INNOCENCYs COMPLAINT
AGAINST
Tyrannical Court Faction in Newengland.
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THE Priests and Elders that pernicious Seed
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Of Rebel Jews, as we in Scripture read,
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Opposing Christ, did with Consent prepare
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A Law to trap him, and his life ensnare:
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Upon the Trial, he doth make demand,
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What Precept he hath broke, or just Command?
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For want of Crime, the Jews make this Reply,
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We have a Law, and by it thou shalt die:
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A cursed Sentence, and to be abhord,
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Imbracd by none, but Murderers of the Lord.
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The making Laws for to ensnare the Just,
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Of God is hated, and to be accurst.
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They murdered Christ, regarding not his loss,
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Nor swagd their Malice, tho he on the Cross,
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But then proceed against his own Elect,
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By Means preposterous and indirect;
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Nay, ever since, the Wicked in their Rage,
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Have murdered Righteous Men in every Age:
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But Innocency, that no Ill doth fear,
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Hath worn out Tyrants wrath, do what they dare.
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This Time, with sober Men does seem to be
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A Parallel with the Apostacy.
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The Massachusetts is alike for Crime,
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Unto Judea, in Christ Jesus Time:
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Here Laws are extant, that doth terrify
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Well meaning Men, and Liberty deny
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In serving God, except in their own way,
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In their own Method, and on their made Day.
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Here Innocents are fined, whipt, and branded,
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Ears cropt, some sold for Slaves, some slasht, some hanged;
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Whoever is contrary to them found,
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Though in his Spirit their Fine must be Five Pound,
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Or else three Days in Goal, eer a discharge,
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And with a ten lasht whiping be enlargd:
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Such Cruelty forbore in other Parts,
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Doth now possess Americans brutish Hearts.
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Lament, Newengland, like a tender Mother!
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To see thy Children one destroy another:
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The humblest sort, and none but such as they,
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Unto the fiery Zealous are a Prey:
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Those that in Conscience cannot wrong a Worm,
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Are fined and whipt, because they cant conform;
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And time hath been, which neer shall be forgot,
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Gods Servants have been hangd, none knows for what,
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Except for serving of their blessed Lord,
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For Quaking and for Trembling at his Word.
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Let those black Days, like the fifth of November,
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Be writ in Red, for Ages to Remember.
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And thou, July, forbear thy round delays,
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Instead of Mirth, let Mourning end thy Days.
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Twelve Innocents, without eer Guilt or Crime,
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With cruel Whips were scourged at one time;
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And six Days after, fifteen more by Force,
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Were like the first twelve, beaten without Remorse.
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Seven tender Women, young and old, were stript,
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All naked to the Waist, and cruelly whipt.
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Immodest Action! greatest Wrong with Shame,
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Which never will be clear of Guilt or Blame:
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And twenty Men, well bred, of good Descent,
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Fit for Assistan[ce] to their Government,
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Each of such good Report and high Repute,
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Their Foes could not accuse them, but were mute,
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Only a Law unjust forbid their meeting
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To serve the Lord, and Whips must be their Greeting.
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Admire, O Heavens! be Earth astonished
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At this profuse Expense of guiltless Blood!
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In such a Case where nothing is concernd
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But a Religion, they in Scripture learnd;
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Christs own Command, the Apostles Approbation,
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All good Mens Care, our wise Kings Toleration.
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Why should Mens Liberties be thus abridgd,
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And Conscience hinderd in whats privilegd?
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Why should a petty Government constrain Men to
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What Acts of Parliament doth scorn to do?
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CHARLES is not forgot, that bloody Spirit
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Doth in their angry Humours still inherit.
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Amongst the Heathens, Turks, and Catholicks,
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Are no such cruel and unchristian Tricks.
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Had they complyed with a wicked Law,
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And of a whipping stood in common Awe,
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Five Pounds their tender Backs had saved, so
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They had been freed from Stripes, to stay or go;
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Nay, were they criminal, inlarged they had been,
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Newenglands Law admits of buying Sin:
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But for obedient Service to their God,
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Thus to be beaten with the scourging Rod.
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And from their Meetings to be dragged off,
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By merciless Men, and made a common Scoff,
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To Ishmaels Race, and unto Prison sent,
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Cain may his Purpose on meek Abel vent,
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It is so ridiculous, and such a snare,
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All wise and sober Men a Judgment fear.
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Their Blood doth cry, and loud for Vengeance call,
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Tho they do heartily forgive them all.
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Regard, O Lord! thou powerful God of Host,
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The Goal, the Gallows, and the whipping Post!
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Repeal those wicked and pernicious Laws,
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That Innocents be not destroyd without a Cause,
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And grant such Rulers as may be devout
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For Christ and Saints, and turn the other out.
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