And think you by such honesty
Eternal life to win?
You much mistake, if for its sake
you dream of acceptation;
Whereas the same deserveth shame
and meriteth damnation."
CVII.
Those that pretend want of opportunity
to repent.
A wondrous crowd then 'gan aloud
Prov. 27:1.
Jam. 4:13.
thus for themselves to say:
"We did intend, Lord, to amend,
and to reform our way.
Our true intent was to repent
and make our peace with thee;
But sudden death stopping our breath,
left us no liberty.
CVIII.
"Short was our time, for in its prime
our youthful pow'r was cropt;
We died in youth before full growth,
so was our purpose stopt.
Let our good will to turn from ill,
and sin to have forsaken,
Accepted be, O Lord, by thee,
and in good part be taken."
CIX.
Are confuted and convinced.
To whom the Judge: "Where you allege
Eccl. 12:1.
Rev. 2:21.
the shortness of the space,
That from your birth you liv'd on earth,
to compass saving Grace,
It was Free Grace that any space
was given you at all,
To turn from evil, defy the Devil,
and upon God to call.
CX.
"One day, one week wherein to seek
God's face with all your hearts,
Luke 13:24.
2 Cor. 6:2.
Heb. 3:7, 8, 9.
A favor was that far did pass
the best of your deserts.
You had a season; what was your reason
such precious hours to waste?
What could you find, what could you mind
that was of greater haste?
CXI.
"Could you find time for vain pastime,
for loose, licentious mirth?
Eccl. 11:9
Luke 14:18,
19, 20.
For fruitless toys and fading joys,
that perish in the birth?
Had you good leisure for carnal Pleasure,
in days of health and youth?
And yet no space to seek God's face,
and turn to him in truth?
CXII.
"In younger years, beyond your fears,
Amos 6:3,
4, 5, 6.
Eph. 5:16.
Luke 19:42.
what if you were surprizéd?
You put away the evil day,
and of long life deviséd.
You oft were told, and might behold,
that Death no Age doth spare;
Why then did you your time foreslow,
and slight your soul's welfare?
CXIII.
"Had your intent been to repent,
and had you it desir'd,
Luke 13:24,
25, etc.
Phil. 2:12.
There would have been endeavors seen
before your time expir'd.
God makes no treasure, nor hath he pleasure
in idle purposes;
Such fair pretenses are foul offenses,
and cloaks for wickedness."
CXIV.
Some plead examples of their betters.
Then were brought in and charg'd with sin,
another Company,
Mat. 18:7.
Who by Petition obtain'd permission
to make Apology.
They arguéd, "We were misled,
as is well known to thee,
By their example that had more ample
abilities than we;
CXV.
"Such as profess'd they did detest
and hate each wicked way;
Whose seeming grace whilst we did trace,
our Souls were led astray.
John 7:48.
When men of Parts, Learning, and Arts,
professing Piety,
Did thus and thus, it seem'd to us
we might take liberty."
CXVI.
Who are told that examples are no Rules.
The Judge replies: "I gave you eyes,
Psal. 19:8, 11.
Exod. 23:2.
Psal. 50:17, 18.
And light to see your way,
Which had you lov'd and well improv'd,
you had not gone astray.
My Word was pure, the Rule was sure;
Why did you it forsake,
Or thereon trample, and men's example
your Directory make?
CXVII.
"This you well knew: that God is true,
and that most men are liars,
2 Tim. 3:5.
In word professing holiness,
in deed thereof deniers.
O simple fools! that having Rules,
your lives to regulate,
Would them refuse, and rather choose
vile men to imitate."
CXVIII.
They urge that they were led by godly men's
Examples. But all their shifts turn to
their greater shame.
"But, Lord," say they, "we went astray,
and did more wickedly,
By means of those whom thou hast chose
Salvation's heirs to be."
To whom the Judge: "What you allege
doth nothing help the case,
But makes appear how vile you were,
and rend'reth you more base.
CXIX.
"You understood that what was good,
1 Cor. 11:1.
Phil. 4:8.
was to be followéd,
And that you ought that which was naught
to have relinquishéd.
