Verse. 20. Why dost thou Lord shut up thy gates of love
For ever? Shall we never once more prove
Thy truth and goodnesse? Canst thou so forsake
Us like to strangers, and no notice take?
Verse. 21. Return O (c) Lord, & turn our hearts to thee,
And thine to us, so shall we turned be:
Renew those dayes of peace we had before,
O let thy grace thy servants now restore.
Verse. 22. But O our dying hopes, thy vengefull wrath
Quite casts us off: Lord make us live by faith.

Verse. 1. REmember, O Lord, what is come upon us: consider and behold our reproach.

Verse. 2. Our inheritance is turned un­to strangers, our houses to aliants.

Verse. 3. We are o [...]phanes and father­lesse, our mothers are as widowes.

Verse. 4. We have d [...]unken our water for money, our wood is sold unto us.

Verse. 5. Our necks are under persecu­tion: we labour and have no rest.

Verse. 6. We have given the hand to the Egyptians, and to the Assyrians, to be satisfied with bread.

Verse. 7. Our fathers have sinned and [Page 20]are not, and we have borne their in­quity.

Verse. 8. Servants have ruled over us: there is none that doth deliver us our of their hand.

Verse. 9. Wee gate our bread with the [...]erill f [...]our lives, because of the wildernesse.

Verse. 10. Our skin wash [...]acke like an oven, because of the terri [...]le famine.

Verse. 11. They ravished the women in Zion, and the maides in the cities of Iudah.

Verse. 12. Printes are hanged up by their hand: the fares of the Elders were not honoured.

Verse. 13. They tooke the young men to grinde, and the children f [...]ll under the wood.

Verse. 14. The Elders have ceased from the gate, the young men from their musicke.

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Verse. 15. The joy of our heart is [...] ­sed, our dance is turned into m [...] ­ning.

Verse. 16. The crown is fallen from [...] head: Woe unto us that wee [...] sinned.

Verse. 17. For this our heart is fai [...] for these things our eyes are dim [...]

Verse. 18. Because of the mountaine [...] Zion, which is desolate, the [...] wake upon it.

Verse. 19. Thou, O Lord, remain [...] for ever, thy throne from generati­on to generation.

Verse. 20. Wherefore dost thou forg [...] us for ever, and forsake us so lo [...] time.

Verse. 21. Turne thou us unto thee, [...] Lord, and we shall be turned: [...] our dayes as of old.

Verse. 22. But thou hast utterly reje­cted us: thou art very wroth again [...] us.

FINIS.

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