Poems, by J.D. VVith elegies on the authors death

CAP. IV.

1 HOw is the gold become so dimme? How is Purest and finest gold thus chang'd to this? The stones which were stones of the Sanctuary, Scattered in corners of each street do lye.

2 The pretious sonnes of Sion, which should bee Valued at purest gold, how do wee see Low rated now, as earthen Pitchers, stand, Which are the worke of a poore Potters hand.

3 Even the Sea-calfes draw their brests, and give Sucke to their young; my peoples daughters live By reason of the foes great cruelnesse, As do the Owles in the vast Wildernesse.

4 And when the sucking child doth strive to draw, His tongue for thirst cleaves to his upper jaw. And when for bread the little children crye, There is no man that doth them satisfie.

5 They which before were delicately fed, Now in the streets forlorne have perished, And they which ever were in scarlet cloath'd, Sit and embrace the dunghills which they loath'd.

6 The daughrers of my people have sinned more, Then did the towne of Sodome sinne before; Which being at once destroy'd, there did remaine No hands amongst them, to vexe them againe.

7 But heretofore purer her Nazarite Was then the snow, and milke was not so white; As carbuncles did their pure bodies shine, And all their polish'dnesse was Seraphine.

8 They are darker now then blacknes, none can know Them by the face, as through the street they goe, For now their skin doth cleave unto their bone, And withered, is like to dry wood growne.

9 Better by sword then famine 'tis to dye; And better through pierc'd, then by penury, 10 Women by nature pitifull, have eate Their children drest with their owne hand for meat.

11 Iehova here fully accomplish'd hath His indignation, and powr'd forth his wrath, Kindled a fire in Sion, which hath power To eate, and her foundations to devour.

12 Nor would the Kings of the earth, nor all which live In the inhabitable world beleeve, That any adversary, any foe Into Ierusalem should enter so;

13 For the Priests sins, and Prophets, which have shed Blood in the streets, and the just murthered: 14 Which when those men, whom they made blinde, did stray Thorough the streets, defiled by the way

With blood, the which impossible it was Their garments should scape touching, as they passe, 15 Would cry aloud, depart defiled men, Depart, depart, and touch us not, and then

They fled, and strayd, and with the Gentiles were, Yet told their friends, they should not long dwell; there. 16 For this they are scattered by Jehovahs face VVho never will regard them more; No grace

Unto their old men shall the foe afford, Nor, that they are Priests, redeeme them from the sword. 17 And wee as yet, for all these miseries Desiring our vaine helpe, consume our eyes:

And such a nation as cannot save, VVe in desire and speculation have: 18 They hunt our steps, that in the streets wee feare To goe: our end is now approached neere,

Our dayes accomplish'd are, this the last day, Eagles of heaven are not so swift as they 19 VVhich follow us, o'r mountaine tops they flye At us, and for us in the desart lye.

20 The annointed Lord, breath of our nostrils, hee Of whom we said, under his shadow, wee Shall with more ease under the Heathen dwell, Into the pit which these men digged, fell

21 Rejoyce O Edoms daughter, joyfull bee Thou which inhabitst her, for unto thee This cup shall passe, and thou with drunkennesse Shalt fill thy selfe, and shew thy nakednesse.

22 And then they sinnes O Sion, shall be spent, The Lord will not leave thee in banishment. Thy sinnes O Edoms daughter, hee will see, And for them, pay thee with captivitie.