OPPRESSION:
A
POEM.
Or NEW-ENGLAND's LAMENTATION on the dreadful Extortion and other Sins of the Times. Being a serious Exhortation to all to repent and turn from the Evil of their Ways, if they would avert the terrible and heavy Judgements of the ALMIGHTY that hang over America at this alarming and distressing Day.
Come all you Friends to Goodness, I pray you to attend,
I'll tell to you a Story on which you may depend,
If you will not believe it, I think you must be blind,
When it appears so evident to ev'ry serious mind.
There wants a Reformation throughout America,
And deep Humiliation, for it's a sinful day;
But how can we desire, or look for better times,
So long as we aspire to multiply our crimes!
The Law has been despised, the Gospel trampled on,
And we have been surprised by powerful Briton;
But they can go no further than the length of their chain,
Jehovah is their Master, who can their Power restrain.
But while we are complaining of England's Usurpation,
Iniquity is reigning throughout this Northern Nation;
So bad is our behavior, we grieve the Holy Spirit,
And if we flight our Savior, we cannot Heaven inherit.
We seem quite unconcerned about our souls salvation,
Nor {Omitted text, 1w} we yet alarmed, to Gospel Regulation;
The house of Saul grows stronger, as David's house grows weaker,
And satan will reign longer, if we are such self-seekers.
His kingdom is maintained and strengthened by sin,
By some the building's framed, and others drive the pins;
New England's Sons will venture to travel in the dark,
And do refuse to enter the New-Testament Ark.
A storm of wrath is promis'd, a flood will surely come,
And overtake the strongest, and drown the wicked one;
Altho' they fly to mountains, and hide themselves in rocks,
Of wrath there is a fountain to sweep the mountain tops.
If we will not take warning, we must go down to hell,
Who take delight in scorning the great Immanuel;
Whose arms are always open, and bids us welcome me there,
And shews the greatest token of love and friendship dear.
We have had publications, from the Omniscient One,
A promis'd habitation, prepared by his Son;
At this Fountain of Treasure men might forever dwell,
But they refuse such pleasure, and damn themselves to hell.
'Tis very melancholy to hear of so much cheating,
To see men brisk and jolly while they are over-reaching;
But such delight in water, for that's their element,
And if men are not cheating they cannot be content.
Extortion has been used too much for to relate.
The Poor have been abused for to increase estates--,
When Extortion's increasing, and greedy Muckworms crawling,
By such unlawful Fleecing the Public Wealth is falling.
Extortioners and Torids, which of them is the worst,
One brings us a fair story, the other a blunderbuss,
And openly presents it, a musket or a gun,
The other acts more secret, and murders ten to one.
We need not much admire that there are such commotions,
For are not men's desires unbounded as the ocean?
{Omitted text, 1w} no more a man possesses, the more he really craves,
{Omitted text, 1w} longer are his wishes, voracious as the grave.
{Omitted text, 1w} there's no skilful Physician can easily invent,
{Omitted text, 1w} destructive poison by long experiment,
Than some Merchants and Farmers in ev'ry State and Town,
Oppression and Extortion make up {Omitted text, 1w} compound.
If there's a combination {Omitted text, 3w}
To ruin State and Nation, let us not join with them;
If Sea-ports first oppressed, the {Omitted text, 1w} may'nt {Omitted text, 2w} ,
Tho' Eve she {Omitted text, 1w} , Adam was not excus'd.
Let all with {Omitted text, 1w} abhor for to oppress,
Nothing exalts a nation so much as righteousness;
We are not so short-sighted but we may see so far;
If Christ is so much slighted God will continue a war.
We have an invitation to save ourselves and lands,
To practice invocation, for this is God's command;
We hope to have salvation yet from the Savior run,
If there's no reformation New England is undone.
God gives us plain {Omitted text, 2w} how we may come to awe,
And live in good subjection unto our Maker' Laws;
But we are to {Omitted text, 1w} , and there are such out-breakings,
We are doth to be held, {Omitted text, 1w} to Laws of our own making,
If we had just conceptions of sin which so abounds,
Should follow God's direction and tread corruption down;
Without much pains or labor we may know our duty,
And do by all our Nabors, as we would be done by.
This law is just and equal, we cannot it deny,
'Twill prove so in the sequel of life when we shall die;
If we believe the Story found in the Gospel Plan,
No one can enter glory that's a dishonest man.
Since God has given us reason let us use it for him,
And not commit high treason against the King of Kings;
Who is our Lord and Master, and him we ought to own,
He is our rightful Sovereign, and to him we belong.
New England has been {Omitted text, 1w} , and many alone have dy'd,
We've buried Father Conscience, and raised Mother Pride;
Faith is now distinguishing. Re-entrance given over,
Without a good Physician these two cannot recover.
Charity fast is cooling and Virtue faints away,
Ignorance is in prevailing, but Knowledge doth decay;
Profaneness is in fathom, Religion loses ground,
Holiness is decreasing, Covetousness abounds.
Sincerity is wanting, Sagacity is fled,
And Wisdom lays expiring, and Piety is dead;
When Mercy is forsaken, Dishonesty's elected,
Justice and Truth condemned, Morality rejected.
How beautiful and god-like, delightful her to see
Princes and People walking in Love and Unity;
Remembering their Maker, whom they are bound to love.
And to be wise as Serpents, and harmless as the Doves.
If we would be forgiven and live in Peace and Rest,
Be Favorites of Heaven, and be forever rest,
Then let us all be willing at the oppressive Day
To be just in our dealings, and put {Omitted text, 4w} .
Behold the Invitation of God Almighty's Son,
Who promises salvation in {Omitted text, 6w}
Let every Son for Liberty {Omitted text, 2w} American Town,
Accept the Invitation to an {Omitted text, 1w} Crowd.
An American Time Capsule: Printed Ephemera
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