Zion in distress, or, The sad and lamentable complaint of Zion and her children…

But to return, and of my great loss speak, This thing doth cause my very heart to ache; For I do fear some did these idolize, As others to their worth did not them prize: Offended doubtless is my righteous God, That he hath struck me with his heavy Rod; And yet my Children they do not agree That do remain, nor live in unity. Alas, I see hat love doth much decline Even every day, in these poor Babes of mine: Strifes and debates amongst them are so high, They envy one another piteously: They grieve themselves in this, and me also; And unto Christ and Truth much wrong they do. O that they all were once but as one man, How would the Gospel spread an• flourish then! But ah! this Rod their judgements han't informed, Nor yet their Conversation •eform'd; For some there are, that walk but carnally, And little m•nd the stroke of the most High: Alas with these it will go very bad, Whom frowns nor smiles will turn, nor yet the Rod. O mourn, my Children; you have not done well, The Voice within this Rod doth plainly tell. O mourn and weep, I say; cry bitterly: For I, your Mother, weep, lament, and cry: Your Father loves you dear, and so •o I; In love he hath smitten you assuredly: It's doubtlessly to purge your Souls from s•n, Which you of late have much abounded in. ⟨p. 6⟩And if that you your Ways do not amend, Some greater Judgement surely God will send: Besides the great reproach you bring to me, My dawning Glory you will hardly see. The day is dark that I have lived in; And here of late much darker it hath been: Thick Clouds do hide the glorious glistering Skies, Some mists or fogs do shade or blind my Eyes. Because the day abides of my distress, Some Children fall now in the Wilderness, Who murmur in their hearts against the Lord, That Canaan to them he doth not afford. Alas, I shall be thin, before that I Be ready for that blessed Liberty: And some there are that seemingly do feed Amongst my Sheep, of whom I would be freed; For though that they are called by my Name, Yet they do cause i• for to suffer shame: Some Truths of Christ indeed these do profess, But not his saving Grace and Life possess: I never brought them forth; they are not mine: Do thou, O Hagar, own them; for they're thine: After the Flesh they're born, and so do walk; Though of the Spirit they do sometimes talk. The day draws near when such shall be afraid, All Hypocrites in me shall be dismayed.