N01264:14
Compassions called for. An essay of profitable reflections on miserable spectacles
Compassions called for. An essay of profitable reflections on miserable spectacles. : To which is added, A faithful relation of some late, but strange occurrences that call for an awful and useful consideration. Especially distresses and deliverances, of a company lately shipwrecked on a desolate rock, on the coast of New-England. ; [Three lines of Scripture texts]Compassions called for. An essay of profitable reflections on miserable spectacles. : To which is added, A faithful relation of some late, but strange occurrences that call for an awful and useful consideration. Especially distresses and deliverances, of a company lately shipwreck'd on a desolate rock, on the coast of New-England. ; [Three lines of Scripture texts]
printed by B. Green, 1711
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
It was an Ancient Observation; Eccl. VIII. 11. Because Sentence against an Evil Work is not Executed speedily, therefore the Heart of the Sons of Men, is fully set in them to do Evil. But since we have seen more than once the Wrath of God Executed Speedily, and so Dreadfully upon some Evil Workers, it may be Hoped, the Hearts of men will be Affected with it, and the Hearts of some, not so fully set in them to do Evil, as they use to be.
The Prophet and Poet, who made the Lamentations, that afford our Text unto us, had at this time a most Heart-affecting sight before his Eyes. The whole BOOK of Lamentations is written, to tell you what it was. And the Clause that next follows the Text, more particularly does tell you, ⟨p. 5⟩It was, Because of all the Daughters of my City. The Chaldeans had made fearful Ravages upon the Country Towns, which were the Daughters of the Capital City. Jerusalem was the Mother of them all. Jerusalem was also expecting the same Lamentable Fate, with her Daughters. Yea, She had already Drunk very deep of the Cup; she had already been once Taken, and Plundered, & Spoiled, & miserably Circumstanced. Now, says he, Mine Eye affecteth mine Heart! O Servant of God, what was in thine Eye? He had in his Eye, whole Towns laid in Ashes, by a Barbarous Enemy, a Bitter & Hasty Nation; tho' far less Barbarous & Bloody than One at this Day running amuck among the Nations! He had in his Eye, multitudes of his Brethren, led away Captives by Cruel Babylonians; Multitudes Massacred and Murdered, and made a Sacrifice to the Fury of a Terrible Tyrant. He had in his Eye, the Effects of raging Famine & Sickness; All Order overturned; Universal Confusion raging every where; the Symptoms of a Total Desolation approaching. It must be an Heart of Adamant, that would not be affected with the ⟨p. 6⟩Report, which an Eye beholding such Spectacles must give unto it.
The Prophet and Poet, who made the Lamentations, that afford our Text unto us, had at this time a most Heart-affecting sight before his Eyes. The whole BOOK of Lamentations is written, to tell you what it was. And the Clause that next follows the Text, more particularly does tell you,