Becoming America - An Exploration of American Literature from Precolonial to Post-Revolution, 2018a

BECOMING AMERICA
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY ENGLISH COLONIAL LITERATURE
Of great and small, vile wretches all,
that did Gods Law transgress:
Idolaters, false Worshippers,
Prophaners of Gods Name,
Who not at all thereon did call,
or took in vain the same.
XXXI
Blasphemers lewd, and Swearers shrewd,
Scoers at Purity,
That hated God, contemn’d his Rod,
and lov’d security.
Sabbath-polluters, Saints Persecuters,
Presumptuous men, and Proud,
Who never lov’d those that reprov’d;
all stand amongst this crowd.
XXXII
Adulterers and Whoremongers
were there, with all unchast.
There Covetou [. . .] , and Ravenous,
that Riches got too fast:
Who us’d vile ways themselves to raise
t’ Estates and worldly wealth,
Oppression by, or Knavery,
by Force, or Fraud, or Stealth.
XXXIII
Moreover, there together were
Children [. . .] gitious,
And Parents who did them undo
by nature vicious.
False-witness-bearers, and self-forswearers,
Murd’rers and men of blood,
Witches, Inchanters, and Alehouse-haunters,
beyond account there stood.
XXXIV
Their place there nd all Heathen blind,
that Natures light abused,
Although they had no tidings glad
of Gospel-grace re [. . .] used.
There stand all Nations and Generations
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