Contrariwise it was your guise
only to imitate
Good men's defects, and their neglects
who were regenerate.
CXX.
Psal. 32:5.
2 Chron. 32:26.
Mat. 26:75.
Prov. 1:24, 25.
"But to express their holiness,
or imitate their grace,
You little car'd, nor once prepar'd
your hearts to seek my Face.
They did repent and truly rent
their hearts for all known sin;
You did offend, but not amend,
to follow them therein."
CXXI.
Some plead the Scriptures' darkness, and
difference among Interpreters.
"We had thy Word," say some, "O Lord,
2 Pet. 3:16.
but wiser men than we
Could never yet interpret it,
but always disagree.
How could we fools be led by Rules
so far beyond our ken,
Which to explain did so much pain
and puzzle wisest men?"
CXXII.
They are confuted.
"Was all my Word abstruse and hard?"
Prov. 14:6.
Isa. 35:8.
Hos. 8:12.
the Judge then answeréd;
"It did contain much Truth so plain
you might have run and read.
But what was hard you never car'd
to know, or studiéd;
And things that were most plain and clear
you never practiséd.
CXXIII.
"The Mystery of Piety
Mat. 11:25.
Prov. 2:3,
4, 5.
God unto Babes reveals,
When to the Wise he it denies,
and from the world conceals.
If to fulfil God's holy Will
had seeméd good to you,
You would have sought light as you ought,
and done the good you knew."
CXXIV.
Others the fear of persecution.
Then came in view another crew,
and 'gan to make their pleas;
Amongst the rest, some of the best
Acts 28:22.
had such poor shifts as these:
"Thou know'st right well, who all canst tell,
we liv'd amongst thy foes,
Who the Renate did sorely hate
and goodness much oppose.
CXXV.
"We holiness durst not profess,
John 12:42, 43.
fearing to be forlorn
Of all our friends, and for amends
to be the wicked's scorn.
We knew their anger would much endanger
our lives and our estates;
Therefore, for fear, we durst appear
no better than our mates."
CXXVI.
They are answered.
To whom the Lord returns this word:
Luke 12:4, 5.
Isa. 51:12, 13.
"O wonderful deceits!
To cast off awe of God's strict law,
and fear men's wrath and threats;
To fear hell-fire and God's fierce ire
less than the rage of men;
As if God's wrath could do less scath
than wrath of bretheren!
CXXVII.
"To use such strife, a temp'ral life
to rescue and secure,
And be so blind as not to mind
that life that will endure!
This was your case, who carnal peace
more than true joys did savor;
Who fed on dust, clave to your lust,
and spurnéd at my favor.
CXXVIII.
"To please your kin, men's love to win,
Luke 9:23, 24, 25, and 16:2.
to flow in worldly wealth,
To save your skin, these things have been
more than Eternal health.
You had your choice, wherein rejoice;
it was your porti-on,
For which you chose your souls t' expose
unto Perditi-on.
CXXIX.
"Who did not hate friends, life, and state,
Luke 9:26.
Prov. 8:36.
John 3:19, 20.
with all things else for me,
And all forsake and's Cross up-take
shall never happy be.
Well worthy they to die for aye,
who death than life had rather;
Death is their due that so value
the friendship of my Father."
CXXX.
Others plead for pardon both from
God's Mercy and Justice.
Others argue, and not a few,
Psal. 78:38.
2 Kin. 14:26.
"Is not God graci-ous?
His Equity and Clemency,
are they not marvellous?
Thus we believ'd; are we deceiv'd?
Cannot his Mercy great,
(As hath been told to us of old,)
assuage his anger's heat?
CXXXI.
"How can it be that God should see
his Creatures' endless pain,
Or hear their groans and rueful moans,
and still his wrath retain?
Can it agree with Equity,
can Mercy have the heart,
To recompense few years' offense
with everlasting smart?
CXXXII.
"Can God delight in such a sight
as sinners' misery?
Psal. 30:9.
