THE PIOUS INCENDIARIES: OR, FANATICISM DISPLAY’D.
A
POEM.

By A LADY.

LONDON:
Printed for the AUTHOR, and Sold by S. HOOPER, No. 212, HIGH HOLBORN, facing BLOOMSBURY SQUARE; STOCKDALE, PICCADILLY, Meffrs. EDGERTONS, CHARING CROSS; and RICHARDSON, under the ROYAL EXCHANGE. M DCC LXXXV [1785].

 WHEN the Author of the following Poem had first committed her thoughts to paper, her sole intention was to amuse herself, and entertain her Friends, - Some of the latter, Men of polite Literature, were pleased to express their approbation of the Piece, and urged her to publish it; but diffidence of her own abilities, the fear of incurring the charge of Vanity and Presumption, and those apprehensions which naturally agitate the mind of a Writer in the first attempt, restrained her from hazarding a publication.
 HAD not the Hero of the Piece lately betrayed a disposition to rise fresh tumults, and renew his former horrors, it should never have appeared; but the apprehension of those Calamities, the desire of preventing them, and the earnest solicitations of Friends, proceeding from the fame principles, at length overcame the Author’s Resolution.
  THE Poem, such as it is, she here presents to the Public, not doubting but her Errors, the consequence of inexperience natural in a first Essay, will meet with some indulgence, in consideration of the Purity of her Motives.

ASSIST, my Muse, while I relate
A revolution in the state;
Began by one of pious kin,
Whose inward soul long groan’d with sin,
Which, by the working of the spirit,
By steady fasting, did inherit.
But, as we’re told, no sinner can
Become a new enlighten’d man,
Unless some time of life is spent
In rigid prayers, his mind intent
On things that soar above the sky,
And place his happiness on high;
Weep for his sins, defy the devil,
Sing hymns, and sigh for former evil.
Nor this alone will purge his soul,
More he must do, would he be whole:
Not wear a face like mortal sinner,
Such would disgrace a young beginner,
Who aims to work a reformation,
First in his soul, then in the nation;
Nor would his zealous mind be thought
For views of int’rest to be caught;
Alas, not he! ’Twere sin to mention,
A man so just had such intention.
’Twas for past sins then he did change,
And all his features thus arrange:
In pious attitude array’d,
His looks and gestures to persuade,
And with sad muscles, thus contracted,
New laws and systems soon enacted;
Then first his head he did prepare,
And sudden clipt his sandy hair;
Now coat and waistcoat must give place,
And solemn plainness serve for lace;
Black stockings better suit than white,
Too gay for one that has new light;
A coat of black, much better too,
Than red, or white, or green, or blue;
Nor can a smiling aspect suit,
One who attempts for to confute
His king, and country, with submission, [1]
And with religion raise sedition;
For how cou’d one by skill unite
A ragged regiment into sight;
Or dare oppose the laws, or kin
Unless with Baal he cou’d sing;
Nor could his patron, crafty Noll,
Have emptied ev’ry cobler’s stall,
Until he underwent contrition,