Mankinds Lamentation Poem by Henry Arthington

Mankinds lamentation,
Of their miserable condition,
By naturall corruption,
Through Adams inclination,
Vnto his wiues perswasion,
By Serpents first suggestion,
Through Sathans instigation.

All Adams heyres in him once blest,
(Before his fearefull fall by sin)
But since, accursed with the rest,
To waile our woes, let vs beginne,
Through Serpents first suggestion,
And mankinds first presumption.

Once, were our soules the Image pure
Of Gods eternall maiesty,
Now, are they filthy and obscure,
Like Sathan, in all villanie.
Through Serpents, &c.

Once, was our wit and will most cleare,
To know, and do the will of God,
Now, are they voyde of all such care,
And after sin, do range abroad.
Through Serpents, &c.

Once, was our hart, sincere and sound,
In loue, ioy, zeale, and constantnesse,
Now, are they quite contrary found,
Full fraught, with all deceitfulnesse.
Through Serpents, &c.

Once were we holy, iust, and right,
In life, and in Religion,
Now are we stript of all such might,
Prophane of disposition.
Through Serpents. &c.

Once, were our bodies rightly cald,
The Temples of the Holy ghost,
Now are we all by sinne inthrald,
VVith sundry kinds of Sathans host.
Through Serpents, &c.

Once, were our members ready prest,
All times to please the liuing Lord,
Now are they all, with sinne possest,
And follow it with one accord.
Through Serpents, &c.

Once, were our soules and bodies both,
Planted in pleasant Parradise,
Now banish thence, (though most vnloath,)
To liue in toyle and miseries.
Through Serpents, &c.


Once, had we health, and harts desire,
Exempted from all kinds of woe,
Now are we forst, (as wood in fire)
All maladies to vndergoe.
Through Serpents, &c.

Once, were we all Gods Seruants free,
To liue with him in blessednesse,
Now, are we bound, (by death) to lye,
In hellish paine, without release.
Through Serpents, &c.

Through Serpent chiefely, was the meanes,
(To wrap vs in this wretchednesse)
And Woman next (in hope of gaines)
By yeelding vnto wickednesse.
Yet Adams fact was worthy blame,
In trusting of his lying dame.

Thus; Sathan, Father of all lyes,
Abusd the Serpents tongue to lye,
And he, the womans tongue likewise,
And she her Husband craftily,
Thus by their lies, and trust therein,
All were accursed for that sinne.