Mic. 7:18.
Or what great good can this our blood
bring unto the most High?
O thou that dost thy Glory most
in pard'ning sin display,
Lord, might it please thee to release
and pardon us this day!
CXXXIII.
"Unto thy name more glorious fame
would not such Mercy bring?
Would not it raise thine endless praise,
more than our suffering?"
With that they cease, holding their peace,
but cease not still to weep;
Grief ministers a flood of tears,
in which their words do steep.
CXXXIV.
They are answered.
But all too late; grief's out of date,
when Life is at an end.
The glorious King thus answering,
all to his voice attend:
"God gracious is," quoth he; "like his,
no mercy can be found:
His Equity and Clemency
to sinners do abound,
CXXXV.
Mercy now shines forth in the vessels
of Mercy.
"As may appear by those that here
Mic. 7:18.
Rom. 9:23.
are plac'd at my right hand,
Whose stripes I bore, and clear'd the score,
that they might quitted stand.
For surely none but God alone,
whose Grace transcends men's thought,
For such as those that were his foes
like wonders would have wrought.
CXXXVI.
Did also wait upon such as abused it.
"And none but he such lenity
Rom. 2:4.
Hos. 11:4.
and patience would have shown
To you so long, who did him wrong,
and pull'd his Judgment down.
How long a space, O stiff-neck'd race,
did patience you afford?
How oft did love you gently move,
to turn unto the Lord?
CXXXVII.
The day of Grace now past.
"With chords of love God often strove
Luke 13:34.
your stubborn hearts to tame;
Nevertheless your wickedness
did still resist the same.
If now at last Mercy be past
from you for evermore,
And Justice come in Mercy's room,
yet grudge you not therefore.
CXXXVIII.
"If into wrath God turnéd hath
his long, long-suffering,
Luke 19:42, 43.
Jude 4.
And now for love you vengeance prove,
it is an equal thing.
Your waxing worse hath stopt the course
of wonted Clemency,
Mercy refus'd and Grace misus'd
call for severity.
CXXXIX.
"It's now high time that ev'ry Crime
Rom. 2:5, 6.
Isa. 1:24.
Amos 2:18.
Gen. 18:25.
be brought to punishment;
Wrath long contain'd and oft restrain'd,
at last must have a vent.
Justice severe cannot forbear
to plague sin any longer,
But must inflict with hand most strict
mischief upon the wronger.
CXL.
Mat. 25:3, 1, 2.
Prov. 12:8, 29,
30.
"In vain do they for Mercy pray,
the season being past,
Who had no care to get a share
therein, while time did last.
The man whose ear refus'd to hear
the voice of Wisdom's cry,
Earn'd this reward, that none regard
him in his misery.
CXLI.
It doth agree with Equity
Isa. 5:18, 19.
Gen. 2:17.
Rom. 2:8, 9.
and with God's holy Law,
That those should die eternally
that Death upon them draw.
The soul that sins Damnation wins,
for so the Law ordains;
Which Law is just; and therefore must
such suffer endless pains.
CXLII.
"Eternal smart is the desert
ev'n of the least offense;
Rom. 6:23.
2 Thes. 1:8, 9.
Then wonder not if I allot
to you this Recompense;
But wonder more that since so sore
and lasting plagues are due
To every sin, you liv'd therein,
who well the danger knew.
CXLIII.
Ezek. 33:11.
Exod. 34:7,
and 14:17.
"God hath no joy to crush or 'stroy,
and ruin wretched wights;
But to display the glorious Ray
of Justice he delights.
To manifest he doth detest,
and throughly hate all sin,
Rom. 9:22.
By plaguing it as is most fit—
this shall him Glory win."
CXLIV.
Some pretend they were shut out
of Heaven by God's Decree.
Then at the Bar arraignéd are
Rom. 9:18, 19.
an impudenter sort,
Who to evade the guilt that's laid
Upon them, thus retort:
"How could we cease thus to transgress?
How could we Hell avoid,
Whom God's Decree shut out from thee,
and sign'd to be destroy'd?
CXLV.
"Whom God ordains to endless pains
by Law unalterable,
Heb. 22:17.
Rom. 11:7, 8.
Repentance true, Obedience new,
to save such are unable.
Sorrow for sin no good can win,
to such as are rejected;
Nor can they grieve nor yet believe,
that never were elected.
CXLVI.
"Of Man's fall'n race, who can true Grace
or Holiness obtain?
Who can convert or change his heart,
if God withhold the same?
Had we applied ourselves and tried
as much as who did most,
God's love to gain, our busy pain
and labor had been lost."
CXLVII.
Their pleas taken off.
Christ readily makes this Reply:
Luke 13:27.
2 Pet. 1:9, 10,
compared
with
Mat. 19:16.
"I damn you not because
You are rejected, nor yet elected;
but you have broke my Laws.
It is in vain your wits to strain
the end and means to sever;
Men fondly seek to part or break
what God hath link'd together.
CXLVIII.
Acts 3:19,
and 16:31.
1 Sam. 2:15.
John 3:19.
Job 5:40.
2 Thes. 2:11,
12.
"Whom God will save, such he will have
the means of life to use;
Whom he'll pass by shall choose to die,
and ways of life refuse.
He that fore-sees and fore-decrees,
in wisdom order'd has,
That man's free-will, electing ill,
shall bring his Will to pass.
CXLIX.
Ezek. 33:11, 12.
Luke 13:34.
Prov. 8:33, 36.
"High God's Decree, as it is free,
so doth it none compel
Against their will to good or ill;
it forceth none to Hell.
They have their wish whose Souls perish
with Torments in Hell-fire,
Who rather choose their souls to lose,
than leave a loose desire.
CL.
Gen. 2:17.
Mat. 25:41, 42.
Ezek. 18:20.
"God did ordain sinners to pain,
yet he to Hell sends none
But such as swerv'd and have deserv'd
destruction as their own.
His pleasure is, that none from Bliss
and endless happiness
Be barr'd, but such as wrong'd him much,
by willful wickedness.
CLI.
"You, sinful Crew! no other knew
2 Pet. 1:10.
Acts 13:46.
Luke 13:24.
but you might be elect;
Why did you then yourselves condemn?
Why did you me reject?
Where was your strife to gain that life
which lasteth evermore?
You never knock'd, yet say God lock'd
against you Heaven's door.
CLII.
Mat. 7:7, 8.
"Twas no vain task to knock and ask,
whilst life continuéd.
Who ever sought Heav'n as he ought,
and seeking perishéd?
The lowly, meek, who truly seek
for Christ and for Salvation,
Gal. 5:22, 23.
There's no decree whereby such be
ordain'd to condemnation.
CLIII.
"You argue then: 'But abject men,
whom God resolves to spill,
Cannot repent, nor their hearts rent;
nor can they change their will.'
Not for his Can is any man
adjudgéd unto Hell,
John 3:19.
But for his Will to do what's ill,
and nilling to do well.
CLIV.
"I often stood tend'ring my Blood
to wash away your guilt,
And eke my Sprite to frame you right,
lest your Souls should be spilt.
John 5:40.
But you, vile Race, rejected Grace,
when Grace was freely proffer'd,
No changéd heart, no heav'nly part
would you, when it was offer'd.
CLV.
"Who willfully the remedy,
and means of life contemnéd,
John 15:22, 24.
Heb. 2:3.
Isa. 66:34.
Cause have the same themselves to blame,
if now they be condemnéd.
You have yourselves, you and none else,
to blame that you must die;
You chose the way to your decay,
and perish'd willfully."
CLVI.
These words appall and daunt them all,
dismay'd and all amort,
Like stocks that stand at Christ's left hand
and dare no more retort.
Then were brought near with trembling fear,
a number numberless,
Of Blind Heathen and brutish men,
that did God's Law transgress;
CLVII.
Heathen men plead want of the Written Word.
Whose wicked ways Christ open lays,
and makes their sins appear,
They making pleas their case to ease,
if not themselves to clear.